2 SEPTEMBER A D S DESIGN | MAKENNA SHRAGER
TABLE OF CONTENTS EDITORS STAFF TAYLOR GOUDIE | WRITING NICK WOOLARD | WRITING MAKENNA SHRAGER | DESIGN KARI PHILLIPS EDITORS IN CHIEF ADVISER SEPTEMBER 3 AVA VALENTIK | NEWS & CULTURE ADAM WELCH | SPORTS & COLUMNIST MOLLY SULLIVAN | OPINION LUNA PEREZ DELGADO | FEATURE ABI WYKOFF | COPY EDITOR NATALIA FAVILA INACUA | BUSINESS NATHAN STATEN | BUSINESS CAROLINE ALBERT | PROJECTS AUDREY SELSOR | DESIGN & PHOTO LILLY WOOD | DESIGN & PHOTO VALENTINA URBAEZ | COLUMNIST MALAK CHAHBOUB ZION CLIFTON CHAYCE GIDDENS LINCOLN HAKE ELLA KIRK ABBY KUILAN MACKENNA MILLER REEMA MOHAMED RAFIQ HIYA PATEL REBEKAH RICHTER SAVANNA SMITH THE SCENE P. 16 LET’S TALK ABOUT SIZE P. 12 MAD ABOUT MEYER P. 20 TRUMP IN THE DUMP P. 7 FROM THE SIDELINES P. 10 STAYING CURRENT TOC DESIGNER MAKENNA SHRAGER CHECK OUT THE COURIER’S ONLINE SITE! ALL YOUR FAVORITE WRITERS AND DESIGNERS GO DIGITAL. SCAN THE CODE WITH YOUR CAMERA TO BE TAKEN DIRECTLY THERE! COVER DESIGNER MAKENNA SHRAGER with valentina P. 27 3
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 [email protected] 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. S STAFF EDITORIAL T A F F E D I T O R I A L 4 S T A F F E D I T O R I A L SEPTEMBER WRITER THE EDITORIAL BOARD | DESIGNER SAVANNA SMITH As the school year begins, many seniors are working on submitting their college applications. With all the stress of deciding the path of their life, it is easy to take for granted the privilege of being prepared to attend college. Low-income schools don’t receive the same funding or resources as high-income schools, and this fact is making it harder for their students to pursue their college dreams. Many students from disadvantaged %nancial backgrounds face obstacles in their path to higher education. Students attending low-income schools in Ohio are overwhelmingly less likely to attend college compared to middle and upper class students. !is trend exists fo a variety of reasons and due to policies that have been in place since school districts began in the 20th century, according to USA Today. We believe that all students should have access to an equal educational experience through K-12 and reasonable access to higher education. No matter their %nancial background, children deserve the same opportunities as others. Columbus City Schools (CCS) is the largest school district in Ohio, and faces the largest college access inequities in Franklin County, according to !e Ohio State University. A concerning number of CCS high schools have a college readiness score of below 25 percent. When compared to other schools in Central Ohio, CCS’s rate of students going to college is signi%cantly lower. !ere is a noticeable correlation between schools with a large population of low-income students and low college attendance. !is goes with other issues such as chronic absenteeism, low test scores, suspension and expulsion. !is same issue is prevalent in many other school districts in Ohio and nationwide; there has been a consistent pattern of bad behavior within low-income schools for decades. At Randall Park High School, an Ohio school in the city of North Randall about 10 miles away from Columbus, 25 percent of students graduate with a college readiness score of less than one percent, according to GreatSchools. Meaning even with the low graduation rate, the students who do graduate are not equipped with the necessary tests or coursework for college. !e main reason for this educational gap is the resources available to low income students. At the school, Chromebooks and lap tops are used during a majority of lessons and classes, but not all students have access to this type of technology. Another big aspect of academic disparities is teachers. Sadly, there is a large wage gap between teachers in low versus high income schools. According to the Commonwealth Institute, there is up to a $10,000 wage gap depending on the school the teacher works in. As a result, less educated and underquali%ed teachers are more likely to work in low-income schools. . explaining inequalities in education
CHAOTIC CONCERTS E D I T O R I A L SEPTEMBER 5 WRITER TAYLOR GOUDIE | DESIGNER SAVANNA SMITH | PHOTO KARI PHILLIPS . It’s understandable that fans are going to line up hours early to beat out other fans in line, but some fans are willing to wait an absurd amount of time, days or even a week before the concert will take place. Besides the fact that these fans are sometimes quite literally sleeping on the side of the road, not everyone has the luxury of waiting out for days. Some fans have jobs, school, or other priorities that prevent them from camping out. While it may just be a sucks to suck situation, it can be very stressful for people planning to get there early enough to be close to the stage the day-of or the day Flashing lights. !e screaming of fans and ringing pounds in my ears. I can feel the tears streaming down my face while hearing an artist sing my favorite song just a few feet away from me. !e adrenaline rush that comes with attending a concert is a truly unbeatable feeling. !e post-pandemic world has seen a surge in concerts and their attendance. I’ve found myself dropping everything to go to concerts with my friends, no matter the time, cost or distance. I saw 5 Seconds of Summer in Cincinnati last month, and I’m still chasing the high of that experience. I love the feeling of community at concerts and creating fast friends while waiting for a show to begin. !e thrill and fun of experiencing live music is addicting. But although they are a lot of fun, some concert goers’ behavior has become disrespectful and harmful. One of the worst things that is starting to be seen at shows around the world is concert attendees throwing items at the artists. Why would one go through all the trouble of paying for a ticket and getting to the concert, just to harm an artist that they are supposed to be supporting? It’s disrespectful and downright foolish. What happened to singing along and dancing within one’s own personal space? Another aspect of concert-going that has grown in intensity is camping. With general admission tickets, fans are racing to be front row with the hope of being as close as they can get to their favorite artist. before. Personally, I haven’t slept on the sidewalk overnight for a concert, but I have camped out early in the morning for a show. It was a very organized and fun experience camping, but I know from learning via the internet that fans were already camping for the past day whilst knowing I still had to drive two hours away to the venue was very stressful. !e ability to have the knowledge that other fans are already waiting in line at the touch of our "ngertips can make fans panic and all want to line up super early. While it’s nice when it is organized well, sometimes camping can be messy with fans having to make their own lines until the venue opens. Fans will sometimes cut in line or decide to form a new fan line to get themselves a better spot. It can also be a safety hazard, especially in busy cities. With wanting to be as close as one can be to the front, fans will o#en be dehydrated or not take care of themselves in fear of losing their spot in line. !is idea of doing whatever it takes to be close can be harmful to concert goers’ health and hygiene. Overall, there’s a huge lack of respect when going to a concert. O#entimes it even feels as though people will go to shows as a sign of status or to try and get a viral video. It’s important when going to watch an artist or someone perform that people respect the artist and other people around them and try to enjoy themselves no matter the view. the shift in concert etiquette Editors-in-Chief Nick Woolard, Makenna Shrager and Taylor Goudie
REINFORCING RULES N E W S the school’s returing policies WRITER TAYLOR GOUDIE | DESIGNER ABBY KUILAN Phone containers. Hall passes. It’s the start of another school year, and one of the topics on students’ minds are many of the policies being enforced this year. The hottest policy causing rage amongst the students is the phone policy. Every classroom has a phone container to keep each student’s phone during the period. These phone containers have led to frustration amongst the student body. “I see how the new phone policy is supposed to be seen as helpful, and how it could be, but I really think that when it comes to that, the student should be responsible,” senior Christina Anderson said. “It’s easy to focus in class with your phone still on your person, and if you can’t then I believe further action should be taken. We are all grown enough to be responsible for our actions.” Although many students have expressed their dislike, so much as to even putting out a petition to get rid of the policy, the phone policy isn’t entirely new; it’s just being implemented more thoroughly. “The phone policy is not new; it’s just being enforced consistently across the board,” Principal Monica Asher said. “When kids don’t know what to expect in one classroom versus another–this teacher permits this, but this teacher doesn’t–it can be difficult to understand how to walk that line.” Students have expressed confusion about the phone policy, since the other high schools in the district aren’t enforcing the policy quite as much as the school is. This decision made by the administration is unlikely to budge. “We won’t involve students in every decision that is made; the enforcement of rules and our student handbook is something that should have been happening all along. Each school may look different and respond differently based on their needs,” Asher said. “We evaluate data and research prior to making decisions that impact the student body, not simply anecdotal evidence. Cell phones are not permitted during instruction unless a teacher would like to use them during instruction; this won’t change.” Another important policy in the school this year is the requirement of having a hall pass when outside of a classroom during class time. In order to ensure students aren’t roaming the halls or skipping class, every student will have a hall pass proving they are supposed to be out of a classroom. “If you’re supposed to be in class, then we need you to be in class. We want to know that people in the hall have permission to be in the hall. Again, it’s that safety and security mindset,” “We have 2,000 students in this building, so not every staff member may know every student. So, when a student has a pass from a teacher, I know they’re supposed to be here. Being where we are supposed to be and creating a safe building is the goal.” Without phones, this has led to physical hall passes being necessary in classes. This has led to some unique passes, being more than just a slip of paper reading “hall pass”. Physical hall passes have had the question raised upon the sanitation of them, since students are taking these passes into the bathroom with them. “I don’t care too much about the hallway pass policy as it’s just a normal school norm. Although the carrying of a physical object to the bathroom is unsanitary,” Anderson said. “The funniest hall pass I’ve seen is in Mrs. Brooks’ room; she has a street sign.” With mixed feelings amongst the student body with policies and rules, there has certainly been student push-back. “The push-back I expected, but you have to be in a position where you make the decisions that are right for the students, even if it makes you the bad guy a little bit. I’m OK being the bad guy if it helps kids,” Asher said. The biggest thing that the administration wants students to know is that its goals with their policies are to keep students safe and help education flourish and grow. “As of today, our discipline incidents have decreased by 67 percent from the previous year, and our attendance/tardies have also improved significantly,” Asher said. “Consistent expectations help all students be successful!”. 6 SEPTEMBER Phone holder in science teacher Beckey Hockstock’s room Phone box in english teacher Brian Nicola’s room
TRUMP IN THE DUMP N E W S former president’s indictments WRITER NATHAN STATEN | DESIGNER ABBY KULIAN Donald Trump has recently faced four indictments this year. Two federal and two state indictments. Donald Trump was the United States’ 45th president from 2016 to 2020. Trump is also a renowned businessman and overall a national and international celebrity. Trump has had a long legal history, spanning long before his political career started. Donald Trump has faced personal charges for things like sexual assault and harassment and business related cases on litigation and tax evasion. “Indictment No. 1 is related to the state of New York who charged him with violating their tax code and not reporting all their income,” AP Government Teacher John Carmichael said. Donald Trump’s second indictment of 2023 is his federal case where he allegedly mishandled important presidential documents. Trump reportedly unrightfully withheld these documents from the White House. “The second one is the case that comes out of the documents case where he’s been charged with possessing classified or secret documents and taking them down to his house in Florida. And he violated components of the presidential records act by holding onto this classified information he broke the law. This is a very clear-cut case where he broke the law. It will be very hard to defend against that,” Carmichael said. Donald Trump’s third indictment in Washington DC is for allegedly conspiring to disenfranchise United States voters and also for attempting to defraud the government and for obstructing an official proceeding. “The third case is relating to the Jan. 6 insurrection and in that case he’s being charged by the federal government as well as the documents case. This is about his involvement with the federal uprising,” Carmichael said. Trump’s fourth indictment is over allegedly attempting to overturn Joe Biden’s 2020 presidential win. “The last case is by the state of Georgia and that’s a racketeering case where they are charging 18 other people for trying to change the outcome of the 2020 election,” Carmichael said. Many senior students nearing their first voter-eligible presidential election year in 2024 have become very informed on the current political field. “It is purely astonishing to see Donald Trump getting these indictments one after another. It’s also extraordinary to see Trump’s poll numbers and support increase exponentially after these indictments,” senior Iniyal Ramamoorthy said. Unfavorable opinions on Donald Trump from Americans have increased from 60 to 63% over the past year according to Pew Research Center. “In my opinion, it shows how a man with power is capable of using business strategies to brainwash millions of people to garner votes for a public office, an office reserved for someone who knows that they are not above the law,” Ramamoorthy said. R e p u b l i c a n leaning voters and Trump supporters are typically aware of Trump’s legal situation. “So he’s facing these four very serious indictments. For Republican voters it really doesn’t seem to faze them. It might even be adding to his support. For other voters,” Carmichael said. Not all Trump voters are supportive of his actions, but continue to support him over his competition. “Donald Trump’s legal situation definitely negatively affects my views on him, however I look around at other presidential candidates who aren’t much better. Biden and his family have also been found evading the IRS,” a junior boy who wished to stay anonymous said. Currently, Donald Trump is awaiting his Oct. 2. court date where he faces civil charges from the state of New York from his first indictment over alleged tax fraud. SEPTEMBER 7
STICKS & SISTERS S P O R T S a record breaking season WRITER ABI WYKOFF | DESIGN & PICTURES MALAK CHAHBOUB I n the United States, field hockey is one of the few sports that is largely only open to female players. The high school is a proud supporter of this athletic tradition and is dedicated to making the team a close knit, competitive and victorious community. This community within the team is a strong underlying factor of this season’s success; With a current season record of 7-2, the team is currently projected to crush a former season win statistic of nine wins in a season. The team also beat Liberty for the first time in school history this season. “The Liberty win gave us a lot of confidence in ourselves and our teammates. We went out there really wanting to win and with a lot of intensity and in the end, it paid off,” junior Alyssa Alexander, who plays varsity midfield, said. Not only was this game historical due to the first ever win but also because of some age-old feuding by the coaches. Coaches Olivia Susi and Maddie Pasarella are Liberty High School alumni, increasing the tensions on this game. “Honestly, it added to the intensity of the game and made the win feel better; Because the coaches knew the history of Orange not beating Liberty, even when they played,” Alexander said. One reason for this year’s success can be accredited to the lessons learned from 8 SEPTEMBER last year’s season. “The season is probably going so well because everyone came back with last season in mind. And we all really wanting to fix the problems we had,” Alexander said. This season’s success could be attributed to the community built within the team. This community creates a family-like atmosphere for many players. One of these girls is junior JV defensive player Aaliyah Disweratandai. “Freshman year was my favorite. I really loved team dinners; they’re very fun, and it felt like home,” Disweratandai said. Diswertandai isn’t the only player who fell in love with this sense of community; junior and JV field player Chloe Beechey shares the comfort in this sisterhood. “The team is super accepting. You will never get judged, and everyone is helping everyone,” Beechey said. This sense of community is strongly seen when the team travels for away games, with the implementation of a team tradition called ‘Stick Sisters’. “‘Stick Sisters’ was always fun. During every away game, people bring gifts, and you get one. You don’t know who it’s from, and that’s super cute,” Disweratandai said. This is one of the ways the team tries to build connections between grade levels because someone’s ‘Stick Sister’ stays the same throughout the season. Getting little gifts and treats throughout the season is a great way for the girls to hang out and relax while strengthening their friendships (and guessing who their secret gift giver is). “That was the first time in a long time where a group felt like home like that,” Disweratandai said, while recalling her first year on the team. Even with little experience playing the sport, it can still be a great experience. “Being a goalie is also a good position for anyone who doesn’t really play sports but would like to get involved because it’s very easy to get the hang of it,” Beechey said. Sports can be a great way to grow connections and foster lifelong friendships; Orange’s field hockey is no exception. “People should join field hockey because it’s really fun and you get to have a connection with some of the people and it is like a sisterhood,” Diswertandai said. Field hockey is a place for young girls to thrive, create friendships and grow deeper connections. These girls have truly gone from sticks to sisterhood. . The OOHS Girls Field Hockey team playing against Lancaster on Sept. 13. The varsity team takes on Hilliard Bexley on Sept. 18. Opposing team Hilliard Bexley defending our offense.
PRIDE AND GLORY S P O R T S keeping up with the crew WRITER & PHOTOS ABI WYKOFF | DESIGNER MALAK CHAHBOUB SEPTEMBER 9 The crowd cheers and the bleachers rumble with the pounding of the Nordecke drums. Columbus Crew fans are loud and proud every game night. But the team community isn’t contained within the gates of Lower.com Field. Within the stadium, everywhere is a sea of gold and black, with energy guaranteed to make anyone join in. “Everyone shares a love for soccer or at least for The Crew; they get excited and sad together,” junior Prohan Gandhi said. Gandhi attended every home game this season and routinely stands in the supporters’ section, called the Nordecke. “In the supporters’ section, everyone is friendly and outgoing,” Ghandi said. “When you’re in Nordecke, it feels like you’re a part of the game, cheering on the players and having fun with everyone around you.” The Nordecke is the standing and general admission section of Lower.com Field. Not only is this section loud, supportive and hype, it is also packed and spacious. “At a capacity of 3,300+, the second-largest supporters’ section in Major League Soccer brings unparalleled energy to Lower.com Field,” Columbus Crew’s website said. “Nordecke is a completely unique and outstanding atmosphere in American soccer,” 2019 graduate and former soccer player Maxton Brunke said. “Celebrating a goal in front of you with three to five of your best friends is a fantastic feeling, especially when you’re surrounded by thousands of people who cheer from the foundation of, simply, having a team in Columbus still.” This is such an important concept to many people because there was a time in the not so distant past where the Crew was nearly removed from Columbus completely. In 2017, former Crew owner Anthony Precourt announced that the Crew would be moving to Austin, Texas if they were unable to secure a new stadium in Columbus. “The 2017 playoffs vs. NYCFC was the first game at home since Precourt tried to move the team. Precourt decided to show up, and I will never understand why. I won’t share the details but trust me, we let him hear it,” Brunke said. The anger of the Crew fans sparked a movement titled ‘Save The Crew’. Fans from everywhere fought to preserve the community that the Crew has grown into today. They gained much traction, earning stories in “USA Today”, “Forbes Magazine”, “The Washington Post” and many more. “One of the proudest things I’ve done in my life was the contribution to ‘Save The Crew’, mostly on social media, might I add. I did what I could, spreading the word, but many others were much more influential in the success of the operation,” Brunke said. ‘Save The Crew’ got its well-deserved success in October 2018, making way for the community of the games that are known and loved well today. A large part of this community is the watch parties. “It was shortly after the new stadium opened, and we were playing Austin FC, the team Precourt was given because of ‘Save The Crew’. Everyone was really juiced to beat them. It was in the new stadium. It was awesome,” Brunke said when recalling a watch party, he attended. These watch parties are a part of the Columbus Crew’s ‘Pride and Glory’ project, which they are using to work on increasing opportunities and skills. The focus for the project is mainly in the interest of females and all youth. “At the heart of ‘Pride & Glory’ is supporting the Columbus community in our love for the global game,” Columbus Crew’s Website said. “The event encompasses skill development, friendly matches and opportunities to interact with coaches and scouts at the collegiate level, as well as guidance on the women’s player pathway and recommendations for career and personal success.” Beyond the games, watch parties and friendships, the Crew as a business has created an atmosphere like no other in the sports world and beyond. From campaigns to organizations, the Crew puts together some events that really matter. Even after the cheer dies down, and the bleachers sit quiet, the Crew is hard at work every day. This team cannot be contained within Columbus Crew playing against Toronto FC on Saturday, Aug. the gates of Lower.com Field. . 26th. Pictured before the Nordecke Band plays after the Columbus Crew beat Toronto FC 2-0.
FROM THE SIDELINES C O L U M N big changes in the big ten SPORTS COLUMNIST ADAM WELCH | DESIGNER HIYA PATEL| PERMISSION TO PRINT PHOTO NICK WOOLARD The powerhouse of Midwestern collegiate sports otherwise known as the BIG Ten, founded in 1896 and composed of eight different football teams who have hoisted the NCAA Football National Championship, is in for a dramatic change in 2024.This change will have a ripple effect on the entirety of college athletics. In the past two years, University of Southern California, University of California Los Angeles, Washington and University of Oregon have all announced their departure from the PAC-12 conference to transition to the BIG Ten. The BIG Ten which at its conception started with Midwestern based schools still in today like Illinois, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Purdue and more, has now expanded across America to the Pacific region. And this rebranching of regional conferences is not exclusive to the Big Ten. The SEC is adding soon to be former Big-12 members Oklahoma and Texas university starting in 2024, according to bleachereport. com. This the worst thing to ever happen to college sports, and fans who say they want this will regret that thought within five years. There will be no conference loyalty, and the best of the best will be in a single division soon enough. The big teams will only play the big teams, and the small teams will only play the small teams. This reminds me of the rumored super league in soccer a few years back that was set to pair Europes best teams in a single league, while the smaller clubs were left to rot. Luckily, Europe’s fans were quick to reject and protest that idea. While the Big Ten and SEC are thriving off the additions of their new schools, conferences like the Pac-12, which has lost four schools, might soon be non-existent. Due to the exit of the PAC-12s biggest schools, this sent panic through the rest of the division. As of today, there is now only Washington State and Oregon State. The PAC-12, which stood for over a century, is now the PAC-2. The creation of the powerhouse that is the transcontinental Big Ten has other issues besides deflating fellow conferences like the PAC-12 though. Student athletes of Washington and Rutgers will now have to travel almost 3000 miles to play each other and vice versa. This could be very tiring and stressful for student athletes having to travel across the country on a weekday to play in a sporting event and potentially missing significant class time. Many Big Ten fall sports have collegiate events falling on weekdays, soccer included in that category. The last four of the last five Rutgers matches were played on weekdays. However, those matches were around the state of New Jersey which Rutgers also resides in. When the addition of West Coast schools goes through next year, how many classes will players be missing when they have to leave a day early to fly into a state and then take a day to fly back, potentially missing two of the five weekday classes. The addition of these Western schools not only hurts student athletes in the classroom, but also from a fan’s perspective there is just no tradition in play. Ohio State has played both Washington and University of California Los Angeles under 10 times in its football history. The teams are two polar opposites on the map of college football and have no storied rivalry. The same can be said for other schools. No Oregon fan is really itching for their team to play the University of Maryland so they can get the ultimate bragging rights. Whether you’re a player or a diehard fan of a team in the division, the Big Ten landscape will never be the same again. With money corrupting the NCAA and with the additions of these four new schools, fans are seeing the death of a century old conference in favor of a BIG Ten/ SEC domination all in favor of the dollar. 10SEPTEMBER Map of all states that will have a college football team in the Big Ten. .
SEPTEMBER11 A D S DESIGN | HIYA PATEL I hate this phone policy, what happened to innocent until proven guilty!
LET’S TALK Apros and cons of dif WRITERS CAROLINE ALBERT, MALAK CHAHBOUB AND SATVIK POCHIRAJU | DESIGNERS LILLY WOOD AND S enior year is like the last few chapters of a novel. The climax of the end brings about the fun, bittersweet memories created through the fun events planned to make the year memorable. However the end of the novel does not mean it is the end of the story. The last year of high school is a year of preparation for the next book in the series of a student’s life. From college applications to graduation, there are a ton of decisions students must make to put them on the path to their future. To some, senior year is the most appealing including memories of superlatives, breakfasts and graduation parties. However, there’s another thing that senior year brings to the table: college applications. It’s expected that most people would choose in-state colleges, which offer a cheaper and close-to-home path for higher education. Ohio features plenty of colleges, ranging from large to small. For students like Harish Mukkapati, a sophomore at OSU, large colleges are the right choice. “I like how large it is, and how diverse it is,” Mukkapati said.“I got to meet so many international students, and other students from across the nation. I was able to learn about their walks of life, and how different it is from myself, coming from an upper-middle class area like Olentangy.” Large in-state colleges, like Ohio State, have expansive campuses and high attendance. OSU totals an astonishing 61,677 students attending its main campus, ranking fourth in size nationally for public universities, according to The Ohio State’s University’s website. These colleges can provide highquality programs and facilities like OSU’s renowned Wexner Medical Center, which is maintained with help from the college’s endowment of nearly $7 billion. The college has produced five Nobel Prize laureates and maintained its spot in the national rankings for programs like political science, pharmacy and numerous engineering programs. Perhaps on top of all is Ohio State’s sports dominance, especially college football. Ohio State is often one of the most popular destinations for Olentangy Orange alumni, which suggests a positive repute for the college. “While I was able to meet a lot of people, the nature of it is that a lot of people from high school (especially the AP group of students) will go to OSU. This means that OSU somewhat feels like an extension of high school. I also like the city-like nature of OSU, which allows for a far greater feeling of independence that may simply not be possible at smaller colleges,” Mukkapati said. Though Ohio houses multiple large colleges like the University of Cincinnati, Ohio University and Kent State, Ohio State is the only one in the greater Columbus area. For many, moving even an hour or two away to other in-state colleges can be a detriment. “The only regret I have going to UC is the distance from home,” said third year Cincinnati student Siva Kunapuli, who hails from Dublin. “I would say my experience is a seven out of ten. At first it was hard to make friends because of the environment, which I found cliquey. But as time went on and I really put myself out there I was able to make a lot of friends. I personally found it similar to OSU except smaller.” The University of Cincinnati has built a solid name for itself and a population of 46,710 students, according to the University of Cincinnati’s website. Popular for its distinguished co-op program, where students can alternate semesters working for jobs tied to their major and pay tuition, Cincinnati recently overtook Ohio State in the Niche national rankings, a solidifying feat for a large, reputable college. Many students going to large in-state colleges often apply to out-of-state colleges as well. For the handful who get accepted, 12 C O V E R SEPTEMBER
ABOUT SIZE fferent sized colleges AUDREY SELSOR | PERMISSION TO PRINT ELLIE LEY, TERESA CHRIATIAN SHREYA ARUNKUMAR SEPTEMBER 13 C O V E R their lives. The reality is most students have no idea what step to take next. Talking to loved ones can help students come to a consensus, but in the end these students are the ones deciding their own fate. High schoolers get to senior year and come to a crossroad. Life after high school is a big question mark dangling over their heads pushing for the answer to the future. For most students the answer is to attend a college or some sort of further education before they start their job or trade. There are a lot of decisions to make when trying to pick the college that fits best for a particular student. Major questions regarding the location of the school, the price, the size, or if a certain major is provided are all things that seniors have to consider. “Choosing a college is stressful, and ensuring that you make the right decision can often feel like a daunting task,” managing editor and contributing writer at FastWeb Shawna Newman said. Fast Web is a website where students can find scholarships, information on financial aid, internships and more. A good place to start a college search is deciding the size of college that fits best. The size of a college is what determines the “I would suggest visiting the campus with a friend instead of taking a tour because you can explore more, and go into dorms and classrooms as well, not just seeing things from the outside,” Kunapuli said. Whether it’s because of movies or firsthand experience, college has an additional meaning in society of a fun journey of parties, freedom, and self-discovery. Yet, those themes may not be carried into certain colleges as much as people think, according to some. Understand that you must not have any hope of reinventing yourself or something coming into OSU, it’s just more of the same as high school. If you were friendless and socially awkward, that’s not changing all of a sudden when that one comes to OSU, where everyone they knew at Orange is also going,” Mukkapati said. “Also, academics (especially STEM courses) are incredibly more difficult at the college setting, professors do not hand hold you like high school teachers do. I never put effort in high school, but now I invest the majority of my day and frequently have allnighters just to finish work and understand content.” As seen, large in-state colleges mean many things. And for the many contemplating to pick them, they can observe advice from graduates like Harish Mukkapati and Siva Kunapuli to find the best path for their collegiate future. At the brink of adulthood, highschool students are told that they are supposed to know what they want to do with the rest of making a choice can be a struggle. “I do regret often not choosing Georgia Tech, but I feel being blinded by prestige is not a valid enough reason to pay out-of-state tuition. I chose OSU purely for cost reasons. $24k/year vs $60k+/year. Plus, the safety net of having a social network coming into OSU,” Mukkapati said. As hard as it can be to decide with outof-state colleges, it can be just as hard with smaller in-state schools, which can be a better fit for certain students. “I truly believe that college is what you make of it. You can go to a smaller college like Bowling Green or Miami and be just as successful as going to an elite college like Georgia Tech or Stanford,” Mukkapati said. “It’s just that going to these elite colleges means that you will be more likely to be surrounded by those with insane work ethic, and you will probably adjust to that cutthroat environment. One can do the same at smaller institutions, but the onus is on them to make the effort.” At the end of the day, it can’t be denied that the college admission process is an arduous task. Guidance from former or current college students can help give some perspective on what one is looking for in a college. Tangeman University Hall at University of Cincinnati. Photo by Teresa Christian. Morgens and Scioto Dorm Halls at University of Cincinnati. Photo by Teresa Christian
size of a college is what determines the student’s overall experience at the school of their choice. The size of the school dictates the size of the classes along with the feel and intimacy of the campus. Medium sized schools are a good balance of large and small colleges. Medium sized schools usually have a large enough student body that makes it easy enough to blend in with the crowd but small enough that it is relatively easy to make friends. “I really liked the size of Miami and the campus,’’ math teacher Matthew Berndt said. Berndt explained that he had a great social experience throughout his college career due to feeling safe on campus and being able to work alongside his studies. Miami University is one of many midsized schools located in Ohio. Miami has a total enrollment of 19,264 students and an 88.6 percent acceptance rate as of 2022, according to Niche, a college search website. Berndt said he chose this university due to his appreciation for the campus’s beauty and its smaller feel. “It was far enough away from home that it felt like I was going away for college but close enough that I could get home quickly if I needed or wanted to,” Berndt said. Academic wise, midsized schools have a variety of class sizes depending on the level of the course; smaller classes are usually more advanced and in depth, while larger classes are the more basic courses that most students are required to take. “The academics were hard, and I wish I was more prepared going into college in regards to how to study. I do appreciate the academic rigor of Miami and feel that I received a top-notch education,” Berndt said. Students who go to mid-sized schools usually are close enough to their professors (depending on the class size) that the professors know their names but not so close that students become friends with them. “I liked the accessibility to my professors and the facilities on campus. I liked how college has something for everyone, and Miami did a great job of making sure students found their niche,” Berndt said. There are many other mid-sized schools in Ohio other than Miami University. Some of these colleges include Ohio University, University of Dayton, Case Western Reserve University, and more. “I ended up going to Indiana University for two years and Ohio University for three years,” 2013 OOHS graduate Taylor Agler said. Ohio University is another mid-sized school in Ohio. The school has a student enrollment of 21,152 and an acceptance rate of 89 percent as of fall 2022, according to US News’s website. “I had a great academic experience. I really enjoyed big lecture hall style classes because it was on me to learn the material, and I ended up learning best that way,” Agler said. Another major deciding factor for a lot of students is sports. Sports are a great way for a student to get a great education on a scholarship. “Playing college sports completely impacted my college experience. Every day was focused on being a college basketball player, and then in my free time I got to sprinkle in activities of a normal college kid,” Agler said. Agler played basketball all throughout her highschool and college career. Playing sports in college looks a lot different than students who are just focused on their academics. “It was really busy, but I wouldn’t trade that experience for anything. I was so lucky to have the opportunity and I met my best friends playing a sport I love while going to school on a scholarship. I would recommend college sports to anyone thinking about it,” Agler said. College is a great opportunity to meet new people and a great way to do that can be through sports whether it is for the school or intermural. Sports are not the only way to meet new people though. This is because at mid-sized colleges it is relatively easy to join clubs, study groups, etc. “Most of my social outings were with my teammates, but that speaks to the importance of being involved while at college. Join a team, a club, Greek life or a study group. Getting involved is the best way to immerse yourself in the social scene,” Agler said. Mid-sized schools are perfect for a student who wants to be part of the crowd but has easy access to join social groups and to meet new people. Students who are drawn to having an independent academic career that allows them to easily seek out help should look more into mid-sized schools and how that would work for them. For some the hustle and bustle of a large or medium sized college can be overwhelming. The size of these schools force students to have to put themselves in situations to meet people, such as joining clubs, teams, etc., which can be a difficult task depending on the person. These students might find that a smaller school is the better choice to further their academic career. Senior year; a bittersweet combination of delight at how near the end is and desolation at knowing a stage of life is nearly over. With new chapters ahead, pursuing another level of education is the most common next step. It may seem that the amount of decisions needed to be made is never-ending. For those who are planning on attending 14 C O V E R SEPTEMBER .
SEPTEMBER 15 C O V E R However, there are many opportunities to get involved in campus life thanks to the school having a strong focus on experiential learning. The university offers a variety of opportunities for students to gain hands-on experience in their chosen field, including co-op programs, internships, and research opportunities. “Literally right before the pandemic started in March 2020, I studied in the Amazon Rainforest in Peru. During that week, I was able to learn about natural medications from a local shaman,” McWilliams said. ONU is also home to a number of student organizations and clubs, including fraternities, sororities, athletic teams and academic clubs. “I have had so many opportunities to expand my knowledge base as well as meet others within the profession. Here at ONU, we have over 200 organizations. If you can dream of it, it can be an organization here!” McWilliams said. At ONU, the Raabe College is what sets the university apart from others. The ONU name is well known and there exists an extensive alumni network all around the country. college, figuring out what schools to apply to can be difficult. University applications, including the Common App, usually open at the start of August, beginning with the academic year. For someone who is searching for a more personalized and intimate learning environment, small colleges typically have fewer students than larger universities. This can make it easier for students to connect with faculty members, get involved in extracurriculars, and build relationships with peers. “We are a diverse set of students coming from various backgrounds, and settings and we all have such unique experiences. We can all learn from each other and grow as people,”Current PharmD student at Ohio Northern, Dylan McWilliams, said. Ohio Northern University (ONU) is a private, comprehensive university located in Ada, Ohio. It was founded in 1871 and has a total undergraduate enrollment of around 2,400 students. The rural location of ONU may not be ideal for students who enjoy the hustle and bustle of city life, according to Ohio Northern University’s website. “The one thing I would change, if I had to pick, would be the location. We are in rural Northwestern Ohio, and it was a big culture shock for me when I first arrived,” McWilliams said. While ONU is located in a rural area, there are still plenty of things to do off campus. “You can go to Lima or Findlay. Columbus is also only an hour and a half away, so many students will go there if they want to have a day off from studying,” McWilliams said. Ohio Northern welcome sign. Photo by Ellie Ley. Ohio Northern Dukes Memorial mural. Photo by Ellie Ley. “There are many directors of pharmacy who will hire a new graduate because they are a polar bear. Our education here at ONU truly sets us up for success,” McWilliams said. Overall, ONU offers a well-rounded education emphasizing academic rigor and hands-on learning. If someone is interested in attending Ohio Northern, visiting the campus is a great way to learn more about what the university offers. “I would tell anyone about ONU; the campus fits many different personalities. I never would have thought I would attend a small university, but it has been life-changing for me,” McWilliams said. The decisions made in senior year put students on a trajectory that sets up their future. The size of a college is a broader decision to be made, but it is still a major factor in the next part of a student’s life. Although the college application process can be daunting, once students get to graduation, the back cover of the book to their childhood is finally closed; leaving the reader on a cliffhanger of what the next part of their life entails. .
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THE SCENE WRITER AUDREY SELSOR | DESIGNER AUDREY SELSOR SEPTEMBER T H E S C E N E 17 Senior Sidney Figuly waves to the croud during the football game aginst Hilliard Darby. Unfortunately, the team lost the game 24-31. “I enjoy the leadership aspect of cheer. I like to involve the crowd,” Figuly said, “Ive also been super into stunting since it was added to our program two years ago.”.
PIONEERS’ PARKING T R E N D I N G the school’s superb spots WRITER AND DESIGNER NATALIA FAVILA INACUA 18 SEPTEMBER SE’NEERS 2023-2024 SENIOR YEAR This year, the seniors had the opportunity to paint and customize senior parking spots in fun and unique ways! Top: Christina Anderson Middle: Nick Woolard Bottom: Leah Weaver
AUTUMN ACTIVITIES F E A T U R E festivities coming this fall WRITER LUNA PEREZ | DESIGNER & GRAPHICS NATALIA FAVILA INACUA S andy loves pumpkin spice and everything nice. She’s eating a warm bite of a delicious apple pie on a breezy autumn afternoon. The pale leaves collect in colorful piles around the changing trees by her. It’s truly a perfect fall day, except it’s being wasted because Sandy doesn’t know how else to spend this perfect fall day. Fall is the perfect time to spend a day outside with cozy sweater weather and scenic views. The city of Columbus knows this, and because of it, they have various fun, fall activities throughout the entire season. From pumpkin patches to haunted houses, there’s an exciting autumn event for everyone. Starting in September, one of the first and most popular fall events in Columbus is Oktoberfest. The festival took place Sept. 8-10, in order to take advantage of the wonderful weather during the early part of the month. The Columbus Oktoberfest took many of its components from the main Oktoberfest in Munich, Germany. Executive Director of Columbus Oktoberfest Carla Epler explained some of the most notable elements of Columbus Oktoberfest. “There were two stages with continuous entertainment, a Glockenspiel Stage, two huge dance floors and a beautiful Kinderplatz for the younger set in the ODNR Natural Resources Park. The Gemutlichkeit Games presented by Saucy Brewworks were held in the amphitheater. These games include a stone toss, Keg press and throw and Steinheben (stone pulling),” Epler said. But if looking for a calmer, autumn evening with some friends, there are various options for relaxing fall activities too. Fall is junior Taylor Boyd’s favorite season, and she has some special, relaxing family traditions to celebrate it. “My favorite fall activity is picking pumpkins and then carving them on Halloween day! I always go with my family; it has become a tradition at this point,” Boyd said. Having fun with one’s family outdoors is always a great way to spend a day in fall. This is especially true because of the gorgeous and colorful autumn scenery. Boyd agreed, explaining how this makes her favorite fall activity even better. “It involves being outside and seeing all the leaves that have changed colors. The weather is perfect too!” Boyd said. Some popular pumpkin patches with great scenery close to Lewis Center include: Lehner’s Pumpkin farm, which is open until Oct. 29, Leeds Farm which closes Oct. 28 and Freeman’s Farm, which closes Oct. 31. Another great way to take advantage of these pumpkins is through flavor; because from pumpkin pie to pumpkin spice lattes, there’s a fall-themed food for everyone. At the Columbus Oktoberfest, Epler’s favorite foods ranged a little more toward the unusual side. “We may be a little biased but of course Schmidt’s is right there at the top. We had several terrific regulars like KinderHaus, DK Diner and Mauger’s mini donuts with some great new additions this year like Legacy BBQ, Squeaky’s Cheese Curds and Buckeye Chocolate,” Epler said. Whether it was trying some unusual foods at Oktoberfest or buying some oddly fall-flavored things at a local supermarket, many people are buying a vast variety of fall-themed foods. However, if people’s preferences range on the more comfortable and traditional side, Boyd’s favorites might be the way to go. “My favorite fall foods are caramel apples, candy corn (the pumpkins specifically) and apple pie!” Boyd said. Overall, fall is just a great time for comfort clothes, food and people. Both Epler and Boyd can agree on that. “Our company comes together to work on this every year to make it happen. Our Oktoberfest had such a great vibe, it was one of the most authentic you will find in the US. It was all about the Gemutlichkeit, which loosely translates into a feeling of wellbeing, fun, frivolity,” Epler said. Oktoberfest has already gone by, but there are many other opportunities to have a fun time at an autumn festivity. Boo at the Zoo and Zombiezi Bay take place at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium up until Oct. 29 and The Hunted Woods at Shawnee Hills is a spookier option as well taking place the whole month of October. SEPTEMBER 19 .
MAD ABOUT MEYER F E A T U R E getting to know the new superintendent WRITER NICK WOOLARD | DESIGNER LINCOLN HAKE | PHOTO & PERMISSION TO PRINT TODD MEYER & 2009 S ince the school opened in 2008, the Pioneers have experienced four great principals. But one of the most influential, Todd Meyer, has recently been named the Olentangy District’s new superintendent. On May 16, the Olentangy Board of Education unanimously voted Meyer to assume the role of superintendent, following Mark Raiff ’s announcement that he would retire from the role after eight years, according to Olentangy Local Schools. Meyer was hired to a 38-month contract, which started on June 1 and will end on July 31, 2026. He will make an annual salary of $215,000, according to The Dispatch. Before Meyer became superintendent, he had many other positions at many other schools. One of those positions included was the high school’s first ever principal, when it opened in 2008. “Prior to Olentangy, I have been a teacher, coach, athletic director, principal and head of secondary curriculum,” Meyer said. “I came to Olentangy Schools in 2007 as the principal to open Olentangy Orange High School. After eight years at Orange High School, I moved to Olentangy’s district office as Chief Operations Officer.” As the school’s first principal, Meyer takes a lot of pride in the culture that he has created. And now, he can still see the lasting effects he had on it to this day. “Since I opened the school as principal, some of my favorite memories were all of the school’s first milestones, such as the first play and the first sporting events. I also loved creating traditions that are still embedded in the school today and developing the proud Pioneer culture,” Meyer said. As well as having a lasting effect on the school’s culture, Meyer has created many lasting friendships and partnerships with teachers, even before he arrived in the district. English Teacher Alicia Edwards was Meyer’s first hire back when he was the principal at Westerville Central, a year before the school opened. “It was fun that he got to know all of the staff at Orange very well. We’re like the founding fathers of Orange, so I feel like the people who opened the school really know him to be quite dynamic and fun,” Edwards said. And now, Meyer has taken a big step up from the job as principal. He now oversees the more than 20,000 students, and thousands of teachers and staff members in the ever growing Olentangy District. “There are challenges inherent in the superintendent job no matter where you are, but in a district the size of Olentangy, these are legion,” Olentangy Board Vice President Kevin Lester said. Many of these challenges include working with the school board to develop strategy, building a strong and coherent culture for both employees and students, extending services out to students, handling the growth of the district and so many more, according to Lester. “Superintendent is an incredibly hard job. It is the superintendent’s duty to manage all of the multitude of things that impact our schools every day and to ensure that we have outstanding people and processes in place to provide the best possible education for our students and support for our staff, while also enriching the community,” Lester said. But, as proven in his many years of experience, Meyer has all the skills, traits and abilities that this job calls for. “With over 16 years in Olentangy, he understands our culture and values intrinsically, but it’s one thing to understand these things and quite another to bring them to life each day. He anchors to that deep foundation of care and compassion for everyone in the district in every action he takes and draws on the lessons learned in facing and overcoming adversity in his own life, to create a supportive, welcoming and inclusive environment for everyone,” Lester said. While Meyer’s job may require a lot of time at the office and on the job, he still makes time to do the things he loves, with the people he loves. “My wife, Gina, and I have been married for 26 years and live in Powell. We have a goldendoodle named Milo, and I am an active pickleball player, reader and an Ohio State football enthusiast,” Meyer said. 20 SEPTEMBER Mr. Meyer, pictured on the right, with some of his former colleagues at the school.
F E A T U R E While Meyer’s job may require a lot of time at the office and on the job, he still makes time to do the things he loves, with the people he loves. “My wife, Gina, and I have been married for 26 years and live in Powell. We have a goldendoodle named Milo, and I am an active pickleball player, reader and an Ohio State football enthusiast,” Meyer said. Meyer and his wife have also had three kids go through the Olentangy District, with all of them previously attending Liberty High School. His oldest Alexia graduated in 2016, his next child Gabe graduated in 2018 and his most recent child Isabella graduated just this year, according to Meyer. It’s also very integral for Meyer that he creates and uses specific strategies to balance out the busy lives that he lives. Meyer refers to the balance of the two as his “work-life” integration. “Some strategies that work for me are, first, to be an early riser. Starting work first thing in the morning helps me stay organized. Second, I am efficient in my communication by speaking with people directly, and not waiting on emails to be answered. Last, I give 100 percent to whatever I am doing, whether it be at work or when I was cheering on my daughter playing on the state runner-up Liberty High School lacrosse team last spring,” Meyer said. With the start of the new school year, and Meyer’s first full school year as superintendent, he is fully committed to continuing the growth of not just students, but all parents, and staff members in the district. “This district is a special place because of the staff that care about our students, and the parents and community members that prioritize education and high-performing schools. I plan to build on the strong foundation as the recognized leader for high performance and efficiency in education and amplify our reputation as a destination district for both staff and students with their families,” Meyer said. SEPTEMBER 21 . Mr. Meyer’s Story Continued...
BARBENHEIMER F E A T U R E highest grossing movies of the year WRITER CHAYCE GIDDENS | DESIGNER & GRAPHICS LINCOLN HAKE Anywhere people go today, they might see advertisements for the “Barbie” and “Oppenheimer” movies, which were released on the same day on July 21. According to Gizmodo, the whole “Barbenheimer” obsession resulted in major success for both films including; “Barbie” currently being the highest grossing movie of the year and for Warner Bros Studios. But what’s with all this fascination? The premise of “Barbie” was to touch on things like the patriarchy, feminism and struggles in society, while “Oppenheimer” is more historical and focuses on the creation of the first atomic bomb. “They’re both very good films and both deserving of all the praise they’ve gotten; while I loved ‘Oppenheimer’, it makes sense why “Barbie” is getting much more attention,” sophomore Abigail Curry said. “Oppenheimer” feels like it’s more made for people who love film and/or history, and ‘Barbie’ is for everyone.” But these films wouldn’t have all this attention if it wasn’t for their marketing; the countless tweets, the release of both “Barbie’”and “Oppenheimer” on the same date, the partnership with famous brands and more marketing strategies helped make these movies the phenomena they are. And in doing this, it created “sides” of the internet: “Team Barbie” and “Team Oppenheimer.” “I feel like they overuse “Barbie”; it shouldn’t have been that big of a thing”, senior Asteere Farraj said. “But I feel like the second movie is more important in a way. It’s about something more serious, and it should be more talked about in my personal opinion.” With the popularity around “Barbie” and its message that was conveyed, it left plenty of people shocked for one, but also offended in a way. Ben Shapiro, a writer and columnist for X Publication, explained that the film failed to recognize “faith and family” and believes that Ken is a prime example of a “beta male”. “People saying they feel threatened because the movie calls out their way of life,” Curry said. “How I saw it, the movie was very loving toward the Kens and showed how the patriarchy affected everyone.” Despite the fact that these films have good marketing strategies, some of those tactics were taken offensively, especially with the importance behind the making of the first atomic bomb. Both teams made a tweet where Oppenheimer seems to be carrying Barbie on his shoulders with bombings happening behind them, which is creating conflict with the Asian community because they feel it’s mocking the nuclear bombings from the U.S. military in Hiroshima and Nagasaki during World War II. “I know that people like to talk about dark humor a lot, but I feel like it’s not really that funny,” Farraj said. “Even if they’re trying to be funny, it’s still insensitive. To them, it might be funny to market them in that way.” Regardless of the controversies, the films did their best with providing their viewers with a cast of various ethnicities to make the story feel more authentic. “The “Barbie” movie does a great job of having a diverse cast for the Barbie and the Kens,” Curry said. “Oppenheimer” is trickier. Its cast is not as diverse at all, but it is a historical film and society during World War II wasn’t as advanced and accepting as it is now (we still have a long way to go). Therefore, I don’t think that was the goal there.” SEPTEMBER 22 .
BEHIND THE STONE C U L T U R E north america’s largest hindu temple WRITER REEMA RAFIQ | DESIGNER HIYA PATEL J ust imagine almost 1.4 cubic feet of marble, which is slightly bigger than a refrigerator. This was how much marble was used in the construction of the BAPS Akshardham Temple, in Robbinsville, New Jersey. This temple has been in the works for quite some time, and the final opening date is set for October 8th. Thousands of volunteers from around North America came together to help with the construction of this temple. The Akshardham Temple is dedicated to Lord Swaminarayan, a 19th-Century spiritual leader, and the founder of the Swaminarayan sect of Hinduism. The name “Akshardham” stands for eternal home, according to the BAPS website. In the Hinduism religion, temples are seen as sacred places of worship, and a place where one can connect with God and their culture. This temple is the third Akshardham temple, the other two being in New Delhi, India and Gandhinagar, India. The Robbinsville temple is known for its intricate structure and heavy use of marble. “In Hindu tradition, the temple is seen as a sacred place of worship, a place where one can connect with the divine and gain spiritual insight, and it is also considered a source of inspiration for those who are interested in learning about Hindu culture and tradition,” Youth volunteer Sajni Patel said. The temple has only come this far because of its volunteers and the community that came together to help bring this temple to life. “This Akshardham consists of a community of volunteers of all age ranges, professions, life goals and walks of life. There are high school students, college students, graduate school students, doctors, pharmacists, nurses, accountants, parents, teachers and the list goes on,” a volunteer from Columbus, Ohio Sakshi Patel said. Akshardham Temple has taken a few years to be fully constructed and is looking to open next month. The building has taken so long because every carving is hand carved, and every job is done by hand, with the help of volunteers from around the world. Each carving has a meaning behind it and is carved with Italian Carrara marble, Indian pink stone and Limestone. There was an estimate of 1.4 million cubic feet of stone used, and the whole complex is 250 acres, according to Sajni. Binnie Patel, a volunteer from Scranton, Pennsylvania, who helped with the construction of the temple said, “I met a lot of individuals in Akshardham from a variety of backgrounds. The construction of this building has involved people from all around the world.” “Swaminarayan Akshardham in Robbinsville, NJ isn’t just a place for Hindus to come to offer their prayers and worship. In fact, what makes this place so special is the fact that everyone is welcome to feel connected to spirituality no matter their faith or religion,” Sakshi said. Several students from the Olentangy district have also helped with the development of this temple, including junior Hiya Patel, along two Berlin students junior Purva Shelat and sophomore Pari Dalsaniya. Akshardham Temple is a must-visit spot, whether someone’s there for the culture, or just to visit. It has majestic marble carvings and a very great atmosphere and community. According to Binnie, “One should make it a goal to visit here at least once in their lifetime to truly say that they have witnessed heaven on earth.” So, make sure the next time you visit Robbinsville, New Jersey, that you stop by. It’s only around an hour and half away from New York City. SEPTEMBER23 Side view of the temple’s Parikramas. Side view of the temple. Front view of the main shikar of the temple. .
PSYCH(ED) OUT O P I N I O N the importance of ap psychology WRITER ELLA KIRK | DESIGNER MACKENNA MILLER We’ve all heard by now that Advanced Placement Psychology or better known as AP Psychology, was officially banned in the state of Florida. The ban was put in place on Aug. 3. AP Psych has been a class offered since 1992- that’s over 30 years. The class focuses on theories about behavioral development. The course also covers psychological disorders and how people’s environments shape them. I am against the ban because the course teaches students valuable lessons even though some of those lessons might be uncomfortable to adults. It was implemented because the course also covers “content on sexual orientation and gender identity”, according to source. The state board of education prohibited the course and is comprised of elected or appointed officials, which is how it was approved because the group was made up of extremely like-minded people. Florida is known across the country for being run by Republicans that make very c o n s e r v a t i v e decisions. Anyone who has watched the news at all in the last five years knows that LGBTQ+ youth are frequently targeted and made out to be the outcasts of society. “More than 1.8 million LGBTQ youth (13-24) seriously consider suicide each year in the U.S. – and at least one attempts suicide every 45 seconds,” according to Trevor Project Top-Line website. The Trevor Project is an organization with a “mission to end suicide among LGBTQ young people”. It is known for its advocacy and crisis support, as well as a lot of research. AP Psych being banned for gender and sexuality identity is just another thing to add to a very long list of things that make LGBTQ+ youth feel like they don’t belong. The College Board, the company that operates AP courses, is currently feuding with Floridia due to the AP Psychology ban. College board said, “Unless AP Psychology is taught in its entirety – including lessons on sexuality and gender – ‘the AP Psychology’ designation cannot be utilized on student transcripts,” according to CNN. The Florida Department of Education wanted to leave out gender and sexuality studies but still have the class count towards their students’ transcripts, and department officials were less than thrilled with the College Board’s response. And, now is still currently fighting it. Many Floridian school and district administrators were found stuck trying to make a decision. Were they going to continue to offer the class so students still had the opportunity? Or would they get rid of the class completely? It seems like the clear answer is to continue to offer the class, but unfortunately, it’s not that simple. To keep offering the class, they would have to entirely eliminate any content relating to the reason why the class was banned to begin with. The course wouldn’t count on student transcripts, and the College Board stated without the crucial content, they most likely wouldn’t even be eligible to take the AP exam, which is essentially the whole point of taking an AP class, to get a passing score on the exam, and get the college credit. In the end, some schools chose to continue to teach it without the restricted content, but most dropped it completely, leaving students without the opportunity to learn from an AP Psych class and forcing teachers to find a different class to teach. AP Psych is not the first class Florida has tried to regulate the content of. It is actually the second Advanced Placement class to be banned, coming after the AP African American Studies course was banned in January. The class was banned due to “lacking ‘educational value and historical accuracy,’ and allegedly violating Florida law,” according to Education Week. AP Psych is just yet another example of conservatives trying to control everyone else. First, it was AP African American Studies, now AP Psych, could your favorite AP class be next? If you would like to support the fight against the AP Psych ban, please go to change.org, and look at current petitions regarding the class. 24 SEPTEMBER .
A SIP OF FALL O P I N I O N reviewing columbus’ cafes WRITER CAROLINE ALBERT | DESIGNER ZION CLIFTON Floating on pink flamingos in pools while sipping virgin Pina Coladas turns into days spent wandering a pumpkin patch with warmed apple cider. August slips away into autumn, and leaves turn a mix of burnt orange, maroon, and soft yellow. The lemonade once drunk to cool down is replaced by a pumpkin spiced latte to warm up from the crisp morning air. As the seasons change from summer to autumn, the fun, carefree mindset of summer is replaced with the calm, focused mindset of fall. Fall is spent by many with a drink in hand. Whether it is a Starbucks pumpkin cream cold brew on the way home from apple picking or a vanilla latte during a study session from the best coffee spot in town, cute fun drinks always make a traditional fall event more enjoyable and perfect for social media. If searching for the best coffee shop, around the area, to take aesthetic fall pictures or to enjoy a good drink to boost morale while studying with friends, here are some great options close to home. The Coffee Vault (9, W Columbus St) in Galena, Ohio is perfect for a cute get together with a couple friends. The ambiance of the shop is cozy, modern, not to mention full of character due to it being a repurposed bank. The shop itself is a little on the smaller side. After I ordered my matcha latte, I descended this adorable spiral staircase that leads to seating and restrooms. There is plenty of space for a couple small groups, but I would definitely not recommend bringing a huge group of friends here to sit and hang out. However, it is perfect for a quick stop in to grab a drink and to enjoy some time with a couple of friends. Personally, I thought that their matcha was just OK. However, I do have friends who usually get lattes or coffee and love it. In addition, their drinks are presented so nicely that it is almost impossible not to snap a picture for your Instagram story. Overall, I would rate the store an eight out of 10. Java Central (20 S State St Suite B) in Uptown Westerville is another great coffee shop in this area that is perfect for a friend get together or study session. If you have ever seen “Gilmore Girls”, this coffee shop feels like it would fit perfectly right next to Luke’s diner. The adorable awnings over the windows bring forth the retro, historic touch of Uptown Westerville while also giving the shop amazing character. The inside of the shop is most definitely cozy, with the cutest fall decorations already out in celebration. Java Central is spacious with the most adorable outdoor seating that is perfect for nicer weather. This would be a perfect place to take a large study group to sit and get some work done. Drink wise, I thought that their matcha was so delicious. It was super flavorful and the right consistency. The vanilla bean scone was also the perfect amount of sweet, lightness that makes the perfect pastry. In addition, they do have a couple meals that would be perfect for a quick breakfast run. All in all, I would rate this store a nine out of 10. Overall, both coffee shops are great options to stop by if you are craving a cute fall drink. With slightly different vibes, both stores offer great drinks and atmospheres that are perfect for a fall outing. So, if you are feeling lost without your pink flamingo float and a cool glass of lemonade, these coffee shops are the perfect places to spend your fall free time. 26 SEPTEMBER .
was to blame for the fires. Let us venture back to California 2018 where, according to the Los Angeles Times, a man trying to plug up a wasp nest with a hammer and stake, was able to burn over 460,000 acres of land. However, not all wildfires are created equal and though they’re not always started by human negligence, humanity’s footprint can usually be found at the scene. According to CBS News, Canada’s dry weather encourages more lightning in its boreal forest, producing fires. Though it has been found that with every one-degree Celsius increase produces a 12 percent spike in lightning; and the more the planet continues to burn, people will go down with it. The already harsh weather conditions made it much more difficult to keep the fires under control. No level of preparation could have kept that thick orange smog from infecting the Midwest and East Coast while it was being battled. Climate change and the shift in weather patterns encourage the heavy dry seasons America keeps finding itself buried in. If the people of Ohio somehow find themselves relieved to be nestled in the seemingly untouched part of the Midwest, let it be a reminder that temperature doesn’t pick and choose where it spreads. According to the Ohio State University’s department of arts and science, lack of snowfall is found to lead to more exposure to Lyme disease. The increase in warm temperatures and shorter feeling winters welcome ticks and other insects by the hundreds that carry disease. Ohio’s historical infrastructure is not built to withstand extreme precipitation events and as years go on with no change the state will continue to find itself in an uncomfortable position over the climate. I recommend that the skeptics go take another look at “The Lorax” and remember the saying, “unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It’s not.” And see how children somehow understand this concept more than the adults in charge of tackling problems people have created and take issue with it. C O L U M N the war against wildfires WRITER VALENTINA URBAEZ | DESIGNER ZION CLIFTON For those who have been following the news, I’m sure the name Lahaina or Maui triggers a memory associated with fire. Or how it feels like every couple of months California bursts into flames yet again. Or, the Canadian fires that have crept their way south and forced a four-day wildfire watch, while Ohioans feel immune to it. And, how could we forget what felt like the entire month of June under air quality warnings thanks to Ohio’s proximity to Canada. Given their frequency, the country has experienced its fair share of wildfires and has always managed to tame them. Eventually. It’s interesting to see how people hear the words “global warming” or “climate change” and roll their eyes as they’ve heard it for the 100th time; and still not quite understand the implications. Regardless of when or where they hit, the effects of these wildfires will soon become inevitable if people’s well-trodden path to ecological destruction continues down the same path. Although dramatic, for the sake of everyone’s lives and lungs, Americans may want to consider caring for the state of our planet. The lack of understanding is what seems to hold the confusion that hangs in the air around these fires and what encourages them to grow harsher and stronger each time they hit. These problems are not as simple as the Earth getting warmer and therefore the trees just ignite. The rising temperatures have quickly led spring to approach a lot sooner than necessary. This forces snow to melt faster, which dries out soil earlier and longer than what is sustainable. Months of dry spells in densely wooded areas, coupled with the heat, offer the mounds of kindling necessary to spark a wildfire, according to the Environmental Defense Fund. The dry and dying trees are unfortunately sitting waiting for the next human accident to light them. The 7,000 acres worth of forest lost to in the El Dorado fires was ignited by a “smoke generating pyrotechnic device.” A tool that sounds straight out of an action movie, but of course was necessary for the gender reveal party that SEPTEMBER27 STAYING CURRENT with valentina .