2014-15 Volume 1 : Homecoming Issue

Maggie Neal crowned
MBHS Homecoming Queen 2014
Exciting changes for the MBHS library
2014 Homecoming Attendants
Seniors
Cate Harmon
Emily Owen Mendelsohn
Juniors
Adele Bird
Ellen Coleman Edwards
Sophomores
Katherine Brian
Brooke Holloway
Please see “Queen”
Continued on page 24
Photo courtesy of Image Arts
Maggie Neal was crowned Mountain Brook High School’s Homecoming
Queen at today’s pep rally.
News: 2-5 Features: 6-11 Sports: 14-18 Reviews: 19-21 Editorials: 22-23
Photo by Thomas Cooney
This idea board displays future design possibilites that aim to improve the study
environment at MBHS.
Today, at the pep rally, senior
Maggie Neal was crowned MBHS
Homecoming Queen for 2014-15.
Maggie can best be described
as a great friend to everyone. As
her parents, Beth and Chip Neal,
note, “Maggie is kind and loyal to
all. Perhaps because she has moved
four times, she has learned to make
friends easily.”
Maggie’s fellow students in the
halls of Mountain Brook High
School know quite well how
enthusiastic she can be about life
because she always does her best to
make sure those around her have
fun. She appreciates a good joke.
In fact, she loves Will Ferrell. Her
mom says, “Maggie loves to laugh,
the Sword & Shield
→Homecoming events, page 3
→Info on iLEARN, page 5
→New teacher interviews, page 11
→Coach Cooper retires, page 16
→Jersey Belle, page 23
INSIDE
and she thinks Will Ferrell is so
funny. She would have a ton of fun
with him!”
Her mom adds, “She is both
fun-loving and funny while also
being conscientious about school
work. She does not like to let
anyone down, including herself.”
A young woman who values
spending time with her friends and
family, Maggie still leaves plenty
of time for numerous activities.
Maggie works hard academically
and puts forth her best efforts in
the classroom while being involved
in a variety of clubs within the
school.
Vol. XLIX No. 1 Mountain Brook High School September 12, 2014
Please see “Library”
Continued on page 3
By THOMAS COONEY
Staff Writer
The MBHS library moves into
the 21st century with new tech-nology
and comfortable furniture
designed for the student. The
library has lagged behind the rest
of the school system with updating
technology, like new updates in the
Jr. High library. The library staff
and school board hope to make
the space a more comfortable and
efficient learning environment with
the proposed updates.
Currently, the PTO is providing
funds for the updates. Principal
Amanda Hood says, “Any excess
funds raised by the PTO this year
are going to the library update.”
Because the time frame for the
update depends on the funds raised
by the PTO, there is no confirmed
start date.
“We are doing this to meet the
needs of the students,” says librar-ian
Ms. Annalisa Keuler. “The
library needs a more flexible space
with more mobility to be able to
have multiple classes and to be able
to accommodate a lot of different
technology that wasn’t available
when this library was designed.”
The library staff also hopes to
meet students’ needs by adding
new technology including charging
stations for phones, new TVs,
self-checkouts, and new laptops.
The funds for the new laptops
become available October 1. The
added TVs will allow students and
teachers to display images from the

2
news
Friday, September 12, 2014
The Sword & Shield
By LILY SMITH
Staff Writer
Students at the high school can expect major changes in cell phone policies this year. Many teachers have decided to enforce stricter policies concerning cell phone use due to problems in previous years. Mrs. Megan Hastings, a sophomore advanced English teacher, says, “I am trying to save students from themselves and mitigate distractions.”
Although some of the teachers at MBHS have not implemented these new, stricter rules pertaining to cell phone use in the classroom, many have. Many teachers in the English and Language departments, along with a few others, have developed a system that involves a specific spot for students to “park” their devices during class. This spot may be a pocket divider, cubby, or even a table on which students place their phones.
Mrs. Cathy Ivey, an advanced chemistry teacher for the tenth grade, says, “I generally allow students to keep their cell phones with them, as long as they do not have them out in class. They may only use them for class procedures or other educational purposes.”
Not surprisingly, students’ initial reactions to this new set of rules have not been very positive. Sophomore Ellen Waller is not a fan of the new policies. “I think that the new policies are unfair. I understand that teachers don’t want students on their phones while they’re teaching, but we should still be able to have our phones with us in class.”
Despite the immediate negative reactions from the student body, teachers believe that this will benefit students in the long run. The idea is that with fewer distractions, students will pay more attention to what is happening in class. This will in turn begin to be reflected in students’ grades, at which point they will most likely be thankful for the stricter rules.
Letter from the editors
The Sword & Shield
Co-Editor-in-Chief: Claire Davis
Co-Editor-in-Chief: John Sisson
Managing Editor: Chandler Gory
Art & Photography Editor: Mathilde Sharman
News Editor: Madeline Mitchell
Sports Editor: Alec Lewis
Features Editor: Margaret Heath
Opinions Editor: Coke Matthews
Reviews Editor: Natalie Jones
Business Manager: Sarah Beth Daniel
Staff Writers
Sponsors: Ms. Catherine Lowe and Mr. Peter Perez
Letters to the Editors Policy
The Sword & Shield welcomes Letters to the Editors from its readers. We reserve the right to edit any letters for grammar, length, or libel; however, the meaning will be preserved. Whenever possible, changes made with a letter will be discussed with the author prior to publication. All letters must be signed, but names may be withheld upon request. Email letters to gosands@gmail.com.
The Sword & Shield
Mountain Brook High School
3650 Bethune Drive
Mountain Brook, AL 35223
Telephone: (205) 414-3800
Fax: (205) 969-8113
Printing made possible by
Alabama Web Press
1793 Eva Road
Cullman, AL 35055
Telephone: (256) 734-5104
It’s that time of year again. Boys are running around the hall begging girls to go to Homecoming with them, college football has put its spell over the whole population of the South and of course the change in weather has everyone’s sinuses all stopped up.
Yep, it’s the wonderful season of fall. While all of you have been out spending your weekends on The Plains or in Tuscaloosa, members of The Sword & Shield have been incessantly working at a speed comparable to Auburn’s offense.
With an early Homecoming this year, staff writers and editors have been furiously running around trying to track down teachers and coaches for interviews, scouring the mall for the best dressed students on dress up days and pecking at their keyboards to organize their scattered thoughts into somewhat coherent articles.
Although we didn’t beat Hoover (again), there is still plenty of reason to celebrate. Break out the musty blue blazer, cram into those old high heels that hurt your feet and dance the night away at the Homecoming dance. Happy Homecoming!
Thanks for reading,
Claire and John
Photo by Lily Smith
Leigh Lewis places her cell phone in the classroom’s pocket divider.
Stricter cell phone policies
Thomas Cooney
Will Davis
Carter Ennis
Casey Fan
Scott Lepley
Leigh Lewis
Caroline Lowe
Jonathan McWane
Lily Smith
Brooke Tucker

3
news
The Sword & Shield
Library, continued
computer directly on the TV screen through a single cable.
The furniture in the library is also getting a makeover. The spine-altering wooden chairs are being replaced. “The library will have more updated products that serve the same purpose,” said Mrs. Hood.
Big group study tables will accommodate study groups and full sized classes. Another addition is glassed off study areas. “In these collaborative spaces, students can work together without disturbing others in the library,” said Mrs. Hood.
“We are excited about the newly renovated space being an embodiment of the reading culture here at the school,” says librarian Ms. Sonya Jordan. “The design will create a collaborative environment for students working together.”
Photo by Thomas Cooney
The MBHS PTO will fund the new library updates to make the library a better study space.
By JONATHAN MCWANE
Staff Writer
As expected, the anticipation was high for this year’s Homecoming events. Such occurrences as the annual carnival and Powderpuff football were no exception.
The Powderpuff game is generally viewed as just a way for those who are participating to create silly nicknames to put on their t-shirts, while the annual Homecoming carnival is, simply put, an opportunity to have fun with your friends prior to Homecoming itself.
The Powderpuff game is run by the Interact club, which is sponsored by Mrs. Katrina McGuire and Mrs. Holly Martin.
“The football team is who technically coaches the game, while the referees are Mr. Jeremy Crigger, Mr. Ben Hudson, Coach Joe Webb, and Coach Justin Ransom,” Mrs. McGuire said.
“At Mountain Brook, exactly 357 students signed up for the 2014 game, and we expect about ¼ of the girls to actually play,” said Mrs. McGuire. “The sophomore team plays the junior team, and the winner of that game goes on to play the seniors.”
Meanwhile, the Homecoming carnival has been a consistent favorite of Mountain Brook students and teachers alike.
The Student Government Association (SGA) planned the entire event and reserved rides, while Spartan Pride, headed by Mrs. Jane Major, made food arrangements.
“The carnival was held on the lower soccer fields this year,” said Mr. John Binet, who is the sponsor for the SGA. This was a change from the past few years in which the carnival has taken place on the upper soccer field.
“There was music from 6 o’clock until 8 o’clock, which is when the carnival typically ends,” said Mr. Binet.
As usual, the students were able to have a good time as both the carnival and Powderpuff were major successes and an important part of Mountain Brook’s Homecoming week.
Students enjoy Homecoming activities
Photo by Caroline Lowe
Annie Somerville and Bill Perry flip burgers at the SGA-sponsered carnival.
Carnival and Powderpuff hit the mark again

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news
The Sword & Shield
By CASEY FAN
Staff Writer
A new school year is here, and Mountain Brook High School has created the new Spartan Card to accommodate the day-to-day activities of their students. While students have always had their student ID cards, the new Spartan Card has many more capabilities.
While most students have never used anything like this before, Principal Amanda Hood says, “As there are more opportunities that require small amounts of money, the Spartan Card makes performing finances much simpler.”
One advantage of the new card is that students can scan it in the lunchroom, thus not having to remember their lunch PIN anymore. The Spartan Card is directly tied to students’ lunch accounts. Furthermore, the new ID card can be used at the Spot, the coffee bar, athletic events, as well as the WEPA printing stations. While the Spartan Card can be utilized for all the above, the money for the various uses is tied to three different
accounts: one for the lunchroom, one for the WEPA printing stations, and one for everything else.
Mrs. Hood adds, “Many colleges throughout the nation utilize ID’s very similar to the new capabilities of the Spartan Card, so it is a great skill for our students to be accustomed to such an innovation.”
However, with anything comes potential drawbacks. Because student IDs haven’t been used regularly in the past, students may not think to carry their IDs on them on a daily basis. Another concern is that if a student loses his or her ID card, someone else may steal it, but there are security measures, such as the picture on the ID, to be used for identification.
When asked what she thought about the Spartan Card, junior Angela Fu says, “It’s hard to believe that a student ID can perform so much at once, but I think that it will make things easier for everyone alike.”
Meanwhile, sophomore John Martin Weed says, “I’ve never had a student ID card because this is my first year at the high school, but I think it is a great idea!”
Since the school year has just started, it is far too early to see the full impacts of the new Spartan Card, but the simplicity behind such a capable device points to a bright future. Unless it simply proves to be catastrophic, Mountain Brook High School will most likely keep this idea until further updates are needed.
Sophomore Lucy Chapman scans her Spartan ID card at the WEPA printing station.
New & Improved: MBHS debuts Spartan Card

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news
The Sword & Shield
iLEARN: Opening new doors for MBHS students
By NATALIE JONES
Reviews Editor
Mountain Brook High School’s iLEARN (Learning Education by Assisting Rangers Now) program is, without a doubt, a unique but often undiscovered opportunity available to students here at the high school. Currently 14 students participate in the course, working in classrooms ranging from kindergarten to 3rd grade.
Students in the program visit Brookwood Forest Elementary School (BWF) every day to assist teachers in their classrooms. The program enables MBHS students to engage in elementary students’ learning and build valuable one-on-one relationships with the students.
“What we find is that learning is transferrable. Through the iLEARN program, students gain life skills that truly matter. They learn how to communicate, how to teach to an audience, and how to lead,” said Mr. Nathan Pitner, Brookwood Forest Elementary School Principal.
BWF students were quick to respond with why they loved having the MBHS students involved with their learning. Many of the kids felt like they received more individualized attention by having an additional “teacher” in the classroom.
“Whenever I didn’t know how to solve a problem, my iLEARN teacher would always help me until I figured it out. Sometimes she would even teach me new strategies if I still didn’t understand. It was easy to tell her that I didn’t know how to do something,” said 4th grader Ellie Keplinger.
Many of the students liked having the additional attention with their academics, but BWF students seemed to most enjoy getting to know and interact with their iLEARN teachers.
“My iLEARN teachers always make everything fun and cheer me up when they talk to me. It would be so different not having them there every day,” said 2nd grader Adriana Sciara, who has had an iLEARN teacher the past two years.
While MBHS students contribute to the academic and social environment of their classrooms, the BWF students aren’t the only ones benefitting from the program. The course aims to benefit everyone involved and is tailored to fit each individual’s needs.
“We aim to be a culture of growth, and we just haven’t seen many opportunities where everyone grows as much as they do with the iLEARN program,” said Pitner.
The program’s potential truly lies in its ability to support everyone involved. Teachers receive help in the classroom, students get hands-on experience with teaching, and BWF children gain additional encouragement and academic assistance.
Pitner envisions the iLEARN program as eventually becoming an outlet for the infinite variety of talents and passions among the student body at the high school, allowing MBHS students the chance to explore the subjects they’re interested in through a hands-on approach.
“We want to provide an opportunity for students to explore what they’re passionate about, have an authentic product in terms of what they’re creating, and have an audience to investigate these passions with,” explained Pitner.
Senior Grace Anne Latimer joined iLEARN last year in order to pursue her interest in elementary education. While she admits to not knowing what to expect at first, Latimer believes that deciding to participate in the program was the best decision of her academic career.
“I’ve figured out what I want to major in from my experience last year working with the 3rd grade and special education. If it weren’t for this course, I would not have had the opportunity to explore elementary education,” she said.
Latimer is just one of the many students who have been able to explore their passions through the program. Currently the program only covers four grade levels, but the end goal is for each classroom in all grade levels to have an assigned MBHS student.
Because iLEARN began only three years ago, many students at the high school have yet to hear about the course. Pitner hopes that iLEARN will expand with more awareness about the program.
So if you’ve got something you’re passionate about, love working and learning with others or simply want to see what it’s like to be the teacher for once, then consider applying for the iLEARN program when scheduling time rolls around.
Photo by Natalie Jones
Junior Maggie Hightower listens intently to her small group of students.
Photo by Natalie Jones
Junior Rachel Pugh hugs her iLEARN partner.

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News
The Sword & Shield
By MATHILDE SHARMAN
Art and Photography Editor
With the start of the school year came a change to the way students print: WEPA print stations. WEPA’s website, wepanow.com, describes its product as “a cloud based print solution developed specifically for higher education.”
Principal Amanda Hood explained the school’s motivation for adopting the WEPA printer system in terms of student capabilities. “We’ve been looking at it for several years. When students go to college, they will be given some type of printing opportunity on campus, where they have to learn to manage printing costs. Bringing WEPA to our school is a way to develop that skill,” she said.
Budgeting concerns also motivated administrators to look for a new printing solution. “There’s a financial aspect when looking at the cost of what our school was spending on printing, when students would print 80 pages and only need one. We were looking at the exorbitant cost that was being wasted, so we looked at it from a financial lens so those resources could be allocated elsewhere for instructional purposes,” said Mrs. Hood.
Concerning the financial side of the WEPA printers, Mrs. Hood discussed the agreement between the school and WEPA. “The company provides the print stations, toner and paper. What we have to do is preload 250 black and white pages into each student’s WEPA account, which can be accessed through the Spartan ID card.
Mrs. Hood described the decision process to use Wepa in Mountain Brook. “There are several schools in the area that use the WEPA system, so we did a lot of research on how this was set up. We looked at those places and how it worked with schools that were much larger than ours,” she said.
The new printers feature many capabilities designed to improve accessibility for students. “The main difference between the old printers and the WEPA is students can print from anywhere— from an app or their own computers,” said librarian Ms. Annalisa Keuler.
Despite the printing system’s abilities, students responded with mild concern to the printers. Some complained of the added time printing requires with WEPA versus the system used in previous years. “I’ve used the WEPA printers three times. It was more time consuming than the old printer system, and I had to type in a code several times before it would go through,” said senior Emily Owen Mendelsohn.
“Even if I use the app to send my paper to the WEPA, I still have to come in the next morning like I did with the old printers. There is a bonus to being able to just pull my paper up on the printer, but printing by logging into a computer would only add a minute,” she added.
Mrs. Hood commented on the issue of time and how to simplify printing. “The Spartan ID card is important because it expedites your login process; it makes the printing process much faster,” she said.
While junior Helen Catherine Darby understands the changes that come with the WEPA, she is still concerned about its efficiency. “I’ve used the WEPA printers several times. I think it’s a good idea in principle, but the problem I have is that you’re not able to just print and pick up what you need. It takes a lot longer than a regular printer; whenever I’ve tried to print there’s been a line,” she said. However, Darby admitted that the old printing system did create financial difficulties for the school.
“It’s definitely more economical. Students are not wasting as much paper or ink, and it’s getting us prepared for college. I definitely see the benefits. We’ll have to make adjustments and ease into it; there’s a learning curve,” said Darby.
Ms. Keuler emphasized the importance of taking the time to learn how to use the WEPA printers. “If students are willing to come into the library and spend a few minutes with us walking through the process, they can ease their stress about WEPA. It’s going to take some time to get used to, and students will need to be patient.”
However, some students are adimantly opposed to the new system. “I’m just going to keep using my printer at home until I find myself in a situation where I need to use it. For me, I don’t like change. However, I know it was a huge cost to the school to let people print for free,” junior Alex Debruge said.
Despite the concern, Mrs. Hood looks forward to students using the WEPA system with success. “Right now it’s a pilot. We’re going to look at and make adjustments as needed. If we need more printers, we’ll pursue more printers. I do think it’s about students making decisions and not waiting until the last minute and managing their time,” she said.
Administration urges student cooperation amid concern over new WEPA printers
Photo courtesy of MBHS Library

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Features
The Sword & Shield
Just a Chat: Drum Captain Alex Graham
By MADELINE MITCHELL
News Editor
You just watched MBHS’s drum line kill it at the pep rally, and you’re excited to see them rev up the student section tonight. All of this jammin’ music has probably got you wondering, “Who are these rad individuals who consistently bring us quality entertainment?”
Well, never fear, The Sword & Shield did some recon to satisfy that nagging question. Drum Captain Alex Graham shares his favorite quote, future plans, and what he would do if he had $1 million dollars.
The Sword & Shield: Let’s start with a big one. If you could give one piece of advice to a large group of people, what would it be?
Alex Graham: “Even a broken clock is right two times a day.” I use that as inspiration when I’m evaluating input from other people. Even the least skilled people can be correct at times. Man that was good. I’m such a wordsmith.
S&S: Even though you just quoted someone else?
AG: Yep.
S&S: Ok. What is your favorite drum line memory?
AG: Probably the first year of band camp when we went to Mentone. It was one of the hardest band camps we’ve had, but it was a lot of fun and a really good way to break into what it would be like in high school when we had drum line.
S&S: What is your favorite school memory?
AG: Definitely the first day of senior year because it’s my last first day.
S&S: I second that. SEN1OR5. Of the marching band shows you have performed, which is your favorite?
AG: For sure [our halftime show from] 9th grade when we did the music of Motown, in which I played bass four (the second largest bass drum), and all with my left hand because my right arm was broken. I just had to overcome and adapt because I couldn’t turn my wrist.
S&S: So how did you break your arm?
AG: I was on hardwood floors, wearing socks, when I slipped, fell backwards, and landed on my arm the wrong way.
S&S: Ouch. If you could pick any theme for a marching band halftime show, what would you choose?
AG: I would pick a Pink Floyd show because the musicality of it would be really cool. The music that we could write would be awesome, and it would be cool for the drum line. For this year’s show, we’re doing a blend of front ensemble and battery percussion that could also be done with a Pink Floyd show.
S&S: What would you say your favorite band, musician, or song is?
AG: My favorite musician is a tie between Gucci Mane and Lil’ Boosie. And Lil’ Wyte. Favorite song? “Show the World” by Lil’ Boosie and “You a Drug” by Gucci Mane. I also like “It Must Have Been the Roses” by Grateful Dead.
S&S: Just before your 6th grade graduation, when asked, “Where will you be when you’re 25?” you answered, “I will be alive!!!” Now that your high school graduation is not too far off, how would you answer that question now?
AG: I want to have graduated high school with a decent GPA, then gone to Alabama and hopefully joined a fraternity. I’ll have graduated college with decent grades, majoring in business or pre-law, and then either be attending law school or owning my own business.
S&S: A man with a plan. I like it. You mentioned that your English teacher, Mr. Jeff Roberts, reads your class
different poems every day. What has been your favorite poem so far?
AG: One called “Mushrooms.” Even though it’s called “Mushrooms,” it’s not necessarily about mushrooms. Initially, I thought it was about the idea that women are not valued in a patriarchal society.
S&S: So what was the poem actually about?
AG: That’s up to you to decide.
S&S: If you were given $1 million, how would you spend it?
AG: I would immediately put $500,000 of it in a safety deposit box, and then I would set aside $150,000 for my college tuition. I would give $100,000 to each of my parents and my brother and then buy a decent car with the last $50,000.
S&S: And lastly, do you have any hidden talents?
AG: I don’t know about that. I can’t roll my tongue. I can’t snap. I can whistle though.
S&S: Anything else?
AG: I’m pretty good at the drums. (laughing)
Photo by Madeline Mitchell
Drum Captain Alex Graham leads the MBHS drum line during football season and enjoys listening to Gucci Mane and Lil’ Boosie in his free time.

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Features
The Sword & Shield
“Applause” will be heard when the MBHS Marching Band performs Lady Gaga
By MARGARET HEATH
Features Editor
As football season rolls around, the marching band members are warming up their instruments and breaking out the ol’ razzle dazzle. Lady Gaga reigns supreme as the new show theme for this year. Be prepared as the band surprises you with their snazzy renditions of popular tunes such as “Applause,” “Just Dance” and “Bad Romance.”
Drum Major Anne Marie Bonds says, “It’s much different than anything we’ve ever done, and it’s much more fun. We’ve never done anything in this century, and it’s great to have something that’s so modern.”
But more recent show music isn’t the only surprise the band has in store. They’ve got plenty more tricks up their large, green sleeves. Band Captain Lillian Keith says, “There will be a dance. You didn’t think that band kids could get down, but we can get pretty down.”
These surprises will make you want to “Just Dance” as the band breaks it down with the Dorians and Color Guard. The dance segment is a challenge for the band as they must try not to break an instrument or run into each other. Still, according to Keith, “It’s not just your stereotypical sway back and forth. It’s going to be cool.”
The Dorians and Color Guard also have some key pieces as they sashay down the field with their colorful flags. Speaking of flags, Color Guard Co-captain Anne Grey Cook claims, “We have some really cool flags this year; we have some that are 10 feet, some that are six, smaller flags and we have rifles.” These exciting new additions to the flag repertoire allow the Color Guard to really stand out this year.
The Color Guards’ other Co- Captain, Harper Alexander, says, “The Dorians and Color Guard are working really, really well [together]. The props are really different because Lady Gaga is kind of a freak. It’s just that they are different than what we normally would have had.”
The culmination of these elements leads to a thrilling new show. Bonds says, “I’m excited about it.” The enthusiasm is palpable as the band looks forward to competitions and the upcoming marching season.
Photo courtsey of Ms. Kat Lawson
The band and Dorians get funky on the field during the Lady Gaga halftime show.

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Features
The Sword & Shield
Classroom Crashers make over teachers’ rooms
By CAROLINE LOWE
Staff Writer
As students walked into Mr. Peter Perez’s English class room on the first day of school, the first thing that they noticed was the new layout. A large, interactive white board dominated the wall and comfortable sofas beckoned students.
Those entering Mrs. Casey Truesdale and Mrs. Katrina McGuire’s classes were also greeted with new desks and chairs.
Last spring, Mrs. Amanda Hood and the PTO developed the Classroom Crashers program. Teachers wrote proposals for room makeovers, and Assistant Principal Lisa Walters organized a committee that selected the winners.
The PTO was generous in helping to get the program underway. Mrs. McGuire said, “In order to enhance the environment in my classroom, the PTO contributed money for the awesome Classroom Crasher Edition.” Ms. Walters added, “The money also came from the school’s general funding.”
For the Classroom Crashers competition, teachers “essentially had to write a proposal about how the money would impact instruction for the classroom and most effectively impact students’ learning,” said Mr. Perez. “I tried to envision the learning environment when considering how I could inspire students.”
Mr. Perez came up with two separate ideas for his classroom. He said, “One involved the re-arrangement of the classroom. I also, requested an interactive wall to engage my students.”
The other two teachers had different approaches. Mrs. McGuire said, “I wrote a proposal for my room to have two times the whole work space, allowing room for a laptop and all school materials to complete classwork and homework.”
Mrs. McGuire also got new flexible chairs. “They also are more comfortable to sit in for extended lengths of time. Everyone wants a comfortable work environment. I think the new furniture will help students to create better quality work,” she added.
Mrs. Truesdale’s makeover includes new tables and blue rolling chairs. She said, “The students can collaborate easier, and I can teach anywhere in the classroom.”
The room makeovers are designed to help students learn better. Mr. Perez said, “I hope that the new white board will keep students interested, and I envision students using it to interact with the lesson.” He added, “It’s bigger and clearer than a regular white board, and students can’t learn if they can’t see the board. Plus, I expect to use it for collaboration.”
Students seem to like the changes. Mrs. Truesdale said, “My students tell me that the chairs are comfortable, and they like sitting at a table and working together.”
Junior Ella O Neill added, “I like that we have more space on the desk, and I love how the chairs support your back.”
Mr. Perez’s student, Sam Poole, said, “I like the white board because it’s much better than standing in front of a projector and getting blinded.”
Ms. Walters shared that the purpose of the makeovers is to enhance student learning. “I certainly do think the students will benefit from the new furniture. I think it helps teachers be more flexible in their classroom space and to engage students in a variety of ways.”
Junior Robert Waudby interacts with the white board in Mr. Perez’s room.

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Features
The Sword & Shield
By SARAH BETH DANIEL
Staff Writer
The creativity of the students at MBHS never ends. The three probational clubs this year, R.E.A.D., Film Club and APC, make that apparent.
Many students still came to the library for the new book club, R.E.A.D., even though it was not scheduled for the club period. Students suggested various books for the club to read. Books from “If I Stay” by Gayle Forman – to placate those who are romantic at heart – to “The Autobiography of Jack the Ripper” by James Carnac – to appease those with a sensible taste of the macabre.
Students will also be split up into groups to read books suited to their tastes. In other words, guys won’t be forced to read the latest, tear-jerking romance novels.
“I really just wanted to create a reading culture at the school,” explained Ms. Annalisa Keuler, who sponsors the club with fellow librarian, Mrs. Sonya Jordan.
R.E.A.D. gives students who enjoy reading but don’t have a venue in which to read and discuss books which interest them a place to do so. “I normally don’t have time to read,” sophomore Eleanor Swagler says.
R.E.A.D. will be partnering with Film Club this year by reading a book that has been produced as a film. The two clubs will then watch the movie at their members’ only event.
Ethan Ron, president of the Film Club, comments, “It is part fun and part to show people all kinds of movies for the purpose of cultural education.”
The movies will range from classic to contemporary, pre-chosen by the officers to be shown at events.
Film Club events will occur once a month in the Black Box Theater. “Silver Lining Play Book” will be playing a week after Homecoming for the club’s first student event.
And what would a movie be without food? Officers vote for what food to bring to events for the students to enjoy. Anyone interested in this club may sign up with Mr. Matt Ferguson.
Not all clubs are pure entertainment. APC is a club that meets a real need at MBHS, just as APC president, Junior Hailey Smith explains, “Last year there were a bunch of issues at the school with depression and anxiety.”
Smith joined up with fellow junior Megan Beck, the APC vice president, to found APC with the help of the counselors.
“We realized we wanted to do something with the issues of the school,” Smith said.
The goal of APC is to spread awareness of and help students deal with depression, suicide, and addiction. APC is actually a part of the Addiction Prevention Coalition – an Alabama, state-wide program – which spreads awareness of the abuse of drugs and alcohol.
Students may attend Friday morning meetings as they wish, where breakfast will be served. APC will also have speakers come to talk to the club during some of the morning meetings. There is no formal sign up, but students may contact Smith or Beck for more information.
Going Clubbing at Mountain Brook High School
Photo courtesy of Mrs. Sonya Jordan
Sophomore Emily Sykes and her friend enjoy their free time in R.E.A.D. with books.

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Features
The Sword & Shield
By MADELINE MITCHELL
News Editor
As the new school year starts, a few classes of students are jumping for joy because they won’t be looking at the same teachers’ faces that they saw last year. Five new teachers have joined the Mountain Brook High School faculty this year, bringing with them, of course, their fresh new faces.
In the 100 hall, Mrs. Amberly Burrow teaches Algebra II and Discrete Math. “I’ve always wanted to be a teacher,” Mrs. Burrow says, so when Mountain Brook offered her a position, she eagerly accepted.
Walking into the classroom, students can see Mrs. Burrow’s collection of her own paintings: “I’m very crafty. I painted all of these pictures in my classroom.”
When asked what would be on her perfect sandwich, Mrs. Burrow quickly replied, “Peanut butter and jelly, no questions asked. I love it!”
In the counselor’s office, new 11th grade counselor Ms. Elizabeth Tiley would make her perfect sandwich “something toasted and warm with turkey, cheese, and bacon.” Originally from Tuscaloosa, Ms. Tiley lived in Hawaii for a year before beginning teaching at a school for troubled children. This experience led her to pursue guidance counseling full time. “As I was working at the school, I was doing a lot [of] counseling, so that’s what led me to go into school counseling.” Ms. Tiley has been a counselor for eight years.
MBHS’s newest art teacher, Mr. Michael Dudley, began his career in art as an architect but later became an art teacher at McAdory Middle School. Entering his sixth year of teaching, Mr. Dudley says, “I began teaching because it was something I’ve always wanted to do.”
Mr. Dudley said, “I admire Japanese culture because there is a ritual to everything. [The Japanese] don’t just build a building. They cultivate tradition and pass it down because it is sacred to the culture.” And his favorite sandwich? “A Cuban sandwich from this place in Vestavia. It’s very good.”
Ms. Shannon Marks is the newest addition to the 300 hall. Beginning her 11th year of teaching as an English teacher, Ms. Marks began teaching out of her love of and aptitude for literature and writing and because she believed that she would enjoy working with kids every day. “Be confident and avoid regret,” Ms. Marks advises when asked her favorite words of wisdom. “And my perfect sandwich would be tomato, basil, and fresh mozzarella.” Can’t go wrong with that.
Ms. Becton Morgan is the newest face behind a camera lens at MBHS as she begins her first year teaching high school photography. Though born in Alabama, she has lived all over the country, but moved back to Alabama to begin teaching. Ms. Morgan said, “I wanted a more rewarding career. I had amazing teachers in high school that really shaped who I am today. I’d like to be able to give back and do the same for MBHS students.”
Ms. Morgan’s perfect sandwich is the Fisherman’s Deck which has grilled salmon, lettuce, tomato, and Zunzi’s sauce from Zunzi’s, a restaurant in Savannah.
“I would love to learn French,” Ms. Morgan says, “I know poquito Español only from living in Texas, but French is definitely on my bucket list.”
And why did she come to Mountain Brook? “Because Mountain Brook is awesome!”
Photo by Madeline Mitchell
Ms. Burrow, a new teacher at Mountain Brook, works studiously with her students on a project.
Welcome to the Brook: MBHS’s New Teachers

Juniors
Sophomores
Seniors
Congratulations, Homecoming court nominees!
From left: Virginia White, Cate Harmon, Mary Seldon Andrews, Ellen Given, Maggie Neal, Emily Owen Mendelsohn
From left: Annie Lovelady, Charlotte McRae, Sophie Brint, Ellen Coleman Edwards, Adele Bird, Maggie Baker
From left: Grayson Gamso, Sally Neal, Brooke
Holloway, Katherine Brian
Homecoming Fun
Photos by Caroline Lowe, Margaret Heath and courtesy of Greg Davis and Catherine Lowe

School Spirit
Go Spartans Go!
Red, White and Blue
Rock n’ roll Day
PJ Day

14
Sports
The Sword & Shield
By SCOTT LEPLEY
Staff Writer
The high school cross country teams began their season Friday, August 29, in the Early Bird Twilight Classic under the lights at the University of Montevallo and continued September 6 at Chickasaw Trails at Oakville Indian Mounds. The girls team is seeking a 12th straight state championship this season while the boys are looking to rebound after finishing 5th at state last year.
This year’s boys team replaces only two runners who placed at last year’s state meet. Top runners for the season include Marshall Smith, Michael Clark, and Drew Williams.
On the prospect of winning a state championship, Williams said, “We can definitely do it. We know it hasn’t been done in a while, but we know we can do it this year, and we need to start catching up with the girls at some point.”
The girls team has not lost a state championship in the last 11 years and is expected to win yet again this year. Top returning runners include Jessica Molloy, Frances Patrick, and Anna Grace Morgan.
Patrick said, “This team has a ton of talent and should definitely compete for the state title for at least the next few years.” The girls team has high expectations set for themselves for the coming season.
Coach Greg Echols believes that both teams have potential to bring multiple championships to Mountain Brook. Echols said, “We have lots of young talent - especially on the boys side. We haven’t lost a ton from last year and won’t lose a ton next year. We’re a young team with a lot of potential.”
The teams are stockpiled with talent of many underclassmen such as sophomores Parker Cobbs, Spencer Hinson, and Griffin Riley who are working to take this team to another state title.
Mountain Brook Cross Country teams seek state titles
Photo courtesy of William Bloodworth
The JV girls team poses with their second-place trophy from the Chickasaw Trails meet.

15
Sports
The Sword & Shield
By JOHN SISSON
Co-Editor-in-Chief
As the new school year begins, many fall sports like football, volleyball, and cross-country stand in the spotlight. However, the baseball and track teams are also working hard during their offseason thanks to the help of Pure Performance.
Mountain Brook graduate Thomas Twitty runs Pure Performance, a gym located in Liberty Park. Many athletes who compete for Mountain Brook High School work out at the gym. Because of the large number of Mountain Brook students, Pure Performance partnered with the track and baseball coaches last year to start training those athletes in the offseason.
The hard work from last year certainly paid off. The baseball team swept Vestavia to win its first Area championship since 2008 and reached the quarterfinals of the state playoffs.
The outdoor track team also had a successful season last year. The girls finished second at the state meet behind Hoover, and the boys finished third.
During the summer, the Pure Performance staff was hard at work preparing for this year’s offseason. Several of their trainers received USA Track & Field certification in order to assist the athletes with their individual events.
This year, Twitty revealed a new plan for the baseball offseason program involving meal plans for each athlete and even higher levels of training than in the past.
Trainer Brandt Thomas explained that this year involved more workload and also more individual responsibility for each athlete. “We are supplying everything necessary for the athletes to get better, but we cannot supply the ‘will’ to get better.”
The workouts are not just making these athletes stronger; they are seeing a direct correlation with their performance on the track or the diamond.
Junior javelin thrower Mac McLaughlin said, “The biggest benefit of having someone there to train us with this program is that we are able to get stronger and in better shape so that we can compete at our highest level.”
Junior pitcher Burt Bellande expressed similar praise for the offseason program: “I do not know where I would be in my life if it wasn’t for Pure Performance. Coach Twitty has given me the ability to know what it is like to compete at my highest level. I am thankful for the opportunity to get bulkier with him every day.”
With an even tougher and more intense offseason program this fall, both teams are looking forward to see their efforts pay off this spring.
Photo by John Sisson
Junior Luke Hartman prepares for the upcoming baseball season.
Pure Performance taking offseason workouts to a new level

16
Sports
The Sword & Shield
By ALEC LEWIS
Sports Editor
For the last 22 years of Mountain Brook athletics, one man has spearheaded every coaching decision, every facility renovation, and most notably, every championship.
Mountain Brook Athletic Director Terry Cooper is retiring next month after 38 years of Spartan duties. He began as a basketball coach and has finished as the director of athletics for a program that now boasts 148 state championships.
“There are so many people I’m thankful for,” Coach Cooper said. “From teachers to coaches, to players, to students and to the community itself. It’s been a phenomenal opportunity for me to be a part of this school system.”
Over the years, Mountain Brook athletics has grown in countless ways. Holistically, the growth of each and every girls and boys program, individually, has shaped the way those view Mountain Brook.
“Our school system has always done a great job of balancing that,” Cooper said. “I do feel like that sets us apart from a lot of school systems and a lot of schools. We have had a philosophy to have an overall successful athletic program. It hasn’t mattered if it was tennis, softball, baseball, volleyball or basketball; what has mattered is that the student athletes in those programs believe that their team is the most important.”
As the football and volleyball teams have kicked off their seasons this past month, it’s hard to overlook the support and the resources that Cooper has provided. From facility improvements such as the new football field house to student- attendance at the volleyball games, so much has been done, all at the hands of Cooper.
“Coach Cooper loves this school. He loves this community, and he’s given almost four decades of his life to Mountain Brook,” said Spartan head football coach Chris Yeager. “I think Coach Cooper’s legacy will be that every program was just as important as the next. Coach Cooper has been great at maintaining balance, and I don’t know that we’d be where we are today without him. He takes so much off of me and has always told me he’d do the peripheral things, and he has.”
This past year, Mountain Brook basketball won their second straight championship. As a coach that began to lay the foundation for that program almost 40 years ago, the team’s success has allowed Cooper’s work to come full circle.
This month, Cooper will be retiring and the school will hire his successor. How does Cooper project the future of this school’s athletics?
“I feel like the best days are ahead. This school system does a great job in transition. We have enjoyed greatness or success for years. I feel like the next person will be able to take us to a new and better level. It may be different, it should be different. They’ll have different ideas, different ways of doing things, and I believe all of that is positive.”
Coach Cooper retires after 22 years of being Mountain Brook’s Athletic Director
Photo by Alec Lewis
Coach Cooper stands in front of the various trophies he’s helped win over the years.

17
Sports
The Sword & Shield
By WILL DAVIS
Staff Writer
Coming off one of the greatest seasons in program history, the Mountain Brook volleyball team is looking to improve even more in 2014. The Spartans lost just one player to graduation from a team that made it all the way to the AHSAA elite eight last season and was eventually one of the final four teams standing. Needless to say, expectations are high entering the 2014 season.
"We feel like we can win a state championship," coach Haven O’Quinn said about her team. "It does not matter if you won last year or have never won one, that is the ultimate goal."
“We want to be the best ball control team in the state of Alabama,” senior Kendall Crumbaugh said.
Last year, the Spartans entered the season under the radar, a season in which one of their star players admitted they exceeded expectations.
“I think that last year we definitely were not expected to do as well as we did,” junior Sara Carr said.
This year will be different with Mountain Brook being looked at as one of the prime contenders for the 7A state championship, but the Spartans are focused on the task at hand, not the pressure around them.
“I don’t think (the pressure) will faze us,” Carr said. Crumbaugh agreed saying, “There is no bad pressure.”
Carr, who was the Birmingham News South volleyball player of the year, returns as does senior defensive specialist Julia Smith, who is the reigning Birmingham News all-metro player of the year. In addition to Carr and Smith, junior setter Sara Chandler Mitchell was also named to the Birmingham All-Metro team, while senior Abby Garret was named honorable mention as an outside hitter.
The team began their season in Orlando with a tournament from August 27-31. Mountain Brook went 6-1 in the tournament. The Spartans home opener was held September 3 against Hoover and resulted in a five set loss to the Buccaneers.
Key upcoming dates include road games against Vestavia and Hoover, two 7A teams the Spartans are looking to beat in hopes of another playoff run.
Volleyball team looks to replicate historic season
Photo by Will Davis
Girls volleyball team huddles up for an inspirational talk.

18
Sports
The Sword & Shield
By ALEC LEWIS
Sports Editor
Playing on a brand new turf and preparing in a fully-furnished field house, the Mountain Brook football team has hit the field and is primed to duplicate the heart and the fight of last year’s team.
“To me, the thing that’s exciting is that the desire and the demand of this football program have only continued to grow,” Spartans coach Chris Yeager said. “With this new field house and all of the new facilities fully renovated, things are great for Mountain Brook football.”
This past week, Mountain Brook faced Hoover in a rematch of 2011’s season-defying game, as the then-undefeated Spartans defeated the undefeated Buccaneers for the first time since 1984.
This time around, both teams were winless as Hoover was defeated in its first two games and Mountain Brook was unable to get past Huntsville in the Spartans’ first game, losing 22-21.
Hoover, boasting seven division-one signees and two straight state championship rings, was able to defeat the Spartans, 12-0, thanks to as athletic a defense as there is in all of high school football.
Mountain Brook began by feeding the ball to seniors Drew Odum and John Eagan, allowing the Spartans to run the clock and keep the score close.
Mountain Brook was able to hold Hoover’s points to a minimum in the first half with solid defense and tackling by junior Joe Donald as well as seniors George Eagan and Ridley Culp, and by the third quarter, the Spartans trailed only 3-0.
“I’m very proud of the way the defense played Friday night,” said senior quarterback Jacob Carroll. “They set the tone in the first quarter that we weren’t going down with a fight. From an offensive standpont, to play against Hoover’s defense or the Spartan defense, I’d pick Mountain Brook’s every time.”
Then, in the second half, Hoover’s speedy wide receiver Alex Elam made a move past a Spartans cornerback and caught a 68-yard touchdown pass, extending Hoover’s lead and ultimately allowing the Bucs to take down the Spartans.
“I thought we would have our opportunities, and if our defense played well, which they did, and we could be opportunistic on offense we could have our chances,” said Yeager. "But we missed a field goal; we dropped some passes. I didn’t think we would get many opportunities. They’re not going to give people many opportunities so you better make the most of them when you get them, and we didn’t.”
This week’s home-opener and Homecoming game against Thompson, a team that has begun this season with three straight losses, is one that Mountain Brook is most certainly looking to win.
“We’re trying to have a good week of practice going into this game. We’re hoping we can come together as a unit and get our first win,” said Donald.
As Mountain Brook’s defense looks to continue their early season success, the Spartans are looking to advance past regional foes Spain Park, Vestavia, and Hewitt-Trussville on their way to a solid year in new class 7A.
Spartan Football aims to succeed in first 7A season
Photo courtesy of Image Arts
Senior Drew Odum breaks away from defenders on a kick return.

19
Reviews
The Sword & Shield
By CARTER ENNIS
Staff Writer
Behold the Samurai, elite warriors whose skill in the art of death has become the stuff of legends.
The current Lethal Beauty exhibit at The Birmingham Museum of art displays the arms and armor of these world renowned knights until September 21. For only just $10, you can see what is easily one of the most interesting exhibits the museum has offered in quite some time.
Lethal Beauty features three complete armor sets, each with exquisite detail and distinct personality. The pieces shown are true works of art, with patterns, meticulous designs, and calligraphy adorning the surface of every helmet, cuirass and mask on display.
The weapons in the exhibit are certainly on par with the armor. Not only are they often illuminated with precise designs that reflect ancient Japanese culture, but also the craftsmanship is outstanding. The blades on display were obviously not meant for just cutting butter. They have all been magnificently curated too, giving eating a fine reflective surface.
Along with these tools of warfare is a collection of artifacts which complement the subject matter well. These paintings, sketches and writings help to show feudal Japan’s societal aspects in a way that no mere plaque on the wall could. They offer insight into not only the lives of the Samurai, but the Japanese proletariat, which is something Western media often fails to address.
The exhibit’s only drawback is that it is too short. The exhibit is only about three rooms long and can be thoroughly looked over in 30 minutes. This fault, however, is easily overshadowed by the amount and richness of the items on display.
All in all, the Lethal Beauty exhibit is one of the best ways one can spend $10 in Birmingham. If you have an interest in the Samurai, have seen a Samurai movie at some point, or just like looking at sharp objects, then you should head down the Birmingham Museum of Art and take a gander at Lethal Beauty. You will not be disappointed.
The Art of Death on display at Birmingham Museum of Art
Photo by Carter Ennis
Lethal Beauty, an exhibit about Japanese Samuri art, is on display.

20
Reviews
The Sword & Shield
Putting protein bars to the ultimate test...
Because protein is an essential part of one’s diet, it’s no shock that protein bars are slowly gaining popularity. These nutrient-rich bars are an easy on-the-go snack, and most are extremely tasty. But protein bars are no different from any other processed food. Although they are marketed as a healthy option for people to consume necessary nutrients, most protein bars are as unhealthy as other machine-made, highly artificial snacks.
The Sword & Shield hit up the local grocery stores to put protein bars to the ultimate test.
Which bars are truly natural, and which bars are merely fake?
Rating: 5/5
Taste: Über bars come in eight different flavors, all made from
whole fruits and nuts. The Apple Turnover bar is exceptional for people who like apples and walnuts. This bar is surprisingly fresh and natural compared to original Lärabar bars.
Nutrition: Three grams of protein, 190 calories, ten grams of fat and 21 grams of carbohydrates
Special Benefits: Über bars are gluten free and contain only natural ingredients.
Verdict: Über bars are tasty, healthy and natural, and they consist of many important nutrients.
Lärabar Über: Apple Turnover
Clif Bar: Blueberry Crisp
Rating: 3/5
Taste: Clif Bars come in a large variety of flavors such as Banana Nut Bread, Apricot, Chocolate, and Chocolate Mint. One of the most popular flavors is Blueberry Crisp. Its taste is similar to that of a blueberry muffin, which is perfect for breakfast or an afternoon snack.
Nutrition: Ten grams of protein, 250 calories, five grams of fat and 43 grams of carbohydrates
Special Benefits: Clif bars are not made with any high fructose corn syrup, artificial sweeteners, artificial flavors or synthetic preservatives.
Verdict: The Clif Blueberry Crisp bar has a natural taste and is moderately healthy, but they are definitely not the best addition to one’s diet.
Photo by Leigh Lewis
By LEIGH LEWIS
Staff Writer

21
Reviews
The Sword & Shield
Rating: 4/5
Taste: Grab the Gold Bars come in only one flavor: chocolate-peanut butter. Tasting somewhat like a Reese’s candy, these bars have an appealing taste. Although the bar is made with all natural ingredients, they do not look “all natural.” In other words, they are mushy brown bars that are not even the slightest bit enticing.
Nutrition: 11 grams of protein, 193 calories, five grams of fat and 25 grams of carbohydrates
Special Benefits: Gold bars are gluten free, vegan, dairy free and high in fiber. They also contain no high fructose corn syrup and no preservatives.
Verdict: Grab the Gold Bars are made with all natural ingredients and are a healthy option. The unappetizing appearance of these bars can be easily overlooked after taking only a small bite.
Grab the Gold Bar
Rating: 1/5
Taste: Lärabar bars come in over 20 unique flavors such as Carrot Cake, Cappuccino and Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough. The Peanut Butter Cookie bar is overly sweet and tastes very artificial.
Nutrition: Seven grams of protein, 220 calories, 12 grams of fat and 23 grams of carbohydrates
Special Benefits: Lärabar bars are gluten free, dairy free, soy free and vegan.
Verdict: With only three ingredients, this bar is extremely natural. However, the bar’s unappealing taste overrides its healthiness.
Larabar: Peanut Butter Cookie
Rating: 5/5
Taste: Kind bars are made with all natural ingredients, and they taste noticeably fresher than most other protein bars. The Almond and Coconut bar has a perfect amount of sweetness; it tastes of roasted coconut and a hint of honey with an added crunch from the almonds. The bar’s taste greatly surpassed all other bars.
Nutrition: Three grams of protein, 190 calories, 12 grams of fat and 21 grams of carbohydrates
Special Benefits: Although this bar has only a small amount of protein, it is a great source of fiber and is gluten free.
Verdict: The Kind Almond and Coconut bar is a perfect source of nutrients. With all natural ingredients and great benefits, there are almost no negatives to the bar.
Kind Bar: Almond and Coconut

22
Opinions
The Sword & Shield
Were he around, Sir Walter Raleigh would be quaking in his boots. I bet he never thought there would be a day when someone could have their nicotine fix without his precious tobacco, but where there’s a will, there’s a way.
Ok, maybe that isn’t the best expression to use considering the subject matter, but the ever growing e-cigarette industry isn’t something that we can ignore. According to the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), from 2011-12, e-cigarette usage nearly doubled among high school age students, adding to the 23.2% of students who already use tobacco products. I spoke to Mr. Jeremy Crigger, and it seems like MBHS falls right along those national trends: “You know, I would say going back three years ago I probably had one or two that year. Last year I think I probably took up a total of maybe five, and this year, I’ve already gotten one.”
But what’s so special about these e-cigarettes? Theoretically, they can be used as a form of NRT (Nicotine Replacement Therapy). They mimic all the actions of smoking and supply the much needed nicotine that smokers are after, so when cigarette users remember the fact that smoking is the leading cause of lung cancer in America, they can go pick themselves out a brand new e-cigarette.
And it shouldn’t be hard to come across one. You see them marketed heavily on TV and in social media. Even celebrities have used them at awards shows. It’s like a blast from the past. E-cigarettes are being marketed just like cigarettes were back when everyone started smoking. E-cigarette companies are campaigning hard for their products, reiterating again and again that their products are safe and help people quit smoking.
But I just don’t buy it. First of all, you can’t claim something is safe without knowing the long-term effects of it. Plus, how can they really be any safer than just smoking a regular cigarette? Though companies say there aren’t any harmful chemicals in their e-cigs, nicotine is still involved, and that’s what causes people to become addicted. Honestly, why do cigarette smokers even need e-cigarettes? Using nicotine gum and smoking patches work just fine, so why not use those? Using an e-cig is just like transferring one addiction to another. It’s not really quitting if you’re still consuming nicotine, right?
Then, to make matters worse, e-cigarettes aren’t regulated by the FDA, and there’s little to no information on what effect e-cigs have on pregnant women and their babies.
So maybe Sir Walter Raleigh would be sitting around laughing and puffing on his e-pipe. Who knows? Maybe e-cigarettes won’t even stick around. But, based on trends, I don’t think they’re going anywhere anytime soon. Though they may be unregulated and potentially unsafe, people continue to use them, hopping on the e-cigarette bandwagon in growing numbers.
By CHANDLER GORY
Managing Editor
First e-mail, then e-books, now e-cigs
The USA will send a team full of NBA stars to compete in the International Basketball Federation (“FIBA”) tournament in September. However, from the moment NBA superstar Paul George suffered a gruesome compound fracture to his leg during a USA basketball practice game, a debate has raged about whether NBA stars should risk serious injury by participating in such tournaments.
After the initial shock of seeing such an awful injury, fans like me quickly lined up on either side of the issue. My opinion has evolved since that first reaction.
Thanks to television, commercials and ESPN, we’re constantly taught that to be chosen to represent our country is the ultimate honor. We invented basketball, our NBA stars represent the pinnacle of achievement in the sport and we like to show off just how much better we are than everybody else. Consequently, there’s an intense group of fans that feel that Paul George absolutely should be participating and that the honor of playing on America’s team far exceeds the risk of a career-ending injury. God Bless America! Shut up and play!
FIBA will make millions on this tournament. The star players in America volunteer and even compete for a spot on the team. Neither the NBA nor the individual teams that draft, employ and invest millions in these young stars get a dime. Should this matter? At the very least, I agree with Mark Cuban, owner of the Dallas Mavericks, who argues that the NBA team should share in the financial benefit if they are allowing their stars to risk injury for the good old USA. But Cuban and I may be missing the most important point.
None of the NBA players have come out against participating in this or other international basketball events. Whether Cuban adds to his billions is not their issue. They grew up playing the sport they love and have achieved the highest level in their profession. They want to play. They want to represent their country. They want to enjoy the camaraderie that they can’t experience during the NBA season when they’re busy competing against each other for a title. Each star that has given an interview says first, that they’re heartbroken for Paul George, but then quickly add that injuries are part of the game. My early opinion against our players’ participation in these tournaments has shifted.
The USA team is now back on the court after a brief break. Even after the scary injury to Paul George, other NBA stars are eager to join our country’s team and play on this worldwide stage. Rather than complaining about the injury to one of my favorite players, or about all the money involved, I now find myself eager to simply watch our best players go up against the rest of the basketball-loving countries. If love of the game and their country and respect for each other are good enough reasons for the players, then they’re good enough for me.
By COKE MATTHEWS
Opinons Editor
Would you break a leg for your country?
Cartoon by Sarah Beth Daniel
Photo courtesy of www.sporttechie.com
Team USA gears up for scrimmage.

23
Opinions
The Sword & Shield
Mountain Brook: home to all the filthy rich, snobby, know-it-all, sassy, inappropriate, rude and obnoxious. Well, at least that’s how Jaime Primak Sullivan, the main character in Bravo’s new reality TV show “Jersey Belle” portrays us.
First of all, let’s just get one thing straight; she doesn’t even live in Mountain Brook. Sullivan lives in an area of Cahaba Heights, which is considered Vestavia Hills territory according to Mountain Brook officials. In fact, most of the Belles on the show don’t live anywhere near the villages. So how can someone who doesn’t even live in Mountain Brook act like she has been living there her whole life?
Although she doesn’t even live here, she is portraying the Tiny Kingdom as one big, obnoxious and immature community. Mountain Brook is known for its classy, southern culture. After this new reality TV show, all the positive attention Mountain Brook has gained over the years will disappear thanks to “Jersey Belle.” Sullivan might be trying to be the funny one of her little circle of friends, but to TV viewers, she is crude and tacky. The show is only entertaining because it is so ridiculously fake.
“Every Mountain Brook woman loves her silver,” exclaimed Sullivan in her awful accent in the season premier. HA! Please, give me a break! What would she know about Mountain Brook women? Oh, wait, that’s right, she doesn’t know anything. Nice try, Sullivan, but “every Mountain Brook woman” knows the difference between a sweet southern accent and a fake one.
Sullivan is demonstrating not only how much of an embarrassment she is to the town, she is representing the city of Mountain Brook as a whole. The show is casting the city in an undesirable, negative light. Bravo apparently needs to dig a little deeper. People in a show about Mountain Brook should actually be from or live in Mountain Brook. Background checks on the "stars" should definitely be in order.
Jersey Belle invades Tiny Kingdom
By BROOKE TUCKER
Staff Writer
It’s that time of year again, folks. The leaves are turning brown, the sun rises later than it used to, we rise earlier than we’re used to and boys have been spotted swapping ideas in the halls on how to ask a girl to Homecoming.
For the past few weeks, it hasn’t been unusual to see an especially eager boy standing in someone’s parking spot with flowers or anxiously stuffing balloons into a girl’s locker before she gets to school. It’s not even that unusual to see chalked murals depicting very fancy word art and stick figures asking the age old question: “Will you go to Homecoming with me?” The boys slave over making the entire event perfect and remarkable beyond reproach, which is sad considering the amount of time the girl takes to give her answer. These originally uncharacteristic spottings have become a social norm, and that is a problem.
My point is that it IS an age old question. Boys have been asking girls to Homecoming since there even was a Homecoming dance. Up until a few years ago, it was about as low-key as nonchalantly asking your girlfriend or a girl friend in a side conversation. Then, suddenly, the unique bug hit MBHS like swine flu. It isn’t enough anymore to simply talk to the girl; now, as a boy, you have to practically woo her in hopes of bribing her into attending a school dance. Besides having to come up with an idea, it has to be new, sweet and better than any other before the beginning of time. Even couples that have been going steady for years have to ask creatively because face-to- face conversation isn’t fascinating enough.
Girls, why do we ask so much of our dates? They just want to hang out with us at a dance and maybe dance a little. Why do we ask them to impress us and bribe us with chocolate chip cookies that spell in green and gold icing what we knew was coming all along? If we keep this trend going, our own kids will have to recite Shakespearean monologues to our friends’ daughters outside their physics class or learn the art juggling flaming torches just to spell the question HOMECOMING? Do we really want to ruin the next generation’s lives as they go through flaming hoops just to hang out with girls for one night? Yes, it makes us feel special and loved, but the whole world isn’t ready to handle that much creativity and cookie dough, much less our little high school.
Not to mention that I haven’t heard anything about girls scrambling to ask boys to our debutante balls in new and fascinating spectacles. Granted, I think that maybe girls in general don’t scramble, but we aren’t reciprocating the favor done to us for Prom and Homecoming.
Furthermore, this charade puts pressure not only on the boys who come up with this crazy stuff, but also on the girls who are asked and turn the guy down. By making a simple question into a public display of affection, the girl feels pressured to accept the offer, even if she doesn’t want to go to Homecoming at all. This whole intricate cat-and-mouse game between boys and girls over one simple dance has gone too far.
As a girl, I do not think we should pressure the boys to cater to our dream dates and Hollywood ideals. We may not live to fulfill the high school experience of our wishes, but we should expect the biggest and best as the social norm. It becomes a public show-boating exercise and puts undue pressure on both the boys and the girls.
American Horror Story: Homecoming Dates
By CLAIRE DAVIS
Co-Editor in Chief
Cartoon by Claire Davis
“Oh, this? I just whipped it up from some scrap metal and lightbulbs in my backyard, welded it together on the weekends, and set it up in your parking spot at 4 o’clock this morning, coordinating the fireworks with your arrival. So....?”

Best All Around:
Cate Harmon
Stephen Little
Most Likely
to Succeed:
Natalie Jones
Vince Bolus
Most Intellectual:
Ellie Naff
Casey Fan
Most Active in the
Community:
Madalyn Rosenthal
Paul Roth
Best Personality:
Mary Seldon Andrews
Tucker Deaton
Most School Spirit:
Katie Reiss
Cooper Barnes
Most Athletic:
Abby Garrett
Drew Odum
Most Talented
in Writing:
Claire Davis
Lewis Fitzpatrick
Most Talented
in Music:
Emily Sink
Andrew King
Most Talented
in Drama:
Hampton Adams
Hunter Stanley
Most Talented in Art:
Kelley Jiang
William Pankey
Best Looking:
Mary Farley Stevens
Will Freeman
Andrew Frese
Cutest:
Hannah Louise Perkinson
Angel Reglero
Best Dressed:
Findlay Shelfer
John Eagan
Friendliest:
Ann Hollon Morris
Ben Rysedorph
Wittiest:
Cile Baker
Quint Jones
Senior
Superlatives
Maggie is a member of both
the National and French Honor
Societies. She also is involved in
First Priority, the Ambassadors,
Natural Helpers, and the Key Club.
For the past five years, Maggie
has been a key member of
Mountain Brook’s varsity and
junior varsity volleyball teams.
Her mom says, “Besides volleyball,
she loves to run and go to fitness
classes.”
Away from school and the
volleyball court, Maggie works
hard, spending the past three
summers as a lifeguard and
afternoons during the school year
as a nanny. She also is involved
with her church youth group.
For several years, she has
donated new toys and books to
children at Preschool Partners
and participated in Angel Tree
adoptions. “Maggie is a motivator
and an up lifter,” her mom
says. “She has a very positive
attitude and she loves to help the
underdog.”
When asked what Maggie would
bring if stranded on a desert island,
her mom did not hesitate in saying
“her Bible” while jokingly adding,
“her cell phone, of course!”
Her parents note that Maggie
wants to serve others as an adult.
“When Maggie ‘grows up’, she
wants to be a teacher,” says her
mom. “She has always said she
wants to make a difference in
someone’s life.”
Whether that is at Auburn or
Clemson—her two choices for
college—Maggie’s conscientious
approach to school work will serve
her well.
As is custom, this afternoon,
Maggie will bring up the end of the
traditional 2:30 p.m. Homecoming
parade. Her father, Chip, is
scheduled to escort his daughter
during the halftime festivities
tonight. At that time, following the
introduction of the Homecoming
court, Maggie Neal will be crowned
Mountain Brook High School’s
2014-15 Homecoming Queen.
NOTICE OF NONDISCRIMINATION: The Mountain Brook School system does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, disability or age in any
of its programs and activities and provides equal access to the Boy Scouts and other designated youth groups. The following persons have been designated to handle inquiries re-garding
nondiscrimination policies: Dr. Dale Wisely—Director of Student Services (Title VI), (wiselyd@mtnbrook.k12.al.us); Mrs. Sylvia Harper—Personnel Director (Title IX),
(harpers@mtnbrook.k12.al.us); Dr. Missy Brooks—Director of Instruction (Title II), (wildman-brooksm@mtnbrook.k12.al.us); Mrs. Shannon Mundy—Special Education Director
(Section 504), (mundyl@mtnbrook.k12.al.us). Contact Information: 32 Vine Street, Mountain Brook, AL 35213, 205-871-4608.
Photo courtesy of Beth and Chip Neal
Maggie Neal flashes her sweet smile from an
early age.
H2o4mecoming Friday, September 12, 2014
The Sword & Shield
“Queen,” page 1
Sophomores:
Brooke Holloway
Carter Kampakis
Class Favorites
Juniors:
Adele Bird
Jackson Kidd

2014-15 Volume 1 : Homecoming Issue

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2014-15 Volume 1 : Homecoming Issue