Rocky Mountain Highlighter: 2012 October

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Sports injuries examined//A1

highlighter Election special//C1

Marching band//B8

Body Art special//A4-A5

rocky mountain October 12, 2012

side show

//Rocky Mountain High School\\

Volume 40, No. 2

the

High School Hijinks:

A group of South Carolina teens who broke into a neighbor’s house to throw a party got busted – through Facebook. They cleaned up the house, leaving no evidence of their crime until pictures of the party surfaced on the neighbor’s Facebook feed. “If the kids weren’t bragging about it or showing it off via Facebook, nothing would have come about from it, they would have gotten completely away with it,” the homeowner said.

Care About This: John

Gurdon of the Gurdon Institute in Cambridge, Britain and Shinya Yamanaka of Kyoto University in Japan have been awarded the Nobel Prize in Medicine for the discovery of a way to turn adult cells back into embryolike stem cells.

Previously, stem cells could only be taken from embryos, raising ethical questions that led to bans on research in some countries.

Quote of the Issue:

“The biggest thing for people to know is that even if you don’t know someone directly affected by cancer, you know someone who is.”

- Junior Jacque Rickett, daughter of cancer victim Tim Rickett

With a school lifetime of standardized tests, students develop a case of the

Photo Illustration by Cam Chorpenning

Purpose of numerous tests comes into question

Tests evolve over time

by Aaron Yu//reporter

by Alex Creighton//design editor

It is an older time, dinosaurs roam the earth, terrorizing nomadic cavemen who flee into caverns for protection.

Of course, cave paintings tell the story of such tribulations. Well, maybe not on the walls of caves but certainly on the margins of a TCAP test.

The TCAP is the standardized test given to Colorado public school students in the spring. It is meant to be a tool to gauge student learning, but many are asking, “why?” What does the TCAP mean for students and teachers?

“I think they are to make sure teachers are doing their job,” sophomore Nina Copeland said.

Students in Colorado, from sophomore year and below, all have to take the TCAP test, a rigorous three to four days of testing. More than a few students don’t try their best, blowing it off with the idea that the TCAP will not affect them outside of high school. But colleges are starting to jump on the standardized testing train, looking at these scores along with individual class grades.

“Colleges are beginning to recognize that there is an additional measure of students’ growth,” Assistant Principal Tyler Nickel said. “It is on your transcripts.”

Standardized tests such as the TCAP are in the beginning stages of being recognized as an admission factor because it is understood that there

“

It tests a

student’s ability to retain and regurgitate information.

Jay Dukart, art teacher

is more than one method to gauge a student’s learning.

In the past and the present, people have wondered if TCAP scores affect teacher pay or employment. Although there is potential for the TCAP to be worked into showing a teacher’s effectiveness, TCAP results are released in the fall when evaluations are due in the spring. It is possible that in the future standardized testing results may be included in reviews of teachers, but as now there is nothing to correlate the two.

Because the TCAP is not used for even evaluating teachers, is it really worth devoting nearly a week in the school year to take? Unlike the ACT, TCAP is taken over a period of either three or four days.

“The ACT needs only a single day to gauge a large amount of learning, but, unfortunately, the TCAP is not set up like this,” Nickel said.

Students and teachers find taking and proctoring the tests to be a difficult ordeal.

//Jump to Purpose,

on A2

This past spring students through Poudre School District took the TCAP test (Transitional Colorado Assessment Program) instead of the traditional CSAP (Colorado Standardized Assessment Program) test.

The change in testing is to help transition standardized testing from the old set of standards to Colorado Academic Standards (CAS) the new standards, approved by the Colorado Department of Education in December of 2009.

“Everybody is starting to move over to those [CAS], so the tests also have to move to the Colorado Academic Standards from the Colorado Content Standards so that [TCAP] is the transition test,” Assistant Principal Tyler Nickel said.

TCAPs are part of a four-year transition plan, slowly integrating the new standards into the familiar test that students kindergarten through 10th grade are required to take.

“Last year was the first year of the transition test and this year will be the second transition test. By the spring of 2014, we’re supposed to have started a

//Jump to Future,

on A2

2012 TCAP PROFICIENCY RMHS- 63.4% FCHS- 53.1% FRHS- 71.5% PHS- 56.5%

PERCENTAGES ARE AVERAGES OF SCHOOLS’ TEST SCORES THAT ARE PROFICIENT OR ADVANCED IN READING, WRITING, MATH AND SCIENCE COMBINED

news//highlighter

October 12, 2012 \ \ A2

Web stops bullies

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School employs new tool to aid anti-bullying effort

by Emily Anderson//opinion editor

According to bullyingstatistics.org, at least half of suicides among young people are a result of bullying.

Bullying is not a new issue and it’s certainly not just being discovered, but the ramifications it can have on a student are beginning to be realized by both parents and teachers. A recent increase in the number of reported bullying-incidents has resulted in many school-implemented antibullying campaigns across the country. Rocky has followed suit, as shown in the new function the the school website, “report a bully”.

Report a bully is a PSD invoked link where students can comfortably report problems they are having. Unfortunately, this link is not working yet on the Rocky website, so some details about how the program works are missing.

“Hopefully, when it is working, it will be a system for students to report issues that occur throughout the school day or even an outside event. Once it’s reported it will be emailed

Purpose// from page A1

“It’s draining,” arts teacher Jay Dukart said. “It’s very hard.”

With all the time devoted to it, to some students this test may not be an accurate measurement of what they have learned.

“It tests a student’s ability to retain and regurgitate information,” Dukart said.

Unfortunately, this inaccurate method for some students still affects them and their transcripts.

directly to both Jan Harrison and myself,” Dean of Students, Russ Stapleton said.

Once emailed to each dean, the issue will be investigated and it will be determined how to respond accordingly. The level of anonymity within the function is still unknown.

“I think it’s the right thing to do. I think obviously after we had a large school shooting in Columbine Colorado people were thinking more how to support students that had maybe been targeted or feel like they don’t have a voice,” Stapleton said. “We’re trying to encourage students to report it more. I think we’re encouraging students to try to get their needs met whether that be socially or emotionally or academically.”

Administrators are hoping the link will be fixed quickly, so that students can begin utilizing it as a tool to receive help and bring bullying to the school’s attention.

“Obviously we’re not going to solely rely on it but I think it gives students one more option to get support and that’s our overall goal,” Stapleton said.

Contrary to popular belief, TCAPs are put on transcripts permanently and this may factor into college admission in the future. Students are encouraged to try their best, not just for a score but for a reflection of character. “[The TCAP] has been put on student transcripts,” Nickel said.

“I just don’t think they’ve been aware of it.”

TCAP scores potentially can affect placement in classes and acceptance in college.

“Do your best,” Nickel said.

“Show your pride.”

Cam Chorpenning

Student leaders: (From left) Seniors Maria Elliot, Emilie Boland, Ed Kennedy and junior Jovan Rivera represent Peers by presenting to a Lobo 101 class about sexual harassment and sexual assault. Peers are involved in the Sexual Assault Resource Team (SART), which is connected to the Sexual Assault Victim Advocate Center (SAVA).

2011-12 Highlighter Students contribute earns multiple awards to canned food drive The 2011-12 Rocky Mountain Highlighter has received multiple awards, including an All-Colorado awarded by the Colorado High School Press Association, an All-American awarded by the National Scholastic Press Association for its annual critique and a Pacemaker Finalist by the National Scholastic Press Association.

The Pacemaker, considered the Pulitzer Prize of high school journalism, has been awarded annually since 1927 and is awarded based on quality of content and coverage, quality of writing, design, photography, art and graphics, depth of reporting and leadership on the opinion page. Pacemaker winners will be awarded at the Journalism Education Association/NSPA national high school journalism convention in San Antonio in November.

//in brief//

- Isaac Effner

Future//

from page A1 whole new test that only tests the CAS,” Nickel said. “It has given everybody sort of a time to look at their curriculum and adjust it.”

Although the new standards have already changed, there are bigger adjustments coming to standardized tests in the near future.

“TCAP itself is changing,” Nickel said. “They are going to add Social Studies and Science; we don’t know what that actually looks like. That’s just the transition plan. Whether they’re going to deviate from that plan, we don’t know.”

According to the Colorado Department of Education’s website, starting in the spring of 2014, 11th graders throughout the state will be required to take the Social Studies and Science TCAPs at the same time as the other grade levels take their tests.

“I don’t want to incite a riot,” Nickel added. “My assumption is that juniors will now take Science, Social Studies, and ACT in their junior year.”

Additionally, in addition to

Each year the school shows its compassion and its willingness to be a part of the community with its charitable events. The canned food drive is a highlight of the work students do for those who have less. Students work together with their second hour home room to collect money, canned foods, and other supplies which are counted and stored for a later date when all classes amass their donations.

Prizes will be given to the classes that compile the most supplies and food by the last day, just another way to gain the support of all students with a little friendly competition.

Teachers and fellow students push one another to get every last can to beat the other classes, be the most charitable, and possibly win an ice cream or pizza party. Showing the community care has always been an important part of the Lobo way with Adopt-a-Family and other donation focused events, Cans Around the Oval is the first big chance of the year to show that.

- Grant Rotman

the test material changing to meet the standards, the structure of standardized tests may change too.

“We have two more testing years TCAP as we know it; there is talk of it being computerized; there’s talk of it being done in one day kind of like an ACT,” Nickel said. “It’s really complicated.”

Most of the future remains unclear, as most of the changes are still in their planning stages.

“What we know is that it’s changing and it’s changing to meet the standards,” Nickel concluded.

As a result of the new standards, several other major changes are coming that directly affect students, one of which is in language arts classes where speech requirements have been added to regular language art class requirements.

“Speech is no longer required and it is a shame,” language arts teacher Julie Rickett said. “Since they have added the speech requirement, we now have to cram in what used to be a quarter long class to our already full [of curriculum] language arts class.”

The new requirements mandate that teachers also integrate more technology into the class-

“

I don’t

know what the TCAP is going to be measuring, it says new standards, but the state standards are basically the same, and how does a test measure how good students do in a discussion?

Julie Rickett, language arts teacher

rooms and that students participate in more class discussions.

“It’s all the stuff that we always should have done, and we always have had that in language arts, but now they are really fine tuning it and making sure that we are,” language arts teacher Laura Druse added.

“I don’t know what the TCAP is going to be measuring,” Rickett said. “It says new standards, but the state standards are basically the same, and how does a test measure how good students do in a discussion?”

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//A3

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October 12, 2012

Homecoming week a hit

Courtesy Populous

Ambitious undertaking: Crowds are shown enjoying a football game in a rendering of the new stadium. Whether or not the stadium will be constructed has been an object of controversy for months, but it was recently decided that the structure would be built.

Crazy crowd: A crowd of students anxiously watches the Oct. 5 homecoming football game. While the football team did not win the game, spirit was not in short supply.

New stadium gets go-ahead

Like community, student reaction mixed on facility

by Grant Rotman//reporter

When the new on-campus Colorado State University football stadium is built, it will be within the Rocky attendance boundaries.

It’s that close.

The much-anticipated, and controversial, new stadium finally got the green light as CSU president Tony Frank gave the project his blessing the first week of October and the Board of Governors agreed later that same week.

The new stadium, which is to be paid for by private donors, has an estimated cost of $246 million and will seat 43,000 fans.

Jack Graham, CSU’s director of athletics, who hasn’t been in office for more than a year yet, is bringing some big changes to the university and Fort Collins. It has been a highly debated topic since coming across as a possibility not that long ago.

“I was happy when we heard about the stadium. It will bring in a lot of profit and not just for football but for all CSU programs,” said junior Jerret McElwain, who is the son of CSU head football coach Jim McElwain. “There will be more festivities on campus; there will be more community pitching in, and there’s going to be more money for parking.”

The new stadium, unlike Hughes Stadium, will be on campus. It will be located between West Pitkin Street and West Lake Street just off of South Whitcomb Street.

The hope is CSU will become a more attractive university to prospective students with the chance for students to walk out of their dorm and down the street to a game every weekend.

“There is going to be more walking to games instead of driving all the way to Hughes,” McElwain said.

Also with an on campus stadium we have more hope for higher caliber players which CSU has struggled to gain over the past few years.

“The new stadium will be a better recruiting base, which will lead to a better record and better players,” McElwain said.

“

I was

happy when we heard about the stadium.

It will bring in a lot of profit and not just for football but for all CSU programs. There will be more festivities on campus; there will be more community pitching in...

Jerret McElwain, junior and son of CSU head football coach Jim McElwain

The thought of a great team playing in a beautiful new stadium does sound enticing.

However, not everyone is happy with the decision and the side effects that might come with a more central stadium.

As the new stadium is to be built within the Rocky school zone, many students will be effected by what is to come.

“My reaction is this is a huge waste of money since we have a perfectly new stadium already,” said junior Andrew Ferkiss, who lives near the intersection of Shields Street and Prospect Road.

“Renewing Hughes was the better option” Ferkiss is worried by what he might have to endure due to living so close to the proposed stadium site.

“On game nights I’m going to see all the bad stuff you hear about,” Ferkiss said. “The drunk a**hole traffic is going to increase and there’s going to be more vandalism and fighting--things drunks do after football games.”

Many are excited and many are not so thrilled, but it seems there are some who are waiting to see what the new stadium brings with some interest.

“There is going to be way more traffic on game days, but since I want to go to CSU and I think a closer stadium will be fun, I’m pretty excited,” said junior Jose Gomez, who lives off of Prospect Road.

Michelle Kennedy

Spirit, unity aided by weeks’ festivities

Aaron Yu

Goofy time: Freshman Olivia Anderson breaks out of her paper box during the homecoming assembly. Freshmen Katherine Baird and Avery Martin, sophomores Rachel Slark and John Kim, juniors Trevor Thomas and Maddy Champ and seniors Danny Steiner and Kailyn Nowak were elected royalty.

Michelle’s Musings

Michelle Kennedy

Anti-American protests have erupted this past month throughout the Middle East in reaction to an undignified film mocking the prophet Muhammad.

Yet, many students are unaware.

They are completely oblivious to events outside their social circle, let alone foreign affairs.

As teenagers, many students fail to keep up on current events, whether it is due to a lack of time, apathy or simply a lack of lust for this type of knowledge.

There are numerous reasons why this movie has caused major backlash, but the most prominent is its unbecoming portrayal of Muhammad. Not only does the film represent Muhammad in a demeaning manner, but it is offensive to most Muslims to depict Muhammad in any manner. Period.

From protests around the

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Yet another successful homecoming has come and gone. A full week of widespread school spirit was highlighted by the masses in costume for each day’s theme and a general feeling of enthusiasm and good fun.

Although the homecoming football game against Fossil Ridge High School was lost, students packed the den and supported their fellow Lobos. Both the homecoming assembly and dance provided a relaxing break in the normal school schedule .

Despite some chilly weather and the surprise of an early snow the school had a great week to show some pride in our school.

//Grant Rotman

Conflicts teach valuable lessons

world to the resulting fallout between presidential candidates, this motion picture has caused universal turmoil. If one simply takes a look at a map of the protests, it is astounding to see the amount of backlash that this poorly made film has created.

These demonstrations are not only limited to the Middle East, but have broken out in various Islamic-African countries such as Egypt, Sudan and Morocco.

So far, over 50 people have been killed due to the resulting violence, one of which was a U.S. Ambassador.

Although this event may appear to be of little impact on students’ lives, this is not the case. It is not only the video that has created disorder, but also building tension that has existed for decades. Such antiAmerican sentiment is a direct backlash against American values specifically the values of today’s

youth including dress and social interactions.

However, while these sentiments are nothing new it does not discredit their severity.

Looking toward the future, these sentiments will be major obstacles for conducting business and maintaining relative global harmony.

I’m not saying that this is a problem that I expect to be fixed any time in the near future.

However, it is imperative that throughout our lives we continue to inform ourselves about a wide range of current issues, not only those that affect us directly.

Through this, we can hope to be better informed and altogether more cognizant of current issues that affect the world as a whole.

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

//opinionrm

\\ A4\\ Measuring up to standards October 12, 2012

F

rom TCAPs to ACT to SAT, the average high school student is constantly bombarded by standardized testing, but what does it really achieve?

As schools across the country attempt to evaluate all students on an equal playStandardized ing field, tests do not students always show are beginan objective ning to see and accurate a growing portrayal of trend: a students considerably greater number of standardized tests.

Even within the Rocky community, classes are seeing more and more required district common assessments and this is only predicted to increase.

According to fairtest.org, U.S. students take more standardized tests than any other industrialized country in the world. This influx of testing first became pronounced due to the 2002 No Child Left Behind law that instituted “benchmark” tests for all students, increasing required state testing by more than two times previous federal mandates.

More recently, one of main reasons for an imminent

The Issue:

//staff editorial// increase in standardized testing is a new upcoming teacher evaluation process that will assess teachers based on student growth.

However, what this standardized system fails to consider is the individual needs of students who may not be as adept testtakers.

While standardized tests may yield an objective view of student knowledge, many students simply do not perform well on tests because of factors such as anxiety or an immense feeling of pressure. In these cases, students are victimized by the standardized testing process.

According to fairtest.org, not only do many students have test anxiety, but many cumulative standardized tests are constructed in an unnatural format for evaluating knowledge . In fact, it is inherent for the human mind to combine all of its knowledge into one entity rather than separate it out into sections for reading, writing, math, science or other

Cam’s Chorner

\\

Cam Chorpenning

The hallways are a scary place.

They’re crowded, noisy and people are constantly pushing past each other in a mad dash to get to their classes. In this environment there are, without a doubt, those in a position of dominance and those that are subordinate. I’m referring, of course, to the relationship between upperclassmen and the freshmen.

Frankly, freshmen are treated poorly. There are near constant

National Scholastic Press Association National Critique

Wow, with all of those standardized tests you Americans take, how do you fit in any actual schooling?

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

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

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

Sean Bray

Design Editor//

Alex Creighton

Opinion Editor//

Emily Anderson

Sports Editor//

Lauren Binder

Features Editor// Michelle Kennedy Center Editor//

Megan Shaw

Limelight Editor//Megan Troutman Staff//

Artist// Adviser//

Ed Kennedy Issac Effner Grant Rotman Morgan Miller Cammie Palomino Aaron Yu Amanda Kriss Stephen Wahlfeldt

RM Highlighter editorial policy

//Amanda Kriss, artist

“subjects.”

Are talented testtakers really superior to students who simply must confirm their learning in other ways? In a job, employees generally aren’t directly tested to evaluate their knowledge, but rather given tasks that prove their capabilities. Being

a poor test-taker should not prevent a student from attending their dream college or getting their dream job.

Although standardized testing may accurately depict the extent of some students’ knowledge, it disregards other students who demonstrate

their knowledge in different ways. An increase in this kind of testing is not the answer if schools are looking to ensure that all students have equal opportunities.

Instead, high schools and colleges alike should be more flexible about how they evaluate students’ knowledge.

The vicious cycle of class superiority needs to end

degrading comments and actions made towards our younger students by upperclassmen, and it is far too prominent an issue and too great a threat to the unity of the school to overlook.

Whether it’s a senior muttering “stupid freshman” as they pass a 9th grader in the hallway or giving a freshman a shove because they want to get through the hallways a bit quicker, this behavior is saddening.

Though it may seem to be

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

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normal and acceptable to much of the school, treatment of any group of people in this manner demands a change. Seniors may argue that, “We had to go through it as freshmen. Why shouldn’t they?” But with such a mentality this poor treatment becomes a vicious cycle that can’t be broken.

I ask of all upperclassmen an effort to empathize with their fellow students and to remember what it was like to be in their

position.

We seniors may be the leaders of the school now, but that doesn’t give us any right to treat younger students as inferior; rather it’s our job to ensure that high school is a welcoming place for them. Rocky is a great school.

Let’s make sure it’s that way for everybody.

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

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

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

Columbia Scholastic Press Association National Critique

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Letters may also be mailed to the Rocky Mountain Highlighter, Rocky Mountain High School, 1300 W. Swallow Rd., Fort Collins, CO 80526. To talk with anyone on the RM Highlighter staff, phone (970) 488-7090.

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

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

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

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

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

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//A5 Foothills Mall: A more ‘modern’ look

highlighter\\opinion

Alexander the Creight

Alex Creighton

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Hierarchal seating: custom or entitlement?

It’s a tradition and a right.

Each year seniors take the front row at varsity games to show support for their classmates. Sometimes those seniors spill over into the second row, but if you’re not at the game early to secure your spot, too bad.

I was appalled at the language and attitude directed towards students, by other students, at last week’s homecoming football game. I can understand the frustration of not having a spot in the first two rows; as seniors we have waited four years to get up there. But that does not give seniors the right to go ballistic on a student who dares to stand in their way.

At last week’s game, my group of friends and I showed up at six o’clock to be able to grab our spots and stand on the second row, since the first row was already filled. Consequently, three junior girls arrived at the same time on that cold night and took their place next to us on the second row.

No big deal. I had gotten my spot and most of the seniors had theirs. They were there early and were waiting in the cold like the rest of us. I let the juniors know that these rows were traditionally for seniors, but I didn’t make a scene out of it.

At the beginning of the third quarter, though, things got crazy. A few (insane) seniors showed up to the game, and although they had not been there for the past two hours, they automatically believed they still deserved a right in the front row and were determined to get it.

Almost immediately their eyes switched to the three juniors beside us and they were livid. When the juniors declined to move, as was expected, these two seniors decided that a torrent of curse words capable of making a sailor blush was the only acceptable solution.

It didn’t work.

But honestly, I’m glad it didn’t. Being a senior is more than just a title; we’re the mature ones in the school, or we should be. We’re leaders, guides, and mentors to those beneath us. So while there is some entitlement to having a good seat at the game, it should not be a catalyst for causing a flood of hostility towards people we should be leading.

So seniors, if you want a good seat without fighting for one, show up early.

More importantly, show leadership, both at the game and in class.

Alex Creighton is a senior and design editor for the RM Highlighter.

New class should expose students to different beliefs Dear Editor, Some kids are wondering, “Why do they celebrate that?” or “Where did that come from.”

I think religion should be open.

Kids should be aware of the spiritual life paths they might want to go down.

I’m not saying we should get a class to preach and pray in, but I am saying that more kids should be able to ask questions like, “What should I believe?” Therefore, I think there should be a class at Rocky to explain different beliefs and ways of life to students and why students people celebrate the things they do.

It would be a lot less stressful to go to a class and learn about different things than to go to a place of worship and ask what the meaning of life is.

Olivia Wilson, junior

//letter to the editor//

New mall will attract businesses to Fort Collins A renovated mall: it’s about time.

A couple of years ago, the Fort Collins’ mall was filled with decent stores and no construction. Now, half the mall is closed and there are a mere few stores worthy of business.

The reconstruction will yield a friendlier and more open environment, new businesses, and hopefully more customers.

The redevelopment will bring a new, more modern look to the mall. Getting rid of the old, abandoned looking buildings that are in the newly bought area, it will add an urban feel to a slightly less developed part of

October 12, 2012

Fort Collins.

The reconstruction company, Alberta Development Partners, will buy out stores that they believe do not fit in the new “look” of the mall and replace them with businesses that will fit in with the college environment.

It could also bring stylish, yet cheap stores into Fort Collins, that are perfect for budget-conscious young people.

Families will be able to enjoy the unique dinner movie theater, providing the chance to take in a film and a feast. Also, an added

ice rink will bring entertainment for people of all ages and provide a closer location than the one in Old Town or Edora Pool Ice Center.

The mall will bring a higher amount of revenue to Fort Collins, and a larger variety of stores. An increased amount of stores could influence the average amount of money citizens of Fort Collins spend.

The new mall will bring a new urban outlook and a positive change for Fort Collins.

Cammie Palomino

Pro Con

 Renovations will push out needed, established stores

With the construction/renovation of the Foothills Fashion Mall, a new light is being shed over the dreary shopping center.

While it seems that quite a bit of good is coming from the renovations, there may be some negative repercussions as well.

Under the new plans, citizens of Fort Collins will be losing the convenience of shopping at nearby Ross, Dress for Less, ARC Thrift store, and, long time mall anchor, Sears. The owners of what is to be renamed simply “Foothills,” will likely be raising tenant costs, pushing some stores enjoyed by customers out of the mall. The new “vision” of the mall is described as “Upscale and Trendy” by developers, but does that really fit the needs and wants of the customer base?

Step aside grandpa.

It’s time for some change around these parts! //Amanda Kriss, artist

The new mall will be very aesthetically pleasing; supposedly following an outdoor shopping center style similar to the Streets at Southglenn mall in Centennial. However, with the unpredictability of inclimate weather, how will this affect the ease and ability to shop at Foothills in the winter? The construction, which should last upwards of seven

months, will probably disrupt the flow of traffic around the area, including heavily traveled College Avenue. While the improvements and additions to Foothills Fashion mall are much needed and welcomed, there are definite cons to the process and final plans of the center.

Ed Kennedy

photopoll To what extent, of any, should standardized testing be implemented as a teacher and school evaluation?

“I feel like it’s not fair when kids don’t try because that reflects the teacher. If kids did try scores would go up a lot.”

Rachel Slark, sophomore

I think the TCAPs are useless but the SATs and ACTs I can understand.”

Madison Bloomer, freshman

“CSAP/TSAP is not a very fair test because people don’t take it very seriously. The state has done a bad job of making the test seem important.”

Owen Erickson, junior

“They are useless. It’s just trying to get the district money.

It’s kind of a selfish act.”

Tara Fox senior

“TCAPs are useless. Why didn’t we just stay with the CSAPs? TCAPs are pretty much the same except a different name.”

Alex Palmer, freshman

sports//highlighter

October 12, 2012 \ \ A6

rm

With Ham on the side

by Megan Shaw//center editor

Imagine the gut-wrenching feeling of hearing your tendons tearing and feeling your joints inverting.

This could be a risk for anyone participating in a high-impact sport, and for senior wide receiver Mason Ham--projected to be one of the Lobos’ top players this season--the results of playing football led to a series of unfortunate events.

Ham had become very excited for this year, because he had been working hard at football since his freshman year, as many players do. He was finally out of the “awkward” stages of growing and getting used to his body.

“Freshman year I was awkwardly skinny and slow,” Ham said. “I wanted to be a receiver but I was just too uncoordinated.”

After Ham had three years worth of training up his sleeve, he was ready and excited to play strong during his senior year.

It had started out as a normal summer practice like any other, until Ham was thrown a particular pass that caused the 6-foot-2, 185-pounder to jump up for the football. When landing, his knee hyper-extended, which occurs when the knee is bent backward, and the rest of his leg turned inward.

“My knee was just blown up,” Ham said. “I heard it pop, and I heard my ACL tear, and I just hit the ground.”

As many athletes know, tearing an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) most often means being out for a large portion, if not the remainder of the season.

However, the process of being diagnosed with a torn ACL was drawn out for Ham, and that made discovering the news of his injury even tougher.

On the field, Ham had been

“

Mark Brook Head coach

Mason is part of a really cool group of seniors,

and when you lose one of them a piece of the puzzle is missing.

told that he slightly tore a hamstring and that he would be fine to play in a few weeks time. After visiting the doctor the day after his injury, it had been said to be a slightly torn medial collateral ligament (MCL) and that he would be able to get back on the field in about a month.

It was not until about two weeks later during a follow-up appointment that the doctor had suggested Ham have an MRI after noticing his knee was slightly swollen “They called me back and said, ‘You tore your ACL,’” Ham said. “It just kind of came out of nowhere, and everybody knows what it means in the sports world. That’s it. You’re done. You don’t have a season.”

The final diagnosis for Ham’s knee was a torn ACL as well as a slightly torn MCL and meniscus tendon.

Though these injuries are extreme and highly impact an athlete’s performance, they are not uncommon. Many students have experienced similar injuries to Ham in all different sports. In football alone, however, the past four years have seen three players lose their senior season to torn ACLs. Ham had also lost a part of his junior football season to a broken foot, and has now lost the chance to get back on the field and fulfill the potential he knew he had for his senior season. Ham didn’t only feel self-pity, however; he had felt

like he was disappointing others as well, including his coaches, parents, teammates and fellow wide receivers.

“I felt like I let a lot of people down,” Ham said. “I had really high expectations of myself, and I think others did too.”

In addition to personal expectations and those of the people close to him, Ham had been noticed outside of the school and was featured in the Fort Collins Coloradoan as a “Player to Watch” for the 2012 season.

“When the football team is in a game and we’re doing really well, I’m fine, but if we get behind or we start doing not as good as we could be doing, that’s when it really starts to feel like I let people down,” Ham said. “I should be able to be out there helping them but I can’t, and that’s when it feels the worst.”

“Mason has been great coming out to practice everyday,” Brook said. “So it’s a lot more than what he brought to the field, it’s also the pieces in the locker room, and the camaraderie stuff that makes up for not having him up there.”

According to many, Ham had an extreme amount of potential as a football player and as an important asset to the team.

“Mason individually is a great athlete; he is a play maker,” said football coach and math teacher Mark Brook. “He really has a knack with a football. That is a big loss for himself and his teammates.”

Even though Ham still attends all practices and games, “It does hurt not to have him on the field; he would have been a big receiving weapon for us, and obviously for the kids who are close to him, and who have been playing side by side for several years now,” Brook said.

“Mason is part of a really cool group of seniors, and when you lose one of them a piece of the puzzle is missing.”

On the contrary, Brook said that with Ham not being able to play, younger players are learning to fill his shoes, which is the nature of injuries and athletics. When thinking back on his own experience as a rising football player, Ham admits that the sport is much different from the outside looking in.

“You always complain about having to go to two--a-days or practice when you’re actually in it,” Ham said.

“But on the outside when you’re injured it’s like, ‘I shouldn’t have complained so much.’ You really take your body for granted.”

Although Ham’s injury is one, like many, that put an end to a promising senior season, the choice not to continue to play will be a rewarding choice for Ham in the future.

“The doctor did give him a choice [to postpone the surgery]. It was a 50/50 chance that he would have done more damage,” Bonnie Ham, Mason’s mother, said. In retrospect, “It is a lifetime of activity versus one season.”

►Mason Ham

Arsenal team wins nationals

by Michelle Kennedy//features editor

Kickin’ out a win: Senior Jordyn Sidel (above) kicks the ball down the field at President’s Cup Nationals in July as a member of the Arsenal U18 Royal team this summer.

Half the girls on the team attend Rocky and contributed to winning a national title (right).

Courtesy of Linda Kennedy

Courtesy of Linda Kennedy

Esteemed medals now hang from the necks of many of Rocky’s women soccer players as proof of their impressive accomplishment.

The U-18 Arsenal Royal club soccer team won President’s Cup Nationals this past July in Sacramento, Calif., earning the club its first ever national championship. Half of the 16 player team that participated in the process goes to Rocky including seniors Kass Joseph, Adria Davis, Jamie Stroup, Michelle Kennedy, Izzy Engeman, Joanie Ellis, Kait Eden and Jordyn Sidel.

Royal won the final game by a margin of one goal, for a final score of 1-0 against the Massachusetts Crusaders, which they had lost to earlier in the tournament.

“When we finally won, it just felt like we were meant to win,” mid fielder Joseph said.

“Going into the game, we all had the same feeling like ‘we’ve come this far, we can’t lose now in the last game.’ The final was

a really difficult game. Every ball and every play were a battle.”

However, the road to a national title was not without challenges. The royal team is considered the second highest level team in Arsenal, with Gold being the highest.

“When you’re a second team, you have a constant, tangible reminder that you are not good enough,” coach Adam Bauer said. “Overcoming that stigma took two years, and without constant positive support throughout our team, we would have not reached this level of success.”

To attain such success, the team had to put in a massive amount of work.

“In between winning state and heading to nationals, there were 10 months where we weren’t involved with President’s Cup at all,” defender Engeman said. “But in the back of all of our minds in every practice, scrimmage and game we were working to win a national title.”

At the national tournament, the team started out strong,

beating their competition from Florida 4-2. However, the team faltered in their second game, falling to the Crusaders with a 2-1 loss. At first, the team wasn’t sure if they would be able to make it to the finals, yet fate was in their favor.

“The biggest thing [the tournament gave us] is confidence,” Engeman said. “Because we have always been told that we’re not the best, we finally have proof that we are one of the best teams in the nation.

Along with that, I now have a new standard for myself. I’m a national champion and therefore, I have to hold myself up to that standard and prove that I’m the best.”

Bauer added, “Our team has made me believe that anything is possible through hard work, and it has made me a better person and coach. As a second team, no one thought we could be national champions, and proving them all wrong is an experience I will never ever forget.”

rm

highlighter\\sports

Filling big shoes

by Cammie Palomino//reporter

Every season has its challenges.

For the volleyball team, it includes moving on from the fact that they have only three returning seniors and two more varsity players; seniors Hanna Wiggins, Ellen Donnelly, Desi Klaer, junior Ashton Mares, and sophomore Morgan Bowles.

These five returning players will have exercise their leading skills, given that they are the most experienced at the varsity level.

A prime example of this is Klaer, who has all of the qualities of an all-around team player. She does everything for the team. She supports her teammates, making sure the team is able to keep their composure in intense situations, and definitely uses her height to her advantage in blocking and spiking the ball which are her most popularly played positions.

Last season, Klaer had 62 blocks and 66 kills. She has already

Head//

from page A8 loopy because somebody can lie to you,” Vardiman said.

The football boys are too pumped to be taken out of the game, so initial reaction may to be ignoring that you don’t feel okay. Vardiman says that some of the signs that can be spotted are dizziness, nausea, having a hard time with balance or sudden fatigue. She also claims that sometimes it may be a tricky job to diagnose a player with a concussion because a lot of the symptoms can also be those of malnutrition, dehydration, or possibly they are just ill with the flu.

Sophomore Henry Powell knows exactly what the effect of a concussion feels like. Powell was the quarterback for the junior varsity team, and the team’s safety. Recently, he had been told that after his third concussion he would not be able to play football anymore.

“You don’t really feel like yourself,” Powell said. “You have a really hard time focusing

Volleyball//

Record: 9-6 Stars:Desi Klaer, Ashton Mares, Veronica Travers Ahead: Greeley West Oct. 16 Working on: The little things Talk: “We’ve come so far but we have so far to go.” -senior Desi Klaer

cushioning around the helmets and padding around the head to try and help prevent a concussion,” certified athletic trainer Kate Vardiman said.

Vardiman claims that when you consider what causes the concussion, it is not actually the helmet itself, but the force that is put into a tackle. When a player is head to head with an offensive lineman from the opposing team can certain amount of padding stop a head on crash with a 6-foot-1, 250-pound high school boy?

“You can put as much protection around the head as you want to but the impact can be big enough that the force will shake the brain which is what a concussion actually is,” Vardiman said.

signed to play for Bowling Green University, Ohio next year as a freshman.

“It’s fun because I know I get to be a role model for the younger girls,” Klaer said. “At the same time it is a lot of pressure because I have never been the oldest and the seniors last year were really good so those are big shoes to fill.”

Junior Jaclyn West fills the shoes of alumna Jennifer Brummit as the defensive specialist, or the libero, in her first year in the team.

“They have made me feel welcomed because I am the new kid and made me want to play,”

West said. “I think our team could be a lot stronger if we had more seniors, but it also gives the younger girls to have a chance to step up and be leaders as well.”

Last season, the team had six seniors who had previous experience in varsity the year before.

Alumna Kim Catlett dominated the court having 144 digs, 33 aces, and 2.8 kills per game. Also, Brummit had the most digs at

164.

Along with trying to keep up last year’s legacy, the girls will have to face a couple more challenging teams to find out their fate of whether they get in the playoffs or not.

“Our attitude towards the team is really positive,” West said. “We had that last year so we really have the drive to do it again this year.”

on things, and you know that effect when you like walk out of a movie theater? That is what you are feeling all the time.”

The more concussions a person may have, the longer the effects will last.

“Think of it like a bruise, you get a little bruise on your arm and you leave it alone it heals up pretty good. Now, if you get a little bruise on your arm and you leave it alone, and it’s still slightly bruised and you get it hit again, that bruise has just deepened,” Vardiman said.

There is always the possibility of a play lying to you that they feel fine, then you through some basic signs that a concussion can cause. For example, checking the dilation of the pupils, and are the eyes equal and reactive to light, are the pupils going out and retracting at the same time and at a good rate, if not that player may have a concussion.

When diagnosing concussions, the possibilities of the effects are on a large scale, some of the more serious symptoms can be loss of memory and that is when Vard-

iman notices that a player may be asking lots of questions; how did I get off the field? Where am I? What is going on?

Practiced sports medicine and non-surgical orthopedics doctor, Stephen Yemm, has a concern for how a concussion can be very different between two people.

“There is a spectrum; concussions can be sometimes relatively minor, where somebody who experiences one and recovers quickly with no long term effects,” Yemm said. “On the other end of the spectrum, concussions can lead to chronic changes, and in the most severe cases, a lot of ex-football players and ex-athletes who have had multiple, will end up with dementia or end up with memory and with cognitive problems and depression, and need to be taken care of.”

At a younger age, athletes need to be more cautious of receiving these concussions because later in life, they might be on the more severe end of the spectrum.

Vardiman explains that since the brain has the most going on, and has the most nerves in the body,

it takes the longest to heal.

“Nerves are very hard to heal so the more you damage it the more time it is going to take to recuperate, the younger you are, and the more concussions you get, the harder it is [to heal], because the brain is still trying to develop,” Vardiman said. “So not only is it trying to heal itself it is trying to develop itself at the same time.”

Both Yemm and Vardiman agree that concussions are tricky to work with, only because of consent issues of working on the brain, and that a lot of the more severe head traumas can only be diagnosed after a death.

Since concussions are not truly preventable, risk reducing measures are being enacted such as helmets and mouth guards.

In football, penalties like no head-to-head contact or blatant tackling after the player is down are put in place to reduce the risk.

“You can change the rules to diminish the risk of concussions,” Yemm said. “But they are part of the risk to playing those kinds of sports.”

Vardiman also stated that most helmets are tested and built to protect against severe blows to the head, but concussions can also be caused by whiplash-like motions that are a commonality of football.

“There is really no such thing as a concussion proof helmet,” Chris Bachman, owner of Harco Athletic said. “No matter how good they make the helmet, if you get hit just right, you’re going to sustain a concussion.”

Today’s helmets aren’t concussion proof, and they are definitely an upgrade from the original leather helmets used by the pioneers of football, and even the shoddy protection of helmets of the late 20th century.

New air cushioning systems provide better padding protec-

Softball//

Record: 4-6 in the conference Stars: Megan Rhead, Sydney Rios Ahead: End of season, see you next fall!

Working on: Communication as a team on and off the field Talk: “It was a bumpy road but we got through it as a team..” -Senior Megan Rhead

Boys Tennis//

Aaron Yu

Paying Respects: Girls varsity volleyball stands for the national anthem before the beginning of the game. They won this game against Horizon three games to none.

Helmet// from page A8

//A7

October 12, 2012

tion and durability than the traditional foam padding.

To be fair, helmets are not the only type of protection that athletes need to wear to ensure their protection and the prevention of injuries.

“A helmet is only good to do so much, you think about your mouth guard then. It’s still protecting the back parts of the molars when that forceful impact happens of a bite down on the back part of the molars which also causes the, quote-on-quote, shaking of the head that causes these head injuries.” Vardiman said.

Part of the new technology’s appeal and safety reaches farther than just protection from concussions. Today’s helmets provide more comfort and durability.

“They’ve also made the hel-

mets with more air ventilation, so you don’t get as overheated as you used to,” Bachman added.

This is a major advantage in preventing cases of exhaustion and dehydration during hot weather.

“It’s just more comfortable, it has this extra pad for your forehead, and it sits better on your head so it doesn’t rattle around as much,” senior football player Anthony Judish said. “It also keeps my head really cool.”

“When you consider a football player and how many concussions a football player may sustain through his career verses. a rugby player, who doesn’t wear any sort of a protective gear, and is still taking very forceful blows to his head, football probably has a very significant reduction,” Vardiman said.

Record: Stars: Jason Krbec, Isaac Smith Ahead: Denver State meet today and Saturday Working on: Serving the ball Talk: “We’ve had a lot of ups and downs but we all stayed strong and pulled together a great season.” -junior Jason Krbec

Boys Golf//

Record: Did not qualify for state Stars: Ryan Wilmot, Matt Bell Ahead: End of season. See you next fall.

Working on: Short game Talk: “The season was alright but we still need a lot of improvement.” -senior Ryan Wilmot

Cross Country//

Record: 16:20 personal record for David Messerli Stars: Kelsey Alexander Ahead: Conference Working on: Personal records Talk: “Its been a good season but these next two meets are going to be crucial for making State.” -junior David Messerli

Megan Troutman

Head Bump: Junior Clay Osterberg tries to block away the ball with his head in the game against Boulder last on Oct. 4. The boys lost the game 3-2.

Boys Soccer//

Record: 4-5-1 Stars: Mitch Cooper, Adam Bonertz Ahead: Fort Collins next Tuesday Working on: Scoring goals when we get the chance Talk: “These next few games are the most important games we play all season, with our record we need to play the best we have all season.” -senior Shane Wagner

Gymnastics//

Record: 180 points in last meet Stars: Alexis Stockton Ahead:Oct. 17 Mountain Range conference Working on: Not letting the mistakes ruin the whole meetTalk: “It has been exciting and it has had its ups and downs, but the good is outweighing the bad.” -junior Alexis Stockton

\\ sports rm highlighter

Making the pass: Junior Max McDonald runs an offensive play at the game against Douglas County. At the only weekend game the boys ended up losing by a last second field goal for a score of 14-17 Douglas County.

October 12, 2012

//A8//

Stuck in a Blur

Lauren Binder

High risk sports possibly lead to serious concussions Football//

by Lauren Binder//sports editor

Determination, a goal, a hit, sight goes blank, confusion, dizziness.

All of these things are the effects of a concussion, or the shaking of the brain.

Concussions are a common occurrence for an average football player, and for that matter, any contact sport.

Over the years, experts, sports gear companies and athletic trainers have been putting forth an effort to prevent more concussions from happening.

But, how can someone know if they have a concussion? One thing that athletic trainer Kate Vardiman says are looking for the signs and

EDsclusive

Ed Kennedy

I wanted to punch them all in the face.

I looked at them with more anger and disdain, but it made me reflect on it all. The group of guys took a jab at the football team and our first four games.

For them it was easy; they come to the games or hear the score, see and hear those numbers and make judgement.

They don’t know the details, the

Record: 1-5 Stars: Justin Schiller, Max McDonald Ahead: Mountain Range Oct. 19 Working on: The little details, and holding the ball Talk: “Still improving, but our team has become stronger like a brotherhood.”-junior Tyler Stevens

symptoms at the sports games, primarily football, only because it is one of the highest contact sports.

“We have other guys up in the box looking for the blows that could potentially lead to concussions and to see if the players are acting a little

//Jump to head,

on A7

New helmets give sense of security, but do they work?

by Ed Kennedy//reporter

The helmet is a football player’s best friend.

Or is it?

It’s definitely a multi-million dollar industry that serves the roughly $4.4 million kids around the nation playing tackle football, as well as college and professional players. New technologies from air bladder padding systems to shock absorbing face mask systems, are designed to prevent injury to the head.

Players depend on their helmet to ensure their safety, and also encourage them to hit hard.

Are they able to prevent serious

Lauren Binder

Making the pass: Sophomore Max McDonald celebrates his second touchdown in the game against Douglas County. McDonald was the only player to put points on the board with two touchdowns.

head injuries? It remains to be seen if they are really as effective as the manufacturers claim.

“There has been a lot more technology and invention as far as the

//Jump to helmet,

on A7

need to empathize with athletes, \\ Students school sports go deeper than scoreboards reasons. Just the numbers.

It’s not the statistical number that counts, but the number on the back of your jersey. Who you represent, who you play for; that’s what really matters.

It’s easy for people not associated with a team to make fun or criticize your performance as an individual athlete or collective team. Nobody understands the blood, sweat and tears you have

shared with those people, and that’s what causes the defensiveness when people are so quick to criticize. That is the appropriate reaction. It is an obvious display of passion and “brotherhood.”

It is remarkable how quickly people can be right on your bandwagon when you’re winning every game, but as soon as the road gets bumpy, how quickly they jump off.

Your friends wouldn’t just walk away if you were getting bad grades, or you let them down that one time--they are there to support you and that is what all of my peers should be doing; and for the most are doing. Support us--and for that matter every sports team here at Rocky.

We are one.

This is really something posi-

tive. Just more motivation towards the fire in our stomachs.

But band wagoners are not what you need. You need a strong, close-knit team and an ever stronger work ethic and desire to win.

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

\\ rmfeatures highlighter

Grant’s Rant

October 12, 2012

United

Photo illustration by Michelle Kennedy

Against

Grant Rotman

\\

Student traditions

Each year homecoming week is packed from beginning to end with traditions such as the election of homecoming royalty, asking a date to the dance in a creative way, spirit week and the assembly before the homecoming game and dance.

However, there are also the less official traditions held outside of the walls of our school that are less . . . productive.

I’m talking about the “JuniorSenior Wars.”

This tradition takes place every year on the nights leading up to homecoming. Juniors and seniors split into groups and attack each other’s houses through the process of “TPing” and other similar activities. The groups gather into caravans and then drive to the houses of as many opposing classmen as possible each night where they cover the trees in toilet paper and sometimes employ other antics.

Those who are on the defense usually try to fend off the attackers using a hose or sometimes a BB gun. However, they never really succeed in fending off the twenty or more attackers, instead it just adds to the euphoria of the games.

Seniors and juniors switch off who’s on attack and who’s on defense every night until the last night of the week when the they come to a truce and team up for one more night of fun, usually against sophomores or students from cross town rival schools.

While some people might view this as destructive teenage behavior, this is a great tradition; one started by the students and our teenage passion for good pranks.

It is not a tradition started by the staff and organized by our student council. This war was started by the students and has been maintained by the students throughout the years.

There’s something to show for the fact that we can organize such events without help and keep them going each year.

Usually, this tradition is not carried out in hateful way, but rather a fun, friendly way.

However, sometimes it is taken too far. After all, anyone with a group of fifty or so teenagers can easily get caught up in some mob mentality. Yet, its seems that a levelheaded majority can maintain an appropriate level of respect during the fun.

The Junior/ Senior Wars is something I will remember from high school for the rest of my life. Hopefully someday I’ll come across a group of kids TPing a tree and laugh to myself, knowing that was once my friends and I. Grant Rotman is a senior and a reporter for the RM Highlighter.

//B1//

CANC R

92%

Of students know someone with cancer or who has had cancer

56%

Of students feel inadequately informed on how to prevent cancer

47%

Of students feel frequently or sometimes contemplate getting cancer 351 students surveyed

Families battle Contribution to cancer center disease together provides local care for patients

by Megan Troutman//limelight editor

by Michelle Kennedy//features editor

On Oct. 17, 2002, Tim Rickett came home with jaundice skin to a curious, innocent 5 year old and a worried wife.

Julie and Jacque Rickett first realized that something was wrong when husband and father Tim came home from work with yellow skin.

“I was 5 years old and in the first grade,” junior Jacque said. “I just remember he came home and his skin

Look at the person to your left, then to your right.

Within a lifetime, chances are one out of the three of you will get cancer.

Although cancer is a widely known problem, sometimes it’s hard to put the sheer breadth of its influence on the lives of those around us into perspective.

“I heard a little girl say the other day that cancer doesn’t discriminate,” Assistant Principal Tyler Nickel said. “It affects everybody no matter sex, race or age and more people are affected either directly or

//Jump to Families,

on B2

indirectly than we may realize.”

Nickel has headed the school’s Engage in Life Campaign for the past two years, a fundraiser to benefit the construction of a new “one door” cancer treatment center that will be joined with Poudre Valley Hospital’s Harmony campus.

Throughout the two year engagement, Rocky raised over $58,000 to support the formation of this new center, which is planned to break ground in January 2013.

Corporate/Foundation Relations Officer of the PVH Foundation Kim Vecchio as-

//Jump to Cancer,

Schiller triumphs in school, three sports

by Megan Troutman//limelight editor

Imagine how easy it would be to have a mind that worked like a camera– snap a mental picture of your schoolwork, for example, and the information would be stored for a lifetime.

This “photographic memory” is how Justin Schiller scored a 35 (one point away from a perfect score of 36) on the ACT and put him in the running for valedictorian for the Class of 2013 with a 4.16 grade point average.

“I just remember things easily and I pay attention . . . sometimes,” Schiller said.

//student feature//

Quadruple threat: Senior Justin Schiller plays football, basketball and participates in track and field in addition to being possible valedictorian of the class of 2013.

As linebacker and running back for the football team, Schiller has 27 solo tackles, 4 touchdowns and 2 interceptions.

Because of his gifted memory, Schiller does not have to study for big tests to get straight A’s.

This senior sits through class, absorbs information and aces the assessments.

“Depending on the class, I will either be doing other homework or not paying attention, which really isn’t good,” Schiller said. “I’ll either be thinking about what they’re saying or adding on to what they’re saying in my head and maybe asking questions.”

The chance to become valedictorian is an especially gratify-

//Jump to Schiller,

on B2

on B2

Michelle Kennedy

features//highlighter

October 12, 2012 \ \ B2

Schiller// from page B1

ing accomplishment for Schiller.

“It feels pretty good [to possibly be valedictorian],” Schiller said. “It’s kind of like an accomplishment that most people want to have and something that I’ve wanted to be.”

Childhood friend, Connor Haugen added, “He’s got a good shot. It would be cool to see both an athlete and an academic be valedictorian.”

On top of his busy class work, Schiller is a three sport varsity athlete.

He plays linebacker and wide receiver on the football team, as well as basketball and track (middistance and jumps).

“Football is definitely my favorite,” Schiller said. “I love football.”

So far this season, Schiller has made an impressive 27 solo tackles, 4 touchdowns and 2 interceptions.

It would make sense for such an involved student to have a hard time finding a balance between athletics and academics,

but not for Schiller.

“I’ll come home from football and I’ll be really tired, then I’ll have three hours of homework every night,” Schiller said. “It takes some getting used to. Once you’re used to it, it’s not so bad.”

Schiller’s schedule consists mainly of AP classes. This semester he is taking AP Psychology, Calculus 3, AP Composition and Literature and AP Government.

“We first met in kindergarten back at McGraw [Elementary School],” Haugen said. “Now I have Calc. 3 and AP Comp. with Justin. He has always had this photographic memory. I don’t study too much myself, but it’s a little demoralizing knowing that he’s that much better.”

Nathan Balk, Schiller’s Calculus 3 teacher, agrees that Schiller would be an excellent candidate for the 2013 valedictorian position.

“I think he is very academically driven,” Balk said. “He has all the requirements, is taking all the AP courses, plus he’s in three sports. So from that alone, it’s very impressive. Also, when other

Athletes in Action: Senior Justin Schiller, number 22 on left, carries the ball in an away game against Brighton on Sept. 14. In the 28-18 loss for the Lobos, Schiller made 3 solo tackles and scored 1 touchdown.

Lauren Binder

kids in the class need help, he will stop and help them.”

When Schiller first took the ACT last May, he scored a 33, which was already far above average for the typical high school student (the state average was 20.9 in 2012). He then took it again and improved two points

Families// from page B1

was yellow because he had laryngitis and he was moaning a lot. Then [my mom] took him to the emergency room.”

Doctors diagnosed him with a rare form of pancreatic cancer. Patients with typical pancreatic cancer get it from smoking and usually die within a year or two. However, Tim’s type of cancer gives him a chance to live much longer.

“That night, at 3 a.m. in the morning, they called us and we laughed about it at first like, ‘You don’t have cancer,’” Julie said. “But sure enough that’s what it was, and it hit us two hours later that it was really serious.”

The doctors at Poudre Valley Hospital performed surgery to try and stop the cancer at an early stage. They saw that his bile duct (a tube that breaks down food for digestion) was clogged due to constriction by the tumor.

As soon as the surgeons saw this, they closed him back up and sent him off to Houston in hopes that they would be able to figure out what to do.

“Nobody guessed that a 38-yearold man would have pancreatic cancer because it was so rare,” said Julie, who teaches in the language arts department.

Added Jacque, now a junior, “It’s important to know that [cancer] is a touchy-feely subject for some people, but

Cancer// from page B1

sisted Rocky throughout the Engage in Life process.

“When you are diagnosed with cancer, you usually have up to 100 doctor visits in your first year of diagnosis,” Vecchio said.

“Right now, you might have to travel to various locations for these visits and treatments. The new cancer center provides a place for individuals who are diagnosed with cancer to receive their care.”

Physical education teacher Mackenzie Mushel knows firsthand how beneficial a treatment center like this will be for cancer patients. As a sophomore in college, Mushel was diagnosed with esophageal cancer and had to undergo numerous treatments to attain her now cancer-free state.

“Because I was at school in Minneapolis and the clinic I went

Courtesy of Julie Rickett

A long day: Junior Jacque Rickett (then 7 years old) stands with her father Tim Rickett after an 11 hour surgery to remove cancerous growths in his stomach at MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, TX. Tim left without a third of his pancreas and stomach as well as a meter of intestine.

just because it’s so common, we all need to know about it. If someone talks about it, I’m used to it and I don’t get all emotional. It’s just something that I’ve known for so long that it’s just been normal.”

Tim has gone through different types

to was in Rochester, which is about the equivalent of Ft. Collins to Denver, I would have to drive down there a couple times of week,” Mushel said. “I think that since the new cancer center will provide access to the best quality care in a central location close to home, it will make the difficult journey that much more comfortable for people.”

However, the new center will not only provide patients with medical care, but also with a support network to help them through their journey.

“At the time, I was 19 going on 20 and sitting in a room full of people that were in their 80s and 90s,” Mushel said. “I didn’t feel like I had arrived at adulthood yet, so it was very intimidating for me, feeling young.

Being in that situation and then having to be so far away from my family was very hard.”

rm

to post his 35.

“I thought the first score was okay but I knew I could do better,” Schiller said. “Out of the 215 questions I guessed on about 5 the second time.”

Schiller would like to attend CU-Boulder to become an engineer and possibly apply for the

of surgeries, clinical trials, drugs and different chemotherapies. In addition, the Ricketts went to the Netherlands six times last year for cancer treatments. “[Traveling for my dad’s treatment] definitely made me more of a well rounded person because I’ve seen so many different cultures,” Jacque said. “It has made me grow because of all the different things we were able to see. I mean, yes, it’s hard, but at the same time it’s a really good experience.”

Yet these adventures to different places for treatment have not been all fun and games.

“We’ve also experienced a lot of heartbreak,” Julie said. “It’s hard to see somebody you love in pain, or sick. But that’s like everything in life—there’s the good and the bad.”

On March 1, 2004, Tim underwent an 11 hour stomach surgery. Previous chemotherapy had shrunk the tumor enough that they were able to surgically remove the cancer in his pancreas. In the end, Tim left without a third of his pancreas, a third of his stomach and a meter of his intestine.

Unfortunately, the Ricketts’ story is one of many in the Rocky community.

Junior Jocelyn Gentry’s mother was diagnosed with a rare form of fallopian tube cancer when Gentry was just finishing 7th grade.

Luckily, headway is being made toward finding a cure for this disease. Erica Dickson, Oncology Research Manager from the Poudre Valley Cancer Network is optimistic about the strides being made.

“The growing number of cancer survivors nationally demonstrates that progress is being made in making cancer a chronic disease that patients can live with for years and decades,” Dickson said. “Significant progress has been made in specific disease sites, including breast, ovarian and colon cancer. Better screening means that patients are diagnosed earlier, which results in better outcomes.”

While cancer is a very difficult circumstance, the support of a community can be incredibly beneficial. One of the main accomplishments of the Engage in Life campaign, besides raising

“

“Luckily, her main treatments have been done in town at the Cancer Center of the Rockies,” Gentry said. “She has also gone on a few out-of-state trips to get second opinions on the best treatment.”

In comparison to the Rickett family, this journey has been completely different for Gentry. For the majority of the time, she has been the only one living with her mother.

“It has been quite hectic and has made drastic changes in my family’s dynamic,” Gentry said. “I have definitely felt the pressure as a caregiver and daughter to be a strong supporter. Luckily, my mom has many close friends that have been huge supporters throughout everything. It has been an emotional roller-coaster with good and bad reports, but currently her tumors are responding well to treatment, which is an awesome relief.”

The Ricketts and the Gentrys have both taken part in different fundraisers throughout the school and the community to benefit cancer patients, including Rocky’s Engage in Life campaign.

“I got to be part of the Engage in Life team last year, which I was so honored to be on,” Jacque said. “I was so happy because I feel like it’s definitely important to have a cancer center here. The biggest thing for people to know is that even if you don’t know someone directly affected by cancer, you know someone who is.”

Rocky

was vital not only in the fundraising aspect, but also in rasing awareness.

Kim Vecchio, PVH Relations Officer

Boettcher Scholarship.

“He’s a student, he’s an athlete and he’s a teacher,” Balk said.

“It doesn’t surprise me that a valedictorian would be coming out of Calc. 3. I think he is setting himself up nicely to be valedictorian and possibly get the Boettcher Scholarship.”

funds, was cultivating awareness throughout the community.

To honor Rocky’s contribution to the project, PVH will dedicate a family/ youth/ teen area named after all the contributing schools.

“Rocky was vital not only in the fundraising aspect but also in raising awareness,” Vecchio said. “I think you all spearheaded some great energy within the Fort Collins community about

the cancer center. I can’t even put a price tag on that because it’s just been amazing to watch how your involvement throughout the community got other people involved.”

Throughout the two year Engage in Life campaign, Rocky rallied support from students, staff and the community. To put it in perspective, in only six weeks, Rocky raised over $58,000.

“A lot of it just took my breath away,” Mushel said. “Having dealt with it myself, to see how everybody rallied together was really cool. It was just mindblowing and so inspiring to see everybody’s commitment and passion. No matter what anyone faces here at Rocky we pull together and that’s just the coolest thing. Whether it’s engage in life or homecoming activities, I’m just so blessed to be here at Rocky.”

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highlighter\\features

October 12, 2012

//B3

Breaking down barriers Cultural ARMS broadening students’ educational horizons

by Aaron Yu//Reporter

Vanilla valley. Just one of many stereotypical names for the city of Fort Collins.

This popular saying refers to the idea that Fort Collins is nothing but a caucasian community, a concept that pays no regard to the vast array of minorities that live in the city. Cultural ARMS (All Rocky Mountain Students) has set out on a campaign to help alter this mind-set.

Cultural ARMS is the result of a merge between Diversity Club and Spanish Club. Their mission is to help represent all the different cultures that exist in the school and combat the idea of a whitewashed city.

“We want to represent all the cultures in Rocky Mountain High School,” club sponsor Leanne Cline said. “It’s time that Rocky had a place for them to shine.”

Although learning about such a massive number of cultures may seem like a tall order, students find the club to provide a entertaining and engaging environment as well as something new to try.

“I think it’s a good idea and also fun,” freshman Ben Anderson said. “It helps other cultures be represented in our society.”

Students are using Cultural ARMS to

//club feature//

“

Leanne Cline, Cultural ARMS club sponsor

We want to

represent all the cultures...

It’s time that Rocky had a place for them to shine.

not only learn about new cultures, but connect with people as well. With such a diverse cultural range represented, club members are able to make many unique acquaintances.

“I think it’s a great club,” senior Sabryna Swadener said. “I joined because a lot of the population in Fort Collins and in Rocky speak Spanish.”

The club opens many new possibilities for its members. Just as learning a new language unlocks a whole new group of people to speak with, learning about a new culture unlocks the possibility of understanding and friendship with cultures outside of one’s own.

Unlike many clubs, Cultural ARMS will be holding some events outside of school for a wider range of cultural experi-

Aaron Yu

Serving up awareness: Freshmen Juliette Bryant (left) and Ben Anderson (right) serve themselves food on Wednesday, Oct. 3 at one of Cultural ARMS Club’s events in the courtyard. The club’s mission is to represent all cultures in some way.

ence.

“We’re going to rent out the Lyric Theater and watch an actual movie in Spanish,” Cline said. “Not some movie captioned in a basement.”

Even within school, the club manages to hold events that intrigue and excite students.

“On the first day of Cultural ARMS, we had massive pieces of pizza,” Anderson said. “They were as big as your notebook.”

Last Wednesday, the club hosted a cultural foods party and scavenger hunt in the courtyard to raise awareness for the club and give students an enjoyable time.

Clubs like Cultural ARMS are working to help reverse the vanilla valley stereotype and may one day play a large role in helping recognize the diversity of Fort Collins.

Perhaps one day, with the help of clubs like Cultural ARMS, the city be known as neapolitan valley.

Roller derby rises in popularity

by Isaac Effner// Reporter

When most people think of team sports they think of basketball or volleyball, but not of roller derby.

Roller derby is, in fact, one of the largest up and coming sports in the United States, especially in ares such as Texas and California.

“I tried a lot of sports but I was never that good and they were never really that appealing,” junior Maddy Champ said.

“I really just wanted to do roller derby.”

Although it is mostly underground, roller derby has a small, yet devoted following of fans.

//student feature//

Isaac Effner

Crusin’ for a brusin’: Rebel Militia team member Medieval Princess (right) practices “riding out” against Junior Maddy Champ (derby name Gal Capone, left). The team practices every Saturday at Qdoba Events Center.

“It’s the fastest growing team have a conditioning practice sport and that is for a reason,” once a week without skates. sophomore Sloane Bartleme There we work on muscles you said. “It’s really cool and the specifically use for roller derby sport itself is evolving as more because you don’t normally use people are being exposed to it, those muscles.” so I’m really Because it is a excited to see mostly underground Choice City Rebels what happens. sport, roller derby Next bout: Saturday, Oct. 13 I think it will is largely misun at 7 p.m.

Opponent: Ark Valley High become a really derstood and is far Rollers popular sport.” more popular in Where: Qdoba Events Center Competidensely populated Cost: $10 with a student I.D. tive roller derby areas like Texas or “bouts” consist California. of two teams of five attempt“I feel like a lot of people ing to score the most points by think we are bunch of chicks passing other members on the in booty shorts punching each opposing teams. The teams or other on roller skates,” Bartleme leagues consist of an 18 and said. “That’s really not what it is. older adult team, a 12 to 17 year It’s a serious sport.” old junior team and a no contact For many people, roller derby 12 and under children’s team. is a unique team sport that is Champ and Bartleme parsupportive while being highly ticipate on a team named the competitive.

Rebel Militia, while language One of the most unique arts teacher Georgiana Jones things about the sport is that participates for the adult team, each player gets to create their the Choice City Rebels. own personal “derby name.”

Roller derby is a full contact According to Champ, this is sport and requires both speed how they refer to each other in and strength. practice, not actually by their As a result, roller derby can given names. often result in injuries.

“One thing I really like about “I bruised my tailbone pretty that is that it’s really empowerbad one time,” Bartleme said. ing,” Champ said. “It’s an all “There a lot of leg injuries girls sport, but it’s full contact. A because our skates aren’t like ice lot of people think that it’s just skates. There isn’t a thick boot girls rolling around beating each around the ankle, so a lot of other up, but it actually takes ankle injuries occur.” a lot of athleticism. From a lot To hone in their skills, the of women I’ve talked to, many adult team practices twice a of them needed something to week while the junior team do that was their ‘own thing.’ practices once a week on SaturEveryone has their own roller days. derby name, so by day they’re a “I usually try to go to as lawyer, a teacher or a mom, and many of those practices as I then by night they get to go and can,” Champ said. “Then we be their roller derby person.”

rmhighlighter\\center spread

B4 \\ October 12, 2012

Societal views of body art becoming more acceptable as time goes on

by Alex Creighton//design editor

A S K IN C A N V A S

One of history’s oldest art forms is becoming mainstream: tattoos and piercings, and it’s more popular than ever.

With it’s ever increasing popularity, one can only wonder why these strange body modifications are so fashionable. Believe it or not, forms of body art can be traced back to the beginning of time.

“Since before recorded history people have been performing body modifications,” Chad Williams, the manager of Tribal Rites, a local tattoo and piercing parlor, said. “We can go back and look at these ancient mummies who have ink under their skin, nearly every culture has its own version [of body art].”

Tattoo usage and meaning varied by culture, but some of the most common reasons were to identify

tribes, social status, a transition to adulthood, or even a specific set of skills.

Somewhere between ancient cultures and modern day, however, tattoos became taboo. They were reserved for thugs, hardened Laura Hogan, criminals, bikers, math teacher soldiers or sailors.

That all changed in the 1990s, when American Culture experienced the biggest youth counterculture revolution since the early 1900s.

“It [body art] was so associated with things like bikers and scary people,” language arts department teacher Jennifer Adams said. “It wasn’t seen as an expression of art necessarily.”

Adams has the Disney character Tinkerbell tattooed on the inside of her right ankle, making her one of the few teachers that have gone under the needle and become “inked.”

She received her tattoo in 1999, near the height of the tattoo craze.

“

//B5

October 12, 2012

“I think a lot of it was music; In the 90s, you had this counter culture, this sub culture that was coming up with alternative music and some of that kind of thing, and there was just this push towards rebellion,” Adams said. “It was, you know, ‘Mom and Dad, your goals for me don’t work for me. And I don’t trust that society is going to be in the place that it is now.

I don’t think the money will be there. I don’t think the jobs will be there.’ It’s that whole Generation-X-checkedout-of-what-society-thought-theyshould-be, and I think tattoos came out of that.”

Both music, movie, and athletic industry have been declared the catalyst for the increase in body art.

“Back in like 1993, MTV showed this music video by Aerosmith [song referenced is Cryin’] that featured a girl getting a naval pierc-

Part of it

is that we live in a less conservative time, people are starting to see people more for who they are and not for what they look like.

ing,” Williams said. “Soon after that it became one of the most popular piercings to have done.”

According to a 2006 study by the Journal of American Academy of Dermatology, out of a 500-person sample, 24 percent of adults ages 18-50 had tattoos and 14 percent had a body piercing in a location other than than the soft part of their earlobe. Although no official studies have been published recently, one can only imagine how this number has increased over the last six years.

“I think part of it is that we live in a less conservative time,” math teacher Laura Hogan said.

Hogan is another staff member that has received a tattoo; she sports the hebrew word for “freedom” on her wrist.

“People are starting to see people more for who they are and not for what they look like,” Hogan said. “People are starting to realize they can’t make decisions about whether a person is good in school, or good at a job, or kind, or a troublemaker. You can’t judge someone based on that; it’s not accurate.”

93%

of students do not have a tattoo

71%

of students do not have any piercings other than traditional ear piercings

58% 40%

of students who do not have a tattoo Or other body art plan to get at least one or more in the future of students say they categorize people in a certain way if they have body art 350 students surveyed

Students use body as a canvas for self expression

by Megan Shaw//center editor

7% of students have nose piercings

20% of students have non-traditional ear piercings or gauges

7%

of students have belly button piercings Megan Shaw

350 students surveyed

In today’s society there are hundreds of different ways a person can mark, ink, pierce, stretch and distort the body from its original state.

But the question that lingers among many people, old and young: What is the appeal?

At birth, the human body is brand new. It is clear of any type of damage, alterations or modifications, much like a blank canvas. For some, the body does represent a type of canvas, one that is anticipating the work of an artist to transform it into a masterpiece.

“Art is a powerful thing and you can express a lot of things through it,” senior Emma Hayes said. Hayes has two tattoos currently, a large one on her upper back and on her forearm. “I like having art on my body to express me.”

Tattoos can be seen for many as a statement regarding who that person is and what is important to him or her portrayed through an image. Junior Jade Reese has upwards of 15 tattoos, including small ones that can only be seen when held under a blacklight, each one representing a part of his life that has personal significance.

The image he had tattooed on his right rib cage, for instance, is a replica of a self-portrait his younger sister drew for him on her fifth birthday.

“When I was out in Texas this summer she [his sister] drew a picture of herself to take back with me,” Reese said. “I got it tattooed on me so it would always be with me.”

Both of Hayes’ tattoos have an important meaning to her, as well. The rose tattooed on her forearm surrounded by the words “The Vision is Hope, Hope is Real” signifies her fondness of roses (Rose being her grandmother’s name as well as Hayes’ middle name), and the phrase which originates from a self-harm book.

“Those words mean alot to me,” Hayes said.

“It means hope is real; you can actually count on it.”

Tattoos with personal meaning are not only motivation for teenagers in this generation, but for most people in general.

Aracely Alba, college and career center secretary, has an Arabic tattoo on her wrist that means “side by side,” which she and her four siblings had done when a family member was diagnosed with cancer.

“It has to be something meaningful for me

to have art on my body,” Alba said. design entirely up The struggle of dealing with the illness was to the artists with difficult for the whole family and Alba had sug- a little bit of suggested to all her siblings that they get the same gestion. tattoo because they were sharing the same pain.

“I feel like “I decided to relate the pain of a tattoo to tattoo artists the pain I was going through,” Alba said. “And specifically never now that he has passed away, it is something to really get to do remember.” their own work Other tattoos, while still having personal or express themCourtesy of Jade Reese meaning, have less of an emotional connection. selves,” Reese said.

Trippy Tats: Jade Reese shows off his unique Reese, for example, has the portraits of Fran- “A lot of people blacklight tattoos that represent his love for mukenstein, Michael Myers, Freddy Krueger and tend to forget that sic and math (above). On Reese’s right ribcage is Hannibal Lecter on his right lower-leg because they are artists and a self-portrait that his five year old sister drew for him on her birthday (right). he has always been a big fan of horror movthey aren’t just ies, and is planning on adding more characters there to do what earlobes pierced. as well to create a collage from the top of the you tell them to do. I’m dedicating my legs to Although both piercings and tattoos may thigh to the top of his foot. In addition, he has pure artist creation for the most part so they have differing purposes, both seem to go handblacklight tattoos on his fingers of music notes can actually do their own artwork.” in-hand with a sense of thrill and excitement. and a pi symbol on the back of his neck, simply Hayes’ artist also drew up the design for a “Tattoos are absolutely addicting,” Hayes because he enjoys music and math. fully colored tattoo of an owl that she had done said. “I don’t know many who have just one, or “I asked [the artist] what he wanted to do across her upper back. don’t want to get another one once they have and he brought up horror movie portraits,” While tattoos seem to be the main thought one.”

Reese said. “He told me to select my favorite associated with body art, the category extends For Reese, both piercings and tattoos have horror movies and started tattooing them on to piercings and gauges, a piercing where the an addiction factor. me.” hole is stretched to an ever-increasing diameter, “I got my first piercing on my lip when I Although tattoos can be a form of art for as well. However, piercings are viewed a bit was 13, and kind of got hooked into them from self-expression, it is also a way for the tattoo differently than tattoos when looking at the there,” he said. “I like the look, and I also like artists themselves to express their abilities and motivation behind receiving them. the adrenaline rush when you get one done, artistic talents. With about 15 tattoo parlors in Reese, who currently has 12 piercings but same with a tattoo.”

Fort Collins alone, people are given hundreds has had a total of 47 over time, sees piercings It may seem that teenagers are the only ones of options as to the artist style they are looking as having little self-expression behind them, if who keep returning to the parlor to constantly for and varying prices from $20 to thousands any. Although they may slightly express who a add more ink or piercings to their skin, but this of dollars, depending on the amount of ink or person is, the motivation leans more towards may be the case for adults as well. color used. “just because.”

Tattoos have a sense of meaning relating to a Reese’s blackThis has to do personal history for Alba, and that is the reason light tattoos with the fact that, she may be drawn back for more. for example besides gauges “They told me, ‘You’re going to want to get would typicaland minimal scaranother one after you start,’” Alba, who got ly cost more ring, piercings are her first tattoo at 28, said. “And I have actually than a black not permanent been thinking of that. It is a process that you go ink tattoo and will close through that can relate to your personal life.” of the same over time.

Alba, though, is not there, yet. But she is size. Some Hayes, who confident that her body art future will eventupeople can has 13 piercings ally present itself. bring in their total, thinks of “If you are wanting to get a tattoo, wait for own designs her piercings the right time, because you will know,” Alba or choose as aesthetic, or said. from design having a purpose Body art tends to be a very meaningful Megan Shaw of beauty or acbooks at the process for some people, and a lot of thought is Spread your wings: An owl tattoo stretches its wingspan across Emma Hayes’ tattoo parlors, cessory, similar to put into it before hand, Reese said, “especially upper back which she had done at Millennium Gallery tattoo parlor. The idea but some the reason anyone of wings across her back was modeled after the swan wings from the movie since tattoos are with you for life.” can leave the Black Swan. would get their

rmhighlighter\\center spread

B4 \\ October 12, 2012

Societal views of body art becoming more acceptable as time goes on

by Alex Creighton//design editor

A S K IN C A N V A S

One of history’s oldest art forms is becoming mainstream: tattoos and piercings, and it’s more popular than ever.

With it’s ever increasing popularity, one can only wonder why these strange body modifications are so fashionable. Believe it or not, forms of body art can be traced back to the beginning of time.

“Since before recorded history people have been performing body modifications,” Chad Williams, the manager of Tribal Rites, a local tattoo and piercing parlor, said. “We can go back and look at these ancient mummies who have ink under their skin, nearly every culture has its own version [of body art].”

Tattoo usage and meaning varied by culture, but some of the most common reasons were to identify

tribes, social status, a transition to adulthood, or even a specific set of skills.

Somewhere between ancient cultures and modern day, however, tattoos became taboo. They were reserved for thugs, hardened Laura Hogan, criminals, bikers, math teacher soldiers or sailors.

That all changed in the 1990s, when American Culture experienced the biggest youth counterculture revolution since the early 1900s.

“It [body art] was so associated with things like bikers and scary people,” language arts department teacher Jennifer Adams said. “It wasn’t seen as an expression of art necessarily.”

Adams has the Disney character Tinkerbell tattooed on the inside of her right ankle, making her one of the few teachers that have gone under the needle and become “inked.”

She received her tattoo in 1999, near the height of the tattoo craze.

“

//B5

October 12, 2012

“I think a lot of it was music; In the 90s, you had this counter culture, this sub culture that was coming up with alternative music and some of that kind of thing, and there was just this push towards rebellion,” Adams said. “It was, you know, ‘Mom and Dad, your goals for me don’t work for me. And I don’t trust that society is going to be in the place that it is now.

I don’t think the money will be there. I don’t think the jobs will be there.’ It’s that whole Generation-X-checkedout-of-what-society-thought-theyshould-be, and I think tattoos came out of that.”

Both music, movie, and athletic industry have been declared the catalyst for the increase in body art.

“Back in like 1993, MTV showed this music video by Aerosmith [song referenced is Cryin’] that featured a girl getting a naval pierc-

Part of it

is that we live in a less conservative time, people are starting to see people more for who they are and not for what they look like.

ing,” Williams said. “Soon after that it became one of the most popular piercings to have done.”

According to a 2006 study by the Journal of American Academy of Dermatology, out of a 500-person sample, 24 percent of adults ages 18-50 had tattoos and 14 percent had a body piercing in a location other than than the soft part of their earlobe. Although no official studies have been published recently, one can only imagine how this number has increased over the last six years.

“I think part of it is that we live in a less conservative time,” math teacher Laura Hogan said.

Hogan is another staff member that has received a tattoo; she sports the hebrew word for “freedom” on her wrist.

“People are starting to see people more for who they are and not for what they look like,” Hogan said. “People are starting to realize they can’t make decisions about whether a person is good in school, or good at a job, or kind, or a troublemaker. You can’t judge someone based on that; it’s not accurate.”

93%

of students do not have a tattoo

71%

of students do not have any piercings other than traditional ear piercings

58% 40%

of students who do not have a tattoo Or other body art plan to get at least one or more in the future of students say they categorize people in a certain way if they have body art 350 students surveyed

Students use body as a canvas for self expression

by Megan Shaw//center editor

7% of students have nose piercings

20% of students have non-traditional ear piercings or gauges

7%

of students have belly button piercings Megan Shaw

350 students surveyed

In today’s society there are hundreds of different ways a person can mark, ink, pierce, stretch and distort the body from its original state.

But the question that lingers among many people, old and young: What is the appeal?

At birth, the human body is brand new. It is clear of any type of damage, alterations or modifications, much like a blank canvas. For some, the body does represent a type of canvas, one that is anticipating the work of an artist to transform it into a masterpiece.

“Art is a powerful thing and you can express a lot of things through it,” senior Emma Hayes said. Hayes has two tattoos currently, a large one on her upper back and on her forearm. “I like having art on my body to express me.”

Tattoos can be seen for many as a statement regarding who that person is and what is important to him or her portrayed through an image. Junior Jade Reese has upwards of 15 tattoos, including small ones that can only be seen when held under a blacklight, each one representing a part of his life that has personal significance.

The image he had tattooed on his right rib cage, for instance, is a replica of a self-portrait his younger sister drew for him on her fifth birthday.

“When I was out in Texas this summer she [his sister] drew a picture of herself to take back with me,” Reese said. “I got it tattooed on me so it would always be with me.”

Both of Hayes’ tattoos have an important meaning to her, as well. The rose tattooed on her forearm surrounded by the words “The Vision is Hope, Hope is Real” signifies her fondness of roses (Rose being her grandmother’s name as well as Hayes’ middle name), and the phrase which originates from a self-harm book.

“Those words mean alot to me,” Hayes said.

“It means hope is real; you can actually count on it.”

Tattoos with personal meaning are not only motivation for teenagers in this generation, but for most people in general.

Aracely Alba, college and career center secretary, has an Arabic tattoo on her wrist that means “side by side,” which she and her four siblings had done when a family member was diagnosed with cancer.

“It has to be something meaningful for me

to have art on my body,” Alba said. design entirely up The struggle of dealing with the illness was to the artists with difficult for the whole family and Alba had sug- a little bit of suggested to all her siblings that they get the same gestion. tattoo because they were sharing the same pain.

“I feel like “I decided to relate the pain of a tattoo to tattoo artists the pain I was going through,” Alba said. “And specifically never now that he has passed away, it is something to really get to do remember.” their own work Other tattoos, while still having personal or express themCourtesy of Jade Reese meaning, have less of an emotional connection. selves,” Reese said.

Trippy Tats: Jade Reese shows off his unique Reese, for example, has the portraits of Fran- “A lot of people blacklight tattoos that represent his love for mukenstein, Michael Myers, Freddy Krueger and tend to forget that sic and math (above). On Reese’s right ribcage is Hannibal Lecter on his right lower-leg because they are artists and a self-portrait that his five year old sister drew for him on her birthday (right). he has always been a big fan of horror movthey aren’t just ies, and is planning on adding more characters there to do what earlobes pierced. as well to create a collage from the top of the you tell them to do. I’m dedicating my legs to Although both piercings and tattoos may thigh to the top of his foot. In addition, he has pure artist creation for the most part so they have differing purposes, both seem to go handblacklight tattoos on his fingers of music notes can actually do their own artwork.” in-hand with a sense of thrill and excitement. and a pi symbol on the back of his neck, simply Hayes’ artist also drew up the design for a “Tattoos are absolutely addicting,” Hayes because he enjoys music and math. fully colored tattoo of an owl that she had done said. “I don’t know many who have just one, or “I asked [the artist] what he wanted to do across her upper back. don’t want to get another one once they have and he brought up horror movie portraits,” While tattoos seem to be the main thought one.”

Reese said. “He told me to select my favorite associated with body art, the category extends For Reese, both piercings and tattoos have horror movies and started tattooing them on to piercings and gauges, a piercing where the an addiction factor. me.” hole is stretched to an ever-increasing diameter, “I got my first piercing on my lip when I Although tattoos can be a form of art for as well. However, piercings are viewed a bit was 13, and kind of got hooked into them from self-expression, it is also a way for the tattoo differently than tattoos when looking at the there,” he said. “I like the look, and I also like artists themselves to express their abilities and motivation behind receiving them. the adrenaline rush when you get one done, artistic talents. With about 15 tattoo parlors in Reese, who currently has 12 piercings but same with a tattoo.”

Fort Collins alone, people are given hundreds has had a total of 47 over time, sees piercings It may seem that teenagers are the only ones of options as to the artist style they are looking as having little self-expression behind them, if who keep returning to the parlor to constantly for and varying prices from $20 to thousands any. Although they may slightly express who a add more ink or piercings to their skin, but this of dollars, depending on the amount of ink or person is, the motivation leans more towards may be the case for adults as well. color used. “just because.”

Tattoos have a sense of meaning relating to a Reese’s blackThis has to do personal history for Alba, and that is the reason light tattoos with the fact that, she may be drawn back for more. for example besides gauges “They told me, ‘You’re going to want to get would typicaland minimal scaranother one after you start,’” Alba, who got ly cost more ring, piercings are her first tattoo at 28, said. “And I have actually than a black not permanent been thinking of that. It is a process that you go ink tattoo and will close through that can relate to your personal life.” of the same over time.

Alba, though, is not there, yet. But she is size. Some Hayes, who confident that her body art future will eventupeople can has 13 piercings ally present itself. bring in their total, thinks of “If you are wanting to get a tattoo, wait for own designs her piercings the right time, because you will know,” Alba or choose as aesthetic, or said. from design having a purpose Body art tends to be a very meaningful Megan Shaw of beauty or acbooks at the process for some people, and a lot of thought is Spread your wings: An owl tattoo stretches its wingspan across Emma Hayes’ tattoo parlors, cessory, similar to put into it before hand, Reese said, “especially upper back which she had done at Millennium Gallery tattoo parlor. The idea but some the reason anyone of wings across her back was modeled after the swan wings from the movie since tattoos are with you for life.” can leave the Black Swan. would get their

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by Branson Hoog

The Freshmen

Marching// from page B8

and both spend a lot of time working on the choreography and organizing the music to make the whole performance nothing but perfection.

“Before Rocky went to the 4 by 4 block, we used to have a competitive marching band that would compete with other bands around the state,” Schlup said.

“When we went to the block, we decided that the outside of school commitments needed to be kept to a minimum so stu-

dents could be athletes, in clubs and still excel in academics.”

The music program has built on itself since the year it opened in 1973. The musicians are devoted to what they do and thrive off the love for music that is withheld inside of them.

Although this one event is so much work, the band students still enjoy it.

“Marching Band does take a lot of time, but the final product is well worth it,” junior Adam Trousil said.

Even Schlup used to be in the Marching Band.

“I actually am one of those people that liked to march,” Schlup said. “I participated in drum and bugle corps when I was in college and I worked with the director of bands at UNC to bring the marching band back to UNC.” The excitement of the whole marching show put together is a lot to handle for everyone involved, but the students have fun participating in it.

This year the Marching Band will most likely outdo themselves as they seem to do every year, despite the weather.

Fall Show// from page B7

rize all of them,” Spolianski said.

The world of theatre is something that is not recognized as a challenge as much as it should be.

“It isn’t stressful only because we have a lot of confidence in Ben and a lot of confidence in the rest of the cast and I think it’s going to be great,” assistant director Stephen Sorenson said. “The show must go on.”

Rehearsals are a lot of work for the actors but are also full of laughter and inside jokes.

“There are times at rehearsals when we get kind of off track because we just get giggling about things and we end up with some little inside jokes that are kind of fun,” Schendel said. “Actors are just really quirky people sometimes and getting to work with a really small group of them for the fall show and getting close for a short period of time is a really cool thing.”

The show has been worked on hard and has a lot of hype to it.

The mysterious and ghostly production will be a great accent for this year’s Halloween weekend.

//B7 rm Nancy Drew hits stage highlighter\\limelight

October 12, 2012

Student involved in Debut program

NANCY DREW ►Where: Lincoln Center, Magnolia Theater (417 W. Magnolia, Fort Collins) ►When: Oct. 12-14; Oct. 19-20. ►Show Times: 7 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays; 1 p.m. Sundays and Saturday. ►Tickets: $7 reserved seating (Box office at 221-6730)

by Megan Troutman//limelight editor

Following clue after clue and solving mysteries with her best friends Bess and George, the famous storybook character, Nancy Drew, comes to the stage.

Siblings Lee Kaplan and Gregg Osterhout founded a group called the Debut Theater Company back in 1991. Now, the Debut Players, the premiere troupe, are performing Nancy Drew: Detective with a cast of seventeen talented individuals.

Caroline Miller, Cam Chorpenning, Lydia Funke, Quin Smith, and Sean Kennedy were the five Rocky students that helped put this show on.

“Rocky students have been involved in this [Debut Theater Company] since 1991 when it was first made,” senior Caroline Miller said.

Senior Sean Kennedy and Miller both joined the group in 2009, and have cherished every minute of it since then. Junior Quin Smith joined Debut Players back in 2003, and Lydia Funke in 2012.

“The Debut Players— we’re a family,” Smith said. “We’ve known each other for a really long time.”

Cam Chorpenning

Games: Debut players start out rehersal with a game warming up their improve skills. Lying on the floor (left to right) are rocky students Quin Smith, Sean Kennedy, Caroline Miller, and Lydia Funke.

What makes Debut different from all the other theater companies is that it lets the students participate in the technical aspects of the show.

“We’ve had around three months to put the show together, but the show only runs for two weeks,” Miller said. “I wish it went longer.”

Students participate in the on-stage work as well as the off-stage work. Everyone is responsible for creating costuming, make-

up, lighting and other technical work. Most companies have workers who focus only on tech, but Debut puts all the power in the students’ hands.

“My favorite part about performing is being able to collaborate with everyone in the troupe because everyone has great ideas and unique talents to bring to the stage,” Kennedy said.

Kennedy plays the part of a retired Shakespearean actor named Emmet Cal-

houn and is in charge of sound effects for the show.

“It’s a different style,” Kennedy said. “[It is] a new experience to tackle a mystery.”

Smith is not only head of set, but also plays Carson Drew, Nancy Drew’s father.

“I help build the set and paint it then put it up,” Smith said.

Some actors have two acting roles as well as a technical part. Caroline Miller plays the role of the sound technician for the play within the play and also a witch puppet who torments the family in the mystery. Her technical role is being in charge of costumes for all the female actors.

The Rocky students and the Debut program as a whole have put a lot of hard work into the show, Nancy Drew: Detective.

“Everyone should come see it,” Miller said, “because it’s going to be wonderful.”

End of Watch brought laughter, tears, suspense to theater

by Lauren Binder//sports editor

End of Watch starring Jake Gyllenhal as Officer Brian Taylor and Michael Pena as Officer Mike Zavala is not your typical movie about the game of cops and robbers.

It’s much more than that.

The film starts out as a car chase, which in a sense is very cliché, as the viewer gets to see what the cops would through the front windshield.This view makes it more intense when the get-a-

ways pull out their AK guns and start shooting.

The rest of the movie is filmed from the perspective of Officer Taylor’s camera, who is doing a documentary about his job for school.

He is able to capture his job to a surprising level. There is laughter, tears and suspense with no ideas of what will happen next.

Viewers begin to question society and what sick intentions citizens in south California are

//Moviereview// willing to go to.

When Officer Taylor sees someone getting high he just tells them to be respectful and ‘put it away’ cause he has bigger problems to deal with like drug cartels, the torturing of children and slaughter of women.

All of that is considered a day in the office of the Los Angeles Police Department.

The movie also incorporates

Mumford and Sons strikes again

by Cam Chorpenning//editor in chief

Mumford and Sons took the music world by storm with their wildly popular, acclaimed 2010 debut Sigh No More, and now Babel, the highly anticipated follow-up has been released.

In short, the album should meet the expectations of diehard fans, interest new listeners and it lives up to the hype.

All of the elements that made Sigh No More such a pleasure to listen to and such an outstanding work of art are not only present, but emphasized in Babel.

Masterfully constructed vocal harmonies make their way into every song, but avoid the poppy over-harmonization that is all too common amongst boy bands.

Frontman Marcus Mumford pours emotion into “Babel,” “Hopeless Wanderer,” and other songs throughout the album.

Catchy chord progressions and rhythms are found in nearly every song. The use of percussion fills the listeners with an urge to get up and move, or stomp a foot to the beat.

Banjos, horn arrangements

//CD review//

Mumford & Sons album cover, Babel

and mandolins give the band their distinctive folky sound. The group’s unique sound is capable of achieving both raw musical power and a smooth, subtle grace.

Babel is, without a doubt, a worthy successor to the group’s debut, and Mumford and Sons has obviously discovered a musical style that not only works, but performs admirably.

That said, Babel has its flaws, the most glaring of which of which is surprisingly closely related to its strength. Babel not only lives up to Sigh No More, it mimics it.

In fact, the new album’s “Broken Crown” sounds almost like a repackaging of its predecessor’s “Thistle and Weeds.”

For some, the lack of musical change between the albums won’t be an issue. It may be too early in the band’s career to expect a great deal of growth or development, but an utter lack thereof and a seeming unwillingness from the group to take musical risks is slightly disappointing.

One of the most exciting aspects of new releases from any group is the notion of progression on the artistic journey of a group.

Mumford and Sons undoubtedly has a long and prosperous future ahead of them, and they still have plenty of time to branch out as artists, and hopefully future releases will exhibit this to a greater degree than Babel.

The bottom line is that those who enjoyed Sigh No More will more than likely find Babel to meet a similar, if not higher level of excellence. Mumford and Sons is still able to craft an album full of outstanding songs that will undoubtedly lodge themselves inside listeners’ heads, and the band remains the face of today’s popular folk music, a well-earned title.

the officers’ social lives. Taylor leads you through his dating experience and eventually his marriage. The men frequently talk about their wives and make fun of eachother accordingly.

Like in any other best friend relationship, they are each others worst critic, but both know that deep down the bond will last forever.

The ending is a thrilling surprise and everyone should get the opportunity to watch this fictional story.

Courtesy Scott Garfield/MCT

End of Watch scene: In this tense scene, Officer Mike Zavala (left) and Officer Brian Taylor (right) arrive at a party of gangsters in response to a noise complaint.

\\ rmlimelight highlighter

What’s in the Limelight?

Today: Movie: Seven Psychopaths Concert: Hot Buttered Rum Aggie Theater October 14: Concert: Brandie Carlile - Lincoln Center

October 12, 2012

//B8//

Band joins together, creates marching show for homecoming game

Marching in the moment

October 16: Concert: Two Door Cinema Club Ogden Theater CD: Jason Aldean Night Train CD: K’Naan Country God or the Girl Movie: Cloud Atlas October 18: Concert: Madonna Pepsi Center Movie: Paranormal Activity 4 October 19: Concert: Hospin Aggie Theater October 21: Concert: Groundation, Trevor Hall - Aggie Theater October 23: Concert: The Script Ogden Theater CD: Kendrick Lamar - Good Kid, M.A.A.D. Ciy CD: Taylor Swift Red October 26: Movie: Chasing Mavericks Movie: Fun Size October 30: CD: Calvin Harris - 18 Months November 2: Movie: Wreck-It Ralph Concert: The Fresh Beat Band - Lincoln Center November 9: Movie: James Bond: Skyfall Movie: Nature Calls

Michelle Kennedy

Hours of work pays off: The band performs at the half-time homecoming game for the student body and the parents (above). They had two weeks to put together a complex show for this cold, thirty degree night. They rehearsed every day in rain, sunshine, or in this case, fog (right). Band director, Casey Cropp, stands with a megaphone ready to give orders.

After countless rehearsals, marching band meets field

by Morgan Miller//reporter

As the sky begins to darken and the cheerleaders and dance team shy away from the sidelines, the ground begins to shake.

The rumbling of drums and heavy instruments fills the ears of the roaring crowd and a warm rush of excitement falls across the student body.

Rocky’s Marching Band only does one performance a year, so the students all get excited for the once-a-year occasion that the band delivers a fantastic performance at the halftime of the homecoming game.

“I love the opportunity for all band students to develop the camaraderie that marching gives,” band director Casey Cropp said. “Seniors working with all the underclassmen really helps them to develop

musically and socially.”

Marching Band is a strenuous and stressful type of performance that takes a lot of skill, patience, and good listening to master.

Two weeks prior to the event, the band gets out on the field to practice during class.

The placement of individual people, amount of steps to travel from set to set, and ability to play an instrument is not an easy task to be accomplished.

The whole band department consists of three separate concert bands: Rocky Mountain Winds (the top band of mostly seniors and juniors), Summit Winds (mostly sophomores), and Symphonic Band (mostly freshman). These three bands all come together to put on a spectacular marching show in rain or sunshine.

Both of the band directors, Casey Cropp and Scott Schlup, put their all into the event

//Jump to Marching,

on B6

Blithe Spirit takes unexpected turn

by Morgan Miller//reporter

It’s been over a year since the last time Rocky had a fall show.

All the young and talented thespians in the student body worked up for the auditions for this year’s presentation of Blithe Spirit which opens Friday, Nov. 2.

With Larissa Schendel as the director of the show the practices become very intimate between not only the cast, but the crew as well.

“The cast normally gets eight to 10 weeks to do the fall production but this year it’s only six weeks,” Schendel said. “We also only have seven in this cast versus the musical that has about 40 in its cast, so the fall show is a much smaller production which sometimes can take some of the pressure off.”

The show stars senior Ben Spolianski as

Charles, an author who is oddly inspired by an unworldly book that can help him hold séances to hopefully inspire him for his next book. Charles is being haunted by the ghost of his ex-wife Elvira (Played by Senior Caroline Miller) who kills his current wife Ruth (Played

by Senior Anna Auerbach).

Both women are stuck in the world of the living while Charles tries to rid himself of them so he can live a life without the bickering, angry dead women.

The original lead in the cast had dropped the part and it was handed down to Spolianski. Having a three part script and a mere four weeks to memorize it is a lot of pressure to put on a small group of kids.

“I have 500 lines but since Schendel pushed back the show, I have a whole month to memo-

//Jump to Fall Show,

on B6

Megan Troutman

Painting sets: Maddi Titelbaum, part of the tech crew, paints endless coats of blue paint to create a set piece for the upcoming play, Blithe Spirit.

\\ election rm highlighter

pullout October 12, 2012

//C1//

Important involvement Students active in political process

by Isaac Effner//reporter

The stereotype of a normal teenager: completely apathetic towards anything they’re not involved with.

However, this stereotype does not apply to a few students dedicated to the democratic process that is at the foundation of the United States of America.

“I was fascinated by politics at a younger age like in junior high,” 2008 Barack Obama campaign volunteer and senior Danny Steiner said. “I think that sort of carried on.”

Steiner, a longtime Obama supporter, recently volunteered for President Obama’s speaking event at Colorado State University on Aug. 28. Steiner helped with ticket distribution.

“There were a lot of people, so what I did was walk up and down the line making sure people had water and making sure people had the forms to fill out to get their tickets,” Steiner said. “It’s very important to vote because we’re getting to a point where the government will actually start affecting us.”

Student activism is manifested in other ways than direct campaign participation, such as the Rocky Mountain Young Americans for Freedom (YAF), a club founded by senior Nata-

lie Pederson.

The club draws students in-

terested in learning about and discussing ideas that lean more to the right side of the political spectrum, the club supports both local and

national conservatives, promotes events like “No Che Day” and are planning on hosting an upcoming debate between Sydni Anderson and John Kefalas.

“Conservativism is a vibrant ideology and it’s always been my passion,” Pederson said. “This is an important election. It affects students through city taxes, college tuition and government programs and regulations.”

The passion Pederson and Steiner feel for politics is for the most part lacking in the majority of high school aged students, as many are too involved with their own lives to volunteer

or even vote.

“We’re not paying taxes and there are a lot of other things people are involved with like sports, pop-culture and other clubs,” Pederson said. “People also feel like their vote doesn’t make a difference.”

“I honestly think it’s a matter of interest,” Steiner said. “It depends on what people care more about. Some people are going to care more about politics than someone else.”

With issues ranging from the high interest on college loans to the national debt, student participation in politics has become a necessity for the interests of America’s youth.

“We’ve heard about how our generation is

on track to make less than our parents’ generation,” Steiner said.

“Clearly, things aren’t good now, and they’re not going to be good for a while especially if we don’t vote. It’s like looking down the road 20 years. We don’t know what is going to be happening but we’re still voting for the future.”

“It’s important to be involved because we are the future of America and by getting involved now we will help shape the world that we will pass on to younger generations,” YAF member Sean Anderson said. “It is a good opportunity to learn about the candidates, their positions and become a better informed citizen.”

Youth voters hold crucial role in upcoming election

by Emily Anderson//opinion editor

It has been argued that the campaign for the upcoming 2012 presidential election is one of the most divisive and negative in American history.

The fact that opinions are strong and tempers are short is not a coincidence; both sides believe that this election is crucial in improving both the struggling economy and the general welfare of the country.

“You can’t turn around without seeing some sort of ad,” Kurt Knierim, history teacher, said. Outside of Rocky there is evidently a general conflict concerning who will win, but inside these halls two mindsets take place: extreme concern, or complete apathy.

“In all my years working here, the level of student activity for the ’08 election, I’ve never seen it that high before,” AP Government teacher Tom List said, “All issues matter to young people.” He said he believes that the sense of political efficacy among youth has raised in recent years.

The youth vote makes up 24 percent of the eligible voting population (civicyouth.org) and can have a tremendous impact on the outcome of the election, as was illustrated in 2008 when 22 to 24 million young people voted in the election (a 2.2 million increase from 2004), according to nbcnewscom. Of those young voters, 68 percent supported Obama.

The youth have a significant impact on the outcome of an election, and in turn a tremendous impact on both economic and social aspects of their future.

“Many of the economic issues really affect high school students especially those that

Zhang Jun/Xinhua/Zuma Press/MCT

Head to head: Former Governor Mitt Romney (left) and President Barack Obama (right) wave to the audience after the first presidential debate. The debate was held on Oct. 3 at the University of Denver in front of an audience of college students who were chosen by a lottery style ticket competition.

are looking forward to college insidehighered.com. from about 30% to 28% in in the next couple of years,” “Will higher education be the last year, according to the Knierim said. “The election available and affordable to you Huffington Post, which is the could affect some of the scholshould be the first question that greatest reduction in the rates arships and that sort of thing concerns you,” said List. Every of uninsured among any age that the federal government student that plans on attending group since the CDC began its hands out.” college will be affected by these surveys 15 years ago. According Each candidate has a to his website, mittromdistinct idea of what the ney.com, Romney will government’s role (or lack eliminate this and states thereof ) is in providing will be responsible for Tom List, affordable and more accescreating and implementgovernment teacher sible higher education. their own health care We’ve got problems. ing According to usnews. reform plans. com, the “Ryan Budget” However, the educaGet to work. would take away the eligition and the health care bility of nearly one million policies of each candidate students for Pell grants, barely scratch the surface the largest source of fedof the ongoing fight to eral initiated student aid. At the different policies, whichever the White House. Obama’s prosame time, the Romney Budget one goes into effect. choice and pro-gay marriage plan would end student loan inHealthcare especially policies contradict Romney’s terest subsidies for those still in touches every person and every pro-life and anti-gay marriage school. In contrast, the Obama household. Under the Obama beliefs. The ability for some administration proposed using Administration, young people students to get married in the campus-based financial aid pro- can stay on their parent’s plan future is being dictated in this grams to reward those that keep until the age of 26. Because of election. The power for a young the net price low and punish this, the number of uninsured woman to control her own those who did not, according to young people has decreased reproductive organs is also be-

“

Get active.

Change the world.

ing debated and will be decided with the victory of either candidate. The rights people have now could be abolished by the time they leave high school.

“If a student is a child of an illegal immigrant they should be really concerned about this election,” said Knierim. “The Dream Act really is a step forward for those folks in getting the opportunities for going to college and there is a sharp line between the political parties as to their support or not support on that.”

Turning 18 and having the right to vote will likely influence many students to research and become more involved in politics. However, the majority of high school students are not of legal age to vote, and as a result some see no reason or have no motivation to become involved in the electoral process.

“Just because you can’t vote doesn’t mean you can’t persuade,” List said. “That does not mean that they cannot volunteer for a campaign. I would encourage everybody to get educated about all the issues and talk to the people who can vote.” Especially at this time of year, campaigns are always looking for people to make phone calls, knock on doors, do data entry etc.

“Issues, much like history, do not live in a vacuum. If you understand where things come from then when you are old enough to vote you’ll be much more informed on the issues and be able to see through the propaganda and the rhetoric from both sides,” Knierim said.

Added List, “Get active.

Change the world. We’ve got problems. Get to work.”

C2 \\ October 12, 2012

\\ROMNEY//

rmhighlighter\\

election pullout

\\OBAMA //

Education

Plans to lessen federal regulations on student loans, reward teachers on performance basis rather than tenure, provide parents with better information on how their kid’s school stacks up, and equip local governments with the resources to reform.

//C3

October 12, 2012

Provide funding to community colleges to connect with business in order to train for and fill job vacancies, provide states with the resources to reward teachers on a performance basis, and cut college tuition growth in half over the next decade.

Social Issues Pro-life believing that life begins at conception. He will leave it up to the states to vote upon their own abortion laws. He also plans to cut federal funding to abortion advocates such as Planned Parenthood. Also plans to push an amendment to the U.S. Constitution defining marriage as between one man and one woman.

Believes that choices concerning a woman’s body are hers to make. He will continue federal funding to Planned parenthood and under his new health care act insurance would cover most types of birth control. Obama also supports same-sex marriage.

Economy Plans to reduce corporate taxes to spur business growth and prosperity, reduce federal spending, and cut some federal programs. Wants to increase international trade, workforce, and energy production.

Plans to bring U.S. jobs back to the country from overseas by cutting tax breaks to companies that outsource jobs, and creating incentives to bringing jobs back home. He also wants Wall Street reform so the people never have to pay for another bailout.

Immigration Plans to raise the cap on high-skill visas to allow more highly skilled workers in, construct high tech fence to secure our borders to the south, and develop a better exit system to ensure immigrants are not overstaying visas.

Romney supports legal immigration in its entirety and plans to get a “hold” on illegal immigration.

Plans on creating bipartsian immigration reform to create a more effecient, fair and just policy. He is not in favor of a border fence, plans on targeting only the illegal immigrants that are a danger to society for deportation, and will fight to keep undocumented families in the United States together regardless of their immigration status.

The War Plans to train Afghan forces to fight Taliban and other insurgent groups and cooperate with Pakistan and Afghanistan leadership to reduce government corruption, protect civil rights and fight the Taliban run narcotics trade.

Lionel Hahn/Abaca Press/MCT

Plans on reducing American involvement in Afghanistan while placing security responsibility on Afghan people, ending the war by 2014 and prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons.

Harry E. Walker/MCT

C2 \\ October 12, 2012

\\ROMNEY//

rmhighlighter\\

election pullout

\\OBAMA //

Education

Plans to lessen federal regulations on student loans, reward teachers on performance basis rather than tenure, provide parents with better information on how their kid’s school stacks up, and equip local governments with the resources to reform.

//C3

October 12, 2012

Provide funding to community colleges to connect with business in order to train for and fill job vacancies, provide states with the resources to reward teachers on a performance basis, and cut college tuition growth in half over the next decade.

Social Issues Pro-life believing that life begins at conception. He will leave it up to the states to vote upon their own abortion laws. He also plans to cut federal funding to abortion advocates such as Planned Parenthood. Also plans to push an amendment to the U.S. Constitution defining marriage as between one man and one woman.

Believes that choices concerning a woman’s body are hers to make. He will continue federal funding to Planned parenthood and under his new health care act insurance would cover most types of birth control. Obama also supports same-sex marriage.

Economy Plans to reduce corporate taxes to spur business growth and prosperity, reduce federal spending, and cut some federal programs. Wants to increase international trade, workforce, and energy production.

Plans to bring U.S. jobs back to the country from overseas by cutting tax breaks to companies that outsource jobs, and creating incentives to bringing jobs back home. He also wants Wall Street reform so the people never have to pay for another bailout.

Immigration Plans to raise the cap on high-skill visas to allow more highly skilled workers in, construct high tech fence to secure our borders to the south, and develop a better exit system to ensure immigrants are not overstaying visas.

Romney supports legal immigration in its entirety and plans to get a “hold” on illegal immigration.

Plans on creating bipartsian immigration reform to create a more effecient, fair and just policy. He is not in favor of a border fence, plans on targeting only the illegal immigrants that are a danger to society for deportation, and will fight to keep undocumented families in the United States together regardless of their immigration status.

The War Plans to train Afghan forces to fight Taliban and other insurgent groups and cooperate with Pakistan and Afghanistan leadership to reduce government corruption, protect civil rights and fight the Taliban run narcotics trade.

Lionel Hahn/Abaca Press/MCT

Plans on reducing American involvement in Afghanistan while placing security responsibility on Afghan people, ending the war by 2014 and prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons.

Harry E. Walker/MCT

election pullout //highlighter

October 12, 2012 \ \ C4

Impact on politics, greater at local level

by Cam Chorpenning//editor-in-chief

Every four years people are bombarded with political advertisements, statistics and propaganda.

The presidential election invades the lives of Americans, and nearly everybody knows who Barack Obama and Mitt Romney are as well as the issues they are debating; yet many don’t know who their representatives on city council are or the most important issues their towns face.

“We have a city of 135,000 people, but we normally have less than 40 people at our city council meetings, and that says a lot,” government teacher Charlie Ross said.

“Unfortunately it puts the political decision-making in the hands of the minority.”

Local politics are frequently overlooked, especially during presidential Charlie Ross. election teacher years, largely because there is less money involved locally than nationally.

“It’s just not as sexy as some of the national politics stuff,” social studies teacher, former mayoral candidate and four-year member of the city’s transportation board Scott VanTatenhove said. “People don’t get really jazzed up about roundabouts.”

“Local politics is for people who know,” Ross said. “Unfortunately, the people who know are a minority. They’re a minority because the ‘news,’ if you will, isn’t right out in people’s faces.”

Ross believes that becoming knowledgeable and being a person who knows begins in high school government classes, courses which he believes are not given the attention they need.

“This district has made decisions, and the state as well, that the emphasis is going to be on the math and sciences, and things that help the economic system. However, when you get down to the heart of the matter, what’s really important, in my opinion, is when we live in a representative democracy we have to build citizens.”

Former congressman Bob Schaffer agrees that part of the issue stems from a lack of political

“

knowledge, but attributes some of the lack of participation in local politics to voter apathy.

“Some people are just comfortable,” Schaffer said. “They don’t have issues that are motivating them to fulfill their roles as citizens.

Others have never been well educated about the proper role of a citizen in America, and probably the vast majority just don’t care, they’re disengaged.”

Whether due to indifference or a lack of knowledge, it is certain that the voter turnout is often exceptionally low in local decisions.

Ross pointed out that in the city’s decision on whether or not to ban medical marijuana dispensaries, what can easily be considered a hot issue, only about 13,000 of the 135,000 residents of Fort Collins voted.

“Literally 10 percent of our population impacted the other 90 percent,” Ross said.

To combat this, both VanTatenhove and Ross believe that the first step is education, whether it be through an American government class or picking up a newspaper or looking at the city’s website. In a local setting, those who know the issues and know what they want to accomplish have a much greater ability to make an impact than at the national level.

“During election season local campaigns tend to be fairly homespun,” Schaffer said. “They’re volunteer intensive, they’re lowdollar campaigns, and an ordinary citizen can volunteer at a parade or volunteer to hand out literature and have an enormous impact on who gets elected, and after that, most local officials from city council on down to the state legislature.”

However, if citizens do not take advantage of the power they wield in the arena of local politics, the American governmental system is not truly run by the people.

“To be a citizen in this country takes work and dedication, and unfortunately a lot of Americans don’t know the importance of participation,” Ross said. “If we don’t get voter turnout to at least 90 percent, the millionaires and the billionaires are going to continue to run this society.”

Literally 10

percent of our population impacted the other 90 percent.

rm

//Amanda Kriss, artist

Alumna attends Presidential Debate

by Aaron Yu//reporter

Charlie Bucket’s discovery of a Golden Ticket lead to the zany world of Willy Wonka’s chocolate factory; at the University of Denver, a Golden Ticket lead to the zany world of politics.

Jess Two hundred students and staff were chosen from a lottery pool to personally attend the Presidential Debate.

Rocky Mountain High School alumn Jess Davidson was one of the lucky students to recieve a “Golden Ticket.”

“It was unbelievable,” Davidson said. “As soon as I picked up the phone [and they told me I was chosen] I just started jumping up and down and screaming.”

The debate, held on Oct.3 focused on the canidates’ Domestic Policy. The debate allowed President Obama and Gov. Romney to go head-tohead in discussing and debating topics.

The debate was moderated by Jim Lehrer, the host of NewsHour on PBS, and consisted of

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six 15-minute sections. The topics of each section were pre-decided by Lehrer.

There are three Presidential debates and one Vice PresiDavidson dential debate held before the election. All of the debates focus on either Domestic or Foreign Policies.

The debates are televised so that citizens can be better informed on both candidates’ policies and to help them form opinions on who they should cast their vote for.

“As a first time voter, hearing Obama’s and Romney’s plans for education was really important,” Davidson said.

While undecided voters may be influenced by something a candidate says, the debate functions as more of a solidifier for existing opinions than it does a catalyst for swaying voters.

“I think that going into the debate, most voters know who they’re going to vote for and the

Colorado Issues\\

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debate just makes their position firmer,” Davidson said. “It pushes us into one pool or the other.”

Those at the debate considered themselves lucky and were very enthusiastic. Both students and teachers alike mingled with celebrities and government figures while waiting for the President’s arrival.

“Before they brought the candidates out, the moderators began talking to us about what would happen,” Davidson said.

“Everybody got really excited [that the president was coming out] and started applauding. In two seconds, I think everybody in that room was on their feet.”

The debate left a lasting effect on most who attended, for a majority of students this will be the first time they have ever participated in a Presidential election, adding to the importance of having such an event.

“I got chills when they walked out,” Davidson said.

Regardless of political alliances, the Presidential Debates are a valuable tool in helping citizens to understand the candidates and their plans more in depth.

Fort Collins Issue\\

//Amendment S -

//Amendment 64 -

//Amendment 65 -

//Citizen Proposed Ordinance -

changes: There would be a change in the rules and system for how the state government manages its employees

changes: The personal use, possession and growing of marijuana would be legal in Colorado for adults 21 and older for recreational use

changes: Would authorize limits on campaign contributions and spending

pro: It will update an old system for running the government that has been in place for 40 years

pro: Non-medical marijuana would be heavily taxed with the first $400 million of annual revenue being poured into the school system

changes: Would repeal a ban on prohibiting the operation of Medical Marijuana businesses within the City and replacing those provisions with rules and regulations governing the MMJ industry

con: Could potentially give the governor and the state personnel director too much power over the state personnel process

con: The possession, sale, and growing of marijuana would still be illegal under federal law; MMJ business would be devastated

pro: Promotes a level playing field and ensures that all citizens, regardless of wealth, have an opportunity to speak. con: Could be seen as a impediment on free speech; asks politicians to restrict the speech that criticizes them

pro: Provides patients with more convenient accessibility to medicine, better regulates marijuana within city borders, discourage illegal growing, City gains $250,000 in annual tax revenue con: Marijuana more easily accesible, drug-violation crimes could increase