The Skier Scribbler - September 2021

Established 2010 in Aspen,CO September 2021 ASPEN HIGH SCHOOL

THE

SKIER SCRIBBLER Local chef Mawa McQueen’s recipe for empowering the youth of Aspen Hannah Smith, Editor-in-Chief

Mawa McQueen is a renowned character in the Aspen community. According to the Aspen Times, Mawa’s Kitchen holds notoriety for its bright and beautiful display of cuisine. At AHS, local chef Mawa McQueen is known for her empowerment of high school students.

Mawa McQueen does not just fuel others through her food, but also through her “bright and beautiful” display of wisdom.

In past years, McQueen has educated AHS IB Business students on real-life business procedures and decision-making through Mawa’s kitchen. On August 27th, McQueen attended an AHS women empowerment group, Shakti power paddle boarding, hosted by technology specialist Kim Zimmer. McQueen shared her unique story of resiliency with the high school students.

“She [Mawa McQueen] presented

herself as a very confident and outgoing woman and she was super charismatic in a way of telling us her personal story,” AHS sophomore and attendee of the empowerment group, Maddie McAllister, a Skier Scribbler Staff Writer said.

McQueen spent over 12 years defying difficult odds to craft her business. Like many entrepreneurs, she did not find success with her first business endeavor, and spent over a decade rebuilding her business foundation. McQueen is now thriving doing what she loves: cooking, and spreading love and human connection through her food.

According to McQueen, the intention behind sharing her story of resiliency among youth is to empower them.

“I think it [sharing a story] helps people to be more resilient, and girls to be more resilient, to be more powerful.

Sometimes it only takes one word to empower someone for life. Be kind and

see good in people, see that [you] are the future generation. You guys can create a better world for everybody,” said McQueen.

According to McAllister, McQueen’s intended effect to instill resiliency in youth was achieved within the women’s empowerment group. “One of my biggest takeaways was how she [Mawa McQueen] never gave up,” McAllister said Mawa McQueen has reserved a nook of her generous heart for high school students, as she sees the potential and power in younger generations.

“What gravitates me [to high school students is] because I think they are the future, and they have a voice, and they need to be heard. I think they don’t know how powerful they are for the future,” McQueen said .

McQueen continued by addressing high schoolers as a whole.

“You guys have no idea how powerful you are, or how you make things happen, and how change can happen. If only you knew your power, then, you can fulfill your destiny. You can bring more change.”

As stated by McQueen, younger generations, such as high schoolers, are seemingly unaware of the power they hold towards creating change and innovation in the world around them. The “recipe” for youth to grasp this sense of power, according to McQueen, is to promote resiliency, determination, and self-value.

“Never underestimate your power.

Never ever underestimate your power.

The day you don’t want to do something even more so you should do it, whether it’s something to empower or something that’s good for you. Never underestimate your power,” McQueen said.

Photo by Kim Zimmer Mawa McQueen and Kim Zimmer’s women empowerment group, “Shakti Power”, pose .

News

Dress Code

Opinion

A&E

Editorial

Decrypting m.A.A.d City. by Kendrick Lamar

With more than 120 books on the Senate Bill 8, the Texas law which bans nearly all abortions, went way, Caroline Cares is breathinto effect September 1st after the ing new life into the Aspen High School library as AHS’ first librari- Supreme Court’s decision to let it stand. an in four years.

Most states have protected aborThe library is now open from tion rights until 20-24 weeks of 8:00am to 3:45 pm, and Cares pregnancy, when fetusues are has already begun to transform the space with a plethora of new considered viable or most likely to survive. However, SB-8 now bans titles. New arrivals include abortions in Texas after six weeks Continues on page 2

Continues on page 7

Kendrick Lamar is one of the most iconic west coast rappers of the modern day. Kendrick’s second studio album, Good Kid, M.A.A.D City. These stories are based around Kendrick’s home city, Compton, California.

Continues on page 10

Table of contents NEWS

1

OPINION

7

A&E

10

PAGE 2 SKIER NEWS AHS Dress Code enforced for the first time in years September 2021

Sophia Greiper, News Editor Aspen High School is no stranger to the controversial topic of dress codes.

This year, the dress code is being more strongly enforced for the first time in 21 years.

According to AHS’ student handbook, the dress code was put into place to help students concentrate, reduce disciplinary problems, and increase school order and safety.

Tameira Wilson, an AHS history teacher, believes that the dress code is necessary to prepare students for the professional world.

“I really, really believe that part of our job is not just preparing you for college, but preparing you for adulthood. And I think that sometimes we’re almost so casual in our relationships, in this case, in appearance, that that translates into when you’re an adult,” Wilson said.

AHS has had a dress code in place for years; however, in previous years, the dress code was not enforced, leaving many students unaware that AHS had a dress code. Wilson attributes this enforcement mostly to the changes in leadership AHS had this year, including a new Principal and Assistant Principal.

“I think with the change in leadership, we just have different eyes on the same issues. And one of the issues that came through was that idea of dressing for the environment that you’re in,” Wilson said.

“Again, that connection to-if we’re

preparing you to go off into the world where that is an expectation that you dress appropriately for whatever environment you’re in-that idea of being professional and looking professional,” Wilson continues.

Many students have expressed concerns with the new dress code and the reason behind instituting and enforcing one. Elleana Bone, a junior at AHS, does not agree with the dress code.

“I feel like the dress code is kind of telling women what they should be able to wear and do with their bodies,” Bone said. “It ends up just being a lot of body shaming, because it’s really hard to enforce.”

In an attempt to revise the dress code and to create a more fair one, Bone created a petition that was spread around the school. Bone’s main goal was to create a more flexible dress code with less strict parameters. For example, she wanted a dress code that allowed students to wear shirts that showed some midriff, and to not have parameters on clothing items such as tank top straps or shorts.

“It’s very frustrating to feel like when you finally feel confident, you have to be scared of other people thinking that you look too sexual. I think it’s also just kind of, instead of me feeling good about myself, it’s like other people are objectifying me that I look a certain way,” Bone said.

Photo by Sophia Greiper According to the AHS dress code, this is an “appropriate” outfit for school

The librarian who “Cares”: a new age for AHS library Cares is hosting a book With more than 120 books club starting October 13th at on the way, Caroline Cares the Pitkin County Library, is breathing new life into with free books and snacks the Aspen High School liprovided. She is also planbrary as AHS’ first librarian ning a remodel of the library in four years. next summer.

The library is now open “Right now there are plans from 8:00am to 3:45 pm, with architects to make it and Cares has already begun [the library] kind of more to transform the space with cozy,” Cares said. “There’s a plethora of new titles. going to be a fireplace and New arrivals include fiction furniture that we can move such as I Am Not Your Peraround really easily.” fect Mexican Daughter by Cares encourages students Erika Sánchez, non-fiction to come by the library or vislike The Hill We Climb: it the library Schoology page The Inaugural Poem for if they have feedback about the Country by Amanda C. the vision for the space, or if Gorman, and graphic novels they just want to talk. such as Mooncakes and “If anyone’s bored or Pumpkinheads. wants to play chess or ScrabIn addition to books, ble during their free periods, Cares brings a passion for you’re welcome to,” Cares her job, which was sparked said, adding that if students when she met her librarneed an SSR reading for ian at Colorado College, literature class or a specific who inspired her to earn a title, she can order books. master’s degree in Library “I’m here for the students Photo by Harper Axelman Science. and teachers and I’m here for a One of the displays created by Cares, who will also be showcasing new titles during Banned Book Week on Sep“I got a job at Basalt Re- tember 26th to October 2nd. resource. If they need anything gional Library working with with research or help with an services in Basalt for seven years before in public libraries is great, it has its own kids and I fell in love with it,” Cares essay or anything like that...this is the she came to AHS, a change that she’s challenges,” Cares said. “I’m really said. place to come,” Cares said. “loving”. enjoying working with students and Cares served as the head of youth “I realized that even though working teachers.”

Harper Axelman, News Editor

NEWS What science says about vaccine September 2021

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efficacy against Delta Strain Oceane Jones, Opinion Editor

As society goes back to school and work, stress around the Delta strain of COVID spreads across the country.

MASKS & VACCINATIONS Masks are still mandatory for many institutions, including Aspen High School, even with the majority of Americans being vaccinated. According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), 177.1 M Americans — 51.6% of the total population — have

relatively small percentage of individuals, meaning that vaccinated individuals that are diagnosed with COVID-19 are considered ‘breakout cases.’

Currently, we lack statistics as to what percentage of fully vaccinated have been infected with the Delta Variant.

Vaccines are playing a vital role in limiting the spread of the Delta Variant. The risk of breakthrough infection of vaccinated individuals remains low, and high vaccination

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Aspen’s best eats in honor of Food and Wine Andie Sherman, Staff Writer

Photo Courtesy of Nation’s Restaurant News Logo for Aspen’s hosting of the festival event Food and Wine.

Photo Courtesy of Mikayla O’Callaghan Luke O’Callaghan, AVH Operating Room Purchasing Agent, receives his vaccine as part of the 1A group in early January.

received the full course of vaccinations necessary to protect against COVID-19.

Even vaccinated individuals can catch, and spread, the Delta Strain. As the CDC emphasizes, “[The vaccines] are not 100% effective, and some fully vaccinated people will become infected (called a breakthrough infection) and experience illness.”

The COVID-19 vaccines approved by the FDA in the United States are highly effective against the prevention of hospitalization, serve infections, and death, including against the Delta Variant.

DELTA VARIANT The Delta Variant is currently the predominant COVID-19 variant in the United States.

According to the CDC, the Delta Variant is more than twice as infectious, and spreads faster, than the early forms of SARS-Co-2 (the virus that causes COVID-19), including in vaccinated individuals.

Vaccinated individuals are still catching the new strain of the virus, yet it is still a

coverage will reduce the spread of the Delta variant and the formation of new variants.

Furthermore, when fully vaccinated people do carry the Delta variant, they spread it to others for a shorter period of time.

ANTI-VAX & ANTI-MASK Unvaccinated individuals remain the greatest concern to the health and government officials, as they are not protected from the new Delta Strain and can spread the virus for a longer period of time.

According to major health organizations, anti-Vaxers and anti-maskers threaten to bring the world back into lockdown, as they are the least protected from the Delta Strain.

Getting fully vaccinated is the best way to protect yourself, your family, and your community, as well as your freedom as an individual. Continuing to wear masks indoors and in public areas, in addition to getting vaccinated, will help heal the world and bring our nation back to normal.

In honor of food and wine weekend. The Skier Scribbler is celebrating the best restaurants Aspen has to offer. From delicious casual eats, to wonderful sit down dinners, Aspen provides an array of wonderful food, produced by locals, for locals.

Meat and Cheese Located on restaurant row, Meat and Cheese menu hosts an array of fabulous dishes made with local products. Adject to the restaurant is a farm shop with delicious meats, cheeses, and dips.

Francesca’s Pasta Market & Empanadas Located in the ABC, Francesesas mixes Argentinian and Italian dishes, made with seasonal and local ingredients leaving its customers more than satisfied.

White House Tavern Located on restaurant row, the White House Tavern offers a simple menu with decadent sandwiches, compared with distinctive liquors. They truly offer a menu fit for a president.

Clark’s Oyster Bar Located on 517 East Hyman Avenue, Clark’s Oyster Bar is a neighborhood spot offering delicious seafood fare. With an impeccable ambiance, the food isn’t the only reason to go.

Steakhouse 316 Located on restaurant row, with a dimly lit ambiance and wonderful cuts of meat. Eating at the Steakhouse transports you to a NYC speakeasy.

L’Hostaria Located on 620 E Hyman Ave, L’hostaria is a traditional trattoria which has been an Aspen favorite for 24 years. With a large menu specializing in traditional Italian cuisine, some of their food tastes like Milan.

Cache Cache Located on restaurant row, Cache Cache has been open since the 80s, offering an impeccable wine list, and merican cuisine with French influence. Cache Cache’s dimly lit modern space is made for not just a meal, it’s made for an experience.

Photo Courtesy of Ann Larie Valentine 2021 Food and Wine Festival in Aspen, Colorado.

September 2021

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NEWS

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Mask Mandate Clarifications

Lauren Kinney, Staff Writer Aspen High School students are continuing to wear masks at school this fall in an effort to stop the spread of COVID-19, as well as encouraging vaccination for students and teachers.

On September 16th, Pitkin County’s indoor mask mandate was finalized, as well as social distance requirements.

AHS assistant principal, Becky Oliver, is working hard to ensure that students wear their masks in school in support of the Pitkin County mandate.

“The Board of Health has mandated that we have to wear masks. It’s not a matter of being vaccinated or not vaccinated. We just all have to wear them,” Oliver said.

Students understand the requirements for a mask mandate and appreciate the extra layer of protection it provides. Ben Clark, a sophomore, is one of the students that value the mask mandate.

“I feel safer with a mask because masks are proven to work. With a family that I see a lot, I want to keep them safe as

Photo byLauren Kinney Masked, Aspen High School students walking to classs

well. It’s not only me that I’m putting at risk. I wear a mask just to protect me and my family,” Clark said.

Though most students like Clark understand the importance of maks, some

students feel they have already done their part by getting the vaccine and want to stop wearing masks.

“I received both the first and second dose of the Pfizer vaccine with an 87% effectiveness against contracting COVID and a 95% less chance of being hospitalized. My personal opinion is that masks are very obstructive and uncomfortable.

It should be recognized that I do my part to help stop the Coronavirus,” Nico Smith said.

However, the mandate is not permanent.

“If we breach the 70% vaccination rate at the high school, the Board of Health may consider releasing the mandate; if our local numbers are below the CDC red flag levels. We kind of have to wait and see how the community members impact those numbers,” Oliver said.

Clark believes that stopping the spread of COVID-19 should be simple.

“You can just remember for yourself to keep your mask on, and be a role model for others,” Clark said.

Devious Licks, More Like Criminal Charges Maddie Mcallister, Staff Writer

tional. School staff across the country have been attempting to stop this trend by speaking out to parents, students, and other members of the community about this problem AHS vice-principal, Becky Oliver, addressed the vandalism at AHS in an email sent to parents and students on Thursday, September 16th.

“We have video surveillance and anonymous tips about students stealing and damaging school property,” Oliver said in the email.

“Prior to pursuing criminal charges, we decided to give all students involved the opportunity to come forward, return stolen items, and admit to what we believe to be a school/Tik Tok prank. All students involved in this vandalism please contact Becky, Sarah, or Cam Photo by Maddie McAllister BEFORE 3:00 pm on Friday,” Anonymous upperclassman stages a Devious Lick.

Oliver stated in the Sept. 16 email.

The well-known “devious licks’’ trend Most items were stolen from school has hit hundreds of schools across the bathrooms. Across the country, ttems nation, including AHS. that have been stolen include toilets and The Tik Tok trend started Sept. 1, soap dispensers. According to CNN, “In 2021, and involves students sneaking into school after-hours to steal or destroy response, some schools are locking bathrooms for large portions of the day.” items from bathrooms and classrooms.

The extreme popularity students gain Students then post it on TikTok for views by participating in trends encourages and likes. people to join, no matter the consequencHowever, the impacts of this trend es. have left schools damaged and dysfunc-

“It appears nothing is too big or too small to take home and students can even score some likes if they just spot the damage and film it,” CNN stated Although students could face criminal

charges, they are continuing to participate in the trend.

“It’s from Tik Tok and just for fun, no harm in it,” Anonymous AHS student said.

Photo by Brenon Reed Mens bathroom at AHS missing a soap dispenser as a result of a Devious Lick

NEWS Women Empowering the 14ers Food and Wine September 2021

By Maddie McAllister, Staff Writer

Climbing above 14,000 feet is something not many of us are capable of doing, but for those few who can, they aim for the top.

Local legend Christy Mahon shares her story about being the first woman to climb and repel down every fourteener in Colorado. Mahon, who also is an outdoor enthusiast, works as a Development Director at ACES. “I think a lot of my passion has been living here for the past 14 years surrounded by so many opportunities,” Mahon said.

Mahon enjoys sharing her insight and inspiration of getting to the peak with others.

“Often, climbing mountains is very much like life. You need a lot of perseverance, you need a lot of grit, you have to be really resilient, and you can’t give up. I think I liked the challenge of knowing that I could do something that maybe I tried to do before, I didn’t know I had the potential inside of me,” Mahon said.

Mahon’s love for climbing goes beyond her. She enjoys traveling all around the world to hike and climb with her husband.

“I think having a right hand man is important to accomplish my goals. I was really lucky to find a really incredible partner, who is prepared, thoughtful and was a good mentor, and I think that that was a real secret to me figuring out that I actually would become a good mentor and partner and so I really was able to learn mostly from my mentor or my now husband,” Mahon stated.

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Mahon says, “I think it’s important to build skills slowly,” and continues to share her story.

“I think it’s important to build skills slowly. I didn’t go climb Capital first. I did 53 Mountains before that and a lot more because I had to even do them two or three times again, and so I think it’s important to realize that we have that strength inside of us. So just to render ourselves in the right environment with the right people, but I think the real secret is to find out a lot of grit and resilience is hard, you have to teach yourself that,” Mahon said.

Mahon loves sharing inspiration with others who might use it later.

“A lot of it is building that mental strength-being okay with failing and being okay with feeling like you’re not doing everything right. I think it’s both surrounding yourself with the right environment, surrounding yourself with the right people, but then also learning that you have the potential within you. So confidence is key,” Mahon said.

Finally, Mahon speaks about climbing and also more goals that she wants to achieve.

“There are 54 official fourteeners in Colorado, and then I skied the 100 highest peaks.

So those are called centennial peaks. Now I am trying to ski all of the bicentennial peaks, or the top 200 peaks. And so the project continues. I can’t iagine myself accomplishing that,” Mahon said.

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by Sophia Greiper, News Editor

This year, Food and Wine, the annual festival where people come from all over to experience different cuisines and a variety of alcoholic beverages, was held from September 10 to September 12 and, due to the Coronavirus, featured more restrictions than in previous years.

In order to stay safe during the pandemic, officials at the event checked vaccination cards or required a recent negative COVID-19 test before even getting on the shuttle. For volunteers, Food and Wine required a negative COVID-19 test or proof of vaccination, and the festival encouraged all volunteers to wear masks while they were working.

Jane Larsen, a French teacher at Aspen High School, volunteered for

the Food and Wine festival this year and felt that the festival was very safe in regards to the pandemic.

“I heard that they usually sell 5000 tickets, and this year they only sold 2500 tickets,” Larsen stated.

Food and Wine has been held in Aspen for over 40 years now and brings in tourism for local businesses. Larsen mentioned the benefit of having Food and Wine in the fall, instead of in the summer, as the Snowmass Balloon Festival was also happening around the same time, which could bring in more tourists.

“I just think it brings a lot of people into the community, which is good for our economy, you know, recovering from the pandemic,” Larsen said.

“You need a lot of perseverance, you need a lot of grit, you have to be really resilient, and you can’t give up. ” -Christy Mahon

Photo by Kimberly Zimmer Christy Mahon inspiring AHS students on Ex Ed week, August 31, 2021.

NEWS Traditions being taken from seniors September 2021

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Kayla Tehrani, Editor-in-Chief Becoming an upperclassman at AHS comes with perks. As students rise through the ranks, they move closer to the boat, and finally reach the boat as seniors.

The 2021/22 school year marks a shift in tradition. On the first day of school students walked into the commons to see long lunch tables placed across the yellow brick road. Seniors were also told that the boat no longer belongs to them, so if an underclassman wants to sit there as well, they can.

A few years ago, traditions like bottle dropping were regularly being enforced.

Since then bottle dropping has stopped, but taking away the boat and the yellow brick road from seniors is almost too far.

The boat and yellow brick road traditions are not harmful to anyone, nor are they encouraging hazing in any way.

They are basic rights that AHS students look forward to as they get older and are a key part of AHS culture.

Seniors understand that taking these rights away is part of an effort to make the school a more inclusive place, but it is taking away from the excitement of senior year.

An AHS senior believes that the senior traditions should stay the senior traditions instead of becoming all school traditions.

“Seniors before us taught us lessons; things like the yellow brick road, the

boat, and not to stand in the middle of the hallway. The administration is saying that things like the yellow brick road are too dividing between freshmen and everyone else,” they said.

Some seniors also believe that certain rights should be left to look forward to.

When those things are open to everyone, there isn’t much excitement for senior year and no separation between the seniors and the underclassmen.

“We should’ve been able to tell them from the beginning the basic rules, so they have something to look forward to when they are seniors like we did when we were just starting out,” AHS senior added.

AHS Head Person Lindsey Heineken sees both sides of the new changes. She believes these traditions should be continued as long as there can be a fine line between senior privilege and inclusivity.

“I think traditions are important and fun, especially when you get older. It personally gave me something to look forward to when I was younger, and now that I’m older I feel like it’s fun,” Heineken continues. “However, I understand how some traditions come from a place of hazing and I feel like that doesn’t have a place within our school.”

Ellie Dangler, also a senior at AHS, believes that being inclusive and welcoming to underclassmen is a good idea for the school, but the traditions that have

been going on for a long time should stay the same.

“The boat is a great example of something I looked forward to when I was a freshman that I now get to be a part of.

As a freshman, you know the boat is

for the seniors only, and the first day of school when all of us got to sit on the boat and see everyone, it was a good feeling of us making it to senior year,” Dangler says.

Photo by Kayla Tehrani Long, red lunch tables placed on Yellow Brick Road in lunch room in an effort to create an inclusive environment

Seniors struggle with constant schedule changes Stella Iverson, Staff Writer

day, each 50 minutes.

During the 2019/2020 in-person school year, there were six periods a day, each one hour. Both of these schedules included short or “wacky” Wednesdays,short days where school was from 8 am to 1:55 pm.

In the middle of the pandemic, AHS had two different schedules for online school. The first 2020/2021 schedule for online school included four periods a day, each one hour and 15 minutes, with a two-hour lunch break. The back-to-school schedule for in-person was the same, with the exception of one-hour long lunch breaks, and Wednesdays off of school for students and teachers to have one on one meetings if needed.

Photo by Stella Iverson This year, the schedule has Screenshot of AHS 2021-2022 bell schedule changed drastically. On MonClass of 2022 has had an interesting days students rotate through and everchanging four years of high all 8 periods each 40 minutes long. school, especially when it comes to their There are four periods a day on Tuesday schedules. through Friday, with 90 minute classes, During the 2018/2019 in-person school with no more short Wednesdays. year, students attended seven classes a Sadie Bayko, a senior at AHS, feels

that the constant schedule changes have disrupted her school life.

“You get used to one schedule and then it changes again, when you get the next one and it just gets confusing,” Bayko said.

Bayko has concerns about how the new 90 minute class may be too long for students to focus.

“I learned better with shorter classes, it isn’t like in the long period. Classes just cannot pay attention for that long.

And so having that break, and then shorter classes just benefits me and I

think really the whole school is better,” Bayko said.

Hannah Smith, also a senior at AHS, shares how she may not like the longer classes but as a student athlete having 4 periods a day makes her life easier.

“I miss school frequently. Having only four classes in the span of one day is extremely useful for me as I’m only missing four classes rather than say eight in a day. So even though I might struggle with the length of the class I appreciate it more than our eight periods in a day schedule,” Smith Said.

Photo by Lysa Reed AHS Seniors pose for a photo celebrating their last first day of school

PAGE 7 SKIER OPINION Editorial: A War on Women’s Reproductive Rights September 2021

by Océane Jones, Opinion Editor, Harper Axelman, News Editor, and Hannah Smith, Editor-in-chief

Senate Bill 8, (SB-8), the Texas law which bans nearly all abortions, went into effect on September 1st.

Since the ’70s, most states have blocked laws banning abortion before 20-24 weeks of pregnancy, when fetusues are considered viable or most likely to survive. However, in Texas, Senate Bill 8 now bans abortions after six weeks of pregnancy, when 85 to 90 percent of abortions happen, according to the New York Times, and has no exceptions for rape or incest.

The SB-8 law is enforceable in an unprecedented way, authorizing private citizens to sue anyone who “aides” in an abortion, including a woman’s doctor, family, and friends, and even the person who drives her to the clinic. People who are involved can also sue the woman receiving the abortion.

If the case succeeds, the plaintiff is entitled to $10,000, which could give people, known as “bounty hunters”, an incentive to trick pregnant women by pretending to support their abortion in order to gain the financial reward.

What is Senate Bill 8 (SB-8)?

SB-8 alleges that the ‘fatal heartbeat’ is detectable at six weeks, but health officials have disagreed with this statement. Also, according to the American Pregnancy Association, most women don’t know that they are pregnant at this stage.

Doctors say that when a woman misses her period she is already 4 weeks pregnant, giving her only “...two weeks to recognize her condition, confirm the pregnancy with a test, make a decision about how to manage the pregnancy, and obtain an abortion,” according to the New York Times.

In addition to forcing abrupt decisions about abortion, SB-8 is a threat to female health because it does not promote fewer abortions, but more illegal abortions.

After the death of two women due to unsafe abortion, an Argentinian doctor said that, “Illegality forces the poorest women to use the most desperate practices,” in an article by The Atlantic.

Regards to the Constitution: SB-8 is unconstitutional, as a citizen’s civil rights are protected under Amendment 14 of the Constitution, and according to Roe v. Wade (1973), a women’s

right to an abortion is protected under these civil rights.

SB-8 directly goes against this ruling, and thus, against the Supreme Court’s recent interpretations of the Constitution regarding abortions as a civil right. For these reasons, SB-8 is unconstitutional.

However, the Supreme Court failed to block the law on September 1st, with the abbreviated process known as the shadow docket used for “emergency” cases.

Justice Elena Kagan opposed this process, saying that “...the majority’s decision is emblematic of too much of this Court’s shadow docket decisionmaking.”

This is not an experiment, and the Supreme Court must prevent legislation that directly defies the Constitution, the very document that our counties’ laws are founded upon.

Justice Sonia Sotomayor said in her dissent that the law was “plainly unconstitutional”, and Justice John Roberts, who is Conservative, also said, “The desired consequence appears to be to insulate the State from responsibility for implementing and enforcing the regulatory regime.”

The failure of the Supreme Court-appointed Justices, specifically Ruth

Badger Guisberg’s replacement Amy Coney Barrett, to block this law shows their incapability to uphold the laws of the United States Constitution.

Threat to Colorado: Conservative states have been trying to pass destructive laws limiting abortion access for years, but these have always been blocked under US constitutional precedents. However, due to the fact that the Court is no longer upholding Roe vs. Wade, all states now have the ability to restrict abortion to a higher extent, with states such as Florida considering “similar” laws.

Colorado is a swing state and we must show our local and state governments that we do not stand to see our reproductive rights taken away.

We, as editors of the Skier Scribbler, believe that all women deserve equal access to health care and reproductive rights to fight for a world where political beliefs do not govern people’s bodies.

Come to the women’s march on October 2nd at Paepcke Park to show your support of women’s reproductive rights, and help us protect safe abortion in our beloved Colorado!

September 2021

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OPINION

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Seniors and cancelled Ex Eds: How do seniors feel?

Kayla Tehrani, Editor-In-Chief

Many Aspen High School students of all different grades had their Ex Ed trips cancelled because of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. For seniors, this news hit especially hard, with this ex ed being their last.

Starting on August 11, 2021, just a week before school started for AHS, multiple Ex Ed trips were cancelled.

Trips such as Mississippi Civil Rights, Behind the Scenes LA, From Here to Hemingway, and Pacific Soul Surfers were cancelled because it was unsafe.

According to AHS Admin, COVID posed a danger to students within airports and on planes. For the trips on the east coast, there were some places in which hospitals weren’t accessible because they were fully maxed out at the time. The AHS administration claimed they didn’t want students traveling by plane and through airports.

Students with cancelled trips were put on either local trips, or one of the new trips the school created for this situation.

These new trips were Bair Ranch, Gates of Lodore, and Green River Rats. The other options for Ex Ed trips were Shakti SUP and Local Yoga.

The seniors on these local or alternative trips already missed out on Junior year’s Ex Ed from Covid, and were

“...As soon as I was able to get

to know the group and learn about the trip more, I knew I would have fun anyways and that’s exactly what ended up happening, ” -Jesus Morales looking forward to their senior year ex ed trips, especially because they already had been on some of the best trips the school offers.

George Morrison, who was on an ex ed that got cancelled, ended up going on the Gates of Lodore rafting trip. Despite his Ex Ed cancellation, Morrison found a silver lining with his new Ex Ed opportunity. He felt as though his cancelled ex ed created a good experience with a new group of people he didn’t know before.

“Being on the Gates of Lodore trip

helped me meet new people and overall it was a lot better than I thought it would be,” Morrison said.

Jesus Morales, also on the Gates of Lodore rafting trip, was initially on the Behind the Scenes LA trip, which was cancelled in mid-August. He was also upset his ex ed was cancelled, but was able to make the best out of it and have fun.

“Going into the trip after I found out it was cancelled wasn’t great, but as soon as I was able to get to know the

Photos courtesy of AHS yearbook Students pose for a photo on the Gates of Lodore Ex Ed.

group and learn about the trip more, I knew I would have fun anyways and that’s exactly what ended up happening,” Morales said.

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Ex ed through Aspen high schoolers eyes

Photos of college tours, Bike your Siuth Dakota, and Sup Basecamp.

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Decrypting m.A.A.d City. by Kendrick Lamar Brenon Reed, A&E Editor

Kendrick Lamar is one of the most iconic west coast rappers of modern day.

Kendrick’s second studio album, Good Kid, M.A.A.D City, is the making of Kendrick Lamar. These stories are based around Kendrick’s home city, Compton, California. The struggle with poverty, gang violence, and drug use. This description may sound like every rap song, but Lamar doesn’t glorify his past and the experiences he has gone through, but bring the listener back in time and explains what happened and how it influenced him into the man he is today.

Good Kid m.A.A.d City by Kendrick Lamar is a story showing the reality of Kendrick’s coming of age and the results of growing up in Compton.

According to Genius, Kendrick starts out the song with the realization that, after ‘exposing’ his gangster lifestyle, these two rival gangs, Piru bloods and Compton Crips, would put aside their differences because of Kendrick disrespect to their lifestyle.

Lamar’s song states, “If Pirus and Crips all got along They’d probably gun me down by the end of this song Seem like the whole city go against me Every time I’m in the street, I hear— Yawk! Yawk! Yawk! Yawk!” *At the end of the intro, ’Yawk! Yawk!

Yawk! Yawk!’ represents the magnitude of gun violence that has occurred in Kendrick’s neighborhood. This part is said by Schoolboy Q, who was once a Hoover Crip and has used this ad lib in other songs such as “Unnecessary” by Childish Gambino.

Throughout the album, Kendrick goes from place to place throughout his daily life. One recurring theme on the album is meeting up with Sherane, Kendrick’s high school fling.

“Man down, where you from, n***a?

F**k who you know—where you from, my n***a?

Where your grandma stay, huh, my n***a?”

This m.A.A.d city I run, my n***a *Kendrick is pulled over by two men, who ask him about where he is from.

This is important because they don’t ask him why he is there or who he is going to see, but where his grandma lives. If she is from a neighborhood that they don’t like, therefore he is an enemy and will be the “man down.”

“This is not a rap on how I’m slingin’ crack or move cocaine This is cul-de-sac and plenty Cognac and major pain” *Kendrick makes the point very clear that his story is not glorifying drugs and violence, but showing how these influence the youth, such as they influenced Kendrick. Kenny includes cognac in this line to point out the use of alcohol as a coping mechanism.

“Seen a light-skinned n***a with his brains blown out At the same burger stand where *beep*

hang out Now this is not a tape recorder sayin’ that he did it But ever since that day, I was lookin’ at him different That was back when I was nine, Joey packed the nine Pakistan on every porch is fine, we adapt to crime Pack a van with four guns at a time With the sliding door, f**k is up?” *As Kendrick continues to describe the violence he has faced, it shows the insanity that 9-year-olds are being exposed first handily to such violence. Kendrick explains that he bleeps out the name of the shooters in order to protect those close to him and shows the credibility to

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and death.

“When you hop on that trolley, make sure your color’s correct Make sure you’re corporate or they’ll be callin’ your mother collect They say the governor collect all of our taxes, except When we in traffic and tragic happens, that shit ain’t no threat” *Kendrick continues to discuss the fear of gangs while in Compton. LA has a trolley system that covers the entire city, meaning it crosses different territory lines who are controlled by crips or bloods. If you are caught wearing the wrong color in the wrong place, then things will turn violent. Kendrick discontinues to explain this concept by

Probably one of the hardest things to do was actually do something coming from that space…… So I felt like that was the sacrifice for me to come out of that and do something positive

his stories. The next line is evident when Kendrick compares gang violence in Compton to war zones in Pakistan. After years of exposure to violence and crime, Kendrick and his crew have adapted to the lifestyle. One way they have adapted to this lifestyle is the fact that they always ride around with guns.

“Now crawl your head in that noose You wind up dead on the news Ain’t no peace treaty, just piecin’ BGs up to pre-approve Bodies on top of bodies, IVs on top of IVs” *Kendrick recommends that his enemies give up now, so they don’t have to experience Kendrick wrath on them.

Choosing the wording noose connects with the negative contentions towards the civil rights movement. This then points to the idea that black on black violence is taking a step backward in the civil rights movement, by doing the “bigots work”.

Kendrick juxtaposes “peace” with “pieces”, disregarding truces and threatening with Pieces(guns). BG’s or baby Gangsters with lower rank that must get pre-approved from the OG’s or Original Gangsters for their killings.

Bodies on top of bodies is a graphic line, but explains the magnitude of death from gun and gang violence. IV’s on top of IVs has several meanings, IVs are used to get fluids into the bloodstream such as gun shot victims. This is another way Kendrick explains the extent of violence

”

saying you must be in line with the Territory you are in. “They’ll be callin your mother collect.”This is a double entendre explaining the call your mother will get to collect the remains as well as a collect call which is a call from prison. With a play on words, Kendrick then brings up the idea that the only two things that are constant are taxes and death. “People living in Compton pay their taxes but don’t seek any government benefits like safety. Taxes are only exempt when you die, when things like drive by shootings, or carjacking happen those who are killed are added to the lift of people are names are added to a list who can’t be taxed anymore.

You movin’ backwards if you suggest that you sleep with a TEC Go buy a chopper and have a doctor on speed dial, I guess M.A.A.d. City” *Carrying a gun as protection is common in violent ridden areas, The problem with having a gun to protect yourself is the fact that you will use it, escalating the situation more. Kendrick warns the listener that having a gun will create more problems than fix. The irony in this line is one who has a TEC 9 (A semiautomatic pistol) is not safe as these guns are very common. Having a chopper (AK-47) is the only way to full protect yourself. It’s a “Catch-22” which means owning a chopper can get you killed but without it, you are already dead.

“My pops said I needed a job, I thought I believed him Security guard for a month and ended up leavin’ In fact, I got fired, ‘cause I was inspired by all of my friends To stage a robbery the third Saturday I clocked in” *During Kendrick’s second verse, he explains the impact his friends have on him. When his dad told him to get a job, the first thing Kendrick and his friends thought of was to rob the truck he worked at. Another example of this is a song off the album, called The Art of Peer Pressure, which talks about how he is generally a peaceful kid, but growing up in that type of environment has certain effects on Kendrick’s early life.

“Projects tore up, gang signs get thrown up” *This first line doesn’t stand out at first glance, but when looking deeper into what Kendrick is rapping, you can see a big issue that is prevalent today. This line means the poor on poor violence is creating death and terrorizing these communities, while these efforts could be put towards changing the system for the better. Kendrick talks bout this issue in another track off the album called Black Boy Fly. “When two n****s making it out had never sounded logical?

Three n****s making it out? That’s mission impossible Cocaine laced in marijuana And they wonder why I rarely smoke now Imagine if your first blunt had you foamin’ at the mouth I was straight tweakin’,” *This verse includes insights of Kendrick’s past regarding drugs. While it says cocaine, phencyclidine or PCP(Angel dust)is the actual drug that Kendrick encountered growing up which has effected him to this day. It is also important to point out that M.A.A.D city has two meanings, My Angry Adolescence divided as well as My Angles on Angle Dust.

“You know the reasons but still will never know my life Kendrick a.k.a. “Compton’s Human Sacrifice” *Kendrick ends his verse makes it clear to the listener that despite you knowing the reasoning for his past and how he is today, you will never full understand what Kendrick has gone through. Kendrick explains this in a 2013 interview with Erykah Badu, saying “Probably one of the hardest things to do was actually do something coming from that space…… So I felt like that was the sacrifice for me to come out of that and do something positive,” said Lamar. *Information from this article was sourced from Genius.com who worked with Lamar to gather these details.

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Migrating birds on their way South for winter

Hannah Popish, Design Editor

September 2021

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A&E

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