STAMPEDE STUDY SPOTS PAGE 07
CIVIL INJUSTICE PAGE 08
GLOBAL WARMING PAGE 15
March 10, 2021
MOVING ON
Principal Kerry Parsons on his time at CMR Page 5
March 5, 2021 rustlernews.com
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THE STAMPEDE of Contents 02 Table Student Burnout 03 Spring Athletics Max vs. Disney+ 04 HBO Book Series Review 05 Parsons to Retire Time 06 Screen Tik Tok 07 Study Spots Pledge 08 The Protesting in Bozeman Mask Mandate 09 Governor Police Squad Review History Month 10 Black Women’s History Month Lettering 11 ROTC State of Bathrooms 12 GPAs 13 TIAH Leadership High School 14 How the Base is Handling COVID Warming 15 Global Satire School Spirit
Advisor
Beth Britton
Principal
Kerry Parsons
The Stampede staff strives to produce a publication that is relevant to the CMR student body while maintaining journalistic standards.
Editors Editor-in-chief
Kerrigan Edwards
Video
Taylor Willmarth
Staff David Miller Madison McMurphey Marissa McMickle Ava Donahue Lucie Michel Anthony Matury Isabel Foley Auri Rivera Justin Bollich
STUDENT BURNOUT by Kerrigan Edwards, editor in chief For about two months of this school year, I went remote. In comparison to a regular school day, remote learning is much less exhausting. The negative aspects of remote learning were still prominent, as I felt like I hadn’t learned anything when I finally returned. But, the feeling of burnout from excess schoolwork was significantly lower. When I was home, I could move at my own pace, which allowed me to avoid wasted time that occurs in a classroom. This gave me more time for additional assignments given by my teachers. Therefore, I had more time in the evening to clear my mind and give myself what I would consider a well deserved break. Ever since being back, I
have felt a constant sense of exhaustion. I go to dance five days a week, around 11 hours cumulative. The demand that my sport has is significantly higher than it was last year. I have had to teach myself a heightened sense of time management, balancing a sport and various hard classes at the same time. More than anything, I want a break. I feel like I have not had a point of time without constant education since the summer after my seventh grade year. I have put these difficult classes on myself on purpose, and I could only guess what was coming for me when I put them on my scheduling sheet. However, nothing could ever truly prepare me for what junior year would cause me in the long run.
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 fairlyl; 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 copies 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 must be signed and include a phone number so authenticity can be verified. The editors and/or advuser 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 or Newspaper Editors/KRT Campus High School Newspaper Service.
March 10, 2021 rustlernews.com
ATHLETICS 03
SPRING CMR Tennis: Back on the court by Anthony Matury, staff writer
With the inevitable school closures that happened in March of 2020, along with spring sports, CMR tennis coach Byron Boyd is more than excited for this season, especially with new freshmen players, returning players, and having AA Tennis hosted in Great Falls this year. “We had the making of a strong team last year.” With new MHSA (Montana High School Association) and Cascade CCHD (City County Health Department) guidelines set in place, Boyd is expecting adjustments to be made for the season. Boyd predicts that the changes made by the MHSA will be similar to those of fall and winter sports. Despite tennis never having managers, Boyd is doubting that managers will be allowed this year to comply with social distancing rules. Even with the limitations, Byron says that this is going to be a great year for tennis.
Coach Lowry and the softball team prepare for the new season by Lucie Michel, staff writer Coach Alex Lowry has always carried softball in her heart. She played at CMR and then left Great Falls after she graduated in 2011. She started coaching four years ago, and came back to the home of the Mighty Rustlers to lead the team in 2020. Unfortunately, COVID prevented the season from happening last year. This season, Lowry acknowledges that the virus is not impacting training a lot right now, but they obviously still have to stay careful. After missing a season, everybody is even more motivated, and Lowry is excited to see all the new girls on the field. So far this year, the team has been training three times a week since January, focusing on hitting, pitching, catching, and fielding. “Our pre-season open gym has been awesome,”
Lowry said. “We’ve had a ton of kids coming in, about 20 every time. They have been working really well and get a lot of work in.” Almost 30 girls are attending practice in total, and only 24, maybe 26, of them will be selected to be part of the team. The selection will be made at the beginning of the season during the tryouts on March 15. The choice might be tough to make as Lowry explains how good her relationship is with the girls. She is not trying to simply be a good coach but more to be a role model, because softball, and sport in general, are not only about becoming a good player but are also about becoming a good person and citizen.
CMR Tennis coach Val Scheevel is anxious to have a season this year, even with restrictions set by the MHSA and CCHD. Scheevel said some challenges for this year, along with following new guidelines, are that students haven’t been discouraged from tennis from the school shutdown last year. “Because of Covid, kids haven’t been able to practice in the off season.” Scheevel, along with coach Boyd, was upset from the season getting cancelled last year because they both believed they had a strong team. Scheevel will be following and enforcing the sanitation and masking protocols set by the MHSA. “I’m hoping to give the kids as much of a normal season as we can.” Scheevel is expecting this season to be fun one, even for the students.
CMR track and field faces uncertainty in the time of COVID-19 by Ava Donahue, staff writer The global pandemic has caused a wave of uncertainty to ripple across our country. Most events have been cancelled during the pandemic, including last year’s track and field season. Track and field head coach, Burke Allen is now looking forward to a full season this year. “We’re hoping for the best because we didn’t get a season last year. We’re definitely hopeful and excited to actually get a track season under our belt,” Allen said. Still, Allen does not know what the season will look like. He is waiting for the Montana High School Association to give the track and field staff insight on what the meets will look like when the season begins. “The MHSA hasn’t given us any guidance yet,” he said. “I’m guessing that instead of having some of the big invitational track meets we will probably just have duals, but that’s purely speculation. I don’t know for sure.” With all of the confusion and uncertainty of this past year, coaches are just excited to give their athletes the opportunity to compete. “I think there were a lot of student athletes that were really upset that we only got a week in last year and then they shut it down,” Allen said. “We’re just excited to have an opportunity to develop those athletes and see what they can accomplish this year. We’re excited for the kids to actually be able to compete this year.”
March 10, 2021 rustlernews.com
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HBO MAX VS. DISNEY+: HOW TO BRING NEW MOVIES TO THE POPULATION by David Miller, staff writer
Movies Coming to Disney+:
Raya and the Last Dragon
Extra Cost to Subscribers: $30
Since the start of COVID-19 quarantines, people are streaming more and more content online. Two giants in the entertainment industry in particular have made big waves, good and bad. HBO and Disney -- with HBO Max and Disney+ respectively -- are bringing major blockbusters to the living rooms of their subscribers. The ways they’re going about it, however, are vastly different. Back in September, Disney released Mulan with their premier access service. Premier access allows the subscriber to gain early access to a movie for an extra $30. Disney super fans might have no problem with this extra cost, but average viewers were distraught with the audacity of Disney in asking for another payment on top of a yearly or monthly subscription. This year, with movie theaters still hit hard and opening only to small audiences, HBO has announced that all of Warner Bros.’ 2021 movie releases will be coming to the HBO Max streaming service for no extra cost to subscribers. The movies will be on the streaming service for 30 days, followed by the regular distribution plans with a digital release, a Blu-Ray release, and a DVD release. This plan is far more consumer-friendly, with a steady stream of 14 movies released throughout the year.
When movie theaters began closing, the movie industry was hit hard. These services, though differing in method, are doing their best to bring new movies to viewers.
Movies coming to HBO:
Godzilla vs. Kong Mortal Kombat The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It In the Heights Space Jam: A New Legacy The Suicide Squad Malignant The Many Saints of Newark Dune King Richard The Matrix 4 Reminiscence Those Who Wish Me Dead Cry Macho
Extra Cost to Subscribers: $0
AN ESCAPE FROM REALITY by Isabel Foley, staff writer
I love to read. Books have always been a sort of escape from reality for me. Right now we all need an escape from reality. As of late I have found my escape in a book series written by Holly Black called “The Folk of the Air.” There are three main books, “The Cruel Prince,” “The Wicked King,” and the “Queen of Nothing.” These follow the main story line. The latest installment is “How the King of Elfame Learned to Hate Stories.” The Cruel Prince begins by introducing Jude Duarte, her sister Vivi, and her twin Taryn. They grew up in a normal suburban neighborhood. Vivi was always different with her golden cat eyes and pointed ears. Jude was seven when a man dressed in black and smelling of blood came to knock on the door. He killed their parents and stole the girls away to the High Court of Faerie. The main story takes place 10 years later, and all Jude wants is to belong. The fey, however, want absolutely nothing to do with humans. Fey are much different from what we think when we talk about fairies. They can look human but something is always off they never look completely human. Fey cannot lie,
“
If I cannot be better than them I will become so much worse.”
they can’t eat salt, and they are immortal. Cardan, the youngest son of the High King, hates mortals more than most and revels in their pain. The series takes us through Jude’s desperate struggle to fit in, her gaining and losing of power, and her becoming one of the most powerful people in Faerie. I have been a fan of fantasy for many years and I am always looking for something new. I fell in love with Holly Black’s writing when I found one of her books in a tiny sea-side bookstore in oregon. I was enchanted by the magical forests and the terrifying yet beautiful creatures. “The Folk of the Air” has become one of my favorites. Black does an excellent job of writing rich and intriguing characters. The story never fails to surprise. Blacks writing will pull you in. “The Folk of the Air” takes the readers on a journey like no other, and lovers of fantasy will fly through the pages of twists and turns. If you’re looking for a good book to delve into, I highly recommend “Folk of the Air” and any of Holly Black’s other books.
“
What could I become if I stopped worrying about death, about pain, about anything? If I stopped trying to belong? Instead of Book Covers:Courtesy of being afraid, I could become something goodreads.com. to fear.”
Jude Duarte
Jude Duarte
The Cruel Prince
The Cruel Prince
March 10, 2021 rustlernews.com
05
PRINCIPAL
PARSONS prepares to leave CMR
It has been 37 years since Kerry Parsons graduated from CMR. Throughout his years here he has been a student, teacher, coach, and eventually, principal. This year he faces his final year in the CMR community. by Ava Donahue, staff writer Principal Kerry Parsons has been a part of the CMR community since he was a little kid, coming to CMR to watch sporting events. He went to high school here and went through years of hard work to become the leader of his alma mater. The journey to get to the position he is in now has been long and took a lot of dedication. Now, years later, he faces the end of his commitment to the CMR community. “It’s a journey to just get a degree to become a teacher. All the professional development, learning, training, preparation, and then going beyond that to get an advanced degree in educational leadership, that was a challenge,” Parsons said. “I did that while I was raising a family of young kids, coaching, and teaching. The opportunity to become an associate principal, and then eventually opportunity to become a principal; it just takes a lot of dedication and perseverance to get to the point. I’m fortunate to be able to have that opportunity.” Parsons graduated from CMR in 1984, and before he returned to the school as an educator, he taught at a small school in Medicine Lake, a small community in northeastern Montana. There he was a science teacher, P.E. teacher, and basketball coach for five years. Still, it was always a dream of his to get back to CMR and so he did. “It was kind of a dream of mine to get back and eventually teach at the school I graduated from. It was really hard to become a teacher in Great Falls Public Schools 27 years ago. There was a lot of demand, a lot of applicants. I was actually going to summer school to work on my master’s degree and got a call for an interview,” Parsons said. “At the time, Paris Gibson was a middle school and CMR of course, they both interviewed me. I was actually given the choice to
Kerry Parsons, 1984. Photo from 1984 CMR yearbook (above). Kerry Parsons, 2021. Photo by Taylor Willmarth (right).
come to Great Falls to teach either at Paris or CMR, and I chose CMR. I was very happy and felt very fortunate that I was selected and able to come back to CMR.” Parsons secured the job, but that was only the beginning of his journey. He went from being a CMR student and teacher, to associate principal, and finally the leader of the community. He has had many challenges along the way to his position. “Trying to lead in a large, comprehensive high school such as CMR. Trying to provide the structure and management to make sure students are getting the right opportunities and behaving. Trying to provide structures for teachers to do what they love to do and teach each and every day,” Parsons said. “There’s a lot of challenges with that every day from managing a budget, managing the facility, building the aux gym, and the STEM [building]. That whole construction project for a couple years. Those are all challenges we’ve faced, but we all face challenges, and it’s what we signed up for. It’s been hard and it’s been challenging, but it’s also been very rewarding to see it pay off and allow the kids and staff to have the opportunities we have at this high school.” Although Parsons has faced a lot of challenges in his career, he still sees and appreciates all of the positives within the community. “Just being a part of seeing the pride that is associated with this high school. It’s pretty wide spread to see that,” Parsons said. “Obviously the last couple of years have been a challenge with COVID, but there’s still a lot of positive things that occur each and every day in the classrooms, on the playing field, and everywhere else.” Through all of his highs and lows in leading the Rustlers, Parsons maintains
his motivation by working to provide the best education possible for all students. “When we sign up to be an educator, our job is to work hard every day to provide the best experience for our students and best opportunities to grow,” Parsons said. “Some of those experiences are very subtle, some of those experiences you never really see the benefits of them until later on. Just trying to do what’s best for the youth in our community and give them a great opportunity to experience what CMR has to offer.” In the end, although working as an educator can be a very difficult job, it is also rewarding to see what students become after their time at CMR. “Just being around schools. The excitement from the students, the excitement from the activities, the sense of accomplishment when things go well. Being an educator is very challenging, but it’s also very rewarding. And then as I said, being able to cross paths with people that you have taught or coached years ago and seeing what they have turned into as adults, that’s just pretty awesome.” After Parsons retires, he plans to move on and find more opportunities in the workforce. Leading a school is a difficult job, so Parsons hopes for some flexibility within his schedule after he retires. “Certainly I’m looking at other opportunities because I still think I have things to offer in the workforce. I also know I’m looking forward to not being tied to the rigors of a school administrator, which is basically a year-round job, late nights, weekends. So maybe a little bit of flexibility and freedom in my daily schedule will be nice to look forward to. I will certainly be doing something -- not sure what that is yet.”
March 10, 2021 rustlernews.com
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SCREENS: BLESSING OR CURSE?
photo by David Miller
by Justin Bollich, staff writer The amount of time young people spend on electronic devices is a concern for older generations. However, this really isn’t anything new. Concern over inventions like TV and radio have always been a topic of debate between old and young. For example, in a debate (Jack Woodford v James Harbord, on radio) in 1929, this was said by Jack Woodford, a writer of pulp fiction and caustic commentary on the times said. “But radio, God’s great gift to man, eliminated that last dangerous chance for
Satan to find mischief for idle hands. There is now very little danger that Americans will resort to the vice of thinking,” Similar arguments happen about the Internet all the time, Which to me seems absurd considering that the Internet is the sum of all human knowledge, and while i believe it will surely be seen as a positive in the future, one thing that is a bit of a personal annoyance is children with electronics. The kind of kids you see at a restaurant or in Walmart, with a big tablet with a massive orange case,
watching paw patrol or something. I understand that exposure to technology is necessary to an extent, but giving a full smartphone to children shouldn’t happen until the kid is 10-12, depending on the child’s maturity. I also believe that information online should be able to be kept private, even as a minor. Overall, there are certainly positives and negatives for both sides of the argument, and I’m sure it will continue for future generations with new technology we couldn’t even imagine today.
TIKTOK: WHAT’S ALL THE TALK ABOUT? by Madison McMurphey, staff writer Tik Tok is a social media platform for creating, sharing and discovering short videos. The app is for 13 years old and up to use, but sometimes younger kids like to use the app as well. The most popular part of Tik Tok is its trends and getting verification. The top “Tik Toker” is Charli D’Amelio with 103.6 million followers. She is famous for Tik Tok dancing.One dance, called the Renegade, created by Jalaiah Harmon, greatly increased her following. Next, Addison Rae, with a following of 51.3 million , after doing a Tik Tok with her mom, she gained her fame. Spencer X, with 50.2 million fans, gained popularity from beatboxing. At CMR, Tik Tok has bloomed with popularity over the last two years. CMR junior Hanna Mckeag likes the two-sentence horror stories. They write a sentence that is fine at first, and the second sentence illustrates to the point where it makes them both scary. ‘’It’s like ‘I saw my mom in the kitchen last night. She’s been dead for three years,’ Like that but usually better,’’ Mckeag said.
Tik Tok is an easy hobby and it’s easy to get clout, but what makes the app so good. ‘’The people who use it tend to try to share with others what they do. You can find out so much about many different cultures,” Mckeag said. Freshman Maddie Schmidt uses Tik Tok to mostly escape her surroundings. She thinks Tik Tok is a good app for many things, including helping others. ‘’It’s a good way to spread awareness for people and organizations that need help along with being a good source of entertainment,” Schmidt said.
March 10, 2021 rustlernews.com
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a b by Taylor Willmarth, editor
City Brew Coffee
study spots Crooked Tree Coffee and Cakes
stampede rating- 4/5
stampede rating- 5/5
Address: 501 1st Ave. N Description: “Chill, bi-level coffee shop with espresso drinks, morning muffins & sweet treats, plus light fare.” Favorite Drink: any flavored latte Favorite Food: Specialty Macaroons Our Analysis: Crooked Tree is a wonderful place to study! It is a local business located in the heart of Great Falls, and the loft is a cozy spot to read and write. It can be a bit noisy at times, so bring headphones.
Address: 1816 3rd St. NW Description: “Coffee chain offering java & classic espresso drinks along with baked goods in a contemporary space.” Favorite Drink: Huckleberry Green Tea Frappe Favorite Food: Lemon Chia Bread Our Analysis: We like City Brew because it is close to CMR and is usually fairly quiet. Seating can be kind of awkward, especially for groups.
a
c
b d
c
Al Banco
stampede rating- 5/5 Address: 202 2nd Ave. S Description: “Al Banco is a locally owned and operated coffee shop and modern bistro, focused on simplicity and quality.” Favorite Drink: iced coffee Favorite Food: quiche Our Analysis: Al banco means “with friends” in Italian. This contemporary environment is a great place to meet on weekends. However, there are low light areas which can make it difficult to read.
d
Morning Light Coffee Roasters stampede rating- 4.5/5
Address: 1709 9th Ave. S Description: Quality coffees, expert roasting and brewing, and great customer service combined with a home-like atmosphere. Favorite Drink: drip coffee or London fog Favorite Food: various pastries Our Analysis: This comfortable shop is located near Great Falls High School. It feels like home which makes it a nice place to study and grab a bite afterwards. It can be a bit of a drive if you live on the west side of town.
March 10, 2021 rustlernews.com
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TAKING A STAND WITHOUT STANDING by Kerrigan Edwards, editor in chief
I
n light of recent that the phrase does racial and religious not apply to everyone oppression, junior anymore. Kairi Lising shares “When ‘Under,’ was why she does not first added to the stand for the Pledge pledge, it was during of Allegiance, and its the red scare, and they meaning. wanted to do this to “I [stopped] standing strengthen this idea of for the pledge ever community in America. since I became aware But, in doing that, it of the injustices that completely contradicts have become clear our freedom of over the past year,” religion,” she said. Lising said. “I found Lising finds it difficult that I can’t stand to pledge at all when for something that she considers the pledges ‘liberty and totalitarian states justice for all,’ when that are using similar there isn’t.” Junior Kairi Lising chooses to sit in protest tactics. When she was a while her classmates recite the Pledge. “It just reinforces this kid, Lising was not Photo by Kerrigan Edwards. hypernationalism that informed about what can be dangerous,” the pledge really she said. meant. When she found out, she realized Lising has remaining faith in her country and that it didn’t seem fair. hopes that one day, change will happen. “For America being this country of diversity, “When I sit for the pledge, I’m not telling this pledge that we were all supposed to say everyone to sit with me. I’m not looking at [wasn’t] diverse enough,” she said. it as a reason to antagonize anyone. I’m When looking at the religious aspect simply using it as a tool to speak without included in “under God,” Lising believes speaking.”
Pledge objection history: 1943- West Virginia v. Barnette Declares that the First Amendment, under the Free Speech Clause will protect students from the enforcement of Outcome: The Supreme Court denies review. for the American flag, or reciting the Pledge of Allegiance 2004- Elk Grove Unified School District v. Newdow. The Supreme Court does not rule the legality of “under God” in relation to the First Amendment. 2008- Frazier v. Winn The Supreme Court denies review of a case regarding a Florida state law which requires all students to stand for the pledge unless an excusal note is received from the students parents. 2014- Jane Doe v. Acton-Boxborough Regional School District The Supreme Court disagrees with an opposer composed of the American Humanist Association, parents and teachers. Opposers argue that “under God” violates the equal protection clause of the state constitution.
by Kerrigan Edwards, editor in chief “Activism means opening up my own insecurities of myself to others in a way that makes growth and learning possible.” Dalayna Christenson, a Bozeman resident, has been spending the last few months devoting herself to fighting against racial injustice, and standing up for minorities. “This time has shown me how little I actually know about how racism affects our nation, which is embarrassing to admit. I have been trying to educate myself and others by opening up uncomfortable conversations and reading about the history of racism in our country. I have a lot of work to do,” Christenson said. Working with Bozeman United for Racial Justice, Christenson was tasked with creating an email list that would motivate people to learn about future actions in Bozeman. “A large portion was communicated through Facebook, but even more was word of mouth, I think. Because we were all mostly stuck at home due to COVID, I think many people were extra tuned into social media
and ready to attend an action because all other plans were canceled,” she said. The first protest was held in June, and more than 8,000 people attended to listen to speakers and be a voice for minorities. There was a great turnout; some sources said over 8,000 showed up that day. It was incredibly moving to see so many people out in masks during such an unsure time. “The crowd was very peaceful and attentive to each other. There were many speakers throughout the action that held the undivided attention of thousands of people,” Christenson said. In reflection of her volunteer time, Christenson realizes what it takes to defeat racism once and for all. “I learned more than I can explain, but in short I took to heart that it is not the responsibility of the affected minorities to fight for themselves. It is up to white people to listen to bipoc voices and to do the work and to make the changes that are needed to make healing of systemic racism
THE PROTESTING OF CIVIL INJUSTICE IN
Black LIves Matter protest on June 5th 2020, in Bozeman, Montana. Photos by Yasmine Jarecke.
March 10, 2021 rustlernews.com
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GOVERNOR UPDATES POLICE SQUAD: comedy show shot dead for COVID-19 POLICIES Abeing too funny by Madison Mcmurphey, staff writer
As of Feb. 12, Montana Gov. Greg Gianforte updated policies and guidelines with regards to COVID- 19. One new update allows the state of Montana to let the mask mandate expire. Also, bars and restaurants can choose to operate at 100 percent capacity -- if they so choose -- and time restrictions were eliminated. Local stores and businesses can choose whether they want to drop the mask requirement or keep it in place. The Cascade County Board of Health decided to maintain the mask mandate and social distancing. Before a Feb. 12 meeting, Trisha Gardner of the City County Health Department in Great Falls told MTN news
AGREE
the following: “The Board of Health is planning to convene a special meeting early next week, so there is the possibility of a local order going into place. It is absolutely my recommendation that everyone continue wearing masks, no matter what Directives/Orders are in place. Additionally, businesses, schools, and other agencies do have the ability to implement their own policies regarding face coverings should they wish to do so,” Gardner said. On Feb.17, the Cascade County Board of Health voted 5-2 to keep the mask mandate in Cascade County, regardless of the governor’s new policy.
OR
DISAGREE? Insight from Malcolm Contreras by Madison Mcmurphey, staff writer
Malcolm Contreras, a CMR graduate, said he believes that the new policy will lead to an increase in COVID-19 cases. “With the new guidelines being put in place, cases of Covid will rise. Between no masks and Montana starting to warm up, Montana will be a breeding ground for Covid,” he said. ‘’I don’t agree with the mask mandate being lifted at all. Frankly, I think anyone who agrees with it is misguided and very stupid.” Contreras said everyone should do the compassionate thing and wear a mask to protect others. “Who cares what the government is telling us to do?,” he said. “Wear a mask because it’s a kind and compassionate thing to do.” The virus will spread a lot quicker than normal, he said, and people should be careful. “Who cares about who’s right and wrong? Even if I’m wrong, at least I can say that I tried to fix a problem and I was understanding
and compassionate about it. People who oppose COVID mitigation measures are selfish, mindless and frankly not great people. If you care about your community, you take this seriously because the sooner we take this seriously, the sooner we will be out of it,” Contreras said.
by Justin Bollich, staff writer Police Squad is a comedy show famous for being canceled after airing only 4 episodes, with 2 more being released later. The show starred Lieslie Neilsen, famous for his role in Airplane. The reason given for the cancelation? It was too funny. “The viewer had to watch it in order to appreciate it,” was what ABC said about the cancelation. Which is a very interesting statement about a TV show released in the 80s, with no distractions like phones or laptops. All of the episodes are hilarious, and there are several recurring jokes. Just a few examples are Rex Hamilton as Abraham Lincoln in the intro, who never actually appears in an episode, the lab scientist, who is always demonstrating inappropriate experiments for children, and Johnny the shoe shiner who knows everything. One particular example is when the lab scientist is explaining to a young girl how electricity works, while the girl is in an electric chair that is about to be turned on.
One of my personal favorite jokes is when Nielsen attempts to recreate a crime scene by shooting extras, and “who are, and how did you get in here?” “I’m a locksmith, and I’m a locksmith”. Or when a boxer knocks out his own shadow. (I have no idea how they achieved that effect) And some of the jokes are so subtle, like the mortuary ad on a bench Nielsen hides behind in a shootout, or the number of garbage cans he runs over is the same as the episode number. There’s so many good ones I can’t list them all.
Leslie Nielsen, lead actor in “Police Force.” Photo courtesy of wikimedia.org creative commons.
This story is also available on our website in the entertainment section. The full version of this story includes links to available episodes of Police Squad.
Governor Greg Gianforte. Photo courtesy of the Office of the Governor. governor.mt.gov
g n i t a r b e l e C BLACK HISTORY MONTH 10
March 10, 2021 rustlernews.com
Walter Hawkins
by Madison McMurphey, staff writer
Black History Month is an annual observance. It began as a way to remember important people and events in history of the African Diaspora. It has been recognized by the government in the United states and Canada. It is celebrated in February in the United states and Canada. In Ireland, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom, it is in October. “Black history month means to me freedom, It means I get to learn what my ancestors went through”,”’ Aisa Perry, a resident of Great Falls”,” said. Black history month means a lot to different people. Everyone has their own understanding, but some people don’t know what black history month is. ‘’I think Black History Month should be talked about because no one understands the feeling of being different just because you have different skin color,’’ Perry said. Black History is an understanding of thoughts of why it means so much to people. ‘’ It’s a good idea to appreciate that there are smart black people and they should be talked about. It’s a reminder to everyone that yes, we are different,but”,we are still people, too. We still are humans with hearts and feelings,” Perry said.
CMR Junior Amya Terry considers Black History month as a Celebration. ’’It acknowledges the struggles African Americans have been through, and are still going through,”Terry said Taking a month out of a year and realizing what others went through is powerful, and knowing about black history month and seeing the growth America has made on it,but “,” Terry said she has not seen much done during the month long celebration. ‘’Black History month exists, but no one does much with it. I’ve barely experienced much in school or anything to celebrate black history month,”Terry said”.” Respect is important and Black History Month should get some awareness. “I believe it’s important. I believe it brings some awareness and respect. But”,” it also gives black people a chance to come together even more,” and celebrate the growth and recognize the hurting and the fighting our ancestors have gone through. I can see the effects that the past has had on my grandparents, and now we can celebrate the opportunities we have now,’’ Terry said.
He was known as an gospel music singer and pastor.
photo:endtimeobserver. blogspot.com
Mary Kenner
Kenner was an inventor most known for the sanitary belt.
Photo:atlantablackstar.com
WOMEN HISTORY MONTH
by Lucie Michel,staff writer Women have been excluded from history for a long time. That is why, here in the United States, we celebrate women’s history during the month of March since 1987 to commemorate the women who started making history for themselves, opened the way Maud wood Park (1871-1955) She was for every other women, and helped give them the equality and rights they deserve. the president of the National American
Maud Wood Park
Marie Curie
Marie Curie (1867-1934) She was a renowned scientist and physicist considered a pioneer in the field of radioactivity. She was the first woman to win a Nobel prize and remains the only one two win two Nobel prizes in different categories.
Susan B Anthony
Susan B. Anthony (1820-1906) She is mainly remembered for her efforts for women’s suffrage. 14 years after her death, the 19th Amendment to the US Constitution, also called Susan B. Anthony Amendment, stated for every women the right to vote.
Naomi Parker
Rosa Parks
Naomi Parker (1921-2018) She was part of the first waves of American women working in industries during World War II. She is the model for Rosie the riveter, a symbol that stood for Women’s workforce and independence.
Rosa Parks (1913-2005) The woman also known as “the mother of the civil rights movement”. She is best known for not ceding her seat to white people in a bus, which later led to the Montgomery Bus Boycott.
Sally Ride
Sally Ride (1951-2012) She is the first American woman going into space. She later created her own company, the Sally Ride Science, to help young girls interested in the science and math field realize their dreams.
Woman Suffrage Association which successfully campaigned for the 19th Amendment and then became the president of the National League of Women Voters.
Margaret Sanger
Margaret Sanger (1879-1966) She fought to popularize birth control, opened the first birth control clinic in the United States and created many organizations to help women, such as Planned. Parenthood.
Amelia Earhart
Amelia Earhart (1897-1937) She was an American aviation pioneer who set many records. She is mainly remembered for being the first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic.
Malala Yousafzai
Malala Yousafzai (1997-) She received the Nobel Peace prize at 17 years old for her fight for the right of education in her country, Pakistan. She later created Malala Fund, helping girls around the world to access school.
March 10, 2021 rustlernews.com
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CMR CADETS ACHIEVE THEIR OWN LETTERING by Josiah Favela, staff writer As many CMR cadets are excited for the new addition to their flight. Many cadets will earn a letter to their names in the following weeks, mostly like the design of the jacket. Cadet Jamela Munsinger is a senior staff member for the Air Force JROTC program.
Above: CMR JROTC members practice at Great Falls High School. Photo by Josiah Favela. Right: Cadet Jamela Munsinger. Photo by Beth Britton.
m s i l a d n Va
Q: What were your thoughts on the design of the jacket? A: “It looks bright and it looks recognizable. It looks nice with the big “R” for ROTC and for CMR [Rustlers].” Q: What would you feel about wearing it and what is the meaning of it like overall for you? A: “I’ll feel proud for what I did with the program. I dedicated all of my high school years into this program and getting something to wear to represent all of my work in this program is great” Q: How do you earn the lettering? A: “In order to get it you must maintain good academic standing, and perform above and beyond. You can also earn pins by doing color guard and other activities.”
Shattered sinks, busted bathrooms, withering water fountains. The vandalism at CMR has reached deprecating levels causing the school to spend money on shameful repairs.
by Anthony Matury, staff writer CMR’s Detective Taylor is no stranger to vandalism in school, especially in the bathrooms. He has been encouraging staff to check the bathrooms for any damage during passing periods or when they use the facilities. Even then, Taylor has difficulties trying to pinpoint culprits largely due to the number of people coming in and out of the restrooms and the large windows of time before the incidents have been reported, but he says it isn’t impossible. “I wouldn’t want to be stuck on bathroom duty,” said Taylor. Taylor said the most frequent and common form of vandalism in bathrooms is the destruction of gooseneck spouts meant for handicapped people. He also says that destruction of sinks is the worst form of vandalism here at school because of how often it occurs and how expenive it is to fix. The vandalism in the bathrooms is tame compared to Taylor having to deal with smashed windows and broken doors. Taylor says finding the culprit in those cases is much easier. Taylor also says that the amount of vandalism has gone down this year, despite someone recently turning off the water supply to the urinals. In the end, Taylor said that dealing with vandalism is frustrating for everyone involved, from him to the engineers.
Lead Engineer Alan Burley is also no stranger to vandalism in bathrooms. From writing on the stalls to busted sinks, he’s seen it all. Although writing on the wall has been civil for the most part, there have been occasional forms of hate speech either drawn or etched on the walls. “If it’s hate speech, it bothers me more than anything,” Burley said. Burley said that students occasionally pull pranks and either plug up the toilets or break things in the bathroom. No matter what it may be, Burley sees acts like those disrespectful. For the 25 years Burley has been working here, it has cost the school thousands of dollars to repair things in the bathrooms, ranging from $150 to $200 per fixture. Burley said that the worst form of vandalism he has seen is a stall door ripped off of its hinges completely. “I’ve been around long enough to see a boom and bust,” Burley said. Burley said that vandalism this year, compared to other years, is slightly worse. He also said that he has seen a lot of vandalism for a couple of years in a row, and not a lot of vandalism for a couple of years in a row. Burley is encouraging students to not grafitti and vandalize the bathrooms for if you’re caught, you’re paying.
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THE NOW BEGINNING A grading scale is in place to keep students accountable and organized with the grades they may hold. Grades are dreaded by every student at the end of each semester, and often, validation is placed in the hands of what these letters mean. Yale University developed the first grading system when it transferred from the Latin terms: Optimi (best), Second Optimi (second best), Inferiores (lower), and Perjores (lowest); to a four-number level system. 0-4, 2 serving as the passing point. Other universities such as Harvard formed their own way of determining how students were doing in classes and soon, grading was a common practice in education. It wasn’t until the 1940’s when the A-F system was established.
Currently, the average national GPA stands at a 3.0. In core academic courses, however, grade point averages are slightly lower. What does this mean? Students are struggling specifically in math, English, science, and social studies. Other non curricular courses such as foreign language average at a GPA of about 3.14. In comparison to the 1940s, when the GPA became prominent in schools, American grade point averages are about .32 higher. This improvement could be due to students being more used to the system, or something called grade inflation. Grade inflation is the
assigning of grades higher than previously assigned for given levels of achievement, according to the Merriam-Webster dictionary. Grade inflation is a recurring problem that has come to the attention of professors such as Harvey Mansfield in 2013. Mansfield, a professor at Harvard university, displayed distress regarding a frequently given, A-. Emotions such as sympathy that come with giving grades are messing up how students really perform. If a professor hands out a grade order for the student to feel better about themself, it destroys the entire grading system.
HOW THE GPA SYSTEM AFFECTS STUDENTS by Kerrigan Edwards, editor in chief
Junior Heaven Hilbig reflects on her relationship with the current grade point average system over the past few years.
A: It would be really hard to find an alternative
person and if so, how?
that worked for everyone. If anything, maybe people shouldnt only take GPA into account, and start to look at other things. The GPA system works nicely at measuring the ability to perform well under what the education system has laid out, but anyone who doesnt fit that norm will struggle.
A:
Q: Do you feel that your GPA is a true reflection
Q: Do you feel that your GPA defines you as a I don’t believe your GPA defines you as a person. We are all different and have completely unique lives and experiences. To have a system that’s so general define who you are as a person would be a crazy concept.
of the work you put in?
A:
Q:
Your GPA can show how much work you put in, but other times it can’t. LIke I said before, everyone is different. Some people spend hours on a certain subject and their grade will be poor, while others will spend little time and receive a high grade. Some people have a job to attend to or siblings to take care of, that’s hard work. Maybe their GPA isn’t the best, but that doesn’t take away from the work in their everyday lives. Some people work very hard for their good grades and their GPA reflects that, it’s different for everyone.
A:
a minimum GPA?
Q: Do you think we should have a weighted GPA system for honors/AP classes?
A: Having a weighted GPA system for honors and AP classes is a great idea. Those classes exceed the high school level, so I think that schools should recognize that through having a weighted GPA. Have any of your teachers ever given you a sympathy/pity grade? I’ve never received a pity grade because I’ve always done all my work to the best of my ability through school, plus studying. I’ve kept a 4.0 with a lot of work so I’ve never really needed a pity grade.
Q:
Do you think we should find an alternative to the GPA system or do you believe that it is effective?
Q&A
Q: What do you think about colleges who require A:
I think colleges that require minimum GPA should maybe broaden their mindset and look to make some exceptions. I understand wanting the best, but sometimes the best people aren’t completely recognized.
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TIAH CLUB HELPS STUDENTS STRUGGLING WITH A SILENT PANDEMIC by Taylor Willmarth, editor One in five students is struggling with a mental health issue, according to the Center for Disease Control. CMR’s There Is Always Hope Club, or TIAH, has been bringing light to this issue for the last four years, but senior Jayme Ingalls says that their role is more pressing now than ever. The club focuses on mental health awareness and education, as well as spreading positivity in the education environment. “The club started about four years ago because a representative from Alliance for Youth wanted to see it incorporated into Great Falls Public Schools,” Ingalls said. “I have been president of the club for the last two years.” Students in the club have learned how to notice the signs that someone may be at risk for suicide, as well as how to best handle the sitiuation. “Being in TIAH has helped me look at the world differently,” Ingalls said. “I now try to look at a situation and identify who could be struggling with their mental health, and how I could help them.” The club has also attempted to bring joy into schools by spreading messages of positivity. Because COVID-19 has added stress to nearly every aspect of school, members placed sticky notes with encouraging messages on lockers around CMR during finals week earlier this year. “My favorite moments have been seeing a person’s day be
Left: A positive message on a student locker during finals week of the first semester. Photo by Taylor Willmarth. Right: TIAH Club president Jayme Ingalls. Photo courtesy of Jayme Ingalls.
positively impacted by something we have done,” Ingalls said. Ingalls noted that her involvement with the club has made an enormous impact on her life, and she doesn’t plan to let that stop after she graduates this Spring. “I am attending a small college in Texas, so if there is a program like this, I will definitely join it,” she said. “If there isn’t, I’ll probably try to establish one.”
STUDENTS LEARN TO LEAD IN LHS by Justin Bollich, staff writer
Above: Leadership HS students making catapults. Right: Participants listen to a presentation. photos by Jamie Williams.
Leadership High School is an opportunity praised by many who have taken it, but what is it? “Leadership High School is an opportunity for juniors to learn about the community, to develop leadership skills,” Media Center Specialist Jamie Williams said. “We do a teambuilding day, we also do a day downtown in the city building, learning about city management, and the mayor, and the city council.” Some of the other interesting things participants experience are a community service day, held at the Cameron Family Center, and the STAR day, which stands for sports, tourism, arts, and recreation. The process to get into this program has a few steps. “There’s an application process where they fill out an application, write a short essay and also do an interview, depending on the number of kids we have,” Williams said. Being accepted into the program is well worth the time it tasks to apply, according to Williams. “It’s an awesome opportunity. If you
talk to any student who’s ever done it everybody says it’s amazing; everybody likes it,” she said. “You learn about your community, you learn about yourself, and you also help others and develop leadership skills along the way.” While the benefits of the program are numerous there is a surprisingly low number of students involved. “Typically throughout the county there are about 60 students. At CMR we usually have between 15 and 25 students,” Williams said. She said her role is that of event planner and chaperone. “I also help organize the events. The events are held, typically, once a month throughout the community, so I’m the chaperone for the events, and I help organize them.”
March 10, 2021 rustlernews.com
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Vocabluary HPCON- health protection conditions DoDDepartment of Defence TRICAREMilitary Health Insurence TRICAREMilitary Health Insurence GS employeesCivillian Federal employees ModernaCovid-19 vaccine
MALMSTROM COMBATS COVID by Josiah Favela, staff writer
Many of us are in our homes wondering when is it okay to have a normal life. Some of us only limit our eyes to what’s happening in Great Falls. However, outside of Great Falls, we have our beloved base. Malmstrom is taking a different approach to deal with the pandemic. To start off, with an interview with Lt. Col Michelle 341st Medical group. Question: “What is HPCON and how does it affect the base? Example From Bravo to Charlie” Answer “The DOD has a protocol for public health emergencies, and they’re known as health protection conditions – HPCONs.” HPCON has a system for how severe the situation is from 0 to delta. First, 0 is when there is no spread; then Alpha is when it’s not bad but monitor your actions. Bravo is an increased amount of transmission in the area and practices social distancing. Charlie has very limited movement in the area and takes caution. Delta is when the base basically goes in lockdown. Question: “What vaccines does the base offer?” Answer: “As of today, Malmstrom AFB has received the Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine.” Question: “Who is the top priority for the base to vaccinate first? And if there is a large quantity of vaccines available to military personnel and their
dependents with many unused, would base medical consider offering to vaccinate non-military affiliated civilians?” Answer: “Currently Malmstrom AFB vaccinates Active Duty Service Members, TRICARE beneficiaries – dependents and retirees, eligible GS employees, and eligible contractors as directed by in accordance with the DoD Population Schema.” The Population Schema is a fourstep plan and almost exclusively for military members. However, it’s up in the air for unused doses will be offered to non-military affiliated civilians to get it. Question: “When/if the Johnson and Johnson vaccines get approved for efficacy, Will the base offer it since it’s a one shot vaccine?” Answer: “Malmstrom AFB will vaccinate personnel based upon the vaccine allocated to the DoD.” Question: “What can we learn about this pandemic and what should we do after it’s over?” Answer: “According to Dr. Anthony S. Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Don’t underestimate its impact, Stick to the science, Adapt to new information, and Address existing health care disparities.” As Malmstrom and Great Falls handle this pandemic head-on together. We should all remember to stay home and stay safe.
Photo by Josiah Favela
The new life on Malmstrom Day and day, life has changed for almost all of us who live on Malmstrom. Many face challenges with these hard times. Having a cloth covering every time you go somewhere has become an everyday norm to all of us. Contact tracing and testing are all norns we all face today. Seeing the flag half staff for the many who are unable to come back home. When the clock strikes 9pm Taps plays in the cold dark sky and I reflect on the 500,000 who passed.
Photo by Josiah Favela
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GREGIER: THE WORLD IS NOT DOOMED! WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO CHANGE Renewable energy has seen a record-setting level of deployment in 2020 during the pandemic as coal consumption dwindled, figures from an independent report released Thursday, Feb. 18, 2021 show. Transportation emissions are expected to jump as the country gets the virus under control.
by Taylor Willmarth, editor
Nathan Gregier, a biology teacher at C. M. Russell High School, believes that the initial debate about whether climate change is occurring has long been put to rest. “I have never liked the term ‘global warming’ because I feel that it is misleading.” he said. Gregier prefers the term “global climate change.” “The scientific community overwhelmingly understands that the Earth’s climate is changing,” he said. “Has the Earth been hotter or closer at different times in history? Of course it has.” Gregier claims that the issue isn’t that the climate is changing. The issue is the rate of change. “It impacts biodiversity and ecosystem stability,” he said. “There will be cascading effects in which we cannot predict all of the potential outcomes.” Gregier said that the major controversy is about the importance and imminence of getting climate change under control. Scientists are urging people to find alternative sources of energy as fossil fuels contribute a massive amount to the rate of climate change. “[Switching to alternative energy sources] means a lot of people and industries will have to change as well,” he said. “That is where politics comes in. Different countries, political parties, and special interest groups all have different ideas on what we should do.” The teacher said that there is not a lot one person can do to slow the rate of climate change because there are more than
(Dreamstime/TNS) Photo courtesy of MCT Campus.
7 billion people on Earth. The only way to make real change is for everyone to shift. “The momentum to turn the ship around is too great if we are all left to make personal choices,” he said. “If we don’t see instant gratification, people tend to give up.” Gregier said the Paris Climate Agreement and other climate summits have been attempts to come to a worldwide consensus. However, the pushback has been stark. “In Montana, we have oil and coal reserves. People are worried that if those go away [they] will lose their livelihoods,” he said. Gregier believes that the money and jobs in these industries would shift and evolve into something new. “The money that is spent on procuring fossil fuels can be used to build new forms of alternative resources,” he said. “The money and resources just need to be shifted in a different direction.”
REVIEW:CMR BRINGS AN ARTISTIC NEW MEANING TO SCHOOL SPIRIT by David Miller, staff writer CMR excels at one unique aspect specifically when it comes to school spirit: minimalism. This artistic approach never fails to raise interest in unsuspecting individuals. The sparsity of students embracing school spirit draws attention to few, if any, students. This sparks intrigue but doesn’t at all overwhelm the onlooker, a delicate balance. The thought of CMR’s school spirit never fails to bring enjoyment to students. The simple mention of CMR having school spirit draws smiles and even laughter from some students, who clearly have such fond, intimate, personal memories that when told that CMR has school spirit, they simply say, “it doesn’t” in an attempt to maintain the magic of the experiences. The school spirit of CMR embraces one
aspect of the school and does it well. It doesn’t dare tread into other territories and risk ruining its good name. When it comes to sports, the whole school is up to date. The pep assemblies clearly devoted to athletic achievement provide an excellent and much needed juxtaposition to the frequent minimalism. Victories, the names of senior athletes, and the ever predominant green and gold leap at students. Their praise is clearly conveyed to students in ways reminiscent of A Clockwork Orange. Don’t fret, however. If you wish to know more about the other achievements, most assemblies display a simplistic and clear slideshow briefly informing the student body. My favorite part of the school’s spirit is CMR’s magnum opus, the wonderfully monotone, ritualistic chant performed by the student body, titled “The Rustle Hustle.” It is brilliant in form and perfectly executed in a style slow enough for no student to lose time. It twists and turns expectations when
the slow claps are made in front of and behind the student, following the twice said titular phrase “Rustle Hustle.” If you wish to experience the school spirit of C. M. Russell High School, prepare yourself for an artistic and modern approach to the typical idea of school spirit. You’ll feel refreshed and delighted in the simplistic break from what is normally expected with loud crowds bragging about their school’s excellence.
Photo by Taylor Willmarth
