PINNACLE theFRIDAY, MARCH 18, 2016

WINTER PREVIEWS/ D8Storm teams add girls swimming, nordic

and alpine state team titles. Several individual state titles claimed, as well.

SPORTSNEWS OPINIONS FEATURES

VOLUME 15, ISSUE 4

FILM CAMERAS/ C4Film photography and black and white

darkrooms, once thought dead and killed by the digital era, gain momentum.

SMART DRUGS/ B8Smart drug morality and efficacy

becoming national issue as availability of performance-enhancing drugs increases.

BURNS CONFLICT/ A4Although the 41-day occupation is over,

life hasn’t quite returned to normal at the Malheur Field Station.

SUMMIT HIGH SCHOOL

In April of 2010, the federal government adopted new standards for automobiles, requiring manufacturers, like Ford and Chevrolet, to improve the average fuel efficiency of their new-car fleets by 30 percent by 2016. The New York Times, in an editorial entitled “Everybody Wins,” said the standards would produce a “trifecta of benefits.” In 2009, these benefits were enumerated by then U.S. Secretary of Energy Steven Chu: a reduction in total oil consumption of 1.8 billion barrels; the elimination of 950 million metric tons of greenhouse-gas emissions; and, on average, three thousand

NUMBER ONE IN ENERGY CONSUMPTION

Revisions to AP curriculum to benefit students

OpenAI advances, refines artificial intelligenceNathan LovejoyStaff WriterThe technology guru and computer

programmer Carson Key is not your typical high school student—the junior has been newly employed by the multi-million dollar video messaging application Snapchat as a server connectivity expert and specialist.

Snapchat, created by Evan Spiegel, Bobby Murphy, and Reggie Brown 2011, is a corporation with fewer than 200 employees, making the staff selection extremely exclusive and competitive.

Key was hired by a friend who currently oversees server connectivity at Snapchat. And although the 17-year-old Key did have this connection, he was hired solely for his technology skills.

Key specializes in server connectivity, an expertise that is particularly rare.

“In computer science, a database connection is the means by which a database server and its client software communicate with each other. The term is used whether or not the client and the server are on different machines. The client uses a database connection to send

commands to and receive replies from the server,” said Key.

“Ultimately, my goal is to optimize all scripts that deal with the connection between two servers,” said Key. He is one of the few young and, at the same time, qualified workers for Snapchat versed in server connectivity.

Balancing school classes, work and extra-curricular activities, Key’s schedule is difficult to maintain. He is an active member of the Robotics Team and has been participating in the club since his freshman year. Even in his spare time, Key can be found working on his computer.

While Key is highly involved in the world of social media, he does not use most applications himself. Key is not an active user of Snapchat, Instagram, Twitter, or any others modes of social media. Key simply “does not have the time, nor interest in the applications.”

Key has built his connections and knowledge of the corporation all by himself and has scored himself a place among some of the most intelligent, savvy employees at Snapchat and in technology.

Snapchat employee, Carson Key, who specializes in server connectivity, performs a basic maintenance check on a Dell computer in a Photo II class. Photo by Cathal Doyle

Grace BoyleNews Editor

dollars saved for the American driver. Now, in 2016, the effects of this push for energy efficiency, both indirect and direct, are everywhere.

Georgetown University, in solidarity with this national and global movement, challenged 50 communities across the U.S. to, over a two-year period spanning from 2015 to 2016, massively reduce their energy usage.

The winning community, which will be selected in July of 2017, will receive five million dollars to help fund further energy efficiency-improving projects. Bend is one of these 50 communities.

Kevin CrawfordEditor-in-Chief

Carley EppleStaff Writer

AP Changes/ A2 Artificial Intelligence/ A2

energy consumption / A3

Snapchat/ A3

The lights are on as the staff welcomes eighth graders as incoming freshmen for an evening of orientation activities. One reason our energy costs are higher may well rest in the fact that our school is open seven days a week and is often utilized by college and community groups in the evenings and on weekends. Building lights, heat and air conditioning units make up the largest portion of our electricity bill, which runs more than $13,000 each month. With its high ceilings and large windows, the school requires a larger amount of energy than most. Photo by Miranda Harris Hamlin

Student works at Snapchat as server connectivity expert

“AP courses offer rigorous college-level curricula and assessments to students in high school. The program sets the standard for academic achievement in 34 courses and offers extensive teacher professional development,” reported College Board officials recently.

Last year, 885 students took Advanced Placement (AP) exams, earning a 72 percent passing rate.

The AP program continues to evolve and the recent changes to AP curriculum offerings have been spelled out in the 2016-17 course catalog.

AP Human Geography, a class originally taken by freshmen, will no longer be offered next year. Instead, AP Human Geography will return for the 2017-18 school year as an elective choice for juniors and seniors.

Freshmen will enroll, instead, in pre-AP World History in order to prepare them for future AP courses.

“Freshman will learn the writing skills for document based questions (DBQ) and free response questions (FRQ) that are history-based, in preparation for sophomore year,” said AP teacher Monica Freeman. Freeman will be teaching the preparatory class next fall.

According to the College Board, “AP courses are rarely offered in ninth grade, and exam results show that, for the most part, ninth grade students are not sufficiently prepared to participate in a college-level course. Therefore, the College Board believes these students would be better served by coursework focusing on the academic building blocks necessary for later, successful enrollment in college-level courses.”

Many college admissions officers support this position, and often suggest students should not be rushed into AP coursework too early and should instead develop necessary skills and conceptual understandings in foundational courses prior to enrolling in AP classes.

In December, the Silicon Valley entrepreneurial mastermind Elon Musk launched his latest project: a not-for-profit research organization called OpenAI. Its objective is “to advance digital intelligence in the way that is most likely to benefit humanity as a whole.”

The one billion-dollar company is ostensibly galvanized by Musk’s fear of a hypothetical technological singularity, when AI would supersede the intelligence and ingenuity of humans. Intrigued by the collaborative opportunities presented by open sourcing and enthused by OpenAI’s noble impetus, many top researchers are expected to leave their private employers to share their expertise and wisdom with the new enterprise.

A very ambitious not-for-profit organization thus becomes an inspired business decision by Elon Musk and partner Sam Altman. “The two entrepreneurs can access ideas they couldn’t get their hands on before,” writes Cade Metz of Wired. If OpenAI indeed levels the playing field by siphoning brain power from established tech juggernauts, cutting-edge artificial intelligence will be available to virtually anyone.

Widened access to AI can be seen as good news to those who signed a letter last July warning of the dangers of autonomous weapons. Signers include Stephen Hawking, Steve Wozniak and Elon Musk.

Artificially intelligent weapons are considered especially terrifying because of their ability to make decisions about potential targets without the guidance of human thoughts.

Despite the manifold risks posed by strong AI, it is becoming an indispensable asset in 21st century lives. In fields such as computer science, medicine and transportation, industry is increasingly turning from manpower to computer components that can do the same job more efficiently.

FRIDAY, MARCH 18, 2016A2 NEWS

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Corrections: The Pinnacle corrects significant errors of fact. If you see an error in the newspaper, please contact us via the above information. We will print a correction in our next issue.

Call/Fax: 541-355-4150Email: karen.boone@gapps.bend.k12.or.us

Editors-in-ChiefKevin CrawfordSenna Phillips

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Summit High School; 2855 Clearwater Dr.; Bend, OR 97703Adviser Karen Boone

PINNACLE the

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With Bend’s popularity growing each year, the summer of 2015 saw record-high tourist counts. For many native Bendites, this posed an array of new problems: increased traffic, insufficient parking and occasional run-ins with Californians experiencing roundabouts for the first time.

Bend has transformed from what was once referred to as a “big small-town” to a “small big-city.” To most of Bend, these high tourism rates mean inconvenience—but to senior Dylan Albertazzi, they mean profit.

Pondering the idea since eighth grade and further solidifying it this past summer, Albertazzi finally launched his business, Bend Adventures, this winter. He aims to provide all tourists with personalized trip itineraries, gaining information from the 10 survey questions that can be filled out on his self-produced website, bendoradventures.com.

“The itineraries are basically where to eat, how to get there and what to do,” said Albertazzi.

The initial survey questions provide Albertazzi with basic information, such as the group’s age range, number of members and dates they are visiting. This section allows clients to select any time between 6 a.m. to 12 p.m. to start their day, the most popular start time being 9 p.m.

The following section of the survey dives deeper into the group’s specific interests. When filling out the winter survey, tourists are asked if they would like to ski (nordic, downhill, or both), sled, hike and/or snowshoe, whereas the summer survey allows them to pick from activities such as hiking, paddle boarding, or biking.

Student entrepreneur profits from local tourismHanna MerzbachCrest Editor

Extensive research is going into driverless cars, for example. Though manufacturers are still a long way from perfecting a car driven by AI, it seems only a matter of time before the active human driver becomes the idle passenger.

AI has captured the imagination of Hollywood, as evidenced by the highest-grossing titles of 2015. The beloved droids of Star Wars and the villainous Ultron from the second Avengers film were integral parts of their respective movies’ plots.

Today the science fiction genre is brimming with artificial intelligence, from the ever-useful TARS and CASE in Interstellar, to the title character of Chappie to the charming, yet devious, androids of Ex Machina.

Mark Zuckerberg is intrigued by the idea of smart, helpful robots and has announced that his personal challenge for this year is to build and program an artificially intelligent assistant. The product of his grandiose plan will presumably be seen next December.

The late Alan Turing believed that if a computer could fool a human into believing that it was also human, then it deserved to be called sentient. This belief

is the inspiration for the Turing Test, in which a participant interacts with either another human or an AI and must decide which one is which.

If Elon Musk’s nightmares are grounded in fact, then we may one day have to broaden the definition of consciousness to make room for different types of nonliving things.

An AI that passes rigorous Turing Tests is sufficiently capable of mimicking human thought processes and mannerisms to pose as a human, and it may even possess a computer that can process information at a much higher level than a human brain.

The lone boundary between such an AI and life is that its “brain” is comprised of electronic hardware rather than cells and tissues.

“AI is a frontier, kind of like space”, said junior Mohamed Elwefati, an auto didactic student of philosophy, “it’s undeniably dangerous, but I really think that it has a ton of potential to help humanity. I am excited and ready to see where this invention will go.”

Perhaps the greatest danger of artificial intelligence is not autonomous weaponry, a supposed technological singularity, or even playing God and creating a living machine; it is tricking ourselves into believing that we have.

In an attempt to make these courses more manageable for freshmen, the rigor of the APs could be comprised. It is improbable that ninth-graders taking an AP course would complete the same quality or amount of work as a junior or senior enrolled in the same AP, let alone a high level college student.

“It has nothing to do with the intelligence level of incoming freshman. We feel Pre-AP World History will help prepare freshman for their future in Advanced Placement courses,” counselor Karen Luke said. “The freshmen coming from middle school were intelligent enough for the course, but most were not prepared for the immense work load and the advanced study skills required.”

“We want to move AP Human Geography to an elective credit, the way AP intended it to be. After the pre-AP class, all sophomores could then tackle AP World History. We want students to first experience AP World History and the change will align the district curriculum, as well,” Freeman said.

AP US History will not be offered in the

coming year, either, but will return in 2017 as a junior/senior elective.

AP World History, AP Computer Science, AP Calculus, both AB and BC, AP Statistics, AP Biology will be open to sophomores, juniors and seniors who have met the proper prerequisites.

AP Art History, AP Art Studio, AP Lang, AP Psych, AP Physics 1 and 2, AP Psychology, AP Chemistry, AP French and AP Spanish will be offered to all juniors and seniors.

Seniors may enroll in AP Comparative Government or AP US Government and Politics, along with standard AP Literature and Composition.

Benjamin Pierce, AP United States History teacher, admits his class is difficult. Pierce has taught the course for nine years and believes the class should be taken by upperclassmen.

“The current AP U.S. History-Honors English collaboration class for sophomores will no longer be offered and will be reinstated as separate classes. Knoll and I worked very well together, but the change is for the best,” said Pierce.

Advanced Placement coursework continues to challenge a majority of

students across the country. However, some claim the content is not difficult enough and should be further intensified.

“AP courses are not remotely equivalent to the college-level courses they are said to approximate,” said high school teacher John Tierney, who is a contributing writer for the “Atlantic.”

In his article, “AP Classes Are a Scam,” Tierney suggests that AP classes fail to prepare students for college. He feels the difficulty levels of the AP courses currently being offered by most high schools are not comparable to that of college courses.

AP tests do, however, benefit college-bound students. “I took a few of the AP tests in May and plan on receiving some of the credit for college. It’s really nice because it allows students to possibly take a year abroad and not fall behind with a few extra credits earned in high school,” said senior Lauren Gallivan.

Although several changes to the Advanced Placement courses at Summit are taking place within the next few years, the majority of AP will work as it has in the past. The changes are expected to impel students to learn and work in unison, ultimately helping all involved.

AP Changes Continued from Page A1

Artificial intelligenceContinued from Page A1

Bend Adventures has only created winter itineraries so far, most often allocating skiing to the bulk of the day.

“If people are coming to Bend for skiing, they are often looking for restaurants and night activities,” said Albertazzi. While skiing often dominates, activities range anywhere from climbing Smith Rock to hiking one of Bend’s most famous landmarks, South Sister.

After submitting a completed survey, tourists provide their contact and payment information. Albertazzi charges five dollars for each day he plans, allowing

customers to pick anywhere from one day to 10 day adventures. Once this is done, Albertazzi gets down to business. Closely examining each given answer alongside an all-encompassing activity and restaurant list, he manually creates a personalized schedule and emails it to the client.

So far, search engine optimization—placing his website first when keywords are searched with Google—has been Albertazzi’s main form of advertisement and has noticeably increased his client yield. In order to get

the word out, Albertazzi has also contacted The Bend Bulletin, suggesting a story be written on his business. (Soon after, he was interviewed and an article was published about his burgeoning business.) Since then, a number of businesses have contacted Albertazzi in hopes of collaborating, including a limo rental service and several real estate companies.

As advertising opportunities emerge, Bend Adventure’s client base will likely expand this upcoming summer. Albertazzi is contemplating a more efficient means of turning survey information into individualized personalized itineraries.

“I have two options. I can either get more people to fill the itineraries out or figure out a way to automate the process. As of right now, I am not sure which option would further benefit my company. I will cross that bridge when I get there,” said Albertazzi.

While company expansion can often result in de-personalization, Albertazzi plans to stay true to his original objective: creating a schedule specific for every single client.

“The goal is not for them to follow the itinerary absolutely perfectly. Not any [sic.] vacation can be truly perfect, even in Bend. I just want my clients to be happy with my work and I want to ensure that they have a good time and make them feel like they are getting the most out of their experience,” said Albertazzi.

With the city’s wide variety of vacation opportunities and activities, Albertazzi is hopeful about the future of Bend Adventures and looks forward to welcoming more people to Bend’s unique culture.

“I want to ensure that they have a good time and make them feel like

they are getting the most out of their experience.” Dylan Albertazzi

news in brief

infographic by Josh Renton

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Key is currently on a six month contract, but occasionally the programmer is paid per hour. His contract is based on a weekly schedule, rather than day to day, but he is expected to work 25 hours a week.

Aside from Snapchat, Key has also worked for other businesses in the field of server connectivity. “Snapchat is the biggest corporation I have ever been a part of, the second being an airline company. I used to do some white-hat hacking, as well.” (These are hackers who attempt to hack systems in order to test the strength of the program.)

Key also has the luxury of working from home, but must find time in between his school activities to fit in his job.

“After my six-month contract is up, it will be up to Snapchat whether I continue to work for them or not. I would love to continue to work for them because I think that the entire company is very inspiring. If they offered me the job, I would definitely continue working for them to further my career,” said Key.

Key works alongside his boss and 20 other coworkers who are in charge of the network engineering of the servers. Some of these employees work at the Snapchat headquarters, while others work entirely from home.

Key plans to pursue computer technology in college and wants to continue working in the industry.

“I hope to carry forward as a network engineer and study computer technology in college,” said Key, who wishes to attend Cal Poly after he graduates. “I am looking into affordable schools with strong science and math departments. Although I did investigate a couple of other schools, Cal Poly continues to be my number-one pick.”

Given his background and current work experience, Key has an advantage within the technological world. Having had a well paying, advanced job at such a young age, he has also been exposed to real-world finance issues.

“Having a serious job, and a company that relies on you can be stressful, but I am lucky and thankful to have the opportunity to better my self in all aspects because of Snapchat” said Key.

With his background with Snapchat, Carson Key is expected to have an extremely promising future in both college and in the growing technological industry.

SnapchatContinued from Page A1

3D printing, otherwise known as additive manufacturing, is a process that involves creating objects from the ground up out of materials such as sandstone and various plastics. The technology was pioneered in 1984, but has been improving ever since. 3D printers work the same way as regular printers, with the exception that they are working on the X, Y and Z planes.

The process of 3D printing begins with the 3D file. The user will design something in a program such as Autodesk’s AutoCAD or Google’s Sketchup. The user will then send the file to the printer either through a USB cord, SD card or wirelessly. The printer will then begin to layer material onto a heated glass or ceramic plate and eventually the object will take form as the material is layered higher and higher.

Autodesk hosts a library of apps for iOS and Android that can be used to create 3D files, including 123D Design, which allows users to create their own printable files. 123D Catch also allows users to take photos and make 3D models of objects photographed from 360 degrees. Both can be downloaded for free off of the Google Play Store and Apple App Store.

Usage of 3D printers is not restricted to engineering students; science students and teachers could use models of body parts, both human and animal, printed in-house, while architecture students could create 3D models of houses and chemistry students could create large models of complex molecules, the possibilities are as wide as the users’ imaginations.

Another advantage is the modeling and printing of historical and archaeological artifacts for students to see. Many classes do not allow students to touch fragile objects, such as fossils and historical artifacts, but now institutions are offering libraries of 3D files of fossils that can be printed. These printed fossils can allow tactile and visual learners to engage better in classes. Art classes can have an alternative to ceramics for 3D art, creating intricate sculptures out of plastic, glass or ceramic. Artists can even design and assemble kinetic sculptures designed to move. Both in large and small-scale manufacturing, 3D printing has

3D printing yields technological innovationsJake HoskinsStaff Writer

been a major step for prototyping, assembly and replacement of parts.

“The ability to create hard prototypes within hours right at your desktop has increased product development efficiency many times over,” said local product designer and business owner Matt Hoskins in testament to the utility of consumer-level 3D printing technology.

3D printing is also not only for enthusiasts and manufacturers. The medical industry has used the technology to create prosthetics, drugs and even organs. Medical 3D printing is primarily used for specialized dental and bone implants, as well as prosthetic limbs. And 3D printed prosthetics are not just for people; dogs who have amputated legs have also received custom limbs for ease of mobility.

Experts have postulated that, in conjunction with stem cell research, fabrication of made-to-donate organs may reach new horizons with the advent of 3D printing. Innovators in the field have created models of organs to help surgeons perform surgery and created new surgical tools to aid in surgeries, for example, ACL reconstruction.

Doctors can create 3D models of organs to be operated on unique for each patient, allowing for precise preparation for risky surgeries. AdvancedRP is a company that provides these models to hospitals using a Stratasys Objet500 Connex3 Multi-Material 3D Printer in addition to 3D models provided by CT or MRI imaging.

“Once patient scan data from MRI or CT imaging is fed into the Stratasys 3D Printer, doctors can create a model with all its intricacies, specific features and fine detail,” said Stratasys’ General Manager of Medical Solutions, Scott Rader. “This significantly enhances surgical preparedness, reduces complications and decreases operating time.”

3D printing is the step into the next generation of innovation and personalization, and can only become faster and more available. Even today we’re seeing leaps and bounds in the technology which are already helping millions of people in numerous types of industries.

energy consumptionContinued from Page A1

Infographic by Gordon Zhang

“The Bend Energy Challenge” (BEC) is the city’s local “team leader” and the focal point for all efforts to monitor and improve upon energy use citywide. Working alongside them is the city’s other green powerhouse, the Bend Environmental Center. In November of last year, the Environmental Center sent a representative to the school for a staff meeting to deliver what science teacher Callie Pfister called “alarming news:” the school is the largest energy consumer among Bend-La Pine schools.

Built in 2001, Summit is Bend’s youngest high school—and many assume its most energy efficient. Merritt Allen, president of the school’s environmental club, “Roots and Shoots,” was especially surprised to hear the news. “Bend High has outdated insulation, a sprawling campus and constantly rents out its auditorium for extracurricular use—it just doesn’t make sense to me that [the school] could use more energy considering how much newer it is,” said Allen. But it seems that the school, for all its modernity, draws upon vastly more energy than any of its sibling schools: in an average month, Summit spends $13,000 on electricity and $6,000 on heating alone; considering that an average of 58 percent of energy is

wasted in America every year, according to the BEC, that means approximately $11,000 of energy is paid for, but not used by the school each month. That adds up to $132,000 per year.

When speaking on energy efficiency—and when making statements regarding whether one instance of energy use is worse than another—a balancing metric is always sought, something to establish as center. In the case of the school, such a metric does not exist. Principal Alice DeWittie addressed this by saying she “doesn’t know if [the school] is worse off as a staff or a community—it’s just impossible to tell. We are too different,” referring to the fact that Summit is the only high school to be built in the past decade. Newer schools, like Miller and Pacific Crest, exist, but lack the appropriate size and, because they are, respectively, elementary and middle schools, student body type to justify comparison. The only way to accurately conclude that the school is inefficiently using energy is to examine how energy is used and to approximate how much is lost—this is where the $11,000-paid-for-but-not-used figure comes in.

Energy efficiency has been popularly labelled, almost universally, as a cost-free tool for accelerating the developed world towards a green-energy economy.

But this is not to say that efficiency comes without a price tag. The school’s primary energy waste is a result of, according to DeWittie, a poorly constructed HVAC (heating, ventilation, air conditioning) system. “These systems are bad at every school I’ve been in—Portland, Reynolds and, now, here,” said DeWittie, going on to cite the fact that school districts accept contractors based upon bid numbers. The lowest bids receive jobs—and, more often than not, a low bidding contractor is also a low-quality builder. Accordingly, schools everywhere suffer from poorly insulated and poorly vented heating and cooling systems that can cost districts hundreds of thousands of dollars a year in wasted energy costs.

The other major energy drain at the school—that which DeWittie refers to as “the obvious problem”—is the lighting. If one hall has its lights turned on, the entire school, excluding classrooms, is lit up. This happens because, when it was built and when the light control was wired, every hallway was routed to one master switch. Because of this, a night janitor mopping in A Hall uses not just the amount of energy to illuminate one hall, but the energy required to illuminate the entire building. In finding a solution to the school’s energy problem, many small fixes exist to a problem that, according to

Pfister, is “largely systemic.”Replacing light bulbs at the school with LED and more efficient fluorescent bulbs is one of these fixes; a fix that is, in the words of environmentalist Amory Lovins, “not a free lunch, but a lunch you’re paid to eat,” since a fluorescent bulb will usually save enough electricity to more than offset its higher purchase price. But, since the school’s biggest source of inefficiency is the heating and cooling system, replacing light bulbs is “like treating a broken leg with a Band-aid,” according to Allen.

At a more general level, at the level where awareness equates to a long-term solution, DeWittie hopes, one day, to “create an environmental science class—that kind of thing does a lot.” Until then, however, DeWittie and Allen both recommend the school begins to do its best to change at an everyday level, which includes things like turning off lights when not in use, not tampering with the heating systems and cutting down on the amount of waste the school produces by recycling more. If the school fails to change, blame will not fall to it if the city loses the Energy Challenge; instead, the BEC provides a more hopeful alternative: “we will significantly raise the visibility of energy efficiency and its benefits, and we will dramatically reduce our community’s energy use and carbon footprint.”

OREGON UNDERATTACK

Dawn unfolds slowly across the plains, banishing the night; for most in Malheur County, Ore., the sunrise on Jan. 2 was no

special thing. For the key players in the occupation of the Malheur Wildlife Refuge, however, this was the beginning of the end.

As hundreds protest the allegedly unjust imprisonment of the Hammond Family downtown Burns, a small group breaks off from the rest. With all eyes on Burns, said group rushes to the Malheur Wildlife Refuge, nearly 30 miles from civilization, and sets up camp. This marked the start of a 41-day standoff between the Bundys and the Bureau of Land Management; between the Militants and the State; between the Ranchers and the Regulators.

None of this happened by chance. In fact, the leaders of the occupation had been embedded in Burns, Ore., for nearly a month prior to the protest. Arriving in December, Ammon Bundy and Ryan Payne began strategizing. Originally, the militant group was drawn to Burns to protest against the imprisonment of Dwight Hammond Jr. (73) and son Steven Hammond (42). The pair was accused of starting an unauthorized fire on their family ranch to cover up illegal poaching in 2006. In 2011 the U.S. Attorney’s Office decided to recharge the Hammonds on domestic terrorism charges. By June of 2012, Dwight and Steven were found guilty of starting fires both in 2001 and 2006; the pair was sentenced to three and 12 months in prison, respectively. Although this was below the minimum terrorism sentence of five years, the judge overseeing this case determined that the minimum sentences would violate the eighth amendment as “cruel and unusual punishment.”

After serving their time, and paying the $400,000 fine to the Bureau of Land Management, the Hammond family had returned to their ranch by January of 2014. A year and a half later, in October of 2015, the Ninth District Court re-sentenced the pair, requiring them to serve the minimum five-year sentence associated with a domestic terrorism conviction. The judge who had originally sentenced the Hammonds, and who had determined the full minimum sentence to be unjust, had retired. Both Hammonds were ordered to report to federal prison by Jan. 4, 2016. Dwight Hammond Jr. will be 79 when he is released.

Ammon Bundy, the leader of the militia, claims he received a divine message “ordering” him to rectify the “wrongful imprisonment” of the Hammonds. By early December 2015, Bundy and Ryan Payne had established themselves in Burns. Meeting with locals, as well as the Hammond family, the duo organized a rally at the Harney County Fairgrounds to gauge local sentiment regarding the Hammond arrests. The rally ended in a decision to stage a peaceful protest in downtown Burns on Jan. 2.

At noon, a crowd of approximately 300 gathers at Safeway downtown Burns. The group marches to the home of Dwight and Steve Hammond, stopping to protest in

front of the sheriff’s office. The crowd then returned to the Safeway and disbanded.

Meanwhile, an entirely different protest was beginning. The core orchestrators of the larger protest had broken off from the group and taken control of the Malheur Wildlife Refuge. As it was a holiday weekend, the refuge was devoid of employees. Initially, Bundy and Payne had believed they would glean support from the larger group of protestors, who would hopefully flock to the refuge to augment the core group. Unfortunately for the masterminds behind this plan, no one came. Their vision had been grand: take over the nearly 300 acres of ranching land at the refuge, establish an agrarian community unrestricted by the federal government and ranch and live in peace for the rest of their years.

No one was buying it. With no group throwing their support behind the occupation, the masterminds of the occupation decided to change their goal. Realizing there was no movement to settle the Malheur Wildlife Refuge, the occupiers were back to the drawing board.

The new plan: rally support from the ranchers. Visiting with the ranchers surrounding the refuge, the militants encountered the same lack of support. Deemed “outsiders” and “provocateurs,” it was clear there was little outside support for the occupiers.

Enter the media. The number one trending hashtag on Twitter by Jan. 4 was #OregonUnderAttack. Initial headlines warned Americans of hundreds of armed militants in a bitter standoff with the government. In reality, between six and 12 militants had, with relative ease, slipped into the Malheur Wildlife Refuge. No police presence materialized. “We have no intention of using any type of force. Those are not our methods,” said Bundy. “We’re armed because in order to truly express our first amendment rights, we have to have our second amendment rights.”

The FBI had assumed the lead role in the investigation by Jan. 3. Calls to neighboring sheriffs went out, and personnel from nine Oregon counties were sent to Harney County. “These men came to Harney County claiming to be part of militia groups supporting local ranchers, when in reality these men had alternative motives, to attempt to overthrow the county and federal government in hopes to spark a movement across the U.S.,” said Sheriff David Ward to KTVZ News.

On Jan. 4, the Hammonds quietly turned themselves in to serve the remainder of their prison sentences. Undeterred, the militants proclaimed that they would leave the refuge only if the people of Burns told them to. A public meeting on Jan. 6 shed some light on local sentiment: when asked if the militants should leave, nearly every person attending raised their hands, according to Oregon Public Broadcasting.

Following this public forum, Sheriff Ward met with Bundy and Payne in an attempt to offer the group safe passage to the Harney County line. The pair rejected the offer, redefining their mission statement in the process by stating that

the occupation would continue until the federal government turned all of its land over to the residents of the appropriate county. “We need the states to stand up to the federal government,” said Bundy.

With the spotlight of the media shining on the Malheur Refuge, people from all corners of the U.S. flocked to Oregon. Several well-established militant groups who had previously denounced the occupation sent groups to help defend the refuge, including the “3 Percenters” and the “Pacific Patriot Network.” On Jan. 16, Stewart Rhodes, the founder of militant group “Oath Keeper,” posted on Oath Keeper’s website that, if the standoff at the Malheur Refuge deteriorated into violence, the government would risk “starting a conflagration so great, it cannot be stopped, leading to a bloody, brutal civil war.”

Appealing for an expedited conclusion to the occupation, Governor Kate Brown called on President Barack Obama to resolve the standoff. On Jan. 21, Ammon Bundy began negotiations with the FBI. He refused to continue negotiations soon after, however, as the FBI declined to allow said discussions to go public.

Invited to John Day by Grant County Sheriff Glenn Palmer, a core group of occupiers pile into two cars and depart the Malheur Wildlife Refuge. At around 5:00 p.m. on Jan. 26, the cars are stopped by state and federal authorities on U.S. Route 395. One vehicle, containing Ammon Bundy, surrendered peacefully and was taken into custody. The second vehicle, driven by LaVoy Finicum, refused to stop. In an aerial video released by the FBI, Finicum is seen speeding down the highway towards a roadblock, ultimately veering off the road in an attempt to avoid crashing.

As Finicum exits the car, the video footage shows him reaching down and turning—according to the FBI, he was attempting to brandish a gun. According to CNN, the SWAT team then opened fire and killed Finicum, lightly wounding Ryan Bundy (who remained in the car) in the crossfire. Shawna Cox and Victoria Sharp, two occupiers in the back seat of Finicum’s vehicle, were unscathed.

“We’re 30 miles from town, there’s no one being threatened, that would be a silly thing to do over a few rotten buildings. That’s not going to happen,” said Finicum when asked about the possibility of an armed encounter with authorities by The Pinnacle on Jan. 3.

Following the Jan. 26 climax, four occupiers remained for several weeks after the arrest of Ammon Bundy, claiming they would stay for the foreseeable future in an interview with Oregon Public Broadcasting. Several days later, on Feb. 10, the remaining militants agree to turn themselves in to the FBI. On March 8, a press conference was held to discuss the failure of FBI agents to disclose two shots fired during the attempted arrest of Finicum. In the press conference it was revealed that the five unnamed FBI agents involved in the death of Finicum are under criminal investigation by the U.S. Justice Department’s Inspector General.

38% of students polled supported the occupation

believe the Oregon state government responded effectively to the occupation

60%

45%

think states should control current federal lands

believe the shooting of LaVoy Finicum was justified

62%49%

believe the Federal government responded effectively to the occupation

YOUR VOICE600 students polled

parker robertsonEditor-in-Chief

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1) Sun sets on the Malheur Wildlife refuge. 2) The building in which occupiers set up base camp. The facilities include fully functional living accommodations, running water and electricity. During the occupation, Ammon Bundy set up a makeshift control center in this building, with several militants on computers attempting to encourage support online. Despite their best efforts to recruit other like-minded people to their cause, few responded to calls for reinforcements. 3) Ammon Bundy and LaVoy Finicum address the press in front of the Malheur Wildlife Refuge. Behind them, the Flag of the United States of America is seen draped over the Malheur Wildlife Refuge sign as a symbol of the occupier’s protests.4) Ammon Bundy addresses national media near the Malheur Wildlife Refuge. Nearly 100 press gathered near the remote refuge to cover the occupation. Bundy allowed the press nearly unlimited access throughout the occupation, speaking with many news agencies throughout the 41-day long ordeal.5) A panoramic view of Harney County. To the left lies Burns, Ore., population 2,800. The vast majority of those living in Harney County either work for the Bureau of Land Management or are ranchers themselves. 6) Birds take flight from a stoic tree on the Malheur Wildlife Refuge. Despite the tumultuous events which occurred here the prior month, a sense of calm has settled once again over the unperturbed landscape. 7) The watchtower stands stoic against the cerulean sky. During the occupation, militants used the watch tower as a lookout perch, with snipers stationed around the clock at its pinnacle. Prior to its use as a defensive tower, it was used by the Forest Service to look for fires on the horizon.8) The Bureau of Land Management has a large presence in Burns. Most families have at least one member employed by the BLM. As Burns is largely agrarian, interactions between ranchers and the BLM occur frequently.Photos by Parker Robertson

The Malheur National Wildlife Refuge, encompassing over 187,000 acres of public lands, became the center of controversy over federal land ownership during the 40 day occupation. Ammon Bundy’s insurrectionary goal was to put an end to the out-of-date system of national land management that dates back to the 19th century. His attempt has reinvigorated the country’s complicated debate on state sovereignty superceding that of the national government.

From a constitutional perspective, federal land ownership is justified. The property clause (Article 4, Section 3, Clause 2) equipped Congress with the power to “make all needful Rules and Regulations respecting the Territory or other Property” of the United States. Under such an ambiguous clause, the federal government succeeded for over two centuries in overseeing and managing the

settlement of all Western territories. At first, land was disposed of, both to settlers and states, based on conditions set by the federal government. But by the late 19th century, federal policy had shifted to managing these lands, instead of disposing them, for the public’s good. President Theodore Roosevelt—who established the Malheur Lake Refuge in 1908 to protect local bird populations—was a large proponent of preserving these lands.

New tight regulations and a re-designation of public domain portions in the early 20th century, all enacted by the newly created Forest Service, caused a substantial outcry from local populations. For the first time, fees were required for local ranchers and miners to access resources that had, up until then, always been free. However, several Supreme Court decisions ruled in favor of the Forest Service and resulted

in affirmation that federal ownership of public lands was incontestable, and that Congress had granted the Executive Branch power to manage these lands. Cattleman Fred Light and Shepard Pierre Grimaud were unanimously defeated in the nation’s highest court in 1911 after caught illegally grazing on national forest lands. The Colorado legislature—in an attempt to prove that states have sovereignty over land within their border, not the federal government—even paid for all of Light’s legal expenses.

The rulings failed to alter Western resistance. To this day, federal land management agencies still have control over lands within state borders, and there continues to be confrontations over which body should manage them. The Malheur occupation is just one example of a complex, ongoing debate.

TIMELINE

FEDERALLY OWNED LAND

JAN. 2 Occupation of Malheur National Wildlife Refuge commences

JAN. 3 Ammon Bundy announces group has no intention of violence unless acted upon

JAN. 4 Hammonds report to federal prison to finish sentence

JAN. 7Sheriff meets with Ammon Bundy to discuss ending occupation

JAN. 15 Public meeting to reveal occupiers “exit strategy” is cancelled

JAN. 21 Ammon Bundy negotiates with FBI for the first time

JAN. 26 FBI arrests Ammon Bundy, shoots and kills Lavoy Finicum

JAN. 28 After series of arrests and departures, four occupiers remain

FEB. 3 Grand jury gives indictments to Ammon Bundy and 15 other supporters

MAR. 8 FBI holds a press conference to discuss the failure to report two fired shots

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FRIDAY, MARCH 18, 2016A6 NEWS

Deschutes County to commemorate 100 year anniversary

Cascadia fault threatens West Coast

Deschutes County is celebrating its 100th year of establishment in 2016. A ballot passed in 1916 created the youngest county in Oregon, residing in Central Oregon and encompassing the cities of Bend, La Pine, Redmond and Sisters.

The area also includes a portion of the Cascade Mountain Range and the High Desert Plateau. The county plans to have a year-long celebration to mark the importance of incorporating the county a century ago during a time of major political, social and economic change.

A lumber mill along the Deschutes River, a railroad line connecting multiple towns and an eager group of citizens wanting to split Crook County in half was what defined the area at the beginning of the 19th century. Residents wanted to create their own government, and a ballot that passed in November of 1916 made it feasible to achieve these goals. On Dec. 13, 1916, Deschutes County was born.

The project was pushed forward by the Oregon Trunk Line, which, as of 1911, was transporting agricultural products and timber to the area.

Next, several lumber mills, including Shevlin-Hixon and Brooklyn-Scanlon, moved to Bend from Minnesota in order to access the abundance of Ponderosa Pine trees in the region. The resulting increase in jobs lead to an influx of people, which led to an increase of opportunities.

The county takes up 3,055 square miles and began with a population of 5,000 residents: by 1920, however, this number had doubled. Redmond and Bend were first established in 1905 and 1910, respectively, however, Sisters and La Pine were founded much later, in 1946 and 2006.

In fact, Deschutes County is reported to be one of the fastest growing areas

in the United States, while Oregon itself has been the named “Top Moving Destination” for the third year in a row.

The many opportunities for recreational activities provide increasing

prosperity for the county and the entire state.

Deschutes County is known for having thriving cattle, potato, timber and agricultural businesses. However, tourism might be the county’s greatest source of income of any industry. “It’s crazy how much growth I’ve seen

in Bend and throughout the county recently. It seems as

if everywhere I go there is a new neighborhood, housing complex or some sort of park or recreational area for people to enjoy,” said junior Madeline Singer.

The centennial celebration honoring the county’s progress has already begun. The Deschutes County Historical Society

and volunteers have organized events to consolidate the community in order to commemorate the accomplishment. The group began with a Centennial Poster Contest, which ended Feb. 16. A theatrical production is next on the list, in order to honor the history behind splitting from Crook County 100 years ago. It will performed in Bend, Redmond, Sisters and La Pine.

A traveling historic display and a centennial time capsule will be featured at the Deschutes Historical Museum and will be opened 100 years from now at the county’s bicentennial.

The County Clerk also plans to have an art contest for grades four through seven, and the winner will be featured on the cover of the 2016 Deschutes County Voters’ pamphlets.

Finally, The Deschutes Historical Museum will host a celebration in December to end the important year on a significant, positive note in order to honor the importance of the county’s roots.

In honor of the season of nonviolence, communities throughout Central Oregon are participating in a local book study. The goal of this study is to awaken the generally isolated society in Bend to the grievous violations of justice that have occurred throughout American history and their persistence in many of today’s institutions. Twelve groups, totalling more than 100 people, are meeting once a week after having read various chapters to discuss the book “The Whistling Vivaldi: And Other Clues to How Stereotypes Affect Us,” by Claude Steele.

Claude Steele has been a professor of social psychology at many universities in the United States and a faculty member at Stanford University. This African-American author is renowned for his dedication to eliminating systemic discrimination in American society and empowering marginalized peoples to achieve their full potential.

“The Whistling Vivaldi” was carefully chosen by the Building Common Ground Coalition of Central Oregon and other well-read individuals in Bend to recognize all of the different types of prejudice and stereotypes that exist, even where people least expect them.

“The goal is to get people to dig deep and have deeper conversations about racial justice. We can’t live in a world where we’re isolated from these issues, and this is a place where we can all deepen our understanding—and build a community that provides a space for everybody and respects the dignity of all,” said Greg Delgado, a facilitator of the Central Oregon Social Justice Center’s book group and Representative of Causa, an immigrant rights organization in Oregon.

The book study is primarily organized by the Central Oregon Community College Multicultural Institute. Director of the program Karen Roth has continually provided citizens of Bend with educational opportunities to become more engaged in the community and challenges that it faces.

“Anytime we have a society where any group feels devalued or discriminated against, it affects all of us,” said Roth. “The more that we all become familiar and learn about stereotypes and social injustice, then corroboratively as a community, we can move forward and create greater equity in Central Oregon.”

The book study is informing citizens at a local level to end discrimination within communities, and at a national level.

Local book study combats racism

How prepared is Central Oregon for the Cascadia Earthquake? “Considering the potential damage that a magnitude nine earthquake could do, we are not prepared at all,” said science teacher Jim Moehl. Since the Pacific Northwest is not prone to regular calamities such as earthquakes and tsunamis, very few precautions have been taken to offset the aftershock.

Researchers at Oregon State University suggest the likelihood of the earthquake, which is predicted to devastate the western coast of the United States, is increasing. Natural disasters, such as potential earthquakes caused by the San Andreas fault in California, have caused widespread paranoia. The Cascadia Subduction Zone earthquake, however, is supported by scientific evidence. Scientists at OSU have closely monitored the fault line that runs adjacent to the west coast, which is overdue for a high magnitude earthquake.

The Cascadia fault stretches from Vancouver Island, B.C., to Cape Mendocino, Calif. The 621 mile fault line is referred to as the Great Subduction Zone. Cascadia is an immensely large convergent plate boundary that separates the Juan de Fuca and North America plates. The Juan de Fuca plate bends underneath the North American, creating the subduction zone where the two plates meet.

Southern B.C., Canada, Washington, Oregon and Northern California are bisected by the subduction zone, putting them at risk of a mega earthquake predicted to devastate the Pacific Northwest within the next 50 years.

Although there is a possibility of the entire subduction fracturing, according to Daniele McKay, a professor and natural disaster specialist at OSU Cascades, there is a 15 percent chance that it would cause a devastating magnitude nine earthquake and tsunami. The probability of one section of the fault breaking and causing a less traumatic quake of about eight to 8.5 magnitude, is about 30 percent higher.

California frequently experiences minor earthquakes, making them significantly more prepared. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and the state of California, are in the process of implementing an automated early warning system, called ShakeAlert. This project is designed to alert people within close proximity to an earthquake, as the sensors will detect a earthquake as it begins. The system shuts down public transportation, blocks cars from crossing bridges, turns off gas lines

and notifies both citizens and hospitals before the earthquake takes effect. These systems are still in the process of being developed.

Since British Columbia, Washington and Oregon are less susceptible to earthquakes, there are fewer precautions being taken in preparation for an earthquake with a magnitude of nine. “Oregon lacks a sufficient early warning system, although some representatives are pushing for these sensors to be put in place in the near future,” said McKay.

The fault is also causing the land between the coast and the Cascade Mountain range to rise significantly—then drop. When the earthquake hits, semi-inland areas, such as Portland, are susceptible to damaging aftershock that may include the loss of elevation.

At higher elevations, the strength of the earthquake will be less evident than regions located near sea level, as well as the repercussions of the tsunami that is predicted to follow.

Tyler Leeds, writer for the Bend Bulletin, suggests earthquake victims would most likely flee to Bend. The Bend-Redmond Airport is prepared to serve as a shipment center where resources will be transported to aid the repercussions of the disaster.

Sensors are designed to pick up evidence of a P-wave, the first wave sent out as an earthquake begins. “The first wave you usually can’t feel. The second wave is what causes all the damage,” said McKay. “The amount of time between the first and second waves can range from a few seconds to multiple minutes.” The moments between waves are necessary to notify citizens within danger zones and enact earthquake protocol.

The last known earthquake to hit the Cascadia Subduction Zone occurred Jan. 26, 1700. The earthquake registered a magnitude of nine, according to the USGS. The earthquake triggered a tsunami that sent massive waves to Japan, destroying towns along the coast, and flooded forests in Washington and Oregon.

Although there is no definite way of knowing when the earthquake would hit the Pacific Northwest, there are many precautions that can be taken at home to prepare for the aftermath. OPB’s website provides a feature that assesses the predicted strength of the earthquake in your specific region and recommends disaster action plans.

“Aftershock” gives Oregonians an idea of how much they will be able to feel the earthquake, what infrastructure within their community will be effected and how much they must prepare themselves within their own home.

Eliana AlexanderStaff Writer

FIONA DOLANNews Editor

KYRA KADHIM Staff Writer

Infographic by Kevin Crawford

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“The more that you read, the more things you will know.

The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go.”

-Dr. Seuss, I Can Read With My Eyes Shut!

Considered to be “the ‘Harlem Shake’ of the summer,” the Ice Bucket challenge that began in 2014 is the result of a desperate need for a cure to the rare disease commonly known as Lou Gehrig’s disease.

Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) was discovered by a French neurologist named Jean-Martin Charcot in 1869. It is a disease in which the motor neurons die, making the brain unable to control muscle movement in the spinal cord. Inactive motor neurons cause the body to, essentially, become paralyzed.

With just one drug that only slows progression in some people, the ALS Association set out to raise awareness and money for the cause; thus, the ice bucket challenge was born.

The original Ice Bucket Challenge was started by Chris Kennedy, a professional golfer who challenged his sister, Jeanette Senerchia, who is married to a man infected with ALS, to pour a bucket of ice water over her head. Word spread quickly through Facebook to Pat Quinn and Pete Frates (both men suffering from the disease); from their social media sites, the challenge was shot across the nation, spreading like wildfire.

Summit High School accepted the challenge when Vice Principal Jay Etnier decided to challenge the other schools in town. The once-small idea resulted in more than $1,000 in donations.

“At first, we had an idea that no students would do it, and a student actually told me that no one was going to participate. We decided we were just going to start calling the students out and eventually we filled the field,” said Vice Principal Michael McDonald.

So many students participated that the 500 buckets borrowed from Home Depot weren’t enough.

“It took a lot of planning and execution, but in the end it was all worth it, and it was just a great opportunity to show the type of community that Summit can be,” said McDonald when reflecting on the event that took place early last school year. “It’s one of those things people will always remember.”

Not only did the Ice Bucket Challenge raise awareness, it raised more money than the association originally predicted, and they have put every dollar to use. According to ALS.org, pre-challenge, the typical budget was approximately $20 million; post-challenge,

the typical budget was increased to $40 million for the fiscal year. And the effects of the challenge aren’t just limited to an increased budget.

The association started four new initiatives involving research that have been identified as critical to finding new treatments: ALS Accelerated Therapeutics, New Yorker Genome Center, Neuro Collaborative and Project Mine.

Research has accelerated, with a plan laid out to triple the amount spent on research every year. The timeline on treatment development has been accelerated and additional resources to pursue new programs have been put into place.

ALS Ice Bucket Challenge raises 220 million dollarsMary DaubenschmidtStaff Writer

More than $77 million was sent to research, which is 67 percent of the funds raised. The rest went to assisting families living with those inflicted, education on the topic, fundraising and other processing fees.

The efforts have greatly increased in the pursuit of treatments, and hopes are high for a cure, although a good portion of the ALS Association’s time and funds are still devoted to assisting families affected by ALS. Efforts also go towards pushing research-positive legislation through Congress.

According to Barb Newhouse, the president and CEO of the ALS Association, “the campaign will run this August, and every August, until there is a cure.”

Leaders from around the world gathered in Paris to confront the growing threat of climate change at the UN Climate Change Conference, also known as COP21.

COP21 was preceded by monumental marches all around the world in over 175 countries. These marches were to demonstrate solidarity to the representatives at the conference and emphasize the importance and necessity of action against climate change. The Global Organization 350 reported that approximately 2,300 marches took place worldwide, involving more than 785,000 people. Both Pope Francis and UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon spoke to the importance of action. Bend hosted its own climate march with more than 200 people and speakers from many different sectors of the community.

“I think it’s very important that the People’s Climate March represented cooperation on the part of the international community,” said junior Danny Little. “Climate change is an issue that people all over the world need to overcome differences to solve, because in the end, if not dealt with, we will permanent affect the lives of our children. But if we, as a planet, can come together to solve the problem, we could secure a better life for future generations.”

A negotiated agreement of legal plans for moving forward, as well as national climate plans and a credible financial package were developed. Leaders of less developed countries claimed that, although more developed countries were the leading cause of climate change, third world countries were being affected the most.

“Climate change has devastating impacts,” said Little. “Sea levels are rising, causing millions of people to lose their homes, and additional changes to climate affect agriculture, disrupt food production and cause food shortages. The ripple effects of climate change will cause, and are already causing, ecological imbalance, economic chaos, increase in poverty and global instability.”

According to the UN website, this conference is different from those in the past

because of “Intended Nationally Determined Contributions” (INDCs). These plans were submitted by each participating country ahead of the conference and outlined how and how much each country would reduce emissions and how they would strengthen their resilience against climate change. The INDCs were submitted by the more than 155 countries that produce over 90 percent of the world’s emissions.

The over-reaching goal of climate conferences, such as COP21, is to prevent global temperatures from rising more than two degrees Celsius by the end of the century. Two degrees would have disastrous effects, so it has become the international environmental community’s main focus to prevent such an increase by securing agreements from global powers. Temperatures have already risen 0.85 degrees, with devastating effects upon the poles.

The conference resulted in 186 agreements and action plans from countries around the world, a monumental and historic number. However, the agreements submitted will only contain temperatures to between a 2.7 and 3 degrees rise. Thus, the participating countries will be asked to reevaluate their targets every five years, and raise targets to a point that can be closer to the two degrees Celsius goal.

The eventual action that must be taken will be the complete cutting of fossil fuel use and shifts to clean energy sources such as wind and solar. Finances are also being raised to adapt to the already apparent effects of climate change, such as rising sea levels globally. The agreement will not be signed and entered into force until late April, when it must be signed by a minimum of 55 countries.

It is coming to be understood that action must happen at local and regional levels to spearhead and encourage larger movements. Already many cities have adapted their own climate action plans, and Eugene became the first city in the country to adopt an ordinance actively fighting climate change and carbon emissions. Bend is beginning to take steps to lower climate impacts locally, including participation in the Energy Challenge, a nationwide competition. This competition has hopes of creating a greater degree of knowledge and an increased sensitivity of the Earth in the community.

UN Climate Change Conference tackles global warming crisisSkylar GraysonStaff Writer

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FRIDAY, MARCH 18, 2016A8 NEWS

SPREADING KINDNESS

Members of the Student Council and Principles of Leadership class challenged themselves during “Kindness Week” to spread awareness about the importance of compassion and kindness throughout the community. The initial plan was to ultimately inspire both teachers and students to identify and praise all acts of kindness within classrooms for an entire week with hopes that these habits would continue even after the week was over.

To achieve this goal, Activities Director Sarah Warsaw and her students arranged for a “Kindness Tree” to be hung up in the commons.

Students were encouraged to write short notes praising and complimenting others, stating an act of kindness they had recently witnessed or simply sharing a fond memory. These notes were placed on the tree for all students, teachers and visitors to see.

Students loved the idea and proceeded to make the “Kindness Tree” a major success. Junior representative Mohamed Elwefati believes that hanging these notes on the tree symbolized growth as a student body, given that the notion went viral.

“We were so happy to see how seriously all of our peers took the “Kindness Tree.” We were worried people would think it wasn’t important, but we were definitely proven wrong,” said Elwefati.

With the success of Kindness Week, Student Council was impelled to spread kindness awareness to Juniper Elementary School students.

Having been initially inspired by the idea to write kindness cards through Gabe Pagano’s Principles of Leadership class in 2015, Spirit Commissioner Atticus Balyeat sought to bring the topic to other classrooms.

“We wanted to step outside of our school and do something for the greater good of the community. Being kind to others is something that should be emphasized in schools and I wanted to bring the idea to elementary schools because I think that it is most important

1) Senior Brodie Mead gives game directions to Juniper Elementary

students. 2) Senior Shade Streeter discusses the definition of kindness with

a kindergartner. 3) Two Juniper Elementary students

demonstrate an act of kindness by giving each other a bear hug. (Names

of elementary students omitted per request of Juniper principal Dan

Wolnick.) 4) Junior Mohamed Elwefati helps a kindergarten student write

a note for the “Kindness Tree.” The students hung notes on a tree to

symbolize the school unity. “I was surprised that the elementary students

were so excited and happy to have us visit,” said Elwefati. 5) Freshman

Representative William Anderson reads a story about being kind to a

kindergarten student. “I really loved reading to the kids,” said Anderson.

“They were all so friendly and innocent. Their eyes just lit up when they saw us.” 6)Mohamed Elwefati and the Principles

of Leadership class form a tunnel to greet the students. “The kids were so

sweet and really understood why being kind is important.” Photos by L. Goldstein

Samantha ShortNews Editor

to reflect upon how you treat others when you are young,” said Balyeat.

Balyeat’s original idea to spread kindness among the children of Bend manifested when the council made a trip to Juniper Elementary School to deliver presentations, hold an assembly and play games, which encompassed all aspects of compassion.

“We spoke in front of the students at a school-wide assembly. We discussed how to be kind to others and showed the students a video exemplifying how to be a good friend. We later went to each classroom, individually, in order to further the discussion and engage the kids outside of the assembly,” said freshman class representative William Anderson.

Leadership students gave individual cards to students of different grade levels, asking them to write down an example of what being kind looked like to them.

In order to engage with the students on a more personal level, Student Council members interacted with the children during both lunch and recess. Students of all ages demonstrated their interest in the older students and in the idea of spreading more kindness around their school and their community.

“During recess, we got to see the students put what they had just learned into action. It was awesome to see them so engaged. I noticed kids of all ages being nice to each other, giving high fives, hugs and compliments,” said Student Body President Shade Streeter. “Student Council is proud of what they have accomplished and is looking forward to integrating kindness into future community events.”

“I have a lot of plans as to what we could do next to make this entire kindness concept even bigger. I think that our students will be willing to help us make a change in the community,” said senior representative Dylan Albertazzi. “Furthering the idea of kindness is something that students can look forward to being a part of in the future. Student Council is prepared to work in conventional harmony to take on larger projects than ever before.”

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