Issue 5 by Mark Newton

eagleeye

Mountain Vista High School

10585 Mountain Vista Ridge Highlands Ranch, Colo. 80126

Volume 9 | Issue 5 | March 17, 2010

George “Snap” Palmer races for a ski team at Winter Park > page 16

SNAP Ohhhhh...

Photo used with permission of Mario Masitti

INSIDE THE EYE Golden Eagle

Military-minded students tell their stories

Salute >page 8/9

Photo courtesy of Raleigh News & Observer/MCT

VISTA STUDENTS MIRROR OLYMPIAN DEDICATION

Pain worth the permanence?

Tattoos >page 12

Fighting for attention In-school fights shed light on unfortunate attitude of students

>page 6

Illustration courtesy of The Seattle Times/MCT

March 17, 2010

School trips span globe

Students, teachers travel across the world as part of Education First Tours Q&A Spanish teacher Alicia Brown opens up about moving to India and leaving her students behind

India

“I also looked at the International Schools in Istanbul,Turkey, Bangkok,Thailand, the Bahamas and Germany, but India really caught my eye because of its easy access to other interesting areas that I want to go to.”

EAGLE EYE: How long have you been a Spanish teacher here at Mountain Vista? ALICIA BROWN: “Overall, I’ve been at Vista for five years. I was here in the U.S. at Vista for approximately three years, and then I moved to Dubai and taught at their International School for one year. Dubai was incredible, but the school wasn’t.”

EE: So what is causing this most recent move from the U.S. to somewhere overseas? Is it the budget cuts? The students? AB: “Let me put it this way. It is not so much that I don’t like it here, it’s just that I would prefer to be somewhere overseas. “I decided to make a move towards going somewhere out of the country in October of last year, so the budget cuts weren’t really

factored in at the time, although now it seems like it was fate that this job opened up. “Put simply, I love traveling, and going to live somewhere in Asia affords me a lot more opportunities to travel to other areas of the country.” EE: A lot of people who know of your travels are now asking: Why India? Why not Peru, or Egypt? AB: “Well, I had some standards when I went to pick what school I wanted to go to. “The first was that the school had to be an International School, and the one in New Delhi, India is one of the best on the scene.

EE: We know you are not planning to take your family with you on this trip. How are you planning to keep in touch when you are three countries away? AB: “This is the technology age. I plan to Skype my family so that, in a roundabout way, I get to see them often. “It will be kind of different for me this year since I don’t plan on coming home for any of the holidays, making it really hard to move that far away. “But the school I am going to is very open and accepting, so I feel like I am moving into an immediate community who is very willing to make me welcome and a part of their group.” >> continued on page 3

Getting a Passport > Nearest passport office—Highlands Ranch branch post office Photo by Amy Markowski

> Download an application at http://travel.state.gov/passport/forms/forms_847.html > Have proof of U.S. citizenship

Brown > India

What’s the schedule for the Egypt trip?

> Days 1 and 2 > Evening flight from DIA to Cairo > Day 3 > Cairo, Africa’s largest city, tour of Memphis, pyramids and sphinx > Day 4 > Four-day cruise along the Nile River, with stops in Thebes and the Valley of the Kings > Day 5 > Nile cruise continues, with stop at 2,000-year-old Temple of Horus > Day 6 > Cruise continues, stopping at the twin sandstone temple Kom Ombo > Day 7 > Final cruise day, with stops at the twin temples of Abu Simbel and the Great Temple > Day 8 > Visit Aswan High Dam > Day 9 > Sightseeing in Cairo > Day 10 > Travel back to Denver

> Have two passport photos >> 2 x 2 inches >> color >> taken within the last six months

> Pay the applicable fee >> $97—16 and older >> $82—under 16

The Sphinx and Pyramids at Giza >An estimated 20,000-30,000 workers built the pyramids over 80 years. > The Great Pyramid stands 481 feet, built from around 2.3 million stone blocks. > The ancient Greek word “sphinx” means strangler. > The sphinx stands taller than a six-story building.

LaVoie > Asia

Information from nationalgeographic.com

Hot Spots Bangkok, Thailand

> Boat tour through the Chao Phraya River and klongs (canals). >>Grand Palace, adorned by gilded rooftops and golden spires. High walls surrounding royal compound once served as a barrier between kings and Photo courtesy of Thomas Swick/MCT commoners. > Ancient City, a theme park featuring smaller versions of some of the country’s popular attractions. > Chance to explore the many wats (temples) throughout the city or a visit to the Reclining Buddha.

> Have social security number

Asia

Photo by Cody Enboden

patrick > egypt

Information from Education Tours

Photo courtesy of Chicago Tribune/MCT

>>GAME PLAN

>> Trip Dates: Mar. 17-27 >> Chaperones: Charles Patrick, Catherine Ayers, Heidi Schuster and Julie Sturgeon >> Students: 18 from Vista, ThunderRidge and Arizona >> Price: $3,300 + spending money

Egypt

> Have proof of identity >> naturalized certificate >> driver license >> government ID

>> Trip Dates: June 1-11 >> Chaperones: Frank LaVoie and Jake Sabot >> Students: 11 from Vista >> Price: Approximately $3,446 for students and $3,841 for adults

Siem Reap, Cambodia >>Angkor Wat, stone temples dating back to the 9th century, dedicated to the Hindu god Vishnu. The temples constitute the world’s largest religious monument, spread out over 40 square miles.

Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

Photo courtesy of Detroit Free Press/MCT

> Visit to the Reunification Palace, home of the president of South Vietnam during the Vietnam War. > Cai Be floating market. A collection of stores located on boats or stilts over the river offer traditional Vietnamese trinkets and snacks. Information from EF Tours

Drive the

March 17, 2010

message home

Keep your friends safe at the wheel, text them another time

Carli Auran > CO-Editor-in-Chief Distracted drivers in Colorado have reported driving while using a laptop, playing the Ukulele and even shaving their legs with a lighter. Listeners reported their own unlikely behavior to KOA Radio 850 Feb. 25, adding flavor to the topic of the day with host Dave Logan but failed to focus on the number one driving distraction in the nation: reading and sending texts. Texting while driving is the same as driving with a .08 blood alcohol level and quadruples the danger of crashing, according to several studies. Confident drivers, feeling bold, trust their multi-taking skills to keep them safe as they read and type on their hand-held devices which now feature Web browsing and e-mailing capabilities. “I read in a magazine that there are more accidents caused by texting than by drunk driving,” senior Jessica Michel said although she has continued to drive and text occasionally, despite the recently passed Colorado bill banning drivers from texting and driving. “I will text and drive sometimes, but overall I do it a lot less now that it has been made illegal.” According to Car and Driver magazine, stopping a vehicle while reading a text takes three times longer than doing so while driving undistracted and twice as long as the drunk driver. At 35 miles per hour, this equates to 45 extra feet to stop the car, compared to 41 feet while typing a text which appears to be slightly less dangerous. Drunk drivers take 25 extra braking feet to stop at the same speed. Forty-five feet is the difference between stopping safely at a crosswalk and sliding

halfway through the intersection — or halfway through the back of the car in front of you. Similar to Michel, senior Walker Brown said he still texts on the road as well. “It is hard to ignore answering a text. I try to wait until stop lights though. I think crashing while texting is much more likely,” he said. “Most people cannot focus on roads and their phones at the same time.” According to KeepTheDriveAlive.com, distracted driving is “anything that takes your mind and eyes of the road.” Texting does both and now 14 states have banned texting while driving. While the human brain is designed to tackle several tasks at once, multitasking expert and cognitive psychologist Steven Yantis said texting is worse because you have to look away from the road in order to read and respond to the text message. Recent studies discovered the brain takes longer to mature than previously thought and this process develops well into early adulthood. The parts of the brain controlling judgment, impulses, decision making and multitasking are the last to fully mature. The consequences of mistakes made while driving 60-70 miles per hour, can be disastrous. The cost was fatal for Patrick Sims. In 2005, the 17-year-old Colorado resident killed a bicyclist while texting at the wheel. “That day, the text message seemed important to me,.” Sims told the Denver Post. “Now, I couldn’t even tell you what it said.” Sims spent nine days in jail. But if Colorado follows in the footsteps of other states, longer jail time may become the standard for punishing text-driving culprits.

Last May, Utah, passed the nation’s toughest law yet to crack down on texting behind the wheel, declaring texting while driving a “willful act,” similar to driving while drunk and can therefore, be punishable as a criminal offense. Offenders in Utah now face up to 15 years in prison under the new law. “A simple ticket may not sway people from texting but a more serious punishment such as losing one’s license could,” Brown said. “If driving drunk is the equivalent of texting and driving, then how come you only lose your license for a DUI?” Brown said he supports the new texting law because the safety of drivers and others are serious concerns. With the Colorado law banning texting and driving, which went into effect early December 2009, the concept of safety may be more simple than we think. The one common thread between Michel, Brown and even Sim’s comments point to the apparent importance of responding to the text immediately, instead of ignoring the phone

and waiting until a more appropriate time to respond. “It is pretty easy to read a five- or 10-word text, but for most people to text back they must be constantly looking at the keys and making sure what they said was right,” Brown said. Although both Brown and Michel agree replying to rather than receiving a text is more dangerous, the key factor in the equation continues to be taking ones eyes off the road. Michel said most of the time is spent rereading the words she types to make sure they are correct and Brown said he is constantly looking back at the keys, essentially doing some light-reading at the wheel.

OUT ✓

KeepTheDriveAlive.com

for more information on safe driving

Jessica Michel, senior, checks her phone for text messages as she leaves the school parking lot. Michel said she still texts on the road at times, despite the dangers. and the law banning texting at the wheel. Photo by Carli Auran

New fees, cuts latest in budget story Extra costs for athletics and technology added to budget reduction plan Students should expect about 36 students per Ashlyn McKesson > Reporter class, which is higher than the current 30 student to As every day passes, more information comes class ratio, according to DCSD. out about how the lack of money will affect Moun “This will make classes much crazier, and with tain Vista. Students fear their favorite teachers will be let go more people, it will consequently take more time to learn lessons because more people and increased class sizes will take away will need help,” Maggie Williams, from a sound learning environment. Budget cuts will sophomore, said. It is well known that some teachers make classes crazier, “Also, the teachers will be overwill lose their jobs. Though it has not and with more people, whelmed and have less time for been divulged to the student body, it will consequently individuals,” she said. Principal Steve Johnson said seven take more time to learn Johnson said the amount the teachers will not be here for the 2010lessons because more school is losing is equal to nine 2011 school year. people need help. teachers’ salaries but the school has “My fear is that many valuable Maggie Williams, 10 figured out ways to not have to cut teachers will be let go,” sophomore nine teachers. They are doing this by Ashlyn Ellingson said. increasing fees in athletics, technol Where the cuts are being made in ogy and transportation. each department varies on the size, said Johnson. The bus fee will be $1 per day for each rider. For example, since Public Speaking is no longer This equals around $170 per family for the year. a requirement, there are likely to be cuts in the The price being looked at for the technology English Department. Also, since there are only five fee is $25 per family. According to the presentation P.E. teachers, there is no room for cuts in that area. given by the Douglas County School District Feb. 4, According to the budget tables from the last this fee will help support high-speed network and four years at Mountain Vista, provided by Douglas Internet access to the school. County School District, teacher salaries have made The athletic fee may bring a $30 increase to the up about 70 percent of the school’s overall budget. current $100 fee. This means class capacity will be increased from As this school year ends, Vista has to prepare for the regular 150 students per teacher to 180 students some dramatic changes to its learning environment. per teacher.

“

>>Continued from page 2 EE: What about your student fan base? Will you be creating a Web site for students to contact you through?

2.2 >> 40 >> 43 >> 7 >> 176 >>

billion-dollar revenue shortfall in the State of Colorado

”

Brown to teach in India

lowdown

the

million-dollar loss in DCSD revenue due to state shortfall percent of state budget allotted to K-12 education

Photo by Rob Denton Principal Steve Johnson addresses the student body at the fall pep assembly. At Vista, seven teachers may be let go next year due to budget cuts.

AB: “Of course I plan to stay in touch with the kids that I met at Vista. “I’m going to be creating a Facebook page that is only for my student friends, but in order to get the address, you will have to come talk to me directly. “I don’t want just anybody and their mothers to get a hold of this!” EE: If you had to pick any two things that you would bring with

percent of K-12 budget allotted to DCSD average cost per year in dollars for riding a bus to school

you to New Delhi, what would they be? AB: “My cart. No, just kidding. I’ll be returning that to the library when it’s time for me to go. “The two things that I would take would have to be a picture of my whole family, and my iPhone.”

March 17, 2010

The sunny side of budget cuts Vista receives grant from Douglas County for installation of solar panels Isabel Salinas > Reporter Due to a partial grant from Xcel Energy, Mountain Vista will receive solar panels, just another step towards making the school green. Under the guidance of science teacher Lori Schwendeman and the ideas sparked from teaching A.P. EnvironPhoto by Cody Enboden mental Science, a group of Schwendeman high school students’ dreams will soon come true as the district and school finalize plans to install solar panels over the cafeteria. Schwendeman said Colorado falls within a belt of sunny states where the sun shines 50-75 percent of the year, easily allowing the coming solar panel system to output power from the 30 percent of energy it pulls from the sun. The school intends to put up a 20,000 kilowatt system, resulting in final cost of around $40,000. Due to grants from Xcel, the company from which Vista will receive the panels, 40 percent of the overall cost will be covered. Schwendeman said the “key players” in the proposal included previous graduates Cedar Blazer, Cathy Feng, Katie Halloran, Shane Long, Dominic Montoya, Katherine Packard and Ross Weistroffer, plus current senior Anthony Adair. “A good portion of my Global Science class (worked on the plan),” she said. She said when the idea for solar panels on the school was first thought up, the students in her class “sprang into action.” They checked around the school for additional and unnecessary light bulbs, picked up trash, started lights-out-lunches and then, after collecting mass amounts of information on energy expenditures and creating a PowerPoint all about why solar panels would benefit Vista, decided to target the school district superintendent. The students created a commission willing to speak on the subject matter and set up a time and date to meet with Jim Christensen, the previous Douglas County School District

Solar STATS

superintendent. Schwendeman said the superintendent’s administrative staff was incredibly impressed with the professionalism of the students and their ability to present the problem of pollution and energy wastage and the proper actions necessary to fix it. After receiving Christensen’s permission to proceed with their plan, the district’s energy manager Lee Smit, who has saved the district about $7 million over his three years of employment, according to the DCSD Web site, became involved. >In one hour more sunlight falls on the earth Between the students and than what is used by the entire population in Smit, the district originally one year. planned to place solar panels on top of Cresthill Middle School > A 1-kilowatt home solar sysand Mountain Vista High School tem will prevent approxifor both academic and energy-saving mately 170 lbs. of coal purposes. from being burned, However, budget cuts this year resulted 300 lbs of CO2 from in the cancellation of Cresthill’s solar panel being released into installment and jeopardized the installment of the atmosphere Vista’s solar panels. and 105 gallons of “Truly, the only reason I think we are still water from being going through with the solar panels is beconsumed each cause of the kids and the impression month. they made,” said Schwendeman, “as well as the efforts they are making now.” > 1 kilowatt-hour According to Solar Sunwerx, (kWh) = the amount another solar panel company, of electricity required to a solar panel system should burn a 100 watt light bulb pay itself completely back in for 10 hours. 6-8 years, and every sunny day that it is active, it will pay itself back 100 Photo courtesy of Chicago Tribune/MCT percent in green energy. > Accounting for only 5 percent of the Regardless of the facts and arguments won world’s population, Americans consume by Schwendeman’s class, it has taken more than 26 percent of the world’s energy. two years for Xcel to personally scout out the Information from facts-about-solar-energy.com lunchroom roof. Xcel must organize the best Vista’s student body are at the core of conservpassion. They are stewards of the future and angle for the panels. ing energy. models of energy conservation efforts that Schwendeman said she is well aware that “This very much is a student-driven procan succeed.” this effort will contribute to Vista becoming a greener school, and said the efforts of the entire gram,” she said. “It is continued due to the kids’

Breathalyzers at Sadie’s dance successful

Security precaution leads to first alcohol-free dance since 2005

Photo by Amy Markowski

Valerie Buccio and Ryan Winter > Word Co-Editors There has been a lot of talk surrounding the addition of Breathalyzers at school dances including this year’s Sadie Hawkins. At the “Through the Looking Glass” themed dance Feb. 6, junior Shannon Cassidy felt like the new requirements were unnecessary. “Breathalyzers were a waste of time because it took so long to get into the dance,” said Cassidy. “They should have only had students blow on the Breathalyzer if they were suspicious.” Administration, on the other hand, is encouraged by the results from the Sadie Hawkins Dance Feb. 6. Compared to the homecoming dance this school year, where there were nine cases of students under the influence, this past dance there were no bad occurrences. “Of all dances since 2005,” said Pat McCabe, junior dean, “there has only been one without an alcohol-related incident due to the use of breathalyzers.” “I think we will continue (using Breathalyz-

ers) because it works out well,” McCabe said. “It’s little hassle for kids.” McCabe also said there have been few complaints from parents, mostly just questions about the procedure. Some students were not bothered by the use of breathalyzers at dances. “I don’t have a problem with (the Breathalyzers) because I don’t drink,” said David Murphy, senior. He said he does not judge people who choose to drink, but said he opposes underage drinking and would not want students under the influence to be at the dance. Due to the success at Sadie Hawkins, there has been discussion of using Breathalyzers at after-prom if it is held at Mountain Vista. There have also been questions as to where the money for the Breathalyzers came from when the District needs to cut over $40 million from its 2010-2011 budget. However, Lead Security Officer George Gardner said he was able to lock up a bargain. Vista purchased two Breathalyzers for $403

each, which, he said, was a discount. The school already had one prior to the dance. Leadership sponsor Doreen Smith said there were an estimated 350 kids in attendance at Sadies. Mountain Vista currently has an enrollment of over 2,000. McCabe said Sadie’s is always the least attended dance, but under 20 percent of the student body is still rather low in attendance. Compared to other schools in Highlands Ranch, Vista was the only one with no alcoholrelated instances at Sadie’s. Gardner said ThunderRidge’s dance had five incidents. “The children are awesome at this school,” Gardner said. Gardner said he is proud that Mountain Vista has had no alcohol-related death since it opened in 2001, and he wants to keep it that way. So for him, requiring breathalyzers at dances makes sense. “We aren’t trying to be mean,” Gardner said. “We are trying to save lives.”

March 17, 2010

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March 17, 2010

School spirit makes impact Lack of snow Positive attitudes create lasting effect for years to come days sacrifices road safety District decisions preventing snow days are getting out of hand

Ryan McKinney > Reporter Feb. 22 – After the treacherous ascent from the icedover street I live on, my truck busts out something a professional snowboarder would be jealous of: a 1080 quadruple backflip. I then sit at the intersection of Southpark and Broadway, waiting for a gap in traffic the size of Michigan so I might struggle through the left turn. Despite brand new tires and nearly 200 pounds of sand in the bed, attempting to push my truck past 20 miles per hour results in a fishtail and an upset transmission. Another left and I’m headed down Wildcat Reserve Parkway. Lo and behold, the accident I had been expecting all morning. Three police cars, an ambulance and a fire truck surrounded the light pole smothered in SUV. This, however, is not where our story ends. There is still a war to be had, the war fought by friction, gravity and Newton’s laws of physics against an infuriated, exhausted, madly muttering student and his equally frustrated Ford Ranger. I am perhaps one of the most confident drivers I know. I drive up to 100 miles a day, in all kinds of weather. In days pre-

vious I could be found in empty parking lots and curvy roads drifting and otherwise breaking every traffic law imaginable. Yet the fact that ice-rink streets and horrible visibility do not warrant a snow day, or even a delay frightens me. Douglas County School District insists, “The safety of each of our over 56,000 students is our priority.” I highly doubt this. This morning it took me 35 minutes to make a five minute trip to school, and a student was in an accident. Visibility is under 1 ½ miles, and there are looming clouds on top of the ice and snow already on the ground. Forcing students to drive to school in this, not to mention without even a delay, is dangerous. There is no way around it. Whoever is in charge of deciding when we receive snow days is either ignorant, stupid or careless. Understanding is also a key problem here. Or perhaps we are dealing with a high-paid school official, who probably drives a nice car, with good traction, who will not understand that we do not all drive 4x4 Jeep Wranglers. It serves to ask, what will have to happen before we do get a snow day? Ice, a foot thick, covers the road. You can not see five feet into the distance aside from the faint glow of the erupting volcanoes and sparks of fighting between dragons and unicorns. The real problem with the roads is that the earth has split and a gaping hole has now engulfed the school. The weather is no excuse. Please be on time, students.

Photo courtesy of Atlanta Journal-Constitution/MCT

Carli Auran > Co-Editor-inChief There is nothing like the exhilaration of balancing on the rocking bleachers of Shea Stadium, between two screaming friends, decked out in green and gold while cheering on the Vista football team. These days, it’s hard attending a school event without finding huge crowds packed into the gym or the auditorium. It seems Mountain Vista students have finally realized what it means to have school spirit and everyone is playing a part. From the sporting and club events to theater performances, students and teachers alike are showing their support for the Golden Eagles. Principal Steven Johnson said he has seen an increase in school spirit and can attribute the change to a number of reasons. “As schools get older they change and I think it’s sort of natural that schools go through different phases, so we’re kind of maturing now,” he said. Since Mountain Vista opened nine years ago, class sizes have increased signifi-

The fight for attention In-school brawls waste of everyone’s time, energy Trevor David > Co-Editor-in-Chief The chants start up, a circle forms, the upper hallway railings support the weight of 100 kids looking down to see what the commotion is about, hoping to see a few punches thrown. The two kids in the center of the action exchange some words until a teacher or security comes out to break up the disturbance and everyone walks away disappointed. What is so intriguing about the prospect of seeing a fight at school? You know a staff member is bound to notice, you know it’s going to be stopped

STUFF THAT MAKES ME TICK MCaleb Williams

Remember a couple years ago when the Rockies went to the World Series? No, you don’t because the Rockies aren’t the cool thing anymore. Anyone remember what team they went up against? If you answered the Broncos, then you emulate everything I hate about high school kids. “Avatar” was considered one of the greatest movies of all time by critics, so viewers

The Vista crowd cheers, arms linked, at the boys basketball game against ThunderRidge. The Golden Eagles took the game, 49-37. Photo by Rob Denton cantly and the involvement of Johnson said he noticed Mountain Vista students in the a more “laid back” feel this community and school events year especially, despite recent has flourished. changes and added restrictions “There’s been a good crowd with attendance and tardiness. for a number of games and Social studies teacher we’ve been active and enthuPatrick Maguire said he thinks siastic in terms of assemblies,” Student Leadership has a lot to Johnson said. “I think (teacher do with the increase in school Lindsey) Jaffe and the emcees spirit. have done a nice job, but I also “The many varied activities think students deserve some of that they plan has brought the the credit.” student body closer together,” I’ve seen changes just Maguire said. “Recognizing walking the hallways at school. the varied accomplishments of It’s more something you feel this talented group of students actually. There is less tension allows those on the outside between cliques and grades. It’s looking in to believe that what rare to see a “big bad senior” they do is important no matter pushing around a freshman. what the setting is.”

Whatever the reason is, students have been increasingly showing their Golden Eagle pride whether they’re covered in all white at the basketball game or waving their phones in silence to the sound of a fellow student’s voice at an assembly. Students look forward to participating in events like Mister Vista, Vista Idol, the prom fashion show and Goldust, which have all become cherished traditions. Seniors have to set the bar for the classes behind, by how they portray themselves as Golden Eagles. Finishing this year with as much enthusiasm and support for their school as they have during football season will set the precedent for classes to come. Keep lining the bleachers with hundreds of screaming fans. Fill every seat in the auditorium. Every friendly glance or wave in the hallways makes a difference. Prove to the other Highlands Ranch schools that we are a team. Mountain Vista isn’t just a jumbled mix of impulsive, unstable teenagers. We are a team. We play as a team. We perform as a team. We thrive as a team.

and you know it’s not going anywhere. And even if it did go unnoticed, would it make you feel good inside to see a helpless kid unconscious on the floor? “I think a few of (the fights) are a result of kids’ friends getting them all riled up and almost promoting a fight,” Administrative Dean Rob Ceglie said. “Most of them aren’t too serious, but we still treat them as assaults.” Ceglie said approximately 10-15 fights have occurred at Vista so far this year. Each incident is handled on a caseby-case basis, but each results in a minimum three-day suspension. “Kids can get hurt,” he said. “We’ve had kids with broken

noses, broken hands, scratches and cuts.” Getting into a fight at school is a cry for attention. It’s a wellknown fact the situation will most likely be subdued right away. I guess some kids just feel hardcore being talked about as “the one who almost got in a fight.” Fighting isn’t a solution to a problem. It’s a building block leading to bigger problems. “While it’s obviously entertaining to the bystanders, your classmates are beating on each other,” Ceglie said. “It’s unfortunate that kids act that way. It also prevents security and administrators from getting in there to break it up.” If I had $1 for every time I

heard a kid complain and say, “I always miss the fights,” I would have my college education paid in full. If, by fight you mean an immature, swing-and-a-miss insult contest, then I apologize you feel you’re missing out. You are not cool for having a shouting match lasting just long enough for administration to catch wind of it. Either talk it out or just move on with your life and try to forget about it. Most of us have a class to get to and don’t need a chanting circle of backpacks blocking the way over some Jerry Springer combat. If you want to see a fight so badly, try watching Ultimate Fighting Championship 111 March 27. Knock yourself out.

Time to jump off the bandwagon;

assumed it must be. But who really thought the movie was life-changing? The movie did not impress me to the degree that it promised. Sure, nothing says great cinema like crippled Marines and weird blue alien sex, but what made the movie stand above any other summer blockbuster? The bandwagon effect. Yeah, I know the “Avatar” comments are going to get me in hot water with the same people who said “Dark Knight” was the great-

est movie of all time two years ago. Caleb you don’t understand, “Avatar” was absolutely insane! Why? Because all your friends say so? Anyone remember Heath Ledger’s Oscarwinning performance as the Joker? Probably not, because you wore the T-shirts and bought the posters when the movie was cool, but now all the merchandise is buried at the bottom of your dresser next to your old Ninja Turtle underoos from third grade.

How do you think an artist, if I can even use that term, like Ke$ha is successful? I’ll tell you one thing. It’s definitely not because she’s a positive role model towards all the little prepubescent, Hollister-clad seventh grade girls across the country. It’s because a couple of the aforementioned middle-schoolers found “Tik Tok” to be a musical masterpiece. What followed was the spread of a virus across the country. The same thing happened >> continued on page 7

OUR VIEW

Graphic by Jamie Woodworth

SECTION EDITORS Val Buccio Brenna Cameron Kelsey Krebsbach Tyler Mustin Zachary Smith Kyle Tosch Ryan Winter Caitlin Young ADVERTISING Jordan Laeyendecker ADVISER Mark Newton, MJE

REPORTERS Allison Cole Taylor Ernest Andrew Frieman Brooke Healey Makeeba Helms Joanie Lyons Ashlyn McKesson Ryan McKinney Macy Morgan Erica Rasquinha Isabel Salinas Jake Smith Caleb Williams

forum for student expression, is published six to nine times a year by the Newspaper class for students of 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) is available in the journalism/publications room (Room U328) or in the principal’s office.

>LETTERS TO THE EDITORS > Eagle Eye welcomes and encourages letters to the editors. This is a chance to express your viewpoint on important issues. 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 not publish 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 e-mail.

>CONTACT > Eagle Eye, Mountain Vista High School, 10585 Mountain Vista Ridge, Highlands Ranch, CO 80126. Phone: 303- 387-1500. FAX: 303387-1501. Adviser e-mail: mark. newton@dcsdk12. org. Publication e-mail: EagleEyeNews@ dcsdk.12org

>COST > Single copies are free. Where available, additional copies of this paper are available for purchase for 50 cents each. Contact Eagle Eye for more information. Taking more than one copy of this paper with the intent to prevent other individuals from reading this edition of the paper is prohibited (C.R.S. 18-4-419). Violators, subject to prosecution and penalty under C.R.S. 13-21-123, will be prosecuted.

>ON THE COVER > Freshman George “Snap”

Palmer skies at a competitive race in Winter Park. Photo used with permission of George “Snap” Palmer

PROPS

Photo courtesy of LA Times/MCT

> Props to business

PHOTOJOURNALISTS Cody Enboden Tessa Kaufman Amy Markowski

>POLICY > Eagle Eye, a legally recognized public

EAGLE EYE >2009-2010 STAFF CO-EDITORSIN-CHIEF Carli Auran Trevor David

FLOPS

the STAFF

March 17, 2010

PROPS

teacher Rhead Kinder and his wife for raising over $2,000 for the Haiti relief effort. Kinder’s International Business class competed against his wife’s elementary school class in a rendition of “Are You Smarter Than a Fifth Grader?” and took pledges for aid. Props to the yearbook staff for organizing and taking photos of school clubs. Everything went smoothly and now everyone will be recognized in the yearbook. Props to the performers who played at the Key Club and Hope Reigns pankcake breakfast. They volunteered to entertain guests for free at 9 a.m. on a Saturday. The breakfast raised nearly $800 for Haiti.

Forcing all students to pass sobriety tests at school dances is unnecessary in the long run It seems as though Breathalyzers are here to stay. After a “successful” implementation at the Sadie Hawkins dance Feb. 6, Administrative Dean Pat McCabe said he thinks passive Breathalyzer tests will continue to be an entrance requirement at future dances. The idea in principle makes perfect sense. Administration wants to keep kids safe and minimize illegal activity. But, forcing everyone to take the test turns the concept of innocent until proven guilty into guilty until proven innocent. According to the surveys taken at our school, the majority of students don’t consume alcohol. If that’s the case, we should be treated as sober teenagers unless we give a reason saying otherwise, like falling over at the door or yelling with slurred words. By testing every kid entering the doors at a dance, an assumption of wrongdoing immediately extends. That may not be the intention, but it undeniably implies the kids at the dance did not make good decisions. The Breathalyzer needs to operate on a case-by-case basis. Students pay money to get into the dance and most likely wouldn’t waste their money just to fail a sobriety test and face a run-in with their parents or the cops. “There were kids who were just strictly opposed to the idea of Breathalyzers who didn’t go because of that (and) not because they drink,” Leadership representative Josiah Workman, senior, said. Some students were simply put off by the idea of being forced to accommodate to the rules of the Breathalyzers and did not attend the dance. Assuming they were part of the mass percentage of students who don’t drink, they missed the dance only because they didn’t like being treated like delinquents.

It is unfortunate that the idea of Breathalyzers connotes such a negative impression even to teenagers who have never had a sip of alcohol in their life. As for the small fraction of students who do participate in illegal activities and avoided getting caught at the dance, they probably went elsewhere to partake in such behavior. In this case, students are now out drinking — and probably driving — at places far more unsafe than a school, most likely hidden under the radar from their parents. Teenagers who insist on drinking underage are not going to stop just because there are Breathalyzers at a school dance. They’ll take their habits somewhere, to places where adults cannot monitor their safety or tell them what to do. Workman said Leadership had the responsibility of publicizing the advent of the Breathalyzers. But, there was a notable decrease in attendance at the dance this year. “I feel like we did lose a lot of ticket sales and it might reduce ticket sales in the future,” Workman said. If silly behavior or apparent intoxication warrants a test, so be it. Kids who are acting out of control can suffer the consequences of being tested. The rest, however, do not deserve the unnecessary inconvenience. It insults our integrity, holds up the line at the dance and takes away ticket sales and proceeds the school needs for charitable organizations or things like After Prom. As teenagers, we deserve a little more credit. According to the statistics, most of us don’t drink. Instead of assuming we’re all going to show up wasted to a school dance, have a little trust in the rest of us and take strong action if the situation warrants.

Broken Dreams?” Yeah, there we go. Because that’s when every kid in America decided Green Day was their favorite band. I asked one of the kids in my class around sixth grade, “Can you name one song by Green Day that isn’t on ‘American Idiot’? and he awkwardly replied, “Um, ‘Holiday’?” You know what’s unfortunate? Some of you will think he’s right. And, you’re the same people who like a band because you played their song on Guitar Hero. OK, now that I’m done spouting out

examples like I finally got really good at those “justify your answer” test questions, time to enlighten you all on some stuff that you already know. Once the hip, now thing loses its status as “the greatest movie of all time” or “the most talented young artist of our generation,” etcetera, etcetera, the cool kids move on to the next thing. And just to fit in, everyone follows. It’s a never-ending bandwagon. “Dark Knight” was the greatest movie of all

FLOPS

> Flops to kids who sit and cheer

in the other team’s student section. Stick with your school during the game. Don’t participate in their cheers, especially when they’re beating us. You’re an Eagle. Flops to the boring, redundant coverage of the Olympics. The new, seemingly never-ending time slots on NBC changed some events from exciting to mundane. That’s enough curling for the day.

> Flops to the prevention of seniors

from participating in the “do it” cheer on the basketball court. If it’s a timeout and the stands are crowded, why can’t they jump down and have a little bit of fun in their last year?

Curling photo courtesy of Canwest News Service/MCT

THE FIRST AMENDMENT Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.

>> continued from page 6 with Justin Bieber. Yeah, the little 12-year-old Aaron Carter clone whose voice sounds like he swallowed 20 helium-filled balloons. Hate to tell you ladies, but the kid who could pass as the fourth member of Alvin and the Chipmunks is not talented. Everyone just jumped on the bandwagon. Green Day was one of my favorite bands before 2006. Anyone remember the album “Dookie?” No? What about “Boulevard Of

time, but now “Avatar” came out. All this shows me is nobody ever liked this stuff. I know full well that fads come and go, but don’t change your iTunes username to something like xBiebersGirl4everx, because you won’t be. You’ll move on to the next pre-pubescent boy toy who comes along, and Justin will be left with a Macaulay Culkin-style fate, eventually resurfacing six years later as a lonely drug addict on a low-rated reality show.

HOO-RAH, SO my.hsj.org/co/highlandsranch/eagleeye

Living “Semper Fidelis”

In th

D.J. Pozzi enrolls as Marine despite family’s worries Erica Rasquinha > Reporter While most students are preparing to head off to college, DJ Pozzi spends time training for the U.S. Marine Corps. Pozzi, senior, is scheduled to attend to a summer camp July 12, and plans to leave for active duty in August. “I wanted to sign up for active duty instead of a military college because I wanted to fulfill my duty to serve the country,” Pozzi said. To gain admission to the Marines, the academic requirements are a high school diploma or a General Equivalence Diploma, in addition to passing a standardized test called the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery, or ASVAB. The ASVAB tests personal and individual skills to determine what occupation would best suit the potential military person. “I failed the practice test, but I passed in mechanical engineering and puzzle solving,” Pozzi said. “The field I’m going into is either radio control communications or electrical ground operations.” According to the

US Marine Corps Web site, www.marines.com, radio control communications deals with aircraft weapons and systems, and electrical ground operations destroy the enemy by fire and maneuver. “I would also like to try out for the Force Recon team,” Pozzi said. “It’s like the special forces of the Marines.” Counselor Cathy Mumper said a person’s family reaction could really affect a decision to enlist in the armed services. “Since I’m the only guy in my family, telling my mom about my decision to enlist was really difficult” Pozzi said. “I had my buddy Zach Garfield who also enlisted to help me break the news, but my mom still had a hard time dealing with it. I even had a family member stop talking to me because of my decision to enlist.” “Because DJ is so determined and has faith in the Lord to keep him safe, I was a little less scared about all of this” Lisa Pozzi, DJ’s mother, said. “He told me, ‘Mom, I know this is what I am supposed to do.’” His older sister Brittney Pozzi, who graduated from Vista, shares nothing but a supportive attitude. “I buy everything on the Marines Web site and I even have a bumper sticker that says ‘My brother’s a Marine’ on my car,” she said. One of Lisa’s main fears is that DJ will leave their home as DJ, but after the intense boot camp he may not come back the same person. Pozzi said he is excited for basic training. “It’s some thing I know I’ll be good at,” he said. He said he would always miss and think about his mother and sister. “If any kids at Vista are thinking about joining the Marines, Zach Garfield, Andrew Farber, Steven McClung and I would be happy to help advise other kids,” Pozzi said. “My opinion is that the Marines are the best of the best,” he said, “and I’m going to live my life by Semper Fidelis (always faithful).”

Photo by Amy Markowski

SING FOR OUR T Caitlin Young > Juice Co-Editor

of the Red, Wh >>“Courtesy “There are a lot of men dea

at night when we lay down

Keith sings that when any up their world “like the fourth die because that’s how impo This song emphasizes the preserve what we have gaine

“If You’re Reading This” b

“Tell dad I don’t regret tha

Photo courtesy Nicolas Khayat/Abaca Press

Evoking appreciation for v sings of family tradition that song tells of soldiers writing h realize there is no more hope

OLDIER

> > While most students envision attending

lse | advertising | eagle eye |

Future sniper eyes early enlistment Macy Morgan > Reporter With his hands in his pockets, sophomore Josh Bandstra radiated the fervent aura of knowing one’s dream. Although joining entails much danger, he aspires to join the Marine Corps, a branch of the U.S. Navy, and ultimately become a scout sniper. “I’ve always known, really,” he said. “When my dad told me to go watch Scooby-Doo, I’d watch the military on the History Channel.” Bandstra said one of the main reasons for the strong appeal of the Navy is due to his parents’ careers as Navy personnel. However, he said, “My parents think it’s stupid. They think I’m gonna get killed.” Despite his irrefutable will of achieving such an ambition, Bandstra acknowledges that, like most dreams present, he has a few hurdles to overcome. “I plan on entering the Corps at 17, but you need parental consent. If (my parents) don’t let me, I’ll just wait until I’m 18 when I don’t need permission,” he said. On top of the risk and the disapproval of his parents, Bandstra accepts the fact that to receive admittance to the Naval Academy will be extremely difficult. “It’ll be the toughest thing I’ll have to do,” he said. School counselor Cathy Mumper said upon looking up the stats on Naviance, the acceptance rate for the U.S. Naval Academy was a mere 13.9 percent last year. Additionally, applying to the Academy requires an immense amount of community service. One has to prove they’re passionate about helping others, said Mumper, and Bandstra plans to do so by building houses with Habitat for Humanity. As Mumper described, these obstacles appear frequently among the young men and women striving to pursue a career in one of the four military branches. Bandstra, however, confesses a unique concern. “I’m allergic to the flu shot,” he said. The vaccines are distributed during boot camp as the Marines march between two men with injectors, Bandstra explains. “(My allergy) is the biggest deal involved with me getting into the Marine Corps,” he said. “You do have to meet medical qualifications,” Mumper said, “but (Bandstra’s allergy) is not an automatic out. They look at everything, all medical history. “They’re selective because it’s a very rigorous environment, both physically and mentally to be in. It’s very challenging,” she said. “For some students (the military) is a great way to earn a great living.” Bandstra said he knows he is one of those students — for although he must face the barriers looming in the future, he still sustains an unwavering look of tenacity with an ardent smile. “I want to help people,” he said, “and I think the Marines is where I’m best suited to do it.”

hite and Blue” by Toby Keith

ad so that we can sleep in peace n our heads.”

y country messes with us, we’ll light h of July.” We will defend it until we ortant it is to us. e noble and honorable endeavor to ed.

by Tim McGraw

at I followed in his shoes.”

veterans and their families, McGraw strengthens patriotic feeling. The home to their families when they e.

8/9

“normal” colleges, others consider years with the military or various academies right out of high school. Hoo-rah, soldier.

he cr sshairs

TROOPS

March 17, 2010

in air

Junior pursues pilot aspirations

every day. Zack Smith > Juice Co-Editor Because of these childhood memories, Eyeing an intangible spot in the sky, he said he has wanted to be a pilot ever junior Thomas Hemmings grinned as he since he was a kid. imagined his future career. But his path will certainly not be an easy “I like the feeling of beating nature, and one. Hemmings admits the “physical trainfeeling like I can do better than it,” he said, ing for sure” and the regimented lifestyle of “but at the same time, you have to respect it the academy stands in stark because it can kill you in contrast to the typical experithe air.” ence of a college student. The life of an Air Force However, preparation for his pilot, Hemmings realizes, dream began freshman year, is one of interminable and his training has continued rigors and risks. His route to intensify. of choice to attaining his Hemmings curdream job is to gain adrently drives 30 minutes each mittance to the prestigious weekday to an aviation class U.S. Air Force Academy. at Cherry Creek High School, Located in Colorado where he learns the basics of Springs, the Air Force flying a plane. Although he Academy pays full tuition, has yet to venture a solo flight, room and board for its he has flown with an instrucstudents and provides tor once before and plans them a monthly stipend. Thomas HEmmings to get his pilot license at the Graduates receive a Bachage of 17, barely a year after receiving his elor of Science degree and a commission as driver’s license. a second lieutenant in the Air Force. “It’s a lot like driving except harder and The only catch: Potential cadets must go more dangerous,” he said. “And, you turn through a demanding admissions process with your feet.” that includes having high academic stand Talking to school counselor Cathy ing, being in “pristine” physical shape, Mumper about how other Vista alum attaining letters of recommendation from gained admission to the academy has sigcongressmen and serving eight years in the nificantly helped him, he said. In addition, Air Force upon graduation. Hemmings will attend Air Force and Navy “It’s the best college experience I could have” Hemmings said. “It’s a great education seminars over the summer to grasp what life opportunity. It provides you with a good job at an academy is like. “You get to be a cadet for a week and get a feel for the lifestyle,” he and you get to serve your country.” said. He enumerated that other positives And with baseball season underway, include job security and government health Hemmings, an outfielder, can see how his benefits. skills on the ball field translate to the mili “I’ll have a job the second I get out — tary. hopefully as a pilot” he said. “In the field there is always somewhere Hemmings’ fascination with flying to go and something to do,” he said. “It began at a young age. Growing up with the academy almost as his backyard, Hemmings helps to be successful because you have to work as a member of the team.” watched countless planes and jets take off

“Chicken Fried” by Zac Brown Band

“Salute the ones who die, the ones who give their lives. So we don’t have to sacrifice all the things we love”.

Brown describes the typical southern American life filled with simple pleasures such as “sweet tea, pecan pie, and home made wine.” America contains many benefits and attributes that define the ideal “peace of mind”. It’s because of soldiers that we have all of these freedoms.

“American Soldier” by Toby Keith

“I will always do my duty no matter what the price.”

This song is about the amazing drive and sacrifice soldiers have in order to lay their lives down for their families and the wellbeing of their country. Another factor in his message is a camaraderie between the soldiers and thus the song’s audience. He conveys his belief, singing, “Besides my brothers and my sisters I will proudly take the stand.” Photo illustrations by Caitlin Young; Soldier courtesy X-ile Pictures/MCT. Mountains and predator courtesy Los Angeles Times/MCT.

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March 17, 2010

Adams finds herself, God by converting

Brenna Cameron > Soul Co-Editor ichelle Adams talks with the eloquence and the grace of a woman 20 years older than herself. She adjusts her black glasses with little jewel embellishments as she speaks about the methodical way she has gone about making her decision. The confident way she carries herself in a crowd full of teenagers who have no idea who they are reveals the depth of understanding she has reached from the experience. “(One night) I asked God in one of my prayers, ‘Should I convert to mainstream Christianity or the Mormon religion?’ the junior said. “(The next morning) I just woke up and I knew automatically I wanted to be Mormon.” Without knowing Adams, anyone would expect she decided to change religions because her boyfriend, senior Collin Willardsen. But this simply isn’t true, Adams said. Adams says she remembers growing up and going to church only a couple times a year, dressing in a frilly pink dress at Easter and donning black stockings with Mary Jane shoes at Christmas. Playing only a small role in her childhood, Adams said she never truly believed in her Christian faith. “My parents always wanted us to choose our own religion. I was like ‘Oh, I’ll just figure it out when I’m in my 20s,’” Adams said, “but this was the time in my life that I was ready for it.” Ready because Willardsen had already introduced Adams to the Mormon religion and Adams became somewhat intrigued. “I had a rough day and I would talk to Collin about it,” Adams said, “and he would tell me things (from the scripture) that would cheer me up.” Adams said she started going to church with Willardsen’s family in December and after awhile it just seemed right. Recently, Adams said she experienced the most pivotal step of her religious conversion. Tears flowed from everyone’s eyes, dripping faith to the floor in a beautiful moment Adams says she’ll remember forever. With the church’s missionaries she watched a movie about Jesus Christ restoring the church through the Mormon Prophet Joseph Smith.

Photo courtesy of Detroit Free Press/ MCT Photo by Amy Markowski

ColLin’s Perspective

ollin Willardsen raises his voice just a little louder as he talks about the “persecution” his girlfriend has faced since she announced she wanted to become Mormon. “I’m kind of numb to (persecution) because I’ve experienced it all my life,” the senior said. “She’s been crying about it so many times that I feel horrible and it tears me up inside.” The couple has only been dating for four months but Willardsen says they like to think its

true love. Willardsen says he’s never dated a Mormon before and he speaks with enthusiasm as he admits his excitement about baptizing his girlfriend. “It’s really exciting to date someone who has the same beliefs as you,” he said. “We can help each other out on a very personal level.” Even Willardsen, who isn’t converting religions, can already feel the effect of Adams change in heart. “This will affect the rest of our lives,” he said. “Each discussion draws us closer together. This will make us so much closer.”

“

”

Mom’s Perspective

DAd’s Perspective

ounging in a reclining sofa, he scratches his gruff beard and his bald head gleams, all behaviors suggesting a biker instead of a supportive dad. But as Adam’s dad, Dennis Adams, speaks, one can see he’s just a man proud of the decision his daughter has made. “I’m extremely happy and proud of her that she’s made a decision on her own,” Adams said. Adams knows just how hard it can be to switch to another religion. He confesses that he himself is exploring the Mormon religion. The decision came after a friend at work introduced him to the religion and his daughter converting at the same time is just a coincidence, he said. But through both of their change of hearts, they have found a way to hug tighter, talk longer and love harder. “It’s made us closer,” Dennis Adams said. “We’ve been able to have some good discussions about it.” At the end of the day, Adams says with a little smile he has no regrets in either his or his daughter’s decision to explore other religions. “It’s all been a very positive change,” he said. “She is finding a type of direction in her life.”

Afterwards, she said she knew she was ready to be baptized. “It was a big moment in my life,” Adams said. “(At that moment) I knew the Book of Mormon was true, I knew the Mormon faith was true. I knew the Bible was true.” Even with this crucial step in her transformation, Adams says the time between when one says that the religion is true and when one gets baptized is the hardest time of a person’s religious life. I just woke up Adams admits her family’s acceptance has and I knew automatically I been one of the hardest things she’s had to wanted to be overcome because of her Mormon. decision to convert. Michelle Adams,11 “At first my mom was really supportive of it. She always thought we should be able to choose our own religion,” she said. And Adams’ mom, Kim Bakke, believes she has become more accepting of her daughter’s religion as time passes. “To me, (Mormonism is) something I can’t believe in,” Bakke said. “But if that’s what she believes in, then I can’t change that.” Letting her eyes glance around the room, Adams says in somewhat of a hushed voice that her father didn’t seem supportive when she first told him of her decision to convert. But once her dad admitted he was considering converting to the Mormon religion as well, Adams said their relationship began to mend itself. “I’d go to him if I’d have something that was bugging me and he’d give me advice,” Adams said. “He influenced how I would deal with a situation.” Somehow Adams still sits tall and speaks with utmost grace as all her hardships surround her and make her decision more of a challenge than she could ever imagine. She doesn’t waver on these struggles but embraces the joys and change that will come from the experience. “My heart is really set on this,” Adams said. “This will change my life entirely.”

he sits on the couch to talk about a subject that most would deem “touchy.” But as she begins speaking, all tension melts away. “The best thing is getting her back into the church,” Adams’ mom Kim Bakke said. Bakke discusses how all her children have taken different paths with faith — Michelle just picked Mormonism to believe in. “We raised our kids to be independent, explore different religions, then go with what’s in their heart,” she said. While Bakke doesn’t necessarily agree with the Mormon faith, she says she’s agreed to disagree. “When she turns 18, she can do what she wants anyway,” Bakke said. “I can either support her now or support her then. It’s not my decision. It is what it is and you can’t change it.” Bakke sits on the words as they come from her mouth, speaking slowly as if every word will have the greatest effect on her own perception of her daughter’s decision. “What religion is the true religion?” she said. “God says that we’re not to judge other people, so who am I to judge?”

>> Wait, you’re sticking that where? 12

March 17, 2010

Tattoos and piercings go mainstream, and students share their own experiences

What does

YOUR TATTOO

mean to you?

Photo By Tessa Kaufman Senior Brittany Leeser cleans out one of her 12 piercings with a Q-tip in the school bathroom. Leeser says she likes when she gets something new. “It’s exciting to have a new piercing.” a form of self-expression. them ever since. Kelsey Krebsbach > Soul Co- Editor “Its kind of like having any other piece of “My parents signed for all of them except enior Brittany Leeser winced as a shiny jewelry, it’s just more permanent. It can even my tattoo and my rook. So, for those I just 14-gauge needle slid through her ear. show individuality, especially when you have went to a place downtown that doesn’t ID,” With blood rushing to her cartilage, a something unique,” she said. Leeser said. bar carefully chosen in size is left hanging Catherine Ayers, a psychology teacher a Her parents were less than pleased, she from the hole as another hollow needle is Mountain Vista, agrees that body art is gainsaid. Leeser, however, remains confident that positioned an inch-and-half away. ing social momentum, she will not regret her rook piercing and thin Glancing around, she realized her friend heart-shaped peace sign next to her ear. had just passed out. It’s kind of like hav- but is not necessarily a bad thing. “They think I made a mistake and that I’ll “My industrial was definitely my most ing any other piece “Society does seem regret it in the future, but I didn’t just get it on painful piercing,” Leeser said of the 2-inch of jewelry, it’s just to judge tattoos and impulse. I thought about it for a long time,” metal bar stretching across the top of her left more permanent. piercings,” she said, she said. ear. “but I think it just While these types of body modifications Leeser, who has 12 piercings total and brittany leeser,12 reflects a teenager’s may seem innocent, some psychologists beplans to get three more along with two more identity.” lieve the pain can even become addicting, and tattoos, is part of the trend gaining mainBy law, a parent must sign their permishas even been linked to depression and illegal stream popularity with teenagers. sion for tattoo or piercing for a minor, but activity. According to womenshealthcaretopics. with over 15,000 tattoo and piercing shops When Leeser heard this she shrugged com, approximately 10 percent of high school throughout the United States, there are some casually. “I guess they can be,” she said, “but I teens have tattoos and about 30 percent have that do not ID. think it’s just exciting to have a new piercing. I body piercings. Leeser said she got her first piercing when don’t like the actual feeling of getting it done, While most adults regard piercings as a she was in eighth grade, and has been getting it’s more about how it looks.” symbol of rebellion, Leeser argues it is simply

“

”

The Silhouette

Morgan Manwaring, 12

“I got the daisies because all the girls in my family have them, and the lyrics represent the people I know who died.”

Brady O’Donnell, 11 “I got my tattoo because I am Catholic. I am also part Irish, and the shamrock represents luck.”

Katie Buettner, 12 “[My tattoo] is supposed to symbolize the tree of life. The flower buds represent my two friends who died.”

Kathryn Hardin, 10 TALENT: SINGING

Kathryn Hardin smiles as she talks about the duet “Half of My Heart” she hopes to perform in the upcoming Goldust production with her boyfriend. “He’s playing the guitar and I’m

singing,” she said. “We picked the song together.”

“I like the idea of expressing my-

self through music,” Hardin said. “Song lyrics just seem to go deeper than normal words.” She hopes to make it to the most advanced choir at Mountain Vista, Gold Tones, next year.

Hardin has been singing since elemen Hardin said if she makes it, it would be a tary school, and is now involved in both her chance to experiment with new, different church and school choirs. types of music.

Photo by Tessa Kaufman

She also has been playing guitar for four years and plays with a worship band every few Sundays.

“I want to keep singing in college

and continue to challenge myself,” Hardin said.

Senior exposes her experience with cutting

“I

Taylor Ernest > Soul Reporter t was something I needed to do, my mom was sick, tension was built up in my house and with my family. My life was not very stable,” said Kayla. “I thought doing this would help.” Kayla, senior, whose name has been changed because she wishes to remain anonymous, began cutting her wrists at just nine years old when her mom was diagnosed with cancer. You may have noticed students at Mountain Vista writing “LOVE” across their wrists Feb. 19. Kayla and other participants of this day do so to spread the vision of a movement, “You need to know that your life matters.” To Write Love on Her Arms is a non-profit movement devoted to helping with depression, addiction, selfinjury and suicide across the

United States. Kayla let her depression out through self-injury for a year. “Sometimes I would cut once or twice a week, but it was mainly random urges,” said Kayla. After her mom’s breast cancer was clear, the self-infliction stopped. Tension built up at home again and her cutting habits returned the beginning of her sophomore year. “All you can do is tell someone. It has to be their choice to stop themselves,” said Kayla. As she watched her friend John, who also wishes to remain anonymous, cut himself to the point where she feared losing him, Kayla decided to help his addiction by stopping herself. Though she quit, her friend didn’t. John continued to deny cutting himself but he could no longer hide it. His parents took him to Urgent Care for

do we hear during “Whatpassing periods? “

>> hallway talk

all know guys throw > “We grapes at each other.”

> “Guys, I’m so mad at my fish right now.”

> “I wish I had a tail so I could scratch my back.”

> “Keep taking pictures like that and I could file for harassment.” > “Don’t use a pillow like that. The feathers will explode.”

least you get to sleep and > “At relax in jail.”

> “We’re guys. We show each other.”

> “I think your butt is like a magnet.”

> “You pushed me with your nipple.”

lowdown <<the 90%>>

of cutting problems start when an individual is an adolescent

][

can be linked to cut40-60% >>oftingsuicides and other forms of self-injury number of people hospi154,598>>average talized each year due to self-injury source: www.teenhelp.com

stitches numerous times. His cutting habit continued for a year while attending Mountain Vista before getting a severe intervention from his family that saved his life. He is now attending boarding school and fully clean from his addiction to self-injury. “(Cutting) is nothing that is going to help, it is just you fooling your body. The worst part is I knew it was bad and still did it,” said Kayla.

The National Institute of Mental Health says the third leading cause of suicide between the ages of 15-24 is untreated depression. This is what To Write Love on Her Arms is trying to prevent. “I think the movement helps remind people that depression is relevant and all around them,” said Kayla. “It also reminds me of how bad I felt after cutting and the reasons I quit.”

Q&A Courtney Brennan, Scott Hall dish on dress code at Hollister

Eagle Eye: Why is the dress code so specific at Hollister? Courtney Brennan: “I think it’s because they are trying to create a certain image.” Scott Hall: “It’s so specific because they want to portray a certain style. They think the customers will look at the associates and want that style.” EE: Do you think it portrays a positive image to kids who shop there? CB: “I guess. I don’t think they look at us and notice.” SH: “I really don’t think it portrays an image at all. It’s Photos by Cody Enboden just a style of clothing.” EE: Do you think having EE: Do you like the dress such a specific style crecode? ates a stereotype? CB: “We have to be limited CB: “Yes, definitely. We have on our makeup and wear to wear skinny jeans and slip on vans or flip-flops flip-flops. Who wears flipwith grey or navy shirts. It’s flops in the winter?” not horrible. It’s better than SH: “No, not really. It’s not wearing an apron or hats a way of life. You can look like at other jobs.” all around and there will SH: “Yes, I like the dress code, be ‘jocks’ wearing their but the only thing is I wish clothing, ‘skaters’ wearing we could wear more colored their clothing. So, it doesn’t shirts.” create a stereotype at all.”

March 17, 2010

The Critique

with Brenna Cameron

Prom Fashion Show

A few weeks ago, DECA put on a prom fashion show at Ralph Schomp BMW. As I walked into the venue, I could feel the high energy. When the students started coming down the red carpet, I wanted to jump up and grab almost every dress that appeared. All the attire was gorgeous . Along with the outfits, the students made the event entertaining by showing off playful poses making everyone laugh and smile. The night also boasted door prizes and raffles which got me excited, hoping I might win a gift card to my favorite store TooLips. The new venue, high spirits and lively atmosphere made this annual event a success and ultimately made me enjoy a night out.

The Passage

Stage Flight Theatre recent production had a spectacular set that made me feel like I was sailing the sea myself. The impressive special effects—or at least the effects they can do for a play—amazed me. One character stood on stilts for the entire production. However, the plot was a bit confusing. With so many subplots and themes intermingling throughout the play, I sometimes forgot what the true conflict was about. Some long stretches of dialogue bored me and I didn’t quite see their point until much later on when it really didn’t matter. Ultimately, the stage presence astounded me, but the plot development made the actual story line somewhat puzzling.

Dear John

C+

The movie that everyone couldn’t wait to go see left me wondering what happened to the characters long after the movie had ended. While it started out with Amanda Seyfried and Channing Tatum falling in love so quickly it made the whole audience blush, it started to make everyone yawn when Tatum went back to war and the letters between the two began. The letters revealed nothing about either one of the characters. As the movie came to the end, I felt even more disappointed. When the credits rolled across the screen, I couldn’t help but think there had to be more coming. I left the theatre wanting to know more about the characters and wanting a different ending.

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March 17, 2010

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Photo by Brian Vu

Young wrestling squad exceeds expectations, sends three to state

Tyler Mustin > Pulse co-editor

hree Mountain Vista wrestlers competed in the wrestling state championships Feb. 18-20. Dylan Bull, sophomore, competed in the 112-pound division, Michael Carter, junior, in the 145-pound division and Taylor Gutierrez, senior, wrestled in the 285-pound division. Although Gutierrez qualified for the state tournament, he said the highlight of the season was winning the Survivor Series Belt: A twoday, 10-team event where any wrestler who wins all 10 matches in his weight class wins a championship belt. “This was definitely the best season I’ve ever had,” Gutierrez said. “The one thing I will take away from my wrestling experience is the hard work and dedication necessary to succeed.” Third-year head coach Frank LaVoie called this season a success considering the inexperience and youth of the team. “We lost 11 of our 14 varsity starters from last year, but maintained a winning team record and had a good performance at the regional championships,” LaVoie said. “We broke many team records, and with most of the team re-

turning next year, we expect big things.” LaVoie said his favorite memories from the season were the team’s close victories. “The close wins are indeed the most stressful, but after the match...the most fun,” LaVoie said. “We beat Douglas County, Regis Jesuit and ThunderRidge, all in tight bouts. We actually beat T-Ridge by a tie-breaker criteria, winning 34-33 to take the Battle of the Ranch this season.” After completing his first full season on the team, Bull said he now knows what it takes to succeed in the sport. “I need to practice a lot, get better technique and lift weights if I want to do even better next season,” Bull said. With the season less than a month completed, the team is already looking towards next season. “We started training for this season the day that last season ended,” LaVoie said. “We consider ourselves a year-round program with an intensive post- and pre-season weight-training and condition regime.”

thelowdown

Wrestling records broken this season

25 >> Pins: Taylor Gutierrez 31 >> Wins: Mike Carter 195 >> Team points: Taylor Gutierrez 37 >> Escapes: Nick King broke many team “ Werecords, and with most

of the team returning next year, we expect big things.

4Q: Daniel Zamora

QUESTIONS FOR JUNIOR MIDFIELDER

Photo by Rob Denton

Q: Q: Q:

Photo by Brian Vu

EAGLE EYE: Why do you play lacrosse? DANIEL ZAMORA: “I play lacrosse because it is so much fun and there is no other sport that combines the skills that lacrosse does. There is no other sport that has the relationship that lax bros do in lacrosse.” EE: Do you plan to play lacrosse in college? DZ: “I would really like to play in college but I’m not sure yet. If I do, I would like to go Division I and stay in Colorado.” EE: What are your expectations for the season? DZ: “We’re a young team so a lot of guys are getting their first varsity time. But, we have a lot of talent, so I think we’ll be really good as time goes on and as we start to work more as a team.” EE: What is your favorite part of lacrosse? DZ: “I like how physical lacrosse is and how I get to hit people. I also like hooking chill ‘celies’ (celebrations) after sweet offensive possessions.”

”

Frank Lavoie, Head Coach

Winter sport

Final record

year con“ Thissideringseasonwe washad aa good new lineup. Next year will be one of the best seasons we’ve had. ”

Nick king, 11

Favorite memory of season

9-15

“Beating ThunderRidge and practicing with the guys for one last season.” Tanner Wiscombe, senior

12-12

“Going to Arizona for the tournament of champions. We did a lot better than anyone expected.” Ali Stajduhar, senior

14-9

“Our dominant win over Highlands Ranch.” Frank Lavoie, coach

Boys Basketball

Girls GirlsBasketball Basketball

Wrestling Girl’s Swimming/Diving Girls Swimming

Fourth in “Swimming with the team and how supportive Continental everyone was.” League

Yana Garvey, senior

>> madison KOLAR 16

Vista’s version of

Photo courtesy of Madison Kolar

OLYMPIANS Golding balances school, figure skating

March 17, 2010

snap PALMER

times,” Kolar said, “and it’s painful. Very painful.” But despite injuries, she said, the end result is always worth the pain. “The adrenaline rush when you’re hitting speeds like that,” Kolar said, “it’s insane.”

Photo courtesy of George “Snap” Palmer While most hit the slopes solely for fun, skiing is no joke for George “Snap” Palmer. Palmer, freshman, spends every Saturday and Sunday in Winter Park competitively training and racing down the slopes. A member of the Winter Park Ski Race team, Palmer wakes up between 5 and 6 a.m. to drive to Winter Park. “I’m on the mountain by 8:30 a.m. and ski until 3:30 p.m., with a lunch break in the middle,” said Palmer. Palmer competes in downhill, slalom, giant slalom and super giant slolum. “My favorite part is the friends I’ve made,” Palmer said, “and the speed.” And speed is one thing Palmer doesn’t lack. Hitting speeds up to 75 miles per hour, Palmer said he is always pushing himself to the limit. “Going that fast, it’s really loud,” he said. “With the wind and everything, it kind of tunes everything else out.” Palmer’s proudest moment yet was when he went to the Junior Olympics in Vail last year. “It had been my goal for a while,” Palmer said, “but, I fell and broke my arm, so I didn’t get to compete for the whole time.” However, Snap, whose nickname has been passed down through the family since his great grandfather, isn’t letting anything slow him down. “I want to keep ski racing, and ski race in college,” he said.

idol is Ted Ligety, a 2006 USA Olympic gold medal >> Her winner. hopes to coach >> She skiing in the future.

skis a total of 12 hours on weekends during the winter. >> He He has met Olympic speed gold medalist Apolo >> skating Anton Ohno.

Madison Kolar has never questioned her passion for skiing. “I’ve always skied, and I remember I always wanted to be like the big kids,” Kolar, freshman, said. “So, my parents signed me up for the ski race team when I was six, and I’ve been skiing ever since.” Kolar, a member of the Winter Park Ski Race team, competes in slalom, giant slalom and super giant slalom. Her drive to ski comes from her friends and her love of the slopes. “I get to spend the whole day with some of my closest friends and doing what I love,” she said. “What can be better?” One of Kolar’s most memorable victories didn’t just end with a medal. “I had wanted a Facebook for a long time, and my parents said I could get one if I did well at my competition,” she said. And Kolar didn’t disappoint. That competition, she had four podium finishes — and got her Facebook account. Hitting speeds of 60 miles per hour, Kolar said she holds nothing back. And, sometimes, she confessed, this isn’t always a good thing. “I’ve crashed many

ince she can remember, Tess Golding has started her day before the sun comes up. Her alarm goes off at 3:30 a.m. every Monday through Friday. “I don’t really know anything different,” said Golding, junior. “I’ve been figure skating my whole life.” After her early awakening, she heads to the ice rink and skates for 90 minutes before school. She then attends a full seven-period school day, including two Advanced

Placement classes. In the fall, she runs cross country after school, and in the spring, she’s on the track and field team. Two times a week she has strength training at 7:30 p.m., and dance classes once a week. Despite this crazy schedule, she still manages to get to bed at about 10:30 p.m. And, she said, she still finds time for friends. “Unlike a lot of figure skaters, I find a way to incorporate a social life,” she said. Golding said it’s hard to pick out just one of her best moments on the ice.

the facts

Beating USA Olympian Rachael Flatt? Maybe. Qualifying for nationals for the last four years? Perhaps. But, she said, if she had to choose one though, it would be taking the top spot at a regional competition in Kansas in 2008. “Winning regionals was probably one of my favorite moments,” she said. “It was an amazing feeling.” For Golding, the future remains up in the air. “I would consider going to the Olympics, but I would have to completely give up my life,” she said. “So, for now, we’ll just have to see where this takes me.”

the facts

Stories by Brooke Healey Photo courtesy of Tess Golding