May 2022 USJ

Journal The Union St.

Better Make Room

Creek’s senior class covers the country

Cherry Creek High School 9300 E. Union Ave. Greenwood Village, CO 80111

Vol. 7 Issue 4 May 2022

SENIOR DAY: Seniors crowded into Post Grad Center on Thursday, April 28, clad in college gear and ready to celebrate their upcoming graduation. For seniors, traditions like Senior Day mark an important transition toward post-high school. A lot of seniors have chosen colleges or made plans for gap years, and it’s a season of joyful anticipation for many. “I’m looking forward to meeting new friends, and I’m looking forward to just seeing the world and stuff like that,” senior Kimmy Huckabee said.

Letter from the Editors

Well, it’s that time of year again.

Neither of us are actually graduating this year – we’re both juniors – but just like everyone else at Creek, we’re very wrapped up in the graduation/college process. Friends of ours are planning their post-high school lives, and even those of us for whom graduation is not imminent, the tests and application essays and college trips are all-consum-

ing. With this issue, we wanted to explore Creek’s post-high school trends.

We brought in statistics about Creek kids in college, the military, and elsewhere.

We are also aware of the issues affecting our community right now. Just a couple weeks ago, students around CCSD walked out or wore blue ribbons in support of a Grandview High School student who was sexually assaulted at school several months ago. This incident and the outrage following have shed some light onto the problems within the district, but there are also problems at a higher level. We used the staff editorial to talk through some of the issue and how it could be improved.

As always, we highlighted some lighthearted topics that we urge you to take a look at - mainly on the Arts and Entertainment

pages. Our editors compiled a list of concerts that are taking place at different venues around Colorado this summer, as well as their running column called “Best of the Worst” which focuses on Apple TV+ for this issue.

We’re really proud of this issue, and all of our past issues from this year. We owe a huge thank you to all of our editors and staff who give up so much of their free time to work on the USJ, especially during weeks that are overloaded with AP tests and finals. We hope you enjoy this issue as much as we do! Happy reading!

Carly Philpott & Raegan Knobbe

3 | May 2022

Staff Editors-in-Chief Raegan Knobbe & Carly Philpott Managing Editor Norah Rudnick

Opinions Editor Alex Gribb Business Manager Sydney Topelson

Features Editor Nick Rui

Staff Writers Gabby Clark Annabelle Crouch Olivia Darnel Finn Elliott Lydia Foster Ella Griffin Lou Leclercq Aurora Miller Lianka Pechova Laila Seddiki Anna Mae Simek

Sports Editor Adam Nowlin

Advisor Seth Fine

Design Editors Nick Rui Madison Seckman News Editors Amanda Castillo-Lopez Lily Deitch Emily Gleason

A&E Editors Aila MonLouis Katya Roudakov

PHOTO BY CARLY PHILPOTT

On The Cover Class of 2022, self-nicknamed “the cursed class,” is graduating. After almost three years in a pandemic, this class is finally getting to have a somewhat normal graduation. For the first time in two years, graduation will be held at full capacity without mask mandates.

The 949 seniors are covering the world next year by attending colleges in 40 states and four countries. The most attended college for the class of 2022 is the University of Colorado Boulder, just like many classes before them.

Seniors on the cover from left: Nate Meredith, Lauren Stromberg-Cotner, Anna Pumilia, Caroline Kohl, Karsen Kramer, Tyler Vanhare, Masha Osovskaya, Cassidy Wortmann, Grace Wiedt, Sarah Hoerger, Ruby Silverman, Tillie Cohen, Sammy Wallace, Chloe Ruvins, Lana Ades, Matthew Rui, Caroline McInnes, Vivienne Bersin, and Priya Bhavikatti.

Read more starting on page 10.

Purpose:

The Union St. Journal is the official online and print news source for Cherry Creek High School. We are a student-run publication distributed to the students, faculty, and staff of Creek, and serve as an information source and two-way communication forum for both the school and community. We welcome guest opinion writers. Content does not necessarily represent the views of Cherry Creek High School or the Cherry Creek School District. Opinion articles do not necessarily represent the overall views of The Union St. Journal, CCHS, or CCSD. Letters to the editor are accepted and can be submitted via email to creekusj@cherrycreekschools.org Letters may be edited for clarity.

COVER PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY MADISON SECKMAN

PREVIOUS EDITION CORRECTIONS Opener: Cherry Creek swimmer was printed as junior Teagan Steinmetz. The actual swimmer was junior Katie Cohen.

SOCIAL MEDIA: @creekusj

News

Features

5 - News in Brief 6 - Student Perception Survey Changes 7 - ILC Renovates East Courtyard

In-Depth

8 - Math Department Family Tree 9 - Senior Thespians Leaving Creek Theatre

7

PHOTO BY MADISON SECKMAN

9 PHOTO COURTESY OF ALEX BURKART

14 - Coach Marc Johnson 16 - Girls Soccer Recap 17 - Boys and Girls Lacrosse

10 - Creek Seniors by the Numbers 12 - Colorado Colleges 13 - Alternative Senior Plans

10

A&E

PHOTO BY CARLY PHILPOTT

14

PHOTO COURTESY OF MARC JOHNSON

18 - Recipes to Try Out This Summer The Best of the Worst: Apple TV+

19 - The Latest It Girl: ‘That Girl’ 19 - Six Concerts Coming This Summer

Sports

18

PHOTO BY KATYA ROUDAKOV

20 PHOTO BY ALEX GRIBB

Opinions 20 - Lack Of Support For Girls’ Sports 22 - Fast Fashion is Killing the Planet 23 - Staff Editorial: How Title IX Is Failing Sexual Assault Cases

Need More Content?

Visit unionstreetjournal.com

News: Creek Students Qualify for Speech and Debate Nationals

A&E: Olivia Rodrigo’s Sour Tour Comes to Denver

Sports: Girls Soccer Holds Off Arapahoe on a Windy Night

Opinions: The Premier of Marvel’s ‘Moon Knight’ Does Not Live Up to Expectations

Lianka Pechova

Adam Nowlin

Nick Rui and Aurora Miller

Alex Gribb

May 2022

News in Brief

NATIONAL

BY LILY DEITCH News Editor

In its 233 year history, April 7 was the first day a Black woman, Ketanji Brown Jackson, was elected to serve on the Supreme Court.

“The historic nomination of Judge Jackson is an important step toward making the Supreme Court look more like the nation as a whole,” the Committee on the Judiciary said.

Creek history and law teacher

Craig Clark agreed with this. He saw Jackson’s accomplishment as evidence of progress-- a way for the Supreme Court to highlight more of America’s viewpoints, diversity, and cultural backgrounds.

“She will prove as a role model for the next generation of African Americans [because] they will see despite some adversity they’re facing, what an accomplished professional…can achieve at the highest level in the legal system,” Clark said.

LOCAL

TAKING NEW STEPS: Ketanji Brown Jackson made history as the first Black woman to be elected to serve on the Supreme Court.

WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

LIFE AT CREEK

BY LILY DEITCH

BY EMILY GLEASON & LILY DEITCH

News Editor

News Editors

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE CDA

PIXABAY

JAPANESE BEETLE TAKEOVER: As summer approaches, gardeners prepare for the impending beetle damage.

As summer approaches with the vitality of plant life, gardeners and homeowners are growing weary of a well known season competitor: the ruthless Japanese Beetle.

“It’s [upsetting]. I mean, every year I work to try to grow all these plants, then mid late summer all of a sudden the beetles arrive and all the leaves get totally shredded and destroyed and then they start dying,“ senior Gunner Hodne said.

Currently, plant owners are facing what Colorado Department of Agriculture’s Cheryl Smith classified as “too many to count; probably millions” of Japanese beetles this year; and in beetle-dense areas, foliage is undergoing significant damage. Thus, as Creek’s Horticulture teacher Benjamin Hanson said: “they’re evil!”

“People have seen these bugs, but they don’t know what they’re called. And they don’t realize how common or how destructive they are,” Hanson said. “It’s definitely causing anger and frustration.”

Read the full story at unionstreetjournal.com

Some Creek students wore blue, black, and white clothing as well as teal ribbons on Friday, April 22, in order to show solidarity with a Grandview High School (GHS) student who was allegedly sexually assaulted several months ago.

Creek’s Student Senate handed out teal ribbon pins on the same day in order to show support for GHS’S walkout and for Sexual Assault Awareness Month.

“Creek wants to show that we stand with all victims whether they have told their story or not,” freshman Kimaya Kini said.

Students felt the walkout was necessary because they thought GHS had not done enough to protect the student who was assaulted. GHS said that Title

IX (a program that works to protect sexual assault victims) rules prevented the school from taking quicker action against the accused. Students also protested those rules and felt angered that the student had to continue seeing him around the school.

Even though Creek students could not participate in GHS walkout, many felt that the pins had a large impact across the school.

“I think a lot of awareness has been brought to sexual assault because I still see people wearing them on their backpacks every day,” Kini said via text. “More people [are] posting more contentOF CNBC about PHOTO COURTESY supporting survivors and addressing the issue which I’m so proud of.”

CREEK SHOWS SUPPORT: Students wore teal ribbons provided by Student Senate around school on Friday, April 22 to show solidarity with Grandview walkouts.

PHOTO BY AILA MONLOUIS

6 | News

Student Perception Survey Changes

BY LIANKA PECHOVA Staff Writer

T

he Student Perception Survey, which is sent to all students to give them an opportunity to evaluate their teachers, was sent April 26 after being postponed for two years due to COVID. “We want to ask kids for their feedback about their teachers so that we can help improve student learning,” Assistant Principal Marcus McDavid said. “It’s feedback about the teacher and the learning experience for the kiddos.”

Composite Results of Student Responses from 2019-2020

In this course, how often did the teacher care about my learning?

Never (1.3%) Rarely (2.4%) Sometimes (7.9%) Often (21%) Always (67.4%)

STUDENT PERCEPTION SURVEY DATA 2019-2020 GRAPH BY EMILY GLEASON & LIANKA PECHOVA

Although the survey has positive intentions, English teacher Stephany Shadwell believes that the survey doesn’t fulfill them and hurts students and teachers, as it is anonymous and doesn’t allow direct student-to-teacher contact.

“I think it’s awful that a school would sanction an activity that teaches kids that it’s okay to be disingenuous and comment about a person without honor and without any lessons to actually find meaningful ways to communicate authentically with [teachers],” Shadwell said over an email interview.

Science teacher Lindsey Paricio-Moreau, on the other hand, thinks that the survey is a good way to connect teachers and students.

“I think it’s easy for us to disconnect from what it’s like to be a student,” Paricio-Moreau said. “It’s really good to get the connection and be like, ‘This worked,’ ‘This didn’t,’ and [students] are living different high school experiences than we [teachers] do, so [students are] the best ones to tell us what works and what doesn’t.”

Although he agrees that the survey can benefit student learning and help students express their views, social studies teacher Fletcher Woolsey argues that the survey doesn’t provide enough opportunities for students to express themselves, which in turn skews the results.

“Students are the ones who have the most to gain or lose from our time in the classroom so they should be able

to express how they feel about the experience,” Woolsey said over an email interview.

“There are flaws, however. For one, the survey this year is not allowing for open ended questions. This does not leave students opportunities to express themselves. A student may rate a class as ‘Really Hard’ or a teacher’s homework load as being very high but then not have the chance to explain it.”

Some students also share the belief that a lack of free-response questions limits the evaluation teachers get from the survey.

“Students should have the option to give written explanations of their thoughts and experiences with each teacher,” freshman Garrett Rymer said. “This will provide teachers with a much more specific idea of where their strengths and weaknesses lie in their teaching abilities and give them a much better understanding of how to improve.”

The Student Perception Survey was put on hold during the COVID pandemic and was brought back this year, with hopes of it becoming biannual so that teachers who teach semester-long classes can also receive feedback.

“We can get big level feedback [through the surveys] about what’s going on around the school so that we can try to help our students and our teachers to be better at helping kids learn,” McDavid said. “So I’m excited about the limitless opportunities that are associated with getting feedback from students about their learning experience.”

RATING TEACHERS: Students in Kim Dertinger’s fourth period Calc BC class take the Student Perception Survey, which is designed to help both students and teachers. “Unless you end up having the same teacher down the road, it doesn’t really have an effect on us [students], [but] the survey does give us the chance to express our feelings and concerns that we’ve had throughout the school year,” freshman Garrett Rymer said.

PHOTO BY MADISON SECKMAN

ILC Renovates East Courtyard

May 2022

With the help of student volunteers, the project hopes to be finished by next fall

relax.”

Some students look forward to having the new he ILC* program has been working on space to relax during their renovations in the East Courtyard in or- downtime. der to teach ILC students life skills while also “It’s not just for students making the courtyard more accessible for all in the ILC program but students. The process of renovation started anyone who just needs a in November of last year and is well under- space to decompress and way. spend some time during “I wanted to create an opportunity where the day,” freshman Kimastudents in our ILC program can work ya Kini, a student involved alongside typical peers in an inclusive way,” in the project through Stusaid Katheryn Canham, the Special Educa- dent Senate, said. tion Teacher in the ILC program. “My hope Due to the weather getis that students in the ILC program can de- ting warmer, the group velop meaningful relationships with stu- has recently strengthened dents throughout the campus and be a larger efforts to get more volunpresence throughout Cherry Creek High teers from different clubs School.” such as NHS and senate.

Canham believes that regular interaction “Hopefully students with Gen Ed students** in a safe setting can from our ILC department will get to enjoy help ILC students develop socially. the space, while also learning valuable life “Because of social skills deficits and cog- skills,” Keogh said. “They also will get to nitive function, meaningful friendships can spend some time outdoors.” be difficult for them to develop even though However, this project has slowed down they want the same meaningful friendships since they still need to raise money to make as everyone else,” she said. “Some [Gen Ed] the wanted changes. Even with the $1,500 peers have joined our programs such as they raised from the Chipotle Fundraiser Open Arms Club [and] and the Special Olympics ILC Prom, and have realPolar Plunge, they still “We hope to create an ly advocated for our kiddon’t have enough. inviting space where all dos to be more included “We are getting a students can study or relax” throughout the campus.” quote for the [pathway] The outcome of the to make the space fully SAS Teacher renovation is also meant ADA accessible***, but I Katheryn Canham to help ILC students. would imagine it will be Over spring break, Activseveral thousand dollars,” ities Director Krista KeCanham said. ogh helped secure funding from the district If students would like to help with renovafor a ramp to be installed in the courtyard to tions, they can join the remind @eastcourt, make the space more accessible for students or email kcanham@cherrycreekschools.org. with wheelchairs.

“They have been wanting to use the space *ILC: An educational program for their classes for a while, so we are trying where Cherry Creek students with to help make that a reality,” Keogh said. disabilities take steps towards The program has also been cultivating a self-reliance. new garden, as well as restoring plants that **Gen Ed students: Students outside are already there. According to Canham, of the ILC. they also have plans to install tables for ***ADA accessible: Compliant with studying and a hammock. the Americans with Disabilities Act “This space has been neglected for a long Standards for Accessible Design. time,” Canham said. “We hope to create an inviting space where students can study or

BY GABBY CLARK & LYDIA FOSTER Staff Writers

T

PHOTO BY MADISON SECKMAN

UP TO CODE: Students and teachers work to install a ramp in the East Courtyard. The ramp, which is being smoothed out to meet necessary standards, will cost around $5000. “We still need to put in a pathway as one of our students in a wheelchair got stuck today,” Canham said. “All of our students worked together to organize stones so that his wheelchair could make the clearance.”

Continued renovations to the East Courtyard are expected to cost thousands of dollars.

8 | Features

How the Math Department Factors Out Did you know?

Many of Creek’s math teachers are related to each other.

The department is home to sisters, twins, and spouses.

Math Bus

BY RAEGAN KNOBBE & MADISON SECKMAN

“We get teased quite a bit about the math bus as we sometimes call it, because sometimes Mrs. Meyer and Mrs. Peterson and I will drive together because we live within walking distance of each other, we’re that close.”

- Math Teacher Tim Peterson

Editor-in-Chief & Design Editor

2022

∑

2022

Petersons married = 30 years

∑ yr=0

yr=0

McDavids married = 21 years

Kathi Meyer and Kari Peterson’s maiden name was Peterson, so both sides of the family tree have the last name Peterson.

Attended Junior and Senior Prom together at Creek before they graduated in 1995

Meyer=Peterson+15 minutes

2022 2022

∑

Dertingers married = 18 years

yr=0

The Dertingers met during their first year at Creek in a new teacher meeting

∑

Goegleins = 25 years married

yr=0 lim Love = Highlands Ranch HS Mrs. Goeglein → Mr. Goeglein

Peterson and Meyer’s mom did not know she was pregnant with twins until she was giving birth and the doctor heard two heartbeats

(Where Dara Goeglein was a track coach and Mike Goeglein was an athletic trainer)

2022

∑

“It’s convenient to be able to talk about things that are going on that night and who’s picking up who, where, and when, with our kids. Honestly, I don’t know any different because I met him here and we got married, so I don’t know what it’s like to not work with him, you know?”

- Math Teacher Kim Dertinger

Same Person?

“For the first several years, I taught the morning time, she taught the afternoon, and we literally would swap kids out in the parking lot. And I would pick them up she would come in and teach and I would take them out and do their afternoon stuff. There were a lot of people that didn’t know there were two of us. Kids would come in and they’d be like, ‘um, Mrs. McDavid, I have a question’ [thinking I was my sister] and I’m like, ‘Okay, I don’t know who you are.’”

- Math Teacher Dara Goeglein

Lefebres married = 28 years

yr=0

Married at Creek

The Lefebres have a dog named Yoshi

High School Sweethearts

“We met in a class called Human Diversity. I walked into the class late and I saw Brynn Thomas [then Brynn Reevie] so I sat by her and then my wife turns and says, ‘Hey, who’s that?’ And Brynn said ‘this is Marcus.’ We knew of each other prior to that moment, but we had never met each other.”

- Assistant Principal Marcus McDavid

Elementary Sweethearts

ART BY MADISON SECKMAN

“We actually went to grade school together but we really didn’t know each other until she was a sophomore and I was a junior in high school. We didn’t really date until my senior year a little bit. We did go to college together for three years.”

- Math Teacher Cory Lefebre

Passing the Baton: Senior Thespians Talk Leaving Creek Theatre

BY CARLY PHILPOTT & NORAH RUDNICK Editor-in-Chief & Managing Editor

“P

romise to love you forever more...”

Confetti flutters down from the catwalks as the cast of “Mamma Mia!” takes the stage for the show’s final number, “Waterloo.” For a quarter of the cast, this will be their last time onstage at Creek.

It’s an annual tradition: seniors aren’t allowed to participate in the final spring play of the school year. A smaller production, the spring play is partly meant to allow next year’s seniors to step into leadership roles and to test the functionality of the theatre without its biggest leaders. But for the current seniors, this means watching as the show goes on without them.

“Post-‘Mamma Mia!,’ I’m feeling really bittersweet,” said senior Alex Mitchell, vice president of Creek’s Troupe 1730. “But I feel so lucky it happened. My mom always used to tell me this [Dr. Seuss] quote: ‘Don’t cry because it’s over. Smile because it happened.’

That’s how I feel.”

“Mamma-Mia!” featured 16 seniors, many of whom had leadership roles on the cast or crew. One senior, Miranda Joyce, starred as Donna Sheridan, a dream role for them, in the musical. For Joyce, saying goodbye to Creek theatre with Donna came with a bag of mixed feelings.

“It was a perfect ending to my Creek the-

May 2022

atre experience,” Joyce said. “I have never felt to be so proud of these people who you’ve so creatively fulfilled. I feel like that little girl grown to love [and] are now graduating and watching Meryl Streep on her living room going on to do incredible things.”

TV has finally gotten her dreams. It was inFor the seniors, it’s also a bittersweet expecredibly emotional for me throughout the rience to watch the juniors take over the thewhole process, and although saying good- atre. Many have high hopes for the future of bye to Donna and Creek theatre in tandem the program and those in it, expressing that is sort of painfully heartbreaking, it was the the juniors were already doing an amazing most gratifying and satisfying way to go out.” job with “Eurydice.”

In the final performance of the year, “EuSenior Ren Becerra was the Assistant rydice,” juniors in the Choreographer for theatre program take “Mamma Mia!” and “My mom always used to tell over crew head and spent some time onme this [Dr. Seuss] quote: stage management postage with the ensem‘Don’t cry because it’s over. sitions and often star in ble during the show. the show. Two seniors, “Coming completely Smile because it happened.’

Amanda Joseph and off of COVID protoThat’s how I feel.”

Mitchell, remained on cols, I have big aspirathe production as assotions and expectations Senior Alex Mitchell ciate directors. Others for what Cherry Creek assisted in the producTheatre can achieve, tion some way or another, often because they and I know they’ll exceed expectations,” were on the Troupe 1730 board, like seniors Becerra said.

Sara Manos and Lizzie Esses. But for the juEven leaving theatre is an extremely gratniors, this means taking over in ways they ifying experience, watching people grow to haven’t yet. fit the mold of leading the theatre and seeing Junior Amelia Mindlin-Leitner was stage them succeed is a good way to round out the manager for “Eurydice,” having spent “Mam- senior’s experience at Creek. ma Mia!” as assistant stage manager under “It feels great to watch troupe members Esses. “It is incredibly intimidating to [stage step into positions they have been preparing manage] after an awesome [stage manager] for,” Esses said. “I’m very proud of the work like Lizzie,” Mindlin-Leitner said. “Then all they are putting into leadership, especially of a sudden, [the seniors] are gone and you’re because the production process for [Euryin charge. It’s not all bad though. You do get dice] is very short.”

Seniors: What’s your favorite part of Creek theatre?

“I love so many parts of theatre, but especially just getting to go there every day after school to make art with my friends and so many people who are so unbelievably passionate about what they do!”

– Costumes Designer Sara Manos

“My favorite part of theatre is all of the fun memories that I have made. Theatre is great because every day I get to go and do what I love with my best friends. No matter how bad my day has been, I am always looking forward to going to theatre and having fun.”

– Engineering Set Designer Dylan List

“The last ‘Dancing Queen’ (during the bows) was one of my favorite parts [of the musical] because I really got to appreciate my last show on the Creek stage, and say goodbye to my Dynamos.”

– “Mamma Mia!” star Lexi Casey

10 | In-Depth

Class of 2022 Post High School Plans

May 2022

By The Numbers

BY RAEGAN KNOBBE, MADISON SECKMAN, SYDNEY TOPELSON, & AURORA MILLER Editor-in-Chief, Design Editor, Business Manager, & Staff Writer

DISCLAIMER: Data based on 454 responses to senior surveys reported as of April 29.

The USJ thanks Christine McGill and Raquel Isenhart from Post Grad for their help ADDITONAL CONTRIBUTIONS BY LYDIA FOSTER, LOU LECLERQ, ANNABELLE CROUCH, ADAM NOWLIN, & GABBY CLARK

Student Athletes 55

Senior Athletes

Average Out of State vs in State Tuition

949

Students in 2022 senior class

Total Scholarship Money Received

6M+

$48,510 Colorado Out of State

4

949

136

states attended students in the senior class

Average Tuition in the US Private

40

Public

$12,320

37

students accepted

by Ivys

11

students committed to Ivys

Division I Athletes

“I chose SDSU because it had the smoothest transition from high school to college for me. They are well known for their styles of training and sending many athletes to the NCAA, which is a goal of mine.”

Liberty Edwards

countries attended schools attended

21

PHOTO COURTESY OF LIBERTY EDWARDS

Sports with the most signers: 1. Football 2. Track & Field 3. Swim & Dive

12 | In-Depth

Seniors Attending College in Colorado Top 5 Schools Students Attend in Colorado

1. University of Colorado Boulder

84 CU Boulder

$10,248

Boulder

Student-Faculty Ratio

Average College GPA

Average Tuition

25 CSU

18:1

11 MSU

3.66

“I chose CU Boulder for the atmosphere and academics. I am a very social person and love the college town culture of Boulder. I also plan on rushing, so Greek life was also a very big selling point for me. Boulder is also a highly regarded university and offers opportunities for amazing education.”

7 Arapahoe Community College 6 University of Denver

Location

0

25

50

75

Erin Andrzeicik

100

2. Colorado State University

3. MSU Denver

Average Tuition

Location

Average Tuition

Location

Student-Faculty Ratio

Average College GPA

Student-Faculty Ratio

Average College GPA

$9,152 17:1

Fort Collins 3.69

$8,151 22:1

Downtown Denver 2.97

“I chose MSU because I wanted to play at a good baseball program and stay as close to my family as I can. I would say I am most excited to make some new friends and experience some new things.”

“CSU is a great program that will encourage me to continue to study and do well in a future career. I also wanted somewhere not everyone wanted to go to, so I think I kind of got the best of both worlds at CSU.”

Codi Trebelhorn

Kaden Reevie

4. Arapahoe Community College

5. University of Denver

Average Tuition

Average Tuition

$3,469

Student-Faculty Ratio

23:1

Location

Littleton Average College GPA

Unspecified

“I picked ACC because it’s cheaper for pre-reqs and the traditional college route isn’t for everyone.”

Brooke Mumfrey

Location

$49,392

Denver

Student-Faculty Ratio

Average College GPA

18:1

3.49

“I picked DU because I loved how close it was to home and how pretty the campus was. It had all the programs I wanted, and their study abroad program really interested me.”

Romina Dadkhah

Seniors With Non- Traditional College Plans Four Choices Besides College Gap Year

Military

Work Year

Career Education

GAP YEAR

Average Starting Salary After High School in Colorado

students taking a gap year

$35,565

CREEK’S MILITARY Touring with Disney On Ice “I’m looking forward to meeting new friends, and I’m looking forward to just seeing the world and stuff like that with [Disney On Ice]. I’m looking forward to continuing to skate after school, which I love.”

PHOTO BY CARLY PHILPOTT

28

Kimmy Huckabee

May 2022

Data as of May 3.

2

students joining the military

1

student attending military school

1

student earned Army ROTC scholarship

Hunting in Northern Norway “I’m going to be living above the Arctic Circle. So since I’m going over going over the winter, every night, I’m going to see the northern lights and all that cool stuff. I love hunting. So it’s going to be a lot of fun, the whole trip.”

PHOTO BY CARLY PHILPOTT

Gunnar Hodne

“I chose CGA for the community and life long friendships. I knew that the Coast Guard was perfect for me after I went to a mini swab in July of 2021. I made some amazing friends and learned so much about the Coast Guards goals and future. I can’t wait to get started this year and be a part of a strong community and help preserve our planet for as long as possible.”

Claire Semerod

CCIC Students’ Future Plans CCIC is a stand-alone college and career preparedness facility. Seniors who have participated in the program have had hands-on experience for fields they plan to study in college.

“I’d say I’m excited for the next chapter of my life but the senioritis is crippling right now. CCIC was a great experience and allowed me to focus on what I wanted to do so I’m excited to dive deeper into my interests in college.”

Logan Milanovich

“I am in the Hospitality and Tourism Pathway at CCIC which is a part of the Hospitality Youth Apprenticeship class.

Next year I am attending Michigan State University to study Hospitality Business, and I plan on becoming an event planner. CCIC has been a highlight of my high school experience - it has been an amazing opportunity for me to gain valuable experience in the hospitality industry.”

Hannah Cantor

PHOTOS COURTESY OF ALL PICTURED SENIORS

14 | Sports

Coach Marc Johnson Continues To Spread Positivity

BY NICK RUI Design and Features Editor

“T

here will always be someone who tells you you can’t do something.

Your mission is to prove them wrong,” Creek’s baseball head coach Marc Johnson posted one morning on Twitter.

Despite his decorated status as the winningest coach in Colorado high school sports history, an inducted member of the Colorado Sports Hall of Fame, and the countless number of collegiate and MLB athletes he has produced, Johnson still remains an influential source of encouragement for his players, both on and off the field. “‘Coach J’ is a mentor for me and so many other kids,” senior Kyle Barkley said. “We all know that we can trust him with pretty much anything…He has not only helped me with skills in baseball, but he has taught me how to be a better person in life.”

Johnson came to Creek after serving in

the army in 1971. Now, Johnson is one of the them going forward in their adult life.” longest serving staff in the district, with this Johnson tries to build strong and lasting year being his 50th. relationships with his players, even after they “When I first started here, [Creek] was a graduate. cowboy school; it was in the middle of no“[Johnson] does the best that he can to where,” Johnson said. “ I’ve been through find positions for his players at the college several superintendents, several principals. level and also at the professional level,” reI’ve been around for quite a while.” tired associate head coach Mark Kimminau Over his years at Creek, Johnson has said. “He goes up and beyond to try to help taught physical educathem extend their cation, coached soccer, reers as long as possible.” and coached baseball. “What makes Coach Johnson However, according to Despite retiring from stand out is that he has a genJohnson, building sucthe former two, Johnson uine love for kids.” cessful baseball careers continues to lead the is far from his job as a baseball team “for two Associate Head Coach coach. reasons: because I love “Everybody thinks Mark Goldsberry kids, and I love baseball.” [coaching] is about wins “I think what makes and losses but truthfully, Coach Johnson stand out it’s about trying to make is that he has a genuine love for kids,” asso- a difference in somebody’s life,” Johnson said. ciate head coach Mark Goldsberry said. “He “It doesn’t matter if the players play in the is always looking out for their best interest. big leagues or don’t play in the big leagues…

He’s more concerned with what happens to [baseball] is a part of a young man’s life, and

Coach Marc Johnson Through the Decades

1973 - Johnson’s first year as Head Coach for Creek baseball. Since then, Creek has never had a losing season.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF MARC JOHNSON TIMELINE BY NICK RUI

1983 - Johnson named Colorado High School Coaches Association’s “Coach of the Year.”

May 2022

After Half a Century of Coaching hopefully I’ve been a positive influence.” that his athletes put their best self forward Recently, starting with the beginning of while performing at a strong level. the COVID-19 pandemic, Johnson has ex“Most coaches definitely get caught up in panded his goals to be a positive influence to the game and only care about winning, but Twitter, where he tweets a “positive thought ‘Coach J’ has always had the priorities to for today” every morning make us better people,” on his account (@jbird- “Everybody thinks [coaching] Barkley said. coach). is about wins and losses, but “Everybody is look- truthfully, it’s about trying to ing for inspiration and make a difference in someencouraging words, [so] that’s why I went to Twit- body’s life.” ter,” Johnson said. “Everybody was down and Head Coach upset with the pandemic Marc Johnson [and] I’m just trying to put out some positive thoughts to people to keep [them] goMarc Johnson’s Career Stats ing and working.”

Through his inAmerican Baseball Coaches Hall of Fame Eight Baseball spiring tweets and State Titles selfless attitude, Colorado Sports Hall of Fame Johnson makes sure

Five Boys’ Soccer State Titles

1996 - Johnson (#1) leads Creek to an undefeated season, winning a state title for the second year in a row. Later on, Creek wins three more consecutive state titles, giving Creek an impressive five-peat.

CHSAA Hall of Fame Colorado Dugout Club Hall of Fame

2009 - Johnson finishes the season with a career record of 611-143.

2021 - Johnson sets a state record with his 808th career win.

PHOTO BY LIANKA PECHOVA

16 Sports

Creek Girls’ Soccer Regular Season Recap

BY ADAM NOWLIN & FINN ELLIOTT Sports Editor & Staff Writer

CREEK BEATS EAGLECREST 4-0

REGULAR SEASON RECAP OVERALL RECORD: 11-3-1 LEAGUE RECORD: 6-1 STATE RANKING: 7 NATIONAL RANKING: 98 POINTS FOR: 58 (IN 15 GAMES) POINTS AGAINST: 8 (IN 15 GAMES)

PHOTO BY ALEX GRIBB

KEEP AWAY: Freshman mid-fielder Bethany Bennett keeps the ball away from an Eaglecrest player in Creek’s 4-0 win over Eaglecrest on Tuesday, April 26. After the game, head coach David Gamelin made sure to establish that, win or lose, the most important thing is ”we improve as a team” as they prep for state.

CREEK BEATS ARAPAHOE 1-0 Girls’ soccer has been dominating all season, and their impressive PF to PA ratio is telling of what this squad is capable of in their run for state.

Of their 11 wins, they had ten shutouts and starting goalkeeper Gabby Sabatier has been in the net for each of those wins. They look to continue their streak of dominance behind their strong defensive star and to ultimately capture state from the hands of defending champions Broomfield.

PHOTO COURTESY OF LISA D’AMBROSIA

FAST BREAK: Midfielder Alyssa Glover dribbling the ball downfield at full sprint. Glover had the lone goal in their shutout win over Arapahoe on April 8. “[Alyssa] got open with a left foot shot,” head coach Dave Gamelin said. “The wind helped carry it into the right corner.”

May 2022

The Crosse-roads of Success

BY ADAM NOWLIN Sports Editor

Boys’ Lacrosse

S

eniority is a huge factor for boys’ lacrosse in their quest for State Championship. Of the 36 athletes on varsity, 25 are upperclassmen.

This provides an increased chance of a deep playoff run this year, considering many have been varsity athletes for multiple years, such as senior Kevin Maloney, senior Thomas Power, and another of the captains, senior Sawyer Brewer.

With the veterans prepared, it’s looking like the seniors are ready for one last push for State.

The team has gone berserk, going 12-1 and undefeated in league play. They remain first in the 5A division and regionals are around the corner.

“We’re a championship contender for sure.

We definitely turned it on in the first half,” Brewer said. “If we can play like the first half, we’re chilling.”

With fewer freshmen than usual and more upperclassmen, the team has found it important to make the sometimes intimidated underclassmen feel welcome and comfortable in their new environments as they prepare them for the challenges they’ll face on the field.

“We’re super tight knit and we preach that we’re a family,” Brewer said. “A lot of underclassmen seem a little intimidated… we’re just bringing them in.”

Harry Maloney

PHOTO COURTESY OF CLAIRE SEMEROD

T

Girls’ Lacrosse

PHOTO BY ADAM NOWLIN

SPRINTING TO A WIN: Creek players sprint downfield after a steal results in a fast break during the first half of Saturday’s game against Air Academy. Creek took the win in an 18-4 domination on April 30.

“I think this blend of classes has greatly benefited the teams success,” sophomore Coco Katskee said. “Games like this have really shown the chemistry is so much stronger with all [of us].”

he boys may have the upperclassmen advantage but the girls seem to have the upper hand in terms of scoring ability. The upper and lower class ratio is nearly split, with 12 upperclassmen and 11 underclassmen on the squad. And this has led to some blowouts so far.

In the first three games, they beat teams by up to 15 goals, and scored over 20 goals in three of their first five games.

This trend of blowouts carried into their final few games of the regular season, which was shown during their 18-4 beat-down of Air Academy on April 30.

As the season comes to a close, the squad’s 11-3 record landed them at 4th in the state and second in the 5A East division.

“When I was a freshman, I remember having so much trouble connecting with the older girls,” captain Lily Assini said. “This year the freshmen are really close with everyone.”

As long as the girls continue dominating their opponents, they’ll keep on proving the importance of blending the classes for increased chemistry.

“When we are out on the field, the age and grade is disregarded,” Assini said. “Everyone is expected to step up and be a leader.”

18 | A&E

The Best Of The Worst:

Recipe s to Try Ou t This Summer

See full recipes by scanning QR code

BY KATYA ROUDAKOV A&E Editor

Apple TV+

Raspberry Lemonade

BY LYDIA FOSTER Staff Writer

Invasion 20min This lemonade is easily adjustable to be as sweet, sour, lemony, or raspberry-y as you want, and the perfect beverage to cool you down on a hot summer day. If you don’t have a lemon squeezer, you’ll be getting a great upper body workout, too! Make sure to serve with ice, since this comes out concentrated.

This show is supposed to have an alien, dystopian vibe, not a soap opera feel.

As far as I can tell, the plot for this show will never come.

Elevated BLT

See 15min It’s almost unbelievable how much better this is than an average BLT, and it only takes a few more minutes and a little bit more effort. Turns out, sriracha mayonnaise is the perfect condiment for a BLT, and baby arugula is the easiest way to upgrade a dish from mediocre to fancy.

Key Lime Cookies

While the idea was somewhat interesting, the execution is mediocre. The pacing is erratic and the action is boring and basic.

Truth Be Told

23min These are easy to make, sure to please, and the perfect snack to round out a long summer day. A zingy, citrusy glaze provides balance for a sweet and buttery cookie, and they’re so light that it feels like you could eat a whole plate in one sitting.

Most true crime shows stand out because they are bold and revolutionary but this one is just dull, even with its overqualified cast.

APPLE TV+

To read the Full recipes, scan QR code ART BY KATYA ROUDAKOV

May 2022

The Latest It Girl: ‘That Girl’ TikTok’s newest lifestyle practice

BY AILA MONLOUIS A&E Editor

“T

hat girl” wakes up early in her crisp, clean room to meditate and show gratitude first thing in the morning. “That girl” has the perfect routine, day and night.

“That girl” has her life together. Being “that girl” is a lifestyle.

Similar to a VSCO girl, being “that girl” has taken over social media apps like TikTok and Instagram like a storm. The #thatgirl tag has over 3.6 billion views on TikTok, consisting of videos of girls living their “best life.”

With healthy routine tips as well as healthy food ideas, it has caught the eyes of many trying to live their life contently and mindfully.

“I think that it’s really important to take care of ourselves and be the happiest we can be. And so if people have the motivation to do that, then that’s awesome,” junior Sienna Ball said.

Of course with a trend comes some distaste and “that girl” can be seen as fluff.

Things like “that girl only eats celery” are thrown around while creating the presumption that you have to be healthy all the time.

“I think it embraces a really healthy lifestyle where everything is sunshine and rainbows, which is great most of the time, but I think that it’s unrealistic because that’s not always a constant thing,” sophomore Elena Pombo said.

Lifestyle trends like “that girl” come and go with many participants, with only some who incorporate it into their day-to-day lives through developing this one idea of how people should be. Despite that, it can be recognized that it doesn’t work for everyone.

“If you feel like it would be right for you to be that type of person, then it would be cool to strive to be like that. But if it’s not meant for you, then that’s okay too,” freshman Joelle Won said.

I am living a life full of purpose

ART BY AILA MONLOUIS

Six Concerts Coming This Summer The perfect way to spend a summer night

31 May Blackbear $71-$204

Red Rocks Amphitheatre

6:30PM

7

7:30PM

5 Seconds of Summer $175-$433

Fillmore Auditorium

6:30PM

August

Machine Gun Kelly $55-$325

Ball Arena

22 June

16 August

2

July

Wallows $64-$205

Mission Ballroom

8:00PM

18 August

Big Time Rush $35-$1000

The Weeknd $50-$4000

8:00PM

6:30PM

Levitt Pavilion

Empower Field

INFOGRAPHIC BY KATYA ROUDAKOV

HOW DO YOU START A CHANT WITH FIVE PEOPLE ?

20 | Opinions

People don’t go to women’s sports, and it all stems from misogyny.

Only a few students showed up to the women’s varsity soccer match against Eaglecrest on March 26, despite a 4-0 win.

PHOTO BY ALEX GRIBB

May 2022

BY ALEX GRIBB

I

Opinions Editor

t’s 7:15 pm at Creek’s South gym. You’re only came to that state game,” Masters said. get kids there. It just makes you want to play starting warm-ups, with loud rap muThis introduces the most controversial harder,” Evans said. sic blaring in your ears. The game is about conversation surrounding women’s sports: It obviously means a lot to the game itself, to start, and you look at the packed student basketball. It has been said by many basket- but it means even more to the players.“When section. This is the dream for any women’s ball fans that the women’s game is less enter- we had a big student section last year, that sports team at Creek. A dream, that’s more taining, but that is simply untrue. “I think we was my favorite thing ever,” Masters said. But of a fantasy. purposefully try to play a style that is more if the solution will not come in the form of It is no secret that Creek’s athletics are in- fun to watch. We try to play fast. We play de- revolutionary student support, it has to come sane and that both women’s and men’s sports fense hard,” Evans said. “I think if you have a from somewhere else. excel consistently. But it goes beyond just the group of kids that are committed to sharing Lengwin proposes a solution: “I would player’s excellence; it extends to the student the ball, and playing really really hard, it’s a say have the girls support the girls more. If section. If you ask any boy player at Creek if lot of fun to watch.” girls started to go to more girls’ games, that’d they expect people to come to their games, The quality of basketball doesn’t decrease be a good way to start the section,” she said. the answer would be yes. The same could not with a different gender, even if the quantity But ultimately, Lengwin feels as though this be said for their girl counterparts. of sports fans does. The girl’s basketball team pressure falls on the students of Creek, and “It’s just like fluffy mithis year was ranked she’s right. “The students ourselves are resogyny. You know, it’s just higher than their male sponsible because we think the boys’ games an excuse for [not go- “For the girls’ basketball sea- counterparts. would be way more fun when they’re just ing],” senior Louden James son, there would maybe be a According to Den- not,” Lengwin said.

Masters said. Masters is row of people that showed up, ver Sports Magazine, Creek has the potential to act on its masthe Captain of the Varsi- and everyone packed in for on Feb. 14, Creek’s sive student population, and support its stuty Women’s Soccer Team. the boys’ game.” women’s team ranked dent population to the highest degree. “If “We are so good. Last year, 6th, and the men’s almost 4,000 students understood the powwe made it to the semi-fi- Senior Spirit Leader team didn’t make the er that they had to support one another, in nals.” top ten. so many instances Cherry Creek would be Sasha Lengwin If it comes down to talThat’s not to say that more of a juggernaut in all things than it alent and hard work, woma fan should choose ready is,” Evans said. ens’ sports teams, especially at Creek, are between one gendered sport, but rather, To be so outstanding in athletics is one not underperforming. In agreement with go to both. Senior Spirit leader and Varsi- thing, but to not have a student population this sentiment is the Head Coach of Creek ty Women’s Lacrosse team captain Sasha that supports that accomplishment is honWomen’s Basketball, Clint Evans. “I think if Lengwin even recognizes this, saying, “For estly just embarrassing, especially when it you really like basketball, there’s a lot more the women’s basketball season, there would boils down to a difference in gender. execution in a girl’s game than there is in a maybe be a row of peoguy’s game,” Evans said. In addition to this ple that showed up for lackluster argument presented by sports the game and everyone Adam Nowlin, Sports Editor fans, the school itself underperforms in its packed in for the boys support of women’s athletics. game. The girls were “Cherry Creek High School truly is the epitome of excel“We were out practicing on the grass fields way better than the lence... Outside of our academic life, there are definitewhere the ball rolls and bumps and you can’t boys.” ly some things that our school can improve upon. And even practice. It was awful,” Masters said.

Rankings aside, it it is quite literally as simple as controlling what you say.”

This treatment was because other sports, is not that difficult to even those practicing in different seasons, support both teams. It “needed” Stutler Arena. “Sometimes we have can even be essential in to get off early because boys lacrosse is com- moments of stress. “It ing on after us. It’s like ‘We need to be done [the student section] right at 5:30.’” is so crucial to shiftThis is a school-wide struggle, especially ing momentum. But surrounding women’s basketball. “The best it’s also just a source of example I have is the girl’s basketball team. pride for the team. You PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY ALEX GRIBB They literally won State one year, and people get the band there, you

The Cheers and Taunts Versus Eaglecrest

22 | Opinions

Fast Fashion is Killing the Planet

BY OLIVIA DARNEL

D

Staff Writer

Thrifting is an easy, environmentally friendly option to reduce waste created by the fashion industry.

PHOTO BY OLIVIA DARNEL

id you ever think that buying a shirt ent. crisis with their new campaign, Sustainabilcould kill the planet? With the rise of Currently, bright colors are very trendy ity, this campaign recycles materials that brands that combine trends with affordabil- for spring and summer seasons, but these re- would have otherwise been put in a landfill ity, like Shein and Romwe, fast fashion has quire the use of extremely toxic dyes. Many and makes them into wearable, fashionable taken over the industry and has succeeded in companies carelessly discard the waste from garments. H&M has been honest and open promoting biodiversity loss and decimating these dyes into waterways, this water can- about their waste, making their annual waste the Earth. not be treated to be- report open to the public.

The fast fashion induscome safe again. The Other companies like Shein and Fashion This monster of an industry has bi-product of these Nova have not been transparent about their try is among the most been terrorizing our earth for companies is destroy- effect on the environment, and refuse to do damaging industries for years and it seems to have only ing marine life for the the same. This secrecy just highlights the the environment. It is rerecently been noticed. sponsible for 10% of globsake of profit. Change corruption in this industry. Not only do they al carbon emissions and in the fashion indus- ignore marine life, they discard the value of 20% of global wastewater. try is not only neces- human life and the life of our home.

According to Fashion on Climate, a study by sary, but urgent. Without action, the indusThe UN has also committed to fighting the the Global Fashion Agenda, a climate advo- try could produce 2.7 billion tons of carbon atrocities within the fashion industry with cacy organization, and the consulting group emissions yearly by 2030. their new initiative called McKinsey & Company, if the fashion indus- As a society, it is necessary The United Nations AlliImpact of the Fashion try does not change by 2030 it will produce to call out these corporaance for Sustainable FashIndustry on the two times more carbon emissions than al- tions for their environmenion. The UN has opened Environment lowed by the Paris Climate Accords. tal violations. this initiative to allow I personally have been no stranger to the Thankfully, we can see non-state and private Water Waste by Industry fast fashion industry, and its affordability has some much needed change sectors to help the fight always been appealing to me. Using these fast happening right now. In against climate change.

Fashion Industry fashion brands, it is easier to stay on trend an interview with the ElIt is possible to make a 20% while also not draining your bank account. len Macarthur Foundation change in an ethical way I have been guilty of shopping at Shein and for their report, A New despite being so young.

80% Romwe and as I look into the piles of syn- Textiles Economy: RedeTry to donate your clothes, Others Industries thetic shirts and pants in my closet I can now signing Fashion’s Future, explore thrifting, and suponly see the thousands of habitats that have the former Chief Executive 93 Billion tons of port environmentally now been destroyed by this industry.

Officer of the H&M group, clean water used by conscious companies. It is According to the report A New Textiles Karl Johan Persson, said, the Fashion Industry important to educate your Economy: Redesigning Fashion’s Future by “This ground-breaking re- globally friends and family on the the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, the Textile port lays the foundation for biological genocide beindustry produces 1.2 billion tons in green- a new mindset and creates a ing committed by the fast house gas emissions annually. With this type shared vision for a circular fashion industry. of pollution, the climate will become warm- fashion industry. It’s a call The current trajectory 70 million tress cut er which can have devastating effects on the for action for systemic colof this industry will turn down annually for environment. laborations and is aligned our world into an unlivfabric creation Additionally, according to the United with our efforts in making able landfill of toxic waste Even after the States Environmental Protection Agency, in sure that economic and so- disposal of synthetic and trash. It is our job as microplastics 2018 landfills received 11.3 million tons of cial development can hap- fibers, stewards for the Earth to stay in the environdiscarded textiles. This waste is unregulated pen in a way that the planet ment, and in humans take care of our planet and as major companies prefer to manufacture can afford”. hold this deceitful industheir goods in countries where ecological H&M has made strides try accountable for their Sources: Columbia Climate School and University of Amsterdam conscious laws are less enforced or not pres- to acknowledge the climate INFOGRAPHIC BY OLIVIA DARNEL & ALEX GRIBB hand in destroying our

STAFF EDITORIAL

May 2022

How Title IX Is Failing Sexual Assault Cases In November 2021, a Grandview High School student reported to administrators that she had been sexually assaulted by a male student in one of her classes. Five months later, very little had been done about it.

Many Creek students heard about the incident when it blew up on social media. In a call for action, high schoolers across the district organized walkouts and protests. On April 20, Grandview students walked out onto their football field in protest, and that Friday, some Creek students wore Grandview colors and blue ribbons in solidarity with the original student. It quickly escalated into a national story.

Grandview and CCSD claim that they have done and will continue to do as much as they can in accordance with Title IX. It seems that the school has been dragging their feet on taking meaningful action, but how exactly does Title IX factor into that? As it turns out, the 1972 legislation, which has faced heavy modification since it was passed, has become an obstacle for both schools and victims to seek justice after assault.

What is Title IX? Title IX was passed in 1972 to amend the Civil Rights Act (CRA) of 1964. Created to apply the legislation contained in the CRA to schools and higher education, much of the historical importance of Title IX has been in its application to school-sponsored sports. Different parts of the law apply to how schools must allocate resources equally to women and men and how they must respond to incidents of gender discrimination. However, according to the National Sexual Violence Resource Center (NSVRC), Title IX also “applies to all forms of sexual harassment and assault, domestic violence, dating violence, and stalking.” So when handing down discipline in the event of sexual harassment, schools must follow Title IX guidelines.

Title IX is vital to protecting not only girls and women, but also students who identify as part of the LGBTQ+ community. But under the Trump administration and Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos, some of the protections for these students were gutted or eliminated entirely. DeVos’s changes also altered how schools can handle cases of sexual assault, by amending the text to give more rights to the accused. One prominent piece of this is how incidents of sexual harassment and assault are reported and dealt with at the school level.

In the past, some have argued that Title IX does not give enough rights to those accused of sexual violence. So DeVos’s resolutions included supposed solutions to that problem.

Many of these resolutions slow the process of reporting sexual violence and allocating appropriate discipline, and others make the process humiliating for alleged victims. Among the prominent amendments were policies that slowed the reporting process or made it more public than before.

What’s wrong with Title IX? 1. If the accuser has filed multiple sexual assault claims in the past, that can be used against them as an ‘example of consent.’

2. The school board has the final say in whether the accused will be removed from school based on if they think the accused’s presence is “detrimental” to the safety of others.

3. In contrast to previous policies under the Obama administration, the accused now cannot be assumed guilty.

4. Cases covering sexual assault will now be heard in a more public setting such as a courtroom with cross examinations and multiple panels of investigation.

5. In lieu of DeVos’s recent changes to Title IX in May of 2020, victims of sexual assault will now have to navigate a more complicated reporting system.

What needs to change and how can we change it? Before the alterations under the Trump administration, Title IX provided support for students struggling with sexual harassment.

After DeVos’s changes, much of Title IX moved to support the accused, instead of the accuser. A reversal of DeVos’s changes would eliminate the obstacles that schools and students now face.

Under the Biden administration, the Department of Education is currently rewriting many Trump-era changes to Title IX and adding other protections. Some of these give more protections to LGBTQ+ students in classrooms or trans kids in sports.

But much of the harmful rules concerning sexual assault still stand.

As a Brown Daily Herald article pointed out last month, the cross-examination process created by DeVos and the Trump administration actually do far more harm than good, and can result in a traumatic or useless reporting process. These rules were created to protect the accused, but Title IX needs to protect victims.

So how can students affect this change? As we wait for the Biden administration to unveil further changes to Title IX, students can support organizations that advocate for rights in education under Title IX. One such organization is Know Your IX (KYIX), which not only advocates for change to Title IX at the local and state level, but also provides resources to students who are slogging through Title IX processes at their schools. Besides donating, students can also organize or join local chapters of KYIX. And supporting organizations like this is especially important as the Department of Education announces its changes to Title IX in the coming months.

Perhaps most important, however, is supporting and advocating for victims in your community. The solidarity and awareness shown for the student at Grandview are a great example of what can be done to protest mishandled incidents of sexual assault in your community. Continuing to push for change to Title IX, regardless of how you do it, will make an impact, no matter the size.

Back Cover Comics An Ad For Seniors

BY MADISON SECKMAN

VISIT US ONLINE unionstreetjournal.com @creekusj