Issue 5

Friday, February 28, 2014

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retiring teachers

Ultimate frisbee catches on

Coca-cola controversy

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THE HOWLER A student publication of Monarch High School since 1998 Volume 15

Issue 5

Louisville police officers gather to discuss the events of the active shooter drill (photo by Charlotte Crist).

TRIAL BY (SIMULATED) FIRE

Teachers learn important skills through active shooter drill

by Daisy Fuchs

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ebruary 14th is usually when you think about love, chocolate, and roses. It is hard to focus on who Cupid may hit next when gun shots are ringing through the halls. This was the case for officers of the Louisville Police Department or the teachers at Monarch High School. Valentine’s Day was the day of Monarch High School’s first active shooter drill.

The basic idea of an active shooter drill is that teachers are able to experience what it is like to have a gunman walking around the school. This

allows the staff to feel the emotions and to practice protocol in the event that this really could happen. “When you train with critical incidents, it gives you a better chance in a real critical incident,” said school resource officer Christi Gordanier.

Many reforms to emergency protocol and response came after the shootings at Columbine High School in 1999. “This type of situation, unfortunately, has become part of the reality of being a teacher. In truth, the odds of it happening are [infinitely] small, but if you don’t prepare then blame will be assigned,” said social studies teacher

Keith Mainland.

This training was just teachers, although for some scenarios there were students. Teachers were told to imagine certain scenarios such as being in their classroom during Wednesday tutor time or eating lunch as students. “We had no idea when, where, exactly what was going to happen,” said Mainland.

The drill aimed to simulate a safe, yet realistic, situation for the teachers to experience the emotions as well as practice protocol.“[This way] the teachers could understand what could happen and how they can do things better to protect

students,” said Andrew McSwain, who played the role of the shooter.

To provide this safe and realistic environment they chose McSwain to be in the role of the shooter. “With my background I’m pretty comfortable taking up different positions like that and executing drills like that,” he said. McSwain does have a background that made him a good candidate for this position; he is an alumni of Monarch, was in the Marine Corps, is familiar with the Louisville Police Department, is a criminology major currently, and he works at Louisville Middle School.

(Continued on page 5)

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Opinions

The Necessity of the Hunt

Why hunting is not bad, but necessary

by Dalton Valette

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any are surprised to hear that I am a hunter, judging based on either my personality and or my physique which does not scream out, “I am an outdoorsman!” to anyone, including myself. When I do tell people that I hunt, I get two responses: either someone says, “Wow! That is so cool!” or “That’s so mean! Those poor animals!”

Let me start by being frank and debunking just a few of the wild stereotypes of hunters.

Firstly, hunters do not just sit in the back of pickup trucks, drinking beer, and driving along until some poor animal moves and is shot to smithereens. No. Secondly, hunters are not sociopaths who enjoy seeing animals suffer. The best hunt that a hunter can have is to have the animals pass quickly and peacefully. The worst feeling in the world I have experienced is seeing an animal suffer by my hand. And thirdly, hunting is crucial for the safety of animals across the globe.

There is a reason people started hunting, and that is because we needed meat to survive.

To this day, we need proteins that are in meats.

Vegetarians and vegans find those proteins elsewhere, but they need to actively search for proteins found in meat in order to live a healthy life.

I am not saying that not eating meat is bad, but Homo sapiens, as a species, kind of need it and its nutrients.

And personally, I would much rather prefer to hunt an animal on an equal playing field than to eat a hamburger from a fast food restaurant that has been compiled of hundreds of other cattle in a filthy slaughterhouse where they are doomed for butchering from birth. With hunting, an animal lives its full life. Hunters don’t go out and hunt females (typically) and never would actively pursue a female with a young offspring, as depicted in the film Bambi.

Most hunting is for the sought after old male,

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the glorious buck, the raging bull, a larger male animal that has had a long life and can no longer reproduce. Many of these lone male animals have been cast out of herds, a particular example being elephants, where they wander alone until they die from starvation as their teeth wear down and they are unable to eat. Perhaps it is just me but doesn’t it seem in a way more humane to put down an already old animal than watch it suffer for weeks, months, years until its gradual demise?

Hunting is also an extremely difficult sport, if you’re doing it right. Hunting is not just shooting; otherwise the sport would be called shooting. The sport is laborious, long, challenging, at times painful and agonizing.

The difficulty of hunting not only comes from the sheer physical labor involved, but from the mental exhaustion as well, something most people do not take into account. For three years I had tried and failed to hunt a pronghorn antelope in southern Colorado. A mix between the incredibly long shots, their perfect senses, and skittish nature make the pronghorn one of the most challenging animals to hunt and year after year I had nil success, which made me an emotional wreck and created great frustration. Finally, after much trial and error, I managed to set my sights on one and bag my pronghorn. I doubt I will go on another pronghorn hunt again any time soon.

So one may ask, how is hunting necessary?

Take a look at wolves in Yellowstone. In 1926, the last grey wolf in Yellowstone died. Shorty after, the elk population in the park exploded. The population of grazing animals grew so large, they damaged the plants in the park through over consumption and many began starving. By removing a predator, the balance of the ecosystem was greatly shifted.

In 1995, 66 wolves were released back into Yellowstone to combat the exponential growth of the elk population.

Dalton Valette on a hunting trip in South Africa with his father, Brett, in 2010.

There, Valette sucessfully hunted a wide range of animals and participated in

With the advocacy of many a “green” conservation hunt for a white rhino. Photo Credit: Brett Valette hunters to conserve the animal hunters. and their ecosystem, the popMany of the largest groups supporting Afulation of wolves in Yellowstone is now 1,674 according to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, rican lions are run by hunters such as Fighting while the elk population has leveled off to a more for Lions, under the banner of Safari Club Inreasonable number of just under 9,000 compared ternational (SCI). SCI donates every year more than $60 million to “Promote science-based to an all-time high of 19,000.

With a plethora of reasons why hunting is conservation through wildlife research, capacity for the benefits of animals themselves, it seems building in governments, youth and teacher edto me that the only reason people become up- ucation, and humanitarian programs.” Take into set with hunting is purely biased and is through account the scimitar horned oryx, an animal I a moral opposition to killing an animal. You do have had the fortunate opportunity to hunt in not have to go hunting, that is your choice, live Texas in 2012. The scimitar horned oryx was on your life the way that you wish to live it, whatever the verge of extinction in the early 1900’s, bareworks for you works for me, but what does not ly a few hundred of these magnificent animals work for me is when people and organizations left in the deserts of Africa. Luckily, some farmsuch as People for the Ethical Treatment of An- ers were determined to let the species live and imals (PETA) or Greenpeace become involved thrive, so they imported them, along with other and try to ban hunting throughout the world. In endangered exotics like the addax and the dama fact, Michael Winerip from the New York Times gazelle to the state of Texas.

In 1979 the Exotic Wildlife Association in discovered in 2013 that PETA, “kills an average of about 2,000 dogs and cats each year at its ani- Texas reported there were 32 scimitar horned mal shelter” in Norfolk, Virginia, the main head- oryx in the state along with two addax and nine quarters of the organization. Plus, “The shelter dama gazelle. Today, they estimate there are over does few adoptions — 19 cats and dogs in 2012 11,000 oryx, 5,000 addax, and 800 dama gazelle, and 24 in 2011, according to state records.” Rich- all thanks to the efforts put forth by hunters. ard Avanziom, director of the pet adoption cen- Plus, only ten percent of the herds on ranches ter Maddie’s Fund, has called PETA’s policy of are allowed to be hunted to maintain the popkilling adoptable animals “outdated” and “abso- ulation.

So next time you’re biting into that McDonlute idiocy.” So for a group who claimed the treatment of animals at SeaWorld to slavery in the ald’s hamburger of 400 different cattle, or doAmerican South and who lambasted the movie nating to PETA, or cursing out hunters for beThe Wolf of Wall Street for having an ape in it ing wicked individuals, take a step back, and take to go out and kill thousands of animals each year even a glance at the larger picture. Only when is pure hypocrisy. Disaprove of hunting, fine, it’s you look at the picture from a distance can you truly understand it, and understand the necessity your opinion; just don’t be a hypocrite about it.

What many also fail to realize is that the great- of the hunt. est supporters of wild animals, and those who spend some of the most time and energy in protecting animals through conservation efforts are

Opinions

staff editorial: Our severed Lives online I

by The Howler Staff

t’s seventh period and the teacher is in front of the class talking about the day’s subject matter. You can see out the window, and boy, does it look beautiful outside. You still have 15 minutes left in class, but you know that time is going to crawl by like a double-amputee sloth.

What you do next is what nearly every student does when class becomes a bore; you pull out your phone. The effervescent glow spreads on your face, your own personal sunshine. Your thumbs fly across the screen and transport you to the worlds of Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, maybe even Snapchat. You become immersed in this new, exciting world and the sound of your teacher’s voice fades into the background.

In a recent New York Times essay, Sherry Turkle, a professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and author of the 2011 book Alone Together: Why We Expect More from Technology and Less from Each Other, wrote: "These days, when people are alone, or feel a moment of boredom, they tend to reach for a device.

In a movie theater, at a stop sign, at the checkout line at a supermarket and, yes, at a memorial service, reaching for a device becomes so natural that we start to forget that there is a reason, a good reason, to sit still with our thoughts: It does honor to what we are thinking about. It does honor to ourselves."

Next time you are in class, look around at your classmates and see how many people have a glow on their faces from their cell phone screen; chances are it’ll be a majority. According to the Pew Research Center, in 2012 37% of teenagers in the United States owned a smartphone. This number is only going to rise in the coming years.

Invariably following the use of smartphones will come a rise in the use of social media. According to a 2010 Pew Internet Research Project poll, 73% of teenagers that owned smartphones used social media regularly. As a generation, we are being shaped by this boom in technology and it has come to define how we communicate and

how we view ourselves and our fellow students.

Social media is essentially an advertisement of yourself. Whenever you post a picture, tweet a tweet, or instagram a photo, it is specifically tailored with the fact in mind that it will be seen by other people and reflect upon you in a certain way. Interacting on social media is akin to having a conversation with someone on a loudspeaker in a packed stadium. Whenever a comment is made, every single one of the user’s friends has an ability to see and interact with this comment. This culture of awareness that every one of your ‘friends’

Image by Terran Fox

or followers is watching creates a disingenuous culture online.

In some ways, students also need to be careful about what they post on their social media profiles. Colleges and employers are increasingly researching candidates online and if your post comes up from your album “Spring Break 2012: Cabo Vacation” with all the photos of you pounding margaritas with your best buds it is not going to reflect in the best light upon you, plain and simple.

For example, someone’s Facebook photos often represent the absolute coolest and most interesting parts of their life. Users have an ability to portray themselves in the best possible light, which is why user profiles are often populated with vacation photos and smiling pictures of their family.

It is not a purposeful deception by the user.

It is, however, promoted by the culture of social

America is Beautiful Why Coca-Cola’s “controversial” ad is truly patriotic

by Daisy Fuchs

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Drawing by Daisy Fuchs

bout 111.5 million people tuned in to watch the Super Bowl on February 2, making this Super Bowl the most viewed in history. Yes, it is the championship game for football, which is one of the cultural points of America, although many people were also tuning in to see the commercials and Bruno Mars perform at the halftime show.

The Super Bowl commercials often cause just as much hype as the game itself and this year hap-

media. Instagram actually provides filters of all different kinds to hide any impurities and make photo look as appealing as possible.

So, you may be asking yourself, ‘This all seems reasonable, what is the problem?’ The problem lies with the fact that social media is quickly replacing true human interaction. A person’s online presence has come to represent them as an entire person. It is no longer a huge leap for students to feel like they fully understand one of their peers, or at least make judgments of them, based off the student’s online presence. This is a dangerous

pened to cause quite a stir. Coca-Cola released a commercial called “America is Beautiful”, which played the song “America the Beautiful” being sung in English, Spanish, Keres, Tagalog, Hindi, Senegalese French, and Hebrew. This commercial was met with a surge of praise along with angry backlash, creating the trends #SpeakAmerican and #boycottCoke on Twitter.

Five days after the first “America is Beautiful” ad aired, Coca Cola aired a longer version during the opening ceremonies for the Sochi Winter Olympics. This longer version had a disclaimer in the beginning that said “E Pluribus Unum” which is Latin for “Out of many, one,” the motto of the United States printed on all U.S. currency.

This is the most beautiful statement that Coca-Cola could have made. Coca-Cola has been always known for making commercials about people and happiness; now they are going into the land of unity. There are small statements

precedent when the basis of social media is to advertise the best of yourself. Are we truly connecting as human beings when all we see is the happiest moments of a life?

Social media provides an opportunity for instant feedback and validation--or not--from your peers. Immediately after posting online every person who follows you has the ability to like, favorite, or comment on what you’ve posted.

For many, this reaction from their peers defines whether or not what they posted held merit. The act of liking or favoriting someone’s material then becomes a meaningful action that holds actual meaning in the real world. The fact that the tapping of a mouse on a button or the double tap of a thumb on a screen has become meaningful is simultaneously perplexing and radical. Has communication between people really boiled down to this basic of an action? It seems so impersonal to connect with others online when it is not even throughout the whole ad such as gay dads at a skating rink with their daughter. There are many different cultures and perspectives represented, including both Jewish and Muslim.

There is also the statement that the people are just as diverse as the land of America, and like the land they are all equally beautiful.

This commercial was genius because it acknowledges the many different cultures that make up America. America is a nation made up of immigrants; Native Americans only make 1.2% of the American population, meaning that 98.8% of Americans are from some sort of immigrant descent. The beauty of America is that each person in America has a different heritage. This is one of the things that our country has been built up on. There is a reason that America is referred to as the melting pot.

It is absolutely ridiculous that one group of foreigners can think that another group of foreigners have fewer rights than they do. For one ethnic group to say that they are superior or have more ability than another ethnic group is something that is incredibly ignorant to think.

No one group of people can have more power by right when all of the groups are immigrants and diverse.

There a many different cultures that make up America, although they all have the underlying sense of being American. There are many different fashions, foods, religions, and languages, but none of these cultural things define what it

possible to see their faces.

Communication is another aspect of life that has often, in the past occured face-to-face, but is moving online. Online messaging and text messaging have created the ability to keep students in touch with one another constantly. Without the ability to see the face of whoever you are talking to, an important element of communication is lost. When hurtful things are said face to face you can see the pain you have caused. You can see the eyes of the person you are talking to glance downward in shame and their shoulder slouch.

When you’re online all you see is ‘:(‘ which honestly does not have the same effect.

It is undeniable that online communication has also eased the ability of large groups of people to communicate. Student-run clubs and activities rely heavily on Facebook to organize members and make sure every member stays in the loop.

While it may seem like the distant past, in our younger years parents would have to use ‘phone trees’ to contact each other and call every person’s home phone in order to get out a message.

Today, if there is an important class meeting or event a leader can post in a Facebook group, and voila, every member is informed, within seconds.

In a lot of ways, technology makes our lives easier. But, easier is not always better. This new online culture of ‘easier’ has led us into a disregard for the human beings that dwell on the other side of the computer screen.

The Howler wants every Monarch student to remember that social media and technology serve an auxiliary function to real life, and as weird as it is to actually have to say this, they are not real life.

Don’t miss out on real life blurring past around you because you’re too busy with your face immersed in that effervescent, pale glow.

means to be American. America does not have a national language or religion because we are a nation built on diversity. Being American is not defined by what language a person speaks and or what god they worship.

The people who spoke out against the commercial said that when people are in America, they should speak English or that it is wrong to have a patriotic song being sung in a language other than English because they see it as unpatriotic to sing it in any language that is perceived as foreign. There is an irony that some of the people who were insulted that “America the Beautiful” was sung in other languages, were referring to “America the Beautiful” as the national anthem. The national anthem is “The Star Spangled Banner.” It is not unpatriotic to embrace the diversity that makes our nation great; it is unpatriotic to not know what the national anthem is when insulting others over it.

Many cultures have shaped what it means to be American. I hope that someday that being American will mean being tolerant of the diversity that makes America great. The problem that resides in our society is that people are unable to understand that we all create our nation and that there is no one group that is more significant, or is less American, than any other group. There is still racism and hatred for people that are perceived as “foreign”. As a nation if we can fully embrace our diversity, then we will only become stronger.

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Opinions

Express yourself with hitrecord Expressive media says to turn on all recording devices

by Brody Coronelli

Founder Joseph Gordon-Levitt -Photo Credit: Kirk McKoy

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xpressive media as a craft is not definitive in form, and it’s questionable whether it ever will be. Creativity expands at the same rate technology does - fast, and seemingly without a peak as far as time is currently going.

Two hundred years ago, you had little except some paper, a pallet, a paintbrush, and an assortment of hand crafted instruments among

others. Today, visual art alone has its animators, illustrators, designers, and even the older fashion crafters such as painters, drawers, and sculptors.

Music can be recorded and manipulated like the words out of our mouths. Film can harness writing as well as visual structure, encompassing the human spirit in often stark realism. We live in a time where creative folk can express themselves easier than ever, because there is simply so many outlets to get your imagination into pleasing auditory or visual form. At the forefront of this creative revolution is HitRecord.

If you’ve heard of the growing phenomenon, it’s likely thanks to celebrity wonder boy Joseph Gordon-Levitt, or the company’s rising new TV show. But before I can talk about the show, we need to go back some years. The online collaborative production company was started in 2005

by Levitt and his brother, and the idea is simple.

Users can upload their “records” into a number of categories including writing, images, songs, and videos. However by uploading to the site, they are allowing their work to be built upon by any number of the site’s other users. For example, I could upload a “record” of a piece of writing, use someone else’s song they shared in the background, then re upload it to the site. Illustrators and animators could then compile their work into a visual for the piece, then whalla - You have a collaboration, or to be redundant, a record.

This formula allows musicians who cannot write lyrics to adapt other people’s work into a

song. It makes music available to aspiring filmmakers, and the list goes on. Nonetheless, It wasn’t until HitRecord was on TV that this creative social network of sorts reached it’s maximum potential. The show, airing every Saturday on Pivot, not only gives these collaborations a home on a bigger screen, but it broadcasts them to an audience of worldly proportions. Each episode has a theme, some of the previously aired ones being “Space”, “The Other Side”, and “Trash.” Levitt and the rest of the crew will then put out specific requests for artists to submit material that could potentially be used in short films, music videos, and performances that will appear on the episode.

The creative innovation and boundless potential this simple yet marvelous idea is capable of makes some of my creative wiring want to run around in circles. It’s a well known and unbearable fact that it’s difficult to make a reasonable living off of the arts. It’s also difficult to make a lasting name for yourself through the arts. There are thousands and thousands of wildly gifted musicians and artists who are incapable of properly supporting themselves through their talent and getting themselves out there due to the fact that the creative plane is doing nothing except expanding, and things like marketing, chance, and “who you know” have, for many, brought the craft into a form growing increasingly difficult to pursue. Thousands of years ago, you could get paid to think and write it down. Today, you can

Ups and downs for february

by Will Bangs Images by Will Bangs and Natalie Forman Subway has said that it will begin removing the chemical azodicarbonamide from its sandwich bread after a prominent food blogger pointed out that the same additive is used in yoga mats and shoe rubber. (As long as they don’t get rid of the chemical they use to keep all their meats soaking wet).

Shirley Temple Black, one of the most famous child stars in Hollywood history who was featured in dozens of Depression-era films and later built a political career as a delegate to the United Nations and ambassador to Ghana, died February 10th at age 85. (Let me get this straight: Shirley Temple Black—the former ambassador to Ghana—used to be a child star?)

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In an effort to prevent athletes from contracting STDs during the Winter Olympics, the International Olympic Committee distributed 100,000 condoms to the 7,650 competitors bunking in the Olympic Village, or about 13 condoms per person.

(You know the old saying, what happens in Sochi, stays in Sochi, thanks to your plethora of condoms!)

do the same thing and make enough to be economically labeled homeless.

While it’s true that nearly every profession out there is a vastly important and invaluable addition to day by day life, these possibilities are outweighing the true value art and creativity carry. Creativity is beginning to be seen as less economically valuable by skills in mathematics and science - subjects with written, predetermined answers.

Art, however, has no right or wrong. HitRecord, either intentionally or unintentionally, is helping reverse this trend and lack of focus by bringing importance back to these skills while simultaneously offering a platform where individuals can thrive and grow as artists. It also offers the possibility of making money off your work and the ability to connect with a continuously growing online community of people just waiting to collaborate with you.

When I think HitRecord, I think of how I could compose lyrics and record vocals for someone else’s instrumental. I think about how I could be in a short movie filmed halfway across the world. This net bound together with collaborative possibility is HitRecord, and we’ll be able to see it more clearly over our heads as the spirit of creativity continues to be stretched by this ever growing production company.

In order to promote positive and realistic images of women, Sheryl Sandberg announced that her nonprofit organization Lean In will team up with Getty Images to remove stock photos that perpetuate female stereotypes and replace them with photos of women as surgeons, soldiers, hunters, and other professions. (Finally, the internet will be clean of images that degrade women.)

As part of an effort to create a better flu vaccine, the National Institutes of Health announced it will pay 100 individuals up to $3,000 each to volunteer to have the flu virus sprayed into their nostrils so that they become sick and then observe them over the next nine days in a hospital. (If you truly love getting sick like I do, you don’t do it for the money.)

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trial by (simulated) fire (cont.)

(Continued from page 1) This drill showed teachers the true importance of protocol and how the protocol can save lives. It is protocol for teachers to lock their doors which social studies teacher, Geoffrey Findley, did not do during the drill, allowing the shooter to shoot him. “Findley learned a valuable lesson: use your magnetic strips, otherwise you die. He got shot,” said Mainland.

“For me that’s a big deal because normally there would be a classroom full of 30 kids in there and that’s just something that I don’t want to worry about,” said Findley.

Another important lesson that was learned was the true danger of propping open doors, a common occurrence at Monarch. “As you walk around the building you see doors propped open all the time,” said Mainland.

For the lunch time scenario Mainland was in the position of a theater student who was eating lunch in theater hall. During this scenario Mainland propped open the band hall door to allow another teacher playing a student. That propped open door was how the shooter was able to get into the school.

“I think that a good message to send out to the school would be, we know there are certain inconveniences that come along with some of the [protocols] we have, but we do do it for a reason. It’s not just to make people miserable,” said Findley. This drill showed how deadly a bad habit can be.

The protocol that is in place and was practiced was for students to get into a locked classroom with a teacher. If a student is not able to get into a secure space in a real lockdown situation they should get out of the building and get a safe distance away.

“If you can’t [get behind a locked door], then at that point you get away, regardless. If that means running out a door to safety, then you do it. So we call that ‘self evacuate’,” said Assistant Principal Eric Moroye.

It is hard for teachers to prepare for every situation that might occur. “Every scenario is always going to be different,” said Gordanier. There are many factors that teachers cannot prepare for or expect.

One factor that could be a wild card in a real situation is having the entire student body in the school. “[The active shooter drill] didn’t take into account that there might be hundreds of kids in the hallway, that there might be kids who went to the bathroom, it may not take account for all of those. That’s why I think that this was a good first step and not an ending step of training and learning,” said Moroye.

This is not the last time that Monarch will deal with active shooter drills. There are always ways that the system can improve and it is possible that in the future that Monarch may even want to involve students in the drill. “We would like to a point where we involve kids in doing [active shooter drills] too,” said Gordon.

Even though there is always more work to be done, students will not see a major change in protocol. “For the most part, if I could put a percent on it, I would say that 95 [percent] is going to remain the same,” said Moroye. Students need to still listen to teachers and follow instructions. “In those stressful situations it’s listen, do exactly what’s said; no if, ands or buts,” said Moroye.

An officer stands with a AR-15 Bushmaster Carbine during the debriefing. (Photo by Charlotte Crist)

Officer Christi Gordanier hands out earplugs to the teachers before the guns are demonstrated.

(Photo by Charlotte Crist)

Charlotte Crist, a sophomore, at the drill to provide a unique perspective as the only student in the drill. (Photo by Bonnie Katzive)

Andrew McSwain, who took the role as the active shooter, and a police officer talk to Bonnie Katzive (not pictured), a language arts teacher.

(Photo by Charlotte Crist)

From a student’s eyes

by Charlotte Crist

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have never heard anyone fire a gun. They were only blanks, but they were loud enough to make my heart skip a beat. Each gun was demonstrated before the actual drill so we (the teachers and myself) could know what they sounded like.

Being the only student there, I got many strange looks. Before I walked into the school, I was asked if I knew what was going on that day. I chuckled and smiled as I told the teacher that I was supposed to be there and that I was covering the drill for the newspaper.

After Dr. Anderson and police officers explained how the drill would work, I went into a classroom with a teacher just like any normal day.

I was sitting there waiting, staring at the clock, watching the seconds, which felt like hours, go by. I knew that something would happen eventually, but I didn’t know when.

My eyes were getting heavy, but they snapped open when I heard a blank go off. The teacher I was with looked out the door as we heard another shot go off. She locked the door and we proceeded to sit just like any other lock down drill, except this time it was just myself and a teacher in the room, which, for some reason, made it seem all the more real. I had never felt so alone in school. I am constantly surrounded by my friends at school, and that’s why I felt so isolated at that moment.

I couldn’t imagine the shock and adrena-

line that would go through my body if this actually happened. Before that moment, those kinds of things seemed so unrealistic. We live in such a sheltered place and this leads most of the students at Monarch, including myself, to think that nothing like this would ever happen, but when I was put in the drill, it felt as though these things were very possible.

Soon enough, the drill was over, and all the teachers and officers came together to talk about what happened during the situation. The most important thing I learned was always to listen to my teacher. As cliché as it sounds, it’s essential because they could save your life and others.

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News

The contractual controversy of Us 36

by Oliver Ullman

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any in the Denver/Boulder area are fuming over a transportation contract that will allow a private company to manage Highway 36 and collect tolls. Amidst fiery backlash from Colorado residents and politicians, the deal continues to progress, and with the agreement set to be finalized at the end of February, it looks like the 50-year contract won’t run out of gas any time soon.

The 450 million dollar deal between Plenary Roads Denver and Colorado Department for Transportation (CDOT) would allow Plenary, a multinational six-company consortium, to build a toll/transit/high-occupancy lane going to and from Denver and Boulder on US 36. After recouping its cost, Plenary will share half of its revenue with CDOT. In exchange Plenary will finance the entire project, as well as provide ice and snow removal service on US 36 and part of Interstate 25.

The deal also puts Plenary in charge of road maintenance on the entire 21-mile stretch of the highway and Interstate 25 between downtown Denver and U.S. 36.

So, why do so many Coloradans want to put this deal on the chopping block? The contract has sparked fierce debate between CDOT and many Colorado citizens: although the project involves a public government department, the deal has been extremely private, and some think the parts of the contract that have been revealed are unfair to taxpayers.

The idea of a public-private partnership

(PPP) on this scale is controversial, as opponents claim the agreement takes hundreds of millions of potential profits away from the state.

It’s projected that in the first 20 years of its existence, the project will recoup the 450 million that it spent, and then continue making money until the end of it’s 50 year lifespan.

However, the PPP also makes sense to many including CDOT spokeswoman Amy Ford, who stressed the risks the state would incur if it solely took on the endeavour. “What if we don’t make 500 million dollars in the first 20 years? Let’s say we’re even ten percent under our estimates, that then has a multiplier effect, and it takes us much longer to repay our loans,” said Ford.

Still, many would have liked to not have seen Colorado in this situation in the first place. “Really what we should have done is we should have raised taxes and build the road on the public nickel, but we can’t do that because of TABOR(which prevents the government from raising taxes without the public’s consent), and the public’s in no mood to raise any taxes it seems,” said David Farrell, a Social Studies teacher at Monarch.

Many in the public care most about the secrecy involved in the deal. “What I didn’t like [about the contract] was what I perceived to be a lack of transparency concerning the whole issue,” said Farrell. “For me, more than anything else, I think an agreement of this magnitude should be done with significant public oversight.”

One thing many Coloradans agree on is that CDOT has failed to inform voters on the deal.

“We thought we were communicating what was

Lafayette resident John Martin accused CDOT of shenanigans in making a secret contract. A public meeting on a proposed 50-year agreement between the Colorado Department of Transportation and Plenary Roads Denver on maintenance and operation of U.S. 36 was held at the former Sam’s Club building in Louisville Thursday night, February 13, 2104. Photo By Karl Gehring/The Denver Post

going on and why this deal would work,” said Ford to an angry, raucous crowd at an informative meeting called in Louisville . “But clearly, given the attendance here tonight, we failed at doing so.”

Many voters are also enraged over the longevity of the deal, since it will last until 2063,

when most Howler readers will be well into their 60’s. “Who knows what changes in transportation are gonna be made in the next 50 years,” said Farrell.

Bitcoins: currency conundrum

by Tyler Lund

I

magine a future where instead of using Paypal accounts and paying credit card bills, we pay for our everyday technologies and activities with a currency that has no physical being. As a new currency becomes more and more popular, this future could soon be a reality.

Bitcoins are an uncontrolled currency made from computer code. Bitcoins have no physical traits and over the years have become more and more popular. As of February 21, 2013 one bitcoin was equal to 554.7 US Dollars. With bitcoin’s price constantly fluctuating, it is hard to tell if this currency will last.

Invented in 2009 by developer Satoshi Nakamoto, bitcoins are created by a process called mining. Mining is where “miners” verify and record payments in exchange for transaction fees and new bitcoins. People with bitcoins can store them with wallet software. This new currency might sound great, but it also has a few issues.

As bitcoins became more and more popular their price slowly started to rise. In 2010, when bitcoins were only worth a few cents, the first tangible item bought with bitcoins was alpaca socks, according to a NPR podcast on bitcoins done by Jacob Goldstein and David Kestenbaum. If the first few owners of bitcoins had kept their bitcoins, because of the price rise of bitcoins in 2013 they would be millionaires.

6

mhshowler.com

Bitcoins also have many benefits for companies and consumers buying items with them.

People and businesses who buy products online pay a fee of about two and a half percent to credit card companies. With bitcoins this fee is severely reduced.

The controversy is: will this new online currency be able to last? As the price of bitcoins begins to rise, many people will buy bitcoins and keep them to try and make money. If more and more people do this, there will be almost no one using bitcoins to purchase goods and services and the currency price would go down. This is due to the fact that there is a only a limited amount of bitcoins that exist. This amount is about 21 million bitcoins in circulation. This is because the creation rate of bitcoins is halved every few years as more and more bitcoins are mined. If more people stop using bitcoins the currency could become very rare.

“I’m skeptical about bitcoin in particular partly because it is a store of speculative value.

It’s a place where speculators like the Winklevoss twins will come in and buy up lots of bitcoins for no reason other than they think they can find a greater fool to sell the bitcoins to tomorrow.” said Felix Salmon, a high-profile blogger at Reuters in a NPR podcast on bitcoins done by Jacob Goldstein and David Kestenbaum.

As an uncontrolled currency many countries are starting to speculate their legality and

some are even banning them. Recently, China has established a new rule banning bitcoins in the country. The European Banking Authority has also become wary about bitcoins, telling consumers about the potential dangers.

Bitcoins for the past few years have been used for illegal activity on the web. With a website called“The Silk Road” users can buy and sell anything from drugs to weapons. Since bitcoins have no physical property it is almost impossible to track these bitcoins and see what is bought with them.

Besides using bitcoins for illegal things, bitcoins could also be used to purchase legal goods and services like appliances, shirts, wallets, watches and many more. Although not many companies are accepting bitcoins this could be a reality in the future. Also in the future bitcoins could be used for educational purposes like buying textbooks, lunch balances, and many more items.

With the majority of bitcoins being used in parts of society that dabble in illegal activities, the underbelly of the deep web, the future of bitcoins could move to the backbone of society and become a part of our financial markets and possibly be used for everyday transactions. With new things being built to help every day society, bitcoins could be used as the next big international currency.

The question of the validity of Bitcoins remains contested, as they are not as popular as US dollars, and yet they could be the future of US currency. Phil Geib illustration related to Bitcoin payments. (Chicago Tribune/MCT)

F

Features

A Special Class for all

Miller And Miller Form a Friendship to Last

New Adaptive PE class offered to students

by Anna Blanco

T

Sage Hundsdorfer, Caitlin Reilly, Mitchell Hill, and Channing Jenkins enjoy a Friday morning in Adaptive PE. (Photo

by Ellie Oliver)

Coach Hook gives student Channing Jenkins a quick hug while the rest of the class warms up with some simple stretches before they begin the activities of the day.

(Photo by Ellie Oliver)

his semester Monarch is offering a new class that will be focused on the abilities of the students in the Special Education program rather than the abilities of their peers.

“What is unique about the class is that you get to hang out with Special Ed Students and get to know them,” said sophomore Kristina Harlow who is a student in the class.

It was decided last spring that Adaptive PE would be offered as a class during the 2013-2014 school year. A total of 38 students were enrolled in the class, nine of them from the Intensive Learning Center (ILC). Special Ed teacher Scott Doyen, and PE teacher Gail Hook collaborate to make the class enjoyable for all the students.

During the class period, a portion of the class joins Doyen in the ILC for a lesson, where students are, “equipped with knowledge about behavior and psychology, and they learn about disabilities,” explained Doyen. He hopes that the students will use the knowledge they gain when they go back to the gym. Hook and Doyen plan to eventually put the students in charge of planning some of the lessons for the class, and hopefully what they learn with Doyen will prepare them to do so.

While some students are with Doyen in the ILC, the other students remain in the gym to participate in a variety of activities. “We go to the weight room, and we also did an obstacle course,

and we did a three-legged race. We dance every Friday,” said junior Lily Nussbaum.

In the gym, students meet in small groups to talk about what is going on in the world before they begin to exercise, then they run a few laps and stretch to begin the fun.

“I loved seeing all the groups of kids all together, and chatting about their weekend, and typical peers helping challenged peers, it was nice,” said Monarch Speech Language Pathologist Andrea Mann.

As Nussbaum explained, every Friday the students participate in a dance themed activity. Some of these dances have included a Soul Train, a shuffle, and a game where a group would come up with a dance, then the rest of the group would copy them.

Adaptive PE benefits both the Special Ed students and other students, it gives both groups the opportunities to learn about interacting with each other. “My hope would be that it gives the kids in the ILC the confidence to actually interact with other kids in the school, and vice versa-that typical peers wouldn’t find these kids intimidating,” said Mann, who was fully supportive when the idea of the class was introduced.

Check out more photos and videos of the class at mhshowler.com!

(From left) Meghan Miller and Natalya Miller, along with their other pals Caroline Stanish, and Truitt Wilson spend time together in Adaptive PE. (Photo by Ellie Oliver)

Meghan Miller and Natalya Miller met in 6th grade, and have been good friends ever since.

“Our relationship goes beyond just being friends, and even though I help her, she is honestly the one helping me. Natalya in many ways, is a teacher, and a guide to me,” said Meghan Miller.

Outside of school, Meghan Miller and Natalya Miller participate in a special needs Hip Hop class, go to church together, do arts and crafts, and just hang out.

“This class has also helped me to understand more of Natalya’s abilities, like some of her motor skills; but most of all this class has given us an opportunity to expand the realm of fun! the class is amazing! Everybody loves it, and each person benefits from this in their own way,” said Meghan Miller.

by Oliver Ullman

goodbye monarch

Five retiring teachers reminisce about their careers

D

id you know that Ms. Stahler wants to live in Italy, or that Mr. Shannon plans to work on a ranch when he retires? As five teachers who have dedicated their life to teaching decide to leave Monarch, the Monarch Howler gives a final interview to capture their stories.

Photos by Oliver Ullman

Been teaching at Monarch since: What is the weirdest thing you’ve ever seen at Monarch?

What will you miss most about Monarch?

What do you plan to do after you retire?

What have you seen change the most at Monarch?

What have you learned from teaching?

Joyce Stahler 1999

Reid Walker 1998

Pat Miskella 1998

Ken Niven

Peter Shannon

1998

2001

“A kid would set fires to the toilet paper rolls in the bathroom, which was really hard to do, because he’d do it with a BIC lighter.

I saw some weird stuff on the catwalk in the theater, but I probably can’t tell you that stuff.”

“We used to have fire drills several times a week because somebody kept pulling the alarm, and nobody knew who was doing it, I don’t know if they ever found out.”

“The fire down in the boys locker room…somebody set a locker on fire and we had to evacuate.”

“Blowing a hole in the ceiling twice Icon by Terran Fox [with his annual Halloween pumpkin experiment].”

“The students and the interaction “Telling stories to my stuin the classroom I will miss, and I’ll dents...I’m going to miss that a also miss hanging out with my solot.” cial studies coworkers.”

“Definitely the kids, that’s the whole reason to teach. Interacting with [these people] is the whole reason I teach.”

“Being around kids, that’s why you go into education. I’ll also miss my colleagues.”

“The quality of the students at Monarch is excellent, the students are quite friendly. It is just a nice place to be.”

“I’m gonna play my guitar a lot “We’re going to sail in Tahiti, and more, and vacation more...I’m also Croatia and the Greek Isles gonna go to work on the Andrew and also…live in Italy for a while.”

Romanov campaign and get more involved with politics.”

“Take several years to write a novel...I’ll probably go traveling as well.”

“I plan to keep on coaching basketball, and spend a little bit more time on myself, working out, fishing, hunting, and riding my motorcycle.”

“I’m going to move to Salida and work on a ranch with a friend.”

“When I first started, very few kids “Kids are more even had pagers, and now we’re a polite but less one-to-one school and leading the willing to do nation in it.” work”

“The use of electronics, it’s hard to have a class without kids being on their cell phones.”

“We started with the certain principles that we wanted [Monarch] to become, and I think we’ve been successful.”

“Not a whole lot.”

“I think I learned to keep a fun, youthful attitude. I learned to go with the flow, not get to upset about anything, and just enjoy the moment.”

“The teaching staff was more eloquent than any other place that I’ve been at and more professional, and so it made me a better teacher.”

“Every day’s a learning experience...every day I learn something new.”

“We had an assembly and some of the boys put crickets into the shells of the cardboard toilet paper rolls and threw them. Everybody freaked out. It was pretty funny.”

“I learned it’s ok to keep my head down and work hard rather than being a leader, leadership comes and goes, and that’s OK.”

“When I started teaching I was teaching like ten different subjects. When I came to Monarch I really focused and became good at teaching Chemistry and Physics.”

mhshowler.com 7

The Coming of Change

T

o some, high school is the best four years of their lives. For others, it is a little less than ideal. Either way, the majority of people claim to change throughout high school, for better or for worse. Seniors have nearly survived all four treacherous years of high school, having good experiences and bad. Nearly all of them feel they have changed in some way, shape, or form. For the majority of the seniors we spoke to, the biggest change occurred in between sophomore and junior year. Becoming an upperclassmen is a major transition in not only social status, but in maturity, and which group you fit into.

By the end of high school, these seniors have managed to find their place among their peers, and grow into the person that they’re going to be. Each and every person has a different high school experience, and changes in different ways. Here are a few Monarch students’ experiences:

wILL sCRUGGS

Photo courtesy of: Monarch Yearbook

“My favorite year is definitely senior year,” said senior John (Will) Scruggs. Scruggs found that in his high school career, his most valuable ally was his social skills and attitude towards others.

He claims to be a very active and outgoing guy.

“I feel like high school has kinda gotten easier from freshman year,” said Scruggs. Scruggs said he struggled from the amount of work that was put on his shoulders during freshman year.

With the transition from middle school to high school, the quality and quantity levels of your school work is increased.

Scruggs said he has changed throughout High School too. “I have definitely matured a lot throughout my years. I’d say it happened mostly at Sophomore to Junior year,” said Scruggs. During your teenage years, changes happen a lot more than they do the rest of your life. Some see your teenage years as the main highlights of your life.

“I have definitely matured a lot throughout my years. I’d say it happened mostly at Sophomore to Junior year,”

-Will Scruggs

Photo courtesy of: Monarch Yearbook

Photo by Jake Baur

By the time you graduate You will have taken 918,000 steps You will have attended 7,560 class periods You will have spent 1,080 days or 8,640 hours at school *All values were calculated by Emma Wolters and are estimates, not exact values.

aMY kARLZEN

8

Overall, senior Ben Beauchamp has had a good high school experience, with a few rough edges. Grasping how to really study and receive good grades was one major adjustment for him in high school. However for this particular senior, school was never too tough for him, because he’s been surrounded by friends.

“Being outgoing, and making some good friends always came naturally to me in High School,” said Beauchamp. Beauchamp happens to be an incredible basketball player, and claims that his basketball career has been a highlight of high school for him. It’s helped his social life a lot, and brought him a lot of joy.

“Throughout high school, you gain a lot more confidence the older you get. I found that over the summer of moving from sophomore year to junior year, I changed the most,” said Beauchamp. Beauchamp said that he was a different person in freshman year than he is now. He claims to be much more efficient, better at studying, more outgoing, and he said he has gained a lot leadership skills.

“Freshman year is kind of like a huge shellshock of how much work you have to do, but after a few months I kind of figured it out,” Beauchamp said about his freshman year. “Freshman year, you are more scared to do stuff, because of the fear of being judged, but as you move along you begin to figure out that you really can be who you are and do what you want in high school.”

“Throughout high school, you gain a lot more confidence the older you get.”

-Ben Beauchamp

Photo by Jake Baur

For senior Amy Karlzen, the most prominent change was finding her independence. “I really stepped away from my parents. I started to figure things out on my own, and I really started to know what I wanted”, said Karlzen.

A factor that helped her grow her independence throughout high school was obtaining leader ship skills.

She is a state officer for FBLA and conducted the district two conference twice. Being a part of organizations like this has been the high point of high school for her.

A more personal struggle for Karlzen was living up to the expectations she had set for herself. “Going in as a freshman, I had never gotten a B, and I was able to keep all A’s through freshman year, but by sophomore and junior year it got a lot harder, especially with the more AP classes you take,” said Karlzen. Maintaining these high expectations was a major challenge for her.

Another obstacle she had to overcome was getting over the fear of upperclassmen, and the uncertainty of the entire high school structure. For her and most other freshman, high school was a completely new scene, and she didn’t know much. But in the transition between sophomore and junior, she had, for the most part, gotten into the swing of high school.

“As a freshman going in [to high school] you’re scared of everybody and the seniors seem so cool, and you really don’t know what’s gonna happen. But by senior year you kind of figure things out, you know what’s going on, and you know who you are as a person.”

-Amy Karlzen

Teachers change too!

Photo courtesy of: Monarch Yearbook

Kristin Kerr Gannon One of Monarch’s newest teachers has changed quite alot since the days of the feathered hair do she sported at one of her high school’s formal dances.

Check out these Monarch teachers’ transformations from their awkward high school years into adulthood.

Photo courtesy of: Kristin Kerr Gannon

mhshowler.com

Ben BeauchAMP

Photo courtesy of: Deann Bucher

Photo by Jake Baur

Photo by Jake Baur Photo courtesy of: Monarch Yearbook

mINIJA EDGAR “I’d probably say junior year was the best because I had a good group of friends, didn’t have as big a workload as I’d expected, and I joined poms that year,” said Minija Edgar, a senior at Monarch. Currently captain of the Poms team, Edgar has enjoyed a great high school career, filled with an abundance of friends and life changing experiences. But not everything was amazing.

“There were hard parts about high school, and it can be tough but in the end I know I am gonna look back and know I had a good time,” said Edgar. For Edgar, the transition between sophomore and junior year was when she really found her place.

Edgar says that during freshman year, high school was intimidating and dictated a lot of her life. She had trouble adjusting to the differences between middle and high school, and the drama with friends. But as she went through high school she discovered that it was just another phase of her life and once she found a good friend group, it got much easier.

“I learned to be comfortable in my own skin, and kind of embrace who I am as a person,” said Edgar.

Deann Bucher

pat Miskella

Can you spot the similarities between this 20th century Ms. Bucher and the current one? Her smile has stayed the same through the decades and is a dead giveaway.

Although Mr. Miskella, a Monarch LA teacher who will be retiring this year, now looks very different than his high school self he’s still sporting his signature long hair.

Photo courtesy of: Pat Miskella

“The freedom in high school definitely required some self-adjustment.

There was a lot of drama, and I lost some friends throughout my freshman year. Once I found my fitting group of friends, high school was a lot better.”

-Minija Edgar

melissa Duplechin Not much has changed about Duplechin since this photo was taken during her high school years, except maybe her fashion choices.

Photo courtesy of: Melissa Duplechin

mhshowler.com

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A

Arts and Entertainment

Behind the Curtain

A look at the challenges and perks of the spring musical

by Emma Wolters

A

ssembling any theatrical piece is any- said freshman Devon Hudiburg, an actor in the thing but easy, but a musical? Even musical.

Despite all of the complications and hardmore challenging. Not only are the actors required to learn lines but songs and intri- ships, putting on a musical can be a life changing experience; being so closely knit with the other cate choreography as well. Not to mention all of the hard work involved in initiating the musical students can build undying friendships. “You do before the actors are even there. bond with the people since you work so closely “The hardest part is the stuff that even the and for so long” said Hudiburg. One of du Freskids who are involved never get to see,” said ne’s favorite parts of theater is the comradery between everyone. “It’s such director Brian du Fresne. a rewarding thing to see According to him the behind “It’s such a rewarding the scenes work, commutake on a responsibility thing to see kids take on kids nication with the directors, and turn it into an amazing emotionally moving working with who owns the a responsibility and turn event. The whole process rights, and simply thinking it into an amazing of growing and moving about the artistry of the musical are the most difficult emotionally moving and kids working together parts. After all of this, once event.” is the most rewarding part of a musical for me” said the students are involved, du Fresne. blocking, casting, and prac- -Brian du Fresne Besides the two directicing come into play. tors, Monarch brags that it’s In du Fresne’s opinion, assigning roles and finding the perfect person for theatrical pieces are completely student run. That a role can be one of the hardest parts of the means that all the lighting, tech support, cosproduction. Though it is heartbreaking when tumes and some of the directing is done by stustudents don’t receive the role they want, most dents. In du Fresne’s opinion, this is a major asset try to remain optimistic. “It doesn’t really matter to the musical. “Being completely student run is what part you are, it’s just being in it that’s fun,” something we take great pride in,” said du Fresne.

“I like it (being student run) because it seems more close and personal,” said Hudiburg. Rent is showing February 27th through March 1st.

Each performance is at 7pm as well as a Saturday matinee. The cost is $7 for students, seniors and children and $10 for adults.

Rent is showing February 27th through March 1st. Each performance is at 7pm with a matinee on Saturday at 2pm.

The cast of Rent rehearsing La Vie Boheme after school. (Photo by Emma Wolters)

Love is an Open Door The evolution of love throughout Disney

by Ellie Oliver

F

rom their first movie in 1937 to the latest in 2013, Disney has evolved in the portrayal of love in its animated films. The princess stories have all been virtually the same: The prince pursues her for a day or two and once they meet, they fall madly in love and live happily ever after. That’s how it happens, right? Unfortunately, we aren’t all lucky enough to get hit by cupid’s arrow so soon in a relationship, and it might not always be the case that a prince falls in love with a princess. . .

From Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs to Cinderella, the thought of love at first sight was very prominent. As years have passed, however, falling in love so suddenly has become more of a 20th century fad and Disney has changed the way love works a little bit. Starting with The Princess and the Frog in 2009, Tiana and her prince actually got to know each other before falling in love and (spoiler alert) getting married.

The new movie Frozen came out in November of 2013. Two sisters learn that even though they

10 mhshowler.com

have differences, they can set those aside, and (spoiler alert) what ends up saving the younger sister in the end from a winter spell is not the true love from a man. Anna, the youngest sister, breaks free of this spell because of the act of love she does for her sister, not for the man she has been getting to know.

This movie also makes fun of what Disney once was with the song ‘Love is an Open Door’.

Anna sings it with a prince she just met and by the end of the song he asks her to marry him. Her older sister, Elsa, gets upset w i t h Anna, telling her that she cannot marry someone she just met.

Disney has flipped their

views on love and relationships since when they began their films. This movie has shown the first rumored gay couple in Disney. As Anna goes to find Elsa, she stops by a shop in the woods to buy winter clothing. Oaken owns the shop and tells Anna that his shop is complete with a sauna. The film cuts to a clip of his family snuggling inside. It shows three younger kids and two older looking people, one a man and one a woman.

Potentially, this older man could either be Oaken’s husband or an older son.

The same goes for the woman next to him. A wife or a daughter? There is no confirmation on this rumoured homosexual relationship, but if this is the case, then Disney has blossomed from what we all see as classic love stories to

more complicated modern ones.

Having successfully produce more than 50 movies, Disney has turned into a 21st century company accepting what the rest of the world is learning to accept as well. Not only giving the possibility of having a homosexual couple but also realizing that usually not everyone gets married after their first glance.

Images by Katie Berohn

A

Arts and Entertainment

Behind the Curtain

A look at the challenges and perks of the spring musical

by Emma Wolters

A

ssembling any theatrical piece is any- said freshman Devon Hudiburg, an actor in the thing but easy, but a musical? Even musical.

Despite all of the complications and hardmore challenging. Not only are the actors required to learn lines but songs and intri- ships, putting on a musical can be a life changing experience; being so closely knit with the other cate choreography as well. Not to mention all of the hard work involved in initiating the musical students can build undying friendships. “You do before the actors are even there. bond with the people since you work so closely “The hardest part is the stuff that even the and for so long” said Hudiburg. One of du Freskids who are involved never get to see,” said ne’s favorite parts of theater is the comradery between everyone. “It’s such director Brian du Fresne. a rewarding thing to see According to him the behind “It’s such a rewarding the scenes work, commutake on a responsibility thing to see kids take on kids nication with the directors, and turn it into an amazing emotionally moving working with who owns the a responsibility and turn event. The whole process rights, and simply thinking it into an amazing of growing and moving about the artistry of the musical are the most difficult emotionally moving and kids working together parts. After all of this, once event.” is the most rewarding part of a musical for me” said the students are involved, du Fresne. blocking, casting, and prac- -Brian du Fresne Besides the two directicing come into play. tors, Monarch brags that it’s In du Fresne’s opinion, assigning roles and finding the perfect person for theatrical pieces are completely student run. That a role can be one of the hardest parts of the means that all the lighting, tech support, cosproduction. Though it is heartbreaking when tumes and some of the directing is done by stustudents don’t receive the role they want, most dents. In du Fresne’s opinion, this is a major asset try to remain optimistic. “It doesn’t really matter to the musical. “Being completely student run is what part you are, it’s just being in it that’s fun,” something we take great pride in,” said du Fresne.

“I like it (being student run) because it seems more close and personal,” said Hudiburg. Rent is showing February 27th through March 1st.

Each performance is at 7pm as well as a Saturday matinee. The cost is $7 for students, seniors and children and $10 for adults.

Rent is showing February 27th through March 1st. Each performance is at 7pm with a matinee on Saturday at 2pm.

The cast of Rent rehearsing La Vie Boheme after school. (Photo by Emma Wolters)

Love is an Open Door The evolution of love throughout Disney

by Ellie Oliver

F

rom their first movie in 1937 to the latest in 2013, Disney has evolved in the portrayal of love in its animated films. The princess stories have all been virtually the same: The prince pursues her for a day or two and once they meet, they fall madly in love and live happily ever after. That’s how it happens, right? Unfortunately, we aren’t all lucky enough to get hit by cupid’s arrow so soon in a relationship, and it might not always be the case that a prince falls in love with a princess. . .

From Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs to Cinderella, the thought of love at first sight was very prominent. As years have passed, however, falling in love so suddenly has become more of a 20th century fad and Disney has changed the way love works a little bit. Starting with The Princess and the Frog in 2009, Tiana and her prince actually got to know each other before falling in love and (spoiler alert) getting married.

The new movie Frozen came out in November of 2013. Two sisters learn that even though they have differences, they can set those aside, and (spoiler alert) what ends up saving the younger sister in the end from a winter spell is not the true love from a man. Anna, the

10 mhshowler.com

youngest sister, breaks free of this spell because of the act of love she does for her sister, not for the man she has been getting to know.

This movie also makes fun of what Disney once was with the song ‘Love is an Open Door’.

Anna sings it with a prince she just met and by the end of the song he asks her to marry him.

Her older sister, Elsa, gets upset with Anna, telling her that she cannot marry someone she just met.

Disney has flipped their views on love and relationships

since when they began their films. This movie has shown the first rumored gay couple in Disney. As Anna goes to find Elsa, she stops by a shop in the woods to buy winter clothing.

Oaken owns the shop and tells Anna that his shop is complete with a sauna. The film cuts to a clip of his family snuggling inside.

It shows three younger kids and two older looking people, one a man and one a woman. Potentially, this older man could

either be Oaken’s husband or an older son. The same goes for the woman next to him.

A wife or a daughter? There is no confirmation on this rumoured homosexual relationship, but if this is the case, then Disney has blossomed from what we all see as classic love stories to more complicated modern ones.

Having successfully produce more than 50 movies, Disney has turned into a 21st century company accepting what the rest of the world is learning to accept as well. Not only giving the possibility of having a homosexual couple but also realizing that usually not everyone gets marPhotos by Howler Staff

Arts and Entertainment

Pop: A Dying Genre, or an Unappreciated Phenomenon?

P

by Brody Coronelli op is a genre which can be made generic; the formula of songs have, for many, become a transparent arrangement of ‘yeahs’, ‘ohs’, and ‘baby’ dubbed over tame, reluctant instrumentals. This storm of music which no longer builds upon music’s creative freedom is damaging how culture views pop itself - It has not only fabricated a crowd who simply think they’re too good for the music, but it also distracts from how great the genre can be when done with a bold, imaginative outlook. Here are four current pop artists who have prospected a rare, exceptional perspective on this style of music misconvieved by not only the hipster crowd, but anyone who has stumbled upon Top 40.

L

Photo credit: Dave Ma, Vagrant Records

T

The 1975

his Manchester quartet skyrocketed in popularity since the release of their self titled full length late in 2013, rising as not only a trend, but a black and white success story.

While The 1975 appear as a pop band at the first look, a deeper listen into these hymns of young, avant-garde spirit illustrate a quartet who have their image developed with sheer composure Punk undertones, glossy ambience, and nebulous vein each to stand by The 1975’s distinctiveness.

Their cinematic, debut album gathered all four of their hit singles and an additional library of hazy, often sleazy street stained anthems placing recklessness and romanticism at the forefront have defied traditional expectations, a feat coexisting with the silent teen rebellion that their music inspires. Influences like Michael Jackson, Talking Heads, ambient legend Brian Eno, and even the writing/directorial feats of John Hughes still remain authority on the state of youth spanning throughout these hymns on growing up and the negligent swagger it can carry with it. The band’s idea that The 1975 is, quintessentially, an extension of four personalities justifies the inconceivable, infectious relationship that fans have developed with their music. The 1975 stole the show in new blood finding a home in teenage culture’s ever growing clan of fashionable misfits.

James Blake

ondon-based James Blake’s washed out, art house style showcasing his tenor vocals and invigorating, cosmic compositions give his catalog a vast, atmospheric world in which his creative vision can thrive.

Blake has crafted a peculiar, extravagant sound of hazy R&B with just enough pop to keep it in the air; whether its the Burial and Stevie Wonder leverage, or musical accent reminiscent of modernized, low key trap music. The label of pop upon James Blake can be debated due to the extent of ingenious manipulation which has made its home in his multiple releases, including last year’s hit record Overgrown, or his 2011 self titled full length along with the Enough Thunder EP. Blake stands in the forefront of the modern storm of R&B sub genre, and in the growing spark of formerly indie UK artists finding fame in the United States.

Photo credit: Jasmine Safaeian

C

Banks

Received press photo

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Chvrches

his Glasgow trio, having charmingly changed the “u” in their name to a “v”, gained mainstream attention back in 2012 after they gained a supporting slot on Passion Pit’s U.K tour. They then went on to release their first full length album the following year. The effervescent, frosty vocals of vocalist Lauren Mayberry are digitized into a sound reminiscent of Depeche Mode and Prince by synth/ keyboardists Ian Cook and Martin Doherty, crafting a holographic, bounding sound. This trio has brought a positive, innovative image to the previously dreaded label “bubblegum pop,” and that alone is enough to turn heads.

alifornia based singer-songwriter Banks is, in stylistic elements, one of the most remarkable additions to popular music to have emerged over the past year. One of the many artists taking the black and white theme, Banks’ minimal amount of releases thus far span a transcendental plane of sensual, cryptic orchestration, icy R&B, and washed out tongue; a washed out tone flooding her aesthetic in a fog which complements the gritty, romantic motifs floating in throughout her songs. Banks’ LONDON EP released mid 2013 along with the other singles “Brain” and “Warm Water” among others can’t go unnoticed. For a refreshing, discolored take on pop from the eyes of an artist who will do nothing but go up from here, Banks cannot be missed.

March Horoscopes

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by Astrologer in residence Narcissa Luna

ne morning, I woke up with the ability to read all stars and constellations though I’ve never formally learned how to. These are just my predictions based off of what I feel from the stars, so although I may not be a pro, these are the readings that I’ve gotten from the stars.

Aries: (March 21-April 19): This month you’ll be baking just about every sweet you can think of. You’ll be making muffins, scones, and even a wedding cake or two. Your cake decorating skills will come into play this month too. Maybe your cake will even be noticed by the one and only Cake Boss!

Taurus: (April 20-May 20): This month Taurus, you’ll turn into a cartoon character. You may be everyone’s favorite crime fighting dog Scooby Doo, or the infamous cat with a lisp Sylvester. Although this might not be ideal for you, all your friends are sure to get a kick out of it.

Leo: (July 23-August 22): Watch Virgo: (August 23-September out this month Leo. Your body will 22): This month, Virgo, you’ll be be secreting some sort of substance going through massive climate that will act as an adhesive. For changes. No matter what the example, if you sit down in a chair weather is like outside, you might and are wearing shorts, you’ll have go from extreme heat to arctic to be sporting that chair for the rest cold in a matter of seconds. Try to of the month because it’ll be glued to you. It’ll only be prepare yourself and bring around a parka just in case. for a month so try to tough it out.

Capricorn: (December 22-JanSagittarius: (November uary 19): With St. Patrick’s Day 22-December 21): Christmas is coming up, you’ll strive to find the well over but you can’t seem to perfect way to be happy. Whether it get it out of your head. You’ll be searching for that special green still be singing Christmas carols, shirt or just gathering all the corn you’ve written the perfect letter beef and cabbage you can find, to Santa, and your house is still things seem to be in your favor, Capricorn. decorated in lights. Hopefully after another full month of Christmas spirit, you’ll be back to normal by April.

Cancer: (June 21-July 22): Have you ever been in a band before? Well if you have, you’ll be well prepared for this month.

You’ll put on a very successful one man band show that will travel the US in only a month’s time. It’ll be fully equipped with a drumset, guitar, bass and keyboard all played by you. Enjoy! This will be the experience of a lifetime!

Gemini: (May 21-June 20): This month you’ll have unusual cravings. For example, you might crave a pickle smothered in peanut butter or a hot dog dipped in ice cream. Your taste buds will eventually get adjusted by the end of the month, but these cravings are sure to die out

by March.

Libra: (September 23 -October 22): This month, every time you sneeze, you’ll find $5 somewhere.

It might be in your pocket, on the ground, or it might just appear in your wallet. Not everyone is a fan of being sick or having a cold, but this month it could sure be beneficial to you.

Scorpio: (October 23-Novem ber 21): The stars aren’t seeming to line up very well for you this month, Scorpio. I can’t seem to get an accurate reading. This month you’ll just have to go at it alone without any guidance.

Best of luck to you.

Aquarius (January 20-February 18): This month, Aquarius, you might feel your back aching. Don’t worry about seeing a doctor, this month you’ll just be feeling a bit like a senior citizen. You’ll ask for senior discounts at the movies and you’ll be sure to sign up for every bingo gig you hear about. It will just last for

a month, then you will regain your youth.

Pisces: (February 19-March 20): You might have eaten a few too many fun-size bags of M&M’s because this month you’ll shrink down to be super small. Make sure that you don’t wear any bright shirts or you might get mistaken for a little piece of candy.

By next month, you’ll be back to normal.

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Arts and Entertainment

Putting a prime focus on rock and roll Three seniors show incredible musical talent

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by Oliver Ullman t the peak of euphoria you stare at a screaming crowd, thrashing out a dizzying mixture of chords and rhythms.

You’re performing your latest platinum album to a crowd of loyal and adoring fans, wondering if life gets any better than this.

Who hasn’t dreamed about being a famous rock star, constantly riding a wave of praise and fame? Indeed, thousands of high school bands are formed each year. Prime Focus, a multi-genre power trio consisting of Monarch seniors Hudson Knott, Davis Conklin, and Taylor Friesth may be able to pull it off.

Knott, the bass player, started playing acoustic bass in fifth grade when his girlfriend talked him into it. Conklin, the guitarist, started playing in fourth grade with his dad, who also plays guitar casually. Friesth started playing in third grade when he saw his friend’s 360 drum set. All three have never looked back since, making music a major part of their lives.

Conklin, Friesth, and Knott know each other well, and have a distinct but intense passion for music. As fellow musicians, they have worked together in groups like jazz bands, marching band, and Drumline. They also have a substantial background in several different genres of music, and incorporate that into their songs.

“We play Progressive Rock, Blues, Jazz, some Alternative Rock, and Funk.,” said Conklin. The band got together about a year ago. “We were in a band before, but we became Prime Focus

when Hudson replaced our last bass player,” said Conklin Since then the band has composed several songs and has even put out their first EP, Focal Point, which you can hear on the Howler’s website Mhshowler.com.

As a band Prime Focus has had some high points. Besides recording the first EP, the band has played in front of tens of thousands on the fourth of July at Folsom Field.

“It was awesome getting to play in front of so many people,” said Knott.The band plans to continue performing whenever possible.

Where will they go from here? Though Prime Focus would like to stay together, that may just not be an option. “It really depends on where we all decide to go to college. If we’re all in opposite corners of the country it’ll be pretty hard,” said Conklin.

All three said that the band was a motivation factor for staying in state, but even if the band separates, all three will continue to play. Friesth and Knott plan to play professionally, though Conklin says that while he wants to major in engineering he From left to right: Band members Davis Conklin, Taylor Friesth and Hudson Knott joined by Dane Fogdall at a performance at says he’ll “definitely want to keep playing music Mojo’s Music Academy. (Photo by Luke Dahlgren) on the side.”

For now, the band will keep rockin’ and rollin’ along, composing, performing and playing their hearts out.

Dalton’s Cinema Spot- The lego movie W

by Dalton Valette ho would have thought it possible that an entire movie could be made (and made well!) about Legos? The Lego Movie centers on Emmet (Pratt), a typical, generic construction worker living the same old, same old, box like life of all the citizens in his town, all of whom live under the leadership of President Business (Ferrell). Suddenly, Emmet’s typical life of non-adventure becomes entangled in a mystical prophecy that claims he is the Master Builder who will save all of Lego kind from President Business and his secret weapon, the Kragle.

I walked in with the lowest possible expectations for this movie. Yes, I loved playing with Lego’s as a kid, but I didn’t think it was conceivable to have an engaging movie from a toy line. There have

been so many ham handed, lazily written toy based movies in the past (G. I. Joe, Transformers, every single Barbie theme movie), so I was skeptical. And with The Lego Movie, I was floored. Not only is this a great children movie, but is one of the rare animated films that children and adults alike will love. There is a perfect blend of childlike ecstasy and excitement while subtle adult humor is peppered throughout to keep all the audience thoroughly entertained.

The storyline is cute and has a thoughtful if not cheesy meaning to it (as stated in the movie, the meaning could

PG 100 minutes Starring: Chris Pratt, Elizabeth Banks, Will Ferrell 4.5/5 Stars

belong on a cat poster). The script is sharply written and the voice acting ensemble does an excellent job.

Unique and captivating animation leads to a visually pleasing final product, even if at times the action seems a tad frantic and manic.

This film manages to put an end to bad toy based movies and open the door for possible similar movies, be that good or bad for the future of movies. (I.G. 2009’s Avatar creating the boom of 3-D movies). A fast paced and enjoyable film makes this a treasure in animated films and it will be difficult for future animated films of 2014 to live up to these high standards. With witty one liner’s, clever storytelling, and an addictively catchy song to boot, The Lego Movie proves there are still some great ideas out there for movies, even if this is technically one giant advertisement. But, it’s a product worth buying. The Lego Movie is a must see film of 2014.

Photo credit: Warner Bros.

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Sports

Up for Disc-ussion

Why Monarch’s ultimate team isn’t getting the recognition it deserves

Senior Son Nguyen snatches the disc to complete a pass for Monarch. (Photo credit: Ken Forman)

by Claire Green

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onarch is a school of champions. Year after year, some of Colorado’s highest athletic awards are brought back to Coyote Country in a wide range of sports. With three cross country state titles, a football title, and multiple appearances in the basketball state tournament, it’s hard to remember all the other high performing sports teams here at Monarch.

In fact, what most people don’t know, is that the Coyote’s Ultimate Frisbee team has won more state titles than any other MoHi sport, in both co-ed, men’s and women’s seasons.

Ultimate Frisbee is not a CHSAA sanctioned sport, meaning that it is considered a club and does not have a state tournament in affiliation with the Colorado High School Athletic Association. As a sanctioned sport, the team would be forced to hold tryouts, and limit who could play

Junior Reed Forman scans the field against Broomfield on Saturday, November 9th, 2013 in pool play. The mixed ultimate team finished third at the state tournament and won their game against Broomfield 15-1. (Photo credit: Ken Forman)

for the team. However, MoHi’s Ultimate team is built around creating great players, not picking them. Anyone can participate, there are no cuts, and it’s a two season sport giving players two opportunities to be part of a team of champions.

Senior Jessie Chesnut said, “The negatives to being CHSAA certified would be that it would be more expensive to play, less people would play because we’d have to have tryouts and people wouldn’t be able to join during the season or

miss practice as easily for other things”. Because Ultimate does not have the requirements of sanctioned sports, it allows for players to participate I outside activities, which is a huge draw for students with varied interests.

Although not having to hold tryouts creates a welcoming culture, the benefits to being recognized by CHSAA outweigh the negatives. “Being CHSAA certified would help us get field space easier and it would make more people want to play because they can get gym credits” Chesnut said. It would also help provide transportation to meets, uniforms and the recognition they deserve. Senior Son Ngyuen has been playing for Monarch’s Ultimate team for four years, and agrees that CHSAA certification would really help the sport gain the recognition it deserves, as well as set up a good future for the sport here at MoHi. “Leaving a legacy and setting standards for younger players is the main reason I play the sport. Monarch Ultimate and high school Ultimate being affiliated with CHSAA would make a huge impact.”

Most of the school’s teams compete in some sort of competition out of the state, but very few compete on a national stage. Ultimate is one of those few. In fact, Monarch’s Ultimate team competed last year in Oregon for the Western Championships, the equivalent of a national championships-and won. However, even with this outstanding victory, the team was not rewarded by the school in a fashion matching up to the recognition of more popular spectator sports.

Chesnut said, “We have more state championships than almost every other sport and we’re the only sport with a “national” title, yet we don’t get any recognition such as assemblies, and we’re just as much of a sport as football or cross country.”

With such an impressive list of wins, the lack of recognition is something the team would really like to change. “We would be recognized as a sport at Monarch. I’ve always wanted to see a “State Championship” banner in the gym for Ultimate” said Nguyen.

Senior Will Cordell (right) looks to move the disc downfield against Broomfield on Saturday, November 9th, 2013 at mixed ultimate frisbee states. The Coyotes won the game by a score of 15-1 and finished 3rd in the tournament. (Photo by David Andrews)

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Preseason Insanity united in blue Baseball boys talk about their intense preseason workout regime

Lacrosse breaks school rivalries

by Micaela Marquez

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ast year, Monarch’s baseball team had a fairly good season. The players had a lot of talent. Being second in the league, junior Kyle Scholtz says there are hopes of finishing in the top two, or three this year.

The team is looking for another good season this year. These Coyotes are working hard by building their physical strength. The workouts the boys are doing are quite intense. Scholtz said, “We have a weightlifting program, so it’ll switch off like arms then legs. That’s all just lifting and that’ll be like forty minutes. It’s kind of like a Crossfit workout, so it’ll be doing as many reps as you can in a certain amount of time. We just do a lot of stuff like that with a lot of reps that just get really tiring.” He also says they do running that incorporates core workouts. For example they will do a 100 yard sprint and then 50 situps, a 100 yard sprint and then 50 push ups, and so forth.

Sophomore Zach Sattler said, “We do what’s called a WOD, and that’s our ‘workout of the day’ which is usually something crazy our trainer comes up with. One time we had to run a mile, do 200 push ups, 250 air squats and then 300 situps and then run another mile. So it’s just something crazy like that we always have to do at the end of the workout.”

Both Scholtz and Sattler say the lifting isn’t that hard, but overall the workouts are kept at a pretty tough level.

These strenuous workouts are definitely bettering them as players. Scholtz said, “You can tell when you’re hitting, and you can tell you’ve gotten stronger over the off season.” Scholtz and Sattler agree that the program is most certainly improving them on the field.

It might seem crazy why these boys even put up with the demanding training sessions. With passion for the sport, Sattler said, “Baseball is something that just kinda lets me not think and just play...get away from everything. It’s just a game I love to play”.

300 situps 250 airsquats

100 yard sprint?

Yikes!

Girl’s lacrosse team huddles up during the varsity state championship game at the end of last year’s season (Photo

said the coach, Genny Horning.

Having a team from multiple schools does a lot more than just improve team bonding. Having a diverse team also allows for a bigger pool of students that one team cater to. “I love having girls from different schools on the team. We have a bigger pool to chose from and I have made so many good friends through this team,” said senior defender Lauren Appenzeller.

“We get a good mix of girls and a bunch of different personalities, and it helps us expand our friend group and get the word out to a lot more schools than just Monarch.”

said Bradley.

The future is sounding bright for the program.

Already, lacrosse is growing in size, and the

by Conner Lund team couldn’t be happier. “Lacrosse is growing so much in colorado, especially for colleges and lmost every sport in high school consists high schools. CU just announced themselves as of one school team battling against rival teams. However, as spring sports start their division 1 and this is the first year of that. Of course Lacrosse is bigger in the east coast, but it is seasons, there is one sport that is united with rival schools, rather than rivals against them. This sport is definitely growing in the west coast.” said Bradley.

With the program growing, as well as the sheer girl’s lacrosse.

In football, it has been Broomfield. In basketball, dedication of the team, women’s lacrosse is hiking to the peak of the league. Although last year they Fairview. But in women’s lacrosse, the rival team doesn’t even reside within the district. Instead, girl’s came up short in the championship, they are looking to take the title of league champions. lacrosse is a team made up from schools all around “We have some really committed and dediBoulder Valley. “We’ve got 12 different schools [on cated players that have really worked hard during the team]. We have girls from Monarch, Boulder, the season and during the offseason, they are just Fairview, Niwot, Dawson, and Holy Family,” said really driven. I’m a big believer in the team driving junior Skye Bradley. their goals, and if we are all really committed and Girl’s lacrosse is one of the only sports to have if we keep that up then we can definitely reach this mix of players from across the district. Howthat goal, and we have a lot of talent, returning ever this lack of connection within the classroom talent, and committed and strong players.” said doesn’t stop the team from being a powerhouse Horning. “We’re hoping to win state this year throughout the state. because last year we lost by ten points to Creek so “We got the extra challenge of travel and we finished second, which was the first time that transportation and getting everyone to practices we ever made it to state in the whole program,” and games, but I really appreciate how they come said Bradley. together on the field. We do a lot of bonding off the field at different times so they get to know each other, but I really think it provides a great opportunity for them to come together for a common goal,” credit: Paula Nylen).

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Photo by Micaela Marquez

going swimmingly Freshman swimmer aims for Olympics

by Jake Baur and Miguel Brache

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veryone knows that the levels of sports teams go from freshman, to junior varsity, to varsity, but what comes after that?

Freshman Sidney Trimm, a varsity swimmer for Monarch High School and the Barracudas club in Thornton, is looking for that very step: the Olympics. With Olympic level times, Sidney shoots to get into the Olympic swimming team by year 2022.

“I want to make Olympic Trials by 2016. My shot to make the Olympic team is in 2022 when I’ve been in college training. For me to make the Olympics in 2016 would be an absolute miracle,” said Trimm. Trimm feels very passionate about swimming, and has been wanting to make Olympics for a long time. Her best time has

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been 58 seconds in the 100 back, which is just above the average 55 for Olympic swimmers.

Trimm has been swimming for four years and she trains twice a day. The first time being for her high school team at the Louisville Recreation Center. Her second practice is for her club team, Cudas. Trimm’s practice on the high school team lasts for two hours. Her club practice lasts for two and a half hours. Club meets for swimming are every other weekend. The high school swim meets happen once to twice a week.

Trimm swims with teams of girls who vary from freshman to seniors. “I feel that I have the best teams in the world, both High School and Club,” said Trimm. Trimm’s teams are very supportive, helpful, and caring for their teammates.

“They are like my second family,” said Trimm.

With all this swimming, academic, and social

life, it could possibly be a bit hard to manage.

Sidney says she does homework with any time she can get in between practices. That way, she can keep her grades up. Trimm said that is a really tough process to be able to manage sports, grades, friends, and other general things in life at the same time. “Swimming has kept me out of trouble and made me stay on top of school.

It’s also taught me to balance my priorities, like school and friends,” said Trimm.

Although it has been a struggle finding balance between school work and sports, Trimm has developed a natural passion for swimming.

“I’m just so thankful to have everyone support and believe in me,” said Trimm. This passion has gotten her on to an amazing High School varsity team, and a well-organized club team.

Freshman Sidney Trimm poses during a swim meet. (Photo by Kerrie Trimm)

Sports

national signing day: February fifth

by Emma Gooding-Lord

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ith just one semester of high school left, many Monarch seniors have begun making big decisions about their futures. This month eleven of Monarch’s athletic standouts took big steps toward their futures when they participated in Monarch’s athletic signing. From cross country to football, these student athletes sealed the deal by officially committing to their schools of choice.

Kaitlyn Benner University of Colorado Track and Cross Country Scholarship

EMMY GAZAWAY

Trinidad State University Volleyball Scholarship

“I chose CU because it is the best overall fit for me. I am a little nervous about running for such an amazing program, but I’m excited to start running for CU and see where that takes me.”

“I picked [Trinidad State] because the second I walked into that gym I felt at home, they were so welcoming. The girls made me feel like I was already on the team. Being a collegiate athlete is something I’ve wanted since I was in middle school.”

Zach Hilliard

Jay MacIntyre

Minnesota State University - Moorhead Football Walk-on with possible scholarship

University of Colorado Football Scholarship

“I am very grateful for the opportunity that the Minnesota State coaches are giving me to play football. I can’t thank my parents, teammates, and friends enough for pushing me and making me the athlete I am today.”

Cody Powers Western State Colorado University Football Walk-on with possible scholarship “The big thing that I am looking forward to is being able to play football for another four years, which has been my dream since I started playing in 5th grade. I really like the coach’s team philosophy.”

Parker Sitton Arkansas State University Track and Cross County Walk-on with possible Scholarship “I chose [Arkansas State] because the coach is absolutely phenomenal and his training philosophy is unique. I can really see myself improving.

I love the atmosphere of the school and the sports management program.”

Ashley litoff Rhodes College Track and Cross Country Scholarship “I’m really excited to have the opportunity to run in college and I’m excited to see how much I can improve.”

*Photos by Jessie Chestnut

“[The University of Colorado] is a great university and I have always dreamed to be a part of a football program like CU. I’m looking forward to it.”

claire green University of Arizona Track and Cross Country Scholarship “I’m looking forward to joining such a great team. Something I really liked about Arizona’s program is that they train their athletes to be life-long runners.”

MEGAN LACY Willamette University Soccer Scholarship “I’m really excited to play college soccer, I’ve always wanted to be a collegiate athlete and I can’t believe it’s actually happening! [Willamette University] has a great soccer team with great academics, and I was looking for both of those things.”

cassie owens University of Florida Soccer Scholarship “I really like the soccer program [at the University of Florida] and the school is just what I am looking for. I’m really excited to be a collegiate athlete! I’m a little nervous about how much harder it will be.”

kody Mommaerts University of Northern Colorado Scholarship “I really like the coaching staff as well as the tradition of winning. I am looking forward to [playing college football] a lot. I’m pumped!”

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Print Editor-in-Chief Katie Berohn Online Editor-in-Chief David Andrews Opinions Dalton Valette News Conner Lund Life Mia Mulvahill Arts and Entertainment Ellie Oliver Sports Olivia Coleman Will Petersen Copy Anna Blanco Emma Gooding-Lord Business Manager Tyler DeBord Ad Sales Manager Arika Rooney Subscription Manager Jack Howard Reporters Will Bangs Jake Baur Miguel Brache Brody Coronelli Sophia Cox Wright Charlotte Crist Terran Fox Daisy Fuchs Elaina Funk Emma Gooding-Lord Claire Green Tyler Lund Micaela Marquez Adrian Schoeneshoefer Grace Tallmon Oliver Ullman Emma Wolters Seth Widner Adviser Bonnie Katzive

The Howler strives to inform, educate, and entertain the student body of Monarch High School as a monthly student-produced newspaper and open forum for student free expression and community opinions. “Expression made by students in The Howler is not an expression of Boulder Valley School District Board policy and the School District and its employees are immune from any civil or criminal action based on any expression made or published by students in The Howler.�

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