VOLUME16 ISSUE6 THECOURIE VOL R UME16 ISSUE6 FAMOUS FOMBA A RARE TOTALITY SUMMER SCHEDULES thesummerjobexperience multi-talentedstudent benefitsofyear-roundschool totaleclipseinnorthamerica alookintowildernesscamps ESCAPE TO DANGER FULLTIME STUDENT 2840E.ORANGERD.LEWISCENTER,OH ASOLUTIONFOR POLLUTION 43035
2 APRIL/MAY A D S DESIGNER | SAVANNA SMITH
TABLE OF CONTENTS STAFF EDITORS LUNA PEREZ DELGADO | WRITING MOLLY SULLIVAN | WRITING AUDREY SELSOR | DESIGN LILLY WOOD | DESIGN KARI PHILLIPS EDITORS IN CHIEF ADVISER APRIL/MAY 3 CHAYCE GIDDENS | NEWS ADAM WELCH | SPORTS & COLUMNIST ELLA KIRK | OPINION NATHAN STATEN | FEATURE AVA VALENTIK | CULTURE SHIVAM PARIKH | COPY EDITOR CATE WOOLARD | COPY EDITOR LYLA BICE | COPY EDITOR MALAK CHAHBOUB | BUSINESS REEMA MOHAMED RAFIQ | BUSINESS ABBY KUILAN | BUSINESS ABI WYKOFF | PROJECTS HIYA PATEL | DESIGN & PHOTO MACKENNA MILLER | CARTOONIST SHIV MAJMUDAR| COLUMNIST ZION CLIFTON MIA HARRINGTON REBEKAH RICHTER SAVANNA SMITH MORE TO COME IN 2024-2025! TOC DESIGNER | AUDREY SELSOR 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 | LILLY WOOD 3 A SOLUTION TO POLLUTION P. 8 A RARE TOTALITY P. 5 FAMOUS FOMBA P. 12 SUMMER SCHEDULES P. 14 FULL-TIME STUDENT P. 16 ESCAPE TO DANGER P. 18
LACKLUSTER LUNCHES E D I N I O N the need for bettter food WRITER LUNA PEREZ DELGADO | DESIGNER MALAK CHAHBOUB S limy apple slices, misshapen clementine, mysterious hamburger patty “meat”: Everyone has experienced the horrors of school lunches at some point, only to eat seemingly inedible food and still find oneself hungry. Public school lunches in the United States are known for being repulsing. While students around the world are consuming hearty meals with delicious ingredients and fresh produce, students in the United States must settle for frozen foods that don’t even comply with the Dietary Guidelines for Americans outlined by the federal government, according to Tufts Now. Not to mention, many American families who are paying for these nauseating meals cannot afford to do so as the school lunch debt in various states demonstrates. The Ohio capital journal found that meal debt around different school districts in Ohio varies from $10,000 to $60,000. It’s clear that school lunches need major reform. The federal or state government should step in so that lunches are decent quality, meeting dietary guidelines and accessible to all students. Various pictures have been recently published on social media and news articles comparing school lunches from Italy, Finland, Japan and others to United States school lunches. It became a popular topic of conversation as people in America saw what other countries were doing for their students and wished they could have the same quality of food as these countries. This has become a recognized flaw in the United States’ National School Lunch Program. In an interview with Civil Eats, the director of the Global Child Nutrition Foundation explained how these programs with good quality and delicious recipes excite kids to eat nutritious foods and set examples for parents to follow healthy meal guidelines at home. Along with improving the quality of school lunches, it would be extremely beneficial to adapt the school lunch guidelines to meet the standards of the federal government’s recommendations. This is another necessary change to the school lunch program as according to Tufts Now, one in four school lunches lack nutrition in the United States. To combat this, the federal government needs to establish a school lunch program that follows its own dietary guidelines. By doing so, American students’ health and eating habits are expected to improve and continue into adulthood, as stated by Tufts Now. However, making these changes to the composition of American school meals would not be enough because many students in America cannot afford a simple school lunch. According to the Education Data Initiative, 30.4 million students in the United States can’t afford school lunches. Many families have no other option but to have their kids buy school lunches, even though they cannot afford to. This leads to the bigger issue: a massive national public school meal debt of $262 million a year. There is a clear solution to making school lunches easily available and affordable, making them free to students. This was done earlier and has continued to be done for a handful of students. Making school lunches free would guarantee that kids in the United States have reliable access to healthy meals that they enjoy consuming and therefore improve national health in the nation as a whole. The national school lunch program is in serious need of reform. Improving the quality, nutrition, and accessibility of lunches for kids in America creates countless benefits for the health of the country. This is why students need to take action, lobby for change, call the school board and district representatives and ask for changes in the school’s lunches. Every student deserves a healthy meal and a happy stomach. 4 APRIL/MAY . 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.
A RARE TOTALITY N E W total eclipse in north america S WRITER REEMA MOHAMED RAFIQ | DESIGNER MALAK CHAHBOUB Ohio experienced a solar eclipse on Monday, April 8. The solar eclipse has been the second solar eclipse in the last seven years, the last one being in 2017. However, this year’s eclipse was vastly different than the one in 2017. The 2017 eclipse was a partial solar eclipse, whereas the solar eclipse recently experienced was a total solar eclipse which, according to Science Teacher Patrick Daugherty, is when the moon positions itself in front of the sunlight, blocking out the sun. During totality, everything was slightly darker, and according to sophomore Evelyne Genovesi, she could see the moon, with what looked like a ring around it. The eclipse entered the United States through Texas, going northeast, before concluding at the Coast of Canada, according to The New York Times. There are multiple types of eclipses, other than just the total eclipse. “They’re lunar eclipses, solar eclipses. The one that we most recently experienced was a solar eclipse,” Daugherty said. However, according to The New York Times, behind the enjoyment of viewing the solar eclipse, one has to take the proper safety precautions in viewing the eclipse. Staring at the sun without any solar eclipse glasses could cause permanent damage to the eyes, and people can’t even feel it happen since the retinas don’t have pain receptors. Also, according to NASA, the human eye can’t view the eclipse through an optical lens while wearing glasses either, so everyone needed to purchase special lenses. The glasses had to be certified, with an ISO 12312-2 somewhere on the glasses, for them to be effective, according to CNN. For the residents of Ohio, Cleveland was a hotspot for watching the eclipse because, according to 10TV, Cleveland was one of the best places in Ohio to view the eclipse. This is because the totality lasted from 3:13 to 3:17, maxing at four minutes. The residents of Lewis Center were on the line of totality and experienced a minute and 49 seconds of totality. Many people also traveled around Ohio, to get a better view of the eclipse and longer totality times. Daugherty was one of them. “I went to Tiffin I had a bunch of family in Tiffin. We had a big family reunion, and it was awesome,” Daugherty said. Others stayed close to home, like Juniors Salma Sajith and Holika Sri Bommidi. Bommidi watched the eclipse from her backyard, surrounded by her family. Sajith watched the eclipse in her neighborhood school parking lot, with her family and friends. This eclipse was an enjoyable experience for many people. “I loved it and hoped to see it in the future again,” grade first name Genovesi said. The next eclipse in Ohio, according to Daugherty, will be in 2099, but the next eclipse for the United States will be in 2042. The eclipse was a greatly enjoyable experience for people around the country, and many schools got the day off to view the eclipse. Many people traveled and even hosted eclipse watch parties. It was the second solar eclipse to occur in the last seven years and won’t occur again in the next decade. The eclipse was a greatly enjoyable experience for people around the country, and many schools got the day off to view the eclipse. Many people travelled, and even hosted Eclipse watch parties. It was the second Solar eclipse to occur in the last seven years, and won’t occur again in the next decade. APRIL/MAY 5 . Moments prior to totality during the solar eclipse on April 8, 2024.
FROM THE SIDELINES C O L U M N preview of paris olympics COLUMNIST ADAM WELCH | DESIGNER LILLY WOOD 6 APRIL/MAY The pinnacle of sports, ranging back to the ancient times of Olympia, Greece, the Olympics are a spectacle to showcase a country’s best athletes and decide who is the greatest on earth at their specific event. This summer, Jul.26-Aug.11, the games will be held in the “City of Lights” or Paris, France. Paris has hosted twice before being in 1900, and 1924. Their third hosting event coincides on the 100th anniversary of their last hosting. France is doing things differently than any Olympics before. While many countries in the past have built sporting stadiums that pander to a specific event, just to never be utilized again like in the case of 2002 Winter Olympics hosts Salt Lake City. France is instead using its surroundings to host its events. Events like fencing, and equestrian riding will be done at the Palace of Versailles this summer. Additionally, France has done numerous cleaning efforts in the Seine River, for open-water swimming events and the triathlon. This year sees the return of some of America’s most famed Olympic athletes, like four time gold medalist gymnast Simone Biles, and seven time gold medal swimmer Katie Ledecky. It also will mark the beginning of a new generation of America’s finest athletes. 20- year-old US Open champion Coco Gauff will make her Olympics debut at the Paris Olympics hoping to add gold to her resume. World No.1, and most recent Masters champion and two time holder of the acclaimed green jacket Scottie Scheffler will also make his Olympic debut at Paris, after being the first American golfer mathematically guaranteed qualification. This year, The United States look to capture their fourth straight highest Olympic gold medal count, a streak starting at the London games in 2012. However competition is always fierce and looming as China looks to claim its spot at one for the first time since the Beijing games in 2008. The medal tally was narrow as ever in Tokyo, 2020 with China finishing just behind The United States with 38 gold medals. China is acclaimed for its reputation in table tennis, having a total of 28 gold medals since the last Olympics. In Tokoyo, along with table tennis China performed significantly well in swimming competitions placing multiple golds in both diving and swimming. China is also projected to do significantly well in shooting competitons at the Paris games this year as they bring a youthful roster full of Gen Z talent, with the youngest being 17 on the National Shooting team. According to the Global Times. However, I think the United States will finish not only with the highest gold medals in Paris this year, but also when heading back to Los Angeles for 2028. Fierceness of the competition besides, it will be a joy to witness young phenoms from both the US and China respectively make their Olympic beginnings at Paris 2024. . sports colomist adam welch.
different,” Andonovski said, according to NPR. Kansas City Current was formed in 2021 as an expansion team. According to Sporctio, the team has a $75 million work from- fueled by their growth. The development in women’s sports had direct impacts on the KC Current. On the day of this year’s season opener, the team played in their new home with fans, for the first time. “I am happy for the three points, but I’m so much more excited for the stadium, the atmosphere and the moment. This is the beginning of the change. This is going to forever change women’s soccer,” Andonokski said in a post game interview. “I love the KC Current stadium and think that it’s amazing that women’s soccer is finally getting stadiums made specifically for them. I definitely think that there should be facilities designed exclusively for women’s sports because they deserve to have stadiums because women deserve the same stadiums as men,” sophomore Midfielder Cat Sausz said. Sausz has 12 years of soccer experience. The KC roster is stacked across the board, with many versatile players who bring a lot of experience to the field. The team consists of several national team players and currently have three Olympians on their team including Desiree Scott, who has previously been a part of Team Canada. Scott is a KC Team Captain and is one many who are beyond excited about the first women’s professional training facility and stadium. “It’s important because it just sets a standard for the sport not only in football, soccer, but also just women’s sport in general that we deserve to have our own facilities, treated like true professionals and to set those standards really high for us,” Scott said. To all the young girls out there, looking up to female athletes, and hoping for change, Scott said “trust the process. Be your own biggest cheerleader but enjoy the journey. Enjoy the ride because it’s fun”. CURRENT MOMENTUM S P O R T S the kansas city nwsl team WRITER NAME ELLA KIRK | DESIGNER LILLY WOOD | PERMISSION TO PRINT KC CURRENT MEDIA There are over 7.9 billion people on earth. According to Gitnux, over half of them are enthusiasts of the most popular sport ever. Although an impressively large number, most members of the sports world are not shocked at the whopping four billion soccer fans. This competitive game is popular for many reasons, but perhaps the most important is its simplicity. “The rules are easy to understand, there is not much equipment needed, and anyone can play,” according to KU sports. While soccer has always drawn much attention overall, statistics show that fans are starting to pay a closer look to women’s sports. A CNBC article, released in early March, shared that the revenue from women’s sports is on a 300 percent increase from 2021, and because of this for the first time, “women’s elite sports will generate a revenue that surpasses $1 billion.” The National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) growth statistics remain consistent with the amplification of women’s sports. According to Forbes, the NWSL game attendance exceeded over 1.2 billion during its regular 2023 season. These numbers were reflected during the Kansas City/Portland matchup on March 16. The team reported an attendance of 11,500 to watch its 5-4 win. “In front of a sold out CPKC Stadium, Vanessa DiBernardo scored the first goal,” according to the KC Current website. The group of 28 athletes are led by 47 year old, head coach and sporting director Vlatko Andonovski. He was the head coach of the United States Women’s National Team for four years and is known for being direct with his players. Although he may appear strict at times, he is described as having much integrity and work ethic. Oftentimes people report Andonovski’s interviews appear stern, but agree they exemplify the determination he puts in, and how much he cares about his players and the sport. “Our goal is to win the World Cup. There’s no question about it. And I don’t think that anyone on our team thinks anything APRIL/MAY 7 . Kansas City Current stadium. Kansas City Current celebrating a goal.
A SOLUTION TO the environmentaWRITERS MOLLY SULLIVAN, MAKENNA SHRAGER & ABBY KUILAN | DESIGNER HIYA PATEL 8 C O V E R APRIL/MAY A woman walks down a sidewalk as a light breeze ruffles through her hair. It’s a beautiful sunny day, no clouds to be seen, and the sky a bright baby blue. She steps into the grassy meadows beside her neighborhood park, when suddenly she steps into a dirty plastic bag. She quickly steps out of it, but as she takes a moment to look around, she sees there are plastic bags and trash lying all around her beloved park, ruining the image of it. In 2020, there were around 3.2 billion people affected by land pollution according to the UN Environment Program. Land pollution can be caused by an array of things such as mining, construction, deforestation and landfills. “Here in Central Ohio, one of the biggest causes of land pollution is litter. Many of our inner-city neighborhoods are utilizing large 300-gallon trash cans in the alleys that are shared amongst neighbors. These 300-gallon bins are a huge source of litter as it removes accountability for keeping the area clean and encourages illegal dumping,” Executive Director for Green Columbus Shelly Douglas said. Green Columbus is a nonprofit organization that works to improve the environment and stop land pollution in Central Ohio. Landfills are also one of the main sources of land pollution. The purpose of landfills is to hold all the trash coming from homes, and it decomposes over a period of time. “The decomposition process produces methane, a dangerous and flammable gas. In modern landfills, the methane is collected in pipes so that it can be vented, burned or even used as an energy source,” according to National Geographic. However, leaks do occur, and when they do, they are catastrophic to the humans, animals and plants near that environment. This directly impacts other parts of the environment such as the air. “Methane emissions cause 25 percent of global heating today, and there has been a ‘scary’ surge since 2007, according to scientists,” according to the Guardian. Fast fashion companies like Shein, also, make up a lot of landfills and cause a lot of serious repercussions for the environment. Fast fashion is when clothing is made very quickly to keep up with the latest fashion trends, is mass produced and sold very cheaply. Due to this, millions of these clothes end up in landfills. “Others and I can work to do our individual part when it comes to preventing land pollution. This can include being cognizant of the trash we are producing and keeping it to a minimum when possible,” sophomore Samira Kandhari said. Deforestation causes the loss of biodiversity, and many animals lose their homes. It also creates a warmer environment that causes the soil to dry up and cause soil erosion. Soil erosion is when the effect of wind, water or the clearing of land takes away the soil particles and causes it to worsen, according to Iowa State University. “Forests are also home to more than 80 percent of the world’s life on land. However, the world is losing 137 species of plants, animals and insects every day to deforestation and a staggering 50,000 species become extinct each year,” according to Earth.Org. Mining causes a depletion of vegetation which affects the crops and animals in that area. Alongside that ,construction also contributes to the decrease in plants and causes soil to go bad because of all the chemicals at work while construction happens. “One of my major concerns is the presence of microplastics in our environment. Our animals and wildlife are not used to plastic existing in nature, and often eat it or bring it back to their nests. Additionally, microplastics are found in the human body due to consumption of these animals or interaction with our environment. Each one of them causes serious negative effects on Earth and the inhabitants on it,” Douglas said. There are a multitude of ways to prevent land pollution such as reusing materials, recycling and reducing consumption. Using these methods can help better the planet as a whole. “Green Columbus and other groups often lead litter cleanups to remove litter from the watershed before it reaches the river,” Douglas said. “Volunteering at a litter clean-up is a great way to limit pollution because it creates a personal connection to keeping our environment clean and shows the community that we are trying to be better.” -Use public transportation -Don’t burn your trash -Plant more trees -Air Dry clothes How to improve air quaility HowAccording to Missouri Department of Natural Rescources -Use -Use -Catc-PracHow to help ouland -Plant trees -Reduce, Reuse, R-Choose sustainab-Volunteer for cleAccording to National Ocean Service
POLLUTION al issues of today 9 C O V E R APRIL/MAY However, land is not the only environment in major need of clean up due to pollution. In the heart of the world’s bustling cities, an unexpected threat lurks, often underestimated. The air everyone breathes, a l t h o u g h essential to sustain life, has been tainted by the invisible enemy of air pollution. T o d a y , air pollution levels in the United States have reached an all-time high. These levels exceed national standards for harmful pollutants such as ozone and fine particle pollution, according to the United States Environmental Protection Agency. Most air pollution stems from burning fossil fuels for energy. Whether its vehicles fueled by gasoline, a house heated with oil or power plants, this has become a common practice. In developing countries, air pollution is a large issue because of overpopulation and uncontrolled urbanization. Accumulation of air pollution resulted in an increase in the number of deaths per year in New York City and London. According to the World Health Organization, many health issues can stem from air pollution. Diseases that can stem from air pollution include stroke, diabetes, heart disease and lung cancer. “Vulnerable populations, especially those with limited resources, within the United States and across the globe will be most adversely impacted. So, in the case of a place like Columbus, actions need to be taken to adapt,” The Ohio State University Environmental Science Professor Jeff Sharp said. In order to change the current trend of a decline in the world’s air quality, big changes need to be made for the health of all citizens. These adaptations could include a change in the way people travel and live their daily lives less dependent on unsustainable resources. “One challenge of addressing the climate crisis is identifying meaningful actions. We can consider two broad categories of actions: actions that try to mitigate our impact (proactive efforts to reduce total greenhouse gas emissions) or efforts to adapt (reactive efforts to reduce the potential adverse impacts or climate change),” Sharp said. Environmental Science professor at The Ohio State University Nicole Sintov also said society must change transportation methods to improve air issues, as it tends to be a large contributor. “Many contributors to climate change are also contributors to air pollution, implementing regulations for commercial and industrial emissions and reducing singleoccupancy vehicle use, particularly gasolinepowered vehicles,” Sintov said. Everybody can contribute to a decrease in air pollution, taking some time each day to be mindful about energy usage. This could include carpooling, taking public transportation or reducing gas consumption. “Continued efforts to transition to renewable energy and reduce carbon emissions, especially from carbon intense sectors such as transportation or fashion,” Sharp said. Although there could be a clear solution to the air pollution issue, most methods are easier said than done. “I hate to be pessimistic but, yes, at least in the United States. I do not believe public support is sufficient to lead to the regulation that would be needed, nor is there enough of a groundswell to suggest that voluntary behavior change will work,” Sintov said. However, there are certain arrangements cities and neighborhoods can make to mitigate climate issues in the meantime. “But examples of adaptation might include trying to increase tree canopy (create more shade through trees), to reduce the heat island effect in some neighborhoods. This is especially important as we see an increase in heat waves and high heat days in the future,” Sharp said. There must be many large societal changes if the world wants to see a change in air pollution issues, including a societal shift toward climate awareness. Doing small things each day to work to improve the climate could potentially turn into a change. Nevertheless, the Earth still has another key environment that is massively affected by pollution. That environment is the oceans, rivers, lakes and other bodies of water that make up 71 percent of the Earth. Although most of the trash people produce goes into landfills, a lot of it ends up in rivers and oceans. According to the United Nations, water covers over 70 percent of the Earth’s surface and houses over 50 percent of all life. However, trash is not the only factor negatively impacting our oceans. “One of the biggest contributors iss ow to help our oceans e less water e less plastic ch and release fish ctice safe boating ur According to National Ocean Service Recycle able eanups e
10 C O V E R APRIL/MAY our reliance on fossil fuels. From extraction to processing to waste disposal, that is by far the biggest issue that we are facing globally,” AP Environmental Science Teacher Jessica Timmons said. The use of fossil fuels in exchange for energy, increases the temperature and acidity of the oceans. The oceans are essentially storage containers for carbon, so when fossil fuels are burned and carbon dioxide is released into the atmosphere, the oceans will then absorb that carbon. When the carbon dioxide is mixed with the salt water it then forms calcium carbonate, and at dangerous levels it can lower the pH of the oceans, making it more acidic. Acidification of the oceans is an evergrowing problem. When the oceans become too acidic it can be difficult for marine life to survive. Hydrogen is found in the water and is highly attracted to carbonate. When the carbonate and hydrogen bonds, bicarbonate is formed. Bicarbonate can be detrimental for shell-building organisms. “Shell-building organisms can't extract the carbonate ion they need from bicarbonate, preventing them from using that carbonate to grow new shells,” according to the Ocean Portal Team at Smithsonian. Shells and skeletons found in organisms such as oysters, clams, lobster, shrimp and even coral reefs won’t be able to grow causing a loss of biodiversity because of the population decline. “With a less complex and capable reef structure, there will be challenges of supporting the biodiversity in the ecosystem,” Environmental Club Officer and senior Ohanna Cho said. Reefs provide food, habitats, and protect the shore from oceanic currents. When the pH of the water gets too low, the coral will have a bleaching event that can take away all the benefits that the coral provides. Bleaching occurs when coral releases all of the microorganisms living in its tissues as a result of stress. Bleaching makes coral lose their number one source of food and they become more susceptible to disease. The reefs may look barren and dead, but the coral are still alive. In the Pacific Ocean, trash collects in what is called the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. This patch of garbage is so impactful to the marine environment for many reasons: one being that the trash is often mistaken for food. Grocery bags collected in the reef are mistaken for jellyfish, especially by sea turtles. The World Wildlife Fund states that around 52 percent of the world’s turtles have ingested plastic waste. Another part of the problem with the patch is the amount of fishing equipment found in it. Fishing traps still may work even when they aren’t meant to be used, which is referred to as ghost fishing. Ghost fishing occurs when old equipment still catches organisms even when they were not intended to. These traps show no mercy and can catch endangered species, causing more of a population decline that can
APRIL/MAY 11 C O V E R . then lead to extinction. The World Wildlife Fund found that 46 percent of the garbage patch is lost fishing gear, including nets, lines, hooks and rope. Commercial fishing produces an immense amount of pollution, contributing over one hundred million pounds of plastic into the oceans each year. This plastic polluting the oceans and being ingested by marine life, eventually ends up in humans. People eat fish who have microplastics in their stomachs and in turn, that causes people to eat those plastics negatively affecting human bodies. “Around 70 percent of the fish that come out of the Pacific Ocean have microplastics in them, and then we ingest those fish. A lot of the plastics are found to be carcinogenic, which can then also impact our health, not just the quality of life in the oceans,” Timmons said. The pollution that goes into the oceans is detrimental to all life. While not everyone fishes or directly contributes to fossil fuels, it is still important to be aware of the waste produced and where that waste may go. Overall, pollution has had a massive effect on the wellbeing of the planet. Many scientists and civilians are concerned with how this will shape the future and what that means for the human race. However, there are many things, such as using reusable water bottles recycling, or electric cars, that anyone can do to help the betterment of the planet and hopefully work to solve some of these issues. “Around 70 percent of the fish that come out of the Pacific Ocean have microplastics in them,” science teacher Jessica Timmons said.
FAMOUS FOMBA F E A T U R E a multi-talented student’s life WRITER NATHAN STATEN | DESIGNER MIA HARRINGTON | PERMISSION TO PRINT ALEX FOMBA The curtains pull away, bright, warm lights hit his face. His mind is racing thinking about his upcoming track meet, but he must stay focused on keeping time for his choir group. Junior Alex Fomba is the school’s Above the Noise beat boxer and a sprinter for the track team. Fomba’s role as the beatboxer is to act as a vocal percussion instrument, helping the choir keep tempo and rhythm within the music’s correct timing. “My importance as the beatboxer is to make our songs enjoyable and a lot more fun. I play a pivotal role in our group, not only when it comes to keeping ourselves in tempo but also uplifting everyone’s spirits so we perform at our best,” Fomba said. Last year at ICHSA semifinals, Fomba won the competition’s award for “Outstanding Vocal Percussion”. “I was never expecting me to win such an award at the most prestigious high school competition, especially since it was my first year ever as a beatboxer. So, I’m proud on how far I came up and making history with Above the Noise when we made it past quarterfinals,” Fomba said. Fomba is also a track sprinter on the school’s team, running the solo 100m, 200m, 400m and group sprint relays regularly. “The coaches always compliment the way I get out of the blocks with speed and how good my form is in doing so,” Fomba said. Amongst his coaches and superiors, Fomba’s peers also speak highly of his talent and character. “He’s super nice and responsible as a classmate. He gives me good feedback and helps all of us as a group stay balanced and together musically while also making us all smile when we’re just hanging out,” junior Emilee Ludwig said. Fomba doesn’t view track and choir in similar ways, instead opting to use the two vastly different talents of his to channel different parts of his personality. “For me, I view track and choir as two different worlds. When I’m on the track, I have a different mindset, and I’m always pushing myself to get faster times. Compared to choir, or music in general, it’s the best way for me to express my art and show my creativity in captivating ways,” Fomba said. Black Empowerment Club held its annual black history month assembly on Feb. 9 in the auditorium. Fomba took time to create an originally composed score for the showcase. “Making a composition for the Black Empowerment Club meant a lot for me because it was not only my first time doing such a thing, but because I found a way to blend classical elements of music with jazz and blues. I loved my sense of chord usage from the classic style transitioning to a more jazzy feel, and it was a great way to showcase African-American art,” Fomba said. Fomba has always been interested in learning and trying new things, and his parents have worked hard to facilitate his curiosities. “Alex was always a curious and adventurous child. He had the interest to learn new things. All we did was encourage his curiosity and teach him the lessons of success. Alex has the mind and discipline to learn anything that captures his attention or imagination,” Stephen Fomba, Alex’s father said. Fomba’s parents worked hard to teach him important life lessons that would cater to his ambitions. “We taught him love for what he does. We taught Alex to dedicate time and be very committed to anything that he wants to do. It is imperative to love whatever he does. For without love, one could not firmly commit to anything. Alex has come to love music, track, education and people,” Stephen Fomba said. The final song in the set wraps up and the crowd erupts into clapping and cheering. The curtains close as he rushes off stage to change for his track meet. 12 APRIL/MAY . Junior Alex Fomba Fomba winning Outstanding Vocal Percussion and Above the Noise winning Outstanding Second Place.
RECORD BREAKERS F E A T U R E women influencing music WRITER ABBY KUILAN | DESIGNER MIA HARRINGTON According to Spotify, out of the top 10 popular artists of 2023 on the platform, four of them were women. One of them was Taylor Swift, the No. 1 streamed artist of 2023. On the Billboard top artists of 2023, three women in the top 10 with Swift being the No. 1 artist again. In the past year, it seems like there have been many accomplishments made by women in the music industry such as Beyonce’s Renaissance Tour and Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour. The Eras Tour became the highest earning tour of all time and the first tour to earn more than $1 billion, and Beyonce’s tour made more than $500 million as well, according to Forbes. In the past few months of this year, popular female artists like Beyonce, Ariana Grande, and Taylor Swift, dropped their new albums. “Honestly, as much hate as some female popular artists get, it genuinely just comes down to preference. Not everyone’s music is meant for everyone since people have different tastes,” sophomore Ayana Mehta said. Swift’s Eras Tour began in March of 2023, and she also had the re-releases of “Speak Now (Taylor’s Version)” and “1989 (Taylor’s Version)” the past year as well. Along with these, she announced her new album “The Tortured Poets Department”, her 11th album. The album was released on April 19, according to Time Magazine. “In the new album, I am excited to see Taylor POV on break up. I am excited to see how her writing has grown and to learn new words,” sophomore Eryn Sutherland said. Her new album is also the biggest selling album of 2024 according to Billboard. “The Tortured Poets Department launches with 2.61 million equivalent album units earned in the U.S. in the week ending April 25, with traditional album sales (purchases of digital download albums, CDs, vinyl LPs and cassettes) comprising 1.914 million of that sum,” Billboard states. Beyonce also released a new album, “Cowboy Carter”, act II of her album trilogy. It was released on March 29. The album also became No. 1 on Billboard’s Top Country Albums, making her the first black woman to have a number one in this genre, according to Billboard. “To copy what other people think, I see it as a way to ‘reclaim’ genres that are originally from black artists,” sophomore Preston Bronder said. Beyonce’s album made around 1.653 million album units in the first week, making it the biggest seller since her album “Lemonade”, according to Complex. So far she is the second biggest selling album of 2024, coming behind Swift, according to Billboard. “It is a fantastic album, and I adored my first listen. However, compared to “Renaissance”, it is not something I would listen to often,” Bronder said. Ariana Grande appeared back in the music industry this year after almost four years of not releasing any music, with her single “Yes and?”. This was followed by her new album “Eternal Sunshine”, which came out on March 8. “With the release of Ariana Grande’s newest album, “Eternal Sunshine”, it revealed an innovative and vulnerable side of her that was not shown on her previous albums,” sophomore Aiden Tang said. The new album earned about 227,000 in sales for the first week it was released in the United States, according to The New York Times. “Ariana Grande proves that artists that are the best of the best do not regress as they age; instead, her voice only becomes richer and impressively soothing, as she proved in the release of her latest album,” Tang said. Other new female artists albums to look forward to this year include, Billie Eilish’s “Hit Me Hard and Soft”, SZA’s album, “Lana”, and Lana Del Rey’s “Lasso”. “Allowing for the awareness and representation of female artists is essential across all genres of music as it allows for diverse listening tastes for all enjoyers of music across the world,” Tang said. APRIL/MAY 13 .
SUMMER SCHEDULES F E A T U R E the summer job experience WRITER REBEKAH RICHTER | DESIGNER MACKENNA MILLER During the summertime, there are two different types of people: people who have money to buy different things with. These people normally have summer jobs, have money to hang out with their friends, but don’t have as much time to relax. However, there are also the people who have unlimited time to do whatever they want. They normally don’t have a summer job, can endlessly hang out with friends and relax, yet they don’t have money to pay for what they want. Some students see value in having a summer job. Making money is important to them, so they are willing to sacrifice some of their free time. In 2023, there were around 21.6 million 16-24-year-olds employed between the months of April to July, according to bls.gov. Teens on average during the summer 2024 are projected to make around $18 per hour, according to ZipRecruiter. “It is important for people to have a summer job for experience with having responsibilities outside of school, and to understand that after high school, summer break doesn’t exist in most job fields,” Qdoba Employee senior Brenden Wood said. Some students must get summer jobs because they are forced to by their parents, others are saving up for college and some just want to have money for enjoyment. “The purpose of summer jobs is taking advantage of free time to earn and save money,” Wood said. College is very expensive, costing at least $12,000 for in state tuition. Out of state tuition for residents of Ohio is around $30,000, according to Business Insider. Some students have to pay for college independently. They are then reliant on financial aid and summer jobs to help them pay for college. “I am partially responsible for my tuition at OSU. I have this summer job to help me pay for certain expenses that I will cover in college,” Wood said. Other advantages of a summer job include teaching responsibility, time management, commitment, social skills, and getting students ready for the workforce after college, according to Investopedia. “I have learned a lot through my job at The Lakes. There are many positives including meeting new people and making money, but it does take up my free time in the summer,” The Lakes Country Club Employee junior Jack Parsons said. While having a summer job comes with many benefits, it is a lot of work and commitment. Some students don’t have the ability in their schedules to have summer jobs as well as just simply wanting to enjoy the months they have off. “I don’t have a summer job because it is hard with my soccer schedule. I also want to enjoy my last few summers that I have without having the stress of a job. You only get to be a teenager once, so I want to enjoy that time with my friends and family,” freshman Ethan Weiser said. Some people want to enjoy their summers while they can because they could be working every other summer for the rest of their lives depending on the job they have. “I want to enjoy the summers that I have left as a teenager. I will be working the rest of my life during the summertime,” Weiser said. Sports also prevent some students from getting a summer job. There is so much pressure that comes with sports schedules that some people can’t add another thing into their schedules. “I play soccer, and we do training throughout the summer for school. Training starts at 8 a.m., and I have to keep my body rested. I have to go to bed early to do this, so it makes it hard to add one more thing like a summer job into my schedule,” Weiser said. 14 APRIL/MAY . In 2023, there were around 21.6 million 16- bls.gov 24-year- olds employed between the months of April to July
MONTH OF FAITH C U L T U R E deep dive into the ramadan celebration WRITER CHAYCE GIDDENS | DESIGNER MACKENNA MILLER On the ninth month in the Islamic calendar, Ramadan begins; where Muslims fast from sunrise to sunset and focus on their five prayers while reading the Quran. This is where believers grow on their spiritual journeys as this is a month full of devotion to Allah (God), worship, fasting, charity and pilgrimage. Throughout the course of the month, Muslims spend a lot of time on their spiritual health. As this month teaches individuals patience and discipline, it is also a way to emphasize with the less fortunate, according to Brandeis University. “Ramadan, not only this year but every year, helps me grow as a person and helps me learn more about Islam and my roots,” sophomore Ajeeja Nargis said. “It teaches me the value of Islam and this special holy month for us; the act of fasting from sunrise to sunset teaches self-control and the value of food.” Fasting (called Sawm) is one of the five pillars of Islam, along with the faith (Shahada), prayer (Salat), charity (Zakat) and pilgrimage (Hajj). However, fasting can be difficult for other Muslims. “If you’re a nursing mom, pregnant, taking insulin, have diabetes, you are not able to fast; your blood pressure is off,” teacher Maliha Arman, from Glen Oak Elementary said. “It was very hard for me. I am five months pregnant. I was going to fast, but the doctors said no to that. My health would not allow that. The biggest thing is knowing that children do not have to fast.” In the days of Ramadan, Suhoor and Iftar are the times where individuals break their fast with their families. According to Arman, Suhoor practices are having breakfast – Muslims want a hearty meal and then after they eat, they do their first prayer, Fajr, which starts the fasting for the day. Some things differ for Iftar. “Some common practices we participate in during Iftar is we first pray to Allah and thank him for the food; we typically open our fast with a date and water since that is how Prophet Muhammad opened his fast,” Nargis said. “Afterwards, we go pray since the time we open our fast directly is related to our evening prayers. Then, we come back to have the rest of our meal.” Ramadan is one of the most sacred months for Muslims, yet there are three other months in the Islamic calendar that are very holy. These months keep the remembrance of Allah (God) alive and places importance on his origins. “Ramdan is one of the most sacred times of the year, because of the restart, purification and because of it being 30 days long; it’s not just a weeklong thing that you soon forget about. What you take from Ramadan is what you’re going to practice throughout the whole year,” Arman said. “The four sacred months in the Islamic calendar are Dhu al-Qadah, DhulHijjah, Muharram and Rajab and one of those is part of Ramadan. In those four months, during the Prophet’s time, there were no wars, no hunting animals. They were sacred because of it being like a restart, and Dhul-Hijjah is when people performed their pilgrimage to Makkah.” Aside from fasting and prayer, there are also celebrations that happen during Ramadan as well, known as Eid al-Fitr, Eid al-Adha and Laylatul Qadr. “Eid al-Fitr is the celebration of finishing a month of fasting and the progress we’ve made from improving our spiritual selves,” Nargis said. “Eid al-Adha, also known as Bakrid, which is the sacrifice of any animal to commemorate Prophet Ibrahim’s devotions to Allah. Laylatul Qadr is the holiest night in the whole year that falls on the last 10 nights of Ramadan, typically lasting for the full night, usually the 27th night of Ramadan; it is the night of power, great reward and significance.” Ramadan is a rite of passage, and as Muslims apply the five pillars to their everyday life, they begin to understand and commemorate Allah and his teaching more while developing spiritually. APRIL/MAY 15 .
FULL-TIME SCHOOL O P I N I O N benefits of year round school The crowning point of the American Dream: waterparks, ice cream trucks and best of all, time off school. The much-anticipated summer break is a motivation for many students getting through that second semester stretch of school. But this motivation could be a bit outdated and old fashioned. These questions are coming more to light as schools shift further from the dated 180-day school year. Shortening or in some cases removing summer break is becoming a common initiative as more schedule related issues continue to arise. As of 2021, there are over 3,000 year-round schools in the nation, and at least 22 of them are in Ohio, according to the Department of Education.This growing schedule alternative is providing a positive solution to many issues caused by the traditional 180-day school year. These schools are opting out of the extensive conventional summer break and allocating this extra time to more regular and shorter breaks within the school year. “Old fashioned” The idea of summer break grew from the traditional school schedule built during the early 1900s, a time long before air conditioning units were popularized in public school. With sweltering temperatures in the buildings, middle class parents took their children out of schools and oftentimes on a vacation. Therefore, the ideals of the beloved summer break were founded. But what about now? With internal air conditioning installed in over 63 percent of classrooms in schools, according to the National Center for Education Statistics, the concern of building temperatures is hardly a nationwide issue anymore. “Regression” Furthermore, the structureless time created by summer breaks is one of the leading causes of classroom learning regression, with students losing up to three months’ worth of their prior school year’s education, according to Scientific America. This leads to an average of four weeks at the beginning of each school year being wasted reviewing the previous year’s material, according to Education Week. A simple solution to this issue would be targeting the root issue: lengthy summer breaks out of school. Not only would this solve the overwhelmingly detrimental issue of learning regression, but it would also provide students with further education time. “More opportunities” Different models of year-round schooling are seen depending on their location, a common example being the tri-semester year (opposed to the traditional two semesters). This specific schedule allows for students to take an extra semester long class, a class that is often tailored to students’ personal interests, furthering their unique passions with education. The exclusion or shortening of summer break also provides the positive outcome of saved time that could be allocated to other areas within the year. Depending on the year’s schedule, shorter breaks could be included throughout the year, allowing students the time to “reset” without the detriment of regression seen over lengthy breaks. In Olentangy changing schedules around the nation, pose an alternate possibility for the Olentangy schedule. For the time being, the district has not taken any notable steps to this constructive future of education. However, there are both semester and full school year length classes available for students to enroll in online over summer breaks. This is an amazing alternative for students to avoid the learning regression caused by lengthy breaks, as well as adding more classes to job and college resumes. 16 APRIL/MAY . OR PRO: Full year school allows for more elective options Con: Summer break often leads to learning regression WRITER ABI WYKOFF| DESIGNER ZION CLIFTON
TV TRAUMA O P I N I O N the dark side of childhood WRITER MOLLY SULLIVAN | DESIGNER ZION CLIFTON A s children, sitcoms were a comforting outlet, laughter was heard through living rooms and characters felt like family. But beyond the scripted jokes, there is a harsh reality that is created by abuse and exploitation suffered by the young actors who brought the shows to life. The exploitation of child actors within the entertainment industry is an overly common occurrence, as recently several popular child actors and set workers on some popular, well-loved shows have come out about their horrible experiences working on set. Television series “Quiet on Set” released last month has sparked conversation concerning the abuse and exploitation of several popular child actors from the early to late 2000s. Cast members from director Dan Schneider’s biggest shows including “All That”, “The Amanda Show”, “Drake & Josh”, and “Zoe 101” appeared in this documentary series to discuss their experiences with their director and the network. One of the most prominent stories was Drake Bell, who appeared on Drake & Josh and The Amanda Show. Bell spoke out about experiencing sexual abuse during his time on the shows. He faced abuse from Nickelodeon dialogue coach Brian Peck as a teenager, and his testimony eventually landed Peck in prison. However, Peck was not the only questionable figure when it came to these incidents, as the show also highlighted issues with Schneider, the director, revealing an insidious environment with allegations of abuse, sexism, racism and inappropriate dynamics with the underage crew, according to Cinema Now. Schneider was applauded for his ability to grab children’s attention through sketches children and teens loved, known as Nickelodeon’s ‘golden boy’. He is credited with jumpstarting the careers of several child stars, including Ariana Grande, Amanda Byrnes, as well as Bell, according to USA Today. However, behind the scenes, he was known as an abusive director who would take advantage of his crew, according to “Quiet on Set”. Schneider was accused of engaging in unprofessional behaviors in the workplace, one of the most common included repeatedly asking female employees to massage his neck while on set, according to USA Today. Adding onto his acts of gender discrimination, Schneider made the only two women in the writing room share a salary, according to “The Amanda Show” writers Jenny Kilgen and Christy Stratton. While “Quiet on Set” has sparked conversation by revealing only situations of abuse occurring in Nickelodeon shows, the documentary inspired several actors from other channels and platforms to speak out. This included “Big Bang Theory” star and former child actor, Mayim Balik on her podcast “The Breakdown”. “This was so much a part of an acceptable way to run a business. That felt like the most devastating thing, and it wasn’t just happening at Nickelodeon,” Balik said, according to Fox News. And as the documentary brings more and more stories to light, there is hope for a change in this pattern of abuse in the acting industry. With increased awareness comes with the potential of reforms. Former child actor Alyson Stoner offers concrete steps the industry should take, which includes requiring a qualified mental health professional on set, according to The Atlantic. These stricter regulations that can provide access to mental health resources would help to foster a more supportive environment on set. While actions like this could help to improve the current situation of the industry, creating laws to protect child actors from this treatment would be very beneficial. The California law that currently creates protections for children working in the entertainment industry that mandates background checks for directors and staff has a major issue: it doens’t apply if a parent or guardian is accompanying the child on set, according to Backstage. It’s time to prioritize the well-being of child actors. Stronger legal and cultural protections are necessary to ensure that they can thrive in their careers in the future. Making the changes would create a safer and healthier environment for the next generation of performers to shine. APRIL/MAY 17 .
$69 BILLION TROUBLED TEEN INDUSTRY ANNUAL VALUE “A 12-year-old boy died at a wilderness therapy program. He’s not the first” -USA Today Horrific ways 12 teens died at cruel ‘wilderness therapy’ camps -Mirror “The Programs seeks to remove youths from the distractions of their everyday lives” - Office of Juvenile Justice and Deliquency Prevention 315+ CHILDREN HAVE DIED IN THESE PROGRAMS SINCE 1934 120,000- 200,000 KIDS STUCK IN THE TROUBLED TEEN INDUSTRY AT ANY TIME “The ones willing to “Teen Boot Camp” snitch on and mistreat others did well and advanced in the program” “These programs perpetuate child abuse and neglect” -Theregrewview Source: Surviving The Troubled Teen Industry (unless THE TRUTH ABOUT WILDERNESS CAMPS otherwise noted) ESCAPE TO DANGER O P I N I O N a look into wilderness camps WRITER AVA VALENTIK | DESIGNER ELLA KIRK I n the wide variety of therapeutic interventions for troubled youth, wilderness therapy camps surprisingly stand out as a popular option. Making most of their money by boasting about the healing power of adventure, these programs promise transformation and rehabilitation for struggling teens through nature. However, beneath the endless amount of lies, there is a deeply concerning reality: wilderness therapy camps are flawed and potentially harmful to those they claim to help. In the 1960s, school officials at Brigham Young University developed a course called “Youth Leadership 480.” The course, taught by then-undergraduate Larry Dean Olsen, aimed to help failing students gain readmission by learning outdoor survival skills on month-long backpacking trips in the Utah desert. Subsequently, the course garnered the attention of Utah County officials, who adopted its model to try to help juvenile delinquents. Realizing the profit potential, some of Olsen’s former peers branched off and started their private wilderness therapy camps according to Arkansas Advocate. At first glance, the idea of these camps seems promising. Removed from the distractions and stresses of modern life, the teens involved are thrust into the heart of nature, where they are encouraged to confront their deepest thoughts amidst the landscapes and activities they are provided with. Counselors and workers of these therapy camps argue that this camp in nature helps show personal growth and self-reliance. But the truth is far more complicated than what it’s made out to be. While some may find temporary peace in the wilderness, others are subjected to an array of dangers and abuses. One of the biggest issues when talking about wilderness therapy camps is the lack of regulation on the patients. Unlike traditional therapy programs, these camps run with minimal oversight, which can allow for a wide range of practices that can be both extremely unethical and harmful. Some of these practices have resulted in reports of physical and emotional abuse, neglect and exploitation, which are alarmingly common within the industry. Stories of those participating in these camps being deprived of food and shelter, given harsh punishment, or even being sexually assaulted are just a few examples of the realities faced by the vulnerable youth in these camps. On top of that, isolation from family and friends can bring up feelings of abandonment and loneliness, leading to lasting psychological trauma or PTSD. It is due to situations like these that it is argued the efficacy of wilderness therapy camps is slim and dangerous. While some individuals may experience temporary improvements in their behavior or mental health symptoms afterward, these gains are often short-lived and fail to address the underlying issues that contribute to their struggles. With these concerns in mind, we must reassess the role of wilderness therapy camps in the treatment ideas of troubled teens. Rather than throwing vulnerable youth into unregulated programs with crazy practices, people must invest in evidencebased approaches to taking care of mental health that prioritize the safety and well-being of teens. Some steps to achieving this include increased oversight and regulation of wilderness therapy camps, as well as greater access to affordable mental health care for all youth. While the idea of wilderness therapy camps may be tempting to some, it is more than important to research and realize that the risks far outweigh the potential benefits. It is time to acknowledge the obvious flaws of these programs and advocate for a more compassionate and effective approach to supporting teens in need of mental health care. Until then, the wilderness will continue to leave countless adolescents vulnerable to exploitation and harm. 18 APRIL/MAY .
THE SCREEN C O L U M N ‘DUNE 2’: BOLD AND BREATHTAKING SCI-FI COLUMNIST SHIV MAJMUDAR| DESIGNER SAVANNA SMITH APRIL/MAY 19 S eated for an afternoon screening of “Dune: Part 2,” I couldn’t wait for the previews to end. Allstate ads, some Disney movie, King Kong – I couldn’t bear to see a second of it. I checked my phone, wondering if I should sneak to the bathroom one more time. I wanted to be in my seat from the start of this movie to the end. And as the film began, I could not take my eyes away from the screen. In the past few weeks, I had been getting excited to see this movie. Or perhaps excited isn’t the best word. Your nerdy columnist was dying to see this movie. It was the sequel to “Dune: Part 1,” which covered only half of Frank Herbert’s science fiction epic “Dune”. I reread the book for this. But I was busy and had to wait for spring break to see Denis Villeneuve’s latest movie which, by some accounts, is the best film (so far) of 2024. But as soon as the previews finally stopped, the lights went dark, and I could no longer look away. The film began. The wait was over. In the days after I was told that I would be your new columnist, I had no idea what to write about. Such doubts cleared up the second I saw the screen light up with the vivid orange glow of Arrakis. Sandworms barreled through the high cliffs of desert. I could feel the vibrations from these extraterrestrial creatures in my seat. Books and movies are different, but when they’re done right, those imaginary things become more real than anything else in your life. Both have the power to be transformative modes of storytelling. So, when it came time to sift through ideas, this is what I wanted to share with all of you. “Dune 2” shines with stunning image after stunning image. It’s an art flick disguised as a sci-fi movie. Every scene could be framed on a wall; there is beauty in even the most transient shots. Out of its many good qualities, “Dune 2” is notable for its cinematography. They say a picture is worth a thousand words, and while I’ve always disagreed with that, this movie may have changed my mind. Each shot captures the atmosphere of the desert planet perfectly. Whether its golden mountains of sand or a worm erupting from the ground, the film captures the danger and thrill of Arrakis just as well (if not better) as Frank Herbert’s words did. “Dune 2” also fleshes out its characters in a way that outdoes the book. Paul Atreides’s transformation from a sad, troubled boy to a powerful, prophetic figure is portrayed masterfully in this film. Timothee Chalamet gets a chance to shine as Muad ‘Dib and rises to the occasion. He is well-suited for the part of Paul Atreides, although the same cannot be said for his role in 2023’s “Wonka.” “Dune 2’s” cast sports quite a few big names. Zendaya gets her due of screen time as Chani, Paul’s Fremen lover. Austin Butler plays the villain FeydRautha Harkonnen, the bald, throatslitting psycho who eats organs and kills a few people in his first scene. Butler’s performance is effective and memorable – he has an unpredictable, fierce presence on the screen. The film had more than a few scenes that took my breath away. Out of all of the things I’ll remember from this entire year, one of them will be watching Paul Atreides ride a sandworm over the towering dunes of Arrakis. It is absolutely unforgettable. When the credits rolled, nearly three hours after I first entered the theater, I sat back and blinked. It felt like I was waking up from a dream. Three hours had gone by in what seemed like an instant. Great art makes people forget about the world. Viewers get immersed in another, and they don’t realize that they were until it’s done. I didn’t notice how stiff my legs were or how full my bladder was. For three hours, I wasn’t at an AMC in Dallas, Texas, but on Arrakis. Sometimes, it’s good to leave this world. There is so much more to witness. With Shiv & THE PAGE .