The Borah Senator by Borah Senator

“The reality is that Hazelwood brought high school publishing to a lower standard than what was meant for it in the First Amendment.” See more on page 6

AVID experiences a Trey McIntyre performance PAGE 10

See more art by Haleigh Gregory on page 2

Rowdies show school spirit this season PAGE 15

Artist Bio

November 12, 2013

Senior paints, captures photos, produces movies she creates in her classes, the art she is most passionate about is cinematogWith four paintraphy. ing classes under her She said she hopes Senior Haleigh Gregory to become a cinemabelt, and currently taking Photography tographer or a special 4-5 along with AP Studio Design, senior effects editor someday, and added that Haleigh Gregory is a multitalented art- she wants to pursue cinematography in ist with big aspirations. college. She also has been published in Valley Her dream college is The New EngVisions magazine along with placing land Institute of Art in Boston. “They second in the Human Rights Mural have a lot of film opportunities there for Contest sponsored by Idaho Human me,” stated Gregory. Rights Education Center. Her back ups for college are the MasGregory said it was difficult for her to sachusetts College of Art and Design in define what types of art are her favor- Boston, and the School of Visual Arts in ites, because she has so many diverse Manhattan, New York. interests in art. She explained her inspiration to do She said she enjoys painting and tak- film. “Watching my favorite movies and ing photos, but she also loves to draw noticing a moment or scene that’s so and mix her media. She also likes creat- beautiful and complex and thinking to ing three dimensional things. myself that I want to be the one creating “Just anything really,” said Gregory. that moment.” “I like to get crafty.” She alluded to one of her favorite movAlthough she said she enjoys the art ies: “‘Cashback’ has this scene when

By Sage Rogers

srogers@borahsenator. com

“I like to get crafty.”

time stands still and the two characters kiss in the middle of the street with the frozen falling snow around them,” she said. “I remember thinking how euphoric I felt and how I wanted to be the one creating that feeling in others.” When she was younger, Gregory began filming with her friend, senior Mackenzie Knutson. “We did a lot of short, silly videos using Windows Movie Maker,” Gregory said. Lately she has been helping people with school film projects in a group called Fourth Legion Film Group. Most recently she and her friend senior Baeleigh Hamlin entered Macklemore’s “Make a Music Video” contest for his song “Bombom,” to win tickets to the Sasquatch Festival. Gregory said her dream job would be to make and produce her own films or music videos for bands, and then later do effects for movies. She said she hopes that one day she will be able to include her 2-D and 3-D art into her films, and maybe work on animation.

Photo by Brittany Perry bperry@borahsenator.com

One of senior Haleigh Gregory’s photos was published in Valley Visions literary magazine last year.

Advice

The Borah Senator

Managing Advanced Placement classes By Jaynee Nielsen

jnielsen@borahsenator.com As the days go on, schedules seem to get busier; part of that is Advanced Placement (AP) classes offered at high schools. There never seems to be enough hours in a day to get everything done. Stress is building and exhaustion is setting in. AP classes can be overwhelming at times. The College Board offers 32 AP classes, and, of those, Borah offers 25. There are many options to choose from, but some ask, “Is it worth it?” Senior Iain Campbell has taken nine AP classes in his high school career and is currently enrolled in AP Government. “They help with time management, whether it may be in college or in a career,” he said. AP classes are created to reflect a college course with the rigorous homework and difficult topics. Compared to regular high school classes, AP classes require more of a time commitment to the class itself and the homework. In regular classes, the average amount of homework is about 30 minutes per subject per night, but with AP classes the homework doubles. Now it is about an hour per subject, and, in some cases,

that can add up to over five hours of homework a night. AP classes also move at a faster pace than regular classes to match college courses. However, the amount of homework shouldn’t discourage anybody from taking an AP class. “Only take it if you really want to,” said junior Sarah Baer. AP classes are beneficial, not only because they provide a glimpse at college, but they also allow students to opt out of college classes if the student receives a three or higher on the AP test in the spring. For anyone contemplating taking AP classes, or are currently enrolled in one, make sure to do homework, have time to study for tests and stay on task. Stress is inevitable when in high school, but it seems to be amplified when taking AP classes. Make sure to take time to relax and sleep, because without sleep it makes it very difficult to function. Watch television or movies, or even play video games if it is relaxing. “AP classes are a different level of education and a higher level of material,” said senior English teacher Pam Atkins. There is too much emphasis on the label of being an AP student; Atkins suggested taking only one AP class, for

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example. Campbell and Baer both agree that coffee and caffeine are necessities when taking AP classes, to cope with the amount of homework and the lack of sleep. Taking AP classes is difficult and at times there needs to be 40 hours in a day to get everything done, but prioritizing is key. Also, beware of overloading a semester schedule with AP classes. Make sure there is time to hang out with friends and family.

Staff Editor-in-Chief: August McKernan Senior Associate Editor: Jaynee Nielsen Photo Manager: Jaynee Nielsen Advertising Manager: Jason Caughell Associate Ad Manager: Sage Rogers Text Editors: August McKernan, Joy Wilson Web Editors: Jon Ramsey, Joy Wilson Graphic Designer: Edward Dunn Social Media Editor: Erica Rowe Page Editors: Cover: August McKernan Artist Bio: Erica Rowe Advice: Brittany Perry News: Jaynee Nielsen, Jason Caughell Opinion: Harmony Soto Life: Joy Wilson Spread: August McKernan A&E: Sage Rogers, Jon Ramsey Trends: Tea Nelson Sports: Ashlee Gillespie, Taylor McNitt Photo Essay: Jaynee Nielsen F&G: Jake Fletcher Staff Photographers: Jaynee Nielsen Nikki Siharath August McKernan Brittany Perry Staff Writers: Nikki Siharath, Kelsey Trees

Photo by Brittany Perry bperry@borahsenator.com

Adviser: Michelle Harmon

AP books are filled with college material.

@theborahsenator www.facebook.com/BorahSenator

News

November 12, 2013

What does government shutdown mean? By Harmony Soto

hsoto@borahsenator.com The government shutdown. These three words were plastered just about everywhere in October. After everyone had seen or heard them enough times, four more words began forming: what does that mean? To put it simply, it means exactly that: the government was shut down. This affected nearly all programs that help oversee and maintain the country. Federal employees were sent home without pay, all national parks were closed to to the public, benefits for seniors and children were halted. Health and safety regulation centers were also either cut off or closed completely. The next question to ask is: why? Congress has many duties, including the duty to pass legislation that approves funding for the federal government. Democrats and Republicans in the House of Representatives could not agree on a funding bill, also referred to

“My vote today was about the thousands of people facing layoffs at [Idaho National Laboratory] and the multitude of businesses across Idaho.” Congressman Mike Simpson as an appropriations bill. House Republicans wanted to add an amendment to the appropriations bill to defund the Affordable Care Act, commonly known as Obamacare or the ACA. Democrats were strongly opposed to this and felt the Republicans were trying to kill the ACA which had been legally passed by Congress and upheld as constitutional by the Supreme Court. There was no evidence of negotiation. The government would be forced to shut down until a bill could be passed giving it the authority to spend money. A new question begins to form: what does it matter?

World leaders share knowlege about different cultures throughout the globe By Mackenzie Chiles

mchiles@borahsenator.com Good food, great friends, and new experiences--what more could you want? All of these things can be found at Lunch Buddies, thanks to World Leaders. World Leaders is a club that started just two years ago. Its mission is to celebrate and obtain an understanding for all cultures. At Borah, there are many types of cultures to be experienced. Once a month, World Leaders has given the opportunity to students to get more knowledge about these different cultures. International Potluck, more commonly known as Lunch Buddies, is an activity that celebrates a different country once a month. Food, dance, and music can be experienced. A food drive is among other events World Leaders plans when the club meets every Wednesday in English teacher Maxie Roger’s room. Some key players involved in World Leaders are senior Salome Paul and junior Nagele Wodesso. Paul and Wodesso

are co-presidents of World Leaders. Paul stated, “It’s good because it shows them that people want to know about them and their culture.” Paul got involved with the club by bringing food to the Lunch Buddies events. Wodess heard about World Leaders from last year’s president. “I think it’s fun, it’s good because it brings all cultures together,” stated Wodess. Academic Interventionist for Borah English Language Learners, Susan Dennis, said “Borah is a largely diverse school and we have a refugee program here at Borah, so it’s good to learn about all the cultures.” Senior Taylor Hill, a member of World Leaders, said, “I joined my sophomore year because my best friend told me about it.” “I love it because you get to learn about different cultures and try different foods,” Taylor added. “I would highly encourage people to join because you make new friends and you get to be educated about different places and people.”

America is the world’s leading economic center. International leaders urged the United States to resolve this issue as it would have a negative economic impact on the rest of the world. Neither political party was willing to negotiate. Daily news reported one side accusing the other of stalling, and neither seemed to offer anything constructive to end the stalemate. Pressure from outside nations, world bankers, and the American people indicated elected officials were simply not doing their jobs. A Gallup Poll showed that Congress’ approval rating was at an all time low of 11 percent. Republicans eventually

backed off from their demands to defund the ACA. After 16 days, a bill with minor adjustments to the ACA was introduced and passed in the Senate and House. Congressman Mike Simpson of Idaho voted to pass the bill. “The easiest, most politically expedient thing for me to do would have been to vote NO and protect my political right flank. My vote today was about the thousands of people facing layoffs at [Idaho National Laboratory] and the multitude of businesses across Idaho that have told me their livelihoods are at stake,” said Simpson in a press release on simpson.house.gov/news. Idaho Congressman Raul Labrador voted against passing the bill. “Like nearly all of my colleagues, I promised my constituents in 2010 and 2012 that I would fight Obamacare--not just cast symbolic, meaningless votes, but work hard to roll it back whenever and wherever possible,” Labrador said in a press release on labrador.house.gov/ press-releases.

KBHS creates popular segment ‘What grinds your gears?’ By Jake Fletcher

jfletcher@borahsenator.com Borah broadcasting has created a new segment called, “What Grinds Your Gears?” Senior Tanner Cleveland and the broadcasting team go around school, and ask, “What grinds your gears here at Borah?” It has become a popular segment in the news, and the broadcast team plans to keep it going. The way the video broadcasting team came up with the idea was in a team, thinking of fresh and new segments to use in the news. They got the idea was from an episode of “Family Guy.” The episode is named, “Stewie B. Goode,” according to the Family Guy Wiki. The “What Grinds Your Gears” segment has become very popular, and people are starting to ask if they can get chosen. Even teachers have asked the students if the student broadcasters will come to their classes and ask

them about pet peeves. The broadcasting team in general has said they get annoyed when teachers and students go up to them and say, “Can you interview me for What Grinds Your Gears?” or “Can you interview my class?” Because it is a matter of going up to students and teachers at random, requests are not taken. Choosing random students allows them to give honest answers. Some responses get edited out; they can not air them because they have profane words, or are too stretched out answers. They have created a filter they use to find the most entertaining and best ones to use in the news. KBHS thought this segment would be entertaining, because it could relate to the students, or at least to the students that watch “Family Guy.” “I love entertaining people, it’s what I do, in class, or just when I’m with friends,” said Cleveland.

News

The Borah Senator

Young adults are more prone to identity theft By Amanda Wester

awester@borahsenator.com In the United States, 12.6 million people (one to 20 consumers) were victims of identity theft, according to the American Bankers Association. Of those, 315,000 victims were children under the age of 18. Nicola Mclntosh, the Public Relations Officer from Zions Bank, described identity theft as “criminals stealing personal information to apply for credit cards, and run up your bills.” The Federal Trade Commission reported that young adults 18-29 make up the largest proportion of identity theft victims because they have very little credit history. People also make it very easy for scammers to get their personal information because they put so much of it on social networking sites. “Kids spend a lot of time online, so the best way to protect your information is using https: for every website you go on that requires credit/debit card numbers and other personal info,” said McIntosh. She also said that using pet names as passwords is very unsafe, because it is easy to guess. Facebook provides a lot of useful information for scammers, like your name, birthday, email, and even your phone

number if you use a mobile device for Facebook. Passwords for all social media websites should involve at least one capital letter and number. According to Javelin Strategy and Research, there are 105 million Smart phone users, and 42 million tablet users. Pass locking every device is a great way to protect yourself if you do not log out of your social media apps. Other ways scammers obtain personal information is: • Stealing identification cards from wallets (low tech). • Friends and even family can access information (friendly fraud). • Gathering information from papers thrown away (dumpster diving) To protect yourself from having your identity stolen, follow some of these tips from the American Bank Association: • Do not provide your Social Security number or account information to anyone who contacts you online or over the phone; • Monitor your financial accounts regularly; and • Request text alerts and emails for transactions more than $200. Banks use safeguards to protect customers from identity fraud. Issuing banks have advanced security systems

Photo by Nicola Mclntosh

Nicola Mclntosh from Zions Bank presented information about identity theft to Borah’s journalism class: (left to right) junior Amanda Wester, sophomore Ryan Heitz, junior Victoria Sam, senior Mackenzie Chiles, teacher Michelle Harmon, sophomores Mollie Lee, Angel Owen, Kayla Gannon, and Lissette Garcia. to flag unusual activity. The Protect My Identity Website stated, “Keeping thieves from obtaining your personal information is more important than ever with more and more

incidences of identity theft reported every year. Always use caution when discarding documents or sharing sensitive information with a person, business or even doctor’s office.”

Borah exchange students experience culture shock By Erica Rowe

erowe@borahsenator.com This year, Borah has exchange students from Brazil, Germany, Norway, and Spain. “I love America. I think it’s a great country,” said junior Beatriz Lanfranchi, a student Lanfranchi from Brazil. While she is living here, she said she likes to go all over town to see what there is to do. Next semester, she plans to join newspaper as a photographer. Lanfranchi said in some ways school is easier here, but also harder because English is not her first language. “The best part of Borah is the diversity you have here,” said Lanfranchi.

Lanfranchi said America is different from Brazil because it has much more freedom. Americans have the freedom to say what they want, to choose classes, and to choose what to wear. Robin Kluftinger, a junior from Germany, said his favorite part of Borah is the weight room. Germany has school from 7:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., so it has been a tough adjustment for him. Kluftinger He also said German schools have much less homework. “It’s different here, but I thought it would be more different,” said Kluftinger. This year is his third time visiting

America; his previous times were in Florida. Some other things Kluftinger likes to do are play soccer and go see movies with his friends. “I like how people here are always busy, but still relaxed,” Kluftinger said. Knoff According to Rikke Knoff, a junior from Norway, the food here is only slightly different than the food in her home country. She said her favorite part of Borah is the people and definitely the teachers. She also said she really likes America because the people are much nicer here than in Norway. “It’s sort of like, if you’re lost then I

will help you, here,” Knoff said. School is harder here according to Knoff. She is used to getting one week’s worth of work over a span of two to three months. She also said there are much bigger distances here. “I’m used to just walking out of my house and walking for two minutes to get somewhere, but here you have to use your car!” she said. Jaime Hernandez de Hernandez Armijo, a junior from Spain, said his favorite part of Borah is the varsity football games. He also said America is just like “High School Musical.” “It’s like living in a movie,” said Hernandez de Armijo.

Opinion

November 12, 2013

Satire: It takes a superhero to navigate hall crowds By Jon Ramsey

jramsey@borahsenator.com “I can get through this,” I think to myself, as I swim through a sea of bodies in the hallways. I hear a girl behind me say, “because yolo.” I turn to her and say, “Yes Jill, because yolo.” Then I squat, feeling the muscles in my legs tighten, and then I jump straight up and stick to a tile on the ceiling. Now people are just sitting there, staring at me. They seem to be dumbfounded by my profound ability to leap. They are just jealous of me, I think, as I set my feet upon the ceiling and begin walking. The naïve children of this day and age don’t realize that we can control gravity with our minds.

“Wait a second,” I whisper to myself. “This is the perfect place to people watch.” I then proceed to curl myself into a ball and disappear. The crowd goes back to its normal routine after seeing my gymnastics, but perhaps chalking it up to a hallucination. I soon decide that the best place to watch others is the main hall, so I slowly begin crawling along the ceiling towards the student store. I take up a nice perch in the middle of the main hall’s ceiling, right above the doors out to the quad, and begin to watch. The first thing I notice are the giant groups forming a conglomeration of people in this one small area. This causes multiple traffic jams, in which the people in the clusters seem to just want to get in the way of people who ac-

tually want to go somewhere. One of the ways they did this was by backing up randomly without looking behind them, only to run into someone else. Then they do not apologize! Where is the common courtesy?! Do they think it is so common that it should just be implied? Has our species devolved so much that apologizing just is not worth our time? It soon gets to the point that I just can not handle it anymore, and I look away. Then I hear something, the voice of an angel yell, “Get out of our way!” I look back to see a man and a group of his friends slowly making their way through the clots. I think to myself, “I like these people.” I choose to follow to see if they do anything else. They are very interesting to watch.

At one point I hear the man at the front comment on the traffic in the hallways saying, “If people could just realize that walking in the hallways is like driving on the road, everyone would be way happier.” Then a smaller man behind him says, “I bet if people exploded, caught on fire, and died when they hit each other in the halls, they would be much more careful.” I wake up to my friend shaking my arm and saying, “Hey, you really need to stop falling asleep in class, Jack. It is break now.” And sure enough, the bell rings, signaling the end of the period. I walk to the door, look out at the hundreds of bodies in the hallway and say to myself: “I can get through this.”

High school journalists deserve free speech lished as public forums, are subject to a lesser degree of protection under the First Amendment. This means that any newspaper which has not been explicitly classified as a public forum by its school district is subject to prior review and censorship. A free press should Principal Bonita Hammer not fall under scrutiny of those in power. Staff Editorial “The reality is that Hazelwood brought high school publishing to a According to a survey released by lower standard than what was meant the Newseum Institute in 2013, 75 per- for it in the First Amendment,” said cent of Americans believe high school newspaper adviser Michelle Harmon. students should be able to exercise According to boiseschools.org, “Intheir First Amendment rights just as cluded in the District’s curriculum adults do. are school publications ... designed to The Borah Senator agrees with that impart particular knowledge or skills 75 percent. But the reality is that high to the student participants. These pubschool journalists are second class citi- lications are not public forums. The zens. Literally, they are not guaranteed principal or designee is entitled to the same First Amendment rights as regulate the contents of school publicaany other professional journalist or tions in a reasonable manner.” citizen. Principal Bonita Hammer said, The landmark decision by the Su- “Anytime you limit or restrict somepreme Court in 1988, Hazelwood thing, it has to be done with a great School District v. Kuhlmeier, set the deal of pondering.” She said she has precedent that public school student only ever censored the Borah Senator newspapers which have not been estab- after conducting extensive research

“Anytime you limit or restrict something, it has to be done with a great deal of pondering.”

and consulting others. Although many administrators wield their right to prior review and censorship with a responsible attitude, such parameters allow administrators too much power. According to Harmon, the Borah Senator has been censored for sexual topics in advertising and personnel issues with teachers. If principals censor sensitive topics, then what chance do high school journalists have to disseminate real information to its readers, high school students? The Supreme Court case Tinker v. Des Moines Independent Community School Districts said high school students do not leave their First Amendment rights at the schoolhouse gate, and we think this decision offers a better foundation for real news in high school publications. Hammer said that high school newspapers and professional newspapers have different purposes and should therefore be held to different standards. She said that a professional newspaper’s purpose is to inform while a high school newspaper’s goal is to educate and “serve a target audience, not the general public.”

The principal also said that it is her responsibility to ensure that all information that reaches readers is age appropriate. The Senator believes one of the values of a high school newspaper is to dispel rumors and offer information often overlooked by an immature audience. We think students at Borah are young adults on the verge of real-world responsibilities, not children who need coddled and protected. It is time high school journalists are allowed the freedoms they were promised in the First Amendment. It is time high school students are allowed information they deserve in a high school environment. One of the main roles journalists play in society is to act as watchdogs of the government. But how can a student journalist hold school officials accountable when such students are policed by the very people they might be obligated to report on? Although our voice is often curbed and controlled, we are calling out for reform. The Boise School District’s policy, like so many districts throughout the nation, needs to change. School publications should be considered public forums.

Opinion

The Borah Senator

Vaccinate or not to vaccinate? That is the question No! By Joy Wilson

jwilson@borahsenator.com

nn Du d r a dw yE b n tio tra s u l Il

Yes! By Jason Caughell

jcaughell@borasenator.com In today’s modern America, most families do not think about what could happen when someone comes down with influenza, or the flu. But in reality, they could end up hospitalized or even dead. According to WebMD, about 20 percent of Americans get the flu every year. Every flu season is different. Each one has a different form of the virus, and some can be stronger than others. This also means that everyone is affected differently, and for this reason, there are different kinds of flu shots. According to the Center For Disease Control, or the CDC, traditional flu vaccines are made to protect against three flu viruses, called trivalent. In addition, there is another version of the influenza vaccine called “quadrivalent,” which protects against four types of the virus. These vaccines all have different strengths, a high dosage, and a standard dosage. A doctor can suggest the best option. So, why do we need to get a flu shot every year? Well, there are two simple reasons for this. One, every flu season is different due to different viruses, and two, studies have shown that over time the body’s immunity to the influenza vi-

rus declines. So, are you one of the vaccine holdouts? Below are five rebuttals to the common reasons why people pass on getting the flu shot and risk infection. I am young and healthy. So what? Influenza can strike the healthiest of people and make them very sick. In 2010, the CDC issued a universal recommendation that everyone six months of age and older get the annual flu vaccine. I never get the flu. Never say never. Think back to the deadly 2009 H1N1 pandemic or just last year, when flu season hit early and intensely. So what if I get the flu? I am tough. Hypothetically, that could keep you safe. But, remember that every year is different. This means that your body has to produce new antibodies every year, and how can it do that if it’s never seen the virus before? I have gotten the flu shot before, and it made me sick. This is impossible. Remember the vaccine is dead; it can no longer attack your body. All the vaccine does is simply give the body a glimpse at what could be coming this year. OK, OK, I’m convinced. I’ll get the vaccine … later. Nope, get vaccinated now. The body takes about two weeks to produce the antibodies needed to fight the flu. By the time you get the flu and decide to get the vaccine, it’s too late.

All around Boise you see the signs: “Annual flu shots available now!” or “Stop in and get your flu vaccine today!” They encourage it as though it’s free candy, yet a vaccination is anything but a sweet treat. Honestly, every flu shot comes at a price. Needles. Pointy metal spikes tugging at the skin. No one wants a needle stuck in his or her arm, especially if it isn’t mandatory or entirely necessary. Even if a person is vaccinated, he or she may still be infected with the flu virus. Laboratories predict the flu strain that will infect the community every season, but the science is not exact. Viruses circulating in the community may not be closely matched to the virus used in the vaccine, according to the Center for Disease Control and Protection (cdc.gov).

Doctors and nurses are unable to predict whether the vaccine will match the flu strain in the community. This virus gap does nothing to prevent illness, even if one has been vaccinated. The injection might target a different strain of the flu virus. Flu shots come in several forms and all of those forms can cause issues. For example, flu vaccinations sometimes result in soreness, redness and swelling around the sight of the injection. They also may cause fevers and aches, as well as fever chills. The vaccine is available in the form of a nasal spray. This spray can cause runny noses, wheezing, headaches, sore throats and coughing. The symptoms can even become as extreme as nausea and vomiting, or severe allergic reactions. Being vaccinated can be as uncomfortable as being sick.

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8 | November 12, 2013

BSD offers teen mothers alternative graduation paths

SEX

By August McKernan

amckernan@borahsenator.com According to a study conducted by the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare, the number of teenage pregnancies in Idaho has decreased from 2,218 in 2010 to 1,921 in 2011. While the number of teenage pregnancies has decreased, the resources for teenage mothers and parents remain available. “Some students choose to stay at Borah and continue with their regular education,” said school nurse Barb Thomas, “while others choose to attend Marian Pritchett or Frank Church.” Marian Pritchett is a high school in the Boise School District which caters specifically to teenage mothers. Its goal is to “provide a confidential environment for pregnant and parenting young women who want to earn their high school diploma,” according to marianpritchett.boiseschools.schoolfusion.us. Marian Pritchett provides students with an on-site day care, counseling, and social work services. The Child

Care Center is open from 7:30 a.m. to 3:45 p.m. during the school year. According to the school’s website, “The child care center has full-time staff members: a teacher, workers and aides. The staff reinforces positive parenting skills and assists young women in developing good baby care skills.” According to healthandwelfare.idaho. gov, “Unplanned teen pregnancies cost Idaho taxpayers approximately 39 million dollars a year in Medicaid, foster care, and incarceration.” Thomas said she estimates that about 10 Borah teenagers become pregnant each year. She said, “Kids need to have accurate information to help them make responsible decisions to protect themselves.” She said that she can refer those over 14 to establishments such as Planned Parenthood and the Central District Health Department for sexually transmitted disease care and contraceptive services. Thomas also said she believes good education will reduce teen pregnancy rates, but, ultimately, sex education should start at home. She also said school sex education exists for students who do not live in environments where honest and open communication can occur.

Teenage sexual habits revealed in statistics

By Tea Nelson

tnelson@borahsenato

For most high sc word sex does not tongue without lea taste or a silly grim But according to Centers for Disease vention, that does don’t participate in tivities. According to t

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Psychological factors influence sexual behaviors Sociology teacher Kate Thompson went to an allgirls Catholic school where sex wasn’t a casual event. In Thompson’s opinion, people will be happier the longer they wait to become sexually active. External factors also influence people’s choicVarela es. “Factors that do keep individuals from being sexually active are factors such as having a child, getting a sexually transmitted disease, and fear of having a negative label applied to them,” said Varela. He added, there is a double standard when it comes to engaging in sexual behaviors. Women, he said, are more likely to be labeled negatively, and the fear of that negative label encourages them to be abstinent. Alcohol use can also influence people to become sexually active, said Thompson. “When inhibitions are lowered, you’re more likely to behave in a way you might regret,” she said.

“Reproduction is one of a human’s most basic needs along with food, water, and shelter.” Psychology Teacher Manny By Joy Wilson

jwilson@borahsenator.com People have sex. But what influences their decisions to remain abstinent or engage in sexual behavior? Internal factors in choosing to be abstinent are usually biological, according to psychology teacher Manny Varela. “Reproduction is one of a human’s most basic needs along with food, water, and shelter,” he said. People may choose to abstain because of personal values instilled in them through religion or family members, according to Varela.

Illustration by Edward Dunn | edunn@borahsenator.com

percent of high school students interviewed in 2011 have had sexual intercourse, 39.8 percent of those students interviewed did not use a condom the last time they had sex. More than 15 percent had sex with four or more people during their lifetime. And nearly half of the 19 million new STDs each year are among young people ages 15-24 years. Statistics also show that more than 400,000 teen girls ages 15-19 years gave birth in 2009.

Abstinence policy present in BSD health class curriculum Photo by Nikki Siharath nsiharath@borahsenator.com

The Glenco Health textbook (2005) used in the Boise School District states, “Practice abstinence from sexual activity. This is the only 100 percent effective method in preventing pregnancy and STDs.” On p. 792, the textbook defines abstinence as “a deliberate decision to avoid harmful behaviors, including sexual activity before marriage and the use of tobacco, alcohol, and other drugs.”

Life

November 12, 2013

AVID students attend dance performance Trey McIntyre Project features contemporary dance with elements of classic ballet in ‘Mercury Half-Life’ By Harmony Soto

hsoto@borahsenator.com

Photo by Trey McIntyre

The Trey McIntyre Project consists of contemporary dance with ballet influences. The company has traveled to Carnegie Hall in New York City to perform.

Borah’s Advancement Via Individual Determination program, also known as AVID, was invited to the Trey McIntyre Project performance at the Morrison Center Oct. 25. The group’s show, called “Mercury Half-Life,” combined multiple dance genres to the tune of songs created by Freddie Mercury and classic rock band Queen. The preview opened up with a solo tap dance number, flowed into a group dance, and then ended with a ballet inspired duet. Students also got an up-close taste of the work that goes into creating such a show. There, they explained the complicated collaboration process that Trey McIntyre goes through to complete his visions, the technicalities of the lighting, design choices, and the work schedules of the performers. At the end, the dancers opened up a question-and-answer for the students, brought kids on stage to teach them the basics of ballet, and went through a step-by-step demonstration of a part of their dance routine with the audience. Most of the older AVID students had positive things to say about the entire performance.

Several liked the differentness of it all, how it wasn’t something they were all very used to. Junior AVID teacher Amy Everson said she encourages students to try new things. “It’s good to experience something different,” she said. “So go do it. Don’t wait around.” The project, named after choreographer and founder McIntyre, is a Boise based modern dance company that gained national recognition in 2008 when it began touring in the summers. Since then, it has been twice named Boise’s Economic Development Ambassador, performed at places such as Carnegie Hall and Jacob’s Pillow, and featured in the New York Times, the Dance Magazine, and PBS Newshour. The troupe came back to Boise to perform a preview of its newest dance piece for the junior high schools in the area. One of the junior high schools dropped out, and senior AVID teacher Pamela Atkins, whose sister works with the dance company, was given the tickets instead. The group was only in town for two days before leaving for Colorado. The Trey McIntyre Project will return March 15 to Boise and the Morrison Center.

Dia de los Muertos holiday celebrates dead, brings families together with traditional food By Erica Rowe

erowe@borahsenator.com Halloween is a holiday and tradition celebrated by almost everyone in America. Spanish speaking countries in central America have a similar holiday called Dia de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead. Eridhey Villalobos, a senior who moved here from Mexico a few months ago, celebrates this holiday. “I love it,” she said. The tradition is celebrated by bringing marigolds and favorite things of the deceased person to his or her grave.

Villalobos said it’s important to remember everything the person liked. Dia de los Muertos is celebrated Nov. 1; Spanish speaking countries who do not celebrate this participate in All Saint’s Day. This tradition is a mix of Aztec and Catholic traditions, according to Spanish teacher Juan Amigo. Another activity which occurs during this holiday is a lot of cooking. Families cook dishes the deceased person liked and bring them to the gravesite, like an offering. Families also bake Pan de Muerto, or otherwise known as dead-bread. This is

a dense bread dish with a cinnamon and sugar topping. Villalobos said her favorite part of Dia de los Muertos is definitely the food. She also said the holiday is like a big family reunion at which everyone tells stories. Although this holiday may sound a bit like Halloween at first, it isn’t spooky at all. According to Villalobos, it is very lighthearted and like a party. Villalobos said her culture believes that the dead come alive to eat the food that’s left on the altar. When this holiday is finally over, Villalobos said the little kids usually eat all of the leftover food on the graves.

Illustration by Jaynee Nielsen jnielsen@borahsenator.com

Traditonal sugar candy skulls adorn altars to honor those who have died.

The Borah Senator

Roars & Hisses Roars: Positive comment Hisses: Negative comment By Jake Fletcher

jfletcher@borahsenator.com

Roar

The one thing I love the most about Borah is our school spirit. We are not the most athletic school but we are Borah, Home of the Lions! – Sophomore Madi Quisenberry

Hiss

A hiss at Borah are the sophomores that get stuck in the hallways. It’s understandable that it’s their first year, but it’s not hard to figure out where you need to go after three months of school. – Junior Beatriz Lanfranchi

Roar

It gives me warm fuzzies inside when people reach out to help others whether or not it’s showing around a new student or helping pick up your stuff you dropped in the hallway. – Sophomore Jaicey Owens

Hiss

I dislike Short Lunch Club because it accomplishes little, few do anything while in there. – Senior Blaine Frisbey

Roar

I love choir. I honestly wouldn’t survive high school without it. Music is my anchor. – Junior Amber Chipman

Hiss

I don’t like that pattern on the ceiling in the hallway. It isn’t consistent. – Senior Kenzie Knutson

Arts & Entertainment Foreign exchange student excels in Guitar

By Sage Rogers

srogers@borahsenator.com

The type of music he enjoys playing most is Christian, along with his favorite part of guitar which is “reading the music.” “I hope to perform and play in a band some day,” said Sarki. Besides guitar, Sarki plays drums, and hopes to learn more about both of his instruments. When he first started playing, Sarki struggled with guitar. “Chords were really hard,” he said, but since then things have gotten much easier. Sarki’s favorite band is Green Day, and he enjoys listening to “pop and rock” from his home country.

“He is incredibly passionate

For some, music can be considered a language of its own. For senior Suniil Sarki, a guitar student from Nepal, music is just another addition to the three languages he already knows. Sarki speaks English, Nepali, and Hindi. He said learning music “isn’t really that hard.” He has been playing guitar for around two years and has always loved playing, he said. His parents did have some influence

for guitar”

Guitar Teacher Erik Larson on his desire to play, but in truth he was the one who “desired to play,” said Sarki. His reason was simple for wanting to join guitar class, “I wanted to learn,” said Sarki. Guitar teacher Erik Larson said, “He is incredibly passionate for guitar.”

Avo id park wastin g ing, pre- gas an orde d r a s the ha s and wich sle of s choo toda l y!

Borah Senator Pre-order Monday and Tuesday at break FOR THURSDAY LUNCHES! Orders can be picked up at Student Store through lunch, even after Short Lunch.

A 6” sub is $3.50. A meal is $4.50 (6” sub + choice of chips and cookie). Support the Borah Senator Newspaper and

Sports

November 12, 2013

Boys, girls basketball prepare for season By Brittany Perry, Nikki Siharath

bperry@borahsenator.com nsiharath@borahsenator.com The upcoming season for the boys basketball team is rapidly approaching. The athletes said they are thrilled and ready for this year’s team. Tryouts were Nov. 5 - 6. Open gyms allotted practice prior to tryouts. This year’s varsity basketball players will be coached by Cary Cada and assistant coach Jeremy Dennis; JV will be coached by Manny Varela with assistant coach Bryan Hymus; and the sophomore team will be coached by Russell Byrne and assistant coach Drue Hall. Sophomore DeAndre Jones said the season would differ from previous years. He said it will “probably be more fun, because the competition will be better.” Jones said he is excited to play. “I love to play basketball because it is the most fun.” Jones has been playing basketball since third grade, and said he was in-

spired by his dad to continue playing. Junior Hushang Abdul said that the team is less focused on winning and more focused on getting better and improving throughout the season. Abdul said he plays basketball because he loves the sport, making new friends, and creating a bond with each teammate. He would like to win a championship this year and cannot wait to play again. Kobe Bryant is Abdul’s inspiration, “I watched him a lot and he inspired me and just the team aspect. I think it ‘s the ultimate team sport.” Senior Isaiah Wright has been playing basketball for the varsity team since his freshman year. His dad Archie Wright, Security Officer, has been his biggest motivation to play basketball. Isaiah has played basketball “league wise” since first grade, when he played YBALL. “It’s a whole different team, and much smaller team. So I couldn’t tell you how this team’s going to do, but I think we’re going to do pretty well.”

By Brittany Perry, Nikki Siharath bperry@borahsenator.com nsiharath@borahsenator.com From wins, losses and ties, the Lady Lions always keep their heads up no matter what the score of the game. Differing from previous years, each interviewed player agreed that they would like to improve the amount of wins they had. This year’s girls basketball team tryouts took place on Nov. 5-6. Some team members from this season commented that they are comfortable with each other and they all know each others strengths and weaknesses. If a player on the team is feeling down, the team will always try to encourage them to lighten up and give their all out on the court. To motivate each other, the team huddles up and gives each other words of encouragement, said sophomore Rachel Schoonover. The girls Varsity team will be coached by Jason Willer and his assistant, Brandon Willer. Junior varsity will be coached by Missy Wheeler., while Jeremy Parkinson and his assistant Brittany Shaw will lead the

sophomores. Schoonover said, “We always have the same goal, to do good and play well. None of us want to get in trouble in practices, so we help each other with that.” Schoonover also said she wants to improve as a player during the season, and become more of a “threat” to the other teams. Junior Kara Slater is excited and anxious for the season to start. “My older sister started playing and when I was little I wanted to be like her. So I tried out for AAU (Amateur Athletic Union) in the fifth grade, and ever since then I have been hooked.” This year Slater said she hopes to have fun with the team and to win more games than usual. “I feel like we are going to have a stronger team.” Senior Kayla Haley said she loves being part of a team and the feeling of thrill that comes out on the court. Haley has been playing YBALL (A basketball program put on by YMCA) since she was in the third grade. “My main goal is to make it to districts this year,” she said. Haley commented that her team is becoming better friends throughout the year, “I am ready for this year. This is our year.”

Senior excels at Thailand sport takraw By Tea Nelson

tnelson@borahsenator.com Senior Klaw Reh traveled across the world to come to Borah and save the day, or maybe more realistically to be a huge asset to the boys varsity soccer team, which placed 4th overall in state competitions. Reh came to America in 2010 for a better education and a fresh start. He said the education system in America is much better than it is in Thailand. “I really like history,” said Reh. Reh credits his athletic skill to his sports background of 13 years of playing soccer and takraw, a sport popular in Thailand. According to takrawusa.com, the strategy of playing takraw is similar to volleyball; players use their feet and heads to kick or head the ball instead of

“There was one game where I think he scored two goals and rocked everything he did, definitely player of the game.” Junior Aiden Transtrum their hands. Using the same dimensions as a badminton court, takraw is played with three on each side with a plastic woven ball a little bit bigger than the size of a softball. “I go to Cassia Park as much as I can to play, almost everyday,” Reh said. “I used to play on a team during school in Thailand.” Reh also said playing takraw really helped him with his skill in soccer. Reh’s mother really wanted him to play soc-

cer, and encouraged him to start at a young age. Fellow teammate junior Aiden Transtrum, said Reh brought a positive attitude and lots of skill. “There was one game where I think he scored two goals and rocked everything he did, definitely player of the game,” Transtrum said. Although said to be quiet and reserved, Reh was an asset to the team and its season. “I am definitely going to miss him next year,” Transtrum added.

Photo by Jaynee Nielsen jnielsen@borahsenator.com

Senior Klaw Reh demonstrates takraw.

Sports

The Borah Senator

Varsity fall Define the word sport; does cheerleading qualify? sports season By Kelsey Trees

ktrees@borahsenator.com The question is: Is cheerleading considered a sport or is it more of a hobby? The definition of a sport is itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s an activity that involves physical activity in which an individual or team competes against another or others for entertainment. Senior Talissa Phillips said she would consider cheerleading a sport. The cheerleaders do a lot of conditioning and have practices for very long hours. Phillips also said that they are always trying to do the best that they can. They are always trying their best when new things happen and no matter how long it takes, they still do the best they can to accomplish what they enjoy. Phillips also said how this year would be her 4th year on a cheer team. Sophomore Brialee Barrus, the JV captain, said she would consider cheerleading a sport because they are a team and every sport has a team. They prac-

tice for improvement like any other sports team. The team prepares for competitions by doing cheers, stunts and other kinds of conditioning. This is usually all finished within two or more hours each time. Barrus said that she has been cheering and on a cheer team since she was 5 years old. Senior varsity cheerleader Robyn Siltman said that she would consider cheerleading a sport too. Her reason on why she would consider it a sport is because it is very athletic and requires a lot of work. Siltman said that they run through their routines a lot. When it comes to preparing for a competition they do a lot of jumping and pretty much the basics of cheering. Siltman said that when December comes, they will be doing practices again because right now there is basketball and other sports going on. She has been cheering for five years.

Photo by Jaynee Nielsen | jnielsen@borahsenator.com

Cheerleaders perform Senior Night Nov. 2 at the football game against Centennial.

wrap-ups

Football

Volleyball vs. Rocky Mountain L 0-3 vs. Eagle L 2-3 vs. Centennial L 2-3 vs. Timberline L 0-3 vs. Meridian W 3-0

vs. Meridian W 49-27

vs. Capital L 0-3

vs. Boise W 34-2

vs. Boise L 0-3

vs. Mountain View L 21-45

vs. Vallivue L 0-3

vs. Timberline L 14-24

vs. Mountain View W 3-2

vs. Eagle L 28-42

vs. Rocky Mountain L 0-3

vs. Vallivue L 14-40

vs. Eagle L 2-3

vs. Capital L 27-77

vs. Centennial L 1-3

vs. Rocky Mountain L 30-57

vs. Timberline L 1-3

vs. Centennial L 28-52

vs. Meridian W 3-1

Boys Soccer

Girls Soccer

vs. Timberline W 2-1

vs. Timberline L 0-5

vs. Meridian W 4-2

vs. Meridian T 0-0

vs. Mountain View W 2-1

vs. Mountain View L 1-2

vs. Rocky Mountain W 4-0

vs. Rocky Mountain L 0-7

vs. Centennial L 5-0

vs. Centennial W 2-1

vs. Eagle W 2-1

vs. Eagle L 0-2

vs. Capital L 4-2

vs. Capital W 2-0

vs. Boise L 1-2

vs. Boise L 0-7

vs. Vallivue W 5-1

vs. Vallivue T 2-2

vs. Timberline L 1-2

vs. Timberline L 0-1

vs. Meridian W 8-2

vs. Meridian T 2-2

vs. Timberline L 2-3

vs. Vallivue W 6-0

vs. Mountain View W 4-3

vs. Rocky Mountain L 0-6

vs. Eagle L 3-4

vs. Eagle L 0-4

Trends

November 12, 2013

Black Friday shopping requires preplanning routes, purchases By Ashlee Gillespie

agillespie@borahsenator.com

Photo from Creative Commons

Black Friday is the shopping extravaganza that occurs the Friday after Thanksgiving and may even begin on the day of the traditional holiday. The name “Black Friday” represents stores moving from “red to black.” Back when accounting records were kept by hand, red ink would stand for a loss, and black, a profit. Ever since then, shoppers have used this day of sales to start on Christmas shopping or just score some good deals. According to tgiblackfriday.com, the most popular shopping sites on Black Friday are Target and Walmart for everyday supplies, Sears for household appliances, and Best Buy for electronics. Department stores such as Macy’s and JCPenney are also popular. When preparing for Black Friday, it’s good to have a game plan to ensure that you have the most successful shopping trip you can. Do your research. Knowing ahead of time what stores you want to hit first and specific items you want to purchase will help make your trip run smoother. Compare prices to other stores. You may just snag a better deal. It may also be helpful to check store

hours. Some stores open the day of Thanksgiving but most will open starting at midnight or early morning of Black Friday. One thing to keep in mind is that the lines are long, so wearing comfortable clothes and shoes will help get rid of any thought of discomfort. Food establishment lines, as well as stores, will be long. So be prepared by bringing a snack and water. Also having a charged phone and bringing friends will make the trip more entertaining. Safety precautions should be taken into great consideration. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration issued guidelines in 2012 to protect retail workers from being injured on Black Friday. There have been cases of both customers and workers being trampled at the first openings of store doors. Crowd management has been increased in stores to prevent these incidents from occurring. Being safe and smart during this unofficial holiday will help your shopping experience run smooth and be enjoyable. Ta-da! You are now an expert Black Friday shopper. Happy Holidays and happy shopping.

Say bye-bye to Facebook privacy By Brittany Perry

bperry@borahsenator.com Privacy is one of the biggest concerns in today’s society. People ponder whether we actually have any privacy. Social media sites, such as Facebook, have been causing massive amounts of concern recently about whether individuals have their own privacy rights. In a recent New York Times article, business columnist Joe Nocera stated two major privacy changes for the so-

cial media site: (1) “Everyone’s news feed would become more searchable,” and (2) everyone will have the opportunity to “share their latest thoughts or videos not just with their friends, or their friends of friends, but with anyone who uses Facebook.” Allowing the option to share posts and with people you aren’t friends with on Facebook becomes an extremely hazardous option. Do you really want a stranger to know everything about you just because this “friend” has access to your profile

through a computer screen? Nocera also noted that there are some sites with no privacy boundaries at all. He commented that sites like Twitter have little to no privacy at all. He emphasized that tweets can be read by almost everybody and anybody. Many teenagers have shifted to sites like Twitter, and do not consider who is reading what they have tweeted. Facebook felt that if other sites had no set privacy limits, they should not have any either.

Senator Shoutouts: What are your Thanksgiving traditons? By Nikki Siharath

nsiharath@borahsenator.com “My family and I get together and cook all day when it’s time, we eat. After we eat, we talk for awhile, before bringing out the dessert. After dessert, we bring out the board games, card games, and we all have so much fun.” - Sophomore Raedell Brubaker “I always celebrate Thanksgiving with my family as in everyone that I’m somewhat related to. Then we sit at a huge table and have a huge dinner that everyone greatly enjoys.” - Sophomore Gage Weaver “As a family, we celebrate Thanksgiving with everybody that I have. All of my family members come down to visit and we have this amazing dinner, we talk, and laugh. After dinner we all sit down and watch football.” - Junior Taylor Rivera “I mostly celebrate with too much food, some football, and being with family. I find Thanksgiving one of the most underrated holidays. It’s one of the few holidays dedicated to family time.” - Biology Teacher Chris Jones

Photo Essay

The Borah Senator

Senior Tanner Cleveland dresses as the mascot at most sporting events.

Senior Emiley Schoonover kicks the football during halftime Nov. 2.

The Rowdies dressed up in costume to celebrate Halloween during the game against Rocky Mountain Oct. 24.

Rowdies are out to play Text and photos by Jaynee Nielsen jnielsen@borahsenator.com

Rowdies are at almost every type of school competition, whether it is a volleyball game, football game or soccer game for example. The Rowdie section at football games are full of excitement and fun. Students participate in routines with the cheerleaders and encourage the players on the field. The cheerleaders have added a new routine this year that is a spin off of “The Lion King” theme song; they pretend to lift Simba above Pride Rock. Senior Austin Amaro likes the cheer “Give me a B” where he and the other cheerleaders spell out Borah and get the crowd ready for the game. “The Rowdies are crazier and do more stuff than any other rowdies,” Amaro said. The Rowdies is where the fun is at: “Hashtag we got swag for dayz,” said senior Jackson Lauer.

The Rowdies were full of excitement during the game against Timberline Sept. 27. Borah lost 14-24.