Fairview High School 1515 Greenbriar Blvd. Vol. 57 No. 1 November 2016
PHOTO OF SOPHOMORE PATRICK HILLMEYER BY CORMAC DOWLING AND NOAH FINER
THE ROYAL BANNER 16-17 STAFF EDITORS-IN-CHIEF Laura Brack Ben Gelderloos Sara McCrea
SECTION EDITORS Student News Grace Hedlund Opinions Cameron Walsh Entertainment Arvand Aidun, Ryan Swerdlin Sports Sage Rose Humor Noah Finer Social Media Molly Box Photo Editor Cormac Dowling Webmaster Nate Bilbrey Copy Editor Chloe Cope
STAFF REPORTERS Anya Aidun, Arshan Aidun, Avery Monette, Carter Hanson, David Hirschhorn, Kate Martin, Emma O’Leary, Patrick Stachniak, Denny Stong, Kyra Walsh
BUSINESS Adviser Sarah M. Zerwin For Subscriptions: Send $25 to Royal Banner, Fairview High School, Room 339, 1515 Greenbriar Blvd, Boulder, CO 80305, or contact us at adviser@fhsroyalbanner.com
ABOUT THE BANNER The Royal Banner is an 16-page news magazine. The Banner is written primarily for the over 2000 students attending Fairview High School and is distributed free of charge to all members of the school community. Accurate reporting of fact is the goal of the staff. Commentaries, opinion columns and letters to the editor are the expressed opinion of the author and not of The
Royal Banner and its Editorial Board or its adviser. *Disclaimer: Under Colorado law, no expression made by students in the exercise of free speech or freedom of the press shall be deemed to be an expression of school policy. No school district, employee, legal guardian or official of such a district shall be held liable in any criminal action for any expression made or published by a student. The Royal Banner sells advertisements for publicity and to pay for printing costs. We reserve the right to refuse to run any advertisement deemed inappropriate to the Fairview community.
NOVEMBER 2ND, 2016
TABLE OF CONTENTS
3 INTROthe election issue 4 WITH HERthe eics endorse hillary clinton 5 YOUR VOTE COUNTS voting matters 6 TEACHERSto rant or not to rant 8 KAEPERNICKthe nationwide kneel 10 #BLMblack lives matter 12 SOUND BITESthis election is... 13 CUT IT OUTspot the difference 14 THIRD PARTYa supreme decision 15 GOOD KNIGHTfeatured photo 16 ADVERTISING
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THIS IS THE ELECTION ISSUE Yes, every election can draw exasperation from both the Democratic and the Republican parties, but this one in particular is undeniably different. Though the majority of the Fairview student body is not old enough to vote, many issues in this election concern us. While we understand that Fairview is not known for its political diversity, we want to highlight controversial political issues that are relevant in the lives of students during this politically tense time. For The Election Issue, we decided to explore how this election has impacted Fairview students and our school’s atmosphere. Laura Brack, Ben Gelderloos, and Sara McCrea, Royal Banner Co-Editors-in-Chief
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Photo by Cormac Dowling
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HRC The Royal Banner Editors-in-Chief
Endorse Hillary Clinton Dear FHS community and Royal Banner readers,
This is an outrageous election. Therefore, we have decided to do something rather abnormal for a student publication. The Royal Banner values inclusivity and respect to everyone in the Fairview community. Hence, we endorse Hillary Clinton for President. This does not mean that everyone on the Royal Banner staff agrees with this endorsement, or that because this issue centers around the election the only perspectives that have been represented are left-leaning. We want to make a clear distinction that this publication believes students have a right to share their opinions, and that our choice to endorse is not something that we take lightly. However, seeing an election which many have called “insane,” “chaotic,” and “terrifying,” we feel the need to take action and strongly warn the Fairview community that Donald Trump is extremely unfit to be president. The policies and ideals that Republican Nominee Donald Trump represents are not ideals that the Fairview community holds. His blatantly hateful and discriminatory speech targets minority groups with such ferocity that, if students were to repeat some of his rhetoric, their words and actions would be taken as no less than hate-crimes. Trump’s disgusting comments that he has pushed off as “locker room talk” would be unacceptable if spoken in a high school locker room. His path to this point in the presidential race seemed highly improbable merely a year ago, but as he has climbed closer to the Oval Office it is clear that his outrageous beliefs are no longer humorous. In a “regular” election, disagreements between students with different affiliations are expected. In this election, it has become a question of what we can do to keep our student body safe when a candidate’s outright racism, sexism, homophobia and hate might trickle into classrooms. We fear for the future of a safe educational enviroment if Donald Trump became president. Hillary Clinton, with her vast devotion to public service, determination and dependability is the best choice in this presidential election. Not only is Hillary Clinton a capable and worthy choice for the presidential position, she is the only choice if we want to promote acceptance and kindness as a student body and as a country. Sincerely, Laura Brack, Ben Gelderloos, and Sara McCrea, 2016 Royal Banner Co-Editors-in-Chief
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Voting Matters.
By Molly Box @mollyboxfhsroyalbanner
Next Tuesday, citizens of the United States including some of our own seniors
will flock to the polls to conclude this year’s bizarre election season. The people will bring a much needed end to the vacuous rumors, the unprofessional debates, sexist remarks, lies, and the unendingly dramatized campaign ad by placing their vote on which one of our two candidates will be our next President of the United States. Though only a small part of our Fairview population is eligible to vote, whoever is elected will dictate not only their next four years as college students, but the next four years for all of us too. During election season, division breaks out between those who stand behind Candidate A, and those support Candidate B. This election however, especially in our community, another party has become prominent. This party consists of those of us who are unsure; the Giant Meteor 2016 supporters. The only solution, the only thing seemingly possible for this group is to just not vote, to stay out of it. Personally, if I was eighteen I too would be involved in this noncommittal political party. I too feel I don’t know enough about either candidate or their policies to pick a side. Afterall, a large majority of the knowledge we receive about the election is based on rumor, buzzfeed quizzes, and memes. I don’t agree with either candidate enough to purchase a Make America Great Again baseball hat or an I’m With Her bumper sticker. But what I do know is that the most critical thing any of us who are above eighteen can do right now is vote. The most harmful and abhorrent thing we can do for our futures is let our votes go to waste. According to Statistic Brain, the smallest percentage of voters is those ages eigh-
teen to twenty four. This has to change. We are the future of this country, in a few years the power will no longer be in our parents’ hands. We will be in charge. Why would you let someone else decide your future for you? There is a common misconception that often whoever is the president doesn’t have a huge impact on our individual lives, after all us high schoolers don’t pay taxes or handle mortgages. But it is exactly that, a misconception. For the majority of Fairview graduates, college is in our near future. This future of ours could be either greatly improved or construed by whoever is office. It’s important that we know their policies, so we can form our own opinions of who will benefit us most. One of Trump’s main ideas on education is that no federal government should profit from student loans, as one of Clinton’s ideas is that education should be available and affordable to all students from every zip code. These next four years, whoever is in office will affect the rest of your life. Don’t let anyone else decide who that is going to be except for you. So yes, a giant meteor may seemingly be our only solution right now, but do something about it. If you don’t want Clinton or Trump to be in office for your next four years, there are other options. Gary Johnson, the libertarian candidate, and Jill Stein, the Green Party candidate, are both on the ballot too. Just because they are not the focus of the media right now, doesn’t mean they don’t exist. I strongly advise you who can, in honor of us who can’t, vote this election.
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Are you eligible to register to vote? ћћ Are you 16 or older? ћћ Are you a US citizen? ћћ Do you have a driver’s licence, learner’s permit, state ID or the last four digits of your Social Security number? If you checked all of those boxes, congratulations! You can register to vote. Colorado doesn’t have a registration deadline, so if you’re 18, you can vote on November 8th.
TO RANT OR NOT TO RANT: Should Teachers Talk Politics?
By: By Anya Aidun During this election season, teachers must balance their expression of political opinions in the classroom in relation to Dristrict Policy. The BVSD guidelines clearly state that teachers are not permitted to express their political opinions in the classroom, however teachers are also responsible for exploring both sides of politically controversial arguments within their curriculum. “A social studies classroom is a microcosm of society and so we want to promote dialogue,” said social studies teacher Amy Paa-Rogers. “Promoting dialogue is important in making sure everybody has an opportunity to have their voice heard.” However, some teachers are communi-
cating their political views within the lines of BVSD policy. Teachers are functioning as mediators between the two sides of an
“A social studies classroom is a microcosm of society and so we want to promote dialogue.” argument. They help students determine their opinions and beliefs on controversial topic, rather than overly influencing bias onto students. “One of the things that I teach is that all history and all historians are biased, so I don’t feel like I can stand in front of the room and say,‘I am the one objective person in all of history and so everything that I can say is perfectly balanced,’” said history teacher Scott Peoples. “I do strive for objectivity, but it is just that I know that it is an impossible thing to provide.” This issue is not only confined to social studies classes. In English and debate teacher Angela Hunt’s classroom, political
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tensions are prominent. Given the political election, it is even harder for all teachers to keep their beliefs inside during school hours. “The debate class tends to be very politically minded, just in terms of the students that are in it,” said Hunt. “Definitely as a debate teacher, it is crazy, crazy hard.” It can be difficult to confine this type of opinion within the classroom, and this consequently has an effect on the students. This evokes how the environment of the classrooms affects the student’s freedom of speech and how teachers are playing a role within that. “The political opinions of teachers greatly influence how we as students learn in the classroom. It also influences our thoughts and feelings towards our government,” said freshman Drew Kendall. This perspective expresses the point of view from a student, but teachers respond by trying to create an equal playing field within the classroom. “I try very hard to take a balanced approach and identify liberal opinions and conservative opinions. I feel that my job as a teacher is to give kids the opportunity to come up with their own opinions. That means that I want them to hear the whole picture and then come up with their opinion,” said Paa-Rogers. If the teachers are staying within the bounds of the BVSD guidelines, there are certain benefits to teachers sharing their political opinions as an additional insight into certain topics. Expressing the theme that everything anyone says has to be thought through is one of the many valuable lessons that teachers can teach young
students trying to figure out what they believe in. “I tell my students [what] my political opinions are, and so you have to take everything I say with a grain of salt. I try to create an environment where people are comfortable expressing their opinions whether they agree with me or not,” said Peoples. This also opens up the discussion for students to explore credible sources and what side they take on current events and political issues, as well explaining the reasons behind their decision. In short it teaches students to stand up for what they believe in and taking full responsibility of their opinions. However, there are also potentially negative effects when a teacher is too open and direct with his or her political opinions within the classroom.
“The lack of identity and the abundance of conformity are the biggest consequences that could result from teachers overly exerting their opinions onto students.” The respect for opposing views could be jeopardised, especially if a student has a minority view or is easily influenced by teachers’ opinions. The lack of identity and the abundance of conformity are the biggest consequences that could result from teachers overly exerting their opinions onto students. The policy keeps teachers from coming to conclusions for students.
“Students should be able to choose their own path, and their own beliefs, and their own thought system without having to be influenced by a teacher.”
teacher,” said Drew Kendall. As a youth population, speaking out
“I am much more interested in the fight than in the victory or in the defeat. I am much more interested in the process and in the conversation along the way.”
Peoples said that he does not care what the student’s opinion is as long as they think about it. He may add in his own personal opinion at times, but only as an example to further the depth of the discussion. “I am much more interested in the fight than in the victory or in the defeat,” said Peoples. “I am much more interested in the process and in the conversation along the way.”
against the topics that will directly affect the future is a crucial rite of passage into adulthood and a key part of one’s identity. “I do try to respect the policies of the district because they are there, in a way, to keep teachers safe. Because you never know the political ideologies of the student’s parents in your class. And I think a lot of times kids reflect what they hear at home,” said Hunt.
The Boulder Valley School District Policy For Teaching Controversial Issues States: “The effectiveness of the educational program in achieving the objectives set forth in this policy statement is primarily dependent upon the classroom teachers. In this regard, specific responsibilities of the teacher are:” • “To determine the appropriateness of the issue with respect to the curriculum, course objectives, and the knowledge, maturity, and ability of the students.” • “To be sensitive to feelings in the community and judicious in treatment of the controversial issue.” • “To maintain an active concern for the rights and feelings of individuals, including the right to privacy.” • “To label his or her opinion as such when it is expressed as a personal point of view.”
“Students should be able to choose their own path, and their own beliefs, and their own thought system without having to be influenced by a 7/16
The Nationwide Kneel
By Avery Monette and David Hirschhorn
Colin Kaepernick, a popular backup NFL quarterback for the San Francisco 49ers, has created an uproar in our nation by kneeling in peaceful protest for our country’s national anthem on one of the largest public platforms, national TV. Colin Kaepernick questions our country’s racial relations. Kaepernick said in an interview with NFL Media “I am not going to stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses black people and people of color,” Kaepernick has called out both presidential candidates, Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump, saying that neither candidate is doing enough to change the way our country oppresses people of color. “Both are proven liars and it almost seems like they’re trying to debate who is less racist,” Kaepernick said to the Associated Press after the first Presidential Debate. You have to pick the lesser of the two evils, but in the end, it is still evil.” Many people around the country have reacted negatively towards Kaepernick’s protest. People have done anything from burning his jersey to calling him a traitor to our nation, and a majority of these people are not genuine football fans.
But because of social media and word of mouth, this issue has grown into a much larger dilemma than anticipated. At Fairview, social media has a strong impact on student beliefs and many students have strong opinions on the Kaepernick dilemma. “I wouldn’t take it to the extreme of sitting during the national anthem. He has definitely made people see what really is going on and that is great” says Sophomore Arturo Rios, “ It would’ve been better if he didn’t bring so much bad attention to it. If he did it another way it would be a lot better.” Although Kaepernick’s protest has caught a lot of people’s attention, he did it in a way that upset people all around the the country as well as here at Fairview. “I think it’s disrespectful to the military serving our country, but his message is very clear that the police oppress black people in our country. He just needs to find a different way to do it so that doesn’t disrespect our military,” said senior Wyeth Catlin. While the Kaepernick debate is nationwide, a similar matter presents itself at Fairview. Generations of students at Fair8/16
view have decided to sit during the Pledge of Allegiance at the beginning of school. Some of the students not standing are lazy or tired, but there are students who sit because they don’t believe in what the United States of America stands for. “We aren’t a nation under one God and there isn’t liberty and justice for all,” said Senior Emma Kolbrener. “People of color are incarcerated at much higher rates than white people. I recognize that not standing for the pledge doesn’t accomplish much but as a white woman I know I can influence the issue in significantly more ways.” Whether you stand for the pledge or not, everyone believes that the change starts with acceptance and justice for every American. “Recently in the public eye, celebrities and sports figures have not been standing for the national anthem because of racial injustice,” said Junior Avery Young. “At Fairview, I think people don’t stand for the pledge for a number of reasons. I personally do not stand for the pledge not because I don’t respect my country, but because I think we are not a nation specifically under God. We are united by many colors, religions and overall cultures.”
Cole Reaves, Cole Cahill-Miller, and Ethan Villarreal rise for the Pledge of Allegiance Photo by Cormac Dowling
Want to participate in the conversation? Write a letter to the editor on you opinion about this subject or others and submit it at fhsroyalbanner.com
Jade Groobman, Senior “BLM is not about hating the police or wanting revenge; it is about shedding light on the institutionalized racism...”
A
:The Black Lives Matter Movement Should be Supported
POINT
s Desmond Tutu once said, “if you are neutral in situations of injustice, you have chosen the side of the oppressor.” I support the Black Lives Matter movement because I do not wish to stand idly by and watch as innocent African American citizens are murdered because the color of their skin labels them as “suspicious.” It is 2016 and systematic racism and prejudice are still alive and well, and it is no longer acceptable to look away from the injustice. This country is founded on the idea that all people are equal, yet police brutality against black men and women suggests otherwise. Opponents to the movement make the argument that more white people are killed each year, and while this may be true, it is important to look at proportions and not just raw numbers. According to websites FiveThirtyEight and Mapping Police Violence, 41% of all unarmed people killed by the police over the past two years were African American, even though they only make up 14% of the entire population. According to a study done by The Washington Post earlier this year, unarmed black citizens are five times more likely to be shot and killed by the police than a white person. I support this movement because it is built with the intention to connect black citizens and allies and fight for equality. BLM is not about hating the police or wanting revenge; it is about shedding light on the institutionalized racism that still exists within our culture. If you don’t fully support the movement, you should at least fully support BLM’s belief that everyone deserves fundamental rights.
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41% 14%
In the past months, issues regarding institutionalized racism and the use of lethal force by police officers have created controversy across the nation as well as in the halls of Fairview. These are two student perspectives with differing viewpoints on the organization Black Lives Matter. Both have taken passion into their argument and wanted to share their opinion with the rest of the student body. Their discussion on this topic began on September 22nd following a Facebook post by Jade Groobman on the topic. The post generated 74 comments and replies that contained thorough debate about racism in today’s society. This argument continued for multiple days online and in classes and remains pertanent with the election coming.
COUNTERPOINT
A
By Ben Gelderloos
:Black Lives Matter Is Not The Correct Response
bout three weeks ago I was kindly informed that I support institutionalized racism if I do not support the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement. My response was to vigorously argue against this statement. How could I, someone who has always valued equality under the law, be labeled a racist? I found the whole statement absolutely ridiculous, so I defended my beliefs. BLM is a destructive organization. While many claim that BLM advocates for the black community by peacefully protesting, this is not the case. The peaceful protests in places like Charlotte and Ferguson (among others cities) have turned into looting and rioting on many occasions. Sure, this physical damage is destructive to the local business owners, but what’s even worse is the rhetoric that is promoted at these gatherings. Whether it be a tweet or a video documenting anti-white, anti-police rhetoric, it is irrefutable that racism and anti-police sentiment is being perpetuated. So what? Why is this anti-police sentiment bad? It is bad because the police are not the cause of the problem and breeding mistrust of the police will only increase violent crime, the most prominent cause of death in African-American communities. Sure there may be a proportionally higher incidence of police shootings involving an African-American victim than a white victim. I won’t contest facts. What I will contest is why this is occurring. While many people claim it is racism that is the cause of these higher numbers, they fail to look at context. Violent crime is proportionally committed more by people of color than white people, consult Chicago police reports (among other large cities). Why is this happening? Because of the concentrated centers of poverty that exist in black, inner city communities. This pairing of race and poverty is not inherent, rather in many cases a result of Democratic housing developments (with good intentions, but failed effects such as the enactment of late 1960’s civil rights housing bills). Instead of pointing the finger --in many cases the middle one-at the police, people should be looking at ways to effectively empower the African-American community.
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Harrison Pearl, Senior “While many people claim it is racism that is the cause of these higher numbers, they fail to look at context.”
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by Noah Finer and Carter Hanson @rbnoahfiner and @rbcarterhanson
Can you spot the 10 differences between the two photos of the candidates selling food at the IB store?
See the answers at fhsroyalbanner.com
Check out Trump and Hillary’s full adventure around Fairview!
13/16
A Supreme Decision
The Rationality of Vermin Supreme for President 2016
By Carter Hanson For many Americans, this election has been a traumatic experience that has reduced the average citizen to tears numerous times. Many feel that neither Donald Trump or Hillary Clinton are the best people to be president. Luckily for the masses, there is an alternative: self-described “friendly fascist,” Vermin Supreme. In this election, where anything can happen, Supreme is not a far fetched choice. Though his policies may seem anti-productive, at least he has policies. His decisive nature could help lead this country through the next four years without regret. “[Supreme] is, like, this weird guy. [He] has a boot on his head. [He] ran for president in, like, New Hampshire or something,” said sophomore Andrew Swanback.
“Sure, anarchy, why not?”
Supreme also appears carrying a giant toothbrush to show his support for his proposed law requiring all people to brush their teeth. “For too long this country has been suffering a great moral and oral decay in spirit and incisors,” said Supreme in an interview with Time Magazine. This teeth brushing campaign would not only be beneficial nation-wide, but also here at Fairview, as bad breath is a very real problem for teenagers. At the Libertarian Convention, Supreme proposed that all Americans get a free, government-distributed pony. “When we have ponies, my friends, we are going to have a beautiful time,” said Supreme to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation in January.
Additionally, Supreme has talked about how the distribution of ponies would resolve the current energy crisis and end the usage of fossil fuels. In the event of pony distribution, the purpose of cars would practically be eliminated, as people would instead ride their ponies. Ideas such as Supreme’s could resolve problems here at FHS. With ponies instead of cars, the traffic situation that plagues the parking lot in front of Fairview would be ended. Ponies are much more maneuverable than cars and would also be parked more efficiently. Though some people do not think that his policies would actually work, Supreme has had some victories. One such instance was his fourth place victory in the New Hampshire primary, where he defeated actual candidates Jim Gilmore, Bobby Jindal and Rick Santorum. This shows that Supreme has a chance, however small, and the average supporter should not be afraid of throwing their support for him. Support for the candidate is not limited to just New Hampshire. Supreme supporters are also present here at Fairview High School. “Sure, anarchy, why not?” said Swanback. Vermin Supreme could very well become president one day, as his policies inspire and provoke action among the common American citizen. Supreme has proved his resilience in the political battlefield by showing his decisiveness on many important issues. When regarding the current health crisis that is ripping its way through our country, he
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proposed mandatory toothbrushing policies that would defeat anything that could come in its way. When he faced the energy crisis, he swiftly proposed a pony policy that would instantly fix the problem. For these reasons and others, I have chosen Vermin Supreme as the most ideal candidate, and I will devote everything I have to supporting him.
Ve r m i n Supre m e pictured in 2011 P h o t o Courtesy of Wikimedia Com-
FEATURED PHOTO By Cormac Dowling
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PHOTO CONTEST Hey photographers! Do you think that you can capture the spirit of Fairview in one photo? If the answer is yes, tag your photos #rbfeaturedphoto on Instagram for a chance for your photos to be featured online or in an issue.
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