The article discusses upcoming remodeling plans for Mountain Brook High School facilities over the next few years. Leadership Mountain Brook has been working with designers on plans to remodel the school mall area to add more seating and separate social and study spaces. They also plan to remodel the lunchroom and library to add more versatile seating options. The remodels aim to improve areas that currently lack sufficient seating. Fundraising efforts will be needed to cover the estimated $350,000 cost of the projects.

1. The Sword & Shield
→ The Rooster on Montevallo, page 4
→ Foreign exchange students, pages 8 and 9
→ Binge-watching at MBHS, page 10
→ “Better Call Saul” for some quality entertainment, page 15
→ Locked side doors: yay or nay? page 16
INSIDE
Vol. XLIX No. 5 Mountain Brook High School March 27, 2015
Now Available
Online
News: 2-4 Features: 5-10 Sports: 11-13 Reviews: 14-15 Opinions: 16
By SCOTT LEPLEY
Staff Writer
Some of Mountain Brook’s best
musicians won’t be playing in the
next band competition. Instead,
they’ll be writing songs, covering
rock albums, and performing gigs.
Popular MBHS bands such as
Apollo, Stoopid Kat and Driftwood
are some of the most talented mu-
sicians in recent history at MBHS.
While many great musicians have
passed through the ranks of Moun-
tain Brook, this generation of musi-
cians bring the best vibes yet.
Apollo, formed by sophomores
Chase Robinett and Sam Nichols
in their 5th grade year, plays a soul-
ful combination of blues of south-
ern rock influenced by classic rock.
Apollo consists of sophomores
Robinett (guitar), Nichols (guitar,
vocals), Clay Higginbotham (bass,
vocals) and junior Cole Summer-
sell (drums).
Apollo has made appearances
in over 10 gigs, including Birming-
ham’s premier venue, Workplay.
The band covers a range of rock
and roll, spanning from Eric Clap-
ton to The Black Keys as well as
writing a handful of original tracks.
Robinett said, “The best part
about being in a band like Apollo
is hitting the road with the dudes
and doing what we love. We all love
feeling the music flow through our
veins.”
The new group on the block
is junior band Stoopid Kat and
Friends, known for their vibrant
onstage presence and creative
outfits. After a hiatus of over a year,
Stoopid Kat is returning to the
stage and adding guitarist Charlie
Cope to their lineup. Cope joins
leader James Franklin (guitar)
Connor Lantz (bass) and David
Gardner (drums).
Franklin said, “We are by the
people and for the people. We put
on a show that the people want to
see: popular songs, colorful outfits,
and good entertainment.”
Stoopid Kat covers all types of
music, or as Franklin describes
it, “a modge podge of music” but
focuses primarily on classic artists
such as Bob Dylan and the Rolling
Stones.
Another talented
group, Driftwood,
is a band of seniors
headed by keyboardist
Andrew King, who
likes to describe the
group as “more than
the music”. King, along
with Stephen Little
(vocals, guitar), Scott
Britton (bass), Tucker
Deaton (guitar) and
Cain Poynor (drums)
cover a wide variety
of music ranging from
popular bands such as
Phish and Sublime as
well as artists of other
genres such as Bruno
Mars and Marc Ronson
along with a few origi-
nal songs.
On March 13, both
Apollo and Stoopid
Kat put on a per-
formance at Spring
Street Firehouse in Avondale. Over
75 music fans came out to enjoy
Apollo and Stoopid Kat play clas-
sic jam songs such as “All Along
the Watchtower” and “Hey Ya” as
well as each band’s newest original
tracks.
MBHS student bands bring back the vibes
Photo by Scott Lepley
Stoopid Kat plays live at Spring Street Firehouse.
By COKE MATTHEWS
Opinions Editor
In the next few years, walk-
ing into the high school will feel
a whole lot different. Thanks to
the 22 juniors and seniors in this
year’s class of Leadership Moun-
tain Brook (LMB), the mall is
going to be remodeled over the
summer.
A small preview of things to
come includes the new water bot-
tle filling fountain by the coffee
bar and the new clock in the mall
– both of which were included in
the redesign proposal that LMB
presented to the Board of Educa-
tion last summer.
Mrs. Amber Benson, the
sponsor of LMB, explains that
“the current LMB group has been
meeting with Dekalb Furniture
and Business Interiors to work
on designs. We are also current-
ly working
with Principal
Amanda Hood
and other school
leaders on a cap-
ital campaign to
help raise funds
for the remodel-
ing of the mall,
lunchroom and
library.”
Though the
drawings of the
proposed rede-
sign of the new
mall are prelim-
inary, they offer insight into the
prospects and potential. The key
to the new design is the separa-
tion between two spaces: social
and study. Larger tables featuring
charging outlets will provide flat
surfaces for studying and working
while making the mall a more
convenient hangout spot for stu-
dents.
The tables will also be reshaped
to seat more people. According to
Benjamin Rosenthal, a junior in
LMB, “The new design will allow
for 50 students to find a place to
sit. It’s really exciting because we
have such trouble finding a place
to sit for lunch in the mall, and
this will help solve that issue.”
This remodeling will not only
take place in the mall, as plans are
being considered for redesigning
the lunchroom and library as
Mulling over proposed school remodeling for
2016-2017 school year
Photo courtesy of Amber Benson
This rendering of the proposed lunchroom features long booth seats and a variety of tables. Places like the
lunchroom and the mall are the targets of the new remodeling that is due to come in 2016 and 2017.
Please see “Remodeling”
Continued on page 3 for more
information about the new
school redesigns.

2. 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 re-
serve 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
The birds are chirping, the tempera-
ture is (finally) heating up and senior-
itis is infecting hundreds of thousands
of high school seniors across the
country. Yep, it’s finally spring.
With spring comes a hectic sched-
ule for everyone, especially here at The
Sword & Shield. After shedding blood,
sweat and tears, the staff has finally
compiled our March issue.
For those of you interested in the
new kids on the block, our Features
section is the place for you. Our staff
writers and editors sat down with
Luis Desvalls and Jason Dai to get the
inside scoop on these two foreign ex-
change students and their experiences
at Mountain Brook so far.
Maybe this warm weather has you
itching to go outside and support
our countless spring sports. If so, our
Sports section has all the information
you need.
Or, maybe you want to learn the
secrets behind the strange History
teacher who occasionally wears a kilt.
The Just a Chat with Mr. Shane Martin
will surely answer your questions. It is
definitely worth the read.
Well, now you’re on the downhill
slide to summer, so stay safe over
Spring Break and come back ready to
finish the year strong. As always, stay
classy Mountain Brook.
Thanks for reading,
Claire and John
Thomas Cooney
Will Davis
Carter Ennis
Casey Fan
Scott Lepley
Leigh Lewis
Caroline Lowe
Jonathan McWane
Lily Smith
Brooke Tucker
2news
Friday, March 27, 2015
The Sword & Shield
By THOMAS COONEY
Staff Writer
Mountain Brook has two boys high
school aged lacrosse teams, two boys
U15 teams, and a girls high school
team, all associated with GBYLA
(Greater Birmingham Youth Lacrosse
Association.) With all of this popu-
larity, it’s reasonable to wonder, why
is there no school-sanctioned lacrosse
team?
Lacrosse is one of the fastest
growing sports in the nation with
over 750,000 people playing nation-
wide and growing according to a 2013
participation survey conducted by U.S.
Lacrosse.
GBYLA players compete with local
teams like Briarwood, Hoover, Oak
Mountain and Vestavia. Players also
travel to play in tournaments across
the country in cities like New Orleans,
Peachtree and Baltimore.
Starting defense Hays Vogtle, soph-
omore, said, “It’s a lot of fun traveling
with the team and getting to compete
with teams from different regions.”
Many GBYLA players do not want
school-sanctioned lacrosse because
they fear losing their coaches. “Things
are great the way they are now. I would
rather not risk losing my coaches just
to be associated with the school,” said
starting mid-fielder Sims Herron.
Due to the lack of participation
in rural areas, Alabama High School
Athletic Association (AHSAA) has
voted down the sanctioning of lacrosse
as a sport, making the future of a
sanctioned team at Mountain Brook
bleaker.
With all the obstacles in the way,
it seems that a school-sanctioned
lacrosse team won't be in Mountain
Brook for the foreseeable future.
No lacrosse, no problem
Photo courtesy of Patrick Doud
Mountain Brook lacrosse team captains Mac Campbell, Zachary Carroll, Keller Briley,
Carter Dukes and Patrick Doud pose before a game.

3. 3news
Friday, March 27, 2015
The Sword & Shield
well. While the plans are con-
stantly changing, you can expect
to see more versatile seating
options and use of space.
Like with any remodeling proj-
ect, one of the largest obstacles is
the cost of the remodeling. When
asked about this challenge, LMB
junior Wells Thomas said, “The
PTO is going to help raise funds
for the mall, lunchroom and li-
brary through a capital campaign.
This lets the community get
involved and help.” Currently, the
fundraising goal is a whopping
$350,000. However, Mrs. Benson
is optimistic that the efforts to
involve parents, administration,
faculty, students and the com-
munity will make this lofty goal a
reality.
These proposed changes will
be a step in the right direction
in increasing convenience and
modernizing our mall and other
areas. While the changes won’t be
quick and simple, they will surely
be worth the wait.
Remodeling,
continued
from page 1
What is your favorite thing to do over
spring break?
“I like to snorkle for sea urchins.”
- Kennedy Schwefler, junior
“I like to be by myself out-
side and enjoy nature.”
- Taylor Lolly, senior
“I like to wear sunglass-
es and put on sandals.”
- Mary Claire Ritchey,
junior

4. 4news
Friday, March 27, 2015
The Sword & Shield
By CLAIRE DAVIS
Co-Editor-In-Chief
Chickens are big in Mountain
Brook. Growing chickens, keeping
chickens, eating chickens … chick-
ens are the biggest fad Mountain
Brook has. But the grandest chick-
en of all of our Tiny Kingdom isn’t
clucking away in someone’s back-
yard; it’s standing dressed up in
Mrs. Sharon Graham’s front yard.
The Montevallo Rooster has be-
come a landmark in Mrs. Graham’s
neighborhood, and almost every
day you can drive by and see the
concrete rooster representing the
latest holiday or community event.
It has stood in everything from
bright neon to celebrate our Spar-
tan Swag to a garlanded lamp shade
on its head for New Year’s Eve.
It’s such a big deal that “I
get in trouble when I leave
it naked for too long,” Mrs.
Graham says. “I’ll be in the
grocery store and someone
will come up to me and say
‘We drove by especially to see
the rooster, and he’s bare!’”
Mrs. Graham started her
tradition when she and her
husband moved back into
Mountain Brook 14 years ago
after living in Shelby Coun-
ty for a time. Out at her old
house, she had concrete cows
and pigs in addition to her
rooster. But the cows were
too heavy to move without a
tractor, so only the two guard
pigs by her front door and
the rooster made the trip. She
says, “One day, I just thought, ‘The
rooster looks bare. It doesn’t look
right.’ So I put something on it and
haven’t stopped since.”
Mrs. Graham usually dresses it
for the holidays, but sometimes life
events get a turn as well: “I dress it
up for my family’s birthdays, and
once, when a tree fell on our house,
he wore a hard hat for a few weeks.”
He has also worn shirts supporting
members of the community, most
recently for Slade, a young boy at
Crestline Elementary with can-
cer.
The rooster has been such a suc-
cess that it often gets handwritten
letters from children nearby saying
they love the outfits. But the best
response she has gotten is from a
woman who used to drive past her
house on the way to the nursing
home. “That woman told me that it
would always make her smile, es-
pecially if it had been a rough day,”
Mrs. Graham said. “And that’s what
I like to do, I like to make people
smile. I didn’t mean to do a good
thing, but I did.”
When asked if she’ll ever stop,
Mrs. Graham laughed. “If I ever
stop, something is wrong! You need
to check on me! Because it’s fun
and it makes other people happy
if they’re stuck in traffic or just
driving by.”
She added, “You know, first
you’re so-and-so’s wife. Then you’re
so-and-so’s mother. Then you’re so-
and-so’s grandmother. Now I’m the
rooster lady, and it’s the best name
yet.”
Party poultry on Montevallo Road: the story behind the
bird
Photo courtesy of Mrs. Sharon Graham
The rooster dons a rubber rooster head and
holds a balloon in solidarity for Sid Ortis, a
Mountain Brook Junior High student battling
cancer.
Photo courtesy of Mrs. Sharon Graham
The Montevallo Rooster sported a green beard
and hat for St. Patrick’s Day a few weeks ago.
Mrs. Graham gets her costumes for the rooster
from costume stores and yard sales in the area.

5. 5Features
Friday, March 27, 2015
The Sword & Shield
By CAROLINE LOWE
Staff Writer
For the past few years, our basketball team
has made it to Jacksonville and beyond in the
state tournament. Many students eagerly jump
on the buses to go and support the team. But
what about those students who stay at school?
How does their day go? Why do they stay at
school instead of going to the basketball games?
Instead of going to support the team, some
students say they would rather complete work
and get it out of the way, so they won’t have to
worry about it later.
Junior Austin Monaghan said that he stayed
because “It’s a relaxing day at school and you
get a lot of work done.” Sophomore Catherine
Flake agreed, adding, “The teachers couldn’t
make us do much, and I got a lot of work done.”
Another advantage for students who stay at
school is that they might end up having free
periods when not as many students are there.
These students have certain classes where their
teachers don’t have really much planned for the
day. The result is that the students get to work
on or do whatever they feel like doing during
the period.
During the basketball game that was on the
Thursday before the E-Day, Junior Eric Voigt
said, “I just got a day of free periods where I
got a ton of my work done and did all of my
E-Days.”
It’s not just the students who benefited from
having free periods with their low class num-
bers and study halls. Teachers managed to grade
some of their students’ work and put the grades
into STI. More importantly, some teachers also
managed to have some
“one on one” time with in-
dividual students because
classes were smaller. Mrs.
Casey Truesdale said, “I
was helping the students
that were here.”
Some teachers also
schedule the time so that
students that are there can
complete an assignment
while those who go to the
game can do the same
assignment on their own.
For example, Ms. Cather-
ine Lowe said, “I had my
students peer edit each
other’s research papers.
Those students who were
not in class were responsi-
ble for arranging their peer
edits outside of class and completing them on
their own. That way, we didn’t really lose class
time.”
Junior Porter Williamson noticed that with
fewer students in his classes, teachers could get
more done. He said, “I thought that my teachers
could focus more easily when they were work-
ing.” So both the teachers and the students who
stayed benefited from these basketball days.
Another reason students chose to stay at
school during the basketball games was because
the mall and the hallways are not as congested
and crowded with all the other students trying
to make it to class on time without being count-
ed tardy.
Sophomore Eloise Cotten said, “I love it
when there weren’t many students at school
because it is easy to get to classes.”
However, not all students who stayed at
school enjoyed the days when fewer students
were at school. Some students just would rather
have their friends at school. Junior Benjamin
Rosenthal said, “I prefer more people at school
because you do not have your friends there.”
Regardless of whether students stay at school
or go to the game to support the team, they still
have assignments and work to do. They just
have to figure out which works for them—stay-
ing or going.
Should I stay or should I go?
Photo by Mathilde Sharman
Classrooms are a whole lot bigger when all your friends are at the game, which
makes instruction feel almost like a private tutoring session.

6. 6Features
Thrusday, March 27, 2015
The Sword & Shield
By MADELINE MITCHELL
News Editor
While many students have met Mr. Shane Martin through their time
in his history class, and even more students recognize him as one the
cheerleading coaches, likely few know his favorite memory from high
school or how he became a cheerleading coach. The Sword & Shield re-
cently sat down with him to find out.
The Sword & Shield: Your nickname makes you instantly recognizable.
Who gave it to you and why?
Mr. Martin: On my father’s side, I have Cherokee history. So people
started calling me “Chief” in college. When I came to Mountain Brook,
though, my wife was coaching cheerleading, and she was “Coach Martin.”
So when I came on, because of the confusion with the names- two Coach
Martins- the kids asked if they could call me something different. Some-
how they found out about my college nickname and began calling me
“Chief.”
S&S: Going back to your wife, how did you two meet?
SM: She was an incoming freshman at Samford, and I was an outgoing
senior. I met her at a fraternity rush party because my fraternity had
asked her to be a rush sweetheart, so I got to know her. And then we were
friends for a long time before we started dating.
S&S: One of the most noticeable things about you is your emphasis on your
heritage. Why do you enjoy sharing so much about it?
SM: It provides a very powerful sense of identity, but it’s also such an
important part of history because it tells us so much. It’s so revealing of
who we are, where our families come from and about where America as
a whole comes from. There was a time when my great-grandfather would
have never admitted that he had Cherokee blood. Today, the culture is so
different now; that isn’t an issue. So I take pride in my heritage as much
as for my ancestors as for me. Also, the hardships that both the Irish and
the Native Americans had to go through provide a good talking point for
history. It’s a good way to bring history onto a personal level so that it’s
about people not just about dates and battles and wars.
S&S: So if you didn’t teach history, do you think you would put as much
emphasis on it?
SM: I probably wouldn’t be as aware of it or put as much emphasis on it.
I would still embrace it and be as interested in it as I am, but I wouldn’t
explain it as much.
S&S: What do you think inspired your love of and interest in history?
SM: History- both personal history and “big picture” history- shapes who
we are. You can’t escape it and if you try to escape it, you’ll be doomed by
it. The growth of a person comes from looking at your past, learning from
your mistakes and successes and then applying it in the present to im-
prove your future. That’s both a personal process as well as a community
one.
S&S: Why did you become a teacher?
SM: I wanted to be a high school history teacher when I was in high
school, but my dad discouraged me from that when I was in college. Later
on, I went back to get my Masters of Education so that I could teach. I am
so thankful to be working here at Mountain Brook, and I love coming to
work.
S&S: So how did you get into cheerleading coaching?
SM: I broke my back playing soccer in high school, and the doctor said I
couldn’t play sports anymore. I struggled with that because I love playing
sports. I’ve always been a big fan of sports- either playing them or yell-
ing for them. So some pretty girls asked me if I wanted to do Powderpuff
cheerleading, and I said yes. After the Powderpuff game, they then asked
me if I would try out. I was very reluctant, but I tried out and became a
cheerleader in high school.
S&S: And did you cheer in college?
SM: I did. All my family and friends went to the University of Georgia,
but I was too small to cheer there. I ended up falling in love with Samford,
so I went there where I could cheer.
S&S: What would you say is your favorite memory from this past cheer
season?
SM: It would have to be the homecoming pep rally routine and how the
girls came together to pull that off. Mary Farley Stevens got hurt about 20
seconds in, and she is so important to the routine. Everybody else in the
spur of the moment jumped in right then and filled the spot [that she had
left]. The crowd never knew that someone was missing. Her parents didn’t
even know until afterwards because the transition looked so smooth. The
girls just saw the need and were committed to that performance, so they
made it work.
Just a Chat with Mr. Shane Martin
Photo by Madeline Mitchell
Mr. Shane Martin shows off his beard with its natural white streak.
Photo by Madeline Mitchell
As Mr. Martin teaches his students history, he also teaches them about his own ancestry.

7. 7Features
Friday, March 27, 2015
The Sword & Shield
By SARAH BETH DANIEL
Business Manager
The Facebook page “What’s Happening in
Mountain Brook” (WHIMB) has grown in pop-
ularity among Mountain Brook residents. This
community forum helps residents keep up with
the community as well as entertain themselves,
not to mention making the Mountain Brook
community smaller and closer as a whole.
Mrs. Kim Fasking, a Mountain Brook moth-
er and business owner, elaborated on how the
community has been impacted by this forum.
“We, as a community, have come together to
solve [community problems], discuss the new
Piggly Wiggly, and find jobs and pets.”
Getting information on local events and
emergencies has become much easier for Moun-
tain Brook parents. “I stay informed, and I am
reminded of events for our family and specifi-
cally for the kids that I might otherwise forget
about,” Mrs. Anne Russell said.
WHIMB has not only become a way for resi-
dents to stay connected and feel a stronger sense
of community, but it has helped in countless
other ways.
“This forum is an easy way to get information
quickly about what’s going on in my neigh-
borhood,” Mrs. Fasking said. “It enables me to
interact quickly and efficiently with neighbors
about any issue that is
of concern to us. We
use it to communicate
during emergencies and
to reunite families with
lost pets.”
The utility of
WHIMB has proved
invaluable to some
residents. “I can find
professionals to help me
with tasks I need done,
babysitters, restaurant
recommendations, and fundraising donors,
literally anything I’m looking for. Additionally,
it’s where I find a lot of my customers for my
business, helping me continue to do the work I
love,” Mrs. Russell added.
WHIMB allows for our community to be
connected in a way it hasn’t been before. In a
time where most people have multiple places to
be at one time with a “To-do” list a dozen tasks
long, WHIMB has given the Mountain Brook
community the chance to reconnect. Through
this forum, the Mountain Brook community has
grown smaller and closer as the forum itself has
grown.
“With our fast-paced lives and busy sched-
ules, the days of walking next door or having
a coffee group to keep current are long gone,”
Mrs. Russell said. “But if I can sit in the carpool
line and still feel like my questions are getting
answered, and I still know who's being honored
and who to watch out for, then I feel like I'm
succeeding.”
Residents of Mountain Brook are capable of
extending their reach further in the community
to help neighbors and support local projects.
“WHIMB was instrumental for communi-
cation,” Mrs. Fasking said. Communication
between neighbors and community members is
essential in bettering the community.
“What’s Happening in Mountain Brook” has
reconnected the community in a time when
everyone seems increasingly busy. It has opened
opportunities to improve the community that
have not been present before.
Mountain Brook’s popular community forum
Photo courtesy of What’s Happening in Mountain Brook
The popular Facebook page “What’s Happening in Mountain Brook” is a stalwart for
many parents active in the community.

8. The Sword & Shield
8Features
Friday, March 27, 2015
By JOHN SISSON
Co-Editor-in-Chief
A year ago, sophomore Luis
Desvalls made a huge life decision:
one to completely leave the life he
had known in Barcelona, Spain in
order to be an exchange student
here at Mountain Brook.
Being an exchange student runs
in the family. Luis’ father lived in
Texas for a year as an exchange stu-
dent when he was 17. His host fam-
ily now lives in Auburn, and they
have a child who is the same age
as Luis. Over the years, the family
and Luis’ dad kept in touch, and
they often talked about Luis going
to Camp Mac, a popular summer
camp in Mentone, with their son.
For two summers, Luis attended
Camp Mac with one of his friends
from Spain and his new friend
from Auburn. While at Camp Mac,
Luis befriended senior Peyton Mc-
Dougal. The two kept up contact,
and McDougal even visited Spain
over the summer to stay with the
Desvalls family.
Now, Desvalls
lives with the
McDougals as an
exchange student,
and they have
cared for him like
a second son.
Desvalls says,
“I really wanted
to be an exchange
student in the US
to have a good
experience and
improve my En-
glish.”
However, the
transition has
not been easy.
Although he has
enjoyed his experi-
ence so far, Des-
valls misses some
parts of his life in
Spain including
his family, friends,
and most impor-
tantly, the food. Desvalls says, “I
really miss the Spanish food paella
(type of rice with either seafood or
meat), but I enjoy most American
food.”
While life in the United States is
drastically different than in Spain,
Luis has been able to enjoy some of
the same hobbies he had in Spain,
one of which is his passion for
both playing and watching soccer.
Here at MBHS, Luis is a member of
the JV soccer team, and he enjoys
watching Spanish league soccer in
his free time. When he’s not on the
pitch or watching a game, Desvalls
enjoys golf or tennis with friends.
Unfortunately, Desvalls can-
not stay for another year; he will
be returning to Spain on June 4.
When asked if he has any plans
on returning to the U.S., the soft
spoken Spaniard said, “I am sure
I will come back to the U.S., but I
don’t think I will come back for a
year again.” While Luis currently
plans to attend college in Spain, he
has not ruled out the possibility
of returning to the U.S. for college
programs.
For everyone who knows Luis,
the opportunity has been great not
only for Luis himself, but also for
those of us like myself who have
become friends with him.
From Spain to Mountain Brook: the journey of Luis Desvalls
Foreign exchange students bring cultural
Photo courtesy of Layne McDougal
Sophomore Luis Desvalls and seniors Peyton McDougal, Tom Bundy, and Thomas
Skinner hang out at Bryant-Denny stadium.
Photo courtesy of Layne McDougal
Senior Peyton McDougal and sophomore Luis Desvalls toured
Barcelona when Peyton came to visit.

9. The Sword & Shield
9Features
Friday, March 27, 2015
By NATALIE JONES & CASEY FAN
Reviews Editor & Staff Writer
New to MBHS this year, junior Chinese foreign exchange student
Jason Dai takes the spotlight. From the city of Nanjing, located southeast
of Beijing, Jason arrived at MBHS last fall after first staying with a host
family in Talladega.
“I came here through a program offered by my high school. At first
they sent me to Talladega, but I changed host families when my local co-
ordinator found me a family here in Birmingham,” said Jason.
As he transitions to life in the U.S., Jason believes the biggest differenc-
es between China and the U.S. lie in the pace with which people approach
their lives.
“The lifestyle is different here. It’s more relaxed, and school is easier.
City life is much busier. It’s hard to compare the two, though, because
they are so different,” explained Jason.
In addition to lifestyle differences, Jason has also noticed several dis-
tinctions in the education system in the U.S. as opposed to the one in his
hometown, claiming his high school in Nanjing to have a higher intensity
level.
“My old school went from 8 to 5. We had longer breaks during the day,
but classes were longer. Every day my schedule was different.”
Whereas most U.S. students attend school from 8-3:20 and take the
same classes each day, students in China attend school from 8-5 on a
rotational schedule similar to MBJH’s modified schedule. Despite length
and schedule differences, however, Jason believes that there are still some
major similarities between the two systems.
Most noticeably, Jason comments that the classes are similar in terms
of content to those of the United States, with Chinese, English, Math, Sci-
ence, and Social Studies comprising the core curriculum classes.
“At my old school in China, I took Chinese, English and Spanish for
my language credits. For the sciences, we take Chemistry and Physics.
The four main subjects are Biology, Geography, History and Economics,”
said Jason.
Along with his academic classes, Jason’s schedule also included re-
quired fine arts credits and physical fitness classes.
“We also take a music and fine arts class everyday. I had PE 3 times a
week, and we had club classes on Fridays, ” said Jason.
Despite the heavy course load, Jason admits that he prefers the block
schedule of his high school in Nanjing in comparison to his schedule at
MBHS.
“It’s a lot of work, but I like having different classes each day. Each day
is different,” said Jason.
Another change for Jason has been adapting to the suburban setting
of Mountain Brook. Coming from a very large, urban and industrialized
city, analogous to New York or Los Angeles, Jason believes living in an
urban environment to be more convenient.
“We have more things to do outside of school. In a big city, it’s easier
to travel. I take the subway and don’t need a car. In China, people take the
driver’s test at 18 and not 16,” said Jason.
Outside of school, the city also offers a variety of different opportuni-
ties for students to explore on their free time: museums, historical land-
marks and recreational sites.
“My high school in China has a large stadium. After school, we play
sports in the stadium. I play soccer. We also go to movies and hang out
with friends,” said Jason.
With the school year coming to an end, Jason will travel back to China,
but he hopes to come back to the U.S. next year to finish his secondary
education and possibly attend college in the states.
Jason Dai: An Outsider’s Perspective on MBHS
Photo courtesy of Jason Dai
Jason visits older Chinese villages near his hometown in Nanjing, China on the left and Vulcan in Birmingham on the right.
diversity to Mountain Brook High

10. 10Features
Friday, March 27, 2015
The Sword & Shield
Your next episode will begin in 15 seconds
By MARGARET HEATH
Features Editor
It’s the middle of the week. Your homework
is finished, or maybe it’s not. Your computer
calls to you as you struggle to finish assignments
for various classes. You must resist… well,
maybe one episode won’t hurt… Netflix, here I
come.
The allure of what is now called binge watch-
ing has grown rapidly over the past three or four
years as video streaming services allow people
easier access to the shows they actually care to
watch.
Binge watching, defined as watching three
or more episodes in one sitting, has become
a godsend for people as they can watch more
TV than they ever thought imaginable without
pesky commercials or set air times. Now it has
become a thing people brag about or excitedly
discuss with friends because of the series they
are all currently watching.
Out in the field, The Sword & Shield Features
Editor got the hard hitting facts from the true
faces of binge watching from the Mountain
Brook High School student body.
Record for most episodes watched at one
time: 40 episodes.
Average number of episodes per night: 4
episodes.
And if you are currently between shows and
looking for something interesting to watch try
these:
• Gilmore Girls
• Teen Wolf
• Downton Abbey
• Suits
• Hart of Dixie
• The Walking Dead
• Eye Candy
• Life Unexpected
• The X-files
• Reign
• Outlander
• Arrested Development
• Parks and Rec
• Supernatural
• Carrie Diaries
• Sons of Anarchy
• The Blacklist
• M*A*S*H
• The Office
• Criminal Minds
• Breaking Bad
• Merlin
• Cheers
• Orange is the New Black
• Grey’s Anatomy
• Doctor Who
• Gossip Girl
• Gilmore Girls
• Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt
• Dexter
• Game of Thrones
• Bob’s Burgers
• Better Call Saul
• Lost
• Chuck
• The IT Crowd
• Malcolm in the Middle
27 students were polled for this survey.

11. 11Sports
Friday, March 27, 2015
The Sword & Shield
By ALEC LEWIS
Sports Editor
At 17-3, this year’s Mountain
Brook baseball team has begun this
season in the same fashion that last
year’s ended—with wins.
After losing seniors Davis
McDougal, Peter Berryman and
Mitch Morrow, the question of who
would step up had a simple answer.
With 12 seniors, the Spartan coach-
es knew they’d be in great hands
come opening day this year.
This team is led by Auburn
signees Jack McPherson and An-
drew Autrey, pitchers Alan Hale,
Hunter Holcomb, John Sisson
and Bailey Shelfer, “the glue guys”
in Drew Odum and John David
Kubiszyn, the base-running exper-
tise of Tucker Ellis and T.J. Beard
and sure-handed fielders Parks
Shoulders and Mac Harris.
With that leadership, they’re
gunning for a state championship.
“The thing about this group
is that we never give up, whether
we are down or up in a game,”
says Holcomb. “This group is very
special, and hopefully we can
complete our goal and make a run
at a state championship.”
McPherson agreed saying,
“Our team goal is to win the state
championship, and I’m just here
to do whatever I can to help us
win.”
The question that’s prevalent
with teams that boast superior
talent is whether their heads on
straight, do they care enough
about winning? Although these
guys experienced a run last year
to the final eight, they know that
this is it, this is their last hurrah.
“Every day in practice we chal-
lenge each other to be the best play-
ers we can be. I get to face some of
the best hitters in the state in our
inter-squad. That in itself challeng-
es me and helps me prepare for big
time games,” said Holcomb.
This time of year, the Spartans
are looking to area play as the hope
to repeat as area champions is the
current goal. After beating Spain
Park on Tuesday, the Spartans have
jumped out to a critical early start.
It’s a start that is just a stepping
stone to achieving their goal.
Mountain Brook baseball’s 12 seniors lead Spartans
into area play
Photo courtesy of Pam Autrey
Jack McPherson and Anndrew Autrey smile after a Little League practice. They have been
playing together since elementary school.
By COKE MATTHEWS
Opinions Editor
The Lady Spartan softball team is off to a
slow start this year with a 2-8 record. Howev-
er, look for improvements as this
young team heads into spring.
With a young and developing
roster composed of one senior,
three juniors, five sophomores and
four freshmen, the team is working
hard to improve and gain experi-
ence as the season progresses.
As Coach Kaitlin Griffin shares,
“Our team motto is ‘the season is
not a sprint, it is a marathon.’ We
want to be playing our best ball
come Area Tournament.”
After last season’s 11-16 record,
the team lost the valuable “Senior
Cinco,” the five seniors who led
the Lady Spartans throughout the
season.
Junior Elizabeth DeAtkine said,
“It’s weird having lost five senior members of
our team from last year because they were such
a huge chunk of our team. This year we only
have one senior on our team, which is almost
more special because we put her up on a pedes-
tal.”
Caroline Boone, the only senior on the team,
has been a standout player as well as a valuable
team leader this year. Boone is the team’s start-
ing catcher and is currently hitting .343.
DeAtkine explains, “I think Boone stands out
the most, especially because she had to step up
this year and be a leader. I think she has defi-
nitely accomplished that.”
Coach Griffin agrees, noting that Boone “is
the type of player that this team needs. She leads
not only by the way she plays on the field but
also by her dedication in the classroom.”
Boone deflects the attention she receives,
as the team’s only senior, explaining that it
has been “all of the upper classmen that have
stepped up for the younger girls.”
On April 13, the Spartans play Homewood
on Senior Night. The following home game they
play Vestavia, which will be an important area
game.
Slow start for Lady Spartan softball
Photo courtesy of ImageArts
Sophomore Hollon Skinner tags out an opposing runner.

12. 12Sports
Friday, March 27, 2015
The Sword & Shield
By WILL DAVIS
Staff Writer
When it comes to experience,
the Mountain Brook soccer team
has an abundance of it. The Spar-
tans are led by Angel Reglero, An-
drew Frese, Parker Henley, Coo-
per Barnes, Ben Rysedorph, Will
Freeman, Paul Roth, Sam Morris,
Tom Bundy, Reid Grant, Adam
Elrefai and Brother Swagler. These
12 seniors make up over 63 percent
of the team’s roster.
“It’s a large group of seniors for
anybody to have on a team of this
size,” Spartans coach Joe Webb
said. “Several of them have been on
the varsity for several years; some
of them are new to the varsity this
year. They’ve all reached a little bit
of success here and there.”
The Spartans have caught some
tough breaks with injuries to three
senior starters. Freeman, Elrefai
and Rysedorph are all currently
injured, and it is uncertain wheth-
er any will return during the 2015
season.
According to Webb, the most
remarkable thing about this group
of seniors isn’t their statistics, but
their chemistry as a unit.
“Statistics don’t always tell the
story,” Webb said. “They’re a hard
working bunch; they get along so
well together which lends itself to
the effort that we see on the field.”
The players agreed.
“It’s meant a lot being able to
play for the team,” Roth said. “I’ve
gotten to play with my best friends,
so it’s been awesome.”
“I love being with these guys,”
Swagler added. “We’ve played to-
gether since third grade.”
In talking about his team, Webb
drew a comparison to the school’s
decorated basketball program.
“It’s a lot like the basketball team
in that we fight until the bitter end,”
Webb said. “And more often than
not that has worked for us, but
even in some of our losses we’ve
come out of the game with the
other team knowing that we gave it
to them the best we could.”
The Spartans currently have
a record of 6-7-2 on the season,
including winning the Southern
Shootout in Mobile, in February.
It was the third straight year that
Mountain Brook has won the tour-
nament, something that is definite-
ly cherished by the team and their
coach.
“We played very hard down
there. It was an exciting tourna-
ment,” Webb said. “It was a scrappy
situation. We didn’t blow anybody
out. We had to fight for some of
those results, but we earned that
victory. That was really nice for us.”
“The Mobile tournament is the
best,” Roth said, echoing his coach’s
sentiments.
In addition to winning the Mo-
bile Tournament, these 12 seniors
have made the playoffs every year
and are hoping to do so again this
year.
“Hopefully we can make the
playoffs again this year and do a
little bit better than we’ve done in
the past,” Webb said.
“We’ve had a lot of injuries,”
Swagler said. “But, I want to end on
a high note because we’ve hit a little
lull.”
By ALEC LEWIS
Sports Editor
With Tiger Woods hurt, again, and many
of the most popular players struggling, the
golf season has approached us. For Mountain
Brook’s boys golf team, though, the opportunity
to win a state championship for the first time in
four years has the team ready to go.
“Last year we had a big contribution from
Taylor Eyster who is playing golf at UAB this
year, so not having him is the challenge we
have to overcome,” said senior starter Michael
Brown, who has been
sidelined for the first three
tournaments of the season
due to a broken ankle. “We
do have a couple guys that
are looking to come in and
fill his role and hopefully
we’re all a year better so we
can contend for that state
title.”
Golf has been a sport for
years in which the Spar-
tans have excelled. With
players in college currently
such as the aforementioned
Eyster, LSU’s Stewart Jolly,
Alabama’s Tom Lovelady
among others, Coach Ben-
ny Eaves and his team are
looking to return to their
winning ways.
Competition runs high when it comes to
area play for the Spartans. With Spain Park,
last year’s state championship winner returning
a fair bit of talent, that competition will only
intensify as the season progresses.
The season began on February 18 and 19 in
Fairhope as Mountain Brook took home the
Fairhope Invitational. For the Spartans, that
bodes well for the goals they want to achieve.
“In order for us to get back to that position,
we need to continue working hard, and we must
make sure that as a team our game is in the right
position when that time comes,” said junior
Jonathan Eyster.
Other contributing players for this year’s
team are senior Wilson Simmons, Alabama
commit and sophomore Ben Fuller, juniors
Harlan Winn, Hugh Rowe Thomas, and John
Gross, and senior Packey Toomey.
To open the season both Eyster and Fuller
garnered all-tournament team honors, a step in
the right direction for this hopeful team.
Up next on the schedule as March heads to
April is the Tom Bell Memorial at Limestone
Springs, the sectional tournament at Riverchase
Country Club, sub-state at Huntsville Country
Club, and then the state tournament on May 11.
“Hopefully we’ll be able to advance through
sub-state and all the way to state, and hopefully
we can get past Spain Park. I really think this
year’s team has a great opportunity to do that
and achieve our goal,” Brown said.
Mountain Brook Soccer seniors look to go out with a
bang
Mountain Brook’s Boys Golf Team Hopes for First
State Title Since 2011
Photo courtesy of Cindy Rysedorph
Current senior Ben Rysedorph poses for
his first soccer game ever.
Photo courtesy of Benny Eaves
Harlan Winn, Wilson Simmons, Michael Brown, Ben Fuller and Jonathan Eyster hold
their trophies after their win at the Azalea city invitational

13. 13Sports
Friday, March 27, 2015
The Sword & Shield
By SCOTT LEPLEY
Staff Writer
Coach Scott Flowers took over the girls
soccer program in the middle of 2007 as an
interim coach. Within a year, in 2008, he led
Mountain Brook to an undefeated season and
a state championship. Flowers now has two
state championships to his name as well as the
highest winning percentage of any girls coach in
Mountain Brook soccer history.
This year’s team is coming off a state cham-
pionship appearance last season. Seniors AC
Gillespy and Leigh Haynes captain the team
and have them off to a division lead this season.
Both Haynes and Gillespy made the team
their freshmen year and ranked near the top
statistically in almost every category. Gillespy al-
ready has a state championship under her name
from her sophomore season, but Haynes took
that season off to play club soccer.
Haynes said, “I missed out on one of the best
seasons we could have, and this year I want to
bring us back to that peak and win another state
championship for us.”
Senior Maggie
Clemmons has played
all over the field since
arriving in Mountain
Brook last year. Clem-
mons has played de-
fender, midfielder, and
forward. Clemmons
has 16 points through
the first 12 games,
trailing only Leigh
Haynes at 24.
Flowers said, “Mag-
gie has learned how to
take over games this
year. She can sin-
gle-handedly change
the outcome of a
game.” Next season,
Clemmons will play for Vanderbilt and Haynes
will play for Wake Forest.
Sarah Grace Lindsey, Jess Sirkin, Lowry
Neal and Julia Garrison have also played well
for the Spartans this year, especially on the
defensive side. Flowers said, “We’ve had some
girls play some really good defense this year
and it has led us to six shutouts so far.” The girls
stand at 9-2-1 on the season and ranked #2 in
the state.
Photo courtesy of ImageArts
Senior Maggie Clemmons dribbles the ball away from Vestavia defenders.
Girls soccer seeks 3rd consecutive state title
appearance

14. 14Reviews
Friday, March 27, 2015
The Sword & Shield
by LEIGH LEWIS
Staff Writer
As the year goes on and more
and more sophomores turn 16,
another round of students ask for
their dream car. Although not ev-
eryone gets exactly what he or she
asks for, it is pretty amazing to see
the kinds of cars driven by Moun-
tain Brook high school students.
From Porsches to BMWs to
Hondas and Fords, the Mountain
Brook High School parking lot has
them all. The Sword & Shield staff
took a stroll through the parking
lot to come up with a list of five of
the most popular cars at MBHS,
and we spoke with the cars’ owners.
A very common car at Moun-
tain Brook High School is the
BMW 328i; this sedan has a styl-
ish in and exterior, and has lots of
space inside. Sophomore Sarah
Chitty, drives this car, and she says,
“I love it. It drives fast and takes
turns fast.”
Sophomore Dean Triantos
drives an Audi A4. Similar to the
BMW 328i, the Audi A4 is a sedan,
and it is also very nice. According
to Dean, the Audi A4 drives very
well, and he describes his car as
“fast, reliable, and safe.” He also
said, “it gets good gas mileage.”
Sophomore Arthur Barnes
drives a Land Rover LR4. This is
an SUV, and Arthur says, “it was
inexpensive, fits seven people, and
has a refrigerator.” The Land Rov-
er LR4 is very common at Moun-
tain Brook High School, and it has
a really cool, anglular exterior.
Sophomore Grace Logan owns
a Toyota 4runner, which, like the
Land Rover LR4, is an SUV. This
is one of the most popular cars for
specifically girls (but also boys) at
MBHS. Grace said, “I like it be-
cause it is cute and has a backup
camera.” She added, “It is easy to
get around in, and it isn’t too big.”
The last car that is extremely
popular is the Jeep Wrangler. Soph-
omore Lily Smith drives this car,
and she loves it. Her friends hap-
pen to love it almost as much as she
does. Sophomore Catherine Flake
says, “Lily’s car has great character;
it’s the flyest car on the block. It is
quaint, yet comfortable.”
The BMW 328i, Audi A4, Land
Rover LR4, Toyota 4runner, and
Jeep Wrangler are all very desired
cars by many Mountain Brook stu-
dents, and the MBHS parking lot is
filled with them.
Coolest cars at Mountain Brook
Photo by Leigh Lewis
Sophomore Dean Triantos’s Audi A4 sits in his driveway, basking in its own glory.
Photo by Leigh Lewis
The Toyota 4runner is a spacious car that features luxuries like a backup camera and
lots of space.

15. 15Reviews
Friday, March 27, 2015
The Sword & Shield
By THOMAS COONEY
Staff Writer
There is now a new reason to procrasti-
nate doing homework: season three of “House
of Cards” is finally here. On Feb. 27, the
binge-worthy series released 13 more episodes
on Netflix. The new season is just as captivating
and exciting as the first two.
Season one of “House of Cards” received a
Golden Globe, Peabody Award, three Emmy
Awards and a Webby Award. Season two won an
Emmy, Screen Actors Guild Award and another
Golden Globe. Needless to say, the expectations
for season three are high.
Frank Underwood (Kevin Spacey), America’s
favorite power hungry politician, spends most
of seasons one and two scheming and manip-
ulating others to move himself up the politi-
cal ladder. In season three, Frank is now the
new leader of the free world and is dead set on
strengthening the nation and leaving a legacy as
a great president.
The international diplomacy and internal
struggles of America seen in a broader scope
give the show and its characters a new dimen-
sion. Victor Petrov (Lars Mik-
kelsen), President of Russia, is
the spitting image of Vladimir
Putin and is as ruthless and
smart as Frank.
A new side of the characters is
shown in this new season. Frank
is no longer indestructible and
as clever and quick thinking.
He becomes more human and
more relatable. The emotional
side of Frank is also exposed as
the stresses of the office weigh
heavily on his shoulders.
Claire Underwood (Robin
Wright) is no longer the con-
tent wife sitting back ready to serve her hus-
band. Frank and Claire’s relationship begins to
crumble under pressure and a big divide forms
between them.
Spacey and Wright both show their talent by
giving dramatic and jaw dropping scenes, and
both are on track for another year of awards and
praise.
The show is still as captivating and breath
taking as ever. Shocking and plot twisting scenes
are abundant, and the show continues to dare
itself to go further and further.
This season is another round of excitement
and drama. The new depth and perspective
of the show make it feel refreshing and never
repetitive. However, at times the show’s plot can
seem to be progressing slowly and can seem
boring.
The actors continue to perform at the high-
est level and never give a subpar performance.
Rating: 8.5/10
“House of Cards” back again for more thrills
Photo by Thomas Cooney
The inverted flag, a symbol of the show, speaks to the discord and distress of
Frank Underwood’s term as the conflict grows deeper.
By JONATHAN MCWANE
Staff Writer
By now, there is a good chance
that you watch, have watched, or
know someone who has watched
AMC’s “Breaking Bad.” The series
ran for 5 wildly successful seasons,
yet left a frown on the faces of its
viewers once it ended.
As a fan of the show for most of
its running time, I was extremely
excited when the show’s producer,
Vince Gilligan, announced that
there would be a spin-off series
called “Better Call Saul” focusing
around one of the show’s most
interesting, sly characters
In the first series, Bob Odenkirk
portrays Saul Goodman, a ques-
tionable lawyer who operates out
of a strip mall and represents Walt
and Jesse, the two main charac-
ters in “Breaking Bad.” Fans of the
show, including myself, were frus-
trated about how little was revealed
about Goodman outside his deal-
ings with Walt and Jesse. “Better
Call Saul” is an opportunity to gain
a different perspective on Saul.
“Better Call Saul” premiered on
February 8, setting a new record for
the highest-rated series premiere
in basic cable history with over 6.9
million viewers. The title turned
out to be rather misleading since
it is quickly revealed that the main
character’s name is not Saul Good-
man but rather James McGill, more
commonly referred to as Jimmy.
While some were likely misled
by the change, I viewed it as the
first enigma to be solved in a series
that will surely be full of them.
In fact, the title was not the only
aspect of the show that turned out
to be misleading; the first episode
started and the character I had
come to know as Saul was not
named either Saul or Jimmy. He
was a grumpy middle-aged man
named Gene working at a Cinna-
bon in Nebraska.
This was clarified quickly once
I realized that “Breaking Bad” had
begun all of its shows with either
a flash-forward or a flashback, a
method that “Better Caul Saul” had
apparently adopted.
The series, set in 2002, follows
McGill through his many misad-
ventures as a crooked lawyer in
Albuquerque, New Mexico. He rep-
resents everyone from mischievous
teenagers fighting a robbery case to
an elderly couple being investigated
for embezzlement. McGill is essen-
tially willing to represent anyone
who is able to pay him.
As I began watching the series,
I believed that no one on television
would be able to top Bryan Cran-
ston’s portrayal of Walter White
in “Breaking Bad”, ever. I still feel
that way. But that is not to take any
credit away from Odenkirk and
his performance. In the first few
episodes, Odenkirk has given more
depth to the Saul Goodman/Jim-
my McGill character than we ever
saw in the first series in which he
primarily served as comic relief.
Odenkirk and the writers have
given the protagonist a much dark-
er connotation of the same charac-
ter from “Breaking Bad” while also
still providing viewers with humor-
ous one-liners; Odenkirk, I believe,
balances these two personas very
well.
Fans of “Breaking Bad” are
bound to enjoy the show’s dark,
fast-paced plotline and the mystery
that it entails. This being said, the
show definitely does not ride on
the coattails of its predecessor. It
is clear that the show is perfectly
balancing its attempt to attract a
new audience while also trying to
cater to those who were ritualistic
viewers of “Breaking Bad.”
While spin-offs are usually a
tricky type of show to pull off, “Bet-
ter Call Saul” does an incredible
job of getting the audience on the
protagonist’s side while also keep-
ing them coming back for more
with excruciating cliff-hangers and
a plot so dramatic that it is sure
to win the hearts of the “Breaking
Bad” faithful over time.
Rating: 9/10
“Better Call Saul” achieves success in the wake of
“Breaking Bad”
Photo by Ben Leuner/Courtesy of AMC
“Better Call Saul,” the spin-off series from the producers of “Breaking Bad,” tells the rivet-
ing story of a minor character, Saul Goodman.

16. The Sword & Shield
16Opinions
Friday, March 27, 2015
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.
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.
By BROOKE TUCKER
Staff Writer
All of us have experienced the
frustrations of having to bang ob-
noxiously on the locked side doors
trying to get to class faster, hiding
the embarrassment on our faces as
someone finally lets us in. Our walk
of shame into the building leads
us to the question: Are the locked
side doors entering every hallway
actually protecting us or has it just
become a pain? I don’t know about
you, but I have been debating this
issue for a while now.
With the news full of school
shootings across the country, it
seems like a good idea to provide
some extra security to the side-
door entries of the school. But then
again, walking outside from class
to class is what many students rely
on to get to class quickly, bypassing
the hallway crowd. Often, the side
door is locked when students try
to open it, requiring them to flag
others down, possibly interrupting
class or even making another stu-
dent late just for opening the door
for them.
It may seem like an open-
and-shut case or, so to speak, a
no-brainer. Locked doors would
limit access to unwanted visitors.
In my opinion, unwanted visi-
tors on school grounds shouldn’t
even be an issue in the first place as
long as our front and back guards
are keeping us secure. If someone
sketchy looking tries to enter our
school campus, it is the guard’s job
to forbid the intruder from having
access to our school.
Keeping the doors unlocked so
students can voluntarily walk from
class to class doesn’t risk students’
safety. We should be able to have
the option to easily get to our class-
es by walking outside, instead of
having to dodge all of the hallway
traffic. So once we get to the door,
we can freely open it and not rely
on someone else to do so.
The locked side doors: protecting or annoying?
Conservative silence and a flimsy tolerance
By MATHILDE SHARMAN
Art and Photography Editor
Picture yourself in college. No,
seriously. Really see yourself in
college—at a party, in the library,
at the game, in a lecture hall. Cool,
smart, funny, attractive: better than
ever, and not just on the social
scene. You shine in the classroom,
too. People look at you and know
you’re one of those people—quick
on your feet and gifted with that
subtle wit. In the right setting, you
are winning.
Now I burst the bubble. Some-
thing that rarely comes up in your
high school classroom just became
the hour long discussion of your 10
a.m. freshmen class. The topic: sex-
ual orientation and all its branch-
ing debates. And while you have an
opinion, voicing it in a classroom
full of people you barely know may
lead to confrontation and hostility.
No, best save that conversation for
later, after you’ve had time to size
up your peers.
Mountain Brook students are
engaging, dynamic, and opinion-
ated, yet one of the most debated
topics in our nation rarely comes
up in the classroom. We all know
why, though. I don’t have to explain
the fear of offending someone in a
classroom with both conservative
and liberal views.
But college will come. “Life” is
just around the corner. Someone is
going to voice his or her views with
unparalleled eloquence and passion
before you can say a word. Some-
one will have had this conversation
dozens of times, and their expe-
rience will all too painfully show
the conservative’s inexperience as
the anger and frustation mounts.
Without experience and practice in
a classroom setting, students aren’t
prepared to successfully defend
their beliefs. In our attempts at dig-
nified intelligence, we are going to
look like ignorant, flustered fools.
Maybe I’m misjudging you,
though, and you wouldn’t hesitate
to speak up—even lead—a discus-
sion about sexual orientation. You
know how to engage in a respect-
ful, yet passionate debate, standing
by your beliefs without attacking
others. Unfortunately, you don’t
represent a majority.
In February, Conor Friedersdorf
of The Atlantic condemned “the
suggestion that gay-marriage op-
ponents should be kept quiet in the
classroom to avoid . . . offending
gay classmates,” yet wrote that “so-
cial conservatives” shouldn’t be too
concerned their voice isn’t really
being heard—“they’re losing most
of the arguments that are conduct-
ed on the merits!”
Why is this? Are the arguments
of gay marriage opponents resting
on unreasonable, biased founda-
tions? Or are they not prepared to
defend their beliefs under pressure
and scrutiny because they’ve never
had to?
You may have picked your posi-
tion on such issues and really aren’t
interested in rehashing the views of
your opposition. I know what they
think, you say. Communication is
not the problem. All that bitterness
comes from the fact that we just
don’t agree.
The reality: Conservative beliefs
are only safe if they’re silent. Here’s
the problem, and it’s a problem for
liberals and conservatives: toler-
ance that rest on silence isn’t real
tolerance; it doesn’t last. There is
no communication, awareness or
honesty.
If confronted, conservatives
might hesitate, fearful of seeming
ignorant or hateful. When intelli-
gent, engaging minds hesitate, they
leave room for the hateful igno-
rance of those who misrepresent
their beliefs. As a society, we betray
our goals of respect and tolerance.
So what’s the goal? I bring
up gay marriage in third period
Monday so that I can practice my
debating skills?. Heavens no. The
clashes of religion, fact, faith, and
opinion that make up debates on
sexual orientation don’t fit into a
nice little box of respect and toler-
ance. Respect and tolerance them-
selves aren’t compact concepts we
can just whip up.
They require time and devotion
to their preservation and a show
of personal responsibility on us as
students to build the foundation
of our beliefs with research and
reflection. We must be aware of
our settings as well. Programs like
Safe Space that promote tolerance
in schools call teachers to facilitate
classroom discussions on sexual
orientation and gay rights. How-
ever, since teachers cannot discuss
their religion in school, many may
not feel comfortable discussing an
issue that brings religion into play.
The challenges we face in break-
ing down the taboo nature of these
debates are numerous. However,
this is no excuse for neglecting per-
sonal responsibility. Silence is not
a sound foundation for tolerance,
and it leaves room for hatred and
ignorance. We must take it upon
ourselves to build the foundation
of our beliefs and recognize our
opposition. Lastly, we must seek to
understand how religion, law, sci-
ence, personal opinions, and facts
play a role in these debates.
Education should prepare you to
be an informed citizen leader and
an engaged member of your com-
munity, able to discuss complex
issues with intelligence and respect.
To become these active members of
society, we must show great per-
sonal responsibility and the cour-
age to run from apathy.
Peers, friends, and members
of my community: I offer these
words in hopes that we will be
self-respecting representatives of
our communities, our values, and
our beliefs, whatever they may be.
Thank you.