Advocate
The Sun Devils’
“Whoever fears failure
limits opportunity”
Volume XL, Number 4
Kent Denver School, 4000 East Quincy Avenue, Englewood, CO 80110
March 2, 2016
The Impossible Dream:
Don Quixote Conquers Kent
Photo by Alie Goldblatt
Seniors Sebastian Sun and Stephen Hanley pour their hearts out in the winter musical, Man of La Mancha, on Feb 4.
Burning
Questions with
Ms. Sherman
Mark’s 2016
Oscar Picks
and Predictions
Presidential
Election vs. Cam
Newton
See Page 6
See Page 8
See Page 14
News
2016 Presidental Election Captivates The Nation
By Elsa Wefes-Potter
In November 2016, after eight years of
President Barack Obama’s administration, the
United States will elect a new president. The
Republican and Democratic National Conventions are in the midst of their primary elections,
which will continue through June.
Potential nominees for both parties are discussing topics such as immigration, taxes, gun
control, civil liberties, health care, education,
and the job market as key facets of the aims of
their proposed administrations.
These controversial issues have deepened
the divide between Democrats and Republicans,
as the former become more liberal, and the latter, more conservative. The two biggest national
political parties are increasingly taking radical
stances on the most pressing national concerns
in order to secure the vote of each party’s noncentrist members.
The 2016 election is the ultimate example of
“winner takes all.”
The diametrical viewpoints of the parties
make the possibility of moderation in a Presidential candidate further and further from reality. Independents who have not pledged loyalty
to any one party, therefore unable to choose a
centrist delegate, must choose between very
right or very left wing views of how to run the
country.
The two biggest national
political parties are
increasingly taking radical
stances... The 2016 election
is the ultimate example of
‘winner takes all.’
Only a small number of students in the Kent
Denver community will have the opportunity to
vote in the coming election. Students who will
have the opportunity, however, said they are
embracing their rights and responsibilities as
full-fledged American citizens.
“Being able to vote in the next election, I
feel like I have a new interest in politics and
how they affect my life,” said senior Tillie Newcomb.
Being too young to vote, however, does not
deter intense political debate between students
with varying opinions. Some students have
voiced their support for Republican candidates
and their ideas. But the Democratic Party also
has support from the Kent Denver community.
Junior Otto Wimer simply said, “#tedcruz2016,” while Newcomb commented, “I really like Bernie Sanders and what he represents.
I think his popularity among students and minorities gives him a big leg up in the election.”
In any case, the coming months will be full
of lively debate among candidates and citizens
alike. Regardless of the result, the election of
November 2016 will begin a new and undoubtedly controversial presidency.
Graphic by Alex Wimer
Republican candidate Donald Trump and Democratic candidate Bernie Sanders are two of the indiviuduals asking the
American public for their vote in the upcoming Presidental Election.
Page 2, THE SUN DEVILS’ ADVOCATE, March 2, 2016
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News
Zika Virus Threatens Populations Worldwide
By Claire Veldkamp
The Zika virus, a mosquito-borne disease
previously unknown to most of the world, has
become so dangerous in recent months
that both the Centers
for Disease Control (CDC) and the
World Health Organization (WHO)
have issued warnings declaring Zika a
“global emergency.”
At least 30 countries have reported
cases of the virus,
but Brazil alone has
had 1.3 million cases
of infection. Public health officials
are also concerned
about the virus’ ability to spread during
the upcoming summer Olympics in Rio
de Janeiro and have
advised all pregnant
women to avoid
travelling to the region.
The most recent outbreak began in May
2015 and has since spread to South America,
the Caribbean, and even the United States. So
far, the United States has 81 documented cases.
The most common way to spread the Zika
virus is through the bite of the Aedes mosquito,
but research is currently being conducted about
the possibility of acquiring the virus via blood
transfusion or sexual contact. Unfortunately,
these questions likely will not be answered for
Advocate
The Sun Devils’
is a monthly publication of
Kent Denver School,
located at 4000 E. Quincy Ave.,
Englewood, Colorado 80110
303-770-7660
Editors in Chief
Fahim [email protected]
Jon [email protected]
another three to five years.
The Zika virus only causes flu-like symptoms in adults. The real danger lies in how it affects pregnant women and unborn children. The
disease has been linked to a birth defect known
only 14 known human infections in Africa until
an outbreak of 100 cases in the Pacific nation
Micronesia in 2007. The year 2013 brought an
even more significant outbreak of 28,000 cases
in French Polynesia.
Graphic by Claudia Bautista and Emma Adelstein
as microcephaly, in which babies are born with
abnormally small heads and often times, severe
developmental issues. In Brazil, the Zika virus
is the suspected cause of 4,000 cases of microcephaly since October 2015 – a rate of the condition 20 times higher than in previous years.
The Zika virus was first discovered in 1947
in the blood sample of a rhesus monkey living
in the Zika forest of Uganda. The virus was isolated from the first human in 1952. There were
News Editors
Hileena [email protected]
Claire [email protected]
Commentary Editor
Sophia [email protected]
Features Editors
Ashley [email protected]
Isabel [email protected]
Arts and Entertainment Editors
Glennan [email protected]
Isabelle [email protected]
Even the Pope has advised birth control as
a means to prevent the virus’ harmful effects.
Currently, the only prevention techniques are
controlling the mosquito population and eliminating stagnant water. However, the CDC has
said it hopes to have a vaccine in its initial
phase by the end of this summer.
Sports Editors
Mallory [email protected]
Adelaide [email protected]
Photography Editors
Alie [email protected]
Caitlin [email protected]
Graphics Editor
Siena [email protected]
Faculty Advisor
Lesley [email protected]
Printer................................Southeast Denver Graphics
THE SUN DEVILS’ ADVOCATE, March 2, 2016 Page 3
News
Community Contributes To Blood, Marrow Drives
By Hileena Channell
On Feb. 8, Kent Denver hosted the High
School Heroes Bonfils Blood Center Blood
Drive. Though an annual event at the school,
this year marked the first time the drive was
hosted by science teacher Mrs. Detmer and the
Medical Club.
Detmer, who sponsors the club, explained
that student club members “decided that they
would like to take it over, since it’s related to the
medical field.” Detmer’s post-drive email to the
school announced that this year, 31 individuals
made donations. The donors included students,
faculty, and even family members.
The 31 donations will eventually help save
up to 93 lives.
“I donated blood because I love the idea
that I can save lives just by being alive,” said
science teacher Ms. Sherman. “All I have to do
is sit in a seat for a few minutes in order to help
other people… so that’s pretty cool.”
At the same time as the blood drive, science teacher Mary Fran Park, along with seniors
Mark Jaschke and Julia Jaschke, oversaw a collection of cheek swabs for the Be the Match
bone marrow donation program.
Since the Be the Match program was first
offered at Kent Denver four years ago, 60
people have given cheek swabs to be on the
bone marrow registry, 17 of whom registered
for the drive this year.
The 31 donations will
eventually help save
up to 93 lives.
According to the Be the Match website,
its registry includes nearly 12.5 million volunteers nationwide, all ready and willing to
be bone marrow donors. Healthy donor bone
marrow is given to patients diagnosed with
life-threatening diseases such as leukemia or
lymphoma.
“I think it’s important to give back to the
community in any way you can… it’s this
kind of grand idea that all life is interconPhoto by Alie Goldblatt
nected and we all rely on each other… for
Senior
Dani
Murray
was
excited to give
everything to work,” Detmer said. “I think
this is a very small way that you can try to blood during the annual blood drive.
give to the greater good.”
Wifi Improvements Come To Kent Denver
By Justin Reeves
Since late 2008, phone lines have supplied
Kent Denver’s Internet service. However, faculty and student use of the Internet has outpaced
the system’s capacity in recent years.
To upgrade Kent Denver’s Internet capability, a transmitter was installed on top of the high
school building a few years ago. It sends and
receives data through microwave signals from
Lookout Mountain, 20 miles away.
Since then, Kent Denver’s Internet capabil-
ity has required consistent upgrades in order to
keep up with the demands of students and faculty.
Finally, in the summer of 2015, Graham
Reid, Kent Denver’s IT director, was tasked
with executing an upgrade on Kent Denver’s Internet capability that would last as long as possible while still being cost-effective and reliable.
The solution is the installation of fiber-optic
cables on campus, which is currently underway.
These fiber-optic cables will be able to supply
Kent Denver with an Internet speed of 1 gigabyte per second, which is expected to sustain the
school’s consistent Internet usage growth for at
least five years.
A possible downside to the installation of fiber-optic cables is the potential for construction
crews to inadvertently disconnect the preexisting cables when digging underground. However, Reid said he is confident that the likelihood
of Kent Denver’s Internet being taken offline is
much lower than it has been through using other
Internet technologies in the past.
After spring break, Kent Denver’s students
and faculty can expect faster and more reliable
Internet.
Joke Of The Month
by Kevin Adams and Rob Casey
What do you get from a
pampered cow?
Page 4, THE SUN DEVILS’ ADVOCATE, March 2, 2016
Spoiled Milk!
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Features
Club Of The Month: Model UN
By Allie White
Kent Denver’s Model United Nations club
has had a busy and exciting year. The excitement began at the annual clubs fair
last September, when prospective new
members swarmed the Model UN
booth for more information.
international Model UN conference, FerMUN,
with other students from all around the world.
The official language of this conference was
French, which proved an interesting challenge
Students were eager to learn more
about the club, and experienced members were happy to show them the
ropes and rules of participation. The
new members quickly learned how to
articulate a country’s objectives and
goals, write formal position papers, and
research and prepare for local conferences.
for the Kent Denver delegates. Communication,
of the utmost importance in a Model UN conference, became extremely difficult. The students who made the best of a difficult situation,
however, practicing their French skills
and working on collaborating with others, despite the language barrier. Students said they were thrilled to experience what work would truly be like as a
United Nations delegate.
“FerMUN 2016 was held in the
[actual] World Trade Organization and
World Meteorological Organization
buildings… and it accentuated the international experience,” said junior Elsa
Wefes-Potter, one of the co-leaders of
the club. “It allowed us to interact with
students from all over the world while
speaking a multitude of languages and
attempting, together, to debate and resolve some of the world’s most prominent issues.”
An impressive number of Kent
Denver Model UN members attended
conferences in Colorado this year.
Numerous delegates, including sophomore Jordan Baum and juniors Natalie
Watkins, Jon Ort, Joe Ort, and Teddy
Richardson took home awards for being outstanding student diplomats.
The trip was a once-in-a-lifetime
experience for these club members, and
one they will surely never forget. Kent
Denver’s Model United Nations club
Perhaps the most exciting occurhas experienced a successful, exciting
rence this year was a weeklong trip
Photos by Ari Kemp year, and the members look forward to
that advanced club members took to
Kent Denver Model UN students traveled to Geneva seeing where the club will take them in
Geneva, Switzerland. The purpose of
the years to come.
this expedition was to participate in an last month.
Speech And Debate Takes Berkeley
By Ashley Capoot and Izzy Haifleigh
On Feb. 12, the Speech and Debate team
took almost 60 members to California to compete at the Berkeley Invitational. Coming from
a small high school like Kent Denver, it was
shocking to step foot on the massive college
campus of Berkeley.
teams. Several debate members made it to octofinals, and several speech members made it all
the way to semi-finals.
“The team has such a wonderful dynamic,
and we really grew closer as a result of the trip.
Competing with people from all over the nation was an eye opening experience and I’m so
grateful for the opportunity!,” said sophomore
Portia Tieze.
Once the students arrived in California,
they spent the afternoon exploring Fisherman’s
Wharf and relaxing at the hotel. Restaurants
like In N’ Out, The Sourdough Factory, and
Ghirardelli’s made good money off of our students that day!
“In addition to enjoying the competition,
my friends and I had a great time at the Fisherman’s Wharf. We ate lunch at the famous In
N’ Out and then messed around on the beach!,”
said junior Fahim Choudhury.
The competition began on Saturday, and the
team was fired up. Kent Denver performed very
well, finishing in 8th place out of almost 400
Photo courtesy of Terry Rubin
Speech and Debate students enjoyed some down time in California.
THE SUN DEVILS’ ADVOCATE, March 2, 2016 Page 5
Features
Burning Questions With Ms. Sherman
The Sun Devils’ Advocate sat down with her to view her input on
some questions and learn some more about her.
By Reagen Haecker
Ms. Sherman, a New York native, is a new addition to our Kent Denver community this year as a member of our science department. Almost immediately after arriving here, she filled the halls with her lively
personality and spunky demeanor. Ms. Sherman has quickly become a
student favorite both inside and outside of the classroom.
Sun Devils’ Advocate: Where did you go to college and why were
you interested in Kent Denver?
Ms. Sherman: I went to the University of Michigan, in Ann Arbor,
because, at the time, I wanted a school that had a lot of spirit and I cared
about academics. Also, I liked the cold! I went to visit and it just felt like
home, so I went.
SDA: Why did you decide to enter into the field of education?
MS: I love that it is a really dynamic job. It has a more academic side
to it—especially when you are a secondary teacher—but you’re also interacting with humans and there is kind of an administrative aspect. It always keeps you on your toes. I wanted to do something that would make
a difference in individual lives, and I felt like I could do that in this job.
SDA: What do you find most challenging about teaching?
MS: I think that the most challenging part, which is also the most exciting part and sometimes the best part, is that every day looks different,
so you need to be prepared. You’re going to have a conversation with a
student or a coworker that you had no idea was going to happen and you
need to be able to respond, so, being flexible can be a challenge.
SDA: What is your favorite thing to do in Colorado?
MS: My favorite thing to do in Colorado is being able to sit outside,
in the middle of the winter, and eat lunch in the sun, while enjoying the
view of the mountains.
SDA: Do you have any advice for high school students?
MS: Give yourself a break. Period.
Photo by Alie Goldblatt
GSA Word Of The Week
By Emma Boatman and Kayla Tuchman
Recently, the Kent Denver Gay Straight
Alliance club, also known as the GSA, started
presenting a “word of the week.” Each Tuesday
at assembly, members of the club give students
a presentation on a term relating to the LGBT
community.
“We wanted to find a way to educate the
community about the vocab of LGBTQA etc. in
a creative way without having just one assembly that would go over everyone’s head,” said
sophomore Aaron Mathews, a leader of the club.
So far, some of the terms we have been
taught are “genderbread man,” which showed a
spectrum of gender understanding, as well as the
word “queer,” which for many, was a tricky term
to understand.
The GSA has also made posters that have
been placed around the school with words,
terms, pictures, and definitions to raise awareness and to show visitors to our school how Kent
Denver is an inclusive, safe community to all.
“The GSA word of the week has taught me a
lot about new terms I didn’t know before,” said
junior Casey Ross.
Educating the community was the GSA’s
exact goal, and it has definitely been effective
throughout the school.
Page 6, THE SUN DEVILS’ ADVOCATE, March 2, 2016
Graphic by Sophia Rase
Features
2016 Spring Fashion Preview
By Bella Kemp
Even though bundling up in turtleneck sweaters and fuzzy socks has
been great, it is nearly time to take spring clothes out of hibernation.
To plan my spring wardrobe, I turned to magazines like Vogue and
Elle for inspiration, but I was surprised by the lack of both affordable and
wearable options. So, I have created a list of styles that I predict will be
popular this spring that are both cute and affordable.
Every year, color company Pantone releases a so-called Color of the
Year, but this year, there are two: Rose Quartz and Serenity. They are both
beautiful pastels that can be paired with lots of other colors.
If you are interested in incorporating these colors into your spring
2016 wardrobe, you should visit the Pantone website, where the company
offers complementary color pairings to the colors of the year. If you want
to incorporate them into your beauty routine, French company Sephora
has also released a whole line of beauty products dedicated to the Pantone
colors of the year.
One of my favorite styles is the tie up trend. These are shirts and dresses that tie up in the front. I love this detailing because you can dress up a
simple shift dress or cropped shirt. Several examples of clothing with this
detailing can be found from California retail company PacSun. The use of
different materials for the dresses, such as velvet and suede, are beautiful
and truly make a statement.
For an everyday look, pair a tie up shirt with some blue jeans or leggings, and some cute boots or black Nike shoes. These shirts can also be
dressed up with ripped jeans, layered necklaces, and some high-heeled
booties. Tie up shift dresses are easy to wear to school, lunch out with
friends, and other everyday activities. By adding a brown leather belt and
some wedges, you are ready for a night out.
Chunky necklaces will be another prominent accessory this spring,
because they make a simple outfit pop. In anticipation for the Coachella Music and Art Festival, a lot of silver statement necklaces have been
released that incorporate both coins and turquoise. These necklaces are
perfect for adding something new to an otherwise boring outfit.
For instance, if you have overslept and need to leave the house in five
minutes, grab a basic tee shirt, leggings or jeans, your favorite shoes, pair
them with a statement necklace, and you are ready to take on the day. I
am a fan of taking staple clothing pieces and making a statement using
just one accessory. Coachella fashion is a great place to find style and
inspiration, because there are many outrageous necklaces that can tie a
whole outfit together.
The final trend to expect this spring is a compilation of celebrity collaborations and clothing brands. For instance, model Gigi Hadid will
be collaborating to create products for Tommy Hilfiger. Hadid is one of
many models who collaborate with Hilfiger.
When asked about her forthcoming line of clothing, she responded,
“I think our collection celebrates the iconic Tommy lifestyle and mixes
hippy-chic with sporty and tomboy styles. There’s something everyone
can relate to” (Refinery29). Even though the line is not in stores yet, I am
excited to see the clothing, which is designed by Hadid herself.
Hadid’s friend, Kendall Jenner, has also been busy in the fashion
world. She is leading the spring 2016 #MyCalvins campaign, along with
Justin Bieber and Kendrick Lamar. Jenner and her sister, Kylie, also released new outfits for their Kendall and Kylie collection at PacSun. Most
of the pieces are rompers, which are versatile clothing pieces (some are
even tie ups).
These celebrity collaborations will undoubtedly be popular this coming spring, along with tie ups and chunky necklaces.
Photo by Caitlin Vickers
Junior Grace Lampert shows off
her spring style with a light pink
pastel sweater.
Photo by Caitlin Vickers
Graphic by Ashley Hernandez
Junior Madi Wifall sports a vest
and sweater combo to keep warm
on chilly spring days.
THE SUN DEVILS’ ADVOCATE, March 2, 2016 Page 7
Arts & Entertainment
2016 Oscar Picks And Predictions
By Mark Bautista
The 88th Oscars ceremony may have just concluded, but at the time
of this writing, it fast approaches. I wanted to again offer my opinion
on prospective award winners. For those who are unfamiliar with my
format, I merely state my position on nominees who are most deserving
of the Golden Statue. However, whom I believe to be the winner doesn’t
necessarily take home an award, thus I also predict the most likely candidate for the Academy’s selection.
With that, I humbly present my Oscar Picks and Predictions: 2016
Edition. Disclaimer: Though I have watched several of the major players, I haven’t had the chance to watch every single Oscar-nominated
film. Thus, I enlisted the help of two other Kent Denver Film Buffs, Ms.
Suzie Todd and Mr. Jack Todd.
Best Picture: Who Should Win- Spotlight
I’m a sucker for conspiracy movies, I suppose because of genre’s revelations of hidden maliciousness. Spotlight, a film documenting the Boston Globe’s uncovering of a pedophile ring inside the Catholic Church,
is no exception. It would be easy to pander to audiences with the film’s
themes of abuse and neglect, yet I do not believe that is the movie’s intention. The characters express their own dissatisfaction with the system,
yes, but viewers are mostly allowed to make their own conclusions and
feel their own emotions, because the film does not give much information about the characters outside of this case. We see their reactions, but
by limiting our knowledge of the characters outside said context, we can
react with them, not at them. If not for masterfully subtle performances
by Rachel McAdams, Michael Keaton, or Mark Ruffalo, or sharp writing
and directing by Tom McCarthy, Spotlight deserves recognition because
the topics it explores are worthy of greater exposure.
Who Will Win- Room
Haunting from start-to-finish and then some, Room’s tale of an abducted and imprisoned young woman forced to raise a child born out
of her own rape is a difficult pill to swallow, but nonetheless impressive. A film with implications so grotesque should not be this watchable,
yet it is, because its performances and sure-handed direction are adept
at allowing us to experience the story just as closely as its characters.
Handled poorly, Room would be the melodrama to end all melodramas,
but because the raw humanity behind the trauma of being imprisoned in
a tool shed is reflected so genuinely by Brie Larson’s engrossing acting
and Lenny Abrahamson’s directing, the film transcends the trappings of a
Lifetime Channel feature and enters into Oscar-worthy territory.
Graphic by Josaleigh Powers
Page 8, THE SUN DEVILS’ ADVOCATE, March 2, 2016
Best Director: Who Should Win- George
Miller (Mad Max: Fury Road)
On paper, Fury Road is a long desert chase sequence. However,
George Miller transforms an otherwise dry film into something uniquely
kinetic and bellicose. He spares no expense in engaging the audience,
crafting everything from high-velocity vehicle crashes to a redemption
story. I read that Miller meticulously storyboarded his vision for Fury
Road at least 12 years before production even began, and, having seen
it firsthand, I will say the action sequences are so deliberate and concise
that such dedication to one’s art form deserves an Oscar.
Who Will Win- Alejandro González Iñárritu (The Revenant)
Alleged feuding with actor Tom Hardy notwithstanding, Alejandro
G. Iñárritu is one of the most driven directors currently in the business.
With The Revenant, Iñárritu is uncompromising in his desire to create
a whirlwind of a film as it follows Philip Glass’ odyssey to avenge the
death of his son. Iñárritu’s direction never squanders an opportunity to
take the audience’s breath away, juxtaposing winter scenery with brutal,
intense violence as Glass treks across the American Midwest. While its
dourness is unrelenting and its malaise polarizing, it is difficult to deny
Iñárritu’s skill at maintaining strength through a dialogue-lite movie,
even if he willingly subjected his actors to objectionable conditions. If
last year’s ceremony was any indication (Iñárritu took home three statues), this director is a shoe-in for this category.
Best Actor: Who Should Win- Michael Fassbender (Steve Jobs)
Is it the writing or acting that make a performance? With a tour-deforce combination of an actor like Fassbender acting off a script by Aaron Sorkin, this question is rather complex. I contend that Fassbender’s
Jobs is effortlessly enjoyable despite his detestable character; that unique
character balance, I feel, merits acclaim. As Jobs, Fassbender is able to
switch from querulous to begrudging to stiffly warm and then back again.
The accuracy of his pugnacious portrayal is uncertain, but Fassbender’s
brilliance is not.
Who Will Win- Leonardo DiCaprio (The Revenant)
If there were an established year for Leonardo DiCaprio’s success,
this would be it. In stark contrast to his last few roles as spoiled aristocrats, DiCaprio takes on Philip Glass, the left-for-dead 19th century furtrapper who embarks on a journey to avenge his son’s death. As Glass,
DiCaprio is a dynamo. He emulates the physical pain of a bear attack and
hypothermia just as well as he expresses the emotional anguish of having
his son killed in front of him. His face contains an impressive amalgamation of fury, determination, and fear. It is well-documented that DiCaprio
subjected himself to biting temperatures and undesirable living conditions throughout the shoot in order to accurately embody the role. Cynics
may say DiCaprio’s performance is owed to the weather, not to his own
talent, and I say this: previous actors have won for much less, but few
(Oscars continued on page 9)
have dedicated just as much.
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Arts & Entertainment
Sound House Takes Italy
By Isabelle Roseto
The Kent Denver Sound House band has
been hard at work this semester preparing for
its trip to Italy. On July 15, 25 members of the
band will pack up and head to Porretta, Italy
for a chance to perform at the Porretta Soul
Festival.
set up and take down the set at each performance, talking and having a good time all the
while.
Although it takes a lot of work to prepare
the songs for performance, Sound House members agree the work is worth the experience of
being up on stage in front of a big crowd, playing songs and having fun with one
another.
Mr. Holley, who’s in charge of the band,
said he is very excited to showcase this group
of students’ talent to people from around the
world. Mr. Holley has taken a Kent Denver
band to Italy once before, but this will be his
first time bringing this particular band.
After countless hours of rehearsal this year
in preparation for the festival, “the band has really gotten close and had so much fun together.
I’ve made some of my best friends through
band,” said junior Sofia Arnold. Added sophomore Esther Omegba: “We are all like a big
family.”
Because band members have rehearsal almost every day, they end up being around one
another very frequently.
Members of Sound House said they enjoy
spending time with each other no matter what
they are doing. For instance, before their performances, they go out to dinner as a group.
While waiting to perform, they pass the time
by playing games like “Down by the Bank”
and “Big Booty.” They also work together to
(Oscars continued from page 8)
Best Actress: Who Should and Will WinBrie Larson (Room)
Without Brie Larson, Room would not be
nearly as engrossing as it is. I do not pretend to
know how a victim of abduction and rape feels,
but Larson portrays her character, Ma, with as
much poignant realism as possible. Viewers
can fully invest in Larson’s performance, because it never feels forced, contrived, or overly
sentimental. Though the film establishes Larson’s character’s love for her son, she also expresses her frustration at his behavior and her
broken life. Larson has a spectacular range of
every emotion under the sun, but she never
isolates one feeling over another; rather, she
combines anger and sadness and regret and
happiness. Her acting is rarely, if ever, false,
thus making her my preferred and the obvious
choice for the award.
Best Original Screenplay: Who Should
and Will Win- Tom McCarthy and Josh
Singer (Spotlight)
Stone by Earth Wind and Fire, while sophomore Ashley Capoot’s favorite song is I Want
You Back by The Jackson Five. Junior Jacob
Hayes said he loves to play Bam Bam by Sister
Nancy.
Graphics by Siena Fite
Aside from being with one another for two
whole weeks, band members are also very excited for the opportunity to perform at such a
widely recognized festival. Junior Beau Hanson said he is especially excited to play In the
In my opinion, no other nominees in this
category deserve the award as much as the
writers for Spotlight. The screenplay never
condescends to its audience; it trusts its viewers to keep up with the Boston Globe’s investigation of the Catholic Church and learn new
information at the same time the characters
do — not after. It is brisk and smart, but Spotlight’s greatest strength is its power in subtlety.
It manages to be fascinating, surprising, and
triumphant without being gaudily so, and its
success should be attributed to its writers just
as much as its actors.
Best Cinematography: Who Should
Win- Roger Deakins (Sicario)
One of the major themes of Sicario is the
cold, calculated cruelty of the deadliest drug
cartels in Mexico; amazingly, its cinematography reflects that reality. Deakins, using a yellow tint with faded saturation, conveys the ominous nature of Mexico’s criminals by having
the camera linger just long enough on faces, on
brutalized victims, and on backgrounds for the
audience to become uncomfortable. Deakins’
In addition to
performing in Porretta, the band will
visit Rome for a
few days and take
day trips to Florence and other
cities around Italy.
There, they will
have the chance to
sightsee and visit
some of the best
restaurants in the
world.
If you don’t
want to travel all
the way to Italy to listen to Sound House, the
band will be performing at the Dazzle Jazz
Club almost every month until the end of the
school year.
camera has a type of calm omniscience, an engaging juxtaposition, considering the violence
the movie contains. This is photography at its
finest, and Deakins should be recognized for
this feat.
Who Will Win: Emmanuel Lubezki (The
Revenant)
In many respects, the photography of Deakins and Lubezki share the same traits, capturing the brutal landscapes of Mexico and Canada, respectively. Both men are confident in
their photography, never flinching in showcasing the most blood-curdling images. However,
Deakins suffers from “Leonardo DiCaprio Oscar syndrome,” due to which he should win,
but ultimately will not. Lubezki, on the other
hand, has won two previous Oscars for Gravity
and Birdman, making him another sure bet for
another statue this year. He continues his uncanny ability to fabricate action and suspense
sequences in one shot — a paradigm that, because it is arduous to complete dynamically, is
admirable in its own right.
THE SUN DEVILS’ ADVOCATE, March 2, 2016 Page 9
Arts & Entertainment
Super Bowl 50 Halftime Show Entertains Millions
By Audrey McDonald
What do you get when Coldplay, Beyoncé,
and Bruno Mars all perform at the same time?
The Super Bowl 50 halftime show.
Coldplay lead singer Chris Martin invited
Super Bowl halftime pros Beyoncé and Bruno
Mars to perform with him. Coldplay started
the show with its hit song Viva la Vida, which
began the performance on a high note. Band
members then sang a colorful version of Paradise, which the crowd loved.
They went next into their new song, Adventure of a Lifetime, which received a boost
in the charts from the performance.
Performers then paid an amazing homage to past Super Bowl halftime performers
who rocked the stage before them, including Michael Jackson, Katy Perry, and Bruce
Springsteen.
To close the show, Beyoncé and Bruno
Mars helped Coldplay play its hit song Fix
You. When the song was finished, audience
members in the stands held up signs saying,
Believe in Love. It was a perfect way to end
the spectacular performance.
Undoubtedly, Coldplay’s
Super Bowl 50 Halftime
show will go down as one
of the best in Super Bowl
history
Undoubtedly, Coldplay’s Super Bowl 50
halftime show will go down as one of the best
in Super Bowl history.
Bruno Mars and his dancers then popped
on stage to sing their Grammy Award-winning
song Uptown Funk. After a crazy choreography-filled number, Uptown Funk flawlessly
flowed into Beyoncé’s brand new song Formation. Regardless if one was a fan of the
Super Bowl halftime show, one cannot deny
that Queen Bey put on a show-stopping performance.
Graphic by Siena Fite
Musical Performers Are More Than Just A Cast
After exchanging gifts, the cast and crew
headed to a restaurant as their last hurrah before the musical was officially over.
By Grace Hawkey
The Kent Denver Players delivered four
outstanding performances of Kent Denver’s
winter musical, Man of La Mancha, about the
idealistic and inspiring adventures of Sir Don
Quixote and his squire, Sancho Panza, in early
February.
“At this last dinner, everyone reminisces
over the past couple months, “ said junior Sofia Arnold. “We spend so much time together
during the musical and it’s nice to just sit back
and talk about all the memories.”
After months of hard work and rehearsal,
opening night came swiftly for the cast. Each
performance, actors waited backstage anxiously as voices on the other side of the curtain
become louder. Everyone triple checked his
or her costumes and gathered in a large circle.
The cast did vocal warm-ups, acting exercises,
and pep talks as a group. Everyone felt nervous
to perform before his or her peers, family, and
teachers, but the thrill of being on stage pushed
every member to perform the best he or she
could.
Then, as if the emotion and thrill were not
enough, there was more. After the last night of
performances, juniors and seniors in the cast
handed out humorous but meaningful gifts
to one another. The juniors gave presents to
seniors, and the seniors gave presents to the
teachers involved in directing, choreograph-
Going to IHOP or a different restaurant after the last performance has become a tradition
of the musical cast for a number of years. Every year, the actors stay out for a long time, in
most instances until the early morning hours.
This night of camaraderie serves as a “crescendo” for the musical and gives the friends some
sweet, celebratory, final hours to be a cast together.
Graphic by Siena Fite
ing, and literally orchestrating the musical. For
example, juniors Glennan Keldin and Sofia
Arnold gave senior Mark Bautista, who played
the principal villain in the musical, a stuffed
gorilla, because he played a gorilla in a past
show.
Page 10, THE SUN DEVILS’ ADVOCATE, March 2, 2016
Every student that participated in the winter musical has emerged with a new, unique experience that he or she will remember for his or
her whole life. Performing in the musical takes
effort and time, but now that it is over, every
participant misses but appreciates the closeknit community of cast.
Arts & Entertainment
KDS Players Shine Through Once Again
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Photos by Alie Goldblatt
Clockwise from top left: junior Sofia Arnold as Antonia confesses to the “Padre,” played by senior Roy Brunson;
senior Jacque Howard sings “It’s All the Same” to juniors Ieva Mikalauskaite and Alex DiChiara as Aldonza;
senior Stephen Hanley serenades Aldonza as Don Quixote; and Sancho Panza, played by senior Sebastian Sun,
performs “Man of la Mancha” alongside Don Quixote.
THE SUN DEVILS’ ADVOCATE, March 2, 2016 Page 11
Sports
Boys’ Basketball: A Victory To Remember
By Sophia Rase and Claire Hutchison
Throughout the first half, the teams were neck
and neck, fighting to gain the lead.
On Jan. 15, the boys’ Kent Denver basketball team faced its archrival, Colorado Academy, in the most anticipated game of the season.
Fans from both schools packed the Yates
Pavilion. The tension between the Kent Denver Sun Devils and Colorado Academy Mustangs was almost palpable, and fans were
anxious for the game to start. Kent Denver
senior Rob Casey took the jump, and Kent
Denver gained first possession of the ball.
ahead to beat Colorado Academy 54 to 51.
“Once we entered the gym, the energy was
unbelievable because of the student section,
and the feeling was indescribable when we
won!,” said sophomore Benan Ersek.
Energized and elated, the Kent Denver
student section stormed the court afterward to
congratulate the players and celebrate.
“Everybody was dialed in and completely
focused from the first whistle to the last,” said
senior player Willie Gold. “It was definitely
one of the best team wins that I have been a
part of.”
Both student sections competed to be the
loudest group of fans, and school spirit clearly
hung in the air. Brothers Tommy and Willy
Boatman, two of Kent Denver’s most animated
fans said, “the energy was stimulating because
CA came in super cocky. It was fun to retaliate
against them and battle back and forth with innocent cheers.”
Boys’ basketball defeated
Colorado Academy 54-51 on
Jan. 15.
The Sun Devils were focused and determined going into the second half. They played
smart and shut down Colorado Academy’s star
player, Justin Bassey. Both teams fought hard
and stayed within several points of each other
the whole time.
After an intense battle with great teamwork
on the court, Kent Denver ultimately pulled
Photos by Andrew Goldblatt
KDS Puck Skates To Solidarity And Success
By Madeline Johnson and Willa Sobel
Kent Denver’s hockey team is universally
and affectionately known as “KDS Puck.” The
members of KDS Puck are known for their humorous assembly announcements and spirit.
While attendance to hockey games is usually
small, the games and practices are always entertaining.
During a typical KDS Puck practice, players have the chance to improve their hockey
skills. Sophomore Brian Wittmer described
the practice routine: “[We skate] around for a
few minutes just to warm up. We then move on
to a flow drill... Next we do some stations, and
then on one end [of the rink], we play smallsided scrimmages, and on the other, we work
on cycling the puck and shooting.”
Practice ends with a game and sprints.
These practices showcase the team’s lively and
hard-working dynamic.
Uniquely, students ranging in age from
freshmen to seniors play on the team. Freshman Tommy Gallagher explained what it is
like to be a freshman on the team: “No, it’s not
scary being a freshman on the team. However,
the kids we play are significantly larger than
all the freshmen on the team, so that can be a
little intimidating.”
Although the freshmen are smaller than
some of KDS Puck’s opponents, they are
strong players who add to the team and its
spirit.
Wittmer described the first part of the season as “a rough start [because weasere] playing some very talented teams.” He added,
“Through the season, everybody has been im-
Page 12, THE SUN DEVILS’ ADVOCATE, March 2, 2016
proving, and we’ve built stronger bonds and
more chemistry.”
While team members like to joke about
some of their losses, the team truly has been
playing better and bringing home more wins.
“Our last few games have been really exciting,
and hopefully we finish the season off with
some wins,” Wittmer said.
Indeed, KDS Puck won its senior game
with an impressive score of 7-1 against Chatfield.
The team is also known for its close knit
nature. Members said they enjoy hanging out
before games and practice and eating their favorite meal of pasta for team dinners. With the
players’ determination, teamwork, and persistence, the Kent Denver hockey team has undoubtedly had a great season.
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Sports
Girls’ Swimming: The Final Lap
By Mallory Garner
The girls’ swim team had an incredible season, filled with new records and excitement.
The team had an incredible showing at the league meet, according
to assistant coach and physics teacher Craig Peterson. At the meet, 17
swimmers made their way to the finals, more than any other team in the
league. In fact, the relay team of sophomore Jasmyne Lindsey, sophomore
Sarah Anderson, junior Madi Wifall, and senior Olivia Leoni broke the
previous school record for the relay race.
The team ended its season with a 5-1win record and placed second
overall at the league meet. The team’s only loss was to the state champions of the year, Manitou Springs.
A typical practice for the team consisted of a couple of warm
Photo by Denise Wylde
The whole team is overjoyed after winning a close meet.
Photo by Claire Hutchison
Seniors Sarah Lawrence, Olivia Leoni and Lilly Hanson
smile after their final swim meet.
up laps, then a specific set of about 1500-200 yard swims. Sophomore
Adelaide Hanson said her favorite part of the practice was when the team
practiced dives, because it “mixes up the practice from the normal routine, and allows us to hang out while waiting.”
Wifall said her favorite part of practice was kicking, because she
could talk and spend time with her teammates while doing so.
Coach Petersen said his favorite aspect of coaching is that even
though swimming is an individual sport, everyone works together as a
team. “The best part is how much fun we have together and how encouraging the girls are to each other to swim faster,” he said, adding that
teamwork is a very important part of the sport.
Hanson said another great part of being on the team was “getting
to spend time with great group of girls while also participating in a really
fun sport.”
As the season has just about wrapped up, Junior Madi Wifall said
she is going to miss the bus rides, her favorite part of swimming.
“The seniors will definitely be missed, not only for their swimming
skills but also for their friendship,” she said.
Upcoming Sporting Events
By Adelaide Hanson
As the spring sports season quickly approaches, the winter sports
season is still wrapping up. Both the boys’ and the girls’ basketball
teams are going into playoff games. Athletes are preparimg for the
competition in the post season events. Others are excited for spring
season sports to begin, including girls’ soccer, girls’ tennis, girls’ lacrosse, baseball, boys’ lacrosse, co-ed yoga, and co-ed mountain biking. The season will undoubtedly be competitive. Here are a few upcoming sporting events to look forward to in the transition from winter
to spring sports. Come out and support Kent Denver teams as their
winter season ends and their spring season begins.
Boys’ Basketball Round 1 State Game
March 4
Girls’ Basketball Round One State Game
March 4
Boys’ Basketball Round Two State Game
March 5
Girls’ Basketball Round Two State Game
March 5
Girls’ Varsity Soccer Scrimmage
March 4-5
THE SUN DEVILS’ ADVOCATE, March 2, 2016 Page 13
Commentary
Advocate Editorial: Straight Path To Success
The day starts off early in the morning.
Get up, brush your teeth, take a shower, eat
breakfast (or forget) and run out the door. You
remember the struggle it was to do your homework last night. You get your tests back, some
from weeks ago. How did you do? What was
the average score? After five classes, it’s time
to go to your extracurricular. Sports, Speech
and Debate, the Musical, for another two and
half hours. Sounds stressful, doesn’t it?
On Tuesday Feb. 9, over 400 students and
countless faculty rushed in to hear from one of
the many esteemed speakers brought to Kent
Denver. Dr. Kenneth Ginsburg, a professor
of pediatrics at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, talked with the upper
school about the ways to manage a high-stress
lifestyle and how to lead a path to success
without overdoing yourself.
Dr. Ginsburg heads a company, Fostering
Resilience, and talks to teens and children all
around the globe about what to do in situations
of stress and how to stay calm. Dr. Ginsburg
gave many tips on how to lead a lifestyle that
is truly happy and, what seems to be the real
kicker to a lot of students, without overdoing yourself with thoughts of college and the
mountain of work looming ahead.
There is always the idea of college in the
inevitable distance of every high school student. What will be the name of the college they
go to, what will be the ranking, what will be
its student size, its location, its average SAT
acceptance, ACT acceptance? Even from the
beginning of freshman year, the idea of college
can subconsciously take over in a student’s
head, even making the student plan what classes to take the first year of high school to get
into a good college. And that, right there, is the
heart of the issue.
Dr. Ginsburg pointed out the relative uselessness of planning ahead that far. It’s not bad,
it’s not wrong, but rather, it’s not necessarily
good. There will always be a mountain on the
horizon if you plan ahead.
He pointed out that after college, there was
medical school for him, after that, residency,
then a job, then a family, and it simply continues. The first piece of advice? Simply live your
life in the now. Will one point less on the ACT
really make or break your life? This sort of
strategy can only increase the risk that you will
think something in your life has gone wrong. It
really never has gone that wrong.
These sorts of negative and pessimistic
views are bad for your health and sometimes
even deadly and dangerous. Dr. Ginsburg reflected upon his own life in high school, when,
he claimed, because of this sort of view, almost
imposed by society on everyone, he pondered
suicide. In order to escape, he even turned
to drugs. But at the same time, as he pointed
out, a single action won’t ruin your life. Dr.
Ginsburg is now a respected pediatrician and
has been considered one of the best doctors by
Philadelphia magazines nine times.
The main issue, according to Dr. Ginsburg:
live in the now.
But still, the issue arises when we start to
think about even the future of our lives. The
future becomes a mountain, insurmountable,
impassable. The key piece is to take it with
small steps, almost bite-sized pieces of your
stress-filled life. It’s worth just leaning back
once in a while and simply looking back and
thinking. Make every thing in your life doable,
because everything surely is.
Just once in a while, it is worth it to look
back on your life and just spend the time reflecting. Is it worth spending all this time
stressing if it really isn’t going to impact your
life at all?
Surely, things may go some way that you
don’t want them to and of course you may
want something different, but in the end, nothing can go that wrong. Just sit back, relax and
enjoy the ride.
The Value Of Information
Henry Quinn
Commentary
On Feb. 13, I watched the Republican debate
in South Carolina. The election season is upon us,
and South Carolina was set to hold its first primary Feb. 20. With all the ongoing conflicts in the
world, I figured that I should be paying attention to
what was happening around me. However, when I
shared my excitement for being able to participate
in the next presidential election, I realized that my
interest in current events might not have been fully
shared.
On the contrary, my friends seemed more
concerned about Kendrick Lamar’s most recent
performance at the Grammys, or whether Peyton Manning was going to
retire than with global affairs. That got me thinking: I attend one of the
most rigorous college preparatory schools in the state, but to what degree is the Kent Denver student body actually interested in the problems
facing our country?
I took to the hallways of Kent Denver to find an answer. To evaluate
my question, I constructed a simple survey in order to compare and contrast which forms of information the student body considered valuable.
The questions ranged from which album won “album of the year” at the
Grammys to who won the Iowa Caucus. The responses were intriguing.
Page 14, THE SUN DEVILS’ ADVOCATE, March 2, 2016
When asked for the name of the current Secretary of State of the
United States (John Kerry), only six out of the 25 students surveyed
answered correctly. Many guessed Hillary Clinton, which makes some
sense, given her prominent tenure in the position. Some of my personal favorite responses were, “Oh! That chick Sarah Palin,” or “Isn’t it
Trump?” There was also the occasional Joe Biden, and I even heard a
couple of Madeline Albrights.
While this might seem a little worrisome, do not fear for the future!
Twenty-two out of 25 students could name Cam Newton’s signature
dance move: the Dab. And 20 out of 25 knew that Kobe Bryant is retiring next year. Students often performed even worse when asked about
international affairs. Only three of 25 knew that there is a civil war going on in Yemen. When asked if they had any idea of what was happening in Yemen, one student confidently replied, “The Olympics.”
Others spoke of the infamous “Yemeni pirates, who are constantly
raiding cargo vessels.” But this lack of knowledge is not just confined
to Kent students. In 2007, in the fifth year of the Iraq War, only 21% of
Americans could name the secretary of defense, Robert Gates. A poll in
2006 found that only 20% knew that there are 100 senators, though the
number has remained constant for the last half century.
So why are we young people becoming so detached from the world
(Information continued on page 15)
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Commentary
Presidential Election Affects Teens
While there are a myriad of issues within
the political atmosphere, a select few resonate
with teens more than others. These include educational reform and access to universities and
range all the way to access to birth control.
Tucker Hamilton
Commentary
With educational reform, the best presidential candidate would be Bernie Sanders, a senator from Vermont who has adamantly supported
numerous renovations to the current system in
place. These include free tuition for public colleges and lowered student loan interest rates.
By far the most involved candidate is Hillary Clinton. In addition to receiving an endorsement from the National Education Association, the largest teachers’
union in the United States, Clinton has also been opposed to performance
pay, a system where teachers are paid based on student test scores. Clinton is not only pro-teacher but also pro-student, promising to improve
upon public school education, and she has announced her own plan to
reform higher education costs similar to Sanders’.
Potentially the worst candidates for educational reforms would be
the Republicans. Candidates such as Carly Fiorina, John Kasich, Mike
Huckabee, Jeb Bush, Rand Paul and Donald Trump are all advocating for
a localization of K-12 education and an end to common core.
This may be better or worse depending on the state and city because
while common core, an educational standard set for the entire nation,
may be somewhat unfairly implemented in the status quo, it is arguable
that without it we would see some states fall severely behind others. Additionally, the localization of funds for schooling and the minimization of
the Department of Education means that you are going to see wildly different standards of education emerge from different parts of the country.
This inconsistency may hinder a student’s ability to compete nationally
for college applications and thus, a recursion happens where entire communities continually have their school systems become regressive.
The only Republican who has any substantive reform for the education system would be Jeb Bush. Unlike the other Republican candidates,
Bush accepts the common core standard, but only because there is no
alternative, and he also advocates for the transfer of federal jurisdiction
and funds from the Department of Education to the state level.
Bush’s plan of action also calls for increased transparency in the
school system as well as providing federal aid to low-income students
through allowing states to provide scholarships. Bush supports the performance pay initiatives that equate teacher income to the success of
students. The zenith of Bush’s plan seems to imply giving total power
over education structure to the states.
Regardless of all this, every candidate has, at the minimum, a plan to
improve upon the current school environment, from lunches to standardized tests. However, students should keep in mind that the Republican
nominees are giving preference to solving the issues with primary and
secondary schooling, while Democratic candidates are focusing on the
collegiate level. There are limitless reasons to prefer one candidate over
another, but solely in the educational realm, it may be that maintaining
the common core program would be preferable to state alternatives.
There is, however, an equally valid viewpoint that centralizing education standards in states could result in better quality of education for
some people and some intricate business initiatives geared toward a new
market of schools that don’t receive public funding from the national
government. In a world where independent businesses are allowed to
manage the school system or the states are allowed to autonomously regulate the flow of funding to schools, they could actually streamline the
public schools systems and remove many inefficiencies from the system.
Giving states discretion to guide educational standards also would
eliminate the competition and infighting between states that disagree
over what should be taught in schools.
While both parties have concrete plans of action to help remedy the
problems with American education, it is certain that the Democratic party is doing more in the way of providing access to higher level education
in addition to improving the inherent problems with the public school
system, while Republicans believe that all the latter issues can be solved
by resolving the former issues within secondary education.
The implications of both methods remain to be seen.
(Information continued from page 14)
around us? Junior Jack Friedman, who scored a three out of 10 on the
survey, cited “a lack of interest... if I really cared about this stuff, then I
would have known.”
This feeling explains what we’ve seen on a national level. In fact, in
2014 less than 19% of people ages 18 to 29 voted in the midterm elections. It seems that we simply do not care enough to take the time to vote
in our own elections, securing our own future.
However, upon looking deeper, I found that the answer might be
more complicated. Remember Kony 2012? For those who do not, it
was a movement started by an organization, Invisible Children, to raise
awareness about Joseph Kony, an African war criminal and child abductor. Young people from around the country flocked to the cause, donating
money, making signs, and wearing bracelets.
are being slaughtered in Syria. African refugees are living in overcrowded camps, lacking basic supplies for survival. Russia and Iran are sparking civil wars throughout the Middle East and Europe, yet we are more
concerned about whether Peyton Manning is going to play next year. It
seems to me that we have a major problem in what information we value
as most important.
While I understand that people can’t simply force themselves into
to having an interest in the world around them, having a basic idea of
what’s happening in the world around you is simple. Many students said
that they received their information through social media. So, follow
news accounts, and download news apps that will send you updates to
your home screen. We are the leaders of tomorrow and we must engage
ourselves in the world around us to truly make a difference.
While Kony’s actions were atrocious, similar horrors are occurring
in today’s world and hardly receive attention. Men, women, and children
THE SUN DEVILS’ ADVOCATE, March 2, 2016 Page 15
The Sun Devils’ Advocate
Kent Denver School
4000 East Quincy Avenue
Englewood, CO 80110
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PAID
Englewood, CO
Permit No. 818
Class of 2016 Edits For The Final Push
Photo by Caden Zimmerman
Seniors Maya Love, Kevin Butterman, Luke Wilson, and Connor Dooley work with Ms. Thomas to finish their
college applications. The final wave of college decisions comes out later this month.
Page 16, THE SUN DEVILS’ ADVOCATE, March 2, 2016