The Herald - February 2016

Love Is In The Air Match-Making & Valentine’s Day pgs 20–30

Politics Take Over Dissecting the Campaign Chaos pgs 4–5

Volume 52 | Issue 3 Arapahoe High School | 2201 East Dry Creek Road | Centennial, Colorado 80122 | arapahoeherald@gmail.com | ArapahoeXtra.com

contents

PHOTOOOO Unified Basketball Sponsor Eileen Hernley reacts with laughter as teachers Brad Jansen and Cara Syers participate in the pie-in-the-face half-time activity at the first annual LPS Unified Basketball Fundraiser on Feb. 4. Principal Natalie Pramenko and Assistant Principal Brian Ceriani also took part in the event. The tournament included participants from Heritage, Littleton and Arapahoe. Photo by Macala Wallace | Calumet Yearbook.

SPORTS

PEOPLE

INFO 2016 Election Primer

4–5

Alternative Schools

17

by Becca Schwisow

Safe2Tell Info 6–7

GSA Club

by Abigail Guadnola

by Madison Wacaser

by Keegan Fulwider

CULTURE

IN-DEPTH: VALENTINE’S DAY

OPINIONS

9–11

by Sybrand Braakman & Erica Martinez

Memes Take Over

14–15

by Xavier Maier & Sybrand Braakman

Vaping Controversy 16

by Paige Paulsen

18

Field Swag

Arapahoe Matchmaking 22–23

by Alissa Brown & Mason Steiner

What’s Your Type? Quiz

by Hayden Peirce

Relationship Q&A

26

by Alissa Brown & Mason Steiner

THE HERALD

FEBRUARY 2016

31

by Reid Conant & Quinn Trask

by Chiara Kovar & Erica Martinez

The Deep Web

2

YMCA Basketball

24–25

32–33

Vegetarianism

35

by Amber Malom

Lower the Voting Age 37

by Abigail Guadnola

The Chaos of Elections

by Erica Martinez

38

ON THE COVER

Graphic illustration by Lindsey Archipley.

Watercolor textures by Daniel Davidson, lostandtaken.com

From the editor

There is no getting around it – you are forced to talk. There is no kissing and making up, there is only working out all the aspects of the issue until you both are satisfied.

While being away from a significant other long periods Long-Distance Relationships Misunderstood, for of time is not Often Stronger Than Traditional Relationships necessarily ideal, that moment t is that time of year again. People ask when you finally do get to see each other me what I am doing for Valentine’s Day. makes it all worth it. That first hug after I respond, “Nothing,” and they give me a weeks or months apart reminds you why sympathetic head tilt with a condescending, you waited so long in the first place. You “Aww… well, that’s okay.” realize that nothing can change the way I let their assumption that I’m single you feel about your best friend. Whether slide, because there is nothing wrong with you are four feet away or four hours away, being single, and it is easier than explaining they will always have your back and you will I have no plans because my significant always have theirs. other lives in a different state.

During time apart, it is not as if the Often, long-distance relationships world is stopped, either. Of course you are looked upon with ridicule and will always be missing your girlfriend or misunderstanding. Even though I have been boyfriend, but you also learn to appreciate in a stable, healthy relationship for over a the time you do get to spend “together.” year now, people still often question the Texts throughout the day and phone calls validity of my relationship. before bed at night can keep you feeling “How do you trust each each other?” connected no matter the distance. Skype “He’s probably cheating on you.” “Don’t you dates on the weekend become cherished get bored?” If you ever encounter someone and can remind you that even though you in a long-distance relationship, or “LDR,” are technically “apart,” the foundation of avoid making such comments, as they will your relationship is still strong. be taken with offense whether it was your So while I may not be going out on the intention or not. most romantic date of my life this Sunday, I I am confident in saying that many wouldn’t trade my relationship for anything. long-distance couples trust each other more This Valentine’s Day we will Skype as we than traditional couples, because there usually do on the weekends, talking about would be absolutely no way to make it work our days and making each other laugh as if you did not trust each other completely. always. We are not making a big deal out of There is no way of knowing exactly where this holiday, because for us, every day feels they are at every moment of the day, and like the most romantic day of the year. that’s just fine. If you are living in constant fear that he or she is cheating on you, the Sincerely, relationship is not going to last.

Another common misconception about long-distance relationships is that they are “weaker” or less passionate, but more often Lindsey Archipley than not, they are the opposite.

If a couple 2,000 miles away from each other has an argument, the only way to resolve it is through communication.

I

EDITORS & STAFF Editor-in-Chief Lindsey Archipley Managing Editors Mason Steiner Erica Martinez COPY EDITOR Paige Paulsen WEB & SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGER Mackenzie Callahan DISTRIBUTION MANAGER Alissa Brown ADVERTISING MANAGER Abigail Guadnola REPORTERS Kiennes Adams Sybrand Braakman Amanda Brenner Reid Conant Maddie Egerton Keegan Fulwider Kayle Hughes Chiara Kovar Xavier Maier Amber Malom Hayden Peirce Becca Schwisow Quinn Trask Madison Wacaser

ADVISER Greg Anderson

Member of CSMA, CSPA, NSPA, JEA and Quill and Scroll.

Arapahoe Herald is a student publication and operates as an open forum.

If you have any comments, questions, concerns or guest content you would like to share with the Arapahoe Herald, write a letter to the editor.

Letters to the editor can be emailed to arapahoeherald@gmail.com or submitted to room E8.

FEBRUARY 2016

ARAPAHOEXTRA.COM

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info

Presidential Candidates

by Chiara Kovar

Ted Cruz -- Senator from Texas since 2013 • Wants to stop illegal immigration by building a more fortified border wall and tripling border security.

• Opposes ethanol subsidies through the renewable fuel standard.

• Wants states to be able to establish their own definitions of marriage.

Hillary Clinton -- Secretary of State, 2008 -- 2013 • Opposes the Trans-Pacific Partnership free trade agreement.

• Opposes Keystone XL pipeline.

• Wants to raise taxes on capital gains (sharp increase in the capitalgains tax rate paid by the highest earners on short-term investments) held for one to six years.

Marco Rubio – Senator from Florida since 2011 • Wants to repeal The Affordable Care Act and replace it with refundable tax credits for purchasing health insurance. Would let insurance be sold across state lines.

• Wants to undo the sequestration budget cuts on defense and use funds to "modernize our forces."

Donald Trump -- Successful Businessman • In response to mass gun tragedies, wants to expand treatment programs for people with mental health problems.

• Wants to build a wall across the Mexican border, and would increase fees on border crossing cards, temporary visas and entry at border ports to pay for it.

Bernie Sanders -- Senator from Vermont since 2007 • Wants to make college free for everyone by taxing financial transactions.

• Wants to enact a single-payer healthcare system for all through Medicare.

• Wants to raise payroll, estate and corporate income taxes.

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Caricatures by Chris Ware (Tribune News Service)

info

road to the presidency Candidates’ standings based on the Iowa Caucus results from Feb. 1, 2016.

National Conventions

July 18th - 29th General Election

VOTE November 8th

27.6% Colorado Caucus March 1st

49.6% 49.9%

24.3%

an Party ublic Rep

23.1%

Primaries and Caucuses

New Hampshire Primary Feb. 9th

Demo

c

rt Pa c i ra t

y

2.8%

9.3% 1.9% 1.8%

Debates

Start

Iowa Caucus Feb. 1st

Graphic illustration by Erica Martinez Caricatures by Chris Ware (Tribune News Service)

What is a primary?

• Voters cast secret ballots in a statewide voting process.

• In open primaries, every registered voter can vote for any candidate, regardless of party membership.

• In closed primaries, voters can only vote in a party’s primary if they are registered members of that party.

Independents cannot participate.

• Delegates are chosen to represent the state at the national convention of either political party.

What is a caucus?

• Participants openly show support for candidates at local gatherings.

• Voting happens by raising hands or separating into groups, with the votes for each candidate counted manually.

• Voters can only vote for a candidate of the party with which they are registered.

• Delegates are chosen to represent the state at the national convention of either political party.

• Only 10 states have caucuses, including Colorado.

Information from factcheck.org february 2016 ARAPAHOEXTRA.COM

5

info

Experts Stress Importance of Safe2Tell

by Abigail Guadnola

A

s the nation becomes more aware of mental illness and school violence, it has become increasingly important to have systems in place that helps prevent unnecessary violence and tragedy.

One of the popular systems for that prevention which has developed in Colorado is Safe2Tell.

Safe2Tell is an anonymous tip line which was created after the shootings at Columbine High School in 1999. Students can report any number of safety concerns including suicide threats, distribution of drugs as well as threats of violence. After the events at Columbine, the principal at the time, Frank DeAngelis, instituted a tip box where students could write tips and he would check them daily. However, the system had flaws such as its limited scope. During weekends, students were not able to submit tips and DeAngelis was unable to check them. His system, while lacking in certain areas, was the inspiration for the Safe2Tell tip line.

DeAngelis currently serves on the board of directors for Safe2Tell and stresses the importance of using Safe2Tell with students.

“I think it is important to empower students and encourage them to have open ears,” DeAngelis said. “Students and teachers need to listen. If there are

students who are crying out for help it is important for them to get the help they need and that is, in part, what Safe2Tell helps to do.”

All Arapahoe High School student identification cards are now printed with Safe2Tell information on the back to spread awareness among students.

Additionally, the new Littleton Public Schools superintendent, Brian Ewert, is in support of Safe2Tell and has already seen the life-saving impact the program has. “[The district] has someone who monitors Safe2Tell 24/7. We take it very seriously,” Ewert said.

“Over Thanksgiving break, there were three serious Safe2Tell calls regarding suicide that [the district] was able to intervene with and actually help those students.”

Safe2Tell has become more widely used in high schools across Colorado; however, one difficult piece of Safe2Tell is the ability for students to misuse the tool.

“One of the things I think kids need to understand is that we take those Safe2Tell tips very, very seriously,” Ewert said. “When students submit false tips to be funny or get someone into trouble, it creates turmoil in the system and it makes a lot of people frustrated.

Students really need to understand the importance and serious nature of Safe2Tell and how to use it correctly.”

While Safe2Tell is an excellent tool for schools, it cannot replace 911.

“Students really need to understand that calling 911 in a serious crisis is okay too,” Ewert said. “You don’t need to go to Safe2Tell if someone is going to commit suicide or has a gun.

Ultimately if a student calls 911, we do not have to wait for someone to get the tip and dial 911 in an urgent crisis, because that is what will happen in those situations.

Students just need to know, if it is an immediate crisis, dial 911.”

Colorado is all too familiar with tragedy and it has become apparent that action must be taken at not only the district level, but by the students. ”Schools have a responsibility to talk to students,” DeAngelis said. “If a student is saying or posting things to the effect of, ‘I have no reason to live,’ or ‘No one respects me,’ that is something that needs to be reported. We have to be vigilant for things posted on Facebook, Snapchat or Twitter.

It is the student’s responsibility as well teachers and parents. If you see it, it is your responsibility to report it. People have asked me, ‘What are we gonna do?’ In the end, senseless violence needs to end, we need to care about each other and it is our responsibility to speak up and love each other.”

Graphic illustration by Abigail Guadnola

info

“If you see it, it is your responsibility to report it.”

- Former Columbine High School Principal Frank DeAngelis Safe2Tell is completely anonymous and is for students, staff and parents. It is used to report: bullying, stealing, threats. fights, drugs, alcohol, weapons, sexual misconduct, harassment, stalking, dating violence, cutting, suicidal behaviorsor any other dangerous situations that threaten student safety or the safety of others. Contact: 1-877-542-7233 or Safe2Tell.org or Text: S2T to 274637

Phrases and behaviors to watch for: “I don’t feel like I matter.”

“I feel like no one wants me around.”

“There’s nothing left to live for.”

“I’m cutting.”

“Sometimes I just want to hurt someone.”

“No one would care if I died.”

“I’m going to kill myself.”

“Don’t come to school tomorrow for your own good.”

Isolation Increase in aggressive behavior Externalizing blame - no accountability Involvement with illegal substances Bullying Abuse of any kind

*

Safe2Tell

Call 911

x x x x x x x x x x x x x x

x x x x

x

If a situation is urgent, call 911 immediately. It is also important to report an issue to Safe2Tell in order to inform school administrators and counselors of your concerns.

FEBRUARY 2016

ARAPAHOEXTRA.COM

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info

What’s in the News?

by Amanda Brenner

ACT/SAT

In December the Colorado Board of Education ended its contract with ACT and signed a five year contract with the SAT/College Board. At first, this was going to impact the class of 2017, but the contract will no longer come into effect this year. The contract with the SAT/College Board will go into effect for the class of 2018. This year’s juniors will be taking the ACT as planned in the spring of 2016. The date of the testing day has not been announced for this year, but the administration will update students through email.

Photo by Jose Carlos Fajardo/ Bay Area News Group/MCT

Gas Prices

Over the past few months the Denver area, along with the rest of the nation, has experienced a decrease in gas prices. National news reports say that this change is related to a weak global demand on fuel, particularly because the Chinese economy is trying to cut back on fuel use.

The Middle East is still the top producer of gas and oil in the world, and some reports project the gas prices will continue to decrease for the next three months and then rise again during the summer. Summer blends are more expensive to refine due to their likeliness to give off higher smog levels.

One of the major effects this had on the United States is the increase in SUV and pickup truck sales in addition to a major decrease in the sale of more fuel efficient cars. Colorado in particular is having a very productive drilling season with oil and natural gas, and should continue to do so, which is part of the reason why Colorado’s gas prices are particularly low.

The Oscars

Photo by Yang Lei/Xinhua/ Zuma Press/TNS

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Photo by Brian van der Brug/Los Angeles Times/MCT

For the second year in a row, only white actors and actresses have been nominated for an Oscar in the top four categories. This prompted the #Oscarssowhite trend on social media around the country and the ongoing topic of diversity in Hollywood. Actress Jada Smith along with actor and producer Spike Lee announced this year on Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday that they would be boycotting the Oscars because of the biased nominations. This led the Academy’s president, Cheryl Boone Isaacs, to promise a review of recruitment efforts.

“This is a difficult but important conversation, and it’s time for big changes,” Isaacs said in an interview with The New York Times. Many people are asking why the Oscar nominations are “so white.” Some of our students were asked what they think of the phenomenon.

“People over-hype it and make everything racist when that was never the intention,” junior Bridget Dowling said.

“This is a bigger problem than the Oscars itself but it’s getting this attention because of the television time and famous people involved,” sophomore Reagan Anema said.

The Oscars are on Feb. 28 this year.

Graphic illustration by Erica Martinez

culture

A Look Inside the Deep Web Delving into the secrets of the Internet

by Sybrand Braakman of a website’s content, ads for that bed will appear everywhere. or is an anonymous Internet browser that comes with both Finding repetitive and annoying advertisements is very positive and negative criticisms and misconceptions. Tor has annoying and will leave you having second thoughts about the capability to give near full anonymity while browsing the shopping on the Internet. Another use for common users is to web by relaying encrypted browsing data through volunteer avoid Internet blocks, because Internet blocks are often applied node servers to mask any trace of the user. It can help users very liberally and many common, and safe, sites are blocked penetrate many Internet blocks like in school and at work. and are not easily changed without a strong academic reason.

It is also strong enough to get around Internet blocks in Tor can also be to blame for the Deep Web and all other countries such as China. This is often how citizens’ opinion is variants of it such as the Dark Web. released when the the public is being With the ability to browse the web oppressed and secret.

It‘s okay to give Internetcompletely anonymously people During the Arab Spring when have created hotspots for various various social media outlets were deprived people a chance to illegal activities. Most have heard a blocked in countries like Bahrain use the Internet and express story related to illegal activities of the and Libya and replaced with local Deep Web, whether it is about hiring propaganda, Tor allowed information their thoughts and opinions assassins or various drug trades. to spread like the interviews of the when they would otherwise be Rumors about the Deep Web are most refugees and protesters and videos of likely at least partially accurate. The the and crackdown violence. penalized.”

Deep Web is hard to navigate and Tor was used many times in order often just plain odd, with most parts to publish various news and opinion of it being extremely illegal. Browsing the Deep Web is hard pieces. A lot of people support Tor as a way to give Internetto do as there is not a search browser that can bring users to deprived people a chance to use the Internet and express specific sites with a broad search and is not suggested. their thoughts and opinions when they would otherwise be It is not necessarily true that everything on The Deep Web penalized. is terrible, illegal and has frightening content, although that is For common users, Tor is just a way to find privacy. true for a great majority of it. It should be considered with an Whether most care or not, advertisers and the government open mind as it is off base from a lot of other things that can can follow Internet history. Anything that is searched for will be be found on the Internet because of its specific hazards and reflected in ads and will come back to you in a large quantity. benefits.

Say if you are looking to buy a bed on the Internet, regardless

T

“

Pros of Tor

Cons of Tor

More freedom of browsing

Can come off as “sketchy”

Usage is not illegal, but can become illegal without precautions

Can easily mark innocent people as guilty of illegal actions because of how the routing works

Adds privacy from government and business tracking

Hard for authorities to manage

Becomes more anonymous with the amount of people that use it

Graphic illustration by Sybrand Braakman 10

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FEBRUARY 2016

culture

The Public Web This is the part of the Internet that most people use. To access this, all you need is a standard browser, such as Google Chrome or Firefox.

The Deep Web Contains 90% of the information on the Internet. To access the Deep Web you need a Tor browser. Tor makes it difficult to track searches.

The Dark Web Danger! Most websites on the Dark Web contain illegal products and dangerous people. Do not tread there.

Graphic illustration by Erica Martinez

Bitcoin: The Rise of Online Currency

by Sybrand Braakman

W

ith the rising popularity of digital currency, Bitcoin has reached a level of high attention and a steadily growing value.

Bitcoin was created in 2009 with the intent of creating a currency that was independent of a nation and could be used anonymously for transactions. Since 2009 one Bitcoin has risen to a value of $384.15 as its recent value. Because of Bitcoin’s anonymity, it has become the currency of the the Deep Web and illegal purchases

alike although they do not represent all of the transactions that the currency is used for. Bitcoin can be used for normal purchases at any place that will accept them.

Projections point towards Bitcoin being really big this year in regard to both popularity and in how much it is worth. Because of this many investors have taken up buying Bitcoin in order to make money off of the recent Internet trend. february 2016 ARAPAHOEXTRA.COM

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culture

Speculation Wars: Episode VIII

by Charles X. Maier

WARNING – This article contains spoilers for “Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens.”

If you have not yet seen it, you definitely should.

A

lmost two months after its release, the newest edition of “Star Wars” is still on everyone’s minds. More importantly, people are already guessing at what events will transpire in the next episode.

Now that the movie has had time to resonate with its fans, it is time to shed light on some of the more valid theories, as well as point out Easter eggs in the movie that could nod at future plans for the remaining films in this third trilogy.

This is not a review; that phase of this movie’s release is far in the past. This article stands to make educated guesses at where the franchise is going from here now that we have a good idea of the new characters and themes.

The first set of theories worth bringing up are probably the most popular for discussion and generally takes up the majority of internet attention: Rey. Abandoned on the remote desert planet of Jakku as a child, Rey has little recollection of her family. The mystery surrounding her origin has led to myriads of creative theories, some far more plausible than others. The most popular of these conjectures is that she is Luke’s daughter. This idea seems to be the most realistic, just because she is about the right age for that relationship, and her ability with the Force seems to suggest Skywalker blood. However, in this situation the mother is unknown.

Another favored idea is that Luke figured out how to manipulate the Force to create life, the same way Anakin was created. It is unlikely Rey would be able to successfully use Jedi mind-tricks after only three tries without having abilities to parallel Anakin, power only obtainable if one of your parents is the Force. The theory that she is Obi-Wan’s granddaughter could hold water, too, though the fact Jedi are not supposed to

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FEBRUARY 2016

have children slightly debunks it. But a lot of time passed in between “Revenge of the Sith” and “A New Hope,” so who knows what Kenobi could have been up to? It is incredibly likely Rey is related to already standing characters; it is “Star Wars” after all. Everyone is related.

Kylo Ren is another character that most certainly warrants analysis, but less about his origin and more about the future. As we know, he is part of the Skywalker family. Not just that, but he also extended the Solo bloodline, of which he is the last-known remaining member due to the events of the most recent movie.

Most of Kylo’s media and fan attention is focused on the character’s petulance and immaturity; however, it is possible that chapter of his personality has ended. Many people support the idea that after his humiliation at the hands of Rey, he will be less arrogant and tantrumprone. He has been severely scarred, hinting at a descent to the state of his grandfather who is none other than the most well-known villain of all time, Darth Vader. It appears Kylo Ren will continue on the path to becoming more like Vader, just as he wants.

On the other side of the spectrum, there is a theory that Kylo is not completely evil. The Force needs balance, a theme that always turns up in the franchise. Some have suggested that the reason Kylo is so interested in being submerged in the Dark Side and running from the Light is because he wants to balance the Force so Rey can be a fully goodhearted Jedi. Motives such as these suggest Kylo is not the toddler-like villain we make him out to be, but someone who has put serious thought and time into insuring there is still good left in the galaxy. Then again, he could just stay that scrawny, angry, next-big Disney princess

we all saw in Episode VII. The final matter that should be addressed is Supreme Leader Snoke, likely the most mystery-shrouded character in “The Force Awakens.” All we know about the leader of the First Order is that he is Kylo Ren’s only master. He uses holograms to appear large and terrifying, and he looks to be a seriously scarred and ugly dude.

Most of the theories surrounding him involve his true identity being Darth Plagueis, the former master of Emperor Palpatine in the original trilogy. According to the legend, Plagueis was killed in his sleep by the Emperor after discovering the secret to preventing the death of others through the Force, but who knows? He very well could have survived, full of rage and ready to rule the galaxy as Snoke at the helm of the despicable First Order.

He could even be a Jedi who fell during Order 66, the command that wiped out most of the Jedi using the once Republic-controlled clone troopers.

Snoke just did not quite die, and came back more vengeful towards the Republic and the Jedi than ever. There is, on the other hand, a significant possibility that Snoke is just a character we have not seen or heard about in the franchise before.

There is no way to predict the truth behind these ideas, but even if they all turn out to be completely wild accusations, Episode VII has set up some great characters and story to work with in the next two movies. It will be very exciting to see how they evolve, regardless of how accurate these speculations prove to be. For one of the most well-known and loved movie series ever, all one can do is hope.

culture

e m Me

s s e n d Ma

y n a m h t i w d e l l i f s i t e n ” r s e g t n n i I h e t c i “Th t s a t n a f d n a e g n a r t s

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culture

Memes

The Building Blocks of Internet Humor

by Sybrand Braakman & Charles X. Maier

T

he Internet is filled with many strange and fantastic things.

These trends are rarely constant. However, there is one element of the Internet that always seems to come back in some form or another: memes. They are the obsession of many regular Internet users and basically consist of any popular joke in the form of a short video or picture. Memes are used in different areas on the Internet to which they apply, such as relatable social situations or online conversations, and are very easy to modify to fit a given scenario. They are one of the most versatile and abundant resources on the Internet, and are used by the majority of people on sites like Reddit, Twitter, and even Instagram and Facebook.

Popular memes are always shifting and expanding. One day John Cena is the meme that is in everyone’s conversations, the next DJ Khaled is on everyone’s minds and in everyone’s hearts.

Usually they change based on whatever events are current at that time, such as memes about Trump due to the election, but usually the patterns are unpredictable, mysterious and infinite.

The most popular right now include “Star Wars: Episode VII” memes (specifically pertaining to character and dialogue references), “Me vs. You” which takes one “good” picture and one humorous picture to imply superiority of oneself over someone else, or anything with Donald Trump and his hair. “That Moment When” memes are popular as well, which consist of associating an often unrelated facial expression or action with a different scenario

in a funny way. “Tag Yourself” has also been gaining quite a bit of recognition, a trend in which a picture featuring a collection of humorous characters and objects with certain traits, and people can tag which choice they think they are most like. DJ Khaled still makes the list, but his popularity is waning; he constantly posts videos and photos to his Snapchat story that offer life advice that no one seems to take seriously, but are often seen as comical.

Memes are extremely important to modern culture. They can be used to communicate and hold entire conversations, express emotion better than words, humorously play up real world situations and reveal humor and personality types of different people based on selection. They are the current generation’s version of storytelling.

Memes define the Internet of the 21st century and they are the origin of much of the humor on the internet. Sadly, not all of them are created equal and many less than proficient meme-users are out of date on what is popular. It is important to be informed about which ones are currently relevant in order to successfully deliver the joke it is meant to project.

That is the basic rundown. If you want to know more about the mystical wonder of memes, take a trip to Reddit or other popular sites. They truly are a significant part of the modern Internet, and knowing what they are and how to use them is an important skill for a proficient Internet user.

Remember These?

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culture

Trading One Vice For Another

by Paige Paulsen

“

F

The problem is that while some make claims that it is less detrimental to users’ health, vaping does not eliminate the risks of addiction.”

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or years schools have tried to corral students along a straight path through support of the “Just Say No” anti-drug campaign, but studies suggest kids these days just aren’t quite getting the message.

According to an estimate from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services approximately “one out of every three high school seniors reports ever having smoked a cigarette.”

It is a statistic that testifies to the fairly easy access minors have to tobacco products.

Recently there has been a significant escalation in tobacco product use sweeping the nation’s youth culture in the form of electronic cigarettes, which come in an assortment of teenoriented flavors including chocolatestrawberry, Belgian waffles, cinnamon, gummy bears and cola.

With the introduction of e-cigs, adolescents are gaining even easier access to nicotine-laced products due to a general lack of regulations that contribute to vape pen use by minors.

“The latest survey found that the use of e-cigarettes increased from… 4.5 percent to 13.4 percent among high school students,” according to an article posted by NPR. While there are those who root for the devices as a healthier alternative to inhaling carcinogenic cigarette smoke, controversy still surrounds the use of e-cigarettes.

Although e-cigarettes do not always contain tobacco and some even offer

nicotine-free options, the Food and Drug Administration still recognizes them as tobacco products. With the legalization of marijuana, Colorado in particular has begun efforts to limit use of e-cigarettes for teens and other demographic groups through bans on public vaping.

The concern about tobacco products stems not only from the toxins but also from nicotine which is addictive regardless of the way in which it is delivered. The problem is that while some make claims that vaping is less detrimental to users’ health, it does not eliminate the risks of addiction.

Those against e-cigs “fear the devices may hook a new generation on nicotine and lead them to start smoking traditional cigarettes,” NPR reporter Rob Stein said.

By promoting electronic cigarettes, the public still condones addictive behavior and encourages the drug behind these vices. Unfortunately, some teens have taken advantage of this attitude to justify drug use and have grown up in an environment that underestimates the risks involved with manufactured chemicals.

Vape pens may be a healthier alternative for heavy smokers who get their nicotine fix from regular cigarettes, but the use of e-cigs should not be encouraged. Even though vaping may eradicate the tar that causes so much damage when smoking, the research behind the adverse effects of nicotine is minimal and the risks can not be discounted.

Graphic illustration by Paige Paulsen

people

An Eagle’s Point of View Cruz Martel Speaks About His Experience at Alternative Schools

by Becca Schwisow

I

n recent years, alternative schooling has become an option many students choose to take. Whether it be online schooling or concurrent enrollment programs, people have taken the opportunity to explore what works best for them.

Students have been finding courses and classes that not only adjust to their schedule, but also help prepare them for their future.

Eagle Academy High School, located in Highlands Ranch, Colorado, is one of these alternative schools. As school hours are only in the evening, it is a unique option for students. Teachers are there to help, guide and treat the students with the respect and maturity they deserve as they continue their educational path in a new environment.

One of these students, Cruz Augustine Martel, who graduated in January, speaks about his experience at Eagle Academy from the past year and a half. Cruz began attending Eagle Academy at the beginning of his junior year after it was recommended to him by a counselor at his former school, Mountain Vista High School.

“The best thing about Eagle Academy was the accepting teachers that cared about every student,” Martel said.

Due to the smaller student body at Eagle Academy, classroom sizes range from about eight to 18 students. This creates a close bond between teachers and students which results in a better learning environment.

Martel has seen the many benefits that come with going to an alternative school such as Eagle Academy.

“I think they have a lot to offer, and they cater to a more diverse population,” he said.

Eagle Academy, and similar programs, are open to students who need to make the switch in their educational path to help them in the future, whether that be receiving their high school education in an environment that suits their needs or a place where they can be themselves. The

Photos

by Becca Schwisow

students are able to accomplish school proudly, knowing how hard they worked to get to that point.

The social aspect of the alternative programs is also welcoming as well. Most people at Eagle Academy are in relatively the same age group, and are there to complete the same courses to graduate. The students recognize certain problems other might have, but do not let that affect their views of the students around them.

“There aren’t cliques, it’s a community of people,” Martel said.

Alternative schools are open to anyone and they can get you on the path to success.

“I think it’s a good choice, especially if you have bad habits. It can get you on the right track, and get you where you’re trying to go,” Martel said.

As it is with many other paths in life, there are many negative connotations that go along with alternative schools.

Stereotypes are often associated with these schools.

“I guess the only con is the stereotypes that go along with it, and how everyone views you after you go. A lot of kids thought I just dropped out, they didn’t know I went there. [However] it gave me the ability to go from not graduating at all to graduating a semester early,” he explained.

While there may be stereotypes, such as being a ‘high school dropout,’ the community in the school makes it a better place to go. Martel realized this responsive atmosphere as soon as he stepped foot into the school.

“Every day I walked in there I called it Disneyland. It was just so warm and welcoming,” he said.

After graduating from Eagle Academy, Martel has plans to attend college in the fall, as well as continue to work.

While Eagle Academy is not the only alternative school available, it was what worked best for him and in the end, and he was able to finish his high school education stronger than he ever imagined.

people

The GSA Works On Impacting The Community

by Madison Wacaser

I

nside E5 every other Tuesday after school, students gather around at the tables in the art room. They are discussing a wide range of issues, with one center theme.

The after school club is the Gay Straight Alliance, or “GSA,” and it’s meant to provide support for awareness of the LGBTQ+ community.

The GSA is new to the school this year. One of GSA’s main goals is to bring attention and participation to the Day Of Silence on April 27. The Day Of Silence is meant to bring awareness and educate students about LGBTQ+ issues like harassment and assault. Not having a voice for the day represents the people who are LGBTQ+, who often can not speak up for themselves.

Both the day and club was originally started by a group called the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network (GLSEN).

“The issue at hand is the bullying, harassment, name-calling and violence that students see and face in

• LGB youth are 4 times more likely, and questioning youth are 3 times more likely, to attempt suicide as their straight peers.

• 44% felt unsafe at school due to gender identification.

• 64% felt unsafe at school due to sexual orientation.

• 32% did not go to school for at least one day because of feeling unsafe.

• 41% of respondents reported attempting suicide compared to 1.6% of the general population.

• 12 percent of transgender youth report being sexually assaulted in K–12 settings.

our schools daily,” the GLSEN website says. “The Day of Silence is an activity created and led by students to educate their peers and bring an end to this harassment.”

Negative attitudes toward LGBTQ+ people put these youth at increased risk for experiences of violence, compared with other students. Violence can include behaviors such as harassment, physical assault and suicide-related behaviors.

“We want every student in every school to be valued and treated with respect, regardless of their sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression,” GLSEN said, “We believe that all students deserve a safe and affirming school environment where they can learn and grow.”

Within a changing world, we could all strive to be a little more accepting, especially to those who are less likely to be accepted. An easy start to that process is by supporting people in our communities.

Gender Identity: which gender we mentally identify with

❤ Gender Expression: How we choose to physically present ourselves

Sexual Identity: Who we are attracted to, sexually and

Sex: The physical characteristics we are born with

Graphic illustration by Madison Wacaser

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Statistics from Suicide Prevention Resource Center, Centers For Disease Control And Prevention and Office For Victims Of Crime

people

Limitless You

by Kiennes Adams

D

o you believe people are limited? Think for just a minute and answer this question: Do you believe people are limited by their age, gender, athletic or intellectual ability, or the color of their skin?

If you said no, then you should keep reading.

If you said yes, you also should keep reading because I would like to change your mind.

About a week or two ago, I would’ve said that people are limited by all of the above factors. I was actually going to write this article about how we, as a society, need to change this. But, after talking to my dad about it, my mind changed. I don’t believe now that people are limited and this half page of gibberish will hopefully change your mind as well.

You know who else helped change my mind about limits in society? Henry Ford.

Henry Ford was the founder of the Ford Motor Company. I learned about him during my U.S. History class when we were reviewing World War 1. I don’t particularly like history, but Henry Ford said something that will forever stick with me.

When everything seems to be going against you, remember that the airplane takes off against the wind, not with it.”

Let that sink in for a second. A little more. Okay, good. Now a little more. Read it again if you have to; just really think about it. It’s true, right?

The airplane is weird, I think. I mean, think of it this way; The airplane is a huge chunk of metal, flying. Like in-the-air flying.

That’s just kind of weird, or is it just me?

Airplanes are something I strive to understand but can never quite get a good grasp on. But, just pondering the meaning behind Ford’s quote, I don’t really need to understand the physics of the airplane, because what Ford is saying is something a little more internal.

What I take away from Ford’s quote is that even though

everything seems to be going wrong and all you want to do is give up, some huge chunk of metal is flying, I repeat, flying, against these forces. If an enormous piece of aluminum can fly against the wind, so can you.

Now back to the question. Are people limited?

Some people might say that because of your gender, you can’t do certain things. If you don’t like how people think guys can’t wear pink because it’s a “girly” color or that girls can’t do specific sports because we’ll get hurt, change it.

If you don’t like the fact that teenagers are judged because we’re young, and wild, and “it’s only a stage”, or “you’re going to regret that”, or the dreaded “grow up”, then do something about it.

Prove to those people that you can stay young and still be mature, independent, smart, respectful... Man, I could go on forever.

Now, the meaning of “it” in those last two paragraphs is not what people think. Change what you think. If by the end of this article you agree with me that people are not limited, then change your mindset. Changing your mindset and applying it to your everyday life causes a domino effect. For your kids and their friends, for your friends and their kids, for generations to come – spread the word and speak your mind.

You have the power to do whatever you want, the power to make a difference.

Because when it comes down to it, no matter what color skin you have, what gender or age you are, or even your ability, whether it be in sports or school, you can do whatever you want.

None of these things should matter if you set your mind to it.

If you want something bad enough, there are no limitations.

If you want something significantly enough, the outcome is limitless. If you want something powerfully enough, you are limitless.

The only limitation you have, is you.

Graphic illustrations by Kiennes Adams

Don’t Let Your Resolutions Disappear

by Kayle Hughes As we begin the new year, we aspire to change ourselves for the better. From New Year’s resolutions to buckets lists, we start the road trip into the next 365 days. New Year’s resolutions are constantly created, but rarely do they stick. But maybe there is a way to change your habits. We have days to change and become who we want; 365 days to aspire for a better tomorrow.

Resolutions can vary from becoming a new person to becoming someone better, from talking with some fellow students around school, not only did most of them have problems sticking to the resolution,

but coming up with one.

“I tried to come up with a resolution for the new year, but I had a hard time trying to produce one that seemed like it would fit in with the rest of my routine throughout my days. But I don’t believe in waiting for a new year in order for there to be a new you. You should not have to wait until there is a different number at the end of a date in order to change yourself,” junior Taylor Ingalls said.

People use New Year’s resolutions to improve ourselves but what about a bucket list? We use bucket lists to entertain

ourselves and to give us a reason to explore new territory. Most of these lists include road trips, adventures and friends.

You know that bucket list you always keep in the back of your wallet or the list that hangs up on your wall, and all you want to do is to start checking off bullet points? The New Year’s resolution you swore you would continue to keep up, but never really have.

What are you waiting for? Start something new. You have a whole new year to become who you want!

FEBRUARY 2016 ARAPAHOEXTRA.COM

19

L

V

is in

VEAir the

Matchmaker,

In The Herald’s February survey, students had the option to partcipate in an additional match-making survey. Students were matched based their answers to questions pertaining to personality style, favorite activities and interests.

AIDEN SWEEZY, 09

Hannah blanchard, 09

Introverted

Introverted

FAVORITE MUSIC : INDIE

FAVORITE MUSIC : INDIE

IDEAL FIRST DATE : GO TO A MOVIE

IDEAL FIRST DATE : GO TO A MOVIE

IDEAL FRIDAY NIGHT : BEING WITH FRIENDS

IDEAL FRIDAY NIGHT : BEING WITH FRIENDS

Gabi Veratudela, 10 & Garrett Snyder, 10 Both are extroverted participate in sports FAVORITE MUSIC ALTERNATIVE ANY MUSIC 22

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FEBRUARY 2016

Matchmaker..

ERIK PEASLEE, 1 1 & JOSIE LEE, 1 1

\

Both are INVOLVED IN MUSIC & CLUBS IDEAL ADVENTURE: SKYDIVING ENJOY SPENDING TIME WITH FRIENDS, SPENDING TIME OUTSIDE & PHYSICAL ACTIVITY Wilmer ramirez, 1 2

Lauren Koehler, 1 2

extroverted

extroverted

FAVORITE MUSIC : hip hop / rap

FAVORITE MUSIC: hip hop / rap

IDEAL FIRST DATE : bowling

IDEAL FIRST DATE : bowling

involved in sports

involved in sports

IDEAL FRIDAY NIGHT : BEING WITH FRIENDS

Photos by Faith Fyles, Calumet Yearbook; Allison Swomley, Calumet Yearbook & Mason Steiner Information gathered by Alissa Brown, Maddie Egerton, Hayden Peirce & Mason Steiner

IDEAL FRIDAY NIGHT : BEING WITH FRIENDS

FEBRUARY 2016

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in-depth

quiz: What’s your type?

DIRECTIONS: Answer the questions as honestly as possible to determine your personality type and the types of people you would be most and least compatible with. Do not look at the results until after you have completed the entire quiz. by Hayden Peirce

1

What would you prefer to do on a first date?

a. Go on a double date b. See a movie c. Go on a hike d. Go out to dinner

2

Which would be the most awkward situation during a first date?

a. Having nothing to talk about b. Being with someone too forward or outspoken c. Your date pretends to like everything you like d. Being with a complainer who has nothing good to say

3

Which excuse would you be most likely to give if you were unable to do something?

a. “Sorry, I have an appointment that I can’t get out of.” b. “I’m feeling ‘sick.’ I don’t think I’m up for going out.” c. “I will be out of town then, so I can’t make it.” d. “Unfortunately I’m busy, but let’s reschedule.”

4

What quality do you find most attractive in a boyfriend or girlfriend?

a. Humor b. Shyness c. Energy d. Confidence

5

a. Too quiet b. Overly talkative c. Lacking confidence d. Selfish

6

24

THE HERALD FEBRUARY 2016

What gift would you prefer to receive for Valentine’s Day?

a. Clothing items or accessories b. A gift card c. The gift of an experience rather than something material d. Flowers or chocolates

7

Where would you prefer to spend time with a boyfriend or girlfriend?

1. At a dance 2. At your house 3. In the mountains 4. At a restaurant

8

How many previous relationships have you been in?

a. 5+ b. 0-1 c. 4-5 d. 2-3

9 Graphic illustration by Alissa Brown

Which would you least like? Someone who is..

Which of the following would you rather do?

a. Go to a sporting event b. Play a video game c. Travel d. Visit a museum

in-depth

quiz results if you answered mostly as. .

The Socialite. You have an extroverted personality and would be more compatible with others who are more socially inclined. You prefer to do things with a larger group, and are very comfortable with your conversational skills. When people have nothing to say you tend to find it uncomfortable, and would be least compatible with people of The Introvert personality type.

if you answered mostly bs. .

The Introvert. As the name suggests, you are an introverted person and would rather spend time with fewer people. Introverts are less inclined to go on double dates or spend time with crowds.

You would prefer a simple date night over a party any day. You are comfortable with silence and do not appreciate overly talkative people, so are least compatible with Socialites.

if you answered mostly cs. .

The Adventurer. You are very interested in stepping out of your comfort zone and trying new things. Adventurers are generally the more active types of people, and prefer experiences over material things. More traditional dates such as dinner and a movie do not appeal to you, so adventurer types are least compatible with Romantic types.

if you answered mostly ds. .

The Romantic. Romantic personality types are by-the-books when it comes to relationships. Romantics have an easier time getting and staying in a relationship, as they always know what to say.

Since those of the romantic type know what they like and generally prefer traditional dates, they are least compatible with those of the Adventurer personality type.

FEBRUARY 2016 ARAPAHOEXTRA.COM

25

in-depth

Relationship ‘Experts’ answer students’ questions Alissa Brown, from a long time relationship and Mason Steiner, who has been in multiple relationships answer students’ questions about relationships Is cheating on someone a deal-breaker?

Alissa Brown: Yes it is. I would recommend not cheating, and if they cheated on you, break up with them.

Mason Steiner: Probably. That might be something you do not want to do in a relationship.

What do I even get him for Valentine’s Day? Alissa: Make something personal that reflects your feelings about him. Maybe a CD with all his favorite songs, or your favorite songs that you want to share with him.

Mason: I would agree with a CD. That is always a good idea.

Does the guy pay for the first date?

Alissa: They should pay for the first date, but you could offer to help pay just to be sweet. If you do not like the guy then you should pay instead of giving him the wrong impression.

Mason: Traditionally, yes. But if it is a committed relationship you should both pay equal times. Do not just rely on him to pay for everything.

How does one flirt?

Alissa: Bat your eyelashes, smile and laugh at all their jokes.

Mason: A carrot on a stick works most of the time for me.

Does love actually exist?

Alissa: Just wait, your heart will tell you.

Mason: Have you ever seen a dog when their owner gets home from work?

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Is it better to develop relationships with people who are similar to oneself or to find someone whose personality balances out the relationship through opposite qualities?

Alissa: I would suggest having some interests in common, like sports or nature, but your personalities should be different so that they can help you can see the world with new perspectives.

Mason: Opposites do not attract as much as commonly thought. I would find things you agree on like your taste in music or your favorite things.

Do boys still have cooties?

Alissa: Boys will always have cooties.

You just have to find one with the right kind of cooties that you love.

Mason: Yeah. Boys smell bad, too.

Is it okay to break up with someone if they eat your food?

Alissa: If you really love them, you should want to share the last bite of all your favorite foods with them.

Mason: This is a complicated one.

Depends on the food. If it is your Pringles, then no. If they take the whipped cream off your chocolate milk, though, then that is break up level (I speak from experience).

Why do guys wear the same exact outfit like five days in a row?

Alissa: They are sort of like Spongebob.

They wear different outfits, but they have a bunch of the exact same ones.

Mason: Ladies (or dudes. I dunno), if your boy is wearing the same exact outfit five days in a row then you could probably do better.

After how long into a relationship is it acceptable to show a girl my pictures of her that I have collected the year or so before the relationship?

Alissa: You should be honest in your relationship. As long as the pictures are not too creepy or weird, I would show them to her and hopefully she will think your admiration of her is cute.

Mason: Day one.

Why is there so much pressure to hook up even if you’re not in a relationship?

Alissa: There should not be any pressure.

Do not let anyone pressure you to hook up with someone you do not like. Just do what you feel comfortable with.

Mason: High schoolers are dumb. If you do not want to hook up with someone, then you should not, and do not have to.

If you are in a relationship, make sure you set your boundaries and that your partner respects them.

Is it too soon to say, “I love you” before the first date?

Alissa: Probably, but do not be afraid to be honest and tell them how you feel if you think it is real.

Mason: Yes. Anyone who has watched “How I Met Your Mother” could attest to that.

What are some ways to keep your relationships lasting longer?

Alissa: Work hard to make sure the person you are dating knows you are passionate about them.

Mason: Have lots of fun. Have interesting dates and go out to new places. Explore the world; do not get stuck in a rut.

in-depth Results based on 473 responses to an online survey administered Feb 1-2. Information compiled

by Alissa Brown, Maddie Egerton, Hayden Peirce & Mason Steiner

Why aren’t relationships as exciting and as wonderful as in the movies?

Alissa: People can not actually travel around the galaxy like in Star Wars, and odds are you will not find the perfect relationship like in the movies either, but they can still be exciting and fun.

If you love them it will always feel like the movies.

Mason: They are. Just not all the right movies.

I don’t get the whole commitment thing, do couples ever get tired of each other?

Alissa: Not as much as you’d think.

Mason: Sometimes. But then you just play Mario Kart and it is all better.

Why are people so serious in high school?

Alissa: High school is a time to test the waters when it comes to dating and if they find a special someone while testing those waters, good for them!

Mason: I have no idea honestly. High schoolers are irrational.

What are good ways to ask someone their sexuality without making an uncomfortable situation?

Alissa: Rather than asking, maybe you could tell them your sexual orientation first. If they are your friend, you are opening up to them. If they like you back, they are more comfortable sharing their sexuality with you.

Mason: This is a very personal question, and there is no blanket answer. Be sensitive.

27% of Arapahoe sTUdents are in a relationship of those in a relationship feel as though they have been in love

$

How much do you plan to spend on valentines day?

$ 0-5 of those not in a relationship feel as though they have been in love

of those in a relationship are not satisfied with their relationship status

of those not in a relationship are not satisfied with their relationship status

$ 5-15 $ 15-30 $30-50 $ 50+

FEBRUARY 2016 ARAPAHOEXTRA.COM

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Roses or Asparagus?

Which flowers you should be getting for that special someone

by Maddie Egerton

E

veryone knows what’s coming: Valentine’s Day. Let’s get away from clichéd presents such as teddy bears and chocolates. How about this year, people actually dig deep.

Show that special someone how you really feel, and figure out what the flowers you give to your significant other represent.

Roses are an obvious choice in most cases, but be mindful of the color you get. For instance, take the easy route and go with traditional red, which means true love. You could also go with a vibrant blue that means attaining the impossible and love at first sight.

Just be careful when it comes to yellow roses, that symbolizes friendship, unless friendship is the message you want to send.

Another generic flower to present this Valentine’s Day are tulips. Again, different colors have different meanings: Red for undying love, purple to express eternal love and yellow for hopeless love and white, one-sided love.

Another very common flower is a carnation. The general white with red tips means love, plain and simple.

But it is just that: plain and simple.

Another great one is a daisy. A white flower in itself is fine, meaning loyalty and faith, but to spice up this tradition, a red daisy means beauty unbeknown to the possessor. On the other hand, colors such as yellow mean rejection, disappointment and disdain.

A yellow carnation could be a gentler way to reject that one person who just won’t stop texting you or asking

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FEBRUARY 2016

you out. Harsh, but sometimes necessary.

One flower to be wary of is a daffodil. Those mean chivalry, uncertainty or unrequited love.

If you really want to woo that special someone this Sunday, here are some more flowers that are sure to show your true feelings. For love, a chrysanthemum, red or yellow, is a perfect choice. Red means love while yellow means precious one; you can’t go wrong.

An aster flower, honeysuckle and forget-me-nots are all a great symbol for true love.

It is cheesy, but this next one is probably my personal favorite. A hibiscus, not only good for tea, means rare and delicate beauty. Moonflower is one of the more unique flowers. This flower blooms in moonlight, and means dreaming of love. And lastly, the primrose means eternal love.

With all that gushy stuff out of the way, here are a few more plants that would be a good way to confess your love to someone.

The gardenia means secret love. And if you feel like going all out this Valentine’s Day, a dandelion means intrigue. So next time you go to flirt with that blue-eyed hottie, present them with a dandelion. They will go nuts over that.

Lastly, while you are getting lunch at King Soopers, be sure to pick up some asparagus and show your fascination for someone.

Hopefully, this helps you get out of the boring traditions of Valentine’s Day. So go all out this year and prove how much you really care about that certain someone.

What do I get them?

A guide to the perfect gift at any point in a relationship

by Mason Steiner

I

t is that time of year again: stores are filling their shelves with pink stuffed animals and heart-shaped candies. Those who are in relationships are desperately trying to find the perfect gift, while those who are single are waiting for Feb. 15 when “70% off chocolate” sales litter the aisles. For the former, choosing the right token of affection is one of the most difficult tasks there is for this holiday. Fortunately, there is a fairly simple way to tell what to buy based on the time invested in the relationship. From one week to one year, The Herald has got you covered.

Together for 1-2 weeks: At this stage of your relationship, it is probably safest to just grab a box of chocolates or a stuffed animal from King Soopers. You do not want to go overboard, but you should still do something. I would say $15 max, but do not spend less than $10.

Together for 1 month: This is longer than before, but still not a super long time. When you are at this stage, I would recommend something along the lines of jewelry or even a bigger, better stuffed animal. Of course, candy and flowers always work too. Do not spend less than $15 on a gift. In addition to a gift, going on a fun date would definitely work too.

Together for 3 months: Well at this point you should probably know your partner’s favorite candy, flower or music taste. I would recommend getting them something that you know they are a fan of. Whether it is candy flowers or maybe a disc or a vinyl of their favorite album.

Fun dates are also a very good idea for this. Whether it is ice skating or having a more romantic date. I would not

spend too much money on a present if you are going to a romantic date as they are pretty interchangeable here.

Together for 6 months: This is one of the more awkward times of high school relationships. Is it a long time? Is it short? How much longer will it last? In addition to getting your partner something that you know they will love, it is about time to get a little sappy. There are countless websites that offer creative ways to express your love. Diamond Candles offers candles with a ring in the wax that has a random $10 ring and a code offering a ring that could be worth up to $5000. Other websites like Etsy offer handmade presents for your special someone.

Another cute idea would be to put together a Mason jar filled with cute things that remind you of them, or of you guys as a couple. Stuff that pertains to your first date, to fun times that you have had together, or your song.

The options are endless here. You definitely should not be spending any less than $30 at this point, but you can spend up to as much as you want.

Together for a year or longer : At this point, you should know your partner enough to know what they want. A year in high school is a long time, and I hope you are able to get them exactly what they want. If you need some ideas for your year-long relationship, well, good luck.

Of course these are all simply some ideas in case you are stuck. There is no blanket present option for everyone. I would discuss the price range with your partner as that will be the safest bet. What is most important is not what you get them, but that you have fun and make them happy.

Graphic illustrations by Alissa Brown & Mason Steiner FEBRUARY 2016

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in-depth

Arapahoe’s Valentine’s Day Plans In a Relationship:

students Not in a Relationship:

“It’s gonna go one of two ways: 1) I’m taking her out to dinner at a fancy restaurant and then serenading her with a guitar in the moonlight or 2) Eating a tub of ice cream each in our sweats.”

“Romantic date with my Xbox.”

“To have the greatest day of my life so far with the person I love.”

“Maybe watch a movie and hang out and just get to know each other more.”

“Those will be decided on Feb 13 when I remember it’s gonna be Valentine’s Day.” “Flowers... Lots and lots of flowers, but of course not just the average Joe flowers (roses), her favorite kind of flowers! That followed by a nice dinner, a coolio card, and CANDY!” “My girlfriend and I are planning on dinner at Olive Garden, and then playing Destiny afterwards.”

“My boyfriend and I are going to Olive Garden for dinner, then playing Destiny together.”

“Stuff her locker with a stuffed animal, flowers and chocolate.”

“Probably going to cook together and watch a movie.”

“I’m going to go to dinner with my boyfriend and then we are going to his house to watch movies and eat chocolate.”

“My boyfriend is taking me to the restaurant where we went on our first date and then we are going to take out his dad’s truck and lay in the bed with blankets and look at the stars.”

“Bring candy, balloons and a gift.”

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“Kick it classy with my girl...aka my motorcycle.”

“Crying to Michael Buble’s Christmas CD.” “We’ll be standing on the beach, holding hands, staring off into the sunset. The beach is dead silent except for the sound of the wind.

We’re just enjoying the beautiful majesty of the sunset, together. Before the sun sneaks out of sight, we turn toward each other and gaze into each other’s eyes. I whisper to her, “I love you,” before giving her a kiss. And then I wake up. It’s going to be a good nap.”

“I plan to yell, “ Leggo my Eggo!” at an Eggo waffle until I feel satisfied that the waffle fears me. I will then proceed to cry myself to sleep.”

“Eat, sleep, repeat.”

“Probably gonna eat some ice cream and watch Nicholas Sparks movies.”

“Watching “The Walking Dead” and sleeping.”

“Skiing.”

“To sit at home and eat a lot of food (hopefully meat and chocolate).”

“I’ll be in my bedroom, making no noise and pretending that I don’t exist.”

“I just want to sit on the couch and eat potato chips.”

“With a terrier at my side, I will retreat to my Tempurpedic pillow and a big bag of Cheeto Puffs while hammering out the final pages of my Valentine’s themed sudoku booklet.”

“Literally nothing. It’s my dad’s birthday but I can always wiggle out of that.”

how long have you been in a Relationship before, or how long have you been in your current relationship? not In a Relationship:

In a Relationship:

4% one week - One month: 13% One - three months: 25% three - six months: 20% six months - one year: 24% more than one year: 1 4%

5% one week - One month: 1 4% One - three months: 1 6% three - six months: 23% six months - one year: 1 4% more than one year: 2 6%

Less than one week:

Less than one week:

Results based on 473 responses to an online survey administered Feb 1-2. Information compiled by Alissa Brown, Maddie Egerton, Hayden Peirce & Mason Steiner

sports

Eiber Twins Focus on Winning a State Swimming Title

by Reid Conant at Arapahoe. Her two best events are the 50 meter freestyle and 100 meter freestyle. This year she is also hunting for a state he Eiber twins, Laurel and Griffin, are juniors at Arapahoe championship like her brother. She is heading into state that takes and both are already in the top tier of swimmers in the state place today, Feb. 12, with a lot of momentum. of Colorado. Both qualified for state the last two years and are

“This season’s going really well for me so far,” Laurel said. preparing for this year’s state meet. Both of them have a fierce “I feel confident, so there is a possibility to swim fast and place competitive nature that drives them to beat one another. high at state.”

“I’d say we have a friendly rivalry. We both want to do just as

Both Griffin and Laurel are both looking forward to well as the other or better if we can,” Griffin Eiber said. “We never swimming at the collegiate level as well. They both have shown get mad if the other does better but we always use each other’s some interest in going to the same Division success to motivate us to do better.”

1 school for swimming.

Both are competitive and like to I’d say we have a friendly “We both agreed that if that’s the right think of themselves as elite high school school for us we could swim together in swimmers. rivalry. We both want to do just college but we don’t really know,” Griffin “In relation to girls for me and boys as well as the other or better if said. “We both like a lot of the same schools for Griffin, I’d say we’re generally on the same level as we have the same national we can. We never get mad if the but the other person’s decision most likely won’t affect our own.” level cut times,” Laurel Eiber said. other does better but we always Griffin and Laurel are both interested in Both are looking to improve off of Notre Dame and Indiana for swimming but their success and use the experience use each other’s success to they both noted that it is still very far down they have gained from the previous two motivate us to do better,” the road. When asked about the Olympics, years at state. Griffin has enjoyed great both replied that they would love to success in his first two high school swim junior Griffin Eiber said. compete for the U.S., but they are definitely seasons, including qualifying for state more focused on college swimming at the in both. Last year, Griffin placed second moment. in state in the 200 meter freestyle and third in the 300 meter Watch for the Eiber twins to motivate each other and continue freestyle and is looking to complete his resumè by winning a state their friendly rivalry throughout the rest of high school, college and championship this year. maybe even the Olympics someday.

Laurel Eiber has also qualified for state in her first two years

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YMCA Basketball is in a League of Its Own

by Quinn Trask Many people imagine basketball players as tall, explosive elite athletes who make plays that defy logic and will surely drop any sports fan’s jaw. However, the YMCA (Young Men’s Christian Association) offer many different age groups less competitive basketball leagues to participate in.

League members range from kindergarten all the way up to high school, including some Arapahoe students.

Although the league is meant to be fun and laid back, the high school league can sometimes get heated.

“It is the perfect level of competitiveness,” junior Caleb Loring said.

“Guys are out there trying to have a great time but also get a good experience and win some games too.”

The first game of the season took place on Dec. 7 and the end of season

tournament starts Feb. 14 at the Littleton YMCA. Games are typically low scoring but can be exciting with both teams gunning for a win.

“Everybody tries pretty hard,” junior Ethan Fahn said. “That is what makes it so fun is it is like a real game atmosphere, not some pickup game.”

The players love to play in these games because basketball is typically played by such fascinating athletes. Regular high school students get to feel like their favorite college and NBA stars in the YMCA league.

“I feel like Larry Bird out there,” Loring said. “It’s awesome getting to watch your favorite players and then going out and trying to play like them.”

Coaches are also included in “Y Ball” and anyone over the age of 18 can coach their buddies to victory.

Coaches sometimes even go the extent of dressing up much like an NBA coach.

“It’s a great experience calling joke plays and acting like a stern authoritative force,” senior coach Brett Stenlund said.

“I like dressing up for the games because I like to be respected by the team. It may be fun and games but I still like to be respected and be a good role model.”

As the season progresses, players improve their skills and make new friendships with teammates and opponents.

“Y-Ball has really been a great experience,” junior Evan Bunch said. “I am really glad I did it and has definitely been a positive experience.”

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Does Style Affect Your Play?

Results based on forty-two Arapahoe athletes surveyed from Jan. 27-29.

“It gives me confidence and makes me feel like I’m the best on the field.”

– senior baseball player Hunter Rynders.

“No, I’m not very worried about how I look while I’m playing.”

– junior soccer player Evan Bunch.

What is your favorite sports drink?

Gatorade ran away with the prize, tallying nearly 70% of the athletes’ votes, trumping the two votes Aspire and water netted.

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What is the most important piece of clothing for your swagger?

The majority of the athletes chose cleats or shoes as the essential piece of clothing. Basketball players notoriously take pride in their shoes and baseball players are known to glorify their spikes. However, junior baseball player Andrew Carlson said, “I like the tights! Definitely a major key for onfield swag.”

Mastering the Art of Field Swagger

by Keegan Fulwider

ore and more athletes are M wearing sleeves, custom cleats and shoes, compression tights and expensive shades while they play their sport.

Field swag is becoming an art form. Head to toe, every piece of clothing and equipment has a purpose: to look good. Look on the field of an average high school game and you will see the majority of the athletes wearing some sort of sleeve or stylish apparel. But why

do athletes feel the need to spend money on clothing or equipment that isn’t necessarily mandatory? It is all about the swagger.

Looking good is just as important as playing well in the mind of some athletes. ”The better you look, the better you feel, the better you play,” senior Matt Seiler said.

Swagger on the field presents athletes with the confidence to drive them to victory.

“It gives you confidence for

sure, if you’re gonna dress like that you gotta know you’re gonna go out and ball,” senior football player Gabe Cardenas said.

“It gives me confidence, makes me feel like I’m the best on the field,” senior Hunter Rynders said.

Looking good on the field is becoming an essential for athletes.

Swagger is confidence. Swagger is intimidation. Swagger is victory.

$89.23 Average amount of money athletes are willing to spend on looking good on the field.

What is your favorite sports brand?

Nike was the most popular among Arapahoe athletes.

Under Armour received a fraction of the votes that Nike obtained. “It’s gotta be Nike,” Seiler said.

Would the athlete choose a comfortable, less stylish piece of clothing or equipment over a stylish, less comfortable one?

What is the best pre-game music genre?

Rap was the favored genre for athletes. “Rap gets me hyped,” Rynders said.

Graphics by Keegan Fulwider FEBRUARY 2016 ARAPAHOEXTRA.COM

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opinions

We Were in the News, Again

by Mackenzie Callahan

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e were in the news again.

And after two years of trying to find my path of peace, my search has been interrupted yet again.

A lot has happened within the past two years.

Innumerable hours of sleep lost, so many moments of fear, countless nights of yearning to be normal once again.

For a really long time, I wished to be back to the way I was before that day: happy.

But I have realized that there is no going back to who I used to be. That day changed who I was and shaped me into who I am today, in all the negative and positive ways.

I yearn to be content with my life, the way I was before. I wish to wake up in the morning, willing to go to school with an open mind and not a closed heart.

That is what I have, a closed heart.

After watching my sister’s junior year prom date plastered over every news outlet and social media site, newscasters and human beings voicing their opinions on “the monster he was,” without really ever knowing him, my heart began to close.

I watched my sister fall to her knees, grieving for her friend that had just died.

After watching every student promise to choose to love after Claire’s passing, and very rarely seeing that love in the same school hallways where it happened, I am left in awe at all the broken promises that are scattered haphazardly around these hallways.

We were in the news again.

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The news reports say that there could have been other actions taken in order for the event to be avoided.

It happened.

We cannot change that. No reports released, no words said, absolutely nothing can take the fear out of our hearts after such an event.

We have been through a school shooting, each of us in our own way. And we cannot change where we are in our healing process.

Personally, my path to peace has been particularly difficult. I believed that the only disrupts I had to deal with were the annual reminders of that day.

I was wrong.

There should be a time of rest, and a time for healing.

A time where our obligations should be towards ourselves and our attention not on the news.

Once again, we are in the news.

The articles can tell us what could have been done, or what would have happened if someone took a list of steps, but the event still happened.

Instead of focusing on what could have happened, we should focus on what did happen, and begin to understand and make our way to peace. There is no need to dwell on such events when we have our entire lives left to live.

“Maybe faith will move mountains, but love has moved my heart, and I think that would prove to be the greater miracle.” – Anonymous

opinions

Why We Should Cut Back Consumption of Animal Products A letter from a meat eater with a guilty conscience

by Amber Malom

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efore I start this I would like to fully recognize that I am a complete hypocrite. I am definitely not the first person to write about a topic like this but I believe that it is important to research and discuss so I am going to go for it. Maybe those highly persuasive anti-meat videos have worked their magic on me, but I have also looked at websites without bias for facts.

My “anti-meat” research started in a lazy afternoon of last summer when I watch a YouTube video titled “101 - Reasons to Go Vegan”. I was mildly surprised that it was not an angry person getting overworked and yelling at a camera. Instead it was a well dressed guy presenting to a group of people. It reminded me of those many times I’ve presented a project to a class. The video was a mellow, mature speech. It turns out that many vegans and vegetarians are passionate without being crazy. Through my research I learned many reasons that meat is not on as high as a pedestal as I previously thought.

Let’s start with the environmental impacts. The Environmental Working Group (EWG) found that during the production, processing and distribution of meat requires large amount of pesticides, fertilizer, fuel, feed and water. Through this process greenhouse gases, manure and a range of toxic chemicals are released into our air and water. An analysis managed by the EWG took into account the production and distribution of 20 common agricultural products found that red meat such as beef and lamb is responsible for 10 to 40 times as many greenhouse gas emissions as common vegetables and grains. The current state of the livestock industry is destructive to Earth and will continue on this damaging trend if nothing is done to slow down or change the situation.

Another factor that has persuaded me to rethink the stance on meat is the health aspect. Americans eat more than three times the global average amount of meat. While it is a good source of protein and other nutrients, we eat 1.5 times the recommended daily protein intake. Meat is also high in saturated fat and cholesterol as opposed to nutrient-dense, health promoting plantbased options. Although some meat is good for a human body, the amount of meat that is currently being consumed is out of control.

We view it as a staple in all of our meals and that mindset has a negative impact on our health. There is also scientific evidence that links meat consumption with heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes, obesity, certain cancers and earlier death. Among these nutrient health problems, there are also other health problems including feed additives, antibiotic resistance and animal waste.

If neither of the two previous points made you think about reevaluating your diet, then maybe this one will do it for you. The mass production of meat and dairy products to satisfy humans has forced the industry to resort to unethical and immoral production methods. While some farms have resisted converting to a corporatized, industrial form of agriculture, they are largely nonexistent. Some people expect American laws to protect farm animals but in reality animals raised for food are the least protected class of animals in our nation.

According to the ASPCA (American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals), there are no federal laws that protect animals while they are still on the farms and only two laws that cover farm animals during transport. These laws focus on the duration of transport and using more humane slaughter methods. These two laws exclude poultry which makes them inapplicable for 95% of land animals killed for food and are filled with loopholes. As a result of the lack of laws, factory farms pack animals into spaces so tight they can barely move. Many have no access to the outdoors so they spend their lives on warehouse floors or housed in cages and pens. Subsequently, these confined animals experience severe physical and mental distress. This is barely the start of the story. There are an astonishing amount of more cruel, inhumane treatments the animals are forced into.

While I touched on the three main justifications meat is not as great as we think, there are a more reasons we need to reevaluate our stance on meat and dairy. I encourage you to research this topic for yourself and find the information from the sources. Don’t blindly take your facts from the word of mouth of your peers, parents and the media. Change happens when people are educated and discuss the facts with others. You don’t have to completely cut out all animal products from your life but I think it would be beneficial to yourself and the world if you reconsider.

Graphic illustrations by Amber Malom

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editorial

Americans Reluctant to Admit Political Ignorance While it is possible to gain about any of the candidates on the ballot, political knowledge by listening to it becomes a scary fact that many people ith the increase in political other discussions, it is not a means who participate in making big decisions do conversations happening in classrooms of developing well-rounded, personal not have much knowledge on the issues and around dinner tables due to the opinions on the issues at hand. Those who they are taking sides on. “drama” regarding the 2016 presidential only repeat what they hear their parents,

The bottom line is, if you are campaign, there is a division between teachers or friends say instead of watching uneducated on a certain topic, there is no those who pay attention to politics, those debates, reading credible news articles point in pretending to be otherwise. If you who don’t, and those who receive all and becoming engaged in the world of are frustrated with never having a clue of their political education from Donald politics are not actually politically aware. about what others are talking about, then Trump internet memes.

Instead, they have become mindless take it upon yourself to become educated.

Although it is perfectly okay to fall into Media outlets such as The New York any one of these categories, it is becoming robots, repeating specific phrases that Times, The Wall Street Journal, a trend for those on the “lessPolitico.com, educated” side of the spectrum to If you are frustrated with never having Foxnews.com, RealClearPolitics.com and FactCheck. refuse to admit they do not actually a clue about what others are talking org are great resources for up-toknow what is going on. date political news. Whether you are According to a study done about, then take it upon yourself to conservative or liberal, it is a good by the Pew Research Center, only become educated.” idea to read both types of sources for one-third of Americans knew how more well-rounded knowledge of the many women serve on the Supreme issues at hand. often contain harsh accusations towards Court (the answer is three), and only If you simply have no interest in politicians. When asked to speak further 52% of people could correctly identify politics, do not feel as though you need to on the issue or explain the reasoning the current party make-up of the Senate chime in during every conversation. You behind their strong opinion, they often (54 Republicans, 44 Democrats and two are less likely to be ridiculed for keeping fall short on the ability to back up their independents). your mouth shut than you are for echoing Although only about half of Americans “opinions” with factual examples. recycled phrases you overheard in the If the only consequence of this seem to be “politically educated,” it is hallway, because it is quite obvious when “pretend-you-know-about-something-thatuncommon for someone to publicly you did not form that opinion on your own. you-actually don’t” culture was that it was admit he is politically unaware. Admitting slightly annoying, it would not be such a political ignorance opens up oneself for The editorial represents the views of the ridicule. However, if only half of people are big issue. However, since it is not required majority of The Herald staff. for eligible voters to know a single thing politically educated, why is the other half embarrassed to admit otherwise? This fear of being shamed leads people to adopt a “fake it ‘til you make it” approach when it comes to politics. But this only creates a population that is incapable of forming its own, factual-based opinions.

When a group conversation suddenly turns to the topic of politics, those involved who aren’t actually sure of what is going on often spew out phrases they read in their crazy aunt’s Facebook status headlines or heard their parents spew from their favorite morning radio talk show to avoid coming off as politically ignorant.

If you have ever taken a Government class at Arapahoe, you have surely experienced this. It is not hard to tell whether someone actually watched that debate last night or if they are just parroting their parent or teacher.

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Editorial cartoon by Lindsey Archipley

opinions

America’s Youth Deserve A Vote

by Abigail Guadnola

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have followed politics since I was in elementary school. I have vivid memories of watching President George W. Bush give speeches as well as President Barack Obama’s first term in 2008 and his inaugural address. Even when I was eight, it seemed that I was more involved in what was occurring in our government than many adults who were three or four times my age. I desperately wanted to have a say in the things I was watching. I spent time with my family watching coverage of elections and every step leading to the White House.

Of course there were things I did not understand; however, I hungered for every bit of information I could find. Instead of watching Disney channel like many of my peers at the time, I was watching the vice presidential debates and asking questions about the electoral college. I spent my night on election day on the edge of my seat, anxious to discover who would become the next president. Not many adults follow politics and elections to the extent I have since my childhood.

As the country prepares for the presidential election this year, I find myself in the same predicament I faced as an eight year old. Even though I am politically competent, I am ineligible to vote. I am not suggesting that the country should

allow everyone to fill out a ballot, however, I do find it intriguing that I am 16, work 15-30 hours a week and care about the events occurring in our country yet I cannot vote.

What really bothers me is the idea that there are Americans who are not invested in or aware of national affairs, yet they have more of a say in who leads our country than I do. I understand why we have the law that in order to vote one must be 18 years of age; not every teenager cares or is informed enough to vote, but what about those of us who do care and are knowledgeable enough to get involved? Why are we lumped together with our apathetic peers? There is not a perfect way to fix the system however it is a conversation worth considering.

One could argue that if a minor has been part of the work force for at least six months, they should then qualify to vote in elections. If a minor is willing to work and pay taxes, should they not at least have the opportunity to contribute to the affairs of their country? Why is it that minors do not have a voice in politics? If I am putting in 15-30 hours a week into my job in addition to school and extracurricular activities, does that not prove that I work hard and care about what I do? School is in session for about 35 hours a week, additionally students are recommended to get approximately eight hours of sleep a night, most are assigned about two to four hours of homework a night, then add work and extracurriculars in addition to religious and family obligations. That is a tough schedule, no matter the age.

Those in favor of setting the voting age to those above 18 argue that teenagers are not mature enough or have not had enough life experience to make reasonable, educated decisions. With all due respect, I disagree. In my life, I have had experiences many people, adults or otherwise, will never share. To suggest that a minor is simply not mature enough to vote is a flimsy argument. Granted experience does not always mean maturity, however among most of humanity, experience develops character and leads to maturing. The difference between being able to exercise the right to vote is a single birthday.

Unfortunately one day is not enough to become a mature adult.

Additionally, policies made in the national government eventually filter down and affect those of us with no say: America’s youth. Our school funding gets cut, the roads we share with our fellow drivers may or may not be maintained and the price of the gas we buy is affected by our nation’s foreign policy, decided by those elected into office. Unfortunately not all students understand the effect our government truly has on us, though neither do all adults. Some students do not care about what is occurring inside the political spectrum of our nation and, in many cases, those people will not vote.

Thus there really is no legitimate harm in giving working students the right to vote.

Even amongst adults, those who do not involve themselves in politics often will not participate in voting.

For years minors have not been considered relevant in the grand scheme of our country’s affairs, but now that we are well into the progressive era of the 21st century it seems more than reasonable that our country looks at its laws regarding the legal voting age. We aren’t asking for much, just a vote.

Graphic illustration by Becca Schwisow & Abigail Guadnola

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opinions

Presidential Election: Circus Politics

by Erica Martinez

qualified candidate, not the one who can shout the loudest.

The frontrunners are in the lead because they know how to appeal to their base, the fanatical conservatives and liberals, rather than the general population. The moderates are lost behind all of the insults, media headlines and six second soundbites.

When did the presidential election turn into such a circus?

It has turned into a popularity contest that caters to the wealthy donors and special interest groups. In the chaos of these elections it is easy to forget that whoever wins will represent this country on a world stage. It is important to navigate the noise of the attentionseeking candidates.

The logical part of me believes politics has always been somewhat chaotic, but this year is unprecedented in its insanity.

Maybe this amount of disorder in politics is the new normal and Americans just have to get used to it.

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verytime I turn on the TV, I see a slew of reality shows. These shows are cheap to make and fill some type of void within people who enjoy mindlessly watching other people live out their lives.

This trend is normal now, but it seems like reality TV has seeped into the news channels.

CNN, Fox News and NBC have broadcast many presidential debates this year that gained extremely high ratings. This influx of viewers is partly because of the style of debating we have been seeing. Instead of talking about real issues, the candidates stand around and brag about accomplishments, inflate their own abilities and insult each other.

I have made it a point to watch each debate. I always come away with the same feeling – all of the people up on the stage are a little crazy. The purpose of this election is to pick the most

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Graphic illustration by Erica Martinez. Cartoons from Drew Sheneman (Tribune News Service) & Tim Goheen (Tribune News Service).

opinions don’t go in, they are dangerous...

don’t let them in, they might be dangerous...

Political Cartoon

by Paige Paulsen

Film Scores Deserve Recognition

W

hen I saw “The Revenant” in theaters I was taken aback by the stunning imagery. What director Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu was able to do with the use of practical effects and cinematography of landscapes caused my jaw to drop repeatedly.

Upon reading reviews and talking to friends and colleagues, that seemed to be true for most. However, there was an integral part of the movie that many glanced over or did not openly recognize.

The composer of a movie, TV show or video game has one of the most important jobs of the whole crew. They set the mood for every scene, prime the audience’s emotions for the next event and give the piece of art an identity. In “Pirates of the Caribbean,” Hans Zimmer created the recognizable piece “He’s a Pirate,” which anyone would recognize and say, “Oh, that’s ‘Pirates of the Caribbean!’”

The role of composer is one that takes an immense amount of talent. For the score of the TV show “Game of Thrones,” composer Ramin Djawadi created various themes that matched certain characters, locations and events within the show. For example, a character whose story takes place in a desert, has an instrument called a duduk. Because of the use of this instrument, viewers are

more easily able to understand the character and her location. This instrument is also used in Hans Zimmer’s award winning score for “Gladiator.”

Film scores are very often overlooked. Without them, the movie, show or game would be lost. The fear created by horror movies stems mostly from the music. It prepares the audience for the next big jump scare or scream moment. In “Silence of the Lambs” the audience is haunted by the music. It creates a tense atmosphere that the movie is based upon.

In “The Revenant,” the breathtaking views are accompanied by a score that perfectly displays its magnificent size. The enormity and brutality of the movie is matched by Ryuichi Sakamoto’s score.

Without this phenomenal score, the beauty of the movie would be lost on viewers.

Not only is the score vital to movies and TV shows, but it is also part of the groundwork of video games. When Bethesda released the massive game “Skyrim” players were taken back by the size and beauty of the game. The score that released with the game by Jeremy Soule was and is one of the most relaxing pieces of art I have ever listened to. In the indie game “Journey” from That Game Company, the story is told through music and minimalist exposition, without written or spoken words. Without the music, games like “Skyrim” and “Journey” would be incomplete.

Scores are underappreciated because many people unknowingly ignore them. They are necessary for almost every movie, show and game to succeed. Without a score, these works of art would be void of emotion and beauty. It is a required aspect of any work of art to succeed. I urge you; listen to the score next time you watch a movie, a show, or play a game. Listen to the common themes and the underlying sounds. See how the horror genre is made by its score and how the theme of a show is portrayed in the title music. Because when it comes down to it, without the score, media would be pretty meh.

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SAY WHAT?!

Ridiculous, out-of-context comments overheard throughout the school. “‘What is a hiatus?’

‘It’s kind of like a hyena.’” – C23 “If the theory of evolution is correct, does that mean we are superior to our parents?” – The Pit “Find something in life that you love – for me, it’s socks.” – C9 “How have you not seen ‘Star Wars?’ It’s like… wars… and stars….” – E3 “Inject the memes into my bloodstream.” – E8 “But my GPA is literally a negative six.” – East Hallway

Background photo by Alissa Brown