Oct 2017 USJ issue 1

Cherry Creek High School 9300 E. Union Ave. Greenwood Village, CO 80111 Oct. 2017 Vol. 3, Issue 1

Journal The Union St.

#suicide How does social media affect the way we think about suicide?

IN THIS ISSUE....

NEWS

Hurricane help............................3 I.C. Lounge..................................4 Schedule change..........................5 STUDENT LIFE

Peer Ambassadors.......................6 Fall Play........................................7 FEATURES

Social media and Suicide............8-9 ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

Gorillaz review...........................10 It review......................................11 Destiny 2......................................11 SPORTS

Field hockey...............................12 Sports recap...............................12 OPINIONS

Trump vs. Natl. Monuments......15 Staff editorial..............................16

Find more stories at unionstreetjournal.com

@creekusj

NEWS

Creek aids hurricane victims

Houston students receive supplies from Keogh, DECA, NAHS BY: VALERIE LOMBOGIA Staff Writer Following the tragedy of Hurricane ly what we send and what she should be ciety also contributed by donating the 172 Harvey in Texas, Cherry Creek has discov- erasers requested by the Houston class. receiving.” ered a way to directly support its victims, Keogh is also keeping a very close in“Our club is a service organization, but specifically other students. ventory of everything being sent to ensure sometimes, service opportunities that are Activities Director Krista Keogh regisnothing is missed. able to be directly impacted with art are tered the school to “adopt a classroom” of “Whenever there’s a tragedy like a hurmore scarce,” NAHS Sponsor Alissandra students directly impacted by Hurricane ricane, the supply in that area is limited,” Seelaus said. “So this seemed like a meanHarvey through sending them various Keogh said. “You can’t just go to Target and ingful way to contribute an art supply that school supplies. buy new school supplies because everysomeone else needed.”

“Pretty soon after the hurricanes in body needed new school supplies, so I Students hesitant to donate may be Houston, there were a lot of people in the think being able to send some things from concerned about the security of their school asking what we could do to help, donations and if they are truly going where up here down there was really helpful.” and I was actually on Facebook one day they are needed, but Keogh can confirm and had seen this ‘Adopt a Classroom,’” the legitimacy of the charity.

Keogh said.

“I’m personally in contact with the A week after registering, Creek was teacher,” she said. “She knows specificalpaired with a science class of 175 students from Davis Ninth Grade High School. Because of the hurricanes, these students’ supplies were ruined, and with the supplies at local stores being diminished, they were desperately in need. The teacher, Lisa Griffiths, sent Keogh a list of supplies she knew her students would need to be successful for the school year.

“She had requested quite a few supplies for all 175 of her kids: composition notebooks, colored pencils, glue, tape, backpacks,” she said.

Keogh is also accepting cash donations to cover shipping costs and just to buy more supplies.

Different clubs and groups assisted in the collecting of donations such as DECA. “We donated over $100, tape, glue, colored paper, composition notebooks, and folders,” PHOTO COURTESY OF KRISTA KEOGH DECA Advisor Beth Adolphi said. “I would say more than 40 HAPPY TO HELP: Junior Brooke Schmidt, Senior Max Gomez, and Sophomore Taid members participated.”

Zdinak finish packing boxes of supplies to send to students affected by Hurricane The National Art Honor So- Harvey in Houston.

Oct. 2017

3

NEWS

PHOTO BY BRYAN HERRERA

IN THE QUEUE: With the closing of the I.C. Café, students brave the long lines in West cafeteria during fourth period, the only source of on-campus food.

I.C. cafe turns into I.C. lounge BY: JACOB GINSBERG-MARGO Staff Writer

This year the I.C. Café and the DECA Snack Shack are gone.

The first year back on the National School Lunch Program since 2015 has brought changes to the Cherry Creek School District food services. Due to this change, it is also the first in many school years, where the I.C. Café is no longer a food option. This has become a great inconvenience, for many students “The West café gets way too crowded during all my free periods,” freshman Nathan Eckler said.

During the 2015-2016 school year, $200,000 ran a deficit through expenditures and food waste, and in last year’s

PHOTO BY LARRY STOIBER

LOUNGING: Students can now eat and study in the I.C. Lounge.

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budget report around $175,000 in deficit as well. “The challenge though for us was that we were not breaking even,” Principal Ryan Silva said.

The NSLP will reimburse the school with six cents for every meal that the school sells. If half of the current student body would buy a lunch here at school, then the school will receive over one hundred dollars in reimbursements.

This year, the school saved almost half a million dollars in food expenditures by cutting the Metro Cafe and DECA Snack Shack, I.C Café’s food options, from the school, and the NSLP will now reimburse every sold meal for 6¢, and cover all reduced or free meals. This may not seem like a lot, but after thousands of meals a day, it can save hundreds of dollars. With these reimburses,the school is now able to more steadily give free and reduced lunches, for families in poverty.

Also, because DECA took over Bear Necessities, their budget hasn’t been affected in any major way.

With the loss of the I.C Café, the West café now sees bigger lines during the lunch periods of around 45 people per line. This adds to the stress of shorter periods and the ability to eat lunch.

“In general, I don’t go to West,” soph-

omore Matthew Allison said. “Last year I stayed mainly in I.C. It was close by and had use, and a café. I usually stayed in the middle of campus anyway,” In early September, they started giving barcoded paper I.D’s at the entrance to the kitchen or in West 543, in order to help move the lines along, giving more time to the students, but some students are reluctant, and only a couple dozen per period have used them said Mr. Mezenko.

The I.C. Cafe is still lively and used by many.

Students there still enjoy the comfortable chairs and lively space to eat, drink and talk to their friends, or to make new ones. Some students have enjoyed the cleaner space to work and study, also to eat and enjoy their lunch, instead of using the library where you can’t eat.

“I had gotten a lot of requests from students to have a place where they can study and eat that is quieter because they can’t do that in the resource centers. They can’t do that in the library,” Silva said.

Now, the I.C. Cafe is more lively and full of people eating their own lunches rather than the Metro Cafe’s.

“I usually come here to study, during 8th period, and to eat with my friends,” sophomore Riley Dennis said.

Oct. 2017

NEWS

Later start time working for most students, teachers BY: BEN SAMPSON Staff Writer

Sophomore Alex Molberg’s bus arrives just before 1st period, so he cannot hang out with friends before school like he did last year.

He’s not complaining, though.

“I’ll be more energetic because of more sleep,” he said.

Last spring, the school board voted for Cherry Creek Schools to start later in the morning, addressing widespread sleep issues reported by students and parents.

Molberg, like most students, strongly supports the schedule change. Last year, like many students, Molberg had trouble with getting enough sleep.

The early start time “caused me to do homework later, which cut into my sleep schedule. I was kind of tired in the morning, and I took a lot of naps,” he also said.

However, the time change may cause students and staff some problems commuting.

Several busses routinely got students to 1st period classes tardy. As of early September, students being tardy because of busses is still a problem.

The schedule change came after many community members complained the schedules did not allow middle and high school students a healthy amount of sleep each night.

The high schools in the district, Creek included, now go from 8:20 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., compared to the previous 7:10 a.m. to 2:51 p.m.

According to the Cherry Creek Schools website, The “Cherry Creek School District Board of Education” voted “unanimously” in favor of changing start times, “citing the latest research and best practices regarding sleep patterns in adolescents.”

Math and SAS teacher Annemarie Dempsey said via email that her first period students have been more alert this year.

“This year, students in 1st period,

Oct. 2017

especially, appear more alert and ready to work,” she said.

She also foresees positive impacts it will have later this school year.

“Since students are more engaged this year, I anticipate that the change in time will have a positive effect on how students perform in class and as they complete work after school,” she said.

However, like many people, Dempsey believes it may be a challenge to balance school and extracurriculars.

“The only negative effect I can see on students is for those students involved in after school activities,” she said. “Students will need to be creative about completing homework while managing the time constraints of their extracurricular activities,” she concluded.

Senior Skyler Matteson also is optimistic about the later start time. “I can wake up later; I can get more stuff done,” he said.

Teenagers naturally stay up later in the night. Therefore, the amount of sleep in the morning is important. “Teens will go to bed at 11 no matter what,” Matteson said.

Matteson, like most students, has a commute to school with traffic that seems worse than last school year. The traffic along Dayton and Union is packed with cars for more than a half mile away from Creek.

Yosemite and DTC Blvd are also very crowded in the morning, but most students are not complaining.

“The worse traffic is worth the later start time,” Matteson said.

Elementary schools now start 20 minutes before high schools and middle schools start 30 TRAFFIC: As minutes after.

According to the district’s website, the district “received more than 25,000 responses” to surveys about the planned start time. A clear majority of “about 73 percent” responses “reflected support for the proposed changes.”

Last spring, district superintendent Harry Bull wrote in a statement on the district website, “the sleep research is very clear.” He went on to point out adolescents naturally stay up in the evening, and therefore receive a significant part of their sleep in the morning hours. He emphasized that a healthy amount of sleep is important for teens’ health and academic performance.

Teenagers are healthiest if they get between 8 and 10 hours of sleep each night.

According to the National Sleep Foundation, teenagers naturally tend to stay awake later, it’s not unusual. In order to get enough sleep, they should wake up later in the morning.

Also according to the NSF, not getting enough sleep could cause teens to have more acne, not pay as much attention to school and friends, aggressive or impatient behavior, unhealthy diet, be more likely to get sick, drive while tired, contribute to caffeine addiction, or even alcohol or tobacco addiction. The NSF states that tired drivers contribute to 100,000 crashes every year.

PHOTO BY CAMERON BARNARD

a result of the later schedule, student traffic backs up at Union and Yosemite.

5

STUDENT LIFE

Cheers for peers

PHOTO BY LARRY STOIBER

NUMERO UNO: Peer Ambassador Senior Pearl Schwartz plays Uno with freshman Julia Frey.

BY: LARRY STOIBER Staff Writer

acts of kindness around the school,” Peer Ambassador Pearl Schwartz said.

Peer Ambassadors aim to be support Peer Ambassadors help around the mechanisms for the entire school. They are school in giving advice and support to especially aware of those who feel they are student who need or want it. The ambas- not listened to or not important. sadors hold doors for students, clean off They make themselves available to snow from cars, post posters and notes anyone, every period of the day. There are with positive messages around the school, at least three people every period in the and volunteer at school events. These are Peer Pad which is located in the counseling all examples of how the Peer Ambassadors office. create the positive atmosphere of Creek.

The ambassadors encourage students to One of the jobs of a Peer Ambassador is come in, no matter the problem or situation to give tours to new Creek students or to they have. those who are thinking about transition“We are here every period and I know ing to Creek. everyone here, and we are all super nice, su“It's about making a difference in the per fun, and we all get super excited when community and helping the transition people want to come in and see us, so don't from X school to Creek, because I know hesitate,” Schwartz said.

Creek is huge,” Peer Ambassador Ali They consider themselves representatives Abbas said. “So I feel like that transition of Creek to people that come and visit the needs to be effortless and has to be nice campus and to new Creek students. They all for people”. have the goal of trying to make Creek more The Peers also work towards creating welcoming. a positive atmosphere around the school “I can personally make someone's day and support anyone who needs it. and make this transition worse or better, “The purpose of a Peer Ambassador is depending on what I do,” Abbas said. “It to be there for anyone, whether it's help affects how someone has an opinion of finding a better friend, just doing simple Creek”.

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These students have to apply and be accepted through a very selective process.

Most who apply are not selected.

In the spring applications get sent out.

Any upcoming senior can apply to be a Peer Ambassador. The students have to answer a series of short answer questions and are also asked to get teacher recommendations.

Usually 150 students apply and that has to be narrowed down to 21 students in the end. About 40-50 students are asked back for a 50 minute interview with the counselors themselves and the clerks that work in the office.

Counselor and Peer Ambassador Sponsor Katherine Gallegos tries to include many different types of people as possible to create a diverse atmosphere. This is so people who come in from different walks of life can feel welcomed and understood.

“We want to have a culturally and socioeconomically and academically diverse group of students,” Gallegos said. “We really want someone who is ready to grow”.

Being an Ambassador is also about trying hard academically. It is important to be academically sound.

“We take students from all levels of academic success as long as they are doing the best that they can,” Gallegos said. “We want our students to be doing well in school, and that looks different for every student,” said Gallegos Although the experience is extremely beneficial for the students that come to Peer Ambassadors and is meant for the students, the Ambassadors take away much from the situation also.

“I've already met so many people I wouldn't have if I hadn't had the opportunity and knowing people come different experiences and remembering there's a full story behind it,” Schwartz said.

Students who use the Ambassadors regularly come back for support from the Ambassadors. The Ambassador leave a huge impact on the students that come to the Peer Pad for help.

“The students who utilize the Peers as a resource, they often return to the Peer Pad and get to know the new Peers each year,” Gallegos said.

Oct. 2017

STUDENT LIFE

November 1st thru 4th

Tickets • Adults: $15 • Students: $10 PHOTO BY JACK CONGEL

WIN OR DIE: Ellie (Sophomore Hannah Katz) crushes the tiara she desperately wants.

Do you want to play a game?

BY:MILES DENNIS Staff Writer

Since it’s the first show of the year, Miller hopes it will bring The play Game of Tiaras is a mixture of Game of Thrones, many freshmen into the Creek Drama department. Also with the Shakespeare, and Disney with lots of silly scenes and funny number of new students in the show, it brings costumes. It incorporates pop culture with a lot of new ideas to the table and also lots of Shakespearean themes, plus it also has a new talent. cast with characters such as Tinker Bell, The students who don’t act work on tech, Arya Stark and Princess Leia. which is split into 6 parts: props, construction, The play is being performed November 1-4 at 7 p.m. in the Fine Arts Theater with sound, lighting, costumes, and marketing. a 2 pm matinee on Saturday. Director JimConstruction works on the set which fetures 5 my Miller chose Game of Tiaras because 24-foot tall tapestries, a large ice and jail wall, he wanted a show that is unique, and he and a recreation of the iron throne. While Costumes works on sewing over 30 costume always wants different types of shows for almost completely by hand, props makes all his students to perform in throughout hand held items, sound sets up the microtheir years at Creek. phones and lights positions each light on stage “This is a big costume show, and a light with over 75 lights construction show as the sets aren’t that Senior and Stage Manager Rachael Moes big,” Miller said. “ It has a lot of different hopes a lot of students come see the play. stock characters, such as Disney Princesses “It’s a fun time,” she said. “There are disney and it’s also very silly!” princesses in it, and it’s also a fun experience The drama talent pool was also a conthat will take you down memory lane to your sideration for Miller in picking the title. A childhood.” lot of girls, in particular, auditioned, and Miller agrees. “It’s a funny show,” he said.

Miller thought many of them had talent.

PHOTO BY CAMERON BARNARD “You’ll have a good time, the talent is incred“We wanna give as many kids as possi- ANGRY MOB: Junior Avery Weist ible, the actors are good, and the production ble an opportunity to be on stage,” he said.

With a cast of 36 actors, Game of Tiaras prepares to take down a princess in qualities are very high.”. an enraged mob. does just that.

Oct. 2017

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FEATURES

#suicide

How social media impacts the way we think about suicide BY: GRACIE LORDI News Editor

On Tuesday, August 29, two Denver-area students died by suicide.

On Wednesday, August 30, another Denver-area student died by suicide.

On Thursday, August 31, another Denver-area student died by suicide.

Four suicides in one week, all within the first month of school, all within 28 square miles.

In the Cherry Creek School District, there hasn’t been the uptick in student suicides seen in neighboring school districts, but awareness has spiked through the use of social media.

“There may have been an uptick in reporting, not in actuality,” school psychologist Lisa Geissler said.

This may be due, in part, to social media and pop culture, and its ability to inform and raise awareness within the student body. “[Social media] adds another level of stress, and it adds another level of disconnectedness,” Geissler said. “And yet it adds connectedness, in an ironic way.”

Beyond the potential impact of social media on depression and suicidal thoughts in adolescents, social media may be changing the way we view suicide as bystanders.

School psychologist Andrew Russell calls this the “contagion effect” and believes it may be altering how we consume or interpret the content we see on social media relating to someone who committed suicide.

There’s a virtual connection that did not exist prior to social media, where students relate to people they have never met.

“Now there’s a sense of, ‘I’m two friends away from that person, I’m practically friends with them,’” Russell said.

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Sophomore Isabella Haddon said she feels impacted by hearing of look suicides but not because of social media. thin “It doesn’t make it feel closer,” she said. “If anyone commits suicide your it doesn’t matter who the person is or if I know the person - it’s still of st suicide. It’s still connected to me no matter what.” taki Still, mental health professionals worry social media is causing So students to detach from their community.

“Something is happening where people are feeling disconnected, Social media adds another l not just from family and guardians adds another level of disconn and people from school, but even isolated from friends and siblings,” adds connectedness, in an iro Russell said.

Social Studies teacher Virginia Decesare has a very close relationship with her sophomore daughter -School P but understands how a disconnect Lisa Ge between student and parent could happen.

“I can see how you can get busy in your life and, especially if your kid seems to be getting good grades, seems to be doing okay,” she said. day “You don’t see anything major or that they can get separated from A you.” ture Decesare is also concerned about the mass volume at which stuIn dents are consuming content from the media. mix “I’m amazed, I just look over my daughter’s shoulder and she’s just Th

“

Oct. 2017

FEATURES

of

looking at all these pictures and she’s just scanning through these things and she’s just consuming all of this stuff,” Decesare said. “And de your brains are still being formed and you’re getting all of this mass of stuff and it can be really dangerous. You don’t realize that you’re taking it in.”

Social media often portrays the best of someone’s life. The absorption of these false images could negatively affect someone with predisposing risk factors and contribute to their suicidal idenother level of stress, and it ations, or suicidal thoughts. disconnectedness and yet it “That’s what people post, how happy they are and how n an ironic way. great they are,” Decesare said.

“Social media seems to highlight that ‘everybody else seems to be happy but me.’”

School Psychologist Haddon does not have this Lisa Geissler negative reaction to social media posts.

“I always get happier when I see somebody having a better day than me,” Haddon said.

Another important factor in teen suicide is the effect of pop culture.

In March of 2017, the drama series 13 Reasons Why was released to mixed reactions. t The show discusses many controversial subjects, all leading to the

”

Oct. 2017

precipice of the story, the inevitable suicide of the main character.

13 Reasons Why is often criticized by mental health professionals for its gruesome portrayal of suicide and the horrific romanticizing of the act. However, the show also provided a way to reveal the secretiveness of teen life.

“They did a really great job of showing how secretive, adolescent relationships can be,” Geissler said, “of portraying how the adults aren’t privy to what’s really going on.”

Given the secrecy of those relationships, adults, teachers, and mental health professionals rely on communication.

Reports from friends of at-risk students seem to be on the rise, whereas there has been a decrease in at-risk students reporting their own suicidal ideations.

“Over half of students, from our last data poll, that have been feeling that suicidal ideation, didn’t tell anybody,” Russell said, “which is really scary.”

Resources such as the Care Line are ways that phones are helping to keep students connected and supported, as well as increasing administrative awareness.

The Care Line is a phone number and email address open 24/7 to students, parents, and school staff that addresses safety issues, threatening circumstances, and dangerous situations.

“There are some positives about this social media stuff because we do get Care Line calls about people that are worried about their friends,” Dean Tom Doherty said. “Kids reaching out and using the Care Line is a huge benefit to allow us as professionals to help kids.”

“It’s such an important piece of high school for kids to be aware and call that Care Line if they have any issues,” Doherty said.

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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

Long Gorillaz hiatus leads to beautiful new album

BY: ELIZA KING A&E Editor

Seven years ago I was ten years old; I was just starting fifth grade, and the last Gorillaz album was made before they went on a hiatus.

On April 28, Damon Albarn, Jamie Hewlett, and their animated front, 2D, Murdoc, Russel, and Noodle, surprised not only me, but the world, by releasing Humanz.

The band had been created by Albarn and Hewlett to poke fun at MTV, but what they could have never imagined was how big the band would become due to their creative sounds and look.

Much like the previous four albums made by the duo, the wide range of diversity and meaning behind each song has captured the heart of not only me, but many other fans.

Unlike their previous work, this album features a wide variety of guests, such as Vince Staples, THEY’RE BACK: The first new Gorillaz album in seven years is Benjamin Clementine,Kiwas worth the wait, and it’s worth listening to. lo Kish, Grace Jones, and many more helped with the the president of the United ration, Albarn removed all album, all came together States and nudges the planet mention of Trump by editing to speak about issues close to toward war. or bleeping out his name. their hearts.

All the artist’s had strong “I don’t want to give the This mix-and-match group feelings about him which came most famous man in Earth made magic while instructed out in songs such as “Ascenmore fame, particularly. He

by Albarn to imagine a twisted sion” when Vince Staples sang doesn’t need it!” Albarn said in alternative future: a scenario an interview with Rolling Stone, where Donald Trump becomes “The sky's fallin' baby."

While this was the inspibut the notes of bruised hope

10

and uncertainty in the future made their target clear.

Something unique about this album was how dark it was compared to others, and unlike “Feel Good Inc.,” “Plastic Beach,” or even “192000,” almost no songs on this album have been played on the radio.

The more serious tone of songs such as “We Got the Power” and “Busted and Blue” has built a bridge between the creators and audience with lyrics like “A shadow on the wall, an image made by Virgil to rule over us all”.

They’re songs that everyone can relate to and songs that helps the listener fall even more in love with the music they’re listening to.

“Music is something that should speak for itself, straight from the heart,” Albarn told Rolling Stone.

With all of the experimentation done and new interesting songs, Albarn and Hewlett once again show why their band is a staple for creativity in the modern age.

The pair shows how a group of misfits can create something beautiful that connects to tons of people.

While the hiatus left fans craving more, after listening to the album and hearing the story behind it, I think the seven year wait was well worth it.

Oct. 2017

Clowns are scary BY: CLARISSA KOCH Staff Writer

A few good scares isn’t all that is given to the audience who goes to see It. The film also provides a narrative of how children deal with fear at a young age compared to adults.

The film is able to bring out nostalgic reminders of your own childhood fears and hopes. Each kid battles their specific fears that the It embodies and haunts them with. It became an unexpected layer to a story that was promoted only as a remake on a classic horror flick.

Compared to the 1990 version, Andy Muschietti’s It goes into the young kids’ lives in great depth with promise of a sequel rather than jumping back and forth.

Also many of the important aspects of each child’s fear was avoided or tip toed around in the shortened TV mini-series.

Muschietti’s adaptation greatly dug into those themes and formed a greater image.

The hauntings of Pennywise the Dancing Clown, Bill Skarsgard, brutally beat down

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

on the lives of six young kids. They are challenged to face what terrifies each of them most.

When the fear starts to cloud their brain, it’s hard to decide what is real and what isn’t. The kids are forced to decide whether or not they want to live in fear or challenge the monster that represents what each of them is most terrified of.

Characters like Richie, Finn Wolfhard, Eddie and Jack Dylan Grazer, brought on an edgy humor that lit up the movie.

Many of the jokes we can’t even say. The constant verbal battery was a bit of a relief for the nonstop jump-out-at-you scares that were sprinkled throughout and became common but still terrifying.

The idea of a clown that feeds and hunts through fear will leave a lasting in image in audience’s minds. Although the end titles revealed that this is only the first chapter, It floats well on its own.

Destiny 2 makes needed improvements BY: CHRISTIAN TUCKER Staff Writer Destiny 2 instantly throws you into the action of fighting the Cabal on the Tower.

Gameplay The combat doesn’t feel copied and pasted from the previous Halo games like the first Destiny. Destiny 2 actually feels a bit fresh.

The combat against the AI felt easy during Strikes and regular campaign

Oct. 2017

missions to me, but then again, I’ve beaten every Halo on legendary up until Halo 5.

The weapons feel amazing. The exotic guns are actually foreign. I mean look at the Gravitron Lance - even the name is eye-catching.

I also enjoyed how they made some of the weapons a little more modern. The new weapons they put in, such as the submachine gun and grenade launcher, feel like they actually have a place in Destiny.

The public events are still repetitive and grindy for example just go here and destroy the spider walker tank or go here and kill this normal guy that has more health and damage.

Graphics The graphics are just awesome.

The worlds are huge and fun to explore. The lighting and water looks realistic.

Story With the story you actually understand what’s going on and why you’re doing everything. So while you’re still slaughtering your way through everything like in the first Destiny in order to get to a high enough level to do a nightfall and the raid, you at least know why you’re doing it.

Overall Destiny 2 basically succeeds where the original Destiny failed. It feels less of a chore to do everything. Destiny 2 has more content and more exploration at launch.

Combat in Crucible now feels balanced.

The story is actually developed.

Destiny 2 has flaws, as does every game.

It will most likely have downloadable content that you will have to get in order to progress in the game, just like in the original Destiny, which will most likely end up leaving a huge hole in your wallet.

11

SPORTS

Field hockey coach holds illegal practice on a Sunday By: Cameron Barnard Editor-in-Chief

The varsity field hockey team was put on restriction by CHSAA due to the coaches holding a mandatory player practice on a Sunday.

CHSAA rules require that there be no contact between players and coaches on Sunday in order to have a break once a week.

After receiving several notices from parents, Athletic Director Jason Wilkins self-reported the team to CHSAA, who then put the team on restricted status.

This is the first time a Cherry Creek sports team has been put on restriction by CHSAA. “There were obviously a lot of meetings, a lot of work, a lot of time invested to not only figure out what actually took place, what’s going to happen, what our next steps are,” Wilkins said. “Those are all things that you are not necessarily counting on in my role because we have never been on restriction.”

Jenny Hilyard, the JV coach, and Baily Zerr, the girls’ lacrosse coach, replaced the coaches who were suspended per CHSAA rules. The previous coaches are no longer employed by the school.

The team was also temporarily barred from the playoffs until the school submitted a petition of grievances. CHSAA has

Fall Sports Recap: 12

win streak where they most recently upset since okayed the petition and allowed the Kent Denver, the team sits with eight wins, team to play in the playoffs.

“I also think that our girl student athletes four losses, and a tie, while also holding didn’t do anything wrong, therefore I think the sixth spot overall in the league.

The team is currently slated to make the CHSAA will hopefully recognize that and not punish them for something when they playoffs.

The semi-finals will be held on October did not do anything wrong,” Wilkins said.

24th, and the finals will be held on OctoThis violation occurred in the middle of ber 26th, both games taking place at All the team’s season.

City Stadium.

“I think it’s a difficult situation for the student athletes,” Wilkins said. “And to have this go on in the middle of the year, particularly seniors, to have our coaches no longer with us, that’s tough for anyone to have to handle or go through. I don’t think that’s fair or right for them, the student athletes, to deal with that, but unfortunately that’s how the situation presented itself.”

The team has PHOTO BY CAMERON BARNARD continued to play FROM THE SIDELINE: New coach Jenny Hilyard leads her well through the turmoil. Currently players in their win against Denver East, the second game on a three-game of their three game win streak.

“We have a strong team with threats all over the field. We had a few rough times but bounced back because Chelo has done a great job moving players around and experimenting with different formations. We have grown close as a group and play as a team which is always great to see. I’m excited to play the rest of the season and show Colorado what the blondies can do!”

- Jake Wood

“We all definitely struggled with approaching the ball and taking advantage of the point at the net and have been working on that quite a bit. I think that was our biggest problem.”

Soccer

Boys Tennis

“We are all pretty nervous with the whole Creek mystique thing.

Some of them are letting it get to their heads a little bit but we will be okay. We’re very focused and dialed in.”

- Alex Gordon

“We made it to playoffs…

We beat the right teams to secure our playoff.”

“Hopefully make it to state.

Right now our main focus is regionals.”

- Coach Allison Mckean

Softball

Oct. 2017

SPORTS

PHOTO BY BRYAN HERRERA

VARSITY FOOTBALL: Creek lost to Regis High School 25-20 in their first game of the season on September 1.

The team is currently ranked first in the Mt. Elbert League with a record of 5-2.

“We’ve had a great first half of the season with some big wins like Grandview plus we’re already off to a better start than last year being 3-2 going into league play, so now we’ve got 5 weeks to prepare and ready our team for the playoffs.”

- Dimitri Stanley

Football

Oct. 2017

“They are exceeding my expectations, We have a young team for boys and girls and only 3 returners but we have overcome.”

- Coach Ethan Dusto

“This season has been great! This is the first time we’ve had a coach return for a second season in the past four years, so having that stability in the program has been a huge benefit. When we start the season with a returning coach, we don’t have to start from square one again, and we’re able to build upon the work we did the previous year so we can make more progress throughout the season.”

- Abby Fisher

Cross Country Cheerleading

“You spend five days a week with these girls and saturday competitions so we are really close and able to support each other during that. Its great because we’re on track to do really well at state and individuals.”

- Shannon Kelly

Gymnastics 13

OPINIONS

Trump unpatriotically plans to shrink several national monuments BY: BEN SAMPSON Staff Writer Trump and his administration are disrespectful and unproductive in attempting to stamp out Obama’s legacy.

Ryan Zinke, Trump’s Secretary of the Interior, aims to shrink the geographic size of 27 national monuments. Thankfully, eliminating monuments or touching national parks is not possible.

Zinke’s plan to shrink our monuments is a statement against conservation efforts and is a direct attack on the natural world.

Bear’s Ear National Monument, located in southeast Utah, is under threat.

It was established as a national monument in 2016 by Barack Obama. Zinke plans to decrease the monument to onetenth its current size.

Many Utah leaders agree federal control of the area is not best for their constituents. Oil companies drill near the monument. If the monument shrinks, its land could be sold to oil companies.

Are voices arguing to shrink the monument hiding oil-stained conflicts of interest? Nobody respects the environment more than big oil, believe me.

Given Trump’s ‘America first’ message, why doesn’t he respect our national treasures? Not protecting our ecosystems and denying climate change is unpatriotic.

Many Native Americans in the area advocate against Zinke’s plan. Five separate tribes advocated for the monument’s establishment. Bear’s Ears protects countless Native American artifacts.

The federal government changing their mind and taking away land protecting Native American culture is nothing new. This part of our history is nothing to be proud of, let alone repeat.

Many environmental groups, including the Center for Biological Diversity and the Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance, oppose Zinke’s plan. Many suggest legal action, which could have legal repercussions for Trump’s administration.

If most of Bear’s Ears is stripped of protection, industries would move in, the woodlands in the area cut down, and

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SHRUNKEN MONUMENTS: These sites are under possible threat from Trump’s administration, taking away from America’s natural beauty.

Native American artifacts replaced with oil derricks.

Figures in the federal and Utah government claim they represent the people of southeast Utah. However, are Native Americans whose ancestors have lived there for centuries being fairly represented?

Nevada’s Gold Butte and New Mexico’s Rio Grande Del Norte are also monuments under threat.

Obama’s major legacies as president include an improved US-Cuba relationship, Obamacare, DACA, plans lower carbon emissions, and support of conservation.

These legacies, as well as monuments established by Obama, are threatened by the Trump administration.

Blindly rolling back a predecessor’s legacy reveals Trump’s inability to negotiate when he feels insulted, which is almost always. This playing a role in his policies feels childish and ignorant.

This would be comparable to if William Taft’s entire presidency involved stamping out Teddy Roosevelt’s legacy: getting rid of

Yellowstone, the Pure Food and Drug Act, and Panama Canal.

Shrinking monuments follows Trump’s ‘war on the environment’. Trump has said climate change is made up by “the Chinese.”

I enjoy natural areas, viewing plants and animals, and hiking. Florissant Fossil Beds, with its ancient redwood stumps and sunny groves of Ponderosa Pine, and Muir Woods, with its dark redwood forests, are two national monuments I very much enjoyed visiting.

This proposed plan is infested with greed and conflicts of interest. Trump’s administration has harmed our country.

While other actions of this administration receive more attention, this deserves just as much outrage.

Of all of the issues with this administration, their attack on the environment, displayed by Trump’s climate change denial and Zinke’s crusade against national monuments, is among the most terrifying actions of this insane administration.

Oct. 2017

OPINIONS STAFF EDITORIAL

Why we need a free press On Thursday, October 11th, Donald Trump questioned NBC News’ “license.” In his brazen, flustered tweet, he furthered his fight against news corporations, journalists, and the truth in America.

Any successful dictatorship controls or eliminates the media.

Why? Because the press is the most influential watchdog of government entities.

Our president has started a war on the media because they can fact-check his lies. The press can see through his wall. The media stands between Trump and the manipulation of a nation.

When all is said and done in 2020, the only victims of this war will be the people themselves. Journalism is essential to any functioning society; informed citizens make for a healthier nation.

The Job of journalists is to record the first draft of history. We inform you, our audience about that which is outside your everyday view. Every other duty is a side task.

With the changes in technology, society has begun to question the purpose of news media. Now more than ever, it is easier to

receive your news straight from the source. Our president tweets directly to the people. Large corporations have social media accounts. Because of social media, the news is no longer the sole source of what is going on. So why do we need the media when we already have their sources?

Our job as a journalist goes beyond the retelling of facts. Our job is to find the facts, validate them with other sources, and synthesize them into a story suited for you, our audience. We dive deeper than your social media feed. We talk to sources otherwise unthought-of of or inaccessible to the everyday person.

It is our job to tell the stories people do not want told. It is our job to tell the stories people do not normally hear. It is also our job to take what is commonly known and find out the things less known.

Without well-done journalism, Nixon would have never resigned, Catholic priests would not be accountable, and society would be easily and unknowingly manipulated.

USJ STAFF Editor-In-Chief Cameron Barnard

Layout Editor Emilee Shoff-Olson

News Gracie Lordi

Photo Editor Bryan Herrera

Student Life Jack Congel

Advisor Yoni Fine

A&E Eliza King Opinions Jacob Ginsberg-Margo Sports Willa Millar

Oct. 2017

Staff Writers Adam Barrett Miles Dennis Clarissa Koch Valerie Lombogia Ben Sampson Larry Stoiber Christian Tucker Livy Zeitler

Purpose The Union Street Journal is a student publication distributed to the students, faculty, and staff of Cherry Creek High School. The paper serves as an information source and a two-way communication forum for both the school and community. Opinions expressed do not necessarily represent the views of Cherry Creek High School or the Cherry Creek School District.

Letters to the editor Letters to the editor are accepted and can be submitted via email to news.creek.usj@gmail.com Letters cannot be anonymous and they may be edited for clarity.

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Who is Creek?

Everyone has a unique story.

Nadya Meszes Sophomore

“I moved here from Australia about two years ago when my dad got a job offer here in Colorado. It was a big move ‘cause the people here are much less laid back than back home and I had to make completely new friends. It’s something not a lot of people know about me until they hear my accent.” photo and interview by Livy Zeitler and Clarissa Koch

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