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Media giant Nexstar Media Group, one of the largest media enterprises in the United States, is purchasing Tegna Media for $6.2 billion as of August 19th. This is just one of many recent mergers and acquisitions in an unprecedented age of media consolidation. Nexstar, which already owns news stations Fox 31 in Denver, CBS affiliate KREX in Grand Junction, and Fox affiliate KXRM in Colorado Springs, has agreed to acquire Tegna who owns NBC affiliate 9News and KTVD in Denver. The deal is set to be finalized by the second half of 2026, pending shareholder and regulatory approval. This merger leaves Nexstar in control of two of Denver’s top three stations—9News, CBS 4, and Fox 31—as well as 3 other stations across Colorado. This violates the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) regulation that one company can only own one of the top four stations in a local area. Further, according to Nexstar, after the merger, they will have a “combined audience reach of 80% of US TV households” across the US, well above the 39% national viewership cap put in place by the FCC. These violations are only possible due to the current administration's deregulation of broadcast rules in favor of media conglomerates.   The ramifications for local news coverage in Denver and across the US are yet to be seen; however, when media is consolidated, it is known that local news coverage decreases, diversity of viewpoints shrinks, and the media has weakened accountability. According to the Free Press, “When a handful of corporations own nearly all of our news media, owners of color are crowded out and people of color are either stereotyped or ignored in news coverage.” This leaves minorities with less control over how they’re portrayed, as well as less coverage of events in their communities.  Additionally, more media stations being owned by fewer corporations means consumers lose access to unbiased reporting, and see fewer perspectives. According to Stanford Business School, between 2010 and 2020, Nexstar Media, Sinclair Media, and Grey Television made more than 215 acquisitions, which put them in charge of 40% of all local news coverage and in over 80% of media markets. Furthermore, Joshua McCrain of the University of Utah and Gregory Martin, an associate professor of political economy at Stanford Graduate School of Business, stated, “...new ownership typically led to a de-emphasis on local news and more coverage of national politics [and] advertising increased during newscasts.” Having multiple sources of information ensures that you see all the important stories, because there are more stories than one outlet can cover.  Typically, an area will have numerous sources of news, from newspapers to TV stations and radios, to keep each other in check, confirming they report factual, unopinionated information and cover all the essential stories. Additionally, independent media (media not owned by a large corporation) have more freedom in what they report. A news station owned by a larger corporation is not going to be able to write and air a story that the company doesn’t approve of. If a large portion of news stations can’t report something, we are incapacitating the public's access to accurate information. According to the New York Times, in some cases, the owners impose editorial directions, as seen with Sinclair Media—who own 185 television stations—and have created editorials and news stories that they mandate be read on air by all their stations, rather than letting the local newsrooms decide.  Additionally, without multiple sources of information, it is known that corruption in our government increases. Steve Bass, the former president and CEO of Oregon Public Broadcasting (a PBS affiliate with more than 25 radio and TV stations) stated, “Without journalists to observe and report (and sometimes push for access), governments tend to do things behind closed doors, which can be detrimental to everyday people. In many communities, there is a scarcity of journalists, and there is some evidence that public corruption is higher.” This point was further illustrated when Colombia Journalism Review stated, “All else being equal, the closure of a newspaper yielded a 6.9 percent increase in corruption charges..and a 7.4 percent increase in cases filed.” Factual, unbiased information is essential to keeping our government honest, and with media consolidation, we are further hampering access to factual news. Finally, there have been drastic changes in the ways that people consume media, shifting from newspapers and news stations to social media. When in the past it was easy to tell what was opinion rather than fact, now it is much harder to tell with sources broadcasting stories with “news” in the title when the majority is panels of pundits offering opinions. Social media has also made it increasingly challenging to distinguish between fact and opinion, because it feeds people content based on what they’ve already consumed and is "susceptible to manipulation by propagandists, malevolent foreign governments, and people profiting off division.” With many social media platforms owned by Google and Meta, which have tremendous market power, and far less regulation than traditional media, it takes a highly media-literate person to distinguish between what is fact, what is opinion, and what is entirely made up.

Illustration by Till Lauer - The New Yorker Ever had a crush on a robot? Didn’t think so.  Yet people are entering relationships with AI at unprecedented rates in the United States, with 1 in 5 American adults admitting to having “chatted” with a romantic AI simulation (PR Newswire). These human-AI couples do normal couple things together, such as sharing meals, playing games, and exploring new places. But this new reality is anything  other than normal.  The rise of artificial intelligence necessitated that we accept and expect it to enter many spheres of human life - but love? Not quite. Now, increasing numbers of young people are turning to AI as a “companion” for both romantic and sexual connections. As these relationships occur more and more frequently, so does a growing concern about what this means for the future of human relationships.  AI platforms are allowing users to create customizable romantic and/or sexual relationships with artificial intelligence. However, the emotional impacts and ethical considerations of such virtual connections are under researched and generally neglected by AI companies, government, and the public who are falling susceptible to such technological advancements. The first potentially obvious concern is social isolation and the erosion of relationships. A reliance on robot companions leads to less interaction with human companions, undermining the importance of human interaction and the values necessary to have healthy relationships with another person. These artificial relationships also objectify and dehumanize intimacy as simply a commodity, and begs the question of what the nature of connection truly is. Can an attachment to an AI bot truly be described as love? (The answer is no, guys.) An AI relationship fills a need that we as a society are no longer fulfilling for one another. When asked what he defined as an AI relationship, Mr. Marshall King, an AP Psychology teacher here at East said, “It's a means to an end for intimacy. Technology is getting easier, and people are getting lazier.”  He’s not wrong. In fact, he’s absolutely right. We as humans need to bond with someone, or something. We adore our stuffed animals as kids, hold hands with our friends in elementary school, date in middle and high school, and get married as adults. There is a substantial, long-term desire in human nature for connection. A computer is not connection. The program is falsifying that need for an emotional bond. The relationship’s goal is to always please the human partner, who is in complete control of the dynamic. That's just not how real life works, and for a good reason. Mr. King also voices his worry about confusion with mature, sexual concepts such as consent. “AI doesn’t consent, it will do what you want it to do… it's very dangerous,” King explains. “It feels wrong to say they're similar [to human relationships], because they're not real.” Users in AI relationships would disagree. The line between immersion and realism is extremely dangerous, and now there are imaginary friends who will not only talk to you but fulfill your most vulnerable needs both emotionally and in a way, physically. For example, Character AI is a platform that offers free and premium subscriptions in exchange for customizing personalities that, coupled with deep learning models and high image definition and generation capabilities, creates an eerily lifelike robot “partner.” These platforms act as psychosexual playgrounds that are technologically addicting.  Naturally, I asked Mr. King what his opinions were on the broader psychological impacts of AI love. King responded with something I hadn’t considered. “Anonymity, being anonymous… It's a very powerful tool. Social psychology shows us anonymity leads to emboldened behaviors and creates risk-taking. This idea of forcing these AI relationships to do certain things… it's confusing for consent.” Human sexuality has already changed dramatically with inventions such as the Internet. King emphasizes that AI relationships will likely, as they do already, create extremely skewed perceptions of what is appropriate personal behavior. Not only do the relationships often themselves turn toxic and even abusive, but they are teaching people to replicate the same behaviors in human spaces. The ethical violations of these companies are clear: Their products are able to mentally manipulate individuals and bring up dangerous debates around our free will when faced with the ultimate reward of love. Our generation is having a mental illness epidemic, for which the antidote is love and healthy human  relationships. But now there is a disgustingly easy alternative that will cause more harm than good.  Stay safe out there, guys.

East Angels winning the City League Invitational at city park golf course on Monday, Aug 25, 2025 (@denvereast_boysgolf) Denver East boys’ golf started off their season with some impressive rounds, leading them to be ranked first in the state (as of August 29, 2025). This was supported by stellar scores: Elijah Johnson shot a 64 (-7) and a 65 (-5), and Alex Kukreja shot a 68 (-2) and a 69 (-2) in City League tournaments held at City Park, Overland, and Wellshire golf courses (CHSAA). With two four-year varsity seniors, Alex Kukreja and Elijah Johnson, and one three-year varsity player, junior Murphy Rowen, the East Boys Golf team has a great chance to win state this year. This year, qualifying for state is even easier. Previously, Colorado golf had one regional round used to determine state qualifiers. This year, CHSAA changed the format so there are no regional tournaments. It depends on how you perform in State qualifying rounds (at least three 18-hole rounds), and the top 84 players in each district qualify for state. East head coach, Quinn Hornecker, believes this is an improvement. He states, “The old system came down to one day at regionals, to determine if you went to state, and the regular season didn’t mean much. Now, at least five tournaments in the regular season determine whether or not you go to state, so it adds value to the regular season.” This idea is shared by the golf team, leading to better preparation for state, since each round is significant instead of relying on one qualifying round. The adjustment also builds momentum and cohesion as it encourages players to deliver consistent performances throughout the season. This team is also one of the strongest East golf has ever seen, and many players are confident in their ability to contend for state this year. Alex Kukreja, team captain, believes the team can win state, emphasizing, “We are one of the best, if not the best, teams in the state, and I absolutely think we can win if we play well.” The whole team is confident based on previous performances, with Elijah Johnson, the other co-captain, agreeing, “I’m 100% confident that our team will make an impact at state this year, maybe even win the whole thing.” The two captains’ enthusiasm makes for an exciting season to come. Elijah Johnson finishing up a stellar round 65 (-5) at the Angels invitational at City Park golf course on Thursday, Aug 14, 2025 (@denvereast_boysgolf) East is a team with not only talent but character as well. Coach Hornecker, who has been East’s golf coach for 17 years and also played in college, says he has never seen a team like this. “I think this is probably my favorite team I’ve ever coached. And not only because it’s incredibly talented—obviously, that makes it fun— but just an awesome group of guys,” exclaims Coach Hornecker. The legacy built by East golf—not only through their success, but also their integrity—may provide powerful motivation to perform at the state tournament this year. State is about a month away, and the team is preparing as hard as possible. With the relief of qualifying for the top players, they can focus on putting their best game together for state. The tournament will be held over two days, October 6th–7th, at Bookcliff Golf Course in Grand Junction, Colorado. With long tee boxes and narrow fairways, the Angels are definitely up for the challenge.

Our esteemed principal, Ms. Terita Walker, has worked tirelessly guiding East through numerous victories and challenges that have ultimately led our community to its 150th anniversary. Throughout the years Ms. Walker’s pride and support has been the face of East High School as she shows up and out at every event, from homecoming, to soccer games, to out of state competitions! Principal Walker gets her news from Wall Street Journal , The New York Times , and also more local sources like the Denver Post.  When asked about her best piece of advice for student journalists she shared, “Don't forget to share stories that bring people joy…I think on the other side of any challenge we’ve had, there is a story of resilience or there’s a story of people coming together in unity.” This year there have been multiple district wide changes in curriculum that have become controversial throughout East High School. Most notably English and Science classes have had changes to both curriculum style and requirements. Ms. Walker gives insight about the changes from her time as an English teacher stating, “Our teachers are so many amazing things, and they want to share that with students…and some of this curriculum doesn't allow them to be them and support you guys.”  Throughout the 2025-2026 school year Ms. Walker is primarily focused on fostering trust within the community and improving attendance rates. Despite East’s attendance being relatively strong in comparison to previous years, Walker is looking to reengage members of our community who may have been lost due to a lack of trust. Principal Walker believes that, “Not everything needs to be changed and every day is just about being better than you were yesterday”, using this philosophy Ms. Walker is looking to grow from previous challenges.   East has been under fire as a result of its relatively recent installment of two gender neutral bathrooms on the second floor. In response, Ms. Walker wanted to emphasize how much work was put into bathrooms before they were installed claiming, “This is about what our kids, all of our kids, have expressed and there will be some kids who are not interested” adding, “We just encourage people to do exactly what we did: take the time to listen, understand why, and do as much as we can to protect all of the students, as we possibly can”. Since she became the principal at East, Walker has become a micro-celebrity to our enormous community. Like many celebrities, Principal Walker says a challenge for her is,“I can't go to the grocery store in my pajamas!...I’m a human too and I think people forget that sometimes.” East has around 2,500 students and 125 teachers, who all rely on and look to Principal Walker in times of need. Ms. Walker says, “This is like a small town, and I am not like a mayor… But you get pressed into those spaces.” She describes the weight that comes with her job, but divulges how she overcomes this challenge, “I refuse to forget what it was like to be 15 or 16 so I try to make sure you guys know that. I don’t expect perfection… but I do want you to be smart and safe and sometimes listen to those of us who had to learn the hard way so that you don't have to.”

On February 13th, 2023, 16-year-old East Student Luis Garcia was shot in his car on the north side of the Esplanade. He would succumb to his injury a few weeks later. No one has been arrested for the shooting, however, a lawsuit against DPS and the DPS Board claims to know who is responsible for the shooting. (9News) Luis was a beloved member of the East community as well as the East soccer team, having helped the Angels to the 2022 state title. “Luis was an incredible teammate,” explained Senior Captain Liam Klossner. “He was the first guy on varsity that I had met, and immediately welcomed me and made me feel a part of the team. That’s the kind of person he was.” On October 12, 2023, Luis was honored at a soccer game between East and the Far Northeast Warriors. Following the game, a banner, as well as a very visible display reading “Luis 11” appeared on the west fence of the field. However, this year marked a change, with neither the banner nor display being visible on the field due to district policy. In the fall of 2024, East and Athletic Director Mr. Browne was informed that the small banner and signage on the fence was in violation of DPS policy FFA-R, which pertains to “Commemorative Activities and Memorials.” The policy states that “Temporary memorials shall be limited to flower arrangements, banners, pictures, notes and locker or student or staff desk displays.” While the memorial did fall within these regulations, it did violate the time constraints that the policy outlines. DPS policy FFA-R states that:  “All temporary memorials shall be thoughtfully removed within two days of the date of the funeral (or other service celebrating the life of the deceased) or within two weeks following the death of the student or staff member.” The policy that DPS used to remove the signage was quite bothersome to the team, with the sign simply serving as a reminder of their dear friend. Klossner explained he felt  “very confused.” It is difficult to justify the removal of a small memorial, especially when it pertains to someone that was so close to the entire East community. “The sign wasn’t affecting anyone and it was remembering and honoring a teammate, friend, and classmate that we lost.” Klossner continued. However, despite the sudden removal of the sign, the Angels remained as focused as ever. “I think it briefly affected the team,” said Goalkeeper Trey Wilhoite, “but in the end, we were playing for Luis in our hearts and we didn’t need a sign to show that.” The Angels would continue to fight through adversity, making yet another playoff appearance before bowing out to Cherry Creek in the quarter-finals last November. While the team continued to play for Luis in their hearts, the reality of another type of memorial became difficult. Despite hopes of another way to commemorate their beloved teammate, they were informed that DPS would not permit anything remembering Luis to be constructed or placed on campus. The policy the district used to remove the banner also explains that “Permanent memorials shall be limited to student or faculty awards, donations, collections of books or other donated items of educational significance; or plantings.” The most they could do to remember Luis was bring a single banner to the bench with them during every game. Luis will continue to be remembered for years to come, whether that be in the physical form or simply in the hearts of the East community. For now, the cherished memory of Luis must live in the hearts of the players each and every time they take the field.

Denver Public Schools (DPS) is the largest school district in the state of Colorado, with a total of 207 schools that support roughly 90,000 students and 14,000 staff. Especially in recent years the district has been marked by disruption and contention. According to CBS News there were 144 “high level threats” in the 2023-2024 school year many of which were reportedly investigated inadequately. Since then those incidents have manifested into court cases that aim at holding DPS financially responsible for its alleged leniency.  In March 2023, Eric Sinclair-former East dean- began a routine search as a part of a safety plan for a student who was on parole and had been expelled because of confrontation concerning dangerous weapons. Prior to the incident, Sinclair had radioed for an assistant principal (AP), who was expected to conduct the search, multiple times without a response. Once Wayne Mason, another former dean, was radioed and arrived on scene it was clear a weapon had been discovered and a struggle ensued. Between 2 and 5 shots were fired leaving Sinclair in critical condition and Mason in stable condition. In response DPS superintendent, Alex Marerro, made a statement claiming that DPS schools “ have always been safe, our response has been incredible, but we can’t foresee the unexpected”. Since then Mason and Sinclair have filed similar lawsuits specifically naming East and former AP Shawne Anderson as defendants. Both cases are seeking damages of around $5 million for medical expenses, physical and mental pain, and loss of wages. The pair allege that the district “provided inadequate training and policies/protocols on student searches and building access control” in addition to hastily removing SROs. When discussing the students affinity for weapons the case specifically cites the Claire Davis Act which holds public schools accountable for protecting staff and students from “reasonably foreseeable violence”.  Roughly a month prior to the aforementioned incident a student named Luis Garcia was fatally shot while waiting in his car on the Esplanade. Since his passing the Garcia family has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the DPS board and 2 unnamed defendants- often referred to as A.A and B.B. Although an arrest has yet to be made in connection to the murder A.A is the male juvenile, who the lawsuit claims, shot and killed Garcia. B.B is named as a defendant in the case because as A.A’s mother she “knew or should have known” that her son was in possession of dangerous weapons especially considering evidence found by police in their home and on A.A’s social media. This lawsuit is another that cites the Claire Davis act claiming that the board “subverted and weakened the security and safe environment” when they removed SRO’s leading “potential shooters to believe they would be able to execute an attack”. The Garcia family is seeking financial compensation of more than $1 million for damages including medical expenses, funeral arrangements, and grief. As a result of the policies associated with the new presidential term DPS went to a federal judge to request a temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction that would ultimately block ICE (U.S Immigration and Customs Enforcement) raids. In the case the district essentially argued that the new policy enforcing ICE at “sensitive locations”- such as schools- was “lacking a clear justification and failing to adequately consider the potential harm” especially to attendance, funding, and budget. The lawsuit mentions a February 5th raid at the Cedar Run Apartments claiming that the consistent presence of armed ICE agents outside of the complex blocked traffic from a handful of nearby schools and subsequently decreased attendance. The judge, Daniel Domenico, decided to deny the request claiming that in this instance “sufficient harm” had not been demonstrated. Shortly after DPS became the 1st to file a lawsuit against the Trump Administration’s new immigration policies. The case names the Secretary of Homeland Security, Kristi Noem, as the defendant, and maintains that DPS is "hindered in fulfilling its mission” due to the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) unnecessarily aggressive approach towards sensitive areas. At the same time US Senators Michael Bennet and John Hickenlooper have taken additional action to reintroduce legislation that would protect these sensitive locations. In total these cases will incur millions of dollars in expenses and will substantially impact an already strained budget. In Colorado revenue from property and ownership taxes is used to cover the majority of the difference should a school district need a larger budget; essentially local taxpayers will be the ones to cover a considerable portion of the cost for these lawsuits. As a result many DPS families are looking towards the board for some kind of explanation but DPS has made it clear that it will not comment on any pending litigation. Wayne Mason at a rally Luis Garcia’s family at a (May 19th) Press Conference

The sheer mass that is the climate crisis can often be existentially overwhelming to the average person. To many, it’s beyond the scope of one’s daily life. This is a subject that’s discussed over and over again, yet still seems way over our heads. Many feel apathetic to the problem or unmotivated to take any action. Being primarily urbanites, students of East included can often feel a disconnect from nature in their lives (Greater Good Science Center). Many of us live with a concrete curtain separating us from the Rocky Mountains to the West. Charlotte Goldstein, president of East High School’s sustainability club, has been attempting to garner support in climate activism since her freshman year when she joined the club. However, getting and keeping people motivated with an issue to the scale of the climate crisis has been a consistent challenge. “One of the main struggles is getting people involved,” she mentioned.  In many ways, the natural disconnect is exactly what senior Olivia Beasley hopes to help remedy with her plans to construct a garden on East High School’s south lawn courtyard. The plan consists of setting up six garden boxes on the south lawn, chosen because of its seclusion from street access and ideal shade conditions. “We want to turn the east side of the south courtyard [...] into a usable vegetable garden for students,” says Beasley. The garden project acts as a collaboration between Olivia’s four-person SLUG (South Lawn Urban Garden) team, sustainability club, and garden club. “It's just a lot of different clubs working on a really beautiful project,” according to Charlotte. So far, the project has received the necessary permissions from Principal Walker, logistic support from East groundskeeper Raymond Leyba, and funding from Denver Public Schools’ office of sustainability. In a joint effort with the woodshop, the group has fully constructed the wooden boxes, which students may have spotted on the south lawn. As of April 25, dirt has been added to the boxes, and planting is expected to commence soon. The project is made possible by the SLUG group’s winning of the DPS Climate Champions grant, which awarded them with $18,308 out of a $225,000 pool. The grant acts as the district’s way to fund various climate activism projects across Denver as a part of DPS’ Climate Action Plan (CAP), which was created with DPS Students for Climate Action, a district-wide student activist group. The CAP sets climate standards for the district and aims to reduce carbon emissions. Activism and proposal for communal difference is the ethos of this project, as well as the people and groups that make it up. Beyond the garden, all members are deeply involved in environmentalism. Sustainability club has plans for various events that also aim to create community action. ‘Treeplenish’ is a particularly important event, where students will get together to plant trees around the city.  People with interest regarding the garden are encouraged to visit sustainability club every Monday in room 407 or garden club in 211 every other Monday.

For the past 109 years, the Head Angels have been a notorious tradition at East High School. Since the early 1920s, this student-run election has played a pivotal role in the school's culture. This election has previously been seen as an opportunity for students to elect peers that will represent them and spread school spirit. This year’s newly elected head angels, Cristina Youngquist and Declan McDonald, have been interviewed and plan to bring commitment, passion, and excitement to East. The election process was relatively the same as it has been in past years, where students make a video and a short speech to present to the student body. Later, students filled out a Google Form to vote for student council. Cristina Youngquist notes, “It all moves very quickly and can be easy to fall behind without making the election a top priority.” The election process goes much deeper than most students would know. The process involves teacher and Dean recommendations, interviews, and even gathering 200 student signatures. Declan McDonald echoes this sentiment, saying that “the process is fun, but it is also stressful.” The biggest challenge for him came on election day; “...not a lot of us are comfortable or familiar speaking in front of large crowds… I felt like that was the main challenge for me specifically.” Despite the nerves, Cristina and Declan both embraced the challenge with confidence. Looking forward, Cristina and Declan have set clear intentions for their goals in the 2025-2026 school year. For Cristina, it’s mainly about creating joy and inclusion for all she says, “as simple as it sounds, being able to have fun is a core value and I think we lose sight of that as busy highschoolers.” She later describes that she hopes to create a fun space where people are able to “be their authentic selves and feel valued.” Declan is mainly focused on rebuilding something that he believes East has lost; “My primary goal is to bring back the school spirit East is known for. In my opinion, since Covid the school spirit has taken a drastic hit.” Declan acknowledges that it is not a one year fix, but it is a main goal for this upcoming school year to contribute to the change for future students. Representation of the whole student body will always be a very difficult subject for head angels to tackle as East is such a big community. Declan emphasizes the strength of the student council is in diversity saying ,“East is a very diverse place… Our job is to make sure all groups of people feel recognized and supported.” Cristina agrees stating that their goal is to “urge people from all sectors of the school to get involved… to create a collusive community, where everyone has a spotlight.” Although representation remains a difficult task for just two people to achieve, Declan and Cristina are committed to making an effort to do the best they can. As they step into their roles, Cristina and Declan aren’t just aiming to lead, but to help East progress into the best community they can make it well while still having fun. As Cristina put it: “I’m most excited to see everyone have lots of fun together.” Declan agreed saying, “making senior year fun for everyone and hopefully making changes that last a long time after I graduate that’s what I’m most looking forward to.” Picture by: Cristina Youngquist

Perhaps hidden by the chaos this school year entailed, it was a unique year for East Athletics. The Angels battled through the adversity, giving us much to celebrate with two state championships and multiple league and district titles. The Boy's Soccer team brought home the first title of the year, far from home at Weidner Field in Colorado Springs. The team led by top goalscorer Gus Sundstrom, and Senior captains Charlie Scott and Ezekiel Lubin boasted an impressive 18-1-1 record, highlighted by an impressive victory over Valor Christian in the semifinals. The Angels capped off the season with a 1-0 win over Fairview to claim the school's 4th state championship. On March 11th the Boy's Basketball team provided the second state championship of the year in a thrilling 82-61 victory over Fossil Ridge. Following a 0-2 start to the season, the Angels led by Gatorade player of the year D’Aundre Samuels went on a 26-0 win streak to close out the season. The victory was nothing short of historic as the Angels captured a record-tying 12th state championship, and hoisted Coach Rudy Cary to legendary status with the most wins (897) and state championships (10). Hockey looked to build on last year's fairytale success with a respectable 74% win rate. Despite knowing the season would be one of immense difficulty, the boys left their all on the ice. The Angels captured the second seed with an overtime victory over Regis and would make it to the Semifinals before bowing out to Ralston Valley. Girl's Soccer made a great bid for the state championship with a 10-3-1 record, highlighted by a victory over Denver South to bring home the 5A Denver League championship. Despite falling short in the playoffs with a 2-0 defeat against Arapahoe, the team led by Coach Ryan Short left their all on the field during their impressive season. On February 4th at Hinkley high school, the girl's swim team defended their league title. Winning eight of the twelve events swam at the City “A” League Championships was enough to bring the title back to the halls of East. Despite the difficult circumstances the year had to offer, the athletes gave their all representing East to the best of their ability. They gave the Angels much to cheer about and brought the East community together in a time of need.

Most people are clueless when it comes to politics and are in oblivion to our government’s functions. For educational purposes, this article will cover the most severe and important laws in Colorado. First up, Colorado has multiple prohibitions against riding animals drunk on the roads. Specifically, it is illegal to ride a horse under the influence. When asked Junior Sasha Bull for her opinion, she instead responded “what's an influence?” Each county has its own eccentric legislation. Abiding by this inconsistency, it is possible for residents in Boulder to get a DUI for riding a bicycle, but not for riding a horse. For another random law, it is illegal to throw a missile at a car. In an effort to prevent “harassment” and maintain peace, this law exists under Title 18 of the 2016 Colorado Revised Statutes. When asked by Junior Sofia Saavedra for her opinion, she responded, “no sh—”. This was an unappreciated response, and Sofia obviously felt embarrassed that she is not up to date on our own state’s legislation. In Aspen, catapults may not be fired at buildings. This law was passed in an attempt by lawmakers to cover all of their bases in terms of civilian safety despite the law’s concept being inherently ridiculous. To continue the absurdity, residents in Louisville may not own chickens, but may own up to three turkeys in their backyard. Sofia, when made aware of this law, responded, “well Liska owns chickens.” But does Liska live in Louisville? No. Furthering on, according to the law C.R.S. § 18-3-408 in Logan County it is illegal for a man to kiss a woman while she is asleep. Sofia responded, “that's good”, and Sasha asked “what if you are married?” Good question Sasha, but this law is enacted for the primary purpose to protect a person’s right to consent, and would most likely be inapplicable to a couple which decides to be together. Another unique law is in Section 5-4-16 of Boulder’s municipal code which prescribes that placing furniture out on a front porch is illegal. Evidently, this law was enacted for the sole reason of preventing an eyesore. I n the Switzerland of America, these unnecessary and laughable laws decorate a beautiful state: Colorado.

East High, a public school in Denver, Colorado, has prided itself on its responsiveness to student needs, however, it still holds on to a major flaw: the amount of time teens spend in “seats.” Forbes, a global media company, cites that roughly 13 percent of high school students skip school on a daily basis. With 2,581 students enrolled at the beginning of the 2022/23 school year, at least 336 kids are not present on any given day; this does not include excused absences for illness or travel. Now, unexcused absences could be allocated to irresponsible and delinquent teens, although many teens skipping are still passing. If every teen who skipped didn’t pass, the graduation rate at East wouldn’t be 96 percent as of 2022 (U.S. News). So how are teens graduating high school if they aren’t attending class? It comes down to the quality and usefulness of class times. The ratio of students per teacher at East is reported at 22:1 (U.S. News). The National Center for Educational Statistics reports that the recommended ratio is 16:1 in the United States. Considering every individual's needs, skills, and interests, one teacher is not nearly enough to cultivate 22 students. Additionally, the ratio is inferably inflated due to a higher number of teachers in special education classes. A typical class has an average of 35 students to one teacher. However, an important thing to note is that public schools are already underfunded and teachers are overworked. So what is a factor that is more accessible in changing? Measuring the number of days and minutes students spend in classes is definitely one. Teens at East High are expected to attend seven (50-minute) class periods on three days of the week, four (90-minutes) class periods on one day of the week, and three (90-minute) periods on another. If the average attention span of a teenager is 36-48 minutes, how are they supposed to make it through an entire school day? With only a 50-minute lunch break and 5-minute passing periods, students don’t get much time to decompress between classes, let alone pee. Many teachers give the same spiel at the beginning of every class: I don’t need you all to be passionate about this subject, but I do need you to give me your attention for the entirety. We are only here for 50 minutes, so let's make it worth our time. Classes also frequently end in a rush, with teachers hurrying through their last google slides crammed with information. They reiterate: I’m sorry I’ve been talking for so long, I just have ten more minutes of notes left for you. If this happened in one class, it would be acceptable. But when seven different teachers are all absorbed in their own teachings, the content becomes a priority over the students: one can see why teens are beginning to think that their presence in class isn’t missed, let alone time well spent. Especially when the lecture and content are posted online later that day. Now, allowing teens to skip school is not the answer. Instead, a reevaluation of how schools measure mastery might help. The forever-growing “absent days” counter and attendance percentage are clearly declining in effectiveness. Students that have a high amount of absences are still passing with acceptable grades, and students that have a perfect attendance rate are still struggling in some classes. Skipping has gotten so out of hand, that East has threatened to take away parking spots for anyone with an attendance rate lower than 90 percent; but they have not yet acted on it. Deans and school counselors can be found during most passing periods, yelling at teens to “get a move on” when their intentions seem questionable. So what seems to be the real motive to get students to class? To encourage their learning in a rushed, crowded environment? Or to keep the school’s statistics and administrators satisfied? Encouraging and allowing teens to skip is not the answer, however, an increased amount of breaks, less lecture time, and prioritizing the essential content can maximize student’s time. Now some teachers might openly admit their understanding of their pupils, while others positively recoil at a student skipping their class. Just understand, when a student ditches, it’s not a personal attack. It’s unreasonable expectations, unfair conditions, and fed-up teenagers.

East High School is the 6th largest school in Colorado, with a size of 2,581 students. The sheer size of East is one of the main things it is known for, along with the diversity and liveliness of the community. However, after all the recent events East has suffered lately, enrollment rates could be decreasing. Many parents have thought about disenrolling their kids from East, which is now thought of as a violent place. It’s not just the students who might not be coming back, many teachers are considering leaving as well. There are no current statistics on the enrollment rates for the 23-24 school year, but in an informal poll, 85.7% of students surveyed said they knew someone not coming back to East next year. An East English teacher has said that four freshmen in her class have already left East this year. Furthermore, many parents have voiced their worries about sending their children back to East, as shown in the Parents Safety Advocacy FaceBook Group as well as the large number of parents at the DPS safety meeting after the March shooting. East English teacher Charlie Gaare also feels concerned about returning. She feels that the violence that has occurred this year could happen at any school, and for her, that violence is too much. “I don't think East is different from any other school, so I am looking for jobs outside of teaching high school altogether,” Gaare says. She explains that she still loves East the same amount as always, as it has been her home for a decade. “It’s heartbreaking that it is currently struggling the way it is,” Says Gaare. Based on how many new teacher job openings there are listed in the East newsletter, it seems as if other teachers are also considering leaving. In the most recent news letter from Friday May 12th, there was an opening position for an English teacher as well as a Student Support Liaison (Dean). But how do the current East students really feel? A sophomore who attends East says, “My parents are hesitant about me coming back to East, but I don’t have a lot of fear of returning. I feel like to an extent, I have been desensitized from the shootings." Students in the survey also express support for East, as 100% surveyed are planning to return. Incoming freshman Mia Davis says she had second thoughts about attending East. She felt scared and almost went to Regis instead, but then decided she wanted to come to East to be part of the change. There are a variety of feelings in the East community about returning in the 23-24 school year. Many agree that it’s up to the students to make East the place they want it to be. As Gaare says, “There is a lot of opportunity to make the school a better place if the students are inclined to do so. They have the ability to create the culture.”