The Lake - December 2016 by The Lake - Standley Lake's News Magazine

the lake bee here now: the planet needs you

Who we are Editors-in-Chief | Esteban Arellano Emily Leo

the lake the formalities Opinions or expressions made by students in this publication are not expressions of board policy. The district and its employees are immune from any civil action based on any expression made for or published by students. The Lake is an open forum for and by the students, faculty, and community of Standley Lake High School. The Lake is willing to accept and print any appropriate articles submitted by the students of SLHS and reserves the right to edit any of these articles. We will not print letters sent to us without a name and signature. Submit letters to standleylakenewspaper@gmail.com.

2 December 2016 | Issue 2

Staff Editors | Kevin Han Hannah Jensen Meg Metzger-Seymour Ty Milliken Kayla Pray Patty Sokol Maxin Uhrich Staff Writers | Atul Dhungel AJ Ehrhardt Jenna Hines Amaya Johnson Grace Johnson Alena Lee Christopher Luc Cheyenne Main Cheyenne Padilla Morgan Parrish Michael Pietroiacovo Sophia Stimpfl Michael Wall Cartoonist | Anna Nelson Advisor | Lynn Schwartz Website Editor | Gordy Saur

social @thelakenewsmag facebook.com/standleylakenewspaper @thelakenewsmag thelakenewsmag.com thelakenewsmag

Table of Contents

december 2016

20 The Good stuff

06 the right angle bringing 2036 14 into focus 20 Environment what makes 26 a man 30 opinions

Scrip can be a great fundraising option for your team or activity! Every team or activity can benefit from fundraising to help buy new equipment, fund trips or buy uniforms and one of the easiest ways is through the scrip program. If 10 team members use their King Soopers or Safeway reloadable grocery cards and spend $100 of groceries in a month, the team will earn $40 in a month! That’s almost $500 in a year! Spend more, earn more! If you have more team members, or spend more for groceries, your team or activity will earn even more money! And think about grandparents and aunts and uncles in any state that has Kroger Stores! It’s easy! If 500 families from SLHS spend $100 a month, in one year those teams and activities could earn almost $24,000! It’s not just about buying the card; the card needs to be used. And it’s easy! At King Soopers, hand the card to the cashier and ask for a “suspended sale” and they will put the total on your credit card (or if cash is your thing that works, too)! At Safeway, preload with the cashier an estimated amount. If you don’t have your Scrip card yet, contact Ray Wachsmann at slhskscards@gmail.com to get one for $2.50. For Safeway/Albertsons, they are $5.00. Start Supporting your team or activity today!

Thanks for supporting your team or activity in the easiest way possible!

BUzz buzz, If you’ve ever been in a high school history, math, or science class (and you probably have, if you’re holding this issue) then you’ve probably stumbled upon the phrase: “change over time.” In history, we analyze the change in European alliances over time. In science, we examine the change over time of evolution. But the thing is that this concept extends much further than the confines of the classroom. Change happens all around us: in the environment, in our lives, in our country, in our world. But now more than ever: change is in the air. Seniors are preparing for the next step in their life adventures. The nation--for better or for worse--is preparing to make America “great” again. For our cover story—and almost every other story in this issue—we looked at the change taking place in our own communities of all sizes. Within the walls of high school, we looked at what it means now to be masculine. Rather than look at the change coming in the year ahead, we decided to look at what to expect in two decades. Finally, we ran with vegans to see the change they have on the largest scale of all: the world environment. We don’t expect you to embrace all this change. We don’t expect you to cut out meat or even to support the next president. But as our cover says, we request that you “Bee Here.” All puns aside, we ask that you use this issue to center yourself in the now, know where we are, and know where we are headed.

with love,

A.K.A. ESTEBAN AND EMILY, THE EDITORS-IN-CHIEF

THE RIGHT ANGLE

AMERICAN TERROR Midnight Clown Craze Ravages the Country If clowns weren’t already the stuff of nightmares, they surely are now. With the sudden rampant epidemic of creepy clowns haunting the streets, everyone needs to be a bit more cautious. The first reported sightings of these creepy creatures were on August 21 in Greenville, South Carolina. Reports of clowns threatening the peace surfaced. Children claimed clowns attempted to lure them into the woods with cash. The police were unable to find any suspicious activity. Parents hadn’t believed their children but when they all spoke out together, eyes were opened. Questions were brought up if it was a marketing stunt. Rob Zombie, horror director and musician, has been working on a new movie called “31”; the movie being about a group of people having to survive 12 hours against a group of sadistic clowns. Word of this clown craze quickly spread throughout the US, over half of the states reporting clown sightings. The clown craze hasn’t been limited to the U.S., other European, Asian, and Latin American countries reporting creepy clown sightings as well.

have zero tolerance policy concerning clowns. Besides police involvement, many have taken measures to prevent clown scares. Many stores, like Target, have pulled clown costumes from their stocks. Some alarmed parents in Florida went so far as to bring weaponry with them as their children trick-or-treated. Even here at Standley Lake, clown costumes were banned on Halloween. Many clowns, those who take it up as a profession, are losing money due to less business. Even Ronald McDonald, the McDonald’s mascot, is

6 December 2016 | Issue 2

Standley Lake hasn’t received any known clown threats, though Colorado sure has. As the year draws to a close, this clown epidemic has slowly faded out but resurgence is always possible in the coming year. No matter what the case, be aware of your surroundings and maintain caution. | AJ Ehrhardt | Kevin Han

CLOWNIN’ AROUND

A MAP OF KNOWN CLOWN SIGHTINGS IN THE U.S.

Cops have been arresting clowns and some have even been persecuted as domestic terrorists. In Kearney, Nebraska, a college town, a clown was seen on campus and arrested by the local police under the tag of domestic terrorist. In LaGrange, Georgia, the local police posted on their facebook page, “As of Friday, September 16, 2016 four individuals have been identified and warrants have been obtained for Terroristic Threats and Disrupting Public Schools.” Evidently, the police aren’t taking any chances and don’t care if it’s just a joke. The clowns have been leaving mostly empty threats but they are threats nonetheless. The police were vigilant on Halloween, many precincts stating they would

on temporary hold. Actual clowns across the nation have been cancelling gigs, unintentionally scaring people, and even getting arrested.

= Reported Clown Sightings

THE

MIRACLE THE LIFE OF PEPE Popular Meme Evolves from Beloved Joke of Tumblr to White Supremacist Hate Symbol

1. ORIGIN

Pepe the Frog was a simple meme. Originally appearing in the comic Boy’s Club by Matt Furie in 2005. Pepe first appeared in the early internet via MySpace, when Furie posted Boy’s Club onto the archaic social media platform. At the time, Pepe was just another image among many in the early days of the Internet. No one could’ve imagined what would occur in the years to come.

2. RISE TO FAME

No one expected a random anthropomorphic frog in a random comic posted to MySpace to take off like it has. Pepe rose to fame in the (now) ancient networks of MySpace, Gaia Online, and 4Chan. It was in 2008 when 4chan users began adapting Pepe to fit different scenarios and situations. This trend has continued on to present day. By 2015, Pepe was entrenched in popular culture, the multiple variations of Pepe perfectly describing the situations many found themselves in. Things were looking good for Pepe: he had fame, fortune, and a dedicated fanbase.

3. DOWNWARD SPIRAL

Unfortunately, we can’t have nice things. Nowadays, Pepe has become the calling card of the alt-right movement, becoming associated with white nationalism, anti-Semitism, and racism. Used by political figures like Donald Trump, Pepe is a distortion of the innocent internet meme it once was. And earlier this year, the Anti-Defamation League classified Pepe as a hate symbol. The sad downward spiral of Pepe is just another example of the poisonous rhetoric that inhabits the U.S. today. A rhetoric that morphed an innocent sad frog picture into a champion of white supremacy.

4. FIGHTBACK

However there are movements currently trying to save Pepe’s image, the Anti-Defamation League launching a campaign promoting the usage of “positive Pepes” to counteract the hate. Both Furie and his publisher Fantagraphics Books condemned the usage of Pepe as a white supremacist symbol. Perhaps in time, Pepe will return to us from his alt-right prison. Until then, all that can be done is to keep his memory alive, and to drown out the hate. | Kevin Han | Ty Milliken

of ADOPTION

National Adoption Month Draws to a Close as Thanksgiving Ends November is National Adoption Month, and is bringing attention to the need of permanent homes for children. This year, National Adoption Month focused on the importance of identifying permanent families for thousands of 15-18 year olds in foster care who are currently less likely to be adopted, often due to their age. Foster homes have children as young as a few days to eighteen years old. Once a child is eighteen, they cannot be in foster care because they are considered a legal adult. Many of these new adults become homeless. One in five foster children will go homeless after the age of eighteen. When someone decides to adopt, they can adopt foster children from their state, or as many parents decide, from different countries. The cost to adopt varies based on where the child is from, and how old they are. On average, adoption can cost around $1,000-$40,000. “When I was adopted, I was two weeks old,” Haley Brandt ‘20 said. Brandt is one of many children who had an arranged adoption. Arranged adoptions are common. There are many expecting mothers who know they will not be able to care for their expected child. These mothers can coordinate with an adoption agency or church to interview and select a family to adopt and raise their baby when it is born. Jay McCoy ‘20 was also adopted via arranged adoption. “I was three minutes old when I was adopted.” McCoy said. Foster and adopted children are often treated differently in school, especially when classmates discover these children are adopted. These reactions differ drastically depending on the person. ”[Other students] act like it’s a bad thing [when they find out I’m adopted], and they’re afraid that they might say something wrong.” Brandt said. However, for others, there is no special or different treatment. ”They are really surprised at first, but they treat me almost exactly the same.” McCoy said. Many families feel that life is meaningless without the gift of parenting. Adoption is one of many things that can benefit both the child and the family taking in their new member. Many of these families cannot have their own children for a variety of reasons: health, age, fertility, and many other factors. Adoption is a way that these families can satisfy that urge to become parents, all while making the lives of foster children better. | Kevin Han | Mya Sanchez

THE RIGHT ANGLE

when in Prague STUDENT GETS ARRESTED On trip to GERMANY Over every summer the German language teacher, Michael Pokorny, takes a few selected students across the sea to Germany to experience the culture and life as a German student. Usually the trip is pretty calm and everything goes smoothly. However, there are always exceptions. The summer of 2016, Madison Krech ‘17 was arrested by airport security for purchasing a ninja star from the neighboring Czech Republic in the city of Prague.

illegal in Germany. Krech had to pay a fine of 250 euros, which equates to about $290. He was unable to pay it because they only took cash and Krech only had his credit card. “I grabbed Mr. Pokorny and they started talking in German and two kids next to me were like ‘what’s going on’ and I didn’t know but it’s a criminal offense to have this throwing star,” Krech said. “They started to ask if I wanted a lawyer but I didn’t because I just wanted to go home with everyone else.”

“I saw they had

my throwing star in their hand and

I thought ‘oh, this

Prague has different weapon laws than Germany. According to Krech, “a bunch of people started to buy weapons to bring back from the trip, they were buying full sized swords and daggers”. Not wanting to be left out of the group, Krech decided to purchase a weapon of his own, a throwing star.

Pokorny talked to the German security guards, came back to the rest of the students and told them that Madison was going to jail and they needed to pay his bail. All the students were upset but everyone pitched in and bailed him out. Page Valent ‘18 said, “I thought it was hilarious, and everyone was just laughing at Madison and it’s just a great story to [tell] people.”

will be exciting.’”

-Madison Krech ‘17

“I checked to see if they are legal here in Colorado and they are,” Krech said. “So on the last day we were here at the airport they were calling out random names for a security check. I had no idea why. [Then] they called my name out. They told me to go with these two security [officers].” It turns out that throwing stars, of all weapons, are

With some paperwork and a warning, Krech left Germany for home, leaving the accursed ninja star there. | Aj Ehrhardt | Ty Milliken

the rapper IF 2016 had a 1. CHANce COLORING BOOK highlight reel As 2016 comes to an end we have three of the best movies, video games, and albums of 2016.

8 December 2016| Issue 2

Chance the Rapper released his second major album in 2016 and with it some of his best work come out of it. With upbeat lyrics and music listeners can get get into it. with famous rappers including Lil’ Wayne, 2 Chainz, and Kanye West he really brought the best rap album to 2016.

2. Captain America Civil War Fans waited excitingly for this superhero showdown and weren’t disappointed when it arrived. While it may have been spaced out, the action scenes were well choreographed and well designed. The Panther made his debut as well which has already turned into a fan favorite.

3 Battlefield 1 Video Game Battlefield took a risk and went back in time to the Great War. This worked heavily in it’s favor considering the outcry against futuristic warfare in other games. So far, it has performed, played, and sold much better than its rival Infinite Warfare.

Sticker Culture

Telling a story, one sticker at a time -Emma Abernethy ‘17 “My Virginia Outdoor Center sticker is from a really close family friend who owns the Center and I have a tie-dye ‘HB’ sticker stands for Holden Beach which is a beach town that we go to every summer, in North Carolina.”

HOLIDAY HORRORS here are a few tips to help you get through your familiy parties.

1. Prepare

for kids—If your family has any

Little kids are the worst, especially to teenagers. They scream, run around, have so much energy, and don’t stop messing with you until you play with them. Just do it. Go do whatever they want you to do, if it’s reasonable, and just go back to the adults. Or if you want to be real mean just tell them to go away.

-Hannah Laughlin ‘17 “I really like my CU Boulder sticker because it reminds me of what I work hard for. It’s kind of a form of motivation. My other favorite sticker is my USA swimming sticker because I got it at one of my swim competitions when I swam and placed very well.”

-Katie Kinnard ‘19 “So I have a sticker that says “Go Fast Take Chances” and it is one of my favorites because it was the catch-phrase of one of our good family friends who passed away 2 summers ago. He said it a lot, so it reminds me of him. I have another that is a DAN sticker which is the Divers Alert Network, and I like that one because I am a scuba diver.”

2. family photos Whether it’s your mom, aunt, or grandma they are going to be taking photos all day long and they’ll usually do it during the worst times, so keep your head on a swivel. Keep a look out for them, try to hide from them if you see their phone or camera. Or embrace it, dress up and look good, might as well get a good looking photo of yourself for everyone to see.

3. Your grandma Bless Grandmothers for their cooking and kindness but sometimes enough is enough. They keep putting tons of food on your plate even after you’re done or say no, but they just keep going. This is a hard one to prepare for because you don’t want to hurt your Grandma’s feelings so your best bet is to get up and put your dish away or accept it and just come to terms with what’s happening.

THE RIGHT ANGLE

volleyball Volleyball finished off their year with a 9-13 overall record. Hanna Davis ‘17 led the team with 43 total blocks during the season.

Photo courtesy of Lianne Heffelman.

Golf

soccer

Jonathan Southworth ‘17, Dylan Drennan ‘17,Tyler Dorn ‘19, and Sean Hill ‘18 all qualified for the regional tournament but fell short in qualifying for the state tournament.

Soccer finished 2nd place in 4A Jeffco with a record of 9-4-2. The boys advanced into the playoffs and won their first game 1-0 against Pueblo Centennial, but fell short in the second round.

Photo Courtesy of Tina Carson.

Cross Country Cross country had both teams qualify for the 4A state meet. The boys team finished in 10th place and the girls team finished in 11th place with Trevor Smith ‘17 and Emma Albernethy ‘17 both individually placed 14th overall.

10 December 2016| Issue 2

FOOtball Football finished the year with a 5-5 record. The team averaged 180 yards a game rushing and Ryan Biller ‘19 lead the Gators with 81 tackles this season.

NOT LOCKER ROOM TALK Donald Trump incorrectly justifies his comments A sports column by:

Maxin uhrich

Let’s go over what locker room talk really is. It is a group of people coming together, encouraging one another to achieve for a common goal. Certainly, there are the occasional conversations you wouldn’t want your mother listening to. But, it is never too vulgar or profane.

SOFTBALL Softball ended their season with a record of 0-19. Cecilia Eliot ‘18 and Brianna Ynostroza ‘18 went 2nd Team All Conference. Jazmyn Ruybal ‘17 received honorable mention.

It’s sickening how somebody can confidently speak and feel comfortable by describing what explicit actions they do to females and then think everyone will be okay with it by justifying those comments as “locker room talk”. I don’t even think President-Elect Trump has stepped foot into a locker room and if he has, I don’t care to be in one that he has been in. After President-Elect Trump, addressed his comments following his leaked video with Billy Bush as, “locker room banter” I began to pay more attention on how my teammates and I acted in the locker room. As a member of my high school’s varsity football team, I get a lot of exposure to locker room talk and of course, the conversations in there aren’t the type of conversations people have around the dinner table. But, my teammates and I aren’t giggling over what we’re about to do sexually with women.

Gymnastics At the Jeffco league championship meet, the Gators placed 8th, receiving a score of 161.75. Rachel Cody ‘18 finished the meet 7th overall. At the 4A state meet, the girls placed 4th overall as a team.

What I noticed was that most of us keep to ourselves. We aren’t concerned about outside distractions or what anyone else is doing. The talk in the locker room is very minimal actually. Players are most attentive to themselves in the moment. The locker room is exposed to me everyday over these past few months before and after practice and what I’ve gathered is that my teammates after practice are grabbing their things as fast as they can to get home. Again, we aren’t talking dirty about women. Now that Donald Trump has won the election and will take control of the White House, I hope that he can be better than the man he was in years past and can lead the country respectfully.

THE RIGHT ANGLE

A BREATH OF FRESH AIR BOULDER OXYGEN BAR UTILIZES UNORTHODOX METHODS TO CALM ITS CUSTOMERS

What is aromatherapy? Tonic is an oxygen bar located in Boulder. It’s a quiet little place with cozy sofas, local paintings, and friendly staff. A wave of aromas flow over you as you enter the small establishment, a sense of peace and calmness overwhelming your senses. As you flip through the 10 page long menu of drinks, shakes, alcohol, and flavored oxygen, you get a sense that no matter what you order, it’s going to make you feel better. Obviously since we’re underage, we stuck with the oxygen. We each chose a different flavor to maximize our experience. We wanted to go to Tonic to see if inhaling flavored oxygen had any actual benefits or if it was just a hoax. What we discovered was that placebo or not, oxygen does many things beyond keeping you alive. It can help you calm down, feel peaceful, and just get away from the busy life of a high schooler. | AJ Ehrhardt | Kevin Han | Jenna Hines | Ty Milliken | Morgan Parrish | Mikey Pietroiacovo

12 December 2016 | Issue 2

Aromatherapy can be used for medicinal reasons

CognItive Function Mood enhancement Pain Relief

OUR EXPERIENCES Heading into this whole endeavor, I was kind of skeptical. I didn’t really feel as if anything significant would happen. I chose Clarity as my oxygen flavor since I had a mountain of homework looming, waiting to be done later that evening. The description said that Clarity would “give me a sense of alertness” and my eternally drowsy self definitely needed a boost. And I’ve got to say...it kind of worked? I did feel more alert and aware but the way the menu described it I expected a wave of energy to hit me. In the end, I still passed out at the end of the day and the “clarity” I received faded after a few hours of quality calculus homework. | Kevin Han

As I hesitantly opened the door to the cute herban lounge in Boulder, not sure what I was getting myself into, a vibrant but relaxing smell hit my nose. I entered the hippy-like room and sat down. As I flipped through the oxygen menu, the “White Angelica” flavor caught my eyes. I told the lounge owner my flavor of choice. I started to relax myself as he got the oils, humidifier, and oxygen tubes ready for me to use. He told me that I could start inhaling the oxygen when I was ready, so eagerly I took the tubes and placed them around my ears and up my nose. I started to breathe in the sandalwood air, closed my eyes, sat back, and let it work its magic. The oxygen brought a delicate sense of strength and wholeness to my body. I felt very calmed and relaxed. I think it worked very well, though the senses wore off after a short period of time. This was a very fun and calming experience that I would definitely do again.

I was pretty scared at first, especially when we all awkwardly walked into this cozy room with a strong aroma and a bar with an old guy sitting behind it. Luckily enough he was really nice, like really nice, and he wanted us to do the oxygen. My flavor was Valor, an encouraging “self-esteem” boost which I thought was perfect for my shy self. He gave me the tubes that people have in their nose when they're in a hospital, and with a quick turn of a nozzle and a high pitched noise, air started to shoot up my nose and I tasted the oxygen in my mouth even though you can’t really taste oxygen. After 12 minutes of oxygen, I started to feel relaxed and after 30 minutes, the feeling faded away and I was back to normal. | Ty Milliken

| Morgan Parrish

Bringing

2036 into focus

From the economy to Global development, energy to terrorism, The Lake looks towards the future and how the world will changeâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;for better or for worseâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;in the next 20 years | Jenna Hines | Hannah Jensen | Michael Pietroiacovo | Patty Sokol

14 December 2016 | Issue 2

tâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a universal idea: as time passes, things change. Traveling back to 1996, there were no mini portable computers that fit in the palm of your hand, tweeting was only something birds did, and minimum wage was $5.15. These are only a few examples of the aspects within our world that have changed within a span of 20 years. Change occurs due to experience and knowledge; once society undergoes some type of situation or newfound information is discovered, the components of society are affected and it reacts accordingly. The next 20 years are bound to provide an immense amount of change in the world that we are set to experience life in.

Financing the future:

how international public finance should find a global social compact to eradicate poverty

extreme poverty will be even more concentrated in Sub-saharan Africa Number of people living in extreme poverty (in Millions):

2011 Sub-Saharan Africa South Asia East Asia and Pacific Rest of Developing World

2030 200

400

Population Conundrum the world’s population is increasing, aging, and moviing to urban areas

600

800

“

I think poverty goes back to the economy, inflation, [and] population. If we have more people and fewer jobs, that’s going to lead to a rise in poverty and I think unfortunately that’s a constant in world history.” - Mr. justin Pond

1000

as the number of older adults in the us

doubles by the year 2030... deaths will rise

500m people will still be living on less than $1.25 a day

ALZHEIMER’S HepaTITIS C cANCER

Global population is currently 7.1 billion and will continue to grow to 8.3 billion by 2036 16 December 2016 | Issue 2

“We cannot expect all oil, coal, or other traditional resources to be here forever . it’s just the fact of life.”

Global Energy Consumption is rising rapidly Global energy consumption predicted to rise by 2040.

56%

-ryan schiller ‘17

hALF OF THE WORLD’S POPULATION WILL BE LIVING IN WATER STRESSED AREAS BY 2025

making energy Brighter: harnessing alternative energy for a sustainable future 2009 energy consumption

4 10,1

Historical Energy Consumption

(billion kWh)

1950

US 2055 Energy consumption Goals

80% of electricity

83% fossil fuels

13,2

9% nuclear

1960

1970

The Past

would be from green energy sources

19,833

85% increase Renewable energy investment

7% Renewable

“$1.00 a watt”

1% solar energy Fossil Fuels Nuclear Renewable

Recent years

Initiative to make solar energy cost competative THE FUTURE

From idea to reality: Idea Generation

acture nuf a m

testing

“

There are already drones that are able to do everyday human [activities] Who knew we would basically have robots being able to do certain things. It’s possible that we will have technology that alters the way we live and how we conduct ourselves. -JANELLE ERICKSON ‘17

innovative inventions Technology is constantly advancing at a rapid pace. Things that bewildered us 20 years ago seem ordinary by today’s standards. Because we are currently in “The Digital Age,” it’s only fitting that more technological advancements will be made within the next 20 years. The world is hitting its stride, and it’s very possible that the future of technology will pale the previous 20 years. The word cloud to the right displays the most probable technological advancements that will occur in the future.

18 December 2016 | Issue 2

rot ot ypes

85%

of businesses and customer oriented services will be managed without any human interaction (Information courtesey of Gartman Summits)

Holograms

Space Drones

eco-travel destinations robotic services

ig n P

ign des ze

D es

fina li

marketing prepare for release distribution maintenance

A Platform Choose

velopment er de m o st Cu

ign y des dif

How future tech surfaces 1. Planning 2. development 3. Marketing

Bionic organs

Smart food Labels space elevator

Nano technology

self-driving vehicles

Solar cells Tech Fashion

optogenetics full immersion virtual reality

trends in terrorism

“

As the world evolves into a more globalized, interconnected, and automated planet, everyone living in it may be subject to greater risk. According to Thomas Fingar, the longtime chief of global trends forecasting for the US intelligence community’s National Intelligence Council, “Many many aspects of the modern world have vulnerabilities because they weren’t designed to be invulnerable. They were designed to be open and accessible and easily linked, and that means one or a few people have the potential to be highly disruptive and very destructive.” Here are various trends—positive or negative—that we may notice in the upcoming years. (Information Courtesy of Institute for Economics & Peace)

[foreign affairs are] definititely odd right now. it semms like no countries can agree on causes... All they try to do is prove their power to the other countries while working on their own. [The world isn’t] really working together as well as we might like to see.

-Nick o’connor ‘17

Social media will become a rising tool 1. for terrorist organizations

the us government will become more engaged with the muslim world and American muslims

travel security perimeters will be expanded and immigration procedure will be monitored

Boko haram and isil will grow to be 4. the main terrorist groups 19

20 December 2016 | Issue 2

Doing Our Part stepping up to help the one world we have, before it’s too late.

or many of us, how our daily actions affect the grand scheme of things when considering the environment isn’t much of a concern. Choosing whether to throw something away or recycle it is something we seldom spend much time thinking about. And eating meat and other animal products is a given, something which may seem difficult to go without. However, in the United States there is a rising trend of becoming more conscious of one’s choices and their effects on the environment. There are various reasons and responses to this push to becoming more environmentally aware. These range from becoming a vegetarian for animal rights, petitioning for protection of the environment, as well as generally being aware of the effects certain actions have on the environment. Karlee Hurtado ‘17 recently made the decision to become a vegetarian, eliminating all meat and fish products from her diet. “When I was little, I be a vegetarian but to ask your parents an when they aren’t

always wanted to it’s kind of hard to be a vegetarivegetarians [and]

you’re a child,” Hurtado said. “But one day I realized that I wouldn’t go out and kill an animal myself so it doesn’t make sense to make someone else do it for you so you can eat it and not feel guilty.” Hurtado is not alone in her decision though. According to People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), in 2011 about 5% of the U.S. population were vegetarians, and 33% of the population ate mostly vegetarian meals. Furthermore, PETA has ranked Boulder, Colorado as one of the top ten most vegan friendly cities in the United States. Hurtado’s main concern and reason for becoming a vegetarian is because of the treatment of animals--many of which are treated poorly throughout their upbringing in factory farms. “I think that [the way animals are raised] is disgusting. They are treated so poorly, people tell me that [animals raised for food] ‘are going to die anyways’, but that is not an excuse to treat animals that terribly,” Hurtado said. “Just think if humans switched roles with animals and we were beaten to death and murdered. Animals are treated terribly, it’s not just a situation where they don’t feel anything and it’s

painless, it’s abuse and it’s disgusting.” Brianna Irizarry ‘18 is a vegetarian for the same reasons as Hurtado. “I wanted to quit [eating meat] for animal rights,” Irizarry said. “I believe humans are too arrogant and need to understand we are all equal. Animals of all kind should be given our same rights of fair treatment, and not seen as inferior. I do believe we are meant to eat them, as we are part of the food chain. But that doesn’t mean they should be injected with hormones and forced to lie in their own filth. We all share this earth, no matter what species we are.” These claims are validated by information reported by American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, ASPCA.They reported that 99% of farm animals in the United States are raised in factory farms, which contain some of the worst conditions for animals. ASPCA also reports that 94% of Americans believe that animals raised for food should be free to live from cruelty. Yet despite these concerns, the average American consumes fifty-nine pounds of beef, forty-eight pounds of pork and seventy pounds of chicken per year, as according to the Global Food Security Organization. While it is still an important part, for English Teacher, Mr. Dave Cohara, eliminating meat from his diet only scratches the surface of a greater impact he could have. While he is known to many as a vegan, he prefers to follow a Whole-Food, Plant-Based Diet or WFPBD. “Sometimes using ‘vegan’ is just easier for people to understand,” Cohara said. “Sometimes, I’ll also just go with the best vegetarian option available. There’s also a lot of really unhealthy vegans out there—Coke, Oreos, and french fries are all vegan but certainly not healthy, whole foods.” While his diet was initially for health reasons, it has evolved to encompassing environmental reasons. “I read that if you really care about the environment, you simply cannot eat meat on a regular basis. So I did the research, and I agree,” Cohara said. In addition to his diet, Cohara aims to maintain an environmentally friendly lifestyle. “My wife and I keep trying to do more,” Cohara said. “We have massive gardens, we shop at farmer’s markets, we buy organic/ non-GMO, we compost, we avoid plastic as much as possible. Everything helps, from taking quick showers to keeping the thermostat lower in the winter.”

22 December 2016 | Issue 2

bee populations are diminishing faster than ever across the globe. here’s what you can do to help save them.

Promote by Planting:

Lavender, Sage, Cilantro, Thyme, Fennel, Aster, buttercup, Hollyhock, Geraniums, Calendula, Poppy, Sunflower, Zinnia

Support Local Beekeepers:

buy local honey! Notify them of swarms in your trees or bushes. they’ll come take care of it.

Don’t use Pesticides:

They are indiscriminate and do not guarantee that bees will not be harmed along with other pests.

Leave a Bowl of Water:

Leave a bowl of water on your porch. Bees are out working hard all day, making the world a beautiful place. They need rest and hydration too!

Cohara’s actions to protect the environment relate to others who have similar beliefs. Elysia Crandall ‘17 is extremely passionate about the environment and actively works to help protect it. “I realized how horribly everything was going for the environment when I was younger,” Crandall said. “Things such as pollution, animals getting driven out of their homes because of trees getting cut down and oil leaks. It all just inspired me to want to change things and want to make a difference so I could stop seeing all the destruction around me.” Crandall’s passion about environmental issues motivates her to take initiative in bettering the community. “Right now a few people and I are working on a tree planting project. We are starting in the Westminster area because there are just no trees and we are trying to make this a new movement,” Crandall said. This passion and ambition to help is also seen in Crandall’s willingness to donate and sign petitions for environmental causes.

A Helping Hand: Easy ways to have a green thumb 1. grow plants! 2. switch to eco-friendly lightbulbs 3. use reusable containers and bottles 4. be conscious of electricity use 5. take shorter showers 6. Recycle 7. Refrain from creating waste 8. use leftover coffee grounds as fertilizer 24 December 2016 | Issue 2

“Whenever I donate money or sign a petition, I’ll sometimes get an email back saying that it just got ended and it’s not happening anymore. I feel like I contributed to ending something,” Crandall said. Crandall is conscious of the severity of environment issues, and works to create change where she can, however, she is not alone in her environmental beliefs. Stacy Phu ‘17 is a vegan primarily because it is a more sustainable lifestyle. “There are many environmental issues that come when you eat meat--livestock is a huge issue. It wastes so much water. If we were all to reduce our consumption of meat we would probably reduce climate change significantly.” This is backed by numerous studies on the issue. According to the Earth System Science Data Journal, food production accounts for one-quarter to one-third of all anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions worldwide, and the brunt of responsibility for those numbers falls to the livestock industry. This is furthered by research from the Global Food Security Organization, which states that a U.S. family eating half the meat could reduce the same amount of greenhouse gases as getting rid of a car. Combining this with Phu’s deep concern for environment have led her to conserve in any way possible. “I conserve water and recycle. It’s [the] small things that end up making a huge difference.” So while some of these actions seems somewhat extreme, it is the little things which ultimately make a difference, if everyone works to do their part. Collectively, everyone can work to help improve the environment. | Kevin Han | Emily Leo | Meg Metzger-Seymour | Sophia Stimpfl

26 December 2016 | Issue 2

What Makes A Man In this anti-masculinity generation, not only has the concept of masculinity changed, but the need to be masculine has changed as well. The desire to be athletic and muscular has now been substituted with art and emotion.

here are certain “requirements” for what makes an ideal man. In the media, people label this guy as over six feet tall, with an athletic build and little to no emotions. This “ideal man” is imaginary and an almost impossible goal to achieve. This is because, over time, the concept of masculinity and the ideal man has shifted from a large amount of physical strength to something that should be much deeper. “I think it’s what society perceives to be as masculine,” Liam Skulley ‘17 said. “I think it’s almost completely constructed and I think it’s a construct of rules.” This idea that society has “constructed”, as Skulley said, leaves men pressured to try and figure out what the world asks of them. Will shedding one simple tear damage their reputation? This idea is fabricated through social media, conflicting with ideas of bending gender norms. “I think it is a personal preference,” Dylan Livingston ‘19 said. “You can choose whether or not you want to be seen as a masculine person.The whole idea of masculinity varies from person to person.” For example, athlete Jake Foutz ‘17 has a different perspective from Skulley, an actor, on how he would describe a masculine person. “I don’t think it’s just someone who is big and strong, [but] it’s definitely someone who can also push through hard times,” Foutz said. The form of masculinity has slowly shifted in recent years from physical appearance to an emotional strength. This emotional strength, however, can still be seen to many as a sign of weakness. Somehow, the expression of natural feelings and opinions is seen as a “feminization” of modern men. “You never see men painting their nails. [Typically], men who are perceived to be weaker aren’t considered masculine,” Skulley said. “Society seems to care, but I’m not sure why.” The style and statement of a person’s clothing has an impact on the perception of masculinity as well; how a guy dresses can be used to show off how masculine he is. “When you see someone wearing athletic clothes or just anything in general, even just wearing a football jersey, you can kind of look at them as [more masculine] than others,” Foutz explained. Typically, men who showcase their sport or the fact that they play a sport usually end up being labeled as more masculine than someone who prefers to wear clothes that express other interests. When it comes to sports, the guys who play football are usually seen as more manly than the guys who draw or act. In this anti-masculine generation, though, sports are shifting to be seen as nothing more than an activity.

29 December 2016 | Issue 2

“I think [playing] sports is just like a hobby or an interest.” Livingston said. “I don’t think you have to be a certain thing to be into a hobby.”

A female’s perspective has a lot of impact on how men characterize themselves. Half of the world’s population is female, so these are half the minds that shape what masculinityis seen as. “I usually like the boys who do sports rather than theatre because they do seem more masculine and I find that attractive,” said Lexi Lombardi ‘17. “But sometimes I don’t realize that it takes a lot of guts and a lot of bravery to go onstage and perform in front of a whole bunch of people, which is masculinity in it’s own way as well.” There are countless news articles and editorials that tell women that they are beautiful just the way they are. Then, those same news outlets and editorial writers comment on what girls look for in a man or what makes a man “perfect”. These double standards don’t enforce the body positivity that people have tried to spread for all genders. “If we could get away from that, it would help society. It would also decrease a lot of mental health issues that have gone on from a lack of masculinity, just from feeling like you’re not fitting in,” Skulley said.

Build-A-BoY The lake builds a boy based on the sterotypes surrounding masculinity EMOTION Men are expected have restricted emotions and be sturdy when it comes to tough moments. They also must be courageous and protective of others.

A study done in the U.K. found that 4 out of 5 men are unhappy with their bodies. Things like action figures and photos in magazines portray a man as tall, with a muscular figure, and strong facial features. In reality, though, only about one to two percent of all men actually have this body type. “Being self conscious can happen to anyone and it’s not just about body image,” Lombardi said. “It could be about not being good at school or at a sport. This lack of self confidence occurs in almost every human I would assume.” Livingston shares his personal experience when it comes to the sought-after “manly image”. “Don’t judge a book by it’s cover. A lot of people think I’m really feminine just because my voice is really high and stuff like that,” Livingston said. Body image is a universal theme; but only the self confidence in females is discussed commonly. Double standards have led this idea of masculinity to be sought after by the male population, yet this concept is so abstract that it’s so hard to achieve. As Lombardi said, struggles with self-confidence are apparent in almost every human being. Insecurities aren’t based on gender but mind set. “I just think some people are masculine and some people are not and that’s just the way it is.” Foutz said. l | Esteban Arellano | Hannah Jensen | Alena Lee | Cheyenne Main | Michael Pietroiacovo | Morgan Parrish |

Strength There is a high expectation in men to be strong and in shape. They must be able to help out a woman if she can’t start her car or fix her roof.

Skills Men are supposed to be athletic but also be able to fix cars and perform other activities around the house.

opinions

Something you believe in finding the good in every day

In a world full of pain, heartbreak, and sin, everyone needs something to believe in. Something that possesses the power to regenerate and revitalize. Something that may relax, kindle, or even comfort.

must search your mind, heart, and soul for a notion you absolutely know to be true. With that, you’re one step closer to achieving a piece of happiness within yourself that can never be taken away.

Everyone at one point or another is subjected to some sort of pain, whether it’s going through a breakup, or losing a loved one, or experiencing some sort of physical or mental ailment. Occasionally, we could all use a break from the hustle and bustle of everyday life.

This thing, it doesn’t have to be big. It also doesn’t have to be small. Believe in something that’s like that one friend that will comfort you when you need it the most. Find something that’s like curling up in front of a fire on a cold December evening with a cup of hot chocolate and a good book.

There are certain things in our lifetime that will make us slow down a little bit and appreciate that thing in its simplest form, like it’s medicinally healing the ones noticing it. Almost as though this thing, whatever it may be, is a suit of armor. Calming oneself, not focusing on the things that have happened, or the things that are to come, but instead, gripping the serenity of the present and getting an outlet for just a little while. It’s something that gives you some sort of repose, something that is consoling.

In today’s world, we could all use something positive to believe in. Whether we need to be calmed, soothed, renewed or inspired, we’ve all got different outlets we turn to. For some, it could be music, for others it could be something on a completely different scale such as believing in God.

Believe in something that’s like that one friend that will comfort you when you need it the most.

Discover that thing—that one thing that you can believe in no matter what’s going on in your life. Whether it’s believing in world peace or believing in unity, even the most simple of things, such as your favorite quote or a novel. Find something that sparks a fire in you, something that instills faith.

No one can tell you what you can and cannot believe in. You also can’t be forced to believe in something. You

30 December 2016 | Issue 2

For me, I believe in the power of rain. Whenever I’m stressed or feeling down, if it’s raining, I open up my window and let the soft pitter-patter of water droplets hitting concrete fill my ears. The sweet, clean, and crisp smell filling my nose and lungs. And for a few brief moments, all of that worry and stress seems to dissipate. All of these things, they’re all different but they all have one thing in common, they bring contentment. We all want something to believe in. Something that is real, something absolute. We all need to feel apart of something, to believe in something that is perhaps bigger than ourselves. | Cheyenne Padilla

a staff editorial

More than the manhood Marginalizing the real issues at hand

Crying, expressing pain, talking about feelings. That’s what girls do. If their male counterparts take part in these actions in any way, they are automatically dismissed as effeminate and weak. In this day and age, we should be past this. In light of LGBTQI+ acceptance and embracing individuality, people should have the fundamental right of expressing themselves as they see fit. There’s something to be said for the men who value showing compassion and emotion when it comes to the things they care about. They reveal to the rest of us that there is more behind the bacon eating, body building stereotype that many men feel pressured to adhere to. Amid all of the other factors that set us all apart from each other, the last thing we should be focusing on is whether a man cleans up well or not and how that relates to his sexuality or mannerisms. Instead, we need to address the overabundance of hate that is plaguing our world and causing people to be consumed by the rhetoric that encourages this type of behavior towards others.

It is a trifle to quarrel over the differences that make us individuals. These things are inherent and cannot be changed. So why are we trying so hard to alter each other and morph into something we aren’t just because someone else says so? We must quell issues arising from the basic things that separate us in order to combat a more malevolent force brought on by people who assert their power in making others feel small. Those same people mock the disabled, create gender inequality, discount hard workers, encourage bigotry, and outwardly express distaste for people that embrace anything that makes them different.

Our children should not have to grow up in a world where we passively accept the abhorrence of diversity.

After this year’s quandary and the obstacles we have yet to face, it is clear that standing up for each other and what is right can no longer be treated as commodity. Let us not succumb to the intolerance and ignorance of those who find it easy to degrade the value in other human beings. We are stronger together. It’s been proven time and time again.

We can’t let people like this be the models for younger generations. Our children should not have to grow up in a world where we passively accept the abhorrence of diversity. It is now, more than ever that we must work towards creating a more sustainable and accepting world where people can unite and combat the toxicity of hate.

It is unsettling that so much fragmentation exists in a time that isn’t even as bad as it could be. What happens when we come upon even more trying times? This much is true, nothing will progress or get better if we maintain such a social chasm. If we’re going to “make America great again” we have to do it collectively, with the best interests of all citizens in mind—not just for a select group of people who feel their rights surpass those of everyone else.

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