The Lake - Oct. 2014 by The Lake - Standley Lake's News Magazine

the lake

Students stand up for their

the people Editors-in-Chief | Chaye Gutierrez Sabrina Pacha

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 October 2014 | Issue 1

Team Editors | Esteban Arellano Jamey Burky Nicole Heetland Olivia Koontz Tina Muscarelli Shylah Ogle Alie Settje Staff Writers | Mezhgan Aslamy Sarah Bennett Hannah Jensen Emily Leo Brittany Marks Emma Marlow Natasha McCone Meg Metzger-Seymour Ty Milliken Alyssa Murphy Laurel Nordquist-Zukin Ripley Ricketts Morgan Rubendall Christina Rudolph Max Uhrich Morgan Whitley Taylor Zangari Cartoonist | Aina Azlan Adviser | Ben Reed

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

contents

40 14 17 26 9 36 18

Hi. Nice to see you again.

20 8 44

32 3

You are always in our hearts, Lyneah Christine Dike 3/16/1997-9/26/2014 4 October 2014 | Issue 1

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hey there acutie

HANG THIS SIDE FORWARD

STANDLEY LAKE HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT 2014-2015

Parking pass? Really? but why? Don’t they look the same as last year?

Parking passes are usually supposed to be different colors each year, but don’t let that fool you. If you look carefully enough, the year 2014-2015 screams a huge difference from last year’s parking passes. How often is patrolling done?

Patrolling is done in rotations. Security guards (Mrs. B, Jake, and Chris) each go out during the week and give tickets. Where does the money go?

Parking ticket money goes to your school-Standley Lake High School. The money is used for purposes such as repairing the parking lot.

Used with permission of The Associated Press

questions you’re too afraid to ask about ISIS

Who, or what, is isis anyway? ISIS stands for the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (Which is why it’s also referred to as ISIL by President Obama and other government leaders). They’re an Islamic extremist group attempting to take over Iraq and Syria, with a final goal of establishing a hard-core Sunni State.

Heck, yes, you can! Oh, but also be aware that it is $20 for parking in the faculty section and an extra $20 for still not having a parking pass.

tickets are given out every day on average | Mezgan Aslamy

6 October 2014 | Issue 1

what is the U.s. going to do about isis?

There are two major Muslim groups in Iraq and Syria: the Sunnis and Shias. The lasting conflict between the two groups lies in the issue of which group got to take power after the death of the prophet Muhammad.

The US has begun air strikes into western Iraq in order to target their fighters, in addition to sending humanitarian aid to the citizens being trapped by ISIS without food or water. And the United States’ long term goal for this war against ISIS? White House Chief of Staff Denis McDonough said on “Meet the Press” that, “Success looks like an [ISIS] that no longer threatens our friends in the region, no longer threatens the United States. An [ISIS] that can’t accumulate followers, or threaten Muslims in Syria, Iran, Iraq, or otherwise.”

so what’s the big deal?

so are we going to war again?

Well, ISIS is quickly gaining control over land in Iraq and Syria. They’re doing this through violence and the removal of any and all uncooperative non-Sunnis. ISIS has established a mini-state in Syria where they collect taxes, sell electricity, and export oil, so they’re totally self-reliant.

The ISIS threat has turned out to be larger than the US--and the rest of the world, for that matter--anticipated. The United States will do as much control as possible from the air, but it’s possible that troops will need to be placed on the ground to directly fight ISIS militants. While President Obama declared that “we will not get dragged into another ground war” in an address from the White House, critics believe it may be necessary to send troops to Iraq and Syria to completely contain and destroy the | Chaye Gutierrez threat of ISIS.

okay, so what’s a sunni? Who cares? Can’t I just park in the faculty section?

land and populations of people by the minute, their power and relentlessness is becoming increasingly worrisome to international powers.

While it may seem that ISIS is self-contained in the Middle East, their takeover in Syria could greatly affect global oil prices. Since there is no one actively stopping ISIS from taking over

Last year, first time newbie senior lands lead in school play

Just like that, she cracked her shell as she set foot on the stage for the first time. The auditorium roared with enthusiastic faces. She had been on the stage before, but only as a dancer. Her audience was not dance moms, but rather Theatre Director Ms. Elizabeth Reed, who was searching for new talent for this year’s fall play, Clockwork. Dancer Natalie Schievelbein ‘15 auditioned for the fall play and received the lead role of Nola, which she will perform on stage on Oct. 16, 17 and 18. “I never even thought that I could be in this sort of situation,” Schievelbein said. With a help of her friend, Caitilin Torgerson ‘15, Schievelbein gained the confidence to audition for the fall play in hopes of getting a part. “I never thought I would be acting,” Schievelibein said. Schievelbein was in shock when she found out about her lead role of Nola. In the play, an old man named Zach mysteriously passes away at a house he shares with other family members. A grandfather clock, that had been unable to work previously, starts to work; but at a deadly rate. Each time the clock strikes an hour, a family member passes away. Each family member has a fairly large role in the play. Schievelbein plays the role of an old woman named Nola, who is a family member in the play. Holding a lead role with no experi-

Natalie Schievelbein ‘15 and the cast of Clockwork take a break from rehearsal.

ence? Can Schievelbein handle the stress? “I’m doing the fall play, I’m on the Improv Team, I do poms, I’m on a competitive dance team, I have a job, I teach dance classes, and I do off season track,” Schievelbein said. “A lot of stuff does interfere,” Schievelbein said. Her schedule of improv rehearseals clash with poms, fall play with poms, poms with teaching dance classes, dance rehearsals with work, and work with homework. Her schedule is beyond full for a high schooler; Schievelbein hardly has time to take a break, yet still pushes through. But why in the world would she do it? “My mom tells me that you’re only going to be this age once, so do everything you can because you only have one chance,” Schievelbein said. Schievelbein gained the chance to handle it all at once and the experience of belonging with a group of friends in the drama department she considers family now. “I’ve never been the cool popular girl,” Schievelbein said. She encourages others to see past the perceived image of a person, “When I’m around the theatre kids, it’s almost like we are a family.”

hyped, and encouraging positivity is what Student director Piper Longenbohn ‘15 contributes to the cast members. Longenbohn encourages Schievelbein to act with confidence as she helps her with memorizing lines and most importantly, being herself. Warm-ups are held before every rehearsal to not only show Schievelbein how to get hyped, but that other cast members can be themselves as well. The cast works together as a team to build relationships with all, welcoming newcomers such as Schievelbein. No matter what level of experience, the stage is where each individual in the drama department has the ability to shine for themselves with the help of their family. Schievelbein, as she manages her busy schedule, learns more about growing as a person, and as an actress. Although she has a busy schedule, Schievelbein got to experience the perks of joining the drama department. As the play has justified her place outside the box, Longenbohn reminds others that is never too late to join. “Theatre is open to newcomers and always accepting,” Longenbohn said. | Mezhgan Aslamy

Cast members bond with Schievelbein, making her focus on bettering her character on the stage and in life. Helping with lines, getting cast members

Flippin’ awesome Hannah Bissani ‘15 reveals athletic life of competitive cheerleader Two strong hands throw Hannah Bissani ‘15 into the air—no time to think, just flash a smile. This is an average day at practice for Bissani and the Cheer Central Suns. “I was in club gymnastics in Level 9, and I did High School gymnastics my Freshman and Sophomore year. Then I converted to the worlds [Competitive Cheerleading sponsored by US All Star Federation] ,’ Bissani said. Bissani’s cheer goals reach beyond just landing on her target, she plans on cheering for the University of Kentucky in the fall. The only limit for Bissani is how far her team can launch her into the sky.

| Emma Marlow | Alie Settje

The little dude DUSTIN BOLTZ ‘18 surpasses HIS HEIGHT

Dustin Boltz ‘18 stands proud next to Tyler Davis ‘15 and Conor Boatright ‘15.

Hall traffic is the worst type of traffic. But, luckily for Dustin Boltz ‘18, his little 4’8.5” frame speeds through the hallway and maneuvers through the crowd easily.

Boltz plays competitive hockey, a talent others may not know about him. He continues to enjoy walking throughout the hallways and scoring goals.

“In the halls, straight halls like this one, it’s easier [to move around people],” Boltz said.

“Sometimes I hear people say ‘Holy crap, is that kid really in high school?” said Boltz. He shrugs off the comment and continues to focus on hockey and loving himself.

Being small, Boltz holds an advantage as a hockey player. “It’s easier to hit people when you’re smaller,” he said.

| Mezhgan Aslamy | Alie Settje

of the craziest things Mr. Zehnder owns

8 October 2014 | Issue 1

Social Studies teacher Mr. Zehnder, thrills his economic class with intriguing stories of his financial success. He began investing early, as he owned one third of a trailer park at the age of 18, and has continued investing today. “I like the idea of making things work. In this case money,” Mr. Zehnder said. “Making money can make life easier but it is not a good measure of success.”

He has invested in a 7-unit apartment building to a 100unit apartment building over the course of ten years. “I bought the townhomes in ‘85, traded them in ‘89 to a seven unit, traded them in ‘91 to a fourteen unit, traded those in ‘98 or ‘99 to a hundred unit.”

You may have already heard of Mr. Zehnder’s golf course, but he also owns the Church Ranch Event Center, hosting weddings and banquets. “I purchased it around two year ago. I don’t manage it or anything. I just own the property”

Apartment

Event Center

Land Mr. Zehnder owns approximately 670 acres currently, in Arvada, Ft. Lupton, and Wattenberg. “I grew up on a farm, so I like farms. The other reason I like them, while I was making income, it’s better to defer taxes, so you make money off of money on appreciation.

| Brittany Marks

The music within her Music roots Cassandra Garcia ‘15 to her family The sweet sounds of a piano take over every inch of the house. The smooth strumming of a guitar vibrate through the walls. The room is filled with happy, loving, family, all singing along. It’s pure bliss. This describes a normal family gathering for Cassandra Garcia ‘15. “Everyone in my family plays an instrument, they play and sing all the time,” Garcia said. “I want to be able to play with them.” Growing up with a talented and musical family, Garcia knew she would become a musician too. “I have so many musical influences around me and I have so much appreciation for it,” Garcia said. Playing good music isn’t only for her family, Garcia also has played for the school’s band and orchestra. Out of all the instruments Garcia plays, cello is her favorite. “When I play the cello I just feel classy and elegant,” Garcia said, “It’s like everything around me just doesn’t matter, I find my center.” With her family by her side and a drum stick in her hand, Garcia continues to play music bring people together. | Alie Settje Cassandra Garcia ‘15 finds serenity in playing her cello during school.

Dad, coach, principal, oh my Samii Garcia ‘15 reflects on impact Mr. Pierson had on her life Starting at eight years old, Samii Garcia ‘15 began her softball career, with one very important person by her side-her mentor, her step dad, her first coach, her principal-Jeff Pierson.

Samii Garcia ‘15 prepares for her last home softball game with her mentor.

The number on Garcia’s back is a legacy. It is a dedication to the man that introduced her to softball, “[Mr. Pierson]’s dad was number 22, so he took

22 for every sport,” Garcia said. “He introduced me to softball and told me I should be number 22, so I am.” Without our principal, Garcia would not be where she is today, “I wouldn’t have played in the first place.” Principal, softball coach, or dad, he impacts Garcia’s life each day.

| Brittany Marks

The Top 4 Apps That You Need to Make it Through the Year

football

mrs. B

wolfram-alpha $2.00 Remember when encyclopedias were the enemy in middle school? Well, they aren’t when they can fit in your pocket! Imagine every single gross encyclopedia/ textbook that you have ever touched crammed into one tiny app...except it is awesome! This bad boy does everything from math to defining new words. Our favorite part is its equation solver. Just plug in any equation, and it will crank out its solution, graph, step-by-step process, and so much more.

What’s the craziest thing that happened at the Homecoming game? “My favorite chant is ‘Shake Your Booty’. At the Homecoming game, the crowd chanted at Mrs. B to shake it...and she did!”

“I took a selfie with Mrs. B. Also, Mr. Sargent had a pretty cool beanie cap that his wife made for him on.”

taylor mcrae ‘15

adam williams ‘15

“The craziest thing that happened at a football game was when the Poms did their performance at the end, and they made a ‘15 with their poms. It hit me that I’m a senior. It’s my year and I’ve waited to see that ‘15 spelled out.”

“The craziest thing is that it’s our last Homecoming game. It’s just weird to think about that after four years, you go everyday and you just get to hang out with your friends, and it’s just weird that it’s your last. I wouldn’t want to spend it any other way than with my best friends.”

tori baca ‘15

Isaac castaneda ‘15 | Mezgan Aslamy

GO GET ‘em Students go wild as Connor Durant ‘15 scores a touch down at the Homecoming Football Game.

Stop carrying around all those pesky flashcards and put them in your phone.

Notability FREE Handwritten notes are so last year. Get this app, and you can type, draw, or highlight all of your notes straight from your computer, phone, or tablet.

If you log on to Infinite Campus to check your grades (if you still campus check your grades), you are doing portal it wrong. Get this app, log in once, and quickly check your grades.

FREE

| Esteban Arrellano

10 October 2014 | Issue 1

quizlet FREE

you talk at least once a week

do you talk/text everyday?

does he/she reply with more than one word?

yes

yes do your friends approve?

you’ve known each other for at least 3 weeks

yes

SO YOU WANT TO ASK SOMEONE OUT

you are not ready for a relationship with them. Save yourself some embarassment and do not date

yes

when you cross paths, do you talk?

YES

yes

Start by choosing if you’ve talked with your crush or not.

do you have the same friends?

*Take it with a grain of salt. 90% of us here at The Lake are single*

You two are perfect for a relationship. Go pick up some roses pronto!

yes do you have the same interests? does he/she favorite your pictures? have you gone on a date before?

yes

the idea of meeting parents. . .

eh...

yes

MAYBE

they’re either not into you, or you don’t know each other well enough. text them, and just talk about it!

yes!

yes

| Brittany Marks and Esteban Arrellano

the drink beat It’s fall. It’s time to put away those old ice drinks for some nice toasty teas and coffees. So ditch the pumpkin spice lattes for these top drinks to spice up your brisk fall morning.

Caribou Cross Fox Decaf Get it at Caribou Coffee

Get it at any grocery store

Tazo Passion Tea

Tazo Earl Grey Tea

This blend is a darker roast that has a hint of berry to help your cold fall morning be a little warmer. It goes down smoothly when you take that first sip and it doesn’t take a refined palette to know that this coffee is erupting with flavor. This coffee can deliver not one, but two flavors!

Despite the lack of caffeine, you’ll have your senses popping with the exuberance of flavor. There’s no going wrong with a mixture of rose, hibiscus, orange peel, and of course, a hint of passion fruit. No need to add anything to this tea. It’s tart and sweet enough to speak for itself.

Earl grey has been known for containing the soothing flavors of bergamot oil. Maybe this fall you’d like to switch it up and add a little spice. A half a teaspoon of cinnamon and a little bit of milk will work wonders for that crisp cloudy day.

Get it at any grocery store

| Emma Marlow | Emily Leo

Take your costume game from basic to badass This year, ditch the Cat, Minnie Mouse, and Scream man for something wicked. Next time you’re at the Halloween store, keep these 5 rules in mind before finding the perfect costume.

Breanna Wakefield ‘15 and Mitchell Russo ‘15 pose in a classy couples halloween costume.

Please, please, please skip anything with ears and whisker this

It is impossible to be a Native American without offending someone. So just don’t.

Ladies, if you dress provocatively people will remember, even after Nov. 1.

You may think you’re super unexpected, but trust us, princesses and superheroes are anything but.

Just stop taking yourself so seriously. If you want to be a zombie-robot, be a zombie-robot.

| Brittany Marks

What movie should Scare Level Scare Level Scare Level you watch? silence of the lambs beetlejuice psycho nothing finishes off a classic Tim Burton film If you are in the mood for the Jodi Foster gives a stunning great halloween night like This is perfect for the reluctant a little fright, follow Marion performance as a newbie FBI scary movie watchers out Crane, a young woman who agent trying to solve a series a great movie. check out there. If you favor the bizarre has found refuge in a secluded of haunting murders. Anthothese wicked films, ranked and obviously-fake three-eyed motel after embezzling money ny Hopkins’ also gives a strikmonsters over the scared to from her rich boss. However, ing delivery as cannibal, and in order by scariness. walk to your room This claseverything turns around once serial killer, Hannibal Lector. 12 October 2014 | Issue 1

sic Tim Burton film is perfect for the reluctant scary movie watchers out there.

she meets the motel’s strange owner, Norman Bates. And trust us, you totally won’t guess how it ends.

He will have you wondering what goes bump in the night.

| Esteban Arrellano | Emily Leo | Brittany Marks

Here’s where you

want to be this

Halloween Do something epic this year.

7 pm

the football game How rare is it that Halloween and a Standley Lake football game are on the same day? Bring your costume and enjoy watching the last game of the normal season.

Poison Apples 20 kraft caramels 3 tsp. water 6-7 tbs. hot fudge twigs 3-4 red apples black icing

Free

stay at home!

1. Unwrap the caramels and cook over low heat in a saucepan with 3 tsp water. Stir until melted. 2. Add 6-7 tbs. of hot fudge. 3. Stir in food color-

ing until desired color is reached. 4. Dip the apples into the hot caramel mixture and allow to cool on a buttered baking sheet at least an hour prior to serving.

Wait, what? You can do that? You definitely don’t need to spend $30 to have fun! Rent some movies and make some of your favorite treats, and enjoy the night in. Plus, aren’t your stretchy sweatpants more comfortable than that hot costume?

$15

6 pm

elitch’s fright fest Hitch a ride to Elitches from 6-10 p.m. to enjoy one of their four haunted attractions. Watch out, zombies are known to lurk around every corner making your Halloween especially freaky.

Free

9 pm

boulder mall crawl If you are willing to let your freak-flag fly in public, head over to Pearl Street Mall in your costume and (you guessed it) crawl/ walk/skip around the mall. Come when you want, but the party gets going at 9 p.m. This is also great if you’re looking for a date idea, because Pearl Street is home to a host of nice restaurants. | Esteban Arrellano | Brittany Marks

Psst... Don’t worry: if none of these places suit your fancy, we have something that you may like. For the perfect Halloween dinner, check out Linger, a Denver restaurant, located in the Highlands, that serves food in a former mortuary! Act faster you need to make reservations soon! They fill up quick, so be sure to keep this on the down low.

Zombie Punch water fruit punch kool-aid packets SKULL CAKE MOLD PUNCH BOWL ONE BANANA FOOD COLORING

1. Fill mold 3/4 full with water. 2. Slice banana, and put it into the water. Add food coloring for desired color. Freeze over night. 3. Combine Kool-Aid packets with directed amount of water in

punch bowl. 4. To remove ice, pour warm water on bottom of the pan, then carefully turn over. 5. Place ice face-up in the middle of the punch bowl .

| Taylor Zangari | Ripley Hanson

Sports Maddi York ‘15 competes on beam at her last home meet

Be there or be square

Sticking state In this case, it’s the smallest carrying the biggest trophy.

An individual sport unites these girls to bring home a banner as one team A good average is hard to come by. “It’s a difficult sport because one week you can be really good, and get a super high score and then the next week, you score the lowest score of the season,” Maddi York ‘16 said. York is 2nd in state for floor this season.

Gymnastics State Finals @Thornton High School Oct. 31 & Nov. 1

As of press time, the gymnastics team is ranked second in State. “My coach thinks we can win in State, if we work hard,” Rachel Cody ‘18 said. “I think it is possible to win State if we all get our stuff together.” Cody currently holds the best All-Around score in Colorado.

Football

Volleyball

Soccer

Girls Volleyball had a 6-7 as of press time and a record of 1-2 for their Leagues. The season will come to a close on October 25th. “It [the season] is going pretty good, and we are definitely improving a lot,” Casey Torbet ‘15 said. “But Hannah Davis ‘17, Rachel Pearce ‘15 and Erin Pankow ‘16 made really good ones.”

Boys Soccer perseveres through the season with a record of 5-6. Kevin Gabriel ‘16 made 33 saves as the goaltender. Adam Williams ‘15 has scored the most goals on the team, “We faced the hardest schedule this year than we have in the past. But, I think we’ve done very well.”

The football team, as of press time, has a record of 2-4. Connor Durant ‘15 is third in Class 4A in receiving yards (595) and second in receiving touchdowns (7). Michael Kerr ‘16 had a 99 yard touchdown run against Green Mountain, that was qualified as the longest carry in all of 4A.

14 October 2014 | Issue 1

One mindset. One team. One predicted victory. | Oliva Koontz | Morgan Whitley

Cross country Cross Country is having a successful year. At the John F. Kennedy Invitational, the boys team placed first out of nine teams, and the girls team placed second out of seven teams. Ryan Seberg ‘15, and Trevor Smith ‘17 lead the boys team. Emma Abernethy ‘17 lead the girls team. “This year, we’ve worked as a team to push each other and get higher rankings” Smith said.

It’s just that simple A sports column

Jeremy Minnick Mentality is the key to success. In the words of Tiger Woods, “My mind is my biggest asset. I expect to win every tournament I play.” The mind is the most powerful motivator and discourager for any athlete. Having a positive look on what you’re doing is the only opportunity for success. However, if you think you will play bad, then you will. If you think that you will win, you will. It doesn’t take much, only three easy steps to keeping a positive and clear mind.

Softball The Softball team ended their season with a record of 5-14. Despite that, the positivity has managed to remain. “Many times we measure success of athletic programs by their win and loss record, but we have to look at that differently this year,” head coach Carrie Ott said.

1. The Relationship Is it really worth it? Is having a girlfriend or boyfriend really that important to you that you are willing to risk doing well in a sport to maintain a relationship that will most likely last only a couple months? If you’re dating someone they will be on your mind at some point or the whole time. You won’t be concentrated and unless you have learned to cope with handling this, and you wasted yet another performance because “bae” didn’t text you back. Stay true to you and your sport, and don’t let anybody come between it.

Golf The Boys Golf team finished the season strong at regionals, finishing 8th overall at Raccoon Creek golf course on Sept.18. Andrew Hewitt ‘15 and Jeremy Minnick ‘15 shot an 80 qualifying them both for the 4A state tournament. State was on Sept. 29 where Minnick finished 50th and Hewitt finished 59th out of 84 golfers.

Mind over matter

2. The Putdowns I’ve noticed so many athletes that always give themselves crap for how bad they played or how bad the last play was. FORGET ABOUT IT. Do you really expect to play good when all you have on your mind is the fact that you screwed up? No. All the bad energy is stuck in your head, and your ears aren’t big enough to pour it all out. Replace all of the negatives with positives and you’ll see positive results. photo courtesy of Mr. Ron Rosa

Tennis Tennis came to a close with an overall record of 2-8 in the 4A Region and 1-6 in the league. Number two singles player Brian Le ‘15 finished with a record of 4-6, helping to carry the team with his most convincing game being against Alameda High School with an ending score of 6-0, 6-0. photo courtesy of SLHS Yearbook

3. The Night Before It doesn’t take long for something to get into your head, but the fact of the matter is, are you really prepared to win, or did you spend the entire night watching yet another season of the walking dead? If you don’t get the sleep that you need in order to perform, the sleeping barbarian that you will be is going to be in that uniform instead of you. Is that worth letting your team down because you couldn’t wait to find out if Rick makes it to another episode? Talk about being selfish. It’s all about the head. Mental toughness is the key to being successful no matter what it is that you’re doing. Just relax, if too many things are entered in, then it just means you’re beating yourself in more ways that one. 15

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Teacher Meets World How a small Mexican town “reinvigorated”

Mr. Thompson’s

passion for teaching

When social studies teacher Mr. Ben Thompson left to teach in Mexico for a year, he didn’t expect to come home with a revamped dedication to his profession, but one small town quickly changed this expectation.

Thompson said.

Mr. Thompson spent the year teaching at a private, wealthy school in Guadalajara where students were preparing to lead their families, or even their families’ multi-million dollar corporations.

“For me as a teacher, it reinvigorated my commitment to this profession,” Thompson said, “I don’t face drug traffickers. I’m facing kids who don’t turn in homework. But the larger purpose is that people can overcome impossible odds.”

Only a few hours away from this privileged, comfortable community is the small, very different town of Chacon, Michoacan. When violence engulfed Mexico, residents of Chacon were hopeful the lush forests surrounding the town would render it useless to drug cartels. Unfortunately, this wasn’t the case. “The cartels paid local villagers to illegally log their trees,’’ Thompson said. Yet another community had been torn apart. “Literally the people of Michoacan were watching their sacred forests drive away,” Thompson said. To solve the problem without help from the corrupted police, the elderly women of Michoacan set up a local, private militia. “They chased out the loggers and burned their trucks, so throughout the town there are these burned out relics, these trucks, as a symbol of the uprising,” Thompson said. Now, charred trucks dot Michoacan, but it’s led by the residents, not drug lords or the national police. “Just walking around the town, you could feel it. There was a sense of hope, there was a sense of community,”

But how did this town influence a high school history teacher?

When Mr. Thompson traveled to Michoacan, he was introduced to others who share his optimistic outlook. “I met Miguel, one of the city leaders, and he told me what had happened in the town,” Thompson said. It was people like Miguel who showed Mr. Thompson the importance of his constant optimism and dedication, just like the people of Michoacan. “They show that you do it for other people. You do it for the good of the kids, the school, the community. That was a microcosm,” Thompson said. This year, Mr. Thompson is back to seeing mountains instead of beaches and hearing English instead of Spanish, but he’s still waking up each morning with the goal of teaching each student something new and valuable. Mr. Thompson may have been gone from Standley Lake for a year, but the lessons he learned in Mexico will influence students, just like they influenced him, for the rest of his career. | Christina Rudolph

facts about Mr. T

1. 2.

Hometown: Allentown, PA

3. 4.

Least favorite class: Math

5. 6.

Best part of living in Mexico: The beach

Favorite name in American History: General Arthur MacArthur

Favorite historical event: Civil Rights Movement

Worst part of living in Mexico: Threat of kidnapping

#GatorHoc Between kicking off the week with the bonfire, the Spanish triplets, the rowdy Class of 2015, the head honcho doing the ice bucket challenge, the defensive end getting a kiss from his “dream girl,” the senior girls smashing the junior girls in the Powder Puff game, the boys of fall beating Green Mountain 46-21, the drumline, the homecoming dance, the Student teacher being taped to a wall, and the star Athletes in the near future, Standley Lake Homecoming 2014 left it’s mark as one to remember. | Laurel Nordquist-Zukin | Tina Muscarelli

18 October 2014 | Issue 1

co 19

raise your voice the loud and vibrant voices of standley lake students spoke up about censorship a few weeks ago. today, those same voices are heard across the globe in a message about standing up for education 20 October 2014 | Issue 1

It began with a voice. A few voices, actually, of frustrated Standley Lake students.

majority into a conservative one.

In one week, it spread to a school-wide protest.

With that change came modifications to several aspects of the district including teacher contracts, compensation plans, and, most recently, new ideas about the content of curriculum inside Jefferson County.

It became a movement across the district two days later. Now it’s everywhere—from the front page of the New York Times to a Chinese newspaper article about censorship and public education. But the Jeffco Stand Up movement began with a few voices of frustrated Standley Lake Students. “There was a lot of frustration that culminated over the span of several months, and we felt that something had to be done,” Jeffco Stand Up co-founder Sarina Phu ‘15 said. The Jefferson County School Board experienced a shift in leadership following the last election in November 2013. Three new board members—John Newkirk, Julie Williams and Board President Ken Witt—transformed the previously liberal board

In mid-September, Board Member Ms. Julie Williams proposed the formation of a new curriculum review committee who would initially examine AP US History (APUSH) and elementary health education. The committee was aimed at ensuring that materials “promote citizenship, patriotism, essentials and benefits of the free enterprise system, respect for authority and respect for individual rights.” However, many in the Jeffco community reacted quickly and fervently against the formation of such a committee. To them, this “review” meant one thing: censorship. “It’s horrifying,” math teacher Ms. Susan Winkel said. “It looks like pre-WWII Germany, if you ask me.” The review criteria also mentions that curriculum “should not encourage or condone civil disorder, social strife, or disregard of the law.” “Social strife and civil disorder are an important part of this nation’s founding and development as the country we know today,” Phu said. “The positive and negative [aspects] teach us to think critically about what we’re learning as students, and it’s vital that we learn critical thinking.” Jeffco Stand Up co-founder Jocelyn Wallen ‘15 agrees. “If we start getting rid of the social strife and civil disorder, then we’re not going to know when it comes again and hits us right in the face, then it’s going to be a much bigger issue than it would have been had we been educated in the first place,” she said. It didn’t take long for students to make a statement about their feelings toward the school board. “I think that there are steps that need to be made but [the board] also needs to include the community, students, and the teachers in Jeffco,” Cassandra Garcia ‘15 said. On a Thursday morning, with a little free time and a lot of passion, a small group of Standley Lake students began what is now a nationally-recognized movement. “It was a bunch of IB students hanging out on their free time, and we were just talking about the recent decisions of the board,” Jeffco Stand Up co-founder Bethany Keupp ‘15 said. “We decided that there needed to be action, and it needed to be district-wide from students. So, we decided to create a Facebook page and start basically that day planning events for our whole school to participate in and hopefully, eventually, the entire district.” Within a week, the student-led group hosted a poster-making event and planned to have students walk out of their second hour classes Friday morning to gain the community’s attention and send a message about the perceived censorship proposed by the board. But plans changed when school at Standley Lake was cancelled on Sept. 19 due to a large number of teacher absences.

22 October 2014 | Issue 1

Instead of taking the day off and relishing the three-day weekend, hundreds of students piled onto the street corners at 104th and Wadsworth that Friday morning to make their voices heard. They waved signs that read “Fighting for my future” and

“Censoring history = no education” while chanting, “My school, my voice!” The students’ enthusiasm was met by honks from cars up and down Wadsworth all morning. “The energy never really went down. The entire time, everyone was chanting and waving their signs around like crazy, and they were having a good time getting the word out,” Wallen said. Conifer High School, which also had to cancel school that day because of teacher absences, protested with the same message that morning. That was Friday, Sept. 19 in Jeffco: 150 students, some posters, and the beginning of what would soon be a movement that consumed the rest of the district. By Monday, Sept. 22, schools across Jeffco were holding walkouts like Standley Lake had planned. In one week, 16 out of 17 Jefferson County high schools had walked out in protest of the curriculum review committee.

“when you realize that people have the same opinion as you, it gets easier and easier to stand up.” -jocelyn wallen ‘15

“When you realize that people have the same opinion as you, it gets easier and easier to stand up,” Wallen said. “When it feels like it’s just you or just a couple of you, you feel like you have no voice. But it’s been getting easier and easier to come across, as a community, that we do have a voice. We know what we’re talking about, we know what’s going on, and we want it to be better.”

and the movement spreads standley lake’s protests on sept. 19 kickstarted a chain reaction of similar protests around the district. here’s a quick list of the events that followed, by the numbers:

16 04 01

student walkouts teacher “sickouts” boots on the boulevard rally

Not only was each protest reported on all of Denver’s local news stations, but the story was picked up by national news organizations including MSNBC, The New York Times and Fox News. “At this point, it’s about getting the community aware and educated about what’s going on,” Keupp said. “And then, I think in the future there’s a possibility of a push for recall to try to get one of the board members to step down. But right now it’s just about getting the community involved.” But not all JeffCo students supported the cause—in fact, the protests began a heated dialogue between students on social media and around the halls about the issue of censorship. “As a previous APUSH student, I was aware that a lot of things were taught differently than I think US history should be taught,” Tyler Wiseman ‘15 said. “I think the committee is going to help balance what needs to be taught and what doesn’t need to be taught.” Wiseman feels that he and students who share his opinion are in the minority, but emphasizes that “everyone has their own voice and they’re allowed to voice it.” Principal Mr. Jeff Pierson also thinks it’s important for students

to voice their opinions. “You make your voices heard, and I think people should stand up for what they believe in,” he said. “But at the same time, we’ve got to figure out a way to get people back in school, and so I’m happy to be back here doing that.” School Board President Ken Witt, however, doesn’t believe that the voices being expressed through the protests and media reports belong to the students. “It’s a shame we see kids on the street instead of in classrooms,” Witt said in a Denver Post story published Sept. 25. “It is never OK to use kids as pawns, and it’s exactly what I think is happening here. And I’m disappointed in the actors in this—the union message coming down through the teachers to get kids to deliberately get out and protest something they don’t have any facts about whatsoever.” While Mr. Witt did not respond to The Lake’s numerous requests for an interview, Jeffco Superintendent Mr. Dan McMinimee said, “I think multiple board members need to hear from students about what their feelings are. That’s part of the democracy we live in, for leaders to hear what their people want.” Mr. McMinimee felt the walkouts sent the “big message”—the idea that the curriculum review committee might “limit opportunities” and that the students want to make sure this doesn’t happen. “I hope that we’re done [with the protests],” he said. “I hope every school has had the opportunity to represent themselves.” In response to the numerous walkouts, Ms. Williams issued a press release in which she stated, “To be accused of censorship? Seriously? That is just ridiculous.” Ms. Williams went on to say that APUSH “has an emphasis on race, gender, class, ethnicity, grievance and American-bashing while simultaneously omitting the most basic structural and philosophical elements considered essential to the understanding of American History for generations.” When the College Board, who administers the APUSH curriculum, caught wind of the possibility of the course being edited in Jeffco, they responded by throwing support behind the students involved in the walkouts. In a statement released on Sept. 26, the College Board said, “These students recognize that social order can—and sometimes must—be disrupted in the pursuit of liberty and justice.” According to their statement, Jeffco faces possible consequences if the APUSH (or any AP) curriculum is altered, including the loss of AP designation. The board voted on Oct. 2 to amend a previously existing policy and modify a curriculum review committee that Jeffco already had in place (See ‘What does this committee really mean?’). It’s unclear where the future of Jeffco and the future of the Jeffco Stand Up movement lie. “To rectify this current problem, we’ll be focusing on how to get these board members out of office because at this point. We have to get people on the board that care about students and care about their opinions,” Keupp said. It began with a couple of voices at Standley Lake who spoke up. Quickly, it grew into a school-wide protest. And then a movement spanning across the district. And then a national discussion about censorship and public education. But it began with a couple of voices at Standley Lake. l | Mezhgan Aslamy | Sarah Bennet | Chaye Gutierrez | Tina Muscarelli | Shylah Ogle | Morgan Rubendall

24 October 2014 | Issue 1

what does this committee really MEAN? Board member Ms. julie williams’ proposal for a “curriculum review committee” sparked protests by thousands of students fearing a censored education. so what’s the big deal? “materials should not encourage or condone civil disorder, social strife, or disregard of the law,” this quote appears in the original committee proposal by Ms. williams, and has proven to be the root of students’ concerns about censorship. “they don’t want to encourage or condone civil disorder or social strife,” jessica yan ‘15 said. “and we know what that is. That’s censorship.”

“when it comes to history I believe all children graduating from an American school should know 3 things: American Exceptionalism, an understanding of US History, and know the Constitution.” in a press release responding to student protests, ms. williams wrote that american exceptionalism should be taught in US history. many students disagree. “Having one small group of people decide what’s okay and what’s not okay to teach is super scary because they can push their views onto students without giving us the opportunity to form our own,” sarina phu ‘15 said.

and the verdict is... at the oct. 2 meeting, the board voted 3-2 to amend policies previously established to modify curriculum review programs that are already in existence. the modified policies place the responsibility of the reviewing systems in the board’s hands. the reformed committee will consist of parents, students, teachers, curriculum specialists and members of the community appointed by the board. details of the committee are still in question, and it is unknown whether the committee will be formed immediately or only when a piece of curriculum is challenged.

so...what’s next? nov

the next board meeting is scheduled for nov. 6. while the agenda has not yet been created, it’s likely that questions surrounding the details of the committee could be discussed. the lake will report updates to this story online at thelakenewsmag.com.

and for jeffco stand up? “we’re going to focus both on how to rectify this problem and how to stop it from happening again,” jeffco stand up co-founder bethany keupp ‘15 said. “one thing we’re going to push for is voter awareness, because that’s one of the reasons that this is happening. There’s more to an election than democrat or republican. there’s what people actually believe. To rectify this current problem, we’ll be focusing on how to get these board members out of office because at this point. We have to get people on the board that care about students and care about their opinions.”

Through the eyes

the crea

26 October 2014 | Issue 1

Beneath the pencil Ryan La '15 is an artist, but not the stereotype He draws and he’s good at it. He’s a dark soul with a jaded past. He probably wears a lot of black. Oh, and you know, his hair is always covering his eyes and he never actually looks at you when he’s talking. Besides drawing, none of the above statements are accurate descriptions of Ryan La ‘15. Instead, he looks straight into your eyes when he tells you exactly what is on his mind. Quiet, but not afraid. Cutting the sugarcoat, he’s not scared to admit the reality. Everyone else can be talking about rainbows and butterflies—La is keeping it real. “Drawing isn’t an expression of myself—it’s just a hobby," La said. "I don’t draw when I’m sad or when I’m happy. It’s just something that I do.” Art is what he’s good at. It sets him apart. “It makes me feel good about myself because its something I’m really good at," La said. "It’s confidence.”

he hopes to continue into his future, and is constantly doing in the present. Having taken many of the offered art courses at Standley, La has been forced to work with different mediums. His favorite medium continues to be just the plain, old pencil. For La, art may not be the soul fulfilling activity that is fueled by the teenage angst— but art does provide him with more than just something to do. “Drawing gives me a different way of thinking," La said. "Sometimes I take longer routes to get to where I’m going but I still get there. It’s just a different way of thinking.” Being a teenager is weird. It’s easy to be dramatic, angsty, and over emotional. But La stays grounded and makes sure his art does, too. While keeping it calm and cool, La admits that art isn’t an expression of who he is, it’s a great portion of what defines him. “If I weren’t able to draw, I’d be the most boring person ever," La said. "Drawing is what makes me different—it’s my thing.” l | Sabrina Pacha

What grew from weekly drawing lessons from La’s second grade teacher, is now what

s of

ators

Beneath the precision

Emily Carlson '16 escapes reality by crafting jewlery Fire. Metal supplies from the hardware store. A vision. Combined, Emily Carlson ‘16 can make a piece of beauty people can wear. She’s an artist. Her medium? Jewelry. “Jewelry is always a view of feminism, and a feminist outlook, and yet you create it from a very masculine thing,” Carlson said. “People stared at me when I walked [into Ace Hardware] in my maxi dress and jean jacket to buy a drill bit and some glue.” A balance between making something delicate using a hammer and saw, and a balance between a chaotic routine of a teenager and freedom, Carlson uses her art to escape from her usually practical, logical life.

28 October 2014 | Issue 1

“I think it makes my very stressful and organized life... different," Carlson said. "And it’s a relaxing force for me...because it can’t be planned out, not every aspect of my life can be planned out.” She does it for herself, yet loves the idea of others’ perspectives. “To be able to see that they’re looking at it differently than I look at it [is amazing],” Carlson said. “That the artist created something, but they’ve completely recreated it, and I smile at that because I think it’s really cool that they can do that, and that’s kind of their artist ability coming through.” Crafting pieces from pendants to belt buckles

throughout her high school career, Carlson sees the benefits, and perhaps disadvantages to enrolling in a traditional jewelry class. “I have a hard time calling myself an artist because I’m in a class,” Carlson said. “But I think an artist is defined by someone who doesn’t follow those educational ideas of choosing a project. They see an idea and they pursue it. I see everything and think of how I could make that into a piece of jewelry.” The one thing that's totally illogical, but the perfect part of her. The one thing she calls her own, yet calls her audience to make their own. The one thing that gives her complete freedom. Jewelry. l | Olivia Koontz

Behind the viewfinder

Megan Nugent '15 Finds Own Photography Style Outside of Classroom She lights the candle in her friend’s hand, and they both wait in silence for the wax to drip onto her palm before reaching for her camera. Her favorite lens, macro, captures the delicate flame. Megan Nugent ‘15 find inspiration in all places but a classroom. She goes into mountain fields and focuses on a single purple flower sparkling with dew, or comes out of church with a feeling in her heart she can’t shake until she can turn it into a photo. To Nugent, the most useful tool in photography isn’t a fancy lens, or expensive equipment, it’s patience. “What draws me to nature photography is the perspective it forces," Nugent said. "Like maybe someone will see my photo, and say, 'Wow, I never took the time to look at that flower or that tree or the sky.'"

Nugent took a photography class her sophomore year at Standley Lake, but that only helped her grasp the basics. She personally believes that a photographer’s eye comes from paying attention to the world around you. “Write down your ideas, make a long list of the things you find beautiful, and also, work on the courage to ask people to be your model," Nugent said. "Just go out and do it. Go out and look around you.” In her photos, you can feel her faith, her devotion to the details, and the happiness she wishes for the world. Photography is literally a combination of contrast, blur, color, movement, and brightness. But beyond those things, is the person behind the viewfinder. l | Natasha McCone

Behind the grafitti Cameron Scholling '17 looks at art as hobby, not job He stands in a narrow alleyway and examines the vandalism on the brick wall before he begins a new drawing. The mechanical pencil lead breaks when he thickens the lines. “When I’m drawing, I feel calm," Cameron Scholling '17 said. "It’s relaxing to just sit back, sketch some things out, and listen to the television in the background. The only thing I focus on is the drawing." He discovered his artistic talent in 6th grade. Scholling started off by looking at other completed art work and trying to get ideas from it. “I like looking at graffiti art and trying to copy it onto my paper,” Scholling said. “Last year, I got into graphic design, but I didn’t like it as much as drawing.”

The cliche is a cliche for a reason—copious amounts of practice is what makes Scholling satisfied with his artwork. “At first I was terrible, so I kept on working at it and eventually I got the results I wanted,” he said.

Scholling said.

He isn’t interested in pursuing art as a career. He only does it as a hobby and for self entertainment. He has never planned on taking it past that. Instead, he wants to be a mechanic.

Scholling already knows he can draw, he doesn’t need the money or the future career. All he needs is his white sheet of paper, his mechanical pencil, and streets full of grafitti. l

Scholling’s art style is eye popping three dimensional geometric shapes. He just sticks to that. Very rarely, he’ll try something different.

| Max Uhrich

Scholling likes to keep his artwork to himself, he doesn’t like to show other people because he doesn’t know how they’ll feel about his artwork. “If I ever do show people my work, I want them to feel surprised and inspired,”

Beneath the mouse Serena Bear '17 Creates Fictional Universe With Hope To Inspire Colorful dragons, otherworldly monsters, and lively space dogs. Sounds like something out of a movie, right? But this is no movie. This is the world Serena Bear ‘17 has created as a fictional world via digital art and for the love of dragons. “[Drawing] gives me the feeling that I have my own little world,” Bear said. “I can draw whatever I want to! People wonder about things and I can draw it, no matter how badly, I can make it come into existence. Anything.” Aside from power felt from being able to create, Bear has that one idea about the future that would give a sense of satisfaction if it were to occur: the chance to inspire a younger artist.

30 October 2014 | Issue 1

“That’s what happened to me,” Bear said. “I found some drawings that were my favorite

character and thought the style was really cool, even though they weren’t the best drawings, I wanted to do it too. I really want to inspire someone else.” As to how that dream would happen, Bear has an idea for that too. “Since I post a lot of stuff online, [if] there’s some 10 or 11 year old and they’re looking through the art site and they see my art and think that I draw really cool cartoons. Even if they aren’t the best, according to me at least, they could still think they are amazing and that could get them started cartooning... or whatever they wanted to do,” Bear said. l | Meg Metzger-Seymour

Behind the throwing wheel Logan L’argent '16 Practices Ceramics With a Future at BMW In Mind He is too busy to listen to the history teacher. It’s in his blood. Just like his dad did in college, Logan L’Argent ‘16 sits in class sketching cars on his homework and thinking about famous designers. Car designers, like Marcello Gandini, who according to L’Argent have made some of the most beautiful and innovative cars of our generation. He is a ceramicist, a sketch artist, and a son. But he is also a future employee at BMW. “It’s been a part of my life my whole life," L'Argent said. "I’ve kind of always enjoyed drawing cars. Once I saw my dad had some drawings of cars, I did it on my own." This idea for his future is not motivated by far off dreams of fame or fortune; L’Argent draws cars because their shape makes sense in his heart. “It’s more of a heart feeling, I

guess," L'Argent said. "You’ve got to find lines that you’re attracted to, and put those into your car. It’s more of what you like-not what you think other people are going to like.” To other students, choosing an art elective is just another credit. To L’Argent, it’s a critical stepping stone towards his future. Perfecting wheel throwing, learning how color reflects on pottery, figuring out how to take your concept and make it a tangible piece of pottery-these are all tools he’ll be carrying into his future. So, if in 20 years you see a car that’s the perfect combination of the Lamborghini’s mean look, and the Aston Martin’s beauty and elegance, you might be looking at a piece of art from that guy in your ceramics class. l | Natasha McCone

Your turn.

Draw, Paint, Color. Then show us! use #Gatorcreator for a chance to be featured on thelakenewsmag.com

Man Up Four boys redefine what it means to be a cheerleader

32 October 2014 | Issue 1

Confidence. Confidence prevents humiliation. Lack of humiliation wards off total social destruction. Of course, that’s all that matters when we’re trudging from class to class, interacting with people upon people, oblivious to yet another feeble attempt to gain social acceptance in the risky high school world. But take a few steps back from the focus of gaining perpetual bliss from your peers, and you’ll find Jesse Schones ‘15, Ricardo Villasenor ‘15, Dylan Aguilar ‘15, and Spencer Johnson ‘17, mingling among their fellow cheerleaders. That’s right. Cheerleaders. It’s just as diverse to have male cheerleaders for the first time in years at Standley Lake as it is to comprehend the reason why they’re cheerleading. “I’ve been bullied for like all of my life,” Johnson ‘17 said. “It makes me mad and doesn’t seem necessary. Cheerleading helps my confidence.” That’s why they do it. When it comes down to the nuts and bolts of cheerleading: it takes guts. They work all night to learn routines, dance moves, and to help rally the mass of people that attend games; just like the majority of cheerleaders that wear skirts instead of pants. “You’ve got to be really dedicated to your sport,” Aguilar ‘15 said. “You have to balance your time and be on top of everything and don’t get off of your schedule.” We keep men in tiny containers where they’re told how to act, how to talk, how to walk, and their notion of self-expression is completely lost from the moment they enter school to the moment that they hit their mid-life epiphany. The time when males in our society can tell themselves that they don’t care about their image is hard to obtain at such a young and susceptible age. “I’m a lot more mentally confident, less shy, and it forces me to go up in front of people and do things that are normally difficult,” Schones ‘15 said. Luckily, for the four of them, they’re already ahead of the game. “I’ve been asked almost daily whether I was gay and if that’s why I was in cheerleading,” Johnson ‘17 said. “I feel like it makes you kind of question, at first, whether or not they’re just saying it to make themselves feel better or if they’re saying it because they think it might be true. I think it makes us look more masculine because we are on a team with all girls. We stand out compared to them.”

34 October 2014| Issue 1

Being a male on the cheer team is difficult, and not only because they have to lift girls and precisely catch them, but because it’s arduous on the mind. “Masculinity isn’t just generic. There isn’t a set code for it,” Aguilar ‘15 said. There is a widely accepted idea out there that men must fit into a universal set of characteristics. These characteristics are power, masculinity, insecurity, and they all fall under the umbrella of entitlement that is created for men to fall in line to. “It’s not necessarily that people don’t care about being masculine or not, I just feel like I don’t have anything to prove to anybody; if I’m a man or not. I’m comfortable with my sexuality and I know who I am,” Aguilar ‘15 said. There’s nothing biologically different behind who is more masculine and who has the biggest muscles. It comes down to who you are as a person, and masculinity accompanies it. Why does society constantly scrutinize every little aspect of a man’s life? Because it’s easier to stay uniform in our thinking rather than to look at the big picture: men don’t need to follow in the footsteps of a preconceived idea. “I was coaching powderpuff cheer and that’s how I saw Dylan,” Jordan Ireland ‘15 said. “He was catching on really fast and I told him he should come try out. He ended up being immediately good at it.” What these four boys were granted was the power of self-expression. The ability to not care who was whispering among the crowd about their choice of sport. Even the slightest step outside those lines creates a domino effect of re-evaluation of the phrase: act like a man. Because they are acting like men; the difference between the stereotype is that they prefer tumbling and throwing girls in the air over a football. “You have to remind yourself that you’re on a team full of girls and they’re not,” Johnson ‘17 said. But why? How do seemingly traditional men in high school consciously choose to deviate from the standard pattern? To put it simply: because they can. It’s black and white, with very little gray about why these guys dedicated their time to cheer. Time that could have been spent participating in the habitual nature of most men their age. “We express ourselves the way that we do and we’re comfortable being in cheer because we know there’s nothing wrong with it,” Aguilar said. Masculinity isn’t something that defines a man but instead it’s just another tool used to criticize and shape the way men act. “Usually at school I try not to express myself as much, because if you express yourself in a [certain] way it could make yourself look weak, or different,” Johnson said. It’s different. Roll that around on your tongue a bit and maybe just saying it will feel different and slightly good, too. Just like it was for the male cheerleaders, they express themselves through cheerleading; their goofy side, their fun side. That’s what’s so valuable about self-expression. “I feel like there’s people who just laugh because they think it’s a feminine sport,” Villasenor said. “I think guys can do it, too.” Masculinity is considered something that we set at a certain point, but these four boys expose that it can be seen as a spectrum of characteristics that make up who you are. They prove that nothing is too feminine to try out, or too masculine to be afraid of. It’s exactly what these four guys demonstrate every time they get up in front of the crowd to tumble, to throw girls in the air, and to get all the steps right to form the routine. It takes guts. l | Hannah Jensen | Meg Metzger-Seymour | Ty Milliken | Shylah Ogle

How To Chomp Step 1 Get your Chomp on.

Step 2 While twirling your wrist in a circle, bring your right arm above your head. At the same time, chant “Form the gator, form form the gator!”

Step 3 Repeat Step 2, but use your left arm instead, to form a circle above your head. Keep chanting “Form the gator, form, form the gator!

Step 4 Bring your arms to the side and clap them together chanting, “Chomp the opponents mascot)!”

Smoke on the Water 36 October 2014 | Issue 1

The Popularity of hookah spreads across the u.s. and within the walls of standley lake

She unscrews the oil vile and replaces it with some new oil, Dragon Breath is the name. With the click of a button and couple seconds later, she lets out a fog of hookah vapor, and passes it on; the sweet berry flavor calms everyone down, and the night has just begun. Teens keep a close eye on the current fads and new trends that pop up daily. Of the most recent fads, hookah has become highly popular among high schoolers. Because they are often the ones striving to set the new social norms, they embrace whatever is ‘in’.

by the user. However, not all pens contain nicotine. Along with pens, there are also hookah pipes. Hookah pipes tend to be used more in social environments. A bowl with flavored oils or tobacco is heated and a person is able to smoke it through a hose which is shared with however many people are present. While some students have a sparked interest in hookah paraphernalia, others feel the backlash of those interests; they feel the pressure―the pressure to keep up with the patterns of a so-called “social life”.

A recent survey done by The Lake shows that 43% of students that have smoked, have tried hookah at least once. Also, 83% of the students surveyed believe there may be some long-term health effects linked to hookah smoking.

The variables that encourage teens to pursue drugs, and more recently, hookah, are vast. Is it peer pressure? Curiosity? Previous exposure?

But what is hookah and how is it used?

Parents, teachers, and school administration are accompanying teens on the journey, too. They’re working their way through the effects of hookah and if there is a reason it has become more appealing to teens.

Hookah pens are battery operated devices that turn a liquid, consisting of water, fruit flavoring, vegetable glycerin, propylene glycol, and sometimes nicotine into a vapor which is then inhaled

It’s different for everyone.

It is a common misconception among people unaffiliated with drugs that the unsuccessful kids are the only ones who partake in the use of hookah. “They may get into it because they don’t value success,” science teacher Mr. Mike Crouch, said. “[But] it’s not just the unsuccessful kids. Experimentation is a huge part of growing up for everyone―not just growing up, but living.” According to Medical News Today, 1 in 5 teens have smoked hookah in the past twelve months. Further studies done by Medical News Today show that there is a higher use of hookah devices among socially recognized teens with wealthy and educated parents. Teens have embraced hookah as a new and mysterious way to avoid social plight and unacceptance. “I think students use it as a novelty,” Vice Principal Mr. Tom Copley said. “There’s that risk involved, the risk of trying new things. They’ve never really grown up with hookah.” The recent popularity of hookah and other smoking devices has driven teen and adult concern for their effects on health. “I don’t smoke [hookah] because I think it’s gross,” Brandt Wintzen ‘15 said. “I don’t like the idea of putting smoke into my body. I feel that I, personally, might use it as a gateway to other things. I see people using it for pleasure and it’s just not something I want to do. No matter what it’s still putting smoke into your body.” On the other hand, some students and adults

feel that there is still not enough known about the effects of hookah to make a substantial conclusion. “I feel you can’t categorize hookah [as bad or good],” Julia Conolly ‘15 said. “I mean, hookah does not have the tobacco and additives that cigarettes do. It could be bad if you were to put tobacco in the hookah pipe.” “I don’t know a whole lot about them, but it would make sense that if [tobacco] smoke is not being inhaled into the lungs, it isn’t going to have the same detrimental effects as cigarettes,” Mr. Crouch said. Some teens have little to no reason for concern simply because they have never been exposed to hookah devices. “I don’t see an issue with it if you are responsible with it,” Cybil Lapenna ‘16 said. The boost in interest of hookah has harbored curiosity for the social culture of smoking and how some teens can be pressured into smoking. “I don’t really have a reason [for smoking hookah],” Connolly ‘15 said. “I was just hanging out with people and they said: ‘Hey, let’s go to a hookah bar,’ and that’s really it. It is kind of social I guess. I want to say it’s normal? It’s like how people say: ‘Let’s go drinking tonight.’ It is just a way for people to connect socially.” A study done by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows that tobacco usage among high school students in the U.S. is about 14% while hookah usage is at 14.6%.

“Administration is treating it like a tobacco product, even though it’s not,” School Resource Officer Mr. Sean Chandler said. “They remove the devices from student possession and contact the parents. Since the smell isn’t strong it’s harder to detect.” Mr. Copley illustrated the difficulty with disciplining against hookah usage, “We’ve never actually caught someone using hookah [in school], but we consider it to be a tobacco product.” The Bacchus Network also recognizes that the vapors released from hookah contain large traces of carbon monoxide, sometimes even tar or nicotine, which could lead to permanent health issues. While there is still little known about hookah, people will continue to form their own opinions and conclusions as to whether its prominence in society is positive or negative. Hookah will continue to mature as an important piece of society, and as it matures we will be able to learn more about it. Controversy will remain within the backlight of hookah paraphernalia as long as it maintains a prominent social reputation. Maybe it will grow into more than a fad, or if it will follow the same fate that previous fads like the cinnamon challenge and the ice bucket challenge met and simply die down. l

| Jamey Burky | Emily Leo | Alyssa Murphy | Laurel Nordquist-Zukin

School administrators are finding it harder than ever to crack down on the use of hookah products on school grounds.

...Rumor has it Debunking the myths surrounding hoookah The Rumor: Smoking hookah isn’t addictive like cigarettes because it doesn’t contain nicotine. The Truth: Just like regular tobacco, shisha contains nicotine. In fact, in a 60-minute hookah session, smokers are exposed 100 to 200 times the volume of smoke inhaled from a single cigarette.

The Rumor: Shisha tobacco contains fruit, so it is healthier than regular tobacco. The Truth: Hookah smoke is just as dangerous as cigarette smoke. Hookahs generate smoke in different ways: cigarette smoke is generated by burning tobacco, while hookah smoke is produced by heating tobacco in a bowl using charcoal.

The Rumor: Hookah smoke is filtered through water so it gets rid of harmful ingredients. The Truth: Water filtered smoke damages the lungs and the heart just as much as cigarette smoke.

The Rumor: Smoking hookah is healthier than smoking cigarettes.

The Rumor: Hookah smoke doesn’t burn your lungs, so its healthy.

The Rumor: Herbal shisha is better than regular shisha.

The Truth: Hookah smoke doesn’t burn your lungs because the smoke is cooled after it’s filtered through the water. However, the hookah smoke still contains carcinogens that are unhealthy for your body.

The Truth: Just like herbal or “natural” cigarettes, the herbal shisha exposes a smoker to tar and carcinogens.

38 October 2014 | Issue 1

The Truth: Tobacco is tobacco, no matter what. Shisha is often soaked in molasses or honey and mixed with fruit, but it still contains harmful chemicals and nicotine.

The real facts between standley lake students and hookah

IN STANDLEY LAKE

60 Percent of surveyed students have never tried hookah

1 2 Out of

sTUDENTS HAVE ACCESS TO HOOKAH OR ANY OTHER ELECTrIC SMOKING DEVICES AND MATERIALS

41 Percent of students do not know the legal restrictions of hookah in colorado *Based off a survey filled out by 224 standley lake students

a day on pearl street The untold stories of day-trippers in Boulder

40 October 2014 | Issue 1

veryone is a storyteller waiting for an audience. Imagine if people listened to the stories of a total stranger. We put that idea into action and spent a day wandering Pearl Street Mall in Boulder, observing people, unearthing their pasts, and keeping it anonymous. We started a conversation. We asked for their advice. And now, we’re sharing it with you.

11:46 AM If Pearl Street Mall had a soundtrack, it would be the rapid, staccato beating of African drums ricocheting down the brick street, drawing in tourists and day-trippers like bees to honey. Aged yet dexterous fingers skip and roll across the goatskin hide of the drums, called djembes. The musician is masked, he wears one unchanging expression carved into the wood. But the music he creates is anything but emotionless. As the african people say, he makes the drum talk. Some pedestrians snap a quick photo. Others stop and listen. Children abandon the hands of their parents to dance clumsily on short toddler legs. “To see them happy makes me really happy,” the drummer said. “When I see them dancing, and they feel it, then I know I’m doing something. And that’s all that matters. I don’t care if there’s people who think I don’t play well, if I play too well, or not well enough, as long as the children love it, that’s all that matters.” He uses four djembes: three made in Ghana, the other from the Ivory Coast. He wears an abstract mask from Cameroon, and a string of shells crosses his chest, signifying resurrection of the soul and of the sun. And the leather fringe? Pieced together with scraps of Ethan Allen furniture. In front of the line of drums sits another, smaller drum, empty and filled with wrinkled dollar bills. “Doesn’t she look like a lady?” the man says. “She’s like a lady there.” The assembly of seemingly random objects set up in front of the drums is called a santeria in some countries. The lighter represents the sun. The grain and water are for remembering and

Top Left: “Hearts on a Swing” sculpted by George Lundeen. Top Middle: The santeria sits in front of the drums containing the grain, shells, and lighter. Far Right: The performer sits at his drums in his abstract Cameroon mask. Bottom Left: The drummer shares his past on why he moved to Colorado.

The East End Pearl & 15th Street

thanking ancestors. The shells represent the ocean, “where [humans] came from.” This is what can be seen. But behind the mask, there is a man whose father is from the West Indies, whose mother is from New Orleans, who was born and raised in New York City but was desperate to escape the suffocating smog and hostility. “It can be a terrible place and it can be a nice place for some, but I needed to get out [to Colorado]. It was just too nasty. Too dirty, too nasty, too noisy, just not a nice place. The vibes are bad on the east coast, period. I love Colorado. Back East, I would have never had a young lady like you come up to me and want to speak to me. That’s how tense it is.” A man who is a proud father to his three daughters and one son. A man who was at his absolute worst after his mother died. “She is my goddess. I feel as though you can’t have God without a goddess. You have to have them both. She’s our first teacher, our mother,” he said. A man who, when asked to give his best piece of advice, says to “make the world a better place as much as you can, and do good things that uplift people. Your work should be something that helps people, rather than slaving for someone else, and you never see the fruit of your work. Everyone else sees the fruit of your work. I tell my kids, do what you love to do, and you’ll never work a day in your life.” A man who begins every Saturday and Sunday by putting on a wooden mask and saying, “Let’s hope the drums are sounding good out in the sun.” l | Nicole Heetland

Below: The vendor at the kiosk shares her best advice on finding a purpose in life. Top Right: The sunglasses vendor beams whilst talking about his wife, Sunny, and all her accomplishments. Bottom Right: The handmade stone earrings created by Sunny, sold on Pearl Street.

2:32 PM On Pearl Street Mall, passing by the captivating performers, the hipsters with their chai tea lattes, and the tourists, there are two individual shops basking in the mid-morning sun. Two particular kiosks, selling two different products, are connected through one story and one person: Sunny. A man sits to the right of his kiosk, Sun Spot Eyewear, wearing authentic Ray-Ban sunglasses, calculating his sales for the day. This man is the husband to the enigmatic Sunny.

The Mall Pearl & 13th Street

for their cart to create their own business. “We looked into doing a cart because, that way, she would be retailing her jewelry instead of wholesaling. So we applied for the cart and went through the process, and got it, which was tricky, but I built it for her.” The owner of Sun Spot Eyewear created a connection between two of his passions, business and his wife.

I just thought that this would be a cool job, and I would get to work outside and learn about the gemstones that [Sunny] uses in her jewelry.” The employer at Sol Stones envisions herself in 10 years with a job in Holistic Nutrition, her current major, or owning her own gemstone store, or both.

As a young college student herself, she offered up advice for any highschooler or young adult contemplating their future “Be conscious of everything in your life, and based on her past life expeHe isn’t a Colorado native, but found his passion and riences: “Live your life with if it’s not making you feel awesome, figure love here in Boulder, “I met a purpose,” she said. “This out why and go in a different direction.” [Sunny] in college [University advice sounds so cliche, but of Colorado Boulder]. I was a that’s the best thing I’ve store for her jewelry that her and her husband senior and she was a sophomore, and we met learned. Just be conscious of everything in your built, Sol Stones. through mutual friends,” he said. life, and if it’s not making you feel awesome, figure out why and go in a different direction.” The small kiosk, that sits behind the captivatThis self-made entrepreneur has owned many ing ‘Box Man’ performer, sells handmade stone small businesses such as CD stores, ATM maPearl Street Mall caters to college students and jewelry made by Sunny, but sold by a young chines, and, now, a sunglasses hut. However, tourists, but in between are the ones who call student who discovered at a young age her before he stumbled into the business of sunBoulder their home. Two nomadic kiosks, two glasses, he applied for a kiosk on Pearl Street to calling in gemstones and nature. different faces, two different lives: one of a help sell his wife, Sunny’s, handmade jewelry. young student who found her purpose in life She turned her beloved hobby of gemstones through stones and a man who does all that he into a job while absorbing the Colorado nature: Sunny used to wholesale her jewelry through can to support his wife’s dream come together “I really do like to work outside, and I like retailers, but she and her husband had a difthrough one invisible bond. l gemstones and learning more about them, so ferent vision. That’s when they began to apply | Morgan Whitley

42 October 2014 | Issue 1

On the next street down is Sunny’s very own

pearly bites

If you find yourself wandering down the brick walkway of Pearl Street Mall, stop by these popular eateries for your fix of Boulder culture.

Ku Cha House of Tea

Ozo Coffee Co.

Fior de Latte

Generic tea from Kings Soopers just isn’t really doing it for you anymore, right? The next time you’re in Boulder, make your own tea. Wait-make your own tea? Yes, you get to customize what you get to put in it. Need to relax? Ku Cha tea. Need help with a sore throat? Ku Cha tea. We recommend an oolong tea with sage jasmine and rose hips. You can’t go wrong.

This is the type of place to go to when you’re in need of a 4 star coffee. Their barista bar looks like a laboratory, so you’re guaranteed an amazing cup of joe when you walk through their doors. The lattes are to die for, and the art on top of these lattes makes you want to Instagram the heck out of it.

This gelato shop is modern, it’s chic, and above all, it has gelato that puts you on Cloud 9. The servers know what to pair with your simple Madagascar vanilla bean gelato: a little eclair on the side to harmonize the flavors. It’s at the end of Pearl Street, so make sure you don’t miss it. From the heart of Italy to the brick street of Pearl, you will be surprised when you step into the black and white room of gelato.

8:14 PM

The West End Pearl & 10th Street

Among the rampant art that blankets Pearl Street, one of the artists sits outside of Ozo Coffee, head down, looking away from the chatter of the West End. He erases stray marks and adds lines that will soon be a face. It’s just him, his sketchpad, and his music. Today, the genre of choice is jazz. “I’ve always drawn just for pleasure,” the artist said. “Sometimes I just have to sit down and doodle.” The chatter on Pearl Street fades away when he focuses on drawing the human body. The man on his right chats on the phone, but he is mute in the artist’s mind. The woman on his left is on her laptop, and she is just another washed out face. He’s from Missouri, the boring midwest where inspiration dies in a hole. So, he packed up and moved to Boulder to spark his creative flow. “There’s a lot of intellect motivating people fostering that art movement in Boulder,” he said. While Boulder offers inspiration around every turn, his motivation comes from something different. “There’s this man named Frank Stockton,” he said. “He’s a digital illustrator, which is what I’m into. He also has some other good [stuff] and he paints scenes individually. He inspired me a lot with his emotion of color, lines, and all that [stuff], which is a good composition.” This artist didn’t even plan on being a Boulder

local. He didn’t plan on making his passion a career. It just came to him naturally. Even though he’s been drawing for awhile, art wasn’t a career path he had in mind until he was a teenager. “I’ve been drawing my entire life. I haven’t always practiced drawing,” he said. “I didn’t really do that until high school.” All while this conversation is going on, he keeps looking at his sketchbook erasing pencil markings that don’t belong on the nose and the shading around the side of the body. He has multiple sketches of the same face but they each tell a different story of what the artist was thinking at that exact moment. That moment entails his thoughts of the movement on the sidewalk around him. The artist gives the best piece of advice he can for teenagers. “Don’t be afraid to explore other scenes just because it’s not your kind of music, not your kind of poetry reading, or whatever it might be,” he said. If you’re an artist, you want new audiences, you want to constantly be different.” The final product that was composed during this conversation turned out to be the face of a clown. He kept erasing, adding and erasing as if it were an assembly line for art. The doodle was stashed away in his sketchbook. He goes to work at that little coffee shop everyday to get a new perspective on the human noise that Pearl Street makes. He does this because “you need to get the outside perspective that’s different from other people.” l | Emma Marlow

Top: The young artists smiles while taking a break from doodling. Middle Left: A couple walks down the street. Middle Right: The National State Bank clock. Bottom: Two 43 night-time visitors.

opinions

soon enough... . . .will be soon enough

. . .Apple will take over Soon enough Apple will literally take over the world. I’m not saying like grow some legs and walk around. Just that Apple is going to take over our lives, more than it already has. Just think about it for a minute. Remember when U2 downloaded their whole album onto your phone without you knowing? Who even listens to U2 under the age of 35? Your iPhone literally knows your life better than you probably do. It tells you how long it will take you to get to a destination AND it accounts for traffic. Another feature your handy dandy little iPhone has is if you swipe down on your screen, and then swipe to the Today tab, sometimes it’ll tell you, “It’ll take you five minutes to get to work from your house.” Like it knows where your job is because it tracks you to work. That’s terrifying. Pretty soon we are going to get chips implanted into our heads that connect to our iPhones and will literally make our phones do everything for us. Think. Speak. Learn. Everything. Okay maybe not that far, but, honestly, you never know what Apple is going to come up with next. So enjoy being stalked by your phone for the rest of eternity. | Morgan Rubendall

Ernest Hemingway once said “Try to be alive. You’ll be dead soon enough.” Don’t have a funeral for me when I die. Oblivion is inevitable. We’re all going to die someday. So throw a party and celebrate my life instead! Soon enough, life will flash before your eyes. You’ll reminisce with your lover of 50 years on your porch and say “Damn. We were some crazy kids.” Soon enough will come soon enough. So until then, live the way you want to live, like there’s no tomorrow. Soon enough, you’ll have a job to pay for all the play. Soon enough, halfway through your working life, you’ll stop. And soon enough will get closer to soon enough. You’ll watch your kids grow and then their kids. Soon enough the cycle will take over. And soon enough will be soon enough. Live. And laugh. And make memories with awesome people. Try new things. Be adventurous. Because what’s a life that’s always waiting around and thinking “Soon enough?” | Laurel Nordquist -Zukin

44 October 2014 | Issue 1

. . .sexy costumes will be on display for halloween They will be revealing, cliché and attention seeking. Every year childhood characters are transformed into sex symbols—is Belle a princess or prostitute? Tough call. But who am I to judge? Many feel that too much skin shows on girls, but it’s overlooked when boys dress provocatively (Magic Mike, anyone?). It’s really not fair. And every year, unfailingly, the “Judges” band together to scrutinize the outfits, as though it’s their job. But what for? A playful costume never hurt anyone. Halloween is a time to challenge the status quo and be anything or anybody. It’s okay to have fun (it’s only one night), and it’s not for us to decide whether you’ve gone too far; it’s your decision. Personally, I draw a line between what is naughty and what is overly sexual for myself, but it’s your body, yo, so do what you want. #yolo | Ripley Ricketts

. . .She will grow up She won’t be little anymore. She won’t be my baby sister watching Caillou drinking chocolate milk out of a sippy cup. Soon enough, she won’t be worried about when Dora will explore again. She won’t be running through the house wearing a one piece swimsuit with goggles pressed against her head in the middle of December. Soon enough, little Isabella Sophia Settje (said with a lisp) won’t be so little anymore. Oh wait… that already happened. She grew up. And soon enough, I’ll be looking back wondering what happened to the awkward middle schooler, Izzy. Before I know it, I’ll be graduating. Then she will be graduating, and then my older sister and I will be standing at her wedding thinking when did little Belly grow up? There is no stopping it. I want to take it all in. All the sassiness, annoyingness, and love. Because soon enough will come soon enough. | Alie Settje

. . .I’ll be outta here I’ll be walking around on a beautiful campus, starting the next huge chapter of my life— finally leaving the nest. Being an “adult”... whatever that is. Not coming home to my mom and dad every single day. Not seeing my little brother and sister all the time. To tell you the truth, as excited as I am to “get outta here,” I’m terrified. I can’t even bring myself to move further than a half hour away, I’m so incredibly attached to my family. How the heck am I supposed to live without them? I don’t even know how to do anything. Cooking? Nope. Not at all. Mac ‘n’ cheese and cereal. My chef mother has made me every meal. Like how am I supposed to live without that? Making appointments on my own? Yeah, no way. I can’t even believe that I’m going to miss my little sister jumping on my bed to wake me up bright and early on a Saturday just to do her hair for dance class. I’m even going to miss my brother taking the remote and my mom bothering me to clean up my room every second. It’s so insane to think that all those irritations that drive me crazy right now, will be things I’m missing in less than a year. | Tina Muscarelli

shake it up Taking a look at how mainstream high school can be Freshmen. Always seen as immature, annoyingly slow in the halls, and overly obnoxious at times, are hazed into the high school realm with phrases such as “freshmeat” or “stupid freshmen.” They’re thrown into their mix of over stimulated hormones and the choice between garden patch salad or canned fruit. I guess what I’m trying to say is that every class, whether freshmen, sophomores, juniors, and even seniors are the same every year. Freshmen follow what the sophomores do, sophomores follow juniors, juniors the seniors, or even the seniors follow the senior class before them. Freshmen will always be those loud strangers that absolutely do not know the rule of no stopping in the hallways. Sophomores will always be a little overly-confident due to the fact they don’t have to be labeled as freshmen anymore.

Dogs, will always leave behind the monstrous piles of confetti on the gym floor after every assembly and will gather in the “senior hallway,” making it nearly impossible to get to English on time. Why is it that high schools fail to stray away from the legacies that previous classes have left behind? Because it’s safe. It’s what we are used to. I, myself, love the idea of being safe, but I can’t rid myself of the idea of a changed school, changed community, and hence a changed view of high school. Sure, the seniors mixed it up for the spirit days for homecoming week this year, but what else? Standley Lake knows what else. An unending cycle, that we are choosing to finally break.

Juniors will always try to be louder than the seniors but secretly are impatiently waiting their turn to break free of the high school chains.

The cliché idea of high school is “finding yourself” and “learning from your experiences,” but how will that help me and my school when we do the same activities, have the same morals, even the same beliefs as every single class before us.

And the seniors, deserving of the title Top

Sure, every class tries to be different from

the class before them, but every “tradition,” themed days, even personalities are the same. Why be the same year after year, carrying on this legacy? Let’s do better. We can do better. And we are. This is the same in every high school. No high school strays from the others. Except Standley Lake. Standley is different. Standley cares. And Standley tries to make a difference through our actions and how we act. We stand up for our teachers when they stand up for us, calling in sick to keep our rights as students. We founded the holiday used to help abolish bullying, known as Day Without Hate. What other school do you know that takes leaps like that, knowing our reputation may be affected? Let’s keep it going. Let’s be different. We say we are Gator Strong for a reason. | Alyssa Murphy

opinions

Over the rainbow The resurgence of Reading Rainbow is a cause worth fighting for From 1983 to 2006, there was a show on PBS that changed young education like no one could have expected—a show hosted by Levar Burton, an actor known for his roles in Roots and Star Trek: The Next Generation. This show introduced the wonderful world of literature to kids spanning over three decades, and then, it stopped.

Reading Rainbow was one of the most in-

fluential shows any young child could have. It showed us all that reading is fun; reading leads you into a new, exciting world. The show was cut in 2006 because of a lack of funding to PBS. Reading Rainbow was gone. One of the most influential shows that few have heard of was gone. In order to expand our knowledge, we need to read. Reading allows us to critically analyze pieces of work, allows us to understand history, and therefore better ourselves as a country. Kids now are growing up with sitcoms on Nickelodeon, Cartoon Network, and Disney Channel. I grew up as a toddler watching Sesame Street, as a child watch PBS Kids programming, and now I have an eagerness to learn. The harsh reality is that the next generation won’t without shows like Reading Rainbow.

46 October 2014 | Issue 1

Reading Rainbow taught me that there are

countless entertaining and interesting books out there, and that Reading Rainbow isn’t for losers. It’s for everyone.

Burton has realized this, and through Kickstarter, has started a campaign to bring back Reading Rainbow. We aren’t in middle school anymore. It’s not lame to learn or read anymore. Now that we’re older, we actually give a crap about important things like education, or at least we should. Now I realize some will overlook the importance of this show’s revival. After all, the show hasn’t aired a new episode in eight years. We’ve been going pretty good since then, right? Wrong, absolutely wrong. According to DoSomething.org, 1 in 4 American children will grow up not learning how to read. That alone implies a potential 25% of future students, of the future leaders of this great country, can’t read a simple novel. If you need clarification, that’s a huge problem. School funding is decreasing and decreasing every election it seems. Some idiots don’t understand the importance of educating the

future of this country. You need to understand, we need shows like Reading Rainbow back because we need educated leaders in the future, as shocking as it sounds. We need to face the facts. The young kids of today are going to be taking care of you and me. They’ll be making the laws and the decisions that will determine how well we live. The education of the upcoming generations affects us more than it affects them. Let’s forget about the political issues that are being brought up right now, those issues will be taken care of by educated future leaders, if we are fortunate to have one. Please, I ask for you, the teachers, the students, the community, everyone: donate to Reading Rainbow’s Backer Kit. We lost it once. Let’s not risk losing it again. With atrocities like banned books, and the low literacy rates, we need, I repeat, need, Reading Rainbow to educate our future. Education is the most important thing in this country, now let’s keep it. | Jamey Burky

Dear Jeffco, stand up

Dear Mr. Witt, There’s something students need to tell you. They are not “political pawns” of the union, contrary to what you may believe. And frankly, it’s appalling that you don’t believe in their intelligence or their abilities to form their own views but instead choose to believe that they must be influenced by adults. Your job as a member, and President, of the Board of Education, is to believe in Jeffco students--to support them, empower them, and encourage them to grow as citizens. Your job is not, however, to put them down in the media by amounting their efforts in protesting to nothing more than an unfounded following of their teachers. The students protesting are not children who need to have their hands held. They are empowered youth with sturdy educational foundations and the ability to analyze and interpret what you say. Most importantly, the students are voters or future voters. They are future-shapers. They are change-makers. Watch them stand up for their rights and get what they fight for. Dear Ms. Williams,

a staff opinion

Nice try. However, thanks to our stellar public education here in Jeffco, students know exactly what your proposed committee means: censorship. Censorship of American History. Censorship of the not-so-great. Censorship of the dark moments in our past for the sake of American exceptionalism. Not to mention, the College Board released a statement saying, “If a school or district censors essential concepts from an Advanced Placement course, that course can no longer bear the “AP” designation.” So, either this committee is simply wasting their time, or

they’re going to make changes which will leave students unable to be successful on the test, ultimately threatening the availability of the AP course within Jeffco. Well, Ms. Williams, the students refuse to stand by a censored education or an education that doesn’t offer higher level classes. But nice try. Dear Financial Backers of Witt, Newkirk, and Williams, Students are not numbers. Students are humans. Continue to treat the students as your economic or political agenda, and they’ll continue to fight back. They may just be “kids” as the school board often has labeled them, but you might be surprised what a little google search will inform you of. Students know who’s backing these campaigns. Students know that the board majority is being funded by big corporations trying to push their own agendas into the education system. And students know that isn’t right. So you have two options here: either step off, or the students will make you. Dear anyone who’s listening, Students are standing up for their education because they’re not children who need to be kept out of “adult matters”. Students have taken a stand. It’s their education on the line, and they deserve to have a voice. The students are the ones learning the curriculum. The students are the ones whose futures depend on the education they receive in high school. Yet the students are the ones being ignored. And it’s time for the board, and the community, to listen. Because in the end, isn’t this supposed to be about the students?

W A N T A FA ST , E ASY WA Y T O F UND R A I SE FOR YO U R SC H OOL ?

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