Rocky Mountain Highlighter: 2012 February

Rocky Mountain High School February 24, 2012 Volume 39, No. 6

Seniors Talee Reece (left) and Delaney Bacon hold a sign on Feb. 4 to advertise for the community collection day for the shoe drive. The shoe drive to support Soles4Souls, raised over 8,000 pairs of shoes.

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the rocky mountain

hiGhliGhter

Brennan O’Grady

the

Side SHOW HIGH SCHOOL HIJINKS

A federal district court ruled on Feb. 15 that a Missouri school district must stop censoring web content geared toward the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community.

Through an Internet filter, the district had been blocking LGBT content based on viewpoints expressed.

TINKER, 43 YEARS AGO Today marks the 43rd anniversary of the Supreme Court decision of Tinker vs. Des Moines Independent School District.

The high court’s decision, stemming from a case involving students protesting the Vietnam War by wearing black armbands at school, said that student expression is constitutionally protected unless it materially and substantially disrupts normal school activities or invades the rights of others.

In the ruling, Supreme Court Justice Abe Fortas wrote that students do not shed their constitutional rights “at the schoolhouse gates.”

QUOTE OF THE ISSUE “Music is an expression of life. Through it we can define feelings that can’t be described in words.”

- Malia Stoner, junior

From textbooks to ‘tech’books School’s laptops have potential to allow introduction of electronic textbooks

by Michelle Kennedy Reporter

The battle of “old school” and “new school” is once again at the forefront of the educational battlefield as two departments attempt to select new textbooks.

Both the science and foreign front language departments pecial are facing the same dilemma: As society moves further into the technological age, are electronic textbooks the best option? Or will students learn more effectively when their materials are tangible?

“This thing with a science book is that in three to four years they could come up with a new invention or a new discovery that’s not in the book,” biology teacher Michelle Bartholomew said. “It takes at least a year or more to publish a book and to get it all correct. So they say by the time a biology book is published, it’s already scientifically out of

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date.”

It is issues like these that seem to point to e-textbooks as being the future of technology. The current biology textbook is more than 11 years old and the foreign language books are more than 13 years old.

Normally, the foreign language department looks to replace the books on a level by level basis.

However, for this adoption they plan to replace all levels at the same time.

“At this point we are looking to replace all of them,” Spanish teacher Stephanie Carson said.

“First, because it has been so long

Electronic textbooks: ►Electronic textbooks would cost the district about the same amount of

money as printed textbooks. ►Any money saved by purchasing e-textbooks would instead be used to train

teachers. ►The textbooks the district is contemplating buying will have online materials

that students can interact with.

Source: Diane Wright, biology textbook adoption coordinator

that all of them are in need, and second, they aren’t necessarily from the same company.”

In the case of the science department, they hope to do a textbook adoption where they will have online textbooks for the students at home and a single class set of books in the classroom. They hope that this will provide students with multiple types of media to increase

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Schools around country, world take technological approach to teaching

by Cassa Niedringhaus Editor-In-Chief

As Poudre School District implements technology in classrooms, schools around the country and the world are similarly integrating technology into their lessons.

With the incorporation of this new technology arises the question of how to best utilize it. The new technology will enable schools to use more interactive programs and purchase electronic textbooks.

Electronic textbooks have been at the forefront of news recently as the Obama administration has called for the increased use of electronic textbooks in classrooms

the effectiveness of their learning.

“You have to understand that not everyone learns through the computer,” Bartholomew said.

“I think we have to honor that learning style, just like with ninth graders getting laptops; there is a good dozen or so kids that say, ‘I don’t want a laptop.’ I think that as a committee and as a district as a whole we have to honor all types of learning styles.”

Each year the district allots just over $2 million for the replacement of textbooks and textbook related materials according to Director of Curriculum, Instruction and Assessment Todd Lambert.

In gen-

and Apple has begun to make electronic textbooks available on iTunes. It will work in coordination with textbook companies so that it can sell electronic textbooks for just $15.

IPad improvements

This innovative use of technology is becoming a common trend.

In Neenah, Wis., Neenah Joint School District has given iPads to all its sixth graders and some fifth graders. The district used its regular technology budget to lease the iPads and hopes to provide iPads for seventh and eighth grade students

next year.

Diane Doersch, Director of Institutional Technology for the district, said that this implementation is important because the students’ future jobs will be dependent on technology.

“It is important for students to understand how to use technology,” Doersch said. “Their jobs in the future will depend on it. It is our job in the schools to help kids feel confident in technology so that they can tackle any job and not be fearful of learning new technology things.”

Brian Wunderlich, principal of Horace Mann Middle School in

Photo Illustration by Cassa Niedringhaus

Neenah, said that the school is not using electronic textbooks yet.

“We do not currently have any e-textbooks but I do envision that in our future, for sure,” he said.

The school is still making good use of the technology, though.

While students did not receive training to use the iPads, the teachers have received training that will help them in their teaching.

“The teachers attended a one hour in-service before they were issued their iPads,” Wunderlich said.

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A2 February 24, 2012

the news rocky mountain hiGhliGhter

Valentine’s sales given to healing Cropp

by Isaac Effner Editorial Editor

The Valentine’s Day cards sold last week by Peer Counselors not only went to sharing hearts, but went to healing them, too.

After music teacher Casey Cropp suffered a heart attack on Jan. 28, the Peers raised $260 for his medical and rehabilitation bills.

“The idea actually came up in a Peer meeting,” counselor Pam Kilness said. “A couple kids were in band and were raising money and they knew he needed money for medical bills. It was the group’s decision that he has been at Rocky for a long time and has

Text

done a lot for it so the students wanted to give back to him.”

Along with the Peers, Cropp’s colleagues have been doing as much as they can to help him.

“We’re raising money to help him with the medical bills,” music teacher Scott Schlup said. “We want to thank Peers for donating all the proceeds from the Valentine’s sales.”

In the wake of Cropp’s absence, his classes have been absorbed

by Schlup, student teacher Cody Jackson and Poudre band director Cory Peterson.

“I am doing all of his classes,” Schlup said. “I do two brass quintets, a clarinet choir, winds and

Doing more: Music teacher Scott Schlup teaches third period band class in place of music teacher Casey Cropp as student teacher Cody Jackson watches. Cropp has been out of school since his heart attack on Jan. 28 but returned earlier this week.

Isaac Effner

symphonic.”

Peterson helps teach jazz band in the mornings and Monday evenings and Schlup and Jackson are now in charge of all the band classes.

“I’ve been covering Mr. Cropp’s classes with Mr. Schlup,” Jackson said. “We are both enjoying working will all the new kids. For me as a student teacher, it has been a very unique experience working

with Mr. Schlup, but he (Cropp) is definitely missed around here.”

Cropp has been greatly missed not only by the other teachers but also by his students.

“While Schlup is a great teacher, I hope Cropp feels good enough to come back,” junior Nathan Brinks said. “Cropp always strives to inspire us and encourages us to work.”

Cropp is doing well and is out

Learning in a new way: Freshman David O’Neill examines his new laptop on Jan. 18, the distribution day for the school.

The laptops may allow for the use of electronic textbooks instead of print textbooks.

obsolete, there is still the concern, as Bartholomew points out, that the Internet does not always provide the most accurate information. Textbooks in any form will always provide accurate and reliable information; however, the same cannot be said for the Internet.

“You can go online and search ‘DNA’ and you get bands and t-shirts and jewelry, but it may not be scientifically accurate,” Bartholomew said.

In any case, both committees want to choose a path that is best for future students although it is clear that this is not a black and white issue; there is no “right answer” when it comes to the “best” way to learn.

“We are learning more and more as educators that instruction pretty much has to be individualized,” Bartholomew said. “As a teacher that is your job.

You present it to them electronically, you show it to them in a book or you build it in a model. I think that we are all very diverse learners and we learn in different ways.”

from page A1 eral, e-textbooks tend to cost about the same if not a little less than traditional hard cover texts. However, the main advantage of moving to an e-textbook is that they can be updated without purchasing new materials.

In contrast, the foreign language department plans on adopting a hard cover textbook because at the current time there are no e-textbooks to fit their needs.

“I think our next adoption 10 years from now would be e-textbook in nature,” Carson said, “but at the current time there isn’t anything that will fit that. I’m not sure that we’re at a point yet where we are 100 percent ready to move to e-textbooks because we don’t have apparatuses to read them on.”

The biology textbook adoption committee has addressed this issue, and they have decided that since biology is a freshman and sophomore level class, students should have access to

iPad

from page A1 “We hold weekly 30-minute meetings on Thursdays where we do professional development with the iPads.”

Wunderlich also said that while the transition to the new technology is still in progress, students have reacted positively to the change.

“Students are given so many more ways to display their learning and growth,” he said. “I have been blown away by how students who struggle expressing themselves with pen and paper come alive when they present to the camera or through creative applications.”

Sixth grader Delaney Ortiz said that the new technology has made classes more enjoyable to attend.

“The best part of having the iPads is using something that you can interact with instead of just using paper and pencil,” she said.

Another sixth grader, Naomi Jacobs, agreed that the interactive learning is more engaging. She said that her grades have improved as a result of the iPads.

Beginning the transition In Lakeville, Minn., the schools are just beginning a technological transition that will include outfitting all the schools with wireless internet and all the students with iPads that is to be completed next year.

At Lakeville South High School, Principal Scott Douglas said that the school is already using wireless internet and technology in its classrooms.

“We have 20 wireless carts with 18 computers per cart,” Douglas said.

“Our students use laptops to research, design video presentations, construct

Cassa Niedringhaus

the e-textbook through their laptops.

“Since all ninth and tenth grade students will have laptops to begin the next school year, this textbook adoption is a unique opportunity to be the first subject area to utilize an e-text,” biology textbook adoption coordinator Diane Wright said. “We don’t believe computer access will be

theme papers and coach each other on writing. We also are currently piloting a project where students in AP Chemistry and AP Psychology can bring their own Smart phone, computer, iPad, tablet or other computer device and access our school network and use them in class.”

He said that the transition to iPads will allow schools to use electronic textbooks. However, he also said that electronic textbooks will not save the school money because regular textbook funds will instead go to sustaining the technology and electronic textbooks. However, he believes that the use of electronic textbooks will help to prepare students for their future use of technology.

“The education Apps, iAuthor, ibooks and iTunes University have the potential to be great instructional tools,” Douglas said. “Twenty-first century learners need to know how to use technology. It is important for their college experience, work and personal life. We have a responsibility to prepare students who can apply digital learning tools after high school.”

International reach

This new use of technology in classrooms extends beyond the United States, as well. Will Sloop, former Rocky math teacher, now teaches math at Zurich International School in Zurich, Switzerland. The school, for students between 2 and 18 years old, has what it calls a “comprehensive e-learning program.” All classrooms for Kindergarten students and older are equipped with Smartboards and all students in their Middle and Upper Schools have personal tablet laptops.

The Smartboards replace traditional white boards; they allow the teacher to project onto a screen and write on and interact with the content they are show-

an issue for Biology students, but we do have concerns about Internet access at home for all students. The home Internet access issue is something we will continue to look at and discuss; there are no definite solutions yet.”

While an increase in access to the internet and e-textbooks may eventually make hard copy textbooks

Twenty-first century learners need to know how to use technology. It is important for their college experience, work and personal life. We have a responsibility to prepare students who can apply digital learning tools after high school.

“

Scott Douglas, Lakeville South High School principal

”

ing. The Lenovo ThinkPad X220 tablet laptops are an innovative combination of a computer and a tablet that allow the students to both type on a keyboard and write on the screen.

Sloop said that, because students have tablet laptops, some classes are provided with electronic textbooks that allow students to pull material from their e-textbooks onto their laptops. He said that students have reacted positively to the electronic textbooks.

“Two of the three courses I teach have electronic textbooks,” Sloop said.

“Students like them because they can lighten their load in their backpacks, especially since they have to carry their computer with them everywhere. Also, students can ‘snip’ problems into their OneNote to have the question along with their work.”

Beyond the use of electronic textbooks, the laptop tablets help him to provide more resources to his students.

“At my new school, we have laptop tablets, and I believe those make all the difference in a mathematics classroom,”

Sloop said. “Students can work the problems directly on their tablets and not need to waste any paper. If I make a Notebook lesson, a PowerPoint lesson, or a worksheet for a revision day, I can have students access it from my Moodle site and write directly on it with their tablets.”

The Moodle website, similar to the Blackboard website that Rocky utilizes, allows Sloop to post videos and lessons online so that students can access them from their tablet laptops. Sloop also uses YouTube to post videos.

“Interestingly enough, it (technology) does not greatly impact the way I teach, just the medium,” Sloop said.

“Students write on their tablets instead of paper. I don’t have to make loads of copies because I can electronically give information to students. But I still teach information the same way.

“However, there is one way I have experimented teaching that I could not have done without technology, and that is ‘Flipping the Classroom.’ I make instructional videos, basically video

of the hospital and in cardiac rehabilitation, which will continue until the summer. Cropp returned on the Feb. 21, and he will have a light schedule, only teaching symphonic and jazz band until spring break; after that he will resume his normal schedule.

“He’s doing a lot better,” Jackson said. “We’re going to slowly work him back in but he’s in the midst of physical therapy.”

Musical Theater auditions Auditions for a place in next year’s Musical Theater Production class will be held between 3-6:30 in p.m. in the Mini rief Theatre next Monday.

Students must have a one minute selection memorized monologue and 24 bars of a musical memorized in order to apply. These auditions will not determine the roles that students will be assigned, but whether or not they have a spot in the class.

Any questions can be directed to Larissa Schendel or Timothy Tharaldson.

- Isaac Effner

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screenshots as I write on my tablet, and place them on YouTube for students to watch for homework. When they come to class, we discuss the topic learned, answer questions, and then do practice problems in class where I can help them. Students find it super helpful because they can re-watch a video if they are still confused, and they can be more passive in their homework and active in their classwork. Also, it is a great tool for differentiation, as students can watch the video as many times as they like.”

Distraction drawbacks

While technology provides many benefits, it also has several drawbacks.

It introduces many distractions. Ipads and laptops, especially with Internet access, may sidetrack students from their lessons. Also, keeping the devices powered can be a problem.

“For my ninth graders, technology is a great distraction,” Sloop said. “It is hard for many of them to focus with Facebook, Skype and the Internet at their fingertips. I am positive Rocky still has Internet filters and administrative blocks, but my school gives students all access until they need to have certain privileges taken away.

“However, my eleventh and twelfth graders are mature enough to focus in class and not be distracted. Also, students often run out of battery and need to charge their tablets and forget their chargers at home.”

As technology continues to improve, teachers will need to learn how to incorporate it into their lessons to prepare students for the future while combating the drawbacks it introduces.

All interviews were conducted through email directly with the Rocky Mountain Highlighter.

the news rocky mountain hiGhliGhter

February 24, 2012

A3

Shoe drive surpasses goal

by Cassa Niedringhaus Editor-In-Chief

When the students and staff work together on a project, momentous things can be accomplished, even the collection of 8,000 pairs of shoes.

After the school shoe drive was introduced at the Jan. 27 assembly, a competition between homerooms to collect the most shoes ensued.

The shoe drive was in conjunction with two nonprofit organizations, Think Kindness and Soles4Souls. Brian Williams, president and founder of Think Kindness, spoke at the assembly to excite the school about the shoe drive. Now that the shoes are collected, they will be given to Soles4Souls, which provides shoes to those in need all over the world.

The collection day on Feb. 4, open to the entire community, amassed over 1,300 pairs of shoes. It was advertised to the community through 9News, Albertson’s and Domino’s. Then, the homeroom collection day on Feb. 10 pushed the drive to

Volunteering the day away: (Right) Seniors Kelly Kollasch and Jessica Teal count 25 pairs of shoes into each trash bag; (below) senior Michael Kauzmann holds another trash bag open to fill with shoes. The drive collected more than 8,000 pairs of shoes for Soles4Souls.

over 7,500 pairs of shoes.

“Shocked is an understatement to describe how many shoes there were,” one of the project founders and senior Talee Reece said. “Our goal was 2,000 pairs. We gathered over 8,000 pairs of shoes. We made a difference in over 8,000 lives. There are no words for that difference.

Cassa Niedringhaus

There’s no word how that makes you feel.”

Reece and fellow seniors Seth Marlow and Michael Kauzmann started the drive as a project for their We the People class after hearing Williams speak at a Key Club convention last April. They continued the project with the help of Key Club sponsors, of-

ficers and members and Assistant Principal Tyler Nickel.

“We as an administrative team are always so proud of the work that our kids do,” Nickel said.

“Whether it’s from the canned food drive to Adopt-A-Family to the shoe drive and Engage in Life at the end of the year, our kids, and not only the kids that

are organizing but all our kids, respond so positively for all the philanthropic things we do here.

It’s amazing, absolutely amazing.”

Added Key Club member, shoe drive volunteer and senior Jessica Teal, “It was an Correction: amazing way Due to a to give back reporter’s error, a quotation used in a way that in Jan. 27, 2012, seemed so story about Soles4Souls was small but attributed to Key could make Club member and senior Mithe biggest chael Kauzmann difference. rather than Key Club member Everyone was and senior so excited to Talee Reece.

An additional participate statement in the and always story attributed to Reece was found other also misquoted. additional It should have ways to help. read: “The shoe drive is like The outreach throwing a rock of other in the ocean. It’s already wavy, but organizations by throwing that and donarock, you make new waves.” tions helped The Rocky strengthened Mountain Highlighter regrets the cause and these errors. supported the Lobo Way.”

Mr. RMHS: fun and fundraiser

by Conor Schrader Reporter

The brainy, the brawny, the arty and the sporty will all be going head-to-head in an “every man for himself ” competition on Feb. 27 to find who really represents Rocky.

This competition, Mr. RMHS, is comparable to a male beauty pageant. Think “Ms. Congeniality” with testosterone. Assistant principal Brett Larsen will begin the program by announcing each contestant’s name and a couple fun facts about him. Contestants will then be participating in a question round, a group dance number and, most exciting to senior Heidi Roeber, a talent section.

“It allows them to be most creative. I’m excited to see what kind of stuff they come up with,” Roeber

Mr. RMHS Contestants: ►Football: Doug Watterson ►Baseball: Trevor Bell ►Basketball: Ethan Karp ►Wrestling: Aaron Beckman ►Band: Tim O’Grady ►Ochestra: TJ Wessel ►Choir: Brandon Short ►Track: Austin Walter ►AP: Jared Collins ►Hockey: Brian Newsom ►Involved: Jesse Janzen ►Art: Kyle Wray ►Swim/Dive: Eric McMillin

said.

Roeber is a Peer Counselor, the group that was initially slated to sponsor the event. Though the group is now sponsored by Student Services

staff member Leah Kapral, the group is still comprised of Peers.

“I think it’s going to be a good time. All the money’s going to a good cause,” Roeber said.

The proceeds from Mr. RMHS are going to the Matthews House, a non-profit organization aimed at providing support for easy integration into the workforce and the outside world for youth without family support. Tickets will be going on sale for Mr. RMHS the week prior to the Feb. 27 event.

Candidates were chosen by the staff sponsor of each group, then those who wished to participate were voted on in homeroom on the Feb. 7. The 13 winners will go on compete in the actual event on Feb. 27 at 6:30 p.m. in the Auditorium.

“You get to see all of these guys

CSAP renamed to mirror new standards

by Meleena O’Neill Reporter

Students no longer have to take CSAPs, but will instead being taking the renamed TCAP tests starting March 22.

Starting this year, the Colorado Department of Education (CDE) has changed the name of the state testing from the Colorado State Assessment Program (CSAP) to the Transitional Colorado Assessment Program (TCAP). This comes as Colorado adopts new educational standards.

“The TCAP is designed to assess the old standards, but to eliminate, as much as possible, any questions that would test old standards, but not with new standards,” Jason Clymer, TCAP Senior Consultant from the Colorado Department of Education said. “The TCAP will allow teachers to focus on teaching to new standards, without having teachers, schools or students held accountable for old standards that are no longer relevant.”

But the biggest news is the statement from the CDE about not being able to opt out of testing, which actually is re-enforcing the law which has been in place the entire time that CSAP was in place.

“Per Colorado law [22-7409(1.2)(d)(l)(A)], as part of the school and district accountability system, every student enrolled in

I’m not sure why people would choose to opt out. I’m not sure what statement people are trying to make.

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Tyler Nickel, assistant principal

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a public school is required to take TCAP or CoAlt,” according to an email sent from Diana Sirko, Deputy Commissioner of Education, to all Colorado School District Superintendents.

In years past, parents have made the effort to opt out students for various reasons, one reason being that students don’t take the brunt of the accountability. While, yes, transcripts include CSAP and TCAP scores, the schools are the one dinged with labels like “in need of improvement.” But even with the transcript note, this is an option much more appealing than taking a week of tests.

Except there is a law in place meaning parents don’t have the power they thought they had.

“The law has always been in place and I think that the state just assumed that people would take the test because it’s a law,” Assistant Principal Tyler Nickel, who is in charge of TCAP testing, said. “It’s good for students; it’s good for schools to take the test. And then they saw a lot of push back and opposition to that.

And people were saying ‘I’m opting out, I’m opting out!’ and there was no real opt out. People just sort of made this up.”

In this current session, Colorado legislatures tried to push a bill through that would allow parents to pull their students out of standardized testing. House Bill 12-1049 claimed that not allowing parents the right to choose what they opt their children of violated their 14th Amendment rights.

Since the bill reached the State Senate, it’s been in committee.

Nothing has been heard about it since.

“If the state is going to say that this is a test that we feel is important, that is a valid measure of how students are doing, and therefore is a valid measure of how schools are doing,” Nickel said. “I hope they would never support something that’s a law ‘Yes you can opt your kid out.’ And I’m not sure why people would choose to opt out. I’m not sure what statement people are trying to make.”

The votes have been cast: Seniors Katie Clarke (left) and Heidi Roeber count the votes that students made to choose the Mr. RMHS contestants.

The contest is being held to raise money for the Matthews House, a local nonprofit.

Conor Schrader

who are stereotyped break out of their boxes,” senior Dani Hailey said.

Hailey is in charge of the Peers committee running Mr. RMHS. Hailey’s right; it’s going to be an interesting social experience to see

13 very different teens unified by a similar goal. Although they all have different hobbies and contribute in different ways, they’re each a positive representation of what Rocky stands for. Mr. RMHS is going to be an exciting time.

February 24, 2012

editorial A4

National Scholastic Press Association National Critique

the rocky mountain hiGhliGhter

hiGhliGhter

The Rocky Mountain Highlighter is published nine times during the school year by the newspaper staff of Rocky Mountain High School/ 1300 W. Swallow Rd./ 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.

the rocky mountain

Editor-in-Chief Cassa Niedringhaus Advertising Manager Ben Bigler Editorial Editor Isaac Effner Sports Editor Lauren Binder Features Editor Christine Gravelle Center In-Depth Editor Fahey Zink Limelight Editor Cam Chorpenning Staff Alex Creighton Sarah Hatch Taylor Hitchings Ed Kennedy Michelle Kennedy Regan Miller Brennan O’Grady Meleena O’Neill Cammie Palomino Grant Rotman Conor Schrader Artists Amanda Kriss Reanna Nelson Adviser Stephen Wahlfeldt

RM Highlighter editorial policy

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.

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Columbia Scholastic Press Association National Critique

SOPA corruptive

t’s undeniable that sometimes the government makes very questionable decisions, like calling pizza a vegetable.

Or seriously considering the SOPA and PIPA bills and censoring the internet.

Luckily for the rest of America, thousands of websites blacked out their pages on Jan. 18 in protest and ultimately Staff gained the attenEditorial tion of Congress.

It was the larg► SOPA and PIPA est internet prowould give test in history, and government it caused Congress too much power to agree to postat the pone the bills expense of indefinitely. the people.

What most high school kids probably don’t think too strenuously about is what it would mean if the bills passed.

If the bills were strictly enforced, nearly every website would be picked up for copyrighted or pirated material. These bills would smother the freedom of all Internet users by forcing them to comply with an increasingly arbitrary set of restrictions, threatening outrageous fines and even jail time.

It would give centralized government the right to

Letter to the editor: Violence has become the norm

Making the Grade A- Shoe Drive:

Rocky raised roughly 8,000 pairs of shoes to send to people in need in the Soles4Souls fundraiser.

Way to go Lobos.

B- Snow Day: We finally got that coveted snow day that we have wanted for months. Now all we need is another.

C- No Opting Out:

Reanna Nelson

make websites randomly “disappear,” taking the rights from the people under the justification of promoting commerce.

In retaliation to these bills, and when Internet giant Megaupload was shut down for conspiracy and fraud, a hacking group dubbed Anonymous threatened to shut down the entire internet on the March 31 with “Operation Global Blackout.”

However, pushing for the legislation to pass are powerful old media companies and Hollywood studios, with an invested Interest in the end of online piracy, causing Congress to be pressured on both sides.

On one side by greedy

Dear Editor, In our media friendly world, violence is becoming less shocking. I think it is sad that some people can laugh at violence; people laugh when they watch someone get beaten up on the street.

Or worse, they don’t

corporate giants and on the other by shady underworld vigilantes, both pushing their own agendas by resorting to threats or “gifts” which amount to little more than bribery.

Regardless of which side is “right,” both are degrading our political discourse from respectful debate to a childish face-off.

If Congress were to reintroduce and pass the SOPA and PIPA bills even with added restrictions on government power, it will not only be destructive to individual rights but will also invite the intimidation of powerful hacking groups and will add even more corruption to Washington.

care. Violence in video games, television and particularly the news has desensitized many people.

Don’t get me wrong, I like video games and television, but when the violence found in them has desensitized us to the point that

many people are at, it is time to rethink our entertainment. I’m not against violent games until I hear a four year old screaming “die” at make believe enemies.

Violence has become the norm, even in children. It is very sad how we are not effected

CSAPs, or “TCAPs” as they are now called, are no longer allowing opt-outs.

Sorry to the few underclassmen who usually didn’t have to take them.

D- Rocky Loses to Fossil:

Rocky basketball loses to city rival Fossil, 71-50, in an away game.

F- Late-Start Change:

Apparently, late start is being pushed back from 9 a.m. to 8:45 a.m. next year. In a couple more years it will just be called early start.

by violence any more.

Even when you know it is real, many people are able to laugh it off, as if the person can just get back up and laugh too. My final question is: Why is that normal?

Ashley Beard, freshman

Inspiration can drive any of us to greatness It’s the fire in your stomach; the emotional drive in your life. The reason to get up every morning.

What am I talking about? That’s for you to decide, as I don’t know what the inspiration in your life is.

Fundamentally, inspiration drives everyone, but not everyone gets their inspiration the same way.

Inspirational people and events can have a substantial effect on one’s life. They can sway one’s decisions, spark new interests, and give someone the push they need to be above average.

I often have trouble finding motivation to do my schoolwork, and I suspect this is a problem with many of my fellow students. Sill, I’ve

Grant’s Rant Grant Rotman realized that with the right teacher it becomes easier to crack open the books and get the job done and do what’s necessary.

My favorite subject has been History, ever since seventh grade, when a certain teacher had me on the edge of my seat, mesmerized by the stories of his real world experiences

and how they tied into the subject of each day’s lesson. Every morning, getting out of bed at six a.m. became slightly easier just knowing that first period held new memoirs from such a knowledgeable man.

Inspiration does not come only from people. While watching movies or reading books about men and women in the world’s harshest climates for their sports such as mountain climbing, you might hear them talk about the euphoria they feel standing on the peak of a mountain few others have set foot on; or maybe you’ve heard accounts of the thrill that skiers and snow boarders experience while flying off cliffs and dropping a hundred feet

on to a mountainside cushioned only by snow.

Inspiration motivated the ancient Egyptians to construct the great pyramids, drove Benjamin Franklin to discover electricity, and pushed Steve Jobs to change technology as we know it. Sometimes it seems that we don’t find inspiration, but rather that inspiration finds us. As I have grown, my motivators and influences have changed in form, but they still have the same purpose: to spark fire in my stomach, to emotionally drive my life, and give me a reason to get up every morning.

Grant Rotman is a junior and a reporter for the RM Highlighter.

the editorial rocky mountain hiGhliGhter

February 24, 2012

A5

Evaluations or cyberbullying?

Website protected under RateMyTeachers.com Pro amounts to cyberbullying First Amendment H R Con



ateMyTeacher.Com, a website allowing students to rate and write reviews about their teachers, has become a popular phenomenon throughout the world.

Students are allowed to give a teacher a rating from one to five on performance and comment on their teaching style, helpfulness and other characteristics. The website explicitly bans any comments on personal life, appearance and hygiene and is carefully moderated to ensure appropriate comments.

However, rate my teacher remains a controversial website with most schools banning its use, and many teachers are going so far as to call it online harassment.

In 2003, the New York State United Teachers attempted to shut down the site through a court injunction.

The teachers were unsuccessful because the court determined that it was within the boundaries of free speech to comment on teachers.

While it is true that some of these reviews are most likely created through the petty anger of students, the majority of them are clean and far from libelous as teachers apparently believe them to be.

RateMyTeacher.com has the full right under the freedom of speech to continue allowing students to write about their teachers. The teachers are not put in any harm by the website and anything negative put on the sites about them is nothing that would not be stated about them in the hallways; and due to the fact that insults and swear words are mostly prohibited, these reviews are probably cleaner.

This site also has no real effect on the teacher’s life. Even if a teacher has a one out of five, it is not as if they will be fired because of it. The only issue teachers actually have with it is that they are personally offended by the fact that not all their students completely respect them.

While it is natural to be irritated with negative reviews, that is no excuse to try to take away the freedom of speech from the millions of students who write reviews. Teachers must see that while they can have no control over what some disagreeable students write about them, they should strive to be the best teachers they can be and not be offended by such comments.

Isaac Effner

Ratemyteachers.com, a website allowing students to rate and write reviews about their teachers, has become a popular phenomenon throughout the world.

Houston’s death not an excuse to pursue selfish goals In the wake of Whitney Houston’s Feb. 11 death, media and social networking sites erupted with coverage of her death.

Millions mourned her passing, but many other people angrily posted that her death didn’t deserve coverage and that more attention should instead be devoted to the servicemen and women serving our country, especially those who died while serving our country.

Some said she deserved her death.

While I absolutely agree that servicemen and women deserve to be honored and respected, I also think that any life deserves respect. People should not utilize Whiney Houston’s death as a way to prove their point.Every time celebrities die people use their deaths as an opportunity to say that servicemen and women are not given the reverence they deserve. These people should instead advocate for servicemen and women on a regular basis, not solely after a famous death.

My grandfather served in WWII, but I do not think that this entitles me to say hateful

In the Haus Cassa Niedringhaus things about a death. It seems wrong to pay disrespect to one person to advocate for the respect of another.

And despite her obvious flaws and highly publicized battle with addiction, those people making jabs at her life and death should consider her family, namely her daughter, and the other loved ones in her life. Her daughter is just 18 years old, our age. Her grief is surely only magnified by all the negative coverage about her mother.

Battling addiction is an enormously difficult struggle both for the person addicted and their family. Houston was surely scared in the moments before she died, and the news of her death clearly devastated her daughter.

Even though her death was due to addiction, she contributed to the arts during her life.

Her powerful voice became the soundtrack to the lives of millions of people as she rose to fame. She was able to move and inspire millions of people with the songs she sang.

People still talk about her momentous rendition of “I Will Always Love You” and her awe inspiring performance of the National Anthem at the 1991 Super Bowl. Though the performance occurred over 20 years ago, people still remember it. She had a voice that captivated the hearts of people.

Some called her “the voice of a lifetime.”

Even the Guinness World Records book recognized her enormous impact, as she was the “most awarded female artist of all time.”

So, yes, servicemen and women deserve enormous recognition and thanks for their selfless gift and fight for freedom for this country.

But the life of an icon, and a mother, should not be slandered in order to achieve that recognition.

Cassa Niedringhaus is a senior and Editor-in-Chief for the RM Highlighter.

aving quality teachers is important.

When teachers are evaluated and student feedback is used, that feedback is an important source of information that can help those teachers to improve.

However, when teachers are rated online at sites such as ratemyteachers.com, the feedback is unhelpful and oftentimes downright cruel.

When students are posting comments with profanities and insults instead of constructive criticism, the benefits of feedback are completely lost. This teacher-bashing is highly inappropriate, unprofessional and a form of cyberbullying that should not be allowed to continue.

Additionally, the anonymity of such posts provides students the freedom to write anything without fear of retribution or punishment of any kind from their teachers. In a school-sponsored evaluation, comments can be monitored and students are connected with their responses. In an online site unaffiliated with the school, students, or anyone for that matter, have no connection to the comments they post Reanna Nelson and therefore have no responsibility for the Reanna Nelson things they say.

While many students claim that what they are writing is protected under the first amendment, they also write it anonymously, effectively writing online graffiti and blemishing the teacher’s reputation. If students claim that they are constitutionally protected, they should have the bravery to offer their criticisms directly to the teacher instead of partaking in an online smear campaign which quickly dissolves to name calling.

When students post negative reviews, they may ruin the reputation of the teacher for all future students even if their reviews are unwarranted. A student having a bad day can go online, bash their teacher, and subsequently hurt the teacher’s attendance and reputation in future years. Students will approach classes with disdain and unhappiness before giving the teacher the chance he or she rightfully deserves.

While the intent behind teacher-rating sites is good, the ramifications are negative and outweigh any possible benefits.

Cassa Niedringhaus

Photo Poll

What is your opinion on Ratemyteachers.com?

“I think it’s a good idea because if the teachers read them, they can learn to improve.”

Gracyn Shorette, freshman

“It’s a good to try to get evaluations, but students might use it as an opportunity to hate on teachers.”

Corbin Grote, junior

Aileen Palma, junior

“Yes, it could be a good thing if students use it the right way because it could help teachers know what they are doing wrong.”

“Well, it depends. It could be a good thing for kids taking it seriously and bad for those taking it as a joke.”

Mazen Abdelkareem junior

A6 February 24, 2012

Wrestling showdown

the sports rocky mountain hiGhliGhter

Pepsi Center holds annual state wrestling event; eight varsity wrestlers compete

by Meleena O’Neill Reporter

The winter sports season is coming to an end as CHSAA tournaments start up and placing for brackets begins.

This season for the wrestling team ends with celebration from the city on winning as conference and regional champions.

With eight wrestlers that qualified for state, there is much to be excited about.

“We really had an incredible year, an excellent year,” coach Ken Taylor said.

While Taylor said he was slightly disappointed in the results, the effort was great and it showed in the brackets. Six of the eight qualifiers were one match away from placing in the top six.

Only one wrestler managed to make it further, junior Michael Fanning.

“It’s sad because if I would have won that match; I would have placed,” Fanning said.

Fanning was able to win fourth place in the 132-pound division, losing his last match to Alec Wyatt from Prairie View.

He attributed his previous success to practicing and work-

Wrestling

Record: Undefeated in regular season Stars: All of the wrestlers that qualified for state Ahead: See everyone next season.

Talk: “We really had an incredible year, and excellent year.” -coach Ken Taylor

ing hard every day. Fanning had placed second at regionals the week before.

And he’s one of the seven qualifiers for state that will be returning next year. Also returning are two freshman, Danny Murphy and Roman Ortiz.

“I think our freshman really excelled,” senior and manager Lydia Swartz said. “They (Murphy and Ortiz) both made it to state.

In my opinion, they improved the most (during the season.)”

Murphy was a match away from placing in the top six and Ortiz was two matches away.

Ortiz also placed first in the 138-pound division at regionals while Murphy placed second in the 113-pound.

“It was a really, really tough competition,” Taylor said. “We got close to where we wanted, but we didn’t quite get over that hump. I was hoping to finish in the top ten but we didn’t quite

Regan Miller

Fighting the Fanning: Junior Michael Fanning attempts to turn his opponent, from Collins, on his back in order to get a pin.

Fanning was able to take fourth place for his final raking at state.

meet our goal there. They fought really hard.”

Senior Derick Padilla placed first in the 152-pound division

Boys’ team able to best past record

(285-pound class), Kyler Schmidt (106-pound class), and Danny Clark (126-pound class) all qualified for state.

Peach Fuzz volleyball becomes a tradition for male students at school

by Michelle Kennedy Reporter

Despite a disappointing firstround state playoff loss at Dakota Ridge High School, 67-62, on Tuesday, the boys’ basketball team dramatically improved compared to a year ago.

Finishing 15-9, the team reversed last year’s 9-15 mark under first-year coach Jon Rakiecki.

The season included a 10-6 record in the tough Front Range League, good for a tie for 3rd place. Before the Dakota Ridge contest, the team won six of its last nine games, including a 72-54 win over rival Poudre on Feb. 14.

“It’s near the end of the season and we are playing pretty well with a new coach,” leading scorer, and junior Michael Dermody said prior to the state playoffs.

“We’re 15-8, and we’re just hoping to make a place in the playoffs.”

After a tough 71-50 loss against Fossil on Feb. 17, the team earned a No. 9 seed in the state playoffs and had to travel to Dakota Ridge, despite having a better record. That kind of seeding was just one example of the obstacles the team faced throughout the season.

“In basketball, you have your bad times, those times when the team is possibly breaking apart or going through a difficult time,” said Rakiecki prior to the playoff loss. “We did that about a month ago, in January, where we hit our low, and we, as a coaching staff, really challenged them to refocus and be committed to the team aspect and getting better every game and every practice. We have

at regionals and was one match away from placing in the top six at state. Juniors Ben Drysdale (120-pound class), Tony Martinez

by Conor Schrader Reporter

Alex Creighton Alex Creighton

Wrestler wrath: Junior Michael Dermody goes up for a shot in the game against Greeley West High School. The team finished off their season 15-9 after a firstround state playoff loss on Tuesday.

Boys’ Basketball Record: 15-9 Stars: Michael Dermody, Ryan Fergen,

Damon Tatum, Daniel Dunter Ahead: Next season Talk: “We play a lower seed than we expected so we play a pretty good team, but I think we have a really good chance of winning.” -junior Aaron Hines, prior to the Lobos’ state playoff appearance

done that, and we are playing very well as a team right now.”

After the less successful season last year, the team ended up in the bottom of their conference.

However, the 2012 team battled hard to finish near the top of the FRL this year.

“It’s kind of an underdog story,” junior Aaron Hines said.

“You know, to come up from the bottom and not really be anything last year, and then to be pretty good this year.”

Much of their recent success can be attributed to the new coach. Although Rakiecki has brought a very different style of play to the basketball program compared to last year, his methods have carried the Lobos

success.

“It was difficult, but you just have to buy into the work,” Dermody said. “It’s a risk that’s worth it. I mean, if you buy into the work, it’s rewarding in the end.”

Hines added, “I think we have grown a lot. I think at the start of the season we were good because we had a new coach, but I think that we have grown a lot and come together as a team.”

As is the challenge at the beginning of any season, the team had to develop their chemistry and learn how to work together.

“Our defense is good, and offensively we are starting to kind of gel and understand where everyone is going to be at certain times,” Rakiecki said.

“I definitely think that we have all bought into our new coach’s system,” Dermody added.

“We just got the whole team playing together as one unit and that’s really nice to have.

We all trust each other, rely on each other and have each other’s backs.”

It’s peach season once again, and teams are ripe for the picking.

A handful of all male volleyball teams will be going head-to-head on Feb. 28 to fight for bragging rights on the court.

This is Student Council’s second annual Peach Fuzz Volleyball tournament. It will remain free, hilarious and a fun event for all ages, but they are hoping to make a couple small changes.

“We needed more advertisement,” junior Austin Druse said.

Druse is on the committee in charge of Peach Fuzz Volleyball, creating posters about the event and hanging them around the school.

“I’m glad it’s getting coverage,” Druse said. “One of the biggest shortcomings of last year was that people didn’t know about it.”

A tournament final between the best teams of classes is in the works, but Druse says he can’t promise anything yet.

As is custom for all multigrade events, the seniors are expected to win by default. As school leaders, the seniors are expected to have the most school pride. As the oldest, the seniors are expected to be bigger, better and stronger than the younger

classes. Rumor has it Peach Fuzz may break this trend.

“I’m pretty confident,” junior Casey Madigan said.

“We’ll tire out the seniors, but we won’t get tired.”

Madigan’s strategy comes from the dominating numbers of juniors. At the start of the month, a greater number of juniors had signed up for Peach Fuzz, showing more enthusiasm in the eleventh grade than the twelfth. More talk and excitement amongst the juniors means their upperclassmen counterparts might have something to worry about.

“The juniors have a good chance of upsetting the seniors,” Student Council sponsor Jennifer Adams said.

Adams refused to pick a definite side, but did notice more interest in the eleventh grade. Druse agreed.

“They gotta bring it,” Druse said. “The seniors are tough.”

What is being stressed as most important, however, is the fun-per-cost factor, which is pretty high considering how Peach Fuzz is free to compete and watch. Last year’s tournament was a great success, and StuCo is hoping to make their second annual event a worthy, more organized successor.

“It’s a lot of fun,” Adams said. “Even if you guys suck, just come out and play.”

the sports rocky mountain hiGhliGhter

Stop

from page A8 Rocky athletic director, said it is not a surprise that balls get away from the field area once in awhile with neighbors packed so tight against the school grounds.

“When you buy a house next to a baseball field, or a golf course or something, well, I guess you ought to figure that at some point in time there might be a ball in your backyard,” Moddelmog said.

Steps have been taken in the past to try and reduce the problem, according to Moddelmog. The field has been moved, home plate was moved closer to the backstop, the field was tilted slightly for a better angle on the old backstop, and a net overhang Space was put up Matters to try and In an effort to stop pop-up avoid schoolfouls balls–a neighbor conflict, the district has netting steadily increased which nearly the acreage of city extended to high schools over the years to allow overtop home for a buffer zone plate. between facilities “We do and surrounding homes. everything within in ►Old Fort Collins our power to High School (now part of CSU). never allow Opened in 1925: a ball to go 14.6 acres.* over into ►Poudre High those yards,” School. Opened in 1964: 42 acres.* said Moddel►Rocky Mountain mog.

High School.

UnforOpened in 1973: tunately, 48 acres.* none of the ►Fort Collins High School. attempts were Opened in 1995: completely 63 acres.* successful and ►Fossil Ridge as a result High School. $107,000 was Opened in 2004: 96 acres. spent on the Source: Larimer County new backstop. property map. *ApproxiBut mations despite the upgrade, which is being constructed by Dean Contracting, tension remains between the neighbors and the school. The massive backstop structure can easily be seen over their rooftops from the front of their house and towers over their backyards, completely obstructing their view.

“It’s an eyesore,” said Anselmo’s neighbor, Susan DeVries, who also has her house behind the backstop.

The original backstop was supposed to be 45 feet tall, but after receiving letters of concern from neighbors and the neighborhood association, the district agreed to drop the height by five feet.

“I guess the worst part is that for us is that all of our sun comes from the south and this is our only south facing wall. They said it’s only chainlink; it won’t be any problem, and I was like, ‘yeah, it will,’” DeVries said.

The shadow of the backstop casts little diamonds shapes all over the backyards of both residents and even when looking straight up, it was a strain to see over the backstop fencing.

“It’s a huge problem for us and we’ve complained where we can.

I mean, I can understand they were trying to protect them just a little bit more, but this is kind of ridiculous,” said DeVries.

But that was not all that these backyard residents were concerned about.

“I’m very concerned that it is going to decrease my home value,” said Anselmo. “I mean we might try to sell our home in the future.

Someone else might come back here and say, ‘Holy cow. What is that?’”

While no official price has been determined, DeVries said, “My husband and I estimate $10,000 will be taken off the value of our home.”

February 24, 2012

A7

Girls bounce into bracket

by Lauren Binder Sports Editor

The girls’ basketball team ended their regular season with a 15-8 record, and it is now ready to tear up the court in this season’s playoffs.

They started off the beginning of the season with a bang, winning their first seven games and two of which they beat ranked teams Palmer and Heritage high schools.

“This season, overall, has been a roller coaster with us going undefeated in pre-season and then losing those eight conference games, but I think we finished conference play well,” senior Kim Catlett said. “The city rivalry games were crazy and I’m ecstatic that we were able to beat Fossil and Poudre in the final minutes.”

With a rough patch in the middle of the season, the girls were able to push through by winning the last six of their eight games, including a 59-57 win over Fossil Ridge.

“I think that the season went well and I am very pleased,” head coach Todd Matkin said.

Alex Creighton

Eager Ernst: Sophomore Anna Ernst looks to pass the ball to another teammate in the game against Fort Collins. Unfortunately, the girls were never able to defeat the long time rival.

“The girls have done a very good job and 15-8 is a very good accomplishment considering the lack of experience.”

The playoffs may be a true test of the team’s overall skill, considering that this year’s Front Range League has been strong.

Swim Wrap-up

Cassa Niedringhaus

Makin’ a splash: Senior Mary Wilson cheers on another swimmer and indicates how many laps that swimmer has left in her race at a meet located at EPIC. The whole team finished 29th at state this year.

by Fahey Zink Center- in-Depth Editor

The pressure was on this year for the girls swim team.

With the majority of the team being new, the team didn’t have its greatest year; however they did have their strong moments and continued to fight throughout the season. During the state swim tournament, the team won 29th place overall while the free relay team finish 13th in 1:43.56, jumping 3 spots from the prelim seed, but none of the swimmers qualified for their heat. Senior Mary Wilson also won 2nd place at the conference meet in the 100 freestyle.

In the regular season, they went 1-12 with their only win

being at the Horizon meet. The team has continued to grow throughout the season and will continue growing until next season.

Their record wasn’t the only thing that they struggled with.

Lack of support from not only the student body but the athletic administration also put some difficulties towards the team.

Nevertheless, they continued to persevere throughout the season and tried their best even though there was a lack of experience.

While the swim team did not have the best of years, they are finally getting the recognition they deserve from last year, breaking two new school records for the 50 and 200 yard freestyle.

Three teams out of this conference are ranked high: Legacy ranked third, Monarch ranked fourth and Horizon ranked seventh.

“I think since our conference is so strong that it has given us a better idea of what we are up

against,” Matkin said.

With such a successful season this year, Matkin is excited to see how next year will go as well, especially considering that all but five players that are seniors will be returning next season.

Baum, who was snowboarding alone, couldn’t believe that he had come so close to the avalanche.

“That could have been me,” Baum said. “I was by myself that day.”

Baum advises everyone that’s going skiing or snowboarding soon to stay in groups and pray for more snow. He also acknowledged the fact that avalanches are just another danger that comes with mountain sports and that caution is always vital.

Senior Avery Buser is all too aware of the dangers of this year’s terrible snow. Buser was skiing at Eldora when he failed to stop on an ice patch, fell and dislocated his shoulder. Buser, who has been skiing for 10 years, stated that

the ski patrollers need to take more control of ice and avalanche areas to reduce the dangers they introduce.

“The ski areas need to stop people entering dangerous areas, but skiers and boarders should also show caution and take the first few runs easy before cutting loose,” Buser said.

With such questionable snow conditions, caution and safety have become two large priorities among skiers and boarders. Skiers and snowboarders should learn to be prepared to face the poor snow conditions. Future injuries and deaths will hopefully be prevented.

Students should learn to balance Tyler’s motto, to live life to its fullest, with safety practices that can help to save their lives.

Snow from page A8

February 24, 2012

sports A8

the rocky mountain hiGhliGhter

Farewell Fergen Senior Ryan Fergen accepts flowers on senior night before the game against Poudre with his mom, dad and brother.

The boys’ basketball team has made it into the playoffs this 2011-2012 season Alex Creighton

Having the Neighbors’ Back. . . Stop

Ed-sclusive Ed Kennedy

No recognition Fort Collins High School.

The mere name will make the blood of any Lobo boil. The Boys’ varsity basketball team has defeated Fort Collins in both of their matchups this season.

The varsity football team beat the Lambkins in dramatic overtime fashion on their own homecoming.

With so much triumph over the Lambkins, it still seems as though we still receive no respect from our city newspaper: The Coloradoan.

Of course, it’s easy for a student and athlete at Rocky to accuse the newspaper of favoring their biggest rival, but it seems as though it would be common knowledge to know that this is the case.

After the boys’ basketball second victory over the Lambkins on Feb. 10, the Coloradoan ran an article the next day on the event. The first line of this article was as follows, “It was a seesaw affair Friday night that ultimately tipped in favor of Rocky Mountain High School’s boys basketball team, which defeated Fort Collins, 54-43.”

This lead isn’t exactly what I would have written, as the Lobos led the game for almost the whole time, with Fort Collins trailing by a consistent amount.

The following paragraphs of this article are dominated with quotes and narrative of the Lambkins’ play.

The angle of this article seemed to be that it was the Lambkins’ game to lose, and it was because of their mistakes that we came out on top.

From a fair, unbiased, journalistic point of view, our boys played great and they defeated Collins through their own intent, not at the hand of the Lambkins’ faults.

When it comes to high school sports in Fort Collins for the 2011-2012 sports seasons, it seems as though Rocky has worked hard and to sit atop the city pedestal, where respect is deserved.

Ed Kennedy is a junior reporter for the RM Highlighter and an offensive lineman on the varsity football team.

Careful construction: Construction is currently wrapping up for a large and new JV baseball field backstop. The backstop work, by Dean Contracting, will cost the district more than $100,000 but the 40-foot tall backstop should better protect surrounding houses.

Ed Kennedy

Neighbors upset about large size of new backstop; district spends over $100,000

by Alex Creighton & Ed Kennedy Reporters

Anyone with two eyes who has been to the JV baseball field has undoubtedly seen the massive structure that is the new backstop.

The backstop, a sports 40-foot chainpecial link walltall with a 20-foot overhang, is designed to keep foul balls and pop-ups from injuring anyone outside of the field or causing damage to nearby structures.

The district decided to build the massive structure after one of Rocky’s neighbors was hit by a foul ball last season.

“My husband was hit (with a ball) in spring training or baseball season last year,” said Kristin Anselmo, a homeowner whose house is behind the backstop.

Anselmo was granted $1000 by the district to be checked out by a doctor for any serious injuries.

“They said that my husband could go be looked at as long as

S

Ed Kennedy

Bringin” the Heat: A worker from Dean’s Construction gets ready to weld backstop poles together. The backstop should be finished by the beginning of this baseball season, and will be about 40 feet tall.

My husband and I estimate $10,000 will be taken off the value of our home.

“

Shannon DeVries homeowner near Rocky

”

he didn’t spend more than $1000; that was their limit,” said Kristin.

Pop-ups and foul balls have always been an issue with the neighbors; the Anselmo family stated that they usually get five per practice and five to 10 per game.

Anselmo, however, was the first person to actually be hit.

While not directly involved with the construction of the backstop, Wayne Moddelmog, Rocky Jump to STOP page A7

Avalanche claims life of Fort Collins resident, friend

by Grant Rotman Reporter

Although they have no evil intentions, the mountains and the snow that covers it are like anything else out of nature: unpredictable and underestimated.

In one week of January, four people were killed in separate locations from avalanches, including 24-year-old, Tyler Lundstedt of Fort Collins. Lundstedt was in Chedsey Creek, North Park, snowmobiling with his 21-year-old brother, Jordan Lundstedt.

According to the National Snow and Ice Data Center Colorado has a reputation to claiming about one third of all the deaths sue to avalanches that happen in a year.

“Tyler’s motto was always to have fun in life because you never know when it could end,” said

Grant Rotman

Monstrous mountain: Junior Mason Pixley sits in the snow at Winter Park, near where an older man lost his life to an avalanche on the same day Tyler Lundstedt also was killed by an avalanche at Chedsey Creek, North Park. Four people have had their lives taken by avalanches in Fort Collins this year alone.

senior Marcus McKinney, a very close friend and fellow snowmobiler of the Lundstedt brothers.

According to McKinney, the

Lundstedt brothers were both experienced riders and both very aware of what could happen. The brother’s snowmobiles were stuck

in the powder and while walking back to their car for supplies an avalanche caught them by surprise.

“It was a bad situation with four feet of powder on top of ice, it was dark, and they were on foot,” McKinney said.

“Tyler did a lot with his life and died doing what he loved,” McKinney said. “Have a lot of fun but keep your eyes open because the smallest slide can take your life.”

An avalanche claimed another life in Winter Park. Junior Eric Baum was snowboarding on the same run and on the same day that the avalanche occurred.

“This season there hasn’t been much snow so you have to do stupid stuff to find good powder,” Baum said.

Jump to SNOW, page A7

Spreading the Love

Peer Counselors, seniors Meghan Loury, Delaney Bacon, Dani Xiong and junior Devon Miller sing at McGraw Elementary on Valentine’s Day. The group sang Justin Beiber’s “Baby,” to teacher Wendy Schaffer’s son, Aaron.

Lauren Binder

February 24, 2012

features B1 the rocky mountain hiGhliGhter Alexander the Creight

Alex Creighton

More than a catchy tune

Photo Illustration by Christine Gravelle

Pet’s unconditional love helps students relieve stress, unwind

by Christine Gravelle Features Editor

The moment a dog’s owner closes the door and says goodbye, the dog patiently features waits, wondering where its best pecial friend has gone.

Little does it know, its tail thumping against the wall and its ears perked up saying “hello” may make the difference in its best friend’s day.

For thousands of students across the country, the relationship they have with their pet is one of unconditional love and compassion. This relationship with their pet is helping more and more people’s daily stresses to float away. Junior Mason Ham and his golden retriever, Jake, have this relationship.

“After a long day, I love spending time with Jake,” Ham said. “I’ll sit down on the couch and he’ll come up and sit on my lap. He thinks he’s a lap dog but he’s definitely not.”

Ham’s golden retriever helps him unwind after school and even supervises Ham while he does his homework.

Just the presence of his easy-going and sweet personality helps Ham manage his stress from the day.

“Whenever he’s

S

Christine Gravelle

around, I forget all about my stress,” Ham said.

However, while most pets have unconditional love for their owners, Jake shows even more than the usual happy-golucky golden retriever. He was adopted by the Ham family through the Golden Retriever Rescue of the Rockies.

“As soon and he got Jump to PETS, page B2

Cool creatures: (Starting far left) senior Kelly Lynch’s chinchilla grooms herself; sophomore Saskia Becker holds hedgehog, Samoa; and senior Anthony Frucci lets his pet snake, Aiymie, hangs around his neck.

Pet love: (Starting on bottom left) junior Mason Ham, hangs on the couch with dog, Jake; senior Emily Schultheiss, cuddles with her cat, Tom; senior Amelia Morgan, plays with dog, Rador; senior Erika Bayes, gets nuzzled by horse, Tiger; therapy dog, Remy, brightens the day of patient Lee Morrison.

Exotic pets become relaxing outlet for students

by Brennan O’Gradey Reporter

In the world of animals, a pet is considered a dog or a cat—however, to some a pet defies all societal commonalities and is something extraordinary.

For three students, their pets are the opposite of ordinary, giving their household a unique, if not exotic

feel. The benefits to owning such unusual pets are endless: learning about the animal, developing a knack for some interesting zoology and they are just plain cool.

Jump to EXOTIC, page B2

Christine Gravelle

Drug abuse, murder, sexual assault, even language so vulgar it would make your average tough-guy cringe.

Not the kind of things you would talk about where a child could hear.

Over the summer I was babysitting one of our family friend’s 6-year-old son. As we made our way to Chik-Fil-A, the usual Saturday night dinner restaurant, the radio began to play a catchy and repetitive song.

I learned the words rather quickly, (it was a repetitive song remember?) and began to sing along. As I did so, I quickly realized that I was singing about smoking cigarettes, bad parenting and shooting people because they had nicer shoes than I did –wait –what?

In what context would that ever be appropriate? I quickly changed the station to something else, hoping to escape the violent lyrics that were poisoning the mind of the child next to me.

The next station blared, “If she ever tries to f------ leave again, I’mma tie her to the bed and set this house on fire.”

Oh joy, even better.

Many popular songs mention, discuss and even praise activities that are illegal, immoral, and downright wrong. So why do we listen to them? Why do we support and reward those who produce them?

These songs quickly become an “I like it so much it’s been stuck in my head all day” kind of song. But as you listen to the words you will understand that your mind has been focused on illegal and socially unacceptable things. Not so catchy and fun now, is it?

Next time you turn the radio on, plug your iPod in, or pull up Pandora, listen to what’s playing. Take the time to realize what you are putting into your brain.

As the saying goes, watch your words, for they become your actions.

Alex Creighton is a junior reporter for the RM Highlighter.

B2 February 24, 2012

the features rocky mountain hiGhliGhter

Student gets opportunity in ABDC

by Lauren Binder Sports Editor

Lights, camera, dancing.

Senior Ian Chubb recently had the opportunity of a lifetime to chase his dream of becoming student a professional eature dancer.

When Chubb received a phone call from dancer Jessica Starr, in Los Angeles, Calif., saying she needed him to complete her new crew for America’s Best Dance Crew, his dream become a reality. After the loss of a crew member, Starr suddenly was on the search a new member, when Chubb popped in her mind.

The MTV promoted competitive dance reality television series has dance crews from all over the nation, showcasing their dancing talents for the title of America’s Best Dance Crew and a prize money reward of $100,000.

“She picked me out, from everyone that she knew,” Chubb said. “It was a one-time opportunity, and you can’t just pass that up. I knew that I had to take it.

There was no reason not to, and it was a great experience.”

Without hesitation, Chubb packed his bags to join the crew in LA, and live out this dream.

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“Ever since I met Ian a couple of years ago, I knew there was something unique about his dancing,” Starr said. “Ian has a very distinct style and movement quality that separates him from all the young dancers I have ever worked with. He has a drive and strong sense of self that is rare to find in young dancers. It’s been a joy seeing him grow over the years that I have worked with him and when I needed another male dancer for the ABDC audition, he was the first person who popped in my mind.”

Although the crew had immense talent and potential, unfortunately, Muse Dance Crew did not make it on to the show. The crew was asked back for call backs out of the thousands of groups that tried out, however they didn’t make the cut.

“It was so different going from Fort Collins dancing, to being out there (Los Angeles). Out there everyone wants to be big,” Chubb said. “Here everyone does it because it is fun. It was such a good experience because that’s what I want to do when I get older.

Everyone in the crew was there for the same reason that I was and everyone was striving for it just as

Pets

from page B1 comfortable in our house, he just curled up and slept,” Ham said. He had been chained to a fence for almost all of the beginning of his life. You could tell how grateful he was to be saved and in a loving home.”

However, while some dogs are being saved through adoption, others are saving lives. There is something about a dog that is truly therapeutic.

Their unconditional love and ability to never judge someone, is what makes them so therapeutic. Volunteer coordinator at Mckee Medical Center, Melissa Wiederson, watches the faces of patients light up as therapy dogs visit their rooms.

“Having therapy dogs around is so healing,” said Wiederson. “They create an environment that helps the emotional wellbeing of the patient.

They also bring a lot of smiles and humor to the room. K-9 companion is one of the best therapies for people.”

Sherry Baker, a volunteer that brings in her yellow lab, Remy, has witnessed the power of a

Exotic from page B1

Instinctively humans aim to develop relationships, whether it be with friends, significant others, or their animals; hence, the saying, “a dog is a man’s best friend.” Yet, for sophomore Saskia Becker, her best friend is her hedgehog, Samoa.

“Samoa is a year and a half old,” Becker said.

“She is fun and easy to take care of. She’s my best friend.”

Typically in the wild, the prickly animal eats anything from insects, to frogs, to snakes. Taking a hedgehog into a domestic environment also changes their eating habits.

“Samoa is a lot like a cat,” Becker said. “She eats cat food. Hedgehog food is expensive and is almost an equivalent of cat food.”

A Hedgehogs face, feet and ears look similar to any other small rodent, however their not quite as soft as a bunny. Hedgehogs have spines—hollow stiff hairs, used for protection as they roll into a ball when threatened. During baths, Becker has to clean Samoa’s spines with a toothbrush and baby shampoo.

“She is really different,” Becker stated. “She isn’t as mean as she looks and is really active.

She swims around in the tub during her weekly baths.”

Becker also lives in the comforts of other

Muse crew madness: (Above, far right) senior Ian Chubb poses with his dance crew as they wait to tryout; (right) Chubb lifts crew member Jessica Starr. The group didn’t make tryouts, but hopes to keep dancing this summer.

much as I was.”

Dancing is certainly nothing new to Chubb, and the people close to him know his devotion to dance. His passion started in fifth grade and has grown ever since. Now, Chubb admits that he spends about 12 hours a week at West Dance Studio.

Not only does he perform dance, but also teaches as a part time job, teaching younger kids hip hop and break dance.

“I am so proud of him. He spends 4-6 hours dancing a night and I know he really wants it,” brother and senior Tyler Chubb said. “He went to L.A. and finally got his chance.”

Even though the experience was tough, Chubb truly experienced the reality of competitive dance,

dog’s unconditional love for patients.

“There was a patient that was very ill. She hadn’t responded to anything for two day’s but her granddaughter came and asked me to bring the dog in any way,” Baker said. “When I brought Remy in he had an urgency as he went up to her bed. He snuggled his head in to her side when her eyes suddenly flew open and her hand went to his head. Remy knew that she needed him. He knew she need his love.”

The love of a therapy dog brings pure joy to patients across the country, however, most love coming from a dog is given to an average owner.

Senior Amelia Morgan knows and feels the unconditional love from her dog every day. Her golden retriever, Rador, has been with Amelia since she was 8 years old.

“Any day I’m tired and have had a long day, he’s always able to make me ►Rador laugh,” said MorChristine Gravelle

abnormal pets: a chinchilla–three to be exact.

“They are a cross between a kangaroo, fluffy cat, guinea pig and squirrel,” Becker said.

However, Becker is not the only owner of these cute pets. Senior Kelli Lynch also has had a chinchilla in the past for three years. Lynch’s chinchilla, Annie, lived up to her species being an extremely fun and interactive pet.

“She would cuddle in the corner of her cage and puff up,” Lynch said. “She used to play peek-a-boo with me and hide in my desk.”

Lynch views having a different pet to be fun because they’re different than the pets everyone else has.

“Exotic pets have unique characteristics, enabling them to be ideal pets,” Lynch said. “Like fluff with chinchillas—they’re so fluffy.”

Chinchillas are also unique in the fact that bathing them in water is not good for them.

Alternatively, they receive dust baths.

“A dust bath is where they roll around in special dust,” Lynch said. “It cleans their fur and gets rid of the oils.”

Being active and playful animals, chinchillas require big cages for their daily exercise and playtime.

With intensive care, over time, chinchillas develop strong bonds with their owners.

“I had a connection to Annie,” Lynch said.

“Annie would ‘talk,’ squeak, when she wanted

and looks forward to pursuing his passion in the future.

“There are two big dance industries in the country. That’s L.A. and New York,” Chubb said. “New York is more company based like classical dance and ballet. Whereas L.A. is more commercial, like groups, movies, T.V. shows, music videos and touring with artists so it’s more commercialized.”

Not many seniors in high school have the drive to do what they love. To be able to put everything on hold for a once in a lifetime chance, not knowing what will be the final result, his gut.

“Ian absolutely stepped up in all ways through this process,” Starr said. “He took all the training he has received up until this point and applied them in this

Dogs have such an amazing power over people. Everyone should experience the love and compassion of a dog.

“

Sherry Baker, McKee Medical Center volunteer

”

gan. “I’m an only child so he’s a little bit like the sibling I never had.”

Another senior, Emily Schultheiss, also feels a connection with her pet. She has four cats, but feels closest to one named Milton.

“Milton is my study buddy and sits on my lap while I do my homework,” Schultheiss said. “It’s nice having them around, especially when I’m alone at home, they are always there with me.”

Most commonly a loving pet is thought of as

something. Her squeaking almost sounded like a squeaker toy.”

“She was very friendly,” Lynch said. “My friends loved my chinchilla.”

Some exotic pets have prickles and fur, but others have fur. Senior Anthony Frucci is the owner of a ball python named Aiymie. This native snake to Africa, is named after their tendency to curl into a ball when frightened, the ball python is typically found in Africa.

“It’s unusual to have a snake in Colorado,” Frucci said. “I’ve had her for almost 10 years and they live up until around 21.”

Although many people believe a snake takes a lot of work to take care of, they don’t.

“They aren’t a lot of work,” Frucci said. “You fill up their water, keep the heat lamp on, and feed live mice to them every two weeks. Dogs take much more attention. You have to feed them every day, taking them on walks, and ►Samoa playing with them.”

However, having reptiles in the house is not a new thing for Frucci. Frucci and his brother love exotic animals and reptiles and used to own a turtle and frogs.

“We thought it’d be cool to own a snake, so

Courtesy of Ian Chubb

week. He was able to use his technical skills, partnering abilities and unique style to really contribute to the performance.”

However, this will not be the last time that Muse Dance Crew will be working together, they have been invited to dance for L.A.’s world famous Carnival, The Choreographers Ball this spring, and are planning to get together in March to create a short dance film.

“This specific group was an amazing culmination of different personalities, strengths and styles that together was complete magic,” Starr said. “There is no doubt in my mind that we will continue to grow together and more opportunities will open for us in the future. Watch out world, Muse Dance Crew is here to stay.”

a dog or a cat, but a slightly bigger pet can be just as compassionate. Senior Erika Bayes finds compassion and stress relief from, Tiger, her American saddle bred horse.

“He’s that best friend that never talks back to you and will never stab you in the back; plus, he gives me big horse kisses,” Bayes said. “Whenever I have a bad day, I just go out there and it totally relieves all the stresses form my day.”

Not only does Tiger’s companionship with Bayes help relieve her stress, but it also helps her to compartmentalize and organize the priorities in her life.

“Having such a big responsibility makes you balance everything in your life,” Bayes said. “You have to think about school, training, homework, friends and family. I am so thankful to have him in my life.”

With the stresses and pressures that most teenagers face, having a wagging tail, a purring companion, or even a horse kiss on the cheek helps make everything seem a little bit easier to handle.

we went to Petco and got one,” Frucci said.

Frucci enjoys taking Aiymie out and holding her as she wraps herself around his wrist and arm.

“Most girls think the snake is disgusting,” Frucci said. “I think snakes are cool and want to own a larger snake in the future.”

To these three students, a best friend ranges from a hedgehog, a chinchilla, and a snake. They all share a connection to their pets, like that of dog and cat owners, however their lives are a little bit more exotic.

Christine Gravelle

the features rocky mountain hiGhliGhter

Witnessing history

February 24, 2012

B3

Teachers given grant to travel sites of America’s creation

by Michelle Kennedy Reporter

Cam Chorpenning

6-year-old teaching at Rocky

Q&A Blair Berg Social studies teacher, Blair Berg, was born on Feb. 29 1984, a leap year, making him 6 and 3/4 years old. 2012 is a leap year, as well, and Berg will be celebrating his 7th birthday.

Q:

Do you do anything special for your birthday on leap years?

A:

Well, I get a birthday, which is nice, because the other three out of four years I don’t have a birthday, and so it’s nice to have an actual birthday. And yeah, I usually, you know, go out and get some presents and it’s not that big of a deal. I get mad because everyone else gets a birthday every single year, and I don’t. So that’s why I hate birthdays. I hate birthdays, I really do. I feel that it’s selfish and that all you’re doing is celebrating you although you really didn’t do anything to get yourself here; it’s all your parents. So, if anything, you should be celebrating your parents on your birthday.

Q:

Is there anything you like about having a birthday on a leap year?

A:

I guess that the coolest thing is it is the most rare birthday in the world and not very many people can say that they have a birthday on Feb. 29. And that I’m 7 years old, but I don’t look like I’m 7 years old. I’m like the smartest, handsomest 7 year-old ever.

Q:

How old do you consider yourself, and how old do you act?

A:

I consider myself 6 and three-quarters as of right now. I’ll be 7 on Feb. 29—also act about 6 and threequarters—like a big baby.

Q:

Do you have any special plans for your birthday this year?

A:

Yeah! I’ll have some bouncy castles, ponies, lots of cake, slip n’ slides, just things 7-year-olds are into.

Pizza parties, ice cream cake, specifically from Cold Stone, maybe I’ll have La Luz cater it, those kinds of things. Honestly, though, but no plans. I hate birthdays, so probably nothing.

And it’s a Wednesday. What can you possibly do on a Wednesday?

Compiled by Cam Chorpenning

While it may not be many students’ idea of an ideal summer vacation, a 10 day tour of numerous significant Ameristaff eature can historical sites is a dream come true for history teachers John Robinson and Andrew Schauer.

Both Robinson and Schauer have been presented with the opportunity to go on an all-expenses paid trip to see over 20 historical sites through the Teaching American History grant program, funded by the United States Department of Education.

“For me, history is a passion—especially American history, it’s one of my specialties,” Robinson said.

“To physically go to the places where this history ►John happened, for me it adds anRobinson other dimension to history, where there’s this tactile part to history; you can touch it, you can feel it and you can be there. There’s the spirit and energy of what happened there.” ►Andrew The grant is provided to Schauer teachers of American history

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that are interested in earning graduate credit while increasing their knowledge of the subject they teach.

In addition to the trip, each participant is required to read several books, write academic papers on historical subjects and attend a collaborative seminar and workshop during the summer. At the collaborations, the teachers will come together to create lesson plans and discuss the books and papers.

“I hope to work with John over the summer to come back to school with American history lessons that turn this learning not just into theoretical things that you read in a book, but make it real for the students,” Schauer said. “I hope that this stuff becomes more real to me because I am there, and then I can help

make it more real to the students.”

Both Robinson and Schauer agree that the experience will be very beneficial for numerous reasons. However, apart from visiting the sites themselves, they are excited to collaborate with other teachers who have interests in the same subjects.

“I’m most excited to geek out about this history stuff with other history teachers,” Schauer said. “So honestly, it’s not the sights that I’m excited about and just being there, but being there with other people who have a passion for history. I think that’s going to be really cool.”

The trip is being coordinated by a CSUPueblo professor and most participants are from a school district in Cheyenne. The program also includes several Poudre School District teachers such as Robison, Schauer and another history teacher from Fossil Ridge High School.

For all involved, the trip will be an exciting and rewarding experience.

“I’m very excited to see Philadelphia,” Robinson said. “They’re all top notch sites, but getting to go to Philadelphia to see where the constitution was actually written, to see where the Declaration of Independence was formed, to see where the continental congress met, that’s going to be powerful.”

Group to help stress management among student body

by Christine Gravelle Features Editor

Thousands of students are faced with immense pressure from school, extracurricular activities, sports, family, friends and much more. club why a eature That’s group has been started to manage and relieve stress and complications of a normal day.

Counselor Jo Locricchio has noticed an increase in student stress and has started a group to help students manage the stress in their lives.

“Recently, one of the biggest things I started to see was an absence of students. Not because they were ill, but because they were dealing with stress and wanting to get caught up on school work,” Locricchio said. “This group will be able to help students with test anxiety as well as everyday stress that students endure.”

However, rather than students overwhelming themselves and ignoring their issues, students are realizing and confronting the stresses that consume their lives.

Senior Delaney Bacon attends the group to help manage the stress in her life.

“Stress is a huge problem in high school, and it’s nice to be able to find a way to relieve stress in a healthy way,” Bacon said.

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Junior, Kat Rock also participates in the group to help relieve the stress in her life.

“It helps me sort my thoughts and Locricchio gives you these awesome tips to help you manage stress,” Rock said.

Every student is dealt a different hand of cards and experiences different stresses in their lives, but no matter what is happening, managing stress is a healthy thing to do.

The group starts with students going around in a circle to explain their stress level as well as something that is or has been bothering them in the past two weeks.

“Some people just need to talk about their stresses, and this is a time for students to get together and download their worries,” Locricchio said.

The rest of the club is devoted to helping students, face the things that make them stressed, as well as challenge them to make healthy choices in managing their stress.

“It keeps me in line and helps me organize my life,” Bacon said. “I am so grateful for it.”

Stress management group meets every other Thursday at lunch in the aquarium. Speak with Locricchio for more information or if there is a larger issue that needs to be talked about that adds stress to your life.

Christine Gravelle

Relieving stress: Senior Nicole Leinhart, Delaney Bacon, Heidi Roeber, and junior Kat Rock listen to Jo Locricchio give tips to relieving stress. The group meets every other Thursday at lunch.

FEBRUARY LOBOS OF THE MONTH

SENIOR - C.J. Rithner JUNIOR - Kayla Melber SOPH. - Luke Boland FRESH. - Ashley Beard STAFF - Kelly Glick

center in-depth

B4 February 24, 2012

the rocky mountain hiGhliGhter

1949- Ray Charles has his fist hit “Confession Blues” that went to no. 2 on the R&B charts 1955- Chuck Berry releases “Maybellene”

1964- Beatlemania takes over the U.S.

1965- Bob Dylan releases “Like a Rolling Stone”

A simple tune can change the world.

Music has been an important part of many people’s lives in the past and continues to be today. It has been able to start powerful changes on someone’s daily life, fashion, and attitudes that not many other things can do. Looking back in the past, there’s an obvious connection between beliefs of teens and the beliefs of famous musicians of the time.

It has taken over the lives of teenagers for years and will continue doing the same for years to come.

“Music is an expression of life,” junior Malia Stoner said. “Through it we can define feelings that can’t be described in words.”

Music has been a major part of the society since the beginning of time.

Throughout the decades, music has become a definition for them. The 70’s could be defined as the disco era and the ’90s are the teenage bubble-gum pop movement. As decades past, a new musical definition has been bestowed on it. So the question remains, what will this decade be categorized as?

“Judging on what’s more popular, I think music is going to be more simplistic (in the future),” junior Amanda Kriss said. “It doesn’t matter if the lyrics are deep. Flashy pop musicians bring that aspect instead of quality to their music.”

The style of music has been evolving for years and as each decade passes, it seems like a genre is dedicated to that specific decade. But for what it seems to be for the first time, this generation of teens appreciates the music of the past.

“Without music of the past, we

While I admit some artist are very talented, others seem to have the same chord progression and excessive auto tuning that takes away from the hard work and dedication it takes to be a real musician

“

Malia Stoner, junior

”

wouldn’t have music now,” senior Charlie Anderson said. “They need each other for coexistence. Old music has really seemed to be a part in influencing music now.”

The social impact that music has made is clear. There has always been that one defining moment in music history that has completely changed it. When the Beatles first appeared in the United States in the 1960s, they not only triggered the British invasion at the time, but changed the way people listened to popular music. They also became catalysts for activism movements such as the women’s liberation, gay liberation, and environmentalist movement. While the Beatles are the most notorious band to start such a movement, other artists have been able to do the same with their music as well.

“Music is a way for society to connect as well as grow,” Stoner said. “It is also a cultural experience that I think betters society.”

Throughout the course of time, music has evolved and different genres and new sounds have come out of this evolution. Today, the newest surge of music that has been taking over seems to be the new genre, dubstep; a mix of electronic dance music that has been starting to become more part of pop culture. While some enjoy this new style, others can have criticism towards it and the overall direction of where music is going in our generation.

“Dubstep degrades (music today),” Anderson said. “I don’t hate it and I do like some dubstep music, but the talent and instrumentality is lost in dubstep.”

Added Stoner, “I feel like music has slowly begun to loose originality as well as talent. While I admit some artist are very talented, others seem to have the same chord progression and excessive auto-tuning that takes away from the hard work and dedication it takes to be a real musician.”

Music is in an ever changing direction and the ideas of where it’s going next are immense. No matter what the case may be though, the music of the past will always have an influence on the music of the future.

“I don’t think anyone can predict where it can go,” Anderson said. “Music just has so many different places and paths to go.”

1976- Fleetwood Mac releases their album Rumours which won Album of the Year

►73% of students enjoy listening to older music ►48% of students believe that our generation is the first to like our parent’s music ►40% of student believe a generation is defined by its music *288 students surveyed

Teens starting to appreciate older generation’s music today

by Lauren Binder Sports Editor

Each generation starts out as a ball of clay, ready to be shaped into a masterpiece; music has the power to shape.

However, at the end of Generation Y and the beginning of Generation Z, it seems unclear to students that there will be a new defining type of music. Are we the first generation to truly enjoy our parents’ music? Are artists these days writing music for the joy of it?

“In terms of most popular music, they’re gems,” junior Amanda Kriss said. “But some are deteriorating, like Nicki Minaj and Ke$ha. I think overall pop music is more diverse instead of one type of music in a lot of generations.”

There has been plenty of controversy over whether the music that you hear on the radio is actually decent, or whether artists are singing just to make money. Emotions have played a big part for artists in the past, mainly in the form of lyrics they have personally written.

“In my opinion, today’s music is more of an industry than a means of expression,” senior Jonathan McHugh said. “The quality of music has declined, and I think that kids are trying to find a better element of music that has been lost.”

Junior, Dana Brown also had some things to say on whether she likes this generation’s music.

“Some of it I like and some of it I find myself not knowing what kind of music is popular anymore,” Brown said.

Now, a new medium of music has been rising in popularity. Dubstep and techno are now making their way into the mainstream.

Music has been taking more of a computer generated approach in the past few years with mixing beats and creating a larger bass. Some students feel as though it is more of an epic feeling than emotional. Social studies teacher Scott Van Tatenhove, however, disagrees.

“Music is just as emotional as it used to be it just depends on who is listening to it,” said Van Tatenhove, who teaches a

B5

1983- Michael Jackson’s album Thriller takes the title of being the best selling album of all time

1973- Queen releases their first self titled album Queen

1955- Little Richard’s singles “Tutti Fruitti” and “Long Tale Sally” catapults him into fame.

Music becomes a defining moment in generations

by Fahey Zink Center In-Depth Editor

February 24, 2012

history of rock and roll class.

Added McHugh,“It (dubstep)has become more of a staying within a boundary and it needs a form of dubstep that is more different and more interesting.”

Oldies are still considered goodies, and the new music isn’t always the favored.

Students still feel that the older music that their parents listen to is sometimes better than what is on the radio now. However, at the same time, this new dubstep phenomenon should still be embraced.

“The best kids can do is annoy their parents with it; then it starts to become their own,” Van Tatenhove said.

Generation

1986Whitney Houston’s self-titled album Whitney goes to No.1 1991Grunge makes a breakthrough with Nirvana’s album Nevermind becoming the top selling album of the year 1992- Dr. Dre’s new album The Chronic becomes a new template for rap.

1999- Britney Spear’s single “...

Baby One More Time” goes to no. 1 on the Billboard Charts

2000Eminem’s album The Marshall Mathers LP, breaks Snoop Dogg’s record as the fastest selling hip-hop album 2004- Usher becomes the first R&B artist to sell 1.1 million copies with his album Confessions

2012- Singer Adele wins 6 Grammys for her album 21 including Record of the Year and Album of the Year

2011- Jay-Z and Kanye West’s collaberation album Watch the Throne goes straight to no. 1 on the charts

2008- Taylor Swift’s album Fearless sells 592,00 copies in it’s first week and becomes the most awarded country album.

2006- Destiny’s Child performs their last show at the 2006 NBA All-Stars Game.

center in-depth

B4 February 24, 2012

the rocky mountain hiGhliGhter

1949- Ray Charles has his fist hit “Confession Blues” that went to no. 2 on the R&B charts 1955- Chuck Berry releases “Maybellene”

1964- Beatlemania takes over the U.S.

1965- Bob Dylan releases “Like a Rolling Stone”

A simple tune can change the world.

Music has been an important part of many people’s lives in the past and continues to be today. It has been able to start powerful changes on someone’s daily life, fashion, and attitudes that not many other things can do. Looking back in the past, there’s an obvious connection between beliefs of teens and the beliefs of famous musicians of the time.

It has taken over the lives of teenagers for years and will continue doing the same for years to come.

“Music is an expression of life,” junior Malia Stoner said. “Through it we can define feelings that can’t be described in words.”

Music has been a major part of the society since the beginning of time.

Throughout the decades, music has become a definition for them. The 70’s could be defined as the disco era and the ’90s are the teenage bubble-gum pop movement. As decades past, a new musical definition has been bestowed on it. So the question remains, what will this decade be categorized as?

“Judging on what’s more popular, I think music is going to be more simplistic (in the future),” junior Amanda Kriss said. “It doesn’t matter if the lyrics are deep. Flashy pop musicians bring that aspect instead of quality to their music.”

The style of music has been evolving for years and as each decade passes, it seems like a genre is dedicated to that specific decade. But for what it seems to be for the first time, this generation of teens appreciates the music of the past.

“Without music of the past, we

While I admit some artist are very talented, others seem to have the same chord progression and excessive auto tuning that takes away from the hard work and dedication it takes to be a real musician

“

Malia Stoner, junior

”

wouldn’t have music now,” senior Charlie Anderson said. “They need each other for coexistence. Old music has really seemed to be a part in influencing music now.”

The social impact that music has made is clear. There has always been that one defining moment in music history that has completely changed it. When the Beatles first appeared in the United States in the 1960s, they not only triggered the British invasion at the time, but changed the way people listened to popular music. They also became catalysts for activism movements such as the women’s liberation, gay liberation, and environmentalist movement. While the Beatles are the most notorious band to start such a movement, other artists have been able to do the same with their music as well.

“Music is a way for society to connect as well as grow,” Stoner said. “It is also a cultural experience that I think betters society.”

Throughout the course of time, music has evolved and different genres and new sounds have come out of this evolution. Today, the newest surge of music that has been taking over seems to be the new genre, dubstep; a mix of electronic dance music that has been starting to become more part of pop culture. While some enjoy this new style, others can have criticism towards it and the overall direction of where music is going in our generation.

“Dubstep degrades (music today),” Anderson said. “I don’t hate it and I do like some dubstep music, but the talent and instrumentality is lost in dubstep.”

Added Stoner, “I feel like music has slowly begun to loose originality as well as talent. While I admit some artist are very talented, others seem to have the same chord progression and excessive auto-tuning that takes away from the hard work and dedication it takes to be a real musician.”

Music is in an ever changing direction and the ideas of where it’s going next are immense. No matter what the case may be though, the music of the past will always have an influence on the music of the future.

“I don’t think anyone can predict where it can go,” Anderson said. “Music just has so many different places and paths to go.”

1976- Fleetwood Mac releases their album Rumours which won Album of the Year

►73% of students enjoy listening to older music ►48% of students believe that our generation is the first to like our parent’s music ►40% of student believe a generation is defined by its music *288 students surveyed

Teens starting to appreciate older generation’s music today

by Lauren Binder Sports Editor

Each generation starts out as a ball of clay, ready to be shaped into a masterpiece; music has the power to shape.

However, at the end of Generation Y and the beginning of Generation Z, it seems unclear to students that there will be a new defining type of music. Are we the first generation to truly enjoy our parents’ music? Are artists these days writing music for the joy of it?

“In terms of most popular music, they’re gems,” junior Amanda Kriss said. “But some are deteriorating, like Nicki Minaj and Ke$ha. I think overall pop music is more diverse instead of one type of music in a lot of generations.”

There has been plenty of controversy over whether the music that you hear on the radio is actually decent, or whether artists are singing just to make money. Emotions have played a big part for artists in the past, mainly in the form of lyrics they have personally written.

“In my opinion, today’s music is more of an industry than a means of expression,” senior Jonathan McHugh said. “The quality of music has declined, and I think that kids are trying to find a better element of music that has been lost.”

Junior, Dana Brown also had some things to say on whether she likes this generation’s music.

“Some of it I like and some of it I find myself not knowing what kind of music is popular anymore,” Brown said.

Now, a new medium of music has been rising in popularity. Dubstep and techno are now making their way into the mainstream.

Music has been taking more of a computer generated approach in the past few years with mixing beats and creating a larger bass. Some students feel as though it is more of an epic feeling than emotional. Social studies teacher Scott Van Tatenhove, however, disagrees.

“Music is just as emotional as it used to be it just depends on who is listening to it,” said Van Tatenhove, who teaches a

B5

1983- Michael Jackson’s album Thriller takes the title of being the best selling album of all time

1973- Queen releases their first self titled album Queen

1955- Little Richard’s singles “Tutti Fruitti” and “Long Tale Sally” catapults him into fame.

Music becomes a defining moment in generations

by Fahey Zink Center In-Depth Editor

February 24, 2012

history of rock and roll class.

Added McHugh,“It (dubstep)has become more of a staying within a boundary and it needs a form of dubstep that is more different and more interesting.”

Oldies are still considered goodies, and the new music isn’t always the favored.

Students still feel that the older music that their parents listen to is sometimes better than what is on the radio now. However, at the same time, this new dubstep phenomenon should still be embraced.

“The best kids can do is annoy their parents with it; then it starts to become their own,” Van Tatenhove said.

Generation

1986Whitney Houston’s self-titled album Whitney goes to No.1 1991Grunge makes a breakthrough with Nirvana’s album Nevermind becoming the top selling album of the year 1992- Dr. Dre’s new album The Chronic becomes a new template for rap.

1999- Britney Spear’s single “...

Baby One More Time” goes to no. 1 on the Billboard Charts

2000Eminem’s album The Marshall Mathers LP, breaks Snoop Dogg’s record as the fastest selling hip-hop album 2004- Usher becomes the first R&B artist to sell 1.1 million copies with his album Confessions

2012- Singer Adele wins 6 Grammys for her album 21 including Record of the Year and Album of the Year

2011- Jay-Z and Kanye West’s collaberation album Watch the Throne goes straight to no. 1 on the charts

2008- Taylor Swift’s album Fearless sells 592,00 copies in it’s first week and becomes the most awarded country album.

2006- Destiny’s Child performs their last show at the 2006 NBA All-Stars Game.

B6 February 24, 2012

the limelight rocky mountain hiGhliGhter

Dabbling in the Duckpond

by Amanda Kriss Ugh... I feel awful!

Games & Amusements Puzzle 1 (Medium, difficulty rating 0.46)

Gosh! Both you and Frog don’t look so good! Are you sick?

1

5

7

9 8

Yeah... Around this time of the year, it seems like everyone is getting sick.

1

5

7 It’s especially hard when you’re cold-blooded too!

Sudoku Challenge

8

7 6

9

6

4

2

8

1 7

5

3

6

6 2

7

Unlike you, Duck, I’ve taken the necessary precautions to stay healthy. It’s only a matter Oh, don’t be silly! of time before you get sick!

We all know you’re just a germ-a-phobe!

Difficulty level: 

3

1

8

The objective of the puzzle is to complete the 9 x 9 grid so that every column, row, and 3 x 3 grid within the 9 x 9 grid contains the digits 1 through 9 exactly once. Each puzzle can be solved with pure logic, so guessing should not be necessary.

3 4

7

(Puzzle solution posted on bulletin board outside of Room 528.)

Photo

Generated by http://www.opensky.ca/~jdhildeb/software/sudokugen/ on Fri Dec 9 21:14:35 2011 GMT. Enjoy!

of the issue Generosity made visible

Worst ways to spend Spring Break:

I’ll be fine! Trust me.

I told ya so!

HELP! I’VE BEEN INFECTED! I’M DOOMED!

Meleena O’Neill

Shoe Drive Shenanigans: Students form a line that extends out of the hallway to donate shoes. The shoe drive yielded over 8,000 pairs of shoes.

Bands

Not just another romance

from page B8

by Fahey Zink Center In-Depth Editor

Boy meets girl, boy falls in love with girl, boy marries girl, and the couple live happily ever after; until the girl loses her memory.

This simple scenario is a quick look at the romantic drama “The movie Vow” starring eview Channing Tatum and Rachel McAdams. Inspired by true events, Paige (McAdams) and Leo (Tatum), a recently wedded couple, are completely head over heels for each other. They have what looks to be the perfect life together, until they get into a car accident that causes Paige to be put into an induced coma because of severe brain damage.

When she finally wakes up, she

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Top Ten

Courtesy of Kerry Hoyes SMPSP/MCT

Lively Lovebirds: Channing Tatum (left) and Rachel McAdams (right) play newlyweds Leo and Paige in the romance film The Vow. The film tells the story of the couple’s trouble dealing with Paige’s memory loss.

has no recollection of Leo and their marriage, only the life she use to live before she met Leo. Leo tries his best to save the relationship he and Paige once had, but as time passes and Paige’s memory doesn’t get any better, she starts to believe that it will never come back.

While it would seem as though this movie would be another cheesy and slightly stupid romantic movie, this one has something different. The chemistry between McAdams

and Tatum is obvious, making the relationship more realistic.

McAdams is not a stranger to these types of romance movies, and for a reason. She has the talent to give these types of characters life and depth, making it more realistic instead of just another sappy romance movie character.

“The Vow” does its job by keeping the plotline interesting and engaging viewers; what a good romance movie should be doing.

play in last year’s Battle of the Bands, and, according to them the band has grown and evolved since then.

“Over the last year we’ve been able to acquire more of an identity as a band, like, what our sound is, and I think with so many people and so many influences into it, it took a while for us to figure out exactly what Cluster . . . was,” O’Grady said.

“We didn’t know what we were supposed to be.”

As the band has progressed,

Annie

from page B8 right. It shows she is as tough as she is sweet.”

And that toughness has earned this show 12 Tony Award Nominations, nine Drama Desk Award Nominations, and more.

This is the first full production of Annie being put on in Fort Collins.

10. In Guantanamo Bay 9. Crashing Newt Gingrich’s raging kegger.

8. A candid sleepover in your creepy uncle’s van, nicknamed “The Windowless Room on Wheels.”

7. Looking at Facebook pictures of everyone else’s spring break.

6. Reading Calvin and Hobbes— just kidding, that’s awesome.

5. Crying into an empty bucket of Chunky Monkey ice cream, watching the Notebook.

4. Playing Skyrim in your mother’s basement while blasting dubstep.

3. Being in or around Fort Collins High School.

2. In Syria.

1. Looking through baby pictures of Rylee Johnston.

(Conor Schrader and Ed Kennedy)

there have been conflicts, but it is obvious that there is a strong bond between its members.

“A lot of our controversy is like family anger in the sense it’s one step further than friends, where it’s, like, kind of serious sometimes, but we get over it so quickly,” Kauzmann said. “I think it’s been wonderful.”

The band hopes to continue creating with each other and sharing their music with others. Cluster. . . has multiple upcoming shows, but is still thrilled to perform at the Battle of the Bands.

“It’s a really fun show,” senior Jake Renn said. “We’re allowed to have a lot of fun.”

With the set team building a spiral staircase and the pit playing their hearts out, this show is set to dazzle those in the auditorium.

Don’t make the mistake that Annie’s parents made and give her up.

thelimelight rocky mountain hiGhliGhter

February 24, 2012

B7

Shatterproof breaks through Students’ band grows, gains recognition

by Ed Kennedy Reporter

The life of a rock star could be a reality for three students who have emerged in the spotlight in a new and surging band: Shatterproof.

Lead singer and guitarist, junior Branson Hoog, violinist, senior T.J. Wessel, and drummer, junior Ben Spolianski are creating quite a buzz with their new sound of experimental rock.

“With the group we have right now, it’s only been about four or five months (since we’ve been together),” Spolianski said.

They are accompanied by senior Josh Schoenig (bass) and junior Jeremy Marmor (guitar), who are both students at Poudre High School.

“It (the band) changed a lot, we only have one original member,” Wessel added.

All of these talented musicians have been honing their skills from a young age, but Hoog, Wessel and Spolianski have had very different journeys that have led them to where they are now.

“My little brother wanted to

Zach Alvarez

Shatterproof Unbreakable: (From left) Josh Schoenig, T.J. Wessel and Branson Hoog perform at the Gothic Theatre as part of the Next Big Thing tour. Shatterproof will also be performing at the Battle of the Bands on Feb. 24.

play guitar and he was afraid to go alone to the lessons, so I agreed to go with him, and we had two guitars in the house, but he ended up not liking it and I stayed with it,” said Hoog, a member of the Singers and Spotlight choirs. “It got to the point where I was playing like seven hours a day and then I picked up piano like a year later.”

While Hoog was playing guitar, Wessel was perfecting a more

unusual rock instrument.

“I’ve been playing violin since I was four and a half,” said Wessel, a 1st chair symphony orchestra player, as well as a member of the All-State Honor Orchestra.

“A lot of it started with playing actual church music, when there weren’t like written notes for me to play. I would have to learn to improvise, and I slowly grew into playing rock music.”

It is unusual to hear a high

school rock band using a violin in their music, creating a sound very similar to that of the bands Yellowcard and Kansas.

“I’ve always wanted to play drums. Whenever I would listen to music when I was six or seven, I would always imagine myself on the drums,” Spolianksi said.

“Then my dad had a friend who was going into the Navy and so he gave me his drum kit, which was useless because I didn’t

know how to play. Lessons in California were really expensive but then we moved out here and I started going to Academy of Guitar.”

In the last five months, the band has been making a real impact with listeners, scoring gigs and playing shows at bars and coffee shops.

“Since I’ve been in the band, our first big one (show) was Zombie Fest in Old Town on Halloween. We also played in Greeley at a coffee shop,” Hoog said.

Since then, they have played a show at the Gothic Theatre in Denver as a part of the Next Big Thing tour. Shatterproof will also be playing at the Battle of the Bands on Feb. 24. They have already won the Battle of the Bands at Poudre High School last year.

Shatterproof is coming out with an EP, titled Running in Circles, and will be selling copies to raise money for additional recording time.

What makes Shatterproof different is their new sound with violin accompaniment, but also their raw determination to succeed and be great.

“I don’t want people to listen and say, ‘oh it sounds like a lot of the rock bands I listen to,’” Hoog said. “I want them to say, ‘oh that’s something new that I’ve never listened to before.’”

New album fails to innovate, employs worn-out styles

by Conor Schrader Reporter

No, The Fray hasn’t gone anywhere.

In fact, the Denver originated band has been in album the same place for eview all ten years of its existence. While their first album, How to Save a Life, rode the crest of a musical wave that was keen on piano-led, heart-warming songs that questioned personal values and ideologies, that ground is currently stale. The Fray “find themselves” once again on the third attempt of a somewhat successful recipe.

Their new album, Scars & Stories, starts off with album highlight and single, “Heartbeat.” “Heartbeat” is an upbeat song with a chorus that’s difficult to shake. Writer Isaac Slade does

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Scars and Stories Album Cover

Guyor from page B8

Due to similarities between Guyor and the character Annie, Guyor has been noticed to have overlapping traits with Annie.

“Annie’s a really cute character and a bit sassy,“ said senior Jessica Davidson. “Emily’s motherly in the way that she cares about her friends, and she sticks up for herself--which is a lot like Annie’s character. When Annie is in the orphanage she puts others before herself; Emily is selfless and really cares about other people. ” A personal and nostalgic touch is also added to the show through personal emblems.

“In the musical, Annie has half of a locket in the orphanage that her parents had left her,“ Davidson said. “When Emily

was playing the show when she was eight, her parents got her a silver locket with the words ‘We got Annie’ engraved. She’s wearing that locket in the show; it’s cool to see how she’s grown-what she did then and how far she’s come now.”

The upcoming show, is an exciting time for all of the cast.

Getting into character is the crucial element of the show.

“I’m having to find my inner Annie, get into character again,” Guyor said. “I don’t want to go through the motions. It’s a popular show, and we want the audience members to be like ‘that was the best version of Annie I’ve ever seen.’”

an excellent job juxtaposing the image of a dwindling fire in rain, giving the song a vibe of persistence against unlikely odds.

The album’s other highlight comes in the midst of track “1961.” While the lyrics are somewhat predictable and generic, the song’s story of brotherhood is encouraging, and Slade’s harmonies are as close to perfect without seeming inhuman as possible. Slade’s voice resonates around and works well with the surrounding piano and guitar.

The end of the song is vastly different from the start, having undergone a transformation that follows the story.

The high points hardly make up for the lows, however.

Listeners may have a tough time making it through “Munich”, a repetitive, boring, and, most

importantly, cliché track about the stages of a relationship.

In all honesty, it’s difficult to distinguish one bad track from another, as few songs hold a unique identity. Whether it was laziness or a bad case of “if-itain’t-broke-don’t-fix-it”-itis, most tracks on Scars & Stories sound exactly alike.

The Fray, a band with great promise in 2004, needs to get its act together in 2012. Most still relevant bands from the 2004 piano-driven era have moved on and up; Coldplay’s 2011 Mylo Xyloto hardly represents their 2005 X&Y. Coldplay has kept the best parts and tried something new.

The Fray is trying to plant seeds in infertile ground.

Someone needs to tell them that nothing’s going to grow.

February 24, 2012

Crazy Crowd

limelight B8 How Does

Students jump up enthusiastically as part of an exercise designed to pump them up during an assembly on Jan. 27. The assembly kicked off the shoe drive.

the rocky mountain hiGhliGhter

Cassa Niedringhaus

What’s in the Limelight?

Today: School: Battle of the Bands Concert: We Are in the Crowd @ Marquis Theater Movie Release: Gone Feb. 26: Concert: T-Pain @ Ogden

The Show Go On?

Feb. 27: School: Mr. RMHS Concert: Korn @ Fillmore Feb. 28: School: Peach Fuzz Volleyball Mar. 2: Concert: Danielle Ate the Sandwich @ The Walnut Room Movie Release: Project X Mar. 4: Concert: Bassnectar @ Nottingham Park Mar. 9: Movie Release: John Carter Movie Release: A Thousand Words Mar. 12: Concert: Needtobreathe @ Ogden Mar. 13: Concert: Radiohead @ 1stBank Center Mar. 16: CD Release: will.i.am: #willpower Concert: Gobs O'Phun @ Swallow Hill Music Hall Movie Release: 21 Jump Street Mar. 17: Concert: Miranda Lambert @ Pepsi Center Mar. 18: Concert: Kelly Clarkson @ 1stBank Center Mar. 20: CD Release: Adam Lambert: Trespassing Concert: William Shatner @ Temple Hoyne Buell Theater Mar. 23: Movie Release: The Hunger Games School: Annie Musical Opens Mar. 25: Concert: Straight No Chaser @ Lincoln Center Mar. 26: CD Release: Madonna: MDNA CD Release: The Shins: Port of Morrow Mar. 27: CD Release: Shinedown: Amaryllis

Meleena O'Neill

It Takes a Village: The cast of Annie, the upcoming musical, rehearse a song. Senior Kyle Wray (top right cutout) works on the show's set. The musical has required lots of effort from both the actors and the technical crew.

Theater department strives for excellence with Annie production

by Meleena O'Neill Reporter

This year, the theatre department is putting on quite a timely show – Annie.

With most Americans conworried limelight stantly about jobs and the pecial economy, Annie shines as a gem of hope.

“It’s classic,” junior Amanda Kriss said. “It tells a truly American story about overcoming adversity. It embodies the spirit and hope of America.”

S

Annie

Where: Main Auditorium When: March 22, 23, 24 7 p.m.

Tickets: $7 with activity pass, $9 without

Set in the Great Depression, the plot follows a little girl named Annie who lives in the Girls’ Annex of New York City Municipal Orphanage. Her parents left a note with her promising to find her later when they have more money.

But after many years, they haven’t come and the orphanage

isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. Annie then runs away and encounters a Hooverville in which she makes friends but soon ends up back at the orphanage.

Annie’s life soon takes a turn for the better though as the rich Oliver Warbucks’s secretary comes to take one orphan home for Christmas. Mr. Warbucks is involved in the economic crisis and always caught up in business but soon falls for little Annie.

As the play progresses, Annie’s future is constantly up in the air as

a new family is just out of reach.

Warbucks and the dastardly Hannigans are fighting to get Annie in their grasp, one for love and the other for money.

As Annie’s spirit shines during these times, audiences everywhere are drawn in.

“She’s sweet and kind to everyone,” freshman Jamison Coe said.

“She stands up for what is right.

It shows she is as tough as she is sweet.”

Jump to ANNIE, page B6

Guyor takes on familiar role, brings understanding of character

by Regan Miller Reporter

It’s been done several times, but yet still always shines.

Musical Theater has been preparing for their new upcoming Annie. The limelight show, lead role–Annie, pecial is being played by senior Emily Guyor. However, this is not her first time in the show.

The first time that Guyor played Annie at the age of 8, when she was living in Ohio. This musical group performed the Broadway version of Annie. “(My) first show was in Ohio,”

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Guyor said. “I was 8 years old at the time and I was introduced to theatre through a friend. I met the director and he took a liking to me, and the only other show I was in before was Toy Story but I had a really small role. But when I was in my first show, I showed him that I was really dedicated and worked hard and I was Annie.”

The second time Guyor played the role of Annie was in her ninth grade year at Webber in her musical theater class. This show was the Junior Annie version of the musical.

“It’s really funny because the

show has been following me,” Guyor said. “I think being familiar with character and the story of Annie helps a lot—the character comes naturally, how the character should act.”

Even though Guyor has been playing the lead role in Annie for several years, she still had to work for the part with both vocals and lines, however, her voice was captivating.

“Her voice mesmerized me during her audition,” said Schendel.

“It’s a deeper understanding of Annie rather than someone doing it for the first time.”

Meleena O'Neill

Aspiring Actors: Emily Guyor (left) and Austen Allen (right) rehearse a scene. Guyor has played Annie three times.

Due to similarities between Guyor and the character Annie, Jump to GUYOR, page B7

Cluster. . ., bands battle for musical supremacy Battle of the Bands

by Cam Chorpenning Limelight Editor

It’s a musical struggle of epic proportions, a clash of artistic and creative minds—it’s Battle of the Bands.

Every year, a collection of student bands come together to test their musical prowess against one another, but this year the top two bands will move on to district-wide competition. The lineup for this year’s Battle of the Bands, which is to be held on Feb. 24, includes Cluster. . ., Silence in Screams, Gentlemen’s Club, Blue

Where: The Rocks When: Feb. 24 Tickets: $5 for adults, $3 for students

Cam Chorpenning

Master Musicians: Cluster. . ., comprised of (from left) Tim O'Grady, Paul Newsom, Drew Miller, Greg Luft, Michael Kauzmann and Brian Newsom (back), perform at Everyday Joe's coffee shop. Cluster. . . will be performing at the Battle of the Bands on Feb. 24.

Taboo, High Altitude, Quantum Theory, Shatterproof, Sheep for Wheat and Envisions.

Cluster. . . has been playing together for about a year; they have played multiple shows and

have even recorded their music.

The band is comprised of seniors Greg Luft, Tim O’Grady, Brian Newsom and Michael Kauzmann, and graduates Drew Miller and Paul Newsom.

Cluster. . . was first formed to Jump to BANDS, page B6