February 2011 - Grand County School District

Grand County High School
Moab, Utah
February 2011
The Devils’ Advocate
-FREE-
Number 63 (Volume 8 Issue 5)
Sterling Scholars getting ready for competition on March 8
By Erin Olschewski
Pictured above are Grand County High School’s 201011 Sterling Scholar candidates. Standing on the back row
are (from left): Merina Toninelli (General Scholarship),
Samantha Reidhead (Trade and Technical Education),
Hayley Knouff (Visual Arts), Erin Olschewski (English),
Taylor Farnsworth (Mathematics), Edye Baker (Social
Science), and Russell Minor (Speech and Drama). On the
front row are Bridget Phillips (Science), Taylor Flanders
(Music), and Bettymaya Foott (Foreign Language).
These 10 nominees, all seniors, were chosen after
they applied for their respective categories at the end
of the last school year. Sterling Scholar is a scholarship
competition that is based on the nominee’s work in the
areas of scholarship, leadership and citizenship.
Each of the nominees has put together a binder
portfolio that documents their various achievements and
activities, with the help and coaching of adviser Melissa
Meldrum. On Tuesday, March 8, the group of students
will travel to the College of Eastern Utah campus in Price
and will compete against the nominees from other schools
throughout the southeast Utah region.
At CEU, the students will each complete a short
interview with a panel of judges. Their portfolios will also
be reviewed and evaluated at this time, and the winners of
each category will be announced.
The winners in each category will receive anything
from one-year tuition to a full ride scholarship, depending
on the college or university. Best of luck to this year’s
nominees!
-FREE-
Ice takes state in 119 lbs.
GCHS wrestler Ice Kesavadhana strikes a pose after taking the state
championship in the 119-lb. category. Coach Dennis Wells is seen in the
background. See story on page 4. Photo by Taylor Flanders
Lady Devils win region
Debaters go to Stanford, now preparing for state tourney
Left; Posing with male street performers are GCHS debaters Erin
Olschewski, Sarah Quigley, Mary Rice, Cassie Lema, and Maren Larsen.
Above: Debaters visit Golden Gate Bridge. Photo by Chris Cleveland
By Joey Rigdon
On Feb. 9, 32 GCHS debaters boarded a charter bus
to Stanford University. The bus ride was crammed and
uncomfortable, but the trip was well worth it.
When the team arrived in San Francisco, they walked
across the world famous Golden Gate Bridge before
returning to their hotel for a night of swimming and
relaxation in a real bed.
On the second day, the debaters were set free to roam
the city in groups, most people visited Chinatown, Little
Italy, Fisherman’s Wharf, and got to ride the historic San
Francisco cable cars. For most debaters, this day was the
highlight of the trip.
The competition began on the third day, depending on
the event that they were in some people were taken to the
campus and some stayed at the hotel to debate.
There were four rounds of debate, and then the
quarterfinals. Joey Rigdon broke to the quarterfinals in
Spar, and the other debaters did well in their respective
events.
On their final day in San Francisco, the whole team
went to the Stanford campus to allow anyone competing
in Public Forum to finish their rounds. While the Public
Forum teams were debating, the rest of the team members
got to explore the vast libraries, visit the book store, and
take an elevator to the top of the Stanford bell tower.
After four days in San Francisco, the GCHS debaters
finally loaded up the bus at 4 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 13 for
their 20-hour bus ride home.
The debate team’s next tournament will be the
region competition in early March, followed by the state
tournament March 11-12 at St. George.
The GCHS Lady Devils basketball team took first place
in Region 15, thanks to back-to-back wins on the road over
Gunnison and South Sevier on the final weekend of the regular
season, Feb. 11-12. See story on page 4. Pictured above after
their thrilling double-overtime victory over South Sevier on
Feb. 12 are, back row from left: Nikita Nelson, Rachel Garrett,
Shelby Dalton, Carly Dalton, Bridget Phillips, Linda Minor,
Alexandra Gomez. Front row: Jerrica James, Mercedes James,
Torrie Lopez, Jessie Sorensen, Morgan Dalton, Rahne Denny,
and Donna Snow. Photo by Doug Garrett
Table of Contents
News........................................................................................ 1, 2, 3
Features.........................................................................................3
Sports ...................................................................................... 4, 5
Opinion......................................................................................6, 7
Back Burner.................................................................................8
Page 2
NEWS
Donkey Basketball is March 17
Once again, Donkey Basketball is coming to
Moab.
After
a
successful
event
last year, the Grand
County Education
Foundation
is
organizing another
fundraising game.
Teams of faculty
members
and
students will try to
score baskets while Mr. Hren and Ms. Reed ride donkeys
during last year’s basketball game.
riding live donkeys
on Thursday evening, March 17 at 7:30 p.m. at the Grand
County Middle School gymnasium.
Advance tickets are $8 for adults, $6 for students
in grades 7-12, and $4 for students in grades K-6. If
purchased at the door, tickets will be $10 for adults and
$8 for students. Family tickets are $25.
FLBA attends region in Price
By Brooklyn Richards
On Wednesday, Feb. 9, eight students from GCHS,
with adviser Mr. Steve Hazlett, went to Price to attend
the Future Business Leaders of America regional
competition.
Freshman Torrie Lopez took fifth place in Intro
to Business Communications. Junior Matz Indergard
took fifth place in both Business Law and Business
Communications. Senior Ariah Pierce placed third in
Business Law and fifth in Accounting II. Senior Joshua
Tangren took third in Accounting I.
Other students who competed were chapter president
Zak Hazlett, vice president Brooklyn Richards, Morgan
Taylor, and Landen Vancil.
All students did very well and had fun getting to
know one another. They all drove up and back the same
day.
The FBLA club members are looking forward to
attending state in Layton on March 31 and April 1.
Senior Snowball dance held Jan. 27; six seniors crowned royalty
FCCLA places at area
From left: FCCLA members Brianna Ballard, Lindsay Erekson, Paige
Ward, Jordan Dolphin, Jed Hazlett, Juniper Roman, and Mariah
Richardson. Photo by adviser Deanna Mecham
By Mariah Richardson
Members of the GCHS Family, Career and Community
Leaders of America club traveled to Provo on Feb. 10-11
to participate in the FCCLA area competition.
A total of seven students attended, with all doing well.
Paige Ward and Lindsay Erekson won gold medals for
their illustrated talks. Paige’s partner Raquel Christian
couldn’t attend the event, but Paige pulled through and
did an amazing job with her presentation on diabetes.
Lindsay’s presentation was on adoption.
Taking a silver medal in the chapter service category
were Brianna Ballard and Jordan Dolphin, whose project
dealt with sexual abstinence before marriage. Also earning
a silver medal was Jed Hazlett, who did an illustrated talk
on the subject of bullying.
Bronze medalists Juniper Roman and Mariah
Richardson teamed up for a project on bullying for the
category called “national programs in action.”
All of the participants are now vigorously planning
for the upcoming state competition. Congratulations, and
thanks to all the FCCLA members and their supporters.
Support for ill student
Six GCHS seniors reigned over the 2011 Senior Snowball dance, held at the school the evening of Jan. 27. Pictured
above are (from left) king Taylor Farnsworth, queen Merina Toninelli, and attendants Rory Stewart, Samantha Reidhead,
Sean Black, and Ariah Pierce. The royalty members were nominated by their peers and voted as finalists by the student
body, after which interviews with judges were held to determine the king and queen. Approximately 100 students
attended the semi-formal dance, which is a popular winter tradition at GCHS. Photo by Jeff Richards
Prayers, support, and fundraising efforts continue on
behalf of GCHS freshman Taylor Johnston, who became
critically ill in early February and has been hospitalized in
Salt Lake since then.
T-shirts and wristbands have been sold with the
message “Pray for Tay.” Also a community Navajo taco
dinner will take place at the community center in La Sal
beginning at 6 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 26. Tickets are
$10 for adults and teens, $7 for kids age 5-12, with the
proceeds going to help with Taylor’s medical bills.
Page 3
NEWS & FEATURES
January Students of the Month
The GCHS faculty is pleased to
announce that the Students of the Month
for January 2011 are Bridget Phillips and
Joseph Pelletier.
Bridget is a senior. Her parents are
Peggy Harty and Bob Phillips.
Bridget’s most challenging class
at school is
AP Calculus.
“The concepts
are hard to
understand,
but Mr. D.
challenges us
to understand
not only how to
do things, but
also why we do
them,” she says.
Bridget has
also been taking college classes, including
personal finance and history courses. “I
also received three science credits over
the summer,” she added.
Bridget has been involved in various
activities throughout high school,
including soccer, basketball, marching
band, concert band, plus several academic
competitions, including JETS junior
engineering, Science Olympiad, and
Chemical Olympics. She also helped lead
the “Don’t Drive Stupid” safe driving
campaign this year, and belongs to the
National Honor Society, the Tobacco
Free Life Club, and the Moab Community
Dance Band.
Bridget is also this year’s Sterling
Scholar in the Science category, and
was named the top first-year chemistry
student her freshman year.
Outside of school, Bridget has
worked as an apprentice at the Sand Flats
Recreation Area, and has also worked
as a lifeguard. Service projects she has
been involved with include sorting
tamarisk beetles, volunteering with the
Humane Society, Moab Music Festival,
Canyonlands Half Marathon and The
Other Half, Puttin’ on the Ritz, and the
Moab Pumpkin Chuckin’ Festival.
In college, Bridget plans to major
in engineering or wildlife biology. She
would like to travel all over the world and
spend her summers fighting forest fires.
Joseph is a junior. His parents are Al
and Laura Pelletier.
Joseph’s favorite classes are choir
and financial literacy. “I love singing
and getting better at it,” he says, adding,
“I like talking to (business teacher) Mr.
Hazlett and hanging out in his class 5th
hour.”
Joseph says his most challenging class
is applied chemistry. “Just remembering
all of the elements and chemical
compounds is kind of hard,” he says.
Joseph is a member of the school’s
Sounds Grand
choir, and is
on the junior
prom planning
committee. He
played football
as a freshman
at a different
school, but got
injured during
the season. He
was also vice president of his class that
year, before moving to Moab.
Joseph says he plans to begin working
at Eddie McStiff’s restaurant soon,
when the season starts up again. He has
also worked in various service projects,
including raking leaves and trimming
weeds around Moab City Hall and the
Center Street Gym.
Joseph’s post-high school plans
include attending the Art Institute in Salt
Lake City, and earning a bachelors degree
in culinary media arts and design.
The Student of the Month program is
sponsored by the local Elks Lodge under
the direction of Frank Vaccaro. The high
school coordinator is Richard Jenkinson.
The students are also recognized by the
Rotary Club and Grand County School
District Board of Education.
The program was started by the Elks
to recognize outstanding students in the
areas of character, leadership, service,
citizenship and scholastic performance.
FFA week features variety of activities
Feb. 20-24 is Future Farmers of
America week at GCHS, and club members
are planning a variety of wacky activities
to promote school spirit and increase
awareness about the FFA organization.
Tuesday was Wacky Hair day, and
Wednesday is the Agriculture Olympics,
with a variety of competitions (like pie
eating contest, wheelbarrow race, etc.)
scheduled after school. A GCHS faculty
member will kiss a goat, as promised for a
fundraising activity on behalf of the club.
The dress-up for Wednesday is camouflage
or plaid.
Thursday is Blue and Gold day, the
club’s official colors. Friday is Cowboy
and Cowgirl dress-up day.
Saturday, club members will participate
in a group service project.
GCHS students are invited to submit
designs for next year’s planner. For each
of the past three years, our student planners
have featured a student-designed cover, and
the 2011-12 cover will continue that trend.
Entries should be created electronically
(5.75 inches wide by 8.25 inches tall), in
any of the following formats: .jpg, .pdf, or
.pub. The deadline is Monday, Feb. 28.
Please submit entries via e-mail to
Jeff Richards at richardsj@grandschools.
org. They will then be narrowed down by
administration staff and the top six or so
will then be voted on by the student body.
2011-12 planner cover designs sought
Movie review: The Green Hornet
By Chris Cleveland
A few weeks before the Stanford Debate
trip, I had gone to the theater to see a movie
that sounded the most interesting. The one
at that time was called The Green Hornet.
The film stars Seth Rogen as Britt Reid, a
man who grew up a slacker/
misfit in school in spite of
his attempts to perform acts
of compassion, and Jay Chou
as his sidekick Kato. It was a
rather different and therefore
interesting kind of superhero
film.
As we know in most
movies with a sidekick, the
hero is set up to be a lot better
and savvier than the sidekick
with more experience, cool
moves, you get the picture. But in this one,
it was the reverse!
The story goes that upon his father’s
death by an allergic reaction to a bee
sting, Britt inherits the newspaper business
his father ran, but needs a story that will
make it profitable. So he decides to run
the newspaper during the day and become
a vigilante who commits crime in order to
stop crime at night.
Kato, being a faithful friend and wanting
much more than he could do, tags along as
probably the much more complex character
of the two of them and being much cooler
with Bruce Lee-matching martial arts skills
and being the designer of everything related
to the Green Hornet, the name of Britt’s
alter ego. This story was rather
interesting since it featured the
idea of feuds between gangs in
Los Angeles as well as them
surprisingly uniting against
the Green Hornet with the
evil Benjamin Chudnofsky,
a Russian criminal, as their
leader.
To understand what I mean
when I say that Kato was the
superior character as opposed
to the Green Hornet himself,
you would have to see the movie.
Overall, I thought it was a very good
movie and had quite the humor in it that
would rival even Jackass in the amount
of pain both men experienced physically
(Jackass fans will know what I mean).
Entertaining, original, and very interesting,
The Green Hornet is not a film to be missed
anytime soon by anyone, even by skeptics
who may doubt what I said about the
sidekick and hero in this one.
Page 4
SPORTS
Lady Devils basketball team takes first in region, but gets upset by Millard in playoffs
The GCHS Lady Devils won the Region
15 basketball championship, finishing the
regular season with a 7-1 region record.
They were seeded No. 1 in the 2A playoffs,
but lost their opening-round play-in game
on Friday, Feb. 18 at Snow College. Despite
being ahead most of the game, Grand ended
up losing to No. 5 seed Millard, 36-31. The
loss means that Grand won’t go to the state
2A tournament in Richfield Feb. 24-26.
Grand led Millard 19-10 at halftime and
24-21 going into the fourth period, but the
Lady Devils were outscored 15-7 over the
final eight minutes. Rachel Garrett led Grand
with nine points, while Jessie Sorensen
added seven and Shelby Dalton and Jerrica
James each made six. The Lady Devils made
just 25 percent of their field goal attempts
during the game (9 of 36), and 54 percent of
their free throws (13 for 24).
In their last two regular-season games,
Shelby Dalton vs. North Sevier.
the Lady Devils defeated Gunnison
43-32 on Feb. 11 and outlasted South
Sevier in a double-overtime thriller the
following night.
Against Gunnison, Morgan Dalton
led Grand with 14 points, while Shelby
Dalton added nine points and Sorensen
had six points. Scoring five points
apiece for Grand were Nikita Nelson,
Garrett, and James.
The Feb. 12 game at South Sevier
was an intense affair. Grand led by 11
points heading into the final period,
but the Lady Rams outscored the Lady
Devils 15-6 in the fourth quarter to
force overtime. The game was tied 3434 at the end of regulation.
In the closing seconds of the first
five-minute overtime period, with
Grand trailing by three points, a
heavily guarded Shelby Dalton took a
Four Red Devil wrestlers placed at state on Feb. 12
Akekasith “Ice” Kesavadhana is Grand County High
School’s first state wrestling champion in five years.
Kesavadhana, a senior, outlasted his South Summit
opponent Brian Adlard in the finals of the 119-pound
division at the state 2A wrestling tournament in Orem
on Feb. 12.
“The match was tied 0-0 with 23 seconds left,
and Ice got a one-point escape to win 1-0 and take
the championship,” said GCHS coach Dennis Wells
afterward. Adlard had beaten Kesavadhana both times
they’d wrestled each other earlier in the season, Wells
said.
Kesavadhana’s semifinal match earlier Saturday
was also exciting, Wells said. “In the semifinals,
Ice went up against Reed Udy from North Sevier,
who’d moved down from 125 pounds to try to take
state at 119 pounds, but Ice had other ideas,” Wells
Homer, Ice, Jacob, and Kevin pose with their medals. Photo by Taylor Flanders
said. “That match ended in a 0-0 tie in regulation, but
Ice took Udy down early in the overtime to win the
in an earlier meeting this season, Wells added. Ballard also
match.”
took fourth in his division.
With last weekend’s win, Kesavadhana became the first
“Kevin should have the best chance of our returning
Red Devil wrestler to take first place at the state tournament wrestlers to win a state championship next year,” said Wells.
since 2006 GCHS graduate Zane Taylor won his third and
Francis outdueled Keaton Green of Beaver by a score of
final championship in the heavyweight division his senior 5-1 to take fifth place in his category. According to Wells,
year.
Francis is the first freshman wrestler to place at state in Grand
In addition to Kesavadhana, three other GCHS wrestlers County High’s history. Green had beaten Francis handily in
placed at state last weekend. Taking fourth place in their all three of their previous meetings this season, Wells said.
respective weight categories were senior Homer Manson,
As a team, Grand finished in eighth place out of 14 2A
wrestling at 189 pounds, and junior Kevin Ballard, wrestling teams at the two-day tournament, which took place at Utah
at 215 pounds. Taking fifth place was freshman Jacob Francis, Valley University in Orem Feb. 11-12. South Summit won
wrestling at 130 pounds.
the overall team title with 232.5 points, easily outdistancing
Wells said that Manson’s key match was when he beat C.J. second-place Millard, which had 197.0 total points. The Red
Feild of South Summit 5-1 to advance to the third- and fourth- Devils totaled 58.5 points, finishing ahead of Kanab (53.0),
place match. “It was the best match he’s wrestled all year,” said North Summit (52.0), San Juan (30.0), Gunnison (18.0),
Wells of Manson’s win over Feild. Feild had pinned Manson Diamond Ranch (0.0) and Layton Christian (0.0).
pass from James and drilled a straightaway 3-pointer at
the buzzer to force a second overtime.
Grand led by as many as five during the second
overtime, but South Sevier cut the lead to one in the final
minute. Garrett picked up her fifth and final foul on a
defensive rebound with 24 seconds left, and had to leave
the game. James later managed to hit one of two free
throws to put Grand ahead by two.
South Sevier missed a shot on their final possession
and Shelby Dalton grabbed the game-clinching rebound
with about two seconds left, holding the ball aloft as time
expired. The final score was Grand 50, South Sevier 48.
Earlier in the season, on Jan. 15 at Moab, Grand had
beaten the Lady Rams in another thrilling game by a
similar score, 48-46.
Garrett led the Lady Devils against South Sevier with
14 points, while Morgan Dalton added 11, including a
pair of 3-pointers. Shelby Dalton scored eight, including
five in the overtime periods. Nelson added six points, and
Sorensen made five.
The Lady Devils finished their season 11-10 overall.
Devilettes took 3rd in region
The GCHS drill team, seen here performing at the
halftime of a recent basketball game, did well at the
Region 15 competition in Richfield Jan. 26. According to
coach Shelley Cook, the Devilettes placed third overall,
including second place in military, third in kick, and fourth
in dance. The team didn’t participate in state this year,
but they capped off a successful season with performances
at the last few home basketball games. Pictured above,
from left, are Devilettes Cassidy Gill, Marissa Trujillo,
Morgan Taylor, Landen Vancil, Kylie Larrabee, Mina
Frandsen, Hailey Taylor-Johnson, Justice Norton, and
Emily Knowles. Photo by Jeff Richards
Page 5
SPORTS
Red Devil boys end regular season third in region, lose in opening round of playoffs
Despite losing two of their final three regular season
games at home last week, the GCHS boys basketball team
ended up finishing in third place in Region 15. The Red
Devils then faced Maeser Prep Academy on Feb. 19 at
Snow College in a play-in game for a chance to qualify for
the state tournament. Unfortunately, the Red Devils lost
that contest to Maeser Prep by the score of 47-42.
The game was close the whole way, but Maeser pulled
away at the end as Grand struggled to make their shots.
The Red Devils made just 16 of 52 field goal attempts
(30 percent) and 8 of 18 free throws (44 percent). Seniors
Garrett Stephens and Garrison Green each scored 11 to
lead Grand, while junior Zak Hazlett added eight points.
In their last week of the regular season, the Red Devils
played three games in four nights, all at home. First, Grand
lost to San Juan on Wednesday, Feb. 9 by the score of 6356. Grand led the Broncos by one point at halftime, 27-26,
but San Juan made a 20-10 run in the third period to pull
away. The Red Devils were led by Green, who scored 23
points and also had four rebounds and five assists. Hazlett
added 14 points and three steals for Grand.
Two nights later, on Friday, Feb. 11, Grand ended their
five-game losing streak with a 58-45 come-from-behind
win over the Gunnison Bulldogs.
Although Gunnison had led by as many as 10 points
during the first half, the Red Devils used a 16-6 scoring
run in the third period to retake the lead for good.
“We came out with some intensity in the second
half,” said GCHS coach Travis Clark. “It was a total team
effort.”
Green led the Red Devils’ balanced scoring attack with
19 points, including 9 of 10 free throws. Hazlett added
12 points, including 8 of 12 free throws. Stephens scored
nine points and had five assists for Grand.
Reserve center Nat Smith, a freshman, tallied 10
points and eight rebounds and
close during the first half, the hot-shooting
played an instrumental role in
Rams pulled away for a 67-44 win that marked
the Red Devils’ second-half
the end of the regular season for both teams.
comeback.
South Sevier’s trio of outside-shooting
“Nat’s play has really
guards combined for 50 points. Kaden King
inspired all of us, especially
scored 19 points, including five 3-pointers,
with him being a freshman,”
while Race Parsons added 18 points and
added
Clark.
“Another
Brandon Winn had 13. The Rams made a total
key factor is that we only
of 10 3-pointers during the game.
committed eight turnovers all
King made three of his 3-pointers during
game.”
the first quarter as the Rams jumped out to
Early in the second period,
a 20-7 lead. However, Grand outscored the
Gunnison had led by the score
Rams 18-10 in the second period to make it a
of 17-7, but Grand rallied to
five-point game at the half, 30-25.
cut the deficit to four points
Green picked up his fourth foul on the first
by halftime, 24-20, thanks
possession of the third period and sat out the
in part to 7-of-8 free throw
remainder of the quarter for the Red Devils.
shooting.
The Rams drained five more 3-pointers during
Grand eventually regained
a 21-9 run that extended their lead to 17
the lead with two minutes left
points.
in the third period, as senior
As fourth period started, Green went
Kody Frank scored inside to
back in the game, but within a few seconds
put the Devils up 30-28. The
he picked up his fifth foul and earned an
Red Devils held a 36-30 edge
automatic disqualification.
heading into the final period.
With Green on the bench, the Red Devils
Red Devils players ended
struggled to get points on the board, managing
up making 80 percent of their
just 19 total points in the second half. Hazlett,
free throws during the game
with 15 points, was the only Red Devil to
(24 of 30), while the Bulldogs Kody Frank shoots vs. South Sevier on Feb. 12. reach double figures, but he was held to just
converted just 52 percent of
two points in the second half. Brett Walker
their free throws (13 of 25).
finished with nine points for Grand, while
The next evening, Grand faced the region-leading
Green tallied eight points.
South Sevier Rams, who were coming off the only loss of
The Red Devils finished third in region with a 3-5
their season, a 60-48 defeat to San Juan at Blanding the
region record, and ended their season with a 12-11 overall
night before. Although Grand managed to keep the game
record.
Page 6
OPINION
Ask the Devils Den
Dear Den: How do I avoid procrastination?
Dear Couch Potato: Procrastination is the everpresent flaw in most of us high school students. We
think we can put off our very important work until the
night before it’s due and still get the grade we want.
This bad habit can be stopped. The key to getting rid
of procrastination is to go straight home after school
and start on the things you feel you might put off.
If you do this not only will your homework be done
and you will have the rest of the
night to relax. But you will also
eliminate your procrastination
tendencies and become a better
student.
Dear Den: I feel trapped
when my friends are being
rude to others, because I don’t
want to be mean. How do I get
out of this?
Dear Nice: Although many
people are mean-spirited sometimes, there are
many people who share your feeling. Next time
one of your friends is being rude, say “Hey, that’s
not cool.” Or something that shows you’re not okay
with being mean to others, and you’d be surprised
by how many of your other friends who were thinking
the same thing. Speak up!
Dear Den: Sometimes I feel surrounded by
people that don’t understand me. Am I alone?
Dear Misunderstood: High school can be a rough
time, especially when you feel as though you’re alone
or misunderstood. However, there are a lot of people
around who understand how you feel, have similar
thoughts, or are struggling with similar situations.
Although it may seem difficult, try reaching out to
some new people. Chances are, not only will you
make some new friends, you’ll also end up feeling
a lot better.
Dear Den: I am super stressed out and
unhappy with how things have been going for
me. What can I do?
Dear Stressed: As you’ve probably figured out,
being a teenager can be incredibly stressful. This time
is full of heartache, drama, changes, and confusion.
But, on the other side of the spectrum, this is also
the time of fun, learning how to forgive and forget,
new friends, new experiences and inspiration. So
even though you’re in a rough spot, there are people
who love and care about you. They will help you with
these tough times, and help you enjoy the amazing
times as well. For every negative, there’s a positive!
Editor’s note: questions and answers are the
work of students and are not meant to represent the
official views of The Devils’ Advocate or of Grand
County High School. E-mail: gchs.advocate@gmail.
com.
The Devils’ Advocate
Grand County High School
608 South 400 East, Moab, Utah 84532 (435) 259-8931
Editors: Erin Olschewski, Edye Baker
Contributing Staff: Macrae Olsen, Chris Cleveland,
Mary Rice, Taylor Flanders, Dexter Sheets, Joey Rigdon,
Brooklyn Richards, Mariah Richardson,
and Lauren Keogh.
Faculty Adviser: Jeff Richards
Produced using Adobe InDesign CS2
Printed by Times-Independent Publishing
Download this issue as a color pdf file at this link:
www.grandschools.org/highschool/DevilsAdvocate/
DAdvocate63(Feb11).pdf
e-mail: gchs.advocate@gmail.com
www.facebook.com/GCHSDevilsAdvocate
Ask the Devils
by Lauren Keogh
What do you like about Valentines Day?
“I like the flowers,
the
chocolate,
and the love in
the air.”
Tressa Franklin
Junior
“I
think
you
should celebrate
Valentines
Day
whenever you feel
like it.”
Laura Reed
Science teacher
“I’m a hopeless
romantic, so I
love it because it’s
romantic and I love
being spoiled.”
Tira Jo Garfield
Junior
“Togetherness”
Sean Black
Senior
“I
like
flowers.”
the “Free chocolate
or sales on
chocolate.”
Madison Stocks
Freshman
Jordan Ruggeri
Junior
Dimple by Macrae Olsen
Letter: pregnant teenagers should consider adoption as option
Dear Editor:
I recently had the opportunity to attend the FCCLA
area competition, and my illustrated talk was on
adoption. After doing research on this topic, I wanted
to share some of my findings with you.
Adoption is a great option for teens if they become
pregnant. As a teen, I realize that there are a lot of
things I am doing now to shape my personality and
character. After taking care of the automated “baby”
for the my Teen Living class, I realize that if I had a
Where truly is your paradise?
baby now, it would alter all of the things I am doing.
Through adoption, teenagers are given the chance
to continue growing up after they have become
pregnant. Also, they can ensure that their baby has
the best life possible, and all the things it will need. By
placing a baby in an adoptive home, you are giving the
child a better chance at life and more opportunities. I
believe that if you become a teen mom, adoption is
the best option.
Linsday Erekson, Freshman
who can relate to you. It’s really helpful in maintaining
sanity, trust me!
A week without you guys (my fellow brothas and
Where truly is your paradise?
Paradise, that’s an easy thing to picture right? White sistas at GCHS) was really rough and I don’t think I
sandy beaches, palm trees, blue oceans. Yeah that could have made it much longer. You guys are what
does sound pretty nice for sure, but is that where you keep me sane, and I hope that we can all team together
and help everyone in the school feel like home is
would be truly happy?
paradise, and not a living nightmare.
What is paradise? Is it a location that suits
We know there are kids who think going to
your tastes? A place with a favorable climate,
school is awful because they may feel left out
good food, and beautiful sights? That’s what
or not part of something, but let’s all try our
I thought until I went to my vision of paradise,
best to come together as one so no one feels
and trust me, it met my expectations in the
unloved. Let’s make everyone think that this is
aspect of it being beautiful, and stuff like that.
paradise.
But the whole time I felt like I was missing
Yeah, I know, it’s an odd thought: school,
something, now I know that’s odd, I mean I
paradise? Now school itself I think is not
had everything I wanted right? I was in the
paradise, but what I do think is paradise is being
Virgin Islands!
Dex Wayne’s with
you guys, and I hope you all feel the same
The food was delicious, the weather was
Insights
perfect, there were the clearest oceans, and By Dexter Sheets way. If not, please do something about it!
We live in a beautiful place filled with great
amazing wildlife. How could I be missing
people and I want everyone to experience this
something?
Then I got to thinking, maybe paradise isn’t so much the way I do. Now enough of this sappy cheesy stuff!
of a location as it is a state of mind. What I was missing Did you know in the Virgin Islands there are huge
were all my friends that I love and care for so much, I iguanas just chillin’ all over the place!!!! I mean these
was missing the red rocks, I was missing my dogs, I are big lizards just chillin’, and there were tons of ‘em
everywhere! It was so sick. I wish Moab had iguanas. I
was missing home.
Home, in my opinion, is paradise. Here, I do have just thought I would share that with you guys because
everything I want, and nothing is missing. I think being it was freaking awesome! There were a lot of awesome
around the people you love is paradise. Now, yes, I things there, but by golly, it’s good to be home fellas! I
know I went on the trip with the people I love most, missed you guys!
Sincerely, Dex Wayne
my family, but still you need friends, people your age
Page 7
EDITORIAL
Push for democracy sparks a revolution in Egypt, as longtime dictator Mubarak leaves
On Feb. 11, 2011, Hosni Mubarak stepped down fact, left Mubarak very, very paranoid.
for those of you planning on becoming evil
as dictator of Egypt after a revolution
So, despite the rather obvious risks dictators—keep your eye on rising food prices!—
that, to the eyes of most of the world,
of the job, Mubarak has been quite it’s part of what got Louis XIV in the French
lasted a whopping two weeks beginning
happy with his position and has been Revolution).
on Jan. 25, for reasons that most people
somewhat reluctant about anything
So, on Jan. 11, people began organized
couldn’t exactly name.
that would remove any of his power. protests in Egypt. Initially, the Egyptian police,
But, revolutions don’t just spring up out
He quickly cracked down and removed which are generally a force of terror, attacked the
of nowhere over the course of two weeks,
freedom of press and did not allow protesters, threw them in jail and tortured them,
so, for background, a brief history of
the formation or continuation of any before Mubarak resorted to some of the classic
Egypt: Northern African country. Primary
political parties. People
dictator-cards: he cut off phone
language: Arabic. Primary religion
who disagreed with his
service and the Internet. However,
consists of 90 percent mostly Sunni
right to rule or his laws
this didn’t really work, people still
Muslims, and 10 percent Christians.
were quickly thrown in
protested, and finally Mubarak sent
Egypt had some pharaohs, built a couple
jail. In fact, even before
the military into the streets of Cairo,
of pyramids, became the center of the
the revolution “officially”
the capital, a move which ended up
ancient world, was assimilated by a
began
on
Jan.
25,
completely backfiring.
News analysis
couple of world empires, and let’s just
2011,
there
were
You see, in Egypt, all young men
and opinion
skip ahead to 1979, shall we?
approximately 10,000
are required to serve time in the
So, in 1979, the Egyptian president
military, making them an extension
by Mary Rice political prisoners in
Anwar al-Sadat signed a peace treaty
Egypt’s jails, which is a
of the public, so the soldiers ended
with Israel, establishing Egypt in the
lot of people to be sure,
up turning around and supporting
eyes of the western world as the model of a good but by comparison to say, China, is
the protesters, leaving Mubarak
politically and militaristically moderate Arab state. really only a small amount. As such,
without a major source of leverage.
All was well and good, but in 1981 al-Sadat was most powerful figures, both in the Former Egyptian president Hosni So, denied of most of his potential
assassinated by Islamists (a small but radical Arab world and in the West didn’t Mubarak. Photo credit:
force, Mubarak couldn’t hold out
group of Muslims—NOT just followers of the intervene in Egypt’s affairs, and Presidenza della Repubblica
much longer before he was forced
Islamic religion), leaving his vice president, Hosni it looked like nothing was going to
to resign and step down.
Mubarak, shot in the hand but alive. Mubarak change.
So, all that’s great, right? Sure, but the toughest
became president of Egypt, and has ruled the
However, in the beginning of 2011, Egypt’s part is still to come. Egypt has gotten rid of its
country for the last 30 years.
neighboring country of Tunisia suddenly and old government but the challenge is going to be to
The attack that put Mubarak in power was the unexpectedly removed their dictator. Then, create a new government that is stable enough not
first attempt on Mubarak’s life, but since then, suddenly, the people of Egypt realized that, hey, to degenerate over time into another regime like
he has survived an additional five assassination they were mad, too! They were mad about not Mubarak’s. It will be tough, but if Egypt succeeds,
attempts, which is the kind of thing that would having freedom of speech and about the secret it will emerge as a proud, young, democratic
leave most people rather paranoid, and has, in police and about rising food prices…(Incidentally, nation.
Page 8
BACK BURNER
HOROSCOPES


RED DEVIL SUDOKU - MEDIUM

Aries (March 21 - April 20) Keep your eye out for
file cabinets; they’re not as friendly as you previously
believed.
Taurus (April 21 - May 21) Try being a little bit
more kind this month; it’ll either get you new friends or
a goldfish.
Gemini (May 22 - June 21) I know you love that
salsa, but it’s been in the fridge for eight years. Consider
parting with it.
Cancer (June 22 - July 23) You have had some
fantastic experiences lately; keep them in your back
pocket to reflect on when you’re having a rough day this
month.
Leo (July 24 - Aug. 22) You may consider throwing
away your homework. However, DO NOT do this.
Virgo (Aug. 23 - Sept. 23) You need to believe in
yourself! You got this! Let the mean people be mean
-- they don’t matter!
Libra (Sept. 24 - Oct. 23) There might be a
camouflage jacket in your closet, rethink wearing it with
that neon pink beanie. It doesn’t really match.
Scorpio (Oct. 24 - Nov. 22) You will be rewarded

for all of your efforts this month. Keep working hard, it’ll
10. Tank Tops
pay off. Don’t listen to what anyone says, be confident!

Sagittarius (Nov. 23 - Dec. 21) Keep your jacket on,
9. Sandals
you never know when a breeze might come.
8. Warm Weather
Capricorn (Dec. 22 - Jan. 20) Your cell phone is 
7. Spring Sports

probably your prized possession, so next time you drop
it in a vat of acid, pick it up faster!
6. Blooming Flowers
Aquarius (Jan. 21 - Feb. 19) You’ve been doing
5. Green Trees
a fantastic job in life lately. Keep on trucking pal! One
4. Sunny Days
word of advice: avoid purple dolphins.
3. Spring Holidays
 on your wall
Pisces (Feb. 20 - March 20) The deer
may suddenly come to life, don’t be alarmed. It’s only
2. Swimming
temporary.
1. One Step Closer to Graduation!!!
The Top 10 Things the Editors Love
About SPRING
The Devils’ Advocate
keep up to date on the latest news
at Grand County High School!

gchs.advocate@gmail.com
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