Rey Darby’s Portfolio
Brought to you by not Rey Darby
Editing
I am a new editor this year, my only experience in leading was the month I was the literary editor for the lit mag before I was given the job as the opinion editor. My qualifications was entirely my knowledge of grammar and my yearbook/graphic design class in middle school. I learned, primarily, that some of my peers are quite horrid team players, but the ones who are made my stress worth it. I’ve never been the type to rely on others for my grade, but as an editor, to get my page done, everyone had to get their stories done first. This class is a valuable lesson in deadlines, for those who actually cared enough to make them. When it comes to editing stories, the main issue is reading them too quickly. It’s very easy to miss a capitalization of punctuation mistake because I read over them too quickly. I make spelling and grammar mistakes because I type too fast, so it goes without saying that reading too fast can lead to missteps. Most of the issues when reading stories was the lack of explanation in people’s points. Redundancy plagued the opinion page specifically for the December issue. Simple grammar mistakes are unavoidable, and I’ve never minded fixing them. It’s tedious but necessary. However, the worst pat about editing stories, is having a completed story in the first place. During both issues, Zeke was the only writer on my page that gave me his story on time and at full word count. Bothering people about hitting their word count was the main challenge of getting stories on the actual page. For the future, I hope that people manage their time better and don’t tell me a story is finished when it’s 150 words short. We also need more research in the opinion stories, research that could help people reach word count. Overall I’ve had a fulfilling experience and am glad I get to have it. I’m learning a lot about the general field I am interested it and am very glad to be able to put InDesign on my resume.
Design
My second semester experience with InDesign was much less difficult. it still makes me feel a vast array of emotions on production day, but I actually feel like I know what i’m doing now. The anger is not at myself for not knowing how to use the program, it’s at the program for being just inherently frustrating and difficult. Going into the second semester with my opinion page formula was greatly convenient and everything went mostly smoothly. Maya’s art is very interesting to work with but text wrap will always be squirrely with it. Overall i feel like i’ve found my foting with design. through newspaper and lit mag, I’ve had more than enough practice.
I’ll always resent InDesign for being InDesign, but I now have the skills to cope with it’s lack of coherence. Unfortunately with the opinion pages there wasn’t a lot to play with, nd I don’t know to much about design with photots. I wish I got more of that this year.
The May issue has by far the sexiest pages I’ve ever designed. Everything went smoothly, the stories are great, I remembered that pull quotes exist and the art is just as gorgeous as usual. it is, however, unfortunate that my best pages are my last ones.
Writing
My opinion piece on the moment of silence is the story I am most proud of. I really cared about the topic and the nuance of the situation. Public school’s supposed objectivity and the complication of religion is a topic very close to my heart. I am very glad I got to write about it. This was a story I got out in under an hour on my own. I hit higher than the word count, and I believe I structured the story very well. I got the point immediately and didn’t feel redundant as I was writing. I definitely could’ve put in more research but unfortunately this was a very quick bill that not very many people were paying attention to at the time of the signing.
Usually when I am writing stories I take an afternoon and just sit with my computer until I am finished. I do not move until I’ve hit word count o each story and have a decent enough work to turn in. This piece made this process quite shorter. It flowed out of me very easily and all my edits I truly believe made the story better. My main issue of the story was an objective point of view, my thoughts were not objective and making them less inflammatory was a necessity I did not lean on immediately. The opinion section allows me to point out my discomforts as a student at this campus. I love being able to do this and this story was a perfect outlet. Being able to examine more global issues during the second smester opened up my writing. It was nice to be able to see my beliefs in print, it felt pemenent and effective.
Leading
I am not the best team player, I could be a little bit more social with those I don’t already know. Most of my interactions are throwaway comments and “have you hit your word count yet?”. I do my best to express gratitude but I wish I knew how to express dissatisfaction effectively. I genuinely wish some people took newspaper more seriously and I am not entirely sure how to motivate someone who doesn’t care. I don’t think there’s enough awareness of the overall effect people have over the newspaper by not contributing how they should be. I feel respected by my fellow editors, but there’s moments with staff writers there’s a feeling dismissal and disinterest. I cannot get the pages done if the staff doesn’t get their stories done and I wish that was more understood by the general class. I like being in control of a section though. I am in a place where I can make sure I am proud of the work we’re doing here. I am person who enjoys having a work load and being busy. This class undoubtedly provides this. I appreciate the level of production and commitment, it’s stimulating and fulfilling. I wish i didn’t have to rely on so many other people, but that is unavoidable. This is a school class so there is an immediate level of disinterest coming in, but those who express their interest and go above and beyond for my pages make the initial frustration worth it. We definitely get things done but I wish it wasn’t such a scramble. People should have their stories in, edited, and completed before we start working on the pages. If our writers and photographers were better organized and on top of things it would eliminate a lot of stress on the editor and advisors’ part. We’re a very well designed, well written, paper, with a cohesive group of people. We work well together when we’re actually working. It’s a very calm team in comparison to what my reference of last year’s newspaper class. My reference being Claire Geare. Leaders follow who they’re leading in order to make sure everyone is where they are supposed to be. It gives leaders the view point to make sure the team is working and healthy.
Examples
I loved taking over the editorial for the second semester. It has lowered so much of my stess, and the work I’ve produced is some of my best. Working with hart on this made me very happy and I’m glad we could shed some light on this topic
The fact that I was allowed to write this piece was amazing to me. I absolutely love drag and I think it’s amazing that I got the chance to show how influential it actually is. Even though Barela tried to shut it down, drag is an art form I will never stop platforming
This is one of the best reviews I’ve written, second only to my last album review that I do not have in print yet. This book was a pleasure to write about, and only furthers the agenda that we are liberal paper.
Artists
How to holiday properly
DECEMBER 16 2022 ● THE CSPRESS comment Editorial Policy: The CSPress published by the Journalism class of Cactus Shadows High School. The newspaper serves the students and staff of Cactus Shadows High School and as a connection to the surrounding community. The objective of the CSPress is to publish factual, informative and entertaining the NEWSpaper, and to provide a forum for the expression of diverse viewpoints. The Comments and views expressed do not necessarily represent the views of the administration, the adviser, or all CSPress staff members. The CSPress is also published online, at cactusshadowscspress.com. The editors reserve the right to reject any material that libelous, obscene, or poses an immediate and material disruption to the educational environment. LETTER TO CSPRESS. Comment@gmail.COM The CSPress values Comments from its readers. If you have something to say about anything you have read, please write letter to the editor and send it to cspress. Comment@gmail.com. Letters must be typed, less than 100 words in length and signed. The editorial staff reserves the right to edit for length. The CSPress will not print letters that are obscene, libelous or that target an Advertisements that are obscene, misleading, or illegal to minors will not be printed. The CSPress reserves the right to reject any advertisement. To place an ad, contact the adviser or the Advertising Manager at (480) The CSPress is member of the Columbia Scholastic Press Association, the Journalism Education Association, and the Arizona Staff Stella Benaglio, Cait Bunkers, Rachel Burkhalter, Rey Darby, Delaney, Hailey Dent, Johnathan Nicole Ezekiel Knibbe, Jimmy Le, Sarah Love, Mia Quenzler, Stephanie Vega Gonzalez, Walford, Advisers Robert the editorial represents the consensus view of the members of the Editorial Board. The Editorial Board members are Cait Bunkers, Rey Darby, Hudson Ellis, Johnathan Geare, Stella Benaglio, Ezekiel Knibbe, Sarah Love, Hailey Dent, Alexis Walford, and Jimmy Le. the editorial: as we see it ... CSP Editor in Chief Cait Bunkers Opinion Editor Rey Darby News Editors Hudson Ellis Johnathan Geare Sports Editors Stella Benaglio Cait Bunkers Creeker Editor Ezekiel Knibbe Spotlight Editor Sarah Love Photo Editor Hailey Dent Style Editors Alexis Walford Jimmy Le problem in Cave Creek, AZ. Google the nearest shelter. Results flood in, but seem to be just too far out of reach 20, 25, even 30 miles away— close enough to drive, not close enough to walk. And for many unhoused people, walking is the only option. As a result, most stranded in Cave Creek migrate southwards and never return. Save for a silent few— the teenaged, the elderly, and the physically impaired, who survive just outside the peripherals of the comparatively privileged population. A population that, due to lack of exposure, often lacks awareness, understanding, and hard statistics. In 2018, Town Marshal Adam Stein reported one homeless person in the town of over 5,000. A report that reflects the lack of understanding that Creek is wealthy area, simply unaware of what goes on beneath their model homes. In January 2021, Joshua Barger was found dead. He was among the few homeless people visible to the public eye, remembered for being particularly kind, and sharing stories. Like many unhoused people in Cave Creek, Barger killed time by day in the comfort of the Desert Foothills library. Upon news of his death, library staff Caitlin Decker commented that “Joshua was a perfect example of ‘Don’t judge a book by its cover.’” It is comments like these that demonstrate how, often, unhoused people have to work harder than most for their basic respect in town so uneducated. Deeper under the radar live teenagers suffering acute homelessness due to family disputes. Cave Creek holds a strongly religious note, due to its presence of various churches. In few cases, this manifests into adamant homophobia— which manifests into domestic abuse of queer teenagers. Queer youth flee their abusive households if they aren’t kicked out first. These teens live further in the shadows for fear the public will meet them with similar discrimination. The Arizona Department of Child Safety should liberate victims of child abuse from their homes to avoid letting them loose onto the streets or couch-crashing, or worse— but the department faces too many restrictions to do so effectively. Without public support, teens are forced to rely upon common authority figures, such as teachers and school counselors. This is not solution. School staff is not equipped to accommodate teens’ physical safety. At most, teachers and staff can provide food and counseling to homeless students, as well is, out of their own pockets. The real solution to homelessness lies at the city, state, and even national levels. However, the latter two fall out of the scope of our paper, so that will leave you with this: your participation in local politics matters. Residential construction is constant in Cave Creek, but only for single-family homes. Each building is expensive and holds only three to six people. Voting to instead plot land for the construction of low-cost, high-density housing (apartment buildings) can be the difference between roof over someone’s head, and the stars. Only block away from our high school, the second apartment complex in Cave Creek is currently finishing construction. But these are still high-cost, low-density luxury apartments— the type to retire in, not to live in. Judging by the fact that the only truly low-cost housing in Cave Creek, the Alta Vista apartment complex, is currently full to the brim— that extra living space is needed. Homelessness invisible in Cave Creek Hudson Ellis, Ezekiel Knibbe It’s the holiday season (October) and it’s time to bring out the antiquated decor and incredibly flammable Christmas trees. To get in the spirit, decorated my house two months in advance with every strand of Christmas lights that Walmart had in stock. That way, my neighbors, their neighbors, and every lowflying aircraft can know how Due to the current political climate, I’ve decided to celebrate other holidays as well as Christmas, like Hanukkah and Kwanzaa, even though still don’t know what Kwanzaa is or entails. I’ve rigged menorahs up on my roof in tandem with the Christmas lights, and the fire department has tried contacting me several times about it but I’ve told them to cool it with the anti-Semitic remarks. For Kwanzaa, I’ve painted my house varying shades of red, black, and green to represent the vast cultural and social heritage of the African-American community, which Googled briefly but still don’t really get it. But went to the protests last year so think it makes up for it. On top of all the flak from the fire department, the HOA has been bothering me about “plethora of concerns” they have with my decorations. Totally ruining the spirit. Anyway, I’m thinking about hiring a personal team of carolers to go around the neighborhood singing a medley of festive songs, and my large shipment of eggnog just arrived in the mail. The company ordered from thanked me and said that I’m what’s keeping them afloat all year since eggnog sales usually drop after December. What gives? personally drink the stuff yearround, and I’ve only had a few people come to me about attending an AA meeting. Honestly just think that the world would be better it was always hol iday season. I’m already work ing with some world leaders about making these holidays a monthly thing. Most of Europe is on board, but North America has been hard to convince. Maybe if we have more holiday cheer everyone will stop being so darn sad all the time. know that only feel happy when I’m decorating so maybe that’s the problem with the kids these days. other holiday spirit for that matter. One day think we’ll all start believing in Santa again and things will get better, but until then I’ll just keep writing these stories till the movement picks up again.
December Tear Sheets
\Maya Camas ●DECEMBER 16, 2022 THE CSPRESS comment Johnathan Geare You need to stop being a fan. No, seriously— stop being a fan of music artists, YouTubers, sports teams, politicians— it only serves to hurt you. Having an unbroken loyalty to the idea of a group, or heaven-forbid an individual, takes away the only powers you have as a consumer: the ability to separate art from artist, and the strength to withhold your monetary support from the artist. We have tendency to attach ourselves to people more so than their work— this is ever more prevalent today, as fans link together on Twitter to build tidal waves out of fan bases, all while the fire is fueled by direct interaction with the creators themselves. When half the fun is idolizing the creator, art and artist are fused. This is as problematic as it is unproductive. Take for example an artist with a raving fan base— the quality of their music becomes less relevant to his success than their ability to generate hype. The fans will love whatever they put out, as long as it’s them. So why innovate? In a world where audiences value art over artist, all of the weight of a piece’s success lies on its own merit. This breeds innovation and competition, as creators compete on even playing fields. The little guys don’t have hype train to be run over by. To partake in fan culture is to be both manipulated, and a manipulator. Creators exer cise a great deal of power over their fans; these are the peo ple responsible for spreading ideas, which often transcend social boundaries. for good (raising awareness, inspiring future artists), and sometimes this is used for evil (Kanye). To be a fan of art before artist is to under stand that often, the artist does not have your best interest. On October 10, Kanye West returned from two-year hiatus on Twitter to post not-sosubtle threats against those of the Jewish faith, culminating in a jpeg of swastika, banned Twitter account, and millions of betrayed Kanye fans. Kanye’s actions do not discredit his music. To separate art and artist is to appreciate the art, and write off the artist. This ideology does not serve as pass to rack up Ye’s streaming numbers. The decision to not listen to his music is tool is the only power we hold as consumers. Understanding such is paramount. Thebetween art and artist is monetary. Nikki Kato Limiting our school to one entrance has shown no benefits to the safety of Cactus Shadows. The change was made in efforts to secure the campus better, however it has been proven that it does not promise better protection for our school. In fact, it has only caused indirect consequences. To start, the new gate rule is inconvenient and changes many student’s morning routines which are already early to start with. Parking passes are $150. For students who parking the west lot, or further from the front entrance, it is overpriced for the new hassle of how far it is from the school. Students are forced to plan for longer walk which is inconvenient. Following the events that happened on December 2nd, it showed that having only one entrance to the school does not stop potential intruders from entering onto school grounds. People are still able to jump the fence. Even though the lockdown on December 2nd was not caused by an actual armed intruder, but rather a student with a laptop charger, the one entrance rule may have contributed the paranoia. Ever since this new rule was established, the amount of students climbing over the fence before and after school has increased drastically. This can easily cause a misunderstanding of an intruder trying to get into campus. On top of that, in theory, limiting our school to one entrance is to ensure student safety, however it has caused more fence jumping, which in and of itself is not very safe to do. The school has now made it so that if student tries to enter school from jumping over the fence, they will be suspended. The punishment for students trying to make it to class on time is severe. Instead of attempting to enforce this rule, it is easier to just open one more gate. After the Uvalde school shooting, where nineteen children were murdered along with two teachers, Senator Ted Cruz proposed the one-door rule which faced a lot of backlash because people argued that the shootings are caused by guns in the wrong hands and not how many entrances are in a school, according to KXAN News. The backlash that Ted Cruz got reveals that changing school entrance rule is not seen as any kind of solution when it comes to securing campus. Making this change has only caused misunderstandings and stress for both students and teachers. Also, having only one secure entrance would not stop an actual intruder from getting onto campus. People may argue that having one door makes the school more secure. Nonetheless, it does noting two or even three entrances, and having one entrance for bigger school like high school is a logistical nightmare, according to KXAN News. To keep the school protected, more action than school securitization must be taken, such as gun control and mental health Something different needs to happen if real change is wanted from any kind of school violence. Restricting entrances for students to enter campus is not the solution. “ Almost a quarter of all Jewish, Muslim, and Sikh people feel as though they have been discriminated against for their religion. Zoua M. Feng and Katharine Elder Ezekiel Knibbe In order to ensure religious holidays are simple fun, schools must make sure all students feel included. It is the responsibility of administrators and teachers to shy away from religious aspects in school, or make sure students of all religions are included. America has always aspired to be the land of the free. Among the many protections provided by the constitution is the separation of church and state. This idea should naturally persist in public schools, which the government runs. While not a revolutionary idea, the implication becomes more of a conflicting issue in the holiday season, when events such as Christmas, Hanukkah, whether or not they should be allowed in school. Some believe that no holidays should be allowed due to their religious origins, and others would go as far as teaching the religious aspects during school. As stated previously, the United States is a secular nation, meaning there is a government mandate of the separation of church and state, to an extent. There is no official religion in America, however, the true situation is that the nation is heavily rooted in Protestant Christianity, and its influence on law, prejudice, and our everyday lives is strongly felt. This heavy influence is fully felt by those who do not share that faith. According to a 2019 study by Zoua M. Vang, Feng Hou, Katharine Elder and entitled Perceived Religious Discrimination, Religiosity, and Life Satisfaction, almost quarter of all Jewish, Muslim, and Sikh people feel as though they have been discriminated against for their religion. In nation that is supposed to provide opportunity to people of all creeds, there is a chance that you may be discriminated against simply for the private rituals you experience in your own home. This trend cannot be allowed to continue. Step one is preparing our future generations by creating a safe space for students of all faiths, including the holidays that come with these faiths. Another aspect of religious discrimination is the way that religion may be forced upon students at a young age. Especially in their younger years, students are much more impressionable and are far more likely to adopt the ideas put forward to them. According to paper entitled Age Differences in the Prosocial Influence Effect, written by Lucy Foulkes, Jovita T Leung, Delia Fuhrmann, Lisa Knoll, and Sarah-Jayne Blakemore, “Across the three youngest age groups, children showed the most susceptibility to prosocial influence, changing their reporting of prosocial behavior the most.” The malleability of the beliefs of young children is important, as they are discovering the world around them, but this should not be exploited, intentionally or otherwise. It is the responsibility of the school to provide as objective perspective as possible, so that students may explore the world for themselves. These facts leave us with two options: either schools must more widely celebrate the various holidays and religions associated with them, both in winter and in general, or schools must fully secularize their celebration of the holidays, meaning no religious implications. Either way, it is not necessary to remove holidays in their entirety while schools focus on what matters: keeping children, of any religion, safe and included.
gate complicates school days Public schools lose objectivity Education is for everyone
One
are not owed fans’ loyalty \Maya Camas DECEMBER 16 2022 ● 7 THE CSPRESS comment Mia Quenzler For years, inventors and car manufacturers have theorized environmentally friendly alternatives to gas-powered cars, and, luckily for consumers who care about the environment, they created electric vehicles. Financially speaking, electric vehicles are the more economical option. According to finder.com, the 2022 national gas price average was at $4.04 per gallon with a peak of $4.99 per gallon the week of June 16th, showing how unpredictable gas prices can be. When it comes to electric vehicles, however, all you have to do is install a charger, and plug the car in. On average, it costs you $0.045 per mile to drive an electric vehicle, with the most common cost per mile being $0.0388 per mile according to ecocostsavings.com. Also, maintenance costs for electric vehicles are much cheaper. Regular, gas-powered cars need an oil change every 3,000 miles or six months. With the cost of an oil change ranging from $20 to $60 and up, the prices can snowball fast. When purchasing an electric vehicle, home outlets are often installed. Though some are concerned about the travel duration of electric vehicles, it is important to remember that very few cars can withstand long distances. Plus, many electric vehicles have features where you can plan your trip, and the car will tell you where stops are necessary to make it to your destination. There are also free charging locations for electric vehicles and there has yet to be free gas stations for gas-powered vehicles. It’s no secret that fossil fuels are bad for the environment. Environmentalists have been protesting fossil fuels for decades now. When burned, fossil fuels release large amounts of carbon dioxide into the air, Carbon Dioxide is a greenhouse gas. So it traps heat in our atmosphere and is a main cause of global warming. Even if fossil fuels were good for the environment, they are still nonrenewable source. According to the MAHB (Millennium Alliance for Humanity and the Biosphere), oil deposits are estimated to be gone by 2052. That is less than 30 years away, what will happen then? With oil deposits dried up society will have no other choice than Alternative Fuel Vehicles. Though some of the electric vehicles’ upfront cost is high, between the lower maintenance costs, and not having to pay for gas, the amount of money you save by charging more than compensates for the initial cost. While there is a common misconception that EVs are worse for the climate than gas-powered vehicles, according to the US Environmental Protection Agency, “The greenhouse gas emissions associated with an electric vehicle over its lifetime are typically lower than those from an average gasoline-powered vehicle, even when accounting for manufacturing.” When it comes to safety, electric vehicles are required to meet the same safety standards as conventional vehicles; in fact, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety says that injury claims are substantially less frequent in EVs compared to gas-powered vehicles. Electric vehicles are our future, gasfueled vehicles simply cannot compete with the clean, non-toxic energy of the Electric Vehicle. Stephanie Vega Gonzalez Electric vehicles are the new fashion fad - everyone from super star athletes, celebrities and CEOs are driving Electric Vehicles to show off their concern for the environment. The problem is that many people do not understand exactly what they are purchasing. Electric vehicles may seem like great financial decision but later the costs start to add up, especially if not enough research is done. First, the initial upfront cost itself is high and the car battery packs can be expensive to replace. A regular gaspowered car has lower upfront costs. Second, electric car owners must have chargers at home themselves. It takes lot of money to install the chargers in their own homes and can be costly. Then, there is the extra electricity bill from charging your car each day. On average charging an electric car in homes adds $30-$60 dollars each month to the utility bill. One of the main problems with electric vehicles is that they can only last on one charge for so long. For driving in town, it’s not a problem, but if you want to take a road trip, it can be challenging or impossible. According to Property Manager Insider there are not enough charging stations around because each station can cost up to $1,000-$10,000. So trying to find charging station can be hard. While electricity is a cleaner energy source than gasoline, the United States Environmental Protection Agency has broken down myths for electric vehicles. It states the batteries for these cars need lots of energy in order for them to be produced. It can cause electric vehicles to create more carbon pollution than making a regular combustion car. And currently some factories are not ethically “clean”. Research done by Amnesty International has shown that cobalt mined by children and adults in hazardous conditions could possibly be entering the supply chains of some of the world’s largest carmakers. According to an article posted by Young People’s Trust For the Environment, the batteries use copper, cobalt, aluminum, nickel, and sometimes manganese. Cobalt is a very toxic chemical to humans. It can cause cancer, harm to the eyes, skin, heart, and lungs. While it is true that gasoline produces more pollution than electricity, that is not the full story. Regular car engines have gotten complex over the years, but this allows for fuel efficiency. The EIA posted a statistical report showing 58% of total transportation is cars who use gasoline, and 24% who use diesel. Unlike the scarce charging stations, gasoline pumps are available anywhere and they are not hard to find. Also, there needs to be a less toxic way to make electric car batteries before they can be considered climate-friendly. Electric vehicles may have a future, but they are not yet better than gasoline-powered cars. Until these problems can be solved, gas-fueled vehicles are here to stay. Should you own an electric car? 8 ● DECEMBER 16, 2022 THE CSPRESS creeker awareness to the Literary Magazine, so we hope that people who come to latte poetry will submit their own works. This also raises much needed funds in order to make the magazine,” said Lori Hart, advisor for the Literary Magazine. Ava Holubar won the event with her poem Spiral. The club’s editor in chief also presented her pieces to a crowd of friends and fellow Literary Magazine staff members. The turnout included more than Literary Magazine staff members. Drama club members made an appearance. Friends as well as family came to support the performers during the event. The Fashion Club set up a stand to raise funds for their club. Attendees of Latte Poetry could buy jewelry made by student artists as well as watch their peers perform. Musicians also made an impression at the event. Singers from the Drama Club joined, as well as multiple guitarists and jazz band. In between poetic readings and dramatic renditions of students’ works, the crowd could listen to an assortment of music. The event has taken place at the Janey’s Coffeehouse for the past fifteen years. This year was no different. The Literary Magazine staff followed the fifteen year tradition and set the event at Janey’s once again. “Janey’s is really cool. The food is good. It’s got very arts-y atmosphere which feel reflects Lit Mag very well,” said Fiona Joyce, senior and design editor of the Literary Magazine. It is also the site for most of the Literary Magazine events during the school year. “It’s definitely the Lit Mag area. We sell our magazines at the end of the year there. They have always just been so supportive of Lit Mag, so we keep coming back to them,” said Riley. Literary Magazine back for events as well as keeping a fifteen year long tradition. Janey’s supports student artists Janey’s Coffee House and Cactus Shadows’ Literary Magazine bring poets and musicians into the spotlight “ “Janey’s is really cool. The food is good. It’s got a very artsy atmosphere which I feel reflects Lit Mag very well,” Fiona Joyce design editor FOOD CREATES FEELING. Belize Ellis passionately shares his poem about tacos to submitted it to the lit mag before, and hoped re-introduce the poem. “Everyone was really supportive and nice, and the coffee was a-tier,” said Ellis. 4Rey Darby Singer Nina Carrozza performs love song, a fresh feeling for the event. This has performed for the Literary Magazine. really enjoyed and the venue was so cute,” said Carrozza. 4Rey Darby DECEMBER 16, 2022 ● 4 THE CSPRESS the news Restroom security tightens amidst vandalism Rey Darby This fall, with a mixture of flu season illnesses, COVID numbers begin to rise again. COVID cases had been steadily declining through September, but as November rolled around, an incline began Death counts continue to follow the downward trend. “It affects my whole family. It definitely forces me to be lot more careful than most people and can end up in the hospital lot easier,” said Elina Amen, junior, student living with a chronic illness. Cactus Shadows sits in the hottest COVID spot in Arizona. In comparison to the second highest county for hospitalization, Maricopa County has 4,835 Cases are rising along with flu and RSV. Hospitalizations are increasing. The current community transmission level for healthcare settings in Maricopa county is high. No children 12 or under are permitted in hospitals at this time in Maricopa county,” said Sarah Dent, nurse living in Maricopa county. In October, Maricopa’s case numbers hit 4,275. As the county entered November, 5,553 steady, but prevalent. Only 66.9% of Maricopa’s population is vaccinated against COVID. According to the CDC, monthly rates of COVID-associated hospitalizations were 5.2% higher in unvaccinated adults ages 18 and older. Unvaccinated individuals were 6 times more likely to die from COVID as well as 2.7 times more likely to contract COVID. Cave Creek is a community of at risk individuals. 31.6% of residents are 65 years older. People caution as the rest of the world “People should practice good hand hygiene. Stay home when symptomatic and Avoid being around others who are sick. Consider vaccination or booster,” said Dent. New antiviral medication has been developed and is currently being implemented into every day COVID procedures. Though, symptoms can still be treated Ibuprofen and Tylenol have effectively helped in COVID recovery. By suggestion of the CDC, treat COVID as quickly as possible. Treatment must be started within a few days of symptoms developing to be effective. Stephanie Vega Gonzalez Due to vandalism and maintenance issues, most bathrooms on campus are closed, leaving students unable to use them. “The number of restrooms open also depends on whating in the restrooms,” said Sarah Barela, principal. This is common problem in high schools. According to Public School Review a poll from the National Center for Education Statistics cited that problems like apathy, tardiness, disrespect and absenteeism posed significant challenges for teachers. These issues were seen more frequently in secondary school level than the primary grades. “Many teachers tend to ask why the students who vandalize the restrooms do it in the first place,” said Mitchell Greg, assistant principal. TikTok’s main users are teenagers. According to Exploding Topics, 25 percent of TikTok users are 10-19 years old. And participate in the TikTok trends according to ABC10 news. Even teens ask each other why it is so common to participate in the trends of vandalism. “Because kids do not know what the rules are,” said Kaci Koskovich, junior. Restrooms have toilets, urinals, sinks, and privacy doors, all the essentials to everyday life even at school. But nowadays, for students, the restrooms at schools are an escape from class itself and the people in those classes. The current conditions of the restrooms makes it hard for some to just wash their hands. Some restrooms are even continuously getting clogged or mistreated. Students themselves have admitted the conditions of great. “It’s pretty beat up. All the stall doors have graffiti on them or there is trash in the urinals and in the sinks, sometimes the toilets,” said Lincoln Mccarty, junior. A common rule in Cactus Shadows classrooms is only one student can use the bathroom at a time. This causes students to sometimes have to go during passing periods, leading to long lines that can cause students to educational time because they need to use the bathroom. “I am late every time use the restrooms during passing period because have to wait ten minutes to even use the restroom,’’ said Koskovich. Even the rules do not always prevent students from vandalizing the restrooms. When trying to find solutions there is only so much a school can do to try and find solutions. “One of the things we do is minimizing where they go, like by having an adult nearby and there is presence,” said Mitchell. “ It’s pretty beat up. All the stall doors have graffiti on them or there is trash in the urinals and in the sinks, sometimes the toilets.” Lincoln McCarty a junior ON LOCK. Bathrooms are being closed down to prebathrooms remain open for students to Kayleigh Ward
COVID cases rise, Maricopa hospitals feel the heat
As
March Tear Sheets
April Tear Sheets
