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By Claire Farrell One of the most popular parks in Denver is Cheesman Park due to its beautiful greenery and the historic neighborhood that surrounds it. But from 1858-1890 Cheesman went by a different name: The Mount Prospect Cemetery. Many locals don't realize when they are at the park that the ground they walk on is home to over 2,000 bodies.      The Mount Prospect cemetery was Denver's first graveyard and was four times the size it is today. Residents of all different races, religions, and backgrounds were buried there and soon enough, the cemetery became the most popular cemetery in Denver. As the city industrialized, more cemeteries started opening up and residents began moving to the Capitol Hill area. Over time, Cheesman became more and more rundown, until eventually it was abandoned. Around the 1880’s it was realized that the graveyard sat on federal land, so it completely shut down. The people of Denver pleaded with Congress to make it a park, and on January 25, 1890, Congress agreed to the demands. The city hired E.P. McGovern to remove all the bodies for $2 per coffin. To make more of a profit, McGovern ordered children's coffins and dismembered the bodies so they would fit inside. This way he had about four coffins for one body which meant he would make more money than originally anticipated. The city fired McGovern and instead of moving the rest of the bodies, they removed the headstones. Soon enough, graverobbers flooded the area and left bits and pieces of people's bodies all over the park. This is when strange paranormal sightings first started being reported.      Cheesman Park ghost tour guide Will (no last name) talked about how over decades there have been countless sightings of paranormal activity.“They reported in the mirrors that there would be an apparition of someone standing beside them or an apparition of someone knocking on the door but no one was there. There would be wails, cries, and screams all across the graves.”  The first sighting of strange activity happening at Cheesman Park was reported by one of E.P. McGovern's own men, Jim Astor. He claimed that someone had knocked everything out of his hand and slapped him so hard that he vowed to never return to the park. After that, more sightings and stories were being reported, especially by residents who lived in the neighborhood next to Cheesman. Will the tour guide claimed to have his own experiences with the park. “I've experienced my own things there like when you're riding your bike or just walking through I’ll feel hot and cold areas.”  Back when the park was still a graveyard, there was a hospital next to it called the pet house. Patients with tuberculosis, smallpox, and other diseases came to the pet house, and it was known to be the final destination before people died and were buried underground. It was located on what is now York and Race St. and is considered the most haunted area of the park. When asking Will about it, he shared his family's own experience when visiting it.   “So it was 2019 and my ex-wife was there… She went to get a drink of water and she felt a very heavy weight on her body. The weight was so heavy that when she tried to move she couldn't. She came back running in the house screaming freaking out, and I'm thinking the whole time she fell asleep and got sleep paralysis. Now we had a lady on our tour that said she was a medium and that we were close to the pet house when this happened and a ghost was telling my ex-wife that she was a tuberculosis patient and she had to sleep and rest. So you can say what you want but each individual has their own experience.”    There is of course controversy on if the park is haunted, but whether it is or not, Cheesman Park has an interesting past that plays a huge role in contributing to the history of Denver. Will explained how many bodies still remain underground at the park and underneath all the homes in the area.“Most people don't know that when you die you think you're never gonna be disturbed and your bodies forever buried and all that but the truth is that's unfortunately not true.”  Remains of Cheesman Park's past life are still scattered along the park. For example, every shrub and tree is planted in an open casket. Small things like this serve as a reminder of Cheesman Park's past and rich history.

Students and staff alike at East are familiar with “the vaping issue”. During passing periods, at lunch, and even during class time, students use the bathrooms as a smoking area. Almost weekly, a fire alarm is set off at East and oftentimes these can be attributed to students vaping in the bathrooms. The extent to which vaping has become an issue in our school and nationwide is a little ridiculous. According to the Center for Disease Control, 5.9% of teens use e-cigarettes across the U.S. This is a large amount of the population, but realistically in our school it is a select group of students occupying the bathroom for this unhealthy practice. So should all students be punished for the acts of a few?  Anonymous Junior Girls Interviews: Have you had any significant experiences or issues surrounding any bathroom or hallway policies? “Deans have told me I couldn’t go into the bathroom 1 minute after passing period ended and I was literally bleeding through my pants.”  -Female, Junior 1 “A dean came into the bathroom and told people vaping to leave, I was the only one in the bathroom and the dean waited a whole 7 minutes while I was in the stall taking care of a feminine hygiene problem, it was so awkward and uncomfortable.” -Female, Junior 2 “Some classes only have one hall pass and people take forever so I never get to go. Also, the teachers say that we should go during passing period but there is never enough time.” -Female, Junior 3 “Expected to be skipping (gets yell at for no reason) I could have an off or just have to pee” -Female, Junior 4 Vaping in the bathrooms is an inconvenience for staff as well as other students. Unfortunately, this has brought deans (and even the principal herself) into the bathrooms to monitor them. Sitting inside and outside the bathroom, deans deny students without a pass, opening the door fully to ensure their awareness of vaping or other smoking in the bathroom. Recently this hardcore monitoring has curtailed, but vaping is still an issue and administration continues to keep a close eye on students.  Students feel uncomfortable using the bathroom when anyone can see in and with a dean sitting right in the doorway. This decision brings forth questions about privacy and what is appropriate. Students struggle with the ever-changing rules, regulations, and policies at East. In the first semester of the 2024-2025 school year, bathrooms and hallways have been the focal point of admin. Especially in these past few years, these rapid changes have made a significant impact. Last year, the most pressing issue was the new concept of Saturday School and tardies. This year, many new rules have been implemented around plagiarism, and with AI taking a hold on education, there are new rules about chat gpt and rules around the late policies. Along with these, in the first semester of the 2024-2025 school year, bathrooms and hallways have been the focal point of admin. New rules exist, but many of them are left unwritten. The girls’ bathroom is a reflection of the administration's views on students. There is this idea that students can't be trusted and need to be kept on close watch. The hallways are vigorously monitored and the environment has become tense. Walking in the hallways students feel the frantic checks for passes, ids, and other validations by deans who say it is their job. A lot of the time the demeanor and actions of deans and other staff is almost unnecessary. Students do need guidance and discipline, but doing this in a disrespectful manner breaks trust and relationship. Nadine Barrientos has been a dean at East for the past two years. She explains, “We try to put our presence in there not to impede on anyone using the bathroom, but to impede on those pulling out their vapes. We’ve caught, I think, 15 people today vaping, that is so significant. There is blatant disregard for any authority by many of these kids because like today, one student got caught and blew smoke into Ms. Walker's face.” This incredible disrespect may contribute to the hostility some deans have displayed towards students, and possibly be a cause for the supervision of the bathrooms. Although, it was made clear in speaking with Ms. Nadine that few solutions, other than the invasion of privacy, have been provided to solve the vaping issue. The question emerges, how can we (students and administration alike) foster a safe and respectful environment while maintaining the privacy of students? The best way to go about this is by building a stronger community overall. East has such a large population with diverse subsets of people and it can be complicated to forge a strong community as a unit. Students and staff alike must put compassion and respect over the unusual power dynamic at hand. Through the compliance of all parties any issue can be combated and the student-administration relationship can overcome anything.

After the presidential election of 2024 which resulted in President elect Donald Trump, now is a good time to take a look at strategies that were potentially beneficial or harmful to the campaigns of both candidates. Which strategy did each candidate use and how did it affect the outcome for them? What are the contrasting differences between their campaigns and how did that add to Trump's victory over harris?  In his victory, President Trump emmassed 76 million votes from the American people, and 312 electoral votes. According to usnews.com , the majority of registered voters consisted of white men from rural areas between the ages 45-65. Surprisingly enough, he did increase the diversity of his voters, but by very little. His promises for his presidency include to “strengthen and modernize our military,” “seal the border and stop the migrant invasion”, and “end inflation.” ( donaldjtrump.com .) He plans to lower the amount of people who have immigrated into the country by having the biggest mass deportations in history. He also promises to protect firearms and religion, implement tax cuts that he will make permanent, and close the Department of Education in Washington D.C. (an organization responsible for establishing policy for, administers, and coordinates most federal assistance to education.)  He spread his messages by canvassing using an app called 10xVotes, an app that tells voters where unreliable conservative voters in the area, and encourages people to go to their house and convince them to vote for Donald Trump. His marketing team is also incredibly active on the social media platform ‘X’ (formally Twitter), posting almost every hour. The posts span from voter engagement to talking about bitcoin, then to reporting endorsements from Elon Musk, one of his number one supporters. It's also important to mention his famous slogan: “make America great again”, or simply MAGA. This slogan has been used since 1980 during Ronald Reagan's presidential campaign, but gained major popularity in 2016 when Trump first ran for president. The use of MAGA allows him to spread his message by putting it on merchandise such as hats, hoodies, flags, and pretty much anything imaginable. The “make America great again" following has obviously grown, and with that it gained a negative reputation of being racist. His strategy to market to people in person, rather than online, definitely benefits him in gaining the support of the audience he desires, that being white people who are closer to middle age.  Looking at Kamala Harris’ overall campaign, it can be seen she catered towards younger voters and lower/middle class Americans with emphasis on social issues. Some key points of her plan included tax cuts for middle class families, bringing down costs of healthcare, protecting and restoring reproductive rights, reducing gun violence, and attacking the opioid and fentanyl crisis. With this, she was able to gather votes from the majority of women ages 18-44 (leading over Trump 55% - 43% ). Harris was able to win over the majority of Black voters with 83% to 16%. She also won over most Latino voters, however, she did not hit the mark when it came to the mass of young voters (ages 18-29). On Harris’ campaign website ( kamalaharris.com ), she explains little of her foreign policy positions compared to her position on social justice issues. Her plan for border control includes bringing back the bipartisan border security bill and signing it into law. This bill was introduced in 2023 and proposed increased border security and limits on asylum eligibility. Though no specific plan was mentioned, she made promise to “end the war in Gaza, such that Israel is secure, the hostages are released, the suffering in Gaza ends, and the Palestinian people can realize their right to dignity, security, freedom, and self-determination” and at the same time, “stand up for Israel’s right to defend itself and she will always ensure Israel has the ability to defend itself.”   When it comes down to marketing their campaigns on social media, Harris took a unique approach on TikTok. The TikTok page, @kamalahq, went viral on multiple occasions. Viewers were shocked to see the official Kamala Harris page posting viral trends and funny memes pertaining to the presidential election. In a video posted taking part in the “Symphony trend”, a fake picture of dolphins leaping out of the water with a colorful background of rainbows and a sunset is shown with a text box that reads, “Donald Trump’s Project 2025 is a threat to our democracy” with the song “Symphony” by Zara Larsson playing. Another video shows a thirst trap edit of clips of former president Barack Obama to the song “Killshot” by Magdalena Bay and a caption that reads “period Obama.” Harris also made the advertising move of bringing trending artists like Megan Thee Stallion and Gracie Abrams on stage. This garnered plenty of support from people on TikTok. With this strategy, she attempted to advertise to Gen Z who are now starting to become of voting age. The 2024 presidential race was influenced by contrasting campaigns from presidential candidates, Kamala Harris and Donald Trump. Trump's campaign relied heavily on traditional marketing tactics, like in-person canvassing and a strong, recognizable slogan. Harris used more modern platforms, such as TikTok and other social media in order to persuade younger and more diverse groups of voters. While Harris had success with women, Black, and Latino voters, Trump had major support from older, white, conservative voters. The overall outcome of this election was greatly impacted by the campaign marketing strategies of each candidate which influenced important aspects of a voter's decision.

Every year, on the Friday after Thanksgiving, 90 million people rush into stores or onto their computers to get the best deals from big companies or locally owned businesses. Whether it's to get holiday shopping done, purchase something for fun, or buy necessities, Black Friday is considered the official start to the holiday shopping season. For many retail stores, it extends through the weekend. But 90 million people all shopping on the same day has devastating consequences. Are the big savings on Black Friday worth the irreversible effects it has on the planet?  Black Friday originated in the 1960s when struggling stores could earn a solid profit off large crowds of tourists in Philadelphia who came into the city to get holiday shopping done. Philadelphia police started using the term Black Friday to describe the chaos of all the shoppers. All stores started discounting items for the crowds, and the day became an annual event. It’s now a day for retail stores to unload overstocked inventory and for the government to track the country's economic growth from that year. The day is great for local small businesses to make themselves more known to the community and to make a strong profit.  When shopping on Black Friday, many consumers are unaware of the harmful effects it has on the planet. According to cleanhub.com , an estimated 429,000 tons of greenhouse gasses are generated into the environment every year because of Black Friday, and 80% of purchases end up in landfill. These numbers are predicted to rise due to sales growing rapidly by 5% yearly. In 2023, nine billion dollars were spent on Black Friday, and by 2028 it is predicted that consumers will spend 12.3 billion dollars.( Climatenews.org ) President of the sustainability club Charlotte Goldstein expressed, “The real problem with Black Friday is it encourages a lot of consumerism, so everything you just want more and more of.”  Companies like REI, Patagonia, and IKEA advertise themselves as being green on the busy shopping day. All of the profits Patagonia earns on Black Friday are donated to an environmental charity, REI closes, and IKEA implements Green Friday where customers can bring in a used piece of furniture in exchange for a voucher. Charlotte vocalized how these green policies don't make much of a difference. “I think it's really a form of greenwashing… I absolutely think they do it just for popularity. They don't really care about all of these issues. If you look historically in the past a lot of these companies didn't appeal to sustainability at all and now that it's such a big issue, I feel like companies just try to appeal to that.”  Black Friday has negative effects, but isn’t going away anytime soon, and with people not being informed of the harm the shopping causes; it’s likely consumerism is only going to increase. So how can local shoppers in Denver enjoy Black Friday while maintaining sustainable habits?    When talking to East students, the majority said they spend around $100 and prefer to shop online so they can skip the crowds and get the best discounts. Sophomore Lola Carhart says: “I usually shop online on Black Friday just because it’s easier and the deals are better.” But while shopping online may be more convenient, consumers are encouraged to shop at local small businesses because the materials online companies use to ship items can be non-biodegradable, and packaging materials contribute to 1.8 billion tons of carbon emissions annually. Small businesses use less material in their items, and shopping in person reduces the amount of returns, which decreases the amount of landfill that comes from Black Friday.  While Black Friday may have devastating consequences, it’s not too late to make a change. The negative effects it contributes to can be reduced by shopping at small businesses more, buying items in person rather than online, and trying to avoid companies that promote fast fashion like Shein, Zara, and H&M. When shopping, looking for things with longevity rather than cheap items that will last no more than a year will contribute to reducing the amount of landfill Black Friday generates. Be aware of retailers who tend to greenwash their products by making sure they practice sustainable habits like green packaging if they claim to be eco-friendly. These small tweaks in shopping habits can contribute to a more sustainable future.

Everyone has been through a time where they realize their generation is getting outdated at least once. Clothing styles evolve, technology advances, people invent new things, life-changing events occur, school curriculum gets modified, and understanding of the world changes. In the education industry, teachers are able to see the generational differences between the waves of students as well as themselves. So what are some of the most noticeable distinctions between teachers and students, both in the classroom and in their free time? Generational differences can range from smaller things like slang and haircuts to much bigger changes including ideal careers or fashion. One of the biggest changes that is evident between teachers and students is the concept of technology and how experienced people are with it. Most teachers grew up with the very first iPhone 2G or the clunky office computers that took forever to boot up and had to adjust to the fancy new technology. Compare that to most students who probably can’t remember life without their iPhone 15s, Airpods, and 12-inch iPads. Kristen Hosek, a science teacher at East, states “The use and the reliance of social media I think is a massive difference.” While it’s obvious that teenagers use technology mostly for Instagram reels or TikToks, some of the time spent is used for looking up answers to math problems or having AI write an essay before it’s due in 10 minutes. According to the National Library of Medicine, their data findings during experimental interviews concluded that “ Newer generation students prefer straightforward approaches towards learning resulting from increased use of technology and speedy access to knowledge.” Not only do students and teachers feel the contrast between them during school hours, but outside of the classroom as well. For a schedule to function, it requires a balance between leisure or activities and parts of the day spent on productive work. Each generation will have their own idea of what having a life outside of work looks like, whether it be going on an adventure to nowhere or staying at home and baking cookies. Dylan Fehrman, one of the Social Studies teachers at East, remarks on his free time saying “I coach cross country and I enjoy running for fun as well. I like to hike, get outdoors and also build furniture as a side hobby”  Although his leisure time is spent on being in nature and less technology focused, his perception of what students do on their own time is much different. He thinks of a stereotypical teenager doing “A lot of video gaming, spending time on social media, hanging out with friends, going out to eat or going to the mall, things like that.” However Junior, Jovani Espejo claims otherwise with more ‘out of the box’ activities commenting “I do Ultimate Frisbee and I’m an actor, I also enjoy reading and learning about history.” His thoughts on what a teacher would do in their free time would look like “Spending time with family or if they don’t have any nearby, then with a significant other and probably grade papers too.” What’s interesting is that teachers and students have completely different impressions of each other and what hobbies they have, some that are true and some that are completely wrong. While these gaps between generations are easily noticeable in school or during leisure time, they can also appear in political issues, life changing events or personal opinions too. The Pew Research Center claims that “Majorities among Gen Z and the Millennial generation say increasing racial and ethnic diversity in the U.S. is a good thing for society, while older generations are less convinced of this. And they’re more likely to have a positive view of interracial and same-sex marriage than their older counterparts.” It’s common for people to view the elderly as not being able to change their perspective due to them having their older and more traditional ways, but like most things in life, they change. In the recent presidential election this month, CNN states that “ Democrats lost some support among the youngest voters, a group that overwhelmingly votes for them. But Harris also made gains among the oldest voters, a group that traditionally leans Republican. ” Changes like these leave the country wondering how different the government will be run and what will happen to our economy.  Although the differences between Gen Z and Gen X or Millennials and Boomers might be surprising at times, it’s important to remember that changes will continue to happen to generations of the future and the world will keep spinning.

Fearing the oncoming slew of budget cuts and lost positions, there was a bitter note to last year’s Spring semester. The drying of funding from the pandemic, coupled with lower enrollment numbers brought the need from Denver Public Schools’ leadership to lower spending for this school year. Schools district-wide were affected by these cuts. East in particular had a notable surge of conversation regarding cuts to their art programs.  Keith Oxman, legendary band teacher and jazz musician, retired at last year’s end, leaving the position open for East’s second band instructor. It came as a surprise to many however when no second teacher was hired, and the position was cut instead. Many of the classes offered last year were cut to accommodate, from ten to six, left with a single music teacher, one Tung Pham.  “I’m teaching an overload,” Mr. Pham mentioned. Across East, there’s a variety of bands and skill levels that require vastly different instruction. “The ability to be able to serve all the students across the whole spectrum is super difficult” “ I'm just trying to do too many things at once and I appreciate the kids for being patient with me of that, because I know I'm being spread in a lot of different directions, but they seem to be really supportive”. Though Mr. Pham mentioned he would personally like to see a second music teacher, especially for classes outside of his specialties such as orchestra; he mentions that enrollment isn’t where it needs to be to support such a decision.  Many students and teachers were shocked and deeply upset to see programs cut and budgets slashed, especially considering DPS received an $11 million dollar mill levy in 2012 specifically for programs like the arts and music. All of this comes at a time of great contention within DPS, as teachers are also arguing for higher wages as costs of living have increased dramatically in Denver. An agreement between the school district and teacher’s union slated a 5.25% Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) for educators. The total they actually received was only 2.06%. In contrast to all of this is superintendent Alex Marrero, who recently received a 10% raise (Denver Gazette).  Madeleine Senger, an East High school senior, pianist, and writer for the Greater Park Hill News has been an ardent proponent for increased funding to East arts. The 2012 mill levy is an important part of her argument. According to the levy, DPS Schools should have 0.5 instrumental music teachers for every 400 students. Based on this, East’s 2,500 students would be granted closer to three teachers rather than just one.  “They didn’t respect that.” “There are so many opportunities that [...] students won’t get because there isn’t enough space for them”. Senger has attempted to reach out to the board, but was told that “there’s nothing they can do”. While squabbles for funding occur on the district-level, it’s the students who are left to deal with the results. Senior Beckett Nelson-Gardner thinks that “it’s a downhill slope [...] East used to be [...] one of the best schools in DPS for music and now it's looking like the only place you can get a good music education is a place that is specifically dedicated to the arts, like DSA…”. Senior Gabrielle Muturi fears that “the East music program is gonna get a lot smaller”. Across the board, students from a range of band classes have noticed a sharp change in focus since last year. Beckett talked about “a new emphasis on music theory” and less on actual playing, while Gabrielle mentioned a monotonous lack of diversity in the song selection. There’s varying feelings on the How instrumental music at East as well as art programs across DPS at large will look moving forward is still largely uncertain. Change feels like a requirement to many, stating the instability of the establishment. Despite discontentment, the community remains tight-knit, and is hopeful for the future of East’s art program.

By Adeline Newton “It's literally so dank everywhere. Each floor smells like a different part of a rotting sandwich,” claims East High junior Ella Burrell. Walking in the hallways at East is already challenging enough, now imagine the most rancid smell overtaking the hallways as everybody shoves their way into classrooms. East students' noses are constantly being assaulted by the intense smell of other student’s body odor (B.O.) in the hallways and classrooms due to other students' poor hygiene. High school is the prime time for changing bodies, which also means, sweat glands change .  When teens hit puberty, eccrine glands (or sweat glands) produce sweat. However, sweat doesn’t smell on its own; only once it’s broken down by bacteria on the skin does it begin to project the foul odor. Puberty causes the amount of sweat being produced, allowing bacteria to decompose more of it, causing more of a foul scent.      Of course everybody sweats, given we are all human, however, some smell better than others. Regularly bathing in order to get rid of the bacteria helps prevent a buildup of bacteria and sweat. Deodorant conceals the foul scent so instead it projects a much better smell. Deodorant comes in many different scents and applications, ranging from sprays, stick, roll on, to any scent desirable to fit all preferences.      Reapplying deodorant can also be a good habit to make sure the smell is masked throughout the day. Wearing clean clothes prevents the possibility of lingering odors being projected and washing dirty clothes eliminates the bacteria and smell left after use. Perfume and cologne smells good of course but is not a substitute for deodorant due to it not killing off bacteria like deodorant does. However, desperate times call for desperate measures and if perfume or cologne is the only thing immediately available it’s better to use something rather than nothing.  The smell is more pungent towards the more crowded areas of the hallway, such as the main stairwell. By this stairwell you are put close up to people and have no choice but to smell things (voluntarily or not). So don’t be that person radiating that rancid smell of B.O. Being rushed out the door in the mornings while running late leaves room for things to be forgotten, one of them being deodorant. Asking a friend for deodorant could be a solution,depending on circumstances. School nurse, Nurse Fun, also confirmed, “For anyone having body odor, we provide deodorant and invite people to come get deodorant if needed.” Photo caption: East juniors Ella Burrell and Hazel Nyce and sophomore Emma McNutt cringe at the awful smell of B.O. by the second floor main stairwell.

Technology. A highly advanced invention that has taken the entire world by storm in a never-ending, vast network of information, games, artificial intelligence, photos, and videos. As the world and society evolve, so will technology, resulting in either a beneficial or harmful effect on the future, especially for the growing minds of young adolescents. Statistics from The National Library of Medicine claim that “around 95% of teenagers aged 13-17 have access to a phone, and at least 79% bring one to school.” As the number increases, parents and teachers continue to insist that teenagers are just a bunch of phone-fanatic zombies, but is this actually true?  In an environment where learning levels are varied, having information right at people’s fingertips if the material gets confusing or hard to understand is extremely useful. Not only does the internet hold so many answers, but certain apps are designed to help students better comprehend what they are being taught. According to the Pew Research Center, “70% of teenagers in the U.S. said in a survey that phones are more advantageous than not while the other 30% said the opposite.”  Banning students from bringing their phones to school cuts off any communication they have with their parents, limiting the resources they have to keep in contact during emergencies within the building. Sophomore Cecilia Brinton comments, “We need phones during school to contact people and I like to know what’s going on.”   Staying in touch with friends is a critical part of a teenager’s life and with phones, being closer to them by texts, calls, social media and more can keep people updated on what is happening with them.  Another important aspect to consider is languages as they can be a barrier of communication and connection. It’s estimated that there are around 7,000 languages spoken worldwide according to BBC and having translation services on mobile phones for students is a handy tool. However, East has become quite lenient with technology and how to deal with the problem of keeping students focused during class. If phones are being taken away, there are always students using their computers to play games to pass the time or sneak their phones into class. There is no solid restriction to compensate for the online distractions, only simple procedures like hangers on the door, plastic tubs, or even no rules at all.  The DPS School Board decided not to focus on cell phone restriction leaving it to the teachers at East to decide on what should be done with phones. DPS School Board member John Youngquist speculates, “If the school or the teachers can agree to implement a restriction they think will actually work and have students comply with, that’s how the cell phone issue might be resolved.” Modern day technology is a powerful gadget to have access to, but is it worth the sake of physical connection and mental health?  The human race depends on meeting people, working together, having face-to-face conversations, and spending time with each other (Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History). Being able to send a quick message without talking in person takes away from the friendly interactions that can happen daily. It’s much harder to make small talk between teenagers nowadays for fear of judgement, lack of confidence, and the classic “look on my phone and at social media or random things because it’s awkward sitting here in silence” move. Not only is it hard with other people the same age but it conditions teens to have a tough time interacting with teachers along with pretty much anyone they’re not comfortable with.  Of course, most topics will always have some controversy surrounding it, however, looking at it from both perspectives can help our insight on it further. Regarding phones in school, the staff can decide whether or not restrictions on them are tighter and students can choose if their education matters more than their devices. If learning is an essential part of life, it begs the question; how will technology affect young adolescents and their education in the future?

On July 31, 2024, Tattered Cover’s purchase by Barnes & Noble for a bid of $1.83 Million was finalized. This comes after multiple years of well-publicized bankruptcy issues that challenged the bookseller. Will this be the beginning of a corporate, charmless, era for Tattered Cover? Or, did Barnes & Noble just save a beloved Denver establishment? That remains to be seen. Since the opening of the company’s Colfax location in 2006, Tattered Cover has been quintessential to East students. Just across the street, the location has been the premier spot to study, get lunch, pick up books, and more. Nowadays, taking a stroll through the iconic Denver establishment near school hours will leave one amongst hoards of teenagers looking for their assigned reading or cramming for their test next period.  Tattered Cover has been around since 1971. Originally in Cherry Creek, the company has collected a variety of new locations over the years, including the Colfax location, which has become its flagship store. The company has changed hands before, however. After longtime owner Joyce Meskis sold it in 2015, Tattered Cover underwent two more leadership switches. The most recent switch was in 2020 to David Back and Kwame Spearman, the latter gaining recognition after his unsuccessful campaign for Denver mayor in 2023. Since then, their financial struggles have been no secret. They began to struggle during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 and had to file for bankruptcy in October of 2023. Now, big changes are coming to Tattered Cover. It was announced in July that Barnes and Noble had acquired the bookseller following an auction with bidders that included former CEO Kwame Spearman. This move prevents the store from being forced into shutdown, but it raises questions as to the future of Tattered Cover, and if the independent bookseller charm will remain.  East Students are hopeful, however, and glad that their favorite bookstore will remain open. Senior Izzy Hillhouse says that the future of Tattered Cover is, “very bright now that there’s more money being put into it”. Though corporatization is still a concern, “that’s what it takes to keep them around. Small bookstores aren’t doing so well and if being bought out saves them from closing that’s better than closing”.  It seems that this optimism is shared by the employees of Tattered Cover as well. Brandon Miller, who’s been an employee there for three years, states that “stability is a good word for [the future of the company], We’ve got more books on shelves than we’ve had since, like a year and a half ago.” Brandon also pointed out a new cardboard book display advertising a new release, a symbol of increased funding. “We’re all being really optimistic about it.” In recent decades, we’ve seen the apparent decline of independent bookstores as they are frequently driven out of business or purchased by larger corporations like Amazon and Barnes & Noble. The pandemic was particularly tough on booksellers. There was about a 10% decrease in the number of independent bookstores between 2019 and 2021 (American Booksellers Association). Though the state of our beloved bookstore next door may trouble some students, Tattered Cover is not going anywhere. As of September 2024, the bookseller’s four Denver locations will all remain open. To the East layperson, their bookstore will remain for lunch, studying, book shopping, and more. Though Tattered Cover’s struggle in recent years is unfortunate to see, there’s hope for the future of our little neighborhood bookseller.

At the helm of the Denver East Community is Principal Terita Walker, who is currently entering her fourth year in the job. During her stint as Principal, Mrs. Walker has faced many challenges, including school following the pandemic, staff changes, incredible pressure, and unspeakable acts of violence.  However, through it all she has remained committed to the students and staff at East, restoring a sense of normalcy. Mrs. Walker's path to the focal point of East’s hierarchy has certainly been an extensive journey. What began with broadcast Journalism and later business development quickly transitioned to the educational world. Her career in Colorado began with teaching at Justice High School in Boulder as well as Montbello High School. When the counseling job opened at East she became an Angel, remaining as a counselor for eight years before transitioning to an Assistant Principal and Athletic Director position. Following the departure of John Youngquist in 2021, she stepped up to the role of Principal and has remained there ever since. While at East, Mrs. Walker has worked tirelessly in order to ensure that the students can walk away from high school having enjoyed every moment. She expressed that her goal is for all the students at East to “look back and say the best time of my life was at East High School.”  She explained that “if you truly enjoy your experience you will learn things along the way.” As for the 2024/25 school year, Mrs. Walker has her eyes set on continuing to build the relationships around the building. “I think a lot of people who come here, or people who love it here, or people who went here, they talk about how much they love the fact that we are such a unified school community and how much people support each other” Mrs. Walker explained. “I think who we are to each other and the way we treat each other is really what allows us to be happy about coming to East everyday whether you're coming as a student or a staff member.”  Mrs. Walker identified one of the ways to improve these relationships is through punctuality. “Somebody told me when you're late or you just don't show up it seems like you don't value them or their time.” The staff members at East work around the clock to create meaningful lessons that would “be great for you and for your development” and by showing up on time, both students and staff would “value this experience more.” Despite facing many challenges, Walker has held true to her values of placing the students first. She has continuously avoided news appearances, including Good Morning America, in order to fulfill the wishes of her students. “I'm not looking for three minutes of fame from any of this because that's not what it's about,” she explained. “I asked kids what do you want, and you guys told me we just want to get back to normal, we don't want cameras in our faces, we don't want unfamiliar faces around.” While often not seen by the East students, Mrs. Walker's leadership and commitment to the students has shone through in times of need. Her actions remind us that prioritizing the students in education can lead to an unshatterable community prepared to take on any challenge they may face.

Denver East’s boys soccer team kicked off their season with an impressive 2-1 victory against Battle Mountain on Friday, August 23rd. Finishing second at state last year and first the year before, boys soccer has been a highlight of East’s fall sports. As fans fill the bleachers with excitement for the season, the question remains: can the Angels keep their state finals streak alive? Photo by Reid Neureiter - Boys State Finals, 2023 The season so far has presented a variety of challenges for the Angels, seen by their first three games which ended in a win, a tie, and a loss. These mixed outcomes now provide opportunities of growth and improvement for the remainder of the season.  Games against East’s biggest rivals are coming up, such as Denver North, Denver South, and Northfield, and the team is continuously working hard to fine-tune their strategies and improve their overall performance. After a shut-out against Fossil Ridge in a 0-0 tie, the team demonstrated defensive skill; however, they are also aware of the need to convert their defensive strength into offensive opportunities. Clayton Thomas agrees that while the team has potential to go far in playoffs for a third year in a row, “someone's going to need to score a lot of goals this season.”  With three home games under the belt, it is clear that fans are eager for the season, as demonstrated by the packed bleachers. The enthusiasm not only boosts the players’ confidence, but also sets the stage for an exciting season ahead. Clayton Thomas, a senior, states that the student section makes playing easier. “[I]t’s like another form of motivation.” Home game against Battle Mountain, August 23rd 2024, Red Out “Jesus parts the Red Sea” - Photo by Peyton Mendelsberg  Prishad Mitchell scored the first goal of the season against Battle Mountain. Now a senior, Prishad has had a successful high school career, supporting the team through two state championships. With optimism for the season, Prishad says, “I think the season will go phenomenally, and even if we don’t get the results we want, we still will play our hearts out.”  As playoffs approach and the season escalates, the determination of the players and enthusiasm from the fans set the stage for an exciting season ahead.  Photo by Reid Neureiter - Boys State Finals, 2023

The first time a flag football player was spotlighted onto national screens was during the 2023 Super Bowl commercials. The MVP of the Flag Football World Games, Diana Flores, was being chased through the stadium as NFL players, celebrities, and even her mother attempted to pull her flags. At the end of the commercial, Flores joins other flag football players and ends with the quote, “To the women pushing football forward, we can’t wait to see where you take this game.” In 2023, almost 500,000 girls between the ages of 6-17 played flag football, according to the National Federation of State High Schools Association. That’s a 63% increase from 2019, and the statistics are expected to skyrocket now that the sport is an official Olympic category that will be played in the 2028 Olympics. East’s very own flag football team is at a solid 4-0 in the DPS level as of September of 2024. At practice, girls show up with not only a positive attitude but a competitively-aggressive one as well. Between girls fighting for the ball in a game they call mosh pit to girls diving for flags in scrimmages, it definitely is not a sport for the weak hearted. It’s grown so much that there have been unconfirmed suggestions of starting a JV team as well.  JT, a senior and the team’s quarterback, said that “...every girl should check [flag football] out.” and it’s so cool to see “girls pushing themselves and trying a sport that others would typically feel that’s not for them since traditionally [football] is seen as a male sport in general.” Flag football at East is not only a space for girls to push themselves out of their athletic comfort zones, but it is also a place of community and an “outlet” for them. With a sport that is now available at the collegiate level, one would think that East would be supporting the team, however, the school’s support hasn’t reached its potential. On the official Denver East website under Athletics and Girls Flag Football, there is no updated information concerning the teams win or loses, score, or game summary. There is also no information of the roster for the ‘24-’25 season. During some of the first meetings for flag football, no players were informed through any letters, emails, or social media announcements about the opportunity to participate in the Fall sport. Many students and teachers don’t even know what sport is being played when girls wear their jerseys on game-day. Some players have said that they heard wrong announcements over the PA for games, and that the school doesn’t typically announce the sport to the general student body. Coach Candice Malone also expressed how she felt about East’s support for the girls saying, “I am disappointed in the lack of support we receive from East. The girls work hard out there and to not be able to feel or see the support from the school is discouraging.” She also went on to say, “Denver East girls flag football has had a successful season, three years in a row, with little to no support from East.” On the other hand, there have been more posts on Instagram through the @denvereasths and the @denvereaststuco page, giving the team their own post for their September 10th game against Bruce Randolph. As JT mentioned, she wishes to see the same amount of attention that is given to other female sports given to flag football as well saying, “I want to see that in flag football ‘cause it’s just as respectable and competitive as those other sports.” As this growing sport continues to expand on the national and international level receiving more and more attention through organizations like the NFL. In addition to being a sport that is predominately empowered by women, why isn’t East doing something more to support their own girls?