By Gerry Zhu Drivers everywhere should have had at least once in their long driving careers experience the pain of merging into a lane when the roads are congested. You know what this is: where your lane is going to end and there is this adorable sign that is foretelling your fate as you check the exceptionally long line of cars in the lane you … Continue reading Reconsidering Late Mergers, or How the Zipper Rule Can Save the World

By Jacob Knutson Move over Neil Armstrong and the Lunar Landing, because the next ground breaking, history-changing human accomplishment has arrived: Dewitos, the liquidation of the beloved Doritos. I’ve heard many people enjoy Mountain Dew and Doritos together, when they play video games I’m guessing. Now Pepsi-Co and Frito-Lay have heard this too, and with the help of tools leftover from the Manhattan Project, they … Continue reading American Ingenuity Reaches New Lows with the Dewito

By Katelyn Wachendorf I remember when having school spirit was cool and people that didn’t dress up were in the minority. Back when I was in middle school at South, EVERYONE dressed up. Anything people could get their hands on that was black or red they wore: both guys and girls in red leggings, face and hair paint, jerseys, and more. Katie F. wore a … Continue reading A Homecoming Reflection: Why Don’t More People Dress Up?

Editor’s note: On a recent day Mr. Hagen’s classes took a break from their window-less classroom and ventured to the courtyard to write. This article emerged from the experience. By Sage Preble Feet beat down on stone steps, taking an irregular rhythm. Cafeteria goers stop their socializing to watch the spectacle of our descent, a reflection of their boredom. We’re on our way outside, into … Continue reading A Student Journeys to the Courtyard and Finds an Oasis

By Aaron Thies Baby birds don’t spend their time worrying about whether or not they can learn how to fly. When the time comes to leave the nest, these birds trust that they have acquired the knowledge how to take flight. As a senior, this is my last year being fully dependent on others, and I, unlike the bird, catch myself worrying about my ability … Continue reading A Senior Reflects on Leaving the Nest

By Bailey Morgan There is this song I love to think about in the moments of inner stillness I sometimes get, when there’s  three seconds of peace to be found and you snatch it up quickly before it fades back into the speed and chaos that’s so prevalent today. Think Indiana Jones in the beginning of The Lost Ark, that fleeting moment of relief that … Continue reading In Praise of Yin and All Things Negative

By Cullen Knowles Even though music is a fundamental aspect of our society, music education is often considered to be an unnecessary part of our curriculum. Science, social studies, and mathematics receive far more attention than music education, and our school board has attempted to severely cut back on our music programs in the past. This clearly indicates that many educators fail to realize the … Continue reading Music Can Play a Crucial Role in Education

By Christian Boechler Humor takes on many different perspectives from a variety of people. A practical joke to one person may be very cruel to another. It is all about the connections and relationships a particular person holds with another person or culture that determine if something is funny or cruel. Ironically, the funniest time in my own life was just that, hilarious to me … Continue reading Personal Essay: Two Perspectives on One Incident

by: Jack Torness The hot and humid temperatures of the summer afternoons have now left, bringing in the cool, brisk days of fall. The seasonal change ushers in a new breath of excitement for climbers across the country, and for the Black Hills community, a time to relish on the tops of granite rock spires in pristine condition. The fall is a special time for … Continue reading Climbers Cherish End of Season