The Sun Devils’ Advocate Volume XLI, Number 7 Kent Denver School, 4000 East Quincy Avenue, Englewood, CO 80110 November 17, 2017 ‘Grapes Of Wrath’ Brought To Life! The KDS Joad Family heads West to kook for work. Photo by Cordelia Lowrey Boys Tennis ‘Stranger Things’ #MeToo Wins State Season 2 See Page 8 See Page 11 See Page 13 News Las Vegas Pushes For Gun Regulations eral public, without any responsible measures by Henry Rogers or safeguards, and which the killer foreseeably used to such horrific results.” Following the tragic mass shootings in Las Vegas and San Antonio, there has been a recent Since the filing of the lawsuit, Democrats push from many gun control groups to see a in Congress have proposed legislation to ban change in gun regulation from Congress. After Bump Stocks, and both President Trump and the Las Vegas shooting, a powerful gun control the National Rifle Association (NRA) have group filed a lawsuit against the manufacturers been open to the idea of greater regulation. of ‘Bump Stocks,’ an instrument which was be- Unfortunately, the future does not hold any lieved to have been used by Stephen Paddock, promise that there will be any major changes the Las Vegas shooter, from the 32nd floor of regarding gun safety regulations at this time, Mandalay Bay Hotel. The purpose of a ‘Bump due to the NRA’s powerful lobbying influence Stock’ is to allow semi automatic guns to rapid on political leaders. fire bullets, making it more akin to automatic The NRA and Congress’s inability to im- weapons or machine guns. plement gun control regulations has been on- Following the mass shooting, a dozen ri- going and controversial problem. Incidents Graphic by Alex Wimer fles with bump stocks were found in the hotel such as the Sandy Hook Elementary shooting, to pass a law that could potentially lead to a room of Stephen Paddock. The lawsuit from the Aurora movie theater shooting, the Las revolt led by the NRA and its dear followers. the gun control group claims that the attack, Vegas shooting, and the San Antonio shoot- “would not have occurred with a conventional ing seem to present themselves as a devastat- In response to the NRA’s inability to co- handgun, rifle or shotgun, of the sort used by ing, yet important, opportunity for Congress operate and Congress’s inability to pass a gun law-abiding responsible gun owners for hunt- to pass gun law reformation. However, taking control bill, the question arises, “Will we ever ing or self-defense. away the Second Amendment from American see a reform in gun laws that will help to pre- citizens presents a heated debate among people vent future mass killings from frequently oc- The damage caused to Plaintiffs resulted who believe in using firearms as a means of curring?” from the military-style arsenal that Defendants self defense, which is why Congress is hesitant manufactured, marketed and sold to the gen- U.S. Urges For Drone Implementation In Niger by Kailen Citron In late October, President Trump urged the Nigerian government to allow the safekeeping of its American drones within a United States militarized zone for the purpose of locating terrorist hotspots in surrounding areas. Presi- dent Trump’s actions demonstrated a desire for potentially lethal attacks against terrorists. Fol- lowing the U.S commitment, France has also taken action and deployed their drones in re- sponse to a terrorist ambush on a Green Beret Unit in Niger, which resulted in the deaths of four American soldiers. Although U.S. docu- ments state that deploying drones into Niger has been a long standing idea, the ambush generated support for their deployment. These actions in Niger shifted the course of foreign policy and military action for the U.S. Graphic by Alex Wimer Beset by poverty, weak governance, and insurgent movements, the African region that slowed down and possibly halted. ing in secret operations, the Green Berets are includes Niger and neighboring Mali is con- Although the U.S. government is focus- also working closely with the Nigerien forces sidered by U.S. officials as “a fertile recruiting ing on flying its drones over Niger, there are to advise and assist them. ground for Al Qaeda and ISIS.” The ambush also two U.S. ground forces attempting to halt Through these preventive actions, the US conducted in Niger was supposedly executed terrorist activities. Both the Green Berets and and other connecting allies are doing all they by a group working directly under ISIS. Offi- an undisclosed unit are working directly with can in order to stop the spread of terrorist activ- cials hope that by allowing lethal reaper drones French units. While the unnamed unit is assist- ity in Niger and abroad. to fly over Niger, the war on terrorism can be Page 2, THE SUN DEVILS’ ADVOCATE, November 17, 2017 News Seniors Construct Their College Applications by Willa Sobel Throughout the halls of Kent Denver, you will often see seniors furiously typing on their laptops in Bogue or constantly hanging out in the college counselors’ offices. It is that time of year again- college application deadlines are upon us. While Kent seniors know how to han- dle an abundance of homework (we survived Junior year!), college applications are a whole other beast. On top of the extensive homework load students have each night, depending on how many AP and honors classes they take, students must set aside time for essay writing, activity list editing, and email writing to do in order to submit applications on time. For those of you who are confused on how the whole process goes, we will break it down. While many Kent students starts school in mid-August, seniors say goodbye to sum- Photos by Logan Brown mer on August 1st, the day the Common App college following a specific prompt known as they are accepted to the university, they must is released. Many parents start to nag more the “The Common App Essay.” attend. Regular decision is simply an appli- regularly, and seniors camp out at local coffee Seniors also must decide how they will cation with a later due date, which gives the shops to write the perfect essay on why they apply to each university, meaning either early student more time to complete the application. want to attend the school they are applying to, action, early decision, or regular decision. Ap- However, this also means that decisions will or struggle to recall books from sophomore plying early action means you will not be in also be released at a later time. year like Frankenstein for their favorite work a binding agreement with the specific college, So, the next time you are a little scared of of literature essay. but you will still receive a decision early. While a senior who looks like a zombie with dark To give some perspective on how much the early decision applications are due around the bags under his or her eyes, or are accidentally average college applicant has to write during same time as early action applications, they are bumped into by a one speed walking down their college process, each student applies to a completely different case. the upper school hallway towards the college an average of 8-10 colleges. Along with the Students apply early decision if they know counseling office, brush it off because seniori- general information sections, there are typical- definitively that they want to attend a specific tis will soon attack the class of 2018 once sec- ly 2-3 supplemental essays that range from 250 university. By applying, they commit finan- ond semester rolls around and all their applica- to 650 words. On top of that, seniors must also cially to a binding agreement which says if tions are sent off. write a 650 word essay that will be sent to each Colorado Responds To Opiate Crisis A statistical analysis of the crisis suggests Specifically, Colorado has increased the price by Andrew Park that the consumption and abuse of drugs is not of opiate products in pharmacies and made only an economic issue, but rather a social one the acquisition of this medicine more difficult The Opiate Epidemic, announced by Presi- as well, due to its predicted, imminent, and by requiring users to present a legitimate and dent Trump, has become more relevant over increasing death toll. A statistical graph pro- confirmed prescription from a medical facility. the past few years and has now been declared duced by the New York Times presents its find- The increased efforts by Colorado have been a “health emergency” and a “national crisis.” ings over the past few years on opiate deaths. successful as the use of opiates have dropped Trump, a boisterous advocate for some of The discoveries were shocking, as the recent nearly six percent since 2016. the nation’s rising problems, ultimately an- cause for spiking deaths in America were not nounced this issue to emphasize the federal Colorado serves as an example for proac- accidents or killings, but rather drug overdose. government’s increased funds towards the cri- tive intervention in the opiate crisis, and hope- Many still wonder why the United States has sis. On October 26, President Trump called the fully its efforts will encourage many others to not prioritized this issue. increased use of drugs a “national shame and follow its footsteps. The people of the U.S. human tragedy.” As defined by the National There have been numerous efforts to raise have a duty to mediate the use of opiates for Institute of Drug Abuse, an opiate crisis is the awareness and educate the public about the the sake of future generations.