THE COURIERHEALTH IN THE HEADLINES2840 East Orange Rd, Lewis Center, OH 18 | HOLIDAY HAPPENINGSfestive activities in columbus19 | MISLEADING MACROSthe push for proteinNOVEMBER VOLUME 18 | ISSUE 3diabetes and epilepsy awareness
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TABLE OF CONTENTStable of contents | staffcover designer rylee bokesch | table of contents designer sakara rossWRITING EDITORS IN CHIEFabby kuilanabi wykoffSECTION EDITORSSTAFFkelsey beattygeorgia browningmalak chahboubava pazaktori de penataylor guzekava mejiasophia robinsongrant ruofcarter shillingabigail simmonselijah smiessavanna smithDESIGN EDITORS IN CHIEFsakara rossrylee bokeschaudrey del vecchiocate woolardkeira dicksonlyla biceBUSINESS MANAGERSaudrey del vecchiotenley walkerCOPY EDITORStenley walkerdelaney newellCOLUMNISTSshiv majmudaraudrey del vecchiocate woolardkari phillipsADVISER17 | PROFILEa look at senior lucas !ckel’s 2025 football season14 | SCENEorange football’s second round playo\" game10 | COVERdiabetes and epilepsy awareness, new medicaid changes and house bill 1419 | SPORTSrecognizing the sport of bowling and olentangy orange’s bowling team 9 1014 17CHECK 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!PROJECTSreema mohamed rafqnovember 3
STAFF EDITORIALimportance of quality sleepwriter the editorial board | designer grant ruofIt’s 9 p.m., and my mom’s nagging me to go to bed, but I have so much schoolwork to do so I decided to defy her and stay up and do my homework, even though my body is beat a!er a long day of school and practice right a!er. So when I go to bed at midnight and wake up a quick six hours later, I may have gotten my homework done, but I didn’t get the proper rest I needed.Teens need at least eight to 10 hours of sleep to properly function, according to the Sleep Foundation. Good sleep is necessary for the brain and mental health in teens. However, the majority of teens don’t tend to get this amount of sleep. In fact, fewer than two out of 10 teens get the recommended eight to 10 hours of sleep.\"e circadian rhythm is the body’s internal clock that regulates sleeping, waking and hormones. For teens, the circadian rhythm is undergoing many changes that can a#ect their sleep cycle and hormones. It’s a natural shi!called the sleep phase delay, according to UCLA health. \"is change in their circadian rhythm causes them to get sleepier later than before. For example, teens may have started to get tired at 8 p.m. before the rhythm changed, but now they don’t get sleepy until 11 p.m. \"is change in their bodies, paired with school, a!er-school activities, jobs and maintaining a social life, all leads to less sleep in teens.To try and prevent the onset of daytime sleepiness, many teens o!en turn to ca#eine and energy drinks.Ca#eine lengthens the amount of time it takes them to fall asleep, decreases sleep quality and may even lead to anxiety. Along with the large amounts of ca#eine, added sugar and other additives, energy drinks o!en contain legal stimulants such as guarana, taurine and L-carnitine, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). \"e American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that teens should not drink energy drinks.Sleep-tracking may help teens mitigate the lack of sleep. Apple watches come equipped with a sleep tracking program and there’s a variety of apps o#ered on the App store that can track sleep. Setting a sleep goal and understanding the stages of sleep is the $rst step to building a better sleep routine. While it may seem tempting to just stay up another hour, whether it be for homework or to $nish a movie and then make yourself wake up the next day by consuming ca#eine, proper sleep is vital for growing teens, and it falls to parents and teens to maintain a healthy sleep schedule. Teens must understand what they are putting into their bodies through energy drinks and the importance of sleep at their growing age. We, as an editorial board, believe that sleep is vital for teens in order for them to stay healthy and properly function. We recommend teens to work with their parents to build a proper sleep schedule and minimize the amount of ca#eine consumed 100 milligrams.editorial4november*Based of results from a poll from The Courier’s InstagramMost teens are recommended to sleep eight to ten hours nightly in cool, dark, and quiet environmentHow much sleep does the average OOHS student get each night?* 50% of students get fve to six hours 41% of students get seven to eight hours And 9% of students get nine to ten hoursIt is recommended to avoid screens up to an hour before you go to bed each night.EDITORIAL STATEMENT\" e Courier is the o% cial student-produced medium of news and information published by the Advanced Newspaper Journalism students of Olentangy Orange High School.\" e 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 o% cials, adults or sources prior to publication.\" e content of \" e Courier is determined by and re& ects only the views of the student sta# and not school o% cials or the school itself. \" e Courier will not publish any material, determined by the sta# or adviser, that is libelous, obscene or disruptive to the school day.\" e adviser is Kari Phillips. Readers may respond to \" e Courier through Letters to the Editor. Letters may be mailed, e-mailed to thecouriersta# @ gmail.com or dropped o# to room 2213. \" e sta# 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. \" e Courier strives to uphold the Canons of Professional Journalism, which includes accuracy, impartiality, etc. \" erefore, major errors will be corrected in the next issue. Distinction will be marked between news and opinion stories.
MISREPRESENTATIONindian portrayal in hollywoodwriter abby kulian | designer grant ruof | photo credit abby kulianThe sound of the cheerful laugh track echoes throughout my living room as a 6-year-old me sits and watches the latest episode of Disney channels’ “Jessie”. It was one of the only shows I looked forward to watching the new weekly episode, and while the show was funny at times and was also set in New York City, my favorite city, it was primarily my favorite show solely for the fact that there was an Indian main character. However, even as a kid I felt uneasy at the way the Indian character, Ravi, was portrayed on the show, with him being a nerd with no friends who also has a pet lizard. Even his actual name was never pronounced correctly once throughout the whole series (it’s pronounced ruh-vee not raa-vee). !e character as a whole only reinforced harmful stereotypes towards the Indian community, and for all my childhood it felt like the character was what everyone would think the default norm was for Indian people. “Only two out of every 10 lead \"lm actors (or 19.8 percent) were people of color in 2017, this year’s UCLA Hollywood Diversity Report found,” according to PBS. Growing up during the 2010s, there was little to no representation in the media for Indians or frankly any person of color especially on networks like Disney Channel or even Nickelodeon. Because of this, as a kid, I used to imagine every brown skinned character on TV was also Indian, like Princess Jasmine, who in my defense, had a mix of Indian and Middle Eastern culture in the animated movie. I was overjoyed at the mere thought that, like me, Princess Jasmine was Indian, and I would feel validation and pride race through me every time I watched “Aladdin”. As I became a slightly older kid, I tried to disconnect myself from my culture because I felt as if it was out of the norm and weird.!is may not come across as the biggest issue people of color face on a daily basis, but it is genuinely these seemingly small occurrences that shove marginalized communities o# to the sidelines. I can vividly recall sitting on the morning bus in the fourth grade, peacefully minding my business, waiting for my turn to get o#, when my friend came up to me and asked if I spoke Indian. While it wasn’t a question asked out of malice but curiosity, I was absolutely bewildered on how someone could even ask that. Unfortunately, I’ve come across many similar questions since that fateful moment in my childhood when I realized no one really knew anything about my culture. !ere are obviously multiple reasons for that, one being I went to an elementary and middle school where I could count the number of Indians in total on my two hands, two we didn’t learn that much about other countries and their cultures when we were younger in school. And three, there wasn’t a high in$ux of characters in TV shows or movies that looked like me. “An estimated 5.2 million people in the United States identi\"ed as Indian in 2023, according to estimates published by the U.S. Census Bureau,” according to the Pew Research Center. Although, there is considerably more representation given to Indians in Hollywood now than when I was a child, that’s not really saying much. !e \"rst big moment of representation for Indians in Hollywood was de\"nitely the Net$ix show, “Never Have I Ever”. !is show was created by Mindy Kahling, a South Indian Tamil woman, like myself, who also starred in the show, “!e O%ce”. “Never have I Ever” also starred a South Indian Tamil girl named Devi and though this show was not the perfect portrayal of Indian culture with the show really pushing forth stereotypes about Indians at times and the fact Devi’s grandma couldn’t even pronounce the word, Tamil, correctly, the show was able to \"nally give millions of Indian teenagers something they could remotely relate to. In more recent years, Indians have undoubtedly received more representation with shows like “Bridgerton” having Simone Ashely, a British Indian actress, as one of the main leads in their second season, and even in music with Lara Raj in the popular girl group, Katseye. But sadly, Indians still lack representation in the media, and it’ll probably be many and many years before there is a substantial amount. But I do hope that in the distant future when I have kids of my own, they won’t have to go through the same struggle of learning to like their cultural heritage as I once did and instead love who they are and be able to feel represented through their screens. editorialnovember5Childhood photos of writer Abby Kulian
ONGOING TURMOILconfict in gazawriter abigail simmons | designer sophia robinsonAs many people know, one of the biggest topics in the world right now is the con!ict in Palestine. For years, there have been lots of disputes and arguments regarding the Palestine area, even dating back to Biblical times. According to History.com, in 1,000 B.C.E., King David started Jewish control over Jerusalem. In the following centuries, especially during the crusades, the power controlling the city changed constantly. Between 1517 and 1917, the Ottoman Empire (that had Islam as its o\"cial religion), had control of the city. Both the Muslims and Jews feel that they have religious claims over the city.According to the BBC, Britain took control of the Palestine region during World War I, following the fall of the Ottoman Empire. During this time, a majority of Arab people and a minority of Jewish people lived in the area. Tensions grew when the UK agreed to establish a “home” for the Jewish population in Palestine. #is was a complicated situation as the Jewish and Arab populations both had historical links and claims to the land. #ere were many disagreements and possible solutions thrown around during this time.In 1948, the day a$er Israel declared independence, it was surrounded and attacked by %ve di&erent Arab nations. #is was called the 1948 Arab-Israeli War. At the end of this con!ict, Egypt occupied the Gaza strip, Jordan occupied the West Bank and East Jerusalem and Israel occupied West Jerusalem. #is led to an estimate of 750,000 displaced Palestinians.Now, a$er many con!icts and disagreements, the territories Palestine occupies are the West Bank, East Jerusalem and the Gaza strip. Israel occupies the rest of the territory. However, there are around 700,000 Jews living in the West Bank and East Jerusalem. Palestine wants them to leave the territory, but Israel says they have the historical rights to live there and won’t leave.“On October 7, those attacks by Hamas, on Israelis, on Jews, is really the powder keg that blew this whole thing up. So, Israel responded with their IDF, it’s called the Israel Defense Force. Israel’s military response le$ Gaza pretty much leveled,” AP Government Teacher John Carmichael, who is well educated on the topic, said.#is current con!ict started because of attacks by Hamas on Israel on October 7, 2023, that killed about 1,200 people and led to 251 hostages, according to the BBC. However, this con!ict is more news6 novembercomplicated by the fact that Hamas is now the government of Palestine.“#at’s kind of how that started, because of what Hamas did, this terrorist organization. #ey have kind of kidnapped the Palestinian people. It is a good analogy to what the Taliban has done to people. #ey’ve taken control of Palestinian people, and, so you had all that large loss of life, and you have the prisoners. And so, that’s where the whole world started paying attention, once Israel started the bombing,” Carmichael said.According to CNN, Israel approved a cease%re on Oct. 9, this year. However, this cease%re did not last long. “It’s a delicate balance. #e fact that the cease%re was agreed to was largely seen as a positive, with just even bringing the di&erent parties to the table. Why it ended is that the root of the con!ict is still there between the groups in power, between Israel’s government, and between Hamas, there was an attack carried out by Hamas on Israeli soldiers. Israel’s government responded to that attack in kind, and that marked the beginning of the complication with the cease%re. My understanding is that the cease%re is still ongoing, but we have seen violence on both sides that jeopardizes it continuing,” World History Teacher Brooke Sandy said.However, there are a lot more complications regarding the breach of the cease%re.“Hamas says that the Israelis %red at them, the Israelis said that Hamas %red at them. #e cease%re failed because two Israeli soldiers were killed, and then the Israelis hit back with an air to land missile. #ey struck it with a missile and killed people, so that has really kind of jeopardized this whole peace plan,” Carmichael said.However, there is little hope for a permanent end to this horrible con!ict that has killed so many people.“I’m not optimistic, just because until the Palestinian people have a safe place to go, they’re not going to be happy. And the Israelis, they want to live safely in their area, too, but they’re mixed together right now. #ey have such a hard time living together. So, I don’t see it ending anytime soon,” Carmichael said.1948 – 1967Egyptian rule of Gaza!\"#$#%&'()*'+),)'-)$'.)\"&'/0'&1#'2)\"3#'$-)&1'/0'&1#'45((2#'6)$&'7%(#\"'8\"5&5$1'9/2/%5)2'\"72#:';<#\"'=$\")#2'(#0#)&#('&1#'9/)25&5/%'/0';\")>'$&)&#$?'&1#'63*.&5)%')\"@*'-)$'2#<'5%'9/%&\"/2'/0')'$@)22'$&\"5.'/0'2)%('-#(3#('>#&-##%'=$\")#2?'63*.&')%('&1#'4#(5&#\"\")%#)%:'1967 – 1993Israel seizes control=$\")#2'$#5,#('9/%&\"/2'/0'+),)'0\"/@'63*.&'(7\"5%3'&1#'ABCD'45(#)$&'-)\"?'-1#%'5&')2$/'9).&7\"#('&1#'E#$&'8)%F')%('#)$&'G#\"7$)2#@')\"#)$'&1)&'\"#@)5%'7%(#\"'=$\")#25'9/%&\"/2:1993 – 2005The Palestinian Authority takes chargeH/\"')'&5@#?'.\"/@5$5%3'.#)9#'&)2F$'>#&-##%'=$\")#25')%('!)2#$&5%5)%'2#)(#\"$'@)(#'&1#'07&7\"#'/0'+),)'2//F'$/@#-1)&'1/.#072: 2005 – 2023Hamas seizes powerG7$&'@/%&1$')<#\"'=$\")#2I$'-5&1(\")-)2?'J)@)$'-/%'.)\"25)@#%&)\"*'#2#9&5/%$'/K#\"'H)&)1?'&1#'2/%3'(/@5%)%&'!)2#$&5%5)%'./25&59)2'.)\"&*:'L1#'0/22/-5%3'*#)\"?')<#\"'@/%&1$'/0'5%M31&5%3?'J)@)$'K5/2#%&2*'$#5,#('9/%&\"/2'/0'+),)'0\"/@'&1#'H)&)1'2#('!)2#$&5%5)%';7&1/\"5&*:2023Hamas attack sparks the Israel Hamas warN9&/>#\"'D?'OPOQ?'J)@)$')&&)9F'/%'=$\")#2'1)$'$5%9#'$##%'9/%&5%7/7$'=$\")#25'@525&)\"*'/.#\")&5/%$?'@72&5.2#'$1/\"&R25K#('9#)$#M\"#$?')'$#K#\"#'17@)%5&)\"5)%'9\"5$5$?')%('5%&#\"%)&5/%)2'@#(5)&5/%'#S/\"&$:'The history of Gaza and Israel
DISTRICT GROWTHvoters pass olentangy bond issuewriter lyla bice | designer sophia robinson | infograpich source amanda beemanVoters in the Olentangy district attended their local polling places, stood in line to vote and cast their ballots on county and community issues and elections on Nov. 4, Election Day. One issue in particular had the potential to impact thousands of local students: the Olentangy Schools bond issue. In July 2025, the Olentangy Board of Education unanimously voted to include a bond issue on the November ballot to further expand the school district with the construction of two new schools.“!e Nov. 4 no new millage bond adds two new schools, elementary school 18 and high school \"ve, which are needed to balance enrollment and preserve the academic excellence Olentangy is known for,” District Representative Amanda Beeman said. Both schools would be built on the Northwestern side of the district on land that is already district owned. !e estimated cost for construction is $235 million, according to Olentangy Schools.“Since it was approved on Nov. 4, the design will start in 2025. Construction on both buildings will begin in 2026, elementary 18 will open in 2027 and high school \"ve will open in 2028,” Beeman said. !e bond issue comes over a year and a half a#er voters in the Olentangy district failed the March 2024 levy. However, the measures are not the same as operational levies raise taxes in order to fund operational expenses for schools over time. “A bond is like a home loan or mortgage for the district. It allows Olentangy to build or improve schools now and repay the funds over time. By voting on the Nov. 4 Olentangy Schools bond issue, residents are deciding whether to allow the district to borrow funds to build new schools and improve facilities — without raising the current tax rate,” Beeman said. !e need for expansion in the Olentangy district is constantly growing, as there has been exponential growth in the district for decades. Many schools in the newsnovember 7district are currently overpopulated and overutilized, and most continue to run out of space.“Currently in Olentangy Schools, 10 elementary classrooms are housed outside of our regular school buildings to accommodate our growth, and all four of our current high schools are over building capacity and growing daily. Olentangy is projected to grow by 2,000 more students by 2028 and 4,000 more by 2031,” Beeman said.When classrooms and schools are overcrowded, teachers have to make tough decisions on how to maximize learning and experience while also keeping students safe and comfortable.“We’ve had to get rid of the carpets in our classrooms because there is no space to have a community. When you’re dealing with classes that are over 27, especially in the upper grades, there just is no space for them,” an elementary teacher in the district said, who wished to remain anonymous. Managing a large classroom puts a lot of stress onto teachers, who have to handle things such as report cards, translating materials for students and accommodating lessons for students with learning disabilities, all while making sure that every single student receives the quality education they deserve.“Grading tests, grading papers and giving quality feedback takes time. !e more kids you have, the less opportunity you have to do these kinds of things. Trying to keep the attention of 28 kids at one time while many of them have obstacles to their learning or needs that need to be met that are not academic makes it a challenge,” the teacher said.Overcrowded buildings also pose challenges and safety concerns for students and sta$ in the case of an emergency.“If there’s a medical emergency and you’ve got 140 kids packed in a hallway in a space that’s only meant for 100, clearing the hallways so that it’s safe to get someone through is a challenge. It’s a lot harder clearing 140 kids than 100,” the teacher said. On Nov. 4, over 24,000 voters from 86 di$erent precincts voted on the Olentangy bond issue, according to Delaware County Board of Elections. 56 percent of those voters voted “yes” for the bond, passing the issue and allowing for planning, redistricting and construction to begin.
DODGERS DOMINANCEworld series recapwriter elijah smies | designer carter shilling | infographic source espnThe crack of the bat rings out through the stadium, roaring cheers follow as the baseball !ies over the heads of the out\"elders and over the fence, and the historic matchup begins. #e Los Angeles Dodgers and the Toronto Blue Jays were the two teams competing for a World Series title. #is year in Major League Baseball a new pitch clock rule has been instituted, giving players a speci\"c amount of time to pitch or be prepared to hit the ball before they receive a penalty according to the player who earns the penalty, according to mlb.com.“#e addition of the pitch clock and other new rules that were added to grow the game of baseball have led to increased anticipation and excitement for the playo$s,” sophomore MLB fan and club baseball player Evan Benua said.Before the eventful league \"nals, the MLB hosts the highest rated teams in an exciting playo$ bracket, with the top four rated teams getting byes. #e Toronto Blue Jays being one of these teams made it to the World Series.“Obviously, getting the bye was important to keep players fresh, and honestly, the high scoring explosive innings are what I think set the Blue Jays apart from the teams they played, ultimately sending them to the World Series,” Benua said.#e Dodgers, the other contender in the World Series, did not get the luxury of a bye and fought through many teams to get to the World Series. #ey were led by a once-in-a-lifetime player, Shohei Ohtani, a pitcher for the Dodgers.“Ohtani is the best baseball player of all time. It’s inarguable. He impacts the team from both the o$ensive and defensive side of the ball more than any player ever. If you tune in, you’re witnessing history,” varsity baseball coach and MLB fan Tom Marker said.#e \"rst two games of the World Series showed to fans that both teams were clearly evenly matched, with each team winning one game. #ese traditional games were quickly ended however, as game three was the second longest world series game ever, lasting a whopping six and a half hours and taking 18 innings to complete, according to espn.com. “#e walk-o$ home run from Freddie Freeman in the 18th inning was the most intense for the Dodgers because it was a huge turning point in the series and ended a 6 hour 30 minute classic,” Benua said. A long game has many consequences on teams who play through them, one of which being fatigue for the pitchers, as they need rested arms to reliably pitch, which negatively impacted both teams for the following games.“How teams bounced back from marathon game three was interesting to watch. However, the injury to Springer impacted Toronto on a catastrophic level,” Marker said.Fortunately for the Blue Jays, they seemed to handle the injury and pitching better than the Dodgers, as they went on a run winning two games back to back, going into game six with a chance to win it all, speci\"cally diehard Blue Jays fans, wanting to get the win at home, with game six and seven being played back in Toronto, according to espn.com.“People overall wanted the Blue Jays to win because the Dodgers are such a dynasty and are looking to get back to back World Series wins,” Benua said.Game six was intense, as it was all on the line for the Blue Jays, but the Dodgers managed to pull a three to one win over the Blue Jays, with a questionable play with the ball getting caught in the out\"eld wall, and an incredibly executed double play to secure the win for the Dodgers, o%cially sending the series to the \"nal decision, game seven. “I wanted the series to go to game seven. I always hope sports series go the maximum allotted distance. It gives us the opportunity to experience more,” Marker said. Game seven was a back and forth \"ght, with #e Blue Jays taking an early lead, and the Dodgers \"ghting back to tie it up at the very end with an intense ninth inning, sending the game to extra innings, where the dodgers managed to secure the win, ultimately winning the World Series and securing the game and series to the history books. “#is World Series was one of the best we’ve seen in a while, and game seven will inevitably be remembered for years to come,” Benua said.sports8november2025 World Series ContendersRECORD: 93-69World Series Wins: 1955, 1959, 1963, 1965, 1981, 1988, 2020, 2024Went to World Series: 22Odds of Winning: -230RECORD: 94-68World Series Wins: 1993, 1992Went to World Series: 2Odds of Winning: +1904 END 3
IN THE ZONEbowling boundsports columnist cate woolard | designer carter shilling | photo permission to print cate woolardAccording to Bowling Life, the International Bowling Federation (IBF) has been recognized by the International Olympic Committee since 1979. Many people say that bowling is not a serious sport, but this is simply not true. Bowling Life goes on to say that the sport requires accuracy and control, with the up to 16 pound ball being able to !y down the lane anywhere from 20-35 mph. Additionally, some of the rotations in bowling can put serious stress on athletes’ wrists, shoulders, knees and leg muscles.Bowling is such an underrated sport. It is way more serious than people would expect. It requires lots of skill. According to pin chasers, to get the ideal strike, bowlers are only supposed to hit four pins with the ball, meaning that to get a perfect score of 300, they’re only supposed to hit 48 pins the entire time.Another challenging aspect to bowling is that di\"erent lanes can massively change the way bowlers play. Depending on where they are, the di\"erent oil patterns and alleys can make athletes have to completely change their strategy for each game, according to Bowling Life. #e equipment for bowling is taken seriously, just like any other sport.#e high school has its very own bowling team. Last year, the girls team $nished fourth in its conference with a record of 1-3, and the boys team $nished third in its conference with a record of 2-2. In my opinion, the bowling team does not get all the recognition it should. #ink about how much attention sports like basketball and football get. Bowling should get the same notoriety. Last year, the previous captain of the girls team, Ashlyn Nichols, advanced to state, where she placed 74th. #e boys team did not advance to states, but it did go to districts and ended up placing 16th. Overall, the girls team didn’t go to state either but scored a score of 2357 at districts, which is especially impressive considering that teams aren’t allowed to use the bumpers.Tryouts were on Nov. 3, and the team was nice enough to let me come. #e bowling season is starting, and I have a feeling it’s going to be a great year for the team. From what I saw, a lot of the players have so much talent, even the youngest players are really good, and they’re only going to get better from here.#e bowling team is small but mighty; this year only a total of around 19 people tried out, with the boys having 12 and the girls around seven. However, the team is not de$ned by its small size, and it will continue to excel throughout the season. #e varsity lineup has not been announced yet for this season, but soon the team and captain for this year will be known.Considering the small size, both teams but especially the girls are looking for new members. Tryouts are open all season, no experience is needed, just interest in the sport. It’s a great opportunity to start a new sport and meet lots of new people.Going to school sporting events is such a fun way to hang out with friends and support the school. #is bowling season is just starting, and going to watch bowling would be a great way to have fun during the winter and support the high school.#e schedule for this season has not come out yet, but the team is holding a tournament on Dec. 20. If you’re ever bored this winter and missing Friday night football, consider going to a bowling match. You’ll $nd it just as fun.sportsnovember9Sports columnist Audrey Del Vecchio and Cate WoolardBowling team players at tryouts on November 3rd.
HEALTH IN THdiabetes and epilwriter keira dickson, reema mohamed rafq & abbey simmons | designer sakara ross | infograpThe month of November is Health Awareness Month and speci!cally the month focuses on epilepsy and diabetes. Unless a\"ected by these chronic illnesses, most people don’t take the time to educate themselves about them and their risks. However, 37.3 million people have diabetes and one percent of adults have epilepsy in the country, making it likely that most people know someone who lives with these diseases daily. In addition, during Health Awareness Month, rapid changes in health policy are possible with the current administration. According to the Center of Disease Control, in 2021 and 2022, one percent of adults had epilepsy. While this doesn’t seem like a lot, it’s about 2.9 million people. Epilepsy is a serious disease that a\"ects many people. It is a brain condition that causes seizures. Epilepsy can only be diagnosed if someone has had at least two seizures without a noticeable cause at least 24 hours apart, according to Mayo Clinic. About half of people with epilepsy don’t have to treat epilepsy. However, there are many alternative options that are just as or even more successful than medical treatment.One great way to do this is sports. According to the National Library of Medicine, multiple cited studies showed a correlation between increased exercise and reduced seizure numbers. “I’ve been treated for about eight years since I was !rst diagnosed, and it helped me a lot. But the treatment that’s helped me the most is exercise and sports,” Delaney said.Delaney has been extremely successful in the athletic !eld. She is a very talented wrestler who went to nationals this summer and even was invited to track nationals this fall.“Now that I’m older and having way less seizures, it de!nitely a\"ects my daily life less, but it’s still scary when it happens. If I have one now, I might skip a workout or something for safety reasons, but it doesn’t a\"ect me as much as it used to,” Delaney said.However, there is more that can truly help people with epilepsy, which Ryan explained: family and friends.“People can still live a normal life with epilepsy with treatment and the help of their friends and family. Although it can greatly a\"ect your life, if you have the right treatment anything is possible,” Ryan said.#is statement truly represents living with epilepsy. Despite the hardships and struggles, people can still prevail with family, friends and treatment. Epilepsy can always be battled back against.November is also National Diabetes month, and according to the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention, about 38 million people have diabetes, and one in !ve don’t know they have it. According to the Congressional Diabetes Census, of those with diabetes, approximately 21 million are diagnosed while eight million remain undiagnosed.#e prevalence of diabetes has been rising more rapidly in recent years. Since it’s National Diabetes Month, it’s important to look at what diabetes is and how people manage their diabetes day-to-day.“#e biggest struggle is feeling judged for it. Type 1 diabetes doesn’t have a great reputation, but it’s only because people don’t a cause to explain why they have it. Factors like genetic in$uence, head trauma, factors in the brain, infections, injury before birth and developmental causes can be possible causes for epilepsy, also according to Mayo Clinic.One student at the high school has dealt with epilepsy for a long time. Freshman Delaney Tackett has had epilepsy for most of her life. She has had a lot of challenges living with epilepsy.“Living with epilepsy has been a challenge. #ere were days when I was younger when I was having 250 seizures a day and couldn’t even walk up the stairs,” Delaney said.#ere are lots of roadblocks people with epilepsy have to push past every day. What makes this more di%cult is the fact that treatment is pretty limited. “Many people go on oral medication for epilepsy as it doesn’t have many options currently, but therapies can sometimes help people,” Ryan Tackett, Delaney’s dad, who has been around epilepsy for a long time, said. Obviously, this makes everyday tasks very challenging for those who have epilepsy. #is can make people with epilepsy feel sad, as sometimes they have an inability to do things others can do.“Especially when you’re younger, you can’t do anything because everything the other kids are doing can put you at risk for a seizure. Living with epilepsy sadly becomes normal at a point in your life,” Delaney said.Even in simple tasks, Delaney would still struggle. She was 5 years old when she was diagnosed with epilepsy.“When I was little, I couldn’t do anything, and it horribly a\"ected my everyday life. I couldn’t ride a bike, I couldn’t swim, I could barely do anything on my own because of my condition,” Delaney said.Medicine and medical treatment is a popular way cover10november Childhood photo of freshman Delaney Tackett at a doctor’s appointment for her epilepsy.
HE HEADLINESlepsy awarenessphic source who.int, health.cleavland.clinic.org, & abcnews.go.com
with diabetes can feel more understood.Early last year, the new administration was sworn into o!ce, and since then, there have been many changes made in regards to America’s healthcare system. \"ese changes include some to the Medicaid program and more importance placed on chronic disease and nutrition. On July 4, President Donald Trump signed into law HR 1, also known as \"e One Big Beautiful Bill Act. \"is act covers many parts of budgeting including student loans to medicaid programs. “\"e biggest changes that came out of \"e One Big Beautiful Bill Act are related to the Medicaid program. Medicaid provides health insurance to people with low incomes and some people with disabilities. It currently provides health insurance to more than one in four Ohioans,” Director of Policy Research and Analysis at the Health Policy Institute of Ohio Becky Carroll said.Each state is required to have a medicaid program, but since the law made some changes to how states are allowed to pay their share of medicaid, there will need to be cuts. “Unless the state can #nd a new way to pay, it will probably need to make its own cuts to Medicaid. \"is will likely happen in one of three ways: Medicaid will pay healthcare providers (e.g., doctors, hospitals, nurse practitioners, etc.) lower amounts for the services they provide to purposes of this assessment, ultra-processed foods refer broadly to packaged and readyto-consume products that are formulated for shelf life and/or palatability but are typically high in added sugars, re#ned grains, unhealthy fats and sodium and low in #ber and essential nutrients,” according to the White House. .How these new preventions will take place is di!cult to fully pinpoint. \"e Health Policy Institute of Ohio relies on research showing that factors such as housing, income, education and transportation in$uences one’s ability to be healthy. “For example, some people living in rural parts of Ohio must travel long distances to get to a grocery store and may rely more o%en on convenience stores for food than other people with more accessible grocery stores. \"e administration does not seem to intend to make changes to address these types of barriers,” Carroll said.However, there are gains for the State of Ohio in relation to healthcare policy. Representative Rachel Baker is a nurse researcher turned State Representative of House District 27. She is extremely interested in improving healthcare policy. Her o!ce is highly involved with the people of Ohio. \"ey make sure to take in feedback from healthcare providers, patients, and community organizations. “My o!ce always meets with healthcare professionals, patients and community organizations when they reach out to meet with us. During these meetings, we learned a lot about what Ohio’s healthcare community needs to be adjusted in the Ohio Revised Code to make care more e!cient, accessible and safe. Once we receive feedback and input, we decide if we would like to have a bill dra%ed to address the issues or needs. Additionally, we reach out proactively to professional organizations when bills are introduced to make sure we get feedback from those who changes will impact,” Baker said.Baker also takes extreme care when faced with healthcare changes that may a&ect her constituents. She balances the importance of public patients, there will be additional restrictions on who is eligible for Medicaid, which will decrease the number of people in the program, Medicaid will stop paying for certain types of healthcare services, such as dental care for example,” Carroll said. \"is is one of the major impacts of the current government shutdown.A big concern about this new bill is the e&ects it will have on medical practices and healthcare prices. Because many parts of the bill have not yet taken e&ect, it’s hard to determine what their e&ect will be. “However, experts are also expecting the healthcare providers, such as hospitals, to lose money since a lot of the people who are no longer eligible for Medicaid will not have health insurance and may not be able to a&ord care. \"e expected amount Ohio will lose because of these policy changes is $33 billion over 10 years,” Carroll said. Apart from the budget cuts made to medicaid, the new administration has put a lot of importance on preventing chronic disease and nutrition. \"ere is a signi#cant push to get away from processed foods.“Although de#nitions vary, for the cover12 november Type 1 Type 2Both- Affects about 1.3 million people in the United States- It is an autoimmune condition- The body does not make insulin- Can affect children as young as 4 to 6 years old- Affects about 37 million people in the United States- It is a hormonal condition- The body makes insulin initially but doesn’t respond to it- Can affect children but more likely in adults- caused by lifestyle- Symptoms include extreme thirst, blurry vision and freqeunt urination- Both require a healthy lifestyle and medical supervision- Both can cause serious health complications if left untreated
THE Sthe scene | football playoffsdesigner abi wykoff | writer abi wykof14 | novemberJunior football linebacker Brennan Kesler sacks Berlin’s quarterback Colton Less during the second round of playoffs on Nov. 7. “The season’s going great, but there’s still a long way to go. The goal is states so everyone has to stay locked in and keep grinding,” Kesler said.
SCENEff | permission to print devyn hance
DECORATING D.C.presidential holiday traditionswriter audrey del vecchio | designer malak chahboub | permission to print galeWhen the lights go up on the White House Christmas tree, decorations are hung or a turkey is pardoned, the moments belong, not just to an individual family, but to the whole nation. Each November and December, the presidency becomes a stage for traditions that connect the government to the people, and each new White House occupant brings a new twist. Every president brings a new tradition to the White House that displays their holiday celebrations. An upcoming tradition that interests the public is the pardoning of the turkey, and the !rst president who o\"cially participated in this tradition was Harry S. Truman in 1947 according to the White House Historical Association. “Like any tradition, the presidential holiday traditions become familiar staples of memory over time. It is interesting how these traditions are started and then get carried on from one administration to the next over time. It is fun to learn the history behind them and anticipate their happening every year,” Social Studies Teacher Jesse Tierney said. As the month of December gets closer, the White House will transform into a winter wonderland with the help of American citizens. #e !rst lady and president every culture16 novemberyear will open up applications to the public to participate in the decorating of the White House, and First Lady Melenia Trump and President Trump have already noti!ed their select volunteers according to #e White House o\"cial website. “Typically, the !rst ladies are in charge of decorating the White House. I’ve been to the White House more than once for that time of year, and it is impressive. It’s usually very well done. #at’s probably the other most well known tradition,” Government Teacher John Carmichael said. #e lighting of the National Christmas tree is also a very popular tradition among the public that began with President Calvin Coolidge being the !rst chief executive to preside over the National Christmas tree lighting ceremony, doing so on the ellipse in 1923 according to the White House Historical Association. #is year, President Trump, along with his family, will take part in the lighting of the tree with the public on Dec. 4 in President’s Park. “Traditions are symbols of our culture, and presidential traditions remind the American people that the president is a citizen of this republic just like us with whom we share that common culture. It makes the president appear more relatable to the people,” Tierney said. Presidential traditions are more than ceremonial; they help de!ne the legitimacy of those who hold o\"ce. Every holiday or tradition that leaders legitimize establish what Americans celebrate and how the cultural identity of the country is shaped. “#e president is also the !rst citizen, and what that means is they’re supposed to lead by example. #ey are citizens themselves and so when they take part in these activities, they legitimize them,” Carmichael said. With the new administration, Vice President JD Vance is Catholic, but his wife Usha is Hindu, so the Vances bring an interfaith dynamic in the White House that could broaden American ideas into new holiday traditions in the future. “I could see in the future Vance doing something with that.Potentially, plugging in a celebration, or an observance, and the point of that, again, is to legitimize that because most Americans don’t even know what it is. #ey don’t even know what monotheism is. So, it’s the job of the president to help educate people that way too,” Carmichael said. Even when administrations and America itself changes, these presidential traditions will continue to bind the nation together during the holidays. Presidents Trump, Obama and Biden continuing the tradition of pardoning a turkey during the #anksgiving season.
LOOK OUT FOR LUCASfckel’s football frenzywriter tenley walker | designer malak chahboub | photo credits gracyn lidke0- 0 is just about the best way to end the regular season for running back Lucas Fickel. No. 2 is on the track to greatness as he !nishes his senior year of high school football.Fickel’s improvement from his freshman season to now has been noticed by both coaches and fans. With Head Coach Wes Schroeder, it is no surprise that Fickel has drastically enhanced his performance on the !eld.“Coach Schroeder has always believed in my abilities and took me from decent to really good over one season,” Fickel said.Football has been a passion for him; since he started walking, he was passing a football.“I started playing football almost as soon as I could walk, and I have always had a goal to be as good at this sport as I could possibly be. \"at mindset has really taken me far,” Fickel said.Motivation plays a key role in Fickel’s success as he enters the o#season. Rather than taking a three-month-long break over winter, he continues to train and condition to become the best possible version of himself.“What keeps me motivated is our team’s success” and “I just want to work hard so I can help my team go as far as possible,” Fickel said. featurenovember 17On top of bringing a big game to practice every day, Fickel also brings a big heart. Fickel has helped many underclassmen improve their own game on the !eld.“He is a superstar athlete, but you wouldn’t know by the way he practices and treats his teammates. When your best players are some of your best people, you have a chance to be really good and that is what he has done for our team,” Schroeder said. To keep up this winning performance, Fickel has a pre-game routine much like many professional athletes.“Mentally before a game, I will get out a play sheet and walk my brain through every scenario I can think of for every play, so I can be as prepared as possible. Physically, I must make sure to drink tons of water the day before and day of on game day and make sure to eat healthy too,” Fickel said.When Schroeder !rst met Fickel, he immediately knew that was someone he wanted on his team. With personality and skill, Fickel had it all.“I saw him in the weight room working extremely hard, and then I went and talked with him. He was a so$-spoken, kind young man. Coaching is a lot when you are doing it with good people,” Schroeder said.Bringing a positive mindset to training every day is key to an e#ective player. Fickel 1has no problem showing up in a good mood, ready to practice.“He is always in a great mindset when coming to practice. He is a great teammate and makes our practices more e#ective. Because of this, he is always getting better and so is our team,” Shroeder said.Not only is Fickel inspired by his coach on the !eld, he also has his inspirations o#the !eld to keep him determined to develop his capabilities. “My dad is a really big football fan, and he has always pushed me to ful!ll my potential in football and other things,” Fickel said.As of week eight in his 2025 football season, Fickel had 1,161 rushing yards and 23 touch downs, averaging 145 yards per game. “Breaking the school record for rushing yards in a season in nine games is one I’m really proud of,” Fickel said.Not only does Fickel strive with his football skills, he also has the speed of any star track athlete with times of 11.08 seconds in the 100 m and 4.53 seconds in 40 yards.“He is a great running back who practices hard and does what is needed for the team” and “he is already an unbelievable football player,” Schroeder said.Fickel plans to continue his football career at Yale University while pursuing a degree in computer science.“It’s no secret we were going to be good this year,” Fickel said. Seniors Lucas and Isaiah Fickel alongside their parents for senior night on Oct. 17th.Fickel pictured stretching before game against Hilliard Bradley on Oct. 17th.
HOLIDAY HAPPENINGSfestive activities in columbuswriter abigail wykoff | designer ava mejiafeature18 novemberColumbus is a hub of many things, recently growing in popularity with sports, food and even the holiday scene. With a diverse population, the months of November and December are packed with events, activities, holidays and so much more that !ll the city with buzz, chatter and holiday spirit. For many, the season begins in October, with Diwali and Halloween. With Diwali on Oct. 20 and Halloween on Oct. 31. “[Diwali is] celebrating the return of lord rama a\"er defeating ravan, but its main meaning is good/light overcomes evil/darkness, which is why we light up everything,” senior Ishani Deshpande said. For di#erent families, the celebrations for Diwali may di#er, there are also many local events hosted by di#erent temples in the area. “In the morning, we decorate the devkhar with $owers and gold and then we do our puja, then we eat the prasad and go to the temple for their puja. %en, we usually go to our friends’ houses for parties and light !reworks,” Deshpande said. For some, the holiday season, especially around %anksgiving, is a time to give back and appreciate the community that they’re in. “My family and I volunteer, primarily at local organizations and at my own nonpro!t. And for the past few years, it has become a tradition we all look forward to,” Ohio State University freshman Ti#any Mungai said.Many people use this time of the year as an opportunity to give back to the community in various ways, such as donating to food drives for %anksgiving dinners for families in need. “Volunteering is crucial, especially during the holiday season, since shelters, food pantries and community centers are always looking for hands to help. Getting involved in some form of volunteering can be a way to give back and connect with your community or other communities around you,” Mungai said. During the busy beginning of December, the holiday season really starts to gear up. “Hanukkah is eight days long, and this year it is from Dec. 14-22. Every night of Hanukkah, we light up the Menorah; [starting with] the Shamash [candle, which we use] to light the rest of the candles,” junior Owen Lambermont said. %e candles and oil hold a lot of importance in the celebration of Hanukkah. %e holiday is centered on the “miracle of the oil”, and the lights are also direct representations of this religious event. “Every night of Hanukkah we light the menorah and say the corresponding prayers. Typically, people like to give gi\"s to each other on each night as well. My family also typically eats Latkes, Jewish brisket and food that is prepared with oil; my grandfather used to make jelly doughnuts cause they get fried in oil,” Lambermont said. For others, December means setting up a tree, hanging lights and stockings and getting ready for Christmas. In Columbus, the Columbus Zoo’s Wildlights are a big part of that festive spirit. “I usually go to the zoo lights every year. It’s really special to me because I’ve been going with my family since I was about 4 or 5,” senior Riley Brooks said. “Now, I really like going with my boyfriend and my friends.” For others, the spirit of Christmas comes from %e Ohio %eater’s annual performance of %e Nutcracker. “When I was younger, my grandma, mom and I would go to the Nutcracker at the Ohio %eater every year. It was a big part of Christmas time for us,” University of North Carolina Wilmington freshman Ren Rader said.Rounding o# the busy month of December, is Kwanzaa, which this year is celebrated from Dec. 26 to Jan. 1. “Kwanzaa, primarily celebrated within the African American community, connects people to their ancestral African roots. We [my family] recount those before us, particularly those from the tribe we originate from and ensure that we remain in touch with our culture. It’s our method of handing over from one generation to the next,” Mungai said.In Columbus, there aren’t any large celebrations for Kwanzaa, so family gatherings are a major part of the holiday. “Typically, our festivities include a large family dinner as the centerpiece. However, food is not the only thing; the sing-alongs and laughter,” Mungai said.%e vast diversity of celebrations that are showcased in Columbus this time of year, are a beautiful representation of the people that inhabit the city. Whether it’s November, December or all year, remember to take a step back, and enjoy the beauty of Columbus’ array of culture.ThanksgivingDiwaliChristmasKwanzaaHappyHolidays!Hanukkah
pound of body weight each day, and I eat di!erent types of protein powders, bars and meat to hit this goal,” Shepherd said. “But all the new types of protein products are kind of absurd, and a lot of them are de\"nitely marketing tactics to get people to buy a product. If you don’t work out a lot you aren’t working your muscles enough to need as much protein as some are led to believe.”Another issue that has arisen from this in#ux in protein products is a potential neglect of natural protein sources. “A misconception with protein is that people drink a protein shake or other processed protein sources and think that it’s a great source of protein,” McKendrick said. “But I always like to say that great sources of protein start with basic foods. An actual piece of chicken or an actual piece of \"sh is always going to be a better source of protein for nutrient value.”At the end of the day, protein is an important macronutrient for anyone to consume, regardless of activity level, age or the source. However, the boundless number of protein products on the market right now leads to questions about if these products are truly bene\"cial for one’s diet, or the result of billion-dollar corporations trying to market a product towards a society of people that have glamorized the consumption of protein.“Protein is important and helpful but has de\"nitely become a trend more than anything else recently,” Shepherd said. MISLEADING MACROSthe push for proteinwriter ava pazak | designer ava mejiaFor centuries, diet trends and fads have had a gripping chokehold on the American population. Whether it’s the low fat diets from the 1990s, or the keto craze of the early 2010s, it seems that each generation has had a de\"ning trend that dictates how many choose to eat.As for this current era, the recent \"xation of the American diet has been on protein consumption. First popularized by body-builders in the 1980s, studies shared with athletes the bene\"ts protein provided for their high levels of exercise and was positively portrayed to the public as a means to build muscle and tone the body. $is sentiment appealed to both athletes and average people, increasing the demand for protein.Strength and Conditioning Coach Jason McKendrick has helped better his athletes by educating them about nutrition, including protein as an important food group that he promotes.“Protein plays a role in rebuilding the muscle. When you are working out, you are creating damage to muscle \"bers, and protein will step in to help rebuild that damage,” McKendrick said.$e glori\"cation of protein continued to grow, and negative sentiments began to build toward carbohydrates and fats in the following decades. Additionally, some nutritionists began to claim that protein was an appetite suppressant. $e outcome of these developments was the idea that protein was the end-all be-all of healthy featurenovember 19eating, a belief that many people today have adopted.Due to people’s newfound love of protein, food companies have started to make ‘protein-packed’ versions of their products. Cereal, oatmeal, granola and even protein water have been advertised to appeal to consumers. “$e recent surge in protein products is both trend and science backed,” McKendrick said. “But when we think of trends and selling products, if you can list on there that there is a high amount of protein in a product, the chances are, you will sell more because people are becoming aware of the need for protein and will want to buy it.”While there is nothing inherently wrong with creating a product that hosts more protein, the issue arises with the way these products are marketed. A decade ago, the cereal brand Cheerios released a protein version of their product to the public, marketed as having 14 grams of protein. However, this 14 grams could only be reached when a three-fourths cup of skim milk was added, leaving the cereal itself with only eight grams of protein per serving, a measly three grams more than traditional cheerios.Sophomore Payton Shepherd is a soccer and basketball player at the high school and has taken it upon herself to learn about the bene\"ts of nutrition for her personal performance. “I try to eat a gram of protein per PROTEINgrams per serving unless you add 6 more grams with 3/4 cups 8of skim milk(only)
LOADING IN LINEblack friday’s turn to online shoppingwriter delaney newell | designer taylor guzek | infographic source mobiloud |permission to print delaney newellIt’s 12 a.m. Friday, the morning a!er \"anksgiving. I’m standing in line #lled with hundreds of people waiting for the doors to open. Excitement, curiosity and nerves rush through me as I wait, wondering what deals I can grab, except there’s not much le!to enjoy about it anymore. Black Friday, the major sales event, loved by millions, has been celebrated every year since 1869, but a!er 155 years things have changed, according to NBC News. Black Friday is known for being a chaotic, overwhelming but fun day. It was well known for having the best sales and the most shoppers. A!er the global phenomenon, COVID-19, most people and stores resulted in online shopping rather than in person, but I personally think that takes the fun out of it. In 2018, Black Friday was at its prime. I remember being a kid on \"anksgiving night with my family watching the news. \"ere were hundreds of people lined up outside the store, and I was listening to my family talk about the craziness of Black Friday. \"ese days, no one talks about it and to most it’s just a ‘normal Friday’.Shoppers used to save so much more than they do now. \"e more people shop in person, the less they tend to buy rather than online, when more deals come like free shipping. For example, the cart gets more and more full creating a more expensive shopping experience. Not to mention in$ation, prices are far more expensive than they used to be, so people are not spending as much as they think.Black Friday is no longer as special as it used to be; many stores and online shops have sales o!en. I get emails daily from stores saying there are deals. \"ere is no need to anticipate the return of Black Friday for everything to go on sale when there are sales more than twice a week.According to blackfriday.com, Walmart has multiple sales going on; up to 50 percent o% tablets and iPads, small appliances under $50, up to 70 percent o% home essentials and appliances, up to 55 percent o% outdoor Christmas decorations and lots more. Amazon has up to 40 percent o% holiday shops and free Prime shopping, up to 70 percent o% last call deals, gi!s under $25, Audible membership for only $0.99/month for the #rst three months and more. What about Cyber Monday? It used to be that Cyber Monday was online only, but now some stores use the same or similar prices as it would be online. \"erefore, there is not much di%erence between the two, so the point is lost. Most stores participate in both events using similar deals. It would be more e&cient to keep it to one day or separating them out more to make a di%erence between the two. People spent more on Cyber Monday rather than Black Friday last year. According to USA Today, shoppers spend $13.2 billion on Monday and only $10.8 billion on Friday; that is a 2.4 billion dollar di%erence. Some ways to make Black Friday fun again: Take away the online portion, making it instore only might bring back the craziness. Make Cyber Monday Online only or take it away. If we have Black Friday, why do we need another day full of sales? Or making Cyber Monday online only like how it used to be can separate the two. opinion20 novemberDelaney Newell shops for deals with friend Christine Sampsel.
HARRY’S HOLIDAYSwizarding world’s winterwriter keira dickson | designer taylor guzekThe wizarding world of Harry Potter is known to be full of magic and surprise, and the holidays during the winter are known to be the most magical time of the year. Many people have had the debate of if the movie series, Harry Potter, should be watched in the winter season or the fall season. It’s clear that the series should be watched during the winter season rather than the fall because there’s something about pretty much every one of the eight movies that has a holiday movie feel to it. It makes way more sense to watch these movies during November and December rather than in September and October.When I think of the Harry Potter !lms, I don’t necessarily think of scary movies, even with the occasional ominous themes in the series. \"e movies blend elements of fantasy, adventure and young adult !ction, and their darker themes are o#en in the perspective of a child. \"is defeats watching it during the Halloween season because of the horror aspect. Plus, these movies are for people as young as 10 years old.\"e Harry Potter series has many scenes that create a holiday-like environment. Everyone who has watched this movie series knows the iconic scene when Ron and Harry wear matching sweaters and celebrate Christmas together in the !rst movie. However, this isn’t the only scene that mentions holidays. \"ey also emphasize the cozy winter vibe with the lavish Christmas decorations during the holidays at Hogwarts. \"ere is also the Yule Ball in the fourth movie, which is a formal Christmas dance. Along with all of these cozy and warm winter elements in the series, there are a lot of sad elements that make it less cozy. But, in spite of that, they still create a winter atmosphere. In the last movie of the series, “Deathly Hollows”, Hermione and Harry visit Godric’s Hollow, a graveyard, on Christmas Eve to visit Harry’s parents. Although this is a sad concept, it expresses !nding comfort in loved ones during the holidays.Another example of this is when Hermione and Harry dance on a frozen lake during the war, to make themselves feel better and closer during those tough times. \"is shows the heavy weight of their mission and the loneliness while Ron is away but also expresses !nding a shared comfort during the winter, even if it’s gloomy.\"ere is also at least one signi!cant scene with snow in each movie. \"e snow is a big part of creating the holiday feel of the movies. In “Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets”, it’s hard to forget the Christmas horse-drawn sleigh ride that marks the start of the festive season. In “Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix”, Harry and Ron ride the school train as beautiful countryside scenes, outside the window, glisten in the snow.In the movies, there is at least one signi!cant scene on or around Christmas day. In “Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire”, they hosted the Yule Ball on Dec. 25. \"e Yule Ball is a formal Christmas dance held at Hogwarts as a tradition of the Triwizard Tournament. It features formal dress, dancing and a feast. Along with, “Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince”, Harry attends a Christmas party at his professor, Slughorns, house on Dec. 20. \"ese scenes are extremely relevant to the story and also create a cozy and Christmas atmosphere.A major part of the holidays is unity and found-family, which is also a big theme in the movies. An example of this is the Weasleys constantly let Harry stay with them whenever he needs to and give him the family he never had. In “Harry Potter and the Sorcerers Stone”, Harry, who has never received Christmas presents at the Dursleys’, is overwhelmed with emotion to !nd a stack of gi#s, including a hand-knitted Weasley sweater.Fans cherish the !lms’ blend of festive visuals and emotional themes of togetherness, o#en making them a holiday viewing tradition. Although this isn’t a movie series for a speci!c time of year, it de!nitely conveys feelings of warmth, friendship and magic that create a nostalgic feeling towards the holiday season.opinionnovember 21
walls of your brain. “K-Pop Demon Hunters”, directed by Chris Appelhans and Maggie Kang You’re a fan. I’m a fan. We’re all fans. !e song “Your Idol” is criminally underrated. It’s good to see the world united over something. MUSIC:New category! Sort of. I think I did this last year. Not sure how. Either way, here’s some music I liked:Favorite new album (for me): “!e Valley,” by Whitechapel. !is is metal that’s intense, raw, soulful and monstrous all at once. !e album came out a while ago, but I’m really loving it now. Favorite new album released this year: “Getting Killed,” by Geese. One of those bands that sounds super old and super new at the same time. I’ve been listening to them obsessively. !ere’s also Nirvana and Radiohead and Def Leppard and Luke Combs and Metallica and Rage Against the Machine and Guns n’ Roses and AC/DC and Led Zeppelin and Bob Dylan and Ozzy Osbourne (rest in peace) and NIN and Johnny Cash and the soundtrack to “Saiyaara” (haven’t seen the movie, but want to) and Springsteen (haven’t seen the biopic, same for Dylan) and Arijit Singh, but there are only so many words and pages, and we’re out of time again. best of 2025columnist shiv majmundar | designer savanna smith “!e Bu\"alo Hunter” by Stephen Graham Jones: 5/5 stars If you’re not familiar with Stephen Graham Jones. . . well, to put it bluntly, you’re missing out. He’s one of the most unique, versatile and brilliant minds in modern horror. He’s written in probably every subgenre and has a vast output that will keep readers busy for several months. I’ve read \"ve of his books, and I’ve been blown away every time. But this novel, his latest, is his best. It’s an epistolary novel, an uncovered diary from a Lutheran pastor from 1912. !e story of Good Stab, a Blackfeet Native American vampire, is told through his confession to this pastor. !is book is a masterclass in voice—every character sounds distinct, authentic. Like they’re speaking directly to readers. Jones peels back layers of history, makes the past immediate, brutal, and this is my favorite book published this year. A modern classic. “Age of Vice” by Deepti Kapoor. I’m currently reading this (almost \"nished), but I can comfortably put it on this list. It’s immersive, addictive and the pages #y by. A story of corruption, greed, love and an un#inching look at poverty and class in India. !e balance between the personal and the political makes this tale of warring crime families in Delhi stand out. MOVIES: Here we go. Movies I liked in ’25. “Sinners”, directed by Ryan Coogler It’s already a wildly praised movie (for good reason), so I’ll keep this brief. Vampires in the Jim Crow South. Divine music, bloody action and excellent performances. !ere’s one scene in here that’s absolutely transcendent and beautiful. If you’ve seen the movie, you know what I’m talking about. “!e !ing”, directed by John Carpenter So tense, cool and awesomely gross. I really vibed with this. I’ll rewatch it any time. Blood test scene? Dog kennels? Good luck forgetting this movie. It sticks to the 2025 seems like one of those years that elongates in my memory. A bit like 2020—it feels like it went on for 10 years. We’ve been in 2025 for the past decade, which is to say, I’m happy that it’s \"nally drawn to a close. !ings get better, at least for seniors. No more college apps. More free time. But with that free time, comes great responsibility. For instance, looking back on the year and picking out, in my case, books and movies and other stu$ I liked. We did one of these things back in my junior year, I think, or maybe my memory’s receding at the ripe old age of 17. Anyway, this is a year-in-review of 2025 in terms of what I read, watched and listened to. Here we go.BOOKS:I’m not really sure how much I read in a year—the number of books I \"nish is signi\"cantly smaller than the number I start. I tend to try everything, read samples and then continue with what I like. My goal was to read more books in 2025. I will talk about three of them here. “Annihilation” by Je$ Vandermeer: 5/5 stars. !is book is a trippy, short, surreal nightmare. Told in a \"rst-person style that brings to mind foundational sci-\" writers like Verne; this book concerns Area X, a cut-o$ part of a continent that is as mysterious as it is dangerous. Only a few researchers are allowed to go on expeditions to this place. Many have gone, but few come out alive. You’ll see why. Very quickly. THE SCREENcolumn22 november& THE PAGE WITH SHIVPhotos of senior columnist Shiv Majmundar throughout the years.
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