Rocky Mountain Highlighter: 2013 March

rm the

highlighter FoCo the place to be//B4-5

Grad excels at next level//A8

Musical a big hit//B8

rocky mountain March 27, 2013

side show the

High School Hijinks:

A Texas high school student is suing her school district after she was removed from her Spanish class for refusing to recite the Mexican pledge of allegiance. In her lawsuit, Brenda Brinsdon contends that Achieve Early College High School in McAllen, Texas, violated her constitutional rights to freedom of speech and equal protection. The incident, in September of 2011, happened when Brinsdon was told to stand and pledge allegiance to the Mexican flag and sing the Mexican anthem as part of “Freedom Week.”

The rest of the class followed the order but Brinsdon, who is fluent in Spanish and whose mother is a Mexican immigrant, refused.

Care About This: In an effort to discipline her children,

a Fort Morgan mom developed t-shirts for her 8- and 9-year-olds to wear which defined their actions and warned others. The mom said her kids actually came up with the “punishment t-shirt” idea. However, the Fort Morgan school district won’t allow the shirts to be worn at school. One shirt says, “I steal. Steal means taking property belonging to someone else without permission” on the front and “I steal. Please watch me” on the back. Another shirt says “I am disrespectful... (and I) like to back talk teachers” and “(I am) a bully in school... (and) do hateful things to students.”

The mother said she is just trying to teach her children to be responsible for their behavior and to be accountable to fellow students. She said the behavior of her children has improved since the shirts were introduced despite the response of the district.

Quote of the Issue:

“She was a kind soul.

She didn’t know the meaning of hate.”

-Bob Oberoi, father of recently deceased alumna Julia Oberoi

Teacher involved in unusual sport //B3

//Rocky Mountain High School\\

Volume 40, No. 7

Looking to the Future

Effects of Lobo 101 still to be seen

by Emily Anderson//opinion editor

Photo Illustration by Cam Chorpenning

Credit requirements for graduation to be adjusted for future classes

by Aaron Yu//reporter

As the world changes, education shifts to better prepare students for what awaits them in the future.

Steps have been taken to increase the credit requirements for future graduating classes so they may find a place in a country that has increasingly less job availability and fit them with the skills to succeed. It used to be that one could choose whatever they wanted and manage to find a

//news special//

New Graduation Requirements ►Classes of 2015 and beyond will need 240 credits to graduate rather than 220 ►Basic Speech is no longer a required class for graduation

decent paying job, but with the uncertain outlook on the economy, schools must take the initiative to give students classes that will be more indemand.

Students are now required to take more math- and science-based classes, as well

►Students will have to take more math- and sciencebased classes ►Economics classes have been added as a requirement for graduation

as an economics class, a humanities class and a personal finance class.

“The credit requirements (to graduate) have gone up,” counselor Mark Reedy said. “I think that more requirements

//Jump to Requirements,

“Do an Instant Replay, jump on a trampoline, and get above the line so you can be in the top 20 percent.”

As incomprehensible as it sounds, this sentence is not a code.

It’s the jargon and terminology used in the required freshman course, Lobo 101.

Lobo 101, by its coursebook definition, is intended to “foster intellectual growth and habits of commitment” for incoming freshmen. By familiarizing new students with the school and building student-teacher relationships, the hope is that freshmen will develop productive habits for their senior year. But how much of this material the student actually retains throughout their senior year is debatable.

on A2

//Jump to Lobo 101,

on A2

Popular alumna dies after battling Turner syndrome

by Aaron Yu//reporter

On Feb. 23, alumna Julia Oberoi passed away while undergoing surgery to remove 10 tumors from her body.

Although she is no longer alive physically, Oberoi lives on in the hearts of her family and friends.

“Those who knew her were blessed,” English teacher Monica Kauffman said. “Those who didn’t missed out on an amazing person.”

Kauffman was a close friend of Oberoi and her family, having

known them for over 10 years.

She first met Oberoi when she was teaching seventh grade English at Blevins Middle School and the two formed a friendship over the years.

“I loved it when she told people to stop slacking,” Kauffman recalled with a smile. “I’d be like, ‘Julia, tell my class to get to work!’ and she would tell them, ‘stop slacking!’”

Oberoi had Turner syndrome, which affected her physical height and development as well as some areas of mental capability. Although a daunting obstacle,

“

Monica Kauffman, language arts teacher

Those who knew her were

blessed. Those who didn’t missed out on an amazing person.

she refused to let it stop her finding joy in activities such as riding horses and shining in classes.

“What many people didn’t realize about Julia was that she was so smart,” Kauffman said. “She sometimes couldn’t write down everything that she said, but she could verbalize it.”

Kauffman remembers a day

in which Oberoi was being very quiet in Media Analysis while the students were discussing a subject. None of the kids were getting the right answer, and eventually Julia said ‘You’re wrong. You’re all wrong!’ As it turned out, she was the only one

//Jump to Oberoi,

on A3

Last-ditch decision Senior tradition creates problems for school

by Raven Dixon//reporter

Some call tradition; some call it illegal.

Either way, Senior Ditch Day is a hot-button topic for both students and staff alike.

The notorious Senior Ditch Day is a phenomenon that is prevalent across the nation toward the end of the school year, usually taking place on April 20. High school seniors collectively skip school and engage in recreational, and sometimes illegal, activities. The nondistrict sanctioned “holiday” has become more problematic in recent years, and has become increasingly difficult to combat.

Though Poudre School District has parameters in place regarding truancy, Senior Ditch Day remains a problem. As is stated in the PSD Code of Conduct, “a student shall be considered ‘truant’ if he or she is absent from school without excuse.” But this policy relies on accountability of parents,

and an anomaly that is becoming more apparent within schools reveals that parents are excusing absences that are results of their children ditching.

“I know people who can just get anything excused, and I think that’s so lame,” senior Quinn Holder said.

“That’s such a get-out-ofjail-free card.”

In instances where parents excuse ditching, teachers find themselves more frustrated with the students than they do the parents.

“If you’re going to ditch, deal with the consequences,” social studies teacher Scott Van Tatenhove said. “Don’t have mom or dad excuse you so you can do Senior Ditch Day. That to me is completely cheap.”

With parental support, ditch day has become an epidemic, and has forced teachers to create innovative policies to keep seniors in class.

“When I was a senior at Fort Collins in 1995, we had Senior Ditch Day,” Van

Lobo 101// from page A1

“I think all classes coming in through high school have a different feel and a different personality and a different vibe.

I would say that this senior class, in my estimation, is very proactive, dedicated, and generally a good stewardship of seniors,” Dean of Students Russ Stapleton said.

“This may be because they had a lot of responsibilities coming in (being the first freshman class in the school and having Lobo 101).”

The book used in the course, Top Twenty

Requirements// from page A1

help students to be more life and college ready.”

Although the credit requirements to graduate have gone up, the class “basic speech” is being removed from the list of mandatory classes.

“I feel like (speech) should be

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news//highlighter

March 27, 2013 \ \ A2

Sandra Smyser On being named the new Superintendent of PSD ►Sandra Smyser

Raven Dixon

Tricky teacher: Social Studies teacher Scott Van Tatenhove (right) works with students. Van Tatenhove has historically given a quiz on senior ditch day intentionally.

Tatenhove said. “It was my Asian Humanities teacher, Mr. (Tom) Davis, who had a Senior Ditch Day quiz. I had him the last period of the day, which was 8th period. I remember I was out at Rolland Moore Park with my friends playing ultimate frisbee and we all stopped the game when it came time to go and went back just for 8th period.”

Having experienced firsthand the effectiveness that a creative method against Senior Ditch Day has, Van Tatenhove holds the same attitude as his teacher did during his senior year.

“The power that he had over our Senior Ditch Day

Teens, provides information and tips for being a better student, and all around better person. Depending on whether the student takes this information seriously may impact their later years.

“While I was taking the class, I hated it. In my mind it was teaching me stuff I already knew. But as I look back, I can see now that they were simply trying to make certain concepts easier for high schoolers to understand. So, as a senior, I have a more positive view of it than I did as a freshman,” Mark Haselmaier, senior, said.

The first year Lobo 101 was taught was mostly through the English department in

required,” Reedy said. “It’s a good opportunity for students to gain some confidence in public speaking and learn how to put an argument together. A lot of people are scared or very shy when it comes to public speaking, and (speech) is a good way to get around that.”

Students seem to have conflicting viewpoints on the necessity of

was mesmerizing,” Van Tatenhove said. “No other teacher did that. I wanted to continue that tradition of making Senior Ditch Day miserable.”

Senior Ditch Day is viewed by many of those who support it as a “day off,” allegedly “earned” through the attendance of high school, and also as an informal rite of passage.

Attendance records show that, of the 2012 class of seniors, 73 students participated in Senior Ditch Day last year.

This spring, however, the traditional Senior Ditch Day of April 20 falls on a Saturday.

a year-long package along with speech and English 9. The modifications made in the class name reflect the modifications with each individual teacher. However, the three basic pillars of the class, “thinking, learning, and communicating” have stayed the same.

“I think what we’re trying to do is let everybody know that all our job at Rocky is to help each other be the best we can be.

So by using that same lingo, and trying to get kids to buy into that, about being the best you can be, that’s kind of a message that we can try to reiterate often. I don’t know that that’s necessarily done, but it’s just our hope,” added Druse.

taking basic speech.

“Yes, (basic speech) is helpful in other classes and it follows students after high school,” senior Tara Fox said.

“No, I don’t think (basic speech) is helpful. Some people don’t ever want to speak in public,” freshman Paris White said.

Along with the removal of basic

Q:

Other than interim su-

perintendents, you will be the first woman superintendent in the history of Poudre School District. How significant is that distinction?

A:

Over my career, interestingly, I have often been the first woman in an administrative position. I think it is getting more common these days, and so people don’t think about it as much as they used to. I have never once experienced any kind of negativity – we just start working together and it’s not a big deal.

Q: A:

How would you describe

your leadership style?

I adjust my leadership style to the situation. Sometimes it’s crucial that I make a decision quickly and don’t share the decision-making. But that is very rare. Usually I work with others, get lots of input, and we arrive at shared decisions and shared direction.

Q:

In addition to you, PSD

hired three new principals.

What will that mean for the district’s future?

A:

You’re right to recognize that new people in leadership do make a difference.

Each of us will have to learn PSD, and for some it may be their first time in the position, so they will be learning their new job. Usually new leadership is an exciting time. It’s a time for you to show off to the new leaders how great you are and spend time helping them get to know you and what you care about. I’m hopeful that each person will add their personalities and their strengths to the leadership team and have a great impact.

speech, future students will have to take more math and science classes, leading to more credits overall. According to the RMHS 2013-2014 curriculum guide, the juniors and seniors of 2013 will need 220 credits to graduate, while the graduating classes of 2015 and beyond will need 240. The extra 20 credits translates to two more semester long classes, or

four more quarter long classes.

“I don’t think it’s really fair,” White said. “But I agree that (extra credits) could be helpful.”

In recent times, there are more stable and better paying jobs in careers that branch out in the fields of math and science. On the usnews. com top jobs list, the top five jobs with best pay and job satisfaction are being a dentist, registered nurse, pharmacist, computer systems analyst or physician. In order to try and direct more students to this field, more math and science credits being required could prove very useful. However, there are those that disagree with this stance on education.

“It’s all about the career path that you choose,” Fox said.

Fox is an aspiring filmmaker, a career quite obviously not majorly oriented with science or math, but she said she believes that because it is something she loves, it’s worth following through.

While it is true that math and science credit requirements will increase, students still have full freedom to choose classes that more accurately represent what they want to do with their lives. The credits requirement is a step in trying to better prepare students for the future in an unstable world.

“I think we’re moving in the right direction,” Reedy said.

rm

//A3

highlighter\\news

Prom prep

Dance planners strive for drama, showmanship

“

Chicken policy protest

I’m just

excited because it’s Promthe whole being able to go to Prom thing, the traditions.

Claire Thomas, marketing and publicity specialist for theCity of Fort Collins

by Megan Troutman//limelight editor

It’s that time again; long dresses, color-coded ties, corsages, boutonnières and creative ways to ask a date to the biggest dance of the year.

Prom is just around the corner.

This year will be more extravagant than ever before, with the tension and suspense building up weeks prior to revealing the theme.

The Junior Class officers have been working on putting this dance together for a year now. Junior Class Vice President Donald Chen is excited for the event to finally come together.

“I’m just excited because it’s Prom – the whole being able to go to prom thing, the traditions,” Chen said. “It’s exciting because I have never been to prom before, so that is what I am looking forward to.”

Harton and Chen are two of six students on the prom committee. Other committee members include Jason McCrary, Shelby Mojahed, Noel Knostman, and Jacque Rickett. These students collaborated with the

March 27, 2013

class of 2014 sponsors, Monica Kauffman, Eric Harding, and Glenn Gainley, to make a night to remember.

“When you are an officer of the junior class, you know that your year revolves around the Prom,” Gainley said. “Last year it focused more on the DJ and the music. I think this year it will be focused a bit more on the drama that we are trying to create with the theme.”

The idea of building up suspense to revealing the theme was new to this year, but made for an exciting turn of events.

“I think one of the main components that’s going to make it different is the build up and the lead in so instead of it just being a dance we’re trying to incorporate a bunch of other aspects so it’s an experience rather than just one night,” Harton said.

This year, prom will take place in the main ballroom of

Cam Chorpenning

Raising voices: Members of the GSA (Gay-Straight Alliance) protest the selling of Chick-fil-A sandwiches in the commons. Chick-fil-A maintains conservative, anti-gay marriage positions and has given money to organizations that are against gay marriage in the past. Its sandwiches were sold in The Commons as part of a project for a marketing course.

the Lincoln Center on April 12.

With the dance coming up in two weeks, the prom committee feels the time crunch.

“It is starting to get real stressful and we are doing a lot more now because we had just been brainstorming - really getting our foundation straight before we do

Oberoi//

from page A1 that knew the correct answer.

Oberoi refused to let her disability stop her from doing the things she loved. She rode horses, swam twice a week and was always excited to go to her “fun place,” Respite Care.

“She didn’t see her disability as a problem,” Oberoi’s mother Holly Oberoi said. “It was never something that stopped her.”

When it came to Julia’s life, it was never about what she couldn’t do, but appreciating everything that she could. She was totally invested in “living life to the fullest” and spreading love to whomever she talked to.

Described as “bubbly” and “positive” by her mother, Julia was never one to judge other people based on what they could or couldn’t do.

“She was a kind soul,” Julia’s

Courtesy of Holly Oberoi

Raising voices: Julia Oberoi stands with an equine friend. Oberoi passed away recently during surgery to remove multiple tumors on her body.

father Bob Oberoi said. “She didn’t know the meaning of hate. She never talked bad about others.”

Along with brightening the lives of others around her, Julia unknowingly improved her father’s small

Michelle’s Musings

Michelle Kennedy

For the first time in over 600 years, the pope of the Roman Catholic church stepped down from his position, leaving the church with the task of electing a new pope.

After days of deliberation, Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio from Argentina was finally appointed as pontiff, yet now the question is where do they go from here?

In a time period of progress and changing values, many Catholics are calling for dramatic changes in the way that the church conducts itself while others are holding steadfast to traditional

business through her curious and joyful attitude.

“Even though I have a Master’s degree in business, it taught me nothing compared to what I learned from Julia,” Bob said.

anything,” Chen said. “I think it’s really good now because we are doing a lot of things to get the hammer down for what we have to do and getting the reveal all set up so it’s the whole process of completing that.”

Added Gainley, “A lot of times I find kids are really quick

to judge and they should think about this as a year long project that these kids put together.

They tried so hard to keep it a secret because they wanted to have this, just keep an open mind and try to enjoy the experience. Hopefully, it will be something to remember.”

He recounts how his daughter would enter his office without permission and talk to his clients, asking questions such as, “what do you do?” and, “do you have any kids?” Though he sometimes told her to leave, he realized that Julia’s approach benefitted his business.

“Sometimes, people would even have to rush out because they talked with Julia so long that they were late for other appointments,” Bob said.

Though she didn’t expressly tell her father how to act and interact with potential customers, Julia modeled the exact behavior that well-known business schools in the U.S. are starting to teach their students.

“Friendship comes first,” Bob said, stating a lesson that Julia taught him. “Business isn’t about just taking people’s money, it’s about creating relationships and friendship. I’ve met some of my

best friends in the world because of Julia.”

Julia was very connected to the community, and as it turned out, people that knew Julia from Respite Care were in contact with the Timberline Church and had their pastor speak at Julia’s Celebration of Life.

“Everything just came together through the people that Julia had known,” Holly said.

Hundreds of people came to say their final farewells to Julia, making it evident just how important she was to the community. People spoke of how Julia could always brighten up their rainy day, of her constant happiness and her everpresent, unending sense of hope and contagious joy.

“I would want her to know that I miss her desperately and that I love her so much,” Holly said. “She knew how to love. She loved everybody, she got along with everybody.

She knew how to live.”

over election of new pope \\ Commotion unwarranted values. From patriarchal structure to societal issues, Catholics are all have vastly differing opinions on a number of issues.

However, in reality all the commotion that this has caused is completely disproportionate to the bearing that the election of a new pope has on the Catholic church. Sure, he will become the next face of Catholicism, but to expect any big changes would be naive.

The Catholic church has been much the same for the past hundred years, which is part of the reason why it has found itself in a predicament of falling numbers of followers.

After Pope Benedict XVI’s tainted reign, the church is searching for a successor who will bring back its vitality-and Bergoglio might just be the man for the job.

In fact, Bergoglio successfully “modernized” Argentina’s conservative Catholic church, but that’s not to say that success in this case is definite.

While other religions are experiencing similar struggles to that of Catholicism, Pope Francis, as Bergoglio will be called, certainly has inherited an immense and tumultuous institution.

According to news sources, the most

likely large change that may be made to the Catholic church in upcoming times is that Bishops may be given more control over their personal domains. Other than this, it is unlikely that this election will bring about any other significant changes.

Despite the bedlam that Benedict XVI’s resignation caused, the important thing is that the Catholic church has the opportunity to move forward. Though, just where it will go is yet to be decided.

Michelle Kennedy is a senior and the Features Editor for the RM Highlighter.

\\ A4\\

//opinionrm highlighter

March 27, 2013

Civil unions upheld by 14th Amendment “N

o State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States.” - The Fourteenth Amendment to the Constitution of the United States.

It is because the staff of the RM Highlighter agree with and uphold the 14th Amendment that we support Civil unions are the State of not a question Colorado’s movement of morality or towards religion, but of political rights by the equalization U.S Constitution of its citizens in the form of the legalization of civil unions under Senate Bill 11, which was signed into law by Gov. John Hickenlooper on March 21. Furthermore, we contend that marriage, being undertaken in legal pursuance of security, livelihood and personal happiness, cannot be denied to the people of Colorado under Article II, Section 3 of the state constitution which stipulates –among other liberties –that “All persons have certain natural, essential and inalienable rights, among which may be reckoned the right … of seeking and obtaining their safety and happiness.” As long as heterosexual marriage is considered a legal and natural right, so too must homosexual marriage or a legal equivalent be guaranteed by our government.

There is no just or logical argument against disallowing gay and lesbian couples

The Issue:

//staff editorial// from the legal protections of civil unions being anything but an abridging of the privileges of those couples.

While all citizens and legislators have a constitutional right to disagree with this political equalization, they are forbidden by the supreme law of the land from disallowing this political equalization. It is, for all intents and purposes, an issue of little to no legal flexibility.

Furthermore, there exists overwhelming scientific consensus regarding sexuality not as a choice but rather an innate characteristic of every human (Bayer 1987; Bieber et al.

1988; Risch et al. 1993; Ferveur et al. 1995; Hamer 1999; Cass 2010, to name a few).

Due to the fact that sexuality is no more a choice than race or gender, abridgement along such natural lines cannot be construed to be anything other than formalized discrimination against an entire group of people for no reason but their natural characteristics, an inherently anti-American ideal.

Indeed, we find that most, if not all, justifications for such violations of personal rights come from religious and moral grounds.

However, given that Article II, Section 4 of the Constitution of the State of Colorado explicitly states that

Cam Chorpenning

As I sat down to write this column with no idea of what to discuss, no controversial issues to offer a standpoint on, and too much going on in my mind to focus on choosing a topic, I glanced out my window.

In my backyard a trio of squirrels leapt on top of each other in a mad scramble to snatch some of the seed that had fallen from my mother’s birdfeeder. The creatures’ antics elicited a chuckle from me, but their

National Scholastic Press Association National Critique

STAFF Editor-in-Chief// Cam Chorpenning Ad Manager// Opinion Editor// Sports Editor//

Center Editor//

Emily Anderson Lauren Binder

Megan Shaw

Limelight Editor//Megan Troutman Staff// Lucas Boland Isaac Effner Amanda Kriss Artist// Adviser//

Raven Guerrero-Dixon Aaron Yu Amanda Kriss Stephen Wahlfeldt

RM Highlighter editorial policy

//Amanda Kriss, artist

“[No] preference [shall] be given by law to any religious denomination or mode of worship,” it is the burden of any opponent of Senate Bill 11 to provide arguments not along the lines of their religion, as passage or defeat of a law because a religious denomination mandates it is preference by law of that same denomination. As the bill in no way compels religious denominations to preside over civil unions, they can-

seemingly insignificant wrestling match caused me to realize something more. I have been so incessantly academically active and busy recently that I haven’t been paying attention to the squirrels, or, to use a tired cliche, smelling the roses.

At the risk of appearing trite, with this column I am simply offering a reminder that there is a world beyond the bubble of high school and, for some (myself included), preparation

Pacemaker Finalist-2012; All-American, 4 Marks of Distinction-2012; All-American, 4 Marks of Distinction-2011; Pacemaker Winner-2010; All-American, 4 Marks of Distinction-2010; Pacemaker Finalist-2009; All-American, 4 Mark of Distinction-2009; All-American Hall of Fame Induction-2008; All-American, 5 Marks of Distinction-2008; Pacemaker Finalist-2007; All-American, 4 Marks of Distinction-2007; Pacemaker Winner-2006; All-American, 5 Marks of Distinction-2006; All-American, 4 Marks of Distinction-2005; All-American, 4 Marks of Distinction-2004; All-American, 5 Marks of Distinction-2003; All-American, 4 Marks of Distinction-2002; All-American, 5 Marks of Distinction-2001; All-American, 4 Marks of Distinction-2000; All-American, 4 Marks of Distinction-1999.

Sean Bray

Features Editor// Michelle Kennedy

not be held up as a religious issue in terms of legislation. Civil unions are, by all definitions, a political issue, and they must be upheld.

In summation, civil unions are not only necessary for the life and liberty of an entire group of citizens, but they are also in fact required by the Constitutions of both the State of Colorado and the United States of America. We do not urge nor compel any person to change

their moral stance. We merely illustrate that as long as straight couples are allowed to enjoy the legal privileges and immunities of marriage, it is illegal and unconstitutional for any government in the United States to abridge or deny such privileges.

Senate Bill 11 simply grants gay couples legal equality, and the staff of the RM Highlighter can see no viable alternative but to support it, regardless of moral or religious stance.

time to smell the roses \\ Taking and watch the squirrels

Cam’s Chorner

The Rocky Mountain Highlighter is published nine times during the school year by the newspaper staff of Rocky Mountain High School/1300 W. Swallow Road/ Fort Collins, CO 80526.

Contact Rocky Mountain Highlighter staff members at 970-4887090 or 970-488-7091 for advertising information. Also the Rocky Mountain Highlighter staff is in Room 528, during 4th period.

for college. I understand just as well as the next person that academic duties are not to be shirked nor taken lightly. However, I do acknowledge that it is vital to “get a life,” or at the very least not to forsake the one I have now for school or anything else. Last quarter was particularly stressful for me–I had a lot of scholarship money riding on the grades I earned, and so I devoted myself to my studies, letting slip the things

Gold Medalist-2012; Gold Medalist-2011; Gold Medalist-2010; Silver Crown-2009; Gold Medalist-2009; Silver Medalist-2008; Gold Medalist- 2007; Gold Medalist-2006; Gold Medalist-2005; Silver Crown-2005; Gold Medalist-2004; Silver Crown-2004; Gold Medalist-2003; Silver Crown-2003; Gold Medalist-2002; Gold Medalist-2001; Gold Medalist-2000; Gold Medalist-1999.

CHSPA Newspaper Awards All-Colorado-2012; All-Colorado-2011; 1st place, 5A Sweepstakes-2010; 1st place, 5A Sweepstakes-2009; 1st place, 5A Sweepstakes-2008; 1st place, 5A Sweepstakes-2007; 2nd place, 5A Sweepstakes-2006; 1st place, 5A Sweepstakes-2005; 2nd place, 5A Sweepstakes-2004; 2nd place, 5A Sweepstakes-2003; 1st place, 5A Sweepstakes-2002; 1st place, 5A Sweepstakes-2001; 2nd place, 5A Sweepstakes-1996; 1st place, 5A Sweepstakes-1992; 2nd place, 5A Sweepstakes-1991; 2nd place, 5A Sweepstakes-1990; 1st place, 5A Sweepstakes-1987.

that are most important to me. My involvement theater, music, even the newspaper suffered because of my focus on academics.

But now that’s all over with, and I’ll be taking the time to focus my energy on the things I love, and I suspect I’ll be “watching the squirrels” quite a bit more frequently now.

Cam Chorpenning is a senior and the editor-in-chief of the RM Highlighter.

Columbia Scholastic Press Association National Critique

The Rocky Mountain Highlighter is a student news publication which strives to report school and community events with truth, accuracy, objectivity, and clarity. The RM Highlighter will also comment on issues of interest to its readers.

The purposes of this publication are to report the news to the Rocky Mountain High School community, to provide the school community with a public forum for thoughtful discussion and debate, and to provide students on the newspaper staff with practical journalism experience.

In order to make the RM Highlighter as professional a publication as possible, important legal and ethical guidelines will be followed. Senate Bill 90-99, enacted by the Colorado General Assembly during the 1990 legislative session, declares that “students of the public schools shall have the right to exercise freedom of speech and the press.” (Colo. Rev. Stat. Sec. 22-1-120) We, the staff of the RM Highlighter, are prohibited by law from publishing certain materials. We will respect these laws. No material which is libelous, encourages illegal acts, or causes material and substantial disruption to school activities will be published. Expressions which are obscene will not be printed. Profanity will not be printed unless it is considered absolutely necessary by the RM Highlighter editorial board to express the views of the writer or quoted person. Expression which is false “as to any person who is not a public figure or involved in a matter of public concern” will not be printed.

“Expressions which are in violation of lawful school regulations designed to control gangs” will not be printed.

In the event of a potential controversial item, the editorial board —consisting of all the editors, the advertising manager, and the adviser —will meet to discuss the merits of the item and then decide whether or not to print the item.

Coverage of deaths which occur within the Rocky community will be carefully considered by the editorial board. Natural or accidental deaths will be reported for clarifications of death and will contain a memorial. Except in extreme circumstances, suicides will not be covered to reduce glorification of such acts.

In general, the RM Highlighter observes the guidelines presented in the “Code of Ethics” of the Society of Professional Journalists. The RM Highlighter will not allow source review prior to publication, unless there is a clarification issue.

Source anonymity will be granted only after careful consideration by the editor, with the editor reserving the right to make the final decision.

Staff editorials shall be presented logically and will represent the views of the majority of the staff.

Editorial criticism, of either individuals or groups, will be based on fact and will be constructive.

Guest editorial space, the “Open Forum,” is available to anyone in the Rocky community, including students, parents, faculty, and administrators. Anyone interested in writing in the “Open Forum” should contact the editor-in-chief or the adviser, Stephen Wahlfeldt.

Letters to the editor are welcome. They should be signed, and a home phone number should be included. The writer’s name may be withheld upon request, provided the editor agrees that the reasons for withholding a name are valid and compelling. Try to limit letters to 300 words and place them in one of the “Letters to the Editor” boxes, located in the Media Center and the Main Office, or give them to a RM Highlighter staff member, RM Highlighter adviser Stephen Wahlfeldt, or drop them by the RM Highlighter room, Room 528, during 4th period.

Letters may also be mailed to the Rocky Mountain Highlighter, Rocky Mountain High School, 1300 W. Swallow Rd., Fort Collins, CO 80526.

To talk with anyone on the RM Highlighter staff, phone (970) 488-7090.

Columnists express their own views and not necessarily those of the RM Highlighter staff.

No expression made by students of the Rocky Mountain Highlighter shall be considered an expression of school board or Rocky Mountain High School policy. Furthermore, Poudre School District and its employees are immune from any civil or criminal action based on any expression made or published by the students.

All advertisement is welcome. To place an ad, contact RM Highlighter advertising managers at (970) 488-7091. The RM Highlighter, however, reserves the right to refuse advertising which the staff considers inappropriate for our audience.

The RM Highlighter is a member of the ASNE/MCT Campus High School Newspaper Service, and some material is courtesy of that service.

The Rocky Mountain Highlighter reserves the right to edit anything it publishes.

rm

highlighter\\opinion

50 Shades of Bray Sean Bray

\\

On the sanctity of civil unions

I, dear readers, am outraged. Know well that the unbridled fury emanating now from the core of my being knows no bounds, and my thirst for justice shall not be quenched, as I have recently been made aware that the state of Colorado has legalized civil unions for straight couples.

Traditional civil unions take place between a man and a man or a woman and a woman.

Period. It’s not a matter of equality or constitutionality. The fact is that allowing men and women to get civil unions together is an affront to the traditional American value of giving one group one thing, while giving another group a trinket version of that thing.

Think of it this way: do you want to be the one who has to explain to a child why that man and that woman are allowed a legal equivalent of marriage despite being of opposite genders? I know I don’t. Adam and Eve can go get married, they can have children, they can do just about anything. But civil unions? Leave those to Adam and Steve. Anything else is an attack on traditional American values.

See, here in America we have an ideal. An ideal that all people should have the same things that are slightly different depending on the group. Like, this group over here gets marriage, and that group over there gets civil unions. We give them equality, but apart from one another. Separately, even. There’s not a term for that, as far as I know, but the ideal is there.

And what is America without its ideals?

Where would we be if we had ever compromised on any values we ever held? I urge you, dear reader, to name one value that America has ever left behind. Now, of course I can hear you, oh rhetorical device, saying, “50 Shades, what about slavery, limited suffrage, prohibition (twice) and the violent oppression of native populations?” And to that I say: history and reality have no place here, ruffian, and I will have none of this back talk. America isn’t a nation to change values, which is precisely why we must uphold traditional civil unions.

That’s why I can’t support straight civil unions: because it grants straight couples rights, rather than giving them a token concession and sending them on their way, America style.

Sean Bray is a senior and Ad Manager for the RM Highlighter

Regulating soft drink size is jusified Dear Editor, I was recently disappointed to read that a judge struck down Michael Bloomberg’s ban on the size of soft drinks available in New York City. While I realize that this is an infringement on individual’s rights, I believe this is a necessary piece of legislation.

The state of this nation’s health is a ludicrous embarrassment that deserves a push in the right direction. If laws are required, so be it.

Opponents of the ban claim it would create a “nanny state.” However, if they were even mildly responsible with their own bodies, they wouldn’t need nannies, now would they?

Sean Kennedy, senior

//letters to the editor//

Plastic surgery should not be promoted Dear Editor,

In regards to the “real life Barbie,” I am all about people doing what they want to their appearance. In this case, however, Barbie is endorsing it. She says people who think what she did to herself is wrong are the insecure ones. We need to teach girls to love their bodies, not to alter them to their liking. “Real life Barbie” can do what she wants to herself, but she should shut her near-plastic mouth in regards to promoting unrealistic expectations about appearance.

Kaila Marie Elwell senior

March 27, 2013

//A5

Lobo 101 course: valuable or superfluous?

Lobo 101 useful teaching tool Is the Lobo Way something that can be defined?

Some would argue that the Lobo Way isn’t something that can be taught or explained in words; instead it is something that is passed down from each class to the next.

However, many aspects of this culture can effectively be taught in a classroom environment and this is the purpose of Lobo 101.

Although a large number of our fellow students think that this class is a waste of time, this is not true. From kindness to overcoming adversity, Lobo 101 teaches students how to be a productive and positive member of the Rocky community.

While some people may say that “learning how to be kind” isn’t something that needs to be taught to high school students, I would beg to differ. Lobo 101 attempts to correct the negative behaviors seen in the hallways every day, such as carelessly throwing trash on the ground, calling each other names and generally not abiding by the Lobo Way. Such lessons as those taught by the curriculum of Lobo 101 have the possibility to be incred-

ibly valuable—if students choose to embrace them. The problem with Lobo 101 is not the class itself, but rather students’ cynicism and lack of willingness to engage in its message.

Without student buy in to the long-term beneficiality of any class, there can be no hope for success. Even in an English class, teachers rely on students to accept the material as constructive in order for it to make an impact.

However, it is also up to teachers to devote time to teaching this curriculum for it to be worth it. This year’s seniors who took Lobo 101 in conjunction

with a music class received a far less amount of the material than those who took regular Lobo 101 due to the fact that the class time set aside for the Lobo 101 curriculum was consistently used for other purposes.

Regardless, although Lobo 101 may not have had the outcome people expected, it does not devalue its importance as a class.

If students were more engaged and had the desire to become a part of the Lobo Way, Lobo 101 would have the ability to be an incredibly enjoyable and beneficial class.

Michelle Kennedy

be reduced to a class that only requires a rote memorization and minimal effort to pass.

If Lobo 101 was truly necessary to maintain the spirit of Rocky, as its supporters believe, then apparently they believe that before 2009 (the first year Lobo 101 was taught) there was no such thing as the Lobo Way. If the previous statement is false, that means the Lobo Way has existed long before Lobo 101 and therefore the class is unnecessary.

Students from 2008 and further naturally learned the importance of being a kind and honest person from the examples of other students and teachers.

While students do not actually require the class, that does not automatically mean it is not

beneficial to the students who take it. Lobo 101 does reinforce in students the importance of remaining positive, trying to be the best they can be and being understanding and empathetic towards other students.

What Lobo 101 does fail to do is teach these values, as freshmen have heard this ever since Preschool and Kindergarten and will continue to hear this for the rest of their lives.

Lobo 101’s greatest fault is not that it is bad for students (which it isn’t), but that it is superfluous.

The time taken up by Lobo 101 could be better spent in a class that actually teaches a subject rather than remind students of the basic rules of decency.

Isaac Effner

Pro Con

 Civility can’t be taught in a classroom

Lobo 101 has attempted to encapsulate the Lobo Way by endeavoring to instill the principles of thinking, learning and communicating and force feed students the teachings found in Top Twenty Teens.

While Lobo 101 is not an inherent failure, it is inherently pointless, as societal values cannot be properly taught in a class setting. It is better for the Lobo Way to be absorbed naturally by the underclassmen from the staff and upperclassmen than for it to

//Amanda Kriss, artist

photopoll

Do you feel that you benefitted from taking Lobo 101?

“It was fun. I learned a lot about what the Lobo Way means and how to execute it.”

Benny Jones, freshman

“It was really informational and it helped me settle into Rocky a little better.”

Robert Dequasie, freshman

“It was helpful for students who needed help with organization, but my class didn’t take it very seriously.”

“The concept is good but I don’t think it teaches a lot of necessary life skills. It really depended on the teacher.”

Katie Saxbury junior

Raychl Reger junior

“I liked bonding with the class, because we stayed together all year .”

Katie Drips, senior

sports//highlighter

March 27, 2013 \ \ A6

rm

Spring Sports Previews by number

11

►Four sophomores are on the varsity team of the city combined boy’s lacrosse team, The Vipers, and two retuning seniors, Will Layborn and Julian Richards will be representing Rocky.

►Coach Phil Coatman has been coaching the Rocky and Poudre girls’ golf team for 11 years.

The team is looking promising, and a star to look out for is freshman Emily Blomberg.

15.73 ►Junior Carle Lester sets the stage in the city, getting fist place in 100 meter hurdles with a time of 15.73 in the first track meet.

No 1

►Riley Neal ►Kait Eden

►No. 1 singles tennis player junior Natalie House, rocks the house, and is expected to excel this season.

►Girls’ soccer has 11 returning players from last season, eight of them seniors.

Alumnus Van Garderen reacts to Armstong doping confession be a role model for high school students?

► Tejay Van Garderen is a 2006 Rocky graduate and one of the world’s top professional cycler who is now cycling around Europe with the BMC racing team. In the September, 2011 issue of The RM Highlighter, he said that Lance Armstrong was one of his main inspirations. Following Armstrong’s doping admission and disgrace, The RM Highlgihter contacted Van Garderen for a reaction.

A: I don’t know that I’m a role model. But I like to think that there’s young people out there right now who are watching me race my bike all over the world and who are saying to themselves, “I can do that!” In that way, I hope I am inspiring the next generation of cyclists.

Q: What kind of message does the Armstrong issue send to young people?

A: That’s a hard question to answer because I’m not in America very much and I don’t know what young people are hearing about it.

Q: What impact has cycling had on you? Did you ever think you would make it this far?

A: Cycling has become my life and it is how I met my wife, Jessica (who was a professional cyclist herself). I had always dreamed of racing in the Tour de France. So to compete it in it accomplished a goal. Last year was special, too, as I won the best young rider jersey.

Q: Do you think about how you are thought about as a role model?

Highlighter Archives

Celebratory cyclist: 2006 alumnus Tejay Van Garderen celebrates donning the yellow jersey--to signify he is in first place--at the USA Pro Cycling Challenge in September of 2011. As one of the world’ top pro cyclist, he talks about how the Armstrong scandal effects the way he looks at the sport.

Q: Why did you join the

BMC Racing Team family.

A: My team (HTC-HIgh-

strong was one of your role models. When did you hear about his drug confession and how did it affect you?

BMC racing team?

road) was disbanding at the end of the season so I needed to find a new team. It had a lot of things I was looking for and my friend, Taylor Phinney, said good things about it. So it was a good fit and continues to be. I am very happy to be part of the

Q: I read that Lance Arm-

A: I was actually out of the country in Argentina when the Oprah interview was on so I didn’t see it. But it’s been all over the news and I get asked about

it all the time. There’s really not much you can say about it. There is no denying the impact Lance Armstrong had on cycling in America and what he did to raise awareness through Livestrong.

Q: How prevalent do you

think cheating is in cycling? What negative connotation does this give the sport?

A:

I prefer to talk about

the positive things cycling does.

It promotes a healthy lifestyle.

You can also get around on your bike in a way that’s better for the environment, too.

Q: How will the sport get back on its feet after this scandal?

A: See response above.

Q: How important is it to

A: I am always thinking about how I am representing myself, my team and my sponsors. It’s part of the job. I try my best to always give my best.

Q: What is happening with your current training camp?

A: Actually, I am now at my second race of the season, Paris-Nice, in France. It’s a race I am hoping to do well at or even win. We are three days into it and so far things are going well.

The key to doing well is to have a strong team around you and the guys I have protecting me from the wind and the crashes are doing a great job.

- Emily Anderson

rm

highlighter\\sports

March 27, 2013

Kicking it up

//A7

CSU adds women’s soccer team; community feels relieved

by Michelle Kennedy//features editor

Some people would say that soccer and Fort Collins go together like peanut butter and jelly.

However, the surprising fact is that currently, Colorado State University does not have a competitive men’s or women’s varsity soccer team.

Fortunately for local women soccer players, this fact is about to change. In the fall of 2013, CSU will add a competitive women’s varsity soccer team that has been a hot topic in the community for a long time.

“Our mantra is think big, work hard and settle for nothing less than excellence in all of our programs,” Deputy Athletic Director of CSU John Morris said. “Our goal is to build it into a program that is continuously winning Mountain West Championships and advancing well into the NCAA tournament every year.”

In 2004, CSU choose to add water polo instead of soccer to meet the NCAA requirement of equal numbers of men and women’s sports teams.

“My first thought (when they added the soccer team) was ‘It’s about damn time,’” Rocky girls’ soccer coach Ron Clark said.

“We were all dumbfounded when they announced that they were going to do water polo in-

stead of soccer. There were just a ton of people in the community who were very disappointed.”

Although the addition of the team has excited many people in the community, the late announcement of the team has also left some feeling unsatisfied.

“I think it’s dumb that they announced the team two weeks before national signing day for 2013,” senior and soccer player Izzy Engeman said. “That was frustrating because I would have considered going there.”

Teammate and senior Kait Eden added, “I wish it wouldn’t have been so short notice because I think that it would’ve been really cool to have the chance to play here. If it had been available, I definitely would have considered playing for them.”

Despite some unhappy community members, in order to give the team a leg up coming into its first season, CSU has brought in a distinguished coach named Bill Hempen to help build their program.

“Bill Hempen is a phenomenal coach with lots of experience,” Morris said. “He’s very familiar with the Colorado soccer scene and he’s a very accomplished individual. We’re excited to have him leading our program.”

Hempen was national coach of the year in 1992 when he

Lauren Binder

Signing together: Seniors Izzy Engeman and Kait Eden sit at the signing party in the Media center. Both signed for college teams, the girls are disappointed that they didn’t know about CSU having a girls soccer team earlier in the year.

brought the Duke University women’s team to the NCAA championship final and was named ACC coach of the year three times. Additionally, Hempen coached at CU-Boulder, so he has a good feel for the Colorado soccer scene.

For local players, the development of a CSU soccer program has many potentially positive ramifications.

“I think that it will give the

soccer community an achievable goal because there will be a big soccer school in town that they could play for,” Engeman said.

“I think that it will make the local soccer environment more competitive.”

Prior to this announcement, CSU was the only NCAA institution in Colorado and the only Mountain West Conference school that didn’t have soccer.

Therefore, in many peoples’ eyes

this was a long time coming.

“I think its going to be great to have a team at the Division I varsity level that all these young boys and girls can see that if they work hard this could be you one day,” Morris said. “People like to go out and watch a good soccer game and all these families interested in soccer can come out and cheer on the Rams soccer team now. I think that’s fantastic.”

according to Bennett. As he plays multiple positions, pitching along with first base, he has double the workouts.

“Being able to focus and work at both is definitely a task and a challenge for me,” said Gonzales. “To go back and forth between the two is pretty tough.”

The hard work does not go unnoticed. The coaches recognize the rigorous routine he endures and his value as a member of the team.

“He’s a great kid, and he’s been a great teammate in his three years,” Bennett said.

Gonzales went to Gonzaga a few steps ahead of the rest of the team.

During his time at Rocky, he developed extensively into a college-ready player. His pitching mechanics were beyond those of the usual college

freshman.

“I haven’t had to teach him much,” Bennett commented. “He does a lot of things right, so there weren’t a lot of fixes I had to make.

He makes my job easy that way.”

Despite a head start, playing baseball in college has still been a big growing experience for Gonzales. As a player he has progressed significantly in all aspects of the game. He said he has grown stronger both mentally and physically.

“I feel like I’ve progressed a lot,” Gonzales said. “My smarts of the game–college baseball is a lot quicker than high school, so being able to adapt is important.”

As a freshman, entering the college baseball scene is typically a foreign experience that takes some getting used to. A different routine,

place, team, set of expectations and faster pace can be hard to adjust to.

“I think he’s gotten more comfortable,” Bennett said. “We always thought he was that good, but sometimes it takes a player a little longer to realize how good they truly are.”

Despite his on-field success at Gonzaga, Gonzales isn’t focused solely on baseball. He is committed to earning his degree in sports management. In the future he hopes to become an athletic administrator at a school.

“I want to have a successful career in whatever I do,” Gonzales said. “Either path that I choose or is chosen for me, I’ll definitely be working to the best of my abilities.”

Although Gonzales believes that playing professional baseball would

be great, he has no expectations of that. Rather, he has set his focus on what he does know.

His prospects of being drafted into professional baseball after his junior year, though, are looking optimistic.

“He’s a kid that can make it,” said Scott Bullock, Rocky’s baseball coach who mentored Marco during his time in the program said.

“We’ve known for a long time that he’s got a chance to pitch in the big leagues one day–he’s that good.”

Gonzales, still reminisces on his past as Lobo as well as considering his future, but ultimately he is focused on the present.

“You know what, I miss it,” Gonzales said. “But I’m here on a bigger stage. I’m just trying to live in the moment and have fun here.”

outside of school,” said Casey Madigan, senior catcher. “We all know what each other is capable of and we trust each other.”

Personally, players are looking to improve their own skills and contribute to the team.

“My goals are to be a team play-

er,” said junior Nathan Elsheimer.

“Be a player my teammates can count on in clutch situations.”

Added Madigan, “We’re looking to make it as far as we can, try and play our best, and win every game if we can.”

Above all, the squad is looking

for a lot of good days at the ballpark.

“I think we’ll be able to pull it together, win a lot of games, and have a lot of fun,” Elshiemer said.

The Lobos are set to kick off their season this week in Arizona at the Big League Dugout Tournament in Scottsdale.

Fame//

from page A8 Despite the increasing list of accolades, including 2011 West Coast Conference Player of the Year and Freshman of the Year, Gonzales remains humble about his incredible talent.

“His success is his success,” said Alex Gonzales, younger brother of Marco and member of Rocky’s baseball team. “He doesn’t like to gloat about it.”

The rest of the Gonzales family couldn’t be more proud of Marco.

However, they try not to brag.

“We’re trying to be really humble,” said Alex. “It’s just unbelievable.”

In addition to his aptitude on the field as a player, he is a team leader and extremely hard worker,

Spring//

from page A8 and the leadership that we need.”

This spring the players are looking to carry that momentum onward into a strong season. After months of workouts at six in the morning and practices after school at the Edge, the players are in top condition. There’s much talent in the group, with a backup player to every position on the field.

“There’s a lot of kids I think are ready to play varsity . . . it’s going to be close,” Bullock said. “The strength of our program right now is depth, in every facet of the game.”

Additionally, the team developed the togetherness during the summer and over the offseason that they had been in need of. As a result, the tightknit crew has confidence in the team.

“We’re all friends and hang out

\\ sports rm highlighter

March 27, 2013

//A8//

And the story continues... ►Marco Gon-

zales pitching at Rocky (left) and now at Gonzaga (right).

Baseball team looking Title hero Gonzales continues to show strong

outstanding progress after high school

by Lucas Boland//reporter

As it turns out, playing in high school was just the first chapter in Marco Gonzales’ impressive baseball career.

Upon his graduation from Rocky in 2010, he left the school and a list of accomplishments and impressive stats he achieved during his four years with the team–all on varsity. In each of his four years he led the team to a 5A state championship, earning the pitching victory in each and every title game. In his senior year he had a perfect record on the mound, .608 on-base percentage, hit 7 home runs and was the Colorado Gatorade Player of the Year.

He is now in his junior year playing at Gonzaga University in Spokane, Wash. He has already seen much success, and the team loves having him just as much as he loves being there.

“I just really fell in love with this school,” Gonzales said. “Gonzaga is a tight-knit community–it’s a really great experience.”

Since his graduation, he has played internationally with the USA Collegiate National Team. He also played on a Western Major League Baseball team in Canada, the Saskatoon Yellow Jackets. However, he is just as successful inside the borders playing for the Bulldogs of Gonzaga all

//sports special//

IrresistiBoland Lucas Boland

\\

“

Steve Bennett, Gonzaga pitching coach

by Lucas Boland//reporter

He’s one of the best guys we’ve brought in and the type of guy we try to build our program around.

around the country.

“Being on the national stage is pretty awesome,” Gonzales said. “Playing with colleges I’ve look up to my whole life is pretty huge.”

Throughout the 11 games played of the 2013 season, he has pitched in 3 and won 2, the most notable of which a shutout against the No. 2-ranked Arkansas baseball team. The team so far has gone 6-4-1. At the plate he is sitting at a .343 batting average with four RBI, has a 2.45 Earned Run Average on the bump. When he’s not pitching, he’s usually at first base or in the outfield, where his fielding percentage is a near-perfect .978.

“To be honest, he’s just a good baseball player,” said Gonzaga pitching coach Steve Bennett. “He’s one of the best guys we’ve brought in and the type of guy we try to build our program around.”

//Jump to Fame,

on A7

The ground is still frozen, the flowers have not sprung and breaths of air can still be seen.

But, the dirt has been raked and the tarp removed from the infield. So, it must be baseball season the Lobos, a perennial state power in 5A. Although the March snow put a hamper on tryouts week, the team is ready to go and anxious to get outside and play on the diamond. Coming off the least successful season in Scott Bullock’s eight years as head coach of varsity (a 12-8 record), the team is looking to bounce back to its competitive self in the 2013 season.

“I’m extremely excited. I like this team,” Bullock said.

This summer the coaches decided to play only the returning younger players instead of including the seniors who had graduated in May. The varsity squad ended up making it all the way to the Legion State Championship finals.

“We had a very good summer,” Bullock commented. “It really felt like we developed that chemistry that we need

//Jump to Spring,

on A7

Discouraging start to ski season; snow inches slowly increase

With February and March came a sigh of relief from snow sport enthusiasts throughout Colorado.

The 2013-2013 season got off to a slow start with little snow in the early season through January. This is always discouraging, especially coming off a snow year like that of last season when the Colorado drought took its toll on skiing in the state. However, all my fears have been now been quelled.

I can’t lie, even though I like to remain optimistic no matter the conditions, I was getting slightly worried in January when I was still hitting rocks and stumps in the trees. But, in February my faith was renewed upon having more bluebird days with the snow over my boots than not.

As Colorado was originally on track for another

subpar skiing season, recent snowfalls have helped salvage that. Generally, we are now back on track for an average year or just slightly below average. However, some places, like Steamboat Springs, are paced to surpass their average totals. As of a week into the month of March, most resorts have received around half of their usual yearly snowfall.

Winter Park Resort is sitting at 188.5 inches so far this year of their typical 350 inches annually.

Steamboat is having a phenomenal season with 285.75 of their average 334 inches of snow. Copper Mountain Resort is slightly behind with 125 of their 282 inches of annual snowfall.

The year just keeps getting better with each trip up to the mountains. Every time the trees are a little bit

more exciting, the terrain parks a little more expansive, and more of the mountain is accessible. Copper has now opened up all of the back bowls which makes nearly 100 percent of the terrain open. Find the rights runs in the trees and you might come across some untouched powder. The good snow has gotten the traffic on I-70 back up to par, however, so beware.

There’s only a couple more weeks of skiing and boarding left, so seize the opportunity before it’s time to wait six months again. Sure, there’s boating and water sports and all, but they’re not the same as being on the mountain.

Lucas Boland is a junior and a reporter for the RM Highlighter.

\\ rmfeatures highlighter

Shaw’s Law

Megan Shaw

Students need to participate in StuCo overhaul Teamwork: cooperative or coordinated effort on the part of a group of persons acting together.

Anything involving teamwork will always be a two-way street; every party must contribute in order to receive any benefit.

A hot topic among the student body recently has been Student Council. What are they doing, and when are we going to find out? While I cannot sat that I haven’t been wondering about these same things, there is one thing about this particular circumstance that has me rather disappointed.

I have seen a large handful of students, from freshmen to seniors, who have a plethora of things to say about StuCo, many of these comments being quite the opposite of encouraging or constructive. What I have yet to see, however, is a noticeable amount of effort put forth from such students to change the things they dislike.

Every person is entitled to their own opinion, and should be encouraged to share it. Keep in mind, though, that there is a huge difference between sharing a constructive opinion and putting people down. If you dislike what StuCo has been doing or the way they have been running their club, that is a valid opinion.

What discourages me the most is the lack of willingness in students to play their part. Many are willing to standby and criticize, but are much less eager to attend a lunch meeting, or even talk with an officer or member about what they’d like to see.

Now, I am in no way stating that StuCo has not made any mistakes thus far, because the fact of the matter is that this year has not been their most successful.

With that, I believe the student body is also very much to blame.

StuCo has realized that things, whatever they may be, are not working. They have asked for our opinions, listened to them and are now attempting to rearrange in order to meet these requests.

So rather than insulting their efforts to meet us halfway, show some contribution. If you think the events need refreshing; you have great decoration ideas; you want to start something new, or make countless other contributions, attend a meeting. Run for an officer position. Do something about it.

Cliche as it may be, teamwork is a part of the Lobo Way. Complaining about the way things are will not change or solve anything. StuCo is asking for your help, and if you want to see change, make it happen.

Megan Shaw is a senior and the Center Editor for the RM Highlighter.

Addicted

March 27, 2013

//B1//

to

96%

of students own a cell phone

75%

of students who have a social media account

56%

of students use 3-5 or more electronic devices on a daily basis

of students who think technology has a negative impact on human relationships

64%

43%

of students believe technology addiction is a medium or large problem

Tech-savvy student creates application

by Megan Shaw //center editor

“

Amanda Kriss

Wouldn’t it be nice to work for one of the largest, multibillion dollar companies in the technology industry?

For freshman Clint Sexton, working for Google, Apple or Microsoft in the future is not out of the question. With a start on the creation of an iOS application, or app as they are commonly called, for iPhones and Androids, Clint Sexton, and his own version of a Smartboard, freshman Sexton is well on his way.

“Ever since I can remember, I’ve been around computers,” Sexton said. “It’s nothing I’ve ever had to learn. I remember I would go and get my mom’s computer manuals and I would read them.”

Sexton has most often worked with computers and robotics, as well as some software and programming. Starting in middle school, Sexton began working on the iOS game application that he is still in the process of creating.

“My friends and I were just talking about what kind of apps we would want,” Sexton said. “Then a year and a half later, I took an app class at Preston Middle School, and that’s kind of what got me started. I was like, ‘Oh, I can actually do this.’”

350 students surveyed

I was like, ‘Oh, I

can actually do this.’

//Jump to Sexton,

“

on B2

Excessive technology use negatively impacts relationships

by Michelle Kennedy//features editor

Walking down the hallways, students bump into each other as they gaze down at the phone in their hands.

Technology surrounds the average human being in all situations from school, to work to their home, and this fact has only become more valid in the past few years.

However, many people are beginning to question the negative impact that such technology can have on society.

“I honestly believe that it’s leaving you guys at a disadvantage,” Psychology teacher Ginny Cox said. “Technology is wonderful in terms of how much easier it makes our life, but it is definitely impacting how we interact in one on one communication and study habits.”

Cox says that she sees a deficiency in social skills in today’s youth, and even more in the freshman and sophomore students who received laptops as a part of a grant last school year.

//features special//

“The generation now is so tech. savvy, but the downside is that social skills are declining,” social studies teacher Todd Matkin said. “It seems like today’s generation would much rather walk side by side and text one another than actually look at each other, make eye contact and have a conversation.”

As a result, it seems as though people are forging more relationships online and over text than ever before.

“I think that it’s really sad that relationships don’t go as deep as they used to in the past,” senior and psychology student Kat Rock said. “I really think that it negatively impacts the way we converse with each other. For example, in one of my past relationships we talked about everything over text and then there was nothing to say in person.”

Although technology does have the ability to negatively impact social skills, it doesn’t necessarily mean that technology use should be neglected completely.

“I think what we have to look at is how much is too much,” Cox said. “Do you

Todd Matkin social studies

The generation now is so tech. savvy, but the

downside is that social skills are declining. It seems like today’s generation would much rather text one another than actually have a conversation.

need a iPad, an iPhone and a laptop? Isn’t there a point where it becomes overkill?

At the same time, technology is one of the greatest things that has ever happened to some developing countries because it gets them connected.”

In addition to an escalation of technology use in personal settings, educational

//Jump to Technology,

on B2

features//highlighter

March 27, 2013 \ \ B2

Golden Girl Scout

“

rm

Wellington works toward Girl Scout Gold Award with genocide project

by Aaron Yu//reporter

Taylor Swift, Shirley Temple and Sally Ride; just three notable women of the thousands that rose from the ranks of Girl Scouts.

Founded in 1912, over 59 million women in the United States alone are Girl Scouts alumni, or presently enrolled. The organization is focused towards helping girls discover themselves and empowering them to tackle societal issues and make a difference in their communities. Members can earn badges that reflect skills they’ve learned during their time in the Girl Scouts and depending on their age group, try to earn the Bronze, Silver or Gold Award.

Junior Selena Wellington is currently on the path to receive her Gold Award–the highest possible honor that a Girl Scout can achieve. “[The Gold Award] is kind of like the equivalent of a Boy Scout’s Eagle Project,” Wellington said. “The basis of it is to do a massive community service project on something you care about.”

Wellington’s project is based on the subject of genocide and human rights violation both in Fort Collins and around the world. Along with filling out a 30-page project syllabus, a special committee in Denver had to approve her project subject as impactful enough to receive the Gold Award.

“With other awards your troop leader will watch over you and make sure you’re filling out the requirements, but with the Gold Award, there’s a committee

//student feature//

Sexton// from page B1

The game application Sexton is creating involves a spring and a maze, but that is all he will say about it. He hopes to continue working on it much more this summer, since it takes up so much time and is sometimes hard to do during school. According to Sexton, there is a lot of detailed work involved in creating an app.

“You have to be dedicated, which can be really hard during high school,” Sexton said. “You have to draw sketches of where everything goes, then you have to design it, then you have to figure out what colors you want; there is a lot that goes into it. It could take weeks or months or years.”

Not only has Sexton begun creating his own iOS application, but in middle school he engineered a version of a Smartboard that could be installed for only $35. One of his teachers at Blevins

around seven to 15 months to complete; a project that takes less than six months is a rare occurrence.

“It’s a really long process,” junior Leina Hutchinson Selena Wellington, said, who is also striving for her Gold Award. “[The junior Gold Award] is a lot of work, but I think it’s definitely worth it.”

The time and work devoted to the Gold Award isn’t something to be trifled with a half-hearted effort. A minimum of 100 hours of work are required on top of the lengthy steps needed to prepare for the Gold ►Selena Wellington Project. However, these Girl Scouts fully plan to follow through until the end to earn their rightful place among the elite few. that has to approve your project and say ‘yes, this will “To me, it’s basically showing my dedication to Girl work for a Gold Award,’” Wellington said.

Scouts and my dedication to making the world a better Wellington first settled on the idea of genocide in place,” Hutchinson said. “It’s leaving my mark someeighth grade, when a classmate brought back photographs of the Auschwitz concentration camp after a trip where. [The Gold Award] is fairly prestigious.”

Although Wellington started her to Germany.

Gold Award project because of the face “I started reading books about the Community involvement value perks such as an impressive addiHolocaust and went into other genocides ► 70 percent of female tion to an application, it quickly evolved as well,” Wellington said. “Ever since political leaders were Girl into a passion. then, I’ve been researching genocide on Scouts ► Approximately 80 percent “I started the project because I my own.” of female business leaders wanted the award because it looks good Along with her speeches around town were Girl Scouts on applications and you can get scholregarding genocide, she created a video ► Nationally, about 1 out of every 10 girls is involved in arships,” Wellington said. “Once I got based on bullying to play at Rocky to raise Girl Scouts more into it, I realized that the topic awareness. girlscouts.org was much more of a passion for me. I “I focus on things such as bullying and realized that it was the start of a life long hate crimes and how they’re detrimental fight against genocide and violation of human rights. to society and dehumanize individuals,” Wellington I’ve realized it’s definitely something I’m going to be said. doing for the rest of my life.”

According to Wellington, most Gold projects take

“

realized that the topic was much more of a passion for me.

You have to

be dedicated which can be really hard during high school.

There is a lot that goes into it. It could take weeks or months or years.

Clint Sexton, freshman

Once I got more into it, I

Middle School, Kim Spalding, helped Sexton a lot with his invention and let him install it in her classroom.

“My first reaction to Clint’s idea was excitement,” Spalding said. “Clint had a great plan and a drive to execute the plan. This was an idea that was needed, not just for my classroom, but for classrooms around the world.”

According to Sexton, the setup involves a Wii remote, sensor, and some bluetooth technology. This was an “open-source” project that had already

been worked on by others, but Sexton made some changes and created one of his own.

To use Sexton’s board, a “pen” with a light on it is detected by a camera that is mounted to the side of the board in order to write or click. The invention can be used in any classroom that already has a computer and a projector, can be projected on any type of screen, and uses the same Smartboard software other teachers use so information can be shared.

“Clint asked me to test his idea in September, and by October it was installed and working in my classroom,” Spalding said. “The board did have its glitches, but overall it worked very well.

The best part was seeing the students use their peer’s technology. It was easy to use, easy to install and pretty much free.

At the time, I taught geography, and the interactive whiteboard was perfect for interacting with maps.”

This invention worked so well, in fact, that Sexton won third place in the Colorado state science fair. With

Technology// from page B1

establishments are also using technology to a larger extent.

In fact, according to a study conducted by the Institute of Education Sciences, in 1995 only 8 percent of school computers in the US had internet access.

However by 2008 this statistic had escalated to 98 percent.

“I think that the laptops are a huge problem because students are constantly distracted,” Rock said. “As a Peer mentor, just looking at all their grades, they’re really low and I think that a huge part of that is due to the impact of technology in the classroom— Not that it can’t be a good thing, it can be, but just on the impact on grades and socially it’s negative from what I’ve seen.”

However, as half of the school

so many ideas and intuitive creations already in the making, Sexton plans to continue on this technological track, and he is not letting his young age stop him either.

“There are lots of popular apps that are created by 14 and 15-year-olds,” Sexton said. “People would ask me when I was a little kid, ‘Where do you want to work in the future?’ and I would say ‘Microsoft, Apple or Google.’ And I’m hoping to do that some day.”

Technology Addiction

has constant access to a computer, the ease of obtaining a lab for upperclassmen students has become much easier. For Matkin and many other teachers, freshman and sophomore students having laptops has been quite advantageous.

“One of the biggest struggles before was having to be so far planned out in advance to get computer lab time, but now with students having the laptops there isn’t really any problem,” Matkin said. “One of the biggest luxuries is just being able to have access to do research right when you want to.”

As access to technology in schools has become more widespread, younger generations are becoming more and more tech savvy. Even kids as young as

► 98.9 percent of residents in the US are considered regular internet users ► 1 in 8 individuals show signs of problematic use ► More than 27 million hours are spent online each month ► 30 percent of Koreans report experiencing technology addiction. techaddiction.ca

kindergarten and preschool can be seen surpassing their grandparents in terms of technology ability.

Just as there are always two sides to any argument, the discussion about technology is far from over.

“It’s so important to be able to put aside the cell phone and have that social interaction with one another,” Rock said. “It’s important to keep in mind that face to face communication is so important and so is being able to put away technology at the right time.”

rm

//B3

highlighter\\features

March 27, 2013

One-wheeled mountaineer Ring takes on mountain unicycling

Tara Fox

►Tara Fox

On filmmaking and being a part of Video Announcements

Q: A:

by Cam Chorpenning//editor-in-chief

When Spanish teacher Josh Ring first saw mountain unicyclist Kris Holm in a short film, he was entranced.

Ring, who had been an avid mountain biker for several years before picking up the unicycle, was intrigued by the sport and decided to pursue it himself.

“He’s (Holm) kind of the guy; he’s kind of the Michael Jordan of mountain unicycle and I saw that video some years ago, quite early on in my mountain biking ‘career,’” Ring said.

“I didn’t really think much of it other than I was just curious, and every now and then I’d have flashbacks of the Kris Holm footage. One day I just started brewing up this idea that I wanted to give it a try. So I told my wife, and I said, ‘You’re going to think I’m crazy, but I want to try mountain unicycling.’”

Integrated services teacher and Ring’s wife Emilie Ring added, “My husband has always tried new things and gets very involved in these ventures.

When he commits to trying something, he goes all out. I was just hoping he wouldn’t want to start jumping off buildings and riding on cliff ledges.”

Josh then sold his mountain bike on Craigslist and purchased a unicycle. The next step was to learn how to ride it—which Ring decided to do on a mountain trail rather than a street.

“Obviously, they don’t recommend you start riding a unicycle on mountains right away,” Josh said. “They suggest that you try things in the street and stuff, but I didn’t really follow that advice. I just sort of jumped into it as soon as I could.”

After a short time on the trails spent overcoming the sport’s learning curve, Josh took to it with enthusiasm, immersing himself in his newfound hobby. Mountain unicycling

Q \\ A

Aaron Yu

Why are you interested in filmmaking?

I’ve been filmmaking since I was 6 years old. I first started by recording my toys and making movies with them. Eventually I started making videos for projects for school and then from there it went on to creating stories.

Q: A:

//staff feature//

What inspires you in your film making?

I have two favorite directors and they are Christopher Nolan and J.J. Abrams and their filmmaking styles inspire me greatly. The funny thing about that is that Christopher Nolan and I have a lot of similarities when it comes to filmmaking. It’s funny how I came to know this awesome director because he has so many similarities with me.

Q:

Raven Dixon

Balancing act: Spanish teacher Josh Ring shows off his unicycle riding abilities. Ring got into the sport of mountain unicycling several years ago after watching footage of professional mountain unicyclist Kris Holm. In order to protect himself, Ring wears precautionary shin guards and a helmet to keep himself safe in case of a fall.

“

Emilie Ring, integrated services

My husband has always tried

new things and gets very involved in these ventures. When he commits to trying something he goes all out.

quickly became his passion, filling his free time.

“It used to be pretty much daily that I’d try to do some kind of ride. I’d save big mountains for the weekend,” Josh said. “That was, for quite a while, my main source of exercise.”

Added Emilie, “He’s a very adventurous person and likes to try new and different activities. He’s always surprising me with something new and different.”

However, Josh has found less and less time for his hobby, as the Ring family has grown in recent years with the birth of two young sons. Josh and his wife have always been outdoor enthusiasts, but have had to spend more time being parents than adventurers.

“We are an outdoorsy family,” Emilie said. “I wish we could get out more and backpack, but with two little kids it’s a challenge right now.”

Although it has become more difficult to, Josh maintains that his mountain unicy-

cling will always remain one of his great interests.

“I knew, for some reason I knew it was going to be something that I was going to do, that it was going to be a lifelong passion for me,” Josh said.

What is your reaction to the administration not allowing you to use the “RMHS TV Ris es” segment that you guys created? (Editor’s note: A version of the seg-

A:

ment has since been broadcast on Video Announcements.)

This is what happened. It took us about a year to prepare.

We had to write it, get the costumes together and we had a $400 budget we put into it. We put a ton of work into it and filmed over Christmas break.

We thought that it would be an awesome piece like nothing else video announcements has ever done. I was actually extremely devastated that it couldn’t be aired at the time, but I quickly recovered because I had prepared myself beforehand in case anything did happen.

Q: A:

Do you think that it was un fair?

I understand why they made the decision that they did, but at the same time I did feel like it was unfair because we had put so much time and work into it. We talked to administration and the first thing we said was Batman and they didn’t really hear anything else besides the word Batman.

They just completely shut us down. There were a lot of things going on behind the scenes and we understood that, but at the same time we were a little bit devastated.

Compiled by Aaron Yu

rmhighlighter\\center spread

B4 \\ March 27, 2013

BREWERIES MUSIC

March 27, 2013

//B5

FO O

FOSHO

Wide variety of qualities, things to do make Fort Collins the place to live

OLD TOWN

BIKING

there are not many bands here that can fill 650 seats,” general manger for the Aggie, KyleStych said. “But we do Bikes. have them support all of the major Beer. acts to help them gain notoriety.”

Best place to live.

Aggie Theater Stych not only supports the local Fort Collins was voted the best bands, but also the local breweries.

The Cupboard place to live in the nation in 2006 Fort Collins, houses 7 local brewerby Money magazine, based of a The Lyric ies including, Pateros Creek Brewcombination of 38 attributions to Walrus Ice Cream ing Co., Eqinox brewing Co., New quality of life. Of these include, Belgium Brewing, O’Dell Brewing, Bisetti’s afford ability, stress related factors, Coopersmith’s Pub & Brewing, Black park space, divorce rates, weather Austin’s American Grill Bottle Brew and Fort collins Brewing. and population.

Enzio’s “Fort Collins is also very know in We have all heard the story of a the beer region which is very benMoot House doubter (of Fort Collins) who moves eficial to us too,” Stych said “People away to some fantastic place such as Big Al’s come in and say oh I would like a fat Nebraska, California, or New York, Stuft tire and its like “yeah totally where are and then in the end of it all they end you from?” And then O’dells when Big City Burrito up moving back. Or maybe someone the bands come in they are always moves here to go to school and just Spoons wanting to try our local stuff, instead never leaves. Let’s face it, you can’t The Rio Grande of, say, something that you can get get any better than the good ol’ Fort. nationally.”

Sonny Lubick’s Steakhouse Fort Collins, though, is known Fort Collins has the awareness especially for its local focus. The city Silver Grill of what typical fort collins people is more willing to support the little Mugs need, this includes entertainment, guy, instead of the big company. food and shopping. The Downtown Alley Cat Jim Hattis, owner of the Cupboard, Fort Collins Business Association knows all about local support.

New Belgium Brewery produces more than 100 days of free “So, I think that the benefits of Odell Brewery events each year including festivals Fort Collins being so locally focused and concerts, such as Zombie Crawl, Fort Collins Brewery is that it creates awareness for shopFoCo MX , New West Fest, Tour De ping local,” Hattis said. “In a sense CooperSmith’s Pub & Brewing Fat and Bohemian Nights.

Fort Collins really just does have an “We self promote the local bands, awareness for the local person and it’s and we are doing Foco MX again this just not the same in a lot of differyear which last year just went gangent places. I think that having local businesses fosters that (local focus). We need to support each other busters and that is a all Northern Colorado bands within Colorado,” Stych said. “We are taking all the guys who do well here, like so we will send people over to Jax or wherever, and people will do Dead Floyd and Fierce Bad Rabbit so it’s nice for us to bring those the same to us.” guys back into Fort Collins.”

Jim’s father Carrey Hattis, founder of the Cupboard, was first “One thing as a local business is that we have more freedom to attracted to Colorado after his discovery of his love for hiking and do what we want and taylor it to the local needs of the community, the mountains when he was an Army soldier in Iran. so instead of a big box store where we are told what we need to do, “They (his mom and dad) really liked the mountains so they decided to come to Colorado because they had a really good teach- we do things they way we want to,” Jim said.

With local focus comes local people and love for the city as well. ing program there, at UNC, and so it started off there. And then “I grew up here and I have always been just fond in my heart,” soon after Dad got his certificate he realized that he hated it so that Jim said. “People take pride in the businesses, there is a variety of shot the traveling teacher idea. And then they just decided to stay people that are happy her, and health conscious, they love to be in Fort Collins. They moved around you know lived in Loveland outdoors, they take care of the environment, it is really low key.” and did Greeley thing, and decided that they really just loved Fort “I can get to wherever I need to get to within an hour. If I want Collins the best place in the area to start a business,” Jim said.

And they were right, business booms in the Fort, and The Aggie to go hike at the poudre, or the theatre, or an Avs (Colorado Avalanche) game, or visit some friends down in Breckenridge, so I can Theater realizes this as well. When it comes to supporting locals, do all those things but at the same time I get that small town feel the theatre, a previously claimed movie theatre, gives local bands to it,” Stych said. who are just starting out, or trying to make a name, a chance to be Fort Collins was not named top 100 best places to live in the heard. country for without a reason, we live in a great place and it’s about “From a music venue standpoint of where we are at the size if time to be recognized. this venue kind of precludes itself from a ultimately local house

by Lauren Binder//sports editor

Local Places in

FoCo

rmhighlighter\\center spread

B4 \\ March 27, 2013

BREWERIES MUSIC

March 27, 2013

//B5

FO O

FOSHO

Wide variety of qualities, things to do make Fort Collins the place to live

OLD TOWN

BIKING

there are not many bands here that can fill 650 seats,” general manger for the Aggie, KyleStych said. “But we do Bikes. have them support all of the major Beer. acts to help them gain notoriety.”

Best place to live.

Aggie Theater Stych not only supports the local Fort Collins was voted the best bands, but also the local breweries.

The Cupboard place to live in the nation in 2006 Fort Collins, houses 7 local brewerby Money magazine, based of a The Lyric ies including, Pateros Creek Brewcombination of 38 attributions to Walrus Ice Cream ing Co., Eqinox brewing Co., New quality of life. Of these include, Belgium Brewing, O’Dell Brewing, Bisetti’s afford ability, stress related factors, Coopersmith’s Pub & Brewing, Black park space, divorce rates, weather Austin’s American Grill Bottle Brew and Fort collins Brewing. and population.

Enzio’s “Fort Collins is also very know in We have all heard the story of a the beer region which is very benMoot House doubter (of Fort Collins) who moves eficial to us too,” Stych said “People away to some fantastic place such as Big Al’s come in and say oh I would like a fat Nebraska, California, or New York, Stuft tire and its like “yeah totally where are and then in the end of it all they end you from?” And then O’dells when Big City Burrito up moving back. Or maybe someone the bands come in they are always moves here to go to school and just Spoons wanting to try our local stuff, instead never leaves. Let’s face it, you can’t The Rio Grande of, say, something that you can get get any better than the good ol’ Fort. nationally.”

Sonny Lubick’s Steakhouse Fort Collins, though, is known Fort Collins has the awareness especially for its local focus. The city Silver Grill of what typical fort collins people is more willing to support the little Mugs need, this includes entertainment, guy, instead of the big company. food and shopping. The Downtown Alley Cat Jim Hattis, owner of the Cupboard, Fort Collins Business Association knows all about local support.

New Belgium Brewery produces more than 100 days of free “So, I think that the benefits of Odell Brewery events each year including festivals Fort Collins being so locally focused and concerts, such as Zombie Crawl, Fort Collins Brewery is that it creates awareness for shopFoCo MX , New West Fest, Tour De ping local,” Hattis said. “In a sense CooperSmith’s Pub & Brewing Fat and Bohemian Nights.

Fort Collins really just does have an “We self promote the local bands, awareness for the local person and it’s and we are doing Foco MX again this just not the same in a lot of differyear which last year just went gangent places. I think that having local businesses fosters that (local focus). We need to support each other busters and that is a all Northern Colorado bands within Colorado,” Stych said. “We are taking all the guys who do well here, like so we will send people over to Jax or wherever, and people will do Dead Floyd and Fierce Bad Rabbit so it’s nice for us to bring those the same to us.” guys back into Fort Collins.”

Jim’s father Carrey Hattis, founder of the Cupboard, was first “One thing as a local business is that we have more freedom to attracted to Colorado after his discovery of his love for hiking and do what we want and taylor it to the local needs of the community, the mountains when he was an Army soldier in Iran. so instead of a big box store where we are told what we need to do, “They (his mom and dad) really liked the mountains so they decided to come to Colorado because they had a really good teach- we do things they way we want to,” Jim said.

With local focus comes local people and love for the city as well. ing program there, at UNC, and so it started off there. And then “I grew up here and I have always been just fond in my heart,” soon after Dad got his certificate he realized that he hated it so that Jim said. “People take pride in the businesses, there is a variety of shot the traveling teacher idea. And then they just decided to stay people that are happy her, and health conscious, they love to be in Fort Collins. They moved around you know lived in Loveland outdoors, they take care of the environment, it is really low key.” and did Greeley thing, and decided that they really just loved Fort “I can get to wherever I need to get to within an hour. If I want Collins the best place in the area to start a business,” Jim said.

And they were right, business booms in the Fort, and The Aggie to go hike at the poudre, or the theatre, or an Avs (Colorado Avalanche) game, or visit some friends down in Breckenridge, so I can Theater realizes this as well. When it comes to supporting locals, do all those things but at the same time I get that small town feel the theatre, a previously claimed movie theatre, gives local bands to it,” Stych said. who are just starting out, or trying to make a name, a chance to be Fort Collins was not named top 100 best places to live in the heard. country for without a reason, we live in a great place and it’s about “From a music venue standpoint of where we are at the size if time to be recognized. this venue kind of precludes itself from a ultimately local house

by Lauren Binder//sports editor

Local Places in

FoCo

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big and dare to fail.” –Norman Vaughan

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puzzle to room 528 by April 5 to be entered in a drawing for prizes. Winners will be recognized in the next edition on the games page.

February issue winner: Zoe Carlyon

First Friday: A great date on the cheap Fort Collins is chock-full of cultural activities that peel you off the couch and allow you to catch a glimpse of what the community has to offer, the best being First Friday.

As the name denotes, First Friday takes place on- you guessed it- the first Friday of every month. The event takes place throughout Old Town in a wide variety of venues.

A plethora of local artists are featured every month offering an impressively diverse range of artistic production. Those who favor traditional painting and drawing will not be disappointed, however, in order to truly get the most out of this visual extravaganza one must have an open mind and an adventurous spirit.

Everything from bike part sculptures and obtuse experimental video to intricate and bizarre assemblages are juxtaposed with portraits and landscapes. Personal preferences aside, it is hard to deny the sheer talent that exists among us.

That’s So Raven Raven Dixon The only disappointing element of this event would have to be the appearance of fellow high school students- or should I say lack there of? Although I do admire the fact that people of all ages are attracted to this event, I can’t help but feel out of place with so few people my age in attendance. Which is crazy, because a free, all ages event in the trendy, downtown area of the city should attract flat-broke teenagers like moths to a flame.

Did I mention there’s food? Yes, food.

First Friday is a creative idea for a date on the cheap, or just a great reason to get out of the house when there’s nothing better to do.

Raven Dixon is a senior and a reporter for the RM Highlighter.

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March 27, 2013

FoCoMX incorporates musical variety, genres

Students represent, perform music locally in huge event

by Raven Dixon//reporter

If Fort Collins is a hub for local musicians, then FoCoMx is our 4th of July.

Fort Collins’ most esteemed annual music festival, the Fort Collins Music eXperiment, has featured Northern Colorado’s best from every genre. Organized by the Fort Collins Music Association (FoCoMA), submissions are carefully considered to showcase a diverse array of musical talent.

On the weekend of April 19 and 20 the festival’s mantra of “20 venues and 200 bands” will come to fruition, showcasing bands from a wide variety of genres ranging from acoustic folk to electronic DJ. Musicians from all walks of life gather in Old Town to showcase their talent and conspire with fellow local artists.

FoCoMX 2013 will be an improvement from last year. Previously, the venues for the event were spread across old town and North College, going as far as LaPorte.

In an effort to make venues more con-

Highlighter archive

In the spotlight: Local band Shatterproof performs at FoCoMX. Branson Hoog (above) plays the acoustic guitar and sings with the band.

venient and within walking distance, they have condensed the participating venues to one area within downtown. The venues include the Aggie Theater, the Lyric Cinema Café, Hodi’s Half Note, along with over twenty others. Though the event is generally youth friendly, a handful of venues serve alcohol and only host shows that are 21 and older.

Unlike most other music festivals, FoCoMX includes a large number of acts from the high school age group. Seniors Branson Hoog and Ben Spoliansky from the group Shatterproof are returning to the festival this year. Sophomore soloists Shannon Fitzsimmons and Keaton Nalezny are both celebrating their second appearance, along with band members Jared Janzen,

sophomore, of Blue Taboo and Jade Reese, senior, of Gypsy’s Curse.

The festival not only provides the public with exposure to local music, but is also beneficial to musicians.

Junior Jade Reese is not new to the festival, having volunteered last year, but will be performing for the first time this year as the guitarist for the eclectic group Gypsy’s Curse.

“As a local band, only your friends really come to see you and maybe a few of their friends,” Reese said. “But FoCoMX gives you the chance to play for everyone.

We have the ability to play for the most random people people who normally wouldn’t check us out but come by anyway because they’re curious.”

The impact of the festival goes beyond entertainment, extending to the promotion and preservation of local music as a whole.

“It really promotes us. It gives us an audience,” Keaton Nalezny said.

Known traditionally as a college town, Fort Collins is slowly gaining a reputation as a city that supports the growth of local music.

“FoCoMX has really moved the local music scene from Boulder to Fort Collins,” Shannon Fitzsimmons said. “This is the place to be now.”

New Oz prequel movie something great, powerful

by Megan Shaw//center editor

Seventy-four years after the original fantasy adventure film that families nationwide have come to know and love, the wonderful Wizard of Oz has returned in Disney’s Oz the Great and Powerful.

This film serves as a prequel to L. Frank Baum’s 1900 novel The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, as well as indirectly to the 1939 MGM film The Wizard of Oz. For those who have not read the original novel, however, this new adventure with the Wizard indeed accompanies the 1939 film extraordinarily.

Oz the Great and Powerful, directed by Sam Raimi, focuses on the backstory of Baum’s beloved wizard character.

Oscar “Oz” Briggs (James Franco) is a struggling magician and con artist in a traveling circus who is labeled quite early in the story as a heartbreaker and womanizer. When an angry circus strongman comes after Oscar for giving his girlfriend a music box, which he gives to every woman he attempts to swoon, Oscar uses the circus hot-air balloon as a getaway, leaving everything but his hat and a bag of supplies in dusty Kansas. He coincidentally finds himself in the midst of a storm and is swept away by a vicious tornado, leading him into the magical Land of Oz. Just as the original does, the film begins in sepia-tinted

//movie review//

black-and-white, and transforms into beautiful and vibrant color once Oscar enters the Land of Oz. Because of the improved graphics in today’s movies, Oz the Great and Powerful gives the audience a view of the Land of Oz that is much more in-depth, while preserving the original aspects of this magical place, such as the Emerald City, poppy fields, the yellow brick road, and Munchkinland.

Although the original film was produced by MGM, Disney does a fantastic job of making connections between the 1939 version and today’s. Lovers of the original film may fear that this prequel will ruin the beloved plot of Dorothy and her friends, but it does quite the opposite. It is a brilliant, modern set-up for the classic Wizard of Oz story.

Oz the Great and Powerful relates to the original film by taking characters that Oscar knew in Kansas and placing them in his adventures in the Land of Oz. This is a subtle yet noticeable addition that makes the audience feel a sense of connection to the classic adventure.

While it never directly mentions anything about Dorothy or any of the original characters (other than the witches and the wizard), the movie is a wonderful precursor. It sets up many aspects of the 1939 film, including how there came to be two wicked witches, how the wizard becomes the man behind the curtain, and other such important details.

Franco, as the all-powerful

Off to Oz: James Franco, who will become the Wizard, holds on as a tornado whisks him away from Kansas to the land of Oz. Franco, along with Mila Kunis, Rachel Weisz and Michelle Williams, star in the new Disney film Oz The Great and Powerful, a prequel the famous 1939 movie, The Wizard of Oz.

©Walt Disney Pictures

wizard, could have been slightly more enthusiastic in his acting, though it was believable nonetheless. His areas of strength were clearly in humor, as well as portrayal of an egotistical womanizer whose only ambition is fame and fortune.

The witches were some of the most integral characters in the film; Evanora (Rachel Weisz) and Theodora (Mila Kunis) are the wicked witch sisters. While Weisz exhibits a very convincing malice, Kunis’ attempt at wickedness is rather boring and lacks in excitement. Michelle Williams, however, successfully represents the innocent yet powerful character that we know and love as Glinda the good witch.

Being a Disney film, Oz the Great and Powerful naturally included a sort of moral lesson-Oscar eventually learned the importance of “goodness” versus “greatness.” In spite of its slight predictability, it offered a valuable lesson for children, and was not so adolescent as to spoil the movie for an older audience. The film had a fabulous mix of adventure, magic, and humor that will surely leave you laughing at any age.

Oz the Great and Powerful successfully fulfills its role as a prequel, and portrays an exciting new view of a classic magical tale.

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What’s in the Limelight?

March 28: Concert: Andy Grammer, The Summit, 7 p.m.

March 29: Movie: The Host Movie: Family Weekend Movie: The Place Beyond the Pines Concert: Wish We Were Floyd, Aggie, 8 p.m.

March 30: Concert: Aaron Carter, Aggie, 1 p.m.

March 31: Concert: Mika, Bluebird, 8 p.m.

April 1: CD: The Flaming Lips, The Terror April 2: School Concert: PreFestival, Auditorium, 7 p.m.

Concert: Metal Alliance Tour: Anthrax, Exodus, Municipal Waste, The Summit, 6 p.m.

Concert: Bob Seger and Joe Walsh, Pepsi Center, 7:30 p.m.

March 27, 2013

A piece of

Pizza Pie

by Raven Dixon// reporter

Four students, four pizza places.

The hunt to find the best pizza place in town is a feat in and of itself, but to find the best local pizza place that is also high school student friendly is a challenge. Rocky Mountain Highlighter staffers took on the goliath conquest by narrowing down the options to Panhandler’s Pizza,

Pizza Casbah, Pulcinella, and Krazy Karl’s.

The pizza places were rated based on accessibility to Rocky students, i.e. overall ambience, variety options, creativity, perks, and, most importantly, taste. Cam Chorpenning, Isaac Effner and Sean Bray provided their opinion in order to represent the masses. Raven Dixon provided an opinion for the vegetarian population.

Raven Dixon Cam Chorpenning Sean Bray Isaac Effner

Photo illustration by Sean Bray

April 3: Concert: Cold War Kids, Ogden, 8 p.m.

April 4: School Event: Advance Dance Showcase, Auditorium, 7 p.m.

April 5: Movie: The Evil Dead Movie: The Company You Keep April 9: School Concert: PreFestival, Auditorium, 7 p.m.

April 10: Concert: Bad Religion and Against Me, Fillmore, 6:30 p.m.

April 12: Movie: Scary Movie 5 Movie: 42 April 13: Concert: Lily Tomlin, Paramont, 8 p.m.

April 15: CD: Iron and Wine, Ghost on Ghost

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Top Pizza Choices

Pulcinella

Pizza Casbah ►Ambience: 8/10 ►Taste: 9/10 ►Options: 9/10 ►“Perks”: fun atmosphere

►Ambience: 7/10 ►Taste: 8/10 ►Options: 8/10 ►“Perks”: easily

with jukebox and vintage video games

Krazy Karl’s ►Ambience: 7/10 ►Taste: 7/10 ►Options: 7/10 ►“Perks”: included

delicious Calzones on the menu

►Ambience:

Pizza Casbah

►Taste:

Pizza Casbah

accessible for lunch on school days

►Options:

Pizza Casbah and Panhandler’s

Panhandler’s ►Ambience: 6/10 ►Taste: 8/10 ►Options: 9/10 ►“Perks”: deep dish

cheesy pizza if you’re into that sort of thing

April 16: Concert: Bon Jovi, Pepsi Center, 7:30 p.m.

April 19: Movie: Oblivion Movie: Home Run Movie: jOBS April 22: Concert: Polica, Bluebird, 8 p.m.

CD: Phoenix, Bankrupt!

April 24: Concert: Weird Al Yankovic, Lincoln Center, 7:30 p.m.

April 26: Movie: The Big Wedding Movie: Pain and Gain Movie: Mud Movie: At Any Price

My Fair Lady a hit

Lauren Binder

Getting ready: Sophomore Katherine Walter (far left) and sophomore Emily Nichols curl each other’s hair for opening night to the musical, My Fair Lady, on March 14. Jacque Rickett (far right) applies make-up before making her appearance on stage. The musical took place March 14-16 with nearly sold out houses.