Kassidy Wheeler Portfolio 2018 by Lori Hart

2018 PORTFOLIO

kassidy wheeler

REFLECTION #1 SELF ANALYTICAL EVALUATION News Paper Reflection This year was a lot of fun and the newspaper class helped me step out of my comfort zone and meet new people while trying new things. I enjoyed how everyone was really nice and helpful to me, because it helped me adjust to an environment where everything was relatively new. I think the class contributed a lot to my writing skills and has really improved my writing over the course of this past year. I think the most important thing the class taught me was to be open minded and to try new things, even if at first they won’t be your best work. Once you keep doing new challenges over and over you’ll get a lot better at it and it will come easily. Being open minded especially in an environment where everyone has various viewpoints can only help you better understand the way other people think and why they are who they are. The thing I did most this year was write stories, and I enjoyed that a lot. The one part of the process I did not like was interviews, and this was probably my weakest point, but I always got them done. The only thing I did not like about it is some topics would be hard to talk about, and there would not be many people willing to talk about controversial topics or ones that had difficult subject matter. I got my interviews done on time, but it can be stressful if someone cancels on you or people don’t show up. One part about interviews that I did enjoy was meeting new people and getting to learn more about them. I also thought it was really funny when I’d have to ask science teachers about space questions and they always directed me to Mr. Reisener. Interviews were definitely an important part of writing, because they made up your story and if you didn’t ask the right questions your story would not be as good as it could have been. Another part of the class I surprisingly enjoyed was coming to school on Saturday for production days. I thought I would hate this about the class, but it gave me an opportunity to get to know people better in the class, and this is where I would realize mistakes in my writing and other people’s writing and learn how to avoid these mistakes in the future. It also opened my eyes to why the newspaper is so successful, because people are willing to sacrifice their free time on a Saturday morning to go work on the newspaper, and I’m really looking forward to continuing work on the newspaper next year. I’m also glad that the teachers helped a lot, and they wouldn’t ever discourage your writing or be overly critical about small things, but if there was an issue they did a good job voicing the problem and finding a way to fix it. The things that were pointed out to me only helped me realize how to do a better job writing stories and make the things I did better. Even with small lessons about fonts and photography I feel like I learned a lot of important things. I also think the seniors did a good job at showing the returning staff members how to work around InDesign, I have used Photoshop and video editing software before, but InDesign was a little different but I definitely feel more confident with it now. Finally, I’m very honored and delighted to be selected as one of the Editors in Chief and the Opinion Editor, I’m looking forward to next year and I’m hoping that we will be able to win many awards. I also have become really good friends with the people who are returning and I think we’ll be able to work well together to create quality newspapers.

REFLECTION #1 REFLECTION #2

SIGNIFICANT WORK SELFMOST ANALYTICAL EVALUATION Most Significant Work Reflection My most significant writing piece this year was the front page assignment on gun violence. I feel really passionately about the issue of gun violence and am deeply saddened whenever a tragedy like this occurs, and I think it is very important to address. I was really happy to write this, and it was difficult at times because of my strong feelings toward gun violence in America, I was not allowed to voice my opinion because it was a news article. As much as I wanted it to be an opinion piece, I thought it was a good experience to have to write unbiasedly on a topic that I feel very strongly about. The first time I wrote about gun violence was in 7th grade and I was 13 years old. There was an assignment that involved current events in the United States and I had to connect it to something in the past which affected people’s lives. I remember writing about Newtown and how I felt really bad for the people involved, and I hoped that this terrible event would never happen again. At that point in my life I’ve seen documentaries about Columbine, and living in Arizona I was impacted by the Gabrielle Giffords shooting in 2011 in Tucson. However, I did not truly understand why someone would do something like this, and I thought these things were only isolated incidents. I also thought that would be the last time I ever would have to write about the loss of life in an environment of peace and learning. Now that these tragedies are so common it appears on our TV screens and the next day it’s over. I was really happy seeing the activism coming out of Parkland because they were a group of kids who were willing to stand up and say something is wrong and we need to take action to change this. It makes me deeply saddened when politicians take absolutely no action to try to prevent tragedies. It’s even worse when people brush off tragedies like this when only one person dies, because they think it’s just a “gang dispute” or an “accidental discharge.” The facts are that this doesn’t happen in other developed countries in the world because of actions other countries have taken, and I was glad I was able to report these facts through the newspaper. I find it insane how these events keep occurring, and I was happy to be given the opportunity to write about this in the newspaper. It was interesting seeing both sides of the argument on gun violence, and even though my first draft was lacking a pro-gun opinion, I thought it was interesting as to how many people were in favor of reform. On Twitter and in the media you see how torn our country is, some debate how anything can be used to kill if you wanted it to, others want teachers to be armed, and some want there to be no guns at all, but what our government fails to do is even attempt any of these approaches. All you see is talk and debate, while in other developed countries they have reduced their amount of school shootings through legislation which reduced the amount of weapons in their nation. I think that writing and educating people about the true statistics on gun violence is vital to creating change. Walkouts, protests, calling representatives or congress, and voting are major factors when it comes to change. This year I was able to be apart of making that change happen. I was really proud that I was able to get my writing put into the newspaper about gun violence, so people could read about global statistics and how our government responds to the death of our youth. It impacted me greatly, because I had an effect now which was put out into the world, whereas when I was writing about it in the 7th grade it was only turned into my teacher for her eyes only.

REFLECTION #3 THREE BEST ARTICLES 14 ■ FEBRUARY 9, 2018

SPORTS THE CACTUS SHADOWS PRESS

DURING A WEEKLY PRACTICE, Harry Carrozza, a junior, scrimmages with a friend.

4KASSIDY WHEELER

Katie makes a splash

THE

Katie Deininger receives a full ride to the University of Houston for her excellence in diving. By EMMA RUSSELLO g travel editor

ONLY A HANDFUL OF STUDENT ATHLETES receive scholarships, and the number of those that receive full rides is even smaller. Katie Deininger, a senior, has been offered a full ride scholarship to the University of Houston for diving. Deininger has been diving for almost five years, and has always known she wanted to go to the next level. “It's a really cool sport that not a ton of people do, and it's really fun to travel the country and represent Arizona at national competitions,” said Deininger. In springboard diving, athletes do flips off boards that are one or three meters high, and try not to splash when going into the water.

PRESS

The newspaper of Cactus Shadows High School in Cave Creek, Arizona

Boys tennis begins season strong with new players and strategies.

have good match play before we take on the championship, and our coach is going to put us into another tournaThe boys tennis team is set to make another state run this ment so we can get more competition against division one year. Starting off against Arcadia on Feb. 22, and the team schools,” said Harry Carrozza, a junior player on the boys has a chip on their shoulder to take home the championtennis team. ship. Last season, they lost the championship to Catalina The team’s record for the 2016-2017 season was 14-0 Hills. and they were ranked second in division two. They will Tryouts took place on Feb. 5, and now remain in division two and section two their roster is stacked and they are set to for the 2017-2018 season. Younger players make another championship run. will be coming up from junior varsity to “I think it’ll be a lot like last year, so it’ll fill the shoes of those who left last season, be a little bit more difficult,” said Colin but those who are returning believe that McConnon, a sophomore player on the those coming up will be able to step up and boys tennis team. contribute to the team. Despite the team’s loss in the champiThe goal for the year is to progress and onship, the team won the category for learn from mistakes last year. doubles champions, with McConnon and “I expect 100 percent effort, determinaSam Miyata on the court for their team. tion on the court like they’ve had in the McConnon also tied with Miyata for past, and I expect them to have fun and division player of the year in the 2016enjoy what they do while leaving it all out 2017 season. on the court,” said Matthew Scott, the tenMcConnon believes that the perfect nis coach. season can be repeated, but the chalImportant roles will have to be filled lenge of Catalina Hills remains. Beating this season, but the team believes that getthem is a key component to success this ting to the state championship is definitely season, especially since Catalina Hills a possibility. Also a new player will have Matthew Scott, boys tennis has won the championship four seasons to be added to the doubles team that won coach. in a row. the doubles championship last season due “We’ll have to adjust to make sure we to the departure of Miyata. have good chemistry, ensure that we By KASSIDY WHEELER g staff writer

“I expect 100 percent effort, determination on the court like they’ve had in the past, and I expect them to have fun and enjoy what they do while leaving it all out on the court.”

12 ■ APRIL 13, 2017

RECEIVING THE SCHOLARSHIP

“Nerves are definitely ingrained in the sport whether it’s just with competing or throwing new dives from 10 meters up. I think the easiest part is just training because it’s fun.”

Rusboldt said that the reason Deininger received her scholarship is because of her determination and work ethic. “Katie comes to practice every day with the intention of being better then she was the day before. She doesn't complain, she doesn't look Katie Deininger for ways to avoid challenges. She comes to practice, does what she's asked to do to the best of her ability and works hard at the sport,” said Rusboldt. Deininger was a gymnast for almost 11 years before she started diving, but both sports taught her lessons that she can take with her throughout her life. “One lesson that diving has taught me is that if you mess up something, you need to just let it go and move on because holding the bad past with you just impacts the future negatively,” said Deininger. Deininger also stated that diving has taught her how important it is to have others backs, and made her realize how many people she has supporting her.

SARAH WEISS, A JUNIOR

“I’d say it depends on the type of mental illness, cause obviously, like, there’s degrees of mental illness; there’s somewhere you’re obviously not going to be safe around guns, and I feel like it should be limited then.”

BRIANNA TIPTON, A SOPHOMORE

“They really shouldn’t because there’s so many different things they can do, whether it’s harming them or harming others.”

NATHAN FERRY, A SENIOR

“I do not believe that people with mental illnesses should have guns. If they have a mental illness, than they are mentally unstable to protect themselves or others if they have one.”

4SARA WINDOM

Signs to watch for

via the National Alliance on Mental Illness

U TYLER SHEA WOLIVIA STCKEL

WHAT’S INSIDE

THE MARCH 9, 2018 ISSUE

2 4 11 13

LONG LIVE THE KING Strutting down the runway clad in togas and crowns, boys of all grade levels competed in the annual Mr. Cactus Shadows’ pageant. Makenna French talks to participants and planners about the preparation that went into the event.

BILLS ON BILLS After examining failing scores and a poll proving student indifference on the AZ Merit standardized test, legislators and school administrations look to new education bills to increase student incentive. Brook Bowman discusses local and statewide propositions.

FLU BLUES With major influenza outbreaks in 48 states, Morgan Reimer examines the magnitude of the new wave of disease and how it has impacted students.

UNLOCKED VAULT After a brief hiatus, the pole vaulting team returns to the track with a new coach and reinvigorated student interest. Maja Peirce talks to athletes and coaches about the reformation of the team and the steps needed to take it to the next level.

MILIE Parker, a 6 year-old elementary school student, left her home on the morning of Dec. 14, 2012, to join with her first grade classmates at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut. Little did she or her family know, it would be the last time they would ever see each other alive. Emilie Parker was one of 20 children and 6 adults who lost their lives at Sandy Hook Elementary School that day, after a crazed gunman armed with a Bushmaster .223 caliber rifle gunned them down. The Sandy Hook shooting was an unthinkable event. The lives of these young children, tucked away in a relatively small school in a quiet suburban community, cut short by perhaps one of the most shocking acts of gun violence in the United States.

12 DIE AT COLUMBINE Sandy Hook was not the first time the sound of gunshots echoed through school hallways in this country. In 1999, before most students in high school today were born, two students armed with several guns, including two shot guns and more than a dozen 10-round magazines, walked into Colorado’s Columbine High School and went on a terrorist-like rampage, resulting in the death of 12 students and 1 teacher. Since that time, most teenagers in high school in the U.S. today grew up in the shadow of an ongoing debate about gun violence. There have been 25 fatal school shootings at elementary and high schools in America since the Columbine shooting. The most recent occurred in February of this year, when a 19-year-old former student, armed with an assault rifle, took the lives of 14 students and three faculty members at Marjory

“Since then, it just seems like there’s been one awful story like this after another.” Kyle Anderson, a junior.

See Shootings on page 2

FEATURE

Should those with mental illness be allowed to own firearms?

By KASSIDY WHEELER g staff writer

KATIE DEININGER, a

Conquering the court

As another school shooting shakes the nation, students and teachers examine gun violence in the U.S.

With additional reporting by Brook Bowman, Morgan Reimer, and Maja Peirce

PREPARING FOR COLLEGE Josh Rusboldt, Deininger’’s coach, said that to prepare his divers for college, he gives them the requirements they need to compete on an NCAA level on senior, will go to college for the springboard, and a list of coldive. leges that will fit their ability. “Being awarded a college athletic scholarship is highly regarded...the appeal is generally the offset of tuition,” said Madison Sewell, Deininger’s teammate of four years. Deininger said that her greatest influences are her coaches and teammates who push her to be better, “I think the mental aspect of diving is probably the hardest part about it. Nerves are definitely ingrained in the sport whether it's just with competing or throwing new dives from 10 meters up. I think the easiest part is just training because it's fun,” said Deininger.

SHOTS FIRED

THE CACTUS SHADOWS PRESS

Guns and mental illness OPINION

KASSIDY WHEELER Gun violence is far more serious in the United States compared to other developed countries. The Second Amendment prevents infringement upon citizens rights to bear arms, but with the occurrence of more mass shootings, there has been a debate on whether to limit the second amendment rights of the mentally ill. Those who have a major mental disorder should not be allowed to own or purchase firearms. The reason for this is not because the majority of people with mental illnesses are violent, but it is to prevent a small percentage of individuals who may be susceptible to violent behavior from harming themselves or others. According to a study done by Grant Duwe, who has a Ph.D. in Criminology, and is the Director of Research and Evaluation for the Minnesota Department of Corrections, at least 59 percent of the 185 public mass shootings in the United States from 1900 to 2017 were conducted by people who were diagnosed with severe mental disorders. However, only onethird of people who have committed mass shootings in the United States received mental health assistance. This leads to a larger issue of a treatment gap, and evidence that the United States has an issue of not assisting the mentally ill with the necessary care programs and treatment methods. The myth that mentally ill people are naturally violent is false, but sometimes people with severe mental illnesses, like schizophrenia, tend to be at risk for violent behavior. A study done by the Swanson Center stated that men who have schizophrenia are three to five times more likely to be at risk for violent behavior. This is not the fault of the mentally ill person by any means, but their brain is unfortunately wired to have hallucinations, delusions, confused thoughts and speech patterns, or concentration issues. People who develop these dilemmas should not have any need to have a firearm that could potentially take their own life or the life of another person. If self-defense is the issue, and the mental illness that someone has is that serious, they should be in the care and support of someone who will watch over them and be able to defend them, be their friend, and help them in times of distress. In all mass shootings there is only one constant, and that is that a gun is present. Prohibiting people who have a serious mental illness to purchase guns will not solve America’s gun problem, but it is a small place to start in order to pass other legislation and gun laws to ensure nation wide safety from gun violence. If we fail to even attempt to change the current circumstances of gun violence, we become complicit with the bloodshed of innocents.

People who develop these dilemmas should not have any need to have a firearm that could potentially take their own life or the life of another person.

Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida. “I sort of remember when the Sandy Hook shooting took place,” said Kyle Anderson, a junior. “I came home from school and I could tell from the look on my mom’s face that something was wrong. Since then, it just seems like there’s been one awful story like this after another.”

MASS SHOOTING IN U.S. Gun violence is not measured just by school shootings. There have been 1,500 mass shootings in the United States in the past 5 years, including incidents at churches, movie theaters, concerts, and workplaces. While gun violence may not be just an American problem, the number of mass shootings experienced in the U.S. is far greater than in most other developed countries. Data from Everytown Research shows that America’s gun murder rate is more than 25 times higher than the average rate of other high-income countries. The debate surrounding gun violence is amplified with each incident, and the most recent school shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School is no exception. “I believe gun violence could be prevented if there were stricter policies on who is allowed to carry a firearm,” said Abby Nosan, a sophomore.

GUN DRAWN, School resource officer Brad

Penner’s responsibility in a school shooting is to protect students and disable the shooter. “I would be lying if I told you that a school shooting could never happen here at Cactus Shadows. We are the exact same demographic as many of the locations where they have occurred in the past.” 4KIERA RILEY

These three pieces were the most significant for me this semester. The one about tennis I had the most fun writing because I knew the people involved and it was my first time taking photos. I enjoyed taking photos and I want to take more next year. Working with people I knew and talking to them about their team was a fun way to write the story. The front page article about gun violence was also very important for me to write because it educated people about global statistics. It was very timely because the Parkland shooting had just occurred and the topic was on peoples minds. I enjoyed writing it too because I feel really passionate about preventing gun violence and the loss of innocent lives. The guns and mental illness story was complicated to write, but it paid off a lot. I enjoyed learning about the rights of mentally ill people who own guns and reading studies about how mental illnesses affect the mind of a mass shooter was very mind opening. It was difficult to write about because there are a lot of minor mental illnesses in which people might have the control to own a firearm. Overall these were my three favorite things to write this semester and by far the most interesting and important.

February

NEWS

2 ■ FEBRUARY 9, 2018

Tear Sheets This article was the first one I wrote of the new semester, which was good because it highlighted the homeless problem in Arizona and the United States. This is especially important because during the Summer the heat in Arizona really effects the homeless and it was good to highlight how people can help with different organizations.

By GRIFFIN GOLDSTEIN g staff writer

HE legality of mar-

ijuana is one of the most complex and confusing political issues to date. Whether it be medical or recreational, there are many factors that go into where and how it can be obtained, and it can be hard to weed out the truth from all the lies. Currently, cannabis is legal in some way in all states except for Idaho, Kansas, Nebraska, and South Dakota, where all forms of it are prohibited. It is completely legal for recreational use in nine states California, Nevada, Oregon, Colorado, Washington, Massachusetts, Maine, and Vermont, along with the District of Columbia. In the 29 remaining states, it is legal for medical purposes only. Arizona is one of the 29, but in recent years, there has been a considerable push for recreational legalization. Despite all of the states’ individual laws for regulating cannabis, the substance remains illegal under federal law. Under the Obama Administration, the Cole Memorandum limited federal interference and left legalization up to the states. “The states want it legalized but federally, it’s still illegal… it can’t be both but that’s the argument,” said Brad Penner, school police officer. Recently, Attorney General Jeff Sessions sent out his

OPINION

KASSIDY WHEELER

IABETES is the seventh

leading cause of death in the United States. Preventing diabetes is very important, and schools around the United States should take the necessary steps to ensure they are doing their part to help kids with improving their own personal health. Type One diabetes is usually diagnosed in childhood and is not necessarily related to someone's weight. A person with type One diabetes must take insulin to control their blood sugar. Type Two diabetes is usually diagnosed in a person that is 30 years old or older. Type Two does not necessarily always require insulin, however, some may need to take tablets or medication, due to higher levels of blood pressure or cholesterol. The American Diabetes Association states that it is imperative for schools to take a leading role in the promotion of healthy living, especially since that there has been a rise in the amount of young people who have been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes and obesity. The Obama Administration enacted the Healthy, Hunger Free-Kids Act in 2010, and it took effect at the beginning of the 20122013 school year. The purpose of the law was to improve the nutrition of school lunches by offering a daily fruit or vegetable, mandating whole grain, and offering fat-free unflavored milk. The act made it clear that another goal was to lower the sodium levels of school meals, because too much sodium acts as a catalyst for higher blood pressure, which contributes to Type Two diabetes. However, the Trump Administration has rolled back the law and plans to ease regulations during the summer

BAD HABITS. Students eat chips, mini donuts, and other unhealthy foods throughout their school day. Many of these items are available in vending machines, the cafeteria, and student store. 4SARA WINDOM

“School lunches have never been anyone’s first choice of dining, but when it comes to eating healthy in order to prevent diabetes and obesity it is essential to make sure our school lunches have the nutrients they need.”

of 2018. This is not only irresponsible, but dangerous for the future of the youth of the United States. The Hunger Free-Kids Act was not perfect, but a study done by JAMA Pediatrics has resulted in the conclusion that, “After implementation of the Healthy Hunger-Free Kids Act, change was associated with significant improvement in the nutritional quality of foods chosen by students.” School lunches have never been anyone's first choice of dining, but when it comes to eating healthy in order to prevent diabetes and obesity, it is essential to make sure our school lunches have the nutrients they need. To appease those who say that the food tastes bad, and to make sure schools are offering a healthy solution, we can look to Europe. Potato gnocchi with tomato sauce from Italy, veal cordon bleu from Luxembourg, and chicken breasts on a bed of lentils with spinach from Norway are all examples of some European lunches. The reason why these schools have such good foods is because they contract school meals to private caterers. According to the International Diabetes Federation The United States has the highest diabetes rate in adults from ages 20-79 at 10.75 percent. Many countries in the European Union such as Ireland at 4.39 percent, Sweden at 4.70 percent, and Luxembourg at 4.73 percent, are in the top ten lowest diabetes rates in the world not to mention Italy, Greece, and Belgium, as well as former EU member the United Kingdom. If The United States improves its school lunches to make them more appealing and nutritional like the EU, then the United States can start to become a world leader in preventing diabetes.

THE REPORT CARD

A poll of 50 students on Feb. 1 gave the following these grades: A 11% A 22%

C 21% D 43%

B 22% C 15%

The Weather

The blunt facts

As many states begin to legalize marijuana, the struggle of federal power vs. state power becomes a heavily debated topic.

“I think, given the things that are already legal, marijuana should be legalized seeing as it’s much less harmful than anything else.” Austin Engelbrecht, a senior

egated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people,” meaning the states only have to follow federal laws whose power is granted directly from the Constitution. The states can essentially ignore, or nullify, the federal laws against marijuana, legally.

CLASSIFIED AS A SCHEDULE 1 DRUG, Marijuana

remains in the same category as other highly addictive drugs such as heroin.

4 LAUREN HANSEN

ery programs, solution programs, religious outreach, and community engagement projects. “I think it’s risky to give out money, but giving out toothpaste or food to people can really help those that need it,” said Jacob Hulett, a sophomore.

HEAT HARD ON HOMELESS The summer heat contributes further to the struggle of homeless people in Arizona. Many are exposed to very high temperatures and usually have no break from the heat all summer. “I think we should have places where homeless people can go to get water because it’s very hot here in the summer,” said Mia Scirpo a junior.

The valley usually gets around 109 days of 100 degree or higher temperatures throughout the year. Overexposure to the sun and hot temperatures can lead to skin cancers, dehydration, and even death.

SALVATION ARMY HELPS OUT The Salvation Army activated the 2017 Red Shield Survival Squad program. This program assists those in need during the hot months of the summer in Arizona. The Salvation Army collects summer essentials like lip balm, water bottles, and sunscreen. Then they donate them to those who lack shelter for the summer in the desert. The Salvation Army also uses a “Give Warmth” campaign to accept warm clothes and other essentials

to help homeless people survive the winter in Arizona. According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, 20-25 percent of the homeless population in America suffer from some form of severe mental illness.

“I think helping the homeless with mental illness is important, because I think many homeless have mental illnesses and are not receiving the care that they need,” said Cameron Bender, a student leadership teacher.

MENTAL ILLNESS Many homeless people suffer from schizophrenia or manicdepressive illnesses. Many of the

FEBRUARY 9, 2018 ■ 7

DESTRUCTIVE DIETS

D 41%

juana should be legalized, seeing as it’s much less harmful than anything else,” said Austin Engelbrecht, a senior. States configure the legality of marijuana within their borders by nullification, or the ability to invalidate any federal law that a state deems unconstitutional. The constitution does not guarantee the federal government power to regulate marijuana within state boundaries. On top of this, the Tenth Amendment states, “The powers not del-

LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS HELP FIGHT HOMELESSNESS By KASSIDY WHEELER g staff writer

Homelessness is about to reach a five year high in Maricopa County, as more than 14,000 people are homeless in Arizona. To combat this, LeRoy Davidson founded the Phoenix Rescue Mission in 1952. This organization is one of many shelters in Arizona. Their vision is to provide a community to help those in need to transform their lives and end hunger and homelessness. The organization served nearly 40 meals a day to the homeless. Now they operate out of the Changing Lives Center and still work out of Phoenix to serve those in need of food and shelter. The Phoenix Rescue Mission also has addiction recovTHE CACTUS SHADOWS PRESS OPINION

own memo which directs attorneys across the states to enforce the drug laws set under the Nixon administration. Under this policy, the federal government classified marijuana as a Schedule I drug, meaning it is in the same category for much more dangerous drugs, like heroin. For a drug to be classified as Schedule I, it must meet three requirements made by the Drug Enforcement Agency, or DEA: it must show high potential for abuse, have no accepted medical use in the U.S., and lack accepted safety under medical use. According to the DEA, no prescriptions for Schedule I drugs may be written and they are not allowed to be stocked or readily available by distributors. “I believe marijuana could be used medically because it doesn’t seem to have any apparent negative effects,” said Nicholas Rooker, a senior. The rescheduling of marijuana has been a battle raging on since 1972. Rescheduling advocates argued that the drug did not meet the Controlled Substances Act’s criteria of “no current accepted medical use”, which forced the U.S. government, by law, to allow its medical distribution. However, the government still feels as though that cannabis is dangerous enough to still be classified as Schedule I. “I think, given the things that are already legal, mari-

THE CACTUS SHADOWS PRESS

D 39%

B 17%

B 15% A 21%

Talent Show

C 33%

Pep Rally

This was fun to write, I wasn’t too caring about school diets at first, but after doing research and learning about it I became much more interested in the topic.

causes of these mental health issues are from the lack of quality in these people's lives. Mental illnesses and homelessness tend to go hand in hand, especially when poor mental health can also affect physical health. Examples of this are when someone who is homeless stops caring about their hygiene because they have no means to pay for it. Poor hygiene leads to health issues like HIV, skin diseases, or tuberculosis. Substance abuse becomes common from this because many people are forced to self-medicate to combat diseases. The rate of those that suffer from mental illness going homeless has been steadily increasing since the 1970s.

TECH

THE CACTUS SHADOWS PRESS

FEBRUARY 9, 2018 ■ 9

Digging up privacy

Best of CES 2018 The Consumer Electronics show is the world’s leading technology convention, taking place every year in Las Vegas. By KASSIDY WHEELER g staff writer

THE

2018

CONSUMER

Electronics Show (CES) took place in Las Vegas from Jan. 9 to Jan. 10. CES brought in 4,000 exhibiting companies to showcase their newly developed technologies to nearly 180,000 people. The CES started in New York in 1967 then moved to Chicago in 1971, and finally to Las Vegas in 1978 where it continues to be held today. Ever since then, people from all around the world have come to the show to witness new advances in technology. In the 1960s, the CES was mostly about televisions and radios, while in the 1970s, new 8-track cassettes were showcased and even the first laserdisc player made its debut. In 2018, smartphones, self-driving cars, and robots headlined the CES. “I think it’s really cool, there are so many new products and I like to see new technologies,” said Derek Betts, a junior. Many new smart home technologies were featured at the CES this year. Some technologies include wireless kitchens, smart deliveries, and new versions of the television remote. The wireless kitchen is able to take compatible appliances, charge them, and apply heat to them when needed to cook food. This helps save counter top space and is safer than having many wires and cords around the sink. Walmart and Amazon have been working on smart deliveries, which allows a delivery driver to be able to unlock your door and drop packages off inside your house while you are able to monitor the deliveries progress through cameras. Finally, companies by the name of Flic and Senic have redesigned the remote control. Their new design can be programed to help you control other aspects of your home like thermostats, lighting, and speakers in other rooms. “Virtual Reality is a really interesting concept, and I would love to be able to utilize it in my classroom,” said Bret Lineburg, a history teacher. Virtual and augmented reality are only getting more advanced every year. The Teslasuit which was showcased this year was a full-body suit with a haptic feedback system,

which helps video game players actually feel sensations such as heat, cold, and even shocks if they were to get hit by something in the game. The company Vive Pro has also created a VR headset that is wireless and able to make people feel like they are living in what they are watching. Many older VR technologies received resolution upgrades to make them more visually appealing to consumers. “People are probably more willing to invest into entertainment because it’s fun, but medical technology is also important,” said Evan Ziker, a junior. There were also many personal health products at the CES. For example, the Helite Hip’Air was developed thinking of those vulnerable to falling and potentially breaking their hip. The Hip’Air deploys as an airbag but on someone’s hip. Using advanced sensors it is able to detect when someone is falling, and it deploys in order to save someone’s hip. Other technologies included L’Oreal UV sense, which was able to give feedback to a person based

How companies are using online data to find out personal information. BY MORGAN REIMER g staff writer

W KASSIDY WHEELER on how much UV rays their skin received during the day, Nokia Sleep, a mattress that gives feedback on how well a person slept and how they can improve their sleep, and Coros Pace, a watch which gives runners feedback such as heart rate and steps taken during their run.

In a world that is constantly changing and developing, businesses continue to update technology to the point where it is becoming even greater through the screen. Through the process of data mining, advertisements people happened to like a long time ago are popping up everywhere. The direct definition of data mining is “the practice of examining large data bases in order to generate new information.” This can be perceived as good for companies, and strange for people, but many people are not even aware of what data mining is. “Data mining affects people in ways they are not even aware of. It’s not a coincidence if you start seeing ads for earrings in the weeks before your wife or girlfriend’s birthday. Facebook tracks 98 separate data points, minimally, on each user,” said Jeffrey Walker, an economics teacher. Companies use this new technology to their advantage, especially when they believe they can make a profit on something. “With data mining, thousands and thousands of gigabytes of information are processed to extract useful patterns. What’s useful is determined by whoever is doing the mining,” said Walker. “For a government, it may be to predict who is more likely to be a terrorist but for a corporation it could be who is more likely to buy a brand new Ford-150 in the next 30 days.” People may not realize it yet, but data mining is popping up in a lot of places, from businesses to the government. “I think data mining can be dangerous because certain corporations can gather information you might not want them to know,” said Jad Bazzi, a junior. Some argue that for businesses and corporations, data mining can be perceived as a good income advantage for their specific company, but the gray area depends on if it steps over the boundaries of people's privacy. “On one hand, it’s really good for companies and helps narrow the scale on what you really want, but also that fear of keeping the data, and privacy being broached,” said Abagail Mock, a junior. Overall, it comes down to the debate between companies, and privacy. “History has shown that governments don’t always do the best job at protecting the rights of their citizens when they are entrusted with massive amounts of information, and corporations clearly have their own agenda of increasing profits regardless of costs,” said Walker. The future of data mining remains unclear, thought the rest depends on how far both companies and businesses take it to make the sale.

This article about the Consumer Electronic Show was fun to write because I’m really interested in learning about new technology. It was fun to write about things I was interested in, and I loved learning about the new things that were coming out and reporting them in the newspaper.

14 ■ FEBRUARY 9, 2018

SPORTS THE CACTUS SHADOWS PRESS

DURING A WEEKLY PRACTICE, Harry Carrozza, a junior, scrimmages with a friend.

4KASSIDY WHEELER

Katie makes a splash Katie Deininger receives a full ride to the University of Houston for her excellence in diving. By EMMA RUSSELLO g travel editor

This article was my 2nd favorite to write this semester, because I knew the people involved in it and I am good friends with them. I also took pictures for this article which was a lot of fun and I want to do that more in the future.

PREPARING FOR COLLEGE

Conquering the court

Boys tennis begins season strong with new players and strategies.

“I expect 100 percent effort, determination on the court like they’ve had in the past, and I expect them to have fun and enjoy what they do while leaving it all out on the court.”

Josh Rusboldt, Deininger’’s coach, said that to prepare his divers for college, he gives them the requirements they need to KATIE DEININGER, a compete on an NCAA level on senior, will go to college for the springboard, and a list of coldive. leges that will fit their ability. “Being awarded a college athletic scholarship is highly regarded...the appeal is generally the offset of tuition,” said Madison Sewell, Deininger’s teammate of four years. Deininger said that her greatest influences are her coaches and teammates who push her to be better, “I think the mental aspect of diving is probably the hardest part about it. Nerves are definitely ingrained in the sport whether it's just with competing or throwing new dives from 10 meters up. I think the easiest part is just training because it's fun,” said Deininger.

RECEIVING THE SCHOLARSHIP

“Nerves are definitely ingrained in the sport whether it’s just with competing or throwing new dives from 10 meters up. I think the easiest part is just training because it’s fun.”

March THE

PRESS

The newspaper of Cactus Shadows High School in Cave Creek, Arizona

SHOTS FIRED As another school shooting shakes the nation, students and teachers examine gun violence in the U.S. By KASSIDY WHEELER g staff writer

With additional reporting by Brook Bowman, Morgan Reimer, and Maja Peirce

MILIE Parker, a 6 year-old ele-

WHAT’S INSIDE

THE MARCH 9, 2018 ISSUE

2 4 11 13

FLU BLUES With major influenza outbreaks in 48 states, Morgan Reimer examines the magnitude of the new wave of disease and how it has impacted students.

mentary school student, left her home on the morning of Dec. 14, 2012, to join with her first grade classmates at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut. Little did she or her family know, it would be the last time they would ever see each other alive. Emilie Parker was one of 20 children and 6 adults who lost their lives at Sandy Hook Elementary School that day, after a crazed gunman armed with a Bushmaster .223 caliber rifle gunned them down. The Sandy Hook shooting was an unthinkable event. The lives of these young children, tucked away in a relatively small school in a quiet suburban community, cut short by perhaps one of the most shocking acts of gun violence in the United States.

“Since then, it just seems like there’s been one awful story like this after another.” Kyle Anderson, a junior.

See Shootings on page 2

This article was my favorite to write because I am very passionate about ending gun violence. I was happy to be apart of a news article which informed everyone about statistics which affect our country compared to other developed countries around the globe. If I could change anything I would probably add more various opinions in the article. I think this was the best article I wrote all year.

GUN DRAWN, School resource officer Brad Penner’s responsibility in a school shooting is to protect students and disable the shooter. “I would be lying if I told you that a school shooting could never happen here at Cactus Shadows. We are the exact same demographic as many of the locations where they have occurred in the past.” 4KIERA RILEY THE CACTUS SHADOWS PRESS NEWS

This is a continued article from the front page.

Shootings

MARCH 9, 2018 ■ 3

CRACK THE CODE Sebastian

continued from front page

Leon and Tyler Douglass, both juniors, work on learning new code. “My favorite aspect of the club is coding, because it is really interesting to learn about,” said Douglass.

Central to this debate is the question of how to prevent gun violence while upholding Second Amendment rights, or the rights of all American citizens to bear arms or own a gun. The debate is often divided along political party lines, but Pew Research results show that many Democrats and Republicans actually agree on several points. They agree that people suffering mental illness should be restricted from purchasing guns, there should be stricter background checks for private gun sales, and gun purchases should be banned for anyone whose name appears as terrorist threat on the nation’s no-fly list. “The country has barely changed since it was founded, but what has changed is our culture and media coverage. In a drunk driving accident we blame the driver and in a school shooting we blame the gun,” said Paul Yevtushenko, a junior. Despite some of these shared beliefs, partisan divisions still exist when it comes to banning high-capacity magazines, equipping school teachers with weapons, and prohibiting the sale of assault rifles. The recent shooting in Parkland, Florida, seems to have heightened the debate about arming teachers with guns to defend their students if a shooter comes on campus.

4 AUBRIE GILLING

ARMING TEACHERS “If you don’t know how to handle a gun, all you’ve done is provide a weapon to someone who might actually overpower you and take that gun from you to do more damage,” said Steve Bebee, the principal, “That’s why we have cameras and police officers on campus, that’s their job.” Newt Gingrich, Former Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives and a previous Republican presidential candidate, has recently called for there to be a minimum of six to eight teachers armed in each school. Also, during a presidential listening session at the White House in February, following the Parkland, Florida, shooting, President Donald Trump said he thinks that about 20 percent of teachers in this country, or about 20 percent of teachers in each school in this country, should be armed and trained to encounter a mass shooting event. Contrary to these positions, the National School Safety and Security Services is vehemently against arming teachers. The organization states that arming teachers and school staff with guns would create significant responsibility and potential liabilities for school districts, and also pose challenges greater than the skills and professional capabilities of their school boards, administrators, and teaching staff. “Arming teachers with firearms is a terrible idea, because we have a cop trained to use guns on campus,” said Kyle Anderson, a junior. “Teachers can’t be expected to become law enforcement experts.” In reaction to the recent shootings, the district implemented a new policy to improve the safety of students on campus. There are now only three entrances to the school in the morning which are monitored by school administration. When a student enters they must present their school identification to ensure they are a part of the student body. School ID rules are strictly enforced, and students must wear them at all times in order to ensure that faculty can easily decipher if a person is supposed to be on campus or not. Everytown Research shows that there have been nearly 300 school shootings since 2013 in America. This year alone there were 18 school shootings in just the first 45 days of the year. Kids who come to school do not expect to encounter guns or shooters, but in this day and age it is a reality too many students have had to face. While this debate has been going on in the U.S. now for nearly 20 years, the shooting in Florida at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School has given way to more teenagers and students across the country speaking out and insisting on change.

STUDENTS WALK OUT For example, students around the country have staged walk outs, given speeches, and called for the adult decision makers to give strong consideration to dramatic change. In fact, students from Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School traveled to the Florida State House in February to have their voices heard. Those students were deeply disappointed when a proposal to consider the ban of assault weapons in the state was actually rejected by a vote of 71 to 36 less than a week after 17 members of their school community lost their lives. Just as knowledge of a school’s emergency procedures and policies might help a student stay safe when a threat occurs on campus, knowledge also can be a useful tool to help students better understand this long-standing debate and advocate for their safety, security, and beliefs about gun violence in society. This topic is surely one that teens will soon be able to influence, as many of the young people who have been living in the shadow of this debate are coming of age, and will be able to have not only their voice heard, but their vote cast in upcoming elections that impact millions of young people around the country.

In their own cyberspace Computer Club takes on programming, coding, and website design

By MORGAN REIMER g staff writer

Y exploring the world of com-

puting and design through the small screen of a desktop, Computer Club reaches out to students who are interested in the media field by learning programing skills for the future. “We promote an interest in computing, we look at through computer games, and also through computer coding,” said Jeffrey Walker, computer club advisor. Computer club meets at lunch and after school every other Thursday in order to aide students who either want to learn more about computers or obtain future skills involving the technology field. “After school we have a tutoring program where Cass Smith, the president of the club is teaching them about coding,” said Walker. Computing includes coding computers to make it easier to control and print specific items. According to Codeconquest, a website that discusses the basics of coding, the three main facts to keep in account when running a computer program is to remember: the source code is translated into an assembly language, which is then translated into a machine language, and is finished as

a binary code. Everything including the screen, operating system, photos, videos and more result from a few simple numbers and commands. “It is fun, but sometimes it can be tedious when a lot of people just don’t cooperate, everyone who likes video games and computers and all that technology,” said Jake Reinert, a senior. Members of the club encourage students who are interested in the field of computing to consider computer club as the group is growing in membership and opportunity. “We definitely want to try a field Jeffrey Walker, adviser. trip at the end of the year,” said Bootz. On Fridays after school, Computer club organizes time to wind down and play Super Smash Bros. to learn more about analyzing video games, and also take a break from the school week. Whether it is for a hobby, or future career, the art of computing can be discovered in computer club, and students can complete activities like web design, analyzing video games, and going back to the basics with computers.

“We promote an interest in computing, we look at through computer games, and also through computer coding.”

10 ■ MARCH 9, 2018

A small piece of Pi Kassidy Wheeler discusses the ins and outs of the mini computer and their application in modern day. BY KASSIDY WHEELER g staff writer

Minicomputers, created during the 1960s, are small computers that are able to plug into TV or computer monitors. Using a mouse and keyboard people can learn how to compute and program in languages such as Scratch and Python. The minicomputer is able to do anything a desktop can do, such as access games, create spreadsheet programs, and utilize word-processing features. “They’re really small and simple enough to do calculations and they are very good for really specialized little uses,” said Kiran Gershenfeld, a junior. The minicomputers are very cheap compared to regular desktops and laptops. This makes them a good alternative for people hoping to use minicomputers as process control, data-path switching, and communications. “You can specifically get them for learning coding, so you can learn basic coding without the involvement of using more expensive computers,” said Jeff Walker a Career Technology teacher. The British Broadcasting Company gave away minicomputers to school children in 2015 in an initiative to help the United Kingdom become more digitized. The Raspberry Pi was the minicomputer given away to the children in a joint effort between Microsoft, Google, and The Code Club in order to address the UK’s shortage of people who are digital professionals. Starting with minicomputers, the goal is to increase coding knowledge across the UK and get the youth involved in programming. However, minicomputers have recently been deemed by many as obsolete, as the takeover of smartphones and tablets diffuse their use through the technology industry. “I think minicomputers are not as cool as regular computers, because smaller computers like iPads can already be used,” said Justin Grove, a junior. Even though technology like smartphones are more expensive they are more attractive to consumers because they have more abilities than minicomputers. For those who are uninterested in learning how to code or do not need a small technical task completed, the minicomputer can seem as a waste of money and time.

THE INTERNALS of a

Raspberry Pi. These minicomputers are capable of performing lots of tasks from game programming to opening doors.4 GEORGE GORDON

TECH

THE CACTUS SHADOWS PRESS

Clever Musk BY KASSIDY WHEELER g staff writer

Born in South Africa in 1971 Elon Musk became a national entrepreneur, inventor, and businessman known for founding PayPal, Tesla, and SpaceX. Musk relocated from South Africa to Canada and attended Queen’s University. Doing this he avoided mandatory conscription into the South African military. He then moved to the University of Pennsylvania to pursue physics, business, and economics. Today Forbes says that Musk’s net worth is $20.2 billion and his company SpaceX is worth more than $20 billion. Recently SpaceX launched the Falcon Heavy Rocket into space in order to launch an electric car, made by Tesla, into orbit around Mars. “I think Elon Musk is arrogant, but I do like the fact that he is bringing back the interest in the space program,” said Teresa Hall, a BILLIONAIRE, ENTREPRENEUR, physics teacher. Elon Musk 4 WIKICOMMONS Despite Musk’s transportation of a car into space for no reason other than to say he can do it, he launched broadband test satellites the week of February 18 in order to rebuild the internet in space. The name of the internet service is called Starlink and has already been granted approval from the Federal Communications Commission to operate in space. The satellites will be monitored from California, Texas, and Washington while in orbit. Besides sending his personal “midnight cherry” Tesla Roadster into space, Musk has also been selling flame throwers. Priced at $500 the flamethrowers were sold in order to raise $10 million for his business, The Boring Company, which was another one of Musk’s endeavors founded in 2016. “I think he’s influential and I respect him, because he always does things that people don’t expect, and I think he can shape the future in a better way,” said Taj Nadesan, a junior. Musk received backlash for selling flamethrowers, because people see it as dangerous and irresponsible. Despite this negative feedback he has been able to sell all 20,000 flamethrowers. Regulation from the US Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, say that no tool such as these can shoot flames further than 10 feet. Fortunately for Musk his flamethrower lives up to these standards acting more as a stylish blowtorch than a flamethrower. A permit is required to own the flamethrowers and anyone under the age of 18 is prohibited from purchasing them. Musk has his eyes to the sky and his mind on the future as he prepares SpaceX to head to the final frontier. “I think SpaceX is going to build upon what NASA has done and go to new frontiers like Mars,” said Colin McKeon, a sophomore. Musk’s overall goal is to become a multi-planet species. SpaceX has been working on a rocket called the BFR, and the short term goal for this rocket is to make sure it is ready for short hopper flights in and out of Earth’s orbit while surviving re-entry in order to test the heat shield of the rocket. The long term goal for the BFR is to be able to survive planetary entry on Earth, Mars, and other planets beyond.

This was a fun piece to write, because I had no idea what a Raspberry Pi minicomputer actually was at first. I liked taking articles on the tech page like this, because I always learned new things and was challenged with science and technology topics. I couldn’t believe it, but this was actually one of the easier interviews I had to do, because one of the English teachers here actually owned a Raspberry Pi computer.

14 ■ MARCH 9, 2018

SPORTS

THE CACTUS SHADOWS PRESS

Maja Pierce explores the differences between seemingly similar sports, baseball and softball.

ASEBALL

and softball have famously been pitted against one another as being similar sports that differ in multiple ways. “I feel like softball is a quicker pace than baseball. The base passes are shorter and stuff. They have to have a quicker reaction to the pitch cause everything shorter,” said Jack Bishop, a baseball player and a junior at Cactus Shadows.

PITCHING

Fast Ball AT A GAME AGAINST PRESCOTT HIGH SCHOOL, Kayley Patton, a junior, warms up with her teammates. Cactus Shadows won 20-11 on Thursday, March 1.

4ANNALEE BARNETT

In high school baseball, there is more time to hit a pitch than in high school softball. The amount of time a high school baseball player has to hit a pitch is .5455 seconds and the amount of time a softball player has to hit a pitch is .5144 seconds.

BALL SIZES In softball, the bases are typically 60 feet apart whereas in baseball, the bases are 90 feet apart. This affects the infielders defense. The fences of a softball field are also 200 ft from home plate whereas in baseball, they’re 300 ft from home plate. “Softball players get a lot of hits too, a lot more than baseball players,” said Peyton Gregor, another baseball player. Along with getting more hits, softball bats and balls are different than baseballs. Softballs tend to be approximately between 6.25 and 7.00 ounces and between 11.88 and 12.13 inches in circumference but baseballs are between 5.00 and 5.25 ounces and 9.00 and 9.25 inches in

circumference. As the sports get more advanced, their bats differ as well. Softball bats are made of specific materials such as graphite, carbon, kevlar, and liquid metal. According to Sarah Trifoso, a writer for Odyssey, “In softball, there are what's called slappers. Slappers are another component to the game of softball that make it more challenging. They literally get a running start and can reach first base as fast as 2.66 seconds. A baseball player can have as much time as four seconds to throw the runner out at first. If the fielder takes more than 1.5 seconds to field and throw the ball, then it becomes impossible for them to throw the runner out.”

SIMILARITIES Although baseball and softball are different in a lot of ways, they also hold very key similarities. They both have three outs in an inning, three strikes and the batter is out, after 4 balls the batter walks to first, a batter has to touch home base in order to score, and if the batter hits the ball over the fence it is an automatic home run. “I don’t believe one is easier I believe they both are very different sports that take very different skill sets and very different mind sets.” said Elizabeth Rabey, a softball player for Cactus Shadows. Over the years, people have argued about whether softball or baseball is an easier sport to play, however, both possess different requirements and are tough to compare when it comes to difficulty.

JUST SHORT OF BEING A SPORT Any activity that involves skill, physical exertion, and entertains people is a sport. Bottom line is if it shares any of those three characteristics it should be deemed a sport.

OPINION

KASSIDY WHEELER A sport is defined in the dictionary as an activity involving physical exertion and skill in which a team or individual competes against each other for entertainment. Therefore, any activity that involves skill, physical exertion, and entertains people is a sport. Bottom line is if it shares any of those three characteristics it should be deemed a sport. Critics say that if a sport is involved in the Olympics it is nationally recognized as a true sport. This is a good way of measuring the popularity of sports worldwide, but when it comes to recognizing the aspects of physical exertion, skill, and entertainment it incor-

rectly categorizes what a sport is. Some sports not involved in the Olympics which still involve skill and physical exertion include, cheerleading, skateboarding, and now even baseball, which was removed from the Olympics in 2008. The International Olympic Committee has voted that the sports previously listed and more, will be added to the Olympic events during the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo. After all, they will become official Olympic sports and should be recognized as such since they meet the dictionary criteria of a sport. Any sport that has involved gambling has been debated if it is truly a legitimate sport,

and will probably never be added to the Olympics. The fact of the matter is no matter how much one person may dislike something there is always one person that enjoys it. When it comes to gambling many people think it is ridiculous to be considered a sport. However, there are many people who enjoy watching and playing poker, therefore, it is entertaining. It also involves skill in being lucky and being able to keep a straitlaced poker face on for an entire hand. There are sports around the world such as Shin Kicking, Ultimate Tazer Ball, and Chess Boxing which may seem outlandish to some,

but to others these sports are entertaining and apart of their culture. Shin Kicking, for example, has a 400 year history in England. The fane is played by kicking the opponents shins until the other person falls down. The sport may seem trifling or pointless to some, but those that partake in it love doing it for fun. There are many sports that can be created from the minds of millions and with that creative power the right to acknowledge something as a sport belongs to anyone especially if it involves prowess, physical endeavor, or amusement.

I enjoyed this article because I learned a lot about different sports which were rather unconventional. I was able to talk about shin kicking sports and other very weird sports which you would never imagine to be real.

April 10 ■ APRIL 13, 2018

Tech over time

TECH

THE CACTUS SHADOWS PRESS

THE 1981-1983 DELOREAN DMC-12 is an icon in the film

industry with its appearances in the cult classic Back to the Future films

4 SEAN GANNON

Technology from movies were often seen as a distant dream, but now many tech companies have been making dreams reality with recent developments.

By KASSIDY WHEELER g staff writer

OVIE and television technology have been created from the minds of writers and producers throughout the years, but a few types of futuristic technology have actually been created by scientists and

engineers. Not all pieces of technology come directly from science fiction movies, but a lot of technology is inspired by what has already been labeled as fiction in popular culture. “The hoverboard from back to the future came out, and it had the wheels, which is close enough, but I think eventually it could actually float,” said Jake Reithinger, a sophomore. Hoverboards with wheels first were developed in 2013 by Shane Chen and Hovertrax. However, the companies of Lexus and Hendo started working on actual floating hoverboards several years ago. These hoverboards are not exactly like Marty McFly’s, but skateboarding professional, with Tony Hawk testing it on the halfpipe. These hoverboards do not come cheap, as the first one was nearly $10,000. The boards are still being tested so not many are being sold to the public. They also only work over ferromagnetic conductors, which is a surface such as aluminum,

so these will not be able to cruise over water or street surfaces, like in movies. Holographic images inspired from science fiction movies may not be everywhere in daily life, but they are certainly real. In a 2012 Coachella performance, rappers Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg were able to project a very realistic hologram of Tupac Shakur, a deceased rapper from the 1990s, onto stage to perform with them one last time. Teams of scientists at the RMIT University and the Beijing Institute of Technology have been working on developing the thinnest hologram ever. “Holograms are really cool, and I’ve seen them in a couple movies, but it’s awesome when you actually see it come to life,” said Alexa Diaz, a junior. Eventually, it is claimed these holograms could be integrated into everyday devices such as phones. Star Trek, the Matrix, and Minority Report have all inspired

technology in the world we have today. “Movies are creative and science has evolved with creative ideas, so drawing inspiration from movies is a great idea,” said Molly Gum, a psychology teacher. The Matrix has inspired virtual reality technology, and allowed many to bridge their minds into another world where things seem very different, but very real. Star Trek has inspired things like smart phones and tablets by showing off communicators and voice activated technologies. The minority report inspired self-driving cars to be developed in order for us to reach our destination safer and far more easily. As we progress further into the future, you should not be surprised if more science fiction tech makes its way into the real world.

THE TECH EFFECT with Internet Addiction Disorders tended to have reduced grey and white matter in the A major technology wave took the world in critical parts of the brain associated with cog2012, and ever since, technology has been nitive thinking and goal setting behavioral integrated into peoples’ lives. Experts have patterns. observed the effect that technology has taken A psychological evaluation from the on society, and witnessed that University of it has come with many posiWestern Illinois tives and many negatives. revealed that “I think the negatives outsocial media weigh the positives, because creates a feelpeople are never allowed time ing of narcisoff, they sometimes feel like sism. The study they’re missing out by looking watched people at social media, and it statistiwho received a cally creates more depression high score on a and social anxiety,” said Holly test for grandiose Silvestri, a Spanish teacher. tendencies, and A study from Duke has these people used Holly Silvestri, a Spanish teacher. found that a higher use in Facebook to protechnology is responsible for mote themselves ADHD symptoms and conduct problems. on a daily basis. The study involved 151 adolescents, conThese people were also more likely to cluding that when adolescents use their exhibit anti-social behavior, react aggresively smartphones several hours a day, they begin to critical comments, and they rarely supto develop behavioral issues such as lying ported other peers online. and engaging in fighting. However, social media and the youth are Another study conducted by the organizanot the only ones affected, but adults have tion Digital Responsibility showed that youth also become victim to the effect of technolBy KASSIDY WHEELER g staff writer

“Social media affects people negatively, because when you’re observing the highlights of people’s lives and comparing it to your own life you feel worse.”

ogy. “I would say that social media affects people negatively, because when you’re observing the highlights of people's lives and comparing it to your own life you feel worse,” said Quinn Akin, a junior. As technology becomes apart of everyday life, many are left without it as well. Adults and elderly become disconnected from reality as people stare down their phones at family gatherings or public events. This occurrence has the same negative effect on the person who is not using the technology, as they become to feel isolated and lonely. As many older people feel uninvolved or unimportant, they try to stay relevant and in touch, but it is difficult for those who have lived in a life without WiFi and touch screens to understand how to operate these new devices. “I feel like technology is just a way for people to communicate and it makes society better,” said Caroline Benson, a junior. Regardless of the mental effect, technological revolution is inevitable, and new technologies also present ways to communicate, deal with global connections and crises, or cure harmful diseases.

THE EVOLUTION OF THE CELL PHONE

Samsung Sprint - 2002

Samsung Sprint - 2004

LG Rumor 2 - 2009

Blackberry Qualcomm 2012

iPhone 5s - 2013 4 KASSIDY WHEELER

Writing about the effect that technology took on our mental health was really eye opening. I knew it was never a good thing, but the details I learned about it were very scary.

12 ■ APRIL 13, 2017

FEATURE

Should those with mental illness be allowed to own firearms? SARAH WEISS, A JUNIOR

BRIANNA TIPTON, A SOPHOMORE

“They really shouldn’t because there’s so many different things they can do, whether it’s harming them or harming others.”

NATHAN FERRY, A SENIOR

“I do not believe that people with mental illnesses should have guns. If they have a mental illness, than they are mentally unstable to protect themselves or others if they have one.”

4SARA WINDOM

Signs to watch for

via the National Alliance on Mental Illness

U TYLER SHEA WOLIVIA STCKEL

THE CACTUS SHADOWS PRESS

Guns and mental illness OPINION

People who develop these dilemmas should not have any need to have a firearm that could potentially take their own life or the life of another person.

This article was a sensitive topic because a lot of people are passionate about getting their guns taken away. It was good to do research about this and learn much more about the mental aspect of mass shootings.

May THE CACTUS SHADOWS PRESS NEWS

May 18, 2018 ■ 3

Facebook under fire following testimony in Congress

By KASSIDY WHEELER g staff writer

introduction of social media presents a variety of online risks. With just a few clicks, people have immediate access to friends, family, and their personal interests. Leisures activities that they partake in are displayed online for others to see. Where they shop, what they buy, where they work, their likes and dislikes, and how they live their

Facebook is one of the most powerful and profitable businesses in the world, but with all that power comes responsibility. Protecting the privacy of billions of people is a difficult challenge. “Using our information to influence how we think isn’t really good, and showing us ads with our personal information to influence us is a really bad thing,” said Jered Moore, a junior. The CEO of Facebook, Mark Zuckerberg, recently appeared in front of the U.S. Congress to discuss the role that Cambridge Analytica, a political data firm in the United Kingdom that worked for Donald Trump’s presidential campaign, might have had in accessing the data of nearly 90 million people. They used this information to sway voters opinions during the 2016 presidential election. Reports in The New York Times and The Observer of London suggest that the private data of tens of millions of Facebook accounts had been obtained by Cambridge Analytica, which also was found to be attempting to influence British voters and their opinions about the referendum to leave

‘Facebook connects nearly 2.1 billion people around the world. Facebook is one of the most powerful and profitable businesses in the world, but with all that power comes responsibility. Protecting the privacy of billions of people is a difficult challenge.” lives can all be accessed easily. Recently, the debate between whether or not social media companies such as Facebook have the right to gather and sell private information has gained attention. Facebook connects nearly 2.1 billion people around the world.

the European Union. Cambridge Analytica denies these claims, despite reports that nearly all of Facebook’s users had their private data taken from an outside source due to faulty security designs. It was discovered that a developer working with Facebook had shared the data of millions of Facebook users without their consent. This private data played a critical part in the 2016 presidential election, because Cambridge Analytica used it without the user’s knowledge to place ads to sway voters for Donald Trump. The issue with this type of political advertising is not that this strategy uses advertisements to sway voters, but that private information was used without permission to manipulate the vote. Social media sites use tracking technology to monitor how their users react to certain things they see while on their platform and the Internet. When this is applied in politics, it can deeply impact the emotions and opinions of voters. Using personal data based on demographics, political preferences, cultural perspectives, and biases, Cambridge Analytica created a “Custom Audience” on Facebook. Using the tracked past behavior of this audience from older Facebook posts and other online activities, it was able to determine which types

of advertisements would appeal to them. From there, they used another tool called a “Lookalike Audience,” which created fake Facebook groups similar to those in the custom audience. They were then able to deliver advertising messages and posts that would appeal to specific voters and reinforce their personal biases with what appeared to be many groups on Facebook that shared these same opinions. These groups were also used to share false information. “I think our privacy is important, and it’s better to have it protected. People need to be told if something has happened to their private information so they can do something about it,” said Jessica Brophy, a junior. There are no laws in the United States that regulate Facebook to alert users when a data breach has occurred. Europe recently passed the General Protection Regulation, which requires social networking companies, such as Facebook, to disclose within 72 hours if there has been a privacy breach, and it also governs how private information is stored. “I would support the government telling social media companies what they can and cannot do with people’s information in order to better control the use of personal information,” said Molly Gum, a psychology teacher. Social media has been around for about 20 years, and was

This was fun to write about because I didn’t really know a lot about the whole privacy issue, but I knew enough to be able to research it and learn more. This helped me effectively write the story.

used previously during Barack Obama’s presidential run, when his campaign set up a Facebook app for supporters to donate funds, learn how to register to vote, and learn where to vote. This app asked permission to scan photos, friends lists, and news feeds. Many users agreed to these terms, and knew their information could be used to support Obama’s campaign. However, the friends of the people who installed or accessed the app did not agree to the same terms, and they were exposed to advertisements in an attempt to capture votes. The data more recently obtained by Cambridge Analytica was not in compliance or even acknowledged by user agreement, which was different from how the Obama campaign used social media in 2012. The debate about social media and personal privacy continues. The government has rarely taken action to defend privacy rights like this. Many people, until recently, were unaware of how social media compromised their privacy. With increasing government scrutiny and public understanding, what happens next remains to be seen. One thing is certain though, social media has changed the world dramatically, and will continue to change the world in the future.

Red for Ed continued from page 1

CCUSD made the decision to close Thursday and Friday because the district did not have enough staff to adequately provide safe supervision for students. Of those 24 teachers who were out on Monday, one of them was Geoff Johnson, a history teacher. Johnson gave many reasons for walking out, but his main concern is classroom size. When Johnson first started teacher at Cactus Shadows fourteen years ago, his normal class consisted of 27 students, which already exceeded the average rate. Now, in 2018, his biggest class has 39 students. “Education has been taken for granted. You look at the system and kids go through it, they graduate, move on, and start contributing to society. And, they remember a few of their teachers, their good experiences with them, and they look back nicely on them. So, everyone thinks that the education system is doing fine,” said Johnson. “We paint the buildings on the outside, we build new football stadiums, we put an A+ on the side of our campus. These are all great things, but it’s not a good indicator of what is happening inside our schools.” Governor Ducey signed the budget, which included

increased funding to schools for next year. As a result, CCUSD announced a ten percent pay raise for all teachers. As a single father, Johnson is excited for the pay raise. “In my opinion, teachers should be the number one paid profession in the United States, because everybody has to go to school,” said Steve Bebee, principal. Arizona Educators United, the group that organized the walkout, called for it to end after an all-night legislative session led to the approval of the budget. This budget is expected to bring teachers a 20 percent pay raise and millions of dollars in funding by 2020. “We will return to our schools, classrooms, and students knowing that we have achieved something truly historic. We should take pride in what we have accomplished, and in the movement that we have created together,” tweeted the Arizona Education Association, the state’s teacher organization. The teachers walkout has been called the first and largest teacher strike in Arizona, and is certainly something that many have never seen before. “I was in education in Illinois and experienced a 3 week

strike there. However, that was for an individual district, not a state. This walkout has been a unique grass roots effort that is unprecedented,” said Burdick. One of the many things to inspire the movement was the February West Virginia’s teacher strike. The teachers there staged a 9-day strike that included over 34,000 teachers, according to the Nation Magazine. As a result, educators received a pay raise, healthcare benefits, and additional school funding. Many educators, including Johnson, were motivated by West Virginia’s movement to take a stance for themselves, future teachers, and their students. “When we saw that, we were moved by it and decided that we need to start at least educating the community. I, personally, didn’t anticipate it starting in a walkout. But by looking at it, I was inspired and moved by what those teachers did,” said Johnson. Following the walkout, teachers began reporting back to classrooms by Thursday or the following Monday. “I am excited to offer a 10% raise for our teachers next year,” said Burdick.

THE CACTUS SHADOWS PRESS OPINION

MAY 18, 2018 ■ 7

WTF: WHERE’S THE FUNDING? The walkout opinion piece was a cool one to write because it was very relevant. There was teacher walkouts occurring for higher pay and more funding right after the student walkouts occurred. I enjoyed citing reasons for the walkouts and their cause and effects.

Strike seemed necessary considering the state of education funding in Arizona. OPINION ANNIE SOGAARD

RIZONA school districts and teachers are taking a stand in the Red for Ed movement, advocating a much needed improvement in the prioritization and funding for education. Clad in red, teachers are banding together to demand higher pay and more money for classrooms. It is no secret that schools are drastically underfunded in Arizona. Budget cuts made during the recession in 2008 have yet to be restored to their normal levels. According to data from the National Education Association, the national average for annual teacher salaries is $58,000. Arizona is currently ranked 49th in the country, paying teachers an average salary of about $44,000. Supporters of the movement are also concerned with resources available to schools, as curriculum materials such as textbooks or technology are often scarce or out-

dated. The public is growing increasingly aware of and equally frustrated with the issue, thanks to the walk-in demonstrations or the march at the Capitol. Governor Doug Ducey unveiled his 20x2020 plan to increase teacher salaries 20 percent by 2020. However, the teachers are concerned that the plan is based off projections that the state will see an increase in revenue, and is not supported by actual funding. It also would not cover the salaries of support staff or improved resources for schools. On April 19th, leaders from Arizona Educators United (AEU) and Arizona Education Association (AEA) declared the 20x2020 plan “disingenuous.” An overwhelming 78 percent of 57,000 teachers voted in support of a walk out, which began on Thursday, April 26th. The very idea of shutting down schools with a walkout should have been taken by legislators as more of a threat, intended to give

\SARA WINDOM lawmakers enough incentive to offer a plan that meets demands and is actually feasible. However, hundreds of schools across the state still closed for the six day long strike. It ended after the budget was passed, increas-

ing funding for new textbooks and technology and support staff. It also gives teachers a 20 percent pay raise over the next three years, with 10 percent seen in 2018. While not all of the demands made by AEU and AEA were com-

pletely met, the passing of this bill for education funding is a massive victory, and is helping steer the state government in the right direction and give teachers the support they deserve.

WALK IT LIKE YOU TALK IT

Walkouts are quickly becoming the most prominent form of political activism, and for good reason. OPINION

KASSIDY WHEELER Activism in the United States has been on the rise since the Stoneman Douglas High School shooting. Walkouts to support common sense gun laws, and to remember those who have been killed by senseless gun violence have taken place throughout the nation. More recently, teacher walkouts throughout the United States have pressured legislators to support more funding and higher pay to schools and educators. Walking out is very effective because it draws attention to an important issue. No protest is meant to be convenient, and a good way to raise awareness about an issue is to cause a disruption in order to force people to take a closer look. When it comes to inaction on serious issues such as gun violence, people have had enough. Turning

on the news to see that another shooting has happened has become normal in America. We have been desensitized to these events because of how frequently they occur. People who are walking out against gun violence are angry because there has been no effective action taken or even

Despite bump stock bans and promises for stringent background checks, gun violence still happens far more in America compared to other developed countries. Those who have grown tired of seeing bloodshed on the television, walking into a movie theater thinking how they would escape if something were to happen, or wondering if they will come home from school that day have demonstrated that they want change. The walkouts have been used as an amplifier, to spread the voice of outrage to those who have not been paying attention to the tragic loss of life around the United States. Even though new laws regulating guns are still unapparent at

“No protest is meant to be convenient, and a good way to raise awareness is to cause a disruption.”

attempted. Their goal is not to take away everyone’s firearms, but to fight for common sense gun laws which will defend innocent lives.

the national level, the walkouts in Florida caused state legislation to raise the age limit to purchase firearms to 21. Unfortunately, the walkouts have not had a significant impact with law makers across the nation, however, the youth that have organized these demonstrations have already done more than most legislators when it comes to combatting gun violence. Recently Arizona educators have taken it upon themselves to fight for their pay and school funding. Arizona teacher salaries are nearly $10,000 below the national averages. Teachers walked out in Arizona, and around the nation, to get the attention of lawmakers by disrupting the system in order to get higher pay and increased funding for schools. By doing so, many schools have been successful in other parts of

the country, but here in Arizona Governor Doug Ducey initially left out pay raises for support staff. After teachers walked out on April 27, Ducey agreed to update his policies to include support staff, give a 20 percent pay increase to teachers, and direct more funding towards schools with a $371 million increase over five years. Nonetheless, some are still skeptical about where that money is coming from, the action teachers took around the nation turned to change that will effect the future of education in our country. Ever since the Civil Rights Movement, young people have taken charge to make change in the United States. Though the way the youth protests has changed from sit-ins and boycotts to walkouts and rallies the goal remains the same: change.

TECH

THE CACTUS SHADOWS PRESS

American supercars

MAY 18, 2018 ■ 9

By SEAN GANNON g tech editor

The American automotive industry was built on raw rear-wheel drive power for decades with muscle cars such as the Dodge Challenger, Ford Mustang, and Chevrolet Camaro. Manufacturers like these not only produce straight power with bulky steel bodies though, many American firms, whether it be a large establishment or an independent company, also dabbled in the production of supercars to compete with their opponents overseas. There is no absolute definition of what a supercar is, so arguments commonly arise because of constantly changing standards. “A supercar is a car that isn’t really built for day-today driving. They noramlly have a very large engine and there’s a smaller supply of them,” said Chris Hanbury, a senior and import car enthusiast. Huge companies like Ford and Dodge make limited production run at pretty randomized times, making it difficult to predict what either company’s next supercar will be and how it will compete against other cars of that level. For example, the first generation Ford GT was produced from 2004-2006 and only 4,038 were made in total. Dodge’s equivalent third-generation Dodge Viper SRT-10 was made between 2003-2007 and 8,190 rolled off the production line, which is more than double the amount of Ford GT’s produced. “Honestly, foreign countries like Germany and Japan make much better cars than America. My CLS is really fast, really comfortable, and reliable. American cars just aren’t made to that standard,” said Ty Stewart, owner and tuner of a Mercedes CLS-500. With the second generation Ford GT’s production is planned to run from 2016-

2020, while the Dodge Viper has been discontinued as of 2017. Although Dodge no longer produces the Viper, they came up with another hardcore track car known as the Dodge Challenger Demon. This new Challenger is a rear-wheel drive, drag racing focused, 840 horsepower, 770 pound-feet of torque, all produced from a supercharged 6.2L V8. “Cars like the Dodge Demon take power and engineering to a whole new level. Those things are ridiculous,” said Jimmy Flanagan, a senior and American muscle fan. Other small automotive firms, such as Hennessey Performance, produce their own supercars to take down the major European manufacturers like Ferrari, Lamborghini, and McLaren. Hennessey’s first ever hypercar, the Venom GT, claimed several world records as it had the highest top speed of 270.49 miles per hour of any road legal car for three years and had the fastest run 0-200 miles per hour of any road legal car. Hennessey’s newest project is known to the public as the Venom F5. This hypercar is predicted to be the first road legal car to achieve a top speed of over 300 miles per hour. While other foreign companies like Bugatti use massive engines with 16 cylinders and four turbos to produce 1,500 horsepower, Hennessey is able to produce 1,600 horsepower from a twin-turbo V8. Hennessey Performance does not only develop their own supercars, they take average muscle cars and trucks and tune them upwards of 1,000 horsepower. Essentially they take already fast muscle cars and turn them into supercars and track monsters.

“Cars like the Dodge Demon take power and engineering to a whole new level. Those things are ridiculous,” said Jimmy Flanagan, a senior.

TOP: The Dodge Viper ACR powered by an 8.4L V10 and built to destroy track records MIDDLE: The Dodge Demon with a 6.2L supercharged HEMI V8 producing 840 horsepower BOTTOM: Ford GT (left) is a true American supercar powered by a 5.4L supercharged V8 and the Ford Mustang GT with the instantly classic Coyote 5.0L V8

4 SEAN GANNON

MINING HELIUM ON THE MOON By KASSIDY WHEELER g staff writer

Fossil fuels on Earth will eventually run out, and alternative sources of energy will be necessary to power the planet. Scientists have proposed that space has the potential to be the sustainable energy source the Earth needs. One source of energy is Helium-3, an element found on the moon. “I mean, there’s a lot of resources that we could use that are in outerspace. These resources have got to be stronger than what we have on Earth,” said Nick Romash, a junior. Helium-3 gives off no radioactive waste or pollution. When combined with deuterium, the reaction releases incredible amounts of energy. Just 2.2 pounds of Helium-3 com-

bined with 1.5 pounds of deterium can create 19 megawatt-years of energy. The actual extraction of the mineral is very difficult because it exists in small concentrations on the moon’s surface and we have no way to effeciently refine it. Mining nearby asteroids for minerals could be a possibility to extract resources from outerspace. “It’s a fascinating idea, but it could be many years before we are able to actually use it effectively,” said Robert Reisener, a science teacher. A company called Planetary Resources has successfully tested an asteroid-mining robot called Arkyd-6. This robot is about the size of a cereal box and was able to pass tests regardings its communications, computing systems, and altitude control systems.

The company is set to launch multiple of these robots into space in 2020. Their goal will be to analyze, land, and extract minerals from asteroids that pass close to Earth. Mining in space seems like it should be far in the future, but the in reality it is much closer than people may think. “I don’t think it’s very practical, and it should probably be our last possible option to go to space to look for more resources, but if we really need it they should definitely do it,” said Carmen Lopez, a junior. Today’s technology is moving at a rapid rate, especially compared to previ-

ous generations of technology dating before the 2000s. There are some dangers that come with bringing outside resources into an economy. If miners find an abundancy of platinum in asteroids, the value of platinum could plumit once space mined platinum is brought back to Earth. Economies will certainly have to adjust and new regulations would have to be prepared, but using water from asteroids could benefit us in other ways. If water is extracted from orbitting asteroids, it could be used to assist in the use of hydropower and propel us further into the space industry.

\ SARA WINDOM

The space mining article was difficult to write because it was very theoretical. I was unsure what was fact and what was fiction on the internet because a lot of the facts about space mining seemed kind of off. I enjoyed doing it, but it was difficult to find interviews for this one. Mr. Reisener came through and was able to talk about it to provide good quotes and make the article better.