The Sun Devils’ Advocate Volume XLII, Number 1 Kent Denver School, 4000 East Quincy Avenue, Englewood, CO 80110 October 22, 2018 First Day 2018: Seniors Lay The Foundation

Seniors continue tradition by decorating truck for first day theme: “Builders.” Photo by Andrew Goldblatt

Burning Steel Tariff KDS Student Questions With Affects KDS Defends ID Card Mr. Barocas See Page 2 See Pages 6 See Page 14 News Steel Tariff Impacts Kent Denver Construction by Sidney Chong ers to choose cheaper products made outside it would have added around a whopping ad- of the US. Unfortunately, this decrease in rev- ditional $250 thousand on steel alone. Unfor- This summer, President Trump placed enue caused the company to layoff around 160 tunately, more construction is still in store for a 25% tariff on steel imports into the United employees, approximately 32% of their work- Kent Denver, such as a new arts building and States. The apparent intent was to increase ing force. To prevent further employee cuts the the renovation of the existing Upper School. American consumption of American made company is attempting to obtain an exemption Thus, the tariff will undoubtedly increase the steel, a process that, according to our presi- from the tariff for the steel wire they need; cost of these constructions, and possibly even dent, has been successful thus far since “our however, 24 requests later, it isn’t looking very increase the duration of the renovations. steel industry [is one] of the talks of the world. optimistic. As high schoolers, it can be easy to think It’s booming.” And while many American steel So, how does this affect Kent Denver? In of politics as untouchable; since the major- companies have experienced an increase in de- a much broader sense, all political decisions ity of us are still under the legal voting age, mand, overall, the tariff has caused a myriad of have at least an indirect effect on the lives of there is a certain limit to what the students of negative ripple effects for just about everyone everyone. However it turns out that this par- Kent Denver are able to have a voice in. How- else. ticular tax has had a more personal effect on ever, though our impact is restricted, it doesn’t Since the nature of the tariff inherently re- the school. Jerry Walker, the associate head of mean that we are exempt from the world of duces trade with other countries, the tax runs school and the Chief Financial Officer at Kent politics. The effect of the tariff should serve the dangerous risk of a trade war with some in- Denver, explained the root of the problem, say- as a reminder, at the very least, that the point credibly powerful foreign entities. According ing, “the economy is, especially here in Colo- of politics is to have a voice in the things that to CNN, China, who in 2017 produced around rado, but even nationwide, strong right now, so affect us. We shouldn’t just forget about how 49% of the world’s steel, has already retaliated there is a lot of demand for steel.” However, important the decisions made in that world are, with tariffs of their own, and, unfortunately, CNN reported that in 2017, the U.S. imported not just because they are on the news or in ar- is not the only country taking punitive action. 29 billion dollars worth of steel and accounted ticles, but because they truly do have an effect The European Union, Mexico, and Canada for a mere 5% of the global production of the on lives. have struck back with their own new taxes, metal. Even though more American steel is be- from manufactured goods to textiles, and even ing consumed, there is a disparity between the vehicles, much to the frustration of major com- amount of steel these companies are producing panies, such as BMW. However, Trump seems and how much would be needed if Americans to be actively avoiding any attempt to dispel were to consume solely American-made steel. the tension. While the EU has offered to retract Although Kent Denver’s supplier is based in their tax on vehicles, provided that the U.S. Nebraska, “their supply comes from both do- does the same, Trump viewed the offer as in- mestic and foreign sources, so that’s impacting sufficient and rejected it, only adding tensions their ability to get product as much. Or, if they rather than working toward a resolution. are able to get it, they have to pay more for It is ultimately the American companies it because of the tariffs, right? And then that who have born the negative effects of the steel cost increase gets passed on to us,” says Mr. tax, especially those who require the resource Walker. Even when the product is obtained in the production of their good. According to “[before] the turnaround time might be, for a local Missouri Newspaer, the Mid Continent example a six week period, we [are] seeing Nail Corporation, based in Missouri, is owned that extended to several months.” Fortunately by a Mexican company who supplies their raw for Kent Denver, Mr. Walker and his associ- materials. However, since the source is for- ates anticipated an increase in price of steel, eign, and thus more expensive to obtain due to and said that for the upper school building they the tariff, Mid Continent nails are more expen- “purchased all that steel before the tariffs went sive, both to produce and sell. Ironically, this into effect.” Although a 25% tax may not seem price increase has caused American consum- large to some, since almost a million dollars was spent on steel alone for that one building, Photo by Caroline Casey

News Editors Sports Editors The Sun Devils’ Max [email protected] Caley Capoot...... [email protected] Andrew Park...... [email protected] Phillip Roseto...... [email protected] Advocate Commentary Editors Photography Editors is a monthly publication of Timea Ryan...... [email protected] Andrew Goldblatt...... [email protected] Kent Denver School, Emily Hogan...... [email protected] James Dahlen...... [email protected] located at 4000 E. Quincy Ave., Features Editors Graphics Editor Englewood, Colorado 80110 Allie Mandava...... [email protected] Claudia Bautista...... [email protected] 303-770-7660 Henry Rogers...... [email protected] Faculty Advisors Editors in Chief Arts and Entertainment Editors Logan Brown...... [email protected] Caroline [email protected] Olivia Cohen...... [email protected] Sidney Lang...... [email protected] Reagen [email protected] Ella Newcomb...... [email protected] Digital Media Editor: Molly Miller...... [email protected] Page 2, THE SUN DEVILS’ ADVOCATE, October 22, 2018 News Senate Narrowly Confirms Kavanaugh

by Maxwell VanLandschoot The final confirmation vote on Saturday the 6th was 50 in favor and 48 in opposition. The votes were cast largely along party lines, 49 of the 51 On Saturday, October 6, 2018, amongst a mass of protesters, Judge Senate Republicans voted to confirm Kavanaugh and 48 of the 49 Senate Brett Kavanaugh was confirmed to fill the vacant seat on the United Democrats voted “no.” However, there were two notable exceptions to States Supreme Court. Later in the day, he was sworn in by Chief Justice the partisan vote. Republican Senator Lisa Murkowski of Alaska planned John Roberts so he can “begin to participate in the work of the court to vote “no,” but agreed to abstain, which had the same effect, so a fellow immediately.” The appointment and confirmation of Justice Kavanaugh Republican could be absent from the vote to attend his daughter’s wed- was a tumultuous journey, as what appeared to be a shoe-in conserva- ding. Senator Joe Manchin III of West Virginia was the only Democrat tive nomination in August turned to become embittered by allegations of to vote in favor of Kavanaugh and said that “Something happened to Dr. sexual assault and misconduct. Ford; I don’t believe the facts show it was Brett Kavanaugh.” Dr. Christine Blasey Ford, a former high school peer of Kavanaugh, Republican Senator Susan Collins of Maine, despite voting “yes” was the first to come forward and make an accusation of sexual assault. in the confirmation of Justice Kavanaugh, delivered a 44 minute long She claims that during a gathering Kavanaugh tried to force himself onto speech in which she said, “Our Supreme Court confirmation process has her, and she thought that he “migh,t even try to kill [her].” Dr. Ford came been in steady decline for more than 30 years… One can only hope that forward with her story in July and testified in front of the Senate Judicia- the Kavanaugh nomination is where the process has finally hit rock bot- ry Committee in late September, as she believed it was her “civil duty” tom.” Senator Murkowski, who voted “present” in order to abstain from to inform the public of her interactions with a Supreme Court nominee. voting, expressed her discontent and said, “We must do better as a legis- While many Senators praised Ford for her bravery and found her testi- lative branch...We have a moral obligation to do better than this.” mony extremeley credible, it was widely criticized by members of the Republican Party. Senator Lindsey Graham said that Ford’s allegations were “an unethical sham” and “the most despicable thing I have seen in my time in politics.” President Donald Trump tweeted that allega- tions against Kavanaugh were “totally uncorroborated” and of the whole confirmation process he again tweeted that they were “VICIOUS AND DESPICABLE” and that “[Kavanaugh] and his wonderful family de- serve much better.” Many criticized Kavanaugh’s testimony as being far too partisan. In his testimony, he mentioned Trump and the 2016 election, alleged agres- sion from the Clintons, and even said all of the allegations levied against him were “a calculated and orchestrated political hit.” Judith Resnick, a Yale Law Professor, called the entire process “paritsan and not judi- cious.” And many, on both sides of the isle are worried that the Supreme Court may become muddied with partisan politics. Graphic by Claudia Bautista Billionaire Sponsors Artists’ Journey To Moon “We all have the ability to dream dreams This project is set to make history as the by Ellie Henry that have never been dreamt, to sing songs that first ever commercial flight to the moon. But have never been sung, to paint that which has the ambitious trip is not without challeng- never been seen before. I hope that this proj- es. The experimental capsule that will take ect will inspire the dreamer within each of Maezawa to the moon has not been created us. Together with Earth’s top artists, I will be yet, and the development will cost approxi- heading to the moon... just a little earlier than mately two to ten billion dollars. The eccentric everyone else.” - Yusaku Maezawa Elon Musk even admits that this trip is highly On September 17 2018, Elon Musk re- aspirational, but even if it is unsuccessful, its vealed that SpaceX will be sending Japanese attempt is a crucial turning point in the possi- Billionaire Yusaku Maezawa to the moon. bilities of manned space exploration. Maezawa then announced that he will not be This trip may mark the beginning of a new alone; he is taking seven artists with him in era of corporate spaceflight beyond low Earth the hopes that the view will inspire some of orbit. Maezawa and his creative entourage will the most incredible pieces the world has ever be the first private citizens to ever fly around seen. Maezawa believes that there is endless the moon; their voyage will, and has currently, creative potential in space that has never been opened up new possibilities. We may soon live truly captured. He wonders what Pablo Picas- in a world in which commercial space travel; so and John Lennon could have created if they the moon has never seemed so close. had been inspired by the moon up close. Graphic by Claudia Bautista

THE SUN DEVILS’ ADVOCATE, October 22, 2018 Page 3 News Affirmative Action In Our Universities

by Andrew Park dents for Fair Admissions, sued Harvard, arguing that the Asian Ameri- cans are intentionally discriminated against in the admissions process, The college admissions process is a complicated one. As students according to the Wall Street Journal. The file by the plaintiff claimed apply for their chosen college or university, the admissions team takes that the admissions process was unconstitutional due to the Federal into account test scores, GPA, extracurriculars, essays, and more. While Civil Rights Law, which outlaws such racial discrimination. While the these factors play a role in the admission of a student, the controversial Students for Fair Admissions have certainly pointed out that Harvard’s addition of the affirmative action programs has led to serious opposition goal of diversity is a key process for any university, the sole categorical toward some of the nation’s most prestigious universities. Affirmative seperation of race was the issue at hand—to separate students based on action for universities attempts to provide equal opportunities for admis- socioeconomic status and race significantly lowered the chances of some sion for underrepresented groups. students. Harvard claims that they do not use quotas or racial balancing practices. They argue that race is just one of the many factors they use However, while schools have stated that their goal is to provide in assessing an applicant, and that the Supreme Court has upheld that an elite education for the underrepresented group, students, especially practice for more than four decades. Asian-Americans, who have been denied, are frustrated. In 2014, Stu- The case is ongoing, and recently the Justice Department came out in support of the plantiff. According to CNN, Harvard said it was “deeply dissapointed” with the Justice Department for supporting Students for Fair Admissions who continues to “recycle the same misleading and hol- low arguments.” While the plaintiff has the support of the Trump administration, 500 social scientists and scholars recently wrote a brief, in which they sided with Harvard. Also, in the Harvard Political Review, Chimaoge Ibe, argued that while it is true Asian-Amerian people have historically and continue to be oppressed, the “specific claim that affirmative action discriminates against Asian students rests of faulty premises and draws attention away from the real sources of discrimation they face in the col- lege process. This narrative lends credence to racist ideas that hurt other minority groups and could ultimatley harm all non-white people.” It will be interesting to see if this issue, once again, will end up at the Supreme Court. Meanwhile, this issues hits close to home, as the Kent Denver class of 2019 is finalizign their college lists and working hard on applications. Graphic by Claudia Bautista Will Hickenlooper Run For President?

by Tate Schmergel ly support a moderate, someone in the present politics that’s somewhat of a long shot—I’ve got to do two jobs simultaneously.” Could the next POTUS be a former pub owner, ex-Governor of Colo- Opinions vary on the social-liberal and pro-business politician’s bid, rado, and hold a graduate degree in Geology? If businessman Donald seeing as he has not yet officially announced his candidancy. With this Trump can do it, then perhaps becoming POTUS is anyone’s game. continued uncertainty, only time will tell whether or not their Governor will be hitting the campaign trail in 2019. Over the course of the past several months, speculation has risen that the current Governor of Colorado, John Hickenlooper, will be a potential presidential candidate for the Democratic Party. This leaves critics ask- ing: does a small political figure from the Rocky Mountains have what it takes to run against predictded competitors including former Vice Presi- dent Joe Biden, U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders, Sen. Elizabeth Warren, and Sen. Cory Booker? Hickenlooper announced in late September that he was launching an official Federal Political Action Committee (PAC), named “Giddy Up PAC,” signifying taking the next steps towards the Democratic Party’s 2020 candidacy. His PAC will raise funds for travel and advertising, broadening his outreach and potential support if he launches an official bid. Last week, Hickenlooper told The Atlantic, “If I’m serious about run- ning for president—really giving it the thought it needs and talking to the right people and building up a network of people who would aggressive- Graphic courtesy Claudia Bautista

Page 4, THE SUN DEVILS’ ADVOCATE, October 22, 2018 Features What’s Cool In The Upper School? by Molly Miller and Janet Mcdermott

Hopes And Fears For The New School Year by Gabriella Zane Charles: My favorite classes are English experiences I’ll have this year. I’m also excited and Spanish, and I really like “The Catcher for Mandarin class, since I’m going to China With each new school year comes unique In The Rye,” which is the book we’re read- during spring break, which should be really hopes and goals for every student. For a junior, ing now. I also really like learning vocabulary fun. this could be acing their ACT. For a sopho- in Spanish class. In my freetime I like talking Daisy: This year I’m looking forward to more, it might be finally getting their licence. with my friends and listening to opera. Verdi developing both academically and socially. However, the new year also brings plenty of is good. Also, getting to know my new teachers. anxieties and fears about anything and every- Imani: I really like volleyball. I did band Ben: I’m looking forward to second semes- thing. For a senior, this could be college appli- last year and really enjoyed that, too. ter and finding out what college I’m going to cations, while for a freshman new to the high Daisy: I’m enjoying my science class and and what colleges my friends are going to. school scene, it might be handling the dramatic playing goalie in field hockey. changes from middle school. The Sun Devils’ What are you most anxious about? Advocate sat down with a student from each Ben: I like to play lacrosse, video games Charles: Geometry. I’m not the best at ge- grade to ask to them about their dreams and are fun, and messing around with the geese. I ometry. like to ski also. doubts for the coming year. Our conversations Imani: I’m pretty anxious about the PSATs with freshman Charles Dye, sophomore Imani What are you most excited for this year? this year. Andoh, junior Daisy Sharrow, and senior Ben Charles: I think I’m most excited for play- Daisy: College counseling. Flug provide a bit of insight into the mind of a ing sports and meeting new people, and for Ben: I’m anxious about what colleges I’m Kent Denver student reading new books in English. going to get into. What do you like to do? Imani: I’m looking forward to all the new THE SUN DEVILS’ ADVOCATE, October 22, 2018 Page 5 Features Burning Questions With Mr. Barocas

yearbook team behind was one of the hardest by Ben Shapiro now, I have this steady stream of students that parts of leaving Overland. come in and out of my office, and it feels normal again. Having students come by and say hi or Recently, the Sun Devils’ Advocate had the SDA: Why did you decide to come to Kent grab food with me—all those sorts of things— pleasure of meeting and interviewing Mr. Baro- Denver? are my norm. It makes me feel like I’ve been cas, Dean of the Class of 2022 and a teacher in DB: I really wanted a new professional chal- here for a long time, which is wonderful. the English department. We think you will find, lenge. I went to Overland as a student, and then as we did, that he is a great person who is eager I went back as a teacher. I’ve really never expe- SDA: Do you have any fun hobbies or interests to contribute to the Kent Denver community. rienced any other communities, and I wanted to that you’d like to share? Sun Devils’ Advocate (SDA): Where did you dive into something that was going to push me DB: I have two little kids, and that takes a lot grow up? to grow as an educator. Kent is certainly a place of my time, but family is also into traveling. We that will give me that opportunity. Kent really love becoming immersed in different cultures. Mr. Danny Barocas (DB): I’m Denver-born, values teachers and has an environment that We are big eaters. We love how food can con- and my family is from here. In fact, my great is happy and healthy and pushes you to learn. nect cultures and be a starting point for people. grandparents were born in Denver. I’ve lived That’s what brought me to Kent Denver. One of the big things we do when we travel is here my entire life. The only time I’ve actually find great food. We find restaurants that bring us lived away is when I went to college in Califor- SDA: What inspired you to become a teacher in to the core of a community. We also try to take nia for a year, but then I ended up coming back. the first place? cooking classes wherever we go. So I guess eat- I lived in Boulder, and then I moved back down DB: Eighth grade. I had a terrible teacher. I ing is my hobby, if that’s considered a hobby. I here and started teaching in Denver for twelve won’t name names, but he kicked me out of his also love photography and reading. I’m a total years, and now I’ve moved here to Kent. classroom one day and told me to never come book nerd. I love literature. SDA: What college did you attend? back. To this day, I don’t know what I did. I had an epiphany that I never wanted any other kid DB: I started at University of Southern Califor- to have an experience like that—where they’d nia, and then I transferred to CU Boulder. fear coming into class, where they wouldn’t feel SDA: Where did you work prior to coming to welcome. From there on, everything I did was Kent? about learning how to work with young people DB: I spent all twelve years at Overland High and be the teacher that I wanted kids to have. School which is in the Cherry Creek School dis- I also had an amazing English teacher in high trict. school who gave me a love of literature, and that’s what pushed me towards teaching Eng- SDA: What was your favorite experience from lish. working at Overland? SDA: How has your transition to Kent commu- DB: While there were a ton of things I loved nity been for you? about Overland, the one thing that stands out was the time I spent as yearbook advisor. Work- DB: At this point in the year, I’m really start- ing on the yearbook was special because it was ing to feel comfortable. I think the first couple a program that I ran along with the kids. I trav- of weeks—just like they would for anybody— eled with them, worked closely with them, and were a little nerve wracking. You really don’t watched them grow as leaders. Leaving the know what your place is or what your job is. But Photo by Caroline Casey Kent Community Welcomes Prospective Families

Photos by Andrew Goldblatt Page 6, THE SUN DEVILS’ ADVOCATE, October 22, 2018 Sports Football Selects ‘Trust’ As Their Season Motto the game, Coach Yates gathered us in the team room and announced, by Ben Hawley “The only people who think you can win this game are the people in this room,” reminding us that believing in one another is what’s most Momentum — a course of emotions pumping through your veins important — and that’s exactly what we did. We watched a film, focused — is so tangible, you can feel it. That’s how every football game feels: on finding weaknesses in the opponent, and addressed problems we had high energy, high stakes, and high rewards. To get to game day and fare the week prior. It was hard work, but, by game day, we were ready. We well against the opponent, a lot of preparation is required. Everyone on knew our job was to play smart, disciplined football, and we trusted each the team must commit to watching film and studying responsibilities, other to get the job done. The team’s preparation and focus paid off, coverages, zones, plays, and strengths and weaknesses of the opponents. as we played better than anyone expected and defeated the Bulldogs in Everyone on the team must give it their all at every practice, or the team overtime. During our post game meeting, Coach Yates informed us that won’t be prepared. “Do your job,” our coaches regularly remind us. we had just beaten a team that had been in the 4A conference team a After losing many starters to colleges this year, “do your job” be- year ago. came a lot more serious and developed into our new team motto, “Trust.” This is why I love and play football. Regardless of the playing time or Trust your teammates, trust yourself, and trust the coaches. So far that the position, there is so much to be learned: how to come back in the face trust has gone a long way, taking the KDS football team to a 6-1 record of adversity, stay calm under pressure, compete to win, play by the rules, while fostering improvement on all sides of the ball. work hard, study, apply knowledge to a situation, experiment, work with Our recent win over Pueblo Centennial Bulldogs in overtime was a team for a common goal, and improve from week to week. These les- a great demonstration of the new motto in action. One week before sons are vital and have helped me both in school and in life.

Photos courtesy of Kelsey Shankle Boys’ Tennis Seeks Their Sixth State Victory

by Arman Kian along well and pump each other up,” Johnson they will improve during the state matches. stated. “And we laugh a lot.” This year, Coach The team participated in both the regional As the current holders of five consecutive Dan has been working with the team as the tournament and smaller matches in early Octo- state titles, the varsity tennis team is looking assistant varsity coach. Both Randy and Dan ber to prepare for the state tournament. for their sixth state victory this year. Randy have been very intense and rigorous coaches, KDS tennis players are extremely fortunate Ross, the head varsity coach, has been work- preparing the team for matches against their this year to practice on Kent Denver’s seven ing with the tennis team for years and has led high-level competitors. brand new tennis courts, which were finished the team to success every season. Freshman Already at the start of October, the tennis this summer. The new courts are a significant Henry Johnson says, “Randy is a great coach; team is preparing for their last weeks of tour- upgrade from the old dilapidated tennis courts he doesn’t just tell us how to beat our oppo- naments and matches. The team will have their that were used previously. nents, he helps us figure out how to play. He state match in Pueblo on October 13th. As their 2018 season comes to an end, keeps us in line but also jokes around with us.” Due to the loss of many previous varsity the tennis team is prepared to perform well at New varsity players comprise approxi- players. some members of the team are unsure state, where they hope to take home their sixth mately half of the team this year, so it is impor- if they will be able to keep their winning streak consecutive state title. tant that the players work well with each other this year. KDS lost to Colorado Academy ear- and with the coach. “It’s a lot of fun. We all get lier in the season, but they are confident that

THE SUN DEVILS’ ADVOCATE, October 22, 2018 Page 7 Sports Boys’ Soccer Looks To Regain State Title

by Megan Elmer and Ben Filerman pride taken from us because we felt like we had let the players on the previous Kent teams down.” However, this year’s Kent Denver team is focused on starting a new streak. The team is off to an undefeated start, Last season ended in heartbreak for the Kent Denver boys’ soccer largely in part to the contributions from players across the roster and team, losing in a penalty shootout in the semi-finals against their bitter their chemistry on and off the field. Thomas concludes that the internal rivals, Colorado Academy. When asked about the loss, senior forward dynamic within the team is one of the big reasons for their success, say- Josh Melvin stated, “It was definitely a hard pill to swallow, especially ing, “Everybody on the team gets along. At the end of the day, we all losing in the way that we did. I think anybody who has played a sport love going out onto the field and playing soccer.” at Kent could tell you, you never want to lose to CA.” To make matters more painful, this gut wrenching loss also snapped a streak of 63 con- Along with the united team dynamic, the adverse end of last year’s secutive wins by the Sun Devils, dating back to the fall of 2015. season has motivated the players to work even harder to regain the state title. According to junior goalie Joey Waldbaum, “Many of us feel that Junior captain and midfielder, Spencer Thomas, who was a part of we have unfinished business to take care of this year.” With great team the 2016 State Championship team, described his feelings on the streak chemistry, skilled players, and a determined mindset, the soccer team terminating and stating, “It was hard to deal with. There was a sense of looks strong as they head into the end of the 2018 season.

Photos by Lilian Kim Field Hockey Dribbles Into the Playoffs Looking forward to the rest of the season, Madeleine Hunt says, by Caroline Shay and Sofia Palumbo “I think we’re a really strong team and we have a lot of energy go- ing into the second half of the season, which is really important.” With Kent Denver Field Hockey is off to another impressive start this fall. high-stakes games coming up against Palmer Ridge, East High School, So far, they have won nine of their eleven games, including impressive Arapahoe High School, and Cherry Creek High School, it is crucial that victories over Colorado Academy, Mountain Vista, and St. Mary’s Acad- the team keeps up the strong work ethic and continues their success in emy. Under the leadership of long-time coach Kathy James, the team order to receive a good seed in playoffs. Junior defender Olivia Choi looks poised to go into playoffs with a strong ranking. Senior captain hopes that “the team finishes really strong and makes it all the way to the Madeleine Hunt has led the team in goals and assists, with twelve goals finals again!” The team looks to repeat their 2016 victory by claiming and nine assists. Fellow captain Megan Elmer continues to be a strong the 2018 state title. force in the midfield, totaling five assists so far. Junior goalkeeper Daisy Sharrow has had an outstanding season thus far with 38 saves and strong communication with her teammates. Not only has the team been successful on the field, but they have also formed strong friendships and bonds with one another off the field. The team chemistry is very strong, which translates well during games. Sophomore Eleanor Hunt says of the team, “Being the only sophomore on the team is super fun because I get to play alongside my sister and a bunch of other awesome juniors and seniors. They all inspire me ev- eryday to push myself and play my best.” It is important for the team to have a strong relationship off the field in order to work together well when they are playing.

Page 8, THE SUN DEVILS’ ADVOCATE, October 22, 2018 Sports Athletes Reflect On Valuable Sports Experiences from 1994-1996 at the University of Arizona. opportunities to arise.” by Riley DiGiulio and Emma Murphy Garfoot expresses how she has no regrets in With both past and current Kent alumni and her career, saying, “It made me feel like I was At Kent Denver, where every student is faculty to represent female athletics, we have a unique part of the university, which was really encouraged to participate in athletics, student a lot to be proud of as a community. It will be cool.” Her soccer career is an accomplishment athletes develop deep and long-lasting relation- exciting to see how collegiate athletics will con- that she will always be so proud of because it ships with their teammates and with the sport. tinue to evolve. taught her the value of hard work. Many faculty members and alumni share this connection to their respective sports. Alumna While both the game and the culture of Sage DiGiulio, from the Class of 2017, has car- women’s collegiate soccer has changed from ried her passion for soccer from DeSo field to Garfoot’s time to DiGiulio’s, the players’ love of the collegiate level at Colgate University. Still the game has stayed the same. Garfoot discusses to this day, DiGiulio names the greatest moment how the sport has changed over the years. Ac- in her soccer career as the moment she won the cording to Garfoot, women’s soccer has grown State Championship at Dicks Sporting Goods to be more competitive and challenging since with the Kent Denver soccer team. She says, her time playing at high levels. However, she “My favorite part was being able to play with explains, “It would be an incredible experi- my sister!” She still remembers the close bonds ence for my children to play in college, but it with her teammates, who were her “immediate is a commitment and needs to be something friends that turned into another family.” that they really want to do and a sport that they love.” DiGiulio foresees the future of women’s DiGiulio is not the only KDS collegiate soc- athletics in general changing. “I believe that cer player. Current Kent Denver science teacher women’s sports will become more equal to their Kristy Garfoot also played women’s soccer Photo courtesy of Sage DiGiulio male equivalent, and this will allow for greater Serena Williams Returns To The Spotlight Mouratoglou, give a thumbs up. Later, Mouratoglou admitted to coach- by Annie Mei Manassee ing Serena by gesturing for her to move farther back from the baseline, but Serena was offended that the umpire would think her capable of For a long time, “Best Athlete” awards have always gone to men. cheating. Serena went down 3-2 in the second set, and right before she Why is that? Female athletes are just as dedicated and work just as hard returned to her chair for the changeover, she smashed her racquet on the in their sports as male athletes do. Serena Williams has climbed up from court, breaking another rule of women’s tennis. Umpire Carlos Ramos the bottom to reach the top in the world of tennis. She has claimed 23 issued a her a second code violation, to which Serena did not react, as Grand Slam titles, the second-most titles won in women’s singles grand she understood the rule. slam history. Many recognize her success, but few know the true extent Finally, Serena was down 4-3, on another changeover. She ap- of her accomplishments. proached the chair umpire and demanded an apology from him, claim- In January of 2018, Williams began her comeback season after ma- ing, “You stole a point from me,” and calling Ramos “a thief.” Ramos re- ternity leave. It started out slow, as she struggled to regain strength after sponded by penalizing her for verbal abuse, marking her third violation. having numerous complications while giving birth, but she eventually When a player reaches their third violation, their opponent is awarded got her groove back. Serena’s tenacity and commitment brought her an entire game. After this exchange between Serena and Ramos, she was to the US Open, the final Grand Slam of the year. She made her way down 5-3. through the early rounds into the final against Naomi Osaka, a young This score change confused the crowd just as much as it confused Japanese-Haitian player who has been rising in the ranks for the past Serena. She called out to her manager, trying make sense of it all. Many year. Naomi won the match, making her the first Japanese woman to people believe there was sexism at play, as male players have said much win a Grand Slam. However, the match involved some controversy that worse than “thief” to their umpires without receiving a code violation. marred both players’ accomplishments. Serena cried at her chair, stating that it was unfair. Meanwhile, Naomi The US Open is the last grand slam of the year, and it is held in New Osaka was just points away from winning her first grand slam. She kept York. Tennis fans were excited to see if Serena could pull off another her cool and maintained focus, and a few moments later, she was named grand slam—her first since returning from maternity leave. There is no the 2018 US Open Champion. doubt that the majority of the crowd in the stadium was rooting for her. Naomi will never again have the feeling of winning her first grand She lost the first set 6-2, Naomi dominating the match from the first ball. slam. She will associate winning her first grand slam with these contro- In the second game of the second set, chair umpire Carlos Ramos gave versial incidents. Not only is this unacceptable, but it is ultimately sad- Serena a coaching violation, which means that a coach is caught giving dening. It is the dream of any tennis player’s life to win a grand slam, and advice to the player during the match from the player’s box. In women’s it was very special for Naomi to win it over Serena Williams, who she tennis, the only time players are allowed coaching during a match is dur- named as one of her role models. Now, the win is marred by controversy. ing a changeover, and this is only permissible if a player explicitly asks This should have been a celebration of two women of color competing in to see her coach. This coaching allowance is only afforded to female the final of a grand slam, representing the progress this country has made. tennis players —no such rule exists in men’s tennis. Serena Williams Instead, it will go down as a match full of tense booing and negativity. became visibly irritated, claiming to have only seen her coach, Patrick THE SUN DEVILS’ ADVOCATE, October 22, 2018 Page 9 Sports Rock Climbers Come Together And Build Strength The rock climbers meet twice a week at the a solo sport, the Kent Denver team has a great by Claire Payne and Alex Mayer Earth Treks Englewood Gym to practice on the sense of comradery. According to Mr. Modak, challenging walls. There are two types of rock “The atmosphere is the most important part Kent is filled with an array of teams that climbing that are available for competitions: of the competition. Although everyone is try- allow kids to explore their athletic passions, bouldering and rope climbing. Bouldering is a ing to win, there is so much comradery and from the field to the pool. One team that has re- type of climbing that is done without the help friendliness with the other teams. The routes cently gained momentum is the rock climbing of ropes, usually on lower walls. Bouldering are often so hard that it takes the ideas of a team coached by Spanish teacher Mark Mo- competitors will try to climb the hardest path- whole group of athletes to figure out the best dak. After interviewing Mr. Modak, it is clear ways, some of which are almost upside down. way to approach them. That’s what makes it how exciting and enjoyable the rock climbing It takes a lot of confidence to be able to boul- so much fun!” team is. The growing team is a great place to der with no mode of attachment to the wall, participate in a low commitment sport, meet People of all different levels of climbing but the athletes are given plenty of support by new people, and learn or strengthen this fun take part in the team, making it very inclusive. their teammates and coach. When competitors skill. There are some individuals who spend a large do fall while bouldering, they luckily land on part of their week climbing indoors and out- The rock climbing coach, Mr. Modak, has mats below. doors, and some lower level participants who a passion for rock climbing that he discovered The rope climbers climb walls that can be only show up for the two practices. Either way, 5 years ago, and he has been climbing ever 65 feet tall, all while being harnessed in. There each participant can expand upon their climb- since. He explained that the sport “isn’t about are walls consisting of different levels depend- ing skills and be a part of a diverse and com- beating other people; it’s just about you and ing on the path taken up. With such high and prehensive team. Rock climbing is one of the the rock and how much you can make your challenging walls, rope climbers have to be be- few sports that doesn’t have an ideal type of body do. It is about overcoming fears, over- layed up the wall and must have complete faith person for the task. Individuals of all different coming failure (there is a lot of falling in rock in the person holding the rope at the bottom. ages, heights, and experience levels are able climbing), and working with friends.” With That way, if they do slip, their teammate will to compete and have the opportunity to place. his passion for the sport, he is able to lead the prevent them from falling by holding the other Because of this, the team is simply filled with team through practices and competitions and end of the rope. people ready to get a workout and a thrill. bring them all together with their shared love for rock climbing. Even though rock climbing is technically

Photos by Andrew Goldblatt Page 10, THE SUN DEVILS’ ADVOCATE, October 22, 2018 Arts and Entertainment Kent Welcomes New Band Director by Charlotte Mauger and Courtney Hancock rado Denver for ten years. Although he thoroughly enjoyed his time with college-aged students, Mr. Adams notes that the group-centered atmosphere of high school classrooms is more collaborative and inter- The lively performances put on by the Kent Denver bands—Soul’d active than the one-on-one university setting. Simply put, Mr. Adams Out, The Azucatones, and Quincy Avenue—at the Kent Denver Open describes the high school environment as “more fun.” Despite this dif- House in September served testament that Kent’s new band director, Mr. ference between high school and college bands, Mr. Adams finds that Adams, is more than capable of filling the large shoes that previous di- they are “more similar than different,” and ultimately hopes to inspire rector, Mr. Holly, left behind. musical careers from all of his students. Mr. Adams’ skill and expertise as a musician began to develop at a Prior to his appointment as head of the Kent Denver band program, young age. As a child, he was enticed by the “flashy lights” and “shiny Mr. Adams grew fond of the positive attitudes of high school students objects” that he saw while passing by music stores. When he first stepped through the private instrumental tutoring that he offered to nearly thirty into one of these stores, somebody approached him to offer him organ Kent students. He says that, during his time so far as a formal faculty lessons. These lessons would become the first stepping stone in a path member, he has most admired the spirits of teamwork and collaboration that led him to a degree in jazz piano. that Kent Denver students exhibit. However, in high school, Mr. Adams began to find the instrument Mr. Adams has big dreams for the future of the band program at “nerdy” and transitioned to playing the trombone. He quickly applied Kent. He wants not only to keep the bands performing at the same level the same judgement to the trombone and switched to the trumpet, which that they did under Mr. Holly’s guidance, but to expand the program. He he played in his high school’s marching band. Though he enjoyed the hopes to prepare students for different aspects of the music industry. The instrument, he describes his experience in the marching band as a “drag” addition of a digital music studio including a “piano lab,” which would due to the cold temperatures and tedious marching routines. include pianos connected to computers that compose music, is only one Now, well into his professional career, Mr. Adams is an experienced of his many dreams for the program. The future of the band program in performer and teacher. Before his transition to Kent Denver, Mr. Ad- the hands of Mr. Adams certainly looks bright! ams worked at Metro State University and at the University of Colo- Taking A Critical Look At ‘Crazy Rich Asians’ by Chris Tsai movie. which he had summoned Rachel’s mother to “Crazy Rich Asians” also neglects to con- Singapore. The movie “Crazy Rich Asians” came to vey and create conflict and themes in a mean- “Crazy Rich Asians” is not meant to be theaters in August surrounded by hype and ingful way. It leaves too many open doors, a profound or well-developed movie. It is great ratings. Proponents for increased diver- and it only details superficial traits of the a ploy used by a white Hollywood to make sity in entertainment were thrilled that Holly- characters. The movie lacks a necessary in- money. The prospect of increased minority wood was finally putting the spotlight on the troduction exploring the economics and pro- representation in the film industry seems to Asian race. fessions of main characters Rachel Chu and fascinate Americans, and the general view- The movie is filled with a star-studded, Nick Young, really only naming Rachel’s job ing population’s initial excitement to see rep- all-Asian cast, ranging from ABC’s “Fresh ­— Professor of Game Theory — before mov- resentation on the silver screen blinds them off the Boat” actress Constance Wu (Rachel ing on to the topic of Nick’s extreme wealth. from the flaws of the film. Chu), budding actor Henry Golding (Nick However, several plot points in the film “Crazy Rich Asians,” although integral in Young), and the famous comedian Ken Jeong are based off their professions, including the progression of the movie industry, simply (Goh Wye Mun). Simply put, however, this is Nick’s desire to stay in the United States exploits the novelty of an all-Asian cast to a disappointing movie. rather than to take over his estate in Singa- cover up obvious plot flaws. The romantic comedy fails to focus on pore and Rachel’s triumphant mahjongg one central idea and instead flits from scenes game against Nick’s mother. This leads me to of beautiful Singapore to crazy bachelor and believe that the professional aspect of Chu’s bachelorette parties to Rachel Chu’s (Con- identity could have been explored further. stance Wu) attempts to integrate into her boy- Another vital plot point left unaddressed friend’s wealthy family. Because of this, the is Rachel’s relationship with her mom. While film’s overarching themes are subtle and dif- Chu continually expresses her respect and ficult to ascertain. love for her mother, the only scene in which The deepest character development and the audience sees them together is in a brief conflict, found in the friction between Rachel interaction at Rachel’s friend, Goh Peik Lin’s Chu and Eleanor Young (Michelle Yeoh), re- (Awkwafina) house. garding Rachel’s and Nick Young’s potential In this scene, Rachel’s mother describes marriage, are drowned by the expensive par- her justification for leaving Rachel’s bio- ties and tours of the crazy spendings of Asian logical father after Rachel’s birth, and there Graphic by Annie Manassee families. The numerous distractions cause the is only a short exchange of real emotion be- film to stray from its most touching,- relat tween the two before the focus shifts back to able themes and break the general flow of the Nick Young and the extravagant manner in THE SUN DEVILS’ ADVOCATE, October 22, 2018 Page 11 Arts and Entertainment Losing Interest In The Emmys and witty song dubbed “We Fixed it.” In the the lowest live viewers in the past couple de- by Cassidy Mott opening number, Kristen Bell, Kate McKin- cades or so. According to CNN Money, aver- The 70th annual Emmy Awards left view- non, Kenan Thompson, Tituss Burgess, Ster- aging around 10.2 million viewers, the 2018 ers with witty comedic musical numbers, a ling K. Brown, and John Legend sarcastically Emmys had 11% less viewers than they had controversial monologue, and a heartfelt pro- sang about how the problem of representation in last year’s audience. As stated above, this is posal. Following the opening musical number, of minorities in the Emmys has been solved, not unique to just the Emmys, many other live a monologue by the show’s hosts, Colin Jost and as we all know- it most certainly has not. televised event ratings have dropped signifi- and Michael Che, who are not new to the world While some young faces like Freddie Hig- cantly in the past few years, pushing the price of political comedy. While the monologue gar- more and Kit Harrington received nomina- for televised ads down and decreasing revenue nered some praise, some critics called it lack- tions, the Emmys in general favored industry for networks like ABC and FOX. luster and boring. As hosts of SNL’s Weekend veterans. The television industry is larger than Overall, the way people view the Emmys Update, Jost and Che have been satirizing it has ever been before, making the selection is changing. Representation, along with a fast politics for over three years now, even host- even more competitive. The nominations for changing world of technology, is weakening ing an extended version of Weekend Update, the the 2018 awards were announced July the overall interest in the award night. Extreme the Weekend Update Summer Edition, due to 12, 2018 by Samira Wiley and Ryan Eggold. changes could be necessary in order for inter- public demand. Each series had a competitive, stunning list est to increase, or the world may lose this long The night seemed to be dwindling down of nominations, and an even more impressive held tradition. when Glenn Weiss won the award for Out- pool of winners, most notably including “The standing Directing for a Comedy Special. Af- Marvelous Mrs. Maisel” as best Comedy Se- ter receiving the award, Weiss proposed to his ries, Claire Foy as best lead actress in a Drama long-term girlfriend, Jan Svendsen, who, after Series, “Game of Thrones” as best Drama Se- running onstage, said yes. This impromptu ries, and Bill Hader as lead actor in a Comedy proposal left many with a feeling of romanti- Series. While the winners deserved their victo- cism and true love; however Weiss’s daughters ries, the majority were older than thirty, which were, according to the Daily Mail, apparently makes it incredibly hard for younger views to very surprised by their father’s proposal. They gain interest when they have no one to whom were reportedly “completely blindsided”- they can relate. along with the audience. While the online television industry is Unfortunately, many teenagers find it hard growing, live television viewing is on the de- to relate to the Emmys due to their lack of rep- cline. Many consumers hold subscriptions to resentation, not just by age, but racially. The services like Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon Prime 2018 Emmys started off with an entertaining and find live television useless. This may be one of the reasons why the 2018 Emmys had Graphic by Claudia Bautista Denver Draws Big Name Artists by Matthew Klein to Denver, even the Pepsi Center was too small with its own struggles: after five songs, Lipa for her set. Her show performed at Mile High was ushered off stage by her team and the au- From Taylor Swift and Sam Smith to Kha- Stadium in May with over 50,000 fans in atten- dience stood for twenty minutes in confusion. lid and Bruno Mars, Denver has become a dance. The trouble with such a large audience When she finally came back on stage, tears hotspot for top concerts in the nation. The de- is the amount of money that audience members streaming down her face, she explained that mand for highly-attended events seems to be must pay to get good seats. she could not go on without risking complete at an all-time high, which has in turn increased Tickets are becoming increasingly expen- hearing loss in one ear from an ear infection. the demand for the number of popular artists sive; seats in which you can watch the actual Although devastating, the concert was seam- playing in the city. singer instead of having to look at the jumbo- lessly rescheduled to December 10, 2018, and Denver’s best venues—Red Rocks, the tron for the entirety of the concert often cost everyone with tickets to the first show will be Pepsi Center, and Mile High Stadium, to name upwards of eight hundred dollars. allowed in without extra charge. a few—draw many artists to our state. Their Concerts at smaller, more traditionally Despite the rare incidences of concert capacities to seat thousands of concert-goers “Denver” venues, tend to host small to mid- drama like Lipa’s, Denver concerts are always make these venues extremely attractive to art- name artists with better seats and lower prices. a hit. They draw audiences from all over the ists looking to make money and increase their Troye Sivan, Børns, and James Bay will all be state and even the country. Upcoming Denver popular support. performing at the Fillmore this October and concerts include Jessie J, Owl City, Foo Fight- However, an increase in big name artists general admissions tickets rarely reach one ers, Noah Cyrus, Skizzy Mars, Borns, Chris- doesn’t always mean good things. These art- hundred dollars. tina Aguilera, Troye Sivan, Years and Years, ists, as they attract wider audiences, require When Dua Lipa graced Denver with her Passenger, James Bay, Twenty One Pilots, these larger spaces to perform, leaving Den- performance at the Fillmore in June, tickets Snakehips, Iggy Azalea, Fleetwood Mac, In- ver’s most classic venues, such as the Fill- sold for only about sixty dollars. The Fill- grid Michaelson, Childish Gambino, and Tra- more, The Ogden, and sometimes even Red more offered an up-close and personal view of vis Scott. Rocks, in the dust. When Taylor Swift came Lipa’s performance; however, the night came Page 12, THE SUN DEVILS’ ADVOCATE, October 22, 2018 Arts and Entertainment Grandoozy Averts Disaster by Olivia Choi Being Colorado’s first music festival of this size, Grandoozy did have a few kinks, but the Grandoozy team plans on connecting with the city and neighbors to get feedback on how they can improve for Red Rocks has always been one of Colorado’s largest concert ven- future years. One of the major problems was the transportation system. ues, but Grandoozy, a new music festival, attracted tens of thousands of According to 5280 Magazine, the first night was a “disaster”; however, people to Overland Golf Course in mid-September, giving Red Rocks Grandoozy made adjustments for the following two nights to make ev- a competitor in the area of large scale concert venues. Grandoozy, a erything smoother. multi-stage music festival, brought together music fans, incredible food trucks, and performances from some of the biggest names in music. Next year, Grandoozy plans to transition away from paper tickets to- wards wristbands, change the transportation services to Overland Golf Grandoozy was originally intended to take place in City Park; how- Course, and add a fourth main stage, which would bring more acts. ever, the festival would have taken over the surrounding neighbourhood, the zoo, and the museum. Eventually, Overland Golf Course was cho- sen as a superior venue. Grandoozy made deals with Denver’s Special Events Office to protect the space, making roadways out of mats, and placing tires to protect the turf. Maximum attendance per day was set at 80,000, and the city collected a ten percent tax on the ticket sales. The outcome was incredible. More than 55,000 people attended; there was amazing music, delicious food, incredible fireworks, ideal weather, and smooth scheduling. With three main stages and multiple smaller venues, fans were never bored. Appearances from Kendrick La- mar, Florence + the Machine, Stevie Wonder, the Chainsmokers, Young the Giant, Miguel, Ty Dolla $ign, Bishop Briggs, 6lack, Logic and more wowed the crowd. Grandoozy also made an effort to highlight local bands including Dragondeer, Flaural and Amzy. Non-music activities included yoga, carnival games, and panel con- versations. Food tents from Illegal Pete’s, Snooze, Comal, Sweet Cow, and more kept the attendees well-fed. Kent Denver junior, Olivia Co- hen, says that her best memory from Grandoozy was, “watching Stevie Wonder perform. He’s a legend in music and it was an amazing show.” Graphic by Melanie Hancock ‘White Boy Rick’ Fails High Expectations although seeming as though they would be major events, are given little by Zachariah Schlichting attention in the plot. Despite these negatives, the acting in the film prevails through its It is seldom that I see a movie trailer that sticks in my mind so mediocre dialogue and weak plot. What should have been a 10/10 is no strongly that I anticipate it for three months prior to its release. How- more than a 7/10 in my book. ever, this was the case with “White Boy Rick.” The movie possessed all the elements for an American classic: a kid, at the ripe age of fifteen, who gets mixed up in the world of drugs and violence in Detroit during the 1980s. But when I finally saw the movie and the credits rolled, I couldn’t help but feeling like there was a number of missed opportunities in the script and plot structure. It struggled to maintain my attention due to a constant change in scenery and lack of resolution in plot lines. With so many incredible parts to the real life story, the director, Yann Demange, only scratches the surface of the most intriguing subplots. A better explanation of the distribution of money and drugs between the different gangs would have explained why the main character’s best friend shoots him, which seemed to be a senseless plot twist in the middle of the movie. Later on, following a car crash on a snowy night, the father, played by Matthew McConaughey, finally agrees to let his son sell drugs to provide for the family. This should have been a huge turning point in the story, yet in the very next scene, he has immediately risen to the top of the drug selling ranks and is considered the “top dog” in the area. With no montage of his rise to success, the audience is left feeling no attachment to the character or his newfound stardom. Mixed into the Graphic by Claudia Bautista equation is an unplanned pregnancy and a drug-addicted sister which, THE SUN DEVILS’ ADVOCATE, October 22, 2018 Page 13 Commentary Defending The New ID Cards In February of this year, Dr. Harrington still does not have scanners, the dining hall remains curiously unlocked, announced to the upper school student and nobody is certain of the repercussions of an obscured, hidden, or body that the following school year, all missing ID card. The learning curve was immense, and frustrations over students, visitors, and faculty would require inconsistencies in the system are undeniably valid. school issued identification cards to access The way the administration introduced the “ID Card Plan” all campus buildings and facilities. At the obfuscates its implementation. ID Cards are caught somewhere between time, no student really batted an eye, partly conversations about school safety and the desire to prepare students for because of the timing: tragic school shootings the workforce and college campuses. Both conversations are legitimate, catalyzed nationwide conversations about and we should not let the added inconvenience inhibit this dialogue. school security, and partly because the plan Crucially, however, ID cards are also important for a reason subtler than was simply far away from implementation. school security or preparing for college: they serve to help breakdown Daniel Chao At the beginning of the 2018-2019 school the carefree apathy some have, unintentionally, developed towards our Commentary year, elements of daily ID card usage slowly campus. trickled into the lives of the student body. The It is woefully easy to take our campus’ incredible beauty for granted, Duncan Center and IIT staffed introduced changes to the Duncan Center, and until August we were mostly able to roam free between buildings, requiring print jobs be “released” with a student’s ID card. Deans handed paying little to no attention to the incredible and tiring work of the out newly printed IDs and lanyards to students, while administrators administration and maintenance crews working to keep our spaces clean, announced students would be required to have IDs visible at all times. our students safe, and our campus beautiful. ID Cards help us realize The Business and Development Office dispatched an all-school email, there is something in these hallways and classrooms worth protecting detailing when and how ID cards could be used to enter school buildings. and keeping safe. They force us to respect our surroundings, our learning Finally, on August 29, 2018, the doors locked. spaces, and our friends. Frankly, the rollout started with a whimper. One door at the entrance The minor inconveniences of carrying around an ID card should not near the bank never locked properly, the entrance to the science atrium undermine its importance. Drug Culture Permeates The Entertainment Industry If you have heard songs such as “Can’t Feel of the person that necessarily determines this universal celebrity ideal My Face” by the Weeknd or seen the popular but the nature of the profession. Because musicians and actors’ success movies such as “The Wolf of Wall Street” is completely dependent upon their acceptance and popularity among the or “Pulp Fiction,” you have undoubtedly general population, drug abuse seems to many to be the only escape from noticed the universal idolization of drugs the high stress and low self-esteem of many media stars. Despite this in the media. In the modern entertainment stress and thirst for acceptance, the industry remains circular: the music industry—and even in the entertainment of and films created by influential people such as these, filled with intriguing previous generations—their influence seems references to drugs and alcohol, return to the impressionable population ubiquitous. Yet, it seems as though for every and only increase demand for the perpetuation of drug culture. popular song or film that features recreational However, the drug problem in the entertainment industry is not drug use as a major theme, the public hears necessarily a lightless tunnel. In the past few years, the possibility for Olivia Cohen the news of some celebrity who has struggled recovery from addiction and the promotion of self-care have become with, or even passed away as a result of, drug Commentary broad themes among celebrities. Actor Samuel L. Jackson says that, abuse. Artists such as Elvis Presley, Whitney despite popular misconceptions, his substance abuse had been preventing Houston, Marilyn Monroe, and most recently the acceleration of his career. He said in an interview with The Guardian, Lil Peep and Mac Miller, have fallen victim to addiction due to drug “I was doing things the right way, it was just that one thing that was in the glorification in the entertainment industry. way — my addiction. And once that was out of the way, it was — boom! It is difficult for consumers to place these two groups into the same The door blew wide open.” category. On one hand, the entertainment industry produces a halo of the Although drug and alcohol abuse has shifted from a symbol of possibilities of success, money, and fun around the recreational use of power and social relevance to a problem solvable through self-support is drugs. On the other hand, the same men and women who idealize drug encouraging, it still highlights a major flaw in the modern entertainment abuse are those who often pay the prices in the form of their hard-earned industry. The rudimentary necessity of taking care of our own bodies respect, their careers, and their lives. And, even though the deaths of and treating ourselves with respect depends upon whether self-care is huge stars due to drug overdose shake the entertainment industry and “in fashion” or not is an aspect of modern social structure that is deeply the nation, their coverage and popularity go out of fashion like any other concerning and unlikely to change in the near future. Nonetheless, it trend. More often than not, the drug-glorifying movies and music that is possible that the tide is shifting from substance abuse and toward celebrities produce stand the test of time even when these artists do not. recovery, which is a monumental step in the right direction. The general The issue of drug representation in the media is nearly impossible to population has a role in the success of this process. By continuing to address because of its massive scale. In a world where many entertainers advocate for the end of drug culture and offering support to those seem to strive for a eulogy that includes the phrase “live fast; die young,” suffering from addiction, the public may have a hand in the change in actors and artists who engage in drug-centered lifestyles seem, from the values of the entertainment industry. outside, to represent a self-selected group. However, it is not the nature

Page 14, THE SUN DEVILS’ ADVOCATE, October 22, 2018 Commentary Paying The Way To Governor By now, we have all heard about the gov- than $1 million into their own campaign. But if every candidate is seem- ernor’s race in Colorado, whether we are ac- ingly wealthy and every candidate has, as we’ve seen in the primary race, tively rooting for one candidate or just hear- put more than $1 million into their campaign, what would this initiative ing about it when it comes on the news. The really do? midterm elections are coming up quickly on We have followed this race for months now, watching candidates fight November 6, 2018, and the race continues their way and spend dollar after dollar for a position that pays $90,000, a between U.S. Representative Jared Polis and salary that wouldn’t make a dent in campaign debts for a few years. Thus, State Treasurer Walker Stapleton. On the sur- it seems these positions of power will only be reserved for the wealthy face level, this election simply represents a for now. This money, coming from outside groups as well as the inside fight for governor of Colorado through poli- campaign team, is being spent on political ads, often targeting other can- tics and issues. Throughout many elections, didates, funding other media tactics, events, travel, research, and more. such as the one four years ago with Bob Beau- Emily Hogan The Colorado gubernatorial race is the perfect example of a race of the prez and John Hickenlooper, we have seen a wealthy, as massive amounts of money have been utilized to fund it. At Commentary harsh fight to the finish with the competitors some point, it becomes unfair to the candidates who have a message but debating each other over issues and parties are not as wealthy. Additionally, with only the wealthy in power, who is and politics. But what is the cost? there to represent the lower income families and even the middle class? In the gubernatorial primary race, by July there was a total of $26 mil- We have seen all too often that the wealthy support the bills and proposi- lion spent by 8 total candidates, more than all of the candidates in 2010 tions and issues that help them. Politics is relative, so if wealthy people and 2014 combined. That doesn’t include the $1.4 million raised by the are constantly in power, we are left with a cycle that can seem impossible 6 candidates who dropped out before July. Jared Polis, who won the pri- to break: money gets put into elections, and those who don’t want to or mary in June, spent over $11 million of that money. By August, Polis had can’t put in money get eliminated. spent around $13 million, with Stapleton far behind, only spending about The truth is that it is costly to become a candidate, and it is costly to $2.5 million. Half of Stapleton’s money came from his own pocket, but show yourself to the public. Money will always be a very important fac- only in the later stages in the race. Those who had spent more of their tor in politics, and it doesn’t seem likely that that will change anytime own money in the primary were observed to have lost quickly. However, soon, but it is important to wonder if the current system of candidates there are efforts to level the playing field; Initiative 173, which Polis and being allowed to fund their own races with so few limits is undermining Stapleton both support, allows candidates to accept five times the amount our democracy. of campaign contributions normally allowed if their opponent puts more Senior Class Presidents Reflect On The Class Theme by Emma Adelstein and Josh Hascall bridges, not tearing them down. We want to make Kent a place where our differences can be a tool used to build an even more diverse and On the first day of school, senior all-school presidents Emma expansive community. It is the goal of this senior class to focus not on Adelstein and Josh Hascall gave a speech to the entire community: tearing each other down, but building each other up. Construct a new friendship with an underclassman. Seniors, build strong relationships “Ladies, gentlemen, deans, students, administrators, teachers, with your teachers; support this community with an endless amount of parents, anyone happening to listen in who does not affiliate with any school spirit. This year we aim to bring more happiness to Kent by using of those categories, we are here before you to express our excitement school spirit, endless support, and new traditions as our tools. towards building a new year with this fantastic Kent Denver community. Emma and I stand here representing our class, featuring some of the most As we all know, in order to build something that is going to last, it notable builders and creators. Some are revered by society as the great takes a long time. Kent is constantly changing, but in order to build the builders of our past. Others represent what we believe as builders in our best community we can, we need to work to create a strong foundation current lives. And some are even the builders of aesthetic and muscular and begin to evoke new changes. It may take time, but with each of you perfection. All of us are here today to help “construct” a fantastic 2018- we can make it last. Kent Denver is naturally a community of builders 2019 school year for you, our Kent Denver community. and creators, and we know that with each of you we can build the best year yet. So, let’s give it up for the class of 2019, all of you, and having Kent Denver has a strong foundation because it is built up of the strongest year yet!” individuals with an aspiration to learn. With that, we want to welcome the new 6th graders, teachers, and anyone else who is just coming into our community. We would also like to thank CMC and Semple Brown for helping build Kent Denver’s fantastic new facilities, and for their hard work and diligence. In honor of their work, we dedicated the building of the senior truck to them this morning. Both in the school and as a larger global community, it is quite prevalent that there are divisions between people in many ways, and it is very easy in the chaos of our daily lives to forget empathy and quickly judge others. However, we, as the senior class, should be building Photo Courtesy of Caroline Casey

THE SUN DEVILS’ ADVOCATE, October 22, 2018 Page 15 The Sun Devils’ Advocate NON-PROFIT org. Kent Denver School U.S. POSTAGE 4000 East Quincy Avenue PAID Englewood, CO 80110 Englewood, CO Permit No. 818

Seniors ‘Hang Loose’ During The Class Retreat!

Photo by Andrew Goldblatt

The Advocate Wishes Everyone A Great School Year!

Page 16, THE SUN DEVILS’ ADVOCATE, October 22, 2018