Issue 2 (Oct. 2016)

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Founded in 1919

The FCHS Student Newspaper

Oct. 27, 2016

Partisan pgs. 10-14

Laptop Issues pg. 4 Rock Climbing Gym pg. 9 Wrestler ProďŹ le pg. 17 Stereotypes pg. 21

Volume 99 Issue 2 3400 Lambkin Way Fort Collins, CO 80525 Phone: (970) 488-8199 Fax: (970) 488-8008

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News

Oct. 27, 2016

Spilled Ink

FCHS CHATTER BOX New Hall Monitor

FCHS welcomes a new Campus Monitor: Vaughn Atkinson. Atkinson comes from a law enforcement background; he served six years in the U.S. Navy prior to working with the police force as an SRO.

M-104 Wellness Center

The FCHS Wellness Center is a room dedicated to supporting students with emotional, and social problems inside and outside of school.

Located in M-104, the Wellness Center, the school’s newest addition to Student Services, is open to all students all day.

Deca Goes Places This year the FCHS Deca team is traveling to New York City for a Leadership Conference. This year’s Deca team has trips to Vail, and Anaheim, California, for the Deca National Competition early next year.

New LTC Mural

INSIDE THE INK Presidential election update

Staff Review: pumpkin seeds

News 2-5

A&E 6-9

Swetsville Zoo

In-Depth 10-14

CORRECTIONS Page 24: We incorrectly spelled Olivia Goodwin’s last name.

Spilled Ink regrets this error.

Roberto Alejandro Blanco profile

Sports 15-18

Dealing with Depression

Perspectives 19-23

News

Spilled Ink

Oct. 27, 2016

How To: Make your own costume

1.)

School to host blood drive Nov. 8 in staff lounge Mackenna Rowe Guest Writer On Nov. 8 from 9a.m. to 3p.m., FCHS will host a blood drive in the staff lounge.

“It’s important because your blood could save somebody’s life,” ACE Coordinator Cathy Hettleman, who is organizing the effort, said. “They’re always looking for blood donors, and anyone that is willing to help out.”

Students and staff are able to participate if they are 18 or older. Students who are 17 may donate with parental permission.

Those interested can find the necessary paperwork in the front office, in addition to a sign-up for donation times.

For further information, contact Hettleman at chettlem@psdschools.org.

2.)

3.)

Maya Bode Managing Editor

National Honor Society hosting annual carnival Miles Rodriguez Staff Writer National Honor Society will host the Halloween Carnival on Saturday from 5-8:30 p.m. in the spine for elementary school students.

“It’s basically just a fun event for kids from elementary schools and families to have a safe and fun Halloween,” senior Coleen Hubbeling said.

Admission to the carnival is two cans of food or $2. All food and money raised during the event will be donated to the Larimer County Food Bank.

Older Lambkins and their families are welcome to join the fun.

Take your black top of choice and draw a rib cage it in your chest area. Then draw simple bones, arms, and hips over that designated area, and fill it in with white fabric paint. If you aren’t comfortable drawing free- hand, you can print an outline, make a stencil and fill in the area instead.

Make sure to keep the clothing items flat while the design is drying.

Then take your leggings or pants and sketch on two femurs, one for each leg. These should be where your thighs are. Fill in the bone outline with white fabric paint.

Draw a shin bone underneath the femur bone onto your shin area.

Fill that area with white craft paint.

If you are feeling extra crafty, you can do the back of your outfit with the same designs.

Yearbook deadlines approaching fast Senior photos and quotes for the yearbook are due Nov. 1.

“Otherwise their picture and quote won’t be in the yearbook, and they won’t be remembered,” Yearbook adviser Tiana Song said.

Students can submit their photo online through the Yearbook website, or save it on a thumb drive clearly labeled with their name and leave it in Song’s mailbox. Quotes must be concise and appropriate, and can be submitted through a link that has been emailed to seniors.

Students must also vote by tomorrow for superlatives on a Google form that has been emailed to students.

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Graphic by Kaitlyn Schmidt

Top off your look with black shoes and some skeleton face paint to complete your Halloween look.

Holmes honored with alumna award Molly Lubbers Sports Editor Sitting in a bright purple and gold jacket, among some of the oldest FCHS alumni, Elaine Holmes was swept up in school pride as 1,800 people cheered for the former students. She knew that so much history was intertwined with the alumna sitting on the auditorium floor, and so she was shocked when she was named alumna of the year. While her fellow teachers shook her and said again and again, “It’s you, it’s you,” she didn’t fully believe it. By the time she accepted the award, she had an overwhelming feeling of honor.

In FCHS, she found a home; while she wasn’t the most involved student before becoming a teacher, and could actually be described as a rebel, she knew she had a place to go. She was most comfortable in theater, her only extracurricular.

In her speech to the school, she encouraged students to join something they love.

According to Holmes, if it doesn’t make these four years the best ones of your life, it will at least make them bearable.

As she grew

up and began teaching here, though, she immersed herself in school spirit and realized her truth: FCHS is special, and you don’t understand that until you leave.

One main change between her student experience and now is the difference in buildings; according to Holmes, the pillars at the old school made her feel like she was truly walking into school. She also recognizes the variation in culture, knowing that FCHS has evolved to reflect the world a bit better.

While she was a student, a deep divide between affluent students and disadvantaged children was palpable.

With the

establishment of FRHS, she found the population of FCHS became more welcoming and diverse.

And while cliques seem almost silly to students now, she describes the school being Breakfast Clubesque, with jocks, geeks, princesses and criminals all grouping together.

That said, a change that has come with the new building is how the halls are separated, where people congregate with different interests.

Holmes is grateful for her time here as a student, as we all should be: while we do not walk past the same pillars she did, we do have a chance to embrace high school, with all its good and bad.

We can understand that those before us, all the alumni that truly come home during that assembly, w o u l d w a n t us to try.

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News

Oct. 27, 2016

Spilled Ink

Stadium construction evokes hope, fear Joseph Vasseur Staff Writer Colorado State University has spent approximately two years and $220 million planning and building a new stadiuminthecenteroftown.Constructionofthestadium is set to be finished for the 2017 football season, making thisseasonCSU’slastplayingintheoldHughesStadium.

As the bleachers begin to rise into the sky, hopes and fears for CSU’s new on campus stadium begin to form.

“Bringing more people to come and connect through football on campus was the purpose of building this stadium,” CSU’s Executive Director of Public Affairs and Communications Mike Hooker said.

CSU also hopes the stadium will make them look more serious about football, and expose the team to bigger and better conferences.

“This new stadium is expected to expose CSU to the power five conferences [Big 10, Big 12, Pac 12, SEC, and the ACC],” donor Drew Wilson said.

Another goal of the stadium is to make it easier for those living on and near campus to attend games. Many Fort Collins residents will be in biking or walking distance from the stadium.

“I think it might be slightly more convenient to have thestadiumoncampus,”sophomoreTaylorAnthonysaid.

The new facility will be located in the center of town, and concerns about the new location are surfacing.

Traffic in Old Town during the weekends is already congested when games occur, but this stadium may attract even more people downtown, making traffic worse.Inaddition,residentsintheareaareworriedabout rowdyfansandparkinginneighborhoodsongamedays.

The stadium is under construction between Lake and Pitkin streets, on top of the old Meridian Avenue, in the southwest part of campus. The new location will changesometraditionsassociatedwithHughes,suchas the huge dirt lot where tailgating currently takes place.

Although the old dirt lot will have to be forgotten, it will be replaced with a new asphalt lot with the same purpose, similar to Oklahoma State’s stadium and those of many other Division I football programs.

The new stadium will have a maximum capacity of 41,000 people, and 36,000 total seats, with 10,000 reserved for students.

“The main motive of building this stadium,” Hooker said, “is to bring more people to come and connect to the gameday feeling on campus.”

Photo by Joseph Vasseur

Laptop issues addressed in Library & Tech Center Brooke Pippin Staff Writer When you start to observe your surroundings in FCHS, you will doubtlessly see numerous students resting against walls, typing away at their laptops.

If you peak into a classroom, and you might see students playing competitive games on their laptops to supplement their learning, or taking notes on a lecture via a word document. Either way, it would be a rare occasion to walk through the school and not see the typical sea of black screens.

Modern education relies on technology. Most classes have online books instead of the heavy, old school texts. Blackboard, StudentVue, Google Classroom, and many more are websites regularly used in FCHS. Teachers often send assignments and notifications through school emails. And essays are frequently turned in both online and on paper. With this heavy dependence, a single glitch or crash can make a student’s day very difficult.

From cracked screens to system breakdowns, students have been facing issues with laptops.

“Some are self-imposed, some are software and hardware issues,” Technology Site Assistant Mary Shull-Sarti said.

Some of these issues are preventable, and some are not. Many of the physical laptop issues are caused by students not treating their technology with care.

“They could be kinder to their laptops, and it’s really out of their control for software and hardware,” Sarti said.

When students are rough with their laptops, it often ends in the serious damaging of the laptop and if you don’t have a laptop, then you can’t engage and participate in class.

For students who face the issue of faulty laptops, the process to receive a loaner laptop is simple. First

youmustgototheLTCandreporttheissuestothelibrary technicians. If the laptop inventory is well stocked, then you can exchange your laptop for the rest of the year.

However, if the inventory is low then you will receive a laptop as a loan until the damaged one is repaired.

3 Year Laptop Malfunction Rates by Manufacturer HP 25.6% Gateway 23.5% Acer 23.3% Lenovo 21.5% Dell 18.3% Information gathered by Joseph Mason Source: statisticbrain.com

Graphic by Kaitlyn Schmidt

Spilled Ink

News

Oct. 27, 2016

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Graphic by Grace Hach

WHAT IS GOING ON: 2016 ELECTION UPDATE

Presidential field of candidates narrows Joseph Mason Managing Editor If you haven’t been paying attention to the political world over the past year-and-a-half, here’s what you’ve missed (read: if you aren’t following Satan on Pinterest, here are his pins).

People are saying they want to read a 68-year-old woman’s email; a presidential candidate retweeted a Benito Mussolini quote; at three o’clock in the morning the same

person told the world to “check out sex tape.”

Scott Baio entered the political world; people unironically said #FeelTheJohnson; Bill Clinton came out as a Police Academy connoisseur.

Gold Star families were attacked; “bigly” has become a word; people were called deplorable; people learned the word “deplorable.”

People were compared to skittles; someone named Billy Bush is now a wellknown person; and apparently Barack Obama is actually an American citizen.

But with Obama on the way out, a new person needs to take his place; polls suggest it’s either going to be democratic nominee Hillary Clinton or republican nominee Donald Trump.

Clinton wants to make college free for any student whose family makes less than $85,000.

She also wants to expand the Affordable Care Act and eliminate the gender pay gap.

Trump wants to lower taxes, repeal the Affordable Care Act, and build a wall between Mexico and the United States.

Information gathered by Spencer Thompson Source: CNN/ORC International Oct. 21

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A&E

Oct. 27, 2016

In Brief

Symphonic band to perform new pieces

Insufficient funds cause awkward encounter

Miles Rodriguez Staff Writer The Symphonic Band will present a concert on Nov. 15 at 7 p.m. in McNeal Auditorium.

“It’s our second concert of the year, so we’re kinda finding our sound, and I’m really starting to learn just how much I can push this group to succeed with challenging literature,” Band Director David Miles said.

Alongside the Symphony Orchestra, the band will perform “October” by composer Eric Whitacre and “Chorale and Shaker Dance” by composer John Zdechlik, both substantial pieces in the band’s repertoire.

The concert is open to everyone and admission is free.

Five students to participate in Western State Orchestra Nov. 5 Seraphina Discoe Staff Writer The Western State Orchestra concert will be held in Greeley at the Union Civic Center, at 4 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 5.

“This is like the All-Star Baseball game; the judges choose the best students from Colorado to make an excellent orchestra and have them perform in a group” Orchestra Director John Hermanson said.

The auditions for Western State Orchestra were in September.

Of the nine FCHS students who auditioned, five were accepted, including four for Symphony Orchestra and one for Chamber Orchestra.

The students rehearse Thursday, Nov. 3 through Saturday, Nov. 5.

Spilled Ink

Will Brown Columnist

Damn. There were five of us. How could this happen? When you go to a restaurant, you bring money.

That’s what you do! But there we were. Five annoying 15 year olds who were $5 short of paying the bill.

In that moment, I tapped my leg vigorously as I hoped to god Quinn’s dad would pick up the phone.

Let’s take it back. Five good friends: me (Will), Dagan, Conner, Quinn, and Kenan. What do friends do when they have nothing to do?

Spend money. Especially on a hot day when none of them are athletic. So, we decided to head to a restaurant where we could play cards as we ate.

Quinn, on the way to the table, grabbed a box set of “Cards Against Humanity.” From there we played, ate, laughed, and enjoyed ourselves. The waitress was nice and we were nice back. Nothing went wrong. Until the bill showed up.

“Take your time,” the waitress said with a smile. After she walked away, a dead silence crept amongst us (That always means something’s wrong).

I brought a $20 bill and was paying for Conner. Quinn brought $20 and

used it on himself. Kenan brought $2 and bought a $5 drink like a nimrod. But then there was Dagan.

While we were counting our money, Dagan pulled out a sandwich bag filled with quarters. *Sigh* Money is money. Why should it matter if it comes in different shapes or sizes? But deep down we all know that it’s not OK to pay for things in change.

So, we counted and found out we were $5 short. We all panicked and tried to hatch a plan. The best we could come up with was to call Quinn’s dad to come and pay for us all. In the meantime, we had to stall the waitress for 30 more minutes.

10 minutes passed after calling Quinn’s dad, and she showed up again. We all stiffened a n d

crossed ourfingers.

“Are you guys done?” she asked softly.

For a solid eight seconds, no one spoke up. She began to suspect something. I finally spoke up.

“We are… uh… still… you know...

So, uh… yeah,” I said over a span of 30 seconds, rapidly tapping my leg.

“Uh, OK. I’ll come back in a bit.” She walked away.

aggressive tone I have ever heard, Quinn’s dad said, “I don’t want that.” Like a terrified puppy, Dagan pulled back his sandwich bag and put his head down in defeat.

After the bill was paid, we all rushed out of the building. My friends grabbed their bikes and started to head home. But I looked back through the window of the restaurant.

And what I saw I will never forget.

It was our waitress with a dropped jaw and scrunched brow looking down at the table where her tip was. $10 in quarters.

Family, friends help in uncomfortable situations

Spilled Ink wins publication award

a more intimate look at how people can positively push each other to overcome their fears and engage in personally challenging situations.

The story is a dual narration

Adelaide Tomsic Perspectives Editor Thursday, Oct. 20, Spilled Ink received its fifth All-Colorado News Publication award at the Lory Student Center on the CSU campus.

“I really loved accepting the award this year because it truly reflects our hard work from last year,” Editor-inChief Dalena Groen said. “It makes me excited to see what this year will bring.”

The award, given by the Colorado Student Media Association (CSMA), honors publications that meet the highest standards in coverage, writing, visuals, and leadership.

“Spilled Ink is an excellent high school publication that does lots of things quite well,”CSMAJudgeKarlGrubaughwrote inhisofficialassessment.“Yourcoverage, writing and editorial leadership are very strong, and I appreciated your willingness to take on a broad range of topics in your columns and opinions, something that should continue.”

The award comes after nine individual state awards, including five first-place commendations, earned by Spilled Ink staff members.

I turned to Quinn and he just looked at me and said, “This is a shit show.”

20 minutes and one more awkward interaction with the waitress later, Quinn’s dad finally showed up.

“Hey, guys. What’s the problem?” he asked. Quinn told him to sit down and began to explain the whole situation in his ear. I watched as his face went from smiling to pissed.

“Alright, well let me see how much money you have,” he said. So, I slid over my 20. Quinn did the same. Quinn’s dad looked at it and said, “OK, good.”

Kenan pulled out 2 dollar bills and let out a sigh. Then, Dagan pulled out his sandwich bag, and Quinn’s dad leaned back in his chair, bit his lip, and shrugged.

Quinn’s dad began paying the bill with his credit card, and we had to give up all our money and leave some on the table for tip.

Dagan started to slide over his quarters.

In the m o s t passive

Samantha Ye

In-Depth Editor When I was eight years old, I nearly cried because my dad made me order an ice cream cone by myself. I loved ice cream, but I couldn’t talk to strangers.

But, being the insistent man he is, Dad forced $10 into my hand and marched me to the cashier’s counter, where I made my first, shaky, borderline-inaudible order.

I’m not going to lie; I resented my father for quite a while after that. I wouldn’teveneaticecream.Eventually, though, I found the ability to order my own food quite useful and became grudgingly grateful for my dad’s constant egging. For, even though I didn’t want to talk to a stranger, even one taking my order, I ended up doing it willingly because of him and it helped shrink my fears in the long run.

While plenty of novels have protagonists doing inconvenient tasks to help someone else, “Highly Illogical Behavior” by John Corey Whaley takes

between Solomon, a teenage boy with agoraphobia, and Lisa, the overachiever who wants to “fix” him.

Due to his crippling social anxiety, Solomon hasn’t left his house in three years, and, in theory, he does fine. No social atmosphere equals no anxiety.

“Take away the things that make you panic and you won’t panic,” Solomon thinks. “And then he spent three years wondering why everyone found that so hard to understand. All he was doing was living instead of dying. Some people get cancer. Some people get crazy.

Nobody tries to take chemo away.”

“Face your fears” might be a common saying, but the reality is, most of us would prefer to take away the things which scare us and avoid discomfort, no matter how irrational.

But people in our lives, our friends and family, may not feel the same way, and whether or not they mean to, they can nudge us into uncomfortable situations.

In the case of Lisa and Solomon, the situation would be their entire friendship (at least in the beginning) which Solomon pursues only to make his parents happy, but eventually grows into something quite meaningful in both their lives. Lisa then goes on to help Solomon fight his agoraphobia.

Sometimes it takes pressure from someone you care about to face anxiety-inducing circumstances we might otherwise dodge. This pressure isn’t necessarily bad—even if we do focus more on negative instances— and if met with proper support and understanding of the fear, can help people expand their universe.

Because even if we’re happy in our zone of comfort, it’s still worth stepping out in the end.

“It was safe here. It was predictable.

It was just a tiny little square on the side of the world. He never needed to leave it again,” Solomon thinks.

“But that didn’t mean he never did.”

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Oct. 27, 2016

A&E

Spilled Ink

Climbing To New Heights Rock climbing gym promises indoor challenges for climbers Roland Tomsic Staff Writer After working as an engineer for 30 years, Jon Lachelt dreamed of something bigger. He thought he would start a climbing gym to share his passion for climbing.

“I just got super excited about the idea and found some other people that were excited too, and we started the actual project about three years ago,” Lachelt said.

L a c h e l t ’s project, Ascent S t u d i o s Rock Gym, is a new climbing gym in the Fort Collins climbing scene.

Opening on Nov. 1, Ascent Studios is located at 2150 Joseph Allen Drive, about a mile and a half north of FCHS. Ascent Studios is a colorful Europeanstyle rockclimbing gym.

The gym features sport climbing walls, top rope walls, speed and crack climbing, and bouldering p r o b l e m s .

Lachelt wants to introduce climbing to people of all ages and climbing experience.

One of his future customers will likely be sophomore Quinn Kane. Kane climbs in the Poudre Canyon at The Palace during the summer, but in the winter months she climbs in the gym.

Kane is thinking about switching from Inner Strength to Ascent Studios.

Freshman Alex Ellmer began rock climbing when he got his first harness at the age of seven. Usually Ellmer climbs at Inner Strength Rock Gym, but he is switching to the new gym. Climbing three times a week in prime indoor climbing season, Ellmer said he will have an easier time because the gym is closer to his home.

“I usually sport climb because it gives me a challenge and kind of frightens me and lets me face my fears,” Ellmer said.

While climbers

like Ellmer will be sport climbing indoors, others will train indoors for climbing trips. Among these people will be Lesher engineering teacher Owen Murphy. Murphy has climbed El Capitan, a group of the most famous climbing routes in North America; one of the 50 classic climbs, it scales 7,569 feet.

“I always try to look at the gym as it’s not where I go to be a climber, it’s where I go to practice climbing,” he said.

Whatever way climbers look at climbing gyms—as a place to train, or as a place to climb—Ascent Studios rock climbing gyms is a place to do both. Lachelt wants to expand the climbing community and share this sport with everyone.

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A&E Poems for the People Oct. 27, 2016

Spilled Ink

Poetry forges personal connection between strangers on

to his poems, and lives his life in the same way.

“I would describemyselfassimplythat,ephemeral,”hesaid.“AndIlovethatfact.”

Staff Writer Bohn’s vocabulary, including the word ephemeral, meaning momentary, has Sitting on a bench that he crafted himself, with the clack of the typewriter grown with his love of the dictionary. His creativity, like his language, seems endless; almost omnipresent, Andrew he once created 72 poems Bohn spins out poem after in one day. Despite the need poem for passersby. You can find for writing quickly, he adapts him in pastel-colored jackets, the poems to specific people with pins scattered on the based on body language. lapel. Just as his clothes scream “It’s no strange power. cheerful, his personality is too.

It’s just observation,” Bohn With his extremely open way said. “I most assuredly tailor of conversation, strangers find them, because the hope themselves baring their souls, all with my communication small talk being brushed away is to be effective.” in favor of something more real.

His favorite poem Through his poetry, he is he has ever written was constantly forming human for an 80-year-old man. connections. Bohn sits along “I told him what I did, and downtown streets, waiting he said, ‘OK alright. 48 years. for someone to stop and ask Love of my life. Five children,’ him what he is doing. He then and he wanted me to write asks them for five words or a poem for his wife, which phrases, which he takes to I thought was the sweetest incorporate within a poem. thing,” Bohn said. “It makes “That ability to grab ahold me feel emotional now even of perfect strangers, and delve talking about it, and I have instantly into something more no idea of what the content than just, ‘Oh, what nice weather of it was, really, but he cried we’re having,’ to be able to dive and he held my hand, and into really intense personal just sat there for 45 minutes relationship very quickly is and told me about his life.” maybe the thing,” Bohn said.

He has recalled a range of His writing process seems reactions to his poetry because simple: he asks for five words, he has the ability to push which he then incorporates people out of their comfort zones through his work. into the poem. He is able to “There are people who are impact people with just a really open to communicating few minutes of their time. in the way I am attempting “I write just as it comes,” he to and so we have these said. “The way that I kind of profound interactions,” Bohn feel about it is that I’m picking said. “I have sat on the street up a little thread, and I see the and wept with people. I’ve little piece sticking out, and held perfect strangers on the I just grab a hold of it and I pull it out of the ground until —Andrew Bohn street and cried with them.

I’ve had instances like that. I’ve there’s no more thread to pull.” had laughter. A lot of people In this way, his have framed my poems and work is immediate and fleeting. According to Bohn, he never tries to hold they tell me about this. I love the opportunity of this work, to move people.”

Molly Lubbers

What a glory, to be you, and I don’t know all the specifics of this you, but there are many parts and pieces that I know from my own experience, and there are myriad ways in which we are alike and just as many in which we differ, all or stories weaving together, making this complex tapestry of reality, and you have been planted in this place, in your family and life, and as you grow into I bloom like the geranium a wonderful companion plant a beautiful bloom benefiting others, and keep reaching out to your loved ones, weather you need to digitize yourself via skype to be there, or if you can be there in body, be there for yourself and for others, this reality which seems solid as a brick, is really light as bubbles, and just as delicate and just as fleeting X

Passion for art motivates student to accomplish goals Brooke Pippin Staff Writer Senior Desolina Fletcher has a goal: let her art create a world for her viewers.

“I want to create a world that feels real for the audience even if it isn’t nice; a lot of my stuff seems darker and rooted in reality,” she said.

Fletcher is a student in AP Studio Art. She specifically stood out to her art teacher, Tara Lanterman, as one of her particularly passionate and talented students.

She has recently branched into digital art, animating, and video work. She admires film because of the power a single image can have.

Fletcher focuses her art on character designs, which are drawings of characters from movies.

“They create a mood or atmosphere without seeing the movie. I want to get really good at that,” Fletcher said.

Like many great artists, she discovered her passion for the arts at a very young age. She started drawing when she was six years old. However, she became serious and devoted to it when she began high school.

Her routine has changed as she has gotten more serious about her art. She has incorporated the process of elimination into her practice. She

also used to create as she went. She said that even just thinking about that now makes her “teeth itch.”

“I usually have everything planned out now,” she added.

Fletcher has many sources of inspiration. As far as film goes, two people she cites are the directors Wes Anderson a n d Quentin Tarantino.

She also enjoys Egon Schiele, an Austrian expressionist painter.

“I like a lot of German expressionism in general,” Fletcher said.

One experience sticks out in her mind. It was a prompt during summer camp and it’s one of the pieces that she is most proud of. It later brought about many other ideas. The end result was two nudeladieswithdottedheads.

“He told us he wanted this one to be better than anythingwehaveeverdone,” Fletchersaid.“Iwasthinking so hard that it just sort of happened.” Fletcher said.

Photo by Annie Nay

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A&E

Oct. 27, 2016

Pumpkin Spice

• 1 Tablespoon Brown Sugar • Nutmeg, to taste • Cinnamon , to taste

Lime and Chili

• 5 tablespoons olive oil • 1 teaspoon salt • 2 teaspoons chile molado • ½ juice of a small lime

Savory

Spilled Ink

Seasonal snack exceeds expectations Grace Hach

Staff Writer

If you’re looking for some solid pumpkin seed recipes to make good use of pumpkin guts, you’ve come to the right place. For this month’s review, our staff followed pumpkin seeds from slimy orange pumpkin entrails to roasted and seasoned excellence (or maybe just less than excellent).

The objective was to test different pumpkin seed recipes, and rate them on their taste, texture, and overall merit as a holiday season snack.

The four recipes we tested represented the four titans of the snackworld: spicy, sweet, savory, and relatively p l a i n .

P u m p k i n spice was loved by most of the staff. The pumpkin spice seeds featured a perfect balance of cinnamon and nutmeg, and the subtle sugariness was a hit for those looking to satisfy their sweet tooth. However, the texture was unexceptional compared to the spicy. This can be remedied by preheating the oven before baking the seeds (which our seed chef did not do). Nevertheless, the spices were impeccably selected to be evocative of pumpkin pie. The subtle hint of melted brown sugar made this recipe a seasonally-appropriate treat.

The spicy’s baking time produced a superior crunchy texture(chewyseedswerelookeddownupon),andthe

seasoning had a smoky, though not particularly spicy, flavor. The chile molado was slightly burnt, something thatmaybealleviatedbyaddingsomeextraoil,though the slight char provided a peppery flavor, which went nicely with the lime and was fairly well-received.

The reviews of the savory seeds were highly mixed, with some enjoying their saltiness, and others finding them briny with a unpleasant aftertaste. Cinnamon was clearly present in the finished product, making it reminiscent of a much saltier version of the pumpkin spice. Some found this delightful, while others found the combination of garlic salt, herbs, and cinnamon flavors a little too strong. Those who aren’t looking for an overwhelmingly salty flavor may want to use garlic powder instead of garlic salt. The seeds were a little undercooked, so the chewy, slightly-slimy texture was a major fault inthemindsofsometesters.

The poorest received of the bunch was the plain. Opinions ranged somewhat, but the consensus was clear.

The main downfall was the recurring theme of undercooked sliminess, which when combined with the bland, unadorned pumpkin flavor, made these unpalatable for some. Compared to the others, it was at best, just OK, making it, “only good for choking on,” according to columnist Will Brown.

Whether you opt for sweet, spicy, savory, or plain, scooping and roasting pumpkin seeds is a fun activity to get in the spirit of Halloween and Thanksgiving.

How to: Roasting pumpkin seeds Roast seeds in an oven at 300 degrees for 18 to 22 minutes Gut the pumpkin, and remove seeds Let cool, and enjoy!

Season appropriately

• 2 tablespoons of vegetable oil • 1 teaspoon oregano leaves • 1 ½ teaspoons of ground cinnamon • 1 ½ teaspoons of garlic salt

Graphics by Kaitlyn Schmidt

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In-Depth

Oct. 27, 2016

Spilled Ink

Youth vote holds potential for large influence Grace Hach Graphic Artist At this point in the season, every other ad seems to be a raving endorsement or opposition of either Hillary Clinton or Donald Trump; billboards litter the side of the road and early voting has begun. In this election though, candidates seem particularly interested in relatively untapped demographic of voters ages 18-25.

According to the International Conference on Civic educating research, despite making up more than 13 percent of the population, only 5 percent of eligible youth voted in the 1998 election. Since then, due to a variety of strategies campaigning for the youth vote, those numbers have been steadily rising, peaking at 47 percent in the 2004 election, according to The National Civic Review.

Young voters are a crucial and growing force in the U.S. With this comes the civic responsibility of voting wisely.

“My advice would be to be informed by a lot of different sources,” social studies teacher Sarah Keller said. “Don’t only listen to one because they might have a bias so be well-informed, and realize that while sharing your

information on social media is a great way to get your voice heard, and get the word out, at the end of the day the only thing that matters is your vote. If you’re legally able to, get registered and vote.”

The young generation consists of 69.2 million people, compared to the 69.7 million baby boomers, though baby boomers have more than twice the share of the electorate (25 percent compared to millennials 12 percent, according to Pew Research Center).

Involving millennials in politics presents a massive possible gain.

“I’m voting because it’s my right, it’s my voice, and I wish more millennials had that same stance,” senior Elizabeth Thilmany said. “I think many get lost in the numbers and think that it doesn’t matter, but when only 18 to 20 percent are voting, that 80 percent could make a difference.”

As candidates compete to appeal to the fledgling demographic, voters may find accurate information and fair sources difficult to pick out from the constant barrage of information.

The unconventional nature of this year’s candidates has led to more air time than ever being

devoted to politics, according to The New York Times. This provides a constant stream of he-said-shesaid debates and near-constant controversyandscandal.According to Chairman of the Board of the Larimer County GOP Bob Morain, the best way to stay informed is to build a solid foundation.

“The first thing is to study civics, read the constitution, learn about your rights as an American,” Morain said.

Voting is part of civic responsibility, but voting wisely is even more necessary. This is an especially tense year for America in terms of many controversial issues. This election season alone has raised questions for many voters about what it means to vote and to participate in a democracy.

The future United States depends on voter participation. Even for those who aren’t able to vote in the 2016 election, staying tuned in and talking to others may contribute a new understanding the realities of American politics.

“Your generation is going to be voting for a long time,” Morain said. “Learn your civics, talk to your friends and stay informed.”

Graphic by Cat O’Hare Information gathered by Samantha Ye; Sources: Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning and Engagement, NPR, Washington Post

Editor’s Note Samantha Ye In-Depth Editor While partisan has many definitions—a devoted supporter, an ancient English weapon, or a member of an armed group operating in enemy-occupied Yugoslavia and parts of eastern Europe during World War II— one seems more pervasive than others in this current season.

Biased beliefs in favor of a certain cause have had a growing influence on how politics are run and personal decisions are made. This month’s In-Depth theme of partisan explores the different ways onesided support appears in our lives.

Typically, political partisans ardently support one party’s cause and are reluctant to compromise with other parties, creating a political divide. That divide is now the largest in decades, as covered on the centerfold.

The centerfold also explores the debate over whether or not right and left leaning media corporations have helped exacerbate polarization.

The youth vote, a relatively undecided demographic, plays a unique role in elections. Page 10 explains how teens, even in high school, are encouraged to stay informed and exercise the power they will soon have.

Partisanship does not have to be purely political, however. Amnesty International, profiled on page 14, champions human rights worldwide and in local communities.

People can also simply have a title which sounds like partisan, such as the local parts artist who builds sculptures out of scrap metal. Artist Bill Swets and the origin of the Swetsville Zoo are explored on page 11.

With political party animosity growing, a large population of unaffiliated voters coming of age, and communities of students organizing to support their causes, the understanding of partisanship becomes increasingly important as its impact extends to the election and future progress of the country.

How has this year’s election changed your view of politics?

Riel Perez Freshman

“It’s just all messed up right now.”

Haley Christoffersen Sophomore

“It’s all very confusing. Both candidates are messed up. Our system of government is obviously better than a dictatorship, but this election is messed up.”

Angie Redder

Daniel Banks

“It sucks. I think it’s amazing we’ve gotten this far.”

“Views haven’t changed despite the outrageous candidates.”

Junior

Senior

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ARTS of RT Various metalwork creations populate roadside attraction Miles Rodriguez Staff Writer Just east of I-25 on Harmony Road is home to a unique zoo with no cages to contain its wildlife—but there’s no need worry. Rather than lions, tigers, and bears, the creatures in the Swetsville Zoo are sculptures crafted from a wide variety of scrap metal, car parts, and old farm

equipment.

Bill Swets, a former farmer and firefighter-turnedzookeeper, is the artist and creator of the Swetsville Zoo. What started one August night in 1985 as a hobby and a means of

keeping Swets busy while coping with insomnia quickly developed into an awe-inspiring public menagerie of over 150 animals made of metal.

The zoo is easy to spot because of the rusting dragons guarding the deteriorating white and yellow castle turrets of the Mini Taj, the home of Swets and his wife Sandy Swets. Throughout the rest of the property are various dirt paths and cracked asphalt sidewalks guiding visitors around to see all the zoo’s inhabitants.

The metal critters of the zoo range from ants only a few inches in height, to massive dinosaurs towering over guests. Each sculpture in the zoo is numbered with its name included in the Swetsville Gazette, Swets’ self-guided tour pamphlet. The two sculptures you’re most likely to see first are Ying and Yang, dragons whose roles are to guard the entrance to the zoo. One of the most well-recognized sculptures in the zoo is named “The L.A. Super Bug,” a VW Beetle that “can get out of any traffic jam.”

Being the perfect mix between a junkyard and a sculpture garden, the zoo has captured the imaginations and hearts of locals and visitors alike for decades. Swets and his creations have been featured in various publications over the years since the zoo’s beginning, and used to have between approximately 15,000 and 20,000 visitors every year.

Despite being a beloved roadside attraction in Colorado for the past few decades, it’s likely the Swetsville Zoo may not be around for too much longer. The natural wear and tear of time, weather, and vandalism has the buildings and grounds in varying states of disrepair. Some sculptures have been purchased and moved to new locations to accommodate the development of surrounding towns that are currently threatening to overrun the zoo with their expansions.

It’s a matter of time before the zoo closes and the remaining creations disappear, but it’s not too late to visit and make memories before time runs out.

The Swetsville Zoo features a variety of whimsical metalwork sculptures by welder Bill Swets.

Photos by Miles Rodriguez

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Graphics by Kaitlyn Schmidt Information gathered by Samantha Ye; Sources: Pew Research Center

Purposeful polarization inhibits party compromise Adelaide Tomsic

Perspectives Editor

A recent study done by Pew Research Center found 65 percent of Republicans and 63 percent of Democrats reported when talking to people of the opposing party, they usually end up finding they have less in common politically than previously thought. The growth of the partisan divide is made wider by biased media coverage and gerrymandering, resulting in conflict among representatives as laws are reviewed.

The two dominant political parties, the Democrats and the Republicans, support such a broad range of stances on issues that any party can represent some of the political beliefs of any voter.

“When choosing who to vote for, someone has to ask themselves, ‘Am I going to choose a party based off of my social positions or my economic position?’” language arts teacher Jason Clarke said.

Fewer moderate representatives are running for office per Pew Research Center. And individuals in

power are unable to get votes unless they support policies dramatically different from the other party’s.

In his final State of the Union Address President Barack Obama said, “There are a whole lot of folks in this chamber who would like to see more cooperation, a more elevated debate in Washington, but feel trapped by the demands of getting elected.”

Social studies teacher Chris Tholl said, one potential cause of the growing divide is voter access to media. Often, people are getting their news from social media, and, because they don’t follow people of a different viewpoint than themselves, people are getting biased information regarding elections.

“It’s gotten to the point where people don’t want to listen to the other side anymore and candidates can use that to their advantage,” Tholl said. “For example, Trump’s language saying, ‘Lock Hillary up’ is really connecting with his base and they really fail to see anything good about Hillary. They don’t see her political experience as benefit; they see it as a negative.”

Gerrymandering also contributes to the partisan

divide, according to Clarke. Political districts used to be much more square-shaped so candidates would have to be more moderate to appeal to the entire base of voters. But now, as lines have been drawn in intricate ways, districts are arranged so there is no chance a representative from the opposing party can get elected, and to gain votes politicians must become more partisan.

The resulting extreme base of representatives creates issues as politicians try to pass laws.The current Congress is predominately conservative, whereas Obama is liberal. Collaboration is hindered as the two parties have such polar ideals regarding issues.

“One party will take control and enact aggressive reforms, then the other party will enact reform in the other direction,” Clarke said. “So, one party will spend their time in power just tearing down what the other party had done with the opposite extreme.”

Partisanship is undergoing seismic activity; the trench between conservative and liberal is cracking apart leaving a crumbling foundation where moderates once stood.

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Exploring diverse political media crucial to full understanding Joseph Mason

Managing Editor After each presidential debate, a slew of pundits start their own debate, arguing over who they think won that day’s debate. They’ll discuss all of the highlights: sighs, hand magnitude, and occasionally policy talk.

These persnickety professional pundits breed pugnacious embryonic pundits.

“It’s easy to pretend like you know about politics because maybe you listen to Rush Limbaugh for 15 minutes on your way to work,” social studies teacher Chris Tholl said.

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“And people just get stuck with their one point of view. I think that’s the real problem; you get stuck with the one person you like, and you don’t branch out and listen to the other points of view to make your decisions.

The media is driving people’s decisions.”

Coloradoan reporter and columnist Kevin Duggan referred to this problem as “the echo chamber” where people keep hearing the same thing repeatedly. The echo chamber has been enhanced in recent years with the advent of social media.

“I think it has a huge impact in politicizing people that don’t really know much about politics,” Tholl said. “I just feel like it’s easy to get snippets from your media sources and then say that you’re politicized.”

With social media, people can just look at headlines of articles and feel like they know the entire story.

“This is kind of a convoluted analogy so bear with me: politics Twitter is like if you made Twitter worse,” senior Josh Barnes said. “On one hand, it’s less funny than normal Twitter, but on the other hand it’s less informed.”

Uninformed punditry can also be attributed to how a person consumes media—whether news is accessed through newspapers, podcasts, or TV. This variance can be the difference between an educated voter and an uneducated voter.

“Readers and listeners are different,” Tholl said.

“Listening and watching TV is easy while reading is a different type of processing where you can stop and be like ‘Wait a second’ and then go back.”

But, no matter how the news is consumed, the consumer has to be wary of the source’s viewpoint.

“Certain news outlets clearly present just one point of view, whether it be from the right or left,” Duggan said. “And it seems to me that they attract viewers and readers who share those views and those views just get reinforced. And the impact of that is people don’t look beyond what they already believe.”

Tholl said it’s impossible to eliminate bias because it would be limiting people’s free speech.

Therefore, he thinks it is up to the listener to know what the bias is and get both sides of the argument. This is especially important in an election year because of the influence the media has.

“I just feel like the American public is extremely gullible and can be easily influenced,” Tholl said.

“Bias in the news pushes people to the extremes.”

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AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL

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ARMEDCONFLICT ARMSCONTROL DEATHPENALTY CORPORATEACCOUNTABILITY A NTI D ISCRIMINATION o d y o y u believ h e in W nesty In rnaCtiULTURE DETENTION DISAPPEARANC RteAPE Am onal? AWARENESS INDIGENOUSPEOPLESRIGHTS INTERNATIONALJUSTICE LIVINGINDIGNITY PEOPLEONTHEMOVE ENDTORTURE EXUALANDREPRODUCTIVERIGHTS RAPE EQUALITY PEAC DETENTION DISAPPEARANCES FREEDOMOFEXPRESSION EQUALITY HUMANRIGHTSADVOCATES HOMELESSNESS Kyra Adamson Sophomore

Amber Reynolds Sophomore

“I enjoy helping people and making a difference. I think Amnesty is a group I can really start doing that with.”

“I think that it’s a good starting point to make a difference in the world. I think I can achieve one of my goals of helping people.”

Delaney Morris Sophomore

“I believe in it because it’s a really good human rights organization.

I think it can make a difference in the community.”

Graphic by Kaitlyn Schmidt

Club brings awareness to controversial rights issues Kaitlyn Schmidt Head Graphic Artist Every place in the world has different rules when it comes to the rights of those who live there.

One group, however, believes that every person deserves rights because everyone is only human.

Amnesty international is a nonpartisan human rights advocacy group focusing on rights violations and ways to bring awareness to them so people understand the importance.

The club meets every Monday after school in P-109 for about an hour. Each semester focuses on a different topic to bring awareness.

This semester, they are focusing

on rape culture and women’s rights.

The project for this semester is not set but they are thinking about an informational night open to everyone, and they’re teaming up with Sexual AssaultVictimAdvocateCenter(SAVA).

The topic of rape culture is rarely spoken about because there is some controversy over its meaning and existence.

“I don’t think our society really adheres to an upstanding model,” Amnesty sponsor Elaine Homes said.

A common misconception of rape culture is that it is just sexual assault, but it is the condoning of sexual violence. As the goal of the group is to recognize rights for all humans, they want to inform everyone that this topic is something to speak of.

“Our main focus is giving voice to the voiceless,” Holmes said.

The group intends to illuminate the idea that the social norm of rape culture is everywhere, such as magazines, movies, and video games. The objectification of women through these media teaches that women are vulnerable and easily taken advantage of and that they are the ones at fault. This is even taught in schools as something to watch out for.

Because the issues Amnesty talks about are controversial, they tend to plan activities to keep sadness to a minimum but still be informative. They don’t shy away from these topics, though, because their goal is to improve the world.

“I’ve been to Hiroshima and

Auschwitz. And to physically go to those places, which are sights of great human suffering at the hands of other humans, will definitely motivate you to really want change.”

They have experience with tough topics. One project a couple years ago was saving Syrian refugees, so to raise awareness in a fun environment, they putonJamnestyatAvogadro’sNumber, and the funds from the concert went to organizations for refugees.

Amnesty works to make a better world for every person no matter race, creed, or religion because humans are imperfect and make mistakes and they believe that it is not the right of other humans to judge and make the decisions that violate the rights of another human.

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How to work out while watching TV Between schoolwork and extracurricular activities, it can be hard for students to find time to exercise as well as relax. After school, some students often just get homework done, watch some TV, and go to bed without any exercise.

Below are some moves students can practice while watching TV to help eliminate that bad habit of skipping their work-out each night.

All you need for this work-out are you, your TV, and anything with a little weight (a textbook maybe?). Every time a certain type of commercial comes on, stay disciplined and do the designated workout.

For example: Insurance commercial- Lift your weighted object and hold it like you’re “changing the channel,” 10 times.

Fast food commercialCurl your weighted object up to your mouth 10 times.

Bank commercialJog in place like you’re a bank robber running away from the pursuing police for one minute.

Electionadvertisements-Turnaway from the TV and perform 10 squats.

ASPCA- Lunge towards the TV and turn down the volume 10 times.

The show you’re watching comes back on- Do 30 jumping jacks of joy.

If students stay disciplined and do the designated exercises every time they see each specific type of commercial, it is easy to get in a workout at night as well as some down time before bed. Doing some sort of exercise every day, even if it is small, has many benefits, physical and mental.

Here is your fellow Lambkin, freshman Blake McKinley, working out while watching TV:

Insurance commercial

Election advertisements

Fast food commercial

Bank commercial

ASPCA

Your show resumes

Content and photos gathered by Joseph Vasseur

Pre-made meals prove beneficial for busy athletes Adelaide Tomsic Perspectives Editor With busy schedules both before and after school, athletes may find themselves pressed for time during meals and may resort to eating unhealthful fast food and protein bars or skipping meals. To promote eating healthful meals, pre-making food during free time can be beneficial for busy athletes.

Breakfast burritos are a fast nutrition-packed option for breakfast or any meal. Cheese, beans and eggs contain protein which is low on the glycemic index, meaning they provide slow-burning energy to keep you full longer.

Additionally, protein can help to repair damaged tissue that may result from physical activity. Beans also contain fiber which aids in proper digestion.

Some packaged burritos, however, contain high amounts of fats and preservatives, so a homemade burrito is a better alternative.

Photo by Adelaide Tomsic

FROZEN BURRITOS FOR A WEEK Start to finish: 20 minutes Servings 7 7 Flour Tortillas 7 eggs ¼ cup milk 1.5 Cups shredded cheese 1 Can black or refried beans 1 Cup chopped vegetables of your choice and/or 10 pieces of Bacon

Begin by straining liquid from beans if you are using whole black beans. Then chop vegetables and/or bacon into almond-sized pieces. Heat a large skillet on medium high.

(Add a tablespoon of canola oil to the pan if you are adding only vegetables (bacon does not require additional oil). Add the vegetables and/or bacon to the pan and sauté until the bacon is crispy and the vegetables are soft. As the add-ins are cooking, whisk together the eggs and milk. Once the add-ins are done, reduce the heat to medium and pour in the egg mixture. As the eggs cook, use a rubber spatula to pull eggs in from the side to the center until the eggs are done. Put an equal amount of egg mixture on each tortilla and sprinkle with cheese, then put four spoonfuls of beans on each tortilla. Fold the ends of the tortilla over the filling then roll the tortilla closed. Burritos can be wrapped in tinfoil then put into a large Tupperware or gallon-sized zip lock bag to be stored. Eat the burritos within three weeks so they don’t become freezer-burned and remember: don’t microwave tin foil.

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Left: Looking into his opponent’s eyes, wrestler Roberto Alejandro Blanco, sophomore, competes in a match.

Above: Holding Blanco and his competitor’s hands, the referee is about to announce the winner of the match.

Left: Photo courtesy of Blanco Above: Photo courtesy of deportedigital.mx

FCHS wrestler participates in world competition Dalena Groen

Editor-In-Chief Athletes spend years of their lives training for success. Becoming successful on a global stage is a goal to which many athletes aspire. This is impossible without countless hours dedicated to a sport.

For sophomore Roberto Alejandro Blanco, wrestling has been a part of life for almost 14 years, and he recently participated in the Cadet World Competition. He traveled to Tbilisi, Georgia, and competed for Mexico in the 50-kg weight class.

Blanco placed fifth overall during this competition, an incredible success, according to proud coach Mark Moser.

“It was a lot of fun watching him,” Moser said. “I can’t take any credit for his success there. I’m not sure people realize how incredible his achievement is. That’s basically the Olympics for younger guys.”

To get to this point, Blanco started

wrestling before he could remember. His father was a wrestling coach and began to teach his son the sport from a young age.

“I grew up in a very popular wrestling area,” he said. “All the time, I was wrestling.”

Blanco was skilled in the sport from the start and has been competing ever since. Blanco considers his father his greatest influence.

“He has been my coach for my entire life,” Blanco said. “That’s why he is my biggest inspiration to do well.”

Wrestling has always been an exercise in focus for Blanco. This focus on the competition has propelled him to his current level.

“When I start wrestling all I can think about is me and my partner and the mat,” he said.

“That’s my favorite part about wrestling.”

Blanco is extremely proud of his success in Georgia, but he has already started to work on the next step in his life. He plans to return to the same competition and continue up the athletic ladder.

“His ultimate goal is to medal in the Olympics, which I have no doubt that he will accomplish,” Moser said. “Along the way, he plans on winning a few state titles, go to a great college for not only some national titles, but a good education.”

Blanco has taken his skill from the international stage to the FCHS competition floor, participating on the school team this year.

“Normally it could be a little disruptive, but Roberto is such a great person that he is going to be more than an asset. Not only does he get along with everyone, but they can learn from him,” Moser said. “He is always willing to help kids with technique. Not to mention they can watch his work ethic in and out of the wrestling room.”

Blanco’s work ethic can be seen both in and out of the gym. Moser feels that this characteristic is one of the driving forces in his wrestling success.

“He is a great wrestler because he always does what’s right in life,” Moser said. “He’s very disciplined in all assets, yet he definitely enjoys life.”

Exercise interacts with human body, shows value Grace Hach Cartoonist In America 68.8 percent of adults are overweight or obese, according to The State of Obesity Project. Furthermore, 80 percent of adults are significantly less active than the government’s exercise requirement, with 45 percent not active enough to reap any of the health benefits of physical activity. Inactive people pay an average of $1,437 more for healthcare than their active counterparts.

Regular movement and exercise are key in maintaining the function of the human brain, lungs, cardiovascular system, musculoskeletal system, and immunity to disease.

“Everybody wants to retire and see the world, and the biggest problem I’m seeing is people are retiring but their physical limitations are holding them back from living life to their fullest,” Miramont Fitness Professional Aaron Christ said. “I look at exercise as an investment in yourself, in being able to do what you want to do when you want to do it.”

Suppose the human body is a machine. Exercise is the regular tune up that keeps everything running smoothly The first few minutes of exercise fire up the engine and it begins using gas. According to an article written by Sarah Klein, senior health and fitness editor at Huffington Post, intense or extended muscle activity calls for the burning of stored glucose (sugar) and adipose tissue (fat). These serve as fuel for the activity to come.

The lungs also begin breathing faster and harder, out of the necessity for more oxygen.

The diaphragm, a thin layer of muscle between the bottom of the lungs and the rest of the body, can become exhausted from this effort

and cramp, creating the dreaded side ache. But, like any muscle, the diaphragm is strengthened by repeated activity, so this is only a temporary culture shock in introducing the body to exercise.

Of course, during exercise, the heart rate i n c r e a s e s .

This influx of circulation has wide-ranging benefits from preventing certain cancers to stimulating growth of veins and arteries, which in turn lowers blood p r e s s u r e .

This blood flow then travels to the brain, causing a feeling of alertness and enjoyment. This is known as the runner’s high; the brain is flooded with “feel good” endorphins and serotonin, which help mood, and circadian rhythms.

R e g u l a r exercise has been known to ward off depression, Graphic by Grace Hach

anxiety, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, stroke, and even the deterioration of an aging brain, according to The Mayo Clinic. Exercise is a powerful stimulant to keep the human body healthy, as well as the mind.

As Christ said, “Exercise is the best medicine.”

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. . . AND THE CROWD

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Watching the Homecoming football game with anticipation, the crowd is intent on the field as a player runs down towards the endzone. A few seconds after, they roared as the FCHS team made another touchdown. Photo by Molly Lubbers.

Football games display hierarchy of grades, spirit CeCe Apodaca Guest Writer Out in front, leading the cheers at every football game, is Ben Fraley, student body president. Now one of the football “super fans,” Fraley had a contrasting experience as a freshman. Though he sat in the back and did not cheer as loudly during freshman year, sophomore year started to reveal the positivity of participation. As he progressed through the years, Fraley realized the potential leadership role and as he made his way closer to the field, he gladly took on the responsibility of being a senior.

Fraley’s experience reflects a common evolution through the benches at football games, which results in the seniors in the front two rows, juniors behind them, and underclassmen in the back.

“Now that I am a senior, I understand the importance and why seniors get that opportunity and I am very grateful to have that,” Fraley said.

Along with the privilege of being closer to the field comes an increased level of school pride.

“Seniors are typically the most spirited— and rightfully so,” senior Peyton Walker said. “Seniors tend to go all out, whereas the younger kids are more reserved.”

The analytics of seating in the stands also reflect the varying attitudes, particularly the tradition of seniors sitting in the front two rows.

“We got the seniors in the first and second rows and it goes from that,” senior Jonny Guay

explained. “You don’t sit in the front row if you’re not a senior. Front row is competitive. Show up early. Don’t bring an underclassman with you.”

As different classes sit in different spots, levels of enthusiasm and confidence make parts of the crowd louder than others.

“We can only yell so loud, you know?” Guay said. “Sometimes freshmen don’t really get the memo. They kind of hang around in the back.”

The senior section tends to be a more energetic environment with chanting and cheering. “ T h e seniors really do amp up the game and show us how to have a good time,” sophomore T a y l o r A n t h o n y said.

“They add loads of team spirit to the crowd and make the game even more enjoyable.”

Not only do people see seniors as a source of enthusiasm, but many also see them as inspiration for spreading overall positivity and competitiveness.

“Seniors definitely act as leaders,” Walker said.

“Aside from the actual

cheerleaders, there are a group of seniors who lead the crowd in cheering for our team.”

Encouraging the crowd to stand, the group of seniors starts the cheers which eventually get picked up by the back of the stands.

“While the senior crowd changes every year, the seniors this year interact with us more,” junior Maci Garner, who has cheered for three years now, said. “I love this year’s seniors.”

The symbolism of moving up in bleachers as students move up in grades creates a sense of accomplishment.

The importance of the senior tradition is not rejected, but seen as another way students are led to the end of high school.

“I think the freshmen in the back is understandable,” Garner said. “You move up each year, just as you move up in school. By the time you are in the front you get the feeling that you earned it.”

“You don’t sit in the front row if you’re not a senior.

Front row is competitive.

Show up early. Don’t bring an underclassman with you.” -Johnny Guay

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Spilled Ink Sports Boxing movies becoming hackneyed Oct. 27, 2016

Joseph Mason

Managing Editor

Martin Scorsese has a new movie coming out and it’s called Silence. That’s possibly the most boring title for a movie in the history of cinema. And by naming it “Silence” Scorsese basically eliminated any chance at Oscar glory in February.

Titles are important.

Academy members don’t go to movies; they sit at home clipping their toenails while their prerebellious kid picks a movie from a pile of screeners. There’s no way that kid is picking Silent when he can watch Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk. This is the same reason Birdman won two years ago; no prerebellious kid wants to watch Boyhood.

This is a new problem for Scorsese. His movies have a history of spectacular titles: Bringing Out the Dead, The Wolf of Wall Street, The King of Comedy, Gangs of New York, and Raging Bull. “Raging Bull” is the perfect title for a movie. Rename any movie “Raging Bull” and it’s instantly a better movie.

Boyhood, The Social Network, Toy Story: let’s change them all to Raging Bull. And, best of all, Raging Bull lives up to the expectations set by its title.

“Raging Bull” basically promises a story of jealousy, and Scorsese delivers by crafting Othello in a boxing ring. Robert De Niro teams up with Scorsese (as always) in an Oscar-winning performance as heavyweight boxer Jake LaMotta.

LaMotta is an abusive husband who seems to punish himself in the boxing ring as atonement for his sins. At one point, he just stands with his hands at his side while Sugar Ray Robinson (Johnny Barnes) turns his face into a bloody version of Old Faithful.

Scorsese makes these fight scenes as chaotic as possible; he incorporates the sounds of birds shrieking and light bulbs exploding to convey the commotion of the crowd. The scenes are

edited to Scorsese’s exact needs. Depending on how LaMotta is feeling, the ring is either claustrophobic or endless. It’s this kind of expertise that won the movie an Oscar for Best Film Editing.

But, other than De Niro, that’s the extent to Raging Bull‘s Oscar success. Among the Raging Bull snubs are Scorsese not winning Best Director, Joe Pesci not winning Best Supporting Actor, and the movie as a whole not winning Best Picture. It lost all of these awards to something called Ordinary People. You probably haven’t heard of that movie because it has a boring title, a boring plotline, and it sucks. And the only thing worse than making a bad movie, like Ordinary People, is making a worse version of a good one.

This is the case with Southpaw—an off-brand Raging Bull. Southpaw is a smorgasbord of every boxing trope. Jake

(somehow, Billy managed to win 43 consecutive fights without knowing how to protect his face).

Earlier, Billy decides to spend some time with his daughter, Leila (Oona Laurence). “Is that your dad?” asks Leila’s friend. Leila does her best impersonation of an aggrieved girlfriend and answers, “I don’t know anymore.” Later, she slaps him and says she wishes he were dead. It’s that kind of movie.

This laziness can be seen throughout the story.

Billy’s nickname is Billy The Great Hope. The writers didn’t think to make him an Italian American or just simply ethnically Irish. Instead, they make him white and basically call him the great white hope. With all of this in mind, it’s no surprise they couldn’t come up with a more nuanced film. The movie is literally titled Southpaw but Billy doesn’t use his left hand until the movie’s last fight.

And when this happens announcer Roy Jones Jr. says, “Who would have seen that coming?” This is a lot of movie just to discover that a boxer can use his left hand.

But it makes you wonder if there is any way to make an original boxing movie anymore. Instinct says make a movie about a female boxer but it’s already been done—Million Dollar Baby. In recent years, Clint Eastwood movies have turned into 100-minute rants about real men trusting their gut. But back in 2005, before the handeye-coordination trilogy (Trouble with the Curve, American Sniper, and Sully), Eastwood actually made a good movie.

Million Dollar Baby won four Oscars, including Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role for Hillary Swank who plays waitress-turned-boxer Maggie Fitzgerald, and a Best Actor nomination for Eastwood as trainer Frankie Dunn. The two combine forces early in the movie and in the following months, Fitzgerald becomes one of the most dominant boxers on the planet. I won’t spoil the end, but the rest of the movie has plenty of drama to counteract the action. It’s a perfect formula for winning an Oscar and it even has the title to go along with it.

NG I T H G I F S VIE O M

H WIT G N O STR S ITLE

T

Gyllenhaal plays Billy Hope, an undefeated boxer whose life starts to fall apart. To counteract t h e life-falling-apartness, Billy gets a new trainer (Forest Whitaker) who teaches him how to defend himself in the ring

FILM

SESSION

Jake LaMotta is known for having never been knocked down in the most dire of boxing situations. He was the victim of Sugar Ray Robinson’s Saint Valentine’s Day Massacre in 1951. And if it sounds badass to survive a massacre, that’s because it is. So if Robinson couldn’t knock him down—and Robinson literally killed a man in the boxing ring—then who could knock LaMotta down?

Billy Hope Hope is just a knock-off version of LaMotta, and nowhere near as effective. Hope definitely uses Bing and says stuff like “Bing it on.” He also absolutely prefers Pepsi because “it’s so sweet and fizzy; don’t get me wrong I respect Coca-Cola, especially as a business and a catalyst for soda companies everywhere, and I’m also not condoning drinking soft drinks because I rarely treat myself to a soda anymore knowing the benefits of a glass of water. I’m simply sharing my opinion on why I like Pepsi more than Coke.” This is all to say LaMotta is definitely not hitting the canvas against Billy Hope. Hope is the Bing to LaMotta’s Google. He’s the Pepsi to LaMotta’s Coke. He’s the Southpaw to LaMotta’s Raging Bull.

Maggie Fitzgerald Fitzgerald could possibly knock LaMotta down but I doubt it would come from a punch. Maggie knows it’s impossible for anyone to knock LaMotta down with a punch, so she’ll just talk nonstop about how bulls are worse than horses, in order to give Jake a headache. After nine rounds of this, LaMotta will drop to his knees, hold his head in his gloves and yell, “I hate horses!” And in that moment, he’ll transform into an actual bull.

Graphics by Grace Hach

Spilled Ink

Perspectives

Oct. 27, 2016

19

Butting Heads Current minimum wage insufficient as an income Roland Tomsic Staff Writer In the past ten years, the cost of housing has gone up tremendously.

So has the minimum wage. In 2006 minimum wage was $5.15; now $8.31 is the minimum wage in Colorado.

After a year of working at a minimum wage job, one earns enough to support himself or herself, but supporting does not mean comfortably supporting. If there is a three-person family, the one person that works a minimum wage job earns only $7,000 over the poverty line. A family of three cannot live on an income that low, working a minimum wage job.

It is clear the living wage for a single parent needs to be raised.

For a teenager who is dependent on an adult in his or her life that has a good annual salary job, a minimum wage job is a great way to make a few dollars to spend. Once teens begin living on their own a minimum wage job can allow them to obtain basic living necessities.

“Should they raise the minimum wage? I’m on the fence about it, because in a way it isn’t bad for someone living alone or with roommates, because they only have to worry about their own expenses,” senior Nickita Herzman said.

•Minimum wage is an insufficient salary to raise a family.

•Increasing minimum wage would decrease need for welfare programs.

•Pew Research Center found minimum wage has lost 8.1 percent of purchasing power since 2009 due to inflation.

Graphic by Roland Tomsic

But the average person working 70 hours a week at minimum wage will make $30,248.40, annually. Not including taxes, a single adult will need about $22,473 to live, which leaves $7,775.40 to spend on themselves.

An adult with one child will need to have an income of about $49,696.00 before taxes to support the family.

Even if a family does not make enough to support a great life, on the Front Range, the government may provide resources such as CARE housing. CARE provides houses for low-income families.

Most of the families using the government resources are families that work minimum wage jobs.

The government would not have to provide these houses if the minimum wage were raised.

Minimum wage jobs are great for a single adult to thrive.

However, an adult supporting one or more children needs the minimum wage to be much higher to live comfortably.

Minimum wage adequate Spencer Thompson

taxes and stuck with the same amount of disposable income.

News Editor In addition, a post by David Henderson cited by the chairman Bang. Boom. Pop. Life hit you. You’re of the Harvard Economics 18 and you have no clue what to do. The Department, Greg Mankiw, points $1500 you had saved up is nearly gone out that “a lot of minimum wage and you only make $8.50 per hour. You earners are second or third-job have a couple choices: find a higher paying job, good luck. Or increase the holders in households with other minimum wage. I’ll tell you why both income.” This means that the of those wouldn’t pan out so well. need to increase the wage to An article written by Professor satisfy a need for a living wage is William Dinkelburg states, “Raising irrational, since the primary worker pay with no commensurate in a household isn’t working a increase in the value delivered by low-skill minimum wage job.

What happens when business the worker simply raises costs and owners are forced to spend prices and reduces employment more money on workers? and employment opportunities.”

They will reduce benefi ts and Raising the minimum wage isn’t likely give jobs to low-wage just “Hey, look at this: let’s all make $15, sweet.” Instead, you have workers like illegal immigrants.

And how long do you think opportunity cost and consequences you’ll be flipping burgers or to think about. Raising the minimum working a low-paying retail job? wage would ultimately raise taxes; A couple years? When it comes great, then salaried down to it, you have loans, workers would mortgages, and bills to pay. be making close You’ve grown up and are working to the same for a salary.

You’re taxed at the wage after same rate, losing more money than those in your position just a few years ago, and for what?

A little increase in salary, if that.

This currently debated topic is crucial to the economy and the low-skilled workforce.

With the discussion of whether to raise the minimum wage, this year Colorado has an opportunity •Raising pay will to change increase costs and t h e prices, and employworkforce ment opportunities. with a v o t e .

•Increasing the minimum wage to create a basic living wage is irrational.

•With an increase in wages comes an increase in taxes.

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Oct. 27, 2016

Perspectives

Spilled Ink

Friends with depression require care

Kaitlyn Schmidt Head Graphic Artist Depression affects many. In fact, around 14 million people in the U.S. have it according to Ronald J. Comer’s “Abnormal Psychology,” a college textbook on brain disorders, how they affect the body, and how to treat them.

But the topic isn’t always addressed in the proper way, especially if it’s presented as a surprise from someone close.

Anyone who has depression, or knows someone with it, understands the difficulty of interaction due to the fear of inflicting unintentional pain.

As a sufferer myself, the fear of loneliness in these times is omnipresent.

At first, though, the thought of seeking professional help was simply not an option because it meant admitting defeat and that there was something wrong with me. Only after seeing a therapist, did I realize that I was not alone. It made me want awareness around the subject of depression to grow because teens suffer the most, according to Comer.

Counselor Tanya Vigil explained that no two people are alike and depression is not always obvious, even for those who suffer from it. For those who don’t have the disorder, it’s hard to understand the disruption of life it may cause.

A friend of mine once described it as, “a monster that feeds on your happiness, as well as the happiness of all those around you.”

It’s a common misconception, according to Comer, that depression is not a disease. Some misconstrue the feelings and emotions of depression as an issue with their being. In reality, it is a chemical imbalance of the brain.

As a creature of great, inevitable priority, depression causes much distress for friends and family members. When these issues arise, the signs are different

for every person, but the most common are withdrawal, lethargic behavior, and reduced participation in class. If these symptoms last for two weeks or more, it’s best to contact an adult about it because these feelings, if left unattended, can lead to thoughts of suicide.

Most spurts of unipolar depression are caused by stressful events or trauma, and sometimes overlooked due to fear of judgment, according to Comer. Vigil finds that many people with depression won’t discuss their feelings until last the minute to a close friend.

As a listener, the job is a big responsibility that requires trust, but is not a job that should be taken on alone, because proper knowledge is seldom held by teenagers. Of course, helping a close friend takes priority; however, it is also unhealthy if the listener doesn’t have the right skills to help someone as it can affect them negatively.

“I don’t want to be that person that gives them one more thing to do,” Vigil said.

Helping someone with depression requires precision of language which means avoiding telling them what they need but instead asking what makes them happy. If the answer is nothing, then observe what they seem to enjoy. The most beneficial thing is to keep them active and positive.

Many people with depression fear being a burden to those who care, and although loneliness is a scary thought, the tendency is to push others away.

It’s OK to sit down and give them affirmation that they are not alone and don’t have to deal with it on their own. If the withdrawal lasts longer or becomes more serious, don’t be afraid to seek help from an adult or counselor, even if it means risking your friend being mad for a while because it could be the difference between life and death.

If something is done about these things early on, depression does not have to be a lifelong ailment.

“It’s not something that has to stay with you forever,” Vigil said.

Sometimes depression is just a hormonal issue, which is normal.

Other times it’s caused by missing dietary needs, which is common in high school, according to Comer and Vigil. But no matter the cause, there is still no shame in looking for help because no one is alone on this issue.

Health District of Northern Colorado (970)-221-5551 A free program supplies several resources for more help with mental issues and offers counseling at a low cost.

Alliance for Suicide Prevention of Larimer County (970)-482-2209 A place dedicated to suicide prevention and depression help.

School offers resources for depression

William Brown Columnist For people with anxiety or depression in high school, it may be hard to find help or even someone to talk to.

Although FCHS has several different available supports, some of them are not well-known or are brushed aside due to closeted emotions. But it is important to know about their presence and helpfulness so you can have the proper supports to help you cope. Among the available resources, a great example is the counseling department.

The counseling office is the most common support, used for anything from schedule changes to getting help with depression. The counselors themselves are professionally trained as well.

“Number one, it’s always good to let a student know that they are not the only one going through that,” counselor Brett Fedor said. “...sometimes when you’re in that mentality you feel like the only person in the world and going like ‘Why me? Why do

I feel sad when all my friends are laughing and going out having fun?’ So, we always try to put in perspective that depression and anxiety is very, very prevalent in high school.”

In addition to the school counselors, Peer Counselors, parents, teachers, friends, and coaches are all here to help.

For those who want a quick and easy talking session, a fast and well-trained resource are the Peer Counselors. Peers are an easily accessible and open resource for anyone looking for help.

Therapeutics, however, is something new to FCHS. There is now a room specialized in relaxation and therapeutics designed as a support for people with mental instability—the Lambkin Room is now located at M104. Run by school social worker Candice Sindoris, the Lambkin Room, also known as the wellness room, features over 13 different methods or practices to calm people dealing with mental issues.

Although these supports are readily available, it may be hard to know which one to start with or where to start for help in general.

“I think the biggest part is coming up with two or three people or supports that you are comfortable with,” Fedor said. “And that’s where I struggled in high school. It took me three years to talk to anybody, including my parents.”

Although it is hard, just talking about problems is always helpful. But keep in mind the options and resources when it comes to dealing with troubles.

And especially find which one is best for you.

Sexual Assault Victim Advocate Center (970)-472-4202 SAVA’s services offer therapy and support to victims of sexual assault.

Mountain Crest Behavioral Healthcare Center (970)-207-4800 A 24-hour resource with many forms of inpatient and outpatient services to help.

R E A C H I N G O U T

Spilled Ink

Lazy

Ditsy

Sexist

b m u D

Perspectives

Oct. 27, 2016

Stereotypes encourage implicit bias

Tate Thurgood Writer

Think of a stereotypical high school setting and you’ll probably bring up an image full of cliques, groups, and onedimensional people. Though this is not a realistic scene, stereotypes still prevail today, from being judged for certain clothing styles to being avoided for the color of your skin.

The spread of stereotypes has a profound impact on people’s lives, far beyond their days in high school, and though it’s hard to avoid, it can be overcome.

One of the first problems of addressing stereotypes is discovering them. Sometimes, stereotypes can become so subtle they aren’t recognized at all.

“They’re more implicit,” junior Cianna Seese said.

“Usually I don’t realize it until I’ve already thought it.”

Because people don’t realize the negative effects, they create complacency of quick assumptions.

“People think it’s OK to stereotype everyone because sometimes it’s right, but most of the time it’s not,” junior Elliott Bankston said.

Sophomore Ben Mortensen has had personal experience with being boxed in by others, even subconsciously.

“They kind of put you in certain groups or associate you with certain people,” he said. “Most of the time it’s being in a group I don’t want to really be with.”

At times, however, stereotypes become more than subtle thoughts as students traverse the hallways.

“I think it takes a toll on a lot of kids, when they’re stereotyped for things that affect them on a deeper level,” Bankston said.

He mentioned how people can get stereotyped as being rude for one rude comment when they might’ve been just having a bad day or going through a tough time. One characteristic or action can easily shape someone’s entire image of a person.

This can affect people’s self-perception, too.

“It can really affect your identity,” sophomore

Sydney Petersen said.

“Depending on what your stereotype is, it can be more harmful.”

School can be a prime breedingground for harmful stereotypes.

“If there’s less of a sense of unity and more segregation at a school, there’s more stereotypes,” Petersen said.

The more the culture shifts into one of cliques and stereotypes, the easier it is to fall into groups who judge others without even realizing.

“Depending on who you’re with, you’re more likely to stereotype,” Petersen said.

The question arises then: how can people stop themselves from stereotyping others?

“No change is going to be overnight,” said Mortensen, who suggested making small changes in perception, working at the problem little by little.

One adjustment is to connect to people before judging them.

“I like to get to know people for a long time before I really make any assumptions about somebody,” Petersen said.

The right frame of mind is crucial to overcoming stereotypical tendencies, but this process can take many failed attempts to master.

“Remember not to judge until you know for sure and just realize that stereotypes don’t apply to everybody,” Seese said.

The school can also assist in this effort to create a more open, diverse community.

“Talk about it more in classes,” Bankston suggested.

“Bring up the issue.”

Even with students, staff, and other authorities working to rectify these issues, stereotypes are likely to cling on in at least some minds, so what can people do to avoid the negative effects when harsh judgments arise?

“Be yourself and stop worrying about how to dress and act compared to other people,” senior Lauren Gregory said.

A high sense of self-worth and lessened need for gratification or approval can go a long way to drown out the voice of stereotypes.

Sometimes, a more forward approach is needed as well.

“I get stereotyped about my sexuality, mostly just people assuming that I’m gay because I’m trans,” Bankston said. “I just try to explain it to them.”

Even if others can’t (or won’t) understand the complexity of human beings, anyone can still rise above stereotypes and be a unique person.

21

jock

Stingy Prude

Mean

What is a one-word stereotype you are often labeled as?

From left to right: Junior Sydney Petersen, Senior Malek Haltham, Freshman Joselyn Burnside, Sophomore Benjamin Mortensen

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Oct. 27, 2016

Perspectives

Spilled Ink

Intramural sports beneficial to FCHS community

Joseph Vasseur Staff Writer

Most students probably don’t know this, but intramural sports were once practiced here—and we need them back. These intramural sports were played during fifth period lunch, and were a fun time for students who participated. Basketball, softball, and volleyball were some of the sports they would play. One of the reasons the school took these sports away was that there were not enough students participating. “There just weren’t enough kids signing up,” language arts teacher Jason Clarke said. “One of the problems was if you didn’t have fifth period off you wouldn’t be able to do it.” Intramural sports were a relaxing, fun, and non-competitive experience for students. It allowed them to get a good amount of exercise into their day, while not having to experience the higher level of play that’s in regular high school sports.

Students could make a team with friends who also had the same off-period. “They were excited to do it because they could pick their own teams,” P.E. teacher Kyle Tregoning said. Student excitement to do these sports would be essential if we did bring them back. “I think that intramural sports would actually be really cool because students can just have fun and not c o m p e t e ,” sophomore Delaney Morris s a i d .

Exercise is required for both mental a n d physical health, and intramural s p o r t s

were a way for students to get that exercise in a timely and convenient way. If we had enough students willing to play and sufficient staff supervision, we should obviously bring intramurals back. “I think bringing intramurals back would be fun if kids wanted to do it,” Clarke said. If intramurals were brought back, there would obviously need to be some standards set, and we would have a demand for staff to supervise, but as long as students are happy and healthy, this is a small price to pay. If there were enough students willing to play and we had enough staff supervision, we should definitely bring them back. Only students with fifth period lunch could do these sports in the past, which is another issue that would need to be addressed if these were brought back. “If intramurals were during common lunch you would probably get better luck with it,” Clarke said. To further eliminate the problem of not enough participation, the school could hold intramurals during fourth and fifth periods, the most commonly taken off-periods by students. If these were held during fourth and fifth periods as well. Students could take days off and eat during common lunch and play during off periods. To address the problem of staff supervision, we would likely have to get a faculty sponsor and get some staff members to supervise or participate with students.

Students w i l l perform better in

school if they get their proper amount of exercise each day. So for the sake of student health, we all can agree that these sports need to be brought back.

Is a little time used to organize and set up these sports really too big of a price to pay for higher student health and happiness?

Block day ‘brain breaks’ would improve students’ concentration Brain breaks on block days take only a small fraction of time from class, typically five minutes out of 90-minute class periods, yet they have numerous benefits. They increase productivity, quality of work, and are healthy for the body.

Unfortunately, many teachers don’t give brain breaks because they must accomplish plenty of work in one class period, or they worry students will get too rowdy if given the chance to leave the classroom.

According to the Washington Post, it has been scientifically proven that sitting in one place for a long time has health risks, but when students move around it boosts their brain power. Due to this concept, some teachers have taken to using fitness sticks during brain

breaks so that students’ minds will be refreshed.

These brain breaks prevent disruptiveness in the learning environment. To keep it out of the halls students could remain in the

classroom to keep separate lessons in surrounding rooms from getting disturbed. It seems better to have five minutes of loudness rather than a whole block of students not fully engaged in their learning. To have the attitude of quality over quantity, we shouldn’t force students to sit and work for an hour and a half; instead, we should allow some

free time so they may do their most diligent work.

When students sit through 90-minute classes, they tend to take breaks, whether they have perm i s sion or not. Often, they turn to texting or daydreaming in class when they are not offered a designated chance to take a break, which leads to their getting in trouble and missing information. It also disrupts the teacher, who loses class time redirecting students.

However, when there is a set time for all students to take a break, it helps to maximize instruction. Students return refreshed, and their work is higher quality because they are less distracted. If students have a break, they also have a socializing time, so they are less likely to distract their peers by chatting during class.

Spilled Ink

Perspectives

Oct. 27, 2016

23

Presidential candidates weigh-in on LGBTQ

Walker Discoe A&E Editor

What was once a triumph of democracy, the will of the people, and the preservation of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness has become a strip club buffet of government. Between an angry forest fire and a disappointed grandma, American politics, in the eyes of many has taken a considerable downturn in this election. And at the head of debates, discussions, and twitter hashtags are LGBT issues.

According to statisticbrain.com, over the past 10 years in Washington D.C. the openly LGBT population has risen by 31.10 percent, and nationwide there are over 9 million LGBT citizens. Their rights as citizens of the United States are no longer an issue that can be ignored,

and with a heated election in full swing, everyone wants to know what is poised to happen in the coming months.

This election, LGBT rights have been a large topic of discussion. While there are many viewpoints, LGBT issues are human issues, and the idea of denying anyone rights because of their sexual orientation violates the principle of freedom and equality for everyone.

GSA member Gail Bunn has her eye close to the election, and the possible outcomes make her worry for the future of LGBT rights.

“Depending on who is elected, it will either be effected majorly in a negative way, or positively but in a less impactful way,” Bunn said. “I know Donald Trump is against LGBT rights; he said one time he wanted to take away the right to marry in all 50 states.

I don’t think it would happen because it’s difficult to change, but those kinds of words definitely worry me.”

It’s been common for Donald Trump to build himself up as a potential president. Many of his campaign goals have been largely hypothetical. From the great border wall to the abolishment of the right to marry in all 50 states for LGBT citizens, Trump certainly has some strong ideas about the direction in which America should be headed.

In an interview with CNN in 2015, Donald Trump said, “We have some very terrible Supreme Court justices, and frankly, they should have at least had that [same-sex marriage case] as a state’s right issue.”

These and several other statements have led members of the LGBT community and their allies to raise concerns about the upcoming election, but not just about Trump. Hillary Clinton has also had wishywashy thoughts about LGBT citizens and their rights.

Photo By Walker Discoe

Clinton was quoted in 2000 by The New York Times as saying, “I think a marriage is as a marriage has always been, between a man and a woman.” But in 2015 she was quoted by the Washington Post as saying, “LGBT Americans are full and equal citizens, and deserve the rights of citizenship. That includes marriage.”

Freshman and GSA member Kayla Christensen believes the change in Clinton’s opinion isn’t totally politically driven, and she believes that Clinton’s beliefs have changed.

“I think it’s a little bit of both,” Christensen said. “She says it because she knows that that’s what her followers want to hear, but I think that she’ll continue to support that position, at least I hope, if she gets elected.”

Our country has a scared history of intolerance, and an inability to accept others for who they are and what they think and feel. As a nation, it’s time for us to lift ourselves from the hateful roots from the past, and walk together as Americans into a new age respect for all our taxpayers. We deserve a more capable and reliable president to carry us into a new era of tolerance, acceptance, a n d patience with all our fellow citizens.

Images courtesy of donaldjtrump. com and hillaryclinton.com

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Spilled Ink is published nine times yearly by the newspaper staff of Fort Collins High School, 3400 Lambkin Way, Fort Collins, Colo. 80525, (970) 488-8199. Member of the Colorado High School Press Association, American Scholastic Press Association and the National Scholastic Press Association. Recipient of the Quill and Scroll, George H. Gallup Award in 1996 and 1997, and awarded First Place with Special Merit in 2001 by the National Scholastic Press Association. Columns are the opinions of writers only. Unsigned editorials reflect the majority opinion of the Spilled Ink staff. Nothing in Spilled Ink should be considered the opinion of Fort Collins High School or Poudre School District (PSD). School-sponsored publications written by students are encouraged to freely and creatively express their views subject to the limitations of PSD Board Policies and state law (PR--la0431, Colorado Revised Statutes 22-1-120) Spilled Ink reserves the right to edit letters to the editor and to deny publication to any letter. Letters may be published on Spilled Ink’s website. Letters must be signed, and are limited to 300 words.

24 Oct. 27, 2016 The Backside

Spilled Ink

How does the upcoming election make you feel?

Blake Templeton

Caroline Howard

“It makes me feel scared, nervous and disappointed.”

“It makes me upset and very concerned with our nation’s future.”

Freshman

Avi McCaffrey

Junior

Lexa Wolfe

Jacob Diaz

Sophomore

Senior

Sophomore

“I’m extremely nervous, like really nervous.”

David Keliikuli

“We are technically screwed.”

“It makes me really glad that I don’t have to worry about voting.”

Jennica Travis

Levi Perkins

“I kind of want to care but I just can’t.”

“Either way America’s screwed. They both suck.”

Freshman

Senior

“I’m very uncomfortable. I dont like either of the candidates.”

Junior

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