ROCKY MOUNTAIN
highlighter
ROCKY MOUNTAIN HIGH SCHOOL VOLUME 31, NO. 6
1300 W. SWALLOW RD. FORT COLLINS CO, 80526
Using colorful language? Go to... page b4-5
friday feb. 20, 2004
“...EVERYTHING AS FAR AS YOU CAN SEE” FROM JOHN DENVER’S ROCKY MOUNTAIN HIGH
news
a2: Conferences provide insight, growth for students. a3: Computers in library over used, over crowded.
center section b4-5: Swearing common in Rocky; in-depth analysis of colorful language.
opinion a4: Drug testing blatant waste of resources. a5: Science makes gender selection possible, but ethical?
rocky sports a8: The Highlighter pays tribute to Black History Month. a6: Budweiser Events Center leaves mark on Front Range
features b1: Divorce: Common issue dealt with by students. b1: Martin regrets death of beloved fish.
entertainment b8: ‘The Passion of the Christ’ stirs controversy among religious groups. b7: Popcorn awards.
upcoming events Tonight: Boys’ basketball @ home vs. Loveland, 7PM Thurs. Feb 26: Parent Teacher conferences, 5 to 8PM Fri. Feb 27: 1ST round of State basketball, TBA Fri. March 12: End of 3RD Quarter
Opinion Line of the Issue What’s next? Being able to choose the hair color of your baby? Their I.Q.? How tall, short, fat or skinny they are? I certainly hope not. See Pro/Con, page a4
JAKE RUBIN
Meth’s popularity rapidly increasing Weed popularity on the among high school students in the city rise again, up 17 percent by Erik Pinkston
Editor-in-Chief & Rachel Tenney Contributor Just one dose brings you boundless energy, confidence, and euphoria. Oh yeah, and then there is the whole list of lifethreatening side effects, including: seizures, stroke, and kidney failure. Minor details. At least minor details to a steadily increasing number of methamphetamine users across the U.S. Also known as crystal meth, speed, crank, tweak or ice, the drug is an
smoked or snorted stimulant that affects the central nervous system. According to the National Household Survey of Drug Abuse, the number of citizens who have tried meth has doubled in the past five years. The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration has found the trend to be the biggest in the Midwest, including Colorado. Meth has been replacing cocaine as one of the most popular drugs of choice. “The biggest difference between crack-cocaine
and meth is that with meth the high lasts much longer,” School Resource Officer Scott Gammon said. A “high” off of meth lasts up eight hours, a significant difference from crack-cocaine’s “high” which lasts up to four hours, Gammon said. Recently, the Rocky Mountain News reported that 85 percent of cases in Denver’s drug-treatment programs are meth addicts. Over 500 meth labs are seized yearly by
by Mike Schneider
50%
With just under 40 percent of students admitting to using marijuana in the last year, puffing on a joint is more popular in high schools than athletic participation. High school student marijuana use is a startling trend. In the late 1970s, use of the drug hit its peak at about fifty percent of high schoolers taking a puff. Statistics dropped to a low in the early 90s when only 20 percent of students admitted to using it. Currently, statistics show that about 37 percent of students have actually used in the past year according to a 2002 study by the National Institute on Drug Abuse.
of high school students admitted to smoking pot in late 1970s
Center Editor
Jump to Weed, page a2
Jump to Meth, page a2
20% of high school students admitted to smoking pot in 1990s
37% of current high school students admitted to smoking pot in 2002 source: NIDA
Standardized testing season just around corner by Erik Pinkston
Editor-in-Chief
According to the groundhog, only six weeks of winter remain. And for those who are crazy about spring time they know that the warming of the earth means, flowers, romance and standardized tests. The onset of warmer weather means students across the state will start
having to prepare for the Colorado Student Assessment Program Tests, which will be taken the week after spring break, the American College Testing, and numerous Advanced Placement tests in April. The state of Colorado has used the CSAP tests to analyze the progress of schools for the past five years. This year ’s graduating class will be
upcomingtests CSAP testing days for March 24-26: sophomores in the morning. Wed., April 28:
ACT test for juniors in the morning.
the first that has been exposed to the entire CSAP program. Key funding for school districts lies in the performance of students
in the program. “It’s a double edged sword,” English teacher Amy Otteman-Freeman said, regarding the requirements of having to
focus on teaching to a test. “I don’t feel it compromises my curriculum at all.” Otteman-Freeman has been lucky. Other departments have been faced with changing curriculum for testing. Poudre School District is preparing a new district wide adoption for the math curriculum, a Jump to CSAP, page a3
a2
news
page
Students enjoy annual seminars by Megan Buttenbach
Reporter
Imagine... Explore... Empower… Become. This is the motto of this year ’s 6th annual Journey Conference for young women, this years will take place on Tuesday Feb. 24 at the Fort Collins Marriott. Previous Journey Conferences, at which attendance may exceed 300 young women, have taken place at the CSU Lory Student Center. Judith Lilly, a member of the steering committee for the conference, is pleased about having this year’s conference at the Marriott. “It gives us more freedom and a better, more business-like atmosphere,” Lilly said. “The main object of this conference is to expose young women to successful women in different career fields. “I’m really excited about this year ’s presenters,” Lilly continued. “They have marvelous topics.” The keynote speaker will be former basketball star and State Representative Angie Paccione, while local business owner of The Write Words, Gretchen Gaede, will give the Capstone address. Between these two talks, participants have the ability to take part in three of 13 offered “breakout sessions,” which
range in topics from auto mechanics to teen pregnancy. Senior Stacy Novonty, who participated in last year ’s conference, said, “I really enjoyed it. My favorite breakout session was the meditation session last year. I thought it was a lot of fun.” A similar young men’s conference, called Reaching Beyond- Real Men of Character (3rd annual), will take place on Wednesday Feb. 25, at the CSU Lory Student Center. The keynote speaker of the young men’s conference will be Dave Dornan, a local real-estate businessman and former Poudre School District teacher and coach. Student Assistant Coordinator for the Poudre School District, Jim Campain said he would “like to challenge them (young men) to come into it with an open attitude.” The men’s conference is an allday event. Participants have an opportunity to pick two out of six different sessions to go to including ones that focus on relationships and money issues. Junior Kenneth Overby, attended the men’s conference last year. “The sessions were pretty fun,”he said. “There were a lot of sessions offered on expressing your inner warrior and how to understand womenit was hilarious.”
friday feb. 20, 2004
A DAY OF NATIONS, LEARNING IT’S A SMALL WORLD: Juniors Joy Murrieta and Racheal Christan (right) participate in International Day, on Feb. 6. International Day is intended to expose students to cultures from around the world. Below, one of the many tables at International Day shows off cultural artifacts from Africa.
PHOTOS BY DEBRA WILLIAMS
Bush wants more money for drug testing by Kelly Reingardt
Reporter
Becoming a school athlete now could mean revealing your personal live, and abadoning your privacy Since his State of the Union address, President Bush has been pushing for funds to allow schools to randomly drug test students in extracurricular activities. Although drug testing is already allowed because of a 2002 Supreme Court Ruling, these funds will go toward allowing more districts to drug test. This will test students who
Meth
FROM PAGE
Colorado police, as compared to less than 25 in the mid 90s. Law enforcement, parents, and students are concerned about the increasing numbers of high school students using methamphetamine. “I’ve never tried it,” a Rocky student, who wishes to remain anonymous, said. “But I’ve been to parties where people have used it, where there were tables with anything you could possibly want on them. Meth is definitely one of the bigger drugs in Fort Collins.” The Fort Collins Forum states that school police officers in Fort
A bit
chilly for a long ride?
Weed
Double your distance with Transfort. No need to stow your bike for the season. Consider Transfort as a way to warm your bicycle commute. Combine the bus with your bicycle ride and you'll still save time and money. 221.6620
participate in everything from football to debate. The students who test positive, while not criminally prosecuted, will be placed in a five week counseling program. While the Bush Administration says that the random testing decreases drug use by 11 percent, many say that this is not fair to the students. “I don’t agree with it,” Assistant Principal Mike Roberts said. “It’s not right to pull random students out of the hall and test them for drugs.” There are battles all over the country to stop the schools from
performing this kind of testing. “It’s not the schools’ responsibility,” junior Adrienne Martin said. “The school should stick to academics.” Not only do people think that this is an invasion of privacy, but many believe that this would cause a decrease in the number of students who participate in extracurricular activities. According to the Drug Policy Fails website, the policy does not reliably test for drug use. “With it not being reliable the policy isn’t worth it,” Martin said. “What would be the point then?”
A1
Collins have been noticing an increase in reports of students using the drug. The juvenile court system is overflowing with youths with addiction problems. “We know of students who are regular users here at school,” Gammon said. The Fort Collins Police Department and Poudre School District are making coordinated efforts to stop meth use among students. “We’re all trying to attack (the meth problem) from all aspects,” Gammon said. According to the DEA, the
drug is extremely accessible, and can be made in bathtubs or kitchen sinks with chemicals and over-the-counter medications. The chemicals that meth is made up of produces six pounds of toxic waste for every pound of the drug that is made. If made in a house, the waste and fumes are dangerous to everyone in the household, as well damaging the environment. The chemical composition makes the house extremely dangerous to decontaminate the DEA reports.
FROM PAGE A1
Because the rate of users has almost doubled from10 years ago, many students feel that the use of marijuana has become more acceptable. One Rocky student, who wishes to remain anonymous, believes this is true for a number of reasons, including availability of the drug. “Every party you go to people have weed,” the student said. “It’s easy to get.” Students also believe the popularity is shown through the entertainment industry and their openness on such issues. “People in entertainment are always fighting to make smoking weed legal,” the student said. Despite it’s acceptability, most students still decide to pass on grass. Senior Matt Cole has friends who occasionally smoke
a joint, but he prefers not to be around in those situations. “It’s kind of their own business,” Cole said. “It’s not for me to tell them (not to smoke). Obviously, they’ve made their choice,” Cole is very well aware of the health risks of marijuana, which is why he decides not to partake in use of the illegal substance. “Supposedly, it’s 10 times worse than smoking (cigarettes), and I’m not that fond of smoking (cigarettes), either,” Cole said. As far as acceptance goes, many students who do not smoke weed do not go around shunning the activity. Senior Jessica Sutton does not use marijuana but does not have a problem with other people doing it. “I was talking to my
boyfriend about him smoking cigarettes, and said I would rather have him smoke weed occasionally,” Sutton said. Sutton believes that marijuana is acceptable as long as students are making wise decisions about it. She also thinks that her boyfriend and other young adults should be able to make their own decisions. “Marijuana is the No. 1 drug of choice. I don’t care as long as it’s in a safe environment,” Sutton said. Recently there has been an strong increase in “anti-drug” ads by the government. These “anit-drug” ads have been successful, according the NIDA. These ads give the message that many reasons, such as responsibility and parenting, are ways of stopping drug use in teens.
friday feb. 20, 2004
a3
news
page
Too many students, no computers NO ROOM: Students pack one of the Media Center’s computer labs before school. The library computers are rarely vacant, most filling up soon after the center opens and during lunch. Students find it frustrating that computers are often unavailable to them. Media Center Specialist Pam Downing is encouraging students to form a committee to explore the options of purchasing new computers for the Media Center.
by Sarah Rupert
Art-Editor
JAKE RUBIN
CSAP
FROM PAGE
requirement every seven years. For this evaluation PSD is looking at criteria which would teach students what the district wants to teach, while preparing students for the CSAP exams, math teacher Diana Martin said. “The trick is you need a balance between the test and curriculum,” Martin said. “If you teach to the test what ends up happening is you end up teaching a very shallow amount of material.” A large amount of pressure rests on the shoulders of administration because of the CSAP tests. The performance of a school dictates school funding. “It takes a couple of years of really low scores to get extra funding,” Assistant Principal Mike Roberts said. “You have to be a low functioning school
A1
to get funding.” One of the largest problems administration and teachers face about the CSAP tests is getting students to take responsibility. A student who misses the CSAP testing day gets a zero, which is averaged into their school’s overall score. This doesn’t sit well with many in the district. “It’s really not a true picture of how someone does,” Martin said. “(The district) is not balancing it with any other assessment.” While many disagree about the policies of the CSAP testing, many do agree that some good has come from it. “The good thing is that is has gotten people to wonder what we want our kids to know,” Martin said.
A social connection for gay, lesbian, bisexual, and questioning youth ages 15-20 Meets every Wednesday 4PM at Lambda Community Center Call (970) 221-3247 or check out calendar of events at www.lambdacenter.org
Senior Brandon Irwin usually goes in to do school work on the Media Center computers a few times a week. A lot of the time, there are no computers availible to use. “I usually come in at lunch and work on English papers and usually people are playing games and stuff,”Irwin said. “If you get to the lab early, there are some left, but if you are running late there usually aren’t any. I think the head people should let us use the labs a few times a week.” Concerns of overuse have surfaced in the Media Center dealingthe use of the computers. “I wouldn’t say they are overused; I would they say they are well used. There are times, however when not every student has access to a computer,” Katrina Griffith, Media Specialist, said. “The time when we see students waiting for a computer is
mostly before school and during lunch, particularly during the end of the quarter.” There are many solutions to this problem, one that doesn’t even involve buying more computers. “I think we should see when the highest use times are and open another computer lab to supply computers to kids under supervision,” Pam Downing, Media Specialist, said. There are other options. “We can always use more computers. We could use double the amount. We could add another lab in the library, but I don’t know where we would put it. We don’t really have the room,” Downing said. “More computers would be great but the issue is finding someone to supervise and providing the computers themselves. I would like to see a student committee formed to explore the options we have for new computers,” said Griffith.
Super Bowl forgotten, bosom lives on It’s less than three weeks after the Super Bowl, and I feel really sorry for the Panthers and the Patriots. Anybody remember the game? Some might, but sure enough, most don’t remember a thing about the game. Sure, it was competitive and the advertisements were halfway decent, but what really stole the night was the halftime show. More explicitly, Janet Jackson’s right breast stole the evening. After exposing her right breast at the end of the halftime show, the Super Bowl was swept up in a whirlwind of controversy. Comedians have made fun of it, producers have apologized for it, and the public is outraged over it. However, this is not surprising. In fact, it’s only natural. The halftime show has been called “perverted,” “inappropriate,” and “wholly disappointing.” So, of course, we
Erik Pinkston Spare the Children have to bring the situation into the spotlight, analyze it and, while constantly showing replays, complain about the inappropriateness of Jackson’s actions. Yet, looking into the undercurrent of football and considering how laced the sport is with sex, how out-of-place was this year’s halftime enjoyment? Who are we to say that the ending of the halftime show was inappropriate? Football has been laced with sex since the birth of advertising and the realization that men’s attention is easily gained if you
put SEX in front of their faces in big bold letters (if big bold letters are unavailable, scantily clad models will do.) This year was no different. There were multiple ads selling products to men who suffer from erectile dysfunction to ads promising sexual activity if you use their product. Now, in a family viewing environment, how is that appropriate? For NFL and TV executives to say that the exposure during the performance was “incredibly inappropriate” is grossly hypocritical. No one knows better then TV and NFL executives that sex sells, and Janet Jackson’s right breast just put this year’s Super Bowl into the history books. This might be bad for public repercussions, but guaranteed, more people will watch the halftime show next year. Erik Pinkston is a senior and Editor-in-Chief of the Highlighter
a4
page
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. Ft. Collins, CO 80526. Contact Highlighter staff members at 416-7090 or (970) 416-7091 for advertising information. Also, the Highlighter Staff is in the Highlighter Room, Room 528, during 4th period. Erik Pinkston/Editor-in-Chief Courtney Mohr/Advertising Mgr. Melissa Tree/Advertising Mgr. Kyle Herman/Features Editor Steve Turney/Sports Editor Joey Murphey/Asst. Sports Editor Jake Rubin/Entertainment Editor Mike Schneider/Center Editor Sarah Rupert/Art Editor Megan Buettgenbach/Reporter Matt Coulson/Reporter Tom Gillan/Reporter Natalie Grimm/Reporter Kelly Reingardt/Reporter Heather Stevens/Reporter Debra Williams/Reporter Todd Tarantola/Graphics Mr. Stephen Wahlfeldt/Adviser
Colorado High School Newspaper Sweepstakes 2nd place - 2003 1st place - 2002 1st place - 2001 2nd place - 1996 1st place - 1992 2nd place - 1991 2nd place - 1990 1st place - 1987
National Scholastic Press Association National Critique All American, 5 Marks of Distinction - 2003 All American, 4 Marks of Distinction - 2002 All American, 5 Marks of Distinction - 2001 All American, 4 Marks of Distinction - 2000 All American, 4 Marks of Distinction - 1999
Columbia Scholastic Press Association National Critique Gold Medalist - 2003 Silver Crown - 2002 Gold Medalist - 2002 Gold Medalist - 2001 Gold Medalist - 2000 Gold Medalist - 1999
Highlighter Editorial Policy The Rocky Mountain Highlighter is a student news publication which strives to report school an community events with truth, accuracy, objectivity and clarity. The 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. 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 that the editor agrees 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 Highlighter staff member, Highlighter adviser Stephen Wahlfeldt, or drop them by the Highlighter room, Room 528, during 4th period. Columnists express their own views and not necessarily those of the Highlighter staff. No expression made by the students of the Rocky Mountain Highlighter shall be considered an expression of 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. The Rocky Mountain Highlighter reserves the right to edit anything it publishes.
friday feb. 20, 2004
opinion
Drug testing wasteful, inefficient policy A
t the State of the Union address, President Bush proposed a tenfold increase of funding for random drug testing in schools. The drastic increase hopes to persuade more school districts to drug test students who have The Issue: been discouraged Bush because of the cost. proposed a Currently, it is tenfold estimated that only 5 increase for drug testing percent of schools in schools at randomly test their the State of students who are the Union address. involved in athletics. Poudre School District is one of the many districts that does not test students. Regardless of the financial increase, the drug testing process is flawed. Bush’s proposal would unnecessarily provide funds to drug testing programs when Our View: funds would be better spent on other aspects Drug testing of education. in schools Drug tests for students don’t address the does not main issue of teen drug use. A large-scale discourage drug use by scientific study by the University of Michigan students. It is showed that drug usage rates were nearly a wasteful use of money. identical in schools with drug testing to schools without drug testing. Also, drug tests have no ability to show drug abuse. Students who have a drug abuse problem may avoid extracurricular activities where they would be subjected to random tests. The only real way to detect a serious problem like abuse resides in personal one-on-one interaction. Additionally, drug testing does not test for use of alcohol, the drug most related to teenage deaths and drug problems. Lawmakers may be concerned about the use of “hard” drugs among students – marijuana, meth and cocaine – but problems with student alcohol use are completely overlooked. Money spent on drug testing is wasted. Such money would be better spent on educating students on the dangers of drugs. Creating a hostile environment where students are fearful of being tested, further pushes students away from school activities. By discouraging students from participating in more activities, the possibility of discovering students with abuse problems becomes slim. Schools need to be a warm accepting environment for students, not an environment that destroys student trust and participation.
JAKE RUBIN
What do you think... ...about schools drug testing their students randomly?
It should be done, but it shouldn’t be a requirement. -Julie Howard, sophomore
HOWARD
I think it would be really effective. It wouldn’t be good for the students, but it would be beneficial for our school. -Haimy Assefa, senior
ASSEFA
Do I think it would be a great deterrent? Yes. Would it ever be financially feasible? Never. -Tom Smailes, English teacher and head football coach
SMAILES
I want it, I need it, I’ll die if I don’t get it NOW! I need a new palm-pilot so bad! I can’t believe my parents; they are getting me a used car! I haven’t gotten any new clothes since September! I think I might be happy if I could just get this new computer! America is a consumer society, in love with our trinkets, gadgets, doohickeys, and toys. We could always use a few more possessions, right? I mean, we need them to keep up with our society. I recently heard someone say that if their kid had a thousand toys, he would play with them all, but if he only had two, he would only play with those two.
Debra Williams Freak on Parade That would be enough so long as no one told him it wasn’t. I see adults as being much the same. Why is it that the average American uses his or her computer for little more than surfing the Internet and typing documents, but feels the need to upgrade every six months? Have his needs really changed
that much? It is likely that they have not, so why is he so worried about his technology being outdated? The same is true for many situations; some people feel that they absolutely need the new “in-style” clothes. Others are convinced that they need a bigger house. Our society is attempting to fill a void with possessions, but no amount of things will fulfill a person’s heart. Things will not give someone peace or security. There is no way that any tangible item will make a person fully happy. We get caught up in the idea of obtaining all of this stuff, always thinking that our next purchase
will leave us fulfilled, but it doesn’t. The problem is that our society is attempting to tell us that the only thing that matters is the here and the now. Media explains that we really do need these new things. So why are so many people still feeling empty and alone? Why isn’t our society fulfilled? We are trying to use things to fill a hole in our hearts. There is only one thing that will fit, and it is not something you can hold in your hand or see with your eyes. It is much bigger than that. Debra Williams is a senior and a reporter for the Highlighter
a5
op/ed
friday feb. 20, 2004
page
TODD T ARANTOLA
Choice gives more opportunity for better ‘family balance’
New procedure unethical, many fear resurgence of sexism by parents
When having a baby, often the most asked question is “Is it a boy or a girl?” Yet in our scientific world, couples are getting the chance to decide what gender they would like their child to be. There are two ways that couples can go about doing this. The first choice is the MicroSort method. This method separates the X chromosome sperm (boys) and the Y chromosome sperm (girls.) Then, depending on the request of the couple, either one will be used to fertilize the woman’s egg. The procedure costs $2,500. It is not 100 percent accurate, however. This method has a 91 percent success for girls, and a 76 percent for boys. The second method is called pre-implantation genetic diagnosis (PGD.) This procedure takes the eggs from the women and sperm from the male to make embryos outside of the body. After three days doctors can determine the sex of a child. The gender preference embryos are then put back into the women, and the other embryos are discarded. This procedure has a 100 percent success rate. Family balance (wanting a girl after having boys and vise versa) is only one of the reasons this scientific breakthrough should be allowed. Consider those mothers who are carrying a gene of a deadly disease. Many mothers are the carriers of gender-linked diseases. This means that if the mother is carrying the diseased gene then all her sons will have the disease. If they know that their boys are going to have the disease, they should be allowed to choose their child’s gender. Couples should not go through the hardship of having a child die at an early age. People also say that this can be considered a modern form of sexism. When hearing about this program, I can see how people would come to that conclusion. But it is not sexism. At the ART Reproductive Center the request for boys is 55 percent, and for girls it is 45 percent. These people are just those who want to discover what comes from having the child of the opposite sex. You cannot classify this a sexism when most people who have this procedure done have children of the opposite sex of the gender that they choose.
For a girl, eat lots of sweets and get lots of calcium. If you want a boy, eat lots of meat and protein. This is just one of the myths for choosing the gender of your child. Some people call myths foolish, but there are now popular scientific ways you can do choose the gender of your child and many people are questioning if science has finally crossed a line. There are a few different ways you can choose the gender of your child, but some are not very effective and are very expensive. The first method is called the MicroSort method. This technique separates sperm that carry X (boys) and Y (girls) chromosomes.This method costs at least $2,500 and isn’t always effective. The next method is called Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis (PGD). This method was originally used for detecting genetic diseases but now it’s also used for gender selection. They do this by removing eggs from a woman and fertilize them with sperm in a lab to create embryos. They then separate them by male and female and the remaining embryos are discarded. This has 100 percent effectiveness but it will cost around $18,480. So, what should be done with the unwanted embryos? Would they be thrown out, frozen for later use or donated to scientific research? There are people who believe that this is just another way of killing a baby but in a larger number. What happens when these methods do not work and someone ends up getting an undesired gender? Will they just abort the baby? Or love it less because it’s not what they wanted? There is also the point that if this does become an everyday thing it could skew the population, as in Asia, where there is vast favoritism towards boys, and baby girls are often aborted or killed. The biggest conflict of all is science versus religion. It seems science is playing God once again. For people who believe in God, they think that he has a plan for every person and created them the way they are supposed to be, including gender. What’s next? Being able to choose the hair color of your baby? Their I.Q.? How tall, short, fat, or skinny they are? I certainly hope not.
- Kelly Reingardt
-Sarah Rupert
Abortion strictly woman’s choice Dear Editor: I am responding to Debra Williams’ January column, “Abortion, nothing more than money maker.” In it she states that it’s not just about the children, but also about how it’s just a moneymaker and how it hurts a lot of women who have an abortion. My view is that it’s a woman’s body,
therefore a woman’s choice. There are many reasons for why a woman would get an abortion: an unfortunate criminal act, the condom breaking, forgetting to take birth control, and/or just being careless. For whatever reason, it’s still a woman’s choice. It’s not the man, or the government having the baby; it’s the woman. Recently, one of my girlfriends had a baby boy. When she first told me about being pregnant, I thought to myself about how much her and I are alike, and that if
readerinput I were to get pregnant now, I would have to give it up. I am only 18, a senior in high school, and with many dreams that I will achieve. But I wouldn’t be able to reach those dreams with a child. I am not just talking about the aftermath of the pregnancy; I am talking about the nine months during the pregnancy that could ruin all of my dreams. I do modeling, acting, and dancing. It would be hard to
try to get any work or auditions for anything if I am pregnant. But there are ways to prevent having to go through a debate with yourself whether or not to keep this child if you find yourself in the situation. If you have any doubt about being pregnant or not for some reason, there’s always the choice of the day-after pill, which you can take up to 72 hours after intercourse. If it’s too late for the day after pill, and you think you might have to go for an abortion because you’re not ready, you should do
con side
pro side
Parents can now choose their babies sex
it within at least a month or two. It shouldn’t take you seven to eight months to decide you don’t want it. I know there are some people saying if you don’t want to keep the child, then give it up for adoption. Again, I am saying that the pregnancy itself is what could ruin your life, if you’re not willing to give up those sacrifices, and are not ready. My view just basically is that it’s a woman’s body, not the government’s, so therefore it’s a woman’s choice. --Alexia Waters, senior
Patriot Act government not very patriotic, abusive Americans have a problem. People of this country are allowing the government to walk all over their rights and opinions. When our forefathers founded this country 228 years ago, they guaranteed through the Constitution the rights of free speech, freedom from search and seizure and the right to petition the government. However, all of these rights are being abused by the Bush Administration. The Patriot Act, which can hardly be considered patriotic, was established shortly after September 11, 2001. The goal of this act was to keep the people of the United States safe from terrorists. Yet, what the Patriot Act has done is to allow
Nick List
Guest Column John Ashcroft’s Justice Department to arrest hundred of citizens on “terrorist” charges, and hold them in remote locations without access to family, lawyers, or any type of court hearing. Okay, so if you are just the average American citizen going about your daily life, how does
this affect you? Well, the problem with the Patriot Act lies in this: The FBI, CIA, Justice Department and Department of Homeland Security all now have the power to arrest anyone on the street and hold them for months and not officially charge them with anything. According to the Bill of Rights, article VI states that “in all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the state and district wherein the crime shall have been committed, which district shall have been previously ascertained by law, and to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation; to be confronted
with the witnesses against him; to have compulsory processes for obtaining witnesses in his favor and to have the assistance of counsel for his defense.” Looking at that, I see that the Bill of Rights says nothing about holding you without any official charge. However, it does mention that you have the right to a lawyer and the right to a trial. None of these things have been granted to these prisoners. The Patriot Act adds new laws which allow the government to look through all of your personal records, like bank statements and even library records. Parts of the Patriot act have allowed police officers into our classrooms, such as the case in Vermont where a police
officer entered and took photos of an art project made by a student of art teacher Tom Treece. His student’s work depicted President Bush with his mouth duct taped shut. Treece was later forced to resign. On Nov. 2, 2004, all of you 18 and older will be able to cast your ballot for a new President, someone who will lead us out of these dark times. This is your chance to take control of America’s future. This is your chance to make a statement and that there should be no more needless imprisonment, no more reckless spending of your money, no more lies and no more George W. Bush. SeniorNick List is a guest columnist for the Highlighter.
a6
sports
page
friday feb. 20, 2004
Hardcourt inconsistency by Joey Murphey
Asst. Sports Editor
DEBRA W ILLIAMS
TRIPLE THREAT: Senior Sara Hunter surveys the court in a road loss to Collins earlier in the season. The Lobos’ season hasn’t been as consistent as they would have liked, but they plan to turn some heads in the state tournament next week.
Despite a roller coaster season, the girls’ basketball team hopes to finish strong. “We’ve had an up and down season, but hopefully once the (state) tournament starts, we can step it up and start playing well,” senior Sara Hunter said. “We have the potential to do a lot better than what we have done. We all work hard and we want it, so it will be interesting.” The team reached a turning point last week after beating Poudre 55-40, which broke a two-game losing streak. They have a 6-3 conference record and are 12-6 overall. This record may affect how well they are seeded in the state tournament which begins next week. “They (the team) would like to at least make it to the great 8 and have aspirations to go one
They (the team) would like to at least make it to the ‘Great 8’ and have aspirations to go one step further. At this time in the season, we just have to take it one game at a time because you never know what’s going to happen. -Terri Keyworth, girls’ basketball coach
step further,” head coach Terri Keyworth said. “At this time in the season, we just have to take it one game at a time because you never know what’s going to happen.” The team needs only a few adjustments in order to accomplish its goal. “Right now, it’s just a lot of little things (that can be improved upon),” Keyworth said. “The little fundamentals, boxing-out a little bit better, executing a little bit better, passing a little better. We don’t have one main thing that we are
struggling with.” According to Keyworth, Darcy Rossiter has really stepped up and improved her game in many aspects. She also believes that Hunter has done a great job, and seniors Courtney Mohr and Ashleigh Morton give the team a lot of stability. Hunter is still the leader of the team as well as being in the top ten in state in points per game with 18.5, and being the 8th best 3-point shooter in the state with 39 3’s. “Our team is awesome and we have fun,” Hunter said.
Budweiser Events Center: Non-stop entertainment by Joey Murphey
Asst. Sports Editor
This Bud’s for you. The Budweiser Events Center offers something for everyone. Completed in September, 2003, it is the new state-of-the-art versatile arena and events center of Northern Colorado. It’s part of the Ranch which is in the Larimer County fairgrounds which can be seen near the Windsor exit on I-25. The Budweiser Events Center is the home of three professional sports teams making it the new sports Mecca of Northern Colorado. The Colorado Eagles, a professional CHL hockey team, the Colorado Chill, a professional NWBL women’s basketball team, and the Colorado Venom, a professional NIFL indoor football team, are all teams that can be seen at the Budweiser Events Center. As host to sporting events, concerts, rodeos, ice shows, convention and trade shows, and family shows, the Budweiser Events Center is a
Legacy
one-stop shop for all of your entertainment needs. “The Budweiser Events Center is doing great so far,” Assistant General Manager Rick Hontz said. “Our hockey team is selling out every game. Our women’s basketball team is leading the league in attendance; so it’s been a huge success for us.” Its size is not as big as the Pepsi Center, but it seems to be just right for the area. It is 250,000 square feet and is able to seat 5,300 for hockey and ice events, 6,000 for basketball, and 7,200 for end-stage concerts. People are able to watch events in style with 777 private club seats as well as 24 private luxury suites. Northern Colorado is finally getting recognized as a viable market for entertainment events. “From what I’ve been told, Fort Collins and Loveland have always been viewed as Denver ’s little brother or little sister,” Director of Marketing/
FROM PAGE
athletes at Rocky, they know that when they compete in their respective sports, they aren’t just representing their school, but their race, as well. “Yeah, there are times I feel like I am answering for the whole black community,” senior rugby player Haimy Assefa said. “But I also understand that I might be one of the few black people students interact with.” With it being Black History Month, African-American athletes at Rocky reflect, and still remember why it is they have the opportunities presented to them today. “It makes me realize how far black athletes have come,” Johnson said. “They had to overcome many obstacles in order to get where they are now.” So many black athletes in the past have suffered hardships that were in so many ways
A1
unjust. But it was the strength and courage of those individuals and their pride which got them through those tough times. Assefa remembers a few athletes in particular. “Muhammad Ali is by far one of the most influential athletes period, black or white,” Assefa said. “My favorite athlete of alltime has to be Michael Jordan. Watching the Bulls play was a family evening in my house. I just think it is amazing that the smallest minority dominates most professional sports. I think it gives African-Americans another thing to be proud of.” Because the Rocky community isn’t very diverse, an environment like Rocky’s still creates situations for people to adapt. But the community we have seems adapt effortlessly. “Whether it’s a different color of skin, or a different group, kids at Rocky are very accepting of difference,” Johnson said.
STEVE TURNEY
BRING THE FAMILY: The Budweiser Events Center is home to many entertaining programs and sporting events in Northern Colorado. In its first year of existence, it has become the home to the Colorado Eagles and Colorado Chill.
Public Relations Lou D’Angeli said. “Now they are able to make a claim for themselves and to establish themselves as viable places and markets because they can have a place like this right in their backyard.” Mathematics teacher and football coach Derek Widmier has season tickets for the Eagles. “It’s pretty awesome (watching the Eagles). I’ve got some pretty cool seats,” he said. “The first game everybody FROM PAGE A 1
Role
cool.” “It’s not what color I am, it’s about how good I play on the court,” Holmes said. “If I’m a good player, I want people to know me as a good player. I want them to know me as a great person, not as, ‘Oh, look at that black boy; oh I’m scared to talk to him.’ I’m a normal person. I’m just like everybody else.” Although race may be an issue at other schools, it is not an issue at Rocky. In class or on the court, everybody gets along. Holmes knows that sports are always an outlet as well because it’s all about having fun, not skin color. “I feel happy playing with whoever,” Holmes said. “Whoever wants to play with me and whoever loves the game, that’s who I want to play with. It doesn’t really matter if they’re white, black, or any color.”
complained that they are not the Avalanche, but I think their games are entertaining. They still run the offenses, they still check, and it is still physical, and that’s what makes it cool.” With this being the first year of operation, the Budweiser Events Center hasn’t had any major problems. “You go through the growing pains of a leaky roof here and there that can be fixed quickly, but that’s par for the course when you open up a new venue,” Hontz said. “There’s
Boys
always room for improvement. We’re constantly listening to customer’s feedback, and we adjust accordingly.” With so much to offer, it is obvious why the center has become such a big success. However, many were surprised at how successful is has become. “We knew it was going to do well, but we’re surprised at how well it’s doing,” Hontz said. “We’re producing recordbreaking grosses for some of our events across the country, so it’s better than we expected.”
FROM PAGE A 1
Lindsey’s unselfish play has helped the Lobos earn at least a second place mark in conferece. “We’re doing well, but I know we have more victories in us,” said Lindsey of the hopes for the rest of the season.
Lindsey will go for the record again tonight against Loveland in the Lobos’ last conference game at 7 p.m. “I will do it for the chicks, chicks dig the rebounding. Like in baseball, chicks dig the long ball,” Lindsey said.
by Steve Turney
Sports Editor
In the summer of 2002, former varsity boys’ basketball coach Ken Shaw called a team meeting with his players, a meeting that forever changed the face of Rocky basketball. Shaw informed the team that he had accepted the head coaching position at Smoky Hill High School in Aurora, and would also be the Dean of Students at Smoky Hill. S h a w ’ s decision to step down after 16 years as coach came as a shock to players, parents, and SHAW a n y o n e associated with Rocky basketball. Shaw, 52, is still getting used to his new situation, but has a positive outlook for the future. “Things are going better this year,” Shaw said of his second year at Smoky Hill. “I’m doing better with the school, and also molding the team into my system. I’m finding that comfort zone, and it’s been good.” Shaw is a P.E./Health teacher at Smoky Hill now, rather than being the Dean of Students, which he said was overwhelming. “Some things are better here than at Rocky, and some things are better at Rocky,” Shaw said. “I took a new job down here, something new and different, and that was a huge change.” Shaw’s family also had to adjust to the new lifestyle. But when Shaw first made the decision to accept the job at Smoky Hill, he and his family thought it was the best thing to do for all of them. “They made the transition very well,” Shaw said. “It took my kids a little while to get used to the schools, but they made that transition. They enjoy it here.” Through all the change, Shaw still hasn’t lost any of his love for basketball. Shaw is well known as one of the best coaches in the state, and has earned more than 400 wins over his coaching career. “There have been a few challenges,” Shaw said of his team and how things have gone since he arrived. “But the kids are very receptive, and there were some things they had to get used to. But it’s been good, this year has been better than last year.” Shaw led the Buffaloes to a 713 record in his first year coaching at Smoky Hill. But this year his team is 11-5 which shows that it doesn’t take Shaw very long to get things going on the right track. But Shaw still loves Rocky and the community he left behind. “I just miss the people in general,” Shaw said, “students and teachers; I didn’t realize I’d that as much as I have. There’s good people here, but making those friendships takes time. That by far is something I miss the most.”
a7
sports
friday feb. 20, 2004 Shaw adjusting to new position at Smoky Hill
page
Regional champs anxious for 3-day state tournament by Steve Turney
Sports Editor
After doubling the number of state qualifiers from last year’s count, the wrestling team is set for state today. The team successfully qualified 10 wrestlers for state competition at regionals last weekend, including regional champions Richard Smith and Matt Fechser in the 125-pound and 135-pound weight classes, respectively. “We took first at regionals which was good,” sophomore Travis Bundy said. “We pretty much dominated everyone.” Junior Dan Intlekofer, the state’s No. 1-ranked wrestler in the 140-pound division, was unable to defend his regional championship crown due to a rib injury he had dealt with for most of the year. Nonetheless, Rocky wrestlers headed into the state meet with plenty of firepower. The qualifiers are Kyle O’Brien (soph.), 103; Smith (sr.), 125; Zach Votruba (soph.), 130; Fechser (sr.), 135; Intlekofer (jr.), 140; Mike Norgard (jr.), 145; Jerry Puckett (jr.), 152; Dan Martin (sr.), 171; Neal Brinkerhoff (soph.), 215; and Brad Reingardt (sr.), 275. Though the Lobos have gone undefeated in dual meets this year, they still enter the state tournament an underdog, and will have to step up. “The team’s mentality is that anything can happen,” Martin
KELLY REINGARDT
said. “Our goal is to win state. We’re an underdog, and our guys are going to have to beat better guys.” But team leader, Reingardt, isn’t intimidated. He and the team still have the same mindset as they did before Christmas break: No excuses, just go out and wrestle, and they’re confident that they will do just that. “Our team still feels we can win state,” Reingardt said. “Lots of us got No. 1-ranked guys to wrestle against. So if we can even get one state champion and a couple placers, that’d be great. We just have to wrestle like we can.”
KISS THE MAT: Junior Dan Intlekofer, above, fights his man in a home match against Thompson Valley High School. Senior Matt Fechser, left, shoves his opponent’s head into the mat in a home match. The Lobos have had one of their strongest seasons ever and have 10 wrestlers competing in the state competition today through Saturday in Denver at the Pepsi Center.
Swimmers finish state on high note by Matt Coulson
Reporter
The girls’ swimming team has reached one of its major goals set at the beginning of the season: Ten of their swimmers qualified for state competition. “We had strong swimmers this year. I think we did well,” junior Maddie Davis said. The 10 swimmers were looking to make a name for Rocky and swim their best. Qualifiers were seniors Joedy Hulings (500-meter freestyle), Laurel Thomasarigo (50-meter freestyle), Whitney Christensen (50-meter freestyle), juniors
www.kokuajujitsukai
Kelly Trimble (100-meter backstroke), Ava Carey (200meter relay), Maddie Davis (200-free relay), and Ashley Frederickson (an alternate), along with sophomore Roxanne Boling (400-free relay) and freshman Edie Hulings (200 medley relay and 200 free relay). “All of the other schools had really strong swimmers. They brought out the best in us,” Davis said. Although Rocky had a subpar season overall, they were still determined to finish the season with a bang and not just
Kokua Jujitsu Kai
Leap 2 Health 581-6346 Class Times Tuesday & Thursday: 7:00-9:00 p.m. Saturdays: 9:00-11:00 a.m.
personal best times. “We gave it our best effort, and everyone worked really hard,” Davis said. With the competition stiffening up, the Lobos were confident that they would showcase their talent with their three relay teams. “We beat a lot of teams that we wanted to, so that was exciting,” Trimble said.
With Rocky beating Longmont and Northglenn high schools, and also having a strong performance at conference a week ago, they had good momentum headed into state and knew that they had nothing to lose. “All we wanted to do was go to state, and that’s what we did. So the season overall was successful,” Trimble said.
a8
page
rockysports
Sports Editor: Steve Turney
Steve Turney Fistfight in a Phonebooth
The way things used to be: fun Don’t you remember the way it used to be? Usually on Saturday mornings, you’d wake up, eat breakfast, put on your uniform and head off in the family minivan to your soccer game. You’d arrive there, warmup, play one half of the game, and then enjoy the sweet, sweet pleasures of life. Yes, you know what I’m talking about: oranges. While we would be chomping away at oranges, our coach would be mumbling something about defense and how to stop their best player. But the whole time the players were searching through the big bowl of oranges looking for the biggest slice left. These sweet, sweet pleasures of life seem to be lost as we mature, become older, and become more competitive in our respective sports. But why have these simple pleasures become extinct? I personally would love to be watching a Rocky vs. Collins soccer game at French Field and see both teams eating oranges at halftime. Basically, what it boils down to is that sports are no longer about just having fun with your friends. Emphasis is always put on wins and losses, instead of whether or not you get an A&W Root Beer or a Sprite after the game. I’ll admit, though, having played two sports throughout my high school career, I know that I would probably not have played sports at Rocky if I didn’t have a desire to win and be competitive and represent our school. But back in the day of red and white reversible soccer jerseys and individual trophies or medals at the end of every season, winning and losing wasn’t very important. I miss the good old days when you could fall over in the outfield and get back up and laugh about it. I miss sprinting to the sidelines at halftime of soccer games to scarf those orange slices. I miss the times when parents would be sprawled out on the sidelines in lawn chairs with their respective family coolers just having a good time instead of yelling at umpires. All in all, there’s not really a certain way that is necessarily better than the other. We just can’t lose track of the sweet, sweet pleasures of life. Not just oranges and sodas, but just plain fun. Steve Turney is a senior and the Sports Editor for the Highlighter.
Friday, February 20, 2004
Celebrating Black History Month, February, 2004
Black hereos leave proud, lasting legacy by Steve Turney
Sports Editor
A very long time ago, African-Americans didn’t have a lot to smile about when it came to sports and athletics, but nowadays, they have more to be proud of thanks to many inspirational black athletes who helped pave the way for African-Americans today. “I honestly don’t believe sports are based on the color of your skin anymore,” JOHNSON senior volleyball standout Esther Johnson said. “It’s based on if you’re an awesome athlete or not, and that’s what counts.” The Rocky community hasn’t had the same type of cultural difference as other high schools in the district, and even the state. But for some black Jump to Legacy, page a6 GRAPHIC BY J AKE RUBIN
African-American athletes recognize role in community by Joey Murphey
Asst. Sports Editor
Some people believe that going through high school can be a tough experience, but being African-American in a mostly Caucasian-populated school can make things even more complicated. This, however, doesn’t seem to be the case at Rocky. For senior tennis player Rona Hightower and junior basketball player Earl Holmes, being African-American, attending classes, and participating in sports is simply par for the course. “It really doesn’t matter about everybody’s skin color,” Holmes
I want people to know me as a good player. I want them to know me as a great person, not as ‘Oh, look at that black boy; oh, I’m scared to talk to him.’ I’m a normal person. I’m just like everybody else. -Earl Holmes, junior
said. “My friends are white and black so they make me feel comfortable wherever I am. I think this school is a great place for African-Americans.” Hightower hasn’t experienced one racial problem at school. “I hear stories about other
places having problems with that (racism),” Hightower said. “That’s never happened to me, and I’ve never experienced anything like that.” With a low number of African-Americans at school, those who do attend play a role in representing their race.
“What I do and some of the decisions I make as an African American do reflect on my culture,” Holmes said. “Say I did get into trouble a lot, some people are judgmental and would think that’s how most black people act. Since I’m not like that, I do have a positive vibe about myself.” According to both Hightower and Holmes, playing a sport in high school is just as comfortable as going to class. “I feel comfortable (playing on an athletic team),” Hightower said. “I don’t get treated any differently, so it’s Jump to Role, page a6
Chairman of the ‘boards’ Junior Lindsey leads Lobos’ rebounding attack by Matt Coulson
Reporter
Forty-eight points, seven assists, and praise for making the last second gamewinning shot. You won’t hear that sentence uttered when talking about hard nose, no glory rebounding machine Jared Lindsey, who brings greatness each and every night to the boys’ varsity basketball team. “Effort. If you want it (the rebound), you go get it,” Lindsey said. With this attitude, the junior is averaging 9.5 rebounds per game, in the top 10 in the state for rebounding, and more importantly, inching towards breaking the record for rebounds in a single game at Rocky. The standing record of 19 rebounds in a single game is shared by Rocky native, Mark Brook,
assistant football coach and math teacher. “I’d like to see him break the record,” said Brook, who shares the record with John Osborn. “Records are set to be broken.” So what makes Lindsey so special? “First, Jared has the desire to go get the ball. Second, Jared has the brains to know where the ball is going to come off the rim. Third, Jared’s teammates box out their men,” Brook said. Lindsey obviously follows these guidelines and is producing big time numbers. As well as helping his team to a 11-7 (6-3 conf.) record, along with plenty of attention from his coach. “When you think he doesn’t have a chance, Jared just goes and gets it (the ball),” head coach Jamie Menefee said. On the verge with 16 rebounds against ERIK PINKSTON Loveland High School on Feb. 3, Lindsey GET THAT OUTTA HERE: Senior Steve Goodell blocks a is very close to a record-breaking game. shot against Poudre’s Jesse French as Jared Lindsey looks Jump to Boys, page a6
on. The Lobos will play Loveland at 7 p.m. in the gym tonight.
b features DI V O R C E section
Features Editor: Kyle Herman
Friday, February 20, 2004
DANCING WITH
Kyle Herman
Life as a Sticky Note
Clichés bring out my bad side
People have always used clichés in everyday language, and it really “bites my bum.” Lately I have been thinking about this primarily because it takes my mind off the rash on my inner left thigh . The reason that these cliches annoy me are because, if taken literally, it makes the person who uses them sound like George W. Bush, which isn’t an appealing quality. The first cliché which doesn’t sound right is, “Let’s not to kick a dead horse.” This is supposed to mean, “Let’s not repeat something that doesn’t need repeating,” but if taken literally it can sound much more terrifying. The fact that it was made into a cliché suggests that once upon a time, someone had a compulsive addiction to kicking horse carcasses that he found lying on the side of the road. His friends would go around with him and try to convince him that this dead horse need not be punished any more. The conversation went probably a little something like this: Horse-kicker: Well guys, let’s go rustle up some grub. Buddy 1: Ya, I could sure go for some marmot. Horse-kicker: Well, well, well, what do we have here, a dead horse? YOU MUST DIE. Buddy 2: Now, now, let’s not kick a dead horse. Another annoying cliché is “Kill two birds with one stone.” The only way I can conceive this as being possible is if someone went up to a nest where the birds just hatched, and dropped a boulder the size of a bowling ball on it. The people who have been doing this are extremely sick. They belong in a high security hospital, where they are never left alone, not to eat or sleep, or to wee wee. The last of the major clichés is, “Don’t count your chicken’s before they hatch.” Even I am guilty of this pleasure. I am always counting my chickens before they hatch, but they never last long enough to hatch. When I finally think I have a good batch, I put those cute little chicks-to-be into the oven and make a chicken salad sandwich out of them. This is the extent of my cliché-related pet peeves. People who use these cliches deserve to have open-heart surgery with no anesthesia, and then thrown in the hyena den at the zoo during mating season. Kyle Herman is a senior and the Features Editor for the Highlighter
GRAPHIC BY: TODD TARANTOLA
Dealing with divorce familiar for many students by Debra Williams
Reporter
Dealing with the challenges of having divorced parents is commonplace for 30 percent of Rocky students surveyed. Even though the issue of divorce is frequently centered around the conflicts between parents, it also deeply impacts the children involved. According to the Center for Effective Parenting, parents are often unable to interact pleasantly after a messy divorce, which causes additional pain to children. Many parents will refuse even to talk to each other, which can be especially difficult for teens when looking into college. “As long as they (parents) are no where near each other, they get along great,” Danielle Cohen, senior, said. “If they ever talk for more than five minutes, they get really annoyed with each other. It has been a problem now that they are trying to figure out who is paying for what with college.” Often times, because of a refusal to speak to one another, parents resort to sending messages through their children. Sophomore Lachelle Milan has had problems with her divorced
My mom used to tell me all of her problems were my dad’s faullt and to tell him she hated him. -Lachelle Milan, Sophomore
parents attempting to communicate through her. “They (parents) don’t get along at all,” Milan said. “My mom used to tell me all of her problems were my dad’s fault and (told me) to tell him she hated him. It was crazy.” The fighting parents stereotype, however, is not true for all families, and some messages are not a problem. “The only messages my parents have sent through me are stuff like, ‘Tell your mom I said hi’,” Andy Coats, sophomore, said. “They don’t hate each other at all. They get along pretty well.” Not only do many have to deal with divorce, there is also the prospect of remarriage. Eightythree percent of surveyed students with divorced parents have step parents. This new family addition is more difficult
surveysays 76%
of Rocky students think divorce has become a normal part of modern life.
30%
of student’s parents are divorced.
43%
of students say that their parents divorce impacted them a lot.
31%
of Rocky students think there is a stigma (disgrace) associated with divorce.
352 students surveyed
for some than for others. “They are cool, but they are not my parents,” Cohen said. “Sometimes we get along; if I’m nice to them, they’re nice to me. My stepfather likes to be in control of everything, and sometimes I don’t think it’s his to control.” “My stepdad is a nice guy, but he is too nice,” Coats said. “To be honest, I don’t really like him.” Jump to Impact page b3
Divorce creates lasting impact on students by Natalie Grimm
Reporter
Divorce is rough for kids. Divorce from every decade in fact. The emotional impact on children hasn’t changed much from the ‘50s to now. Emotionally, impacts on children can range anywhere from loss of appetite to severe depression. Anna Chappell, a counselor believes this is true. “The impact on young people is absolutely the same,” Chappell said. The only difference is that now a days divorce seems to be much more accepted by others. “There (are) so many people with divorced parents,” sophomore Dan Gearhardt said. Gearhardt, whose parents have been divorced for two years, believes that this is much of the reason why other kids have never singled him out. These days, it seems like almost everyone is getting divorced. It is simply more common. “I have never been treated differently because everyone else’s Jump to Divorce page b3
Losing Bo: A fish’s journey through life by Kyle Herman
Features Editor
JAKE RUBIN
RIP: Diane Martin stares to the sky as she remembers the great times she had with Bo. Bo was one of the first fish in the MESA pond, as well as the offspring of a one eyed fish.
The Courtyard has always been the centerpiece of the school’s diverse ecosystem. At one time there was a squirrel, a turtle, a frog, many fish, and many more birds. Unfortunately, this ecosystem has lost some of its diversity. In the year 2000, English teacher Brent Hernbloom bought two coy (a fish used in Japanese gardens), an orange and a white. The orange fish was named LO and the white fish was named BO. For four years, Lo and Bo managed to live happily in the pond built by MESA Club members. But recently, Bo was
found dead. MESA Club director Diana Martin is sad because of the loss, but is also upset because she thinks that Bo was murdered. “I found Bo 15 feet from the pond,” Martin said. “I have a feeling that some kids were throwing rocks at the pond to break the ice, and threw a really big rock in. The rock must have accidentally hit Bo and he floated to the top. The kids wanted to hide the evidence, so they took the fish out and threw it away from the pond.” “It was tragic,” said Martin. “He was too young to die.” Hernbloom also is upset about Jump to Death page b2
b2
features
page
friday feb. 20, 2004
Music is life, the rest is just details by Natalie Grimm
SERENADING THE AUDIENCE: Sophomore Alexa Massey practices her cello as she prepares for a performance in the New Artist Philharmonic orchestra. Massey chose to go to Rocky becuase of our great music program. She hopes to become a professional cellist
Reporter
Some people have a strong passion for music, but for sophomore Lexi Massey, that seems to be an understatement. With all of Massey’s involvement in orchestras, choirs, a n d musicals, one thing stands out s i g nificantly; her involve-ment in the New Artist Philharmonic since the summer of 2002. The New Artist Philharmonic is a training orchestra that is a bridge between school and professional orchestras. Normally, about 20 to 30 high school students are chosen for the group. These musicians are called apprentices. Massey is considered an apprentice on the cello. The rest of the musicians are resident artists, who can either be paid or non-paid. The resident artists work with apprentices, leading and teaching sections of music and working with the
student feature
NATALIE G RIM
NATALIE GRIMM
different instruments. Amazingly, the group begins practicing together only two to three days before the performances, which occur five times each year. “It’s [rehearsal] really rigorous” Massey said. “It happens so fast.” To prepare for the original audition, Massey was given
several different excerpts, not knowing which one she would be required to play for the audition. Luckily, the audition was a onetime thing, unless of course excessive talking or acting out at rehearsal occurs. “Once you’re in, you’re in, unless you have bad behavior, in which case you may be asked to
re audition,” Massey said. The sheet music is usually given to Massey a month before the performance. She is then expected to rehearse it on her own time. “I’ll pretty much just practice it until I know it,” Massey said. “It could be 15 minutes or two hours.” Massey loves being a part of such an honorable group. The
Teacher’s passion creates students interest
conductor made her feel very included right from the start. “It’s a lot of work, but it’s really rewarding,” Massey said. Massey describes music as a big priority and is the main reason she wanted to attend Rocky. Participating in music, just since the start of this year, has given Massey a huge appreciation for her teachers and their knowledge of music. “I didn’t really know that music and school can be fun until I came to Rocky,” Massey said. Because of Rocky music and the New Artist Philharmonic, Massey has figured out what she wants to do with her life. She hopes to continue on with the New Artist Philharmonic if she attends college in state and eventually work her way up to a resident artist. After that, she hopes to perform with a professional orchestra and teach music to others. “It’s really exciting,” Massey said. “It forces you to rise to the occasion.”
Q & A: Alexis Trujillo
by Erik Pinkston
Editor-in-Chief
As a high school student, political science teacher Tom List’s mother exposed him to the world of politics for the first time. “She was working a campaign for a local election, and she made me come in and work the phone bank,” List said. “I think my mom wanted to get me off the streets.” Well, she succeeded. In his 17year teaching span, List has passionately devoted his career to educating students to the workings of politics. “I wanted to be a revolutionary, but I figured I’d get thrown in jail,” List said. “(Being a teacher) is a surefire way to change the world.” The education of students of political workings is critical, List said, because there is “a lack of understanding of how politics works.” While creating a flare of interest in politics for every
Alexis Trujillo is one of the few female wrestlers in the state. She has been wrestling since she was 7 years old. She relates what it is like to be a female in a male dominated sport.
teacher feature
ERIK PINKSTON
PASSIONATE DEVOTION: Government teacher Tom List lectures his students above. List has been teaching for 17 years, and students appreciate his passion and devotion.
student he teaches, is a little far fetched, he hopes to encourage some students down the political path. “He makes (politics) more accessible,” senior Danielle McClendon said. “He shows us how it applies to real life.” Even students who are not interested in pursuing a political career are brought into the class because of List’s passion for the subject. “Personally, I don’t like political science, but I like him,”
STUDENT JOBS $9/ Hour Guaranteed! Flexible scheduling, after school or weekends. Perfect for students. Our average employee earns over $12/hour! Nice, modern office in Old Town. Apply in person at Circulation Services, Inc. 109 N College, next to Austin’s. 493-0470, ext. 104 .
senior Stephanie Rentel said. “He teaches it so well, you can tell he is so passionate about what he teaches.” Recognizing the fact that getting your voice heard is the principle foundation of politics, List encourages plenty of classroom discussion in his We the People and AP Government classes. “He encourages us to speak our minds,” McClendon said. “He makes it something we actually care about.”
Death
Q: How long have you wrestled for? A: I started wrestling for choice city, which is a club at Poudre, when I was 7. Q: Because of being a female in a mainly male sport what hurdles must you go over? A: I get separated from the guys when getting weighed in. Also I don’t get to interact
with the guys as much as I like. Q: Do your opponents take it easy on you? A: Sometimes they do, and sometimes they think that I’m just a girl so they try to kill me! Q: What is the hardest thing about wrestling guys? A: It’s harder for me because I’m a girl, and I don’t get as much muscle. A lot of the guys out muscle me. But I’m going to start a weight training program this summer. Q: Do the coaches treat you the same as the guys? A: Yes, they treat me the same. But sometimes they recognize my efforts more because I’m a girl.
FROM PAGE B1
the loss. “I remember when I first saw him, swimming in our pond,” Hernbloom said. “He was so loveable and cute. You could see that he had such great potential ahead of him to be a great fish.” Despite being emotionally distraught, Hernbloom relates Bo’s story with an eased smile. “When I had first bought coy, there were for my pond. Coy are usually very expensive. They run about twenty dollars each. Luckily, I was able to find a coy with only one eye. He cost me 75 cents. The other cost the normal amount, and to my surprise, two months after being put in the pond, they had babies. Bo was one of those babies that I brought to Rocky.”
Martin is saddened by the death of Bo, but has decided to look at it as a blessing in disguise. Because of Bo, Martin said she has a new outlook on life. “I’m more zealous to promote the positive,” Martin said. “We can’t take life for granted.” Martin did not offer the fish a proper burial, because she wanted to continue the circle of life. Instead of burying it in the courtyard, she left the fish out, in hopes that birds would eat it. She also decided not to bury it because there may not be room near the pond. “We have had so many burials,” Martin said. “David the Duck is in there, a rat that Mr. (Tom) Creegan found dead, and many more that I can’t remember.”
With the death of Bo, Martin wanted to remember the happy times she had with him. “I remember a time when we were cleaning the pond and Bo got stuck in the dirt. I didn’t notice that it was a fish, so I bent over to pick up what I thought was a rock. When it moved, I threw it up in the air and it landed on its side on a rock.” Hernbloom said he would like to replace Bo with another white fish. “I’ll do what I can to replace Bo,” Hernbloom started. “But he was such a good fish.” When asked what her plans are to replace Bo, Martin had a tear in her eye as she responded. “You can’t replace Bo. He was just too special,” she said.
b3
features
friday feb. 20, 2004
page
Student teachers gain real life experience STUDENT IN ACTION: Student teacher Marc Kincaid, left, teaches the AP Chemistry class with his sidekick, Ed Waterman. Kincaid, as well as other student teachers, have to take an exam before they become full teachers. Kincaid helps teach chemistry and AP chemistry.
by Kyle Herman
Features Editor
The student population has been skyrocketing in recent months, but the new students are also teachers. Every year, around this time, many s t u d e n t teachers come to Rocky through a program at SALZ CSU to learn from our teachers, but also to teach our students. Many of them have hopes of becoming successful teachers, and they believe that the student teacher program starts them off in a good way. One such student teacher is Marc Kincaid. He student teaches with Chemistry teacher Ed Waterman. Kincaid says that it is imperative to student teach and that his experience here will affect his career in many positive ways. “If it weren’t for student teaching, I would be lost in the dark, “said Kincaid. “It is absolutely critical to student teach. I wouldn’t know little
KYLE HERMAN
things like making copies or how to grade papers.” Waterman believes that student teaching is an extremely important program, as well. “Student teaching isn’t only going to make Marc (Kincaid) a better teacher, he is also helping me,” said Waterman. “He brings a fresh perspective on how to do things. I might always teach one way, and with his help, more students can
learn the idea.” Another student teacher here is Kim Salz who is teaming up with Paul Demarett. She also believes that student teaching is very important. “You can sit in a class and have people tell you how to teach and how to act, but you can never really know until you actually get in front of a class and start teaching,” said Salz. “For example, imagine trying to
learn how to drive a car without ever getting into one to practice, only by sitting in a class.” The process that both Salz and Kincaid went through to become student teachers are the same way one would go through a regular job, (with an application and an interview) but according to Kincaid, the probability is low that you can be accepted. “There were so many
applicants for this job alone, and I was picked,” Kincaid said. Salz claims that after filling out an application it’s almost entirely up to the department heads at the schools to pick out a student teacher. “Before becoming a student teacher, an application process has to be gone through. These applications are sent to Jr. High and High Schools from Ault to Denver,” said Salz. “Department heads at the schools review the applications and then may decide to accept a student teacher or not.” Once accepted as a student teacher, Kincaid and Salz teach classes within thier department. But, while they are teaching, they learn many things about students along the way. “I expected to get a real life taste of student teaching, but I never knew how much fun it would be,” said Kincaid. Salz agrees with Kincaid, but offers this: “CSU really prepares you well for student teaching. I didn’t know how wonderful the students at Rocky would be, also how rewarding teaching could be!”
Feng Shui helps restore calm by Megan Buttenbach
Reporter
ERIK PINKSTON
HELP WANTED: Senior Cathy Eiselegets help from math tutor Carol Dvorak. Dvorak was a teacher for 27 years before becoming a tutor.
Math tutor here to stay by Sarah Rupert
Art Editor
If you’re struggling in math Carol Dvorak is here to help. Dvorak has been teaching math for 27 years and is now a resident tutor at Rocky . “I really do whatever is needed,” said Dvorak. “It’s incredibly rewarding, because there are instant results.” Dvorak meets with students anytime throughout the day . “The advantage is I can sit down one on one and I don’t have to hurry. What most of the time is going on is students are missing small details that the teachers don’t have time to address,” said Dvorak. Even teachers take advantage of this during class time. “I feel it relieves some of the
pressure on me helping 25 kids even if I just send four or five down that’s fewer students for me to help. She helps slow things down for them. It’s a win-win situation,” said math teacher Brian Mierzwa. Dvorak is helpful especially when students are absent. “I was sick and got behind, and Mrs. Dvorak helped me get caught up in my calculus class,” said senior Amy Moll. “There is a fear involved with math, if you are absent or you miss a detail you can be completely lost,“ said Dvorak. “I really like it because it gives students options, they can hear it a different way than the way I teach it. If they learn it somewhere we’ve done our job,” said Mierzwa.
FROM PAGE B1
Impact
With all of the unfolding drama and difficulties associated with divorce, it is important that children have adult guidance to help them through. Counselor Brad Boda offers advice to students with recently divorced parents. “It is good not to take sides, although I know that parents
sometimes put kids in that position,” Boda said. “Identify to your parents that this is not healthy (making you choose sides) and have an emotionally stable adult to back you up. It is also good for kids to have an adult outside of the situation to talk to and unload on.”
Students know what panic feels like, but Feng Shui, a practice not well known by students, may be able to solve that problem. Feng Shui is the ancient Chinese practice of arranging objects in your environment so they don’t interfere with the flow of energy. For senior Sarah Saunders, Feng Shui is something that she gets a dose of everyday. Her mother, Regina St. Brigid is a massage therapist who KYLE HERMAN uses Feng Shui in arranging RELAX: The students center uses Feng Shui in its design. The curves, art, and her office. When Saunders goes into live plants contribute to the design. her mother’s office, which is Coordinator Carolyn Darr, located in their home, she feels who practices Feng Shui in the different, which she attributes form of arranging her furniture. “In its most basic to the effects of Feng Shui. “I kind of feel a sense of form, Feng Shui is all about order,” Sanders said. “It’s energy flow.” According to Terah Kathryn hard to describe — it’s more circular and very simple and Collins, author of The Western Guide to Feng Shui, “Feng Shui, it’s not cluttered.” “For me, Feng Shui makes which translates to ‘Wind and observes the total sense,” said ACE Water ’,
relationship between the seen and unseen forces of nature. It’s the study of how to arrange your environment to enhance the quality of your life.” “I just use it (Feng Shui) to arrange my office,” St. Brigid said. “I did it to make the room feel inviting so that when people come in, they feel at ease. It’s relaxing from the time they walk through the door.” “There are certain corners, such as the far right corner (from the door) in a room that is the fellowship corner,” St. Brigid said. “That would be a good place for a chair or some kind of community area.” Feng Shui doesn’t always mean enhancing your energy. “It’s more your energy isn’t being brought down by clutter,” Sanders said. “You feel warm and natural.” “I believe that it (Feng Shui) certainly has a place in our lives,” Darr said.
FROM PAGE B1
Divorce
“I have never been treated differently becuase everyone elses parents do it, (divorce)” sophomore Danielle Kerr said. Rocky psychologist Adrianne Fry agrees. “I don’t think people get singled out. The definition of family is more by choice,” Fry said. “Maybe families just don’t look the way they used to.” According to Missourifamilies.org, the divorce rate in the ’50s was five divorces in 1,000 women. A recent study has shown that now, there are 20 divorces in 1,000 women. Why has the rate changed so
significantly? Fry and Chappell both agree that a lot of the reason is women’s rights. It was hard for women to be in the work place back in the ‘50s, but now women can depend more on themselves economically instead of their spouse. “Sometimes there’s no other way around it,” Chappell said. “People just toughed it out, but now it’s pretty common. People have learned to adjust to it.” Way back when, people just kept their problems to themselves. If they were having trouble, or even divorcing or separating, it wasn’t talked about
outside of the home. People simply turned to the support of extended families, and close friends whom they could trust. “I don’t remember knowing who had two parents and who didn’t when I was growing up,” Fry said. Now, kids from two-parent homes don’t seem to make kids from “broken homes” feel any less human, but kids with divorced parents have strong feelings that can get in the way. “I hear about kids spending time with both parents and I have to split my time,” Gearhardt said.
b4
center section
page
Have you ever...
Swearing ‘no big deal’ Profanity becoming more acceptable in society by Mike Schneider
Center Editor
let a cuss word slip in class?
I was in class and I said ‘B.S.’ and I was sent to ISS. -Summer Alameel, senior
Every once in a while something slips and it’s no one’s fault. -Ben Manning, sophomore
friday feb. 20, 2004
Whether you’ve accepted it as part of your normal vocabulary or you cringe just thinking about it, cussing will always be around for the enjoyment and annoyance of high school students. It seems to be in the opinion of many students that it is impossible to stroll through the halls without hearing a vulgar word. Cuss-free hallways are unheard of, and some believe it has become worse with the sophomore class and their “too cool for school” attitudes. “It really makes our class seem disrespectful,” sophomore Britany Slavic said. “It gives us a bad name.” Junior Erica Horstman is under the impression that students love to get a reaction out of people. Students think getting caught by a teacher is a comical situation. “I think they’re trying to push their limits,” Horstman said. “If they’re walking around saying ‘f-this’ and ‘fthat’ and the teacher gets mad, they run away and giggle. They don’t care.” On the teaching side of the perspective, view points seem to differ. History teacher Charlie Ross believes most students do not bestow obscene language to harm others. “I don’t think a lot of kids mean to swear with malice,” Ross said. “It just comes out as normal conversation.” According to Ross, students should be very careful with their habits for a number of reasons. “I think a habitual cusser will cuss at the wrong time and it will cost them something, maybe a job,”
(Our profanity usage) really makes our class seem disrespectful. It gives us a bad name.
-Britany Slavic, sophomore
Ross said. “Somebody who cusses habitually not only lacks respect for themselves but also for others around them.” Many students believe that cussing is not such a big deal anymore. Using vulgar language seems to be more broadly accepted than it used to be. Senior Joey Gumina conjectures that accepting it into our culture is a good thing. “(Accepting vulgar language) is a stride in the right direction, as the proliferation of ‘foul’ language in this learning institution is representative of a more comfortable learning environment,” Gumina said. Students such as Horstman presume that cussing is more universal these days, based on the fact that their grandparents find it very offensive. “My grandma thinks ‘butt’ is a bad word,” Horstman said. “People cuss so much that it’s now accepted as normal language.” However, one might wonder how long ago this evolution of morals took place. In Ross’ high school years, cussing was also used regularly compared to his parents and grandparents. “The standard (for cussing) is pretty high,”
Ross said. “I don’t think kids swear anymore than we used to.” No matter what, vulgar words will probably be prevalent in high schools for as long as long as humans walk the planet. Ross imagines it will never be fully accepted by society as a good thing. “Overall in society there are those that respect social morals,” Ross said. “Most kids realize it’s not a good thing.”
The one that math teachers have trouble with is circumscribed.
the
‘C’ word:
Teaching literature provides challenge if trying to avoid vulgarity by Jake Rubin
Entertainment Editor
Mark Twain once stated that, “under certain circumstances, urgent circumstances, desperate circumstances, profanity provides a relief denied even to prayer.” Such circumstances have seemingly become more relaxed in the classroom setting at times–even with teachers. Swearing in the classroom is often unavoidable when teaching difficult subjects such as literature which includes profanity. “We just finished Huck Finn, and I decided right off the bat that we weren’t going to hide the n-word. We had a big discussion about why the word was used and the controversy surrounding it,” English teacher Ron Clark said. “Even so, I never feel comfortable saying it.”
Because of novels like The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Catcher in the Rye, and Fallen Angels, all of which contain different degrees of profanity, English classes often have the most occurrences of curse words within the classroom. “It comes up in our classes more than any others,” English teacher Tom Smailes said. Smailes said although he feels the use of profanity in casual conversation is inappropriate in the classroom, he has no problem with quoting works that contain obscenities. “If they are r eading and citing something like Ginsberg poetry and omit profanity, it loses its effect,” Smailes said. Some students say that profanity, whether relating to a class topic or not, can often help emphasize a teacher’s
-Diane Martin, math teacher
the
‘B’ word:
‘Zounds’:
‘Gadzooks’:
the
‘S’ word:
No. They were all delibrate. -Jeff Bibbey, science teacher
the
‘F’ word:
Information taken from the BBCi
First published in 1500. This word’s meaning remains as vulgar then as it is now. Sensitivity rating: 9; this bomb is atomic, still.
Originally slang for “God’s Hooks,” yet another reference to the Blood of Christ
Information taken from the BBCi
surveysays 25%
of students use swear words in everyday conversations “all the freakin’ time.”
35%
of students use swear words moderately in a school environment.
60%
of students feel that using swear words is now more acceptable in a school environment.
42%
of students said that swear words entered their vocabulary in elementary school.
Used as earlly as 1387. Meaning hasn’t changed. Sensitivity rating: 6; this word can still make one blush
Used 23 times by William Shakespeare. Zounds is a reference to the Blood of Christ
GRAPHICS BY J AKE RUBIN
First used in 1400. Meaning still remains “female dog.” Sensitivity rating: 4; while not terrible, this word can still pack a punch.
passion to what they are teaching. “If it helps get a point across, then I’d give (the teacher) bonus points,” sophomore Brice Sawin said. Many teachers admit to using swear words in the classroom, but often regretfully. “I fall victim to profanity at times, and there are always better words in our language,” Smailes said. Senior James Lytle agrees that although there are other options, if moderated, it will not become an issue. “Cussing is just another form of expression. Everyone needs to realize it’s going to happen and moderate themselves when they need to,” he said. Smailes said that this would not be a problem for him until next year. “As long as (Tom) Michoski is still teaching, I’m way under the radar,” he said.
Lost their Potency:
Dates back to 1840s. Synomous with the ‘S’ word. Sensitivity rating: 2; it can’t be that bad if it’s in cartoons...
page
Bad language unavoidable in classroom
Straight from the
toILet:
b5
center section
friday feb. 20, 2004
273 students surveyed
b4
center section
page
Have you ever...
Swearing ‘no big deal’ Profanity becoming more acceptable in society by Mike Schneider
Center Editor
let a cuss word slip in class?
I was in class and I said ‘B.S.’ and I was sent to ISS. -Summer Alameel, senior
Every once in a while something slips and it’s no one’s fault. -Ben Manning, sophomore
friday feb. 20, 2004
Whether you’ve accepted it as part of your normal vocabulary or you cringe just thinking about it, cussing will always be around for the enjoyment and annoyance of high school students. It seems to be in the opinion of many students that it is impossible to stroll through the halls without hearing a vulgar word. Cuss-free hallways are unheard of, and some believe it has become worse with the sophomore class and their “too cool for school” attitudes. “It really makes our class seem disrespectful,” sophomore Britany Slavic said. “It gives us a bad name.” Junior Erica Horstman is under the impression that students love to get a reaction out of people. Students think getting caught by a teacher is a comical situation. “I think they’re trying to push their limits,” Horstman said. “If they’re walking around saying ‘f-this’ and ‘fthat’ and the teacher gets mad, they run away and giggle. They don’t care.” On the teaching side of the perspective, view points seem to differ. History teacher Charlie Ross believes most students do not bestow obscene language to harm others. “I don’t think a lot of kids mean to swear with malice,” Ross said. “It just comes out as normal conversation.” According to Ross, students should be very careful with their habits for a number of reasons. “I think a habitual cusser will cuss at the wrong time and it will cost them something, maybe a job,”
(Our profanity usage) really makes our class seem disrespectful. It gives us a bad name.
-Britany Slavic, sophomore
Ross said. “Somebody who cusses habitually not only lacks respect for themselves but also for others around them.” Many students believe that cussing is not such a big deal anymore. Using vulgar language seems to be more broadly accepted than it used to be. Senior Joey Gumina conjectures that accepting it into our culture is a good thing. “(Accepting vulgar language) is a stride in the right direction, as the proliferation of ‘foul’ language in this learning institution is representative of a more comfortable learning environment,” Gumina said. Students such as Horstman presume that cussing is more universal these days, based on the fact that their grandparents find it very offensive. “My grandma thinks ‘butt’ is a bad word,” Horstman said. “People cuss so much that it’s now accepted as normal language.” However, one might wonder how long ago this evolution of morals took place. In Ross’ high school years, cussing was also used regularly compared to his parents and grandparents. “The standard (for cussing) is pretty high,”
Ross said. “I don’t think kids swear anymore than we used to.” No matter what, vulgar words will probably be prevalent in high schools for as long as long as humans walk the planet. Ross imagines it will never be fully accepted by society as a good thing. “Overall in society there are those that respect social morals,” Ross said. “Most kids realize it’s not a good thing.”
The one that math teachers have trouble with is circumscribed.
the
‘C’ word:
Teaching literature provides challenge if trying to avoid vulgarity by Jake Rubin
Entertainment Editor
Mark Twain once stated that, “under certain circumstances, urgent circumstances, desperate circumstances, profanity provides a relief denied even to prayer.” Such circumstances have seemingly become more relaxed in the classroom setting at times–even with teachers. Swearing in the classroom is often unavoidable when teaching difficult subjects such as literature which includes profanity. “We just finished Huck Finn, and I decided right off the bat that we weren’t going to hide the n-word. We had a big discussion about why the word was used and the controversy surrounding it,” English teacher Ron Clark said. “Even so, I never feel comfortable saying it.”
Because of novels like The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Catcher in the Rye, and Fallen Angels, all of which contain different degrees of profanity, English classes often have the most occurrences of curse words within the classroom. “It comes up in our classes more than any others,” English teacher Tom Smailes said. Smailes said although he feels the use of profanity in casual conversation is inappropriate in the classroom, he has no problem with quoting works that contain obscenities. “If they are r eading and citing something like Ginsberg poetry and omit profanity, it loses its effect,” Smailes said. Some students say that profanity, whether relating to a class topic or not, can often help emphasize a teacher’s
-Diane Martin, math teacher
the
‘B’ word:
‘Zounds’:
‘Gadzooks’:
the
‘S’ word:
No. They were all delibrate. -Jeff Bibbey, science teacher
the
‘F’ word:
Information taken from the BBCi
First published in 1500. This word’s meaning remains as vulgar then as it is now. Sensitivity rating: 9; this bomb is atomic, still.
Originally slang for “God’s Hooks,” yet another reference to the Blood of Christ
Information taken from the BBCi
surveysays 25%
of students use swear words in everyday conversations “all the freakin’ time.”
35%
of students use swear words moderately in a school environment.
60%
of students feel that using swear words is now more acceptable in a school environment.
42%
of students said that swear words entered their vocabulary in elementary school.
Used as earlly as 1387. Meaning hasn’t changed. Sensitivity rating: 6; this word can still make one blush
Used 23 times by William Shakespeare. Zounds is a reference to the Blood of Christ
GRAPHICS BY J AKE RUBIN
First used in 1400. Meaning still remains “female dog.” Sensitivity rating: 4; while not terrible, this word can still pack a punch.
passion to what they are teaching. “If it helps get a point across, then I’d give (the teacher) bonus points,” sophomore Brice Sawin said. Many teachers admit to using swear words in the classroom, but often regretfully. “I fall victim to profanity at times, and there are always better words in our language,” Smailes said. Senior James Lytle agrees that although there are other options, if moderated, it will not become an issue. “Cussing is just another form of expression. Everyone needs to realize it’s going to happen and moderate themselves when they need to,” he said. Smailes said that this would not be a problem for him until next year. “As long as (Tom) Michoski is still teaching, I’m way under the radar,” he said.
Lost their Potency:
Dates back to 1840s. Synomous with the ‘S’ word. Sensitivity rating: 2; it can’t be that bad if it’s in cartoons...
page
Bad language unavoidable in classroom
Straight from the
toILet:
b5
center section
friday feb. 20, 2004
273 students surveyed
friday feb. 20, 2004 b6 entertainment Lord of the Rings dominates ‘Popcorn Awards’ page
by Tom Gillan
Reporter
Going to the movies has become known as America’s favorite pastime, second only to baseball. Just like any other Americans, students enjoy the movies, too, and with the Oscars just around the corner, students have been talking about their favorites and least favorites from the past year. This year the Highlighter conducted a survey which asked students to award movies in nine different categories. While the results heavily varied, students had interesting comments about the movies that won. “The movies this year could be summed up with one line from Forest Gump, ‘Life is like a box of chocolates, you never know what you are gonna get,’” junior David Beecher said. The biggest disappointment at the box office as decided by the Rocky student body was The Matrix: Revolutions. “The good thing was that there was one good fight scene,” Beecher said of
...AND THE AWARD GOES TO Favorite drama: Lord of the Rings: Return of the King (28%)
Favorite actress: Liv Tyler (4%) Julia Roberts (4%)
Favorite comedy: Finding Nemo (9%)
Favorite supporting actor: Orlando Bloom (11%)
Biggest disappointment: The Matrix sequels (13%)
Favorite supporting actress: Renee Zellweger (3%)
Thought provoking: Lord of the Rings: Return of the King (13%)
Best action sequence: Lord of the Rings: Return of the King (36%)
Favorite actor: Johnny Depp (28%)
Worst movie: Stuck on You (4%)
popcorn
awards
*276 students surveyed
Revolutions. “The bad thing is that it lasted the entire movie.” In agreement with the Golden Globes, students surveyed decided that Lord of the Rings: Return of the King was the best dramatic movie of the year. It also won positive awards in four other areas including favorite
actor and actress. “ Lord of the Rings owned a**,” junior Zach Rojas said. This movie also was Rocky’s favorite action sequence. Many say that this was due to the computer-generated special effects. “The special effects in Lord of
the Rings were some of the best I’ve ever seen,” said junior Vance Rudolph. Johnny Depp, who is nominated for an Oscar but critics claim is unlikely to win, was decided the best actor of the year for Pirates of the Caribbean. This was his first movie that was
number one in the box office. The blockbuster movie was so successful that a sequel is in the works. Senior Tyler Gaul believes that Johnny Depp is a great actor who deserves credit for his work. “Johnny Depp is long overdue for best actor,” he said.
Rocky features its own ‘Iron Chefs’ by Tom Gillan
Reporter
For all gourmet delights, somebody has to make them. So it’s no wonder that students around the school have discovered a passion for the food industry. With shows like Emeril Live gaining popularity, students have been inspired to explore and discover what cooking has to offer. Senior Chris Saari holds a passion for the culinary arts. “I want to be an executive pastry chef,” Saari said, “It’s just
something that I have wanted to do for a long time.” Multiple options are given to students to expand their education of the culinary field. Culinary courses are offered through Front Range Community College and the Prostart program is available to students through Fort Collins High. Courses at Front Range include Food Preparation, Advanced Food Preparation, Baking and Pastry, and Food Safety and Sanitation. The Prostart program is offered
Follow your:
Anyone can get into the field; if they are willing to be a dishwasher. -Forrest Ackart, Mulligan’s chef
to juniors and seniors to help give them a professional boost into the culinary industry. Additionally, several dedicated culinary schools are available throughout the nation with varying degrees of focus, the most famous being the Culinary Institute of America (CIA), which is located in Hyde Park, NY. Culinary schools give degrees similar to any standard
college. Saari is interested in expanding his knowledge in any way he can. “I want to do an internship in Europe,” said Saari, who is currently enrolled in the Prostart program. Saari looks forward to opening his own bakery. “I want to run a small bakery like the type of shops in Old
AS SEEN ON VIDEO ANNOUNCEMENTS
✓ heart ✓ mind
Come in today and get your shirt. Cost is only $6. Come by and pick yours up today.
ROOM 528
one that feels right to you? Your future should be yours to determine, regardless of whether you wish to pursue a brilliant career, a life well lived, or both. At Colorado State University,
topten This month’s topic: Recently a report was released that Dr. Atkins (founder of the diet) died at an obese weight. With that in mind, here are 10 others who should now start their own diet craze:
SHIRTS are here
Where is it written that the intelligent choice canít also be the
Town,” Saari said. Chef Forrest Ackart of Mulligan’s offers advice for students trying to get into the field. Ackart has only had on the job training from master chefs. “Anyone can get into the field,” Ackart said. “If they are willing to be a dishwasher.” Students looking into culinary schools need to know what they are getting into. “They (the schools) pack a lot of stuff in really quickly,” Ackart said. “To excel in cooking, you need to study just like in any other field.”
Special! $1 Off!
we provide world-class teaching and research in a welcoming environment where you have the freedom to follow your own path, without compromises. Where will your path lead you? Call 970-491-6909 or visit us at www.2goplaces.colostate.edu.
* Not valid with other discounts. ** Redemption games not included. Call for hours. No coupon required.
10. Roseanne 9. Queen Latifa 8. Mimi (from The Drew Carey Show) 7. Jabba the Hut 6. Fridge Perry 5. John Goodman 4. Homer Simpson 3. Newman (from Seinfeld) 2. Drew Carey 1. Brad Reingardt Compiled by the Highlighter staff
friday feb. 20, 2004
b7
entertainment
page
50 First Dates lasts 49 too long by Kelly Reingardt
moviereview
Imagine having to make the person you love fall in love with you all over again–every single day. This is what Henry Roth, played by Adam Sandler, has to go through in 50 First Dates. The movie takes place in Hawaii where Henry is a veterinarian who often spends most of his time with women tourists, not even leaving them with a phone number when he leaves. That is until he meets Lucy Whitmore, played by Drew Barrymore. Everyday Henry has to start from scratch with Lucy because of the car accident which has left her without a short-term memory. Lucy remembers everything that happened before the crash, and constantly wakes up thinking that it is the day of the accident. Unfortunately, this becomes a burden to Lucy’s father (Blake Clark) and brother (Sean Astin) as they are forced to relive the same day over and over again to prevent Lucy from becoming
confused. Then Lucy finds out that it has been almost a year since that accident. In order to help her deal with this burden, Henry makes a video that tells Lucy what has happened in her life since the accident. Lucy must watch the video everyday in order to have any idea what is going on. While 50 First Dates does offer some laughs, it lacks originality. It seems to be just another Adam Sandler movie. It seems to just be made up of other Sandler movies. It never really separates itself from the rest. Many times it felt like the movie was dragging along. After the first half hour, I became bored and uninterested because every joke and innuendo seemed to be the same. Although the writing failed to impress, the cast had some great moments. Sandler and Barrymore still have strong onscreen chemistry, which made their previous movie, The Wedding Singer, a hit. Astin is
Reporter
Passion
COURTESY OF COLUMBIA P ICTURES
THE DATING SINGER: Henry (Adam Sandler) attempts to seduce Lucy (Drew Barrymore), who suffers from sort-term memory loss, with flowers. This Sandler movie feels very similar to his others with very little new to offer. The film is rated PG13 and runs 96 minutes at both Cinemark 16 and Carmike 10.
also hilarious as Lucy’s “buffed up” brother. By far the best part of the film was watching Sandler play with the animals he works with. The sea creatures were cute and
funny and offer the laughs and fun that this movie needed to keep the audience from falling asleep. Overall, this movie was dull and tired. The jokes seemed to
Danger lurks in humorous book
FROM PAGE B8
Sutton said she worries about the effect the film will have on her and the rest of the Jewish community. “I think it could promote a lot more anti-Semitism, which as a community, we do not need to deal with,” she said. “Personally, I’m disappointed with Mel Gibson for making a movie like this. We have enough religious persecution as it is.” English teacher Amy Otteman-Freeman believes that even if Gibson has created a film that contains messages of prejudice, filmmaking is an art and should be respected in that sense. “It’s his (Gibson’s) interpretation, which art is all about. If you try to please everyone, you have
a gray rehashing of sides,” Otteman-Freeman said. Jim Caviezel, the actor who plays Jesus Christ in the film, told Newsweek in a recent interview that he believes Gibson’s film is profound and original and does not assign blame. “I can tell you this much, the guy (Gibson) is not in the least anti-Semitic. I never saw it. Maia Morgenstern (who plays the Virgin Mary) is this beautiful Jewish Romanian actress whose parents were in the Holocaust. Every day he’d say, ‘Maia, tell me about your traditions. Is this okay to do?’ He wanted to make this film very Semitic. Instead of having an Aryan, blue-eyed Jesus, he wanted to have a very
Semitic Jesus,” Caviezel said. For Sutton, the sheer amount of publicity has made her hesitant of whether she will support the film. “I don’t want to support the movie, but I do want to make my own decisions,” Sutton said. “I’ll probably wait until it’s in the two-dollar theater or on video.” Sutton realizes that her choice to wait to see the movie, as she suspects other Jews will do, could have an impact on the success of the film. “People do have the power in terms of if they support the film by seeing it,” said OttemanFreeman. “It could impact Gibson professionally and perhaps financially.
by Kyle Herman
Features Editor
With all the bad things in the world, it’s nice to be able to leave all your worries behind, and bathe in the laziness of a good book. Unfortunately, in the book Everything Is Bad For You, author David French exposes that even reading can be hazardous. The book starts out with an introduction that claims, “Everybody knows that whatever you really crave is illegal, immoral, fattening, or otherwise bad for you.” It goes on to say that after reading about all the things that are bad for you, you will want to “stay in bed with the covers over your head-except that the bed rest is bad for you, and the covers are infested with dust mites.” French lists everything from obvious dangers such as smoking to obscure hazards
FROM PAGE B8
Rubin
media has still over-abused Michael. As easy as it is to poke fun at Michael for all of his idiosyncrasies, as I often have, the public has already caused most people to label him as guilty. Even if the judge rules Michael as innocent, his reputation will be permanently damaged, and in most people’s eyes he will
remain to be seen as a pedophile. Again, in no way am I defending Michael’s actions or peculiarities, I am stating that it is sad that the media has already made a ruling of their own which the general public hears far louder than that of a judge or a jury. While Janet and Michael
Jackson are by no means the only two people that have been viciously mistreated by the press, they are two recent examples of the media’s irresponsibility and sensationalism of two celebrities. Jake Rubin is a senior and the Entertainment Editor for the Highlighter
The Finest NAILS 970-204-9751 4631 S. Mason #B4
W AVA AXING
$ 3 off Full set or Manicure and Pedicure
ILA
BL
E
STUDENT SPECIALS
$ 2 off Rebate
2 slices of pizza and a soda for $2 1128 W. Elizabeth
be the same as in all of Sandler’s other movies.␣ If you ar e a diehard Sandler fan, then this is the movie for you. If you are not, then theses are 50 dates not worth seeing. C-
(970) 482-1999
bookreview Everything is Bad for You David French $11.95 Hysteria Publications 176 pages
like baby-walkers. And for the people who think they can avoid dangerous activities, they are in for a big surprise. Among the other items that are bad for you are: too much Vitamin E, to little Vitamin E, being a vegetarian, turkey, Dallas (among many other cities), video games, trees, drinking tea, not drinking tea, shampooing, work, petting zoos, carrots, and not smoking. Just as one example, under the not smoking paragraph, French writes: “Non-smokers have higher rates of Parkinson’s disease than people who smoke.” Another big surprise is exercise. Of course, the next item on the never-ending list of things that are bad for you is not getting exercise. As funny as French makes everything seem, the true fear sets in when, as a reader, one realizes that all his accusations are well cited and researched. This book, although scary and not surprisingly unhealthy for one to read, is well recommended for anyone with a funny bone for bad news. It is a great book, with all true information and a great reference. As French put it best, Everything Is Bad For You is “an A-Z guide to what you never knew could kill you.” A
b8 entertainment
page
Entertainment Editor: Jake Rubin
Jake Rubin
Jew Stew
The Jacksons expose all Warning: If you were offended by the exposure of Janet Jackson’s breast during the half-time Superbowl show, then do not read this as it contains words making reference to such body parts and situations. In recent months, the insane amount of negative publicity the Jackson family has received has tested my gag reflexes. The media has taken two attention-thirsty public individuals and turned them into circus animals for everyone to ridicule and laugh at. While a great deal of this attention was self-inflicted, most of it has been taken much too far. While Janet’s nipple appearance was more than likely a publicity stunt gone awry (although this is an assumption), the media has turned it into some sort of prosecution and public humiliation for her. Now I’m not saying that Janet had any “Justification” (a pun!) for her ill-fated actions, but all this poor woman did was expose a nipple, which was mostly hidden by the “nipple shield” (yes, that is really what they are called) that covered it. After all, the FCC only censors that middle portion of the breast or the area surrounding the nipple. A female celebrity can wear a translucent dress (J. Lo at the 2000 Grammys) or an extremely low-cut top (X-tina at this year’s Grammy’s or Lil’ Kim at the 1999 MTV awards) that exposes everything except the nipple region. All the aforementioned “singers” were able to wear such outfits on network television without the FCC censoring, investigating, or fining them. While I suppose Janet’s situation is different because the “nudity” was spontaneous and unexpected, the FCC draws fine lines for what they consider to be nudity or inappropriate. So while Janet did not comply with the FCC’s rules, the ridicule from the media she has endured is uncalled for. Murders get less publicity than Janet’s breast. While an apology may be appropriate, there is no reason to take the measures the FCC has proposed, like fining each CBS broadcaster hundreds of thousands. While Michael’s issues have recently been overshadowed by those of his sister’s, the Jump to Rubin, page b7
Friday, February 20, 2004
Passion said to provoke feelings of anti-Semitism by Jake Rubin
Entertainment Editor The controversy surrounding The controversy surrounding The The Passion of the Christ began Passion of the Christ began before a before a single frame had been single frame had been shot. shot. The concept alone gave director Mel Gibson difficulties finding a distributor and actors. After all, the film, which follows Jesus during the final 12 hours of his life, was going to cost over $25 million (which Gibson ended up financing himself) and not include a word of spoken English (the actors speak Aramaic, Hebrew, and Latin with English subtitles). Since its filming, the controversy has only grown as many claims erupted after early screenings that the film contained anti-Semitism. These concerns grew as publications, such as The New York Times Magazine, reported that Gibson comes from a family of Catholic Traditionalists and who is claimed to carry anti-Semitic feelings himself. In some screenings, the film is said to contain a line from the Bible that has been used to support the idea that Jews are to blame for the death of Jesus. The controversial line reading, “his blood be on us, and on our children,” has since been removed according to the The New York Times. Nonetheless, the controversy about Gibson’s depiction of Jesus’ final hours continues to
grow as the date of release, Feb. 25 (Ash Wednesday), draws nearer. In fact, a report from a committee within the AntiDefamation League, made up of both Jews and Christians, stated that the movie “may inspire feelings of antiSemitism.” However, Gibson states that this judgment was made from an earlier version of the film which has since been changed. Still, senior Jessica Jump to Passion, page b7
Controversy, religious movies go hand-in-hand by Debra Williams
Reporter
With the numerous issues surrounding Mel Gibson’s upcoming movie, The Passion of the Christ, many are reminded of controversial movies of the past, some of which being Dogma, Jesus Christ Supertstar, and The Last Temptation of Christ. Many students find comedic value in such films. Junior Keith Maier sees that they make him think, and he enjoys the perspective they offer. “Dogma is the most religiously controversial movie I have ever seen,” Maier said. “The people who save God are Jay and Silent Bob. God is supposed to be all mighty, and two hormone-filled guys save him.” “I like how they can integrate humor and theistic ideas into a movie without offending the majority of the population,” junior Jonathan Fanning said. Science teacher Tom Creegan feels that he could be offended The Official Movie Site by movies and television shows, www.thepassionofthechrist.com but chooses to avoid such programs. The Passion Fansite “I deliberately don’t watch www.passion-movie.com movies that will be offensive. I pick and choose what I want to The Passion Outreach see, and if something could Project offend me I don’t see it,” Creegan www.passionoutreachproject.com said. “I think that there are some limits to good taste, but as long The Passion Materials as you are within that scope of www.passionmaterials.com being a legitimate movie.”
moreinfo
Class novels: More than an assignment by Vanessa Falgout
Contributor
There comes a time during an English class when students are presented with a copy of what is known as an “assigned novel.” Generally, it is expected that most students loathe this traditional practice, but other students consider it to be beneficial for everyone. “I think reading novels in class is important because students typically do not read outside of school in the first place,” senior Christina Gavito said. “Even if students do read occasionally outside of school, it is more than likely that they are not reading quality novels which they can find within school.” Senior Cassie McMullen agrees with Gavito about the importance of assigned novels in school, but her perspective includes several different reasons as to why these novels are beneficial. “By reading assigned novels,
you will learn what a classic novel is, such as Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemmingway,” McMullen said. “Reading assigned novels can also help expand your tastes in reading and get you interested in new genres.” Aside from exposing students to the world of literature and expanding their horizons, assigned novels can also be entertaining and have the power to impact a student’s motivation to read. Gavito, who was in AP Composition and Literature during the fall semester, was introduced to a novel which she now credits as the one she enjoyed most out of her entire school career so far. “Of all the novels that I have read over the years, Pat Conroy’s Beach Music would have to be my favorite,” Gavito said. “It was so appealing to me because it kept my attention unlike the typically dry books that are often assigned by teachers.”
TOM GILLAN
BOOKS, BOOKS, AND MORE BOOKS: Rob Richmond’s fourth period English class reads Shakespeare. Many students find that books required in literature classes become some of their favorites.
Senior Katy Mellas, whose favorite assigned novel, like Gavito is Beach Music, is one of many students who has been impacted by the entertainment within these assigned novels. “Beach Music, was appealing because it (the
cover) was blue and it was set in Italy, but on a serious note, entertaining books like Beach Music that I have been assigned to read have really encouraged me to read more frequently outside of school,” Mellas said.