Issue I, Volume LXXXXIV
NEWS
Chieftain PO BOX 10500 Montrose, CO 81401
September 2013
Syria
Chemical weapon strike on civilians causes action by international actors.
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“I Am Alone” zombie film Future independent film is shot
in Montrose county and community members take part in cast.
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FEATURE
MHS renovates Improvements to MHS facility make an impact on daily life.
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Homecoming
Huge tradition in high school and MHS culture changed throughout time.
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SPORTS
Female football player joins team Freshman girl joins football team, making waves and breaking down gender barriers.
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Linebackers get their due credit
Behind-the-scenes look at overlooked MHS Indians positions.
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EDITORIALS
Playing by the rules or not?
Senior class apologizes for foul behavior during powderpuff football.
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Dirty Dancing
MHS students get dirty on the dance floor at homecoming dance.
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SPOTLIGHT
Coming out 101 Alternative ways to reveal sexuality.
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Bridge Jumping a Risky Business Teens engage in new summer hobby.
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Montrose embraces
gay community Abby Padilla Co-editor in Chief
Controversial topics are always being discussed. In classrooms, during debates, in persuasive essays, in the news, in Congress and even on social medias. Many start forming opinions on such issues from a very young age. Religion, parent opinions, education, and where they live all influence an individual’s stance on topics. One of the most controversial issues that is always talked about is gay rights. Teens are especially affected by this issue because the teenage years are a time of self discovery, and for some it means realizing that they are attracted to the same sex or having a friend come out to them. This realization is very difficult for many, and their environment can make a difference, whether positive or negative.
“I know that there are very conservative communities around the world that do not tolerate gays. I would think that makes it way harder to be who you are, because you would always feel judged,” junior Diego Bogarin said. Luckily for gay individuals in the Montrose community, most people embrace diversity and are accepting of differences in sexual preference. “As long as they (gays) are happy, they can love who they want. As long as they are not bugging anyone else, sexual orientation does not matter for me to like them as a person,” senior Oscar Lopez said. This acceptance requires maturity and understanding that people are different. When maturity is absent, ignorance replaces it. This is usually why people act unkindly towards homosexuals. “I only had rude comments when I was in middle school, but
it stopped when I entered high school,” Bogarin said. “I think people grew out of it and matured a little.” Freshman Cesar Ramirez is in a similar position. He feels accepted most of the time, but there are the occasional rude comments. “I am usually accepted, but once I put a status on Facebook about my sexual orientation, and this guy just comments on it saying gays should just rot in hell, and that we are poison to this Earth because all our life is a sin. But words are just words,” Ramirez said. Local Ronnie Fitzgerrel has already been through the high school experience and being gay at the same time. Fitzgerrel went to school in Paonia, and it was also a supportive experience. “In small towns the people are a lot closer because you see the same people all the time. I knew everyone at my high school and once they understood me, they were okay with it,” Fitzgerrel said. “Everyone knows everything about you, even before you do.” One negative about the Mon-
trose community is that there is little organized support for gay people. “I do not think many people actually care about the gays in town. For example, some towns have gay organizations or gay pride festivals, and we do not have any of that,” Bogarin said. “Then again, Montrose is a small town, so there may not be as many gays as in a city.” Ramirez agrees that it would be good to have some type of organization. “Even though there are not a lot of gay people in Montrose, it would be cool to have a group where we could talk about issues that do not usually concern straight people in our community,” Ramirez said. Fitgerrel said that perceptions change after high school and it is crucial to remain true to oneself. “Don’t be afraid to be who you are. Coming out seems like the scariest thing in the world, but after you do, life is a lot better. You can finally be you and express who it is that you are. Some will accept it; others won’t. That’s life,” Fitzgerrel said. Dominant graphic by Kaylynn Miller
Representatives of the gay community speak out
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Honesty, equality, kindness, compassion, treating people the way you want to be treated, and helping those in need. To me, those are traditional values.
Ellen DeGeneres Talk Show Hostess
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I am a big proponent of monogamous relationships regardless of sexuality, and I am proud of how the nation is steering toward that.
Neil Patrick Harris Actor
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I did not want to be gay. I wanted an easy life... And you know what? I am gay, and I still have an easy life.
Jane Lynch Actress
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Some people go through life and die not being able to accept themselves. Tragic, but it is very individual, and it is about self-esteem.
Ricky Martin Artist
Anti-gay laws upset Russian citizens
. Quiz your knowledge of President Vladimir Putin outlaws expression of “nontraditional” sexual relations among minors “We would essentially be con- tion and arrests. Kaylynn High School ducting a kind of filtering of the “The whole thing seems rather Miller . Montrose Your monthly entire adult population.” ridiculous to me. Taking away
horoscope revealed Page 8
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INDEX Publication
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Brazilian Protests
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Navy Yard Shooting Police Dogs Police Brutality
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School Improvements
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Fun Page
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Opinions
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Photospread
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Online Education
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Calling It Quits
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Playing Favorites
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Massive Tennis Upset
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Sports Stereotypes
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Time On The Bench
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Photospread
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How To Save A Life
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Photo courtesy of Huffington Post
Co-editor in Chief
n June, 2013, Vladimir Putin, President of Russia, signed a bill declaring the ban of “propaganda of nontraditional sexual relations to minors.” The country’s new law limits the outward expressions of gay sexuality. Banning has seized all gay pride parades in Moscow and other cities. It also includes fines to gay rights groups and has lead to public attacks on anyone affiliated with gay rights. Disobeying the law could equate to jail time or hefty fines. The law discriminates against anyone of a gender that is “nontraditional” and strips them of their basic rights. In a statement to the Huffington Post, Russian politician Yelena Mizulina paraphrases the law’s intent.
The law is unclear due to the nature of its guidelines. Many find that “propaganda” could pertain to a number of items or activities. There is no strict law regarding what is legal and what is not. In the United States, the first amendment protects all citizens’ freedom of expression, and infringing on these rights is illegal. “Is holding hands illegal? Or going to dinner? The law is so vague; how does anyone distinguish what is legal and what is not? The whole thing is flawed and pretty cruel,” junior Emily Coulter said. Police forces have been more brutal with activists protesting the ban; violent acts against ‘gay’ civilians have become a commonality. Most riots and protests have ended with police interven-
self-expression and pride? People should have the power to do what they want,” senior Matt Sandoval said. President Barack Obama has tried to reason with Putin on the law, but so far his efforts have proved useless. Some believe American intervention in gay rights issues is rather comical. Marriage of “nontraditional” sexual orientations is still illegal in parts of the United States, and discrimination is a daily battle. “We can reprimand Russia for not giving their people equal rights, yet we still have unequal marriage laws. We can pressure Russia to change, but in the meantime I think we should start to lead by example and make our country as free and equal as it claims to be,” senior Mitchell Neal said.
Being gay is okay Spotlight
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September
“Coming Out” Tips
Coming out to your friends and family can be scary. Here are some tips to help you through the experience.
Don’t Stress
Remember that most of the time a situation always turns out better than the scenario you create in your head.
Stay Calm
Keep your cool, because friends and family may become angry and shocked.
Reason
It might be hard, but if your friends or family argue with you, listen intently and use phrases such as, “I understand your point of view, but-”
Love
Even if you think your friends and family will never view you the same way again, remember they will always love you. They will come around with time.
Ways to “Come Out”
“Coming out” about your sexuality is not something to belittle. However, making light of the situation may actually help make it easier. Here are some funny ways you might try if you decide to reveal your sexuality!
Piece of cake
Make a cake and with the icing write, ‘Surprise, I’m gay!’ If your friends and family don’t get a kick out of it, you can at least stuff your face in the awkward silence!
Glam it up
Blow a handful of glitter into the face of the person you want to tell. Then casually say, “I’m gay.” You’ll leave his/her speechless. (Especially if they’re choking on glitter.)
Kaylynn Miller
Co-editor in Chief
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embers of the Lesbian, Bisexual, Gay, and Transgender community have struggled with revealing their sexuality for a long time. “Coming out“ in a nation where there are still laws prohibiting the marriage of such members may cause stress and anxiety in those wanting to come out. Friends and family may act unexpectedly, and this might also warrant anxiety. “I can only imagine how scary coming out is. You are basically changing your whole world with a couple words,” senior Tiahna Williams said. The reaction of the ones whom an individual cares most about can also affect them the most. When not supported, it may be hard for that individual to ever share with these skeptics again. Sometimes, however, the experience can end positively and leave these individuals with a stronger bond. “I’m so lucky to have such an open-minded and accepting dad,” junior Sarah Brooner said. “He was accepting. So all of the sick, nervous, anxious feelings were not worth it,” Brooner said. If an individual is unsure if they want to come out, they may consider some reasons to do so. They may feel happier with themselves. Accepting one’s sexuality may lead to self-knowledge, which is a step closer to personal happiness. By coming out, members of LBGT may find that they grow closer to loved ones. Being honest and open can lead to better and longer lasting relationships. Although their may be reasons to allow others to know about an individual’s personality, there is no pressure to do so. “There is no rush. No matter how long you wait or how fast
Come out of the closet
Hide in a closet with a music player. Pop out of the closet with the song, “Get This Party Started,” playing. This idea is sure to be a hit!
Announce it
Next time you’re at the grocery store, ask if you can use the intercom. Speak over it an say something like, “Attention shoppers, I_____, am gay and proud of it!”
Publication Policy The Chieftain is the student publication of the Advanced Journalism class at Montrose High School. The staff of the Chieftain works to inform and entertain its readers. The staff understands and abides by the First Amendment, which protects our freedom of speech and press. The Chieftain is considered an open forum for student expression. It strives to express the opinions and views of each student at MHS. As student journalists writing for other students, staff members have the right to report or editorialize about hard issues and important events in the school, community, nation and world. However, as journalists, the staff must follow the same laws and responsibilities as the professional news media. Journalists must also avoid printing material that is obscene, libelous, presents negative stereotypes, presents a near or immediate danger to students or creates a substantial disruption to school. Our staff allows and encourages input from students in the form of letters to the editor. The editors have the right to edit for grammatical errors or libelous material and to choose which letters may appear in the publication. The Chieftain refrains from anonymous letters, unless otherwise approved by the editor-in-chief. All letters must be turned into the mailbox outside room 105. The voices section is reserved for our readers’ opinions. So go ahead; practice your right to have a voice. We look forward to hearing from you. E-mail: mhs.journalism@mcsd.org Phone: (970)249-6636 ex. 4346
you do it, it never gets easier. Just do it when you’re ready, and if you’re ever ready, there is absolutely nothing wrong with that,” Brooner said. Telling family and friends can be a positive or negative experience depending on their views. It may be harder to come out to someone who has strict religious views that prohibit diverse ideas such as homosexuality. Someone who does not believe homosexuality is right or deems it sinful may not agree with the individual’s point of view on the topic. “If you want to come out, find someone you can trust with the information first. The first time is incredibly difficult, but if you tell someone who supports you, then you get more confident,” Anonymous said. The experience can be difficult for both parties involved, and one must take the feelings of both sides into consideration before proceeding. Mak-
dial Ellen DeGeneres and ask her for guidance, there are plenty of non-celebrities willing to give direction. “I told my mom first, and it was awhile before I told my friends. But the friends reinforced it and gave me something to have hope in,” Anonymous said. If an individual is struggling with this decision and is not sure how to cope with it, one may consider talking to a guidance counselor for help. Telling a counselor one’s sexuality would of course be necessary, but there would be no concerns of privacy since information shared is completely confidential, and counselors are bound by law to keep it that way. Telling a counselor is like a free ticket to coming out without the risk of a negative reaction. Talking may also help relieve built up tension and fear. “I don’t think people understand just how scary it is. I mean, it is like facing rejection from your own family. It changes your home life forever,” Brooner said. It is important for everyone to able to express themselves freely, and sometimes that means taking a scary step to be able to do so. While living with discrimination may seem awful, living a lie can be worse. For some, deciding to tell others about their preference can allow them to be themselves and finally be comfortable in their own skin. Coming out to the world may be what it takes to be an individual. There are risks in doing so because some people may not be as accepting of an alternative lifestyle. However, friends and family who were there before a confession may be continue to be there after as well. One needs the support of close individuals to get through something as important as coming out. Having supportive people may make all the difference.
“Just do it when you’re ready, and if you’re never ready, there is absolutely nothing wrong with that.” junior Sarah Brooner
ing a list of possible outcomes may be a helpful way to prepare for potential scenarios. By listing the positive and negative possibilities, there is a lesser chance of surprises when the time comes to blurt out one’s preferences. It is important to remember that while deciding that others should know about personal preferences is a hard decision to make, one is not alone in this challenge. There are many others who have been through the same experience and are willing to give advice. Although one cannot simply pick up the phone and
News
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September
Brazilians protest in hundreds of cities Anger over government spending sparks due to generous budgets for World Cup and 2016 Olympics Joe Arebalos
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News Editor
rotests in the Brazilian cities of Sao Paulo and Rio De Janiero broke out over the summer due to government spending on the World Cup and the 2016 Olympics. Citizens were in uproar after the government spent around $31.3 billion on both the 2014 World Cup and the 2016 Olympic stadiums. Originally, the stadiums were supposed to be paid for without the help of the government. “The stadiums for the World Cup will be built with private money,” Orlando Silva, sports minister at the time, said in 2007 when Brazil was confirmed as the host nation. “There will not be a cent of public money for the rebuilding of the stadiums.” Brazilians felt that the government had its priorities wrong for spending so much money while nearly 25 percent of the Brazilian population is living below the poverty line. Protesters took to the streets, chanting, waving flags and speaking out against the government. The marches have deeply embarrassed the country as it hosts the Confederations Cup, a warm-up tournament for the World Cup taking place in several cities hit by the protests. “It was really a lot of little things that set it off,” said 17-year-old protestor Gui Raposo from Sao Paulo. “The thing that really set it off was that they raised the prices of public transportation by nearly two dollars in order to pay for this crap, along
with all the other things they did.” Raposo protested with his friends in Sao Paulo and were attacked with tear gas by riot police. “It really stings. Thankfully, a lot of people, mostly the older people, brought lemons to put in our eyes, which would sort of counteract it,” Raposo said. Luis Esteve, 16, was also a protestor in Sao Paulo. “After we sort of pushed them back to the beach, the police started using water cannons and fire hoses on us,” Luis said. Luis was injured and had to be carried to a hospital after being blasted with a water cannon. “No one would take us in. They didn’t want to get in trouble, I guess. We went to like three different doctors offices before someone helped me.” Nilson Chabat was a 31-yearold gas station attendant on his way to work on Friday in Sao Paulo. “I support them (the protests), but I think it’s out of control. Many of us are angry, but you can’t just go make a mess every day,” Chabat said. Protests were carried out in early summer and continued into September. Protests in Rio De Janiero interrupted the annual Independence Day celebrations on Sep. 7, and the unrest will likely last until the 2014 World Cup next summer.
Photo courtesy of IBTimes.com
Don’tCome Protesters hold signs outside of the Rio De Janiero City Hall last June in protest of government spending for the World Cup and 2016 Olympics.
Photo courtesy of Associated Press
ThrownAway A Brazilian girl digs through a dumpster as spectators for the Confederation Cup walk by. Unaware of her presence, some deposit their trash on top of her.
2016 Olympics cause loss of historical building Helen Jaffe News Writer
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Photo courtesy of Montrose High School NJROTC
Local Navajo veteran honored at Pow Wow Montrose High School NJROTC students serve as personal escorts
On Aug. 20-23, 2013, a native American Indian Pow Wow was held at Friendship Hall in Montrose. The guest of honor was Staff Sergeant Kimble, a Navajo Indian who served in WWII in the 101st Airborne Division. Cadet Seaman Andrew Eggers and Cadet Petty Officer Korrisa Lambert of the Montrose High School ROTC served as escorts to Mr. Kimble, who was scheduled to move away following the event after many years in the Montrose area.
aving one’s home destroyed because the “bigger man” needs the space is not okay. Children left homeless for eighteen months while the reconstruction of one’s new home is not okay either. Using tear gas and rubber bullets on protesters because they simply think destroying someone’s home for a new Olympic Museum or parking lot is wrong. The authorities in Brazil do not think so. The Maracana Tribe has been living in an old Indian Museum for about five years. This building was built in 1847 and has been a place where people can learn about the culture and traditions of many indigenous tribes since it was built. It has become a piece of history. As the World Cup and the 2016 Olympics approach, it has been decided that this building will be destroyed and replaced by a parking lot or a new Olympic museum. On March 22, 2013, an eviction notice was sent out to the Maracana Tribe. The police broke through to the Maracana’s home with full riot gear at the ready. They used tear gas and rubber bullets on protestors and the Maracana people, forcibly removing them from their home. While the stand-off took two hours, the Maracana people ended up out of the house and on the streets. Another Indian museum will be
built and will provide housing for the Maracana people, but it will not be complete for another eighteen months, leaving the tribe on the streets until then. Twenty families lived within the old museum. Those twenty families now live on the street until further notice. In that meantime, how many will die? Because of this event, how many people ended up embarrassed and now walk without dignity? It is not right that this historical building will be destroyed simply because it is close to the World Cup arena. While it may not seem important to the common eye, it holds special meaning to those who desired to learn more about the culture of many Indian tribes and to the people who lived in the building. Many of the displaced children were unaware of what was happening, only understanding that they no longer had a home. It is sickening that such young people were literally dragged out of their homes so that a new parking lot or Olympic museum can be built. As the 2016 Olympics and the 2014 World Cup tournament air on televisions around the world, viewers should remember how these world-class organizations destroyed the homes of twenty families for nothing more than a parking lot.
News
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September
Massacre at military facility Gabriel Go News Writer
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welve civilian contractors, along with the suspected shooter, were killed on Monday, Sep. 16, in a shooting that took place in the Washington Naval Yard in Washington D.C. The naval yard is home to the Naval Sea Systems Command of the United States Navy, a component responsible for the ships in the fleet. The Navy and The District of Columbia Metropolitan police have confirmed 27 victims: 13 deaths, including the perpetrator, and 14 injured. The shooter was identified as Aaron Alexis, a 34-year-old contractor and former sailor, discharged in 2011. Alexis was able to enter the building using a valid pass and
started shooting in the hallways and from the balcony. He is believed to have carried a shotgun and a semi-automatic handgun, which he procured from one of the victims. Alexis was killed in a fire fight with police officers inside the building. The police have yet to determine Alexis’s motive for the attack. Past records show that he was arrested twice prior to the shooting and suffered from mental health issues. The shooting took place when most of the staff were taking breakfast. According to a CBS News report, witnesses claim to have heard gunshots and panicked cries. “I heard pow, pow, pow,” said Patricia Ward, a worker in one of the nearby buildings. “Then for a few seconds, it stopped. And then
Photo Courtesy of The Huffington Post
StandingWatch A Washington D.C. police officer stands watch outside of the Washington Navy Yard after the shooting on Sep. 16. Major area law enforcement agencies including the D.C. Metropolitan Police Department, the FBI, the National Park Police, and the Capitol Police were among the first responders. pow, pow, pow… I just started running,” Ward said. Another witness, Omar Grant, counted five shots, “It was unmistakable,” Grant said. Leaving behind personal items, Grant aided in the escort of a blind co-worker. In an official statement, President Obama addressed the victims of the shooting as, “patriots.” A memorial service was conducted in honor of those killed. Among the attendees were President Obama, Secretary of the Navy, Ray Mabus, and Secretary of Defense, Chuck Hagel. In response to Alexis’s massacre, Secretary Hagel has called for a nation-wide review in military security. “Where there are gaps, we will close them. Where there are inad-
equacies, we will address them. And where there are failures, we will correct them,” Hagel said. The shooting has also raised concerns over gun control, a dominant issue during President Obama’s second term. On Sunday, Sep. 22, President Obama stated that the United States “can’t accept” the incident as “inevitable.” “It ought to lead us to some form of transformation,” Obama said at a speech at the Marine Barracks in Washington D.C. Chief Petty Officer John Boughton of the Montrose NJROTC unit places blame for the incident on security lapses. “I think it’s a tragedy that we allowed our contractors to investigate their own employees in the way of national security,” Boughton said. “I think it could’ve been pre-
vented if we would have investigated the people we’re allowing on military installations as opposed to contractors who have vested interests in their own personal gains.” Teodoro Medina, a cadet in the NJROTC unit, also questions security protocol. “It’s pretty sad. I think it could have been prevented if there were more armed guards. It’s the Naval Yard; there should be security around there” Medina said. With 13 killed and 14 injured, the shooting was the deadliest attack in the Washington D.C. area since the September 11, 2001, attacks. It is also the deadliest shooting in a military facility since the 2009 Fort Hood, Texas, massacre.
Syrian chemical attack confounds global community
Tensions rise as U.S. threatens military strike against Syrian government Joe Arebalos News Editor
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Photo Courtesy of Associated Press
SmokeandRubble A Syrian man takes a break amidst the rubble of a damaged mosque in the city of Azaz on the outskirts of Aleppo, Syria.
Does anyone remember the League of Nations? Joe Arebalos News Editor
Graphic by Joe Arebalos
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fter the first world war, forty-two countries came together to form the League of Nations. The League of Nations was one of the first true attempts at a world government and was formed with the idea that dialogue and diplomacy between nations would lead to world peace. Encouraged by former United States President Woodrow Wilson, the League of Nations convened in Geneva, Switzerland, with the intent to prevent a repeat of the mistakes made leading to the Great War. While President Wilson at the time was extremely influential in the creation of the League of Nations, the United States did not join. So, what happened to the League of Nations? Why did it fade away? With no armed forces of its own, the League of Nations had
to rely on powerful members to intervene in conflicts. Ironically, those members were usually unwilling to act. American absence in the League severely limited its power and influence and kept it from enforcing sanctions and mandates. The League of Nations also faced heavy in-fighting, with several permanent members such as Japan and Italy withdrawing in the 1930’s. By 1938, the League existed only legally and carried on reduced operations. The Palace of Nations in Geneva remained empty for nearly six years while Europe erupted into war. After World War II, the United Nations was formed to replace the League of Nations and continues to operate today. After the recent chemical attack in Syria, American president Barack Obama called for
Congress to authorize a military strike on the Syrian government. While it is argued that Obama would have launched the strike even without Congress’s approval, the situation was resolved when the Syrian government turned over its chemical weapons to the United Nations. The League of Nations failed because the world did not give it adequate power. The League had no power because no one took it seriously or recognized its authority. What does that say about the United States when it threatens war or military action without consulting the existing United Nations? Unless the United States commits to using the United Nations for its intended purposes, the entity will be rendered useless. Nations must take the allegiance seriously and put global issues into its hands. If humanity wants to truly achieve peace, it must persevere and put faith into the world government. If not, future generations will be asking the same question: Does anyone remember the United Nations?
ince 2011, the civil war in Syria has raged on, ending the lives of thousands of civilians and soldiers. The conflict between the Syrian government, lead by Bashir AlAssad, and rebel forces grabbed the attention of the global political stage in early September when reports arose of a chemical weapon attack on a civilian population area. United Nations investigators were sent into Syria in search of sarin gas, a deadly neurotoxin used in chemical weapons. The investigators were forced to leave Syria after being attacked by an unknown force, and while they found evidence of the gas used, did not determine which side used it. American President Barack Obama spoke to the nation in early September, calling on Congress to approve a strike on the Syrian government. “What kind of world will we live in if the United States of America sees a dictator brazenly violate international law
with poison gas, and we choose to look the other way?” Obama said. Some key members of Congress, however, were unconvinced that a limited strike would achieve significant change and could leave the United States vulnerable to retaliation. It appeared that a vote to act would not pass the House of Representatives, leaving the world to wonder if the United States is still a credible force. The question remains unanswered, though, as Russian president Vladimir Putin called for the Syrian government to turn over its chemical weapon stockpile, urging that diplomacy was the clearest way to proceed. The Syrian government complied, and on Sep. 10, it turned over documents listing its chemical weapon stockpiles and opened its storage facilities for inspection. Following the agreement between Syria and Russia, President Obama postponed the congressional vote on a military strike. At the United Nations General Assembly on Sep. 24, President Obama announced that the United States would be providing the Syrian people an additional $340 million in humanitarian aid.
Photo courtesy of BBC News
TakingSamples United Nations investigators test remnants of a missile for sarin gas, the deadly chemical weapon recently used against Syrian citizens.
News
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September
We are not alone
Zombies walk the streets of Montrose in preparation for upcoming film Savannah Estle
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News Writer
n 1932, a new type of movie was created. The idea was introduced by Victor Halperin in the first ever zombie film, “White Zombie.” Since then, the idea has grown and many more films have been made. Modern films such as “Dawn of the Dead,” “28 Days Later,” “I Am Legend” and “Resident Evil” have all featured a virus-induced zombie. “I Am Alone” is a new movie being filmed in Montrose. “We are going for the typical survivor movie but with a zombie twist,” producer Suzy Beck said. The movie is an independent film that will premiere at film festivals worldwide. Along with horror fests, it will be on Netflix and premiere at the Telluride Horror Festival. The Telluride Horror Festival has been held in October for the past four years. It is a three-day event that allows fans to catch up on the last and greatest Sci-fi, fantasy and horror movies. Moviemaker Magazine has named it one of the “20 Coolest Film Festivals.” On May 3, a “zombie walk” took place on Main Street in Montrose in order to get the word out about the upcoming movie. Along with the walk, the movie was advertised in local newspapers. The community was encouraged to donate to Abstract Forces to help fund the film. Abstract Forces is an L.A. based production company that is helping to produce the new film. In the film there are three levels of sickness. Level one is a freshly turned zombie containing a pale face and a bloody mouth. The other two levels step it up a
Movie Mania Dawn of the Dead: A horror movie about four people who take up residence in a deserted mall, all while trying to stay alive in the zombie apocalypse.
Photo Courtesy of Carri Carles
MovieMagic Showing off her makeup, Lynzie Covert prepares to go on camera for the new movie, “I Am Alone.” bit, adding wounds and a more The movie will begin to premiere sunken look to the face. toward the middle of 2014. “I made up over two dozen “We chose Montrose because zombies for the actual film,” of how gorgeous it is up here. A makeup artist Carri Carles said. good friend of ours who lives in “Depending on the depth of the Los Angeles with us has an uncle makeup I went into, it took thirty who owns land here, and he was minutes to an hour per person.” kind enough to donate it to us for Most people who participated filming,” Beck said. in the movie were extras who Filming took place in town and walked around looking dead in up in the mountains with a cabin. the background. Main zombies “I loved doing the makeup prowere called “hero” zombies. cess because I really got into it They were close to the cameras and got to be super creative. It and were a major part of filming. was an amazing experience, and “I was made up as a freshly I’m so glad to be a part of it. It turned zombie. I wasn’t really was such a blast and a bloody a main person, so I just walked mess,” Carles said. around in the background. I still “We are so thrilled to be able to had a lot of fun, though, and it’s film the movie here in Montrose, definitely something that’s once and we are so overwhelmed by in a lifetime,” freshman Cassan- support. So thank you to the dra Andrade said. community of Montrose, and we Filming began at the beginning definitely could not have done it of August and ended on Aug. 28. without them,” Beck said.
“I liked Dawn of the Dead because of the zombie effects and in case of an apocalypse. I’d want to be stuck in a mall.” -Brittany Zirkle, junior 28 Days Later: Twenty-eight days after a virus is spread, a man wakes up from a coma to discover he’s alone. Desperate to survive, he finds two other people still alive, and they seek shelter and survival. I liked 28 Days Later because they aren’t trying to eat people; they just want to kill them.” -Steven Barela, junior I Am legend: The last man on earth and his faithful companion search for a cure to the virus that wiped out the entire population and turned its inhabitants into flesh-eating zombies. “I liked this movie because of the plot and the whole story line of it. I especially liked when he fought the zombies.” -Eli Reynolds, junior Resident Evil:A military unit fights off hundreds of scientists who have mutated into flesheating zombies after a lab accident. “I liked Resident Evil because it’s like the video game, but it doesn’t completely take from the games. They explore what else would take place in a zombie apocalypse.” -Garrett Crawford, sophomore
Montrose K-9 Searches Drugs are most commonly hidden in the center console, around the car door, and in the glove box.
A headlight cover could News Writer be used as an out-of-the-way very year, the Montrose hiding spot for High School administration drugs or other asks the Montrose Police illegal items. Department’s K-9 unit to sniff out narcotics and other illegal substances in student vehicles. Recently, the student body has been concerned about their rights when this search occurs. The Fourth Amendment states, “the right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no warrants shall issue, but upon probDrugs and drug paraphernalia able cause, supported by oath or are often found under car seats. affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.” However, these rights parking lot alone. While students are compromised once a student believe the administration knows when the searches are held, they attends a public school. “Nothing infringes on their only happen when the police de[students] rights. It is made per- partment can make time for them. fectly clear when students sign “ I simply leave [the searches] up up for lockers and they buy a to our security, and then he stays rug dogs have no interest parking permit, we have the right in contact with the sheriff. Whenin sniffing out drugs themto search them whenever we want ever they have time, they come selves. They are trained to to. The Fourth Amendment will over and do them. I keep them always apply, but we’re letting completely random. I don’t even sniff out their favorite toy. Their you park on the school grounds, want to know. When they show training helps them associate the and in return you’re allowing us up, that’s when I know,” Barnhill toy with the smell of drugs. For example, a dog’s favorite toy [administration] to search your said. “I think the purpose [of these could be a towel. Trainers wash car whenever we want to since it is school property,” Principal Jim searches] is to identify illegal the towel so it has no scent and drugs in a place they shouldn’t then play with the dog until it beBarnhill said. In the past year there have been be,” Montrose High School secu- comes a fun game between them. They next roll a bag of Marijuana over ten hits on cars in the senior rity guard Paul Chiaro said.
Allyssa Taylor
Drugs are hidden inside the trunk of a car, underneath the trunk, and hidden around.
E
Specialized Training
D
Along the U.S. border, it is fairly common for customs agents to find drugs hidden in spare tires. inside the towel and after playing with the towel, the dog recognizes the scent of marijuana and associates it with a favorite toy. The towel is then hidden so the dog can search for it with the scent of marijuana in mind. When the towel is found, the dog is rewarded. The police use this method for marijuana and a number of other illegal substances until the dog is able to sniff out each one. The majority of police drug dogs are German shepherds, but Labrador retrievers and other dogs may be used depending on the task for which they are being trained. Police dogs are bred commonly in Europe and often
imported, which can be very expensive. Only dedicated officers can be police dog handlers because a police dog’s career is an average of six years, and the trainer must stay with the dog throughout its career. Dogs are used because their sense of smell is almost 50 times more sensitive than a human’s. They can pick out a specific scent when there are many around. Perfumes, cologne, air fresheners,and other methods fail to trick a trained drug dog’s acute sense of smell. They are also used to catch criminals if they try to run because dogs are faster and stronger than humans.
Feature
Page 6
September
POLICE BRUTALITY Brenna Cunningham
Feature Writer
P
olice brutality is a controversial issue. Many would like to think that police officers are dedicated to the law and would never intend to go beyond a certain point to enforce it. Teenagers often mistake police brutality with stern expressions. Police are serious when they are called to a scene and need to investigate. Teenagers can mistake seriousness with unnecessary cruelness. The definition of police brutality is the intentional use of excessive force, usually physical, but potentially also in the form of verbal attacks and psychological intimidation, by a police officer. “Police brutality is not law enforcement responding to a call or asking people to do something or cooperate,” Police Chief Tom Chinn said. Most people understand that police officers have to exhibit a certain amount of force to enforce the law. They all know that officers do their best to be careful about how they treat people when they perform searches, make arrests, and conduct investigations. Occasionally, there is an officer who forgets the conduct necessary when performing such acts. According to the Colorado Peace Officer’s Handbook, “… an offense is justifiable and not criminal when it is necessary as an emergency measure to avoid an imminent public or private injury which is about to occur by reason of a situation occasioned or developed through no conduct of the actor, and which is of sufficient gravity that, according to ordinary standards of intelligence and morality, the desirability and urgency of avoiding the injury clearly outweigh the desirability of avoiding the injury sought to be prevented by the statute defining the offense in issue.” That is a very official way of saying that physical force is sometimes necessary, but how much force is needed depends on the circumstance. Police brutality is also phrased as police misconduct, and there are many ways that an officer can misbehave. One of the most popular things claimed under police misconduct is excessive force. Excessive force is defined as beyond the force a reasonable and prudent law enforcement
The Issue at Hand
officer would use under the circumstances. Ways for an officer to exercise excessive force are physical endangerment, using their taser on a citizen, pulling their firearm, and use of chemical weapons. When law enforcement officers use excessive force, they violate the fourth and fifth amendments of the United States constitution. The fifth amendment states “… nor shall any person be subject for the same offense to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb…” A way to interpret this text is to say that all people have the right to not be put at risk of harm, especially by an officer of the law. Police are sometimes seen by the general population as oppressors. When police act in an unjust manner, or they abuse authority or power, it is also considered police brutality. Policing based on authority of a nation state is commonly traced to developments in eighteenth century France. Modern police departments were established in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. The Montrose Police Department was formed in the late 1800s. Past reports of police brutality show up most frequently with the routine beating of citizens by patrolmen. These patrolmen would beat the citizens with various weapons. The largest scale incidents involving police brutality include the Great Railroad Strike of 1877, the Pullman Strike of 1894, the Lawrence Textile Strike of 1912, the Ludlow Massacre of 1914, the Steel Strike of 1919, and the Hanapepe Massacre of 1924. In each of these cases, innocent people were killed because of federal intervention. A more recent 2010 case that caused distrust for police occurred in Redlands, Colorado, following a minor traffic accident. A pickup truck was pulling a trailer carrying a jet ski. The jet ski fell off the trailer and the truck ended up in the neighbors yard. The driver and occupants of the truck were thought to be under the influence of alcohol. Jason Kemp was thought to be one of those occupants if not the driver. Later on, two police officers went to Kemp’s house to investigate the accident. Kemp refused to let them into his house,
Photo Courtesy:Guardian.com
correctly claiming that they needed a warrant if they wanted to enter. The two officers kicked in Kemp’s door, and one officer shot Kemp in the chest at close range, killing him. The officer claimed that “Kemp lifted and extended his arm upward as if he was pointing a gun.” There was no weapon found near Kemp. The officers were charged and fired from the law enforcement office. This situation could have happened with any situation, from investigations for minor traffic accidents or noise complaints because of parties. Many high school students choose to party. When these parties get out of hand, local officers are called to the scene to investigate. Some students prefer to flee the scene, not wanting trouble with police. Teenagers who have been drinking and smoking at parties are harder to deal with than students who are sober. This makes such situations potentially difficult for officers. The ordinary amount of force necessary for this circumstance would usually be lower, but when teenagers are harder to deal with, the amount of force necessary increases. Considering the circumstances, students could be cited for underage possession and consumption, and anyone over eighteen years
of age could be charged with contributing to delinquency of a minor and face civil actions even more serious. “… they could stand to lose everything and pay huge fines,” Chinn said. The Montrose Police Department takes pride in its handling of law enforcement issues. “We have the best organization and the best group of people,” Chinn said. Chinn attributes this to the department’s reputation for being selective in their hiring process. “We have been criticized by local academies for being picky. We do not hire just anyone… we want to bring a positive image to this department,” Chinn said. The Montrose Police Department is a major supporter of education. At least seventy percent of its officers have college degrees. Possible majors include business management, business in general, and criminal justice. Although criminal justice sounds to be the most important of the three, business is the preferred option, as it is more diverse and better suited to all of the duties of a police officer. “Education of officers is huge. The more educated, the more training an officer receives. It helps them to do their jobs better,” Chinn said. The Montrose Police Department experienced an incident of
In memory of... Luis Eduardo Estrada
Jennifer Sofia Zamora
Luis was born on October 21, 1995, to his loving parents Luis and Erika Estrada in San Julian, Jalisco Mexico. As a child Luis used to enjoy making projects with different mediums. Reading was also one of his favorite past times. Luis moved to Chicago, Illinois, and lived there for six years. He also started his elementary education in Chicago. His younger brothers, Alberto and Kevin, liked to play with him all the time. The Estrada family moved to Montrose, Colorado, when Luis was in the fourth grade. He loved the outdoors, especially camping trips. Luis got a new brother who was named Diego. While growing up, Luis experimented with several different sports including softball, basketball and soccer. Luis played soccer for Montrose High School. Another aspect of his life was his involvement with St. Mary’s Catholic Church. He was part of the youth group and also volunteered with many events. “Luis was a happy, smiling, face that cheered everyone up. I am going to miss him,” Ricky Padilla, a close friend, said.
Sofie was born on September 4, 1998, to her loving parents Francisco and Xochitl Zamora in Santa Ana, California. As a child, Sofie loved to play with other children. She had a favorite scooter that she rode everywhere. She also loved to play with her dolls. In 2000, Sofie and her family moved to Telluride, Colorado. While there she attended elementary and middle school. She loved where she lived and used the slopes to go skiing. She also played volleyball. In the summer before her freshman year, Sophie moved to Montrose, Colorado. She made a lot of new friends once she began school. She loved to hang out with them and go to dances. The eldest of four girls, she leaves behind sisters Monica, Camila and Dominic. Sofie was always a good friend who loved to help people out and give wise advice. “Friends will come and go, but that is how life is. She is like a star; I won’t always see her, but I know she will always be there,” Mishelle Medina, a close friend, said.
October 21, 1995 - July 22, 2013
September 4, 1998 - July 10, 2013
police brutality approximately 35 years ago. When a local officer arrested a citizen, the officer crossed the line and used a flashlight to beat the citizen on the head repeatedly. The person may have been going to jail anyway, but the use of force was inappropriate. “There were plenty of officers… the officers’ actions were not justified,” Chinn said. In the past twenty years there has not been a problem with police brutality in Montrose. One of the reasons for this law enforcement success is the arbitrator cameras installed in each police car. These cameras are digital with both audio and video feed. They monitor officers every step of the way. When local citizens report issues with officer conduct, other officers and the police chief are able to observe the feed and see whether or not an officer stepped out of line. These cameras have helped to reduce the number of complaints in the Montrose area as well as around the country. Though local complaints are few, some teenagers still insist on sharing their own renditions of police encounters. “My brother and his friends are always accused of doing something wrong even if they are just at home.” senior Alicia Duarte said.
Feature
Page 7
September
CHANGE IS GOOD Renovations create a buzz Brenna Cunningham
S
Feature Writer
ince the beginning of the school year, there has been some buzz about the renovations made to the school. When Montrose High School students returned from summer break, they noticed several changes. The most dramatic alterations were made to the cafeteria and the quad. In the cafeteria some of the long tables were changed to booths and customized round tables. A bar for wooden bar stools was also built. Two huge flat screens now hang overhead at either end of the room. Because the televisions became operational only recently, some students expressed impatience. “...if they are going to install them, they need to turn them on,” said sophomore Chelsea Middleton. The restaurant-style booths seem to be a favorite among students. “I like what they did. It is a change of scenery, it looks cool,” junior Ethan Davis said. In contrast to the positive reactions to the updated cafeteria, Some students were frustrated when they returned and the quad was roped off. The grass was reseeded and needed time to become fully healthy before students could walk on it. Many students do not realize the amount of work that went into growing the grass back. Over the summer, MHS teacher Mr. Gabriel worked for the school district and spent a lot of time and energy on the new grass. “I like the new grass, but I do not think it is going to last too long because kids are very disrespectful,” junior Peyton Ayers
said. The quad was scheduled to reopen by the time students returned in August, but the ropes were removed just this week. Students who normally eat lunch in the quad during the warm weather were glad to have the space back but unhappy they had to wait so long. Another unexpected change has drawn a mixed response. Some students were crushed to find out that the stairway nearest to the cafeteria had been repainted, covering a mural of a tree and sky once designed and painted by a group of MHS students. Despite the impressive effort to spruce up the campus, there are still problems that need to be addressed, including the temperature issue. Even though some parts of the building are air conditioned, others stay boiling, even into the winter. “We need more air conditioning; it is too hot in this school,” junior Brittany Zirkle said. Among the many complaints about the air conditioning, there are some particular areas that need to be addressed. “They need to put air conditioning in the choir room. It is always hot,” sophomore Summer Giddens said. Although much work was completed over the summer, some improvements were made to the building last year. New filtered water fountains were installed in several locations. Students appreciate the convenience. “I love the new water fountains. It is easier to fill up the bottle, and it is quicker, too,” Ayers said. Most improvements proj-
SummerRevival Looking green and lush, the grass in the quad remained off-limits to traffic until this week. The lawn revival project was carried out over summer break. ects are obvious, but others are less noticeable. These changes include new carpets, freshly painted walls, and new ceiling tiles in some classrooms. In order to maintain the new carpet, eating is now limited in classrooms. Montrose High School also adopted a new lunchtime plan. In addition to the one lunch schedule implemented last year, off campus rules have changed. Last year, students could not go off campus unless their grades met the eligibility standard. This year, all sophomores, juniors, and seniors are able to go off campus both semesters without worrying about grades.
Sophomores find the new change doubly favorable since they no longer need to wait until second semester to earn the privilege to leave campus. Most upperclassmen, however, do not approve of this change. “It really bugs me, because I feel like a lot of the sophomores last year worked really hard to have that privilege. I think that this year kids won’t have to work as hard,” Ayers said. Teachers know who to allow off campus or not by the new student identification cards. Upperclassmen and sophomores have red cards, while freshman have white cards. Though many of the campus improvements involved the in-
terior areas, Montrose residents may notice the new marquee in place on Townsend Avenue. It is completely electronic, so student council will no longer need to change the letters by hand. The recent improvements to Montrose High School are designed to benefit to students. The environment is evolving, taking the students on an adventure and making their high school years memorable. Change can be positive or challenging, but in one way or another change happens. Maybe Winston Churchill said it best: “To improve is to change; to be perfect is to change often.”
A Matter of Opinion
Teachers Speak ‘The cafeteria upgrade is awesome. It has a nicer atmosphere... I am really glad that the grass in the quad is regrown. Mr. Gabriel deserves the credit for that.” Mike Nadiak
“I want my quad back. That is the purpose of the quad: the safety of the kids, so that they have a place to go.”
Science Teacher
AJ Smith
English Teacher
“I love it; it’s great. It adds to the community culture of our school.”
Amy Fabian
English Teacher
“I think making the cafeteria less like school and more like fun is a good change.” Virginia Bollinger Math Teacher
Photo Courtesy of Tyra Amaya, Ella Lowenberg
Fun Page
Monthly Horoscopes
MHS Quiz
Test your knowledge of your school! Fill in all the blanks with the correct answers. The first ten students to find all the answers and bring their paper to room 105 get a prize!
Gemini
2. What
You have been wondering why your crush has been acting so strange lately. He/she will soon show you exactly how he/she feels about you!
You are undertaking a large project, and you are feeling stressed out! Accept help from others when they offer, and you will find your troubles will soon subside.
Leo
Virgo
5. What teacher was born in Venezuela?
_______________________
room (include number) has a poster of Elvis Presley hanging on the wall? _______________________
8. In
the auxiliary gym, what is spray painted on the wall on the stage? ______________________________
9. Name
three teachers that graduated from MHS. ______________________ What teacher is in a band? __________________________
Top 10 Songs Trending in Germany
Sagittarius Capricorn 11/22 to 12/21
Taking time for yourself will provide you with an opportunity to relax and figure out what your next move is. Keep your mind open to new opportunities.
Qu
10.
1. Dear Darlin’: Olly Murs 2. Animals: Martin Garrix 3. Roar: Katy Perry 4. Jubel (Radio Edit): Klingande
You have big plans for the future, but you have been unsure how to take the first step toward success. Advice from a friend will provide some guidance.
You have been feeling down lately, and you need a pick-me-up. Plan something fun with a good group of friends, and you will find your worries washed away!
of
e th
mo n
Aquarius
12/22 to 1/19
1/20 to 2/18
There may be plenty of fish in the sea, but your sea is looking more like a pond! Open yourself up to new possibilities or you may miss an opportunity to have a really good relationship!
Pick up a book and read to relieve the stress in your life! Read between the lines in your life and you may find something you may find something you once looked over.
! Scorpio 10/23 to 11/21
Look out! The weather is getting bad, and so are things in your personal life. Look at things from both sides before you pick a fight!
! Pisces 2/19 to 3/20
You have been a little lost lately and maybe a little bored, too. Try shaking things up by hanging out with a new crowd, and get your sense of adventure on!
th
“I always thought quicksand was going to be a much bigger issue than it turned out to be.” -John Mulaney
em
7. What
e
Western League title for the first time in 2013? _______________________
9/23 to 10/22
An upcoming event is making you really nervous. Keep your head up and stay confident. You will surprise yourself, Virgo!
ot
6. What MHS sports team won the South
Libra
! 8/23 to 9/22
7/23 to 8/22
The weather has you down this month, but skies are clearing up in your love life. No more gloomy days for you, Leo!
School has been stressful lately with the loads of course work your teachers have been piling on. Buckle down, Gemini... all your hard work will pay off in a big way!
on
th
th
Which teacher lives in a yurt? _______________________
Aries ? 3/12 to 4/19
The Boa Constrictor Song
of
is the old drama props room? _______________________
5/21 to 6/20
Po e m
3. Where
! Surprising Revelation Taurus Cancer ? 4/20 to 5/20 6/21 to 7/22
Romantic Feelings
old is Montrose High School? _______________________ teacher has a Doctrate? _______________________
? Crazy Drama
Insightful Moment
1. How
4.
Page 8
September
5. Papaoutai: Stromae 6. Wake Me Up: Avicii 7. Burn: Ellie Goulding 8. Hero: Family of the Year 9. A LIGHT THAT NEVER COMES: LINKIN PARK & Steve Aoki 10. On Top of the World: Imagine Dragons
I’m being swallered by a Boa Constrictor a Boa Constrictor, a Boa Constrictor I’m being swallered by a Boa Constrictor and I don’t - like snakes - one bit! Oh no, he swallered my toe. Oh gee, he swallered my knee. Oh fiddle, he swallered my middle. Oh what a pest, he swallered my chest. Oh heck, he swallered my neck. Oh, dread, he swallered my - (BURP)
Find these pictures in the paper! Page ______
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Submit your two-dimensional artwork, poetry and original comics to the Chieftain staff, Mrs. Gaber in room 105, or Mrs. Palmer in room 108. All work should be submitted by the second week of every month. We appreciate our readers and encourage their submissions!
Art and story by Megan Ruiz
Opinion
Page 9
September
Dirty Dancing
A
Editorial by Kaylynn Miller
s years progress, dancing at homecoming gets farther away from anything one might see in a classic 90s film. Annually, the girls and guys of Montrose High School put on their dancing shoes and gather for a night of good music, lights and a little one-on-one time with their dancing partners. However, the “one on one” time has turned into something one might witness at a 21 and older club rather than at a school dance. Students refer to their form of dancing as “grinding,” a relatively new form of dancing that involves dirtying up a rather innocent sport. Some parents heard about the vulgar grinding and were appalled that this was taking place at a school dance. “I was not at the dance, but I heard from a freshman that the dancing was disgusting, and no one was monitoring it,” Jamie Gurule said. It is important for students to remember that they are not alone. In a crowded gym it is easy for nearly anyone to witness personal contact. Even if some school staff vision is starting to go, most all students have healthy enough eyesight to observe behaviors they do not necessarily want to see. The lights may be low, but most everything is still visible and sometimes disturbing. “I have heard of kids doing really private stuff on the dance floor. I don’t know if that is just hype, but either way it freaks me out to even think that stuff like that is going on,” junior Callie Storter said. There are plenty of students
witnessing the dirty dancing, and maybe even partaking in it themselves. Chaperones have begun to take notice in the recent increase of naughty behavior. And just like old Saint Nick, Mr. Barnhill is always watching! “I was happy to see everyone having a good time, but we are at a new level of dirty dancing. As a school we need to figure out how to get it in control before the community forces us to put restrictions on future dances,” Principal James Barnhill said. It is time for the students at MHS to clean up their moves. School dances are just that; they are not an excuse to dance like models in an R. Kelly music video. No one can expect the dances to look like a jam session at a Baptist Church, but some of the vulgarity needs to be thrown out. The student body must recognize that it has an audience, or rather, supervisors. Students should not do anything on the dance floor they would not want their grandma seeing. And if some do not have a preference, shame on them for sending Grams into cardiac arrest! “This is not your bedroom. You are not alone with your crush. Do not act like it. Nobody wants to see personal actions in a public setting,” Storter said. Punishment for further abuse of the school policy could lead to the revocation of any further school dances. And over what? One knock-your-socks-off Saturday night? Students at MHS need to clean up the “bump and grind” before they have no where to bump or grind.
Thumbs up
Thumbs down
to student council and the guidance office for sending text reminders about important information and events. Now we really do not have to listen to those annoying morning announcements. to eligibility not affecting off-campus lunch privileges, because let’s face it, the ones who have bad grades are the ones who know how to sneak off. to whoever graffitied “Never Stop Believing” on all the Montrose High School stop signs. Never has vandalism been so inspiring. to the student section at home games this year, its bigger and louder than ever, GO MHS!! (But come on guys, we can still make it a little better.) to the new cafeteria; looks good enough to eat in, but now let us work on the food.
to not having microwaves in classrooms anymore; cold pizza gets old pretty fast! Hope those extra dollars are making a difference. to the homecoming DJ; if half the songs played give us a middle school flashback, something is not right. to the MHS vents that blow hot air in the summer and cold air in the winter; they are almost as bipolar as Colorado weather. to the MHS dress code, what is so enticing about bare shoulders? Let us not over-sexualize normal body parts. to the closed hallway in front of the office. Like, why is this even necessary? The student body may never know. Written by Abby Padilla
Letter to the Editors from the class of 2014
H
omecoming week is looked forward to since the first day of school. It is a week filled with out of the norm events and is a time to show your class pride and have some fun. One of the most anticipated events of the whole week is the powderpuff football game. This 20 minute game allows us to play as a team and get a little competitive against the other
classes. But this year, most of us can agree that it got a little out of hand. There was a lot of aggressive and unnecessary behavior from all classes. Swearing and foul plays were the main actions that caused the aggressive behavior on the field. As seniors and role models of MHS we would like to apologize for antagonizing and participating in this behavior. We recognize that it was wrong to act so
immaturely when powderpuff should be a clean and fun game of flag football. Rumors of powderpuff football being canceled for the upcoming years have been a topic of conversation these last few weeks. If administration is still considering it, we strongly object to it. Although we will no longer be here, powderpuff was a great experience that each high school class should get. We do not want
future classes to be penalized for bad behavior that occurred in only one year. If powderpuff football is played next year, administration could prevent the foul playing in a couple of ways. For one, the rules of the game could be explained clearer. Although girls know that it is flag football, many do not know what type of pushing is and is not allowed. Especially the girls that play the linebacker
position. Another way foul plays could be discouraged is by immediately taking the players that are being dirty out of the game. Once girls understand that administration is being serious the aggressive behavior will lessen. As the class of 2014, we just want to stress that we are sorry for our behavior. We believe the powderpuff tradition should continue for many years to come.
Submit your opinion Tell us what you think! We want to know... What’s cool about school? What do you want to know more about? What could be done better and how? You can be a part of the next Chieftain! Submit letters to the editors to the mailbox outside room 105 by the second week of the month!
Do you want us here or not?
M
ontrose High School has a huge variety of clubs and sports. Choir, football, speech and debate, tennis, FBLA, ROTC, and even a graphic novel club are just a few options. However, one of the most hardworking and most noticeable groups is typically ignored. The Pride of Montrose marching band rehearses from the beginning of August until the end of competition in late October. The marching band practices for many hours a week, through blistering sun, torrential rain, and frigid snow. While most clubs and sports teams get quite a bit of exposure, no one really ever sees how hard the marching band works. Most MHS students see the band at the football games,
Editorial by Joe Arebalos
basketball games, and various parades, playing the school song and short renditions of pop songs. While this is still an important part of the band’s contribution to our school, it is just a tiny part of what they already do. This season the marching band’s show is entitled “Metamorphosis.” It features music from the popular music group MUSE and selections from various composers. The show is around seven minutes long, but it takes almost three months of work to complete the show to perfection. Every single step, note, and body movement has to be clear, uniform, and precise. While other clubs such as football or soccer are more popular, and are perceived to work harder, Montrose High School students should show their support to the
band, as they are largely ignored or disregarded. Some might even say there is a sense of distaste or even animosity of the band. There have been several instances of disputes between the band and student section as well as cheerleaders during basketball games. Why do we as a school dismiss the band as “Band Geeks” because they aren’t athletes? They are just as dedicated and work just as hard, even harder than some clubs. We should show our appreciation an support for our band members’ hard work and dedication to our school. Cheer on our band at football games, watch them at halftime, and wish them luck at competitions!
Feature
Page 10
September
The Homecoming Alumni Bailey Case Feature Editor
I
t is that time of year again. Time to buy school supplies, sign up for classes, and get ready for the long school year that lies ahead. Some feel this time of year is sad because summer is over; others enjoy it because it is a new beginning. One long-standing tradition is the welcoming of the Alumni, also known as Homecoming. If one walks through the hallways of Montrose High School, one might not even realize all the tradition and spirit that lives within this century-old school. Montrose Indians have welcomed alumni since as early as 1912, and students practiced some of the same traditions as are enjoyed today. The annual homecoming football game is one of the most common celebrations for homecoming week, but one might not realize some of the similarities and differences when comparing the game of the past to that of the present. The girlfriend of a football player in the 21st century wears her boyfriends’ away jersey to the football game to indicate the two are together or “going
steady.” This is ironic, because in the 20th century, a girl wore her significant other’s letterman jacket instead of his jersey. But the same underlying principle is present; the boy is claiming the lady he is taking to homecoming for everyone to see. Some other more commonly known traditions are the nominating of the homecoming king and queen. The nominees are shown off to the town in the homecoming parade, where the school’s marching band and other school- affiliated clubs and organizations travel down Main Street for the entire town to see. The royalty are nominated and voted upon by the student body. On the night of the homecoming football game, usually during half time, the king, queen, prince and princesses are crowned. This practice began sometime in the late 1800s. “I was honored just to be on the court, but when I was crowned queen, I was overjoyed with a sense in pride with that the student body recognized me” MHS 2014 Homecoming Queen Lindsey Rummings said. More student-driven traditions are the tailgating parties outside the football stadium and the pep rallies held during the Friday before the game. The school schedules the pep rally during school
to amp up the spirit for the game that evening and to welcome all students to participate. Students stoked for the game, dance, and other festive activities gang together and hold tailgate parties during the game. Such activities keep the atmosphere fun and energetic. “The tailgating party was new twist to homecoming since I haven’t seen it in my four years at MHS. It was just a fun time getting our class together to get prepped for some serious school spirit,” senior Makayla Combs said. Tailgating parties have not been seen since the early 1990s at Montrose High School but recently made a reappearance during this year’s homecoming football game. “We used to have tailgating parties at every football game. A bunch of girls would make some food and bring it to the game, and everyone would listen to the game on their truck radios and have a good time. That’s what Friday nights used to revolve around in this town,” 1986 MHS graduate Todd Culver said. Homecoming traditions vary from town to town, but when it comes down to it, they are events one will remember for the rest of one’s life.
MHS Royalty
Freshmen: Tobias Farnese 2017 Katie Casebier Sophomores: Kyle Cox 2016 Megan Garcia Juniors: Joey Eckerman 2015 Kellen Alexander Seniors: Ross Barney 2014 Lindsey Rummings
ThrowBack Montrose High School Homecoming Queen Cheryl Frank and her escort Bob Heavers in 1967.
SeniorStars Seniors Ross Barney and Lindsey Rummings were crowned Homecoming King and Queen Friday, Sep. 20, during half time of the game against Hinkley. The homecoming dance followed the next night at the Montrose High School. The theme of this year’s dance was the Great Gatsby.
CheerCrowd Montrose High School female students sport their significant others’ jerseys during the pep rally on Friday afternoon. The student body gathered to enjoy pre-game traditions such as Indian Thunder and dance routines performed by the cheerleaders and school dance team.
FlashBack Seniors in the class of 2014 gather together before the homecoming football game Friday night. The class collectively decided to hold a tailgating party after some parents questioned the loss of the tradition. The students feasted on chips, hot dogs, drinks, and other barbeque-style foods.
RageRun The varsity football team crashes through a motivational banner held by the cheerleaders. Amping up the atmosphere, the Indians go on to score an additional 35 points in the second half of the game, winning with final score of 49-6.
Feature
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September
Online Education Revolution With technology advancing more and more every day, people are taking the route to online schooling verses taking classes at a school. Studies show that some students prefer to continue their education at home rather than at school. According to edweek.org, the number of home schooling students increased 7% within 2009-2012. Some students and teachers at MHS have chosen to use the online schooling option as well.
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t is an early graduation for Montrose High School’s senior Katie McClendon. She has chosen to earn her college degree online starting in January at Brigham Young University in Utah. “I have chosen to begin my secondary education online for many reasons,” McClendon said. The rewards of online education are grand, from extra time on one’s hands to flexible class schedules. These benefits are attracting large numbers of students from all over the world. One can attend a college in New York while sitting in one’s own living room in Colorado. McClendon has chosen to study elementary education online because she has always wanted to become a teacher, and online college is making that dream easier to achieve. “Ever since I was little, I have played school. I do not even remember when I wanted to do something other than become a school teacher,” McClendon said. Students face the challenges of choosing between online college verses the classroom environment because even though online schooling has many pluses, the classroom also has many advantages. “I think it is kind of a toss up because some learning material is easier to learn in a classroom. So you could get a better grasp on the material, but the convenience of having extra time is not there. Honestly, the choice between the two is if you need extra spare time or not,” McClendon said. McClendon chose the advantages of online schooling over traditional schooling but still understands the struggles she will face. “You have to be really motivated. You do not have a teacher with you all the time, so you cannot have help. But you do have teachers to call and ask questions, which was really nice, but it is still kind of hard because you have to do stuff over the internet,” McClendon said. Even though it will be a struggle, McClendon thinks online schooling is the right choice for her.
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Sarah Sebree Feature Writer
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ngineering is a branch of science and technology concerned with the design, building, and use of engines, machines, and structures. Montrose High School’s Project Lead the Way and woodworking teacher, Mr. Brian Simpson, has a Bachelor’s degree in mechanical drafting and in woodworking. A Master’s degree in technology education has allowed him to bring the drafting class to MHS and teach it for almost 15 years. School teachers, especially those with multiple classes, rarely have any spare time for themselves. So going to school while teaching school is difficult. Sometimes, though, the school district offers opportunities to make further education for teachers a little easier. “The Master’s degree was because the school district was offering an opportunity for teachers to take a sabbatical and go and get that,” Simpson said. A sabbatical is a break given to teachers so they can go back to school without losing their jobs. This is a great opportunity for many busy teachers to take a step back and make up for what they did not obtain the first time. This year is the first time that Simpson has been able to teach two different types of engineering classes. The newest engineering class is exciting because most students do not have a chance to take a class like this until college “It’s an awesome class. It’s a class that is heavy on math, and we get students who are serious about going into something with computers or the digital electronic world,” Simpson comments. Engineering is a hands-on class that requires patience and motivation. Simpson’s classes are not applicable online they require lots of interaction with students and teachers. “It would be absolutely horrible to try to do classes online. It’s far easier to have that face-to-face time with this type of realm,” Simpson said.
any students in the Montrose School District take the road to home schooling. Not all home schooling has to be done online. Some students can get books and printouts of specific curriculum for their needs. Junior Rachel Kingman has chosen not to acquire her education online. Instead, she has a large binder to organize her schoolwork for the year ahead. “How my particular curriculum works is I have a bunch of books, and it tells me what pages to read in my books. Some of them are biographies of people for history. For literature, I get a classic book to read, and then there are questions that my parents will ask me about it to help me retain more from it,” King said. Being home schooled is different than actually going to school to receive education. Home schooled students do not have the privilege of getting direct help from a teacher. Parents are supposed to fill the role of teacher, not only to help their children with questions, but to keep them motivated and on track throughout the school day. “It is not easier (home-schooling), because there is no one there to tell you to do the work besides your parents. You also need to be the one to discipline yourself and be like, ‘I need to sit down and do school today instead of playing games and running around,’” King said. Home schooling students can have their own unique schedule to fit their needs. Many professional athletes were home schooled in order to have more time to practice throughout the day. Not only does home schooling benefit students with promising athletic careers, but also students who need to focus their time a little more on certain subjects. “I do like that I can focus more on things I have trouble with and not be rushed. I love it, actual,” King said. Even though King learns at her own pace, teachers and parents expect a lot from her. Some students think being home schooled means they can slack off, but in reality they are more on their own. Since there is no teacher to help them, they are required to figure more out for themselves.
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nline education is not only for students, but for teachers as well. Full schedules and families sometimes make it impossible to attend a campus to continue education, but a little ambition is all it takes for one teacher to accomplish the impossible. Montrose High School Resources teacher Tessie Hartmann has been working on her Master’s degree in English for Special Education at Colorado Mesa University for a couple of years now. Her motive for acquiring her Master’s degree is not money, but knowledge to help her assist children with many different needs. “Because the classroom is filled with so many different abilities, I want to be able to provide differentiated instruction that can accommodate all these different levels in a classroom,” Hartmann said. As the understanding of learning and behavioral disabilities continues to grow, so does the demand for special needs educators, who in turn need additional training to keep with up with the latest research and teaching methods. The challenge a working adult faces when pursuing post-graduate schooling is finding time to manage a regular life on top of a student life. Hartmann’s family life has been directly affected. “It is hard on my family because I am consumed with working with my schools either online or on the weekends. I am gone all weekend from 8:30-4:30, and with the drive time from Junction, I cannot help my husband with what he needs to do with dinner. He already has a difficult job, so it is very impacting,” Hartmann said. Even though continuing education requires a lot of time and energy, the rewards can be well worth the struggle. Increased knowledge and skills are not the only benefit of additional schooling. A Master’s degree also leads to a higher salary. “I am very excited and cannot wait to get it all done so I can enjoy the benefits of my labor and have time after school to relax and spend time with family,” Hartmann said.
Epic Exposures
Nathan Greninger 970-901-0832 nathangreninger@gmail.com Epic-Exposures.com
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Sports
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Calling it quits
participate in team dinners and team bonding activities every Emily few weeks. Annis “At times I will regret [my deSports Writer cision], I miss the team dinners and the team bonding. I miss the olleyball is among one of team aspect of everything, not so the most popular sports at much the volleyball. I am really Montrose High School, yet happy with my decision as far as many players, specifically se- what I’m doing now,” Youngren niors, chose to quit this year. said. Students at MHS have been According to www.cedu.niu. curious as to why they chose to edu, sports can have positive quit. Was it the coaching? Was it and negative effects on teenage the team? Or was it just the sport? athletes. Sports can both relieve “It was not the coaches, it was stress and add to stress caused by not the program. I just lost pas- schoolwork. A sense of belongsion for it, and I needed to see ing can give athletes a positive what was best influence, but in the long run some athletes “It was not the for me. I got a take away an job, and I just coaches, it was not u n h e a l t h y, thought it was competitive more important the program, I just side. than volleylost passion for it, “I miss the ball,” former team and the and I needed to see sport itself. It volleyball player, sophomore what was best in the was nice to be Lexi Youngren involved with long run for me.” said. such a great With volley- Sophomore, Lexi Youngren program. My ball practice schedule now from 4:15-6:15 Monday through is still really busy, but I’m defiFriday, players must find a way to nitely not as stressed [as I was balance homework, practice, and when on the team,]” previous games.This means many of them member of the volleyball team, miss some events other teenagers sophomore Annika Sheya said. are able to enjoy. The volleyball team has filled “I love getting up in the morn- the positions of the girls who ing for zero hour, going to prac- quit, but that does not mean the tices, the games, and the team! I team has forgotten about all of have good days, and I have bad the former athletes. days, but my passion for volley“The whole program of girls ball keeps me playing the sport,” are like family to me. I’m sad varsity player, senior Lindsey they aren’t playing volleyball Rummings said. anymore, but I understand why The Montrose High School they’re no longer with us. We volleyball team finds many ways all miss them playing [on the to give the team chances to bond team],” Rummings said. on and off the courts. The players
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Photo Courtesy Brianne Ryser
ServesUp Jumping high, senior Chelsea Peterson serves the ball against Grand Junction High School. The Lady Indians won 3-0, they are currently 6-3. This season has been very successful for Montrose High School’s, girls varsity volleyball team. They traveled to Durango and Cortez over the weekend to take on Durango high school and Montezuma-Cortez.
Playing favorites
Negative perceptions plague local sports
Photo by Ella Lowenberg
Morgan Nichols Sports Writer
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hen it comes to high school sports, many communities, at one time or another, have experienced accusations of coaches playing favorites. The thought of coaches being biased has always been an issue among players, coaches and fans. This issue is varies from sport to sport. “My job is to win games and to develop kids as well as I can in the sport, and that’s what I try to do,” head boys’ basketball coach, Martin Malony said. Different perspectives and opinionated statements have been made throughout the years as Montrose High School debating whether players are treated differently for being prominent
in the community or for being family friends of the coaches. “I feel like some coaches may have favorites, but I feel like that’s a totally natural thing for every human being. So it’s absolutely nothing against them or their coaching strategies,” JV football player Dalton Wrightsaid. When asked if they have ever felt pressured to play a certain player based on parents that have played a key role in the community, coaches tend to agree. “I’ve never felt pressured as a coach. I think what it comes down to is sort of the overall thing, which is, either you earn it or you don’t whether you’re the coaches kid or not. It doesn’t matter who your parents are whether it’s a coach or a prominent person in the community; kids have to earn it,” head football coach Todd Casbier said. Many different problems ap-
pear when talking about fair playing time between each player. “Playing time is always a touchy issue, especially when you get to the varsity level because winning is the objective,” girls’ varsity volleyball coach Shane Forrest said. Players, on the other hand, have different opinions about the playing time strategies. “I think the coaches do a really good job of giving everyone the right amount of playing time depending on how hard you work and the amount of effort you put into the game and the sport, but I feel like sometimes the coaches purposely give other players more playing time because they want to win the game,” varsity volleyball player Kourtney Keltz said. Overall, coaches and players agree that supportive, hard working athletes have a better chance of playing more throughout the
game but, does attitude really matter when it comes down to winning? “If a kid brings something to the court in terms of chemistry and holding the team together by being a team player, but has a little lesser skill, that’s going to play out in the performance of the team,” Forrest said. “We are going to give more playing time to the kid that has a positive impact on the team over the kid that has more skill but is causing issues.” “A skilled player does have more playing time, because it’s not much of a team sport. It’s more of an individual game,” tennis player Chloe Peterson said. Maloney was asked if he thought academics were a changing factor in high school sports depending on how important a certain student is to the team. “That’s something that tends
to vary from kid to kid and from family to family depending how exactly what the parents put their priorities on. Usually some of our better athletes are very good students and that kind of goes hand in hand with how their parents bring them up and who they are,” Maloney said. The perspective of coaches playing favorites is something that has been around and is staying. “The bottom line is that it’s all a perception thing and usually the people that complain about coaches playing favorites are the one’s that aren’t playing. It’s always going to be there and most of the time it’s just an excuse for whoever the other person is that’s not playing for not having a spot,” Casebier said. The public’s view of coaches playing favorites is nothing new and given human nature, the issue will likely remain.
Sports
September
ClosingFrethe gender gap s hman girl hit s t he field
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Photos by Kaylynn Miller
Jackie Romero Sports Writer
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ver the years boys have been taught not to hit girls, but when a girl joins the football team, there is an exception. For the first time at Montrose High School, there is a freshman girl on the football team. LaBrena Garcia is glad to be on the team. Although she is a girl, she is treated equally and has huge support from teammates, coaches and her family. Garcia explains what it is like to be a part of what is usually considered a boys’ sport. “I really enjoy the sport and have had a thing for it since I was young. I think the best part of it is that everyone on the team accepts me for who I am and supports me a lot,” Garcia said. “The team is very close, and we are
like a family.” Garcia said that she was inspired to play the sport from watching football games and playing catch with her family. She has been playing since middle school. “I thought that when I joined the team everyone would be mean to me and put me down because I am a girl. I was actually surprised that everyone was so supportive. At first it was a little weird to be the only girl, but now I am used to it,” Garcia said. Freshman Brady Overmyer, a teammate of Garcia’s, said that it is difficult to play with her at times because she is a girl. “I like being on the team with her, but I don’t like having to hit her. It feels weird to have to be rough with her,” said Overmyer. Regardless of the gender difference, the boys are told to not take it easy on her. “Since we are not supposed to
take it easy on her, we treat her like any other guy,” Overmyer said. Since Garcia is the first female football player at MHS, the coaches had to make a few adjustments. Everything is the same for her as it is for the boys, except for the locker rooms. “LaBrena is a good player and is allowed to play with no restrictions. Besides needing a different locker room, everything else is the same,” freshman coach Joseph Fassler said. LaBrena Garcia unfortunately could not play the first game due to an arm injury but plans to be back on the field in two weeks. She would like to continue to play throughout the rest of her high school career. “I have a passion for the game and won’t let my gender interfere. I am glad that I have a lot of support coming from everyone,” Garcia said.
Photo by Kaylynn Miller
Sports stereotypes flood the high school Keenan
Bentz
Sports Writer
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n sports there are many stereotypes. None of them are true, yet people still like to say them. Some stereotypes are more common than others. In tennis, one stereotype indicates players are rich and preppy, which is ironic since the sport is relatively inexpensive to play. “The stereotype that shocks me
is that tennis players are rich and preppy because the sport is actually inexpensive to play,” junior Jared Warren said. Another stereotype claims older tennis players only use a slice shot because they cannot move fast. Typically people say men hit harder with more topspin and women hit slower and flatter. “It really depends on the player, I have seen men with flat shots, and women with topspin, but still
have a slow shot,” Warren said. Football players are plagued with many stereotypes. The most common stereotype would be that football players are selfcentered. “Everyone says that we only care about ourselves, but almost every weekend we do community service around the town and around the school,” junior Grayson Burris said. He acknowledges that there is a perception of the team among
The
massive upset
some peers. “They say that at our school it is all about football, and we are all selfish,” Burris said. Burris does not agree that football players are selfish and finds such a stereotype foolish. “We are nice to all the kids around the school,” Burris said. Stereotypes for softball players include a wide variety. One stereotype assumes that all softball players are overweight, they are masculine, and they should not play the sport since it is just an
inferior version of baseball. “The weirdest stereotype that I have heard of would be that we are too overweight to play the sport,” sophomore Savannah Huston said. Huston does not believe in any of the stereotypes and expresses confidence in the consistency of her team. “We are actually an awesome team, and if you get the chance, we will show you what we are really about,” Huston said.
Fresh athletic talent
Young athlete wins against former first round champ
Underclassman contributes to varsity golf team
Story by Jackie Romero
reshman Glen-Michael Mihavetz exceeded most peoples’ expectations by making varsity golf his freshman year of high school. Making the cut as a freshman was a huge goal for Mihavetz to accomplish. At tryouts over 20 players showed off their best skills, but only five went on to play varsity golf. “I am glad I made varsity. That was my goal all along. I am glad that I have stayed on varsity this long even though I have not played my best this season,” Mihavetz said. The learning curve is huge for Mihavetz, as he still has a lot to learn from the coaches and upperclassmen. “The thing I have learned is you just have to trust yourself everyday, and if you’re struggling, play it safe and keep the big numbers off the card. And the biggest thing is to enjoy the moment you are in,” Mihavetz said. The upperclassmen have seen Mihavetz play in various varsity tournaments this year. Giving Mihavetz advice on playing in varsity tournaments can be helpful. “I have not helped Glen much; I knew he could handle the pressure,” senior Riley Willis said. Willis has noticed some specif-
Story by Keenan Betz
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ictoria Duval competed in the U.S. open on Aug. 28, 2013, and made a big triumph by beating a 2011 champion. When she entered, she was ranked 298th in the world and played against the former US champion, Samantha Stosur. Her next opponent was Daniela Hantuchova, who was ranked 48th. Duval unfortunately lost in the eighth game between the two at love, when Hantuchova was leading 4-3. She surprised everyone first by competing and then by winning the first round. People did not expect her to win, let alone beat a former champion. She has gained public attention, not only for her age, but also for her story. Even though her game is a story itself, her childhood draws even more attention. When she was seven, she was held at gunpoint for hours on end while her family was being robbed. Following the experience, her family decided to move from Haiti to Florida. Her father was still in Haiti when an earthquake buried him in rubble for over 11 hours. Duval does not let her struggles defeat her, and her rapid rise in popularity is due not only to her tennis skills, but to her positive attitude as well.
Photo courtesy Brianne Ryser
SwingingThrough Working on his backswing, freshman Glen-Michael Mihavetz keeps his eye on the ball while attempting to chip onto the green on hole 6 at Black Canyon Golf Course. The Montrose varsity golf team took 1st place overall at the tournament. The team shot a total score of 224 combined strokes.
ic strengths in Mihavetz’ game. “I like Glen’s short game, literally,” Willis said. Mihavetz does have certain aspects of his game that he would like to improve before the beginning of next season. “The part of my game I would like to improve is obviously my distance. But I have to stay patient and do the best I can with what I have,” Mihavetz said. Milhavetz hopes to accomplish a lot in both his high school career and in his golf career. “I have not played my best this year, and I am a little disappointed. But I am glad I have this year as experience, and I am hoping for great things to come for the team and myself in the future,” Mihavetz said. Head boys’ golf coach Angelo DeJulio has been impressed with numerous aspects of Mihavetz’ game. DeJulio plans to help Mihavetz’ improve his skills and expects more from the golfer in the future. “I expect Mihavetz to be one of the leaders on our team. It is a team that is going to have a lot of talented players coming up, and they are going to be better off having a guy like Mihavetz on the team,” DeJulio said.
Sports
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September
Spending Time on the Bench Written by: Kasandra Miller
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Giving the linemen the credit
Photo By Ella Lowenberg
Kasandra Miller Sports Editor
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he name on the back of one’s favorite team’s jersey...the player who always gets interviewed... its simple: the quarterback always receives the most credit. “People need to realize that the line starts everything. Without them there is no throwing or running. People definitely need to start giving more credit to all the players,” senior wide receiver Mason Burris said. Casual football fans do not always see how much players, such as lineman, contribute to a team. Quarterbacks, running backs and kickers have stat sheets, making it easier for fans to track their achievements, but lineman, who
are in charge of snapping the ball and blocking the opposing team, cannot obtain a sustainable stat sheet. “A lineman should receive just as much credit because if they do not block, the quarterback can not do anything anyway,” Burris said. Many coaches believe that football lineman should receive as much credit as any other football player. Montrose High school is among the schools seeking shared credit between all the positions in football. “Coach Scarry is awesome about recognizing linemen and pointing out how team accomplishments belong to everyone,” varsity football coach Kurt Scriffiny said. Team sports allow for many athletes to find unique ways to
out us there is nothing,” senior center Connor Huskey said. There are several ways the Montrose teams are working to share credit between players. Those methods include making sure the linebackers are interviewed and having other players praise linemen when they get interviewed. “The boys who run the ball always talk about us in the paper or whenever they get an interview,” Huskey said. Although football is a team oriented sport, problems such as unequal credit can cause tension between teammates. “Quarterbacks are supposed to be the stars, but it really is a team sport,” Burris said. “Sometimes it causes problems, but the coaches try to give the linemen as much credit as everyone.” The most important aspect of the game is winning, and that is the focus of the lineman rather than who gets the credit. “I do not need more credit. All I want to do is win,” Huskey said.
Photo Courtesy Brianne Ryser
Photo by Ella Lowenberg
Photo by Ella Lowenberg
Striding out, senior Kendall Cox competes in the Basalt cross country meet on Sep. 9. Both boys and girls varsity teams placed first in the competition.
Indians Score Board
overcome diverse and challenging situations as well as develop leadership skills. Football is a great example of a sport that utilizes teamwork to benefit the outcome of the game. “Football is a team game, and lineman know what they need to do is valuable and that they are ‘A’ team. It would be nice for their plays to get a spotlight a little more often, though,” Scriffiny said. Football is a team oriented sport. If one player does not execute his position correctly, it can ruin plays for the team and even affect the overall outcome of the game. “Football is great because it is the ultimate team sport. Each play, eleven people have to do their job completely,” Scriffiny said. In order for a quarterback to make a successful throw without being sacked, a lineman must be able to successfully block the opposing team’s defensive tackle. “Everything we do in this program is about the linemen. With-
Photo by Ella Lowenberg
Photo Courtesy Kathlyne Gaber
he main goal of varsity sports is to win games, but there is controversey over when to play athletes based on the effort they put into practice rather than their skill level. Although coaches in varsity sports are supposed to field the top players in order to win games, there is a point where many people believe that the effort a player puts into practice should directly effect the amount of game time a player receives. “If the other players are bettter but slack during practice, I think the players who put in more effort should be able to get more game time,” varsity soccer player Keegan Sullinger said. Football is one sport in which play time equity does not exist. With 73 football players making up both varsity and junior varsity, it is nearly impossible for all athletes to receive equal game time. “This is high school sports. The best player should play varsity, and the people who are getting ready for varsity should start on JV like it is set up,” varsity football player Angelo Youngren said. The initial inclination of a coach is to play the strongest athletes. It can be difficult to balance the desire to win with the desire to help players develop their skills and a love of the game. “Coaches should try to help players develop their skills instead of just trying to win, because kids join sports to become better,” junior varsity soccer player Natalii Gomez said. Parents also play a key role when dealing with coaches and play time. Many coaches feel pressure to play certain players based on the desire and amount of pressure a parent is putting on a coach. Over 87 precent of coaches have felt pressure from parents to play an athlete based on a survey conducted by http:// www.ausport.gov.au. There are many long-term benefits for athletes whose coaches assign play time based on skill level, including encouraging athletes to work harder and teaching the concept of perserverance. On the other hand, there are some advantages to playing athletes equally, including building a sense of belonging and helping improve the overall skills of the athlete. Whether a coach decides to approach playing time equally or not, players will not remember the numbers on the score board; instead, they will remember the time spent as a team.
clears the ball after an attempted shot. Montrose hosted its first home game against Fruita on Sep. 12. The wildcats won with a final score of 0-3.
Swinging swiftly, senior Shalynn McKee hits the ball in the game against Eagle Valley on Sep. 21. This was a nonleague challenge but still an important game in the Indians’ season.
Sustaining focus, junior Jarred Warren competes against Hotchkiss on Sep. 28. The team lost with a final score of 0-7. This was the first match of the season and the first home game of the season.
Taking the kick, senior Ryan Nadiak
Football (5-0) Montrose vs. Vista Ridge 47-22 (W) Montrose vs. Palmer Ridge 48-7 (W) Montrose vs. Delta 38-24 (W) Montrose vs. Pueblo West 23-14 (W) Montrose vs. Hinkley 49-6 (W) Soccer (5-3) Montrose vs. Battle Mnt. 1-3 (L) Montrose vs. St. Mary’s 4-0 (W) Montrose vs. Air Academy 0-1 (L) Montrose vs. Fossil Ridge 3-0 (W) Montrose vs. Grand Junction Central 7-2 (W) Montrose vs. Fruita Monument 0-3 (L) Montrose vs. Montezum-Cortez 9-0 (W) Montrose vs. Durango 2-1 (W) Montrose vs. Grand Junction 7-0 (W)
Tennis (0-3) Montrose vs. Hotchkiss 7-0 (L) Montrose vs. Cedaredge 5-2 (L) Montrose vs. Grand Junction 7-0 (L) Volleyball (7-3) Montrose vs.Battle Mountain 3-1 (W) Montrose vs. Eagle Valley 3-2 (W) Montorse vs. Gunnison 3-1 (W) Montrose vs. Berthound 2-0 (W) Montrose vs. Lewis Palmer 0-2 (L) Montrose vs. Brihton 2-0 (W) Montrose vs. Thompson Valley 0-2 (L) Montrose vs. Grand Junction Central 3-0 (W) Montrose vs. Fruita Monument 0-3 (L)
Softball (10-2) Montrose vs. Delta 25-7 (W) Montrose vs. Palisade 10-0 (W) Montrose vs. Eagle Valley 14-3 (W) Montrose vs. Grand Junction Central 2-7 (L Montrose vs. Rifle 19-8 (W) Montrose vs. Rifle 13-2 (W) Montrose vs. Palisade 16-2 (W) Montrose vs. Grand Junction 6-5 (W) Montrose vs. Montezume-Cortez 15-5 (W) Montrose vs. Montezume-Cortez 14-4 (W) Montrose vs. Fruita Monument 7-18 (L) Montrose vs. Eagle Valley 25-4 (W)
Feature
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Jumping from new heights MHS students take the plunge September
Alex Waege Feature Writer
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adrenaline rushes and bursts of fear. But some teenagers mix the activity with alcohol. “Liquid courage,” though, could lead to a deadly mistake. Alcohol influences balance, coordination, and judgment, and its effects are heightened by sun exposure and heat. “I personally do not do it, but for the people who do, they say it is way more fun to drink first. I have heard a rumor that when you are intoxicated, you cannot swim, so I do not want to push my limits,” junior Brooke Brennecke said.
he heart pounds in the ears and the blood rushes quickly through the veins as one prepares onesself to hit the icy water 30 feet below. The adrenaline is pumping, and friends are cheering from above. Over the summer some Montrose High School students discovered the hobby of doing exactly what has been described: bridge jumping. Most students choose the Black Bridge in Escalante Canyon where they jump from - Senior Raevyn Moxley dangerous heights to the water below. Jumping from a 100-foot “We went bridge jump- drop can cause injuries such as ing lots of times this summer broken bones and head trauwith a big group. It was fun ma. There may also be debris to see everyone and get to- under the surface of the water gether and do something that that is not apparent to jumpers. took the heat off summer,” The dangers and possibilities senior Raevyn Moxley said. of various injuries are endless. Bridge jumping may be an “I guess it is pretty dangerexhilarating hobby, causing ous, because you do not know
“The danger part just makes the thrill of it more intense.”
what is at the bottom, and you could hit rocks or drown or something crazy. But the danger part just makes the thrill of it more intense,” Moxley said. Some students say they enjoy the thrill of taking dangerous risks, while others simply do it for the fun. “I did not really think of the dangers besides the current or hitting the water wrong and injuring yourself,” Brennecke said. There are laws regarding jumping from cliffs, bridges or anything over 30 feet high, and it is considered attempted suicide. Jumping from bridges less than 30 feet, however, is legal. If students are not trespassing or jumping from the tops of bridges, the hobby is perfectly legal. Bridge jumping can be an invigorating activity, but those Montrose High School students and anyone else who engages should be aware of the inherent dangers and carefully consider the risks and hazards of bridge jumping before deciding to take the plunge.
Photo Courtesy of Brooke Brennecke
Ta k i n g R i s k s Jumping from an extreme height, junior Brooke Brennecke participates in another dangerous activity, leaping from giant rocks into the murky waters at the potholes in Escalante Canyon.
How to:save a life
Summer activities can be fun. But when you get into trouble far from immediate help, you can run into real danger. It is important to know some basic safety protocol in case you find yourself in a risky situation.
CPR Staying Alive
DOWN RIVER
ALWAYS be wearing a life vest. Cross your arms over your chest while floating. Keep your feet in front of you, facing down stream.
Victim may appear calm when drowning, not moving. Victim can also appear as if climbing a ladder. Both reactions are calm, but it is important to identify.
GET HELP
OBSERVE
Water Rescue
Call 911. Get a buoy to assist you when rescuing. Victims will latch on to you and drag you under the surface if you do not have something for them to grab onto. A t-shirt or towel will work, too.
BREATH.
PUMP.
Tilt the victim’s head back, open the mouth and make sure nothing is blocking the airway. Begin pumping with straight arms to the beat of “Staying Alive” in the middle of the chest.
OBSTACLES
Avoid sticks, boulders and other debris. Push objects out of the way with your feet.
Only attempt a rescue if you are a strong swimmer. Use a freestyle form and do not get within reach of the victim. Toss your device to the victim and yell, “Grab on!”
Between every 30 pumps, breathe two times into the victim’s mouth by first plugging the nose with your forefinger and thumb. Repeat the last two steps until help arrives.
UNDERTOW
If drawn under water into a hole or “undertow,” take a deep breath, stay calm and hug your knees. The water will push you out. If it does not, move to one side of the hole, and it should dislodge you.
RESCUE
R I V E R S A F E T Y
LISTEN.
Check the victim’s pulse and listen to breaths. If there is nopulse or the breathing is irreggular, begin CPR and call 911.
SWIM
LOOK.
Check if the victim is responsive. If the chest is not rising and falling normally, proceed to the following steps.
Pull the victim to safety, checking every couple of paces to be sure he or she is still holding on.
Graphics by Kaylynn Miller