The Skier Scribbler - November 2022

SKIER SCRIBBLER

The Abstract Culture of Carbondale

Beau Toepfer, News Editor

Carbondale, Colorado, sits smack in the middle of the Roaring Fork Valley and hosts some of the best small town community and most interesting culture the valley has to offer.

Carbondale’s rich culture started in 1888, as ranching and mining dominat ed the town’s industry. With Aspen’s silver mining boom, the fertile pastures around Carbondale began to develop, and soon after the dense coal reserves near Redstone began to be tapped. The potatoes being cultivated at the time fed the miners of Aspen; this history continues to be celebrated today at Carbondale’s annual Potato Days. The coal mines eventually closed in 1991, but as Aspen’s ski industry exploded and brought with it luxury real estate, Carbondale became a safe haven for Roaring Fork locals looking for cheaper real estate and generally relatively lowcost living. Many of these so-to-speak immigrants were a part of the more hippy, outdoor community, and they be gan to shape Carbondale’s world-class outdoor amenities. Superlative back country skiing and mountain biking sur round Carbondale as well as excellent climbing, including God Mode (5.14b), one of Colorado’s hardest sport climbs located just outside of Redstone. At the same time, the ranching community was

dichotomy of the very different life styles, a powerful bond began to form in the community.

The government of Carbondale hopes to continue to foster this bond among its citizens through events like Dandelion Days and First Friday.

“Carbondale’s history is not about people from the outside coming for short-term stays and then leaving, it’s really about people who work here and live here and add to the community,” Ben Bohmfalk, the Mayor of Carbon dale said.

With fewer tourists coming to Carbon dale than the other towns in the valley, there aren’t as many shops selling high priced goods as often as in Aspen or Ba salt. Alongside having less luxury retail ers than Aspen, Carbondale’s sales tax is also almost a full percent lower. Less tax revenue leads to the government be ing more constrained, as well as a lot of the tax-funded amenities that Aspen has such as RFTA aren’t as robust. Unfor tunately, less developed public services lead to some resentment within Car bondale’s population towards the city government; however, Bohmfalk states that this is largely unfair. The town does its best with what budget it has, and in

Opinion

Why Everyone Should Go to Therapy

The stigma around therapy is the main reason for the lack of therapy. Re search shows that people from ethnic minorities are less likely to seek help compared to white people. The stigma around mental health also stems from the idea that the need for therapy is a weakness... (Page 6)

almost all cases, does better at caring for its locals than Aspen. The events Carbondale hosts are for its locals, and they do not cater to rich tourists who want luxury accommodations and food. Even if Carbondale locals envy some of the amenities Aspen provides, they still recognize their town as better than Aspen. Carbondale locals voice how Carbondale is better than Aspen, but an Aspenite will never say the opposite. The fact is, Aspen doesn’t value their local community as Carbondale does; it doesn’t support local businesses to the same extent.

“There has been over-commercializa tion of Aspen, Colorado…it’s terrible

A&E

New Decade, Not So New Music

It is nearly impossible to discuss a

for the mom and pop shops and things like that,” Jonathan Kelly, an AHS junior said.

Even if the way the two towns pri oritize their economy is different they both prioritize the outdoors. Every town in the Roaring Fork Valley recognizes that we have these breathtaking wild

protect them. Carbondale’s ranching and tect the Thompson Divide, and Aspen through programs like Give a Flake.

A dividing point, as noted by a vari ety of Carbondale residents can be seen through who attends the aforementioned festivals. Bohmfalk and other town council members are trying to work to unite the Latinx community more into Carbondale culture through their fes tivals, outdoors, and arts. There is still a long way to go to incorporate other languages and cultures into the Car bondale government. Makai Yllanes, a CRMS senior, feels as though the valley lacks diversity.

“Carbondale tends to feel almost very segregated in the sense that you have a lot of white people and a lot of Latino people, the interactions aren’t always the greatest,” Yllanes said.

However, for the most part, Carbon dale is a close-knit community, which

bonds between the citizens come from the many festivals they hold as well as popular, local businesses like Peppino’s Pizza. Cameron Hermes, an RFHS senior who worked at Peppino’s, notes that not only did he know most of the town, but that close knit community also made Carbondale feel safer. Festi vals like Potato Day and First Friday are attended by almost all locals, and that further tightens the community.

(Continued on page 3)

Photo by Beau Toepfer

Mount Sopris, as seen from the CRMS farm on Monday, November 1, 2022.

Ava Cherry, Editor-in-Chief Colorado, Utah, and Nebraska are the

that unconditionally ban slavery. These alterations have yet to change the land scape of prison labor.

outlawed slavery and all forms of invol untary servitude except in the case of punishment for a crime. More than 150 years later, slave labor continues to prop up the American economy. Currently, ana, Oregon, Tennessee, and Vermont have the power to add provisions to state constitutions to close the loophole in the 13th amendment that permits involuntary servitude for incarcerated persons.

As stated in the thirteenth amendment, “Neither slavery nor involuntary ser vitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their juris diction.”

On average, prisoners in the United states make 13 to 52 cents an hour for labor despite producing 11 billion dollars worth of goods and services annually. This does not account for the money deducted for taxes, court costs, and ex penses related to room and board, which earnings. Additionally, convicts in seven states receive no compensation whatso ever.

The reach of human rights abuses goes far beyond unpaid labor. More often than not, prisoners do not undergo safety and training programs. Additionally, prisoners health and safety standards, minimum wage, and unionization that all other ed people surveyed by the American Civ il Liberties Union (ACLU) report facing punishment for refusal to work. Penalties

ment and the expunction of the possibil ity for sentence reductions on account of good behavior.

The impact of ballot measures differs from state to state. These laws will not immediately change protocols. They will, however, allow lawyers to advocate for higher pay and human rights for incar cerated persons. Additionally, there is no

of monetary compensation required for labor not to be considered involuntary servitude in prisons.

In four states, Alabama, Tennessee, Oregon, and Vermont, voters approved alterations to their respective constitu tions, eliminating language that allows for exceptions to the prohibition of slavery. In Louisiana, however, voters rejected the amendment 7 proposition. State Representative Edmond Jordan, the amendment’s initial sponsor, advocated that voters should dismiss the proposal on account of confusing language that could allow for further exceptions to the prohibition of voluntary servitude. Legis lators plan on reintroducing similar, more explicit amendments in Louisiana.

to abolish slavery, excluding in the case of “the payment of debts, damages, costs, or the like.” The newly approved amend ment provides a clear assertion of the prohibition of all forms of indentured ser vitude. In Oregon, Measure 112 passed, marking the removal of slavery exception language from the state constitution.

to repeal Section 33 of Article 1 and replace it with, “slavery and involuntary servitude are forever prohibited.” Simi larly, in Alabama, where prisoners’ labor is completely unpaid, voters approved the removal of clauses that permit slavery in the case of punishment.

Eradication of Slavery Room Service in the Commons

Ava Cherry, Editor-In-Chief

As the clock hits 12:15, students and teachers swarm the commons, forming what appears to be a cluster rather than a line.

The most recent Aspen High School Student and Family Weekly Update an nounced a pop-up lunch menu that will take place for two weeks this November. The pop-up menu composed by The Little Nell’s Culinary Director, Matt Zubrod, features dishes from paella to geographical range of Zublod’s experi ences as a chef.

Zubrod reached out to the ASD Food Services department with the intention of giving back to the local community and providing work and cultural experi ences for those with J-1 visas while the element 47 restaurant is closed during the off-season. Each day The Little Nell’s culinary team prepares the main meal to be served the next day. The food is then picked up by Tenille Folk,

ASD’s Food Service Director, and dispersed to each school. The ASD food services team is still responsi ble for providing fruits, vegetables, and the salad bar each day.

As the cost of food continues to rise, prices for school lunches are

Nell; however, is covering the cost of the dishes they prepare, allowing

nancial strain for the school district.

“It’s a nice cushion we have for two weeks with our food costs because it’s been very stressful the last few years,” Folk said.

Interest in school lunches spiked at the introduction of this distin guished menu; all three schools have run out of food every day thus far.

“It’s a great opportunity for our kids to be exposed to different foods and get excited about different things on the menu,” Folk said.

Ava Cherry

People lining up to get lunch at the huge lunch line.

Culture of Carbondale

(Continued from Page 1)

Aspen doesn’t have that connection, the major festivals it does hold aren’t primarily attended by locals like Carbon dale’s fairs are. Many of Aspen’s events like the Ideas Fest or Food and Wine aren’t for locals. They cater to wealthy second homeowners and tourists. Almost all of Aspen’s industry and economy caters to tourism. Carbondale caters to local interests and activities. The local-based economy furthers the small town feel and tight community of out door enthusiasts. You don’t see a close and consistent group of climbers training at Aspen’s red brick climbing gym, but there is a group of climbers that all know each other and climb together at Car bondale’s Monkey House. Cheaper real estate was not the only reason Fabrizio Zangrilli, the owner of Monkey House, chose Carbondale to base his gym.

“The reason I chose Carbondale for Monkey House is I think it’s a really ac

here,” Zangrilli said. “And that’s panned out. We’ve been really well supported by the local community. The other thing frankly is the way the town is set up, we had a high probability of kids riding

bikes here.”

Carbondale is an ideal town to support important resources for the outdoor com munity like a climbing gym. The outdoor lifestyle is probably the biggest com ponent of local life in Carbondale. The possibilities are endless as people create annual traditions that foster long-lasting relationships.

“I run the Crystal River with friends every spring or in June when it’s at high water and take out at these little takeouts in town and walk the boat up and every thing,” Bohmfalk said. “It’s all just very easy and accessible.”

Carbondale, alongside all of the other towns in the valley, is only a small town that lacks a lot of the big city amenities and family attractions like zoos or larg er-scale museums that kids need. Yet, it

and to the city, so alongside the enticing aspects of the town and world-class out doors, Carbondale is pretty idyllic.

“We’re still close enough to things that I think kids need, big city amenities,”

pretty simple choice of a perfect place to live.”

The Struggle is Real for ASD Transportation

Chelsea Doolan, Staff Writer

Since 2019, there has been a shortage of driver staff in the transportation de partment. With the two different release times for the elementary, middle, and high school, ASD has developed two different bus schedules to match. The Covid-19 precaution to prioritize social person.

Reghan Mahaffey, who became the head of the transportation department in 2019, wanted to lower the number of students on the buses during Covid which is what started the split sched ule. The reason this split release time has stayed is actually because of the shortage.

“It’s becoming very spread thin within the department where everyone’s trying to cover all the necessary components,” Mahaffey said.

Not only has the transportation de partment lost 9+ drivers and staff since Covid but the process to become a driver for the school district is long. Driver trainer, Bente Doolan, shared that it takes around 100 to 125 hours for a new driver to get their CDL. Additionally, it takes another 10 to 15 hours for these

Aspen Transportation Department bus driving. These can be a cause for fewer to no applications.

“In regards to the shortage, it makes time off,” Doolan says.

While the shortage has affected the transportation department, it has also ex tended to the families of our community. Families with kids in both schedules have had trouble with the younger kids

getting out before their older siblings. These younger kids often can’t be home on their own yet or their parents don’t want them to. It also affects kids’ after-school schedules including sports and work. This situation can put a lot of stress on the parents and guardians of the kids. Sarah Ward, a teacher and parent in the Aspen School District, shared her thoughts on the Split schedule from a parent’s perspective.

get our district back on one schedule so that we can better support teachers and students and parents with release times, if anything,” Ward said.

Mahaffey said that drivers are cur rently working anywhere from 50 to 65 hours and 6 to 7 days a week. That usu

trips, Exeds, etc. Because they only have around 10 drivers currently, the staff is often driving on weekends or holidays in addition to their regular hours. At this point almost the whole staff needs to be driving otherwise they won’t have enough people to cover everything.

“My biggest concern with the short age is honestly burnout, because we are asking so much of our drivers and of the employees, and of our mechanics,” Mahaffey said.

The Great Pumpkin Project

Addy Christensen and Ella Tullar, Staff Writers Junior and Senior IB business students have been channeling their inner artists and creativity to make painted pump kins that will add seasonal decorations to local businesses around Aspen. This project came about with a transition from the unit of business organization and environment into a new unit of marketing which the class is currently focusing on now.

Students this year have been learning about all the different business topics in Sheri Smith’s IB business class. Howev er, towards the end of October, to learn more about the new marketing subject, Smith wanted to do something different and allow students to learn about the

make it festive! Students taking the class were assigned to paint on a pumpkin,

ished painting, students attached FBLA (Future Business Leaders of America) tags and gifted their pumpkins to the business they chose.

The goal of this project was to intro duce students to marketing by creating their very own marketing programs. They attached marketing materials such as these FBLA tags from the CTE and business pathways to inform the local businesses on each pumpkin about the Great Pumpkin Project and its goal. Once students distributed their pumpkins around Aspen, they dove into the deeper meaning of these logos, such as color choices, fonts, and the company name.

Michaela Kenny, a senior at Aspen High School, enjoyed using her creativ ity to complete this project. Explore Booksellers has a lot of connections to student life, which is why she chose this local company logo to paint on her pumpkin.

“I chose to paint Explore Booksellers and I chose it because I think it’s a really integral company within Aspen. I think it’s really important especially since we are in a school and they sell books, they also posted my pumpkins on Instagram which was really cool,” Kenny said.

Junior Clementine Neral Roberston believes that the Great Pumpkin Project was a success and helped her further un derstand the basis of business marketing.

“This pumpkin project helps the com munity because it’s really interactive and it helps show our support as IB business students to the Aspen community,” Neral Robertson said.

Sheri Smith, IB Business teacher and the organizer of the Great Pumpkin Project, believes it was a fun and inter active way to introduce a new business unit while simultaneously relating it to holiday festivities. In the past, Smith has done this project with her students to fundraise for the FBLA program by selling pumpkins at a local fall festival. However this year, the class is doing it to inform the local community of what IB Business students are learning about.

“We’re not doing this for money or to try to get someone to give us anything, we are just trying to market and get information out to the community about the program that we have here at Aspen High School,” Smith states.

Gracie Brown, an Aspen High School junior believes that this project was a very valuable experience for her as she got to learn more about being innovative and the creative side of business.

“I’ve learned more about being inno vative in general and within business through this project. There are a lot of ideas out there to spread awareness for not only business products but also other things. It taught me and inspired me to be more innovative,“ Brown said.

Photo courtesy of Sheri Smith

Maddie Lee (left) and Gracie Brown (right) with their painted pumpkins preparing to distribute them around Aspen.

Chelsea Doolan

Bente Doolan walks around her bus at the end of her route.

Kanye West’s Hate Speech Cannot Be Tolerated

Stella Iverson, A&E Editor

Kanye West now known as Ye, is being faced with some serious accu sations concerning his anti-semitic rhetoric on Twitter. One example of his anti-semitism through a tweet threatening that he will “Go death con 3 on JEWISH PEOPLE.” West has been given a powerful platform that only seems to be getting bigger as the media often portrays him in a positive light. His anti-semitic comments have partially stemmed from his belief that his mental health problems were wrongly diagnosed by a Jewish doctor with Bipolar disor der, a mental illness he’s been open about to the public.

Kanye West has also come out with more harmful Twitter posts claiming George Floyd had died from a fentanyl overdose rather than police brutality. West is not only displaying this behavior on his own, but promot ing it to others. On October 29th, a message that read “Kanye is right about the Jews’’ spewed across TIAA Bank Field in Jacksonville Florida. Other an

ti-semtic signs appeared in Jacksonville as well as in Los Angeles. This behavior hateful rhetoric is being widely down

played.

While Kanye West has been open about his mental health struggles, he also seems to be doing little to solve them or

even advocate for them. His racist and anti-semitic comments can not be excused by his mental health. Social media itself provides a plat form for his comments and hate speech, which can be blamed for the ongoing support he continues to receive not only from fans. The public has responded to West’s behavior by recognizing it is hate ful to the Jewish Community and can not be tolerated. Throughout this entire situation, West has lost his partnerships with Adidas and The Gap. West also got both his Instagram and Twitter accounts removed or locked. West also lost his ties with Balenciaga who he had collaborated with for his Yeezy Gap line. His behavior has

er, West’s innaportate and hateful behavior is a horrifying example of how hate can spread on social media, and how as consumers and

this hate so it is not tolerated.

US Needs to Keep Promises For Iranian Students

Harper Axelman, Editor-In-Chief

Despite the cost of their protest, Iranian students have displayed incredible bravery and resolve against an extremely violent and oppressive regime. As an older anonymous Irani an man said in a recent video posted to Instagram: “I am so very happy, to know that the future mothers and fathers of this country are boys and girls like these.”

Iran has been under the rule of supreme leader Ali Khamenei for 43 years, which has incited fear in and heavily censored its citizens, commit ting atrocious human rights abuses against its political opponents and minority communities. Most devastat ingly, its leaders denied women basic freedoms by law, including the right to free expression, education, dress, and authority in government, but Iran’s women still have the highest literacy and university graduation rates in the Middle East, especially in STEM

Now, these students are spearhead ing a movement sparked when Mahsa (Jina) Amini was murdered in custody of the police for not observing man datory hijab laws in September. Since Amini’s death, the regime has killed 270 more people and arrested 14,000 peaceful protesters, attempted to cover up police brutality as “natural causes”, and severely restricted internet usage. Despite facing extreme intimidation, coercion, and violence to incite fear, Iranians have continued their rich his tory of student protest, persisting their vibrant culture, aspirations for future generations, and united spirit among many diverse groups.

Sarah, a 22-year old student from

Tehran, Iran, writes in an article for Atlantic Council: “There was a time when Iran was free and happiness wasn’t

a crime.... Now, I can’t even begin to tell you how unsafe I’ve felt whenever I wanted to go out. Or how many times

I’ve nearly crashed my car just while driving because there were morality police up ahead.”

Americans and Coloradans have carried the slogan of “zan, zende gi, azadi” (woman, life, freedom) during protests in support of the courage of Iranian women. Over 2,000 academics, including 10 Nobel laureates, urged Biden to halt negotiations and take action to prevent further casualties. Biden has now taken a different approach than US’ previous policy on Iran, which partially expressed support for the

matic letters to the Islamic Republic in 2009 and praise for “fair negotia tions” in 2019.

Biden announced actions to connect Iranians to the internet, including lifting sanctions to allow American-designed technology to

activation of satellites, possibly Elon Musk’s Starlink technology, and imposed costs on perpetrators of violence.

However, divided views on tactics, especially in context of Iran’s nucle ar deal, are slowing further progress. The US should listen to the demands of Iranian activists and do what they can, whether it is using cyber capabilties to go after command and control surveillance systems or push ing Iran off of the UN Commission for women’s rights. While recent actions are a step in the right direc

an international power, the US needs to do more to protect Iran’s fundamental human rights.

Courtesy of Creative Commons/Jewish Unpacked

Kanye West’s graphic Tweet posted on October 7 which has now been removed by Twitter.

Images courtesy of Creative Commons/Taymaz Valley on Flickr Protesters on September 25, 2022 in Chicago.

That’s a Wrap for Fall! AHS’ Stanley Cup Predictions

Addy Christensen, Staff Writer

lot of people also need to

Hayley Schmela, Staff Writer

Photo Couresty of Cathy Miller

Carson Miller swings for Varsity Boys Golf during Regionals.

Why Everyone Should Go to Therapy

Madyson Ryan and Stella Iverson, Staff Writers

Therapy can look different to everyone and everyone has their own mindset on

for people struggling with mental health. Unlike the supportive conversations you may have with your family, therapy discussions are structured by trained professionals to discuss and resolve feelings, problematic behaviors, as well as relationships in and out of one’s home life. According to GoodTherapy, talking with a therapist or counselor can help you manage your thoughts, behaviors, emotions, and past experiences, and pro mote a successful road to recovery.

The stigma around therapy is the main reason for the lack of therapy. Research shows that people from ethnic minorities are less likely to seek help compared to white people. The stigma around mental health also stems from the idea that the need for therapy is a weakness. The media has done a good job at depicting mental health as dangerous. Mental health is most often thought of as scary. How can this be changed?

The need for therapy has risen in the past 3 years since the start of the pandemic. According to the New York Times “Overdose deaths rose 30 percent in 2020 and 15 percent in 2021. Accord ing to some research, rates of depression tripled in the United States.” With the rise of social media and the impacts of cyberbullying, more adolescents have started to attend some type of thera py. According to the CDC, 13.6% of kids age 5 to 17 attend some kind of therapy in the United States. Therapy is not available to everyone, and can be expensive. The average cost for an hour-long session is between $60-$120 without health insurance. Of course, it can also depend on the location and the

therapists themselves. Managing the cost those without insurance.

to leading yourself into a healthier, hap pier lifestyle, no matter what you may be going through. Throughout therapy, you can manage and change your self-de structive behaviors and habits, resolve painful feelings, and work towards im proving your relationships. Whether you are in individual or group therapy, your relationship with your therapist is con

ways of seeing, thinking, and feeling that leave you more capable and successful. Many people are not able to see the effectiveness of, in reality, everyone has gone through something challenging. When people think of therapy, many people think of someone who has gone through something extremely traumatic or someone who is already suffering from a mental illness such as depres sion or anxiety. The truth is, therapy is for anyone. Therapy doesn’t have to be a reason to solve a problem, it can simply be a resource to take out anger and sadness in a healthy way. Therapy offers ways for individuals to cope with experiences they have or may have in the future.

are not given these resources in their hometown or school. The US has seen a massive increase in school shoot ings. More than 311,000 students have experienced gun violence at school since the Columbine shooting in 1999. Many can point the blame at the lack of mental health resources or even the stigmatism

to getting help is being able to ask for it.

Editorial: Pursuit of Success Vs. Happiness

High School seniors are at the peak of the college application season. Around the world, millions of people are con densing their personas into a few hun dred words for their college essay. They market themselves as the best possible candidate: a child genius at 17, a future president, or even the youngest member of the United Nations Interna tional Children’s Emergen cy Fund (UNICEF). Each year, the expectations and seemingly unachievable standards for applicants rise, and their mental well being declines. Students will play sports, join clubs, and do community service solely to improve their chances of admittance into a prestigious univer sity. Why is this paradox such a harmful process for individuals’ mental health and self esteem? Is going to a highly selective college really worth it?

College applications are a microcosm of society’s emphasis on productivity hard work will bring about success, and ultimately, happiness is at the heart of our Nation’s founding and ethos: the American Dream. American institutions, such as education, place an importance on climbing the socioeconomic ladder,

as those with the ability to pay more are often those who receive quality educa tion and are provided with more oppor tunities. Joy remains an afterthought for many Americans. A psychological study

applications.

pursuit of success does not often bring about happiness. Finding what brings us joy is a much more effective way to

As humans, society encourages us to pursue success. We are always chasing goals and adding new ones once these are completed, yet come to the ultimate

Rather than conforming to what society says will bring you success or hap piness, follow what brings you joy wherever you go. This same concept should be applied to college applications, in order to ensure that you end up at a place where you can be joyful, and in that sense successful.

While society asserts that attending an ivy league school will lead to a more

states that when children are encouraged to explore options that would conform them into a socially-accepted ideal of success, they are discouraged from doing what naturally brings them joy. This widely accepted theory of chasing success instead of joy extends to college

achieve happiness, and this can even lead to success. Thus, we would like to offer a new framework for how to ap proach this pursuit of success: following what brings you joy is the ultimate goal and sign of success. We must make this shift in mindset to prioritize happiness.

of your choosing. Whether that means taking a gap year, attending a commu nity college or entering the workforce, it is crucial that individuals take the path that is best suited for them. Recent controversies and legal battles surrounding highly selective schools, such as the Supreme Case regarding Harvard vs. Fair Admissions, and Stan ford’s release of statements apologizing for their discrimination, further highlight the need for students to question the le gitimacy and values of these institutions.

Photo courtesy of Océane Jones

The main campus library at Ivy League member Columbia University at dusk. Some believe that getting admitted into this university, which boasts a 5.8% acceptance rate, is a telltale sign of success.

Rylee Smith, Staff Writer

On October 15th, Aspen High School hosted its traditional Homecoming dance in the commons for all students, as a reconnective back-to-school event. Homecoming is a highly anticipated season for high schools across the country. Here at A.H.S., students from all grade levels eagerly await the liveliness that this busy week brings. The sporting events, the dance, and small events like forming a spirt

Homecoming excite ment.

In anticipation of HOCO week, proposals entice many students to attend. This tradition usually consists of a method, such as a sign, involving a unique rhyme or inside joke,

other to accompany them to the dance. One might wonder, ‘why is it so spe cial to be asked to Homecoming?’ This question has various answers. It could be the public component of being asked in front of your peers or the genuine aspect of enjoying someone's company.

Regardless of the reasons, homecoming has the ability to be a leisurely time for any student.

Gracie Brown, a junior at AHS, was promproposed to following her partici pation in a home volleyball game against

it was after a volleyball game we lost," Brown said.

Later in the week, junior Brooke O'Sullivan was asked by junior Lars Earl in front of the student section at the

AHS.'s Homecoming. He proposed to her in front of the Aspen Fire Station with a sign that read, "Will you be the queen of my heart this HOCO?"

She admired the efforts but explained, "I never said yes, but he implied it." She ended up turning down his offer afterward to go with her friends. She rated her enjoyment of public attention a -1/10. "Usually I like public attention, but this was awk ward because I didn't feel the same way towards him. It was in front of a whole restaurant which also felt uncomfortable," Christensen said.

Senior Wyatt Eaton, asked Tessa Guilander, junior, by shaving the body hair on his chest to spell out, "HOCO?" Guilander applauded the uniqueness of his proposal and rated it a 10/10.

She explained, "It was funny how many people came up to me and said it was the best part of their day."

Basalt. Alex Schlosser a senior at AHS, asked her with a sign using a volleyball pun. The sign read, "Gracie, I really DIG you! Homecoming? Let's SET this up!" Brown rated his creativity and individu ality a 10/10.

"It was clever how he used my sport to ask me…it cheered me up, considering

Haley Schmela, Staff Writer

Halloween costumes continue to surprise me every year. The different assortment and groups of people that you see during the night of October 31st will leave you with a variety of emo tions. From uncontrollably laughing to questioning whether or not their parents know they left the house like that, Hal loween is the time of year where people can dress however they please. While no costume is a bad costume, I would like people to consider the fact that an angel and devil costume can only be done so many times.

The Black Cat

This costume that just can’t seem to

the group in victory. This look will make you feel like you are seeing triple at any function. If you chose a black cat cos tume this Halloween, you are one of two people. This costume was in fact your last resort or you were devastated when the costume you had originally planned didn’t come in time, but luckily you and your best friend have plenty of black clothes and eyeliner to piece together a decent form of attire. The other possible option is that you saw a picture of some one doing this from last year and you could not wait to make it your costume! The idea of drawing whiskers and a nose you will be #1 best dressed in the room.

A Pirate

If you happened to choose a pirate for a Halloween costume, I am assuming the idea came to you from TikTok and you believed that no one else would have the same thought. You were trying unique costume and came across pirates believ ing it was a break through. I heard a lot more “steam room” than “Ahoy!” from all you pirates on Halloween. With such a lack of getting into character, I am terribly sorry,

sign said, "I thought I would shoot my shot for HOCO, Hope I don't brick." No tably, he included a unique nickname to their relationship, which led O'Sullivan to rate the ask a 10/10 overall.

A student outside of AHS, from G.V.H.S. , asked Skier Scribbler writer, Addy Christensen to be her plus one to

Homecoming at AHS holds an individual value to both students and the facility. Regardless of the proposal or who you might go with, this occasion has a way of unifying our student com munity and setting a great start to the 2022-2023 school year.

Homecoming Proposals at Aspen High School Halloween 2022 Review

but there were just too many of you this Halloween.

heart. If you chose this costume this Doctor Pepper and you spend your free time watching Step Brothers and Anchorman 2. You embody the “show don’t tell” habit when it comes to people knowing your status. Please hit my line.

If you chose these costumes you really wanted to stand out. You probably have an extremely chill personality and people enjoy spending time with you. Howev er, sometimes your ego may get in the way of your judgment. People these days seem to turn even the most holy of things into a seductive costume, because sexy Nun was out of stock at Spirit Hal loween. While most of these costumes are basic, they never seem to bore me. I hope to see more in years to come.

I have mixed feelings about the couple costumes adorable and become slightly jealous wishing I had someone to match with… however, the other 40% of the time couple costumes compel me to cringe, making me grateful for the fact that no one has been interested in me.

A personal favorite. These costumes will always have a special place in my

If you want to wow the crowd, your friends, or your school start preparing for the upcoming November. Think long and hard about options and remember, you can be anything, but don’t be a sexy cop.

Photo courtesy of Tessa Guilander

Photo courtesy of Alex Schlosser Photo courtesy of Brooke O’Sullivan

Photo by Haley Schmela

AHS student wearing a halloween costume

SKIER OPINION

The Death of Democracy in a Post Roe V. Wade America

Océane Jones, Editor In Chief

The power of the vote is one that impacts every American citizen. No matter who you are, no matter your race, sex, sexual

gender idntity, the impact of U.S legislation can be seen through out your everyday life. From the loans you can take out on

on the apple you purchase at the supermarket, the framework of our society sits on the power of the vote.

The importance of equal repre sentation, rights and protections for all people in a democratic re public such as the United States. The overruling of Roe v. Wade set a precedent for the nation that none of the rights and protec tions that people have had grant ed under the U.S constitution are safe. Legislature protected under

such as the right to same-sex marriage, interracial marriage, and the right to live with rela tives, is threatened. However, the current governmental structure of our nation shows that through protest, advocacy, and the writ ing of legislature we can stand up and change the law; give rights and protections to those

who lack such necessities. By being able to better understand the power that each U.S citizen holds, we are able to make change through peaceful protest and unity.

One of the major problems with modern day U.S politics is the division. Instead of voting according to their own personal morals and values, citizens will vote blindly, without educating them selves on the top, based on what bubble

more, many parties will use hate-based campaigns, where instead of advocating for a person or issue, they will go against that of their opposition. While in mod eration this behavior in a world of the post-Regan, media focused presidency, is considered normal, it has grown to overbearing amounts, causing citizens to not only distrust the other party, but the system itself. These two factors are detrimental due to the very fundamental structure of the United States, which has a system of checks and balances to keep balance, and can only function with be lief in the integrity of the vote. Without these two factors, the U.S governmental structure cannot function, thus the im portance of belief in the integrity of the vote, knowledge of the vote’s power and individual choice, and balance. Elections have consequences and every vote mat ters. So make your voice heard, and cast your ballot. The future of the nation rests in your hands.

The Importance of Thanksgiving Traditions

Lauren Kinney, Social Media Editor and Rylee Smith, Staff Writer

The fourth Thursday of November is something many Americans look forward to. For some it might be their favorite holiday, while others might enjoy a day off from work or school. I think it is worth mentioning that we acknowl edge the unsettling origin of this holiday but let’s focus on what it has evolved into. Thanksgiving is the miraculous aspects of one’s life in order to grow both grati tude and appreciation.

For some, Thanksgiving might be warming up a T.V. dinner and sitting on the couch with your family. For others, they will be cooking in the kitchen from 9am to 5pm. Everyone adopts individual traditions that are valued during this festive time.

Thanksgiving embodies a sense of belonging between families, friends, and strangers. The AHS community is excited to celebrate and embrace this holiday.

According to summerplaceal, 96% of Americans spend the Thanksgivng holiday with their families. AHS English teacher Cory Parker talks about the importance of family during this holiday.

“It’s about being appreciative of what we have and the presence of being with

your family,” Parker said.

Maggie Durham, a junior at AHS, also loves this holiday. She believes it helps her reconnect with her loved ones.

loved ones, food as we all know is a ma jor aspect of Thanksgivng. Everyone’s Thanksgiving table looks different. The larger the food pallet you have, the

and is a picky eater.

“I’m a big fan of the bread rolls,” Grace Hollander stated.

But hey, with the perfected amount of melted, salty butter, I am here for those puffy rolls too.

The wackiest combinations are normalized on this holi day. Your peers might have the weirdest items on their table, yet we would never know. David Clark gives us a sneak peak into this table.

“We make my grand mother’s salad that includes nothing green and is entirely jello based,” Clark said.

Thanksgiving is not the meal to bulk up and get “big”. Sweet and unhealthy is a constant combo.

“ My all-time favorite thanksgiving food has to be sweet potato marshmallow ta said.

“Every year my family and I watch a movie before Thanksgiving and it re minds me of the importance of connect ing with your loved ones,” Durham said.

Aside from spending time with your

greater the variety of food is placed on the table. For some, all they can con sume is the bland food, because they are picky.

Grace Hollander is a junior at AHS,

Regardless of the wacky food combinations, the endless amount of family traditions, or Clark’s sugar jello ‘salad’ Thanksgiving is a time to acknowledge the overlooked goodness of everyday life. It’s about the laughter, family, comfort, and memories that come with it all. Let’s all make sure to give some thanks this Nov. 24.

Photo courtesy of Erin Kinney

The Kinney family family and friends celebrate Thanksgiving together.

Océane Jones

Nation-wide Rally for Abortion Justice, New York City, July 2022

New Decade, Not-so-new Music

Quintessa Frisch, Opinion Editor and Gia Galindo Bartley, Staff Writer

Photo courtesy of Creative Commons A vinyl for “It’s Only Rock and Roll” by the Rolling Stones

SKIER OPINION

The School Smells Stinky

Lauren Kinney, Staff Write

Have you ever wanted a candle that smelled like the school? Me either. My christmas list has candles all over it, but none of which have the scent of the school septic system. When I think about AHS, my mind goes beyond the amazing staff and administration and goes straight to the smell instead. The smell of an unstable sewage system, stinky teenage boys, and constant construction. One may think that I am being overdra matic but I promise it truly is a scent that will stick with you. It is one of those lingering smells that you are worried will get on your clothes. Olfactory is the bodily structures that serve as a sense of smell and taste. This can decrease kids’ concentration and willingness at school. According to Integrated learning strategies, “An individual can be going throughout their day and a strong foul smell tells the brain to plug their nose, house and someone instantly is in a bet ter mood. Smell is linked to our memo ries, our emotions and our taste.” If smell is linked into our memories, I wonder what students are going to remember most when they graduate high school this spring. I doubt it will be the new and improved library, the

sense of knowledge they have gained. You know when the students at AHS

are asked to discuss one of their favorite memories with emotion and detail? The student body could instead go on and on about the appalling smell, and how it affects them.

Coming from a personal experience, wherever the school has an outraging smell, by day it hits an extreme decline. It messes with my day as well as how effectively I work. Attempting to social ize in the commons is hard enough in the morning already, but the smells is the only thing that makes me want to get to my period one class.

Although the school’s smell is not opti mal, other smells can increase learning

smells have been found to increase alertness which in turn results in higher productivity rates. One study found that when lemon oil was diffused throughout

among data entry operators increased by 54%.” The school should take in consid eration, difsuisng lemon into the school instead of the sewage system smell. With all of the complaining I have done in the past 345 words, I hope this problem gets solved. I wish that when I graduate in the spring of 2024 the smell of the school is not categorized as my most memorable memory.

Out of Pocket Ice Cream Review

Madyson Ryan, Staff Writer

Everybody loves ice cream. However, sadly some of you just don’t love the right ones. So here is your ice cream horoscope. If you’re easily offended, stop reading here before it’s too late.

Vanilla: Your life is just as boring as this ioned, you’re either a middle-aged man with rent and child support due, or you are at your little cousin’s birthday party if you voluntarily choose this overrated new. You’ll thank me later when you’ve

Birthday Cake: Personally, I think birth cake ice cream is not the way to make up for your traumatic childhood. What is wrong with you, honestly. If this is your this problem out in Therapy Respectfully grow up.

Rainbow Sherbert: You’re either 5 years old or have horrendous ADHD and think “oooh the colors are stimulating.”

tongue will cause you severe PTSD. If you enjoy this, please stay away.

Bubblegum/Cotton Candy: Never had it, don’t plan on it, not worth it. Save your time and try real bubble gum. It

exists and is a lifetime cheaper than this frozen rip off.

Cookies and Cream: Cookies and cream is absolutely delectable. If you enjoy Cookies and Cream Ice Cream, I love you. That’s all I have to say.

Rum Raisin: No, this is just a no. Nobody likes so why would you mix rum and raisins… then proceed to put it into an ice cream. Perfectly good way to ruin ice cream.

Chocolate: If chocolate is your favorite, you need to be humbled. Why do you think you’re better than every one else just simply be cause you like chocolate ice cream? Pipe down (although at least you’re better than vanilla) .

Black Licorice: If you even like black licorice in general, you must be some what deranged, it isn’t even good. If this

work out this problem in Therapy.

Neopolitan: If you’re still not happy with the choices of three different ice you just shouldn’t eat the ice cream any

ed, too much going on.

Pistachio: You have probably never actually had pistachio ice cream for a reason. However, if you do enjoy it, you are a crazy cat lady that stays at home 24/7 and eats it out of the tub with a fork. Respect.

Strawberry: A personal childhood classic, espe cially if it has the little chunks of strawberry. I recommend.

Cookie Dough: Some times the cookie dough bits are too stiff and un comfortable; it just throws off the whole texture all together. Ice cream and chunks do not mix well. If you like cookie dough you

Coffee: You’re a mom getting off of your 9-5, deciding to treat yourself while you binge watch Grey’s Anatomy with your weird small dog. Also, why not just drink an actual coffee?

Courtesy of Madyson Ryan

People enjoy chocolate, cookies and crean, and birthday cake ice cream.

Lauren Kinney

Students are overwhelmed by the stench in the AHS commons.

SKIER A&E

Fall Colors

As the beginning of October started, we can see a mountainside in Snowmass Village starting to glow with bright yellow and orange.

A photo of the beautiful fall colors taken outside the Aspen School District Campus on October 6th.

A sunset photo taken on North Mill Street in downtown Aspen on October 6th. In the distance, the colors of the trees changing on Red Mountain.

A beautiful and overcast view of Tiehack was taken from the play structure of AES in early October when the colors of the trees are just starting to turn.

On a bright and sunny day in late august/early October, A beautiful view of Tiehack Mountain is taken with all of the bright chang ing colors.