February 2024

February 2024 THE C URIER Volume 16 Issue 4 2840 E Orange Rd, Lewis Center, OH, 43035 ‘Love Actually isAll Around’

2 FEBRUARY A D S DESIGNER | MAKENNA SHRAGER

TABLE OF CONTENTS STAFF EDITORS TAYLOR GOUDIE | WRITING NICK WOOLARD | WRITING MAKENNA SHRAGER | DESIGN KARI PHILLIPS EDITORS IN CHIEF ADVISER FEBRUARY 3 AVA VALENTIK | NEWS & CULTURE ADAM WELCH | SPORTS & COLUMNIST MOLLY SULLIVAN | OPINION LUNA PEREZ DELGADO | FEATURE ABI WYKOFF | COPY EDITOR NATALIA FAVILA INACUA | BUSINESS NATHAN STATEN | BUSINESS CAROLINE ALBERT | PROJECTS AUDREY SELSOR | DESIGN & PHOTO LILLY WOOD | DESIGN & PHOTO VALENTINA URBAEZ | COLUMNIST MALAK CHAHBOUB ZION CLIFTON CHAYCE GIDDENS LINCOLN HAKE MIA HARRINGTON ELLA KIRK ABBY KUILAN SHIV MAJMUDAR MACKENNA MILLER REEMA MOHAMED RAFIQ HIYA PATEL REBEKAH RICHTER SAVANNA SMITH TOC DESIGNER | MAKENNA SHRAGER CHECK OUT THE COURIER’S ONLINE SITE! ALL YOUR FAVORITE WRITERS AND DESIGNERS GO DIGITAL. SCAN THE CODE WITH YOUR CAMERA TO BE TAKEN DIRECTLY THERE! COVER DESIGNER | MAKENNA SHRAGER 3 P. 12 P. 6 P. 9 P. 19 P. 23 P. 25 FAFSA Falling Behind ‘Love Actually All Around’ is On the Mat Galentine’s Day Parti Gras Ranking Romance

STAFF EDITORIAL S T A F F E D I T O R I A L love is for everyone WRITER THE EDITORIAL BOARD | DESIGNER HIYA PATEL 4 FEBRUARY . EDITORIAL STATEMENT The Courier is the official student-produced medium of news and information published by the Advanced Newspaper Journalism students of Olentangy Orange High School. The Courier has been established as a designated public forum for student journalists to inform, educate and entertain readers as well as for the discussion of issues of concern to their audience. It will not be reviewed or restrained by school officials, adults or sources prior to publication. The content of The Courier is determined by and reflects only the views of the student staff and not school officials or the school itself. The Courier will not publish any material, determined by the staff or adviser, that is libelous, obscene or disruptive to the school day. The adviser is Kari Phillips. Readers may respond to The Courier through Letters to the Editor. Letters may be mailed, e-mailed to [email protected] or dropped off to room 2213. The staff asks that submissions be 300 words or less and contain the author’s name and signature. Editors reserve the right to edit or withhold publication of letters. The Courier strives to uphold the Canons of Professional Journalism, which includes accuracy, impartiality, etc. Therefore, major errors will be corrected in the next issue. Distinction will be marked between news and opinion stories. The season of love is upon us, showering the media with chocolate hearts, candle lit dinners and cute love letters. Groups of girls will even curl up on a night in to watch a popular romantic comedy while enjoying popcorn and pink sugary drinks for a Galentine’s celebration. Even though there is nothing wrong with showing love and appreciation in this way, a lot of the commercialized side of Valentine's Day can be viewed as foolish or frivolous. The main reason for this societal perspective is that while this holiday and romantic comedies are not specifically catered toward a female demographic, both are viewed by our patriarchal society as something that is meant for women and therefore unimportant or idiotic. Despite this societal view, we believe that romantic comedies, Valentine’s Day and more women dominated products and ideas are important. There are a lot of stereotypes placed on women who love Valentine’s Day and romantic comedies. One of the more common ones around this time of year is the so-called crazy, over the top, girlfriend who wants every part of her Valentine’s celebration to be absolutely perfect. In reality, this is just discounting a girl who only wants to be shown love and is therefore deemed overbearingly materialistic and frivolous. In addition to this, society generally makes many women who want a nice dinner and a gift for Valentine's Day seem ridiculous when in reality it is just one night to celebrate the love between partners. We think that women should have standards and expectations for their Valentine's Day celebrations. In a relationship people should feel loved and appreciated. So, if a Valentine's Day celebration is something that makes women feel that way, then there is nothing materialistic or frivolous about it. A man wanting to feel attractive and loved is not looked down upon, but when it comes to women their emotions are immediately discounted as idiotic. In addition to Valentine's Day, society generally views romantic comedies as mindless and of lesser quality than a horror or action movie. This is again due to the genre's massive female demographic. Having this female demographic typically labels the genre and the women who enjoy it to be shallow and simple minded. Despite this, a lot of movies in this genre touch on complex societal issues and ideas while also giving the viewer an idea of what love should look like, whether it is reality or not. For instance, the popular romantic comedy “Clueless” may be seen as a mindless story about a clueless rich girl navigating high school. When in reality, the film mainly showcases the ups and downs that come along with working to become a better person. Another great example of this is “Legally Blonde,” another popular romantic comedy. While the film could be discounted as a movie about a frivolous girl who follows her recent ex - boyfriend to law school to try and rekindle their relationship but somehow succeeds in school, it actually highlights the journey of self discovery and self empowerment. There are many more ideas or products that are labeled as feminine and because of that they are deemed as less than. This is because those ideas or products are catered towards women in a world that is built for men. However, those ideas and products are important not only to individuals but to society as a whole and women should not be made to feel less than for finding importance in those things as well. All in all, during this season of love, everyone, no matter what gender, should be made to feel loved and appreciated.

JOURNALISM JOURNEY E D I T O R I A L purpose of the press WRITER NICK WOOLARD | DESIGNER HIYA PATEL | PERMISSION TO PRINT NICK WOOLARD FEBRUARY 5 . Nick Woolard as a freshman. Nick Woolard as a senior. Lead, bridge, quote. While many people see this as a list of three words, I see it as something different; something much more than just 15 letters. In recent years, the world of journalism has been rapidly evolving. With the rise of online media and the decline of print journalism, it’s evident that the word “journalism” is completely different from what it was 25 years ago. And with this shift, the world’s view of journalism has also changed. Coming from a journalist, it’s no secret that a large majority of the world has an intolerance for many of us. Whether it’s that one annoying Fox News columnist, or that one fake news outlet, journalists have very clearly been thrown in the shade. And while some of it is deserved, such fake news or libelous stories, much of that annoyance is misdirected. I believe that journalists alike have two goals: to express and to inform. Our world today wouldn’t be where it is without the media. Every day, citizens across the world wake up and turn on the news or open a news outlet on their phone. Our whole world is connected through the news, no doubt. And while some news can bring people down, true news writing is not trying to ruin the mood; it’s there to spread information. And while most information nowadays is not positive, this information is essential for the world to keep moving forward. Everyone is going through this together, which means everyone needs to be on the same page. But, while the spread of information may be the most important part of journalism, I see personal expression as equally important. Opinion stories, such as this, can be the epitome of the hate directed at journalists. But, it’s important to remember that everyone has the right of expression. This idea is especially dear to me. I have spent all of my high school career in journalism classes. Starting with the basic “Intro to Journalism”, all the way to our newsmagazine production and live news. And what I’ve learned through these classes is that journalism isn’t confined to a certain structure. Journalism is really whatever one can imagine it to be. I have written countless articles throughout my three years producing in the magazine. And for every single story, I have been able to, in some way, express myself. Whether it’s writing about why ham is better than turkey, interviewing our superintendent or investigating the 2020 election, every story has allowed me to access my own creative outlet. The ability to brainstorm your own ideas and bring them to life is second to none. This is what my life has been built around for four years. But for many more, this has been their life since high school. Being a journalist is a lifestyle of expression and information. Our goal isn’t to upset the readers, but we are simply trying to show what we believe. Whether the reader believes or not is up to them, but everyone has their own opinion, and everyone has the right to say it. In fact, the First Amendment to the Constitution protects this right for journalists and news outlets. The press is the only profession recognized in our constitution; it is journalists duty to keep the other branches of government in check, acting as “the fourth estate”, or a fourth branch of government. So, to whoever is reading this, I urge you to change your perspective on journalism. And, if you are someone who has always looked for different ways to express oneself, maybe journalism isn’t such a bad idea. At the school, there are so many different options to choose from. And I can say that any of these choices is going to create a lifetime of expression for anyone who joins.

FAFSA FALLING BEHIND N E W S changes to student financial aid WRITER SHIV MAJMUDAR | DESIGNER MIA HARRINGTON I n recent months, the federal student aid program, also known as FAFSA, has been struggling. The website, used by students to help with financial issues regarding schooling, is undergoing many problems. This has negatively impacted many students who are using it to advance their education. College is as expensive as ever. It is widely known that tuition to the country’s top universities can cost a lot. Many are experiencing debt due to these high costs, with 43.4 million Americans having federal student loan debt, according to BestColleges. To aid students who are struggling with this issue, FAFSA provides financial aid to students so they can pay for their education. Students can take out loans to help with their education. This aid includes grants, scholarships, work-study funds and loans. In 2020, the US Department of Education began an overhaul of FAFSA, according to Forbes. Because of the major change in technology, issues are expected. The website requires updates, and these updates are taking a lot of time. The implementation date was originally slated for the 2023-24 school year, but it has been pushed forward to the 2024-25 school year. FAFSA is a key financial document and must be submitted on time. This delay has impacted many students and may change the way students go through the long process of applying to college. “FAFSA is important because it allows students to take out loans, making college more affordable and giving aid to those that need it,” senior Mason Herubin said. The program helps many students with the financial burdens that come with education. It is especially helpful to students with low-income families. FAFSA has been used for quite some time, but nowadays, the technological problems the program is dealing with could endanger its future, and as a result of that, the future of many students. When the FAFSA Simplification Act was signed, its goal was to change the nature of FAFSA, expanding eligibility to consider family size and poverty levels. The program gives different levels of aid to students based on the mentioned metrics. To apply for FAFSA, all students must fill out a form. “Filling out the FAFSA form was simple and quick,” senior Alex Hertzfeld said. “It mostly just asked about you and your family’s economic and schooling situation.” However, despite these new changes, there have been significant disruptions to FAFSA. The FAFSA website has also had its share of errors, impacting the accessibility and efficiency of the program. These troubles have impacted students the most. With so many trying to apply for the program, errors on the website affect millions. “I found it bothersome that the FAFSA deadline was so late because it was the only thing incomplete when I was turning in my early decision applications,” Herubin said. But for some, the issues with the FAFSA website have had inadvertent positive effects. “It allows me to focus on college applications and then the FAFSA,” Hertzfeld said. All over the country, the recent issues with FAFSA have troubled students. For some, a financial aid deal can make or break a choice on college. FAFSA can be the gateway to a better future. As of now, the problems have yet to be solved. Perhaps the breakthrough will come soon, but until that day, millions of students will be told to wait and see. 6 FEBRUARY .

TRUMP IN TROUBLE N E W candidate’s ballot updates S WRITER CHAYCE GIDDENS | DESIGNER MIA HARRINGTON | SOURCE NEWSWEEK.COM Former President Donald J. Trump has faced plenty of hardships regarding this upcoming presidential election this fall including many states wanting him to be declared ineligible to be on primary ballots. However, it is still up to the Supreme Court to make this decision. Since 2020, Trump seems to have been under fire many times with the attempts of overturning the 2020 election, the attacks on the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, his four indictments and most recently, this situation. According to BBC, there will be a case held in February in which the Supreme Court justices agreed to take up Trump’s appeal against Colorado removing him from the 2024 ballot in that state. “They will hear on Feb. 8, and they need to make very quick decisions, typically that would be anywhere between three to six months. We don’t have three to six to six months because the primary process has already begun,” AP Government Teacher John Carmichael said. “It really comes down to the 14th amendment section three. And the question the Supreme Court needs to decide is what President Trump did or didn’t do. Section three of the 14th Amendment strictly prohibits individuals who have sworn an oath to support the Constitution and then proceed to engage in insurrection against it while holding public office, according to CBS News. Because of Trump’s questionable track record, it leaves the public wondering about his credibility for being on the ballot and even his eligibility for running for president. “I feel like anyone running for president should be honest and trustworthy,” junior James Moyer said. “The fact that he is even considered for committing offenses should mean that he should not be on the ballot.” As a result of this situation, there is no telling what the future of the ballots will look like. “The worry is that anytime something unprecedented happens, people worry that it will open up a gate to this happening more often anytime someone disagrees with what a candidate has done,” Intervention Specialist Grant Beam said. “Not saying that this isn’t a legitimate concern that people have, I just think that something new is happening like this where there is no historical precedent for, I’m worried that people might become too comfortable with the idea of removing people from ballots. We need to keep in mind that the Constitution needs to be the guiding force in all these, and if there is something in the Constitution that can give guidance that needs to be a primary focus, as opposed to just political rivalries and motivations.” Super Tuesday occurs on March 5, and it is an important day that will shape the outcome of the 2024 election. It’s a day where several states hold primary elections; the way this affects the election is that a candidate could possibly dominate Super Tuesday, but it doesn’t necessarily mean that they will win the general election, according to USA Today. Primaries began on Jan. 15 in Iowa, and due to these circumstances, it adds a lot of challenges to not only the decision making of the Supreme Court, but the timing of what is happening. “It speeds everything up. They have got to have this decided by March 5, which is Super Tuesday, that is where several states have their primaries all in the same day,” Carmichael said. “And voters deserve to know whether Trump is going to be allowed to move forward and be eligible as president. It just makes the Supreme Court speed up on everything.” FEBRUARY 7 . states seeking to kick trump from ballot Colorado Arizona Minnesota Rhode Island Michigan California Maine

WINNING WOMEN S P O R T S breaking athletic gender norms WRITER AVA VALENTIK | DESIGNER MALAK CHAHBOUB | PERMSSION TO PRINT EBSCO I n a world where the cheers of crowds and the idea of competition have long been dominated by men, a new era is emerging, where women are participating, and excelling, in sports traditionally seen as for men. Women athletes are challenging the long-standing gender norms and proving that skill, determination and passion are not limited by gender. Men started playing sports over 15,300 years ago, according to oldest. org, and the first events they competed in were wrestling and running/footraces. In contrast, women didn’t start playing sports until the 1800s, according to Georgia State University. While women have been included in sports for quite some time, there are still hardships and struggles that come with being a female athlete. “I have noticed though some guys when they say they want to target girls blame it on the fact we’re playing in a predominantly male league, but what a lot of people don’t realize is for girls it’s our only option for playing in high school,” senior hockey player Evona Gray said. Orange has been open since 2008, and the hockey team started that year as well. Gray is the first girl in 16 years to be on the school’s hockey team. Gray has played ever since she was 13 and in eighth grade, this season is her fourth. From when the high school opened, until 2018, there was only one female wrestler in the high school program: Sydney Sijan. In 2019, the girls high school varsity program officially launched and had immediate success, rostering over 20 girls. Now, four years later, the program is thriving, according to orangewrestling.com. While the girls wrestling team is doing great now, both on and off the mats, there are still a few things that the female athletes struggle with. “My first ever week wrestling was on a co-ed team, but I was the only girl. Most of the guys refused to drill or practice with me, and the ones who would, kicked my butt because no one would really help me learn the moves. I’ve had plenty of people tell me it’s weird I wrestle or make sexual remarks when I tell them what sport I do. As well as the ‘I’d pin you easily’ kind of comments, of course,” junior varsity wrestler Addi Chevalier said. Sexism has been an issue for hundreds of years now, and surprisingly, sports is one of the places where people see it most. Female athletes get paid less and their games rarely air. These factors make it much harder than it should be for girls to spread awareness about these sexist issues. “There just aren’t a lot of women’s teams or funding for them, so there’s a struggle with getting ice time and lifting if you’ve got a budget. Additionally, playing with guys can be intimidating, along with joining the league at all. It can be hard for some girls to find their place on the team, especially regarding friends/ people they trust,” Gray said. The stigmas attached to female athletes in maledominated sports serve as barriers that lower their participation and recognition. These stigmas are often rooted in traditional gender norms and societal expectations. Some of these stigmas are an underestimation of skill and competence, sexualization and objectification and overall gendered stereotypes. “One of the main things my team does to break stigmas attached to female athletes is to reach out to the younger girls early to show them what we do. Along with that we also do all kinds of things in school, like the in-school dual we had recently,” Chevalier said. As girls like Gray and Chevalier continue to work toward breaking gender barriers, they try to extend advocacy beyond personal accomplishments to influence policy changes, cultural shifts, and additional transformations. The recent calls to act have become the start of change for sports organizations, educational institutions and society to actively address and change the systemic issues of gender inequality. “Media coverage of women’s sports has nearly tripled, according to a recent report by Wasserman. The average share of sports media coverage across broadcasts, streaming, social media and digital publications has risen to 15 percent,” according to Forbes. Hopefully this is just the start of breaking gender barriers in sports for years to come. 8 FEBRUARY .

ON THE MAT S P O R T S the school’s wrestling program WRITER REBEKAH RICHTER | DESGNER MALAK CHAHBOUB | PHOTOS LINCOLN HAKE There is a buzz in the air of the gym as the timer goes off. Right before the buzzer, the referee makes the call that the girl from the other team has successfully been pinned. The home stands cheer as the school has won yet another match. The girls and boys wrestling teams’ seasons are both ongoing throughout the winter at the high school. Both of the teams started their seasons in December. The boys wrestling team competed at Watkins Memorial Invitational, on Jan. 27, with Ben Tong at 126, and Gavin Gaylor at 215, finishing third place. The girls wrestling team beat Marysville 51-28 on Jan. 4 in front of the entire school for a pep rally. The pep rally was a first for the girls team. “It was so exciting,” Nicola said. “I was a little nervous. ... Shawn Andrews [the Marysville coach] was huge with this. He’s one of the best coaches in the state, a future hall of famer. He was gung-ho to bring his girls over here. We’re going to go there next year. I know the Marysville girls are always game, and I thought our girls wrestled awesome. People were excited about it. It was a fun dual,” Head Girls Wrestling Coach said, according to The Columbus Dispatch. As the season progressed, both teams have experienced a lot of growth and highs in their seasons. On Jan. 21, the girls team, which is ranked 23rd nationally, traveled to Canon-McMilan, ranked 13th nationally, and came out with the upset winning 51- 27. “I had a talk with Coach Nicola, and he told me just how special this opportunity was for us not just as a team or program, but as a sport. How he’d been asking for an event [the in-school match] like this for years and how permission was finally granted this year,” girls wrestling Captain junior Lydia Heinrich said. The mental preparation that went into wrestling in front of everyone was just as important to the girls as the actual wrestling itself. For each match, the individual girls scored a certain amount of points related FEBRUARY 9 Freshman wrestler Alanna Smith shakes her opponent’s hands before the in-school girls wrestling match. Freshman Mackenzie Carder wrestles a Marysville opponent. Sophomore Alexandra Riley pinning her opponent during the in-school match on Jan.4. . to their offensive and defensive moves executed, and those points are then put towards the team’s points. “Wrestling in front of the entire school was definitely nerve wracking. I found myself at times dreading it and thinking, what if I lose in front of the entire school? However, the crowd wasn’t as off putting as I expected, and my favorite part was having my friends there to watch me and cheer for me,” Heinrich said. Wrestling is as much of a mental sport as it is a physical sport. The girls wrestling teams practice consists of a lot of conditioning in order to help the girls prepare for their matches. “My biggest challenge I’ve faced is pushing through the tough practices, the losses and the self doubt. All the mental stuff really. But in the end, it’s so worth it,” Heinrich said. Success in the sport demands hard work and dedication.This comes with many challenges, both mental and physical. “My most memorable match was against a kid from Walnut Ridge. It was probably one of the toughest matches I’ve had all year, and I left with a black eye and bruises everywhere,” senior boys wrestler Andrew Ingraham said. Wrestling is often seen for the individual achievements of an athlete. However, there is also a team aspect to wrestling. “It’s your teammates who help you through practice. We grow so close not just because we see each other every day, but because we go through highs and lows together,” Heinrich said. This team aspect is a huge part of why people join wrestling. No matter how wrestlers do in their individual match, athletes still win or lose as a team. “I recommend wrestling to people who are just trying to find a purpose in life. Maybe they won’t end up liking the sport but they’ll definitely leave it with a better understanding of who they are,” Ingraham said.

FROM THE SIDELINES C O L U M N fictional sports become reality COLUMINIST ADAM WELCH | DESIGNER SAVANNA SMITH What once were just words on paper, popular pop culture genres like Harry Potter and Star Wars’ fan bases have evolved their on-screen interests into reality. The most popular of the fictional sports is Quidditch from the Harry Potter series. What started at Middlebury College in 2005 has now evolved to many across America. Although flying is not possible for muggleborn players (a person who lacks any sort of magical ability and was not born in a magical family), the rules go as follows: 1. Quidditch is an intergender played game, with the fictional elements still involved. 2. A volleyball acts as the Quaffle, Bludgers are dodgeballs and the coveted snitch, which must be caught to end the game, is a tennis ball. 3. As far as players, the positions are labeled the same as they are in Rowling’s books, according to chicagotribune.com. While not real (sadly), other fictional sports have been greatly inspired by real-life events, such as Podracing from Star Wars Episode I The Phantom Menace. Podracing was displayed by Anakin Skywalker on the planet Tatooine, which like the name suggests, is galactic modified pods used to race. Podracing shares very similar features to a NASCAR circuit. Like a NASCAR track which is out on a circular lap format, Mos Espa circuit from The Phantom Menace also has a circular layout. And while at first the sight of college kids attempting to play Quidditch might seem strange to the normal eye, one of the world’s oldest sports has even been completely dramatized and faked out. Wrestling, which dates back around 15,000 years, has seen its sport completely revamped with the likes of WWE and AEW wrestling. Both of which are competitions where the fighters aren´t actually hurting each other. In fact, most of the time these fighters don´t even perform real wrestling moves. Instead, one of the main appeals is the fighter’s “character” and microphone skills. Throughout the history of the WWF, now WWE, audiences have mainly been drawn and captivated by the “diva” fighters who make their presence known the most whether it be through their wardrobe attire like Ric Flair or how well they can smack talk like Dwayne ¨The Rock¨ Johnson and CM Punk. People simply love “fake sports”. It doesn´t matter if it’s a simple club event with a dozen people on a college lawn, or World Wrestling Entertainment with its massive TV deals and millions of viewers. Whether it’s on paper or screen people, are fascinated by the idea of new forms of activity and people will always be willing to try them. 10 FEBRUARY . .

FEBRUARY 11 A D S DESIGNER | SAVANNA SMITH

LOVE ACTUALLY Idifferent types of lovWRITERS CAROLINE ALBERT, REBEKAH RICHTER, ABI WYKOFF & CHAYCE GIDDENS | DESIGNER AUDREY SELA 65 year old is sitting on a beach, with her husband she has been with since high school, playing with their children and grandchildren in front of her, and her best friend sitting beside her, all while reminiscing about the relationships she had throughout her life. Throughout all those relationships, there were multiple struggles, yet she somehow managed to find the people she wanted to spend the rest of her life with. She built the relationships through time, effort and communication. High school relationships are sometimes seen by some as short lasting or as relationships that get teens ready for older more mature relationships. However, this isn’t always the case. Some relationships start at a young age, and the couple gets the opportunity to grow up together. “When we were in eighth grade, we were both playing soccer and the girls were cheating due to us losing. I was grabbing his jersey, and he didn’t know who was behind him, so he swung his arm and clotheslined me. I then collapsed, started sobbing and he felt so bad. I made him feel bad about it for a long time. That then turned into cute, little flirting,” English Teacher Elizabeth Stringer said. Relationships take a lot of work and mutual effort in order to have the opportunity to last. Strong and healthy relationships don’t just happen without large amounts of open communication, according to New York State. “We work through struggles in our relationship by talking things through and compromising when we have an issue that comes up. We either do this or bring problems we have before it becomes a big issue,” Junior Skylar Dean said. Dean has been in a relationship for a year. Working together and compromising is a huge part of any healthy mutual relationship. It is especially important when someone is sharing a part of their life with someone like they do in a romantic relationship. Working together and listening to each other takes a lot of communication and dedication. This open communication builds trust, according to New York State. “One way we maintain a strong relationship is by trusting each other and by listening to the other person. We also talk positively about each other when talking to our friends or when one of us isn’t around. This is something that I value a lot,” Dean said. This doesn’t change as a relationship continues over time. Relationships deepen as the couple spends more time with each other and learns more about each other. A partner has to want to put the work in and have a mutual respect for a significant other and that relationship in order for the relationship to work. “We have different personalities and different hobbies but there are enough things that we both love. We make sure we prioritize things that we both enjoy so we then can do those things together. Finding ways to enjoy things that the other person likes to do is important,” Stringer said. Relationships that start in high school and even middle school can last for very long periods of time when two people are committed to each other and willing to grow and learn together. Stringer has been in a relationship with her husband from high school for nearly 17 years. “Relationships should be work, but they 12 C O V E R FEBRUARY

IS ALL AROUND ve and relationships LSOR FEBRUARY13 C O V E R friendships are also one of the longest lasting friendships a person can experience and demand a lot of hard work and dedication. These long-lasting connections can lead to a deep connection paralleling no other. “She [Kaitlyn] understands a lot of where I’m coming from and experiences that I’ve had with my husband, while I am able to tell him about, he didn’t get to experience those with me. So, the fact that we understand each other so well really provides me extra and additional support,” Spanish Teacher Alexandra Tony said. This connection is not only held between adult friendships but also in youth or teenage friendships. The friendships in one’s youth are extremely important for this developmental stage in one’s life according to the Society for Research in Child Development. “It’s really important, especially for teens, because this is the age where you’re starting to break away from your family and begin to be more independent while finding out what you value as a person. And friends can have a huge impact on that,” Human Relationships Teacher Jasmine Reilly said. But throughout time, it can seem hard to keep these positive relationships because no friendship is perfect. It can be hard to stay close with someone but not impossible. “I was able to stay so close with her because we put in equal amounts of effort into the friendship. We would both reach out and ask to talk, hang out and plan things,” sophomore Riley Brooks said about one of her best friends. A relationship can only be as healthy as the communication in which it is built on according to Grand Canyon University. Getting through hardships relies heavily on healthy communication. To work out issues, “We usually send a message to the other person asking them why they did something the way they did, to make sure that it doesn’t come across as aggressive and to ensure that we can fully work it all out,” Brooks said. Once someone realizes their compatibility with someone else, it can create a friendship stronger than most others. percent of couples who go through this find it beneficial to their relationship, according to a study done by Well Marriage. “My relationship advice is to find someone who you can see valuing you in the long run for who you are as a person, as well as someone who will take time to do the things that you’re interested in,” Dean said. Healthy relationships take a lot of hard work, communication, dedication and trust. These things all develop as people learn about each other and see what their significant other values in life. However, this not only applies to romantic relationships. Lasting childhood shouldn’t be so much work where you don’t find joy in them as well. Going in knowing that every day that you are with that person you are choosing to be with that person and willing to put in the work with that person,” Stringer said. Most people who do date in high school mimic other relationships that they are around. They learn from the relationships between their parents or older siblings who have been in romantic relationships. However, each relationship is unique and cannot be defined by the relationships of other people and this is why numerous couples go to marriage counseling. It is proven that around 70-90

Mr. Guhis faAlexandra and Kaitlyn “When we were in high school, we would see each other every day, so you don’t really talk about deep stuff; we would just talk about boys, clothes and dances. But now as we’re getting older, we’re talking about our mental health and what’s going on with our families,” Tony said. Friendships aren’t always easy; rough patches are common. This struggle can become even more difficult and apparent as one gets older, and the world seems to speed up. “People at this point have spouses or kids, and life just gets busier. So sometimes the thought of looking for a friend goes out the window,” Reilly said. Hardships aren’t uncommon, and they aren’t only found when looking for friendships, but also occur when a friendship is established. Being so mentally connected with someone leads to much vulnerability, but this isn’t a weakness, it’s a way to grow, according to the LA Concierge Psychologist website. “People are messy, and people make mistakes. So even though friendship is so necessary for people to be mentally, physically and emotionally healthy, because we are around people who are imperfect, we are going to be hurt by our friends because they are also figuring out life in general,” Reilly said. Using these relationships as learning experiences is a vital part of one’s individual growth. “Part of the risk of being close to someone is being hurt by those people, but friendship also teaches us forgiveness and resilience, and it teaches us how to think about others more than ourselves,” Reilly said. The risk of this pain doesn’t compare to the possible rewards. “Having someone who knows me so well is really rare. Even my husband doesn’t know certain aspects of my life that my best friend understands because she grew up with me,” Tony said. Friendships are one of the most significant c o n n e c t i o n s t h r o u g h o u t someone’s life, having the ability to last a lifetime. While one’s friends may not be the first people to come to mind when someone talks about love, they’re some of the most vital. A n o t h e r common type of love, that can often be taken for granted, is the love between a parent and child. The love between a parent and a child relationship can be unconditional, meaning that the two can show and express their love and affection with no limitations. Love plays a big role in the parent-child dynamic while giving each person loads of responsibility. According to VeryWellMind, experts don’t focus on what contributes to “normal” child development, but the fact that there are various factors that might lead to psychological problems during childhood. This is why in order to have a strong relationship, both the parent and the child should set clear boundaries, to let each other know what they are and what they aren’t comfortable with. “I have three kids and my youngest is a junior at Orange. I believe in rules, I believe in respect, and I always tell my kids that respect is a two-way street, to receive you have to give,” Attendance Secretary and parent Carol Beechey said. “Boundaries are very important. 14 C O V E R FEBRUARY Characteristics of Different Friendships ParCloseness Understanding Respect Support Honesty Source: Very Well Mind CommitPriority AppreciUnderstEmpathSource: Life H

use and amily Skylar and Ben FEBRUARY15 C O V E R is what can also provide both parties to know how to communicate with each other better in the future. “It would be very important to talk and listen to one another; the most important part is to listen to what that person has to say,” Carol Beechey said. According to PsychCentral, if the parent is encouraging, then the child is most likely to build trust; a lot of times, children are more inclined to trust someone who is consistent, which means that the parent should follow through with different things and learn how to take responsibility. “We build our trust by keeping each other updated with what’s going on and not lying to each other because I know I don’t like lying to my mom,” Chloe Beechey said. “I know that I don’t have to lie to her about something and keeping her trust is what builds the relationship for us.” In all, love in a parent-child dynamic is something that is very crucial to a child’s upbringing and their growth. And in order for this relationship to prosper, both the parent and the child need to be in the moment, remain honest with one another and overall, take the time to bond with each other. There are a lot of people to be grateful for during this Valentine’s Day season. The holiday does not just have to be about the love that is depicted in the media, but the love that people experience in everyday life. So, as The Prime Minister says in Love Actually, “If you look for it, I’ve got a sneaky feeling you’ll find that love actually is all around.” that could be sensitive to one another, for example: relationships with other people.” In a parent’s position, the parent should show their love through warmth, support, acceptance and in many other ways. Giving this to their child allows them to understand what it is like to be loved and how to properly show that love to someone or something else. “We show love by being s u p p o r t i v e , not necessarily agreeing with e v e r y t h i n g that the kid says, but at least emphasizing with their desire to do things or have things that they can’t n e c e s s a r i l y have,” Science Teacher Kevin Guse said. “And also spend as much time with them as you can.” In this type of relationship, there are going to be times where there are disagreements and conflicts; they can rise into something big and affect both parties, or other times it can be something small. Still, knowing how to navigate or how to get past the disagreement A lot of parents have to remember it’s a mother-child relationship and not a friendchild relationship, so I think that’s where boundaries and rules are super important.” The bond in a parent-child relationship depends heavily on the closeness between them and their comfort, which will also affect how they communicate with each other. This factor is what pushes the parent and the child to be more open, and it leads to a more healthy connection. “We’re pretty close, we talk about everything,” junior Chloe Beechey, daughter of Carol Beechey said. “But obviously we keep our distance when it comes to certain topics . Types of Relationships ents Significant Others tment ation tanding y Hope & Truth Source: Mind Body Green Respect Vulnerability Trust Kindness Empathy

16 T H E S C E N E FEBRUARY Junior Keegan Knupp prepares to shoot during the basketball game against Olentangy Liberty. Luckily, the team won the game 42-45. “My favorite part about Orange basketball is the time connecting with my teammates and building bonds. I look forward to playing with my friends and having a good time doing it,” Knupp said. . THE SCENE WRITER LILLY WOOD | DESIGNER LILLY WOOD

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VISIONBOARD F E A T U R E DESIGNER ZION CLIFTON welcome 2024 18 FEBRUARY GOOD GRADES LOWER SCREEN TIME TRAVEL

lockdown, according to Fox News. “This is an emphasis on female friendships. I think we’re just setting aside the time for female friendships,” Stringer said. In the original Parks and Recreation episode, Galentine’s day is celebrated with waffles and lots of gift-giving (states National Today). Today this holiday is celebrated across a vast array of activities. “Usually we just get dinner or brunch, or there was one year where we went to North market together and then the Book Loft. So we really just try to do something fun together,” Stringer said. Ideas for celebrating definitely vary between people, but they’re all about one thing: celebrating female friendships. “This year we are going to one of my friends’ houses and we are just going to hangout, just to celebrate each other,” Gulati said. Some other celebration recommendations include karaoke, baking, playing board games, and watching movies, according to the Cosmopolitan. This year “we will probably get brunch, we really like getting brunch at this place called High Bank and then we will probably go thrifting afterward,” Stringer said. Columbus on the Cheap has other suggestions to celebrate, from making cookies at CupCakery to yoga at the Grandview Public Library. They also recommend trying out The Melting Pot for some good food. “There are lots of events in the upcoming weeks to celebrate your love of friendship,” according to Comlumbus on the Cheap. No matter how or with whom you celebrate, be sure to appreciate the bonds of female friendship in your life this Valentine’s season. GALENTINE’S DAY C U L T U R E WRITER ABI WYKOFF | DESIGNER ZION CLIFTON February is the month of love, with chocolates and roses on every store shelf. It’s hard not to attribute this month to the celebration of significant others and romance. But in recent years, a more popularized shift to celebrating the connections in female friendships has emerged. Celebrated on Feb. 13, Galentine’s Day is the new precursor to Valentine’s Day. The term “‘galentine’ was first introduced to the world during a February 2010 episode of “Parks and Recreation”, according to Fox29 News. Galentine’s day is a new fan favorite, but what exactly does this newly popularized term mean? According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, Galentine’s Day is a “day for women to celebrate their friendships with their lady friends.” This unofficial holiday has struck many heartstrings with its message of the importance of friendship. “There is research that says that if you have a core group of female friends there are benefits to both your mental and physical health. So just dedicating some time to that is a good thing,” English teacher Elizabeth Stringer said. Celebrating friendship has become an important tradition to both youth and adults alike. “It is important to celebrate with your friends and enjoy the love that you share with them,” sophomore Saanvi Gulati said. The celebration of female friendships peaked after the Covid-19 epidemic. This epidemic caused a growth in the community that was forced to occur when everyone was in FEBRUARY 19 . celebrating female friendships

CAFFEINE KILLS F E A T U R E dangers of caffeinated beverages WRITER SHIV MAJMUDAR | DESIGNER LINCOLN HAKE Many students across the nation see caffeine as a natural stimulant to keep them awake. During the groggy first few hours of the morning or when the clock is reaching midnight and assignments are pending, many need a cup to keep them going. Nowadays, it’s easy to mangle the body’s circadian rhythm with any sort of sweet drink. But some of these beverages have unintended consequences. Recently, an Ivy League Student named Sarah Katz tragically passed away after drinking a Panera Bread lemonade with 390 milligrams of caffeine, according to NBC News. The amount of caffeine was not known by customers. While Katz’s preexisting heart condition caused her death, experts say that too much caffeine can lead to problems in all students. “Caffeine is discouraged for adolescents,” school nurse Kara Haney said. “But the majority of the literature reviewed suggests that typical, moderate caffeine consumption is relatively safe.” It isn’t unusual for students to rely on energy drinks such as Monster Energy or Red Bull to stay awake. After all, caffeine has been used by humans as a stimulant for years. From every truck driver to businessman to doctor – everyone is on caffeine. It is the most commonly used psychoactive substance in the world, according to the National Institute of Health. But the question is, is there such a thing as too much? “Higher doses of caffeine can cause harm,” Haney said. “Especially in particular subgroups of children, such as those with psychiatric or cardiac conditions.” It turns out, yes. As with any other substance, caffeine has significant downsides. Many adults refrain from drinking caffeine entirely to stay awake, citing restlessness and jitters as a main reason. These are just two negative side effects of caffeine, according to Mediline. Other such effects include headache, insomnia, dizziness and even cardiac arrest. While caffeine is not recommended for children at all, the debate of whether it should be consumed by teenagers continues. According to UT Physicians, children 17 and under should limit their caffeine intake to 100 milligrams or less – which, in case anyone is wondering, is equivalent to one cup of coffee. This is because teens are more sensitive to caffeine. Nevertheless, it is common to see teenagers sip energy drinks and coffee in the morning – beverages that contain way more than the safe amount recommended for them. Many say that a lack of sleep causes them to use caffeine to wake up in the morning and stay up late at night. “Caffeine has helped me a lot during the day, and it keeps me focused,” sophomore Harshith Paul said. “But it has had noticeable effects on my sleep.” Experts say that addiction to caffeine in teenagers is unhealthy. The 100-milligram limit is widely accepted by most pediatricians. But still, many teenagers are having more caffeine than they should. According to Michigan Medicine, a study in 2014 said that roughly 73 percent of kids consume caffeine each day. According to News Medical, caffeine may even negatively impact focus at school. Along with the previously mentioned negative health effects, doctors are firm that teenagers should limit their consumption. “More attention is being paid to the potential adverse effect of caffeine,” Haney said. “Additional regulations surrounding the sale and marketing of highly caffeinated drinks are now being considered.” Although Sarah Kratz’s death was tragic and rare, it is a reminder that substances – even legal ones – should be treated with caution. Teenagers who cycle through energy drinks may be harming their health in the short term and the long term. Although caffeine is far from dangerous, it is advised by doctors that teenagers limit their consumption. 20 FEBRUARY . “Caffeine has helped me a lot during the day, and it keeps me focused,” sophomore Harshith Paul said. “But it has had noticeable effects on my sleep.” “Higher doses of caffeine can cause harm,” Haney said. “Especially in particular subgroups of children, such as those with psychiatric or cardiac conditions.”

WILD ABOUT WILCOX F E A T U R E getting to know corbin WRITER NICK WOOLARD | DESIGNER LINCOLN HAKE | PHOTO MAKENNA SHRAGER Every high school is filled with students with different interests and personalities. Olentangy Orange is no different, with a vast array of completely unique students. One of those students is senior Corbin Wilcox. Wilcox is a 17-year-old student at the school. Wilcox is very well known throughout the hallways, with a bright and energetic personality that nobody seems to miss. “I don’t know how I would describe my personality, but I try to be funny and talkative type beat,” Wilcox said. “Most others would probably describe me as funny, loud, annoying or weird.” And while a lot of people might find this energetic personality to be annoying, a lot of it may be misunderstood. It is truly hard to know someone without actually meeting them. “Corbin’s personality is definitely rambunctious, and awe inspiring, yet at his core he values a lot of super relevant and controversial topics,” senior Liam Lundy said. “He views the world in a very practical sense while enjoying testing societal limits. People need to look deeper than his stunts, and you will find a very intelligent and caring individual.” Lundy is one of Corbin’s close friends. They met in the beginning of middle school, and they have grown into very close friends over the past years. Throughout these years, Lundy has really been able to truly know Wilcox. Wilcox’s personality truly shines in the way he expresses himself. Whether it be the dresses and skirts he wears to school, or his passionate art projects, Wilcox loves to put himself and his passion out in the world. “I am pretty passionate about art. It’s a great way to express yourself, and it also gives meaning in a kind of meaningless world,” Wilcox said. “Everyone should engage in some type of art.” This passion is so strong that Wilcox is hoping to do more with art when he is older. “I want to do something very creative when I am a big adult boy,” Wilcox said. Outside of school, Wilcox has many things that he enjoys doing. Whether it be with his close friends, or people he doesn’t know, he always manages to stay entertained. “Outside of school, despite what a lot of people may think, Corbin is a much more laid back and seemingly sane person. He is much less crazy and enjoys normal hobbies like hanging out with friends and walking around talking to random people,” Lundy said. Wilcox gets a lot of his personality and traits from his family. Both his mother and father have a lot that they have been able to give him. “My dad is a lot like me, but less loud and adventurous, and slightly more philosophical and chill. My mom is a teacher at Lincoln Elementary School, and she is very caring, responsible and has a large vocabulary,” Wilcox said. He also has a dog named Sherman. His father, especially, is one of his largest role models. A lot of the ways his father acts reflects the way Wilcox wishes to be. “My biggest role model is probably my dad. Although I don’t want to end up like him, I admire his philosophical thinking and his ability to block out other people’s opinions,” Wilcox said. All of these traits, when combined together, create the unique, special and vibrant personality of Wilcox that many people see throughout their day. Even when people judge him, he manages to still be who he wants to be. “I’d say what makes Corbin special is his ability to hold no shame for his outrageous acts, and viewing nobody differently prior to their own defining actions,” Lundy. Wilcox also encourages others to be like him, making sure that nobody is too serious and that we should be kind to those we may not like. “I would like to say we could probably all afford to be a little more idiotic and obnoxious occasionally because we’re all going to die. We should also all be at least cautiously compassionate toward humans we don’t like,” Wilcox said. FEBRUARY 21 . Senior Corbin Wilcox and his mother, Jenny, on marching band senior night.

GOING THE DISTANCE F E A T U R E how space affects relationships WRITER ABBY KUILAN | DESIGNER ELLA KIRK | PERMISSION TO PRINT BOBBY DREXEL boyfriend for a year and a half. Significant others not only have to commit to be loyal but also commit their time and care for the other person while not being in close proximity to them, which can be emotionally draining. “It helps you build a sense of trust with your partner because you’re not going to know what they’re doing every day, and that’s OK,” Urmson said. Having a long-distance relationship would definitely be taxing on the people in it, especially incoming freshmen in college. For some people, it might be too much work to think about and provide small acts of love for someone far away while also juggling their new schedule. “It’s a lot of time spent on the phone so maintaining the emotional connection is key. Being in different time zones can be tricky as well. For six months, my husband was six hours ahead of me so scheduling when to talk wasn’t always easy,” Haynes said. Planning when the couple will see each other next helps continue the relationship positively and subdues the feelings of loneliness and hopelessness. “It’s always difficult to be in a longdistance relationship when you can’t see the other person. I’d say that’s the worst part. In the summer, we would see each other multiple times a week. So, just for it to change at a snap of the finger, it sucks, and it was difficult,” Drexel said. While of course there are some serious downsides to a longdistance relationship, it should be comforting to know that if the couple has a relationship built on trust, communication and commitment with the right person, they can make it through anything together. “It helps you know that if I can love this person from 10 hours away that I can love them when they’re right next to me,” Urmson said. “If you can survive that you can survive anything.” 22 FEBRUARY . I t’s that time of year again when acceptance letters start rolling in for current seniors, and it seems like each one holds a path to their future. It’s also that time of year where seniors have to think about going out of state and having to say goodbye to their loved ones while they’re at college. Particularly, seniors in relationships will have a hard time choosing whether to continue as a long-distance relationship or just end it by the start of the next school year. About 75 percent of college students in the United States were once in a long-distance relationship while around 25-50 percent of them are still in one, according to CNN news. When bringing up the topic of long-distance relationships, most people seem to believe that they never work out and are never healthy. But there are many exceptions to this stereotype. “For me, being in a long-distance relationship was hard financially because you had to travel back and forth a lot between places, and it’s costly. It’s also very lonely because you are not readily able to do all the things couples do, such as going out to eat or going on dates,” French Teacher Sarah Haynes said about her relationship with her husband, Social Studies Teacher Kevin Haynes. For a healthy long-distance relationship, good communication is absolutely a necessity. Because people can’t see their partners every day or every month, there needs to be strong communication between the two of them to try and make up for the fact of not being close. “It has forced both of us to step up in multiple aspects of our relationship, like communication and trust,” senior Bobby Drexel said. Drexel is in a relationship with 2023 graduate Kayla Sucharski, who is a freshman in college. Commitment is a major part of being in a successful longdistance relationship, whether the people are in college or having a job. “I would say the hardest part is making sure that your other things that are going on in your life aren’t causing you to lose focus in your relationship,” Student teacher Morgan Urmson said. She has been in a long-distance relationship with her Senior Bobby Drexel and his girlfriend Kayla Sucharski before homecoming.

PARTI GRAS C U L T U R E the carnival of celebration WRITER NATHAN STATEN | DESIGNER ELLA KIRK Mardi Gras. French for Fat Tuesday is a holiday that takes place every February. The holiday is celebrated with carnivals and food throughout the week leading up and day of the holiday. This year Mardi Gras is on Tuesday, Feb. 13. Mardi Gras has Christian origins with its alternative name being Shrove Tuesday. Serving as a mark of the last day before Lent and the day before Ash Wednesday and the start of Lent for the six weeks leading up to Easter. One of the most infamous Mardi Gras foods is “King’s Cake”, a circular cake with cinnamon and coffee elements. It can sometimes be enhanced with fruit fillings and flavorings as well. “There are some fun traditions that go with Mardi Gras that those who don’t really celebrate the holiday might enjoy. One is the eating of a King Cake, which has a small trinket hidden inside. The person who gets the piece of the cake with the trinket inside is crowned the King/Queen for the day! It is also a celebration full of fun, parades, music, food, friends, and family,” french teacher Larissa Sauder said. The cake’s name comes from the Biblical story of the three kings bringing gifts for baby Jesus. The cake is almost always colored to represent different Christian values. White for faith, purple for justice and royalty, gold for prosperity and wealth and green representing growth. Most Kings Cakes often are a mixture of all these colors. The holiday started in France when French Christians on Shrove Tuesday would consume lots of fatty and sweet foods in preparation for the fasting of Lent and Ash Wednesday. Thus, leading to the nickname Fat Tuesday or Mardi Gras according to Britannica. Because Mardi Gras’ French origins and ties, the holiday is now celebrated primarily in areas with deep French connections like New Orleans. However, Mardi Gras is still celebrated by a lot of people in Columbus. Senior Karthik Maduposu is a member of the French Club and a frequent celebrater of Mardi Gras. “People who love food and partying would really enjoy celebrating Mardi Gras,” Maduposu said. Eating special food is how he celebrates the holiday. “Really enjoy eating lots of good food and seeing other people’s posts on social media with their celebrations. My favorite food to eat during Mardi Gras is fried rice with ground beef and onions mixed in. It’s called dirty rice in Louisiana,” Maduposu said. French Club member junior Grant Beer enjoys celebrating and observing Mardi Gras. “All the deserts and sweets are really unique and good. My favorite meal is Jambalaya with meat and vegetables. It’s something that’s pretty easy to make at home if you want to celebrate it (Mardi Gras) from your home,” Beer said. For one reason or another, many Columbus residents don’t consider Mardi Gras to be an essential holiday in the city. “I wish more young people in Columbus would take part in it (Mardi Gras). It’s a really fun and easy holiday to get into that I just don’t think has clicked with a lot of people who would really enjoy it,” Beer said. He celebrates the holiday by viewing and spreading Mardi Gras media online. “I just like reposting (Mardi Gras) related content and eating French food. I also watch videos on (Mardi Gras) parades and celebrations in cities where it’s bigger,” Beer said. FEBRUARY 23 .

CUT THE CAMERAS O P I N I O N controversy behind family influencers WRITER MOLLY SULLIVAN | DESIGNER NATALIA FAVILA INACUA 24 FEBRUARY . REC 00:00:12 While scrolling on any social media, whether it’s Youtube, Tiktok, or even Instagram, it has become quite hard to avoid family vloggers: the stereotypical, seemingly ‘perfect’ families filming almost every step of raising their children on camera. Most family influencers make similar content, and this usually consists of challenges, pranks, Q&A videos, vlogs, and other viral trends. The vast majority of family influencers are extremely problematic, and their young children should not be exposed to the internet with all the negativity that comes with it. Several of these families post content that is extremely exploitative towards their kids and is an overall invasion of the privacy of their children. The root of most of the issues that come with posting content of children on social media is the fact that they are unable to consent. And while the parents can give their consent, the children are likely to not understand what it truly means to their current lives and their futures. A few channels get extra personal, filming their children in moments that should normally be kept private. These moments include their mistakes, their breakdowns or tantrums, and other moments that could create an embarrassing digital footprint for their children in the future. An example of this type of oversharing content creator is ‘The LaBrant Fam’ on Youtube, an extremely popular channel with 15 million subscribers. The family consists of husband and wife Cole and Savannah LaBrant and their four children; Everleigh, Zealand, Posie, and Sunday. Regarding the potential for cancer diagnosis for one of their children, the family made one of their most controversial videos. The LaBrants created a false impression in the minds of their viewers by titling the video “She got diagnosed with cancer (A documentary),” even though she had not received a diagnosis. Using something like childhood cancer as clickbait is disgusting and extremely exploitative. Fans shared this opinion, and the family received tons of backlash. Another questionable vlog the LaBrants created was a prank video where they told their daughter Everleigh that they would be giving her dog away. The video shows Everleigh hiding her face from the camera and crying as they explain why they are giving it away. This video has since been deleted, but once posted online it will never truly go away. It will inevitably be accessible somehow if someone wants to find it, even when these children grow older. The worst of the worst of family vloggers was named ‘8 Passengers’, starting in 2015 consisting of the now arrested mother Ruby Franke, her husband, and their six children. At the channel’s peak, it reached about two million followers. Franke’s most criticized video highlighted her harsh parenting styles. In one video, she was threatening her sons they would ‘lose their privilege to eat dinner’ if they continued playing, and talking about how her 6-year-old daughter should have to go hungry after forgetting to bring her lunch to school. In early 2023, one of Franke’s kids escaped home, malnourished and allegedly wounded. According to CBS News, to follow, Ruby Franke was arrested on four counts of aggravated child abuse. This is just a few examples of the insane content that many of these families produce, but there have been several other instances of sketchy content produced about children. The world of family vlogging demands an examination of its impact on privacy and the well-being of individuals involved. It is extremely important to be conscious of the ethical considerations surrounding family vlogs. “The world of family vlogging demands an examination of its impact on privacy and the well-being of individuals involved.”

RANKING R MANCE O P I N I O N valentine’s day watchlist WRITER REEMA MOHAMED RAFIQ | DESIGNER NATALIA FAVILA INACUA FEBRUARY 25 . #1: 10 THINGS I HATE ABOUT YOU One of the rom-coms on the list is, “10 Things I Hate About You”, and this movie is a well-known classic rom-com. I went in, not expecting much from a movie filmed in 1999, but I was quickly proven wrong. The plotline is basic, but the acting and portrayal of the basic black-and-white characters were perfect. The movie starts with a new male student, who wants to date the typical pretty girl, but her father bans her and her twin sister from dating. This punishment leads to the new guy plotting to get the twin sister to date, by using the rich kid and a “delinquent” kid. In the end, the new kid does get the twin sister to date the delinquent, and they eventually really fall in love, while the new kid also gets the popular girl. Now while this was a basic enemies-to-lovers story, it hit all the spots of a rom-com, by making me laugh out loud several times, while also portraying a realistic romance, therefore making it first on my ranking, with 5 stars. #2: PURPLE HEARTS Second on my list was, “Purple Hearts”. This had an enjoyable troupe: a fake marriage as well as enemies to lovers. Diabetic and singer, Cassie Salazar works to make ends meet. One day she approaches her Marine friend with the idea of a fake marriage so she can get health insurance but is ultimately rejected. However, they both soon get married, due to financial issues, his being that he owed a man drug money. Morrow is deployed and they keep up the marriage ruse and form a shaky bond. Morrow gets injured, and the two move in together; they maintain the fake marriage until the drug dealer sends a sign that he wants the money from Morrow. Soon, the fake marriage is outed, and Morrow pleads guilty and lies to protect Salazar. On the day Morrow goes to jail, Salazar confesses her love for him, and they make the marriage real. This troupe was perfectly played out, and the acting portrayed #3: TO ALL THE BOYS I’VE LOVED BEFORE Third on my list was, “To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before”. This movie was pure rom-com; it portrayed the much-needed romance cringe and comedy, and as a book reader, it was a good adaptation. The character development of the male love interest, Peter Kavinsky, was very nice to watch, as he went from using LaraJean Covey, the main character, to get back at his ex-girlfriend, to loving Covey. The movie also has several realistic elements of having toxic exes, and relationship issues and showing what first-time relationships look like. Personally, it will be a classic that I watch often, and it also deserves four stars. #4: CHOOSE LOVE In fourth place is, “Choose Love”. It generated a lot of hype being an interactive romance movie where we could help pick the guy that the main character, Cami Conway, ended up with. I particularly didn’t enjoy this movie that much, I felt like all three male characters had their own agenda with the main character, each one representing a slice of the life she wanted, which I didn’t like. I also wouldn’t say I liked how one choice immediately made one guy the final choice, which was annoying at the same time. However, I did like how the watchers had some control over what was happening, and it was a different experience from watching a normal movie, I would give it 3 stars. good feelings of dislike, coupled with the feeling of care which gradually leads to love. The movie also has a nice balance of portraying both of their realistic financial issues. The movie did a very good job also showing how not every couple is all sunshine and rainbows but shows how couples fight. Overall, this movie was a solid four stars, and it balanced all the aspects of a good rom-com. To get into the month of love, here’s a personal ranking of a few popular rom-coms, and my take on them. Overall, my final ranking is based on my interests and likes, but all four movies portrayed romance realistically while also keeping the carefree romance element. I would recommend any one of these movies to get into the Valentine’s mood or to just watch for fun.

According to Business Insider, experts believe lockdowns led to children not being able to deal with conflict and awkwardness because they’ve had such little experience with those types of situations. Children have begun to avoid such situations possibly leading to lower emotional intelligence and maturity. Additionally, children’s friendships through online gaming spiked dramatically over the pandemic. Many of these “friends” kids have met online, they’ve never met in person and neither have their parents, according to Morning Consult. This leaks into the next cause: unrestricted access to the online world. The so-called “friends” that kids could be making while online gaming could likely be exposing them to older, adult material if the games themselves already aren’t. When a 10 year old plays online with a 15 year old, the 10 year old can be exposed to vocabulary and jokes of teenagers, leading to knowledge of topics like sex, drugs or alcohol at a much earlier age. This is a more common occurrence than one might think as 24 percent of Generation Alpha parents report their kids have online friends that they’ve never met in person, according to Morning Consult. Naturally, parents and experts have begun to realize the dangers of unlimited access to the internet, and they have begun to overprotect their kids so much to the point they’re actually harming their kids, according to Business Insider. Parents have become so scared of their children being exposed to inappropriate content that they have limited their socialization to much smaller amounts than what is considered healthy or normal. This problem causes children to be unable to deal with various social situations, like what was discussed previously with the pandemic. Ultimately, it’s clear that kids growing up too fast is not only harming others but it’s also harming the kids as well. Parents need to start setting limitations to their kids’ internet access and encouraging them to participate in other social activities. ACT YOUR AGE O P I N I O N the oldest young generation WRITER LUNA PEREZ DELGADO | DESIGNER & ILLUSTRATOR MACKENNA MILLER Lilly, like any average teenage girl, is in Sephora browsing makeup and skincare products. She expected to walk into a fun, welcoming environment with other teenage and young adult girls. Instead, she walked into a warzone. Pre-teens plagued the store throwing tantrums and causing scenes about not getting the $300 worth of products that they want. Sephora was once a safe place for teenagers and young adults like Lilly to wander the aisles and shop for their beauty and relaxation needs. Now, it has been overtaken by spoiled pre-teens spending hundreds of dollars on products they won’t need until they’re 25 years old. These occurrences have become so common that witnesses and victims of these tantrums are now a widely popular discussion topic on TikTok. However, “Sephora Kids” aren’t the only childrelated concern plaguing TikTok discussions. A similar discussion issue relating to kids includes “iPad kids”. Children with unrestricted access to the internet and its adult content. Sephora pre-teens and “iPad kids” are suffering from the same issues: they lack basic empathy and maturity. This problem is caused by their overexposure to adult content from the internet. When these kids have access to content intended for adults such as skincare or makeup reviews or suggestive and inappropriate jokes, it becomes something they want to be part of despite not being able to understand it yet. This phenomenon is now referred to by many as “kids getting older younger” (KGOY) by taking part in adult markets and product consumption even though it’s not yet meant for them. Kids growing up too fast is harmful for a variety of behavioral and childhood development reasons. Apart from the obvious contributor of unrestricted internet access, KGOY has also been caused by the pandemic and overprotective parenting practices by millennials. 26 FEBRUARY .

STAYING CURRENT C O L U M N trends causing overconsumption COLUMNIST VALENTINA URABEZ | DESIGNER LILLY WOOD FOMO, or the fear of missing out, is a surprisingly strong ruler of the mind. As it propels people, especially teenagers, further into a state of anxiousness, they turn to the most available outlet: the internet. Overconsumption is a tricky battle as its ties to consumerism and media consumption can’t be forced apart. The “fear of missing out” and the incessant need to buy are married to each other and brands need for their audience to be as addicted to their worries, as they are to their profit. Overconsumption triumphs in many forms, such as media or physical products. Both always influence the other, and the most recent example has to be the Stanley epidemic. “23-year-old woman arrested over 65 stolen Stanley drinking cups,” according to ABC News. To camp outside Targets like there’s a Black Friday event or open seating at a concert is beyond my understanding. I, myself, have fallen victim to several cute reusable water bottles; that will never change. But, they’ve been reasonably under the $25 mark, where Stanley’s are valued at a $45 minimum and beyond, for them to be resold for hundreds of dollars to the next vulnerable person who desperately needs their water chilled in a tall beige thermos. Limited edition labels also create a sense of urgency that tricks people into thinking they need something. Cases much like the one on ABC are on the rise and as stated by a fellow Stanley fanatic, “I think it’s just the chase, you know. Five or six are used regularly, while the others sit on her shelf ‘looking pretty,’” according to USA Today. People buy them and turn to social media to showcase their new cup, offering free advertisements to keep the brands they’re loyal to rolling in money. Stanley is an easy example to pick on with this issue though, considering how women are now seen on TikTok laminating their Stanley cup labels to keep them forever. Products are directly tied with popularity, and with the presence of the internet, popularity becomes a synonym for necessity. FOMO is a money drain quickly seeping into the minds of kids who grew up with the internet as more than just a distraction. Everybody laughs at the growing idea of “Sephora 10 year olds,” but when they try and force a $900 purchase on unsuspecting parents, according to People.com, that laughter is quickly snuffed out. The issue of media overconsumption alone is turned on parents once it translates to the minds of children. The need for “things” can just as easily be traced back to unfulfillment. Money is spent where it doesn’t necessarily need to be for instant gratification. Much like in the mind of an addict, that first dopamine release after buying something new is never as high again. Once the temporary fix of shopping has faded, people turn back to see what else they might need to cure them. They then spend hours of their lives sifting through content, to spend even more because it just might work that time. I myself fall victim to “doom scrolling” often, and by the end of it there’s always a feeling of wastefulness. The cycle of posting and finding new places to spend spins harder the more people get lost in the trends. FEBRUARY27 . w it h v a l e nt i n a

DESIGNER | MAKENNA SHRAGER “Loved you yesterday, love you still, always have, always will,” ELAINE DAVIS