Tri-Color Times 2017-03

Granger high school

Tri-Color Times An open forum for student opinion and expression

TRICOLORTIMES.COM

MARCH 2017 LIX-VII

Shield staff scrambles to meet deadline

By Anna Sayasith YEARBOOKS are either a nightmare or a great dream. Not many know what goes into making yearbooks – they are more than pictures and a bunch of names.

A lot of work goes into making the yearbook, more than anyone ever thought. “I like hearing the stories of the kids. What they’re experiencing, and how the Granger community affects them,” Sydney Bell (12) said.

The yearbook is supposed to show how Granger has affected all of the students. “I like the designing of the yearbook. I want to make sure this year is a memorable experience for everyone when they look back,” Bell said.

“I like the creativity I can show. The design this year is really cool. The theme is kinda like a journey. Like a road trip, travelthemed,” Bell said. The theme this year is a fun idea with one

base topic that can branch into so many different directions.

The yearbook takes work that is also fun for the students.

“There is a program on the computer called Yearbook Avenue.

We put in text boxes and picture places. We put photos and type up interviews into there. Once that’s done, we get it printed,” Bell said.

It’s a fun and an easy process that students don’t really think about.

“Yearbook helps kids learn how to talk to people. Just hearing people’s stories helps you connect to people more,” Bell said.

Yearbook helps people become more social, which is something students struggle with. “You’re not just a student. You are here to learn about people and feel connected,” Bell said.

Joining the yearbook comes with benefits. “I can control what’s in the yearbook. We get to design and choose what we want

to put in it,” Hailey Koopman (12) said. What students see in the yearbook is based on what the students choose to share with the yearbook staff.

“It’s a pretty easy class to pass.

All you do is go get the interviews and photos. But it also requires a lot of after school time,” Koopman said. It’s not that difficult but time after school is needed to really get the work done.

“It’s cool how you choose a page and you get to design it. So you know what the page will look like when it’s finished,” Koopman said. “Each person is assigned their own page. They just design it how they want it to look.”

It’s easy to assume that yearbook kids don’t really get any work done. “A lot of people don’t see it if they come into class usually, but we are getting a lot of work done,” Ruben Brown (11) said. Yearbook kids are hard at

work trying to pack the yearbook full of all the Lancer students.

“We put together templates.

We have other people assign them to take photos and get interviews.

We get those kids to put them on the pages,” Brown said. A set of guidelines helps kids know what to get, but still allows them to show individuality.

“It is a lot of work but it’s not that hard as long as you do it,” Brown said. Like any other class, a lot of work is given but as long as the work gets done, there is nothing to worry about.

“People should try out yearbook. Definitely. It’s fun as long as you get your work done. I like the yearbook. I’m planning on taking it again next year as well,” Brown said.

Yearbook is interesting enough that students are willing to take it again and learn more about the career.

Sydeney Bell, Lindsey Khiev, Rubin Brown working hard on this years yearbook

Granger High’s School’s network...[loading]...error

By Ramon Martinez III THE NETWORK has been up and down for weeks and the outrage has been getting worse.

With the issue of a school network, the problem requires a patient solution that takes time from the everyone. Teaching students is affected, since teachers can’t pull up something on a computer whenever they want to.

“My plan on what I’m teaching has changed five times in a week, and that can rise an hour later with another class period having internet so that puts the classes on different schedules,” Ms. Hunt said.

For years, problems like this were never really a lingering issue, until major testing with SchoolCity began, but never took over on the conversation until the

whole school had the same issue at the same time.

Having the new math site called ‘Aleks’ has reportedly become an issue.

The math classes sometimes are the only ones that get the network to work for them since they use lots of bandwidth all at once.

“I am angry at it,” Ms. Hunt said.

The math classes are getting good internet service while other classes are not putting the technology we have to good use.

Students going on the website see the issue more clearly when they leave their math class. “It doesn’t take long to start or finish when we are in class,” Moises Tejeda (11) said. “No obstacle in the way for the class’s objective for the day, while other classes are having trouble getting in the

network on the computers.”

It’s not the math that is the problem, it’s the issue of having the network focusing towards the math website usage and no one else.

“It’s bad for a class on Canvas every day,” Ms. Chalmers said.

Luckily, students can use their phones to help with assignments.

Wrong, the issue may partially be in the student’s hands. In a class where students have a lot of a free time, students go on their phones and use the internet.

“I go on Netflix or on YouTube when I’m bored,” Oscar Diaz (12) said. Seeing students’ handheld devices as the problem reveals a blow to the network’s capability and its limits. Teachers felt the frustration with grading reports or putting in grades for a

regular paper assignment before the midterm deadline.

Some teachers had to wait until the network was back up to put in attendance for a class that already passed. Students are not happy about this either, seeing that the teacher can’t pull up a PowerPoint, so students are given a textbook assignment instead for the lesson that day.

Luckily, testing is not going on while this dilemma of not having Wi-Fi is around. Getting the network running up is great, but how long can it be up, especially when there is going to be major test flooding throughout the school.

Having a big problem like this one, it is already being talked about and it should no doubt be one of the administration’s top problems that should resolved.

instagram.com/tricolortimes

Writing articles

By Kayla Carter A LOT OF students wonder what it is like to write articles. They wonder what it is like to go out and interview students, teachers or administrators. They wonder if reporters get nervous when they get kids out of class for an interview.

Students might also wonder where reporters get ideas for articles.

“This is my first year in this class so far. I have been in this class for five and a half months,” April Hendriksen (11), Tri-Color Times journalist, said.

“I like to find topics that relate to my novels,” said Hendriksen. “I write books. Honestly it can be hard doing articles. You have to find the right topic and the right people to interview. When you are looking for people, it can be hard, because some people like to stay to themselves. You need to find people who will talk.”

It takes confidence and practice to stay calm during interviews with unknown students and staff.

“Just remember to stay loose.

Maybe if the student is too tense, they can mess up on purpose and make a joke out of it. Knowing how to ask the right questions helps get the answers that you need. I have done 20 Instagram interviews with students. I do my Instagrams early so that I can work on my article and books,” said Hendriksen While some journalists have been in journalism for the whole year or even longer, others have just started at the semester.

“I have been in journalism since the beginning of second semester. I haven’t written an article quite yet.

I usually take the pictures. I have been taking pictures since the beginning of the school year…even a little before then. I started with photography this year,” Kaylynn Gonzalez (10) said.

There are many different editors that help put the newspaper together and that help make it happen.

“I build the layout for the newspaper and I try and make sure the class is running the best,” Skye Rouse (11) said. “I’ve been in journalism for three years and I do both, so I write articles and help manage it,” Rouse said.

There is a process behind every paper and the staff works together to make the final product.

“I am a copy editor, I go through the articles, format them and change the grammar and punctuation issues,” April Hendrickson (12) said. “Sometimes I take out big chunks in the article because they are either run on or they have too much in their article,” she said.

Want more Granger High School news? Check articles at tricolortimes.com or add us on twitter.com/tricolortimes.

Tri-Color Times VOL. LIX Issue 7

March 2017, page 2

What Lancers should do before and after attending prom

By Chuck Manzanares SCHOOL dances can be fun for most, especially seniors because the dance will be their last high school dance. Most seniors will be attending prom this year. Jordan Taylor (12) says he will be going, “I plan to go with Aida Bajric It should be fun,” Taylor said.

A lot of the students who are planning to go to prom don’t have any idea who to ask. They might want to go with a friend or maybe even their crush. “I think it’s a better to go with a friend instead of your crush, because you could have more fun and it wouldn’t be so awkward,” Taylor said.

When at a school dance, most people would agree that the music that is played is not very good and other music should be played, “When I went to Sadie’s the music was OK, but I think they should let people choose some songs,” Taylor said.

Though most students may go to prom with a date, others prefer to go with friends. “I’m probably gonna go with my friends and just

hang out.” Ortega said.

For those who dance all night long, they probably get tired and hungry, but don’t have money to go eat, “I think they should have more food choices like a buffet line because dancing can make you hungry.” Ortega said.

While most students will be dancing all night long, some might leave earlier than most to go do other fun stuff. Alan Nava (12) plans to do some other stuff besides the dance. “I’m gonna try to have a lot of fun at the dance, but I’ll probably go bowling or anything that sounds fun,” Nava said.

People tend to get hungry from dancing and just hanging out, but the food provided at the dances might not be the best to satisfy hunger, “I think they should provide more food options instead of the normal cookies and sweet stuff,” Nava said.

Dances are always fun when dancing with the right person, “I think you should go with a friend you’ve known for a while, that

way you can be yourself around them,” Nava said.

Students here at Granger have many different creative ways to ask people to prom. Some may think it’s dumb or pointless, while some may like the idea.

Shay Draney (12) thinks that asking someone creatively is a nice thing to do. “I think the way people ask is caring because they put time and effort into it,” Draney said. Most people who get asked really enjoy it because it makes them feel special and can easily make anyone’s day much better.

Some ways people ask others is very creative, “The most creative ones I have seen are the one that are themed with something the person they’re asking likes,” Draney said.

Some students can be nervous and or scared to ask someone because they’re afraid of getting turned down, but even if they are nervous, they should ask anyway because they might get another opportunity. Brayden Knowlden

(12) agrees.

“I feel like if you go to prom, you might as well ask someone you like. Go all out and have fun with it, and try not to be so nervous,” Knowlden said.

By now the seniors have realized that this will be their final prom in high school.

“You should go all out at dur-

ing prom and after because it’s your senior year, and you won’t have another like it,” Knowlden said. Whether you’re a junior or a senior, you should go to prom and have fun because soon you will be out of school, so you might as well make the most of it while you can and prom is one of the best way to do it.

Alan Nava gives tips on what to do for prom

Prom traditions have endured

By Oswaldo Sanchez THE PROMENADE dance, otherwise known as prom, is said to be one of the most exciting nights in the life of a high school student. Little do people know that it started in the 19th century for graduating classes in universities and has since changed into a high school tradition according to the wikipedia.com website..

Prom can mean many different things to the students of Granger High School. Adults and students alike get excited for this highly anticipated dance each year.

“Prom is a good event for high school students to make special memories,” said Mr. Hopkins.

“Prom is meant to be one of the moments in life to have as a valuable memory,” Rachel Guerra (10) said.

Students used to ask their potential dates to prom with as much etiquette as possible. It has long been a tradition for flowers and a poster to be present when boys asked a girl to a dance. Today, there are new and creative techniques that are springing up in this generation.

“Someone should ask their partner or friend to prom in a meaningful way like an inside joke that incorporates something in particular that they like,” Andrea Garcia (11) said.

Lancer guys are in the process of devising creative ways to ask their ladies to this year’s prom.

“You should surprise her with a poster, flowers, and some balloons. Include your friends and make it into puzzle for your date to have fun solving,” Jonathan Harr (11) said.

Many girls want prom to be the perfect night, and to plan the perfect night, they need a lot of notice. “People need a month to prepare for prom, if someone were to ask me a week before prom, then I would most likely say no,” Natalie Topete (10) said.

It is important for Lancers to give their dates as much time as possible to prepare for the dance.

“Students shouldn’t rush it and wait until the last minute, they should get to asking!” Francisco Gallardo (‘16) said.

Many students may have different opinions on how quickly prom asking should happen.

Some believe that it is never too late to ask someone to be your date to prom. Others believe that there is a time limit. Although, this doesn’t mean Granger Lancers shouldn’t try if they haven’t asked already, it just means they should hurry before it really is too late.

The expectations that girls have regarding prom can vary,

and it all starts with the way they are asked. Being creative raises one’s chances of getting an invitation accepted. “Be on a horse while holding a poster in her front yard,” David Fuller (12) said.

Others prefer not to go that much out of their way and instead are thinking of having a riddle or puzzle for their date to solve. It’s risky to ask someone to prom in a large crowd, so maybe ask in private or just with close friends during the whole confrontation.

It can be hard when asking a stranger to go out to prom, so make sure that the friendship or relationship is mutual because prom is meant to be the one dance in high school that students keep as a special memory for the rest of their lives.

Lancers are encouraged to not be afraid to ask people out to prom because chances are that they’ll accept. Lancers should make sure that their invitation is meaningful and creative because the person being asked will remember the way they were asked and take in consideration their answer based on the way you asked.

Prom is being held on March 11 at Rice Eccles Stadium this year. Student body and class officers are working hard to make this year’s prom the best and most memorable prom yet.

With a theme straight out of paradise, Homecoming will be delightful.

Sweethearts makes ‘em smile

By Hayley Rigby SWEETHEARTS was a bangin’ time for everyone that was there.

With the DJ playing music from Grease and people dressed as greasers, the mood was set. Day activities made the day so much better, and the groups loved the music.

“Me and my group went to Classic Fun Center, I picked the day activity. I think that the dance was really small, like not that many people went, but I still had a good time,” Lissette Naranjo (11) said. “I honestly think that Sadies was more fun just because there were more people at that dance,” Naranjo said.

The dances in-between Homecoming and Prom have a smaller turnout. More students may go to these dances, but that does not mean that the dances in-between aren’t fun. Most students might consider Sweethearts “lame”, but those who went have a different opinion on that.

“I had so much fun, I really liked how they played some of the music from Grease. I liked that it seemed different than other school. Personally, Sadies and sweethearts were good for me, but Homecoming [wasn’t],” Daisha Jeppeson (10) said.

Day dates are the key to making the night better. Some plan ahead and pick things they want to do, and others just wing it. Although sometimes it may be hard to get the plans together and have everyone be able to go, it’s always worth it in the end.

“The dance was a lot of fun for me, my date looked absolutely gorgeous,” Starly Wagstaff (11) said. “My day date was just us watching chick flicks and hanging out with friends,” Wagstaff said.

In the past the DJs have been

bad, but many students felt that the DJ for sweethearts did really well. Although some loved him, others not so much.

“I didn’t really like the music, I felt like you couldn’t really dance to it,” Tommy Ngu (11) said. “My group made the dance better for me because they were dancing and having a blast,” Ngu said.

Although some students did not enjoy the dance as much as others, they still feel as though the dance was fun and their groups were having a blast. It is always fun to see the students’ fun and creative outfits for the school dances.

“I really liked the theme, it was cool to see everyone dressed up,” Will Lokotui (11) said. “I really enjoyed the dance and how they played music from the movie,” Lokotui said.

The students that are big fans of Grease think that it was cool that the DJ was playing songs directly from the movie.

“I think it was amazing, I liked how they had cookies. I liked the music too, I did not really know the people I was with, so it was kinda awkward but I still had fun,” Alex Maravilla (10) said.

Granger High students should be giving our school dances an opportunity to show how good they can be, the more students that show, up the better the dance will be. So, students: come to the dances, support the SBOs and other students by adding more people to the dances.

Give the less hyped-up dances a chance, even if something about the dance is lame, the people all around should make it fun. So instead of shooting down the dances, give them a chance and dance with the right people.

March 2017, page 3

Tri-Color Times VOL. LIX Issue 7

A look at Granger’s Super Lancers

By Stephanie Perez MANY THOUGHTFUL and empowered students go to Granger, and they show off what they can do, whether it’s dancing, playing basketball or even debate. However, many Lancers don’t usually get awarded for their amazing actions. Recently, 20 students got selected to be Super Lancers to highlight what they can do.

Being a Super Lancer, allows students to get recognition.

Hundreds of students go beyond what is expected, however, they don’t necessarily get the chance to be shown. They showed up to school, did their work and demonstrated who they truly are in the classroom. Before the school year ends, teachers will elect 40 more Super Lancers, so be on the lookout.

Doug Gordiano Hernandez, Brise Campbell, Lindsey Bell, Yisel Herrera Castruita, Wendy Meza De La Cruz, Tina Huskic, Fatha Ali, Emily Yardley, Savana Sheppard, Stephanie Perez, Adri-

ana Avila, Edwin Santos, Christian Moreira, Amanda Jeong, Dennis Hernandez, Besima Muskic, Adam Hender, Mathew Wall, Tanahiri Arellano, and Rylee Kent are your current Super Lancers.

Their outstanding behavior is what allowed them to get the Super Lancer award. It’s important to go to class on time, stay on task, and smile every day. These outstanding students seek success. Every day, they show up to school ready to learn and help their peers whenever they can.

“Education is something you should take advantage of because not many have the opportunity to study. Yet most take it for granted,” Yisel Herrera (9) said.

Being able to be a Super Lancer was something amazing for her.

Knowing that out of over 3,000 students, she was one of the ones selected.

“Yisel is always focused and eager to come to class, as well as always being positive, while other students complain, she just

gets right to it and I love how she admires education which is what makes her stand out from everyone else,” Ms. Neibaur said.

With her outstanding mentality, it allowed her to show Ms. Neibaur that she’s more than she thinks she is. Yisel, however, would’ve never thought that her freshman year she would get this amazing opportunity to become a Super Lancer.

It’s been two years since they’ve had Super Lancer awards.

But they’ve been on hold because the administration didn’t necessarily have someone to spearhead it. However, now Mr. Demoux is in charge of organizing the whole program. Looking for teachers may be one of his hardest tasks. He has to ask teachers that he knows will choose students worthy of the award and deliver names before the deadline.

Teachers have a hard time choosing students as well. Having to set aside the emotions toward a student and not choose

By Katherynne Jaco IT’S EASY to wonder what other students at Granger stay up doing on their phones. Well, Mr. Jackson, a Granger administrator, thinks that parents should encourage their kids to get some sleep.

“Parents allow kids to make their own decisions [about turning off devices],” he said. Jackson thinks that being on electronics all the time has become a habit now.

Jackson states that parents need to have a conversation with their kids about turning off their electronics in order to get enough rest at night and be able to get through the day without falling asleep during class. Jackson says students push their limit to sleep and continue to build a bad habit.

It can take one or two class periods before they actually wake up.

This means students skip first and sometimes second period in order to wake up and get ready.

Jackson also said that this is how society is now, and that the world cannot not be easily disconnected.

Students are up in the night staring at their screens for different reasons.

Well, Erica Barrientos (10) said she stays up on Netflix. Barrientos said her parents don’t care and let her stay up as late as she wants. She said she also stays up late talking to someone she likes

as well. Barrientos said she feels super tired when she wakes up and although she comes to school on time, she ends up falling asleep while in class.

Barrientos isn’t the only Lancer staying up late texting someone she likes.

Alex Cervantes (9) also stays up late talking to his boyfriend.

Cervantes’ usual routine is lying in bed by 9:00 p.m., sleeping at around 3:00 a.m. and waking up at 6:00 a.m. for school which leaves him with only three hours of sleep. Cervantes says he likes to spend most of that time on social media being nosy and seeing what everyone is up to.

Since his routine has always been sleeping at 3:00 a.m. and waking up by 6:00 a.m., he has gotten used to it so when he wakes up he doesn’t feel too tired. Cervantes somehow manages to stay awake through all of his classes and make it through the day with a nap after school.

Most Lancers are probably wondering how they can get to sleep early or use their electronics less. They should put an alarm in their phones for the time at night when they need to sleep. When it goes off, they should turn off their electronics and get ready for bed. It’ll just serve as a reminder of when to turn off the phone. If

they do this, they’ll surely get more rest and be less tired in the morning.

Myrna Rodriguez (9) said she stays up watching Netflix and YouTube makeup tutorials just like any high school girl would.

Rodriguez stays up until around midnight and wakes up at 6:30 a.m., which gives her around six and a half hours to sleep, but the body needs at least eight. Rodriguez said she’s almost always on time for school, but that doesn’t mean she’s had enough sleep. “I always feel like just going back to sleep,” she said.

Rodriguez’s parents always tell her to go to sleep, but she doesn’t listen. “I usually tend to put my head down in all my classes, and I know I have to go to sleep early. It’s just that Netflix is so addicting,” she said.

Maybe the temptation of a phone makes students take advantage of the time they’re supposed to use it or maybe parents need to be stricter on when students put their phones down. Electronics can be extremely addictive, and students should pay less attention to social media and binge-viewed video and pay attention to more important things like school, family and the beautiful things around them and in life. There are many things people miss.

Phones keep kids up at night

You are not alone, the stress is real for everyone

Opinion by Tina Huskic EVERYONE goes through a rough patch from time to time, from something little to something really big. How we deal with it or how we go through it is different for everyone. Stress is a huge factor that plays into life.

Dealing with it can be very hard when you don’t know where to get help or how to get out of it.

Managing stress is very difficult because you feel like it will never get better, but that’s false.

The stress rates of high school students have always been high.

For example, last year 68% of females were stressed, as well as 55% of males. Teens have an average stress level of 5.8 out of 10 during the school year. The rates go up each year according to USA

Today. They have also stated that many things cause stress and many effects come out of being stressed.

About 59% of students claim to have a high stress level because they are trying to manage their time with sports and working, plus school. Another stressor is another student acting out towards them, and that rate is about 26%. Those students usually end up with a headache because they don’t know how to handle it.

Stress can cause physical or emotional problems, especially with young adults who keep it all in.

Talking about problems and what is bothering you is hard, especially if you don’t trust the person. You should go to a trusting adult who will listen and help

you. Maybe a teacher who you know you can trust, a school social worker, or even an administrator that you trust can help. An adult can help you a lot more than your best friend, but it is not a terrible choice to talk to a friend.

However, a trusted adult or even a parent is a better choice than a young adult.

I think the best way to get help is to talk about it over and over again, and to just express how you feel. If you look at the problem or cause of stress as a bad thing, then you won’t get over it.

I am a strong believer looking at what brings stress from a positive outlook to help you overcome the situation at hand. Everything takes time and it is up to you to know how much time is enough.

Dr. Dunn congratulates Christian Moreira for being an outstanding student.

a ‘favorite’. “I let my mind just think, who would make a good Super Lancer. The first names that popped into my head got me started, and I went through the requirements for Super Lancer.

That’s how I decided whether they met the requirements or not,” Mr. Timothy said.

Administration wanted teachers to look for kind, hard working, helpful, enthusiastic people who don’t usually get recognition. Having many options would be fine, however, but having to choose only one may be the most

difficult task teachers had during this past Super Lancer awards.

Both Mr. Demoux and administration are looking forward to the next Super Lancer Awards.

“There will be more Super Lancers selected at the end of March and in May,” Mr. Demoux said.

Students should remember to do their work and be themselves.

Teachers will be looking for outstanding students. Hard work, punctuality, and attendance serve as a solid base for every Lancer, but it takes more than that to make a Super Lancer.

Tri-Color Times Staff Editor in Chief Amanda MacKay Managing Editor Skye Rouse Reporters Doris Ah Ching Ryan Beckstead Bryon Brinley Dailyn Brinas Oswaldo Cabrera Valencia Kayla Carter Kiana Dalpiaz Stephanie Dorantes Britney Evans Mesa Fullmer KayLynn Gonzalez Lopelini Hafoka Flavianna Hawley April Hendriksen Lupita Hernandez Tina Huskic Katherynne Jaco

Online Editor Halee Rigby Photo+Social Editor Vanessa Holt Sports Editor Taylor Wolfley Reporters Chuck Manzanares Ramon Martinez III Madison McCurdy Daryl Midgley Stephanie Perez Hailey Piper Jasmine Raya Ariana Rojas Mireya Ruiz Ozzy Sanchez Anna Sayasith Karen Soriano Gabriela Thompson Arei Turner Alexandra Valdez Anissa Voa

The Tri-Color Times serves as a student forum for student opinion and student expression.

The views expressed herein reflect neither the opinions of Adviser John Carlisle and Granger High School, nor those of Granite School District. The Tri-Color Times invites and publishes letters to its editorial board; all letters will be edited for taste, length, and liability.

Granger High School 3580 South 3600 West West Valley, UT 84119 (385) 646-5320

March 2017, page 4

Tri-Color Times VOL. LIX Issue 7

Granger High Lancers: thoughtf

Tri-Color Times VOL. LIX Issue 7

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ful, empowered, and connected!

Tri-Color Times VOL. LIX Issue 7

March 2017, page 6

Former gangster explains reasons for joining and leaving gangs

By Lupita Hernandez HERE AT Granger High, there are said to be a significant number of gangs. It makes the employees who work here very concerned about Lancers’ safety. This issue does not only make administrators enforce a dress code policy, but it also alerts the adults that they have to stay focused at all times because fights and injuries could occur at any time.

“Gangs can be difficult because first you have to be jumped for the numbers of seconds that is in your set. Then to be officially in you have to kill someone you are close with or a family member,” an anonymous source said.

Gangs can have a big effect on someone’s education and life it can lead into a path that can be very difficult to get out of later.

Some feel that not all gang members are bad. There may be some students who can keep up good grades and be successful at the same time that they are in a gang.

The biggest reason for people joining gangs is because a gang is like a family they will not abandon anyone when they need it the most. The second biggest reason would have to be because of friends/ family convince them that it’s the correct thing to do.

“I was put into the gang lifestyle at just 15 years old, and I

joined because I was convinced by one of my friends that it was the right thing to do. My gang is like a family I know they got me when something goes down just like I got them,” another anonymous source said.

Gangs can be dangerous not just for the gang members but also for the families of the teens and young adults.

They can cause a lot of commotion which can result in being locked up or even death. Getting out of this lifestyle can be very difficult to do, but that is why Granger High has police officers here to guide students and make sure they are not getting in trou-

ble with the law.

There is a program that is called GRASP that helps teens who want to get out of a gang.

They offer some advice to lead you in the correct path, and they help remove any gang-related tattoos. Finally, they also offer job training that explains the basics of what to expect in a job.

“Anyone who wants help getting out of a gang, or wants to avoid joining a gang, is encouraged to attend meetings. In addition, referrals are accepted from Juvenile Justice, schools, family, friends, public defenders, and other community-based agencies.

There is no fee,” as stated on the

graspyouth.org website.

Acceptance is something everyone searches for. Some find that in gang and others don’t.

At the end of the day, all Lancers and all staff members are concerned about the students’ safety and what goes on in the hallways, including what happens in the school boundaries and beyond.

“We are all responsible for your well-being and don’t want to see any of you hurt,” Mr. Timothy said. “There are more positives in life than we sometime recognize, but it’s those positive things that we have to focus on that makes us forget all about the negatives things that just hold us back.”

In for life? Former gang member describes his experience

By Gabriela Thompson SHOTS fired. A stabbing. Anything else that puts another’s life on the line has been happening recently and it seems to be linked with gangs.

All around the Salt Lake Valley, there are many gang-related things that have happened in the new year. Yet, one former gang member’s story could provide some insight that shows that being in a gang isn’t that cut and dry.

Having problems in one’s personal life and the transition between junior high and high school leads young people into gangs. “I feel that all gangs are labeled as bad people and that they don’t

do any good. Real gangs are very family-friendly, I think people shouldn’t judge. gangs are probably the most respected compared to any other group of people,” a former gang member who wishes to remain anonymous said.

While being a gangster, his role model was SPM (South Park Mexican) and wanted to have the respect and ‘ride or die’ crew to back him up. However, that was not every aspect of it.

“I just had this urge to fight and I guess that’s how it started.

There was a point that they didn’t like me because they knew who I was and I had problems everywhere. It’s something I definitely regret,” he said.

Nevertheless, one thing this former gangster said was that he cared about his family. While in his gangster days, he tried to stay away from family and not let them know about his affiliations.

Yet, while in the gang, this person learned new ways to protect his family. While affiliated, he said learned respect and discipline, which carries on to his current job.

Some adults do not agree with that justification. “I think gangs sometimes try and portray a feeling of family and helping but the reality is they are often involved in criminal activity,” said Mr. Beck.

Now an advisor, this former

gang member helps people respect and discipline themselves and others. “You notice that gang members have hearts and have feelings. Growing up is really hard for them and it’s very different now with grades, school, and gangs. Who you hang out with reflects on your decisions and changes you. I wouldn’t change them, I would give them pointers to not mess up their life, but it’s up to them to change their life.

I’m here to help but there is only so much I can do for them,” he said.

Judgment was a major factor that pushed this gangster to get out and help other kids. “Judgment was there. The grown-ups

judged you the most, but any judgement makes you hate the world. I handled the negativity through fighting. If the negativity didn’t sprout, I wouldn’t be where I am today,” he said Starting as a confused teen who found a sense of purpose by joining a gang to becoming an advisor that helps keep students on the path to success, this former gangster put his life back together.

“It’s taking a lot of people’s lives.

Some gangs cause [bad things to happen] and they can ruin a life.

You shouldn’t shoot. If you want to fight, do it with fists,” he said.

Shooting isn’t the answer, but many don’t realize that until it is too late.

Gangs get stereotyped, but they have their perspective on life

By Mireya Ruiz WHEN PEOPLE think about what happens with gangs and gang members, it’s usually a casual assumption or a stereotyped story. It’s either for the “sense of belonging” or “companionship”.

Many have heard that innocent teenagers turn to gangs whenever they want the feelings that the gang life can give them.

Experts usually say the same exact thing about the majority of people that join gangs.

“They prey on children who lack positive support system at home,” as stated on the middleearthnj.wordpress.com website.

The statistics help prove that children join gangs for various reasons. There were over one million juveniles involved in gangs in the U.S. during 2015 with the numbers increasing ev-

ery year, as stated on the phys.org website. That is three times more than authorities have estimated.

However, only two percent of the U.S. youth are gang members.

Within that two perfect, the most common age is fourteen.

“I got jumped in while I was 13 and in middle school. The five girls did it for about five minutes, after that we started doing what our OG’s told us to. When we went out at night and I wondered, ‘Am I going to die tonight?’ ”she said.

Lots of teenagers join gangs looking for something, but adults have facts and explanations about why teenagers shouldn’t join the m.

“Joining a gang while in high school really does limit the future and the outcome,” Ben Horsley, Granite School District commu-

nications representative, said.

But those in gangs may feel as though people just stereotype gangsters that they see. They defend themselves by saying that there is always an explanation behind why they did what they did and made the decisions that they made.

“I joined the gang, because I knew how it was. They were all around and they provided protection, but what I didn’t realize at the time was that you become more of a target once you’re in a gang,” she said.

However, others have different reasons for joining. Whatever the reason, the expectations stay the same.

In gangs, there are a few main rules members follow -- even when they’re not in it, yet. Respect, loyalty, and trust matter

tremendously. There are other values that matter quite a bit, too, such as not talking and protecting other members.

“They’re your family, so you just go by what is expected of you. If you see one getting jumped, you jump in and help.

It’s just the normal measures you go to protect them, no matter what the cost,” she said.

Gangs are a different type of family to some people, one that involves violence and life decisions. Once someone gets into a gang, there’s no way of getting out.

“When you’re getting jumped, they tell you it’s for life. There’s no getting out. If you try, you’re done. You can get beat up, shot, or even killed,” she said.

Gangs are an issue to be taken seriously, but many people fail to

realize it.

“These youngsters are just being stupid. The decisions that I made while I was involved in gangs stuck with me for life. I remember the things I did like it was yesterday. There’s not a day I go by without remembering what I did,” that anonymous adult said.

Although being in gangs does involve violence, that’s not what it’s all about.

“People think that gangs are just about blasting others, but it’s about family. We used to go to the park to grill up some food and spend time together,” the anonymous adult said.

“I talk to my other family about once or twice a year...if there’s a big event going on in our lives,” she said.

“Gangs are only violence and death,” she said.

March 2017, page 7

Tri-Color Times VOL. LIX Issue 7

When it comes to politics, Lancers agree to disagree

By Amanda MacKay WHEN MOST people think of Granger’s diversity, they likely only think of the different races, religions, and languages spoken within the student body.

But Lancers are also diverse in other ways such as their political views. Utah is considered a “red” or “conservative” state, but in the more diverse areas such as West Valley and Salt Lake, one can find a wider range of political beliefs.

At Granger High, there are kids all across the political spectrum. From far-right leaners to far-left leaners and everyone in between. Out of all the differences that Granger students face, politics seems to be the thing that causes the most argument and division. But if it is possible to see past race or religion, it should be possible to look past differences in political views, too.

Unfortunately, emotions are very high, and people are adamant about defending their side that they seem unwilling to lis-

ten to the other side. Any student with a Facebook page has probably seen at least one political disagreement happen in the comments section of a controversial post.

“I tend to view things more right most of the time. I’m not total Trump train – he’s got good intentions, but he says things that are kinda whack,” Dylan Lenox (12) said.

President Trump proves to be somewhat unpopular, especially among millennials. “I hate him, he’s not for the people, he’s more for business,” Cherelle Smith (12) said.

In this election, the majority of Americans seemed unsatisfied with their options, but simply voted for the one they believed would cause the least amount of harm to the country.

“He’s the lesser of two evils.

He’s not gonna be the best president, but I think he’s gonna do a lot more good than Hillary would have done,” Noah Casias (12)

said. “He’s not a good person, obviously, but he was the best candidate we had. He’s gonna make America great again,” Casias said.

Although the dust has settled since the election and inauguration, many students still openly express their political views via social media and face-to-face communication.

Because of some hostility, some people may be afraid of speaking their minds and being honest about their opinions. Others just feel as though they are not educated enough on politics to have a solid, defendable opinion.

“If I’m gonna tell people what I think, I have to have a very educated opinion,” Smith said. Talking about politics can be very risky, because some people are much more passionate about their opinions than others. “There are some people who are really civil about [talking about politics], and they’ll honestly tell me their opinion and they’ll see my side,

but most of the time they just get defensive,” Smith said.

Conservatives and liberals have never really gotten along well, but the recent election seems to have made getting along even more difficult. “Some of [the liberals] can be pretty far out there. For the most part, we’re all Americans, right? It doesn’t really make that big of a difference,” Lenox said.

Lenox lies closer to the middle, Casias and Smith are further away. “I think [liberals] are freakin’ fairies. They can’t handle anything without getting triggered,” Casias said.

“Some [conservatives] are really good people. But most of them are very rude – they call liberals snowflakes and say they cry too much. Even if you’re just trying to have a civil conversation with them on why you disagree, they still bring that up. I only get defensive if they do,” Smith said.

Though students within the school may be divided on their

views and opinions, they still all have at least one thing in common: they are all Granger Lancers. Students can still be civil – and even friendly – with people from the other side of the political spectrum.

“I’m not set on [being friends with] certain types of people.

Most of my friends talk about politics, but there are a few that don’t,” Lenox said. Some students may not want to be friends with someone who they completely disagree with, but most people have the ability to remain civil and can be kind and understanding towards others.

“All of these riots and disagreements aren’t good for America,” Casias said. Diversity in all of its forms is meant to be celebrated, not discouraged.

It is hoped that all Granger Lancers will agree to disagree and realize that differences in opinion are just another thing that make our great school diverse. It’s important to have an opinion.

By Madison McCurdy ONE OF THE hardest things any child or human could go through is their two parents deciding that being together isn’t working for them. Divorce is a very hard subject to talk about with a lot of people, but Granger Lancers are here to let others know that they are not alone.

Most would never know that the person sitting next to them might be going through the same thing, including divorce, figuring out where they are in the family, and whose home they will be going to first. Sometimes it even affects grades and school life.

Divorce can ruin someone’s relationship with friends. “The divorce between my parents affected my relationships, because I would go to my dad’s house during the summer and I had no friends,” Kayla Skaurud (12) said. “I was only two when they got divorced, but it was not a negative impact on my life. It was a

very positive thing to have happened to me.”

It may not be an easy thing to go through as a child, a teenager, or at any point in someone’s life. Luckily we have amazing resources around us at any given time. Granger’s social worker Craig Kaluhikaua is just one of the many sources of help in the school.

If coping is something difficult, Kaluhikaua has so much advice for our Lancers. “If there is a stable parent, no research says that a good parent should have their child choose sides, or talk bad about the other parent to the child,” Kaluhikaua said.

Tension between parents and their child can be reduced. “If it is beginning to cause mental issues with the child such as anxiety, depression, or bad grades, probably get outside help. There are so many resources you can acquire with so many different ways of helping,” Craig Kaluhikaua said.

“My parents’ divorce was a pretty positive outcome in my life. My dad wasn’t really the best to my family, so when they parted ways, it made our family better,” Brandi Trane (11) said.

There are so many different sources any Lancer can use, such as going to a divorce group, usually lasting about six to eight weeks, and having a friend to vent to – maybe one that has gone through something similar. Keeping busy so they’re not thinking about it too much and maybe even serving others can also help.

There is always going to be a teacher around willing to help with coping. Every child has the right to go through the grieving process, but there is always a point where the grieving becomes too much and becomes unhealthy.

Students should visit one of their counselors or a teacher they feel safe telling their personal business to.

The kidsturn.org website is a

helpful source to help not just the students cope, but the parents as well. This website includes workshops, family resources, practitioners, as well as a blog and an online program.

Lancers are not alone in this.

Everything will be OK. It is just a bump in the road that they’ll get past. Students should make sure they ask for help while going through this battle. It is not a fun battle to go through alone, and so people need to realize they aren’t.

Lancers are not alone in the struggle with divorce

Brandi Trane believes that her parents’ divorce was the right decision.

Lancer Action Team represents Granger in a positive way

By Flavianna Hawley GRANGER has a variety of service-oriented clubs, from Key Club to the recently organized Rotary Club, that serve the community in many different ways.

One of the most distinct is the Lancer Action Team. The students that make up this club are carefully selected by Ms. Turner, the advisor, and they work together to organize and carry out dozens of service projects every year.

The Lancer Action Team, also known as peer leadership, is made up of juniors and seniors that have been chosen based on an application they fill out near the end of each school year. Like student government, the team meets during third period to come up with new project ideas and put together events that will serve not only Lancers, but various members of the community.

They have already completed a wide variety of projects this year, including three blood drives and the True Lancer program.

True Lancer is designed to moti-

vate students to get involved with school activities. Students can do anything from donate in the blood drive to meet the principal, and when they do, they receive points that can be redeemed for G-Cards, Granger pins, and even a t-shirt.

The True Lancer program is just one of many projects the Lancer Action Team has organized this year. “We’ve gone to the Rocky Mountain Care Center and the Harmon Home down the street to play bingo and things like that. We also go to elementary schools to do crafts and play games,” Charlotte Jacketta (11) said.

These projects are all designed to give back to the community and help others in any way possible. Because members of the Lancer Action Team are leaders that represent Granger High School, it is their responsibility to take charge both in and out of the classroom. “The point of the class is for each student to take a leadership role, so throughout the

year we all individually plan projects,” Jacketta said.

Teamwork is also stressed in the club. While each student is supposed to plan his or her own project, all members of the team carry it out so that the job is done well. This helps the students bond and get to know each other better, so that by the end of the year, they are a family as much as they are a team.

“I love how everyone works together. Nobody’s a stranger in the group, so we have a really fun time as we’re helping others,” Amivi Afatchao (11) said.

Through community service, these students are able to develop their leadership skills while simultaneously strengthening friendships.

As the Lancer Action Team continues to carry out helpful projects, they also begin gearing up for next year. Applications to sign up for the club are available now and require the applicant to answer a few short questions.

They cover subjects like CPA,

past service projects the applicant has participated in, and qualities they feel a leader should have.

These are all important aspects of the Lancer Action Team and the responses applicants write help Ms. Turner decide who should be admitted into the club.

While previous members of the group are the first to be considered for positions in the club and can recommend students they feel would be a good fit, anyone

with a desire to work hard and serve others is encouraged to apply. Previously, only juniors and seniors were chosen to be members. Next year, however, sophomores will be allowed to join as well.

The students selected will represent Granger and guide others throughout the year. The students selected will represent Granger and guide others throughout the year.

An LAT member gets the word out on what it takes to be a True Lancer.

March 2017, page 8

Tri-Color Times VOL. LIX Issue 7

Bestselling author Veronica Roth visits Granger High School

By April Hendriksen ON JANUARY 24, New York Times Bestselling Author Veronica Roth came to Granger High school to market her new sci-fi book, “Carve the Mark”, with the assistance of Sarah Enni from the podcast “First Draft.” Enni’s job is to interview young adult and middle grade writers, and she talked with Roth in front of the audience for the majority of the hour.

Her books are popular, so popular that Jessica Neilson, who came to Granger all the way from Provo, read the first “Divergent” book in one night. “I couldn’t get the second one, it was so popular and had just come out. I’d read the first one on the flight to visit my parents for Christmas. One of my presents was the second book, so I read that one on the way back.”

Jen Ogden from Salt Lake wasn’t a die-hard fan. “I’m just excited,” Ogden said. Though she’d read “Divergent” a few years ago, she still felt it was a momentous occasion to be sitting in the same room with an author whose books she’d read.

They started the talk by pulling up Megan Fonseca (11) to play a game of MASH with them.

Fonseca had won a ticket in her

general fiction class and decided to go because she’d heard of the Divergent series and wanted to meet the author of said series. The first hand up, Fonseca was pulled onto center stage and made into the subject of a game of MASH. “It was very intimidating at first,” she said, “but when they went along with the joke of the game, I figured that they were just ordinary people doing extraordinary things and that I shouldn’t have been nervous at all.”

According to Amanda Mortensen, a high school student, Roth is very dedicated to her fans.

“She was sick, and after the meetand-greet, she’d been at Granger talking for almost four hours,” Mortensen said. “But she was still happy and cheerful, even though her voice was mostly gone.”

Roth was born in New York City and raised in Illinois. The youngest in her family, she was very creative growing up. She indulged herself in fanfictions and some stories of her own. Roth typically writes about strong women who do good things that inevitably cause them to be unliked. It’s a recurring theme in Divergent.

Roth’s new book, “Carve the Mark”, is a sci-fi fantasy set on a planet where violence is com-

monplace and everyone develops a talent of ‘currentgift’ to improve the future. The main characters, Akos and Cyra, however, have currentgifts that make them vulnerable to others and allow them to be controlled.

Even though this event was organized to market the new series, it was more about celebrating the amazing fandoms such as “Star Trek”, “Star Wars”, and “Harry Potter” that influenced her writing heavily. Attendees to the event also learned that Roth’s favorite color is gray because it is associated with rain and that she made a voice for her private network, Drobo.

By the end of the evening, Roth and Enni had most of the audience laughing along with their conversation. For the last twenty minutes, Roth answered questions written on papers by fans and visitors. When asked what it was like to be a writer, she explained: “Writers are like cats that have run underneath the car.

You have to coax them out and get them to socialize.”

After the initial event ended, four rows of people were randomly selected and allowed into the Blackbox Theatre, where Roth had a small meet-and-greet and signing with some of her fans.

Shuddersome adapts Poe’s tales and terrifies audience

By Daryl Midgely AS MOST of us know, putting on a play is not easy. Pulling off a play with few to no flaws is even harder. But when actors have as much talent as the students in advanced theatre have, they make it look so easy. In overall succession, they did well on the play.

There is no critique that I could make. The only problem I had was I could see props I wasn’t supposed to see. There were some actors who were a little nervous, but it was a happy nervous, they were ready to do the play. The plan of the play, was to make you shudder, of make you kind of scared.

They nailed that on par. There acting was so good, I legit felt it when the main actors were angry, or scared, even timid. That

they conveyed their emotion and voice with was without a doubt convincing. When I interviewed one of the actors, he said, “There were definitely places we could have improved, but for the most part, we did well.” Before the advanced theatre practiced, they walked around, practicing lines, and holding poses. To get into character.

It was quite fun watching them practice. They get really into it, which is why, guess is why they are in advanced theatre. The teacher and the students are good at what they do. When the right people put their mind to something, beauty comes from them.

That is exactly what the play was, pure beauty. I have never spent a better hour of my life. The play was entertaining and immersing.

You could tell by watching the play that there was a lot of trial and error during practice, just because they did it so flawlessly.

And nothing is flawless without trial and error. There was a small group of people, and without flaw, they set the creepy mood before the play. They slowly walked around, staring, looking kind of dazed. The students that advanced theatre chose to portray these creepy characters were chosen correctly. But that does not mean I didn’t like the play, the play was very enjoyable. The plot was easy to follow but intricate enough to be interesting. The way the characters were put together well, and the students portrayed the characters, was convincing. I felt like I was actually in the stories that they were acting out.

Juniors check ACT off bucket list

By Stephanie Dorantes ON FEBRUARY 28, juniors at Granger High took the ACT. It started at 7:30 a.m. and ended at 11:00 a.m. First try was free, and after their first try, students not pleased with this score may try again it by paying the $42.50 fee for every retake.

Now that being said, it’s OK to freak out when the ACT is right around the corner. It’s only natural to feel stress. The ACT is not just this horrible, ugly test that all juniors have to take. Everyone has a different point of view.

Some may see it as a horrible living nightmare, some could see it as helpful. Some use it to know what they are good at or as a wake-up call to start opening books more often.

Many Lancers have some way to deal with stress. Many also have no idea on how to cope. Or it’s not even stress they’re feeling. It could be sadness, curiosity, or fear. Tests can kick up many

emotions inside of students.

“One word to describe how I feel about the ACT is ‘nervous’ all because I don’t have ACT Prep,” Claire Sagendorf (11) said.

Many tests cause stress for students. Other Lancers don’t really worry so much about the ACT. They know that, by taking the ACT, it’s easier to see what can be improved.

“For starters I feel confident in English, but in the other stuff I’m doomed. I’m not too stressed, but I do like to listen to music to relax and feel a bit better,” Bran Hester (11) said. “A good side of taking the ACT is that you can see what your strongest points are and your weakest points.”

Confidence is key when taking any test. But practice makes perfect, taking an ACT prep class is the best way to go if Lancers really want to nail the ACT in their first try. Lancers are not in this alone. Ms. Taylor is encouraging juniors to do their very best, help-

ing them in every way possible.

“I’m helping the juniors by teaching strategies. I also teach content like grammar rules, and give lots of practice tests,” Ms. Taylor said. “The juniors are my favorite to teach. I have high hopes for them to do well and to get the score they desire. I always tell them that confidence is key.

They all have improved since the beginning of the year.”

Some Lancers didn’t seem to mind taking the ACT. “To be honest I don’t mind taking the ACT. I’m not even stressed, but when I am stressed, I like to read and take my mind off everything. Also, I think that everyone freaks out about the ACT, but you can just retake it again: it’s not big deal,” Masen Martin (11) said.

Some students may not have earned the score they wanted.

Perhaps they think that the world is on fire because of it.

Don’t worry, just retake it.

To add to the suspense, they projected their voices well without it feeling like they were yelling in your face. The structure that the theatre put the play together in, was in a way, that made you calm down a little then scare you a little, over and over again.

The blood was believable and you could hear the emotion in the actor’s voices, like they actually felt what their characters were feeling. it was near impossible to not feel for some of the characters. The actuality of the characters was so believable that you felt like a real person was talking, not an actor. When the pictures popped up on the back screen, it didn’t distract from the show, it just added more elements for entertainment. The concessions were reasonably priced, and

all the staff, and actors were extremely kind.

The theatre worked very hard on the play and wanted the audience to enjoy viewing the play as much as they did making it. The jump scares were unpredictable, if you did not want to be even slightly scared, you should not have gone to the play.

When you work as hard as the theatre did on a production, mostly all you want is the audience to applaud – that is the best payment for theatre. The actors enjoy what they are doing, and some and most want to be professional actors when they grow up.

Ms. Anderson inspired the actors to do their best, no matter what.

She critiqued and supported the entire cast of the play the whole time.