![Minutes before the Activities Fair in the gym, president Abhi Gowda ‘26 prepares the stall for his club Helping Hands, Sept. 4. A relatively new club, Helping Hands was co-started by Gowda and focuses on assisting the homeless, and just last year they succeeded in raising a couple hundred donations to send to shelters. This year, they have goals to expand, with hopes to increase volunteer opportunities and take in-person trips to shelters, as well as extend their help beyond just homeless people. “The Activities Fair gives a lot of underclassmen the opportunity to really get to know the Canyon culture, and it gives them many opportunities for service and volunteering,” Gowda said. “[Through the Activities Fair,] I hope to find a bunch of new and passionate members about our club and just get our name out there and spread awareness to the cause that we’re fighting for.”](https://rockmediaonline.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/1-2-1200x885.jpg)
![The winter guard team makes fifth place at the state championship finals in the Denver Coliseum, March 30. The team performed to Barnes Country's “Glitter and Gold,” lead by coaches Margo Sanford, Blair Bickerton and Anna Orgren. In their class there were a total of nine groups participating, and the top five who made it to finals received a plaque. “[Walking onto the stage] is very nerve-wracking, but also very exciting as well. When you first start color guard there's a lot of anxiety and uncertainty when you first perform in front of an audience, but once you've done it for a while, it starts to become the best part of the season,” Ella West ‘25 said. “It's very fulfilling to see an audience react to something you've put your heart and soul into.”](https://rockmediaonline.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Both-socal-media-nd-website-main-1-1200x846.jpg)
![April marks the 25th anniversary of Sexual Assault Awareness Month, created by the National Sexual Violence Resource Center (NSVRC). This month is to spread awareness of the harassment, assault and abuse that happens around the world. The symbol that represented the month was a teal ribbon; however, some survivors of assault create different symbols and movements like the TikTok trend in 2022, where survivors would tattoo Medusa on their body, in honor of her backstory in Greek Mythology. “I don't think [this month is known] at all. I rarely see anybody talk about it. I rarely see much of an emphasis on posting it online, or much discussion about it, and I feel like there needs to be way more discussion,” an anonymous source said. “I think just validating every experience that a person has gone through, regardless of the degree of it, the severity, is an essential step into making sure that people are aware that this is a very real problem in a society and that we need to do better in addressing it.”](https://rockmediaonline.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/IMG_0011-1200x900.jpg)
![Lesbian Visibility Day is April 26, and it’s a holiday to celebrate the lesbian community of the world. Lesbian Visibility day was established in 2008 by many queer activists and organizations who sought to raise more awareness for lesbian history and culture. “So this is why during Lesbian Visibility [Day] we celebrate and center all lesbians, both cis and trans, while also showing solidarity with all LGBTQ+ women and nonbinary people,” Linda Reily, in an article written by her, said.](https://rockmediaonline.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Lesbian-Visibility-day.jpeg)
Hoco: It’s Okay Not To Go
If dances like Homecoming don’t bring you joy, I have a few ideas on how to spend your day instead.
media by River Brown
Clouds roll in over the Ten Mile Range and Lake Dillon Oct. 1. Over Homecoming weekend, many students who chose not to go to the dance found other alternatives.
October 7, 2022
When many people heard the words, “Homecoming Week,” on Sept. 26, they probably thought about the outfits they had been planning for weeks, the dinner reservations they had to confirm, and how fun the dance might be. But, when I first heard these words, my mind went straight to what other things there were to do over the weekend. I wanted to participate in the spirit days, maybe go to the parade, but that was about it. I devised a plan: I would go out of town, up to the mountains- my home away from home.
While this isn’t at all intended to discredit the hard work that goes into the event, nor the wonderful enjoyment many get from the week, it’s perfectly acceptable not to go too. And although it felt like everyone was talking about the dance that week, I know many people may share my opinion.
If you’re like me and dances aren’t your scene, the bit of advice I can give you is to do what makes you happy. And if you need ideas for next year, I have a few in mind:
Have a book/movie marathon
Just because going to the dance is fun doesn’t mean “Harry Potter” isn’t. Go to the library and find a new book series to dive into. Or, if you prefer movies, that works too. The important thing is to gather snacks and drinks to make your night the most fun it can be!
Practice your kitchen skills
Cooking is something I love to do, whether that be for dinner, Thanksgiving, or simply because I’m bored. So next year, pick up some ingredients (King Soopers carries Home Chef meals, complete with ingredients and easy-to-follow instructions) or find a cookie recipe on the internet to create a delicious meal.
Do what makes you happy
If you want to go out of town, do so. If you want to go out to dinner and a movie, that sounds great! If you’re ideal Saturday would be playing video games, more power to you. Homecoming should be fun, no matter how you decide to spend your week.