December 2016 by The Rogue News

Issue:III Vol. XI

December 15, 2016

The Systemic Nature of Sexual Assault editorial by Karl Moeglein My brother came home from sixth grade one day last year and started asking why he had people coming into his class to teach him about sex and consent. No kid thinks they are going to grow up to rape and assault. What my brother may not know yet is how quickly it all changes. Suddenly middle school becomes high school and you start hearing things. Sex isn’t just something you learn about in health class, but rather it becomes part of the complex high school experience whether you are participating in it or not. Individual allegations of sexual violence are not new at Ashland High School. The issue is usually addressed by the AHS community with a mix of surface level caring and a desire to move on. This easy response is far too common. No one wants to admit that the problem goes deeper. The hard reality we must all face is that the culture of sexual violence at AHS makes the problem a systemic one that cannot be solved by solely targeting those who commit horrible acts while ignoring the societal issues that create the problem. According to a 2008 study from the University of Michigan in conjunction with Eastern Michigan University, “three out of every four high school girls reported being sexually harassed... [and] over half of high school girls reported being sexually assaulted (53%).” Furthermore, 12%

reported being raped. The effects of these actions extend far past any individual incident. A 2011 survey by the American Association of University Women showed that 12% of students stay home from school at some point and 19% had trouble sleeping because of sexual harassment. The negative impacts are significantly more pronounced for girls. One in 20 harassed girls switch schools in the year after harassment occurs. Any claims that these issues are not present at any high school, including AHS, ignores the data that shows it is always present. We cannot solve this problem until we all acknowledge it is a problem. Rape and sexual assault are driven by culture as much as individual people. Gurvinder Kalra and Dinesh Bhugra writing in the Indian Journal of Psychiatry in 2013 argue that, “sexual violence against women is often a result of unequal power equations both real and perceived between men and women and is also strongly influenced by cultural factors and values.” At high school, the lack of equality of power in relationships is obvious. Boys are the ones who ask girls out, and girls are the ones who have to look a certain way. Rape and sexual assault are explicitly tied to these inequalities. Kalra and Bhugra explain this by saying that our “attitudes toward women, rape, and rapists can predict sexual violence.” This means that our stereotypes about females and

sex are ingrained in society and create future actions. At AHS this plays a significant role in sexual assault. A culture that celebrates hypermasculinity while not equally praising the actions of other groups will always create unbalanced power structures. Allowing any group to possess more influence leads to the potential for abuse. Since Title IX was passed, the portion of the United States Education Amendments of 1972 that deals with gender and sex discrimination, all schools that receive federal funding have to handle sexual assault reports in specific ways, such as conducting a prompt investigation, protecting an alleged victim from retaliation and ensuring their safety. However sexual assault still clearly presents a major problem in the United States’ educational space. Neena Chaudhry, senior counsel at the National Women’s Law Center, told US News & World Report, “the problem in general seems to be that schools aren’t taking appropriate action once they have knowledge of a possible sexual assault.” While rape rates do indicate that sexual assault does increase once students go to college, there has also been an increased fight against sexual assault at universities across the US as compared to high schools. Al Jazeera America in 2014 explained that “at the college level, there have been a slew of Title IX complaints from students who say their rights were violated, and the De-

partment of Education is currently investigating 86 colleges. At the K-12 level, which hasn’t received the same explosion of awareness, just 23 districts are facing federal inquiry for mishandling sexual violence reports.” Perpetrators of sexual assault should be punished, but solving the problem will require a more thorough examination of why sexual assault happens in the first place. When it applies to AHS this comes back to two key areas. The first is education. This is a place where the Ashland School District is above average. This is why my brother began learning about consent well before he will likely need to use it. Each health class taught in Ashland School District secondary schools addresses sexual assault with critical information from experts. The problem in the status quo is that this alone has not solved the problem. The student body of AHS, along with everyone who has influence on us, from teachers to parents, must actively look to fight the culture of sexual assault. We can no longer act after terrible things happen. It is imperative that we preemptively work to deconstruct the societal norms that allow sexual assault to occur cyclically. Until the culture that exists across the United States, throughout the world, and specifically at AHS is attacked, this issue that affects everyone will continue to mar our community.

Protests Erupt Over Sexual Assault Allegations by Lili Smith photos by Colin Timmons

On December 5, 2016, former Ashland High School student Emily Skidmore publicly claimed that her reports of sexual assault by an AHS student were ignored by AHS, the Ashland School Board and Ashland School District. The response from the community was “overwhelming,” Skidmore stated. She was extremely flattered by the support from her peers and the rest of the Rogue Valley. On December 12, AHS students, including Bella Head, the “Got Consent?” campaign founder, planned a peaceful protest on the AHS campus during school hours occupying the Director of Student Services Samuel Bogdanove’s office. “Got Consent?” has been an active group on the AHS campus over the past 2 school years regarding the lack of awareness around sexual assault in the Ashland community. Signs saying “Title IX money but no accountability“ and “sexual assault isn’t a game” accused the Ashland School District of violating Title IX by not responding to Skidmore’s report in a timely fashion.

Bogdanove states, “it is important that every student feels safe at campus; everyone should feel safe reporting things. These are concerns that are everywhere on the planet, but we are here, and what can we do here?” The protest began at 12:10 p.m., and lasted through 3:37 p.m., just past the end of the school day. Approximately 60 students banded together to march and chant through the campus halls after occupying both Bogdanove’s office and the District Office. According to Skidmore “I reported it to Russ [Johnson] (Dean of Students) about a week after [the sexual assault] happened.” Skidmore says she was told by Johnson that he would give the information to Erika Bare, the Principal of AHS. Bare stated she is “confident the school follows all their Title IX obligations.” Bare was supportive of the protest, given that it did not disrupt the school environment. “I would love to work with the folks protesting,” Bare

explained. While the administration cannot comment on specific allegations due to an ongoing investigation into the claims made by Skidmore, Johnson said in a statement that he is “committed to ensuring a safe campus and learning community for all students. Students who report any act of sexual violence will be heard.” He further stated that they “take these reports very seriously.”

Off Into Winter by Dylan Kistler Hooves clip ‘cross Siskiyou

On returning from break

but won’t heed the ring

we’ll share the laughter and tale

To ears of students only

of that cocoa from heaven

does the bell for freedom sing

or our grand baking fail

Quick as salmon flee from thrown stones

You bring something back

all flocking home to stave chill winter’s moans

from the journey on break whether spent lost in snowdrifts or sleeping too late

Apprehensions loom large: Up up on Mt. Ashland - just to fly down and shimmers of lights in windows downtown

So seeing that thoughts seem the craftsmen of action

Delicious dreams will abound

Don’t bustle on by and forget your compassion

fresh crispy cookies and the annual sweets

Should a relative seem to be plain barking mad

hams, fresh latkes, and holiday treats

just give with a smile, show that life’s not all bad Hearts aren’t warmed by mittens and hats but by time spent sharing in long loving chats

Curious – most of us hadn’t once thought

An end to break tells us that time has flown past

of hurrying home

So too for many, this page of life will part fast

to a fridge filled with naught

Before we leave winter, or our quaint nestled town,

It’s a season for hearts

recall we’re each captain, though not the same island bound

to put giving on top

Yet in journeys that split and cross and look lost

Yet in the weeks of our food drive

Know we brave the cold better when together we’re found.

did the thoughts of one student stop?

art by Lily Annen

Caldera Poetry Competition Slams AHS by Ava Hearn Every third Tuesday of the month, local poets of all ages gather at Caldera to share their best original works and participate in the Rogue Poetry Slam, a competition of spoken word poetry. The Rogue Poetry Slam was started by T-Poe Varnado in 2013 and has since gained popularity in the Ashland community. Participants of the slam express their unique styles with poetry themes ranging from classical, rap/rhythmical, social justice to political based poems. Each poem is rated on a 1-10 scale by judges chosen from the audience at the beginning of the slam. There are three rounds, but only the highest scoring poets advance into the finals. The top three finalists take home a cash prize. Though the poetry slam attracts a scene predominantly of SOU students and adults in their twenties and thirties, it has recently gained popularity at Ashland High School (AHS), especially with the addition of the Spoken Word club on campus. “We want to cultivate more of a culture with spoken word poetry and give students a place where they can share their own voice in a really passionate way,” says co-president of the Spoken Word Poetry Club Hannah Hackett, expressing her goals for the club. “Slam poetry is a really positive way to create social change, and right now, with so many political changes and riffs in our country and around the world, poetry is a great way to get a message out in a really beautiful and articulate way,” says Sienna Ross, co-president of the club. “We live in an awesome area where there are so many opportunities to share your art.” The Spoken Word Poetry Club meets every Tuesday in room 209 to write, watch spoken word poetry videos and share their works. Eventually, they hope to create a strong team to compete in local slam events, such as the Rogue Po-

etry Slam. Some AHS students have already taken their work to the community. AHS student, Alex Brehmer, competed in the Rogue Poetry Slam back in November. “I came in to the poetry slam with one poem that was not memorized, when I got on stage I completely forgot my first poem, I started shaking I was so nervous,” says Alex, recounting her experience, “I just improvised and said ‘I hate winter’ over and over again and the people loved it”. Alex placed third overall, and won $35. “If you are ever going to do something that could potentially give you money, you should just do it, even if you don’t know what you’re doing.” Alex plans to compete in the next Caldera Poetry Slam as well. Spoken word poetry is a wonderful way to express yourself in a creative way and appreciate the creative expression of others. T-Poe, the founder of the Rogue Poetry Slam, invites AHS students to attend the next poetry slam on December 20 at Caldera. T-Poe encourages people to compete in the slam regardless of their experience level. As he says, “the point is not in the points, it’s in the poetry.”

Over this past year, there have been multiple highs and lows. From losing American singer Prince, to intense political debates, and the Cubs world series victory. There have been many forgotten events, so here is a recap of the good and bad of 2016.

by Mumi Thiaw and Sophia Wiencek January Most people will remember when the World Health Organization reported an outbreak of the Zika virus this month, when Steve Harvey announced the wrong Ms. Universe (resulting in numerous memes), and the deaths of both Alan Rickman and David Bowie. But it might have been forgotten that Rihanna released her new and anticipated album, Anti, and the #OscarsSoWhite social media movement exploded as a result of only white actors and actresses winning awards at the 2016 Oscars. March In this month, Whoopi Goldberg launched a medical marijuana line for menstrual cramps. Meanwhile, word spread that the seven families affected by the water contamination in Flint, Michigan filed a classaction lawsuit alleging gross negligence on the part of Governor Rick Snyder.

May

Chance the Rapper released Coloring Book and kicked off his Magnificent World Tour. Next, Harambe, a silverback gorilla at the Cincinnati Zoo, was shot and killed after a 3-year-old child climbed into its enclosure, sparking a national conversation and more than a few memes.

July

This was a very productive month for science and technology. On the 4th, NASA’s “Juno” spacecraft entered orbit around Jupiter and began a 20-month survey of the planet. Later in the month, “Solar Impulse 2” became the first solar-powered aircraft to circumnavigate the Earth. The shooting of Philando Castile was streamed on Facebook by his girlfriend, leaving a nation in shock at the truth of police brutality. More scandal emerged when Melania Trump was accused of plagiarizing a Michelle Obama speech.

September The U.S. and China acknowledged that together they are responsible for 40% of the world’s carbon emissions and ratified the Paris Agreement on global climate. NASA then launched OSIRIS-REx, its first asteroid sample return mission. The probe will visit Mars and is expected to return with samples in 2023. Hurricane Matthew hit Florida in the last few days of the month.

November On November 2, the Chicago Cubs won the World Series for the first time in 108 years, ending the longest championship drought in American sports. Five days later, Donald Trump won the presidential election.

February NASA confirmed that our planet’s average temperature has reached an all-time high.

April The country was brought to tears by the death of Prince. Later, Beyoncé dropped Lemonade, her sixth number one album, with an accompanying short film, and kicked off her Formation tour. Towards the end of the month, it was announced that Harriet Tubman would be replacing Andrew Jackson on the $20 bill.

June Even though this month marked the beginning of summer break, the world was having a hard time. On June 23, the United Kingdom voted in a referendum to leave the European Union, which had a drastic effect on their economy. Additionally, Muhammad Ali died at age 74, and the nation grieved over the worst shooting in modern U.S. history when a gunman killed 49 people in an Orlando nightclub.

August The 2016 Summer Olympics were held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Here, three black women made history: Simone Biles won a Gold medal for the individual vault, Simone Manuel for swimming, and Michelle Carter for shot put. Later, Frank Ocean released Blonde. Controversy was then sparked when San Fransisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick took a knee during the National Anthem to protest the unjust treatment of blacks and other people of color in the U.S.

October Bob Dylan made history as the first singer/ songwriter to win the Nobel Prize in Literature, forever redefining literature.

December J. Cole kicked off the month with his new album. Later, A Tribe Called Quest followed suit by releasing their first album in nearly 2 decades. Now it can hardly be predicted what the rest of this last month will bring, but hopefully there will be snow and a whole lot of appreciation for the many memories made. art by Mumi Thiaw

Traction for Ashland Youth Climate Action by Bella Mannaray

Climate change is a unique global issue whose impacts are unparalleled, both in magnitude and ubiquity. It requires action at the international, national, regional and local level. Climate change is a paramount issue to Oregonians, and its importance can be seen through legislative achievements. The Oregon Legislature recently passed a bill that will end the use of coal power and require the state’s energy mix to be 50% renewable by 2040. Furthermore, an Oregon-based nonprofit representing 21 youth plaintiffs is successfully suing the federal government for knowingly perpetuating climate change. In our community, there is one group that deserves particular recognition for proactively addressing this issue. Ashland Youth Climate Action (AYCA) is a group composed primarily of Ashland High School students who are working to address climate change. Last year, Hannah Sohl, the director of Rogue Climate (and a former AHS student) reached out to former AHS student Sarah Lasoff and current AHS student Isaac Bevers with the intention of forming a youth group focused on climate issues. Sohl, Lassoff, Bevers, SOU student Vivian Toll and AHS student Zander Huston started meeting regularly and recruiting members. Bevers stated that he was drawn to climate action from a philosophical perspective: “I was interested in well-being and what that means as a construct. I think it should be our highest value, and I see climate change as the biggest threat to wellbeing we are now facing.” Over the past year, AYCA has been working on an ordinance that corresponds with the City of Ashland’s Climate and Energy Plan. In 2015, Ashland’s City Council created an ad hoc committee, an advisory committee composed of community members and a City Council member, to develop a Climate and Energy Action Plan (CEAP) in collaboration

Isaac Bevers. photo by Zelda Baldwin

Carson Barry. photo by Zelda Baldwin

with a third party consultant. The plan is intended to reduce Ashland’s greenhouse gas emissions and help the city adapt to the local impacts of climate change. However, members of AYCA felt the plan lacked an important element: accountability. Inspired by the work of Our Children’s Trust, AYCA decided to push for an ordinance that makes the plan legally binding, thus making the city responsible for implementing the CEAP. The group’s primary objectives for the ordinance are ensuring that Ashland’s climate targets are socially equitable, beneficial to the local economy and scientifically based.

City Attorney, and the plan is being fine-tuned by the ad hoc committee before being submitted to the City of Ashland. AYCA members Nikolas Lindauer, Carson Barry and Bevers believe that the ordinance has a strong chance of passing. For the plan and the ordinance to be adopted, they must have the support of 4 out of 6 City Council members in 2 separate meetings. Voting on the plan will take place on February 7, and the ordinance will likely be voted on in early March. In order to gain support for the ordinance, AYCA members are giving testimony in City Council meetings, talking to City staff and speaking through Bevers and Claire Pryor, 2 representatives on the ad hoc committee, acting as what Lindauer called “lobbyist[s] without money.” Climate change is connected to all lives in some way. There are a variety of local events students can get involved in to pursue action on climate change, such as the Sustainability Club, where AYCA workshops, discussions and other activities are happening every Friday in room SC-2. Through local involvement, like efforts made by AYCA, the community can work to address these issues in a way that will inspire other communities to do the same.

“ ... I see climate change as the biggest threat to well-being we are now facing.” - Isaac Bevers If the ordinance is passed and the city’s implementation of the CEAP does not attain its goals, the city will be required to publicly explain why the goals were not achieved and revise their actions to ensure that the targets are accomplished. Furthermore, if the city fails to uphold these standards, citizens have legal ground to sue. Currently, the ordinance is under review by the

Finding Inner Peas in Grizz Garden by Nicole Mullen

photo by Zelda Baldwin

Raised beds holding drought-tolerant Sedum and vibrant Zinnia flowers in the Grizz Salad Garden.

Sparkling in the afternoon light, water droplets cling to the foggy plastic that encases a raised bed in the Grizz Salad Garden. Sheltered under the opaque covering, vibrant stalks of leafy greens like arugula and lettuce thrive even as the weather begins to cool. The Grizz Garden on Morse Street and the Grizz Salad Garden behind the science building, run and tended to for almost five years by Jim Hartman and the Urban Ecology classes, is an often unrecognized gem on the Ashland High School campus. The garden produces vegetables for the school cafeteria and provides learning opportunities all year round. Grizz Garden, as part of the Urban Ecology science curriculum, offers a unique opportunity to spend time outdoors, foster responsibility, and apply

scientific learning. Hartman makes an effort to allow students to spend as much time outside as possible, a welcome goal for many who desire a more handson, connected learning experience. Reed Sorenson, an alternative education teacher at Ashland High School, describes interacting with nature as an “essential component to the ‘human experience,’” and the Grizz Garden provides a place on campus to do just that. Throughout the different growing seasons, many students develop a relationship with and take pride in their plot of land. “It is just a miracle to see things growing and changing over time,” notes Hartman. The garden receives support mainly from the Jackson County Master Gardener Association. The garden is also a model for the way we pro-

cure and consume food. This year alone, The Grizz Garden provided almost 200 lbs. of fresh produce for the high school cafeteria. The Grizz Garden then uses fruit and vegetable scraps from the cafeteria kitchen, as well as the food waste placed in the compost buckets on the quad, to reduce waste and provide fresh, nutritious compost to supplement the soil in the next growing season. Students in Urban Ecology learn about soil chemical composition, how to utilize small spaces in growing food and how to create a sustainable food source. Growing one’s own food is an environmentally conscious way to consume. Eating local produce reduces food transport and storage costs, while keeping the consumer informed on the origin of their food. According to Climate Care, an international organization, buying local, organically sourced food is one of the most effective ways to reduce one’s carbon footprint. Students are playing their part by providing fresh, healthy food to be consumed only a few feet away.

“It is just a miracle to see things growing and changing over time.” - Jim Hartman Creating and maintaining a garden takes work, knowledge, effort and skill. In the chaotic, stressful and automated world we live in, it can be refreshing and invigorating to spend time outside growing things in the dirt. It is rewarding to nurture a seedling from seed to harvest and to literally reap the rewards of the effort. The Grizz Garden offers a unique opportunity to experience the outdoors and learn about important environmental issues that affect the community today. The garden is an important tool to foster understanding of the natural world, instill pride in the earth and encourage environmental stewardship for generations to come.

The Maslow Project by Gemma Coster A symbol can be used as a metaphor in literature, can represent a person, and can even unite a nation. Abraham Maslow’s pyramid of hierarchical needs from “A Theory of Human Motivation” has been transformed into a blue triangle to represent the Maslow Project, a local non-profit organization working with homeless youth and their families. They partner with school districts in the Jackson and Josephine Counties in Oregon. The main headquarters are located in Medford, with varying distribution centers in the surrounding area. Cheyenne Nichols, a case manager for the Maslow Project, explains that their purpose is “to help reduce barriers so that kids have equal opportunities to be successful in school.” Along with a multitude of community volunteers, each school district is assigned a case manager that represents the Maslow Project, or “mini Maslow’s” within each district. Nichols, who is responsible for the Ashland School District, says she wants to be “a person to talk to and check in with” and wishes to “help facilitate empowerment and change in students.” Officially launched by May Ferrell in 2009, the program has garnered national attention from the New York Times, BBC News, and 20/20.

photo by Henry Cook

The program involves connecting with homeless adolescents and their families in a variety of ways, including providing basic needs like food, clothing, school supplies, hygiene products and more. Simultaneously, services such as job search, and art therapy are provided. These projects not only give students the support to succeed in school but also in their personal and career lives. Maslow workers and volunteers strongly emphasize the importance of giving someone a hand-up instead of a hand-out. The difference lies in helping someone empower themselves rather than relying on people to care for

them. Currently, about one in ten youth are homeless with approximately 2,000 homeless students in the Jackson County area. This includes kids who are couch surfing, living in a car or trailer, on the streets, to those in an unsafe or dangerous situations. With no permanent home, regular meals or the basic necessities of life, many of them do not take for granted anyone willing to help them succeed. Maslow sees the everyday struggles that are facing students, especially ones who do not have the privilege of eating healthy meals or obtaining adequate clothing and frequent showers. From delivering 7,700 meals to hungry kids, to distributing 72,000 supply items, the outreach process is doing its best to expand as the need does. Nichols loves “to feel like she’s making a difference,” and as a result continues her work at Maslow. “Everyone deserves help and support from one another, [and] I want to be part of that process.” This attitude is what drives many of Maslow’s workers and employees, thus showing the heart of the program. Maslow’s blue triangle symbolizes improvement and hope for the youth in our community facing immense challenges.

AHAA and The Winter Fine Arts Festival by Nicole Sagal The Winter Fine Arts Festival (WFAF) is a community event that happens every December to raise money for the school’s arts department. WFAF is the main fundraising event for the Ashland High Arts Advocates (AHAA). AHAA then uses this money to fund scholarships for art students and grants for all of Ashland High School’s (AHS) art classes. “Teachers have used [the money] to help a student purchase all or a part of a costume or materials needed for their art, to pay for repair of an instrument, help a student with a private lesson, bring a master teacher into their classroom for their students and so much more,” says AHAA’s former president Paul Finwall. AHAA is an organization comprised entirely of volunteers. The current president is the recently installed John Williams; taking over afterFinwall’s 7-year service Finwald is the parent of two former Ashland High students and got involved because of his love of the arts. He says, “My entire working career I was as an architect. I chose a profession where the arts drove so much of what I did. In part, my involvement was a payback to a terrific community who are renowned for their love and support of the arts.” According to Finwall, the secret to putting on a successful festival lies with “giving Ashand High School’s Fine Arts programs a chance to exhibit their work, giving our theater and performing arts classes a venue to perform for their peers and parents and pulling together and putting on the silent auction fundraiser.” The purpose of AHAA is to encourage art education in Ashland. Last year, through the silent auction and WFAF tick-

Art supplies like these fuel students’ creativity.

ets, AHAA raised approximately $10,000. However, the best part of the program, says Finwall, is “the joy that I see in our students in what they’ve learned-

photo by Henry Cook

their accomplishments in their individual craft and their performances. Ashland has an amazing group of arts teachers and so many talented students.”

Sweden: Saint Luc Also known as Saint L Day, St. Luciaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Day is ish festival of light cele on December 13. It wa to honor the early Chr martyr, St. Lucia, who food to Christians in t era, and is celebrated f light and hope into the Many Scandinavian to parade with an elected representative and the of the town. The comm observes the holiday w girls of the house, ofte dressing up in white d a red sash and candle wreaths. They serve co special pastries while s

United States: Kwanzaa On December 26, many African Americans will begin the week-long celebration of Kwanzaa. The holiday was created in 1966 by Dr. Maulana Karenga. After the violence during the Watts Riots, Karenga wanted to find a way to bring African Americans together. He went on to develop a holiday based on fruit harvest traditions of Africa, and created the Nguzo Saba, or the seven principles. In many African American homes, the seven principles are represented by seven candles on a candleholder called a Kinara; one is lit each night of Kwanzaa. Celebrations of Kwanzaa often include dancing, music, storytelling and an African style feast on December 31. In all the ways it is celebrated, Kwanzaa is about family and connection. Heri za Kwanzaa or Happy Kwanzaa!

Mexico: Las Posadas Lasting from December 16 to December 24, Las Posadas is a nine day festival celebrated in Mexico. Families go to parades called processions, which happen every night during the holiday. Children dressed as Joseph and Mary sing songs and reenact the Holy Pilgrimage of the couple and the baby Jesus to Bethlehem. The nine days represent the nine months Mary carried Jesus in her womb leading up to Christmas Eve.

Algeria: Mawlid Mawlid is the Islamic holiday honoring the birth of their prophet Muhammad. It occurs on the twelfth day of the third month on the Islamic calendar. This year it falls on December 11. The holiday is celebrated in many Islamic countries, like the North African country, Algeria. In Algeria, Mawlid is a national public holiday and is often celebrated with grand events. Streets, houses, cars and buses are decorated in honor of the day. Parades are held, and long holy sermons are given on the teachings of Muhammad.

Brazil: Carnival The Carnival of Brazil is an annual festival held 51 days before Easter. This celebration is known for its dancing, costumes, and drinking. An official parade is hosted where twelve different teams of samba schools (dance schools) compete to see who displays the best parade. To many people around the world, the main attraction of the carnival are the street bands (or blocos de carnival). These street bands often play themed samba songs that usually contain humorous lyrics and people dressed in elaborate costumes dance in the streets, jumping from parade to parade throughout the cities and towns of Brazil.

Art by Ellie Carter

by Jade Bromley and Aaron Yan

cia’s Day Lucy’s a Swedebrated as created ristian era o brought the third for bringing e dark time. owns have a d St. Lucia e children mon home with the en the eldest, dresses with lit head offee and singing.

Russia: New Year’s Eve The New Year is one of Russia’s most important family holidays, even ahead of their traditional orthodox Christmas. It is also very similar to the American Christmas. On December 31, New Year’s Eve, Ded Moroz, a figure similar to Santa Claus, delivers presents with his granddaughter, Snegurochka, to the children of Russia, and a large meal is eaten. They also decorate a tree, like western cultures, except it is for the New Year celebrations. New Year’s Day is a national holiday and is often spent with friends or out on the town, especially among young people. Happy New Year, or S Novim Godom!

Israel: Hannukkah Hanukkah is the Jewish festival of light, lasting eight days. This year it will begin on December 24 and end on January 1. The holiday commemorates the triumph of the Jews over the Greeks in Israel and the oil that miraculously burned for eight days in the holy menorah. Now Jewish families light one candle each night for eight nights, until all of the candles of the menorah burn together. It is traditional to eat foods fried in oil, including latkes (potato pancakes) and sufganiot (doughnuts). Along with food and the lighting of the menorah, children play spin the dreidel and receive gifts.

India: Diwali Diwali is one of the biggest festivals for Hindus, and is celebrated in autumn for five days. This holiday signifies the victory of good over evil. Celebrators clean and brighten their houses with decorations before collectively placing millions of oil lamps and other bright lights on rooftops, windows, around temples and on other buildings. People then dress themselves up in festive Indian attire. After setting up all the lights, families participate in poojas (prayers) and burst firecrackers. This festival is a time to reconnect with friends and family and enjoy the vibrant Indian culture.

China: New Year Chinese New Year is one of China’s most important holidays, signifying the new year in the traditional Chinese calendar. The celebration starts on New Year’s Eve and lasts through the middle of January. People typically clean their houses and decorate their homes with red posters of poetic verses and lanterns that symbolize a prosperous year for the ones who hang them. Fireworks and firecrackers are set off to drive away evil spirits and bring ones that are considered lucky. It is also an occasion for family members to reunite and eat together. Businesses will typically give their employees a week off to celebrate. During the parades, people dress up as dragons and lions that dance on the streets, as they are considered creatures that bring good luck.

Vietnam: Christmas Christmas is one the four main annual religious festivals in Vietnam. Christmas Eve, however, is considered more important than Christmas day. The Vietnamese people celebrate Christmas Eve by gathering in Christmas mass, taking pictures, and exploring the cities. Christian churches usually set up a scene portraying the birth of Christ, with life sized statues of animals and other large effigies. Although few Vietnamese are Christians, many still like to go into town and watch the Nativity plays and listen to Christmas music. Families gather together, pray for blessings and practice in the holiday spirit of giving and sharing.

Random Student Features Callysta Welch: Working for Balance by Ayla Prusko Senior year is full of big life decisions and major preparation for the future. With the possibility of college and living on your own for the first time just months away, there is a lot of uncertainty involved. For senior Callysta Welch, this is certainly true; “I think I’m going to go to RCC and stay here and get college kind of out of the way and figure out what I want to do from there.” Welch says about her plans for the future “I might go somewhere else after [college].” While she doesn’t have a specific place in mind, Welch also says she wants to travel at some point in her life stating that it is “a really amazing thing to experience especially while you’re young because you have the time to.” Welch doesn’t want to be too overwhelmed by attempting to travel and be a student at the same time. While Welch is still uncertain about what she wants to pursue, she currently works at Little Rascals Daycare in Medford. From 2:30 to 6:30 she looks after kids who start out as infants and go up to 6 years old. Welch started at Little Rascals at the end of the 2015-2016 school year and plans on working through the upcoming summer. She knew about Little Rascals because

of her little brother having attended the school as a baby. Having that personal connection with the owner made it a bit easier to get hired. Welch says that she likes looking after kids but wants to pursue something different later in life. With such a busy work schedule, it’s hard to balance school and work while still getting enough rest. In the morning she has an everyday in order to get enough rest and have enough energy for the rest of the day. She then has an out at the end of every day in order to work. Welch finds herself working to balance school and work every day.

photo by Jackson McRae

Jojo on that Beat by Uma McGuire Ashland High School (AHS) students have a plethora of interests and activities. Every year we get to welcome a new class of wonderful people into Ashland High’s community and this year, one of the freshmen is Joseph Hamer, known by his friends and family as Jojo, because as he said, “Joseph is too formal, I’m not very formal.” New to the Ashland school system but used to the area, Jojo is involved in many activities, including playing percussion in Band. On his downtime he is fond of listening to rap music, specifically Logic, and going on adventures with his friends. Just like many students at AHS, Jojo has had the opportunity to see what the great outdoors has to offer. From a young age Jojo has gone camping almost every summer in the forest and on California beaches for long periods of time. During these trips Jojo has learned to ride the waves and has crashed into many adventures himself. On one occasion, at the age of 10, he found himself far out in the ocean; so far that he couldn’t see the shore. Then next to his surfboard a pod of 7 dolphins poked their heads

out of the water for a good few seconds before swimming away. Although for only a few moments Jojo remembers “freaking out a little” before he was able to surf back to shore. Apart from spotting dolphins, Jojo has also run into more dangerous ocean creatures. He was snorkeling through the deep kelp when he spotted a huge stingray hovering below the surface. Jojo recalls, “I saw it, and swam straight up, I was so scared.” Jojo expressed that a large part of his curiosity with ocean comes from his dad who shares the same passion. Jojo is looking forward to spending the next 4 years here at the AHS and will continue spreading positivity. Although he hasn’t gone camping recently, he is ready to go on more explorations including this winter on Mt. Ashland where Hamer is excited to snowboard.

photo by Zelda Baldwin

Design Board

Editors-in-Chief.....................................Lili Smith, Karl Moeglein, Lucas Searcy, Frankie Mora, Zaida LaRose, Maisie Roberson Front............................................Gabby Ogier, Taylor Hanks Winter Carol.............................................................Lily Annen 2016 Recap....................................................Sophia Wiencek Climate Change.......................................................Raisa Rich Maslow........................................................................Kiara Hills In-Depth...................................................................Ellie Carter Student Features............................................Madison Fung Guest Writer...................................................Lillian Witnauer Teacher/Foriegn Exchange............................Gabby Ogier Games......................................Sequoia Snogren-McGinnis Gift Ideas..............................................................Garrick Kosct

Guest Writer: A Flower Named Zahra by Zahra Detweiler Zahra Detweiler participates in Ashland High School’s (AHS) SKILLS classroom, but this year she is also in my Creative Writing class. Zahra loves writing, and she’s a hard worker. She’s great with words. She loves to read. I am most inspired by Zahra’s love of life, and the way she recognizes patterns in the stories that we tell and the lives that we lead. I am thrilled that Zahra wanted to share her story with a wider audience, because I think it’s so important for everyone to remember, on a daily basis, what a gift it is to be alive in this world. Zahra reminds me that seeing ourselves as beautiful is truly empowering. - AHS Teacher, Nikki Thommen I really love all three of my brothers. Alex’s real name is Alexander, and Greg’s real name is Louis. Alex just goes by his shorter name. Same with Greg. But Dylan’s is just Dylan. Mine is Zahra Joanne Zoodlebug Detweiler Princess Beautiful Flower the First. But to shorten my long name, it’s Zahra Beautiful Lily Flower. Or just Zahra. But it’s also the name of the girl who lived. I was the one who survived the heart surgery death. That’s how I got the scar from Dr. Walker and Dr. Barnes. I have that in common with Harry Potter, only Harry Potter got his scar from a villain and I got mine from Dr. Barnes. Dr. Barnes saved me. I was only nine months old when I had the surgery. A baby’s heart might be so small – I think it might be hard to operate on a heart that small. My mom said it was a hard surgery. She even told me that I scared them a little because my body wasn’t working right. The hospital were Dr. Barnes did my surgery is on the corner of Curtis and Emerald, in Boise Idaho. It’s not only that they are good doctors, they are the heroes who saved my life. That’s what Linda and Richard, my mom and dad, are grateful about. Their minds were saying, “You saved our daughter’s life! We are eternally grateful.” I was home safe and protected by my family. The first thing that I remember about my life is

photo by Zelda Baldwin

my brother Greg holding me, and the second thing that I remember is my dad holding me, and also being fed with a baby bottle. My dad would always smile at me, saying that I was so adorable to him. I still remember the compliment he gave me: he said, “You are CUTE!” I look a lot like my dad – I have his eyes, his peachy-tan skin, his face a little bit, his lips, and his hair, but in a girl’s version. When I came home from the hospital, my brothers got excited. They got to meet their new baby sister. They were like saying, “Awww, she’s adorable. We always, always, always wanted a sister. What is her name? What are we going to call her?”

It was a good question. They thought about it. My dad’s first suggestion was the name Ruby for my middle name, but that name made my mom think of her mom, and my dad, even my brothers decided that my name should be a name that means beautiful flower, or beautiful lily flower. My brothers read a book and saw the title. The title of the book was Zahra’s Search. My dad said, “That’s a beautiful name. Her name should be Zahra. Zahra Joanne Detweiler. Perfectly beautiful. Hey Zahra, like your new name?” My dad tells me that my birthday is his favorite holiday – even more than Thanksgiving. It was special to him. I have my father’s eyes, and I also have the beauty of a flower. I want my story in the newspaper because I think it’s wonderful for people to think about. So that they understand their thoughts about me. I want them to know how wonderful I am. The best part about me is that I am alive. It is wonderful to be alive, and it is wonderful to be healthy. My favorite things to do are being with my family and watching Harry Potter and being with my dog Misty and singing. I love to sing. My favorite song is “Let It Go.” One thing that people might think about me when they first meet me is, I would say, they would think about how beautiful I am. I think I am a very nice person. I help people. I think maybe I learned that from Dr. Barnes!

Saved by the Bell by Ivy Amann The year of 2016 has brought many changes, including a new bell schedule for Ashland High School. Its purpose is to strike a balance between life in and outside of school, put emphasis on and create time for the indivual needs of each grade, and allow students to create a present and post-high school plan. Rogue News was curious about the effect of the new schedule and set out to compile perspectives from teachers and students of all grades. Senior Seminar is a new class for seniors intended to combine economics and career-ed. As a replacementfor last year’s Advisory, it provides assistance to seniors in their post-high school plans. “It is a new idea where to some degree we are creating some of the curriculum as we go with some basic intentions in mind,” explains Senior Seminar teacher, Jackie Case. “This year is challenging because there is a lot of repeat,” adds Case. She notices some seniors walking into the class with a lack of seriousness because they feel they have already completed advisory and mock-interview processes last year. Case acknowledges the pressure of time that seniors have with them this year but encourages the seniors to take advantage of the opportunity in front of them. The main goal of the class is to “prepare them to make smart choices and to think things through, as well as take time to do the work and do the research and to be clear on what it is they want and what it is they are capable of doing,” Case states. Math teacher Marissa Watson acknowledges that “there are pros and cons with the new schedule...I

like that it is the same every day. I like having lunch at a consistent time. I like the early release Wednesday as compared to a late start,” expresses Watson. She continues to say that having two prep periods is very helpful and she feels that she gets more work done at school. Many teachers agree that starting 30 minutes later than last year’s start helps with preparing for the day and allows kids to come in before school to get assistance or make-up work. Watson misses having a close relationship with her senior advisory students from last year but thinks that the new schedule is overall beneficial to teachers. Tim Duryea is teaching both Grizz Academy and Senior Seminar classes this year. He believes that helping freshman get an idea of their interests and helping them incorporate those ideas into their high school planning is what Grizz Academy is all about. During the interview, students worked with online programs to design and create buildings. The handson learning allows freshmen to take charge of what they want to do and how they are going to get there. Grizz Academy also focuses on dedicating time to work on homework and get help from teachers, as well as make-up missed classes, labs, and work. From freshman perspectives, the class is beneficial to their time management, for planning how to get the most out of their high school years and to achieve their hopes and dreams. Sophomores and juniors have mixed opinions about the new schedule. Many attitudes are shared, such as not liking the random times and the shorter

passing periods and lunches. A very popular belief is that the lunch should be longer. Anyone traveling off-campus for lunch feels rushed to get back in time and barely has enough time to eat. The biggest complaint may be the accessibility for athletes. If a test or any work is missed for games or travel, the only time to make up that missed work is to come in before or after school, during the 30 minutes of community, or during one’s out period. The required out and an opportunity to take more classes is a generally appreciated addition to the schedule. The limited time for the Student Tutor Center and the curriculum of Community are both disfavored by most students. Some juniors voiced that they would like to have more time preparing for senior year and making sure they have all the credits and resources they need to be successful inside and outside of high school. Overall, it appears more cons, than pros, are vocalized by the sophomore and junior classes. There are many differing opinions from students and staff about the new 2016-17 bell schedule. Although there is more focus on the needs of each class, many dislike the random times and the shorter lunch. “I don’t think there is an ideal schedule,” Watson acknowledges when asked to describe her perfect schedule. “You’re never going to please everyone.” As the schedule continues onto the next school year, the curriculum will become more narrowed and beneficial towards all students and staff. art by Kip Parowski

Foreign Exchange Traditions by Colin Timmons

photo by Zelda Baldwin

Felix Knowlton

(Denmark) Felix Knowlton and his family celebrate Christmas, a popular holiday worldwide, by having a huge meal. Leading up to the main day of celebration, they have advent calendars, like many families do in Americans, though theirs tend to be larger. Denmark celebrates Christmas on Christmas Eve, though Knowlton and his family begin on December 23 so they can celebrate with both sides of the family. On Christmas Eve, Knowlton’s family has an old tradition of holding hands and dancing around the tree. On New Year’s Eve, they shoot off fireworks in the streets and throw parties. Families in Denmark also gather around the TV to watch the Queen’s speech. Traditionally, Danes jump off a chair as the clock strikes midnight, so they are literally jumping into the new year.

Alexander Hakim Pries

(Germany) Hakim Pries and his family celebrate Christmas and open presents on December 24. On the 25th, they have a Thanksgiving style meal. At the end of Ramadan, Pries and his family butcher a goat as a long standing tradition in Muslim culture. Pries says, “you can eat the goat. Nobody ever does, but you can if you want to.” Germany’s New Years on the other hand, is very similar to the United States. For example, the German people do a similar countdown to the one that takes place in New York, but of course it is in Berlin.

photo by Zelda Baldwin

Nacho Rivera

(Spain) Holidays are a very special and unique time of the year and are able to pull people together. Nacho Rivera is here in Ashland on one of the Rotary Foreign Exchange programs from Spain. Spain has a few traditions that are different from holidays here in America. For instance, their holiday break is a little longer than at AHS, with a 3-week break. Rivera and his family celebrate Christmas as their main holiday. As a tradition, they go boating and surfing as a family. On Christmas Eve, they sit down around the dinner table and eat a lot of soup filled with various seafood. New Year’s is celebrated in a similar way to America, but instead of counting down to New Year’s, they have church bells ring for ten seconds and on each ring they eat a grape.

Teacher Traditions by Liv West & Madison Woodard

photo from Rogue News’ Archive

photo by Zelda Baldwin

Betsy Bishop

Karl Kemper

Peter Bolling

When Betsy Bishop was young, her family went to a farm every year to watch a farmer cut down a Christmas tree for them. She spoke of times when her family would sit around together drinking hot cocoa, and her grandfather sang them old songs from Ireland. The family would also go to midnight mass together, not returning home until 2 in the morning. When they arrived home, her mother made egg dishes. On the eve of Christmas, Bishop’s family would decorate the Christmas tree, finishing the day with a group prayer. Then Christmas day finally came, and Bishop and her siblings were required to perform for the adults. One Christmas, her family recorded her father and grandfather singing together using a tape recorder. Bishop’s favorite Christmas movie is The Christmas Shoes, which was screen written by her husband.

Kemper’s favorite childhood holiday tradition was Christmas caroling with his cousins, and his favorite song to sing is Rudolf the Red Nosed Reindeer. When Kemper was a kid, his grandmother from Italy would make dough, twist it into the shape of a pretzel, and bake honey into it. They called this Italian delicacy scallilis (skuh-lilees). Kemper’s favorite things about the holidays are sleeping in, slowing down, and spending time with his family. Kemper’s favorite Christmas movie is a tie between Christmas Vacation and A Christmas Story. Watching these Christmas movies is a tradition he has with his family. For the holidays this year, all Kemper wants is for his children to get along.

Picture a small town enclosed by mountains, much like Ashland, knee-deep in snow. This is how Ketchikan, Alaska looked during the holidays of Peter Bolling’s childhood. During the last days of December, the streets would be closed off to cars, which provided a safe sledding space for the children. Bolling and his friends would join numerous kids downtown to toboggan down hills while their parents did the holiday shopping. A more personal memory from Bolling’s holidays is that his parents would leave stockings full of goodies at the foot of the kids’ beds during Christmas. Bolling’s parents continued this tradition with their grandchildren, who are now adults. This year, Bolling will be spending the holidays with his kids, one of whom is traveling from Morocco to be home for the holidays.

252 E. Main St. • Ashland (541) 482-7383

by Henry Cook A

3. passing down customs or beliefs from generation to generation (9 letters)

4. many people gather to walk in this (6 letters)

9. do you want to build aâ&#x20AC;Ś (7 letters)

10. unscramble the words: wne reasy

11. __________ cone (4 letters)

12. frozen water (3 letters)

13. spring, summer, fall,â&#x20AC;Ś (6 letters)

art by Nicole Sagal

Words:

1. a day of festivity when no work is done (7 letters) 2. another word for presents (5 letters)

5. when water turns to ice this occurs (8 letters) 6. a warm drink that sometimes has marshmallows in it (2 words, 12 letters) 7. unscramble the word: ecdoisortna 8. a food no one really wants to eat but is fun to decorate (11 letters)

14. flat baked goods that can have chocolate chips (6 letters) 15. the shortest day and longest night in winter (8 letters) 16. skiing but with one wide ski (12 letters) 17. snowboarding but with two long, skinny snow boards (6 letters) 18. _________ the Snowman had a corncob pipe and a button nose! (6 letters)

comic by Kip Parowski

Gift Ideas

by Amani Mussell Hot Chocolate In-a-Jar What you’ll need: ¼ cup powdered milk ½ cup unsweetened cocoa powder ½ cup sugar chocolate chips crushed candy cane mini marshmallows mix milk, sugar, and cocoa powder then layer chocolate chips, candy cane, and marshmallows on top of hot chocolate mix.

Bath Salts In-a-Jar What you’ll need: 6 parts rock salt* 3 parts Epsom salt* 1-part baking soda* a few drops of essential oil a few drops of food coloring optional: dried herbs or flowers combine in a large bowl *these amounts can be increased or decreased proportionately in order to make the desired amounts.

by Tia Wilhelm & Kipling Parowski

Choose your spot with care. Location, location, location.

The perfect snowman is no willynilly pre-dinner half hour undertaking. Little Tim Tim should expect no better than a sad snow pile unless he’s toiling by first light.

Pay attention to proportions — but there’s no need to go full Da Vinci!

Personalized Journal What you’ll need: a plain journal a quote or poem ribbon cork-board or thick paper decorative paper scissors strong glue be creative with the paper and ribbon in decorating the cover, cut out a cork board or thick paper initial for the front cover, and glue the poem or quote on the inside cover.

Movie Night In-a-Box What you’ll need: a medium sized box 1 small bag of kettle corn 2 bags of microwave popcorn as much candy as you can fit a comfy, compactable blanket 2 movies or T.V. shows

Just as you appreciate a variety of body parts, so does your snow man.

REMEMBER: Snowmen are friends, not food. Keep out of reach of small children who cannot be trusted with this responsibility.

Keep in mind that less is more — especially in the field of accessories. Tie-dye Kit What you’ll need: rubber gloves metal stirring spoon salt plastic sheet rubber bands 3 or 4 containers of RIT dye 3 or 4 3 gallon buckets, one bucket for each color of dye Instructions found on theritstudio.com

art by Kip Parowski

Snowman Tips

And if all goes awry, grab a mug and your mates, settle in for a movie: it’s bound to be great!