October 2018 by The Rogue News

Rogue

News

Rogue Climate Action

In This Edition:

Volume XII, Issue II

Youth Go to San Francisco by Lily Valenta

From left: Allie Rosenbluth, Priscila Espana, Hannah Sohl, Vivian Tauer, Julia Treacy, Morgan Lindsay, Rachel Davis, Eliza Strong, Kayla Fennell, Bella Mannray, Nicole Mullen, Maile Bennett, and Anya Moore attend the Rise for Climate, Jobs, and Justice March in San Francisco. Photo courtesy of Sarah Westover.

n Saturday, September 8th, over 30,000 people from around the world marched in San Francisco as part of a worldwide demonstration for the Rise for Climate, Jobs, and Justice Campaign, just days before Governor Jerry Brown’s Global Climate Action Summit (GCAS). Brown, in his last stretch of a long political career, was the principal organizer of GCAS which addressed the progress and setbacks of international climate goals. Though Brown has been a vocal advocate for climate action, climate activists have protested his energy policies, which include the expansion of oil drilling in California. In the week leading up to the summit, activists held conferences, actions and events in order to pressure Brown to commit to real, lasting policies aimed at climate change. Among the throng of people chanting in every language for renewable energy, environmental justice and protecting indigenous lands, there stood four familiar faces from AHS: seniors Nicole Mullen, Eliza Strong, Bella Mannray and 9th grader Rachel Davis. The group attended the march with the non-profit organization Rogue Climate to “pressure our Governor Kate Brown to stop the Jordan Cove Liquid Natural Gas Pipeline,” stated Mullen. These four were chosen to represent Southern Oregon at the march, along with three students from Phoenix High School and two from The Siskiyou School. Davis says that the most important thing she learned while in San Francisco was that “a lot of people actually do care” about climate change and the threat it poses to this generation’s future. Davis recalls how amazing it was to march with youth from around the world and to see people passionate about creating positive

change. She felt empowered and invigorated seeing how many people, especially youth, were coming together to advocate for climate change. Another moving experience for Davis occurred at the West Berkeley Shellmound. The Shellmound is a sacred place for the Ohlone tribe of the Bay Area. A prayer was held for the land and sacred places for indigenous tribes, along with dancing to traditional music. Indigenous groups face a disproportionate amount of environmental impact, standing on the frontlines of climate change. Indigenous lands and resources are often subjected directly to environmental degradation caused by mining, logging, crop cultivation and dams, without the consultation or informed consent of indigenous people Translators in Spanish, Cantonese and Portuguese spoke throughout the ceremony to eliminate language barriers. Climate change affects all cultures, all races and all walks of life. “Those who are able,” says Nicole Mullen, “must be an ally to those disproportionately affected.” Another opportunity for the students was working in the Urban Tilth Community Garden in Richmond, CA. They met Urban Tilth members on the San Francisco BART on their way to the march and were subsequently invited to the garden to work and explore. What used to be an abandoned strip of land has been transformed into a lush garden and community center. This is just one example of how communities can work together to create positive environmental change in their city. Becoming an advocate for climate action locally and globally is easier than one might expect. At AHS, students can get involved in local projects and events by joining the Sustainability Club, which meets every Wednesday in Mr. Hartman’s room, SC-2.

“Those who are able must be an ally to those disproportionately affected.”

October 15, 2018

P2. Aussie Mates in America P3. Change in Title IX P4. Making a Play P5. Fall Recipies P5. J and J’s Food Reviews P6. McLeod-Skinner P7. It Ought to be a Law P8. Random Student Features P9. We Didn’t Sign Up For This P10. Black Student Union P11. Terrible Twos P11. Ninth Grade Class Teams P12. Groovy Grace’s Guidance

Aussie Mates in America

Learn about two Australian girls’ experience moving to Ashland, add some new slang to your vocabulary, and read about a day in the life of an Aussie.

see page 2

J and J’s Food Reviews

Wondering about where the best places to go to lunch are? Find out in this editorial, written by two seniors who know their way around off campus lunch.

see page 5

Black Student Union

Every Friday, students gather in Libre Cory’s room for BSU during lunchtime. Anyone and everyone is encouraged to come and participate in the discussions. Learn more in this article by Lara Rivera.

see page 10

Terrible Twos

Why has the Ashland School District changed the bell schedule again by adding two minutes to each class? How will this solve Ashland High School’s attendence problems? Get the answers in this edition.

see page 11

Aussie Mates In America

by Sequoia Jacobson

Moving to a new place is often a life-changing experience. It can be exciting, sad, and even scary. Combine all this with moving to a different country and you can begin to understand how Esha Fae, 16, and Aleyah Deckker, 16, feel about moving to Ashland from Byron Bay, Australia (AUS). Fae moved to Ashland in early August of 2018 with her dad who recently got a job offer in San Francisco. Fae is currently living with Deckker, her close family friend, while her dad works and lives in San Francisco. Deckker was born in Ashland and lived here until age 7 before she moved to Byron Bay,

AUS where she met Fae. Both Fae and Deckker are now in grade 11 at Ashland High School. When asked about her feelings about school in Ashland, Deckker stated, “Well, something that I say all the time is that I feel like I’m in a high school movie. I feel like here they’re a lot more on top of things.” Fae and Deckker pointed out the aspects of AHS that create the movie-like atmosphere. Deckker said, “All of the TV that we watch in Australia is American based so it’s very stereotypical. At AHS you have football games, lockers, and basketball courts. Ev-

A Day in the Life A Summer’s Day

Sometime This Summer

by Esha Fae

5:17a.m. December 20th 2017 The water was warm, even before the sun had peaked over the horizon. We paddled out over the rolling waves as the first orange rays were painted across the sky. Gliding through the water, I feel free and awake. 6:58a.m. After spending the morning surfing and barrelling through waves on the Kayak, we headed back to mine [my house] for breakfast. The 4 of us ate enough to feed an entire village, then went next door to Aaron’s. We all live within a few blocks of each other, constantly together. We are a family, small and dysfunctional. 7:45a.m. It was the summer holidays and we intended to spend every moment creating memories. We skated up the road to Bodhi’s house. I felt a

by Aleyah Deckker sense of comfort, skating alongside Aaron, Orlando and Seb, all tall athletic blokes. We jumped into Bodhi’s hot tub, ate dragon fruit and blasted music as the sun rose slowly in the sky. 9:39 a.m. The fresh ocean breeze is the only thing making the summer heat bearable. We head back down to the beach, meeting a group of our friends. Diving through the crisp, blue waves, I feel complete bliss. We spent the rest of the morning lying in the sun, eating watermelon. 12:13p.m. We drove to Brunswick Heads and spent the rest of the afternoon jumping into the river off the bridge, splashing around on the beach. After meeting up with a big group of our friends, we got hot chips and ice cream, then went back to Bella’s house and watched movies. 6:03p.m. We climbed onto the roof with blankets, snacks and big cups of chai, watching the sun set over the ocean. Looking around at my friends, I couldn’t help but smile. I wished that moment would never end.

A Guide to Aussie Slang Arvo: Afternoon, “I’ll see you this arvo mate.” Dag: A goofy, unsual and/or untidy looking person. Bogan: The most Australian person you could think of, or a “redneck.” Bloke: A man, usually looks quite Austalian/masculine, “That’s a nice lookin bloke.” Heaps: A lot of/many, “There’s heaps of flies, aye mate.” “The surf ’s heaps good today.” Jumper: A sweater or pullover. Rug up: The act of putting on warm clothes and/or wrapping yourself in blankets. Spunk: Having courage and determination or dressing in an unusual, funky way, “That mates got spunk.” Ta: Thank you, usually said when something is passed to you. Take a sickie: Taking a day off work or school.

eryone is also full of team spirit.” Fae focused more on the technical characteristics of AHS in her explanation. “Australian schools are just completely different from American schools, like completely. We don’t have cheerleaders or a school band. We don’t have a school newspaper or counselors either.” Fae and Deckker continue to explore the similarities and differences between the America and AUS in the Rogue News’ newest mini-series: Aussie Mates in America.

headed back and packed a lunch to take down to the beach. We met up with a group of friends and the afternoon was spent lying on damp towels in the sand, sun too hot it sometimes burns my skin. Hours are lost swimming in the ocean and laughing in the shade of the trees. All we can smell is sunscreen and salt and Mornings are spent on the only things eaten “...Sun too hot the deck or under the are watermelons and trees - drinking coffee, it sometimes mangos. The evenings listening to the birds as are filled with dinburns your the sun makes its way ners at friends houses out of the forest and skin. Hours or restaurants as we begins to warm the watch the sun set into grass by my feet. Once are lost swim- the ocean. Sometimes I the sun is out, the day ming in the meet a bunch of people will be filled in a sticky at the beach and ocean and down haze of heat and the afhave bonfires on the ternoons will be spent laughing in sand. Most nights are in the ocean and with lying awake, gothe shade...” spent friends. Today the maring in and out of cold kets were on and Grace showers and sleeping and I walked from her place into the directly under the window, occasionheat to get smoothies. We didn’t stay ally feeling the soft cool breeze: a day there for long because the hot air in summer complete. began to make it feel as though we couldn’t breathe. After an hour, we

Australian Staples by Esha Fae and Aleyah Deckker

Vegemite is a thick black paste made from brewers yeast extract, various vegetables and spices. It has a very salty taste and can sometimes be overpowering. It is best eaten with bread and butter and is usually thinly spread on top although some Australians really enjoy the intense salty flavour and add thicker layers depending on the acquired taste. Vegemite is a staple in our diets and is the Australian PB&J. Fairy bread or unicorn toast is a classic Australian treat. It consists of sliced white bread, a layer of butter or margarine and colourful rainbow sprinkles, speckled on top. It is typically cut into two triangles and is served at birthday parties or as an afternoon snack. Weet-bix is a common staple breakfast cereal in Australia. It is made from whole grain wheat which is ground up and turned into a flakey biscuit. You usually eat them with milk, banana and a drizzle of honey. TimTams are two biscuits with a choccy cream filling and then covered in a thin choccy layer. The biscuits taste a lot like a graham cracker and has a very crunchy then soft consistency. A lot of Australian kids will have them for morning tea at school.

EDITORIAL

Title IX

CHANGES ON THE HORIZON by Isabella Ash

A leaked draft of the new proposal to change Title IX, the law which holds all public schools responsible for responding to sexual assault allegations or harassment, by education secretary Betsy DeVos, has sparked debate among all interested parties. Her proposal includes revisions to the process as well as changes to what kinds of incidents must be investigated. Title IX began as a law to prohibit gender-specific discrimination on school campuses, but was extended to address sexual harassment and assault. This federal civil rights law, part of the Education Amendments of 1972, prohibits any discrimination on the basis of sex in schools that receive federal funding. DeVos previously served as chair of the Michigan Republican Party and is best known for her advocacy of charter schools and support for school choice. She currently holds the position of Education Secretary. DeVos is proud of her activism in education, and is now proposing to change Title IX. DeVos’ draft was leaked in August of 2018. Official revisions are expected to be released in October. Previous Obama administration’s guidance required a standard of evidence that needed to be “preponderance of evidence.” DeVos new guidance would require a standard of evidence that needs to be “Clear and convincing.” Schools may not have to investigate off campus incidents not associated with school activities, and narrows events warranting investigation to sexual assault or harassment “so severe, pervasive, and objectively offensive” it denies access to educa-

tion. Also, if both sides agree, a cross examination between the accuser and the accused would be allowed. Finally, Schools will be allowed to punish students who file reports deemed false. It is unclear whether the final draft will require rather than allow schools to make all these changes. If so, it would mean a shift from guidance for schools to outlining the steps a school is legally required to take, should an incident fall in the more narrowly defined categories of harassment or assault. After the release of DeVos proposed revisions, opponents have spoken out against the changes. Some feel the changes being made will put an unfair burden on the accused, and sexual misconduct allegations will be less likely to be investigated. DeVos argues that the proposed changes protect due process. According to a speech at George Mason University “The system established by the prior administration has failed too many.” According to The New York Times, The Department of Education draft of changes argues that, “The lack of clear regulatory standards has contributed to processes that have not been fair to all parties involved, that have lacked appropriate procedural protections and that have undermined confidence in the reliability of the outcomes of investigation of sexual harassment allegations.” The stated purpose of DeVos’ proposal to change Title IX is to create a “fairer” system, to bring justice to the accuser and the accused. The draft of guidelines, when made official, will have a public comment period.

Statistic courtesy of Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network (RAINN)

Why we Should be Concerned About the State of Title IX editorial by Novia Wetzel Betsy DeVos, the United States Secretary of Education, wants to change the federal law to give less support to survivors of sexual assault. One of the changes gives more authority to public schools to decide on whether or not they should investigate based on the evidence they are given. While in some cases that’s fine, in others it could lead to injustices for survivors of sexual assault. Although DeVos has stated that she intends to use these changes to prevent false accusations, these changes will only hurt actual survivors. Giving individual schools this much power can seriously backfire on us. Schools can be biased, assaulters can have connections, and survivors can have no support from their peers. Rather than taking a step forward like she intends, DeVos is taking two steps backwards. Another change that would be quite detrimental is that only formal complaints can be investigated. You could argue that the change could be great-false alarms and rumors won’t be investigated therefore the school won’t have to waste their resources and time on something that is simply a rumor.

But sometimes rumors aren’t just falsehoods; sometimes they’re things that need to be looked into. Not everyone has the courage to report harassment. Not everyone is in a situation where they are able to report abuse without their safety being compromised. This change in Title IX will fail students that are in those situations. It is appalling and shameful. The changes could potentially sacrifice the trust between students and their school. DeVos may claim to be thinking of the students, and she may claim to want to better the system but she isn’t. As school is starting, stress levels rise. From late essays to unfinished math homework, everyone is stressed about something. However we students have one more thing on our plate: the changes being proposed in Title IX. Now before you shrug this off as some lame federal law change or political event that is unimportant. As high school students, we must be angry and call out our Education Department. These are our lives they’re affecting and we have both the right and an obligation to speak up.

INSIDE AHS

What Goes Into Making a Play? by Allie Poole

A question the Ashland High School student body has most likely repetitively pondered: how do the productions in the Mountain Avenue Theater take to the stage? One may wonder, how does a show-tune-chanting bunch goes through the two month process of cutting off most of their social lives to put on a show? The Rogue News offers the following insight into the process of putting a show at AHS on its feet.

Step 1: Auditions and Callbacks This week-long process is excruciating to the actors auditioning. The bare minimum is to memorize a one-minute monologue or sing a one-minute portion of any song, followed by the nerve wracking callbacks. At the end of the week, the cast list is finally posted.

Step 2: Actors Memorize; Techies Learn the Ropes The actors generally have a two to three week period of being able to read their lines from the script, but after that deadline, they must be off book. In addition, the technicians begin learning their duties. They must specialize in either lights, sound, props, or “run” (changing scenes).

Step 3: Blocking No, this step does not involve tackling or preventing your scene partner from doing something. It’s the process of stage direction. So not only do the actors need to memorize their lines, but they also must remember what they do and when they do it.

Step 4: Costumes! The AHS theater department is gifted with some of the phenomenal OSF costumes, due to the partnership with the professional theater, and the actors are always thrilled to see their new “fits,” plus learn how to apply their makeup.

Step 5: Tech Week A week long process, tech week is the sluggish final process in perfecting lighting, sound, props and anything tech related. It has been described as a grueling repetition game, where sometimes the cast and crew may continually practice one scene for hours at a time.

Step 6: Opening! Finally, the jitter-inducing night where all either falls to pieces or is perfect in every way. It’s a flurry of warm ups, setting the stage, and last minute checks for quite literally everything. Put it all together, and you now have a main stage production at the Mountain Avenue Theater.

photos by Allie Poole

Jude and Jared’s Food Reviews

A Taste Of Fall With Grace

by Jude williams and Jared Stamper

For Freshfolk and Seniors alike, lunch has the potential to be the best part of the school day, depending on where you go. A bad lunch experience will ruin your day, but a good lunch will make it at least passable. As two seniors who have been venturing out to lunch regularly for 3 or so years now, here are our recommendations for a good lunch. Underclassmen: Make friends with people with cars, go out and get food.

by Grace Schroder

It is officially fall my friends, and I could not be more delighted. It is the season of pumpkin pie, apple cider, fireplaces, fuzzy socks, jumping into mounds of leaves and cozy Saturday afternoons baking. Now, before we get started, it is imperative you know I am terrible in the kitchen. I say this because if I can make this recipe you can too. With that out of the way, I present to you Pumpkin Bread Bites. At approximately 5:30pm on a Saturday, I gathered my supplies and embarked on the task of making these lovely fall flavored muffins. The whole experience was easier than expected, and the muffins were a 10 out of 10! The perfect fall treat, and easy enough for anyone to bake. It also only took 30 minutes, not including baking time, and I made 24 muffins despite the recipe’s estimate of 12. No complaints there as I ended with double the muffins I expected. I know you’re at the edge of your seat wanting the recipe now, so here it is:

La Casa Del Pueblo $$ (Walkable)

Old Reliable. Genuinely, we think everyone in the senior class has been to Casa at least once. Or like 20 times. $5 for a plate of suspiciously grey beans, rice, and your choice of enchilada with free chips and salsa will get you through the rest of your afternoon. Overall, a solid deal. A legit 7/10 Happy Boiz

Mihamas $-$$ (Walkable)

Potentially the most contentious lunch spot on our list. Mihamas, a classic, recently underwent an ownership change and a subsequent revamping. However, this revamping hasn’t fundamentally changed the greatness that is Mihamas. There’s still an inexpensive side of rice, there’s still a student special, there’s still dank food. 8/10 Happy Boiz

Ingredients

Martollis $ (Drive)

A 3 dollar slice: These aren’t your meemas little slices either, these are phat slices, albeit thin crust. That’s a debate for another day, but the facts are that the food is cheap, good and fast. Zoom in, zoom out, badda bing badda boom, bob’s your uncle. Although you need to drive, there’s not enough seating inside and it will be absolutely packed, it’s still a 9/10 Happy Boiz in our hearts.

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Bento East $-$$ (Drive)

Bento is a mysterious place. Neither of us believe that Bento exists outside of lunch time. We’re fairly sure it somehow warps reality in a way that can’t be understood by our fragile primate brains. Literally a hole in the wall that spits out good food and peanut sauce. We don’t know how they do it. 8/10 happy boiz

½ cup brown sugar ¼ cup white sugar ⅓ cup vegetable oil 1 teaspoon vanilla 2 eggs 1 cup pumpkin puree (canned works perfectly) ¼ cup milk 1 ½ cups flour 1 teaspoon baking powder ½ teaspoon baking soda ¼ teaspoon ground cloves 1 ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg 1 pinch of allspice ½ teaspoon salt 1 cup of chocolate chips

Roasting Company $-$$ (Walkable)

You all know what RoCo is. It’s ubiquitous in the minds of AHS students. There’s nothing that we could say here that you don’t already know. The pizza is surprisingly good, and probably the best within walking distance. There’s a cat that hangs out outside too and we’re not sure if it’s like an employed cat or an unemployed cat. #GetWilliamOnPayroll. 7/10 Happy Boiz

The first thing you need to do is preheat the oven to 350°F and put baking cups in a muffin pan, and get a large bowl. In the large bowl combine the brown sugar, white sugar, vegetable oil, vanilla, eggs and pumpkin puree. Then in another bowl mix milk, flour, baking powder, baking soda, cloves, cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, salt, and chocolate chips. Once the second bowl is mixed add it to the first bowl. Then take a large spoon and use it to fill the baking cups ¾ of the way up and bake for 25-30 minutes. Sit back and relax with some Netflix and a blanket, while the aroma of fall radiates through your home and you forget about all the stresses of school and extracurriculars. When your alarm beeps, enjoy immediately, because no one has the patience to wait 10 minutes for them to cool down. They taste like fall and I promise you won’t regret spending those priceless 30 minutes on them.

Hidden Gems

Anyas: Drunken Noodles, served so hot you won’t be able to eat it for 4 hours. 9/10 hb’z Morning Glory: The only one with Pancakes on the list. 9/10 hb’z GAPCO: Best Pizza in town. Sourdough, so good. 8/10 hb’z Boulevard: Smoothie Bowls dude, Smoothie Bowls. A splurge, but with all the bells and whistles. 8/10 hb’z tree by Charlotte Julian portraits by Alex Brehmer

Ashland Alumni for Congress Jamie Mcleod-Skinner runs for House of Representatives in the 2018 midterms editorial by Ava Hearn

ust 33 years ago, AHS student, Jamie McLeodSkinner, roamed the very same hallways that you do today. Now, she is campaigning throughout Southern and Eastern Oregon with the hope of serving in the House of Representatives in Washington DC. While in High School, McLeod-Skinner excelled as a student and an athlete. She was co-captain of the soccer team, played basketball and ran track. During her senior year, McLeod-Skinner broke the girl’s 800 meter record which still stands on the AHS record board today. Following her graduation from AHS, McLeod-Skinner went on to university, where she earned her degree in civil engineering and regional planning. After the war in Bosnia ended in 1995, McLeod-Skinner decided she wanted to dedicate herself to public service, so she joined an international rescue organization and went over to Bosnia to manage a reconstruction project in post-war, focused on repairing schools and hospitals. She went on to continue her career in the Balkans, in the rural country of Kosovo where she designed water and sanitation systems. When McLeod-Skinner returned to the United States, she was asked to run the Refugee Resettlement office in San Jose, California where she worked with immigrants and refugees. During her time in San Jose, it was suggested to McLeodSkinner that she get into politics. McLeod-Skinner spent eight years on the San Jose city council while also working fulltime. Eventually McLeod-Skinner decided it was time to move back to Oregon to earn a law degree from the University of Oregon. After the 2016 elections, McLeod-Skinner grew concerned with the direction the federal government was going. She wanted to become more involved in politics at the national level, and after traveling around the district, McLeod-Skinner found that there were many people with views similar to her own. “I believe Human decency is bipartisan,” says McLeod-Skinner “It’s not about drawing up divisions between people. It is about bringing people together to accomplish what we need to care for our families and our communities.” McLeodSkinner’s campaign is based around the idea of serving the district regardless of political party, as she states: “I don’t distinguish between politics, when it’s done well, and public service.” McLeod-Skinner’s platform focuses on healthcare, strengthening economic development and responding to the changing climate. According to McLeod-Skinner, she supports federal investments in public education, especially for students at a young age, and federal loan forgiveness for graduates who enter careers in public service. She hopes to get people with special skills working for a couple of years in rural 6

communities where they are most needed. Integrated into her platform are the values that McLeod-Skinner learned at Ashland High School. “Ashland provided a supportive and safe space for me as a young person,” says McLeod-Skinner. “I was fortunate to have a lot of great teachers while at Ashland. In sports I learned the value of working as a team to accomplish something. That is especially important now, in bringing people together that have different skill sets, views and Ideas and getting folks to work together to accomplish things which will benefit the communities.” McLeod-Skinner isn’t the only former Grizzly working on this congressional campaign. Erin Keoppen, former Rogue News editor, graduated from AHS in 2013 and is currently working as McLeodSkinner’s Southern Oregon Field Organizer. Keoppen stressed the community of Ashland as a big inspiration for her work in politics, and common ground between her and McLeod-Skinner. “At Ashland High School there was a big emphasis on ‘think globally, act locally.’ That international focus is really important to being able to relate something seemingly small like Oregon District Two to the rest of the world and applying the issues we face on a much

larger scale. “ One thing that McLeod-Skinner expressed was her concern with the younger generation’s loss of faith in the political process. She believes that politics is an opportunity to work together to build healthier and stronger communities, to which active engagement among all eligible voters is crucial. McLeodSkinner stresses her wish to see more young people involved in public service, and states that she looks forward to supporting future AHS students running for office. “If I could say anything to young folks it would be ‘believe’. Believe you can make the world a better place. Believe politics can be a force for good. Believe that leadership should be accountable; and if they aren’t, replace them.”

She is running for one of these seats.

There Ought to Be a Law That... A chance to get community members involved in Oregon politics

First there’s an idea for a bill.

by Amber Eaton

ella Mannray, a senior at Ashland High School, has been interning for Oregon representative Pam Marsh, and she has an interesting take on her senior project. In her time with Marsh, Mannray was awakened to the fact that California annually holds a contest among high school students called “there ought to be a law” asking for submissions of possible laws, and so Mannray decided to bring this concept to Oregon. For her senior project she is holding a contest of the same name in Jackson County, Oregon. The Oregon version of “There Ought to be a Law” is open to all Jackson County residents this year. The project started in early September, and is set to have a winner November of 2018. Participants are given a form with questions about their proposed law. Mannray expresses that the decision will be based

off of practical applications and consideration of financial impact. Participants are also asked to point out political supporters and opposers of their proposal. After they have answered all the questions, whether in paragraph form or simply with links to articles supporting their law, they submit their forms by mail. After a submission is chosen, a bill is drafted and Marsh will guide it through the steps required to make it a law. The project has piqued a lot of interest, says Mannray “I have around 20 submissions so far.” Mannray said the purpose of this project was to “get Oregon community members involved in state politics,” Let’s hope it does just that.

Second, the bill passes the House and Senate.

Last, the governor signs the bill into law.

Random 9th Grade Features Hiking Into Highschool by Bridget Burr

Kiana Childs

Kiana Childs is an adventurous 9th grader who loves to spend time outdoors. Childs went to middle school at John Muir, a small school of fewer than 200 kids with a close community where it was easy for her to create more intimate relationships with her classmates. Childs says that since coming to AHS, she has missed her John Muir teacher, Marcia Ososke, whom she describes as incredibly kind and caring for her students as individuals. With the larger school community at AHS, Childs has made many new friends, and although her friend group has expanded, she says that she’s still close with her classmates from John Muir. John Muir School prides itself in its curriculum, which integrates outdoor learning and wilderness skills, allowing kids to learn outside the classroom. Childs says that her class often went on educational outdoor trips, such as memorable excursions to the Oregon coast. Although she loved those trips, her favorite John Muir adventure was the “8th Grade

Backpacking Trip:” a 5-day trek along the Rogue River trail. The 40-mile adventure wasa steep and narrow expedition along the Rogue River. The students practiced wilderness survival skills, learned how to ensure water was clean and drinkable, and prepared their own food. While describing the trip, Childs grinned and admitted that she was dehydrated and tired… but happy after the experience. Along with outdoor adventuring, Childs also participates in Cirque. She explains that Cirque is a combination of tricks, poses, and drops that you do on hanging silk fabrics, trapezes, and hoops. For Childs, there is a certain fear of falling: either by wrong positioning, incorrect wrapping, or a wrong grip on a trapeze or hoop. But there is also a thrill and confidence in knowing she’s capable of doing it: “you always get in the mindset where you’re really scared. What if I fall out of this drop? What if I break my neck or something? Then the moment you do it, you feel free.”

Cody’s Companion

by Sequoia Snogren-McGinnis

Nathan James Taylor

Excited to get out of Algebra class, AHS 9th grader Nathan James Taylor agreed to settle on the concrete in front of Mr. Wileman’s classroom on the third floor of the Humanities building to talk to The Rogue News. He was decked out in classic high school attire: tennis shoes, athletic shorts and a simple tee shirt. Taylor began grade school in Grants Pass but moved to the Ashland School District without objection for the beginning of middle school. Taylor tells a story about a friend at a middle school in Grants Pass, explaining why he was glad to be at AMS: after punching another student, his friend got suspended for the remainder of the day. Taylor’s concern is that “it’s a win for the kids,” meaning that they might gain more than they lose by being allowed to leave school. He and his family have decided that he should continue his education at Ashland High School instead of in Grants Pass, and so far, Taylor is enjoying AHS.

Taylor is fully responsible for his dog Cody, who is a Labrador mix. Cody was originally named Coda but was renamed due to the simplicity and ease associated with his new name. As a 7th grader, Taylor got to pick the dog out from a shelter himself and says that he likes having this companion. Even with the large job of taking care of Cody, Taylor reported that he had little trouble balancing the responsibility of school, football and leading a social life, even though “football doesn’t really help with having time to yourself.” Taylor’s free time is spent mostly with his friends or listening to classic 70s and 80s music. Some of his favorite bands are Led Zeppelin, Lynyrd Skynyrd, and the Rolling Stones. “I got some of my friends into [these bands],” Taylor divulged, “because they were listening to dubstep.” His friends mostly consist of those he met at AMS, but he also spends time with friends from football and from his other classes.

Racing Into The School Year by Alex Brehmer

Jaden Margulies

Jaden Margulies, a quiet 9th grader, spoke just outside her algebra classroom. When asked if she liked math, she shrugged. “It’s fine... I mean, it’s good for a class.” Under further interrogation, she admitted that she doesn’t really like school. Suddenly, her face lit up. “I love to ride horses!,” Margulies exclaimed. Margulies has been riding horses for ten years and grew up surrounded by them. She houses 11 horses at her home and rides at Rising Hope Stables here in Ashland. Two of her horses are former liberty horses from the world famous Cavalia circus. Given that they’re performance horses, they know a lot of tricks. Margulies didn’t get a list of their commands with the horses, though, so she has a lot of fun guessing their cues. Margulies plans on joining the equestrian team this year. Ashland High School’s equestrian team went to state last year for drill - an intricate and elaborate horse dance. Margulies enjoys riding both

English and Western with her horse, but she hasn’t quite mastered the jumps. “There are all different kinds of horses. Some horses are much more difficult because they buck and rear and bolt. Others are ‘push button,’ where you ask them to go and they start to walk and do whatever you want them to.” Margulies’ favorite thing about riding horses is the opportunity to be around animals. In addition to the horses, she also houses 30 other animals. She lives on a “private petting zoo,” a home packed with 6 dogs, 9 cats, and 15 other miscellaneous pets roaming her yard. She hopes that in the future, she’ll be able to continue to work with animals as a trainer. School might not be her favorite thing, but that’s only because Margulies has dreams of things much bigger. It’s only a matter of time before she’s headlining Forbes’ “30 under 30” as a world renowned rider, trainer, and go-getter.

Photos by Zelehya Mata

WE DIDN’T SIGN UP FOR THIS

room, barely missing Heckman. The student marched out of the room in a fury, and never returned to her classroom. To this day, Heckman does not know why the student decided to throw the chair across the room, but she thinks that it may be because of how moving the book was. Heckman continued teaching as if nothing happened, but remained incredibly confused and shocked.

by Zoe Fenstermacher,

Skyye D, and Bella Sallee

TEACHERS’ CRAZIEST STORIES

CLASSROOM OR GYMNASIUM?

A GRAPHIC FILM

For the last two years in Marissa Watson’s classroom, a contest has taken place. On certain rare review days, after students have finished homework and the lesson of the day, students challenge Watson to a fierce handstand competition. Watson clears the desks out of the way, creating an arena in the front of her classroom. The rules are simple: whoever’s feet touch the ground first is the loser. The competitions are cutthroat, and the people who dare to challenge Watson are very competitive. Some students have tried to push Watson’s hands in order to mess up her balance but it has been to no avail. A few times, Watson recalled faltering as her legs swayed in the air, but she has come out on top every time that the competition took place… according to Watson.

During Amanda McGrew’s first year teaching at another school, a video about the Vietnam War was recommended to her by a fellow teacher for her students to watch. McGrew stated that she had not watched the film all the way though, and regrettably missed an extremely graphic section of the film. At one point in the video, male genitalia was shown on the screen for her class of 30 students to see. McGrew said, “I was so surprised and didn’t know what to do. I just ignored it like it was no big deal while every student’s mouth dropped and looked right at me.” She was incredibly embarrassed, but continued teaching the class like it was any other day. Another time while McGrew was at another school, she was in the middle of teaching a lesson when her co-teacher went to sit at her desk chair. He did not realize that McGrew’s chair was very “rolly” and the chair slipped right out from under him and he landed right on the floor. McGrew “immediately started laughing so hard that [she] was streaming tears and making this crazy howling noise that [she] couldn’t control.” During her laughing fit she had forgotten to check if he was okay. Luckily he was, but it took her a long time before she was ready to teach again.

BAT T LE O F T H E SU I T S

New teacher Brenton Wileman told Rogue News of a friendly competition he had last year when a student criticized him for never buttoning the top button of his shirt. Wileman explains that doing it is unnecessary. “That’s what the tie is for, to hide it. Plus if you button the top button, you are choking all day,” Wileman argues. The student didn’t understand Wileman’s reasoning, telling him, “No, you don’t know fashion.” Throughout the semester, the arguments continued, and during the last weeks of school Wileman challenged this student to a friendly competition. Wileman told the student, “You wear a suit and tie, and show me what it is supposed to look like.” The student replied, “Fine, I’m gonna wear a suit on Friday.” So they agreed that they would both wear their suits and then have the class take a poll and see who looked better. On Friday, the two showed up to class in their finest suits, and the challenge began. After a brief fashion show, the class took a vote. When the votes were in the student took the victory by a landslide. Though Wileman was proved wrong by his students, he explained that, “it was like the best day of the entire last year.”

WELCOME TO ASHLAND

During theatre teacher Betsy Bishop’s first year at AHS, she had a student who had 11 unexcused absences and was getting an F in her class. The student was about to be dropped. Bishop did not want the student to get an F, so she invited the student’s parent, the principal and a few counselors to discuss the students’ situation. She wanted to give his mother a chance to explain why her son was missing so much school. During this conference, Bishop said the parent walked into her classroom wearing a long flowing skirt, no shoes and a large flower in her hair. Bishop had not adapted to the ways of Ashland and was completely in shock at this display of “hippie nature.” Bishop asked the parent why her son was missing so much school, and she replied, “Well my son and I, we’re not really into the stress trip.” Everyone was silently looking at each other. Then one of the counselors asked, “stress trip?” She said, “You know like, getting to school at 9:00 AM and having to stay till 3 every day.” After two minutes of silence, Bishop asked her if her son could at least go part-time, to which she replied “we are really into our tie-dye business. So no more than one or two.”

NUDITY IS NOT ALLOWED

Gladys Contreras explained that it was a normal day in her class filled with 30 or so Spanish students. She was teaching a lesson, writing on the board in front of the class, and when she turned around she saw two kids trying to take their shirts off. Seeing the partial nudity of two of her students rendered her speechless: “That was scary at the moment, because I [thought] what are these two boys doing?” She explained how the whole class burst out into laughter, perhaps at the boys taking off their shirts or maybe at her shocked reaction. Contreras made a decision in the moment to pretend nothing had happened. “To this point, I still don’t know why they were doing that.” Since that day she has wondered what the motivation was. “I don’t know if they were showing their… six pack? I didn’t ask the question, I just let it go and laughed.”

DIARY OF A THROWN CHAIR

While reading The Diary of Anne Frank, students are bound to get emotional, but Vanessa Heckman never expected a student to get THIS emotional. Heckman was student teaching for an English class in Scotland, in the city of Edinburgh. During an especially emotional part of the autobiography, a student abruptly got up out of their chair. The student turned around, grabbed their chair and hurled it across the

art by Alex Brehmer 9

INSIDE AHS

Black Student Union by Lara Rivera

he Black Student Union (BSU) meets every Friday in Tech-1 where their goal is to provide a safe space to hold discussions. This year, juniors Siena Wand and Ngis Thiaw are the copresidents. For Wand and Thiaw, BSU is about holding the “uncomfortable conversations” that are generally avoided on a daily basis “and educating students about being black in America.” Addressing these topics is important to them since it is an accessible way that students can understand and learn about black culture. For Thiaw, BSU has been a place where she can “express [her] own views, opinions and feelings” on issues that go on in the world. A typical BSU meeting involves a video that correlates to a specific theme every week, from cultural appropriation to police brutality. After viewing the video, members discuss the topic, ask questions and comment. However, no one attending the club is forced to share or participate. A misconception Wand has encountered is that some students tend to think that racism is “either way back in the past or all the way across the country” when it is actually happening right here at home. For this reason, Wand believes that people should come to the meetings to learn more about black culture. A challenge BSU has encountered is emphasizing that everyone is welcome at BSU; the title of the club expresses that the main focus of the club’s discussions revolve around social injustices and difficulties that may come with being a person of color. The people who go to BSU meetings vary, and Wand finds this is very valuable to the club since everyone brings different experiences to the table. This exemplifies of how anyone is welcome to come and examine how, why and which social injustices affect them personally and those around them. Wand expresses that “the coolest part about [BSU] is the exchange of different

Black Student Union members create dialogue and community at their Friday meetings cultures.” Wand would like to hear more opposing opinions, in a respectful manner. In the most recent club meetings, many if not all people attending BSU have been allies. She would like to be able to reach out to those who might not understand the issues or would be interested in the topics they discuss. There are many layers to black issues that Wand would like teach about. Even Wand, one of the BSU Co-Presidents, has stumbled upon the question of whether or not she is “black enough” to talk about certain black social issues, but she concludes that BSU is the ideal place to discuss this. Wand has noticed that this year there are already more black/people of color who attend BSU compared to other years, which has made it easier to hold discussions around the topics they converse about. One of BSU’s goals for this year is to become affiliated with Southern Oregon University’s BSU in order to put on a Black Arts Festival later in the Ngis Thiaw and Siena Wand are co presidents of Black Student Union year. Wand and Thiaw would also like to get in contact with the BSUs in Medford. In doing so, they can also gain a different perspective from their experiences too. Wand and Thiaw would like to emphasize that regardless of race, gender and sexuality, everyone is welcome at BSU. Ngis Thiaw joined BSU her sophomore year when her sister, Mouminatou Thiaw, was the president of the club. The Thiaw sisters have discussions like the ones at BSU on their own. However, they enjoy hearing from different people’s perspectives. This year Thiaw decided to run as co-president with Wand. One of their goals for this year is to boost turnout and continue to have meaningful dialogue around race. The Black Student Union welcomes everyone to the weekly meetings to learn, discuss or to simply have lunch with the club members. photos by Lara Rivera and Keona Hajje

Justin Norris Photography

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INSIDE AHS

Roll Call! The attendence crackdown

Terrible Twos Why AHS added two minutes to every class

by Bailey Mustard

shland High School is cracking down on attendance and is fully enforcing the existing attendance policy. The district has decided that there will now only be only six valid excuses for missing class: illness, health care appointments, a death in the family, court appearances, religious holidays/ instruction and a school-sponsored absence. If a student's parent or guardian does not confirm with the attendance office that they were absent for one of these reasons, then the absence will be marked unexcused, or pre-arranged unexcused. If you have more than one unexcused absence or three unexcused tardies, you will receive detention. If after the first three notices for detention you still don’t attend, then you will be suspended. The Oregon law also requires a school to drop students after

ten consecutive days of non-attendance, regardless of whether or not it was due to illness. Students absent for more than ten consecutive days must then re-enroll with their parent or guardian at the school office. This increased enforcement of the attendance policy is a result of both Oregon’s and Ashland High School’s efforts to address the problem of chronic absenteeism. According to the Oregon Department for Education, chronic absenteeism is linked to low reading performance, discipline issues, dropping out of school and low graduation rates. Ashland High School wants to see its students succeed in school, and that means actually going. So it’s time to grab a book and hit the classroom.

by Lexie Taylor

his year’s new bell schedule has everyone scratching their heads. Why did the administration add two minutes to each class? While some might believe it is administration just trying to keep us on our toes, in reality, there is a new law behind it. The Oregon Administrative Rule (OAR) requires that 80 percent of all enrolled students at Ashland High School have to attend at least 990 hours of class time annually. With the old schedule in place, we would not have met that class-time requirement and would only achieve it by having the 10th and 11th graders take a full schedule of classes, meaning all eight periods. Administration and Principal Erika Bare believe “it would not

be in the students’ best interests” to have that change in schedule. With those extra minutes, it makes room for a more relaxed 7 period schedule. Of course, as long as seniors are on their way to meeting graduation requirements, they still have their flexible 4 to 7 period classes. So even though it means two more minutes waiting by the doors for the bell to ring, or extra time for your teachers to talk about their personal lives, at least we are not required to take another class on top of the junior's busy AP class schedule and the sophomores get to keep their TA or out period so they get a break in their long day.

Ninth Graders Team up for Success Grizz Academy undergoes changes by Ayla Foust

Autumn 2018 has brought forth many changes to improve the student body’s experience at Ashland High School, one of these includes the introduction of 9th grade teams, student blocks that will have the same Grizz Academy, Humanities, and Wellness teachers to help build a sense of community and familiarity. Additionally, changes have been made to provide 9th graders with the resources needed to succeed. Jesse Stonewood has been teaching 9th grade Grizz Academy since it was first introduced in 2016. When describing the class, Stonewood explains that “the purpose is to provide personal, academic and social support for each student during the first year of high school.” This school year brought in 300 incoming 9th graders who are required to take Grizz Academy. With such a large number 9th graders, it can be difficult for teachers to pay attention to each individual's academic needs. To address this, Keri Phipps has taken on the role of 9th grade guidance counselor which provides extra support for the class of 2022. The 9th grade teams are being introduced in an effort to help 9th graders adapt and achieve success in high school. The structure is built on four separate teams and comprised of four different Grizz Academy teachers. These teachers meet once a week to discuss how the class is functioning and problem solve if necessary. In addition, Fresh Start counselors are included and act as mentors to these classes. Peer mentors can be a very positive influence and offer a lot of advice and support to new high school students. Each team

includes the same group of students in Grizz Academy, Humanities and Wellness which helps build a sense of community and familiarity. To help increase chances of a successful 9th grade year, a portion of each Grizz Academy is dedicated to academic support time. During this time, students are accountable for working on assignments from other classes and checking grades in order to stay caught up. Checking in and evaluating how each student is doing is a main focus of this class. Students are also each accountable to create a Personalized Learning Plan (PLP), which is developed to help set a specific goal. Creating an individualized goal for each student makes it more realistically achievable considering each student has varying performance levels and strengths. The PLP also acts as a guide and progress report for student led conferences. Another motivation when establishing the teams was to “focus on the importance of young high school students” says Stonewood. How a student performs 9th grade year often affects the rest of their high school career. The intention of these 9th grade teams is to help them access tools, develop strategies and apply them throughout their high school career. Different learning styles require individual techniques and students deserve the opportunity to perform at the capacity they are capable of. The 9th grade teams go a step in a very positive direction for our education system, starting right here at Ashland High School.

Top right: Nixon Albertelli and Angel Padilla; bottom left: Harper Strong, Sutton Guyer and Chelsea Bowland; bottom right: Hannah Doyle and Sequoia Jacobson photos courtesy of Liv West

Inspirations From Literature by Sequoia Snogren-McGinnis Inspiration:

To the Grooviest of Graces, I have a caffeine addiction. I am a struggling senior here at beautiful Ashland High School, and I have found that to stay awake during Career and College Readiness I must consume multiple caffeinated drinks (preferably Yerb), but I tend to become anxious and shaky, and my eyes still won’t stay open! Signed, Caffeine Coffee Bean Dear CCB, We’ve all been there. Staring into space while your eyes twitch with caffeine and your legs shake for what feels like forever. It can be a drag! We’ve all stood at Little Shop of Bagels knowing that the overpriced Yerba Mate maybe isn’t worth it, but we still grab it, hopeful for that extra caffeine boost. The choice between twiddling your thumbs or hearing your teacher tell you all about the looming chaos of college is never an easy one. Some tips for staying awake during class are drinking more water (it helps with the shakiness), doodling in the margins of your notes or using bright pens to take notes, chewing mint gum, and lastly, changing the position you’re sitting in (criss-cross apple sauce is possible if you try hard enough, trust me). I wish you the best of luck in your CCR class, and remember, the occasional Yerb won’t hurt anyone. Dear Groovy Grace,

“He lay very high, on the back of the world. The earth thrilled beneath him. Red flowers grew through his flesh; their stiff leaves rustled by his head.” - Mrs. Dalloway, Virginia Woolf. 1925 (p. 103) Response:

This is a man of the earth, a man who Cannot separate himself from his roots, who Is sure of nothing but the dirt under the soles of his feet, who Can comprehend the complexity of a spider’s web, who Rides upon the spinning planet. This is a man who often leaves the ground for the sky, who Climbs the pine tree to his right and the oak to his left, who Sways in the wind with the branches. A man who follows the lead of Mary Oliver, who Knows that he need not “walk on his knees for a hundred miles Through the desert repenting.” A man who constantly lets the “soft animal of his body Love what it loves,” who Tells his truth to the dog at his side and Lets its fur soak up his tears.

Sudoku

How do I make new friends Senior year? There are a lot of cool people who I wish I was friends with, but I’m not sure how to approach them! Signed, Unsure Dear Unsure, Senior year is the final stretch of your high school year! Many people find themselves bored with the same routine, and like to mix things up. Feeling stuck socially can feel like being in a hole, but it’s important to get out there and extend yourself. I promise you that those cool people you’re talking about think the same of you! The easiest way to get to know others is joining clubs, being more open to different work groups in class, and playing on sports teams. Social media is also another advantage to you. DM the other person and throw your inhibitions to the wind! It’s 2018 and we’re more connected than ever! Use it, but please, for the sake of others, keep it casual and make sure to be conscious about how the other person is reciprocating. Good luck with getting your wings you brave social butterfly. I believe in you! You can contact Grace Johnson via email: groovygrace.roguenews@gmail.com, drop questions in the box in room 202, or submit to the Rogue News instagram @theroguenews. Grace promises to keep your confessions and questions confidential.

by Jude Williams

art by Alex Brehmer 12