Kierariley by Lori Hart

portfolio portfolio portfolio portfolio portfolio

kiera riley kiera riley kiera riley kiera riley kiera riley

self analysis

Taking an analytical look at oneself is necessary to igniting positive change. Recognizing shortcomings or flaws and striving to improve upon them is what makes us progressive. This semester, I made mistakes, I did things wrong; but, I also learned a lot. All of my slipups throughout the semester may have seemed detrimental at the time but because of the faults in my work, I have grown as a student, an editor, and as a person. Leadership, production, time management, ethics, and dedication taught themselves through the work Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve done in this class and I look forward to the many lessons that wait for me in the future. As an editor, I understand how the way I lead affects the work of the staff. I found that setting an example for others as well providing positive reinforcement and guidance works well for me. It sets bounds for open communication and encourages the staff and the editors to put their best effort forward. I strive to continue this style of leadership, to be an open, encouraging leader. One of the things I lack is a connection with everyone on the staff. Understanding more about a person leads to learning more about how they approach different issues and how I can best work with them to solve those conflicts that arise. With a reciprocal understanding of one another, working through problems become easier. There is no one way to do something so being open-minded to other perspectives improves how I interact and lead the staff. Newspaper is something I am passionate about. Leadership comes easier because it is something I care deeply about. Every single aspect of the paper is vital to creating a consistent and cumulative whole. Facilitating the staff writers in a positive manner improves my page which improves the newspaper as a whole. As far as the physical creation of the newspaper, I learned more about design and editing. Although the opinion page does not allow for extensive design, this semester I ventured outside the template and try my best to add more complex elements of design to draw more student interest to the different voices of the opinion page. Through this I gathered a better understanding of how to use InDesign and Photoshop. I also created a fair amount of infographics for my page to add to the articles and so Canva was also a program I learned more about. With my pages I also learned a fair amount about editing. Editing is the most important part of putting together a page. A page is nothing without good, well-written content. Doing the edits on GoogleDocs is effective but I feel like talking to writers more often will improve my editing as well as their writing. I have found myself in far too many situations where I rewrote entire articles and I attribute this to my lack of communication with my writers. Deadlines also play a part in the physical creation of the paper. I wrestled with the issue of deadlines during my first year of newspaper but I feel this year I have almost overcome the challenge they pose. I more often get my work in and finish my pages on time. Ethics are something that I have paid more attention to this semester. Dealing with plagiarism firsthand was eye-opening. When I discovered that one of the articles for my page was stolen from another source, I was surprised. I did not think that dishonesty was something that occurred in a student-run newspaper. In reality, dishonesty in journalism is now a ubiquitous theme. After dealing with this, I realized the importance of checking for dishonesty and fallacies in other articles. If that article was published, our reputation as an honest, unbiased student news source would have been tarnished

indefinitely. Honesty, equity, and fairness is the most vital thing in a news source. Unbiased is a word that is typically not associated with the opinion pages but I feel it is important to show both sides of the spectrum. In the coming year I hope to level out the playing field for both sides of every story and tackle more controversial issues. I want the writers for my page to examine the other side of their issue and learn to argue both sides. I feel this will create more open-minded, objective journalist. I was an asset to the paper by trying to be a resource for advice and help to editors and staff alike. I also pick up slack where the paper may have gaps in work. For example, I have rewritten a good amount of articles on my page such as the opinion pieces on Juuls and New Years Resolutions. I also wrote a part of the con Trump piece when it was struggling to match word count. I am dedicated to the paper. I enjoy writing my stories, designing my pages, and attempting to take pictures (I’m still working on my photography skills). I take the time to get thorough interviews, relevant quotes, and accurate information. I spend my lunchtime editing my articles or designing my pages everyday. I want my page to look consistent and well-designed and I want the content to be relevant and hard-hitting. I am willing to take the time to make sure that happens. The hardships I have faced this year include my work as a writer and an editor. As a writer, I have failed to get pictures on time, my one glaring error being the blacksmith article. In the November issue, I forgot to put Donald Trump’s name in the report card, (it may have seemed like my own silent protest, but I promise, the wrong PDF got printed). I learned I need to double check my work, and I need to be reviewing my articles everyday. I also learned that I need to schedule pictures beforehand so I don’t come up empty-handed, disadvantaging an editor. I have made mistakes, I have forgotten to do things, I have not been consistent enough in my editing but after all my hardships I learn more about myself and what I need to change in order to improve as an asset on the CS Press. My biggest weakness is my lack of communication. Not necessarily among my fellow editors, but with the staff writers. I need to be upfront with people and work with them to edit their stories. I have learned that secretly changing their entire article and not telling them about it does not work well for anyone. I want the staff to improve and I want them to learn along the way. They are not going to learn if I keep taking the metaphorical wheel and do it myself. Next semester, I plan on meeting with my writers everyday and discussing how we can improve their article. I will use all the skills I have acquired from newspaper in the future. Even though I plan to pursue journalism after high school, the things I have learned are applicable to any part of my life. Leadership is key in any school or work environment. Ethics is just a general principle that will help in my personal and professional relationships and works. Communication also is universal in it’s importance and will definitely follow me throughout my life. Physical production and design of a paper will assist me if I do follow through with my career in journalism. Newspaper has taught me so much and will continue to teach me life lessons and important tools for my possible future. This class is something I am deeply passionate about and the interest it sparks in me lights a flame that will not soon go out.

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reflection 1

my most significant contribution this year was my october opinion spread. I feel like this was my best work because it was organized, relevant, and well-designed. there was consistency among the topics covered on each page. For example, the animal cruelty stories about kill shelters and aquariums were featurued on the same page with correlating infographics. I also incorporated the colors from each infographic into the spread which pulled the page together nicely. This was not necessarily difficult to put together it just took more time on a count of the infographics. Overall, the pages look coherent. As far as content, we covered relevant topics such as the pledge of allegience in relation to the collin kaepernick protests, civility in the turbulent political election, gun violence, and issues with the opening of the new aquarium in Scottsdale. One of the main challenges with this spread was the issue with plagarism on the gun article. Luckily, sara stepped up and wrote a great editorial covering the issue of teachers carrying guns. I also received a certificate for best editing and best pro/con writing for this issue.

opinion pages; october

press

the

shadows R of Cactus Arizona the NEWSPAPE in Cave Creek, high school

CSPress Editors

Editor in Chief Opinion Editor Features Editor News Editor Sports Editor Spotlight Editor Creeker Editor Style Editor Photo Editor Food Editor Travel Editor

Alex LAGGREN Kiera RILEY Katelyn REINHART Lauren HAGGAR Annalee BARNETT Madeline HOWARD Mia GILLING Sara WINDOM Logan LARKIN Olivia STICKEL Kiera RILEY

CSPress Staff Caity BONINE, Sarah BROWN, Katie BUTLER, Dominic DAVIES, Keely DORAN, Sean GANNON, Faith HASHER, Grace HAYCRAFT, Louise JAGUS, Zoie LAMBESIS, Emma RUSELLO, Olivia STICKEL, Megan WALKER, Hallie WOOLDRIDGE EDITORIAL POLICY: The CSPress is published by the Journalism class of Cactus Shadows High School. The newspaper serves the students and staff of Cactus Shadows High School and as a connection to the surrounding community. The objective of the CSPress is to publish a factual, informative and entertaining newspaper, and to provide a forum for the expression of diverse viewpoints. The opinions and views expressed do not necessarily represent the views of the administration, the adviser, or all CSPress staff members. The CSPress is also published online, at cactusshadowscspress.com. The editors reserve the right to reject any material that is libelous, obscene, or poses an immediate and material disruption to the educational environment. WE VALUE YOUR OPINION. EMAIL YOUR LETTER TO CSPRESS.OPINION@gmail.COM The CSPress values opinions from its readers. If you have something to say about anything you had read, please write a letter to the editor and send it to cspress. opinion@gmail.com. Letters must be typed, less than 100 words in length and signed. The editorial staff reserves the right to edit for length. The CSPress will not print letters that are obscene, libelous or that target an individual. Advertisements that are obscene, misleading, or illegal to minors will not be printed. The CSPress reserves the right to reject any advertisement. To place an ad, contact the adviser or the Advertising Manager at (480) 575-2493. The CSPress is a member of the Columbia Scholastic Press Association, the National Scholastic Press Association, the Journalism Education Association, and the Arizona Interscholastic Press Association.

The CSPress Cactus Shadows High School P.O. Box 426 Cave Creek, Arizona 85327 (480) 575-2400 October 14, 2016, Volume 10: Issue 2 School enrollment: 1722 Number of copies printed: 1100 THE CACTUS SHADOWS PRESS

OPINION

OPINION OPINION

civility in the face of chaos ‘Treat others how you want to be treated’ is a phrase that continues to ring true but is seldom followed, especially in politics. With the increasing tensions in the upcoming election, people are finding it more and more difficult to be civil when discussing current issues. Democrat, Republican, Liberal, Conservative, it doesn’t matter. Every party or affiliation is guilty of vicious behavior towards the other side. Not only in the news, but in everyday life, people can not remotely listen to or consider the other side of the story. Political conversations are often charged with anything but facts, it’s all spitfire and rage when anyone mentions either Clinton or Trump. There is such a high degree of division with this election, it is literally tearing this country apart. So the fact that people can’t discuss their opinions in a civil manner is truly disheartening. Since when is is a crime to disagree with someone? Having a peaceful political conversation is actually a lot easier than everyone believes, all it takes is ears. Listen to the other side, consider their point. Don’t just sit there, staring at the other person with a smirk, preparing to rip their argument apart with a slew of angry comments, harsh comparisons, and volatile names. It is so important to respect the other side and to consider their point of view. Remaining close- minded has not gotten anyone anywhere and frankly, it is not going to start

AS WE SEE it thE EditoRiAl

now. Keeping an open mind, putting yourself in someone else’s shoes, that is where progress starts. Get both sides of the story before making the decision to harshly insult someone and their mother. Civility is a thing, peaceful debates are a thing. And get this, it is possible to remain friends with someone who has different political ideas than you. The fact that people are finding it a challenge to have a relationship with another person because they feel one way or another on a political issue is insane. It should not matter. It can be difficult when people you love disagree with you. Disagreements often evolve into fights and that conflict can be hard to deal with. However, it is far less frustrating to step back and respect their opinion. Agreeing to disagree is better than cutting someone off based on their political viewpoints. It is important to hear diverse thoughts and opinions. Befriending people with differing viewpoints should be encouraged. It does not matter who you support, you should not be attacking anyone for any reason. Trump supporters as well as Clinton supporters don’t have any real reason to act so harshly to anyone that disagrees with them. Respect the opinions of others, be willing to debate with them, but do not hate someone purely because they support Trump or Clinton. We are all human, we all have different thoughts, we all experience and perceive things in different ways, this is life, this has always been apart of the human experience.

The EDITORIAL represents the consensus view of the members of the Editorial Board. The Editorial Board members are Alex Laggren, Kiera Riley, Katelyn Reinhart, Lauren Haggar, Annalee Barnett, Madeline Howard, Mia Gilling, Sara Windom, Logan Larkin, and Olivia Stickel.

he Odysea Aquarium has become the American Southwest’s newest impractical and unethical feature. Using two million gallons of water to supply all 10,000 sea creatures imported to the Aquarium in the middle of the Sonoran Desert is the irony of the century. This 200,000 square foot behemoth can be seen anytime of day on the East side of the 101 freeway. Aquariums like these are industries built on the suffering of intelligent, social beings who are denied everything that is natural and important to them. The ratio from 10,000 sea creatures, to the 200,000 square footage is an abomination. With simple, math it is easily determined that each animal on average is given 20 square feet to spend the rest of it’s life in. The average human lives in a home of 2,600 square feet. Compared to a human, the scalloped hammerhead shark, which is the largest shark on display reaching up to 8.2 feet in length, would require a space much larger than a human to be comfortable. Animal rights activists oppose aquariums for the same reason they oppose zoos. Fish and other sea creatures, like their land-dwelling relatives, are sentient and have a right to live free from human exploitation. In addition, there are concerns about the treatment of the animals in captivity, especially marine mammals. Some of the concerns involving animal treatment are poor government regulations, interactive programs, separated families, and physical/psychological effects. Many government regulations offer little to no protection for the animals, and the U.S department of Agriculture have only 126 inspectors that must inspect 10,433 facilities every

year. This leaves very minimal amount of time to take serious action on violations aquariums may have made. Following that, the interactive programs like ‘petting pools’ often introduce foreign bacteria and other pathogens, and they can become anxious, frustrated, aggressive, and even neurotic as a result of being confined to shallow tanks and exposure to constant interaction with humans. As a result, many animals in the aquariums can become physically and psychologically harmed due to human neglect, and improper habitats that will never be able to replicate the animal's natural environment. According to the World Society for the Protection of Animals, a dolphin in the wild swims 40 miles per day, but US regulations require dolphin pens to be only 30 feet in length. A dolphin would have to circle his tank more than 3,500 times every day to simulate his natural range. No matter how hard an aquarium tries, they will never be able to synthesize the actual ocean, which ultimately is the only suitable environment for a sea creature. Another problem is the amount water being wasted for an hour worth of guilty pleasure and the loss of $30 to the curious customer. In the middle of the desert, Arizona is suffering from a drought and is running out of ground water. Siphoning an initial two million gallons of water, followed by however much the longevity of the aquarium will prove to need is excessive. As an advocate for animal rights and the proper treatment of the animals in the Odysea Aquarium, I am taking the action of not visiting the aquarium or supporting their values.

teachers teachers withwith gunsguns Sara windom

“If a gun is being carried by an adult on campus, it should be by a trained professional.”

aS a rESult of thE many

school shootings the United States has seen across the board in the last few years, schools are fighting back… or shooting back. Oklahoma, Ohio, Utah and several other states have already chosen to arm their faculty in the case of an emergency, according to the Washington Post. The reason for this tends to be because the school has an open campus, and would otherwise be open to an attack at any given moment. While this may seem like a solution, it is quite the costly one. On Cabella’s website, the average handgun costs anywhere from $300 to $1,000 dollars. The typical, medium sized high school has approximately 100 teachers on campus. Arming every teacher with a handgun would cost at least $3,000 dollars, at the cheapest option. This seems like a lot more work and money than closing that campus off with a gate and going over safety measures every so often.

For those who argue a gate will not stop an armed intruder, there is an even better alternative: metal detectors. Many schools have implemented metal detectors into the front entrances of the school, forcing students who wish to enter to pass through a device that will detect knives, guns, bombs or any other dangerous weapons. According to Gothamist, a New York school that put this product to place recovered 126 potential weapons in the first two months of installation. This removes most weapons on campus altogether, which seems more effective than handing teachers, most of whom have no actual training using guns in a workplace, a weapon so they can make a split decision in an emergency. Even police officers, who, according to thinkprogress.org, shoot around 99 people per month, are coming under fire (no pun intended) for killing innocent people. How are teachers supposed to make this call? Imagine this: there’s a new student

lauren haggar

with no ID on, pulling at the classroom door, unaware that it is locked. The students are scared, they think it is an intruder. The teacher sees the student as a threat to everyone’s safety and fatally kills the new student. Police officers are being called out for making decisions based on racial and sexual bias, or simply because they are hot headed. Now, the answer is giving teachers, who have been fired for these same mistakes a weapon? Instead of being fired for a racial slur, they will be fired for getting a bit too upset and firing a round on somebody. Instead of putting parents, students, and the entire school’s staff at risk of being accidentally shot at, why not simply hire an on campus police officer? If a gun is being carried by an adult on campus, it should be by a trained professional who has been doing this for years, not a teacher who took their first shot over spring break.

OCTObER 14, 2016 ■ 7

kill shelters “It is truly saddening to think that someone could miss the chance to meet their forever friend because they came to a shelter an hour too late.”

8 ■ OctOber 14, 2016

AS PROTESTS ACROSS THE COUNTRY FOCUS IN ON THE NATIONAL ANTHEM, STUDENTS WEIGH IN ON THE ISSUE OF THE FLAG

AnnAlee BArnett

respect our country

logan larkin

anti aquarium “No matter how hard an aquarium tries, they will never be able to synthesize the actual ocean, which is ultimately the only suitable environment for a sea creature.”

ill a human and you are a murderer, kill animals everyday and you are somehow considered an animal shelter. According to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA), approximately 7.9 million animals enter animal shelters each year, and of that rather large number, around 2.7 million are euthanized each year. Yes, you heard right not one million, not two million, not three million, but almost four million animals are euthanized each and every year. Innocent animals die every single day due to the lack of compassion and awareness in our nation. AmericanHumane.org reported that the majority of euthanasia in shelters is due to overpopulation of dogs and cats. This problem is a legitimate issue but there are some rather simple solutions other than euthanization Individuals who breed animals without spaying and neutering them are doing the animals a disservice. Without this crucial process, the rate at which animals reproduce is much higher than it should be. The animals should not be punished for the owner’s poor decisions.The ASPCA stated that the cost of spaying or neutering an animal is less than the total cost of raising a litter of cats or dogs. It is vital for the safety of animals that people begin to understand the importance of this very simple procedure that could greatly reduce animal population, therefore reducing the number of animals euthanized. In addition, many animals are put down for reasons that they cannot control. Sadly, such a vast majority of innocent animals are euthanized because of medical reasons. It is terribly inhumane and cruel to decide to take away an animal's life because of a medical

condition.The difference between humans and animals is when humans can not care for themselves and do not have the money to do so, there are organizations that help pay for these treatments along with aids for the financial aspects. Instead of just giving up on animals because they have one thing that flaws them from being the “model dog or cat” people need to fundraise for these creatures without a voice. Similarly to being euthanized for medical conditions, animals are often put down for behavioral issues. This issue stems from individuals not understanding the importance of training and correct procedures on how to train animals. Yes of course their are some animals who are unfortunately tormented, with issues that cannot be solved, but the majority of animals can be helped with some simple training. Before people turn in animals to a shelter for behavioral issues they need to make sure they have have used up every option, to ensure they have given the animal a fair chance. This does not mean spending thousands of dollars on training programs. Training a dog or cat can be done by purchasing books, watching YouTube videos, even reading articles on the subject. Many will claim that euthanizing an animal is inevitable. In some cases this statement is true, but not before all of the options are thoroughly looked into, and each and every animal is given a fair chance at life. These beings do so much for people's lives on a daily basis; dogs alone serve in our military, aid people with disabilities, and accompany peiple in lifelong companionship. It is truly saddening to think that someone could miss the chance to meet their forever friend because they came to a shelter an hour too late. tHe cActUS SHADOWS PreSS

Every man and women has total freedom in the United States. They can say what they feel, they can be what they want, and they can stand up for what they think is right. These freedoms cannot be infringed upon. That’s the beauty of being an American. Those who enjoy the liberties provided to them by the United States should also respect the flag of the country that gives them so much opportunity. Why protest against the very thhat gives you the right to do so? Recently, there has been a surge of American citizens who have been sitting during the National Anthem. This trend was started by NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick at the third preseason game when he refused to stand for the National Anthem due to his feelings regarding the police and oppression. Kaepernick is in the public eye, so he should use his fame to voice issues that he feels are pressing in the United States. However, there are better ways to speak out against police brutality then wearing anti police socks and sitting during the national anthem. On August 27, Kaepernick's birth mother, Heidi Russo, sent out a tweet that read, “There’s ways to make change with“Why protest out disrespecting and bringing shame to against the the very country and family that afforded very thing you so many blessings.” On August 28, 1963, one man successthat gives fully took a stand against black oppresyou the right sion in the United States without totally demeaning his country and his flag in to do so?” the process. Martin Luther King Jr. stood at the top of the steps of the Lincoln Memorial and recited his famous speech, “I Have a Dream.” He changed history and helped stop oppression all while standing for the flag, imagine that. Although Kaepernick’s protest is peaceful, it is not positive. In sitting during the national anthem, he has created a maelstrom of anger among fans and Americans. So much so that the focus has been put entirely on him and off the reason he is protesting. The people he has angered are less likely to focus on the reason he’s sitting and more likely to focus on how much they disagree with him. The hashtag, #VeteransForKaepernick is being used by Veterans who support Kaepernick’s display of freedom of speech. Although there are many Veterans that are totally supporting Kaepernick, there are others who are not. They respect that he is exercising his right to freedom of speech (as is the right of every American), but they do not respect the way in which he does it. There are people all around the world working hard to meet the requirements for American citizenship just so that they can experience the liberties most take for granted. Any one of those immigrants would be proud to stand for the National Anthem of the flag that gave them freedom. Americans get used to the feeling of liberty, so something like standing for the flag seems banal and overdone, but in all honesty, it’s an honor.

iillustration by dominic daviEs THE CACTUS SHADOWS PRESS

The RepoRT CaRd

kierA riley

right to protest It is safe to say there is a problem when peaceful protest is met with national uproar, anger, and a surplus of death threats. Those respectfully abstaining from standing for the national anthem, the pledge of allegiance, or basically anything that is relatively patriotic, are not committing acts of terrorism. They are doing just the opposite; they are exercising the rights given to them by the constitution. This issue has always been controversial throughout history but it is just recently that there has been so much conflict surrounding it. One of the issues that has caught the attention of the media is NFL player Colin Kaepernick. After his refusal to stand for the flag during the San Francisco 49ers’ third preseason game, many questions were raised regarding the situation. It was not until he released a statement confirming his “The problem actions and the reasons behind it that the is not his situation exploded. The reason he has taken this stance is due protest, the to the issues surrounding police violence problem is the towards people of color. It is his way of bringpeople who ing attention to an issue negatively impacting millions of lives in America, so what’s fail to see the the big fuss? patriotism in Many have viciously attacked the player, even going so far as sending him violent challenging threats littered with racial slurs and burning oppression in of his jersey. All of the outrage is happenthis country.” ing on the basis that it is disrespectful and anti-American. There are viable points coming from the opposition, but most of them do not focus on the reasoning behind the protest, but rather the act itself. The strongest argument points out that Kaepernick is disrespecting the soldiers that fought for his right to freedom, but his fails to recognize that his freedoms include the right to peaceful protest, and freedom of speech. Veterans have backed Kaepernick on social media platforms, starting the hashtag, #VeteransforKaepernick. The soldiers voicing their support for Kaepernick say they are proud to defend his freedom of speech. They encourage taking a stand, creating change and challenging injustice. Blind patriotism often clouds the already foggy scope of the values that this country was originally built on. When the founding fathers created the constitution, they made it in a way in which the people had the power to speak out against what they saw as wrong or unjust. It is evident in the history of the United States that the people can and should challenge the government and strive to make it fair for all. Through Kaepernick’s protests, he is bringing awareness to government institutions that have been bigoted, oppressive, and violent towards people. Exercising his basic freedoms is the opposite of disrespecting those who have fought for it, it is embracing and using these rights to try and make a positive change in a broken system. Frankly, the people focusing on the issue of sitting for the national anthem are the people who are deliberately trying to avoid the issue Kaepernick is bringing awareness to. The problem is not his protest, the problem is the people who fail to see the patriotism in challenging oppression in this country.

weather Fall has come, but in Arizona sometimes it is hard to tell. The past couple weeks, the mornings have cooled down to around 75 degrees, but by the time most people leave school, it heats up to around 95 degrees. This weather calls for hot coffee in the mornings instead of iced, which brings a more winter feel.

homecoming theme This years homecoming is Alice in Wonderland themed, which will bring some creativity to the dance. Compared to last years theme, American Horror Story, this theme is more relatable to most students. The theme is based off the newer, creepier version of the movie, not the cartoon version. Because of this, the dance will have a darker, more mysterious feel.

advisory lessons The new advisory lessons are definitely a step up from last year’s. With increasing organization and the focus on topics more prevalent in our school’s community, such as shootings, IDs and safety in general. The new packets enforce more student participation but still, students fail to participate. Overall, the lessons are more thorough but student interest is still low.

UEmma rusEllo OCTObER 14, 2016 ■ 9

tear sheets

September

newspageNEWS5

Proposition 205 has Arizona flying high

By KIERA RILEY g opinion editor

HE push for the legalization of recreational mari-

juana has once again hit Arizona as it will be on the ballot this coming November. Proposition 205, or the Arizona Marijuana Legalization Initiative, will decide the future of marijuana use in the state. Proposition 205 is the movement to legalize the recreational use of marijuana. Similar to states like Colorado and Washington, if passed, the proposition will regulate the sale and use of marijuana like alcohol. This proposition made it on the ballot in Arizona and will go to the public on November 8. “It’s never hurt anyone, I don’t see the point in it being illegal and having people go to jail when it hasn’t killed anyone,” said Matt Blackert, a junior. In order to get on the ballot, petitioners need 225,963 signatures by July 7th, 2016. This year, six initiatives were proposed involving marijuana, but prop 205 was the only one to make it on the ballot. The most recent poll surveyed individuals 21 and older about their stance on the issue. According to the Arizona Republic, 50 percent of voters support the proposition, 40 percent oppose the measure and 10 percent remain undecided. This does not definitively decide which way the vote will go. The margin of error is around 3.4 percent and with upcoming campaigns both supporting and opposing proposition 205, undecided voters could go either way. “I would be against legalizing any new drugs, I just don’t see the purpose,” said Chris Dodrill, history teacher. The regulations in prop 205 covers issues like sale, possession and consumption limits. If the proposition passes, Governor Ducey will appoint members to the Department of Marijuana Licenses and Control to monitor all dispensaries. It is also likely that the proposition will create a separate law enforcement team to enforce these new regulations. Distribution, cultivation, manufacturing, and testing facilities will be required to be licensed and regulated. The legal age to use and grow marijuana will be the same as alcohol, 21. All users are limited to one ounce and are only allowed to consume the drug in private, public use is still outlawed. “I think as far as it being legalized, I think you’re going to get into a lot of trouble with people going out and smoking marijuana and doing things while they’re impaired, like driving or committing crimes,” said Dodrill. Users are also only allowed to grow 12 cannabis plants in

a single household. Even so, landlords would still have the right to prohibit the use or growth on properties. The amount of retail marijuana stores would be limited in their numbers, their location and what they could sell to customers. Licenses to sell would be limited at about ten percent of the alcohol licenses in Arizona, which is still under 180. Neighborhoods would also have the right to limit when and where dispensaries were allowed. “People should understand that marijuana isn’t some gateway drug. It’s a medicine and it’s here for a reason. It helps us,” said Aless Zamora, a junior. Packaging and labeling guidelines would also be required for these dispensaries, similar to the sale of medical marijuana. Businesses would also be required to test marijuana products for safety and health reasons. As far as taxing goes, the state would implement a 15 percent tax on marijuana. This would not change the existing tax on medicinal marijuana. Initially, the money will go towards the Department of Marijuana Licenses and Control and other related services. “We spend millions of dollars on the war on drugs so we’d be saving money and making money off weed being legalized,” said Blackert. All other revenue would be split among the Department of Education and the Department of Health Services in three categories: school construction, maintenance and operating costs, full-day kindergarten, and a public education program about the dangers of alcohol, marijuana and other substances. While the legalization will change laws regarding possession and sales, many regulations will remain the same. Public use will remain illegal along with operating a vehicle under the influence, and selling the substance without a license. Employers are still granted the right to prohibit drug use as well.

COMING TO YOUR TOWN. Ann Murray a clerk at Muffy’s Pot in Port Townsand, Washington prepares for another busy day in a state that has legalized recreational marijuana. 4ROBERT ADAMSON

“The most recent poll surveyed individuals 21andolderabouttheirstanceontheissue. According to the Arizona Republic, 50 percent of voters support the proposition, 40 percent oppose the measure and 10 percent remain undecided.” Arizona Republic

TICK TOCK TIME FOR NEW CLOCKS By SARA WINDOM g style editor

With the start of a new school year in sight, Cactus Shadows stepped up the security on campus in several ways, even the clocks underwent adjustments. “The systems we had last year, by a company called Integra, costed too much money [to repair], so we upgraded to the new ones,” said Principal Steven Bebee. The upgrade included new features such as, “call and emergency buttons that allow teach-

THE CACTUS SHADOWS PRESS

ers to reach the office with no cell reception,” Bebee explained. Classroom clocks, along with the day to day functions of telling the time, broadcasting the announcements, and ringing the bells to signify the beginning and end of class, also serve a safety purpose. All of the timekeepers are wired with a red button hidden somewhere in the classrooms in case of emergency. “The teachers all know where they are in the classroom and yes,

they know how to use them,” said Bebee. When in a dangerous situation, teachers can push the button and alert the office of their trouble, even without cell reception. Many students seem to be fine with the change, such as junior Allie Holt, “they always have the right time, which is nice, and that’s really smart… safety first.” The hallway clocks are a different story. Large digital clocks seen around the campus out-

side of classrooms can, in case of emergency, display certain messages depending on the situation. Bebee explained because the announcements are sometimes hard to hear, “In the event we have a lockdown, those digital clocks will automatically tell you… a scrolling message will appear on the screen.” When informed about features to make the campus safer, Michael Chmura, a junior, said, “I never hope there’s any emer-

gencies ever, but it’s really good they’re doing that… I feel like the clocks are adding a whole new level of security on the campus.” Besides the safety features, the clocks have also been able to project the right time for the three weeks they have been in use, as opposed to last year’s, many of which were broken altogether. The clocks are a district wide change.

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LOVING THE LONG LUNCH Students flow out of classrooms from all corners of the school, all convening in the cafeteria for the new forty five minute lunch. Although some may argue it is a bit too crowded, the new block lunch system benefits students by providing more opportunities for homework and clubs. Students who are prevented from staying after school because of their ride situation are part of the reasoning behind the change. With the long lunch, students with this problem can join clubs, get help from teachers, and make up any missed work. Clubs can now meet at lunch. This offers a new sense of inclusion for students who otherwise would not be able to join. In fact, all clubs are now required to have at least one lunch meeting a month. Falcon Unified, Model UN, Fashion club, Student Council, French club and many oth-

AS WE SEE IT THE EDITORIAL

ers are just a few examples of the new club schedules. This provides more time for planning, participating, and becoming involved. Teachers are also now required to have office hours for a fraction of the lunch period. This way students can come in to get more help from teachers. The extra help can assist in test scores and a general understanding of the material. Because of these opportunities, students have a greater chance at academic success. Test and quiz makeups can also be done at lunch during office hours. This makes it easier for teachers and students alike. It also prevents the loss of valuable class time. Students who cannot stay after have to take the tests in class and often are left behind with makeup work. Valuable class time is restored with the block lunch. Despite all the positives, the new lunch system has students reeling about long lines and crowded tables. The lunch lines have always been long,

block lunch or not. And the majority of the chaos can be contributed to the time students get their food. Many rush to get to the front of the line in the first ten minutes of the block. If students just waited a few more minutes, they would see now lines in the last twenty minutes of lunch. There are also more carts and vendors set up around the campus that provide shorter line options. As far as seating goes, the school has opened the grey gym lobby to students and the cafeteria clears out about half way through the lunch. Anyone can get an air conditioned, indoor table if they are willing to wait a few minutes. Likewise, many teachers have allowed students to eat in their rooms. Disregarding the minor inconveniences, more positives exist than negatives. The block lunch is helping more than hurting and students should take full advantage of all the opportunities it offers.

KATELYN REINHART

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September September September

OPINION

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The opinionRepoRT CaRd page 9 weather Fall has come, but in Arizona sometimes it is hard to tell. The past couple weeks, the mornings have cooled down to around 75 degrees, but by the time most people leave school, it heats up to around 95 degrees. This weather calls for hot coffee in the mornings instead of iced, which brings a more winter feel.

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By KIERA RILEY g opinion editor

ITH school in full swing, students search for

a perfect place to study in Cave Creek. “I like studying out somewhere else because I can get my friends to help me or I can get different opinions on how to do a project, it’s great for group work,” said Gabby Gianni, a senior. Cave Creek offers many quiet havens for students to focus on school work and socialize with friends. All of the spots bring their own elements to the table to create an atmosphere built for studying. Janey’s Coffee Co. and Bodega offers a classic coffee shop environment. With high top tables, booths, and couches, students can get comfy and complete school work. Acoustic music accompanies the warmly lit coffeehouse with spots to sit indoors and outdoors. The booths offer a more secluded and quiet atmosphere while other spots provide more of a social setting. “It’s really quiet and they have good music. I like the setup of the place,” said Jessi Kotowski, a junior. Offering an assortment of coffees, teas and drinks as well as a breakfast and lunch menu, students can have a small snack while they work. Janey’s provides an environment for the individual who desires a combination of socializing and focusing. The coffeehouse is located off of Cave Creek road near Dairy Queen and is open until nine on Mondays and Tuesdays, ten on Sundays and Wednesdays, and eleven Thursdays through Saturdays. For those who do better in a quiet environment, the Desert Foothills Library offers an atmosphere emphasizing more on studying. There are a variety of different spots for students to 16 ■ SEPTEMBER 16, 2016

opinionpage 7

work. It also offers access to computers and internet. Although the library does not welcome social studying as warmly as a coffee shop, it is a great way to get some peace and quiet to finish up assignments. The library is located on Schoolhouse road and is open until six p.m. on weekdays, four p.m. on Saturdays, and three p.m. on Sundays. Local Jonny’s is similar to Janey’s as it offers food, drinks, and a more social atmosphere to study in. Seating ranges from tables to couches, offering space to spread out and do homework. The environment is a little louder and does not have as many secluded seating options, but the coffee and food options make up for it. The Grotto also offers a social atmosphere for collaboration with friends. There is seating outside and inside, with large tables for larger group work as well as smaller seating arrangements. They also offer food and coffee options “I just like the atmosphere and the music and the people. They have a back room where you can study with a group or you could go outside,” said Gianni. Studying outside of the house provides a place to focus on one specific thing with limited distractions. “When you get home you have your computer, you have your phone, you have your music, you have your mother who needs you, you have your siblings who are irritating you and there are too many distractions,” said Doni Nasr, spanish teacher. Studying outside of the house also provides a great space for group work as well. A public spot where all members can meet up and finish up a project or assignment is often beneficial to the dynamic of the group. Cave Creek offers a wide range of different spots to study, sip and spotlight the assignment, exam, or project at hand in a social but productive atmosphere.

WORKING ON SCHOOL ASSIGNMENTS, Kaili Orcutt and Christina Fankhanel, both seniors, relax and focus in Janey’s, a local coffeehouse. Janey’s offers a quiet yet social atmosphere for students to complete schoolwork.

MIA GILLING

THE CACTUS SHADOWS PRESS

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OPINION

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Sara windom

teachers with guns “If a gun is being carried by an adult on campus, it should be by a trained professional.”

aS a rESult of thE many

school shootings the United States has seen across the board in the last few years, schools are fighting back… or shooting back. Oklahoma, Ohio, Utah and sev-

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opinionpage 6

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OPINION

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women has total freedom in the United States. t they feel, they can be what they want, and they what they think is right. These freedoms cannot . That’s the beauty of being an American. oy the liberties provided to them by the United o respect the flag of the country that gives them nity. Why protest against the very thhat gives o so? has been a surge of American citizens who during the National Anthem. This trend was uarterback Colin Kaepernick at the third pren he refused to stand for the National Anthem s regarding the police and oppression. in the public eye, so he should use his fame hat he feels are pressing in the United States. e better ways to speak out against police brutalanti police socks and sitting during the national

On August 27, Kaepernick's birth mother, Heidi Russo, sent out a tweet that read, “There’s ways to make change without disrespecting and bringing shame to the very country and family that afforded you so many blessings.” On August 28, 1963, one man successfully took a stand against black oppression in the United States without totally demeaning his country and his flag in the process. Martin Luther King Jr. stood at the top of the steps of the Lincoln Memorial and recited his famous speech, He changed history and helped stop oppression for the flag, imagine that. ernick’s protest is peaceful, it is not positive. In national anthem, he has created a maelstrom ans and Americans. So much so that the focus rely on him and off the reason he is protesting. s angered are less likely to focus on the reason more likely to focus on how much they disagree

#VeteransForKaepernick is being used by port Kaepernick’s display of freedom of speech. re many Veterans that are totally supporting are others who are not. They respect that he is ht to freedom of speech (as is the right of every ey do not respect the way in which he does it. le all around the world working hard to meet for American citizenship just so that they can berties most take for granted. Any one of those d be proud to stand for the National Anthem ave om. sed libing the nal t in an

iillustration by dominic daviEs

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kierA riley

UEmma rusEllo OCTObER 14, 2016 ■ 9

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dows zona

treacherous text messages As if operating a vehicle with the ability to kill is not scary enough, the texting and driving epidemic adds another level of risk to driving. According to the American Automobile Association, 11 teenagers die everyday as a result of texting and driving. With these shocking statistics, why would anyone risk their life because of a short message? Driving distracted kills, texting and driving kills. And the worst part about the issue, when someone texts behind the wheel, they are not only endangering their own life, but the lives of everyone around them. Millions of people fall victim to the stupidity of another each year. At the end of the day, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s important to think about the possible damage that could be caused by texting and driving. First and foremost it is utterly selfish to risk the life of someone else, just so you can keep up with the latest tweets and texts. These people mean something to others. They are someone's

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OPINION mom, brother, sister, husband, wife, and so much more. They are not just random victims. What many fail to recognize is that is that texting while driving, is equal to someone driving completely blind while going 55 miles per hour, according to the US Department of Transportation. This is not only a terrifying statistic, but what is even more frightening is the fact that according to a survey conducted by CBS, approximately 25 percent of people text and drive. Likewise, in the state of Arizona texting and driving is not considered a crime. Therefore this type of distraction has become more and more popular, especially in younger drivers. The trend needs to end, and people of all ages alike need to recognize the importance of not only their life, but all others around them.

`illuStration by dominic davieS The EDITORIAL represents the consensus view of the members of the Editorial Board. The Editorial Board members are Alex Laggren, Kiera Riley, Katelyn Reinhart, Lauren Haggar, Annalee Barnett, Madeline Howard, Mia Gilling, Sara Windom, Logan Larkin, and Olivia Stickel.

confidential by Olivia Stickel g food editor

ing someone to â&#x20AC;&#x153;have confidence.â&#x20AC;? It is something that has to be worked in from the inside out. One simple way of building self-confidence is to try and stop comparing oneself to other peo-

november november november

november rebmevon

creekerpage 10 CREEKER

Making sparks fly

Local blacksmith provides insight into the art of working with metal By kiera riley § opinion editor

Vibrant

sparks

fly and hammer collides with red hot metal as Paul “Dief” Diefenderfer, local blacksmith, shapes steel into his next masterpiece. “There is something magical about taking iron, heating it up, and forming it. It is a very primitive thing,” said Dief. For over 12 years, Dief has pursued the craft of blacksmithing. This has led him to a new artistic passion as well as the start of his business, Desert Rat Forge. His business in blacksmithing takes form in tables, candlesticks, gates, railings, fences, lights, lamps, and anything else the client can think of. A true renaissance man, Dief has found his passion in creating works of art from scraps of metal. His fascination with the craft started at an arts and crafts festival in Cave Creek in 2001. There was a booth where a blacksmith was doing demonstrations of his work, pounding his tools into the softened metal and forming it into his next creation. The sparks coming from the metal must have set a fire

in Dief, because he has not stopped pursuing the craft since. Starting with joining clubs, watching demos and reading books, Dief is primarily self taught. His style is something that he has evolved over the years. His designs ditch the classical style and instead shows diversity in his art creating his mantra, “I don’t do straight lines,” said Dief. “I just pick up bits and pieces from here and there. Blacksmiths borrow a lot from each other; you’ll see something you like and then you’ll take that form, but you don’t duplicate it, you make it your own,” said Dief. The process of creating a new piece starts with the client. The first steps are figuring out what the customer needs, gauging price and sketching a design. Then it is to the forge where Dief begins planning out the piece. Depending on the size and complexity of the piece, the project can take anywhere from a few hours to a month or more. Planning out the design and style, and picturing the piece is crucial to the

overall outcome of the piece. “It’s really an eclectic style, it’s really not traditional, classical blacksmithing, it’s just an organic form,” said Dief. Although blacksmithing differs from other crafts like pottery, the same type of planning goes into it. “Sometimes it’s hard to come up with what you’re going to do, but once you get it going it’s easy to find the design and shape it,” said Brianna Foley, sophomore 3D design student. Blacksmithing differs from other crafts in a variety of ways. It is not something that can be patched up or painted over. When he makes a mistake, he often has to scrap the piece and start over. “The most challenging thing would probably be getting it to look how you envisioned it, I always imagine it looking so good and perfect but it’s kind of hard to get it to look like that,” said Alyssa Chavka, a junior and 3D design student. In the future, Dief plans to focus on more art projects and scaling up on the size of his current designs.

fired up Paul Diefenderfer begins to shape steel for his next creation.

4 kiera riley

seeking out sunset views

Popular lookout points for viewing Arizona sunsets.

On The edge Of The wOrld senior Daniel WItkop

looks out from the launchpad. A discreet location once used by hangliders, is now a popular place to get away and view the sunrise. 4 logan larkin

STagecOach paSS is popular location to view the city of Carefree. Just off of Cave Creek road, anyone can drive up the small pass to reach a scenic view. 4 logan larkin

luminOuS SunSeTS are a highlight of the Arizona skyline. From Stagecoach Pass anyone can visit this private lookout to catch one of famous Arizona sunsets. 4 logan larkin

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worth it. I ordered a hot mocha and when I received it, the coffee came in a huge mug with an artsy chocolate design on top. The coffee was foamed to perfection and was smooth and creamy. The coffee beans they use are from the Roastery of Cave Creek, so they are always fresh and delicious. Pricing is based on the drink you order, but it ranges from $2$5. Coffees can be made dairy free with soy milk, almond milk, and coconut milk. There are a variety of crepes to choose from, from sweet to savory, they have something for everyone on their menu. I had to see what all the hype was about and I tried the famous Triple Threat Crepe.

creekerpage 11

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pesto balsamic salad. On the more sweeter side all of the pastries such as; biscottis, lemon bars, variety of cakes and muffins, are freshly made. I have been told to get it while you can, because the next time you go your favorite might not be there. The Village Coffee and Creperie is a great place to go to with family or friends. The quite atmosphere during the week is perfect for students who want to do homework and enjoy a nice coffee. And on the weekends it is a great place to bring your family in for a high quality brunch.

View is a new restaurant that offers Food with a view Raven’s dramatic scenery on the way to Bartlett lake. By kiera riley § opinion editor

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Pesto Chicken, served with diced chicken, tomato, bell peppers, spinach, mozzarella cheese and a pesto sauce. This pesto chicken crepe is priced at $11. All of the crepes on the menu are available from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m., including the breakfast items. The popular $9.59 Breakfast Crepe ha scrambled eggs, mushrooms, red bell peppers, spinach, tomatoes and cheddar cheese. With an option to add bacon, ham, chicken, avocado for an additional $2. A little secret, order a side of salsa with the breakfast crepe, it will not disappoint. Sticking to breakfast, there is also a breakfast bagel, which can be chosen from

attorneys,

teachers and world travelers, Tom and Linda Rowles have flown home and created a new nest. Raven’s View is one of the newer businesses in the Cave Creek area serving appetizers, sandwiches, and an extensive collection of wine and beer. Open weekends from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. and weekdays, excluding Tuesday, from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m., Raven’s View made it’s debut on April 29 of this year. In the first few months, the owners have seen success and hold excitement for the future. “This is a business neither my wife or I have been in before so we’re learning. It’s been educational in the sense that we’ve learned that we can do things outside our comfort zone,” said Tom Rawles, co-owner of Raven’s View. The restaurant is decorated with a bohemian and industrial esque interior, decorated with relics from the Rowles’ world travels. Natural light floods in through the glass garage door showcasing the view of the Tonto National Forest. “The atmosphere is very inviting, makes you feel like you’re part of the family,” said Hollis Johnson, former employee. Complete with comfy coffee tables, a bar,

1 Raven’s view is a unique option for lunch on the way to Bartlett Lake. 2 views of tonto hills accom-

pany lunchtime meals.

4 kiera riley

and outdoor tables, Raven’s View accommodates a large range of customers. Golfers from the nearby course, boaters from Bartlett lake, cyclists braving the road and local residents are just some of the regulars at the restaurant. Dogs are also welcome to join as the patio is dog friendly. “The feel that we’re going for is like people walking into their home. It’s basically trying to make people feel comfortable,” said Rawles. Advertising for the wine bar has primarily been word of mouth. This goes along with the locality of the bar and the overall feel the Rawles are going for. “The reaction that people seem to have to the business seems to be very positive so they share it with friends,” said Tom Rawles. The menu keeps it simple starting with appetizers. Customers have a choice between smoked salmon, chips and hummus, olive bowl, and chips with housemade guacamole. Raven’s View also offers a selection of meat and cheese plates to pair with wine or beer, or to take alone for those under 21. “I’d recommend Raven’s View to my friends, the view is wonderful, the decorations are perfect and the food is great,” said Nicolette Dorame, Raven’s View employee. Entrees include unique sandwiches such as the cubano, three cheese tomato melt, and prosciutto and fig. Crafted spinach and feta, ham and cheese, and turkey and provolone pretzels are also one of the more popular menu items. Salads such as the greek allow for a lighter entree.

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traffiC surrounding sChool Causes frustration Moving five feet every five minutes, the new traffic situation is a hassle for students and parents alike. The combination of the new West Lot, the lack of entrances to the school, and the overall stupidity of both parent and student drivers could drive anyone to vehicular homicide. That may be a bit of an exaggeration, but long story short, it is incredibly frustrating. It is a common theme “There are a throughout history that number of factors schools cannot get it together when it comes to parking. playing into the Cactus Shadows is no excepfact that getting tion. There are a number of factors playing into the fact to school has that getting to school has become the become the equivalent of equivalent of rush rush hour. One of these is the addition of the West Lot. hour.” Don’t get me wrong, getting through the line of cars on Dove Valley Road has always been a monumental struggle. But the fact that every single person needs to be in the same place has intensified the traffic surrounding the school tenfold. The West Lot was a necessary addition, but realistically, it should exit onto a different road. We understand that the only reason a separate exit was not included had to do with an issue with the city

of Scottsdale. It is true that it would take a miracle to have the parking lot exit onto a main street. A new exit is planned to be built in the coming year, but it doesn’t change the fact that right now, it’s a mess. The West Lot aside, the line of cars at the roundabout and the stop sign take at least 15 minutes to get through. There is something about a roundabout that completely shuts down the driving portion of the human mind. Far too many people cannot function when it comes to these seemingly simple traffic regulators. However, the line to get through the roundabout is significantly faster than the one by the stop sign. The traffic from all three directions makes it difficult to get through at a decent speed. It’s a slow painful process which usually results in a whole lot of tardies. Buses also fall victim to this resulting in late buses almost everyday of the week. Any entrance, any route will almost always be a lost cause if the goal is getting to school on time. However, there could be a solution. It’s a high traffic area with little to no method to regulate traffic. Volunteers or paid police could regulate traffic flow, especially at the stop sign, and have multiple vehicles from a specific direction go at one time, like a makeshift traffic light. It’s a simple solution to a problem that has caused pain, frustration, and road rage throughout the student body and their equally aggravated parents.

AS WE SEE it thE EditoRiAl

College eduCation required By faith hasher g staff writer

Schooling iS only a rEquirEmEnt until

the age of 16, but dropping out early or calling it quits after high school is not doing anyone any favors. To be successful in a new and competitive work environment, a

SPOTLIGHT

nto a new space

EdgE of SEvEntEEn : a modErn tEEn rEality

By sara windom g style editor By Kiera riley g opinion editor

With Christmas lights dangling from the walls, balloons covering the floor, and ribbons draping from the ceiling, the Trunk Space held their first Semi-Social event inside their new permanent home at the Grace Lutheran Church. The Trunk Space showcases the local art and music scene of Phoenix, and after closing down for a period over summer, it is up and running once again. Upon entering, a few things stood out: a giant cross, prayers carved into wood, and an oversized American flag. Approaching everything with an open mind proved to be difficult, as these subtle accessories just reminded me of where I was. Would God approve of my moshing? Looking like prom night in a high school gymnasium straight out of the ‘80s, even the slightest thing, such as getting to the stage required passing through balloons. I loved it. Avoiding this trail conveniently winded you up right at the merchandise booths for all of the bands. Here, I scored free buttons and stickers, but T-shirts, cassette tapes and EPs were available for purchase. Once the bands were set up, music started playing and gaps in the crowd started closing up. It was like an episode of Later… With Jools Holland, four bands lined up against three sides of the room and would switch off every few songs. “For each round, all bands set up at the same time and we go in a circle. No openers, no closers, non-stop music,” according to thetrunkspace.com. There were two rounds; the first being a more laid back style, featuring local bands Herbert Walker, Willetta, Nick Perkins and Kolezanka. Hebert Walker kicked off the show with groovy jazz tunes that were reminiscent of Julian Casablancas’ early solo career. After two songs, it switched to Willetta. When it was time to switch to the final act in Round 1, Kolezanka, closing my eyes, I thought I was hearing the clever lyrics and beautiful voice of Annie Clark. They were most definitely my favorite. In the center of the floor, a large, homemade wrestling ring sat, packing the crowd tightly, but was moved later. For some reason, though, in the second set people adorned in wrestling gear announced a new band each time they played. I am still unsure of the purpose behind it, and why so many of them went overboard to the point where a band even cut them off and just started playing. As soon as the first band, Sonoran Chorus, was announced, it was obvious whoever was running sound cranked it up. The crowd seemed to love this, and after a mellow set, they were clearly ready to let their hair down. A mosh pit broke out immediately. The friend I was with finally reappeared to me after being swept up in the crowd for a few minutes. “At one point there were two bodies that I was inbetween and I was just kind of suspended in the air,” he then shouted to me over the music. Once the pit broke out, it did not stop, not even when bands changed over. Playboy Manbaby, The Expos, and The Mad Doctors kept the crowd engaged the entire time, blaring punk music from wall to wall. This went on until around 11, and when the crowd started thinning out, front row was easier to access. However, since the bands were playing on the floor, I almost accidentally tackled The Expos mid-set. Even with a few bumps here and there, this venue allows for more people to attend without it feeling cramped, and with cutesy decorations that gave off vintage vibes, the new space is better than ever before.

The dreaded stereotypical teen movie tends to consist of overdone cliches and 30 year olds parading around as 16 year olds. With situations so far fetched and so exhausted, it is hard to find a movie to relate to these days. Coming of age films that skip the misconception are hard to come by and that’s why The Edge of Seventeen is so important for this generation. It’s comparison to The Breakfast Club, Sixteen Candles, and other classics may seem farfetched, but it could not be closer to the truth. Nadine, played by Hailee Steinfeld, is a junior in high school struggling with major self esteem issues and combatting it with major sarcasm and satire. Her best friend Krista, played by Haley Lu Richardson, has been along for the ride as Nadine’s closest (and only) friend. The major conflict starts when Nadine finds Krista in bed with her brother, Darian, played by Blake Jenner. Krista reaches out to Nadine, trying to preserve both her friendship with her and her now romantic relationship with Darian, but it ultimately implodes on the count of Nadine’s stubbornness. In the following weeks, Nadine struggles with loneliness over the loss of her best friend, hopelessness over an impossible crush, and the general awkwardness that comes with existing in high school. With little help from her distressed mother, played by Kyra Sedgwick, Nadine turns to her history teacher, played by Woody Harrelson. The combination of his “counseling” and dry sense of humor subtly coaches Nadine through

her problems. Nadine also finds refuge with a sweet, but equally awkward new friend, Erwin, played by Hayden Szeto. The turbulent situations involving her brother, her best friend, her mother, and her crush all snowball into a relatable, thoughtful, and well done teen movie. One of the thing that really stood out is that the story line avoids making her brother and her best friend into villains as so many teen movies often do. It’s refreshing as it attacks the teenage experience in a new, modern way. Nadine’s story may not be something that happens to every young person, but the way she feels through the movie and her methods of dealing with it hit home. “I feel like it’s just showing what this girl’s life is like and this is something you can

Haley lu RicHaRdson plays Nadine’s best friend, Krista, in the edge of 17. 4 david siegel

relate to. Everyone takes something a little bit different from it,” said Haley Lu Richardson, an actress. The themes of insecurity, high school crushes, and awkward situations make it an unapologetic and realistic movie. It strays away from cliches. It’s the teen movie this generation deserves. With a 94% freshness rate on rotten tomatoes and positive reviews from the majority of critics, this movie is a hit.

DECEmbER 16, 2016 ■ 11

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DuDs from DecaDes past By KIERA RILEY g opinion editor

Whether it be a catastrophic world war, or a killer pair of bell bottom jeans, history has a funny way of repeating itself. Trends from decades past take their place in modern fashion, heavily influencing the way people dress themselves today. What goes around comes around, and fashion is no exception. Stylists draw inspiration from past designers regularly and make pieces that were widely popular decades ago just as exciting once again. This recycling of old trends has been taken on by worldwide fashion kingpins such as Prada, Yves Saint Laurent, and Marc Jacobs. “I feel like people draw influence from multiple decades. And I think you’re seeing people’s fashion from all different eras, like everything from the sixties to the seventies and the eighties, especially, and maybe now it’s the nineties,” said Jacob Bombaci, a history teacher. Revival of decade fashion has been going on for, well, decades. In 2016, ‘90s fashion in particular is on the radar. The current trends, such as chokers, Doctor Martens boots, flannel, denim jackets, crop tops and scrunchies take center stage, but it is not their first time in the spotlight. “I definitely know that things like chokers and jean jackets or denim have come back, as well as chunky shoes and overalls. I’m thinking that layering might come back along with plaid skirts and turtlenecks might get bigger,” said Julia Smutny, a junior. Just because ‘90s fashion is all the rage right now does not mean it’s the only decade impacting fashion. Clothes and accessories ranging back to the ‘50s have woven their way

into the genius of many designers. Trends from the ‘50s include fur coats, circle skirts, pastel colors, polka dots, and the infamous Danny Zuko-esque greaser look. Women’s fashion in the ‘50s aimed to be more modest, but it was one of the first decades where fashion really took off and more people began to express themselves through their clothing. The ‘60s brought forth a whole new level of fashion, gracing the world with trends such as the mini skirt, psychedelic patterns, fishnets, skinny pants, and much more. This was the first decade where women began wearing pants. Borrowing from the boys was big, men’s suits were taken on by women and the rise of the power suit began. Men also began to break fashion norms and going toward a more rebellious look with military style, skinny pants, and boots. There was also the rise of hippie style, giving way to different textures and fabrics. “Velvet is beautiful, silk and suede as well. Fabrics are the number one thing you should pay attention to when you’re dressing,” said Riley Debellis, a junior. The ‘70s introduced a wave of different and unique styles. Hippy, disco, punk, and bohemian all grew and sometimes intermingled with each other to create a truly eclectic style. Earth tones, bright prints and patterns, suede, fringe, high waisted pants, and bell bottoms jeans were some of the few iconic trends of the decade. ‘80s and ‘90s fashion build off each other. Animal print, crop tops, power suits, scrunchies, floral dresses, platform shoes, mom jeans, and overalls are all making a comeback in 2016 and 2017. ‘90s fashion in particular has made the biggest impact on the typical dress of young people. The newest trends are also beginning to transition into early 2000s style as well. Such as jean on jean and bucket hats.

decked out in ‘90s gear, Aless Zamora, a junior, wears a windbreaker and mom jeans staple items in past decades.

4zoie lambesis

l reason behind cutting s because of how low

ave short hair, they I just wanted change. air until now. It is a lot Alexa Hokanson, a

Ugrace haycraft-mckee As the holiday season rolls around, so does the question, what one should give their significant other. “I always try not to spend more than fifty or a hundred, if it’s thoughtful, the price doesn’t really matter,” said Josie Brzenk, a senior. Thoughtful gifts that do not break the bank are surprisingly easy to come by. For him, a sweater of his favorite sports team, or a basket of his favorite candies is easy, accessible and appreciated. Other, slightly more expensive gifts could be video games that he has had his eye on for a while. Something funny to give is the Man Crate. While requiring a bit more money, this is a personalized wooden crate with combinations like pizza grilling equipment. “I usually make a budget with my girlfriend, but I definitely went overboard last year,” said Austin Cordero, a senior. There are timeless gifts for her, which include things like earrings, a necklace or

designs designs designs designs designs designs

designs 2016

s e p t e m b e r

PRESS

the

shadows of Cactus the NEWSPAPER , Arizona in Cave Creek high school

CSPress Editors

Editor in Chief Opinion Editor Features Editor News Editor Sports Editor Spotlight Editor Creeker Editor Style Editor Photo Editor Food Editor

Alex LAGGREN Kiera RILEY Katelyn REINHART Lauren HAGGAR Annalee BARNETT Madeline HOWARD Mia GILLING Sara WINDOM Logan LARKIN Mia GILLING

The CSPress Cactus Shadows High School P.O. Box 426 Cave Creek, Arizona 85327 (480) 575-2400 September 16, 2016, Volume 10: Issue 1 School enrollment: 1722 Number of copies printed: 1100 THE CACTUS SHADOWS PRESS

OPINION

AS WE SEE IT THE EDITORIAL

OPINION

False ACCESS DENIED Freshmen Expectations

“The overwhelming amounts of were tiring the students out and

Freshmen debunk the many myths of high school after their first day at Cactus Shadows

“Before I came my sister told me they put freshman and trash cans, but they don’t.”

MASEY MILLER

“Before I came people said it was a really good school for sports and academics, I expected it to be a lot harder but the teachers are nice.”

KATELYN REINHART

EMILY AHEM

IDENTIFYING THE PROBLEM “It will only prove to cause more problems in the future as otheriwse excellent students are punished for forgetting their IDs.”

Nervous and self-critical, a student sits in lunch detention for the very first time. This punishment has not been brought on because of a fight, attitude problems, or even bad attendance; this is because of the new identification card policy at Cactus Shadows. As a new rule, the student body is expected to wear their IDs and ensure their visibility every school day. While there are many justifications for this change, it will only prove to cause more problems in the future, as otherwise excellent students are punished for forgetting their IDs. This policy has supposedly been put in effect in order to better reward students for good behavior around campus, but this seems counteractive when students will also be punished if they do not have their IDs on their persons. While they may offer a slightly elevated level of safety to the campus, they do not offer much else. Aside from an inconvenience to students, they could also take time away from class if teachers are instructed to check if every student has their ID. Getting sent up to the office to get a temporary ID not only takes time out of class, but it can also negatively

affect how much time students spend in their learning environment. The need for having IDs is not lost on students, and many would agree that having an ID should be a necessity at school. However, having an ID out on display at all times seems like an unnecessary step, especially when their main purpose is to help teachers reward students for doing good deeds around campus. In addition, asking a student to pull out their ID from their backpack only takes a matter of seconds longer than if the student was wearing the ID. Another issue with this new policy is just how often the IDs will be used for punishments as well as awards. Putting students in lunch detention for such a trivial offense is an extreme and impractical punishment. Not only does this go against the very purpose of the IDs, but it also takes away from school time. Many club meetings occasionally take place at lunch, and some students rely on lunch to get assignments done. For people in newspaper or yearbook, lunch is an ideal time to get interviews or information from the student body. Without this opportu-

nity, these school publications could suffer directly because of this demand for students to wear their IDs every day. Clubs who meet at lunch could also suffer if a significant amount of members have to miss their meetings. Punishing students through lunch detention could prevent clubs from being prepared for activities, as well as depriving needed information from some club members. While some exceptions can be made for students who forget their IDs, it will be easy for the lines to be blurred on who can be excused and who cannot. According to the plan right now, if a student has “genuinely forgotten” to bring their ID, they will be excused. With nobody purposely leaving their ID at home in a raging hormonal protest, it will be interesting to see who is deemed “genuine” and who is not. While demanding students to wear their IDs every day may be met with a negative reaction, just asking students to present their IDs for things like entering campus or even buying lunch seems like a much more reasonable compromise.

“I expected more people to be at the school, and for those people to interact more.”

LALENA GROCHOWSKI

CHASE PAVOEN

8 ■ SEPTEMBER 16, 2016

l l g w t p p

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w w t T s d l e

f h

“Some [students] will graduat having ever experienced a for that would help them further t

COLE CHADWICK

SEPTEMBER 16, 2016 ■ 7

TAKING THE CAREE

“The school exceeded my expectations because the food is actually pretty good, and I expected bullying, but there is none.”

“I didn’t expect much because I was just really nervous about coming to my new school, but I think the school met my expectations.”

This year, administration decided to end the previous practice of requiring all students to use MyAccess in all of their classes. According to Steve Bebee, principal, “MyAccess was burning the students out.” MyAccess is not totally gone. English teachers will continue using it to submit benchmarks and other important essays. However, students will no longer have to write an essay for P.E, Math, Science, etc. The overwhelming amounts of essays that were assigned were tiring the students out and causing loads of stress. Also, kids were assigned an essay to write in P.E., but the prompts had nothing to do with P.E. . In fact, teachers had to choose prewritten prompts for their student to write about, they did not write their own prompts. Danica Gianni, English teacher said if they wrote their own prompts the grading system attached to MyAccess would not pick up what to look for when grading each essay. The result of this led teachers to pick a prompt already in MyAccess that may not have been related to the subject they taught. So, it is not the teacher's fault that students had to write about “Jury

Hands-on work has shaped the way people live today, but with a lack of CTE courses being offered to students, there will not be enough skilled workers in the future. Currently, Cactus Shadows offers eight Career Technology courses. Six of these classes are dealing with money and business. The remaining two courses both deal with media and journalism. Only the last two offer any real life experience. This lack of diversity is depriving students of acquiring necessary skills for careers that do not require college. According to the Arizona Department of Education, there are a total of 43 CTE courses available for high school students. And we have eight. While many of our students do plan to attend college after graduation, there are a significant number who do not. Some want to practice a trade that does not require a college degree. Why aren’t we providing a career path for these students? For example, there is a culinary CTE program that trains students to become chefs. There are also programs

fo A o e th th m d

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With possible recreational legalization in Arizona, students discuss the highs and the lows of marijuana

f essays that were assigned d causing loads of stress.”

Duty” in P.E. class. It was not just the students who disliked MyAccess, many teachers did not like it as well. Teachers thought that the grading system was inaccurate and it would take off unnecessary points. Most teachers would rather grade the writing pieces themselves than have the computer grade them. MyAccess is an algorithm and no human being is actually grading the paper. It only looks for a few details that it is programed to look for and grades the paper off of that. So, a student might actually be answering the prompt that they are given, but the system might not catch it and give that student a lower score than they deserve. Many students found out that if they were to write over a certain amount of words, typically over a thousand words, that their score would come out higher. Therefore, even if a student wrote an outstanding essay but it was only five hundred words, their score would come out lower than an average student typing an essay that was over a thousand words. This led to more inaccurate grading from the computer system. And, it was harder for teachers to trust the MyAccess

scores because of the word count hack. However, teachers did like the second opinion they would get from MyAccess. “It’s just another opinion, so I like to see how far off or close I am when I grade the paper. For example, If I give it an A and the system gives it a C I am a little concerned,” said Gianni. In fact, most teachers do go back and read all essays submitted and give their own grade. They do indeed look at the score the student received, so that they can take a closer look into what the computer system marked wrong. Using MyAccess for other subjects was only causing more stress to teenagers. The decision by the administration to get rid of My Access this year was the right decision. Now, students can focus more on their English essays, which is a better place to practice writZOIE LAMBESIS ing.

ER OUT OF CTE

te without rm of work their career.”

or automotive engineering and more. According to The Wall Street Journal, one out of every two students does not even know how to change a tire. So if hey ever get a flat tire while driving, hey’d better have a friend or family member close by to teach them how to do it themself. According to Steve Bebee, principal, he district supports having more CTE classes, but does not have the money o do so. He pretty much stated that we would “never” have an automotive class because it requires too much money to create an auto shop. Obviously, the district has to make choices about what extra-curricular classes to offer, especially in a tight financial environment. But perhaps here are some opportunities to include more CTE classes by getting rid of other electives. I mean, Chinese is cool and everything, but how is it going to help me when I start my landscaping business? Many students wouldn’t have the slightest clue on how to change the battery in a car, or how to cook a decent meal, or how to manage and tend to

a garden. All of which are skills that would be very useful. But the school claims that these classes are less important than the ones we currently have. Things may be looking up. There is a nursing program available this year. Bebee said that we will possibly have a hospitality class coming to campus next year. This hospitality class would teach quality services, facilities, finances, food service management, and operations. High schools are sending students down a path for them all to get a college degree, but there are many careers in the world that only require students to attend a trade school. These students that want to study a trade are not offered enough opportunities in high school to teach them more about the vital moving parts of today’s SEAN GANNON society. THE CACTUS SHADOWS PRESS

LUCY HOFFMAN

LOUISE JAGUS

USE POT, BRAIN ROT

STOP THE LIES, LEGALIZE

ONCE AGAIN, VOTERS IN ARIZONA WILL HAVE THE

chance to decide whether or not to legalize marijuana. Proposition 205, the Arizona Marijuana Legalization Initiative, will be on the ballot on November 8, and voters would be wise to vote no. While this isn’t the first time legalizing marijuana has been on the ballot in Arizona, it is the first time it has a good chance of passing, mainly because two other states in the west have passed legalization propositions: Colorado and Washington. There are many reasons to keep marijuana illegal. First and foremost is that smoking marijuana poses a health risk, especially to teens. A study conducted by the National Institute of Drug Abuse found that “persistent marijuana use starting in adolescence was associated with a loss of an average of 6 or up to 8 IQ points measured in mid-adulthood.” This loss of IQ points was not recovered in adulthood, even in those that quit smoking. Users who began smoking as adults did not lose IQ points, which means that adolescents should not be using marijuana. The very act of legalizing marijuana sends a message that the drug is safe and acceptable to use. Another reason to vote no on this proposition is that legalizing marijuana will certainly result in more highway fatalities and more impaired driving. The AA Foundation for Highway Safety reports that deaths in marijuana-related car crashes have doubled since the state of Washington approved legalization. Medical marijuana use is already “The very act legal in Arizona, so it shouldn’t be factor when considering legalization for of legalizing recreational use. While medical marmarijiana sends ijuana has proven to help slow down a message that the spread of certain diseases, and the drug is safe even kill cancer cells, it is also known to create more health problems than and acceptable anything. to use.” Within an hour of filling your lungs with smoke, the following effects start to come into play: anxiety, paranoia, depression, impaired memory, irritation in the respiratory system, red eyes, dry mouth, fatigue, psychosis, increased heart rate, and dizziness. Proponents of legalization argue that the costs associated with criminalizing marijuana are too high, and that we have too many people in prison for marijuana use. But there is another option, and that is to keep marijuana illegal, but reduce the penalties, so that less people are imprisoned. The national center on addiction and substance abuse (CASA) suggests an alternative approach. “Marijuana use should be treated as a public health problem, not a crime. Possession of small amounts of marijuana (typically one ounce or less) for personal use should not result in a criminal arrest, record, incarceration or penalties that affect housing, child custody, education or employment opportunities. Only people who engage in marijuana dealing or trafficking or drive while intoxicated by the drug should face criminal penalties.” Despite popular use of marijuana, there are consequences for smoking pot, and especially for teens. For that reason alone, voters should not support Proposition 205 in November.

4ROBERT ADAMSON THE CACTUS SHADOWS PRESS

THE LEGALIZATION OF MARIJUANA WILL BE ON

the ballot this November, and voters should vote yes on this proposition. Marijuana is less harmful than the legal drug alcohol, has many positive health benefits, and has cost the state a huge amount of money to criminalize. Marijuana was once ranked alongside more serious drugs, but has gained the reputation of the “feel good” drug with minimal negative side effects. There are no reported deaths related to marijuana consumption. The overdose rate of prescription pill pain relievers was around 19,000, whereas marijuana overdose is impossible. The broad medicinal properties of the marijuana plant have exploded in the “Marijuana is cancer and therapeutic industry. It has commonly been used as a less harmful less harmful replacement for riskier drugs such as than the legal Vicodin, Xanax, Adderall, Ambien, and drug alcohol, has Zoloft. Starting in December of 1996, many positive Marijuana legalization has been health benefits, encouraged by the American Medical Association (AMA). The AMA promoted and has cost the Pain Relief Promotion Act of 1999 the state a huge which was approved in 1999. This Act amount of money allowed doctors to manage patient discomfort during end-of-life care. to criminalize.” Marijuana has been proven to improve the quality of life in HIV/AIDS, asthma, cancer, alzheimer's, chronic pain, epilepsy, Crohn’s disease, glaucoma, and multiple sclerosis patients. The proven effects of pain treatment, eradication of cancer cells, dilation of airways, lowered blood pressure, and decreased agitation/inflammation are a great relief to people suffering from those symptoms. The legalization of marijuana will also reduce the costs of prisons nationwide. 80 percent of arrests for marijuana are simply for possession, not intoxication or sale. By legalizing the drug, space will be freed up in prisons and the police for more pertinent crimes such as murder or robbery. Those who oppose legalization of marijuana argue that it is a “gateway drug,” but, according to a study by the National Institute of Drug Abuse, the majority of smokers do not partake in the consumption of harder drugs such as methamphetamines, heroin, or cocaine. The only gateway that it leads to is jail time, which wastes taxpayers money and state resources. States that have legalized marijuana have reduced crime rates by almost 60 percent. Many people have the misconception of severe long-term cognitive damage. Studies conducted by the National Institute on Drug Abuse government agency have concluded that there are no structural differences in the brains of users and non-users. The pros of marijuana use clearly outweigh the cons. The 0 percent mortality rate of marijuana consumption opposed to the 20 percent to 40 percent mortality rate of addictive drugs is a clear indicator of the overall safety of the drug. The improvement in the lifestyle of patients with chronic pain, disease treatment, and reduced cost of law enforcement agencies all support the case for legalization.

OPINION

THE REPORT CARD block lunch This year, the administration decided to do a longer lunch period, which requires all students who eat lunch at school to be there at the same time. The first week, the cafeteria was very crowded and it was hard for students to find a lunch table. After about two weeks, students started to designate their spots and there was not as much of a fight for tables. The lines to get lunch are still unbelievably long, but the upside is that the lunch is longer and allows students to get homework done, and get a longer break from the hard work of school.

pep rally The first pep rally of the year got students hyped up for the first game. Stuco did a good job of including the freshman, and trying to influence them to get involved. There were a good amount of decorations, considering this was a pep rally, not an assembly. The microphones went in and out, and it was difficult to hear but overall, it was fun, and a good way to kick off the football season.

first home game

The Nest was packed full with students for the first home game, and the school spirit was over the top. The streamers that were thrown after the “I Believe” chant, made for some really cool pictures, and pumped up the students. Although, the school spirit was high, there was some confusion with the cheers and Nest leaders, but throughout the season hopefully that will get more organized. Per usual, it was very hot and sweaty, but getting the win over Mingus made up for that.

UEMMA RUSELLO SEPTEMBER 16, 2016 ■ 9

o p i n i o n

press

the

s shadows APER of Cactu Arizona the NEWSP , in Cave Creek high school

CSPress Editors

Editor in Chief Opinion Editor Features Editor News Editor Sports Editor Spotlight Editor Creeker Editor Style Editor Photo Editor Food Editor Travel Editor

Alex LAGGREN Kiera RILEY Katelyn REINHART Lauren HAGGAR Annalee BARNETT Madeline HOWARD Mia GILLING Sara WINDOM Logan LARKIN Olivia STICKEL Kiera RILEY

OPINION

AS WE SEE it thE EditoRiAl

october

OPINION

Sara windom

teachers with guns teachers with guns “If a gun is being carried by an adult on campus, it should be by a trained professional.”

aS a rESult of thE many

lauren haggar

OCTObER 14, 2016 ■ 7

kill shelters “It is truly saddening to think that someone could miss the chance to meet their forever friend because they came to a shelter an hour too late.”

8 ■ OctOber 14, 2016

logan larkin

anti aquarium “No matter how hard an aquarium tries, they will never be able to synthesize the actual ocean, which is ultimately the only suitable environment for a sea creature.”

t r a v e l

OPINION AS PROTESTS ACROSS THE COUNTRY FOCUS IN ON THE NATIONAL ANTHEM, STUDENTS WEIGH IN ON THE ISSUE OF THE FLAG

AnnAlee BArnett

respect our country Every man and women has total freedom in the United States. They can say what they feel, they can be what they want, and they can stand up for what they think is right. These freedoms cannot be infringed upon. That’s the beauty of being an American. Those who enjoy the liberties provided to them by the United States should also respect the flag of the country that gives them so much opportunity. Why protest against the very thhat gives you the right to do so? Recently, there has been a surge of American citizens who have been sitting during the National Anthem. This trend was started by NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick at the third preseason game when he refused to stand for the National Anthem due to his feelings regarding the police and oppression. Kaepernick is in the public eye, so he should use his fame to voice issues that he feels are pressing in the United States. However, there are better ways to speak out against police brutality then wearing anti police socks and sitting during the national anthem. On August 27, Kaepernick's birth mother, Heidi Russo, sent out a tweet that read, “There’s ways to make change with“Why protest out disrespecting and bringing shame to against the the very country and family that afforded very thing you so many blessings.” On August 28, 1963, one man successthat gives fully took a stand against black oppresyou the right sion in the United States without totally demeaning his country and his flag in to do so?” the process. Martin Luther King Jr. stood at the top of the steps of the Lincoln Memorial and recited his famous speech, “I Have a Dream.” He changed history and helped stop oppression all while standing for the flag, imagine that. Although Kaepernick’s protest is peaceful, it is not positive. In sitting during the national anthem, he has created a maelstrom of anger among fans and Americans. So much so that the focus has been put entirely on him and off the reason he is protesting. The people he has angered are less likely to focus on the reason he’s sitting and more likely to focus on how much they disagree with him. The hashtag, #VeteransForKaepernick is being used by Veterans who support Kaepernick’s display of freedom of speech. Although there are many Veterans that are totally supporting Kaepernick, there are others who are not. They respect that he is exercising his right to freedom of speech (as is the right of every American), but they do not respect the way in which he does it. There are people all around the world working hard to meet the requirements for American citizenship just so that they can experience the liberties most take for granted. Any one of those immigrants would be proud to stand for the National Anthem of the flag that gave them freedom. Americans get used to the feeling of liberty, so something like standing for the flag seems banal and overdone, but in all honesty, it’s an honor.

iillustration by dominic daviEs THE CACTUS SHADOWS PRESS

The RepoRT CaRd

kierA riley

UEmma rusEllo OCTObER 14, 2016 ■ 9

Travel

by maddie howard § spotlight editor

As fall arrives, Arizonans flock north to Flagstaff and Sedona to take in the colorful changing atmosphere. Flagstaff and Sedona both reach their peak of fall color towards the end of September to mid-October. Even though the changes in leaves don’t result in a deep North-Eastern United States red, the leaves still change to a dark orange. “Coming from Massachusetts, the leaves and the fall air don’t feel the same out here as they do back home, but it’s still so beautiful,” said freshman, Lauren Janowski. One spot in Flagstaff that has hit a yellow-orange tone leaves in late September is the Arboretum. This area in Flagstaff is apart of the Colorado Plateau and overlooks the San Francisco Peaks. It is home to a large forest of pine trees. The Arboretum is a place used for research about the plant and animals that reside in northern Arizona and it is also a top spot to see some golden aspens for miles. “I remember coming up to Flagstaff to visit my sister during the fall and I was loving the cool weather and the change of scenery,” said spanish teacher, Johna Jacobson. For a more adventurous way to see the changing leaves in Flagstaff, a hike to the Inner Basin of the San Francisco Peaks will uncover all kinds of fall wonder. Along the peaks, there is a gold touch to the aspens that stand. During the hike, the trail is bombarded with pines that leave the trail with an orange-gold undertone all around to give the hiking experience an extra fall feel. This is a 12.8 mile loop that is at a moderate level. Flagstaff is also home to the popular destination, the Arizona Snowbowl. The destination has its tourist peak typically during the winter months because of skiing and snowboarding, but the Snowbowl has a variety of areas to see during the fall

season. “I have only been to Snowbowl once during the fall and my favorite part was how it immediately started to feel like it was actually fall,” said junior, Alaina Woolf. One of the activities that tourists do to enjoy Snowbowl during the fall would be the Scenic Chairlift. The lift gives tourists the opportunity to enjoy all of Flagstaff’s fall scenery in just a short time. From the chairlift, people are able to see the gold, crisp leaves of the aspens for miles around. To see more leaves changing color just, drive about an hour south of Flagstaff to the red rock city of Sedona. “I love the feeling of the small town of Sedona and with the weather changing and the leaves, it makes the town really cozy,” said Woolf. A hot spot for Arizonians looking to escape the desert landscape to enjoy fall would be Oak Creek Canyon. While hiking on the West Fork Trail in Oak Creek Canyon, visitors can get a taste of the North-East United States with a variety of crimson leaves that the pines on the trail carry. “I remember that I thought the colorful leaves combined with the color of the red rocks was such a cool scenery,” said Woolf. In 2014, there was the Slide fire that has caused some of the trees to burn down, but the remaining trees are still flourishing the trail and giving all of the fall colors to this area. Another trail that leads to a fall wonderland is the Secret Canyon trail. This trail leads up to the Red Rock Secret Wilderness which is home to magnificent rock formations. The trail goes through a strong forested area with pine trees that are immersed with colorful leaves. There are also colorful pines that are at the bottom of the canyon that harbor a few small streams. Once hikers enter the secret wilderness, they are able to see pines throughout the landscape that coordinate with the natural red rocks.

mellow yellowEllie Garner, junior, explores the colorful hues of the aspens during her hike through the Inner Basin of the San Francisco Peaks in Flagstaff. 4maddie howard

seeing seasons

18 ■ OctOber 14, 2016

tHe cActUS SHADOWS PreSS

n o v e m b e r

press

the

shadows of Cactus the NEWSPAPER , Arizona in Cave Creek high school

CSPress Editors

Editor in Chief Opinion Editor Features Editor News Editor Sports Editor Spotlight Editor Creeker Editor Style Editor Photo Editor Food Editor Travel Editor

Alex LAGGREN Kiera RILEY Katelyn REINHART Lauren HAGGAR Annalee BARNETT Madeline HOWARD Mia GILLING Sara WINDOM Logan LARKIN Olivia STICKEL Lauren HAGGAR

CSPress Staff Caity BONINE, Sarah BROWN, Katie BUTLER, Dominic DAVIES, Keely DORAN, Sean GANNON, Faith HASHER, Grace HAYCRAFT MCKEE, Louise JAGUS, Zoie LAMBESIS, Emma RUSELLO, Olivia STICKEL, Megan WALKER, Hallie WOOLDRIDGE EDITORIAL POLICY: The CSPress is published by the Journalism class of Cactus Shadows High School. The newspaper serves the students and staff of Cactus Shadows High School and as a connection to the surrounding community. The objective of the CSPress is to publish a factual, informative and entertaining newspaper, and to provide a forum for the expression of diverse viewpoints. The opinions and views expressed do not necessarily represent the views of the administration, the adviser, or all CSPress staff members. The CSPress is also published online, at cactusshadowscspress.com. The editors reserve the right to reject any material that is libelous, obscene, or poses an immediate and material disruption to the educational environment. WE VALUE YOUR OPINION. EMAIL YOUR LETTER TO CSPRESS.OPINION@gmail.COM The CSPress values opinions from its readers. If you have something to say about anything you had read, please write a letter to the editor and send it to cspress. opinion@gmail.com. Letters must be typed, less than 100 words in length and signed. The editorial staff reserves the right to edit for length. The CSPress will not print letters that are obscene, libelous or that target an individual. Advertisements that are obscene, misleading, or illegal to minors will not be printed. The CSPress reserves the right to reject any advertisement. To place an ad, contact the adviser or the Advertising Manager at (480) 575-2493. The CSPress is a member of the Columbia Scholastic Press Association, the National Scholastic Press Association, the Journalism Education Association, and the Arizona Interscholastic Press Association.

The CSPress Cactus Shadows High School P.O. Box 426 Cave Creek, Arizona 85327 (480) 575-2400 November 14, 2016, Volume 10: Issue 3 School enrollment: 1722 Number of copies printed: 1100 THE CACTUS SHADOWS PRESS

OPINION

treacherous text messages As if operating a vehicle with the ability to kill is not scary enough, the texting and driving epidemic adds another level of risk to driving. According to the American Automobile Association, 11 teenagers die everyday as a result of texting and driving. With these shocking statistics, why would anyone risk their life because of a short message? Driving distracted kills, texting and driving kills. And the worst part about the issue, when someone texts behind the wheel, they are not only endangering their own life, but the lives of everyone around them. Millions of people fall victim to the stupidity of another each year. At the end of the day, it’s important to think about the possible damage that could be caused by texting and driving. First and foremost it is utterly selfish to risk the life of someone else, just so you can keep up with the latest tweets and texts. These people mean something to others. They are someone's

AS WE SEE it thE EditoRiAl

One thing is fOr sure, t

are known for getting into trouble an ing bad choices. The stereotypical depicted as rebellious and often se nature and this is not far off. Teens without a doubt make stupi ical decisions. Many of these choice to do with alcohol or drugs. But it d stop there, this also includes relatio academic integrity, friendships, and One reason for this is the prefron tex lobe is not fully developed yet. T frontal cortex lobe is responsible decision making and planning part o With this not being 100 percent dev it can shed some light on why teen such awful decisions sometimes. Yet with that being said, this excuse to party every weekend, get cated or high, and then crash a car a an innocent family. Teens need to r ber other people's lives are at risk they make risky decisions. Risky and often mindless decisi not only affect the person who c to take part in them but all others them. According to the Foundat Advancing Alcohol Responsibilit fatality rate [of drunk driving] for under 21 equates to 11 percent of th rate. Drunk driving is a major prob our nation. Not to ever justify it, but people who are drunk over 21 are abi

mom, brother, sister, husband, wife, and so much more. They are not just random victims. What many fail to recognize is that is that texting while driving, is equal to someone driving completely blind while going 55 miles per hour, according to the US Department of Transportation. This is not only a terrifying statistic, but what is even more frightening is the fact that according to a survey conducted by CBS, approximately 25 percent of people text and drive. Likewise, in the state of Arizona texting and driving is not considered a crime. Therefore this type of distraction has become more and more popular, especially in younger drivers. The trend needs to end, and people of all ages alike need to recognize the importance of not only their life, but all others around them.

confidential by Olivia Stickel g food editor

High school. When said to a middle schooler, they light up, when said to an adult, they cringe. The ninth through twelfth grades are hard for a lot of students because of a large percentage lack of self-confidence. The cause of the change from happy preteen to self-conscious teenager has much to do with self-image. When in middle school, a student’s top priority nine out of ten times is not on how they look, but instead on friends and schoolwork. The instant that that student is put in high school, they are seeing a new mature level of their life. Most of the problem tends to happen because of body image. “More than 90 percent of girls 15 to 17 years old want to change at least one aspect of their physical appearance, with body weight ranking the highest, and 13 percent of girls age 15-17 acknowledge having an eating disorder,” according to heartofleadership.org. The problem does not just occur within the female population, but high school boys have just as much trouble as well. According to Heart of Leadership, up to 12 percent of teen boys are using unproven supplements and/or steroids. In high school, there is more importance on physical appearance all the sudden. People find insecurites paralyzing and it often leads students into a pit of self loathing. Self image issues gives way to risky behaviors in teens. Teenagers crave acceptance when their self esteem is low. Many students think that if it takes drugs, or alcohol to fit in, then so be it. Building self-confidence is much harder than just tell-

ing someone to “have confidence.” It is something that has to be worked in from the inside out. One simple way of building self-confidence is to try and stop comparing oneself to other people. Understanding that everyone is different takes time, but no one is perfect and thinking that someone has no flaws is a fantasy. Another thing to try is to find one’s individual identity, and own it. Doing something different and not trying to ‘fit in’ may seem scary, but honestly, if everyone did what everyone else does, then what would make a person special? Olympic athletes definitely are not apart of the norm. Neither were any of the actors on the big screen. The reason wkeely doran , olivia Stickel why they made it where they are today is because they found what they love, and they stuck to it no matter what. Self-confidence does not come with how well someone fits in, or owning up to other people’s expectations. Selfconfidence comes with showing the world who one truly is, and loving oneself for that.

uuLs are newly popular, and highly addictive, versions of E-cigarettes that have become notorious among teenagers nationwide. With this new epidemic, young people are developing fierce nicotine addictions earlier in life. The reason Juuls have become so popular is attributed to it’s most attractive side effect, the infamous buzz. Since Juuls have a higher concentrate of nicotine than cigarettes, they have become the number one choice among students. Because Juuls lack a filter, the nicotine formula is stronger and thus creates a faster and

NOvEmbER 14, 2016 ■ 7

8 ■ November 14, 2016

stronger high than cigarettes. When the Juul vapor enters the it becomes formaldehyde, acetald acrolein and other toxic compoun a study conducted by the CDC, met ticles, specifically cad nickel, and lead, were in both cigarettes an vapor. Typically, Juuls e-cigs are used as an native to cigars o rettes. Many peop them because they s their nicotine fix an the smell. However with th recreational use of th among teens, peop getting all the n side affects as opp stopping addiction The age requi for purchase of Ju Juul pods (the c ers that hold the n solution) is 18, the a age of high school seniors. Even the legal age is 18, younger stude able to get their hands on a juul.

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OPINION Don’t ask, don’t tell or bare it all. Students discuss the pros and cons of sex education in public schools. the law; as long as they are not driving. Not only do many teens underage drink which is classified as a misdemeanor and can also lead to having you license suspended for up to one year, but if you are caught driving under the influence you could spend up to one year in jail, along with a bunch of other consequences. Many teens drink or use drugs, due to peer pressure. Peer pressure is one of the main reasons people do things they don’t want to necessarily do. This doesn't just have to do with drugs and alcohol, this applies to school and relationships too. What is all to importantly and often forgotten is the emphasis on staying true to yourself and your own guidelines and morals. Other’s bad choices do not, and should not have to be yours too. Now understandably high school and college is a time of experimentation and finding out who you are and really who you want to become. However in the process of doing so, remembering the life you want later should relate to the actions you are participating in now. Above all having respect and caring about those around you should always be top priority, and remembering that your life matters and so does others, should help to decrease the bad choices many members of society make today.

The juul is especially popular on the school campus. Students have even gone so far as to bring their e cigs to school and use them in class. The reason behind this is the fact that Juuls are very discrete. They do not give off a recognizable odor and they can be disguised as USB drives. This has become an increasingly alarming problem to the administration as it is occurring at such a high rate. And because of this, administration has been catching a plethora of students with the device. Previously, students could easily get away with bringing a Juul on campus because it was a new product. Many teachers were oblivious to the Juul. Now, there has been a push from administration to raise awarenss among teachers about how to recognize a juul. Overall, students have to realize that developing a premature nicotine addiction is detremental to their health. Addiction is one of the hardest things to overcome and it can lead to other addictions like drugs and alcohol. Juuls can destroy lungs, reputations, and school records. Since they are banned from schools already, the rate of use is decreasing, but the punishment should be stricter.

alex laggren

Lauren haggar

decisions decisions decisions “Other’s bad choices do not and should not have to be yours too.”

LOuise jagus

too cool for juul “Juuls can destroy lungs, reputations, and school records.”

don’t ask, don’t tell Abstinence-only education is taught in Arizona, which has been an effective method for the school system so far. It teaches not to have sex outside of marriage. It works well and gives parents the option to teach sex education to their children themselves. It is most important for parents to teach their children about this subject matter because it is up to the discretion of the parents as to how much teenagers can and should be taught. While waiting until marriage can seem like a long time, and it may seem like a waste of an education to many, it is important for a variety of reasons. For one thing, it could make things more special with a married partner if both parties remained abstinent until the wedding night. Students may also feel some kind of pressure to participate in more sexual activities after being taught in-depth sex education. There is an implicit suggestion that, by teaching teenagers about sex, it is okay for them to have sex. This may not be the intention of the program, but everyone knows that if a subject is taught in school, it gives it a certain legitimacy. Religion also plays a major factor “Calling in abstinence. Most Christian reliAbstinence gions support abstinence educaeducation a tion and chastity. It is a tenet of the waste of money Christian faith that sex before marriage is considered a sin. To support is a little over this, there are religious programs that have virginity pledges. These the top, at the pledges are vocal oaths taken by time, teenagers the participant to be sexually abstiare taught all nent until marriage. Another form of these pledges are purity rings, that they need which are worn to show that the to know in their wearer is practicing abstinence. Opponents argue that teens are health classes.” having sex any way, so it is more responsible for schools to educate them about it. After all, there are many parents who may not opt to teach their children about safe sex, or they may even teach them incorrectly. There can be miscommunication or false information that could lead to dangers down the line. According to Marla Eisenberg of the Guttmacher Institute, “Even when parents provide information, their knowledge about contraception or other sexual health topics may often be inaccurate or incomplete.” Although it makes sense to teach teens the basics of safe sex, it should be something that is discussed in greater detail after marriage. Currently, teenagers are taught all that they need to know in their health classes. Plus, teaching in-depth sex education does not guarantee that teenagers won’t contract STDs or get pregnant. The easiest solution would be to just wait until marriage, and, if necessary, learn about contraceptives as a precaution, but don’t plan to use them. Abstinence is meant to be used to wait to find the right person. Promoting sex education is essentially promoting teens to have sex much earlier than they should. This is why parents should be the ones to teach their kids, because they know when it is most appropriate.

katelyn reinhart

bare it all Education has many successes, and many students rely on school environments to learn life lessons. However, one lesson that cannot be ignored is sex education. By teaching abstinence only, students everywhere are missing out on the information needed to avoid pregnancy and sexually transmitted disease. The idea that abstinence should be the main focus of sex education in schools is frankly, disturbing and harmful to the students involved. Without sex education, many students would have no idea about the dangers of sexually transmitted diseases, pregnancy, or protection that can be used to avoid these risks. The topic of sex is usually avoided by parents, and it is easiest for a parent to just say "don't have sex" rather than actually explaining the information regarding sexual activity. This is where most schools come in, but when a school refuses to teach sex education, those key lessons are never taught. Because there is a lack of information, bad decisions are made, leading to teen illness or pregnancy. In fact, schools who “Only 3% of teach abstinence only have higher instances of teen pregAmericans nancy and often have more sexually transmitted diseases opposed to schools who teach sex education. actually The hard truth that many schools tend to ignore is wait until that, (are you paying attention? Listen closely,) teenagmarriage” ers have sex. Yes, I know, it's shocking and "impure," but those are the facts. Teenagers have sex, and not everybody waits until marriage. In fact, waiting until marriage is extremely uncommon. According to waittillmarriage.com, a website that encourages abstinence until marriage, only 3% of Americans actually wait until marriage. On top of this, from the 1950s to the 1960s, only 11% of people successfully used abstinence. This number increases slightly in extremely religious groups, but in either scenario, the number has never been over 25% for people who waited until marriage. Statistically speaking, the instructor who sits in class and tells you not to have sex until you're married most likely did not wait themselves. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the average age that an American will have sex for the first time is 17.1 years old. So why is it that, knowing this, school districts and parents insist on telling students that abstinence is the only option? Teenagers, over the course of history, have almost never taken that route. Even in extremely religious groups, 80% of people do not use abstinence and wait until they are married. The idea behind abstinence is that it is the safest way to avoid pregnancy, and while there is merit to that, there are also many other methods used to practice "safe sex." Despite what many parents and teachers would say, abstinence is not the only option. Birth control, condoms, even surgical procedures and injections can all be used to prevent pregnancy. However, these are often ignored, even in schools that teach sex education. This is because in Arizona, schools use the "don't ask, don't tell" policy, which is better than schools that teach exclusively abstinence, but there are still many faults to that logic. In Arizona, valuable information is taught, but abstinence still ends up being a keynote during instruction. Schools need to put students welfare over the doubts of extremely conservative parents, and they need to teach a thorough, unbiased, sex education. If teenagers start having sex when they are 17.1, the average, they are still in highschool, and a proper sex education could decrease STD's, pregnancy, and misinformation. Sex is often shamed by parents and school districts, but when the statistics show that the majority of students do not wait until marriage to have sex, the school system has to, as they usually do with education and cater to the majority.

The RepoRT CaRd Weather Winter is seemingly upon the valley even though the temperatures have not yet dipped below 60 degrees. Arizona residents are getting tired of the warm weather and are ready to bust out their warmest sweaters and welcome the winter weather. Hopefully the weather will take a turn soon.

d election This election has created such a high degree of division in this country. The treatment of the other side from both canidates and their supporters were the farthest thing from respectful and resulted in unneccessary anger and hate. As ______ was inaugarated on the 8th, the country ends the vicious election period and enters the next four years, apprehensive for what is to come.

latte poetry Lit mag’s annual latte poetry gave students the chance to showcase their original poetry under the warm lights of Janey’s Coffeehouse. Students settled into their seats on the patio, sipped some coffee, and watched their peers pour out their souls. There was a great turnout and the poems read ranged from satirical to sappy. Overall, the event was a success.

a Ugrace haycraft-mckee THe CACTUS SHADoWS PreSS

THE CACTUS SHADOWS PRESS

NOvEmbER 14, 2016 ■ 9

d e c e m b e r

OPINION

press

the

shadows of Cactus the NEWSPAPER , Arizona in Cave Creek high school

CSPress Editors

Editor in Chief Opinion Editor Features Editor News Editor Sports Editor Spotlight Editor Creeker Editor Style Editor Photo Editor Food Editor Travel Editor

Alex LAGGREN Kiera RILEY Katelyn REINHART Lauren HAGGAR Annalee BARNETT Madeline HOWARD Mia GILLING Sara WINDOM Logan LARKIN Olivia STICKEL Sean GANNON

CSPress Staff Caity BONINE, Sarah BROWN, Katie BUTLER, Dominic DAVIES, Keely DORAN, Faith HASHER, Grace HAYCRAFT-MCKEE, Louise JAGUS, Zoie LAMBESIS, Emma RUSELLO, Olivia STICKEL, Megan WALKER, Hallie WOOLDRIDGE EDITORIAL POLICY: The CSPress is published by the Journalism class of Cactus Shadows High School. The newspaper serves the students and staff of Cactus Shadows High School and as a connection to the surrounding community. The objective of the CSPress is to publish a factual, informative and entertaining newspaper, and to provide a forum for the expression of diverse viewpoints. The opinions and views expressed do not necessarily represent the views of the administration, the adviser, or all CSPress staff members. The CSPress is also published online, at cactusshadowscspress.com. The editors reserve the right to reject any material that is libelous, obscene, or poses an immediate and material disruption to the educational environment. WE VALUE YOUR OPINION. EMAIL YOUR LETTER TO CSPRESS.OPINION@gmail.COM The CSPress values opinions from its readers. If you have something to say about anything you had read, please write a letter to the editor and send it to cspress. opinion@gmail.com. Letters must be typed, less than 100 words in length and signed. The editorial staff reserves the right to edit for length. The CSPress will not print letters that are obscene, libelous or that target an individual. Advertisements that are obscene, misleading, or illegal to minors will not be printed. The CSPress reserves the right to reject any advertisement. To place an ad, contact the adviser or the Advertising Manager at (480) 575-2493. The CSPress is a member of the Columbia Scholastic Press Association, the National Scholastic Press Association, the Journalism Education Association, and the Arizona Interscholastic Press Association.

The CSPress Cactus Shadows High School P.O. Box 426 Cave Creek, Arizona 85327 (480) 575-2400 December 16, 2016, Volume 10: Issue 4 School enrollment: 1722 Number of copies printed: 1100 6 ■ December 16, 2016

BuILD-a-BaBY

AS WE SEE it thE EditoRiAl

College eduCation required By faith hasher g staff writer

Schooling iS only a rEquirEmEnt until

the age of 16, but dropping out early or calling it quits after high school is not doing anyone any favors. To be successful in a new and competitive work environment, a college education is a must. For one thing, people who attend college get paid more money than those who do not. According to a national report by the State Higher Education Executive Officers Association, high school graduates earn an average of almost $30,000 per year. Bachelor’s graduates earn an average of just over $50,000 a year. And those with a higher level degree (master’s, doctorate or professional) average nearly $70,000 per year. If you think about how many years you will work, this can be a significant earnings gap over the course of a lifetime. These higher paying jobs require a college degree because, in order to be successful, employees need to understand and perform their job in depth. 2.8 million college graduates with a variety of degrees just entered the workforce, according to Newsweek magazine. When someone is fighting for the same job as you, the college graduate with the higher level of education will get the job. It shows the company that you invested in yourself to further your education. A college education also prepares students for their future professions and teaches basic life lessons. Young adults learn how to live on their own, and become more responsible. College is the transition that transforms kids into adults.

One argument against higher education is the high cost of tuition, and the stress and financial instability that comes with student loans. Many believe that the high debts that go along with a college education put stress on buying a house, getting married, starting a family and saving for a retirement. It is true that college tuition continues to rise all across the country. However, there are still good colleges that are more affordable. And, there is always the option of going to community college for two years and then transferring to a four year college. Some will argue that there are many jobs that pay well that do not require a college degree. Sure, it is true that some people earn good money without getting a college education, such as professional athletes or entertainers, but the chance of becoming a professional athlete or super star is one in a million. It used to be that you could make a good living working in manufacturing. However, the United States is no longer a manufacturing based economy. Over the past century, our economy has transformed into an service based one. Whereas people were once paid good money for physical work, now the higher salaries go to those who have advanced degrees and know how to use their brain to problem-solve. Going to college does not only open many job opportunities for you but creates a spark in you. You have to go to classes that require you to think, analyze and create new ideas. If it is an option for you to go to college, you should.

THe cAcTUS SHADOWS PreSS

By keely Doran g staff writer

urvivalists by nature, human beings’ first instinct is to preserve life.

Changing newborns on a nuclear level to stop diseases from developing seems like an easy choice. However, once it’s started, where do we draw the line? It is a simple decisions to fix a fetus’s DNA, but what’s to stop us from making sure the baby is born with green eyes and a talent for the arts? Granting permission for scientists to alter genes is only paving the way for ambitious souls to handpick what humans should look and act like. In the late 90s, many infants in the United States were developing mitochondrial diseases with possibly fatal symptoms. In order to remedy the increasing death toll, scientists started experimenting with mitochondrial manipulation technology. They harvested an embryo from a woman with an inheritable mitochondrial disease and deposited it into the healthy egg of a donor whose own nuclear material had been discarded. The resulting offspring carried genetic material from three different people, giving them the nickname ‘three parent embryos.’ At the risk of being accused of condoning human genetic modification (HGM), the Federal Drug Administration placed a ban on these experiments in 2002, declaring it a ‘biological product’. As of today, genetic engineering is only applied to non-reproductive cells and it is known as ‘gene therapy’. It is used to treat diseases in a single patient rather than all of their descendants, but it is still relatively unsuccessful. In the United Kingdom last year, both houses of Parliament approved clinical trials for ‘three parent embryos’. When these techniques were first outlawed in the United States, many scientists argued that we would fall behind other countries in scientific advances, but now that it is legal in other countries, American scientists are hesitant to push for it to be legalized. They fear that process itself may generate new genetic mutations which will be passed down to all future generations— an irreversible effect. The necessity of HGM is debatable, as it is very rare for it to be the only solution to the medical problem of a genetic disease. There are existing ways of prenatal or preimplantation testing embryos that can get rid of the disease. As a society, there is no way to ensure that HGM will be used for purely medical purposes. This also begs the question of acceptable criteria for what constitutes a medical condition. If we allow HGM to be legalized in the states, it poses a variety of problems. Princeton biologist Lee Silver wrote a book called “Re-Making Eden” in 1998 that discusses how the cost of modification techniques will limit their full use to a small elite. The theory is that these procedures will segregate society into two classes, the GenRich and the Naturals. He proposed that the GenRich will account for ten percent of the population and will boast only synthetic genes. This minority would supposedly control all aspects of the economy, media, entertainment and knowledge industries. Naturals will be the designated lower class majority that function as service

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th n fo m

New Year, New You By megan walker g staff writer

New Years eve prompts the vast majoritY of peo-

ple to try and change something about themselves. This usually involves the impeccable delivery of the ‘pre-game hype up speech’ in the mirror and a mass pinning of easy workouts on the ‘New Year, New Me’ pinterest board. However, the reality is usually a one time trip to the gym and a three hour self loathing spree that ensues when the ‘gains’ session ends after a swift 10 minutes. Not everyone’s New Years Resolution is about getting fit, but everyone’s New Year's Resolution usually crashes and burns within the first two weeks of the new year. The vast majority fails miserably but it does not always have to be that way. There are simple steps anyone can take to try and succeed. It may seem like an insurmountable obstacle to achieve a resolution but it is possible. Step one is making the resolution reasonable. It may seem like climbing Mount Everest by the end of the year is a great idea but in reality, you’ll probably be climbing into bed instead. Choose a reasonable resolution and choose carefully. It should be meaningful so it evokes more inspiration to get it done.

8 ■ December 16, 2016

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o p i n i o n

OPINION Controversial does not begin to describe the conflict surrounding the president elect. Students discuss their outlook on a Trump presidency alex laggren

dump trump

\dominic davies

providers or laborers. They will face the social stigmatization of specific genes which will cause loss of productivity. Eventually the accumulation of genetic knowledge nd advances in enhancement technology will have the two classes evolve into completely separate species with no ability to cross-breed, indefinitely splitting society nto two halves. Humans, as a species constantly strive to change themselves, but not always for he better. Genetic modification, while it holds a certain appeal, is a risk that we cannot afford to take as an already deeply flawed population. Trying to inherently transorm what makes us who we are is a road that will only lead to more pain, and ultimately global conflict.

nable resolutions are the best because they can usually be achieved ies of small steps. Breaking up a bigger resolution into smaller makes it seem achievable. Thinking about the big picture can often helming. If it’s a few steps that equate to something bigger, it’s more get done. plan a time frame. Telling yourself that you’ll get it done whenever lping. Figure out when and where it’s gonna happen is instrumental ving the goal. Schedule it out and allot time for the steps you need

ring for it and buying the tools you need is also important to cultiuccess. Buying a gym membership, or lessons for that instrument nally going to learn is going to push you to really strive to achieve in mind. surrounded by positive people who are also trying to achieve their n is helpful as well. A strong support system that will lift you up is really helpful in succeeding. ing something about your life is important. You don’t necessarily decide to change something around new years, but if you do keep e January 1 as a jumping off point and continue to follow what you achieve.

“The vast majority fails miserably but it does not always have to be that way.” Megan Walker

THe cAcTUS SHADOWS PreSS

On November 8, Donald Trump was elected president, marking the beginning of the end. His demeaning comments, severe lack of experience, and overall hotheaded personality has the majority of progressive Americans terrified. They have every right to be scared. A Trump presidency means going back 50 years. His proposed plans and recent cabinet appointments suggest the return of ideologies that should have been left in 1960. Trump ran on the campaign slogan: Make America Great Again, promising to return us to our glory days. Which begs the question what, exactly, is wrong with America? The Treasury Department just announced that we now have the lowest unemployment rate since before George W. Bush took office, FBI statistics show that violent crime has decreased steadily over the past 20 years, and, despite Trump’s claim to the contrary, repeated studies show that there is no correlation between immigrants and violent crimes. In fact, the only thing that has changed in America since the “good old days” is that we are more diverse. In 1980, white people made up 80 percent of America’s population, and today, they make up only 63 percent. Perhaps the most troubling aspect of his presidency is the blatant racism during and after his campaign. Before he was elected, Trump received support from many infamous white nationalist groups, including but not limited to the KKK and its former leader David Duke. He also appointed Steve Bannon as his chief strategist and senior advisor. Bannon is the executive chairman at Breitbart News, an alt-right news source broadcasting homophobic, sexist, and racist stories. Talk about unfair, biased media. Trump himself has made many comments degrading women and minorities. "When Mexico sends its people, they're not sending their best," he said. "They're sending people that have lots of problems, and they're bringing those problems with us. They're bringing drugs. They're bringing crime. They're rapists." What he said about women is not decent to print in a high school newspaper. If Trump wanted to really show that he was for these minorities, he should have picked a somewhat more open minded running mate. Mike Pence, the vice president elect, is known for his anti-LGBT stance. Another major cause for concern are his views on global warming. In a tweet earlier this year, he said that “the concept of global warming was created by and for the Chinese.” His choice to appoint Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt to head the Environmental Protection Agency is a clear signal that he plans to cut funding to global warming research and prevention. Pruitt has denied that climate change exists, despite the fact that the majority of scientists agree that it is real and that humans contribute to it. Trump’s actions over the next four years have serious consequences for the future of our planet. Trump supporters often cite that he will make America safer by dealing with our immigration problem. This is understandable, illegal immigration is a problem that needs to be dealt with. But building a wall is not going to stop illegal immigrants from coming into the country. It even seems that Trump has begun to realize this, as he said on a 60 Minutes interview that he would rather build a fence and then increase security. Another reason he is well liked by his supporters is the fact that he is a successful businessman, and that he will bring these skills to the White House to “fix” our broken country. Yet everyone seems to disregard the fact that he has had four companies that have declared bankruptcy, which raises the question as to whether or not America will be dealt the same fate. He also just agreed to pay $25 million to settle a fraud lawsuit against Trump University, for hundreds of students who were tricked into believing they were getting something they were not. Is this really the kind of leader we want for our country? Despite the obvious fact that he has had no political experience and lacks the thick skin that is needed in politicians, Donald Trump will be our next president. It is ironic that one of Trump’s promises was to “drain the swamp” of corruption, but it seems that he is only adding to it by appointing cabinet members who donated heavily to his campaign: a billionaire who has no education experience to run the Department of Education, an anti-climate change man to run the Environmental Protection Agency, and the list goes on. Given all of the above, it is not any wonder that sensible Americans are worried about the Donald Trump presidency. THE CACTUS SHADOWS PRESS

lauren haggar

trump it up “Make America Great Again,” a profound slogan that carried the Trump campaign from the beginning to the very end. Not only is it a slogan, but it is a beacon of hope for millions of Americans nationwide. It restored faith in those who thought they would never see America rise to its fullest potential and greatness ever again. “Make America Great Again” is a slogan, but it is also a promise to every person no matter what nationality, gender, religion, or economic status, that President- Elect, Donald J. Trump is going to restore and revitalize the country. American people find Trump’s lack of political correctness, passion for America, and willingness to inspire change, not only refreshing but extremely promising. With the announcement of Trump as President-Elect, many were afraid and outraged by policies Trump proposed. What many fail to understand is what a Trump presidency actually may look like; instead, many listen to the dishonest media that continually hype up every single news story. A Trump presidency is the only way to save America from the downward spiral it is currently on. Perhaps the most controversial and important policy from Trump is his proposed ideas “Only 3% of on immigration. Americans One major misconception about Trump is that he opposes immigration and is racist towards others of different nationalities, this, in fact, actually is far from the truth.Trump supports legal immigration, just like the wait until millions of the people who voted for him. On day one of Trump in office, marriage” building a wall between the United States and Mexico will be top priority. Trump plans to deport all illegal aliens with a criminal record. These aliens are causing crime rates across America to increase. According to The Center for Immigration Studies, in October of 2013 there was two million undocumented immigrants with criminal records. Imagine that number now, especially with immigration constantly on the rise. Fox News reported that 900,000 illegal and legal immigrants are arrested each year. Additionally, according to Fox News, illegal immigrants account for twelve percent of murder sentencings, and 20 percent for kidnapping sentencings. With that being said, many of the immigrants in America are here lawfully and abiding by rules, and it is those who Trump has no issue with. Trump has also been under scrutiny, the entire campaign period, about his proposed ban on refugees from Middle Eastern countries such as Syria. This ban was not about him opposing immigration or targeting a certain group of people, it was about protecting our nation first, then allowing people to enter after an intense screening process. Trump’s main purpose is ensuring our well being. Trump wants to keep America safe, while allowing others to enter legally. Americans should be grateful that we have a leader that cares this deeply about our safety. Another key issue that Trump plans to resolve is the infamous Obamacare. The Kaiser Family Foundation reported that Obamacare was supposed to lower premiums by $2,500 a year, but the complete opposite happened; family premiums increased by approximately $5,000 dollars. Obamacare was supposed to help those who could not afford health insurance, while letting individuals keep the doctors they had previously. Instead, many went without insurance, and, those who found the money to pay, struggled due to the high cost of the premiums. Trump proposes to repeal Obamacare and replace it with Health Savings Accounts, and then come up with a better healthcare system with the help of Congress, that everyone can afford, and that everyone has access to. Once again, his focus and concern is on every American, not just the wealthy elite, as many like to say. Trump cares about everyone, because a thriving and working system equals a thriving society. Trump has proven this most recently with the Carrier Company deal saving over 1,000 jobs, securing an investment of 50 billion dollars from Masa (Softbank) towards new jobs, and going around the nation on his Thank You Tour, thanking the people in the states that he won. Despite how you feel about Donald Trump and his policies, it is undeniable that he is extremely successful and passionate for the United States. With Trump as President, not only will America be great again, but America will be safe again, reformed again, thriving again, and, most importantly, Americans everywhere, can be proud to live in the land of the free and the home of the brave.

The RepoRT CaRd powderpuff This year’s Powder Puff event was well attended and taken seriously by the participants. Because it supported the Susan G. Koman foundation, an organization which funds breast cancer research, the evening proved to be very meaningful for all involved. While the players and cheerleaders had only three days to practice, they put their best efforts on the field to support the cure. All of the money raised by the players and the spectators was donated to the Cure.

west lot

The new parking lot has opened, causing a lot of chaos. The students who were parking at the Fine Arts Center and district parking lot now park in the new west parking lot. While we are very happy to have a new parking lot closer to school, the logistics were definitely not thought through. The main issue of concern is that the only way to get in and out of this parking lot is to go through the main parking lot. This has caused the main parking lot to get backed up, especially in the afternoon when everyone is trying to leave at the same time.

dlater break This year, Cactus Shadows does not get out for winter break until the 23rd, the day before Christmas Eve. Many people travel for the holidays, and getting out so late makes it extremely difficult to get where you are going in time for the big day. Leaving early is not an option for most, because it is finals week.

f Ufaith hasher DECEmbER 16, 2016 ■ 7

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