The Lake - March 2017

the lake

Fake news blurs the line between fact and fabrication Standley Lake High School | 9300 W 104th Avenue | Westminster, CO 80021 | USA | Planet Earth | Milky Way Volume 28 | Issue 4 March 2017

Who we are Editors-in-Chief | Esteban Arellano Emily Leo

the lake the formalities Opinions or expressions made by students in this publication are not expressions of board policy. The district and its employees are immune from any civil action based on any expression made for or published by students.

The Lake is an open forum for and by the students, faculty, and community of Standley Lake High School. The Lake is willing to accept and print any appropriate articles submitted by the students of SLHS and reserves the right to edit any of these articles. We will not print letters sent to us without a name and signature. Submit letters to standleylakenewspaper@gmail.com.

Staff Editors | Kevin Han Hannah Jensen Meg Metzger-Seymour Ty Milliken Kayla Pray Patty Sokol Staff Writers | Atul Dhungel AJ Ehrhardt Jenna Hines Grace Johnson Jackson Kessel Hannah Laughlin Christopher Luc Cheyenne Padilla Morgan Parrish Mikey Pietroiacovo Sophia Stimpfl Michael Wall Features | Ben Bird Matthew Bopp Grant Hoskins Jacquelyn Jankovsky Tate Minch Matthew Morgenstern Karson Schmidt Jackie Tharpe Gabriella Tullo Jackson Valls Nyah Wynkoop Aimee Yan Cartoonist | Anna Nelson Advisor | Lynn Schwartz Website Editor | Gordy Saur

2 March 2017 | Issue 4

social @thelakenewsmag facebook.com/standleylakenewspaper @thelakenewsmag thelakenewsmag.com thelakenewsmag

16

Table of Contents

38

March 2017

32 The Good stuff

20 44

06 28

06 the right angle 16 lie of the year 20 Something new 28 transparency 32 hello, lover! stories from 38 colorado 44 editorials 3

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Breaking now!!!

Recently, in news brought to you by The Lake, Sean Spicer is actually Melissa McCarthy (if you didn’t already know that), Facebook is the best possible source for accurate and honest reporting, and little did you know, President Trump actually does have full executive power to determine what news is fake, phony, dishonest, failing, false, fiction, deplorable...get the point?

Okay, but let’s cut to the chase.

None of those things are actually true and we live in a time when it should be easier than ever to denounce falsehoods and the evasion of truth.The American public should be more defensive in how they find facts (that are not alternative, mind you). We should not be stuck playing this paradoxical game of telephone where we fact check by assuring ourselves that “if so-and-so said it, it must be true”.

We shouldn’t keep on being a mindless herd of sheep, drooling over whatever looks nice and sounds right.

The truth isn’t always going to be pretty and our world is full of troubles.

But that’s where each of us as individuals come in; we form our culture and we choose the kind of world we want to live in.

So with this issue, we intend for you to determine what your identity is and what it means to you.

Sometimes we have to hide who we are for a very long time and other times we have to change our lifestyles to truly determine who we are and who we want to be. Even then, we may only find who we are after we’ve met other people who teach us something new about ourselves.

But we should never allow ourselves to be gullible and incapable of finding truth. Of course it varies from person to person, but alternative facts are lies and one man’s opinion is not letter of the law.

We hope that in these coming weeks, months, and even years you make a point for yourself to do some sleuthing or reporting of your own and recognize when strings are being pulled and when to put your foot down.

we’ll keep you updated,

E

2

A.K.A. ESTEBAN AND EMILY, THE EDITORS-IN-CHIEF

5

THE RIGHT ANGLE

March madness Women’s march draws historic crowds and kickstarts a new type of protest January, 21, 2017: The day after President Donald J. Trump’s election. 5 million women worldwide marched. Whether it was a flash in the pan or the start of a movement, the Women’s March encompassed many things, ranging from protesting the new president to the basis of supporting women’s rights. The Denver Women’s March has an estimated 200,000 attendees.

cused sexual offender is now in the presidential office drew both attention and emotional appeal to the problems surrounding sexism in our society. A Women’s March was threatening to happen for a long time.”

“I believe the Women’s March started as a symbol of women’s rights and a promotion of social awareness about sexism in our society,” Anna Cooley ‘18 said.

“TRUMp’s presidency was the straw that broke the camel’s back in terms of women’s rights.”

-anna cooley ‘18

The Women’s March was an international affair, drawing 5 million women worldwide.

Nearly half a million marchers arrived in Washington D.C. In a report by political scientists from the University of Connecticut and the University of Denver, the Women’s March is one of the largest and most peaceful days of protest in US history, no arrests being made. Some have criticized the march for being unfocused, critics stating the march was in reality just an anti-Trump protest.

“I think [the Women’s March] was put strongly in context of Trump’s presidency,” Cooley ’18 said, “It began to shift the focus from women’s rights to a protest on the Trump presidency. [But] Trump’s presidency was the straw that broke the camel’s back in terms of women’s rights. The fact that an ac-

6 March 2017 | Issue 4

Many other movements have spawned from

the success and significance of the Women’s March. The organizers of the Women’s March plan a general strike on March 8, dubbing the strike “A Day Without A Woman”. Many scientists worried about the ramifications of climate change plan to march on Washington in what they call the March for Science on April 22—Earth Day. “I’m far less educated about other marches,

but I have to posit that they too are motivated by issues that have been ignored or underrepresented for a long time.” Cooley ’18 said.

“The 2016 election gave people a community to develop momentum. Trump is a disbeliever of a lot of what scientists stand for, especially on the issue of global warming. So it only makes sense to me that the election drove people who have been protesting for a long time to speak up louder.”

The Women’s March was the largest political demonstration since the anti-Vietnam war protests in the 1960s and the 1970s. The organizers of the march have not stated whether the Women’s March will become an annual occurrence or is just a one time event. However, for Cooley, another Women’s March shouldn’t happen.

“The Women’s March happening again would be the worst thing to happen. The point of a movement it to get things ‘moving’ and as long as another Women’s March is required, there’s proof that the issue has remained stagnant.” Cooley ’18 said.

Nevertheless, the Women’s March was a turning point. Nothing like it has happened in quite some time. While the debates over its motivations and causes continue, the event itself will live on in history. | Kevin Han

planet of the endangered animals face extinction with increasing threats In the history of the Earth, there have been five mass extinctions. Many scientists now believe we are facing a sixth. The World Wildlife Fund even estimates that two-thirds of the world’s wildlife could be gone by 2020, a 58% decline of fish, mammals, birds, and reptiles worldwide since 1970 according to the WWF’s Living Planet Index, a 2% decline every year.

BEES

Northern white rhino

While the bees you’ve seen in your backyard don’t necessarily face extinction, the bee population is on the decline. Colony collapse disorder has further caused significant declines in the bee population. In 2016, eight species of bees were put onto the list of protection for the Endangered Species Act for the first time. With the significance bees hold in the ecosystem, the increasing danger to the bee population has been well noted, many conservation efforts being launched to combat the loss.

At their prime, Northern White Rhinos called Uganda, Chad, Sudan, the Central African Republic and the Democratic Republic of Congo home. However with the demand for ivory and increasing poaching wreaking havoc on the wild population, there are only three rhinos left in the entire world, protected by armed guards at the Ol Pejeta Conservancy in Kenya. Any reproduction programs have had little to no effect, with many believing that it’s only a matter of time before the once prominent creatures go extinct.

AMur Leopard

vaquita

Native to the eastern Russia and northeastern China in what is known as the Amur-Heilong region, Amur Leopards face extinction. Only around fifty-seven leopards remain in the wild. With the population so reduced, Amur Leopards risk inbreeding depression. Poaching and habitat degradation have also contributed to the quick rate of extinction for these animals.

Known as the world’s most rare marine mammal, the Vaquita is on the brink of extinction. The WWF estimates less than sixty of these porpoise-like creatures remain today. Native to the Gulf of California, illegal gill nets have massacred the Vaquitas -- over half of the population lost in the last three years.

7

THE RIGHT ANGLE CANcer

Lately you’ve been all over the place. To end the school year without feeling stressed and scattered, get yourself some new binders and notebooks. Once winter passes, the feel-good weather will start to expand your social life!

gemini

Focusing and keeping your brain on task is starting to become more difficult for you, even though you’re usually very concentrated.

Keep your mind on one thing at a time and you’ll end up just fine.

aquarius

sagittarius

Capricorn

Your creativity and skill of fast thinking and problem solving will give your GPA a boost.

Since you’re so creative, use that unique state of mind in your clothing choice!

Throw some spice in your wardrobe.

All of your hard work and dedication is paying off and you’re starting to get recognition for what you’ve been working so hard on lately.

You’re becoming a student and class leader as you strongly push through all of your school activities.

You’re going to be able to check off a lot on your “to do list.” If you manage to make time after a long day at school, think of something positive to do.

Some good karma would be a great compliment to your life right now.

slhs horoscope After close investigation of the deep world of astronomy, we have transformed our compiled information into reliable horoscopes to give you the lowdown on what to expect in your lives for the rest of this semester.

SPill the beans

ARIES

Your planet is giving off vibes and energy that have been helping you become more focused and dedicated.

Recognize this and take some shots! Your grades will thank you later. Take advantage of the amazing opportunities in your future.

pisces

virgo

TAuRUS

You are diving head first into this new semester full of energy, passion and determination.

Keep up the good work and you’ll be satisfied with yourself!

leo

While everyone is stressing out about the second semester and the school year coming to an end, you’re pumped up and ready to finish strong. Focus on getting into your dream college and strive for that 4.0 GPA.

Some fallouts with fellow students are going to start some unwanted tension. Don’t stress about it.

New people are coming to you and the perfect one is headed your way.

Libra

Your mind is set on evenly pacing out every class that you’re taking this year.

That means you’re looking for more quiet time and not many friends near to distract you from school.

Look forward to summer!

scorpio

Your planets inspire and put you on the path of your future.

You’re in a place of change and vision right now.

It’s suggested that you join a club at school, or get ready to try out for a sports team next year.

Getting a part-time job or a babysitting gig is a good way for you to make some cash. There’s going to be some personal events coming up and it’s time to work twice as hard in your classes! | Morgan Parrish | Jackie Tharpe

The Lake explores the best alternatives to Starbucks coffee 1. Loftea 2. In House The distinct aroma of coffee, the soft sound of coffee beans being freshly ground, and the light gargle of the espresso machine, all added to the modern, chic atmosphere of this sleek coffee place; but we were met with nothing but disappointment by the watery, painfully bitter coffee at Loftea.

A $6, small cup of coffee did not merit the hour wait and crowds of people.

When you’re at the mall, and you need a break from the hustle and bustle of the crowds, In House is a snug spot for a quality cup of coffee. Whether you have a sweet tooth, or crave a robust cup of joe with a bite, you can find either in this hole in the wall shop. If coffee’s not your cup of tea, then In House’s orange pineapple spritzers are sure to brighten your day.

11542 Colony Row, Broomfield, CO 80021

1 W Flatiron Crossing Dr, Broomfield, CO 80021 (Right by Nordstrom at Flatirons mall)

8 March 2017| Issue 4

Beyond the Classroom Ms. Esposito and Mr. Eichorn recall their travels through the world and the encounters they faced.

Anyone who has taken Ms. Esposito or Mr. Eichorn will know they have travelled the world. Often times they will incorporate travel stories into their lessons. One can also walk into Eichorn’s room and see several photos of their travels around the world. Esposito will often show off photos of their travels as well.

by warlords in Africa. “We were surrounded by them, it seemed like it went on for like 40 minutes but it was actually like 15 [minutes],” Esposito said, “But y’know in the Congo there are warlords but you don’t even know that they’re there, you can probably get killed and dumped in the jungle and nobody would know”.

It began here at the school. They met and worked together until finally taking interest in one another. From here, their travels began.

That’s nothing either, Eichorn had almost died by gunshot while climbing a 20,000 foot volcano. “I was going to this base camp going with my climbing gear and stuff then we get attacked by a posse of like ten banditos with all the guns and yeah, bullets flying everywhere the whole 9 yards. At the end of the day we got one of the guides untied so he went for help and the military came like hours later then we had to like hike down the mountain,” Eichorn said, “This is a really cliche but when you’re in that moment and you have a chance to get killed, this is the same for everybody, you have an outer body experience and you think about your family and your loved ones every single time that’s what goes through your head when you think your going to die”.

It would most likely be easier to name where they haven’t been as opposed to where they have been. Esposito said, “[We’ve been to] Israel, Jordan, Turkey, Malaysia, China, Mongolia. Those from Africa would be Moganda, Cantania, New Ghana, Rwanda, Congo and there would be other ones in Europe, those are the ones that are like exotic places”.

Other mentionable ones would include Zanzibar, Brazil, Belize, and Guatemala.

Eichorn, however, isn’t the biggest fan of western European countries.

Eichorn said, “You can only see so many madonna babies”.

Interestingly enough, Esposito would go back to Africa every year, “just the culture y’know, the people and it’s just so very different than anything here, and all the animals, so I would love to go back and go on safaris again, never get tired of seeing animals I can tell you that”.

Although she loved Africa, she would not go back to Cairo, Egypt again. She described it as disgusting and gross even though she loved the pyramids.

They always try to end their trips on a relaxing note, it becomes rather exhausting being shot at by banditos and robbed by warlords, so they always end their trips on a beach. The banditos and warlords of course are never planned.

Their next trip they had said will be Mexico City during spring break and after that will be Russia and eastern Europe. | AJ Ehrhardt

That wasn’t the worst however. To begin with, they were once robbed

3. Ziggi’s

4. Zoe’s

When you walk into Ziggi’s, you’re immediately met with dark wood, dim lighting, and that “cozy coffeehouse feel” that you can’t get from those identical, corporate companies. The sunlight poured into the building, setting the stage for a full-bodied roast that was worth every penny. You can feel good when you dine here, knowing that you’re supporting a family-owned business.

Zoe’s friendly and open staff are always ready to tell the story of grandparents whose dream was to start a coffee shop, and name it after their beloved daughter, Zoe. With strong, smooth coffee that caffeine addicts will fall in love with, and Italian sodas to die for, Zoe’s is the perfect place to unwind with a cup of great coffee.

3013 W 104th Ave, Westminster, CO 80031

11225 Decatur St #200, Westminster, CO 80234 | Jenna Hines | Aimee Yan

9

THE RIGHT ANGLE

boys basketball Boys basketball ended their season with a 4-11 record. The team averaged 49 points per game and Garrett Martin ‘18 averaged 18.7 points per game.

Photo courtesy of Yearbook

girls basketball Girls basketball finished the season strong with a record of 8-15. As a team, they averaged 9.7 steals per game, 44.4 points per game, and 7.5 assists per game. Hayley Davis ‘17 averaged 12 points per game.

10 March 2017 | Issue 4

hockey Boys hockey ended with a 4-15 record at the end of this season, 3-11 in leagues. They scored a total of 30 goals at the end of this season.

WRESTLING Eben Rackett ‘18 placed sixth in regionals, the team has a 6-1 record. As a whole the team placed third in the league tournament.

This could be career ending

how much are we really doing to protect our athletes A sports column by:

grace johnson It’s Sunday. You’re sitting on your couch watching the football game. There’s a hit that you know won’t end well. The player lays sprawled on the field and the network begins to play the hit over and over again.

Even though you don’t want to watch it again, you can’t look away. Now imagine you’re at your high school football game, you’re painted up and yelling at the top of your lungs for your team. The play begins and the anticipation of a touchdown builds in the crowd, then the player gets clobbered by the other team.

girls swimming Girls swim competed at state. Swimmers Malania Humphrey ‘20 took 8th place in diving, Rachel Cody ‘18 took 14th place in diving, and Katri Nielsen ‘20 took 14th place in the 500 freestyle.

When the ref finally pulls everyone off, your player isn’t moving. The game stops and a fearful hush covers the once building excitement. There is a chance that you have experienced this first hand. It’s that gut wrenching, panic feeling when it is your friend to be in the crowd watching a player lying limp on the field and then the cart comes out.

We have all seen this quite recently with Derek Carr, the quarterback of the Oakland Raiders, but it’s less known and less public on the high school level. Now, I’m not saying that football rules should change, or that we should stop having such a physical sport. What I am saying is that we need to protect the players of the sport that we love so much. High school is where the big concern is, the boys are playing for something more than money: most of them are playing for their future.

There have been countless stories about high school players that have almost died because of a wrong hit on the field. From a fans point of view it’s hard to determine what is real and what is not real but, nonetheless, both professional and high school level hits that rattle the brain and break bones are scary and we need to take more precautions toward protecting our players.

11

THE RIGHT ANGLE

what is the mandela effect?

The whole phenomenon started when Nelson Mandela, the first president of South Africa, was reportedly dead many years before his actually death in 2013. This started the Mandela Effect, where people remember a memory of something but then later find out that what they were remembering is false. It is said that the multiple universe theory plays a part, as in that different timeline is merging with our timeline and affects certain people. We compiled a list of some of the popular examples of the Mandela Effect.

12 March 2017 | Issue 4

WHAT DOES HE SAY?

Mostly everyone has seen the iconic trilogy Star Wars and in episode 5 ‘The Empire Strikes Back’ Luke and Darth Vader are having their first encounter with each other in Cloud City and Vader cuts Luke’s hand off and says the famous line, “Luke,I am your father!” Then Luke falls through the pit of Cloud City where Leia picks him up in the Millennium Falcon. Right that’s how it goes. Wrong! In the actual movie Darth Vader says, “No I am your father” and we know how the rest goes.

who is the monopoly man?

What does the iconic Monopoly man look like? How do you picture him or more specifically his face? What is he wearing? He has the top hat, a fancy mustache, does he have a monocle? If you guessed yes you’re actually wrong. Many picture him as having a monocle but he never actually appears with the eyepiece. People often swear by the fact he’s wearing a monocle. He still doesn’t have one.

Peanut butter, an American favorite.

It can go on just about anything and the best brand has been up to debate for a long time. There’s one brand in particular though who has been subject to a debate of it’s own. Jiffy peanut butter. When reading that you probably thought one of two things, either “yeah so what” or “you mean Jif”. Many remember the famous peanut butter as Jiffy but that brand won’t be found on any shelf, anywhere.

Are you feeling Jiffy?

How DO YOU SPELL

TRUE OR FAlsE?

Can you decipher if these mandela effects are real or fake?

6. In the rhyme “Pat-A-Cake” it doesn’t say “baker’s man” but instead “baker’s wife”

1. “We are the Champions” by Queen doesn’t end with “of the world” 2. Forrest Gump never says “Life is like a box of chocolates” but instead says “Life was like a box of chocolates”

7. In Bob Marley’s “Everything is Gonna Be Alright” the lyric is actually “Everything is gonna be alright” not “Every little thing is gonna be all right.”

3. Cap’n Crunch is actually spelled Captain Crunch

8. Curious George doesn’t have a tail

4. The Queen in Snow White doesn’t say “Mirror, Mirror on the wall”

9. The tip of Pikachu’s tail isn’t black 1. True 2. True 3. False 4. True 5. False

6. False 7. False 8. True 9. True 10. False

5. Bugs Bunny never says “What’s up doc”

This one is a simpler effect. So when you pull into the already busy Chick-Fil-A to buy your sandwich did you ever pay attention to their sign they have posted everywhere? Well if you don’t then you might think that they spell it as Chic-Fil-A instead of Chick-Fil-A. Many people have sworn that it was spelled with a C and not a CK. Was it simply a name change they did a while ago or is it just people’s memories?

10. In The Walking Dead, Carl didn’t kill undead Shane

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defining details

14 March 2017 | Issue 4

The characteristics of Boulder frequently go unnoticed.

We created a photo essay highlighting the traits that define the mountainside city’s personality. | Morgan Parrish

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16 March 2017 | Issue 4

Lie

OF THE

YEAR Concern over legitimate news ignites tension

O

bama started ISIS, Trump is offering free one way tickets to Mexico, and Oprah is creating a backup government to replace our current one. Countless fake news stories like these are posted every day to deceive and manipulate people who try to find answers and information in the news. “Fake news”—controversial and offensive a phrase as it is—acts as a euphemism for “lies,” a much older, simpler and shorter description of the same thing.

Fake news blasted into the spotlight this year, threatening the future of journalistic credibility. False headlines and alluring misinformations have now travelled outside the realm of social media, and even into the political sphere.

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There is a concept that has become more popular within recent years, as internet and digital media rose to prominence, proving to be a catalyst in regard to fake news. What is commonly known as Clickbait has a main purpose to attract attention and encourage visitors to click on a link to a particular web page, making it a major component in the spread of fake news.

news doesn’t come in writing,” Social Studies teacher, Mr. Nolan Nix said. “When you write something down it becomes a document which can be scrutinized.” According to a study from Stanford University, researchers that evaluated students’ ability to assess information sources described the results as “dismaying,” “bleak” and “[a] threat to democracy.”

“It’s the fact that a lot of popular news and media sources are pandering towards getting the interaction that people are going to click on their webpage,” Cairo Mitton ‘19 said. “They are going to make titles more extreme, so [people] can see clickbait.” Fake news is shaped to resemble credible journalism in an attempt to attract a larger audience and with it, a larger advertisement revenue. It is growing mainly due to sources motivated by profit or politics.

Even students at SLHS use social media as their news source. A survey conducted by The Lake showed that about 71% of seniors and about 67% of juniors who took the survey get their news from social media. If most teens are using social media, it creates a larger demographic for fake news to target. Social media allows information to spread amongst people.

Social media has gained an immense following, luring numbers comparable to traditional media. A study from Pew Research Center claims that “62 percent of U.S. adults get their news from social media.”

This transition from traditional print to alternative sources, such as web articles and videos, has prompted a concern with whether or not that information is being relayed with authenticity.

However blame for misinformation doesn’t solely lie on the people spreading it, “I think it’s up to us as consumers to be leery and make sure that the information is truthful,” Social Studies teacher, Mr. Jeffrey Walker said. Fake news can’t entirely be isolated due to the fact that anyone with access to the internet has the ability to post and share anything they want. Therefore, it is society’s responsibility to take action in halting misinformations.

“[The problem is] people’s inability to decipher fact from fiction...”

-mS. jESSICA pOST

The internet is an open door to a whole world of information, but the lines between what is true and what is false are getting more and more distorted every day. Twitter, Facebook, and even Snapchat have transformed into platforms covering news and current events. The way society’s access to the news is currently mediated causes people to be susceptible to believing misinformations.

“[Fake News] is definitely a problem,” Chesle Parson ’17 said. “People believe anything without researching it themselves, especially with smartphones. I will be scrolling through my phone and get access to news quick. If you like certain pages on Instagram or Facebook, it’s instantly there.” Distinguishing misleading news, and recognizing the difference between opinion and fact, can be difficult in the modern age of likes, Tweets, and emojis.

As social media gains more of a foothold on our society, vulnerability toward interpreting fake sources from real sources increases, especially among today’s millennials who have hardly been taught to question the legitimacy of news articles.

“People don’t read as much anymore [since] a lot of

18 March 2017 | Issue 4

Various major corporations have started to fight against the distribution of fake news.

Facebook and Google were among the first companies to take precautions in monitoring further outbreaks of misinformation.

According to Lauren Easton, the Associated Press’s director of media relations, the AP is working with Facebook to start a fact checking campaign to help spot fake news. In a report released by Rolling Stone titled “How We Fought Bad Ads, Sites and Scammers in 2016” Google announced that it took action against 340 sites “that [deceived] people with their content”–including purveyors of fake news–in 2016.”’

The controversy of fake news has played an immense role in this past year’s presidential election with President Donald Trump declaring that CNN and Buzzfeed are “fake news,” and that the media such as CNN, NBC, ABC, The New York Times, etc. are “the enemy to the American people.” Trump has labelled many acknowledgable news sources that don’t agree with his political views as fake news, going as far as declaring on Twitter “that any negative polls were fake news.” The president uses a with us or against us mentality claiming all sources not with him are the enemy.

Trump slanders trusted news companies frequently, but in his fight against fake news, his administration’s official Facebook page ironically posted a fake news article in

19

support of the controversial executive order issued to provide stricter border security and immigration enforcement. The article stated that Kuwait followed Trump and issued a visa ban in major Muslim countries. Many people thought that the story was real; the article received 251,000 reactions, 68,000 shares and 15,000 comments on Facebook. After the story broke, multiple governments spoke out, denying the article’s authenticity. Kuwait stated that it did enforce a similar ban back in 2011, however it was not towards major Muslim countries. After being disproven, the article on Trump’s Facebook page was removed. The Kuwait story was not the first conflict for Trump.

He has often claimed baseless stories that tend to conflict with reality. He famously claimed former President, Barack Obama, was born in Kenya.

He also made baseless claims such

though some sites like Breitbart and InfoWars will remain loyal, Trump has often become the target of fake news. Companies like Breitbart and Alt Media post news that fits their selected audience’s pre-existing opinions and gives them enough fake evidence to affirm themselves. “It’s almost like we’re doing it different and backwards where we’re forming an opinion and then searching for facts,” Social Studies teacher, Ms. Jessica Post said. Trump has shown numerous times that he doesn’t handle things like getting called out or being disagreed with with very well so such a site may appeal to the president’s likings. Trump agreed with a statement made by one of his advisors Stephen Bannon former CEO of Breitbart news calling the mainstream media “the opposition party”.

A Stanford study showed that, “of the known false news stories that ap-

believe stories that fit their opinions.

Ultimately, Gentzkow concluded that “fake news is the tip of the iceberg of a much bigger set of highly partisan stories that people were exposed to during the election. Most of them are not black and white false. They’re just very one-sided.”

Loyalty toward one party over the other has intensified in American politics, playing a major role in the spread of fake news. The “us versus them” mentality has made it impossible for many to see lies about the opposition. A study published in the American Journal of Political Science titled, “Fear and Loathing Across Party Lines,” tried to figure out the effect a person’s social identity had on their partisan decision. They concluded that the “hostile feelings for the opposing party are ingrained or automatic in voters’ minds, and that affective polarization based on party

“People believe anything without researching it themselves, especially with smartphones. I will be scrolling through my phone and get access to news quick.” - cHESLE pARSON ‘17 as linking vaccines to autism, questioning the unemployment rate, and accusing Ted Cruz’s father of having conspired to kill JFK. Trump’s extreme remarks likely comes from his trust of news in favor of his political views. At his first press conference as president-elect, Trump saved a seat in the first row for Breitbart.com, an extremely right-wing American news source.

This bias source has often posted stories with clickbait headlines such as “Birth control makes women unattractive and crazy,” “Gay rights have made us dumber, it’s time to get back in the closet,” and “Science proves it: fat shaming works.” Trump, giving platform to sources like this, fuels their radical ideas.

peared in the three months before the election, those favoring Trump were shared a total of 30 million times on Facebook, while those favoring Clinton were shared eight million times... the most discussed fake news stories tended to favor Donald Trump over Hillary Clinton.” Although one article of fake news would not be enough to swing the election, exposure to thousands of fake news websites in a period of a year would be enough to sway opinions. One of the authors of the same Stanford study, Matthew Gentzkow, stated “that a single fake article would need to have had the same persuasive effect as 36 television campaign ads.” This means that it is highly unlikely that fake news swayed the election in favor of Trump over Clinton.

Since Trump won the presidency, many fake news sites have popped up on the left, such as Alternativemediasyndicate.com, Countercurrentnews.com and many others. Most fake news shifts with popular opinion, during the election Clinton was the popular target to bash, and al-

The researchers came to this conclusion after gathering hundreds of fake news and asking independents, Democrats, and Republicans whether they believed the stories. Some fake news stories were pro-Clinton and others were pro-Trump. Both Clinton and Trump supporters tended to

20 March 2017 | Issue 4

is just as strong as polarization based on race.”

Fake news is a sign of a much larger issue. “[The problem is] people’s inability to decipher fact from fiction,” Post said. “We just confirm [the] beliefs that we already have and [consider] those to be evidence. That’s a problem on both sides of the political spectrum.” As a society there is a need for people to try and look at information impartially especially when it disagrees with our opinion.

As long as there are people who will read, fake news is going to continue to exist. The only way to fix this issue is by being cautious of what you are reading and fact checking your stories. Too often a blurb pops up with the headline “you can’t believe this,” and maybe you shouldn’t. l | Benjamin Bird | Atul Dhungel | Grant Hoskins | Christopher Luc | Tate Minch | Patty Sokol | Sophia Stimpfl | Jackson Valls

stop the cycle How to end the spread of fake news 1. Be cautious and work on identifying click-bait on social media platforms 2. Use critical thinking skills when looking at satire websites (i.e. The Onion)

share

3. Reverse image search as well as checking the facts and figures of the story

The Denver Post and The New York Times prove to be legitimate media sources, in regards to delivering accurate information to the public.

4. Read the “About Us” section on the web page and check for anything that looks uncredible

A reporter from The Denver Post takes pictures in the middle of a protest. The reporter was covering the “Protect Our Muslim Neighbors” Rally in Denver’s Civic Center Park on February 4th, 2017.

5. Make sure to read and research stories on credible news sites before reposting misinformation on social media

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Something

New

From only one day to as long as a week, a group of The Lake staff members tried something new. From a reinvented diet, to a fresh healthy lifestyle, to giving something essential up‒everything changed. Each member wrote a journal of how each day went, tracking everything that their new habits affected. For some, these choices made them change the way they originally lived their life. For others, it gave them a new outlook on the world around them. For more stories about the week, go to thelakenewsmag.com.

22 March 2017 | Issue 4

C

ouch potatoes always seem to start exercising with the mindset that working out will be agonizing and awful.

Take it from this self-proclaimed couch potato, I was right. Breathing was never this painful.

Laughing was never this painful. In fact, trying to roll out of bed, failing, clutching my sore abs, and collapsing into an aching lump was never this painful.

We’re not getting any younger, there never seems to be the “right time” for exercise. According to research done by Kaigang Li, an assistant professor of health and exercise science at Colorado State University, over 90% of high school students don’t get the recommended hour-a-day of exercise they need to stay healthy. I know I certainly didn’t. So this week, I forced myself to make time for my body everyday. This was “me-time”, but not spa-day, cucumbers-on-eyes, pink-grapefruit-bubblebath me-time; this was panting, sweating, sobbing me-time.

When you can’t climb up a flight of stairs at school without needing a few breathers, you know it’s time to get active. I went into this week wanting to be more focused, productive, happy, and well...have an excuse to eat more food. At the end of the day, I’d be perfectly fine if I only succeeded with that last goal. Ultimately, we all want to take care of ourselves, transform our lives into something better; and if cardio is how I can do that, I’m down.

Clearly, as much as I wish I was, I’m not one of those people who enjoys the physical aspect of exercise. But the allusive “athlete’s high” that people preach about? That’s real. You never feel as alive as you do after a session of tears and sweat.

Although I definitely felt happier and less stressed after exercising, I knew that one single week wasn’t going to completely turn around my life. I didn’t become a world-class athlete in the span of seven days, but taking that time everyday for self-improvement is gratifying.

For me, working out for an hour every single day just isn’t feasible or desirable. Regardless of all my complaints and distaste for sweat, I did enjoy the week, even though I can’t see myself fitting that into my schedule again for a while.

The sensation of not being able to breathe properly is not something I crave, but I really do hope that I get to experience that rush of endorphins, adrenaline, and pure joy again soon.

This week has given me the burst of self-confidence I needed to begin living a life where I prioritize my well-being. I am determined to live a long, happy life, and having the realization that exercise is a fundamental part of achieving that goal is something I promise myself I won’t take for granted.

It was just a week, but a week is the start to a month, a year, a lifetime of health and taking care of my body. l | Aimee Yan

Exercising: a Horror Story 23

(Anti) Social Media L

et’s face it people, it’s the twenty-first century. Technology is a part of how we live and social media plays a big part in our perceptions of each other. You can be anybody you want online. I gave up everything that was considered social media for one week, leaving behind these perceptions.

I never realized how much of my news I get from social media. I remember Thursday night the news came on and it talked about events that happened within the week and I felt like I missed a big part of life. That seemed to be the common occurrence throughout the week: that feeling that I was missing something.

My usual nightly routine includes browsing the quick Twitter-sphere before I go to sleep. This routine changed, and I ended up going to bed much earlier than I would have. I found myself sleeping easier, as well. Doctors have always said that the blue light on your devices causes

24 March 2017 | Issue 4

you to stay awake, but I, being the stubborn teen I am, never listen.

There were moments where I thought to myself, “I could just give in, nobody would notice.” Especially when I was home alone all day.

You know how you eat when you’re bored?

Well I had that exact same feeling with my phone.

Someone asked me, in the middle of the week, if I saw their tweet. I felt like I was missing out on connecting with my friends. It’s so simple, yet I never realized how much of my life revolves around social media.

Before, I never thought of it as a bad thing.

Now, this deprivation I felt from the lack of social media was almost embarrassing. I missed looking at funny photos before bed or showing my friend a stupid thing I saw online. I thought a part of me was missing, and I was ashamed

to admit it.

I know this week without social media will change how I look at all the social platforms. I hope I will spend my time caring less about my online persona and more time worrying about actual problems.

So yes, it is the twenty first century. However, there can be a change in the future. I know many people already don’t focus all their attention on social media. To the people who do, though, it isn’t that big of a deal to get rid of it.

At the end of the day, it isn’t really about how many followers you have or how many likes you get on a picture. Take a step back, go outside, or try something new. I guarantee it’s better than sitting behind your phone all day. l | Hannah Jensen

T

oday, it’s okay for girls to put a layer of makeup on their face every morning. If it makes them feel better about how they look in their own eyes, then I can understand why it’s a necessity. Wearing makeup as a man is definitely not the same.

When I was getting makeup applied, I could feel my ever red cheeks disappearing, and all of my facial flaws just vanishing. Everything that I am insecure about on my face can just melt away with a few strokes of a brush. I feel like if I could cover my flaws like this every day, then there’s not a doubt that I would do so. But it is not just a matter of how I feel about myself.

The way that people looked at me with a full face of makeup makes me never want to wear it in public. I went into the room thinking I would look fabulous as I walked outside with pride and makeup. This was not the case at all. If anything, the amount of looks and eyes that were on me made me feel isolated and excluded.

Nobody was judging me, this I know, but every single person laid their eyes on me and saw me as someone different than the others, just because of some foundation and eyeshadow.

Honestly, I’ve watched so many makeup tutorial videos that I just happen to scroll past, and makeup is truly an art.

There are so many different things that one can do to their face with a bit of powder and some brushes. But makeup is “for girls.” Men don’t get to experience this world of crazy shades and colors and brushes, simply because we isolate those men who decide to put it on.

It’s taboo for a man to wear makeup, and this made me realize that there are many men out there who are insecure about their faces but are held back from wearing makeup because people simply won’t accept it. We automatically see a man with makeup as taboo, and because of that, men are discouraged to apply it.

A man wearing makeup might stand out to us, but it really shouldn’t. If a man decides that he wants to apply something to his face, then so be it. That is but his decision, and it shouldn’t matter to anyone except for that man himself. Men

Makeup For A Man

Makeup is not to look good in the eyes of society—but in the eyes of the one who is wearing it, and only their eyes. We shouldn’t rely on other people’s compliments to boost our own confidence. We must accept that men have the same feelings towards themselves as women do.

The same insecurities and the same flaws. Every body has a host, and it should be the host’s decision to change how the body looks.

Acceptance is more than just tolerance. We have a long way to go with acceptance, and accepting that men wear make up is but another step towards unity. l | Mikey Pietroiacovo

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D

id you know that when you join the Vegan Club, they give you a free T-shirt and a lifetime’s supply of tofu?

Ok, that’s not entirely true… at least the T-shirt part.

When I offered to become vegan for a week, it was because I’ve always had an interest in the diet. I’ve never been a “meat-and-potatoes” kind of girl. Yes, I enjoy the occasional steak and cheeseburger, but I’ve always thought that I could adapt to a vegan lifestyle. I wasn’t opposed or baffled by the idea of eliminating animal products from my everyday life; I was intrigued by the concept that being vegan was all about eating right and living a healthy lifestyle.

Departing from the eating and cooking habits I’ve developed over decades—possibly due to contemporary, fast-food-lovin’, steak-andpotatoes-havin’, pizza-partyin’ America—was challenging. I normally eat meat sparingly and front-load my plate with veggies anyway, and still I found the strict vegan thing to be harder than expected. The weekend prior to the experiment, I went to the grocery store with my mom to get some meals and snacks for the week when I noticed something interesting—I was actually reading the ingredients of these food products. I was initially reading to make sure there was no animal products in the food, yet I realized that I’ve never really done that before.

It was sort of refreshing reading everything that was going into my body. Along with that, the ingredients that I was reading were actually comprehensible. There weren’t any weird names of dyes or unpronounceable chemical terms. It became apparent that being vegan would result in a healthier lifestyle, just by default.

Over the week, I discovered that the key to an easier transition between diets was to find substitutes for the usual everyday things I ate.

From almond milk to black-bean burgers, soy yogurt to butternut squash ravioli, I tried to find different variations of foods I would usually eat or have even tried before. I had my fair share of “stereotypical” vegan foods over the week as well like tofu and quinoa. Thankfully I actually love both of those items, so that was pretty helpful, but even if you didn’t, the vegan food selection proved to be very broad. I made sure I had access to plenty of beans and whole grains, hearty leafy grains like kale, spinach, and collards, and other vegan-friendly ingredients to cook with. I found myself cooking more meals and creating recipes that I found on pinterest.

Throughout the week, I felt pretty good. The first few days might have been a little more tough, but once you get into the swing of things, it becomes easier and easier. I received various, “Wow, that sucks” and “Dang, you must be starving,” but I was fine. The first two days I did find myself being hungry in the middle of the day, but I think that was because I wasn’t used to the lower calorie intake or maybe didn’t eat enough protein. I learned, as the days went on, what I needed to eat to ensure I was getting my nutrition. I found myself not really missing meat, yet I would crave butter and milk. I never realized how many different prod-

26 March 2017 | Issue 4

Get Veg-ucated ucts contain dairy and that caught me off guard at first. Nearing the end of the week, I went out to Qdoba for lunch, and instinctively asked for queso on my meant-to-be vegan burrito bowl.

It sounds totally ridiculous, but I think I forgot that cheese was a dairy product. I ended up eating around the queso, and returning back to my vegan diet, trying to ignore that little bump in the road.

Looking back at the experiment, I’m proud of myself for testing this lifestyle and doing my best to adapt to it. Veganism has come a long

way: once reserved for peace-loving hippies, interest in a totally animal-free diet is at an alltime high, with celebrities like Bill Clinton, Alicia Silverstone, Jay Z, and Beyoncé leading the charge. But before you jump on the no-meateggs-or-dairy bandwagon, you should know what you’re getting into. l | Patty Sokol

The Vegan in Me I

t’s true: I found within me the key to my soul, my joy, my well-being, through this week of veganism. Something I had taken for granted all my life, something I never knew I needed until these seven days of suffering. The truth?

The key to my happiness is dairy—specifically mozzarella cheese. I never even knew my true heart’s desire because it had never been prohibited. What started as a pure vegan diet receded into a vegetarian diet with reduced consumption of dairy. I had to bend the rules for mozzarella.

However, I still ate healthy and cut out all meat from my diet. (Okay, so there may have been a fish incident but that doesn’t count because fish don’t have central nerve systems. They didn’t suffer. Layoff). I found myself eating a lot of fruits and vegetables and making dinners from scratch. Turns out I found a chef in me, as well.

There was a lot of anticipation going into it. My mom texted, “I think you may starve next week.

Most vegans eat vegetables.” A diet packed full of the infamous veggies was an honest fear, but I pulled through. I found excitement for the coming week, too. I have always liked trying new things and unlocking new secrets to myself.

Monday rolled around, and I was grossly unprepared. I hadn’t fully considered the weight of

everything I had to give up and how difficult it would be to supplement meals. I don’t usually eat three meals—I eat a few snacks through the day and dinner when I get home—so eating more regularly was new to me as well. This week was full of lovely changes.

Monday followed the usual pattern, a few snacks through the day with vegan spaghetti and marinara for dinner. I will think fondly of those seventeen hours I spent a pure vegan, but I will think even more fondly of the sweet relief of the melted mozzarella on top of the marinara and noodles. Don’t judge.

Tuesday I woke up sick. Payback for cheating with the mozzarella? Maybe. It was time to truly lay on the veganism, to take advantage of the powers of nutrients and vitamins and vegan-esque foods. I called on veganism to work its healthy magic on me. That night I made vegan peanut thai noodles—from scratch—incorporating all the vegetables and protein and carbs a healthy meal requires. It even tasted good.

Wednesday I took a sick day to finish up homework, get my life in order, and heal my body.

I made delicious vegan apple and nut waffles, and I even drank my tea without milk. Let me

tell you: it was a hardship. Milk is a necessity in my tea. But I persevered and drank tea the vegan way. By the end of the night I felt almost completely healed and allowed myself a long night’s sleep.

The rest of the week fell into place. I cooked more vegan meals—I make a mean hummus— and cracked open the almond milk. I had this feeling that I was in harmony with the world, like we had some kind of pact. I wasn’t encouraging the abuse of animals by eating their meat, and therefore nature was on my side.

Nonetheless, I have to admit I looked forward to the end of the week. It was fun to try out, but I couldn’t help but long for milk and cheese and chocolate. I wanted life to go back to normal. I am not one to be a fan of restrictions, and veganism unfortunately has many.

A week of attempted veganism taught me many things: not all vegetables are bad, milk can be substituted, and mozzarella cheese cannot be replaced. Maybe in the future I will give veganism another try, maybe I will offer more commitment and sacrifice my dear mozzarella, but until then I’ll simply enjoy my creamy pastas and milky tea. l | Jenna Hines

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ransparency

28 March 2017 | Issue 4

One girl’s choice to make the next leap in her life

You can grow up with someone for years and think you know them.

Until you don’t. At least not in the way you thought.

As we pass each other in the hallways we see the shells of people we’ve gone to school with for years—maybe one, maybe ten.

Maybe you mouth “hello” or send a smile their way, but knowing someone counts towards more than just knowing their name.

People like that are all around you.

Olivia Bird ’17 has spent the better part of her senior year grappling with the implications of making her public transition as a transgender woman, having to face many of the people who knew her for years.

“The first day [of school] was pretty tough,” Bird said. “Coming in and knowing I would see all these people who have known me for years, and not knowing how anyone would react or what anyone would say was very nerve wracking.”

She noted that fear held her back from a very young age, keeping her contained in a body and a lifestyle that was not comfortable and frankly, not familiar.

“There was always some underlying sense of wrongness, but I guess [it] solidified [in] early middle school or late elementary school, [because] that’s when you start hitting puberty, [and] can think deeply enough about the world to realize what issues might be going on,” Bird said.

Feeling pressured to adhere to gender norms she could not follow and recognizing that she was locked into a stalemate, Bird was unable to turn anywhere for support for a very long time. “[It felt] distressing—[being] hopeless was a big part of it,” Bird said. “I didn’t realize that there was any possibility of being transgender because it’s not a thing that we talk about much in our society. Probably up until about my freshman year of high school, I felt very stuck; I never really felt like there was any hope of anything ever changing.

That sense of hopelessness was actually a lot more crushing and crippling than any discomfort experienced at the time.”

Yet eventually, Bird started to notice that there were people like her experiencing similar things.

“My friend Elliot [helped],” Bird said. “She graduated two years ago [and] started the GSA here. She was trans herself, and for me, it was mostly just the fact that she looked happy and surviving, so maybe someday I could [also] be happy and survive—which is what this year has been.”

Bird added that Elliot was a source of strength, though at the time not a direct impact on her life.

“We are pretty good friends now, but at the time I’d essentially never talked to her,” Bird said. “It was more [like], ‘Oh, here’s a real person who is living that life, who is going through it, and they seem happy’; it was very much just the image that was possible that made the difference.”

With a sense of relief, Bird shared that despite all of the built up pressure in her journey to coming out, it was a relatively easy process.

“I didn’t really have any fear with my friends,” Bird said. “I came from a very lucky situation of pretty much already being friends with people who either attended the GSA or I knew would be supportive, unlike a lot of other people who have gone through similar circumstances.”

But this isn’t to say Bird was not concerned about the overall reaction people around her would have.

“Of course there’s a sort of awkwardness to bring it up, but in most cases, I could say ‘Hey, this is what’s going on,’ and realize they were going to deal with it just fine,” Bird said.

Parents, however, were the next step in her transition process.

“Parents can be nervous to approach, but mine are fairly liberal, especially my mom, so I wasn’t worried about that at all, but my dad was a little iffy,” Bird said. “He did react pretty much how I expected him to—which was very freaked out and awkward.

He was uncomfortable with it for months, and to some extent even now, but never outright hostile.”

“He’s definitely trying a lot more than I think most people’s parents would.”

For Bird, the concern with coming out as transgender does not stem from her interpersonal relationships. Instead, it is something far more complex and difficult to manage.

“There is lots of internal stuff: a combination of this

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any thing or activity or location or person that can make me feel completely comfortable in myself.”

She recognizes that the people in her life and the things they try to do for her are not the issue.

Rather, it’s a matter of her own perceptions and mindset.

sort of freedom of being able to be who I am now, but also the feeling that there is a lot more pressure and, to an extent, more insecurity now,” Bird said. “Beforehand, I was only so unhappy trying to act like a male that I never worried about my appearance. But ironically, now that I have this aspect of me that is open—that I don’t have to hide—there is more pressure to conform to a lot of female standards.”

Bird indicated that this pressure causes her to feel an anxiety that often results in her second guessing herself.

“In general, I stress out a lot, not only about my appearance, but also about my overall personality,” Bird said. “I find myself constantly thinking like ‘Okay, I really like math…but isn’t that kind of considered a guy thing?, What if this means that I am secretly a guy?,’ It’s obviously absurd, but I just feel so much pressure about it.”

To boot, Bird added that at this point in her life, there aren’t many things that provide her with a sense of comfort and stability in her experience. This largely contributes to her hazy sense of self and internal conflict.

“There’s not necessarily, any time that I feel wholly comfortable. It’s a lot of escapism—whether that’s doing my homework or reading a book or something,” Bird said.

“I find that the only time I feel comfortable is when I’m not really within myself, when I’m engrossed in something else. I’m hoping this will change in the coming years, but I’m yet to find

30 March 2017 | Issue 4

“As much as I’d like to say the problem is as easy as the people I’m surrounded by, I’ve come to the conclusion that it almost certainly is internal,” Bird said. “I have a very difficult time connecting and opening up to people and I find a lot of my friendships to be very one-sided, where my friends might be comfortable opening up to me and feel very and connected with me, and I can give them that feeling of comfort, but it’s non-mutual. The problem is definitely within myself and I think there’s probably some sort of socialization issue I have that prevents me from connecting with other people normally—that may or may not be related to the trans issue at all.”

When asked what advice she’d give to other young people finding it difficult to express their identities, Bird shared that there is no easy answer to fit every scenario.

“Everyone’s experience is so different that I’m hesitant to give advice or recommendations to people who might undergo radically different circumstances than me,” Bird said, “but I think overall I’ve been shocked at how easy it has been—with my parents, with the social aspect—I’ve found that the worst case scenario that you picture in your head is far worse than the reality for the majority of people. I think that’s important to remember.”

“That sense of hopelessness was actually a lot more crushing and

She expanded upon this idea of overthinking things and added that “the entire process is something that people overcomplicate.”

crippling

“Obviously it’s a very big step and a very scary process, but I haven’t found it an overly complicated one,” Bird said. ‘I think a lot of people overthink things and try to make everything perfect, but there’s never going to be a perfect time to do something and there’s never going to be a perfect way to do something. You simply have to just do it. It’s better to be yourself as early as you can. I certainly regret waiting four years.”

than any

After overcoming the fear that contained her for so long, Bird looks forward towards the future and what her life holds. This sense of hope carries Bird through each day and reminds her that many aspects of her life still have room for change.

“I spend a lot of time thinking about it. I would simply like to live a normal life. Right now it’s new and everyone around me knows that, so it’s such an issue and normal is not really possible,” Bird said. “But I hope in the future—when I don’t really know many or any people from high school and physical things have changed—that I can just be a normal woman and live my life; I don’t want to always have that asterisk after ‘woman’ or ‘girl’. I hope for less of that both internally and externally in the future.” | Emily Leo | Meg Metzger-Seymour

discomfort experienced at the time.”

-olivia bird ‘17

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32 March 2017 | Issue 4

love is in the air with the spring musical

Above: Aaron Pocius ‘17 directs the musical. Right: Lily Fugita ‘19, Nicholas Hanberry-Lizzi ‘17, and Robbie Nelson ‘17 run through a scene.

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Gabe Bosse ‘17 and Regev Melker ‘19 practice stage directions.

34 March 2017 | Issue 4

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36 March 2017 | Issue 4

Above: Kaitlyn Ruzicka ‘17 and Nicholas Hanberry-Lizzi ‘17 rehearse lines in between scenes. Right: Madrid Mitton ‘17 practices with props for a restaurant scene.

| Esteban Arellano | Emily Leo

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stories from colorado n o i t i d e a u q chautau

38 March 2017 | Issue 4

As every Coloradan knows, Boulder is one of the most special gems of our state. The hip college town is the place to be for people from all over. As Colorado natives, it may seem like our hidden treasures are being polluted by new people.

But, as The Lake took to the trails of Chautauqua Park, we learned the stories of a few individuals who were there one Thursday evening. Some were Colorado natives, and some were coming from places as far as Asia. Nonetheless, we heard incredible stories of coincidence and love that brought total strangers together and friends back together. | Jackson Kessel | Hannah Laughlin | Morgan Parrish| Kayla Pray | Karson Schmidt

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FIONA AND hANNAH From the Big Apple to Boulder, the story of how saying yes paid off for these two childhood friends.

It was one motto that started a strong, beautiful friendship. Becoming intimate in middle school, Fiona and Hannah, both separately and coincidentally decided to broaden their horizons and move to Boulder with their boyfriends a few years ago- saying yes.

Two light-hearted and adventurous young women from a small town an hour and a half from New York City followed dreams and true love to Boulder, the place they both now call home.

When we asked Fiona and Hannah to tell us one of their favorite memories they shared, they were hesitant at first. They took a moment to think about it.. They looked at each other for a few seconds, and then Fiona’s face lit up.

“Oh! The hike that we did!” she said. Right after Fiona first moved to Boulder, Hannah wanted to think of a way to give her the real feel for the city. So she decided to take Fiona for a 4 a.m. hike. And Fiona said yes.

“It was pretty hard because we had our phones as our flashlights. We were sticking them in our shirts,” Fiona said.

“We got very lost,” Hannah said. “We ended up way off the trail.” Although it was a challenge to complete the long hike, they ended up finishing at the perfect time, taking in the beautiful view of the rising sun gracing the horizon with hues of red and orange.

The atmosphere of Colorado made Fiona move to Boulder, miles away from the busy city. “Living in the city made me hate it,” Fiona said. “I

40 March 2017 | Issue 4

would go there so often and I just got so tired of it there. Then I visited my ex-boyfriend here a couple of times when he went to school, and I fell in love.”

Hannah, on the other hand, moved here for the love of something other than the mountains.

“My boyfriend told me he was moving to Colorado,” she said. “I told him I didn’t want to lose him, so he just said ‘Alright, move there with me.’ and I said yes. That’s how I ended up here.”

All of the decisions that Hannah and Fiona made in their lives revolved around one motto— saying yes.

“Say yes to everything,” Hannah said. “Don’t say no, that’s limiting yourself.”

The spur-of-the-moment decisions they each made landed them in the foothills of Colorado would have never been possible if they hadn’t been so accepting of the changes in their lives. Saying yes, turns out, was one of the best decisions the girls made.

Fiona and Hannah shattered the typical boundary of boredom with their genuinely positive attitudes towards life, and their illuminating spirits lit up that cool evening at Chautauqua. Inspired by the endless possibilities tucked away in the enigmatic peaks of Colorado, the two girls set off into the night, continuing on to experience the escapades of Boulder. l

MARCUS AND dEXTER A photographer from Texas and a realtor find each other in a time of need through a coincidental series of events

Dexter and Marcus both recently started to capture new moments in their lives, moving cities just to find someplace they could picture themselves in for a long time.

of Chautauqua Park for photo inspiration. In the midst of a midlife crisis, he was desperate for change.

Growing up in Canada, Marcus moved to Philadelphia when his wife got a job here in the States, then moved from there to Boulder.

This landed him in Colorado, and gave him the opportunity to shoot the Rocky Mountains for a real purpose—not just for framed photos in his living room.

“I’ve lived out here for about a year and a half,” Marcus said.

“It was new moving here from Canada, but in reality a lot of the mountainous areas look about the same, so it’s made the transition easier.”

“This is my first full week of free lance photography,” Dexter said.

“It’s been interesting not having to go to a nine to five job every day, and instead doing something where I get to work on my own schedule—something I actually want to be doing.”

Moving here also opened up some new opportunities for Marcus, allowing him to settle into a new home and help others do the same.

Destiny put them both in the same place at the same time, when they were both in need. After striking up conversation and reflecting on how their lives brought them to Chautauqua on that Thursday evening, Marcus and Dexter realized that they were everything they were both looking for in the fields they just began pursuing.

“I started a new job here, and I wanted to hire photographers to photograph for my realty business,” Marcus said.

As a real estate agent, Marcus had been searching for someone that could assist him in photographing properties that he was looking to sell. His most recent area was Boulder and he just needed someone who could help him show off the true Colorado beauty.

As if by fate, Dexter recently quit his job as a mechanic to fulfil his dream of being a professional photographer, proceeding to work with Marcus.

Dexter escaped his hometown of Austin, Texas to the rocky trails

“It was an opportunity I couldn’t turn down,” Dexter said.

Dexter offered to let us see some of the pictures he had taken, and it became evident that photography was not only something he wanted to do, but something he was meant to do.

One could say it’s destiny, others could call it coincidence. But Marcus and Dexter undeniably met at the right time, and both are getting what they need to follow their dreams and move towards success. l

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kATIE AND aNDREW Despite living states apart, this couple shows that even the greatest distance can’t break the bond between two people in love They met in Gainesville, Florida, in a small, run down bar where his band was playing a gig. It was, as one could call it, love at first sight.

He: a musician and she: an adventurous soul.

But the only problem is, after months of embracing their love, she followed her ambitions to live closer to the mountains and moved to Colorado, and he stayed in Florida.

“I just moved out here a few months ago from Florida,” Katie said.

“I’ve always loved the mountains and hiking.”

After graduating college, she packed up her things and took the first flight to Colorado to live with some of her friends from college.

“I have a few friends from college that shared my dream of living by the mountains,” Katie said. “They moved out here a year ago, so I decided to follow them, and my dream, too.”

However, moving 1,480 miles across the country meant leaving the love of her life back in Florida.

“I have a lot of autonomy because I went to school 3 hours from my family,” Katie said. “But it was really hard for me to be so far away from Andrew.”

Despite the distance, they make it work. He comes to visit her and she flies to see him. They have a connection that no distance can ruin.

“I’ve never felt so safe and happy with someone as I do with her,” Andrew said. “It’s hard for me to be so far away from her, but I know that when I get to see her again it will be like nothing has changed.”

Soon Andrew plans on moving to Colorado so he can be with Katie and they can start their lives together. But until then they will both live out their dreams.

“My band and I have really grown within the last year,” Andrew said. “We’re hoping to start our North American tour in June. It’s always been a dream of mine to go on tour and it’s crazy that it might become a reality.”

42 March 2017 | Issue 4

Even though they live miles apart and only see each other a couple times a year, Katie and Andrew take the extra mile to nourish their love and follow their ambitions simultaneously. l

TYLER AND kYLER Their names may rhyme and they may attend the same school, but they lead vastly different lives.

Both taking a break from their studies at the University of Colorado Boulder, just a short drive away from the Chautauqua, we found them hiking the incline.

Kyler comes from a military family, so he spent his younger years moving around from place to place inside the United States, and even outside as far as Singapore.

“We hiked about half way up the mountain,” Tyler said. “We found a tree to sit in and talked for around 45 minutes, about everything and anything—from school to life to what we want to do afterwards.”

“We moved around a lot, and I jumped from school to school,” Kyler said. “Some of them weren’t the best schools, so I would get bored easily and my parents eventually decided to let me skip some grades.”

Though they didn’t know each other before college because they came from different areas of the world, they were introduced shortly after the beginning of their first semester.

Kyler skipped third and fifth grade, but also had to repeat the ninth grade.

“We met at the C4C,” Kyler said (CU Boulder’s dining hall). “A mutual friend we both ended up knowing told me, ‘Hey! I know somebody who has a similar name as you!’”

Their friendship blossomed and as we continued talking to them, they became more open to us about their lives.

Tyler has a rare congenital condition where all of his organs are on the other side of his body, called situs inversus.

“It’s not really anything different to me,” Tyler said. “It’s how it’s been all my life and it doesn’t stop me from doing anything. It’s just a cool little fact about me and my life.”

“We finally settled down once we got to Singapore and I attended an American school there,” Kyler said. “I had to repeat ninth grade so I could catch up to everyone else.”

After living in Asia for the majority of his life, Kyler and his family settled back in the States and Kyler started attending CU Boulder, where he met Tyler.

It’s guaranteed that the two share much more than a similarity of names; it’s the small bits of their lives they shared that gave us insight into the diverse friendships that can form between people.

Tyler and Kyler have made countless memories and will continue to do so, and as Kyler stated: “The rest is history.”

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2017: ACTION You. Yes, you. Stop sitting there. Stand up. If last year’s events taught me anything, it’s that we shouldn’t just wait around, twiddling our thumbs, while the world revolves expecting it to transform into everything we want it to be. As aspects of our society seem to falter, and as the inevitable change approaches, let’s remember that we have power. 2016’s turn of events was the epitome of inaction. Individuals seemed to rely too much on their peers to do the right thing instead of taking matters into their own hands. That kind of dependency radiated in a negative light as people expected others to carry the heavy load—forgetting that we are stronger when we work together. Let’s think of 2017 as a chance of redemption; A new opportunity to use our voices in a way that we’ve neglected for too long. We’ve witnessed first hand what happens when we stand idle. This is the year we engage in kindness, compassion and inclusion. This is the year we protest, support, and unite. This is the year we won’t repeat history, we’ll make history. | Patty Sokol

resilliency Fight for what you believe in while also respecting others. At first glance, this concept seems relatively simple but due to the recent turmoil of a political conflict caused by the election., it’s not as easy. Unfortunately, we as a society have torn each other down for our opinions while hiding in the shadows and not voicing our own ideas to improve the world. If we do offer up our unique viewpoints now, the powerful will walk all over the poor, weak, and powerless by taking advantage of basic right liberty and freedom. 2017 can be great if we work by collaborating instead of being destructive and prohibiting progress. Resilience means you can be stern and strong in tough times while being kind and tolerant of others. | Grant Hoskins

44 March 2017 | Issue 4

the year of happiness

All anybody wants in life is to be happy. We strive to find the perfect job that makes the perfect amount of money so we can live comfortably in our perfect home with our perfect family. Last year was filled with so many negative events that it’s important to look at the new year with hope that happiness will reappear for some people. Personally, I know this is going to be a great year. Graduating high school, heading off to college, and traveling the world. Everyone needs to start out the year looking for the positive things to come. Even if it’s small like trying to work out more or going up to the mountains one time in the summer.

Happiness isn’t in material items or earning the perfect amount of money. Happiness is anything that brings the little glimmers of light into your life. We should all look for these little lights in 2017. | Hannah Jensen

gratitude

One thing I realized in 2016 was that I never said ‘thank you’ enough.

Whether it was for something big, like my parents paying for my soccer funds, or something smaller, like strangers holding the door for me, I never seemed to be saying those words enough. The number of opportunities we have in today’s society to say these words are uncountable and if we’re being honest, no one seems to be thankful enough for what they have. If we all could take a few of our ‘I’m sorry’s’ and turn them into ‘Thank you’s’, imagine how much positivity we could spread. This past year, we all took things for granted. In 2017, the year of gratitude, one thing has to change; our attitudes. | Karson Schmidt

risks

During the treacherous year of 2016, it seemed that apprehension reigned over adventure. Much too often, we stayed inside and watched our computer screens as the political world crumbled before us, while life outside of our bedrooms continued to race on. In 2017, I say we all need to step out into the big, crazy world and take a risk. There are new places to travel, new things to try, new people to meet, so what better time to experience it all then right now? As we all grow up and live our lives, everything we once knew is changing, and our opportunities to go on wild adventures are decreasing as we become weighed down by actual responsibilities and adulthood approaches. A scary thought, right? So, in 2017, before your moments are gone, go on an adventure, take a risk and experience the world. | Jackson Kessel

New Day, New ME Use everyday as an excuse to be a new person

As the new year came around, I got to thinking about how every Instagram caption and Twitter post revolved around the slogan of “new year, new me”, using the new year as a reason to start fresh.

Don’t get me wrong, the new year is technically a good time to start over, if you want. It makes sense. The calendar year is starting over, so you should start over.

Match up with the year. But are you really a “new” you, all because it’s a new year?

I don’t necessarily believe in using the new year as a fresh start. Personally, I think every day can be a fresh start.

At any given moment, I could drop everything and turn my life around. I could drop out of school and use my savings to buy a one-way plane ticket to wherever I wanted and spend a year (or years) working in some crappy cafe in a small town no one has ever heard of in some foreign country. I could live everyday on the beach in Bora Bora or in a cabin, isolated in the mountains. I could completely start over.

day you wake up and think “this is a good day for me to start over, be someone new”. You can pick any given day in the year to be YOUR “new year”. You just gotta roll with it.

One day you wake up and think “this is a good day for me to start over, be someone new.”

It doesn’t have to be on January 1st. It could be on February 27th, August 14th, December 2nd. Any day is a perfect day to realize that what you are doing right now isn’t working and you need to do something else to keep yourself happy, because isn’t that our ultimate goal? To be happy? For me, it is.

But change and new found happiness isn’t something you can just put a start date on—it’s just gonna happen. One

There’s no reason you can’t change who you are anytime you like. If there’s something that just bothers you about yourself, change it to the way YOU want to be, as long as it means that you’re still the happy and healthy you that you should always be. Dye your hair, cut your hair, start wearing more or less makeup, switch up your wardrobe. Being a new you doesn’t mean you have to change all of who you are. Sometimes a little change in your appearance or even your daily routine can be beneficial to you as you’re growing up.

As children, we are taught to not change who we are to please anyone else. But what we don’t learn is that it’s okay to change for ourselves. Change is healthy, and necessary for growing as a person.

We’re human beings, we crave change.

If everything stayed the same, soon we would all conform to societal ways and nothing would be about individuality, which is what makes this world go around.

So change. Change your looks, change your manners, change the way you look at the world.

But only if it’s for YOU and YOUR happiness, and not anyone else. | Kayla Pray

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opinions

Blowing with the wind Learn to find happiness no matter where and when the wind blows I don’t believe in belonging. People say they belong with their partner or their friends or their family. They say they belong in America or Britain or by a beach or in the forest or sunbathing by the pool. They say they belong in the 80s or in the Victorian era or the early 2000s. And if someone doesn’t know where they belong? They think they’re alone.

All of us have been there, or will have been there at some point.

We mistake feeling comfortable somewhere for belonging there. And then when we are no longer comfortable, we wish to run back to the safety of the familiar. Belonging is a word we use to indicate ownership, dependency, and permanence. But no place or person owns you. There is nothing here on this Earth that can’t be changed; there is no use in expecting permanence.

stead, take life as it comes. Live in the moment. Love the people you love and appreciate their loyalty, but remember anything could happen in a matter of months, days, minutes, seconds.

If you have a set idea of where you do or don’t belong, you limit your own potential for living happily. When the wind blows, you don’t have a choice but to blow with it. It’s best to never believe you belong in one place. You can be happy there. You can have a life there.

But if that place ends up not being the place for you, you have to pick yourself up and find another home.

Your address is Earth, solar system, Milky Way, Virgo supercluster, observable universe. This is where you belong.

Sometimes you think you belong somewhere but life has it’s own plans in store. A tornado hits. Your parents get laid off and you have to move to another state, another country. Your boyfriend breaks up with you or you end up filing for a divorce. A loved one dies. And that’s when you no longer know where you belong. You think you belong nowhere at all.

You belong here. On this Earth.

We don’t know why we’re here, we just know that we are here and that one day we won’t be anymore. You belong living and breathing and feeling, no matter with whom or with what career or in what country. There are seven continents, five oceans, 195 countries, and over 6,500 spoken languages in the world. Your address is Earth, solar system, Milky Way, Virgo supercluster, observable universe. This is where you belong.

We put so much faith and glory and pride into the feeling of belonging. In high school, everyone wants to belong in a group. When we’re young, everyone asks what your dream career is. From the day you’re born, the idea of finding The One is drilled into your mind. Everywhere around you are people who belong or are looking to belong.

Travel the world. Talk to new people. Learn new things. Climb Mount. Everest. Go to an oxygen bar. Eat chocolate covered crickets. Your life doesn’t have to depend on finding The One. Your dream career can change. The person and people you love now aren’t the last people you’ll ever love. You don’t own anything or anyone besides yourself. Dare to venture the unknown.

You might just find another home there, and another, and another.

The truth is, life happens. Forever can’t be promised. So in-

| Jenna Hines

46 March 2017 | Issue 3

life after fact

FALSE NEWS AND INFORMATION THREATENS THE COUNTRY a staff editorial We, as journalists at The Lake, have been in search of one thing: the truth. With every fact we find, we search for a couple more for confirmation. With every interview, we listen again and again to perfectly capture our source’s words.

The same is not true, however, for other “news” organizations.

With the previous year’s election cycle, fake news organizations, such as Breitbart and .com.co sites, have quickly surfaced. They share inflammatory stories such as “Gay rights have made us dumber, it’s time to get back in the closet”and reap large sums of money for online views.

This rise in actual fake news has become a focus of President Trump’s campaign and administration. But what Trump—and those around him—fail to realize is that he is one of the chief proponents of this culture of inaccuracy. We say this not because of partisan politics, but because of our thirst, as journalists, for the truth. But this same integrity fails to reach even the highest office in our nation.

Trump falsely claimed he had “the biggest electoral college win since Ronald Reagan.” Press Secretary Sean Spicer falsely claimed that Trump had “the largest audience to witness an inauguration, period.” Trump also stated that “millions of people...voted illegally.”

competent hate platforms such as Breitbart. By doing this, Trump fraudulently chooses the facts that fit his agenda and dismisses the critical reality which has challenged him at every single step of his campaign and presidency. This intentional distraction therefore pulls Americans’ attention from his own deceitful and unproductive administration.

For generations, American politics has been a matter of contrasting values and attempting to find a middle ground for our nation to reach. But we’re quickly approaching a dangerous new era where facts are useless. It’s an era where people can disagree not only over values, but also over the truthfulness of a fact itself. It’s an era where we become so removed from reality that we need a Facebook intervention. And it’s an era where we are forced to question the credibility of any information that comes our way.

we’re quickly approaching a dangerous new era where facts are useless

Kellyanne Conway has even confirmed the role of lies in the administration with her infamous use of the phrase “alternative facts.”

And while he and his administration spread what we should really call downright lies, Trump’s relationship with the media strains the truth even more. Although he has turned the most scrutiny on fake news out of any president, he directs his attacks at the remaining honest news organizations while letting charlatans like Breitbart run rampant. He belittles the work of accurate news organizations such as The New York Times while delivering a front-row seat to in-

We don’t expect the (actual) fake news industry to change their ways because their lies sell, and they sell a lot. Sadly, we don’t even expect the president to change because he has shown us that he will follow through with his campaign promises—deceit and all.

So instead, we turn to you: the reader. Although Trump may try to spread his lies from the top down, information—both true and false—only spreads person-by-person. The power to support the truth, therefore, is in your hands. Stand up to fake news and Trump by refusing to believe the deceit they spread. Check out our cover story for ways to avoid fake news and before believing anything Trump says, cross-reference his “alternative facts” with more trustworthy sites—such as The (far from “failing”) New York Times.

We at The Lake are all for a healthy political debate, but it must first be predicated on the truth.

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keep it real.