Roaring Fork Rampage, December 2013

2270 Highway 133

Carbondale , Co 81623

December, 2013

Volume 7 Issue 3

THE RAMPAGE

Big brother comes to Roaring Fork high school -Grace Brown

Photo by Cameron Doherty One of the 34 surveillance cameras peers down a RFHS hallway. Most students were surprised to find out that the cameras are in operation, and immediately ask why they are.

Shook up over hook up - James Long and Lucy Stevens

Romance is an inevitable part of high school. Whether they’re walking down the halls or eating lunch, couples can be spotted holding hands, making out or leaving class to surreptitiously meet up. While the media might portray the image that all high school students want a partner, this doesn’t necessarily hold true for many Roaring Fork high school students.

Although many students are in committed relationships, some prefer more casual flings. “If both people are aware that it’s a casual relationship, its fine,” Sasha Williams, RFHS senior, stated. There are many students who may drift in and out of relationships, never really caring about the other person. Some students just want

Although the students at RFHS know that their high school is a public place, they don’t know how closely they are being watched. When students returned to school in August of this year, 34 wideangle, motion-activated security cameras were in operation on the ceilings right above their heads.

Adam Carballeira, English teacher at RFHS, saw the cameras being worked on and immediately wanted to know why they were there. “I wanted to make sure that if I was dancing in the hallway, no one would be able to critique my moves,” he said.

Carballeira also stated that he believes the camera installation should be public information.

According to Principal Drew Adams, the cameras have always been in the school, however, they just weren’t in operation. “We had no agenda to hide it [the new installation] from

to “hook up,” in a short-term, one-night-stand fashion, possibly just for fun or maybe to make others jealous.

Some couples commit to each other and are glad to be getting to know someone long-term. RFHS freshman Buckshot Barry, is currently in a relationship with fellow freshman Maggie Eagleton, which has lasted over a year now. “I think it is better,” Barry explained. “You know you have someone there for you.” He believes this is one of many perks to being in a relationship instead of just hooking up. Both Barry and Eagleton think relationships are about respect and having a real connection to your partner.

Many couples at Roaring Fork highs chool demonstrate Public Displays of Affection (PDA) in the hallways, at lunch, and even during class. Bella Baily, RFHS sophomore, shared her opinion on the matter. “Kissing in public is alright, but many couples take it to a new level,” she said.

anyone. As far as I know, they’ve been here since this building was built,” Adams said.

When the district’s school board decided that all RE-1 buildings, including elementary and middle schools, would occupy security surveillance, all the schools had to do was repair the cameras. The old devices weren’t effective because of their poor resolution and viewing angles.

The district also decided to add multiple cameras beyond the existing bunch.

The installation was district wide for security reasons. These high resolution cameras are web based and require a special site and password to access. The only people able to access the footage of RFHS’ cameras are the RFHS administration (and the police, upon request.)

This leaves students wondering if they are always being watched, and the answer is no. “No one is monitoring at all times; it’s just to review if need be,”

Adams said.

So far, the cameras have been successful in solving two cases of lost phones and a stolen bike by rolling back the tape on certain cameras. These devices are able to show footage from up to 30 days previous to the current footage.

After a period of 30 days, they will automatically clear all film and continue recording.

The majority of students at Roaring Fork high school have no idea about the recording happening during their school day.

Emily Mata, sophomore, was one of them. “The faculty never told the student body when or why they were installing the cameras,” Mata said. Junior Daniel Sandoval agreed.

“I feel spied on. 34 cameras is a lot. I wouldn’t mind a couple, but that’s just over the top,” he said.

RFHS students should be aware of the cameras’ presence because these devices aren’t going anywhere anytime soon.

“Couples don’t need to prove to everyone else that they are partners,” Barry agreed. “You [shouldn’t] care what people think, you just want to be with them for who they are.”

Although some students may feel hook-ups are acceptable, adults may have different opinions. Ralph Young, RFHS math and speech teacher remarked, “I’m not really a fan of high school relationships, but there is something to be said for commitment.” He believes that student relationships should remain discreet and safe.

Most people seem to think typical dating is the best way to go, but others think hooking-up on occasion is ok too.

“As long as you both are aware that it’s just a hook-up, it can be fun,” Says junior Kayla Derby.

There is no denying that student romance is an inevitable part of high school. Because students and adults witness it everyday, it’s ultimately up to them to decide how they feel about relationships, traditional or not.

We strive to offer an outlet for student voice and provide the community with a professional, diverse, engaging, and reliable newspaper.

Contact us at rframpage@gmail.com

Feature

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Ditching epidemic strikes Roaring Fork -Jake Kelley

RFHS, like many other high schools, is a victim of kids ditching school. This year, there have been many cases of students missing the entire day, skipping one or two classes, or sometimes even leaving in the middle of class.

Hadley Hentschel, RFHS science teacher, believes

that most students ditch school because they are not appropriately challenged or supported. “Class is too hard or too easy which results in frustration,” he said.

At RFHS, less than five percent of the student body cut class on a regular basis. Ditching is seen more often in the lower level courses where students may be repeating the class. As the courses increase in difficulty, there are little to no students who ditch. The higher level classes

Photo by Cameron Doherty Some students at RFHS deliberately ditch school during the day. Despite the repercussions of cutting class, there are students who have no problem losing valuable instructional time.

Senior portraits mysteriously absent

-Tavia Teitler

“We’d like to get that tradition back,” RFHS teacher Roark Rooney said of the senior portraits.

The halls of RFHS are lined with portraits of Thankfully, there is a plan to do just that. Sciformer graduating classes starting in 1935, yet after ence teacher Laura French has offered to take the class of 2006, there is a stretch of empty wall over the project. She has received all of the yearbook pictures of the space that has many missing graduating people scratching classes and plans to their heads. use the pictures to Students, teachers make posters that and visitors alike can will fill the spaces in be found gazing at the halls. the classes of graduThese portraits ates as they meanprovide a good der down the halls, source of history for but many are unsure the school; in fact, what to think of the many students are blank spaces of wall, able to find familvoid of the pictures of iar faces among the many RFHS gradupictures, including ates. What happened RFHS teacher and to this long standing Photo by Cameron Doherty basketball coach tradition?

The portraits of years’ worth of RFHS graduating classes Larry Williams.

For years, the com- hang above student lockers throughout the school. The picpany that took senior tures of classes after 2006 have failed to make an appearance Williams graduated in the class of 1981, class photos also took on the walls. and his picture still care of the poster.

The making of this poster was included in the price hangs in its frame for RFHS students and staff of the pictures. It was a smooth system and the to see. “I believe [the senior portraits] add to our sense of tradition, which is often lost when the result is visible on the walls of our school today.

However, a few years ago, the company ceased staff changes,” Williams reflected.

Miscommunication has led to the absence to include the poster with the pictures and the operation fell apart. A combination of teachers and of the senior portraits, but staff and students are students offered to take over the project, but due committed to maintaining this tradition. It seems to lack of communication the posters failed to find that the faces of former students will be hung yet again in the halls for years to come. their way onto the walls.

have students that are more likely to be motivated to go to class and do the work.

When students miss class, the consequences vary from case to case. The most common punishment is one hour of after school detention, and the students’ parents will receive a call from the school. According to vice principal Barbara Mason, each case of ditching school will be disciplined depending on the circumstances.

Missing class is a problem for both the teacher and student. When a student cuts class, he or she will miss all of the curricular content for that period. This can only be made up if the student is willing to come after school, during lunch, or during Reach.

When the student does not go to the teacher to make up the work that was missed, it will be harder for the student to understand the content that comes after that because they do not have the background knowledge.

An anonymous student at RFHS explained that he ditches school because he doesn’t often feel motivated to go. “Some classes aren’t meaningful,” he shared. Students who feel similarly may lose interest in the class.

There are students that ditch school when they are already late because they think it is not worth it to go to class once they are late. Other reasons for ditching school are peer pressure from other students or when the student is too bored in the class and decides it is not worth it to go to class. Students continue to ditch school even though there are consequences from the school and possible struggles for the student in the long run.

Opinion Rampage Staff Editor in Chief Rosa Maun Managing Editor William Masters Photographer Cameron Doherty Editorial Staff Roy Benge Kristen Joiner Finn Featherstone Lesley Platero

Journalists Grace Brown Daisy Contreras Anakaren Hernandez Jacqueline Jacquez Jake Kelley James Long Caitlin O’Gorman Jake Rusby Lucy Stevens Tavia Teitler Jonathan Aranda

Free church lunch raises questions -Jake Rusby

do is listen to them preach in exchange for the free food that they make,” he Carbondale’s local congregation, eplained.

The Orchard, has recently continued The Orchard does not force you to their tradition of offering free lunch go; you choose to go if you want. Plus, to RFHS students at their church from my personal experience attendbuilding on Friday afternoons. ing Power Lunch, the volunteers spend Since the church offers some form time and money on supplying all of the of preaching or message during this food to students. To be able to do this time, I have heard my fellow students every week must cost a decent amount, question whether “Power Lunch,” as so the least you can do is spend five The Orchard calls it, is ethical or not. minutes of your time listening to what Students don’t openly state that they have to say. they are against Power Lunch, but Some students worry about the efsome students remain suspicious fects of the messages the church share; that the church is bribing them with some are suspicious as to why they food in order to preach to them about preach about these things. The volwhatever they want. unteers at Power Lunch have consisMany students, like me, believe tently talked about forgiveness and alPhoto by Cameron Doherty that listening to a sermon is a fair Jerry Alcorta, a member of The Orchard, speaks to RFHS students at ways looking on the bright side; these price to pay for free food. Perhaps Power Lunch about the strength of faith. Power Lunch takes place every are messages which could be really The Orchard’s members know that Friday in the foyer of the church and is free to anyone who chooses to useful to students with stress or other many students don’t attend church attend. problems. on Sundays and are attempting to Although it’s easy to see why a strengthen those students’ religious parent might worry that the church is connections for the better. Besides, the majority of the students who “putting words in their kids’ heads,” just remember that all students can attend are Christians in some shape or form anyway. choose not to attend Power Lunch. I believe The Orchard is simply Senior Paul Roman believes that Power Lunch is ethical. “It’s fair trying to help teenagers through their high school careers with some because it’s voluntary and optional to attend. Plus, the least you can positive messages. And the free food doesn’t hurt either.

Todos unidos

-Daisy Contreras

Rams Unidos is a new diverse group that came together with the intention of making a difference throughout the school.

The group comprises more than 20 students plus five teachers who had concerns regarding the inadvertent racial and cultural segregation occurring at RFHS. The name Rams Unidos was born when several students came up with the idea that the name should be both in English and Spanish.

Since the members had joined mainly to unify our school as it once was, they all agreed that the name fit.

There were a few incidents during homecoming week that encouraged these students take action. Raul Godina, former

3 Rampage December 2013

RFHS senior, had approached Principal Drew Adams with regards to the issues going on at RFHS. Godina and multiple other students thought it was time for their voices to be heard.

“Not only were there negative comments about race issues during homecoming week, but you could easily come to Roaring Fork High and see how segregated our school really is,” Godina shared. The school often appears to be split up into cliques where students hang out with the people they feel most comfortable with. For instance, during passing periods and lunch, many Latinos and Anglos don’t really interact with each other.

Not only is there segregation, but there can be a great deal of misunder-

News

standing. At times, both Latino and Anglo students feel that they don’t share comfortable relationships with staff members.

Principal Adams was willing to work with Rams Unidos in order to help make a change throughout the entire student body. He has organized meetings with students to brainstorm ideas for how to begin this big project. In their first meeting, Rams Unidos members helped organize an event to support English teacher Ivonne Muñoz during her fight with cancer.

Adams and Rams Unidos members planned the first community meetings with the hopes of creating better communication between the staff and students and feeling closer as a school. For example, during the first community meeting on October 18, the whole student body sat together on the floor of the

Photo by Cameron Doherty As members of Rams Unidos, seniors Raul Godina and Riley Marshall lead the first community meeting which brought the school together as one group. Students created Rams Unidos to unify the school and increase communication between students and staff.

Commons. More than 300 students sat side by side in a circle with the freshmen on the outside working inward toward the seniors sitting in the center.

Rams Unidos is not only planning communiy meetings with the whole school, but also beginning to think

of how to share some of their ideas with Reach classes. For instance, January will be “Share Your Story” month which will give students a chance to bond and get a feel for the different life experiences each and every student has been through. Rams Uni-

dos hopes to share their community-oriented ideas in Reach classes for the remaining months of the school year.

Though Rams Unidos is just beginning, only time will tell what kinds of positive change these students can create.

Entertainment Eveyone loves Riley

By Caitlin O’Gorman RFHS will miss the outgoing, caring face of Riley Marshall, who is preparing for college. Marshall went to a boarding school in Boulder during her freshman year and was homeschooled for her sophomore year before coming to RFHS as a junior.

Marshall is involved in many activities around school such as Student Council, Rams Unidos (a group devoted to making RF more community oriented), volleyball, soccer, Links Crew (a group to ensure freshman have a smooth transition into high school), and the National Honors Society. Outside of school, she enjoys participating in extracurriculars such as the Green is The New Black Carbondale Fashion Show, art, writing, skiing, biking, watching The Office, and hanging out with friends.

Riley also loves to create art. “I do collage art, mixed media, and ballpoint pen art. Acrylic is my favorite kind of paint; I also enjoy sharpie and origami,” said Marshall. She isn’t afraid to express herself, whether it’s through her words, fashion sense, or eating habits.

She is also known for snacking on carrots throughout the day. “I liked the Poetry Slam we had last year, it was so fun all these courageous kids walk up to the mike and speak something thoughtful about themselves. A lot of people got up there, I wouldn’t expect to stand up.

I thought is was amazing how the whole school was so into it and everyone was so respectful about each and everyones words. It was very unique genuine and I loved it.” Marshall said.

Art teachers Leslie Keery and Cathleen McCourt both adore her, “Riley has high energy and spirit and she is always smiling… She’s the whole package,” said Keery.

“She has her own wacky way of thinking and doing

Woopers

Bloopers

Christmas lights in town

Icy Roads

4 Rampage December 2013

NWeA Testing start of basketball snow day ski mountains opening

things,” McCourt added. “She brings everyone together, and there’s not a lot of people that can do that.”

“She is Dennis the Menace meets Frida Kahlo: both outgoing and caring,” McCourt and Keery agreed. McCourt also said that she envies Riley and wishes she could have been more like her in high school. “She thinks outside the box. She both forgets she’s in the box and out of the box,” McCourt exclaimed.

Marshall shares close relationships with students as well as teachers.

“I’m going to miss Alex Fisher, Erik Carrillo, Talia Howe and Mealani Gray,” she replied.

“The friends that are special and irreplaceable I will remember and keep in touch with. There is a lot of responsibility and weight that goes along with going to college, and I will miss that sense of home.”

Despite knowing she will miss her friends and family, she feels ready to leave high school and can’t wait for the new adventures that await her. She is applying to universities in Colorado and in the Northwest. “I’m ready for college and I will keep in touch with the people that matter.” Other than becoming a fairy, in college Marshall plans to study nursing, environmental studies, or interior design.

Students and staff alike will certainly miss Marshall’s school involvement and enthusiastic personality when she graduates in May. Photo by Cameron Doherty Everyone knows Riley Marshall by her uniquestyle and her infectious behavior. Riley is one of a kind at RFHS.

Security cams Cop drifting In RFHS Parking lot after hours

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