Welcoming
Sept. 18, 2013 vol. 41, No. 1
Woodall
Rocky Mountain High School 1300 W. Swallow Rd.Fort Collins, Colo.
The Rocky Mountain
H
HIGHLIGHTER
New school year begins with new principal
side show the
High School Hijinks: A New York City Spanish teacher was fired at the school P.S. 211 in the Bronx for allegedly calling a student “negro.” The teacher is suing the school for wrongful termination, explaining that she was only using the word in reference to the color black, and that the lesson was, literally, lost in translation. She told her class that in Spanish, “negro” is not a derogatory term and that the Spanish word for a black person is “moreno.”
Think about this: With the recent release of GTA V, a question posed many times before has resurfaced: Are video games and violent movies to blame for the uprise in violence in America? What do you think?
Quote of the Issue: “Unfortunately people die... It’s part of the process, and what I had to come to terms with is that this is natural. I still don’t like it, I still can’t understand it, but I have to accept it.”
Craig Woodall took the reins for what he hopes will be a long tenure at Rocky. The Rocky Mountain Highlighter recently sat down with Woodall to get a better idea about who he is and how he’s liking his job.
Q: Where have you taught and/or been an administrator in the past?
Aaron Yu
Father and son: Principal Craig Woodall holds his 7-year-old son, Nathan Brent Woodall, during his debut at the beginning of the year assembly.
Tragic death of older brother on 9/11 shaped new principal by Drake Lindstromreporter
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Twelve years ago, 19 terrorist boarded four aircrafts and changed American history forever. They took 2,977 lives on Sept. 11, 2001; among them was Principal Craig Woodall’s big brother, Brent Woodall. The brothers grew up with their older sister in San Diego. Woodall married and had children young, and despite his brother being three years his senior, Brent looked to Craig for advice. Brent was an equities trader at the branch of Keefe, Bruyette & Woods located on the 87th floor of the South Tower in the World Trade Center. His cause of death was blunt trauma. At approximately 9:59 a.m. the South Tower fell, and that was the moment it clicked in Craig’s head that he may have lost his brother. “Never did I consider he wouldn’t get out, and part of that was the idea that, ‘It’s your big brother; things like that don’t happen to your family,’” Woodall said. In the days after 9/11, Woodall’s emotions were all over the map. “Oddly enough, we didn’t believe that he was gone...there was no confirmation,” Woodall said. “He’s gone and all these people are gone for what? To prove a point?...It just doesn’t make
Q: How is Rocky different from Poudre?
I was walking across the parking lot with my head down when it occurred to me: ‘What am I doing? I’m suppose to lead teenagers? ...I’ve been letting this defeat me and this will defeat me no more.’ Craig Woodall, principal
sense.” Although he went through this traumatic experience, Woodall refused to let it beat him. Watching his father suffer through alcoholism, he decided he wouldn’t allow himself to be selfindulgent. “I was walking across the parking lot with my head down when it occurred
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Jump to Woodall on A2
Question &answer
A: The most obvious difference is the schedule, which I love. Being able to focus on three or four classes is way better. It’s different for me because I see a lot more familiar faces, because I live in this neighborhood. to?
Q: Do you have a role model that you look up
A: I respect a lot of well known figures—Martin Luther King, Abraham Lincoln, Gandhi—those kind of people. Personally, I had a teacher and a coach who was very relationship oriented. And a lot of my teaching and administrative philosophy came from my old basketball coach. I wouldn’t say as a daily role model, but educationally, a lot of what I do came from his ideas. Q: What made you want to become a principal? A: I’ve always wanted to be a principal. Once
I got an education, I knew I wanted to move into administration and be a principal, because I felt like that’s the way I can impact the most kids positively—where a teacher has a certain percentage of the population. As the principal, your decisions and ideas can affect everyone. I like to be in the situation where I am making the tough decision, rather than being impacted by someone else’s tough decision.
Q: What is your administrative philosophy? A: In a general sense, we’re all in this together.
I’m a big believer that you can always choose your attitude, and if you choose to be positive, things are going to turn out better. As a teacher, I’m a big believer that all kids can learn, and that positive relationships lead to higher student achievement and participation.
Q: Has anything surprised you since you came to Rocky? A: I had high expectations of the staff and students based on what I had heard, and they have lived up to those expectations. So I wouldn’t say I’ve been surprised by that. I’ve been pleased that the staff and students have met the expectations that I had heard about. Q: What are your favorite fun activities outside of Rocky? A: I enjoy sports, but I enjoying watching now rather than playing them. I like spending time with my kids. This past weekend I went out with each one individually, and just getting that individual time with them is some of my favorite stuff to do.
-John Robinson on the passing of sophomore Marcus Gonzales
Index:
News, A2 Opinion, A4 Sports, A8 Features, B1 Center Spread, B4-5 Limelight, B8
A: This is my fifth school. I was an administrator at a private school called University of San Diego High School, as well as Mount Carmel High School in San Diego—and I taught at La Jolla High School in San Diego. I also taught, and was an administrator at, Poudre High School.
Q: How does being a dad and having a family help with your job?
Emily Anderson
Remembering 9/11: Craig Woodall’s memorabilia of his brother’s death. This includes a painting by his sister-in-law (left) and a plaque with his brother’s name (right).
A: It helps a ton because it keeps me balanced. Family is very important to me. They don’t really care that I’m a principal, I’m still just dad. When I go home, my little three-year-old jumps on me. My kids just want to play soccer or do something in the backyard. So it helps me stay balanced and grounded. Compiled by Reyna Thompson
A2 Sept. 18, 2013
Rocky Mountain HIGHLIGHTER
N EWS
New year, new Student Council Lead by President Chen, StuCo revamps agenda for upcoming year by Marissa Bonertzreporter
With a new adviser and a new student body president, big things are happening for the school’s Student Council group. Having worked with Student Councils in the past, psychology teacher Virginia Cox said that she felt that this was “a natural fit” for her to take over as the Student Council adviser after former adviser Jen Adams moved to Legacy High School at the end of the last school year. Senior Donald Chen, the new student body president, has participated in Student Council all four of his years at Rocky and has been an officer for three. “I want to bring diversity...bringing my enthusiasm that I’ve always had for student council and putting it into our events and trying to do my best to push it to the student body,” Chen said regarding his role as student body president. Participating and leading student governments since high school, Cox has the necessary requirements to properly lead Student Council. After graduating from the University of Tennessee, Cox used her first degree, college student personnel, to work with college students in areas such as residence/Greek life, student conduct, and student government. She always went back to student government. Cox has been adviser of Torch, a club focused on bringing spirit and pride back into the school, for the past two years. Torch never really made it off the ground. However, Cox realized that taking over Student Council would help her to establish the ideas she had with Torch. “I see StuCo as an organization that maintains the traditions of the school and provides the students an opportunity to get involved, to get connected,” she said
Marissa Bonertz
Lobo fest: Senior Seth Bolander (left) and junior Katie Haugan (right) sell spirit bracelets at LoboFest. The Student Council event included a Spirit Band performance, a dunk tank and numerous games and contests.
when asked about the purpose of Student Council. She is adamant that the student body feels a sense of ownership and pride for their school. Although the system has changed drastically with the change in advisers, Chen has remained open minded and enthusiastic about Student Council and his role as student body president. He hopes to unify the school. “Sometimes people feel like sophomores, juniors, seniors, and freshmen are very separated,” he said. “(Right now,) the classes are four different islands and we want to make it into one utopia,” he said. Along with the change in leadership, the focus of Student Council has shifted this year.
“This year we’re really focusing on redefining what Rocky’s culture is, and trying to emphasize that StuCo can’t do it alone. We really need the support of teachers as well as the student body to really help us and carry the torch,” Chen said, describing the Student Council’s mission. “Carry the Torch” is the slogan of Student Council this year. The torch has been an integral part of Rocky’s history for many years. Each year, one senior is nominated by teachers and elected by their class to speak at graduation. This senior is called the torchbearer and has shown leadership qualities, academic excellence, and school involvement. The idea of the torch is to light the path that Rocky must travel on. However, accord-
ing to many, the torch has become a weak symbol. Student Council’s mission this year is to unify the student body and light the path together. “Right now Rocky is in a dark tunnel, the culture’s really down, our spirit is really low, and with the torch, it’s the only sign of light that’s guiding everyone. Carry the torch together, it’s kind of like starting new, having everyone come together, unify, and to really bring back what Rocky is. It’s getting through the darkness together,” Chen said. Optimism is high in Student Council this year. Student Council wants Rocky to, “carry the torch together. It’s kind of like starting new, having everyone come together, unify, and to really bring back what Rocky is,” Chen said.
Supporting local businesses Woodall from page A1 aids community to me: ‘What am I doing? I’m supposed to lead
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hen a McDonald’s or Starbucks opens near a local burger joint or coffee shop, I often find myself feeling somewhat sorry for the local entrepreneurs. More than once, I have seen a wonderful neighborhood business go down the drain, only because it was not quite supported enough to survive. Despite having exceptionally delicious coffee, or sturdy, useful products, many local businesses are easily overshadowed by large chain stores, simply because the popularity of large enterprises draws people to them. Often, I tell myself that I should go to that local store sometime - only to find that it has disappeared. If only local businesses had a chance to drum up customers and build a foundation, perhaps they would have a better chance of survival. Unfortunately, because of this, the best businesses often close before they are able to offer their products or services to many people. However, it can be a very fulfilling experience to help these businesses in need while also getting quality
Fields of Dreams Miriam Fields products and services. You may be surprised to know that The Chocolate Loft and Old Firehouse Books are actually wonderful local businesses, with great atmospheres and dedicated staff. Visiting them actually made me realize that by not supporting local businesses, I was not only hurting the businesses, but missing out on quality. Visiting Starbucks time after time can hurt these wonderful small stores that need customers to survive. When you visit these local places, not only are you helping them, but getting great quality out of it as well. So instead of a daily trip to Starbucks, try visiting Cuppy’s for a day instead. You’ll be glad you gave it a try. Miriam Fields is a sophomore and the Features Editor for the RM Highlighter.
teenagers?...I’ve been letting this defeat me and this will defeat me no more,’” Woodall said. The experience has taught Woodall one of the most important things in his life: You choose your attitude. You make the decision to be positive and to be happy. Despite what you go through, you can learn from everything and become a stronger person. Since then Woodall has taken on a large role as a leader and as a teacher. “It gave me a new lens with which to look at history...it gave me a better perspective on life,” he said. Brent’s death showed Woodall there was more to life than he thought and made him re-prioritize. “It’s not about my teaching; it’s not about my coaching; it’s about family,” he said. He became a better husband and better father, but it has also made him a much better leader. His refusal to accept mediocrity and “refuse to lose” attitude has driven him to become a stronger leader and principal. Even in his family, his brother and his sister looked up to him for advice. He took on a high level of maturity at a young age, which has driven him to become the man he is today. With the death of his brother, Woodall’s life changed exponentially. He uses the experience to fuel his main beliefs and to challenge himself and others. While he rarely reveals exactly what happened, he did use his experience to challenge the staff to choose their attitude. He’s since moved on, but he never forgets. The memory is always with him, but as opposed to dwelling on it, he uses it as a spark. “Moving on doesn’t necessarily mean you forget... and there’s always a reminder on the news or in
Drake Lindstrom
A special presentation: Craig Woodall presents a flag that was flown in his brother’s honor. On 9/11 Woodall gave a special presentation about the struggles he endured after the tragedy of losing his brother
movies,” he said. “Memories can weigh you down or they can motivate you. I decided I’m not going to let this weigh me down anymore.” Woodall learned to appreciate life more and to live life to the absolute fullest, never saying “maybe tomorrow” anymore. He applies that to both his personal life and his professional life. Whether it’s playing with his kids, going the extra mile, or even asking an extra question, he’s always willing to do it. “I’m much more emotionally invested in my family and my community, because if 9/11 can happen, anything can happen. Everyone has difficult things in their life that they are getting through. Maybe they’re in the middle of it, maybe they don’t even know it’s coming yet, but every single situation you can grow from, you can become stronger and you can choose to be positive,” Woodall said. “It’s not easy, but it is worth it.”
Rocky Mountain HIGHLIGHTER
N EWS
Sept. 18, 2013
Memorial: Flowers and balloons mark the spot near Westfield Park where witnesses said Marcus Gonzales passed away. He was sitting in a folding chair fishing when he toppled over into the water after suffering a suspected seizure. Those who knew Marcus remember his accepting demeanor.
Jesse Brokop
Tears for Marcus
Adam Trousil
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School mourns untimely death of sophomore Gonzales by Drake Lindstromreporter
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On June 18, 2013, at around 10:30 a.m, Matthew Marcus Gonzales drowned in a retention pond along Seneca Street. What followed was an astronomical amount of support from friends, family and teachers. “It was the worst day of my life. It feels like I lost a brother,” John Kennedy, a sophomore who was very close to Marcus, said.“He really was my brother from another mother.” Marcus was a witty, passionate and dynamic young man. He had a knack for being funny, and was always on the lookout for new friends. John Robinson, one of Marcus’s closest teachers, recalled the time Marcus brought two special needs students into his group without a second thought. “I’m a teacher that likes a lot of teamwork and I like a lot of inclusiveness, and Marcus set the tone with those two special needs students,” he said. “Those two students were accepted into that class and Marcus helped me make that magic happen.” All who knew him claimed he could change their day with a simple sentence. “He’d do anything to make you laugh. He made people smile everyday,” Kennedy said as he remembered how inclusive he was. “He was the guy you could go to to hang out. He brought people into our group that nobody would, he would talk to people that other people wouldn’t.” Another of Marcus’s close friends, Ian Matheson, remembered how outstanding Marcus was as a person.
He’d do anything to make you laugh. He made people smile everyday. John Kennedy, sophomore
“He was a great friend, really funny guy and just an awesome person all in all,” he said. Marcus really embodied the idea of ‘the cool kid’. Robinson vividly recalled his first impression of Marcus.“He was wearing a diamond company baseball cap, and I thought, ‘Here’s the kid who has the latest fashion.’ He was the cool kid,” Robinson said. When Marcus wasn’t playing basketball, fishing or skating throughout town, he was always with a friend. “He reached out to so many people which is how he touched so many people,” Kennedy said. Marcus was willing to sacrifice himself for his friends and would deflect the heat in a situation onto himself without hesitation. He had a big heart and was always willing to crack a joke in a dark situation. “He was the epitome of an awesome friend,” Kennedy said. June 18 was a day full of mourning and loss for so many people. Many had unfortunately become aware of Marcus’s death
through Facebook. Others learned through friends and some through the administration. Emotions flew that day: Shock, disbelief, sadness and grief all took over the people who knew him. “Especially such a young student. With Marcus, it just seemed so senseless,” said Robinson. Robinson connected to Marcus’s father, Matt (unavailable for comment) on a paternal level. Both of them had been in the role of a single parent, and Robinson couldn’t imagine how tough it must have been to lose a child at such a young age. Though Marcus is gone, many people refuse to let him be forgotten, and continue to strive to let his legacy live on. Kennedy dedicates the things he does in Marcus’s honor. “I hope he notices so when I get to see him again, he’ll remember. I’m hanging out with our mutual friends and we all reflect on how good of a guy he was,” he said. Although losing Marcus wasn’t easy, everyone agrees that moving on, but always remembering, is an important part of the grieving process. “We just need to live on for him. We need to stop being so unhappy about it, even though it is such a sad situation. He wouldn’t want us to be like that,” Kennedy said. Robinson came to accept this tragedy by thinking of Rocky as a little village. “Unfortunately people die...It’s part of the process, and what I had to come to terms with is that this is natural. I still don’t like it, I still can’t understand it, but I have to accept it,” he said.
Washed out: The school gym, all set up for the Homecoming Assembly, schedule for Friday, Sept. 13, stood quiet on that day as school was cancelled because of area flooding. The homecoming game, also delayed because of the rains, was held on Saturday, Sept. 14, where the homecoming royalty was announced.
Area flooding cancels school day, forces adjustments with week’s schedule Due to flooding in the Fort Collins area, all school events were cancelled for Friday, Sept. 13, including the Homecoming Assembly. The homecoming football game against Brighton High School was moved to Saturday, Sept. 14, where the homecoming royalty was announced at halftime. Although the skies cleared long enough on Saturday for
In Brief
the football team to defeat Brighton, 35-14, the heavy rain caused some ceiling tiles in the school to fall in and leaks sprouted around the school. Roads were also closed around the state, including most of I-25, U.S. 36 from Boulder to Estes Park, and U.S. 287 at the Big Thompson River in Loveland. University of Colorado, Boulder and Colorado State University were also closed. Madeline Zann
Enrollment up around district up; Rocky checks in as largest school with 1,950 students Enrollment in the four main Poudre School District high schools—Poudre, Rocky, Fossil Ridge and Fort Collins —is mainly up this year. Fossil was the only high school whose enrollment went down this year, from 2,067 to 1,936. However, they’re still the second largest school in the district this year. Rocky has the largest enrollment this year of roughly 1,950 students, up slightly from 1,927 in the 2012-2013 school year. Fossil and Rocky have consistently been the schools with the highest enrollment for the last few years, while Collins has steadily been in
last place. Last year, Collins’ enrollment was at 1,553, nearly two hundred students lower than the nearest school (Poudre). In fact, Collins’ enrollment has been dropping so much that the football team is considering dropping from 5A classification, the largest classification for Colorado High School Athletics Association schools, to 4A for the next two-year cycle. The move would put Collins in the same classification as Windsor High School. Doing so would make Collins the only 4A team in the city since Fossil Ridge moved from 4A to 5A in 2010. Madeline Zann
First PSD heat day raises questions of how to battle summer weather by Megan Troutmaneditor-in-chief
The announcement was not on the Poudre School District news page for one minute before the news spread like wildfire. It was Aug. 30 and students were experiencing the district’s first “Heat Day.” The school has had a fair amount of snow days and cold days, but this was the first heat day PSD has seen. “The decision to cancel school was not done lightly and we considered a variety of factors,” Superintendent Sandra Smyser said. “It was designed to provide temporary relief to students and staff from the two weeks of intense heat in the buildings.” Smyser, along with multiple departments in the district, had to collaborate
to make the best decision about the cancellation. Each year PSD must make the choice, whether it is regarding temperature, holiday breaks, or any school cancellation affecting the district. “For this process we had all parties at the table: transportation, facilities, communications, assistant superintendents of elementary and secondary, HR, employee group presidents and myself,” Smyser said. Contrary to popular belief, the Heat Day was not a spur of the moment decision to get teachers and students out of work. This decision was carefully thought out as a result of several factors. The most pressing factor when deciding to call off school was due to the overwhelming temperatures in the building. With a four day weekend it was possible
for the building to cool down to a more reasonable temperature for the next week. “This was not a cure-all, but rather a temporary action to provide relief from the heat,” Smyser said. “I am working on a long-term solution to heat in our schools at the beginning of the year and will be calling together a committee of stakeholders to discuss options.” These options are not quite pinpointed yet, but hopefully the district will not have to resort to a heat day again. Vice Principal Brett Larsen agreed that it was a good overall decision. He had been taking classroom temperatures around the building with district issued thermometers and infrared guns. “We were already hitting upper eighties in some classrooms so I think one more day would’ve been a deal breaker,”
Larsen said. After collecting temperatures around the building, the hottest room turned out to be the band room at a high of 88 degrees. “I think we all know it’s going to be hot,” Larsen said. “When we have a hot school and it’s used all the time like a high school is, it doesn’t ever cool down.” Not only was the decision to call a heat day based on the overwhelming temperatures of the building, but it was also called for educational purposes. “It’s harder than heck to learn in a really hot room and stay focused. I think it was a good moral booster for everyone involved,” Larsen said. It is hard to complain about getting days off, especially being able to escape the heat for one extra day in the week.
Rocky Mountain HIGHLIGHTER
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OPINION
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Sept. 18, 2013 Emily’s
Embellishments
Emily Anderson
No go on NoCo secession
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ince the implementation of stricter gun legislation and environmental regulations, some conservatives in Northern Colorado have felt unrepresented by their state legislature, and, in defiance of this, have proposed a bill to secede and form their own state. As an individual from Weld County, I must say that this is absolutely ridiculous. To secede, the voters, both in the seceding counties and outside them, the state legislature, and Congress would all have to approve of the measure, which is very unlikely. The state constitution for Colorado would have to be changed to allow the division, and a new North Colorado’s constitution would have to be approved by the federal government (which is very unlikely, since the secession movement’s ideologies are very conservative). Even if, for some miraculous reason, the voters in Weld County approve of the measure, the state constitution is changed, the state legislature approves of the measure, and Congressional approval is obtained, then there are still other fundamental issues to consider. Water, vital to agriculture and natural gas industries (which North Colorado has claimed will make them financially independent), currently comes from the Colorado mountains. For North Colorado to thrive as they say they will, Colorado would have to agree to let certain amounts of water pass state lines. Additionally, the University of Northern Colorado would be an issue. While it is located in Weld County, it still belongs to Colorado, who would most likely file a lawsuit for its possession. A state has not divided since West Virginia seceded from Virginia in 1863, and this was to avoid being annexed by the Confederacy. Since then, there have been several attempts of secession from states, but these have been trivial and not taken seriously. What if every dissatisfied corner of the U.S. were to throw a similar temper tantrum and attempt the same thing? Emily Anderson is a senior and an editor-in-chief of the RM Highligter.
The Rocky Mountain HIGHLIGHTER
RM Highlighter editorial policy The Rocky Mountain Highlighter is a student news publication which strives to report school and community events with truth, accuracy, objectivity, and clarity. The RM Highlighter will also comment on issues of interest to its readers. The purposes of this publication are to report the news to the Rocky Mountain High School community, to provide the school community with a public forum for thoughtful discussion and debate, and to provide students on the newspaper staff with practical journalism experience. In order to make the RM Highlighter as professional a publication as possible, important legal and ethical guidelines will be followed. Senate Bill 90-99, enacted by the Colorado General Assembly during the 1990 legislative session, declares that “students of the public schools shall have the right to exercise freedom of speech and the press.” (Colo. Rev. Stat. Sec. 22-1-120) We, the staff of the RM Highlighter, are prohibited by law from publishing certain materials. We will respect these laws. No material which is libelous, encourages illegal acts, or causes material and substantial disruption to school activities will be published. Expressions which are obscene will not be printed. Profanity will not be printed unless it is considered absolutely necessary by the RM Highlighter editorial board to express the views of the writer or quoted person. Expression which is false “as to any person who is not a public figure or involved in a matter of public concern” will not be printed. “Expressions which are in violation of lawful school regulations designed to control gangs” will not be printed. In the event of a potential controversial item, the editorial board —consisting of all the editors, the advertising manager, and the adviser —will meet to discuss the merits of the item and then decide whether or not to print the item. Coverage of deaths which occur within the Rocky community will be carefully considered by the editorial board. Natural or accidental deaths will be reported for clarifications of death and will contain a memorial. Except in extreme circumstances, suicides will not be covered to reduce glorification of such acts. In general, the RM Highlighter observes the guidelines
Kayla Brokop
Not your everyday Levi genes
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o advance scientific discovery, sacrifices must be made and boundaries must be established. In today’s scientific community, how blurred are these boundaries becoming? Is it ethical and reasonable to patent genes that are, essentially, products of nature? It can easily be The Issue: Supreme said that gene Court made a decipatenting is sion this summer to unacceptable ban the patenting of and unbeneficial naturally occuring to society. As genes, but to allow the patenting of arti- long as genes ficially created DNA. linked to cancer research and screening are patented, tests to ascertain the potential for dangerous mutated cells are expensive and unavailable to the general public. In addition, one company monopolizing a gene greatly inhibits research of the same gene for different purposes, hindering yet more scientific advancement. However, this phenomenon is unfortunately nothing new; in the past 31 years, 20 percent of the human genome has been patented by scientists. To be more specific, genes them-
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.
The Rocky Mountain
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HIGHLIGHTER
selves cannot be individually patented and must have undergone at least some manipulation to be considered intellectual property. Sadly, research companies have still abused this policy to get patents on genes that have merely been isolated from the rest of their genetic sequence. The issue of gene patenting and its validity recently came to public attention through a Supreme Court case involving the company Myriad Genetics, who were sued for claiming ownership of two types of biological material they had identified. Thankfully, the ruling was that naturally occurring genes cannot be patented, rendering the company’s claim on those patents invalid. For a company to rightfully own a gene, they must have altered its composition in some way, as opposed to simply separating it from its chromosome. Myriad did not meet this standard, as BRCA (breast cancer) genes are products of nature, not man. By making exclusive patents illegal, more scientists
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 970-488-7090 or 970-488-7091 for advertising information. Also the Rocky Mountain Highlighter staff is in Room 528, during 4th period.
All-American, 4 Marks of Distinction-2013; 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.
will be able to utilize genes for new purposes and research, which is much more beneficial than one company monopolizing a gene for its own personal profit. Claiming ownership on genes that need to be universally available to all researchers is unethical and unfair. It leaves the financially disadvantaged at a much bigger danger of developing cancer, and tries to make an income out of naturally occurring parts of the body. Disbanding Myriad’s gene patents is a huge success. Cancer screening tests will now be much more affordable and accessible to the general public, not just the wealthy. Now, more families in need of cancer screening tests will be able to afford them for both themselves and their children. A larger number of scientists will be able to research cancer genes and apply their findings in a plethora of ways to also create more efficient tests and medication for cancer treatment. With genes being free to test on, this may be the start to a brighter future for cancer research.
Editors-in-Chief Emily Anderson news Megan Troutman limelight
Sports Editor Cammie Palomino
Ad Manager Josh Barrett
Center Editor Aaron Yu
Opinion Editor Madeline Zann
Features Editor Miriam Fields
Staff Mackenzie Bartzen Marissa Bonertz Jessi Brokop Kayla Brokop
All-Colorado-2013; 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.
Noah Fogelberg Drake Lindstrom Reyna Thompson Artist Kayla Brokop Contributors Adam Trousil Owen Erickson Adviser Stephen Wahlfeldt
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Rocky Mountain HIGHLIGHTER
OPINION
A5
Sept. 18, 2013
Defining right and wrong
Snow-do
Snow-don’t
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“T
he right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated.” Those are the words spelled out by our founding fathers in the Fourth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. Since 2007, the National Security Agency (NSA) has been violating this policy with a combination of intrusive data–collection programs such as PRISM and XKeyscore. According to various news sources, including CNN and The New York Times, these programs enable the collection and storage of private digital information, which becomes accessible to any government entrusted employee with top-secret clearance. This information includes phone records, internet search history, browsing history, online chats, contents of emails, etc. What’s even more concerning is the fact that internet based companies such as Facebook, Google, Microsoft, Skype and YouTube, have all voluntarily provided While the the NSA with the NSA will personal data of want you to their users. As American accept the we are entitled to our Constitutional rights. While the NSA wants notion that citizens, you to accept the notion that they are only tracking people regarded as a they are security threat to the United States, it is certain that this is not the case. Alonly track- though most people are not being actively tracked, the data of everyone that ing people uses a phone or the internet is stored indefinitely by the NSA. Keep in mind that in accordance with the Fourth Amendment, if the government wants regarded to search and seize information about someone, they must have probable as a secucause and obtain a warrant. They managed to ignore this process entirely, and rity threat to proceeded to collect and store the private information of almost everyone, without a warrant or probable cause. This is a blatant violation of our the United all Constitutional rights. States, it is Edward Snowden, a former computer specialist who was employed by certain that the CIA and NSA, was one of roughly four million people to hold top-secret security clearance. However, he was unique in that he was brave enough to this is not come forth about what he saw as governmental abuse of our rights. In fact, the case. he felt so strongly that what the government was doing was wrong that he left the United States knowing that he would likely never be able to return as a free man. In Hong Kong, he spewed the contents of his knowledge to the British news agency The Guardian, who published the contents of his leak on June 6. Some may argue that because Snowden technically broke the law, he must pay the price and face the American criminal justice system. First of all, if he is going to be prosecuted by the same government that he exposed and embarrassed, there is no doubt that his trial will be unfair. Not only would he not receive a fair trial, but the fact that the government is pushing charges in the first place is incredibly hypocritical. They are the ones that have spent the last six years blatantly ignoring our Fourth Amendment rights, which was reason enough for the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) to file suit on June 11. As a direct result of Snowden’s actions, we are now aware of the intrusive, overreaching, and unconstitutional actions that our own government is taking against all of us. Due to this, Snowden’s actions render him a hero of our civil and Constitutional liberties. Noah Fogelberg
The Rocky Mountain
Kayla Brokop
Pro Con
More action in the Middle East: Are you Syria-ous?
S
audi Arbia, Iraq, Kuwait, Afghanistan, Libya, and now Syria? It became known on Aug. 21 that President Bashar al-Assad of Syria used sarin gas, a nerve agent outlawed by the 1925 Geneva Protocol against his own people during the Syrian civil war. The stockpiling of sarin was banned by the 1993 Chemical Weapons Convention which Syria has conveniently never signed or ratified. President Obama and Secretary of State John Kerry moved for congressional support of a limited strike against Assad’s regime ten days later. According to a recent CNN poll, 8 in 10 people oppose the U.S. going into Syria, and who can blame them after years spent in the Middle East fighting against regimes whose successors usually end up hating us anyway? Deposing Assad might not even be for the better. We all know how deposing and replacing leaders of countries works out for us (see Argo), not to mention that, while Assad is not a good leader, the rebel forces might not actually be any better.
Mad Maddy Madeline Zann The moderate voices of the Syrian rebel army have been losing ground to radical Islamic factions, more similar to the factions that the U.S. has been trying to get rid of since before 9/11. On Sept. 9, Kerry said that Syria could avoid a U.S. strike if they handed over their chemical weapons. Later that day, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov made an announcement that Syria’s Foreign Minister Walid al-Moualem had been given an offer that we still don’t have the details of, to place Syria’s chemical weapons under international control, a plan that was not surprisingly accepted by Iran and China. However, it was accepted by Syria on the tenth. While many people are still skeptical
that Russia and Syria will actually follow through on this and the battle for what exactly the plan will be is still going on in the UN, Obama is most definitely willing to find a diplomatic solution, as he should be. Assad should be punished for what he did to his people, but fighting fire with fire is not the answer. The rebels are already doing that, and it’s not going very well. A diplomatic answer should be found and maybe this is it. Obama should heed the American people’s opinions and back down from his plan. This will not “emasculate” the U.S. as a few people on Fox News have so charmingly put it, but, instead, keep us from once again being involved in a Middle Eastern country’s war. At the risk of sounding like every other media outlet in the country, the United States is not the world’s police force. The decision of what to do should not be made within the Capitol Building, but within the halls of the United Nations. Madeline Zann is a senior and the opition editor of the RM Highlighter.
egardless of whether an individual is considered a courageous hero or a traitor to the country, breaking the law has consequences. Edward Snowden, the man tried by federal prosecutors for leaking National Security Agency’s surveillance methods, has stirred much debate about the legitimacy of government secrecy from its citizens and the justification of revealing these secrets for the good of the people. According to many, Snowden’s actions shouldn’t have any repercussions, and he should even be considered a national hero, because his actions brought a government violation to light. However, people fail to realize that the ends do not always justify There is a the means. Yes, he huge differleaked valuable ence beinformation about the NSA’s spying tween ethics techniques, which and laws. evidently need to be Laws are deaddressed. But, at the same time, he termined by stole confidential lawmakers, government property that he was not and ethics
are deterentitled to in the first place. There is a huge difference between ethics and mined by laws. Laws are determined by lawmakers, and individuals. ethics are determined by individuals. Whether Snowden violated basic ethics, by breaching trust and violating his oath, is up to each individual to decide. However, in the eyes of the law, he committed a felony. He broke the oath of secrecy he took when deciding to work for the NSA, he stole government property, and he fractured the trust given to him. Whether this was heroic or not, it was illegal. If a man runs a red light because his wife is giving birth in the back seat, should he still get a ticket? According to the law, the answer is yes. In the eyes of the judge, the reason why this man ran a red light is irrelevant. In another scenario, a woman is struggling to feed her children, so she steals some food. Is this action completely justified? Most decent human beings would say that of course it is. However, the law is not a decent human being. It is a declaration of what is wrong, by society’s standards, and what the repercussions of committing that wrong act will be. If somebody wants to change this, they should not glorify stealing, but instead focus on the root of the problem, which is food shortages, or poverty, etc. Civil Disobedience was also a crime against our government, and these people willingly went to jail, paid their fines, and dealt with the legal repercussions. Snowden, on the other hand, is taking refuge in Russia and not paying his dues. Emily Anderson
photopoll
What should be remembered about 9/11?
Taylor Mayer, freshman
“How many people that went out, like the firefighters and police, because they died trying to help.”
Nick Marshall, junior
“The sacrifices that the firefighters made.” Nate Melaku, sophomore
Todd Matkin, teacher
Delaney Neal, sophomore
“One of the biggest things that should be remembered are those who lost their lives, but also those who risked their lives to save others, and ultimately how one day brought the nation closer together.”
“The people that were affected. We should respect it and reach out to those people.”
“The bravery of all the men and women that didn’t run from it but ran towards it. And the 3,000 families that were affected about the tragedy.”
A6 Sept. 18, 2013
Rocky Mountain HIGHLIGHTER
Baseball domination
S PORTS
Winning pose: Rocky’s Legion A baseball team poses for a picture after winning the state Legion A championship. Many of the players who were members of the Lobos’ 2013 high school 5A runner-up team also completed on the Legion A squad. Courtesy of Coralie Thomas
Baseball team wins fourth Legion A summer league title in last six years by Cammie Palominosports editor
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Summertime is baseball time. For the baseball team, summertime is winning time. The Lobos Legion A team won the state title this summer, establishing their dominance in Colorado high school baseball. Rocky’s baseball is known for the 4-peat, in which the team won the state spring championship from 2007 to 2010. This last spring the Lobos also placed second in the 5A state tournament. However, many people do not know about their magnitude in the summer season, winning the summer Legion A championship titles in 2008, 2009, 2011, and most recently 2013. Over the summer, the team travelled to Fairview High School in Boulder to play against some of the best teams in Colorado for the title. The championship games were played against the Greeley GoJos. Game 1 was won by the GoJos in a 12-inning battle by a final score of 7-6. The second game was also a hard fought battle.
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It’s really just a bonding experience; we just came together a lot more as a team, as a brotherhood. Tyler Stevens, senior baseball player
“We were down in the championship game, the do or die game, and coach (Scott) Bullock was preaching to us that 9 inning games are long games; they are never over until the last pitch is thrown and the last out is made,” senior Tyler Stevens said. “We just had to keep that in mind being down 8 to 5 going into the 8th inning. I was crazy trying to keep up and knowing that if you keep pushing you are still going to have the chance to win the title.” The weather played a huge part in the players’ minds. “The hardest part of the of the tournament was definitely just the toll that your body takes,” senior Carl Stajduhar said. “We played 12 innings in one game, then
9 in another in 90 degree heat. Just staying hydrated and staying amped up and having enough intensity to finish up the games was definitely the hardest part. There was no easy part. All eight teams in the tournament are always going to be good, so there is never an easy game or anything easy.” The team ended up winning the championship title. “(The journey was a) grind,” said Stajduhar. “We played a doubleheader every other day of the week for probably two months straight. It was hard work.” Coach Bullock said, “Winning the Legion state championship is a challenge. There are all-star teams and teams with graduated players. We played with just our next year high school team so you have to
go through some tough teams.” Team bond was the key component to winning the tournament. All the players who played in the team this summer will play for the Lobos during the spring, showing promise for the upcoming season. This also showed who will be a vital part of the team in the coming months. Many players stepped up, upper- and underclassmen. “John Sorensen played a key role and had a couple of key hits,” Stevens said. “He capitalized on all of his opportunities this summer as an incoming freshman . To be playing Legion A baseball, varsity caliber baseball, it is pretty crazy.” Stevens said, “One through 9 in our lineup, everybody hit, everybody knew their role. Playing this summer, the nice thing about not keeping the seniors, is that everybody settles into their new role. Everybody just stepped up when they needed to everybody knew what they had to do. There was not any individual players, everybody was for the team. (We were thinking) ‘I need to get this hit for the team, I need to get this runner up to give the team a better chance to win this game.’”
New set of downs
Looking for running room: Lobos quarterback Tau Liufau (No. 9) tries to find a gap against the defensive of Grand Junction High School in a Sept. 6 game. Although the Lobos lost against the Tigers, they have started the year 2-1.
2-1 football team moving on from last season by Madeline Zannopinion editor
Every team has to grow to get any better, whether it’s a flag-football team or the New England Patriots, and the Rocky football team is no exception. “The important thing is to get better each week,” coach Mark Brook said. Growth from the 2012 season is definitely needed, if the team doesn’t want to repeat last year’s
1-9 disappointment. Last year, the only win came at an away game against Poudre. However, coming off of that rough of a season means that there is less pressure on the team and less of a precedent to uphold. “It’s (last season) good to learn from,” senior lineman Zach Kehmeier said. They’ve been getting off to slower starts this year, scoring the majority of the points in the
Football Record: 2-1 Stars: Alex Kinney, Max McDonald, Tau Liufau Who’s Next: Douglas County (@Douglas County) Friday, Sept. 20 Working On: Confidence Positives: Resiliency Quote: “I hope that we can build a stronger bond with each other and I hope that it will help us win football games.” - Tau Liufau, junior
second half, resulting in a comefrom-behind win against ranked Chaparral High School on Aug. 30. However, the Lobos quickly let the game get out of control against Grand Junction High School, down 28-3 at the end of the half in a second-game loss. Turnovers are also extremely important. During the Chaparral game, the Lobos only turned the ball over once, while against Grand Junction, they had three fumbles and two interceptions. The team has been working out together since last Thanksgiving multiple times a week and has become a very tight knit group. “We’re all working together and there’s a lot of really cool bonds being made between the seniors and sophomores,” junior Aaron Provencio said. And that showed in the
Noah Fogelberg
team’s third game, a 35-14 win over Brighton High School in a homecoming contest that was delayed a day because of flooding. “There’s nobody who is just the main leader; everyone’s sort of together in this and everyone’s working together,” Provencio said. The important thing is to
keep up the team’s confidence. “I’m expecting (this year’s team) to compete like they haven’t competed in a really long time,” Brook said. The team’s next test comes on Friday at Douglas County High School. The Lobos then return home for a Thursday night, Sept. 26, game against city rival Poudre.
Rocky Mountain HIGHLIGHTER
S PORTS
New coach, new year Teacher Nigro in as new coach as softball team looks for fresh start
by Reyna Thomsponreporter
A new season of any sport brings excitement, but when new coaches are in the program, it brings fresh faces in addition to new ideas and values. After many years of the same coaches at the helm, Matt Nigro, chemistry teacher, took the head softball coaching position. Having coached softball extensively in the past, school officials believed it made sense for him to take the job. “I started coaching in 1988 at Fort Collins High School as an assistant varsity and junior varsity (JV) coach, and also as an assistant varsity coach for baseball at Loveland High School,” said Nigro, who has taught science at Rocky for the past decade. “In 1995, I started the softball program at Loveland High School, and worked there for six years.” When asked about his long term goals for the season, Nigro said, “During the season, and in every game, the goal is to compete. If we’re in every game, and we’re fighting and persevering, that’s what I really want.” Even more than the final score, Nigro hopes to foster a culture in which every player battles until the final pitch. “If we’re fighting and persevering in every game, the wins and losses will take care of themselves,” he said. “But I would like to make some postseason play as a team goal.” To make postseason play, the whole team needs to be on board. “I want to build a program,” Nigro said. “That goes all the way from C to varsity and is competitive, and challenges for a win every game. My goal is for Rocky to be known as the softball school, and really build a tradition.” Sports are a lot like life, with challenges and triumphs. For many of those challenges, Nigro relies on his experience as an educator. “In high school you have seniors way down to
Megan Troutman
Winding up: Senior pitcher Esther Romero fires a pitch against Northglenn High School in a game on Aug. 30. Romero helped the team to a 13-8 victory.
freshman, so getting them to work together and pull their talents out is a challenge,” Nigro said. “Being a coach involves a lot of teaching, and being a teacher involves a lot of coaching.”
Softball Record: 6-3 Stars: Kalea Blumenshine and Simchah Baker Who’s Next: Poudre,Thursday, Sept. 19, at 4:15 p.m. Working On: Communication and Trust Quote: “The season so far is a work of progress.”- Melanie Stajduhar, sophomore
Sept. 18, 2013
Marco
from page A8
Alex Gonzales agreed: “If you put as much time and as much money as our family has into baseball, you kind of expect a big outcome.” At Rocky, Gonzales lettered all four years and was part of the 5A State Championship winning teams from 2007 to 2010. Among other accomplishments, he was the winning pitcher in all four state championship games during his high school career. “(Playing at Rocky) definitely helped me. To play with...guys that are going places and getting drafted and how they handle themselves is probably the greatest thing I took away from that experience,” the elder Gonzales said. “You mature really quick when you’re in those positions. We all matured so fast on that team and I think that probably helped me the most.” This past summer after signing with the Cardinals, Gonzales played in Rookie League with the Gulf Coast League Cardinals for 4 games before moving up to the Palm Beach Cardinals Class AAdvanced League. There, he has given up only three runs in 16.2 innings, sporting an impressive 1.92 ERA. He appeared in eight total minor league games, facing major league players Casey Kotchman and Desmond Jennings, who were on rehab assignment at the time, which was probably the most glamorous part of the minor leagues. “It’s a daily grind. When I was in High A, I got moved up with just under a month left (in the season) and was literally living out
of my suitcase,” Gonzales said. Not to mention that in Rookie League there aren’t any overnight stays, making for some long bus rides. It’s lucky that Gonzales, as a “hitting pitcher” was drafted into a National League team where the Designated Hitter (DH) rule doesn’t exist, though it is used at the lower levels of the minor leagues. “I think that the National League is really pure, that it’s how baseball should be played. Everybody on the field should take their turn at bat,” Gonzales said. “We treat our pitchers like athletes.” Gonzales went on to say that he’d never had any experience with the American League and how that system worked, but definitely prefers pitchers having to bat. On Sept. 16, Gonzales headed to instructional league in Jupiter, Florida, where he will be surrounded by coaches from the Cardinals’ Double and Triple A teams, as well as other players. “I’m just really looking forward to the challenge...I’m excited to see how I match up against guys and see how I can do. I’m taking it one minute at a time,” Gonzales said. Professional scouts expect Gonzales to rise quickly through the minor leagues to become an impact player in the majors. Currently, he is the eighth-ranked player in the Cardinals’ organization. “(Marco’s) very deserving of everything he has gotten to this point,” Bullock said, “including a $2 million signing bonus.”
Boys’ soccer
Serve it up: Se-
nior Jason Krebec serves in a Aug. 29 match against Broomfield High School. Krebec, the No. 2 singles player helped the Lobos to a 4-3 team victory with a 6-1, 6-1 win over Broomfield’s Adam Clarke.
Heading out: Senior boys’ soccer Chris Hawkins tried to control the ball with his head in game against Highlands Ranch High School on Sept. 7. The team won the French Field contest, 3-2.
Record: 3-0 Stars: Seth Bolander, Sander Malmquist, John Brown Who’s Next: Fossil Ridge, Sept. 19, 6 p.m. Working On: Working the ball outside. Quote: “This year’s team looks really good. We have players to score goals, as well as a strong defense. I’m confident that we will make it far into the playoffs this year.” -Carl Erickson, senior Owen Erickson
Kayla Brokop
Boys’ tennis Record: 2-1 Stars: Jason Krebec, Drew Guyor, Jason McCrary Who’s Next: Loveland (9/19), Fort Collins (9/23) Working On: Mental toughness and preparedness Quote: “This year’s tennis team I think has a lot of promise. We’ve got some young players and also a lot of seniors, and I think this team can go far and hopefully we can make a run at state and maybe a conference title. It’s a great team all around.” – Neville Hyllegard, junior
Volleyball Record: 0-3 Stars: Morgan Weatherwax, Ashton Mares Who’s Next: at Fairview, Thursday, Sept. 19, 6:30 p.m. Working On: Team Melding (new coach and new team) Quote: “Our team motto is ‘Players win games but teams win championships.’” - Emily Jensen, senior
A7
Cross country Stars: Bryan Hird, Kace Doner, David Messerli What’s Next: Meet at Fort Collins High School Working On: Overall placing and speed Quote: “It’s time to nut up or shut up.” -David Messerli, senior
Field hockey Record: 0-2 Stars: Helen Robins, Marisa Motif Who’s Next: Palmer High School Working On: Unity among the four schools, Defense Quote: “We are coming together as a team and getting ready to be competitive.” - Helen Robins, junior
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Rocky Mountain HIGHLIGHTER
S
SPORTS
A8
Sept. 18, 2013 Drake’s Drizzle
Drake Lindstrom
Manziel’s image massacre
Johnny Manziel–sometimes called Johnny Football: In 2012 Manziel won the Heisman trophy. In 2013, he won the trophy of the biggest punk in college football. Manziel started the 2013 season off with a suspension due to conduct deemed “inadvertent action” by the NCAA, as he was selling autographs to fans. He was suspended for the first half of the game, and then was pulled out of the last drive of the game, after talking smack with a Rice defender. While it’s understandable that Manziel would be excited to be the first to win the Heisman as a freshman, his attitude is inexcusable. He plays the quarterback position, arguably the most important position in football. Your actions reflect not only on you, but on your team. That’s why when Manziel goes off acting like a tool, he is not only destroying his reputation as a mature adult, but that of Texas A&M. Manziel’s actions are selfish, arrogant, but worst of all: childish. I’d like to think we could expect more from someone who earned the most prestigious award in college football. Manziel is a great player. That’s not debated. But he represents something much more than a football player. He is already one of the greatest players to step onto a college football field, and at least for the rest of the 2013-14 year, when the word Heisman is uttered, Johnny Manziel’s name will be directly associated with it. The Heisman trophy is something kids grow up dreaming about and when you represent something so significant you need to act like an adult, not like some spoiled 6-yearold bragging about his new toy. Sportsmanship is one of the most important elements in any sport; likewise, there is no room for arrogance in a team sport. Be it high-school, college, or professional, there is a reason the word “team” is conveniently included in that description. You represent your teammates, your coaches and your entire organization. Herb Brooks, legendary coach of the 1980 Olympic hockey team once said “The name on the front of your jersey is more important than the one on the back.” So when Johnny costs his team 15 yards for being an idiot, or gets suspended for being cocky, he is not only interfering with his own career but is crippling his team as well. While this is happening on a national scale with Johnny Manziel, this is a frequent problem on a much smaller scale on the high-school level. There is one way to solve this problem and sportsmanship is the key word. Win the sports battles on the field and win the war on the scoreboard, because at the end of the day, the final score is what actually matters; not anything else.
The Rocky Mountain HIGHLIGHTER
Drake Lindstrom is a junior and a reporter for the RM Highlighter
Marco Millionaire Alumnus signs with St. Louis Cardinals by Madeline Zannopinion editor
One-point-eight-five millions bucks: That’s over 80 years of tuition at Colorado State University, including room and board. It’s also how much alumnus Marco Gonzales was given as a signing bonus after being drafted in the first round by the St. Louis Cardinals. “Uncle Sam took his share, too,” Gonzales said, brushing off the question of becoming a millionaire. “That wasn’t too fun.” The 21-year-old was drafted 19th overall in this past summer’s Major League Baseball Amateur Draft. “It’s a huge honor to be involved in such a great organization. Everything from top to bottom is first class,” Gonzales said. The
Front special
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Highlighter Archives
4- peat member: Marco Gonzales won the spring state championship from 2007 to 2010 when he attended Rocky. Gonzales is on the bottom row, fifth to the left.
Cardinals are 11-time World Series winners and have made the playoffs 10 out of the last 13 years. Currently, they’re winning their division and are on track to make the postseason again this year. “They’re a top-ranked team every year. It’s a great thing to be part of, but it’s also tough and it’s a hard organization to move up in and it’ll be a tough road to the major leagues, but if you make it with
Uncle Sam took his share, too. That wasn’t too fun.
the Cardinals, you’re probably one of the major leagues’ best players,” Gonzales said. Gonzales graduated from Rocky in 2010 and attended Gonzaga University in Spokane, Wash., before being drafted after his junior year of college. He was drafted as a left-handed pitcher, but he both pitched and played first base at Gonzaga, ac-
Marco Gonzales, 2010 graduate and recent 1st-round draft choice of the St. Louis Cardinals
cumulating multiple awards and garnering national attention from scouts. So it was no surprise to anyone that Gonzales would be drafted in the first round. “From the time I met Marco as a freshman, that if there’s ever a kid that I would put my money on to play in the big leagues, not just pro baseball, but play actually in the big leagues, which is extremely difficult to do, Marco could do it,” Rocky baseball coach Scott Bullock said. “He had just had that from the very first time you met him.” Gonzales’s little brother,
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Jump to Marco on A7
Marco Gonzales
Chris Lee/ St. Louis Post-Dispatch
Bell hits birdie
Leading golf team as senior, ready to tee up
by Megan Troutmaneditor-in-chief
Unlike many sporting events, golfers prefer a silent audience. It is a complex sport dedicated to precision and focus – the slightest of sounds can cause a distraction, impacting the game drastically. Despite the pressure of a silent audience, golf is one of the most relaxing athletic activities. Just ask the top senior golfer, Matt Bell. “It’s pretty chill,” Bell said. “Golf is a very laid back sport.” This year, Bell is the top golfer on the team and one of the best golfers in the Front Range League. “(As the senior leader) you’ve gotta set a good example. I feel like I’ve earned it to finally be the senior on the team because I’ve worked really
hard,” said Bell, who earned all-conference honors with the seventh-best scoring average in the league at 73.4. Golf coach and mentor Charlie Ross has worked with Bell for several years and is familiar with the difficulties regarding the sport. “Most young players that I’ve run across in 13 years don’t understand the level of work that’s necessary,” Ross said. “One of the reasons why I think Matt Bell is having a good season this year, is because he learned a harsh lesson last year. He learned that if you slack, you don’t perform.” Last year at regionals, Bell was only one stroke away from qualifying for state. “I should’ve probably taken it more seriously at times,” said Bell, who will be playing in this year’s regional
tournament this week. Bell’s focus upgrade was evident this summer as he completed a strong off-season by winning the City Junior Championship by 5 strokes. Additionally, Bell has taken on the role of mentoring the younger players this year after being the mentee in the past. His efforts have helped the present team and will more than likely pay off for future squads, as well. Fellow teammate and
sophomore, Antonio Campana, is also excited for where the golf team is headed. “It’s been progressively getting better. I’m starting to get new clubs and my coaches are helping me re-shaft,” Campana said. “I’m starting to help out the team more and everything is starting to come around.” So far the team is preparing and working toward a strong performance at regionals, where, hopefully, several golfers will qualify for the state championship. “I have a lot of potentially good, professional players,” Ross said. “I think Rocky will make a little noise in our conference here in the next year or two.”
Matt Bell
Lobos helping lobos
Rocky Mountain HIGHLIGHTER
F
FEATURES
B1
Sept. 18, 2013
Fishing with Trout
Megan Troutman
Times have certainly changed I
Marissa Bonertz
Students help damaged wolf sanctuary by Marissa Bonertzreporter
In the summer of 2012, the High Park Fire raged through Rist Canyon, causing a constant smell of campfire for the city of Fort Collins. WHAT YOU Unfortunately, the wildfire caused CAN DO much bigger probTO HELP lems for W.O.L.F, a wolf sanctuary in Become inthe area. formed on how W.O.L.F stands wolf-dogs differ for “Wolves Offrom dogs. fered Life and Friendship” and Become a memis a safe haven for ber of W.O.L.F or wolves and wolfdonate money dog hybrids that using paypal on are not properly W.O.L.F’s website cared for. The sancVolunteer to help tuary is a 180 acre plot of land that is repair damage located about 20 Visit www.wolfmiles northwest of sanctuary.net to Fort Collins. learn more “What we try to do is educate. It might sound like a great idea to have a wolf-dog as a pet, but they are not meant to be in a tiny confined area,” said Steve Shaffer, W.O.L.F’s general manager, of the sanctuary’s mission. The sanctuary is home to 30 wolf-dogs that were either mistreated, not cared for, or going to be euthanized. In the summer of 2012, the sanctuary fell victim to the High Park Fire. The fire burned most of the water-absorbing vegeta-
Marissa Bonertz
Taking care: General Manager Steve Shaffer feeds a wolf and gets a kiss in return. The wolf is an ambassador wolf, meaning that it is brought to events that W.O.L.F holds in order to educate the community about the sanctuary. Wolf-dog hybrid Bella Roux (top) looks out from her enclosure.
tion, causing extensive damage to the sanctuary. The sanctuary was suddenly under extreme flash flood warnings. Sure enough, on July 5, 2013, the first of many rain storms washed through the sanctuary causing ash and debris to build up against the fences of the enclosures. High water washed down the dirt road through the sanctuary. The water eroded the road. Craters were formed, and from then on, it was difficult for volunteers to get into the sanctuary. Furthermore, the sanctuary has not been able to reach an agreement with its insurance company until recently- over a year later. Nevertheless, W.O.L.F needs help, and that’s where Rocky enters. W.O.L.F has been trying the get in contact with Rocky for three years now. Shaffer was impressed with the school after reading about the it in the Coloradoan. A main priority for the sanctuary is education. Shaffer thought that the connection between the wolf Marissa Bonertz sanctuary and the Rocky Wolves and lobo partnership: A wolf-dog hybrid Mountain Lobos would happily runs around his enclosure. The W.O.L.F. foster a stimulating ensanctuary and the school have recently begun work- vironment for educating
Features special
ing together to help save these wolves from being euthanized or mistreated.
students about wolf-dogs. However, before this year, the connection had yet to happen. Virginia Cox, the Student Council adviser, decided it was time to connect. “We are trying to build upon our traditions here at the school. We wanted to do something that could honor our tradition, keeping us true to what Rocky Mountain High School is and look into something that is local to help out the community,” she said. After hearing about the damage to the sanctuary, Cox went online and did some research. She read about what was going on and realized, “They are in desperate need of help.” She decided it was the perfect partnership. By connecting the Lobos with the W.O.L.F sanctuary, Cox is able to achieve her two goals of building Rocky traditions and helping the community. Rocky is the home of the Lobos. The student body is considered “The Pack.” Rocky is built around the characteristics of the wolf. It is clear that wolves play a vital role in the school’s history and traditions. W.O.L.F is a nonprofit corporation based on rescuing, caring for, and educating the public on wolf-dog hybrids. Both Rocky and W.O.L.F value the characteristics that wolves possess. Student
,
Jump to Wolf on B2
f you were a 90s kid, you remember all the cool toys we had. Let’s be honest here. You all played with a Tamagotchi, Furby, Game Boy, Pokémon, or Beanie babies at some point in your childhood. If not, I can’t help you. You certainly missed out, especially with the Furbies. They were the fuzzy little creatures that sat in the back of your closet with droopy googly eyes. All they really did was flap their abnormally large ears, rock back and forth, and chant mumbojumbo. Good times. Then there was that virtual pet craze: the Tamagotchi, GigaPet, and NanoBaby. Those were the pocket-sized pieces of plastic that the “cool kids” would clip to their belt loops. You would push little rubber buttons to make them go on walks, play games, eat food, and clean up virtual poop. Again, life doesn’t get better than that. I remember when I was in kindergarten and I had my very own Tamagotchi. I really wanted to bring it to school, but we were not allowed to have them in the classroom because “it was a distraction.” What does that even mean? It’s not my fault if my dolphin had to poop. Those were the simple times, where the most stressful part of your day was wondering if your Tamagotchi was still alive. Now, times are a little different. These days it seems like kids are glued to the TV, computer, and various “I” products (iPod, iPhone, etc.). Now this may not be entirely true, but my little brother has definitely grown more and more attached to his video games. I also see little kids in elementary school get off the bus with cell phones and iPods in hand. When I was in elementary school, I had dirt. And I was happy. Times are certainly changing, but I think it’s safe to say that we were born into the best generation. We played outside, and we were the first to explore the never-ending world of technology, as . . . interesting . . . as it was. RIP Furby. Megan Troutman is a senior and co-editor-in-chief of the RM Highlighter.
B2 Sept. 18, 2013
Lost and found
Rocky Mountain HIGHLIGHTER
FEATURES
Teachers lose snake, find gun–all in same day by Jessi Brokopreporter
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On Friday, Aug. 16, Carol Seemueller’s snake went missing the same day she and Matt Tanner, her new student teacher, found a gun by Spring Creek. Seemueller left mice in her snake Bella’s feeding bucket, then left the room for no more than 15 minutes before she and Tanner came back and saw that Bella was missing for the second time. “It was kind of like, oh no, not again,” Seemueller said. Bella was lost for the first time in 2009, during the summer and the first part of the school year. During that time, Bella was gone for two months, shedding skin and leaving eggs behind as evidence of her presence. She slithered below the floor the majority of the time, but was finally found above a
I remember Mr. (Matt) Tanner) said ‘Wow, finding worms has been a lot more fun than I thought it would be.’ Carol Seemueller, science teacher
door to the courtyard by a custodian who was working during after-school hours. Fortunately, Bella was found fairly quickly this time around; only two days after escaping, she was discovered in a storage room. Although Bella seems to
Jessi Brokop
Snake in the grass: Corn snake Bella, who makes her home in science teacher Carol Seemueller’s room, relaxes in her enclosure after being recaptured days before the start of school. Bella also escaped in the fall of 2009 and was missing for two months in the school before being found.
enjoy disappearing, Seemuller’s reasons for keeping her in the classroom are not to scare the kids, but to educate them. “I have her in here so people will learn to enjoy her,” Seemueller said. That doesn’t mean, however, that Bella won’t escape a third time. “It’s always a possibility, because she loves roaming the school, and we have a lot of mice in the school.” Seemueller said. Then, as if losing a snake wasn’t enough for one day, Seemueller and Tanner ran into an odd situation while searching
for worms by Spring Creek. Tanner spotted a strange looking rock located by the creek. He turned it over to see if there were any worms, but found a gun in a holster instead. “It was pretty well camouflaged,” Tanner said. Seemueller and Tanner called Rocky’s resource officer to make sure they should call the police. The police showed up half an hour after they called in order to take the gun and receive statements about it. The gun was checked by police in order to make sure it was not associated with any crimes committed in the area.
Wolf
Sanctuary Road damage: The damage to the gravel road coming to the sanctuary was inflicted by flooding. This occurred because the High Park fire washed away the necessary vegetation to keep flooding at bay.
from page B1
Marissa Bonertz
Council wants to teach the school what being a Lobo means and W.O.L.F is an organization that teaches the public about the importance of understanding the difference between wolves and wolfdogs. W.O.L.F needs help in order to continue educating people, and Student Council needs help bringing back traditions to Rocky. Cox believes that the connection between the two organizations can help both parties, “Number one, they are part of our community. Number two, it allows us to stay true to some of the traditions that we have here,” said Cox. “The whole thing with the wolf and what it means and what it stands for. That whole connection to the school.” W.O.L.F is now Student Council’s fall fund drive. The profit from multiple Student
“We haven’t heard if it was associated with anything yet,” Tanner said. Because it was only Tanner’s second day of student teaching, he did not know what to expect at the creek. “I remember Mr. Tanner said, ‘Wow, finding worms has been a lot more fun than I thought it would be,’” Seemueller said. Despite the crazy day, with Bella escaping for the second time, as well as finding the gun by the creek, Seemueller and Tanner didn’t get back to the school empty handed. “We found lots of worms, though,” Tanner said.
Council events, including the dunk tank from LoboFest and the fundraising campaign during homecoming week, is going to W.O.L.F to help fund the repair efforts. In return, Cox is hoping to have W.O.L.F visit the school to educate the students on wolfdogs. “We’re hoping that this becomes a lasting relationship... They’re amazing,” Cox said. “They’re willing to come down and help us whenever we need. They are willing to do any activity that communicates (information about wolves).” Cox is hoping that the fundraising efforts made by Student Council and the Rocky community will result in a decent donation to the W.O.L.F sanctuary. Shaffer wants the students to know, “Wolves are probably not what (you) have been led to believe, and go Lobos.”
Rocky Mountain HIGHLIGHTER
FEATURES
New Lobos join the Pack New teachers, staff members excited for year Kristen Washenfelder Age: 32 Teaching Fields/Position: Sign Language Interpreter Years of Experience: 7 years Education/Schools: Regis University/Front Range Community College/Elementary Education Your Path to Rocky: “I worked here Spring 2011 then took time off to be a mama.” Personal comment about Rocky and/or the students: “Super excited to be back among such a supportive pack.” Major Chrislom Age: 41 Teaching Fields/ Position: Visual Arts Teacher Years of Experience: 15 years Education/ Schools: Union University Your Path to Rocky: I was hired to teach 2D since Laura Cronen is 50% here and 50% at the board. Personal comment about Rocky and/or the students: “The admin, faculty, and students have been very welcoming and helpful.”
Kaleo Chung
Carry Spawn Age: 37 Teaching Fields/Position: Integrated Services Years of experience: 3 years Education/Schools: Metro State University of Denver Your Path to Rocky: Taught in three districts in three years and finally made it to Poudre School District Personal comment about Rocky and/or the students: “First couple of weeks here (at Rocky), have been awesome from staff to students. I have no complaints.”
environment. Personal comment about Rocky and/or the students: “I am so excited to be at Rocky. I hope to pursue a master’s degree in education so I can continue to work with youth in a fun learning environment.” Ben Johnson Age: 40 Teaching Fields/Position: Media/Technology Specialist Years of Experience: 19 years Education/ Schools: BS and MS from Colorado State University and a PhD. from University of Northern Colorado Your Path to Rocky: Born in Gunnison, CO, Grew up Kelly in Crestone, CO, went to college Madden at Colorado State University and University of Northern Colorado, taught at Preston Middle School, worked at the PSD central office, and finally worked at Rocky Personal comment about Rocky and/or the students: “My high school graduating class only had nine students.” Also, “I love being here at Rocky.” Evan Brengle Age: 33 Teaching Fields/Position: ILS Paraprofessional Years of Experience: 1 year Education/Schools: MA in English Literature from California State University, Sacramento Your Path to Rocky: Spent a year at a charter school, but excited to transition to Poudre School District Personal comment about Rocky and/or the students: “I have worked with students of all age levels, preschool to adult and enjoy working with them all, but high school is my favorite.”
Amy White Maya Wyllie Age: Older than you Age: 33 Teaching Fields/Position: LanTeaching Fields/Position: Science (ESS and guage Arts and Lobo 101 Biology for Life) Years of Experience: 20+ Years of Experience: 4 years Education/Schools: BA in Education/Schools: Colorado State UniverEnglish from Biola University, MA Amy White sity in Education from Colorado ChrisYour Path to Rocky: Taught at Rocky three tian, MS in technology from Full years ago while Mr. Swartz was on sabbatical. Fell Sail University in love with Rocky and knew I wanted to be back as Your Path to Rocky: I taught for nine years at soon as possible. Mountain View High School in Loveland and I was Personal comment about Rocky and/or the stuready for a change. Rocky has a great reputation in dents: “I feel extremely fortunate to be back. Lobos the community and I’m excited to be here. are an amazing bunch and I am happy to be home.” Personal comment about Rocky and/or the students: “I love teaching. I think it’s a really fun job and I love literature. It’s a great combination!” Kaleo Chung Age: 34 Kelly Madden Teaching Field/Position: Science Teacher (PhysAge: 33 ics) Teaching Fields/Position: Counseling Years of Experience: 2 ½ years Years of Experience: 8 years Education/Schools: B.A.S. Geology at UNC and Education/Schools: B.S. in Human Development MAT (UNC) and Family Studies at Colorado State University, Your Path to Rocky: Beattie ElMED in Counseling and Career Kristen Washenfelder Development ementary, Webber Junior High, Rocky Mountain High School (Class of 1998), Your Path to Rocky: After 5 years of college baseball, 10 years of undergrad, moved to Crested assistant baseball coach Butte for a couple of years, worked Personal comment about at Partners Mentoring Youth as Rocky and/or the students: “I am an Americorp volunteer, went back so blessed to have the opportunity to CSU for masters and worked to work with the students and at CSU for 8 years as a career faculty at RMHS–the best high counselor; ready for something school in Fort Collins.” different and wanted to work with high school students Chloe Gluklick Personal comment about Age: 24 Rocky and/or the students: “I love to Teaching Fields/Positions: help students discover their path and Media Center – Computer Tech passion in life. I am so excited to be a Years of Experience: 3 years part of the Rocky community.” Education/Schools: Colorado State University Compiled by Cammie Your Path to Rocky: Graduated from PalominoPhotographs by Jessi Colorado State University, went to straight Brokop and Kayla Brokop into working with software as a technology consultant but wanted to be in a school
Sept. 18, 2013
B3
Do these jeans make me look invisible?
Abercrombie CEO’s comments offend public, sparks debate by Miriam Fieldsfeatures editor
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“Are we exclusionary? Absolutely.” Mike Jeffries, the CEO of Abercrombie and Fitch, recently said this statement when confronted about the fact that his clothing company discriminated against size. Abercrombie and Fitch, a popular chain of stores carrying clothing for both men and women, has decided to stop carrying women’s clothing above size ten. The company also considered getting rid of the extra large clothing for men. “You know initially when I had heard this, I was just beyond shocked. I’d heard this on the news, but I thought maybe it was just rumor. I find it personally disgusting,” Desi Obenchain, a student at Rocky Mountain High School who recently took the media analysis course, said. Abercrombie uses advertisements to market to customers who are “the cool and popular kids, and then there are the not-so-cool kids,” according to Jeffries. “Candidly, we go after the cool kids. We go after the attractive all-American kid with a great attitude and a lot of friends. A lot of people don’t belong [in our clothes], and they can’t belong.” This use of media often causes body issues to arise, especially among high-school aged teenagers. “Ten or 12 is like an average size,” Laura Druse, media analysis teacher, said. “Plus size is a lot larger, so they’re saying unless you’re a size ten, you’re not worth a whole lot.” This sense of worthlessness plays a large part in causing teens to want to wear small sizes of clothing. “Like you’re only good enough to shop here if you’re a size 10, and just that alone enough tells me that is not a place I will ever, ever go shopping,” said Obenchain.“I’m sure society has something to do with it . . . but we all have a filter, we all have a place where we can say ‘hey, I don’t care what society says.’” Abercrombie and Fitch has ultimately decided to follow the trend of small sizes, excluding many potential customers. “Anyone wanting to go to Abercrombie and Fitch should think twice because I don’t know who would want to support a store who clearly has labels on what body size is considered beautiful,” Obenchain said. Sex appeal, another quality constantly emphasized in media, also causes many teenagers to want to buy clothes
You know, initially when I had heard this, I was just beyond shocked. I’d heard this on the news, but I thought maybe it was just rumor. I find it personally disgusting. Desi Obenchain, senior
that make them feel thin and conventionally beautiful. When asked about this quality, Jeffries said, “It’s almost everything. That’s why we hire good-looking people in our stores. Because good-looking people attract other goodlooking people, and we want to market to cool, good-looking people. We don’t market to anyone other than that.” This mindset is one that the company Abercrombie and Fitch also clearly shows through its advertisements. Its photographs of stick-thin models and men with large biceps cause many customers to remark upon the company’s values. “Well unless you’re just really tall and skinny you’re not cool, as far as for women, or if you don’t have a six-pack, and I think it totally molds our opinion. We’re hit with so many different messages every day of what we should look like, so if you don’t fit that mold, then you’re not worthy of consideration,” Druse said. Because of the conflict between Abercrombie and customers, many protests against the clothing corporation have recently surfaced. The company’s policies inspired Jes Baker, a 26 year-old blogger, to create a spoof of Abercrombie advertisements entitled Attractive and Fat. Another method of protest is “don’t buy their clothes,” said Druse. “I think it’d be really funny if we got a lot of kids that weren’t cool and popular and perfect - in quotes- to put on clothes of their brand and picket their store; I think that’d be hilarious.” Because of the controversy involved, the company has lost many loyal customers. Though Jeffries has apologized for his statements, many potential buyers do not believe this is fact, for it’s very likely that Abercrombie and Fitch has gone too far to apologize.
B4 Sept. 18, 2013
Rocky Mountain HIGHLIGHTER
CENTER SPREAD
Sept. 18, 2013
B5
F o r t C o l l i n e s m o R o t d a e l s l road
Al
Fort Collins considered a cycling ‘Mecca’ for many by Aaron YuCenter Editor
In 1978, Queen first sung the lyrics, “Bicycle bicycle bicycle, I want to ride my bicycle bicycle bicycle.” Bicycling was interesting enough for Queen to create a song about it, so how come so few people rode bikes? Seen in a survey by the World Watch Institute in 2001, cycling accounted for only 1 percent of the U.S. population’s main method of travelling. However, in recent times it has become more evident that cycling is becoming a rising trend around the world, especially in Fort Collins. Queen may have been on to something 35 years ago. Seeing bikers is a normal thing in Fort Collins. It’s almost guaranteed that on any given day more than a few cyclists can be seen coasting next to cars on the street. Twelve organizations devoted to cycling are posted on the Fcgov website and there are many more scattered around town. Bicycle Magazine ranked Fort Collins as the eleventh most bicycle friendly town in America. One has to stop and wonder: Why is Fort Collins so popular for cycling? “Primarily, I think it’s because of the terrain and climate,” Martin Ditzel of the Fort Collins Cycling Club said. Fort Collins takes its time to take care of its roads and make paths and lanes specifically for bicycles. Fcgov.com lists that Fort Collins has “relatively flat terrain, 280+ miles of wide bike lanes, and 30+ miles of bike trails that follow both the scenic Poudre River and Spring Creek.” “Fort Collins has really fat roads,” Frank Schwende of Bike Fort Collins said. “The roads are striped to facilitate bicycle lanes and it just takes my heart away.” Along with “fat” roads, the city has many multipurpose trails such as the Spring Creek trail and the Power trail that are well maintained by the Parks and Recreation department. “An hour after snowfall, many roads will be jammed but the multipaths will be clear,” Schwende said. “The Parks and Recreation department are out there really fast getting them clean.”
Why do you ride your bike?
Kayla Brokop
Lock it up: Dozens of students ride and lock up their bikes at Rocky every day.
Every other year, Fort Collins applies with the League of American Bicyclists [LAB] to try and become a ranked bike friendly city. Currently, Fort Collins stands at Platinum ranking which is just below the newly introduced Diamond ranking. Cities are evaluated using the “5 Es” criteria, which include engineering, education, encouragement, enforcement and evaluation. “The LAB has a number of experienced cyclists that know Fort Collins and evaluate the city based on the 5 Es,” Schwende said. “There are only four cities with a Platinum level ranking, and Fort Collins is one of them.” Being an experienced cyclist, Schwende agrees with the criteria regarding his own personal values. “From my personal viewpoint, the infrastructure in Fort Collins is phenomenal,” he said. “It’s unmatched in my experience.” Fort Collins incorporates roads meant for bike lanes and uses induction loops to make it easier for cyclists to get around. When riding a bike, one simply has to position his or her bike above the white bike symbol or a box etched in metal for the loop to pick up their signal and start changing the light. The local culture is also bike friendly as represented by companies such as the New Belgium Brewery which pumps money into local bicycle advocacy groups. “As a mode for recreation or transportation, Fort Collins is certainly a hotspot for cycling,” Schwende said. “It all makes for a lively bicycle scene.”
“Because it’s fun, and I like getting out, being active and going fast.” -Samantha Eckery, Freshman
“My parents won’t drive me.” -Zach Mayer, Sophomore
Adolescents who bike are 48% less likely to be overweight as adults. On a round trip commute of ten miles, bicyclists save ten dollars daily. For every mile pedaled rather than driven, 1 pound of CO2 is saved. The health benefits of cycling weight out the risks by a factor of 20 to one. Studies have shown that homes next to bicycle paths are more valuable. Courtesy of bikesbelong.org
by Aaron YuCenter Editor
“Incredible,” was the word chosen by Rocky alumnus TeJay Van Garderen when asked to describe how it felt to win the USA Pro Cycling Challenge. “I’ve been close the past two years with third and second place,” Van Garderen said. “To finally get it in front of Fort Collins where I graduated high school; it was an amazing feeling.” The USA Pro Cycling Challenge is an annual bike race first introduced in 2011 by Bill Ritter and Lance Armstrong. It consists of seven “stages” where cyclists compete to get the best times to win the race. The 2013 race was in total over 572 miles long and cyclists reached an altitude of 12,000 feet during the mountain stages. Van Garderen started the race on Aug. 19; one week and 572 miles later, he stood triumphantly at the highest spot on the podium and claimed his spot as overall winner of the challenge. “It was amazing,” he said. Van Garderen was introduced to cycling at an early age by his father, who served as a window into the culture behind it. “I grew up watching the Tour de France and him racing,” he said. “that got me interested in it.” He began simply riding his bike in Montana, then started racing at the age of 11. At 12, he competed in the Junior Nationals for the first time, placing well. He continued to go every year until the
age of 16 when he was picked to be part of the national team. “I was brought over to Europe and I was able to experience cycling the way they experience it over there,” Van Garderen said. From there, he describes it not as an easy journey, but as a “gradual progression” into becoming a professional cyclist. He was picked up by many different companies to race for their brand over his stretch in Europe, helping further his reputation and his career. “It was kind of a goal in the back of my mind that I wanted to be a professional bike racer,” he said. “But you’re so wrapped up in the moment that you don’t give yourself time to think about that.” Settling on the BMC cycling team, Van Garderen entered many high profile races such as the Tour de France and the USA Pro Cycling Challenge. After winning the USA Pro Cycling Challenge, many things changed for Van Garderen, but many things stayed the same. “I woke up on Monday morning and everything seemed different,” he said. “I think I’ll get recognized more, but as for everyday activities.. I have a little girl; I still have to change her diaper.” Though his career is furthered by this victory, he remains an average husband and father in his personal life. Unfortunately, he doesn’t get to slip past any of his day to day chores. “When you get back to your normal life, you’re still living a normal life,” Van
Cammie Palomino
Savoring the Moment: Tejay Van Garderen raises his hands triumphantly after winning the Challenge.
Garderen said. “Being a dad and husband pretty much takes up all of my time outside of cycling.” He may now be a star, but Van Garderen recognizes that much like everyone else, he started out as just another person riding a bike. He advises aspiring cyclists to “keep it fun,” never give up and to work hard in the face of seeming impassable challenges. “[Cycling] is a lot of fun, but if you make a small mistake like thinking too far ahead, you can get overwhelmed and discouraged,” he said. “If you keep it fun and light and focus on what’s in front of you and the small details, you can meet a lot of people, make a lot of friends and just have a great time.”
Casual cyclists increase in Fort Collins by Jessi BrokopReporter
“My car’s broken.” -Russell Guinn, Junior
Bicycling is now the second most popular outdoor activity in the united states. People who bike to work have better weight, blood pressure and insulin levels.
Alumnus Tejay Van Garderen wins USA Pro Cycling Challenge
“It’s good for the environment.” -Luana Schwab, Senior
Tejay Van Garderen isn’t the only dedicated cyclist from Fort Collins; there are many others, and the number increases all the time. Jim Pounds is the father of junior Natalie Pounds, senior Anika Pounds, and alumnus, Jeremy Pounds. Jim Pounds has been biking ever since he was five years old, and has gotten futher into biking over the past 15 years. He bikes with his three children and his wife, Bethany. He won second place in a road ride hill climb eight years ago in Rist Canyon, and he has been racing in triathlons and long distance tours, including the Bran Tour across Nebraska. Pounds says his favorite race is the Fort Collins Cycling Festival. Another prevalent cyclist is junior Brannon Fix; he has been biking ever since he was five. Fix mountain bikes, road bikes, cycles in muddy fields and does BMX. In July, he won fifth in nationals for mountain biking in the USA Cycling MTB National Championships in Bear Creek. He says his favorite place to bike is
in Pennsylvania because he believes the countryside is beautiful, and he also enjoys biking around Horsetooth Mountain Park. Many people in Fort Collins, young and old, are into cycling, both for competition and for fun. Pounds believes that Fort Collins is a good place to cycle alone or with friends. “[The] quality of life here is really high, and cycling is a good way to exercise and commute,” he said. There are several trails in Fort Collins, and bike lanes on many of the main streets. One of the longest, Spring Creek trail, extends from West Drake road to the Poudre River and Spring Creek trail, and is 6.93 miles long. “[Cycling] is a good way to meet people and a way to stay fit; I enjoy doing it,” Pounds said. “It’s my favorite part about this city.” Cycling is for all ages. Unlike many sports, cycling can be for any age. “Cycling is a lifetime sport, you can do it from age 5 to age 80 and beyond,” Fix said. Cycling is more than just a sport to Fix. “My favorite part of cycling is just being free,” he said. “It’s just a beautiful thing.” that feeling of freedom.”
Cammie Palomino
Bicycle, bicycle, bicycle: Cyclists pedal neck and neck while competing for the USA Pro Cycling Challenge. Tejay Van Garderen is pictured in yellow.
B4 Sept. 18, 2013
Rocky Mountain HIGHLIGHTER
CENTER SPREAD
Sept. 18, 2013
B5
F o r t C o l l i n e s m o R o t d a e l s l road
Al
Fort Collins considered a cycling ‘Mecca’ for many by Aaron YuCenter Editor
In 1978, Queen first sung the lyrics, “Bicycle bicycle bicycle, I want to ride my bicycle bicycle bicycle.” Bicycling was interesting enough for Queen to create a song about it, so how come so few people rode bikes? Seen in a survey by the World Watch Institute in 2001, cycling accounted for only 1 percent of the U.S. population’s main method of travelling. However, in recent times it has become more evident that cycling is becoming a rising trend around the world, especially in Fort Collins. Queen may have been on to something 35 years ago. Seeing bikers is a normal thing in Fort Collins. It’s almost guaranteed that on any given day more than a few cyclists can be seen coasting next to cars on the street. Twelve organizations devoted to cycling are posted on the Fcgov website and there are many more scattered around town. Bicycle Magazine ranked Fort Collins as the eleventh most bicycle friendly town in America. One has to stop and wonder: Why is Fort Collins so popular for cycling? “Primarily, I think it’s because of the terrain and climate,” Martin Ditzel of the Fort Collins Cycling Club said. Fort Collins takes its time to take care of its roads and make paths and lanes specifically for bicycles. Fcgov.com lists that Fort Collins has “relatively flat terrain, 280+ miles of wide bike lanes, and 30+ miles of bike trails that follow both the scenic Poudre River and Spring Creek.” “Fort Collins has really fat roads,” Frank Schwende of Bike Fort Collins said. “The roads are striped to facilitate bicycle lanes and it just takes my heart away.” Along with “fat” roads, the city has many multipurpose trails such as the Spring Creek trail and the Power trail that are well maintained by the Parks and Recreation department. “An hour after snowfall, many roads will be jammed but the multipaths will be clear,” Schwende said. “The Parks and Recreation department are out there really fast getting them clean.”
Why do you ride your bike?
Kayla Brokop
Lock it up: Dozens of students ride and lock up their bikes at Rocky every day.
Every other year, Fort Collins applies with the League of American Bicyclists [LAB] to try and become a ranked bike friendly city. Currently, Fort Collins stands at Platinum ranking which is just below the newly introduced Diamond ranking. Cities are evaluated using the “5 Es” criteria, which include engineering, education, encouragement, enforcement and evaluation. “The LAB has a number of experienced cyclists that know Fort Collins and evaluate the city based on the 5 Es,” Schwende said. “There are only four cities with a Platinum level ranking, and Fort Collins is one of them.” Being an experienced cyclist, Schwende agrees with the criteria regarding his own personal values. “From my personal viewpoint, the infrastructure in Fort Collins is phenomenal,” he said. “It’s unmatched in my experience.” Fort Collins incorporates roads meant for bike lanes and uses induction loops to make it easier for cyclists to get around. When riding a bike, one simply has to position his or her bike above the white bike symbol or a box etched in metal for the loop to pick up their signal and start changing the light. The local culture is also bike friendly as represented by companies such as the New Belgium Brewery which pumps money into local bicycle advocacy groups. “As a mode for recreation or transportation, Fort Collins is certainly a hotspot for cycling,” Schwende said. “It all makes for a lively bicycle scene.”
“Because it’s fun, and I like getting out, being active and going fast.” -Samantha Eckery, Freshman
“My parents won’t drive me.” -Zach Mayer, Sophomore
Adolescents who bike are 48% less likely to be overweight as adults. On a round trip commute of ten miles, bicyclists save ten dollars daily. For every mile pedaled rather than driven, 1 pound of CO2 is saved. The health benefits of cycling weight out the risks by a factor of 20 to one. Studies have shown that homes next to bicycle paths are more valuable. Courtesy of bikesbelong.org
by Aaron YuCenter Editor
“Incredible,” was the word chosen by Rocky alumnus TeJay Van Garderen when asked to describe how it felt to win the USA Pro Cycling Challenge. “I’ve been close the past two years with third and second place,” Van Garderen said. “To finally get it in front of Fort Collins where I graduated high school; it was an amazing feeling.” The USA Pro Cycling Challenge is an annual bike race first introduced in 2011 by Bill Ritter and Lance Armstrong. It consists of seven “stages” where cyclists compete to get the best times to win the race. The 2013 race was in total over 572 miles long and cyclists reached an altitude of 12,000 feet during the mountain stages. Van Garderen started the race on Aug. 19; one week and 572 miles later, he stood triumphantly at the highest spot on the podium and claimed his spot as overall winner of the challenge. “It was amazing,” he said. Van Garderen was introduced to cycling at an early age by his father, who served as a window into the culture behind it. “I grew up watching the Tour de France and him racing,” he said. “that got me interested in it.” He began simply riding his bike in Montana, then started racing at the age of 11. At 12, he competed in the Junior Nationals for the first time, placing well. He continued to go every year until the
age of 16 when he was picked to be part of the national team. “I was brought over to Europe and I was able to experience cycling the way they experience it over there,” Van Garderen said. From there, he describes it not as an easy journey, but as a “gradual progression” into becoming a professional cyclist. He was picked up by many different companies to race for their brand over his stretch in Europe, helping further his reputation and his career. “It was kind of a goal in the back of my mind that I wanted to be a professional bike racer,” he said. “But you’re so wrapped up in the moment that you don’t give yourself time to think about that.” Settling on the BMC cycling team, Van Garderen entered many high profile races such as the Tour de France and the USA Pro Cycling Challenge. After winning the USA Pro Cycling Challenge, many things changed for Van Garderen, but many things stayed the same. “I woke up on Monday morning and everything seemed different,” he said. “I think I’ll get recognized more, but as for everyday activities.. I have a little girl; I still have to change her diaper.” Though his career is furthered by this victory, he remains an average husband and father in his personal life. Unfortunately, he doesn’t get to slip past any of his day to day chores. “When you get back to your normal life, you’re still living a normal life,” Van
Cammie Palomino
Savoring the Moment: Tejay Van Garderen raises his hands triumphantly after winning the Challenge.
Garderen said. “Being a dad and husband pretty much takes up all of my time outside of cycling.” He may now be a star, but Van Garderen recognizes that much like everyone else, he started out as just another person riding a bike. He advises aspiring cyclists to “keep it fun,” never give up and to work hard in the face of seeming impassable challenges. “[Cycling] is a lot of fun, but if you make a small mistake like thinking too far ahead, you can get overwhelmed and discouraged,” he said. “If you keep it fun and light and focus on what’s in front of you and the small details, you can meet a lot of people, make a lot of friends and just have a great time.”
Casual cyclists increase in Fort Collins by Jessi BrokopReporter
“My car’s broken.” -Russell Guinn, Junior
Bicycling is now the second most popular outdoor activity in the united states. People who bike to work have better weight, blood pressure and insulin levels.
Alumnus Tejay Van Garderen wins USA Pro Cycling Challenge
“It’s good for the environment.” -Luana Schwab, Senior
Tejay Van Garderen isn’t the only dedicated cyclist from Fort Collins; there are many others, and the number increases all the time. Jim Pounds is the father of junior Natalie Pounds, senior Anika Pounds, and alumnus, Jeremy Pounds. Jim Pounds has been biking ever since he was five years old, and has gotten futher into biking over the past 15 years. He bikes with his three children and his wife, Bethany. He won second place in a road ride hill climb eight years ago in Rist Canyon, and he has been racing in triathlons and long distance tours, including the Bran Tour across Nebraska. Pounds says his favorite race is the Fort Collins Cycling Festival. Another prevalent cyclist is junior Brannon Fix; he has been biking ever since he was five. Fix mountain bikes, road bikes, cycles in muddy fields and does BMX. In July, he won fifth in nationals for mountain biking in the USA Cycling MTB National Championships in Bear Creek. He says his favorite place to bike is
in Pennsylvania because he believes the countryside is beautiful, and he also enjoys biking around Horsetooth Mountain Park. Many people in Fort Collins, young and old, are into cycling, both for competition and for fun. Pounds believes that Fort Collins is a good place to cycle alone or with friends. “[The] quality of life here is really high, and cycling is a good way to exercise and commute,” he said. There are several trails in Fort Collins, and bike lanes on many of the main streets. One of the longest, Spring Creek trail, extends from West Drake road to the Poudre River and Spring Creek trail, and is 6.93 miles long. “[Cycling] is a good way to meet people and a way to stay fit; I enjoy doing it,” Pounds said. “It’s my favorite part about this city.” Cycling is for all ages. Unlike many sports, cycling can be for any age. “Cycling is a lifetime sport, you can do it from age 5 to age 80 and beyond,” Fix said. Cycling is more than just a sport to Fix. “My favorite part of cycling is just being free,” he said. “It’s just a beautiful thing.” that feeling of freedom.”
Cammie Palomino
Bicycle, bicycle, bicycle: Cyclists pedal neck and neck while competing for the USA Pro Cycling Challenge. Tejay Van Garderen is pictured in yellow.
B6 Sept. 18, 2013
Rocky Mountain HIGHLIGHTER
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Games and Entertainment Student Troubles
Sudoku Challenge
By Kayla Brokop
The objective of the puzzle is to complete the 9x9 grid so that every column, row, and 3x3 grid within the 9x9 grid contains the digits 1 through 9 exactly once. Each puzzle can be solved with pure logic, so guessing should not be necessary.
Difficulty Level Medium
(Puzzle solution posted on bulletin board outside of room 528)
Top Ten
Ways to keep dry in light of the floods:
10. Buy an umbrella. 9. Pull an Adele and set fire to the rain. 8. “Change your socks.” -Lieutenant Dan
7. Go to Lobo 101, that subject is dryyy. 6. Buy a towel factory. 5. Wear latex...lots of it. 4. Build an Ark. 3. Cover yourself in bread. 2. Take back your Rain Dance. 1. Sizzle like Donald Chen. Aaron Yu, Drake Lindstorm, Josh Barrett, Megan Troutman
Movies: The good, the bad, the ugly by Adam Trousilcontributor Recently released: We’re the Millers–A hilarious film that has blown up the box office with its witty humor and stylized acting. Starring Jason Sudeikis and Jennifer Aniston, the film definitely knows how to make you laugh throughout. I definitely recommend. A...solid A Second run: Now You See Me–A crazy movie that will leave you puzzled. The magicians: Jesse Eisenberg, Woody Harrelson, Isla Fisher, and Dave Franco leave you puzzled after each trick. As magicians, they’re great, but as actors, um, not so much. The movie was a good balance of comedy, magic tricks, and a storyline, but didn’t do a spectacular job with it, for the most part: the plot was shaky and the acting was sluggish. I give it a BMost anticipated: Gravity–Oh yeah! This
Adam’s pic picks
movie looks spectacular. With its intense visuals and state of the art special effects, this movie has been one I am looking forward to. A dramatic deep space drama starring Sandra Bullock and George Clooney. After a space station gets hit with a chunk of space debris, the two actors are flung into space, losing contact with their ground control, leaving them with no connection between them and the unknown universe. I hope this movie is revolutionary in the film industry. I hope it’s an A+ Special pick: This Is the End–Hilarious. If you didn’t get a chance to see this movie in theaters, please do. As long as you are all right with ridiculously raunchy comedy, then go ahead and pick it up on DVD. A movie where Hollywood stars play themselves as normal people gives this movie a unique, funny and thrilling vibe. It also stars almost the entire cast of Pineapple Express along with many more celebrities. A Funny A+ from me. Adam Trousil is a senior movie buff who works at the local AMC theater.
Courtesy Warner Bros. Pictures/MCT
Space case: Sandra Bullock and George Clooney, both Academy Award winners, star in the space movie Gravity, which is schedule to be released in early October.
Rocky Mountain HIGHLIGHTER
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Sept. 18, 2013
B7
Simply a Box o’ Books Kayla Brokop
Ready to read: Middle school student Eli Trippet picks out a book for the weekend. Trippet enjoys selecting books for fun.
Anything from Dr. Seuss to 50 Shades of Grey by Kayla Brokopreporter
and Asia. It started in Wisconsin as a non-profit organization with the goal of spreading literature and learning across the world. “The purpose is that it’s a free trade, you take a book, leave a book. If you need a book and you can’t leave one, then it’s ok to just take one,” Murphy said. The Little Free Library has a variety of different books from a multitude of genres. Whatever books get donated to the little free library increases the diversity in both the genres and in the age
groups. Books included may be romantic novels, murder mysteries or enthralling adventures- it all depends on how many people have visited. Books can range from I Can Read books that are geared towards young children, to all types of adult novels, which aim to please an older audience. This is to promote an atmosphere of unity in the
community; everyone from kindergartners to 12th graders, to adults to senior citizens can enjoy the benefit of the little free library. “I think everyone’s enjoying it just being all of ours,” Murphy said. “A lot of times I’ll come by and I’ll see it all rearranged, which I love because it means somebody’s been through it.” Kayla Brokop
The Free Little Library, located in a front yard near Webber Middle School, is a portable neighborhood library system that is open to the public. Pam Murphy, who recently became a resident of Fort Collins, made the unique library possible with help from a city grant. She heard about the idea from a magazine and after mulling over the final details, she decided to make it possible.
“When I moved to Fort Collins and recognized what a nice community it was, and I saw the city grant, I just kind of put two and two together,” Murphy said. “I’m a teacher, so I liked the idea that it was all about books.” There are many free little libraries throughout the country in almost all 50 states as well as across the border in Canada as well as Mexico. Little free libraries have been opened all across the world in parts of Europe, Australia, South America, Africa,
CSU can’t hold up Macklemore and Lewis by Noah Fogelbergreporter
Thousands of screaming fans crowded the gates at CSU’s intramural fields for a spectacular performance by successful hip-hop duo Macklemore and Ryan Lewis on Friday, Aug. 30. Concertgoers began lining up at the main entrance around noon, five hours before the gates were to open. When people were finally let in, it was a mad dash to get the best spots. First to perform was local hip-hop group Wasteland Hop. Although their music was entertaining, they struggled to engage the crowd. Directly after Wasteland Hop was rapper Talib Kweli of Brooklyn. The highlight of his performance was when he told everyone in the crowd to share their weed if they had any, a comment that is sure to resonate with concertgoers in Colorado. After about a half hour of preparation, Ryan Lewis took the stage to a thunderous applause coming from a crowd of 10,000 ticketed fans, and thousands more lining the fences because they couldn’t get tickets. After an excitementbuilding countdown, Macklemore ran onto
Concert review
the stage and began rapping “Crew Cuts,” a song from one of his lesser-known albums, The VS. EP. Directly afterwards was Ten Thousand Hours, a hit from his most recent and successful album, The Heist. At one point, Macklemore had the camera look around the crowd for people wearing crazy costumes. After pointing out some of the more spectacular ones, he eventually found Rocky student Gabe Costanza-Chavez wearing a fur coat. After having the coat passed up to the front, Macklemore put it on and started into his worldwide smash-hit Thrift Shop. This sent the crowd into an absolute frenzy of dancing and singing along. Later, Macklemore performed “Same Love” about same-sex marriage. The entire crowd sang along to the song tinged with raw emotion. It was awe-inspiring to
see thousands of rap fans pointing to the sky in about looking a little bit ridiculous. Unfortunately there was an absolutely unity of love. absurd noise curfew of nine-thirty that forced Next to come was the high-energy hit Macklemore to wrap up the show after per“Can’t Hold Us” that brought everyone runforming a hit off of one of his previous albums, ning to the stage just trying to put a hand on Irish Celebration. Before heading off Macklemore who was attempting stage, the rapper led the to walk around on the crowd. crowd in a few vulgar After the song finished up, chants, before the people were stubborn crowd started their to move back to their own chant, using original places, forcderogatory terms ing everyone to cram insulting CU. too close for comfort. It was out of pure After making a quick luck that CSU was able exit, Macklemore had to book this rapper almost a the crowd chantyear ago before knowing how ing “Encore!” for successful he would become. nearly five minutes It was one of the most incredbefore his alter-ego ible spectacles seeing upwards of Sir Raven Bowie came 10,000 screaming fans cheer on out and performed one of the most successful artists of “And We Danced.” the year in the shadows of our own Dancing seemed to community. be contagious as everyone was jumpMoonmen: Ryan Lewis (left) and ing around and Macklemore (right) hold their Moonmen with pride at the MTV video music having a great awards. The duo won best hip-hop video time, obviously and best video with a social message Dov Peters/PAWire/AbaccaPress/MCT not concerned
What’s in the Limelight?
Rocky Mountain HIGHLIGHTER
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Sept 19: School- Concert: Prima, Singers, Sympohny @ 7:00
LIMELIGHT
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Sept. 18, 2013
Concert- Furthr @ Red Rocks S ept 2 0 : M ovi e Rel eas ePr i s oner s S ept 2 4 : Concer t- Di zzy Wr i ght @ Hod i ’s Hal fnote CD Rel eas eJ as on Der ul o: T attoos CD Rel eas eDr ake: Nothi ng was the Same CD Rel eas eCher : Cl os er to the T r uth
Marching to a Muddy Tune
S ept 2 7 : M ovi e Rel eas eCl oud y wi th a Chance of M eatbal l s 2 M ovi e Rel eas eDon J on
New band director rises to the challenge However, the benefits are not limited to teaching more advanced musicians. “Sixth graders are so . . . needy,” he said. Kenyon Scheurman’s vision is 20/20 with “High school students aren’t nearly as needy.” his contacts in. His vision for the Rocky MuScheurman was introduced to music at an sic Department, however, is much less literal. early age by his mother, both an elementary “My vision is really just to fit in with school music teacher and what’s already haphis piano instructor. His pening, because there older brother and sister are amazing things were both involved in happening,” Scheurband, and though they man said. did not pursue music New to the music through their careers, department, ScheurMusic is just my pasScheurman continues to man moved after follow it every day. sion. It’s always going teaching at Boltz Mid“Music is just my pasdle School for six years. to be a part of my life, sion,” he said. “It’s always Scheurman is excited and this is my chance going to be a part of my to be at the high school to make it my life. life, and this is my chance level with students who to make it my life.” have already learned Kenyan Scheurman, Rocky’s music departthe basics. band director ment has a prestigious “I’m most looking history, fueled by both inforward to working novative staff and devoted with high school musistudents. The music cians and the level they’re at,” Scheurman program was honored with a Grammy that said. “Taking a kid who’s never seen or held signature schools award in the 2010-2011 a clarinet before and comparing them to a school year–one of the highest honors a high student that’s already in their fourth year of school music department can receive. music is different.” by Aaron Yucenter editor
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Currently, the band section is working on a jazz ensemble alongside its usual activities. Scheurman is looking forward to working with the jazz band, and the students involved are equally enthusiastic. “I’m really excited to be working with the jazz group,” he said. “We’ve got a jazz band that’s underway and we’re hoping to expand.” Selyne Tibbits-Pagan, a member of the jazz band, professes that Scheurman is very easy to work with. “Scheurman’s cool,” Tibbits-Pagan said. “He’s pretty laid back; he’s gonna do good things in the music department.” Following music from the start, Scheurman is looking forward to a long and fulfilling career in the Rocky music department. The highlights of the job light the path ahead of him, leaving only enjoyment in its wake. “There’s nothing that I’m dreading,” he said. “I think I know what I’m getting myself into. If I was dreading it, I shouldn’t have been here in the first place.” Certainly, his students aren’t dreading it either. “If Scheurman wasn’t here, I would cry. I would not come to school,” Tibbits-Pagan said. “I would drop out.”
Rocky’s own Mess Team, a Civil War re-enactment group, is starting to make their own history. Run by social studies teacher Kurt Knierim, the group has received many exciting opportunities recently, including being extras on the set of an upcoming movie, which started filming on September 7. After Knierim was originally contacted, he
suggested Lobo Mess to the producers. “I contacted the producer and the director, and they invited us to be a part of it,” Knierim said. Mess has been around for a whopping 11 years, started by Knierim after he raised money to get a second uniform and took a student with him as part of his adult group. Since then, Mess’s popularity has skyrocketed, and the group has over 20 members. “I thought this would
be a great thing for students to get involved in”, Knierim said. In the movie The Soul of Silas, which is due to premiere sometime next year, the troops are going to be filmed and will be multiplied to give the appearance of a full-sized military force. “We did the same thing over and over again,” Knierim said, “we marched, and we shot our guns with blanks and did some green screen work.” Editing actors on a
O ct 1 : M ovi e Rel eas eFr i ght Ni ght 2: New Bl ood O ct 4 : M ovi e Rel eas eG r avi ty O ct 8 : School - Concer t: Summi t, Si n, CB, Cap, Concer t Or chestr a CD Rel eas eM i l ey Cy r us : Banger z Concer t- T hi r ty Second s to M ar s @ Fi l l mnor e Aud i tor i um O ct 1 0 : School - Concer t: Wi nd s , Chamber s , Si nger s , Pr i ma @ 7:00
Mess shoots into fame by Mackenzie Bartzen reporter
S ept 3 0 : CD Rel eas eJ us ti n T i mberl ake: T he 20/20 E xper i ence Par t 2 of 2
O ct 1 1 : M ovi e Rel eas eM achete K i l l s
Courtosy of Kurt Knierim
Ready to fire: Lobo Mess re-enacts a 19th century battle while rehearsing for the film Soul of Silas (above). Mess is preparing to make their film debut sometime next year.
green screen saves time so they don’t have to refilm the troops in different settings, and instead copies the footage into multiple battle scenes. The future looks bright
for the re-enactment group, and who knows what the future may hold? For now, it looks like Mess’s movie involvement could lead to even bigger and better things.
Oct 14: CD Rel eas ePear l Jam: Li ghtni ng Bol t O ct 1 5 : Concer t- John Foger ty @ Fi l lmor e Aud i tor i um