Issue 5 (Jan. 2017)

SpilledInk Follow us:

fchsspilledink.weebly.com

Founded in 1919

The FCHS Student Newspaper

Jan. 26, 2017

Wrestling manager proďŹ le pg. 16

LTC gets a makeover pg. 4 2016 in media pgs. 8&9 Explore pgs. 10-14 Social Media in politics pg. 20

Volume 99 Issue 5 3400 Lambkin Way Fort Collins, CO 80525 Phone: (970) 488-8199 Fax: (970) 488-8008

2

News

Jan. 26, 2017

Spilled Ink

FCHS CHATTER BOX New Sports Display

The new marquee is now hanging in view of the athletic parking lot and Horsetooth Road. The display will be used to communicate sporting events, activities, announcements, and celebrations of success to the community. The board was purchased with funds raised primarily by Student Council, and it is the senior gift presented to FCHS by the classes of 2016, 2017, and 2018.

Student Teachers

PSD hosts a variety of student teachers each year to educate and support future professional teachers on their paths to their own classrooms.

This semester, FCHS welcomes 16 hopefuls (two not pictured) in nine different academic departments, as well as one social work intern (not pictured).

Introducing Art Room TVs

INSIDE THE INK

LTC undergoes changes

Gentrification

Teachers before teaching

Cheerleader profile

Academic inflation

News 2-5

A&E 6-9

In-Depth 10-14

Sports 15-18

Perspectives 19-23

CORRECTIONS Spilled Ink has no errors to report.

News

Spilled Ink

Jan. 26, 2017

3

How To: Destress With Yoga 1. Legs up the wall:

History Bowl to host regionals Feb. 18 Roland Tomsic Staff Writer History Bowl regionals will be held on Feb. 18 at FCHS from 8 a.m. to 5:45 p.m. The four History Bowl teams have been practicing since club rush at the beginning of the year every Wednesday at common lunch in P115 to prepare for the competition.

“Last year at regionals my personal team took first, and then we advanced to nationals where we ranked nationally,” junior Brook Kron, History Club president, said.

To advance to nationals, a team must place first or second in the state competition. To be able to compete in the History Bee and the US Geography Olympiad two qualifying exams will be administered during lunch at the bowl. Each will cost $10.

Trivia night offers prizes for students CC Apodaca Guest Writer Trivia Night will be held from 6-7 p.m. in the LTC on Wednesday, Feb. 8. Students will have the opportunity to win prizes and eat free food while participating in trivia games.

“Students should definitely come to Trivia Night,” Boosters adviser Rebecca Garrett said. “It is a fun thing to do with your friends; there will be free food, and awesome prizes.”

A sign-up sheet will be available closer to the event where people can choose teams and register for reminders. Teams can participate without signing up, but there is a five-person limit.

This Boosters-sponsored event will be collecting donations as a part of Spread the Love Week with all proceeds going to Make-A-Wish Foundation.

Valentine’s activities benefit Make-a-Wish Adelaide Tomsic Perspectives Editor Student Council will host Spread the Love Week, Feb. 13 - 17, featuring events such as a talent show and dress-up days to raise money for a child participating in the Make-A-Wish foundation.

“It’s a tradition that we always do around Valentine’s Day to remind people what Valentine’s Day is all about—just showing our love to everybody,” Junior Jenna Campain said.

Money is raised by student participation in activities such as the talent show and “Make it Stop,” a game in which music is played during passing periods and the highest donor may replace the music with his or her own choice of music.

Lying on the floor, bring yourself as close to the wall as possible and raise your legs parallel with the wall with arms at the sides. If this is uncomfortable, crisscross your legs against the wall. Doing this brings blood back to the brain and having your head against a hard surface gives the body a sense of grounding and calms the nerves, according to Gaiam.

3.Corpse pose:

Lying flat on the floor, place your hands on your stomach and concentrate on your breathing. This will slow the breath and encourage natural belly breathing. After breathing slows, lower your arms to the floor, palms facing up and acknowledge every part of your body as you exhale and relax your muscles downward. This can cause “total relaxation” of the body. This also releases dopamine and tension in the muscles, according to The Huffington Post.

2. Bridge pose:

Lying on the floor, bend your knees at about shoulder distance apart.

Bend your elbows at your sides with palms facing each other. Press both feet and elbows into the floor and raise your pelvis as high as possible without putting pain in the lower back.

Then push your chin to your chest. This can reduce anxiety as well as back pain, according to The Huffington Post.

4. Child’s Pose:

Sitting back on your heels, place your head on the floor with arms stretched above your head or at your sides with palms facing the ceiling. This stretches vertebrae in the back, releases pressure through the spine, and brings blood flow to the brain in the frontal lobe, according ccording to Gaiam.

Information gathered by Kaitlyn Schmidt Photos and graphic by Grace Hach

Historic buildings add value to town Molly Lubbers Sports Editor The Kitchen’s logo hangs over the 120-year-old First National Bank. Victorian-style buildings like Miller Block are now home to toy shops and cafes. “Old Firehouse Bookstore” pays homage to the purpose of the building’s past. The clash of old and new is omnipresent in Fort Collins architecture.

For many Fort Collins residents, these buildings seem like background noise to their lives. Some barely realize the new storefront signs pasted over places of the past, recognizing only what that building means to them: where they drink tea, buy clothes, or eat food.

For Harper Goff, Fort Collins looked much different. Born in 1911, he lived in a time when buildings were built for their first purpose, rather than reused for something else.

Goff’s father owned the Fort Collins Express Courier newspaper, but Harper Goff himself went on to become a Hollywood art director, most famous for his set design in Willy Wonka and the

Chocolate Factory circa 1971.

But it was when he met Walt Disney that he received one of his greatest opportunities: to design Main Street in Disneyland.

What would go on to become one of the most iconic streets in the USA, Main Street was influenced by Fort Collins.

Though partially inspired

by Disney’s own hometown of Marcelline, Missouri, Disney was also shown photos and given descriptions of Goff’s birthplace.

Some of the buildings recreated can be found on Jefferson Street, Miller Block, Walnut Street, and more. Most notable that are still standing include the old firehouse, the Union Pacific Railroad Station, and Linden Hotel.

W h i l e many of the p l a c e s are now

demolished, like Old Main and the original courthouse, and a little bit of history has been lost in Fort Collins, they still live on across the country on Main Street. It’s no wonder that Fort Collins sometimes feels like a theme park, even to Fort Collins natives who think of it as ordinary.

During this time of year, when Old Town is adorned with thousands of light strands, a winter wonderland is created. Though it isn’t exactly like the light shows at Disneyland, it still creates a feeling of magic that has quietly resided all year, waiting to be noticed for what it is.

It is the feeling of history, present even in the very structure of this town, that makes Fort Collins so intrinsically tied to the “happiest place on earth.”

4

Jan. 26, 2017

News

Spilled Ink

LTC gets a makeover

Photos by Amanda Hoodak

Q&A with Riley Howk Academic, technical improvements create beneficial area for students, staff Joseph Mason Managing Editor With furnishing as lavish as the immersive experience of virtual reality, the Library Tech Center has been revamped this school year.

Not only does it have new chairs and individualized areas, but it also has new resources like VR and a 75-inch HDTV to enhance student experiences and support learning goals.

The makeover started with the relocation of textbooks in 2013 and has been exponentially refurbished this past year.

“It’s just grown from that [becoming the location to checkout textbooks] to become a little more functional, emerging both academically and industrially,” Building Technology Coordinator Brenda Isherwood said. “It’s now all library and tech resources.

It’s the hub where students come for all things circulated. It’s kind of a one-stop spot for textbooks, laptops, library books, guitars for classes, or keyboards for music classes.”

The LTC is separated into several separate areas: the Lambkin Lounge, the quiet area, the reading room, the square table area, the round table area, a printing station, and two labs.

“We try to offer smaller spaces that were specialized to a unique function,” Isherwood said. “For example, the quiet area is designed as individual student stations for individual studying and to be quiet. The reading room is designed with some different lighting and some mood background and more comfortable chairs to encourage reading. The lab was split into two smaller labs because of the oneto-one program where all students have laptops. The printing station was set up to allow students to hook up their laptops directly into the printers instead having to

save to their server folder then log on to a desktop, like last year. We also set up a 75-inch TV in the square table area a with webcam and soundbar so teachers can utilize the TV and connect with experts.”

A virtual reality station has also been added to the LTC so students and staff can experience VR. If students finds an application compatible with VR, they can let their teacher know and incorporate it into their class. As well as VR, the LTC has invested in four Breakout EDU kits for the same reason. Breakout kits are logical games built around a series of locks and clues to open a box.

Teachers can check out both VR and Breakout kits for lessons in their classes.

“The goal of the LTC is to support students and staff academically and technically,” Isherwood said. “Our goal is also to enrich the student experience, whether it be by having guest speakers or anything else we do in the square table area.”

Teachers can reserve the square table area for events like the AP Art Show, the election festival, or Poetry Night. Earlier this school year, the English department arranged a time with a published author to speak to their students. Likewise, social studies teacher Suzanne Dickens had the world’s largest map of Africa set up in the area for lessons in her class.

“I see the LTC becoming a multipurpose place for students. You’ll have small groups of working over here, individual students working over there, you have kids playing chess, and you have students walking on a giant map of Africa,” Dickens said. “Everything from teacherdirected to small group to individual student—even outside groups—it truly is a space that operates on so many more levels than just a collection of books.”

Riley Howk Senior

WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON THE CHANGES IN THE LTC? I like the quiet area because it allows me to get work done because if I sit in the social area then I know I’ll just talk to people. I also like that they have the loaner textbooks to use while you’re in the library. I haven’t really used any of the other changes like the virtual reality or anything.

DO YOU THINK THE SEPARATION CHANGES ARE

HELPFUL?

Yes, definitely because I think people still need an area to sit if they want to talk to people or need to work on group projects.

WHAT IS THE MOST USEFUL CHANGE IN THE LTC FOR YOU? Probably the quiet area because I can really focus then.

IS THERE ANY OTHER CHANGES YOU’D LIKE TO MAKE IN THE LTC? I think we should be able to eat in the library because we used to be able to.

News

Spilled Ink

Jan. 26, 2017

At Our School...

5

Photo by Kaitlyn Schmidt

LASA teams up with clubs to bring acceptance of diversity discrimination or rejection from society today.

“My inspiration for this project came through Staff Writer all the negativity I was seeing on Social Media around the election,” Senior Denice Lastra, LASA A 2005 study done by the National Adolescent president, said. “I feel that post-election, many Health Information Center revealed that 11.7 percent of males and 10.6 percent of females reported being targets of hate speech in their school because of race, religion, disability, or other differences. More recently, in the ten days following the presidential election, the Southern Poverty Law Center reported an outbreak of intolerance in 867 incidents of harassment and intimidation across the nation.

A lack of tolerance and acceptance is not new, and every day students face hate and judgment within their schools. But one FCHS group has decided to take a stand and work toward a school culture that unifies rather than divides. students come to school with fear, not knowing The Latino American Student Association how to express themselves or if they are even able (LASA) is beginning the effort with the “At to. I just want to give a voice to the silent ones.”

Each square will make a statement in support our school” poster project. Intended to reach every student on some level, the poster will of a culture of acceptance, and each will begin present one large background with several with the phrase “At our school.” For example, different squares on it dedicated to unique other similar projects have read “At our groups facing some sort of oppression, school, we do not see Muslims as terrorists.”

Thany Dykson

“The purpose of this poster is to create a ‘Safe Zone’”

-Denice Lastra

LASA is planning and constructing the poster with the help of other student groups, and the current plan includes hand-writing every statement.

“The purpose of this poster is to create a ‘Safe Zone’ mentality within FCHS,” Lastra explained.

“We want our diverse student population to be able to express themselves openly, no matter what [their] race is, [their] academic status, or beliefs.”

The project reflects the school’s Pillars of Excellence, with a focus on acceptance and pride. According to Lastra, LASA intends the poster to reflect the side of the school that is supportive, caring, and honest. It will stand as an example of the Lambkin attitude of looking past stereotypes and not judging people based on their race, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, gender, economic status, or political affiliation.

Lastra is currently working with several other clubs, including Diverse Leaders, Amnesty International, Gay-Straight Alliance, Asian Student Society, and Student Council, to complete the poster by the last week of February. The location for display has yet to be determined, but those interested in working on the project can get involved as part of a club or individually by contacting Lastra.

...We Are Diverse and Proud re ere a h t n r tow ly In ou mate i x o r app

BT G L 53 e

m

ers emb

per

r squa

In our tow African n Americ ans make up e l i m 1.2% o f popula the tion

In our

town t

here a

re mated Muslim 400 s.

an esti

In our town we have a veteran population of

7,752.

Graphics by Cat O’Hare Information gathered by Kaitlyn Schmidt; Source: census.org and city-data.com

6

A&E

Jan. 26, 2017

Spilled Ink

Color Clyde!

In Brief Choir auditions to take place Feb. 20 - 24 Adelaide Tomsic Perspectives Editor Choir auditions will take place during the last week of February. Students already in choir will audition in class, but those wishing to join a choir for the first time should contact choir teacher Kaitlin Miles or choir teacher William Ecker to schedule an audition time.

“We will ask the student to do vocal warm-ups and exercises. We will ask them to sight read to see if they know what they are doing,” Miles said. “Students who have never sung in choir before should prepare ‘My Country Tis of Thee’ or ‘Amazing Grace’ to show us their vocal ability.”

Results will be posted by the end of the first week of April on the bulletin board located at the end of music hall.

Post a picture of your finished artwork using

#ColorClyde to be featured on Spilled Ink’s social media!

Students to perform in All State Choir Feb. 2-4 Roland Tomsic Staff Writer All State Choir will take place Feb. 2-4 at the Colorado Convention Center in Denver.

Nine FCHS students got into All State Choir this year: juniors Maya Bode, Laura Hirn, Annie Campain, Daniel Van Farowe, Tate Thurgood, and seniors Tyler Borkowski, Kamryn Hartman, Elinor Jones, and Katherine Van Shaar.

The students will rehearse with other honorees from around the state and present a concert beginning at 4p.m. at the Bellco Theater on Feb. 4.

Tickets for the concert will be $12 for students and $14 for adults if reserved online; if purchased at the door, they will be $16 for students and $18 for adults.

“Songs are picked by the All State clinicians, “choir director William Ecker said. “It will be a phenomenal choir concert.”

Art department donates bowls to Food Bank Miles Rodriguez Staff Writer The art department is donating ceramic bowls to the 20thanniversary Empty Bowls event at the Hilton Hotel on Feb. 2.

“We have three groups that are working on donating to the Empty Bowls Project for Larimer Food Bank,” art teacher Jon-Michael Willert said.

“Students who take a pottery class are part of the group that donates to Empty Bowls. In Pottery and Advanced Pottery, we make extra bowls to donate to the food bank. The other group that is making bowls is the Art Honor Society.”

Larimer County Food Bank is hosting the fundraiser event with the help of local artists, students, teachers, and businesses. Attendees select a unique, keepsake bowl made by a local artists, then enjoy a meal of a variety of soups from local restaurants and caterers.

“Exo” reminds readers of serious consequences

Samantha Ye

In-Depth Editor Last year, mother Amy Gardner taught her daughter the toothpasteand-words lesson, which she later posted on Facebook. Gardner told her daughter to empty a tube of toothpaste and once she’d finished, to put the toothpaste back.

It’s a simple analogy to describe the irreversible effects of words; just as you can’t refill toothpaste tubes, you can’t take back words. I, however, have always thought of the toothpaste as more than words; it’s every decision we make. Heck, it’s every decision someone else makes.

The millennials everyone hates inherited an economy prepared to throw itself off a cliff. The girl who chose sleep over homework is now drowning in homework. The millions of people who didn’t vote for the new president got him anyway.

Now what are we supposed to do with all this sandy, mint-scented goop?

Through her action-packed, morally ambiguous, sci-fi novel, Fonda Lee’s “Exo” explores what it means to reconcile yourself with life-altering decisions and still move forward in the direction you decide.

The zhree colonized Earth nearly a century ago, and Donovan Reyes, the protagonist, is an exo, a human soldier infused with remarkable alien armor, an exocel. But his privileged

world collapses into mayhem when he is captured by the human revolutionary group, Sapience.

Sapience wants the aliens to leave Earth so humans can rule themselves again, which as Donovan puts it, is like rolling “an avalanche back up a hill.”

“Even if you kicked every zhree off the planet and established new human-only government, what would you do then?” Donovan asks Sapience member Anya. “Go back to living like we did centuries a g o without modern technology like exocels or lightp l u s travel?” h u m a n A s history shows, you can’t just “undo” colonization, even when it didn’t happen with approval from 100 percent of the populace.

And that’s frustrating, infuriating even when the consequences you must deal with don’t even come from your own bad decisions.

“Whatever problems we had before, they were our problems,” Sapience member Kevin says. “Now there’s only one problem. They’re it.”

But trying to undo what has already happened isn’t as effective as incorporating the new circumstances into your life and guiding it’s future.

Donovan’s father had his son’s

exocel installed when he was five. Donovan didn’t understand it at the time, but after years of training, he grew into the armor which allowed him to become the soldier he’d always wanted to be.

For all the intergalactic politics of the book, much of its world depends on Donovan’s taking agency. Instead of behaving like the zhree “pet” Sapience believes all exos to be, Donovan think a n d acts for himself.

“He might just be one human.

As weak as the High Speaker had made him feel with no control over big intergalactic problems,” Donovan thinks as one of his loved ones is sentenced to death.

“But he couldn’t be helpless in this too.”

Consequences he shouldn’t bear and circumstances he has no control over constantly throw him off his ideal track, but as overwhelming as they are, Donovan redirects them to make his individual decisions count.

We’re going to find ourselves with plenty of problems throughout life from our own or others’ decisions. But, with the toothpaste lesson, it’s not simply about deciding not to squeeze out the toothpaste—because let’s face it: we all will at some point—it’s about what you do with the stuff afterward.

7 Jan. 26, 2017

A&E

Spilled Ink

Graphic by KaItlyn Schmidt

Meditative music calming yet impractical for concentration KaItlyn Schmidt

Staff Review

News Editor Music is said to do many things for a person.

I’ve always been infatuated with what music can do to the mind and body, and I listen to all types of it. In fact, I tend to listen to yoga music when I fall asleep, which is what made it rather difficult listening to it with the intention of doing work.

Withanewsemesterstartingandthestressthatcomes with it, we needed something to induce concentration.

So, for the January Staff Review, Spilled Ink listened to a meditative piece called “Reiki Music for the mind and body”tohelpusrelaxandbemoreattentivetoourwork.

This form of music is commonly used for what’s known as final relaxation in yoga. A previous yoga instructor taught me it calms muscles and seems to make the body heavy, which is why it’s very easy

for many people to fall asleep to meditative music.

It was very soothing and slowed the heart rate, helping the mind relax and, in turn, the entire body.

Listening to this repetitious melody was a serene experience that quieted the entire room. It made it somewhat easy to concentrate on getting some work done, but only for a short amount of time.

After my heartrate slowed and breathing steadied, it was considerably harder to accomplish work as my eyes felt as though bricks were pushing them down. One staffer stated that if it had a beat, or something for the mind to count while getting things done, it would be a little better, but it was definitely ataractic. Another described it as the music you might hear in an aquarium at the jellyfish exhibit.

Themajorityofthestafffoundthismusiccounteractive to studying. However, some of us thought it was helpful for homework purposes because it kept us focused on what we had to do. Almost everyone seemed to find that after a few minutes, though, it was aggravating becauseitplayedthesamenotesonrepeat.Atthispoint it seemed to be working against its intended purpose.

Onthescaleofeffectiveness,wegaveanaverageof3 out of 5 stars. I’m in the middle on the whole experience due to what I usually use this music for. We thought for certain people it would be more effective but it needs a beat in order to keep the body awake, so a music for meditationisnotidealforwork-relatedpurposes.Other than that, it was a good experiment that I wouldn’t mind doing again with a slightly different tune.

Art helps student fend off boredom, express self Seraphina Discoe Staff Writer Some ride roller coasters while others socialize.

Some exercise while other watch TV. Some sleep while others bake a pie.

Junior Melanie Jensen finds her fun in drawing and sketching. Jensen has been drawing since fifth grade.

Artist Frida Kahlo sparked her love for art and sometimes inspires her pieces, in a style Jensen calls sketchy and informal with some harsh dark lines.

Preferring her sketchbook as a place to hold her art, she mostly uses charcoal and lead pencils instead of different paints or pastels.

Jensen constantly tries to fit drawing into her daily routine.

“I often draw in my sketchbook when I am bored or whenever I have some down time, “Jensen said.

Jensen’s sketchbook is full of small drawings of flowers, different types of buildings, and facial features. She puts detail into each of her drawings and the amount

of effort shows. Shadows and light are displayed in many of her pieces to bring out dimension that makes her sketches eye-catching.

Jensen chooses to use pencil, charcoal, and pens instead of other art supplies because she can control the movement of the utensil.

“It is easier for me to see my ideas in my head of buildings and small details of a face,’’ Jensen said. “Pencils and pens allow me to do that, but paint you have to place the color very carefully. Otherwise the piece is ruined.“ Artwork allows Jensen to express herself without any restrictions.

She likes that aspect most.

“I can do whatever I want without thinking it looks bad,” Jensen said.

Jensen is working on a self-portrait at the moment from the profile perspective.

Keeping it black and white, using only a graphite and mechanical pencil, Jensen uses an eraser to make facial features pop and highlight specific spots. While she is gifted, she plans to only keep art as a hobby instead of going to school for it.

Photo by Seraphina Discoe

8

A&E

Jan. 26, 2017

Molly Lubbers Sports Editor Common Sense Media reports that average teens in the US use nine hours of media every day. With so much exposure to it in the modern age, media is a huge influence upon daily life; this was evident in 2016. See full timeline on page 9.

Movies

Movies ranged from fast-paced adventures to quiet, powerful films in 2016. “Rogue One: A Star Wars Story” follows Jyn Erso as she tries to steal the Death Star’s plans. An addition to the loved series, this movie was well-received, making it prominent in 2016.

With more powerful messages, “Moonlight” won the Golden Globe for Best Drama Motion Picture.

The coming-of-age story features a young black man who discovers his sexuality and forms his identity.

Earning 11 Golden Globe nominations, “La La Land” was another critics’ favorite. Following a wannabe actress and musician as they meet again and again, slowly falling in love and inspiring each others’ passions, the film charmed many.

With its emphasis on a father-son relationship, “Fences” also garnered attention. The father had wanted to play in the major leagues before black athletes were allowed; bitter over this, he stops his son from meeting with a recruiter.

Though set in the 1950s, the statements about family and class struggle remain poignant in 2016.

Art

Art made bold statements in 2016. The first of its kind, “Play More” by Dominic Wilcox was an interactive art exhibit for dogs. Located in Southeast London, it included a ten foot wide dog bowl filled with 1,000 balls resembling dog food.

“The Floating Piers” also allowed a new type of interaction: letting people literally walk across water. The walkway, made of 220,000 polyethylene cubes, shifted with waves and connected mainland to San Paolo across Lake Iseo in Italy.

Though smaller, Michael Berryhill’s paintings were daring, too. The bright, bizarre arrangement of color and layers gives both a sense of uneasiness and a feeling one is connecting to the human behind the image.

Just as alien, Dam Lam’s sculptures mesmerized in 2016. They could be described as drips frozen in time; with their incredible use of movement, the viewer feels as if these free standing sculptures are about to ooze across the room.

Architecture

Architecture in 2016 edged to modern, contemporary looks. Embracing understatement, the Raumplan House had a simple, sleek look of nearly all white. This design emphasized windows that create blocks of sunlight.

The Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture is made of nearly all window and its architecture seems open, something that could work only in 2016.

Another structure that could be accepted only last year was the Antwerp Port House. Its upper body—movement created in triangular windows— sharply contrasts the bottom half—a simple house.

Books

Books that enchanted the nation were anything from nonfiction to wild ideas. In the middle of both categories, modeled loosely on history, “The Girls” focuses on women who fall under a cult leader’s spell. Inspired by Charles Manson, the group shows how average people become susceptible to manipulation.

Spilled Ink

That fear of manipulation also highlighted narcissism in 2016.

Kristin Dombek’s “The Selfishness of Others: An Essay on the Fear of Narcissism” shines light on this, saying that beyond the true mental illness, narcissism is present in all of us.

A science fiction story, “The Girl from Everywhere” by Heidi Heilig follows Nix, who lives on a ship that can travel anywhere in time and place if her father has a map.

However, her father is set on finding one map that will lead him back to his love—Nix’s mother—which threatens Nix’s existence.

Music

Minimalism and maturity found itself at the center of much music in 2016. Perhaps the album that most embraced it was Kendrick Lamar’s “untitled unmastered”; rather than name it, he let the music define itself.

Hazy and quiet, Frank Ocean’s album “Blonde” also welcomes simplicity. With long, lingering sounds, it feels nostalgic and mellow.

Even Lady Gaga strayed from her pop-ish and showy sound. “Joanne” was mature, and unembellished, developing a raw sound with songs that could be played around a campfire or stadiums.

Another artist who hopped genres was Childish Gambino, who had a lack of rap in “Awaken my love.” Its psychedelic tone sounds like something from the 70s—but in 2016, it still found a niche, with many revering it for its daring break out of the mold.

Also pushing boundaries, Beyonce wowed 2016 listeners with “Lemonade.” Walking the line between ethereal and angry in potent storytelling, she made powerful statements.

An homage to himself punctuated by his death, David Bowie’s “Blackstar” was notable in 2016, even though for many, it was too painful to listen to at first.

Population growth sparks controversy, brings opportunity Joseph Vasseur Staff Writer FCHS is located in a rapidly expanding city, one of the fastest-growing in the US, according to the Census Bureau. As the population increases, the demand for housing grows, and property values go up, rental rates rise, and developers look to capitalize on the boom.

The current situation is resulting in concerns and debates surrounding gentrification in Fort Collins.

A general term for the arrival of socioeconomically advantaged people in an existing urban district, an associated rise in rent and property value, and changes in the area’s character and culture, gentrification often has controversial effects, according to PBS. Though gentrification can negatively impact the poor, in other cities it has also expanded access to art and entertainment, and Fort Collins is now dealing with the issues of maintaining valued historic culture while changing to meet the needs of the whole population.

A drive around town r e v e a l s multiple instances of new

projects going up all over, and the art community is seeing some of the most promising new venues.

Ethan Lindhout, a 2013 alumnus and owner of his own company EvrGlo Media, “a creative platform for content that glows forever,” sees many of the changes as progressive. In his work, he helps artists create works such as music videos, and he provides custom video content for live projections and installations.

Lindhout is looking forward to the changes in the art and entertainment scene as the city continues to grow.

“I can see Fort Collins becoming a mini city, essentially,” he said. “We will explode with creativity.”

One of the areas already experiencing the movement and influx of art centers, restaurants, breweries, and theaters is the northeast.

The historically-Latino Tres Colonias neighborhoods have seen the price of housing go up in response to developing interest. Some longtime residents are moving out as a result of tax and rent increases and changes in culture. This has sparked disagreement between residents.

According to CSU Economics Professor Stephan Weiler, who spoke to the Coloradoan about gentrification, such disagreements are common.

“Watching the neighborhood change around you is not a comfortable situation,” he told the Coloradoan. “There has to be give and take on both sides. The people moving in need to be willing to accept some restraints and compromises in how they want to live. The current residents have to be willing to give, too.”

With projects like the remodeled Lyric Cinema Café breaking ground on North College Avenue, several new restaurants being built in Old Town, and makerspaces like the Downtown Artery coming and going, the community will have reasons to come together.

“I think a strong art scene gives people something to focus on,” senior Elinor Jones said. “If people have something to do, such as a strong art scene, it will help put a dampening on controversy in town.”

Although the growth comes with complex pains, it expands the resources and opportunities provided by Fort Collins, and as an artist and creator, Lindhout sees hope in the future.

“Fort Collins,” Lindhout said, “is a prime spot to be.”

Spilled Ink

A&E

Jan. 26, 2017

9

December 31, 2016

Music

2016: A Year In Media

January 1st, 2016

Books Architecture Movies Art

10

In-Depth

Jan. 26, 2017

Spilled Ink

Confronting our

Progress requires recognition of implicit biases Grace Hach Head Graphic Artist An experiment conducted from 2009 to 2010 by the Kirwan Institute for the Study of Race and Ethnicity concluded that kindergarten teachers were quicker todisciplineAfrican-Americanboys,and held lower expectations of academic achievement for them as opposed to theirCaucasiancounterparts.Whilethese teacherswerelikelynotconsciouslybeing harder on black children, their implicit biases led them to watch more closely, punish more severely, and consistently underestimate non-white students.

While the first black president in US history leaves office and another controversial president takes his place, the issue of bias towards race, religion and gender has been a prominent topic.

In recent years, prejudice has been almost universally condemned as an immoral way to treat others.

Consequently, remaining biases have become more elusive. Implicit bias is defined as preconceptions that the subject isn’t consciously aware of.

“One of the dangers of implicit bias is that it can make it that your declared beliefs and your actions don’t match up. You can say one thing but in actuality, something else is ingrained in you a different way,” psychology teacher Michelle Reffner said.

By its very definition, implicit bias happens unbeknownst to the offender.

Many people claim they have no bias whatsoever, and in doing so, ignore the mental shortcuts made in the minds of all human beings that can lead to bias.

“Bias is a natural thing.” junior Ashley Zhou said. “It’s not something to be ashamed of, but acting on it isn’t necessarily justified.”

Some deny the existence of implicit biases completely, especially when it interferes with their own image. Denial

of perception of race or gender—for example, people who claim they “don’t see color” or “don’t think of people in terms of their gender”—is ignoring reality. It also disregards the potential for discriminatory assumptions lurking in the subconscious.

For some, admitting their own bias could be a point of shame, therefore something to mentally avoid in order to maintain the perception they are “good people.” While often done with good intention, engaging in this kind of denial does nothing to confront the judgmental nature of the subconscious mind or make progress.

“You have to make people aware of their biases,” Zhou said.

As with addiction, the first step in prevention is admitting there is a problem. Confronting implicit biases can be difficult, as these heuristics shape our perception of the world around us starting from early childhood,orassomestudies would suggest, infanthood.

However, the formation of biases doesn’t end with childhood. Bias is all around us, often in sources we don’t expect, and to take an active role in conquering one’s own bias, a starting point may be to find sources that challenge assumptions.

“Be more aware of when there is bias, in news articles, even in textbooks.” junior Meghan Mcfeely said, “Look at different sources for things to make sure you get all sides of the story.”

Keepinginformedthrough a variety of sources can be an effective way to combat existing prejudgment and avoid forming new biases. With the US facing new divisions

and complex politics surrounding bias of all kinds, becoming conscious of one’s ownprejudicesisasteptowardprogress.

Graphic by Grace Hach

Editor’sNote Samantha Ye In-Depth Editor From the outbreak of the Zika virus to a slew of beloved celebrity deaths, 2016 was the kind of year which made you want to cocoon yourself in a dozen blankets and never leave the house. But 2016 is finally over, and even if the transition into 2017 is merely a symbolic “fresh start,” the new year still offers us a chance to reembrace the world.

To start off the year with a spirit of optimism, this month’s In-Depth theme is “explore.”

On page 14, we explore some of the unique outdoor locations of northern Colorado.

Theplacesyoucanexploredon’t stop at the state or even U.S. bordersthough.International trips sponsored by schools or teachers offer students a way to see the other countries and cultural sites of the world; the benefits of these experiences are covered on the centerfold.

Even though the word “explore”callstomindgreatjourneys and expeditions, exploration encompasses more than just the physical. Page 11’s story is about teachers who spent time on different career paths before entering the field of education.

While we can buy a plane ticket to travel the world or sign up for a new class to discover unexpected interests, arguably one of the harder things to explore is ourselves; sometimes, it’s because we don’t like what we find. Page 10 is all about confronting our hidden biases, the ones we might not acknowledge but that lurk in our minds, directing our decisions. As shady as they are, they can be caught.

Even though 2016 was crowned “Worst Year Ever”

by The Washington Post, The Telegraph, and BuzzFeed among others, it shouldn’t stop us from seeing the world with some friends, working towards bettering our own judgment, or exploring 2017.

What is one internal bias you suddenly realized you had?

Naethen Snow Freshman

“Usually if someone comes off as really mean, that’s not cool. ”

Erin Calhoon Sophomore

“How people dress. It’s one of those things you subconsciously notice. As you get older, you do begin to judge people by their clothes, even if it’s unfair.”

Gabrielle Landsgaard

Junior “When people have a ton of tattoos, I tend to trust them less, but once you start to talk to them, you understand that they’re not as scary as they look.”

Jason Read Senior

“I’m biased against freshmen. Especially the smaller freshmen.”

Spilled Ink

In-Depth

Jan. 26, 2017

11

Teachers have explored variety of different careers Seraphina Discoe Staff Writer Some teachers have just started, and some have been teaching here for longer than most students have been alive. No matter how long teachers have been teaching, no one has been a teacher forever.

Interests come and go and careers fluctuate. Many of the teachers at FCHS have not always been on the education path.

Physics teacher Mike Steinle is approaching his 17th year teaching. Like most, Steinle worked small jobs when he was younger and moved into his first career as an adult. He worked at HP in the beginning of 1998 for a year and a half and later earned his teaching license.

“I have always enjoyed teaching science very much,” Steinle said. “I have a physics and mechanical engineering degree, so it fits perfectly to come intoscience.”

Social s t u d i e s teacher Chris Tholl also worked in the field of science as a researcher and assistant part-time, but the rest of his resume before teaching is varied.

Since he was 15, Tholl has worked a number of jobs, his

first two as a dishwasher and a camp counselor.

Over the years, and through 20 positions ranging from working in a bakery to working as a Prairie Dog research assistant in Utah, his favorite jobs have been outside. He was happy as an outdoor instructor for Eco Week, in the hands in woods program, fishing in Alaska, and many others.

Tholl says he prefers working outside, no matter the job. Though he didn’t much like the fishing in

Alaska, he looked forward to his time outdoors.

“The feeling of being outside is better than sitting in a desk for me,” he said.

Tholl has now worked at FCHS for a total of 10 years, though he left once and returned.

FellowsocialstudiesteacherSarahKellerhasalso hadamultitudeofdifferentjobsinandoutofherfield.

Her very first job was at age 14 in a pet supply store.

“I really liked that job,” she said. “We got to feed snakes and take care of cougars.”

Keller has also had over 20 jobs. At one point, she began studying to be a college professor, but dropped the idea after realizing she would have difficulty finding a job.

Keller has only been teaching for a total of eight years, four of those years being at FCHS full time.

With so much job experience, Keller sees having many jobs as perfectlyOK,and changing jobs as normal until a person finds the right fit.

“I have done so many different jobs half-ass, that it is almost funny,” Keller said. “It’s natural to take a while when finding something that you like. I think that when I was in this position, I realized that I would rather be happy than unhappy after picking my job so quickly.”

Teaching

“To touch the

future”

Why do you

—Paul Ashby

“I am energetic about making sure my students have an art experience that

challenges and engages

them. I’m tired most days, but I still love coming to work and it’s because of the teenagers. They really are the best part of this job. I get to hear new music, stay up on the latest trends and technology. Without them, I would be missing so much the world has to offer. They are my link to new things, laughing, and the drive to keep my ideas fresh.”

teach?

“I teach because I am passionate

Tara Lanterman

—

about working with kids, and I love science.”

—Holly Martin

“I teach because I want to be

something that I didn’t have

when I was a kid.”

—Jason Powell

“The short answer is, high school students inspire me. They’re smart,, they’re hopeful, they’re curious, and I admire that. I find curious being around them is energizing.”

—Kyla Hanson

“It’s fun to come. It’s challenging in terms of the material; I’ve been lucky enough to go and keep teaching higher level classes which sort of makes it interesting as I go back and relearn things. And I’ve had some excellent students to work with.”

—Craig Luckasen

Graphics by Grace Hach

12

Jan. 26, 2017

In-Depth

Spilled Ink

Trave th Lam W Students, staff experience new cultures with educational trips experience with her students.

Guest Writer Every year thereafter she has stayed true to that promise In the summer of 2009, and given many students she stood overlooking a the trip of their lives.

Hindu Aarti as the people Today, many organizations of the village gathered have begun appearing, together to express their each with its own unique unconditional love to their and special story, but gods. As she became swept all dedicated to helping up in the enchanting hymn students learn and grow as and the encircling smells of individuals through travel. incense and sandalwood, FCHS collaborates with EF reality dawned upon her. Tours, a group that provides She was engulfed within opportunities for students to a special Hindu ceremony explore and learn about other but, moreover, immersed places as well as themselves. in the extraordinary culture Freshman Daniel Jeng of the Indian people. As took the opportunity to this unfolded before her, travel to Costa Rica on one tears of awe and happiness such trip. In his experience silently slid down her cheeks. abroad, he collected many Since then, social studies memories he will never forget. teacher Elaine Holmes has “I remember when we promised to return to India visited a local Costa Rican each year and to share the family,” he said.

“They

Thien Le

cooked dinner for us and the experience was unlike something you could ever get on vacation.”

Taking a trip that is more than just a vacation requires a large amount of planning, preparation, and forethought. One question many students ask before registering for an educational trip is whether the benefits will outweigh the costs and risks.

“I believe that is was definitely worth it,” Jeng said. “And that with the school we got the unique experience that we wouldn’t have gotten.”

Part of the planning for a trip is also finding adult sponsors to serve as escorts and chaperones.

Math teacher Chris Suppes quickly became abuzz and the broach of the topic of

attending students on trips.

He enjoys the opportunity to travel and give students that same chance.

“The students heard that I sponsored them, and they asked me to sponsor them,” he explained, illustrating the aspect that these trips usually come about through student interest and volition.

Student interest is the beginning of the decisionmaking. If enough sign up for a trip, it can even bring the costs down for all involved.

“I’ve never had to worry about the raising of the money, because, like I said, I don’t usually have to go out and recruit for them [the students].”

Instead, the students usually have this detail under control and therefore reduce the limitation of the cost.

Cost is also affected b the details of the locatio and itinerary of a give trip, and this is where company like EF comes i “That is decide completely by the compan Suppes said. “We did E Tours and one hundre percent of everything wa decided by them.” The with a sly smile, he adde “Usually you are supposed t stick steadily to their tour bu when we go on them, we ten to drift every now and then Though relatively fe students take the chance t experience the world throug educational trips, it open doors for those who do. An those who come back ten to see the world in new way “I don’t exactly know ho to describe it,” Jeng sai “It just was life-changing

Spilled Ink

In-Depth

Jan. 26, 2017

veling he mbkin Way

s

by ion ven a in. ded ny,” EF red was hen ded, d to but end en.” few to ugh ens And end ays. how aid. ng.”

Photos Courte

sy of Annie Yang , Nickie Finneg

PASSPORT PASSEPORT PASAPORTE

an, and Ruben

Enriquez; Graph

ics by Grace H

ach

INTERVIEW WITH TRAVE LING LAMBK Surname IN / Nom / Apelli

FINNEGAN

Given Names

NICKIE

Class / Class

dos

/ Prénoms / N

e / Año

CLASS OF 2 017

ombres

Read the full interview on Spilled Ink’s Facebook page!

When did y ou go to I ndi I went to India June 8 to June a?

28 of 2016.

What did y ou do ther e?

It was pretty m uch just an ed uc and explored the different re ational trip where we visite d ligions and w there. And we e went to tribal the different temples explored and villages and vo went to the m ain attractions lunteered too.

Why was it important was talking ab to you tha Honestly, I didn ou t y ’t really have opportunity th t it in my Asian Humanities th e intent of go ou went? at arose and cl as s be ca ing us I decided to ta e I really like aspect of it. her and respec to India until Ms. (Elaine) H ke it because olmes I like to travel t her as a pers . I was really interested in ex on. It was just an What were ploring the sp so irituality I definitely—th me of the things yo u learned is there? streets and livin is cliché but—learned that I can’t take an g ythi villages. I also off of very small amounts of learned to just money, and th ng for granted because th er ey didn’t have kind of go with always be satis any changes of e were people sleeping on the flow is the fied by what yo be the cl othe st way to live, yo u see. And I satisfied with u know? Like do s or anything, especially in was definitely the trip. the n’t have expect ations; then yo u’ll

13

14

In-Depth

Jan. 26, 2017

Spilled Ink

Students find outdoor adventure in local areas Roland Tomsic Staff Writer Students are cooped up in classrooms all day. On the weekend, it is nice for teenagers to get out and go for an adventure near town.

Fishing, hiking, and climbing are just a few of the exploration opportunities close to home.

“I typically adventure nearby in the mountains.

RockyMountainNationalParkisgreatandsuperclose by, but I’m happy just jumping on a trail by the river intown,”seniorAkadiaKosakowskisaid.“Iadventure as much as I can. Whether it’s just a bike ride after school or a week long rafting trip. I think it’s really valuabletogetoutsideandgetadrenalinepumping.”

Lory State Park, about 8 and a half miles from Collins,offersagreatsetofhikes.Loryislocatedonthe west bank of Horsetooth Reservoir, a popular fishing spot. The park has over 26 miles of trails to hike, run, or go for a mountain bike ride. About halfway up the

Arthur’s Rock Trail there is a boulder field for the climbers out there.

Sophomore Lucas Unger enjoys hiking and rock climbing in Lory State Park, and Horsetooth Mountain Park.

“We bring up a crash pad and climb on some of the well-knownbouldersupthere,”Ungersaid.“Wehave climbed up at Duncan’s Ridge which is very known.”

Another nice hike is the 4.1-mile-long Pawnee Buttes hike in the Pawnee National Grasslands, a 193,060-acre open space about an hour and a half east of FCHS. Takingthesametimebuttravelingwest,explorers will reach Rocky Mountain National Park (RMNP) which features over 300 miles of trails for hiking, snowshoeing, and skiing. Fish populate 48 lakes in the park and many

“I think it’s really valuable to get outside and get adrenaline pumping.”

— Akadia Kosakowski

are fishable without a license at age 15 or younger.

Freshman Andrew Nosler is a local outdoorsman who enjoys fishing during his free time. He has found that the creeks in RMNP are fun to fish in.

“The fishing is spectacular,” he said. “If you can get away from the roads, it’s typically a bigger hike in, but there are a couple backcountry creeks that are full of cutthroat and brook trout.”

Nosler also enjoys fishing at Riverbend Pond’s natural area. About 2 miles away from FCHS, the area features many ponds made from old gravel mines. A popular fishing area, it is also a great place to go for a bike ride along the Poudre River.

Hiking,climbing,andfishingareafewgreatwaysto getoutdoorsandfindnewinterests.Adventuresdon’t have to be far from home. Some of the best happen in backyards; it just requires some imagination.

PICTURED ABOVE: Colorado offers a wide variety of locations for outdoor exploration such as Arthur’s Rock (LEFT AND RIGHT) and Rocky Mountain National Park (CENTER).

Photos by Roland Tomsic

Spilled Ink

Sports

Jan. 26, 2017

15

How to work out at school Winter b r e a k and the begi nning of the new year can be a time for students to be active and start an exercise routine, but once school ramps back up it gets harder to find the time. Nonetheless, exercise is essential to maintain a healthy body and mind, and should be made a priority. If there is simply not enough time to be active before or after school, we have put together some exercises you can do during the day.

ses i a R Calf ine L

in

Backpac k Jump Squ ats

Just have your backpack for this , exercise. Do a nch line If the lu or any nor , e n li g mal jump squat n li counse calf o d , with w your backpack lo r line is s ove you on for added wei r p im o ght. raises t ss. scle-ma u m lf a c

Desk Leg S ta ir L u n g e f s l Desk Ca Raises Raises

When w alking up the stair s, do a couple o While sitting in your f lunges to help stre desk, straighten your tch your leg musc leg out in front of les. Just try not to h you. old up th e flow of p eople.

You’ll need only a desk for this exercise. Just do normal leg raises, using the desk as a measurement for how high you should get your foot above the ground.

Raise your feet to the level of the top of the desk.

Information and photos gathered by Joseph Vasseur; Graphic by Grace Hach

Recovery smoothie helps growth and replenishment Ingredients

Adelaide Tomsic Perspectives Editor

1 banana (frozen or fresh) 1 tablespoon cocoa powder 1 scoop of protein powder 1 cup cold or ice water or milk

Whether a person is running or benching, catching or kicking a ball, exercising requires elevated levels of energy. So, it is important for athletes to eat enough calories to fuel their activity and repair damaged tissues. Nutritionist Nicole Eckman recommends eating 150- 300 calories within an hour of exercising either before or after to support muscle growth and replenish glycogen.

“Of course, what you should eat depends on your weight and what activity you are doing,” Eckman said. “Cardio activities require more carbohydrates whereas if you do weight-intensive activities, you’ll want more protein.”

This recovery smoothie has both carbohydrates from the banana and protein from the protein power. The cocoa powder adds caffeine to reenergize after your workout.

Steps Starting with the water, put all contents into a blender until the mixture becomes liquid.

If you would like the smoothie to be thick and shake-like, slowly add ice until the desired texture is achieved.

Photo by Molly Lubbers Graphic by Kaitlyn Schmidt

Optional: Add pieces of banana or another fruit for a chunky smoothie. Or, use a piece to embellish the lip of the cup.

16

Jan. 26, 2017

Sports

Spilled Ink

Former wrestler finds renewed passion in management Miles Rodriguez Guest Writer Having been a wrestler from middle school through her freshman year of high school, senior Alliyah Sanchez is not afraid to show just how important wrestling is to her.

“It [wrestling] has always been a huge part of my life,” Sanchez said. “I stuck with it throughout high school.

I wrestled in middle school, then for a recreational team a little later on.

I couldn’t do it anymore, and so managing was the next best thing.”

She now takes on the duty of managing the FCHS wrestling team and has been in this position for a little over a year now. As simple as that may sound however, managing the team is not always an easy job.

It’s a year-long commitment for Sanchez, but despite also being concurrently enrolled at Front Range Community College, she never fails to stay passionate for her job and keep it in her top priorities list.

“I’m here every day, even over the break,” Sanchez said. “First semester, it’s always really mellow with tournaments and dual meets, but once second semester hits, it’s pretty much all tournaments and dual meets.

I have lots of paperwork to do, I have to remind the team of everything, I do the scorekeeping, and I do most of the working with the other teams when we have dual meets.”

During the practice season, Sanchez is responsible for making sure the wrestling gear and mats are clean and ready to go before each

While keeping score, wrestler manager Alliyah Sanchez pauses her work to observe the wrestling meet.

She watches as an FCHS team member and Greeley Central athlete compete one-on-one at a dual match on Jan. 10. Photo by Molly Lubbers practice. But once all the cleaning is completed and it’s time for the team to compete, Sanchez’s main goal is to encourage her team and keep them in the best of attitudes so they can go out and do their best during every match.

“As a team, when we win, it’s a great feeling. We’re all happy,” Sanchez said. “But when we lose during dual

meets, we lose as a team and we own up to that. It definitely sucks to see my team lose by all means, but I always know we’re going to get back on our feet and back into the game.”

At the end of the day, whether they win or lose, Sanchez will always support and remain committed to her team, and is never afraid to

show how much they mean to her.

“We are a great team and I could brag about them all day,” Sanchez said. “I guess people would have to come watch our matches for themselves, but I’m always bragging about them. I’m always spreading the dates of our tournaments and meets, and I’m always wearing our gear.”

Sports benefit nonathletic areas, help with mental, social health Seraphina Discoe Staff Writer Sports are often associated with the sweat, pain, and the after effect of getting into the ideal shape. However, there is more to being active then getting toned and hard work, and benefits go deeper than muscle.

Team sports such as soccer, football, and track push players to become more social and interact with others. Participating in a sport of any kind can boost confidence about interacting with others.

Mental health can also improve when engaging in a team sport; the social aspect of the sport can help if dealing with depression, anxiety and any other mental illness. The Mind, Mood, and Memory website states that interacting with people for an hour a day can begin to ward off mental illnesses overall.

Sophomore Allam Bushara has been on the track and football team for the past two years. Bushara has been in track since the seventh grade. It wasn’t until high school that he joined football. In both he has experienced the benefits related to mental illness.

“Playing a sport can definitely lift your mood, especially if you did well in the game or event,“ Bushara said.

Studies have also shown that the brain becomes more sharp and the thinking process quickens when being active over a period of time, according to healthweb.com. When exercise has become part of the daily routine for more than three months memory strengthens greatly. Much of classroom learning involves memorization, so the better the memory, essentially the better the grades. People tend to get assignments done quicker and finish on deadlines.

It has become a trend of the students who participate in a sport that grades improve over those who don’t exercise according to healthweb.com. Bushara says his grades drop when he completes a season or discontinues playing a sport.

Contradictory to the statement above, senior Karson Maitland says her grades stay the same, whether playing a sport or not. Maitland has been playing basketball for more than she can remember.

Though her grades are might not be affected, her mood “definitely improves” after playing basketball.

“I think that the fact that I know that I am in better shape than I could be, and that I’m healthy can also cheer me up,’’ Maitland said.

“I feel better knowing that I am capable of playing basketball, which is something that I love doing.”

94% of female corporate executives were athletes and 61% claim it helped their career in one survey.

High schoolers who play sports are more likely to go to college.

Drug use is less common for female high school athletes than nonathletes.

Graphic by Grace Hach. Information gathered by Molly Lubbers; Source: www.aspenprojectplay.org

Jan. 26, 2017 17 Sports Stunt, Spot, and Sell It

Spilled Ink

Competitive cheerleader gains success in sport Brooke Pippin Staff Writer

Being held by Steaven Williams, her coed partner, Mariah Rivera practices a stunt at Cheer Central Suns in December of 2016.

Photo courtesy of Mariah Rivera.

The topic of whether cheerleading can be considered a sport has been debated for years.

Some say it’s not competitive enough, that the real sports teams are the ones they are cheering for.

Sophomore Mariah Rivera, a competitive cheerleader with the Cheer Central Suns, conquers this argument. Cheerleading is something she has continually dedicated her life to, competing in tournaments across the country, allowing the sport to consume the majority of her free time. “Lots of people think cheerleading isn’t a sport because they see us just cheering for other teams, but I think cheerleading is a sport because of the time we spend on it,” Rivera said. “We bond just like other sports teams too.”

Though every member of the team is vital and unique, they come together to win. Her cheerleading friends are closer to her than any other friends she has made in school and she never wants to let them down. She says all of the effort is worth it due to what they have achieved. As a team, everyone has a specific part to play.

Rivera has been cheering for 12 years with the Cheer Central Suns, a team that has won 25 national titles and 2 National Cheer Association titles. She was a flyer for 11 years,

until this year, when her role changed to base, a position that requires her to support the flyer in stunts.

Besides her official position on the team, she says she uses her positive attitude to cheer up the others when the mood is low.

Since the team has their positions and works together, they have been able to succeed.

Her knowledge of being a flyer has helped her with becoming a better base. She knows how to make the flyer feel more comfortable and safe. With years of experience, she has devised rituals and strategies.

“Basing is such a different experience,” Rivera said. “I get less nervous now.”

She dedicates about 10 hours a week to practice and goes to the gym five days a week. Practice includes an hour of tumbling, then reps, stunting, and conditioning.

She used to have some unconventional ideas about her sport too. Superstition played a large role in her confidence level before a tournament. She would knock on wood before every tournament just for luck. However, those

days have passed.

“It’s not about superstition; it’s about actual talent,” Rivera said.

“Superstition is doubting yourself.”

That talent is what has allowed the Cheer Suns to achieve their awards. The team has gone to Nationals multiple times and attended the Cheerleading Worlds competition, where they had the opportunity to meet and compete against other cheerleaders from around the world. Rivera said the best part of meeting other coaches from around the world is that they are able to teach her things her coach may not.

Though she is taking it one step at a time, she has one constant priority when it comes to her future in cheerleading.

“I just want to do my best and walk off the mat without any regrets,” Rivera said.

With a positive outlook and dedication to her sport, Rivera looks forward to competitively cheering for many years to come.

Collins Cheer Graphics by Grace Hach Photo by Molly Lubbers

Q&A with Collins cheerleader What is your favorite part of cheerleading?

Probably getting to be a family with the team. You are with each other all the time, so you get very close.

What is a cheerleader’s goal or job?

Karina Gergely-Sanchez Junior

To be a leader in the school and a role model to other people, and get people to participate in school activities and to attend games.

What are some challenges you face?

Hitting our stunts and learning something new is hard, especially when you have to work a with a new group. Being at every practice or game even when you are sick is hard.

What is your goal for your cheerleading future?

I want to do it for the rest of high school, and cut it off there unless I find I can work with it in the future.

18

Spilled Ink Sports Directors drop ball with football movies Jan. 26, 2017

Joseph Mason

Managing Editor

How thoughtful of Draft Day to serve the applesauce of the NFL on an airplane spoon like we’re all babies. Of course, this applesauce is made with an abundance of artificial sweeteners and no homemade apples. So what’s exempt from this film is the concussion epidemic, the slew of domestic assault cases, or exploitation in general.

Instead, we get people complaining about the lack of “hot babes” in Cleveland, and a storyline about white men buying and selling African-Americans.

Kevin Costner’s performance as Sonny Weaver Jr, fictional general manager of the Cleveland Browns, is the best part of this sub-par movie. Most of this film takes place while the characters are on the phone, and Costner, for the most part, is on one end of the call. Director Ivan Reitman does his best to make these phone calls engaging by splitting the screen and having the actors walk past the other character’s screen. This could be the manifestation of Weaver thinking outside the box, but that would be giving too much credit to Reitman. In reality, he was probably thinking this would be a nice kinetic touch, and it is…at first. But then it happens again. And again.

The movie desperately wants to be Moneyball 2.0 but it is nowhere near that. Draft Day isn’t smart enough in its approach or its content. No general manager nonchalantly dangles first round draft picks out as trade-bait as they do in this movie, and the idea of the Browns having a competent GM is even more of a reach. Draft Day is a storebrand version of Moneyball—it’s bland and soggy.

While Draft Day was inspired by Moneyball, The Waterboy seems to be stimulated by the

singular football scene from Forrest Gump.

Adam Sandler plays Bobby Boucher, a dimwitted mam’s boy with a speech impediment.

The Waterboy was released in the midst of Sandler’s apex but it doesn’t quite reach the level of some of his peak movies. It can deliver a raucous two hours if you’re in middle school, but the laughs are scarce once you hit a certain age. This isn’t to say they aren’t there; you can still have a fun time with this movie. But to do this you have to be accepting of Boucher’s voice which is composed of a lisp, a whine, and a nasal grating.

And if you can’t stand his voice, you’ll have a tough time finishing the movie because it’s so profoundly conventional. Every turn and twist of the plot has been told in countless other stories, and the underlying sports movie formula leads up to The Big GameTM. Meanwhile,

Any Given Sunday is a legitimately enthralling film. It is the most energized piece of cinema coming out of Oliver Stone’s acclaimed oeuvre. It has the same runtime of Stanley Kubrick’s 2001: A Space Odyssey and the same editing style of an MTV music video. It’s clear Stone knew what he wanted with this movie; he wanted to create a clear polemic of what the NFL is while simultaneously comparing football players to gladiators.

Sunday is a bloated film but it has strokes of brilliance. Al Pacino gives one of his best performances in his role as head coach of the Miami Sharks Tony D’Amato. This is a role that could have been spoiled by any other actor.

And Pacino is excellently complemented by the star-making work of Jamie Foxx as thirdstring-quarterbackturned-overnightsensation Willie Beamen. Foxx has the charisma of a superstar and plays Beamen’s hothead personality to perfection.

But Foxx and Pacino aren’t the only big names, Cameron Diaz, James Woods, Jim Brown, and Lawrence Taylor also contribute exquisiteperformances.

Brown and Taylor— two of the greatest football players ever— surprisingly keep up with the rest of the cast, while Diaz is admirable as a cutthroat ahead-ofher-time owner of the Sharks. And Woods does what he always does (plays himself), but this time as a crooked team doctor, and he adds a prescient subplot to an already prophetic film.

This movie would have been a masterpiece, if not for the hyper editing and ridiculous handful of scenes.

Thereareover3,000cutsthroughoutthefilm,including a scene in which Stone constantly incorporates BenHur into a crucial dinner conversation to literally mirror the gladiator mentality that modern football has now.

Also a person’s eye pops out of his head during a football game. He’s going for the opposite of subtlety and you could say he succeeds in this, but to what end?

If not for the constantly moving camera and a couple of absurd scenes, Sunday could be a part of the pantheon of sports films.

IC T A EM

BL O R P

L L A B T O FO S FILM

FILM

SESSION

ns Tita Day ft ra e D h = g t in ll” er m.

“Last Ca ds 12 minutes talk emb th racis ft n e ra y p D m s a r. y ll e e a p sic und l wi =R great rap “Through the Kanye ba en S men. us” se dea g about the next Wire” = The v in ’s i e o lk h ta l e w G a K o ia an Waterboy e h g rc ye y t e e r u h raps this song m o n t B b o m a o f A c e r G i u o with his mout l “ o-ho ” = t Wil Meanwhile, A rfect th tw e a p w h wired shut. o is is y L o a B F l dam Sandler D u N does this entir Bri “W im F is abo how the n e e movie a with a grating n’s elc “Ultralight Beam” = Rudy ior D is song accent.

D o S n h a m t o This is Rudy’s part, nobody else speak. ng e t risti ure is t o H “Ch retty s he p ea m ’ I “ Cl “Ain se sadd rtbre ’t no ique” = L lf-e es ak b xp t sp ” = That ody f**** ittle Gian lan or ’s a q ts n ’ w ato ts fi Brian it uote from h my cliq ry. lm ’s S ue.”

Icebo ev x. er, ong so thi s is

Kanye West Songs as Football Movies

Graphic by Grace Hach

Spilled Ink

Perspectives

Jan. 26, 2017

19

Butting Heads Students should join activities of genuine interest Mackenna Rowe Staff Writer In too many scenarios, students join clubs and classes just to get a slice of pizza and put the experience on their college resume. Those students take away from the others who desire to get genuinely involved, instead of padding their resume.

Fine tuning a college resume by taking extra clubs, classes, or even joining teams is a well debated topic. Contrary to some beliefs, students should partake in activities through their school that they will enjoy, and not just for additional fillers for a college application.

Writing for your school newspaper, taking a leadership position, joining business clubs, playing music, and many other activities are all highly suggested for a college resume.

But why join the club or take the class if you won’t also enjoy it?

“I am involved many clubs and classes that I love so much,” freshman Alyssa Belanger explained. “I know that there are many people in some of those classes that don’t enjoy it as much as I do and I couldn’t imagine being in a class I don’t like. It also takes away from the ones who are trying to learn. I would agree that students should only take classes for their enjoyment and not for their college resume.”

Participating in a variety of clubs and should classes enhance your high

school experience. What you are passionate about now can also help you decide what you want to do in the future. So, it is imperative to take classes you can appreciate in the moment.

It is often difficult for students to focus during classes they aren’t interested in. Taking a class as a resume item risks failing the class due to lack of interest, defeating the original purpose.

You could also have a more difficult time learning in the classes you don’t enjoy; therefore, you would gain and learn more from the classes you desire. It is important to take time and enjoy what you’re doing in school.

FCHS has a wide variety of classes and clubs students can participate in so no one has to be stuck in painful situations just to h a v e impressive items on a resume.

•Join clubs, classes, and teams that you desire, not for a college resume.

•Enjoy the time and effort you put into high school.

•Get involved for your enjoyment.

Graphics by Kaitlyn Schmidt and Roland Tomsic

Extracurriculars offer competitive advantage Emily Kleckner Guest Writer Most of today’s high school students devote quite a lot of time to thinking about the future, and very justifiably so. At this point in time, our entire lives are laid out in front of us, ready for us to take control of them. Despite the fact that many of us haven’t even the slightest idea of what to do after we finally earn a diploma, there is a surefire way to put ourselves in the ideal position for the future once we figure it out.

Most colleges across America not only notice students who are simply involved in a variety of extra activities within the school and community, but they also actively seek students with multiple extracurriculars when reading applications. When picking from a pool of applicants, admissions officers are typically d r a w n to those who seem well rounded, responsible, hardworking, a n d motivated.

Summer jobs,

clubs, sports, volunteer work, etc. are all things that can be included on college applications, and any involvement counts.

According to the Yale admissions department, “You do not need to be president of a national organization to impress the admissions committee. But, the committee would like to see that you have spent time pursuing meaningful opportunities and that you have had a positive impact on people around you.”

Many students find themselves involved in extracurriculars for the sole purpose of polishing up an application, but they develop a passion for them in the process.

Though it may cause stress, students will also learn to correctly hone their time management skills to make the most efficient use of their busy schedule, which is an infinitely valuable life skill. The long-term benefits far outweigh the value of the small and temporary inconvenience.

Whether students take real and genuine interest in the topics they devote time to, or the activities are simply for the purpose of an application or resume, the effort is never wasted.

It’s only logical to take advantage of the easily accessible opportunities for the pursuit of selfbetterment while we still can.

•Because of grade inflation, students must set themselves apart from the competition in unique ways.

•Being involved in a wide variety of extracurricular helps students create a larger social group.

•Some activities can reinforce knowledge learned in the classroom.

20

Perspectives

Jan. 26, 2017

Tweets should present positivity, encourage political involvement

Walker Discoe

A&E Editor

Centuries of political discourse in America have shrunk to fit onto our phone screens. Social media is quickly changing the landscape of politics: Marco Rubio had a constantly updated Snapchat story on the campaign trail, Obama posts to his own Instagram, and now Donald Trump oversees his personal Twitter account.

Social media have become a powerhouse for showing a lighter side of politicians, fighting the traditional view that they are robots with pens and a little bit of power. But social media are being abused, and it’s because politicians have no idea how to use social media effectively. For social media to truly be effective on the political trail, accounts should be heavily curated, and politicians should try to present their better sides.

We’ve all seen our moms’ Facebook page. It might seem a little static, the comments are a little too sincere, and maybe she could do with not posting every photo she takes, but in the end, you know she has good intent, and that she’s just trying to connect with a few people. This is the way politicians should run social media. Posts should be a little bit cheesy, and maybe a little bit uncomfortable, reminding us that politicians are people too. Instead of tweets that make headlines and are meant to convey important information, Donald Trump, and politicians like him, should reserve social media for the lighter side of politics: what they did for MLK day, what their dog

looks like, or what they had for lunch, mixed in with positive politics, such as signing agreements with foreign leaders, or playing catch with the vice president on the White House lawn.

Social media can work for politicians, but only if they use platforms correctly.

According to a Pew Research Center survey conducted in January 2016, for those aged 30 to 49, social media ranked third as sources of information about the political campaign, behind cable TV and news websites. However, 35 percent of respondents between ages 18 and 29 said social media were the “most helpful” sources of information about the presidential campaign.

“I never really watch the news,” sophomoreWillLamperessaid.“WhenIhear about politics it’s either through friends or something like Snapchat. I would say I get a lot of my news through social media.”

The power of social media to impact voting tendencies is incredibly significant, and it could help politicians to embrace positive social media roles.

But it’s difficult to portray a positive side of someone who is routinely negative, spiteful, and vindictive.

Obama’s Instagram looks nice because he is a nice person. He really does enjoy playing with his dog or reading Where the Wild Things Are to a crowd of third graders, and his social media reflect that positivity. Obama is the golden example of not only what politicians should choose to share on social media, but how they should conduct themselves.

In an ever-changing landscape of political and social turmoil, we don’t need to be reminded that we have problems every time a politician comes through our feed. What we need to be reminded of are the nice things, and the ideas that are positive about America. Positive aspects of holding offices and campaigning have real power to impact voters, and politicians should use the power of positive social media to their advantage.

Spilled Ink

Top five most shared political tweets of 2016:

“To all the little girls watching...never doubt that you are valuable and powerful & deserving of every chance & opportunity in the world.”

– Hillary Clinton

“Delete your account” -Hillary Clinton

“TODAY WE MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!” -Donald Trump

“Happy 55th, Barack! A brother to me, a best friend forever” -Joe Biden

“This is an embarrassing night for America. We’ve let a hatemonger lead our great nation. We’ve let a bully set our course. I’m devastated.”

-Chris Evans

Nepotism discourages diversity, growth

Grace Hach

Graphic Artist

President Donald Trump has recently been accused of nepotism for bringing his children, particularly his oldest daughter Ivanka, who was formerly involved in running his business, into matters of foreign affairs. The familial involvement doesn’t end there. Trump has announced his intention to name Ivanka’s husband, Jared Kushner, as a senior adviser. This throws a hammer through standard policy of separation of business, family, and leadership.

The presence of family and friends throughout Trump’s company and cabinet raises

more justified apprehension about the ethics of hiring someone close to the boss, a practice commonly referred to as nepotism. Nepotism is the tendency of people in power, especially in a business setting, to unfairly favor those close to them, such as family and friends, often by offering them jobs or favors.

While it’s almost universally looked down upon, and rightfully so, unfair favoritism can still be legally practiced in almost every state.

However, the consequences of a legacy of nepotism stretch beyond the immediate effects of a single biased choice.

“The rate at which people hold the same occupations as their parents—sometimes even at the same company— provides another lens for thinking about how class status is passed down through generations,” business editor for the Atlantic, Joe Pinsker, wrote.

The enduring culture

of wealthy parents hiring their children goes beyond admiring children following in a parent’s footsteps and into the territory of a legitimate form of discrimination—one permitted by law. No federal law exists in the private sector condemning nepotism, so victims may have to rely on laws preventing discrimination by race or sex if possible as a workaround to end it.

The downfall of nepotism is clear: better qualified candidates are overlooked in favor of personal relationships.

Luckily, when John F. Kennedy appointed his brother Attorney General, a law was conceived preventing government employees from hiring family.

According to The Federal Anti-Nepotism Statute, “A public official may not appoint, employ, promote, advance, or advocate for appointment, employment, promotion, or advancement, in or to a civilian position in the agency in which he is serving or over which

he exercises jurisdiction or control any individual who is a relative of the public official.”

While this would make the hire of Kushner illegal, Trump has shown no indication of backing down.

This puts workers at a clear disadvantage when seeking justice for a problematic practice, and in cases of wealthy and powerful hirers, such as Trump, the lack of private laws preventing nepotism is dangerous and unfair.

Family and friends tend to almost always be raised in similar circumstances and therefore have like experiences and views. The issue stemming from the lack of differing viewpoints is especially clear in the context of an adviser. The position exists to inform the president of a variety of perspectives.

Donald Trump appointing family defeats the purpose of having an adviser, violates the law, and contributes to a willful continuance of ignorance.

Spilled Ink

Perspectives

Understanding gender, sexuality spectrum important for acceptance

Maya Bode Managing Editor I, The society we live in is obsessed with dichotomies: think of the two boxes for gender on applications and surveys, the signs that dictate which areas of a clothes store to shop in, the way we immediately assume people are gay if they are in a same-sex relationship or straight if they are in heterosexual one.

However, gender and sexuality are spectrums, and it’s critical to recognize this and move toward a society in which the existence of various identities is common knowledge, and diversity is celebrated rather than treated with caution or direct judgment.

Unfortunately, words like “genderfluid,” “pansexual,” or “non-binary,” are not widely understood, and the terminology can seem overwhelming or unfamiliar.

Definitions or explanations often have to be exchanged before it’s possible for two people to have a conversation on the topic, which only adds to the unwillingness or inability to fully understand these issues.

If schools incorporated the terminology into health classes, students who are confused or struggling with their identities wouldn’t have to do research to figure out whether there is a word for what they are experiencing, or whether they are alone. Even those who don’t think various identities apply to them should familiarize themselves with the definitions to fight the widespread ignorance and form a clearer understanding of the ways people around them might identify.

“It’s good information to have that has a lot of historical and rhetorical value to students,” senior Jazlyn Hancock, GSA President, said. “Not just in a sense of being respectful to others but in being more aware of the world around them.”

To create a more accurate idea of the world we live in, it would also help if there were more representation in the media. It is rare to see LGBT characters in movies and television, and when they do make appearances, they often embody every stereotype or only make an appearance for the sake of offensive jokes.

Being bisexual, I have personally experienced the benefits of representation and know the importance it can have. I was lucky to never feel like I had to be ashamed of my identity, but I didn’t feel proud or even fully comfortable with it until I came across examples of others like me, such as YouTuber Gaby Dunn, songwriter Dodie Clark, and activist RJ Aguiar.

Our tendency to assume someone is either gay or straight, sometimes known as Bi Invisibility when related to bisexuality, can make people feel like they have to pick a side, even if they’re not directly pressured to do so.

“There’s a lot of evidence about the

20 to 40 percent

of homeless youth are gay or transgender.

Information gathered by Adelaide Tomsic Sources: Nobullying.com, Williamsinstitute. law.ucla.edu, Huffingtonpost.com

psychological damage that is done when you try to get people to conform to certain preconceived notions rather than letting them express who they are,” language arts teacher Jason Clarke said.

The inadequacy of LGBT portrayals in the media not only impacts members of the LGBT community, but reinforces stereotypes and ignorance in everyone, making it difficult to have an accurate idea of what it means to be something other than straight and cisgender. When friends come out to you, they are introducing you to a corner of their identity, and it’s important to let them show you around rather than acting like you know the place better than they do.

“I have a friend who’s trans, and he does have some feminine characteristics about him, and sometimes his friends will be like, ‘Wait, but aren’t you trans?’ and it’s not their job as allies to police how he expresses his gender identity,” Hancock said. “Being open-minded and listening is the key.”

Part of being open-minded is loosening your expectations for the way gender, sexuality, or other aspects of identity are supposed to work.

“I think the less control and the less sort of rigid expectations that we impose on people, the more that we empower people to be comfortable in their own skin, the better off, really, we’re going to be,” Clarke said. “For everybody.”

Being aware and accepting of various identities is not just about being respectful to those who deviate from the socially accepted norm. Striving to normalize every identity and recognize that traits such as gender and sexuality exist on a spectrum will lead us to a culture that is dictated not by stereotypes and stigmas but by our appreciation for acceptance and diversity.

Jan. 26, 2017

21

By the Numbers

50 percent of

millennials believe that gender is a spectrum.

An estimated

700,000 Americans, or 0.3 percent of adults, identify as transgender.

42 percent of

LGBT youth say their community is not accepting of LGBT people.

22

Jan. 26, 2017

Perspectives

Spilled Ink

Academic inflation contributes to student stress

Grade inflation means more students are receiving higher marks, making candidates more difficult to differentiate by grades alone.

Tate Thurgood Staff Writer

Spending on facilities such as stadiums and luxury dormitories drive up the price of tuition.

Many students today find themselves constantly overwhelmed with advanced classes, sports, clubs, honor societies, and a slew of other extracurricular activities. These demanding schedules are in part due to an increased desire to meet the competition The median housecaused by academic inflation. hold income has Academic inflation grown 6.5 percent in is defined as when the past 40 years, and universities and jobs start the cost of in-state requiring higher education tuition has grown 15 and experience to heighten percent. competition—for example, a Prior to 1981, fast food restaurant changing the cost of tuition their hiring requirements to include was lower than the a degree. While it does help increase average hourly wage; competition to ensure skill of workers, however, since then, it also diminishes the importance the cost of tuition is of doing things for oneself and more than the has numerous harmful, longaverage lasting effects on students. wage.

Many students do far more in school than they can handle, and are implicitly taught they cannot have a good future if they don’t fill their

schedules, and that they are shortsighted if they want to be happy in the moment.

“It may make students here at the high school overextend themselves in the sense that they feel this obligation,” Assistant Principal Jennifer Roth said.

Students, especially those who already tend to go above and beyond school expectations, do more and more to appeal to colleges, even when the activities aren’t ones they have time for or are interested in using later in life.

There comes a point when students need to drop activities; however, many choose to lose their mental health instead, due to an implied notion that lessening their school load is shameful, that not doing everything is equivalent to failing, and will cause them to miss important opportunities down the line.

“So it’s no wonder kids are anxious, kids are stressed, kids are struggling, kids are self-medicating,” Roth said.

“All these things end up being bad choices because society’s taken away the choice for you guys to just be kids.”

Academic inflation and its expectation of doing more is one of the factors in teenage stress, which, according to a study done by American Psychological Association, is becoming increasingly worse. Nearly half of teens reported they weren’t doing enough to deal with stress, and 13 percent said they never set aside time to manage stress.

The competition in high school leading into college and on to higher degrees and jobs makes it even more

difficult to handle growing stress rates.

“It’s perpetuated, because it’s highly competitive to get into college and then even more exclusively competitive to get into graduate school,” Roth said.

This is one of the biggest issues with academic inflation—it doesn’t end. The minimum never stops rising, because as people reach the current expectations, the criteria are raised to create more competition.

As more academic expectations are required for college and employment, the time for students to do other hobbies, relax, or even just sleep falls away until it’s practically nonexistent.

Every action is expected to be taken with the consideration of how it could affect opportunities decades away. It creates a harmful idea that doing things for the moment, for oneself, is wrong or selfish or “wasting time,” which has negative impacts on self-worth and happiness.

“I would like my doctors to be the very best of the best selective people,” Roth said. “But at the same time, if every decision you make is solely for the purpose of getting ahead, I think you miss out on what you love.

“I think at some point you have to make choices from your heart and not from what society expects of you,” she added.

Dreams don’t have to be thrown away to succeed; not every moment of existence must be filled.

Sometimes it’s OK to stop thinking about later and be happy now.

Do you think academic inflation is a problem?

Why or why not?

Ry Sharane Freshman

Ryan Torrez

Kassidy Powers

“Yeah, it’s a problem. When more is required, more stress is put on students and it creates a hostile environment.”

“Too much competition is not really showing why you should get into colleges. It just means more work.”

Sophomore

“Academically, it can stress on people, but having that knowledge can help you in future jobs.”

Jenny Lopez

Junior

Senior

“It’s a problem because we are expected to do more and even qualified people may not have the most experience.”

Current punishment policy inadequate, creates negativity From the desire to avoid a bully, to the inability to afford transportation, to an anxiety disorder that makes coming to class close to impossible, many students face experiences that make them feel unwelcome at school.

The current punishments for students who miss school are not adequate, and do little to improve the situation or prevent it from reoccurring. In addition to the development of a more structured ISS atmosphere, the school should consider the possible root causes for truancy, or unexcused absences, and prioritize a supportive environment for these students.

Many are simply not familiar with the rules and policies, or do not realize the impact missing class can have on their experiences in high school as well as on their futures.

“The effects of lost school days build up one absence at a time on individual students,” according to the National Center for Education Statistics. “The disciplinary response to absenteeism too often includes loss of course credits, detention, and suspension. Any

absence, whether excused or not, denies students the opportunity to learn in accordance with the school’s instructional program, but students who miss school are sometimes further excluded from learning opportunities

this time as an opportunity to help these students. In addition to enforcing makeup work and offering help or tutoring options, ISS should be a place to discuss possible solutions, and cultivate a supportive and encouraging atmosphere. Honest dialogue about why students haven’t been at school will be more effective than simply punishing them, which will only create more negative experiences, and more of a reason to avoid school.

“Punishment and sanctions generally do not result in long-term improvement, and may make the problem worse,” according to Education Partnerships Inc. “If school is a place where a student comes to be punished, it won’t take long for him or her to stop coming at all.”

Consequences are part of what teaches a person right and wrong, and can ultimately lead to the proper or improper development of a person’s character and decision making. If FCHS starts adopting more thought-out programs to tackle truancy, our school could be a better proponent for academia and less of a home to empty classrooms.

STAFF ED. as

a consequence of chronic absenteeism.”

Too often, students are sent to in-school suspension after excess absences, only to sit in a desk and waste more time. To improve the school and encourage our students to strive for excellence, there should be a more logical consequence for ditching or other misdemeanors.

According to Education Partnerships Inc., sanctions work only when they include a productive, positive element as well. Instead of making students sit in a room for a couple of hours, the school should use

Perspectives

Spilled Ink

Jan. 26, 2017

23

Online classes offer schedule flexibility, personalization

Brooke Pippin Staff Writer

Students who struggle with a subject should be in an environment that helps them succeed and classrooms can be loud and distracting.

Online school removes many factors of classroom learning that can be perceived as negative. A student who has trouble in the traditional learning system may benefit from the structure of online school. Online classes have deadlines but can be built around the individual’s schedule. The added pressure of competition against peers is also removed. For example,

Quality education can be transmitted to students with them never leaving their bed.

In the age of technology, online classes are becoming more prevalent. The effectiveness of these classes has been questioned, but the result depends on the students and whether online school suits their learning style.

It’s a convenient tool for students who have many time commitments or struggle with deadlines. Students who have a busy schedule and need an off period to finish homework would be able to drop a class and take the class online over the summer, still earning the necessary credits.

Online classes offer flexibility and a way for students to tailor schedules around what they want to be doing, which could result in their having more enthusiasm for school. It then becomes possible to take more fun and interesting classes during the school day and get requirements done on their own time. It would allow students to be in a learning environment with others who have similar interests, and allow them to explore subjects they might want to further study in the future.

It not only allows them to focus on their ideal classes, but helps with actual concentration.

physical education is commonly dreaded in the public school system, as it can feel humiliating to display physical abilities in front of peers. Yet the school accepts credits from online wellness classes, offering a more comfortable alternative.

Before taking a course online, check with your counselor to see if the class is FCHS approved.

While researching these classes, it’s important to know where to look. FCHS accepts credits from the following online Universities: University of Nebraska, University of Colorado, University of Missouri and Brigham Young University. Although these are higher education institutions, their catalogs offer high school courses.

As well as taking courses through universities, students can take credit recovery schools 316,320 students attended online classes. If a student were to fail a class, instead of wasting time in the 2013-2014 school year. retaking it the next year, he or she can take it in personal lation is 16% of the U.S. K–12 student popu time and still be in a class that r schools is appropriate grade level. enrolled in online schools, charte Online classes are an option ls. oo or private sch that can fit and even improve the learning of certain types of students. High school can 30 states offer fully online statewide feel like there isn’t enough ls. schoo time to get everything done.

Giving students the ability to choose what they learn in school empowers and motivates them. Instead of confining students to one method of learning, we should allow multiple paths to the same content.

By the Numbers

Graphic by Grace Hach Information gathered by Brooke Pippin; Source: edtechmagazine.com

Letters to the Editor Spilled Ink wants YOU to write a letter to the editor!

2016-2017 3400 Lambkin Way, Ft. Collins, CO 80525

Editors Dalena Groen...Editor in Chief Maya Bode... Managing editor Joseph Mason... Managing editor Kaitlyn Schmidt... News editor Walker Discoe... A&E Editor Samantha Ye... In-Depth Editor Molly Lubbers...Sports Editor Adelaide Tomsic... Perspectives Editor

Realize that you have an opinion about something and want to address it in Spilled Ink.

Photographers

2

Write about your topic in 300 words or fewer.

Cat O’Hare Grace Hach

3

Sign it with your full name and grade.

1

4

5

Send it to fchsspilledink@gmail.com.

Read Spilled Ink monthly and watch for it to appear in any upcoming issues!

(970) 488-8199

Staff Writers

Seraphina Discoe Thany Dykson Brooke Pippin Mackenna Rowe Miles Rodriguez Roland Tomsic Joseph Vasseur Tate Thurgood

Annie Nay

Graphic Artists

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

Jan. 26, 2017

The Backside

Spilled Ink

What are your greatest hopes for 2017?

Alex McWilliams

Jordyn Johnson

Junior

Freshman

“I hope that everybody has a successful year.”

Alexander Gregory

“I want equality for Americans.”

Mischa De Irueste

Will Bush

Sophomore

Senior

Freshman

“To stay on track, keep my grades afloat”

“That it will be a better year overall.”

Denice Lastra

Sam Piotraschke

Sarah Way

Sophomore

Senior

Junior

“Im just excited for a better year.”

“I’ve signed up for the Navy.”

“I hope that we can make a more united community.”

“I hope to be the best person I can be.”

Spilled Ink is a five-year All-Colorado Newspaper 2010-2011

2011-2012

2012-2013

2014-2015

2015-2016