CMR Stampede February 2016

S The Stampede

C. M. Russell High School Great Falls, MT February 25, 2016 Vol. 51 Issue 5 www.rustlernews.com

“The team for sure felt they could have done a little better, but they all wrestled well,” he said.

-- Page 23

An open forum for student expression

What’s the hottest new trend? Wearing your seatbelt. Pg. 4

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The Stampede staff strives to produce a publication that is relevant to the CMR student body while maintaining journalistic standards. We help to provide a free exchange of ideas and establish a student voice in the school community.

2015-2016 Staff Editor-in-Chief

The Stampede

C. M. Russell High School Great Falls, MT February 25, 2016 Vol. 51 Issue 5 www.rustlernews.com

Features Editor

Carli Dieruf

Christina Brennan

Online Editor

Entertainment Editor

Isaiah Vang

Clara McClain

News Editor

Sports Editor

Tamara Miller Opinion Editor

JJ Mitchell

Mackenzie George Advertising Manager

Emily Cappis

Staff members

Christy Armstrong Andrew Aron Sophie Aron Josh Botti-Anderson Mary Brown Julia Gremaux Allison Hanson Ian Kaiser Katelyn Morley

Quincy Schmechel Abby Shearer

Adviser

Beth Britton Principal

Kerry Parsons

Reminiscing on the Dec.11 girls basketball game for the wrap-up on page 23. Photos by Christina Brennan.

Contents

Cover photo by Tamara Miller

2- Table of Contents, Carli’s column NEWS 3- Tamara’s column, BPA, News Today, Sam’s Club 4- Buckle up, Road rage 5- Academic Rigor 6- World language, College OPINION 7- JJ’s column, Editorial, Student voices 8- Valentine’s Day 9- Staff writers POV FEATURES 10- Christina’s column, Cons. Mech, Signing off, Mora 11- Showdown AD 12-13- Skiing 14- Prom 15- Faces in the crowd ENTERTAINMENT 16- Clara’s column, Criminal Minds, Guide to camping 17- Ukulele 18- Deadpool,Thespian 19- Authors, What are you writing SPORTS 20- Mackenzie’s column, Wranglers 21- State swimming 22- Sport injuries 23- Basketball, Wrestling BACK PAGE- Hunting

Carli Dieruf

Editor-in-Chief

Lately I’ve heard the term “hipster” far too often. And I’ll admit it’s getting old. Almost everyone has a title in high school, and it’s almost unavoidable. I’ve somehow managed to steer away from those labels that instantaneously appear out of nowhere. I’ve had friends and strangers attempt to describe me but they often have a difficult time doing so.

One of my good friends was talking about how he labels himself as a hipster and I got the urge to ask “well what am I?” which he politely looked at me with a confused look and said “I honestly have no clue.” We sat in awkward silence for a few minutes as he attempted to find a word to describe me. He finally came to a conclusion and tried to say I was ‘scene’ which he immediately

Editorial Policy

The Stampede -- produced by journalism classes at C.M. Russell High School -- is a public forum for all voices on campus. These voices include the students, parents, faculty and the community at large.

The opinions and views in this publication are not necessarily those of the Stampede staff, the student body, CMR employees or the school administration.

The Stampede strives to cover the news accurately and fairly; however, when a mistake is made, a correction will be printed in the following issue. All writers are responsible for the content of their articles.

Editors will edit all copy to be free of plagiarism and libel, and all writers will double-check their facts before publication.

Letters to the editor and guest essays are welcome. Letters are limited to 200 words, and essays 350 words. All submissions

regretted and realized that it wasn’t an even close comparison. We just fell to the ground with laughter as we looked up images of ‘scene girls’ which clearly didn’t fit me whatsoever.

I don’t want a label. I’m different everyday. I don’t fit into a certain stereotype, so I’m not expected to act or dress a certain way everyday, it’s a surprise every time I walk in the doors. One day I’ll rock black skinny jeans, a band tee and my favorite boots.

Another day I will wear my colored pumps with a skirt and a matching accessories. And on other days I’ll wear one of my 30 pairs of yoga pants with one of my boyfriends big sweatshirts and a pair of vans.

I don’t know how someone can wear the same type of clothing each day and wear a certain label, indicating that they’re goth, scene, hipster, country or god knows what else. I’m all of those things on different days, and I love it.

I have yet to be labeled, and I love it that way. I’m just ‘unique’ everyday. Does that count? must be signed and include a phone number so authenticity can be verified. The editors and/or adviser reserve the right to edit all letters for grammar and spelling as well as content that may include profanity, be libelous, obscene or not meet general editorial guidelines.

Anonymous letters are not accepted. Submissions can be dropped off in room 326 or e-mailed to: stampede@gfps.k12. mt.us.

The Stampede maintains membership in the Columbia Scholastic Press Association, the National Scholastic Press Association, the Journalism Education Association and Quill and Scroll.

Some material courtesy of American Society of Newspaper Editors/KRT Campus High School Newspaper Service.

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February 25, 2016 rustlernews.com

NEWS photo courteney JJ Mitchell

amara Miller

Sam’s Club closes doors to students

News Editor

In today’s generation the standards for body image are ridiculous. The “standard” image for the average female is outrageous.

Magazines show a toothpick-sized girl, with perfect skin, a perfect body, flawless hair, etc.

When the average female can’t look like that, we physically cannot Photoshop ourselves like the women we see on TV or in the media. Those women aren’t ever their natural selves; editors take hours to shape, form, and add features to these models to make them look “flawless.”

I remember when I first started middle school and my self-esteem almost hit a low. I always compared myself to other girls and thought, why can’t I look like her? Why can’t I have a skinnier body, or a bigger butt? Questions like these ran through my mind everyday just as it did for other girls. I have read and reported on numerous articles on body image on today’s teens.

The studies have proven that it’s only gotten worse with time; girls as young as 10 are now developing self-esteem issues. When I was back in elementary school I remember wearing DC’s, basketball shorts, a T-shirt with my hair pulled up, looking like every other girl in the class.

Nowadays girls are wearing stuff we would wear in high school or for a special occasion because they think they need to look older to make themselves feel better.

Articles I’ve read try to explain that we want to prevent the negative body perspective for younger girls, but the reality of it is it isn’t working. Media is the absolute worst at making us feel better about ourselves.

The only commercial I have seen on TV that shows plus-sized and petite size models are the Dove and in media Seventeen Magazine who are also wanting a better body image for girls.

Media such as Seventeen and Dove are great things to look into, if you’re ever feeling down about yourself. Even Google or Facebook itself can give you some positive outlooks on yourself.

As I was scrolling through Facebook one day I came across, “Ten facts every woman should know,” (listed down below), and the statements could give anyone a bit more confidence. It did for me.

Things every women should know 1.) Everyone has rolls when they bend over.

2.) When someone tells you that you’re beautiful, believe them. They aren’t lying.

3.) Sometimes we all wake up with the breath that could kill a goat.

4.) For every women unhappy with her stretch marks is another woman who wishes she had them.

5.) You should definitely have more confidence. And if you saw yourself the way others see you, you would.

6.) Don’t look for a man to save you. Be able to save yourself.

7.) It’s okay to not love every part of your body.. but you should.

8.) We all have that one friend who seems to have it all together. That woman with the seemingly perfect life. Well you might be that woman to someone else.

9.) You should be a priority. Not an option, a last resort, or a backup plan.

10.) You’re a woman. That alone makes you pretty remarkable.

BPA prepares for state competition

by Katelyn Morley, staff writer On Monday Jan. 18, a group of students competed in front of business professionals, and teacher Jessica Goosen was at their side.

Goosen is currently the advisor of the Business Professionals of America (BPA) at C.M. Russell High School. Goosen also started up the BPA organization in Brady, she said.

“I’ve just always done it,” she said.

BPA is a career/technical student organization that focuses on business, office, human resources, and finance skills -- along with many others, Goosen said.

“The jobs they have in their competitions are realistic,” she said.

The competitions in specific fields help to prepare students to be professionals in the business world and allows them to compete to improve, she added.

The winners from the regional competition head to state in Billings on March 13-15. After that they head to the 50th anniversary of Nationals in Boston.

Before this club could begin preparation for state they competed at Regionals, which led to great results.

Senior Dawson Grunzweig, who placed third in accounting, joined the club through a friend’s recommendation.

“I feel like [the competitions are] really practical,” he said.

The skills that are offered to compete in are easy to apply to real-world jobs. Last year he started by competing in the skills he had already learned through DECA. This year he competed in tasks that relate to his current class schedule, Grunzweig said.

Grunzweig competes on the financial analyst team and administration support team. These group competitions have you use problem solving skills just like individual events, he said.

“It [team competitions] teaches not only the skill but how to work with other people,” Grunzweig said.

This organization helps get a head start on his future career, since he plans on majoring in business. Along with accounting Grunzweig has also placed first in information technology concepts and many others.

“It’s an affirmation of my skills,” he said.

Grunzweig wasn’t the only winner at regionals. Kayla Hill took second in medical office procedure. Kolten Williams took fourth in personal financial management along with other achievements. Justin Sowa took first in human resource management, third in database, and many more. Manuel Fontanez Nieves took sixth in accounting along with fourth with financial analyst team.

by Mary Brown, staff writer From 10:26 a.m. to 12:23 p.m. in and around the school is buzzing with lunch activities. CMR’s open campus gives students the privilege of getting food at nearby locations with minimal driving distance or that are within walking distance.

One of those nearby businesses, however, is not as keen to welcome lunchtime visitors from the high school.

Due to problems that have been happening recently, one establishment has threatened to close its doors for the rest of the year.

A Sam’s Club employee contacted Officer Nick Taylor to inform him that if students continued to be disruptive and rude, they would no longer be welcome to eat there. As a result of this phone call, students were banned from Sam’s Club for the week of Feb. 8-12.

According to Taylor, there was more than one issue. Video evidence has a student throwing a wad of chewing tobacco at the wall in the food court area, and according to an employee, another student answered the request for it to be cleaned up with a stream of profanity.

“I know that the majority of our students don’t act that way,” Taylor said.

In the same respect, he also knows that events such as these negatively represent the school. He said he hopes one week without the option to eat at Sam’s Club helps students realize that there are negative consequences for poor behavior.

IN THE NEWS The Dow Jones

by Katelyn Morley, staff writer Everyone has a different knowledge of the stock market.

Some make their livelihood off of it, whereas others have just heard of it here and there.

The stock market is definitely confusing at first, but there are some important things to know.

Business teacher Theresa Besich teaches students about stocks.

The stock market is a way to invest, but there is risk involved, she said.

“Investing in stock is a way to earn money quickly or lose money quickly,” Besich said.

The points in a company’s stock represent money. The drop in these points mean money loss and loss for the individual who invested in that company, she said.

In the personal finance class, students play a stock market game that is a 10-week simulation. They compete with others throughout the state with a set amount of money. This money can be spent on the preferred stock. Then the student is given a

portfolio to keep track of the investments, Besich said.

As teenagers most think that learning about stocks is uneventful and not important but it is.

Knowing things about this financial opportunity can help in the future with personal financial planning. It is a possible option to invest and make money for the future.

Lately the big news stories are about how the Dow Jones Industrial Average is losing points. A lot of people probably are confused at what this means.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average, also known as the Dow, is a depiction of how the top 30 companies in the United States are doing. A few of the businesses include Apple, Disney, Coca-Cola, McDonald’s, Microsoft, Nike, Wal-Mart, and Visa.

Overall, it averages the points of major U.S. companies.

The industrial average has lost points due to the major oil companies depicted in the average that have lost money. This loss has been caused by the decrease in the price of barrels of crude oil, which drives these companies to lay off oil workers.

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February 25, 2016

News

Click it or ticket

Do’s and Don’ts of buckling up

Is the comfort not wearing a seatbelt worth your life?

by Julia Gremaux, staff writer Gruesome is just one word to describe the scene of a car accident where someone was not wearing their seatbelt.

Drivers Education shows students the importance of wearing seat belts.

Freshman and former drivers ed student Hannah Brennan said, “We watched car crash videos almost everyday in class.

Most of the fatalities happened because of people not wearing their seat belts. I knew that I didn’t want to be one of those people who dies and ends up on a drivers ed video.”

Seatbelts save lives everyday, yet many people don’t wear their seatbelts while driving or in the car as a passenger. A new law requiring people to wear their seatbelts has yet to be much help in lowering the number of deaths caused by the improper use of seatbelts.

In Montana, if you are caught not wearing your seatbelt the fine is $20. In California, the fine is at minimum $162 and in Texas it can cost up to $200. It is possible that an increase in fines may cause a decrease in deaths by car accidents from not wearing a seat belt. “[Montana’s fine] is kind of a joke in a way,” Pam Dougherty said, a driver’s ed teacher for CMR. According to Montana Highway Patrol, 80 percent of 2015 roadway deaths in Montana are due to not using seatbelts.

When not using a seatbelt, Dougherty said, one’s body can be projected through the car’s windshield or one’s body can

be tossed throughout the car much like a correctly can end your life just as easily rag doll -- out of control, which can cause as not wearing a seatbelt. Wearing just injury or death to the people in the car. the one seatbelt strap on your waist can “I want to see you live to see another actually cut you when getting in a crash, day as well as everyone else in the car,” as you can slip right from underneath the Dougherty says when she hears someone single strap, Dougherty said. doesn’t wear their seatbelt.

“Incorrectly is as if you are not wearing Dougherty’s opinion on seatbelt safety it at all,” Dougherty said. stands strong and she accepts no excuses when it comes to wearing them.

She said some of the excuses she hears include “it’s not comfortable,” “it takes too much time,” and “it’s harder to sleep with it on.”

When someone does not wear a seatbelt it isn’t necessarily just their choice to not wear it. Dougherty says that if a driver’s ed student Pam Dougherty’s drivers education class is filled with students doesn’t wear his or her learning and using seat belt safety. Photo by JJ Mitchell. seat belt it is usually someone in the family who doesn’t wear One student who always follows it either. seatbelt rules is senior Christina Brennan.

Whether it be a parent or a grandparent, “I wear my seltbelt because I am it is because they have set negative afraid of what would happen if I get in an examples for the generation after them. accident,” Brennan said. “The videos they “My mama has been telling me my showed to us in drivers ed scared me so whole life to [wear a seat belt]. If I forget to much -- I always wear my seatbelt when I wear it I feel guilty,” Brennan said. am in a car, and I make sure that everyone All these excuses don’t matter in else around me is wearing theirs.” the end because not wearing a seatbelt

Do!

Don’t!

Don’t!

Accidents caused by anger and road rage

On Jan. 11, 2016, the Mntana Highway Patrol said the use of seatbelts prevented a tragedy in a rollover crash in Great Falls. Photo courtesy of KRTV.

by Carli Dieruf, editor in cheif Road rage -- the “move faster,” “Nice blinker, moron,” yelling, screaming kind of anger. We’ve all been there. We’ve all been victims of someone else directing it towards us as well. But when does road rage become too much?

Dec. 16, 2014 was a day that changed senior Katie Morano’s life. She faintly remembers the time she got in an accident right outside of the parking lot of CMR. “I had no idea what had even happened to me. It was such a blur,” Morano said. “I had no idea that I had even been in an accident until I saw the blood on my hands after touching my head.”

She said she remembers laughing and not thinking about how fast the car was going or whether or not the driver was paying attention to the road, but by the time she thought about all the things going on at once, it was too late.

“I get frustrated while driving sometimes and

then think of my accident and calm myself down,” she said. “I never want to go back to that moment.

Road rage is so dangerous and being angry while driving can cause accidents so fast. You just can’t think straight when you are full or rage.”

The accident has left a permanent impact on Morano’s life, and she said she hopes that people think before they act when they are angry on the road.

People oftentimes make careless decisions when trying to make their way through traffic and around people who are following the rules of the road.

“It taught me that no matter what sort of situation I am in or what is going through my mind, I should never let my emotions get to me when I’m driving because it can affect myself and other people who I am [around],” she said. “I don’t want my actions to result in an accident.”

February 25, 2016

The costs and benefits of academic rigor

News

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AP and honors classes: Enriching or damaging?

by Joshua Botti-Anderson, staff writer Many students throughout their high school career stack up on honors and advanced classes, and many of them excel with flying colors. However, many other students lack the work ethic, patience, or intellect to get straight-A’s with a stacked schedule. Taking this into consideration, most students value their grades differently and, depending on the effort they put forth, will get more or less out of advanced classes.

AP English, a rigorous senior course that demands advanced writing skills and in-depth analyses of literary works, is taught by Scott Clapp. Clapp, whose AP students’ work includes numerous timed writes and quizzes, feels students’ work ethic combined with their academic values produces the grade they receive.

“They’ll work hard enough to maintain the grade that they’re comfortable with,” Clapp said.

For Clapp, the payoff for taking challenging classes is the experience gained, the knowledge carried on in future walks of life.

“The demanding of the next level of thought, philosophical issues, and the meaning at a deeper level, behind the stories that we encounter - I think are worth the extra effort.”

According to Clapp, the most important aspect of advanced classes is the enhanced understanding of the world gained from taking them.

Roya Blake

“For me, it’s all about growth.

What matters is whether or not you groom yourselves intellectually.”

AP Calculus, an advanced math class taken by several dozen seniors (with a few sophomores and juniors) is taught by Terri Dahl. Dahl, who daily devotes her time to students in need of extra help with their math during seventh period and after school, sees advanced classes as being important and beneficial for college-bound students.

“Most kids in advanced classes are going on to college,” Dahl said.

Students who decide to take AP Calculus students work with teacher Terri Dahl during the week of Feb.15. Photo advanced classes have their by Leila Collins. future in mind, she said, and overall, students “tend to have easy A’s starting off in will receive long-term benefits as a result of challenging college” when they have taken advanced classes in high themselves in high school. school.

“In advanced classes, the knowlege base is deeper and Honors and AP classes offer students an enlightend will help you do better gradewise in college,”Dahl said. perspective and the opportunity to be prepared for Dahl feels AP and Honors classes prepare students college. Why not surf the peak, instead of being crushed for the rigor they will experience in college. She said that under a tidal wave of rigorous coursework?

Brandan Barnes

“In all the classes I have taken throughout high school, my most favorite classes have been A.P. and honors classes. I have found that the hardest classes are the best classes. The teachers are excellent, they love what they do, and though it is a lot of work, it is very beneficial to me. It trains me to think more and actually analyze the problem I am thinking about or doing rather than just completing the bare minimum.

You get what you work for, and this is especially prevalent in these classes. Another very nice benefit to taking A.P. classes is you not only get credit for your high school diploma, but it also counts for college credit. Taking honors and A.P. classes helps prepare me faster for college and other future possibilities in my learning career.”

“Advanced classes provide an opportunity that the standard classes don’t. Normally, this is the chance to see what the real work of a field is like - large labs in the Sciences, research papers and discussion in Humanities, and applications in math.

As a senior heading into college, I am glad that I have found out what I do and don’t enjoy now, before I have to pay thousands on a dead end.

It has been an enlightening, challenging, and overall rewarding experience that has kept the tedium of classes at bay. Just be sure to manage the stress. Netflix, games, friends, etc...; keep a balance of work and fun, and in the end it will pay dividends.”

Jordyn Voss “There has been some concern over the idea of Presidential Scholarship just being for seniors who have received a 4.0 all four years of high school.

Some argue that it encourages kids to take easy classes and get good grades rather than challenge themselves and get not-so-perfect grades. I’m one of those students ineligible for the Presidential Scholarship because I don’t have a cumulative 4.0, and there isn’t a thing in the world I would change about the classes I’ve taken over the years.

The challenges I’ve faced as an Honors and AP student have broadened me as a person, allowing me to step out of my comfort zone and into the person I am today. It was totally worth a few B’s.

Always take risks. The consequences of failing are nothing like the rewards of a rigorous learning experience. Nothing.”

Bison graduate student teaching

Travis Aline on Feb. 9. photo by Clara McClain.

by Clara McClain, entertainment editor Travis Aline will be a student teacher here at CMR until the end of April as he studies for his major in secondary education and modern history at UM Western in Dillon.

He is a graduate of Great Falls High School, and he jokes that he is currently a “Gracefully Recovering Bison.”

“I went to Great Falls High. The reason CMR is so good is because you have all the students from Great Falls High teaching here,” Aline said.

The teacher at GFHS that inspired

Aline to become a teacher was Mr. Smart, and according to Aline, he really lived up to his name. So, he followed in Smart’s footsteps and went to the same college.

Working at CMR has been a really positive experience for Aline as he learns how teachers engage with students.

“I really like it [here at CMR. There’s a] solid community. The staff and students are very friendly,” Aline said.

Key Club As we look toward spring, it is never too early to spring into volunteering. Love, Key Club

Meetings every Monday 4 p.m in room 325

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February 25, 2016

Seniors sign with colleges

by JJ Mitchell, opinion editor Most seniors are worried about starting college, but a select few athletics will make the transition a little more exciting.

Trevor Pepin and Shana Cosby signed to the University of Great Falls to participate in track and field for both of them to throw the javelin. When they found out that they were getting signed they were both excited.

“I went to a few of their practices and then the coach asked me to come to an official visit and I got really excited,” Pepin said.

Along with signing with the Air National Guard, Pepin says that UGF will give him the opportunity to do both.

“I had my eyes dead set on [Arizona State University] but it didn’t work out well with the Guard and they didn’t want me to miss the first semester of school,” Pepin said.

He is excited that he will be able to stay in town with his family and friends.

“I get to watch my nephew grow up and watch my stepsister finish her high school career at CMR,” he said.

While being signed he was nervous with all the cameras and news crews around.

“I was trying my best not to be so awkward and look at all the people, my family, friends and the cameras that were by the two of us,” Pepin said.

When the signing was over, he was happy it was over with.

“I had a sense of accomplishment and I was overjoyed. My whole family was there to watch me and it was really exciting because I am the only one in my family who is going to college for a sport,” he said.

Like Pepin, Shana Cosby was really happy that she got signed with UGF,

she even got a little emotional when the signing was happening.

“At the signing my dad started tearing up which made me really emotional,” she said.

With her staying in town next year, her parents are excited for her to start here at UGF. “My parents were really proud and they were posting it all over Facebook for my other family to see,” Cosby said.

Cosby explained that she got an invitation along with Pepin to practice with the team, but she was surprised by the turnout.

“He was sending me letters and we connected over email and he asked me to practice with the and he showed me a lot of technique with throwing the javelin and I really like his coaching skills,” Cosby said.

She already has goals in mind for the upcoming season of CMR track and field.

“I’m excited for the season to start, and my goal for this season is to throw 138 feet,” she said Cosby hasn’t felt the nerves yet about the season ending, but she said she is ready to take on her next step at UGF. “I think it is going to be the same. I haven’t felt really nervous yet, but I know it will come when the season starts to wrap up,” she said.

Seniors Trevor Pepin and Shana Cosby signed with UGF on Feb. 2. They both signed to participate in track and field to throw the javelin.

Photo courtesy of Shana Cosby.

CMR graduate speaks about importance of foreign language

James Madril speaks to CMR students in Bill Will Hall on Feb.12. Photo by Sophie Aron.

by Sophie Aron, staff writer “I am in the Foreign Service because I know French,” U.S State Department employee Jim Madril explained. On Feb. 12, Madril spoke to members of the CMR student body about the importance of studying languages.

A CMR graduate, Madril emphasized how learning a foreign language in high school has helped him immensely throughout his career working in the United States Air Force for 20 years.

After retiring from the United States Air Force, Madril was hired by the State Department to work at a U.S Embassy, and has been working and using his French for upwards of 15 years.

“When I was [at CMR] 35 years ago, I had no idea what I was doing”, Madril said. “I wouldn’t be here 35 years later if I hadn’t take French here 35 years ago.”

Madril pointed out that without his fluency in French, he would not have the job that he has today.

“I’ve gotten to travel all over the world.” Madril said. Because he is bilingual, Madril has been able to travel to many countries, including Zaire and Saudi Arabia. While he was there, Madril used French to communicate with locals and easily navigate

these foreign locations.

Madril strongly encouraged the student body to take advantage of government-funded exchange programs. He assured everyone that living in another country and learning their language will make you a better person, enable you to use your language in the military as well as in many other careers.

“Languages are critical” Madril said, “[They] allow you to extend your horizon.”

Madril has seen the Taj Mahal, the Pyramids of Egypt and many other famous landmarks. He made is very clear that none of this would have been possible if he hadn’t learned another language. Madril often drove to Nepal for a four-day weekend just “because I could.”

“This summer I’m in Baghdad. In summer of 2017, I will move to Luxembourg for three years.” Madril said. His kids attend International schools while overseas and will do so in Luxembourg. Madril said he is excited for Luxembourg because his daughter will be fully immersed in French.

“Languages are key.”

Have you done or will you do a COOL math, science or art project for a class assignment before April 2?

You can’t tweak your project to fit the STEAM guidelines or even create a new one!

If so, why showcase it in the STEAM EXPO ( a celebration for ALL students K-12), if it’s a complete waste of time? This event, will inspire students, teachers, and community members with the wonders of Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math.

Don’t Register at http://events.gfps.k12.mt.us/?registration P.S Juniors and Seniors talk to your counselors about the STEAM scholarship!

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February 25, 2016 rustlernews.com

OPINION

Jaylynn Mitchell

Opinion Editor

A crippling disease that strikes high school seniors. Symptoms include: laziness, an excessive wearing of sweatpants and sweatshirts.

It also features a lack of studying, and the only known cure is graduation. Yes, I am talking about senioritis, and it has hit me and most of the senior class. I am getting really tired of waking up 15 minutes before I have to leave and throwing on sweats and a sweatshirt that I find on my floor. I just don’t want to get up anymore, and go to school for eight hours and staying after school for extra activities that I am in.

We have four months until we walk across the stage, hoping we don’t trip and fall in front of everyone in the field house or our name getting pronounced wrong.

That is my biggest fear when we all graduate.

Hopefully no one in my class will fall. But we are also there and we can (hopefully) finish our last year in high school.

I’m just like you, I don’t want to turn in my work for my math class or sit through a period of financial tech skills and learn how to use a word document. But we have to get through it.

I am going to miss it but then again I will be so happy that I am in Missoula, studying something that I love. Away from the teachers that I’ve known for four years and the friends I’ve known since kindergarten. I just have no motivation to do anything right now. We have to finish this semester of high school and I’ll be one step closer to getting where I want to go.

I have goals to get past my senioritis though.

I am going to focus on day-to-day things and activates that are happening around me. Each class that I am going to do my best to put my full attention to that class and to participate.

Doing this, I hope to not think so much about graduation and focus on the class.

The only classes that I actually pay attention or participate in are my three journalism classes.

Which in there, I kind of have to because people count on me in that class to get my work done.

I am ready to have that diploma in my hand.

Once I get that in my hand, I am officially done with high school. But I am not quite ready to leave just yet. I want to finish the graduation magazine for newspaper and finish the yearbook and supplement.

I want to do a lot of stuff before I leave. I would like to scare Ms. B a couple more times before I leave and have her get really scarred.

That is my top goal before I leave. I just need to get her really good before I leave, so she will remember me scaring her and for me to remember her scream.

But overall, I am ready to be done. I am ready to go to college and start my new chapter and leave my high school adventures behind me, but I am going to miss it once again.

However, the one thing I won’t miss is trying to fill up the space in my columns. As much as I love journalism, my column is a pain in the butt.

Writing for it every month and figuring out sometime interesting each time is the ONE thing I will not miss. I promise you that.

Bad behavior reflects poorly on CMR One of the perks of being a CMR student is the open campus. Everyday students leave the school and go to various businesses to get their lunch. Recently, however, there have been several complaints from local establishments about problems caused by students.

Reported problems include littering and theft, and Rustlers have been identified as the culprits. The majority of CMR students don’t act this way, but the stereotype set by these few students affects everyone.

One such incident led to students not being allowed into Sam’s Club for a week. While other businesses have yet to close their doors to Rustlers, students should reconsider this disrespectful behavior. We hope that it doesn’t escalate any further.

An important thing that Rustlers should remember is that we have a fairly decent reputation in the community, and we don’t want to mess that up.

Open campus is a privilege that the majority of students use in the intended manner, and generally it is something that causes few issues. As the mature and responsible students of the school that we know you can be, we ask that you show the best side of CMR. The community support that we have right now is

Art by Terryn Premo.

outstanding. There is an amazing number of people who come to our sports games, drama productions, and community members read the newspaper and stand by the numerous clubs and groups of our school.

The places that students go for lunch are a part of that community. If would be unfortunate if they lost their respect for our school and their CMR pride was damaged as a result.

Most Rustlers bleed green and gold both on the school grounds and off of them. Show as much pride and capacity to be mature out of school as we all do in school.

STUDENT VOICES

How do you think the Sam’s Club ban reflects on CMR students’ reputation?

Evan MacLean, grade 9

Kelsay Jensen, grade 11

Sam’s Club has had a huge impact on student lunches.

However, due to recent acts of vandalism and disrespect, Sam’s Club has put a ban prohibiting all CMR students from eating there during the week of Feb. 8-12. I completely hold with the decision of Sam’s Club because I would not want people going onto my property and spitting, throwing things in my establishment, and harassing customers.

I think that this ban reflects poorly on all students, but especially on students who have done nothing to earn this reputation; the students who are respectful in all lunchtime eateries and who get their food and leave. Furthermore, I believe that it is one of the cheapest and most convenient places to eat for high school students, and being kicked out of Sam’s Club affects the entire student body based on the actions of a few members. This reflects so awfully on the student body and breaks trust with respected establishments around our school’s area.

In conclusion, completely agree with the decision of Sam’s Club but I do sincerely hope that the disrespectful behavior ceases to occur and that students can rebuild a reputation after this.

Earlier this year I heard about CMR not being allowed at Sam’s Club. I was a little shocked. It made me upset that some members of our student body did not have respect for highly valued establishments and people in our town. They also made the privilege of having an open campus lunch look bad.

But then I got to thinking about how many good things CMR students are doing. There are kids that volunteer and donate to charity. Speech and Debate often does speeches for organizations like the Freemasons and the Lions Club.

A few members of our orchestra and band play in the Great Falls Symphony. Our sports teams are always playing to win and they are all amazingly hard-working and dedicated.

The incident at Sam’s Club thing is surely a disappointment.

We have amazing students taking advantage of amazing opportunities at CMR, and we should not have one action soiling the good reputation so many students have created for our school.

I just hope that my peers will be more respectful to other

Porter Giles, grade 10 In my opinion, the fact that we were banned from Sam’s Club reflects badly on the students of CMR. One of the main things were are taught here is respect, and being banned shows how some students put very little effort into respecting local businesses.

There is no excuse for poor effort in anything. We all have the ability to put our effort into good or bad actions, as exhibited in Sam’s Club. The ban affects all students, even those who may not eat at Sam’s Club, because it gives CMR students a bad reputation. Instances like this could not only lead to being banned from certain establishments, but also in the possibility of open campus lunches being revoked. In conclusion, I and many other students agree that we here at CMR must strive to be better, more respectful individuals.

8 Opinion

Valentine’s isn’t worth the stress

by Tamara Miller, news editor Valentine’s Day can be a love/hate holiday for some people. They either go all out for it, semisort of celebrate it, or just don’t do anything at all.

I honestly don’t really care for the holiday; I don’t hate it, but if it all of a sudden it wasn’t a holiday? I wouldn’t complain.

I do have one question: why are people obligated to show the person they love that affection on only one day of the year. Why wouldn’t you do that all year around and every once and while go all out for them.

I don’t think you should have to feel guilty for not celebrating your love for that person one day of the year. Your anniversary, birth of the first child or the day you guys first met are much more important days to show your love.

You shouldn’t stress over the holiday as I’ve personally seen. You can easily stay home, have a homemade dinner and relax, you don’t need to do the fancy dinner, or life sized teddy bear thing.

Honestly, I see high school relationships more involved in this holiday than anything else. I’ve seen girls get so mad at their boyfriends for not getting them jewelry or some stuffed bear. It’s ridiculous. More likely than not, that couple will not last. Statistics say only 1 in 5 people actually marry their “highschool sweetheart.”

Valentine’s Day is honestly just an extra day of stress. I do love getting gifts from my mom or my loved ones, but if you think you have to pay a huge amount then forget about it. You shouldn’t have to show love through money. Love isn’t money.

Yes, there are the select few who only care about money and how much stuff is worth, but the reality is what’s the point? If someone can show they love and care for you through how they treat you and what they do for you then that should be enough.

If you remember back in elementary school we would make Valentine’s Day bags or boxes

and have a party at the end of the day. You’d go to the store weeks or days before Valentine’s Day to go pick the best cards and run back home to get them started. You gave the best ones to your crush and best friends and the ones you didn’t like to the people you didn’t like. I know it was one of my favorite memories.

The sad thing about the Valentine’s day parties in elementary school is their starting to cancel them, saying it’s not appropriate or that it’s not ‘healthy’.

My sister who is now in 6th grade at Riverview Elementary has come home and told me about the ridiculous rules they have now about holiday parties. Valentine’s is one of the few they have not taken away yet, but if the students want to have a ‘party’ it is to be thrown at the end of the day, and parents have to provide ‘healthy’ snacks.

Does anyone listen to the ‘healthy’ snacks part? Nope. My sister still came home with candies and sugary snacks, which may or may not result in the loss of Valentine’s day parties all together.

I’m glad Riverview is one of the few that hasn’t gotten rid of this holiday at the school, yet. I think it’s something the schools should keep so students know it’s OK to celebrate this with everyone and that it’s OK to celebrate love.

Valentine’s day has become so overrated nowadays, with people wanting so much from a holiday that means so little. I don’t understand why people just can’t go out and have fun on this holiday, go to a fun dinner, or a crazy movie. It doesn’t always have to be about the crazy gifts or who can spend the most on the biggest stuffed animal around.

As said before you don’t need to go all out for this. Keep it low key and fun and spend it with someone you love, or even a group of people you love.

This holiday is not worth the stress. It’s made for memories, and it’s made for fun. If you’re with someone who wants more then what you can give, just find someone who appreciates you and isn’t with you for the gifts. It isn’t about one person it’s about both of you or all of you. Remember that.

“You shouldn’t have to show love through money. Love isn’t money.”

February 25, 2016

History of Valentines’ Day Valentine’s Day has come and gone already, but do you know where it originated? The most popular legend about the origin of the holiday dates all the way back to 270 A.D, during the Roman Empire. According to folklore, Emperor Claudius II didn’t like the idea of young men being married during wartime. In his mind, single men made better soldiers.

A man by the name of Bishop Valentine did not agree and went behind the Emperor’s back by performing many secret marriages.

The emperor discovered the truth and sentenced the Bishop to death.

While he was in prison he fell in love with the jailer’s daughter, and just before he was executed on Feb.14 he sent her a letter and signed it, ‘From Your Valentine.’ In 496 AD Pope Gelasius made it official by making the day to honor St. Valentine. A tradition was born.

What it has become today The special day of the year on which we show our love and appreciation for people we care about by exchanging gifts, chocolates, and other presents has taken over America. About one billion cards are sold and exchanged worldwide, and more than 110 million roses are exchanged in the United States alone. When chocolates became popular in the 1,800’s, physicians ‘prescribed’ them for their heartbroken patient, which is how chocolate became popular for this holiday.

Did you know?

In Victorian times it was considered bad luck to sign a Valentine’s Day card.

Based on retail statistics, about 3% of pet owners will give Valentine’s Day gifts to thier pets.

If you’re single dont despair.

You can celebrate Singles Awarenss Day instead.

The red rose was the favorite flower of Venus, the Roman goddes of love.

Physicians of the 1800’s commonly advised thier patients to eat chocolate to calm thier pining for lost love.

Teachers will receive the most Valentine’s Day cards, followed by children, mothers, wives, sweethearts and pets.

220,000 is the average number of wedding proposals on Valentine’s Day each year.

Women purchase approximately 85% of all Valentines day gifts.

Sources from: http://list25.com/25-interesting-facts-valentines-day/

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Opinion

February 25, 2015

Staff writer faces gaming addiction

Arguing a sport for the stubborn

by Christy Armstrong, staff writer Some people seem to like having arguments in short, five-minute bursts.

They have to be loud, determined, and take any claim that they could be wrong as a personal insult.

Everyone has gotten into an argument with this type of person at some point in their lives. And we’ve all been that person at one point, myself included. A large part of learning is coming to understand that it is OK to be wrong, and when we don’t we trap ourselves into arguing the same points in circles, even if our argument has been disproven already.

Eventually, we start to see the other person as an opponent, someone to defeat rather than just prove wrong.

Instead of arguing fruitlessly, we simply must find proof as to who’s right. Usually this can be done with a quick Google search, although the first things that pop up (such as Wikipedia) are often less than reliable.

Nothing ends an argument quicker than this, yet people seem to consider this a form of “cheating,” like looking up the answer to a riddle in the middle of discussing it with another person. Some take the idea of verifying information as a insult, or consider it unfair. Others will refuse to continue, or deny whatever source was found.

If we choose to take a break to gather information, or simply to calm down and gather our thoughts, we run into another problem. We consider breaks in a conversation as “the end,” and at this point the argument is done and gone.

Most people take this as the “I win” point in the conversation, as though it were a competition.

When did arguing become a competitive

sport? Why do so many people consider winning an argument to be so important that nothing else matters. So long as they can feel as though they came out on top, they’ll feel accomplished in their life, even if that means being as reasonable as a brick wall.

And in turn, others learn the only way to get people like them to listen is to be just as stubborn, and so on until arguing in this manner is the expected form.

When in an argument, try to remember that neither of you thinks themselves wrong, and therefore simply debating back and forth (unless that is the intention) will bring unneeded tension into the mix.

It’s not cheating to verify whatever you are saying, it’s the reasonable thing to do.

If you need to calm down, that shouldn’t mean the argument is over, so long as you explain that’s what you need. If the other person still insists that means you’re giving up, then they are more focused on winning than coming to an understanding.

by Abby Shearer, staff writer There are all sorts of game addictions out there that strike many as weird. But what happens when I become addicted to a game and all I really get to do is press the gas button and the brake button? That’s when the game becomes all I can talk about.

T h e conversations that I have with my friends become conversations of how I beat my high score, which happens to only be the distance I have driven my motorcycle.

“Hill Climb Racing” is a simple game but happens to be very Photo by Sophie Aron. a d d i c t i v e .

While playing this game, I enter my gaming zone. This means I am often found yelling at my phone screaming, “NO!” But this is only because I have done a face plant in the cave where my vehicle is now stuck.

I enjoy playing games a lot more than most would think. It’s only more often than most would think because often times I am found with my nose in a book.

However, there are those times when I am found sitting on my posterior staring at my phone leaning in the directions that I need to go in my game. More often than

9

not I have been told that leaning will do me no good because I am not in the game.

But I swear that when I lean it does help to get my vehicle going in the direction.

It’s a great thing to be addicted to a game as long as it doesn’t interfere with what you’re supposed to be doing all the time. On occasion, binge playing a game for hours on end can be an OK thing.

However, constantly playing a game can interfere with everyday activities.

You’re gaming addiction is supposed to be under control…for the most part, of course. Binge playing a game is fun, especially when you get caught while freaking out.

Have you ever been on the verge of what you compare to a panic attack? I have, and it’s when you’re at the peak of the game and someone enters the room, causing you to lose focus, and CRASH! This is when the freaking out takes place, and whoever entered the room scrunches up their face in a concerned worry and walks out.

This is what it’s like to be addicted to a game and to feel the frustration -- and the joy -- of knowing you are being defeated by your favorite game. Overall, gaming addictions are fun and can be enjoyed no matter what the conditions.

If you only remember one thing from my gaming speal, remember that gaming is fun.

However, if your mom calls for dinner, don’t say you will be there in a moment because you need to make it 300 more meters. Your mom may let your dinner get cold.

What teachers want high schoolers to remember Alex

Rosenleaf

Pam Dougherty

Mike Lathrop

Erica Davis

Mike Lins

U.S. History

Consumer Science

Physics

French

Transition

I want students to remember that “actions have consequences.” Even if it was just something you said or something you typed, it has a consequence.

Just because you don’t think it will have an effect on others doesn’t mean that it won’t.

All actions have consequences, and students need to remember that.

“It’s the people that students should remember.

It’s the friendships and the relationships that you develop in high school. You meet people you like and people you don’t like. And when you remember the people you didn’t like, you remember why you didn’t like them, so you don’t get yourself in the same position. The people is what you should remember when you leave high school.

It’s a toss-up between dignity and respect, and work hard and diligence. Having dignity and respect are very big in work ethic.

And working hard and diligently can lead to great payoffs and can help you to achieve great things.

So I would hope that students remember both to have respect and dignity, and to work hard and diligently.

When it’s time to work, work harder than anyone else.

When it’s time to play, enjoy your friends and family. Be forgiving. Be happy. Always be kinder than you think you need to be. Sometimes students are brutal to one another when it comes to how they treat each other. I wish that students could be nicer to each other and treat each other equally. That is at least what I wish I had done.

I want students to remember to not skip school.

It’s like skipping out on your kids or skipping out on work.

You can’t skip out on work because you will get fired, so don’t skip out on school.

Because you can’t skip out on life.

School gets you ready for life, so don’t skip.

S

February 25, 2016 rustlernews.com

FEATURES

Christina Brennan

Features Editor

I have a lot of favorite movies. My top five consists of “500 Days of Summer,” “Super8,” “Juno,” “Saw,” and “Kick-Ass.” But there is one movie that stands above them all. My absolute favorite movie is “Rocky Horror Picture Show.”

The first time I saw it was July 16, 2014. I rented it and immediately fell in love with it. I watched it with a few of my friends and they weren’t super into it so I ended up taking them home as soon as it finished. When I got home I started the movie again and watched it two more times because I fell in love with it so much. The next day I watched it again two more times before returning it and buying a copy for myself.

Now, almost three years and two copies I have seen RHPS 38 times and know every word to every song. Each time I watch it I find something new, something that makes me love it even more.

Recently I have found out that NBC will be remaking the 1975 cult classic, and I have mixed feelings about it. On one hand, I am excited to see a new cast and what they have to offer; on the other hand, if anything is changed or messed with in any way I will be furious.

The cast is very well capable of doing justice to RHPS, it consists of broadway actor Ryan McCartan as Brad Majors; Orange is the New Black’s Laverne Cox as Dr. Frank-N-Furter; Adam Lambert playing Eddie; Annaleigh Ashford, who is known for her voicework on Disney’s “Frozen,” as Columbia.

And last but not least, from the original cast of Rocky Horror, and Stephen King’s IT, Tim Curry, as the criminologist.

This cast is well rounded and capable of doing great things with the new film. But I cannot help but think about all the horrible remakes that have happened in the past. “The Last Airbender” (2010), “Man of Steel” (2013), “Snow White and the Huntsmen” (2012), “Godzilla” (1998). The list goes on and the reboots and adaptations get worse.

Some even make the originals look bad.

All these have sucked, almost to the point of making the originals look worse. As much as I would like to trust the cast and crew of the new Rocky Horror Picture Show, I really don’t trust them at all. I don’t know how they could even come close to how iconic the original is, or if they can do justice to it at all. I mean, so many of us have seen the RHPS tribute that “Glee” did in 2010. That was awful, and that’s when I actually liked “Glee.”

My point is, I love Rocky Horror with all my heart, but I don’t want to see it ruined by new age filmmakers. Who knows, maybe I’m wrong; maybe it will be super and I will watch it as much as the original. No matter what I will more than likely end up watching it. Whether it sucks or rocks I don’t think it will change my love for the original. We’ll see.

So, dear reader, check out RHPS and let me know what you think. Do you hate it? Do you love it with the burning passion of a thousand suns as I do? Tell me all the feelings you feel when watching RHPS. Or hey, hit me up and we can watch it together, because God knows I will never be tired of watching that stupid, musical, gay version of Frankenstein.

GIRL POWER

Consumer Mechanics provides female students with basic knowledge of cars

by Christina Brennan, features editor There is a girls only class offered at CMR, and it doesn’t involve cooking, cleaning or taking care of a baby. It’s the complete opposite in fact. Consumer Mechanics, taught

by Jodi Koterba, is a class provided in the shop part of the school which teaches girls everything they need to know about their cars.

“It’s knowing your tools and knowing everything that you are going to need when you’re working on an engine, upkeep on your vehicle, changing oil, changing a tire, just everything like that,” sophomore Autumn Steensrud said.

Streensrud’s dad has worked on cars since she can remember and said he inspired her to take the class. She said it is important for her to be independent and do things on her own, and along with her dad, the need to do things for herself was what pushed her to take Consumer Mechanics.

“His job is to work on cars. He works for car lots and private vehicles for other people and I would always go down to the shop and watch him work,” she said. “It’s just nice to know what you’re doing, and to know how a car functions and everything in the mechanics industry.”

While most shop classes are male-dominated, Steensrud describes the all-girls class as just the opposite.

“It’s nice because you can relate to all the girls and you don’t have to worry about not doing something right. They are all on the same level that you’re on,” she said.

She said that learning more about something she thought she new everything about is her favorite part of the class, that and how welcoming and accepting all the girls are. Being on the same level as her peers is an important aspect of any class, and in Consumer Mechanics all the girls are there to help one another and learn at the same pace.

Signing off on something new

by Ian Kaiser, staff writer When sign language teacher Jennifer Wasson first entered college 23 years ago, she had no idea that one day she would be teaching sign in public schools.

“Everyone has been very friendly and welcoming,” said Wasson, who teaches first period Sign Language to 28 Rustlers this semester.

Wasson didn’t grow up around sign language, but decided on her own to learn and enter the world of sign.

“I knew I wanted to be a teacher. I saw people signing, and I was fascinated and wanted to know more about it,” she said.

She started teaching sign language at the Montana School for the Deaf and Blind (MSDB) 17 years ago, hearing about the school while in college and aiming for a job there. She explained that working there required her to learn even more sign, which was a challenge.

Wasson said that since her class is only a semester long, she hopes to teach her students about the culture of the deaf and hardof-hearing world. She’s also aiming for a bigger audience.

“Knowing sign isn’t just for deaf and hard-of-hearing people.

There’s a lot of people in our community who deserve equal access to communication,” she said.

This is Wasson’s first year teaching sign in the public schools.

She spent first semester at Great Falls High School and is teaching at CMR second semester. She said she teaches at the MSDB the rest of the day.

“I like having a diverse schedule.”

“I don’t want to rely on a man so it’s good to know what I’m doing, be confident in it and not have to ask questions constantly. it’s nice to know that I can do something myself,” Steensrud said.

With a small class and many bonding opportunities between the students and teacher, Consumer Mechanics provides everyday knowledge that one will need for life outside of high school. Senior Roya Blake agrees that Consumer Mechanics is nothing but welcoming and friendly.

“I like the way the teacher has it set up that she has time to work with each and every one of us because it’s not a very demanding course,” Blake said. “So if we don’t understand something she has multiple ways of teaching it, so that works for people who learn visually people who learn best with audio and those who learn hands on.”

While Blake originally took the class so she could get her career technical credit, she said that it was a really good idea that she did.

“I realized as it was getting closer to the second semester that it was becoming a better and better idea,” she said. “Consumer Mechanics is one of the most useful classes you can take in the school because it teaches everything you need to know about a car. Like if I was stuck somewhere and I hadn’t taken this class I would have no idea what to do.”

Having the proper knowledge for the real world is a big deal, especially in this day and age where anything can happen at any time. A tire blows up on the highway between Missoula and Great Falls at 11 p.m. The ‘check engine’ light pops up in the middle of nowhere while on a cross country road trip. The class teaches girls just what to do in those situations and many more.

It covers all someone needs to know about cars from changing oil, brake fluid and tires, to buying a car and insuring it. Blake said that she thinks everyone should take the class because the information one receives is relevant and crucial to living in the real world.

“It actually should be a recommended class, like financial tech skills, because it has such important skills to learn,” Blake said. “You save a lot of money because you learn simple skills. If you had to take your car into some mechanics shop, you can do it at home. It’s a really great environment, and I love that class.”

Warren fills in for Mora

by Allison Hanson, staff writer A career opportunity for teaching a high school history class opened a door for Jacob Warren.

He is filling in as a World History teacher for Dennis Mora.

Mora is going to Romania for a National Guard deployment. Mora will be gone for all of this school year and a part of the next school year as well.

Once Mora comes back Warren is wanting to find another job in the district or at CMR, hopefully a teaching position. “[It’s] a really good career opportunity, exactly what I wanted to do,” Warren said. He has a degree in history from the University of Minnesota. Warren moved to Montana because his girlfriend is in the military. Warren has been a substitute teacher for the last year and a half. “[I] only taught a little back in Minnesota,” Warren said.

Warren enjoys the environment of CMR, he looks forward to teaching World War II. “I love learning about different people and how we became who we are today,” he said. Warren said that he’s enjoyed history which gave him the reason of majoring in it.

“Great way to learn about ourselves and how other people have done. [Also,] the story about humanity.”

February 25, 2016

Features 11

12

13

February 25, 2016

A Day on the Mountain 9 a.m. depart for Showdown 10:15 arrival 11 JJ’s first time on the chair

Students share their experiences up at Showdown

by JJ Mitchell, opinion editor Showdown, Montana. A place where you can escape from everything and just have fun going down the mountain.

Senior Shelby Eve has been skiing since she was in grade school and has a fun time up at Showdown.

“I started when I was in third grade with my family, and it was really fun when I got the hang of it,” Eve said.

She wanted to try snowboarding for the first time, so she took on the challenge when she went up to Showdown.

“The hardest part of snowboarding was getting the boot in and out of the board and learning how to control the speed when you were going down the hill,” she said.

She went up the lift and then she went down the first hill on the board.

“It was really hard at first, but after a few times down the hill, we got the hang of it quickly and it was just fun after that,” Eve said.

Going up the hill without an instructor, she said the hardest part was simply not knowing what to do.

“I like to challenge myself and take something on that I have to learn. I find that the exciting part of learning something new,” Eve explains.

She has some advice for first time skiers and snowboarders.

“Just go up there and have fun. Whether that is with your family or friends, it is really fun either way. You always have a good and fun time,” she said.

Like Eve, junior Kira Nader has been going up to Showdown since grade school. She has been snowboarding for five years and enjoys every moment of it.

“The hardest part of snowboarding was controlling my balance and learning how to stand and walk with the board, but I had my parents there to help me, which was really good,” Nader said.

With the help of family members and going up there a lot during the winter, she got the hang of balance and controlling the board.

“Two or three times then I really got the hang of it and I was going down the hill and I only fell a couple times, but that always happens to people,” she said.

She has never snowboarded before, but she would like to try it.

“It would very interesting to try, but I feel like I would be up for the challenge.”

11:15 first fall 12:30 lunch break 1:15 head to the triple chair 4 p.m. pack up Photos by Sophie Aron.

Beginning boarders take a tumble

by Mackenzie George, sports editor The towering pine trees were dusted with white. Below us, skis scraped against the snow as individuals bundled in brightly-colored coats flew down the hill. The chairlift hitched and creaked before pausing to let someone off.

“I don’t like this part,” I admitted to sophomore Sophie Aron, who was sitting beside me with hands full of poles and camera. She laughed. Heights don’t faze her. But then, Sophie is an experienced skier who is three years deep in a teaching career at Showdown.

We did a run on the Golden Goose to warm up, waiting for senior JJ Mitchell. Sophie and her brother, Andrew, can glide down the slopes effortlessly, even weighed down with pounds of camera equipment. I felt awkward in comparison, both feet strapped to a single board, at the mercy of the powder. But the first few runs always feel good; your legs haven’t had a chance to fatigue. This was only my fourth or fifth trip to the ski hill, and I was proud that I didn’t spend most of it faceplanting.

We met JJ at the bottom of the hill by the chairlift. It was her first time on a board, but she was much better than could be expected.

Without instructions, strapping yourself into a snowboard isn’t easy, and in under four minutes she was ready for the chair.

Sophie and I watched her disembark, expecting a fall. It could have been much worse -- I’ve seen pileups with tangles of limbs with the panicked expression of the person who’s trying to get off right after you. JJ earned bonus points for the landing: gracefully sliding off and onto her back.

Forgetting how great it feels to be standing

up at all, I grabbed JJ’s hand. As in, “Let’s get going; I don’t care that this is your first time snowboarding ever. You are going to go my speed because I am impatient.”

She was good-natured about it, and we laughed. JJ had pretty great balance, considering she was being dragged down the mountain. We managed to tag-team it down a good portion of the hill before getting tripped up on some powder. I jumped ship, releasing her hand and carving out a turn, and left JJ to succumb to the snow. After a round of apologies, a dirty look, and a few more laughs, we finished the run.

A getaway to Showdown is the perfect way to spend a weekend with friends. The drive is short, just over an hour if traffic’s on your side (and it usually is on a Sunday morning). If the black diamonds don’t sound relaxing, the lodge is always waiting with a well-stocked coffee bar and cafeteria.

Beginners can sign up for lessons in the morning before going out with friends in the afternoon. If you purchase a lift ticket and rent your equipment from Showdown, a lesson costs just $10. Otherwise, group lessons are $25 for two hours. Private lessons cost a bit more ($45 per hour), but the one-on-one attention is great if this is your first time on skis or a snowboard.

The drive home was quiet; we were all exhausted. With a cup of hot chocolate next to me and snow melting all over my boots, Sophie and I sifted through the pictures of our adventure.

Even though the two snowboarders were slowest in a group full of experienced skiers, I wouldn’t have traded our experience for anything.

14 Features

February 25, 2016

March 18 -- A night to remember

by Carli Dieruf, editor in cheif Girls dream of a big day, a memorial night that high school students plan for months in advance. Girls gasp at beautiful dresses that decorate the windows of bridal stores, and pin their favorite hair and nail ideas on their Pinterest wall.

You know what it’s all for. Prom -- the one night a year that is dedicated to feeling beautiful and dancing with your crush like nobody’s watching.

Prom is a big deal for a lot of girls. Some hold traditions of hiding their dress from their date until the night of, simply for good luck. That is something normally done by brides, but it has slowly made its way to high school hallways.

Girls giggle at one another, scrolling through images of dresses saved on their phones, as they decide together which one would suit them best. Today, most girls keep their dress a secret. Their dates don’t always get to see it in advance. Some share the images, and others find joy in waiting until prom night.

With the big day right around the corner, girls and guys are preparing themselves for the night they’ve been dreaming of. Junior Camryn Beck found out recently that she will be attending prom, and ever since she heard the news, she has been busy searching for the perfect dress.

“I’ve never gone before so I’m not really sure what to expect,” Beck said. “I’m just so excited to get all dressed up and have a good night with all of my friends. I hope that it turns out exactly how I imagine it.”

After a few stops at different shops, Beck was still unable to find the dress that she had imagined. She said the plans to go to a few more places later on this month or at the beginning of March to find a dress that is exactly what she is looking for.

Beck’s best friend Samantha Payne went along to the shops and was surprised that she found a dress that she fell in love with. She tied the back and knew she was done searching. Payne is keeping the color and style of the dress a secret but she is confident in the fact that her date will like it.

“I went to prom last year so I kind of know the jist of things,” Payne said. “I already made my hair and nail appointments, so I’m pretty much ready to go.”

Shoe planning hasn’t even crossed Beck’s mind, she said she will worry more about that once she finds the right dress. She explains that heels are simply not her forte. She said she will be perfectly fine with a pair of shoes that she has lying around her house -- maybe even her favorite pair of sneakers.

“I’m thinking I will wear my white high top Converse,” Beck said. “For me, that’s the perfect combination of comfy and cute. I don’t want to be walking around in pain all night just to look a few inches taller.”

Behind the Curtain

$189 -- Knee length blue, purple and black dress with a beaded bodice.

Becca Miller

$499 -- Champagne mermaid dress with beaded body.

Katie Williams

$470 -- Green chiffon dress with a full beaded top.

Gina Jewell $150 -- Black ball gown dress with a beaded top.

Keelie Lorenz A group of six take piictures to remember their 2015 prom memories. Junior Samantha Payne prepares for prom with a few friends on Feb. 13. “I was not impressed with these dresses, but I knew right away when I had found ‘the one’,” she said. Photo courtesy of Jace Davis and Camryn Beck.

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Create and purchase corsage and boutonniere Go get measured for your tuxedo Make reservations for the dinner

by Carli Dieruf, editor in cheif Do guys stress about about the one-night event that is prom? According to senior Jace Davis, it’s a breeze. He has been to prom before and will be attending this year as well. He said that prom is really nothing for guys to stress out about.

“It doesn’t take much for us guys, really,” Davis said. “[You] better just know how to button up your shirt and your sleeves.”

Of course there are some stressful parts about prom, he explains. There are a lot of things on his checklist to do before March 18 comes along.

There are some guys who find this time of the year stressful, but Davis is used to it, and really does enjoy the time that him and his date have had and will have this year as well.

“It’s not stressful at all unless you are doing everything last minute,” he said. “If you do it all on time, and know what you’re doing, it’s a pretty fun and easy task.”

Features 15

February 25, 2016

Faces in the crowd Amateur videographer’s hobby inspired by CMR classes

by Quincy Schmechel, staff writer enough to let me use it, even though I’m not in his class Standing behind video equipment and trying to get the anymore,” Coates said. perfect shot is hard enough, but hopping in front of the He said that making videos is not only something fun to camera can sometimes be so much harder. do; it can also be rather useful.

For sophomore Xavier Coates, it’s never “I usually use [videos] to help me in class been a problem to be either the operator or projects when it’s allowed. If I can, I usually the actor, as long as his friends were goofing make random videos to fit requirements,” off with him. Coates began making videos Coates said. “Making them with friends with his friends for class after taking a is what makes the videos fun. My favorite video production class at CMR, but he soon video I ever made had a spoof scene of John realized that he enjoyed making videos for Cena. It was for a health project.” more than just a grade.

Coates said that his friends are the real “It started when I took video production. focal point of his videos and that they After I was in the class for a while, I realized wouldn’t be the same without them.

Xavier Coates I just really enjoyed making videos with my “My biggest advice is that if you are friends,” Coates said. [making videos] to make sure you’re doing Coates said that making videos for fun with his friends it with your friends because then a bunch of different ideas was something that he began to think of as fun and that are going to collide and there will be tons of different ideas goofing off in front of a camera slowly became a hobby. of what to do for the same thing. You can use similar ideas or However, it could be an expensive pastime. work out [a better game plan]. That’s what really makes it.”

“The software was really expensive, although I did want it. So I mostly get by using Mr. Crosby’s since he’s nice

...I realized “ I just really

enjoyed making videos with my friends.

”

Sophomore Xavier Coates chills fo rthe camera after a long day of video making and homework. Photo by Quincy Schmechel.

Remember -- someone loves you.

Your choices affect more than just you.

What’s your plan?

A message brought to you by the Cascade County DUI Task Force

1102 Central Avenue Great Falls, Montana 59401 406-761-6338 www.thebridesshoppe.net

S

February 25, 2016 rustlernews.com

ENTERTAINMENT

C lara McClain

Inside the Criminal Minds

Entertainment Editor by Carli Dieruf, editor in cheif

Dogs are my best friends. They are always happy to see me, and when they’re going on a walk and strangers walk by, they’ll tug on their leashes to come say hello.

People usually won’t make eye contact when I pass them on the street, but dogs are always pleased to meet a new person.

Especially big dogs -- they’re so mellow and sweet. They can be used as pillows, and all they do is groan a little or wag their tails before going back to sleep. I love how fluffy they can be, even though they’re usually slobbery as well.

I love how excited big puppies get when you come home, like my black lab Triton was when he was younger. Whenever he saw me, he got so happy and then he did something not quite as cute: he peed in a circle around me and I would have to clean that up and change my socks.

However, he’s still my favorite and I wouldn’t even consider giving him away.

He loves playing fetch and getting his belly rubbed. If I take him to the park by my house, I can let him off his leash, start running with his ball and he’ll sprint after me. Sometimes we wrestle for the toy, but he always wins. When he reigns victorious, he’ll take the ball from my hand and drop it at my feet almost immediately.

He’s definitely a dork, but he’s my dork. He’s just the quietest, sweetest, cuddliest dog, and I’m so happy I have him.

And then there’s Belle. She’s small for a Golden retriever, but what she lacks in size, she more than makes up for in energy. Belle loves playing with everyone and giving hugs and kisses, even to our cats, Bach and Mozart.

She has taken over as den mother for the animals in our house and even tries to mother the humans as well. Belle gets very concerned if I’m sad, and she’ll come lick my face until I start to laugh.

She’s so sweet, even if she did push me off my mom’s bed one time. I was just sitting there talking to my mom and giving her a foot massage when Belle came up and decided to sit in my lap.

Now, usually that isn’t a problem, but since I was on the edge of the bed and Belle has recently started leaning a lot more than she used to, I was quickly off balanced and toppled backwards off.

I was wildly grabbing for something to latch onto, but the only thing in reach was Belle, so I took her down with me, but that only ended up hurting me in the long run since she landed right on my chest, where she sprung up from, unhurt.

I was not so lucky, however. I got the wind knocked out of me, but I managed to land on the dog bed, so my back didn’t get hurt as bad as it could have.

All in all, dogs are the best, and if you ever catch me staring at you when you’re walking your dog, don’t worry. I’m not looking at you, I’m simply admiring your dog and considering kidnapping them.

The latest episode featured a young, mentally-disturbed man I recently had a full-day “Criminal Minds” marathon, and who had a deep hatred for his mother-- whom he had killed after throughout the show’s seasons which started Sept. 22 2005, she attempted to behead him in front of his younger siblings. there’s an obvious difference in the methods and horrors of They were upset that she wasn’t successful simply because they the criminals. The writers are thinking of more sickening and weren’t fond of him. twisted ideas for every show, and it’s easy to see that it’s just Throughout the hour-long program, he abducts women that going to get worse. look like his mother and beheads them in his garage with a Worse in a good way, in my eyes. I’m definitely a horror homemade guillotine. By the end of the episode there are at least movie fan, and having a crime show that I can watch almost six women who have been killed. The killer takes the beheaded daily is perfect. I have enjoyed bodies and places them nicely set Criminal Minds for quite a up and dressed in public and leaves few years, and I love seeing them for people to find. the evolution of the newest When the team comes to save criminals. the most recent victim, they end When I first started watching up shooting the guy. It is my least the series, I was terrified by favorite type of ending, but it is crimes and how the ending common on “Criminal Minds,” for played out. I was always that type of ending to occur. I like amazed by the thought process when the killer gets taken away and and found myself thinking I can go to sleep satisfied knowing about it late into the night. I that they will rot in jail. The team would usually lock my doors raids the garage and finds more and hide away, hoping that a than a dozen heads bagged and killer wouldn’t sneak through stuffed into his refrigerator. my house in the dark of the Criminal Minds Derek Morgan and Spencer Reid get ready I think the most unbelievable night. thing about the series is the fact that to investigate during season four, epis ode 20. Picture I remember one of the scariestcourtesy of CBS. so many of the plots are based on episodes that I had watched actual news headlines and crimes when I was younger. It included the mass murder of group of around the United States. Most of the ideas that they come up friends at an abandoned warehouse. The bodies were found and with are either exactly the same or just a twisted/shortened had been placed to make what looked like a witch’s circle in the version of the real thing. middle of the creaky old floor.

I enjoy crime shows, and I have many favorites. I could As new seasons approach, I am eager to see the new crimes. write about them all day long, but I chose to focus on “Criminal But it’s no question that as the years go by, the plots become Minds” because it is the most realistic in my eyes. I look forward more and more twisted. I remember that that was one of the to seeing what the writer comes up with as the series progresses. scariest episodes, but now it’s mediocre for the series.

I think this is just the beginning of the demented killings.

guide to

camping

by Sophie Aron, staff writer The smell of fresh mountain air, birds chirping, a cozy sleeping bag and a breathtaking view. Camping. Many people are intimidated by the idea of going out in unfamiliar territory, far away from home in the woods. But it surely doesn’t have to be this way. With campgrounds close to home with easy access, camping is an activity that everyone can enjoy.

CAMPGROUNDS NEAR GREAT FALLS: Great Falls KOA:

Located within Great Falls city limits, the KOA is a great place to start off camping.

Equipped with a hot tub and a pool, it’s a great place for anyone to relax at. Campers can choose to use their own tent or camper, or even stay in a deluxe cabin at the KOA. Although not an exactly rugged camping experience, the KOA is a great campground for just about everyone! Also, there is free firewood!

From right to left: picnic table with dinner on it, campfire, inside of a tent and the outside of a tent. Photos by Sophie Aron.

Salmon Lake:

Located in the Seeley/Swan Valley, Salmon Lake is a peacful escape for fishing, swimming and taking spectacular pictures.

Black Sandy State Park:

Located 90 miles outside of Great Falls, Black Sandy offers boating, fishing, hiking and of course camping. The campground is located on the shores of Hauser Reservoir.

Choteau City Park:

60 miles outside of Great Falls, Choteau City Park offers a more in-town camping experience. With a grocery story within walking distance, it is a great place to start camping.

supplies for camping: • lantern • sleeping bag • tent • first aid kit • flashlight • pillow • camp stove • Therm-a-Rest/air mattress • matches • cooler • food • FRIENDS!

17

February 25, 2016 rustlernews.com

ENTERTAINMENT

Ukuleles take over CMR the latest fad around the school is this little string instrument, what exactly makes it so cool?

by Ian Kaiser, staff writer Learning a new instrument is always exciting, especially when it’s a lesser known one and not a lot of people play it. For senior Jacob Williams, that instrument happened to be the ukulele.

“I wanted to learn a new instrument, so I asked for one, and I got it,” Williams said.

Williams got his ukulele for Christmas in 2014, and it is a Kala brand soprano that he named Leilani. There are four different kinds of ukuleles, all ranging in sound and size; soprano, concert, tenor, and baritone. Sopranos are recommended for beginners because they are the easiest and smallest, measuring in at only 20 inches.

He is completely self taught and said the first song he learned was “Imagine” by John Lennon. He explained that he tried to practice for two hours a day, but he admits he could not always stick to the schedule.

Williams said that now he doesn’t really have time for it, with the pressure of school and other responsibilities, though he really does enjoy playing.

“Ukulele is an escape from reality,” he said.

Williams isn’t the only one using the ukulele to escape reality and learn something

$5 off Formal Wear Use class code to get discount Class Codes: Freshman - Star Sophomore - Planet Junior - Rocket Senior - Alien

new. Freshman Sierra Maynard has been teaching herself how to play since the beginning of the school year.

The story behind her playing is as simple as it gets. After visiting Hawaii and buying a small novelty ukulele, Maynard decided to try the real thing.

“I just decided to learn how to play one day,” she said.

Maynard’s ukulele is a Protege brand, and it was about $100 , but she recieved it as a gift. Her first song learned was “House of Gold” by twenty one pilots, whose lead singer plays the ukulele.

She also said that she does not keep to a set schedule. She just practices whenever she can.

As a fellow ukulele player, I can also say that I do not have a specific schedule. I’ve only been playing for a month, but I try to practice a little every day. I’m constantly running around, so I don’t always have time to play.

18 Entertainment

February 25, 2016

Comic brought to life in latest movie hit, Deadpool

by lia

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MUST PLAY

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Frightning Games of 2016

“ALLISON ROAD” Allison Road

survival inspired

originally for

is a first person

Have

you ever played a game

that really messed with your head?

Silent Hill. During

pattern in the second one as well.

so many ways that you laid awake

game

tease

that

that

was

up with no memory in a town house unlike one he’s seen before.

Over

the course of the game you must find you family, figure out mysteries the

has always been about

scaring the gamer to death, and

a

the game, the protagonist wakes

within

Outlast

“PERCEPTION”

was

horror

from

“OUTLAST 2”

house,

against enemies.

and

There’s

face

off

plenty to

do in this upcoming horror game.

Cinderella’s Closet of Montana

Prom Dresses

available for loan!

In room 222

$25 loan fee Sizes 0-16

From February 8 - March 18

we can all look forward to that

The but

original chracters will stick, the

setting

change immensily.

is

supposed

to

Outlast will be filled with terror, violence and depracity, all of our favorites, right? If you don’t like jumping out of your seat with terror, this game probably isn’t for you.

Or

a game that was disturbing in

thinking about it?

Well,

if you like

those kind of thinking games, this is the one for you.

As

you naviagate

through a haunted house, there are missions you must pass and puzzles you must figure out.

I

mention the best part

forgot to

--

you’re

blind and have to rely on sound.

completely ruin the movie? Almost. I like movies that I can comfortably watch with family and friends, but when a scene comes on with fully naked women, the comfortable atmosphere flies straight out the window. There are ways to go around a strip club scene without showing every part of the woman’s body, it really is simple and has been done hundreds of times. The movie could have been just as good without it and would have made a ‘Deadpool movie date with your boyfriend’ a lot less awkward.

Aside from that, the characters were picked very well. They were selected based on their looks and attitudes and each played their part very well.

There was not an actor or actress that played the part poorly. I was very impressed, and that’s hard to accomplish with movies for me -- I’m quite picky.

The movie had me grasping my stomach from laughing so hard at least a dozen times. Reynolds has a way of charming the viewers with his sense of humor, no matter what is going on, the character has a way of making things hilarious. Talk about a twist in the horrific parts of the movie. The scariest parts were turned around on the enemy because of a joke that he would say. Unexpected and just downright perfect. I would almost call the movie a comedy over an action movie.

If I was to rate this movie out of ten I would give it an eight and a half. There were a couple of times that I was confused, and one where I wasn’t impressed with what was going on, but overall, the movie had me curious what was going to happen in the end.

There were a lot of plot twists that I wasn’t expecting, and that is what I really like out of a movie.

“UNTIL DAWN: RUSH OF BLOOD” If you enjoyed Until Dawn, then

you’ll like the newest expansion,

Rush Of Blood. It’s alike in many ways, but less story-driven. It brings in a whole new level of crazy, inspired to be a game that seems all too real.

Until dawn was a short game in my eyes, I feel as though it was over quickly, so I hope that I can play it longer than a week.

CARLI’S TOP PICK

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by Carli Dieruf, editor in chief If you have a Facebook, you probably know all the in’s and out’s about the newest Marvel Comics’ movie that came out on Feb. 14 -- “Deadpool.” The infamous anti-hero takes us on a tour of his life as a rebel, and what a rush the movie was.

Wade Wilson (played by Ryan Reynolds), also known as Deadpool, is subjected to life threatening experiments that leave him with healing powers and superhuman strength where he adopts the alter ego that is Deadpool. During the movie he shows off his abilities as he is paid to kill or threaten other people’s enemies. He is not a superhero and Wade Wilson explains this throughout the entire movie.

Reynolds plays the character very well. Deadpool would not be an easy character to play by any means. He is charismatic, funny and confident. He spends most of the film in a full-body costume or is otherwise under heavy prosthetics which really does take a lot of character. The suit looks as though it walked right out of a marvel comic, which really helped the movie live up to the original books. Those who enjoy the comics would be, or are most likely impressed by the way it turned out.

My favorite part was the use of real looking body parts. The violence in the movie definitely lived up to my expectations. Not that I like blood, guts and gore. Actually I do like blood, guts and gore. The shooting scenes seemed real, the sword and knife fights were believable, the punches to the face looked real, it all seemed as though the characters actually went through the pain in order to come out with a great movie.

Were there parts I didn’t like? Yes. Did they

I am most looking forward Allison Road because it

to

reminds me of my favorite

games i used to play before switching over to my

PS4. I

like suspense, and a lot of it.

I think this game will bring

the of

perfect

suspence,

mystery.

All

combination

thrill

and

enough to make

a perfect game.

Thespians steal the stage

Troupe 2717 slays the competition at state thespian convention

by Christina Brennan, features editor A lot can change in six years -- the mural in the jock lot, drinking fountains, a principal. One thing that has consistently stayed the same, however, is CMR’s drama department.

This year was drama teacher Chris Evans’ sixth year as the department head. Since in he was given the position in 2010 the department has brought home around 20 awards from the Montana state thespian convention. In past years Evans and his students have brought shows such as one way bridge, circus, and chicken road; every year blowing away the competition with the material.

The show that was brought this february was titled “Clowns with Guns: a Vaudeville” which was written by Evans himself. It is a satirical piece that touches issues such as depression, school

shootings, and bullying. Its takes place in a cartoon carnival setting with only four elephant stands as the set. 10 of the 15 actors were in full clown makeup, making the whole play seem as if it was a fever dream. There is big movement from the whole cast, high energy, loud repetitive music, and two silent clown characters called Thoughts and Prayers who make light of the situation at hand.

Awards were given to D’Angelo Sterling-White for Outstanding Male Actor in a Drama, Austin Haney and Aidan Evans for an outstanding performance with limited dialogue, Christina Brennan for Outstanding Makeup Design, Paige Wilson for third place in the Tongue Twister competition, and the Outstanding Thespian Troupe Award was given to troupe 2717 of CMR. The future’s looking bright for CMR, especially for the drama department.

Entertainment

February 25, 2016

Local author offers advice to aspiring authors

by Clara McClain, entertainment editor In order to start writing fiction, authors must unlearn a lot of what they learn in English class, according to award-winning author Jamie Ford.

Creative writing requires the use of the right side of the brain, while the MLA format learned in a standard English class, so writing creatively is hard switch over for some people. Ford refers to writing as creative daydreaming. Anyone can do this, but it takes time to turn these ideas into a story that pulls readers in, he said.

“Anyone can sit at a piano and start pounding out notes, but that’s not music. It’s just noise,” Ford said.

“Many young writers make a lot of noise; they don’t write stories.”

Fortunately, noise can be turned into music if time is taken to learning the craft.

“Everyone can learn craft, but some people have a natural ear for storytelling,” he said.

Being a big reader takes care of half the battle for young writers, but not taking into account the genre of the book helps to hone that ear and makes telling an interesting story that much easier, Ford said. It’s much like listening to music as a musician in that way.

“If you only listen to one kind of music, you really limit yourself,” Ford said.

Reading as a writer rather than a fan of that author’s work will help young writers learn where their writing is lacking, rather than simply comparing their first short story to the works of Orson Scott Card, for example.

Young writers are already ahead of the game, according to Ford. He met Steph Bowe, the author of “Girl Saves Boy,” who sold that book for $500,000 at the

age of 15 and was talking to Ford’s agent before signing with another and getting published mainly in the UK. Card was actually a big help for Ford earlier in his writing career since Ford went to “Uncle Orson’s Literary Bootcamp,” where Card pulls apart the writing of those in attendance. It’s definitely not for everyone, however, as Card doesn’t hold back about criticism, according to Ford. Ford’s first novel, “Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet,” actually started out as a short story that was conceived at the bootcamp.

Aliette de Bodard -- author of “On a Red Station” and “Drifting” -- was also at the bootcamp with Ford, and she went on to receive the Nebula Award for Best Short Story and Nebula Award for Best Novelette.

Ford suggests going to a garage sale and buying the cheapest out-of-print books you can find. Look through them as a writer and figure out how you could make the writing better. He urges young writers to learn from the mistakes of others and start to recognize them in their own writing.

Learn as much as you can from short stories as a fiction writer, but know that for the most part money comes from novels. Many authors still have to have a “day job” along with writing books in their free time.

Ford said that’s how he thought his writing career would go.

“I never thought I’d go to Norway, India, and Japan. I just wanted to sell a few books,” Ford said.

He was originally an artist and worked in the advertising business before realizing that it gets a little soul crushing after a while, since “you’re basically pimping out your talent for money.”

19

During his time in the ad business in his late 30’s, Ford wrote on the weekends and discovered that he couldn’t see advertising being his career for the rest of his life.

As a result, he cut out TV and started to read and write between 10 p.m. and 1 a.m. He also started using his vacation time to go to writers’ conferences.

Ford was planning on becoming a comic artist and is still really into comic books today.

“You have to be willing to open doors of perspective and dance around in characters’ heads,” Ford said.

“Focus on being in the top 5 percent of anything, and you’ll have a great career.”

WHY DID THEY START WRITING? For freshman DARLENE WESTIE, Senior ABIGAIL HALL has always been writing just started as ideas in her head that a creative force to be reckoned with, but when she would hash out throughout the day before she started writing down the stories she was starting to put them on paper. constantly thinking of, she really started to grow “I’ve always been creative and I have a big her love of storytelling. imagination so I love to create worlds and “When I was little I had a crazy imagination, stories,” Westie said. and I would create stories in my head,” she said.

Getting the middle or the end is usually the Hall wants to go to Full Sail University easiest part for her, but every once in a while in Florida to earn a degree in video game she discovers the beginning before everything production and a minor in creative writing. She else. hopes to write the lyrics for video games’ scores “Sometimes I figure out the beginning, but and the storylines for the games. not the end and [the story] just rambles on and As a little kid, she had a big imagination and on,” she said. would continue the TV shows she was watching While she loves writing and considers it in her head along with original stories, but for a one of her hobbies, Westie doesn’t see herself while she wasn’t writing them down. pursuing a career in the literary world. Instead, “At seven or eight, I got really frustrated she wants to be an FBI agent or a TV show because I kept intermixing my little stories in my producer. head, so I started writing them down and now I “I want to get out there and help people,” she said. write everything,” Hall said.

She grew up watching heroes on the screen saving citizens from evil villains, or She was interested in the “vigilante” shows she watched -- like “Kim Possible,” “The reading about teenagers becoming a force to be reckoned with overnight.

Liberty Kids,” and “Power Rangers” -- especially when the hero was female.

“They were running around and saving people,” she said. “But they were also so Hall focused her high school career around music and is interested in writing verses for caring.” songs and this year she got more interested in writing stories. At CMR, she participates in the Rustler Writing Project after it was created this year along with writing some articles for the Montana National Guard’s website.

S

February 25, 2016 rustlernews.com

SPORTS

Mackenzie George

Sports Editor

Looking up from a timeout, I noticed what should have been the student section -- rows and rows of empty green bleachers. I didn’t expect many people to show up for a JV game, but the seats remained empty even after the varsity tipoff.

On a Saturday afternoon, I knew that a lot of people had other plans. But of the 12 students who’d shown up, half were players from the freshman and sophomore teams. This showing is a sharp contrast to the packed atmosphere of crosstown basketball just a couple weeks ago, where you couldn’t make a trip to the concessions stand without losing your spot.

It made me wonder where all those people were. Yes, the boys team was away, as were the swim teams and wrestlers, but there are 1,351 students enrolled at CMR. You’d think a few of them would show up to support the athletes.

The pep assembly a few weeks back may have contained the assembly part but lacked the once-requisite pep. I’ve realized that it’s not student government’s fault that the assemblies aren’t what they used to be. The problem lies not in the student body officers who put on the show, but the crowd whose cheers are halfhearted, the students who don’t want to be there.

After hearing complaints from friends, I found I couldn’t sympathize with them the way I used to. Crosstown week should be one of the most spirit-filled weeks of the year, except for maybe Homecoming week. A lot of that responsibility falls on the student body to make that week great.

On a recent road trip to Billings and Bozeman for basketball, I made sure to check out the student sections. I thought we couldn’t be the only school with poor attendance. But Senior managed to fill several rows for both the JV and varsity games. Bozeman’s gym was packed with fans, too. With the cheerleaders’ pom poms waving and pep band booming, I wondered how our team’s record would look if CMR’s gym looked the way Senior’s did that night.

The school’s attention shouldn’t just be on sports, either. Plays put on by the drama department and performances from the bands, choirs, and orchestras occur almost monthly. It would be nice to see the red chairs of Bill Will Hall filled with spectators supporting the arts.

I know I’m no better than most people. I don’t make it to many drama productions, even though I hear rave reviews from the people who attend. I have yet to go to a wrestling meet. It’s true that there are many fantastic activities that overlap and it’s difficult to get to everything. But Friday night football games are filled with fans; why can’t we get that kind of support for our other activities?

If there was an award for most dedicated fan, I can only think of one or two recipients who have made it to every home game. So if you’re one of those people who complains about our athletic program, then show up to a game or two.

The student section makes a difference. We’re supposed to be the Rowdy Rustlers; it’s time to start acting like them.

The Wranglers focus during their kick contest at the pep assembly on Feb. 4. Photo courtesy of Leila Collins.

Wranglers shine at pep assembly

by Mackenzie George, sports editor With their glittering outfits and impressive flexibility, the Wranglers are the unsung heroines of many activities throughout the year. The team pops up at pep assemblies, during halftime shows, and at football games.

Other than that, the school hears little about the Wranglers.

Perhaps that’s because the dancers are the first ones in the gym on many mornings. On Wednesdays and Fridays, the girls practice at 5 a.m. The team also rehearses on Monday nights.

Junior Amberlie Kuglin said that during stressful points throughout the year, there might be additional Saturday practices, usually at 7 a.m. It’s during these early mornings when the routines are put together.

“Sometimes if we focus really hard and work really hard, we can get a routine down in like two to three practices, but sometimes if it’s more difficult or we’re having trouble with it it takes a little bit longer,” Kuglin said.

The Wranglers have performed to popular songs such as “Shut Up and Dance with Me,” and they also dance to music mashups. For the pep assembly on Feb. 4, the team decided to do something a little different. Each girl participated in a kick contest rather than a routine.

“You have to really focus and practice and not get too much into your head because then you might mess yourself up,” Kuglin said. “Everyone’s a critic, so it’s kind of nervewracking if you get called out.”

In the end, no winner was crowned, as all dancers were disqualified.

“At the end of the day it’s fine; everyone makes mistakes,” she added.

The male Wranglers, who made their debut during the football season, returned for a quick show as well.

Junior Kyle Korb said he knew that he wasn’t going to be able to do the splits, but he thought the rest of the routine wasn’t too difficult. The Wranglers spent two practices helping the male performers learn their dance.

“It wasn’t too hard for me,” Korb said. “They taught it really well, enough to where the guys could actually pick it up.”

Korb said although the male Wranglers weren’t as “technically correct” as the real dancers, they still enjoyed themselves.

“A lot of my friends were doing it, and my sister used to be a Wrangler too, so I thought it would be a lot of fun,” he explained.

Senior Kaylee Osentowski slips on her shoe during stretching on Feb. 4. Junior Amberlie Kuglin kicks high during warm-ups. Freshman Kai Stewart lifts youngest dancer Ian Myers. Junior Cali Modglin works with the male Wranglers on their music before the performance.

The male Wranglers attempt the splits before the assembly. Photos by Mackenzie George.

Sports

February 25, 2016

By the Numbers sports news from around CMR

285

Senior Noah Danielson’s weight class at the state wrestling tournament on Feb. 13.

Danielson took third overall.

2:03.36

Senior Patrick Brennan’s 200 IM time at the state swim meet on Feb. 13, good for third place.

6

Lady Rustler basketball team’s record after loss to Bozeman High on Feb. 20.

21

CMR swimmers bring in a trophy

Third place is rewarded after hours of competition during state

by Carli Dieruf, editor in cheif At four o’clock on Feb. 4, the Great Falls High field house filled with students from schools around the state along with parents and fans of the dozens of swimmers to compete that night. Senior Tana Debolt ate healthy and participated in practice and hard exercise weeks before the meet and she said it was all worth it -- she accomplished the goals that she had set for herself.

Looking up into the stands she said she met the eyes of her mom, grandmother, boyfriend and a countless amount of friends. She also said that she was grateful that she had people to cheer her on, as it helped her to accomplish all that she had set out to do.

“As soon as I saw them in the crowd, it was an instant confidence boost,” Debolt said. “My main goal was to make my breast stroke kick legal, and I accomplished it. I was so happy.

I practiced as often as I could and having all of my supporters their just made it so much more rewarding.”

Like Debolt, senior Justin Sowa explains that swimming has provided him with the perfect kind of exercise. He is able to rely on swimming to get the perfect amount of cardio as well as a time to escape from reality and just have fun.

“Swimming is such an amazing cardio,” Sowa said. “I am able to eat whatever I want and I’m still able to lose weight.”

Debolt said that burning calories fast is the best part about swimming. It’s different than other sports because you’re working so many different body parts at a time, which create a great overall workout. The swimmers do other things besides just water exercises. They do land exercises as well which include a lot of squats and lunges to help steer away from cramps during long strenuous events.

Freshman John Shaw competes on Feb. 4. during the state swim meet at GFHS. Photo by Clara McClain.

“I can eat anything and everything that I want and not have to worry about gaining any weight at all,” Debolt said. “We burn it all off the next day at practice because of all the things we are required to do at once.”

Sowa and Debolt agreed that the state meet was a lot of fun and that they met a lot of new people and got along well with the other teams. There were more than 20 teams that competed in the state meet, where CMR took third place.

“We consider every team member to be family, even if they aren’t from CMR,” Sowa said. “It really is ‘four teams, one family,’. That’s not just a catchy slogan that we like to put on our shirts. It actually means something to us.”

5

Number of three-pointers sophomore Sam Vining scored during the Rustlers’ crosstown loss on Feb. 11.

More than 20 swim teams showed up for the state competition at the GFPS fieldhouse on Feb. 4. Swimmers lined up preparing for their events to take place. Photos by Clara McClain.

To Break it Down Patrick Brennan (12) takes second place in the 200 IM and the 100 butterfly.

Swimmers warm up during the state meet on Feb. 13. Photo by Clara McClain.

Madi Smith (12), Tianna Stevens (12), Olivia Bauman (10) and Kate Heryla (12) compete in the 400 Freestyle Relay.

Olivia Bauman takes second place in the 100 butterfly, 200 freestyle relay and the 400 freestyle relay.

Noah Brennan takes fifth in the 100 backstroke and Andrew Spragg takes fifth place in the 50 freestyle.

Noah Brennan (11), Pat Brennan (12), Andrew Spragg (11) and Dawson Grunzweig (12) take second place in the 200 medley relay.

22 Sports

Feburary 25, 2016

Sports injury

STRUGGLES

Student athletes work with school trainers to overcome injuries

by Allison Hanson, staff writer Sports injuries, one of the most dreadful things players can experience during a high school sport.

From getting an injury to the road of recovery, there are many processes that athletes go through with time.

Junior Deven Altenburg-Lasher is a football player who got injured on the field against Billings West.

“I went to make a tackle. I threw my arm up, and my opponent hit my arm with his knee,” Altenburg-Lasher said.

It was his second game of the season, and he was out for the whole season due to dislocating his elbow.

“It was one of the nastiest dislocations that my doctor has seen,” he said. It was a long process for recovery, including physical therapy.

“It’s fully able to move. It took a long time for it,” he said.

Altenburg-Lasher tried out for wrestling, but with this break in his elbow he hasn’t been able to compete.

Trainer Teayre Klosterman said she has seen numerous injuries with her time being an athletic trainer at CMR. She has dealt with concussions, dislocated elbows, bumps and bruises, hamstring and quad string tears, and shoulder dislocations. The most common injury she has seen is a sprained ankle.

One injury in her years as a trainer stands out as more severe than the others, she said.

“A concussion that has taken five months to resolve,” she said.

There are several things that happen out on the field, but junior James Olsen had quite a freak accident playing football this year. While trying to jump in the air and land he broke his right leg at the end of August.

“I was in a cast for six weeks, then physical therapy for four to five weeks,” Olsen said. But having a broken leg and being unable to play was only one of Olsen’s struggles.

While on the football field, an accident happened that caused Deven AltenburgLasher to dislocate his elbow. Photos courtesy of Deven Altenburg-Lasher.

“Watching everyone else playing knowing I should be out there with them [was difficult],” he said.

While being out on the field sophomore Warren Fulbright broke both bones in his arm. He was playing soccer, got pushed over and landed on by several players around the end of the season. “[It] was upsetting not being able to play. [But,] it was relaxing being able to watch everyone play,” he said.

Some injuries do not necessarily lead to several months in casts, some can be lead to a sprained ankle.

While playing a game, sophomore Akasia Denton sprained her ankle.

“I was driving up to the basket, [I] jumped up and landed on a girl coming for me,” Denton said. This injury requires Denton to go through physical therapy and sitting out on practices and games. “[We] aren’t doing as good and I have to sit there,” she said.

Concussion trauma Max Sechena Grade: 11

Nick Nordell Grade: 12

Wrestling

Wrestling

“Me and my partner both took shots at the same time and smacked heads. I was out for three weeks.”

“I was wrestling for the Helena High Dual and smashed heads [with my opponent] and broke my nose. I wasn’t able to wrestle for a month. Its my sixth concussion. It has kept me from paying attention in some areas.”

Kayci Edwards Grade: 10 Basketball

“I was going through a slow motion drill, [a girl] ripped the ball and wacked me in the back of the head.

It lasted about a week.”

Kaylee Beer Grade: 10 Basketball

“My concussion isn’t sports-related because I hit my head on our garage door and I’ve been out for nine days and counting so far.”

Jake Shie Grade: 11

Blair Hebnes, Grade: 10

Cross Country

Swimming

“I got my concussion when I got t-boned from the side in a car accident and have been out [of swiming] since Feb. 28.”

“I was at a pasta party right before the meet. My friend hit me with a football in the head and two hours later I finally felt it.”

Illustrations by Julia Gremaux

Sports

February 25, 2016

VIDEO

23

?

What does basketball mean to you

“Hard work” Garrison Rothwell, 10

“Trust” Akasia Denton, 10

“Dedication” Daniel Bonilla, 11

“Positive attitude” Samantha Payne, 11 To see more athletes talk about what basketball means to them, visit Rustlernews.com

Senior Noah Danielson competes in the heavyweight division for the wrestling tournament on Jan. 14 against Harve. The wrestling team warms up and gets their gear ready for the Holiday Classic tournament that was being held in the CMR fieldhouse on Dec. 18.

Photo by Tamara Miller.

Seniors talk about the memories they have experienced while being on wrestling team

by JJ Mitchell, opinion editor Like Murphy, Noah Danielson had certain goals when he For senior Jacari Murphy’s last year being on the Rustler wants to accomplishing in the season. wrestling team, he hoped to make it to state and grow as a team “I wanted to win the close matches and be in the shape so I overall. could be ready for the meets that I was participating in and to “I want to grow stronger and be able to be a state champion or to come close,” he said. build a strong relationship with my team,” With state coming up, he had certain things he said. that he had to do to be ready to take on the Some of Murphy’s best memories were competition that was there. made by being on the wrestling team for four “I kept training really hard each day and years. worked a lot on creating a stands I could “I liked meeting new people and building get out of easily and also doing a lot of extra a strong relationship with the coach and the conditioning,” Danielson said. players that I have practiced with all these He had a game plan going into the state years,” Murphy said. meet and that was to have fun with the team.

Noah Danielson Competing in the heavyweight division, “It’s important to bond as a team and to he faced some challenges this season. stay confident going into a big tournament like “It is going to be hard being a lightweight in a heavy weight that,” he said. are; I am just ready to go out there and try my best every time,” “The team for sure felt they could have done a little better but he says. they all wrestled well and I was pretty crushed because I really With most of the varsity team graduating last year, Murphy wanted to be a state champion, but I was still proud of myself for feels confident that this year the team has stepped up to take on coming back and taking 3rd place.” the spot for varsity.

“We have a lot of good athletes this year on varsity that can wrestle well,” he said.

It’s important to “ bond as a team and to stay confident going into a big tournment.

”

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A F F

FFA is a national organization for youth interested in agriculture. It develops Premier Leadership, Personal Growth, and Career Success through hands-on real world experience. To be in FFA, you have to be enrolled in an Agriculture Education Course. There are many levels to choose from. Agriculture does not formally meet during the day but rather be online and by appointment. The curriculum and instruction will focus on life knowledge and skills such as interpersonal relationships, information literacy, problem solving, critical thinking, and teamwork. All Agricultural Education has Three components: Classroom, Supervised Agricultural Experience (SAE), and FFA.

For more information contact teacher Jodi Koterba in room 401 or go to the FFA website at electirccityffa.theaet.com

24 Back Page

February 25, 2016

A walk in the woods

Katie Koterba, 11

Students find passion in the outdoors

by Carli Dieruf, editor in chief Looking up to the big blue sky during the middle of the day, sophomore Jaylyn Lund describes the outdoors as her favorite place to be. Hunting gives Lund an opportunity to get out of the house and escape from reality to do what she likes most. Hunting.

“It’s a chance to leave my house, it’s something that just me and my dad can do together; just us,” she said. Lund started going hunting with her dad at the age of 10, and he taught her everything that she needed to know Wyatt Gremaux, 12 about the sport.

Her first successful hunt was when she was 12. Her and her dad set out for an adventure and she made a goal to shot her first animal by herself.

“My first shot was a five-point tail buck,” she said.

Lund has a fear of blood -- making some parts of hunting very difficult for her. Although she said it is fun to do, there are parts she’d prefer skipping. Her least favorite part about the experience is gutting the animal.

Her favorite memory was when she shot an animal much bigger than her. She couldn’t believe she had shot it herself, and described it as unreal.

“I shot my first bull elk when I was 14, and it was the best hunting trip that I had ever been on,” she said. “I just couldn’t even believe that I did it myself.”

Senior Wyatt Gremaux is always looking for an opportunity to get out of town to hunt. His favorite time of the year is when hunting permits are drawn.

“Hunting is about the good times with family and friends, and being outdoors. It’s not about the kill. It’s about what God gave us,” Gremaux said.

He spends a majority of his time hunting, and his sister, Julia, says that he spends 75 percent of his life hunting and the other 25 percent thinking about hunting.

“Hunting is in our blood,” she said. “In our blood, in our bones, and always on our minds.”

Colton Hamilton, 12 Reena Roberson, 12

Garrett Arps, 12

A shot to remember

by Carli Dieruf, editor in chief Senior Zach Martin has been heavily involved with hunting ever since he was young, and he said he often reminisces childhood memories of spending long hours with his dad, outdoors -- waiting patiently for a perfect shot.

“I love going hunting with my dad,” Martin said. “If it’s not me and him going then I often go by myself. I just like spending the time with him, but if he’s not there then it isn’t quite the same.”

Relaxing is not an easy task for teenage boys, he admits. He has a hard time finding activities that both relax him and keep him active, although he does try new things often. The feeling that he gets when he is hunting is difficult to explain, he said. It’s not necessarily the killing -- it’s more of a religious or grateful act.

“I feel relaxed. It’s not about killing an animal that gives me that feeling,” Martin said. “For me, it’s all about being grateful for what God has given us. You really learn a lot about nature when you sit out in a field and just think.”