Oct 2025 USJ

THE SURGE OF THE NATIONAL GUARD President Donald Trump has deployed troops in U.S. cities more and more throughout 2025. Could Denver be his next target?

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

Vol. 11 Issue 1 October 2025

Table of Contents News

Sports

14

7

A&E

17

10

Opinions

20

4 - News Bites 5 - Creek Seniors Propose State Ballot Measure 6 - Joel Morris Wins Book Award for Historical Fiction

Features

7 - The Past, Present, and Future of the Cherry Creek Schoolhouse 8 - Tehran to Colorado: A Refugee’s Path to Safety and Success

In-Depth 10 - The Surge of the National Guard

4

14 - Go! Fight! Win! Creek Takes Top Spot 16 - Built for the Big Stage: Can Top Recruits Power Creek’s Climb?

17 - Something Doesn’t Ad Up 18 - Bass v. Acoustic 19 - Creek Sk8s

20 - New Creek Policies: Rad or Bad? 22 - The Political Climate: No Laughing Matter 23 - Staff-Ed: Wake Up to Media Censorship

On The Cover

As President Donald Trump continues usage of National Guard troops in cities like Los Angeles and Memphis, and threatens deployment in Portland and Chicago amid legal challenges, a common image of the military personnel had been riot police lines.

In Los Angeles, the first major incident involving the National Guard in 2025, they were sent to respond to protests against ICE officers and mass deportations. Some parts of the protest did turn violent, but Governor Gavin Newsom (D-Calif.) objected against the Trump administration. Some troops still remain in LA throughout the ensuing legal proceedings.

In the cities he is deploying troops to, Trump’s main argument is for a reduction in crime. Many city and state officials have objected, saying those issues should be left to local law enforcement.

To read more about the controversy, “The Surge of the National Guard,” go to the In-Depth on page 11.

ART BY JACKIE NEWMAN

Staff

CAPITOL TO CLASSROOM: Congressman Jason Crow (D-6) visited speech and debate classes on Oct. 6 to talk about his stories of politics and public speaking and his policy beliefs. “It’s important to reach all ages of constituents,” Crow said.

PHOTO BY PETER PHILPOTT

Letter from the Editors

This issue is quite a swivel from our last one. We’ve traded fun in the summer sun for charged political controversy.

Over the summer, the National Guard began deploying nationwide. First, it was to fight ICE protests in Los Angeles.

Then, it was to lower crime in Washington, D.C., a federally controlled territory. Yet more controversial incidents came when they threatened deployments to Memphis, Portland, and Chicago.

In this issue’s In-Depth, we examine the recent context of the National Guard and this history of tension between the White House and Colorado because of

its left lean and mail-in voting.

In our Staff-Ed, we talked about another recent political kerfuffle: media censorship in talk shows and print journalism.

It’s another issue that, as journalists, we feel is important to write about.

Creek earned a huge honor over the summer too, naming us the top sports school in the entire country. Check out the story in the Sports section.

We also tell some intriguing local stories in this issue. In Features, we tell the winding story of a Creek student refugee from Iran, who’s made quite the trip to be where she is today. We also wrote about the old schoolhouse, its story, and its future on the new campus.

To our staff, we are incredibly proud of all of you and we look forward to working with you and watching you grow this year.

—Editors-in-Chief Izzy Krauss and Peter Philpott

Editors-in-Chief Izzy Krauss Peter Philpott Managing Editor Sophia Hady News Editor Oliver Scala A&E Editor Dhanya Rajendiran Opinions Editor IV Collier Sports Editor Andrei Machado Kellen Ringland Features Editor Serenity Hurtado Chief Artist Jackie Newman

Assistant Editors Aleena Gopalani Avery Exley Berkeley Bowler Claire Crawford Clay Biskner Elise Dougherty Havana Amanlou Keagan Hong Staff Writers Amaya Billmaier Claire Crawford Cyprus Jimenez Ethan Catlow Lauren Laskowski Sawyer Gulley Talia Ali Advisor Seth Fine Joya Haskin

Marketing & Business Manager Evelyn Laughlin Design Manager Emily Lambert Video & TikTok Manager Ella Fishman

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 usj.editorinchief@gmail.com Letters may be edited for clarity.

Admin Implement Minga Hall Pass Feature

BY HOPE PORTER

M

Staff Writer

news bites

inga, the app that carries digital IDs and school event check-ins, added a new feature.

First implemented at Creek in the spring of 2023, Minga aims to simplify and enhance digital school management. At the beginning of this school year, the administration decided to use the app to track students’ whereabouts during access.

Teachers can grant hall passes for students instead of using a manual sign-out sheet, allowing them to keep track of their students and ensure they’re not roaming the hall-

ways during access.

Activities Director Kelly Prevost thinks that this app has been an absolute time saver.

“I think it’s pretty easy,” junior Eli Fliegleman said. “You just scan out with the teacher of your advisory, you walk to the person you need to go see, you scan in, and then you’re good.”

Currently, Prevost is working to get everyone accustomed to using Minga and resolving the technical issues before considering further updates for the app.

“The first week was a little bit rough,” science teacher Alexandra Bak said. “But it gets better every week, and I think we’ve just about got it figured out now.”

CCSD’s 75th Year EIGHT GREAT MOMENTS

Creek Establishes New Phone Policy

BY AMAYA BILLMAIER

A

Staff Writer

fter years of phones being a common sight in classrooms, Creek started the year with a new policy that restricts the use of personal devices in classrooms during instructional time.

4 | News

“We’re just trying to create something that we think is reasonable and doable for our students and our staff, that we think fits our school,“ Assistant Principal Kevin Uhlig said.

Phones, smart watches, iPads, and other similar devices are only permitted when outside of class.

When in class it must be put in a designated area that the teacher prefers, whether that’s in a phone caddie or backpacks.

On the other hand there are students who find this policy unneeded.

Sophomore Pedro Torolho says that a majority of students get their work

done, and there’s no need to not have access to phones.

“I think we should be allowed to have our phones on us,” Torolho said. “I’ll be forgetting and then I get marked absent. I don’t like it at all.”

In contrast, senior Tate Haverland feels the new policy is beneficial and has been only a slight adjustment.

“It’s good to have, but I don’t think it should go any further,” Haverland said.

If students choose not to comply, the consequences are outlined in the school handbook.

Bear Facts states that every time a violation occurs students must give their phone to the faculty member, which then is transferred to their dean. The first violation is a written warning, second is supervised study, third is Saturday school detention and the fourth is a one day school suspension. From there each consequence is another one day school suspension.

GRAPHIC BY KEAGAN HONG & OLIVER SCALA

news

Creek Seniors Propose Ballot Measure Guaranteeing College Admission

BY OLIVER SCALA & KEAGAN HONG

S

News Editor & Asst. News Editor

eniors Kiran Herz and Jaiden Hwang have constructed a piece of state legislation that would allow top students from districts around Colorado to be guaranteed admission to state universities.

The bill, known as Initiative 81, aims to make the college application process a bit easier for those applying.

“We’re trying to edit Colorado Revised Statutes to essentially make college applications a little less stressful for state schools, at least,” Hwang said. “The top 10% of each high school student body by GPA would get automatic admission to in-state higher education institutions.”

These structures, installed in the legislation, allow the breadth of Initiative 81 to vary depending on the school as well as other factors, such as funding and teacher quality.

“The bar for Eaglecrest is going to be a little bit different for Smoky Hill than for Denver East than for Cherry Creek High School,”

Herz said. “It also accounts for differences . Individual school districts have implein ethnic groups, differences in qualities of mented similar policies directed at local uniteachers and different class types. All schools versities. have different systems for weighing GPAs.” Jefferson County public schools guaranThe catalyst for Herz and Hwang’s work on tees admission to the School of Mines for Initiative 81 came through viewing firsthand students who maintain an unweighted 3.8 the hectic atmosphere brought on by Creek’s cumulative GPA through the Nov 1 priority upperclassmen as they applied for higher ed- deadline and have all the other admission reucation. quirements.

“For all my years of If passed, Herz and “I’ve seen seniors incredihigh school, I’ve seen seHwang hope that Initianiors incredibly stressed tive 81 might serve as a bly stressed about the colabout the college admisgreater motivation for lege admissions process, sions process, and it [reimproved academics. and it [reflected] a high flected] a high level of “It can be viewed as level of uncertainty,” uncertainty,” Herz said. an academic incentive,” “It caused people to withHwang said. “It can say draw into themselves on ‘this is where I need to be - Senior Kiran Herz a futile quest to get the if I want to go to Boulder perfect college essay, the or Mines.’” perfect extracurriculars Some identify a few and everything necessary to get into college.” potential unintentional consequences of the While Initiative 81 was designed specif- bill, though. ically for Colorado, other jurisdictions have “If a law like this is passed, you potentially implemented similar policies. are going to create a scramble to finish in the There’s something similar in several oth- top 10% of your class,” social studies teacher er states,” Hwang said. “The primary one was Fletcher Woolsey said. “This could lead to all from California, and we modeled ours after manner of different ways that people might the [legislation] in Texas.” try to game or cheat that system.”

Woolsey still sees the benefits of such a measure.

“It is very admirable that they want their state’s public universities to admit the best students from that state,” Woolsey said. “We’d have to be cautious as to what kind of ripple effect is going to be. Maybe most kids are just going to go about their daily life the same, but it could also have some unintended side effects.”

Initiative 81 has been on the radar of state officials, however that still doesn’t guarantee the initiative’s accession into the state House or Senate. For now, Initiative 81 is very reliant on volunteers in order to spread awareness of its cause.

“If you are a teen and want to volunteer, please let us know,” Herz said. “We have a website, [initiative81.org] we have a volunteer form set up for you, and we have the re-

CHANGEMAKERS: Herz (left) and Hwang pose with a printed copy of the legislation that they composed.

PHOTO BY OLIVER SCALA

October 2025

Joel Morris Wins Book Award

in Historical Fiction

BY SERENITY HURTADO

M

Features Editor

acbeth is an iconic story taught in thousands of English classes worldwide.

Through hard work and many hours, English teacher Dr. Joel Morris extended that tale, publishing his book “All Our Yesterdays” in 2024. He won the Colorado Humanities Book Award for Historical Fiction on July 26.

“I didn’t even know if I could get it published, and so getting it published was the first victory,” Morris said. “Then to have [Colorado Humanities] say, ‘we thought this was our best of the crop of historical fiction novels this year in the state.’ Man, it feels amazing.”

The book didn’t come easily to Morris. He chose to treat the book similarly to a job, dedicating certain periods of time just to prioritize the book.

“If something wasn’t working, a scene, chapter, or character, that’s where I would hit a wall and have to think, what do I do? And [there] was a lot of problem-solving or puzzle-solving about that,” Morris said.

That kind of behind-the-scenes effort didn’t just shape Morris’s writing but also earned him recognition across campus, espe-

cially in the English department. ”Authors are kind of our rock stars. To be able to know someone who’s here at Cherry Creek High School is incredibly impressive, and I couldn’t be happier for him,” library coordinator Michelyne Gray said.

Before the recognition on campus came long hours, drafts, and uncertainty.

“I’m working on a computer. It’s just the words that you’re trying to craft the best way you can,” Morris said. “Before I published it, I didn’t even know if anybody would read it.

I didn’t even know if I could get it published.”

His success didn’t go unnoticed by those closest to his academic journey.

“I think he has an incredibly supportive department at the English Department, who know the challenges, the time it takes to write, and just to even get started with writing,” Gray said. “So I think they all felt very proud of him in his accomplishment, and it’s amazing,” Due to recent federal funding cuts, Colorado Humanities’s 2026 ceremony isn’t confirmed. The contest has been a yearly tradition since 1991.

“Humanities are in jeopardy right now,” Morris said. “I hope they continue to exist.

That’s another question about whether there’s a future for groups like that who are trying to promote creativity, and the arts in general.”

PHOTO COURTESY OF JOEL MORRIS

• When Morris was young he drew pictures before he could even write.

He would staple blank pages together and illustrate them with crayons or markers. Then would dictate to his dad what he wanted each page to say. He started drawing those picture books at the age of four or five.

• Later on, in high school, “Macbeth” caught his interest and influenced his writing and editing process.

• Morris loves to travel; he has been to Greece, Germany and many other places around the world.

• After each rejection he would let himself mourn a little, but would go back to writing even more determined.

• He took a long time to write “All Our Yesterdays” because he wanted to apply the lessons and tweaks learned from making little mistakes and adjustments in earlier drafts.

THE NOVEL: “All Our Yesterdays,” displayed in Creek’s Kathleen D. Smith library.

6 | News

The Past, Present, and Future of Cherry Creek’s Old Schoolhouse

BY PETER PHILPOTT

T

Editor-in-Chief

hough we now think of Cherry Creek School District as a huge district, serving tens of thousands in the community, sprawling neighborhoods from County Line to Alameda, it once began in a single room.

A small, lonesome schoolhouse on a dusty plain near Parker Road. The Cherry Creek School has had quite a journey.

At first, it was the roots of everything we know at school. Now, it’s a relic still remaining at the heart of Creek.

“It’s easy to just be wrapped up in our current reality, but [we should] also understand the kind of the people who came before us and what their reality was like,” Principal Ryan Silva said. “I think it’s just good to know what your roots are.”

But with a complete redesign and rebuild of the Creek campus, plans for the schoolhouse’s fate aren’t confirmed. What is the story of the historic building and what does the future have in store?

History wasn’t perfectly recorded in the 1870s – there’s no confirmed date the Cherry Creek School was established, but it’s estimated in 1874.

The school became something more, also serving as a community center for Sunday School, dances, potlucks, and public meetings, according to former CCSD deputy superintendent Donald Goe. It was a social, communal epicenter for arts and learning. Children, teachers, and the community operated the school until it closed in 1951. But its story wasn’t over “The story of the little schoolhouse’s continued life is one of determination and hard work on the part of several and cooperation on the part of many,” Goe wrote in “History of Cherry Creek School District Number Five.”

In 1969, through a unit on local history, social studies teacher and Key Club advisor Ed Berger inspired a crowd of Creek students, who worked together with one goal: to save and restore the Cherry Creek School.

After searching by educated guesswork

for a while, they found 7 class at the ROOTS: Children in a 194 it and took the building ir day, full of the ut abo go use schoolho straight off the foundation h teacher wit leisure time and put it on a truck. Once it lessons and strong (above & below). ecca Arm was back on Creek campus, they Reb FROM ROCKY MOUNTAIN NEWS ARCHIVES PHOTOS did fundraising and used district funds for refurbishment.

“Key Club is built on the idea of leadership through service, and the schoolhouse project is a perfect example of that,” Key Club advisor and science teacher Ember Canty said. “Students in the 1970s saw a need, took initiative, and worked hard to preserve something meaningful for the community.”

Still in the center of the campus, the schoolhouse is a glimpse into a past life of Colorado kids, filled with old books they read, pick-up sticks they played, and teacups they drank from.

PHOTO FROM C HERRY C REEK SC But what’s next in its journey from HOOLHO USE MU SEUM that dusty plain?

The Cherry Creek School will be relocated and repaired as a feature on Creek’s future campus.

Through all the twists and turns in the Cherry Creek School’s past, and whatever the future holds in store for it, Silva believes it’s a perfect reminder for what he works towards each day.

“One thing that probably has been consistent from the time NEW HOME: The schoo the Cherry Creek School Dislhouse, on a truck bed en route to the CCHS campu trict was born s (above) to its current home in the center of the quad (below). was the desire for excellence,” he said. “By having one of the original school houses on our campus, it’s just a reminder [that] things change, but I think standards and a desire to do things that are student focused and give students as many opportunities as possible, shouldn’t change.”

PHOTO BY PETER PHILPOTT

October 2025

Waving Goodbye At Five:

A Girl’s Journey from Iran to Colorado

BY SOPHIA HADY

M

Managing Editor

ost five-year-olds are sitting in kindergarten classrooms, learning how to count, making friends, and singing the ABCs. But for junior Ghazal, at five years old, she would pack her whole life in Iran and become a refugee in Türkiye for the next three years, before eventually immigrating to the U.S.

Ghazal, whose last name is being withheld for fear of retribution from the Iranian government, has very few memories of living in Iran because she was so young, But she knows they did things a little differently than the U.S. Instead of doing icebreakers on the first day, they are taught religious stories taken straight from the Quran.

While in Iran, Ghazal’s own mother had been involved with a secret underground Christian church. While Christianity itself is not illegal in Iran, converting to Christianity is. But in major cities across Iran, centered around eight illegally imported Bibles there were hubs for these secret Christians.

“In a country like Iran, it’s a po-

PATH OF A REFUGEE: These are the various countries Ghazal traveled to before reaching Colorado where she lives now.

GRAPHIC BY SOPHIA HADY

8 | Features

litical statement to be a part of where she and her family were very well off. the church like that,” Ghazal said. When they left, Ghazal’s family chose to try Ghazal’s father helped educate locals how to and financially support themselves. operate computers and who didn’t have ac“My parents did not want to go to a refucess to higher education through a computer gee camp, because it’s just such horrible livscience academy. This was an easy way to get ing conditions,” Ghazal said. “So much theft a higher education in and so much crime, and it’s Iran, which has very so unregulated.”

“I was the first one to wake limited higher eduShe was never directup, and I thought that the cation resources for ly harmed in Türkiye, but most people.

Ghazal still faced the fear of closet had fallen on them, Because of his sucpotential air strikes and othand that they’re dead and cess, he was often iner dangers.

I’m an orphan,” terviewed as one of She remembers a bombthe ‘bright young Iraing of the local police station nians,’ and his refusal that was only a few miles -Junior Ghazal to talk about certain from her house. The explothings on live television had woken her up and sion sparked tension caused her parents’ dresser between the government that would later re- to crash. In a state of fear, Ghazal believed sult in his computer science program getting her parents had been gravely injured. In the taken away. end, they were unharmed.

“He was a big believer in freedom,” Ghazal “I was the first one to wake up, and I said. thought that the closet had fallen on them, Ghazal’s most vivid memories start on a and that they’re dead and I’m an orphan,” ship to Türkiye, waving good-bye to her ex- Ghazal said. tended family.

While the original plan was to move back In Türkiye, Ghazal lived a poor and hum- to Iran after conflicts dissolved and tension ble life compared to the one she had in Iran, died down, that is yet to happen, and instead

they ended up immigrating to the U.S. has found a passion for speech, debate, when Ghazal was almost nine years old. and rugby.

“My parents also could tell that it’s Houston is a landing ground for gonna get worse, and [the problems] many immigrants, especially from would grow as time continues,” Ghazal Muslim countries. Despite being sursaid. “And they were worried about me rounded by people who looked like her, and my siblings and what kind of lives she still felt like an outcast in this new we’d live.” country.

Ghazal’s mother had bribed her with “It was kind of alienating to be the Turkish money to keep her well-be- only brown girl who didn’t wear a hihaved on the 13 hour flight. To slight jab,” Ghazal said. disappointment Eventually, afwhen they landed ter a stop in North in the United States, Carolina, her “Creek is so big and you Ghazal found her family decided to can find every single type bribe to be useless. move to Colorado. of person, which has been Upon arrival, Despite this being a blessing.”

Ghazal was put in a 1,700 mile move, an intake room for the family didn’t all new immigrants put much thought -Junior Ghazal and refugees. While into it. In fact, they there, Ghazal was closed their eyes, given her temporary moved their finger ID and visa in order on a US map, and to live in America. She was also put into landed in Colorado. culture classes in order to learn the baSince moving to Colorado, Ghazal sics of American culture and society. has found more of a place and com“I remember coloring Amer- munity. Especially at Creek, where she ican flags and learning about participates in both rugby and speech basic customs,” Ghazal said. and debate.

Ghazal spent her first several years in “Creek is so big and you can find Houston, before moving to Colorado every single type of person, which has last year. Since moving to America, she been a blessing,” Ghazal said.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF GHAZAL

GHAZAL’S STORY: Ghazal grows up as she travels through different countries during her life. From the ages of one to nine, she has been to Turkey, America and Iran.

October 2025

GRAPHIC BY IZZY KRAUSS

The Surge of the National Guard: Expansion into U.S. Cities, Sparking Controversy tensified debate over the evolving role of the Guard in domestic affairs.

Traditionally, National Guard units are Editors-in-Chief activated by governors to respond to natural disasters such as wildfires, floods and n June 2025, President Donald hurricanes. They may also be federalized for Trump deployed the National overseas combat missions. Trump’s actions Guard to Los Angles in response mark a shift toward using the Guard in law to protests against ICE. Following that enforcement–related operations, particularly he deployed more than 2,000 National immigration enforcement and public order missions.

Guard troops to Washington, D.C. About 200 Guard members were ordered Trump has signaled he may extend simito Portland based on a memo sent on Sept. 28 lar measures to other Democratic-led cities, ,under federal authorinaming Chicago, New ty to protect immigraYork, Los Angeles, Philation officers and federal delphia, and Baltimore as buildings. potential targets for feder“Putting our own miliThe shift has al deployments. tary on our streets is an prompted legal ques“We have other cities tions. Under the Posse abuse of power.” also that are bad. Very Comitatus Act, acbad,” Trump said during a tive-duty military forcpress conference on Aug. - Ore. Governor Tina es are generally barred 19. “You look at Chicago, from civilian law enKotek how bad it is. You look at forcement. The Guard Los Angeles, how bad it is. operates with more We have other cities that flexibility when under are very bad. New York state control, but deployments under federal has a problem. And then you have, of course, authority – such as in Portland – face greater Baltimore and Oakland. We don’t even menscrutiny. tion that anymore there.”

While many in Oregon don’t agree with Trump’s decision to deploy National the order, he continues his plans for moving Guard troops to Portland, Oregon, and reforward. quest additional forces in Chicago has in“When the president and I spoke yesterBY IZZY KRAUSS & PETER PHILPOTT

I

10 | In-Depth

day, I told him in plain language that there is no insurrection or threat to public safety,” Gov. Tina Kotek said in a statement released by the Oregon Department of Justice. “Putting our own military on our streets is an abuse of power.”

Many mayors including Barbra Lee and other civil rights activists have noticed a pattern in the cities Trump has singled out, all of which are led by Black, Democrat mayors.

“We just can’t help but feel in some kind of way that we’re being specifically profiled,” said Van R. Johnson, president of the African American Mayors Association and mayor of Savannah, Ga. in an article with USA Today.

“That’s not right. That’s not fair. We want our federal government to work with us. We’re just a phone call away.”

Trump has defended the use of the Guard, saying during his campaign that the force would be central to deporting millions of immigrants living illegally in the U.S. “We have to have law and order in our country,” he said in a interview with Time Magazine.

“And whichever gets us there, but I think the National Guard will do the job.”

Guard units differ in size and mission across states, with governors retaining broad discretion over their use during emergencies.

That balance of power is now being tested, as Oregon, Illinois and other states prepare for further disputes with Washington.

A History of Donald Trump’s Conflicts with Colorado P resident Donald Trump often clashes with Colorado because of its democratic governor, Jared Polis, its supermajority democratic General Assembly, and its blue-leaning voter base. This is a brief history of key moments in the tense relationship between the White House and Colorado.

Oct. 11, 2024: Venezuelan Gang Threats in Aurora A talking point throughout Trump’s campaign was Aurora, where he made unfounded claims that Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua had taken control of the Denver suburb. Many officials in Colorado, including Aurora Mayor Mike Coffman responded and struck down Trump’s statements.

Aug. 21, 2025: Trump Demands the Release of Tina Peters Amid “Stop the Steal” chants from the entire MAGA movement in 2021, former Mesa County Clerk Tina Peters played a role in a security breach of an election office, using a software worker’s identity to aid in the break-in. Trump called for her release from prison, a sentence Peters received in Oct. 2024, claiming there would be “harsh measures” if she wasn’t set free.

GRAPHICS BY PETER PHILPOTT & JACKIE NEWMAN

Dec. 19, 2023: Colorado Supreme Court Disqualifies Trump from State Ballots Citing Section 3 of Article 14 of the Constitution, which says that no government officials can engage in insurrection or rebellion against their own government, the Colorado Supreme Court ruled that Trump could not be on state ballots for the presidential election because of his role in the Jan. 6 riots at the U.S. Capitol. Trump shot back, calling for the U.S. Supreme Court to overturn what he called a “completely flawed decision.”

March 23, 2025: Trump Assails Polis for State Capitol Portrait After local artist Sarah Boardman painted Trump’s official portrait, the president attacked it for being “purposefully distorted.” In the Tweet demanding its removal, Trump also targeted Polis, calling him weak on crime. “Jared should be ashamed of himself!” Trump wrote.

July 2025: Trump DOJ Requests Colorado Voter Information The Department of Justice requested Colorado Secretary of State Jena Griswold, along with several other states, to turn over records of millions of voters, including ballots and voter registration records. Griswold says the event is meant to “undermine” state elections. It shows Trump’s extended focus on state election activities throughout his ongoing protests of the 2020 election.

Sept. 2, 2025: Space Command is Moved from Colorado Springs Recently, Trump ordered to move U.S. Space Command from Buckley Space Force Base to Huntsville, Alabama. He called out Colorado’s mail-in voting system as “corrupt” as a main reason he made the decision. Bipartisan outcry from Coloradan Republicans and Democrats alike, including Governor Jared Polis, spoke immediately against the decision.

October 2025

National Guard Moves in on States Portland, Ore.

Around 200 National Guard members were ordered to Oregon, but none deployed due to lack of justification. State leaders condemned the plan as unconstitutional. After the president sent California troops into Oregon, both states sought a restraining order, and a federal judge blocked Oregon’s Guard deployment to Portland.

Chicago, Ill.

The Trump administration deployed 300 Illinois National Guard members and 400 from Texas to Chicago. Illinois and Chicago sued, calling it unconstitutional and a federal overreach. A judge refused to block the move, allowing the deployment to continue while the case proceeds in court.

Los Angeles, Calif.

In June 2025, about 4,000 National Guard troops and 700 Marines were sent to Los Angeles for immigration enforcement and protecting federal property. California filed a lawsuit calling the deployment illegal, arguing it violated federal laws restricting military involvement in civilian law enforcement.

12 | In-Depth

Washington, D.C. About 2,300 National Guard troops were activated in D.C. for law enforcement, cleanup, and patrols under the “DC Safe and Beautiful” mission. A memo from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth allowed some to carry weapons, prompting a lawsuit claiming the deployment violates Home Rule and federal limits on military policing.

Memphis, Tenn.

Because the Tennessee city is majority Black, many argue Trump’s orders to send troops there are discriminatory. Despite arguments that crime is dropping already, it is still ranked first in U.S. cities for yearly crime rates. National Guard, upon deployment, are meant to serve as extra patrollers to assist police, not necessarily to make arrests.

GRAPHIC BY JACKIE NEWMAN

What Do Leaders, Experts Have to Say? Congressman Jason Crow (D-6) “I deeply disagree with the President’s use of National Guard to send into these cities. I think it’s an abuse of the process and what the National Guard is supposed to be used for. It’s not being done with the consent and the support of these cities and states.”

Government Teacher Tom Michel “This is using solving a problem [crime] with the wrong means, in my opinion, because you have other ways to do this. It does not have to be from a federal side. And of course, Trump is doing this so he can take credit for crime going down. I don’t think long term, this is a solution that’s gonna have any real traction, even when the Supreme Court gets around to this. I don’t feel like Trump can get past the general requirements for deploying the National Guard.”

“I think the claims of authoritarianism have some teeth, but not until the National Guard is deployed against people instead of just standing somewhere. I haven’t seen that the National Guard has been empowered to enforce local laws because typically they don’t…But if it got to the point where the National Guard is going into Denver, they’re the ones who are going to arrest individuals, and now they’re going to participate in that. Now we’ve got some federal overreach.”

PHOTOS & ART BY PETER PHILPOTT

Q Q

What’s your opinion about President Trump’s actions with the National Guard?

Is there merit to claims that Trump’s actions are authoritarian?

Government Teacher Tim Kirkpatrick “The biggest dilemma is the fact that what’s happening right now is a word that we hear a lot these days, ‘unprecedented.’ This is not the norm. And I also think it’s a scary precedent to set in the future, because this happens in all sorts of different aspects. It’s not historically something that’s happened by either party, [Democrats] feel that it’s an overreach of federal power. They feel like [Trump is] controlling their own cities.”

“There are a lot of arguments to be made that a modern president wields more power than what the framers intended them to and I think that Trump is doing that because he made all these executive orders. Obviously our elected representatives are the ones who are supposed to be making the laws, Trump’s just supposed to be enforcing them. And I do feel like he’s gone a little bit beyond just enforcement of the laws that Congress makes, and taken probably more power than at least what was intended, and doing it pretty unilaterally.”

October October 2025 2025

GO! FIGHT! WIN! MaxPreps ranks Creek as the best sports school in the country after winning nine state championships

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sports

here’s a reason everybody hates Creek. With our 248 state titles, and our less than humble attitudes, we’re an easy common enemy.

But according to Maxpreps, a huge source for high school sports news, rankings, and scores, Creek had the best athletic program in the U.S. for the 2024-25 school year. These are the greatest success stories from last year.

Football Winning five titles in the past six years, Creek football is ranked first in Colorado and 53rd in the nation. Last year’s win over Legend took the team to 14 titles all-time, with the hopes of winning more in the future. “You stay humble, you come back to work next week,” head coach Dave Logan said. “You enjoy the win this weekend, and you get to work.”

Field Hockey With a brand new head coach last season, field hockey ranked first in Colorado, and 22nd in the nation, and broke a 17 year drought, winning Creek’s third ever state title.

Boys’ Golf After 43 years without winning the state championship boys’ golf finally won again after shooting three under par in the championship round. A great season got the Golf team ranked first in Colorado, and ninth in the nation. “They dedicated themselves to getting better each day, and it paid off,” boys’ golf head coach Dustin Neil said.

Girls’ Swim 14 | Sports

Girls’ swim and dive not only managed to win their fifth state title in a row, taking them to 31 state titles all time, but also broke the 400 free relay state record, with a time of 3:21.52.

Creek Takes Top Spot!

BY ANDREI MACHADO, KELLEN RINGLAND & SOPHIA HADY Sports Editors & Managing Editor

Baseball

Despite having a new head coach, boys baseball managed to win the state title, securing back-to-back titles, both over Regis Jesuit. This marks their 10th title, and puts them as number one in Colorado and number 65 in the nation.

“There’s always pressure when you care deeply about something and want to succeed,” baseball head coach Joe Smith said.

Boys’ Tennis Tennis continued its legacy as Creek’s most successful sport, with 47 total titles, winning their fifth state championship in a row. Boys’ tennis added remarkable stat sheet towards the MaxPreps Cup, finishing the season with a record of 20-2.

Boys’ Swim Diving into their 14th title and their second in a row, the boys’ swim and dive team ranks first in Colorado and 25th in the nation. Finishing with a 7-0 record, the swim and dive team had a dominant season.

Boys’ Soccer After 14 years the boys soccer team finally won a state championship. The win marks their seventh title and ranks them first in Colorado and 14th in the nation. They had a 18-1-1 record and scored a total of 67 goals over the course of the season. The team hopes to continue this success. “We gotta continue working and getting better,” head coach Whilmer Barrera said.

Boys’ Lacrosse PHOTOS & ART BY USJ STAFF

Boy’s Lacrosse won their eighth title last year, marking them as the best in Colorado and fourth in the entire nation. They had an undefeated season with a 19-0 record. The Bruins were above-average scorers, too, with an average of 14 points per game compared to the national average of nine. “There’s more of a desire to win,” lacrosse head coach Matt Bocklet said.

October 2025

Built for the Big Stage: How Top Recruits Power Creek’s Climb

BY KELLEN RINGLAND

C

Sports Editor

an Colorado’s top high school foot- around him is made for the state championship, ball recruits actually take Creek because of how much work and effort the team back to the top? With new rankings puts in each week to prepare for games.

“We have to work hard, keep our heads down, each year from 24/7 Sports, Creek football and keep making each other better every week,” players are often in the Cromwell said. “Early mornings, list; you will find some tired mornings, working out and of them at the very top.

“If we keep that same preparing [week by week].”

GRAPHIC S BY ANDREI MACHADO, KELLEN RINGLAND & SOPHIA HADY

16 | Sports

Senior offensive tackle As one of the best at Creek, mindset, we can make Oliver Miller ranks highly Cromwell is encouraging the another run.” amongst Creek’s recruits. younger players to keep training He was eighth in Colorado to be a top player on the team for the class of 2026 on 24/7, and to continue the legacy of Senior offensive 76th in the nation as an offenCreek football. lineman sive tackle, and he’s a three“Leading by example and star commit to Kansas State.

Oliver Miller showing that it takes hard work.

Miller’s role on the team is And it takes overtime for you key to state championship to stand out,” Cromwell said. contention. As one of the Creek football ranks number top players on the roster, he truly believes that one in Colorado and 53rd in the nation as of Oct. they can win back-to-back.

10, 2025, and first in Colorado. That comes with “We got the squad to do it again. Everyone is immense pressure. locked in, the chemistry is good, and we’ve been “It’s cool being ranked high but I don’t think pushing each other,” Miller said. “If we keep that about it too much,” Miller said. “I still have to same mindset, we can make another run.” prove it every time I line up.”

One of Creek’s new transfers from Regis Jesuit High School is junior left tackle Jackson Roper, BREAK THE BANNER: The football team run out who adds to the list of recruits. before kickoff at Creek’s 2025 Homecoming game on He is a four-star recruit, 193rd in the ESPN Sept. 12.

Jr300, and is ranked number PHOTO BY KELLEN RINGLAND one in the state of Colorado for the 2027 class on 24/7.

As a backup during his freshman year, sophomore running back Elijah Cromwell is another star making his mark in 2025.

A 4-star running back, Cromwell is ranked 75th for all high school football players in the nation and first in Colorado in his class on 24/7.

Cromwell believes the team

a&e SOMETHING DOESN’T AD UP

BY AVERY EXLEY Asst. A&E Editor

Every summer, retail stores pump out advertisements right before school starts to get more traction for back-to-school shopping. Yet the ads this year did not sit right with the consumers, seemingly more than most summers. Ad after ad came out, and more controversy sparked.

Levi’s: Beyonce

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laying pool in her cowboy hat, Beyoncé stunned the audience with her Levi’s ad. Released on August 4th, the fourth installment of Levi’s ad campaign starring Beyoncé sparked a little more hate than the other three have.

Starting back on September 30th, 2024, Levi’s aired a year-long ad campaign starring the world-renowned pop star Beyon-

e.l.f Cosmetics: Matt Rife

cé. With each addition, she would recreate an old Levi’s ad dating back to the 1980s.

The past three installments were perceived well with little to no criticism. But the fourth was different. Fans started to notice the blatant sexualization that Levi’s kept doing with the ads.

With close-up shots of Beyoncé’s backside and zooming in on her chest, viewers just felt uncomfortable. Critics claimed that instead of marketing the jeans like the ads should be doing, they instead felt marketed to her behind.

Some compared the ad to Sydney Swee-

F

eet up on his desk, Matt Rife became the face of e.l.f Cosmetics. On August 11th, an ad was released with TikTok comedian, Matt Rife pretending to be a lawyer.

him why she wasn’t in the back cooking.

“Yeah, but I feel like if she could cook, she wouldn’t have that black eye,” Rife said.

People were outraged with e.l.f for putting him on the front of this new campaign.

Many felt betrayed and hurt because many of e.l.f Cosmetics’ consumers are women.

“He’s being portrayed as the new face while knowing nothing about makeup. It’s really aggravating as someone who loves makeup and the brand,” senior Tate Haverland said.

body. As the camera moves, you hear her talking about genetics.

Critics claimed that the ad was promoting eugenics, which aims to increase “desirable” genetic traits. It was historically used to justify slavery, even today it is still used as racist rhetoric.

“I definitely think that it was a stupid idea having a blonde white woman saying she has good genes,” Sophomore Ryder Smith said.

Critics also said that Sweeney was oversexualized, making her an object rather than a person.

Video after video was being made, ei-

ther making fun of Sweeney, giving feedback, or making derogatory comments about the ad, eventually forcing a response statement. “[The campaign] is and always was about the jeans, Sweeneys’ jeans. Her story.

We’ll continue to celebrate how everyone wears their AE jeans with confidence, their way.” American Eagle said.

e.l.f Cosmetics left fans puzzled as to why they would hire Matt Rife as the face of this ad. He has never spoken about makeup. But mystery soon turned to anger.

A stand-up comedy shows of Rife’s that aired on his Netflix comedy special, “Natural Selection.” Rife talks about a waitress who had a black eye. His friend asked

American Eagle: Sydney Sweeney

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lastered on store walls, “Sydney Sweeny has great genes,” with ‘genes’ crossed off and replaced with ‘jeans,’ the campaign meant to be a little controversial, but it blew up in a way nobody expected.

On July 23, American Eagle came out with an ad featuring Sydney Sweeney.

The ad depicts the actress lying down on a couch while the camera pans over her ART BY JACKIE NEWMAN

ney’s controversial American Eagle partnership, with the oversexualization of these two women, both denim companies being scrutinized.

“It left me confused,” Junior Anevaeh Valdez said.

October 2025

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ART BY JACKIE NEWMAN

18 | A&E

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BY DHANYA RAJENDIRAN A&E Editor

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BY ETHAN CATLOW Staff Writer

PHOTO BY ANGELA XU

PHOTO BY ELLA FISHMAN

TRICKS: A local skater does a trick on his skateboard at William McKinley Carson Park & Skate Park

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n the 80s and 90s, skating was huge. Everyone was skating and you could recognize people who skate just by looking at their clothes and unique style. While in the 80s and 90s the style was primarily influenced by punk rock, now it’s more influenced by its 90s roots and the style that came before.

Many people think of skater culture differently and they might even think that there are less people skating. Even if that’s true, people like junior Asher Blumberg still enjoy skating because of the feeling you get when you learn something new.

“The feeling of landing a trick that you have been pursuing for a long time. It just feels amazing when you fulfill that goal,” Blumberg said.

Skater culture can be many different things. Not only is it the style of skaters, it’s also about the welcoming community.

The skater community is a huge part of the culture and most skaters try to be as supportive as they can, whether it be by encouraging you to try new tricks, or by hyping you up when you finally land that trick that you’ve been working on for a while.

Blumberg has been skating for 5 years

and loves what the community skater culture offers.

“When I think of [skater culture], I think of a really good community, and how everyone, for the most part, is pretty wholesome, and that the experiences I’ve had have all just been good, and I think it’s a safe place to be” Blumberg said.

The type of clothing that skaters wear is also a big part of the culture. This style includes baggy clothes and skater brands like Thrasher, Vans, and DC. Right now, many people, including non-skaters, are starting to wear those types of clothes.

“You should at least skate a little bit if you’re about to just wear all the skate stuff,” junior William Riley said.

Skating isn’t just a sport, it’s a lifestyle.

Many people of all ages still skate, but the number of kids learning to skate is declining according to GoSkate. On top of that, there are visibly fewer people at skate parks. For example, in the last seven years youth participation dropped 50%.

Even though skateboarding culture, might be fading, Blumberg might have a solution.

“Try and just be a part of as much as you can, you know, get to know the skate shops,

and just go skate at your local park, or go to new parks as much as you can,” Blumberg said.

MOST POPULAR

according to Creek skaters

Brand of Shoes: -Vans, Sambas, DC -Skate Park: -William McKinley Carson Park and Skate Park Music: -Blink 182, Punk Genre Skateboard Companies -Thrasher, Spitfire

October 2025

CCHS’S New Policies:

“If you’re missing one day of school, you’re most likely missing all your classes, and not just one class,” junior Taryn Webster-Bates said.

With all the work from one day piling up, it’s hard to get back on track, especially when the current day’s work is also added to the workload. The school

NLO U

ix to seven classes every day is a great deal of work. With after-school activities and students striving to have an adequate sleep schedule, homework can be a burden especially when missing school.

AMA

S

Staff Writer

and accommodating to the needs of the students.

“I feel like they’re really catching up and becoming more understanding,” Webster-Bates said.

Although not many students miss a significant amount of school, we all get from all the missing work that comes from being sick, field trips or traveling.

Overall, three days will help lower the cumulative stress and workload from every class and I’m pleased at the changes the administration has made.

BY H AVA NA

BY LAUREN LASKOWSI

administration has taken note of this issue and changed the policy for make-up work from two days to three days since the day of the absence.

“It was kind of a lot to try and get seven classes worth of work done within two days,” Webster-Bates said.

Before the administration changed the policy of make-up work, teachers could give you a zero percent on any assignment that was late. Now the administration has changed it so that the lowest grade a teacher could give you is a 40 percent.

I am happy with this change because I get very obsessed with my grades, and sometimes I have anxiety when it gets to a low B or even a C. This helped reduce my stress and encouraged me to get my grade back up since it doesn’t seem so out of reach.

I acknowledge and praise the administration for being more understanding

ART

opinions

Late Work Policy Pros

Minga Policy Pros

BY CLAIRE CRAWFORD

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Staff Writer

ART BY ANGELA XU

he new Minga policy that has been implemented this school year has been getting mixed reviews.

However the new policy isn’t all that bad, and has been dramatically helping administration during the access time period.

The new limitation regarding the Minga app is the hall pass for advisory.

Now, students must sign out with their

20 | Opinions

advisory teacher through the app before understanding of where they are) they going to see another teacher. Once they have to deal with a very serious case. are signed out they have seven minutes “While you’re on campus we are reto get to that teacher’s office or room, sponsible for you,” Prevost said. where that teacher will then confirm While Wednesdays may be short, that they made it. we still have time “I just hope that to go off during our kids understand that free periods and get access is a privilege,” food or hangout with If schools don’t treat Activities Director friends without havstudents with proper Kelly Prevost said. ing to leave during care they have to deal Being a senior at access.

Creek, I understand While students may with a very serious exactly why they think this new regucase. implemented this lation is pointless, the into the Minga systruth is it provides so tem. Every year I see much more safety to countless kids leaving during access, to the students during a time when they are go get food or hangout with friends. required and expected to be on campus.

If schools don’t treat students with proper care (AKA supervision and the

Rad Or Bad?

Late Work Policy Cons

BY HAVANA AMANLOU

C

Asst. Opinions Editor

reek’s new late work policy provides students three days to make-up work per absence for full credit, After that, the minimum

grade a teacher can give is a 40 percent.

In previous years, students would be given two days per absence to make up any work, and after that it would be considered late. Following that it was up to the teachers discretion on how it would be graded.

While this new policy prevents students from getting zeros, teachers have set the benchmark in most classes to an automatic 40 percent when it is turned in late, rather

than giving it the grade it deserves. This has for their work, this new policy throws their defeated the whole purpose of the policy. efforts away,” senior Remi Wozniak said.

Many Creek students take rigorous honMany students work part-time jobs, ors and AP classes that already demand care for siblings, or face family emergenheavy workloads. cies. Three days per absence Expecting studoes not account for the comdents to catch plexity of these challenges. up on six classA one-day absence may be Teachers take on this es in just three manageable, but extended abdays—while also sences quickly become overpolicy risks creating keeping up with whelming. burnout, rushed work, current work—is Instead of motivating stuand disengagement. unrealistic and dents, teachers take on this stressful. policy risks creating burnout, The strain is rushed work, and disengageeven worse for ment. Truly following the student-athletes, system would balance acwho often stay late after school for prac- countability with flexibility—encouraging tices and games. Balancing athletics with timely completion while recognizing the both past and current assignments in such real challenges students face. Without that a short window forces impossible choices balance, Creek’s policy punishes students and leads to falling grades. more than it helps them. “[Athletes] have a small amount of time

Minga Policy Cons

Now it’s senior year, and we have this system that I barely even use, even during access time.

Signing students out through Minga so they can simply leave during access is not ideal. Don’t get me wrong, I get the purpose—so students use their time more efficiently and make sure they’re seeing the teachers they need to see. Changing how

OLL IER

ntering as a Freshman, I never expected to have a digital ID system.

IV C

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Features Editor

students and teachers. If the goal of access is truly to give students more meaningful time with teachers, then relying on a tool that creates more barriers than solutions is not the best approach.

ART BY

BY SERENITY HURTADO

the school does access time during advisory, however, doesn’t benefit students. The system glitches and doesn’t do what it’s supposed to do properly. Then on top of that, it can cause students to get sent to the dean for infractions not of their own doing.

“Minga is overall good, but the hall pass thing is not. When I tried to go see my science teacher, I was accidentally marked absent,” senior Zach Hassan said. “I find it a waste of time...rushing to a teacher is annoying when we have limited time to get from one place to another, when it’s just a simple question most times.”

Not to mention the struggles teachers face when it doesn’t scan or work properly—it often takes more time to get Minga working than to use simpler, more direct methods like emailing or giving a quick written pass. Instead of improving efficiency, the system ends up slowing down both

May 2025 October 2025

The Political Climate: No Laughing Matter

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BY JACKIE NEWMAN Chief Artist

ocial media allows for news to be spread quickly, and oftentimes humorously.

While it’s not necessarily harmful if a politician does something that makes us laugh, it becomes harmful when serious actions are shown as jokes with minimal information.

“That kind of stuff gets re-broadcast across social media a lot, which I think he likes, because I think Trump likes any media attention,” social studies teacher Tim Kirkpatrick said. “I think it draws away from the issues, which is what I wish Americans were more focused on.”

Seeing those attention grabbing videos on sites like TikTok or Instagram doesn’t educate us about things going on in the world. Many popular political accounts follow trends to make fun of Trump, say-

ART BY IV COLLIER

22 | Opinions and Staff Editorial

ing he’s bad but giving zero explanation as California governor Gavin Newsom has to why. You see the clip and you’ll scroll exhibited similar extremities in the sense and form an opinion. You likely won’t do of being comical and abrupt. He calls out a quick Google search to learn about what Trump by mocking him rather than straight he is really doing. This black and white per- up educating people about problems with suasion promotes bias and splits us further Trump. Fighting fire with fire won’t extinapart. guish it, rather, it’ll create a larger fire.

“Now that’s the headline news, or that’s Even if the goal is to educate while bewhat you’re seeing on ing satirical, it creates the social media, I don’t same problem of tribalthink that benefits ism. It gives him that loyour political system,” al following and makes When we get used to Kirkpatrick said. people like him, not necjoking around about our Trump is a great essarily because of actual problems they become example of this tribpolicies, but because he smaller. We won’t feel bad alism and hilarity that is charming. It, again, difor the people whose lives is problematic. He vides people and stops us has been in the eye of from looking at real news are changed for the worse. the media for a long sources that are credible, time, having previand forming their own ously been on reality opinions. Personality has TV and now being overtaken policy. the topic of many controversies. These con“[Social media] has made politicians troversies have become a joke. His MAGA more concerned with popularity,” Woolpeople adore him and don’t care about his sey said. “Looking for the opportunity to felonies, perverted remarks, or backwards say the next big thing or generate the most views on minorities. conversation, no matter how ridiculous or “I don’t think people go beyond it and controversial.” say, ‘how is he going to make America This obsession with our politicians havgreat?’” Kirkpatrick said. ing such extreme personas makes us numb Many like him because of his conten- to news that should shock us. tious personality. They like that he is un“We’re a little tuned out as voters, or predictable and bizarre. Since people are so harder to shock at least,” Kirkpatrick said. confined to their parties, many would rathSeeing illegal things happening in our er stick with an extreme person from their administration should make us uncomfortparty – in this case the Republican Party – able. When we get used to joking around than support a mediocre person from about our problems they become smaller. another party.

We won’t feel bad for the people whose lives There is an opposing team that thinks are changed for the worse. When things he’s a moron. But because they only see the don’t affect us and we laugh about them, we joke videos of how terrible he is, no one is stop caring for the people they do affect. surprised anymore with whatever new conWe lose empathy. troversy arises. Rather than being outraged, That is the result of these jokes. That people are simply expecting the worst. is why this is damaging. There is nothing Trump happens to be on the conservative wrong with laughing at something messed side, but either ideology could get stuck in up, but when that is every single bit of news a cult following because of the continued we look at, then it’s an issue. separation.

“You see it, you see it, you see it, and you “If someone like Gavin Newsom rises just kinda go, ‘eh’,” Kirkpatrick said. to the level of popularity among democrats that Trump experienced among republicans, I think democrats would do the exact STORY MODE: Politicians’ –especially Donald same thing,” social studies teacher Fletcher Trump’s– comical nature being spread all over Woolsey said. social media is dangerous.

Dear Community, Wake Up Censorship Has Gone Too Far and is Violating Our Rights

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n Sept. 17, 2025, ABC executives decided to cancel “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” after he made comments about the shooting of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.

superstars. Newspaper executives who don’t care about independent journalism will censor their own editorial sections to win power.

It’s a perfect crime. The courts can’t block this sneaky, quid pro quo censorship. But Although the board took it as offensive, citizens can stand up against it. That’s why the comments were simply Kimmel’s opinenraged online protests and a drop in rations of the situation. And, even if they were ings forced ABC to bring back Kimmel in viewed as ignorant, it was shocking to see just six days. him removed from air so quickly as a result.

During his inaugural address at the beIt’s hard to discern what President Donald ginning of the year Trump stated that he Trump’s administration orchestrates when it would “sign an executive order to immecomes to First Amendment concerns. Was diately stop all government Stephen Colbert’s cancensorship and bring back cellation just a move by free speech to America.”

Paramount, the owners Since then, the Trump adIf censorship conof CBS, to curry favor ministration has flipped their with the FCC, who had tinues to plague our ideology, aiming to root out to approve its recent country, the foundaany voice that opposes their merger with Skydance dissonant agenda. tion of democracy will Media? Was ABC’s More right leaning news brief cancellation of deteriorate. outlets, like Fox News, are Jimmy Kimmel’s show not facing any risks of bejust a submission to ing shut down pushed by that same FCC and its the Trump administration: aggressive chair, Brendan Carr, to avoid his freedom of speech gets clouded when this threats of taking their license to be on air? freedom is only granted to one side of the These actions can’t be flagged by courts political spectrum. and overturned: private entities can censor Now, Vance, Trump, and other members their own employees’ speech all they want. of the administration are openly encouragThe First Amendment only blocks the goving the firing of anyone who celebrates the ernment from doing so directly. These indeath of Kirk online and celebrating the stances of media censorship in the past year cancellation of Kimmel’s show. should be worrying because they seem so “It’s not free speech when you come government driven. out and you say, ‘it’s OK what happened to Media companies will do anything to cut Charlie,” Attorney General Pam Bondi said, a deal with Trump’s FCC, even drop their “We’re firing people, we’re seeing people

STAFF EDITORIAL This is an opinion piece written by the Editorial Staff of the Union St. Journal. Staff editorials serve as a way for members of the magazine to give commentary on a community-wide issue. The views expressed represent the opinions of the editorial staff, not those of CCHS or CCSD.

18 - 1

IN FAVOR

OPPOSED

The USJ’s Editorial Board voted on the subject of this staff editorial. online who are posting hate speech — they should be shut down.””

Yet this is more than normal cancel culture. The difference between cancel culture and the censorship of Jimmy Kimmel is the fact that the government is now involved.

This is purposeful from Trump as an attempt to restrict free speech, evidently making misinformation and suppression of free thinking more common among the American people.

His effort of removing unbiased journalism and entertainment jeopardizes the seeking of education and curiosity. The more freedom of speech we have, the more people want to learn. If censorship continues to plague our country, the foundation of opinion and democracy will deteriorate.

We the people are being desensitized to what democracy and freedom is. We are forgetting what makes up our nation, and being blindsided at what threatens all of us in the ‘land of the free.’

ART BY HAVANA AMANLOU

October 2025

Boys’ Tennis Strikes Again Jr. Sam Migliac cio

Sr. Adam Eikelberner Jr. Devan Shah

Sr. Tyson Hardy FIERCE COMPETITORS: Boys’ tennis faces down Grandview in singles and doubles matches on Sept. 25.

Sr. Liam Raleigh

Sr. Jack Loehr PHOTOS BY KELLEN RINGLAND

Varsity Doubles “This season has been a success. The players are continuing to get better throughout the season.

They’ve also grown closer as a team.”

-Tennis coach Josh Gonzales

Top Duo

Senior Tyson Hardy & Junior Sam Miglaccio Record: 17-0

Varsity Singles Best Players

Jr. Aidan Washer: 14-4 Sr. Jack Loehr: 16-2 Jr. Devan Shah: 15-2

Team Record Individual 9-0 Record: 53-3 Second Place at Cherry Creek Invitational

Full Send Invitational Co-Champions

Creek Bruins *STATS AS OF OCT. 9. INFOGRAPHIC BY ANDREI MACHADO

Fun Facts: Boys’ Tennis has 47 state titles Creek has won the past five state championship titles Boys’ tennis is the Creek sport with the most titles