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The Denver East High School newspaper, The Spotlight, is an over 100 year old publication with issues coming out as early as 1921. In all of these years, the paper has explored a variety of dispositions. With different logos, crests, mottos, editors, writers and stories, the history of The Spotlight is a stark reflection of the history of both East High School and The United States. Throughout controversy and discouragement, the paper has never failed to bring the students the best news and layout over the years. To take a look at where it all started, below is the very first Masthead of The Spotlight: The first edition of The Spotlight was published April 7th 1921, and contained a most accurate motto, right under the Masthead. The caption reads: NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH. Even through the roaring 20s, The Spotlight was dedicated to the truth. Today the paper is free, but in 1921, it was 10 cents a piece, and the editors began to lay out its rules and standards, giving all power to the Spotlight committee and making promises to the student body that still apply today. The 1921 editorial board began the first article, writing, “Students of East Denver, do you realize that this is your paper because it is the school paper and you are the school. The success of this paper depends mostly upon your enthusiastic cooperation.” Some of the headlines in this paper included, “Spotlight Jokes”, “Drama Club Notes”, and “Curiosity and Study”. The next motto of the spotlight was at the beginning of the 1921 school year, and it read, “Don't Flinch; Don’t Foul; Hit The Line Hard.” Through the Great Depression, WWII, the Cold War, Rock and Roll, the Civil Rights The Spotlight, Volume XVI, Number 11, March 12, 1930 Movement, and Y2K, The Spotlight has done it all. With the hundreds of issues that have been produced, The Spotlight has received backlash and controversy from both the student body and staff. The image of East High School has been threatened before, recently with the safety concerns surrounding multiple gun violence events. However, The Spotlight refuses to back away from these stories. The infamous “HANDS UP” cover received worried feedback from the administration and staff, mostly due to the fear of negative press. The latin phrase, “Nil Sacrum Est”, is the current motto of the newspaper, first appearing in Volume LXXI, Number 2, October 31, 1985. The term has cycled through having a question mark and not having one, meaning either “nothing is sacred” or “is nothing sacred?” A question or a statement? The motto is rumored to have come from a bitter feud between journalism and yearbook, where The Spotlight changed all of the computer passwords to Nil Sacrum Est to prevent them from tampering with a new issue. However, the dates may beg to differ, computers just became common in the 1980s, and “passwords” were most likely not the origin of the phrase. Either way, the question lies in the minds of every Spotlight writer, is nothing sacred? When faced with controversy like the SWAT incident, the death of Charlie Kirk, the Dobbs v. Jackson decision, and the scandal with the McAuliffe principal, the Spotlight has historically covered everything and anything. The image of East High School is not “sacred” enough to deny the importance of journalism and news. East High School students deserve a publication that will honor their right to the truth, and the Spotlight will always do it properly. Holding true to the journalistic code of ethics, and good morals, the Spotlight only has our best and brightest, true journalists.

The death of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran’s supreme leader for nearly 37 years, marked the beginning of the joint military operation by the United States and Israel against Iran. According to President Trump, Israel and the US joined forces in an effort to encourage Iran to dismantle their longstanding theocratic government. Following the catalyst strikes, Iran launched its counter attack using missiles and drones to target Israel and US military bases in surrounding countries like Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). This retaliation prompted crackdowns on “freedom of expression and social media usage” in the aforementioned countries especially as the war progressed (NYT). Sultan Alamer, a fellow at the Middle East Policy Council in Washington, told The New York Times that the Persian Gulf countries are likely enforcing these restrictive policies to prevent Iranian intelligence analysts from using content to improve the accuracy of future strikes. However, maintaining each country's reputation of safety and prosperity for investors and tourists is another relevant incentive. New York Times - Damage from a drone strike in March at a hotel in Dubai, UAE In 2025, Kuwait ranked 128th out of 180 in the World Press Freedom Index, which essentially indicates that media laws in the country consistently work to limit criticism of the government. The war in the Gulf Region has revealed controversial instances of this kind of censorship within Kuwait. For example, on March 7th, 3 men were arrested and charged after posting a satirical video of the group preparing for disaster while laughing that reportedly jeopardized national security. Ahmed Shihab-Eldin, a reputable independent journalist, is another individual who was held for 52 days in Kuwait for allegedly spreading false information, harming national security, and misusing a phone. Shihab-Eldin had posted comments and videos online that contained information about the war and a US fighter jet that was mistakenly shot down near an air-base in Kuwait. The Committee to Protect Journalists described those charges as “vague and overly broad accusations that are routinely used to silence independent journalists.” The Emirati government has arrested hundreds of people for “spreading rumors” and sharing actual footage of Iranian strikes. Some individuals have even been charged with “glorifying” the attacks resulting in at least 35 expedited trials. More specifically, a videographer for an international news outlet was arrested while in the UAE for filming in “restricted areas without obtaining the necessary official permits” (NYT). Though the Emirates did not name the videographer or news outlet, a statement suggesting that misinformation could be deadly was released to The New York Times. On the social media site X, formerly known as Twitter, many users' accounts are blocked in the UAE, including right-wing influencer Jackson Hinkle. When users try to access Hinkle’s account they are met with a message explaining the account has been obstructed “in response to a legal demand” that, seemingly, arose as a result of posts, with unreliable sources, about attacks in the Gulf region (NYT). Finally, the destruction of upscale apartment buildings and 5-star hotels prompted UAE authorities to release a warning to “avoid taking photographs or sharing imagery of attack sites or of damage” (NYT). New York Times -Tehran on the first day of the war West of the Persian Gulf, in Lebanon, an Israeli strike killed multiple paramedics and 3 journalists: Ali Hassan Shaib, Mohamad Ftouni, and Fatima Ftouni. The Israeli government released a statement claiming Ali Hassan Shaib was believed to be a “terrorist” working with Hezbollah, a militant group, throughout his career as a journalist. In an interview with PBS, Sara Qudah, the Committee to Protect Journalists Middle East and North Africa regional director, stated that there was no evidence in the statement that suggested any of the journalists had been participating in any kind of military action. Qudah added “Journalists are considered civilians, and therefore they are protected from any kind of attacks unless they were in any way participating in conflict with an army.”

October of 1999 was the host of the first-ever Coachella event; although it skipped 2000, it continued in 2001 as an annual event. Initially, Beck, Tool, and Rage Against the Machine headlined; for a mere catastrophic 2-day event, Coachella met just over half their ticket sales goal, resulting in $850,000 of debt. Headliners even returned their fee (AL.com). However, 25 years later, continuing the trend of exponential growth, Coachella 2026 sold out all 250,000 tickets for both weekends. And the infamous ‘Bieberchella’ occurred. (Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in Indio in October 1999) In less than a week of announcing Sabrina Carpenter, Justin Bieber, and Karol G as headliners, all 250,000 tickets were sold. Originally, a $50 ticket (and $7.25 convenience charge) would introduce you to two wonderful days of an anti-Woodstock festival that came from a dispute with Ticketmaster. During this year's Coachella, tickets varied as well as their prices; general admission ranged from $549 to $649, while the most extreme resale prices reached past $6,000. So how did the 1993 Pearl Jam boycott against Ticketmaster-controlled venues—for high service fees—result in a multi-thousand influencer-driven vacation spot for three days at a time, twice in one week? Its extremely notable performers. As a multi-genre festival, it has welcomed thousands of performers, with some of the most notable being: Beychella (April 14th and April 21st, 2018) Beyoncé's 2018 performance granted her the most viewed Coachella performance while also achieving the most viewed live musical festival event on YouTube with over 458,000 simultaneous viewers (Billboard). Immediately following her performance, she saw a 228% increase in sales (Forbes). As the first Black woman to headline Coachella, her extraordinary HBCU culture and Black artistry-centered set involving over 200 performers and a Destiny’s Child reunion was monumental. So monumental, Netflix created Homecoming: A Film by Beyoncé, released on April 17th, 2019—a pretty quick turnaround. (Beyoncé performs onstage during 2018 Coachella.) Daft Punk (April 26th, 2006) Daft Punk’s 2006 Coachella performance is largely claimed to have revolutionized live electronic music, acting as the catalyst for the American EDM explosion (Water & Music). Though proving dance music could thrive on festival stages, this performance is regarded as legendary in Coachella's history (History). The iconic LED-covered pyramid stage redefined Electric Dance Music (EDM) production: creating an immersive, high-tech experience that set the standard for all the EDM concerts we have today. (Disco Lines, John Summit, Foam Wonderland, etc.). Approximately 40,000 individuals watched this iconic performance at the Sahara Tent, although the tent was designed for 10,000, exemplifying its remarkable outcome. (Daft Punk performs from inside a huge LED-lit pyramid at the 2006 Coachella festival.) Bierberchella (April 11th and April 18th, 2026) After four long years, Justin Bieber made a major comeback with his Coachella 2026 performance. Catering to the audience, he brought out numerous surprise guests: Billie Eilish (“One Less Lonely Girl”); Big Sean (“As Long As You Love Me” and “No Pressure”); SZA (“Snooze”); Kid Laroi (“Stay”); Tems and Wizkid (“Essence”); Dijon (“Devotion”); Sexxy Red (“Sweet Spot”); and Mk.Gee (“Daises”) in just two weekends to perform hit collaborations (Yahoo and Rolling Stone). During his 90-minute set, the 20-minute "laptop segment” occurred where he used his MacBook to scroll through YouTube, playing his own music videos. This quickly spread across the internet, facing differing perspectives: some called it lazy, others called it intentionally nostalgic (The Conversation). Overall, it generated massive digital engagement with over 149 million views–and a $10 million dollar check for Bieber. (Justin Bieber Coachella 2026) Coachella is very fluid and hard to predict, meaning each year is just that much more special. As a family event, people of all ages are welcome to experience it—you may have to save for a year or two, though. However, over time it's gradually become more of a status symbol than a music festival (Yale Daily News). Nonetheless, if you have the opportunity to or hope to experience Coachella, take full advantage of its depth! There's much to see and more to hear. ,

The school year coming to an end is always a reminder that time keeps moving forward, no matter what you might try to do to stop it. Whether you’re a senior who is already committed to a college or you're a freshman who is actively avoiding thinking about all of that, a plan is always a good thing. While most people do think about what colleges and majors they are interested in for their post-secondary plan, not many people think about their post-post secondary plan. Sure, you can make the obvious choice and go straight into a career like everyone else. However, the thing a lot of people miss is there are other options to explore. One of these other options is joining the Peace Corps as a volunteer for 2 years. The Peace Corps is a US government program that sends volunteers to other countries to support under-privileged communities. Put into place by JFK in 1961 the program's goal was to undermine the negative stereotypes that were common in other countries toward Americans. A good resource to learn more about the history of the program is the documentary A Towering Task: The Story of the Peace Corps on PBS. Alana DeJoseph Learning how to make mud bricks in Mali. In an interview with the director of this documentary, and former Peace Corps. Volunteer Alana DeJoseph. DeJoseph spoke on the advantages the Peace Corps brings the US when it comes to soft power and international relations. When asked about the importance of the Peace Corps in the US government she responded: “[Peace Corps. Volunteers] bring back the understanding of what it is like for people on the ground in those countries… and with all of that knowledge, America can be a better member of the world community, and the US government can be a better institution for its own people.” Alana also spoke about her own experiences volunteering. She volunteered in the West African town of Folona in the country of Mali from 1992 to 1994 and it was very clear from her answers that it was an amazing experience. She described a memory of a day near the end of her time in Mali when a group of women from the town came to visit and had a conversation over coffee. She said this was when she “realized the women of Folona were my family now, and we would be there for each other.” Volunteers work with communities to support 6 different sectors: Agriculture, Community Economic Development, Education, Environment, Health, and Youth in Development. To volunteer you must be a US citizen, over 18, and have a bachelor's degree or equivalent work experience. Over the time of your service volunteers get a monthly allowance tied to the local costs in the country. This allowance is enough to cover: food, household supplies, communication, clothing, local transportation, personal items, and discretionary spending. After service, volunteers get a $10,000 service award to help them integrate into life at home. Before going to live in a host country, volunteers go through a 3 week training period where they are briefed on what they will be doing during their time there. Including language classes and safety training for the country they’re being sent to. (All information about volunteer life and how to volunteer is available at peacecorps.gov)

It’s nearly the end of the school year, which means that seniors are entering a new chapter of their lives and juniors are preparing for that transition into their final high school year. Seniors are found everywhere (or absent completely) around East sleeping on their desks, not doing work, or chattering away and the small portion of seniors that are actually participating in class are doing their best to stave off that senioritis. Senior year is definitely an experience that will make or break your future and the most important transition into adulthood. So whether or not you’re reading this in 2026 or far into the future, here’s what to actually do before and during your senior year in order to prepare for college and basically the rest of your life. Whether you like it or not, the summer preceding senior year is very important so using it to your advantage is what can kickstart an easy and laidback start to the first semester. Use those three months for volunteering, working, researching schools, and drafting a basic application essay using the common app prompts. Most rising seniors put a lot of that work off and it ends up being a last minute scramble right before applications on top of homework, clubs, and sports. Definitely don’t do that and prepare in advance, even if it’s not much. That’s considered the ‘prerequisites’ before the start of senior year. Senior Chloe Mosher recommends “Drafting your college essays during the summer and getting familiar with all of the college application requirements before school starts. Make a list of checklists in order to stay on top of all the work. Academic status still matters so don’t graduate with any regrets.” During August, there should be more of an urge to connect with counselors, starting to familiarize yourself with the application portals, and balancing everything from sports, extracurriculars, and schoolwork. Senior year is stressful. Multiple surveys conducted in 2025 from Collegedata.com have found that “The total percentage (52 percent) includes students who said applying to college in general was their biggest stressor (33 percent) as well as students who cited specific aspects of applying to college, namely SAT/ACT tests (3 percent), competition for admission (6 percent) not getting accepted (8 percent), and family pressure or conflict related to applying to college (2 percent).” If anything, trust your parents and anyone who has been through this process. Even if you don’t want them involved, don’t reject the fact that they were offering to help you. There isn’t really a need to be best friends with every senior attending East (considering there’s about 450-500 each year), but definitely be friendly with them. Most of the last high school experiences will be with these people – Senior Ditch Day, fun trips or excursions, prom, and graduation – so at least be nice. If you’re really worried about making friends, just remember that you’ll have a completely clean slate once you get to college. Chloe also suggests “Make memories with friends and take advantage of unique high school opportunities like prom and off-campus lunches. Senior year is the last time you will ever have this particular balance of freedom and structure.” So at the beginning of the year or even when you’re entering the last month of senior year and you’re asking yourself “What am I doing?,” remember that there are millions of students like you who are in the same boat. It’s just a matter of whether you’re prepared enough for the rest of your life and how much you’re willing to engage with the school.

As this school year comes to a close, look back on all the fun activities, memories made, and things learned. For one teacher here at East, the end of this school year is not only the end to 186 days spent with students this year, but also the end to a 26 year teaching career, the last 17 of which were spent as a treasured member of the East community. "Everything I do is only to make students better, only to make you stronger." (Mr. Velasquez) As Mr. Velasquez’s final year of teaching comes to a close, take a minute to reflect on the immense impact he has had, not only on students, but on everyone who has had the pleasure of seeing him purposefully walking around the second floor in the English wing wearing his iconic patterned short sleeve button down shirts. Hundreds of students have passed through his doors during his time here at East: from struggling readers in AVID to AP Lang students, and most recently, freshman taking English One Honors. Though he has taught everyone from 6th graders to adults, Mr. Velasquez claims (much to everyone's surprise), that the 9th graders are his favorite, because they “Keep me young and still have energy.” But more than that, he loves getting to know his students and sees something in East students that many adults often miss. “So many adults are so afraid of your generation. They think you’re going to fail,” he says, “They think you’re lazy but the majority of East students give me hope and inspiration for the future. I get to see all the talent, the thoughtfulness, the good hearts, the good brains.” His immense belief in students and high expectations for every student he teaches has built him a strong reputation among teachers and caused his class to be feared by students as he is “not the babying type. I'm here to teach first, and then make sure you’re mentally well too so you can learn.” He wants all of his students, Like junior Nadia Debick, to be better thinkers and better humans. For many students, they realize years later that his class “Really set me up for success, especially in AP English and with college writing classes.” Despite his high expectations and priority on learning, he still makes the classroom fun with lots of group work, his well known sense of humor, and fun fridays. In the English wing, his colleagues describe him as a man who is as disciplined as he is hilarious. Multiple teachers remember his snarky humor and incredible planning, so prepared that he makes copies for the second semester before the first semester is even over and so fast at grading that sometimes he would have assignments students handed in at the beginning of class graded and back to them by the end of the same period. His impact on staff was just as profound as his impact on students, with many of the teachers across the English department looking to him for leadership and advice on teaching. “He’s a leader here. His voice is an important one and will be missed” (Mr. Meils). Ms. Roberts calls his class a “masterclass” saying, “I watched you make it look effortless, but I know the thought, the love, and the purpose behind every single thing you do.” From his dedication to his students and focus on preparing them, to creating a Queer Lit class and agreeing to teach more than his required five classes, Mr. Velasquez has made a lasting impact on the English department and students here at East. After dedicating 26 years of his life to his students, from helping all of the students in his AVID class get into college, to weekly grammar practice to prep students for the SAT, Mr. Velasquez is looking forward to retirement. He plans to help his elderly parents, hiking, skiing and traveling. “You can’t travel as a teacher in the fall, so I’ve never seen the East coast in autumn, so I want to go out East, and then I want to go Europe and I have a Japan trip planned with friends.” When asked about his legacy here at East, Mr. Velasquez wonders, “Did I cause more problems or did I actually help? I’m hoping that overall the majority of kids in the long run will realize that they are prepared for college and the real world and that's what matters to me. That I didn't fail any of my students. That I did my best to make sure they were prepared for their future. Overall my goal was to help students and I think I did.” In the halls of East, the answer is that he most definitely helped. As Ms. Arnes puts it, "Mr. Velasquez has been an integral part of the English Department here at East High School, and will be greatly missed.”

As the 2025-26 school year comes to a close, a class that plays a big role in shaping the school's culture has recently elected new officials to uphold East’s spirit for next year. Student Council held their elections, where students acquired roles like representative and president for the 2026-2027 school year. With many candidates asserting what they would like to implement to make the school better, here is a sneak peek into what's anticipated for the 2026-27 STUCO agenda. During the election, multiple candidates promised improved dances through better DJs and more student engagement as an incentive to earn the student body's vote. After MORP, a dance held in February meant to raise money for prom, was canceled due to a lack of student interest, the STUCO board has made it a priority to ensure dances become a fun school tradition. Echoing these campaign promises, senior class president Mia Davis shared her agenda. “I want to focus on making them (dances) more exciting so people feel more encouraged to come. A dance is only as good as the energy and participation.” June McGinn, junior class president addressed potential ways to combat low turnout, explaining, “This year has been a little rough with dances like MORP getting cancelled…my goal is to make dances more appealing to the student body and get more engagement from students.” Along with improved dances, the new student council has emphasized the importance of school spirit, especially with events like pep rallies. Davis vocalized how “The Class of 2027 has a bad rep. I'm aiming for pep rallies, dances, fairs, and other events to have strong turnouts.” As spirit events such as pep rallies have had a lower turnout in recent years among classes, McGinn introduced new potential ideas. “I want to find ways to encourage students to come to activities… some ideas being field days, competitions, and games.” Although STUCO plays a big role in school spirit and organizing events, last year, issues surrounding how to make East seem safer were a big theme, with topics such as the vestibule. East student council played a big role in stalling the installation of the vestibule by circulating the school and classrooms with a petition intended to stop the vestibule. This year, STUCO plans to ensure that plans surrounding safety are actually effective. Davis emphasized that “Building a supportive and aware community is one of the most effective ways to prevent issues before they happen. While ideas like the vestibule worked to improve safety, it's a surface-level fix.” McGinn followed up with effective ideas to improve the school. “Things could include better safety training and improved staff guidelines. Also, educating the East community.” With a strong focus on school spirit, student engagement, and improving the East community, the new STUCO board is ready to introduce important changes and uphold the school's traditions and values.

Valentine’s day is coming up and love is in the air. Love has varied intensely since the caveman era. It used to be all about survival and reproduction, then it became about power and hierarchy. Love can influence people to do crazy things, like beheading their wives. These days, it’s more about connection and finding someone who you love to spend time with. The digital age is upon us, and relationships are changing as a consequence. Social media can be a great tool, it allows for more communication and constant interaction. Internet users worldwide are connected and can interact at the click of a button. With that comes the drawbacks of constant connection. We have all found ourselves checking the instagram account of the person we like. Followers, comments, and likes can become addictive to stalk. Snapchat has become like a dating app for horny teenagers. Terms like “wyll warrior” and “group snapper” fly around like accusations. The world of quick add and snap maps can be confusing and overwhelming for many. The easy access to user’s locations on snapchat can be a dangerous feature. Constantly checking someone’s location and wanting to know what people are doing at all times is an unhealthy habit that has been adopted by many. When asked about the availability of location services, senior Jada Pulsipher says: “It ruins the romance and aspect of surprise in a relationship. Sometimes my boyfriend surprises me by bringing me flowers, but I see his location at Trader Joe’s beforehand so it’s not really a surprise.” Jada also commented on overuse of public social media profiles. She says “It’s not good for people to be obsessed with checking someone’s social media. That’s also something that ruins romance, it’s good to keep an element of mystery and surprise and that’s destroyed by the constant attention to Instagram and Snapchat profiles.” You might think that romance and relationships would be better off without the constant attention to social media and communication. This is true in some ways, but love before the age of cell phones wasn’t always a perfect fairytale. Rachel Epstein, a professor at the University of Denver was born in Portland in 1970. This means that she attended high school in the late 80s, before the internet was even a thought. She says: “I remember that most houses growing up only had one landline, this meant that when someone called, everyone in my household knew. They would always ask me: ‘Are you interested in him?’ ‘Is that your boyfriend?’’ Although there was much less obsession with communication, it was harder to communicate when it was needed. Sometimes it can be easy to yearn for simpler times. Although there were definitely advantages to living in a world before social media, we should embrace the current technology without becoming too obsessed and addicted.

The week of January 30th, 2026, students in period 3 AP Drawing and Painting at East High School did not work on their portfolios, but instead, they self-assigned a different sort of project. Students marked red slashes through drawings of ice cubes and contemplated what sort of messages must be heard. That Friday, instead of regular instruction, the school was empty, the halls creaked with a quietness that East High School is all too familiar with. Students, teachers, activists, and community members made a statement on January 30st, protesting the recent activity of the Immigration Customs and Enforcement (ICE) department of the federal government. This loud advocacy is the community's urge for a change, and it can't be silenced. High School students from throughout the Denver Metro area make speeches on the west steps of the state capitol during a protest on Friday, Jan. 30, 2026. (Stephen Swofford, Denver Gazette) Immigration and Customs Enforcement is a federal agency that “enforces immigration laws and conducts investigations into undocumented immigration”(BBC). The agency was formed in 2002, as a division of the larger Department of Homeland Security (DHS), in order to combat terrorism following 9/11. As a key part of his political agenda, Donald Trump promised large-scale and aggressive immigration enforcements, during his 2024 presidential campaign. Shortly after Trump’s election, the passing of the Big Beautiful Bill ensured that roughly $75 billion, out of the additional $170 billion allotted to DHS over the next 4 years, would be given to ICE, who typically receives only $10 billion. Reports from PBS claim that in addition to the nearly doubled annual funding, ICE’s recruitment plan, which included administering $50,000 signing bonuses, doubled the force to 22,000 officers. In the United States the state of personal liberties in other countries is largely under-publicized. The United States ranked 19th out of 195 countries on the Human Freedom Index, so ICE having a violent and authoritarian presence in communities has been a shock. Most recently, multiple altercations have contributed to a nationwide outrage over hostile ICE procedures being carried out specifically in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Recent media coverage has highlighted the brutalities that resulted in the murder of Alex Pretti, a 37 year old ICU nurse, on January 24th and Renee Good, a 37 year old mother of 3. Al Jeezera reports that as of January 27th, 7 people have died at the hands of ICE or while in ICE’s custody. Autopsies determined 4 of these deaths, including Alex Pretti’s, were homicides though the responsible officers have yet to be held responsible. In early 2025, Denver Public Schools became the first public school district to file a lawsuit against the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Secretary of Homeland Security, Kristi Noem, requesting that federal immigration agents be blocked from making arrests at sensitive locations including, “schools, churches, healthcare facilities and other places where families might congregate out in public.” According to Denver7, in the lawsuit DPS alleged it had been “hindered in fulfilling its mission” as a result of the fear caused by federal policy that allowed aggressive immigration enforcement around school campuses. The case specifically addressed a February ICE raid of the Cedar Run Apartments claiming that the presence of armed federal agents outside of the complex blocked traffic from nearby schools and subsequently decreased attendance. On the other hand, DHS argued policy surrounding sensitive locations hadn't changed exceptionally since the 2021 federal guidelines similarly, “allowed immigration officers, such as ICE officers, to conduct protected-area enforcement actions if they obtained approval from designated officials” (Denver7). The judge ultimately ruled in favor of DHS, claiming that since DPS hadn’t experienced on campus immigration raids the potential harm was indirect and insubstantial. In spite of a general lack of ICE presence in Denver Public Schools, concern still resonates within students, staff, and board members. On the day of the recent protest, Superintendent Alex Marrero sent out an email message, saying the schools will continue to be in session, and will only change according to the needs of individual schools. Some might have found this discouraging, the superintendent not cancelling school for something that the community feels strongly about. However, at-large board member, and retired school principal, John Youngquist, explained that he understands that attendance is important, but the truth is, “Where our young people feel the need to be heard and have that need to be heard, our job is to be supportive of that voice in whatever way that it takes.” Denver Public Schools has strong and direct policies on ICE and has since September of 2019. This was when DPS’s policy, Policy: JIH, was last revised, and it states that “the District’s Office of the General Counsel will not provide access to District property or students unless required by law and will do everything in the District’s lawful power to protect the constitutional and legal rights of the District’s students. Immigration Officials shall generally not be granted access to District property or students without a valid search warrant or exigent circumstances.” Furthermore, in a letter from Alex Marrero, “federal immigration law enforcement activities are not permitted at our schools, on transportation routes, on DPS property, or during school activities unless they have a lawful search warrant or exigent circumstances”. Sia has been on the DPS Board of Education since 2023, when she was elected for District 1. Sia noted that there are no existing policy changes in motion with DPS’s policies on ICE, and the strict protections will remain in place. Similarly to Youngquist and Pettit, Sia agreed with the strong push for a change, and supported the National Shutdown on Friday, January 30th along with students participation in it. When asked how students can continue to help garner a transformation, Sia explained, “[Continue] doing exactly what you're doing, reaching out to elected officials. At the school level, right, like at the school board level, we can definitely impact and affect change for DPS. But for some of these larger issues, particularly, you know, I saw photos of folks who, who did go to the protest on Friday, who went to the Capitol and were meeting with legislators… And you don't have to skip school to be able to do that.” On January 24th DPS Superintendent, Alex Marrero, released an update to address community concerns following the removal of federal guidelines that protected “sensitive locations”, including schools, from ICE raids. The statement maintained that DPS policy would be upheld without any adjustments noting that “the rescission was anticipated, and the guidance was developed with this in mind”. This is, in part, due to Colorado’s status as a sanctuary state that limits the cooperation between city officials, like local law enforcement, and federal ICE agents. In terms of education, sanctuary status promotes providing access to education for all students regardless of immigration status. For DPS this meant between the summer of 2023 and early 2024 DPS was able to welcome more than 2,400 new students, mostly from Venezuela, and allocate roughly $1.6 million to help support the new students. ICE presence is not as heavy in Colorado in comparison to other states that have experienced fear striking events and reports. Still, the Denver community is affected. Fear and a general lack of security and awareness about situations, has engulfed the community. Though realistically DPS schools are safer than most, students are still concerned. Myka Pettit confesses, “The bigger issue is federal policy and the sentiment around what could happen, you know, when the policies don't follow through or when they don't work the way they're supposed to…I do think it has an impact because it’s fear, it’s a feeling.” DPS Board member Kimberlee Sia agrees that the hypothetical, and general feeling of fear is where the true issue is rooted. She shares that the protections in place are effective and strong, divulging, “There are processes that I as a board member feel very fortunate and supportive in terms of what the superintendent has done to make sure our schools are safe for students.” According to Myka Pettit, East High School , a recent staff meeting reviewed East’s response protocol, based on the guidelines set by the district, to federal agents. Ms. Pettit reassured, “I, as a teacher, am willing to put my body in between a federal agent and students and East has committed to that as well”. Pettit, along with most other staff members at East High School, do not refrain from contentious topics in or out of class. Many teachers see giving their opinion as something necessary and unavoidable, walking alongside students at the protest and ensuring a positive influence on students' education. She says, “I actually make it a point to make sure that I bring in current events and things that we can talk about within our history lessons because there’s so much that is connecting between past and present. I am a firm believer that as an educator, if we remain neutral on topics, we’re actually doing more harm than we are, contributing to someone’s learning.”

Lady Bird and her friend Julie from Lady Bird The Grammys are done and the country is waiting for the Oscar Awards, Tony Awards, and Emmys to finally arrive. The best in the Hollywood industry walk up to the big stage to receive their trophy, give out heartfelt speeches, and give thanks for another successful year. Yet somehow, 2025 consisted of little to no accurate teen portrayal in most of their entertainment. The coming of age genre is widely favored by teenagers and adults alike, portraying a fun, and imaginary plot along with attractive and desirable looking characters. The problem though, is when things become too far-fetched and misrepresentative that affects how the youth views themselves as individuals and as a group. For many teenagers now, things get awkward when they’re watching a movie with a person in their mid-twenties acting like a 16-year-old. It’s unrealistic. Constantly seeing a ‘perfect’ and flawless actor pretending to be a high schooler gets old and sets expectations for the youth that watch these films. Most of the time, coming of age entertainment creates highly improbable situations or exaggerates what coming of age actually is. A group of teenagers won’t find themselves on the run trying to find a giant gold cross like Outer Banks . They most likely won’t be caught in a love triangle between two brothers after spending each year at the same beach like The Summer I Turned Pretty  nor will girls be threatened by an anonymous messenger after the disappearance of a friend like Pretty Little Liars . More often than not, many teenagers are uncomfortable with the exaggerated sex scenes and sneaking out just to do drugs and get into trouble. It’s fiction, yes, but still imperfect and misrepresents younger generations. One of the many issues of this genre lie with the fact that none of the actors seem to have any insecurities. Or at least they’re not portrayed correctly. Body image and body dysmorphia, acne or skin issues, scars across the body, relationship problems or not being in a relationship at all are very normal for teenagers. But Hollywood seems to have deemed it all as a taboo subject in entertainment. Using popular and attractive actors who look appealing to younger (and older) generations is a tactic used to boost money and views. The industry doesn’t really hire people who are unknown, people of color, or anyone who might not be conventionally attractive and continue to reuse the same actors for movies. Popular names like McKenna Grace, Milly Bobby Brown, Timothée Chalamet, Mason Thames, and Finn Wolfhard (to name a few) are quite talented in acting. They have become some of the biggest faces in coming of age films but are seemingly everywhere, leaving no room for fresh talent or variability in the acting industry.   According to PBS, “ Only two out of every 10 lead film actors (or 19.8 percent) were people of color in 2017.” Although the numbers may be somewhat promising, viewers can’t get a sense of diversity in films, especially those who need that accurate portrayal.  Not only is representation important in physical aspects, but also personality wise. Films often put a label on teenage characters, many of them being the same shallow misrepresentation of the unique people of the youth. “ These stereotypes are being used to box teenagers in without offering depth: the jock that has feelings, the bad boy with a painful childhood, the goody-two-shoes virgin, the airhead cheerleader.” (The Seattle Times) By confining adolescence into stereotypes and glorifying other aspects distorts teenage reality affects actual teenagers across all ages. Parents and older adults who watch these films can perceive these characters negatively and can assume that all teenagers may act in certain ways based on entertainment. “Experiences like high schoolers partying and drinking during the week, or committing serious crimes at a young age are heavily exaggerated.” (The Daily Hawk) However, contrary to some of the inaccurate depictions of teenage life, some entertainment hits pretty close to what being an adolescent is like. Even if the actors aren’t quite within the age range, the plot itself can reflect reality. Napoleon Dynamite  showcases the cringe worthy parts of high school, especially relating to the awkward and introverted people like the main character. Other movies like Five Feet Apart  and The Fault In Our Stars  grapple with unique situations and growing up in a short time in the midst of figuring out how to handle grief and trauma. TV shows such as 13 Reasons Why  portray some of the toughest parts about coming of age, focusing on the unspoken parts about a person and the consequences of certain actions. Over the years, the film industry has been slowly producing less teenage accurate entertainment and opting for more kid-friendly animation or an oversaturated version of what adolescence is. The lives of the youth that have been portrayed today compared to 10 years ago are completely different and the messages hidden within have changed. Whether or not upcoming movies depict teenagers better is unknown, but some aspects stay the same. Being a teenager is messy and providing authentic representation is important.

Zipper merge, what in the world? Please, indulge in learning: for the sake of us all. As the construction on Colfax, in Denver, grows so does the confusion on navigating it–evidently. After countless mornings of frustration the realization came, many, and I mean many, are simply ignorant to the functions of our roads–in this scenario ignorance will never be bliss. On Josephine St and Colfax, this 8th wonder of the world lies. Despite the numerous signs literally instructing you on what to do, you may be lost like a kite on a windy day, don't worry; you're definitely not alone. The instructions are very simple, so simple in fact, there's merely one. Stay in your lane until the merge point THEN, and only then, alternate one-by-one. C’mon people, it is not that difficult (as an unlicensed individual with a very distressed mother on this matter.) I am begging you, stop trying to merge early. It’s literally slowing us all down. Place your faith in the bright orange signs screaming at you what to do and, most importantly, yourself—you can do this, you know: you can do this. In all seriousness, since the 2010s zipper merges have become increasingly popular as a way to manage traffic strategically in the case of construction and lane closures ( Scholars' Mine ). So, get comfortable with them! They aren’t going anywhere.

Nothing is as captivating or inspiring as a fashion show. But one that is entirely student-run, student designed, student-produced, and student-modeled? Oh, and it is all stunning sustainable innovation with reused and repurposed materials. Welcome to the East Sustainable Fashion Show.  The Sustainable Fashion Club hosted the fashion show on the night of February 18th in the foyer of the school. The show featured a panel of guest judges; most being professionals in the fashion wo rld of Denver, as well as designers, models, makeup artists, photographers, directors, helpers and, of course, a lovely audience of friends and family. It ran for over an hour.  The Sustainable Fashion Club is one of many clubs at East High School that caters to a unique passion of students and shows how amazing things can happen when a community comes together. The fashion community here is no exception. With 64 members of the show this year, the club is filled with talented, vibrant, and hardworking students from all different backgrounds. But it's not just any fashion show. Today’s fashion industry is highly unsustainable, with 50,000 tons of microfibers being released into the oceans every year (Ellen Mac Arthur Foundation) and 215 trillion liters of water (Quantis). Furthermore, the industry contributes to 10% of carbon dioxide emissions, 20% of industrial wastewater pollution globally (WEF). 60% of materials are polyester and plastics and 85% of products end up in landfills (UNEP, UNECE). The economy is linear: material, production, waste; the industry is polluted by unethical working practices and low-to-nothing wages.  But East students are determined to reimagine fashion. “It is very important to be conscious of your impact environmentally, especially when creating something often used in consumerism,” says Toby Mitchell, one of the club presidents. Toby emphasizes buying less, and prioritizing longevity over trends when shopping. Other ways we can be more sustainable with our fashion are buying clothes second-hand, taking care of our possessions so they last longer, and donating clothes when we are ready to say goodbye.  Dr. Overby, the club sponsor and an art teacher at East, promotes the club by helping people see what sustainable clothing actually looks  like. “We talk a lot about sustainability in the club and how to repurpose clothing and fabric,” Overby says. She also mentions collaborating with the Sustainability Club, who supports the show and uses it to communicate their message as well. Students preparing for the Sustainable Fashion Show, February 18th The fashion club started when a former student of Overby’s expressed interest in sharing their fashion-passion with others at East. When asked why sponsor such a club, she responded, “I hope that students feel confident that they can express themselves and that their voice matters.” The process is no small feat, but the impact seems to be incredibly worth the sweat and tears student designers put into the show. “Anybody can create, especially fashion,” Toby said. “[Students], too, have the ability to make clothes.”  Additionally, the club feeds off group-project psychology, with positive interdependence forming a community of belonging. It teaches students to have individual accountability and responsibility, and buy into the life skill of understanding that we do well, if we all do well. “This is a team,” Overby reflected, “It took the designers, and  the models, and  the makeup artists, and  the photographers, and  the behind the scene stuff to make that show.” Toby is a junior, as well as other co-president Gwennan Holloway and many of the designers and models. What happens to clubs like these when we start graduating? “After I leave, I hope that the club is still thriving and still teaching our younger people to manifest their creativity into something,” Toby says. “Their choices on what they wear and what they buy impact so much more than they could ever imagine.”