The Lake - May 2015

the lake

warm days, sparkling nights our guide to getting up off your couch this summer 9300 W 104th Avenue | Westminster, CO | 80021 | USA | Planet Earth | Milky Way Volume 26 | Issue 6 May 2015

the people Editors-in-Chief | Nicole Heetland Olivia Koontz

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 May 2015 | Issue 6

Team Editors | Esteban Arellano Hannah Jensen Emily Leo Christina Rudolph Patty Sokol Website Editors | Emily Leo Alyssa Murphy Staff Writers | Shelby Hines Hannah Jensen Hannah Laughlin Emma Medley Meg Metzger-Seymour Ty Milliken Alyssa Murphy Kayla Pray Ripley Ricketts Jazmyn Ruybal Gordon Saur Sophia Stimpfl Aryle Turner Maxin Uhrich Taylor Zangari Cartoonist | Dechen Chhenmorito Adviser | Ben Reed

social t

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

contents

31 6 29 20

7 9 8

14 24 10

Catch you on the flip side.

13 3

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Hi. Hey there.

Right now, you’re probably doing what we are: counting down the days, minutes, seconds until that final bell (like in High School Musical). And we want to help you make this summer great. But first, we’d like to look back on a few really rad things about this year.

Friday morning, September 19, Wadsworth was lined with Standley Lake students who, instead of relishing their extended weekend, had hoarse voices and tired arms from holding posters for hours. In December, we delved into an issue we saw within our school: our safety. We uncovered the facts, we informed you, and changes were made accordingly. Then peace was the focus again in April; we spread the word about how everyone matters. Balloons hung from the gym ceiling and hundreds of people came together for a night to celebrate a day. A Day Without Hate.

These days, these events, these stories...so much has come from within these salmon walls in nine short (or long) months.

So enjoy this summer. Go on that hike. Make some green tea soda. Enjoy our beautiful state, or venture beyond it. But when you come back next year, we hope you’re prepared to do even more awesome things.

We want to cover them.

xoxo, Nicolivia aka: the editors-in-chief of the lake p.s. Things have changed around here. The old editors-inchiefs are no longer with us. They’re in a better place now. Just kidding, they graduated. We’re new. hi.

5

City of unrest Death of freddie gray sparks riots, protests in baltimore

Used with the permission of the Associated Press

I

t was Apr. 19 when Freddie Gray died from a spinal cord injury. He was arrested on the morning of Apr. 12 in Baltimore. After his funeral, riots sprouted around the city.

Gray was arrested at 8:24 a.m. He asked for his inhaler because of his asthma, but was never given an inhaler. Gray was never fastened into his seatbelt.

The rioters did everything from looting malls and stores to lighting police cars on fire. Officers set a ten o’clock curfew, arresting anybody that was out after curfew. One thousand officers were summoned from across Maryland and two thousand National Guardsmen were sent into the city.

Two stops were made by the van, picking up other prisoners in the process, before arriving at the station at 9:30 a.m.

“[Riots have] been going on for a long time,” President Obama said. “This is not new and we shouldn’t pretend it’s new.”

Gray was raised in Sandtown-Winchester, one of the most poverty-ridden towns in West Baltimore. The unemployment rate there is fifty percent, whereas the overall unemployment is five percent in the country.

Speculations were raised about the reason Gray was arrested. Police accused him for having a switchblade, but the knife wasn’t a switchblade so it was a legal weapon.

“Whenever a police officer makes a stop, he’s supposed to radio it in. We haven’t seen those.

Those are usually the best way to get an accurate picture of what happened during an arrest.” Police Commissioner Anthony Batts said to CNN.

6 May 2015 | Issue 6

After he arrived at the station, Gray was able to get medical help. He was taken to Maryland Shock Trauma Center where he was taken into surgery to repair a crushed voice box and three broken vertebrae.

Gray never left the trauma center alive.

“It’s complex. It involves a minutiae of details.

It requires our full talents, our full time, and we’re going to get this right.” Deputy Commissioner Kevin Davis said to CNN. Due to further investigation, it was revealed that the spinal cord injury was caused by Gray’s head slamming into the van.

Baltimore’s state attorney, Marilyn Mosby, announced that Gray’s death would be ruled a homicide.

“We ask for the public to remain patient and peaceful and to trust the process of the justice system.” Mosby said at a press conference.

Riots differ from peaceful protests that spread

across the city. Protesters marched from the Gilmore Homes Housing Project, where Gray was arrested, to Baltimore City Hall.

Out of the one thousand officers protecting the city, one hundred and thirty were injured by rioters and even some of the protesters.

Protests have been taking place all over the United States, with 300 protesters in Columbus, Ohio had a solidarity march on May. 2.

Thousands of protesters filled Union Square in New York on Apr. 29 for a rally. Protesters even rallied in front of the white house on Apr. 29 as well.

The curfew was lifted as the protests became more and more peaceful and the National Guard exited the city.

CVS Health offered to help rebuild stores that were damaged in the riots. “We have a long history of serving inner city communities and we are 100 percent committed to serving our patients and customers in Baltimore,” CEO Larry Merlo said in a statement.

As the city turns towards peaceful protests instead of violence, the citizens of Baltimore fight for what they believe to be equal rights in the name of Freddie Gray. | Hannah Jensen

Nuggets for homeless white Sisters give to those in need When the White sisters made a pit stop at McDonalds on their way to a Mammoth game, they didn’t expect to change a couple of lives.

They ordered the 50-piece chicken nuggets, but the two of them couldn’t eat them all. The only option they saw was to take the uneaten nuggets home for a potential late night snack.

Then, something happened that changed the number of options they had for their leftovers.

“These two homeless people came in,” Rachel said. “We heard them arguing about what they were going to be able to buy with the money they had that day. They said they could only afford a side salad.”

After minutes of listening to the argument of what salad dressing they would have on their side salad, the Whites realized they had another option for their leftover nuggets. “[Hannah and I] went up to them to give them our leftover chicken nuggets,” Rachel said.

Even though the two refused, the Whites insisted. “They had merely nothing, and they didn’t even want to take what we had,” Rachel said. “And we had plenty.”

It was a moment that the sisters will never forget. “Just knowing that you weren’t just giving them some money that might or might not go to waste felt nice,” Rachel said. “It’s something else—something that they really, really needed.”

All it took was the Whites knowing that they could give other people whatever they needed provided for them if they opened their minds and saw the other options possible. | Kayla Pray

Life’s what you

bake of it

Facs teacher Ms. Valerie Baylie hangs up apron Throughout her many years of teaching, Ms. Baylie is a force to be reckoned with.

She has been awarded Colorado teacher of the year in 2000, Colorado Prostart teacher of the year in 2010, and was most recently awarded the Reaching for The Stars award.

Ms. Baylie is one of the very few teachers to receive the Reaching for the Stars award, which is awarded to people who have the most influence in the foodservice, lodging and hospitality industry.

But her biggest accomplishment goes beyond her own skills.

“Of course it’s always the kids...and all of their accomplishments that they’ve made,” Ms. Baylie said.

Ms. Baylie has had more than a little influence on her students throughout her many years.

A previous student of hers, Joe Troop, who graduated in 2002, has opened up his own restaurant.

Helping kids find a passion for culinary arts is what makes Ms. Baylie feel fulfilled.

“I’m sure not going to miss the grading, and the late hours,” Ms. Baylie said. “I’m going to miss the kids a lot, and Prostart.”

But it’s not just the students that have succeeded throughout Ms. Baylie’s career.

Her daughter, Caitlyn Baylie ‘16, has experienced seeing her as a teacher, a coach, and a mom.

“It’s just kinda sad, because throughout my whole high school career, she’s always been there,” Caitlyn said. “And I’m not gonna have that next year, which is unfortunate.”

But that doesn’t stop Caitlyn from being supportive of her mom.

“I’m really sad about it but I’m also happy for her, because she will actually be able to do other things,” Caitlyn said.

But it’s not just cooking that Ms. Baylie wants to pursue after her retirement.

“Caitlyn is going to be a senior so I have to get all her scrapbooks done,” Ms. Baylie said.

“I have to get all the books done before [her] graduation.”

With support from so many people, it’s no wonder that Ms. Baylie feels this is the right thing to do at this point in her life.

“But, I’m really going to miss the kids, preparing lessons and making sure its fun. My motto: if it isnt fun I’m going to make it fun, that’s something that I always do,” Ms. Baylie said.

And after so much time in the game, that motto turned into a lifestyle. Which eventually inspired everyone. | Jazmyn Ruybal | Taylor Zangari

Other Departing Staff Members Diane Boyd Secretary Melinda Dennis Secretary Ashley Durrum

Spanish/Instructional Coach Cathy O’Donnell

Special Education Ben Reed

English/Newspaper Adviser Andrea Sabadosh

Science/IB Coordinator Bonita Sellstom Paraprofessional Anne Wallin English Mary White

Diverse Learners

7

l

Put BFF to the test Questioning you friendship lately? Take our quiz to test your homieness

Your guide to better, healthier water Here are some fun recipes with things to add to your water for more vitamins and flavor.

Can you trust them?

Y

N

Do you have a similar interest?

Y

N

Do they support your dreams?

Y

Green water

Raspberry Lemonade Water

citrus honey water

Mint leaves

Sliced lemon

Orange slices

Cucumber slices

Whole raspberries

Strawberries

Lime slices

A natural sweetenter

N

Do they make you grow as a person?

Y

N

Do they listen to you?

Y

Honey

N

Do you have a 50/50 friendship?

| Emma Medley

Y

N

Do they make good on their promises?

How to wear Gator gear

Y

N

Would they give you their last french fry?

stray away from that cliche gator gear look.

Y

N

Do you exchange ugly Snapchats?

Y

N

Would they tell you if your outfit’s off point?

Y

class it up Wearing your Gator gear doesn’t always mean “lazy day.”

Rep your sport Show off your sport. There’s a reason why you pay all that money at the beginning of the season.

Music Mania How does your taste in music define you?

ditch the leggings This look is seen way too often and there’s a higher chance that you’ll be twinning with somebody

N

If you answered N to any of these questions, you should take a long, hard look at your friendship.

Layers are key Summer nights can be chilly.

Layering can be great to amp up your style and keep away those colds, too. | Alyssa Murphy

If you answered all Y then you have great friend, go give them a hug. | Jazmyn Ruybal

Pop

Country

Alternative

Rock/Metal

Hip-Hop/Rap

You’re bubbly and love the fun mixture of beats when it comes to pop music.

Katy Perry, Lady Gaga, and Michael Jackson are all your spirit animals. You’re also a big fandomaniac and will do whatever it takes to defend your favorite artist.

Line Dancing and partying is your plan for a good Friday night. Whether you’re jamming at The Rose or cranking Luke Bryan in your bedroom, country is your feel-good music.

You’re always in for a good night when you dance to your favorite southern song.

You’re mellow and love the rainy days.

Sitting back during your off hours listening to your music playing through your headphones takes all the stress off of the school day. Listening to the soft rock of Arctic Monkeys on your phone eases your mind.

Much like the Rap fans, you’re ready to get pumped. Rock and metal concerts are the best type of concerts. Old school AC/DC and Van Halen are the types of bands that make you want to shred on the guitar. You’re determined to join a band one day.

You’re energetic and like to get pumped. Whether it’s old school Tupac and B.I.G or more modern, like Kanye and Jay-Z, you always like to get riled up. It’s no surprise you’re the life of the party.

8 May 2015 | Issue 6

| Hannah Jensen

Empty pocket

traveling How to make use of your boring days, even without money

Rocky Mtn. National park

Garden of the gods

You can find trails all over and climb to the top of the mountains to look at the beautiful view from the top of Colorado.

Garden of the Gods is a beautiful place for hiking and seeing some of the naturemade landmarks our state has to offer.

7 falls

red rocks

downtown

Hike some trails to a colorful array of waterfalls, that beautiful sight, that can be seen with your friends or family.

Even without a concert going on, Red Rocks can be a fun and inexpensive place to go and spend time with friends or family. Hike, have a picnic, and admire the beautiful scenery of Colorado.

Spending a day downtown can be something enjoyable for everyone. You can window shop at all the stores or observe the people with different personalities outside of your neighborhood. | Kayla Pray

What is the best and worst thing about having an older sibling?

Hailee Frazier ‘16

We’re the same size so we can still share clothes. It’s nice to have a little friend all the time, but she steals all my clothes and she’s kind of a pain in the butt.

Hannah Frazier ‘18

I can wear her clothes and she dresses nicely, so it’s fun to take her clothes. But sometimes she’s really annoying. | Kayla Pray

9

Platinum Record Girls relay team breaks 15-yearold record, wins league title As Casey Torbet rounded the last corner of the Jeffco League Meet on May 5, her relay team watched with eager eyes to see if they could pull it off. Their 4x800 run felt good—personal record good—but they had no idea what was to come.

Minutes after their run, the team, comprised of Emma Abernethy ‘17, Savannah Martin ‘18 Anna Nelson ‘17, and Casey Torbet ‘15, stared at the scoreboard to see if they were right

about their time. The sign flashed 9:53, which broke their personal record by thirteen seconds, and clenched First Team All Conference.

On top of a school record and a league champion time, the 4x800 team should qualify the team for the state championship.

“I couldn’t string my thoughts together fast enough,” Savannah Martin ‘18 said. “It was incredible.”

“They should have a State qualifying time,” Coach Ron Rosset said. “For the past ten years, the qualifying time has been about 10:07.” | Gordon Saur

The relay team also broke the school record, set back in 2000. For those of you keeping track, that was before Martin was even born.

Baseball

Boys Swimming

Girls Golf

Baseball finished their season 6-13. They had their biggest win early in the season against Thornton, winning the game 19-0.

Finishing up the season, five boys are going to State, Jonah Staton ‘17, Thomas Mayer ‘16, Scott Bayliff ‘15, Sean Rocha ‘15, and Rayman Miller.

Courtney Kauffman ‘16 led the team with a 99 in Regionals, which sent her to State. The girls golf team placed 15th of 18 in their non-conference tournaments.

10 May 2015 | Issue 6

fd

Girls Tennis Taryn Walker ‘16 ended her season 5-4 in doubles. In regionals, she placed 5th. “Overall I feel our season went really well. I think we grew as individual players and as a team,” Walker said. “We also improved our record from last year which is really cool.”

PLAY TO WIN THE GAME College football players deserve more credit A sports column

by Maxin Uhrich When I was younger, my dad, my brothers, and I used to go to watch the University of Colorado Boulder team play. I distinctly remember how awesome it was to watch the buffalo, Ralphie, run around the field prior to kickoff. The tradition is unbeatable.

The teams in NFL don’t quite have the same exciting tradition as the teams and schools in the NCAA. The athletes that are in the NCAA produce better games than the NFL. Money controls the NFL—the players care for their endorsements and contracts way too much.

College football players go out there giving it their best, showing what they can do, and who they can prove.

Boys Track At the Denver North Viking Invitational, Trevor Smith `17 ran a personal record in the 1600 meter run of 4.39 and placed 8th overall.Aaron Leal ended the season with a personal record in the 400 meter dash of 52.90.

Girls Soccer The team won their first playoff game against Palmer Ridge 2-1 as the 18th seed in the State tournament. During the season, Caylie Hartman ‘15 had an average of 2 saves per game. “Going into playoffs, we’ve realized that this team will never be the same again and knowing that, we’re going to fight our hardest to make sure our last game doesn’t come until we’ve accomplished all of our aspirations as not only a team, but a family as well,” Camille Garcia ‘17 said.

Yes, the giant beasts in the NFL are better at what they do than the college athletes, but the games and attitudes in college football are far better than the games and attitudes in the NFL. College football players play to win. They play hard all game all the way to the end of the 4th quarter when the clock says 0:00. The players in the NFL play not to lose. And what I mean by that, is that once they get a comfortable lead, they sit on it. As soon as the other team may be getting an edge on them, they try harder. People rarely see 56-0 blowout in the NFL. Instead you’ll see a 21-0 shutout. Running backs who strive for greatness and play hard the entire game are, Ameer Abdullah and Melvin Gordon III. In week 12 of the 2014 college football season, Melvin Gordon III and the Wisconsin Badgers ran all over the Nebraska Cornhuskers. Gordon broke the record for 408 rushing yards in a single game.

It was later broken by The University Oklahoma, with Samaje Perine the following week. The point here, is that Wisconsin won the game with a final score of 59-24. The game was over at halftime. He performed his best the entire game, even when his team had more than a comfortable lead.

It’s just that the collegiate level is better than the professional level. The excitement, thrill, and action is just so great.

So when you’re bored on a Saturday in the fall, turn on any college football game, and I promise you’ll be more entertained than the games on Sundays.

11

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Behind the English teacher brings light to students Mr. Ben reed finds school assemblies absolutely ridiculous.

“I was trying to make fun of them, trying to satirize high school assemblies,” he said. “The whole thing is just such an absolutely ridiculous spectacle. I wear the glasses because I have to have a different persona when I step up there.”

And he has never painted a Day Without Hate poster.

It was here behind these glasses that he found a way to bring light to high school, the very place where he had found so much darkness when he was younger.

So then why does he run them?

His current role is largely influenced by his past.

Look at Ben Reed, the teenager, and you won’t recognize him. During high school, Mr. Reed faced long bouts of depression and loneliness.

“I was jaded and bitter in high school,” Mr. Reed said. “When you are feeling down, you are down, and that is all there is in the world.”

Flash forward to his senior year.

After an Outdoor Lab trip, he knew that he wanted to be a teacher. He turned down the prestigious Journalism program at the University of Missouri, and enrolled at the University of Colorado-Boulder to become an elementary school teacher.

He moved to Boulder, where everything would change his Junior year.

The shooting at Columbine High School in 1999 shook the nation, and impacted Mr. Reed even more.

“After that, I knew that I had to be in a high school,” he said.

In 2002, after a stint at Pomona as a student teacher, Mr. Reed landed at Standley Lake High School. Based on his dark adolescence and the Columbine shooting, he came to the school with a goal.

“I wanted to show my students that people can be better than who they are. It’s been a goal of mine my whole life,” he said. “Ultimately, humanity is flawed and messed up, but I still have hope for us.”

It was with this goal that he started to run school assemblies.

He used this passion to collaborate with a group of students who approached him in 2007 with an idea to unite the school in wearing white.

Eight years later, Day Without Hate has become an institution, with thousands of kids participating across the world.

“With Day Without Hate, I haven’t ever painted a poster,” he said. “But I can give students that opportunity, and that is something that I am really proud of.”

Now after a successful 13 years of working to give students new opportunities, Mr. Reed is moving on. He is taking a job at the district as a Resource Teacher for the Gifted and Talented Department.

“I am going to miss working with the Standley Lake kids and the poster parties,” he said. “Maybe I will come over to the school and finally make a poster.”

Although he is leaving the students who he worked with to create a safer school, he will still maintain a role in Day Without Hate, although on a broader level.

“I think that, as a teacher, I’ve had a lot of successes,” he said. “What I’ve learned is that the jagged edges of times that exist during your high school years get smoothed out as you grow older.”

| Esteban Arellano

13

I

t’s understandable that you might be getting tired of all the traditional summer habits. The spray tans, the endlessly dry and chlorine damaged skin, the go-to backyard barbeque potato salad. We are, too.

But here’s the catch. There are fresh things to encounter this summer, and you may just find them here. Maybe it’s adding a twist to that old box of green tea sitting in your pantry, or it might be wandering to a corner of our colorful state you’ve never encountered before. Flip some pages, find out.

14 May 2015 | Issue 6

TIE What you’ll need: White cotton shirt (or whatever you want to tie dye) Rubber bands (a lot) At least 3 dyes (of your choice) Squeeze bottles Soda ash A sunny day and patience!

How to:

Step 1: Go outside! Set your choice of fabric in a bucket of warm water, 2 tablespoons of salt, and soda ash for 10 minutes. After, just wring as much of the liquid out of the material so your dyes show up vibrantly.

Step 2: To create a basic spiral effect, begin by laying your fabric on a flat surface. Pinch the fabric to where you want the spi-

ral to start and start twisting. The fabric should end up looking like a cinnamon bun. Then carefully cross at least 4 rubber bands to keep the fabric bun in tact.

Step 3: Start the dying process by applying the lightest colors to the darkest.

Follow the triangle guidelines of your rubber bands and soak the fabric with the dyes and cross the colors to make a rainbow effect. Then flip the fabric over and do the same technique to the other side.

Step 4: Place your colorful masterpiece in a ziplock bag (or a trash bag, according to the size of your fabric). Clean up your dying materials and leave your fabric outside so that the dyes sink in. Leave your dyed fabrics out for at least 8 hours or longer for the best result.

Step 5: At last you can reveal your unique design. Start by cutting off the bands and wringing out the fabric under cold water (in a sink) until the water turns clear. Then separately throw your new creation(s) into the washer on the warmest temperature and dry normally. Your new colorful piece should be to dye for.

America

|Sophia Stimpfl

Spanish teacher Janine Kehlenbach discusses adventures with traveling friend As teenagers, we think this will be the only time in our lives we will find adventure.

It’s even weirder to think that we will befriend people who live in a different state, who we met in a different country. But to Spanish teacher Ms. Janine Kehlenbach and her friend, Jen Copeland, it’s nothing out of the ordinary.

“We met in Spain many years ago,” Kehlenbach said. “[We] became really good friends, and she lives in Rhode Island, and I see her more in Europe, or in Mexico, or around the world than I do in the United States.”

That spark of culture is what turned into a life-long friendship and a life-long thirst for travel.

“It’s interesting that we can travel because we met in Spain, so we were already independent traveling people, so then we had those skills,” Kehlenbach said.

Kehlenbach and Copeland both discovered their love of travel in Spain, making it an easy way for them to catch up after long doses of separation.

A unique friendship founded on foreign land.

“You have to find that meld, you know what I mean?” Kehlenbach said. “My best friend here in Colorado, I couldn’t travel with her.”

Many say it “takes two to tango,” but who knew it takes two to travel.

“I could not travel with many people because you have to find somebody you jive with enough, because there has to be a lot of give and take,” Kehlenbach said.

Top: Ms. Janine Kehlenbach, enjoys lunch at a restaurant in Santiago de Compostela, Spain.

Bottom: Jen Copeland, sits inside patio canteen in Madrid.

Two people. Nine states away. One friendship that exceeded the expiration date. l

|Taylor Zangari

15

Your Spicy Side

Grilled Shrimp Skewers Edamame

Green Tea Soda

Ingredients:

Ingredients:

Ingredients:

For boiling:

How To:

Wooden skewers 24 large shrimp 1/2 cup light soy sauce 2 cloves garlic, finely chopped 1 tablespoon grated fresh ginger 1 tablespoon toasted sesame oil 1 tablespoon of peanut oil 2 tablespoons white wine vinegar 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice Salt and pepper 2 tablespoons toasted sesame seeds

How To: Soak wooden skewers in cold water for 1 hour to avoid burning on the grill Whisk together the soy sauce, garlic, ginger, sesame oil, white wine vinegar, lime juice and peanut oil together in a small bowl Place shrimp skewers onto a plate and drizzle with peanut oil to lightly coat Season with salt and pepper Heat grill Grill shrimp 2 minutes per side or until cooked through Place shrimp on a platter and sprinkle with sesame seeds Use teriyaki, sriracha, or soy sauce for dipping

16 May 2015| Issue 6

4 cups of edamame, or package size ½ tablespoon of salt, more if desired water (only if boiling) soy sauce teriyaki sauce

Add ½ tablespoon of salt Bring to a boil, just to the point that the pot is bubbling rapidly and consistently Add the edamame to the pot If they are frozen, cook for 4-5 minutes If thawed, cook for 3 minutes Remove edamame from pot after cook time Add more salt for desired flavor

For microwave: Place edamame in a bowl, making sure to cover them with a paper towel Set time for 3-4 minutes After beans are all cooked, add salt and pepper Use soy sauce or teriyaki sauce for added flavor These little green beans are packed with protein and are perfect for sprucing up a side dish.

Their simple preparation also makes them an easy candidate for snacking.

8 bags of green tea 4 cups of boiling water 3 tablespoons of honey or sugar 1 liter of seltzer water 1 fresh lemon 2 tablespoons of fresh mint Add tea bags to boiling water and let stand for 2 to 3 minutes Remove and discard tea bags Cover and chill brewed tea Before serving, add honey or sugar to the tea Divide tea mixture among different glasses Add lemon and mint, filling the rest of the glasses with seltzer water This one was a bit tricky. Make sure to let the tea cool before adding the seltzer water, otherwise the carbonation will disappear. Unless you are a fan of flat soda, it won’t contribute to the bubbly summer you are looking for. The lemon and/or mint offer a refreshing note to take the edge off of a balmy day.

|Emily Leo

Undeflatable

“The set was amazing,” Lombardi `17 said, “They had an old fashion light bulb come down and it looked so nice and humble, everything with the awesome lights and fog it was just perfect.”

One of the opening acts, The Script, played one of their songs “Nothing” which is about breakups. The lead singer thought it would be cool if he called someones ex and sang to them.

Long time friends share their memories that will last a lifetime

Windows rolled down, the evening air flowing through their hair, four friends cruised up to a One Republic concert at Red Rocks.

On the way, they encountered the worst of luck-- a flat tire.

“Someone in the front row gave them their phone, and the band talked to his ex.

They sang the whole song on the phone to her and at the end we all said goodbye, it was really funny.” Lombardi `17 said.

The concert was an experience Lombardi `17 will never forget.

“The concert was better because I was with my friends,” Lombardi `17 said. “We have these amazing memories to share and to look back on and laugh about.” l

|Hannah Laughlin

Hannah White`15, Rachel White `17, Danielle Lombardi`15, and Lexi Lombardi`17, anxiously pulled off the road.

“We were driving along and our car started to make noise but nobody noticed because we were blasting OneRepublic,” Lombardi `17 said. “Then our car started to bounce so we had to pull over to the side of the road.”

Fearing that they would be late to the concert, they called one of their dads. “ Lucky my dad was able to come and give us his car so we could go to the concert, and he stayed there to deal with the flat tire.” Lombardi `17 said.

Most everyone knows the thrill of Red Rocks, the ambience of nature, and a crisp breeze setting the scene.

Taking the Valmont An essential destination for anyone with a mountain bike, Valmont has areas for every rider. Whether you are on the dual slalom or cruising around on a green trail, you’re sure to leave feeling exhilarated.

Nederland Just up the road from Boulder, Nederland has trails streaming in all directions. From Caribou Ranch to Moffat Tunnel, Nederland has beautiful mountain scenery. On top of the trailheads, Nederland also has astonishing cafes and restaurants for an after-hike drink.

Big Dry Creek The trails system in and around Westminster is great for everything from early morning runs to sunset bike rides. Big Dry Creek and the trails branching from it are a fantastic way to travel around Westminster, and if you’re looking to ride farther than Westminster, Big Dry Creek will be able to take you to Flatirons Crossing later this summer.

|Gordon Saur

17

18 May 2015 | Issue 6

your own little

W

e’ve ventured to some of our favorite places, in hopes of sharing them with you. Some, older than time, and others ready for the making of fresh memories. Maybe you’re tired of spending sunny days cooped up inside. And just maybe you’ll decide that this summer lies within the will of impulse and the possibility of finding a brand new adventure right in your own backyard. | Nicole Heetland | Alyssa Murphy | Kayla Pray

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B

20 May 2015| Issue 6

Battered and Bruised Students recount their struggles with sports injuries

S

printing towards the wall of the indoor soccer field of the APEX center, all Amanda Carman ‘17 was thinking about was getting the ball from a girl on the other team. “She was running on the outside, close to the wall, and I was running towards her, trying to make some ground,” Carmen said.

It was a regular play in a regular game. And then in a split second, everything became completely and irreversibly irregular. “When I turned, my knee just popped,” Carman said.

“The whole thing slid out.”

For athletes, injuries are an unfortunate but inevitable part of playing sports. Everyone will experience some form of an injury at some point in their lives, but the mental and physical toll injuries take on athletes change their entire lives—usually for the worse, but sometimes for the better.

While she didn’t know exactly what happened as she was lying on the ground in agony, Carman knew immediately that something was wrong. “It was burning,” she said. “It felt like something was on fire in my knee.” That popping she heard was her ACL snapping in half like a rubber band.

What started as a normal preseason game turned into a trying journey filled with minor triumphs, major setbacks, and tons of unanswerable questions. The largest question in Carman’s mind was seemingly simple, but more important than any other. “When I found

out what it was and realized that it was really serious, I just thought, ‘How could something like this happen?’” she said.

feel invincible and focus on the things that matter to the game. You’re not worried about getting hit.”

The physical impact on Carman was obvious—she would need to have surgery on her knee and use crutches for six weeks—but the mental toll was equally exhausting, especially because she was in the middle of basketball season when the injury occurred. “I had to tell everyone [on the basketball team] that I did it playing soccer,” Carman said. “That was hard.

I was at my peak in the basketball season, so it was really sad.”

Unfortunately, getting hit is an inevitable part of football and regardless of how the pads make players feel, no one is invincible.

Carman’s path to recovery is just beginning, but other athletes have been dealing with the consequences of their injuries every day for what seems like an eternity.

Landon Warriner ‘17 broke his shoulder playing football last season, and while his shoulder is mostly healed by now and life is finally starting to get back to normal, Warriner’s whole world was shattered when he first found out about the extent of his injury.

“My first thought when the doctor told me it was broken was the feeling of being heartbroken,” he said. “I thought it was just a little thing but it turned out to be missing the whole season. I almost started to tear up.”

For Warriner, football isn’t just some hobby or a way to get exercise. It’s the best sport he’s ever encountered. “It’s such a fun game and it’s so different than the rest of them,” he said.

“Just the feeling of being all padded up, you

When the initial shock of his injury settled in, Warriner had to start working on the ultimate goal: making it back onto the field. “I rode countless miles on the training bike in the training room, and I could do ab work but that was it,” Warriner said. “I was out and in a sling for 14 weeks.”

The hours and hpurs of work Warriner put in were physically draining, but even that wasn’t the worst part of his injury. “Sitting on the bench made me feel like, ‘What if? What could I have done this year?’” Warriner said.

After months of struggling with unanswerable questions and an immobile shoulder, Warriner is confident he can make a full comeback next season. “I’m super excited for next year,” Warriner said. “I’m anxious to show what I can do.”

For many injured athletes, the only motivating factor twhat keeps them going on their hardest days is the prospect of fully recovering. Of never having to worry about the injury again.

But for one injury, that’s a prospect that can never be true.

Concussions aren’t uncommon, but they have a profound impact on every person who’s had to deal with their unpredictable nature. 21

cracking the concussion How concussions affect the brain Warriner ‘17 prepares to do his shoulder workouts.

Cerebellum 1)Nausea 2)Dizzyness 3)Vomiting 4)Lack of awarness 5)Ringing in ears 6)Intolorence of light

Cerebrum 1)Loss of coordination 2)Inability to judge distance 3)Slurrred speech 4)Abnormal eye movement

47%

Science teacher Mr. Rob Cassidy helps treat Godinez’s ‘16 headache.

Of reported concussions occur during high school football

33% 33%

Of athletes who have concussion reported having two or more in the same year

Carman ’17 adjusts her knee brace.

Of conccsuions happen at practice

22 May 2015 | Issue 6

Warriner ‘17 works out his shoulder.

For Andres Godinez ‘16, dealing with concussions has been a way of life since middle school, and while the symptoms have faded, their influence on his life are still evident.

“I’ve gone to the doctor for five concussions,” Godinez said. “But you can’t really know how many concussions you’ve actually had because it’s so subjective.”

“It felt like something was on fire in my knee” -Amanda carman ‘17

Godinez had his first concussion in seventh grade, but through playing football and hockey, four more quickly followed. Having an injury that no one else can see presents its own challenges, especially because of how much pain they can inflict. “Having a concussion does not feel good,” Godinez said. “Having a concussion can feel like different things because there are different types of headaches depending on where you hit your head. With my most recent concussions, my vision was distorted, and it seemed like I was seeing everything in twos or threes. It’s pretty weird.”

Because of the unique symptoms associated with concussions, it’s impossible to limit their impact to just the field or the ice, as they often change the entire lives of those affected, including at home and at school. “You just have to let your brain heal,” Godinez said. “Usually they pull you out of school and sports, just to not stimulate your brain too much.”

Amanda Carman stands on the sideline watching her team traain. She hopes she can can return soon to participate in practice.

advantage of their severity. “I’ve seen people who have strung out concussion-like symptoms to get out of something they don’t want to do, like school,” Godinez said. “Which is just stupid because it makes teachers doubt the kids who actually have concussions and need a break from school.”

Since concussions can be so all-consuming, Godinez has witnessed people try to take

The combination of headaches, games spent sitting on the bench, and potential future problems make Godinez yearn for a fresh start. “I wish I had a different injury that still allowed me to play sports,” Godinez said. “If you break your wrist, it doesn’t really have any implications on your future, but if you hurt your head, it does. You use your brain everyday.”

High school athletes are forced to deal with a lot. Rollercoaster seasons, seemingly endless conditioning sessions, and teammate drama are just a few of the issues they’re bound to encounter, but the award for the worst part of high school sports goes to injury.

Whether it’s Amanda Carman sitting on the bench in a brace, Landon Warriner walking back into the weight room, or Andres Godinez getting a check up with his doctor, there will always be athletes at Standley Lake fighting their way back. Fighting their way back to strength, fighting their way back to a clean bill of health, and fighting their way back to the sport that they love. l Shelby Hines | Kayla Pray | Christina Rudolph |

Emma Medley | Ty Milliken | Maxin Uhrich

The Road to

Recovery

Mara strother ‘16 demonstrates physical therapy exercises for torn acl recovery

Toe Raises how:

Quad Stretch how:

why:

why:

To stregthen quad and calf; to rebuild and strengthen the ACL

Stand on right leg and lift up onto toes, return to flat foot, and repeat

Start with leg straight on the ground and slowly bend knee to a 90 degree position until she feels a stretch To build the flexibility of the knee back up

23

C

ultural

ontrast

Three multilingual students leave their homes in search for new experience 24 May 2015 | Issue 6

Ray of

sunshine Vietnamese student conquers fitting in after moving to America at young age

A heart-warming spirit. An aura that beckons you, makes you feel comfortable. An endless source of sunshine on even the cloudiest of days.

The soul behind the smile belongs to Nghi Tran ‘17.

It was the temperate, crowded country of Vietnam where culture, tradition, and family molded Tran’s heart and shaped her into the individual she is today.

Tran and her family immigrated from Vietnam when she was in sixth grade. During her childhood, Tran remembers her family’s longing to move—hoping to gain better opportunities in the United States.

“It took ten years until we were able to move,” Tran said. “I was too young to be affected, but my parents gave up hope about ever coming because we were waiting for so long. So we just decided to live our lives as happily as we could in Vietnam.”

After a decade of waiting, they received a phone call. In mere seconds, the Tran’s had obtained the opportunity they had desired for so long.

Upon arrival to the United States, Tran was accustomed to a more rigid culture—one revolving around discipline and expectation.

“[The Vietnamese culture] isn’t very open-minded,” Tran said. “Everything you do, you have to follow the rules, you have to listen to the adults, you don’t really have freedom until you get older. When I saw how America works, it’s very different because the parents are involved in their kids’ life but still let them have a say in what they want to do and the decisions they make in life.”

Tran’s parents always pushed her to be the best in every aspect of life, which resulted in Tran’s permanent attributes. These traits were amplified when she was transferred into American culture.

Tran struggled to find her footing between the traditional Vietnamese girl her parents hoped for, and the new American lifestyle she wanted to absorb.

This inner conflict was put to the test when Tran began to get bullied by her fellow peers. “[When I came to America,] I didn’t even know one word of English,” Tran said. “None, like totally, completely blank. And I got bullied slightly. They all joked and talked bad things behind my back and giggled.

They made fun of me because I wasn’t exactly like them.”

Yet through these struggles, Tran continued to have a positive outlook.

She kept persevering—knowing that she just needed to take her transition day-by-day and things would eventually become better.

And they did.

Tran continued to improve her English as she entered middle school, but it wasn’t her newfound understanding of the language that helped her fit in.

She fought the hardships that came with being an “outsider” with her warm, kind-hearted personality. Her radiant spirit exchanging negativity for everlasting positivity. If anyone knows her, then they have experienced the comfort and sunshine she expels with rays so bright they could diffuse the stormiest of clouds. l

25

From mountaintop to

mountaintop swiss exchange student spends year attending high school as Sophomore after graduating in her country

S

he traveled across the ocean with one thing in mind: to experience.

Sandy Geu left her life behind in Switzerland for a single year for her love of traveling and immersing herself in cultures.

“I didn’t just come here for the language; it was also for the experience and having another family,” Geu said.

She didn’t chose Colorado; she chose her host

family, something that was more important to her than the sunny beaches of California.

Geu comes from the German part of Switzerland. A trilingual person, she is fluent in English, French and Swiss German (one of Switzerland’s four national languages, which include Romansh, Italian and French).

tracurricular language class. They also graduate in 9th grade—without dances, school sports, or multiple electives to choose from. They are forced to think intellectually early on—a large factor in what creates their culture.

“We start with [learning] English in 3rd grade and then we add French in 5th grade,” Geu said.

Through Hollywood, the Swiss have been portrayed as neutral people of wealth, involved with banks and staying out of the affairs of others, a stereotype that came from their decision not to get involved with the world wars.

That’s not how the Swiss see themselves.

Being trilingual is a requirement for Swiss students, not an optional skill to acquire in an ex-

“We’re kinda known for our logical thinking,” Geu said.

Ranked as the sixth country with the highest IQ, Geu’s claim rings true. When she returns home in the summer she will be putting her knowledge to work at Bosch, a company that handles mobile, industrial, building, and energy technology as well as consumer goods. She will be working in an office completing administrational work and ordering new products for companies. “[I’ll be speaking] German, but I [intern] at an international company so I hope I can use my English there, too,” Geu said.

When Geu headed for America, she sacrificed her passions for her future, exchanging the Swiss Alps she loved to ski for the Rockies.

When she returns home to Bosch, her family, and the Swiss mountaintops, she will be leaving behind her host family, resurfacing from the culture she dove into. l

26 May 2015 | Issue 6

Taking

flight

Slovak, Czech student ventures to America for new father figure

A

dam Majer ‘16 is a person who is not afraid to speak his mind.

And he does it in three languages.

He speaks his adopted language, English, at school.

He speaks his first language, Slovakian, to his mother.

He speaks his next language, Czech, to his stepfather.

Majer was born and raised in Slovakia with his parents and older brother.

“My real dad, I don’t talk to him anymore. He was and is an alcoholic and a gambler, and my mom had to pay a lot of money for all the debt, almost 700,000 dollars,” Majer said.

Majer did not have a fatherly figure when he was growing up. He was left alone to figure out how to do things a father was supposed to teach his son.

With his father at the casinos and always drunk, he usually only had his mother with him.

“The thing is that Slovakian parents and kids aren’t as close as they are in America. They are

a little more separated,” Majer said. “Like we don’t say I love you that much, and we don’t say it on the phone; it’s just not what you do in Slovakia.”

When Majer turned eight years old, he and his mother left his father and Slovakia behind to move to the Czech Republic.

He lived there for two years. He had just enough time to adjust.

Just enough time for his mother to meet someone else.

Majer’s aunt owned a nail salon in Czech. Her old friend came in on vacation back to the Czech Republic from America. Her friend told her about an engineer in Denver that would be perfect for Majer’s mom. A random person that Majer didn’t think would ever become his father figure.

When Majer was just ten years old, they immigrated to the United States to live with his soon-to-be step dad.

“I don’t really care that much anymore about my dad because he didn’t raise me; he didn’t

care,” Majer said. “It was mainly my step dad as my father.”

While he embraces his future, his roots are in his past. Even so, his roots inspire him. Since he was a young boy he dreamed of flying. He found his passion for flying long before he discovered that his great-grandfather was a pilot, that it was a plane crash that killed him.

He found it interesting that aviation seemingly flowed through his blood.

“I like the freedom of flight,” Majer said.

“When you’re flying just for fun, like on an airline, you can fly without knowing where you’re going and get away from problems on the ground. I thought it was cool that he was a pilot and I wanted to be a pilot too.”

He traveled halfway around the world only to find that what he was leaving behind is what he was aiming for.

The course of his life has molded him into the person he is today, the person he wants to be in the future. l | Shelby Hines |Hannah Laughlin | Meg Metzger-Seymour |Patty Sokol | Ripley Ricketts

27

opinions

How is this still a thing?

Game requests Jeans

Buzzfeed Chances are that you’ve fallen into the Buzzfeed trap before.

Maybe you wanted to read about the “Twelve People Who Need a New Set of Ankles” or just had to watch “Chinese People Eat Cheese For the First Time”.

Or maybe you wanted to read a second-hand news story and hear useless information about celebrity and world news. The nice thing about Buzzfeed is that it makes you ask questions. Questions like “I wonder what fifth grader wrote this?” Or who cares about “Which Ousted Arab Spring Ruler You Are”? It’s not long before Buzzfeed runs out of unoriginal ideas and begins to shut down. And believe me, that moment will come soon enough. | Gordy Saur

It’s a known fact by every female that jeans suck. They are either too tight or too loose around the waist, never the perfect fit. They are either too short, creating unwanted capris, or too long, bunching up at the ankles. They either come skin tight or baggy when it comes to style. So it makes sense why everyone is wearing leggings.

Babies wear leggings, children wear leggings, even adults wear leggings. They are like pajamas, only more fashionable.

They are comfortable, fitting almost perfectly every time. And they go with everything. If retail stores want to make more money, they should just sell a crap-ton of leggings. Because who wants to wear uncomfortable jeans anymore? | Hannah Jensen

This is 2015 people. That being said, why am I still receiving requests to play Dragon City or Bingo Blitz on Facebook? It’s not that I’m judging anyone who still plays games on Facebook—you do you—just know that you’re not helping me out by bombarding me with irritating notifications. Please, pretty please with cherries on top, stop sending me game requests. My great-aunt sends me game requests to “test my detective skills” and play Criminal Case on a daily basis, but she doesn’t know any better. So next time, before you click that send button, remember that I have no interest to give you any cows on Farmville or send you more lives to get to the next level in Candy Crush. | Patty Sokol

Social Conformity Society preaches humanity to embrace individuality from a young age, to find unique talents and explore passions. Yet, as we evolve into maturity, those ideals becomes diluted. There is a certain pressure that many people. Young adults especially, feel the need to fit into a group and be liked by friends—and frankly, society as a whole.

To fit in, we must conform to a group’s mindset, activities, fashion, etc. From that, we become gray—our individual rainbows dissolving into one being. However, society cannot morph into one individual being, so we become—pardon the pun—50 shades of grey, with different assimilated groups per shade. While it makes life’s adventures arguably better to belong to a group, similar to yourself, it is also noted that people often lose what makes them stand out. Spontaneity, creativity and self preservation have become buried in society’s new, less meaningful ideals. Why should it matter if your nose isn’t perfect, or if you enjoy LAARPing? “Stick to the status-” no. Be you, love you, stay you. | Ripley Ricketts

28 May 2015 | Issue 6

Mcdonald’s Now this could be my anti-fast food personality talking, but I don’t even know how this franchise is still alive. Everyone has had one of those moments where they question what the burgers are actually made out of, and how the heck the french fries have 19 different ingredients in them.

I won’t even start on the movie everybody knows about called “Super Size Me”, a documentary where a man gained 24 pounds in 30 days from eating only McDonald’s food, and experienced multiple health issues during and after that period. Leave it to McDonald’s to lure you to buy their food, load your body with sugar and fat, and make you feel like you gained 5 pounds from one visit. There are so many other options out there that are healthier. Go find them. | Emma Medley

Life’s sharp edges No matter how often you get cut, keep on living Some scars you can see. Some you can’t.

I always told myself that car accidents will never happen in my life. That my family will never get into a car accident. Until that one night my dad came into my room crying his eyes out, made sure I was sound asleep and said, “I’m sorry.”

I never thought much about that until my dad woke me up. Moments after that, my brother and my dad walked into my room and my dad told us both that my mom had died in a car crash.

That night, my mom was traveling to her church group to receive support from her new found friends she met on her retreat. And on that night, on Feb. 18, she left me and my family for good.

The moment left me with scars that may never heal.

With the short time I had with her, it scares me that she will never be with me during my big moments—when I have my first car, my first girlfriend, my wedding, my kids, or the amazing stuff I’m doing in school. I’m not going to forget that she's not going to be there, but instead I’m going to make those moments worth remembering.

And not just that, I know that if I fall into a depression or don’t live my life to its fullest, that she would be disappointed with me; that all we went through, and all she taught me I wouldn't be able to live out in her memories as I should.

But it's not all that bad because a year later I’m living my life, and I’ve done some pretty cool

things that I know my mom, from up there, couldn't be any happier with.

However, when I’m on Facebook, my feed is filled up with how sad and miserable our lives have become.

Why do we always talk about how our lives suck on any social media? It's that 4.7 inch screen either in your hand or in your pocket you're always looking at. Those screens have controlled our lives and made them terrible and miserable.

But I’m not about living like that. I don't believe in using social media as an escape route to show the world my feelings.

I have a life that I have the right to control.

There is no social conformity that will change my life to be like other people—to be popular. I can be whoever I want, whatever I want, and I don't need anyone to tell me otherwise.

It doesn't matter if you have a little scar or a huge one like mine, they are the words on our body that write our story.

Life itself is something to live for. It's a passion of mine, and it can get really hard and suck sometimes, just like losing my mom or even breaking my arm a couple of times. However, I will always bounce back up and do things to make my life worth living.

Life isn't that scary. The more you go out in life, the less terrifying it is, and the less difficult.

Life is something I live for. It's something I want to stay in control of, and make it how I want it.

I plan on keeping it that way. | Ty Milliken

Take it from me. I get lots of weird looks from people staring at my arm. They are looking at the three huge scars that I got from getting surgery on my broken arm during freshman year.

You're probably thinking, “How is this kid talking about breaking his arm supposed to help me?”

Well, my scars on the outside remind me.

Everytime I’m hanging out with friends, playing basketball, it makes my life interesting.

My scars on the inside and out remind me to live an amazing life.

Scars are the things that make us who we are.

29

opinions

Urban dictionary doesn’t define me It’s time to realize silly internet slang hurts We’ve all heard it by now.

Whether you’ve seen the movie, read the book, or searched Urban Dictionary for the definition, you know what being the DUFF entails.

named as the “less attractive” friend of their group.

It needs to stop. Not just with the DUFF, but with all name calling.

It means being the Designated Ugly Fat Friend.

Who cares if your friends aren’t very attractive?

A real confidence booster, right?

Keep it to yourself first of all, and don’t tell them you think they are the DUFF.

Now, there have been acronyms like this around forever, and half the time they are just dumb sayings created by dumb people, but that doesn’t stop them from being hurtful.

If you are like me, then being called names doesn’t bother you at all. People could say the nastiest things and I don’t flinch. But that still doesn’t make it okay.

Do people honestly feel the need to label others with ridiculous nicknames created by those too insecure to deal with their own self image?

I thought name calling became outdated when we were in elementary school, apparently I was wrong.

I thought once we got older, we would get over the nicknames that made people feel bad or inferior.

But the names just got more advanced.

Progression in modern day name-calling is what gave birth to the DUFF, and it makes me sick.

Teenagers have a hard enough time trying to figure out who they are, without being nick-

30 May 2015 | Issue 6

It is rude, and, truth be told, it doesn’t matter if your friends don’t meet the standards you have set for them. Appearance doesn’t matter and it shouldn’t consume our lives.

Unfortunately, people constantly dismiss the oldest lesson taught: to not judge a book by its cover.

But cover judging happens all the time, to all kinds of people.

The skinny kid gets judged for not being buff enough, while the chubby kid gets judged for not being skinny enough.

The genius math student gets judged for being too brainy, while the gifted artist needs to be more book smart.

Or the “unattractive” kid gets judged for being the “approachable, easy-going” DUFF. Is it wrong to be approachable? It is wrong to be easy-going? Is it wrong to be smart and funny instead of sexy and brooding? Apparently so.

Maybe instead of judging people for being those things, we should praise them.

I myself enjoy having conversations with people who have substantial thoughts and ideas. Not with people who look good when they pout.

They may be hard to look away from, but then again, so is a train wreck.

I prefer the geeky kid with glasses who is great at English over the model type who should be wearing a “Please Don’t Touch The Art” sign.

We all have our preferences, but that doesn’t mean it’s okay to judge people based on looks.

It’s what’s on the inside that counts. A cream puff isn’t the prettiest dessert, but the inside is pure bliss.

So next time you want to call someone a name based on their appearance, remember: you don’t have to be hot to be worth something, and showing off how sexy you are while putting someone else down doesn’t make you cool.

It makes you straight up rude. | Taylor Zangari

Dear White People Public focuses attention on wrong problem

a staff opinion

A broken window. A CVS window that was shattered because of a broken spine.

corners protesting what we believe in. We can show what issues we support and advocate.

The window is not the problem here.

But these don’t come anywhere close to the hurt and despair built up over generations upon generations of African Americans being seen as “less than”.

The problem is that Freddie Gray’s broken spine proves to us that racism is still alive and well. And it’s 2015.

The primary white response that we’ve seen on social media to the Baltimore riots has been accusatory of the rioters, condemning them for their violence and destruction.

Excuse us, but why is property being valued more than human life?

African Americans have been prey to prejudice for hundreds of years. The Civil Rights Act of 1964 was supposed to end discrimination and widespread bigotry. It didn’t.

Racism isn’t limited to police brutality. It is seen in the woman who tightens her grasp on her purse as she walks by a black man on the street. It is seen in the job applications that were rejected because of the African name written at the top. It is seen in the staggeringly high poverty rates for black people in cities such as Baltimore. It is seen in the unsanctioned policies like red-lining aiming to restrict the social and economic advancement of African Americans.

We have to understand that the riots are the result of an unchanging and very flawed system. No, we are not huge fans of the extensive destruction. The looting and demolition going on in Baltimore are not ideal situations. But the riots are a last resort for the people who have suffered for so long, without their situation changing. It is the result of drawn-out and long-standing hopelessness.

As white people, we cannot understand the systematic suppression that these people have been forced to deal with.

We can be passionate about our education, or politics, or religion. We can stand on street

Here in Westminster, we may feel detached from this everyday discrimination, but the fact and the matter is, no school, no community, no person is exempt from this reality we’ve created.

The fact that cop cars and pharmacies are more important to our society than the lives and advancement of a large group of citizens is sickening. This response just seems to prove that the rioters are justified. When yet another black person has died in police custody, we, as white people, speak in defense of the property.

Of the broken windows.

It’s time to acknowledge the broken spines, the broken people, and the broken promises.

For so long, we have complied with a system that so readily discards the lives of African Americans, a system in which police brutality is normal and deep-rooted racism goes largely unrecognized.

This issue isn’t a black issue, and it’s not a white issue. It’s an American issue, a human issue.

Recognition is what will actually solve this problem. Not social media retaliations. Not undermining the importance of Americans’ lives and prosperity. When we fail to see how detrimental racism is in America, we condone a national lifestyle which largely disregards the lives of blacks, resist a crusade that is intended to correct an immoral system, and trap ourselves in an ongoing and futile civil rights movement.

31

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