Portfolio - Kiera Riley

PORTFOLIO

KIERA RILEY

COVER LETTER / RESUME ESSAYS TEAR SHEETS DESIGNS ALL ABOUT ME

COVER LETTER Kiera Riley

5066 E Peak View Cave Creek, AZ 85331 May 22, 2017 Emerson College 120 Boylston Street Boston, MA 02116 Dear Ms. Nichols, I am interested in attending your journalism pre-college summer program to enrich my understanding and passion for the world of the press. My work on an award winning scholastic paper, The CS Press, has shaped me into a curious, dedicated, and hard-working journalist. This diverse experience has prepared me to pursue a higher education in journalism and I feel your institution is one of the first steps in this process.

As a staff writer and opinion editor, I have seen it all. I have faced the realities of deadlines, procrastination, awkward interviews, dull subjects and difficult staff members. But, I have also faced the thrill of hard-hitting stories, insightful interviews, strong photos, and well-designed pages. Nearly two years later, as a seasoned high school newspaper veteran, I learned to love all of it. In the coming year, I will assume the position of Editor in Chief for the paper. Despite all of this, I feel I have much to learn. The journalism pre-college program will prepare me for my new role of leadership as well as my future career.

I am enthused at the opportunity to work alongside future journalists while learning more about my passion and I look forward to getting in contact with you regarding the program. I can be reached via phone at (480)620-0801 or by email kiera10riley@gmail.com. Thank you.

Sincerely, Kiera Riley

RESUME KIERA RILEY

ACHIEVEMENTS

4615 E Laredo Ln Cave Creek, AZ 85331 Cell: (480) 620-0801 Email: kiera10riley@gmail.com http://cactusshadowscspress.com/

Quill and Scroll Journalism Honor Society English Honors Society Member of CSPA Crown Recipient CS Press Newspaper Member of CSPA Crown Recipient Shadows Literary Magazine Member of NSPA Pacemaker Recipient CS Press Newspaper

EDUCATION Cactus Shadows High School 2014-Present EXPERIENCE Honors/AP English Student Staff Writer for CS Press Opinion Editor for CS Press Temporary Travel Editor for CS Press Guest Writer for Artzbeat Magazine Staff Member for Shadows Literary Magazine Publicity Director for Shadows Literary Magazine Columbia Scholastic Press Association Conference in New York

SKILLS Proficient in InDesign and PhotoShop Communication/ Leadership Problem Solving Time Management Self Confident/ Level headed Logical/ Critical Thinking

SELF ANALYSIS

A sense of uncertainty and the inevitability of shortcomings often arise from a shift in the familiar.

Change can be trying and frustrating as it often highlights where we falter. Weaknesses emerge from change; from the new, the unfamiliar, the insecure. This phase of frustration and doubt has the power to stop us dead in our tracks and detract us from pursuing the unknown.

However, with enough determination and perseverance, those faults can become assets. Taking a cognizant and objective look at oneself is the first step of many necessary to conquer a weakness. My weaknesses lessen as

progressed I realized the opinion pages have the right to be just as pretty as the other pages in the paper. I set off to make my pages more aesthetically pleasing through the use of creative design and graphics. Because of this realization, I have sharpened my design skills and improved the appeal of the opinion pages as a whole.

Aside from design, physical production also incorporates deadlines, and ethics. This semester, like every other, I struggled with deadlines. There were a few occasions in which I turned in work late or failed to complete an assignment. With this in mind, these

each semester passes but I know I have much to learn about every aspect of journalism.

First, my skills pertaining to the physical production of the paper have grown in my use of InDesign, Photoshop, and graphics. Throughout the year, I have learned how to better utilize all the tools offered to me. As far as InDesign, my designs have become more cohesive and consistent. I have developed an eye for the appearance of a page. I attribute both of these to furthering my understanding of the program as a whole.

This also feeds into my better grasp on Photoshop when editing or creating graphics for the page. In the beginning of the year, I felt like I was not able to utilize different design elements, claiming the opinion page only followed a cookie-cutter format. However, as the year

occasions significantly decreased in comparison to past semesters. I feel like I have reached the end of my streak with neglecting deadlines. As I take my new position next year, I am ready to manage my time efficiently and learn from my mistakes. Next, I feel like my position as the opinion editor has shown me a great deal about ethics, especially in such a politically charged time. My innate urge to assume I am right 100 percent of the time has been replaced with empathy and understanding for the other side of any issue. I feel like I have showcased both sides of every issue throughout the year and I hope to continue doing so. I plan on making ethics a larger area of discussion because I feel we should start covering more controversial topics in news and opinion.

We must do this in the right way-the right way bein Our inclination must be towards the truth and not

We must do this in the right way-the right way being without bias and a knee jerk emotional reaction. Our inclination must be towards the truth and not our personal views.

Next, I have broadened my dedication and teamwork in the publication. My dedication to the paper has evolved significantly in the past few years. I come in at lunch everyday to work on articles or pages, I stay the entire time during production day, I am willing to help whenever it is needed. I would considered myself an asset to the staff because of my commitment

challenges this year was detaching myself from issues covered on the opinion page as well as communicating with others directly. As a non-confrontational person, being direct with others is something I have struggled with. An example of this is in my decision to publish the letter to the editor. This caused a bit of a stir among the staff. To avoid this, I could have gone up to the person who wrote the controversial editorial and tell them about the letter instead of working on it silently.

In the future, I plan to be more direct with people because passive aggression does more harm than good.

to the paper and my passion for the craft. This leads into my involvement as a leader and a staff member.

As a naturally social person, I value conversation and feedback. I am comfortable expressing my ideas with others and I welcome constructive criticism. Being open with others is important so my communicative nature and my ability to articulate clearly are two of my greatest assets. On the other side of things, I feel I need to be more assertive and confrontational. Not in the way of getting in someone’s face or cursing them out, but more in the way of addressing issues before they become detrimental.

This year I feel I have improved as a leader, a writer, and an editor this semester but I realize there is still room for improvement. One of the biggest

Next year as editor in chief, I will communicate effectively in a way that clearly states my intentions and addresses any and all problems on the staff. I also feel that we should encourage debating with fellow peers about controversial topics and pursuing intelligent and fact-based conversation. As journalist, we have to understand that the only way to understand the other side of the story is to listen.

Overall, I feel like although I am confident and strong in some areas, I do have a desire to improve in others. This year I have learned a lot about myself and I now realize where I falter. In the near future, I plan to take what I have learned and apply it to my studies, my career, and my life.

ng without bias or a knee jerk emotional reaction. our personal views.

CS

OPINION

press

the

us shadows ER of Cact the NEWSPAP k, Arizona in Cave Cree 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 Copy Editors

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

CSPress Staff Caity BONINE, Izzy CANTWELL, Dominic DAVIES, Keely DORAN, Faith HASHER, Grace HAYCRAFTMCKEE, Louise JAGUS, Zoie LAMBESIS, Maggie MORANT, Megan WALKER 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 May 12, 2017, Volume 10: Issue 8 School enrollment: 1722 Number of copies printed: 1100 6 ■ May 12, 2017

new bill loosens teaching requirements Desperate times call for desperate measures and Arizona legislature is not completely sure how to go about the education crisis. The newest effort pertains to the certifications required to teach. Governor Doug Ducey recently signed a new bill into law changing the qualifications for Arizona educators. This shift in requirements creates a new type of “certification” for individuals with expertise in certain areas.

This puts the responsibility of assessing teachers in the hands of district officials, not the Department of Education.

The very essence of the bill aims to combat teacher shortages by expanding or loosening the requirements.

Reactions vary from optimism and enthusiasm to frustration and anger among the education community. For some, this is a step in the right direction and for others, this raises some alarming questions.

Those in favor of the bill believe this will assist in ending the teaching crisis once and for all. Charter schools across the state have been allowed to hire teachers without a formal background in education. One of these charter schools, Basis, was ranked number one charter school by U.S. News in 2017. Many believe that the school’s success stems from

experts in the classroom, many without a formal teaching degree.

The certification in the bill specifically calls for people who are experts in their subjects. Because of a proficient background in the subject, this could lead to more informed and enthusiastic instructors in classrooms.

Opposition is further frustrated by the state's inability to remedy the initial and imminent problem. People are not repelled by the teaching profession because the certification is too difficult to obtain, people are repelled by the teaching profession because the state of Arizona pays its teachers so little. There are qualified, enthusiastic, and certified teachers out there that simply do not take the jobs because of the poor economic treatment educators receive.

This new bill does nothing to address the main issue.

This issue, among many, is polarizing as feelings are mixed among the education community as well as in our journalism classroom. As an editorial board, the majority of the staff voted against the bill, favoring the opposition.

AS WE SEE it thE EditoRiAl

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, Olivia Stickel, and Sean Gannon.

letter to the editor: transgender bathroom issues deserves some compassion and understanding

By Halle aBadi g sophomore

The transgender bathroom issue is one of many issues that divides public opinion so deeply in the U.S. While I respect different opinions regarding this matter, I feel inclined to respond to the article published in the CS Press opposing transgender bathroom rights.

Making it a “safety issue” potentially leading to sexual assault, or “scarring of the young,” is not only misleading and unjust, but, in my opinion, dangerous. It perpetuates the false narrative that transgender people are prone to committing sexual assaults. According to RAINN (Rape, Incest, and Incest National Network), 93% of juvenile victims knew the perpetrator.

From a practical standpoint, imagine a transgender person who identifies as male and is thus dressed accordingly, but has the biology of a female, walks into a public women’s bathroom. Does one ask for proof of gender? Can you imagine the confusion this would cause?

From a humanitarian perspective, I believe we need to live by the notion, “You

cannot understand someone until you’ve walked a mile in their shoes.” Studies show that many transgender people identify with the opposite gender very early in their childhood, far before any social, peer pressure, and influence issues come into play.

We live in a world where the “us against them” mentality is prevalent. The notion that human beings belong in certain boxes with certain characteristics is perhaps an easy way to cope with our fears of others who are not quite like us. We need to remind ourselves on a daily basis, however, that what unites us to our fellow human beings is by far deeper and more profound than what may seem to separate us superficially.

We all, all 7+ billion of us, seek love, understanding, and respect.

Please, let’s have an open and honest conversation involving all sides. Let us exchange ideas that are based on facts and come up with a solution without demonizing a group of people, passing judgment, and placing them in a proverbial box solely based on their choices of identity.

career over family

By FaitH HasHer g staff writer

U.S. birth rates have been declining steadily since the recession in 2008, and 2016 had the lowest birth rate since 1986. According to an article in Forbes magazine, there are many reasons for this -- the weak economy means less money for families considering having children, and more women are working than in the past.

Unfortunately, as a result of this decline in birth rates, some people are blaming women for choosing their careers over having children. Whether or not to have a child is a very personal choice, and calling women selfish for choosing not to is wrong.

In the millennial age group, there has been a lot of workforce changes. According to psychologytoday.com, 43 percent of college educated women between the ages of 33 and 46 are child free.

These women are bypassing parenthood altogether.

It was only during the 1940s that America went through a baby boom and everyone was settling down and having a family. Today, however, women no longer

believe that they can have it all. A full time job means working at least eight hours a day and then coming home and raising children is about another eight hours.

Others believe that waiting before having kids means that you are more financially stable and would better support the children.

Teen pregnancies have also been trending sharply down for years falling by roughly two thirds among all racial groups since 1990 according to www.herokuapp.com.

Many people say that having children is a part of the natural life and that everyone should have one. But with all of the factors women face today, having a child could mean giving up a great career, or making other sacrifices. Not every woman needs to have a child to be fulfilled.

Picking a career over family means that means you are so passionate about it that it makes you feel whole.

So the next time a woman tells you she doesn’t want to have a child, please consider that she may have some very good reasons for her choice.

THE CaCTUS SHaDOWS PRESS

sara Windom

Tweet

@csnewspaper

Celebrity soCial media With 140 characters, celebrities can

send out their thoughts to fans instantly through the use of popular social media apps like Twitter.

Because of the recent election, vocalizing one’s opinions throughout the web is a pretty common phenomenon. These tweets usually cover touchy subjects, regarding broad issues such as climate change, women’s rights, and the new presidency overall, to more specific concerns like Flint, Michigan’s ongoing water crisis and Planned Parenthood funding. Many social media users may think it unprofessional for celebrities to voice their viewpoints through their verified accounts, however, they should still be treated and respected like any other person.

According to Social Media Today, the average person spends approximately five years of their lifetime using and participating in social media. That’s a lot of pro-gun Facebook posts and #notmypresident tweets. So why is it people only care when it is a celebrity doing the tweeting? When an aunt on Facebook or a friend on Twitter shares a post on something you completely disagree with, eyes potentially roll back, fists clench, but inevitably the status ends up ignored and the monotonous scrolling continues.

However, when that same situation occurs with a star instead of an everyday person, uproar breaks out.

When disagreeing with a celebrity, more tend to argue with an aggressive post back. Many retorts are not even

backed up factually, often times users simply attack the star personally or threaten to stop supporting them altogether.

Just because you do not agree with Lady Gaga’s strong support for the LGBT community does not mean you have the right to call her degrading names. You also should not fight the urge to sing every lyric to Bad Romance when it comes on in your friend’s car because of something she said on the internet.

What somebody is and is not ‘allowed’ to post online on their own accounts should not depend on the social status or pedestal they are put on. According to Psychology Today, celebrities are held to such high standards because they seem immortal. Even when the famous themselves are long gone, their actions and impressions will forever remain.

While it is understandable that what those high elites post is rather influential, they should not be subjected to keeping silent for the rest of their days. Celebrities should still be treated as humans, regardless of their views.

Overall, fans should stop fixating stars with such a high regard in society. We should be able to watch movies and listen to music without prodding into every aspect of a star’s life. While, yes, they are publicly posting their opinion, people have different views. Agreeing, even with your favorite celebrities, will not always be possible. Get over it.

the neCessity behind 13 reasons why don’t adjust Whatever device you’re

listening to this on. Get a snack, and settle in. Because I’m about to tell you the story of girl’s life, or more specifically, why her life ended. This girl, as beautiful and clever as she was, could not catch a break. It always seemed as though something was wrong in her life, or someone was trying to ruin her. But she did have one person, a boy. This boy loved her immensely, and would do anything to make sure she was okay. However, she ignored this boy’s affection and took her own life, leaving him in shambles. This leaves you, Hannah Baker, as the focal point of your own tape.

All jokes aside, the Netflix original series, 13 Reasons Why, sparked interest when it was released on March 31, 2017. For those who have not yet seen 13 Reasons Why, I strongly caution that it is not for those looking for an uplifting story with a happy ending. This show depicts high school for what it truly is- a place where people have the ability and power to drain all happiness and hope. It shows the inner darkness lurking beneath everyone and the lengths they will go to keep it from coming to light.

The show focuses on a 15 year old girl, Hannah Baker, who commits suicide. Before ending her life, Hannah creates 13 tapes. Each tape centers on a certain person who hurt or wronged her in one way or another.

Though Hannah may first come across as a petty,

THE CACTUS SHADOWS PRESS

angsty teen, her reasonings for the tapes become clear as the show continues. She endures unspeakable treatment from her friends and peers that leaves her emotionally, physically, and mentally numb. To add salt to the wound, all of these people only harm Hannah because they are too afraid to come to terms with their own inner demons.

Many critics dislike the show because of it's graphic nature. Throughout the season, there are episodes with explicit and realistic rape scenes as well as a grisly suicide scene. The majority of the opposition argues that these episodes are too horrific for viewers.

These scenes are necessary to show the grim reality behind many of these issues. Suicide and rape are often swept under the rug as many do not want to acknowledge that both of these experiences exist in high schools across the country. The way 13 Reasons Why addresses these issues forces people to understand the severity of them.

And even though mental health is not explicitly addressed, the show sends a strong message surrounding the treatment of others. It pushes the overall idea to empathize with othersto be kind and supportive to your peers because you have no perception of the events going on in their life.

maggie morant

THE MOST SIGNIFICANT OPINION zoie lambesis

dolphins in the desert

Who Would have thought in a million

years that people would be able to swim with dolphins in the middle of an arid desert. This sounds insane because it is. The new Dolphinaris attraction in Scottsdale risks the safety of both its animals and its visitors.

Dolphinaris misplaces, mistreats, and demeans the animals in the facility. Arizona is approximately 2,931 miles away from Honolulu, Hawaii where the dolphins were captured. This 2,931 mile journey is a long and dreadful process.The mammals are transported in a stretcher that is suspended in water which is then placed on a 6-8 hour plane flight.

Taking animals out of their natural habitats causes many things to go wrong with their bodies. The emotional, physi- In the wild, dolphins cal, and mental stress that these are constantly dolphins go through when they are held in captivity makes solving complex them more inclined to get disproblems and eases and die at a young age. swimming up to Not only is the transportation shocking to the dolphins, 80 miles a day. but the lifestyle change they go However, this is through is draining and damaginstantly taken ing to their system as well. In the wild, dolphins are constantly away from them solving complex problems and once decided swimming up to 80 miles a day.

However, this is instantly taken that they are held away from them once decided in captivity for that they are held in captivity entertainment. for entertainment.

According to AZ Central's interview with the general manager of Dolphinaris Arizona, Grey Stafford, many of the dolphins are born into captivity so they only know human beings, trainers and veterinarians their whole life. This means that their lifestyle is not natural in any way. Healthy, wild dolphins would typically be swimming in the ocean eating fresh fish. Instead, these dolphins are fed frozen fish, forced into unnatural and demeaning positions or “tricks,” and trapped in small tanks.

The attraction holds 12 bottlenose dolphins that have been trained to do stunts for amusement. Having the dolphins jump over things and do flips in the air is not natural or healthy for the animal. In fact, most of these movements are tiring on their bodies and can cause serious injuries.

As people pay 119 dollars for a hour long “swim and ride” with the dolphins, the dangers of getting in the water with these animals do not occur to them. According to US Whales, “disease transmission is a serious concern, as dolphins carry diseases that can be transmitted to humans and vise versa.” When exposed to the water that the dolphins swim in, you are capable of receiving any diseases that the dolphins might carry, which can turn into years of health complications. Dolphins are wild animals, so they are extremely unpredictable and can react differently to any human when feeding or swimming with them.

In order for these dolphins to be free in the ocean where they belong, it is important to take action and stay out of the aquariums that keep dolphins for entertainment.

Encouraging places like Dolphinaris Arizona, to expand their cement pools that hold only 1 million gallons of water, will help bring attraction to the problem that is, keeping dolphins in captivity.

MAy 12, 2017 ■ 7

OPINION

Two editors discuss the past and the possible pros and cons of us involvement in foreign affairs

katelyn reinhart

solace in isolation The ear-ringing blare of gunshots and pained cries cut through the air. A boom echoes as a cannon fires, and limp bodies of Americans lay scattered across foreign soil. Those now-empty faces once held proud smiles formed under the illusion that they were fighting a necessary war. Throughout history, thousands of American citizens have marched into an unnecessary battle and fewer have returned home.

By getting involved with foreign affairs, the United States does nothing but waste resources, whether it be money, time, or actual human lives. A perfect example By getting of this is the Vietnam war, which began in 1955 involved with and lasted twenty years. According to the the Defense Casualty Analysis System, 58,220 United foreign affairs, States military members died as a result, and for the United States what reason? Even now, there is debate over who does nothing but exactly won. Some people believe that the United states lost entirely; others claim that the US milwaste resources, itary won, but politicians involved dropped the whether it be ball.

Whether or not Vietnam was a victory, there money, time, and were still 58,220 people who lost their lives fightactual human ing a war that proved nothing. A war that accomlives. plished nothing. A war that took everything from those who died, with a gun in hand and hazy claims of freedom on their lips. For every one person who died in Vietnam, there were dozens of people who knew them, or loved them, and lost them.

Emotional appeal aside, imagine the cost it takes to make one tank.

Now, think of the amount of tanks whose wheels meet enemy ground.

Not a big enough number? Imagine hundreds of planes dropping hundreds of bombs, the equipment it took to protect US military members, the cost of medicine, etc. According to The Defense Department, the overall cost of the Vietnam war was $173 billion. On top of that, veteran's benefits and interest would add another $250 billion, resulting in a total cost of $423 billion for one war.

The harm that US intervention causes is not only reflected in Vietnam.

With terrorism being a very prevalent issue, many people claim that intervention is the only way. However, intervention does nothing but put more lives at risk. Claiming that war is the only option is similar to toddlers throwing toys at each other because they cannot think of any other way to solve the problem. Terrorism is, and remains to be, a great threat to American people, however, war threatens the American people, resources, and economy.

Recently, President Trump launched 59 missiles at a Syrian airbase, at an estimated cost of at least 47 million dollars. Many have questioned why this action was taken, and if it will affect outcomes in Syria at all.

In cases like Syria, US intervention not only threatens war, but it may be for nothing. Trump was elected because of his “America First” centered campaign, but by intervening in other country’s affairs, America’s need are being put on hold.

This decision may have been made for the protection of Syrian citizens, but the outcome will be the same. As history repeats itself, it shows that United States involvement does no good to anyone but debt collectors and funeral homes.

The RepoRT CaRd

sean gannon

fight back for freedom

PROM THEME

Wars are waged because of three very simple ideas: money, religion, and territory. The United States became involved in Middle Eastern affairs because of all these reasons. We have benefitted from several of these causes.

Oil is an extremely precious and abundant resource in the Middle East that is exported to nearly the entire world. Most of the modern civilized world runs on this oil from this region. Over the past fifteen years, the United States has stationed roughly 35,000 troops in the Middle East, 18,000 of which are split between Kuwait and Bahrain, with four goals. Each of these goals relates back to the main idea of protecting the oil in this region from falling under control of a group that intends to restrict access to oil and to protect the Strait of Hormuz from falling into the wrong hands which, according to nationalinterest.org, exports 30 percent of the world’s seaborne oil.

Religion also tends to dictate the actions of many people in this world.

For instance, a study conducted by pewresearch.org in 2014, discovered that this region has the highest levels of religious conflicts in the world -- over four times the global norm. For several years, while these wars were waged, Islamic extremists groups such as Al-Qaeda were able to gain power through religious sympathy.

Three prominent religions, Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, claim to have originated in this region of the world and each group believes that this is their Holy Land. After World War Two, millions of displaced Jews sought a new country where they could all go and live in peace. Thus, Israel was created on May 14, 1948. This newfound Jewish state led to even more unrest in the Middle East. Muslims in this region did not take fondly to this newly formed Jewish state because they believed that these displaced people had no right in taking their Holy Land away from them.

Recent terror attacks across the globe from the Islamic State, ISIS, and the Syrian government using sarin gas on 80 civilians in Syria, have caught President Trump’s attention. Trump took it upon himself to show ISIS that they cannot go around killing innocent civilians by launching 59 Tomahawk missiles at a Syrian airbase on April 11. Secretary of Defense James Mattis claimed that these strikes had taken out 20% of the Syrian air force.

In 1996, Al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden, declared war on the United States because we occupied two Islamic holy cities, Mecca and Medina. Bin Laden did not capture the attention of many citizens until the attacks on September 11, 2001. After bin Laden attacked completely innocent United States citizens, the Middle East became a huge concern.

This region of the world is currently one of the most significant areas when it comes to resources. The Middle East has something that Trump took it upon everyone needs; oil. Without oil, the globe would himself to show ISIS shut down, worldwide trade would cease, your that they cannot car would not move from it’s spot in the driveway. Havoc has spread across this section of go around killing the globe and it needs to be stopped. The United innocent civilians States has banded together with several countries including Australia, the European Union, by launching 59 the United Kingdom, France, Turkey, and the Tomahawk missiles United Arab Emirates to suppress the civil wars at a Syrian airbase in the Middle East, keep the oil industry functioning at full potential, and attempt to keep the on April 11. Secretary rest of the world safe from extremist groups such of Defense James as the Islamic State.

Mattis claimed that these strikes had taken out 20 percent of the Syrian air force.

A (28%) B (41%) C (19%) D (12%)

senior ditch day

A (45%) B (19%) C (18%) D (18%)

AZ MERIT schedule

A (2%) B (6%) C (14%) D (78%)

Based on polls of 100 students via Twitter 8 ■ May 12, 2017

`Dominic Davies

THE CaCTUS SHaDOWS PRESS

THE MOST SIGNIFICANT

M

y most significant spread for the paper this year was the May opinion pages. First, I feel the stories we covered were relevant and timely. The spread included issues like Dolphinaris, a new teaching bill, transgender bathroom rights, a new controversial TV show, and social media debates.

Dolphinaris and the new teaching bill brought a sense of locality to the page. The dolphin editorial addressed the newest attraction in Scottsdale and the issue of animal abuse. This content directly relates to the students as it educates about aquariums and the risks it poses to animals and humans. The group editorial covered the new teaching bill which now allows individuals to teach without a formal degree. This coverage also encourages students to become involved in the educational issues in the state. The articles about recent popular culture phenomenons like 13 Reasons Why and celebrities on social media relates to the student body, bringing

student interest to the page. Finally, the pro/con about US involvement and the letter to the editor about transgender bathroom rights addressed important national issues that aimed both to persuade and educate the student body. The letter to the editor was also an exciting development because of student involvement in the paper. The content covered a wide-range of opinions including those of not only the staff, but the students as well. As far as design, my pages were cohesive and consistent in design. I was able to incorporate different graphics for each of the editorials. These pages were not difficult to complete because of the cooperation and hard work of the staff writers. All of the stories were done on time and included minor edits.

Throughout my work on the spread, the design and stories evolved to create an attractive page- both in content and design. I learned the importance of consistent editing and communication with the staff on different issues with the stories.

TEAR

SHEETS

S

ence teacher.

Lauch rides his own motorcycle, a Kawasaki Super Sherpa, to and from work everyday.

The Hideaway Grill has hosted well known events such as Bike Week, Biketoberfest, and UTV rallies. Bike Week is the more popular.

“Last year in February, I went to a traveling motorcycle show and now there’s Bike Week coming up,” said Andrew Dine, a junior who rides his motorcycle to and from school.

FEBRUARY

Grill may be an event more dirt based riders would be interested since UTVs are vehicles majorly used for off roading purposes. The Cave Creek UTV Rally, which usually takes place in October, hosts games, prizes, tons of vendors, lives music, and much more.

The slogan for the Hideaway Grill says it all. “There are no strangers here, just friends you haven’t met yet.”

The event is open to anyone and the atmosphere is open and friendly.

WAITING A motorcycle is left outside the Hideaway Grill in downtown Cave Creek. 4 ANNALEE BARNETT

Gateway to a desert oasis

The Gateway Awareness Park, on Versmeech Road, is a hidden gem

By KIERA RILEY g opinion editor

Down a dirt road, hidden behind an out-of-business restaurant, the Gateway Desert Awareness Park is hard to miss. Despite the hidden location, the park is home to an edu-

PARK VIEWS The entrance to the Gateway Awareness Park playground.

4 KIERA RILEY

cational nature path, a playground, a educational center, and an amphitheatre.

The park was built by volunteers and funded by organizations such as Arizona State Park’s Heritage Funds, Desert Foothills Community Foundation and the town of Cave Creek. Many community members donated money and time to the construction of the local park.

A giant arc marks the entrance to the park. The playground, located to the left on the dirt parking lot, is complete with swings, a sandbox, slides, barbeque grills and a ramada fit for picnics. Public bathrooms and drinking fountains are offered at this location as well.

Continuing down the path and through a large wash, visitors can discover more about the area's

culture inside the Desert Heritage Center. The dome shaped building displays a number of signs with information on local native American tribes.

In the back of the heritage center is a small pond with a waterfall.

Although it is not running now, the pond used to house small fish and snails. There is also animal tracks imprinted in the concrete with a board explaining the different forms of desert life.

The path outside of the heritage center is lined with native plants with signs identifying and explaining more about their origin. Sidewalks then wind down to an amphitheatre with small rows of stadium seating, a picnic table, and an awning. This can be booked for meetings and other events.

18 ■ FEBRUARY 10, 2017

THE CACTUS SHADOWS PRESS

TEACHERS ARE WORTH MORE Teaching is one of the most rewarding, frustrating, important, demanding jobs out there. Educators create the future.

They mold the next generation of change, one student at a time. So why are teachers, the leaders of tomorrow, paid so little?

According to AZCentral, Arizona ranks dead last in median teacher salary. This meaning, teach“According to ers in Arizona get paid less than any other in the United States. Take this AZCentral, statistic how you will but there is no Arizona ranks disputing reality, teachers in Arizona deserve more pay. dead last in Because of Arizona’s rock bottom median teacher ranking on the pay spectrum, there salary.” have been efforts to improve upon this statistic. Governor Doug Ducey recently introduced his new plan, funneling more money into education. His initial goal is to raise teachers’ wages by two percent over the next five years, as well as offer student loan forgiveness.

The new budgeting plan also aims to make full day kindergarten more accessible to a range of districts and reward

PASSING THROUGH, a horeseback rider trots past the Gateway Awareness Park. 4 MIA GILLING

teachers in especially underprivileged areas with a signing bonus of $1,000.

Although this is a step in the right direction, it comes as a disappointment to many as his speech prior to the unveiling of his plan seemed really committed to a substantial increase. His true plan fell short of expectations, even if they were low.

Arizona has struggled with education funding for years.

Small victories, like the passing of Ducey’s new budget and Prop 123, raise confidence in educators, but unfortunately, none of these truly grapple with the biggest problem, teacher shortages.

A lack of teachers is ripping across the nation, especially in poorly funded states such as Arizona. This offers the question, what incentive do teachers have to work in Arizona schools? Schools are competing for teachers, good teachers with experience and strong passions for their career. Since Arizona offers the bare minimum, schools are suffering.

Paying quality educators what they are worth is more than reasonable, it is common sense.

The EDITORIAL represents the consensus view of the members of the Editorial Board.

AS WE SEE IT THE EDITORIAL

OPINION

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PRO-BAMACARE Everyone deserves access to proper medical care, regardless of financial standings. With the help of Obamacare, or the Affordable Care Act (ACA), this goal has been possible as it has been a system that has supported the right to health care for all Americans.

Based on recent news reports, it is evident that one of the main goals of the primarily Republican congress is to pry apart the foundation of the Affordable Care Act. This raises some particularly concerning questions for the 20 million Americans covered by the act.

The executive order mandating the gradual dismantling of Obamacare is sending many Americans into a state of panic. With no real clear replacement plan, many citizens are left in the dark. This bold and obvious statement sends a rather threatening message, clouding the future of government funded health insurance.

Many members of the Republican party have been opposed to ACA since the beginning, but on the other hand, Republicans are opposed to almost anything with the name Obama in it. The restrictions, details and wording have been poked and prod- “According to ded multiple times since 2010, when it ObamacareFacts, was voted into law. Despite being written and rewritten time and time again, the amount there are prominent pros to this system of individuals of health insurance. uninsured was First, through Obamacare a substantially larger population of people have at an all time access to healthcare they were denied low in 2016, before, such as those in extreme poverty. According to ObamacareFacts, the meaning more amount of individuals uninsured was at citizens have an all time low in 2016, meaning more access to safe citizens have access to safe and affordable healthcare. and affordable Perhaps one of the most important healthcare.” parts of ACA is the fact that it does not discriminate against those with preexisting medical conditions, such as cancer or diabetes. Many insurance agencies refuse to cover individuals, making it difficult and often times more expensive for people to find dependable, and sometimes life-saving care.

For example, during a CNN Town Hall, one of the members of the audience, a man named Jeff Jeans, questioned Paul Ryan regarding the possible repeal of ACA. Jeans told his story, mentioning that he was a Republican and, as most Republicans were, ardently opposed to the Affordable Care Act. After the passing of the act, Jeans was given six weeks to live after his diagnosis of cancer, curable cancer, but cancer.

Despite the fact that he was able to pay for his medical bills, he needed an insurance card to receive the treatment. Because of the Affordable Care Act, that same man is still living and breathing today.

Continuing on, there is a wider range of coverage plans, spanning a range of prices and needs. There is also a requirement for each plan, ensuring that the different, and often most vital types of coverage are included, such as mental health. The Affordable Care Act also lowers prescription drug costs and puts a cap on the amount of money individuals pay out of pocket.

Is Obamacare a perfect health insurance system? No. It seems nearly impossible to please everyone when it comes to health care legislation. However, instead of completely repealing the Affordable Care Act, congress needs to either introduce a solid and clear plan for a replacement, or reform the current system. Repealing it without a replacement will leave many sick or impoverished Americans in the dust.

THE REPORT CARD talent show The IB talent show raised money for Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS). Student’s performances range from singing, to dancing, and everything in between. Local talent included Carter Homan, Gabrielle Payne, and Julia Horner. Overall, students did a fantastic job showcasing their skills and raising money for a good cause.

a

new teachers Four missing math teachers makes for one big gap in the teaching staff. Their reasons were varied and more than likely warranted but it disadvantages students. Luckily, new teachers are filling up the spots. Kristi Zeeb, Bahram Deghani, Ryan Thomas, and Erica Granedo joined the math department. The English department also welcomes new IB english teacher Janet Wells.

b rachel’s challenge Rachel’s Challenge returns to Cactus Shadows for a second year only to deliver a hauntingly similar presentation. Besides an initial emotional reaction, many students seemed to brush off the message the program was striving to send. With skepticism towards the many stories told during the assembly, it did not have the biggest impact on the student body.

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UKIERA RILEY FEBRUARY 10, 2017 ■ 8

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Freedom oF the preSS, Freedom oF the people “Enemy of the people.” Four words with enough strength to divide an entire population and void the meaning of truth. These four words were shot like bullets into one of the key components of democracy by the leader of the democracy itself. The press is not the enemy of the people, it is the exact opposite.

When Donald J. Trump tweeted out that “The fake news media… is not my enemy, it is the enemy of the American people,” on February 17, he repeated the words of dictators such as Vladmir Lenin and Joseph Stalin. It has been a tactic of fascist regimes to attack the free press by creating a sense of distrust in the media. We need to be very careful that this never happens in the United States.

A free press is essential to democracy. A free press ensures that the people in power do not abuse that power.

The right to the press has been an American value since the founding fathers penned it into the Bill of Rights.

Each journalist carries unimaginable importance in protecting the rights of every United States citizen and preserving the truth in government.

Presidents often disagree with the press, and that is their right. Barack Obama had a contentious relationship with Fox News when he was president. George W. Bush also had a difficult relationship with the New York Times as president. But they both acknowledged the necessity for a free press.

Last week, George W. Bush spoke out in support of the press on The Today Show, and called the media "indispensable to democracy." In his first in-depth interview since Trump's inauguration, the former president, with-

out mentioning Trump by name, took issue with the president’s statement that mainstream media is the "enemy of the people.” Bush told Matt Lauer that "we need the media to hold people like me to account. I mean, power can be very addictive and it can be corrosive and it's important for the media to call to account people who abuse their power, whether it be here or elsewhere."

Former presidential candidate and Arizona Senator, John McCain, also emphasized the importance of a free press during an interview on NBC. “We need a free press.

We must have it. if you want to preserve democracy as we know it, you have to have a free and many times adversarial press. And without it, I am afraid that we would lose so much of our individual liberties over time. That's how dictators get started.”

Media companies can be corrupt and biased, but that should not be reason to threaten a fundamental American right and the news sources that hold it to the highest importance. True journalist seek the truth in an independent, transparent, and harmless way. The press reflects the truth, even if it is sometimes harsh.

So go ahead and argue with each other. Debate who is right and who is wrong. But please be careful not to attack the press for reporting these debates. We need to do everything we can to ensure the foundation of our democracy is not weakened by demonizing the one thing that guarantees its existence: a free press.

AS WE SEE it thE EditoRiAl

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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, Olivia Stickel, and Sean Gannon.

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Separate church and State “Church and state, while both two important institutions in this country,

This country was founded upon the ideals of religious freedom. Church and state, while both two important institutions in this country, were meant to be separate.

If the two were one, churches would be able to influence political matters and the government would be favoring one religion over all others.

Picking certain aspects of religion to justify bills that have prejudice have passed is not morally right.

Thomas Jefferson first brought up the separation of church and state.

Understanding the difference between right and wrong does not require religion, nor does human decency.

The line of separation between the two institutions have been blurred recently with bills, such as the Religious Freedom Restoration Act, that would allow Christian store owners to reject LGBT patrons. President Trump also plans to introduce a bill that would allow churches to support and donate to the politician of their choice.

President Trump’s immigration ban was not only politically fueled, but also

There are multiple religions within this country, each of equal importance, which means that focusing solely on only one religion will not help anyone.

There has also been a rise in antiSemitic and anti-Islamic protest and violence. One hundred tombstones were defaced or destroyed at a Jewish cemetery. This rise in violence could be attributed to the President’s choice of religion and enforcing that religion the most.

Another important point is education.

Education would not be the same if church and state were one entity. Creationism would be taught over evolution, and there would be more religious based classes, which would undermine the freedom to chose religion that the country was founded upon.

There could be positives to uniting church and state, however, it would be a direct infringement on religious freedom and ultimately goes against the principles this country was founded on.

Both church and state are important, but they do not need to be one to be considered important or notable. They can

“The pipeline desecrates sacred burial grounds and poses significant threats to the tribe’s water supply.”

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By KIERA RILEY § opinion editor

The Dakota Access Pipeline and the environment go together like oil and water. With the new legislation pushing the plan, environmentalists and native Americans alike fear the consequences of the project.

Dakota Access Pipeline or DAPL is a proposed oil pipeline that, if built, would run from North Dakota to Illinois.

The project is backed by private Texasbased energy company, Energy Transfer Partners. Construction of the 1,200 mile pipeline costs an estimated $3.7 billion and would ship 470,000 barrels of crude oil a day.

Luckily, the project screeched to a halt, primarily because of the Sioux native American tribe in North Dakota.

Tribe leaders argued that the construction of the pipeline desecrates sacred burial grounds and poses significant threats to the tribe’s water supply.

This is also where environmentalists come in. Oil spills, which are very common, result in water, air, and land pollution. The majority of plant and animal life in the affected areas are often severely hurt or completely killed.

Although the project has been put on pause, President Donald J. Trump publicly backed the project recently, mandating that the pipeline is solely made of American steel and urging permits for the private oil company.

There are a number of problems with this situation, politically, socially, and ecologically. On political grounds, Trump’s support for DAPL and the company behind it, Energy Transfer Partners (ETP) is shaded with corruption. According to BBC, the chief executive of ETP donated around $100,000 to the Trump campaign, leaving reasons to suspect that the president is pursu-

ing the pipeline for his own gain, not the gain of the citizens.

Socially, Native Americans are once again being stepped on and exploited by the United States. The pipeline was rerouted onto sacred lands without the consent of the Sioux tribe and poses grave threats to their water supply. DAPL threatens the livelihood of many native American men, women, and children, carrying on the long history of injustice.

Ecologically, one spill and the water in the Missouri river is completely polluted. Killing local wildlife and plant life. This would only further the current energy crisis. At a time where clean energy is needed more than ever, the development of more fossil fuels is the last thing that needs to happen.

Native American tribes from all over the country stand in solidarity with the Sioux nation as well as many activists, environmentalists, and veterans. According to BBC, over 200 tribes pledged their support, making this the largest unity of the tribes in history.

Other supporters, such as Jill Stein, Bernie Sanders, Robert Kennedy Jr., Shailene Woodley and Mark Ruffalo, have made appearances at Standing Rock.

Protesters continue to resist forceful and oftentimes violent use of military at the camps. Many of the camps are being surrounded by military and are currently being removed from the area.

To pledge your support, you can donate money to support the Sioux, the camps at Standing Rock, or the legal defense fund. The camps are also looking for supply donations. Even without money, you can call North Dakota governor and voice your concerns about the pipeline.

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`KIERA RILEY from photos f THE CACTUS SHADOWS PRESS

at Rawhide in Chandler. The show starts Friday, March 17 and ends

well hydrated and make sure to try out all the concession stands.

BLAKE BRADSHAW, A SOPHOMORE, AND LIZ ALVAR, A FRESHMAN, enjoying the McDowell Mountain Music Festival that they attended on March 3.

4BLAKE BRADSHAW

MIGOS TURN THE DESERT ‘BAD AND BOUJEE’ WITH A RECENT TOUR

By KIERA RILEY g opinion editor

Taking the hip hop world by storm, Migos embark on their first tour since their single, Bad and Boujee hit number one on the charts this year. The group played three shows in Arizona, taking on Tucson on February 25 at the Tucson Convention Center and playing two back-to-back shows on February 26 at the Celebrity Theatre in Phoenix.

Comprised of Quavo, Offset, and Takeoff, the trio have been up-andcoming since 2013 when Drake remixed their track, Versace.

Migos have built a solid discography since their debut album with

notable songs such as Fight Night, Look at my Dab, Pipe It Up, and Hannah Montana.

Their newest single Bad and Boujee has gained worldwide popularity circulating the internet on social media sites such as Twitter and has climbed the charts recently securing its place at number one.

The single was followed up with their newest album Culture.

Featuring artists like Travis Scott and Gucci Mane, the album consists of well-produced tracks with electrifying beats, well-crafted verses and intense energy. Culture reflects the hype of the group’s come up and also recently hit

number one on the charts.

With shows across the country, Migos are basically taking a victory lap, selling out shows left and right. One of their first shows at the Tucson Convention Center brought the fresh and exciting drive of Culture but fell short in the length of the show and the venue.

Venues heavily influence the energy of shows. In this case, the Tucson Convention Center seemed to overcompensate for the size of the crowd, making the show seem empty. Despite the large crowd for the show, the warehouse style room dwarfed the stage and the crowd.

The pale, fluorescent lighting

also deprived the crowd of the feeling of anticipation when the room goes dark and the performers grace the stage.

The only other issue was the length of the show. Doors opened at 7:30 but Migos did not take the stage until 10:30, and their set lasted a little under an hour. The group has an extensive enough discography that the show could have run a little longer.

Besides the minor details, Migos brought their all, delivering an electric performance. The setlists hit all the high notes, from their first major hit, Versace to some of the gems off Culture, like Get Right Witcha, the group nailed their top

THE CACTUS SHADOWS PRESS

songs and had the crowd jumping the entire time.

Unlike other rap concerts, Quavo, Offset, and Takeoff kept it authentic, rapping their verses flawlessly without leaning on backing tracks too heavily.

Migos put on a first class performance despite the unavoidable issues with the venue. The group then continued on from Tucson to Phoenix where they sold out, resulting in a second show being added.

Overall, the concert experience could have been better, but that was not any fault of the performers.

MARCH 10, 2017 ■ 20

Style

fashion in a flash

By KIERA RILEY g opinion editor

MOVING AT A TREND PER MIN-

ute, fast fashion giants tailor and trash clothes causing environmental alarm.

Fast fashion, by definition, is a phenomenon in the fashion industry where retailers accelerate the clothing production process in order to get new trends off the runway and into stores as quickly and cheaply as possible.

The fast fashion business model turns two or four seasons into 52, enforcing the feeling of falling behind among consumers.

Companies like Forever 21, H&M, Zara, and TopShop are some of the top businesses that use this production process. The model produces an excess of clothing and pollution. According to Ecowatch, fast fashion is the second dirtiest industry, next to big oil.

“I feel like they don’t really worry about the environment, they only worry about how much they can sell,” said Fernanda Brigneti, a junior and fashion enthusiast.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates that redirecting of the excess textiles into recycling

programs would be the equivalent of eliminating 7.3 million cars and their fossil fuel emissions. Many different businesses are working to combat this issue.

Ethical sustainable alternatives are available to fastpaced, high-pollutant clothing companies.

Anything from activewear to everyday apparel has an alternative brand. Many of these brands are priced higher than fast fashion apparel because of the production processes.

“If you are willing to spend just a little more money, the benefit outweighs the cost,” said Janet Anderson, a biology teacher.

For basic pieces, Grana, a clothing company based in Hong Kong, stands by their pledge to make luxury quality clothing with the lowest possible markup.

Lacausa also offers basic, comfortable pieces at a decent price. The company has also made a pledge to donate ten percent of their sales to the American Civil Liberties Union, a national organization that works in courts, legislatures, and communities to defend the individual rights of citizens around the country.

“We could start shopping at smaller boutiques or shopping at

Goodwill or other places that reuse clothing because of there is so much of it [clothing] in the world, we could just recycle,” said Aidia Nielson, a junior.

Other eco-friendly clothing companies include Petra Von Kant, Ethica, Patagonia, and Levi’s.

Petra Von Kant is a vintage company that hand picks their clothing, promoting unique style and recycling. Ethica has pieces curated by a wide-range of designers, made in the USA and produced ethically.

Patagonia and Levi’s are two well-known brands that have continued to be socially and ecologically conscientious, according to their mission statements.

Other initiatives, like H&M’s new conscious collection are taking clothing donations to reuse for new pieces. ASOS green room is doing a similar textile recycling program as well, working with eco-friendly and sustainable companies to work towards reducing their impact on the planet.

Thrift stores also provide fast fashion-free clothing for cheap. Goodwill, the Salvation Army, Buffalo Exchange, and other secondhand stores often provide the same shopping thrill as Forever 21.

“I would recommend if they want to find cheap clothes that they should go thrifting.

I’ve found more stuff that I love that is really good quality at thrift stores,” said Brigneti.

Environmental groups, fashion gurus, and other companies have been making efforts to try and combat this issue.

CLOTHES PILE UP when made in mass quanti-

ties. Companies like Forever 21 and TopShop are just few of many that produce too much to be consumed.

4FORVER 21 & TOPSHOP WSARA WINDOM 14 ■ MARCH 10, 2017

THE CACTUS SHADOWS PRESS

APRIL April 17, 2017 Vol. 10, Number 7

CSpress

BALLOONS IN THE SKY LIKE DIAMONDS Hot air balloons travel 2,000 ft. in the air to show the view across the valley.

the

see page 11

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

YEE STANDS UP FOR HIGH SCHOOL PRESS FREEDOM State Senator Kimberly Yee has introduced legislation to allow high school students considerably more press freedom.

Her legislation was aided by testimony from CS Press staffers before both the houses of the Arizona legislature.

BY KIERA RILEY g opinion editor

JOURNALISM STUDENTS AND ADVISERS ALIKE WAIT ANXIOUSLY AS A

new free speech bill snakes its way through the lawmaking process. If passed, Senate bill 1384 will allow First Amendment protections for student journalists across the state.

Introduced and sponsored by Senator Kimberly Yee, SB1384 aims to create standards for public high schools, community colleges, and universities that prevent unfair censorship on the basis of financial support from schools. Instances of censorship in scholastic publications occur across the nation because of the precedent set by the Supreme Court case Hazelwood v. Kuhlmeier.

Hazelwood stated that schools have the right to set “high standards” and refuse to sponsor speech that was deemed inappropriate by administrators.

“So many students have been taught to bury the truth or let it go unreported because they know that their superiors will not allow it to be printed. SB 1384 allows students to begin practicing real journalism, so I think all students and faculty in the field should support it,” said Sara Windom, style editor for the CS Press. In March, Windom testified in front of both the Senate and House Education Committees to encourage their support of the bill.

STUDENTS GAIN SOME CONTROL OVER STUDENT PRESS

Although the law set by Hazelwood does still control student rights, SB1384 creates a new set of standards to be applied when reviewing student publications, which puts more power into the hands of the students. Specifically, articles can only be censored if they are libelous or slanderous, constitute an unwarranted invasion of privacy, violate federal or state law, or disrupts the orderly operation of public schools.

“As a student, I feel relatively powerless to stand up to our administrative staff. I have bent at the knee because I wanted to graduate without a fuss. That bothers me,” said Henry Gorton, a student journalist at Sunnyslope High School. Gorton also testified in front of the Senate and the House Education committees and shared his experiences with censorship as a member of the Viking Views school newspaper.

YEE INSPIRED AS A TEEN

Although this is the first time the bill is being heard in the Senate, this is not its first proposal. In 1992 at Greenway High School in Phoenix, a then 17-year-old KimberlyYee was first coming to grips with the issue of censorship in high school publications.

“I would be sitting in my government class learning about my First Amendment rights and my freedom of press rights but I wasn’t able to exercise them in my next class which was my journalism class,” said Senator Yee. To try and combat this problem, Yee volunteered to advocate and speak for a bill similar to SB1384 when she was a senior in high school. The bill passed through the education committee but never passed into law. Now, Yee has resurrected the bill in hopes of finishing see PRESS FREEDOM on page 2

A FRIEND TO FREE SPEECH Kimberly Yee

addresses the Arizona legislature. She was responsible for introducing Senate Bill 1384 expanding student press rights. 4 OFFICE OF SENATOR YEE

Lay.”

You prefer something that’s comfortable but elegant.

Michael Chmura, a junior.

need a stunning dress that no one else will have. Try shopping vintage!

4SARA WINDOM

CULTURE COPYCATS

INSIDE

BY KIERA RILEY g opinion editor

for a dress that follows the most popular trends.

Cut outs, and open backs, will be perfect for you.

What are plans for prom?

be a tip of the hat or a nod to the culture that originally devised Cultural appropriation, a rising issue in fashion, is being seen it,” said Geoff Johnson, a history teacher.

The fashion Alex LAGGREN Editor in Chiefworld is one of the top industries that battle with 3 ZOOLOGY LESSON zines, causing tension and anger among minority groups. issues involving cultural appropriation. Designers often take definition, cultural appropriation is exploiting different inspiration from ethnic cultures but use white models on runCactusBy Shadows took many Lauren HAGGAR News Editor students onof a afield trip toculture see without knowing the meaning or aspects minority ways. This then causes anger from colored models. manysignificance of the animals they behind it. Classic targets of misappropriation are BARNETT Marc Jacobs styled white models with colorful faux dreadAnnalee Sports Editor learned about in zoology. native american headdresses, traditional indian bindis, and locks during one of his shows at New York Fashion Week. This 4 NEW YORK RECAP muslim hijabs. internet backlash. Jacobs replied through an insPhoto Editor Logan LARKINprompted “I feel cultural appropriation can be dangerous and frustrating tagram post, stating that he, “...doesn’t see race or color, just The three Cactus Shadows for minorities.

It is offensive when aspects of their culture that HOWARD people.” publications attended the CSPA Not going to prom Maddie Spotlight Editor journalism conference in Newor “ghetto” are glorified by non-ethhave been deemed “dirty” Models have gone as far as to protest and boycott certain York.nic people,” said Halle Abadi, a sophomore. brands.Editor For example, during Paris Fashion Week, black models Mia GILLING Creeker Although there are undertones of animosity when it comes protested brands they found to be misappropriating culture. to cultural appropriation, many see it differently. ManyKiera believe One ofEditor their big targets was Gucci. Out of Gucci’s 119 models, RILEY Opinion OPINION the mixing of cultures is inevitable and to stop it would result only 17 of them were colored. The show also included many Features Editor American culture, such as ethnic hairstyles, in segregationTHE or a further it is not REINHART homages to African 7 RESPECTING RED divide. Others believe thatKatelyn always intended jewelry, and music.

WHITE AND BLUE as an attack on minority culture. thoughhow we are maybe “The fashion industry has repeatedly disrespected culture A writer“Even discusses thecreating our own culture, andSara WINDOM Style Editor twisting it into by hiring white models who wear kimonos, african clothing, or soldiers in the US something military a little bit different, it can sometimes should be respected because of Just going Olivia STICKEL Food Editor their service.

CREEKER 10 FULL OF HOT AIR Cave Creek and the surrounding area’s skyline is filled with hot air balloons.

11 KOREAN CUISINE A student reviews and spotlights a local Korean food truck.

FOOD 16 DASHING DONUTS Different donut shops are reviewed, see which came out on top.

STYLE 15 PROM DRESS QUIZ See what dress matches you the best based on the answers you put.

SPOTLIGHT 18 HUMANS OF CACTUS SHADOWS Get a better look at some of the students of Cactus Shadows.

19 MR. RICHARD See the legendary Mr. Richards before he leaves the school.

20 BE OUR GUEST One student reviews the latest iteration of Disney’s Beauty and the Beast.

SPORTS 21 SURFS UP Ride the waves in a variety of water sports.

23 HEY BATTER, BATTER, SWING It’s baseball season once again.

2 ■ APRIL 13, 2017

Sean GANNON Travel Editor

PRESS FREEDOM

IN BRIEF

hijabs instead of hiring ethnic models to represent their own culture,” said Abadi.

Some find cultural appropriation on the runway offensive while others see it as designers exploring worlds beyond their own for inspiration. This also goes hand in hand with a belief in unity and mixing among cultures as opposed to separation.

“For me, I love to see diversity. My family is OF veryNAU diverse with VICTIMS SHOOTING TAKE all kinds of different races and religions, andSTAND it’s so cool to talk TO THE to them and learn from their different perspectives. I do not feel Two NAU students testified in the as if cultural appropriation is harmful. You see people daily takmurder trial for Steven Jones. Jones ing things from different cultures with no intentions of doing is charged with first degree murder harm,” said Katie Thomas, a senior. and aggravated assault. The testifying Fashion magazines have also been a source of tension students speak aboutwhen helping the shot Vogue duringItalia the incident. it comes to cultural appropriation.victims For instance, did a shoot for their front cover with Gigi Hadid. In all of the photos Hadid is seen sporting an afro. Hadid and Vogue received a conBOARD OF REGENTS APPROVES siderable amount of backlash on social media.

This was not Vogue or Hadid’s only offence. Hadid also did COSTS INCREASE IN TUITION a cover for Vogue Arabia wearing a traditional hijab. Although The approval of increased tuition Hadid is half-Palestinian, the eventcosts still caused uproar. by the Arizona Board of Regents

THE CACTUS SHADOWS PRESS

Two students debate whether global warming is caused by humanity or a naturally occurring event.

UMIA GILLING

Many popular celebrities, models and various other influential personas have come under fire for exploiting cultures other than their own.

The creators of the CSPress speak up...

NEWS more and more on runways, at music festivals, and in maga-

9 GETTING HEATED OVER GLOBAL WARMING

can never go wrong with a classic, elegant, sparkly number.

continued from page 1

Natural opponents of the bill are school adminisallowing for inappropriate language or topics. trators, superintendents and school boards because Yee’s response brings up the code of ethics taught of issues with school image and community backin journalism classes and the position of teachers in lash. Oftentimes, scholastic publications’ coverage the classroom. leads to stories that paint the school in a negative “The journalism code of ethics teaches our jourlight. In other situations, principals nalism classes that you have to or superintendents censor conshow both sides of the story.

“The difference between cepts that are seen as controversial Otherwise, it is a lopsided story what happened 25 years and what kind of teacher is going by the community. With the difago and today is that I ferent elements of the bill limiting to promote that in their classthe ability of administrators, many learned from some of the room?” saidYee. oppose the idea.

The bill proceeded to pass testimony that we heard through the Senate with one In order to bring in two different sides of the issue, Yee talked through the course of all opposing vote. Representative to the people both in favor of and David Stringer, the single ‘no’ of the deliberation and I opposed to the bill to find a comvote, said that the guidelines worked with the natural promise which maintained the were not strict enough. Stringer central idea of the bill. The comproargued that students would pubopponents of the bill.” mise allows for districts to constilish inappropriate articles and tute independent codes based on face no consequences.

Said Kimberly Yee, senator.

SB1384 then went through standards in the bills. the House of Representatives.

“There is a level of comfort with More questions were raised regarding the conschool administrators as we are moving forward stituents of the bill. In particular, Representative because they will be able to have a policy in place at Lawrence voiced his concern surrounding the the district level,” saidYee. maturity and ability of high school students to Although Yee brought the bulk of the opposition write an editorial, or opinion piece. Representative on in the early stages of the bill, the proposal still Lovas felt it unnecessary to include advisers in faces resistance from some parties. Senator David the bill; his reasoning being that teachers could Stringer is the most recent of the opposition. As the be pushing their opinions onto the students. only no-vote during the Senate hearing, Stringer Representative Campbell expressed that he feared expressed his concerns regarding possible inapprothe ability of students to write stories that were, priate content being printed without stricter stan“out of bounds.” Finally, Representative Campbell dards. believed that there was no need for the bill.

Those in favor of the bill include the Arizona Senator Yee responded again by referring to the Interscholastic Press Association (AIPA), students journalism code of ethics and the fact that there and advisers. In the first Education Committee hearing as well as the Senate hearing, students and advis- are qualified teachers in the classroom to ensure adherence to policy. In light of these concerns, ers from around the state were invited to speak in Yee is working towards adding a section that will favor of the bill. address the journalism code of ethics. The bill is “Presenting to the committee was kind of nerve also in the process of adding more amendments in wracking because I had never done something like response to the concerns brought up on the house that. I was the last one to go so the anticipation floor. One of the amendments will allow censordefinitely built up. My voice was a bit shaky when ship if the content is, “lewd, obscene, libelous or I started but overall, I thought it went pretty well,” slanderous.” said Windom.

SB1384 goes to the entirety of the legislature for The bill passed out of the Education Committee a vote in the coming weeks. unanimously. Although prior to the vote, Senator Steve Smith argued that there could be loopholes

LOCAL

will affect all public colleges. It will increase costs ASU ■ by15 1.4 percent, APRIL 17,of2013 U of A by 3.9 percent and NAU by 2.7 percent.

PHOENIX ZOO RAISING MONEY FOR ENDANGERED SPECIES The Vaquita porpoise, classified as the world’s most endangered marine animal, will receive assistance from the Phoenix Zoo. The zoo and the Arizona Center for Nature Conservation sent $500,000 to VaquitaCPR.

COMEDY SHOW IN LATE APRIL Demetri Martin will be appearing at the Talking Stick Resort in scottsdale, as well as Rialto Theatre in Tucson as a part of a tour for his new comedy special. Tickets are currently available for purchase.

NATIONAL AMAZON TO CREATE NEW JOBS Amazon announced that it will be hiring 5,000 at home workers and 30,000 part time workers throughout the US.

SECURITY COST FOR BETSY DEVOS IN THE MILLIONS Increased security for Betsy DeVos will be costing around $8 million for the eight months. The $1 million per month security plan will be coming out of the Department of Education.

SUPREME COURT JUSTICE CONFIRMED On Friday, April 7, Neil Gorsuch was confirmed as the new Supreme Court Justice by the Senate. The vote was 54-45.

GLOBAL US MISSILES FIRED AT SYRIAN AIRBASE President Trump responded to the Syrian government’s use of a banned chemical agent by firing multiple missiles at a Syrian military base .

~ ALEX LAGGREN THE CACTUS SHADOWS PRESS

MAY Style

Switching up men’s and women’s clothing, the fashion industry is...

stomping out stereotypes By kiera riley g opinion editor

By venturing outside of limitations set by stereotypes, fashion kingpins have created a movement in the fashion industry. Designers are looking outside of social normalities for inspiration and blurring the lines between gender specific clothing.

“The envy of the freedom of design is taking hold of the designers and they are getting to be as free as they want with this new wave taking off,” said Aidia Nielson, a junior.

Unisex clothing is not new to the fashion industry.

Androgynous style first took shape in the early 1900s as females began wearing trousers. Designers like Chanel and Yves Saint Laurent headed movements that rejected ideas of traditional femininity in a time of rigid gender roles with the power of the pantsuit.

Then came the ‘70s. Musicians like David Bowie, Mick Jagger, Jimi Hendrix, the New York Dolls, and Iggy Pop exuded androgyny and pushed the boundaries of masculinity with makeup, colorful, tight clothing, and bold, aggressive femininity. The way these artists challenged constraints of gender created a cultural revolution.

The same breakthrough energy continued throughout the ‘80s and was reborn in the ‘90s with grunge. Grunge brought the same intensity of the ‘70s but with more guyliner and less color.

Today, the fashion industry has far passed the once taboo ideas of women wearing pants or men wearing floral prints.

Runway looks from designers like Prada and Yves Saint Laurent continually blur lines between genders and focus on creating looks that defies limitations of masculinity and femininity.

“I think they [gender norms] are the primary influence on style. Fashion evolves in a way that matches the masculine and feminine norms of each generation. Then again, it could be the opposite. The fashion of each generation might define the masculine and feminine norms. Who's to say,” said Molly Gum, teacher and LGBTQ advocate.

What’s your fashion mem

Trends currently on the runway differ for men and women. In men’s style, shorter shorts, crop tops, bright colors, makeup and nail polish are trending. For women, more contemporary styles like trousers, short haircuts, and bulk“When I was little my ier boots or shoes are making appearances on runways. to a waterpark and I “I have started to see it trickle down to the smallest clothes off so I put m degree where normal ‘straight white males’ will have nail was like this Minnie polish on. So in every aspect of it we are both starting to enjoy each other's style,” said Nielson.

Other designers are focused on creating more monotonous clothing lines that appeal to both men and women.

Unisex clothing creates a more neutral look that works for all genders.

“As the generations go on and on I think we’ll become more equal with each other and it will all mellow out,” said Julee Negron, a junior.

Many believe that this shift away from gender norms in “It was a dress up, formal event around fashion reflects a more contemporary age of thinking surHalloween for a family thing, so I wore a really rounding the concept of gender identity. The inclusivity comfy, furry Chewbacca onesie. My mom just of the fashion industry is changing as there are more and laughed and let me show up in it instead of more transgender and nonbinary models on the runway. telling me to dress nice.”

“Gender expression goes far beyond fashion, so I’m not Austin Morris, sophomore. sure how big of an impact androgynous fashion will have.

I think people who identify strongly with their male or female gender will still gravitate towards those gender norms, and people who don’t will be more open to androgynous clothing,” said Gum. Although this emerging trend of monotonous style has taken hold of the runway, it has yet to translate to retail, especially in menswear. According to the Huffington Post, mass production has yet to take on androgynous “I was like 300 pou style because of menswear consistently being opposed to through shirt, and j shorts, not cutoffs change.

Shack.”

On the other hand, this style traditionally takes hold in Westley Winter, sophom women’s clothing because of rapidly changing trends. Even 4keely doran androgynous clothing is often rare in the average retail stores, the opposite gender section does provide an easy alternative.

Cutting it short: make your own Cut off jeans Try your jeans on. With a pen, mark an inch lower than where you want the final product to be.

With scissors, cut one leg, following the line drawn. Don’t worry about cutting it perfectly straight, as the bottoms will be distressed in later steps.

Fold shorts over and repeat.

Try on the shorts again. Ma lines where you would like

S

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new bill loosens teaching requirements Desperate times call for desperate measures and Arizona legislature is not completely sure how to go about the education crisis. The newest effort pertains to the certifications required to teach. Governor Doug Ducey recently signed a new bill into law changing the qualifications for Arizona educators. This shift in requirements creates a new type of “certification” for individuals with expertise in certain areas.

This puts the responsibility of assessing teachers in the hands of district officials, not the Department of Education.

The very essence of the bill aims to combat teacher shortages by expanding or loosening the requirements.

Reactions vary from optimism and enthusiasm to frustration and anger among the education community. For some, this is a step in the right direction and for others, this raises some alarming questions.

Those in favor of the bill believe this will assist in ending the teaching crisis once and for all. Charter schools across the state have been allowed to hire teachers without a formal background in education. One of these charter schools, Basis, was ranked number one charter school by U.S. News in 2017. Many believe that the school’s success stems from

experts in the classroom, many without a formal teaching degree.

The certification in the bill specifically calls for people who are experts in their subjects. Because of a proficient background in the subject, this could lead to more informed and enthusiastic instructors in classrooms.

Opposition is further frustrated by the state's inability to remedy the initial and imminent problem. People are not repelled by the teaching profession because the certification is too difficult to obtain, people are repelled by the teaching profession because the state of Arizona pays its teachers so little. There are qualified, enthusiastic, and certified teachers out there that simply do not take the jobs because of the poor economic treatment educators receive.

This new bill does nothing to address the main issue.

This issue, among many, is polarizing as feelings are mixed among the education community as well as in our journalism classroom. As an editorial board, the majority of the staff voted against the bill, favoring the opposition.

AS WE SEE it thE EditoRiAl

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, Olivia Stickel, and Sean Gannon.

letter to the editor: transgender bathroom issues deserves some compassion and understanding

By Halle aBadi g sophomore

The transgender bath-

cannot understand someone until you’ve walked a mile in their shoes.” Studies

career over family

By FaitH HasHer g staff writer

believe that they can have

DESIGNS

FEBRUARY

CS

OPINION

PRESS

the

us shadows ER of Cact the NEWSPAP k, Arizona in Cave Cree 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, Katie BUTLER, Izzy CANTWELL, Dominic DAVIES, Keely DORAN, Faith HASHER, Grace HAYCRAFT-MCKEE, Louise JAGUS, Zoie LAMBESIS, Maggie MORANT, Emma RUSSELLO, Megan WALKER,

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 February 10, 2017, Volume 10: Issue 5 School enrollment: 1722 Number of copies printed: 1100 6 ■ FEBRUARY 10, 2017

OPINION MIA GILLING

TEACHERS ARE WORTH MORE Teaching is one of the most rewarding, frustrating, important, demanding jobs out there. Educators create the future.

They mold the next generation of change, one student at a time. So why are teachers, the leaders of tomorrow, paid so little?

According to AZCentral, Arizona ranks dead last in median teacher salary. This meaning, teach“According to ers in Arizona get paid less than any other in the United States. Take this AZCentral, statistic how you will but there is no Arizona ranks disputing reality, teachers in Arizona deserve more pay. dead last in Because of Arizona’s rock bottom median teacher ranking on the pay spectrum, there salary.” have been efforts to improve upon this statistic. Governor Doug Ducey recently introduced his new plan, funneling more money into education. His initial goal is to raise teachers’ wages by two percent over the next five years, as well as offer student loan forgiveness.

The new budgeting plan also aims to make full day kindergarten more accessible to a range of districts and reward

teachers in especially underprivileged areas with a signing bonus of $1,000.

Although this is a step in the right direction, it comes as a disappointment to many as his speech prior to the unveiling of his plan seemed really committed to a substantial increase. His true plan fell short of expectations, even if they were low.

Arizona has struggled with education funding for years.

Small victories, like the passing of Ducey’s new budget and Prop 123, raise confidence in educators, but unfortunately, none of these truly grapple with the biggest problem, teacher shortages.

A lack of teachers is ripping across the nation, especially in poorly funded states such as Arizona. This offers the question, what incentive do teachers have to work in Arizona schools? Schools are competing for teachers, good teachers with experience and strong passions for their career. Since Arizona offers the bare minimum, schools are suffering.

Paying quality educators what they are worth is more than reasonable, it is common sense.

AS WE SEE IT THE EDITORIAL

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, Olivia Stickel, and Sean Gannon.

LAUREN HAGGAR

FIGHT FOR YOUR RIGHT TO PUBLISH “The people who are in charge of informing our nation’s uninformed need to hold this right to a higher standard.”

Journalism. The profession for the curious, the independent, and those who wish to provoke thought and question into others. But while doing so, the concept of honesty is all too often lost. It is a journalist's job and responsibility to provide truthful, honest, and factual news.

As a nation where one of our most important freedoms is free speech and a free press, it is also paramount that our press does not abuse this freedom. It is a blessing that, as citizens, we have this right.

With that being said, the people who are in charge of informing our nation's uninformed, need to hold this right to a higher standard. Being able to freely state your thoughts is a very important right; countries such as North Korea, Libya, and Turkmenistan, do not have this luxury. And this freedom should not be abused or taken lightly.

It is quite confusing as to why many very popular sources of news are biased, unreliable, and often just plainly unfactual. A more recent example of this was Buzzfeed’s false and unverified story on President Donald Trump and his connections with Russia. Buzzfeed is well known, and overall a well respected website. Many people turn to Buzzfeed for everything from current events to how-to’s. Now, due to this one false

story, many are questioning Buzzfeed’s credibility.

The press is often demonized and most Americans do not trust the press.

In fact, according to the Huffington Post, only six percent of Americans have confidence in the media’s honesty. That means that 94 percent of people do not trust our main form of information. As for major news stations, Fox News is the most trusted, with 29 percent of Americans who feel that this station is trustworthy, according to Washington

So as journalists we must wonder how do we gain back the trust of the people? The solution is quite simple, the media and press has become too biased and is often influenced by other people, or those who own the publication that they work for; but every journalist needs to remember the crucial journalism ethics.

One of the main ethics is honesty.

Honesty is the only way to gain back the public’s trust, and it won’t be an easy task, but it most certainly can be

Post. As citizens we should all be concerned about what this means for our publications.

The majority of journalists love to uncover the truth, show the readers factual information, but somewhere along the way the wrong people got involved and have tarnished all of our reputations.

achieved. America's greatest freedom should be treated like it, not tarnished.

People everywhere should be able to pick up a paper, or read an online article, and not have to question, whether it is true or not, or question whether it is biased. The free press is better than this and so are all journalists, and it is about time everyone starts acting like it.

STRONG WOMEN SEND STRONG MESSAGES

W

“Women’s march sought to bring attentio have been neglected or ignored by the Tru

ITH painted signs in their hands and

strength in their words, over two million people gathered in peaceful protest at Women’s Marches on January 21. The original Women’s March was held in Washington, D.C., but over 600 additional ‘sister’ marches took place not only across the United States, but around the world.

Both women and men assembled at these marches to fight for human rights. Their mission statement aimed to send a message to the new government, advocating for women’s rights, the LGBTQ+ community, for people of all races and faiths, for immigrants, and for people with disabilities. Women’s March sought to bring attention to freedoms that have been neglected or ignored by the Trump administration and to raise red flags regarding his presidency.

Many people, primarily Trump supporters, do not grasp the reasons behind the march. On the side of women’s rights, sexism has run rampant throughout not only Trump’s campaign but his personal life as well. From constantly objectifying women throughout his time owning the Miss Universe Organization, to calling breastfeeding ‘disgusting,’ to even going so far as to justify rape when he tweeted “26,000 unreported sexual assaults in the military-only 238 convictions.

What did these geniuses expect when they put men & women together?” his blatantly sexist actions have infuriated women.

The march also emphasized pro-choice. Trump’s pro-life policies are terrifying; women need the freedom to make their own choices about their bodies.

In addition to his sexist nature, Trump has also expressed hatred and discrimination toward people of color, immigrants, and people with disabilities.

Trump’s obvious racism can be noticed in his condescending tone towards African Americans as well as blatantly racist remarks, such as in his tweets, “Sadly, because president Obama has done such a poor job as president, you won’t see another black president for generations!”

`DOMINIC DAVIES

THE CACTUS SHADOWS PRESS

JUSTICE FOR ALL Protestors at Women’s March Phoenix voice their concerns on bright, colorful signs.

4MIA GILLING 7 ■ FEBRUARY 10, 2017

Trump’s attitude towards welcoming either, as seen wh eralization of them to CNN in people come in and I'm not j talking about people that ar killers and rapists and they' coming to this country.”

Trump continuously po trays all illegal, and even som legal, immigrants as violen rapists, and criminals, whic created a negative connot tion surrounding immigrant His racist attitude inspired h supporters, as they chante “build the wall!” incessantly rallies.

People with disabilities fe the Trump administration a well. After Trump mocked disabled reporter in 2015, th issue of disability rights ha been brought to light. If Trum goes through with repealing would undo regulations that panies from refusing to cover conditions, which would inc abilities.

Following his inaugurati already signed executive ord funding to organizations th vices, initiated the construct lar wall between the United S as speeding the deportation grants, began the process of Care Act (Obamacare), and executive order banning en muslim countries. These are ers feared he would take.

The reasons for peaceful p administration are clear. T minorities threatens human discrimination. The Women’s to these problems in hopes th recognize them.

on to freedoms that ump administration.”

immigrants is not very hen he made a cruel genn June of 2015, "You have just saying Mexicans, I'm re from all over, that are 're

orme nt, ch tats. his ed at

ear as a he as WKIERA RILEY mp g Obamacare, the action t prevent insurance comr people with pre-existing clude those who have dis-

ion, Donald Trump has ders that cut government hat provide abortion sertion of a multi-billion dolStates and Mexico, as well of undocumented immif repealing the Affordable issued a glaringly racist ntry from predominantly the exact actions protest-

protest against the Trump Trump’s attitude towards n rights and encourages s March brought attention hat the government would

OPINION EMMA RUSSELLO

HOROSCOPE OR HOR0-HOAX? Astrology and horoscopes pop up in magazines, newspapers, and social media, trying to convince readers how they should live their lives based off their zodiac sign. Many people disregard these readings as rubbish, but there is scientific backing to them.

For thousands of years, beginning with Ancient Egypt in the fourth century B.C., humans have been studying the science of astrology.

Even though some disregard astrology as superstitious, others believe it is a real science that has been used for centuries. But before forming an opinion, one needs to know exactly what astrology and horoscopes are.

According to Astrologers.com, early astrologers figured out that it took twelve lunar cycles for the sun to move back into its original position, which correspond with the months of the year. Then, they identified twelve constellations that appeared to be linked to the progression of the seasons and assigned these the names of certain people and animals.

The 12 signs of the zodiac are divided into four groups: fire, water, air and earth. In short, these twelve zodiac signs are based on the Earth's year-long rotation around the sun, and they represent character traits and areas of life.

When the signs are based off the Earth's daily rotation, they rep“A lot of people resent relationships, finances, download “daily travel, and more.

A horoscope is one's life pathoroscope” apps tern charted out by the time, on their phone, and date, longitude and latitude of when and where one was born. rely on them to tell Horoscopes will show the future them how their day, for a particular person based on or even their life, is all of these variables.

In various books and webgoing to turn out, sites, one can see that the charjust by putting in acter traits for a certain sign are pretty similar, and seem to be their birth date. It’s true in most cases. However, the kind of crazy to say daily and yearly horoscopes for that everyone that certain traits are quite different depending on where the inforhas the same sign, mation was from. will have the same A lot of people download “daily kind of day.” horoscope” apps on their phone, and rely on them to tell them how their day, or even their life, is going to turn out, just by putting in their birth date. It's kind of crazy to say that everyone that has the same sign, will have the same kind of day.

Magazines and websites, such as Cosmopolitan, give out a weekly horoscope that pretty much is nothing like how someone's week actually went. A theory as to why these are so popular is that people only read them so they can be hopeful that their future is going to turn out alright, or to get some advice about how they should go about their day.

Since the character traits for each sign are consistent pretty much everywhere, it is safe to assume that the date one was born has some influence on one's personality.

Some people think that astrology is not a real science, and there is no way the constellations of over thousands of years ago can still be accurate today. It has not been proven that astrology is a real science, but it is testable, and applies to the natural world. Maybe some day in the future everyone will know for sure if it is reliable.

Students weigh in on whether or not the Affordable Care Act benefits or bankrupts the American people

ANNALEE BARNETT

NO-BAMACARE Everyone wants free stuff, whether it be a car, a house, or food.

Those things are harmless to give away. Free health insurance however, has wrecked America.

The Affordable Care Act (ACA) otherwise known as Obamacare, was first proposed in 2009 and it passed Congress in 2010.

Obamacare promised to insure more people, however, many Americans were left uninsured.

Not only did it fail to insure mostAmericans, it also caused premiums to rise.

In 2009, the year Obamacare was supposed to go into effect, average premiums rose 49 percent. Premiums are the amount that is to be paid for an insurance policy.

Obama also claimed beforehand that the Affordable Care Act would reduce premiums by $2,500 for families. That obviously did not happen.

Obamacare was offered to all U.S. citizens, however that does not mean that every American took advantage of the free insurance. Those who chose to forgo insurance altogether were forced to pay a fine because the government requires all citizens to be insured.

Taxes on income, medical device manufacturers, Blue Cross and Blue Shield, health insurers, brand name drugs, and many others were instilled “Obamacare to help pay for Obamacare. It does not created a seem fair to tax men and women with mentality among a higher income so that others can users that work receive free health care that they did not earn. is not necessary Obamacare created a mentality among users that work is not necesand that sary and that someone else will pay for someone else it. It is a crippling mindset to have. will pay for it.

The Affordable Care Act also took a heavy toll on doctors. In It is a crippling 2014, Obamacare pushed 19.6 milmindset to lion patients into medicaid, which have.” is health coverage for citizens with a very low income. However, most doctors do not accept medicaid because it pays poorly and restricts tests.

A 2013 study in health affairs revealed the 67 percent of primary doctors did not accept medicaid. With more medicaid patients being rejected, Emergency Rooms fill up and overcrowding is common.

Obamacare is also causing a shortage of doctors in America.

The U.S. is expected to have a shortage of 91,500 doctors by the year 2020. If free health insurance is having a negative outlook on the doctors, which are the driving force behind health, then why not repeal or replace Obamacare?

Another reason to replace the Affordable Care Act is the effect it has had on companies and their employees. The Employer Mandate is tax set up because of Obamacare that forces employers with more than 50 full time workers to insure all of their employees in Obamacare or pay a costly tax.

This tax causes more employers to hire less full time workers and more part time, which generates less money that could have been used to help the economy. With less full time employees, the lower class grows even larger.

In order for Obamacare to ever work, it would have to be completely torn down and rebuilt in a better way that provided health care for a more affordable price.

KIERA RILEY

PRO-BAMACARE Everyone deserves access to proper medical care, regardless of financial standings. With the help of Obamacare, or the Affordable Care Act (ACA), this goal has been possible as it has been a system that has supported the right to health care for all Americans.

Based on recent news reports, it is evident that one of the main goals of the primarily Republican congress is to pry apart the foundation of the Affordable Care Act. This raises some particularly concerning questions for the 20 million Americans covered by the act.

The executive order mandating the gradual dismantling of Obamacare is sending many Americans into a state of panic. With no real clear replacement plan, many citizens are left in the dark. This bold and obvious statement sends a rather threatening message, clouding the future of government funded health insurance.

Many members of the Republican party have been opposed to ACA since the beginning, but on the other hand, Republicans are opposed to almost anything with the name Obama in it. The restrictions, details and wording have been poked and prod- “According to ded multiple times since 2010, when it ObamacareFacts, was voted into law. Despite being written and rewritten time and time again, the amount there are prominent pros to this system of individuals of health insurance. uninsured was First, through Obamacare a substantially larger population of people have at an all time access to healthcare they were denied low in 2016, before, such as those in extreme poverty. According to ObamacareFacts, the meaning more amount of individuals uninsured was at citizens have an all time low in 2016, meaning more access to safe citizens have access to safe and affordable healthcare. and affordable Perhaps one of the most important healthcare.” parts of ACA is the fact that it does not discriminate against those with preexisting medical conditions, such as cancer or diabetes. Many insurance agencies refuse to cover individuals, making it difficult and often times more expensive for people to find dependable, and sometimes life-saving care.

For example, during a CNN Town Hall, one of the members of the audience, a man named Jeff Jeans, questioned Paul Ryan regarding the possible repeal of ACA. Jeans told his story, mentioning that he was a Republican and, as most Republicans were, ardently opposed to the Affordable Care Act. After the passing of the act, Jeans was given six weeks to live after his diagnosis of cancer, curable cancer, but cancer.

Despite the fact that he was able to pay for his medical bills, he needed an insurance card to receive the treatment. Because of the Affordable Care Act, that same man is still living and breathing today.

Continuing on, there is a wider range of coverage plans, spanning a range of prices and needs. There is also a requirement for each plan, ensuring that the different, and often most vital types of coverage are included, such as mental health. The Affordable Care Act also lowers prescription drug costs and puts a cap on the amount of money individuals pay out of pocket.

Is Obamacare a perfect health insurance system? No. It seems nearly impossible to please everyone when it comes to health care legislation. However, instead of completely repealing the Affordable Care Act, congress needs to either introduce a solid and clear plan for a replacement, or reform the current system. Repealing it without a replacement will leave many sick or impoverished Americans in the dust.

THE REPORT CARD talent show The IB talent show raised money for Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS). Student’s performances range from singing, to dancing, and everything in between. Local talent included Carter Homan, Gabrielle Payne, and Julia Horner. Overall, students did a fantastic job showcasing their skills and raising money for a good cause.

a

new teachers Four missing math teachers makes for one big gap in the teaching staff. Their reasons were varied and more than likely warranted but it disadvantages students. Luckily, new teachers are filling up the spots. Kristi Zeeb, Bahram Deghani, Ryan Thomas, and Erica Granedo joined the math department. The English department also welcomes new IB english teacher Janet Wells.

b rachel’s challenge Rachel’s Challenge returns to Cactus Shadows for a second year only to deliver a hauntingly similar presentation. Besides an initial emotional reaction, many students seemed to brush off the message the program was striving to send. With skepticism towards the many stories told during the assembly, it did not have the biggest impact on the student body.

c

UKIERA RILEY THE CACTUS SHADOWS PRESS

THE CACTUS SHADOWS PRESS

FEBRUARY 10, 2017 ■ 8

MARCH

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OPINION

press

the

us shadows ER of Cact the NEWSPAP k, Arizona in Cave Cree 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 Copy Editor

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

CSPress Staff Caity BONINE, Izzy CANTWELL, Dominic DAVIES, Keely DORAN, Faith HASHER, Grace HAYCRAFTMCKEE, Louise JAGUS, Zoie LAMBESIS, Maggie MORANT, Megan WALKER 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 March 10, 2017, Volume 10: Issue 6 School enrollment: 1722 Number of copies printed: 1100 6 ■ March 10, 2017

Freedom oF the preSS, Freedom oF the people “Enemy of the people.” Four words with enough strength to divide an entire population and void the meaning of truth. These four words were shot like bullets into one of the key components of democracy by the leader of the democracy itself. The press is not the enemy of the people, it is the exact opposite.

When Donald J. Trump tweeted out that “The fake news media… is not my enemy, it is the enemy of the American people,” on February 17, he repeated the words of dictators such as Vladmir Lenin and Joseph Stalin. It has been a tactic of fascist regimes to attack the free press by creating a sense of distrust in the media. We need to be very careful that this never happens in the United States.

A free press is essential to democracy. A free press ensures that the people in power do not abuse that power.

The right to the press has been an American value since the founding fathers penned it into the Bill of Rights.

Each journalist carries unimaginable importance in protecting the rights of every United States citizen and preserving the truth in government.

Presidents often disagree with the press, and that is their right. Barack Obama had a contentious relationship with Fox News when he was president. George W. Bush also had a difficult relationship with the New York Times as president. But they both acknowledged the necessity for a free press.

Last week, George W. Bush spoke out in support of the press on The Today Show, and called the media "indispensable to democracy." In his first in-depth interview since Trump's inauguration, the former president, with-

out mentioning Trump by name, took issue with the president’s statement that mainstream media is the "enemy of the people.” Bush told Matt Lauer that "we need the media to hold people like me to account. I mean, power can be very addictive and it can be corrosive and it's important for the media to call to account people who abuse their power, whether it be here or elsewhere."

Former presidential candidate and Arizona Senator, John McCain, also emphasized the importance of a free press during an interview on NBC. “We need a free press.

We must have it. if you want to preserve democracy as we know it, you have to have a free and many times adversarial press. And without it, I am afraid that we would lose so much of our individual liberties over time. That's how dictators get started.”

Media companies can be corrupt and biased, but that should not be reason to threaten a fundamental American right and the news sources that hold it to the highest importance. True journalist seek the truth in an independent, transparent, and harmless way. The press reflects the truth, even if it is sometimes harsh.

So go ahead and argue with each other. Debate who is right and who is wrong. But please be careful not to attack the press for reporting these debates. We need to do everything we can to ensure the foundation of our democracy is not weakened by demonizing the one thing that guarantees its existence: a free press.

AS WE SEE it thE EditoRiAl

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, Olivia Stickel, and Sean Gannon.

AlEx lAggrEn

Separate church and State “Church and state, while both two important institutions in this country, were meant to be separate.”

This country was founded upon the ideals of religious freedom. Church and state, while both two important institutions in this country, were meant to be separate.

If the two were one, churches would be able to influence political matters and the government would be favoring one religion over all others.

Picking certain aspects of religion to justify bills that have prejudice have passed is not morally right.

Thomas Jefferson first brought up the separation of church and state.

Understanding the difference between right and wrong does not require religion, nor does human decency.

The line of separation between the two institutions have been blurred recently with bills, such as the Religious Freedom Restoration Act, that would allow Christian store owners to reject LGBT patrons. President Trump also plans to introduce a bill that would allow churches to support and donate to the politician of their choice.

President Trump’s immigration ban was not only politically fueled, but also religiously fueled. It would prevent people who follow a specific religion from entering or working in the country.

There are multiple religions within this country, each of equal importance, which means that focusing solely on only one religion will not help anyone.

There has also been a rise in antiSemitic and anti-Islamic protest and violence. One hundred tombstones were defaced or destroyed at a Jewish cemetery. This rise in violence could be attributed to the President’s choice of religion and enforcing that religion the most.

Another important point is education.

Education would not be the same if church and state were one entity. Creationism would be taught over evolution, and there would be more religious based classes, which would undermine the freedom to chose religion that the country was founded upon.

There could be positives to uniting church and state, however, it would be a direct infringement on religious freedom and ultimately goes against the principles this country was founded on.

Both church and state are important, but they do not need to be one to be considered important or notable. They can operate as two separate entities that are equally important without influencing each other.

ThE cacTUS ShaDOWS PrESS

PEOPLE OVER PIPELINES “The pipeline desecrates sacred burial grounds and poses significant threats to the tribe’s water supply.”

By KIERA RILEY § opinion editor

The Dakota Access Pipeline and the environment go together like oil and water. With the new legislation pushing the plan, environmentalists and native Americans alike fear the consequences of the project.

Dakota Access Pipeline or DAPL is a proposed oil pipeline that, if built, would run from North Dakota to Illinois.

The project is backed by private Texasbased energy company, Energy Transfer Partners. Construction of the 1,200 mile pipeline costs an estimated $3.7 billion and would ship 470,000 barrels of crude oil a day.

Luckily, the project screeched to a halt, primarily because of the Sioux native American tribe in North Dakota.

Tribe leaders argued that the construction of the pipeline desecrates sacred burial grounds and poses significant threats to the tribe’s water supply.

This is also where environmentalists come in. Oil spills, which are very common, result in water, air, and land pollution. The majority of plant and animal life in the affected areas are often severely hurt or completely killed.

Although the project has been put on pause, President Donald J. Trump publicly backed the project recently, mandating that the pipeline is solely made of American steel and urging permits for the private oil company.

There are a number of problems with this situation, politically, socially, and ecologically. On political grounds, Trump’s support for DAPL and the company behind it, Energy Transfer Partners (ETP) is shaded with corruption. According to BBC, the chief executive of ETP donated around $100,000 to the Trump campaign, leaving reasons to suspect that the president is pursu-

THE CACTUS SHADOWS PRESS

ing the pipeline for his own gai gain of the citizens.

Socially, Native Americans again being stepped on and by the United States. The pipe rerouted onto sacred lands wi consent of the Sioux tribe an grave threats to their water sup threatens the livelihood of ma American men, women, and carrying on the long history of Ecologically, one spill and t in the Missouri river is comple luted. Killing local wildlife a life. This would only further rent energy crisis. At a time wh energy is needed more than development of more fossil fu last thing that needs to happen Native American tribes from the country stand in solidar the Sioux nation as well as ma ists, environmentalists, and ans. According to BBC, over 2 pledged their support, making largest unity of the tribes in Other supporters, such as J Bernie Sanders, Robert Kenn Shailene Woodley and Mark have made appearances at Rock.

Protesters continue to resis and oftentimes violent use of m the camps. Many of the camps surrounded by military and rently being removed from the To pledge your support, donate money to support the S camps at Standing Rock, or defense fund. The camps are a ing for supply donations. Even money, you can call North Dak ernor and voice your concerns pipeline.

in, not the

are once exploited eline was ithout the nd poses pply. DAPL any native children, injustice. the water etely poland plant the curhere clean ever, the uels is the n. m all over rity with any activd veter200 tribes g this the n history.

Jill Stein, nedy Jr., k Ruffalo, Standing

st forceful military at are being are curarea. you can Sioux, the the legal also lookn without kota govabout the

OPINION GRACE HAYCRAFT- MCKEE

ABSENT BUT ACADEMIC

OPINION Students discuss whether or not the Rachel’s Challenge assembly promotes kindness or pays the bills.

LOUISE JAGUS

After a mere five attendance issues, administration immediately fires out a condescending, sometimes unnecessary letter. Yes, letter. Not email, not carrier-pigeon, letter. That’s how dire the offense is.

The letter, through threats of consequences, ultimately puts the student on academic probation.

Academic probation means that if the student misses more school, they will enter a world of pain with fiery consequences, like lunch detention, Saturday school, loss of parking privileges and even loss of class credit. The language is harsh, biting and incredibly official, the letter even includes a detailed report of all the student’s tardies and absences.

The problem is not only the language but also the large population of students that find them waiting in their mailboxes. A student could have all As but if they have more than five tardies the administration makes it seem like a criminal offense. And because the letter is sent out to parents, it emphasizes preexisting anxiety about school.

Although these letters are sent out with seemingly good intentions, they paint the student as a criminal, a slacker, a good-for-nothing student who spends more time lollygagging at home than in the classroom. The case is usually that students missed around three days and ended up tardy a few times.

The reality of the situation is that yes, there are students missing too much school and those students may or may not have poor grades because of it; but targeting students with good grades who were 2 minutes late to their first period that one time and missed a few days when they were deadly ill with the flu, does not seem right.

Even if a student has excused absences, like being sick, the letters still persist. It does not seem fair because the majority of the time, the absence is not in the student's control. The consequences seem like a bit too much for just being tardy or absent eight times to a class. After 13 absences “a student may lose credit eligibility.” Losing credibility is too much for just missing school, especially when the office does not take into account that the student might actually being exceeding in their classes.

The IB program is a good example of this as they put themselves in the most rigorous courses and usually stray away from missing school. However, they still receive these letters. The letter is not based on academic reflection so it does not make sense to send out the letter if it is not affecting their grades or above the legal level. The administration does not take into account the student’s actual work in school.

If the office really wanted to, they could put in more time reviewing the student's grades before the email is sent out. If the absences or tardies are affecting the academics of the student, the email would be a helpful reminder if it was reworded to encourage the student instead of adding more stress.

`KIERA RILEY from photos from WIKICOMMONS MARCH 10, 2017 ■ 7

KATELYN REINHART

RACHEL’S CREATING KINDNESS Despite the negative publicity Rachel’s Challenge receives around campus, the message of the event outweighs its downfalls. After all, if the challenge is so terrible, why would the school invite them back every year?

The uplifting presentation inspires individuals to watch their words and adjust their actions. Rachel Scott, the first victim in the Columbine shooting and focal point of the presentation, promoted kindness and positivity around her high school. She wrote journals containing messages of Christianity and her goals to bring Jesus into the lives of others. Her career goal was to become either an actress or Christian missionary, but those dreams were killed the day that she was.

To help spread the message of kindness, the Breakaway Leadership Team (BLT) on campus is making their own version of the infamous challenge. The ultimate goal is to bring the campus together and give everyone a voice. They plan to do this by bringing real examples to the campus and show students that Rachel was a real person and what happened to her could happen to any of us.

Rachel’s Challenge teaches empathy to students and brings the community together to promote kindness. Like teenagers “Rachel’s everywhere, students at Cactus Challenge Shadows can be cruel, and none of us are an exception. teaches Subtweets, snapchats, finstas, empathy to and social media bring each students and other down. Teenagers pick out flaws in everyone to make brings the themselves feel better. Everyone community is guilty because even the best people do it subconsciously. It together is human nature to be mean and to promote establish a hierarchy of power. kindness.”

Although it is impossible to change something that is built into human nature, consciously spreading positivity helps to mitigate these negative tendencies.

Critics argue that Rachel’s Challenge is manipulative and religious. It is true that Rachel was not perfect. She wrote diaries filled with pure thoughts and impeccable ideals, but she was also just a teenager. It would be foolish to discount the positive effects of her message just because she may have some faults.

Starting a chain reaction of kindness is not difficult.

Humans are creatures of habit and once they adopt a certain behavior they begin to do it consistently without thinking. Developing positive habits and bringing people up is certainly a positive goal. How hard is it to tell someone that you like their shirt? Does it take more than ten seconds out of your day?

The Golden Rule is golden for a reason. Treat others the way you want to be treated.

Self reflection is a major point of the challenge because students have to look at their own actions and realize what is hurtful and how they can stop. People think that they need to end world hunger or destroy Isis to make a real difference in the world, but the smallest actions around campus can make a difference.

8 ■ MARCH 10, 2017

RACHEL’S CHALLENGING MY PATIENCE As the second year of the Rachel's Challenge program comes to a close, students are becoming more and more disinterested.

Rachel's Challenge is a program with a good message, but a less impressive plan. Rachel Scott was a victim of the Columbine shooting, and while this is indisputably a tragedy, many students feel very disconnected from her. The main point of this challenge is not wrong, as there is value in kindness. However, the presentation took a strange turn when Scott went from someone relatable to an all knowing fortune teller.

The message of Rachel's Challenge is to start a chain reaction of kindness, and while this should be the focus, it isn’t.

Instead, the presenter strays into a strange territory in which Scott is some sort of prophet that predicted the Columbine shooting before it happened. We are told that she knew she was going to die young, and that she even illus“Instead of trated this in a drawing. feeling a drive While this information may or may not be true, it took many stuto reach out dents by surprise. It completely took to others, the meaning away from the presentation and instead put focus into the the Rachel’s supposed mystic powers of Scott.

Challenge Instead of feeling a drive to reach assembly felt out to others, the Rachel’s Challenge assembly felt more like an advermore like an tisement for a new religion. advertisement On top of the strange and spiritual, but the presentation also for a new seemed to have another motive: religion.” money. In 2016, a movie titled I’m Not Ashamed made its debut on the big screen that was about the life and death of Rachel Scott.

Not only was this film in poor taste, but it turned Scott into a religious martyr that also disconnected many people from her admirable story and lifestyle. Making a movie on the Columbine shooting seems slimy enough, but making money off of a victim’s death is just plain malicious. To put it plainly, the people who profited off of I’m Not Ashamed should be just that; ashamed.

One thing the Rachel’s Challenge did well was hold people’s attention. For the most part, students were interested in Scott because really, what happened to her could happen to anyone.

Based off of the presentation, it seems that Scott was a fantastic girl that was just in the wrong place at the wrong time.

She went to school just as she would any other day and unfortunately, tragedy struck.

As terrifying as it sounds, that is still a possibility for anyone because Scott is just like us. She was not a fortune teller, she was a student in a high school who had a normal life and a normal family. That thought is horrifying, but it dissipates the second Scott is portrayed as a god. She is no longer you, or your best friend, or your classmate. She has become a prophet, a martyr, an untouchable being that is nothing like yourself, and what happened to her could never happen to you, a normal person.

The Rachel’s Challenge is, at its core, a well meaning presentation. It has a good message about a terrible event, but it focused on the wrong thing. Scott’s life was unlike our own, and her message of kindness should have been the main topic.

THE REPORT CARD Spirit week Although there was no Hoopcoming to follow the end of spirit week, Stuco had many new ideas they sprung onto the students. Traditions like Mr. Cactus Shadows, and the Pink versus Blue assembly were, as always, a hit among students. This year was also one of the best years for the participation with everyone dressing up to match all the themes.

a Mr. Cactus Shadows Mr. Cactus Shadows is a tradition so it should have ran smoothly. However, the show was too long and it seemed like there was no practice. One thing that made the show better was the talent from the participants. They put on a great show. Students ended up crowning Ryan Clary as the top contestant and Joey Britton coming in with a close second.

b New Lock down Drill It is required by state law to have a minimum of a lockdown once a quarter. There was a new feature that was put into place. This past lockdown happened right after lunch ended which resulted with kids screaming and running across campus. Teachers were opening doors when they were suppose to have already secured their classrooms. If there was an actually emergency, our campus would have not been protected.

F

UFAITH HASHER THE CACTUS SHADOWS PRESS

APRIL

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PRESS

the

us shadows ER of Cact the NEWSPAP k, Arizona in Cave Cree 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 Copy Editor

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

CSPress Staff Caity BONINE, Izzy CANTWELL, Dominic DAVIES, Keely DORAN, Faith HASHER, Grace HAYCRAFTMCKEE, Louise JAGUS, Zoie LAMBESIS, Maggie MORANT, Megan WALKER 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 April 17, 2017, Volume 10: Issue 7 School enrollment: 1722 Number of copies printed: 1100 6 ■ APRIL 17, 2017

OPINION

HOW TO: OPINION One of the most basic human rights is freedom of speech. The majority of people use and abuse that priv‑ ilege, throwing words at each other like knives. Even though a common phrase is “I’m entitled to my opinion,” most people don’t know how to effectively and clearly state their opinion.

In this politically divisive day and age, it is more important than ever that we learn to treat each other with respect and dignity. We are all entitled to our own opin‑ ions, and we should all be open‑minded and willing to lis‑ ten to what others think.

If you have any hope of getting someone to listen to your ideas, you must be able to state your opinion in a mature fashion. If you just shout out your opinion over and over and call anyone who doesn’t agree with you bad names, you are never going to get anyone to listen to you, especially not the people who disagree with you.

Here’s a tried and true method for expressing your opinion effectively: State the problem. Don’t shout the problem. State it. You want to try to make this sound official and believable, so use appropriate language. For example, School should start later in the day, when teen‑ agers are more awake.

Tell us the why. Use statistics and real facts to back you up, not things you heard someone say one time.

For example, In a study conducted by Harvard Medical

School, a whopping 89 percent of teenagers were not able to fall asleep before midnight. Since most teenagers need at least 8 hours of sleep, these students are showing up at school ill‑prepared to learn. In fact, in Finland, high school begins at 9 a.m. and the same study showed that the increase in sleep affected students test scores and ability to learn.

Bring up what the other side will say, and then tell us why they are wrong. If school started at 9 a.m. every day, students would just stay up until 2:00 a.m., so why bother changing the schedule? Because for those students who crave more sleep, a later start time will actually make it physically possible.

Always end with a solution or some action you want your readers to take. The obvious solution to this problem is to change the start time to 9:00 a.m. Please attend the school board meeting on April 15 and speak up in favor of this change.

Listen. Instead of actively listening to the other point of view, many simply prepare their counter argument. When you are still preoccupied with your side of the story, you miss the chance to learn or to see things from another perspective. Approach any discussion with an open mind, not hostility.

AS WE SEE IT THE EDITORIAL

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, Olivia Stickel, and Sean Gannon.

FAITH HASHER

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NEW

RESPECT OUR TROOPS

Everyday, has final say on what the military does. It Americans in is not the job of soldiers to question their the military orders. People who disagree with what make sacrifices the military is doing should focus on the to protect and leaders who are making these decisions. serve their country. Often referred to as There are some people who think “troops,” these people are, in fact, some‑ there should not be a military at all. Part one’s brother, sister, mother, father — a of being American means that you have loved one. the right to express your opinions. The Unfortunately, today there are many best way to show your disapproval of people who are disrespectful towards the the military would be through voting for military. For example, during President people who share your views. It does not Trump’s inauguration, the military was make any sense to direct this criticism given orders, yet people were blocking at people in the military, as they have no their paths and disrespecting them just control over this issue. because they did not support Trump’s When people sign on the dotted line nomination. This is wrong. People may to join the military, they agree to poten‑ not always agree with what the military is doing, but these people deserve to be treated with respect because they are putting themselves on the line.

First of all, it seems like many citizens do not real‑ ize that people in the mili‑ tary are given orders by commanders that they are required to follow. Within the military, there are many ranks such as officers and sergeants. These orders come from the highest level ‑ usually, the President of the United States and the Joint Chiefs of Staff. The country votes for the president, who |ART BY XANDRA SQUIER

tially lose their life in order to protect the rights of all Americans, not just the ones they agree with, or share the same politi‑ cal party. If those people are out there putting their life on the line to make sure their country's citizens have a free life to live, then we should give the military the respect that they deserve.

There are many ways to show respect to those who serve or have served. One option is, when you see someone in uni‑ form, simply go up to them and say thank you for your service. Other ways to show support include buying them a meal, or supporting disabled veterans programs, or getting involved with groups on cam‑ pus like the Veteran’s Heritage Program, which captures stories of veterans each year and publishes them in a book.

Without the military, this coun‑ try would not be one of the leading world powers. You may not always agree with what the military has done, but just keep in mind that these people go through immense training to protect and serve our country. Their service allows you to have a voice and not be pun‑ ished for speaking out.

The military everyday is fight‑ ing for the freedoms that this country provides, so show some respect the next time you see someone in uniform.

THE CACTUS SHADOWS PRESS

battleground has ing emerged on school campuses all around the nation: the bath- the room. During the Obama presi- tha dency, transgender bathrooms were made a legal, however, just recently President jus Donald Trump rescinded some of these pro- or tections. Having transgender bathrooms in en schools would hurt more than help, espe- sch cially concerning public opinion, safety, and a w public sacrifice. sca Under the Obama Administration, trans- to gender students were allowed to use the wi bathroom that corresponded to their gender ity identities. Not only does the new administration disapprove of this law, hence them tim rescinding it, but Arizona Attorney General Mo Mark Brnovich sued Obama in May of 2016, lap after the new policy was instituted. Other Re states who have also taken action against en the law are Texas, Utah, Alabama, and off Georgia. All of the states who have taken tol strong action against transgender bathroom ha laws believe that the decision should be up Su to the states. the In 2016, only 0.3 percent of the U.S. pop- ba ulation identified as transgender and, according to a study by CBS News, 46 “The ma U WRITTEN BY ANNALEE BARNETT AND LAUREN HAGGAR percent of Americans believe that peo- of the ple should use the bathroom that they popula are genetically assigned. Whereas only 41 percent believe that people should would h use the bathroom with the gender sacrifi they identify with. Which means that accom the majority of the population would have to accommodate the 0.3 percent the 0.3 that identify as transgender. It is sacpercen rificing the comfort of many to provide for the unconventional desire of a few. identif As a nation that constantly accommo- transg dates the minority, it is about time that people start paying attention and car-

BATTLE OF THE BATHROOMS

With ever changing policies surrounding transgender students’ rights, students weigh in on the great bathroom debate.

EMMA RUSSELLO

MOVE IT OR LOSE IT

The average walking speed for younger people is 4.95 feet per second. So, when walking through the campus, I often wonder why some students walk slower than a tortoise.

Not all of the slower-paced people just plain out walk slow, some are too busy turned around screaming to their friends about what drink they should get at Dutch Bros after school, to realize that people are trying walk. Others just simply walk like they were old enough to witness WW1.

It is understandable that sometimes the people that are obstructing the pathway do not even know they are doing it.

If you have a friend that is known to do this, let them know.

The first step is to admit that you have a problem.

The biggest trend in walking throughout the campus is traveling in groups. If there is one, just one slow-poke, the whole group turns into slow-moving zombies. It is almost like the saying, “if your friend jumps off a cliff then you will too” but instead, “if your friend walks like she is a sloth from the movie Zootopia, then you will too”. Then, when the group stops and obstructs the entire pathway, it creates a whole other issue.

The pace of walking varies throughout different regions of the country, and it seems that in the great state of Arizona, people just move at a slow pace. What some Arizonans do not seem to understand is that if they go to New York City or another fast-paced region, they might get trampled, pushed, flat-tired, and maybe scoffed at. Understanding that Cave Creek does not even remotely resemble New York City, there 8 ■ APRIL 17, 2017

is some slack to be cut.

The school seems to be in its own bubble, where general spacial awareness rules do not apply. Instead the rules seem to be:

1. Walk straight into oncoming pedestrian traffic.

2. Make out with your significant other in the middle of the quad. Make sure to make uncomfortable eye contact with at least 3 other people.

3. Cut people off wheneve opportunity.

Another issue that seems to the school is no one knowing h people are just trying to get th sandwich, without having to fee

OPINION

breed the opportunities for the g about the opinion of the majority. “Any man When transgenders are able to use whole bathroom scenario to identifying e bathroom of their chosen sex rather end tragically. an their actual sex, what would stop as a woman What many businesses and man from dressing like a woman could school districts are doing to st to enter a women’s bathroom and deal with the situation are locker room? Imagine being a par- potentially installing “community” bathnt and sending your little girl into a assault or rooms. These are single bathhool where any man identifying as rooms with a lock that are not scar a young woman could potentially assault or specifically labeled man or ar a young person for life. It is naive person’s life.” woman, it is “gender neutral,” think that these types of situations open to any gender. While this ill not happen, because the possibilsolution does solve many of y is very real. the problems outlined above, it is a is bandAccording to DailyWire, “It was a busy aid solution that will fall apart at the seams me at Evans Pool around 5:30 p.m. on despite its efforts to appease both sides onday February 8. The pool was open for of the argument. p swim. According to Seattle Parks and What happens when a community bathecreation, a man wearing board shorts room is not enough? What happens when ntered the women's locker room and took transgenders want to pick their respecf his shirt. Women alerted staff, who tive locker rooms? If they want to be seen ld the man to leave, but he said ‘the law as a certain gender, male or female, then as changed and I have a right to be here.’ they will want to use the bathroom of their ubsequent to this new rule, no one called choice, not the community one. It defeats e police on this man who reportedly came the goal that transgenders are striving for, ack a second time when young girls were to be seen as a specific gender. changing into their swimsuits That means every non-transgender perajority for swim practice.” son out there who does not agree with In a world where everyone is changing your scientifically assigned genpractically forced to be politi- der will have to deal with being uncomfortation cally correct, in fear of offend- able when they use the restroom. have to ing someone, who would be Here is where serious issues like perverfice to comfortable calling out a per- sion come into play. son who they suspect is not To be quite frank, the solution isn’t simmmodate truly transgender? The answer ple, and in the end, some people will be is no one. Today, in our society, happy and others will not. What America 3 nt that not one person would dare to needs to be aware of is that every person question another's sexuality, has a God given right to life, liberty and the fy as for fear of repercussions and pursuit of happiness, but not at the cost of gender.” the connotations that would making the majority of people feel uncombe associated with them. This fortable and unsafe. main dilemma is what will

er you see the

be popping up throughout how to stand in a line. Some heir daily turkey and bacon el like they are baby sitting

|ART BY DOMINIC DAVIES

a bunch of kindergarteners, and being cut in front of every two seconds A certain pet peeve of a lot of people is when someone does not know what is an appropriate distance when talking to you. I’m happy to hear about last night’s concert, but I don’t need to know what you ate for breakfast because your mouth is in my face!

To wrap it all up, just know that everyone is human and yes, some people make mistakes. But this is not second grade, and we should all know not to run across the campus screaming and banging on the vending machines.

THE CACTUS SHADOWS PRESS

Students debate whether global warming is fact or fiction.

EMMA RUSSELLO

ALL NATURAL

OZONE? MORE LIKE OH NO

The issue of global warming and climate change is always a high-attention topic with politicians and the media. Some say it's a pressing topic that needs to be dealt with right away, and others say it is just completely a hoax.

Climate change is a natural occurring process that humans can have little to no control over.

Believers of global warming state that by burning fossil fuels, the rise in CO2 levels will contribute to the warming of the Earth.

According to a 2011 study published in the Asia-Pacific Journal of Atmospheric Science, about 50 percent of the CO2 released by the burning of fossil fuels and other human activities has already been re-absorbed by the earth’s carbon sinks.

Also, according to a report by the Heartland Institute in 2013, the Earth "has not warmed significantly for the past 16 years despite an eight percent increase in atmospheric CO2.

The Earth fixes itself.

Rising of sea levels also worries global warming believers, but in fact, when the earth began coming out of the Pleistocene Ice Age 18,000 years ago, sea levels were about 400 feet lower than they are today and have been steadily rising ever since, according to a 2014 report by the Global Warming Policy Foundation. There is no possible way humans could have contributed to that.

As for the actual warming of the planet, most graphs, charts and data that showed the Earth is rapidly warming were false. In 1990, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change predicted “that if emissions rose in a “business as usual” way, which they have done, then global average temperature would rise at the rate of about 0.3 degree Celsius per decade. In the 27 years since, temperature has risen at about 0.1 to 0.2 degree Cww per decade.”

There are other universities and scientists who have also disproven much of the previous data on the warming of the Earth. A 2003 study by researchers at the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics found that "many records reveal that the 20th century is probably not the warmest nor a uniquely extreme climatic period of the last millennium."

The work that the left government has done to prevent this “global warming” has been proven to hurt the economy as well as the Earth and nature itself.

“The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and other bodies agree that the rush to grow biofuels, justified as a decarbonization measure, has raised food prices and contributed to rainforest destruction,” according to scientificamerican.com.

Not everyone is a scientist, so it may be hard to tell what is really a fact, or just false data. The other side claims that 95% of scientists believe global warming is a problem, but that data is just based on polls. Many times before the so-called “experts” have been proven to be wrong, and this is just another one of those cases.

Planet Earth is 4.543 billion years old, and human civilizations have only been around for the past 10,000 years. Earth is a growing, changing, amazing planet that almost has a mind of its own. Humans can do very little to change that.

THE REPORT CARD

Final four in phoenix A (53%) B (22%) C (8%) D (17%)

MEGAN WALKER

Global warming is an extreme threat to the planet, and too many people are ignoring the problem. The planet is heating up at a drastic rate, due to the amount of carbon dioxide produced by humans. Under the Obama administration, the EPA created many policies to help deal with this issue, and now, the current administration is rolling back all of them. This will have dire consequences to our planet.

Since 1950, the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere has risen far past its average amount. This gas causes heat to get trapped, causing the Earth to heat up at an alarming rate.

Many things made and used by humans release carbon dioxide, like cars, hair dryers, light bulbs, and air conditioners. As time goes on, the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere increases which leads to more heat getting caught warming Earth’s surface.

An example is ice on earth, the constant heat is melting the ice, causing sea levels to rise and hurt the tundra habitat for all of the living things that reside there since their habitat is heating up.

Also, not only the coldest environments on Earth are hurt by the increasing heat, every habitat on this planet is changed because of the temperature change.

The change in Earth’s ecosystems and temperatures are already taking effect. Natural disasters such as hurricanes, tornadoes, and cyclones have been happening more frequently because wind speeds have changed, become more powerful, since 1981, and fluctuating temperatures are adding to the severity of the storms.

According to Nature.com, by 2050 rising temperatures could lead to the extinction of more than a million species. This includes the destruction of coral reefs and coral populations.

Along with a rise in water temperatures in the ocean, sea level will rise as the ice caps melt to add water to the sea.

Global warming creates violent swings between floods and droughts, according to NASA. com, and this creates problems for water. There can be shortages of water that lead to crop failure and damage to ecosystems.

Trees and other plants change carbon dioxide into oxygen, but deforestation and chemicals put in crops have demolished the species, which is another reason why the carbon dioxide level is increasing.

People who deny climate change think that global warming is a natural process, and that the earth will, on its own, take care of itself. They argue that scientists are over-reacting, and that evidence shows that a lot of things people have worried about, like Arctic ice disappearing and temperatures going up, have not proved true.

However, there is no denying that the quantity of harmful gases trapped in Earth’s atmosphere increased with new inventions for human convenience, which proves that global warming is being affected by humans.

Serious action is needed to halt global warming. Unfortunately, the government is changing a lot of the requirements so that businesses can continue to pollute and make more carbon dioxide without suffering financial or legal consequences.

There are things we can do to minimize our carbon footprint, such as riding a bike to school, work, or on errands, letting your hair air dry instead of using a dryer, or even turning off the lights when you leave your room. You can plant trees, recycle, and stop using plastic. Do your part to save our planet and make sure to keep informed.

Hot weather returns A (16%) B (37%) C (16%) D (31%)

First Fridays on Campus A (28%) B (37%) C (22%) D (13%)

Based on polls of 100 students via Twitter THE CACTUS SHADOWS PRESS

APRIL 17, 2017 ■ 7

MAY

CS

OPINION

press

the

us shadows ER of Cact the NEWSPAP k, Arizona in Cave Cree 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 Copy Editors

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

CSPress Staff Caity BONINE, Izzy CANTWELL, Dominic DAVIES, Keely DORAN, Faith HASHER, Grace HAYCRAFTMCKEE, Louise JAGUS, Zoie LAMBESIS, Maggie MORANT, Megan WALKER 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 May 12, 2017, Volume 10: Issue 8 School enrollment: 1722 Number of copies printed: 1100 6 ■ May 12, 2017

sara Windom

new bill loosens teaching requirements Desperate times call for desperate measures and Arizona legislature is not completely sure how to go about the education crisis. The newest effort pertains to the certifications required to teach. Governor Doug Ducey recently signed a new bill into law changing the qualifications for Arizona educators. This shift in requirements creates a new type of “certification” for individuals with expertise in certain areas.

This puts the responsibility of assessing teachers in the hands of district officials, not the Department of Education.

The very essence of the bill aims to combat teacher shortages by expanding or loosening the requirements.

Reactions vary from optimism and enthusiasm to frustration and anger among the education community. For some, this is a step in the right direction and for others, this raises some alarming questions.

Those in favor of the bill believe this will assist in ending the teaching crisis once and for all. Charter schools across the state have been allowed to hire teachers without a formal background in education. One of these charter schools, Basis, was ranked number one charter school by U.S. News in 2017. Many believe that the school’s success stems from

experts in the classroom, many without a formal teaching degree.

The certification in the bill specifically calls for people who are experts in their subjects. Because of a proficient background in the subject, this could lead to more informed and enthusiastic instructors in classrooms.

Opposition is further frustrated by the state's inability to remedy the initial and imminent problem. People are not repelled by the teaching profession because the certification is too difficult to obtain, people are repelled by the teaching profession because the state of Arizona pays its teachers so little. There are qualified, enthusiastic, and certified teachers out there that simply do not take the jobs because of the poor economic treatment educators receive.

This new bill does nothing to address the main issue.

This issue, among many, is polarizing as feelings are mixed among the education community as well as in our journalism classroom. As an editorial board, the majority of the staff voted against the bill, favoring the opposition.

AS WE SEE it thE EditoRiAl

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, Olivia Stickel, and Sean Gannon.

letter to the editor: transgender bathroom issues deserves some compassion and understanding

By Halle aBadi g sophomore

The transgender bathroom issue is one of many issues that divides public opinion so deeply in the U.S. While I respect different opinions regarding this matter, I feel inclined to respond to the article published in the CS Press opposing transgender bathroom rights.

Making it a “safety issue” potentially leading to sexual assault, or “scarring of the young,” is not only misleading and unjust, but, in my opinion, dangerous. It perpetuates the false narrative that transgender people are prone to committing sexual assaults. According to RAINN (Rape, Incest, and Incest National Network), 93% of juvenile victims knew the perpetrator.

From a practical standpoint, imagine a transgender person who identifies as male and is thus dressed accordingly, but has the biology of a female, walks into a public women’s bathroom. Does one ask for proof of gender? Can you imagine the confusion this would cause?

From a humanitarian perspective, I believe we need to live by the notion, “You

cannot understand someone until you’ve walked a mile in their shoes.” Studies show that many transgender people identify with the opposite gender very early in their childhood, far before any social, peer pressure, and influence issues come into play.

We live in a world where the “us against them” mentality is prevalent. The notion that human beings belong in certain boxes with certain characteristics is perhaps an easy way to cope with our fears of others who are not quite like us. We need to remind ourselves on a daily basis, however, that what unites us to our fellow human beings is by far deeper and more profound than what may seem to separate us superficially.

We all, all 7+ billion of us, seek love, understanding, and respect.

Please, let’s have an open and honest conversation involving all sides. Let us exchange ideas that are based on facts and come up with a solution without demonizing a group of people, passing judgment, and placing them in a proverbial box solely based on their choices of identity.

career over family

@csnewspaper

Celebrity soCial media With 140 characters, celebrities can

send out their thoughts to fans instantly through the use of popular social media apps like Twitter.

Because of the recent election, vocalizing one’s opinions throughout the web is a pretty common phenomenon. These tweets usually cover touchy subjects, regarding broad issues such as climate change, women’s rights, and the new presidency overall, to more specific concerns like Flint, Michigan’s ongoing water crisis and Planned Parenthood funding. Many social media users may think it unprofessional for celebrities to voice their viewpoints through their verified accounts, however, they should still be treated and respected like any other person.

According to Social Media Today, the average person spends approximately five years of their lifetime using and participating in social media. That’s a lot of pro-gun Facebook posts and #notmypresident tweets. So why is it people only care when it is a celebrity doing the tweeting? When an aunt on Facebook or a friend on Twitter shares a post on something you completely disagree with, eyes potentially roll back, fists clench, but inevitably the status ends up ignored and the monotonous scrolling continues.

However, when that same situation occurs with a star instead of an everyday person, uproar breaks out.

When disagreeing with a celebrity, more tend to argue with an aggressive post back. Many retorts are not even

backed up factually, often times users sim star personally or threaten to stop suppor gether.

Just because you do not agree wit strong support for the LGBT community you have the right to call her degradin also should not fight the urge to sing eve Romance when it comes on in your frien of something she said on the internet.

What somebody is and is not ‘allowed on their own accounts should not d social status or pedestal they are put to Psychology Today, celebrities are hel standards because they seem immorta the famous themselves are long gone, th impressions will forever remain.

While it is understandable that what th post is rather influential, they should no to keeping silent for the rest of their da should still be treated as humans, rega views.

Overall, fans should stop fixating star high regard in society. We should be able ies and listen to music without prodd aspect of a star’s life. While, yes, they are ing their opinion, people have different vi even with your favorite celebrities, will possible. Get over it.

By FaitH HasHer g staff writer

U.S. birth rates have been declining steadily since the recession in 2008, and 2016 had the lowest birth rate since 1986. According to an article in Forbes magazine, there are many reasons for this -- the weak economy means less money for families considering having children, and more women are working than in the past.

Unfortunately, as a result of this decline in birth rates, some people are blaming women for choosing their careers over having children. Whether or not to have a child is a very personal choice, and calling women selfish for choosing not to is wrong.

In the millennial age group, there has been a lot of workforce changes. According to psychologytoday.com, 43 percent of college educated women between the ages of 33 and 46 are child free.

These women are bypassing parenthood altogether.

It was only during the 1940s that America went through a baby boom and everyone was settling down and having a family. Today, however, women no longer

believe that they can have it all. A full time job means working at least eight hours a day and then coming home and raising children is about another eight hours.

Others believe that waiting before having kids means that you are more financially stable and would better support the children.

Teen pregnancies have also been trending sharply down for years falling by roughly two thirds among all racial groups since 1990 according to www.herokuapp.com.

Many people say that having children is a part of the natural life and that everyone should have one. But with all of the factors women face today, having a child could mean giving up a great career, or making other sacrifices. Not every woman needs to have a child to be fulfilled.

Picking a career over family means that means you are so passionate about it that it makes you feel whole.

So the next time a woman tells you she doesn’t want to have a child, please consider that she may have some very good reasons for her choice.

THE CaCTUS SHaDOWS PRESS

the neCessity behind 13 reasons why don’t adjust Whatever device you’re

listening to this on. Get a snack, and settle in. Because I’m about to tell you the story of girl’s life, or more specifically, why her life ended. This girl, as beautiful and clever as she was, could not catch a break. It always seemed as though something was wrong in her life, or someone was trying to ruin her. But she did have one person, a boy. This boy loved her immensely, and would do anything to make sure she was okay. However, she ignored this boy’s affection and took her own life, leaving him in shambles. This leaves you, Hannah Baker, as the focal point of your own tape.

All jokes aside, the Netflix original series, 13 Reasons Why, sparked interest when it was released on March 31, 2017. For those who have not yet seen 13 Reasons Why, I strongly caution that it is not for those looking for an uplifting story with a happy ending. This show depicts high school for what it truly is- a place where people have the ability and power to drain all happiness and hope. It shows the inner darkness lurking beneath everyone and the lengths they will go to keep it from coming to light.

The show focuses on a 15 year old girl, Hannah Baker, who commits suicide. Before ending her life, Hannah creates 13 tapes. Each tape centers on a certain person who hurt or wronged her in one way or another.

Though Hannah may first come across as a petty,

THE CACTUS SHADOWS PRESS

angsty teen, her reasonings for the tapes b as the show continues. She endures unspe ment from her friends and peers that lea tionally, physically, and mentally numb. to the wound, all of these people only h because they are too afraid to come to term own inner demons.

Many critics dislike the show because o nature. Throughout the season, there are e explicit and realistic rape scenes as well a cide scene. The majority of the opposition these episodes are too horrific for viewers These scenes are necessary to show th ity behind many of these issues. Suicide often swept under the rug as many do acknowledge that both of these experien high schools across the country. The wa Why addresses these issues forces peop stand the severity of them.

And even though mental health is not explicitly addressed, the show sends a strong message surrounding the treatment of others. It pushes the overall idea to empathize with othersto be kind and supportive to your peers because you have no perception of the events going on in their life.

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aggie morant

zoie lambesis

dolphins in the desert

Who Would have thought in a million

years that people would be able to swim with dolphins in the middle of an arid desert. This sounds insane because it is. The new Dolphinaris attraction in Scottsdale risks the safety of both its animals and its visitors.

Dolphinaris misplaces, mistreats, and demeans the animals in the facility. Arizona is approximately 2,931 miles away from Honolulu, Hawaii where the dolphins were captured. This 2,931 mile journey is a long and dreadful process.The mammals are transported in a stretcher that is suspended in water which is then placed on a 6-8 hour plane flight.

Taking animals out of their natural habitats causes many things to go wrong with their bodies. The emotional, physi- In the wild, dolphins cal, and mental stress that these are constantly dolphins go through when they are held in captivity makes solving complex them more inclined to get disproblems and eases and die at a young age. swimming up to Not only is the transportation shocking to the dolphins, 80 miles a day. but the lifestyle change they go However, this is through is draining and damaginstantly taken ing to their system as well. In the wild, dolphins are constantly away from them solving complex problems and once decided swimming up to 80 miles a day.

However, this is instantly taken that they are held away from them once decided in captivity for that they are held in captivity entertainment. for entertainment.

According to AZ Central's interview with the general manager of Dolphinaris Arizona, Grey Stafford, many of the dolphins are born into captivity so they only know human beings, trainers and veterinarians their whole life. This means that their lifestyle is not natural in any way. Healthy, wild dolphins would typically be swimming in the ocean eating fresh fish. Instead, these dolphins are fed frozen fish, forced into unnatural and demeaning positions or “tricks,” and trapped in small tanks.

The attraction holds 12 bottlenose dolphins that have been trained to do stunts for amusement. Having the dolphins jump over things and do flips in the air is not natural or healthy for the animal. In fact, most of these movements are tiring on their bodies and can cause serious injuries.

As people pay 119 dollars for a hour long “swim and ride” with the dolphins, the dangers of getting in the water with these animals do not occur to them. According to US Whales, “disease transmission is a serious concern, as dolphins carry diseases that can be transmitted to humans and vise versa.” When exposed to the water that the dolphins swim in, you are capable of receiving any diseases that the dolphins might carry, which can turn into years of health complications. Dolphins are wild animals, so they are extremely unpredictable and can react differently to any human when feeding or swimming with them.

In order for these dolphins to be free in the ocean where they belong, it is important to take action and stay out of the aquariums that keep dolphins for entertainment.

Encouraging places like Dolphinaris Arizona, to expand their cement pools that hold only 1 million gallons of water, will help bring attraction to the problem that is, keeping dolphins in captivity.

MAy 12, 2017 ■ 7

OPINION

Two editors discuss the past and the possible pros and cons of us involvement in foreign affairs

katelyn reinhart

solace in isolation The ear-ringing blare of gunshots and pained cries cut through the air. A boom echoes as a cannon fires, and limp bodies of Americans lay scattered across foreign soil. Those now-empty faces once held proud smiles formed under the illusion that they were fighting a necessary war. Throughout history, thousands of American citizens have marched into an unnecessary battle and fewer have returned home.

By getting involved with foreign affairs, the United States does nothing but waste resources, whether it be money, time, or actual human lives. A perfect example By getting of this is the Vietnam war, which began in 1955 involved with and lasted twenty years. According to the the Defense Casualty Analysis System, 58,220 United foreign affairs, States military members died as a result, and for the United States what reason? Even now, there is debate over who does nothing but exactly won. Some people believe that the United states lost entirely; others claim that the US milwaste resources, itary won, but politicians involved dropped the whether it be ball.

Whether or not Vietnam was a victory, there money, time, and were still 58,220 people who lost their lives fightactual human ing a war that proved nothing. A war that accomlives. plished nothing. A war that took everything from those who died, with a gun in hand and hazy claims of freedom on their lips. For every one person who died in Vietnam, there were dozens of people who knew them, or loved them, and lost them.

Emotional appeal aside, imagine the cost it takes to make one tank.

Now, think of the amount of tanks whose wheels meet enemy ground.

Not a big enough number? Imagine hundreds of planes dropping hundreds of bombs, the equipment it took to protect US military members, the cost of medicine, etc. According to The Defense Department, the overall cost of the Vietnam war was $173 billion. On top of that, veteran's benefits and interest would add another $250 billion, resulting in a total cost of $423 billion for one war.

The harm that US intervention causes is not only reflected in Vietnam.

With terrorism being a very prevalent issue, many people claim that intervention is the only way. However, intervention does nothing but put more lives at risk. Claiming that war is the only option is similar to toddlers throwing toys at each other because they cannot think of any other way to solve the problem. Terrorism is, and remains to be, a great threat to American people, however, war threatens the American people, resources, and economy.

Recently, President Trump launched 59 missiles at a Syrian airbase, at an estimated cost of at least 47 million dollars. Many have questioned why this action was taken, and if it will affect outcomes in Syria at all.

In cases like Syria, US intervention not only threatens war, but it may be for nothing. Trump was elected because of his “America First” centered campaign, but by intervening in other country’s affairs, America’s need are being put on hold.

This decision may have been made for the protection of Syrian citizens, but the outcome will be the same. As history repeats itself, it shows that United States involvement does no good to anyone but debt collectors and funeral homes.

The RepoRT CaRd

sean gannon

fight back for freedom

PROM THEME

Wars are waged because of three very simple ideas: money, religion, and territory. The United States became involved in Middle Eastern affairs because of all these reasons. We have benefitted from several of these causes.

Oil is an extremely precious and abundant resource in the Middle East that is exported to nearly the entire world. Most of the modern civilized world runs on this oil from this region. Over the past fifteen years, the United States has stationed roughly 35,000 troops in the Middle East, 18,000 of which are split between Kuwait and Bahrain, with four goals. Each of these goals relates back to the main idea of protecting the oil in this region from falling under control of a group that intends to restrict access to oil and to protect the Strait of Hormuz from falling into the wrong hands which, according to nationalinterest.org, exports 30 percent of the world’s seaborne oil.

Religion also tends to dictate the actions of many people in this world.

For instance, a study conducted by pewresearch.org in 2014, discovered that this region has the highest levels of religious conflicts in the world -- over four times the global norm. For several years, while these wars were waged, Islamic extremists groups such as Al-Qaeda were able to gain power through religious sympathy.

Three prominent religions, Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, claim to have originated in this region of the world and each group believes that this is their Holy Land. After World War Two, millions of displaced Jews sought a new country where they could all go and live in peace. Thus, Israel was created on May 14, 1948. This newfound Jewish state led to even more unrest in the Middle East. Muslims in this region did not take fondly to this newly formed Jewish state because they believed that these displaced people had no right in taking their Holy Land away from them.

Recent terror attacks across the globe from the Islamic State, ISIS, and the Syrian government using sarin gas on 80 civilians in Syria, have caught President Trump’s attention. Trump took it upon himself to show ISIS that they cannot go around killing innocent civilians by launching 59 Tomahawk missiles at a Syrian airbase on April 11. Secretary of Defense James Mattis claimed that these strikes had taken out 20% of the Syrian air force.

In 1996, Al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden, declared war on the United States because we occupied two Islamic holy cities, Mecca and Medina. Bin Laden did not capture the attention of many citizens until the attacks on September 11, 2001. After bin Laden attacked completely innocent United States citizens, the Middle East became a huge concern.

This region of the world is currently one of the most significant areas when it comes to resources. The Middle East has something that Trump took it upon everyone needs; oil. Without oil, the globe would himself to show ISIS shut down, worldwide trade would cease, your that they cannot car would not move from it’s spot in the driveway. Havoc has spread across this section of go around killing the globe and it needs to be stopped. The United innocent civilians States has banded together with several countries including Australia, the European Union, by launching 59 the United Kingdom, France, Turkey, and the Tomahawk missiles United Arab Emirates to suppress the civil wars at a Syrian airbase in the Middle East, keep the oil industry functioning at full potential, and attempt to keep the on April 11. Secretary rest of the world safe from extremist groups such of Defense James as the Islamic State.

Mattis claimed that these strikes had taken out 20 percent of the Syrian air force.

A (28%) B (41%) C (19%) D (12%)

senior ditch day

A (45%) B (19%) C (18%) D (18%)

AZ MERIT schedule

A (2%) B (6%) C (14%) D (78%)

Based on polls of 100 students via Twitter 8 ■ May 12, 2017

`Dominic Davies

THE CaCTUS SHaDOWS PRESS

K

just patrico things

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F THE HOLY TRINITY Kiera Riley discusses the road to attending all three major music festivals in the US

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orever enthralled by the feeling of live tunes, Kiera Riley, a junior, plans on finishing the perfect music festival trifecta.

“It’s so cool that Kiera gets to go to music festivals and concerts because she gets to experience so many different kinds of people and music within one setting,” said Olivia Stickel, a junior and buddy of Riley.

It all started out one dusky fall night in 2015 when Riley was first drawn to it all.

Seeing a fake Coachella lineup online, Riley begged her father to let her attend.

Instead, they ended up going to Bonnaroo that summer and even getting backstage passes because of an inside connection.

“I met Mac Demarco, said ‘hi,’ snapped a pic, said ‘keep doing you,’ and then we parted ways,” said Riley.

After her first time, Riley has forever been inspired by feelings of endless summer and ‘eternal youth.’ She now has a craving for more adventures. Already attending March Madness in Arizona and Coachella this year, Riley is on her way to completing her summer trio.

“With Coachella under my belt, I think I am ready to kick it up a notch,” said Riley.

has set to surround her summer endeavor is that all three fests must be visited within the same year.

“This year I worked at a food stand at Coachella. I sold chicken fingers, and fries and mac n’ cheese. It was really tough because I was on my feet for twelve hours a day, but I did get to see Bon Iver sound check which was really cool,” said Riley, “plus I got free food.”

It is evident when Riley is at a festival during the school year, one classmate pointed out because Riley rarely misses school otherwise.

“It’s safe to say, if Kiera Riley isn’t at school, it’s because of a music festival,” said Lauren Haggar, a junior in Riley’s journalism course.

Ditching the typical classroom boredom, Riley chooses instead be packed inside a car or on a flight to a fest. This summer, Riley plans to make an appearance at both 2017 Bonnaroo in July and Lollapalooza in August.

“I’m excited for Bonnaroo because I get to see some of my favorite bands with my cousins and my dad,” said Riley, “my best

“with coachella under my belt i think i am ready to kick it up a notch” Though she has already been to all three festivals in the past, Bonnaroo and Lollapalooza twice in previous years, and Coachella, part of the guidelines she

friends.”

Taking on Bonnaroo in July are popular indie bands like Bad Suns, Car Seat Headrest, Crystal Castles and Milky Chance.