January

Thursday, January 31, 2013

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AN INSIDE LOOK AT HOW STUDENTS REALLY FEEL ABOUT THE ENVIRONMENT AT MONARCH

Athletes talk about their favorite pieces of equipment

Students share their famous phrases

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The Howler Volume 14

A student publication of Monarch High School since 1998. 329 Campus Drive, Louisville, CO

Issue 5

Cartoon by Terran Fox

mistreated mental illness to be addressed Colorado seeks to better mental health care through new plan

by Will Petersen

E

ach year, 26.2% or 57.5 million Americans over the age of eighteen are diagnosed with a mental illness. Psychiatrists do what they can to help the patient feel better, as well as making sure they are diagnosed correctly, but sometimes prescribing medicine to a patient will not be enough. Patients may not be able to see their psychiatrist the minute they need it most: the minute that many with mental illnesses reach a dangerous state of mental unrest. Patients need somewhere to go other than an emergency room, where they may not receive the appropriate help.

Many people are diagnosed with the wrong mental illness when treated. However, there are other explanations of why people who are treated for their illness might still act poorly. What a numerous amount of people don’t realize is that when diagnosed

with mental illnesses, people need more care than just the medicine they receive from their psychiatrists.

Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper has created a new $18 million plan that he believes will improve mental health, a reaction to the amount of recent events involving crime.

Hickenlooper believes that the Aurora theater shooting as well as a number of mass shootings that have occurred around the globe in the last year and other small crimes have contributed to the idea of this plan. The plan will pay for a number of initiatives: adding more beds for psychiatric patients, a hotline for people with sporadic mental problems, and even around the clock crisis centers for people who are in a serious state of mental disability.

These services will offer a better resource if a patient needs serious help, immediately.

Many patients have been to the ER before for unexpected mental crises, which is not acceptable. Patients need somewhere to go when

they have a mental crisis, and these people wouldn’t be able to get the correct treatment at a general hospital; they would only be making it harder for people with physical health related problems to get treatment when they need it, while at the same time, emergency rooms don’t staff psychiatrists, making it harder to get treated . That is why it is important that there is an addition to the community where people of all ages could go to get the psychiatric help they need when they need it.

As well as the around the clock crisis centers, there will be a hotline that anyone with access to a telephone will be able to reach. This hotline could be used for parents who might have a child or relative that is in a mental crisis that needs help to find resources such as the around the clock centers or maybe even talk to a psychiatrist about the problem.

According to MotherJones.com, there were 13 mass shootings in the US in 2012. Governor Hickenlooper’s hope for this proposal is

that this will decrease the amount of crimes, including shootings, that take place in Colorado for years to come. James Holmes, the Aurora Theater shooter, has been considered by many to have a mental illness due to the way he behaves and the way he presents himself in public, specifically at his first court hearing.

The more resources that are available to patients, the less trouble they could cause out in public when they’re in an unstable mental state.

The problem is not that patients are misdiagnosed. In a study done by The Institute of Medicine, only 5-15% of patients are misdiagnosed once in their lives, but most do not suffer serious consequences as a result.

The real problem is that patients need access to a place they can go when they are in crisis. The bill proposed by the Governor could contribute to decreasing crimes related to mental illness, and overall serve as a positive step towards helping Coloradans who are dealing with mental illness.

OPINIONS Dealing with depression in high school Inside one of America’s most common mental illnesses

by Aleiya Evison

H

ave you ever experienced emotional numbness? It is a strange feeling, indeed. It is sort of like sound and time blur together and you begin to lose a grasp on what “being in the moment” feels like. It is the concept of “staring into space,” taken to an extreme. Completely numb, wavering in time.

Then, without warning, a tiny fragment of the external world reaches your bubble of numbness and something shatters. Abruptly, sounds are too loud and time is racing or barely moving, and emotion finds a way to penetrate your being. Shock and sadness and excitement and desperation and hopelessness race at you, pinging through your mind like a furious conundrum on a mission to exhaust you. A jagged switch from stillness to chaos. This is my version of depression.

Although I have never officially been diagnosed, I have felt since fourth grade that I have some type of depression. Whether it is classified as clinical or seasonal, or anything else, I’m not sure, but I know full well that whatever “it” is, exists.

Mental illness runs in my family. Two of my immediate family members struggle with bipolar disorder, so I’ve grown up with depression my entire life. Something I’ve learned from not only dealing with depression myself, but also seeing it in my family members, is that depression can extend far beyond the person who is struggling with it internally. Nearly

every single person I know has been affected by depression, whether they have dealt with it themselves, or a friend or family member has.

Depression, a stigmatized illness, is prevalent in so many American lives, but in our culture it seems that the subject is still not fully addressed. If you are depressed it can be misinterpreted as being weak, pathetic, or dramatic, when in reality people with depression are dealing with either a chemical imbalance, a traumatic death or loss, or a number of other issues. Depression goes beyond the inevitable sadness that all humans experience.

For me personally, my depression comes and goes in phases, usually lasting for a few weeks and in some cases months. I know that I’m entering a depression when no matter how hard I try, I cannot mentally shake my sadness. It will become difficult to be around other people, which is perhaps the biggest indicator, because ordinarily I am pretty outgoing and social. I start to have an incredibly hard time focusing, and I feel like I’m not fully present. When it becomes really severe, all I want to do is sleep and isolate myself, which usually doesn’t exactly eradicate the issue.

When it comes to depression, these times in my life when I feel immense sadness, my biggest struggle has been letting others know what’s going on. I am the type of person who loves fixing everything and helping other people figure out their issues, but when it comes to my own personal struggles I bottle everything up and tend to keep to myself. Thus, talking about depression has become a rarity in my life. Very few of my friends know that I deal with depression, and even some of my family members don’t realize the full extent.

As I have grown up, however, being open

into the equation the complexity is greatly about this inevitable part of me has never lead heightened. Just know that you’re not some freak with mood swings, just because you to anything but support. I am on a constant journey towards a stronger willingness to be have depression. Depression does not have open about my depression, opening myself to to define you. You are a beautiful soul who is going through some struggles. support.

To me depression is not a label, or something that makes me weak. It is just an inherent part of my being, and it is something I have had to learn to deal with.

The struggle is constant, but learning how to control my depression instead of letting it control me has lead to some of my most prominent growth as an individual, especially in high school. Although sometimes it is still difficult for me to bring up, I have began reaching out more and letting my family and friends know what’s going on.

My hope for others who struggle with depression, especially in high school, is to recognize that regardless of how cliché it may sound, depression is not something to be ashamed of. If it is something you are dealing with, you should not be afraid of what other people will think. I’ve been surprised time and time again by how supportive people are when I tell them I have depression. You too may be surprised by how much love and support people in your life have to offer. Also, at Monarch we have a plethora of resources that can help you deal, if you feel like people in your life may not be the best resource.

Support has never magically made my depression go away, but it has helped me feel less isolated and lost.

Charts showing results of a survey by the Child Mental Institute on This whole high school situation can be mental health among U.S. children. Chicago Tribune 2011 Photo Credit: MCT Campus tough, and when you add depression

school offers mental health support

by Aleiya Evison

F

or students struggling with mental well-being, the most difficult part of starting to heal can often be figuring out who to reach out to.

Monarch’s interventionist, Karin Dudek, works with students who struggle with anything ranging from Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, to abuse. “The interventionists are here in the schools,” Dudek explained. “We actually aren’t school district employees; we’re therapists from Mental Health Partners in Boulder. All the major high schools have one of us in them. We can keep things at a higher level of confidentiality [because] we are bound by federal laws around confidentiality. Kids can come in and talk about things they might not be comfortable talking about with other people in the school system.”

Dudek recognizes how the chaotic high school environment can make dealing with depression tricky. “Anyone dealing with any sort of mental health issue whether it’s an anxiety disorder, depression, or obsessive compulsive disorder, it’s all affected by the pressures and the competition that comes along with being a teenager,” she said.

Dudek explained why dealing with mental illness, specifically in high school, is extremely individualized to each person. “Everything from peer relations, to stuff going on at home, [can affect] the kid’s intrinsic ability to cope.

Everyone has different coping strategies and mechanisms, which can real2 ly affect one person’s experience with

pression. She explained the signs she looks anything like depression,” she said. for. “Was there some sort of event that’s causFor someone who is dealing with depresing some underlying depression, a death, is it sion, Dudek serves as a great resource. “All my going along with grief or loss? Is there a speservices are totally voluntary and confidential,” cific event that has caused this person to feel she explained. She added, “We have some differently? Or are we looking at something guidelines for when we do need to break conwhere it’s more of a sustained situation where fidentiality, like if I feel that someone is suicid- they’ve felt hopeless and helpless and just an al, I need to be able to call the parents and get overwhelming feeling of melancholy, or their the child hospitalized.” ability to find pleasure in things that they used The confidentiality of Dudek’s work often to is no longer there.” said Dudek. encourages students to “Anyone dealing with any sort of mental health issue reach out.

Dudek said,“whether it’s an anxiety disorder, depression, or For any teenager that’s obsessive compulsive disorder, it’s all affected by dealing with depression, the pressures and the competition that comes along there are some that with being a teenager.”-Interventionist Karin Dudek feel more comfortable reaching out. Most of the kids I see are actualDudek explained that there is a continuum ly kids who are coming down alone.” Howev- of depression. “So we have kids that may be er, for students who are struggling but do not experiencing some depressive symptoms befeel comfortable self referring, Dudek said, “I cause of a specific event that’s happened in also get referrals from teachers or parents. their life, or on the flipside of the continuum, For the most part whether they are reaching we have kids who are really struggling with out on their own, or if someone refers them, what would be a diagnosable depressive diswe do the best we can to make sure students order, where they have all kinds of symptoms know what the services are that are available and it really incapacitates their ability to functo them.” tion in school.”

When Dudek begins working with a student, After Dudek completes the initial assessshe completes an assessment which helps her ment, she works with students to determine determine whether or not the student has de- what next steps should be taken. “In extreme

For more information on suicide prevention visit the MHS Website

cases medication can even be helpful, if we’re looking at an actual biological [case]. If there’s something going on that needs to be addressed medically, we can get them the resources they need,” she said.

Monarch is fortunate when it comes to its access to resources. “I would say that Boulder County actually has more services than a lot of other counties in the state and even in the nation,” Dudek said. “Boulder County is the only county that I know of in the area that actually has interventionist specialists in each school.

Boulder does a great job in trying to allocate those services and get them not just within the mental health centers and private providers, but in the schools. They really take that seriously and want to provide as much service and mental health support to students in BVSD [as possible].”

If you are struggling and would like to talk to someone, you can schedule an appointment with Dudek any time in the counseling office.

reform in mental health system needed

by Malachi Dray

I

n the wake of the tragic Newtown school shooting, Americans nationwide are demanding both answers and solutions. As always, public discourse has shifted towards gun controls, with passionate arguments being offered on both sides. These conversations are necessary; however, they do not address the root of the problem of mass shootings. To be willing to premeditate the murder of dozens of children in cold blood, one must be unstable in some sense of the word.

Some are quick to equate this instability with mental illness. Mental illness does not equal violent behavior. In fact, the vast majority of the mentally ill are non-violent. At the same time, the vast majority of violent individuals in society do not have mental illnesses.

It is an unfortunate stigma, as well as a false one, that the mentally ill are a high-risk demographic for violent behavior.

That being said, the mental and emotional aspect is absolutely critical to the question of shootings and violence as a whole. Without

some underpinning distress in this arena, there is absolutely no reason for shootings to occur. While access to highly destructive guns allows unstable individuals to end more lives, it takes an unstable individual to use them to that end. Guns are not the root of the issue; they are a mechanism by which it wreaks more havoc.

The trend in recent decades of mass shootings in the United States is an alarming one.

There have been at least 61 mass murders since 1982. While gun control measures can reduce the impact of these tragic incidents, it is absolutely necessary to also focus attention on the role of public mental health. Even without the threat of shoot-

ings, mental health is a vital health issue, and should be addressed more thoroughly. President Obama recently proposed measures related to strengthening mental health services in the United States, and it is absolutely imperative that they be carried out. These measure include increasing access to mental health services - especially for younger Americans- by training an additional 5,000 mental health professionals.

The president also proposes giving mental health first aid training to those involved in the education system. Finally, the plan includes ensuring that public and private insurers cover mental health as thoroughly as they do physical health.

Not only are these measures necessary, but they also help to make up for a great mistake in the realm of mental health made in the past. In 1981 the administration of Ronald Reagan, as part of their at-

“The vast majority of the mentally ill are non-violent.”

tempt to dismantle the Great Society of LBJ, repealed the Mental Health Systems Act of the previous administration. In addition to repealing this bill, which provided categorical mental health services, the Reagan administration also cut funding to mental health programs by 25%.

The effects were immediate. Mental health facilities could not treat the same amount of patients, and many were let out onto the streets. Homelessness increased overall due to cuts in housing project funding, while patients of mental clinics also joined them in a national tragedy that is still unresolved today.

For suffering these past three decades, we owe more support to those with mental disorders.

To protect the feeling of security in public that is a right, to provide adequate support and assistance for those human beings with mental disorders, to right the wrongs of homelessness and abandonment, and to end this senseless killing, it is time for us to apply our vast resources to improve and nourish the astounding minds we are all given.

recent shootings trigger discussion about second amendment rights Does unlimited access to guns truly protect us?

by Tyler Debord

by Arika Rooney

O

ur society has evolved since the Founding Fathers created the constitution in 1787. Since its inception the government has modified four amendments to reflect our changing lives. We live in a day and age where women and African Americans have the same rights as white men, where no one can be owned by another person; this is just one example of how we have altered the constitution for the sake of humanity. Now it is time to reconsider how we interpret the second amendment and its impact on society.

In the 18th century firearms were capable of one bullet at a time, not weapons with the power to spew hundreds. We also did not have police a phone call away, like we have now. We the people must alter our constitution, as our society and technologies change. This country needs a limitation on what “arms” are and who can “bear” them, and we need it soon.

Self defense is a common excuse for an individual to own a gun. In actuality research done by the The New England Journal of Medicine has shown that a gun kept in the household is 43 times more likely to harm or kill a family member or friend rather than an intruder. We must consider the alternative ways that a person can protect themselves without the use of a firearm. According to a 1991 study

by FE Zimring, the use of a firearm to combat a violent assault increases the victim’s likelihood of injury or death. Furthermore guns not obtained legally were stolen from homes that did obtain them legally and were not kept in a secure environment. In my opinion the idea that guns keep you safe is misleading.We can reduce the rampant circulation of firearms, including in the hands of criminals, through better government regulation, background checks and voluntary programs. This will dramatically reduce the senseless deaths and acts of violence in our country.

Lets consider the most innocent victims of gun violence. From 1995 to 2000 an average of 4 to 5 children died every day in non-homicide firearm incidents. In each of the last 10 years an average of 1,323 kids committed suicide with a firearm; 155 were under 15 years of age according to the Washington State Department of Social and Health Services. Chil-

The right to bear arms: America’s original homeland security

dren don’t choose to have a gun in their home, and their curiosity can lead to death.

Criminals and mentally ill or unstable people have liberal access to guns; including the perpetrators of mass shootings.

Acording to MotherJones.com there have been at least 63 mass shootings in our country since 1982, 26 since 2007 and 13 took place in 2012. Of the 142 weapons possessed by the killers, seventy-five percent were obtained legally. The Coalition to Stop Gun Violence states that If you are purchasing a gun at a gun show, only six states require a background check. Federal law requires criminal background checks only for guns sold through licensed firearms dealers, which account for only about 60% of all guns sold. The only way to screen for mental illness in a potential buyer of a gun is a check to see if they have been committed to a mental institution.

Only about three percent of citizens admitted to an institution are on record with the NICS, according to gunsandammo.com.

Something needs to be done; we cannot live in a world of fear. Instead of blocking entrances to a school, or arming teachers with guns, why don’t we prevent the problem instead of focusing on the consequences? Why don’t we add more restrictions to who gets guns, and how powerful these guns are? We don’t live in an action movie, we live in small towns and suburbs of cities. We have young children going to school and couples attending movie theatres. We should not jeopardize our safety by allowing every citizen to have guns with limited to-no restrictions. Let’s do what we can to provide a safe society for ourselves and generations to come. Revising the second amendment is the place to start.

“A

well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed.” - the 2nd Amendment of the United States Constitution. Basically what this is saying is Americans have the right to own a firearm, and in certain circumstances, use the firearm to protect one from harm. There has been controversy concerning the future of this particular amendment for quite some time. Tragedies in America just over the past year have caused an uproar among Americans when it comes to gun rights.

The shootings in Aurora and Newtown are very unfortunate, and anybody with any kind of patriotism would have a heavy heart after what happened. However, these tragedies are not enough to totally outlaw firearms in the United States. If the proposed bills pass, think about this: the crime rate would skyrocket in our country due to ordinary citizens not being able to defend themselves in the case of a robbery, or a similar situation.

In the year 2011, more deaths were caused by a hammer, yes a hammer, than by a firearm according to the NRA. This may be a cliche, but guns do not kill people, people kill other people. Would you blame a car for a drunk driver?

Didn’t think so, so why do we blame guns for casualties? It just doesn’t make much sense.

As we move on throughout the years, this issue comes up more and more. New bills are proposed to ban firearms, and those same bills are shot down. The truth about all of this is Congress does not have a prayer when it comes outlawing guns. Violations to an amendment is simply unconstitutional, and should not be allowed.

As of January 22nd, a new bill by Diane Feinstein will jeopardize our right to own a firearm.

The proposed bill will introduce legislation on assault rifles and high capacity ammunition

feeding devices, like magazines larger than ten rounds. With this in place, most pistols, such as a commonly used 9 millimeter will be outlawed due to a 14 round clip. Another part of the bill would potentially ban certain grips on a firearm. Seriously, anti gun activists are now complaining about specific grips we can put on a firearm, including any other modifications that make it look “scary.” What is the difference between the same two caliber of guns, with two different grips? Nothing, absolutely nothing. The fact that it looks scary is the only reason Feinstein is wanting to outlaw them.

If outlawing a firearm for the protection of the people is what’s best for America, then we might as well get rid of cars, any kind of harmful tools used on a daily basis, and yes I will go this far, spoons and forks. All of these things are harmful to the future of America in this case. We could just as easily blame a fork for making someone fat. If firearms are outlawed, then the only people that will have them are outlaws. Please tell me more about how criminals obey laws.

Schools all across the nation are now in a sort of panic mode after what happened.

It’s very understandable, seeing as 20 lives were lost in the latest shooting. Even our own school has decided to take precautionary action by limiting access to the building through an entrance. If we continue to live in fear because of the shootings, we will never be able to move on as a nation. It goes without saying that it is very unfortunate about the latest shootings. But think about it this way, if someone really wanted to harm us, they would find a way. Most school shootings happen from the inside, not usually elsewhere.

I like to think about this situation this way, imagine a wagon wheel. It has a center hub, with spokes all around it. This wagon wheel is used to demonstrate our rights as Americans, representing each amendment. The 2nd Amendment represents the hub of the wagon wheel, while the other amendments represent the spokes. Taking away the centerpiece makes the entire thing fall apart. The 2nd Amendment is the only amendment threatened at this point, therefore making it the centerpiece. It’s unconstitutional, and even a little tyrannical to be considering taking away the right to bear arms. As the people, we consent to be governed, not ruled.

3

Obtaining Gym Credits for Sports Too Difficult for Student Body

by Conner Lund

C

urrently in BVSD, a student is required to take 15 credits worth of Physical Education, including at least one mandatory comprehensive P.E. class, usually taken freshmen year. The School Board also allows student athletes to earn waived P.E. credits. To do so, one must play a CHSAA sport that the school board deems credit-worthy, or be in Marching Band. Each season a student plays, they get two waived P.E. credits going towards an exemption of a P.E. class.

Doing the math, one must play five total seasons of competitive sports in the four years of high school to be exempt from the two P.E. courses. That means that an athlete that competes in, say, football, all four years, falls two credits short of being exempt from P.E., and now has to complete a full semester-long P.E. course, filled with pointless bagel walks, in which one block day students walk down to Hole in One Bagels and eat there and then walk back. This is a true lack of any worthy physical activity.

The argument with the system is

Photo Courtesy: MCT Campus

that the school board has inherently deemed slight physical activity more important to high schoolers than an academic or elective class that will teach them important and valuable life lessons. One now has to fill up their sched-

ule with P.E. classes, while dropping beneficial classes that the student actually is interested in. It also perpetuates bagel walks. Bagel walks grant a student physical activity, but also grant a student access to extremely fattening foods, including bagels, cookies, soda, and Domino’s Pizza.

On top of this, numerous football players are still having to take P.E. courses, despite the intense year-round training they must do to stay competitive during the season. This rigorous training is simply disregarded by the school board, and they still require football players to take P.E. classes that will not benefit them one bit later in life, and won’t grant them a beneficial amount of physical activity.

Although the ends are just, the means are

simply not. It is a grave concern for teen obesity, and I totally agree that more should be done to encourage physical activity, but the current system takes up academic time and provides no added benefits for athletes here at Monarch.

The most logical solution would be to change a season’s two-credit policy to a twoand-a-half-credit one. This allows for students who play four competitive seasons to be exempt from P.E, which is more than fair. That means athletes can now take more beneficial classes, while still training and getting an ample amount of physical activity. At the same time, it allows for students who aren’t the most athletic to get at least one P.E. class excused.

Also, it still encourages activity, because students will still be required to enroll in at least one P.E. class. This is much more just, and accomplishes both the student’s means as well as the district’s means.

As a whole, this current system is inefficient, and must be changed to accommodate the less-athletic as well as grant students more academic opportunities. In this case, there is no better solution, and must be implemented.

Corporate Personhood Corrupts Democratic Process

by David Andrews

T

he issue of corporate spending and personhood was brought into the national spotlight during the run up to the 2008 Democratic primary when Citizens United, a non-profit corporation, made a disparaging movie about Hillary Clinton and hurt her reputation greatly in the Democratic primary. Clinton fell from grace and lost to Barack Obama.

The movie was a major expenditure and technically illegal as it was considered “electioneering communication” and was funded by a corporation within 30 days of a primary. This primary-altering move also brought to light the issue of major spending by corporations in elections. The regulations on campaign spending that were violated in the case of Citizens United had been laid out in clear language in the McCain-Feingold Campaign Reform Act of 2002. The Supreme Court decided on the side of Citizens United in the case on the grounds that corporations have the same free speech rights as people. This decision set the precedent for corporations and unions to be treated the same as people in making donations to campaigns.

As long as they do not associate themselves directly with a campaign, corporations can now donate absurd amounts of money to campaigns. For example, in the 2012 election between Barack Obama and Mitt Romney approximately $468 million was spent by Super PACs in the election, according to the Los Angeles Times. Super PACs have become a vehicle that corporations use to influence campaigns and represent their own special interests in campaigns.

Another crucial change that came about from the Citizens United decision was how PACs could send out their message. Super PACs can now engage in unlimited electioneering and advertising in favor of their candidate, or more likely, in attack of their opponent. These advertising campaigns from Super PACs can occur all the way up to election day, there is no 4 60-day barrier as there used to be.

As many of us experienced, there

were invasive ads on T.V and radio from Super PACs such as “Restore Our Future.”

Before Super PACs existed there were normal PACs. These PACs could receive donations of up to $5,000 from real people. With the advent of Super PACs corporations can donate just as real people, except with no limits. Since corporations are not people, they are not donating based on the rational thoughts of people. They are donating hundreds of millions of dollars to Super PACs based on their own special interests. The Supreme Court decided naively that if these donations were not directly affiliated with a candidate there would be no room for corruption; they were wrong. It is undeniable that following the decision in the Citizens United case that corporate spending in politics has increased greatly. According to the Center for Responsive Politics in the 2012 election cycle $88,014,875 was spent compared to $1,831,864 in the 2006 election cycle. Large amounts of money in politics is inherently immoral as it drowns out the voice of the average citizens and corrupts our election process that we hold so dear.

The election process is defined as the citizens of the United States independently voting on who should represent them. As a representative democracy it is essential that the people of the United States are able to express their will and elect who they want into office.

In today’s political landscape the people of the United States are being drowned out by the frighteningly inhuman corporations that donate hundreds of millions of dollars to campaigns.

A major tenet of our democracy is that through electing our public officials they will legislate and act on behalf of those that elected them. While in the past elected politicians did act on behalf of the people they are becoming more and more responsive only to a small percentage of people that hold the money necessary to sway a campaign. The large sums of money that are now being spent also force candidates to focus more on campaigning and wooing the elite few that hold mas-

sive amounts of wealth.

Some candidates have even gone as far as to set up separate offices on Capitol Hill solely for fundraising.

They spend their time in these offices rather than their normal office and therefore lose touch with actual political happenings and communication between congress members decreases.

As seen in this example, money is only a corrupting force that is weakening our democracy as a whole.

Chart shows the outside ad spending by super PACs and nonprofits Ninety Percent of in the 2012 election by political viewpoint; a second chart shows all donations to Super contributions to super-PACs; explanation of the impact of the PACs were $500,000 2010 Citizens United Supreme Court decision on outside political or more according to spending. MCT Campus an independent study

by Adam Lioz and Blair Bowie for the Sunlight Foundation. These 90% of donations represent a total of 52 people. These 52 people hold an extremely disproportionate amount of power over the election process due to their incredible wealth. I’m not saying that the fact that they have accumulated the wealth is bad, it’s the fact that they can donate unrestricted amounts of money to campaigns and therefore hold major sway over political candidates.

Our representative democracy no longer equally represent each voter.

The Supreme Court’s narrow-minded definition of free speech rights failed to see that by allowing large sums of money to be involved As citizens of the United States we have a in politics they are diluting the individual vote duty to speak out against this ruling. Bob and hurting our time-honored institutions of Edgar, a former U.S senator has taken representative democracy and egalitarianism. matters into his own hands and after 12 years of serving as a Senator he has started a non-profit group called Common Cause that fights against money in politics.

Louisville Comprehensive Plan Update

Muckle and City Council seek to maintain spirit of Louisville while revitalizing key areas

by David Andrews

I

n the past four years Louisville has turned into a thriving suburban community. Locally run businesses such as the Empire, Sweet Cow, and Lucky Pie characterize the unique identity of Louisville. These local businesses along with safe neighborhoods and an expansive parks system have solidified Louisville as one of the best small towns in the United States.

Louisville was named the best small town in America by Money Magazine in 2009 and 2011.

However, today, Louisville is entering a new cycle of economic development and renewal.

City Council has recently been deliberating over a new comprehensive plan. The comprehensive plan does not necessarily hold any force of law but it acts as a guide for the city government while moving forward and making decisions regarding which developers to partner with and which areas to develop.

I sat down with Mayor Bob Muckle to discuss the Comprehensive Plan and the future of development in Louisville.

On prospective development in the near future:

Most likely there will be development in the area behind Union Jack Liquors on the eastern end of South Boulder. The goal in this area is really to increase connectivity between the downtown section of Louisville and the Steel Ranch area and King Soopers.

On the dilemma between keeping big box stores and creating smaller residential areas:

I am working hard to fill the Old Sam’s Club Space, and I think it’s going to happen. However, Troy Russ and I have been working on plans to maybe break up some big box stores into smaller residential and smaller retail. This is great, the only problem is that a lot of these developments would simply be break-even ventures while a larger big box store like Lowe’s or Home Depot can bring in a lot more revenue with sales tax.

On whether the model used for Main Street in Downtown Louisville can be applied to the McCaslin corridor:

On the overall goal of the Comprehensive Plan:

The Comprehensive Plan really serves as an outline for how we conduct our development and how we interact with developers. A developer couldn’t come in here and say ‘it says in the Comprehensive Plan we can build 20 units here, so we get to.’ It’s more of a guideline that can start a discussion between us and developers.

An overhead view of the eastern end of South Boulder Road as it is currently laid out. (Photo courtesy of Gavin McMillan)

I think there are certainly pieces like outdoor dining and event hosting that can happen in the McCaslin area that would definitely help out a lot of businesses. Outdoor dining is so popular I feel like we could give permits to businesses and help them do that sort of thing.

On the overall significance of the Comprehensive Plan:

I think once we get done with the Comprehensive Plan we will back away from the big picture decision making for a little while and try and enact some of the development that is laid out in the Comprehensive Plan. Some of the development near downtown will probably happen in the next few years because we have developers lined up for those projects.

Overall though, yes it really has just put into action a longer discussion.

On the beginning of the Comprehensive Plan process:

Well, it wasn’t exactly a decision we made. Louisville updated their Comprehensive Plan in the early ‘90s and again around 2006. In 2006 they decided to set up the next Comprehensive Plan update for 2011 and 2012. It was less of a decision and more just, we need to start this now.

On the main players in the beginning of the process:

After we began the process we asA conceptualized view of the eastern end of South Boulder Road near the intersection of South Boulder Road and Highway 42. This prospective plan signed [city planners] Troy Russ would be added into to the Comprehensive Plan if the area was designated as an urban area. (Photo courtesy of Gavin McMillan) and Gavin MacMillan to draw up an overriding plan with the principles that members of Louisville value On citizen involvement in the process: and possible areas for development. This was such a big projThere was a website made called Envision Louisville where citizens could voice ect that we actually went out and employed a company to deal their opinions about what they valued specifically in Louisville and what areas with day to day activities. they thought needed development. Through this process we really identified what areas needed attention and moved into the next step of the process, which was creating defined plans.

Scan this code to visit the City Council website. Stay up to date on the Comprehensive Plan decision by reading Meeting Packets. Packets will be posted online following every meeting.

On the timetable for a concrete deciOn the revitalization of the McCaslin corridor: sion from City Council: My views on the whole McCaslin corridor is that it really needs help. I mean We certainly missed our deadline, which was meant to be the end of December, but right now I would project about the middle of March we will finalize the plans. There was a running joke for a while that if [City Planner] Troy Russ didn’t get everything finalized by the deadline we would have him arrested by the chief of police. We just figured we should give ourselves a few more months and really do it right, that way we wouldn’t have to arrest Troy either.

there are stores that are clearly struggling. I’m not entirely sure putting more houses out there will really solve anything. What I’m really excited for though is the last step of the Comprehensive Plan where we say ‘yes, we will allow some housing in that area.’ What’s really important though is that we clear up the language and make sure people know exactly what we mean. For example, we certainly do not mean that we want to redevelop the Lowes and Home Depot.

It’s confidential information but I know that those two stores create a majority of the revenue for that area.

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This Month in Washington, D.C. BVSD Calendar H awaiting final board approval

by Charlie Light

ere’s a look at some of the most important news from the nation’s capital this past month, ranging from hot topics such as gun control to the fiscal cliff bill.

Gun Control Following the December 14 shootings at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, CT, President Barack Obama introduced over two dozen changes related to gun control, 23 of which were signed as executive orders on Wednesday, January 16th. The others were calls to Congress to take action, including banning assault weapons and limiting ammunition magazines to ten rounds. The executive orders aim to increase the availability of mental health care, help (and even incentivize) schools to pay for additional counselors and resource officers, and increase the effectiveness and use of the background check system, among other things. Obama called for increased incentives for states to share information with the background check system and also ordered a letter to be sent to federally licensed gun dealers from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives that

provides information on how to run a background check for private sellers.

On the same day Obama unveiled his changes related to gun control, the National Rifle Association (NRA) released an ad that claimed Obama is a hypocrite, saying that Obama disapproves of schools being protected by armed guards while Obama’s own daughters have Secret Service protection. Many criticized the NRA, including republican New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, who said, “It is awful to bring public figures’ children into the political debate,” according to The Hill.

“Fiscal Cliff” The United States Congress passed a bill on January 1st that avoided the “fiscal cliff”, which would have caused automatic increases in taxes and cuts to spending had a resolution not been passed. The bill extends many Bushera tax cuts for the majority of Americans but increases taxes on the wealthy. While the spending cuts that some Republicans sought weren’t included in the bill, the legislation will raise around $600 billion in new revenues in the next ten years, according to CNN. Debt Ceiling The United States hit the debt ceiling, the

limit the U.S. government is allowed to borrow, just as 2012 came to a close. The debt ceiling has been a battling point between republicans and democrats since last year. Because the treasury needs congress’ approval to raise the debt ceiling, Republicans have used raising the debt limit as a bargaining chip to reduce spending with the aim of bringing down the national debt in the long term. On November 17th, The Hill reported that Rep. Paul Ryan (RWi.) said his party is considering allowing an increase to the debt ceiling (which is currently $16.4 trillion) in order to allow time for negotiation with democrats on long term budget solutions.

Cabinet Positions This month will see some big changes to Obama’s cabinet. Obama nominated Sen. John Kerry (D-Ma.) for the Secretary of State position being vacated by Hillary Clinton last month, followed by the nomination of former Sen. Chuck Hagel (R-Ne.) for Secretary of Defense, this month. Hagel will replace Leon Panetta if his confirmation hearing on January 31st goes as planned. Kerry had his hearing on January 24th and was approved by the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

ups and downs of January

Board to vote on newly created option on February 12th.

by Joy Wineman Icons by Natalie Forman

by Anna Blanco

As everyone could have predicted, gym attendance was significantly up at the beginning of the month, and then, as is tradition, it went right back down after about two weeks. This is an age old ritual for Americans almost as old as new year’s resolutions themselves. However, studies have not yet been able to attribute any lasting health improvements the two-week diet and exercise plan as of yet. Surely there will be a breakthrough soon.

It goes without saying that the Broncos struggled this month. The new year began with a statewide Super Bowl spirit that was brutally crushed in the divisional round playoff game against the Baltimore Ravens. The french got it right in their classic proverb “bring up a raven and he will peck out your eyes.” A literal re enactment of that proverb may have even been less painful than the game ended up being.

Platinum dealers across the country are holding their breath and crossing their fingers eagerly in anticipation of the decision on the trillion dollar coin proposal. For those who are unfamiliar, this proposal seeks to introduce a trillion dollar coin (made of platinum) into the economy so that the president (made of cells) will have a means for paying our countries bill until congress comes to a decision on the items of the fiscal cliff which they deferred. In the case that this is passed, these dealers will not even have their work cut out for them as no more than ten of these coins would be authorized to be produced.

Professional cycling reputability continues to plummet this month as the Livestrong Organization’s frontman, Lance Armstrong, admitted to using performance enhancing drugs on an episode of Oprah. Armstrong denied charges for years and was already stripped of his Tour de France titles. Interesting that a judge, jury, and an oath on a bible could not get the truth out of him, but he confessed to a woman worth a reported $2.7 billion in the first minute of their interview.

Gun prices are WAY up this month. With recent white house water cooler chatter about making adjustments to the second amendment, many americans have felt the need to stock the armory before it could be illegal to do so. Prices on assault rifles, handguns, and reloadable magazines have spiked by an estimated 30%. The National Rifle Association has not observed inflation like this since the assault rifle ban of 1994. Well, excluding the Smith and Wesson popularity directly following the release of Dirty Harry that is.

Flu vaccine effectiveness is way down this month, and last. The flu was stated to be widespread in 49 states, even in patients who got the vaccine. This epidemic of illness has proved detrimental to employers as many of their employees are calling in sick for upwards of a week. Manufacturing has been down, while hospitals are overcrowded. On the other hand, patients following the “rub some dirt in it” care program seem to be feeling fine.

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his year the BVSD school board decided to reconsider the layout of the calendar due to complaints from elementary school parents about the potential extreme August heat in elementary schools.

The board came up with three initial layouts, the first had school starting August 29th or 30th, with the semester ending before break. The second option had the same same starting date, but the semester would end after break. Option three had school starting after labor day, and the semester ending after break.

In order to get feedback from the public about the different layouts,the board put a survey online to see which options were favored. This online survey was taken by more than 3,000 people. But the board member’s weren’t the only ones interested in the public’s opinion, junior Josh Behrens, who was very opposed to the idea of a new calendar started a petition online which ended up with more than three hundred signatures.

“I wanted to bring attention to the issue and show the school board that we don’t really appreciate this change,” explained Behrens.

In his petition, Behrens addressed the effect that a new calendar would have on things such as AP testing and fall sports, pointing out that moving school back two or three weeks would not give AP teachers much time to teach their curriculum, and that those involved in fall sports would have time taken out of their summer for practices.

It was clear, that there were at least a few things that needed to be kept in mind when laying out the new calendar, not only the August heat, but also the fact that high school students don’t want to spend their break studying for finals. Math teacher Phil Grace, who has two kids in elementary school, and two in high school, was most concerned about ending before break, pointing out that moving the start date two weeks back would not make elementary schools much cooler. “The only thing I care about is finishing the semester before break,” he explained.

Seeing that none of the layouts quite addressed the both the wants of elementary and high school students, the board recently came up with one more option. In this new option school would start on August 22nd, and the first semester would end before the break.

The board will be voting on this option on February 12th.

“I feel like they did the right thing by compromising the two needs of elementary schoolers and high schoolers,” said Behrens.

Following through Attendance at Club mo grinds in 2013 Five tips for keeping up with your New Year’s resolutions

to a halt

by Mia Mulvahill

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s those students who attend the monthly Club Mos may have noticed, attendance to the once packed informal dances has decreased rapidly in the past months. Students across the school as well as the members of Monarch StuCo have a wide range of possible explanations.

One of the most popular excuses for lack of attendance is the new policies put in place by administration. The faculty has put into place a much stricter dress code (including a “bottoms to tops and tops to bottoms” rule) and has visibly increased the number of chaperones present at Club Mo. “There are things that I can wear to class that I can’t wear to Club Mo because they show my stomach,” said junior Jessica Gonzales.

“With all these rule changes, Club Mo isn’t as appealing as it once was,” said junior Michael Calo. StuCo member junior Max Lightsey also chalked the decreased attendance up to administration “cracking down on the rules.”

These harsher rules aren’t the only reason for decreased attendance according to other students. Senior Carl Holdt said, “I think [attendance is down] because they play dubstep all the time and they should be playing dance music.” Several students, including Holdt and Calo, said they also blame a lack of advertisement for the events by StuCo. Junior and Club Mo DJ Drew Atkinson had a much simpler explanation. “I think it’s just that kids think that ‘nobody else is going, so I’m not gonna go.’

And it’s kind of just a vicious cycle.”

While Club Mo attendance is far from mandatory for students, the decrease in attendees will also mean a decrease in funds for Student Council. According to junior StuCo member Logan McCoy, “Club Mo is where we get the

by Katie Berohn

Students linger by the boxes during October’s Halloween Club Mo. (Photo credit: Dominic Yang)

revenue for Student Council from. So when we don’t have a huge attendance at Club Mo, it restricts our ability to spend a lot of money on Winter Ball, and these other fun activities like dodgeball tournaments and the Mr. MoHi pageants.” StuCo also spends a portion of the revenue on investing, or giving grants to other clubs that may not have the same means to raise money as Student Council does. A decrease in funds from Club Mo may also mean a decrease in those grants.

The low attendance also comes as a disappointment to those who work to put on the informal dances. Alex Young, junior and Club Mo DJ said, “It’s pretty disappointing, but it’s still fun. It’s a lot of work. I’ve been working on my set list for February since after Homecoming and I just finished a few days ago.”

While students have several reasons why Club Mo has become less popular, they have just as many suggestions for how to increase attendance, including more advertisement,

decreased ticket prices for those who show up in the first hour, different dance styles, and having the dances less frequently.

StuCo plans to send out a survey to the students of Monarch, looking for suggestions and feedback on Club Mo. “The poll will come out over Facebook, but if you’re not on Facebook, or even if you are, feel free to come talk to any of the StuCo members. That’s what we’re here for,” said McCoy. “We’ve talked about this problem at length, not just for this story, but also because it’s a problem and we want to improve [Club Mo] for everyone,” said McCoy. “We will continue to do Club Mos, but less frequently next year. We want to make sure everyone has fun,” added Lightsey.

Students who would like to voice their opinion on the subject can contact Student Council advisor Mr. Tolbert, or any member of the Student Council.

Tattoos: stories in ink

by Dalton Valette and Ellie Oliver

O

nce you get one, there’s no going back.

It is a reminder of importance and meaning, inked onto skin forever. Tattoos are becoming increasingly popular and now Monarch students share their stories behind their body art.

Many teenagers, upon turning eighteen, go out and have a tattoo needled in for various reasons. Some enjoy the beauty, others get them done for the memories, while many get a tattoo purely because they want to. Today, roughly 36% of Americans aged eighteen to twenty five have at least one tattoo, and that number is on the rise. More and more people are embracing tattoos for what they simply are, art and a genuine form of expression. In the past, tattoos have been viewed as something only gangsters and delinquents flaunted.

According to Statistic Brain, one in five adults have ink. Teenagers are just getting them ahead of the curve.

“It’s a wishbone,” junior Kendall Goduto said as she showed off her ankle tat. “I get made fun of for this but it doesn’t really have significance. I just wanted it for a while and my mom agreed to let me get it. It hurt a little bit but the healing hurt more than the actual process.” Goduto has had her tattoo for a year and was in a state of ecstasy to turn 16, the age her mom told her she could get a tattoo. For the future, Goduto said she would “want to get a yin-yang sign on the back of my neck.”

If one tattoo is not enough for a teenager, senior Dan Langton has gone above and

beyond and has two to flaunt. “[Well, actually]I have three but [two are] supposed to be counted as one,” Langton explained. “One is on my left wrist and the other one is on my upper right shoulder. “ As for Langton’s favorite tattoo, “They’re tied. The one on my wrist is an Icelandic music rune which symbolizes my love for music. The other ones are manta rays and I picked those because I went diving in Tahiti for the first time over the summer and on our first dive we saw manta rays so it was pretty symbolic and I’m a Pisces [for] the ocean.” The tattoo on his shoulder caused him the most pain when getting it. “I was surprised because I thought the one on my wrist would hurt, but the one on my shoulder hurt the entire time and I bled a lot.”

Langton explained that he wants to get more body art. “Not too elaborate but definitely symbolic, nothing really cheesy. Probably a grape so when I get older it will turn into a raisin.

Junior Jaylen Alexander said he got his tattoo freshman year with his mother and former Monarch student Breanna Murphy. “I’ve always wanted one but I never thought it was an appropriate time when I was so young.” The tattoo he had done is of his last name on his pectoral, “but it’s actually more important to me as it’s also my grandpa’s first name, Alexander.” A bit of a surprise for him was how little it hurt. “It felt just like little pricks.” Alexander said that he aspires to have more done and he’s planning on getting “the Denver skyline on my left inner bicep and the Boulder flatirons on the right bicep.”

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owards the end of December, there is always one question on everyone’s minds: “What’s your New Year’s Resolution?” Coming up with a New Year’s Resolution isn’t very challenging--there are so many ones to choose from that anyone could make one. The hard part is keeping it once the kisses are over and the clock strikes 12:01. But don’t worry, there are some easy ways to keep up a New Year’s Resolution that are easy to follow and stress free.

1. Ease yourself into it. If your New Year’s Resolution was to stop drinking coffee and you quit cold turkey, it’s going to take a huge toll on you and you’ll want to give up. Slowly easing yourself into a resolution is the best way to get into the right habit and keep it up.

2. Write it down. Write it in a notebook, or on a sticky note in your car. Or put it on the door of your room. You could even make a big motivational poster! Write it wherever you’ll be most likely to see it and think about it.

Junior Kendall Goduto shows off the wishbone tattoo on her ankle. (Photo credit: Dalton Valette)

Senior Dan Langton sports two tattoos: an Icelandic music rune on his wrist and a pair of manta rays on his shoulder.

(Photo credit: Dalton Valette)

Junior Jaylen Alexander got a tattoo of his last name on his pectoral when he was a freshman. (Photo credit: Dalton Valette)

3. Review it at least once a week.

Don’t let yourself forget about your resolution! Keep it in mind by reminding yourself about it every so often. If you remind yourself to keep it up, you’re much more likely to keep doing it.

4. Find a place to draw motivations from. If your goal is to eat healthier, don’t sit in McDonald’s and watch people eat burgers. Find somewhere that makes you want to reach your goal and inspires you to keep working toward completing it!

5. Don’t stick with an unrealistic resolution. If it’s near mpossible, don’t work yourself to death trying to meet an unrealistic goal. You’ll just disappoint yourself, and the whole point of a resolution is to feel fulfilled!

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an in-depth look at how the school environemnt is reflected in student climate survey

by Natalie Forman and Joy Wineman

E

very year, students pencil in their own answers pertaining to the emotions and situations they experience in school, but they never get to hear how the rest of the student body feels. The results of the survey are never discussed with the students, and instead school atmosphere programs seem to appear arbitrarily. For years Monarch students have felt left in the dark, but no more.

Boulder Valley’s Chief Officer of Planning and Assessment, Jonathan Dings, is directly responsible for handling much of the results of the climate surveys for BVSD. Once they leave the classroom, they make their way to him. He cleared up much of the mystery of these surveys and how the data they provide

Parent Responses is used.

First, he explained the overarching purpose of the surveys. The point of interest, said Dings, “is not the answers, but rather a basis for asking more questions about why you get the results that you do.” Instead of focusing on the responses to the questions, the district committee and a committee in each school take the responses and use them as a jumping off point.

Some questions are intended to be purely informational, while others are actually in the control of the administrators to influence.

For example, questions regarding student to student relationships are important, and the school works to make them as positive as

possible, but questions regarding student to teacher relationships end up directly dictating district policy.

The district has given each school the independence to analyze the results of the survey annually and make changes as they feel appropriate. That is to say that the district is not implementing policies in schools based on the climate surveys, but rather providing clear and accurate reports from the survey so that the school has everything it needs to make informed decisions.

The MOVIBE acronym that Monarch has adopted originates from the climate survey results of years past. The characteristics that each letter signifies (Motivation, Opportuni-

ty, Voice, Integrity, Balance, Excellence) were considered deficient in years past, so Monarch rewards students for exhibiting these traits in hopes that they will become more prevalent. Most other schools in the district have embraced some form of a similar acronym for their students as well.

Each school has a defined strategy to improve in deficient areas. This strategy is required to be updated annually based on the results of the climate survey, so student responses directly impact how administrators facilitate the school. Many students feel that the survey is unimportant, but in reality it is a way for students to anonymously report their experiences and be heard.

Student Responses to the Climate Survey Peter Mitchell Junior

Dr. Anderson speaks out about opportunites to increase diversity awareness for all students.”

These efforts include earning a “No Place for Hate” designation, offering a diversity class, holding annual diversity panels, supporting clubs promoting diversity, having a standing Diversity Committee of teachers, having an annual World Language Day, and training teachers in diversity.

Jack Himes Sophomore

M Emma Dugan Freshman Willow Reed Senior

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onarch students each interpret the school differently because everyone has their own experiences and ideas, and thats what makes the survey interesting.

In light of this, individual student responses to the all encompassing climate survey provide a perspective about the results.

Twenty percent of Monarch students identify as students of color. When asked what percentage of the school identified this way, senior Willow Reed guessed 15%. Sophomore Jack Himes guessed with a perfect response of 20%, while freshmen Emma Dugan responded with a mere 7%. The lowest guess of all, however, was made by junior Peter Mitchell, who guessed no more than 2%.

This goes to show that the school can feel more or less diverse to different people depending on their specific situation. Some things do, however, stay constant throughout all grades and genders. All four students agreed that they feel Monarch welcomes diversity. “We live in an area that doesn’t have a lot of diversity, unfortunately, but when we do [have diversity] I think it’s welcomed,” said Reed.

One statistic, that 64% of students have

Favorable responses 8

seen students of different backgrounds made fun of in school, really shocked Dugan. She said, “I am surprised it is that high because I haven’t seen that.” Mitchell even went so far as to disagree with this statistic because he feels from his personal experience that “everyone loves black people.”

Of Monarch’s students, only 53% feel that they get the help they need on non-academic issues. This leaves 47% of Monarch feeling helpless when it comes to non-academic issues. Reed reacted to this by saying, “I don’t think this is okay; we should do something about that number. 53% even though it’s only a little bit over half the school, it’s still a lot if you take into account the entire [student body]. I can see where the number is coming from because I know some people that are uncomfortable approaching the counselors about stuff that’s not academic.”

For even this small sampling of students the results were complex. Some yielded understanding reactions, but students were stumped by others. Monarch is a community not easily summed up in a sentence. It is deep and multifaceted.

Not favorable responses

Undecided responses

Student Responses

onarch strives to improve the educational experience for students. Before this can be done, the school must be assessed in order to expose areas of deficiency. Boulder Valley School District has chosen to conduct this assessment in the form of a climate survey which compiles questions regarding the school environment. The questions cover areas such as learning, safety, harassment, and preparedness.

As a member of the District Equity Committee, Monarch’s Principal, Dr. Jerry Anderson, is more than qualified to speak to issues brought to light in the climate survey. She recognized that summing up this topic is next to impossible, but that it is essential to discuss.

In regards to how the results of the survey are handled, Dr. Anderson explained “There have been many efforts over the years to gather information, increase understanding, take action, and improve our school environment

“It is about taking individual responsibility for how we treat each other, not being a bystander whenever a person is treated disrespectfully, and always working to increase our understanding of people who are different than we are.”

-Dr. Anderson Concerning the statistic revealing that a high percentage of students feel that they have not learned about the cultural heritage of many types of students, Dr. Anderson explained that “The diversity class might include about 60 students a year out of about 1,500 students. Although I believe that the class is valuable and has the potential and does help to improve our school environment, more

White Students

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students need to take the class for it to have a larger positive impact. I believe that curriculum has to be designed to support learning about the contributions and value of all people to our overall society across all content areas in addition to continuing the classes that we offer on World Literature, World History, World Geography.”

While one goal is to educate students on students of different backgrounds, another is to meet the needs of students of different backgrounds. Dr. Anderson said, “Each year we also develop specific school goals and strategies designed to address difference in responses between students of color and white students at our school.”

Overall Dr. Anderson believes that the best

way to handle the issues is by “taking individual responsibility for how we treat each other, not being a bystander whenever a person is treated disrespectfully, and always working to increase our understanding of people who are different than we are. I think we also need to work more directly with students to problem solve and create a better school environment at Monarch. It is not just about the adults thinking about what we need to do and coming up with answers. Our No Place for Hate efforts provide a good foundation and we have to just keep working to make it better. The work is complex, ongoing, and very worthwhile!”

There are obvious places where Monarch could improve, but the climate survey also showed that students are generally happy.

Dr. Anderson explained “We are working to create a school environment that is inclusive, welcoming, responsive and recognizes and appreciates the value of all students. I think that is why we get the results that we do when it comes to students feeling positively about Monarch. Overall, I believe that our students care about each other and enjoy being students together.”

Dr. Anderson was very intent on opening herself and the rest of the Monarch staff up for additional questions or suggestions regarding how the results of the climate survey should be handled.

Students of Color

iversity classes, No Place for Hate, and MOVIBE are all in place to help students at Monarch High School feel welcome. While the programs aim to increase the well-being and comfort of all students, there is still a visible difference in the numbers between students who identified as of color and students who identified as white. For all of the reported questions, students of color had a lower percentage of favorable responses, with an average ten percent difference compared to white students. This emphasizes the point that there is still room to improve in cultural awareness at Monarch.

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artsANDentertainment Who wore it?

WHO SAID IT?

by Katie Berohn

by Olivia Coleman

Match each outfit to a face to see how much an clothing says about personality 1.

TayLOR MARXHaUSEN, 12

Match each catch phrase to the person it belongs to Have you ever said something so much that people start to think of you when they hear that? That’s exactly what happened to these people. See if you can match these phrases up to the people who say them.

1.

David farrell, teacher “God Dom.”

About this phrase: “I got it from Chris Ford last year who used it in StuCo.”

MARIAH MEEHAN, 11

2.

dan Wilkins, 12

2.

“Nutso.”

About this phrase: “I said it once and that was chill.”

josh hykan, 12

3.

3.

lucas yang, 11 “... for days”

About this phrase: “I listened to a song that said ‘trees for days,’ then I started saying it.”

noah leuthaeuser, 10

4.

4.

“We’re taking a quiz, we’re taking a quiz, we’re taking a quiz!”

mARCUS SCHIFF, 11

About this phrase: “This is an original quote, it’s legendary. I know some people that even set it as their ringtone.”

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Answers: 1-Wilkins, 2-Schiff, 3-Yang, 4-Farrell (Photo credit: Olivia Coleman) Answers: 1-Hykan, 2-Marxhausen, 3-Leuthaeuser, 4-Meehan (Photo Credit: Katie Berohn and Arika Rooney)

Countdown to oscar!

The race for Cinema gold begins

This is the easiest award to guess of the night.

Daniel Day-Lewis for Lincoln is going to win, hands down. I have no doubt in my mind that he will receive his third Academy Award this year. He was able to do the near impossible and humanize a character in our nation’s history that is so often associated with godliness. For the other nominees, (Bradley Cooper- Silver Linings Playbook, Hugh Jackman- Les Miserables, Joaquin Phoenix- The Master and Denzel Washington- Flight) the night will most certainly be just about the nomination.

Who I think will win: Daniel Day-Lewis Who I want to win: Daniel Day-Lewis

by Dalton Valette

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n February 24th, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Science will present a select few, highly praised, films for excellence in cinematic achievement for the year 2012 with a golden statuette that symbolizes perfection and transcendence in the arts. Or in other words, the Oscars! After viewing many, many films this year (and I truly mean many) I have made my predictions for the winners of the awards after hearing the nominations announced on January 10th. Here are my predictions.

Best Actor in a Supporting Role

BEST pIcTURE In my mind, there are only two real contenders for Best Picture: Lincoln and Zero Dark Thirty. The other films nominated for Best Picture (Argo, Django Unchained, Les Miserables, Life of Pi, Amour, Silver Linings Playbook, and Beasts of the Southern Wild) are all largely good films with surprise nominations for Amour and Beasts, but the big guns this year are down to two, and Lincoln will pull out on top. From the twelve nominations that it received to its genuine portrayal of our 16th President, Lincoln is the one to beat. What’s holding Zero Dark Thirty back is the controversy surrounding the film regarding its depiction of torture and the overall likability of Lincoln will be enough to push it into the gold.

In the past, the Academy has not smiled upon extremely controversial films, so Lincoln (with Oscar favorites like Daniel Day-Lewis and Steven Spielberg behind it) is easily going to win.

Zero Dark Thirty is an amazing film, but it’s dark, intense subject matter will force it to bow down to Lincoln.

Of all the major categories, this is the biggest tossup. There’s always one category that is a major tossup and this year it happens to be the Supporting Actor category. The nominees are Alan ArkinArgo, Robert De Niro- Silver Linings Playbook, Phillip Seymour Hoffman- The Master, Tommy Lee Jones- Lincoln, and Christoph Waltz- Django Unchained. I feel it’s safe to say Hoffman will not win because of his miniscule role and lack of general interest towards The Master, but the other four all have a strong chance, giving excellent performances in their respective roles. I’m going to have to throw a dart in the dark on this one and predict that Jones will win. He won an Oscar in 1993 for Best Supporting Actor in The Fugitive and I predict an overall Lincoln sweep at the Oscar’s this year. Jones’ performance as an abolitionist congressman is superb. Waltz makes a very strong case for his role as Dr. King Schultz in Django, but he just won an Oscar in 2010 and Arkin won in 2006 while De Niro has won two Oscars in his career. So, everyone (except Hoffman, even though I may have some bias as I loathed his movie The Master) has a fair chance of winning.

Who I think will win: Tommy Lee Jones Who I want to win: Christoph Waltz

What I think will win: Lincoln What I want to win: Lincoln

Best Actress in a Leading Role

Best Actress in a Supporting Role

This is an interesting category with two big surprises in the form of Emmanuella Riva for Amour and nine year old Quevenzhané Wallis for Beasts, becoming the youngest woman ever nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actress. I actually find Wallis’ nomination shocking as she just acted like any normal child would in Beasts so I don’t feel her nomination was deserved, largely due to her age.

With that being said, I think Jessica Chastain will win for her role as a CIA agent in Zero Dark Thirty. Her performance is exhilarating as she searches tirelessly for Osama Bin Laden.

Chastain does a fantastic job, but I personally found Naomi Watts’ performance in The Impossible simply outstanding and more heart wrenching. I was able to connect to her role better and she gives it absolutely her all. Even though I believe Chastain will win, I’m rooting for Watts. Jennifer Lawrence was also nominated for her turn in Silver Linings Playbook.

Earlier, I said Lincoln will have a sweep at the Oscars, except for this category. It should win almost every other award it’s nominated for, but Supporting Actress I’m going to have to predict Anne Hathaway for Les Miserables will walk away with the golden statue. She has received critical acclaim for her role as the (SPOILER) dying Fantine and no other actress in this category has received as much hype as her, especially as she belts out “I Dreamed A Dream” (even though I’m one of the only gay guys on Earth who doesn’t like Les Mis. ) Sally Field is my personal favorite for this award as she is perfectly able to capture the sheer craziness of Mary Todd in Lincoln. Amy Adams did a good job in The Master, but I don’t feel it was Oscar worthy. Helen Hunt for The Sessions and Jackie Weaver for Silver Linings Playbook should just be happy they received nominations.

Who I think will win: Anne Hathaway

Who I want to win: Sally Field

Who I think will win: Jessica Chastain

Who I want to win: Naomi Watts

For more of my Oscar Predictions, go to www. mhshowler.com and look under A&E.

Best Actor in a Leading Role

Oscar photo courtesy of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Science 2

Tune into the Oscars on February 24th!

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THE SECRET CHILDREN OF MONARCH What teachers do with their children during the school day

by Anna Blanco

M

any staff members at Monarch have children who attend Monarch K-8, which is right next door. Many of these staff members find it easiest to simply bring their child to the high school when they come to school and then have them walked over to their own school, which starts an hour and ten minutes after high school. Later, the kids come back to the high school after they are let out at 3:30 to hang out until their parents are ready to leave.

But what do the kids do to keep themselves entertained while their parents are busy at work?

This year Gwendolyn Lukas-Doctor, Monarch’s theater teacher, hired Sarah Wait, a senior, as a babysitter to watch her five-year-old daughter Ella during her first period class. And although Wait is only responsible for Ella, she has acquired some pretty regular visitors. Julia Mainland, daughter of Keith Mainland, and Carly Bucher, daughter of Deann Bucher, tag along for a lot of fun with Wait and Ella. “We kinda do whatever they want,” said Wait.

Their morning activities may include a stroll around the school, a game of hide-and-goseek in the auditorium, hanging out in Lukas-Doctor’s office, or even homework. Wait’s job is not only to make sure the kids are entertained, but to also make sure what needs to be done gets done. “They’re great kids, which is nice. They are fun to be around,” said Wait.

But Ella, Carly, and Julia aren’t the only ones who spend a good part of their mornings, and afternoons at Monarch. Steve Abeyta’s kids Jessa and Jace also spend plenty of their time here. They come before they go to school, then come back when they get out of school.

Senior Sara Wait let the kids draw pictures on pieces of tape and then put them on her face. She was opposed to letting them draw directly on her skin. (Photo credit: Julia Mainland)

Occasionally they will give their dad a hand.

“Sometimes, if he is having a conversation with someone and he forgot something somewhere, then we go back and get it,” explained Jace,“I help him with the computer, like typing stuff in,” added Jessa. A good chunk of their time is spent in the attendance office. “I play on the computer, and do some homework,” Jessa said. “I play on miniclips, I play basketball jam and soccer star,” added Jace.

At approximately 8:20 Wait, with Ella, Carly, Julia, Jessa, and Jace, make their way over to Monarch K-8 by foot or by golf cart, sometimes accompanied by Abeyta or Roxy Rivera.

For these teachers and staff members who have kids who attend the K-8, it is very convenient to be able to bring them to work, and to have students and others who are willing to spend time with them.

FEBRUARY HOROSCOPES Astrologist in residence: Narcissa Luna After waking up one day, I, Narcissa, felt that I had obtained all the knowledge of the stars that I could ever need, despite the fact that I have never read a single book or taken a single class on anything space-related. My calculations are taken simply through observation, intuition and a small bit of guessing. Enjoy.

Aquarius: (January 20-February 18) With your birthday just around the corner, not only will you be turning another year older, but you’ll be feeling it too, Aquarius. Your skin will begin to wrinkle, your hair will start to gray, and you will most likely misplace your glasses resting on your forehead. Invest in a cane and some prune juice for this month, but no worries! By March you’ll be back to your beautiful, youthful self.

Taurus: (April 20-May 20) This month you may find yourself telling people your name is “Bond. James Bond.” As the humor star enters the western quadrant this month, your regular vocab will be replaced entirely by movie quotes. Good luck, and “may the force be with you.”

Leo: (July 23-August 22) Ever felt like you have some sort of special powers, Leo? Well this month, you do! The gravity on nearly all planets are reversing their magnetism, giving you the power to levitate, even if only for a moment! I can’t possibly see the downside to this, so enjoy!

Pisces: (February 19-March 20) February will be a strange month for you, Pisces. Whether you’ve been allergy-free your whole life, or if even the sight of flowers makes your nose run, this month will bring ridiculous bouts of sneezing, eye-watering, and throat swelling. Chalk this one up to the pollen moon of Venus. Your allergy-related problem areas this month include, but are not limited to, wool, hair, water and handmade ceramic pottery.

Gemini: (May 21-June 20) February will be all over the place for you, Gemini! From the beginning of the month until about the 11th, your life will be entirely hunky dory. However, on the 12th, the stars polarities will be switching, throwing your life into confusion. then, the night of the 23rd, you should fall into a deep sleep which should last roughly to the end of the month.

Virgo: (August 23-September 22) As the earth-toned planets of far space enter your orbit this month, you will find yourself with insatiable cravings for green foods and drinks. Broccoli, lettuce and asparagus as well as green gummy bears, M&Ms and skittles will fill your belly this month, while Mountain Dew, green Gatorade and Monster will quench your thirsts.

Aries: (March 21-April 19) As the orbit of the sun becomes crooked on February 4th, you’ll find yourself wobbling and falling more than usual, Aries. Your inner ears will be thrown out of whack, and you will find yourself on the floor roughly 42% of the time. So, to avoid embarrassment, stay close to hand rails, use a walker, or simply crawl places (it’s just as fast as walking...

12 ...almost).

Cancer: (June 21-July 22) Lucky you, Cancer! As the commitment winds of the equator gain strength, people left and right will feel inclined to ask for your hand in marriage. This includes everyone; boys, girls, old people, babies, even pets! Just politely decline those you aren’t interested in, and make sure not to wear white this month!

Libra: (September 23 -October 22) Hola, Libra. This month you, much like the Taurus, will have a swap in vocabulary. Adiós, Inglés! This month you can only communicate in Espanol. ¡Buenas suerte!

Scorpio: (October 23-November 21) Paranoia will overtake your life this month, you nervous Scorpio.

You can check over your shoulders and taste test your food for poison as many times as you’d like, but trust me, no one is after you. Blame your delusions on the black sun of Mars.

Sagittarius: (November 22-December 21) February will be a brilliant month for you, literally. Your intelligence will soar wildly this month as the brain comet nears earth. Jeopardy winners, step aside. There’s a new genius in town.

Capricorn: (December 22-January 19) You will be taken on an emotional rollercoaster this month, Capricorn. Lucky for you, there’s only two emotional stages you will experience this month: absolute fury, and uncontrollable laughter. The switches will come quickly and often, so be prepared for both at all times. Make sure to stock up on lots of ice cream for those angry moments.

Sports Benched and Bummed Athletes try to maintain positivity while injured

by Conner Lund

I

t is a fact of sports that athletes will be injured during any given season. While many understand the physical pain, few consider the mental implications of an injury. Some injured Monarch athletes voice the mentality they must have to recover as soon as possible.

“It’s definitely depressing [being injured].

Just watching everyone and not being able to participate really sucks,” said senior outside linebacker Andrew Rothschild, who tore his ACL and his meniscus. Rothschild was forced to sit on the sidelines and was unable to play alongside his teammates in the 4A State Championship game.

Although not able to participate, these athletes have found ways to still help out their team.

“Right now I’m just the spirit on the bench, and I help them as a sideline coach,” said junior basketball forward Mae Williams, who tore her ACL and part of her MCL over the summer.

She hopes to be able to return to the court towards the end of the season.

While injured, there is really nothing but time that can heal their wounds. These athletes, although upset, must still be able to keep a positive attitude, accept the injury, and just wait until time runs its course.“At first I was really upset, but after awhile I got used to it,” added Williams.

These athletes have luckily had people there for them to use to get through their ordeal. “[My team] is really supportive. They are all pushing me to get back out there,” said junior basketball center C.T. Wristen, who tore his labrum, a shoulder joint.

No matter what kind of injury, one factor is constant: time. Athletes can only look at the positive, help their team as much as possible, and wait. Williams, Rothschild, and Wristen are all in different stages of their recoveries, but without a doubt they will return to the field of play as soon as their bodies allow.

Youth Sports Injuries: By the Numbers

50% Of injuries to middle and high school athletes occur due to overuse.

2 million

15%

Injuries that high school athletes account for each year.

Of injuries that are concussions in high school sports.

12.09%

11%

200,000

Of high school football players will be injured every year.

Of injuries in high school athletes that require surgery.

Injuries per year in basketball players under age 15.

Junior C.T. Wristen holds his head in frustration after a mistake by Monarch in a January 11th matchup between the Coyotes and Legacy H.S. Wristen is currently working his way back into the rotation after a labrum injury.

(Photo credit: Katie Ciaglo)

All statistics according to the Center for Disease Control

Reflecting on the Run Senior Taylor Floming recounts her career

by Ashley Litoff

“M

y first cross country race I ever really ran was Pat Patten my freshman year and after that race everything just really clicked during it and I knew I would really enjoy it from then on. “ Senior Taylor Floming has been on varsity cross country since her freshman year, which means she has been one of the top seven runners at Monarch for the past four years.

This year Monarch’s cross country team won the state title, and Taylor contributed to that win. Taylor placed 10th in the Pat Patten race her senior year, and signed with Montana State University this month.

Floming has always enjoyed running, even before she was a part of the team. “I’ve had

some tough seasons, but I’ve always enjoyed being with everyone and I really enjoy running just as an activity.” One of the things that Floming loves about running is the social aspect of the sport. Floming says she started running because, “my mom heard the cross country team was a really social thing so she made me join.”

While the social aspect of the sport is important to her, she also loves the actual running. “I think it’s just the feeling of complete freedom. When you’re out there you don’t need any equipment or anything besides yourself and your running shoes and it’s a really freeing thing,” said Floming Floming has experienced great succes with her team throughout her four years at Monarch. Floming has been a part of two state

Floming (second from left) practices with her teammates (from left) Junior Kaitlyn Benner, Senior Virginia Spong, and Junior Alyssa Reese on January 23rd, 2012. (Photo credit: Ashley Litoff)

championship teams. During the spring Floming will look to make even more winning

memories with her team on the track.

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New, but not Unnoticed

Junior transfer Jay MacIntyre looks to be an impact player for Coyotes

by Katie Ciaglo

J

anuary was a month of firsts for junior Jay MacIntyre. On New Year’s Eve MacIntyre found out he would be moving to Colorado, and on January 4th he participated in his first basketball practice with the Coyotes. January 8th was MacIntyre’s first day at Monarch, as well as his first basketball game with his new team. By January 11th, MacIntyre was a starting player for the Coyotes for the first time at his first home basketball game. In the short span of twelve days, MacIntyre had taken a wild ride that landed him as somewhat of a celebrity at Monarch.

MacIntyre moved from San Jose, California where he played basketball and football for Valley Christian. His dad, Mike MacIntyre, was hired as the new University of Colorado football coach, sparking the family’s relocation and MacIntyre’s enrollment at Monarch.

“My dad really liked [Monarch’s head football] Coach [Phil] Bravo,” said MacIntyre of the decision to attend Monarch. “[The football team] won the state title, so that was a big deal.

Then we met [Monarch’s head men’s basketball] Coach [Ken] Niven and liked him too so we thought Monarch would be a good fit.”

Colorado will mark the eighth state where MacIntyre has lived. Though he’s accustomed to the moving process, changing homes still brings its challenges. “It’s definitely hard,” said MacIntyre. “Especially in the middle of the year, because you’re on one basketball team and then all of a sudden you’re on the next. It’s hard to get the chemistry going.”

When word first reached the Monarch basketball team that MacIntyre would be joining them, little was known about his playing ability. However, it didn’t take long for the team to be impressed. “We immediately could tell that he had skills,” said teammate junior Kyle Billingsley. “He’s quick, he’s fast, so it was pretty apparent right away that he was going to be a varsity player.”

Not only does MacIntyre match the high

level of play demonstrated by the basketball team so far this season, but Niven also expressed that he fits in quite well with the rest of the team. “This is a special group that plays here that welcomed Jay on to the team, and chemistry-wise it’s gone very well,” said Niven.

Despite the challenges of playing with a new team, MacIntyre has been able to make his mark. “He’s been doing really well,” said Billingsley. “He still has to get a little bit of the offense down because he ran a different offense at his old high school, but for a new player, when he came in he had confidence and he’s just another teammate now.”

In his debut game against Boulder High School on January 8th, MacIntyre came off the bench to score two points as well as make several key assists and crucial defensive plays.

Three days later MacIntyre racked up eleven points for the Coyotes in their win against Legacy. “It’s been good playing with Jay,” said Billingsley. “On the court he’s a really good passer, so he helps everyone else on the team score and he makes our offense work better.

And then off the court he’s just a nice guy and he’ll be a friend to all of us.”

It’s obvious that MacIntyre is going to play an important role on the team. “He’ll be our primary ball handler along with Sam [Fredricksmeyer] and he’ll be the defender at the point along with Sam. And then those two will be able to free up Ben Beauchamp so he can do a little bit more and move down to the two or three position,” stated Niven.

As he gets better acquainted with his teammates and becomes more familiar with the system that they run, MacIntyre has high hopes for the rest of the season. “I don’t really know much about any teams around here or anything, so my goal would just be to beat everybody and do as well as we can,” he said.

“I’m hoping we just win [the rest of] the games in the league. Maybe I’ll be undefeated here!”

With such an impressive start, this goal could very well be reached, as the future looks bright for MacIntyre and the Coyotes.

Jay MacIntyre drives past #3 Andrew Hebel of Legacy High School on January 11th, 2013 at Monarch High School. Monarch went on to win the game by a score of 59-42. (Photo credit Katie Ciaglo)

Geared up & ready to go Winter athletes share their must-have equipment Gear: Shoes

Kylor Johnson, Sophomore, Boys’ Basketball “Right now I have 2012 Elites. I just am a shoe guy, so my shoes are really important to me for basketball. Just the feeling of them.”

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by Bridget Anthony

Gear: Goggles

Taite Henderson, Serior, Girls’ Swimming “I have this very irrational fear of my goggles falling off.

One time when I was little they fell off and I jumped out of the pool because I was really scared and my mom shoved me back in and I had to swim the whole race without my goggles and it was terrifying. So now I am really scared of my goggles falling off. I like for them to be there.”

Gear: Hockey Stick

Colin Grant, Sophomore, Hockey “The stick is the most important to a player because it is what we use the most and it is our prized possession.”

Pumped Up Playlists

by Ashley Litoff

M

ost athletes want to rally before their game or meet to get pumped up. It’s not uncommon before a competition to see athletes with headphones on immersing themsleves in music. Often athletes have a special pump up song to listen to that triggers their excite-

ment and helps them get ready to compete. This pump up song can give them a couple minutes to focus and let them “get in the zone” as many athletes describe it. Monarch athletes’ favorite songs ranged from the rap beats of Jay-Z and Eminem to the heavy metal sound of Def Leppard.

Song: “My Humps”

Song: “Pour Some

Artist: Black Eyed Peas

Sugar on Me” Artist: Def LEppard

Athlete: Andrew Barlow, sophomore, Boys’ Basketball, Point Guard A&M Records

Athlete: Max Wiesner, sophomore, Lacrosse Mercury Record Label

Song: “Die Young”

Song: “Lose Yourself”

Artist: Ke$ha

Artist: Eminem

Athlete: Cyanne Stonesmith, senior, Girls’ Swimming

Athlete: Ben Beauchamp, junior, Boys’ Basketball Guard Photo Courtesy of Universal Pictures

RCA Record Label

Song: “Run this Town”

Song: “Promises” Artist: Nero

Artist: Jay-z

Athlete: Siena Harris, junior, Track and Field MTA Records

Athlete: Kingston Wagner, senior, Track and Field Roc Nation Record Label

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Monarch High School 329 Campus drive Louisville, CO 80027

Howler Staff

Print Editor-in-Chief Aleiya Evison Online Editor-in-Chief Charlie Light Opinions Will Petersen News Bridget Anthony Features Katie Ciaglo Arts and Entertainment Katie Berohn Sports David Andrews Copy Mia Mulvahill Business Tyler Debord Reporters Anna Blanco Olivia Coleman Natalie Forman Jack Howard Ashley Litoff Conner Lund Ellie Oliver Christina Rodie Arika Rooney Dalton Valette Joy Wineman

THE HOWLER IS NOW ONLINE!

Non Profit Organization US Postage Paid Louisville, Co 80027 Permit No. 31

Use the QR code to the right to access more stories, photos, complete staff profiles, polls, and more on the new Howler website.

www.mhshowler.com

Advisor 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. The paper will also provide a forum for community opinions.

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