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The Student News Site of Boulder High School

The Owl

The Student News Site of Boulder High School

The Owl

The Student News Site of Boulder High School

The Owl

Hannah Cohen

Hannah Cohen, Editor-in-Chief, Copy Editor

Hannah (rhymes with fauna!) Cohen is ecstatic to be working on the Owl for her third and final year. She loves stories in all their forms, but she mostly has opinions on obscure podcasts and which New York Times opinion columnists are defacing the good name of journalistic analysis. When not busy with stumbling through sheet music, editing nonfiction for jGirls+ Magazine, or seeking out the cheapest bluegrass venue, Hannah enjoys wandering around the mountains with her friends and lovely labradoodle. Although she's slightly preferential to the sweeter, more robust taste of red grapes, she knows that the bliss of biting into a crunchy grape transcends color.

All content by Hannah Cohen
Emergency responders blocked off Arapahoe as cars attempted to take students to school even 30 minutes after the initial call was made.

Fake Shooting Reported at Boulder High- Twice

Hannah Cohen, Editor-in-chief April 27, 2023

Before school started on Wednesday, February 22nd, Boulder High School went on lockdown. At 8:33 am, the non-emergency line at CU received an anonymous call from a person who said they were going into...

According to Admin, IDs may be worn on a lanyard, which are available for purchase in the front office for $5.00, or on a clip.

(Re)Instated ID Policy Leads to More Confusion

Hannah Cohen, Editor-in-chief April 27, 2023

At the end of last semester, many BHS students noticed a recurring trend in their emails: the school sent out various notices that “[b]eginning in January (second semester), all students will be required...

Tuition alone at Pomona College costs over $58,000 a year.

Tuition is Thousands a Year. Where Does That Money Go?

Hannah Cohen, Editor-in-chief April 27, 2023

In the middle of November, classes and working laboratories in the University of California’s 10 campuses came to a halt. Almost 50,000 workers- primarily graduate students and researchers -at the schools...

The next season of ALOTO is slated to be its last, with 4 episodes to the first season's 8. With use by Creative Commons.

A League of Their Own is Truly in a League of Their Own (Sorry)

Hannah Cohen, Editor-in-chief April 18, 2023

A League of Their Own is perhaps the best television series I have ever seen. Loosely based on the movie, its heartwarming and heartbreaking narrative embraces its variety of characters while working in...

Local issues are known to spur tension in a community that votes fairly homogeneously in national elections.

Your Future, Your Ballot

Hannah Cohen, Editor-in-chief October 24, 2022

Even if you can’t vote, knowing what issues your community is deciding not only is important for its effect on your future but also for being a well-informed resident of Colorado. Here is a selection...

Fall is a time of falling leaves, Halloween spirit, and quiet contemplation.

[Photo] Music for Fall

Lucca Swain, Social Media Director October 1, 2022

Fall is a time of falling leaves, Halloween spirit, and quiet contemplation.

Open Studios doesn’t just feature traditional paintings- artists create clothing, whimsical ceramics, and photography as well.

Open Studios ’22: A Spectator’s Artistic Dream

Hannah Cohen, Editor-in-chief October 1, 2022

For 27 years, local artists have thrown open their doors to the public every October during “Open Studios." The event, now taking place for the first three weekends of the month, allows the artists to...

With the chances of a shooter having an ID, is this policy effective, or merely security theater?

Psst… the Doors Aren’t the Problem

Hannah Cohen and Leah Frankel September 20, 2022

A 9:30 bell shrieks as the class clambers to the dusty rows of the auditorium. Five hundred-plus students sit down for what is a new year of high school — a particular forte full of "hey over here!"...

With its strong characters and eerie predictions, this secular novel contains sufficient wisdom that qualify it to be the new hotel room staple.

Your Next Apocalyptic Late Summer Read

Hannah Cohen, Opinions Editor August 15, 2022

Summer is unequivocally the best time to read. Winter can be pleasant, yes, with its blankets and tea, but spend one too many afternoons with a book while it’s snowing and you’ll get an awful case...

Summer is one of the most wide-ranging seasons when it comes to moods and music.

[Photo] Music for Summer

Lucca Swain, Staff Writer August 15, 2022

Summer is one of the most wide-ranging seasons when it comes to moods and music.

The sizable agnostic population in Boulder tends to foster an apathetic culture surrounding religion, and this ignorance ostracizes believers and drives further polarization.

Even When it’s Painful, Pay Attention to Faith

Leah Frankel and Hannah Cohen August 15, 2022

Boulder is a decidedly agnostic place. While spiritual, the city lacks the same religious intensity that is prominent across its politics, culture, and societal structure. In this little microcosm, it’s...

It's time to toss your streaming service and find your parents' old discmans.

The Best Ways to Listen to Music, Ranked

Hannah Cohen, Opinions Editor August 15, 2022

On January 28th, I quit my Spotify addiction. That’s an exaggeration, but not by much - the platform served as the hub for my podcasts, playlists, albums and slightly stalkerish tendencies.  So imagine...

Presidential candidate Joe Biden had a lot to say to President Trump on a Tuesday night's debate.

Biden’s Back, Babey!

Hannah Cohen, Opinion Editor May 9, 2022

Good news politics junkies, drama enthusiasts and people with too much time on their hands. The President Biden we know and tolerate is back!  On the campaign trail, Biden played into the current political...

Dr. Morales is especially interested in working for Boulder High given the school's rich history.

A Vision and Mission of Trust and Respect

Hannah Cohen and Amelie Panaccione May 9, 2022

Next school year, Dr. Alana Morales will assume the principalship at Boulder High. Dr. Morales brings her passion for education and drive for connection, along with two decades of teaching and three years...

Due to Boulder's increased rate of fentanyl-related deaths, Colorado's "Good Samaritan" laws, which let people have some immunity from substance laws when reporting on overdoses, have never been more relevant.

Drug Education Needs a Rewrite

Hannah Cohen, Opinions Editor February 13, 2022

In fifth grade, my teacher gave a standard lesson on the danger of drugs. Gathering the class around the table, she told us a scenario about standing outside the Boulder Public Library. When she asked...

Months before the election, Boulder residents prominently displayed their support for City Council Candidates.

Local Elections ’21

Hannah Cohen, Opinions Editor February 3, 2022

Local elections are often the most forgotten exercises of democracy, especially when they occur in off-years, and require a good understanding of ballot language to read. However, they are perhaps more...

Nina Dawallu '23 plays in the competition that is the latest in a long history of Boulder High’s musical excellence.

Concerto Competition a Resounding Success

Hannah Cohen, Opinions Editor February 1, 2022

On Friday, December 10th, three of Boulder High’s musicians competed in the annual school Concerto Competition. While usually written for soloists accompanied by an orchestra, the students performed...

After SCOTUS heard Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization, protests sprang up around the country.

A Post Roe v. Wade Colorado

Hannah Cohen, Opinions Editor January 5, 2022

Last week, the Supreme Court heard a case that has the fate of Roe v. Wade- and thereby the fate of reproductive rights in the United States -thrown into uncertainty. Fifty years ago, in 1973, the Court...

Another common tradition surrounding the evil eye is to have it hang over entryways, supposedly preventing evil from entering the space.

[Photo] The Dark Side of Spirituality: Appropriation

Alexa Dembo, Editor-in-chief January 5, 2022

Another common tradition surrounding the evil eye is to have it hang over entryways, supposedly preventing evil from entering the space.

Students’ level mental health got worse as the pandemic forced schools to go online.

[Photo] Why I Prefer In-Person Learning

Caitlin Rogers, Staff Writer January 5, 2022

Students’ level mental health got worse as the pandemic forced schools to go online.

Pua Aki (right) and Faith Gowan counterprotested BVSD Recall's petition gathering attempts at the Farmer's Market on November 6th.

The BVSD Recall is No Joke

Hannah Cohen, Opinions Editor November 19, 2021

Eighteen months into Boulder Valley School District navigating a global pandemic & a federal government that initially was completely unprepared to handle education, a group called BVSD Recall is now...

“‘She turned me into a newt!’ ‘A newt?’ ‘Well I got better’” - Monty Python

The Legend, the Witch & the Women

Hannah Cohen, Opinion Editor November 1, 2021

Readers, please note: This article addresses the archetype of “the witch” in history and media, and does not group people who practice witchcraft into this category. Every Halloween, one beloved...

Open Studios doesn’t just feature traditional paintings- artists create clothing, whimsical ceramics, and photography as well.

Open Studios 2021: Local Art & Why You Should Care

Hannah Cohen, Opinions Editor October 8, 2021

Starting in 1995, Open Studios, an organization that hosts an annual community art event the first three weekends of October, has let artists open their creative spaces to the public. It’s a delightful...

If freedom is the piece de resistance of the Republican argument, then social liberties are the glaring bright red elephants in the room. Cartoon by Norrie Boyd.

DeSantis & the Concept of “Freedom”

Hannah Cohen, Opinion Editor October 3, 2021

On August 27th, a Florida state judge ruled against Governor Ron DeSantis’ statewide ban against schools imposing mask mandates. This is only the latest development in a series of national debates on...

The Earth Guy!

The Earth Guy!

Leah Frankel and Hannah Cohen October 1, 2021

As Boulder has grown as a community, there have been numerous people who have made their mark upon the town we live in currently. Whether that may be a family dog walker, protestors you’ve seen around...

The audience for former Panther Derek Dames Ohl's set was rapt.

PorchFest 2021

Hannah Cohen, Opinions Editor September 21, 2021

On Sunday, September 19th, neighbors and visitors flooded the streets of the Mapleton Hill neighborhood to enjoy the annual “PorchFest” event, where local musicians played sets on resident’s porches. Bands...

The states losing seats after the 2020 Census are largely clustered in the Midwest and Tristate area.

The 2020 Census and Colorado’s Redistricting

Hannah Cohen, Staff writer May 12, 2021

On Monday, April 26, 2021, the Census Bureau released the results from the prolonged 2020 Census. Among the redistribution in the House of Representatives, Colorado gained a seat, which will be distributed...

From threatrophones to radios to smartphones, radio dramas have taken a variety of formats.

The Rise of Fiction Podcasts

Hannah Cohen, Staff writer December 16, 2020

Fiction podcasts, at first encounter, are quite peculiar. A mix between radio, TV show, and play, they prove to be a perhaps ingenious way of consuming media. This medium’s origin is no less noble–it...

A display of pottery along with hand sanitizer in Willi Eggerman's studio.

How Local Artists are Taking 2020 in Stride

Hannah Cohen, Staff writer November 10, 2020

Open Studios, the annual fall event where local artists open their studios to the public, has fallen victim to 2020. The loss of this major money-making and publicity occasion has forced artists to think...

There are 19 candidates on the Colorado ballot.

A Look at Some Third Party Candidates

Hannah Cohen, Staff writer October 27, 2020

The 2020 presidential election has turned, for some, into a consideration of “who do I hate the least?” as they consider President Donald Trump and former Vice President Joe Biden. Others have gone...

The two textbooks used in Boulder High's AP World History class.

AP World History is Still Too Eurocentric

Hannah Cohen, Staff writer October 6, 2020

Since the creation of the U.S. public school system, American children have been learning history through a European lens. The push for schools to feature history from different perspectives has started...

Presidential candidate Joe Biden had a lot to say to President Trump on a Tuesday night's debate.

Biden’s Retorts, Rated

Hannah Cohen, Staff writer October 1, 2020

The first presidential debate between former Vice President Biden and President Trump last night was full of interruptions and false statements. Trump is known for his abrasive style and he stayed true...

KKK rallies were seen by some members as social events and would bring their families.

When Colorado was Kolorado

Hannah Cohen, Staff writer October 1, 2020

Boulder is known throughout the American West as an incredibly liberal city. Stories of hippies frolicking through the foothills picking herbs for Celestial Seasonings tea tend to surface in tales of Boulder’s...

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