Edition 17.3

Freshman Shyla Aggarwal helped lead the Comets to a third state title. (Photo by Riley Johansen)

2 Feature November 15, 2019

Science teachers implement interactive technology

Archie Barton | Staff Writer The collaboration of students was Photo by Archie Barton
facilitated by Planicka and Kreager’s Junior Alexandra Huber is a student in the class the Planicka and Kreager have piloted using the
Science teachers are switching up friendship. Planicka’s Applied Science Labo kits. They believe that the kits will help their students to learn to better collaborate with their
their classes and venturing into the class and Kreager’s Physical Geology peers, and will encourage creativity in the classroom.
world of technology. class came together to share what they
had learned and their technology in thing as a production line. Each student start doing activities like this, you’re
Through the use of Nintendo Labo one interactive lab experience. has their own job and role in the cre- starting to bridge the gap and create
kits, Mason High School’s Intervention ative process, according to Planicka. those networks and collaboration les-
specialist Mike Planicka and Physical “Mr. Planicka told me about his stu- sons.”
Geology teacher Cody Kreager teach dents building fishing rods and playing “I’m trying to teach my kids in sci-
students about the applications of his game and I love fishing,” Kreager ence and real world problem solving With future events planned, both
technology in the classroom. Nintendo said. “So he just shot me a tweet about skills.” Planicka said. “The Switch really Planicka and Kreager want to continue
Labo kits are made of cardboard cut- it and I said, man, bring that up to my deals a lot with teamwork and they are to share their passion of science and
outs and assembled to make items that room and that just snowballed into a really learning how to work together as build on their friendship. Exploring
can be added to a Nintendo Switch show and tell -- it just came together.” a team, and how to not get frustrated.” the avenues and trains of thought that
controller., which can be used to relay have sprouted from this joint effort,
information back to the switch and Friends at school often want to work Kreager encourages working with they hope to give students an oppor-
create an interactive experience on the together on projects and share their new people and expanding your con- tunity to form their own friendships,
Switch Screen. passions, bringing a new level of ex- nections and interactions with others, learn something about science and
citement to their work. The same can something he believes is rarely seen in one another, according to Kreager and
Creativity is at the center of the be said for friendships among teachers, such a large school with many teachers Planicka.
class, teaching students the science according to Planicka. and even more students. He said that
behind how things work. An important cooperation between students who may “I enjoyed it, it’s probably one of the
part of getting students to understand “I’m really good friends with Mr. not know each other well can be just best things I’ve done in many years.”
concepts comes from the hands on Kreager and just like as a student, as an important learning experience as Kreager said. “The moral story is: Enjoy
interaction with the Labo kits, accord- you often want to do stuff with your working with friends. what you do, get back to having fun.
ing to Planicka. friends,” Planicka said. “Nobody told My kids had fun. Mr. Planicka’s kids
Mr. Kreager and I to get together. We “I think there’s this stigma that a big had fun. We as teachers had fun and
“My kids need visuals, they need to did it because we both get excited school can’t feel small,” Kreager said. that’s what it’s all about.”
do things and the Labo kits are a card- about science.” “When you have a huge school, if you
board STEM manipulative for them,”
Planicka said. “Following directions on The goal behind both classes is to
the Nintendo Switch screen, they can teach students about science, but for
they build things like a fishing rod or Kreager, giving students the opportu-
a piano out of cardboard. These can nity to build connections can be more
be used to look at how the individual meaningful after the bell has rung.
things are coded and some of the sci-
ence behind infrared, cameras, motion “I want them to remember geology
detection, and gyroscopes.” in five years, but the reality is, they’re
probably going to have memories
Planicka and Kreager co-created this about the people they were with and
class five years ago, on the principle the experiences that they shared,”
that it doesn’t matter what education Kreager said. “So if in five years they
level a student is at, they could take see a kid from Mr. Planicka’s class
the class and feel apart of something, and they go, ‘Oh, hey, remember the
according to Kreager. windmills and the Labo kits?’ Then I’ve
done my job.”
“We’ve got kids from all over the
spectrum, from AP kids to special Applications like the Nintendo
needs kids, all in the same class,” Switch can also be applied to teach-
Kreager said. “They learn together and ing students about more than science.
from each other, even learning about Students can learn how to interact with
one another, which is fantastic.” each other and build relationships as
a team, invested in building some-
Graphic by Aadrija Biswas

November 15, 2019 News 3

Student leaders tasked to present new R-factor program to peers

Evelina Gaivoronskaia | Staff Writer The E+R=O formula of the R-factor has Photo by Evelina Gaivoronskaia
been on posters and t-shirts all around the Rather than having administration implement it, the R-factor program will rely on student leaders
The R-factor program promises to bring a school for some time now. Yet now the for its success. Senior Jackson Norman (far left) discusses the program with students from Lakota
positive atmosphere to Mason High School. program is more student lead, in hopes West.
that it will be better received by the student
Mason City Schools plans to introduce a population. Senior Anna Attal said that The student leaders chosen to teach the anything beyond. The student teachers will
new program, the R-factor, to help students the R-factor provides students with great R-factor will be tasked with coming up with also be benefited by the program. Bate said
better their lives and find a better way to re- decision-making skills and she hopes it will ways to spread the program around MHS. she sees this program as a way to help her-
act to everyday situations. On October 28, 143 be received well at MHS. The school administration wants the leaders self as she teaches it to her classmates.
MHS students attended a seminar introduc- to teach the program to their peers during
ing them to the program. Those students “Sometimes when things come from the their sixth bell. Besides that, the leaders “Using the awareness of how I speak to
will be part of leading the program later in administration it can be a little bit dis- have the freedom to come up with ways to myself and understanding that skills take
the year by teaching it to their peers. jointed,” Attal said. “Students can feel like spread the R-factor around the school. Bate time to build will really help me build my
they can’t connect with it as much in their wants to take the program in a way where it self-esteem and retain ambition,” Bate said.
The search for a better school atmo- daily life. But when it comes from peers who will be more individual to the people she’ll
sphere was started after the high school have tried this, liked this, and know how to work with. Right now the focus is on training the
experienced four suicides, four years in a use it, students are more likely to use this student leaders to be able to teach the
row. Sophomore Madison Kopfler said the program.” “R-factor is an algorithm that we can rely R-factor to the rest of the MHS. Attal said
MHS needed a program that would provide on but I want to tweak it for individuals,” that although she knows that the change
students a way to make good decisions and Many MHS students have to balance Bate said. “I want to put together the pieces won’t be visible immediately, in the end, the
have a positive mindset. She says that the academics, sports, clubs as well as try to of the puzzle that is the R-factor in relation R-factor has a great chance of changing the
R-factor just might be that program. maintain a healthy lifestyle. Attal said the R- to specific, individual people. What I would MHS for the better.
factor is a way for students to find solutions really like to see is small group based work
“I’m happy we have another way to to any roadblocks they may cross on the where I would be able to get to know people “I think that will eventually lead to a
spread leadership and positivity,” Kopfler way to being their best selves. and people will be able to get to know me as more positive school atmosphere,” Attal
said. “I think that after they hear about the a human.” said. “I think it will take time and time is go-
R-factor people will be kinder and more “I’m excited to see how the R-factor will ing to be the big piece here. We can’t expect
understanding. I think we will connect with change people’s mindsets,” Attal said. “I The R-factor program states that its way to see a change by tomorrow, but I think the
other people more. Part of the R-factor is think there is a lot of negativity surrounding of living can be instituted for school and longer we implement the R-factor, the bet-
building the community and the connec- academics and sports. I think we can avoid ter the school culture will become.”
tions between people so I’m really excited to that negativity by having people consciously
see that at MHS.” think about how their actions are affecting
other people and themselves.”
The R-factor is a six-step program that
helps students find a way to cope with day- To make the program student-led, sixth
to-day situations. Kopfler said she hopes that bell teachers selected students from their
because the program is student-led it will classes who showed enthusiasm and leader-
find a way to stick around in Mason City ship skills. Freshman Victoria Bate was one
schools for the long run. of the people who got selected. She said that
the R-factor is a way for students to deal
“The equation, E+R=O, is about how, even with any situations in their day to day life.
though you can’t control the events that
are happening in your life, you can control “I think a lot of times when we are faced
your responses which then will impact your with difficult situations we clam up or see
outcome,” Kopfler said. “Although, I don’t only one path forward,” Bate said. “I think
think we should use the E+R=O formula the R-factor gives us a system that we can
because it might get made fun of. We talked use not only to make decisions but also
about putting posters in the walls or maybe understand how those decisions should be
even using MBC as a way to advertise the made and what their outcomes are going
R-factor.” to be.”

4 Feature November 15, 2019

Q&A with longtime Comet Jim Fox

Anna Kinasewitz | Staff Writer

Jim Fox is a Mason man through and through.
A Comet from kindergarten through 12th grade, Fox graduated 50 years ago. He then went on to The Ohio State University before moving back to Mason,
where he served on Mason City Council for nine years. Fox, with his wife, raised their two sons, both Mason High School graduates, in the city he has come to
cherish. He was a Department Head of Utilities for 35 years for the City of Mason, Village of Indian Hill, Butler County, and Green County before his retire-
ment in 2012.
Despite his retirement, Fox remains heavily involved with Mason High School and the Mason community. Now, as the high school community has taken
note of his impactful presence, The Chronicle sat down with Fox to learn the story behind the man who does much more than monitor study halls.

Q: What led to your choice to stay involved At least we’re moving forward. The fact that Photo by Anna Kinasewtiz
with Mason High School? we’re not sitting still and doing the same
things over and over and over, it keeps things
A: Seven years ago, I retired and wasn’t fresh. It keeps teachers on their toes and
ready to be done. I had three people who had keeps administrators and students on their
had this job before me that had talked about toes. I think Mason will always move forward
it and I thought, wow, that’s just that’s a great that way.
fit for me because my degree was in educa-
tion. But I never taught a day because I had a Q: Why do you love Mason so much?
really bad student teaching experience at the A: I’ve often said it would take a crowbar
sixth-grade level. Even though I didn’t start to pry me from Mason. It was a great town to
teaching immediately, I always thought that grow up in and a great town for my kids to
I would get back to teaching. Well, I never grow up in. Mason has always been home to
taught, but this opened up and it’s the next me and it always will be. It’s that feeling that
best thing. I wouldn’t feel this comfortable anywhere
else. My parents have died, and my sister
Q: What motivates you to be involved in has moved away, but I have so many
school initiatives and groups within the dis- friends here. I just can’t imagine being
trict? anywhere else.
Q: Do you ever see yourself not
A: I’ve always been a believer in giving working at all?
back. I feel like I’ve gotten so much here. The A: Well, the time
least I can do is volunteer for a few things. will come. My wife
It’s the feeling that I never spent a dollar on a and I have talked
scratch-off but I won the lottery. For example, about it a lot. We want
I grew up with parents that loved me; I didn’t to travel and with a
ask for those parents, and I grew up in a town job, you can only trav-
that I loved; I didn’t ask for that town. Those el at certain times of
things were given to me. And in fact, this job the year. So the time
was given to me. I’ve gotten so much--why not to be done obviously
give a little bit of that back? gets closer every day.
Every spring that I’ve
Q: How is being a student at Mason now dif- been here I’ve made
ferent than when you were a student? the decision whether
to leave or to stay
A: We didn’t have the opportunities that are and so far I’ve stayed,
out there. Now there are so many clubs and but we’ll see.
different kinds of bands and musical groups. Q: Is there any-
You can take so many kinds of courses: hon- thing you wish the
ors, AP, a wide variety that we didn’t have. On students at Mason
the downside, we didn’t have the pressure to knew about you?
get into college that students do now. There A: I wish the students
wasn’t peer pressure about things like drugs. could know how much joy
Honestly, there were no known drug users they’ve brought me and how
when I was in school, that just came about a much they’ve added to my
few years after I graduated. I think it’s a little life. I’ve always worked with
harder to grow up now than it was back then. adults, but never with young
Life was a little bit simpler. adults. I wish I would have
been doing a lot sooner be-
Q: What are you excited to see when it cause it’s just very reward-
comes to the future of Mason High School? ing.

A: This school is always expanding, and
they’re always looking at new ways of do-
ing things, or willing to take risks with new
things, and I hope to see that continue. And
sometimes we fail, but we’re failing forward.

November 15, 2019 Feature 5

Entrepreneurs use Instagram platform to run businesses

Kaelyn Rodrigues | Staff Writer ers. Photo by Kaelyn Rodrigues
“There [are features] on Instagram Sophomore Olivia Tull (above) sells woven bracelets (below) on her Instagram page. Her busi-
Social media isn’t just for posting ness, called Only Freckles, is run entirely on the social media platform for the convenience and
selfies -- in the age of online shopping, so you can see how many people like
local entrepreneurs are using Insta- [a post], how many people forward it to ease of communication.
gram to their advantage. somebody else, and how many people
save it,” Tull said. “I can see who views Photo contributed by Olivia Tull
Junior Brooke Elam created Luna my page, I can see what audience it
+ Starr, an online boutique that sells attracts, and people can DM me if they
contemporary women’s clothing. Along want to buy something, which is the
with her website, Elam uses the social easiest way to communicate.”
media app Instagram to promote the
business. She chose Instagram because Tull said that since she pursues her
the young demographic present on business more as a hobby rather than a
Instagram is similar to that of Luna + job, she does not plan to expand it.
Starr’s customers.
“I like where I am right now,” Tull
“Instagram is so popular; I feel like said. “It’s easy for me, and it’s not like
everyone has an account, whether a whole lot of upkeep that I have to do.
they are on it all the time or not,” It’s something I can do on the side for
Elam said. “The audience that we have fun; an outlet to be creative if I’m feel-
is young adults and teenagers [who] ing stressed.”
use Instagram. Those are the kinds of
people that we are gearing our clothing Senior Paige Harvey uses Instagram
towards.” to run her photography business. Har-
vey said she prefers to use Instagram
Elam said Instagram is more effec- because it allows her to interact with
tive in promoting Luna + Starr than customers in a professional way.
other social media platforms because of
the multitude of tools it has available to “It’s a very popular social media plat-
business account owners. She uses the form, and I really like displaying the
shopping feature to promote specific photos on my Instagram,” Harvey said.
items that are available for purchase on “It can reach a lot of people, and they
her website to customers. can tag my account. I linked my website
to my account. People can contact [me]
“I use Instagram more for advertise- without having [my] phone number,
ment because we have an online store,” and get [my] information that way.”
Elam said. “It has a feature where you
can link or tag products on whatever Along with the use of built-in fea-
you’re posting. If I post a picture of a tures, Harvey said she primarily uses
top that’s on our site, I’ll link it on the Instagram to promote her website and
Instagram picture, so [customers] can showcase her work to potential custom-
just click the tab on the picture of the ers.
product, and it’ll automatically bring
them to the website.” “I love using Instagram because the
advertising for my business is so good,”
Sophomore Olivia Tull sells different Harvey said. “People come up to me
types of bracelets on Instagram to local and are like, ‘I saw your pictures like
customers. Tull said she chose Insta- they’re great!’ I’ll have follower requests
gram as her platform because it is not on Instagram, and then people will
only convenient for her but also for her schedule a photo shoot. That’s how the
customers. word spreads, otherwise, it’s just the
word of mouth, which is just a lot ver-
“Most people have Instagram, and I sus people actually seeing the pictures
thought it would be the easiest way for and not just hearing about it.”
people to communicate if they wanted
to buy something. There are no conve- In the future, Elam said she plans to
nience fees if I sell anything because I have popular Instagram users create
can just give it to the customer because posts with Luna + Starr products to
all my customers are people that I reach a larger audience. Another goal
know.” of hers is to one day have a store dedi-
cated solely to Luna + Starr products.
One feature that Tull relies on is Di-
rect Message (DM), in which her follow- “I would definitely like to gain a fol-
ers can directly communicate that they lowing, and hopefully one day be able
want to buy a product. Another useful to do more PR,” Elam said. “That would
feature is Insights, which allows her to definitely be a goal for the business, to
access statistics about her audience’s reach out to influencers so that they
interaction with their account. Tull said can promote it. I’d also love to open
these tools allow her to expand her an actual storefront so that people can
business and interact with her custom- come in and try on [products] because
sometimes people don’t like shopping
online.”

6 Feature November 15, 2019

MHS community feeling fundraising fatigue

Anna Kinasewitz | Staff Writer disease,” Shuba said. “So yes, it is the fundraising, but Barbara Shuba, NHS Advisor
also it’s the awareness that this kid sitting next to you,
Whether it’s shaking mom down for cash, digging that maybe you don’t know, is going through this. “Our local business partners are spread thin and
in the glove box for loose change, or knocking on Something that is treatable now would have been a can only give so much. The same goes for when
neighbors’ doors to pledge money, fundraising at death sentence 20 years ago — that’s what students
Mason is an ever-persistent event. really need to let sink in when thinking about donat- students ask their parents for contributions.”
ing.”
Years ago, many members of the high school Lorri Fox-Allen, Student Activities Director
staff began to realize that students and high school While NHS isn’t the only group at the high school
families may feel as though they were constantly known for its fundraising efforts, they certainly have “Having so many students in our school allows our
being asked to contribute money to support causes. some of the most successful campaigns. But it’s not impact to extend to more people that we realize.”
National Honors Society advisor Barb Shuba said that just dollar signs, Shuba says: MHS gives back in a
she understands how it can seem like there is a new variety of ways that are just as important as funds. Graphic by Riley Johansen and Lily Geiser
group raising money for a new cause, constantly. Photos contributed from Schoology
“We’ve branched out into collecting shoes via Souls
“Most schools have one booster organization,” for Soles, making blankets for Children’s Hospital,
Shuba said. “At Mason, nearly every sport has its own and the tutoring for Finals Countdown,” Shuba said.
booster organization specific to that team. Our local “Service is the component of giving of your time. Giv-
business partners are spread thin and can only give ing back is sometimes donation of your resources and
so much when baseball, then football, then band all raising funds, but it also it’s giving of your time.”
come asking for donations and gift cards and spon-
sorships. The same goes for when students ask their Organizations not affiliated with any school clubs
parents for contributions.” can also raise money from MHS students. The Collins
family, for instance, raises money for their organi-
Student Activities Director Lorri Fox-Allen sees zation The Live Like Maya Foundation. Annabella
the ins and outs of every organization and its fund- Collins, a class of 2019 graduate and and sister to the
raisers. She has set forth a plan in hopes to form a late Maya Collins, said that she once viewed fundrais-
Master Fundraising calendar to avoid the constant ing as an obligation and something that didn’t really
overload and bombardment of fundraising, and said cause any change. Having cancer in the family has
that although she believes that every organization changed her perspective on the matter.
has a good reason to raise money, it is not feasible for
everyone to be raising money all at once. “After experiencing the need to fundraise first-
hand, I see it as something that brings a community
“I get hit up by every group that wants to come together,” Collins said. “And it’s not just a job, but it’s
in here and fundraise,” Fox-Allen said. “The issue is being there for one another and building that support
that everybody’s cause is great. I feel better about system. The impact is as special as the people doing
items rather than straight cash being back to back. the work make it, and I think it’s a really powerful
When somebody comes to me, I want something in thing seeing what the Mason community has been
my hand that has it all laid out; what fundraisers and able to accomplish not only financially, but within
drives and groups have priorities at certain times.” the people themselves.”

Jeff Schlaeger is the advisor for the Students In- The Live Like Maya Foundation benefits St. Jude
volving and Befriending Students (SIBS) organization Hospital, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital, and LLS.
at the high school, which runs the annual food drive, Collins believes that the fact that Mason was the com-
one of the largest fundraisers at MHS. With a goal munity surrounding her family has a great deal to do
of raising $20,000 this year, Schlaeger said that he with the foundation’s success. The foundation started
believes that although Mason has a huge amount of small with events at the school, saw the success, and
fundraisers at the high school, the students do a good was able to expand into the local community and now
job of rising to the challenge. nationally.

“As far as fundraisers go, I know we do a lot at “I believe that Mason being large and being the
MHS,” Schlaeger said. “We do have incentives that community that it is has helped us a lot,” Collins said.
help, but this year has proven that we do not need “Maya had a big following when she was sick. So after
prizes and raffles to do the right thing and be there she passed away, coming back to Mason, and having
for one another. I am proud of what our whole school that big following and having everyone stay in the
is doing.” loop and understand the foundation’s purpose was re-
ally helpful. People were more willing to donate and
Fox-Allen said that late November and December, people were more inspired to join in on that commu-
with the holiday season and end of the semester go- nity aspect and to raise more money.”
ing on, is one of the most difficult times to give back.
Despite that, Kids Count manages to raise money Schlaeger also said that he feels the importance of
to give holiday gifts to local families who wouldn’t a personal connection to fundraising. He said that his
normally have the means to do so. history has contributed to his belief in the power of
the food bank campaign.
“We continue to support Kids Count so well every
year,” Fox-Allen said. “It’s such a crazy time for every- “I would never be one to rank which [fundraiser]
one but how can we suddenly stop taking care of 115 is more important -- they all are,” Schlaeger said.
families and not let that affect them? Having so many “[But] the food drive is personal to me because I was
students in our school allows our impact to extend to a teenager who needed the kind of help and encour-
more people who need assistance than we realize.” agement that community support gave -- through
food banks and such. I also, in my long career, have
Kids Count isn’t the only organization that raises seen the impact that financial adversity can have in
huge amounts of money at Mason. MHS raises so a student’s ability to come to and be fully engaged in
much for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society school.”
(LLS) — over $25,000 — the school gets to choose
where the dollars go through the organization. Most Shuba also sees the importance of fundraising
of the victims that were Mason students have had ALS in the community, which is why she has dedicated
(Acute Myeloid Leukemia), so the money raised at much time to bringing life-changing opportunities to
the school is specifically funding scientists that are students. She said that she sees the character develop-
researching for cures for that disease. Shuba has seen ment when students take a step back and invest in
firsthand how the dollars raised by Mason are making others.
their mark.
“Giving builds life skills,” Shuba said. “What that
“We have had probably close to 15 students that footprint you leave on our world? Do you tread very
have had blood cancer and right now, there are three lightly, or do you go back and really make a differ-
students in the high school that are battling this ence along the way?”

November 15, 2019 7

8 Feature November 15, 2019

from imagination

To animation

Photo by Shravani Page
Freshman Grady Roeper animates for YouTubers such as
Sub, creating backgrounds such as this one for his videos.

Aspiring animator works with YouTubers to gain experience

Shravani Page | Staff Writer Roeper said. “Now, it usually depends actually from one of these videos that animations. So he gives me the script,
on what I’m working on. But, it takes I got noticed by Sub.” and I do all the scenes setup and I
With a world constantly revolving me maybe around two hours per edited it and I have the sound effects
around technology, teenagers have animation.” On top of working with Sub, Roeper and stuff like that.”
been inspired to innovate, create, and has also worked on creating anima-
experiment with new platforms. Eventually, Roeper got noticed by tions and scripts for Youtube channels Moving forward, Roeper said
an animation channel called Sub, such as CircleToonsHD. Through animation is something he would
Freshman Grady Roeper has worked which currently has nearly 4.7 million these small jobs, he started to make consider when choosing a career. It
with animation since he was 9 years subscribers. Roeper had the opportu- a profit. Money from commissions is something he said he has been
old. He is self taught and learned nity to work with the channel creator have allowed him to purchase new interested since he was younger and is
to animate through online tutorials a few times for videos. equipment and move forward with his eager to learn more about it.
and experimentation. He first used hobby.
his knowledge to animate videos on “I entered a contest three or four “My career at that point was either
Roblox. After that, he started to use years back which these YouTubers “I have to make two videos per going to be [animation] or making
more advanced platforms such as made in Roblox,” said Roeper. “I made week,” Roeper said. “I feel like this video games, because I also liked
Cinema 4D. a pretty high quality animation for has changed a lot of things. I’ve been doing that when I was a kid,” Roeper
it and spent around 3 months on it. able to buy a nice computer and said. “I still make videos for fun. It’s
“My journey started with Roblox I just did it for fun, but [Sub] really equipment. I think I might be able to just kind of fun to animate some-
videos with my friends and family,” liked the quality of it and messaged buy a car soon, too.” thing, and then it turns out pretty
Roeper said. “It basically went from me asking if I wanted to make anima- well and looks pretty cool.”
there and I picked up stuff like stop tions with him.” Roeper has also worked with other
motion animations from my iPad. So, channels, such as VS Games, for It’s been years since Roeper cre-
I created a small channel and started Roeper created his personal channel which he got the opportunity to write ated his first animation, and he said
making actual animations from there, during elementary school and used the script. Writing a script consists he doesn’t plan on stopping anytime
and it got kind of popular.” that to practice with different types of of writing down the actions of the soon. For him, animation has helped
animation and to share his creations. character(s) in the animation which him form connections with other
It usually takes Roeper around four He said he began experimenting on then gets transferred to an animator animators and continue to improve
hours minimum per week to work on his YouTube channel and that helped who animates and adds in detail. himself.
animation projects. He manages to him practice and gain experience.
balance these with school and his life “I used to create these little Roblox “I like to create things,” Roeper
at home. “I started making these videos so animations and then I started work- said. “I started making videos because
that I could see how far I could take ing on this channel called VS Games,” I just thought it was fun. It’s really
“I remember when I was younger the engine,” Roeper said. “As a kid, Roeper said. “After writing my script satisfying when you put a lot of work
and it took me three weeks on a I made these for fun and made a for VS Games, the animator messaged into something and it pays off.”
project because I was still learning it,” couple hundred dollars from it. It was me and asked if I wanted to do stick

November 15, 2019 Art & Entertainment 9

Alex Lisa | Staff Writer years old, and they’ve been in the hos- to be helpful, and she said why don’t go deliver babies in the home if people
Though quite a distance away from pital a lot of their lives,” Colburn said. we come over to tea. But this was right couldn’t afford to go to the hospital,"
Mason High School students, old age “So I wanted to make sure they knew after the war, and despite everyone’s Colburn said. "I knew some other doc-
comes to us all, and along with it a that even with hardships that happen at hospitality, not everyone had food, so tors there, male doctors, whom I went
number of challenges. That does not such a young age, you can still have a we were worried it would be a lot of to dinner with, and I said ‘tell me about
mean, however, that no one can put up a wealthy and full life -- I myself lost my trouble. That family wouldn’t hear of Susan Kennedy,’ and they said ‘she’s
fight and, with a bit of creativity, turn it father to illness at age five, and that was it, so we stayed. We sat with them and the most skilled surgeon you’ll find,
into something to be appreciated. a lot to deal with. We don’t get to see we listened to Wagner on the radio, but she’s an idiot, because she goes out
The National Arts Honors Society has each other and I can’t talk to them and the whole family rode with us on and does things for free, in the home.’ I
been volunteering at the Christian Vil- think they were the idiots.”
lage to do art projects with the elderly “
for several years. It is through this Compared to what was available to
volunteering that Senior Taylor Kling Even with hardships that happen at such a young her in her time, Colburn said she is
became friends with 90-year-old Lois age, you can still have a wealthy and full life. excited for where young people today
Colburn, who uses every opportunity can go, and wishes she had those same
to express herself. As the two became -Lois Colburn burn chances growing up.
closer, Kling began helping Colburn
with one especially unique form of “ “I love speaking with young people,
expression: writing an autobiography. about this as much as I would like to, their bicycles down the road, and we it invigorates me and helps to keep me
Colburn said there are a number of so that’s actually why I started thinking stopped and shook hands and they thinking clearly, and I think about my
things which contributed to the start about writing this.” went back home and we went on... grandchildren and want them to know
of this project, including the desire to We came to a pub eventually and we about the opportunity in front of them,”
preserve her memories even after they The autobiography itself recounts met yodlers there, and they had us feel Colburn said. “I think youngsters have
have begun to leave her. a number of experiences Colburn has their throats while they yodeled and it so much more opportunity. I think it is
“There are a lot of people my age who had, including stories about her trips to was so bizarre and loud and good fun. a very hard time for young people and
don’t have the memory I have,” Colburn Europe and reflections on the people We biked through all of Europe, getting also a very exciting time.”
said. “I am 90 years old, and I hope to she has met. to know people and we have so many
have as clear a mind as I do now for a stories that are just heartwarming like A message Colburn wants to extend
much longer time, but I also want to “My husband and I went to Europe that.” both in her autobiography and in person
make use of my memory while I still in 1953,” Colburn said. “We rented bikes is the need for persistence because every
have it and get it down onto paper. Or from England because that’s how you Beyond those she met in Europe, Col- hard moment in life becomes some-
a computer, actually, which I am not got around back then. In Germany, we burn said a woman who made a huge thing different down the road.
computer-literate. That’s why I need met a young woman who came over to impact on her life was the doctor who
young people like Taylor who’s been so borrow our bicycle pump for her bike, helped her with medical issues when “When my father passed away, my
kind and helped me.” but her German bike was large and she attended the University of Michigan. mother said ‘we’re going to rear four
Another important reason that Col- our pump didn’t work. We wanted to children,’” Colburn said. “She said that
burn wants to write her autobiography is make sure she understood, we wanted “She was so good to people, she would to me, a five-year-old, and the way she
to get a lasting message out to her two spoke and carried on, she never let me
grandchildren. think we couldn’t succeed in anything.
“I have grandchildren who are four All you really need is brute determina-
tion; you never know the incredible
people you will meet in your life until
you have the chance to look back on it.
Many things that weren’t remarkable in
the moment became special over time.
Really, time just changes everything.”

10 Feature November 15, 2019

‘Hypebeasts’ pay hefty price for clothes

Jessica Wang | Staff Writer Graphic by Aadrija Biswas
Junior Vatsal Agarwal spends hundreds of dollars on brand-name clothing and accessories.
Most people are hesitant to spend 60 bucks
on a hoodie, but Hypebeasts easily drop over a want to risk it.” “As far as Hypebeast goes, I’m not a radical
thousand. An immense amount of hard work and metic- Hypebeast,” Khan said. “But if I’m honest, most
Hypebeasts get that kind of stuff to show off.
Junior Vatsal Agarwal embodies the defini- ulous research goes into saving up and purchas- The main reason is to express yourself with
tion of Hypebeast. Originally from Singapore, ing designer. Still, Agarwal believes the perks of more expensive items.”
he is influenced by the infatuation with de- designer brands make everything worth it.
signer brands in his native country. In turn, The motivations of most Hypebeast are seem-
he is driven to chase some of the most famous “I like some of the designs, they’re really ingly surface-level. However, Khan believes that
names. nice,” Agarwal said. “For example, Off-White the value of being one is much deeper than it
has some really interesting designs. It’s comfy may appear.
“Some of the brands I wear are Bape, Su- stuff, high-quality stuff. And it always has re-
preme, Off-White, and Gucci,” Agarwal said. sale value so even after you use it, you can sell “Some Hypebeasts have a bad rap, but there
“One of my favorite purchases was this Louis it for a good amount.” are actually a lot of positives to being one,”
Vuitton belt I have. It was about 600 dollars, Khan said. “Even though a lot of Hypebeast
and also this Gucci Hoodie -- it was 1,200 dol- While Agarwal values the material and value, look like spoiled, rich kids, you can build com-
lars.” Khan admits that his reason for pursuing these munities off of being one, and learn the impor-
brands is often more about aesthetics. He pre- tance of supply and demand, and economics.”
Needless to say, wearing Balenciagas (the fers using brand names to enhance his style.
ones that look like socks), and other similar
brands comes at a significant cost. For Agarwal,
to fund his lavish tastes, the stock market was
the answer.

“I first got into stocks because of my dad; he
does a bit of investing,” Agarwal said. “I take
some of his money, invest it, and then I split
the profits 50-50. Then, I either save [the profits]
or use it to buy some stuff.”

Rather than investing in stocks, Junior Sa-
meer Khan can afford anything from Pantone
11’s to Gucci by reselling shoes. His first experi-
ence with reselling was through Counter-Strike:
Global Offensive (CSGO).

“I started off on a game called CSGO,” Khan
said. “Ever since I was a sixth-grader, I would
play that game a bunch. I would resell [charac-
ter] skins online, and I made a good amount of
money from there.”

However, the designer industry is not always
an honest one. According to the International
Trademark Association, counterfeit businesses
generate an estimated 460 billion dollars a year.
In turn, Hypebeasts must be mindful when
making purchases to ensure that their hard-
earned money isn’t scammed away. For Khan,
this is no exception.

“Fakes are huge trouble; anyone who knows
about Hypebeasts, anyone who resells knows,”
Khan said. “A lot of apps I use to resell items,
like StockX, have problems with fakes. Nowa-
days, fakes are even expanding to outside of
the Hypebeast market, like Airpods. Even me
personally, one time I was planning to get
these pairs of Travis Scotts on StockX, but a lot
of people were having trouble, saying that it’s
super hard to tell the difference between real
pairs and fake pairs. I didn’t end up getting it
because it’s such an expensive item that I didn’t

November 15, 2019 11

12 Feature November 15, 2019

Teacher shares personal story of mental illness

Anushka Mukherjee | Staff Writer

Everyone has their own journey “It took me a long time to she believes that mental health is Graphic by Riley Johansen
with mental health, but one Mason finally understand and accept my an even bigger issue because of AP Psychology teacher Mollee Coffey
High School teacher is using hers diagnosis,” Coffey said. “When I all the negativity out in the world. shared her struggle with depression with
to start a conversation. was teaching [AP Psychology] at Coffey said she’s happy mental her students to enhance their learning.
Oak Hills everything clicked into health is getting more attention
Mollee Coffey, an Advanced place because I finally began to but is concerned with how it is be- of anxiety and depression since
Placement (AP) Psychology accept that yes, there was some- ing handled by the media. freshman year, so hearing her talk
teacher, has taught the class at thing wrong with my brain. That us through her story made me feel
Mason for the past five years. She changed my attitude towards “It’s even worse now because like I wasn’t alone.”
said she shares her story about her depression. I was 23 or 24 at the there’s just so many stressors and
struggle with mental illness with time, so it truly had been a long triggers out there that makes it Through her story, Coffey has
her students to help them better battle for me. Realizing that it was easy to develop a negative self- empowered many students like
understand the content. outside my control is what pushed image or have a sense of hopeless- Burke. Coffey said she believes if
me to start taking better care of ness,” Coffey said. “But I believe she can help even one person, her
“In high school, I was diagnosed myself.” that we need to be careful about struggle was not in vain. Because
with depression,” Coffey said. “It how we discuss the issue because of this, Coffey is using her class-
was one of those times in my life Coffey battled with herself for we don’t necessarily want to show room as a platform to start the
where I was at my lowest, and it almost 10 years, and finally, she examples of how to commit suicide conversation about mental health.
came to the point where I consid- understood how she wanted to and such. So it’s important to not
ered suicide. At that time no one look at herself despite her illness. move too fast too quickly. I think “I started sharing my story three
ever really thought that I could be Now, she said she wants to share that we need to talk about it first years ago because I finally had the
going through something like this her story with as many people as and understand it before we can courage to talk about it,” Coffey
because I always portrayed myself possible to let them know that they start making movies and books.” said. “For a long time, this was
as this bubbly, happy person. So it are not alone. something I was embarrassed and
took a lot of people by shock, es- Hearing Coffey talk about her ashamed of because of the lack of
pecially my parents, because they “I want to help,” Coffey said. “I journey pushed some students to vocalization and knowledge at that
didn’t really know how to deal with want people who are struggling find confidence despite their ill- time. It’s no longer controlling me
it. It was a learning curve for us to feel less alone and burdened by ness. Senior Meghan Burke is one because I feel like I’m finally con-
and they did everything they could whatever mental illness they may of the few individuals who was af- trolling it. So let’s talk about it.”
to help me.” be going through. I wish that when fected by Coffey’s story because it
I was a teenager people had been helped her come to terms with her
Coffey said the years from high more vocal about this issue be- mental health.
school to college were rough for cause it would have helped me feel
her, as she was trying to navigate less alone and scared. I want my “[Hearing Coffey share her story]
through life with a mental illness. students to see that mental health was really helpful because we got
She struggled with depression long illness has a face.” to talk about and it was a nice
before she was diagnosed because way to go through that process,”
of the many trigger factors that In today’s day and age, she said Burke said. “I have dealt with a lot
built up over the years.

“It was a combination of a lot of
things over time,” Coffey said. “I
was bullied in middle school and
that pushed me to take a step into
the world of negative self-image,
low self-worth, and a sense of hope-
lessness. It wasn’t until high school
that I was finally able to give it
a name. And it was almost like a
sense of relief because I could put
a name to what I was experienc-
ing.”

Given her experience with men-
tal illness, teaching AP Psychology
helped Coffey define her life. She
struggled with her illness since
high school, and since she started
teaching, said she realized that her
diagnosis was a physical disease
she wasn’t in control of.

November 15, 2019 Feature 13

When it’s time for that conversation

Ann Vettikkal | Staff Writer able with being feminine as a guy.” Coming Out: The Teens’ Side
For senior Drew Hatfield, it was the inability
Hannah Libby | Staff Writer to express his identity, not how he expressed it,
Often, high school students must assess both
The struggle for LGBTQ+ rights may seem that created the most hardships. their safety and the beliefs of their parents in

like a thing of the past to many on the outside, order to decide the most ideal way to come out.
but it is still a constant in the home of many
teens. For Hatfield, it was a matter of understanding
his parents’ background that influenced the
These students that walk the halls of Ma- way he came out.
son High School are faced with the task
of choosing when, where, and how to “I was just so afraid of what they were
going to think,” Hatfield said. “I knew
come out to their parents. Many of how to tell my mom, I just knew
them worry themselves sick over
the “what ifs” of their decision as she wasn’t going to be accepting
because of her religious back-
well. It is a tradeoff: to put their ground. The morning after I
relationship with their parents
in jeopardy in exchange for their came out, she had Bible verses
laid out for me. And she made
identity. Parents, in turn, will me call a conversion therapist
suddenly learn that their child
will be thrust into a world of -- basically what you would
expect a religious par-
judgment and hatred based on ent to do. She said, ‘I’ll
something they cannot control.
Some must come to terms with always love you but I’ll
never accept you.’ And
an identity they don’t under- those few words have
stand in order to keep a re-
lationship with a child they stuck with me since I
came out.”
love; others choose not to But the story of coming
come to terms with it at
all. Despite the risks, some out is not always a shared
experience between par-
students at MHS have ents, particularly if their
made the deeply personal
choice to come out. values differ. Hatfield
talked about the nearly
opposite reaction he expe-
Understanding Identity rienced from his dad.
“I knew he’d be fine
The buildup to coming out with it,” Hatfield said.
is often a long, introspective
journey teens have to go through “Growing up, he had lived
with his gay friend. And
as they come to terms with their when being gay wasn’t even
identity. Sophomore Jorja Meere
said that understanding her sexual Graphic by Riley Johansen legal, he helped his friend
through that. I sent him this
orientation was not a linear process. long text [at school.] He
“I started questioning my sexual-
ity when I was 11-ish,” Jorja said. “I actually cancelled his flight
and all of his meetings in
first came out to one of my inter- Chicago and we went out
net friends and then I gradually
started coming out to more of my for the day and celebrated
and he made me feel super
friends. I first came out as bisexual loved.”
and then I thought I was gay -- I
came out to my mom as gay. And Senior Travis Burt also
had to go through the pro-
then I went through all these labels cess of coming out to his
and now, I identify as bisexual.”
Even if teens are sure of their identi- parents twice: once for his
dad and then again for his
ty, figuring out how to assert this identity mom. Again, he found that his
publicly takes time. Junior Avin Martin, who
transitioned from female to male, also experi- He said that when he was keeping his sexual parents had very different reactions to it.
“I came out to my dad,” Burt said. “That
enced similar struggles when it came to feel- identity to himself, he felt that his mental went fine. Because my dad is gay. Then it was
health suffered greatly.
ing secure in who he was and how he presented “A lot of times people will get depressed be- hard for me to come out to my mom because
himself to the world.
“I [was] hyper-feminine because I was trying cause they’re holding in who they truly are and she’s from Venezuela, and in that culture, boys
can’t be feminine and girls can’t be masculine.
to convince myself that I wasn’t trans[gender], trying to mask [it],” Hatfield said. “That’s what When I came out to her, she was fine with it
o that I was a girl, that there was something I did in middle school; I was always trying to
be a different person. But then once I finally but she kept on doubting it. She was like, ‘are
wrong with me,” Avin said. “And then it piled you sure you really are and you’re not just go-
up. And I was like, no I can’t do this anymore. came out and got to be who I was, a lot of
those feelings went away and then you’re just a ing through a phase?’ And I [had] been waiting
Then I went into hyper-masculinity, where I’m years to come out so I definitely know.”
like, I have to be this and this otherwise, I’m better person overall. You feel so much happier
all the time.”
not a guy. Now I feel like I’m more comfort- continued on page 14

14 Feat

Coming out: students and
parents share their stories

continued from page 13 “I feel like over time [she accepted me more],” Naik
said. “She went to LA and there was a pride parade
On Coming Out: The Parent’s Side going down there and friend took her there and her
friend is really open to these kind of things and she
For parents, there is a difference between observing said it opened her eyes a little bit more. She realized
the LGBTQ+ community on a grand scale and then the struggle that gay people go through.”
suddenly, having a personal attachment to this sub-
ject matter. Stephanie Martin, the mother of Avin, and Advice to Others
Kristen Meere, the mother of Jorja, commented on the
moment their child came out to them, in person or Trying to navigate high school is difficult enough Avin Martin (left) and his mother Stephanie
otherwise. Stephanie said that while the news was not without needing to worry about people’s opinions
offensive to her, she still needed some time to process about who you are. So, many parents and their kids
it. came together to give their advice to anyone strug-
gling with coming out.
“We were a little surprised, to say the least,” Stepha-
nie said. “You go from one day having a little girl... Kristen Meere consistently promotes public support
things were changing. There really wasn’t a transition of a child striving to be comfortable with their identity.
-- we were told through mass text which I didn’t ap- The goal she holds is to make it easier for them in the
preciate. The news wasn’t that hard but it was differ- long run while giving them support by speaking out.
ent. Me and his dad are fairly accepting. We have no
qualms with anybody for any reason other than who “I would just say be open about it, I mean even if
they are.” you’re accepting, you need to voice to the

Kristen Meere, on the other hand, had a feeling that community and the world around you that it’s okay,”
something was unique about her daughter, Jorja, even Kristen said. “Just accepting it silently is not the way
before she was told in person about the news. These to go in my opinion. You need to support your child
premonitions made the actual event go a little more openly and not just in your house.”
smoothly.
Fellow mother Stephanie Martin believes the best
“Jorja has always been very much a tomboy,” Kris- advice she can offer to kids coming out is to not only
ten said. “When she was little, we shopped in the boys’ be open, but to try to grasp your parents’ perspectives
department. All her friends were boys and she didn’t beforehand.
want dolls or anything like that. When she came into
my bedroom while I was reading and said, ‘There’s “Really you know your own parents. You know your
something that I need to tell you. I don’t like boys.’ own family. You have to figure out the best way for
And I was like, ‘okay.’ And then she cried and I cried you to talk to them and discuss it,” Stephanie said. “Be-
and we hugged it out.” ing blindsided is not the best way of [being told]. Sit
down, talk to your parents or family. Having an open
Grace Period relationship and discussion would be key there.”

Most parents spend their entire life focused on and The experience of the teenager varies so much from
planning out the safety and success of their children. the situation of their parents, so it’s understandable
So when something throws a curveball in the plans why the advice is so distinctly different. And Kristen’s
that they had, it takes some time for them to adjust, daughter Jorja says that no matter the grade, the need
according to Kristen Meere. for a secondary support system is a must when coming
out.
“It was a bit of a digestion. There was a lot to think
about,” Kristen said. “There was some getting used to it “Make sure you’re in a safe environment or you have
-- it was a process. I told a couple family members a good support system to fall back to if you are faced
with a negative reaction,” Jorja said. “And make sure
just because I needed to talk about it. It wasn’t an you come out on your terms. Make sure you’re com-
issue -- it was just different.” fortable with everything and that you accept yourself
before expecting others to accept you.”
Kristen’s unconditional love for her daughter was the
first thing she wanted to make clear when she came Drew Hatfield came out halfway through his fresh-
out. But she couldn’t help but worry about the poten- man year after truly understanding his sexuality. He
tial repercussions for being herself in today’s polarized not only advises that you have a great support group
society -- especially in a large high school. but also that you just be yourself regardless.

“I was worried,” Kristen said. “I know that society is Make sure before you’re going to come out that you
getting a lot better in that regard. But I was still wor- have a great backup,” Hatfield said. “You want to know
ried that she would lose friends. Or that people would that you have friends to go to. Because it’s not easy
say things to her, you know there are people who tar- even if your parents are supportive, just getting over
get [the LGBTQ+] community.” the fear of telling them is one of the worst things that
I’ve ever had to go through.”
According to junior Mayank Naik, his mom didn’t
jump to proclamations of acceptance but rather Hatfield is also a huge advocate for being openly
learned from experience. It took a close friend taking yourself as well. He believes that embracing who you
her to her first pride parade for her to understand the are can entirely change your quality of life.
LGBTQ+ community more.
“When I first came out, I was just afraid of what
people thought,” Hatfield said. “But once I got over
that fear of caring what people thought and doing
colorguard, it was so much better just being myself. It
sounds so cliche and is so hard to do but once you can
truly be yourself, nothing’s really going to stop you.”

ture 15

(right) have maintained frequent and open dialogue surrounding his transition; their relationship has grown through learning and acceptance. Photo by Hannah Libby

16 Sports November 15, 2019

photo contributed by Mason Tennis Team
The Mason Girl Tennis Team poses after earning their 3rd consecutive State Championship. Back Row: (Left to right) Head Coach Mike Reid, Priya Bandaru, Sarah Pickens, Kelly Reid, San-
jana Reddy, Emma Kruse, Annie Kruse, Megan Li, Ananya Aggarwal, and Assistant Coach Mike Kindred. Bottom Row: (Left to Right) Shyla Aggarwal, Harsita Uppuganti, Risha Chada, Rashi
Loni, Raina Chada, and Anna Tonkal.

Girls Tennis Team captures 3rd straight title

Cody Allgor | Staff Writer Sanjana Reddy clean swept their finals to clinch the title, and she could rely on it twice,” Aggarwal said. “Whenever
The Comets Girls Tennis team has match, making quick work of Magnifi- her teammates. we win it feels like it’s the first time
done it again. cat. Kruse said the talent of her team- because it’s just so many emotions and
Mason secured their 3rd consecu- mates, and confidence that they could “I was tired from individual states there’s still new people on the team.
tive Ohio Tennis Coaches Association utilize their experience to win again, and I already played two matches the They don’t know what it feels like so
(OTCA) state title on Sunday, October kept her calm on match day. day before that so I was already sore then you have to show them.”
20 after sweeping Magnificat in their and it was just a sense of relief,” Ag-
championship match. The Comets “I was really nervous going into the garwal said. “I was really proud of my Reid and his players accomplished a
quickly won the three matches they final match,” Kruse said. “But Sanjana teammates for bringing it home and feat that many coaches will never reach
needed by a singles win from Emma and I were confident that we could pull happy that I had them there.” with the three-peat. Reid hopes this
Kruse, and doubles efforts from San- through and provide for the team, espe- year motivates his players, especially
jana Reddy and Annie Kruse, as well cially since we had other good matches For Reddy, her domination in her his young ones, to get better so that
as Megan Li and Kelly Reid -- with the to back us up and a lot of other good doubles match with Kruse held a little they can go far into state once again.
whole team giving up a combined total players.” extra meaning. Reddy said that just
of just five games. losing one game was special because it “I hope the championship inspires
Going into the final four the two Junior Raina Chada and sophomore showed how much the Comets earned them to get better,” Reid said. “We got
previous years, the Comets weren’t Anna Tonkal only gave up one game in the title, and allowed her to go out with some young kids that are good right
necessarily the favorites to win it all, the match they played in the semifinals pride. now but they really need to improve
but coming off a dominant undefeated versus Upper Arlington. Chada said to get to the level that they’ve seen
regular season, this year they were. that a reason the Comets wanted to win “Being a senior provided a little this year. And if these kids improve the
Mason Head Coach Mike Reid said that quickly was to get their teammates who extra push because I really wanted to same as some of our players this year,
being the outright favorite put a little had the tougher opponents a break. make these matches count,” Reddy I think we can develop into another
more pressure on the team than in said. “Dominating like that was great really good team.”
years past. “We just wanted to try to win as fast especially since I was out there with
“The last two years, we were prob- as possible in order to take pressure Annie who is an exceptional doubles Reddy, who committed to play in
ably the underdog going into the final away from our one singles,” Chada said. player. By only dropping one game in college for the Cincinnati Bearcats next
four, and this year, we were probably “She would’ve kept playing for longer the state final four matches showed our year in August, said that winning state
the favorite,” Reid said. “I’d say the kids and we didn’t want her to do that and opponents and everyone else that we once again was the best way to end out
were a little bit more nervous this year be tired because she had the harder for sure deserved the title.” her time playing for the Comets.
because they had something to lose matches.”
rather than something to steal from Aggarwal, who will be playing for “I’ve made so many memories and
somebody else.” Greater Miami Conference Girls Ten- Williams college next year, is one of the I have really been through it all with
Junior Annie Kruse and senior nis Athlete of the Year, senior Ananya few players who has seen each of the these girls,” Reddy said. “Mason tennis
Aggarwal, who also finished second in three consecutive state championships. has been such a fun experience and it’s
individual state championships the day Aggarwal said that every year winning hard to say goodbye but I’m excited for
before the team played for team state has felt different because of the special, college tennis. Winning state again is
championships, said that it was nice unique bond of of each team. the best ending to my high school ten-
that she didn’t need to finish her match nis career that I could’ve asked for.”
“It didn’t feel like I had already done

November 15, 2019 Sports 17

BEAST MODE... Collin Brown

GMC LEADING 16 PASSING TOUCHDOWNS
FIRST IN THE GMC WITH 1826 PASSING YARDS
65.1 COMPLETION PERCENTAGE
LED TEAM TO 5TH STRAIGHT PLAYOFF APPEARENCE

GAME COMING UP: 11/16 Ice Hockey vs Columbus Academy @ South Metro Sports

DIGITS PRE-GAME PLAYLIST

770 assists by senior volleyball player Hannah
Simmons, first in the GMC

5 total games lost by the girls tennis team in
route to their 2019 state championship

7 first-team GMC runners from the boys
cross country team

Stats and ranks as of November 11, 2019

On The Rise

Aiden Amshoff AJ Wilhelm Macie Radcliffe
STATS - STATS - STATS -

First team All GMC Top Ten in the GMC First team All GMC
16:01.40 time 39.21 average 19:22.40 time

18 Sports November 15, 2019

XC stars Meyer, Ullom will be remembered as
more than standout runners

Abby Miller | Staff Writer Tom Rapp said that Meyer specifi-
Seniors Maddie Ullom and Johan cally was someone who was always
Meyer have run away with records, willing to put in the extra work, and
but the imprints they’ve made on the was incredible to have on the team.
program consist of so much more.
The Mason cross country teams, “I like coaching Johan because
both boys and girls, are powerhouses you can count on him every race to
that produce strong runners, as well as give his best,” Rapp said. “He has a
leaders. But there are specifically two fiery personality, and so we direct
seniors that will leave a huge mark. that fiery personality into being suc-
Meyer and Ullom have been instru- cessful and being team oriented. He
mental to their teams throughout is fun-loving and works extremely
their time in the program. hard and he wants to be very good
Meyer, who finished with the fastest and is willing to put in the effort to
time in the Greater Miami Conference be that.”
(GMC) this year, has left his legacy in
numerous ways. Meyer’s teammate, Like Meyer, the way Ullom
sophomore Alex DeRoussel, said he headed the girl’s program is a trait
created a welcoming environment for that the rest of the team is hopeful
everyone and helped create strong to replicate in the future. Girls cross
team chemistry. DeRoussel said one country coach Chip Dobson said
thing specifically that he hopes to her teammates will hope to mirror
emulate from Meyer was his willing- her leadership and dedication to the
ness to include everyone on the team, program when Ullom leaves.
and make connections with the under-
classmen. “I think Maddie leads by example
“Johan is really a great guy, and I in that she pushes the pace,” Dob-
think he just inspires people,” DeRous- son said. “She brings an intensity,
sel said. “I think he’s setting a prec- focus, and purpose that not a lot
edent for future seniors to impact and of athletes have. And I think that
influence the underclassmen and the [her teammates] can take away her
people. He’s shown us how to lead the commitment to excellence and her
team, and whatever it is, he’s always desire to take the team to the next
there, always encouraging us.” level.”
On the girls side, Ullom also has the
fastest time in the GMC, and placed For Meyer, he said the part of
12th individually at the state meet. She the program he’ll miss the most is
joined the cross country program as a the coaching that Rapp provided
junior, so she’s only spent 2 years with for him, and the genuine care and
the team - yet her impact on and off compassion he had for every single
the course has been unmistakable. one of his athletes.
Ullom’s teammate, sophomore Ken-
nedy Radar, said that she will miss the “I’ve played many sports and
constant support and motivation that there’s never been a coach that has
came from Ullom at practices. Radar cared so much about his athletes
said Ullom’s persistent and committed like Coach Rapp,” Meyer said. “No
personality helped push the team to matter where you are on the team
keep going, no matter what challenges he cares about every part of you. He
were ahead. puts so much detail and so much ef-
“Maddie is always really supportive fort into his coaching and that just
about everything, and she’s always tell- pushes you to want to be the best
ing us that we can do it,” Radar said. you can possibly be.”
“Everytime that we start to slow down
or fall off of her, she tries to pick us Both runners have logged hun-
back up. She’s just a really great friend dreds of miles under their belt,
and a great leader and she’s always with impressive times and finishes.
going to be there to help you whether With Ullom’s stats, there’s no doubt
we’re running or not running.” she’ll leave a mark and a lasting
Apart from being encouraging legacy on the program. But Ullom
teammates, Meyer and Ullom had said that for her, she wants to be
character remembered by more than just the
that was contagious for the team numbers.
and acted as examples for everybody
to look up to. Boys cross country coach “I want people to remember more
than just how I ran,” Ullom said. “I
want to be remembered by the rela-
tionships I’ve had with my team-
mates and the things we got to do
together. We got to run with each
other, and develop our friendships
every single day.”

November 15, 2019 Sports 19

German exchange student makes impact on the field

Wiesigtrauch enjoying experience with Mason Football

“He is someone that when you
watch him not just on the field, but
Matthew Smith | Staff Writer on the sideline too, you see how

Albert Wiesigstrauch has found a great of a teammate he is,” Castner
home away from home. said. “You’ll see him with a positive
Wiesigstrauch is a junior at Mason attitude, cheering on others, and
High School, but unlike most other picking his teammates up the entire
students here, he is still getting used game. He always brings a lot of
to life in America. Just months ago, energy to our team.”
Wiesigstrauch moved to Mason from Being a great teammate is praised
Germany, leaving everything he was by coach like Brian Castner, but to
used to, including most of his family, Wiesigstrauch, that is something
behind. easy he can do everyday. Wiesig-
As a kid, Wiesigstrauch said he strauch said that controlling what
watched football with his father in he can control has been a trait he’s
Germany and felt a strong connec- learned to develop, and it’s made his
tion to the sport, eventually play- life in America and on the football
ing the game himself despite its team much easier.
lack of popularity. Now as a foreign “Whenever we practice all I can do
exchange student in America, is try my best and help the team in
Wiesigstrauch felt naturally drawn anyway I can,” Wiesigstrauch said.
the Comet football team, where he “When I’m on the sideline for games
is making an impact, averaging 17.9 I try to be loud and push my team-
yards per return on kickoffs. mates. All I want is for our team to
Wiesigstrauch said that being apart win.”
of the football team has made his Keeping an overall positive at-
difficult transition much better than titude is never a bad idea, and for
he expected, and his new teammates Wiesigstrauch it paid off big time.
have given him invaluable help and When finally given his first big op-
advice that has made him more com- portunity to contribute for Mason
fortable here. in their game against Middletown,
“In the beginning it was very hard he rushed for 79 yards and a touch-
for me. I left my whole family, my down. Wiesigstrauch said always
friends, and my girlfriend in Germa- staying prepared helped push him
ny,” Wiesigstrauch said. “When I met towards his big-time performance.
the football team though, everything “The week before the game Coach
became very good. Everyone was Beurket told me we would be rotat-
very welcoming and friendly to me, ing at running back, so I knew I had
they helped me on the field and in to be ready to play,” Wiesigstrauch
school too. I’m thankful for them.” said. “When I was given the opportu-
Head football coach Brian Castner nity to play and I played well, it felt
knows it’s a difficult transition for Photo by Mia Sweitzer amazing. I’m just glad I was able to
Wiesigstrauch in his life both on and Junior Albert Wiesigstrauch returns a kickoff for the Comets against Princeton in help the team.”
off the field. Castner said that he, the final regular season game.
Not only did Wiesigstrauch have
along with the other coaches and an unforgettable performance, but
players have done everything in their power to said that he has had to get used to differences, he was able to do it in front of his family, who
help Wiesigstrauch get accustomed to his new including increased rigour of football in America were only in town for a few days from Germany.
situation. versus football in Germany. Castner said that it makes Wiesigstrauch’s per-
formance that much more special to be able to
“Everyone here has given him extra love and “I played a couple years of football in Ger- show off in front of family.
extra care,” Castner said. “One coach in particular many, but it is much different than (America),”
has been Coach Beurket. He’s done an excellent Wiesigstrauch said. “We only practice two times “Honestly, it’s a great story,” Castner said. “He
job of making sure everything is going well for a week in Germany, but here it is everyday. It has only been here a few months, but he has
Albert and he is picking up on everything. With a is also much more serious and intense here in picked up on everything so quickly. He was given
great kid like him though, you don’t really have America.” the chance to play a lot (against Middletown) and
to worry much because he has fit in with our it’s just amazing that he was able to have his best
team since the beginning.” Despite the extreme challenges of being new game in front of his dad and brother. I know they
to a foreign country, the team feels like Wiesig- were very proud of him.
The adjustments of living in America have strauch has handled everything perfectly. Castner
been much smoother for Wiesigstrauch as a said that Wiesigstrauch has been an ideal team-
result of his football cramadarie, but not every- mate and role model all season despite many
thing about football has been. Wiesigstrauch obstacles.

20 Feature November 15, 2019

Color guard endures gruelling practices to perfect performance

Alana Amaya | Staff Writer

Everyone knows what the cheerleaders are, what the Photos by Mia Sweitzer and Alana Amaya.
marching band is, and they can even tell you what the Like other sports, the color guard involves long practices, intense competitions, and risk of injury.
dance team is, but few people can tell you what the
color guard is. To the novice fan, they’re a bunch of dangerous, so you really have to keep your skills in- “
kids swirling around flags in tight suits--but they are a tact and make sure that you’re watching everything.”
lot more than that. When sports, art, and performance If you don’t have the right skills,
collide, one can find the color guard. They’re a group Several sports require padding. Football, hockey, then you could be injured...I got
of performers who endure grueling hours of practice lacrosse, and soccer athletes wear padding to protect hit with a rifle and got five stitches
and have the bumps and bruises to show for it. their bodies, but performers in the color guard go
without padding so it doesn’t interfere with their per- above my left eye.
Senior Guard Captain Emily Murphy said she formance. Instead, they rely on thorough training and
believes the color guard is a visual sport that adds a cautious execution. Jayre Rodriguez, Junior
colorful aspect to the marching band.
“The reason why we don’t have any padding other “
“The color guard is the visual representation of than our gloves is because if we did, they wouldn’t
the music,” Murphy said. “When the band plays their look good with costumes and it would be too bulky,”
music, we can hear it, but we’re supposed to be there Rodriguez said.
for those who cannot hear the music or will not hear it
on video. We’re supposed to project the music through The color guard makes their precise moves look
our bodies and add a little bit of interest to the show. easy, but often overlooked is the constant motion
Color guard adds a fun element of danger and more and movement which wouldn’t be possible without
of an artistic quality to a very music-heavy sport.” constant conditioning.

The members of the color guard put in hours of “When I have talked to some of my friends about
practice perfecting their routine and focusing on every guard they don’t really think that it is that hard,”
aspect of their performance. Junior color guard mem- Wilkinson said. “People think that we just spin flags
ber Jayre Rodriguez said she appreciates the amount around and chuck rifles in the air, but it is a lot harder
of practice because it allows the team to be better than you think. Running around the field while doing
prepared for high-level competitions. choreography with no breaks for 11-12 minutes is really
physically draining.”
“We work more when we are close to competition
and we usually always go over the show in small parts Like all successful teams, it takes perseverance to be
and look at every little detail the band does,” Rodri- successful, and the color guard is no different. Even
guez said. “I feel like practicing this much makes us though the intense practices can leave the members
better, but at the same time it tires us out. Sometimes physically drained, they are willing to push through to
it’s hard to push until the end of practice when it’s deliver colorful performances.
more important because we are doing full runs of the
show when we are tired.” “I’ve seen people super tired, barely able to make
it through; I’ve seen people just exhausted,” Murphy
All the hard work comes with a price. Sophomore said. “But I’ve also seen that even when we’re tired,
color guard member Caroline Wilkinson is living even when we may not want to be there, it really is the
proof that guard can be hazardous to your health. Dur- element of dedication that really does define the color
ing a recent practice, Wilkinson took a shot to the face guard. I’ve seen people push through almost anything,
that caused a massive black eye she’s still recovering working hard through what seems to be incredibly dif-
from. ficult situations and I think that is just really impres-
sive to me.”
“I think that when people think of sports that have
padding, they think of football or lacrosse; people
don’t think that in color guard you can get seriously
hurt,” Wilkinson said. “But with how much physical
exercise you do in the guard, there have been so many
people that have passed out. We get concussions; we
get hit all the time. Not just guard members, but the
band members also get hit by guard equipment, and
it’s just physically draining.”

The members of the color guard risk their safety
every practice, in which they toss metal flag poles
above their heads. Rodriguez even suffered a concus-
sion after being hit in the head with a rifle.

“A lot of girls do get hit,” Rodriguez said. “If you
don’t have the right skills, then you could get injured,
like me. I got hit with a rifle; I got five stitches right
above my eye. [The rifle] hit my temple, so I had a
minor concussion. The equipment you spin is very

November 15, 2019 Entertainment 21

Album Review

Jesus Is King by Kanye West

I miss the old Kanye, but I want new Kanye. After listening to That’s not all, though. After listening to what’s Review by Henri Robbins
Jesus is King, it could be a solid album. As Kanye’s new delve purported to be a leak of Yandhi, an unreleased project Rating: 3/10
into Christianity, it’s a step in an unknown direction, and, sonically of West’s which was scrapped for Jesus is King, the
speaking, it’s pretty good. That doesn’t mean it’s all that and a side album feels empty. It feels like an unfulfilled promise.
of waffle fries, though. It’s not something that I’m tempted to listen While some tracks in Yandhi don’t hit, they are much
to again. It doesn’t have the jarring hooks, the abrasive lyricism, more “Kanye” than what we got. They all subscribe to
the derisive topics that West is known for. It doesn’t have the his sound, his production, his telltale layering of the
experimental production, or the innovative sound. What it does have human voice, even if it’s not as strong as Runaway,
is a message of religion that falls short of encapsulating any real Jesus Walks, or Ultralight Beam. Yandhi isn’t perfect, not
faith. The lyrics are nothing short of Kanye espousing his own worth even close, and it’s still better than what we got. Really,
through biblical allusions, comparing himself to the likes of Jesus and Jesus is King was a hodge-podge of half-baked ideas
asserting his worthiness, his salvation, and his belonging in Heaven. repurposed into a pseudo-evangelical experience. It falls
Some tracks hit well, such as Selah and Follow God, but others - the short of everything it tries to be and, more than that, falls
most egregious being Closed On Sunday - all fall short of anything short of what we all know it could have been.
meaningful or worthwhile.
Up And coming
Movie Review

Star Wars:
The Rise of Skywalker

by Archie Barton

Maleficent The saga will end. The story lives forever. Movie
Mistress of Evil Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker brings the
review by: Meghan Dincler ninth and final installment of the Skywalker
saga that began with Star Wars: A New
Rating: 9/10 Hope in 1977. Continuing Rey, Finn and Poe
Director: Joachim Ronning Dameron’s journey as they try to understand
their place in the universe and what it means
I wasn’t really sure what to expect going into the movie, just to fight the First Order. With the strength and
because it seemed like the last movie wrapped everything up very knowledge of generations behind them, every
nicely. The movie follows Aurora after becoming Queen of the member of the Resistance rallies together
Moors, trying to create a union between the two kingdoms, and to battle for the galaxy. With the return of
Maleficent, as she attempts to find where she belongs and broker Palpatine looming, Rey must face her destiny
peace in spite of fear. In the start of the movie, it sounded like it and her final showdown with Kylo Ren.
was just going to be sort of a re-do of the storyline from the first
Maleficent movie, but there were so many twists that they used to mus ic Frank Ocean
make it completely different, and the execution of all of these twists
were done in such a way that there was still a lot of shock factor review by ann vettikkal
moments, but it didn’t feel forced. Plus, the character development
was meaningful and it made sense for the story as well as adding Frank Ocean’s cryptic yet genuinely
so much more to the movie. I felt that the ending of the movie was a individualistic public presence in pop
little rushed, however, overall this movie was really good! culture has created a cult following,
and for a good reason. Ocean’s
two albums, Channel Orange and
Blonde, both achieved excellence.
His narratives in songwriting have
the ability to transcend into the
universality of growing up and falling
in love. The hip hop and R&B that
encompasses this poeticism is
gorgeous, and his voice even more so. This fall has been full of surprise
releases after a hiatus, including “DHL” and “In My Room.” The sound is a
divergence from his past music but the Ocean the world has come to adore
doesn’t seem too far beneath the cavalier verses. If there is an album in
store for fans, these singles are just the warmup of what’s yet to come.

22 November 15, 2019

November 15, 2019 Feature 23

Student lifeguards work to save swimmers in peril

Scott Reckers | Staff Writer based on who was in my zone. When I focused on the pool so they do not you’re wrong, and if you are wrong,
first get to the chair I look for weaker miss a signal. Sometimes, though, you cause a scene and embarrass your-
Working as a lifeguard is more than swimmers. It’s a good way to know these signals can be misinterpreted. self a bit,” Forbes said. “But if you don’t
just sitting in the stands and blowing what’s going on and helps me predict For Forbes, it is difficult to tell whether go in, and you were right, they really
whistles, it’s about saving lives. are drowning, they could die.”
“
While on most days, lifeguards For Dennison, the job can be repeti-
spend their hours-long shifts sitting I performed a front rescue. It was a rush; I tive at times, and it can be easy for her
in the stand, on occasion they do get felt amazing afterward. to get lost in her thoughts. But after
their feet wet. Junior Kylie Dennison her unexpected save, she said she
has found herself in that very situation Kylie Dennison, Junior realized a single glance could save
when she had to save a 9-year-old girl. someone’s life.
if anyone will need my help.” “
“I have made one save this summer A drowning incident can happen someone is in trouble or if it is just a “There is a saying among lifeguards:
at the outdoor pool,” Dennison said. “A false alarm. ‘I didn’t think it would happen to me,’”
little girl jumped off the diving board at any time, so lifeguards must stay “There is always the possibility that Dennison said. “They’re talking about
into the dive well and she was strug- making a save because they could
gling to even call out for help to me. I never see themselves actually saving
blew my whistle three times, which is a life. Before I made my save I was
like an emergency signal, jumped in, really just going through the motions:
and performed a front rescue. It was a going to work, not necessarily doing
rush; I felt amazing afterward.” a bad job, but not really trying very
hard. But you have to remember that
Junior Noah Forbes has been a someone’s life is one the line.”
lifeguard for a little over a year. Work-
ing his way to becoming a manager, Photo by Scott Reckers
Forbes has experience with perform- Junior Kylie Dennison (right) practices performing a save with junior Rilee Malloy. Although much of lifeguarding is sitting and watching the pool for
ing saves. Although his first save was hours, occasionally lifeguards do have to step in and save a person's life.
over a year ago, his most recent save
brought back the memory.

“My first save was at the outdoor
pool at the bottom of the slide,” Forbes
said. “This kid came down the slide,
but he was too short, and the water
came rushing over his head and
knocked him over. I had to pull him
out. My second save was at the indoor
pool, he was out in the middle of the
water and he started to struggle to
keep his head above water, so I had to
jump in and swim over to him.”

Dennison said the rescue affected
not only the girl she saved, but also
Dennison herself. With a new purpose
when on the stand, she said she is
more observant than ever before.

“I think after my save, especially
with outdoor guarding, I have changed
the way I work,” Dennison said. “If
I’m honest, I didn’t constantly scan
the water before the save, but now I
do. I realized it can happen anytime,
anywhere, to anyone. I really am a lot
more vigilant now.”

Long-time lifeguards build a rou-
tine, like scanning the water when they
are walking up the stand. Junior Ryan
Griffith made a habit of this to stay
attentive. This method notified Griffith
of the possibility of danger in the pool
moments before he made his first save.

“I could definitely tell when [the
save] was going to happen,” Griffith
said. “By the way the kid was swim-
ming, I knew I would have to keep
an eye on him. I didn’t know when I
was going up into the stand that I was
going to make a save, but I had an idea

24 Feature November 15, 2019

Horseriding students volunteer to help disabled peers

Meghan Dincler | Staff Writer Photo by Meghan Dincler
Junior Jordan Auriana volunteers at the Bridge Riding for the Disabled organization. While she helps others as a volunteer, she also
Every weekend, volunteers saddle up to help rides some of the horses herself.
people with disabilities.
Howe said. “And that’s saying a lot.” and helping the riders.
Bridge Riding for the Disabled is an organiza- Galloway says that in her years volunteering, “One of [the riders] will be really talkative
tion where people with disabilities can get unique
therapy through riding horses. It helps them working with the kids and getting to see them and nice to you, and the other one will be really
improve balance, independence, and motor skills, grow and learn with her help has been a very quiet and will just give you a smile and it’s really
among other things. With the help of Program rewarding experience for her. It has helped her sweet,” Galloway said. “It’s work, of course, you
Director Pat Howe and a group of volunteers, grow as a person and has allowed her to meet new have to take care of a horse. But you get a lot out
those with disabilities can learn to ride horses and people and learn new things. of it [the program].”
have experiences they might not be able to have
otherwise. “I definitely get a lot out of helping the kids,” Despite the work, Auriana said the purpose of
Galloway said. “Being able to work with them the organization is to help the riders as much as
Two of these volunteers are Mason High School every day, you can understand their perspective possible. Helping them make progress in therapy
students, sophomore Audrey Galloway and senior and how things in their lives have to work. It’s and realize their accomplishments is a major part
Jordan Auriana. Galloway volunteers there in the really sweet and you definitely get a lot out of the of the program, and it lets the riders leave feeling
summer and is a strong supporter of the program. program.” proud and inspired, according to Auriana.
She said she loves what it does for the riders, and
that it is a big help to those who participate. Galloway said she has enjoyed getting to know “We have a parade at the end,” Auriana said. “It’s
the kids, and by working with them every week, a huge celebration for all the kids who rode and
“I think it’s so beneficial,” Galloway said. “When she has grown to learn a lot more about them and they get to decorate the horse they rode. They go
the kids are on the horses, they’ll be able to keep their personalities. She also said she has learned around the arena and we acknowledge them.”
their body centered. It’s this whole mental and more about herself through caring for the horses
physical exercise that just keeps them up and go-
ing.”

Auriana has been with the program for almost
six years, and she said it is a huge help for the
students. She volunteers as well as rides, and said
she loves the horses and the kids.

“The volunteers are all willing to help the child
in any way they can, and just talk to them and be
around them,” Auriana said. “I knew that I wanted
to help with children. My goal after high school is
to help with younger kids.”

The program has been around for over 30 years
and was started with the riders in mind. The
volunteers take all the precautions to make sure
the riders comfortable and have the best therapy
experience possible. According to Auriana, safety
has always been their goal.

“Safety is the number one priority,” Auriana said.
“If anything, just make sure the kids can get on
and off the horse with no problem, and just have
fun with them.”

Howe, who runs Bridge Riding for the Disabled,
has worked to grow the program and make it as
accessible as possible for those who need it. The
organization is a nonprofit, and it costs 40 dollars
for the riders for an hour therapy session. She said
the program has helped riders achieve big things
for the first time, and that is why being available
for anyone who needs it is so important.

“We’ve had youngsters say their first words
here,” Howe said. “That’s a feeling that even right
now gives me chills. We’ve also had first steps-
-people that have had to walk with assistance have
taken their first steps unassisted.”

Howe said her experience working with the rid-
ers has been a very rewarding experience for both
the kids and the volunteers. She said people had
gotten involved with the organization solely to get
service hours for various clubs, but have stayed
because they love what the organization does.

“Volunteers often say to me that they get more
out of the program than they feel like they give,”

November 15, 2019 Opinion 25

Goodbye, Staff Editorial

Pink Tax Change is difficult, from roundabouts to politics

Shravani Page | If you’ve ever driven in Mason, you know how for an intersection,” says the other. Some will blaze
Staff Writer bad Mason drivers are. The fact of the matter is that through at 35 mph, others will inch through at a
every member of our staff who can drive has been breakneck five miles per hour, and both of those are
Periods suck. witness to some horrible act of automotive igno- just as bad for everyone. In the background, a third
They are physical pain, emotional drainage, and just rance. Whether they were in front of, behind, next just continually drives around the roundabout, never
overall crap. Girls already have to deal with school, life, to, or inside the offending car, we’ve all experienced exiting.
and oh -- the period tax. some indescribably idiotic things happening on the
More commonly known as the Pink Tax or the Tam- road, and the chances are that at least one of those Nobody knows what they’re doing, honestly. There
pon Tax, this is a tax placed by our generous govern- happened on a roundabout. are dozens of approaches, all of them taking some
ment on feminine products ranging from tampons to stance on the debate. While only some of them will
underwear. They should be a simple maneuver, but most be any type of extreme, a lot of them won’t be based
I don’t know about anyone else, but I’m totally drivers have no idea how to make their way around in any real knowledge. Instead, they’ll be based in
psyched to pay more during Shark Week. them. They’ll waltz their way in and come to a full what people haven’t learned. More than that, they’re
There are tons of girls, even in the US, who can’t stop. They’ll go halfway in and try to pull back. They based in what people weren’t even taught.
afford basic feminine products. Some girls have to stay might even go through the wrong way, which is
home from school because of their period -- they simply simply baffling. And not a single driver who takes And so often, today’s politics are based on the
can’t afford it this month. roundabouts regularly can say that they haven’t same lack of knowledge. People don’t properly
And it burns me that people close to me had once had missed their turn and had to awkwardly go all the research, but jump to conclusions. They don’t fully
to use these materials and that they had to risk missing way around again in what should be called the circle understand a subject, but assume that their limited
major exams or interviews simply because they weren’t of shame. perspective is right. Right now in China, people talk
able to afford basic necessities. about the civil unrest in one city but completely ig-
So adding a tax on top of that? Women already pay Even then, it’s been proven that roundabouts are nore the cultural genocide that is happening across
42% more on average for their products compared to faster, safer, and more fuel efficient than the tradi- the country. They take a stance against the protests,
men. Seriously. tional four-way intersection. Technically speaking, but forget the same ignorance that happened de-
Getting your period for the average girl isn’t exactly a they’re an improvement for most situations. They’re cades ago.
luxury. And having access to pads, tampons, or any other better for the environment and the economy, but
hygiene products shouldn’t be considered a luxury ei- they have a few downsides: Most prominently, many Even on a local scale, politics are based in reaf-
ther. Pads and tampons are expensive as hell these days. people don’t properly learn to drive on them. It isn’t firming the knowledge that’s already present. Voting
And I’m not OVARYacting. difficult, but so many people are scared, worried, and for an official because of party, not of stances. Push-
The average woman has her period for around 6.25 unwilling to change that they freeze up. That’s down ing away a drastic change without realizing that it’s
years of her life and will spend an average of around to the fact that they never learned how to deal with only happening because the slow, continual change
$18,171 on feminine products. That’s $3,000 over the an- them. Some drivers even go completely out of their was brought to a halt for years.
nual minimum wage salary this year. way to avoid them, just because they’re so adjusted
But I can’t be more glad to say that on November 6, to conventional intersections. Everyone becomes so comfortable in what they’re
Ohio Governor Mike DeWine signed a bill, known as SB used to that they forget that progress never stops,
26, ending the tax on feminine hygiene products. This That complacency in convention isn’t just and that there will always be new solutions. Just be-
will save customers in Ohio around $4 million. reserved to the roads, however -- today’s political cause something was made better years ago doesn’t
Exempting my pessimistic tendencies, we are making climate is imbalanced. mean that it will always be better. Change will
progress here in the Buckeye State. Regardless of politi- always be able to happen, new systems will always
cal association, members of both parties were able to It’s rooted in extremes: In the discrepancy come in to place, and they should always be looked
unify and create a bill towards a common cause that will between those who want every intersection to be at with a critical eye.
benefit the women of Ohio. a roundabout and those who would be happy not
Democratic State Rep. Brigid Kelly and Republican seeing one for the rest of their lives. What many Regardless of where you fall on the spectrum,
State Rep. Niraj Antani were able to come together and don’t realize is that both have a place. While some whether you prefer the classic four-way or the
propose a bill that would end the sales tax. Repealing the intersections might be better-suited to a roundabout, modern roundabout, whether you’re liberal or
tax has helped create feminine products in Ohio become others are more likely to work with a basic intersec- conservative, the biggest downfall in today’s disputes
more affordable along with helping girls feel more tion or four-way stop. Even more than that, there is that lack of understanding. As the ways to make
comfortable expressing their voice in a male-dominated are simply some intersections that will only work it through an intersection change, it’s important to
government. We must be able to create an environment traditionally, or other ones that would completely understand why those changes are made and the
where everybody can speak out whether it’s against a fall apart were people to try and regulate it with traf- benefits -- or detriments -- that come with it.
rule, another person, or a whole body of people. fic lights or stop signs.
But Ohio, we still got things to discuss and fix. After There’s never going to be a catch-all answer.
all, this whole period thing is really cramping my style. But regardless, that doesn’t stop most people No matter what, people will have their stances, but
from taking sides. “I drove 10 minutes to avoid a taking a step back and understanding what change
roundabout,” says one. “I wish I never had to stop people want and why they want it is the core of any
democracy and any compromise.

The Chronicle’s Policy Matthew Smith
Ann Vettikkal
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The Chronicle is published monthly.

26 Opinion November 15, 2019

The dangers Editorial Cartoon
of eating out
Body positivity If I stayed up until two in the morning and I just don’t
Anushka Mukherjee | isn’t enough want to leave my bed, I’ll wear all black in protest. If I
Staff Writer feel like it’s a lazy day, I’ll just throw on some jeans, a
As a certified paranoid teenager, I make it my Lily Geiser | t-shirt, and my white Abercrombie jacket.
priority to find things to stress out over. The sheer Editor-in-Chief
joy of losing sleep over something I did years ago I try to think about the way I look as an extension
or reliving the most menial of embarrassments Body positivity is a huge movement right now. of my personality, because my personality is so much
over and over is insurmountable. Don’t get me wrong — there are still plenty of more important. Because I decided that I didn’t want
I am a socially awkward being, so I have always issues out there with body image. Models are all still to think about how I look just for how I look. Because
avoided places that are packed with people such as tall and outrageously thin, actors and actresses are we always say that it’s what’s underneath our skin that
restaurants. Whenever my parents even mention still expected to uphold traditional beauty standards, counts — so why don’t we act like it? Why don’t we
eating out, an alarm goes off in my mind blaring and everyone has still felt bad about their body at decide, as a society, that everyone doesn’t have to feel
only one thing: “RUN!” As much as I love food, I some point in their life — fat, skinny, tall, short, we beautiful, because no one should have to feel beauti-
prefer my peace of mind more. all have issues with how we look. But still, we can’t ful to feel good about themselves?
My parents enjoy going out to eat once a week deny that significant progress has been made.
because it allows us to destress and spend quality What does body positivity focus on, exactly? Well, That’s my main issue with the body positivity cam-
time together as a family. And I’m all for it, but it focuses on letting everyone feel good about how paign. It’s not that it’s ‘normalizing’ unhealthy bodies,
why do we have to leave the comfort of our home they look. Which is a great idea, and I absolutely because it’s not. It’s that it’s too ‘politically correct,’
to do so? agree with the message — everyone deserves to feel because it’s not. It’s because I believe that the implica-
The car ride to the restaurant is where it all good about themselves, and no one should have to tions of telling us that everyone needs to think that
begins. I try and stay as calm as possible, but I just hate what they see in the mirror. But, I would argue they are beautiful, is that thinking we’re beautiful
can’t. My mind races with all these “what ifs”: what that there’s a mindset that could be even healthier to will automatically make us like ourselves. And I don’t
if I trip on a waiter and they drop all their food, strive for. believe that’s true. It can be incredibly problematic to
what if I spill water everywhere, what if I acciden- I tried, for a really, really long time, to feel good treat loving how you look as an extension of loving
tally go into the kitchen instead of the bathroom about how I looked. I really did. But the more I tried, yourself. I believe that, if we really want to live in a
— the list gets more ridiculous. the more I felt like I didn’t look the way I wanted to. world where what we look like doesn’t matter, we first
As we get to the restaurant I begin to palpitate. The more I tried to love my flaws, the more I saw have to tell ourselves that maybe we don’t think that
I try to comfort myself by saying, “It’s just a few them in all their prominence. So I tried a different we’re beautiful. And that’s okay.
hours and I’ll be fine. Focus on the food. Focus tack: Just not caring.
on the food.” A waiter comes to our table for our That might seem kind of strange to people that I know that this isn’t an easy thing to do. Trust me, I
orders. We run through the usual routine and wait know me — after all, I haven’t gone to school without don’t always feel great about myself either. I still have
for our food. My family and I talk about our days wearing makeup in nearly two years. I wear tons of plenty of issues with how I look. I still know which
and share a few laughs. And for a second, just a over-the-top jewelry and clothing, and I put way more mirrors in my house have the best lighting, and I’m
split second, I lose track of my anxiety. thought into my daily outfit than I should. And it’s still painfully aware every time my eyeliner is slightly
It doesn’t last long. true, I put a lot of effort into my appearance. But I uneven. I still could give you a list of every single part
The luscious aroma of Hickory Bourbon Chick- don’t do it to try to look prettier, or because I hate the of my body I feel insecure about. But I am learning
en shocks me back to reality. As soon as the plate way I look without makeup (I don’t). What I wear is not to care.
hits the table I attack. And as I casually inhale my more of a reflection of how I feel that day, or who I
food, my parents stare at me with concern, and want to be. If I feel like I need to be brave one day, I’ll I know that the first thing my friends and family
slight disgust. wear my Rosie the Riveter bandana and combat boots. are going to do after reading this column is come run-
It takes me a good five minutes to realize that ning up to me and say, “But you’re so pretty!” That’s
everyone at the table is staring at me, and when I exactly what I don’t want to happen. Because that’s
look up my sister always asks, “What’s wrong with exactly my point — it shouldn’t matter. Yeah, I don’t
you?” Realizing my situation, I excuse my behavior think I’m beautiful. But that doesn’t mean I don’t have
with, “I’m starving, that’s all.” Obviously, I can’t self-worth. That doesn’t mean I don’t like myself. And
tell them the truth. They wouldn’t understand the that doesn’t mean I don’t like the way I look.
chills that run down my spine every time I see a
waiter even two feet within the proximity of our
table. It’s a special skill really to be able to live in
this antsy state of my mind.
But before I can say anything else the beast had
smelled my fear. And how couldn’t it, I reeked of
it. The waiter’s footsteps echo through my ears.
Right as I take my next bite I realized it was too
late. They stand next to our table with a sly smile
and ask the earth-shattering question, “How’s the
food?”
They have me cornered and there’s no escape.
My mind paralyzes and I can’t think of what to
do next. The waiter’s eyes meet mine and at that
moment the color drains from my face. Panic
creeps in. As always I attempt to politely answer
her question; however, I end up shaking my head
violently while I attempt to smile and cover my
mouth at the same time. Ah, I had done it yet
again.
As she scurries away questioning the state of my
sanity, I sit in my filth reliving the moment over
and over. Taking my last bite I think to myself,
“There goes my sleep.”

November 15, 2019 27

28 November 15, 2019