Issue 4 (Dec. 2015) by Spilled Ink

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Family. Compassion. Unity. Joy. Love. Hope. We are all in this together. Help is here for you. Talk to someone. Things will get better. We Follow us: fchsspilledink.weebly.com help. Encouragement. Hope. Support. Light. Respect. Kindness. Courage. Positivity. Help. Community. Someone can help. Seek support. Ho Counselors. Friendship. Together. Happiness. Recovery. We will help you. You are not alone. Support. Hope. You matter. Patience. Listening. There is hope. You are loved. Friends. Family. Compassion. Unity. Joy. Love. Hope. We are all in this together. Help is here for you. Talk to s will get better. We are here for you. Get help. Encouragement. Hope. Support. Light. Respect. Kindness. Courage. Positivity. Help. Commu can help. Seek support. Hotlines. Therapy. Peer Counselors. Friendship. Together. Happiness. Recovery. We will help you. You are not alo Hope. You matter. Patience. Listening. You are not alone. There is hope. You are loved. Friends. Family. Compassion. Unity. Joy. Love. Hope. in this together. Help is here for you. Talk to someone. Things will get better. We are here for you. Get help. Encouragement. Hope. Suppo Respect. Kindness. Courage. Positivity. Help. Community. Someone can help. Seek support. Hotlines. Therapy. Peer Counselors. Friendship. Tog Happiness. Recovery. We will help you. You are not alone. Support. Hope. You matter. Patience. Listening. You are not alone. There is hope. are loved. Friends. Family. Compassion. Unity. Joy. Love. Hope. We are all in this together. Help is here for you. Talk to someone. Things w get better. We are here for you. Get help. Encouragement. Hope. Support. Light. Respect. Kindness. Courage. Positivity. Help. Community. Founded in Therapy. 1919 Peer The FCHS Student Dec. 17, 2015 Someone can help. Seek support. Hotlines. Counselors. Friendship. Newspaper Together. Happiness. Recovery. We will help you. You are not alone. Support. Hope. You matter. Patience. Listening. You are not alone. There is hope. You are loved. Friends. Family. Compassion. Unity. Joy. Love. Hope. We are all in this together. Help is here for you. Talk to someone. Things will get better. We are here for you. Get help. Encouragement. Hope. Support. Light. Respect. Kindness. Courage. Positivity. Help. Community. Someone can help. Seek Dark support. Hotlines. Therapy. Peer Counselors. Friendship. Together. Happiness. Recovery. We will help you. You are not alone. n e ss. Support. Hope. You matter. Patience. Listening. You are not alone. There is hope. You are loved. Friends. Family. Compassion. Despair. Unity. Joy. Love. Hope. We are all in this together. Help is here for you. Talk to someone. Things will get better. We are here for S a dness. you. Get help. Encouragement. Hope. Support. Light. Respect. Kindness. Courage. Positivity. Help. Community. Someone can Bullying. help. Seek support. Hotlines. Therapy. Peer Counselors. Friendship. Together. Happiness. Recovery. We will help you. You Fear. Afraid. are not alone. Support. Hope. You matter. Patience. Listening. You are not alone. There is hope. You are loved. Friends. D e p r e s s ed. Family. Compassion. Unity. Joy. Love. Hope. We are all in this together. Help is here for you. Talk to someone. Things Hopeless. Misery. will get better. We are here for you. Get help. Encouragement. Hope. Support. Light. Respect. Kindness. Courage. Nothing really matters. Positivity. Help. Community. Someone can help. Seek support. Hotlines. Therapy. Peer Counselors. Friendship. I am all alone. I am not Together. Happiness. Recovery. We will help you. You are not alone. Support. Hope. You matter. Patience. loved. Dread. Life isn’t Listening. You are not alone. There is hope. You are loved. Friends. Family. Compassion. Unity. Joy. Love. worth it. Numb. Nothing Hope. We are all in this together. Help is here for you. Talk to someone. Things will get better. We are matters. Judgment. Depression. here for you. Get help. Encouragement. Hope. Support. Light. Respect. Kindness. Courage. Positivity. Alone. Bullying. Internal battle. Help. Community. Someone can help. Seek support. Hotlines. Therapy. Peer Counselors. Friendship. Hopelessness. No motivation. No Together. Happiness. Recovery. We will help you. You are not alone. Support. Hope. You matter. Patience. Listening. You are not alone. There is hope. You are loved. Friends. Family. Compassion. energy. Emptiness. Struggling. Helpless. Unity. Joy. Love. Hope. We are all in this together. Help is here for you. Talk to someone. Things Vulnerable. Hopeless. Worthlessness. will get better. We are here for you. Get help. Encouragement. Hope. Support. Light. Respect. Pain. I’m not normal. I want to give up. Kindness. Courage. Positivity. Help. Community. Someone can help. Seek support. Hotlines. Despair. Overwhelming. I am alone. Every Therapy. Peer Counselors. Friendship. Together. Happiness. Recovery. We will help you. little thing is difficult. No one cares. No one You are not alone. Support. Hope. You matter. Patience. Listening. You are not alone. understands. Self-hatred. Bullying. Guilt. Shame There is hope. You are loved. Friends. Family. Compassion. Unity. Joy. Love. Hope. We Distress. Withdrawn. Empty. Anxiety. I am worthless are all in this together. Help is here for you. Talk to someone. Things will get better. Fatigue. Life isn’t worth it. I am alone. Nothing matters We are here for you. Get help. Encouragement. Hope. Support. Light. Respect. Alone. Darkness. Despair. Sadness. Bullying. Fear. Afraid Kindness. Courage. Positivity. Help. Community. Someone can help. Seek Depressed. Hopeless. Misery. Nothing really matters. I am al support. Hotlines. Therapy. Peer Counselors. Friendship. Together. Happiness. alone. I am not loved. Dread. Life isn’t worth it. Numb. Nothing Recovery. We will help you. You are not alone. Support. Hope. You matter. matters. Judgment. Depression. Alone. Bullying. Internal battle Patience. Listening. You are not alone. There is hope. You are loved. Hopelessness. No motivation. No energy. Emptiness. Struggling Friends. Family. Compassion. Unity. Joy. Love. Hope. We are all in this Helpless. Vulnerable. Hopeless. Worthlessness. Pain. I’m not normal together. Help is here for you. Talk to someone. Things will get better. I want to give up. Despair. Overwhelming. I am alone. Every little thing We are here for you. Get help. Encouragement. Hope. Support. is difficult. No one cares. No one understands. Self-hatred. Bullying. Guilt Light. Respect. Kindness. Courage. Positivity. Help. Community. Shame. Distress. Withdrawn. Empty. Anxiety. I am worthless. Fatigue Someone can help. Seek support. Hotlines. Therapy. Peer Life isn’t worth it. I am alone. Nothing matters. Alone. Darkness. Despair Counselors. Friendship. Unity. Happiness. Recovery. We will Sadness. Bullying. Fear. Afraid. Depressed. Hopeless. Misery. Nothing really help you. You are not alone. Support. Hope. You matter. matters. I am all alone. I am not loved. Dread. Life isn’t worth it. Numb. Nothing Patience. Listening. You are not alone. There is hope. matters. Judgment. Depression. Alone. Bullying. Internal battle. Hopelessness You are loved. Friends. Family. Compassion. Unity. Joy. No motivation. No energy. Emptiness. Struggling. Helpless. Vulnerable. Hopeless Love. Hope. We are all in this together. Help is here Worthlessness. Pain. I’m not normal. I want to give up. Despair. Overwhelming. for you. Talk to someone. Things will get better. am alone. Every little thing is difficult. No one cares. No one understands. Self-hatred We are here for you. Get help. Encouragement. Bullying. Guilt. Shame. Distress. Withdrawn. Empty. Anxiety. I am worthless. Fatigue. Life Hope. Support. Light. Respect. Kindness. isn’t worth it. I am alone. Nothing matters. Alone. Darkness. Despair. Sadness. Bullying. Fear Courage. Positivity. Help. Community. Afraid. Depressed. Hopeless. Misery. Nothing really matters. I am all alone. I am not loved. Dread Someone can help. Seek support. Hotlines. Life isn’t worth it. Numb. Nothing matters. Judgment. Depression. Alone. Bullying. Internal battle Therapy. Peer Counselors. Friendship. Hopelessness. No motivation. No energy. Emptiness. Struggling. Helpless. Vulnerable. Hopeless Together. Happiness. Recovery. We Worthlessness. Pain. I’m not normal. I want to give up. Despair. Overwhelming. I am alone. Ever will help you. You are not alone. little thing is difficult. No one cares. No one understands. Self-hatred. Bullying. Guilt. Shame. Distress Support. Hope. You matter. Withdrawn. Empty. Anxiety. I am worthless. Fatigue. Life isn’t worth it. I am alone. Nothing matters. Alone Patience. Listening. You are not Darkness. Despair. Sadness. Bullying. Fear. Afraid. Depressed. Hopeless. Misery. Nothing really matters. I am alone. There is hope. You all alone. I am not loved. Dread. Life isn’t worth it. Numb. Nothing matters. Judgment. Depression. Alone are loved. Friends. Family. Bullying. Internal battle. Hopelessness. No motivation. No energy. Emptiness. Struggling. Helpless. Vulnerable Compassion. Unity. Joy. Hopeless. Worthlessness. Pain. I’m not normal. I want to give up. Despair. Overwhelming. I am alone. Every little Love. Hope. We are thing is difficult. No one cares. No one understands. Self-hatred. Bullying. Guilt. Shame. Distress. Withdrawn. Empty all in this together. Anxiety. I am worthless. Fatigue. Life isn’t worth it. I am alone. Nothing matters. Alone. Darkness. Despair. Sadness Help is here for Bullying. Fear. Afraid. Depressed. Hopeless. Misery. Nothing really matters. I am all alone. I am not loved. Dread. Life isn you. Talk to worth it. Numb. Nothing matters. Judgment. Depression. Alone. Bullying. Internal battle. Hopelessness. No motivation. No s o m e o n e . energy. Emptiness. Struggling. Helpless. Vulnerable. Hopeless. Worthlessness. Pain. I’m not normal. I want to give up. Despai T h i n g s Overwhelming. I am alone. Every little thing is difficult. No one cares. No one understands. Self-hatred. Bullying. Guilt. Shame will get Distress. Withdrawn. Empty. Anxiety. I am worthless. Fatigue. Life isn’t worth it. I am alone. Nothing matters. Alone. Darkness better. Despair. Sadness. Bullying. Fear. Afraid. Depressed. Hopeless. Misery. Nothing really matters. I am all alone. I am not loved. Dread. Lif h o p isn’t worth it. Numb. Nothing matters. Judgment. Depression. Alone. Bullying. Internal battle. Hopelessness. No motivation. No energy p e Emptiness. Struggling. Helpless. Vulnerable. Hopeless. Worthlessness. Pain. I’m not normal. I want to give up. Despair. Overwhelming. I am alone. Every little thing is difficult. No one cares. No one understands. Self-hatred. Bullying. Guilt. Shame. Distress. Withdrawn. Empty. Anxiety I am worthless. Fatigue. Life isn’t worth it. I am alone. Nothing matters. Alone. Darkness. Despair. Sadness. Bullying. Fear. Afraid. Depressed

Getting Help for Depression pg. 21

Profile on FCHS Grad Meagan Cain pg. 4 The Return of Star Wars pg. 9 Reality Check pgs. 10-14

Competitive Cheerleading pg. 17

Volume 97 Issue 4 3400 Lambkin Way

Fort Collins, CO 80525

Phone: (970) 488-8199

Fax: (970) 488-8008

2 Dec. 17, 2015

News

Spilled Ink

EXPANDING VIEW

Pope brings peace message to Central African Republic

The North Face founder Douglas Tompkins dies in kayak accident

Beijing schools and outdoor activities close due to pollution

French president hopes for response from allies after attacks

Australia attempts to genetically modify fruit flies for pest control

Information gathered by Alex McWilliams and Maya Bode Sources: BBC, The Telegraph

Inside the Ink New Recycling Goals pg. 5

Staff Review: Gingerbread pg. 6

Augmented Reality pg. 14

News pg. 2-5

A&E pg. 6-9

In-Depth pg. 10-14

Winter Park Snowboarding Team pg. 16

Sports pg. 15-18

Butting Heads: Syrian Refugees pg. 22

Perspectives pg. 19-23

Corrections Pg. 3 - We incorrectly credited Amanda Evans with writing the Cocoa and Cram news brief, which was actually written by Nick Hawley. Pg 5 - We incorrectly spelled Molly Lubbersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; name. Spilled Ink regrets these errors.

Spilled Ink

News

Dec. 17, 2015

How it works: Influenza “Flu”

People can spread influenza even before showing symptoms.

NCAA offers online transcript submissions Parker Andrist Head Graphic Artist National College Athletic Association (NCAA) is now allowing students to request and submit transcripts through their website. “It’s fast, it’s efficient, and there’s tracking,” Career Center Coordinator Eileen Hostetter said. “When you send in a paper copy, it can get lost in the mail and they have to open it, scan it, and then upload it into the student’s record. It just takes longer.” For more detailed information on the new system, visit http://ncaa.org/studentathletes/future/transcripts. When uploading a transcript, you will be asked for FCHS’s “NCAA high school code,” which is 060590.

FCHS to host 8th grade information night Andrew Jessen-Tyler Columnist FCHS will host the annual 8th Grade Information Night on Jan. 11 for incoming students. Interested parents and students will meet in McNeal Auditorium at 6 p.m. for a presentation with tours offered at 7 p.m. This night is for school of choice families and incoming students but current students are welcome to come. “We present on different curriculum areas at Fort Collins High School,” Assistant Principal Emily Dunn said. “From 7 to 8, it’s an opportunity for parents and students to walk around the building and meet the teachers and learn more about the specific curriculum in the different departments.” Teachers, Student Council members, Peer Counselors, and athletic coaches will be on site to answer any questions.

DECA students raise funds for competition

Amanda Evans

Perspectives Editor

Currently the Distributive Education Clubs of America (DECA) is raising money to attend the state competition Feb. 20-23 in Colorado Springs. The 41 DECA students going to the competition must bring in $365 each to cover hotel cost, food, and transportation to the event, which is DECA’s chance to qualify for the national conference in spring. “I’m excited to let the students have the opportunity to shine,” DECA adviser Terra Thiebaut said. “To see everything they’ve done in class add up will be great.” To raise the money, DECA students run the snack shack during home volleyball and basketball, games. In addition, DECA students are also selling Pizza Pals and Nuggets tickets. At the state event, students will compete in events such as Principles in Marketing, Business Plan, and Principles of Finance. To earn a place in the national competition, students must place in the top 20 percent of Colorado DECA competitors.

The virus infects respiratory passages, causing fever, severe aching, and excessive discharge or buildup of mucus, and often occurring in epidemics.

The flu can be spread by being passed from person to person by contact with respiratory droplets.

It affects anywhere from 5-20 percent of the population each year.

The 3 closest places to acquire a flu vaccine are Walgreens 2614 S. College Ave., The Youth Clinic, 1214 Oak Park Dr., and Walgreens 4502 S. College Ave.

Information gathered by Maya Bode and Alexia Clark Source www.adultvaccination.org

GRAPHIC BY ALEXIA CLARK

Mobile login process allows Internet access at home for school laptops at

Andrew Jessen-Tyler Columnist

As the holidays draw near and students spend their time away from school, they may have troubles connecting to the Internet from their school laptop at home. Because the district filters the Internet connection to prevent students from accessing prohibited sites, the laptops will not be able to access any websites, aside from psdschools.org when connecting on a home network. The district has a mobile login page to connect users on other wireless connections. The following steps will show you how to use it. Before attempting to use your laptop at home, make sure you have logged on to the laptop and restarted

least once at school. and go to fch.psdschools.org. The first step is to restart This will not work in other your computer on your home browsers. Hover the mouse network. You may then log in over the quick links and a to your account. menu bar should Next, you open up (Figure 4). need to make Click on “Offsite sure you are Mobile Login” and connected to a new tab will open your home (Figure 5). Sign in network. To do with the same login this, click on the information you use icon with 5 bars for accessing your Accompanying images in the lower right laptop, Blackboard, can be found at: http:// tinyurl.com/SPINKcorner (Figure and StudentVUE Mobile-Login 1). It should (Figure 6). then open up Now you are a sidebar that connected to PSD’s will ask you what Wireless servers and can access the Network you want to join. Internet just like you could Click on your home network at school. Keep in mind, you and then connect (Figure must leave the tab in Internet 2). If you have a password Explorer open or it could disable or WEP key, you will need your Internet connection. to input that information. However, you can open new To confirm you have tabs or a different browser, connected, check the bars such as Firefox and Chrome. in the lower right corner. If you can no longer access They should now be filled the Internet, just reload instead of outlined. (Figure 3). Internet Explorer and follow Now, open Internet Explorer the same steps from that point.

4 Dec. 17, 2015

News

Spilled Ink Visit the Spilled Ink

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During her travels, health educator and graduate assistant Meagan Cain explores Nepal, where she trained impoverished and sexually-exploited women in public health. PHOTOS COURTESY OF MEAGAN CAIN

Alumna travels to Nepal, empowers exploited women Maya Bode Managing Editor Close to 8,700 people died when a 7.8 magnitude earthquake hit Nepal earlier this year. According to mercycorps.org, at least 22,200 people were injured, more than 2.8 million were left in need of assistance, and approximately 505,000 homes were destroyed. Before the earthquakes hit, health educator and graduate assistant Meagan Cain was planning a second trip to Nepal for her master’s thesis, to teach a girls’ health curriculum focused on gender violence issues. “We had the grants, I’d been to Nepal before, I was going to be OK to be there by myself for an extended period of time, and then when the earthquakes hit, it just changed everything,” Cain said. “People that I’d worked with before who were going to be my contacts on the ground just disappeared, you know, maybe they’d been killed or been trafficked. Going in and not knowing what the situation was like, I had my university and a lot of my granters pull out because they couldn’t back me to go because it was going to be too dangerous, and so the situation changed from going into a village to now going into an active disaster zone.”

Since graduating from FCHS in 2008, Cain has traveled overseas, worked with impoverished and sexually exploited women and children, and created Girls Moving Mountains, a community health education and empowerment program for young women in Nepal. “I guess I’d always been interested in public health, but I just didn’t know the words for what I wanted to do,” Cain said. “I really became interested when I graduated from college and I traveled through East Africa and India and just started seeing the importance of public health.” During her first trip to Nepal, before the earthquakes, Cain designed a curriculum for public health workshops to educate exploited populations and groups of women who had never discussed health before. She became friends with many of these women, and enjoyed many aspects of their culture. “Culturally in Nepal they really value family, and when they have

foreigners come, if you’re lucky, sometimes they welcome you in as part of their family,” Cain said. “So while I was there, I spent time with women and girls who’d either been trafficked or sold into prostitution but hadn’t really had that traditional family structure, so it was awesome to come in and have them call me sister, and have us all do things together.” Although much of the time they spent together dealt with s e r i o u s topics, they were also able to set aside time for having fun. “In Nepal they love Bollywood, so they always want to, like, sing and dance together, even though it feels like we’re being sixteen-year-old girls. So I think having that experience with them in this very different cultural setting, but to still being able to, like, dance around and sing and put makeup on each other, was fun.” Although Cain found her time in

“There’s so many ways to get involved, and it doesn’t mean that you have to buy a plane ticket and go around the world to places like Nepal.” —Meagan Cain

Nepal rewarding and is passionate about public health, many challenges come with the work she does. “I think it’s really hard to be satisfied in areas like public health or human rights, because you’re just constantly overwhelmed by the scope of the problem,” Cain said. While the challenges and problems can be overwhelming, Cain tries to take things a day at a time, focus on the positive results of her work, and inform others about how they can support these causes. “There’s so many ways to get involved, and it doesn’t mean that you have to buy a plane ticket and go around the world to places like Nepal,” she said. “I mean, we have these issues in our own community.” Cain’s career began in Fort Collins, where she volunteered with the SAVA Center, got involved with local projects, and learned about the process of helping others. She enjoyed her time at FCHS, where she participated in Amnesty International and various school activities, and encourages others to break away from the standard subjects in order to explore new passions and causes. “It took through college to figure out what I wanted to do,” Cain said, “but I think to just stick with a cause that fulfills you is really important for finding a path.”

School provides mental health resources Adelaide Tomsic

Staff Writer

According to the Jason foundation, more teenagers and young adults die from suicide than from cancer, heart disease, AIDS, birth defects, stroke, pneumonia, influenza, and chronic lung disease, combined. And according to the Sexual Assault Victim Advocate (SAVA) center those who are sexually assaulted are four times more likely to contemplate suicide. Students who are bullied are 2 to 9 times more likely to commit suicide, according to a study done by Yale University. To help students and staff face emotional trials, various resources are available. “We have what’s called a mental health team in the district, people who are just assigned to deal with crisis,” Dean of Students Josh Richey said. Beyond district support, various programs onsite work to support student affected by bullying. Standing Up, a new club started by

junior Jazlyn Hancock aims to provide support to victims of bullying. This club is replacing the old Friends of Rachel club during Wednesday common lunch in P 208. “We are going to do smaller scale service work in the building like how to spread messages around,” Hancock said. The school offers other ways for students to get help, including the bully prevention hotline, which allows students to send an email to report an incident. Also, a student can tell a staff member about an event involving bullying, and staff will alert administration of the situation and get help for the student. Prevention and education programs are also available through the school. People and organizations such as SAVA center work with peer counselors to inform students about the topic of sexual assault by creating lessons that can be taught to health classes in a single block period. The topics of these presentations include sexual

assault, dating violence, and a presentation to Lambkin Way classes about depression. “Some of these are presented to health classes here, and others are presented to middle school aged classes, but the information is still important to anyone of any age,” senior Amelia Bruell, peer counselor, said. Not only is help for students available in school, but programs are in place to be accessed throughout the entire community. Programs like SAVA help people through a variety of challenging circumstances such as addiction, abusive relationships, and thoughts of suicide. The peer counselors and administrators have the contact information for these programs, or an individual can call the phone number 211. “211, this is the United Way of Larimer County and what the United Way does is basically directs you to any service in the community that you might need,” Richey said. “Anything from metal health stuff to substance abuse to health care, so this is what our community offers you.”

News

Spilled Ink What can be recycled? Takeout containers Aluminum cans Office paper Cardboard Plastic cups Clear glass Tin cans Bottles Cartons Jugs Information gathered by Jars

REDUCE, REUSE,

Maya Bode Source: fcgov.com, nonrecyclables.com

Dec. 17, 2015

What can’t be recycled?

Food-covered items Shredded paper Broken glass Wax paper Plastic bags Ziploc bags Used tissues Styrofoam Batteries Wood CDs

RECYCLE. New initiative strives for recycling awareness Brooke Pippin

Guest Writer

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know that recyclables cannot have scraps of food on them. For example, the bottom of a pizza box cannot be recycled because it is typically contaminated with grease, but the top can be torn off and put into the blue bin. Milk cartons can be recycled, but milk must be completely poured out first. Though some changes still need to be made, the recycling program has improved over the years. According to the School energy and Solid Waste Report, FCHS was the most wasteful school district. Waste diversion should be around 43 percent. The school is currently at 36 percent, whereas it used to be at 21 percent. Percentages have gone up, and communication efforts have been boosted, but many people involved with the program say there is room for progress. “I’d like a club,” Head Custodian Carole Tuck said. “Other high schools in the district have them. We could be the best school in the district.”

GRAPHIC BY PARKER ANDRIST

Harvard University saves almost 25,000 gallons of water annually, simply by collecting rain water. Gault Elementary in Santa Cruz, CA, has instituted a compost bin for the students’ snack scraps. Chatham University in Pittsburgh recycles cooking oil into biofuel and does not sell water bottles on campus, instead giving its student reusable water bottles. Recycling is a growing priority on campuses nationwide, but the efforts of those in the FCHS recycling program are currently being met with setbacks. According to Speech Pathologist Colleen Reyes, who identifies as an “Earth Guardian,” a title invented by a student club in Boulder, the biggest problem occurring is that trash is being thrown into school recycling bins. The trash contaminates the recyclables, making them suitable only

for the landfill, thereby defeating the purpose of the recycling program. In addition, materials that could be recycled are often found in trash bins. “Both staff and students continue to throw recyclables in the trash and vice versa,” Reyes said. In an effort to improve recycling efficiency, Mulberry Street Unlimited, the student group that obtains the recycling bins and handles collections, and the custodial staff, have been working to raise awareness of what can and cannot be recycled. Some of the efforts include increasing signage around the school, particularly in the cafeteria. Extending communication to the student body has also increased, attempting to remind students of the need for this program and their responsibilities. “We need more student participation and leadership,” Reyes said. The groups want student and staff to

6 Dec. 17, 2015

A&E

Spilled Ink

Holiday cookie proves disappointing Alexia Clark Graphic Artist

In Brief

New program highlights local artists’ work Adelaide Tomsic

Staff Writer

Pop-Up Art Carts, an event hosted by Art Lab on the first Friday of every month behind the Old Town First Bank or in the Opera Galleria during poor weather, allows artists to create small carts to display and sell their art on. Participating artists are asked to make a cart that is narrow enough to fit through the door of Art Lab and can be pushed by people to display their work. “What we ask is that artists send us three or four photos of their work and also send us their artist statement. The current participating artists will review that work and decide who participates,” Dawn Putney, founder of Art Lab, said. Art Lab considers everyone who wants to join. More information on how to register for Pop-Up Art Carts is available at artlabfortcollins.org.

FCHS theater preps for musical Walker Discoe

Cartoonist

Tower Theater is getting ready for the production of the musical “Into the Woods,” which will run from March 3 to March 5. “We’re very excited about the project,” Jason Tyler, director, said. “There are a lot of cool technical opportunities and production opportunities.” Tickets are $10 for reserved seating, and $8 with an activity pass. Ticket sales are set to start approximately one month in advance of show dates. “Into the Woods” is the feature show of the year, with the most effort and resources put into it. “It’s going to be a big show,” Tyler said. “We have 120 cast and crew members, and the story and style of it are going to be really cool.”

Pep band to begin after winter break Parker Andrist Head Graphic Artist Pep band season will start Tuesday, Jan. 5, at 6:30 p.m. in the large gymnasium. “The point of pep band is to get the team riled up, excited, and pepped up,” junior Colin Wilson, drum major, said. “If the fans that are there are also excited and enjoying the game, it gives us energy, and the shared energy contributes to the whole atmosphere.” Pep band plays at a total of 14 games this season, excluding playoffs. As a new addition, senior Jason Dunn has built a drum set platform to complement the band.

“Run, run, as fast as you can, you can’t catch me, I’m the gingerbread man!” The nursery song repeats over and over, but I don’t know why the people and animals chase the crisp little cookie through the village. I often refer to gingerbread as the worst type of cookie simply because desserts should b e pleasantly sweet, not spicy or savory. For this issue’s staff review, the Spilled Ink team searched for the best gingerbread cookie in Northern Colorado, a hopeless task. Though the winter holidays are approaching, choices for both prepackaged and bakeryprovided gingerbread c o o k i e s were limited, leaving our staff with three types of cookie and two gingerbread house kits. The cookies ranged in size from tiny to gigantic and were a variety of shades from brown sugar to molasses. The smallest cookie was Homestyle Archway Cookie’s Gingerbread man, which was given a two out of ten by our panel of untrained judges, along with complaints of blandness and unappreciated crispiness. “They are good if you think of them as holiday Teddy Grahams,” Columnist Andrew Jessen-Tyler said with animosity. The second cookie, made by Pepperidge Farms, was

similarly brittle and brown, but was a bit more gingeresque in flavor. This cookie, though enjoyed by the staff, was my least favorite. The gingerbread was dry, only satisfying when dipped into a mug of hot cocoa. Just as the staff was losing hope, we tried the last cookie, the Mary’s Mountain Cookies gingerbread man. Unlike the others, this baked good was soft, gigantic, and flavorful, and was the first gingerbread cookie I have actually enjoyed. Overall, the staff voted this gingerbread as the best pastry, as it tasted like it ran out of a grandmother’s kitchen. The gingerbread houses were a different story. In other staff members’ and my memories, houses made of cookies lived in windows of homes to be admired for weeks and then disposed of. Still, we were optimistic. When unpackaged, both houses looked practically identical, the only difference being their branding and a plastic tray destined to be the foundation of one house. Building the houses was entertaining and allowed us to be creative, although the results would never stand a contractor’s inspection. One day later, the houses were broken apart and tastetested. Unfortunately, the houses were not as widely adored as the cookies. The majority of the staff would not recommend the houses. “Gingerbread: what a waste,” Cartoonist Walker Discoe said. Though I agree with him for the most part, gingerbread is a cookie that will remain a pastime of holiday seasons, and whether storebought or kitchen-crafted, should be cherished for years to come, if only in our windowsills.

Novel focuses on friendship rather than unnecessary, sexist romance

Samantha Ye

In-Depth Editor YA has many fascinations: romance, high school, vampires, vampire romance, dystopias, family instability, and more romance. That’s just to name a few. But one subject doesn’t breach the list, and it is easily more important than the hot rebel leader: female friendship. For many YA books, in which the focus lies in the romance, the best friends are typically used as backdrop or if they’re lucky, a comedic prop. Friends are there to help the protagonist get the guy and once she has him, it’s like all other life forms fade away. Sometimes I think we’re getting past the notion that women desperately need and want a man to be happy, but then I read shelf after shelf of “realistic” fiction in which a girl can’t have a plotline without a guy to kiss. I don’t know about you, but my life does not revolve

around trying to get a boyfriend. And that’s why I adore Stacy Lee’s “Under a Painted Sky.” Not only does it remind us that a girl’s life does not have to be defined with romance, but it also shows the true power of this underrated relationship. Set in 1849 Missouri, Samantha, a Chinese orphan, and Annamae, a runaway slave, flee to the unsettled West for a chance at freedom and peace. Naturally, they have better things to worry about than becoming BFFs (Namely, the noose). But that’s the brilliant part; despite facing cholera and mercenaries, Sammy and Andy, as they go by on the trail, never lose the friendship they forge. Yes, the book has romance. Yes, it has death. Yet instead of shoving their friendship aside for the juicy action, their bond stays as important as ever. Sammy considers Andy first for her life-changing decisions. “If Andy knew how much losing Mr. Trask pains me, she might

change her mind on letting me go with her to Harp Falls,” she thinks. And that’s how many, real friendships go. Even with everything else going on, friends still hold an immovable place in our lives. “I’ve known Annamae for less than a day, yet I feel bonded to her in the way common suffering can knit two souls together,” Sammy says. “Maybe what matters is not so much the path as who walks beside you.” Unfortunately, relationships between girls are not only overlooked in the mainstream but often disrespected. Blanket labels like “chick-lit” and characters infused with “not-like-other-girls” syndrome dare to downplay the importance of female friendships. I honestly believe the YA genre can reflect the real world and even deliver important messages about it—that’s why I started this column—but when it comes to girlto-girl interactions, too many books are both wrong and harmful. I’m just thankful Lee’s is not of them. “My chest tightens as I think about my guardian angel with a die branded on her arm,” Sammy says. “When God took away my father, he gave me a sister.”

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things to do on Christmas if you don’t Celebrate Christmas

1. Ve a un restaurante chino 2. Toma ventaja de las áreas naturales de tu ciudad.

A&E

Dec. 17, 2015

1. Go to a Chinese restaurant. 2. Take advantage of your city’s natural areas. 3. Find a place you’ve never been and play hide and seek. 4. Volunteer at a homeless shelter 5. Create a new DIY project for you and your family. 6. See a movie. 7. Create a game and challenge your friends. 8. Build a pillow fort. 9. Wage war with your friends and family with nerf guns. 10. Enjoy your time off work or school and relax.

3. Encuentra un lugar en cual nunca has estado y juega al escondite. 4. Sé voluntario en un refugio para la gente sin hogar. 5. Crea un nuevo proyecto DIY para ti y tus amigos. 6. Ve una película. 7. Crea un juego y compite contra tus amigos. 8. Construye una base de almohadas. 9. Empieza una guerra con amigos y familia con armas nerf. 10. Disfruta de tu tiempo libre de la escuela y relájate.

Information gathered by Dalena Groen

Translation by Carlos Alba Espino, Luis Andazola Quezada, David Barron, Erin Calhoon, Angel Corona Rodriguez, Karina Del Toro, Jose Estrada, Joselynn Gonzalez, Yeidi Guerrero Romualdo, Luis Hernandez, Gabriel Hernandez Vargas, Luis Juarez Jr., Raul Lopez, Gavin Maxwell Schmidt, Melissa Medina Gutierrez, Stephanie Ortiz, Pablo Pinedo, Monica Quezada, Ashly Ramirez, Litzinia Calva Mendoza, Leslie Cerna, Yaraitza Chavez, Angelica Diaz Patricio, Jesus Dominguez Morales, Joanne Foster-Wood, Tiffany Galvan, Aileen Gonzalez-Perez, Zia Maria Groen, Stephani Hernandez De La Cruz, Roberto Hernandez Gonzalez, Perla Hurtado Flores, Danea Madrid, Axcel Ontiveros, Alfred Pineda-Vivas, Blanca Quintana Munoz, Victor Reyes Mendoza, Leonardo Reyes Quiroz, Daesy Romero, Myrna Romero, Michelle Saenz Carrasco, Bryan Sandoval-Mendoza, Denilson Suarez, Juan Valerio-Torres, and Estrella Viadran Perez.

8 Dec. 17, 2015

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Which Christmas song

Flowchart by Joseph Mason

should you be listening to? Were you naughty or nice, this year?

Naughty

What kind of naughty?

Nice

I don’t just cry, I sweat

“Baby, It’s Cold Outside”

Vehicular manslaughter

Hate crimes “Grandma Got Run Over By A Reindeer”

“White Christmas” by Bing Crosby

Never

What’s Lifetime?

“Happy Xmas (War is Over)” by John Lennon

“The Christmas Shoes” by NewSong

Actual criminal activity

Be specific.

Do you cry during lifetime movies?

Duh, that’s why I’m here

“Jingle Bell Rock”

Are you religious?

Jesus is bae

Nah

“Do You Hear What I Hear” by Bing Crosby or Anything by the Mormon Tabernacle Choir

Are you even in the mood for a holiday tune?

Not really

Anything By Neutral Milk Hotel

A&E

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Dec. 17, 2015

THE FORCE AWAKENS

FAST FACTS

Crawl out of your nice warm tauntaun, take a shower, and prepare for Star Wars: Episode VII—The Force Awakens. Be ready for Mark Hamill, Carrie Fischer, Harrison Ford, Peter Mayhew, Kenny Baker, and Anthony Daniels to reprise their roles as Luke, Leia, Han, Chewbacca, R2-D2, and C-3PO respectively. Joining this cast of two droids, a Jedi, a princess, a “scruffy-looking Nerf herder,” and a walking carpet will be Daisy Ridley as Rey, Adam Driver as Kylo Ren, Oscar Isaac as Poe Dameron, John Boyega as Finn, Gwendoline Christie as Captain Phasma, and a beach ball as BB-8, as well as many others. In case you’ve had your blast shield down for the last 38 years, Star Wars is a six movie space opera about love, hokey religions, daddy issues, shooting first, and not Gungans. Since Star Wars first came to theaters in 1977 a new Star Wars movie has been released every century and while some (the ones with Gungans) may not have been as popular, the franchise has still grown to be a $28 billion industry. The new movie, directed by J.J. Abrams, will hopefully feature a mostly lens-flare-free portrayal of the things that make the Star Wars universe so beloved (and not Gungans.) Written by Kevin Sullivan

Originally, George Lucas wanted Orson Welles to voice Darth

Vader. However, thinking his voice too recognizable, he dropped the idea.

In early drafts of The Empire Strikes Back, Yoda was named “Buffy,” then completely changed to “Minch Yoda,” which later was shortened to just Yoda. Sir Alec Guinness didn’t want to be in The Empire Strikes Back, referring to the first film as

The word

“Jedi”

is derived from Jidaigeki, meaning “period dramas,” which are a type of Japanese film that heavily influenced Lucas.

Harrison Ford was originally hired to feed lines to auditioning actors, and despite not initially wanting to hire Ford, Lucas liked Ford’s delivery of feeding lines so much he cast him as Han.

Originally, fewer

40 theaters

than agreed to book showings of Star Wars, thinking the movie would bomb.

At the same time The Empire Strikes Back was filmed, Stanley Kubrick was filming

The Shining at the same studio.

A fire broke out at the studio, burning down an entire soundstage for The Shining. Information gathered by Kevin Sullivan Source: Mentalfloss .com

“fairy-tale rubbish.”

GRAPHICS BY PARKER ANDRIST

In-Depth

Dec. 17, 2015

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Homeless Gear Toiletry Drive Sponsored by Key Club and Give Next Service Learning This January, look for drop boxes throughout the school to donate the following items:

Editor’s Note Samantha Ye In-Depth Editor

Soap

Shampoo

Conditioner

Mouthwash

Toothbrushes

Also needed: - Lotion - Toothpaste - Deodorant - Shaving Cream

Disposable Razors

Reality of homelessness affects many Molly Lubbers Guest Writer She was 23 years old when her husband was deported. She was 23 years old, and she had never worked in her life. Here she was, with four kids: one, three, five, and seven years old. All of them left without a home, and all of them left without money. Homeless and afraid, she found Homeless Gear, and was accepted into their One Village, One Family program. She also went to the workforce center and was assigned to be an intern at that same non-profit agency. She was his opportunity to see someone up close go through all of their programs and thrive; she is the one who comes to mind when he thinks about his impact. David Rout, the executive director of Homeless Gear, follows a “continuum” theory, where those homeless are helped from shortterm—just getting through the night—to long-term—having stable housing. But even though that is his central concept, he doesn’t

see it put into place all the time. Many scoff at the homeless, according to Rout, referring to them as “bums,” and Jefferson Park, across the street from Fort Collins Rescue Mission, as the “Homeless Park.” But adding false beliefs, such as they don’t work

intentions, employers are probably going to have some reaction to that. It’s harder to get a job.” Rout also notices the false impression that providing services brings homeless people to Fort Collins. About 50 of the 300 homeless people counted last year came to the city for services, according to him. “We still have 250 people here already who need those services,” Rout said. “My opinion is that we spend way too much time as a community worrying about those 50 people, whereas if we didn’t have those services, those 50 people might go away but the other 250 people would be in dire need of services.” Rout said that helping that 23-year-old felt like helping his little sister. The stereotypical image that comes to mind when homelessness is brought up is not every homeless person’s appearance. “Almost everyone I know has reminded me of somebody,” Rout said. “It’s eye-opening just to see the range of people in homelessness. It really is everyone, people from every walk of life.”

“It’s eye-opening just to see the range of people in homelessness. It really is everyone, people from every walk of life.” -David Rout hard enough or are faking it, to all of the other problems the homeless deal with intensifies the burden. “One [struggle] is just the stigma of being homeless,” Rout explained. “And that affects everything. If someone tries to get a job and they walk into that job interview with a big camping backpack on, it’s obvious they’re experiencing homelessness. Even with the best

Even though the days are cold and dark and schoolwork is abundant, December is no time to be miserable; it’s a time to focus on the pretty lights, the warm cocoa, and the winter miracles! Except in In-Depth. This month’s stories aren’t here for the winter fuzzies; they’re here to deliver a reality check. In Fort Collins, homelessness is as prevalent as ever. When thinking of those not as fortunate during the holidays, it is important to eliminate bias against them and consider their reality, as described on page 10. Page 11 covers the surge of ISIS in the news and Islamophobia in America. False fears create very real consequences. Local Muslims provide valuable insight on the prejudice they regularly face. More in line with the holidays, the centerfold is all about spending money, earning money, and losing money. Whether it’s figuring out how to pay for a Christmas gift or panicking over how to pay for college, money has never felt more real for teenagers. If those three stories show anything, it’s that reality could always use some improving. In a slightly ironic pick, page 14 explains something better than reality: augmented reality. The prospect of putting on a pair of glasses or holding up a smartphone to see all the information of a scene seems bizarrely futuristic, and yet companies are racing to release their realityaltering devices by early 2016. Of course, the logo isn’t a checkmark just because we couldn’t think of anything else; page 14 also has a story on the new chess club (“Checkmate” being the relevant connection there.) Although this issue’s In-Depth doesn’t exactly fit the upbeat, holiday tone, it’s sure to provide this season’s reality check.

Should homeless people be blamed for their situation? Why or why not?

Avery Eastburn Freshman

“It depends on their choices.”

Dillon Geer

Dusty Harner

Alyssa Hein

“They shouldn’t be blamed because it’s not exactly their fault if they lost their job or something.”

“No, because it’s stupid and immature for people to think that.”

“It depends. For some it’s because of drugs, but for others it’s just a financial situation.”

Sophomore

Junior

Senior

In-Depth

Dec. 17, 2015

Information gathered by Samantha Ye; Source: FBI, Gallup, Pew Research Center

expressed negative opinion about ISIS.

Iraqi citizens. Nearly 75% of countries with significant Muslim populations

NO religion

eight months of 2014, ISIS was responsible for the deaths of 9,347

say they have experienced racial or religious discrimination. Within the first

Terrorism has words such as “fanatical,” “radical,” and “terror.” 48% of American Muslims

By1 th3 Numb3r5: In a one-word poll, 30% of Americans described Islam in negative

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Misunderstanding of Islamic faith leads to irrational fear, prejudice religion itself. Islam is thought by some to be a sexist religion because women and girls often cover their hair and dress in modest, loosefitting clothing. However, according to the students, the religion itself strives to encourage equal treatment of all people and respect for a woman’s personality. “Head scarfs aren’t degrading. The head scarf is a way to not be seen for superficial things but

peaceful life as Muhammad did. Terrorism and murder Staff Writer is forbidden in the Islamic religion in the Quran, On Monday, Dec. 7, which states, “do not kill Donald Trump called a soul that God has made for a barring of Muslims sacrosanct, save lawfully.” from the United States. Muslim students like Trump’s comment is an Kalaaji and Eldeiry don’t example of the anti-Muslim think terrorist organizations sentiment prompted by exemplify them as members recent terrorist attacks, of the Islamic faith. such as the Paris attacks “People observe these by Islamic radicals. really distorted events and In reality, less than one things that happen, and percent of all Muslims are they try to say that all these radical, and those who Muslims are just the same, aren’t radical resent the and that’s not true,” image of Islam created Eldeiry said. “That by those who are. “That terrorist group terrorist group Muslim students halfway across the at FCHS argue that halfway across the world world does not Islamophobia is does not represent me.” represent me.” irrational and unfair and that Muslims are —Sophomore Alaa Eldeiry no worse than any other religious adherents. “Anyone could be a terrorist,” senior Rand Kalaaji said. “Christians do bad things. It [prejudice] is only reserved for Muslims. for your mind,” Kalaaji The hypocriticalness is said. “If you ask, women really annoying to me.” put it on for themselves Muslims are often to be closer with God.” Another commonly held subjected to Islamophobia by people of many races opinion of Islam is that it is and ethnicities because difficult to adhere to and asks of a misunderstanding strict devotion of its followers. “The word Islam itself in of the religion. Sophomore Alaa Arabic means submission. In Eldeiry has experienced context it means submission Islamophobia in Fort Collins. to God. All it really wants, I “There’s just a lot of hatred, guess, is just for its followers people who don’t want you to to be devoted to God,” be here,” Eldeiry said. “This Eldeiry explained. “Follow kind of happens a lot - where the Five Pillars of Islam and you’ll be driving down the follow the way of life that street and a guy rolls down his the prophet (Muhammad) window and says, ‘Go back did. We try to see what he to your country.’ I just look did in his life and incorporate at him like, dude, I was born that in to our lives.” Terrorists don’t follow here. This is my country.” Islamophobia can also the way of life expected be used to describe a of Muslims, because they misunderstanding of the are violent and don’t live a

Adelaide Tomsic

PHOTO BY ADELAIDE TOMSIC

12 Dec. 17, 2015

In-Depth

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Teens

Can you have happiness without money and why?

Spending Habits For many teens, the inflow and outflow of money is a concern. According to Statisticbrain.com, teenagers spend the majority of their money on clothing, food, and personal care items such as makeup, soap, or toothpaste. As an age group, teenagers spend $258.7 billion annually, but only 38 percent are saving for the future. t n As a teen, it can be e hard to see the benefits of saving money, making it much easier to spend money on the object physically in front of them rather than storing it in a bank somewhere. “I like to spend my money on food and entertainment, like movies and Netflix,” junior William Hunter said. As a general rule, those whose monthly income exceeds $1000 should be saving 20 to 30 percent of it. Although many teens seem to see the importance of saving money for their future, they also enjoy spending money on objects that provide more instant gratification.

“Yeah you can, but when you don’t have it, you can be very upset.”

How

“Yes, by spending time with family.”

Halie Smith

Sophomore

Freshman

M oney

Teenage

Anthony Priest

ir he

While spending money on personal enjoyment can be nice short-term, saving money has greater long-term effects. “Long-term gains, you’ll probably have more money with interest,” Hunter

Emma Hyberger Junior

“Yes, because I think that love is happiness.”

Miguel Ramirez Senior

“You can because, I guess, money is not happiness.”

said. “If the goal with money is just to simply have more of it, then the best outcome for having more is saving.”

In-Depth

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Dec. 17, 2015

Graph information gathered by Samantha Ye. Sources: Business Insider, U.S Bureau of Labor Statistics

Money Stories by Dalena Groen and Walker Discoe

Holding Jobs S

e ctors

Te en s

W o rke d in

The main financial burden seniors plan for their futures by many seniors deal with is paying making sure students are spending for college. Tuition and fees can be their time in an effective way. reduced with loans and grants, but “I’ve been waiting for the senior many look to scholarships to ease packet to come out, and I believe that their financial load. Many students comes out on Dec. 15,” Becerra said. start searching and applying “It’s supposed to have some really for scholarships throughout great info on what to do and how their high school careers in to write letters to get scholarships order to be able to go to college. and stuff. I think I’ll start doing But this financial aid has become research and applying then.” a competitive market. According to The a rs hip Washington Post, l es only one in ten ho tr c undergraduate s t u d e n t s win private scholarships, averaging about $2,800 a year. “ W e l l obviously my parents can’t pay for everything, and a job can only go so far, so I’d say scholarships are going to be pretty important,” senior Joanna Becerra said. Finding scholarships can be stressful for some seniors. The school has attempted to alleviate some of this stress by providing a senior packet which helps

2 0 1

s in

places where he had connections. “I had a friendship with one of the hiring managers,” Harrison said. “They were able to recommend me. They were looking for people who were energetic and young.” The freedoms many children look forward to throughout their youth are linked to responsibilities that come with adulthood, but the added advantage of having money and being independent can make it all worth it.

201

Many children dream of the day they will be older. But as they progress through the stages of life, they begin to realize that with age comes responsibility that limits their past freedom. One of the responsibilities many teenagers take on is a job. Although many students opt for a part-time job in order to balance school and other responsibilities, others need a full time job. This act of balancing school and work can prove difficult, but some students, such as freshman Channing Harrison, have gained a new awareness and gratitude for things. “I keep my money and save it for stuff that’s important or stuff that I need, like food or gas money,” Harrison said. “I’m wary of my surroundings. I take care of stuff more, because I realize the importance of money.” Although making and managing money is an important skill, many teenagers have difficulty finding suitable positions for their age and skill level, or struggle to find businesses that take their applications seriously. Harrison was able to avoid this difficulty because he looked for jobs in

Scholarships

In-Depth

Dec. 17, 2015

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Augmented

Reality

What do you see in the future of virtual and augmented reality?

Mary Underwood Sophomore

“An improvement in the way we see the world.” GRAPHIC BY PARKER ANDRIST

Immersive technology creates opportunities Kevin Sullivan Photographer In the 1982 movie Tron, characters live in a world inside a computer. While this virtual world is fictitious, scientists have been striving to make it possible for people to escape to a computer-created reality. Early attempts were not incredibly successful, yet with modern technology virtual and augmented realities could exist beyond science fiction. After a long development period, virtual reality devices are starting to become available to consumers. Augmented reality devices, due to their more complex nature, are further from being commercially released, yet companies such as Microsoft plan to release products to public developers over the next few years. “Personally I think it will expand

the gaming industry significantly. A lot of videogames depend on immersion and currently it’s pretty bad,” junior Casey Gessaman said. Of the many ways people can immerse themselves in virtual reality, the most common devices are headsets which fit over the user’s eyes like skiing goggles and create two images on a small monitor in front of each eye, causing the brain to see a 3D image. These headsets also generally have motion tracking, so as wearers move their heads in the real world, what they see in the virtual world moves with them. Currently multiple companies such as Sony, Oculus, and Google are working on making headsets available to consumers. Another form of virtual reality comes from motion tracked peripherals. The original Nintendo Wii was based on the idea of motion tracking an object the user holds.

C H E C Kmate

As technology has advanced, the accuracy and intricacy of motion tracking devices has improved. Augmented reality is generally considered more difficult technology to develop, as motion sickness caused by frames changing in video slower than the eyes see in the real world is a difficult issue to solve. Devices such as the Microsoft HoloLens project an image onto glass lenses that appear to interact with other real world objects. The goal of augmented reality devices is for the wearer to experience both the real world and the virtual world simultaneously. “HoloLens will be a revolutionary tool for businesses, transforming how companies, designers, and creators work with three-dimensional data to bring products and information to life,” a Microsoft spokesperson said. Virtual and Augmented realities are technologies only recently

Daniel Crane Junior

“New ways to view and spread art.” being released to consumers. Despite this, many companies are planning to release virtual reality headsets at the beginning of 2016. Working as a design intern in interactive experiences at Dimensional Innovations, 2011 graduate Monica Roesner is at the forefront of this growing technology. “My job is tending towards being able to immerse somebody in something they wouldn’t normally be able to do,” she said.

New chess club combines competition with complexity Andrew Jessen-Tyler

Columnist

The room is silent. You hear the gears in your opponent’s head churn. He moves his hand to a piece, hesitates, then brings it back. He does this a few times until eventually he goes for it. He moves his piece into the perfect position. “Checkmate,” he says. This is how an intense chess game usually ends. Based on logic and problem solving, the goal of chess is to

trap the opposite person’s King so it can’t move anywhere. This seems like a simple goal, but as many players know, it can be tough to accomplish. Due to how unpredictable it is, chess draws in many people from around the world. One of these players, junior Elizabeth Thilmany, decided to organize a club to bring together the interested players here at FCHS. Thilmany brought the idea of a chess club after transferring from Fossil Ridge

PHOTO BY KEVIN SULLLIVAN

High School. FCHS didn’t have an active chess club, so she decided to start one here. After the club’s first meeting on Thursday Nov. 20, the number of members had doubled by the next meeting. The club continues to meet every first and third Thursday of the month in L204 during common lunch. According to Thilmany, the club is considering meeting every Thursday next semester and would enjoy going to tournaments. Her main motive for starting it was to teach others and have fun. “I think anyone who is willing to learn chess will enjoy it,” she said. “It’s for beginners and all levels.” In the club, students can either learn to play chess or challenge their skills with another player. Members have all different skill levels so people who have never picked up a chess board

are able to learn from skilled players who have played chess competitively for years. “Anyone can learn to play chess,” senior John Rittner said. “That’s the best part about it.” Many students say they enjoy chess due to how unpredictable it is and the amount of thought that goes into a game. Much like a puzzle, chess takes some thinking. “I like the complexity,” junior Daniel Scher said. “I like how just within a few moves from the very start of a game, it’s amazing how many possibilities there are. It’s pretty much impossible to know how a game will turn out.” The club is always looking for new members to spend some time during lunch competing against their peers in a mentally driven game of wits. Thilmany said, “I just want people to have fun.”

Sports

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What Ski Resort Should You Go To? < 150 miles

< 12,00 0 feet

Summit Elevation

> 150 miles

Distance from FCHS

One-Day Pass Price

>$90 Winter Park, Arapahoe Basin, Loveland Ski Area

Eldora Mountain

< 12,000 feet

Summit Elevation

< 20

Keystone Resort, Breckenridge Ski Resort

>$90

One-Day Pass Price

Aspen Snowmass, Telluride Ski Resort

Copper Mountain

< 20

% 20

Copper Mountain

Steamboat Ski Resort, Beaver Creek Resort

Percent Green Slopes

Wolf Creek Ski Area, Monarch Ski Area

Purgatory Resort

Flowchart by Kevin Sullivan

Upcoming Events Girl’s Swim & Dive

Boy’s Basketball

•Thursday, Jan. 7 Rocky Meet @ Epic •Thursday, Jan. 14 City Meet @ Epic •Tuesday, Jan. 19 Monarch Meet @ Epic •Tuesday, Jan. 26 Broomfield Meet @ Epic

•Saturday, Jan. 2 Cheyenne East - 6:30 p.m. •Tuesday, Jan. 5 - Rock Canyon - 6:30 p.m. •Friday, Jan. 15 - Legacy 6:30 p.m. •Tuesday, Jan. 19 Monarch - 6:30 p.m. •Friday, Jan. 22 - @ Mountain Range - 7:00 p.m.

Wrestling •Wednesday, Jan. 6 @ Loveland - 7:00 p.m. •Thursday, Jan. 14 @ Rocky Mountain 7:00 p.m. •Thursday, Jan. 21 @ Poudre - 7:00 p.m. •Thursday, Jan. 28 - Fossil Ridge - 7:00 p.m.

Mindless

Sports Recent play launches Curry to all-time status

feet 000 >12,

Percent Green Slopes

Minutiae

> 12,000 feet

<$90

Dec. 17, 2015

Girl’s Basketball •Tuesday, Jan. 12 Horizon - 6:30 p.m. •Friday, Jan. 15 - @ Legacy - 6:30 p.m. •Tuesday, Jan. 19 - @ Monarch - 6:30 p.m. •Friday, Jan. 22 - Mountain Range 6:30 p.m. •Tuesday, Jan. 26 Loveland - 6:30 p.m. GRAPHICS BY PARKER ANDRIST

Joseph Mason Sports Editor

Steph Curry came from nowhere while simultaneously coming from the dead center of the game of basketball. Born in an NBA household, he has always known the game of basketball. But the odds of being a hot-shot at Davidson and becoming an NBA superstar are basically equivalent to living in the Middle Ages and owning your own castle. But Steph did it because Steph can do anything. He set the NBA on fire last season, and this year he’s pouring jet fuel on it. He’s leading the league in over 10 major offensive categories this season and is currently on one of the greatest runs the NBA has ever witnessed. And it all starts with his shot. He has the prettiest shooting stroke in the league. But it’s not really a stroke. It’s just a flick of the wrist—the most lethal wrist-flick the league has ever seen. No shot has ever been more traumatizing for more people. His pull-up three-pointer, with three tattooed arms in his face, has sparked more game-clinching heat-checks than can be counted. When he catches fire, it’s over. This was the case during his third quarter against the Charlotte Hornets, on December 2, when he scored 28 points. That was the same game at which his father, Dell Curry, was honored at halftime. But Steph stole the show. By the end of the night, he was the one deserving all the praise. And his ridiculous heat-checks create the perfect chaos he thrives in. He generates panic in his opponents and, in doing so, makes the game more messy and disordered than a Harlem Globetrotters exhibition. The more unconstructed the game gets, the better he performs. He seems almost too comfortable while the pandemonium is occurring, as this is second-nature for him. But it makes sense when you think about it, because this is Steph Curry—he lives on a plane where the practical and the impossible coincide. The Curry phenomenon was never supposed to happen. He was quasiwritten off as an injury-riddled player who could never quite reach his potential. But he did. And now he is on the greatest run in the history of basketball. Anyone who disputes that claim can look at Golden State’s record and see that they went an impeccable 20-0 to start the year. That won’t happen again. Just as another Steph Curry won’t happen again. We should all cherish the time we get to witness this greatness. This is it. Nobody is ever going to do what he is currently doing. Nobody is ever going to shoot like this. This is the only time this is going to happen. He is finally ready to turn in his resume to the basketball gods and be mentioned in the same conversation as other all-time greats.

Sports

Dec. 17, 2015

Shred

ing

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Winter Park offers Te ar variety of enjoyable i ng Terr snowboarding packages Spencer Thompson

Staff Writer For many, nothing compares to the thrill of gliding down the alpine slopes of Colorado mountaintops. Nothing compares to floating through the air after hitting a 50’-footer. Nothing compares to snowboarding. Winter Park Snowboard Team gives boarders the tools to become better all-around riders in all aspects of the sport. Whether shredding some fresh pow in the trees or hitting jibs at the park, the possibilities are endless. “The team is all about competing and having fun,” sophomore Jack Hendrix said. “And learning some new things with your friends.” Members of the team focus on gaining and solidifying skills and riding fundamentals to help in competition. Spending time on the mountain with the instructors allows boarders to learn by going through the motions and gaining muscle memory. In the frostbitten air of the Winter Park terrain good teammates make for an enjoyable season out on the slopes. The Snowboard Team is a state-wide accepting team that brings together all types of riders. Whether a member rides park, which is the art of hitting rails and jumps, street, which is freestyle on buildings and other public places, or in the half pipe, all varied styles combine from all over the state. “The team is so friendly, and so much fun,” sophomore Gunter Hammock said. “It is a very good environment, and there

are great teammates that push you.” The Winter Park Snowboard Team provides many opportunities for participation. All Mountain, Short Season, and Park and Pipe are the three levels participants may choose from. All Mountain is a full season of boarding that covers the complete alpine setting of Winter Park and Mary Jane ski areas. All Mountain members have the option to ride one, two, or three times a week on Fridays, Saturdays, or Sundays. For less competitive boarders, Short Season memberships offer half of the ski season on Fridays, Saturdays, or Sundays. All Mountain program teaches kids the ability to shred all blue-black terrain, which is intermediate to advanced runs, with ease. Along with boarding on blue, and black runs, the team focuses on the ability to ride switch, or unnatural, meaning opposite foot forward. These skills make for epic board control on all run difficulties. “We hit the park for most of the day,” Hendrix said. “And the coaches are pro, so that helps when learning new tricks and stuff.” Winter Park also hosts a Park and Pipe team which is completely directed at riding the park and the super pipe, a giant half pipe made of snow that boarders do vertical tricks on. The terrain park is an area on the mountain that has rails, boxes, jumps, and other obstacles that can be maneuvered. The team hits the park learning new tricks, and becoming more confident with riding on unnatural obstacles. Being on the park prepares members for competition.

photo courtesy of gunter hammock

DRESSING FOR THE ATMOSPHERE

ain

GOGGLES You’ll need these to keep the snow out of your eyes

JACKET In order to be properly heated and protected form the snow, wear a coat or jacket.

SNOWBOARDING PANTS They are like a jacket, but for your legs. Snowboarding in Winter Park, sophomore Gunter Hammock flips through the air. PHOTO COURTESY OF GUNTER HAMMOCK

BOOTS You will need these to be locked into your board.

Sports

Spilled Ink

Cheerleaders bond over taxing practice Joseph Mason Sports Editor They are taught to be leaders of the school. They are taught to be role models. They are taught to be superfans. They are taught to be cheerleaders. But they aren’t just the happy group of students that go to the school events. More goes into being this role model-superfan than is common knowledge. Every school-week for four hours after school, the team trains to prepare their stunt and dance routines. “We practice every day, and we work really hard,” sophomore Kelsie Greybar said. “I don’t think people understand how much we work.” During their practices, several hazardous injuries have occurred, such as sophomore Karina Pedroza’s dislocated rib or the multiple head injuries suffered by other cheerleaders. “We’ve had at least three concussions, and I’ve chipped a couple teeth,” junior Jasmyn Brecheisen said. “And I know people have sprained their wrists and stuff.” The major body-wreckers, for cheerleaders, are pyramids and when they hold each other up.

“They [injuries] are mainly caused from stunts,” Brecheisen said. “Like, from trying to catch the people too, even if you’re not the one falling.” The squad has recently been stunting in preparation for their state-wide competition in Denver. “This is a big part of the year, because we all get to bond together,” Greybar said. Bonding with teammates is one of the most important aspects of being a cheerleader, and a factor that sets it apart from other sports. “I do other sports and with cheerleading we’re really all kind of a family,” junior Laura Dihle said. “We’re all like sisters. We spend a lot of time together. We get really close. So of course we fight—but not like big fights—because we’re sisters. It’s really cool. We are a family.” But some people don’t regard cheerleading as a sport, Brecheisen says, because they don’t realize the work happening behind the scenes and at the statewide competitions. “And cheerleaders don’t get enough credit, because it doesn’t look like it’s that hard,” Brecheisen continued. “And I feel like we are stereotyped incorrectly. We work a lot harder than people think.”

Dec. 17, 2015

eer cam

ara

der

Junior Melissa Evans, right, senior Katie Downs, middle, and senior Ana Gonzales, left, take a selfie during their practice for state. PHOTO COURTESY OF KATIE DOWNS

.... And We’re Marching!

The Funky Chicken Tuck your hands under your armpits and shake your elbows.

The Alligator Extend your arms and move them up and down in the motion of an alligator’s mouth.

Show your Collins pride!

PHOTOS BY VICTORIA STANSBERRY

Sports

Dec. 17, 2015

Damien Murillo Junior

When did you start playing basketball? So, I started playing basketball in fifth grade. I didn’t like football. I didn’t like running at the time. And then basketball was the only sport that I actually liked.

PHOTO COURTESY OF DAMIEN MURILLO

Interview by Joseph Mason

Spilled Ink

Basketball

Who do you look up to as a basketball player? Isaiah Thomas from the Celtics, because he shows that you just have to put in hard work and you can get anywhere you want in basketball. What has been your greatest accomplishment? Physically improving my body to jump higher and run faster and, like, move faster in general. In ninth grade I wasn’t too good and then in tenth grade I kind of shot up a lot. So in tenth grade I kind of jumped to now and have gotten better. What has been your greatest memory? Only losing six of my first 40 games as a high school player.

As of Dec. 10, Murillo is leading the team in rebounds per game (7.7) and steals (5). He is also currently third on the team in points per game (11.7).

ATHLETE

MONTH

THE Forzley is the FCHS record holder in the 200yd individual medley (56.55) and the 100-yd butterfly (56.18). She recently committed to swim at Texas Christian University.

When did you start swimming? I started swimming on my club team, Fort Collins Area Swim Team, in fourth grade, I was nine, so I’ve been swimming for eight years. I got started because my friend Claire and I did summer club swimming together and she and her sister decided to join FAST, so I did too. What has been your greatest accomplishment? My greatest accomplishment is going to nationals, for the past three years, and swimming against the best swimmers in the nation. What is your favorite memory? My favorite memory is getting my first national cut. It was in the 200 backstroke. I barely remember the race but I swam really fast and had a lot of fun.

How is swimming special to you? Swimming is special to me because it gives me confidence and has given me some of the best friendships I’ve ever had. My teammates are with me through thick and thin.

Interview by Joseph Mason

Swimming

Elise Forzley Senior

PHOTO COURTESY OF ELISE FORZLEY

Spilled Ink

Perspectives

Dec. 17, 2015

Staff Ed PSD should address lack of seating at FCHS At 11:05 a.m., two days a week, the silence of the hallways is shattered by the sound of students breaking off from their schedules for lunch. The cafeteria and the small tables standing next to the McNeal auditorium crowd with individuals attempting to grab tables while they can. By 11:25, several lucky students have claimed the sparse arrangements, and countless others are uncomfortable and cramped with their friends on the floors of the commons. The question of whether the school should provide more seating has floated around for quite a while, and students tend to have very adamant opinions on the subject. A common argument made in favor of more seating is that students often sit in the same areas where they and their 1,607 peers commute. Even after the first few periods, the hallways and commons become filthy, which can affect students’ health as they eat and rest on the floor, as a result of no accommodations. The lack of cleanliness is not the only effect on students’ wellbeing, as the seating areas currently available are not only used for eating, but also for studying and homework sessions. Students find an absence of available space, which can discourage studying for homework and exams, further risking grades. More tables and chairs would provide ample study space for students, especially around the finals periods, considering the limited space available for seclusion in the LTC. The natural solution for all of these problems is to expand existing seating throughout common areas. This resolution is not without hitches, however. Of course the need to finance the change is the main opposition to more seating, as construction and purchasing costs would tax the district’s already deficient budget; however, some seating is undoubtedly in storage currently, and more adequate seating would provide temporary relief to the students and staff. Though some school resources might need refitting for the task, additional seating in the common areas of the school is a necessity that cannot be overlooked by administration for another year. The school and the district must provide for the student body, no matter the problem.

GRAPHIC BY ALEXIA CLARK

Final exemptions for high grades would offer reward for hard work

Thany Dykson Staff Writer

A common argument on the subject of finals is that an A in a class shows mastery of the material for that subject; therefore, final exams are unnecessary and an added stress. Whether or not this is a fact, the students of Poudre High School reap the benefits of the argument. For many years, PHS students have been able to opt out of finals through the finals exemption program. Currently, Impalas can choose to forego first-semester finals for yearlong classes if they have above a 90 percent. Mariah Worman, a senior at PHS, believes that this policy is a win-win for everyone involved. “I think that this policy really encourages students to strive for As,” she said. “It is a really positive incentive. You end the semester with good grades, you get several additional days of break, and teachers have to grade less.” Assistant Principal Kelby Benedict confirmed that this policy, thought by many

FCHS students to be a rumor, is in fact real and implemented within the school. However, it has evolved over the years. Roughly 6 years ago the system was different. It was based on a perfect attendance record and a grade above an 80 percent in classes. According to Benedict, this caused confusion related to attendance records, resulting in sick students dragging in to school to maintain their perfect attendance, and in turn infecting their peers. Some might think that this kind of policy would encourage students to get a mere 90 percent so they can escape from a stressful finals week, but according to Worman students often still choose to voluntarily take their exams. “Most teachers will only enter the grade if it benefits your overall class grade,” Worman explained. “In some cases, students will opt to take finals in order to have more practice for IB/AP exams in May.” This unique program is coveted by many FCHS students, and it should be implemented in our school. What is bad about something that can alleviate stress and extend vacation? This program rewards students for their hard work all semester instead of punishing them for doing well with a hard test and hours spent studying.

Okay, OK

COMIC BY WALKER DISCOE

Dec. 17, 2015

Perspectives

Spilled Ink

Definition of special education needs clarification

Nick Hawley Staff Writer

I am what is considered a “special needs” student. I have an Individual Education Program (IEP), because of my ADHD. However, I don’t see myself as special needs. I have always seen myself as a regular student, despite my condition. And I’m OK with that. But what defines someone as special needs? It’s almost as if the school board chooses students at random to be special needs. Because of this, the whole special needs program seems to be in a gray area, with practically every person having a different

idea of what a “special needs” student really is. According to the FCHS homepage, an IEP is a written program for all students who are identified as “educationally disabled.” The IEP is used to help special needs students do better in the classes they’re in, as well as have an overall better experience in school. Students with IEPs are also assigned case managers, who help students through their school year and run students’ annual IEP meetings. They’re like an extra counselor for the students, but they focus more on the students’ grades and their future. “The plan should be written with the student’s interests, strengths, and transition needs in mind,” Integrated services teacher Cheryl Allan said. “Students can facilitate the IEP meeting and help generate their own goals for learning.” Having an IEP isn’t a bad thing at all. But it doesn’t really define what an “educationally disabled” student is. The term is so loose that it could possibly mean anything that makes a student not learn as well as other students. This

means that a student’s “disability” could come down to something as simple as having a problem at home or a different learning style than the teacher’s teaching style. When taking this into consideration, pretty much anybody can qualify for an IEP, but not everyone is in the program. The lack of a clear definition means is that no two teachers or administrators have the same view of what a special needs student is, or what can qualify a student as special needs. For example, one teacher said that a special needs student is a student who learns in nontraditional ways, while another said that a special needs student is anyone who just needs a little extra help with their learning plan. But there is one thing that every IEP student has in common. A person who has an IEP or is special needs is just as much a Lambkin as anyone else. For all you know, the person sitting next to you may have an IEP. We look just like anyone else, and we act like anyone else, and talk like anyone else.

Meet the Helpers

Devon Curran

Integrated Services Teacher

Years of Service: 3 Interesting fact: Born in Alaska

Troy Tolar

Ann Stillwell-Click

Integrated Services Teacher

Years of service: 24 Interesting fact: Once had a job smelling fish

Years of Service: 7 Interesting fact: Coached baseball at CSU

Racial disparity evident in criminal justice system

Evan Bode

Editor-in-Chief Chuck, an impoverished AfricanAmerican teen living in a struggling Pennsylvania neighborhood, was a high school senior when another student called his mom a “crack whore.” Insulted by the attack on his mother’s battle with addiction, he pushed the student’s face into the snow. School officers charged Chuck with aggravated assault. As he sat in county jail, unable to afford the bail, trial dates dragged on for months, causing him to miss the remainder of his senior year. By the time the judge dismissed most of the charges, Chuck had earned hundreds of dollars of court fees. Trying to return to school, he was informed he was too old to be re-enrolled. When he could not pay the court fees in time, the judge issued a warrant for his arrest. Chuck became a high school dropout living on the run. Meanwhile, Alice Goffman, a white college student from a privileged background who was observing the lives of young African-Americans in this neighborhoodforherseniorthesis,watched in shock and disbelief as Chuck’s future deteriorated following this minor incident. “If Chuck had gone to my high

school, that schoolyard fight would haveendedthere,asaschoolyardfight,” Goffman said. “It never would have become an aggravated assault case.” This story was just one of countless unsettling scenarios she witnessed while immersing herself in the distressed neighborhood, where a troubling system allows disadvantaged youth little hope for success. In her impassioned 2015 TED Talk, titled, “How we’re priming some kids for college – and others for prison,” Goffman illuminates the frightening reality of systemic prejudice in America’s criminal justice system. In the past 40 years, the U.S. incarceration rate skyrocketed by 700 percent, currently costing $80 billion per year. The data get more discouraging when examining the factor of racial disparity. The U.S. Census Bureau reports that among those incarcerated, African-American and Hispanic people constitute 59 percent of all prisoners, despite only constituting 29 percent of the U.S. population. Furthermore, the NAACP states that although 5 times as many white people use drugs, African-Americans are sent to prison for drug offenses at 10 times the rate of whites. Adding to this injustice is an economic element. “It’s poor kids that we’re sending to prison, too many drawn from AfricanAmerican and Latino communities, so that prison now stands firmly

TALKS FOR

TEENS

between the young people trying to make it and the fulfillment of the American Dream,” Goffman said. Presently, kids from the most disadvantaged regions of America with the fewest resources and the worst schools are subjected to abnormally high levels of scrutiny, becoming weighed down by criminal charges that restrict them from succeeding in the work force, leading to more poverty and crime. This vicious cycle points to a problematic mentality that needs to change. “We tend to think about justice in a pretty narrow way,” Goffman said. “There are innocent and guilty people, there are victims and there are perpetrators. Maybe we could think a little bit more broadly than that.” Goffman emotionally advocates for a solution. “Can we imagine something better?” she asked. “Can we imagine a criminal justice system that prioritizes recovery, prevention, civic inclusion, rather than punishment?” As teens, we may feel powerless to influence this national problem.

Name of Talk: “How we’re priming some kids for college – and others for prison” Presenter: Alice Goffman However, by spreading awareness regarding the need for reform and recognizing its direct impact on our community, change is possible. “Young people have always been leaders in the fight for equal rights, the fight for more people to be granted dignity and a fighting chance at freedom,” Goffman said. “The mission for the generation of young people coming of age in this, a sea-change moment, potentially, is to end mass incarceration and build a new criminal justice system, emphasis on the word justice.”

Spilled Ink

Perspectives

Dec. 17, 2015

You are not alone. Support from others aids in battle with depression Maya Bode

Managing Editor

Ariana Cordova was an outgoing elevenyear-old who had a pet hamster and loved animals. She liked to have fun and do the “whip and nae nae.” She was the type of kid to get in a cake fight with friends, then hop into the shower on a dare with all her clothes on. She was also frequently bullied at school, and the internal battle she was fighting became overwhelming. On Nov. 16, 2015, Cordova passed away at Children’s Hospital in Aurora as a result of suicide. According to save.org, suicide is the tenth leading cause of death in the U.S. For those between ages 15 and 24, it is the second leading cause. On average, 800,000 people die by suicide every year, meaning every 40 seconds, one death by suicide occurs, and every 41 seconds, friends and families are left to make sense of it. Yet, society is still failing to give the problem the awareness and prevention it needs. “When someone needs help, people should actually listen, not just send them away,” Ariana’s sister, Isabella Cordova, said. Unfortunately, people don’t always get the support they need, in part because a stigma seems to exist around suicide, mental illnesses, and therapy in our culture. While it’s not a common topic of discussion, it is a common problem. According to beyondblue. org, an average of 1 in 5 women and 1 in 8 men will experience depression at some point. “Chances are if you’re in a classroom and you look to the left and the right, one of those students is also going through the same thing, and the hardest thing to do is open up, but that has to be step number one,” counselor Brett Fedor said. “I’ll always say me opening up to my school counselor was the best thing I ever did.” Getting help can be critical to many for maintaining a healthy life and mind.

However, it can be extremely difficult to reach out when you feel constantly helpless, irritable, sad, or all of the above. “You feel just at some point numb from everything, and you feel alone, like there’s no one there,” junior Laisha Martinez, who has fought depression for several years, said. “It’s just you, but not in a good way, in a way where you feel scared…you’re like trapped in this room where there’s no way out, there’s no door, like a tunnel without a light at the end.” Although it may not feel like it, it is possible for things to get better. Resources such as school counselors, peer counselors, and hotlines exist for students, but the idea of talking about what they’re going through can seem unappealing and scary. “Some people who go to counseling feel like people will judge them,” senior Cole Joseph, peer counselor, said. “Also, people want to think they’re OK. They want to think that they don’t need help.” However, problems often can’t be fixed by just one person, and even when you feel helpless or vulnerable, you aren’t alone. Many have gone through or are going through similar things, and people generally want to do everything they can to improve things for you. “I never want a student to feel alone, or like they don’t have any help or that nobody cares about them, because every single adult in this building cares about every single student in this building and wants to help them or support them,” counselor Anna Morris said. If you have friends who seem dejected, invite them to talk with you, and remind them that you care about them and seeking help is not a sign of weakness. If you feel unhappy, take advantage of resources, and remember that what you’re going through is nothing to be ashamed of and you don’t have to do it alone. “Just try to talk to somebody, regardless of if it’s your friend, your sister, your teacher, anybody really,” Isabella Cordova said. “Just tell them how you’re feeling, and then they can do something to help you.” Everyone is facing challenges. Do your best to treat others with respect and kindness, and recognize the complexity of others’ lives and feelings. Encourage yourself and those around you to remember that things can and will get better, and you are not alone.

Spilled Ink wishes to honor the lives lost this year and in years past with the ribbons above. The purple ribbon stands for premature death, the purple and turquoise symbolizes suicides, and the yellow ribbon stands for remembrance of the lives we’ve lost.

Get Help: National Suicide Hotline 1 (800) 273-8255

Connections (Therapist Referrals) (970) 221-5551

Larimer Center for Mental Health (970) 494-4300

Youth Therapy Group (970) 221-1440

Peer Counselor Q & A Analise Martinez Senior

What advice would you give someone who is going through a hard time?

I think that the best thing I’ve learned is it’s just a bad day, not a bad life. Things go on and when you think something is really really bad, it usually gets better, so it’s always important to remember that.

I’d say put time and effort into yourself. Do things you enjoy. Make sure you’re OK. Reach out to people who you know will be able to help you.

Cole Joseph Senior

What would you want people to know about peers?

That we are always available to talk, throughout every period of the day. To not be intimidated to come in here, because we’re really accepting, and we love having you guys in here.

I want people to know that it’s OK to come see us, like it’s not bad to get help. Also, I want people to know that everything is actually confidential, and you can trust us.

Perspectives

Dec. 17, 2015

Spilled Ink

g n i t But

Head

Denying help to Syrian refugees proves immoral

Valid concerns surround accepting Syrian refugees

Walker Discoe

Spencer Thompson

Cartoonist

Over 12 million Syrians have been displaced, half of them children, residing mostly in the surrounding areas of Turkey, Lebanon, and Jordan. The prospect of letting Syrian refugees into a country is a difficult balancing act between moral responsibility and the safety of citizens in the areas to which refugees are fleeing, but it should be the responsibility of the government to accept and shelter the unfortunate, hungry, and poor. Having to leave your home to escape brutal warlords and extremist groups is an idea many of us can’t fathom, but is an unfortunate reality for those whose homes and cities are threatened by war and militant g r o u p s . This year, over 700,000 Syrians have risked their lives to make it to Europe and escape such conditions, and 1,852 refugees are currently living in the U.S. With the 2016 presidential campaigns in full swing, the issue of what to do about the refugee crisis in America and around the world is a heated topic of debate. Several republican candidates have made irrelevant arguments about why the U.S. should not open the doors to displaced people, such as Donald Trump, who made a comment about the happiness of the refugees. “A friend of mine lives in Minnesota and he calls me up and he says, ‘Can you imagine, its 130 degrees in Syria and now they want to send some of them up to Minnesota where it’s 30 degrees,” Trump said. “These people are going to be very, very unhappy,” he added. “It’s cold, and beautiful, but it’s cold.” Whether or not Syrian refugees would rather deal with ISIS, a corrupted government, and the Let refugees in constant threat of death, blackmail or kidnaping, or with having to put •Helping refugees is a coat on once in a while should be a decision the refugees get to make. our government’s The issue of Syrian refugees moral responsibility and what to do with them should not be an issue of any pre•Certain politicians connived ideology. It should be a matter of what we can do to help miss the point with malnourished, tired, and scared irrelevant claims people looking for a safe home and a better life, not what we should •Turning away poor do to make them someone else’s problem. Helping those in need people in need is should be a humanitarian decision, un-American not a religious or political one, and the idea of turning the sick, poor, and hungry away is un-American.

Talking Points:

Staff Writer Syrian Refugees fleeing their country have become a growing problem since the rise of the Islamic State in Syria. Housing Muslim refugees will create more conflict, and, this time, on American soil. Jihad (in translation, “holy war”) calls to all followers of Islam to fight non-believers, and with increased tension between the United States and the Middle East, taking in Syrian Refugees is the last thing we should do. America has always been known as a melting pot. The nation welcomes immigrants hoping to provide the opportunity for a better life. But with so many of the West’s problems originating in the Middle East— like 9/11, the San Bernardino shooting, and the Iraq W a r — caution has to be used when associating with this region. Refugees are those who plan to return to their country after the mass killing in their homeland stops, so refugees should stay as close to their homeland as possible. Syrian refugees need to be housed closer to their countries and not on American soil. In America many acts of terrorism have been planned by the Islamic State which comes out of Syria and Iraq. This needs to be avoided at all costs. “If it is completely safe for them to come in, then yes,” junior Isaac Perez said. “But the Paris attackers were under refugee status, so it’s hard to screen them. It’s not a good idea.” But the idea is being sold to many in our government. Many heard the President’s Thanksgiving Speech about Syrian Refugees, and how he compared them to the Pilgrims of 1620. Yes, it is unconstitutional to refuse citizenship based on one’s religion, and, no, I do not have Islamophobia, but I do recall the Keep refugees out Native Americans being driven back and killed by what started •Housing refugees will as a small group of pilgrims. Although many of those coming create more conflict on to seek refuge are peaceful, American soil America needs to take precautions, knowing the possibilities of forged •Syrian refugees documentation. In the case of Paris, one of the attackers had a fake Syrian should remain close to passport. And the San Bernardino their homeland shooting suspect Tashfeen Malik had been vetted almost a year •America needs to after she had been radicalized and communicating with the take precautions and Islamic State. The accuracy of these prioritize safety screenings is very low, and because of that there is no safe way to vet, and accept those seeking refuge.

Talking Points:

Spilled Ink

Perspectives

Dec. 17, 2015

Teachers must practice tolerance, support students

Amanda Evans

Perspectives Editor This semester flew by for me, and I found myself reflecting on teachers I’ve had in the last four years. The times of crying from laughing too hard are moments I will never forget. On the other hand, the moments of frustration are ones I wish weren’t memories. I am here to learn. It’s my responsibility to gain skills to use in the future once I leave high school. My purpose here is not to be treated like a 5-year-old who still needs to hold hands to cross the road. Being belittled by the adults in my life is not in my job description. When teachers talk down to students or refuse to listen because they assume what we are about to say is something they’ve heard before, it annoys me. Yet, something I can’t stand even more is when authority figures claim that they are in charge and what they say is “law.” Even for an authoritative figure, room for growth is still available. Not all lessons have been learned, and the lessons are

everywhere. You are never too old to learn, and you are never in a position where no one could teach you. Once this fact really sinks in, room for respect is made. Unfortunately the attitude of such teachers is sensed by students and makes us feel like our problems don’t matter. And some teachers dismiss our problems outright. In addition, I remember hearing a teacher complain about her students to another teacher right in front of me, as if I wasn’t there. Then the following year when I had her as a teacher, I couldn’t help feel that she was doing the same thing every day about me. It hurt, more than I would like to admit, and I’m done feeling like I’m on this plain of glass with nothing to lean on for support. In classes in which the teacher and I had a great professional relationship, I strived. I wanted to do better for the teachers because I knew they cared about me. I’ve noticed the teachers who get to a more personal level with their classes, stimulate participation and a more enjoyable classroom environment. It’s a confidence-booster when a

teacher acknowledges something amazing about each student. We all want to be noticed, and it means more when it’s from an adult we like and trust. In order to have this kind of relationship, teachers should be more open to letting students influence lessons. I would love if teachers asked me how I finally got a tricky subject to “click.” Teachers can help develop these relationships by leveling with us and working with us more instead of ignoring us or showing irritability when we ask questions. Teachers experience stress, but this is a job, a job that requires schooling and training and knowledge about the subject. And by taking the job, teachers make an agreement to go along with everything that the job entails, including patience and tolerance. Teachers should remember students’ lives are also busy and we are still learning how to juggle our schedule. The classroom should be a safe environment with room for self-expression and individuality, yet I’ve faced the opposite, but that’s the way it goes.

Amanda’s Tips Positive teaching styles create a better atmosphere. Teachers, don’t be afraid to go away from your lesson plan if a great opportunity comes. Students, talk to your teachers if you have a suggestion involving a more productive learning environment. High schoolers are just getting the hang of this balancing act; give us some time, we’ll get it. People in authority should be careful not to abuse their power.

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2015-2016 3400 Lambkin Way, Ft. Collins, CO 80525

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1. Realize that you have an opinion about something and want to address it in Spilled Ink. 2. Write about your topic in 300 words or fewer. 3. Sign it with your full name and grade. 4. Send it to fchsspilledink@gmail.com. 5. Read Spilled Ink monthly and watch for it to appear in any upcoming issues!

(970) 488-8199

Staff Writers

Evan Bode...Editor-in-Chief Maya Bode...Managing Editor Alex McWilliams...News Editor Dalena Groen...A&E Editor Samantha Ye...In-Depth Editor Joseph Mason...Sports Editor Amanda Evans...Perspectives Editor

Adelaide Tomsic Nick Hawley Matthew Keaten Kaitlyn Schmidt Spencer Thompson Thany Dykson Molly Lubbers

Photographers

Columnists

Kevin Sullivan

Andrew Jessen-Tyler

Graphic Artists

Cartoonist

Parker Andrist...Head Graphic Artist Alexia Clark

Walker Discoe

Adviser Anne Colwell

Editorial Policy

Spilled Ink is published nine times yearly by the newspaper staff of Fort Collins High School, 3400 Lambkin Way, Fort Collins, Colo. 80525, (970) 488-8199. Member of the Colorado High School Press Association, American Scholastic Press Association and the National Scholastic Press Association. Recipient of the Quill and Scroll, George H. Gallup Award in 1996 and 1997, and awarded First Place with Special Merit in 2001 by the National Scholastic Press Association. Columns are the opinions of writers only. Unsigned editorials reflect the majority opinion of the Spilled Ink staff. Nothing in Spilled Ink should be considered the opinion of Fort Collins High School or Poudre School District (PSD). School-sponsored publications written by students are encouraged to freely and creatively express their views subject to the limitations of PSD Board Policies and state law (PR--la0431, Colorado Revised Statutes 22-1-120) Spilled Ink reserves the right to edit letters to the editor and to deny publication to any letter. Letters may be published on Spilled Ink’s website. Letters must be signed, and are limited to 300 words.

24 Dec. 17, 2015 The Backside

Spilled Ink

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2014-2015