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SKIER SCRIBBLER Vol. I

May 2022

Aspen High School

Start Writing a Eulogy, Because Aspen’s Culture is on its Deathbed Hannah Smith, Co-Editor-in-Cheif

Aspen’s local restaurants and shops bring the town its diversity and culture. For instance, Mawa McQueen, owner of Mawa’s kitchen, is the Ivory Coast native behind Aspen’s only blackowned restaurant. However, these same, culturally-rich local businesses are being driven out of Aspen one by one with ever-increasing rent and impossible prices. The recent COVID-19 pandemic has only made these prices more impossible. Aspen is monopolizing, and not in a progressive manner. Although develreplacing local businesses with high-end luxury brands, they are not seeing the loss of culture that follows. If developers are indeed seeing this loss of culture in Aspen, do they not care? Aspen’s rapid monopolization is not just erasing its working class. By driving out local businesses one by one, Aspen is erasing its culture. While that sounds grim and worrisome, worry, because the beloved Aspen that locals know and love has an open grave await-

ing it. Aspen has already lost some of its oldest and most beloved local restaurants: Little Annie’s, Shlomo’s Deli, Taster’s Pizza, L’Hostaria R Ristorante, Peach’s Corner Cafe, Hops Culture, Main Street Bakery, and not to mention Boogie’s curly fries and milkshakes. Restaurants like these are, once again, Aspen’s hub for diversity and culture… and Aspen is destroying them, replacing them. “20 years ago… Aspen has changed, Aspen is just not the same as it was 20 years ago. Of course, I do not expect Aspen to stay, I mean things change, life is constantly changing, but the essence of who we were, I say we because I feel that I am part of the community, I am an Aspenite, who we were vanished. What we stand for, vanished. It has become this glamor,” McQueen said. McQueen continued, “They always painted Aspen as so glamorous, but it never actually was. Before they used to paint a picture of Aspen that was not true, now it has become a reality because of recent choices.”

What is the ever-disappearing Aspen that locals know and love? If Aspen its friendly local businesses, cultural restaurants, art, and colloquial “Momand-Pop” shops. Aspen is Mawa’s Kitchen, the Grateful Deli, the Hickory House, and Big Wrap. The essence of Aspen is its culture and diversity, brought by these small local businesses. The essence of Aspen is not its luxury-brand stores standing solely for tourist satisfaction. Locals do not even bother to look into the windows of Dior, Gucci, or Prada. Yet, Aspen’s identity is being suffocated by money. According to McQueen, local businesses and restaurants seal and validate Aspen’s culture. What is Aspen without them? A replica of Hollywood? Los Angeles? “If only they were taking something away and were replacing it equally, I is good, bring on more diversity. But they’re not doing that. We need that small-town feel, we need that community. We don’t need high-end boutiques on

every corner,” McQueen said. The effects of lost community and culture are not just felt by local businesses, but also by Aspen locals themselves. Lewis Brown, senior at AHS, has grown up in Aspen and is experiencing these “I went to Main Street Bakery every day as a kid. I loved it so much. It was my favorite… and now it’s gone,” Brown said. The culture of Aspen is on its deathbed, and cannot be revived if this non-progressive monopolization continues to suffocate small local businesses. Aspen is a magical place, so why can’t all classes of people feel its magic regardless of their wealth? By eliminating accessibility of resources, Aspen is erasing one class: the working class that can’t afford lunch in Aspen anymore. a small and peaceful community that you love, why would you destroy it? We all deserve to live, shop, dine, and recreate in Aspen. That is the question I am asking [developers], what will Aspen be 20 years from now?” McQueen said.

Florida’s “Don’t Say Gay Law” could lead to a rise in LGBTQIA+ teen suicides Océane Jones, Co-Editor-in-Cheif

On March 28th, Florida governor tal Rights in Education, prohibits the discussion of gender identity and sexual orientation in primary school, and allows private citizens to sue schools or teachers that engage in these topics. It

curriculum their children are taught. However, opponents declare that the bill is homephobic and hateful towards the nity. Many indivuals view the bill as extemely homophobic, a “hateful” legislature made to futher oppress the U.S.’s

ultimatley failed, with Senator Shevrin member breaking down in tears while defending his amendment to the bill, which would have altered the bill’s language to ban classroom instruction intended to “change a students’ sexual orientation and gender identity”, according to the Hill.

when asked about why she supported also lead to an increase of suicides amoung queer youth. Accoring to the Trevor Project...(continued on page 7)

cantly increase these suicide rates. The bill is especially controversial as it potentially violates the First Amendment in the United States Constitution by prohibiting educators freedom of speech, with constitutional experts arguing that the legislation will almost certainly be challenged on the First Amendment. It has also caught the attention of national media, students, Hollywood actors and even the White House, which condemned it as hateful and dangerous.

a student’s sexual or gender identity to their parents within six weeks of discovering the student’s identity. This creates an unsafe space for students that identify as anything other than hertosexual and cisgender. Supporters of the bill argue that it protects students and strengthens parental rights, allowing parents to mitigate what

a permanent thing”, expressing the hompobic nature of the bill istelf by not ty as a legitimate sexual orientaion or identity. A series of amendments pushed by

News

Opinion

A&E

Table of Contents

Addiction in Moderation: Legal vs. Illegal Addictive Substances

The Nut Butter Horoscope: What’s Your Butter Future

The Art of Sampling

News..........................................2

Cannabis, caffeine, and sugar are all substances that can create addiction, but how dangerous can they actually be? Why do these legal drugs all affect our brain and how can we work to stop our dependencies? How did they beued on page 4)

Peanut butter: everybody’s favorite sandwich ingredient. This may sound like an easy and simple topic of conver-

Sampling - taking brief segments of a sound and using that to form a different sound or musical piece “A good composer does not imitate, he steals.” - Igor stravinsky, Russian composer, pianist and conductor, who was considered one of the most important

Sports..........................................5

bill into something less homophopbic

types of nut butter were not created not to judge, right? Crunchy peanut butter... (Continued on page 8)

each year in the U.S. — and at least one attempts suicide every 45 seconds.

8th Twitter Post, “I want every member ued on page 7)

as likely to attempt suicide than their

Opinon........................................7 A&E...........................................9

SKIER NEWS

May 2022

PAGE 2

The pandemic shifted our mindsets — but we can shift them back, too according to Harvard Medical School psychologist Susan David. “Encouraging someone to pretend to be happy or brave or optimistic when they’re feeling otherwise is unkind,” David said. “It communicates that their experience is invalid, that their pain is something to hide from the world. And as a coping strategy, it’s ineffective.” At the same time, a change in mindset can be a helpful way to move forward, according to Lupow. than a pandemic. Even though we are hopefully Mental health professionals say nearing the end of the pandemic, they have seen the way the pananxiety is still a common thing, demic shifted mindsets and, in turn, and with all the negative impacts of their behavior and outlook on life. the pandemic such as social media and isolation, there are still many the isolation of restrictions and staypositives we can seek out today. at-home orders, the factor of fear “We all need to remember that our grew tremendously. brains have plasticity, and we can Christina M. King is a licensed 100% lessen anxiety and depresclinical therapist, coach, and memsion by shifting our perspective and ber of the Leadership and Advisory what we do better than anything: Board for Aspen Strong, an advocastorytelling,” Lupow said. Image courtesy of Science.org “We tell ourselves stories all day Anxiety has especially affected teens’ mental health. co-founded. King said she has seen long and likely, they are not nice an increase in fear in her clients. stories. If you tell yourself that you “There have been many situations the fear related to the pandemic and sees as our only sources of outside commuare beautiful, you are smart, and you are … in which people struggled greatly a lasting impact from that mindset. nication, we also had to navigate the capable, you will eventually believe it,” “The fear, the unknown, and the challenges of growing up with social she added. “Also, if you change your driving much of their behaviors,” King division among people has shifted their media. stories to ‘I have a thought that I am…’ said. That can lead people to “fall prey” emotions,” Lupow said. “People have So how do we cope? instead of ‘you are stupid,’ it can also what King describes as a “scarcity men- lost their sense of belonging and have Telling someone (or telling yourself) help in changing your perspective and tality” — an obsession with the lack of struggled with a loss of connection. This to think of the positives in the worst create a better, safer place inside of your something or fear of limited supply that ultimately created a sense of not belong- situations can create an emotional block, mind.” Lauren Kinney, Social Media Editor

*This article was originally published in the Snowmass Sun on March 16, 2022* So much of the COVID-19 conversation over the last two years has focused on mask mandates, case counts and overall deaths. But throughout that time, people have also struggled with mental health — something they’ll continue to face even as mask mandates end, case counts drop and public health of-

makes it hard to focus. Aspen StrongProgram Director Lindsay Lupow said she has also observed

ing to their respective communities.” For teens, who spent our most social years trapped at home with technology

ROOTS counseling group makes positive change in peers’ mental health Harper Axelman, Editor-in-chief

High school students from across the Roaring Fork Valley are making positive changes in the mental health of their peers as trained counselors. The group trains students in dialectical behavior therapy and psychodynamic theory in a 6-week program from 4:30-6:00 at the Aspen Chapel, and is called Roaring Fork Organization of Therapy Services, or ROOTS, because “roots nurture trees and growth, they’re really spread out, and they’re sources of structure in people’s lives,” according to Hannah Smith, an AHS senior and member who now has her counseling license.

ROOTS peer counselors pose in the AHS commons.

for teenagers to approach adults who they may not know very well sometimes for therapy, and they may be more comfortable approaching peers that age, and that was the purpose behind the peer counseling,” Smith said. “...All of

because of our own experiences that we want to help other people,” They are being trained by Jennifer Johnston-Jones, a clinical psychologist with 17 years of experience and 23 years as a physiotherapist, and author of Transformational Parenting and Transformational Education.

munity and in the world right now that are suffering,” Johnston-Jones said. “We want to create a community where people can really help each other, not just say, “Oh, I’m sorry’, you know, but really learn skills that can be helpful, because most people don’t have the resources to go see a psychologist or a therapist…there’s lots of things that get in the way,” Johnston-Jones said. This is why ROOTS aims to improve access to mental health services for everyone. “If regular people can be trained in professional ways of helping, not that they’re replacing a professional, but they can sort of be a bridgeit’s going to help more people have access to health, and then hopefully we can not only prevent suicides, but Image courtesy of ROOTS website help people be the best that they can be, develop their po“They’re learning the same skills that tential, and create a commusomeone would in graduate school,” nity of kindness and trust and support,” Johnston-Jones said. And this comes at Johnston-Jones said. a time when it is very needed: Colorado Book a session to talk to a licensed had one of the highest suicide rates in the nation in 2020, according to Coloraon their website, rfvroots.com. do Health and Enviornmental Data. “There’s a lot of people in our com-

SKIER

May 2022

NEWS

PAGE 3

Beau Toepfer, News Editor

Skier Scribbler Archives An Aspen High School Letter with academic recognition.

Seniors’ Last Month of High School

Jenny Ellis, Editor-in-Chief

Jenny Ellis Seniors pose on ‘the boat’ in the AHS commons in the last few weeks before IB exams and the end of school for the class of 2022.

May 2022

SKIER

NEWS

Addiction in Moderation: Legal v. Illegal Addictive Substances Substances

Beau Topher, News Editor

Addiction in Moderation: Legal vs. Illegal Addictive Substances Cannabis, caffeine, and sugar are all substances that can create addiction, but how dangerous can they actually be? Why do these legal drugs all affect our brain and how can we work to stop our dependencies? How did they become Sugar and caffeine are drugs, albeit less damaging in many cases. They are legal to everyone at any age, but are still addictive. Social media is also a major focal point of the addiction conversation today that is often seen as a preeminent cause of teen depression. Although Cannabis is addictive and inhaling it can deliver some of the chemicals that and is even used in cancer treatment. However, it is still illegal federally and in many states, and is also outlawed for anyone under 21 years old. Cannabis Often refered to as marujiana or weed, cannabis is often viewed as a gateway drug, or a drug that can often lead to more intense substances like heroin and methamphetamines. On the other hand, cannabis can be is still illegal by federal law, but some states have legalized it, many under the pretense of medicinal purposes. According to the American Cancer Society, Two primary chemicals, also known as cannabinoids are found in cannabis. CBD, one of the primary cannabinoids, can be used to help treat seizures and anxiety and can counteract the other primary cannabinoid, THC. THC is the chemical responsible for the high that cannabis provides, which can be counteracted by CBD.THC and some studies show it can aleve pain and nausea, and functions as an antioxidant. It is important to keep in mind that

these effects are not recognized by the FDA or many other medical institutions. Two cannabis based drugs are approved by the FDA, both primarily to treat the side effects of cancer and chemotherapy, and a third for a similar purpose is approved in Europe and is under study by the FDA. While Cannathe case. The high that THC brings about limits movement and reaction time and can also cause feelings of anxiety. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, a major problem with prescribing cannabis is that instead of chemicals like you do in pills, doctors as the amounts of different cannabinoids varies from plant to plant. Caffeine Caffeine has always been legalized for everyone in the USA, except some athletes before a competition. Caffeine can be found in all kinds of food, from energy drinks to chocolate. Coffee plays a massive role in many people’s lives, and the energy perk that it can provide can become a requirement for people to get through their day. However, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, caffeine is not actually addictive. For a drug to become addictive, it has to release a large amount of dopamine to create an addiction to the feeling it produces. Dopamine is a chemical released by the brain that creates a happy feeling. Exercise can release dopamine naturally. Compared to other drugs like opiates and alcohol, caffeine releases a very small amount of dopamine. However, because it creates that boost in energy, it can create a dependency, and the withdrawal of caffeine and caffeine abuse are both recognized as conditions. Another big difference between addictions to more severe drugs and caffeine is that people can function

without caffeine, except for the mild withdrawal symptoms, but they can’t function without drugs like methamphetamines. Sugar What about sugar? Sugar is a nutrient that can boost energy and mood and is used in many foods as a sweetener. According to the Addiction Center, sugar could even be as addictive as cocaine. When people start eating sugar to deal with negative emotions like depression, it creates a vicious cycle. They may start to gain weight, which can lead to more self-deprivation, and therefore more consumption. Alongside the taste, it does produce larger amounts of dopamine and the energy boost can create a dependency, basically a more addictive version of caffeine. A major problem with sugar is the marketing campaigns that the big sugar industry put out in the 1970s and 80s. The massive companies like Nestle or Mars Wrigely Confectionary are so powerful that they can control what people know about sugar related illnesses. So what’s the deal? Why is it that sugar and caffeine are legal, but cannabis is not? The short answer is racism, on two charges. According to Britannica, there are two main reasons why cannabis was banned. Cannabis was rarely smoked in the US before the Mexican revolution in 1910, but at that point, many Mexicans began immigrating to the US, bringing with them marijuana. Federal Bureau of Narcotics (FBN) claimed that it caused a “lust for blood,” and tried to incite xenophobia based on the substance. In 1930, the FBN was established, and with it, pressure for the bureau to act. Harry Anslinger, the head of the FBN, decided to attack cannabis. Although scientists of the time had come to a consensus that cannabis is not actually that dangerous,

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Anslinger aimed for a victory for the new Bureau. Britannica continues that Anslinger went after African Americans. He claimed that white women who used cannabis would be more likely to have sex with Black men because cannabis was “a threat to white women’s virtue.” He cited that it incited more violence and insanity, and used racist speech to create fear, going as far as to say, “Reefer [cannabis] makes darkies think they’re as good as white men.” Ansligner was not questioning the actual medical dangers of cannabis, but instead attacked minorities to ignite deep-rooted fears in Americans of the time. The Results What if instead of cannabis coming into the spotlight of the FBN or public eye, it had been caffeine or sugar? Would we associate the same dangers that smoking cannabis has with drinking coffee? Not necessarily, as caffeine is a substance that isn’t particularly dangerous or addictive. On the other hand, sugar can be harmful and addictive, and in many cases lead to problems with diet just like cannabis can with anxiety. But cally, cannabis can be. The main thing to keep in mind is that cannabis is unhealthy for developing brains, and human brains don’t fully develop until 25 years of age. After that, if used in a way that if you don’t create an addiction or dependency and continue to stay away from harder drugs, it can actually help and be used to treat medical ailments. As for caffeine, it isn’t necessarily bad as long as you don’t create a dependency. Sugar is ok in moderation, and is required in small amounts for survival, but eating too much or eating to suppress emotion can be very damaging to your mental and physical health.

New Concussion Protocol Helps Students with Academic Concussion Struggles Stella Iverson, A&E Editor

As people become more aware of the importance of brain health, AHS has introduced a new system around the academic impact of concussions. There are many requirements that go into returning to sports and academics following a concussion. Allina Robertson and Celty Fritter both play a key role in designing and implementing the protocols for returning to school an sports after a concussion. Allina Robertson has joined the AHS team as a academic monitor for concussions, and helps students suffering from a concussion keep up in school. Teachers are informed when a student is suffering from a concussion by Robertson and are then given wiggle room when it comes to homework, schoolwork, and tests. ”So myself and one or the teachers will usually go through the grades and see what kids have a concussion, if their grades are falling because they've had a concussion. We'll work to make sure that

they're able to either make up work, or things will be forgiven depending on the severity of their concussion. The idea is to kind of have kids return to learn in a way that's healthy for their brain,” Robertson said. Celty Fitterer, AHS athletic director, controls the sports side of concussions. She helps to decide when a student is able to rejoin their sport. Before rejoining your sport you must be cleared academically. “Then we get into really the meat and potatoes for me. That is getting you back to sport once you're academically cleared. And so that becomes the conto play to get back to sports,” Fritter said. Both Robertson and Fritter stress how important it is for students that Robertson is here. “So it used to be that I [Celty] did both which wasn't as effective as I'm not part of the school necessarily, and so to actually have somebody embedded within

the school that can help you guys with academics. Once you have been cleared with your concussion, and been cleared by a doctor and are able to do your schoolwork, and you're caught back up on your schoolwork then that's when I come back in,” Fritter said. Robertson is also able to explainwhy teenage concussions are not a minor injury and require attention. “You have less resources, you're more tired, you're less able to pay attention. Your sensory systems get a little bit more or more sensitive to becoming exhausted and overstimulated quicker. It can really impact your brain development in that way because your brain only has so many resources,” Robertson said. Robertson continues, “So if you're not taking care of your concussions, then your brain is developing maybe a little bit slower because it's also using some of the resources that typically are used for developing for recovering,” Robertson said. Both Celty Fritter and Allina Robert-

son are excited for what's to come from this new concussion protocol. They both feel students will be better taken care of when it comes to sport related concus-

“...If you’re not taking care of your concussions, then your brain is developing...slower because it’s also using some of the resources that typically are used for developing for recovering, ” -Allina Robertson

SKIER SPORTS

May 2020

PAGE 5

Harper Axelman, Editor-In-Chief

While the “Quad Revolution” of wom-

“

”

do some elements,

Winter

Stella Iverson, A&E Editor Andie Sherman, Staff Writer

have the dents had the -

level is an -

who will -

Photo by Stella Iverson

student -

All 11 athletes at the athlete signing.

May 2022

SKIER NEWS

Facing the Struggles of Rock Wall

PAGE 6

Snowfall Impacts Spring Sports

Quinntessa Frisch, Opinion Editor

Photo courtesy of Eldorado Walls A diagram detailing the planned size and angles of the wall including the color scheme. Beau Toepfer, News Editor

At the beginning of COVID, the Aspen climbing club was unable to continue due to lack of access to an adequate training facility, but now, students and teachers are aiming to restart the club by building a wall and aim for a competitive team next season. With the start of COVID, most gyms nationwide closed down, and climbing gyms were hit harder than most as the whole sport revolves around shared surfaces. Monkey House Carbondale, a local gym right near downtown Carbondale, was forced to close to the public over quarantine, and the gym was in serious danger of closing completely because of a lack of income. However, a home wall in the skier dome was born. Not only would the club practice on this wall, but it could be used by the Aspen Mountain Guide School class for students to get their rock climbing certirappelling before their outdoor education trip. The Skier Dome where it is supposed to be built in isn’t up to modern code and won’t be able to support the wall without the massive wall, and the wall has to be June 31st, or AHS will lose funding. The wall was proposed for the Innovation Grant, which is a grant that any school with a Career Tech Education (CTE) program can apply for. However, there is a caveat to the $200,000 dollar grant for the new wall and bike year. Brent Maiolo, a science teacher at AHS, planned for the wall to be used to do everything from expose students to the sport of rock climbing, to helping students get their rock climbing certiclimbing wall back to the district that the elementary, middle, and high school kids can use, I would love to offer a climbing class somewhere down the road,” Maiolo said. The wall was to be delivered before spring break, and everything was running smoothly, so AHS hired an engineer to assess the Skier Dome where the wall is to be installed. Immediately they ran into a problem. Sarah Strassburger, the AHS principal,

looked to see what could be done. Supso the wall could be supported. wasn’t up to code and what the issue is, is that the skier dome was built in 1967, codes were different. So nobody’s gonna have it be that kind of load bearing.” Strassburger said. The USA is in the midst of a massive labor shortage as well as supply chain issues. Eldorado Walls, who is supplying the wall and holds, was initially concerned about not getting the supplies in time to have the wall delivered by the was not a problem in the end. The more potent issue is the lack of workers to

to support something as heavy as the climbing wall, it’s going to take a little while. I hope it’s completed this summer.” Sheri Smith, the head of the CTE department at AHS said. So far, the wall will be delivered and paid for by the end of June so funding isn’t lost, but prospects on when it will actually be installed vary from the end of summer to the fall of 2022. The worrying part for athlete climbers and coaches is that the wall will not be installed by September when climbing competitions start. The American Scholastic Climbing League (ASCL) holds

*This article was originally published in the Snowmass Sun on April 27, 2022 In Aspen, where snow usually falls between September and June, winter sports are the hub of activity for the longest season of the year. With a recent series of spring snow storms putting a damper on outdoor practices and competition, some Aspen High School athletes said they believe it has left them at a disadvantage when they play against teams from places with more adequate weather. The AHS girls golf team has been practicing inside using golf simulators. When they are not practicing inside, they have traveled to River Valley Ranch in Carbondale to practice, which can be anywhere from a 45-minute to an hour-long drive. Lenna Persson, a freshman golfer, believes that Aspen and other ski towns are in an unfavorplaying time in decent weather conditions. advantage compared to other schools when it comes to spring sports,” Persand by the time we have tournaments and games, there is still snow on the ground, and we haven’t had any time to practice in our normal training facilities. In places like Denver, they have been able to train outside long before the competition season.” Most spring sports at Aspen High School start in March, which is on average the snowiest month of the year, according to data from a National Weather Service station located at the City of Aspen Water Department. The station has logged an average of 26.99 inches of snow each March since

adapted to playing inside in a good of the season there’s not very many options for us and the fact that we can practice indoors is a good way to get some work done before we go to tournaments. If we couldn’t have practiced inside, we would have gone into varsity tournaments after not touching a golf club for months.” The late snowfall has left a bigger impact on spring sports this year compared to years in the past. Persson, who has been playing golf since she was 7 years old, feels the impact this year especially. and then delayed another time because the golf course got a foot of snow,” affected us because the tournament got delayed to the day after our RVR (River Valley Ranch) tournament, and for some of the newer players that was a real struggle playing a tournament two days in a row.” because I felt that it was so early in the season to be playing a two-day tournament,” she added. Indoor practices typically take place in the Skier Dome, which has little lacrosse. (The Skier Dome is about feet of playing space.) Michaela Kenny, a starter on the AHS girls varsity lacrosse team, sees pros and cons to winter weather’s impacts on spring sports. But with the drawas well, according to Kenny.

the USA Climbing (USAC) league holds doesn’t have a wall to train and learn on, Maiolo’s hopes for an Aspen climbing team competing in State or regional competitions could fall apart. without a club or team, however. The Aspen Mountain Guide School Class has long awaited a wall to use to complete

Photo courtesy of Adelaide Ryerson Mia Seltzer doing the draw at the girls varisty lacrosse game.

wall would allow students to get the only the class right now. It exposes students to climbing and can build their experience and knowledge of the sport. Maiolo’s Aspen Mountain Guide School So to really help kids get those skills in terms of climbing because so many people here are such avid climbers.” Strassburger said.

1934; that’s nearly an inch more than the averages in December and January through 2022. April is a snowy month too, with an average of 16.49 inches falling that month through 2021. It has become easier for Aspen High School teams to adapt to these playing conditions as the season has carried out. Persson believes that playing golf inside is better than not playing golf at all.

been a bit of a blessing as well as a hard to use the gym often, however, playing in hard weather also makes us stronger. rado, we tend to be able to play better during colder games because we are more accustomed to it,” she added.

Opinion Editorial: Roe v. Wade, a Human Rights Issue

May 2022

SKIER

A leaked draft of the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn the landmark case, Roe v. Wade, recently thwarted reproductive rights to the forefront of political discourse. The consitutional right to abortion was established by the ruling of Roe v. Wade in 1973. Additionally, Casey v. Planned Parenthood expanded said rights by determining the extent to which states can moderate published in June or July, will determine whether or not abortion rights will cease to be federally protected. of the document. On Monday, May second, POLITICO published a leaked initial draft majority opinion composed by Justice Samuel Alito. The recent abrogation of Roe has been viewed by the public while a case remains in progress. The draft accurately reveals the hyperpolarized partisan nature of the supreme court. In consistently referring to doctors who terminate pregnancies as “abortionists,” Justice Alito’s charged word choice fails to provide the judicial impartiality required to ensure

“Don’t Say Gay” Law FROM PAGE 1

Océane Jones, Editor-in-Chief

--especially the kids who will be impacted by this hateful bill -- to know that you are loved and accepted just as you are,”. Erasing the presence of the LGBTQIA+ community from schools implies that queer students should be ashamed of their gender identity and sexual orienetaion. The “Don’t Say Gay” bill (HB 1557/SB 1834) undemines existing protections for LGBTQIA+ students and faculty in schools, potentially putting them in danger. This bill, if signed into legistalture, would force LGBTQIA+ indivuals back into the closet by policing identity, stopping kids from talking about their same-sex parents, and potentially causing LGBTQIA+ educators to loose their jobs. This is a frightening allusion to the Lavender Scare, where President Dwight D. Eisenhower’s ExecutiveOrder 10450 ordered the interrogaOcéane Jones tion and systemAn AHS student’s sticker advocating atic removal of against the law. all LGBTQIA+ individuals from the federal government. The United States has made progress since the Lavender Scare of the 1950’s, with more LGBTQIA+ representation in the government, and participants in school systems. With studies showing that 16% of Generation Z identifying as LGBTQIA+ , the rights and freedom of this community are threatened by the “Don’t Say Gay” bill. Protect LGBTQIA+ youth and help stop the rise of suicide rates by telling Flordia lawmakers to oppose “Don’t Say Gay” Bill (HB 1557 and SB 1834). As an American citizen, each of us have the power to create change, and use your power to protect those who are defenseless. Rally behind the LGBTQIA+ community to help ensure freedom for all Americans to keep the

due process of law. Overturning Roe v. Wade would transfer responsibility of laws pertaining to reproductive rights to individual states. According to the Center for Reproductive Rights and the Guttmacher Institute, roughly half of the 50 states would ban or heavily restrict access to abortion. Some of these states have restrictive laws that predate the initial ruling of Roe v. Wade; and 13 others have ‘trigger laws.’ which would criminalize abortion directly following the overturinng of Roe v. Wade. Despite the proactive efforts of progressive states to

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to abortion in America and proetst this Roe. v. Wade’s overruling that degresses women’s rights 50 years back in time, donate to Planned Parenthood, an organization that provides sexual heathcare in the United States ensure that every woman receives access to a safe, planned pregnancy, instead of one forced upon her by legislation. This is a human’s rights issue, an issue on healthcare, and an undermining of rights that women and guarantee safe access to abotion for all Americans!

the Rally for Abortion Justice with one of the chants to protect our abortion rights. On May 14th a national protest led by Women’s March fought to keep “Bans Off Our Bodies,” and another march is planned for the inevitable overturning of Roe v. Wade. At the moment, the majority of liberal states’ abortion acess is protected, although the same cannot be said for for conservtitve states. Abortion acess is a human right, and safe acess to it is a fundematal form of heathcare that all Americans deserve access too. To support access

Image courtesy of the New Yorker Protesters march at the Texas State Capitol during May 2021.

May 2022

Peyton Thomas,Staff Writer

SKIER OPINION

PAGE 8

Milk and Personality Traits

Milk. A beverage many parents encouraged, and sometimes forced their children to drink when young. This was a decision made with the hopes that their child would grow up tall and strong. Packed with nutrients such as vitamin D and potassium, milk is a common ingredient in many people’s diet. Junior at AHS, Nate Thomas, was an avid milk drinker. With a desire to gain Thomas consumed an entire gallon of whole milk every single day for months. His fridge was constantly stocked with around ten gallons of milk everyday! After gaining over 50 lbs over the span of eight months, his mom started getting concerned. After meeting with a nutritionist and talking about his habits, Nate cut down his intake to a less sickening, and closer to average level. Last year, he also changed his milk of choice from whole, to almond milk, a decision I highly support. Today, Nate occasionally drinks a glass of 2% milk when trying to

reach his caloric intake goal of the day. Over the past couple years, the milk selection grocery stores offer has increased with an extremely wide variety to choose from. And although it may seem silly, the milk you choose to drink says a lot about your personality. Whole Milk- If you are a whole milk drinker, there are two types of categories you could fall under. You are either a child and your mom is trying to make you drink lots of milk so that you grow up tall enough to dunk a basketball standing or you’re strong enough to win any arm wrestle you’re faced with. Otherwise you are simply a psychopath. I know you get a stomach ache later in the day from drinking whole milk. I don’t care whether or not you are dairy free, your stomach will be churning to a point of curdling your insides. Almond Milk- If you are an almond milk drinker, you are basic. You probably started by just putting in your coffee because you saw your friends do it, and

then started using it for everything. I’m sure you don’t even realize how much water you are taking away from California to soak the almonds and create your almond milk. Oat Milk- If you are an oat milk drinker you care about your health and think that by drinking oat milk you are superior even though it’s not that cool. I am sure you only drink it in your coffees and would never pour yourself a bowl of cereal with oat milk. You might even be the kind of person that merely orders oatmilk when you are out with your friends at a cafe but the second you return home you use whole milk. 2% Milk - If you are a 2% milk drinker, I trust you. You are normal, it’s not too creamy but not so watery. 2% is a safe option. It is probably just the milk your parents buy and you don’t think too much about it. Chocolate Milk- If you drink chocolate milk, you’re having a good time. You know how to have fun and are always down to do anything from hiking

the bowl to going out to lunch. However, you are quite immature and I can probably only hang out with you for so long. Lactose Free Milk- I’m so sorry that you are lactose intolerant, and I feel for you, but why are you drinking lactaid? There are many other options of dairy free milk that are far more delicious. Instead of drinking lactose free milk you may as well drink regular milk and take lactaid pills or try something new such as almond milk…. even if it might make you basic. Fair Life- If you have seen the undercover exposed videos of animal treatment for fairlife and continue to drink it, respectfully, we can never be friends. I understand some of their products such as their chocolate milk are extremely popular as they are packed with protein and taste like a milkshake. However, the cruelty towards the cows at the farms supplying milk to fairlife is nothing more than appalling. No beverage is worth the pain of that many innocent animals.

ing crunchy, you most likely bought the wrong type, and regret it. You think it is quirky to continue to put crunchy peanut butter on your PB & J, but in reality, it’s just too many textures.

thing in moderation. Creamy peanut butter eaters have good luck, and will eat peanut butter like it is their morning coffee.

and only exception is peanut butter that is banned in your elementary school’s cafeteria.

The Nut Butter Horoscope: what’s your butter future? Lauren Kinney, Staff Writer

Peanut butter: everybody’s favorite sandwich ingredient. This may sound like an easy and simple topic of convertypes of nut butter were not created not to judge, right? Crunchy peanut butter - If you eat middle-aged dad trying to get your daily dose of protein. If you are a student eat-

Creamy peanut butter- This is the type of person who loves peanut butter on anything. Anything from sandwiches, bananas, maybe even in your soup will contain peanut butter. These people always have a good time, but do every-

Find Your Dream Sip Quintessa Frisch,Opinion Editior

The Town of Aspen has various seasonal outdoor activities. Skiing, snowboarding, and skinning take up the winter, while hiking and biking are the enjoyment for the summer. However, there is one thing that remains consistent year-round in Aspen: coffee. According to the National Coffee Association, 62% of Americans, disregarding children, drink coffee daily. One thing is for sure, Aspen is not short on coffee. I believe that these are some of the best places in town to stop by and get your daily cup of joe. Paradise Bakery A favorite to both locals and tourists, Paradise Bakery is located on 320 S Galena St, Aspen, CO. With 4.5 stars on Google Reviews, although Paradise Bakery is well-known for their ice cream and cookies, their coffee remains noteworthy. The coffee menu varies with more than ten different drinks, ranging from a raspberry mocha latte to cold brew. Their hours are 6:30 AM to 9 PM daily. Gorsuch Ski Cafe If you are looking for free coffee the bottom of Ajax. Located at 555 E

Durant Ave., Aspen, CO,their wide variety of coffee, drinks, and savory items earn them 4.1 stars on Google Reviews. If you are feeling a little more hungry, Gorsuch Ski Cafe is perfect with their mid-day menu. Their unique menu with an ‘Italian Panini’ and ‘Soup J’Dour’ sets the Gorsuch Ski Cafe apart. Conveniently, the Gorsuch Ski Cafe is open from 6 AM to 6 PM 7 days a week. Spring Cafe Located on 119 S Spring Street, Aspen, CO, Spring Cafe is rated 4.0 stars on Google Reviews. Not only do they offer 100% organic coffee, but they also offer organic tea. Smoothies, breakfast foods, and a wide diversity of juices are enjoyed at the Spring Cafe. The hours range from 7 AM to 5 PM, Monday through Friday, and 8 AM through 5 PM on weekends. Ink! Coffee Last but certainly not least, Ink! Coffee is another great spot for a cup of coffee in Aspen. Ink! Coffee is located at 520 East Durant Avenue, also right near Aspen Mountain. They are open from 6:30 AM to 5 PM every day of the week. Ink! Coffee is well known for their wide variety of hand-roasted coffee blends.

Almond Butter- You think you’re in with everyone cause you’re only allergic to peanuts, not almonds. You’re not trendy. This is either the only type you can eat, or you are a health freak mom who spreads it on one rice cracker, and calls it lunch. Eating almond butter’s one

SunButter- What are you thinking? Say you are kidding right now. This is truly embarrassing. Why would you have an oily and moist peanut butter that is made via “the sun” rather than the real thing. You are trying to be quirky and start a diet, but sweetie, at least try almond butter.

A&E April Showers, May Flowers Photo Essay May 2022

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Head Photographer, Maddie McAllister

Top Right: Dandelions are important for many pollinastem, awaiting a honeybee to come and obtain its sweet nectar. Top Left: A three-leaf clover, known for its luck, spotted on a dewy morning in Basalt, Colorado, moments after a rainstorm. Bottom Left/ Right Side: This bright red tulip was spotted on a warm but cloudy day in Snowmass, Colorado, surrounded by a garden of other tulips and many more beautiful plants. Bottom: At last, Colorado is getting its much-needed spring moisture. However, climate change is still a prevalent issue: since last spring, the temperature in Aspen rose by 9°F.

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Top Left: The blooming of an Apricot tree leaving beautiful, fragrent white

rainy afternoon in John Denver Park

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The Art of Sampling

Brenon Reed, A&E Editor

Music represents ideas and cultures from different times and places. New genres are created by using different musical ideas and combing them. According to the Oxford Dictionary, sampling is taking brief segments of a sound and using them to form a different sound or musical piece. It may come to a surprise that certain well known songs are created by sampling. The technique of sampling can be traced back to the 1940’s with an experimental French style of Musique concrete. Artists physically manipulate tape with the processes of splicing, (physically cutting the tape) and loop (a section of amount of time.) This allowed for new possibilities for sound arangement. The use of sampling was used throughout the 60’s, and by the 80’s, commercial sampling became mainstream and used by DJ Kool Herc who is one of the pioneers of the sound and creation of hip hop. Artists such as J Dilla and Dj Premier music forever. There are many ways sampling is performed within music, including chopping, looping, rearranging, time stretching, reversing, and even distortion. It is important to keep in mind that most sampled songs are manipulated in multiple ways.

“A good compos-

er does not imitate; he steals, ” -Igor Stravinsky, Russian composer, pianist, and conductor

Artists use sampling to create new sounds and expression through music. Sounds which are sampled can range from a car start up to vocals from a song ningham, an LA producer, used the start up sound from a BMW i8 to create the song SAD! by the late XXXTENTAincludes vocals from the 1973 song Escorts. Most producers chop samples create a new sound. Instead J Dilla crekicks and snares from throughout the song, despite the melody, which ultimately created an entirely new song. Another way producers sample is reversing a melody to create a familiar but distinctive sound. An example of this is Trippie Redds 2017 hit Love Scars produced by Elliott Trent. The Original

Pirate Frigate by Kenji Yamamoto. After manipulating The Futuristics space track, the result is a discernible beat that emphasizes the auto tuned vocals which sounds as if you are under water in a blissful state. In these examples the sounds that are sampled have a melody that is altered surrounds sampling as it can be done by anyone, especially modern day with the technology available - even in your pocket. In a article by the LA Times, Ken Anderson, the attorney representing the Beastie Boys after being brought to court over using the phrase “Yo, Leroy” of Leroy (Part I)” in the Beastie Boys’ song “Hold It Now, Hit It.”, explains his views on why sampling is so controversial. “(People think that) there’s something that smacks of thievery in pushing a butan instrument.” But, he added, “I think that’s simply culture shock.” Anderson explains in regards to sampling. The idea of picking apart pieces of music is not a new idea as explained by the 1882 born French composer, Igor Stanvinsky. “A good composer does not imitate; he steals,” said Stravinsky. Using others ideas and building off of

them is the basic principle for evolving not just in music but as a society. Igor Stanvinsky is a well renowned composer, with one of his most recognizable pieces being not a full song but an instrumental hit, the orchestra hit. This iconic sample is a synthesized sound created by layering multiple (orchestra) instruments playing the same note or chord. Songs such as A Day in the Life by the Beatles, Finesse remix ft Bruno on the Infernal Dance of King Kastchei (1910) by Stavinsky. With the evolution of technology,music production has evolved. The orchestra hit was included sical Instrument), which has now created an entire market for music production capable of sampling. The use of sampling has negative connotations surrounding the unoriginality of reusing sounds, but sampling within music has found its way into every genre, whether it is from Stravinsky’s 1910 orchestra hit to J Dilla’s take sounds good and that means not always following the guidelines when creating music and pushing boundaries. “I haven’t understood a bar of music in my life, but I have felt it,” Stravinsky said.

LGBTQ+ or Not, ‘Heartstopper’ Is Well-Worth Watching questions the meaning throughout the

Quintessa Frisch, Opinion Editor

While ‘Heartstopper’ may seem like any other show of two high school kids falling head over heels for each other, it has acquired attention with its representation of and for LGBTQ+ teens. The 8 episodes of season one for ‘Heartstopper,’ originally a graphic novel written by Alice on April 22. According to the

of Tao (William Gao), Elle (Yasmien Finney), and Isaac (Tobie Donovan), whom the majority of are part of the

LGBTQ+ community. Nick’s friends consist of the rugby team, who shout out homophobic comments primarily directHigh school students can relate to ‘Heartstopper’ for multiple reasons. With

it being one of the few coming-of-age high school shows that doesn’t include swearing, sex, or drugs, it adds a more realistic expectation to young wathcers. With a lack of representation of realistically shown LGBTQ+ teens in TV shows and movies, I especially recommend it to teens in the LGBTQ+ community. If it is known in your school that you are part of the LGBTQ+ community,

site, ‘Heartstopper’ received a score of 100% on the tomatometer, and 98% in the average audience score. It is extremely well-loved, so this score is not surprising. Spring (Joe Locke) falling in love with Nick Nelson (Kit player at the Truham Gramis widely known as being gay throughout the student body from a non-consensual outing, however, it is quite the opposite for Nick. Nick discovers his sexuality through falling in sexuality as bisexual, but he

Image courtesy of Seu Lado Geek Charlie Spring and Nick Nelson laughing with the signature ‘Heartsopper’ leaves in the background

if you are being bullied or tyrannized by it. If you are discovering your sexuality, gender identity, or both, then Nick is a good comfort character, as you will most likely relate to him in multiple ways. stopper’ is for LGBTQ+ youth, I recommend watching it if you have any high school experience at all. ‘Heartstopper’ was extremely sentimental and sweet. So take a break from whatever heavy show you are watchto watch this charming show.

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