October 26, 2012

The fhsroyalbanner.com

Friday, October 26, 2012 Vol. 53 No. II

Fairview High School 1515 Greenbriar Blvd.

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Table of Contents

The Halloween Edition

Te en Su an bs d tan Ab c us e U e se

news

according to the polls 4

a libertarian, a republican, and a democrat 5 fairview students engaging in politics

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POLITICAL

ALL THINGS

sports

fall athlete report 7 ski season preview athlete check-in

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student life beating the fall and winter blues

10

the best and worst cell service in the school are you too old to trick or treat? 17

in-depth opinions

teen substance use 12,

13 war on weed is a waste 14

what it means to tell the truth in highschool 18 the lesser of two evils vs. vote for yourself from fear to phobias 20

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entertainment album reviews 21 candy wars 22

legally blonde the musical review 23

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Photos by Lindsay Barnes and Wikimedia Commons

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ALL

News

THINGS

POLITICAL

A Royal Banner special report on students’ views about the upcoming election By: Sharone Goldman and Eliana Goldstein

November 6th, 2012. Election

Day.

Millions of American citizens will wander from

voting booths to file their selection for the next President of the United States.

For many Fairview students, this is the first election they will ever vote in. But even those who can’t vote this year watched the debates, following the latest gaffes and commentary, and talking with their friends about the hottest issues in the political sphere. As the world becomes closer over social media and the ever-growing data networks, students are behome and work to their local

coming more and more informed of the

political

events that surround them. And there has certainly been plenty of political

drama to gossip over this year. From down and dirty personal attacks to moments of complete ridiculousness, there’s been enough drama this campaign season to overshadow even the craziest breakup scandal. So here’s your comprehensive guide to what Fairview High students are thinking about the Obama v. Romney battle this election year.

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According to the Polls...

2% 7%

5%

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News

Which presidential candidate do you support?

8%

Taken from 160 Fairview students

13%

Barack Obama Mitt Romney Neither

What election issue do you care most about?

Taken from 56 Fairview students

79%

Gay Marriage Job Crea6on/ Economy

39%

4%

Student Loans

21%

Taken from www.gallup.com on October 16th

Foreign Policy

46%

Power to the People Abor6on

National Poll of Likely Voters

Barack Obama Mitt Romney

50% Unknown

26%

Summary of the Platforms Issue

Democrats

Republicans

Gay Marriage

Marriage equality regardless of sexual orientation

Marriage should be between a man and a woman only

Jobs

“Insourcing,” investing in public works projects and public services

Strong American economy will create jobs and promote US exporting

Abortion

Supports a woman’s right to choose; wants to decrease cost of contraceptive meds

Opposes measures making abortion and contraception more widely available

Education

Taxpayer dollars should go towards high-quality public schools

“Consumer focused,” competitive educational institutions

Deficit

Spending reduction, tax increases for wealthy

Cut government programs across the board

Taxes

Raise taxes on wealthy, cut taxes on working class and small businesses

Cut taxes across the board, ensure that Congress doesn’t balance budget by raising taxes

Health Care

Government mandated health care

Privatized, competitive free market

Immigration

Reforms that keep families together, encourage illegals to come forward

In-workplace enforcement, state regulations, border fence

Military Funding

Cuts to rein in federal spending deemed unnecessary

No cuts, maintain strong military force

Regulation

Hold Wall Street accountable, make sure free market “plays by the rules”

Minimal economic regulation to promote free market

Foreign Trade

“Leveling the playing field,” expanding trade network

Cracking down on China, slashing borrowing from overseas

Energy

Support clean energy research

Exploit coal

Editor’s Note: This chart represents just a few issues of the Democratic and Republican platforms. These are simplified summaries of the party’s stances, taken out of more extensive descriptions. We encourage that students further investigate the stances of both parties for themselves. Go to www.gop.com or www.democrats.org for more information.

Royal Banner “I am voting for Obama because of social issues, because there are things like gay marriage that I will always be for”-Anonymous “I think Romney’s policies are more likely to pull us out of debt.

I think that Romney is closer to being moderate and might therefore satisfy more people.” -- Slipper Jones, Sophomore “I don’t like Mitt Romney’s stance on abortion and women’s rights”-- Anoymous “I support Mitt Romney because I agree with the majority of his policies, like a flat tax as opposed to Obama’s tax ideas and I prefer Romney’s insurance policy over Obama’s.” --Madeline McCarty, Junior “I couldn’t wait until I turned 18. I might as well help decide what’s happening in my country.”- Chris Reetz, Senior “I feel like I could make a difference, and I have the right to vote so I should take advantage of what a great country I live in and what I have.” -- Anonymous on voting

News

4 So there was a Libertarian, a Republican, and a Democrat...

Tom Roberts Senior Voting: Barack Obama Sees conservatism as... “fundamentally reversing the natural progression of society.”

Obama... “has ideas that will move America into a prosperous, sustainable, and strong future. With the cards he was dealt, he has done a good job.

“He passed healthcare reform.

Independent economists who have looked at it said that the stimulus worked. Now, we are creating jobs. Obama is a net job creator.”

Romney is...“very fickle. A lot of the things he says are just fundamentally false.”

Believes that...“Obama has been vilified as someone who can’t get anything done. He can’t get anything done because Republicans won’t allow it.”

On globalization: “I think more and more the international aspect of our world is becoming more complex.

(There are) other economic power houses to compete with.

I think we are moving into an era where foreign policy is no longer going to be unilaterally dominated by the united states.

I think that Obama will move us into that era.”

Dylan McKinney Senior Voting: Gary Johnson Considers himself... “fiscally conservative, and moderate with social issues.”

Says that...“all of the social issues need to come second to fixing our economy and the current recession.”

Believes in... “a smaller budget, less spending, and a smaller government. Right now, that’s what the country needs.”

Has heard...“‘Why would you waste your vote?’ from just about everyone. But I think it can’t be a waste of a vote. If enough people voted for a third party, then the republican party as a whole might think more like libertarians.”

Mitt Romney is... “the biggest flip flopper in all of politics. He goes back on his own words and things he said all the time. He disagrees with himself from the past. I don’t trust people who don’t stick with their opinion.”

Obama is... “a Democrat and the Democratic ideas for economics clash with what I want.

I just don’t like his economic plan.”

Is voting for a third party candidate because...“I don’t want to waste my vote because I want to show that I don’t support either candidate.”

Anonymous Senior Voting: Mitt Romney (likely) Considers himself... “very fiscally conservative. Socially, I am more moderate.”

Believes that... “We are spending too much money, and eventually, it’s unsustainable.

The global economy will suffer if the United States continues to spend this much money.”

Does not support Obama because... “We have 3 million more people unemployed than 2008. Obama said he would cut the deficit in half, and it has increased by 6 trillion dollars. Obama is spending way too much money. His efforts to end global warming have evaporated. America’s standing in the Muslim world is not higher than it was under Bush.

(Guantanamo Bay) remains open even though Obama said he’d close it. Russia and China are still in conflict. Iran remains dangerous.”

Takes issue with... “people (judging) Romney’s policies on his character and tax rate instead of what he’s planning to do as president. I don’t think the fact that he has a low tax rate is his fault. If I were Romney, I’d take a low tax rate too. It’s the product of a flawed system, not a flawed person.”

Photos by: Megan DeBruyn

“Mitt Romney is very hypocritical especially with the health care law he passed in Massachusetts. I oppose his stance on abortion, and the fact that he thinks gay people don’t have families” - Cayla Kennedy, Senior “Obama has strong personal integrity that Romney does not have. Unlike Romney, Obama has been very clear in this campaign about where he stands on key issues, and doesn’t vacillate back and forth to complement his political interests. Obama has been an active president, advocating for the middle class and giving hope to millions of Americans. He has started our country off on the right foot in these past four years and he is the right candidate to lead America for the next four years.”-- Emma Hutchinson, Senior.

“I am passionate about the right to choose (regarding abortion), foreign policy, and health care.”-- Anonymous “The reason I would vote for Romney is not because I like him, it is truly because Obama has completely messed up. He promised to make the health care costs go down, but now our health bills are through the roof.”

-- Anoymous

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Fairview Students Engaging With Politics Young Democrats Club Aniruddh Prakash, Senior (Co-president with senior Tom Bonan) Why do you support the Democratic Party? We support the democratic party for 2 main reasons. First, the democratic party is committed to issues of social justice and equality, especially women's rights, education, poverty eradication, and minority rights. Second, the Democratic party is our only chance to ensure that we don't repeat the mistakes of Republican administrations of the past 30 years -- costly and unnecessary wars, financial instability, and social inequality.

What are your feelings about each presidential candidate? So far, both presidential candidates Photo donated by Aniruddh have put forth a strong case regarding their goals, Prakash yet I feel that the President has explained his ideas and plans, whereas Governor Romney has failed to provide any details. One example is that the President has pinpointed areas where he will cut spending and increase revenue, while Romney has only vaguely referred to closing loopholes that will be grossly insufficient.

Which issues do you think are especially important to address? Perhaps the most important issue in this upcoming election is the state of the economy.

Four years ago, the economy was in free fall. However, thanks to the President's policies, our economy is showing clear signs of improvement despite the impact of administrations past. Everyone would have liked for it to be faster, but you can only play the cards you’re dealt.

How are you involved in politics? The Young Democrats Club is a volunteer organization that works alongside Organizing for America. We are involved in civic engagement, specifically for voter registration. We have also organized conversations between democratic leaders and students at Fairview. These dialogues serve to engage Fairview students in our political process.

Underground Republican Society Emily Wilkins, Junior (President) Why do you support the republican party? Republicans believe in personal freedom and personal responsibility. We think that the private sector is the source of wealth and prosperity, and that 300+ million US consumers making their own decisions in the marketplace allocate resources more efficiently than government.

What are your feelings about each of the presidential candidates? Romney is focused on growing the private economy to put people back to work and shrink the deficit. Obama advocates a top-down, government-driven approach mixed with crony Photo donated by Emily Wilkins capitalism.

Which issues do you think are especially important to address? The top issues facing the next president are growing the economy and addressing the deficit.

How are you involved in politics? Currently, our club meets once every other week to discuss current events and issues facing our country. Our goal is to make sure both political parties are represented since conservative and Republican beliefs are not typically voiced in Boulder. In the future, we plan to invite moderate Republican representatives to come discuss their views and answer any questions students may have about the Republican platform. The Underground Republican Society is open to all students, regardless of their political affiliation. Our goal is to create bipartisanism in Boulder, not to encourage political division.

Timeline of the Election

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Sports

Fall Athlete Report

By Natty Bowes, Mellisa Cuddington, Rebecca Vickers Zach Swenson- Golf

Zach Swenson is a junior here at Fairview. He started playing golf only a couple months ago. “I’ve always had a good natural swing, so I’ve been able to pick up the game because of it.”

Along with playing golf, Zach is also a part of Student Council, cross country, and Fairview’s basketball program in the winter.

Zach says he enjoys golf because “I like the coaches, Coach Jay Capaul and Coach John Zerwin, and I like the kids that I play with because we are able to have fun at the same time as we compete against each other.” Zach likes the mental aspect of golf. “After you’ve finished playing you know you could’ve done better. Also, every golf course is different and every shot is different, so it’s never the same.” Leadership is a huge factor at Fairview, especially for athletes. Zach thinks a leader is a person who “leads vocally and by example.”

Cameron Frazier- Football Cameron Frazier is a junior who plays on the Varsity Football team as well as the Varsity Baseball team. He has been playing football since 7th grade, making this his fifth year in the sport.

“It’s a lot of fun, good coaches, and my friends play” Frazier said.

Fraizer also does some other activities besides playing a variety of sports. Outside of school “I play football, baseball, and hang out with my friends” Frazier said. Football helps Frazier in several different ways. “You don’t have time to mess around, so it keeps you organized” he said. Being a junior on a heavily-weighted junior team, Cameron is seen as an upperclassmen leader. “Building your team mates up, never getting too down on people and leading by example,” is the definition of a leader according to Frazier.

sleep” said Prinster. “I want to have successful seasons in both high school and club and maybe walk on at a college level.” A leader on the field “sets the tone, picks your teammates up when their down and always stays positive!” said Prinster.

Alison Yardley- Volleyball

Alison Yardley is a Junior at Fairview and plays on the Varsity Volleyball team. All sports require dedication and commitment and Yardley learned this five years ago when she began the sport of volleyball. Yardley enjoys everything about volleyball, especially the team bonding. Yardley is motivated not only to succeed in volleyball but also academically and is taking several IB classes. To succeed Yardley writes out all of her assignments and makes sure to stay organized. Regarding her future aspirations, “I want to play volleyball in college,” Yardley said. “I think that a leader is someone who inspires people around them with their words or actions, and a leader in volleyball will set an example for their teammates” Yardley said.

Isabel Kennedy- Cross Country

Isabel Kennedy has proven herself, again, to be the girls cross country star, placing well in every meet so far this 2012 season. She has been running for seriously, for Fairview since freshmen year, but started in 5th grade. “The team is very cohesive and we are all very good friends” said Kennedy regarding Fairview’s cross country team. She struggles with sprinting, but she has great mental toughness and can get through a hard run. In addition to running cross country, Kennedy takes all advanced classes and student teaches at Southern Hills in a 6th grade L.A. class. Being a leader means that “people respect you and you lead by example” Kenneday said.

Teresa Prinster- Softball

Jackson Wojciechowski- Soccer

Teresa Prinster, Junior, is certainly no newcomer to Softball, a sport that she has been playing for almost eight years and for Fairview since her Freshman year. Teresa says that her favorite part about playing for Fairview is that “we always have fun and we are a very close team.” Not only is Teresa a very important member of the Varsity Softball team but she also takes six weighted classes, is on the swim team, skis in the winter, and participates in choir. With so many activities the obvious question is how? “I prioritize my time and don’t

Jackson Wojciechowski is one of the two varsity soccer captains this year. “I have been playing soccer for 11 years” said Wojciechowski. “I like the intensity, being part of a team, having fun, and the quick play.” He likes spending time with his family and dog and going to school. A leader is “able to bring the team up from their lowest point” he said. Wojciechowski.

He is interested in playing soccer at Colorado College next year.

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Sports

SKI SEASON PREVIEW

BY BRETT MATISSEN

So, over the summer, did you think about skiing/boarding, or I am the only one? Either way, it gives me great pleasure to announce that snowmaking has begun at several resorts, with Copper Mountain kicking off the snow making season.

Do not get too excited though, this snow is only for the U.S. Ski Team to begin training which sucks for the average skier/rider. During the fall and early season winter, Copper is home to the U.S. Ski Team training.

In the ski history of Colorado, the two mountains that always began blowing snow and opened first were either Loveland Ski Area or Arapahoe Basin Ski Area. This is the first time in history that another ski resort started snowmaking before either A-Basin or Loveland.

In order for a ski area/resort to make snow, the temperature and humidity have to be just perfect. The drier and colder the air is, the more snow they can produce. Arapahoe Basin and Loveland are located higher in elevation than Copper which is why it is strange they have already begun.

On October 5th, Arapahoe Basin and Loveland fired up their guns for the first time and began making snow. Resorts like to wait on snowmaking for two main reasons. Keystone and Breckenridge are great examples.

Resorts like to open for Thanksgiving because they know that the only people who will stay there in October are the ski bums; the tourists come much later. Secondly, resorts are fancy schmancy places that do not like to waste money on making snow until they absolutely have to.

Another very popular question that I’ve been asked this year is what the snow is going to be like. I am going to very very honest with you, it has to be better than last year. Last year was the second worst winter in terms of snowfall, on record, the worst being the Winter of 1980. According to the Farmer’s Almanac, they are predicting a wet beginning of November and a wet end of November, meaning the middle of November will be dry.

Then, from December through February will be mild-moist, and we will end the season with a mild/dry finish.

Moving on to the Buyer’s Guide, there are several skis this year I demo-ed last season that were terrific. One of my favorites was a Colorado based ski company known as Rocky Mountain Underground. Those skis were fat enough to shred the pow and stiff enough to carve the groomers.

Depending on which model you buy, your underfoot length will be somewhere in the upper 90’s-100’s because of the company’s goal of making the ultimate powder ski. Any of their skis are absolutely wonderful.

The next ski I would recommend is the Volkl Mantra. The Mantra has a smooth metal top sheet that adds to the ski’s stiffness but it is also a wide ski which enables you to float over freshies. The only drawback of the Mantra is its lack of twin tip tails. A perfect binding match is the Tyrolia Pack 18 T.H.x. This binding is the signature binding of Tanner Hall and holds a great grip over the snow. Due to its mostly metal heel and front construction, the binding’s weight also adds to the stiffness of the ski.

Lastly is the Head Oblivion. Head came up with over 22 molds this year for new skis, which is a lot. The Oblivion line was created to replace the Mojo line. The Oblivion family has two other siblings. Any form of Rossignol/Look binding will work, more specifically the Pivot/Turntable, but everyone has different likes.

Keep a lookout for my articles in the following issues. Tips Up!

Here are the dates you need to know for opening days: Arapahoe Basin: Late October Breckenridge: November 9th Vail: November 16th Beaver Creek: November 21st Keystone: November 2nd Eldora: November 16th Loveland: Late October Copper Mountain: November 2nd Winter Park: November 14th Steamboat: November 20th Aspen: November 22nd Snowmass: November 22nd

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Sports

ATHLETE CHECK-IN

BY ALEX FLYNN

Every year Fairview must say goodbye to athletic seniors that helped our school stay competitive against others. Once the graduated class has gone, a new group of seniors must step up to fill the empty slots. Each year new students emerge as top athletes and once out of high school they go on to compete at the college level and even get acknowledged at the professional level. Here is a look at where two of Fairview’s star athletes last year, Nicole Edelman and Shane O’Neill, ended up after high school.

Nicole Edelman

Last year Nicole Edelman was one of the captains for Fairview’s varsity volleyball team. This year Edelman accepted a position on the University of Colorado’s volleyball team and began her college career as the starting setter for the team.

Although Edelman could not play due to a back injury her senior year, she still played a leadership role on Fairview’s team, motivating and pushing players to fight hard during games and in practice.

Now a starting player on CU’s team, Edelman is already used to the more demanding practices.

“We usually practice between three to four hours everyday and lift twice a week after practice. There’s also additional time spent watching video to prepare for upcoming matches,” said Edelman.

Edelman is continuing her career as a setter, a demanding role that she takes on for each team she plays for.

“The setter’s position is similar to a quarterback position in football, so I have a large leadership role since I make decisions about who should score points,” said Edelman about her role on CU’s team.

According to Edelman, playing on a college team is different than high school because even though the seasons are the same length, college seasons are busier and filled with traveling.

There is also a lot of advertising work and media that accompanies college sports. The CU volleyball athletes must take time to answer newspaper interviews, take pictures for posters, take videos for the teams website about every match, and post match interviews.

Edelman’s hard work and dedication throughout her high school and club seasons of volleyball paid off as she is now playing on CU’s team.

“It’s a large time commitment but it’s worth every second if you love what you’re doing. Once you find the right sport, it’s important to dedicate large amounts of time to playing to become the best athlete you can possibly be,” said Edelman.

Edelman hopes to get an internship with a professional sports team or play volleyball professionally overseas in Europe.

Shane O’Neill Shane O’Neill was a strong player on both Fairview’s varsity soccer team and varsity basketball team, earning a position as captain on both teams his senior year. Although he is great at both sports, O’Neill is more dedicated to playing soccer.

O’Neill is now playing on the Colorado Rapids soccer team and already made his pro-debut his first year on the team.

During his senior year, O’Neill initially accepted an offer to play soccer for the University of Virginia. He was later offered a position to play for the Colorado Rapids.

“The Rapids and me and my family came to an agreement on a contract that worked for both of us and I always wanted to be a pro soccer player so that made it an easy decision for me,” O’Neill said about his decision to play professionally instead of in college.

Transitioning straight from high school to the professional level has been a change for O’Neill.

“The competition is much more intense because everyone is fighting to keep their job so every day you have to go out and train as hard as you possibly can,” said O’Neill.

On the team O’Neill plays defensive midfielder and his job is to win tackles, get the ball back, and just play.

Not only is O’Neill a new member of the Rapids team but he was also recently chosen to be one of the 19 players on the United States Under-20 (U-20) National Team. As part of this team, O’Neill traveled to Spain in order to compete against teams from Canada, Scotland, and Azerbaijan from October 6-17.

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Student Life

Beating the Fall Blues

By: Kimberly Brown and Eamonn Morris

Colorado is moving into Autumn, the sun is beginning to set sooner, and the days are getting colder. During this transition to Winter, it’s easy to start to feel “down,” “blue,” or just plain sad. The good thing is, there are clear reasons for this and equally clear ways to deal with these feelings.

Here are some helpful tips on how to beat the Fall Blues.

Get Outside. If you’re feeling down it can be hard to want to get up and do anything at all, but if you just get outside for a little bit you’ll feel much better. A brisk bike ride, a game of catch with a friend, or just a simple jaunt around the block can get you feeling better. Exercise gets your endorphins up and increases dopamine levels in your brain, leading to good feelings and general happiness. It’s also important to do this during sunlight hoursGetting sunlight and Vitamin D is crucial to our mental (as well as physical) health.

Find a Hobby. It can be bad to just sit around and be alone with your thoughts if you’re not in a good mood. Find something fun to put your mind

to, like reading every book by a famous author, making it through a whole TV series (Arrested Development is a good comedy,) cooking, writing, whatever. Have fun!

As a point of caution, Don’t Do Too Much. During the fall semesters it can be easy to load up on too many sports, activities, and hard classes.

Think ahead and acknowledge your limits. No one wants to start out strong with a bunch of commitments and then have to drop them all later. So take a nap, knit a scarf, make some “You” time, and enjoy the stillness of Fall. It’s quite beautiful.

Express yourself. Cultivate an artistic discipline that can help you explore how you feel. Draw, paint, sing, play an instrument, or just keep a journal to let out any pent up feelings. Letting these emotions bottle up is unhealthy and only increases malaise.

Spend Time with People. It’s important to decompress. If you’re having a tough day or have a stressful class, it’s good to let loose and relax with some friends. You could grab dinner and get in some lively conversation. Nothing relieves stress like spending time with people you care about.

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In-Depth

TEEN SUBSTANCE ABUSE

Photo Credit to Connor Hall

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In-Depth

BVSD Teen Substance Use by Percentage Substance Use

by Maddie Stachniak, Shoshana Pollack, and Sharone Goldman

High school can be rough. There’s the academics, the social drama, and the constant power struggle with parents at home. In such a tumultuous environment, it becomes easy to look for escape anywhere it may be found. Unfortunately, for many teens, that escape may be found in a puff of smoke or the bottom of a bottle.

According to The Partnership at Drugfree.org and the MetLife Foundation, the numbers of teens using illegal substances has only risen.The Youth Risk Behaviour Survey, conducted in 2011 with BVSD students found that on average 42% of the teens polled currently drink alcohol while around 44% of them have smoked marijuana.

Most students have varying reasons as to why they abuse illegal substances. But these reasons are not represented in statistics. The most important subject to be addressed is not the how or how many but the why.

Teens may use drugs for “a plethora of reasons- curiosity, self medication, boredom, peer pressure, no expectations from families,” said Principal Don Stensrud.

Although some students do do drugs as a form of rebellion, in many cases the reason may actually be because they do not know any other way to cope with difficult situations they find themselves in.

However, when the “why” itself is examined, a clearer picture begins to emerge. Even though all of these teens are very different from each other, a lot of them face similar pressures from school, work, or family. These are the real reasons behind teen drug use.

Finding ways to cope with these things can be extremely difficult, so kids may take mattersinto their own hands.

Substance use, instead of help-

ing find balance, brings a numb feeling.“It’s an easier and quicker road than the road it takes to get to balance,” said Jenny Hecht, Fairviews main interventionist counselor.

According to teendepression.org, 20% of students will become depressed at some point in their teens.

Depression is incredibly difficult to cope with, and many teens turn to alcohol or drugs. People are looking for a way to cope.

“People are seeking ways to get balance in their lives,” Hecht.

Many of these kids self-medicate for depression or other problems.

Though marijuana arguably has medicinal properties to it, when used by an already depressed high schooler, it can have negative mental effects and even heighten depression.

According to the Science and Management of Addictions Foundation, “Psychoactive substances often target and alter function of neurotransmitters, the chemical messengers that allow nerves to communicate at their junctions. Interference with neurotransmitters can directly damage fragile developing neural connections.”

Another reason for teen drug use is the age-old motivator of the teenage population, peer pressure. Because friends are trying alcohol, LSD, crack, whatever, people may feel as if they too should try the drugs.

“I think that its been sold as a right of passage,” said Kathy Hicks, a social studies teacher at Fairview.

Although each individual teenager has unique problems and goals, and in turn unique reasons for using illegal substances, patterns emerge when one looks at the why the actions are occurring, rather than the actions themselves.

No matter why a person starts using illegal substances, there are serious consequences when use turns ino abuse. The negative affects substances are having on someones life are easy to ignore, but “once they’re

BVSD Teens who have Experimented with Alcohol reflected back at you, they’re pretty hard to deny,”Hecht said. There are, however, ways to get help. Fairview High School has an intervention department as a resource for students who are using and want outside help.

It began 20 years ago to give students a place to talk about experimentation and abuse in a confidential environment. Jenny Hecht is the main interventionist at Fairview. She works alongside Susan Ripley and Maura Lohretz, a clinical intern, to help individuals through personal struggles. Hecht said that the Intervention Department is there to “offer information in a non-judgemental way.”

The confidentiality of the intervention department is nearly 100%. The department is required to report any kind of self harm. Therefore, drug and alcohol use don’t need to be reported, unless they are being paired with a high risk behavior. If a student is endangering himself, for example driving while using, it must be reported.

In 12 years, Hecht has only reported a student once. He was driving while using a hallucinogen.

That the district provides this program is incredibly helpful to students.

It’s as simple as making an appointment with an interventionist, and, as long as there are no high-risk behaviours going on, one’s parents don’t even have to know.

If more people focused on why teens abuse substances in the first place, rather than just punishing those who use them, perhaps it would be easier to get to the heart of the problem.

Maybe, instead of being the issue in and of itself, substance abuse is a manifestation of other issues.

No matter what your stance is on drugs and alcohol, there’s one thing that no one can argue with. Substances work by altering your brain. “What drugs do is play with the chemicals in our brain,” said Hecht. “If you’re going to use drugs I can’t stop you, but at least give yourself the chance to be informed.”

Percentage of Students

Photo Credit to Wikimedia Commons

9th Grade 10th Grade 11th Grade

BVSD Teens Who Have Attended School Under the Influence of Alcohol or Other Illegal Drugs

12th Grade

Photo Credit to Wikimedia Commons

All Graphs Based on a 2011 BVSD Survey

Percentage of Students

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War on Weed is a Waste

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By Maddie Stachniak Pot. Trees. Grass. Bud. These are all nicknames for the same substance, Marijuana.

Even though it is an illegal drug, according to a national drug use survey by Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration in 2010, there are 17.4 million current users in America.

However, if cannabis is as harmful as many claim it to be, why are so many people using it? It’s obviously illegal for a logical reason. Or is it? It’s not as if the drug has always been outlawed. In fact far from it; our founding fathers wrot several rough drafts of the Declaration of Independence on hemp paper.

In the 1930s, the media and government began spreading anti-cannabis propaganda, including the infamous cult film Reefer Madness, where a man goes insane on the drug and murders his entire family.

“Marijuana is the most violence causing drug in the history of mankind. … Most marijuana smokers are Negroes, Hispanics, Filipinos and entertainers. Their Satanic music, jazz and swing, result from marijuana usage. This marijuana causes white women to seek sexual relations with Negroes.” said Harry J. Anslinger, director of the Federal Bureau of Narcotics in 1937. And so the drug, along with its non-high inducing “It’s obviously illegal cousin hemp, was made illegal by the Marijuana for a logical reason.

Tax Act that same year.

Or is it?”

The issue was not addressed again until World War II when the government created a “Hemp for Victory” campaign. The hemp plant is related to marijuana and is not legal to grow in most states, but in reality it cannot even produce a high. It has literally thousands of uses, from making clothes, food, rope, paper, and many other essentials.

Yet hemp went back to being bad and it is now treated as a mere novelty.

In 1948, when legalization came into question again, Congress voted to make the drug illegal, claiming that it made people too lazy and that the Communists would use it against them. Years later, the laws against cannabis became even harsher after the “War on Drugs” began under President Nixon.

However, for many, it is the health issues that the drug may present that seem the worst. Just how unsafe is it? One of the most common myths about marijuana is that it is even worse than cigarettes and will undoubtedly lead to lung cancer. This is not the case. As reported by the Washington Post, a study released in 2006 found that there was no clear correlation between smoking the drug and lung cancer. Obviously, inhaling any sort of burnt plant matter into your lungs is not good, and there may yet be unclear links between use of the drug and cancer, but the smoke is nowhere near as bad as that of cigarettes. Even heavy marijuana users showed no increased incidence of cancer. In addition, the drug can be taken in ways other than smoking.

Another misconception about pot is that it kills brain cells. In the 70s, a study

In-Depth

was conducted using monkeys as subjects. The scientists gave the monkeys the equivalent of 30 joints a day through masks and they began to atrophy and die after 90 days. However, the reason the monkeys were dying was because the masks had no filtration for oxygen, so they were essentially slowly asphyxiating to death over a several month period. The scientists then incorrectly attributed the brain cell loss to the drug.

“One of the most common myths People often call marijuana a gateway drug, claiming that use about marijuana is that it is even of the drug will only lead to more drug use. However, once you look worse than cigarettes and will undoubtedly lead to lung cancer. harder at this theory, it starts to fall apart. What about alcohol? Is This is not the case.” its gateway something like grape juice? Of course, it is true that people who smoke weed may be exposed to harder drugs through a drug dealer or friends. Unfortunately, exposure to these drugs is a product of the black market, which not only makes the drugs more unsafe but also easier to get. If marijuana was legalized, people could get the drug from a safe source and avoid exposure to harder drugs.

If weed is illegal, then logically it must be very addictive. In reality cigarettes, the most addictive drug of all, are perfectly legal. As reported by Time magazine, 33% of cigarette users are hooked. This is followed by 23% of heroin users, 15% of drinkers, and a relatively small 9% for cannabis. While quitting marijuana would be annoying but certainly doable, heroin withdrawal can actually result in death.

Finally, it is impossible to overdose on the drug. “Tetrahydrocannabinol is a very safe drug. Laboratory animals can tolerate doses of up to 1,000 mg/kg (milligrams per kilogram). This would be equivalent to a 70 kg [154 lbs] person swallowing 70 grams of the drug—about 5,000 times more than is required to produce a high,” said a study from London, England.

Marijuana legalization is a huge issue in this country, but people don’t treat it that way. What many Americans choose to forget is that these laws throw hundreds of people in jail every day for smoking a natural plant. The US makes up 5% of the world’s population yet 25% of the world’s prisoners.

The industry of private prisons has become extremely profitable and the rush tobuild new ones is just slightly ahead of the influx of people waiting to fill them.

There are currently approximately 45,000 prisoners in the US who have been locked up for marijuana use, sale or possession.

This year alone, the US government has spent $29,162,644,106, and more, on the War on Drugs. However, if the drug was legalized and taxed the government could make a killing in profits.

The prohibition of cannabis is almost identical to that of alcohol back in the 20s.

In New York during the time of prohibition, there were more “speakeasies” (illegal bars) than there are bars in New York today. In fact, the number of cannabis users has risen over the years. The War on Drugs needs to end. It’s not even about drugs anymore. The only ones being affected are real people, and the government is simply wasting lives and money. They need to “If people did their research get their priorities straight.

Cigarettes and alcohol are worse for you instead of blindly going off than marijuana. Cigarettes and alcohol are legal. Therefore, cannabis should be of what the government and legal. Also, from an economic standpoint, their peers say, they would legalization makes even more sense, see- find that the facts are staring as it would bring in so much revenue.

The fact that the issue has become so com- ing them in the face.” plicated is maddening.

If people did their research instead of blindly going off of what the government and their peers say, they would find that the facts are staring them in the face. People should have the choice of being able to decide what they put in their own bodies.

Marijuana should be legalized, taxed and regulated like alcohol, making it safer as well as harder for kids to get. The resulting taxation would bring in huge revenue for the government and stop wasting tax dollars and ruining people’s lives. Enough is enough. It’s time to get our facts straight and look at the issue.

Photo Credit to Wikimedia Commons

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Drugs and Pie

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In-Depth

By Eliana Goldstien I don’t know about you, but I can’t remember the last time I wasn’t stressed about my life. I was told that senior year was easy, but every time I turn around there’s something else I need to get done. Even on a day when I’m entirely caught up on homework, I look around and realize that my room is a mess, my personal life is chaotic when it isn’t nonexistent, I need to get a job, and I have eight college essays to write. It’s a miracle that I haven’t had a complete breakdown yet.

Hear that? It’s a miracle. There’s nothing truly special about me that’s keeping me going. Yes, I’m determined (some might say “stubborn”). Yes, I have a wonderful and supportive family. But for the most part, I’m just like everyone else barely holding it together in the social and academic maelstrom of high school. Everyone here is under tremendous pressure, whether or not they’re aware of it.

There’s absolutely nothing wrong with you if you crack or crumple under the strain.

Those cracks show in different ways. Some people eat. Some people cry a lot. Some people yell at friends, parents, and siblings. Some people punch holes in walls. And some people turn to alcohol, cigarettes, marijuana, and other illegal mood-altering substances.

Teen substance use and abuse is a dangerous pattern, but it’s also a misunderstood one. The societal stereotype of a teen addict as a loser, a deadbeat, and a “bad” person is just as hazardous to these peoples’ health as the drugs they use. Adolescents who use drugs are not inhuman or wrong. They have fallen into an easy coping mechanism. It’s much the same motivation as I have when I cry over my chemistry grade, then bake a ton of cookies and eat way too many of them. The only difference is that my cookies are only destroying my waistline, not my brain chemistry.

Now, I’m not saying using drugs to cope is a good decision. Many of those substances ruin your body, some of them may also ruin your mind. If you are using drugs to handle the stress in your life, I encourage you to seek help as soon as possible. They’re illegal because it’s a bad idea to take them.

But you are not fundamentally a failure if you make that decision. You’re just another individual struggling to understand why life sucks so much.

Life is a pie eating contest where the only prize is more pie. A very large part of the time, it makes you nauseous, angry, and probably diabetic. But the pie is not to be avoided by substituting self destructive behaviors. Embrace the pie.

Need Help?

Call: National Help Line for

Poison Control (800) 222-1222

Cocaine Anonymous (800) 347-8998 Alcohol & Drug Abuse Hotline (800) 729-6686

Families Anonymous (800) 736-9805

Substance Abuse (800) 262-2463

National Institute on Drug Abuse Hotline (800) 662-4357 Alcohol Hotline Alcohol Treatment Referral Hotline (800) 331-2900 (800) 252-6465 Alcohol and Drug Helpline Al-Anon for Families of Alcoholics (800) 821-4357 (800) 344-2666 Phone Numbers from Psych Central

16 Best and Worst Cell Service in the School

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Student Life

By: Cason McHose and Luke Schneider

Graphic by Luke Schneider

Fairview is notorious for its abominable cell service, so the Royal Banner tracked the iPhone’s reception throughout all of the hallways. AT&T topped Verizon by a slight margin, and overall, the gym, library and student center are your best bets for the most bars.

NOTE: Statistics taken in hallways. Service varies within classrooms

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Student Life

Are you too old to Trick or Treat?

YES

By Eamonn Morris and Conor Hall

1. It’s mostly for little kids. It’s a little weird when you’re in a trick-or-treating group and you go to a house where one of your younger friends is handing out the candy.

2. Don’t you have better and more important things to do? Like watch Modern Family? Or help your parents hand out candy? Little kids trick-or-treat because there’s nothing important to do besides hang out and mess around. You’re an older kid and you have responsibilities to attend to.

3. Your teachers probably won’t recognize Halloween, and only a handful won’t assign any homework, so why should you go out and waste valuable work time? You’re not going to be able to avoid it; if you don’t do it then you’ll have to do it later, or not at all.

4. There are usually good horror movies on and since you’re old enough to handle them, y o u should probably just do that.

5.Candy is, like, a dollar a pound on November First. Just go and buy some.

NO

1. You’re technically still a minor. It’s legally acceptable for you to act like a child. You can use this when people call you out. If you’re 18 ignore this; you’re too old.

Period.

2. You might just want to have a fun night out with your friends. It’s especially cool when it’s a weeknight.

3. With all the stresses that high school and adulthood have to offer from college apps to homework every night, you need to relieve stress once in awhile, and acting like a kid is a great way to do that. Why not go trick-or-treating, since Halloween only comes once a year?

4. This year Halloween falls on a Wednesday, so you’ve got that block Thursday to make up for all the homework you didn’t do.

Photo by Lindsay Barnes

5. Halloween is a near-free way to have fun (all you need are costumes and possibly a car) where you get free candy. There aren’t many opportunities like this so why not take advantage of it?

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Opinions

What it Means to Tell The Truth In High School

By Rachel Perley and Lucia Rose Is telling the truth always worth the consequences?

Does omission qualify as lying? Is there ever a situation where lying or cheating can be justified?

“The truth is always the best option,” said Principal Don Stensrud. “You either need to tell the truth or not say anything at all.”

Often times, though, it is difficult to tell the truth; even when you know you should. There are some situations when you know that telling the truth will get you in trouble and lying may get you off the hook. However, you find that if your lie is discovered, the consequences are more severe than if you had simply told the truth in the first place.

Fairview’s academic honesty code is more prevalent this year than in past years. Posters stating the policy hang on the front wall of every classroom. The policy states, “On my honor, I have neither given nor received unauthorized assistance as described in the Academic Honesty Code on this work and I have fully acknowledged the work and ideas of others.”

“It’s never appropriate to lie,” said Stensrud. According to math teacher Brad Arehart, “In the long run, the lying will catch up with you as other people figure out that you are not truthful. It will affect your relationships and trust from others.”

Freshman Julia Combs thinks that telling the truth is always worth the consequences, because, “you feel guilty if you didn’t tell the truth.” Caitlin Laber, sophomore, agrees.

She said that if you tell the truth, “your conscience is clean.” But would there ever be an appropriate situation to lie?

Do you remember that time when your girlfriend asked you if that dress made her look fat? You told her she looked fantastic, even though you knew, in truth, the outfit wasn’t that great. In this situation, you would be lying. However, the lie is justified. If your goal is to make someone else happy or avoid hurting someone else, then lying may be appropriate.

Combs, Laber, and Maddie Webb, sophomore, all agreed that there are times when lying makes sense. It’s acceptable, “if [you’re lying] for the good of the people around you,” said Laber, “[because] sometimes the truth hurts more than a lie does.” According to Webb, it’s only justified “if you’re lying to protect someone.”

“The toughest thing is for people to handle the truth,” said Stensrud. This is where you need to be the judge of the person and the situation, and decide whether a lie would be justified, or if telling the truth or possibly saying nothing would be better options.

According to Stensrud, if the truth is harmful to someone else, you should simply not say anything. You shouldn’t tell a lie just because you think it’s what someone else wants to hear. There is a fine line between lying for the benefit of someone else and not wanting to share the truth with them. If you don’t want someone to know

the truth, you should simply not say anything at all.

In social situations, the information you omit may be gossip or hearsay. All the information you have is not necessarily true, said Arehart. There is “appropriate information that can be disclosed in the context of the situation.”

In a high school setting, lying exists in both social and academic situations. Cheating is simply an academic form of lying. “Students who cheat have an unfair advantage over honest students” said Laber. Cheating allows some students to succeed at the high school level, but sets them up for failure in the future.

Why? Why do students cheat? And why is it accepted by other students?

Pressure. Everybody feels it. Getting into college is very competitive. Students are mainly focused on their letter grades and their SAT scores, instead of actually

who are under a lot of pressure who are very honest and will not cheat, and students who have very little pressure, and I’ve seen them cheat.”

Some students see cheating as a faster and/or easier way to complete an assignment, or even take a test. Between pressures from parents and peers, "you get to that breaking point," said Stensrud. It is at this breaking point that students look for an easy way out, so they can still maintain a 4.0GPA without spending all the time and effort to actually understand everything they learned.

According to Laber, “[Cheating] takes less work that doing it the right way, the honest way.” “I think there is a false sense of hope of being successful through cheating,” Arehart said.

“Cheating is not the correct answer, but I think that people look at it as an option,” said Stensrud. However, “it’s never to your advantage to cheat,” he said. The consequences of getting a bad grade on an assignment are not as bad as the consequences of getting caught cheating. “Getting a 55 is a lot better than a 0.”

According to Arehart, students see cheating and lying in their everyday lives, and this blurs their perspective. The shows that students see on TV with behaviors of lying and cheating slowly become students’ reality. “[Cheating] is more tolerated by peers than it used to be,” said Stensrud.

Also, abiding by academic honesty benefits students when they need to work with teachers. “I can work better with a student to the end when they tell truth,” said Arehart. “It’s a joy to work with people with a high level of integrity.” Stensrud agreed that when students are honest, it is easier to work with them to improve their situation. “I would much rather have a kid drop a class, and work with them to drop a class, than have them cheating,” he said.

According to Webb, Fairview students are mostly honest. Laber said that most students follow the academic honesty code, because they “fear [the] harsh punishments.” Arehart thinks that the increased focus on the policy will help students who are on the fence about cheating make the decision to do the right thing.

Has the allure of cheating increased in recent years?

Through technology, such as smart phones and laptops, “we have made it easier for people to cheat,” said Stensrud. However, even if cheating is easier, is it worth it?

“If you’re not doing your work honestly, you’re cheating yourself,” said Arehart.

Overall, cheating and lying go hand in hand, both in school and in life. No matter the reasons, you will end up cheating yourself by cheating or lying to others. “In the end, we have to live with ourselves,” said Arehart.

One should try to “live a full life where one is fair and honest with themselves and the people they interact with” Arehart said.

On My Honor, I have neither given nor received unauthorized assistance as described in the Academic Honesty Code on this work and I have fully acknowledged the work and ideas of others.

learning the material taught in each class. Students also feel lots of added pressure from their parents’ expectations for grades. It’s not uncommon to hear students complaining to their friends before exams that if they fail their parents will be very upset and punish them.

According to Stensrud, with all this pressure on students, "I think we have, at times, justified our cheating."

However, Arehart disagreed. “I think pressure is an excuse, it’s not a reason," he said. “I have many students

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The Lesser of Two Evils

BY ELIANA GOLDSTEIN

If you haven’t been stuffed in a locker since the end of last school year, you are aware that it is election season here in the good ol’ U.S. of A. Probably horribly, painfully aware, in fact. I, for one, cannot wait until this is over and everyone shuts up for a few months. And you know what? At this point, I almost don’t care who manages to win what has essentially become the world’s most well televised pissing contest.

Thanks to our deeply ingrained two-party system, where the Democrats and Republicans hold a monopoly on votes, American citizens more or less have just two choices this November. One is charismatic but made ineffective by a deadlocked congress and a large number of angry citizens on both ends of the political spectrum, and the other is an exceptionally wealthy ex-businessman who changes his opinions more often than he changes ties.

Seriously? This is like trying to decide if I’d rather wear a potato sack or a flour sack to school. They’d both be hideous and uncomfortable, and the only difference is the label.

On the Democrat side of the burlap closet, we have our incumbent, Barack Obama.

He walked into office spouting messages of hope and change, but for the majority of ad-hyped Americans, that change has not been particularly dramatic or fast. Is this entirely Obama’s fault? No. Since 2009, (with the exception of four months in the first two years of the term) he’s had a non-filibuster proof Senate, and since 2011 he’s been dealing with a Republican majority in the house that rises to block most of the pieces of legislation Obama lobbies for. He has faced huge amounts of public and political vitriol for failing to fulfill many of his left-leaning promises while still angering the right with measures like the Affordable Care Act (popularly known by the portmanteau Obamacare). His ultimate failure is in the fact that he did not succeed in forming cross-party alliances within Congress. He doesn’t hold full responsibility for this cyclical political stagnation, but he could have fought harder to break the cycle.

On the Republican end stands Willard Mitt Romney (who goes by his middle name for hilariously obvious reasons). He’s not entirely the soulless robot he seems to be, but he certainly lacks an element of sympathy in his character. Perhaps this is because no one knows who he actually is. The man has yet to keep a consistent opinion since he began running in the primaries. His campaign is infamous for the “Etch-a-Sketch” comment; a Romney advisor straight-up said that we couldn’t expect the same Romney who won the GOP nomination to be campaigning in the electoral race. Granted, Romney seems to essentially be a puppet candidate for the right, but he swings between hardline conservative and moderate with a disturbing ease. He seems to be willing to say whatever it takes to get him into the White House this January.

So we’ve been given a lesser-of-two-evils type choice. As we saw in the debates on October 3rd and October 16th, both men turn from supposedly polished politicians to cranky, rude kindergarteners at the flip of a switch. They failed to respect each other and the moderators both nights. Do we really want whiny five year olds leading our country? Because that seems to be what we’re gonna get. Third party votes are essentially throwaway, there’s no way anyone other than these two blockheads could get elected to the POTUS position. We’re stuck between a classic rock and a hard place.

So yeah. Cliched as it may be, I think I want to move to Canada. I’ll take hockey riots over this idocy any day of the week.

Opinions

Vo t e f o r Yo u r s e l f

By Keenan Marrinan The American government is designed specifically to represent the opinions of the American people and act according to what the people want through a system in which individuals vote on a representative of a political group that shares that individuals’ opinions. These individuals then later vote the political group which they feel will make the decisions that are best for the nation and what the people of the nation want.

That being said, in reality the system is a strange, backwards version of what it was intended to be, the people of America support a political party which then determines the opinions of the supporters.

The people choose the representative of a political party based on which one they hate the least instead of discussing the views of the party as a whole. The American people discuss, or rather argue, about the party representatives as if they will go on an unstoppable rampage if elected as president and that one will most likely do less damage than the other. The representative chosen to be president is determined based on how their comments are misinterpreted by the public, not what the comments were intended to mean and not by the ideals which the representative represents.

Sounds silly right?

Well there is a much better way to run our government, and that is the way that it was originally designed to run. A good way to start doing that is by voting for a third party representative in the upcoming election.

What are these third parties you say? They are many political groups that are not the two main parties. The larger third parties include the Libertarian party and the Green party but there are many more that cover every possible view on nearly any political issue.

There are people who say that voting for a third party is a waste of your vote, mainly because of the slim chance that a third party will win the election. When asked if she would vote for a third party which she supported, Sophomore Quinn Adams said “If it was probable that they might have a chance” and that “there’s not really a point if they don’t have a chance.” The large possibility of losing the election seems to be the main problem people have with voting for a third party. In response to the same question Adams was asked, Junior Shana Williams said “If I don’t think the party’s going to win then no.”

Even people who want a third party elected are still against voting for them. “We need a third party but it’s never going to happen” said Henry Lyons, Junior. This logic is also the main reason third parties have such a slim chance of winning the election. If people don’t vote for them they won’t win, if they aren’t going to win people don’t want to vote for them. To fix this problem people have to change their view on third party voting.

Which third party should you vote for? Whichever one you want. The parties are there to represent the people, not the other way around. “If I truly believe in what the party is trying to get done, I’ll vote” Lacey Smith said. When asked the same question Freshman Ben Allan says “depends on what the third parties opinions are.”

It does depend on their opinions, if you don’t agree with them, don’t vote for them.

This is a problem with a two party system; there are so many issues and only two parties so when you side with one, you are almost always having to compromise your stance on a different issue.

The main thing to keep in mind in the election is to remember that you, the voter, are the one who has control of the situation. Don’t feel like you’re one vote doesn’t matter because it does. “If it’s what you believe in, go for it,” sophomore Sarah Myres said. She could not be more right about the voting process. Just remember to, at the very least, actually vote in the election if you are able.

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From Fears to Phobias

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By Elise Maclean What would you do if you were startled in the middle of the night and awoke to see a bloody murderer with an ax standing next to your bed? Horror movies cause children, teenagers, and even adults to believe that this situation and many others will actually happen. The more horror movies you watch, the more likely you will develop nightmares, paranoia, and phobias. You may think otherwise, but horror movies are just a cause of perpetuating fear.

When you’re young, clowns are the funny looking carnival figures with large shoes and a big red nose. Now imagine that silly guy covered in blood holding a knife.

That is not an image you would like to see in real life. Ever seen “Stephen King's IT”?

The movie revolves around a murderous clown by the name of “Pennywise the Dancing Clown.” How’s that for the name of a murderous clown? It doesn’t sound like a clown that would come and kill you or your family right? Wrong. The clown transforms into any figure to exploit the phobias of it’s victim, and that includes murder. I have never liked clowns.

They are creepy and way too nice to feel safe around. There’s always been something suspicious about them, but after seeing this movie, you are bound to develop a phobia of clowns.

Unfortunately, many horror movies are quite realistic. Even though it’s very unlikely, some scenes in horror movies are based on true stories.

“The Strangers,” a horror movie about a young couple who is terrorized by three assailants in a summer home with no means of escape, is inspired by true events. How’s that to freak you out?

There is no doubt that “Psycho,” the horror movie famous for the shower scene where the main character was murdered with a knife in the shower, has caused many phobias of showers.

According to IMDb, “although Janet Leigh was not bothered by the filming of the famous shower scene, seeing it on film profoundly moved her. She later remarked that it made her realize how vulnerable a woman was in a shower. To the end of her life, she always took baths.”

Even though horror movies use fake blood and fake sound effects to film murder scenes, it’s still difficult to realize that it’s fake when it looks so realistic. According to IMDb, “the sound that the knife makes penetrating the flesh [in the shower scene of “Psycho”] is actually the sound of a knife stabbing a casaba melon.” If you can remember that it’s just a melon being stabbed, perhaps the horror movie will be tolerable and you won’t throw your popcorn across the room.

On the plus side, most horror movies have at least one aspect that is not real. With one unrealistic aspect, it is easier to see the horror movie as complete fiction. I try to avoid the horror movies that are based on true events and instead steer towards those that are obviously unreal.

I’ve personally taken the time to see numerous horror movies, and after doing so I have come to the conclusion that if you don’t particularly enjoy horror movies, do not take the time to watch them. If you have a phobia of clowns, don’t watch “Stephen King’s It.” If you believe in zombies, don’t see “The Crazies.”

I admit that horror movies aren’t my favorite. I find them too realistic to be fun, but I watch them anyways. I fear clowns, spiders, and ax murderers, just like the rest of the human race, but horror movies aren’t real. Try to remember that.

Opinions

By Megan DeBruyn It’s getting to be that time of year again. The leaves begin to change colors, carved pumpkins are popping up on porches, and costume stores have stocked up on the latest and greatest get-ups for young and old. For the little ones, Halloween usually entails a night of dressing up in a silly costume and going door to door requesting candy and other goodies. Halloween in high school has a bit of a different ambience.

We are all at an age that unless accompanied by a youngster, trick-or-treating is often considered inappropriate. So, to celebrate the season, we “young adults” take the scarier approach.

Themed parties, haunted houses, and horror flicks are just a couple of the ways we commemorate the occasion.

Not everyone is a fan of being intentionally terrified but even those who have sworn against ever putting a foot inside of a haunted house may have an underlying intrigue for the grotesque. For some reason, humans have a strange attraction to the things they can’t categorize. Slime, for example, is neither a liquid nor a solid. This in-between material, called liminal, was discovered in the early 20th century by anthropologist Arnold van Gennep and further researched

by Victor Turner. Slimy substances disgust us because we are unable to place it in our head. Similarly, horror movie makers incorporate monsters that are neither living nor dead like vampires and zombies to instill fear in their audience.

Those of us who enjoy the scary aspect tied to the holiday are subconsciously preparing ourselves by engaging in these sorts of movies.

According to Language Arts teacher, Sarah Zerwin, watching a horror movie allows you to experience the danger it presents at a safe distance in which you yourself are not vulnerable to the outcome. All the while, we are psychologically gearing up for how we would respond in a similar situation.

So does this mean that those of us who are scary movie addicts will be better prepared for the ever-nearing zombie apocalypse? The answer is yes. That is exactly what it means.

Movie Check List for October:

Photo by Lindsay Barnes

Sinister - In theaters now (R) The Exorcist (R) Insidious (PG-13) Psycho (R) Paranormal Activity (R) The Shining (R)

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21

Entertainment

Album Reviews

Free Magic- Medeski, Martin, and Wood

By Eamonn Morris Medeski, Martin, and Wood’s newest album may be an acoustic set, but don’t let that fool you. The trio, known for their jam-band attitude and acid-jazz/avant-garde fusion experiments, is in top form, and there are some gloriously weird sounds to be heard in this live set, recorded in 2007 but released on September 25th.

The album begins with “Doppler,” an improvisation that begins with the band members on thumb piano, toy piano, accordion, and other unusual instruments. With this configuration they vamp over a repetitive figure; eventually Chris Wood starts bowing his bass, and gradually the other band members shift over to their usual instruments, with John Medeski on piano and Billy Martin on drums. From that point the song wanders from a heavy rock vamp into a swing section, ultimately ending in a masterful solo from Wood, whose bass issues a deep, warm tone.

After the opening track comes “Blues for Another Day,” which is closer to straight-ahead jazz than anything else on the album, although Martin’s sharp, hard-driving drum patterns and Medeski’s angular piano chords keep the song well outside the mainstream. “Free Magic” is a Cage-ian improv that sees Medeski get some enthrallingly strange, muted sounds out of his piano while Martin rustles away at the percussion chair and Wood bows his bass again, this time a little more maliciously. “Where’s Sly?” is a weird kind of swing tune that can’t really be put under a particular style, but its much more relaxed tempo makes it a resting point in what’s otherwise a pretty active set of tunes. The set culminates in a rollicking medley of the classics “Nostalgia in Times Square” and “Angel Race,” which sees the band move into more conventional territory before going completely out again, with Medeski banging o u t gigantic chord clusters over extremely loud, erratic rhythms from Martin.

This live set shows a side of MMW that fans of their usual electronic-infused, guest-starstudded MO haven’t really seen. This is not to say the band has gone wrong with either approach; it mostly goes to show the incredible versatility of these amazing musicians.

Transit of Venus- Three Days Grace

By Alex Ray

I have fond memories of listening to Three Days Grace’s older songs as a kid. I would ride my bike to school to the soundtrack of “Over and Over,” “Never Too Late,” and “Riot,” and “I Hate Everything About You” (which actually isn’t as dark and dismal as it sounds) and always find new surprises in the songs.

They all had different tempos, different sounds, and arguably different genres in the same album.

Needless to say, on October 2nd I found “Transit of Venus” on iTunes and I was enthusiastic about what the new album would bring.

“Transit of Venus” is very much like their previous work. Extremely catchy, high tempo choruses dot the musical landscape of strong lyrics performed by Adam Gontier and solid background in-

Babel- Mumford and Sons

By Luke Schneider Mumford and Sons climbed to the top of the charts with their new album, Babel, and their success and acclaim are well deserved. Without losing its distinct rough, acoustic sound, the British folk rock band introduced a new revamped, electric edge to its repertoire of music.

Huge group vocals and throbbing bass drum remain a cornerstone in Mumford and Sons choruses, but the group has carefully spared space for the dramatic ballads like “Ghosts That We Know” and “Below My Feet” to run their course on this record. Tracks such as “Whispers In the Dark” and “Holland Road” offer cinematic tension with aggressive acoustic picking and background piano layers.

Mumford and Sons chart a dissimilar path of styles in “Hopeless Wanderer,” opening with a lone piano riff and then breaking into a clean-sounding, rapid-attack electric guitar and group vocal melody for its chorus. Mumford and Sons’ reveals their true talent by incorporating new styles of songwriting while weaving the familiar acoustic energy that earned them their early success.

Lyrically, Mumford has made many references to spirituality on the new release. Religious allusions and reflections have generally been a part of Mumford and Sons’ lyrical direction, but this record in particular seems to speak to a rebirth for the group. In the past, Mumford and Sons songs have been fearless to delve into self-criticism and self-discovery. In the chorus of one B-side favorite, “Hopeless Wanderer,” Mumf o r d sings, at a near scream, the phrase “Hold me fast, ‘cause I’m a hopeless wanderer.” In an earlier track, the chorus chants, “I know my weakness, know my voice, and I’ll believe in grace and choice.”

Leaning on direct lyrics and descriptive imagery, Marcus Mumford weaves a dark and gripping story in each one Babel’s tracks. New fans and faithful followers alike will have no trouble losing themselves in the dramatic telling of Mumford and Sons most current musical odyssey.

Photo Credit: Rachael Kaye

strumentals led by lead guitarist Barry Stock.

The problem with this is that this specific style of alternative metal is too much like their previous work. I was hoping for some older style tracks and some with different elements, to keep me guessing. I was unsurprised--yet very disappointed-- when I found that this album is almost a carbon copy of their previous work in a Boston-esque show of unoriginality. This is not to say that I’m completely displeased with the album. I simply don’t think it was worth buying, though maybe my expectations were raised too high by their previous work.

However, if you are new to the Three Days Grace’ scene, it is a solid album. Built with strong classic rock roots, it combines some electronic sounds with the ever-present set of electric guitar, bass, and drums to create a smooth mixture of melodic tunes.

“Sign of the Times,” the album opener, starts with a soft, intriguing, melodic intro, accompanied by Gontier’s raspy vocals. Next, as seen many

times before with Three Days Grace, they impeccably transition to the fast-paced, catchy chorus.

“Happiness” has its beginnings with a fast-paced guitar riff, followed immediately with the chorus, in which Gontier sings “Happiness/straight from the bottle/when real life’s too hard to swallow,” recognizing alcohol abuse as a common form of dealing with problems. These songs both have a story to tell, and those just scratch the surface of the album.

Some rock/alternative bands have hit-and-miss albums such as Guns N’ Roses’ “Use Your Illusion II” and Green Day’s “American Idiot.” They have some standout songs and some that are simply not to the level of the rest. Three Days Grace did a fantastic job of ensuring the same did not come of “Transit of Venus.”

For new listeners, this is a great album with a sturdy background of music. For those that have heard Three Days Grace before: be warned. It may be a disappointment.

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Entertainment

Candy Wars Twix

By Eliana Goldstein It’s gooey. It’s crunchy. It’s got chocolate AND caramel AND a cookie. I can’t think of a way to make this any more of a catch-all sweet tooth snack. Unless you wrapped it in gummy worms or something like that.

Hershey Kisses

By Alex Flynn Kisses are the perfect size to quickly satisfy your constant chocolate craving! The milky chocolate goodness instantly melts in your mouth. No candy can compare to the perfection of a chocolate kiss.

Reesees

By Kali Crossen The perfect combination of chocolate and sweet peanut butter. The crisp outside of the dark or light chocolate, depending on preference, is satisfying when bitten into. The chocolate cover breaks and immediately the peanut butter taste overwhelms your senses.

Photo Credit: Alex Flynn Rocket Fizz candy store located on Pearl Street is filled with all types of candy!

Skittles

By Elise Maclean What other candy has 5 flavors? If you’re in the mood for some delicious candy that doesn’t contain chocolate, skittles are the way to go.

Each little droplet of fun is a taste you’re sure to love. You can chew right away, or keep them in your mouth to savor their goodness. Skittles are sold year round, but are a perfect fit for your trick or treat candy bag. Taste the rainbow!

Candy Corn

By Paige Lindgren Just like Girl Scout cookies, you cannot get candy corn year round so you must stock up and savor this sugary, waxy goodness while its available! This halloween candy is definitely superior to the rest as it knocks all other candies down with its unique Halloween spirit that’s sure to quench any sweet tooth.

KitKats

By Kimberly Brown Break time anytime! A crunchy chocolate covered confection that makes you want to drop your work and just melt. They’re also the perfect size for a quick break that doesn’t take away from your study time. If you’re feeling friendly you can split it and share with the person next to you.

Butter Fingers

By Savaronne Ammann Imagine if this world obtained a candy that has a crunchy delectable caramelized peanut butter center, and perhaps dipped in a thin soft layer of chocolate...oh thats right it exists it’s called a Butterfinger- or in other words, Dank Bars.

They are better than kit kats because they do not make an annoying noise, and they don’t fall out of the bag all over the floor like skittles.

Butterfingers are perfectly soft, crunchy, and sweet, that is why “nobody gonna lay a finger on my Butter Finger”.

Royal Banner Pisces (February 19-March 20) Simplisticity and easy-goingness are to you as plaid is to hipsters. Deciding NOT to shake it up, you’re going to stick to classic costumes and play it safe this year.

Aquarius (January 20- February 18) Have you ever wondered what it would feel like to wear a bonnet? Or maybe britches?

Wonder no more, for this Halloween you will dress up as something historical from one of the many decades this Earth has seen.

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Aries (March 21-April 19) Your aggressive and energetic nature can get you into trouble, especially this Halloween.

You’re more than likely going to get into a fight, but it’s okay: you’ll be wearing a mask.

Entertainment Taurus (April 20-May 20) Let’s face it, Halloween is for kids.

You’re too cool to dress up. You’ve got better stuff to do, like watch a movie or play spin the bottle. Stop wasting your time and just drop this newspaper.

HOROSCOPES

Leo (July 23- August 22) Bad jokes and silly puns may cause groans amongst your friends, but this Hallow’s Eve you’ll be the clown of the party.

Scorpio (October 23- November 21) The literature-loving freak inside you requires you to dress up as your favorite fictional character. Or else the odds won’t be in your favor.

Libra (September 23- October 22) The likelihood of you actually becoming famous is very slim. So play pretend for one night and be one of your favorite celebs.

Legally Blonde The Musical

By Shoshana Pollack

Cancer (June 21-July 22) Your innovative and industrious (read: “cheap”) ways will help you find the best deal at your local Michael’s or other thrifty craft store to make your costume.

By Artemis Wysteria

Capricorn (December 22January 19) Your face! It scares me! Or at least it should October 31 when you dress up as something that will really scare the socks off most people at Fairview.

Sagittarius (November 22December 21) You no longer have to miss being a child. Take your favorite aspect of your childhood and relive it in your costume.

Gemini (May 21-June 20) I see the next step for you and your significant other, MATCHING COSTUMES! ...Just do it.

Virgo (August 23-September 22) Your years of disappointment will soon come to an end, Netflix will finally resolve its shortcomings, and add that show/movie you’ve been waiting for.

Celebrate by dressing up as a geek or something relatively geeky.

Photo Credit: Ann Strand

Based on the popular movie Legally Blonde, Legally Blonde the Musical is a funny and quirky show about Elle Woods, a blonde Sorority girl who gets dumped by her boyfriend for being too much of a Marilyn and not enough of a Jackie. She follows him to Harvard Law School in hopes of winning him back, and chaos ensues.

“The show is really hilarious and incredibly witty,” said Kay-Kay Rosmarin, who plays Paulette, the bubbly hairdresser.

The cast and crew have been working hard for the past six weeks.

“The show is so much more about the journey than the end product” Sierra Pilkington, who plays Margo, the head cheerleader, said.The cast has been able to see the show come together from nothing.

The actors put in two hours daily plus seven hours on Saturdays. The process has been “stressful but fun” Pilkington said.

The crew is also working hard to prepare for the show. The set is complex. “This is the biggest set we’ve had so far,” said Eliza Capalitz.

Lanny Boyer, Fairview’s new theater teacher and the head of crew, has changed the process dramatically.

“This year has been more organized,” said Capalitz. “This year it’s been a more ambitious design and build, with bigger, better and more intricate pieces” Boyer said.

The set is very mobile, and not typical of musical theater. “The lights stay up,” said Boyer, “and the curtains stay opened. Everything takes place in front of the audience.”

Legally Blonde is going to be a must see, unique, clever and hilarious.

“It’s going to be a really fantastic show and everyone should come see it!” Capalitz said.

Legally Blonde will be playing November 7th through 11th and tickets will be sold online starting October 26, and at the box office at the top of the school starting October 30.

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Knight Watch

PHotos

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Photos by Owyn Cooper

Listen in to RADIO ROJO to hear how to send in your photos and See Yourself in the Paper!

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In these photos: 1. Seniors Jared Sanderson, Ian Pyle, Noah Jacobsen, Sam Kennedy and Conner Skeengaar cheer on a competitive game of SSX Tricky in the Senior Lounge 2. Students hang out during an off period 3. Annie Strongwater and Matt Jensen, seniors, blow off steam in the Lounge 4. A student studies chemistry in the Library