the pack The Student Voice of Monarch High School
the
Boulder
Bubble
329 Campus Dr.│Louisville, Colorado│ 80027 Volume 21 Issue 10 May 2018
the
Boulder
Bubble
This is a celebration of who we are, what we wear, and what we believe. Welcome to the Boulder Bubble. Ask any person from Boulder. They will vouch that they own at least one pair of Birks. And we all know AT LEAST one person that practices eastern medicine. We all can confess that we’ve tried tarot reading and have listened to the Grateful Dead. We are the people who define Boulder’s iconic “bubble.” From hiking the flatirons to our Buddha bowls, we grew up here. Welcome to our Boulder Bubble.
OU FO
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OD
The food in Boulder is unlike anywhere else. There is always something for everyone, from non-meat alternatives to smoothie bowls to Indian Buffets, Boulder has every type of cuisine that could want.
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People in Boulder embrace the outdoors, and try to get as much fresh air as possible. It’s easy to see why. Boulder has some of the most beautiful hiking trails in the state. There’s nothing like getting to the top of a perfect trail and seeing a beautiful view of Boulder.
HIPPIES
Boulder is the home of the hippies. Our spirituality, our love for music festivals and hippie bands like the Grateful Dead, and our fashion choices are all influenced by living in Boulder. We have created their own community, filled with similar hippies.
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the pack The Student Voice of Monarch High School
Editor-in-Chief India Turner
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Team Editors Haley Breit Evie Cuffaro Lia Farrell Lindsay Haight Amelia Krueger Cara Racenstein
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15 TIC S
Boulder is filled with more than just left-sided liberals. There are people from every political party, which is what makes it so special. There are activists, different races, different religions, and so much diversity in just one city.
Podcast Editor Lincoln Roch Webmasters Brandon Phillips Nathan Phillips Staff Writers Estella Barrett Ruby Cervantes Savannah Griffis Sebastian Manzanares Hahn Park Jonah Speyer Maddie Stilson
UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO
Adviser Ben Reed
Our Mission: MOHI Media is
an organization the appeals to the cliques of Monarch High School through discussing trends, staying real, and keeping it hype. We promote discussion by speaking about what needs to be said.
Our Policies: Opinions or
expressions made by students in this publication are not expressions of Boulder Valley School District Board policy. The district and its employees are immune from any civil action based on any expression made for or published by students. The Pack is an open forum for and by the students, faculty, and community of Monarch High School. The Pack is willing to accept and publish any appropriate articles submitted by students of MHS and reserves the right to edit any of these articles. We will not print letters sent to us without a name and signature. Submit letters to mhshowler@gmail.com
PE
Boulder is lucky to have a top rated university right in our backyard. It is perfect for those who love to stay active and have fun outside while still being at an amazing educational institution.
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12 ST RE ET
Pearl Street is one of the most iconic locations in Boulder. It has so many different places like unique stores to shop in, cute cafes and restaurants, awesome street performers, and it is the perfect place to have a photo shoot. Pearl Street has a vintage, free spirited feel, with an amazing view of the flatiron mountains.
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1 The Pack’s Picks
The best places to grab a bite in Boulder 1. Illegal Pete’s
Better than Chipotle because they actually mix up your ingredients. (Try the chicken burrito.)
2. Native Foods
All the food is 100% vegan and natural without being too pricey. (Try the taco salad.)
3. Whole Sol Blend Bar
Delicious juices and sweet or savory bōls. (Try the OG Bol.) 4. Kathman Du An Indian and Nepali based restaurant. (Try the chicken tikka masala from the buffet.) 5. Flagstaff House Located on the side of Flagstaff Mountain, they have a beautiful view of Boulder. (Try the New York strip steak.) 4 the pack
D IS G D F
When it comes to eats, Boulder can’t be beat
By Evie Cuffaro, Lia Farrell, Maddie Stilson, Hahn Park, and Cara Racenstein
Boulder’s a pretty unique place in many ways, but the eating habits of locals take the cake (pardon the pun). From vegan foods to the growing popularity of juice bars, if it’s healthy and obscure, you can find it in Boulder. Ready to attest to this is Kaylee Cofield ‘21, who recently moved to Boulder from Jonesboro, Ark. “I’ve never had a pear or a mango, but I came here, and it was this big deal,” Cofield said. “It’s just so different here from Arkansas in the way people act and stuff.” To introduce her to Boulder cuisine, Cofield visited several eateries in Boulder with The Pack, including the Native Foods Cafe, Whole Sol Blend Bar, and the ever-incredible Illegal Pete’s. “I really liked Illegal Pete’s,” Cofield said. “I’d say 9.5 points out of 10 for the food, but 8 out of 10 overall because it was so pricey.” In Boulder, it’s a more common sight to see a health focused grocery store like Alfalfa’s than it is to see a WalMart.
Oscar Epp ‘20 works at Alfalfa’s Market and has experienced Boulder’s food obsession firsthand. “Here, people really appreciate organic and different foods from other places,” he said. “They care about what they eat and are willing to spend more money to do that.” The concern can serve to alienate people new to the area, however, who did not grow up around a health-centered culture. Cofield agreed. “People here are really weird about, like, everything,” she said. “Like, I don’t even know what fair trade is, and it seems actually important here.” In Boulder, it seems that people gather and bond over eating habits. “Other places, people don’t really care, but there’s a whole community here around it,” Epp said. While the fixation Boulderites have on healthy food can be strange, it all adds up to food that’s just good. Boulder’s got some of the best eating around.
Food 5
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Rocky Mountain high
Whether it be running, hiking, or climbing, the Flatirons give everybody something to do By Lincoln Roch, Estella Barrett, Lindsay Haight, and Lia Farrell
Fitness isn’t something Boulderites take lightly. From running to rock climbing, people from Boulder tend to be of the more active sort. Olympic hopefuls flock to Boulder from all over the nation to train at the high altitude, to run on the beautiful trails, and to scale our amazing flatirons. This Disneyland for runners is the backyard Tori Sylvester ‘21 grew up with. She began, like many kids in Boulder, by running our infamous 10k. “I’ve been running for a while. I used to run Bolder Boulder when I was little and that transferred over to my high school cross country and track career,” Sylvester said. Freshman year, Sylvester started running for cross country and track, where she got her varsity letter. This year, she qualified for the state track meet with Monarch’s all-star relay team. For Sylvester, running has allowed her to have fun even through the bustle of academics. “It’s given me a balance in high school between school and fun just because I like to run and I like to be around the people on my team,” she said. Although it can be mentally challenging, Sylvester knows how to commit. “I think it’s a lot of self motivation to want to get outside and do a workout even though it might be hard to push yourself,” she said. “I feel more clear minded, and it gives me that feeling of getting a workout, which is pretty nice.” That feeling can be felt by anyone, not just full time runners. Haley Welch ‘21 doesn’t do track or cross country but still finds runnings benefits. “It gives you a break from grades, expectations from teachers, and a busy life. Allowing you to take a break and take in the beauty of all the nature Colorado gives us,” Welch said. Running isn’t all the flatirons to offer, however. Boulder is known internationally for rock climbing as well.
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Olivia Shogrin ‘21, a frequent participant in rock climbing competitions, knows the draw of Boulder’s climbs well. “We met this family from Korea at a competition, and they didn’t speak any English,” Shogrin said. “We didn’t speak the same language, but we were able to connect with climbing. That’s part of the reason why I love climbing. I’ve met some of the most amazing people.” Shogrin started climbing in 2015 after quitting gymnastics. “I didn’t really know the sport. I thought it was just something you did at like birthday parties and stuff,” she said. Competing in Boulder has become more and more difficult, according to Shogrin. “It’s hard, especially with competing, because people even move to Boulder for competing and to get better because the best teams and everything are in Boulder,” Shogrin said. The easy part about climbing in Boulder is the fact that there are a lot of climbing gyms. “We live in Boulder, so there’s climbing gyms everywhere. It’s become a lot more popular, so you can pretty much find a climbing gym in any town now in Colorado, which is really nice,” Shogrin said. Rock climbing isn’t about fear, it’s more about the climb and how you process it. “I feel like I should be more scared because I’m like 100 feet up, but it’s not really fear. It’s just the realization of how cool it is. Like, how small I am compared to the rock. Because all your problems are literally 100 feet below you. It’s like a dream, like you’re just climbing and nothing else matters.” Boulder’s proximity to Denver International Airport allows people from around the world to train in Boulder. People who grew up in Boulder, however, don’t have to travel to get the experience that makes their hometown so well-known; it’s all in their backyard.
Fitness & Outdoors 7
Take a hike
Why Boulder’s residents love the trails By Lindsay Haight and Lia Farrell One of Boulder’s greatest draws is its beautiful park system. Boulder boasts around 110 miles of hiking trails, and its residents take advantage of that. Hiking is a favorite of Boulder County residents, and for good reason. “Hiking makes me really excited, and I love being in nature,” Anna Locker ‘20 said. A personal favorite of hers is the Upper Big Bluestem trail, as well as Mount Sanitas. “Mount Sanitas is pretty cool,” she said. “It’s kind of difficult. When you get to the top, you can see all of Boulder.” It’s not just about the physical activity for her. “I get to connect with myself in a deeper way,” she said. Part of it is not just connecting with herself, it’s getting away from the craziness of people, school, and everyday life. “It feels right for me to be out in nature,” Locker said. “Rather than in a building or in school, I just can connect with the plants and the animals more than I can with people.” It’s similar for Ben Hayden ‘21. He enjoys getting away from technology and being able to connect with people. “When I do [hike], I go out with my friends and family because it’s a chance to grow closer to them,” he said. Though Monarch students love the hikes in Boulder, the whole Boulder area is driven to experience nature. Monarch K-8 has a club for seventh and eighth graders that does fundraising to go to Moab, Utah for an outdoor education trip. They get to explore many hikes and see nature in a different light. Locker’s best hike was on this trip. “There were really cool slot canyons that we climbed and went through,” she said. “That was probably the coolest hike of my entire life.” Despite her adventures in different places she still loves the flatirons and Boulder for her hikes. “There are a lot of great hikes in Boulder up in the flatirons,” Locker said. “I like to go on the trail Upper Big Bluestem a lot.” Overall, Boulder has many hiking trails that are available through the spring, summer, and fall. As summer is coming up, now is a great time to get out and try some of them and enjoy the nature.
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The best trails of Boulder By Lia Farrell
Sunshine Lion’s Lair Loop
This is a great alternative to those who find Mount Sanitas to be a challenge. Right next to the token Boulder hike, this loop is not very steep, and it has a great variety of wildflowers. At about five miles long, it’ll take a while to complete, but, overall, it’s a nice, relaxing hike.
Meyer’s Homestead Trail
This trail is located in Walker Ranch and is great for people of all skill levels. It has plenty of wildflowers and a great view for almost the whole hike. It’s five and a half miles long and sees a medium amount of traffic, so don’t worry about it being too busy. All in all, it’s a super relaxing hike that can be fun alone or in a group.
Bear Peak
This is definitely the hardest hike on the list, but the results are worth the struggle. It starts out on the South Mesa trail, and then you have to cross through Shadow Canyon to get to Bear Peak itself. At nearly eight miles, it’s definitely not an short hike, but the incredible views are worth it. (The dogs you see on South Mesa are pretty cool, too.)
Fitness & Outdoors 9
3
New Age Hippies By Cara Racenstein, Evie Cuffaro, Savannah Griffis and Jonah Speyer
“I do a I do s lot of me d o a lot me rituals itation. of . essen crystals, I have a t of my ial oils and nd f witch riends are a lot cr natur aft. I real into ly lov e.” e -Arie s Glo ster
e aus of a c e d b ore gs, e k m n hoo ow is cordi It’s s a e . h r “I w live s the really e h n the g tha ople, at’s t m e h thin the p uff. T see ja t like live s ey go the on th s ssa rea ds.” a r P ban -Mary 10 the pack
“God, there are so many Grateful Dead songs that I like that it would be hard for me to pick one... there are thousands and thousands of songs...” -Mary Prassa
Prassa’s Picks
t re abou ’ u o y f I “ k off a to brea nch from a r b e l t lit ask it a tree, ion and permiss you nk say tha t be and jus l for it.” u f e t a r g loster -Aries G
A Language arts teacher shares her favorite jam band songs
1. Surprise Valley, by Widespread Panic 2. Terrapin Station, by Grateful Dead 3. Fire on the Mountain, by Grateful Dead
Stay wild, moon child
4. Soulshine, by Government Mule 5. Midnight Rider, by The Allman Brothers Band
A look into the crystal ball of Boulder
H
ippies. A lifestyle here in Colorado where opening your third eye or going on a psychedelic journey doesn’t seem that strange. There’s more to hippies than always being mellowed out, the tie dye, or talking slow. Some of those aspects are overlooked. For example, hippie music. Language arts teacher Ms. Mary Prassa knows what it’s all about. “My first Grateful Dead show was in 1981,” she said. Ms. Prassa has been listening to psychedelic rock for some time now as she has attended numerous concerts of jam bands similar to Grateful Dead, including Government Mule, Phish, Widespread Panic, and Spafford. She says that she has seen well over 100 concerts alone of the Grateful Dead before and after singer and lead guitarist Jerry Garcia died. “There’s been conglomerations of the Dead since then, and I’ve gone to a lot of those shows, too,” she said. In total, she estimates that she has been to over 5,000 shows and music festivals by various jam bands that she enjoys. After attending so many shows, Prassa has developed an understanding as to why so many people feel connected to jam bands. “I think the Grateful Dead has that vibe,” she said, “The music that I listen to stemmed from the Grateful Dead and are mostly jam bands.” Prassa isn’t the only one who has tasted the bohemian culture of the Boulder Bubble. Aries Gloster ’22 fully embraces the lifestyle of a typical Boulder hippie. “I grew up in a household with that kind of stuff--medicine cards, crystals, and essential oils,” Gloster said. For Gloster, this way of life was something she chose to enjoy
once she matured. “It wasn’t a super prominent part in my life until I grew up and decided to take part in it more,” she said. This style of living has impacted her in various ways and is something that she can turn to in order to escape the disarray of life. “When I’m struggling with life, I turn to spirituality and do my medicine cards, hoping to find some clarity in my struggles.” One of the struggles Gloster has encountered is the harsh judgment and stereotypes of the public eye. “People like to call spirituality hoodoo voodoo, which I think is hilarious, and I love it so much, but a lot of the time hoodoo voodoo is supposed to be negative,” she said. “A lot of times, it consists of voodoo dolls and usually the more negative spells.” Even though people may doubt the way Gloster chooses to live her life, she has people that she is able to approach that understand her. “I used to spend a lot of time with my grandma in the mountains doing medicine cards, and she told me all about her hippie days.” Another way she endorses the hippie life is through various rituals. “So there are a few different rituals, which sometimes include fire,” she said. “There’s also rituals of reaching out to people who have passed away. It’s very positive. It’s not bringing back the dead or anything, but it’s like asking for guidance or help from somebody,” Gloster said. Even though she has limited experience with things such as rituals, she wants to expand her knowledge on the subjects. “I’m planning on getting into a program that focuses on readings, like medicine cards and even astral projection,” Gloster said. Gloster isn’t the only one learning. Many people don’t know the full extent to the word “hippie.” It’s not just saying, “Yeah, man,” over and over, or being obsessed with peace signs. There’s an entire lifestyle and culture behind it. Hippies 11
4
Pearl Street Mall
by Haley Breit, Ruby Cervantes, Amelia Krueger, India Turner and Brandon Phillips
The can’t miss mall Pearl Street Mall originally opened in 1977, and it’s theorized that the name comes from one of the original founders of Boulder themselves. The mall has been the heart of Boulder for many years, and it will be for many years to come.
The can’t miss shop The second you walk into Lush, the magnificent scents of all of their soaps and bath bombs hit you. The store is covered ceiling to floor in fun colors and displays of their products. Although a little on the pricey side, Lush transforms your bathroom into a spa.
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The facts you need
Did you know that Pearl Street Mall actually only runs between 11th and 15th street, and the rest is just a regular street in Boulder? Throughout the whole street, over 1000 shops and restaurants call Pearl Street home.
The can’t miss restaurant
Pizza Colore is difficult to find, but it’s worth the visit. Located right next to Alpaca Connection, the smell of this pizzeria’s pesto and legendary pepperoni lure hungry shoppers in daily. Your cravings will be satisfied.
Pearl Street 13
Bolder in
Boulder Boulder has shaped a frequent Pearl Street visitor in many ways By Ruby Cervantes
Staying in Boulder was never her plan. When Julia Conn made the choice to drop out of CSU before her first semester of freshman year, it was an impulse decision. “I already knew Boulder because I’d grown up visiting Pearl Street Mall on the weekends. I love the clutter, the different shops, and the way it’s just all over the place. There’s not one shop that’s like the other,” Conn said. “I wasn’t hugely familiar with Fort Collins. It was almost an hour away from home. It would be hard for me to go
home if I needed to. Most of my friends were going to CU anyways. It just seemed like the best option when I thought about it more.” Her favorite part of Pearl Street is the atmosphere and the way it’s shaped her as a person. “People are really nice and outdoorsy and outgoing and Boulder itself is beautiful,” Conn said. “You can never get bored here.” Living in the college town that is Boulder, people learn new things in new places with new people. The situation was no different for Conn. College in Boulder has been a life challenging experience, helping to shape her into the person she is today. Now, a sophomore math major at CU, Conn has plans to graduate and become a high school calculus teacher. “Boulder and college has helped me grow,” she said. “You go into college as your high school self, and I think Boulder really helped me discover who I am as a person. I’ve become BOLDER because of BOULDER.” A passion for animals and helping others is deeply imbedded in Conn’s outlook on life. “I wanted to stay in state, mostly, because I couldn’t leave my dogs,” Conn said. “I love my dogs. They’ve been my best friends for years.” Furthermore, she wants nothing more than to help others. “I’m a math major with an emphasis in secondary education,” she said. “I tutor right now. Everytime I watch someone get excited because they understand something, it reminds me exactly why I want to become a teacher.”
“Not wearing shoes IS normal.” -Julia Conn
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Like many others in Boulder, Conn has deep caring for the environment and the place she lives in. “I work at Sprouts and I’m vegan,” Conn said. She bikes when she can, she walks to class everyday, and most importantly, pets EVERY dog she sees. “It’s important to care of the place that’s been so kind to you for so many years. Colorado, even the world, has been my home for so many years. I have to give back to the place that shaped me into the person I am,” Conn said. As a Boulderite, Julia Conn is well aware of “Barefoot Boulder.” Non-locals may be shocked while window shopping on Pearl Street and seeing shoeless people walking along with them. “Not wearing shoes IS normal,” Conn said. This is just one story of one person out of the hundreds that walk down Pearl Street Mall daily. Like Conn says, be bolder in Boulder.
“Well, I think it’s definitely important to keep it in the community and give back to the community that you live in and it’s also just a nicer environment to work in. Like, you know everybody and it kinds just becomes a family versus like a corporation.” -Alexa Glaesmann Small business employee
“The best part of Boulder is the atmosphere and how everything you need is close and has variety. You have the flatirons that are right there and the area is just super nice.” -Patrick Wood ‘21
“It’s super peaceful here and Pearl Street is amazing. There are really good shops and it’s a great place to walk around if you feel like it. It feels like home because there’s people expressing themselves and most people aren’t judging them or giving them glares.” -Hunter Schellman ‘21
“The community is really focused around nature and going outside and that’s what really makes Boulder itself.” -Maeve Harrington ‘22
“I love the community and the fact that the mountains and activities are so easily accessible, and there’s a lot of support.” Maeve Harrington ‘22
“When I was pretty little, my sisters and I would run through the fountains that burst up. We would try to step on the water to make it not burst up, but we were so tiny we would get lifted into the air. It was so much fun. I think it’s kind of a right of passage if you’re a kid and live in Boulder.” -Lucienne Lebek ‘20
Pearl Street 15
5
“I wanted to cultivate my voice and be a leader for other youth to make sure they don’t have to go through what I did.”
Politics in the People’s Republic
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Apart from the crowd
How to survive as a conservative in a sea of liberals By Lincoln Roch
Michael Rector ‘21 respects your opinions even if you don’t respect his. He’s a conservative and knows the challenges of having minority opinions in a mostly liberal school while trying to avoid the hyper partisan politics of 2019. Like many people, Rector began following politics during the 2016 election. “At first, I basically would just listen to my parents,” Rector said. “I also started looking at social media and listening online to podcasts from Ben Shapiro and other conservative talkers.” Rector began to express his beliefs often and soon realized they could affect how some looked at him. “At Monarch, if you’re open about your political views and you’re liberal, you’ll be looked at with respect and almost like a leader, but if you’re a conservative and trying to speak out, it’s not the same type of response,” Rector said. “Because of that, I’m not as vocal as I used to be politically just because I don’t want to face the backlash, and I don’t want people to look at me differently.” Although he’s a Republican, Rector does not fully support the president. “I have supported him on a lot of issues. The one thing I can’t support him on is his character,” Rector said. “I think it’s very hard to like his character, and I think he says a lot of dumb stuff, and I wish he
would stop using Twitter.” He still thinks he’ll probably support Trump in 2020, unless Ted Cruz gets in the race. Rector would find it very difficult to swing left and vote for one of the now 21 Democrats running in 2020. “I disagree with them on so much, and I’d have to be more lenient and agree somewhere with them,” Rector said. Of the Democrats, he is following one candidate. “If I had to pick one, it would have to be Andrew Yang not only because of his policies but also his character,” Rector said. “He has a good character and good speaking. He just seems like someone who could run a country decently. It’s just a lot of other policies I disagree on.” Unlike many conservatives and liberals, Rector isn’t afraid to see both sides of issues. He gets his news from right and left leaning outlets. “I don’t always keep myself isolated in conservative information cause I think that’s stupid,” he said. “You have to listen to liberal podcasts and democratic candidates and see from their point of view what’s going on.” Rector also isn’t afraid to have an actual conversation. “A lot of people that I’ve talked to have been open minded, and I’m able to have a conservation with them regardless of how they feel. No matter what, I’m going to respect your right to that opinion,” he said.
Fighting Complicity Advocate stands up for LGBTQIA+ youth By India Turner
Three activist groups, over 200 hours of volunteer time, legal debriefs, presentations at Gayla, and activism are all part of Marcos Conroy’s day-to-day life. “My mom, she brought me up into this, being a big advocate for herself and her experience, being you know a mother of a son with disabilities and also being a woman of color in the deep south during the 60s, 70s, and 80s,” Conroy said. Conroy’s drive doesn’t only come from his mom, however, but also from his past experiences. “I experienced a lot of harassment and discrimination at my old school, and I was really tired of having to be silenced,” he said. “I wanted to cultivate my voice and be a leader for other youth to make sure they don’t have to go through what I did.” While Conroy started by volunteering with one group, he started to join other groups as time went on and is now a part of multiple activist groups. “I found I was lacking. Maybe racial awareness wasn’t the priority of a certain group, so I’d go to another group to fulfill that, and I’d use both groups to bring that together and kind of make sure my activism was more well rounded and intersectional,” he said. He now works for Youth Advocating for Change (YAFC), Out Boulder, Peers Building Justice, and OASOS, which is run by Boulder County Public Health and focuses on LGBTQIA+ youth. Every Monday with YAFC, he discusses education policy for two hours. “We read a lot of legal cases about harsh teacher responses, which is a form of disciplinary action for bullying,” he said. “We read a lot about restorative justice.” He also works with Out Boulder, an LGBT organization. “I was an event planner for the Night of Noise, and so in the middle of the day I’d drive to Out
Boulder to work for 3-4 hours planning the day of silence event.” Night of Noise is an event for people to stand up against the bullying of LGBTQIA+ students. “At the very end on April 22 last year, we put on this really big party. Jared Polis showed up, so did a couple other teachers and speakers,” he said. “And it was just a get-together and activist workshop.” With his last organization, Peers Building Justice, he and other members complete two projects each year that focus on an activist topic. “First semester we focus on civil rights... I focused on murdered and missing indigenous women my first year.” In order to do research, they go on field trips and have mentors to guide them. One year, Conroy did a project on colorism in the beauty industry. “I was able to talk to a lot of amazing women of color and people of color. I was able to use social media tools and spread the word and build a social media following.” While he volunteers with these groups because of his past experiences, Conroy says that even those who are a “quote unquote regular teenagers” would benefit from joining groups like Out Boulder, OASOS, and Peers Building Justice. “I think we live in a very homogenized community at Monarch, and I think that definitely contributes to our complicitness and the overall social and political situation, in that we become comfortable with our privilege. It would be a great way for a student to open up their eyes,” Conroy said. Conroy believes joining these groups changes perspectives for the better. “When they go out and they meet people who are experiencing homelessness... or are of marginalized identities, it demystifies and destigmatizes a lot of the stuff that these people face,” he said. “You realize that these people are just like me.”
Where does Monarch stand?
A political survey of 700 students
Republican
71%
29%
Democrat
Do support Donald Trump
79%
21%
Don’t support Donald Trump Top Three Democratic Candidates (For the 2020 Primary) 1. Kamala Harris 2. Joseph Biden 3. Pete Buttigieg Statistics collected from an online poll. Data is not scientific.
How liberal is BoCo? 24.48% 75.52% voted for Polis in Boulder County
Each graph shows how many people voted for Democrat Jared Polis for governor in 2018
46.58% 53.42% voted for Polis in Colorado Politics 17
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Tech giants abound
MOHI X-LAB
Google joins forces with the Coyotes By Nathan Phillips, Sebastian Manzanares, and Brandon Phillips
Brian Brewington is a dreamer. He sees potential in students, in technology, and in collaboration between tech giants and schools. His dream is taking shape at Monarch with an idea called X-Lab. “I want to make a space, earlier in people’s lives where they can learn what it’s like to work in the real world and tap into their intrinsic motivators instead of, for lack of another way of saying it, checking somebody else’s boxes,” he said. It all started when Brewington, who works at Google, went to see a movie called Beyond Measure by the Parent Engagement Network in Boulder. The film was about standardized testing and its cultural implications. The protagonist of the film was a student that was both a good writer and speaker, but a terrible test taker. The character expressed self-doubt, and Brewington took it to heart. “It just hit me like a ton of bricks, and I 18 the pack
actually was crying in the theater,” he said. “My friends told me to see where I could go with this idea because they really felt there was a connection there.” Brewington met Principal Neil Anderson at a community event where people brainstormed methods on how people can all come together to solve ongoing problems. Initially working as a math tutor at Monarch, Brewington asked students what they’re curious about. Half of the students had plans for the future, but then the other half were clueless. Brewington was shocked by this. It’s what sparked the idea for him to create X-Lab. “That was probably one of the important seeds of [X-Lab]. Like, ‘Oh, I think we need to flip this over and make sure we begin with that.’ Because that’s the seed for everything in your life that’s going to be satisfying to you. Everything.” One day, Brewington met Max Manson
’19 during a math class. “I’ve always done the design and tech classes,” Manson said. “Brian came along and introduced me to the idea [of X-Lab]. He got me involved, and I liked the idea.” Brewington was surprised to know that Manson is mostly known for his athletic accomplishments at Monarch and not his science curiosity. “Mid-winter, [Max] says, ‘I’d like to send a balloon to the edge of space.’ This sounds like a curiosity project. Let’s go for it.” Manson and his team of students have been working on the prototype ever since. “We got to talking about projects and he was asking me if there were any cool projects I wanted to do,” Manson said. “I said launching a balloon into space would be cool. That went with the X-Lab idea, which is how I got involved. I had the determination and he had the resources.” The idea is for X-Lab to expand in the future and become a space to learn,
NCAR The National Center Of Atmospheric Research, (NCAR) is located along the Flatirons in Boulder. As NCAR’s website says, “NCAR provides the atmospheric and related Earth system science community with state-of-the-art resources, including supercomputers, research aircraft, sophisticated computer models, and extensive data sets.” Sitting next to the Flatirons, NCAR has an outstanding outlook on Boulder and is a great place to venture to if you’re in the mood for some weather science. For more information on NCAR, head to their website.
NOAA The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, (NOAA) is also located in Boulder. It’s known as Davids Skaggs Research Center by some Boulder citizens. David Skaggs was a democratic congressmen for Colorado. NOAA mainly focuses on environmental science such as drone mapping, weather, and climate observations, and effects on the environment. NCAR and NOAA each have hands-on activities you can do right as you walk in. NOAA’s campus is also really pretty, so it’s not a bad place to hang out in general.
How’s the weather up there?
You can’t Google this!
Brian Brewington discusses Google from the beginning
NOAA and NCAR are impacting the community in Boulder constantly with new technologies and interactive exhibits that the Boulder community can visit. NOAA offers tours around their campus weekdays and you can sign up for them online.
What have you learned from your time at Google? One thing I’ve learned at Google is that, you know our top line motto is focus on the user and all else will follow. So, for that, I try and spend a lot of time with students, teachers, administrators and just trying to understand what your world is like. You know what it’s like for you, and I guess that’s probably a fair summary of what I’d like to achieve. How did you get your job at Google? So, they recruited me, I interviewed, I failed. I wasn’t prepared, honestly. But I loved the people there and the idea of working there, so I got another job, and I studied. And then they bought Atlas software, who made sketch up. Then I called the recruiter back and said, “Can I try again?” And they’re like, sure. Apparently this is not unusual, a lot of people are very surprised by the intensity of our interview process and didn’t realize that it was something that they had to prepare for quite extensively.When they come back again, it goes much better. That was kind of what drew me in. Is X-Lab a side project? X-Lab is more of a side project for me. If there’s a technological end to it involving Google, we’ll figure that out, but that isn’t the priority at the moment.
(Photo Credit - David Sun - Google Maps)
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Sko Buffs
The Boulder appeal
The University of Colorado is one of the larger schools in the country with around 35,000 students at a time. From the Rocky Mountains that frame the campus to the beautiful architecture of the buildings, students seem drawn to CU Boulder, especially our own Monarch students. Every year, 34% of Monarch students graduate and head to CU.
Q&A with a Monarch alumni Kevin Wu ‘18 sums up CU
What made you want to go to the University of Colorado? ”What made me want to go to CU is essentially, first of all, it has my major. Second of all, I kind of wanted to stay in Colorado, and I liked the general community, because I like Colorado. It’s something that I haven’t really worked up the need to leave the state or anything. So, I applied to a lot of Colorado schools. Boulder was my first option, because it was super close, and it had a great film program. Why did you want to stay in Colorado? “I’m a very big nature person. I like nature, and I like being outdoors. Colorado presented that. It was just the best opportunity for me to go to school and go hiking around the mountains. What is your favorite part about CU Boulder? ”What I like best about CU is the community. In college, it’s quite different. There’s more people who share your same interests. For me, it’s film. You can find students to help make films with you and go out and do fun stuff. CU is a pretty vibrant community, and it’s very diverse compared to High school. You get a lot of new sets of opinions.” 20 the pack
Ralphie, the mascot Five facts about the legend
1.The CU mascot, Ralphie the Buffalo, is one of the largest college mascots in the country. 2. Ralphie is, in fact, female, not male like many have thought. 3. Before Ralphie was the mascot, CU paid to rent a buffalo to hang out on the sideline of the football field for the last game of the season. 4. Fifteen student athletes and buffalo enthusiasts care for Ralphie throughout the year. 5. The current Ralphie is the fifth buffalo to earn the honor of encircling Folsom Field at every home football game. Her real name is Blackout.
Notable CU Alumni
1. Supreme Court Justice Byron White 2. South Park creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone 3. Actor Robert Redford 4. Basketball player Chauncey Billups 5. Astronauts Kalpana Chawla and Ellison Onizuka
“It’s a good school for students who love living in Colorado and having access to the mountains and the outdoors. ” -Zoe McKinley ‘21
“What my brother likes best about CU is he is so close to home and there’s a lot of good people who are super kind and accepting.” -Mia Schmanski ‘21
From Coyote to Buffalo
MHS alum Treyton Williams discusses college life What is the most unique thing about this particular college?
It’s visual, it’s aesthetic, everything seems rustic, but it’s very pretty, very nature-oriented. Norlin Quadrangle on the northwestern part of campus, you have the immense library in the background, and it’s framed in wooden and brick or stone buildings. The Quad itself is emerald green grass and trees, and it’s just this beautiful shady spot. If I had to explain in one image what CU looked like, it would be Norlin Quad.
How has staying in state, as opposed to leaving what you have here changed your perspective? I feel like I’m glad overall distancewise where I am. My family lives half an hour away from campus, so if I needed, something they aren’t far at all, but they are far away enough to where I’m not tempted to go home every single weekend. I feel like that’s a big advantage of in state. You’re never really too far away.
What is your favorite part about CU Boulder?
Nothing ever feels too far away, I live in Williams Village, which is off campus. It’s as off campus as a dorm gets. When I first got here, I felt like it was huge. I felt like I had no idea where I was going, but now that I’ve been here, everything’s not nearly as big as I gave it credit for. I feel like everything’s right where it should be.
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How is Boulder different?
Outside
the
Liz Deitsch ’20
“People in Indiana were a lot more open and friendly with each other than they are here. I lived in a very small town so everyone knew everyone.”
Bubble
By Lindsay Haight, Maddie Stilson, Savannah Griffis, Sebastian Manzanares, and Evie Cuffaro
Brooke Hagelin ’20 “Colorado and Florida are completely different. I was pretty young and kind of nervous about the move, but my parents made Colorado sound amazing, so I was mostly excited.”
Noa Green ‘21 “Boulder is very different from where I lived in Georgia. Boulder is something special. It is the kind of place where once you visit, you do not want to leave.”
Hailee Nelson ‘22
Mr. Morocco Señor Bouchta speaks about his immigration from Africa to Boulder It’s common knowledge that different countries have distinct cultures from each other. Mr. Redouan Bouchta agrees, having moved from Morocco to the United States in 1990. He came to this country unable to speak English, so it was hard for him to adapt to the culture here, as it was very different from Morocco. “It took me at least 6 months to fully understand what was going on,” he said. In a country like Morocco, things aren’t as big as they are in the US. “The streets, cars, buildings, and even people were too big,” he said. 22 the pack
Many people think that moving to the US from a different country is easy. Mr. Bouchta says otherwise. People immigrating internationally can experience many troubles, like adjusting to a new culture. “It was hard to adjust with US customs. You have to start from zero,” Mr. Bouchta said. In the years since he has moved though, he has proven that it is possible to come from a completely different country not knowing any English, and being able to completely start over.
“Everyone was super healthy, and everyone was active. There’s a bunch to do here, and it’s really a huge part of Boulder.”
Buck Coleman ‘22 “One of the first things I noticed was actually how nice people were. It was a lot different than Virginia. It was really hard to breathe at first, though.”
Daniel Henderson ‘22 “Everyone was really nice and friendly when I came here. I moved about 4 years ago from Scotland, so I was starting 5th grade. It was kind of hard, because everyone had the hang of everything, but I got used to it quickly.”
From Oregon’s rain to Colorado’s sunshine
Hailing from Portland, Oregon, Aaron Mallinger ‘21 and his family moved to Boulder when he was 13. Mallinger was surprised when he quickly transitioned into life in Colorado. “People are nicer here,” Mallinger said. “There’s a better scenery and there are more things to do.” In Oregon, Mallinger attended a private school. His social life improved after his move to Colorado. He has developed stable friendships the way he couldn’t in his hometown. Mallinger has played hockey since he was six years old. Moving to Colorado meant that there were more opportunities to prove his skill. “There were only two teams in Oregon,” Mallinger said. “We got to play in Canada regularly, but that was the only benefit.” The change of weather was most difficult part of the adaptation of life in Colorado. Mallinger described Colorado as “bright.” “It would be pouring rain everyday [in Oregon],” he said. “Coming to Colorado, it’s almost always sunny. It was just different.”
Secret life of Walter Alfaro Immigrant from El Salvador makes his way to America
Bringing Hispanic culture to Boulder
Athena Angel ’21 has experienced the Boulder Bubble first-hand. From Las Cruces, N.M. she got to see the unique culture Boulder offers. “I didn’t believe that it existed at first,” she said. But she became convinced by “all the different trends you don’t really see anywhere else. Like hydroflasks.” The culture was a shock to Angel, but she got to see both perspectives. “There was a lot more diversity in Las Cruces. English and Spanish were spoken equally. Here, you see stereotypical upper class white people, which is not a bad thing, just different.” People aren’t just what’s different, the environment itself was a shock. “I thought there were going to be more trees and forests, it ended up like an arid desert instead.” Angel moved here in the middle of her freshman year, making it seem difficult to make friends at first. “Everybody was really nice. It wasn’t the easiest, because everybody already had their groups,” Angel said. Even though it was hard at first, Angel has been welcomed into Boulder, hydroflasks and all.
This is America. This is the home to more than 300 million people, including Walter Alfaro ‘21, who traveled here from his home country of El Salvador. Kids today hear stories about the immigration process and the dangers that immigrants face as they travel to America. Imagine doing it alone. As a kid. Alfaro traveled to America when he was 13. He was raised by his grandparents in El Salvador. In Colorado, he would meet his mother and two younger brothers. “I had to pass through all of Central America to get here,” Alfaro said. “It took me six and a half months.” Alfaro made it to America on his own. He didn’t know any English. He didn’t know anybody else. “There was another group traveling with me, but I didn’t know any of them,” Alfaro said. “When I got to America, I was on my own.” Alfaro remembers the exact day he
arrived in his new home. On April 24, 2014, Alfaro arrived in Colorado. Upon the emergence of his new American life, Alfaro found it to be a difficult transition. “It wasn’t how I imagined it to be,” Alfaro said. “I watched movies about places here, with all the big buildings. When I got here, I was surprised.” Alfaro was happy to be with his mother again, but leaving his home country “depressed” him. The culture in America differs from that of El Salvador when it comes to the people who live in both. “Everyone [in El Salvador] treats each other as equals,” Alfaro said. “Here, there’s still discrimination happening.” Despite the struggles Alfaro has faced, his future looks bright in his new home. With a job, a family, a legal citizenship, and an unbelievable journey, Alfaro has manifested his relentless pursuit of life, liberty, and happiness. People not from Boulder 23
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