Journalism in July (JIJ) has been helping aspiring high school journalists expand their knowledge in the profession at the University of Texas at El Paso summer program for the past eight years.

First year director Nick Miller sees the program as a learning experience for both mentors and students as they face the changes in technology.

“I knew it was something to help train young journalists become more adapted to all the facets of multimedia,” Miller said. “I think the importance of having camps like this is that they give a lot of information in a compressed amount of time. I think this is giving a sample of what it’s like being a journalist.”

In 1999, journalist pioneer and former UTEP student Sam Donaldson recorded the first podcast used for reporting news, a revolution for journalism. Students in the program use Donaldson’s innovation to create an online website where they produced video packages.

“Some of the first journalists didn’t have pencils at all, they were the town criers and then as the printing press, paper and pencils came about, the idea is those were all the different tools,” Miller said. “The tools have evolved.”

Journalism in July student, Sarah Skirmont helps with the production of a video, one of the many facets to the multimedia workshop. photo by Stephanie Avalos

Two years ago, JIJ made the switch from a solely print program to a multimedia project. Students are now required to accompany a story with video, audio, pictures and an online story.

“When I was in the program two years ago, it was in its first year of going into multimedia,” former student, Garrett Anderson said. “It was the beginning of an integration for both JIJ and multimedia, but there has been so much done since the two years that I was here.”

As JIJ grows in experience they start to recruit students from outside the boarders. Genaro Cruz is one of three Juarez students who have attended the workshop in the last two years.

“We have a communication class [in Juarez] where we get to learn about journalism, television and newspapers, but we don’t have any kind of publication,” Cruz said. “I’m taking back not only all the basics of journalism, but also having to work on an audio and print story.”

Since the program started in 2002, the program has evolved from teaching and producing strictly print publications to the array of a technology savvy production.

“Each year the finished product is more dynamic. We’ve progressed so much in two years I couldn’t even venture to say where the media is going to be in the next four years,” JIJ coordinator, Mike Brooks said. “Maybe we’ll be doing a 3-D publication with a laser holograph.”

Friends and family sign the guest book at the Abraham Plaza Theatre behind a photo of Tom Enger. photo by Briana Sanchez

Adorned  in an array of tie-dyed tee shirts and black leather vests, hundreds of individuals gathered at the Abraham Plaza Theatre on Saturday, June 5 to commemo rate the colorful life of former theatre teacher, Thomas Franklin Enger. Enger, 56, passed away on May 29, 2010 from complications stemming from a brain aneurism.

Enger taught drama at Franklin High School for a decade, retiring in 2008. At the gathering, friends and family members spoke of the man who was friend, actor, political activist and teacher.

“He was a brother, husband, friend, teacher, actor. He was a literature enthusiast although not so much a literature teacher enthusiast,” son Paul Enger said. “He was a good father, I wasn’t ready for this, I don’t think any of us were and nobody wants to say goodbye to someone who was as loved as my dad.”

Many cherished Tom’s tender personality, which lasted a lifetime.

 “You think about the people that touch your lives, and as I get older you start to think of the important things in your life, and the important things are the people that touch your life,” friend Beth Curland said. “He made you feel special and made you feel like you belonged and that carried out through adulthood, this is a very special person who obviously touched many lives.”           

Tom was not only able to leave a lasting impression, but he also left life lessons.

“The most important thing that Tom did, and taught us is that you really can’t do it your way, you have to stop fooling around and do it your way,” friend Billy Brown said.

Tom’s wardrobe became the inspiration for the service, and it was mentioned by friends.

“Tom I’ll never forget loaned me his prized Cherry Garcia tie dye t-shirt, I felt so horrible.  I must have held on to it for at least a year before returning it. When I returned it, it was like seeing a long lost child,” friend Tom Lutz said. “People can try to impersonate, mimic and copy Tom Enger, but in the end, that’s all we can do.  Now if you’ll excuse me, I have some dye that I need to add to my shirts.”

With a tearful close to the service, son Paul characterizes his dad in a way many before him did as well.

“I prefer to use the term ‘no longer with us.’ He’s not gone as long as we remember him,” Paul said. “If there’s any defining characteristic that can define him it is energy. Energy cannot be destroyed.”

His imprint on the lives of his students has left an indelible mark.

Mr. Enger was the first person to show me the wonder in theatre, was the first to see me as a stage manager, and one of the first to people to have more confidence in me than I had in myself. Most importantly he taught me the value of pride in one’s work and how it’s one’s individuality that makes a person special. It’s due to his untiring efforts as a teacher, a mentor, and a friend that I am where I am today,” former student Katy Davis said. “With every production I stage manage, and every film I PA I will think of him and thank God I had such an amazing influence in my life. I owe him so much, and maybe one day I can tell him all about it.

Enger’s funeral service was held on Monday, June 7 at Ft. Bliss National Cemetery.

story by Chris Canales, editor in chief

If taxpayers do not pass the Tax Ratification Election, the El Paso Independent School District is in trouble.  As it is, the district is in a hole, and not due to mismanagement of funds, as many vocal yet misinformed members of the community have suggested.

Some concerned citizens, including State Senator Eliot Shapleigh, have recently voiced concerns about inconsistencies in the number of TAKS testers at Bowie High School and have, as a result, called on voters to defeat the Ratification Election. I do not know if any wrongdoing occurred within the leadership of EPISD and Bowie High School, but even if the numbers were purposely altered, it does not change the fact that the additional funds are vital to the proper education of El Paso’s youth.

Simply put, the district is expanding beyond its means, far too rapidly for even the best functioning organization to keep up with. Without additional funds, the EPISD will be forced to cut several vital programs and fire many teachers at campuses across the city. This cannot be allowed to happen; voters must pass the TRE.

The revenue for a school district primarily comes from the taxes that are levied on the homeowners. If the value of your home goes up, that means you have to pay a little bit more. You would think that the district would get more of that money, but the problem is that the state reduces the district’s share accordingly. Thus, the district has been operating on the same amount of money for the past four years while inflation has raised the prices of goods and services.

A Tax Ratification Election is one of two sources for new funding for Texas public schools under House Bill 1, which established a targeted income for schools based on average daily attendance when it was passed in the 2005/2006 session. Other than a TRE, the only way schools can increase the funding they receive from the state is to increase attendance figures, which are already at the upper periphery of reasonable figures in EPISD.

In a TRE, the district must request an additional one-time tax rate increase of no more than 13 cents per $100 of assessed property value.  If the community approves this one-time increase, the state match the increase and will continue the new level of yearly funding for the next ten years. Thus, the district will realize tenfold the amount of the initial contribution over the next decade. If the TRE is passed, the district will take in $17.5 million from local property taxes and an additional $19.3 million from the state, a rate a little bit better than a one-for-one match. The community would provide over 47% of the TRE funding and then the state would provide about 52%.

Opponents of the TRE argue that EPISD is going to be receiving increased funds over the next several years as the number of students in the district increases. It is true that EPISD will see more students coming in due to the expansion of Fort Bliss, in addition to other students coming in to our community, but an increase in student population requires more teachers, more equipment and more supplies. The additional money will only fund the basic necessities of those students. It will not fund any additional increases that the district needs to implement additional programs.

Those opposed to the increase also argue that the district already received an increase in funds when the EPISD/Ft. Bliss Bond passed in 2007, giving the district about $230 million.  Many say the district mismanaged these funds. This assertion simply is not true. Of the $230 million, $227.4 million was used to build new schools and make improvements to existing campuses. The other $2.6 million was used to for administrative costs and cost associated with the issuing of the bond. The 2007 Bond was requested because the EPISD needed immediate funding, and the money the district was given was used for pressing projects.

Since 2006, EPISD has cut $29 million off of its budget. Increasing demands from the state and increased operating costs have made it impossible to operate on the current budget, and the district has no room to cut any more. If the TRE does not pass, drastic measures will be necessary, including firing hundreds of teachers across the city. While a property tax increase may be an inconvenience, the TRE must pass in order to maintain the high quality of El Paso schools and ensure a future generation of well-educated El Pasoans.

It’s 3 o’clock in the morning and senior Gustavo Esquinca is working on his art piece at the absolute last minute. He holds the paintbrush at a perpendicular angle from the canvas, and adds the final touches to his painting.

Esquinca, since age nine, knew that art was his passion—when he’s not pulling pranks in the Journalism room.

“I don’t think of my art as a ‘hobby’ because is it a major aspect of my life and something I plan on pursuing in my field of study,” Esquinca said. “I have had many different inspirations for my art over the years. Just as interest and priorities change as I grow up, so do the ideas behind my art.”

After high school, Esquinca will move to Denver and attend Rocky Mountain College of art and design and peruse a bachelor’s degree in graphic design and interactive media.

“I’m going to miss my art class and the teachers I got to grow close with throughout the years,” Esquinca said. “But what I’m going to miss the most is Ms. Antebi always saying that my worst artistic quality is my inability to get anything done on time.”

Art teacher Barbara Antebi has taught Esquinca since his freshman year.

“He’s been my student too long. Sometimes I feel like I gave birth to him. I should take him as a tax deduction,” Antebi said. “I’ll miss him not getting his assignments done; but what I really will miss is watching him grow, and I’m really anxious to see what he’s going to do when he gets to college and how the things that he’s learned over the past four years are going to play into that.”

Antebi believes that the best part of being a teacher is watching her students mature in their art.

“I believe that his intuitive way of understanding what is in my head and his ability to translate into his artwork has made a personal impact on me,” Antebi said. “Gus’s worst artistic quality is his inability to get anything done on time and his best is his incredible talent for illustration.”

During his sophomore year, Esquinca’s mother wanted to transfer him to another school, but Antebi convinced her otherwise.

“I’m glad I stayed here for as long as I have. Ms. Antebi has pushed me to get to where I am today,” Esquinca said. “I didn’t expect to learn as much as I have. She taught me how to think like an artist and to respect my work.”

Glancey brought in over $1.4 million, while Zebrowski is worth nearly half a million. Glancey is going to the U.S. Naval Academy, while Zebrowski will attend the University of Chicago.

As of Wed. May 26, Franklin seniors have earned $13,815,749 in university monies, surpassing last year’s total amount. Furthermore, this amount is projected to increase.

“University monies are scholarships and some financial aid such as Pell grants,” scholarship coordinator Bonnie McLaughlin said. “We believe that [this number] is going to go up because we have to yet to get some information from New Mexico State. We have students who will go to New Mexico State, and they’re usually eligible for a state tuition waver.”

Due to the FERPA (Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act), the counseling center is unable to release individual accumulations. Senior Nick Zebrowski, however, is not shy about the fact that he has earned over $500K in scholarships. Though, he does not have the exact total.

“I don’t have a record of the amount due to some unfortunate and tragic circumstances,” Zebrowski said. “My mother felt that her prized living room was being invaded by my massive amount of papers, which included all of my scholarship letters, and proceeded to put them through the shredder.”

The mess, however, was not of his own making.

“I only applied to one [scholarship] – the El Paso Sunturian PassPort scholarship, where I conveniently earned two round-trip tickets a year for four years,” Zebrowski said. “However, for the most part I feel like there must have been some sort of divine intervention involved, because schools where I did not apply would call me and offer me bountiful amounts of money.”

Despite the attention, Zebrowski is unphased.

“I don’t feel like I am worth half a million dollars,” Zebrowski said. “I am priceless, like an ancient Chinese vase; save for the fact that I am not useless.”

Zebrowski says the scholarship money insures sanity.

“Having these scholarships, particularly the full tuition at the University of Chicago, where I will be attending in the fall, will enable me to enjoy college life with the ease of mind that I will not be drowning in debt for years to come,” Zebrowski said.

Zebrowski is not the only moneymaker. Senior Megan Glancey received $835K in scholarships, including a full ride to the US Naval Academy, setting her on the path to becoming a naval officer.

“I didn’t know if I was getting into the [Naval] Academy, but I knew that I wanted to be an officer in the navy,” Glancey said.

The lengthy application for scholarships did not cause Glancey to doubt.

“My application process [for the ROTC scholarship] started last August,” Glancey said. “I went to the local recruiter, talked to him, gave an interview and started the basic scholarship process. He told me that I was on the fast track to receiving my scholarship because my credentials were good.”

Then the money poured in.

“First, I was accepted to the prep school, which was worth $125K for a year long program,” Glancey said. “Then I held out and was accepted to the Naval Academy, and that was worth about $540K. I applied to Baylor because it didn’t require an essay and there was no application fee. I didn’t really want to go to Baylor, but they gave me $50K.”

Glancey says that the military’s investment will be repaid in full.

“I’ll repay every cent through my service,” Glancey said. “I’m selling myself to the sea.”

As rain pours, senior Collin Hunt observes the students of Texas A&M cheer on their fellow Aggie football players with hoarse, but prideful, voices. He is fascinated by the unity of his future peers as he comes to the conclusion that this is indeed the right college choice.

Hunt, a National Merit Scholar, is attending A&M on a full-ride scholarship.

Some of the students going to Texas A&M include National Merit finalist Collin Hunt, NHS president Catherine Osborn and baseball player Mark Silverthorn. photo illustration by Megan Cahalan

“I’m majoring in Aerospace Engineering, which allows me to pursue my lifelong dream of helping put a man on Mars,” Hunt said. “When I’m there, I want to get involved in some of the great student research programs A&M has along with organizations like Engineers Without Borders, which will allow me to apply what I’ve learned to benefit the global community.”

While Hunt is attending A&M to fulfill personal goals, senior Mark Silverthorn, who is going on federal grants, hopes to make a change during his stay at the school.

“I [intend] to make a difference on my campus,” Silverthorn said. “I’ll major in Mechanical Engineering, and possibly play baseball.”

However, senior Catherine Osborn isn’t just going to A&M for herself, she’s going in honor of a former friend. Majoring in business, Osborn intends on bringing along the spirit of her late best friend, Matt Hicks, who always dreamed of A&M. Hicks passed away on Dec. 11, 2007 from cancer.

“Matt got me interested in it during freshman and sophomore year,” Osborn said. “Then, once I visited, it reminded me so much of him, with the friendliness and conservative atmosphere. I really wish we could be going together, but I know he’ll always be in my heart.”

Through seeing the campus itself and witnessing the bond between the peers in everyday life or even at football games, the three seniors are positive they’re on the right track.

“The sight of the entire student body showing up despite the pouring rain, yelling until they were hoarse, was awe-inspiring,” Hunt said. “It just emphasized the fact that this wasn’t just a school: it was a family.”

Robin Hood was made on a $200-million budget and was released on May 14, having an estimated profit of $242-million in the box office. photo courtesy of Universal Pictures

After watching numerous adaptations of the same story, I couldn’t help but to walk into the theaters with an open mind—maybe even with a hint of hope. Unfortunately, the newest composition of the Robin Hood tale was an epic letdown.

Scene after scene, the movie traveled in a continuous downward spiral. No time was given to develop any of the characters. Basically, I couldn’t wait for the whole farrago to come to an end.

This movie was a conglomerate of nonsense from start to finish. 2012 was a movie about the world coming to an end. It was horrible, but somewhat entertaining. This version of Robin Hood had me wishing the world would end, so I wouldn’t have to finish it. It was like a slow death.

Of course, everyone knows the story of Robin Hood; he steals from the rich to give to the poor. This is not that type of Robin Hood.  The movie is set up as a prequel; the film crew would’ve pulled it off too, had it not been for the fact that the screenwriters don’t know how to stay on the storyline path. They jump from place to place and don’t allow the audience to catch up.  When I heard the combination of actor Russell Crowe, director Ridley Scott, and a historic adventure, I instantly thought Gladiator 2—which is not necessarily a good thing.

The film pretends to be historically correct, but of course, that is a dressed up fantasy. There are a few battle scenes that are exciting, but not very convincing. In fact, they are completely ridiculous when you think you are watching a historically correct film. The worst for me were the boats in the final battle, apparently trying to induce a D-Day feeling.

Some scenes have a very slow pace, while other scenes are reduced to a few shots and proclamations. The end of the film reminds us that we were supposed to see the story of how the legend of Robin Hood started; the film makers just forgot to mention that ‘minor’ detail.

Although, there are some areas where I have to applaud the movie, with Russell Crowe and Cate Blanchett in the lead, we can always expect a powerful performance and rousing scenes of battles and romance. Even though Blanchett’s Marion is no maiden, it is easy to root for her because she is as feisty as she is handy with a bow and arrow.

Overall, the movie was made with a decent effort. Not the worst I’ve seen, but it could’ve been better. I only wish I had saved my $8 and waited for the DVD release.

Junior Sydney Rey and senior Mary Rochford represent the mother-daughter relationship in Southern society in The Last Night of Ballyhoo. photo by Briana Sanchez

by Hayden Pendergrass

In The Last Night of Ballyhoo by Alfred Uhry, the Franklin Theatre Troupe’s last performance of the year is an exquisite example of addressing the play’s theme of societal oppression through the universal experience of laughter. With effective acting, superb set and convincing costumes, the play’s performance successfully portrayed the Jewish experience in the South on the verge of World War II.

The play, written by the author of Driving Miss Daisy, centers around a family that is similar to the Christmas tree in their Jewish home, that is, set awkwardly in a world of societal oppression. With the upcoming cotillion, the titled Balyhoo, Lala Levy (junior Sydney Ray) and her mother Beulah (senior Mary Rochford) face the societal pressures of social acceptance, while a budding romance between Joe Farkas (junior Sebastion Orozco), hired by the family patriarch Adolph Freitag (junior Seth Beltran/sophomore Michael Quinn Lara), and Sunny Freitag (Casey McCool) is tempered by the social differences between Southern and “Yankee” Jews.

By the conclusion of the play, the familial rivalries existent between Sunny and Lala, and subsequently their mothers Beulah and Reba (senior Shelbie Ponder), are resolved upon the reconciliations between Lala and Sylvan “Peachy” Weil (junior Gilbert Bauman-Flores) and Sunny and Joe. Moreover, the question of the family’s true faith and their willingness to embrace is answered by the plays conclusion.

The overall quality of acting was superb; however, the only weakness of the play came from the inconsistent accents.  While the accents were present, many of the actors were unable to maintain them solidly throughout the play, which is understandable due to the rarity of Southern Jewish accents. Nevertheless, Beltran’s hilarious portrayal of Adolph, McCool’s convincing performance, and Rochford’s continually excellent acting ultimately made the play. Also, Bauman-Flores’s well-casted role as the boisterous Peachy made him a convincing performer as well. Moreover, the crowd’s reaction to the situational and verbal irony is a testament to the effectiveness of the play’s performance.

Furthermore, stage manager Ryan Dunn and director and theater teacher John Poteat also contributed greatly to the effectiveness of the play. The period dresses and furniture add the essential verisimilitude necessary in depicting realism, especially when the play is set nearly 70 years ago. Additionally, the music used during the scene transitions not only added to the 1930s ambiance, but it also afforded the crew extra time for the elaborate costume changes in the play.

Essentially, the Franklin Theater Troupe’s production of The Last Night of Ballyhoo is an entertaining and humorous story addressing the Jewish experience in a world and society full of cruel oppression, be it regional, religious, or social. With the successful acting and stage design, the play’s true message is carried across through its intended means, humor. This is truly a testament to the Theater Troupe’s success in producing four plays during Poteat’s second year as theater teacher and a curtain call for seniors Mary Rochford and Ryan Dunn.

Known around the school as student council president, Fusion dancer, Miss Franklin, All Franklin Girl and one of the top ten students in her class, Moriah Momsen will continue her success in Dallas at Southern Methodist University. photo by Karina Soares

story by Ana Garcia

It is fourth period and somewhere between the understanding of vectors and the index of refraction, a 214-area code flashes on Moriah Momsen’s phone. Confusion settles on her face as she strays from the lesson, only to remember that call is coming from Dallas, where the prospect of a $250,000 scholarship to Southern Methodist University has finally been decided.

Still in school, Momsen waits until she gets a new voicemail and secretly listens to the words she has been waiting to hear.

“I’m one of 30 of the whole freshmen class at SMU that they deemed worthy to get the [Presidential] Scholarship, so I’m going to get opportunities in the way of professors and connections,” Momsen said. “It was also really nice because I wasn’t just a number with them.”

The Presidential Scholarship selects 90 semifinalists to attend a weekend in Dallas for an interview. From there, 30 applicants are selected and receive, among other benefits, full tuition for four years of undergraduate education, room and board and a year study abroad.

The interview portion consists of sitting in a room across a table from five judges: three professors, one current presidential scholar and an alumni presidential scholar. Beforehand, the semifinalists are asked to prepare five books and three topics to discuss.

“I picked Anne of Green Gables, Blue Sweater and just books that I really loved,” Momsen said. “One of them was Mr. Willowby’s Christmas Tree, an illustrated book, so I knew they were either going to hate me or love me because of it. I went in there and I was ready.”

However, Momsen was a little taken aback of the welcome she received.

“[One of the judges] had read all my essays and all [my letters of recommendation],” Momsen said. “He read my resumé through and all of them knew my life almost better than I [did].”

Prior to receiving her scholarship, Momsen suspected that SMU might be the school for her and placed it in her top five.

“I realized, the more and more I started researching SMU, it’s perfect for me because I want to be an engineer, and SMU engineers are much more on the management side,” Momsen said. “They know the technique, but they’re not well versed. They can’t go onto a NASA spaceship and fix that one thing, but they can go in and run the show.”

However, there was a moment in time where Momsen was still unsure of whether or not she wanted to commit to SMU.

“$250,000 is a lot of money, and I was on the second round of the wait list at Harvard, so I probably could have gotten in had I said I still wanted to,” Momsen said. “I was faced with this huge decision and I was thinking, ‘Do I tell them I still want to go to Harvard not?’ I [thought] about it and SMU is perfect for me because it’s closer to home and I love Dallas.”