Fall USJ (2023)

Journal The Union St.

Last year, antisemitism spiked nationally...

Now, Jewish students have been forced to adapt.

Some are hiding their identities.

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

Vol. 9 Issue 1 October 2023

Table of Contents News

4 - New Universal Preschool Program Falters 5 - Vape Detectors Installed In Bathrooms 6 - News Bites

Features

4

Sports

14

7

A&E

17

9

Opinions

20

7 - Herr Ye, Herr Ye: German Teachers Bring In Help To Coach Students 8 - How Knitting Brings Generations Together

In-Depth 9 - Jewish Students Forced to Adapt to Antisemitism in Schools and Beyond

14 - Creek Welcomes First Ever Girls’ Hockey Team 17 - Softball Welcomes New Coach, Sees Shift In Team Culture

17 - Doja Cat’s “Scarlet” Belongs In The Litter Box 18 - Dont Get Too Cozy 19 - USJ Reccomends: Fall Favorites

20 - Harrasment on The Bus Ride Home 22 - Our Solution To Hallway Slurs 23 - Staff Editorial: Restorative Justice Works Against Theft

On The Cover

A USJ staff member poses with a Star of David Necklace, tucking it into his sweatshirt. This motion has become standard for some Jewish students who, after recent acts of antisemitism in the CCSD, feel unsafe showing that they are Jewish.

“I feel like a lot of the time it’s easier to just ignore [antisemitism] and not make it known that you’re Jewish,“ Creek freshman Stephen Baker*, whose name has been changed to protect their safety, said.

According to the Anti-Defamation League, antisemitism has seen a 36% rise in incidents on school campuses in the past 2 years.

One source has been an increase of antisemitic rhetoric in pop culture.

Beginning on page 10, we discuss the recent rise in antisemitism, and what students, parents, and admin are doing to try and stop its increase.

PHOTO BY WRYN DUEPRE

Staff Editor-in-Chief Alex Gribb

SPIRIT BUS: Close to 100 students boarded spirit buses on Oct. 5 to visit 14 Creek feeder schools. This came before the Homecoming game against Smoky Hill. “[It was] such a fun expereince to put a smile on kid’s faces,” senior marching band drum major Becca Dwyer said via text.

PHOTO BY ALEX GRIBB

Letter from the Editor

As my first magazine as the sole Editor-In-Chief, this issue means a lot to me. Even more so because of the issues we wrote on.

I am so incredibly proud of the entire staff, which is lucky to have 14 returning editors and a whole gaggle of talented and witty new writers.

Our In-Depth this issue is about antisemitism in schools and how it impacts students.

Towards the end of last year, an image circulated of students at Campus Middle School who drew swastikas on themselves.

After a number of interviews, the story behind this picture becomes much more complex, and uncovers a larger issue in schools: antisemitism is on the rise. In

this article, we sought to explain what antisemitism is doing, as well as how students, parents, and admin are working to combat it.

This article was written before the Hamas attack on Israel.

The staff-ed this issue addresses a policy called “restorative justice.” This concept encourages students that have done wrong to have conversations with those they have hurt. In this article, the editorial board supports its effectiveness, and questions the usefulness of suspensions in comparison.

I am extremely pleased with the numerous other articles in this issue, especially those that were written by first time writers.

Their ability to adapt to the magazine cycle while continuing to be wonderful is astounding, if not inspiring.

With that being said, I hope you enjoy the first issue of 20232024.

- Editor-in-Chief Alex Gribb

Junior Editor-in-Chief & Sports Editor Quinn Rudnick

Asst. A&E Editor Nick BeDan Asst. Opinions Editor Gabby Schrock

Managing Editor Peter Philpott

Chief Photographer Wryn Duepre

A&E Editor & Design Manager Katya Roudakov

Chief Artist Angela Xu

News Editor Amanda Castillo-Lopez Features Editors Jude Gorden Opinions Editor Izzy Krauss Video Editor Nour Kreishan Asst. Managing Editor Aram Bazarian Asst. Video Editor Jonathan Lee Asst. Sports Editor Avery Hutchins

Business Manager Gillian Neale Staff Writers Claire Hansen Serenity Hurtado Alisa Kovaleva Ava Seagle Briana Flores Jayna Baker Rue Minar Mae Murphey Maya Marino Sophia Hady Anaiah Sharukh Kellen Ringland Andrei Machado Madalyn Hoop Lina Rakahmanova Advisor Seth Fine

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.org Letters may be edited for clarity.

New Universal Preschool Program Falters

Colorado schools have been struggling with the implementation of the program due to a lack of state funding and communication

BY AMANDA CASTILLO-LOPEZ & RUE MINAR

news

U

News Editor & Staff Writer

niversal Preschool (UPK), implemented for the first time this year, allows all Colorado families to apply for their children of eligible age to attend preschool for at least 15 hours a week for free.

Several school districts, including the Cherry Creek School District (CCSD), are suing the state over issues with the program that include lack of funding and communication. “[Funding] has been the biggest challenge because we didn’t know how much money we were going to get,” Brooke Cunningham, Assistant Director of Early Childhood Education (CCSD’s preschool program,) said.

In April 2022, Colorado Governor Jared Polis signed the UPK bill (HB 221295) into law.

At the time, English teacher Jenna Chapman cast her vote in support of the program, eager to promote accessible education and hoping to save money in the 2022-2023 school year when her

daughter would be attending preschool.

The bill passed and she applied for the program. She didn’t expect to feel guilty about it.

“I wish we could have said, ‘Okay, option to defer,’ and put it back in the pot,” Chapman said.

Families of students who are low income and have one other qualifying factor (which includes having a mandated accommodation, being homeless, being a multi-language learner, or living under foster care) could apply for up to 30 hours of free care under UPK. But due to limited funding, not all families who were promised additional hours can receive it.

Affected families who want their kids to remain in full-time preschool are left to figure out how to pay for the other 15 hours out of their own pockets. For families like Chapman’s, who benefit from the program but don’t depend on it, they might feel like they’re taking hours away from kids with more needs.

The unexpected changes arising from the lack of funding is one of the reasons six school districts in Colorado, includ-

“Families have struggled to register for preschool...in many cases.”

Cherry Creek Superintendent Christopher Smith

PHOTO BY WRYN DUEPRE

4 | News

ing CCSD, are filing a lawsuit related to the rollout of UPK. “Families have struggled to register for preschool and in many cases, families were not matched with appropriate or available preschool programs,” CCSD Superintendent Christopher Smith wrote in a letter sent to families on Aug. 8. “We are concerned the new Universal Preschool program prevents our district and others from serving students and families in the way they deserve and in a way that complies with state and federal law.”

Currently, the district doesn’t recieve information about students, such as if they have IEPs (Individualized Education Program for students who need special education) preventing them from offering them the special education services that are available to them. “[UPK] is going really well,” Cunningham said. “We’re just afraid that we’re missing some kiddos and not offering them their [Special Education] services because the state won’t let us see the application.”

The Journey Preschool, a standalone site in CCSD, is one of three sites in the district which have intensive needs classrooms, and almost all of the kids enrolled have an IEP. If students want to attend this school using UPK, they have to specifically request to be enrolled.

This means the school hasn’t been able to reach as many special needs students as it can provide for.

Despite this challenge, Journey Preschool teacher Ileah Wylie has hope for the future of UPK. “It’s just a different experience for all of us,” Wylie said. “It’s very new and it can be tricky… but overall the UPK is a good start for something amazing here in a couple years.”

PRESCHOOL FOR ALL: A young child plays with a toy clock in class at the Journey Preschool, a preschool involved in the UPK government-funded program.

PHOTO BY WRYN DUEPRE

Vape Detectors Installed in Bathrooms though, because student vapers can find ways not to trip the detectors. “There’s a thing Managing Editor called zeroing where you just hit [the vape] reek is fed up with vapers. and then you can hold your breath and all Administrators are annoyed with the smoke is gone,” Tanner* said. “[Vaping] is fruity-smelling bathrooms, choking not going to slow down, it’s probably going to smoke, and widespread nicotine addiction, pick back up once people realize the sneaky so, they’re doing something. Over the sum- [stuff] you can pull off.” mer, the administration installed vape detecTanner* was also worried about false tors in assorted bathrooms across the cam- alarms, or if he’s in a bathroom with anothpus. er vaper. He doesn’t want to be caught, even “I’m hoping kids will choose not to do when he wasn’t vaping. them in our restrooms,” assistant principal “I got searched because some kid was Kevin Uhlig, who led the project, said. “It’s hitting his,” Tanner* said. “I don’t know not appropriate to do at school and it’s ille- who’s gonna be in there. I don’t know what gal. We know there’s negative health conse- they’re gonna set off and if that’s gonna quences associated with using tobacco and bring me to office…and then I get searched, nicotine.” and then I have something, and then I’m in According to Uhlig, different detectors trouble. have different reactions. Some set off an alarm The detectors, according or a flash, some sito Uhlig, might have false lently notify the alarms from time to time. administrators that Some students are worried the sensor had been “Vaping is not approprithat they’ll be caught in tripped. “Some of one. ate to do at school and them are a little bit “If I were to get involved it’s illegal.” more temperamenin it, it’d be pretty scary betal than others,” he cause I don’t vape personsaid. “The compaAssitant Principal ally,” junior Addie McWilny that we bought liams said. “I could get in a Kevin Uhlig these from can aclot of trouble for that.” tually control them But if the detector does remotely and tell if go off, and it’s not a false they’re getting too alarm, and students are many false positives.” caught, punishment will look similar to Uhlig declined to share the locations or other substance abuse consequences. pictures of the detectors. He said they were “The first violation is Saturday school placed in a “handful” of restrooms. detention which is 9 am to 12 noon,” UhBut by the end of the first quarter, they will lig said. “The second violation will be a two be stationed in 20, including eight male, nine day suspension. And you’ll have to work female, and three gender neutral restrooms. with our school health professional.”

He pointed out the gender imbalance was The ‘school health professional’ is Sarah purely because of the uneven number of re- White, a mental health worker who opermaining detectors, after taking into account ates at the school and educates students on the three gender neutral restrooms. tobacco and other substance violations.

Some students think it’s a step in a betWhite wants to make a change in her ter direction. One vaper, senior Ben Tan- new position and be able to make a difner*, whose name has been changed to ference for students she works with. preserve his anonymity, claimed that ad- “My hope is that I can be a trusted adult to ministrators and security guards used to students and to walk alongside them as they check under stall doors when they sus- navigate their high school careers,” White pected a student vaping in the bathroom. said. “High school can be so challenging and “I thought peeking under stalls was super in- there are many ways to cope and deal with vasive,” Tanner* said. “I think having a spe- stressors.” cific smoke detector is somewhat reasonable.”

Uhlig is hoping the new detectors He doesn’t think it’ll solve the problem

BY PETER PHILPOTT

C

can lead the school into a school year less ridden with vapes and addiction.

“We know there are negative health consequences associated with using tobacco and nicotine,” Uhlig said. “Ultimately, I’m hoping students don’t have to go into bathrooms and see students vaping or smoking.”

PHOTO BY PETER PHILPOTT

BEHIND CLOSED DOORS: Admin added signs to doors last year to try to curb vaping. This year, their next step is installing vape detectors.

October 2023

news bites

Belleview Square Starbucks Closing

BY GABBY SCROCK & PAOLA JUAREZ GONZALEZ

PHOTO BY WRYN DUEPRE

Minga has a calendar students can use to get into school events, where they are rewarded with points.

Opinions Editor & Club Writer

T

he Starbucks over on Belleview and Yosemite, a favorite to many at Creek, closed on Oct. 13.

The coffee shop has been a steady presence on Belleview Square for many decades and its sudden closing has affected students, teachers, and admin.

“I’ve been going there for a long time…probably my entire life,” senior Elizabeth Lace said.

Activities Director Kelly Devitt considers the Starbucks a part of the community due to its many interactions with people from Creek.

“We love their baristas...they’ve always been supportive of our students even when they’ve struggled to behave properly there,” Devitt said. “I think it’s a huge loss. It’s somewhere that we as faculty members and staff like to go and take a break before games, before events, and I’m devastated about it.”

On Sept. 22, the store posted a notice outside the front door. The closing was

unexpected for many, especially since the Starbucks was very popular in the shopping center.

As part of his research as a columnist for The Villager, English teacher Michael Mazenko spoke with the property manager of the Belleview location.

“It was her understanding that the lease was up and the parties were unable to come to an agreement,” Mazenko said.

Mazenko reached out to others who might have been involved, such as Greenwood Village city leaders and the Starbucks District Manager, but didn’t get any solid explanation for the closing.

The store manager of the Belleview location declined an interview with the USJ.

CCSD Opens New Mental Health Facility

T

BY BRIANA FLORES Staff Writer

here is a new option in the Cherry Creek School District this year for students struggling with mental health, anxiety, or severe depression leading to suicidal thoughts.

Traverse Academy is a new school being brought to the district in the fall of 2023.

“We wanted this very unique transition wing, where we could slowly transition students back to their home school, while still bringing them to Traverse in

6 | News

A New Age: Minga “Our core of this was to really get kids to go to events and want to be there,” Activities Director Kelly Devitt said.

Creek employed the Minga app at the start of the 2023 school year, and began to require it for all students. The app has a digital ID for every Bruin, along with an event calendar for registered activities. “It will be another example of our phones driving another thing into obsolescence,” junior Andre Champeau said. “Just one less thing to carry.”

Security staff like Timothy Wright simply hope it will make the campus safer. “With all the catastrophes and everything that are going on in the…United States, it’s just one more way that we can make sure that everybody’s safe on campus,” Wright said.

INFOGRAPHIC BY PETER PHILPOTT & GILLIAN NEALE

the morning, and helping them acclimate back to their home school,” said Tony Poole, Assistant Superintendent of Special Populations, who had the idea during COVID-19.

Creek’s mental health staff are hopeful that Traverse Academy will help students affected by the mental health crisis.

“We’re all kind of holding our breath, hoping that this is going to be a great thing,” School Psychologist Lisa Geisler said. “I don’t think anyone knows the answer to the crisis we’re having in the country or in the state, so we’re hoping this fills some gaps for us.”

PHOTO COURTESY OF TONY POOLE

E

features

Herr Ye, Herr Ye: German Teachers Bring In Help To Coach Students could dedicate time to uphold authentic conversations with students.

Staff Writer 17 years ago, before Creek students had started taking the International German erman teacher Susanne Smith exam, Norbert Frueh, a retired engineer annually registers students for whose children had graduated from Creek, the Goethe-Institute Interna- approached Smith with the purpose of findtional German Exam, an official assess- ing something “mentally” engaging to do in ment of German abilities recognized retirement. by schools and employers worldwide.

“So I thought, well, After a few years, I have this knowledge she realized that of German, I’m a native “If you’ve only had female there was someGerman speaker. I’ll see teachers, the male voices thing unique about if the German program Creek students and wants me to participate are difficult how they were being in their high school.” [to understand]” taught that led them Frueh said. to score lower on Frueh asked her if he certain areas on the German Teacher could come around and test. help around the German Susanne Smith On the listening department, and Smith portions of the test, was apprehensive, ‘You’re specifically when the not a teacher, you’re just speaker was a man, Creek students were con- an engineer.’ Smith said. “I suggested [that sistently receiving lower scores. They even we] just try it. Let me come to your class and self-reported having trouble understanding see how it goes.” Frueh told her. “After that male readers or actors. This was simply be- first one, she said, ‘Well, yeah, I want you to cause the majority of Creek students’ expo- come back.’” sure to the German language was from two After German teachers had recognized the German-speaking women, then Susanne value of Frueh and how he could help Creek Smith and Kersten Schultz, and now SuPHOTO BY ALISA KOVALEVA sanne Smith and Lauren Kidd.

“If you’ve only had female teachers, the male voices are difficult and if you’ve only had male teachers, the female voices are difficult [to understand,]” Smith said It comes down to subtle differences in cadence, speaking habits, or even tone and pitch- all of which can shape the way a student perceives a language. Any virtual listening exercises with male speakers weren’t substantial help either, as those actors were instructed to speak in a strictly uniform manner to not confuse students, something that was little help with the conversational tone that the International German Exam uses. Creek needed the help of a German-speaking man who

BY ALISA KOVALEVA

G

students, he was asked to come in longer, work with more classes, and adopt a more personalized approach with AP students.

It took time to teach a man who had never worked in education how to interact with a class chock full of teenagers, but Frueh and Smith quickly fell into a rhythm that added variety and enrichment to the class.

“Hearing organic German and having a chance to respond to questions on the spot with Herr Frueh seriously improved not only my German fluency, but helped Creek’s national German Exam scores overall,” Senior Rose Chambers said.

He was even nominated for, and won, the “Colorado Friend of Foreign Languages” award. He also helped in writing and distributing resources to teachers all over the country when the German AP exam was changed.

“It’s quite a difference to be with young people. They have different perspectives and they think differently,” Frueh said. “They sometimes speak in riddles.”

HELPING TO LEARN: Retired engineer and German immigrant Norbert Frueh visits German classes to converse with and help students.

PHOTO BY WRYN DUEPRE

October 2023

Lo De Hacer Manualidades Es De Nosotros:

BY AMANDA CASTILLO-LOPEZ

M

News Editor

y grandma taught me how to knit when I was ten, then again when I was fourteen, and had forgotten out of lack of practice.

This year, I sheepishly asked her to teach me one more time, promising that this time I’d keep practicing. I haven’t broken my promise, I’ve kept working on an already lopsided looking blanket. But I’d rather be next to her, watching the strange Peruvian game show that we’re super invested in, leaning on her when I’m not sure where the stitches became knots. Her hands work through my mistakes haltingly, but she knits fast. Her eyes never leave the TV screen.

It’s a beautiful craft, peaceful and grounding and yielding a precious result. I treasure the knit hats I receive from my grandma every time I go to Peru.

“When she’s sad, I’ll tell her ‘go make a hat for Amanda,’ then she forgets all about her sadness,” my grandma’s friend and favorite knitting companion Ceci Apaza said in Spanish. “She’ll even forget to eat or drink water. She’s that focused.”

My grandma isn’t the only one who finds solace in fiber art. The COVID-19 pandemic instigated a globally felt anxiety at the face of an uncertain future, and many turned to crafting as a way of put-

ting themselves at ease, especially without having the support they were used to before quarantine.

“I think I started crocheting during the pandemic,” Natalie Yon (’23) said. “I was really isolated and kind of bored, so I just looked up a YouTube video ‘how to crochet.’”

Yon along with many other teenagers started crocheting or knitting to fill the extra free time they never expected to have. Some started posting their creations online, initiating the impressive increase of young creators involved in the craft.

This change has redefined needlework as an activity that isn’t only reserved for elderly women knitting away in their rocking chairs, but it’s also for teenagers who listen to their favorite podcast while they customize their outfit for the next concert they’re going to - like senior Nora Basler, who crocheted her own top for Louis Tomlinson’s concert this summer after being inspired by a Pinterest post.

Basler crochets sporadically, really just whenever she has a project in mind. The accessibility of resources to learn the craft have especially motivated her to continue crocheting after her initial bout of curiosity.

“I remember I crocheted for the first time and just whipped out a hat,” Basler said. “I think that’s what inspired me to crochet

IN HER YOUTH: My grandma poses for a photo in Peru at 26 years old. Her childhood mainly consisted of providing for her family by working as a glorified maid for her uncle and eventually becoming a seamstress.

8 | Features

more because I was like: ‘Oh, I can actually be productive with crochet.’”

Now, Basler watches YouTube videos to help her start a project, but ultimately customizes the piece to be her own. Yon, currently a student in the fashion design program at Colorado State University, finds that this aspect of crochet has inspired her to be more experimental with the pieces she makes.

“I’d like to get to a point where I could be more brave with those artistic choices and maybe oriented more towards fashion,” Yon said.

Sophomore Leila Wallen, on the other hand, is mostly drawn to knitting because of her family’s passion. Her room is filled with colorful artifacts, from blankets to wall decorations, crafted by her mom, grandma, and great grandmother.

“I have watched all the women in my life make things, and I thought that was beautiful,” Wallen said. “So I wanted to try it myself.”

I find myself deeply relating to Wallen. I have a special drawer filled with hats my grandma has knit for me, dozens of them, many of which I’ve now outgrown. They’re not only special to me because they’re created out of love, but because the woman who made them has been supporting my future for longer than

How Knitting Brings Generations Together I’ve been alive. Part of that effort has been through crafting.

Romula Eusebia Escobar, my grandmother, moved from a village in Ayacucho to Lima when she was nine years old. She went to school while working for her uncles as an honorary maid, but eventually, she was forced to enter the workforce as a seamstress two years before graduating secondary school to pay for her siblings to move in with her.

“I worked in this large factory called Confecciones Carolina. There they gave me the measurements for everything I had to make,” Romula said in Spanish. “I would go to work at the factory and then I’d go home and continue working through the night.”

My grandma’s always been tough she was competitive in school though she was splitting her time between several responsibilities.

Even though she never got a degree, she was adamant about supporting her children’s education. The best way she could do that was through her artistry, providing for a family of eight kids by working as a seamstress while her husband sold clothes.My mom remembers her favorite room in the house: her mom’s “taller de costura.” She remembers sitting under one of the tables listening to the whirring of the sewing machine and the jokes traded between my grandma and her workers. The noise was alluring. It became the noise of their home, and thus, a source of comfort and joy for my mom

and her siblings.

“It was our favorite place to do our homework because there was always so much noise,” my mom said. “The girls my mom hired were young; they always listened to music and told many jokes and stories about their lives.”

My grandma lives with Ceci, who cares for her and for the house. Ceci’s family lives in Juliaca, Puno, a small village near the Andes.

She never got the chance to get a formal education. She learned how to knit along with all of her siblings to sell their pieces for a profit. That was their only source of income for many years.

“When I was eight, my mom taught me [how to knit] so I could help her, because we lived off of that,” Ceci said in Spanish. I talked to her over the phone while she was visiting Juliaca. I could hear barking and the sound of kids laughing in the background while she told me how knitting was a communal activity in her household.

“Here, we all used to sit and talk while knitting,” she said.

Now, she’s my grandma’s knitting companion and teacher. I am in awe of them both: two women whose hands have artfully crafted a future for their families.

I can trace back my passion for learning to my grandmother, as well as my sporadic attempts at art. I was talking to my mom’s cousin, Edith Escobar Montoya, about how I decorate my room with little crafts and doo-

I am in awe of them both: two women whose hands have artfully crafted a future for their families.

dles I make out of a moment of inspiration.

She laughed and told me it’s in my blood.

Edith gave me a brief history of crafters from our family. My mom’s grandpa wove baskets and Edith’s grandparents wove wicker chairs. I know from my own experience that my uncle is an exceptional artist - the walls of his apartment are his largest canvas.

Edith herself crochets clothes for her pets and makes dolls to sell and as gifts for friends and family. I have one of her crocheted Spider-Mans hanging from my rearview mirror. My mom, my aunt, my cousins - many of them find joy in the art they practice as a hobby.

“Lo de hacer manualidades es de nosotros,” she said. In English: making crafts is ours.

She may have only been referring to crafts, but I was struck by the word ours. I’d like to think that everyone in my family has inherited some of my grandmother’s spirit. Her determination, her passion, and, most of all, her devotion to her family.

There are times I feel very separated from her - from everyone in my family who lives miles and miles away from Colorado. But the thing about missing someone is that it’s not a passive action. It’s a thought that follows you in your dreams and in your writing. It’s a feeling that becomes your art if you let it.

That’s part of why I want to get better at knitting. It’s like a part of me is reaching out to that nine year old girl, my abuelita, who was already set on giving as much of herself to her family as she could. A part of me is telling her that her love means everything to me.

And that I love her too.

ANOTHER SEWING ROOM: During quarantine, I sewed together masks to donate. My mom was always by my side to teach me and fix my mistakes. She’d learned from hours spent in my grandma’s taller de costura, observing and mending her own clothing.

BY HER SIDE: We would always knit together whenever she came over to visit, which was fairly often when I was younger. Now, though our visits are more sparse, we still make time to knit by each other’s side.

IMAGES FROM AMANDA CASTILO-LOPEZ ART BY LINA RAKHMANOVA

October 2023

in-depth

“That’s What My Grandparents Did”

PHOTO ILLUSTRATIONBY PETER PHILPOTT

BY ALEX GRIBB Editor-in-Chief

10 | In-depth

Jewish Students Forced to Adapt to Antisemitism in Schools and Beyond

“

I was just speechless,” Tammi Gitin said.

fore the event. this trip to Poland, and Israel and I visited “So then we had to start watching it all these concentration camps, and really Gitin, a parent of a Campus mid- online. But it wasn’t as effective as being kind of immersed myself in that experidle school student last year, was reacting in person. And right after that, we had ence. And I told myself, ‘I’m not gonna let to an image she saw on Facebook. The to do a bunch of activities,” freshman these jokes slide anymore.’”

This switch came after years of brushpicture was grainy, and taken near a set of Stephen Baker*, whose name has been ing off antisemitic comments.

Campus Middle School’s stairs. It showed changed to protect his safety, said.

In that classroom, a handful of stu“I didn’t want to make a big deal. Even two students with swastikas drawn in dents weren’t paying at- though now I realize that it actually is a purple and blue tention, and opted to play big deal. And I kind of just brushed it off. marker on their “Its happening in 2023, shooting games and shout I didn’t really know what to say,” he said. arms and legs. out German words inBaker* has also felt a pressure to teach Rikki Mor, a where jews are hiding stead. his peers. parent of Creek stuwho they are out of But not all antisemi“I feel like a lot of the time it’s easier dents, saw it too. fear.” tism is this bold. to just ignore it and not make it known “I had just had “I think antisemitism that you’re Jewish, and just not teach it enough. I posted gets swept under the rug. because there’s so many people that don’t about it on FaceParent A lot of antisemitism isn’t know,” he said. book. It turned into Rikki Mor negative comments. ‘Jews But why were Jewish students feeling close to 100 comown the media,’ ‘Jews have the need to educate other students? ments about just a lot of money,’” Mor said.

According to Gitin, her children how upset people were to hear those things. People had “A lot of the antisemitic comments aren’t weren’t truly taught about Jewish history. derogatory.”

“I know that my daughter read ‘Number similar experiences,” Mor said.

Still, these stereotypes are incredibly the Stars’ by Lois Lowry. I felt like the “One family said the antisemitism and harassment is so constant that the mom harmful, as they use arguments that are teachers weren’t given the resources to rehas told her children not to tell anyone tied to Propaganda, which has pitted peo- ally teach about the Holocaust.”

Instead, these teachers focused more they are Jewish,” Mor wrote in a letter to ple against Jews throughout history.

Gitin, who works as a roaming sub at on comprehension, as opposed to Jewish the district signed by more than 250 peoHigh Plains Elementary (HPE), has seen history. ple.

Baker* recalls a similar lack of eduMor shared many of these comments, how Jewish students can feel excluded in along with other parents, to the School school. Her son, who went to HPE and cation. “We learned a little bit about the was a member of their student govern- Romanovs. And there was a bit about poBoard. ment, was prevented from participation. groms, which were against Jews, but we Some of the comments said: “My son was presdidn’t really touch on ident [of the student that,” he said.

“Holocaust b****” government.]

The Pogroms, which are “I feel like a lot of the “Leave the school, Jew” very first meeting was riots with the intent to “Kanye was right.” times it’s easier to just set to happen on Yom massacre an ethnic ignore it and not make or religious group, Many of the parents shared how they Kippur. The very first were mentioned in it known that you’re told their kids to not wear their Star of election was on Rosh Hashanah.

You’re the book “The FamiDavid necklaces to school.

Jewish,” ly Romanov: Murder, “That’s what my great-grandparents having an election Rebellion, and the Fall did,” Mor said. “It’s happening in 2023, that’s supposed to Stephen Baker* of Imperial Russia,” where Jews are hiding who they are out include the student body but you’re havwhich Baker* read in of fear.” the eighth grade.

According to the Anti-Defamation ing it on a day when Starting last year, League (ADL,) reported antisemitic inci- all the Jewish students Campus worked with the ADL for a No dents on school campuses have increased aren’t there?” she said.

These actions truly impact the people Place for Hate week.

36% in 2 years. And CCSD is no excepthey attack, especially when they mock an During this week, students were tion. shown another video, this time during Before the image was taken, Campus event as horrific as the Holocaust.

“It makes me feel scared or uncom- advisory. But for Baker*, it didn’t feel enMiddle School students were meant to be watching a video educating them on fortable in that situation,” senior Leader gaging.

“Watching it in a video during an adthe Holocaust. A Holocaust survivor was of Jewish Student Connection Nitai Oesscheduled to speak, but became sick be- terle said. “This past summer, I went on visory with kids fooling around isn’t very

October 2023

For Gitin, and a number of other parents, “And I say, unfortunately, because we like this level of teaching is not enough. to address things, academically and restor“If these kids had more education, they atively, but we have to also send a very, very wouldn’t choose to continue anti-semitic strong message that that’s not acceptable.” remarks and Nazi Mor’s letter to the symbols. I have a school board included a very hard time thinknumber of requests, one “I think admin needs to ing that these kids of which was the creation have consitent, across the that hear Kanye West of a task force to address board ramifications.” and all this propathis epidemic. ganda, if they knew “[The task force] kind deep down the real of being a conduit beParent meaning of all these tween the community Rikki Mor hateful signs and and the school district,” symbols, I believe Mor said. “Part of it is kids would choose to to provide resources that not go that route,” Gitin said. the district may not be aware of, like educaBut teaching isn’t all that Mor is pushing tion, speakers, holocaust survivors.” for.

One of the actions taken by the district “I think admin needs to have consistent, was to have a speaker give a historical preacross the board ramifications,” she said. sentation of antisemitism to 500 faculty Campus has implemented policies de- members from Creek, Campus, and West. signed to curb the repetition of antisemi“I think for some people that was helpful tism. “We’re going to start of course, unfor- for them to see the history of antisemitism, tunately, with a punitive measure,” Campus and to see how it has been part of our world Middle School Principal Lisa Staal said. in different ways, and really how you could

apply that to even other things that we’re seeing like immigration [and] slavery,” Principal Ryan Silva said. “Maybe some of the parts that are next steps are, ‘So what should be done to prevent this increase that we’ve seen?’ That was not an emphasis that day.”

The task force met the speaker at their second meeting.

“I did say to that, it’s too bad that you didn’t have this for elementary school teachers,” Gitin said.

For Mor and Gitin, these presentations, that are going to be extended district wide, are a step in the right direction.

But antisemitism isn’t starting in schools.

“This is a societal problem. Can we completely eradicate hate? I’d like to think so.

But in order to do that, we need allies and advocates,” Staal said. “And so as much as we are doing, and I feel like we’re doing a lot, there’s never enough that can be done.

Because as long as hate exists, the work is there.”

U.S Sees Sharp Rise In Antisemitic Incidents

51%

rise in

Vandalism

29%

rise in

21%

rise in

Harrasment Assault From 2021 to 2022

12 | In-Depth

U.S Hits 3,697 Antisemitic Incidents In 2022 Over the course of 2022, there were 3,697 reported antisemitic incidents, including assault, bomb threats, organized white supremacy, and others.

SOURCE: ANTI-DEFAMATION LEAUGE INFOGRAPHIC BY QUINN RUDNICK

Pop Culture Invites Surge of Antisemitism similar clubs to the JSC all around the state.

“It’s definitely a source of community,” Khan said. “About a third of the students are t goes without saying that X (for- not Jewish, which is amazing for us as a way merly Twitter), has gone through to build allyship.”

The Anti-Defamation League (ADL), a some changes since tech billionaire nonprofit focused on fighting against anElon Musk took the wheel, changes tisemitism nationwide, has been involved in that are not just limited to its name. other ways at Creek; they lead the “No Place But since the change in ownership, many for Hate” movement. The mountain states have criticized Musk for becoming overly (Colorado, New Mexico, and Wyoming) relax on community moderation, particularly gional office, lead by Scott Levin, has been in the sphere of antisemitism and white su- particularly involved around schools recently. premacy.

“Unfortunately, there are a lot of incidents “On [X], you can find anything,” said that occur. Among the ones that we see these sophomore Scott Weiner, a member of the days are the painting of swastikas on either Jewish Student Connection club (JSC), who walls or equipment or on people,” Levin said. has claimed to go through a lot of hate at “There’s also the things that people say and do Creek for his religious traditions and beliefs. toward each other.”

“Many far-right people have gone on there On Sept. 5, 2023, Musk threatened to sue and started just blasting all their beliefs.” the ADL after claiming that the organization Weiner noticed that the difference in accused him and the platform of antisemicommunity moderatism. tion is clear when X is After the statement, “Many far-right people compared to other sites, a pro-Jewish activism like Instagram and Tikhave gone on [X] and campaign titled X Out tok. “It is because of Hate responded in a started just blasting all Elon Musk just repealpublic letter, signed by a their beliefs.” ing every single restricgroup of rabbis and other tion there,” Weiner said.

Jewish leaders. The letter According to Weinaccused X of becoming Sophomore er, the heat of the a “breeding ground for Scott Weiner antisemitic debate some of the most dangerpeaked with a conous antisemitic discourse troversial Kanye West in America,” and singled tweet, where West said out Musk as the key figure responsible. he would go “[def]con 3 on Jewish people.”

Levin detailed the trouble the ADL has West has also claimed, not just limited to that had while handling issues that spread online. tweet, that he couldn’t be antisemitic because “A challenge that we have these days is that “black people are actually Jew[ish].” with social media, there’s a megaphone that’s Weiner remembered the JSC meeting af- out there,” Levin said. “The problem that we ter the tweet was published and went viral. have is that the power of celebrity is really far “When it happened, Kanye was one of the reaching with all the followers that they have.” main things we talked about. A lot of my JewAccording to Levin, popular figures like ish friends are fans of Kanye, even my broth- Musk and West have a far greater influence er,” Weiner said. “I do not like Kanye at all. than their words; he said it made it easiI was kind of a fan of his music, but now I er to be naturally antisemitic in daily life. barely listen to it.”

“Pop culture, being as it is, is amplified In the JSC club, Jewish students have the through social media these days so easily,” chance to discuss topics of activism, tradi- Levin said. “It does work in a very negative tion, and antisemitism in the world of Juda- way to normalize not just antisemitism, but ism, from injustice at home to global matters. also racism and homophobia.”

The sponsor, Michael Kahn, is a member of Levin also cited the hidden harm in methe nonprofit Jewish Colorado, which runs mes like Pepe the frog and Bart Simpson.

BY PETER PHILPOTT

I

Managing Editor

What What do do students students have to say about thethe to say about

Jewish Student Connections “JSC brings the Jewish peoClub? ple at our school together and gives them a place to celebrate their culture with their friends.”

-Sophomore Scott Weiner

“The club [is] a fun get-together once a week where all Jewish or non-Jewish students can come to learn about Judaism, feel comfortable being Jewish, meet Jewish students, get free food, and kick back, relax, and have fun.”

-Senior Nitai Oesterle

“JSC teaches students about Israelí culture and what Judaism means to different people.”

-Sophomore Daniel Roitman INFOGRAPHIC BY PETER PHILPOTT

“Neither ...were originally designed to be anything other than funny characters,” he said.

“But they can get adopted by some of these extremists and used in really awful ways.”

An important question that students like Weiner have questioned is whether to consider those online jokes funny, or more importantly, whether to support products that profit figures like West or Musk.

“It would be antisemitic to buy a Volkswagen in 1939 because now you’re just putting more money in Nazi Germany,” Weiner said. “I don’t stand for putting money in their pockets…And that’s why I don’t really listen to Kanye’s music at all.”

Levin claimed that in this time, filled with rising antisemitism, support for Jews and organizations like the ADL is ever more important.

“The Anti-Defamation League has had the same mission, since it was founded 110 years ago, which is both to stop antisemitism and to secure justice and fair treatment to all,” Levin said. “If we are going to make the world better for any one of us, we’ve got to make it better for all of us.”

October 2023

sports

QUINN RUDNICK

F

14 | Sports

Junior Editor-in-Chief & Sports Editor

or the first time, Creek has introduced an all-female ice hockey team to this year’s sports roster.

Held during the fall season, the team is Colorado High School Activities Association (CHSAA) verified and will compete in the Colorado Prep Hockey League (CPHL) alongside schools like Chatfield, Monarch, and Castle View.

For most players, the team creates an opportunity they haven’t experienced before; playing for their school.

“I definitely like high school hockey better than club hockey,” senior forward Camryn Wagner (#9) said. “I feel like people take it a lot more seriously, there’s a higher level of play, [and] also many more opportunities for development.”

The process to start the team began in April, when Creek hockey staff members like Jeff Mielnicki, Executive Director of Hockey Operations and varsity boys’ hockey head coach and Lauren Gunter, who became the girls’ head coach after the team was finalized, worked to create the team from the ground up.

“It is kind of a heavy weight to be the first coach of the first team in the first season,” Gunter said. “There’s a lot of ‘everything’s going to be built on what we do this season.’ So while it’s a heavy weight, it also seems like such an awesome opportunity to do it well, and that’s why I was just so excited to be involved in such a huge way early on.”

For most of the team, including coaches and staff, hockey has been a key part of how they grew up, making the inaugural season more important.

Throughout the season, Gunter has been working to spark that same feeling in young hockey players that she experienced when she was in second grade.

“There was a group of high school girls that came to my school, from the high school team, and told us about [hockey] and how fun it was… and said, ‘Hey, we play hockey. Girls can play hockey too.’ And I was like, ‘I’m quitting cheerleading. I want to go, this sounds way more fun,’” she said.

Gunter also recognizes the increase

in funding and resources for girls’ consistent improvement from our playhockey through the Colorado Amateur ers and team chemistry is improving,” Hockey Association (CAHA,) which assistant coach Corey Wagner said. works to grow hockey’s presence in “Our players are competing and workColorado through various fundrais- ing hard in every game.” ers. This year, Creek’s hockey teams Gunter has also focused on helphave partnered with the Colorado Av- ing the team develop hockey-based alanche and CAHA to spark interest in interests outside of just game play. She hockey for young girls. has worked to foster players’ interests “I feel like there’s so many more re- in careers like sports psychology and sources in Colorado than were avail- medicine by helping players network able when I was a kid,” Gunter said. and begin researching possible career “We have support from CAHA and the paths.

Avalanche to be able to go out and pro“I feel that it’s my job as their coach vide these kinds of days where girls can to help them pursue these endeavors, try the game in an environment that’s whatever it may look like,” Gunter said. not competitive or scary.”

“Being a good resource for my players Nationwide, there are only 211 high is really important to me so that whatschool girls’ hockey teams, and 698 ever that they want to go into, I have men’s teams. There are 59 girls’ teams a person or multiple people and a netin Colorado, and of that only two are in work I can plug them into to be able to CCSD, Creek and help get them Eaglecrest. there.”

“We have an abundance of Creek playThe players ers view the new recognize how young talent that is learning team as an oppormuch of an so much from the seniors, tunity to introimpact Gunter and they’re also standout duce more hockhas had on the ey to the district, team, whethplayers on the ice.” and advance the er through recognition girls her efforts to Head Coach receive in hockey. build a positive Lauren Gunter “This team is team culture or an awesome opworking to deportunity to grow velop individuthe game of hockal talents. ey to girls all around,” Camryn Wagner “Coach Lauren is amazing, I love said. her,” Tritz said. “She’s so positive and To further increase the availability gives everyone a good amount of ice of women’s hockey, Creek opened up time. I also think she handles things the team to other schools in and out of very well. For this being her first year the district. Few schools in the CCSD as a head coach, she’s doing amazing.” have a dedicated girls’ hockey team, so Despite strong team chemistry, most players have begun to join developing of the players are multi-sport athletes, teams. making it more difficult for coaches to “I like being able to play for Creek,” schedule practices and games. senior center Kinsley Tritz (#13) said “With many of our players being over text interview. “I go to Arapahoe multi-sport athletes,” Corey said, “We so when people ask me what team I look forward to the winter portion of play on, they think I’m crazy, but I love the season to have all of our team at our it! practices and games more regularly.”

Unlike most high school sports The whole team has welcomed the teams, winning is not what Gunt- opportunity to bring more recognition er wants. Developing a team culture, to women in hockey and develop a building up positive relationships, and strong girls’ team for Creek. creating leadership has remained the “This team means so much to me, I team’s main goal throughout the sea- love all the girls on the team and I am son. so glad I got to meet them,” Tritz said.

“We are encouraged by what we “I am so excited to watch girls’ high have seen from our team. We are seeing school hockey grow.”

CELEBRATE: Eaglecrest senior forward Sammy Brennan (#26) celebrates with teammates after scoring a goal during a game against Chatfield on Sept.

16. Creek lost 4-2.

PHOTO BY QUINN RUDNICK

CREEK WELCOMES FIRST EVER GIRLS’ HOCKEY TEAM October 2023

Softball Welcomes New Coach, Sees Shift In Team Culture

BY AVERY HUTCHINS

C

Asst. Sports Editor

reek’s varsity softball team has seen a new coach every season for the past three years.

Without a consistent coach, the team has been through a rough stretch, and has not seen a winning season since their 2018-19 one.

Abby Marlow was one of the assistant coaches during the 2022-23 season, and took over as head coach this year. She plans to improve the team’s culture and lead them to a playoff spot.

“Her coaching style shows us that she’s determined to improve the team and pushes us to be the best we can be,” senior catcher Violet Strand said over text interview. “She supports us tremendously and does a great job handling her position as a young coach.”

Marlow is fitting in well so far, but it’s always tough to form brand new relationships with a team. In order to help Marlow adjust to the team, seniors are helping build team morale. “[The seniors] have probably had the most coaches out of everybody on the team,” junior catcher Sydney Berry said. “They adjusted pretty well and helped a lot of the younger kids, especially me. It was just really nice to have a sense of community with them.”

Help from experienced seniors is ex- fans to come support our games, and follow tremely beneficial to new coaches, and work- through on that excitement. The players have ing with them help Marlow form bonds with been doing a good job already around camplayers, learning their personalities both on pus, and we have seen a lot more attendance and off the field. than we have in the past.”

“Creek softball has been in need of a culThe team started off strong before hitture change, and I could not have done that ting a rough patch and dropping 7 of their without my seniors this year,” Marlow said. last 9 games, finishing 5th in the Centennial “They are so talented in League. Despite this, so many different ways, I the team has continued could not ask for a better to bond throughout “They have this crazy senior class. They are setthe season. talent that I am not sure ting the new standard for “I think that the years to come.” girls are in a different they even understand, With the help of mindset this year and that is so good, and it’s these seniors and the realize that they are fun to watch.” team, Marlow is looking playing for each other,” to change the way Creek Marlow said. “I have softball operates and tried to also help them Varsity Head Coach make a lasting change on realize that they need Abby Marlow the program. to have more of a win“Marlow wants to ner’s mentality.” build a strong, positive Marlow knows culture within the program. I would say our they have been through a rough couple of team has a great bond and we all get along years, and she wants them to reach their full very well,” Strand said. “[We have] a positive potential. and encouraging culture with an emphasis “I am constantly reminding the players on women supporting women.” that I will never count them out of a game, Marlow also wants to increase popularity no matter the score,” Marlow said. “They for the sport at Creek. have this crazy talent that I am not sure they “[We want] to make the softball program even understand, that is so good, and it’s fun more known at Creek,” Marlow said. “We to watch.” want to increase attendance at games, excite

PHOTO BY QUINN RUDNICK

CELEBRATION PREP: Sophomore shortstop Anastasia Shelvovich (#25) cheers on the team during a huddle for a game against Grandview on Sept. 18. Creek lost 15-4.

16 | Sports

a&e

Doja Cat’s “Scarlet” Belongs in the Litter Box

BY KATYA ROUDAKOV

M

A&E Editor & Design Editor

y first memory of Doja Cat is her viral song “MOOO!” and its green-screen cow-themed music video. My, how far we’ve come.

For a brief period, Doja was a respected, up-and-coming artist — Grammy-winning and record-breaking — but she’s fallen from grace before even reaching her peak. A stark shift in persona left her fans feeling alienated and attacked, and she traded her pop sound for darker hip-hop in her newest album “Scarlet.”

Released Sep. 22, Doja promised “Scarlet” to be a dark, experimental album: the masses took this to mean demonic, even Satanist. She embraced this in just about all aspects, humiliating dedicated fans on Threads (Meta’s Twitter), shaving and bleaching her hair, and getting tattoos of traditionally Satanic figures.

Clearly, she was desperate to escape the image of herself known to the world.

But “Scarlet” is lackluster, and audacious in all of the wrong ways. Nearly every song contains some sort of monetary flex and follows the structure of any basic hip hop track.

Short, off putting instrumental loops, largely static flows, and gratingly high-pitched singing don’t do her any favors, either.

A few of the tracks are catchy, and it’s clear why they were picked to be the lead singles.

“Attention,” undoubtedly, is a good song. Earworm “Paint The Town Red” has all the qualities of a viral hit and more. But when you look a little deeper, the rest of the album is just regurgitated versions of the themes hit on in those two songs: disinterest in fame, excessive wealth, and being content in her relationship.

It gets old quickly. There are a few exceptions, though. Most notably, “Love Life”

seems to contain an apology for her fans, though it’s buried in a heap of vain-feeling gratitude. “I know I’ve had a temper before, but still y’all don’t quit,” she raps, continuing “I understand the cause and effect now / like dog-eat-dog and cat-eat-fish.” It’s a warm sentiment, yet still somehow reeks of ignorance, and seems to lack a genuine appreciation for the fans that gave her the life she loves so much.

In July, Doja and some of her biggest fans, self-dubbed “Kittenz,” had fiery interactions on Threads. “[Y]ou need to get off your phone and get a job and help your parents with the house,” Doja wrote in a long-deleted post, firing back at fans that defended themselves by claiming “I don’t even know ya’ll [sic].” She criticized their fixation on her to the point that multiple well-established fan accounts deactivated. Understandably, people were upset. Of course, she deserves privacy, and she never would’ve been successful without endlessly hard work, but claiming that her fans had zero involvement and are wasting their time is outrageous.

An obsessive, chronically online fanbase watching your every move is the greatest marker of success for the celebrity of today, whether or not Doja wants to accept it. The people who run accounts for her, run up the streams, start TikTok trends to her music — they’re the direct cause of the indulgent lifestyle she spends her entire album bragging about. Frankly, it’s infuriating.

Especially when you consider that these die-hard fans are the ones that stayed when most everyone else turned. Her demonic “possession” was clearly an orchestrated stunt to try to loosen up her image; that makes complete sense. She doesn’t want to be typecast into bubblegum pop for the rest of her career.

But that stunt repulsed millions, and it was so obviously performative that it only makes her seem more entitled.

If she actually cared about breaking out of the system, about just being an artist, there were a million better ways to do it. A surprise drop.

A social media blackout. No tour.

Anything would have been better than dogging on her most loyal fans in an extremely public forum and adopting an ungrateful, petulant persona. When combined with the lyrics off “Scarlet,” her real motives are easy to unveil.

It’s money. It’s all just money. Any publicity is good publicity, and I’d bet that thousands, if not hundreds of thousands of people streamed “Scarlet” to see if any of it was real at all (myself included).

There may be no morals left in the music industry, but they’re still alive in fanbases, scavenging around wastelands of greed and corruption. Maybe Doja thought no one would care, or maybe that people would appreciate her crudeness, that most people are as debauched as she is. But we aren’t, and she has half a million less Instagram followers to s h ow for it.

GE TT

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IM

AG E

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ART BY KATYA ROUDAKOV

October 2023

Don’t Get Too Cozy Though they’re fun to watch, these characters reveal problematic patterns in on screen female role models

Bella Swan: Immature, Selfish, Unaware

A

BY MADALYN HOOP Staff Writer

s autumn peeks in from right around the corner, the season of “Twilight” and its dreadful main character Bella Swan (Kristen Stewart) sneaks in behind it.

As the movie starts, her depressing and un-inspiring words infect the minds of everyone watching.

Stephanie Meyer, author of the “Twilight” saga, did an astounding job writing this series — name a more suspenseful love triangle than the one between Bella Swan, Edward Cullen (Robert Pattinson) and Jacob Black (Taylor Lautner).

Twilight shows just how deep love can go with the right person, through Bella and Edward. But also, it shows that you should not have to fight for someone who wouldn’t do the same for you. She cared about Edward

way too much and sacrificed herself so many times, just to see a hallucination of him telling her to be safe. She is insane and immature and she acts like she has never been taught any form of safety or self-preservation.

Bella is an ungrateful and unmannered girl who doesn’t say thank you once after being saved, bought dinner, and driven home by Edward.

She’s annoying, selfish, and beyond unaware. She keeps those lousy headphones in while she’s in the parking lot on a rainy day, she pepper sprays a vampire, and she even hops on two different motorbikes just to “feel something”’ She relies on Edward way too much, acting like he’s the only person in the world that could ever love her.

She’s a great example of who we should all strive not to be.

One of her only semi-redeeming qualities is her attitude towards friends and family. She’s protective, which is good, but she needs to

realize that she’s taking care of everyone else’s problems while neglecting her own. Bella causes more work for other people by trying to solve the bigger problems all on her own.

But, if you focus on the entertainment value and not Bella’s character, “Twilight” is undeniably enjoyable.

We see Bella do what she does, and we cringe, but as long as we remember that “Twilight” is a fantasy movie, and that these people are all fictional, it gets pretty easy to watch.

SUMMIT ENTERTAINMENT

Rory Gilmore: Perfectionist, Crybaby, Unrealistic

BY SOPHIA HADY

S

Staff Writer

c h o o l ’s star ted, fall is upon us, and everyone is obsessing over the god-awful study inspiration that is Rory Gilmore.

WARNER BROTHERS

18 | A&E

“Gilmore Girls” is an incredible, heartwarming show that radiates fall festivity, but Rory’s effect on teen girls is incredibly damaging.

I myself have fallen victim to the Rory Gilmore mentality. Throughout middle school, all I ever wanted was to have “perfect” grades like Rory. I ended up being too hard on myself. I constantly felt like a failure if I didn’t understand a topic or forgot a homework assignment. I’ve always been a perfectionist, but Rory’s effect managed to make it worse.

Those who romanticize her and her aesthetic also idealize her perfectionist mindset. As someone who tries to be flawless like Rory, I can say that it’s miserable, and not something that should be romanticized in the media.

Rory also encourages other unhealthy habits: she says in the first season that she would rather get an A on a final than sleep. Though this should be taken as a joke, it still promotes a harmful idea.

Rory also grew up knowing nothing but

praise, so when faced with any sort of negative critique, she spirals into an existential crisis. In season five, after a mentor criticizes her journalistic abilities, Rory drops out of Yale and steals a yacht. She could’ve just cried for 30 minutes or done anything else remotely normal, but no, she had to be extra, drop out of an Ivy League, and commit theft.

There is an important line to draw between healthy study habits and fictional, unattainable ones: people need to take Rory with a grain of salt.

Her fictional perfection appears to be achievable — if you bend over backwards, sacrifice your sleep schedule, and develop an extreme dependence on academic validation.

Instead, people should develop study habits and find inspiration that fits their mental health and personal needs, not try to fit into the mold of a perfectionist cry-baby.

USJ Recommends: Fall Favorites

BY KATYA ROUDAKOV A&E Editor & Design Manager

Students Recommend

Music

SUB POP

ISLAND RECORDS

The Shepherd’s Dog - Iron and Wine

Everybody Else Is Doing It, So Why Can’t We? - The Zombies

The holy grail of folk. You could spend hours breaking down every lyric, but it’s more fun to listen, drink tea, and bask in warm, acoustic satisfaction.

Look beyond the TikTok hits and you’ll know why this is such a lauded alt-rock debut record: it’s rich with haunting vocals and evocative arrangements.

Movies

WARNER BROS.

EPIC RECORDS

Dylan Jones (‘24) Thriller - Michael Jackson

PARAMOUNT PICTURES

You’ve Got Mail

Clue

Meg Ryan, sweaters. Jazzy soundtrack, New York bookstore. This is peak ’90s rom-com, and you’d be hard-pressed to find a movie more comforting.

Hilarious, entertaining: all of the charm of old-fashioned accents and mansions. They don’t make characters like this anymore. And there’s murder!

DIMENSION FILMS

River Jordan (’27) Scream

Food

CREATIVE COMMONS

CREATIVE COMMONS

Medovik

Gnocchi

This inoffensive honey cake is an Eastern European classic, and will make for a perfect break from the regular fall dessert rotation.

It’s versatile, it’s warm, it’s chewy — there’s nothing gnocchi can’t do.

Drown it in sauce or sear it on a pan.

Do whatever you want. Just eat more gnocchi.

CREATIVE COMMONS

Emily Jennings (’26) Pumpkin Pie

October 2023

The Bus Ride Home

opinions

Girls face constant harrassment on school buses

laugh and continue to say another horrendous thing. On the rare occasion they do say sorry for their actions, those apologies were insincere and used as damage control so adBY SOPHIA HADY ministration wouldn’t get involved.

Staff Writer According to the Rape, Abuse, and incest National Network, an organization dedicatfeel uneasy as I board the bus each ed to ending sexual violence, the effects of day. sexual harassment can include both mental I know what happens every time. issues such as anxiety, depression, and PTSD, Catcalling. Slurs. My instincts tell me to but also physical symptoms like headaches, run or “accidentally” miss the bus just so I increased stress, sleep disturbance. These don’t have to experience hell for 15 minutes. side effects change the victims’ everyday life Thousands of students board a bus everyday, and can make it feel unbearable to live. and on those, students are being sexually haNot only is sexual harassment prominent rassed, bullied, and experiencing other vio- on buses, but so is bullying, including a wide lating treatments. Yet, Creek has little to no variety of physical harassment, verbal beratregulations on buses to protect students. ing, and even calling people slurs.

Everyday that I ride my bus suggestive I myself have experienced some bullying comments are made. The on my bus due to being a revolting words about “ginger.” People make comwhat the guys want to do ments that feel so degrading. with the girls on the bus The most disturbing part This created a deep desire make my stomach churn. of this is that the perpe- to dye my hair. I begged my On one ride, two boys trators treat it as a joke, parents to let me be a brumade jests about pedonette, or blond: anything but philia. On another they and expect the victim to a redhead. These comments joked about rape. The simply laugh it off. lead to me being overly inboys continued to sexsecure ually harass the girls for The bullying comes weeks. mainly from comments, “They’ll say stuff to [girls] that are very but in some circumstances, it can be physquestionable and definitely classify as verbal ical. sexual harassment,” freshman Emma Med“[A senior] took this kid’s phone while lock said. [another senior] forced him down and Medlock says the boys talked about buy- they texted all the girls on his phone asking condoms and taking explicit pictures ing to go to homecoming,’’ an anonymous with a freshman girl. Medlock claims this freshman source said. is one of the less graphic comments made.

Not only is this a form of physical haEven though the comment wasn’t directed rassment, because they were pushing the at Medlock, she still remembers being very kid down, but also incredibly humiliating uncomfortable. for the student. He was not only being bulThese disgusting remarks make everyone lied in front of his entire bus, which can be uncomfortable, in turn creating a hostile en- mortifying, but he was also facing embarvironment. rassment outside the bus.

The harassment and fear continues off That sounds like a scenario out of my the buses with many girls fearing they may nightmares. Having to face public disgrace be followed home. I had to walk a friend of is many high school students’ worst fear. mine to her moms car because she was ter- So when that fear comes true on the bus rified that the boys who had been harassing almost everyday it can affect a student’s the entire bus ride would follow her home. mental health. According to the National The most disturbing part of this is that Institutes of Medicine humiliation can be the perpetrators treat it as a joke, and ex- a factor in self harm and suicide and the pect the victim to simply laugh it off. After most common stress inducer for teenagers. guys make sickening “jokes” they simply On one bus ride home my phone was

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20 | Opinions

snatched right from my hands.

Unfortunately, it was unlocked so the thieves had the ability to look through my phone. After the ride they kept my phone until I pried it out of their hands. I was scared that they would steal my phone again, so now I rarely bring my phone out on the bus, and when I do I hold it down so people can’t grab it.

Many others have experienced this annoying treatment.

Although it isn’t as harmful as bullying and harassment, they still contribute to creating an unsafe and unbearable environment.

But many of these incidents are not reported by drivers because they simply don’t know what’s happening. They’re mainly focused on getting students safely from one location to another, and can’t be expected to pay attention to both the road, traffic, and the students.

PHOTO BY WRYN DUEPRE

Another factor that prevents bus drivers “I would like to see the school communifrom knowing that these awful things are cate more with the kids,” Hansen said. “Evhappening is the length of the bus. The bus erything that happens, whether a behavioral drivers are at the very front and the prob- issue, or a safety issue, or a communication lems are in the very back. Buses are around issue is always reported through a report or 40 feet long, so drivers are left unaware of directly with my immediate supervisor, but the unethical beafter that I don’t know how or haviors of students. if it gets back to parents,” The behaviors they “If there was love and kindStudents are also responare aware of are sible for reporting incidents, ness towards everyone on trivial compared to but many of them don’t out what actually hap- the bus it would be a won- of fear that the harassment derful ride.” pens. would get worse or that ad“There is a little ministration wouldn’t do more freedom for anything. I have yet to go to Bus Driver kids to get up and admin because I’m genuinely Devin Monasmith walk around when scared of what would hapthey shouldn’t,” pen. Would the harassment CCSD driver Devin become targeted towards me?

Monasmith said.

Would the admin even listen? These are While there is very little control of the the questions I’m sure many other students bus while in motion, there are ways to im- ask themselves when contemplating if they prove the issues that arise on the bus. should report incidents.

According to Ken Hanstein, a CCSD There are protocols in place to help credriver for 10 years, improving communica- ate a safe environment for students on the tion between administration, drivers, and bus. These protocols include a detailed list students would significantly improve safety. of infractions. Many issues on the bus fall

under the level two to level three infractions list, ranging from discipline of 3 day bus suspension to year-long suspensions (List of School Bus Infractions. School Year 20222023). But how often are students actually facing the repercussions if no one knows it’s happening.

Students are too scared to report incidents and bus drivers are unaware of the repulsive behaviors, so administration has to take more initiative. They need to check the video records more, create a system that better regulates the buses, and have more serious consequences for misconduct. Buses cannot continue to be a dangerous place for students. Something has to change, and it’s up to administration.

CONSTANT STRESS: On many buses within the district, girls continually get harassed verbally and physically. This continues to happen every day, with nothing being done to stop it.

The disruptions in the back of the bus not only harm the riders, but distract the drivers as well.

October 2023

Our Solution To Hallway Slurs: Admin Intervention

BY JUDE GORDEN

S

Features Editor

ticks and stones may break some bones, but words can kill.

Hallway talk has become dangerously vulgar, making those whose identities connect to the slurs extremely uncomfortable.

The movement to denormalize words like the r-word has stopped in high schools as administrators are stumped with how to discipline speech. Creek kids calling each other r*****s might turn some heads in the hallway, but no action is taken to prevent students from using slurs any more than regular curse words.

But it’s not just ableist talk tainting Creek conversations. In one passing period, students will also hear the f slur, and likely, more than once.

People will always argue about whether free speech encompasses vulgarity, but when speech is this harmful, it has no place in schools. The right to free speech protects lives, but in this case, it endangers them.

According to The Government Accountability Office, in the 2018-2019 school year, about 1 in 4 students saw hate words or symbols written in their schools, such as homophobic slurs.

22 | Opinions and Staff Editorial

Whether the slurs are aimed at friends in a joking way or used to harass a stranger in the hall, they have the same negative effect. The intention behind the slur is irrelevant because the word itself holds so much power.

Slurs are more than just a random bundle of letters; they attack the foundation of peoples’ identities, carrying a dark history of violence and hate. While neither should be tolerated, there’s a big difference between calling someone “slow” versus the r-word, or “gay” versus the f slur.

Queer students have no way of knowing whether the snickers are targeted at them, so when hallway talk is littered with talk of f****s, an already stressful environment becomes a dangerous one.

When I hear someone call out f****t in the hallway, my heart instantly stops. Is it friends joking or is today the day I become a cautionary tale to future queer students?

Schools can’t patrol students’ mouths, but that doesn’t mean they should accept the current reality. Creek claims to be “no place for hate,” but isn’t doing enough to police student use of hateful slurs, and that’s harming the wellbeing of students.

Teachers are supposed to stand in the hallways during passing periods, but instead hide inside the safety of their classrooms instead. Administrators need to emphasize the importance of their presence during passing periods and make this more of a requirement than a request.

My freshman year, my school ID sporting

a rainbow sticker got stolen off of my backpack. Because of my experiences dealing with homophobia at Creek before, I immediately thought this was one of those instances, and haven’t felt safe expressing my identity since.

The safety of knowing teachers are hunkered down in their classrooms during passing period comforts the students spouting slurs, and even the few teachers present in hallways say nothing when they hear them.

It’s hard to gauge whether it’s a random teacher’s place to confront these students, but the longer this issue is ignored, the more it grows.

Seeing deans in the hallway is instantly calming to me because I feel safe from the harassment that occurs when they are not present. It’s arguably even more important how a teacher’s presence calms victims of harassment than how it deters the possible harassers.

This issue could be easily solved if my peers could treat one another with respect, but I’m not holding my breath waiting for that pipedream to become reality. Administrators need to confront the issue soon, and reinforce the policy of teachers patrolling the hallways. Student safety should be protected above all else, and that needs to include mental harm too.

WALK THE HALLS: As students walk through the hall, they are bombarded with slurs, leading to harmful mindsets. While this happens many teachers hide in their classrooms protecting themselves rather than the students.

PHOTO BY WRYN DUEPRE

STAFF-EDITORIAL

PHOTO BY QUINN RUDNICK

Restorative Justice Works Against Theft, So Ditch Useless Suspensions

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his year, Creek implemented a new policy to deal with theft: Restorative Justice.

feeling is a priority.

This program is also likely to discourage repeat offenders, with that humiliation serv“When there’s a situation between two ing as a strong reminder of the consequences students, whether it’s a stolen item, or name of theft.

Also, rather than hearing it from an adult, calling or just a conflict, we can sit down and perpetrators are hearing the impact of what really work with both students to gain a better they did from their victim, not a third party. understanding of the other person’s perspecRestorative justice pushes for the re-edutive and learn from that as well,” Dean Natacation of students as well. sha Utterback said.

“We always want to This system is meant hold kids accountable, beto allow students to face cause we’re helping them the people they have afPerpetrators are hearing become adults in society. fected, connecting them We want them to be good the impact of what the with the impact of their positive citizens. And actions on others, not did from their victims, that’s [what] we’re trying just themselves. not a third party to teach them how to do,” For some, this may Utterback said. appear as an attempt to While this accountlessen the punishment ability doesn’t mirror real for the perpetrator. world implications of But realistically, sitting theft, it shouldn’t.

School systems should be down with a peer, especially one you have teaching students how to become responsible impacted negatively, can make a person unpeople, who not only understand the seriderstand their actions more deeply.

The humiliation felt when a person has to ousness of their actions, but are able to grow explain a mistake they made to the person emotionally from them.

Suspensions, on the other hand, only push who they affected is immeasurable. And for students farther away from this goal. most high schoolers, working to prevent that Rather than creating the one-on-one con-

TAKEN: As students walk through the hallway many have experienced their items being stolen by peers.

nection that Restorative Justice provides, suspension only further disconnect students from their actions.

Other than the humiliation, there is a strong value in sitting with a peer and talking about your mistakes. It forces a mature conversation to be had, because there is a person on the other end that you care about, at least socially.

But suspensions are interactions between a student and their dean, a dynamic that is likely already strenuous for thieves.

Suspensions also prevent a student from literal learning, as they have to interrupt classwork with their sentence. Removing a student from the very environment they are meant to grow in only deteriorates their progress.

Suspensions are dated and pointless, especially because they stop a student from learning from their mistakes, which is the very point of school.

In implementing Restorative Justice, Creek is taking a step towards fulfilling it’s role in raising students into good people.

October 2023

FOOTBALL SEASON HIGHLIGHTS LEFT: Juniors defensive linebacker Keegan Perea (#80) and defensive linebacker Jack Francis (#95) embrace during an away game against Regis Jesuit on Friday, Sept. 22. Creek won 47-28.

RIGHT: Defensive Line coach Jarvis Moss lectures two Creek players during the season opener against Ralston Valley on Friday, Aug. 27. Creek won 35-9.

PHOTO BY ALEX GRIBB

PHOTO BY BRIANA FLORES

BELOW: Sophomore offensive linebacker Braylon Hodge (#20) kneels after a Creek injury during a match against Regis. Creek beat their longtime rivals 47-28, despite a high-tension game.

PHOTO BY QUINN RUDNICK

PHOTO BY SERENITY HURTADO

ABOVE: Senior cornerback Kiyon Johnston (#3) lands on the 28-yard line after catching a pass during a home game against Legacy on Thursday, Aug. 31. Creek beat Legacy 41-14 after scoring multiple consecutive touchdowns in the first half. “My favorite part was winning 42-14, [I’m] glad we came out of that game with a blow-out and I’m glad we’re 2-0,” senior running back Jordan Herron (#2) said. “We’re just getting started.”

PHOTO BY QUINN RUDNICK

LEFT: Sophomore quarterback Brady Vodicka (#13) throws a pass to sophomore running back Jayden Fox (#7,) who scored a touchdown against Smoky Hill on Friday, Oct. 6.

Creek won 47-0.

RIGHT: Senior wide receiver Tyson Mauck (#18) drops the ball because of a rare showing of defense on Smoky Hills end during a game on Friday, Oct. 6.

PHOTO BY ALEX GRIBB