The Lake - October 2018 by The Lake - Standley Lake's News Magazine

the lake

Who we are Editors-in-Chief | Jackson Kessel Aimee Yan

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 2018 | Issue 1

Staff Editors | Ben Bird Grant Hoskins Mikey Pietroiacovo Riley Ruff Staff Writers | Grace Johnson Christopher Luc Elaina Madrill Renee Robledo Elijah Sisneros Megan White Features | Leila Burnquist Brooklyn Galba Sejal Goud Sophie Grencik Jasmine James Jay Keodonexay Kiana Miska Dillon Mordhorst Cali Neff Aron Roush Sierra Wheatley Cartoonist | Sangati Shah Adviser | Lynn Schwartz Web and Social Media Editors | Tate Minch Jackson Valls

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Table of Contents

october 2018

10 14

18 22

The Good stuff

06 the right angle Under the 10 influence 14 To be trans Draw the line 18 online 22 opinions 3

4 October 2018 | Issue 1

To all the atomists, High school has a weird, slightly cruel way of making the most grounded students lose control. We spend day after day balancing hours of homework, sports, family, extracurriculars, and friends—a multitude of responsibilities that grow and accumulate until, at some point, we are all bound to reach our breaking point. As young adults and as students, there always seems to be the constant looming pressure to be independent, strong, and faultless. However, if the anxieties of high school have shown anything, it is that everyone is fighting a battle of their own and the isolation we often force ourselves into only amplifies the feelings of hopelessness. In this issue, we chose to focus on the additional burdens that plague students, making the most vulnerable years of our lives even more difficult. We pass by one another in the halls, taking each other only at face value—ignoring the pain that others are suffering through; there is the boy across from you in history who abuses drugs, the girl filling her Hydroflask during passing period who is fearing for her safety because of harassment, the student who is constantly misgendered and mocked. We all have problems, it is when we try to face them alone that hope is lost. In our history class, we learned about two philosophies concerning human interaction: atomism and interconnectivity. Atomism argues that we’re all individual beings who are bound to remain separate, distinct in our individuality. Interconnectivity argues the opposite; we are all connected in some way or another and every action we take, somehow, will ripple it’s way around the planet to eventually affect us all. So often, it is easier to keeps your head down in the hall, ignoring the hundreds of students who walk by that could be searching for nothing more than a smile—an acknowledgement of humanity or a sign that we are all fighting to keep our head above water; that we could thrive if we fought together. As you read this issue, we hope that you are inspired to reach out; to speak with your classmates about their triumphs and their struggles, their happiest moments and their heartbreaks. In the short 4 years that we spend within the pink walls of this school, the impact that could be made if everyone chose to connect with one another would be unsurpassed; we are all going through the journey of high school together and it is foolish to spend these years alone. So, to the atomists of Standley Lake: we challenge you to break out of your comfort zone. We challenge you to tell stories and listen to others and connect with your peers; perhaps you will be surprised by the impact you make.

tell your story,

AiJa A.K.A. Aimee and jack, THE EDITORs-IN-CHIEF

Jeffco has around $1.3 billion in facility needs, but hasn’t passed a major facility bond since 2004

AMendment 73 Upcoming Mill and Bond to raise jeffco funding

he Jefferson County school board is taking action to push a bond proposal and mill levy override to a vote in the November ballot. A mill levy override is a ballot measure that asks voters living within a school district boundary to take an increase in their property taxes in order to supply greater funding for schools. This is not the first time something like this has been proposed in Jefferson county, with a $39 million mill being passed in 2012, and a $33 million mill being denied by voters in 2016.

However, if this mill levy and bond proposal is passed in November, it will mean a significant change to Jeffco school funding, as along with the $33 million mill levy override, the bond proposal that accompanies the mill proposal is asking for about $567 million, $30 million more than the previous bond proposal from 2016 that failed to pass. The passing of a mill levy override and bond such as this could mean significant change for Jeffco schools and students. As put by the district, the increase in taxes would be used for multiple things. “Put simply: a mill levy brings classrooms to life—it’s about the students and staff,” said district administrators in a publically released document regarding the uses of the increased

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taxes on the Jeffco Public Schools website. The goal of the increased funding is to not only improve the facilities, technology, and safety measures of schools in the Jefferson County district, but also to increase competitiveness with surrounding districts to attract and retain quality teachers and staff. Jefferson county is one of the poorest paying districts in Colorado with relation to its size, and this mill levy override would look to change that and increase both the starting salary of a teacher here in Jeffco, as well as give raises to current teachers, and increase the amount that a higher education may differentiate salary. Teachers may also see better benefits, with earlier retirement or lower healthcare costs being included in the list of things that could be changed. Obviously no specific decisions have been made on how teachers lives would be affected, as the proposal hasn’t been passed. The passing of the mill and bond would also mean significant facility upgrades in Jeffco schools in order to enhance the student learning experience. Standley Lake High School was built 30 years ago, and based off the FCI rating it received, it would be getting upgrades pretty quickly. The FCI is a measurement of a schools physical condition, including the schools interior, exterior, and grounds, and Standley lake scored

a 17.7%, placing it in the bottom half of the “fair” category. Based on this, Standley could see upgrades such as an expanded facility, remodeling of the interior, updated paint and wall coverings, updated heating and cooling equipment, replaced furniture, and more. When asked why it is that people vote against something like this passing, Christy Hayashi, a social studies teacher here at Standley, said, “People don’t care about school once their kids aren’t in it anymore.” The money for the Mill would come from an increased property tax for residents in the Jeffco area, more specifically, a $2.10 increase per $100k in house value on ones taxes. For example, a family living in a $300k home would see a $6.31 increase in their property taxes to fund these changes to both student and teacher lives in their area. The passing of this Mill would also see house value around Jeffco schools increase, as a better local school tends to raise market value of surrounding houses. If this mill and bond passes, students and teachers throughout Jeffco will see some major improvements, and Jeffco will be on the map financially with other districts like BVSD or DPS, so make sure you talk to your parents about voting for amendment 73 on November 6th. | Tate Minch | Jackson Valls

Gator Football on the sidelines

Sidelined Behind the frontlines

A sports column:

BY GRACE JOHNSON You never realize how emotional a football sideline is until you’re right there, standing amidst the action. All five senses are keyed in on what is happening in front of you. The cursing, the helmets slamming against the ground, the last efforts to hype the boys around you up and the screaming, screaming from countless coaches and players. Watching someone run off the field yelling at themselves because of a minor mistake is a feeling you cannot replicate. With emotions running high, it may be difficult for those not inside a player’s head to understand such extreme feelings. It’s the same reaction a fan has to a bad call or play, just magnified ten times over. High school football is everything to the both the players on the field and on the sidelines. The weight that high school boys carry on their shoulders running out onto the field every Friday for 10 weeks is immense.

2018 powder puff game ends in a

Watching an NFL player cry on the sidelines after losing the Super Bowl is expected, but watching someone you know—someone you see in the hall everyday—walk off the field, take off their helmet and wipe at their face as black face paint mixes with salty tears is a heartbreakingly intense feeling. There is nothing quite like seeing an injured player wrap an arm around another player to give some words of advice on the next drive.

tie Tate Minch ‘19 LEADS TEAM in points with

But the feeling is all the same when the tables are turned, when the team is winning the energy is as intense. The yells of excitement and pads slamming into each other make the other side of the game worth it. It needs to be known that the boys on the field are carrying the school on their shoulders and that this weight means a lot to them. When it comes to game day, watching the guys parade into the school wearing the jerseys that will be donned later that same night gains the love and support of the entire school. Despite what is happening on the field, audience support helps more than you might think. So please, the next time you are at a game, no matter the score, be loud. Scream for your team, your school. Not only do our sports teams need it, but more than that, they deserve it.

the best time of day is the very start

8 October 2018 | Issue 1

Sunrises AT stANDLEY Mikey Pietroiacovo | Jackson Valls

-Under The InfluenceThe Substances Of Standley Lake Students—whose names have been changed to secure anonymity—talk about the substances they have consumed and their experiences with them, and how the usage of drugs has affected them in school. Here at Standley Lake High School, it’s no secret that there are drugs—every high school has become the victim of a new, nationwide pandemic that is both dangerous and complex. Countless students across the country have been exposed to marijuana, cigarettes, alcohol, and other controlled substances. In 2017, 81% of 12th graders in America said it’s easy to obtain marijuana, according to Statista. The topic of drugs is controversial, especially in the school environment; however, the impacts that these substances have on students is undeniably important to discuss.

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Throughout the high school experience, there are almost always points in time where peers will pressure one another to either stay away from—or dabble—in drugs. A growing epidemic and a consistent issue, substance abuse has made a significant impact on the high school environment. Stigmas surrounding drug usage make conversations about the topic hard to discuss, resulting in the underlying causes of teen substance abuse being widely disregarded. In 2012, a survey conducted by the National Institute on Drug Abuse revealed that the average age a teen will start drinking alcohol is twelve, and the age teens are most likely to start smoking marijuana is 14.

Marijuana Marijuana is the most commonly used schedule 1 drug by high schoolers; 38% of Colorado high school students have tried smoking weed, according to the 2015 Healthy Kids Colorado Survey. Joel Dell, an SLHS graduate, frequently smokes marijuana and agreed to speak about his habits.

academic performance.

“I was always paranoid beforehand. I was always like ‘I don’t really wanna risk getting caught or anything—I probably smell, I can’t do this,’” Dell said.

Morgan also addresses how the wide presence of drugs makes them easier to obtain.

He started smoking the beginning of his junior year. Before this, Dell was a staunch opponent of marijuana. “Throughout the beginning of high school I actually was against smoking because I was thought ‘Wow, who needs that to have fun?’” Dell said. Dell’s opinions quickly changed, however, when he was offered weed by his peers. “Two of my friends said ‘We’ve got weed…want to smoke it tonight?’” Dell said. “And I smoked it and I had a lot of fun.” He mentions that his first experience with marijuana led him to smoke more and made the decision to get high easier, prompting his growing curiosity of weed. Dell also discussed the other substances he has taken, all of which began when he decided to smoke pot, which is commonly regarded as a gateway drug. “It’s helped me meet some nice people, some not-so-nice people… Some of those nice people happen to have tripped acid [LSD] in the past and what they said sounded really intriguing at the time, so I was like ‘I might try this,’ and I did,” he said. A spur of the moment decision can lead to many more instances where the opportunity to do harder drugs arises, and according to Dell, these instances are dangerously common. Standley Lake’s new dean, Julie Morgan, addressed some of the implications of student drug use. Marijuana, despite its relatively common nature, can have serious negative effects on a minor. Morgan noted how students often experience mood swings, as well as a change in attendance and

“From what I’ve seen in my past, [marijuana affects] the willingness to go to class, the ability to stay focused and on track…It leads into other paths,” Morgan said.

“The fact that [marijuana] is more readily available is having a huge impact,” Morgan said. While it is true that many teenagers smoke weed to get high or for social credibility, many others use marijuana to self medicate. Self medication with pot is the practice of using marijuana or other drugs with the goal of alleviating stress or pain. The practice has become increasingly popular in recent decades. In 2017, up to 15% of teenagers self medicated, according to the International Organisation of Good Templars (IOGT). Weed has become useful to individuals who use it for medicinal purposes because of the physical and mental benefits the drug possesses. The two most prominent cannabinoids found in weed are THC and CBD. These cannabinoids interact with the body through a vital signaling system called the endocannabinoid system. This system is responsible for controlling a wide variety of functions like pain, mood, and other bodily functions. Some people, such as Mary Jane, ‘21, use pot to help themselves get through everyday life, in spite of the negative effects addiction have on her life. “I probably smoke weed every single day,” Jane said. “If I don’t, I get very irritable and I’m always really sad, then I’ll get these bad headaches. Weed helps me focus and function.” Although it is illegal to smoke marijuana as a minor, its prevalence in schools is common and undeniable. Cannabis is legally only allowed to be used by adults over 21 and those 18 and over who medically require it; however teenagers continue to smoke weed. Thus, a dialogue must begin to promote safety in all communities; at Standley Lake and elsewhere as well.

alcohol According to the CDC Fact Sheet on Underage Drinking, over one half of American teenagers have tried alcohol in some form, and nearly half say that it’s easily attainable. Binge drinking among teenagers causes over 100,000 emergency room visits every year and around 4,300 deaths. Kids aging from 12-20 drink about 11% of all alcohol consumed in United States, and 90% of that is consumed as a result of binge drinking. These statistics may seem staggering, however, the commonality of alcohol within high schools may be even more surprising. Many teenagers at Standley Lake attend parties on a regular basis and experience exposure to a wide range of substances. Alcohol can impact an individual’s ability to make choices and handle situations. When consuming alcohol, a chemical called glutamate reacts in the part of the brain that controls memory and memory formation. Drinking alcohol in large doses is replacing the natural glutamate that your brain makes with the artificial chemical, making the teens memory start to wear down. An article in OnHealth reports that teen alcohol abuse is associated to a higher risk of death and injury. Intoxicated adolescents can quickly become unpredictable, heightening the opportunities for danger in these situations. Alcohol can have a wide range of effects on teenagers, including alcohol poisoning, inebriation, and addiction. Margot James, ‘20, recalls her worst experience with drinking.

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“My worst experience was the day after a party. I needed to puke and I ended up puking for a few hours; the pure liquid of alcohol was so gross,” James said. Getting sick after drinking is normally brushed off as a result of being a “lightweight” or just hangover sickness. But with thousands of deaths every year, and hundreds of thousands of people becoming seriously harmed, the dangers that minors experience when drinking cannot be understated. Often the negative aspects of substances such as alcohol are ignored in an attempt to keep the image of the substance positive, and this is true for addiction as well. Binge drinking is more common in teenagers than people like to talk about. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, nearly 70% of teenagers report having been drunk, with 20% reporting experience with binge drinking. Binge drinking can be seriously dangerous, especially to those who are underage. In addition, 10% of teens have reported driving after drinking. The dangers of drinking as a minor are heightened because the proper education about substance abuse is rare. The CDC reports that teenagers on average drink more in one drinking session than adult drinkers, and are likely to suffer negative effects. What sets drinking apart from other drug use is how common and how normalized the substance is with teens.

psychedelics

vape

Like other drugs, psychedelics are also frequently used in high school, on and off campus. The psychedelic used by teens most commonly is LSD, also known as acid.

Almost everyone at Standley Lake knows about the growing usage of vape among students, but the issue isn’t unique to Standley. The epidemic of smoking shrinks every year, and smoking among teens is at an all time low at 7.6%, according to the CDC; however, the usage of E-cigarettes is on the rise.

LSD and other psychedelics cause hallucinations, where sensations seem real, but in reality are created by the mind. Hallucinations occur because of alterations in thought, attention, perceptions and emotions.

Devices used for vaping, such as Juuls, mods, Suorin Drops, and Airs, are easy for teenagers to get ahold of and use regularly. The issue isn’t just the E-cigarettes themselves, as teens who vape are 7 times more likely to start smoking than non-users, according to Business Insider.

Jessica Jacobs, ‘20, describes one of her experiences. “[It] was like my senses were heightened. I could feel the air through my hair and feel every single piece of grain of sand and all the ridges on the sidewalk. It was amazing, it made [me] more connected with the world,” Jacobs said.

Since some seniors at Standley are 18 or over, these students have made it easier for these devices to get into the school. The main ingredient in the juice used in most vaping devices is nicotine. Nicotine is also the main ingredient in cigarettes. The primary concern for the administration is that these not only are these devices considered “contraband”, but also promote the consumption of nicotine, which can cause damage to the body’s DNA.

LSD can also cause synesthesia, where senses are blended together. That’s why some individuals say they can “hear colors” or “see sounds.” In most cases, psychedelics can cause an individual to do a number of things that will affect them in a learning environment. These range anywhere from not paying attention in class to not being able to control mood swings and becoming physically sick. In recent years, psychedelics have stayed relatively popular. Some people who partake in these drugs can experience good or bad “trips”, the term used to describe the high a user experiences while on such substances. While psychedelics and hallucinogens are not as common in the Standley Lake community, they are still present and affecting students.

Cigarette usage comapred to E-Cigarette usage among high schoolers in 2017E-Cigarettes Cigarettes 20% 15% 10% 5% 8th grade

Substances that high schoolers admit to have taken in 2017 22% - Other 22% - perscription drugs 20% - Cigarettes 38% - Marijuana 59% - alcohol

10th grade

12th grade

Juul pods are often sold with 5% nicotine, and 3% nicotine. On average, a 5% pod will contain about 40 MG of nicotine, and a 3% pod will contain about 23 mg of nicotine. A cigarette contains an average of 12 Mg of nicotine, though most cigarettes can contain from 8 mg to 20 mg.

To Be

TRANS out of the closet, into the spotlight

ou consider yourself an ally. You watch Orange is the New Black, you’ve attended a pride festival, and you try your best not to make assumptions about anyone’s sexuality or gender. You think you support the LGBTQ+ community, but when was the last time you involved yourself on a deeper level as an ally? When was the last time you asked someone what pronoun they identify as? The last time you went to a GSA meeting? The last time you took the time to listen to someone’s transitioning story, to get to know them on a more personal level level than just acknowledging them in the hallways between class periods? The last time you stood up for them when they were bullied or harassed? Only when we dedicate ourselves to a high level of respect for every single one of our peers do we truly become allies. To be an ally means more than not discriminating; It means using someone’s preferred pronouns. It means letting someone make their own decisions without questioning or second-guessing their every move. It means respecting each other’s identities as we respect our own. It means defending the basic rights of a human being. This respect comes through understanding, and this understanding is based on the problems and the issues that individuals of the transgender community face. Many are discriminated against for being transgender instead of identifying with the sex they were born into. Felix Mitton, ‘21, began reconsidering their gender since the sixth grade, but started to transition during freshman year. At the time, Mitton attended Pomona, where they received retroaction for their identity and for wanting to transition.

14 October 2018 | Issue 1

“I’d get the off-hand comments like ‘there’s only two genders’ and one time somebody asked ‘Are you two genders or two people?’ and I was like ‘What..?’ I get little comments like that all the time,” Mitton said.

Mitton’s interactions with members of the transgender community who have been harassed for their gender identity demonstrate the damage these experiences inflict on students. When a student of young age is harassed and bullied for differences in their gender identification, th effects are scarring, making many feel as though there is something wrong with them or that they don’t belong.

Just like other students, some trans students play sports. Sometimes, identifying with one’s team can pose an obstacle for trans athletes. Take, for example,Nisely, who plays basketball. Although CHSAA “recognizes the right of transgender student-athletes to participate in interscholastic activities free from unlawful discrimination”, there are certain hurdles these athletes have to face in playing sports.

“I remember talking with [victims] afterwards; it was crushing for them,” Mitton said. “It was awful because coming out is such a hard thing for someone to be able to do and get out, so when somebody says the smallest thing, it becomes really damaging…when somebody says something or does something it takes you a step down again and you have to try to climb back up,” Mitton said.

Nisely’s mom made the decision regarding which basketball team he would play on for him, instead of letting him choose where he would want to be.

When parents are reluctant to accept the changes their children need, the toll is even greater. Growing up in a strict or deeply religious household often exacerbates the feelings of helplessness for trans teens. Especially in adolescence, a time when support is vital, not being able to fully express oneself at home can be difficult. A lack of support can lead to staying closeted, experiencing severe depression, or even suicide.

“It kind of makes me upset, a boy playing on the girl’s team,” Nisely said.

“[my dad] outright told me he wasn’t willing to use ‘theythem’ pronouns because they were grammatically incorrect.” - Felix Mitton

When Mitton came out to their parents, they received a very positive reaction from their mom. However, confronting their dad about their gender led to a more difficult discussion and less affirmation. “On my dad’s side, it was a little bit different; He outright told me he wasn’t willing to use ‘they-them’ pronouns because they were grammatically incorrect,” Mitton said. For many parents, time is needed to adjust to the usage of different pronouns. This was the case for Jayden Nisely, ‘21 and his parents after he came out. “It took [them] a little over a year to get my pronouns correct,” Nisely said.

Some students even have to conform to parent-created stereotypes, such as the belief that ‘if you’re going to be a boy now, you should learn how to throw and catch.’ This creates problems at home, making these teens even more uncomfortable with their identities.

These kinds of struggles go beyond the playing field, extending to the locker room and bathrooms as well. Movements such as #wejustneedtopee have highlighted the difficulties of those who identify differently than their assigned gender in doing something so fundamentally human. Simple things like having to go to the bathroom have created complicated problems for transgender or non-binary people. The discrimination that they must face is unbearable and cruel, of which no human being should be subjected to. Dysphoria, misgendering and the pace at which transitions occur are amongst the most common day-to-day obstacles for trans students; dysphoria being the general state of unease or dissatisfaction with life. “The obstacle is feeling uncomfortable in your own skin—feeling like despite the fact that you are in your body, it’s the wrong body for you to be in,” an anonymous student said. Even though it is difficult to make a full transition while in high school, there are many different methods used to combat such feelings, binding and hormone therapy being some of the most common. But there is light at the end of this tunnel; the trans community is

The Best and Worst states for trans Equality 2. Vermont

3. Washington

Vermont has state-wide laws banning trans discrimination in schools, housing, and public spaces.

Washington’s transgender community is supported both legally and through the state’s network of nonprofits.

48. North Carolina

1. California Protected by statewide non-discrimination laws, California’s trans population has good access to health care: Over three-quarters of the state’s healthcare facilities don’t discriminate based on gender identity

North carolina’s state legislature passed and repealed the “bathroom law”, forcing trans people to use the bathroom of the sex on their birth certificate

49. Texas In states like Texas, which doesn’t have LGBT anti-discrimination laws, trans people have often sought protection under federal law. Texas lacks most basic legal rights for trans Americans

50. Mississipipi The state is still actively putting anti-LGBT laws on the books — just last year, the governor signed into law a “religious freedom” bill that many see as legalizing discrimination

growing and developing, and it is leaving a lasting, positive effect on our school.

come out, fostering positivity as more and more trans people recognize themselves for who they are.

“At Standley Lake, [the community] seems very friendly; it seems like a positive environment,” Mitton said.

If the Standley Lake community wants to be an ally to the trans community, we must recognize the the issues that matters to trans teens and help by understanding and attempting to solve the problems these students encounter. Even actions as simple as correcting oneself when using the wrong pronoun matter.

Trans teens face unique challenges, many of which can only be combated by widespread acceptance and support from the community. Despite many changes, we live in a world where different hasn’t became the new normal quite yet. But being different is what makes Standley Lake and society abroad a more diverse and friendly place. The more diverse a community, the more welcoming it can be to new kinds of groups. This community has faced more than anyone deserves, and because of this, they have advice to give to all who might face the same backlash they did.

“The obstacle is feeling uncomfortable in your own skin—feeling like despite the fact that you are in your body, it’s the wrong body for you to be in.”

“What they want is a reaction, and if you literally don’t do anything, then they just get bored and stop. Just stop giving them reactions, their opinions don’t have weight on you,” Mitton says. This community is not new, but its growth is. The brave few who stood first for the trans community have allowed more individuals to

16 October 2018 | Issue 1

We can recognize someone’s current gender and use someone’s preferred name to make transitioning easier. In doing this, not only do we respect the individual, but we also give their community the respect and inclusion they deserve; the trans community is not a separate unit, rather, as much a part of Standley Lake as any other group or person.

As another said, “I know the saying is really generic, but it does get better. If you don’t let the little things get to you, and I know it may be hard, then eventually you can overcome these things. You will get older, you will change just as everybody else does.” You are who you want to be. You are more than the box society may attempt to confine you to. And you are welcome here. Sejal Goud | Jasmine James | Jaden Keodonexay | Jackson Kessel | Aron Roush | Aimee Yan

Why

Trans people Need More Visibility

80% of gender nonconforming students have experienced verbal harassment in the past year, compared to 29% of peers

50%

of transgender students have felt unsafe in school because of their gender

58.7%

of trans people reported physical abuse in a 2007 survey

of trans people have been raped or assaulted by a romantic partner

41%

49%

of trans people have attempted suicide

1 in 8 1 in 4

98%

incarcerated transgender women reported being denied healthcare services while behind bars

of doctors were never taught about transgender health in medical school

have been evicted due to being trans

1 in 5

transgender people have experienced homelessness at some point in their lives

50%

of transgender people report that they feel uncomfortable seeking police assistance

700,000 15,500

THE NUMBER OF ESTIMATED PEOPLE WHO IDENTIFY AS TRANSGENDER IN THE U.S

THE NUMBER OF TRANSGENDER INDIVIDUALS IN THE MILITARY

54%

of transgender people have depression, which is 5x as much as the general population

Gender Dysphoria:

conflict between a personâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s physical or assigned gender and the gender with which he/ she/they identify. 17

Draw the Line

Online Modern Media opens new doors for harassment 18 October 2018 | Issue 1

t the genesis of social media, new thoughts and innovations floated around freely, younger generations became increasingly more engaged with the world around them, and a new level of understanding between people came about. Amongst all the awe-inspiring advancements, a covert purpose for the internet emerged—online harassment. Under the guise of anonymous pseudonyms and internet trolls, many people have felt more empowered than ever to attack anyone they see fit. Shielded by digital screens, bigoted thoughts become mainstream and cyberstalking becomes commonplace. For young people, specifically high schoolers, the internet can be a minefield full of sexual predators and catfishers concealed in a jumble of friends and feelings. The idea of anonymity creates an invincible facade that people feel shields them from any real-world repercussions of their actions online. In reality, the consequences of online harassment really do manifest themselves in the real world. The exposing of private data, sharing of explicit photos and sending sexual threats cross the line from cyber-bullying into sex crimes and the judicial infrastructure currently in place neglects to address how perpetrators will be persecuted for engaging in such deeds. Trends in online harassment indicated that the majority of the populations targeted in harassment are marginalized or minorities. Women, members of the LGBT+ community, minority races and people with disabilities all represent a marginalized population that experience both online and in person harassment. Ms. Diana Rarich, a social worker at Standley Lake High School, emphasized the importance of student protection when dealing with harassment. “Title 9 is the law that protects people of marginalized statuses. I always think [it] is funny that we use that phrase because half of people are women, that’s the term that has been used, politically and throughout history,” she said. According to the U.S Department of Education, Title 9 applies to institutions that receive financial assistance from both state and local agencies. Title 9 prevents discrimination based on gender, sexuality, or disability and is often used in cases of online harassment. These regulations contain strong language; however, the punishment for not adhering to them is not nearly as severe. Although schools may lose their funding for not promptly responding to allegations of harassment, individual harassment does not have a standardized policy, thus creating a cesspool of perpetrators who suffer no consequences for their crimes. According to Thinkprogress.org, only about 20 states include cyberbullying in their anti bullying laws, and yet, lines continue to blur between harassment and free speech. Regardless of whether or not Title 9 can be used in an online harassment case, students have a multitude of resources at their disposal, many are overlooked or are even unknown to begin with. Organizations such as Blue Bench, a Denver-based sexual harassment support nonprofit, Safe2Tell and FightCyberStalking, among many others are helpful resources in dealing with the trauma associated with harassment of any kind. As stated by Forbes.com, online harassment is defined as having three main components: exploiting networked sites to terrorize victims, hijacking careers and reputations and invading the victim’s privacy. These components include threatening physical violence and inciting fear into people’s lives, making allegations alluding to someone’s sexuality and releasing information or photos against a person’s will. All of these things, and many others, fall under the category of online harassment and can be both mentally taxing and emotionally scarring. In facing harassment of any kind, high schoolers tend to not come forward or don’t know how to, making abuse chronic and progressively more hostile. “Don’t be quiet. Tell adults and get someone to respond to it. The longer is goes on, the harder it is to stop. If it’s closed pretty quickly, it usually doesn’t [become] a big issue,” Rarich said.

As harassment progresses, it can move from behind a screen to having real-life implications for the victims. Cyber-stalking can culminate into real-life physical harm if the perpetrator and the victim become progressively more isolated. However, most hostilities will stop if students—including bystanders—start to speak up about the issues within their school. “[The] number one piece of prevention is just to build community, ” Rarich said. Society creates a culture of victim shaming, where the blame for an incident is placed on the targeted person, rather than the perpetrator. The “What was she wearing?” phenomena—the belief that the sexual assault of women is dependent on their clothing— attempts to put the blame on the victim leading to victim-shaming over an incident they had no control over. It is this very idea that deters people from coming forward. Creating a community at school, in extracurriculars and in sports, allows for a safe outlet where students can speak up and get the help they need. According to WAM!, or Women Action Media, out of the 161 online harassment cases they investigated, only 55% of cases were dealt with by Twitter, meaning the harasser’s account was warned, suspended, or removed leading to a dangerous world where victims feel like their personal struggles are pointless and unaccounted for. The same problem persists in real-life harassment. According to Rainn.org, 20% of college women aged 18-24 report sexual assault to law enforcement. Society needs to progress in a way where women feel comfortable to share their stories, rather than being shamed for coming forward. Not every aspect of social media exclusively spreads hate; used properly, it can be a powerful tool in spreading positivity, embracing human connection and freedom of expression. As a society, millions of people all over the world have access to the same platforms, allowing for global communication and the sharing of cultures and experiences. Embracing these connections and the commonalities between people have the ability to make social media a positive and peaceful outlet. And it starts with you. Grant Hoskins | Kiana Miska | Cali Neff | Riley Ruff | Sierra Wheatley

20 October 2018 | Issue 1

Harassment Resources http://www. ccasa.org https://thebluebench.org/

https://www.fight cyberstalking.org/

“Don’t be quiet. Tell adults and get someone to respond to it. The longer is goes on, the harder it is to stop. If it’s closed pretty quickly, it usually doesn’t [become] a big issue,” Rarich said.

81% of women have experienced sexual harassment in their lifetime 43% of men have experienced sexual harassment in their lifetime 4 in 10 online users are victims of online harassment

Is this Harassment? We surveyed students in Slhs about this fictional story with different Levels of online harassment Lauren is texting her friend, Samantha, about the person she likes, who happens to have a girlfriend. The following day, Lauren and Samantha get into an argument that leads Samantha to forwarding Lauren’s texts to the person she likes. The person shares the conversation on social media and Lauren begins to receive unkind messages from people at her school who she doesn’t know. The conversation is then posted on a school-wide gossip account and Lauren starts receiving vulgar messages. Eventually, her phone number and address are leaked on the same social media account and she receives threatening messages.

Personal Information leaked

94%

Vulgar Messages

100%

Mean Messages

100%

Threatening Messages

94%

Info leaked to Gossip Account

81%

Text conversation forwarded to crush

44% 21

i am

my own

...

trans It’s been three years and I still haven’t came to terms with the fact that I don’t know who I am. I’ve lived my whole life being self conscious of what I wore and how I looked, what I acted like and how my voice sounded. I go throughout every single day worrying about what people think of me, as if it were the most important thing in the world. It’s almost as if I am in a body I’d like to disassociate with, which is the worst feeling I’ve ever felt. I am a transgender male, who wishes he was nothing more than an average boy. | Jay Keodonexay

happy to be me

I love myself more than anybody else could possibly love me. I might not be confident, or happy with all of my decisions, but I know that I love myself. I examine my every freckle in the mirror and watch stars dance on my chest. I watch the permanent rashes on my jaw shine so pink. I am so alive. My blood is still flowing, and I was the one who got it this far. I make the decision every day to experience the sun and surround myself with people that I love and that I know love me too. I’m the one who feeds my body and I’m the one who keeps my body warm. I live to see a future that is bright, it’s blinding. I live for love, and I live for myself. Nobody else. | Mikey Pietroiacovo

queer

gay

As a teenager who has come out recently as bisexual, I have been repeatedly told I’m only going through a phase, a momentary change while being bi is still cool. However, I am constantly told that teenagers only think they are gay because their favorite YouTuber or Instagram model is. Why should a social media influencer that I look up to be the reason I like girls? I am queer simply because I like girls and guys, not because I think it’s trendy. It’s not like I woke up one day and thought, “Wow I want to be just like Shane Dawson and come out as bisexual!” Love is love, no matter the gender identity or sexuality someone identifies as. I like girls and guys, I am queer, and I am here.

Anyone who knows me relatively well has most likely heard me make a joke about my sexuality or has made one themselves. I mean, there’s endless comedic real estate without ever being mean. Something that shaped how I identify is that I come from a relatively unaccepting family. And here I am, almost three years of being out to my friends and family and while some things have changed, others remain the same. You don’t just come out once, you come out hundreds of times. Finding pride in saying the words “I’m gay” as a female to so many different people is not something that has come easily for me; embracing who I am has been a long road that I haven’t reached the end of, and I probably never will. Being gay isn’t about the stereotypes or the pretty flags; it’s about being true to the innermost parts of my identity and finding the love within myself to love that about myself. Everyday I grow and change and discover different aspects of who I am and I’m tired of hiding. I am gay.

| Megan White

I am someone who likes all people—otherwise known as a pansexual. Love is a peculiar force that applies itself differently to each individual. In my opinion, love can be shared between anyone “boy” and “girl” are just the labels that doctors put on us based on what’s between our legs. However that piece of us is not what makes our decisions—it’s the heart. Without a heart we wouldn’t be alive and we wouldn’t have these feelings, like love or anxiousness, when we’re with that person we feel most comfortable with. Being with someone means to have a partner that’s always there for you, no matter if they’re a girl or a boy or trans or queer. However they identify, they are human. Their Identity shouldn’t matter, if that person is going to be there for you and you share feelings with that person, then express it. Never be ashamed of who you love. If the people around you can’t accept that, then they don’t deserve to have such an honest person in their life. Nobody can tell you to be someone you’re not or to love someone you don’t.

I remember in elementary school when hushed voices in the hall would whisper inaudible condolence as I walked by—silently comforting the young boy who wasn’t even aware of the words said behind his back. I remember my friends screaming in my defense across the cafeteria at the other kids who thought it was fun to mock me for my identity—something I wasn’t even sure of yet. I remember when when parents and teachers would ask if I was okay, they told me that I shouldn’t let the words of bullies affect me. Little did they all know, I was oblivious. “What do they say?” I would ask. I learned about the F-Word, the infamous insult thrown at those who are comfortable with their masculinity. Those who don’t adhere to one specific stereotype of what a man should be. I cannot deny that it impacted me—I lived for many years believing what they said. Believing it was a bad thing. However, I have come to learn the truth. I am the F-Word. I am Ferocious in my tenacity, I am Fiery in my determination, and I am Fearless. I am also a Fag, but that doesn’t matter much anymore.

| Leila Burnquist

| Jackson Kessel

22 October 2018 | Issue 1

| Riley Ruff

the f-word

OPINIONS

the d-word

How to cope with divorce while finding your identity

ivorce. An innumerable amount of Americans face this issue. An average of 40-50% of first marriages will end in divorce while second marriages have a higher rate of 50-60%, the highest the rates have been in the last fifty years. The truth is that no one truly cares about the science behind this growing phenomena. Maybe that’s because divorce is more of an emotional burden rather than a physical burden. Some of the factors relating to the likelihood of divorce include young age, premarital cohabitation, and if your parents are divorced. Children with divorced parents are at a doubled rate for divorce once they marry due to learned patterns. Some believe that the longer you wait to get married, the better. Getting married early doesn’t allow you to truly know your spouse and grow a bond with them. One of the most common beliefs is that living together at a younger age prepares you for marriage, but researchers state that living together before marriage leads couples to develop bad habits. In addition to everything aforementioned, it’s also important to consider human nature. Stub-

bornness breeds problems and the inability to compromise. If couples are unable to compromise, it’s difficult to maintain a healthy relationship. Emotionally unhealthy habits can develop out of all of this, breeding toxic relationships that may be doomed to fail. Now we ask ourselves, how can we get through this if it happens to us? Since divorce takes more of an emotional burden on those affected —rather than visible, physical scars of trauma— healing is all about your state of mind. Finding oneself in the midst of emotional chaos can feel impossible, but when you have someone to talk to, it becomes easier to cope and understand divorce. No one is truly alone and we all need help, so there is nothing wrong with seeking it out. Focus on self care and your state of mind. Positive thinking, reflecting on what strengths have benefited you now and may benefit you in the future, as well as what may be holding you back can play a powerful role in recovery and self discovery. Be fair to yourself and live the best life you can. Enjoy where you are in this moment and truly believe that you’re not alone and you will get through this.

Finding oneself in the midst of emotional chaos can feel impossible, but when you have someone to talk to it becomes easier to cope and understand divorce.

| Sophie Grencik

A Staff Editorial 23

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