THE
Established 2010 in Aspen,CO January 2021 ASPEN HIGH SCHOOL
SKIER SCRIBBLER
Photo courtesy of Sophia Genshaft Sophia Genshaft and friend watching fireworks at Snowmass on New Year’s Eve.
January 2021
SKIER
NEWS
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Power to Pakistan’s COVID-19 masks help girls achieve their dreams Harper Axelman, Staff Writer
In Pakistan, two out of three girls do not know how to read or write, and 5.6 million girls lack access to education. One club at AHS is helping students in Pakistan fulfill their dreams of attending school. Power to Pakistan, the non-profit club at AHS, gives children, especially girls, in Pakistan access to education by giving them scholarships through the Moqah Foundation, a non-profit based in Bhara Kahu, Pakistan, that runs two schools in the community. The club’s activities, such as the screening of the film “Girl Rising”, have raised over $6,000, and the club recently began a new initiative: handmade and reusable COVID-19 masks to fund scholarships for underserved youth in Pakistan. Macy Hopkinson, the club’s founder and president, started the club after attending a panel discussion hosted by the Moqah Foundation with Pakistani students. “After I attended the event, I was just shocked by how different the education is in Pakistan, and how difficult it is for children, especially girls, to actually get an education,” Hopkinson said. The current reality of education for girls in Pakistan is grim; girls are often denied an education because of their
gender, accessibility to schools, or socioeconomic status, which can lead to full time forced labor, early forced marriages, extremist recruitment, and youth trafficking. Access to education allows students, especially girls, to have better futures, and gives them a sense of purpose that may been taken away because of underrepresentation and discrimination. It also generates income for their families, which eliminates generational poverty and fosters gender equity. Power to Pakistan holds numerous fundraisers every year to improve access to education in Pakistan, but Covid-19 prevented the club from doing their traditional activities. However, the club held other fundraisers, including their virtual 5k, which raised over $1,116. They also made COVID-19 masks, which can be purchased on Power to Pakistan’s website, powertopakistan.com The club participates in annual creative projects, including the Summiya scarf and cookbook featuring Pakistani food. This year, masks were designed by Afshan, Ayaz, and Fazal, who are students at the Bhara Kahu school that Power to Pakistan directly supports. A friendly competition was held at the school to find designs and costs were covered by a grant from AHS. Annika Nichols, Skier Scribbler writer
A needle away from recovery Andie Sherman,
As an enormous COVID-19 tidal wave sweeps across the United States, hope for recovery is a needle away. With two Covid-19 vaccines recently approved by the FDA (Federal Drug Association), the pandemic’s end is inching closer. However, many Americans are skeptical of these new drugs, their effectiveness, and side effects. Michaela Idhammar-Keptura, an Aspen resident and director of the Aspen Youth Center, has confidence in the Pfizer-BioNtech and Moderna vaccines. “Give it to me now [vaccine] stick it in my arm… If they let me take it today, I [would] take it,” Idhammar-Keptura said, “I trust that it would not do them [doctors] any good to fast track a vaccine that doesn’t help, or that is dangerous,” In response to national skepticism, Idhammar-Keptura questions people’s reasoning for doubt. “I think a lot of people just don’t understand how vaccines work in general. It [vaccine] goes into your body and [treats] your cells like you’ve already gotten it,” Idhammar-Keptura said. Pfizer-BioNtech and Moderna vaccines were both developed using a new type of vaccine technology known as mRNA to protect against infectious diseases. mRNA instructs our cells to make a protein that triggers an immune response, which produces antibodies. Although mNra vaccines are new, they are not unknown and have been studied before to protect against viruses such as zika, flu, and rabies and diseases such as cancer. Peter de Wetter, a sophomore at Aspen
High School, wants to take the vaccine for more personal reasons past science. The vaccine will help him, and many others abolish the fear and stress of transmitting Covid-19 to a high risk family member, friend, or colleague. “I think that for my Dad, whi is in the higher risk group, I would take the vaccine to eliminate the fear of anything happening to him,” de Wetter said. Although skepticism of the vaccine is a real fear for many, Aspen community members believe and trust the science behind the vaccines and the positive effects they will have in our community and the world as a whole. “I think that it is great [that] they were able to come up with something,” de Wetter said.
Photo Courtesy of MiKayla O’Callaghan Luke O’Callaghan, AHS graduate and current AVH Operating Room Purchasing Agent, recieves the vaccine as part of the IA group in early January.
Photo Courtesy of Power to Pakistan club Power to Pakistan club seuior members Annika Nichols and Macy Hopkinson sew masks while socially distanced last summer.
and a club member who helped make the masks, feels that supporting girls to attend school was worth the difficulty of making the masks. “There were many club members helping cut the fabric and pin it, however, only two of us did all of the sewing for all [140+] masks,” Nichols said, “It was surprising how long it actually took to sew all of the masks.” Along with fundraising, the club also does a pen pal exchange. “Since freshman year we’ve always
had our pen pal exchange, which has been an integral part of the club, and it’s not just about raising money, it’s really about raising awareness and changing mindsets, so that’s been a big part of the club that I definitely want to continue,” Hopkinson said. Sonia, who lives in Pakistan and is 14, was one of 15 students who participated in the exchange. “After this exchange I realized that [Americans] are interested in Pakistani culture and that means a lot to me.” Sonia wrote in her letter.
January 2021
SKIER
X-Games, skiing, and COVID-19
Hannah Popish, Design Editor
Skiers of Aspen can celebrate, as the ski mountains plan to be open for the rest of the season and the 2021 X-Games will still be proceeding regardless of COVID-19. With the ski mountains opening in November, many tourists and locals have been skiing and enjoying the snowy weather. Despite the winter festivities, there are still many people questioning what the future holds for the rest of the ski season and for the X-Games. The regulations and the final decisions of opening the slopes were made by the CEO of SkiCo, Mike Kaplan. “We spent months and months of planning and trying to figure out to get open and do it safely and do it in a way that followed guidelines,” Kaplan said. A popular event in Aspen is also in question. With X-Games just around the corner, Tucker Vest Burton, the Senior Communications Manager at Aspen Skiing Company, explains how X-Games in 2021 will look. “Like usual, the X-Games will be operating, but only over the television with no spectators,” Burton said, “We won’t be having snowmobile events this year but X-Games will be otherwise the same as last year,” SkiCo and ESPN want to make sure that the slopes can stay open safely. By abiding by the rules put in place,
Photo by Hannah Popish The Elk Mountains on a recent sunny day.
the mountains will stay open for the season, as long as the public is being responsible and safe when on the mountains. “The biggest thing is abiding by the commitments, if you’re not feeling well just take the day off. Don’t come up and ski and risk spreading the virus,” Kaplan said. With COVID cases on the rise again, it is uncertain how SkiCo will react. For now the slopes will remain open as long as everyone does their part in wearing masks and social distancing while skiing and being out in public.
NEWS Wednesday Workshops: community through learn
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Katelyn O’Callaghan, Editor-in-chief
On December 3rd, Aspen High School began virtual workshops to provide students with new learning experiences and a sense of community. Members of the community and some students have volunteered to teach virtual workshops every Wednesday. So far, the workshops have included goal planning, yoga, healthy eating, literature study, mental health improvement, songwriting, a conversation about vaping, meditation, and time management. AHS Vice Principal Becky Oliver started the workshop program to meet students’ needs during the pandemic. The idea stemmed from the parent workshops she created four years ago. Oliver feels weekly workshops will help students stay connected and pursue their interests. “Some kids are saying they feel really stressed and overwhelmed. Other kids say they don’t feel connected. So we [the administration] thought it would be a fun way to provide students with something that’s not school and not graded, but just an opportunity for kids to follow a passion or learn something new. We also thought it would be a good way for students and the community to connect with one another,” Oliver said. One workshop is a yoga class taught by student trainees. To gain their yoga teacher certification, the students must complete 200 hours of training and have teaching experience.
Shannon Worth, the instructor of the yoga teacher certification course, believes the workshops will promote healthy living. She also hopes students will discover a love for yoga. “It helps people with self-awareness and their interaction with the world,” Worth said. “Yoga is really about kindness, compassion, and taking care of ourselves- which at this time for all of us should be a priority.” Senior Olivia Plummer, a student in the yoga teacher certification class, has seen her peers teach many workshops and recently taught one herself. “It was great to get experience teaching,” Plummer said. “I think it is good to remind ourselves that even though we are in this crisis, there still is a community of people who want to help and be there for each other.” Oliver stresses the importance of students taking control of their learning and challenging themselves to develop new life skills. “The workshops provide a sense of control about what you’re learning. I think a lot of times, students feel like we’re telling them what they have to learn, and this is an opportunity for kids to be able to seek out something of interest on their own,” Oliver said. “It’s enrichment, it’s a challenge, it’s fun, and it’s a way to support one another during these difficult times.”
January 2021
SKIER
NEWS
New pilot Robert Holton soars to great heights
Photo courtesy of Kate Short AHS junior Robert Holton posing with his new Private Pilot’s license by an AHS plane. Katelyn O’Callaghan, Editor-in-Chief
17-year-old junior, Robert Holton, is the latest AHS student to earn his Private Pilot license in the 2020-2021 school year. Three AHS students have earned their certifications through the AHS flight program. To receive a license, students must take a written, oral, and practical exam. They are also required to have a minimum of 40 flight hours of flying, as per the Federal Aviation Administration guidelines. Due to Aspen’s rocky terrain, Holton logged over 110 hours of flight training, 70 hours over the requirement. Holton comes from a long line of pilots. His great grandfather was a pilot in World War II and his grandparents, uncle, and dad are all currently pilots. Holton’s primary inspiration to pursue his license was his father. “Whenever we went flying, my dad would always let me sit in the co-pilot seat, and I thought it was really cool. I was so excited to see how it all worked. That’s when I decided that I wanted to get my license,” Holton said. Holton was set to receive his license in August but was delayed four times due to covid-19 and other complications. However, this did not deter him, and he continued to work towards his goal. “I am just so happy to finally have it finished and be part of an exclusive group of people that are pilots,” Holton said. Kate Short, the Aviation Director at AHS, worked directly with Holton to obtain his certification. She believes that Holton’s passion for piloting was
the driving force behind his success. “Robert is a very dedicated student. I have been lucky enough to fly with him and have him in class. He is always on time, prepared, and has a passion for it,” Short said. “I think that if it’s something you really care about, you tend to be successful, and that’s certainly the case for Robert. Short also added that she was proud of Holton and the other two students, Hannah Popish and Zane Zachary, for their achievements as it will help propel their future careers. “What’s really cool is only 1% of people in the US are pilots of any kind, and to think that now we have 17-year-old high school students who can do that is amazing. They’re like the 1% of the 1% “ Short stated. “They’re achieving something that most adults haven’t had the opportunity or ability to do. It really makes them stand out for their future. For those who want to become professional pilots, they’re just one step ahead of everybody else.” Holton plans to pursue aviation and receive certification beyond a Private Pilot license. He is grateful to all who supported him throughout the process and helped him achieve his goal. “I’m just so thankful to the Aspen Flight Academy for running me through the gantlet and getting me my Private Pilot license,” Holton said. “It’s such a great program, and I don’t think I would have been able to achieve something like this without it. So, shout out to the flight academy, the board members, the flight instructors, and all of the students in the program. I couldn’t have done it without you all.”
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January 2021
SKIER NEWS A Glance at 2020
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A look back at the year of solitude and tragedy with touches of success and inspiration. Edwin Ryerson, Staff Writer
January
Jan. 3 - President Donald Trump was notified of the coronavirus outbreak in Wuhan, China. Jan. 16 - The US Senate began the impeachment trial of President Trump after his impeachment in the US House of Representatives in late 2019. Jan. 30 - The World Health Organization (WHO) declared coronavirus a public health emergency of international concern. The US had reached 11 recorded coronavirus cases by the end of January.
February
Feb. 5 - The US Senate acquitted President Trump on the charges of abuse of power and obstruction of Congress. Feb. 29 - The US and the Taliban agreed on terms to end the 18-year war in Afghanistan. The US had reached 66 recorded coronavirus cases by the end of February.
August Aug. 11 - Joe Biden, the Democratic presidential candidate, announced Kamala Harris as his running mate. Aug. 23 - Police in Kenosha, Wisconsin, shot Jacob Blake, prompting more racial justice protests nationwide. Aug. 31 - Aspen High School officially started remote learning. The US had reached 5,899,504 recorded coronavirus cases by the end of August.
September Sept. 9 - Bob Woodward’s new book, Rage, reveals that President Trump downplayed the pandemic to avoid panic. Sept. 15 - Scientific American issued their first-ever presidential endorsement of a candidate in 175 years by backing Joe Biden. Sept. 18 - Ruth Bader Ginsburg, US Supreme Court Justice and women’s rights activist, died at 87 years old. Sept. 22 - The US reached 200,000 deaths from the coronavirus pandemic. Sept. 24 - President Trump nominated Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s replacement, Amy Coney Barrett, just 39 days before the polls close on election day. The US had reached 7,077,015 recorded coronavirus cases by the end of September.
October Oct. 2 - President Trump and First Lady Melania Trump tested positive for coronavirus. The President was then hospitalized later that day; he returned to the White House just days later while still infectious. The US had reached 8,852,730 recorded coronavirus cases by the end of October.
November Photo by Ava Thornely Word cloud of popular words used in 2020 on a face mask.
March
March 3 - The World Bank pledged $12 billion for developing countries to fight against the coronavirus. March 11 - The WHO declared the coronavirus a pandemic. March 15 - Aspen Ski Co closed all four mountains following an order from Colorado governor Jared Polis. March 23 - The UN Secretary-General called for a global ceasefire. March 27 - President Trump signed a $2.2 trillion stimulus package into law. The US had reached 140,640 recorded coronavirus cases by the end of March.
April
Nov. 2 - Aspen High School students returned for one full hybrid learning cycle. Nov. 3 - The next day, the polls closed as the decisive election came to an end, with over 156 million Americans voting and the highest turnout rate since 1900. Nov. 7 - Joe Biden was declared the winner of the election; Kamala Harris made history as the first woman and first woman of color to be elected to the vice presidency. Nov. 9 - BioNTech and Pfizer announced their coronavirus vaccine to be over 90% effective after phase 3 trials. Nov. 16 -Moderna announced that their vaccine was at least 94% effective. Nov. 25. - Aspen Mountain and Snowmass opened for social distanced skiing and snowboarding. Nov. 29 - Joe Biden and Kamala Harris announced the first all-female communications team for the White House. The US had reached 13,082,877 recorded coronavirus cases by the end of November.
April 1 - Aspen School District began remote learning after taking an extra week of spring break to prepare for the new learning landscape. April 20 - US oil went negative for the first time. The US had reached 1,003,974 recorded coronavirus cases by the end of April.
May May 1 - Canada announced a ban on 1,500 types of assault-style weapons. May 1 - Armed protestors gathered outside of Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer’s house to protest the new stay-at-home order. May 19 - Nature Climate Change published a study showing that global greenhouse gas emissions dropped 17% while in lockdown. May 25 - George Floyd was murdered while in the Minneapolis police custody, prompting racial justice protests nationwide. The US had reached 1,734,040 recorded coronavirus cases by the end of May.
June The US government released data showing that African Americans are four times more likely to be hospitalized than whites highlighting the racial disparities experienced in the US. June 8 - Kathy Sullivan, a former astronaut, became the first woman to reach the ocean’s deepest point, along with being the first American woman to spacewalk. June 15 - The Supreme Court ruled in a landmark case 6-3 that gay and transgender workers cannot be discriminated against in the workplace. June 18 - The US Supreme Court ruled that the Dreamers Program (DACA) would stay. The US had reached 2,537,636 recorded coronavirus cases by the end of June.
July July 1 - The US recorded 50,000 new cases in one day for the first time. July 9 - The US Supreme Court ruled in favor of Mcgirt in McGirt v. Oklahoma, a massive victory for Oklahoma’s Native American population. The US had reached 4,388,566 recorded coronavirus cases by the end of July.
Photo by Smith Agley Locals from across the Roaring Fork valley marching in the streets at a Black Lives Matter protest in the summer of 2020
December Dec. 14 - The Electoral College reaffirmed Joe Biden’s victory. Dec. 14 - The US reached 300,000 deaths from the coronavirus pandemic. Dec. 14 - Colorado started administering COVID-19 vaccines for frontline workers. The US had reached 19,346,790 recorded coronavirus cases by the end of December. As we look back on this wild year, we should appreciate the positive aspects and the support communities have provided to those in need. We must move into this new year with purpose and remember to stay vigilant in social distancing/safe practices.
January 2021
SKIER
2020
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Our Jenny Ellis, Staff Writer “2020 was undoubtedly a rough year for millions of people around the globe. I’m sure many would say ‘2020 sucked’ or ‘worst year of my life,’ but it’s important to also be thankful for our health, personal growth and safety our little town has provided us. So although it may be a strange thing to say, I would like to shoutout 2020 for pushing us all to experience the worst, but also allowing us to learn we can come out the other side,” Sophia Greiper, Staff Writer- As the start of a new decade, 2020 was a surprising whirlwind of major events. While it was not easy, we are finally through to 2021, which will hopefully bring better fortune in our future. Emily Kinney, Editor-in-chief - “A Haiku to 2020: A long year full of toilet paper, endless tweets. Pray 2020 is more sweet,” Brenon Reed, Staff Writer- “2020 was a difficult year, but because it’s in the past it should be remembered as a year where the world put aside their difference and worked together to fight the pandemic,”
Tessa Guthrie, Editor-in-chief - “2020 was like getting caught under the waves of the ocean: we were trapped and were constantly pushed back down whenever we tried to rise. However, like the ocean, we will persevere and show our strength and beauty,” Ava Cherry, Writing Editor - “The biggest upset of 2020 was finding out Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez likes orange juice more than apple juice. In all seriousness, the inability of the one of the world’s richest countries to handle a public health crisis was unbelievable,” Kaelyn Kroger, Writing Editor- “In a local context, the year of 2020 presented several obstacles that initially deterred the people of AHS. Navigating life amid a global pandemic has made its impact, forcing everyone to grow accustomed to new settings and implementing new habits into their lives. AHS staff and students took on leadership positions to transition the community into a safe environment for people to keep learning, teaching, playing, and collaborating. The importance of togetherness has never been so essential, and seeing the unification of effort and fortitude this year perfectly represents the people of Aspen’s prevailing zest for life,” 2 Kayla Tehrani, Business Manager - In the e wise words of Chris Harrison: “[2020] I’m sorry, you did not receive a rose tonight. Please take a moment, say your goodbyes.”
January 2021
SKIER
2020
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r last words to 2020
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Aja Schiller, News Editor“2020 was an introspective year for the entire world, as well as everybody living on it, and led to a strange mixture of (subjectively) good and bad events, realizations, and mindsets. 2021 won’t automatically end all of the issues 2020 brought, but perhaps while the planet turns over a new leaf, optimism won’t be as far out of reach as before,” Ava Thornley, Social Media Editor - “2020 really did Zoom by!” Hannah Popish, Design Editor - “We thought 2020 would be a hopeful, simple, and exciting year. But it took a turn for the worst and turned over on its head. Everyone's lives changed dramatically but it also taught us how to evolve when times get rough. As we move into 2021 we are all stronger and more resilient than ever before. We shall remain optimistic regardless of the past as we move forward into a new year,” Stef Wojcik, News Editor- “Let’s hope that voices that need to be heard stay unmuted in 2021!”
Katelyn O’Callahan, Editor-in-chief - “Dear 2020, what can I say? Thanks for being an absolute disaster in every conceivable way. I think we can all agree, extra points for creativity. Covid-19, wildfires, and the threat of World War 3, oh golly gee so much glee! Thanks for giving us all the need to retire and fueling the raging flames of the Trumpster fire. We’re all done. So, let’s hope for a better 2021.” Hannah Smith, Writing Editor-“We began 2020 hopeful for good fortune, aiming to turn 2020 into a pivotal year of growth. Despite this optimism, 2020 became a rapid dumpster fire with misfortune around every corner. Hopefully that initial optimism was preserved, and we use it now, along with everything we have learned, to turn the goals of 2020 into the reality of 2021,” Annika Nichols, Staff Writer- “2020 made me realize how grateful I truly am to live where we do and be able to get outside and do things, even in the midst of a global pandemic where people in cities are locked inside,” Harper Alexman, Staff Writer - “Although we were all far apart this year, 2020 has given me more gratitude for the people around me. The isolation of this year made me realize the things I took for granted, like seeing my grandma or my friends at school. I also realized how lucky I am to have my family during unpredictable and scary times,”
January 2021
SKIER
OPINION
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CREW: Creating Relationships Everyone Wastes Aspen High School began its 2020-2021 school year, like all other schools, in the midst of a pandemic. Students and teachers alike were uncertain about the upcoming year and if schools would go back to in person learning. For the majority of this school year, students have been learning remotely on Zoom or Google Meet, leading to a variety of issues including underdeveloped social lives and feelings of isolation or loneliness. To remedy these issues as well as provide guidance for students during the particularly turbulent series of current events, AHS introduced a mandatory class for the entire high school: CREW. The goals of CREW vary drastically
Aja Schiller
from what a student actually experiences in a real classroom. Most CREW classes consist of watching the SkierTV broadcast, a few announcements, and then dismissal. There are sometimes individual check-ins, but more often than not, class lasts for less than 20 minutes and involves little to no student-student interaction. At the beginning of the year, the sentiment for CREW was wholesome and had real potential to benefit teachers and students alike. Students were told that they would be participating in different activities, varying from class to class, such as: reading intellectually stimulating texts, discussing societal problems, engaging in outside exercises, and conversing with peers. One of the most important aspects of CREW was supposed to be a community to forge new friendships and help ease the isolation of remote learning. Instead, for many students, CREW has become a hindrance and a weekly annoyance. COVID-19 has changed everyone’s plans numerous
Wacky Wednesday at AHS This year, not only were we online, but Wednesdays are now used for office hours. During the senior Coffee Talk on November 18th there was a long discussion about the Wednesday schedule. During which, Jake Doyle, a senior at AHS had questions, comments, and even suggestions for the Wednesday schedule. The Skier Scribbler had the opportunity to follow up with Doyle. “I enjoy the Wednesday schedule but I don’t because it’s very confusing and I never really know if I have class or not,” Doyle said. While Wednesdays are mainly used for office hours, some teachers, especially IB teachers, need an extra instructional day so office hours are mandatory as well as if you have a D or F in the class. One issue presented by the Wednesday schedule is the inconsistency: some teachers have class as mandatory while others don’t. This leads to some students having school and some not while others may have a class at awkward points in the day with large breaks in between. Some teachers want students to use Wednesdays as a time to catch up with work and have time to get away from their screens. “I use Wednesdays to take time to myself and calm myself down in the middle of the week. Not only is online school stressful but the world around us adds even more stress to our lives. I think it’s a great way to make sure I am ok mentally and physically,” Doyle said. Screen time has a large impact on students’ health. During covid it is important to still get outside and go skiing, walks, and sledding in order to take a break from
Ava Thornley
looking at the screen. For these reasons Doyle would like to keep Wednesdays as a day to catch up or go to office hours even after we go back to school in person. “I would definitely like to keep it as a day to get outside and to get my mind off of school. It’s also a great way to catch up on school if needed.” Doyle said Seniors have college applications, juniors are getting a grasp with IB classes, and sophomores and freshmen are still getting to know their teachers and discovering what classes they would like to take. But with homework and after school activities it’s difficult to prioritise our mental health. Students also suggested ways teachers and staff could make Wednesdays less confusing. “There should be better communication between the students and teachers about if there is mandatory class or not. There have been several times that I’ve missed class because I didn’t know I had class,” Doyle said. This is very common among the student population. “I would advise them not to use it as an instructional day but a catchup day. I know that kids fall behind all the time and would definitely use it to help themselves with what they missed. I also know that the teachers are as stressed out as the students and should use it to take care of themselves,” Doyle said. There has been some talk among students and parents that Wednesdays are “boring” and there is “nothing to do” but this should be a day students look forward to. “If you have ‘nothing to do’ I’d remind them that they live in one of the greatest places in the world. There’s always something that you could be doing outside: skiing, sledding, snowshoeing, etc. But if you don’t do any of those things then you could read a book or get ahead on school work. There is never ‘nothing to do’,” Doyle said.
times between the start of CREW and now, forcing people to adapt and overcome, yet CREW has stayed the same: dismal and unremarkable. The problems of CREW can’t be attributed to one source. While the unfulfilled potential has led to disappointing classes, as Rob Base and DJ E-Z Rock would say: ‘it takes two to make a thing go right.’ This is to say that it is not the teacher’s job to force students into socialization. As many AHS classes have observed, remote learning has given students the chance for minimal participation and low effort. With these allowances, CREW, a technically non-essential class, is the picture perfect example of how students can take advantage of a bad situation and potentially worsen it. Even if each CREW class had the optimal teacher, non-responding empty Zoom screens would still make the class a drag. It is understandable, though, that radio silence isn’t uncommon. Nervousness and anxiety often prevent people from
speaking up or making a joke that, if school were in person, would come naturally. These nerves work seamlessly with a lack of shared experiences between participants, causing an even greater bridge to gap. You can’t have The Breakfast Club without detention, but you also can’t have it if Claire, Allison, Brian, John, and Andrew all turn their cameras off. To be fair, AHS is making changes to the class that have yet to be formally announced and the students and faculty working to make CREW better are open to any feedback. COVID-19 has caused so many catastrophic issues that CREW almost seems like an insignificant worry, but if classes, including both students and teachers, actually created the community and bonds that AHS aimed for from the start, then perhaps CREW could serve as more than just a hindrance during this pandemic.
Finals after winter break is best option From the start of the semester in August to the end in December, new lessons are taught, experiences are gained, and friendships are cultivated. Similar to most schools around the US, at the end of the fall semester the AHS student body takes in all these new aspects of the first half of the year and utilizes them in a final exam. Although this can sound daunting, the AHS administration has taken helpful measures for students when scheduling these exams. AHS schedules finals week two to three weeks after winter break in order
Jenny Ellis
to assist students in preparing for this large final task. This format allows students and staff to not only have a smooth transition from Thanksgiving break to Christmas break, but also helps avoid the stress of studying during the holidays when one’s top priority should be being with family and friends. Although this approach is different than most other schools, which take finals before winter break it could potentially be considered the better option for teens. Undoubtedly, there are both equal amounts supporters and opposers to this format; with some against it saying that it can put anticipation stress on students over break or that the fall semester learning materials becomes too much to study. But these arguments most definitely do not outweigh the pros to having finals after winter break. According to a study by ‘The Matador Newspaper’ giving students stress-free time off is beneficial to their mental health and wellbeing. This shows time without stress over assignments is incredibly valuable. Students also tend to be more productive after given time off, as their restful breaks can reenergize them. The high school’s current format allows for students to focus on what’s important during the holidays. Such as, providing time off for students to start studying or just organizing themselves in preparation for the exams, spending time with family, and allowing students to purely relax during break. Taking finals after winter break is the right option for students and their mental health.
January 2020
SKIER
Opinion
PAGE 9
Netflix makes controversial changes to their popular platform
Kaelyn Kroeger Netflix is one of the largest streaming services in North America and has approximately 195.15 million subscribers worldwide. Despite their often genius marketing straegies, wide audience of users, and premium selection of movies and TV shows, Netflix has been making decisions and may implement plans in the future that could affect subscription numbers, content available, future prices, and overall profit. On October 29th, Netflix announced they would be raising their monthly standard rate from $12.99 to $13.99, and their premium rate to $18 a month. While this may not seem like much, subscribers are paying $156 yearly to $168 yearly, and puts the streaming giant at over 20 billion US dollars annually. With the yearly price climbs, that number will only grow. In an article published by The VergeI, Greg Peters, the Chief Operating Officer of Netflix, said that Netflix will “occasionally go back and ask [customers] to
pay a little bit more to keep that virtuous cycle of investment and value creation going.” This will allow Netflix to widen their streaming abilities by implementing new movies and TV shows, which is profitable for consumer entertainment. However, Netflix is also swiftly transitioning from providing content licensed from large Hollywood Studios to Netflix Photo by Emily Kinney original shows AHS senior, Emily Kinney, watching Netflix on her computer. and movies, companies and sold to Netflix) have envisioning the strategy to make Netflix received a multitude of responses from significant profit, similar to HBO’s sucviewers. cessful with a similar model. Some have received acclaim for The astounding number of Netflix the fantastic acting performances and originals puts Netflix at having produced genius plots, like Stranger Things and more than 1,500 originals since 2013. To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before with These movies and TV shows produced tomatometer ratings of 93% and 96%. by Netflix (or by smaller production
On the contrary, other Originals have been criticized by audiences for their poor quality character development and generally painful cheesiness, like The Last Summer and Richie Rich, receiving tomatometer ratings of 29% and 24%. In an article published by IndieWire, Netflix CEO Ted Sarandos said that, “the thing that’s interesting about all these upcoming services, as well as the services that are in the market today, is that mostly they have none of the same programming,” Sarandos added that “Nothing that’s on Disney+ is going to be on Netflix and nothing that’s on Netflix is going to be on the [Comcast and WarnerMedia services]. They’re going to be very unique.” While Netflix is a popular streaming platform that continues to infuse strategies that will boost their level of performance and quality of service, however at a high cost. With high competition among streaming companies, like Hulu, Amazon Prime, Youtube TV, and Sling TV, Netflix is making money moves and fast. With the Netflix standard plan at $13.99 a month, Amazon at $12.99(aside from college students who only need to pay half that), and Disney Plus at $6.99 a month. While some could argue that Netflix’s changes are unnecessary, and the platform itself isn’t worth about $14 a month, Netflix believes that implementing a new price can allow them to better the service and continue to add new content.
singles become popular on TikTok, they typically come from a larger body of work, such as an album, that does not fare as well in Billboard rankings. Here are the albums that some of your favorite TikTok songs from 2020 appeared on and the artists that created them:
Jack Harlow starts this album off strong with “Rendezvous,” reminding his listeners that his success in 2020 is something that he has worked on for many years. The upbeat tempo of “Rendezvous” continues throughout the rest of Harlow’s album, as he raps about his hometown of Louisville, the women in his life (I love the cheesy lyric, “She ain’t flyin’ in Spirit/She’s a Delta b**ch, not the kind with the pyramids,” found in 21C/Delta) and features some huge names like Big Sean, Chris Brown, and Bryson Tiller. The whole album has a melodic and pop-y rap feel to it, but unlike other albums with a similar approach, it doesn’t feel kitschy. This album is perfect for anyone looking for an introduction to the genre of rap, as there are both complicated lyrical schemes and songs based simply around a melody. Love “What’s Poppin’”? The heavy bass and reliance on the chorus in “Route 66” mimic the style of “What’s Poppin,’” as does the later song in the album, “Love is Dro.”
TikTok songs, the Billboard Charts, and the albums they stem from
Emily Kinney TikTok is everywhere; it is in the news, in discussions of national security, and on the phones of more than 800 million users as of the end of 2020. The video production app’s influence doesn’t stop there, however. Top songs, or “sounds,” on TikTok have been finding their way onto the Billboard Top 100 Chart, oftentimes climbing to the top of said chart and remaining there for weeks. This phenomenon has been occurring since the app came out in the US in 2018, with notable singles like “Old Town Road” by Little Nas X, “The Box” by Roddy Rich, and “Say So” by Doja Cat. This year has been no different. Hits on TikTok such as “Stunnin’” by Curtis Waters, “What’s Poppin’” by Jack Harlow, and “Funny Thing” by Thundercat all had success on TikTok that translated into success on the charts. While specific
It Is What It Is by Thundercat: Popular TikTok song - “Funny Thing” Thundercat, born Stephen Lee Bruner, is no stranger to working on and producing successful albums. Bruner’s work on Kendrick Lamar’s album, To Pimp a Butterfly in 2015 landed him a Grammy for Best Rap/Sung Performance, and his following album, Drunk was critically acclaimed. It Is What It Is is nominated for Best Progressive R&B Album for the 2021 Grammys and acts as a tribute to Bruner’s late friend and collaborator, rapper Mac Miller. For those looking to find a blend of synthesizers, funky beats, and always impressive bass playing, this is the album for you. While the seemingly unfinished nature of the album might be a bit jarring, there is no denying Thundercat’s ability to sample classic tracks to set the mood is astounding, and his unique style of crooning does wonders in providing cohesion to the album. If you’re looking for the same upbeat, eccentric energy found in “Funny Thing,” look no further than tracks
“Miguel’s Happy Dance” and of course, “Dragonball Durag.” Pity Party by Curtis Waters: Popular TikTok song - “Stunnin’” (featuring Harm Franklin) Curtis Waters truly gets after the good, the bad, and the ugly on his debut album, Pity Party. Waters, whose real name is Abhinav Bastakoti, relies heavily on bedroom pop techniques to tell his coming-of-age story in this 12 song album. However, Bastakoti impressively blends other styles of music on tracks like “6pills,” where he takes an almost pop-y approach to discuss his use of medication to deal with his mental illness, and through the use of heavy bass in “Lobby Boy,” Bastakoti adds a much more somber tone to the track. The vibe of the album changes drastically depending on what track you are listening to, so for those looking to grow up with Bastakoti and enjoy a heavy dose of bedroom pop, this album is for you. If you’re looking for a catchy backbeat, much like the one found in “Stunnin,’” tracks like “System” (careful, lots of teenage angst here) and “Better” (still a bit sad) should meet your needs. That’s What They All Say by Jack Harlow: Popular TikTok song “What’s Poppin’”
January 2021
SKIER
SPORTS
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The alpine ski team races to victory
Photo by Oliver Semple AHS sophomore, Stella Sherlock, zipping down Thunderbowl at Highlands during a race in 2019. Tessa Guthrie, Editor-in-chief
Aspen High School’s alpine ski team is the largest athletic team at AHS, with about 70 students participating every year. However, the team’s popularity has made it very difficult to gather during times of COVID-19. Practice is currently happening, but because of COVID-19 restrictions, the practices are optional. Only a few select skiers are allowed to go to competitions. A home competition was originally scheduled for January
8th, but the official season has now been postponed to January 18th. Jennifer Morandibenson, a teacher at AHS and the head coach of the Alpine team, is still hopeful for the season despite the setbacks. “I’m most excited about just getting all of us on snow. With all the uncertainties and rapidly changing nature of the season, every time we can get out there is precious,” Morandibenson said. While many sports this year have been
cancelled or postponed, the Alpine team appears to be continuing on as normal as possible. Edie Sherlock, a senior at AHS, had been on the Alpine team all four years of high school. “I’m really excited about actually getting to race this year as of now. Especially with COVID, we weren’t sure that we’d have a season so getting out to train and see the coaches has been a great break from school,” Sherlock said. Despite a unique year, the alpine team
will continue with optimism, and most importantly, safety. “The best part of the alpine team is the positivity and passion. After safety, our goal is to make sure that athletes leave practice able to say that they had fun and enjoyed themselves. At the end of the day, we dedicate ourselves to the sport because we love it, so as coaches, we try to create a low pressure environment and emphasize the joy of ski racing,” Morandibenson said.
January 2021
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NEWS
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AHS Nordic team skates into 2021
Stef Wojcik, News Editor
Though most locals see the weekly fresh snow as a great opportunity to hit the open mountains, the Aspen High School nordic team sees this as a chance to start their training. All winter sports teams have opted for optional training until the official start of the competition season, January 25. Towards the beginning of the optional season, in early December, the skiers were juggling location changes and less than ideal conditions given the lack of snow. Though there are many challenges, especially during COVID-19, the team appears to be in high spirits and looking forward to the competitions starting in February. Kendall Clark, a team member of four years, is excited to be back on the trails, but feels that the restrictions are adding to the already challenging sport. “The lack of snow forces us to suffer on Panda Peak everyday. It is like the tundra, they are blowing man made snow 24/7. While we are grateful that SkiCo has allowed us to ski, we are excited to get back on regular Nordic trails,” Clark said.
Photo by Oliver Semple AHS student competing in a nordic race in 2019
Another senior at AHS, Edie Sherlock, a ski meister competing in both alpine and nordic skiing, notices a shift not
only on the operation of practices but also on the atmosphere between teammates.
“The team dynamic has definitely changed just with the fact that we don’t have nearly as many people on the team this year. As of now, all but two of our athletes that show up to optional practice are seniors, which is a drastic change from the variety of grades that we’ve had in years past,” Sherlock said. Chrisitan Kelley, also a ski meister for AHS, faces double the challenges for double sports. “Ski meistering is going to be very interesting this year because there are so many unknowns both for alpine and nordic. As for practicing, everything is the same,” Kelley said. “The most important part is finding a balance between the two different sports practices, as well as school work, which gets tough.” Kelley said. Though every week brings new challenges and potential changes, these senior nordic skiers are driven and prepared for their last season. “Everything is still very unknown. I am excited for any competitions we get to have because I feel like the competitive spirit is important in a sport as mentally tough as nordic,” Kelley said.
PAGE 12 SKIER A&E “If Anything Happens I Love You,” a new Netflix short film January 2021
in regards to school safety. Without songs that all played at just the right shirt, a series of events causes a soccer any statistics, official laws, or political times and perfectly set the mood of each ball to roll into the daughters room and The reality that most students in stances, the highlight of the animation scene. Beautiful Dreamer, performed by knock into a record player, which starts America faced before COVID-19 was is the real emotions that occur after a the Inner City Youth Orchestra of Los King Princess’ 1950. The sound draws the constant fear of a shooting in their school shootings rather than calling the Angeles, opens the film with simplistic the mother into her daughter’s room school. Written by Micheal Govier and where the father joins her, and they Will McCormack, Netflix’s “If Anything viewer to action, or centering around the piano chords, conveying a hopeful yet politicized gun rights movement. melancholy atmosphere. reflect on the events that led to where Happens I Love You” is a 2D animated In addition to the beautiful artwork, After Beautiful Dreamer comes to a they are now. short film depicting the tragic aftermath the short animation also has a simple touching close while the mother sits by Eventually, the parents are pulled back of a young girl being killed in a school the laundry and holds her daughter’s into their grief as they remember the first shooting. On average before COVID-19, soundtrack composed of three different day of school for their daughter. The America was experiencing at least screen turns black as gunshots are one mass shooting a day, eliciting heard and the music is completely cut anxiety and uncertainty in its stuout and replaced by the sound of soft dents. The new Netflix film centers rain. The daughter’s shadow appears around a student’s parents and their and pulls her parents separating figgrieving process after her heartures back together and the film ends breaking death. with a loving embrace between the The simply drawn characters and two grieving adults. soft musical background cultivate Micheal Govier and Will McCorthe same emotional atmosphere as mack brought stunning artwork, powPixar’s UP; however, the subject erful music, and a moving message matter draws attention to the tragic all together in “If Anything Happens reality most families and commuI Love You”. Govier and McCormack nities have faced following school created a compelling narrative that shootings. The film begins with the depicts personal loss and grief that mother and father sat at different too many parents in America have ends of the table, while their arguexperienced. “If Anything Happens ing shadows are cast on the wall as I Love You” pulls roughly on the aua metaphor for their inner thoughts dience’s heartstrings while painfully and emotions. The film is refreshingly huPhoto Courtesy of Netflix reminding them of the harsh reality of If anything happens I love you depicts the truly moving aftermath of a tragic school shooting and shows deeply human our nation. man and spotlights the fear that emotions in a journey through a young girl’s death. both parents and students have Aja Schiller, News Editor
“Future Retro” 2020 ski film
Let Him Go Review Let Him Go is a Thriller/Drama written and created by Thomas Bezucha, based on the 2013 novel written by Larry Watson. The film features two protagonists Margaret (Diane Lane) and her husband George (Kevin Costner). Their daughter-in-law has a younger son who they adore. They had raised the boy alongside his mother until the father passed from an accident. The film takes a deadly turn as their grandson and his mother are put in danger by an abusive father. It doesn’t take long for tension to rise between the family members. The family is revealed to be more twisted than we originally thought. They find the hotel their grandparents are living in and things quickly escalate. The main message that this movie portrays is not to leave family behind. No matter how easy it would be to turn the other way, we find the characters grit and love is intense throughout the film. The protagonists work together and uplift each other to find a way to help their family be safe again. There are many different plot twists and unique problems the heroes face. And yet, they use their kindness and smarts to get around it all. The plot has smooth transitions with how a new character is introduced and how the heroes develop over the course of the film. In one moment George is hesitant to find their grandson and the next he wants to desperately get him home safely. We find
One aspect that keeps each of Warren Miller’s films so engaging is learning about the athletes who took part in filming. Young skiers admire these athletes, and this year’s film had a special focus on the athletes themselves. Lexi Dupont is an American professional big mountain freeskier who has competed in the Freeride World Tour and was featured in Future Retro. In an interview with Oliver Sharpe, DuPont discusses the obstacles of actually filming in Switzerland given the global circumstances of COVID. “Our trip kind of came to an abrupt end at the end because we had to leave in the middle of the night and head back to the United States because Trump was shutting down the borders. It was a big strike mission but we really scored with the skiing we were able to do,” said DuPont in her interview with Sharpe. DuPont expresses the same enthusiasm for the Photo by Kaelyn Kroeger film this year and the skiThe silhouette of Aspen Mountain’s Chair Six (aka Baker Boyd’s favorite chair lift) ing she took part in past on an untouched patch of snow. years. Despite how difAnnika Nichols, Staff Writer
that the main characters find that a lot of strength is within the family and that it should never be forgotten. George was very hesitant at the start of the movie about saving their grandson, but he realizes how strong he is with his wife and family together. The consistency of plot twists make a simple story gripping. The viewer is constantly questioning what will happen to the main characters, and is not the usual western fantasy movie but it has similar characters and doesn’t let go of the viewers attention. “Let Him Go’’ has a unique flare, and will have you at the edge of your seat while bringing in a unique twist around every corner.
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Hannah Popish, Design Editor
Warren Miller’s annual ski films signal the start of winter each year, and this year was quite unique to past films, as the film company granted international streaming to skiers and snowboarders worldwide. Never before has a distanced screening been held for Miller’s annual films, and this year’s film, “Future Retro”, defied boundaries in the filming process. Many skiers enjoyed watching the movie from the comfort of their homes this fall before the start of a most awaited ski season.
ferent it may have been, she still had a wonderful time shooting her segment of the film. Out of all of the scenes in this year’s film, the most astonishing by far was the segment Aspen local Baker Boyd made an appearance in. Baker Boyd is an athlete born in Telluride, Colorado, who moved to Aspen when he was 12 and has been featured in Warren Miller’s 2019 “Timeless” as well as “Future Retro”. Boyd also experienced some aspects which were out of the norm during his time in Iceland such as heli skiing all day and spending afternoons surfing. It is unique to be able to watch a movie and recognize some of the “actors” as locals from the town you live in. Among the places filmed, much of this film took place on the east coast at Killington resort. The shots taken throughout the film inspired all of us to get ready for the ski season. Scenes were layered with old-fashioned skiing and modern skiing to show how skiing has changed over the years.