Rocky Mountain Highlighter: 2013 February

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highlighter Franklin stars at state//A6

Wrestlers eye state title//A6

Hunter takes aim//A8

rocky mountain February 22, 2013

//Rocky Mountain High School\\

My Fair Lady getting ready// B8

Volume 40, No. 6

side show the

High School Hijinks:

Members of the Greely High School girls’ basketball team in Cumberland, Maine, were disciplined by the school after they posted anti-semitic tweets and a photo that showed them giving a Nazi salute. The posts included calling one teammate “Hitler” and another saying, “If ____ picked me up, she would’ve made me do sprints, then put me in a gas chamber.”

In a letter to parents, the principal said he hoped the incident can be turned into a teaching opportunity to promote “tolerance and respect.”

Care About This: Education

Secretary Arne Duncan announced on Jan. 25 that schools would be required to make “reasonable modifications” so students with disabilities can have better access to sports programs. The directive from the U.S. Department of Education tells schools that accommodations are to be made to incorporate students with disabilities into sports teams or create parallel athletic programs for disabled students that have comparable standing to mainstream programs.

►Arne Duncan

Quote of the Issue:

“The fame definitely hasn’t gone to her head. I mean, she’s here; I think that says a lot. It’s cool to be in the same pool as her.”

-Adele Waites, senior Lobo swimmer on Olympic star Missy Franklin, who competed for Regis High School at the Feb. 8-9 state meet at EPIC. (See story, page A6)

REVENGE OF THE

PLEDGE

Cam Chorpenning

“

Pledging allegiance: Senior Nuha Kapatayes (left), Abby Mielke (center), and Juliette Bryant (right) read the Pledge of Allegiance in Arabic over the school’s PA system on Jan. 28.

Their recitation sparked national controversy.

Reactions to Pledge even greater after Arabic recitation

by Aaron Yu//reporter

Controversy has erupted nationwide as well as at Rocky after the Cultural ARMS (All Rocky Mountain Students) club translated and recited the Pledge of Allegiance in Arabic over the school’s PA system on Jan. 28.

Individuals have argued that saying the Pledge in any other language than English is disrespectful to the country.

“As a veteran and a friend of a man killed defending these children in their little games they like to play with our pledge, I’m offended” Chris Wells commented on the Coloradoan website.

While many condemn the Pledge in Arabic as “unpatriotic,” there are those that wholeheartedly support it.

“I am proud of our club members and of our principal, Mr. (Tom) Lopez, for their

//news special//

Josh Barrett junior

This is America, we

have the freedom of speech, which means you can say the Pledge in any language you want.

dedication to diversity,” Spanish teacher and sponsor of Cultural ARMS Leanne Cline said.

“This is America,” junior Josh Barrett, who supports the Pledge in all different languages, said. “We have the freedom of speech, which means you can say the Pledge in any language you want.”

Though many students and staff lined up in support of the club and Lopez, the Poudre School District seemed hesitant to respond with support. PSD Communications director Danielle Clark commented to Fox News that

the actions of the club did not “come under the umbrella of the district.”

Because Cultural ARMS is sponsored by a staff member, many were confused as to why the district was hesitant to defend the club and Lopez against the legion of flustered critics. However, upon further inquiry, Clark admitted that she was “misinformed” about the situation and made an incorrect comment to Fox News. At this point, the district claims that it backs the club and Lopez’s decision fully to have the Pledge recited in Arabic.

“The District has been in full support of Mr. Lopez’s decision since he told us about it,” Clark said. “In fact, his decision is consistent with one of PSD’s operating principles, which deals with being inclusive of all stakeholders.”

Some students wonder why the Pledge is a controversial topic to begin with.

//Jump to Pledge,

on A2

New principal selected from within PSD

by Isaac Effner//reporter

After months of interviews with many candidates, the assistant principal and athletic director at Poudre High School, Craig Woodall, has been selected as Rocky’s next principal.

“The selection process involved many steps,” Woodall said. “First was the large school committee, next was an interview with all of the cabinet. The next step was individual interviews with Superintendent (Nancy) Wright and Assistant Superintendent (Edie) Eckles. I actually enjoy the interview process because it is an opportunity to talk about vision and what is best for the kids. That being said, the

process did drag on quite a bit longer than I would have liked.”

The school committee included teachers and students who interviewed all the candidates and approved them for the next round of interviews.

“We are very proud of Rocky’s character and what it does,” committee member and social studies teacher John Robinson said. “We were looking for a good fit for the Lobo community. Change can be scary, but change is good.”

Woodall has taught social studies and currently serves as an athletic director and assistant principal at Poudre.

//Jump to Principal,

on A2

Aaron Yu

New Leader: Next year’s principal, Craig Woodall (left), talks with social studies teacher Kurt Knierim (right) during a visit to the school. Woodall currently works at Poudre High School as an assistant principal.

news//highlighter

February 22, 2013 \ \ A2

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Encouraging creativity School adds Creative Art and Design Academy

by Cam Chorpenning//editor-in-chief

At this point in the school year much of the senior population is trying to determine what they want to do in college— what kind of major they want and which academic path they want to follow.

Some of next year’s junior class may soon feel similarly.

However, these students will not be contemplating a collegiate experience, rather, a new high school program. The Creative Arts and Design (CAD) Academy is an option for students who feel creatively inclined and want to build experience in a field that interests them, a field that may eventually lead to a career. The categories from which students can select a focus range from performing arts to entrepreneurship, from studio art to journalism.

“I think the simplest way of looking at it is almost it’s like a major in high school,” English teacher and CAD planner Larissa Schendel said. “So those people who are interested in performing arts, visual arts, tech

Pledge//

from page A1 “[Saying the Pledge in Arabic] doesn’t make a difference,” senior Sean Kennedy said. “I don’t think it should be news at all. The fact that it’s even news, good or bad, shows that there’s still barriers of racism in this country.”

Parents and students opposed to an Arabic recitation have often brought up a single recurring point; the replacement of the word “God” with “Allah.”

According to dictionary.com, the term “Allah” is a noun that quite directly means “the Supreme Being; God.”

Cam Chorpenning

Creative gurus: Art teachers Jay Dukart, Laura Cronen, Darlene Meeker and Missy Wolf explain their subjects for a segment on Video Announcements. They, along with others, will be CAD Academy instructors next year.

ed, business, design, and want to have something to show for that passion, they can literally choose this pathway, like a major, and through that they focus their passion into something that they can complete in high school.”

The program, which will begin next school year, has been in the planning stages for about two years now.

“It’s something Mr. Lopez wanted to look into because we’re proud of what we do with the arts,” Assistant Principal and CAD planner Brett Larsen said.

In reality, much of society in the United States associates Allah as being an Islamic term, and in turn they relate Islam with terrorism. The acts of extremists such as Al Qaida and Hezbollah have led to a negative view of Arabs in America.

According to the justice. gov post-9/11 summit report, hate crimes and discrimination against Arabs spiked after the World Trade Center fell, and while decreasing in years afterward, they never reached pre-9/11 levels.

Regardless of criticism from their opposition, Cultural ARMS and Lopez have no plans to stop translating the pledge.

Added Schendel, “He gathered all the people who have anything to do with creative arts and design in this school and he said, ‘I have this idea.’”

This idea was not to completely revolutionize the way education is conducted within the school, but rather to emphasize its strengths in the artistic fields and reward students who showed a dedication to the arts. In fact, the only extra class that will be added is an “Intro to CAD” course. Because the school wanted to follow its own

Q \\ A

path, it took notice of similar programs around the country, but made an effort not to simply simulate one of them.

“We didn’t just want to say ‘Hey we’re going to take what they did,’” Larsen said. “We really thought ‘What can we do that’s different? How can we capitalize on what we already do well? How can we expand opportunities beyond what we already do?’ We’re looking to have it not be something that’s a bunch of extra work for no reason.”

administrators, but also from teachers and students. I look forward to meeting with students and finding out what they want out of this school, too.

► Craig Woodall

Q: What is your education philosophy?

A: I’m big into relationships. I think that a positive adult mentor in a student’s life is the key to success in school. I believe that education begins and ends with student engagement and that if all students are engaged in a classroom, then they will be successful.

Craig Woodall On becoming the next principal of Rocky

Q: Tell a little about yourself.

A: I’m 40 years old. I’ve worked at Poudre for 13 out of the last 15 years.

I’m originally from San Diego. I have four kids: three daughters and a son; 11,9,6 and 3. I live in the Rocky area right by Webber. I taught social studies before going into administration. I’m the current athletic director at Poudre, so I’ve filled many administrative positions.

Q: What are you most excited about for the coming years at Rocky?

A: I’m most excited about working with a school that already has so many good things going on. It already has amazing students, staff and administration. I’m excited to get to know the people here because that’s important to me. I want to help Rocky continue to do what it already does well. I don’t want to come in and make a lot of big changes-- it doesn’t need any massive changes because it is already doing so well. I’m most excited to be a part of an already successful

CAD students will be required to complete both a capstone project and an internship, building both relationships with community members and the community itself as well as gaining experience in a particular chosen field. These tasks will be accomplished during the time between when students finish the “Intro to CAD” class in their junior year that details how the capstone is done, and what to expect as a CAD student, and the spring of their senior year when they submit their capstone and internship requirements for review and grading.

However, CAD is not simply an extra item for the over achieving student to add to their resume—it is specifically designed to prepare its participants for careers demanding of creativity.

“One of the big pushes right now is 21st century career readiness, and this is a big part of that, that we are getting students ready,” Schendel said.

Added Larsen, “You go to college, and all of a sudden you’re walking in the door with something that nobody else walking in the door has.”

Upon completion of the CAD program, students are given CAD accreditation on their transcript and diploma.

“It says ‘look, I’ve already done a buttload of this stuff, I’m the person you want in your program,’” Larsen said. “We want people to stand out after doing this.”

school and helping it be even better.

Q: What are the challenges ahead for you and Rocky?

A: The challenge for me will be getting to know everybody because it will take me awhile to get to know people. I don’t just want to know their names, I want to know staff members and their families. I want to get to know students and feel comfortable in the building, which is going to take a while. That to me is going to be a challenge because there are a lot of people and I’m not content when I don’t know people well.

Q: What is your vision for Rocky?

A: My vision for Rocky is for it to continue on the path that it is on and continue to strive to be the premier high school in Fort Collins. I’m extremely excited to have gotten the position, and I’m ready to get to work.

I’m open to suggestions not just from

Principal// from page A1

“I’ve only had a couple encounters with him (Woodall),” junior and former Poudre student Jeanelle Lybarger said. “But I think he was a good choice.”

Woodall will begin serving as principal next year and hopes to continue Rocky’s tradition of longserving principals.

“I sure hope to have a long career at Rocky; that is my goal. I want to be there as long as I am effectively

Q: What unique qualities do you like about Rocky?

A: I really like the Lobo Way. I love the cohesive culture, schedule and traditions. I also think that the academic and athletic success of the school are amazing as well.

Q: Recently, Rocky has been in the national news for reciting the Pledge in foreign languages. Retiring principal Tom Lopez has been an adamant supporter of these students’ decision. What is your stance on this issue?

A: I think it’s awesome to have students create dialogue around that issue. I’m a huge believer that diversity makes a school stronger and this is an example of embracing diversity and promoting acceptance. I love the fact that it started dialogue in the classrooms, community and nationally about what it means to be an American and have free speech.

Compiled by Michelle Kennedy

leading the school in a positive manner. If my leadership is no longer effective after a number of years, and the students of Rocky are not growing, then it will be time for me to go.”

Woodall will be tasked with creating new relationships with the staff at Rocky who have become accustomed to Principal Tom Lopez’s 10-year-long tenure.

“I will work very hard to build relationships with staff and students, and solid relationships take time to build,” Woodall said. “I have had success in building positive relationships everywhere I have been, and I don’t expect this to be any different.”

rm

//A3

highlighter\\news

February 22, 2013

Getting a second chance Program aims to offer alternative consequences

by Sean Bray//advertising manager

Given a choice between a $1,000 fine for trespassing or holding a sign, most people will choose the latter.

At least that’s what the Fort Collins based Restorative Justice Services stakes its rehabilitative process on. In the case of junior Anthony Smith, they were right.

Charged with trespassing on the CARE Housing Apartments, he had a choice between a $1,000 fine, 6 months in juvenile correction or holding a sign on Swallow.

“It was kind of like a wrong place, wrong time kind of incident, it just kind of happened, and I got caught,” Smith said.

Normally, he would have been charged with a crime and entered in the criminal justice system. “[Restorative Justice] was better than being charged,” Smith said.

Funded by the City of Fort Collins, Colorado Department

of Public Safety and the Bohemian Foundation, the program is focused on keeping young people out of the Criminal Justice system after they’ve been charged with a crime, and helping to ensure they don’t continue to break laws. [number] Rocky students have gone through the program [time]. “[Restorative Justice] is kind of a community focused diversion program, that’s designed to keep folks, particularly young folks, who have received a summons or been charged with a crime out of the criminal justice system,” Officer Matt Johnson said.

By no means is it a free ride, however. According to the mission statement of Restorative Justice, “when a crime is committed, the offender incurs an obligation to restore the victim, and by extension the community, to the state of well being that existed before the offense.”

In order to better facilitate the healing process, offenders will work with the community and victims to ensure that positive changes are made.

“So there are members of the community, typically victims of a crime. There are all types of people that will be involved with that Restorative Justice group, and typically they meet together with the person who’s been charged with the crime, and

Aaron Yu

Juvenile justice: Sophomore Anthony Smith wears a sign on Swallow Road outside as a penalty for trespassing on the CARE Housing property across the street from the school. Smith could have been faced with a $1,000 fine.

they’ll sit down and talk about how to make sure your behavior changes, what sort of things can we learn to help make you more successful,” Johnson said.

By most measures, the program appears successful. The program notes that 6 months after going through the program, only 10.4 percent of youths had committed a second offence, and only 2.6 percent had committed the same offence. And it shows in

more than just hard numbers.

“Strictly from a qualitative standpoint, I see people who participate in the program as more personally invested in not committing a crime again than folks who just go through the system and pay a fine,” Johnson said.

But for Smith, the process may have been a wake-up call, but not a reason to change. “[The program] wasn’t really effective … I just got caught,” he

said. “Just don’t go on to CARE Housing property unless you know somebody who lives there or you live there,” he reiterated.

Whether or not it worked for Smith remains to be seen. Either way, for [number] students, the program has given a second chance to many who might otherwise have been written off to the system, and helped reform their decision-making for the future.

Colorado teacher’s online activity raises questions about school policy

by Aaron Yu//reporter

#FreeCrunkBear.

This tag is showing up all over the internet on popular social networking sites such as Twitter and Facebook in support of a math teacher at Overland High School, Carly McKinney. McKinney, or CarlyCrunkBear as she is known on Twitter, was placed on administrative leave after risque pictures and posts online suggested that she was working while high on marijuana.

Many social media and gossip sites have interpreted McKinney’s leave as a result of her semi-nude self shots that were discovered and retweeted by a student. This, however, is not the case. The Cherry Creek School District’s communications director Tustin Amole stresses that McKinney’s removal from work was not attributed to her photographs as it is standard district procedure to place a staff member on leave when they are being investigated; in this case, the suspicion that McKinney was at school while high.

“There is nothing in [the employment contract] concerning an employee’s public image,” Amole said regarding the incident. “We can consider whether the behavior caused a disruption to the educational environment or otherwise violated district policy. In this case the behavior has received international media attention, which is a serious disruption.”

Although McKinney’s revealing photographs were not the cause of her removal, many are asking where the

Michelle’s Musings

Michelle Kennedy

On Feb. 14, one billion people around the world took a stand against gender violence, and I am proud to have been one of them.

I am rising because the fact that one in four women are sexually assaulted is unacceptable--—because I refuse to stand for injustice.

The “One Billion Rising” campaign was a global effort to end gender violence and to bring people’s attention to

Poudre School District Policy: Students can face consequences for “behavior on or off school property that is detrimental to the welfare, safety or morals of one or more other persons, including behavior that creates a threat of physical harm to the student exhibiting the behavior to one or more other students.”

The policy does not directly address the same issue in pertinence to teachers and staff.

line between personal life and public appearance can be crossed by a school.

In the Poudre School District, a student can face consequences for “behavior on or off school property that is detrimental to the welfare, safety or morals of one or more other students, District personnel or other persons, including behavior that creates a threat of physical harm to the student exhibiting the behavior or to one or more other students.”

This line means that the Poudre School District is fully justified in suspending or even expelling a student who makes something like a Twitter post that doesn’t conform to their policy. In fact, there is a very specific window regarding students and their use of social networking, but no policies that concern staff members and their private image.

Dean of students Russ Stapleton commented that the behavior of Carly McKinney and similar behavior by staff

members was “very risky.”

“I would think that if you put yourself out there for those risky behaviors, you should be prepared for concrete consequences,” Stapleton said.

Currently, policies and regulations regarding district staff and social networking are either nonexistent or extremely unclear.

“We have not changed our policies regarding technology that I am aware of,” Poudre School District communications director Danielle Clark said.

School resource officer Matt Johnson says that though McKinney’s photographs were not illegal, they offered probable cause for an investigation to be opened on the matter.

“For example, a teacher is sitting at their desk with a bottle of whiskey. The whiskey isn’t illegal, their possession of the whiskey isn’t illegal; someone snaps a picture and posts it online,” Johnson said. “No criminal charge would be applied, but that behavior could be a violation of that teacher’s employment contract, and they could be fired.”

Because there are no specific policies, this area regarding staff morals requires careful footing and consideration of factors at hand.

“We can only consider behavior that is a violation of local, state or federal law,” Amole said. “Posting a picture of yourself under the influence of alcohol or of a legal drug would not necessarily lead to disciplinary action on its own, although it could.”

a severe issue, must be \\ Gender violence addressed on all fronts a silenced inequity. Despite the fact that many people are unaware of this issue right here in Fort Collins, it exists.

Gender violence is a larger problem that stems from issues that most would consider to be of little consequence.

These include stereotyping, sexist jokes and other moderate forms of gender violence.

In today’s culture, many of these actions are fairly acceptable, however the

impact they have is not. The next time you make a “harmless” sexist joke to get a small laugh from your friends, think about the men and women who suffer from it.

Each joke, each stereotype pushes men and women further into societal molds that they don’t necessarily want to fill. Not all women want to be thought of as dainty and weak—not all men want to be expected to be stoic.

Even though it’s 2013 and society has made huge strides toward gender equality, an underlying inequality pervades our culture. Until men and women are level on all playing fields, gender violence will continue to be a problem that diminishes our community.

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

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//opinionrm highlighter

February 22, 2013

StuCo starts over with ‘clean slate’ A

fter a year of poor attendance to both Student Council meetings and events, StuCo has reportedly decided to “clean the slate” and recently surveyed the school for feedback.

While StuCo is apparently The Issue: reviewing The failure of the comStudent Council ments in rests on both an effort the club and the student to imbody prove and become more welcoming to students, their efforts fail to confront the major issues plaguing StuCo and the school.

The first problem comes from the unresponsive student body that has refused to participate in meetings or attend events and dances. StuCo, being a representative of the student body, requires active involvement of the school to properly run itself and provide services that students will enjoy.

By not participating, the student body is basically stating that they neither care what StuCo does, nor are willing to work with them to improve events.

A fair argument is that StuCo has failed to create

//staff editorial// events that appeal to students, namely upperclassmen, which can explain the poor attendance to dances. While it is the responsibility of StuCo to create events that will be popular and it is partially StuCo’s fault that attendance is poor, it is still necessary that students participate in meetings and give feedback directly to StuCo. While students can feign outrage over StuCo potentially cancelling their favorite events, they obviously do not care because if they did, then they would be attending meetings to voice their opinions, not sitting idly by as StuCo tries to get them involved.

While the lack of student participation has exacerbated the problem, StuCo is not entirely free of blame. While StuCo supposedly represents the student body, it is still negatively perceived by many students as unwelcoming and pompous.

Granted, StuCo has “cleared the slate” and has tried to rebrand itself as

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Cam’s Chorner

Cam Chorpenning

Recently, a proposed state bill promoting debate of evolution and global warming in schools was struck down in committee. The republican-supported bill, while not outright suggesting the teaching of creationism, would still have been cause for worry had it passed.

The main part of the bill that concerned me was that it seemed to address something that, for the most part, is already in place. I don’t know of a single science classroom in this school, or even

National Scholastic Press Association National Critique

What do you mean we have to clear the events for second semester?

This event is hopping!

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

Sean Bray Emily Anderson Lauren Binder

Features Editor// Michelle Kennedy Center Editor//

Megan Shaw

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

Raven Guerrero-Dixon Aaron Yu Amanda Kriss Stephen Wahlfeldt

RM Highlighter editorial policy

//Amanda Kriss, artist

a service to Rocky.

The negative perception is again the student body’s fault, but StuCo has yet to prove itself as an open and welcoming organization. If StuCo truly wanted to prove that it is a service club, it would make a more obvious effort to appeal to students.

StuCo must work with all classes of students to promote an open relationship

for this year and the next.

StuCo has also failed to report on the results of the survey or stated its plans for the future.

With the postponement and possible cancellation of the Winter Dance/ Sadie Hawkins and other events, students are getting impatient and want StuCo to form a concrete plan for the future. It is all

well and good that StuCo is reviewing the comments in depth to best reflect the wishes of the student body, but StuCo also needs to act and be more open with their plans and decisions.

Ultimately, both StuCo and the student body need to become more involved with each other or the future classes will be the ones that suffer.

Proposed bill would mandate dicussion that already exists

in this school district, in which debate and discussion on the scientific evidence behind such theories would be unwelcome. Therefore, the reason I am troubled by the proposal of this bill is that it seems that some people are not content with the current science curriculum taught in public schools, a curriculum that is widely accepted throughout the scientific world. To me, this seems like a push to get other theories on why things are how they are--i.e. creationism--put

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

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

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

into schools by mandating that teachers open up discussion on what they are teaching.

I am fully in support of students engaging their instructors and classmates in dialogue on their coursework. However, when something like this bill comes about, it demands consideration, because it would require something the schools already do. I can’t help but feel that it is an attempt of some sort to introduce different ideas about evolution and other

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

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topics, ideas that are lacking in scientific backing--ideas like creationism.

What it comes down to is that all of the science teachers that I’ve had have welcomed discussion, made their students think for themselves, and known their field exceptionally well. To try and say that they need to do this better is simply incorrect.ment, the NRA exhibit none of these.

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

Columbia Scholastic Press Association National Critique

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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rm

highlighter\\opinion

50 Shades of Bray Sean Bray

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50 Shades’ Top Pope Pick 2013

Having solved gun-control, it’s time I moved on to the next big debate to rock the world: Who’s going to be the next pope.

Now, don’t get your hopes up for a Pope Shades L (that’s “the 50th” for those of you who aren’t hip with Roman numerological lingo), as I’m not throwing my hat in the ring. I simply don’t own one big enough to compete with a cardinal. I’m also not going to bother analyzing the “realistic” options, the people who are “legitimately qualified.”

That’s not my jam. Instead, let’s take a look at what shall henceforth be known as “50 Shades’ Top Pope Pick 2013,” a light analysis of who could do great things for the Papacy, but may never get the chance to do so. This is due mostly to the fact that he’s ineligible, inexperienced and only marginally more coherent than the letter below my column.

But as with most so-called “facts,” that’s just a technicality in my book, and with a little help from the Catholics out there, we can make this lucky candidate ineligible, inexperienced and infallible. Bam. Papal infallibility joke.

My top 2013 pick is Kim Jong-un. He’s stubby, he’s cuddly, and oh-so-obsessed with nuclear weapons. The real merits of this pick are in the fact that he’d be forced to calm down a little bit. Far from attempting to nuclearize the Holy See, I think we’d find that First World countries have more than enough cake to keep him occupied.

Now, I’m not saying this will be an easy pick. For most (read: all) Catholics, the thought of an egomaniacal, authoritarian, human rights violator occupying the holiest of all positions in the Church may be a little hard to swallow. Easier than getting Kim to swallow some vegetables, but still pretty difficult. But if we all pull together, campaign a little, I know we can accomplish great things: the first Pope thick enough to absorb bullets.

Which is good, as I’m not sure he can fit in the Popemobile. And as an added bonus, he’d also be the first Pope to be named “Sexiest Man Alive” by some very reputable news sources. It’s really a no-lose scenario.

So, I think we all know the direction that the Papacy needs to go next. Sure, it’s mildly unpalatable, but no more unpalatable than health foods to Kim. And maybe it’s somewhat questionable to put one man in control of the Catholic Church AND nuclear weapons. But that’s a risk we’re going to have to take if we want a Pope with some flair, some spice. Now all that’s left is to speculate on what he’ll take as his Papal name. Here’s hoping for a Pope Bonbonface I. (That joke works best if you have a working knowledge of French chocolates, 5th-15th century Popes, and Papal naming conventions. I know it’s a lot to ask.)

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

No room for diversity in Pledge Dear Editor, My name is Dylan Sauer, and today I did not stand for the pledge on the date of January 28th, 2013 because it was said in Arabic.

I personally have no problem with promoting diversity in our school, but don’t put it in the Pledge. Use it elsewhere like assemblies and such. Yes, we are a diverse country, but there really is no reason for another language.

This is my opinion and there are some students who have similar opinions. Diversity is awesome. I believe in it. But the Pledge was written in English. The Pledge was meant for the United States, written in English, a very common language in the U.S., not official, though.

Our principal, Tom Lopez, believes the negative reaction is a sense of hate. I see it more as a sense of discomfort for people who were uncomfortable with it, and putting people out of their comfort zone is kind of a disrespect thing.

Dylan Sauer, junior

//letter to the editor//

February 22, 2013

//A5

For crying (public) shame

Public shaming is effectual

Fool me once, shame on you.

Fool me twice, shame on you in front of the entire school.

The fact that public shaming is gaining popularity in schools is beneficial for the overall safety of our school. The embarrassment of being seen walking around the front of the school wearing a bright sandwich board emblazoned with the offenses you’ve committed is sure to be an experience that you will never forget–nor will anyone who happens to see.

Now, considering that this punishment is voluntary and exempts students who chose this over a ticket or a slew of other punishments, its permanence only in memory is beneficial for high school students. Though the gut-wrenching shame will never go away, the offender is keeping their record clean and they’ve definitely learned something about the consequences of breaking the law. Choose your poison–nightmares of the few hours spent in shame, or an empty wallet due to court fees and ticket fines.

With the lesson learned, the unforgettable shame will be a great motivator for the students

in the future. Drawing associations between public shame and crime will encourage students to abide by the law, and, by extension, develop self-respect.

Not only is public shaming beneficial for students who are on the receiving end, but it is also beneficial for students who observe. Nobody wants to be “that guy” wearing the sandwich board. “That guy” doesn’t even want to be “that guy.” Public shaming will serve as a lesson to everyone else who sees.

Such a public display of consequences starts dialogue between students about the repercussions of their actions.

With consequences in mind, students are more likely not to

commit or involve themselves in situations that are illegal. Ideally, public shaming will seem much worse than any other form of punishment available to students. Because students are still breaking the law, this could cut back on crime in schools.

In retrospect, the district’s form public shaming is a bit tame. The desired outcome would be amplified ten-fold if the punishments were even more extreme. My solution? Bring back the stocks and pillories. If you are receiving a punishment for being foolish and keeping your record clean, I think that I should at least be able to get some entertainment out of it.

Raven Guerrero-Dixon

Pro Con

 Shaming cruel and unusual

Like many other medieval practices, the days of pillories and public stoning are over.

Slowly but surely, America has evolved into a country where the majority of public shaming is not only illegal but also frowned upon. However, there still remain some aspects of this societal practice that is still deemed acceptable, especially in schools.

There are a growing number of school inflicted “creative punishments” that use humiliation and shame to prevent further crimes or misdemeanors from being committed.

A popular example right now is requiring the individual offender to carry a sign with their crime on it. Whether this method is morally right or not, it definitely sets a precedent for other forms of “creative punish-

//Amanda Kriss, artist

ment.” The purpose of the justice system, whether in a country or a school, is to uphold consistent punishments and penalties, not creative and new ones for each offender.

Additionally, the 8th Amendment prohibits the use of cruel and unusual punishments. Public humiliation is, by definition of inflicting humiliation on others, cruel. It’s a psychological remnant left of corporal punishment that can no longer be justified. No matter what they did, forcing an individual to spend several hours being tormented by peers is emotionally detrimental. Not everyone needs to know the exact wrong-doings of a single person. After their reasonable punishment, the perpetrator of the crime should have the ability to easily move on, not be scarred or continually subject to the

school’s ridicule. An individual’s punishment, especially for minor crimes, needs to be between the student, any victims and the school administration.

There is a reason justice is no longer conducted by the community. As a medieval and outdated practice, it is no longer needed by a progressive and modern society when there are other ways to correct unlawful behavior. By inflicting public humiliation as a way to correct individual’s misdoings, humans are taking a step back 300 years. The community might as well place a scarlet letter on the offender, because the intent is the same. While it may be effective in certain cases, stateinflicted shaming is against the principles of a fair society that respects each individual.

“Getting different cultures at school makes it interesting,”

“I can kind of see how people would be offended, but I think it’s fine.”

Emily Anderson

photopoll

What do you

think about the the recent recitation of the Pledge in Arabic?

Rachel Meyers, freshman

“I don’t really think much of it’s cool. Different. Diversity’s really good.”

Jacob Harper, sophomore

Kirsten Bell, junior

“I think it’s a great idea.

All cultures should be acknowledged.”

Thain Howell, senior

“I embrace it. I think it’s great that our students did that and I support it.”

Jay Dukart, Art teacher

rm Wrestlers charge into state sports//highlighter

February 22, 2013 \ \ A6

No. 5 Lobos send 13 to state event

by Lauren Binder//sports editor

The wrestling team is out for victory–crushing the competition with 257 points at regionals this past weekend and qualifying 13 wrestlers for state.

Those 13 include seniors Kyler Schmidt, Danny Murphy, Ben Drysdale, Michael Fanning and Tony Martinez, juniors Logan Newman and Luis Perez, sophomores Konnor Schmidt, Roman Ortiz and Alex Klaer, and freshman Manny Lopez.

Three of the 13 won regional titles including at 138 lbs. Ortiz, at 160 lbs.

Schmidt and at 195 lbs Perez.

“My strategy was just go into the match and try to get an elbow in. All I was worried about was getting the first seed at state,” Ortiz said. “I went into it kind of nervous, but then right as I stepped onto the mat everything went away. It was like we were the only two

Lucas Boland

Pinning impalas: Senior Danny Murphy attempts to pin down opponent against the match against Poudre High School. Murphy has qualified for state in his weight class, and took a third place spot at regionals held this past weekend.

people there. My mind was in the game, and I was ready to get out there.”

The Lobos will be taking the most wrestlers in all four regions to state, followed by Pomona with 10 and both Pine Creek and Ponderosa high schools with nine. At the same time, the state meet will be at a whole other ball game when it comes to competition.

Senior heavyweight Tony Martinez is no stranger to tough competition. He has battled Greeley West’s senior wrestling star Austin Waterman, record of 40-0 and one of five undefeated wrestlers in the tournament, a total of five times this season and lost to him every time, including this past weekend.

Martinez will be going on to state for

The Missy Franklin effect

the second time after taking second at regionals.

“I’m just going to take one step at a time, one match, one mat at a time, one minute at a time, one second at a time.

And keep focus,” Martinez said State power Ponderosa High School had a winning streak at previous state competition taking home first from 2005-2010, and will be putting up a good fight. Ponderosa is ranked third in 5A, behind No. 1 Pomona, No. 2 Greeley West and Rocky at No. 5.

Last season, the Lobos ended up taking 17th as a team in state, not very close to the 4th place finish at state in 2008, 7th in 2009 and 5th in 2010, but the team is determined to stick to their guns and finish high this year.

State will be held today and Saturday at the Pepsi Center in Denver.

“They have put a lot of work in from last year to this year. Every kid has put in every ounce of work that they have in this season and the off season, and the fact that you’re so close as a team certainly helps,” head coach Ken Taylor said. “I think its going to take a lot of effort. I think that if we just really think, we can really compete.”

Olympic star invades EPIC, leads Regis team to state swimming championship

by Raven Dixon//reporter

She drew the audience in.

News crews and packed cars full of spectators flooded the parking lot. There was standing room only.

All of them came to EPIC to catch a glimpse of the Olympian.

Missy Franklin has made a splash in women’s swimming.

The 17-year-old Regis Jesuit High School senior spent the better part of last summer in the London Olympics, bringing home five medals--three gold, one silver and a bronze.

Despite her abrupt rise to celebrity, Franklin still decided to compete alongside her high school swim team in this year’s season. Not surprisingly, the famed athlete brought her team to first place at the state meet on Feb. 8 and 9.

Franklin earned mind-blowing times of 1:56.82 in the 200 individual medley and 4:41.72 in the 500 freestyle. This meet wrapped up her high-school career, during which established state records in all but two events.

With all of the publicity and awards, one would think that Franklin’s head would be the size of Jupiter, but her display of humility continues out of the view of the public eye. Surrounded by droves of her adoring fans and fellow competitors on the deck of EPIC’s Aquatic Center, Franklin patiently greeted every passerby with a genuine smile, occasionally exchanging stories about past experiences.

“The fame definitely hasn’t gone to her head,” said Adele Waites, senior and captain of Rocky’s swim team. “I mean, she’s here, I think that says a lot.”

Despite criticisms over whether Franklin’s appearance at the state meet would detract at-

tention from the other competitors, the outcome was definitely a positive one. Tickets for the event sold out well in advance in anticipation of Franklin’s last swim meet in Colorado--90 percent of the 990 tickets being dedicated by CHSAA to schools competing. The fears surrounding Franklin’s presence were needless; instead, she provided an inspiration to her fellow swimmers.

“It’s cool to be in the same pool as her,” Waites said. “I swam last year with her at state, but it’s still really awesome.”

Besides a record turn-out at this year’s state meet, Franklin’s rise into the limelight of the sport has caused a rippling effect on high school athletes of women’s swimming and the community, bringing attention to the underrated sport. Rocky’s swim team has seen a recent influx of underclassmen eager to emulate the success of Franklin.

(The Lobos finished 29th place at the state meet with 8 points.)

But, it is more than Franklin’s success that has allowed her to become the role model of so many. Her display of public service and model behavior nationally and throughout her community is one that fans could hope to emulate. Last year, she spent her Thanksgiving volunteering at her local homeless shelter. As a national ambassador to Stand Up To Cancer, she is responsible for the allotment of upwards of $262 million for cancer research.

Recently, Franklin was named the Swim for MS Ambassador, and serves as a spokeswoman for the Multiple Sclerosis Association of America.

Needless to say, Franklin has used her success to benefit others, an attribute that student athletes of all sports can admire.

Unlike her Olympic swimming predecessors, Franklin’s personal life is squeaky-clean. In fact, the

Raven Dixon

Franklin effect: Missy Franklin gets warmed up at the girls state swimming meet (top left) at EPIC recreation center. She drew a big crowd (bottom) and the tickets were sold out the week before the meet started. Franklin rests after a fast race in the London Olympics (left) this past summer.

MCT

college-bound senior has plans to swim at the University of California at Berkeley next season Coloradoans can look forward to observing Franklin’s career, and the swim community.

Raven Dixon

rm

highlighter\\sports

February 22, 2013

//A7

Girls’ team finishes up

by Lucas Boland//reporter

With only one senior player on the team, the varsity girls’ basketball team faced a large learning curve during the 2012-13 season.

This week, that basketball season likely comes to a close for the Lobos as they reflect back on the season and think about the future. An 8-15 record is short of what the girls were aiming for heading into the season. The team is left with a taste of disappointment in their mouths, but at the same time remains having a positive outlook on the season.

“It was a rough season,” said Maddi DeBord, junior. “But I feel like we actually got better and grew a lot as a team.”

As a very young team, the girls entered the season knowing that they would have a lot of hard work to put in. The lone senior, Kelsey Hennig, was the leader of team and found herself the most experienced player for the Lobos.

The 2012-13 season proved one of learning for the younger members who had to learn what it takes to play varsity and compete

Girls’ Basketball//

Record: 8-15/3-12 Analysis: The girls’ team has struggled a bit in the stretch run of the season, losing 3 straight and 7 of its last 8.

Stars: Junior Anna Ernst, 17.2 ppg./10.4 rpg.; sophomore Wesley Bannister, 9.4 ppg./3.8 rpg.

Ahead: The Lobos have an outside chance at making the 48-team 5A girls state tournament. They will find out when the field is announced on Sunday.

alongside to upperclassmen on the team.

“We learned to overcome lots of obstacles,” said junior Anna Ernst, the Lobos’ primary scorer.

“With players being hurt and being young.”

Now having one season under their belt, the hope is that next year as the younger players move up and fill the role of the older ones, with their experience with the team acting as an ally

for them. The starting lineup is filled with mostly juniors, which will likely smooth the transition between seasons which can be difficult when seniors are the majority of the team.

“I think we have a lot of good players coming back, and I think it will be better,” DeBord said.

“We have some younger players that are really stepping up.”

Wesley Bannister and Asiah Lawson are two sophomores, who were key elements of the team. As some of the junior members of the team were plagued by injuries throughout the season, Bannister and Lawson filled their roles well, being the second and fourth highest scorers on the team.

“They’re a great group of girls,” coach Todd Matkin said.

“Things can only get better for them.”

With all but one player continuing on to play next season, Hennig will be missed just as much as she will miss the te “For me, this feels surreal,” Hennig said. “I’m upset that it’s ending, but I know the girls will do great things without me.”

Lucas Boland

Standing strong: Head coach Todd Matkin, senior Kelsey Henning and junior Mason Kaufman cheer on the players on the court. The team was 8-15 before the regular season finale on Thursday against Collins.

Boys’ basketball ends last week of regular season Boys’ basketball//

Record: 6-16/4-11 Analysis: The boys’ team snapped a 2-game losing streak with a 63-55 victory over rival Poudre on Tuesday. The Lobos are currently 10th in the 12-team Front Range League.

Ahead: The Lobos will likely not be selected for the 48team 5A state tournament, which will be announced on Sunday.

Hunting// from page A8

Though she felt an attraction to the sport as a young child, it wasn’t until a couple of years ago that Weatherly began to join her father and brothers, alumni Troy Michael and Brian James.

“We had been trying to get her to come for a while, but when she actually decided to come with us, it was really exciting,” Brian James said.

Elite//

from page A8 ment saying, “I hold myself to a high standard and take my responsibility as a public figure very seriously.” He then continued to own up to his mistakes and ask for forgiveness, and for that, he earns it.

Again, professionals aren’t perfect, and they are going to have their fair share of slip-ups.

The only catch is admitting their wrongdoings and being accountable for them. Given their position of power, the least they can do is right their wrongs.

This complex doesn’t only apply to the professional athletes, however. Athletes at any level are the leaders among their peers. It sounds like something that your third period science teacher who

by Lucas Boland//reporter

Passing the time: Junior Antonio Martel attempts to pass the ball in the game against Denver South. The team played its last regular season game on Thursday.

The boys’ basketball team finished up what is likely its last week of the season.

Although the 48-team 5A state playoff bracket won’t be announced until Sunday, the Lobos probably won’t make the field Regardless of that announcement, the team remains positive despite a rough 2012-2013 year.

“It’s been a good season with the team,” said senior starter Aaron Hines.

This season was a great learning experience as it taught the boys that being part of a team isn’t necessarily all about winning.

Over the course of the year, the team grew closer than ever before and played harder than they ever have.

“We definitely learned how to come together and play for each other,” Hines said. “Not for wins or anything else but each other.”

The Lobos assuredly learned that, as it was evident in their play. Never giving up and never

allow any team an easy win, as in the thriller coming down to the last minutes in mid-season loss to Poudre. That persistence paid

off as the Lobos came back in the rematch against the Impalas on Tuesday and won that game, 63-55.

“I really regret not going sooner now that I’ve gotten into it,” Weatherly added. “The fact that my brothers and my dad wanted me to go was enough. It took me too long.

Personally, I regret not going sooner.

Ultimately, I made my own decision to go hunting, but I always had the sense that they really wanted me to get into it.”

More than anything, it was Weatherly’s reverence for her father’s and brothers’ passion that drove her

towards the sport.

“I think that I idolize my brothers and my dad,” Weatherly said. “It was their life and it defined them. I wanted to be a part of that.”

After she had gone on a hunt with Brain James, she was walking behind him and realized that she actually wanted to shoot something, thus she began taking hunter safety courses and started to learn how to shoot properly. Additionally, Weatherly specifically took a large interest

archery and began to hone archery as her own craft.

Her interest in archery took such a hold that, for her first ever big game hunting trip, she and her father went bow hunting in Rocky Mountain National Park.

“We were able to spend a lot of father-daughter time,” Bill said. “I think that you could tell that she got... bit by the bug, and she began to understand that it’s not about the killing, it’s about being in the out-

doors. If you do get lucky enough to harvest an animal, then you owe that animal as much respect as you can give it for allowing you that privilege.”

Recently, Weatherly earned her first big kill, a very emotional and exciting moment in her life.

“It felt like all of my hard work and dedication, the early mornings and late nights, kind of paid off in that one moment,” Weatherly said.

“I felt like I made my dad proud.”

never played sports, might preach, but it’s true regardless. High schoolers are still looked up to by fellow students and those younger than them.

When I was in elementary and middle school I would go to baseball games at Rocky and it was like I was in a stadium watching my heroes. I wanted to be just like those guys back in the day. Fast forward some years and the feeling is a little different, but they’re still on the same platform they used to be.

As the leaders of the school, what they say and do affects what others will say and do. That being said, athletes: Do not neglect your responsibilities and know the weight of influence you carry is heavy.

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

Lauren Binder

\\ sports rm highlighter

February 22, 2013

//A8//

The Hunting

Honey Lauren Binder

Armstead pursues hunting; uncommon for females

“

by Raven Dixon//reporter

It felt like all of my hard

A family that hunts together, stays together.

For senior Weatherly Armstead’s family, this state- Weatherly Armstead senior ment is completely true.

“What brought Weatherly into hunting is the fact that her family has been involved with it for a couple generations now,” said Bill Armstead, Weatherly’s father.

A man who has been involved with hunting since he her interests in hunting, as well as her drive to break the gender stereotypes surrounding the sport. And also a was 8 years old, Bill has certainly seen transitions in the little bit of stubbornness is involved. culture surrounding the sport.

“A friend of mine told her (Maretta) that hunting “An example of how times have was a man’s sport,” Bill said. “So the minute that she definitely changed is that when I was told that, she had to prove him wrong. She went went to CLP (then Cache La Poudre Junior High School), we brought our out and got her hunter’s license and was successful that very same year. So that’s where Weatherly get the DNA guns to school, on the school bus, and put them in our from.” lockers,” said Bill. “When it was time for outdoor rec, Though she was surrounded by a family of avid huntwe could go to our lockers and get our guns, and hunt ers, Weatherly was not always as enthusiastic about the small game like squirrels and rabbits.” sport as she is now. But, she has never had an aversion Weatherly also has her mother, Maretta, to thank for

//sports special//

IrresistiBoland Lucas Boland

\\

work and dedication, the early mornings, and late nights kind of paid off in that one moment.

to it.

“Weatherly was always in the garage if we were processing a deer or an elk or anything,” said Bill. “She didn’t show a lot of interest in hunting originally because she was around it so much that it really wasn’t a big issue.”

//Jump to Hunting,

on A7

Athletes held at a high standard, poses a heavy burden to keep image

Athletes get put on a certain pedestal unlike that of anybody else.

Living life constantly in the public eye opens up doors to being constantly scrutinized. People are always looking for a flaw or misstep to exploit in order to make an athlete look bad or just have a story to tell. It’s how the athlete chooses to handle his or her publicized platform that matters most.

Professional athletes are often considered part of an elite group of people. They excel at what they do more than anybody else in the world.

Many athletes are highly regarded members in their sport but in the community, as well. Whatever they do, somebody is always watching. It could be

the paparazzi or a young kid who wants to be just like them when he or she grows up. Either way, athletes are looked up to, are role models.

Despite perhaps having perfected their craft, even the pros aren’t perfect people. They have bad days, too, and they also make mistakes just as much as the rest of us.

They are humans after all.

Given their platform, however, it is up to them to know that people are watching and be responsible and make the best decisions they can. This is easy to say coming from the vantage point of an “average Joe,” but athletes have to know that those who they inspire will do the same things they do, and oftentimes make

the same mistakes too.

Todd Helton, first baseman and veteran of the Colorado Rockies, recently faultered in his usual austere discipline as a star in the MLB when he was arrested for drunken driving. Going in to his 17 season, Helton knows what he’s doing and is about as classy of a player as can be found. This said, even he isn’t immune to a rare blunder. And driving drunk to buy lottery tickets from the gas station is assuredly a blunder.

Recognizing that his faux pas was no small matter, Helton immediately apologized in a heartfelt state-

//Jump to Elite,

on A7

\\ rmfeatures highlighter

Shaw’s Law

Megan Shaw

Pledge fosters acceptance, community What does it mean to be “American?”

The definitions are endless, and, thankfully, we have the right to believe whichever definition we choose.

A term very commonly linked to this term is patriotism, which is defined as devoted love, support and defense of one’s country, or national loyalty. While there are a multitude of ways a person can represent this and show respect and honor towards our country, saying the Pledge of Allegiance is one of the most well recognized.

The Pledge of Allegiance is a form of patriotism that students, teachers, military personnel and United States residents alike have been reciting since it was written in 1892. While the Pledge was written and is most often recited in English, the United States of America does not have a designated national or even “official” language. The amount of people in our country who are non-English speakers, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, has grown by 140 percent from 1980 to 2007.

The Pledge was indeed written originally in English. However, think for a moment about the Bible, Qur-an, Torah, Tanakh and almost any other religious text. Whether you are a religious person or not, it is true that all of these texts have been translated from their original language at least once, if not numerous times. Does this mean that the people who follow these beliefs are worshipping a different religion simply because it is not written in its original language?

Students at Rocky have now recited the Pledge of Allegiance in English, Spanish, French, Arabic and American sign language, in order to promote diversity and acceptance in our school as well as our community. However, translation of the Pledge does not alter its meaning; it only interprets it in a different way.

Regardless of the language it is spoken in, the Pledge still states, “to the flag of the United States of America.” We are not pledging allegiance to Spain by reciting it in Spanish nor to France by reciting it in French, and the same goes for any language.

If we are going to promote diversity in our school, community and country, I believe the Pledge of Allegiance is a perfectly acceptable place to start.

The Pledge is recited in order to honor our nation and its people, English speaking and non-English speaking alike. If we want to represent diversity, why not do so through one of the utmost patriotic acts?

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

February 22, 2013

//B1//

Assembling Against

A s s a u l t

Photo illustration by Michelle Kennedy

Flash mob fever: Seniors Michelle Kennedy and Amanda Kriss brave the snow on Feb. 14 while dancing to raise awareness for gender violence on V-Day. The organization hoped to mobilize one billion people around the world.

Assault survivor shares his story

by Michelle Kennedy//features editor Cam Chorpenning

Flash mob brings community together for a common cause

by Megan Troutman//limelight editor

Most people born and raised in Fort Collins know all about Old Town Square; the unique water fountain, painted pianos, exuberant pastel flowers, and the glittering fairy lights in the winter.

On Valentine’s Day, Feb. 14, an organization called V-Day initiated a flash mob dance in Old Town Square to raise awareness

for sexual violence towards women.

This global event brought together 203 countries to stop violence against females through a choreographed dance.

The idea of One Billion Rising, V-Day’s campaign slogan, was to inspire one billion people to stand up against gender violence, approximately the number of females that are victims of this atrocity.

Senior Amanda Kriss participated in the flash mob and thought it was an eyeopening opportunity.

“It was really cool to see peoples reactions when they were just spending this time on Valentine’s Day, going out to dinner, getting gifts,” Kriss said. “Then just taking a minute to realize how many people around the world are impacted by this type of violence and to really raise awareness about this issue.”

//Jump to Flash Mob,

on B2

According to the Center for Disease Control, one in four women and one in six men will be the victim of a sexual assault by the time they turn 18.

This statistic hits close to home for junior Jovan Lovato, a sexual assault survivor.

It all began several years ago when Lovato began dating a boy he had gotten to know through their mutual desire to go to gay prom. However, various aspects of the relationship made Lovato feel uneasy.

“Over the course of the relationship, I began to notice little comments that he would make and ways that he would react to things that didn’t seem quite right to me,” Lovato said. “At the time I just let it roll over my shoulder, but it gradually got worse and it began to bother me more.”

Over a period of several months, Lovato and his boyfriend grew closer. One day, when they were visiting with each other, they went to a park just to hang out.

“We had already had sex a couple of times before this,” Lovato said. “But while we were sitting, he kept pressuring me to do stuff with him and he wouldn’t drop the

//features special//

//Jump to Violence,

on B2

features//highlighter

February 22, 2013 \ \ B2

rm

Terminating tetanus Key Club, Project Eliminate raise money

by Isaac Effner//reporter

Maternal and neonatal tetanus kills tens of thousands of infants and mothers each year in Africa and Asia.

Tetanus is a bacteria that is universally present in soil and grows in dead skin tissue caused by cuts or through a non-sterile cutting of the umbilical cord. As a result, maternal and neonatal tetanus are most prevalent in rural areas of less developed countries where nonsterile cutting of the umbilical cord is common.

“Tetanus is not a major issue in the United States because the shot is required before kindergarten,” senior and Key Club member Lily Schulz said. “It is much more common in third world countries.”

While tetanus is easily prevented with an immunization, mothers and infants in impoverished nations are unable to receive proper and sterile care. Unfortunately, once contracted, tetanus usually leads to a painful death.

To combat this disease the global charity organization UNICEF created Project Eliminate which, through Kiwanis International, was picked up by the RMHS Key Club.

“The goal of the project was to eliminate maternal and neonatal tetanus in the third world countries where it is really prevalent,” Key Club President and senior Devon Miller said.

Key Club’s actions to raise money for Project Eliminate included a homeroom change drive that raised $3,860.83.

“Rocky always comes through for any cause,” Key Club sponsor and English teacher Julie Rickett said.

“Anyway to help the community in Fort Collins or in the

//club feature//

Michelle Kennedy

Family and fundraisers: Senior and Key Club secretary Maddi Lynch eats dinner with her family at Texas Roadhouse on Jan. 31 during the club’s effort to raise money for Project Eliminate. Throughout the week, Key Club organized a home room change drive, miracle minute and sold bracelets on The Rocks to benefit this cause. In the end, the club raised a total of $3,860.83.

school or even the world like Project Eliminate, Rocky comes through. The students and teachers were just awesome and I am extremely pleased with the effort. When the Kiwanis sponsors came they were just blown away.”

The funds raised through Project Eliminate will be sent to UNICEF which has eliminated neonatal tetanus in 29 countries since 2000. However, this disease still re-

Flash Mob//

Motivational messages: SAVA SART coordinator Audrey Swenson addresses the flash mob audience on Feb. 14 after the dance.

The flash mob included over 50 participants from all over the community.

from page B1

Cam Chorpenning

Violence// from page B1

subject. I kept giving him this look like ‘you need to move on because it’s not going to happen.’

And he wouldn’t give up, so that’s when the assault took place.”

Yet, at that point, Lovato was not aware that his experience could be defined as rape.

“Afterwards, I didn’t even think anything of it because I was totally oblivious to what sexual assault was,” Lovato said.

In the months following his experience, Lovato determined he had been raped and reported the incident. Unfortunately, his story is one of many in the Fort Collins community.

Sexual assault is part of a broader problem known as gender violence, which is defined as any form of violence directed at someone because of his or her gender.

One local organization that is making headway in solving this problem is SAVA, the Sexual Assault Victim Advocate Center.

mains prevalent in 38 countries in Africa and South Asia.

“Unicef works to distribute vaccines and health care for mothers and infants mostly in Africa,” Miller said.

The school’s efforts have raised enough to vaccinate and save 2,145 lives in poverty stricken countries.

“The fundraiser was a great opportunity to reach out to third world countries and eliminate tetanus,” Schulz

Sexual Assault Resource Training program at SAVA (Sexual Assault Victim Advocacy Center) planned the Old Town Square flash mob to help raise awareness.

“We’ve been planning this for about a month, but I know some mobs and risings all over the world have been planning this for a really long time,” Swenson said. “They have full day events, concerts and the dance is just a part of it. But we just did what was accessible for us to plan within a month.”

It was Swenson’s job to teach the dance to all of the students involved. However, Kriss learned the dance a few weeks prior to the event through a friend that went to the rehearsals.

“It’s a really upbeat and empowering dance,” Kriss said. “It’s a dance that makes you feel good about yourself.”

“SAVA is a rape crisis cenwith all the students who receive ter that helps get sexual assault the presentations,” Kilness said. survivors access to services,” Anne “They have definitely found that Kirkner, the Prevention, Educastudents learn a lot from the tion and Community Outreach presentations.”

Director for SAVA, said.

Although advocates for SAVA trains students to give preventing gender violence have Sexual Assault Resource Training been making huge strides in the (SART) presentations to health community, this is still a very classes around the district. Such prevalent societal issue. In fact, presentations are an integral part according to the Rape, Abuse and of creating awareness and action Incest National Network every within the community. two minutes someone in the “As a district United States is the and as a school, it victim of a sexual Sexual Violence is fairly rare to use assault. ► 44 percent of victims are peers to educate “As long as there under the age of 18 ► Approximately 2/3 of students about is this silence in the sexual assaults are gender violence,” community and committed by someone known to the victim counselor Pam Kilthis fear that people ► 97 percent of rapists will ness said. have of sexual vionever spend a day in jail Fortunately, lence it undermines RAINN over the time pethe overall closeness riod that the Peers and safeness of our have been presenting on SART, community,” Kirkner said. “It students in health classes have also undermines the health of our been showing a steady improvecommunity because sexual vioment in their knowledge about lence is an underlying issue with gender violence. so many other issues like mental “They do a pre- and post test health, substance abuse, and can

Swenson put her own individual touch on the dance, which turned out being a great success.

“So it started out with some break dancing and then everyone filtered in to join with glow sticks on, because it was after dark,” Swenson said. “Originally the beginning was supposed to be improv, but I’m not that skilled or comfortable doing improve on my own, so our break dancer stepped up and he said he would be happy to start it.”

The group danced to a song called “Break the Chain,” which was specifically written for the One Billion Rising campaign. It talks about violence toward women, rising above it and banding together.

Locked in with the dance moves, the flash mob turned out to be an enormous success.

“It’s really important for people to understand that this isn’t just a one way street,” Kriss said. “A lot of people think that they can’t participate in the V-Day stuff because they’re a guy or something, but anyone can make a difference.”

“

There is

no better or worse when it comes to men and women; we’re all human beings.

Jovan Lovato, junior

be related to things like homelessness and poverty.”

Both Lovato and Kirkner agree that anyone has the innate ability to be part of the solution to this problem.

“It takes people looking the other way for gender violence to become a problem,” Kirkner said.

“It takes people not calling out sexist language, racist jokes, all those things that really are related to the prevalence of gender violence. Doing your part at that end of the spectrum really does make a difference and sends a message saying that gender violence will not be tolerated.”

Lovato added, “It’s important

to remember that this can happen to anyone anywhere at any time and you never know who has been affected, so it’s important to be aware and considerate. And rape jokes are not funny by any means, it really ruins your whole day when someone makes a rape joke.”

One of the main emphases in the SART presentations is that serious forms of gender violence are propagated by smaller forms of gender discrimination such as stereotypes and sexism. As a result, one of the biggest things that students can do to help find a solution for this problem is not only to be educated, but to stand up for equality.

“I think that men and women have their strengths and that any given girl or boy could be just as good as the other in any activity academically, physically or otherwise,” Lovato said. “There is no ‘better’ or ‘worse’ when it comes to men and women; we’re all human beings experiencing life on the same playing field.”

rm

//B3

highlighter\\features

February 22, 2013

Displaying diversity Hamdan’s cultural heritage provides a unique perspective

by Megan Shaw//center editor

Diversity.

Diversité. ‫ﺍﺍﻁلأف‬ How much do you really know about your fellow classmates?

In a typical day, senior Insaf Hamdan experiences a wide range of cultures.

Within just her home alone, she speaks three different languages. Although Hamdan speaks both French and English, the most common language her family uses is Arabic. She speaks very clear and fluent English in school and with her friends, but when she goes home, she speaks in a very different tongue.

“It feels more ‘home-y,’” Hamdan said. “When I’m with my family, and we’re talking in French and Arabic, it’s more welcoming.”

“English was her second language,” her mother, Dina Hamdan, said. “We say Arabic is her ‘first’ language because we talk Arabic in the house, but French was her actual first language.”

For generations, Insaf ’s extended family has been living in Lebanon where she was born and in Nigeria where she grew up. It was not until fourth grade that Insaf and her family moved to Fort Collins for her father’s job.

Insaf ’s journey from country to country has opened her eyes to many cultures, and through this she has discovered that it is incredibly different to live around people that do not share her background. While Fort Collins has some intermingling backgrounds, its residents are typically quite similar in culture.

This is a fact that Insaf has come to realize, especially when she walks around with her mother who wears a hijab, the traditional scarf of Islamic women. In addition to speaking three different languages fluently, Insaf and her family are also practicing Muslims.

“When I walk around with my mom and she’s got the scarf on, people are like, ‘Oh my gosh, what is that?’”

Insaf said. “It’s the same when my dad and I are speaking in French. People look at you weird, but then they see

Megan Shaw

Practicing prayer: Senior Insaf Hamdan prays on her prayer mat while holding the Qur’an and prayer beads called Masbaha. Hamdan is wearing traditional prayer clothes and prays three times a day in the morning, afternoon and evening. Traditionally, Muslims try to pray five times a day.

that you speak English and that you’ve been here (the United States) for a while, then their reaction changes.”

One of the biggest differences for Insaf was coming from an immensely diverse country like Nigeria, and moving to Fort Collins where the cultures are less intertwined.

“In Nigeria you have many different cultures and different languages in every city,” Dina said. “The school (that Insaf went to there) was made for foreigners.

Everyone is different; French, German, English–even American.”

Because Insaf has very few people around her that can relate to her culture, as well as her religion, she sometimes finds it difficult to explain her reasoning for things. One of the parts of her culture she has decided not to take part in right now is wearing a head scarf.

“In some cultures you’re required to wear it,” Insaf said. “Then there are some more laid back cultures that say, ‘Here’s what it’s meant for and if you want to wear it

you can wear it.’”

Insaf has chosen not to wear a scarf so that she can participate in everyday teenage activities such as going to the swimming pool. Once you decide to wear it, however, it has to be worn all the time.

“Living here, there’s no way I would cover myself,” Insaf said. “Just seeing the way some people react to our culture, I wouldn’t want to have to explain why I wear it. It’s already hard enough explaining why I don’t eat meat.”

Although it is difficult for others to relate to her culture here in Fort Collins, Insaf ’s experiences have helped her become more accepting and welcoming toward other cultures.

“If I sit here and I’m always in one place, I’m not going to experience new things,” Insaf said. “By going to different places I will get exposed to more cultures. My experience with other cultures right now makes me want to just keep going with it.”

Rickett recognized as an outstanding educator

by Megan Shaw//center editor

There are many factors that can be included in the definition of an effective teacher.

Every year, the Poudre School District Foundation recognizes educators who show that they are committed to learning and the achievement of students with the Mary Hull Excellence in Education award.

This year, one of Rocky’s own English teachers, Julie Rickett, was nominated by fellow staff members for this honor. After an evaluation of nominees district-wide, Rickett was chosen as an excellent educator.

“She is amazing,” counselor Chrystal Kelly said. “She just goes above and beyond when it comes to students.”

Kelley, along with counselor Pam Kilness, English teacher Tom Smailes and Principal Tom Lopez, wrote a letter of recommendation for Rickett’s nomination stating the positive impact she has had on her students.

“They wrote me this beautiful letter, it was so sweet,” Rickett said. “There are so many people who support me here.”

One of the things that Rickett has been continuously recognized for is the way she bonds with her students. The life of each

Michelle Kennedy

Student connection: English Teacher Julie Rickett helps freshman Brendan Paul with class work. Rickett has been recognized with the Mary Hull Excellence in Education award.

individual student is extremely important to her.

“My teaching style has always been about loving kids and helping them anyway I possibly can,” Rickett said. “I am a relationship-based teacher. I think the whole kid is more important than all the curriculum in the world. If you have a great

relationship with your kids, you’re going to teach them more than if you don’t.”

Due to her dedication to seeing her students improve, not only in the classroom but as individuals as well, children of all grade-levels and learning types create a lasting bond with her that impacts their lives both inside and outside of school. This is something that those who work closely with her have recognized, and is a quality they have seen in Rickett from the start.

“I have never met anyone who doesn’t love her,” Kelly said. “Seniors who have had her have said, ‘She changed my life.’ If you visit her in her office, she’ll have past graduates visiting with her saying, ‘I would have never gotten through school without you.’”

A large qualification Rickett has for this award is that she works with anyone that needs assistance. According to Kelly, the PSD Foundation looks for teachers who show exemplary teaching, such as being great in the classroom and working with students so they understand the subject, as well as working well with staff and connecting with parents.

“It’s more than teaching,” Kelly said. “Obviously teaching is huge, but then there’s all

“

My teaching

style has always been about loving kids and helping them in any way that I can. I think that the whole kid is more important than all the curriculum in the world.

Julie Rickett, English teacher

those other pieces of the relationships she makes with kids, and with parents, with us as counselors and administrators.”

Although the Excellence in Education award can only be given to one teacher, Rickett says she wouldn’t have been able to it without the people around her.

“There are so many people who support me with helping kids, so in some ways I feel weird accepting an award because there’s no way I could do it on my own,” Rickett said. “I just think the award should be spread out to all these people who help.

But it’s so sweet of them to nominate me.

It really is such an honor.”

rmhighlighter\\center spread

B4 \\ February 22, 2013

Pennies becoming unnecessary currency for many

by Lauren Binder//sports editor

would be a lot,” Roselles said. “It’s kind of like those penny jars at the gas station, you know that could add up to a lot over time, and I’m just not A penny for your thoughts. really sure what the government would do with A nickel for your thoughts?

Australia removed its one-cent and two-cent coins from that money.”

The death of the penny slowly becomes circulation in 1992.

“The only way that it would effect me is that reality after every drop under a vending masales taxes would go up, to make sure that it chine-- because no one bothers to pick it up.

Brazil discontinued the production of one-centavo coins in would be even and up to the next five cent, like The one-cent coin was the first currency 2005. in the show office space, where they rounded up of any type authorized by the United States, a hundredth of a penny on every transaction and and for over two centuries, the penny’s design Finland has not issued one-cent or two-cent euro coins it ended up being millions and millions,” Moore has symbolized the spirit of the nation, from since the euro was introduced in 2002. said.

Liberty to Lincoln.

As of Feb. 4, Canada’s Royal Canadian Mint In 2010, the penny was redesigned,the stopped producing the penny. This will be a reverse design features a Union shield emblemIsrael stopped issuing the one-agora coin in 1991 and the benefit to their taxpayers, who will be saving up atic of President Lincoln’s preservation of the five-agorot coin in 2008. to an approximated $11 million a year. The Mint United States. The shield includes 13 verticlaims that it costs 1.6 cents to make each penny, cal stripes representing the original 13 states Netherlands stopped issuing one-cent and two-cent euro and the utility was not measuring up. joined together as a united country. coins in 2004.

All industries will be expected to return Foods teacher Martha Moore’s grandfather the pennies to the Mint, that in follow, will be collected pennies all throughout his life, and New Zealand removed its one-cent and two-cent coins melted down and the copper and zinc will behis oldest penny is from 1857. from circulation in 1989 and its five-cent coin in 2006. come recycled material. As for sales, all sales that “He liked coins, he just liked them, maybe are above .05 in price will be rounded up to the he just grew up in a time where coins were Norway removed its one-ore and two-ore coins in 1972; by next dime amount, with an exemption in credit always made of gold or of precious medals, and card sales in which the penny price would stay he just wanted them to be saved,” Moore said.

1991, it had also removed its five-, 10- and 25-ore coins. the same.

“It was that point in time where coins were of Skepticism around the domino effect on the a greater value than paper money which was Sweden removed its one-ore and two-ore coins in 1971; nickel and dime have prolonged this elimination almost worthless” by 1992, it had also removed its five-, 10- and 25-ore process here in the States because once we get rid The question is, besides the penny’s symbolcoins. In 2009, it removed the 50-ore coins from circulaof the penny, who says we really need the nickel, ism to freedom of America, is it really worth tion. or even the dime. anything? Senior Brianna Roselles disagrees Moore explains that coins pennies pretty that symbolism would be a factor in any deciSwitzerland officially withdrew its one-centime coin from much worthless but that was not necessarily sions made. circulation in 2006, while the two-centime coin lost its legal always the case, especially when her parents were “I feel that Americans wouldn’t care about the tender status in 1978. younger. symbolism of it too much, as sad as that is, “I think about when my mother used to tell I don’t think that anyone cares about that. I us a story about how my father dropped her off think that it would only care about how it is Britain removed the legal tender status of the half-penny at the movie theater when they were first mareffecting their income,” Roselles said. in 1984. ried, and back then it was 25 cents to go to the For years, the United States have been show and it had just gone up to 26 cents and she juggling around whether we will follow suit of couldn’t go, they wouldn’t let her in because she ridding pennies as a currency option. didn’t have a penny, so pennies actually had some value,” Moore said. “She would “If the government got rid of the penny, people might not realize that our always say from her grandfather’s saying, Poor little Ida, sitting on a fence, Trying purchases will be rounded up, if the purchase were say a dollar ninety-eight, it to make a dollar out 99 cents.” would be rounded up to two, which seems like only a little, but in the long run it

A penny for your thoughts . . .

PHOTO POLL:

Do you think it is worthwhile for pennies to be in circulation in the United States? don’t think we should still have them. I never use them unless I put them in the giant change machine to give me back money.

I

Cassie May senior

It depends. If you have too many pennies, it’s annoying. But if you have one and you need it, then bingo.

Rachel Meyers freshman

If America got rid of the penny then our government would want to try and make up for that by rounding up every purchase, so we’d be paying more for things. I’m not really sure what they would do with that money.

Brianna Roselles senior Yes, because everything is like $4.99 or $5.99. And there’s the ‘take a penny, leave a penny’ things, and I use those all the time because of tax.

Gabe CostanzaChavez junior

Shifts

//B5

February 22, 2013

Cursive handwriting skills being put on back burner

by Aaron Yu//reporter

Please write legibly, or you will be marked down.

Variants of that sentence appear on academic timed writings, AP tests and nearly everything that involves writing by hand.

Unfortunately, an increasing amount of the writing on these exercises turns out illegible.

With the world becoming increasingly paperless and technology oriented, it seems only fitting that teaching cursive in schools should be eliminated to help new generations adjust to a world where the keyboard is king.

Many Colorado schools have responded to this paradigm shift by either completely removing cursive writing from the curriculum, or relegating the time spent on cursive to a very small amount.

“Unfortunately, cursive has taken a back-burner to all the other demands of students,” the third grade teachers at Beattie Elementary said. “Because there are so many standards that need to be taught, we focus on cursive for the first two weeks of school. . . not much time is put into it at all. With word processing, the art of cursive is not My second grade teacher was emphasized.” really into nice handwriting, and In recent times, it’s more likely to walk into a classroom and hear the tapping I just sort of took it from there. of computer keys rather than the scritch scratch of pencils on paper. However, there are those that say the realm of word processing has its shortcomings.

“I think we’re too dependent on technology,” English teacher Larissa Schendel said.

“What happens when one day, the computer just doesn’t work? You’re outta luck.”

Popular media has depicted many scenarios in film and TV shows where an I had a placemat as a kid that I overdependence on technology leads to practiced on before dinner every ruin; events such as nuclear missiles being launched due to computer malfunction day with an expo marker. or Terminators being deployed by Skynet to eliminate the human race. While the chances of this happening in reality are slim, it raises a valid point to continue teaching cursive; even if it is only to preserve it.

Jeanne Whitmore, the CEO of American Fork Charter school Aristotle Academy wrote that “there are lots of reason to keep cursive handwriting in schools but only one I write with cursive because it’s a lot reason to eliminate it; lack of funding and prettier. I like writing it because it’s more time.” ‘flowy’ and it’s easier to take notes for Education funding cuts do in fact seem me because you don’t have to constantto factor into the decision to cut cursive. ly pick up your hand.

According to denverpost.com, the average amount per pupil in school for the 20122013 school year is $6,474; $600 less than what it was in 2009. Budget cuts lead to the need to let go of some staff and extracurriculars, and in today’s society cursive seems to have a very small place.

“Typing’s faster,” junior Darla Billington said. “Everyone uses it. Nowadays, everything is electronically based; in order to function in this society, you need those [keyboard skills].”

Looking at things such as resumes shows modern society’s value in word processing. In the “skills” section of a resume, it is more applicable to list that one knows how to operate Microsoft Word than it is to say that they have neat handwriting skills.

Classrooms are integrating more technology and less pencil and paper to adapt to a changing world.

There are those that lament the loss of writing as a personal, warm act of reaching out to others.

“I think we should go back to the times where we actually sent handwritten letters,” senior Alexandra Meadows said.

For now, it remains a mystery whether or this transition into electronic writing will render handwriting completely obsolete, and only time will tell.

rmhighlighter\\center spread

B4 \\ February 22, 2013

Pennies becoming unnecessary currency for many

by Lauren Binder//sports editor

would be a lot,” Roselles said. “It’s kind of like those penny jars at the gas station, you know that could add up to a lot over time, and I’m just not A penny for your thoughts. really sure what the government would do with A nickel for your thoughts?

Australia removed its one-cent and two-cent coins from that money.”

The death of the penny slowly becomes circulation in 1992.

“The only way that it would effect me is that reality after every drop under a vending masales taxes would go up, to make sure that it chine-- because no one bothers to pick it up.

Brazil discontinued the production of one-centavo coins in would be even and up to the next five cent, like The one-cent coin was the first currency 2005. in the show office space, where they rounded up of any type authorized by the United States, a hundredth of a penny on every transaction and and for over two centuries, the penny’s design Finland has not issued one-cent or two-cent euro coins it ended up being millions and millions,” Moore has symbolized the spirit of the nation, from since the euro was introduced in 2002. said.

Liberty to Lincoln.

As of Feb. 4, Canada’s Royal Canadian Mint In 2010, the penny was redesigned,the stopped producing the penny. This will be a reverse design features a Union shield emblemIsrael stopped issuing the one-agora coin in 1991 and the benefit to their taxpayers, who will be saving up atic of President Lincoln’s preservation of the five-agorot coin in 2008. to an approximated $11 million a year. The Mint United States. The shield includes 13 verticlaims that it costs 1.6 cents to make each penny, cal stripes representing the original 13 states Netherlands stopped issuing one-cent and two-cent euro and the utility was not measuring up. joined together as a united country. coins in 2004.

All industries will be expected to return Foods teacher Martha Moore’s grandfather the pennies to the Mint, that in follow, will be collected pennies all throughout his life, and New Zealand removed its one-cent and two-cent coins melted down and the copper and zinc will behis oldest penny is from 1857. from circulation in 1989 and its five-cent coin in 2006. come recycled material. As for sales, all sales that “He liked coins, he just liked them, maybe are above .05 in price will be rounded up to the he just grew up in a time where coins were Norway removed its one-ore and two-ore coins in 1972; by next dime amount, with an exemption in credit always made of gold or of precious medals, and card sales in which the penny price would stay he just wanted them to be saved,” Moore said.

1991, it had also removed its five-, 10- and 25-ore coins. the same.

“It was that point in time where coins were of Skepticism around the domino effect on the a greater value than paper money which was Sweden removed its one-ore and two-ore coins in 1971; nickel and dime have prolonged this elimination almost worthless” by 1992, it had also removed its five-, 10- and 25-ore process here in the States because once we get rid The question is, besides the penny’s symbolcoins. In 2009, it removed the 50-ore coins from circulaof the penny, who says we really need the nickel, ism to freedom of America, is it really worth tion. or even the dime. anything? Senior Brianna Roselles disagrees Moore explains that coins pennies pretty that symbolism would be a factor in any deciSwitzerland officially withdrew its one-centime coin from much worthless but that was not necessarily sions made. circulation in 2006, while the two-centime coin lost its legal always the case, especially when her parents were “I feel that Americans wouldn’t care about the tender status in 1978. younger. symbolism of it too much, as sad as that is, “I think about when my mother used to tell I don’t think that anyone cares about that. I us a story about how my father dropped her off think that it would only care about how it is Britain removed the legal tender status of the half-penny at the movie theater when they were first mareffecting their income,” Roselles said. in 1984. ried, and back then it was 25 cents to go to the For years, the United States have been show and it had just gone up to 26 cents and she juggling around whether we will follow suit of couldn’t go, they wouldn’t let her in because she ridding pennies as a currency option. didn’t have a penny, so pennies actually had some value,” Moore said. “She would “If the government got rid of the penny, people might not realize that our always say from her grandfather’s saying, Poor little Ida, sitting on a fence, Trying purchases will be rounded up, if the purchase were say a dollar ninety-eight, it to make a dollar out 99 cents.” would be rounded up to two, which seems like only a little, but in the long run it

A penny for your thoughts . . .

PHOTO POLL:

Do you think it is worthwhile for pennies to be in circulation in the United States? don’t think we should still have them. I never use them unless I put them in the giant change machine to give me back money.

I

Cassie May senior

It depends. If you have too many pennies, it’s annoying. But if you have one and you need it, then bingo.

Rachel Meyers freshman

If America got rid of the penny then our government would want to try and make up for that by rounding up every purchase, so we’d be paying more for things. I’m not really sure what they would do with that money.

Brianna Roselles senior Yes, because everything is like $4.99 or $5.99. And there’s the ‘take a penny, leave a penny’ things, and I use those all the time because of tax.

Gabe CostanzaChavez junior

Shifts

//B5

February 22, 2013

Cursive handwriting skills being put on back burner

by Aaron Yu//reporter

Please write legibly, or you will be marked down.

Variants of that sentence appear on academic timed writings, AP tests and nearly everything that involves writing by hand.

Unfortunately, an increasing amount of the writing on these exercises turns out illegible.

With the world becoming increasingly paperless and technology oriented, it seems only fitting that teaching cursive in schools should be eliminated to help new generations adjust to a world where the keyboard is king.

Many Colorado schools have responded to this paradigm shift by either completely removing cursive writing from the curriculum, or relegating the time spent on cursive to a very small amount.

“Unfortunately, cursive has taken a back-burner to all the other demands of students,” the third grade teachers at Beattie Elementary said. “Because there are so many standards that need to be taught, we focus on cursive for the first two weeks of school. . . not much time is put into it at all. With word processing, the art of cursive is not My second grade teacher was emphasized.” really into nice handwriting, and In recent times, it’s more likely to walk into a classroom and hear the tapping I just sort of took it from there. of computer keys rather than the scritch scratch of pencils on paper. However, there are those that say the realm of word processing has its shortcomings.

“I think we’re too dependent on technology,” English teacher Larissa Schendel said.

“What happens when one day, the computer just doesn’t work? You’re outta luck.”

Popular media has depicted many scenarios in film and TV shows where an I had a placemat as a kid that I overdependence on technology leads to practiced on before dinner every ruin; events such as nuclear missiles being launched due to computer malfunction day with an expo marker. or Terminators being deployed by Skynet to eliminate the human race. While the chances of this happening in reality are slim, it raises a valid point to continue teaching cursive; even if it is only to preserve it.

Jeanne Whitmore, the CEO of American Fork Charter school Aristotle Academy wrote that “there are lots of reason to keep cursive handwriting in schools but only one I write with cursive because it’s a lot reason to eliminate it; lack of funding and prettier. I like writing it because it’s more time.” ‘flowy’ and it’s easier to take notes for Education funding cuts do in fact seem me because you don’t have to constantto factor into the decision to cut cursive. ly pick up your hand.

According to denverpost.com, the average amount per pupil in school for the 20122013 school year is $6,474; $600 less than what it was in 2009. Budget cuts lead to the need to let go of some staff and extracurriculars, and in today’s society cursive seems to have a very small place.

“Typing’s faster,” junior Darla Billington said. “Everyone uses it. Nowadays, everything is electronically based; in order to function in this society, you need those [keyboard skills].”

Looking at things such as resumes shows modern society’s value in word processing. In the “skills” section of a resume, it is more applicable to list that one knows how to operate Microsoft Word than it is to say that they have neat handwriting skills.

Classrooms are integrating more technology and less pencil and paper to adapt to a changing world.

There are those that lament the loss of writing as a personal, warm act of reaching out to others.

“I think we should go back to the times where we actually sent handwritten letters,” senior Alexandra Meadows said.

For now, it remains a mystery whether or this transition into electronic writing will render handwriting completely obsolete, and only time will tell.

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Pet Stories

by Aaron Yu

Musical//

cake: One of the six students

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Art//

from page B8 Mountain is above and beyond your typical high school. Rocky is so amazing in so many different ways and so many different areas … Doesn’t matter if it’s sports, the amazing music program, the amazing drama program, the amazing math, science, and art departments. It blows me away how amazing this school is,” Dukart said.

The awards represent a culmination of efforts for all of the recipients. Whether in photography, drawing, mixed media, or any of the 13 other artistic categories accepted by the awards, the success of Rocky’s winners was built upon the education they’ve received here.

“I’m definitely thankful for all the art teachers who have pushed us for the last 4 years,” Gold Key Portfolio winner Branson Hoog said.

Now that the awards have been given, the next step for the Gold

Key winners is to be judged by a national panel in New York City along with all other Gold Keys across the country. Winners of National Gold Awards have their work displayed in the National Art Exhibition in New York City.

“I hope everyone who got a Gold Key gets to go to New York.

We’ve all worked hard,” Gold Key winner Tara Martinez said.

Whether or not they continue to the next level, the sheer representation by Rocky in the awards is positive in and of itself, as a testament to the art program and the talent of its students.

“It helps with the reputation of Rocky … It blows me away how amazing this school is, the amazing teachers we have and thusly, just great kids. Just amazing, great kids. I’m just proud,” Dukart said.

In the end, that’s what the awards are about. Whether it’s a Gold or Silver, or an Honorable Mention, the awards exist to recognize the talents of young artists in the community. For 17 Rocky students, they’ve done just that.

Every person part of the musical is faced with different challenges. The tech crew has a lot on their plate to build and prepare before the show. One job they must accomplish is figuring out costumes for each character in the play.

Head of the costuming committee, junior Rachel Lachelt, has a lot to look forward to and accomplish by production week. “(What’s really exciting is) seeing the completion of the sets because some of them are really complicated but they’re going to be cool,” Lachelt said.

The tech crew has a completely different task than the actors or pit members.

There’s definitely times when we feel underappreciated. I’ve always been kind of a background person and I like the behind the scenes aspect,” Lachelt said.

“There’s a different sort of comradery between techies than there is between actors so it’s something different then what I experienced in elementary school productions.”

Despite the differences between the cast, pit, and tech crew, they all share one common denominator; the love for musical theater and the constant drive to put on a great production.

“Most people like watching plays and musicals,” Holly Kessler said. “But actually being part of it is something special.”

A huge amount of time and effort was put into My Fair Lady and it will be a show worth waiting for.

“I’m just excited for the show,” Anna Auerbach said. “This is my last show at Rocky and it’s going to be incredibly emotional so I’m just excited for a big finale.”

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February 22, 2013

Band exposed to Colorado JT and the Thunderbolts, blues-rock band travels to expose

by Luke Boland//reporter

Rocky is at the epicenter of the youth music scene in Fort Collins as it continues to spew out real musical talent.

The band JT and the Thunderbolts is the latest of said musical talent to emerge on the radar in Colorado.

A pair of Lobos, Mitch Meyer on drums and Danny Steiner on bass, comprise two-thirds of the blues-rock band based out of Fort Collins. The third member, Jake Ellingson, a junior in high school from Longmont, makes up the other third as the guitarist of the group.

Despite having been together for less than two years, JT and the Thunderbolts has already received national recognition and traveled out of the state to perform.

The band had simple beginnings in the Meyer family’s basement, and since then has gotten much exposure in the Colorado blues music community.

“It all kind of happened because the drums live at my house,” Don Meyer, Mitch’s father and band manager said.

“The guys started practicing here and it all went from there.”

The band got progressively better and started live performances. In 2012 they did seven shows throughout Colorado, including the Blues From the Top festival in Winter Park and a Habitat for Humanity

Courtesy of JT and the Thunderbolts

JT and the Thunderbolts: Mitch Meyer on drums (far left), Jake Ellingson on guitar (middle), and Danny Steiner on bass (far right). They have been a group for less than two years, already traveling out of state for performances.

benefit show in Aurora.

Additionally they got to travel out of state in early February of this year to play at the International Blues Challenge in Memphis. As bands often times never leave their region, a trip to Tennessee proved a great experience for the guys.

“The whole thing was awesome,” Ellingson said. “It was a dream come true... reaching that accomplishment.”

While in Memphis, JT and the Thunderbolts got to play on Beale Street as part of a youth showcase. Joining them were bands from around the country and globe.

“It felt really surprising (on being

invited to Memphis),” Steiner said. “But it was a really cool experience.”

Being a blues band sets them apart from most other teenage groups, which tend to gravitate more towards rock music. The band is part of the Colorado Blues Society, which promotes and organizes blues events and competitions, such as the International Blues Challenge.

“They like to see these youth bands come around and carry that blues tradition on,” Don said. “There’s not many young groups who play music like that.”

Playing music like the band does takes immense talent. Much of the music consists of improvisation, where they will

come up with something on the spot.

Meyer has been drumming since the age of five just as Steiner has been interested in music from about the same age.

Ellingson didn’t start playing guitar until four years ago when it was discovered that he was a natural.

“My god, watching the kid play is unreal,” Don said. “He’s amazing and he’s never had a lesson.”

JT and the Thunderbolts do cover songs, but also write original music. A goal of the band for the next year is to write more of their own songs and do more recording.

“We mostly do covers, of course with our own little twist on them,” Meyer said. “We have some originals -- none of them are super great, they need to be tweaked a bit.”

The guys really enjoy what they do best: making music. They also enjoy the perks that go with it, such as traveling.

“I guess there’s a rush...all the fun you get to have,” Ellingson said. “You get to have so many experiences that some don’t get to have.”

JT and the Thunderbolts’ applications have already been submitted to FoCoMX as well as New West Fest.

“There’s all sorts of stuff in the mix,” Meyer said. “Since we won the IBC, we’ll probably get a lot more shows.”

As Steiner and Meyer are seniors, they’ll both stay in Fort Collins for college in the fall where they’ll continue to make music and move up the ranks.

Junior Ellingson will continue to play with the guys as well.

“We want to get some more exposure,” Ellingson said, “and rise to the top.”

Side Effects, one rollercoaster plunge of depression

by Lauren Binder//sports editor

Admittedly I walked into the theater hoping that the movie Side Effects would involve

//movie review//

some type of a love story with Channing Tatum in it, and that actress with the dragon tattoo.

Unfortunately, that was not the case.

Side Effects takes you through

a psychiatric journey and intense thriller as a satire against prescription drug use in the mentally ill.

Rooney Mara stars as Emily who becomes depressed after her move from suburban Connecticut to downtown Manhattan due to her husband (Channing Tatum) getting arrested for four years due to a insider trading bust.

His release triggers Emily’s stress and depression which causes her to attempt suicide, by running her car into a cement wall. Without success, she is forced to start seeing a psychiatric doctor Jonathan Banks who takes her in and tries to help by giving her depression drugs such as Zolof.

A dramatic shift occurs in the film after a tragic accident with one of the main characters and Emily’s pleas start to turn for the worst. The drug Ablixa, recommended by her previous doctor Victoria Siebert (Catherine ZetaJones), seems to help Emily the most, but has one big side effect that ends up taking Emily over to the point of completely unconscious state.

Emily’s husband states concern over this effect and pleads Banks to put her on another drug even though it seems to dramatically help her, but Emily refuses.

In order to please Emily since the drug appears to be helping, Banks continues to prescribe the drug to her.

Emily takes you through such an emotional rollercoaster that one may feel exhausted as you walk out of the movie theater.

She takes everyone else down with her. Including Banks who

Barry Wetcher/Courtesy Open Road Films/MCT

Depression kicks in: Emily (Rooney Mara) found out that her husband was arrested for an insider trading bust. She became severely depressed and started therapy.

loses his job, partners, and eventually his wife.

This film is very gifted at not going down a predictable path throughout the entire film, so I suggest not trying to figure the movie out because, lets be honest, you’re probably going to be wrong.

Side Effects shows the faux pas of how people abuse prescription drugs because they simply can’t be happy. One line in the movie mentions that patients often get

better because they see the drug commercials and want the “next best thing” and the next thing that you know, they feel better.

Hence, why Banks gives Emily Ablixa in the first place.

If you want to see an intriguing thriller you might want to scrounge your wallet to go see Side Effects, it shows not only a negative side to prescription drugs, but also shows a great and different performance from Rooney Mara.

\\ rmlimelight highlighter

What’s in the Limelight?

Today: Movie: Snitch Movie: Bless Me, Ultima Concert: Savoy @ Aggie Theater Feb. 23: Local Event: CSU High School Honor Band concert, Griffin Concert Hall, 3 p.m.

Feb. 25: Rocky: Musical Auditions, Mini-Theatre, 3-6 p.m.

Feb. 26: Rocky: Great Works Concert @ RMHS7pm March 1: Movie: Jack the Giant Slayer Movie: 21 and Over March 3: Concert: Macklemore @ Butler-Hancock Sports Pavillion, Greeley March 4: Rocky: CBA Regionals (through March 8) March 7: Rocky: Advanced Dance Show

My Fair Lady Musical cast and crew come together for upcoming production

by Megan Troutman//limelight editor

One meaningless bet was all it took to turn poor Professor Higgins’s life upside down.

The award winning musical, My Fair Lady, is coming back from the 50s to entertain audience members once again.

Professor Henry Higgins takes a harmless bet from Colonel Pickering that he can change a babbling flower girl, Eliza Doolittle, into a proper lady, accent in all.

Senior Anna Auerbach must go from speaking gibberish to a flawless aristocratic accent in the complex character of Eliza Doolittle.

“I’ve never actually had a problem with accents until I’ve actually had to do it for this one,” Auerbach said. “I just can not do a British accent very well!”

Not only is perfecting Eliza’s accents essential to the lead role, but also the arduous singing task.

“It is quite a bigger challenge because Eliza is a soprano and I’m not a soprano,” Auerbach said. “So she

Michelle Kennedy

I could’ve danced all night: Junior Jacque Rickett (left) and Halie Patrick (right) rehearse for the big dance scene in My Fair Lady. The cast and crew of 76 students work hard on choreographing, building, and practicing their parts.

has a lot of songs in a range that I have not worked very much . . . It takes a lot of controlling, vocal health, and what you do outside of rehearsal to control your voice.”

This is not Auerbach’s first

March 8: Movie: Oz: The Great and Powerful CD: Bonnie TylerRocks & Honey March 11: CD: Bon Jovi, What About Now March 14: Rocky: My Fair Lady, Auditorium, 7 p.m.

March 15: Rocky: My Fair Lady, Auditorium, 7 p.m.

CD: Justin Timberlake, The 20/20 Experience Concert: Hoodie Allen @ Ogden Theatre March 16: Rocky: My Fair Lady, Auditorium, 7 p.m.

March 19: CD: will.i.am, #willpower March 22: Movie: InAPPropiate March 23: Concert: Imagine Dragons, Atlas Genius, and Nico Vega, @ Fillmore, Denver

//B8//

February 22, 2013

Michelle Kennedy

choreographed anticipation: Cast rehearses the big dance scene, “Get me to the Church on Time” full of stunts, singing, and excitement.

time as a lead role, so she is already aware of how much work must be put into it. Other lead roles include Austen Allen (Professor Higgins), Andrew Ferkiss (Colonel Pickering), Zach Alvarez (Alfred Doolittle), and Branson Hoog (Freddie Eynsford-Hill).

The actors are not the only ones working hard to put on a good show. The tech and pit crew also put in one hundred percent.

Senior Holly Kessler played trumpet in pit orchestra for last year’s musical production of Annie, and loved every minute of it.

“It’s just something about playing music with the actors,” Kessler said. “It’s just really fun because you are playing a lot of known music.”

The music also changes drastically for pit each year, which makes playing in the group

MY FAIR LADY ►Where: Auditorium ►When: March 14-16 @ 7 p.m. ►Tickets: $7-students with activity pass and children; $9-students and senior citizens; $11-adults (purchases at box office)

somewhat of a challenge.

“My Fair Lady is really cool, but it’s also very different. Annie’s music was a lot more jazzy, and the trumpet parts were really fun. This year it’s more toward the classical side,” Kessler said.

“The biggest challenge is probably the fact that there are over twenty songs that we have to learn, not including the scene changes.”

//Jump to Musical,

on B6

Students represent at Scholastic Art Awards

by Sean Bray//ad manager

Seventeen Rocky students garnered 29 awards from the 2013 Scholastic Art Awards of Colorado this year.

Founded in 1923, the Scholastic Art and Writing Awards Program is aimed at fostering the creativity of students across the country by recognizing their achievements in a variety of artistic fields, and this year more Rocky students were recognized than ever before.

“Every year is different, but this year was a bumper crop. I’ve been involved with Rocky for 17 years now, and this year I believe we had more stuff get in from Rocky than any other year in my career,” art teacher Jay Dukart said.

The awards, ranked from Gold Key, Silver Key, and Honorable Mention, are highly selective and prestigious. “[There are] thousands and thousands and

Gold Key Winners: Branson Hoog’s Orange A’peel (far left), Cameron Clements’s Venice in China (middle), and Krista Arnold’s Mr. Kiwis Dream Comes True (far right).

thousands of pieces that are entered, but only a small percentage will get in,” Dukart said.

Over 4,000 pieces were submitted to the awards this year. Out of those, six students won Gold Keys: Krista Arnold, Cameron Clements, Zoe Gamer, Branson Hoog, Reid Cipriani, and Tara Martinez. These six, plus

the other eleven Rocky winners, will have their work displayed at the Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design.

“It’s just another indicator that Rocky

//Jump to Art,

on B6