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rocky mountain
ighlighter
Volume 36 No. 1 September 12, 2008
inside
Everything as far as you can see... John Denver • Rocky Mountain High
Now online at RMHighlighter.org
Rocky Mountain High School 1300 W. Swallow Rd. Fort Collins, CO, 80526
sobering
Athletes explore yoga techniques to improve flexibility, avoid injury, A8
Bands return from once-in-alifetime trip to China, B2
events FBLA/DECA Cajun Boil Friday Sept. 12 before the game against Legacy High School
Homecoming football game against Northglenn High School on Friday, Sept. 26 Homecoming dance on Saturday, Sept. 27
quote of the issue
“You know, it’s just a game. You gotta know how to play the game” -Andrea Wright on Cheating. B4
fyi Be sure to check out RMHighlighter. org Look at the new games and entertainment page on B6
reality
Photo Illustration by Sam Hyland
Alcohol, driving: society’s not-so-little dirty secret by Katelyn Hunter RMHighlighter Viewpoint Editor
According to Mothers Against Drunk Driving, about three in every 10 Americans will be involved in an alcohol-related crash at some point in their life. In 2007, 92.2 percent of high school seniors reported that alcohol is “very easy” or “fairly easy” to get, according to MADD. “Drinking and driving is a national problem,” Assistant Principal Brett Larsen said. “With high school students, drinking should never be an option.” The younger people start drinking, the more people drive drunk. According to MADD, of the estimated 159 million alcohol-impaired driving trips that Americans took in 2002, more than 18 million trips were made by 18- to 20-yearolds. “I think teens drink because they feel it’s socially acceptable to drink under age,” Human Relations Liaison Jim Gjerde said. “They think it’s cool and don’t realize the effects the alcohol can have.”
A recent instance that hit close to home was 2006 graduate Daniel Price killing Rebecca Allen and injuring Jennifer Garvey while alledgedly driving under the influence of alcohol on July 22. Scoot Crandall, a member of Team Fort Collins, a drug and alcohol prevention center, said that underage drinking is a function of what’s been modeled to teens. What they see in the media, friends and family teaches that alcohol is an important part of life and this puts teens at risk. “Alcohol works for them,” Crandall said. “It makes them feel better, but there are better ways—ways that don’t have the consequences that alcohol does.” Senior Jamie Kinne said that students don’t think about [drinking and driving] until after it happens. “Teens often think, ‘Oh, I can do this once and it won’t be a problem,’” Crandall said. “But that once may be catastrophic.” “Unless it hits close to home, people will do it,” Kinne said. “People believe
it will never actually happen to them.” However, in 2006 an estimated 15,827 people died in alcohol-related traffic crashes—an average of one every 33 minutes. “People need to consider others any time they get behind the wheel,” Gjerde said. “A car is one big piece of metal that can do damage. When people hamper their own brain and they can’t control that piece of equipment, it becomes a problem.” According to Crandall, at Team Fort Collins they don’t promote the “scare effect” to decrease the number of drunken drivers. However, they use the approach that students at Rocky are making good decisions. Last year, Crandall and his group, teamed up with Rocky, making the We Are the Pack (WATP) campaign that was seen throughout school. “The vast majority of students are not drinking and driving,” Crandall said. In the state of Colorado,
Holly Adams
THE MEMORIAL: A lightpole dedicated in Rebecca Allen’s memory on West Drake Road. This is where Daniel Price hit Allen while alledgedly driving drunk.
Price pays the Price in drunken driving accident by Holly Adams RMHighlighter reporter
One moment. One decision. Changed lives. For 20-year-old Daniel Price, a 2006 graduate, a couple sips of alcohol and a set of car keys ruined his life and ended another’s. In the early morning of July 22, Price was driving home from a party and collided with two cyclists, Rebecca Allen and Jennifer Garvey, on West Drake Road with suspicion of being under the influence of alcohol. Allen and Garvey were sent to nearby hospitals. Garvey was taken to
Jump to DRUNK, page A2
Jump to PRICE, page A2
New WebWasher frustrates students, staff by Holly Adams
RMHighlighter reporter
Yet again, the Poudre School District Internet is being upgraded with a new filtering system. Last year, the Internet thwarted students from visiting inappropriate sites by using Smartfilter, which
was a program that filtered through all of the URLs. This year, the district has switched to WebWasher, which also gives protection against malware and viruses. The system is even less flexible than last year according to students and staff. PSD IT Development
and Technical Services Director Teresa Cole justifies the change by describing how the new filter grants different access to students and staff members. “The driving force behind upgrading our filter was to have students and staff members have
different Internet access,” Cole said. “This gives teachers the flexibility to use additional Internet resources in their classroom while still meeting requirements of Child Internet Protection Act by applying more Jump to FILTER, page A2
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I thought is was pretty hard to get stuff last Tori year. But now I Emerson, have to really Senior search sites that will let me get the information I need.
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news
rocky mountain highlighter Sept.12.2008
Internet safety speech causes controversy by Colton Klemperer RMHighlighter reporter
On Tuesday, Aug. 19, Cheyenne police officer John F. Gay III upset many students and parents at Windsor High School after using students’ MySpace pages as examples in a presentation on Internet safety. According to reports, Gay called some of the students’ pictures “slutty” and commented that some of their sites attracted sexual predators. He displayed the MySpace pages of six or seven students and said hurtful remarks about the students’ comments, photos and related items until one student walked out in tears. Windsor sophomore Shayla Nordic said the officer pulled up her MySpace page and mocked her pictures and page in front of the entire sophomore class. He then called her cell phone number that he found on another site and called her up on the stage to prove it was legitimate. According to Nordic’s friends from the junior class who watched a separate presentation later that day, Gay showed Nordic’s pictures again and told the students that he had shared them with a sexual predator in prison. The predator supposedly told Gay that he would masturbate to Nordic’s picture and then “tear her apart.” In a later interview, Gay said
that he never shared her pictures with a sexual predator and the students misunderstood the point he was trying to make. In an interview with the Highlighter, Nordic said many of the students responded to Gay’s presentation by defending the students whose pages were used during the presentation she attended. “After I left the room, you could hear people yelling at him and trying to take the microphone,” Nordic said. Rocky junior Allie Daniels, who has a MySpace, said that it’s important for people to realize who is looking at what it is they put online, but Gay went too far. “I think it’s okay to scare them to prove a point, but not individually,” Daniels said. “He shouldn’t have to single people out.” While many students and parents are angry at Gay’s presentation, others are supporting Gay for revealing the dangers of MySpace. Windsor junior Evan Quint agrees that it wasn’t necessary for Gay to criticize Nordic in the way he did, but he also thinks Gay does have an important point he’s trying to get across. “He wants them to be aware that this is what happens; this is what’s going on,” Quint said. Quint also said he believes Gay could have delivered his message without hurting the feelings of
people at Windsor High School. “He should’ve just used a different example from another school,” Quint said. “He doesn’t have to come out and say that some sicko is going to do that.” Nordic said that although his presentation was offensive to her, she is supportive of the message Gay is trying to relate to students. “I completely agree with (Gay’s message),” Nordic said. “If he had seriously asked me to be an example, I would have backed him 100 percent.” Desire Mauch, a sophomore at Windsor, said she believes Gay’s comments were inappropriate despite the importance of the Internet safety message. “He totally crossed the line,” Mauch said. “Once she was in tears, he still kept harassing her.” Nordic has been a news subject in local newspapers as well as radio stations and television. In a Highlighter interview, Nordic said she has even been the subject of a call-in discussion on the radio station 96.1 KISS FM. “People were calling in and calling me a slut,” Nordic said. Despite this and other criticism of Nordic and her parents, Nordic is trying to stay positive and not let anything get to her. “Don’t let all the crap that other people give you bring you down,” Nordic said. GETTIN’ JIGGY WITH IT:
Starry Night theme set for Homecoming Homecoming week is approaching Sept. 21-27. The themes for each day are: Monday: Tie-Dye Day Tuesday: Favorite College Spirit Day Wednesday: Decade Day Thursday: “Go Green” Day Friday: Lobo Pride Day The Homecoming football game against Northglenn High School is on Friday, September 26 at 7 p.m. Students voted, and this year’s homecoming dance theme is “Starry night.” The dance is on Saturday, Sept. 27 from 8-11 p.m. Tickets cost $15 for singles and $25 for couples.
Senior Peers David Demchok (right), Cory Dale and Margaret Behm dance at the backto-school assembly to a mix of music from the ’90s. The Peers dance at the assembly to let the school know who is in the group.
briefs
Allison LeCain
Mallory Armstrong
NOT smoking group starting sessions Not On Tobacco is a 10-session program designed by the American Lung Association to help teens quit smoking. It not only helps teens stop
WebWasher
restrictive filtering to the students.” Since the beginning of the school year, Cole has been dealing with various bugs that need to be worked out of the system. “We’ve had reactions on both sides from frustration to excitement,” Cole said. “Many teachers are excited about the additional resources that will be available to them due to the separate staff policy. As we anticipated, we’ve had issues with various websites that we’ve had to work through.” However, the feedback to the new program is not as positive from most
smoking but it promotes healthy lifestyles, enhances self-control, improves life skills and more. The sessions start at the end of September. Those interested can contact counselor Gregg Knoll or counseling intern Erika Nordfelt for more information. Alex Clinton
Price
Photo Illustration by Sam Hyland
continued from A1
the Medical Center of the Rockies and her injuries were treated. Allen was transferred to Poudre Valley Hospital and died from her injuries. Price was arrested after the incident and booked at the Larimer County Detention Center for vehicular homicide, a Class 3 felony. He was later released on bond. “(Drinking and driving) is a problem that goes back to when I was in high school,” Assistant Principal, Brett Larsen said. “And it still hasn’t changed. The situation with Dan just hit close this time.” “It’s the fact that he’s only a couple years older than me,” added senior Vanessa Bisetti. “I think that’s what is the hardest thing for most people, including myself, to face. It’s a reality shock.” According to local stories of the incident, Garvey reported that Price wasn’t acting like an adult or taking any responsibility in the situation. However, she added that she wanted to see Price make a positive change in his life out of what had happened. “His life depends on the court’s decision,” Larsen said. “What happens the rest of his life will define him as a person. His life has changed like everyone’s in the accident.” Price was known as the kid that always wanted to have fun in high school and liked to mess around a lot, according to Larsen. He never seemed to know what he wanted for his future, though. “He’s always smiling and active,” Price’s close friend, Hunter Grondin said. “He’s never been a mean person, and he’s always so friendly.” According to Grondin, Price mentions something occasionally about the the case, but it is pretty personal so nobody tries to bring it up. “Dan might be hiding something,” Grondin said. “He’s a little quieter and I never ask him (about the accident). But he seems to be okay. He just has to live his life as best as possible.”
Drunk
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He’ll be someone who drove drunk and killed someone for the rest of his life.
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Brett Larsen, Assistant Principal
Grondin heard about the accident later in the day on July 22. “It’s one of the weirdest feelings I’ve ever had,” Grondin said. “My stomach literally sank. It’ll always be in the back of my mind.” Price was into the social scene in high school as well as after graduation. But in the long run, partying is what led him to the situation he finds himself facing today. “I just remember my sister coming home crying,” Bisetti said. “She was at the party and she is friends with him. I had mixed reactions because she was worried about him, where I put more focus on what he did.” Some people are blaming the people at the party who let Price alledgedly let him drink and drive. “To put yourself in that situation is bad,” Larsen said. “But his friends are as guilty as he is.” In the end, a majority of people believes that Price made a mistake and it hurt more than just himself. “There is never a situation where it is right [to drink and drive],” Bisetti said. “There are way too many alternatives than driving home drunk. There’s no excuse.” Price has yet to have his court date that determines what his final consequences are for his accident. When contacted by the Highlighter, Price refused to comment on the advice of his attorney. “He’ll be [known as] someone who drove drunk and killed someone for the rest of his life,” Larsen said. “Cherish what you have,” Grondin said. “Think about others, too. Life is about your family, your friends and others. It’s not just about yourself.”
continued from A1
alcohol absorption, or BAC, above .08 percent is considered intoxicated. That is all that is necessary for the driver to be subjected to a DUI penalty. Across the country there are “zero tolerance laws,” stating that persons under the age of 21 with a blood-alcohol level of .02 percent or higher
while driving will be convicted of DUI’s. “I have had several personal experiences with drunk driving, and it’s still hard for me to make sense of it,” Larsen said. “I don’t have any tolerance for it. I know it’s a trite term but it’s senseless because someone is too lazy they put other people in danger.”
Crystal Boyd, said who eventually teachers will be able to apply for broader access than the standard level to use for classroom instruction. Principal Tom Lopez will be the one who decides what level of access the teachers who apply can receive. The disadvantages to the new system, however, impact both teachers and students by limiting the resources they are allowed to use. “Teachers have to be more careful about what they want to see,” Boyd said. “It may not be blocked for the teacher, but it may be blocked for the student.”
Another staff member that has noted the difference is Cassie Poncelow, the secondary information management specialist. “I would say that there is a noticeable difference in terms of what is available for access.” Poncelow said. “There are an incredible amount of great websites that people access, mainly teachers, and now we can’t seem to access anything.” “I guess it’s just another thing were going to have to get used to,” Emerson said. “But it shouldn’t be something that holds us back from getting work done.”
continued from A1
students. “It’s really hard to use my off period to write papers and do other assignments,” senior Tori Emerson said. “It’s a little frustrating that I can’t work on some of my homework at school.” The new software has even gone as far as blocking curricular related sites such as, Virtual High School and United Streaming, that have been previously purchased and used by the school or district. “I thought it was pretty hard to get stuff last year,” Emerson said. “But now I have to really search for sites
that will let me get the information I need.” WebWasher is supposed to help prevent students from getting distracted, but teachers are being limited, as well. “For projects, I would use Google to help me with ideas,” math teacher Mike Callahan said. “Sometimes I would use educational websites for some help too because they always had some good, creative ideas. But now most of the sites I try and access are blocked, so it’s a little frustrating.” Media and technology manager,
rocky mountain highlighter Sept.12.2008
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news
CSAP slap
School officials scratch heads as 2008 scores take nosedive by Sam Hyland
RMHighlighter co-editor-inchief
This summer the 2008 Colorado Student Assessment Program scores were announced and at Rocky as well as state wide scores have dropped dramatically. “We dropped in all areas,” said Assistant Principal Karen Bennett, who is in charge of CSAP administering. Despite lower scores across the board, Bennett and the rest of the administrators are not too concerned. “There is more than one way to measure academic performance,” Bennett said. “Obviously, we were a little disappointed with the results, knowing how hard everyone works here.” Language arts department chair Tom Smailes agrees with Bennett. “The CSAP is an antiquated measurement device,” Smailes said. “There is little incentive for the student to do well. In theory, it measures growth, but without incentive, it is inaccurate.” Bennett speculates that the reason for the drop in scores is due to the announcement made by Governor Bill Ritter on his plan to try and get rid of CSAPs. This announcement was given in the middle of the CSAP testing sessions and many students
Rocky CSAP Performance Percent at or above proficient KEY English Reading
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Digital advances refute dumbest generation remarks
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could have taken that as a reason not to care about the test. “Standardized testing is very subjective,” Junior Class President Tyler Janzen said. “They are teaching new methods of how to do things to the younger classes that I have never even heard of before. I don’t think that the test makers take that into consideration.” Despite Bennett’s faith in the students and their testtaking abilities, she realizes that there is always room for improvement. “We need to continue to work on our culture of excellence,” Bennett said. “We need to work hard on test taking strategies and remember that even though these tests seem to not matter,
they are practice for the real world. You have to take tests all your life.” Smailes said he believes that the test is also an inaccurate portrayal of the student body because only one grade is tested out of the three grades. Janzen said he thinks that a way to the CSAP test can improve is if the test makers and curriculum makers work closer together. Alas, out of every negative there is a positive. “Sixty percent of minority students showed one year’s growth,” Bennett said. “That is a huge improvement.” Bennett hopes that the math scores especially will go back up next year with the new series of algebra put into its place in the curriculum.
They’re calling us the biggest group of slackers ever to walk this earth. “They” are the unhappy critics of our generation. America, according to the disapproving past generations, is going down the tubes and getting worse and worse with each passing day as teens and young adults become increasingly dim. Excess TV exposure, iPods, cell phones, junk food and not spending enough time outdoors or on school work are believed to be causing the spread of ignorance and laziness. The examples the older American generations point to are easy to find. Locally, the sophomore CSAP scores last year were the lowest they have been in years. Nationally, an article in Newsweek by Sharon Begley and Jeneen Interlandi stated that 30 percent of 18- to 24-year-olds in a 2004 survey believe the world’s most heavily defended border is between the U.S. and Mexico. In 2006, 67 percent couldn’t give a decent explanation for a photo of a sign hanging from a theater entrance reading “colored entrance.” You could say that the past generations have a point. However, they don’t have a case when you consider how scientifically advanced our generation has become. It is our generation that is working to find alternative fuel sources for transportation. Also, according to the same Newsweek article, Intelligence Quotient scores have continued to rise each year since the ’30s. This brings me to the conclusion that just because much of our generation doesn’t know simple facts doesn’t mean we’re
Smarterer Than You
Colton Klemperer stupid. It means we are spending our time learning other information, such as how to download music or create a spreadsheet in Microsoft Excel. Few people of the previous generations can tell you how to research a paper using the Internet. The iPods and the excess television are easy for older American generations to point to because it’s the biggest difference between our youth and theirs. They assume that we don’t learn the same lessons they did because our teenage lives are completely different. The digital age has changed the way we process information, and that doesn’t have to be a bad thing. If we choose to get our news from the Internet rather than a newspaper, it’s not out of ignorance for reading, it’s for convenience. It’s just a different learning style because we’ve created easier ways to find and comprehend information. Every new generation has its problems, and is therefore it’s easy for older generations to criticize. But you can’t say we’re all idiots just because not all of us know simple facts. Sure, many in our generation need to find ways to make themselves useful, but you could say that about people in any age group. Colton Klemperer is a junior and a reporter for the Highlighter.
Summer parking renovation upsets senior class
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Preparation for freshman eliminates west senior parking lot by Mallory Armstrong RMHighlighter reporter
Over the summer, Rocky’s west senior lot was eliminated and converted to angular parking designed for parent pick up and drop off of students in preparation for the freshman moving in the fall of 2009. According to Human Relations Liaison Jim Gjerde, 95 percent of seniors drive to school. These seniors were outraged that they are forced to find a decent parking space in the early hours of the morning because the approximately 310 parking spaces in the east lot fill up so quickly. “By 7:30 a.m., the senior lot is completely filled up,” Gjerde said. Many students do not fully understand the reasoning behind removing the west senior lot. “There wouldn’t be enough room for parent pick up and drop off if seniors are in the way [of the west lot],” Gjerde said. “We also want to avoid parents waiting in the front of the school and also I hope that student vandalism will be reduced when the whole population is parking in the east lots.” Also, once the freshmen roll into Rocky next year, over half the students will not be able to drive. This leads to more room
Next time [a junior with a senior parking pass] sees [their] car, it will be behind a tow-truck.
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Jim Gjerde, human relations liaison
for a parent pick up and drop off area.This will leave barely enough room for even the 140 staff members to be parking. “We [the administration] do try to propose car pooling,” Gjerde said. Years ago, parking at school used to be first come first serve, staff included. As Athletic Director Wayne Moddelmog put it, ‘The early bird would get the worm.’ “I think seniors deserve that little kudo, and so that’s why I fought for senior parking back in 1995,” Gjerde said. Assistant Principal Marian Kolstoe said she believes that the main issue is that seniors aren’t getting close enough to the school, causing seniors to be angry that they cannot exercise their privilege of parking closer. “[Rocky seniors] do have a pretty decent deal here,” Moddelmog said. “It’s all about walking 50 or more feet, and next year in college, you’ll have to pay to park
and walk 5,050 feet.” There has also been some confusion regarding the issue that some juniors have been getting away with using senior parking hangers, giving possible explanation to why the senior lot fills up so quickly this year. Although senior Xia Wilson gets to school early each day to park preferably close, she still feels strongly about the issue. “It makes me feel cheated,” Wilson said. “They think that they can get away with anything, when they should actually wait their turn like the rest of us.” Recently, the administration has made the arrangement to give seniors another lot, which is directly east of the bus circle. New signs are now posted in front of this lot saying “senior parking only,” so that there is no more confusion even with underclassmen parking there. The administration is not taking it lightly. “Next time [a junior with a senior parking pass] sees [their] car, it will be behind a tow-truck,” Gjerde said. “This is something we really need to address and take care of,” Moddelmog said after explaining that if any senior sees an underclassmen with a senior parking pass, he or she needs to report the car immediately.
Aliese Willard
TRAFFIC JAM: Students try to exit the east parking lot during lunch time. Since the renovation of the west lot to a pick up and drop off area for parents this summer, the rest of the school is forced to park in the east lots. Being condensed onto one side of the school makes arriving at school, leaving for lunch and leaving at the end of the day difficult.
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Staff Editorial
rocky mountain highlighter Sept.12.2008
Parking problems persist
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hen the seniors of 2009 heard that the new freshmen were coming to Rocky after they graduated, it was a relief. At Issue: T h e y Senior weren’t goparking ing to have to put up situation still with what problem. would surely be the hectic times ahead. But when the seniors returned to Our View: school this Administrators year for their are trying, but last year of high school situation still and the last not solved. year of a three-grade configuration, they were informed about the new parking situation, which limited their area to one small lot of 300 spaces, and hectic times began
and still weren’t getting a spot in the senior lot. The west parking lot was turned into a drop off/pick up zone for parents in an effort to relieve this kind of traffic on West Swallow Road and in anticipation of more drop off/pick up volume next year with the freshmen. Because of the poorly advertised changes,
anyway. Over the summer, the administration took out the west senior parking lot, which only gave seniors the close-in yet small east side parking lot. It wasn’t until the first day of school when students became concerned with the new situation. Students were getting to school earlier than they usually would
many students and parents seem to be confused about the new parking situation. Additionally, we also feel that taking away the west parking lot is unfair for seniors this year and an unnecessary move overall. Looking back on the first week of school, there’s only one word to describe the parking lot
situation: madness. After about a week of seniors complaining about parking at the back of the junior lot, at least the administrators decided that the southeast parking lot should also be made into a senior parking lot. Although the administrators were trying to help by giving seniors additional designated parking, seniors can’t help but to still be a little aggravated. The seniors of this year lost about half the parking that they used to have and the privileges of parking close became limited. Additionally, with all the student parking lots now on one side of the building, the student car flow in and out at lunch and after school is dangerously congested.
Kindergartners teach lessons of listening Kindergarten is the basis for every child’s education. You learn to share, care and that coloring inside the lines isn’t always necessary. So, since kindergarten is the basis for learning, wouldn’t it make sense we learn from it? Working in childcare, I get to work with children quite often. I have never learned so much about life as I do when I work with children. And one of the most important things they have taught me recently is how to be a good listener. Our latest lesson in Peers class happened to be learning the valuable skill of listening. After watching skits about poor listeners (i.e. people who are distracted easily, always relate the problems back to themselves or just don’t care in general), we
The Highs and Lows Sam Hyland read a script about how to be a good listener. The scene included two teens talking about fighting with their parents. The two students acted out the main theme of the story, which was to listen to the person’s problems and repeat what he/she is saying to get them to elaborate more on his/her issues. For example, “I am so frustrated with my mother” and the reply from the listener would be “so your
highlighter
rocky mountain
Editors-in-chief Sam Hyland Jill Petrie News Editor Sam Hyland
Features Editor Courtney Bellio Center Section Editor Jill Petrie
Limelight Editor Chris Peters Sports Editor Loren Collins
Viewpoint Editor Katelyn Hunter Advertising Managers Dawit Assefa Faith-Ann Chen
mother is upsetting you?” Sounds silly right? It sounded redundant and that the listener was mimicking the person with the problem. It actually started to get annoying. I left that day feeling even more uncertain about the “listen and repeat” technique. It wasn’t until that night that at work I understood why repeating someone is such an important part of being a good listener. A little girl came up to me that day at and said excitedly, “My shoes are green.” I looked at her and smiled and then returned my attention to the rest of the childcare. Then she began lightly tapping on my knee to get my attention, so I glanced at her again. “My shoes are green. I have green shoes. These shoes are green,” she said anxiously.
That was when it clicked. “Your shoes are green,” I repeated back to her happily. “Yah!” she replied. She then proceeded to tell me all about where she got them and how much she loved them. That night, the little girl proved why the listen and repeat procedure worked. She needed me to confirm that I was listening by repeating what she said. And by repeating what she said she felt comfortable enough to talk about her green shoes for a solid five minutes. So next time you are listening to a friend in need, try to assure them that you hear them loud and clear by repeating them. Because, trust me, a little rephrasing goes a long way. Sam Hyland is a senior and coeditor-in-chief for the Highlighter
The Rocky Mountain Highlighter is published nine times during the school year by the newspaper staff of Rocky Mountain High School/1300 W. Swallow Rd./Fort Collins, CO 80526. Contact Rocky Mountain Highlighter staff members at 970-488-7090 or 970-4887091 for advertising information. Also the Rocky Mountain Highlighter staff is in the Highlighter room, Room 528, during 4th period.
Highlighter Editorial Policy
OT Editors Sam Hyland Dawit Assefa Paul Lukens
Reporters Holly Adams Kenna Alaxander Alex Clinton Colton Klemperer Allison LeCain Greg Lewis Paul Lukens
Torrie Moss Chris O’Grady Jessica Powers Adam Walker Aliese Willard Alexa Zafarana Mallory Armstong Artist Seth Roberts Adviser Stephen Wahlfeldt
The Rocky Mountain Highlighter is a student news publication which strives to report school and community events with truth, accuracy, objectivity, and clarity. The Highlighter will also comment on issues of interest to its readers. The purposes of this publication are to report the news to the Rocky Mountain High School community, to provide the school community with a public forum for thoughtful discussion and debate, and to provide students on the newspaper staff with practical journalism experience. In order to make the 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 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 Highlighter editorial board to express the views of the writer or quoted person. Expression which is false “as to any person who is not a public figure or involved in a matter of public concern” will not be printed. “Expressions which are in violation of lawful school regulations designed to control gangs” will not be printed. In the event of a potential controversial item, the editorial board --consisting of all the editors, the advertising manager, and the adviser --will meet to discuss the merits of the item and then decide whether or not to print the item. Coverage of deaths which occur within the Rocky community will be carefully considered by the editorial board. Natural or accidental deaths will be reported for clarifications of death and will contain a memorial. Except in extreme circumstances, suicides will not be covered to reduce glorification of such acts. In general, the Highlighter observes the guidelines presented in the
Letters
CSU-CU game should be at Invesco Dear Editor, I remember the bright sea of green, gold and black as if it were yesterday. The first time I went to the CU vs CSU game, I could feel the passion and intensity of the crowd. It’s a feeling that I anticipate every year. I am so bummed that the tradition of the game is being moved from Invesco. Having the game held at Invesco offers a neutral setting. Now, wherever the game is played one school will dominate the stands. Since the game has been held at Invesco the competitivness between the schools has been represented through the fans. Hopefully, after the next two years, the annual football game will be played at Invesco again. Ellen Cooper, senior “Code of Ethics” of the Society of Professional Journalists. The 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-inchief 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 Highlighter staff member, Highlighter adviser Stephen Wahlfeldt, or drop them by the Highlighter room, Room 528, during 4th period. Letters may also be mailed to the Rocky Mountain Highlighter, Rocky Mountain High School, 1300 W. Swallow Rd., Fort Collins, CO 80526. To talk with anyone on the Highlighter staff, phone (970) 488-7090. Columnists express their own views and not necessarily those of the Highlighter staff. No expression made by students of the Rocky Mountain Highlighter shall be considered an expression of school board or Rocky Mountain High School policy. Furthermore, Poudre School District and its employees are immune from any civil or criminal action based on any expression made or published by the students. All advertisement is welcome. To place an ad, contact Highlighter advertising managers at (970) 488-7091. The Highlighter, however, reserves the right to refuse advertising which the staff considers inappropriate for our audience. The Highlighter is a member of the ASNE/MCT Campus High School Newspaper Service, and some material is courtesy of that service.
rocky mountain highlighter Sept.12.2008
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v iewpoint
Talkin With the Ex-Prez. Alex Clinton
Fighting not necessary in high school What does fighting prove? Who does name-calling harm? What does threatening someone show about your character? If I got beat up, I wouldn’t be any more scared of the person who beat me up just because they knocked me out. You’re not any tougher or cooler in my book. I really don’t understand what the big hype about fighting is. The only thing it proves is whether you can take a hit or not. Recently, I have heard about too many incidents where some kind of violence was included. One of my friends was cut by a group of people in the lunch line and after weeks of being pushed around, she finally confronted them about it. What she got back from the group was being threatened with a knife and having vulgar names being thrown at her. At lunch the other day, I drove to a close-by convenient store to get something quick to eat. As I was walking up to the door, two separate groups of people were calling each other ill-worded names and strutting up to each other like they were about to go into battle. Each group was so pumped about getting into a fight, I had to shake my head and wonder what they were thinking. I couldn’t see any point to them getting into a fight. It’s not that hard to ignore a name someone is calling you. We’re almost out of high school now. Aren’t we supposed to be growing up and getting out of these stupid phases? Do you really think you can get away with punching your boss when they tell you that you’re not good enough? No, you’ll get fired. So what is fighting teaching the kids that choose to partake in the madness? What are they learning from sinking their fist into their enemy’s stomach? I really don’t think that there is anything you can take away from the experience except for bruises and possibly a medical bill. So how about we all get over ourselves and stop trying to be better than everyone else. People are all equal no matter the group you hang out with, your gender, race, sexual orientation or beliefs. There are always going to be people who disagree with you. That’s no reason to punch them in the face. Alex Clinton is a senior and a reporter for the Highlighter.
Beat of the street How has the new parking situation affected you?
Police speaker strikes MySpace nerve Officer should be revered Nothing is a better teacher than public embarrassment. John F. Gay III, a Cheyenne police officer, was well aware of this fact as he lectured to Windsor High School students about Internet safety on Aug. 19. He used a current Windsor student’s MySpace pictures to point out their easy accessibility to the entire student body, showing the students’ faces, names and anything else that could be accessed from a computer. His approach was simple: to show students how easily anybody
could find their pictures online and do what they wished with them. Parents and other students frowned upon this approach as an invasion of privacy, but Gay’s point should be looked at as educational. What is posted on the Internet is available to anyone, a point he tried to make very clear. Gay’s stance on the issue of privacy was obvious as he presented the harsh reality of online privacy or lack there of. Students needed to learn that what they post on the Internet is in no way safe or private.
Gay’s approach of showing photos to a convicted sex offender sends a strong, haunting message: anyone can access what is put on the Internet; that sexual predators are out there and MySpace is not a safe outlet from these predators. Gay’s comments concerning a specific sexual predator with whom he shared students’ provocative photos, proved to be overwhelming proof that the horrors of sexual predators are real. Only something as raw and to the point of interaction with sexual predators can ensure that
the message will reach these students. Gay should not be looked down upon, rather looked up to and embraced by parents. Parents, of all people, should be the most satisfied with what he has done. He has successfully gotten across a point that numerous institutions have failed to portray; he has succeeded in the field of influential speaking. If more people had courage even similar to Gay’s, the world would be a much safer, and more knowledgeable place to live, at least for teens. -Chris Peters
stitute sexual harassment, it’s a Police Officer. It was made clear by Gay’s conduct that he either does not know that or just flat-out doesn’t care. Gay used Nordic’s MySpace page and photos as an example of the dangers of social networking sites in a presentation he gave to Windsor High School on Internet safety. He pulled up Nordic’s photos called them “slutty.” “He stared telling me that I was basically asking to be raped,” Nordic said. It is statements like that perpetuates the notion that the victims of sexual crime were “asking for it” and place blame not on the individuals who commit such disgusting crimes but on those who are
targets. Way to go, Gay. Side with the rapists. As though his initial comment wasn’t disgusting enough, Gay proceeded to tell Nordic and the rest of the assembly that sexual predator masturbates to students’ MySpace photos. In Gay’s words, the predator wanted to, “tear her apart.” Gay should know; he claimed to have shown him Nordic’s pictures. Other students in teh auditorium say that even after Nordic had left the auditorium in tears, Gay continued to harass her; he used websites to hack into her page, which she had set as private, and revealed her phone number. In the weeks since the
incident, Nordic has been the subject of numerous articles and radio discussions, in which she has been subject to strangers calling her a slut. Classmates have asked Nordic if she has been raped yet. Gay’s behavior is completely unacceptable. While the point that he was trying to make was valid, the way that he attempted to make it was wildly inappropriate and tasteless. If the only way Gay can think to get a message across is to make vulgar comments and harass 16-year-old girls, perhaps he needs a new lesson plan. Sexual harassment is never acceptable, especially to make a point, and above all, by a police officer. -Jill Petrie
Tug -oWar Officer gives unacceptable presentation
According to the U.S. Equal Opportunity Employment Commission, sexual harassment is defined as, “unwelcome verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature when this conduct explicitly or implicitly affects an individual’s employment, unreasonably interferes with an individual’s work performance, or creates an intimidating, hostile, or offensive work environment.” On Aug. 19 Shaylah Nordic, a sophomore at Windsor High School, was sexually harassed by John F. Gay III, a Cheyenne Police Officer. If anyone should know what does and does not con-
“It’s very upsetting when we get to school 15 minutes early and there’s no senior parking.”
“I think it’s very congested. It takes forever to get in and out.”
Kaely Butterfield, junior
“I find the directional arrows inconvenient, but there’s plenty of space in the staff parking.”
Roberta Casnellie, senior
“It looks confusing, but it really doesn’t affect me.”
Kenyon Kreisher, sophomore
Jennifer Adams, teacher
“I think it stinks, and it’s overcrowded.”
Troy Armstead, junior
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sports
rocky mountain highlighter Sept.12.2008
Soccer continues momentum Freeman sets example by Chris O’Grady
FOOTLOOSE: Senior Sam Doty fights off a Poudre player in a 3-1 Lobo victory on Sep. 2. The boys have high hopes this year after reaching the semifinals last season.
RMHighlighter reporter
The boys’ soccer reached unparalleled heights last season when the team made it to the state semi-final. “Confidence, momentum, focus,” head coach Daniel Ibanez said on what the team gained from last season. “When we were still playing at the end of the season, when almost everyone else was sitting at home, at that moment, it stopped being just a potential and became a reality.” “Coming up short last year has made everyone on the team want it more,” senior goalkeeper Clay Sale said. “We all remember what it was like and we know what it takes to get back.” In addition to the playoff experience, the 2-0 Lobos return a very large senior class, whose leadership will be key. “We have a lot of seniors, so it will really be a group leadership thing,” Sale said. “That way everyone can contribute with their own individual abilities.” Ibanez said he looks to the likes of Sale, junior forward Jeff Westra, senior keeper Roberto Perez and seniors Alex Borchert, Wes Miller and Gavin Hall to lead the team. The sleeper for the Lobos
Courtney Bellio
could be budding offensive star, junior Ross Williams, who Ibanez said has shown the greatest improvement in the offseason. “Ross Williams is playing out of his mind,” Ibanez said. “Last season I had to play defense for the first time at a high level,” Williams said. “This year I got moved to offense, which
is my more natural position, so I get to play where I feel more comfortable.” The real question is how far will the team go this year? “If we work hard, I mean really hard, (and) if we rally around each other and let selfish ambition die as we grow towards our team goals, we should do just fine,” Ibanez said.
High hopes for gymnastics team By Alexa Zafarana RMHighlighter reporter
One word can describe the gymnastics team this year: potential. With a coach returning for her second year, plenty of senior experience and a reputation to fulfill, the Lobos have quite the chance this season. “I expect our team to work together and stay positive,” senior Bekah Kyle said. “We are going to make it to state.” The Lobo gymnastics team has a reputation for making it far in the season. They were undefeated and won state three years ago. Two years ago they won conference and regionals. Since then it’s been an uphill battle although they are 1-0 so far this year. The goals in the season reflect the high expecations they hold as a team. They are hop-
ing to improve from last year’s season. “We’ve really grown as a group this year,” coach Kim Hufford said. “The team is stronger and closer than last year, and I think we are working toward the same goals.” One of the struggles the team faces this season is staying healthy. Gymnastics is a high impact sport, and a lot of the girls are already injury prone. “Right now, injury and illness are causing us some problems,” Hufford said. This year’s team is senior stacked. Their veteran experience gives them a huge advantage. “Stephanie Pollard and Sammy Grondin are going to make big contributions to the team,” Hufford said. “If injuries don’t stop them, Bekah Kyle, Anna Vendl and Jaia Sattler will also make a difference for us.”
for boys’ golf team By Greg Lewis
RMHighlighter reporter
Practice, practice and more practice. There’s an age-old theory which states that practice makes perfect. In the case of senior golfer Cameron Freeman, this theory is near true. “To improve my game this summer, I got lots of lessons from Lauren Howe, and I played in a ton of junior Colorado events, which always make me step my game up to the next level,” said Freeman, the boys’ golf team’s top player. During the season, Feeman’s hard work and determination has certainly paid off. As the season winds down, Freeman leads the team with an average score of 74, and finding a more talented golfer in the local area is not an easy task. Despite Freeman’s exceptional season, the team is young and inexperienced. Currently, Freeman is the heart and soul of Rocky golf. However, next season he will pass the torch onto a new class of senior golfers. Freeman’s absence will leave very large shoes to fill. However, he believes that all his fellow teammates need is a little practice. The returning team knows what they need to do individually in order to improve as well and they await the challenge with open arms. “I’m going to practice and play
Football
Loren Collins
A GRACEFUL POSE: Junior Stephanie Pollard balances on the balance beam during a meet. The team hopes to make improvements from last year.
as much as possible to improve because that’s the only way I’m going to improve,” junior Matt Balchack said. “I’m struggling with my swing this season, but I can feel a turnaround soon.” Fellow junior Travis Sanders said that he plans to practice as much as possible and play in a league this summer. He knows his weaknesses and hopes to sharpen his skills to help him become a leader next season. “(I need to work on) driving straight because if you can’t get the ball in the fairway, then you can’t score,” Sanders said. Whatever the problem, the golf team is determined to come back stronger next year. In the meantime, Freeman’s high school career is nearing a close and the state tournament is quickly approaching. Freeman is hoping to pursue a possible golf scholarship, and he said that his goal is to play professionally. However, right now his focus is on this year’s remaining tournaments. “Nearing the end of my season, my biggest challenge will be to get my scoring average down to around par [is my goal],” Freeman stated. “I need to make sure going into regionals and state that my game is in top form.” After Freeman’s 12th overall ranking in last year’s state tournament and exceptional play this season, there is no doubt that his presence will be missed.
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well exceed expectations and make a significant impact. “Some players to watch for [on offense] are Mike Sidell, J.T. Leidholdt,” Nelson said. “Watch out for Ermias Abebe on defense.” The team was strong out of the gates in the opener against Horizon, getting off to a quick lead. However, after halftime, the team began to slow down, and Horizon caught up within a few scores. The Lobos had to pick up the pace to fend off Horizon. “Finishing needs work; we settled in the Horizon game, and they came back,” Stewart said.
Through all the intensive training they’ve gone through in the last few months to prepare for the season, the team hasn’t lost their spirit. They remain more tightly bound than ever. “Football is truly a unique sports where the coaching phrase of ‘you are only as good as your weakest link’ really holds true,” Brook said. “Our strength and successes on and off the field will come from the character and unity of our entire team.” A key showdown will occur tonight as the Lobos play Legacy High School at French Field.
Cross country dreams big By Adam Walker
RMHighlighter reporter
Supports the LOBOS Happy Hour
From 2 p.m.-4 p.m.
The one true goal of the cross country team is taking home the precious state title. Second year head coach Matt Scott is very excited about the upcoming season. He hopes to get as many runners as possible qualified for state. “We are really looking forward to competing well this year,” Scott said. “I really hope we can finish top five in state.” This year’s team has a couple of seniors who are ready to lead the way back to state. Seniors Nikki Long and Cassie Ortiz have high expectations for themselves and the team this year.
“I really want to break the personal record and lead this team,” Long said. “We have a lot of new underclassmen runners this year, so hopefully we can get them situated and have a great year.” Long thinks that one critical aspect of getting where the team needs to be is improving the teams pack time, which is the difference between the finishing times of the first and seventh runner. “We want our last runner to be as close to the front as possible,” Long said. Two runners to keep an eye on as the season progresses are freshmen Arie Monroe and Mackenzie Doty. On the boys’ side, seniors
Kevin Aiken and Danny Fisher are two runners who are ready to take charge themselves. “Fisher is a huge motivator who has worked extremely hard over the summer,” Scott said. “He did track last year and has been one of the leaders on this team so far.” Aiken brings experience and a great attitude to the boys’ side as well. Aiken has been running for four years and doesn’t plan to stop anytime soon. “Running is my life and I absolutely love it,” Aiken said. “I plan to keep running after high school and hopefully at CSU in the future.” The teams are at the Liberty Bell Invitational today.
rocky mountain highlighter Sept.12.2008
sports
MacMaster leads tennis team SERVIN’ IT UP: Junior Casey MacMaster makes a serve during a home match on Sept. 2 against Poudre. The Lobos boys’ tennis team is off to a 2-2 start this year, while MacMaster is 4-0 as the No. 1 singles player.
by Adam Walker RMHighlighter reporter
Paul Lukens
The boys’ tennis season is underway and junior No. 1 singles player Casey MacMaster has high expectations for himself and the team. MacMaster is looking to bounce back from a year ago where he finished second at state in the No. 2 singles as a sophomore. Teammates say the 6-foot-4 MacMaster is working extremely hard to get back where he was two years ago when he was the No. 3 singles state champion as a freshman. “He’s an incredibly hard worker,” senior team captain and No. 2 singles player Andrew Willard said. “He does a lot of conditioning after practice and is always competing in tournaments so he can be on top of his game when the season starts.” MacMaster’s ultimate goal this year is getting back to state and winning it as a No. 1 singles player. He is 4-0 so far this season, while the team is 2-2. “As a team goal I hope we can
get as many qualifiers for state as possible. As an individual goal I am working towards another state championship,” MacMaster said. MacMaster is now one of the leaders on the team with the loss of senior Will Vasos, who was last year’s No. 1 singles state champion. Also, to the underclassmen, MacMaster considers himself a good example of what hard work can bring someone. It won’t be easy making it back to state, but MacMaster feels no pressure. “I don’t feel that much pressure moving up to No. 1,” McMaster said. “As long as I stay on top of my game, I feel confident about making it back to state.” Willard is also looking forward to a very fun and successful year with the addition of new coach Bruce Malloy who is taking over for Bobbe Bennett-Vasos. “He really emphasizes having fun and working hard everyday at practice,” Willard said. “I think we will really blossom in the second half of the season, once we get our new guys situated.”
Rugby overcomes shortage of players by Alex Clinton RMHighlighter reporter
For the past eight years, the girls’ Fort Collins Youth Rugby team has dominated the field by winning the state championship six out of nine total seasons. This year it’s different. It is only a few weeks into the season and the girls are struggling with several issues. They barely have enough players to admit themselves as a team this year, which is quite a change from previous years where the program drew in 30-40 players each season. “Last season almost our whole team was seniors so we’ve had a difficult time getting enough girls to fill a team,” said assistant coach Abi Bundy, a 2008 graduate. “It’s difficult to have a solid recruiting strategy,” head coach Cary Dickens said. This year, many of the schools the team has tried recruiting from have ignored or banned information flyers or announcements about practices. The team thinks that one of
Jessica Powers
REACHING FOR THE STARS: Senior Alex Clinton lunges high for the ball during a 22-5 loss on Sept. 6. The Fort Collins Youth rugby team is now 0-2 on the season.
the reasons as to why there are not many interested this year is because of the general misconceptions of the sport. “People think it’s a really rough sport,” senior Hannah Harmes said. “But it’s not if played correctly.”
Harmes has been playing for six seasons and hopes that the team pulls through this year. “It’s my senior year, I want to make it to state one more time,” she said. Another problem that is making this season questionable is
the cancelation of the players’ ability to practice on their usual field. The girls have been practicing at Boltz Junior High School’s field since the team started. They have had problems in the past with the school district seemingly discriminating against the sport and this year they started requiring permits to practice on the field, but had already given them all out before coach Dickens even knew about the changes. “It really feels as though PSD is attacking the rugby team by making it difficult to practice,” Dickens said. “They installed a fence around the football fields and are not allowing us access.” But even though this season is proving to be quite difficult for the team, they are persistent and hopeful for the future. They are searching for a permanent practice field and continuing to recruit players. “There are so many people you can meet through this game,” Harmes said. “We’re a team, even after the season is over.”
New coaches energize volleyball by Colton Klemperer RMHighlighter reporter
With two new coaches and a strong, energized team, the volleyball team is set for whatever comes its way. As the season begins, the Lobos are showing a strong, agile offense as well as quick-thinking defense. With six returning seniors and two juniors, the team is poised to go far this season. The squad is 1-1, with a strong 30 win against Poudre and a tough 3-0 loss against Collins. Adding to the anticipation of this season is the addition of coach Brett Larsen and the
return of coach Jay Dukart. After being absent from coaching Rocky volleyball for four years, Dukart is eager to coach for Rocky once again. He looks forward to another great year on the court, and admires the way the girls work together during each game. “This group has good chemistry, a very positive chemistry,” Dukart said. “They play well together. They’re very collegial.” Junior Michie Johnson said that her coaches have helped enhance her volleyball career immensely. “(I) love them,” she said.
“
I think we definitely have some strengths to capitalize on, and we’ll do well
”
Amanda Brumit, senior
“Duke’s taught me more this season than I learned all club (outside non-school team) season.” Senior Amanda Brumit agrees. “I think they’re great. They taught me that there’s a time and place for everything.” Brumit said that her biggest
goals for the season are to “Make it to state, and (to play) our game throughout the entire match.” Dukart said he believes it will be difficult to predict how the season will progress, but there are many positive aspects of the team this year that will help them go far. He really appreciates how well the team plays together as a whole. “Looking at the team, I think we definitely have some strengths to capitalize on, and we’ll do well,” Dukart said. “Those nine individuals become one organism. They don’t have a lot of personal conflicts.”
Trend
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continued from A8 seen in the gym, on the field and in the classroom. Rocky athletes, teachers and students
are discovering the physical and mental benefits of the ancient practice. “The physical benefits of yoga go on and on, but the main thing is that it has been proven to reduce stress, which is related to 99 percent of all disease and illness,” CorePower Yoga instructor Klara Roupp said. Yoga literally means “union,” referring to the union of the body and mind. “Yoga has changed my life,” Roupp said. “I cannot imagine being able to make ordinary mundane things in life and be present in them if it wasn’t for yoga.” Senior Allison Mecklenburg just began taking yoga classes at CorePower Yoga. “I heard good things about yoga from other people,” Mecklenburg said. “I heard it was good for stress management and strength training, and I wanted both of those.” For counselor Pam Kilness, it has become a family affair. She attends yoga classes along with her son and daughter. “There are a lot of benefits both physical and mental,” Kilness said. “Everyone is busy and wound up that it’s good to quiet our brains.” With yoga being a gentler practice on the body, it attracts all different ages, abilities and genders. “I first started yoga over 11 years ago,” Roupp said. “I have yet to meet someone yoga does not benefit. With that said, everyone should do it.” Roupp also commented on yoga’s appeal. “I personally think our society is so hungry for something that is different, something that carries us off of our mats and into the world where we can start being the change we wish we could see,” Roupp said.
Yoga
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Justin Hersch, the team would organize outings to Breathe Yoga
studio about twice a week from the middle of June until late August. The groups would consist of anywhere around 4-14 players and were entirely voluntary. “It helps you stretch and control you’re breathing,” senior tight end Cam Bourdon said. “It improved my flexibility and also may prevent me from having some injuries this season. I feel faster and looser when I play.” Hersch became interested in yoga after hearing the trainers talk about improving his flexibility. “I am not the most flexible guy, so I thought that I would give it a try,” Hersch said. Zero hour weights instructor Mike Dyer has also added yoga to his curriculum. “We do yoga to give the kids a day to rest,” Dyer said. “With all the sports going on this time of year, doing yoga can help aid with the soreness.” Currently, the weights class uses video tapes for yoga, but Dyer hopes that one of his practicum students from Colorado State University will eventually teach the class. If not, he plans to take over the yoga portion of the course.
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Collin You Out
Loren Collins
Baseball wins in tough choice Talent is quite a gift. Among the names of the Rocky greats that have moved on to top collegiate programs, such as Bachman, both Curtis twins, Vasos, Kelly and Burns, you can add two more. By the end of this year, the new addtions to that list shouldn’t surprise you: Jake Stewart and Bryan Peters. Both will be handed some pretty hefty scholarships to pretty dang good schools of Stanford and Nebraska. However, what I’d like to point out is that while it seems like both of these guys are being scouted and recruited by everybody for everything, they both chose the same sport to commit to. So what have the star three-sport athletes decided on? Our nation’s very own favorite pastime: baseball. I can’t say that I blame them. However, as both a fan and former Rocky athlete, I realize that by no means would the choice have been easy. Don’t get me wrong; basketball and football both have their alluring elements. However, there’s just a little something special about basebal: It seems to have something to enjoy for everyone. For one, there’s the overall pace of the game, which can be enjoyed by players and fans alike. With one pitch, you go through the roller coaster ride that runs between a lull, suspense and an explosive burst of action that can change the entire game. There’s also the ability as a player to contribute on both sides of the game more than in other sports. One can slug a homer and then go play some defense by pulling off a diving catch or turning a double play and saving a run in the field. If you love strategy, try making a bullpen call with the bases loaded and 1 man out in the 5th inning. I also imagine that it doesn’t hurt that we’re amidst Rocky baseball’s glory days too. So, with that being said, props to Stewart, Peters, and all the other Lobo athletes out there. Congrats to a job well done; keep it up, and follow your passion, as it just may lead to great things. Loren Collins is a senior and sports editor for the Highlighter
s
ports
Inside: Boys’ tennis looks toward state, A7
Tackling the
rocky mountain highlighter Sept.12.2008
yoga test
BODY AND MIND AT PEACE: Football players execute different yoga poses during their zero hour weights class.
by Sam Hyland
RMHighlighter co-editor-in-chief
Imagine a quiet room full of padded mats with a soothing voice instructing you to move into the warrior position. Your mind is able to focus on itself for a change. Then fill the room with solidly built football players. Although the above image is not a common one, it is something you may see during the sports seasons from now on. This summer the football program integrated yoga classes into its summer workout schedule.
Sam Hyland
Yoga culture spreads among student body
And while the players weren’t forced to take the classes, the members that did seemed to greatly enjoy it. “We have always preached the positive benefits of yoga to the players,” head coach Mark Brook said. “They were really proactive this year and took the initiative to go out there and take classes on their own.” Led by senior linebacker
by Alexa Zafarana RMHighlighter reporter
Exercise techniques are always changing. Celebrities are doing it. Athletes and teams are doing it, too; even a high profile basketball program like the Los Angeles Lakers are getting involved. People of all sizes and capabilities are drawn into the rise of yoga; a 5,000-year-old practice that began in India is now surging in the United States. Yoga has recently spread to the Rocky community, where it’s new popularity can be
Jump to YOGA, page A7 Katelyn Hunter
Jump to TREND, page A7
Unbeaten Lobos face test in home opener by Chris Peters
RMHighlighter Limelight editor
Sam Hyland
QUARTERBACK SNEAK: Senior quarterback Bryan Peters dives over the line and into the end zone in the game against Horizon High School. The Lobos won the contest, 34-24. The Lobos are 2-0 and face off against Legacy High School tonight.
Despite the several new teams entering the Front Range League this season, the football players remain focused on themselves, realizing that success starts with them, not anybody else. The new additions to the league include Boulder, Fairview and Mountain Range high schools. However, the 2-0 Lobos are not changing how they prepare for their opponents. “We will prepare for our new opponents just as we prepare for our traditional league opponents,” head
coach Mark Brook said. Even though their outlook on the season remains the same, the team has been trying different philosophies out on the practice field. “We’ve been doing different defensive looks on scout (team), watching game film, and a lot of conditioning,” sophomore tailback Braden Nelson said. Senior wide receiver Jake Stewart said that coaches remain most concerned about Rocky after close seasonopening wins over Horizon (34-24) and Fairview (35-34) high schools. “We’re really only wor-
ried about us,” Stewart said. “It’s such a good conference, there are some good teams.” In preparation for the season, the team has improved overall on both offense and defense, but specifically they are focusing on pace. “The passing game is solid and the ‘D’ is swarming to the ball,” Nelson said. “We need to work on tempo, we need a fast tempo.” Also, amidst the improvement-based atmosphere, a few underclassmen have stepped up into leadership positions and could very
Jump to FOOTBALL, page A6
Softball team flexes power muscles in fast start by Paul Lukens RMHighlighter reporter
The softball team is out to redeem themselves after an early end to last season. In order to do that, the team must look to its veterans. One key-returning player for the Lobos is senior pitcher Aubree Maul. Maul picked up 9 wins last year with a 1.73 ERA. She is 5-0 so far this season with a 1.57 ERA, leading the Lobos to a 8-1 start. Not only is she an all-conference pitcher, but she boasts a .488 batting average, as well. Another returner is shortstop Lisa Pille, who has a batting average of around .500 this year. Overall, the Lobos have a lot more starting seniors than last year.
“Lisa Pille is hitting the crap out of the ball,” head coach Mike Crockett said. “The seniors will definitely step up. There is no doubt in my mind they won’t.” The team chemistry this year is also better than last year. There were some problems with drama last year, but this year the team seems to click better. “We’ve come together as a team better than last year, but we can’t let drama in the way,” Maul said. “There is just as much talent if not more.” Another area of focus for the Lobos is to keep the opposing team’s score low after all of their losses last year came when the other team scored five or more runs.
Loren Collins
TAGGED OUT: Freshman third baseman Briana VanSickl places a tag on a Chapparal High School player during a game against on Aug. 23.
rocky mountain highlighter Sept.12.2008 Simply ReBELLIOus Courtney Bellio
Senior year brings worries, goodbyes This school year is my senior year, the last year I will ever be able to call myself a high school student. For years, graduating seemed like an unattainable goal, something I could only imagine but never really reach. I remember when I was younger I would countdown the number of years. Eight years until graduation. Five years until graduation. And now it’s down to less than a year. I may have been counting down to this since I started school so many years ago, but now that it is so close, I feel a huge mixture of emotions. I’m excited by the prospect of moving on with my life. I’m happy to see the light at the end of the tunnel of my 12 long years of school. But mostly I’m just flat out scared. Soon I’ll be applying to colleges, and while my elementary dreams of attending Oxford have been replaced with slightly more realistic dreams, there is still always the chance that I’ll be shot down. And to be totally honest, I’m not sure that I can handle that kind of rejection. What if every school turns me down? I won’t know where to go from there. And if that isn’t terrifying enough, I’ll have to leave behind all my friends, some of which I’ve known since I was born. They’ve been there for me through the good and the bad, and at the end of next summer it will be goodbye, possibly for forever. I have so many good memories of high school. It’s hard to think that that chapter in my life will soon be over. I’m sure I’m not the only senior who feels like this. They all act excited and say that they are over high school, but I’d be willing to bet that, just like me, a lot of them are just using excitement as a cover for the real fear that they’re trying to keep locked up inside. My days in high school are numbered, and I cherish every day that I have. I may complain about homework or tests, but when it comes down to it, I’ll miss every last part of it. And I have to wonder, when the time comes to say goodbye to high school, childhood and so much more, will I really be able to let go? Courtney is a senior and Features Editor for the Highlighter
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Senior brings passion to friendship, school, B2
eatures
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An apple a day keeps the vendors away Lunchroom takes interest in better food, nutrition by Loren Collins
RMHighlighter Sports Editor
What was once a mainstay in high school cafeterias district-wide are now but a ghost of a memory. Starting this year, the era of the a la cart lunch vendor sis officially over in all Poudre School District secondary schools. Many students who frequently eat in the lunchroom aren’t too thrilled about this drastic and sudden change. “I’m a little mad,” sophomore Bryan Hunter said. “[The vendors] gave kids options, and it was convenient for sophomores because we aren’t able to go [out to lunch] as often.” As reality sets in amongst the student body that the likes of Wok ‘n Roll, Subway and Clux Delux will not be offered anymore, the subsequent question is raised: why? PSD Director of Child Nutrition Craig Schneider stressed that the control over how meals are prepared was a key factor in the decision. “There was a concern over the food safety and quality issue,” Schneider said. “For instance, the food was cooked at these vendor sites, and sometimes even the day before. It’s our job to prepare the food, and we could do a better Jump to FOOD, page B2
Fast Food Fat Facts
graphic illustration by Courtney Bellio
Courtney Bellio
HEALTHY AND HAPPY: Sophomore Tyler Padia takes advantage of the salad bar. Rocky is making an effort to bring more healthy and quality food to the lunchroom.
Food
Calories
Qdoba Chicken Burrito
810
Burger King French Fries (medium)
400
Wendy’s Frosty (medium)
430
Arby’s Roast Beef Sandwich (regular)
320
Chick-fil-A Chicken Strips (4)
470
Sonic Banana Split (regular)
560
Jamba Juice Caribbean Passion (24 oz)
590
Noodles’ Mac & Cheese
970
Subway 6-inch Italian BMT Sandwich
450
McDonald’s Big Mac
560
Football coach cleans up tornado aftermath by Kenna Alexander
NATURAL DISASTER: Assistant football coach Jay Gallagher’s house after the tornado in May. His house is predicted to be rebuilt by Christmas.
RMHighlighter Reptorer
photo courtesy of Jay Gallagher
Jay Gallagher didn’t think much of the tornado warning on May 22, 2008. When his wife called from their Windsor home, to notify him of the warning, he told her not to worry. Fifteen minutes later, when she called again, most of his house had been reduced to splinters. Gallagher, offensive coordinator for Rocky’s football team and fourth grade teacher at Bethke Elementary in Timnath, is also a Rocky graduate from the class of ‘89 and was quarter-
back on the football team. “This kind of thing always happens to somebody else,” Gallagher said. “This experience touches the heart.” When Gallagher first arrived home, he couldn’t find his family. They had been rushed down to the basement mere minutes before the tornado destroyed the house. A neighbor had pulled his wife, two daughters, ages 4 and 6, and one other young girl (from his wife’s in-home day-care), out of their home’s basement window-well since there was no other way for them to safely exit the house. Jump to TORNADO, page B2
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features
rocky mountain highlighter Sept.12.2008
Band experiences music, culture on trip to China by Allison LeCain RMHighlighter reporter
Some say that traveling to another country can change a person’s perspective on life. For the band students who went to China during the summer, the trip did just that. The experience broadened the students’ knowledge of Chinese culture as they played their music in another continent. After a year and a half of fundraising and rehearsing, band groups Winds and Summit Winds began their journey on June 14 when they flew to Hong Kong. Parent chaperones and band teachers Scott Schlup and Casey Cropp accompanied the students. From there, they traveled to Beijing for seven days, Xian for three days and Shanghai for four days. The bands performed four concerts; three in Beijing and one in Shanghai. The bands performed many concerts as well as enjoyed an
Tornado Two hours later, Gallagher met up with his family at a nearby elementary school, where they were sitting with no shoes on and sharing a toddler-size blanket. “This experience was really devastating, but we’re blessed,” Gallagher said. “It’s unbelievable
photos courtesy of Scott Schlup
MOVE TO THE BEAT: Students got to see a Chinese Opera (left) while staying in China. Seniors Ali Midland and Jeremy Idler (above) perform at a concert hall in China. The band got a chance to play with music students from China and learn about their culture.
abundance of sight seeing. While in Beijing, the students saw the outside of many Olympic venues, as well as the Great Wall of China and the Terracotta Warriors. They also saw an acrobatic show and a Chinese opera. “You can read about the Great Wall of China, you can see pictures of the Terracotta Warriors,
but you can’t really see it until you experience it,” senior french horn player Ethan Brozka said. At one point in the trip, the bands performed a concert with a Chinese high school. The two groups connected because of their love of music. “We finished the piece and it was like a wall had been broken
through,” Brozka said. Although the musical experience in China was life changing, the cultural experience was unbelievable. “Peoples’ view of the world is different,” Schlup said. “It’s amazing how we are so engrained into the way we do things.” Schlup explained that it was
continued from B1 nobody died. You hug your kids at night and enjoy the little things.” Gallagher’s home and yard were completely destroyed. Only some of the home’s foundation was left standing. “When you see everything you’ve accumulated in life and all
Need Help With Your Chemistry Class? Want to “Ace” that AP Chem. Class? SAT Subject Test Preparation Call Professional Tutoring Available Over 10 Years Experience 970-493-5220 jz1002001@yahoo.com
that’s left can fit in the back of a pick up truck, it’s a very humbling experience,” Gallagher said. According to Mike Dyer, defensive backs coach and P.E. teacher, the team wanted to help Gallagher the day after the tornado hit, but the coaches had to hold them off for a few days. “I thought it was cool how we organized so quickly,” senior defensive end Zach Lund said. “It definitely brought the team closer.” The team made use of this time, and planned a two-day carwash in the parking lot south of Bennigan’s to benefit their coach. The carwash was free, but the boys were able to raise a little over $2,000 in donations. “It was awesome [the way the team helped out],” Dyer said. “We didn’t ask them to do any of it; they just planned everything on their own. It defined a lot of what this team’s about.”
Before the football team’s summer camp in Wyoming, Mark Brook, head coach and math teacher, presented Gallagher with the check. “Things like [the carwash], they didn’t have to do,” Gallagher said. “That’s how good people are out here.” Once officials had opened up the town, team members went to Gallagher’s house and helped with clean up. Currently, Gallagher’s house is being rebuilt and is predicted to be done by Christmas. There will still be a lot of landscaping work, and the football team plans to help out. “There was so much negativity on the news, but there are so many good people that offered up everything under the sun,” Gallagher said. “I found out just how wonderful people are, and my wife and I said if this kind of thing happens to anyone else, we’ll be the first to help.”
interesting to see how people do things and act differently in China compared to people in America. “I think actually being in China and experiencing culture was the best part,” junior flute player Terah Lyons said. “It’s really hard to imagine what it’s like before you’ve been there.”
Food
continued from B1 value.” With the matter of food quality a primary concern for the district, another matter on the new lunch agenda is whether or not the school-prepared food can compete health-wise with the vendor options. “We’re always trying to make sure there are healthier options,” Schneider said. “Although across the board I can’t say that [all school food is healthier], I can say that we have strict nutrition guidelines and a wellness policy that we have to meet.” Schneider did point out, however, that PSD is implementing several methods in order to improve the healthiness of their food and the students who eat it. No more fryers in school kitchens, low fat cheese, wheat crusts, and an impending veggie burger set to debut in October are all examples of the steps the district is taking to achieve their health goals. While the underclassmen who eat the school food may not be in favor of the change, the staff remains unphased by the changes. Head of kitchen staff Susie Miller, a 30-year veteran of the district lunch system, remains optimistic that the decision will be better for the long run. She touched on many of the same issues as Schneider did, with better control of food quality and prices being beneficial to her and her staff. “What I can say is that [the food] is fresher, being served at a better temperature and doesn’t have to be transported, since it’s prepared here,” Miller said. “It will also be positive for the incoming 9th graders, as I’d like to see a kid eat for a reasonable price of $2. The vendors were contemplating raising their prices to around $5 to $6 [per meal].” “Our main goal is get more kids to eat at school,” Schneider said. “We’re not fully there yet, but we’re transitioning towards that.”
rocky mountain highlighter Sept.12.2008
features
A friendly face Senior Erikson offers unique views on life, friendship by Katelyn Hunter
seature tudent f
by Aliese Willard
After a successful spinal fusion surgery, principal Tom Lopez is ready to take on the school year, albeit a few weeks late. “Each day has been better and better, and I have been making lots of progress,” said Lopez. Lopez was missed by staff, students and friends when he underwent spinal fusion surgery on Aug. 12, six days before the start of school. The procedure, which took place at the Medical Center of the Rockies, involved fusing the C4, C5, C6, and C7 vertebrae in Lopez’s upper back and neck. Titanium pins and screws as well as cadaver bones were used to effectively brace Lopez’s spine and allow healing. “Apparently, over time and age, my spinal column had a lot of wear and tear,” Lopez said. “It was progressively getting worse.” After symptoms such as
Name – Bill Rutledge Age – 55 Teaching position – Technical Education Years of experience – First year full-time, 3 years substituting Education – B.S. CSU in construction management Comment – Everyone has been very kind and helpful! I love the energy in Lobo country!
Name – Eric Harding Age – 32 Teaching position – Math Years of expeth rience – 8 year Education – James Madison University B.A. in Business, Virginia Tech M.A. in Education Comment – The staff and students are awesome. Rocky is a great place to be, and I love the school spirit. Go Lobos! Allison LeCain
AN OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE: Erikson (right) and fellow Into the Woods castmember junior Quinton Lister mystery man practice for their upcoming performance. Erikson is well known around school for being an overall passionate and friendly person.
with me [Lars] always knows something’s up,” Behm said. “He knows how to go about talking to me about it and is always there.” Counselor Jo Lacricchio says that Erikson’s personality is unique but also very authentic and insightful. “Lars is a very funny guy, but can also be very serious,” Lacricchio said. “He balances the two really well and is really wise for his age.” Erikson is also a very confident individual. People are drawn to his positive attitude
and optimistic outlook on life. “Lars isn’t afraid to be unique, honest and caring,” Kilness said. “Ever since I have known him he has always just been him, and I think that sends a strong message for people who don’t feel as confident. He is confident, fun and nonjudgmental.” Beyond his passion for people, Erikson is dedicated to music and describes it as a major part in his life. “I really enjoy playing music,” Erikson said. “It’s my biggest passion. I have played for six years and plan on continuing to
play throughout my whole life. It’s a good base for life.” Erikson plays the double base in orchestra, plays Prince Charming in the Fall musical, participates in forensics and is a second year Peer Counselor. Overall, Erikson is a major contributor to Rocky. Whether it’s his toes painted green, or his sequin sandals, Erikson has a unique flair to him, which offers an important aspect to Rocky. “As for the future, Lars will be doing his best to make the world a better place,” Kilness said.
Lopez recovering after spine surgery RMHighlighter Reporter
Meet new teachers, staff members
Name – Monica Kauffman Age – 31 Teaching position – Language Arts Years of experience – 9th year Education – University of Nebraska-Lincoln Comment – I am thrilled to be at Rocky. I am enjoying teaching so many former students and new students as well. The staff is amazing and the English dept. rocks!
RMHighlighter Viewpoint Editor
If senior Lars Erikson could have any superpower, it wouldn’t be to fly or read minds, but rather to know the measurement of anything at any given moment. Erikson describes himself as the weirdest person he knows. However, despite Erikson’s strangeness and humorous desire to know measurements, he seems to fit in quite well at Rocky. One group or word wouldn’t be enough to define Eriskson, because he doesn’t confine himself to just one group. “I’m not a part of just one group of people,” Erikson said. “But rather I fit in with so many different people. I don’t fit in, but because I don’t fit in, I fit in.” Because Erikson doesn’t limit himself to solely knowing a few close friends, he is a familiar face to many students in the halls of Rocky. “[Erikson] is just a friendly guy,” counselor Pam Kilness said. “He knows a lot of different people and he gets along with everybody, which a lot of times brings people together.” Because Erikson is a friend to so many different people, he brings a different perspective from most high school students about friendliness and compassion. Senior Margaret Behm, a close friend of Erikson, says he is passionate about people and being a good friend. “When something is wrong
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numbness, a ‘burning feeling’ in his left arm, and considerable pain, Lopez consulted with physicians before opting for surgery. He was diagnosed with Spinal Stenosis, a condition where the spinal column is so narrow that vertebrae can pinch and irritate the spinal cord, causing pain in the neck, shoulders and limbs. While Lopez was “hesitant, concerned and even scared” about the surgery, the results have made it worthwhile. Lopez reported having less pain and that his negative symptoms were gone, but he “didn’t want to go through it again”. One advantage to the surgery, aside from the successful results, is that it may impact his height. “I had cadaver bones added, so I should be taller,” Lopez said. At school, the administra-
“
He’s an extremely strong, dedicated person with a passion for Rocky.
”
Marian Kolstoe, assistant principal
tion was prepared to deal with Lopez’s absence, especially concerning its proximity to the start of the school year. There was even a videotape of Lopez shown to the staff during a pre-school meeting to effectively communicate with the staff even though Lopez wasn’t present. “We all do everything together, and we’re like a family,” assistant principal Marian Kolstoe said. “When one person is down, everyone picks up and shoulders the load. The teachers are well planned.” “He was very thorough in getting everyone else on board,”
student body president Duncan Nelson said. “The effects of him being gone were minimal, if at all.” That’s not to say that Lopez’s absence has gone unnoticed. “Tom [Lopez] provides topnotch leadership for the building,” Kolstoe said. “ We have excellent systems in place and the feedback has been positive, but we feel we are never fully here until Mr. Lopez is back.” Lopez admits he’s a “stubborn and active person”, and is determined to stay healthy and heal. He hopes to resume his favorite pastimes, including handball at the Fort Collins Club, and is confident that he will be able to “swing a golf club by June”. “He’s an extremely strong, dedicated person with a passion for Rocky,” Kolstoe said. “He has the courage to be more than he can be, even with his health, and will be back at it very quickly.”
Name – Tricia Van Horssen Age – 36 Teaching position – Social Work Years of experience – 10 Education – Iowa, CSU Comment – Rocky rocks! Students are great! Staff are welcoming and fun! It’s a great environment to be in. I love working with the students. Name – Allison Kidd Age – 30 Teaching position – Technology Site Manager Years of experience – 1.5 Education – Eastern Michigan University Comment – I enjoy helping students learn how to use technology. Name – Crystal Boyd Age – ? Teaching position – Media & Technology Manager Years of experience – 8 years Education – B.A. Information Systems Linfield College Comment – I have been the tech person at Rocky for many years. I look forward to helping students and staff with more than just computers. Name – Jennifer Danielson Age – 25 Teaching position – Physical Education, Health Years of experience – 1 Education – University of Northern Colorado Comment – As this is only my second year of teaching, I am hoping to learn a lot from the staff and students. I am looking forward to this year at Rocky, and I can’t wait to meet everyone.
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rocky mountain highlighter
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Sept.12.2008
c
heating
Q: What
motivates a cheater? senior
steven sorensen
a:
I think it’s because they want to get A’s; they want to be one of the people who gets A’s. counselor
brad boda
a:
To get ahead in life.
senior
shalaney johnson
a:
They knew they didn’t study. john schrader
senior
a:
The pressure to get an A is so much easier
grades insurance, laziness drive studentsto cheat by Jill Petrie
RMHighlighter co-editor-in-chief
Every student knows that cheating is against the rules. So why do 95 percent of Rocky students do it? “The goal is the grade. It doesn’t have to do with how smart you are, it has to do with what you’ll do to get [the grade],” said junior Andrea Wright*. Thirty-eight percent of Rocky students agree, saying that they use cheating as a method of grade insurance. “You can definitely get the grade that you want, but it’s just a chance if you study,” Wright, who admits to cheating from time to to time, said. Motivation to get good grades sometimes drives students to cheat on homework or tests. Matt Pintauto, a sophomore, was driven to cheat by pressure to get good grades. “[I cheated] to get a better grade. Then I thought I would without it,” Pintauto said. With mounting pressure from teachers, counselors and parents, some students feel that they need to take the extra step to come out on top. “[Cheating] is easier and even sometimes I study and it’s not enough. It’s a guarantee if I know the answers,” Wright said, “Maybe it is the easy way out, but I got the grade I needed.” Other students, however, see cheating as a sign of laziness and indifference. “[People cheat because] they haven’t or don’t want to study,”senior Allison Mecklenberg said. “They get into a habit of laziness.” Pintauto agrees that sometimes cheating
ct a o t 1. . n ) ng ice i t • t c ē a r h p (c ; y l t s te ne a o l h o s i i v d to . 2 . d frau eliberately ictionary d sD rules -Merriam-Webster
Cheating is the result of competition. In our culture, with few exceptions, competitiveness is commonplace and, in fact, is rewarded. Children learn that losing is bad, and especially in the early school years, their wish to do well is very strong.
“ You know
- American Acadmey of Pediactrics
, it’s just a game. You just go tta kn ow how to play th game. e ” -Anon ymous junior is a function of a student’s lethargy, especially on small assignments or homework. “[Some students] are just lazy; they don’t want to do busy work themselves.” The assigments might seem insignificant now, but will students continue to take the easy way out after high school? Survey says, probably not. Sixty-eight percent of students said that they would not consider cheating in college. But the ease of cheating and the grades it brings might be addictive. “[People who cheat] don’t understand that later in life they won’t be able to cheat on everything,”Mecklenberg said. Wright disagrees. “You know, it’s just a game. You just gotta know how to play the game,”Wright said. *Name has been changed.
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enter special
fyi... • 60% of students have plagiarized a paper, according to a 2005 study conducted by Rutgers University • Fewer than half of the 800 faculty members surveyed by the same study said that they would report incidents of cheating. • 17 states have laws prohibiting the sale of term papers and essays, but they have proved to be almost impossible to enforce. • A study conducted by Who’s Who found that, nationwide, 40% of students who were ranked in the top 5% of their class said that they would not be if they had not cheated.
Cheating leaves lasting impact by Aliese Willard RMHighlighter reporter
It seemed so easy at the time— passing a note, sending a text, lifting articles off the Internet— but many of the most subtle of cheating methods can profoundly affect a student if he or she is caught. “Kids demonstrating a lack of academic integrity happens quite a bit,” language arts department leader Tom Smailes said. “It creates a negative label for the student and carries with it academic mileage.” According to Craig Chesson, the director of Conflict Resolution and Student Conduct Services at Colorado State University, at the collegiate level, the consequences of cheating are more severe and have more longterm effects. “You risk being labeled by everyone,” Chesson said. “There’s no way you can control your reputation in a college environment—word spreads so fast. It’s not worth it to cheat.” Cheating, and its consequences are outlined in a variety of ways in the student handbook and planner, from simply copying answers out of books to splitting an assignment between friends—known as the “divide and conquer.” Students caught cheating either “receive a zero on the assignment” or are “dropped from the course with an “F.” It’s all spelled out in the handbook every student receives at registration. The truth is, 61 percent of students don’t consider cheating to be serious. “If it’s a test, I wouldn’t [cheat], but if it’s busywork, I don’t feel so bad about it,” Tyler Black*, a senior, said. “Nobody gets caught cheating, really. Often times, it’s not much that would affect a grade.” Many students view assignments with a low point value as insignificant, so they offer to share answers and cheat on a smaller scale. German teacher Jen Roper sees any form of cheating unacceptable, no matter how small. “Cheating of any kind is a compromise of your own ethical morals,” Roper said. “If you cheat one time, you have to do it again in order to get by.” “I think people that cheat all the time have to keep doing it be-
cause they’re so used to it,” Black said. “They become dependent to cheating.” According to Chesson, who sees anywhere from 100-125 cases of cheating per year, this addiction to dishonesty can alter the course of a student’s academic career if it continues at the college level. “[When a student is caught cheating] The professor meets with the student, and then the student has to go through a judicial hearing,” Chesson said. “Depending on how big the cheating is, the student can be placed on probation or could possibly be suspended from school.” Instances of cheating, known as “academic dishonesty” are permanently recorded on the student’s official transcript, hindering them in college and beyond. “Official transcripts [from college] are required for students who want to go to graduate school, law school and continue their education,” Chesson said. “More employers are asking for transcripts as well.” In terms of plagiarism and more serious forms of cheating, there are fewer instances due to more measures taken. The language arts department recently introduced SafeAssignment, a tool that identifies plagiarism in students’ writing. The program reviews students’ work and highlights areas with potential plagiarism. “SafeAssignment banks all the writings district-wide and catches the vast majority of [plagiarism],” Smailes said. “It’s a good deterrent, and more colleges are using it.” There are also more rules regarding cheating and how to handle it. “Back then [in high school], consequences were whatever people wanted them to be,” Assistant Principal Brett Larsen said. “Times change. There’s so much litigation around schools now—it’s all really spelled out.” The moral of the story, according to Smailes, Chesson, Roper, and Larsen, is to just be honest. “It’s easier to ask a professor for help and to be honest up front than to go through with cheating and get caught,” Chesson said. *Name has been changed.
tricks of the trade Cheat Sheet- Students write notes for tests and other assignments on their desks, hands, arms, shoes, and small pieces of paper. Lately, there have been instances of students tearing off the wrapper of a pop or water bottle, writing on the inside of the label, and then sticking it back on to the bottle. They are able to see the notes when they turn the water bottle at a certain angle. Wandering Eyes- Students look off another person’s paper and copy the work.
Technology- In science and math classes it is easy to type formulas or equations into any TI calculator. The calculator will store the information even if it is turned off. When turned back on, the equations will still be on the screen. Texting friends for any test or homework answers are also a common form of using technology for cheating. Plagiarism- Students copying someone else’s work word for word. Forms of plagiarism include copying something from the Internet, book, magazine, etc. Checking the Book- Students in math and science classes can look in the back of their textbooks for answers to homework problems. Divide and Conquer- Pairs and groups of students join together to do different parts of an assignment and then copy off each other.
95% of Rocky students admit to cheating
Percentage that have never been caught cheating
64% 61% of students don’t think that cheating is a big deal at Rocky
38% Cheated to
get a good grade or to get into college Percentage that think that cheating is acceptabe
32%
322 students surveyed
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rocky mountain highlighter
C
Sept.12.2008
c
heating
Q: What
motivates a cheater? senior
steven sorensen
a:
I think it’s because they want to get A’s; they want to be one of the people who gets A’s. counselor
brad boda
a:
To get ahead in life.
senior
shalaney johnson
a:
They knew they didn’t study. john schrader
senior
a:
The pressure to get an A is so much easier
grades insurance, laziness drive studentsto cheat by Jill Petrie
RMHighlighter co-editor-in-chief
Every student knows that cheating is against the rules. So why do 95 percent of Rocky students do it? “The goal is the grade. It doesn’t have to do with how smart you are, it has to do with what you’ll do to get [the grade],” said junior Andrea Wright*. Thirty-eight percent of Rocky students agree, saying that they use cheating as a method of grade insurance. “You can definitely get the grade that you want, but it’s just a chance if you study,” Wright, who admits to cheating from time to to time, said. Motivation to get good grades sometimes drives students to cheat on homework or tests. Matt Pintauto, a sophomore, was driven to cheat by pressure to get good grades. “[I cheated] to get a better grade. Then I thought I would without it,” Pintauto said. With mounting pressure from teachers, counselors and parents, some students feel that they need to take the extra step to come out on top. “[Cheating] is easier and even sometimes I study and it’s not enough. It’s a guarantee if I know the answers,” Wright said, “Maybe it is the easy way out, but I got the grade I needed.” Other students, however, see cheating as a sign of laziness and indifference. “[People cheat because] they haven’t or don’t want to study,”senior Allison Mecklenberg said. “They get into a habit of laziness.” Pintauto agrees that sometimes cheating
ct a o t 1. . n ) ng ice i t • t c ē a r h p (c ; y l t s te ne a o l h o s i i v d to . 2 . d frau eliberately ictionary d sD rules -Merriam-Webster
Cheating is the result of competition. In our culture, with few exceptions, competitiveness is commonplace and, in fact, is rewarded. Children learn that losing is bad, and especially in the early school years, their wish to do well is very strong.
“ You know
- American Acadmey of Pediactrics
, it’s just a game. You just go tta kn ow how to play th game. e ” -Anon ymous junior is a function of a student’s lethargy, especially on small assignments or homework. “[Some students] are just lazy; they don’t want to do busy work themselves.” The assigments might seem insignificant now, but will students continue to take the easy way out after high school? Survey says, probably not. Sixty-eight percent of students said that they would not consider cheating in college. But the ease of cheating and the grades it brings might be addictive. “[People who cheat] don’t understand that later in life they won’t be able to cheat on everything,”Mecklenberg said. Wright disagrees. “You know, it’s just a game. You just gotta know how to play the game,”Wright said. *Name has been changed.
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enter special
fyi... • 60% of students have plagiarized a paper, according to a 2005 study conducted by Rutgers University • Fewer than half of the 800 faculty members surveyed by the same study said that they would report incidents of cheating. • 17 states have laws prohibiting the sale of term papers and essays, but they have proved to be almost impossible to enforce. • A study conducted by Who’s Who found that, nationwide, 40% of students who were ranked in the top 5% of their class said that they would not be if they had not cheated.
Cheating leaves lasting impact by Aliese Willard RMHighlighter reporter
It seemed so easy at the time— passing a note, sending a text, lifting articles off the Internet— but many of the most subtle of cheating methods can profoundly affect a student if he or she is caught. “Kids demonstrating a lack of academic integrity happens quite a bit,” language arts department leader Tom Smailes said. “It creates a negative label for the student and carries with it academic mileage.” According to Craig Chesson, the director of Conflict Resolution and Student Conduct Services at Colorado State University, at the collegiate level, the consequences of cheating are more severe and have more longterm effects. “You risk being labeled by everyone,” Chesson said. “There’s no way you can control your reputation in a college environment—word spreads so fast. It’s not worth it to cheat.” Cheating, and its consequences are outlined in a variety of ways in the student handbook and planner, from simply copying answers out of books to splitting an assignment between friends—known as the “divide and conquer.” Students caught cheating either “receive a zero on the assignment” or are “dropped from the course with an “F.” It’s all spelled out in the handbook every student receives at registration. The truth is, 61 percent of students don’t consider cheating to be serious. “If it’s a test, I wouldn’t [cheat], but if it’s busywork, I don’t feel so bad about it,” Tyler Black*, a senior, said. “Nobody gets caught cheating, really. Often times, it’s not much that would affect a grade.” Many students view assignments with a low point value as insignificant, so they offer to share answers and cheat on a smaller scale. German teacher Jen Roper sees any form of cheating unacceptable, no matter how small. “Cheating of any kind is a compromise of your own ethical morals,” Roper said. “If you cheat one time, you have to do it again in order to get by.” “I think people that cheat all the time have to keep doing it be-
cause they’re so used to it,” Black said. “They become dependent to cheating.” According to Chesson, who sees anywhere from 100-125 cases of cheating per year, this addiction to dishonesty can alter the course of a student’s academic career if it continues at the college level. “[When a student is caught cheating] The professor meets with the student, and then the student has to go through a judicial hearing,” Chesson said. “Depending on how big the cheating is, the student can be placed on probation or could possibly be suspended from school.” Instances of cheating, known as “academic dishonesty” are permanently recorded on the student’s official transcript, hindering them in college and beyond. “Official transcripts [from college] are required for students who want to go to graduate school, law school and continue their education,” Chesson said. “More employers are asking for transcripts as well.” In terms of plagiarism and more serious forms of cheating, there are fewer instances due to more measures taken. The language arts department recently introduced SafeAssignment, a tool that identifies plagiarism in students’ writing. The program reviews students’ work and highlights areas with potential plagiarism. “SafeAssignment banks all the writings district-wide and catches the vast majority of [plagiarism],” Smailes said. “It’s a good deterrent, and more colleges are using it.” There are also more rules regarding cheating and how to handle it. “Back then [in high school], consequences were whatever people wanted them to be,” Assistant Principal Brett Larsen said. “Times change. There’s so much litigation around schools now—it’s all really spelled out.” The moral of the story, according to Smailes, Chesson, Roper, and Larsen, is to just be honest. “It’s easier to ask a professor for help and to be honest up front than to go through with cheating and get caught,” Chesson said. *Name has been changed.
tricks of the trade Cheat Sheet- Students write notes for tests and other assignments on their desks, hands, arms, shoes, and small pieces of paper. Lately, there have been instances of students tearing off the wrapper of a pop or water bottle, writing on the inside of the label, and then sticking it back on to the bottle. They are able to see the notes when they turn the water bottle at a certain angle. Wandering Eyes- Students look off another person’s paper and copy the work.
Technology- In science and math classes it is easy to type formulas or equations into any TI calculator. The calculator will store the information even if it is turned off. When turned back on, the equations will still be on the screen. Texting friends for any test or homework answers are also a common form of using technology for cheating. Plagiarism- Students copying someone else’s work word for word. Forms of plagiarism include copying something from the Internet, book, magazine, etc. Checking the Book- Students in math and science classes can look in the back of their textbooks for answers to homework problems. Divide and Conquer- Pairs and groups of students join together to do different parts of an assignment and then copy off each other.
95% of Rocky students admit to cheating
Percentage that have never been caught cheating
64% 61% of students don’t think that cheating is a big deal at Rocky
38% Cheated to
get a good grade or to get into college Percentage that think that cheating is acceptabe
32%
322 students surveyed
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limelight
rocky mountain highlighter Sept.12.2008
Games and Entertainment Seth’s Cartoon Corner - Seth Roberts
Saturnian Go Home - Kristen Lockie buying the newest robot dog: 800 dollars
by Chris Peters and Greg Lewis
Name/Grade
Word Association
Lambkins
Word Association
Gjerde Colonel Sanders
Favorite Lunchtime Destination
Duncan’s Sign-off Should be...
Dillon McNamee, Junior
“Stink”
Joe Golliher, Senior
“Stink”
Goatee
Taco Bell
“Bye”
Kaitlind Bestigen, Sophomore
Unborn Fetuses
Who?
Q’doba
None
Lynne Lyell, Teacher
Dinner
Teddy Bear
Q’doba
“Peace Rocky”
Wendy’s
“I should cut my hair”
lifesize hello kitty statue: 3000 dollars
Name: ____________________
Sudoku Challenge From the mathmatical brain of Brad Avery The objective of the puzzle is to complete the 9 x 9 grid so that every column, every row, and every 3 x 3 grid within the 9 x 9 grid contains the digits 1 through 9 exactly once. Each puzzle can be solved with pure logic, so guessing should not be necessary.
knowing your money went to rebuilding Tokyo after the last Godzilla attack: priceless
Difficulty Level:
▲Submit solutions to the box outside of the Highlighter Room, # 528, to be eligible for a prize drawing.▼
TOP TEN Worst ways to get asked to Homecoming 10) On a condom package 9) In alphabet soup 8) Via text 7) In an issue of the Highlighter 6) On a parking ticket 5) In the V.A. credits 4) Over XBOX Live 3) In front of your boyfriend 2) On a burrito 1) In a crappy sign off from Duncan
by Chris Peters, Loren Collins, Sam Hyland, Greg Lewis and Colton Klemperer
ACROSS
2. We are the ____! 4. This years homecoming theme (2 words) 5. Rocky stadium (2 words) 7. Bone crushing football coach 8. Club promoting volunteering (2 words) 9. Singer of ‘Rocky Mountian High’ (2 words) 10. Group that performs music at sports events (2 words) 13. Our mascot, ____the Lobo 14. Video announcements 15. Student body president (2 words)
DOWN
1. School newspaper name 3. Official school colors (3 words) 6. Biggest high school rival (2 words) 11. Univeristy that shares our mascot (2 words) 12. Location of the duck pond
Rocky Crossword
by Aliese Willard and Allison LeCain
Name: ______________________
rocky mountain highlighter Sept.12.2008
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limelight
Bangkok Dangerous flashy, lacks emotional depth by Chris O’Grady RMHighlighter reporter
You know the stereotypical spy film--the one with the rogue good guy, an assassin to whom killing the bad guy is as mundane as setting an alarm clock. You’ve seen it. Bangkok Dangerous is the story of such an assassin who learns that no human can live a life with no compassion or consideration as to the reason they kill people. But unlike classic i super spies, such as James Bond, Jason Bourne or Ethan Hunt, Bangkok Dangerous doesn’t allow the connection to the hero or match up to the stunts expected in an action movie. Nicolas Cage plays this assassin, Joe, who is never addressed by name in the spirit of his iden-
m evovie ew r
asking questions and not making friends. Joe is in Bangkok to pull four jobs for a high-paying gangster/drug dealer, who he has never met. He recruits Kong (Shahkrit Yamnarm), a Bangkok local who cheats tourists, as his messenger and middleman. These jobs appear to be a breeze for Joe just like any other, until he falls for the mute girl who works at the local pharmacy, complicating things. Instead of killing Kong as he had intended, he becomes his tutor. All of the sudden, morals enter his process and killing becomes more difficult. Lionsgate COOL JOE: Joe (Nicolas Cage) cleans up after killing an associate. Trouble arises when his admirer Cage plays an assasin who benefits from his lack of emotional depth. sees him kill a pair of muggers, and flees in fear. tity-less nature. He interacts with background for the viewer to unFinally, he discovers that his only two other characters: one derstand who he is and how he last target is a political mogul, who calls him “Boss,” the other became a bounty hunter. beloved by the people as a Haris a mute. Cage’s character is The film begins with the essen- vey Dent-like white knight. He is complex, yet the film offers no tial rules he lives by, namely not brought to a moral impasse: to
kill the guy he is supposed to and leave Bangkok with a lot of money or let him live and flee unpaid. Anybody that loves watching explosions will be sufficiently pleased. However, Cage’s character is left mysterious, creating an emotional void in the movie. The final turn-off from the movie was directors Oxide and Danny Pang’s dedication to showing the brutal underside of Bangkok. There are extraneous scenes of sex, drugs and killing that seemed to be put in the film for the sole purpose of achieving an “R” rating. The only things that Bangkok Dangerous really accomplishes is the occasional scene that allows the viewer to marvel at some excellent stunt work and special effects, and eliminate all desire to ever visit Bangkok.
Grade: C
Five Guys: expensive yet tasty by Greg Lewis
RMHighlighter reporter
Simple but satisfying. These three words seem to perfectly describe my experience at Five Guys Burgers and Fries, the new hamburger chain located at 1335 W. Elizabeth St. At first glance, Five Guys is nothing i to drop one’s jaw over. The walls are painted plain white complete with a strip of red checkers running throughout the building, and the restaurant’s idea of decoration is a pile of bagged potatoes and peanut oil stacked by the entrance. Five Guys does not waste their breath on creative concoctions or ingenious titles. In fact, their menu consists of four basic items: big burgers, little burgers, hot dogs and fries. But they are really good burgers. I walked into Five Guys expecting another microwaved, cardboard-quality, fast food burger slapped in a bag, and just for the name’s sake, being served to me by five grumpy guys who clearly didn’t want to be working by a fryer on a Saturday afternoon. How-
fev oodew r
Greg Lewis
SIMPLE SATISFACTION: Set in a simple, yet unique style, Five Guys Burgers and Fries offers 100% beef burgers as well as fresh cut potatoes. Five Guys is located at 1335 W. Elizabeth St. neat CSU.
ever, I was pleasantly surprised as I watched a team of six guys and two gals assemble a masterfully hand-made burger and serve it to me with a smile. At a second glance, one will notice the many signs covering the walls, boasting of awards and rave reviews Five Guys restaurants have
received throughout the years. I for one agreed with every word I read, my favorite compliment being that of the Washingtonpost. com, who named them ‘The Willy Wonkas of Burgercraft.’ Both the service and the quality at Five Guys soar over that of the surrounding McDonald’s and
Into the Woods to cause laughs, send chills-all in one musical production by Jessica Powers RMHighlighter reporter
Into the Woods… be afraid… to laugh. The tales are enough to make one cringe, but are also complete with humorous aspects. “The premise of this year’s fall musical is about I wish,” senior stage manager Steven Sorenson said. Into the Woods is a book written by James Lapine, the music and lyrics are written by Stephen Sondheim. “It’s a story about a baker and his wife who want to have a baby. But they can’t because a witch cursed them,” a senior
in the ensemble, Emily Schiola said. The baker and wife have to go “into the woods” in order to find objects that will break the curse. They meet all kinds of characters along the way, such as little Red Riding Hood, Cinderella, princes and more. There are 42 members, just counting the tech crew and actors, not including the pit orchestra, the band and others. Into the Woods will premiere Oct. 16, 17 and 18 in the Main Auditorium. “It’s more like the original Grimm fairy tales. I actually get to cut off people’s heels,”
junior Mackenzie VanMeveren who plays the stepmother in the show said. History teacher Kurt Knierim is the surprise guest in the musical, playing the narrator. “The comical interplay between the different fairy tales is really creative,” Knierim said. “That’s what appealed most to me.” Despite the comedic aspect, the musical is not for the faint of heart. There is a darker, more horrific side to the musical. “What comes out is the darker view, what happens after the happily ever after,” vocal director Paul Falk, said.
Sonic just down the street. The hand-made patties are always fresh and are the closest thing to heaven found in a bun. Also for no extra cost, you can choose as many toppings as you like for your burger. However, the thing that really sets this burger joint apart from the rest is the size. Unlike the McDon-
ald’s and Burger King chains that most students are used to, it only takes one double cheeseburger to fill-you-to-the-gills at Five Guys, and when they ask if you want a large fry, they mean a large fry. My cajun-style french fries were served to me spilling out the sides of a 24 oz. cup, and I had to open my mouth like Mick Jagger just to eat the double cheeseburger. However, as a lunch option, Five Guys might be a bit of a stretch. Despite the good food and large portions, the two things that the restaurant lacks are speed and affordable combo prices. Unlike most fast food places, Five Guys does not offer a basic meal and drink combo. Although students can get a burger by itself for $3-$5, once I added a large fry and a small drink, my meal cost me $12, much more than I would like to pay for lunch. Also, the personal service gives Five Guys potential to move slowly on busier days. On the whole, however, this new restaurant promises to be a worthwhile alternative to your average fast food hamburger. Five Guys Burgers and Fries is sure to pleasantly surprise.
Grade: A-
Inside: New burger joint leaves tastes tingling, B7
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For Peters Sake
Chris Peters
Modern magic a disgrace Houdini dazzled the early 20th century, David Copperfield wowed the ’80s and ’90s and David Blaine stayed underwater for 17 minutes last April. The golden age of magicians has come and gone, with acts of endurance replacing acts of magic or intense illusion. Our age is filled with mediocre acts, bragging of being a “mindfreak” or a street “magician,” when in reality they are nothing more than scams. Blaine, once a respected magician, is now calling himself an endurance artist. Recent acts include: underwater for 17 minutes, buried alive for a week and standing on a pole for 35 hours. Congrats, you’ve won Survivor. It doesn’t irritate me that he tries these stunts, but rather that he still refers to himself as a “magician.” Put this date on your calendar: Sept. 22, 2008 - the date magic officially dies as Blaine will hang upside down from a pole for three days. I’m thrilled, David. Now on to Criss Angel. He recently “escaped” from the imploding Clearwater Hotel in Florida. During this escape, many flaws were found in the video, pointing out his lack of magic and poor presentation. First off, the handcuffs he escaped from mystically vanished from his back pocket, then reappeared later in the video, as if by…magic! Also, he failed to pick most of the locks on the doors, instead busting through paper-thin “windows” on his way to the top balcony. Once the building imploded, he was still inside…or was he? A local Fox affiliate spotted him running from a neighboring building into the building’s rubble. On top of that, he was a judge on NBC’s Phenomenon, where he called out a contestant for being a “fake” and not really being “magic.” I’m fine with you only being an “illusionist” Mr. Angel, but don’t go off calling other people frauds if you are one as well. These two “magicians” are supposed to be the phenomena of our era, yet they set these examples. I now pronounce magic dead. Never shall these shenanigans defile the face of the earth again. Court is adjourned. Chris Peters is a senior and Limelight Editor for the Highlighter.
l
imelight
rocky mountain highlighter Sept.12.2008
Twilight ‘eclipses’ P tter Twilight challenges Potter for fans, fame by Courtney Bellio
RMHighlighter Features Editor
Just under three years after its first publication, Stephanie Meyer’s Twilight series is already labeled as the new Harry Potter. The sixth Harry Potter movie, Harry Potter and the HalfBlood Prince, was set for release Nov. 21, 2008, but has been pushed back to summer of 2009. The first Twilight movie, which was scheduled to open Dec. 12, 2008, took the holiday movie slot previously held by Harry Potter. This did not sit well with Harry Potter fans. “It’s ridiculous,” avid Harry Potter fan, senior Grant Getzy said, of Harry Potter being pushed back. “They should stick to the original deadline. They told us it would be out on that deadline, and moving it back just for Twilight seems ridiculous. If there is no reason that the movie isn’t able to be made, they shouldn’t move it back.” Following the news of Harry Potter’s delay, fans across the country rallied to express their disapproval, starting chat rooms and bashing sites alike. Twilight
author Stephanie Meyer was even forced to put a disclaimer on her website stating that Harry Potter being moved back was in no way influenced by Twilight and to ask people to stop sending her death wishes. “It’s ridiculous,” junior Harry Potter fan Sydney Johnson said. “If it’s another good book, they should read that, too. Just because they are obsessed with Harry Potter doesn’t mean they can’t like something else.” But the movie aside, fans can’t ignore the growing popularity of the Twilight series. Although Breaking Dawn, the fourth and final book in the Twilight saga, sold only 1.3 million in the first 24
hours compared to the final Harry Potter book, which came in at 8.2 million after opening day, Twilight is rapidly gaining recognition. But many argue that Twilight can never be as big as Harry Potter because Twilight does not cover the fan base Harry Potter does. “People in their late teens and early 20s like Twilight, but little kids and everyone like Harry Potter,” Johnson said. “It appeals to a wider audience.” While the fans may be feuding, both stories have more in common than they realize. Both fans are attracted to the books for similar reasons: they can relate to them. “I like how it’s something I can relate to in a weird,
messed up way,” senior Nicole Tschetter said. “Like the romance and how Edward [Cullen from Twilight] is so perfect.” “[People relate to Harry Potter] because there are so many characters and each person relates to a different character in different ways,” junior Sydney Johnson said. Whether or not Twilight is the new Harry Potter may be up in the air, but the consensus on the future of J.K. Rowling’s masterpieces is unanimous. “Harry Potter will never die,” Johnson said.” Kids are still being introduced to it. Twilight could be up there with it, but never replace it.”
Twilight Book Sales • 3.7 Million Copies Sold Worldwide • 1.3 Million Copies sold of Breaking Dawn on opening day • 50+ Million Copies of the series sold Worldwide
Breaking Dawn different, yet appropriate end to series by Mallory Armstrong RMHighlighter reporter
On Aug. 2, Twilight fans across the country finally got all their questions answered with the release of the fourth and final book in the Twilight saga. It’s hard to put into simple words the thrilling phenomenon that is the Twilight series by Stephenie Meyer. In the first book, Twilight, i the main character, Bella Swan, moves to Forks, Wash., where the sun rarely shines. There she falls in love with Edward Cullen, the boy whom she later finds out is a vampire and who has an intense attraction to the smell of her blood. But he and his family are “vegetarians”and drink only animal blood.
book
rev ew
The story continues in New Moon and Eclipse as Bella faces the consequences of her love affair with an immortal and the difficult task of keeping her new friends’ identity a secret. She must also find a balance between her friendship with Jacob Black and her love for Edward. The saga continues in Breaking Dawn, which is divided into three parts. The first and third are told from Bella’s point of view, the second from Jacob’s. Jacob’s point of view was not only interesting, but helpful to understand the story.
In the first chapter, the deal that Bella and Edward made in Eclipse is already being put into action. Edward will turn Bella into a vampire if and only if she marries him first. After the star-crossed lovers get married, Edward takes Bella on their honeymoon to a private island. But their stay on the island is cut short when Bella becomes pregnant. Edward is frightened and wants to instantly remove the hybrid growing inside her, but Bella is determined to have and raise the child. This wasn’t upsetting in the least bit; I was actually extremely excited and couldn’t put the book down to see what happened next. At this point, the story switches to Jacob’s point of view, as he witnesses Bella struggle through her pregnancy. Most fans found the pregnant and motherly Bella unrecognizable
to the Bella in the first three novels, which caused them to hate Breaking Dawn, and declare the series to only be a “trilogy.” In reality, the clumsy teenager Bella Swan needed to mature sometime into the strong and caring Bella Cullen. In the final novel, Meyer ties up all the lose ends and answers all the questions. Breaking Dawn is beyond different than the first three, but the unexpected incidents and detail into the lives of vampires sets it apart from the others, making it the best one of all. Although some may say that the novel was “anti-climatic” and “lost the old touch,” they need to read between the lines and realize that Meyer, unfortunately, had to end the series at one point. Personally, she couldn’t have done it better any other way.
Grade: A