Fall Homecoming Queen Travels to Memphis
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January 2015 THE SOUTHERNER Volume XXXIV Issue V • sgibson.k12.in.us Fall homecoming queen travels to Memphis Left: Big and Rich play during the half-time show of the Liberty Bowl in Memphis, Tennessee. Top Right: Gibson Southern fall homecoming queen Mariah Beadles prepares to fulfill her duties.Bottom Right: Big and Rich pose with the homecoming queens. SOUTHERNER PHOTO/FILE PHOTO Beadles participates in Liberty Bowl, advances to next level Sara Kissel es money for the hospital and walls and in the giant gin- from all across the country.” and back. When I was shop- Staff Writer the America’s Homecoming gerbread house they had built In total 118 girls from ping for the dress, I kept ask- Queens scholarship. A speak- before leaving for Christmas. 35 states went to the Liberty ing for a mix between a prom er introduced the queens to the There were poems composed Bowl and Beadles claimed, “I dress and a wedding dress, Gibson Southern stu- goals of St. Jude, as well as by the patients about the hard- still kept meeting new peo- since it had to be white.” dents may remember crown- how it originally came about. ships but also the hope of their ple on the last day! At lunch, Military personnel es- ing senior Mariah Beadles as St. Jude provides free service experiences with cancer. you could just sit with anyone corted the queens onto the their fall homecoming queen. to select families. “There After the tour, every girl and they would accept you. I field before a St. Jude patient Beadles received a letter only were only 60 beds in the whole made at least one gift basket expected a few of the girls to sang the national anthem. The a week after her crowning in- hospital,” Beadles explained. to try to brighten a St. Jude be shy, but none of them were halftime show itself lasted for dicating a scholarship oppor- A college student then spoke child’s day; and each basket like that at all.” The girls were about 10 minutes with bands tunity. After responding to the to the girls before the tour, included a one-of-a-kind card instructed to all stay in the playing and country duo Big letter, Beadles received yet an- elaborating on her struggle constructed with care by one same hotel, though they could and Rich performing. “We had other letter summoning her to with bone cancer as a middle of the queens. “They knew we request the guest package for a to learn a dance,” said Beadles, the Liberty Bowl. school student. Now that she were coming, but they didn’t parent. The one recurring per- “It was super hard, but as long America’s Homecoming is older, she stays in contact get to see us. This was our son Beadles made note of was as you looked like you were Queens selected state finalists with her friends from the hos- way of leaving something be- a girl she calls “Fallon Mis- having fun, it was fine.” to participate in the halftime pital. Beadles recalled, “Her hind for them,” Beadles said. sissippi.” “I didn’t know her The competition contin- show with Big and Rich for the friends would get married then The day after the visit last name, but we helped each ues in April, with the Indiana Liberty Bowl in Memphis on die shortly after. I don’t think to St. Jude’s, the homecoming other get ready for the halftime state competition hosted in December 29, and the queens there was a dry eye in the queens were featured in the show.” Louisville, Kentucky. Each arrived on December 27 to be- whole place.” Liberty Bowl parade. Beadles The queens were in- state finalist who chooses to come acquainted with and tour On the tour itself, the said, “I’ve only ever been in structed to buy a white dress advance will receive a plaque St. Jude’s Hospital. queens didn’t visit any rooms, the Watermelon Festival Pa- for the halftime show, and of her engraved face as a gift America’s Homecoming as most of the patients were on rade, so this was a big shock! Beadles recounted, “All of the for the school. Beadles will be Queens, along with the Mem- Christmas release. However, Our float was first, and there girls bought their dresses be- advancing, stating “They pay phis St. Jude Children’s Hospi- the evidence of the patients were fans for the game on both fore they came; it was kind of a for everything, including the tal and the Liberty Bowl, rais- was in their artwork on the sides, and there were bands hassle to take it with me there interview and fashion show.” 2 OPINION You should worry about human rights Let’s here is where I am still treated murdered by society and still peo- of you is that you are shallow. as a child. Here is Southern Indi- ple have the audacity to blame Defend the rights of all peo- ana, the crossroads of America, them, and for what? Existing? I ple because all people matter. “spring” and here is the crossroads of my don’t know. Feminism is for everyone and if heart. If you accomplish anything you are not a feminist because Looking back, 2014 was a within this forthcoming year, I beg you “don’t need it,” you “have forward challenge. It was the best of times, of you to start now: enough rights,” you are a sheep and it was the worst of times. How People are under no obliga- of society. a single year can yield such great- tion to alter their bodies’ natural Rape jokes are not and nev- ness and innovation as well as state or appearance to appeal to er were funny. Rape is not some- such tragedy and horror is beyond you or anyone else. That means thing you make light of. Rape is me. I find myself both amazed and that people are under no obli- a heinous violation of personal disgusted by our journey through- gation to shave or practice any space and dignity. There is no ex- out the past year. As far as we other personal grooming ritual to cuse to commit rape and there is Cori Fitzlaff have come, people still refuse to appease you. Their appearance no way to rectify the actions of the Web Designer understand concepts as simple is none of your business. What rapist. as basic human rights. How is it is your business, though, is your Racism is absolutely dis- possible that noted mass murder- responsibility to respect the exis- gusting. The only race that we The year is now 2015. I feel er and conspirator Charles Man- tence of all people you encounter. should label ourselves as is part I’m at the crossroads of my life. son can obtain a marriage license People, even those who are of the human race. Sexism is ab- Keanan Alstatt Here is where I learn the most while serving his life sentence pregnant, have the right to bodily solutely disgusting. Women and Editor-in-Chief about myself. Here I discover with the “serious” intent to wed a autonomy and are under no obli- men are still sliced by the dichot- what I like and who I want to be woman who is 56 years younger gation to sacrifice themselves for omy of society, which is unac- and which movement I will prog- than he, but many gay couples the sake of your religion or your ceptable. Misogyny is absolutely It is that time of the year ress; there are so many causes that are pretty “serious” still can’t? politics. You have the right to your disgusting. Racial profiling is ab- when Mother Nature decides of which I feel obligated to spread How can Darren Wilson, an opinion all the way up until your solutely disgusting. Gender is a she wants to mess with all of awareness. I am comprised of so officer of the United States law, kill opinion disrespects someone spectrum and gender binary is a our schedules. While many much passion and drive for so someone in the street and actual- else’s existence. Other peoples’ myth. Sexuality is fluid. may feel as if this is amazing, I many reasons that it is problemat- ly be backed by a roaring fanbase bodies are none of your concern. Look around yourself and am with the opposition. I want ic to determine where to start. which raised over half a million Short, tall, pudgy, skinny, dark, force yourself to see the problems the snow to be nonexistent and Here is which politician dollars on his behalf, yet there is scarred, pale, stretched, rigid, we face every day. Find something I want spring to get here as I wish I could impeach, and I no recognition a crime had even smooth, pierced, inked: All are that awakens a passion in you fast as possible. shouldn’t bother; I consider them been committed? normal and all are acceptable. If and take action on it. The world Let me be honest with all idiots. Here is where I’m sup- Over and over again, how you hate girls who have less-than- needs more leaders and it starts everyone, I do not have a posed to become an adult and can women be beaten, abused, perfect bodies, all I will remember with you. problem with winter. I love winter and the excitement it brings in the air. However, I do have a problem with the school It’s a journey, but it’s worth your time cancellations and two-hour the time the March started was Human life is special.