Eagle Eye Issue 4 Gun Violence Edition Part 1 by Mark Newton

EAGLE EYE

Mountain Vista High School | 10585 Mountain Vista Ridge, Highlands Ranch, CO 80126

Vol. 17 Issue 4 4.16.18

Freshman Caleb Bonjean goes for the ball during the JV lacrosse game against Cherry Creek. “[Based on this game] I could improve on being more of a leader on the team,” Bonjean said. Photo by Georgia Lane

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dedication: msd media program

he editors at Mountain Vista Media want to dedicate this issue to the students and staff at Marjory Stoneman Douglas who lost 17 lives from their community and their sense of safety and normality at school. Our student publications not only share names,

but both support the strength and power of student voices. There’s no denying that this could have happened at any school — indeed, it has. As we know, it could have happened at Mountain Vista. The bravery and passion of the students of MSD is motivating and inspirational to our program.

We hope that their strength in time of extreme pain and loss will continue to be a historical shift in expectations and legislation. We support you in your mission for a safer world — and we wholeheartedly endorse the role journalism plays in such.

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contents

savanah howard lauren lippert gabe barnard haley kolseth charlie penvari bronwen cartwright greyson koinzan lauren irwin

8-11 features

Read about students at Vista who selflessly help others and challenge the status quo

u.s. school shootings A timeline of school shootings in the U.S. over the last 30 years

drew stahl lauren cowie georgia lane addisyn hartman alex simpson julia kirsch max hutto lizzie brenneman chloe yets ryan karsten sarah hensler carly ems jessica lauck shayan zarrin harper boggs hannah corbet-thiele brendan elkins caitlin english mindy herrod

editors

mikayla olave michael place erica venable emily kinney lexi riga erin solomon anne gerringer ben yoshida

staff

hannah mcclain hannah lovell victoria coffman molly phelan sarah o’sullivan tj coder jackson braun taryn glentzer madison paul tiara tambunan audrey brown tess harbert amanda gross brendan o’keeffe jeremy lundberg dylan kane audrey lyp paige gerling

policy

16 teachers talk guns Teachers share their opinions on having weapons in the classroom

18 walkouts The Vista walkout, March For Our Lives and keeping unwanted people out of schools

sports

Spring sports preview and other sports news

Eagle Eye, a legally recognized public forum for student expression, is published four times a year by the student journalism class at Mountain Vista High School. Expression made by students in the exercise of freedom of speech or freedom of press is not an expression of Douglas County school board policy. The views expressed in Eagle Eye do not necessarily represent the views of the entire staff, adviser, MVHS administration or the Douglas County School District administration. Board policy regarding student publications (JICEA and JI/JIA) are avaliable in the publications room (U328) or the principal’s office.

letters to the editors

The Eagle Eye welcomes and encourages letters to the editors. Letters should be limited to 250 words. Letters will be edited for space and legal considerations, but not for inaccuracies, grammar or spelling. Letters must contain information pertinent to the students of MVHS. The staff retains the right to withold publication of any letter not meeting these requirements. Unsigned letters will not be published. Please submit typed letters in person to room U328 or via mail or email.

contact

Eagle Eye | Mountain Vista High School 10585 Mountain Vista Ridge Highlands Ranch, CO 80126 Phone: 303.387.1500 Adviser: Mark Newton, MJE mark.newton@dcsdk12.org Editors: eagleeyeeditors@gmail.com

open forum content

Sophomore Megan Shellenberger lines up to kick the ball during one of her practices. “[My favorite part about practice] is being able to hang out, and our drills are really fun,” Shellenberger said. Shellenberger plays for the freshman/sophomore team. Photo by Lizzie Brenneman

Junior Brian Rustad swims his 500-freestyle race during the first meet of the season. “I am looking forward to improving my times later in the season and hopefully making more A Leagues times,” Rustad said. Rustad’s best stroke is his breaststroke and has an A Leagues time in the 100-breaststroke race. Photo by Lauren Cowie

At the Scholastic Art Award Ceremony, senior Julianne Marsh speaks about her writing piece. “I thought I didn’t make the deadline in time, but then I got the email saying it was entered, and then I found out I won so it was exciting,” Marsh said. Marsh received a Regional Gold Key for her short story. Photo by Carly Ems

Senior Gino Fornaro smiles as the Wish Week basketball game came to an end. “The game was definitely one of the most hyped games of the season,” Fornaro said. Vista fell to ThunderRidge, 67-23. Photo by Julia Kirsch

Senior Sophia Flowers high fives players before a game against Arapahoe. “I like my team,” Flowers said. “They really support me.” She always looks forward to basketball season because she can spend time with her friends. Photo by Hannah Lovell

ep!c photos

Senior Will Mitchell and the student body do the “Go Bananas” cheer. “It’s great to see everyone come out and participate to support our team,” Mitchell said. “Then being able to be one of those people who leads all of the cheers is such a great experience.” Mitchell has been a part of MV Unit since the beginning of the school year. Photo by Lauren Lippert

2017 and 2018 Wish Kids, Kenyan and Gabby, hang out at the varsity baseball game with the therapy dog Rue. “My favorite part about being back at Vista is seeing all of you guys,” Gabby said. Gabby said she hopes to come back to Vista to cheer on more sports teams and hang out with students Photo by Addisyn Hartman

Junior Sam Arvin dances with senior Sophia Flowers at halftime of a Unified basketball game. “Dancing with them makes my heart happy,” Arvin said. Avrin loves to see the joy Unified players radiate through sport. Photo by Hannah Lovell Senior Ryan Nunes leads the crowd in a cheer during the basketball game against ThunderRidge. “Leading the chants is an unreal experience,” Nunes said. “It’s really exciting to get the whole student body up and cheering.” Photo by Lauren Lippert

Freshmen Lilly Reicher and Katie Radic compete in the 100-meter hurdles. “This was my second meet, so this was my second time this year doing hurdles. I was trying to go for my personal record since middle school track doesn’t have that,” Radic said. Radic was able to run her personal best, ending with 20.52 seconds. Photo by Jeremy Lundberg

more than a project caitlin english

or freshman Carter Henry, participating in her Global Leaders and Learners (GLL) class means creating a project that she is passionate about from beginning to end. Henry’s current project focuses on animals in shelters and boosting the adoption rates of dogs specifically within the “bully breeds,” such as pitbulls. When looking back on what inspired the project, Henry thinks of a commercial she saw during the Super Bowl. “I was watching the Super Bowl and saw one of those dog commercials where all of the puppies were locked up in kennels,” Henry said. “My group members already told me that we wanted to do something about dogs, so it all just fell into place.” When it came to approaching the project, Henry and her group struggled from the limitations surrounding pitbulls in the Denver Metro area. “Our group had plans to bring in one of our group member’s pitbulls, but we could not get permission from the school because it needed service training,” Henry said. “[Also,] cities throughout Colorado such as Denver, Castle Rock, and Lone Tree ban pitbulls, so the idea didn’t work

out well.” Because of the limitations surrounding pitbulls, Henry said she feels that many people don’t know the true facts surrounding this breed and their so called “attacks.” “It is hard to determine facts about the mean breeds when facts are often opinionated or are unsupported by valid sources,” Henry said. “However, if you find a website that has correct information you would find that pitbulls are actually a very kind breed that is discriminated against because of myths and some attacks.” Nevertheless, this did not stop Henry’s determination to convince both her peers and the public that all dogs should be viewed as equals and not discriminated based on their perceived traits. “[Our project] is a matter to be addressed because people need to understand some of the situations dogs go through [in order] to be adopted,” Henry said. “This is a really big issue because as a man’s best friend, we aren’t treating them how a friend should be treated.” In order to change this view, Henry’s group worked with the Denver Dumb

Friends League to coordinate the Have a Heart for Homeless Pets Telethon. “I think the telethon will be successful [because] teachers are telling their students about the events and I have posters throughout the school,” Henry said. After looking back on the outcome of the telethon however, Henry said she now realizes that she won’t be able to change everyone’s mind on pitbulls, but feels the outcome of the telethon will be successful.. In the end, the Have a Heart for Homeless Pets Telethon was successful, and raised enough money to save and provide a safe home for 19,697 pets and horses.

inspiring young musicians victoria coffman

he highest rank a Girl Scout can become is a gold awardee. To achieve this award, the scout must identify an issue, create a sustainable project that helps solve the problem, and make it happen. For senior Grace Matsey her project to become a gold awardee was creating a free music tutoring program for elementary and middle schoolers. Matsey was able to start the program through her connections as vice president of Tri-M, the music honor society, and with the help of the students within the music program that volunteer to tutor at the sessions she sets up. A few times a month, she holds a free two-hour tutoring session where parents can drop off their students to be helped in groups. Matsey advertised the program at the music program’s “Feeder Festival” where students in band and orchestra that are from Mountain Vista’s feeder elementary and middle schools gather in Mountain Vista’s main gym and put on a combined concert. She explained to the parents that “music lessons are expensive” and how the festival puts into perspective how many

students drop out of music because they aren’t advancing or can’t afford lessons. The elementary-level group had the highest number of students, the middle school had significantly less and the high school had the least. Matsey’s solution was the creation of her program. She hopes that by holding free tutoring sessions she can inspire young musicians to stay with music and continue taking music classes in school. She tries to promote the importance and benefits of being in music and playing an instrument and has found multiple studies that link playing music at a young age to better brain development. “Statistically, students who are involved in music early in their education have improved test scores, better critical thinking, creativity and collaboration,” Matsey said. She said she hopes the program continues and grows in order to help parents realize the benefits and encourage their children to choose to stay in music programs even if it isn’t what they want to do as a career.

making it her problem erin solomon

s she walked into Cherry Hills Community Church on a bright Saturday morning, senior Aubrey Gerken chuckled at how little sleep she managed to get the night before. “I slept for maybe four hours last night,” Gerken said. From going to charity concerts and community-changing events, Gerken rarely gets a break. Gerken is a student leader of the SHIFT Conference in Highlands Ranch. The event looks to turn awareness into action regarding human and sex trafficking both globally and in the Denver area. Unfortunately, the tragedy nevers takes a break, so neither can Gerken. The most recent conference took place Feb. 23-24 and included a concert by Christian rock band Crowder. The conference held its first event in April 2016 and has continued presenting conferences annually. Gerken is one of two of the original members left on the student-led team. Since 2016, the team of eight students has been motivated by their mentors to make professional connections in order to push the movement and action farther. In fact, according to SHIFT founder John Deyoung, the conference has doubled each year in attendance. The growing community comes together several times a year to tackle this “invisible crisis.” When Gerken first learned about SHIFT and its mission, it became clear to her that while the reality overseas is tragic, the reality here in Denver is just the same. The reality is so real that as of 2013, only one sex trafficking related conviction took place — in 2006. “After I heard that this is the reality, I felt like I was carrying around a backpack of rocks for a week

after,” Gerken said. Gerken was suddenly faced with how to recognize this tragedy and how to act based on her reaction. The conference itself allowed victims and individuals involved in the movement to speak out and introduce the audience members to the strife and brevity of the sex trafficking industry. The stories of survivors of the trade brought tears to several audience members as the brave individuals were able to retell their accounts. Many individuals including emcee, Eppic, realized while on trips overseas that the epidemic is not just occuring in developing nations, but here in Denver as well. One of the sessions included Deyoung, who spoke about making this seemingly daunting problem one’s own and how to turn awareness into action. Gerken has even found herself searching for ways to help and recognize victims in her everyday life. “I went on a mission trip to Ethiopia, and I would see young girls on the side of the road. Even though it was never blatantly addressed that they were selling themselves, I just kind of knew,” Gerken said. The inevitable truth of witnessing young girls all over the world and at locally sell themselves to make money drives the cause forward. How does one process this fact and push themselves to make a difference? Gerken described the crisis as “invisible” because passers could truly never realize that young women are selling themselves right next to them as they are walking on the street. The scariest truth is the one that hits closest to home. It seems uncomfortable to truly recognize

that the bubble in not only Highlands Ranch, but America in its entirety, is faced with what seems like a Third World issue. For Gerken however, it was a matter of realizing that she had a calling to make this her problem rather than ignoring the signs like so many Americans do. “My first step was to research organizations, and I found the ways to support their cause and represent them,” Gerken said. Gerken then followed her calling by joining the SHIFT Conference leadership team. The few hours a week needed to be a part of this team of students from around Highlands Ranch seemed like nothing for Gerken if it meant making more steps in the right direction for sex trafficking in the Denver area. Gerken regularly volunteers with the Hope House in Denver and works with victims to bring them back to who they are meant to be even after their treacherous stories. “It’s scary to think that our ‘bubble’ [here in Highlands Ranch] is not safe,” Gerken continues, “The worst part is saying it aloud. To say that it is our fathers, uncles, and brothers buying our friends and sisters from Highlands Ranch or Littleton for sex is horrifying, but it’s true.” While, Gerken has never personally interacted with people actively involved in the trade, she has met survivors and listened to their stories. Gerken said she believes that this is what she is meant to do, adding she plans on following a path toward the overall goal to end the tragedy.

“We can’t tackle this on our own, but we can love someone out of it. It’s one person at a time. Love and compassion is the first step. They are human beings and should be treated as such,” Gerken said.

being the light hannah mcclain

unior Jadeyn Carr posted on Instagram that she would be welcoming anyone to her house on Monday nights in the effort to “SPREAD THE LOVE IN HIGHLANDS RANCH.” This informal gathering is a way for students to hang out and have a safe place to go with friends. With all of the horrendous things going on around the world, it’s rare to see students being the change, and doing something that can benefit an entire community This day in age, it’s refreshing to see people going out of their ways to make a positive impact, unrelated to school, doing things without being paid, but doing something because it’s nice, and the right thing to do. “Suicide and depression is such a prominent issue in our community and I didn’t see any change. I decided I wanted to do anything I could do to let people know that they’re loved and wanted, and that life is so much more than bullies or a stressful week at school,” Carr said. “The goal is to invite as many people I can, from as many friend groups as possible and provide a safe place where people can go if they’re ever feeling down.” In the face of tragedy, finding and enhancing community is incredibly important. Through the process of executing her plan to provide a space

of community, her main goal is to build relationships with people outside of her everyday friend group. “It’s important to establish community, as humans we’re literally made to be social creatures, and it’s a horrible feeling to feel alone,” Carr said. “Sticking together, and having people to walk with is always better.” Rapidly expanding, the digital age is used mostly by adolescents as a way to share the things they’re doing, show the things they have and talk about what they have opinions on. It’s not everyday you see people using it as a platform for a positive change and to jumpstart a movement. It takes a someone with a real knack for loving people to truly grasp that drastic change requires people to come together to benefit everyone for the common good.

“I decided I wanted to do anything I could do to let people know that they’re loved and wanted,” Carr said. “I think Jadeyn has a really great and original idea going with this,” friend of Carr, junior Brody Dempsey said. “It gives the opportunity for people to interact and helps with mental health and destressing. Her idea is going to help spread love around Highlands Ranch, which is something that everyone needs.” Another friend of Carr’s, junior Miranda Cohen, said she thinks the idea is amazing. “Jadeyn is stepping up and choosing to help the community and spread positivity by simply inviting people to hangout,” Cohen said. “No one should feel alone in the world and Jadeyn wants to help it be that way.” Along with jumpstarting an organized after-school hang-out time at her house, Carr also has left a positve impact in another ways. She volunteers as a missionary each summer at Camp Barnabas. The camp is devoted to provide a fun experience for people with special needs and illnesses, and Carr’s love for everyone supplements how she acts and carries herself as a person.

After her volunteering experiences at Barnabas, she continues to live life with a smile, and continues to encourage the spreading of love to everyone she meets. “I think positivity is a chain reaction and all it takes is for one person to spread kindness and it could make a change,” Carr said. “I know for me if I’m having a bad day and someone is really positive around me it helps to brighten my mood. So, I try to do that as well.”