Issue 3

Thursday, December 12, 2013

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Super Gay Q& A

Jumping to the top

Fracking

Pages 8 & 9

PAGE 15

PAGE 7

THE HOWLER A student publication of Monarch High School since 1998 Volume 15

Issue 3

South African President Nelson Mandela makes his way to Parliament in Cape Town, South Africa, in this May 9, 1994, file photo. Mandela died on Thursday, Dec. 5, 2013. (Anacleto Rapping/Los Angeles Times/MCT)

Nelson Mandela: 1918-2013 One of the best humans of our time

by Dalton Valette On Thursday December 5, the world lost one of its finest leaders. A man for universal equality, a man who devoted his life to helping others achieve the same given rights that others took for granted, he is a man who has touched the hearts of millions around the globe, and his lasting influence will forever be remembered not only in his home country of South Africa, but the world.

Nelson Mandela is the epitome of a true hero, his life that of an epic journey to achieve rights and justice for all. After attending a number of

elite schools studying an array of fields from Anthropology to Roman Dutch Law, Mandela moved to South Africa’s capital, Johannesburg.

In Johannesburg, Mandela witnessed the agonies and horrors that had been brought on to the black population of the city under the suppression of white leaders, forcing native African’s to abandon their language and culture and conform to a “civilized” white society. Brutal violence engulfed the city with white leaders dousing tires with gasoline, then forcing them onto the heads of black protestors and catching them on fire. It was the apartheid, literally translated to, “The state

of being apart.” Mandela realized that something had to be done and fought fire with fire, incorporating guerrilla warfare when all else failed to gain momentum for equality movements.

In 1962, Mandela was arrested and was swiftly tried and convicted for conspiracy. He was sentenced to life in prison. Mandela moved from prison to prison over the years but the support for this leader in bondage only grew. Petitions began around the globe for the release of Mandela and after serving 27 years, he was freed in 1990. After his release, Mandela organized to end the apartheid in South Africa and allow for mul-

tiracial elections. Mandela became the first black president of South Africa, elected in 1994, and the apartheid came to an end.

Mandela stepped down in 1999 after serving only one term as President, but still, his legacy lived on and he continued to be a statesman while helping to combat AIDS/HIV and poverty through the Nelson Mandela Foundation. He fought for justice and equality for all until his death at the age of 95.

Critics of Mandela have and continue to slam him as a communist, a Marxist, and a terrorist, but the critics of Mandela are vastly overshadowed by his devoted followers. The world now bows its head in mourning over the fallen leader who has done so much good and has strived for nothing more than to make this world a better place.

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by Will Petersen

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Opinions

No, Ho, Ho

Winter Wonderland!

Is there too much Christmas nowadays?

t the end of summer most would be thinking about going back to school and fall weather, but if you’ve walked into a Hobby Lobby in August or September, you will see an array of Christmas decorations displayed.

You walk into a Starbucks on November 1st and there are Christmas cups; with a whole 50 or so days until Christmas.

With all of the attention Christmas is given in America, I would assume others are somewhat overwhelmed. Don’t get me wrong; I come from a Catholic family, but I, without a doubt, believe that there is a bit too much Christmas in our society, and people need to re-evaluate what Christmas is about.

In 2012 Christmas sales went up 3.5 percent since 2011 and reached a high of $579 billion in 2012 (nrf. com). This year the National Retail Foundation, who collects data of retail commerce annually, projects sales will go up another 3.9 percent. People are in a panic to purchase things either for others or sometimes themselves in times of sales, especially around Black Friday (and Cyber Monday), because they don’t want to miss out on the best deals. Everyone is excited about receiving gifts, which is

a part of Christmas, but the most important thing is being grateful for your families presence (not to be confused with presents), and spending quality time with them. I know that every Christmas, whether it’s my immediate or extended family, I try my best to spend time with them, and that’s what Christmas is really about.

Another thing that has started earlier each year recently is the Black Friday sales. It used to be that stores would open 2-3 hours earlier than usual, after that at midnight for some, but now many stores are opening at six on Thanksgiving evening. Stores opening then include Best Buy, Walmart and Macy’s.

Again, I love Christmas, but I do believe that it’s a bit much. We have gradually become more and more focused on material possessions when we should think more about the family that we are lucky to have and consider what the meaning of Christmas really is.

“Christmas Tree or Holiday Tree?” (Cartoon by: Dalton Valette)

It’s still the greatest time of the year!

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by Olivia Coleman t seems to be that the second Halloween is over, the gears switch right over to Christmas.

Starbucks comes out with their holiday cups, colorful lights are strung up, and Christmas music takes over multiple radio stations. Some argue that Christmas is over-emphasized.

That the attention it gets is unnecessary, but I think that Christmas time definitely lives up to the “best time of the year” cliché.

At this point, most people argue that celebrating Christmas so early is taking away from the true meaning of Christmas, but if you ask me, Christmas has become so commercialized that for most families, the true meaning isn’t even there anymore. Ask a five year old what their favorite part of Christmas is and all they’ll be thinking about is all the presents they’ll see under the Christmas tree on Christmas morning. It’s just the time of year, so whether you like it or not, there will be commercialization of Christmas everywhere.

Christmas time stimulates the five senses. The sound of Christmas carols ring throughout this time of year, and although they may get annoying, they always tend to put people in a good mood. The lyrics are always incredibly positive, and who doesn’t love to hear bells jingling in the background? Classic lyrics include “It’s the most wonderful time of the year”

Ups and Downs for December

by Will Bangs Images by Will Bangs and Natalie Forman The Chinese government announced that it will ease its 33-year-old population policy that limits couples to only one child and will begin allowing families to have two children if one of the parents is an only child themselves. Sounds like someone has an army to bolster.

One in ten women reported in a British survey that they loved their pets more than their relationship partners, while nearly a third of women said they loved their pets and their partners an equal amount. Makes sense. Who can love anything for more than 13 to 15 years?

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Apple is reportedly designing two larger versions of the iPhone that feature 4.7 and 5.5-inch curved glass displays, though the new iPhones are not likely to appear until the third quarter of next year. Good. My main problem with my current phone is that it fits too easily in my pocket.

A white conservative won a seat on the Houston Community College Board of Trustees after sending out flyers in a primarily black neighborhood that showed stock images of African-Americans and included an endorsement by a family member who has the same name as a popular local black politician. Mitt Romney has to be kicking himself right now.

and, “A beautiful sight, we’re happy tonight, walking in a winter wonderland.”

They send off a positive image to the people that listen to the song by painting a snowy scene that listeners can imagine themselves in.

Christmas also offers a wide variety of food that is specific to the holiday season. It’s not every day that people come home to a honey baked ham, cranberry sauce, and sweet potatoes. People decorate cookies, make gingerbread men cookies and there is always hot cocoa and egg nog to go around. Luckily, since Christmas seems to last a lot longer than it actually is, you’ll have quite a long time to be able to enjoy this.

Everywhere you turn during this time of year, there is some kind of decoration up. Decorations seem to brighten up the night, not only literally, but bright lights like that bring joy to people. Some houses go all out and have lights and decorations from top to bottom. Just driving around Louisville is a whirl of lights.

All in all, Christmas is a time for joy.

Although it has become commercialized, companies are successful seeing as most people participate in the consumerism.

This is what Christmas has become, but there is nothing better than seeing lights strung up on every house, drinking hot cocoa, and listening to the sweet sound of Christmas carols.

The FDA proposed new guidelines that would ban nearly all artificial trans fats, which are found in products such as frosting, margarine, microwave popcorn, and frozen pizza. The new guidelines could prevent 20,000 heart attacks a year, but I like food that challenges my organs.

With many problems hindering the new health care law, President Barack Obama is facing the worst polling numbers of his presidency, with a record low 39 percent of Americans approving of his performance. And to think, all of this could’ve been avoided by not giving a crap about people’s health.

Opinions

standardized Tests- Bubbles and Bias SAT and ACT Tests: inaccurate, costly, and unnecessary

by David Andrews

A packet from the SAT burns...for the better. (Photo credit: David Andrews)

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here needs to be a measure or system to evaluate student performance and college readiness. Today, the barometer we use to gauge student intelligence and college readiness is the ACT and SAT. These tests serve as a major part of any student’s application to a particular school. While it is necessary to have a benchmark for students to be evaluated upon, the SAT and ACT can not be the answer.

The SAT and ACT are huge profit machines that rake in money from students that need to take the tests in order to go to college. The SAT is administered by the College Board, technically a non-profit organization. The College Board can designate themselves as a tax-exempt non-profit because their stated mission is “To connect students to access and opportunity, to prepare more and more students to be ready to go to college and succeed.” Sounds innocent enough, but many American students have been convinced that they must take the SAT in order to succeed and go to college.

Additionally, when students send their score to colleges they fork over high fees. Each test cost $11.25 to transmit electronically to a college of your choice. Maybe I just don’t understand how expensive sending electronic copies of a score report is, but that seems exorbitant to me. The College Board also owns a full monopoly on SAT subject tests. If a college requires subject tests you have no option but to go through the College Board. How the College Board can call themselves a non-profit while top executives at the company take in $750,000 salaries a year with

and inflate your score shows a major flaw in the almost $125,000 in bonuses is absurd.

The two major tests put students from poor- testing system.

There are other more effective ways to gauge er socio-economic backgrounds at an immediate disadvantage. Without the disposable income student readiness for college besides these stanthat other students possess, these groups can not dardized tests. Colleges can get a hugely more acpurchase test coaches who would help improve curate depiction of a student through looking at scores. Furthermore, these groups of people letters of recommendation, a student’s GPA, and lack exposure to vocabulary that is present on the personal essays they write. Yes, these measures the SAT. Without shelves of books at home, and of a student can be skewed as well, but by cutting the SAT and ACT out of the access to expeequation we can do away with the riences such as How the College Board can obvious advantages that wealthitravel and trips call themselves a non-profit er students have over other stuto the theater dents. In his book “Crossing the they are at an while top executives at the Finish Line: Completing College immediate dis- company take in $750,000 at American Universities” Princadvantage. eton President William Bowen In 2009, Val- salaries/year with almost erie Strauss of $125,000 in bonuses is absurd. stated, “High school grades are a far better incremental predictor the American of graduation rates than are stanCenter for Fair and Open Testing said, “Many test preparation dard SAT/ACT test firms ‘guarantee’ gains of 300 points or more on scores.”

Many colleges are the three-part SAT (score scale 600 - 2400) and changing 3 to 4 points on the ACT (scale 4 -36).” The fact currently that these test preparation groups can guarantee their testing policies gains on these tests show that they are not effec- to align themselves tive in measuring your true potential as a learner. against the ACT and If they truly showed your potential, you couldn’t SAT. According to a use a few test-taking skills and extra vocabulary US News study from practice to improve your score. A score improve- December 3rd, 2012 ment of these proportions is gigantic in the eyes almost 800 schools of colleges and could absolutely mean the differ- in the United States ence between acceptance and denial to a school. are now test optional.

The fact that you can effectively game the test Almost 150 schools

that are test-optional are ranked as “top-tier” in their respective academic fields, according to FairTest Public Education Director Bob Schaeffer.

While many schools are moving toward a test-optional approach, students continue to take these tests as they feel it is necessary. The only way that these tests will lose their stranglehold is if students stop taking them. Sadly, this does not seem like it will happen anytime soon, as the ACT is required in many states and students will continue taking the tests.

Upon reflecting on my testing experience I wish that I had not been so willing to take the tests and put some thought into taking both of the tests. My parents are currently paying close to $100 to send all my scores to five different schools and we are being mashed by the grinder of the standardized testing monopoly in America.

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Opinions

The struggle is real!

When is “diversity” not?

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by Mia Mulvahill lthough many alumni from colleges around the nation would describe their college experience as “priceless,” college unfortunately comes with an unavoidable price tag. Paying for college weighs heavy on the minds of many applicants across the country, especially with deadlines approaching at a rapid pace. So in a world full of tuition payments, room and board fees, $800 history textbooks and expensive round trip plane tickets for parents’ weekend, Thanksgiving and all the other breaks, where do students turn for college funding?

While many students take the traditional route of merit scholarship and loans, there is another type of payment available to prospective students.

Have you ever heard of the The Tall Club Scholarship? It is a scholarship worth up to $1,000 per year simply for being tall. Literally just for being tall. No supplemental essays, no test scores, nothing. The only requirements are that you are under the age of 21 and that you are over 5’10” for a female, and 6’2” for a male. Why in the world do people deserve money for college simply because they physically take up more space than most people do? I don’t understand.

Now, I support and understand affirmative action and am in no way attacking that, but at some point, we have to differentiate between those characteristics that fall in the category of diverse and those that don’t. I support the idea of scholarships for Native Americans, but when someone is one sixteenth Native American (the cutoff for qualifying those kinds of scholarships) and could be removed from the heritage that they don’t even know what tribe their family comes from, do they really deserve college scholarships

for this reason?

In this day and age, students can be awarded money for nearly anything. Every year, The New England Chapter of the National Association to Advance Fat Acceptance Scholarship gives one overweight New England high school senior a $500 dollar scholarship just because of their size. Five hundred dollars isn’t exactly going to pay your way through college, but given today’s extremely high tuition rates, every dollar counts.

There are all sort of scholarships out there being awarded for characteristics that have absolutely no effect on one’s success in college. There are scholarships for left-handed people, people who can duck call, Klingon (an inverted language from Star Trek) speakers, and people who can make dresses out of duct tape. In the case of many students, cost can be one of if not the biggest factor in college selection, often deterring students from applying to schools they may really be interested in because they can’t afford to attend. Now I’m all for celebrating diversity, but why does the fact that someone was born with some strange/superficial characteristic or has some sort of unusual hobby make them more deserving of financial aid than someone with better grades, higher test scores and more leadership experience?

Since when did aspects that have absolutely no relation to a potential student’s success become such a big factor for all these things?

When recently filling out an application for a school I am very interested in attending, I was asked to look through a list of characteristics and check off those that apply to me, in order to help with scholarship awards for said university. While I went through and checked off the few items

“Look at the size of this present! Maybe it’s the Samsung Galaxy S4!” (Cartoon by: Terran Fox)

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on the list that applied to me, (caucasian, female, Scottish descent, from a family where both parents graduated college) I was confused as to why some items were even on the list, mostly because I wasn’t sure why they should be a factor in the admission of/scholarships given to an applicant.

Now maybe these factors have no bearing on my admission, but then again maybe they do. Any student who has filled out a college application is familiar with the section inquiring about heritage.

Some of the strangest ones included: “Are you a woman majoring in classical Latin literature?”

“Are either of your parents employed by Verizon Wireless?” “Are you the descendant of an employee of Warner Brothers?” “Are you a Community college transfer student who has overcome adverse socioeconomic conditions, demonstrated exceptional academic achievement and exhibited altruistic involvement in extracurricular activities that improve the lives of others?” “Are you a Jewish orphan studying aeronautical engineering?”

Why in the world do my answers to these questions matter? It feels unfair. I’m a good, hardworking, motivated student, but because my parents decided to pursue career paths outside of a cell phone company, I can’t get as much money as someone whose parents work at Verizon Wireless. I think that colleges and scholarship foundations alike should focus on evaluating students based off of their abilities as a student, instead of evaluating them off of abstract characteristics over which they have no control.

A case of need Steps towards public medicine

by Malachi Dray

W

hile all the headlines this month about healthcare focus on the initial impact of the Affordable Care Act enacted despite years of shameful political theater, a potentially more significant overhaul has snuck by with nearly no media attention in chilly Vermont.

The online healthcare exchanges mandated

by Obamacare have been riddled with technical failures, but Vermont has enacted a system that will eliminate all of the complexities of insurance shopping: single-payer, universal healthcare for all citizens. No longer will Vermonters have to struggle with private insurers, online marketplaces, premiums, coverage gaps, or any of the problems or injustices that accompany market-based health insurance. The state will simply provide universal coverage for its residents, who then have unrestricted access to public facilities for health care. And while many will be quick to criticize these developments as creeping socialism, it is clear that Vermont’s new system will have significant advantages, and represents a stride towards a better world.

Vermont’s change to a public system puts it on par with most of the rest of the developed world including prosperous nations such as the United Kingdom and Germany. Percentage of GDP spent on healthcare is lower in these nations (meaning there is more money available to spend on everything else) and life expectancy is longer than it is in the United States. Nations with socialized medicine do not have the inexcusable scourge of families who go without treatment because they cannot afford it, or a shameful rate of bankruptcies due to medical expenditures. People get preventative care because they are not afraid of being gouged by hospital fees, which in turn creates a healthier populace and reduces the need for expensive procedures.

Producers of medical equipment and service providers an ability to charge exploitive rates and make sickening profits in the business of combating sickness. In a market-based healthcare system, there is no strong representative of consumers’ considerations in the equipment market.

This also encourages competition amongst firms to produce a quality and affordable product, in order to snag the lucrative public contract.

While Obama’s Affordable Care Act is commendable, it does not address the root issues with the American health system. Private health industries exploit people’s inherent biological fragility, make human sickness something to be profited from, and do more to decrease the overall public health than they do to benefit it.

As such, they should certainly be replaced with a more forward-thinking and humane system like much of the modern world has already done.

Vermont has taken the first step on behalf of the nation, will the rest of us follow in their lead?

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News

A new body part you might think is kneet

by Tyler Lund

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he room was humid as the team laid out their tools on the cold steel metal table.

They lay out several cold pale cadaver legs on the table and start the operation. They don’t quite know where this mysterious body part is or how long it will take to find. Forty one cadaver knees later, they finally find a long ligament attached to the tibia. Finally the part they are looking for. Relieved, they wipe the beads of sweat from their heads and start to clean up.

They realize in unison the magnitude of the discovery they have just made.

Through many examinations and 41 cadaver knees, researchers in Belgium confirmed the existence of the undiscovered ligament called the Anterolateral ligament or the “ALL.” The first doctor to declare this concept, but not prove his theory, was a French surgeon named Paul Segond. Segond suggested this concept in 1879 and described it as a fibrous band in the front of the human knee. Many say they don’t know how this discovery was not made sooner, but they assume that over a few years the concept of this new body part might have just been disregarded.

Many people today would think that doctors have every part of the body mapped out. Yet due to the recent discovery, people may start

to accept the idea of new discoveries inside the human body.

Researchers believe that because of the placement of the ALL, it is responsible for rotation of the tibia. This new found knowledge of the function and placement of this new ligament might help people with what’s called a “pivot shift.” A pivot shift is when the knee gives out to a certain movement. This condition usually happens when a person recovers from an ACL tear. New studies say that a pivot shift might be caused by an injury to the ALL. The new discovery of an entire ligament in the 21st century has some people bewildered.

“It’s actually pretty cool, I think it’s interesting that after all this time, scientists have just discovered this new part of the body,” said Itai Boneh a junior in Anatomy.

“I think that this new discovery is really cool because it will help athletes recover from knee injuries.” said Joel Greenstein a senior in Anatomy.

This is not the first time this year that a new body part has been found. In June, ophthalmologist Harminder Dua discovered a 15 micron thick layer within the human cornea, which he called the Dua layer.

Throughout time humans have created

new inventions that have greatly improved human life. Even though the human race has made vaccinations that are readily available, and have made most diseases curable, this new discovery just proves that humans still have a long way to go in the medical field. This new discovery will

help many people with knee problems, and will also help athletes with issues with their knee. All around this discovery will benefit many people in the world.

ALL ligament

A diagram of the knee and the ligaments, including the newfound ALL ligament found at a University in Berlin. (diagram by Terran Fox)

amendment 66 fails to persuade voters School funding expansion turned down by Coloradans

by Anna Blanco

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magine you are the principal of a Colorado school. You have a wonderful idea for a new program that would benefit the students of your school. You currently have enough money in the budget to pay for the needs of the program, but the following year, the school’s budget is cut, and you do not have enough money to support the program. Why don’t you have enough money for the program? Because Amendment 66, which would have addressed low funding was not passed. Colorado Amendment 66 was put on the November 5th, 2013 ballot. This amendment would give a larger amount of taxes to support schools around the state.

Too many voters voted against the amendment for it to pass, and now Colorado schools must deal with the consequences. “I think it did not pass because some people are opposed to any new taxes and because the key benefits were not clearly understood,” explained Matt Jones, a Colorado legislature, “I supported Amendment 66 because we must educate and prepare our youth and the state cut one billion dollars from K-12 education over the last several years, the additional funding would have addressed our most pressing needs of early childhood

education.”

“Funding in the state of Colorado is extremely inequitable as well as inadequate,” explained Jerry Pinsker, a retired teacher who previously worked for Aurora public schools.

“We have people making good salaries out here, yet the funding for schools is dismal. You look at other areas of the state, where it is very economically depressed, the schools do not get as much money from the taxes, and they suffer.

They have classes being held in bus lots.”

Many districts do not have enough funding and are being forced to make budget cuts that eliminate school music, art, and gym classes, which can be essential in making school fun for children.

The amendment was designed to give more funding to districts where there is a high population of students who require a free or reduced lunch, and a high population of English as a Second Language students.

“Would it have transformed [Monarch’s] environment? Given us a bunch of new things?

No, that wouldn’t happen,” explained Monarch Principle Jerry Anderson, “It would have benefited our district to some extent, the way it’s funded, everyone doesn’t get the same thing.”

Old battered textbooks from the Monarch LA department in need of replacement lay abandoned on the storage room floor. (Photo by Anna Blanco)

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News

Protesting an underground war The controversial effects of fracking

by Oliver Ullman

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ll around America, desolate wastelands are replacing once lush landscapes.

Below the ground are explosions of dangerous chemicals, forcing their way through millennia old barriers of rock, and then erupting to the surface like an active volcano. Though it happens near our schools and changes our drinking water, few people know about fracking.

Those who do are fighting vigorously for its demise. Supported by our elected officials, the process powers our homes, but also has the potential to destroy them.

All across the country, this battle rages on.

The combatants? The oil and gas industry, a deep-pocketed army of influence, against a militia of volunteers and organizations.

Many of the facts are unclear and hotly debated, but the outcome will affect our entire planet.

Hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, as it is known, is the process of injecting water and other chemicals at high speeds into rock layers deep below the surface of the earth at high pressures. The goal: to obtain natural gas, which is used to power our homes and even some of our vehicles.

You may have seen advertisements on TV referring to natural gas as ‘the next step’ in energy. Natural gas burns cleaner than coal, and can provide us with energy for years to come.

So why is fracking so controversial? It’s because when a company decides to frack, the environmental impacts are often disastrous.

Arguably the biggest (and possibly the only) benefit from fracking is its effect on our economy. “From a Wall Street perspective it’s great,” said Lee Buchsbaum, who has covered the oil and gas industry for magazines like ColoradoBiz. States that have embraced this process have seen a new industry filled with many high paying jobs.

In addition, cities receive a substantially higher income from the drilling companies buying water required for fracking.

In the midst of this there are also financial costs; cities usually have to pay for the environmental impacts, and health insurance rates tend to rise where fracking occurs. Still, fracking gen-

erally has a very positive impact on economies.

That’s where most say the benefits end, and the laundry list of drawbacks fracking brings, begins.

Fracking, as well as the processes that support it, have started to cause the air we breathe to become dangerous. Rod Bruske, a Colorado farmer, says that when his land was fracked, without his permission, his family got sicker and sicker. “You could taste a nine-volt battery [in the air],” he said.

A study headed by National Oceanic and Administrative Association (NOAA), found the methane leakage from fracking in Colorado, Utah, and California to be up to 17 percent, and similar organizations have found fracking to have other significant environmental effects like unsafe drinking water.

Still, oil and gas companies say that data is not comprehensive enough to make a decision about fracking’s safety. In a way they’re right; studies like NOAA’s are uncommon, but not because of fracking supposedly being safe or not enough people studying the issue. A big contributor to the lack of data about fracking is interferance by the oil and gas industry, according to Boulder Weekly. People are studying this issue all the time, but since many of the studies are damning to fracking, some organizations are finding that their funding gets cut to the point where they can’t finish the study, or the findings get withdrawn.

Still, fracking is supported by many elected officials, including Governor John Hickenlooper.

One of the reasons: fracking is apparently cleaner than alternatives like coal.

Advocates say fracking has half the carbon dioxide emissions of coal, therefore it is ‘cleaner’. According to anti-fracking activists, this claim is taken out of context. “It’s an advertising claim,” said Buchsbaum. “It’s only cleaner if you consider it at the moment it burns.”

The full picture reveals that fracking is in fact, much dirtier. When fracking, large quantities of methane, one of the key components of natural gas, leak. Over a 20-year period one pound of methane traps as much as 72 pounds of carbon dioxide, meaning that overall, fracking has a significant impact on the environment.

fracking by the numbers 280 billion

450,000

gallons of wastewater that fracking operations produced across the United States.

tons of air pollution created by drilling and fracking natural gas wells in 2012 within the US.

5 million

570,000

gallons of water used when fracking, most of which is permanently lost.

acres of land that has been directly damaged in Colorado by fracking.

Sources: Huffington Post, Environment America

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A sign informs of the presense of a natural gas pipeline at the intersection of Dillon and 96th street in Louisville.

(Photo by David Andrews)

While fracking, all sorts of compounds such as methane, as well as hundreds of other chemicals like hydrochloric acid leak. This causes the local water supply to become contaminated and undrinkable. Because of the leakage, people are now finding they can light their tap water on fire, since the methane that leaks is flammable, according to Time magazine.

While fracking is on the rise in Colorado, opponents to the drilling technique passed a major milestone when three Colorado cities.

Lafayette, Fort Collins, and Boulder passed fracking bans less than two months ago. Increasingly controversial, many Colorado cities have become battlegrounds for the issue. Tensions are especially high in Erie, where many are outraged over Encana, an energy company drilling within hundreds of yards of Red Hawk Elementary.

So who would actually let companies frack on or around their property? The problem is that many have no choice. In Colorado, oil and gas companies have every right to drill under your home, because in our state, the law separates surface rights from mineral rights. What that means is, even though you own your house and control what happens above ground, you don’t control what happens below it if you don’t own the mineral rights. Since oil companies have bought almost all of the mineral rights in the state of Colorado, very few people can stop a company from fracking under their homes.

The reason this is legal is because oil and gas

has donated hundreds of millions of dollars to Democrats and Republicans in the past two decades, according to The Center for Responsive Politics, so that they can get exemptions from regulations and influence what laws are passed.

This has allowed the oil and gas industry to be exempt from the provisions of the Clean Water Act, the Clean Air Act, and the Safe Drinking Water Act. The Center for Responsive Politics also noted that the laws that they are currently exempt from are enforced at the bare-minimum level, the regulators are understaffed, or are actually the companies themselves.

“There are thousands of wells in Colorado, with only 13 inspectors,” said Buchsbaum. “It’s not possible for them to inspect all of them,” he said. “The new regulations that Hickenlooper announced just last week…. those are all self-policing, meaning that industries and companies like Encarta are supposed to grade themselves…..That’s ridiculous,” he said. “If you were allowed to grade yourself in school you’d get an “A” plus every day!”

In an increasingly energy-hungry world, fracking is being turned to as the ‘smart’ alternative, but many of those knowledgeable on the issue are saying the exact opposite. Now becoming increasingly common in our state, Coloradans will begin to learn more and more about what this could mean. With a track record for creating polluted waters and dirty air, voters must think about what the the rise of fracking means for our homes and our health.

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Life

A Not-So-Satisfying Life What is it like to live on food stamps?

by Oliver Ullman

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o you find yourself worrying about having enough to eat? Is it financially impossible for you to have a healthy diet? Is your monthly food budget less than the average cable bill? Do you have trouble remembering EVER being full?

If you answered yes to any of these questions then chances are you’re one of the 47 million (one in seven) Americans now on food stamps.

For many, a ten or 20 dollar monthly decrease in the food budget would hardly be noticeable, but for America’s poorest, the recent cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), the organization responsible for appropriating food stamps, are devastating. With a whopping five billion dollars being taken from the 80 billion dollar program, tens of millions of Americans can

expect to eat less and be hungry more.

Representative Frederica Wilson, (Democrat-Florida) said in a press release that the cuts “will literally take food right out of the mouths of poor children as well as their families, the elderly, the unemployed and the underemployed.”

Even though many experts and participants claim it to be underfunded, SNAP remains on the chopping block.

Over 60 percent of Republicans and over 40 percent of Independents strongly support these cuts. Their main claim?

Fraud. Advocates of cuts to this program claim that recipients use food stamps to buy steaks and lobster, and trade their food stamps for cash to buy flat screen TVs, ignoring USDA statistics showing that only three percent of food stamps are given to people who don’t need it, and only 1 percent of Food Stamps are

illegally traded for cash, the lowest numbers in the history of the program.

A record number of people now rely on SNAP. When the program was created, its purpose was to ensure that all Americans would be able to receive basic nutrition. With recent cuts, many enrollees worry about being able to get even that. “There are days my daughter and I will have to go without just to make sure the kids have food,” says Arvada Community Food Bank client Terry Secary, a grandmother who has been on food stamps almost her entire life.

“It’s tough”, said her daughter Jammie Secary. “Towards the end of the month we tend to lose weight; there’s just not enough.”

Even on a minimum wage salary, Jammie Secary says she not only needs to receive food stamps to get by, she also has to rely on local food banks. “[Arvada Food Bank] has been critical for us, especially when we’re unsure about our situation,” said Jammie Secary. “We haven’t gotten our food stamps this month, so I wouldn’t know what we would have done without this place.”

“When my kids were young, I was a special education teacher, and on food stamps, and I still had to go to a food bank to feed my family,” said Terry Secary.

Food stamps are the lowest layer of the social safety net. Created to satisfy a basic human necessity, food stamps fail to provide even those bare minimums for an increasing number of Americans. If the future looks anything like the past, Food Stamps will turn out to be even more insufficient than they are now. Put aside whether you think the government usually does too much, is a society that refuses to feed its own people really even one at all?

The struggle Within the Armed Forces Bill seeks to improve circumstances for female service members

by Charlotte Crist

Y

ou stand stiff, staring straight ahead as someone screams in your face. Spit is flying onto you, but you force yourself not to budge.

In order to be in the armed forces, you must be fearless, but some situations seem uncontrollable. For most women serving in the military, this is something they look back on fondly, but for some, it was a time full of pain.

One problem many women face in the armed forces is sexual harassment or assault. According to Parade Magazine, over 20 percent of female Veterans Affairs’ patients who served during Iraq or Afghanistan operations reported military sexual trauma.

“I experienced it, although it was never reported. It’s how you choose to handle it,” said Colleen Wrapp-Robinson, an army veteran.

“When I was in my advanced training school, there were only two women in my advanced training class and the drill sergeant targeted the other girl [in my group] and I’ll never forget it because he treated her like she wasn’t supposed to be there. He just had something against her,” said Wrapp-Robinson.

In this case, it was eventually reported, but being that it was the officer in higher rank that usually is the one to report it, it was difficult to do. Most of the time harassment cases go unreported due to threats or because the commanding officer chooses not to report the incident.

According to the Department of Defense, there

are an estimated 26,000 (out of 1.4 million, or about 1.86 percent) active duty members who had unwanted sexual contact last year, which has increased from 19,300 the year before.

The armed forces and the soldiers in them are trying to combat this issue by attempting to pass the Military Justice Improvement Act of 2013. This a bill intended to improve the safety and justice for the men and women who are brave enough to fight for our freedom. They shouldn’t have to fight for justice when that is what they are protecting.

The armed forces have definitely improved in another issue that women used to face, which was segregation. “When I was in the service… we did basic training completely separate than male soldiers.

We were in our own division and they were in their own division… and I think that over time it evolved and they were making an attempt to level everyone’s abilities and capabilities and opportunities,” said Wrapp-Robinson.

“They need to expect to be treated like a male soldier. No favoritism towards females,” said Wrapp-Robinson about expectations for today’s female soldiers.

Although there can be many hardships in the armed forces, service is extremely beneficial in improving teamwork skills and discipline. “I loved being in the military,” said Campus Resource Officer Cristi Gordanier, a military veteran. “I think it was a great experience. I would do it again in a heartbeat and I recommend it to anyone that’s getting out of high school.”

For more information on the armed forces, contact: • Army Recruiter Sergeant Gary Conner (303) - 442 - 1751 • Navy Recruiter Chief Todd Frerichs (303) - 495 - 4161 Officer Cristi Gordanier served in the Navy from 1987-1991. (Photo credit: Cristi

Gordanier)

mhshowler.com 7

Super Gay Q and A

When did you come out?

George Bangs: Well, I had been hanging out with this one guy who was pretty flamboyant and one day my mom just asked me and I told her that he was my boyfriend. And my dad didn’t find out until later when one day my boyfriend texted me and my phone was out in the kitchen and my dad had read the text and that’s how he figured out.

When was that?

GB: That was probably like, near the middle of junior year, actually. So I haven’t been out too long.

William Thames: I was in junior year too. I decided for myself that it was time and so what I did was that I had five people out of my friends and I took them aside to almost warm up with as they were people I really, really felt comfortable with and I told them each individually until the Thespian Christmas party when I came out to all my friends in one big thing. I have yet to actually come out to my parents. That is what I am planning to do before Christmas break because I have to write my CU essay about being gay and they are going to have to read it. So the point is, at the very latest before college. I am, however 100% sure that they already know and I’m pretty sure the conversation is going to go something like, “Hey I’m gay. “Oh, okay. Great,” and I imagine that they don’t really give a s***. And I came out at the thespian party pretty recently too, junior year.

Dalton Valette: So I came out in February of freshman year and it was almost an epiphany for me as I was watching this Syfy show called Being Human and I saw this guy on the show and thought, “Oh my god, he’s really attractive.”

That’s kind of when it just clicked and suddenly everything just made sense to me. And I came out to my friends a little while later and then I came out to my parents about a week after that and they just said, “Dalton, we’ve just kind of assumed since second grade.”

Did you know you were gay for long before you came out?

WT: Yeah, I had known for a long time beforehand. I hadn’t really accepted it actually for a while. And, I know this sounds weird, but I was almost holding out hope that it wasn’t true. At that point I was thinking, “Well maybe I’m bi.

Hell, maybe I’m straight.” Because it was a matter of could I see myself romantically with a guy because I could kind of see myself romantically with a girl but could I see myself sexually? So there was that whole thing, so basically I knew that I was gay and then I had to just figure all that out for myself and realize this is what I wanted.

DV: I remember before I fully realized I was gay and I was still questioning, “Well maybe I do like girls,” I always tried to imagine myself in a house with a white picket fence living the stereotypical American Dream life with a wife and two kids and I realized that was not the sort of life that I ever wanted to live, or could even really see myself living that life.

GB: I guess I had some of the same things and I had never really been thinking about a romantic future with a girl, so I don’t know -- I guess high school sort of helped me start thinking outside of my box.

What were people’s reactions?

GB: I didn’t make any sort of announcement. I told my best friend Antonio of course and it was

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8

good to confide in one person and then I didn’t make a big announcement but I stopped hiding it. If people asked I would simply tell them, “Yes I’m gay.” And I started dating a little bit and that prompted some questions and it was good to just be honest with people and feel comfortable with the knowledge.

Were most people supportive though?

GB: Yeah, I mean I’ve never really had to face any homophobic comments or insults about it.

WT: I had nothing but love. There was a gigantic group hug at the Thespian party. And what was really good was that the people I really cared about didn’t care and they realized that it didn’t change me. I was just thinking, “Good, that’s how I want it to be. That’s what I’m going for here.” There were a few people who asked me, borderline inappropriate questions such as, “Well how do you know you’re gay if you’ve never [had sex with] a guy?” And I was just thinking, “Okay we cannot be doing this.” I mean, how do you know you’re not sexually attracted to a cat unless you’ve [had sex with] one? So I had a few questions like that and I mean, there’s nothing wrong with curiosity and I’m glad I can clear some questions up with people, but for the most part people were really open and supportive with me.

DV: That’s just like, I made mine very casual and I told my best friends and I just came out gradually and if it was brought up in conversation I’d just say, “Yes, I’m gay.” I never had any sort of ceremony and I had largely positive reactions from people except really from my grandparents.

They are both Southern, conservative, religious people and when I told them they took it kind of stoically at first. And then a week or so later they called me and said, “Dalton, we want to take you out to dinner, just the three of us.”

And I reluctantly said yes and they took me out and we were driving and driving and driving, all the way to Denver and when we finally pulled into a parking lot, I looked up and saw that the restaurant we were going to was a Hooters.

So my eighty something year old grandparents took their recently out gay grandson to Hooters and the whole time my grandma is just saying, “People come here for the food, not the atmosphere,” and my grandpa is just drooling over all these fake breasts. So that was their last attempt at scared straight and, I guess you could say it failed, but that was really the most negative reaction to coming out.

So did you guys lose any friends when you came out? Did any of your guy friends try to distance themselves from you?

WT: At first there was a bit of that. There were a few days right after I came out where I would go into class, and normally they were very up front and conversational with me and there were a few days where they were really austere and I just think, they didn’t really know what to do in this situation and I eventually told them, “Truthfully this doesn’t, or shouldn’t, change anything.” But yeah, generally everyone was chill.

GB: I didn’t have a big coming out so it’s hard to say if there was really any distancing between us.

I didn’t notice anything.

DV: I don’t think there was too much distance with me either.

What’s the most difficult part of being gay in high school?

WT: Finding a boyfriend, God. It’s so lonely. I swear to God. For me, high school is the time

when you’re supposed to be experimenting with finding out who you are and dating is such a huge part of that and a lot of who you are actually comes from romantic experiences. Here it’s a little better off, but I think of it as a friend-based community, as there are people here you can talk to about being gay but there are not many people you can actually date. You have to be just brutally honest with yourself: when your numbers are so limited, it’s not likely that it’s going to happen in high school. So it can be really lonely sometimes and you see your friends hooking up all around you and you just have to think, “Well it’s not time for me yet.”

DV: It’s a very small pool.

WT: I know, that’s why college is going to be the best!

DV: I thought it was bad because when I came out, two months later I was dating a senior who was gay. So naturally after that when I broke up with him, I was thinking, “Oh wow, there are actually a lot of gay guys. It’s going to be fine.” And then there was a two and a half, three year streak of loneliness and no one. And then recently I dated this other guy and we dated for two months and then back into loneliness.

But definitely, it is incredibly hard finding other people to possibly even date.

WT: But what that comes down to ultimately is, yes, there is the loneliness factored into it, but we are in a community that’s a little more on the liberal, accepting side and we could be-DV: --gay in Mississippi.

WT: Exactly. Getting beaten up every day and being called faggots all the time. I have never been called a faggot.

GB: Yes, I feel that we are in a great place.

Monarch and Colorado as a whole are pretty accepting communities to be gay in.

WT: More than anything, it’s almost comforting.

DV: I know exactly what you mean. I was bullied in middle school a lot but nothing in high school particularly after I came out.

GB: Well middle school is just awful.

WT: It really is.

DV: Yeah and I didn’t even know what gay was and people were calling me that and people just assumed and that was bad because I was called faggot and AIDS f***** a lot and I was pushed up against lockers and tripped occasionally.

And there was one day when these girls poured ketchup into my hair. And I had to go to the bathroom and clean it all out and missed one of my classes because of it. But in high school it was different after coming out as I really noticed there was a lot less bullying.

So have you guys dated anyone before? And did you date girls before you came out?

GB: I did date girls before. (Pointing to WT) Girls had crushed on you all the time in middle school!

DV: (Talking to WT) Girls still have crushes on you now!

WT: No, I’ve never dated girls. I have never dated anyone.

GB: I’ve had four relationships since coming out. So that’s good. I would say that I had one girlfriend before coming out.

DV: In middle school I dated a fair amount of girls.

WT: Of course you did, Dalton, you’re such a gentleman.

DV: Well then I asked a few of them, since supposedly everyone thought I was gay, I asked

Being in high school is no easy task in and of itself, but imagine what it is like to be in high school and be openly gay. There are many lonely nights and times when you feel like the awkward third wheel. Being gay in high school can be a struggle, a struggle that many straight people may not immediately be able to identify with, but there are openly gay people at Monarch and they are willing to talk and express their feelings about their identity.

George Bangs

dalton valette

will thames

some if they dated me knowing I was gay, and a few just said. “Yes.” And I would ask, “Well why did you date me?” And they said, “I knew nothing sexual was going to happen. We could go shopping, and it would just be fun.” So I’ve dated a few girls and two guys since coming out.

WT: George, still, you’re such a stud man.

DV: And one of the big things for me, and some people didn’t expect me to be gay, is because I’m an avid hunter and I’ll talk with guys about guns and going out hunting, and some guys have raised eyebrows because I’m more on the effeminate side and that usually isn’t associated with hunters.

Is it weird being in the hunting community and being gay?

DV: I’ve gone to some big hunting conventions in Dallas and Reno and I have gotten strange, almost questioning looks before, but I’ve never had anyone flat out tell me to get lost.

WT: That’s because they’re intimidated because you’re a grade A-badass.

DV: Oh why thank you. I try my best. Swimming in crocodile waters, hunting a hippo and a lion, you know, just the typical gay guy activities right next to looking at furniture in Macy’s.

How long do you generally know a person before you let them know you’re gay?

GB: Well the way I approach it is like, if they want to ask I‘ll tell them, if we don’t reach a point where they’re asking about it, then they probably don’t need to know in the first place.

So I’m not too upfront about it, but it’s like totally transparent if anyone wants to know it’s there.

DV: I don’t go up to people and say, “ Hi I’m Dalton, I’m gay,” but I’ll bring it up in casual conversation, and again I wear a gay pride ring, so you can kind of just look.

WT: If they ask I’ll tell them, but it’s frankly my business. But I’m totally open about it.

What type of stereotypes do you identify with and which ones make you mad?

DV: Shopping. It’s amazing. I love to shop; it’s so fun!

WT: I’m a big theater kid, so that’s definitely one I can identify with. I’m definitely part of that, which really did help though because in the theater community it’s kind of like, okay, nobody really cares. As far as stereotypes that make me mad, if it’s you then it’s fine. I don’t really see a type of gay stereotype that’s wrong, because as long as you’re being true to yourself, if you want to put on a rainbow jock-strap and march down the street in the gay pride parade, that’s fine. I don’t really see any gay stereotype that’s wrong in any sense.

GB: I like musicals, I said it. It’s just annoying when other stereotypes are tacked on to you.

DV: The biggest one for me I guess is actually the theater one. I say I’m gay and then a lot of people immediately assume I’m the lead in every school play and musical. It’s like that’s not necessarily true. Then also, “You don’t like outdoor activities.” I get that a lot: if you’re gay “You must hate the outdoors,” which I really don’t get, I never understood that one.

WT: The one thing that I really hate, and this is coming from gay people and straight people alike, is when they feel the need to speculate whether you’re gay or not. I really hate that because it’s really insensitive to that person. Does it really matter?

GB: How can you tell from nothing? Although sometimes it is nice to have an indicator.

WT: It’s really difficult to tell because there is a certain amount of networking you have to do if you want to have that conversation with them.

Like “are they out?” And if they’re not, the best thing to probably do is just leave them alone and let them handle it on their own terms.

GB: Yeah, if they feel like you need to know, then you’ll find out.

Have you ever had a serious crush on a straight person?

(They all say yes) WT: There’s a lot of sitting alone and wondering, “What if ?”

DV: I have the twisted idea that sometimes I think “I am so attractive I can make them just gay for ME.” WT: Yeah I’ve had two serious crushes on straight guys in my high school career.

GB: Yeah and then there are times where it’s almost like that speculation over if they’re gay that you sometimes overhear, and it’s really annoying, but you want to see it, so you start looking at them like “well maybe this means that.”

What do you think about the stigma that relationships have a masculine and a feminine person?

GB: I don’t feel that at all.

WT: I used to really prescribe to that idea, but frankly, George, you busted that for me, because I saw some of the relationships you were in and thought “they’re both equal, and the idea of who’s masculine and whose feminine doesn’t really matter. Who cares?” I think it just depends on the people involved. However it works out is fine.

DV: Go for the one you wanna be with.

Who pays for the date?

In agreement: Separate checks.

Who leads at a dance?

WT: Taller. The tricky part is that on the outside you may be tall, but on the inside, you’re more of a little spoon.

Do you ever find yourself feeling like you need to prove your masculinity?

WT: I’ve never had that experience with other gay guys. But with straight guys, it’s a weird subconscious thing that I’ve noticed that I do sometimes. I’m trying to stop because it’s really not fair to myself. [Sometimes] you’re around certain straight guys, and you feel the need to act a little more straight than you normally would.

Like, I’ve found myself putting conscious effort into being like “okay, do not sound feminine when you’re saying this. Maybe throw in a bro at the end of that sentence.” I catch myself pretty regularly now, it was mostly when I first come out when I was worried about what the guys in my life think.

What do you think about the current state of gay rights?

DV: I think it’s much better than it has been.

I think this state now, in the US, is the best it’s been since the ancient Greek times.

GB: I feel like gay rights are in a good place and they’ve got a good momentum behind them. I think it’s just going to keep getting better.

WT: [Gay marriage is] heading in the right direction, but until it’s legal in all 50 states, I might as well still be a second class citizen. It’s illegal in Colorado right now, and even if it was legal in Colorado, it’s not worth celebrating unless it’s legal everywhere.

Do you have any advice for people that may be questioning or are currently in the closet?

Dalton Valette: I think no matter what, there will always be people who will love you for who you are, and those are the people you want to surround yourself with. If you seek out any of us, we’re always open, even just for talking about it.

George Bangs: I think it’s best to come out to a small group of people first, like people who you know will support you through the decision. That can help you build up confidence to being more open to everyone.

Will Thames: I’d say coming out is nothing more than prescribing to a label. You are what you are before you come out. All it is is saying “okay, this is what I’m gonna live under now.” So I’d say take your time, be really patient with yourself, but at the same time be brutally honest with yourself as far as how much you think you can handle and if you’re ready. It’s a very personal decision and you ultimately have to make it for yourself.

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Arts & Entertainment

A Celebrity Look-A-Likes: Teacher Edition H

by Claire Green

ave you ever wondered what it would be like to go to school with a celebrity? Well, Monarch might not be housing any celebrities, but there are a few pretty convincing doppelgangers in the school’s staff. These teachers were asked what celebrity they thought they most resembled, and what celebrities others thought they resembled. Here’s what they said:

Gwendolyn Lukas-Doctor

Photo by Minija Edgar

“I don't think I look like anyone, but I have been told I SOUND like Frau Farbissina from Austin Powers--I even dressed like her for Halloween one year....”

David Farrell

Photo by Francis Specker/ Landov/MCT

Photo by Minija Edgar

Doc might not think she looks like anyone, but with that shiny Oscar and sassy pose, Doc and Adele could be sisters!

“I don’t think I look like anyone, but I’m told I look like NBA basketball player Jason Kidd. What do you think?”

Mike Kugler

Photo by Harry E. Walker/MCT

Claudia Overton

photo by Minija Edgar Photo by Life Touch Photography

Photo by Denise Fleming/Abaca Press

say Adrien Brody.”

“Adrien Brody for both questions. Some people say David Schwimmer, but more

10 mhshowler.com

Well, what do you think MoHi? The Howler thinks you nailed it, Mr. Farrell.

Are you sure you’re not an Oscar winning actor, Mr. Kugler?

Because your portrayal of

“THIS IS TOUGH! I think the only, even slightly likely option is Bonnie Raitt, the singer, when she was younger (she is in her 60’s now, I think). Some friends have said Bernadette Peters.”

Photo by Amanda Parks/ Abaca Press

Your friends said it, Ms. Overton! Not many people have those crazy red curls!

Arts & Entertainment

Sweater Weather: Ho Ho What to Wear and Horrible!

A list of the worst holiday songs.

When to Wear It T S

by Micaela Marquez

by Elaina Funk

he sky is gloomy and the leaves are falling off the trees. It’s that time of the year again: When the seasons change, the temperature can drop or rise. In this case, it’s time to switch out your tank-tops and shorts for some jeans and a nice sweaters to keep you cozy throughout the chilly months. This is the key to the puzzle on which sweater you should wear.

Cardigan Sweaters Cardigans are favored in the starting months of the chilly season as it isn’t cold enough to wear something more. Simple and easy, cardigans can be paired with tanktops if you’re not ready to put up the short sleeved shirts just yet. Cardigans might not be the best for the snowy months to come, but they sure do keep you cozy.

ure, come the holiday season most people are enjoying the well-known and well-loved Christmas songs. However, has anybody ever heard the lesser-known/sometimes awful jingles? Here’s a playlist to get you in the holiday spirit (or take you out of it).

Cat Carol by Bruce Evans This might be one of the most heart-breaking holiday songs I have ever heard. It’s about a cat not being let into a house on a cold Christmas Eve, and then freezing to death outside while keeping her mouse friend warm. Great for those who want a good cry, yet horrible for those who want to get in the holiday spirit.

Jingle Bells by Barking Dogs Just when you thought your ears were bleeding from the singing cats.

This one’s gonna make you rather be at the pound for music. Dogs of all vocal ranges join together to sing a cover of the well-known Christmas jingle, “Jingle Bells”. Bah, humbug.

Photo by Elaina Funk

Wool Sweaters Wool sweaters can keep you warm for the chilliest nights.

They provide extra comfort for when the seasons change, that other sweaters can’t supply.

They are excellent for keeping the warmth in when snow starts to form in the sky and frost the grass on the front lawn. Unfortunately, wool sweaters not the best for the windy weather that might accompany the chilly weather, as wool sweaters have holes that aren’t the best barrier against the frigid wind seeping through.

Photo by Elaina Funk

Crewneck Sweatshirts

Crewnecks are fantastic for the nights when the snow is falling and the wind is racing through the air. They are excellent insulators and won’t have wind seeping through, making them a brilliant sweater for going out into the cold, dark nights. They can be kept on all day, and can also have fun designs decorating the front or back of the crewneck. They aren’t too bulky for those days that are a tad bit warmer, yet can keep you warm for the most frigid days.

Photo by Elaina Funk

Cartoons by Terran Fox

Hanukkah Rocks by Gefilte Joe and The Fish Hanukkah sure does rock!

The song...not so much.

Gefilte Joe is a little old to be trying to sing rock and roll.

The first part of the song is mainly the chorus, “Hanukkah rocks!”, and then the rest of this song is mainly what Joe would like for Christmas in a jumbled sputter of raspy sounding words.

Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer Rap. . . by Doctor Elmo The original song, Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer, has a catchy tune to it. What’s more, just about everybody knows the chorus. However, the modified lyrics to this version is a bit uncomfortable; “Ho, ho! Grandma, girl, lying in the snow”. Not a positive way to think of dear old Granny.

I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas by Gayla Peevey Truth be told, this song is on the cute side. But come on...

Santa has to heave around enough weight on Christmas WITHOUT a hippo. “Don’t want a doll, no dinky tinker toy…” Very specific! But please, give the guy a break.

Silent Night by Jingle Cats Attention cat-lovers! Have you ever tried and failed at leading your own feline orchestra?

Well the holiday song of your dreams has arrived. As for everybody else. . .you might want to grab some earplugs.

A group of cats participate in spreading Christmas cheer by meowing in tune to “Silent Night”.

Christmas Eve by Justin Bieber “I don’t need no presents girl, you’re everything I need…” Try and think of every cheesiest pickup line you’ve ever heard and the most cliché things about Christmas. Put them together and you have a Christmas song by Justin Bieber.

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Arts & Entertainment

Best Music of 2013

by Brody Coronelli and Elaina Funk

Best Albums Arctic Monkeys: AM With AM, the British rockers have wired the indie airwaves with their newest collection of music; buzzed, sharp, and thrilling tracks cover dark and dangerous beats that could easily be the soundtrack to a memorable, or particularly regretful, midnight rendezvous. AM takes the band places they’ve never been before, making the US top ten for the first time since their 2007 release “Favourite Worst Nightmare.”

The Civil Wars: The Civil Wars Male/female alternative folk duo The Civil Wars debuted #1 on the Billboard 200 with their second, self titled record. Joy Williams’ and John Hall White’s vocals blend seamlessly as they continue the calm, acoustic framed sound

they captured on their 2011 release, Barton Hollow. An imaginative, innovative take on “Disarm,” a song by the revered rock group The Smashing Pumpkins, offers a refreshing, light take upon it’s original grunge rock driven construction. The Civil Wars from start to finish is pure bliss, the perfect soundtrack to the coming Winter.

Best Songs Shot At The Night, The Killers One of two new tracks accompanying the renowned, Vegas alternative band The Killers’ greatest hits release. This pleading nighttime anthem, Shot At The Night, was produced by the ambient/electronic group M83. Along with faded,

dreamlike production, the song draws onto The Killers’ romantic, noir, Springsteen-esque theme they’d taken on their recent full length Battle Born.

Shot At The Night is a fearless and smooth endeavor on the band’s part, especially memorable when looking back at the year.

Beautiful War, Kings Of Leon Kings Of Leon have been on the mainstream rock radar ever since “Use Somebody” and

“Sex on Fire” came out back in 2008.

Their 2013 release “Mechanical Bull” has only continued their streak of solidly constructed, robust records.

“Beautiful War”, amongst other fantastic tracks on the album, stands out as a riveting, nostalgic, five minute ballad -- A must hear.

Most Underrated Artist

Jillette Johnson Emerging underground singer-songwriter, Jillette Johnson, broke into the hearts of listeners with her debut record Water in a Whale. Blending tremendous vocals, contemporary influences, and wildly admirable songwriting, Jillette Johnson’s warm, piano and art driven alternative record showcases her as a brilliant and passionate musician who is highly underrated in the spectrum of the past year.

Best Comeback

memorable for the years to follow.

Justin Timberlake After taking a rest from the movie industry -- The only place we’ve seen Justin Timberlake as of late -- He released The 20/20 Experience early in the year, went on a massive summer arena tour with modern rap legend Jay-Z, and then proceeded to release The 20/20 Experience Part II all in the span of less than nine months.

The two albums span a landscape of pop music with influence from old school disco and jazz classics, turbulent, modern electronic production, and even vintage club beats.

Timberlake blew back onto the scene with a bang; likely to be quite

Photo by Dan Winters

Photo credit: photosbychrismartin.com

Best New Artist Nick Santino While he’s not at all new to the music scene, Nick Santino, former frontman of the recently disband-

ed group A Rocket To The Moon, has successfully launched a new, refined alt country persona as of the past three months under the name Nick Santino & The Northern Wind. In this period, he has already released two EP’s: Going Home, and The Ones You Meet Along The Way. With a knack for storytelling and the farther reaches of an acoustic guitar, Nick Santino has made a momentous and flawlessly quality debut into the latter part of 2013 -- Seamlessly blending into the momentous Arizona music scene.

January Horoscopes O

by Astrologist in residence Narcissa Luna

ne morning, I woke up with the ability to read all stars and constellations though I’ve never formally learned how to. These are just my predictions based off of what I feel from the stars, so although I may not be a pro, these are the readings that I’ve gotten from the stars.

Capricorn: (December 22-January 19):

This month you seem to be fixated on Halloween. There’s nothing wrong with a little holiday spirit, but Halloween passed about three months ago.

Celebrating it in the comfort of your own home is great, but I can’t imagine that your neighbors still want to see you in costume trick-or-treating.

Taurus: (April 20-May 20):

This may just be one of the best months you’ve had in a while, Taurus. Whether you get an A on that test you were so scared for, or the person in front of you in line pays for your coffee, there is absolutely nothing that will go wrong.

Enjoy it!

Virgo: (August 23-September 22):

This month is almost like a throwback month for you, Virgo. You’ll break out your old Dora the Explorer backpack and your Dragon Tales coloring book, or any other 90’s possessions you find in those old boxes sitting in your basement. Enjoy your blast from the past!

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Aquarius (January 20-February 18):

This month, Aquarius, you’ll be talking as if you’re a newscaster. You’ll be announcing everything you say whether it be about breaking news or asking a teacher to go to the bathroom. Make sure to come up with a catchy sign-off phrase!

Gemini: (May 21-June 20):

This month, your skin will seem to dry up quite a bit. Your hands are gonna be cracked, and your lips will be more chapped than ever before. Make sure to use lotion and chapstick throughout the month, because if you don’t use enough, there’s a good chance you could shrivel up to the size of a raisin.

Libra: (September 23 -October 22):

You’ll be feeling pretty crafty this month, Libra. Chances are you’ll be scrolling through Pinterest and find a ton of crafts you’ll want to try. This calls for a Pinterest day. Take a day out of your schedule to enjoy making all those foods and let your creativity flow.

Pisces: (February 19-March 20):

Whether it be because of requesting more hours at work or picking up some extra babysitting jobs, you’ll come across vast amounts of money this month. Lots of money can be pretty nice, but just make sure that you’re spending it wisely, because it won’t last forever.

Cancer: (June 21-July 22):

Maybe being color blind runs in your family, but this month you’ll see everything in black and white. You will experience the world differently than you ever have before. You can plug your ears and it will be as if you are watching one of those old silent films.

Scorpio: (October 23-Novem ber 21): Bee doo

bee doo. That’s minion talk for watch out. This month you’ll be talking like a minion. Your vocabulary will include words like bee, doo, and banana. Something like this shouldn’t last for more than a month, so try to surround yourself with other Scorpios.

Aries: (March 21-April 19):

Water will be your best friend in January. You may choose to drink it, swim in it, or hopefully bathe in it. It’s almost as if you’ve grown gills this month.

Take advantage of this opportunity because it isn’t going to last too long.

Leo: (July 23-August 22):

Skiing and snowboarding is a pretty big deal in Colorado.

Whether you’ve taken lessons all your life or never even heard the word ski, you’ll be a natural this month. You’ll be hitting the slopes every chance you get. Make sure to take advantage of this new skill, because snow doesn’t fall year round.

Sagittarius: (November 22-December 21): This month may be

a bit unlucky for you. There’s a pretty good chance that you’ll drop your phone and crack the screen. The best course of action is to stay away from black cats, salt, ladders, and cracks in the sidewalk. Be careful, Sagittarius.

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Sports

Cold Hard Balance

Skaters struggle to prioritize work over play

Madison Mahoney gracefully skates across the ice,practicing for the back camel spin for her upcoming Disney On Ice audition (Photo by Arika Rooney)

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by Arika Rooney leepovers, vacations, open-toed shoes, and late nights out are some of the many things Monarch seniors Madison Mahoney and Mae Grigsby have had to give up in order to pursue figure skating.

Both girls were influenced by watching skating on the winter olympics when they decided to take skating lessons. Mahoney decided to follow in her mother and grandmother’s’ footsteps and become a competitive skater.

“When I was younger I wanted some more things to fill up my Christmas list so I put down figure skating and figure skates just to fill the list.

But my mom took that literally and signed me up for lessons. The funny part about it was that I hated skated at the time. I hated being cold-- I

hated falling and hurting myself, and I hated the fact that my feet always hurt. But my mom wouldn’t let me quit because she spent so much money on my learn to skate lesson that I had to finished out my lessons before I could stop. But the funny part about it was by the time my lessons ended, I was the best skater in my learn to skate class and ended up falling in love with the sport because of my amazing coach and some amazing friends that I made along the way,” said Mahoney.

Both Mahoney and Grigsby practice at the Westminster Promenade and are part of the Rocky Mountain Figure Skating Club. Training, practicing, and skating take up over 18 hours a week. The cost, depending on coaches, competition dresses and skates, can vary from $7,000-

$10,000 a year.

“Skating is a huge time commitment. Whether it is before school, after school, or on the weekends, I am always at the rink. ” said Grigsby, who has been skating for almost 7 years. Grigsby has since then been awarded 2010 Southwestern Regional Silver Medalist, 2011 Southwestern Regional Champion, Field Moves Gold Medalist, Four-time Regional Competitor-- just to name a few. Grigsby plans to continue to coach and skate in college and plans to attend Gustavus Adolphus College in Minnesota.

Mahoney, who believes she would lose her valuable skating skills if she went to college right after high school because her practice time would be limited, has decided to audition

for Disney on Ice and possibly take a gap year.

“Disney on Ice is essentially Broadway for figure skaters. To be on Disney on Ice would mean that you made it to the big leagues of professional figure skating. It would mean so much to be able to travel the world with a group of people who enjoy something as much as I do. It will open up new doors to more show opportunity’s and it will give me the chance to explore the world before I start my life,” said Mahoney.

Through her 11 years of skating Mahoney has won the 2013 Southwestern Regional Championship and the Cindy Sullivan award, the highest leadership award given through her club, which was given to her for her outstanding leadership and ability to overcome two foot surgeries and a concussion.

Both have had to give up certain aspects of being a teenager. Mahoney can’t wear open toed shoes or flip-flops in order to avoid feet injuries.

They have both had to overcome multiple concussions and feet and knee injuries.They can’t take long vacations or breaks because it would mean too much time off from practice. Skating practices are either before or after school and to make up for travel time they cannot take as many classes and have had to make up some credits online. Early practices on weekends mean having to skip staying out late with friends. Despite every sacrifice both agree that through skating they have gained life applicable knowledge.

“Skating has taught me more about life than anything. It has taught me how to be patient. Patience is huge in skating, you have to be patient when you are learning a new skill and you have to be patient to get the right timing for a jump.

This has carried over to the real world because you have to be patient when driving, you have to be patient when learning something new in school and you have to be patient when dealing with friends and drama in life. Also, skating has taught me how to never give up and keep pushing myself until I get what I came there for.

Also it has taught me how to be carry myself with pride and to have confidence. All of those attributes can be carried over into everyday life, in the big things and in the little things as well.

Skating teaches people how to fall seven times and stand up eight. It has also taught me how to deal with pressure, and how to commit myself.

Skating has taught me dedication and passion,” said Mahoney.

Double the trouble

Kate Yeash finds a balance between Ultimate Frisbee and Theatre

by Ellie Oliver The roar of clapping hands and shouts of excitement fill the air. For junior Kate Yeash, these satisfying sounds are just part of her daily routine. From running down the muddy field chasing after a disc to leaping across the stage to be in the correct spot when ‘places’ is called, Yeash is ready to do it all.

“I am in theatre and I also play ultimate fris-

bee,” said Yeash. “[Frisbee] ended this weekend with our state tournament.” Yeash explains that Ultimate Frisbee season started a month into school and recently ended the weekend of November 8. She also went on to say that theatre goes on all the time.

“For One Acts, rehearsals were everyday except for Friday after school. I went straight from One Acts to Ultimate Frisbee. I had a tendency to put theatre first but I tried to go to both as

much as I could,” Yeash said. “My coaches were upset a little bit. When the play started, I started missing entire practices for frisbee.”

One of Yeash’s strengths is memorizing lines.

She’s had a love for theatre since she was little with a knack for sports on the side. “I just started Frisbee this year and theatre has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember,” Yeash explained. It was hard for Yeash to do both and keep up with school at the same time.

“Memorizing lines for theatre I’m actually pretty good at so I did that pretty fast. I don’t study much but I try my best. AP Lang and Advanced Pre Calc are super hard so I fell behind a little bit but I’m all caught up now,” said Yeash.

From one activity to the next, Yeash balances it all by trying her best and playing to her strengths. “Overall, it is sometimes very challenging to be a part of so many things, but in the end it’s always worth it.”

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Get Your Head In The Game?

The serious effects of sports concussions

it is a good idea to take a baseline test. The test assess basic concentration, memory and thought processing. This way if they happen to receive a concussion their doctor is able to fully assess the damage and determine when the brain has healed and returned to normal thought processing.

“It was really unfortunate having a concussion mid way through my senior year. I had to sit out two weeks right in the middle of the season. I wasn’t able to focus in school or focus in general for the first few days I had it. Hopefully I never get one again,” said Greiser.

In Greiser’s case, after the tackle he “slammed the back he dull crunch of of [his] helmet on the a helmet smashing ground.” There was into the cold hard enough force to jar grass, Coach Bravo’s voice his brain and cause calling out the next play to the concussion. run through, sweaty boys Concussions are running back into position. very common among The perfect setting for a student athletes. concussion. The defensive According to the tackle staggers to his feet, Center for Disease head spinning, eyes waterControl and Prevening, concussion obtained. tion, student athletes Sitting in class, looking ages 16 to 19 sustain at the jumble of letters on The impact a concussion has on the brain. (Source: 29% of all sports the board, senior Bradley US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, WebMD, Dr. Michael Terry Graphic: Chicago Tribune) related concussions.

Greiser attempted to take This high percentage notes but struggled as concan be due to the fact that student athletes are centration evaded him. playing contact sports at very competitive levels.

Greiser took a hard hit while at football pracThe high amount of collisions in these contact tice one day which resulted in a concussion. He sports, including soccer, basketball, and football, quickly found out just how detrimental concusprovide ample opportunity to bang some heads sions can be. “For the first couple of days I was around. A concussion alters the way the brain not really able to focus in class and it hurt my functions and can result in problems with head to try to focus on the board. Then when I concentration, memory, judgement, balance and tried to do my homework I couldn’t because I coordination. This proves to be a big problem didn’t focus that day in school,” said Greiser for student athletes because just as Greiser When it comes to athletic injuries, many experienced, trying to focus and learn in school students don’t understand what concussions can be near impossible. It will usually take one to actually are and just how much damage they can cause. A concussion is a mild form of a traumat- two weeks for students to fully recover and and regain concentration abilities. ic brain injury. It can be caused by a blow or hit A concussion can be very hard to diagnose to the head as well as a fall or blow to the body due to the fact that it is not visible from the outthat jars the brain inside the head. The jarring of side. While there are a wide range of common the head causes the brain to hit symptoms, symptoms are frequently unique to against the skull and damage the brain.

each individual. Due to this fact many athletes receive concussions that go undiagnosed. This can be dangerous because the only way for a concussion to heal is through rest. Many athletes with undiagnosed concussions will not provide the brain with the extensive rest it needs, causing the effects of the concussion to last longer. The good news is that because a concussion is only a mild traumatic brain injury, most will heal fully within seven to ten days, with proper rest. But this is not always the case and some patients will have symptoms for up to several months.

Symptoms that last for several months or longer are usually caused by multiple concussions which magnify problems.

Concussions can be a big deal, especially for student athletes who have to deal with school and the impossibility of concentrating as well as the slew of other symptoms that come with a traumatic brain injury. Many schools have begun to adopt new ways of preventing and helping treat concussions. Here at Monarch concussions are taken very seriously. The head football coach, Phil Bravo explains that “As soon as we detect a concussion we send them to our trainer.” Trainer Jessica Erikson uses a gradual recovery program to help athletes recover from concussions. This program slowly introduces athletes back into their sport, making sure they are fully healed first. Greiser explained that the program “goes from 24 hours of symptom free, then stationary bike or constant walk for 20 minutes, then sprint workouts for 30 minutes, then helmet only practice, then full contact practice being supervised, then full return to play.” This is a great way to allow an athlete to safely return to play. For athletes who haven’t had a concussion

Uncharted Waters Monarch football is headed for

adjust.”

The Coyotes have done well in 4A competition, again making it to the playoffs for a chance to make it back to Mile High Stadium to play for it all. It has been a while since Monarch football has struggled with the competition, and sophomore Zack Berohn believes, “we know a lot of the teams and we know how they play so we’re able to prepare for them well.” They’ve done something right. Success has been apart of the culture for Coach Phil Bravo and his coaching staff for a long time.

5A competition will pose some undoubted problems, however. “We’re going to be a little smaller as a team compared to everyone else in 5A,” said junior Philip Bubernak. In football, size does matter. When people think size, they always believe if you’re bigger, you’re automatically better.

Bubernak countered that argument Senior Linebacker Peter Mitchell awaits the signal to run out on to when he said, “we’re still going to be the field before Monarch’s quarterfinal game against Loveland High fast and I still think we’re going to be School. This season will be Monarch’s last in the 4A classification as good.” Heart and determination also they will be moving to 5A beginning next year.

(Photo by David Andrews) matter, and size sometimes makes no difference when an unstoppable force through the duration of high school is something meets an immovable object. that must happen if teams want to be successful It’ll be an exciting season for the students long term. It just comes with playing, and it’s in and fans. With games like Fairview and Pomona the heart of every player everywhere. on the schedule, anything is bound to happen.

Bubernak said, “We have a tradition. We use “Coach Bravo’s system stays at a solid level every the same things and build on them each year.” year, we grew in it and have played in it since we were eight or nine,” said Soole.

Growing up in a system and sticking with it

by Emma Gooding-Lord

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larger scale league

by Tyler DeBord

F

or the past few years, Monarch football has excelled under head coach Phil Bravo.

The Coyotes won the state championship just a year ago in a thriller against Denver South at Mile High Stadium. However, things are about to change for Monarch football. As of next year, the football program will join the rest of the teams at Monarch, moving to from 5A to 4A. Many challenges face the Coyotes in the move, but if their winning ways continue, they have little to worry about.

Monarch will be headed to the Front Range League, where they will play teams like Fairview, Fossil Ridge, Horizon, Legacy, Mountain Range, Poudre, and Rocky Mountain. The requirement to move into 5A football is to have 1,610 or more students. Monarch currently has 1,624 students. Athletic director Lani Nobles said, “It gives people another opportunity to be in a successful 5A program.”

In a 5A schedule, “we’ll only have nine regular season games instead of ten,” said Nobles.

She added, “The tenth game will be considered a playoff game.”

By moving from 4A to 5A, Monarch will be facing a huge challenge of competing on not

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only the field, but competing for the number of students. “We’ll be the smallest team in our league (student wise), which makes a huge difference.”

Here are the numbers of students by schools Monarch will be joining in the 5A Front Range League: Fairview: 2,200, Fossil Ridge: 2,100, Horizon: 1,900, Legacy: 2,200, Mountain Range: 2,000, Poudre: 1,800, Rocky Mountain: 2,000, and Monarch: 1,600. There is a huge difference between Monarch and rivaling schools, which worries Nobles. “It makes a huge difference when it comes to depth charts and getting down to the number of students at each school.”

However, Nobles has faith that head coach Phil Bravo and company will persevere.

Players have the same view on the situation.

There is relatively no worry when talking with players about the move from 4A to 5A football.

There is even a little sense of urgency in their attitudes as the move comes into effect.

“We’re really excited to play Fairview and teams like that, but we know we’ll have a tough time with Valor and bigger schools like that,” said junior running back Logan Soole.

Monarch will now play Fairview on a yearly basis, fighting for a league championship. Soole added, “It’ll be a tough first year but I think we’ll

Common Effects of a Concussion: Mental Not thinking clearly Feeling slowed down Not being able to concentrate Not being able to remember new information Physical Headache Fuzzy or blurry vision Nausea and vomiting Dizziness Sensitivity to light or noise Balance problems Feeling tired or having no energy Emotional Sad Easily upset or angered Nervous or anxious More emotional Sleep Sleeping more than usual Sleeping less than usual Having a hard time falling asleep

Sports

Off the playground The world of competitive jumprope

Tucker Van Leuwen-Hall does a frog, which is similar to a handstand, while in an umbrella. An umbrella is a way that the jumpropers turn the rope. (Photo credit Daisy Fuchs)

by Daisy Fuchs

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oud music pumps from speakers, a fast beat pulsing through the warehouse turned gym. Kids of all ages and some adults do lunges around the perimeter of the gym’s hardwood floor. Every single person in the room is outstandingly fit and strong. Once they have finished with their workout, they talk a little bit about the numerous upcoming events

Cole Toothaker and Sophie Lattes practice a jump rope trick called “Two people, one rope” at a Mad Hops practice at their new gym on November 13th. (Photo by Daisy Fuchs)

and performances they have coming up. Then they go to the ropes; these aren’t your standard athletes, these are jumpropers.

Some work in a group, using two heavy beaded ropes simultaneously, being spun by four different people while another jumps in the middle. Every so often the jumper launches onto his hands, doing something that the jumpers refer to as “a frog”. On the opposite side of the gym, younger kids are using the rope in equally impressive ways for their given sizes. They jump with one rope for two people, cross the rope around with their arms, switch around their feet, all while staying in time with each other and the music.

Sarah Fowle, a sophomore, said,“It’s not just the little kid skipping and doing her ‘Little Sally Walker’.” Fowle is a member of the competitive jump rope team, Mad Hops, which is based out of Louisville.

Competitive jump rope is a sport of its own with multiple categories, like gymnastics. A jumper can compete in speed jumping, how fast they can go in a given amount of time; double or triple unders, where the rope goes under their feet more than once per jump and they try to get as many jumps as possible in a given amount of time; or freestyle, where the jumper can invent their own routine to music.

“It’s a lot harder than you would think it would be. People are doing flips, gymnastics, front handsprings, back handsprings, triple unders, four times under, five times under your feet; crazy things,” said Fowle.

With so many events to chose from, each jumper gets a variety in their training and competition. Fowle said, “I like it all, but my favorite is the speed and the triples because I can show off my strength and my agility.”

Molly Metz, who coaches the Mad Hops

team, said, “The athlete in jump rope has to be very well rounded; you must be creative and bouncy and music based; and also very fast and powerful.”

The Mad Hops team has to do more than just simply jump rope for training. They also do plyometrics, core exercises, and gymnastics. The variety of events requires each participant to have both agility and endurance.

The jumpers are highly dedicated to what they do“Now that we have our own gym, some of us will spend Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday there. So, eight hours a week,” said Fowle.

All of this strength and skill is necessary to be able to compete at as high of a level as Mad Hops does. In the 2012 USA National Jump Rope Competition, the Mad Hops team took first in speed and power and second in freestyle out of about 135 teams. In 2014, Metz and some of the other coaches will be traveling to Hong Kong to compete in the World Jump Rope Championship. Jump rope competitions can be best compared to a gymnastics competition Metz said.

Senior Emily Gross said, “You put so much hard work into it, then you have one time to show it and move onto the next competition, and it’s competitive.”

Along with competitions, the team also puts on jump rope shows for different events. They will perform at schools, fairs, CU basketball halftimes, and in February, they are performing at a Nuggets halftime show.

Jump roping is more than just a sport for the Mad Hop team. From a young age kids are taught important life lessons, such as teamwork.

Fowle said, “[Jump rope has] evolved into a thing where you’re not just yourself.” When jumping, Fowle and her teammates must be able to act and jump as a single unit in order to

Sarah Fowle practices her jump rope routine at the Louisville Rec Center. Competitive jump ropers, like Fowle, have to design their own freestyle routine in which they are able to incorporate many different elements and tricks. (Photo credit Daisy Fuchs)

achieve success.

“Jump roping has taught me a lot more than jump roping as physical fitness,” said Gross. She said that she had learned things such as how to work hard, persevere, and follow her dreams.

Tucker Van Leuwen-Hall practices with a speed rope. Speed rope is practiced to help with agility and focus. (Photo credit

Daisy Fuchs)

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