THE COURIER April/May 2023 Volume 15 Issue 6 2840 E Orange Rd, Lewis Center, Ohio, 43035 ‘PLANES, TRAINS AND AUTOMOBILES’
2 APRIL/MAY A D S Todd Shrager (614) 975-5000 [email protected] Bathrooms Patios Carpentry Decks DESIGN | NATALIA FAVILA
TABLE OF CONTENTS EDITORS STAFF TAYLOR GOUDIE - WRITING NICK WOOLARD - WRITING MAKENNA SHRAGER - DESIGN KARI PHILLIPS EDITORS IN CHIEF ADVISER APRIL/MAY 3 AVA VALENTIK | NEWS & CULTURE ADAM WELCH | SPORTS & COLUMNIST MOLLY SULLIVAN | OPINION LUNA PEREZ DELGADO | FEATURE ABI WYKOFF | COPY 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 ABIGAIL KUILAN MACKENNA MILLER HIYA PATEL SATVIK POCHIRAJU REBEKAH RICHTER SOHPIE ROGERS SAVANNA SMITH THE WILLOW PROJECT P. 5 ‘TRAINS, PLANES AND AUTOMOBILES’ P. 8 HOT ABOUT HARITHS P. 12 HOT GIRLS’ GUIDE P. 18 PERFECT PROM P. 13 TRIP TO THE TROPICS P. 14 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 PERMISSION TO PRINT LIAM LUNDY
WILLOW PROJECT N E W S america’s new oil venture WRITER AVA VALENTIK | DESIGNER SOPHIE ROGERS | PHOTO PERMISION TO PRINT AP IMAGES President Biden recently signed a new, and very controversial, project into place. Most people know of this project as the Willow Project and it was given formal approval on March 13, 2023. The Willow Project is a massive and decades-long oil drilling venture on Alaska’s North Slope in the National Petroleum Reserve, which is owned by the federal government. The goal of this project is to produce hundreds of thousands of barrels of oil weekly in order to decrease American dependence on foreign energy supplies. While this may solve some problems, most people argue that it is detrimental and have tried fighting it off, according to change.org. A petition on change.org to aid in stopping this project received over 2.5 million signatures with that number only rising. The same petition got thousands of comments and has surpassed many of its signature goals. “It is going to damage the environment and possibly cause more climate change,” sophomore Claire Hauzie said. Climate change is something that humans have been battling for multiple generations and has only gotten worse over time. Climate change became a prominent problem around the 19th century when Earth’s temperatures started to increase steadily, according to Newsweek.com. Climate change is the longterm act of Earth’s temperatures rising and there are multiple effects that help cause it. One of the biggest causes of climate change is an abundant amount of carbon in the Earth’s atmosphere. Willow, if completed, would release an additional 9.2 million metric tons of carbon pollution into the atmosphere each year according to the Natural Resources Defense Council. Oil is the most widely used fossil fuel in the world and the Willow Project was approved in hopes of harvesting an abundant amount. While having a lot of oil can be good, it can also cause so much harm. “Environmentally there’s usually not very much good that comes out of something like this because at some point there is going to be an oil spill. Oil spills cost a wild amount of money and they also have really bad long-lasting effects on environmental ecosystems,” Library Media Specialist Austin Nunn said. While producing so much oil daily, it is almost inevitable that some sort of spill will happen. With this project taking place in Alaska, a spill of any size could be a serious threat. Hundreds of thousands of animals die each year due to oil spills and thousands of others are injured or homeless, according to science.org. “Spilling oil on land may not seem to be as big of a deal as it is over the ocean, but groundwater sources will be detrimentally impacted by a spill. Groundwater is a major source of drinking water for many people in the United States and Canada.” Ap Environmental Science Teacher Jessica Timmons said. Without fresh and clean water, it is impossible for people and plants to thrive. The Willow Project could potentially endanger and kill multiple species if, or when, an oil spill happens. “While this project will lessen dependence on foreign oil, it still just prolongs the transition away from fossil fuels and non-renewable resources to more sustainable sources of energy. This project will also take time - an immense amount of time - we are talking 10 years before they can even begin extracting and refining the oil,” Timmons said. Something that not many people think about is that during the 10 years it will take to build and start up this project, the construction itself will cause destruction and kickstart the environmental effects that are to come. Although this project has a long list of negative outcomes, there could potentially be some good that could strike. One of these things is the number of jobs that this project can provide. “I tend to be more in favor of fewer pipelines, but I do understand and can see why the argument stands of why we need pipelines especially for our infrastructure that relies on fossil fuels and also the money and job aspect when it comes to those things,” Nunn said. It is estimated that the Willow Project will create 2500 construction jobs and 300 permanent jobs allowing for lots of people to become employed who may have not been given an opportunity like this one before, according to ohsmagnet.com. While it is hard to tell just what could arise from this project now, biologists and environmental scientists are looking for ways to slow some of the project’s potential effects. The biggest way students can support is by signing at least one of the countless numbers of petitions and staying informed on how to help as this project progresses. 4 APRIL/MAY A demonstrater protests against the Biden administration’s approval of the Willow oil-drilling project before a scheduled speech by Biden at the Department of the Interior in Washington, Tuesday, March 21, 2023. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky) .
MAN IN THE MIRROR E D I T O R I A L the struggles with self-image WRITER NICK WOOLARD | DESIGNER SOPHIE ROGERS When someone is asked “what’s the most important thing you have?”, most people would say their phone, friends, family, pet, or many other things. But there’s one thing that most people never seem to think about: themselves. I can’t say that that is the first thing that I would think about either. Self-image or self-esteem is something that I’ve struggled with through the years. Whether it’s confidence in my abilities or how my body looks, it seems that it has been hitting an all-time low. And this is something that many Americans struggle with too. According to Medium, 85 percent of Americans suffer from low self-esteem. Because we live in a time of constant social media connection, it’s understandable why people have this low self-image. Every day, dozens of different social media apps are opened, used, and posted on. Millions of teenagers and adults see posts of other people and supermodels, whilst commonly thinking “I wish I looked like them.” After that it all comes down to the likes, comments and reposts. People strive to get more of these with every single post they make. These likes are now a popularity contest; whoever gets the most is better. This is one of the reasons so many people struggle with selfimage. Social media has created a world where it’s no longer what one thinks about themselves; it’s what others think. This is a problem. The first step for improving self-image is to move past the likes and comments. It doesn’t matter that someone else received more likes on a post because likes don’t determine the worth of a person. Everyone is special in their own way. And when I say this, I’m not trying to push people away from social media. If there’s a picture that someone wants to post of themself, always post it. Everyone should be proud and confident in themselves. With that comes the want to show others who they are. Some social media platforms have great ways to help with this too. For example, Instagram allows people to disable the like counts on posts, so that one can’t see how many people liked their post, or how many people liked another person’s post. They also give the ability to disable comments on posts. The next step for improving self-image is to surround yourself with people who appreciate you for who you are. From my personal experience, this is the most important step. This is one of the hardest steps, especially if it comes from people you trusted. One of the people I was closest with, who I trusted would push me up and not down, ended up being the reason my self-image is so low today. Certain comments, like “you don’t have a good physique”, or “it’s embarrassing to be with you in public, you’re too crazy,” hurt like a kick to the gut. Those comments shot me down to some of my lowest points. In these situations, one must distance themselves from these toxic relationships. And this could definitely be hard, especially if they are seen as a friend. But are they really a friend if they are making these comments? And now that I’ve distanced myself from that relationship, I’ve felt so much better about myself. I’ve found a new relationship, with someone who appreciates me for me, and doesn’t point out my flaws. This is what other people need to do. Find or stick with the people who don’t judge one for their differences, but appreciate and care for them. One has to find friends who will always have their back and hold them up, instead of pushing them down. The final step to improve self-image is to just be confident and proud. This may seem like the hardest step, but everyone has the ability to do this. No matter what people say or how they judge, one must learn the ability to not care what they think. They have no right to judge someone’s life, and their words shouldn’t be what bring someone down. People must have in themselves because there is only one version of each person on this planet. No matter what it is, body-shape, intelligence, abilities, sexual orientation and countless others, it is important to realize that everyone is special, important and appreciated. Don’t listen to the negative comments; the planet wouldn’t be the way it is without people’s differences, so go show them off to the world. APRIL/MAY 5 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 deteramined 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. .
UP TO BAT S P O R T S overview of softball season WRITER NATHAN STATEN | DESIGNER LINCOLN HAKE The softball team has started its 2023 campaign and has high hopes for what the season will bring. Players, coaches, and fans alike hold big aspirations for this season. Last season, the team made it to the district finals; And this year the team is looking to build upon last season by winning the OCCs. It started its quest with a spring break trip to Florida. “I thought the trip went really well. The girls got in five games and got a lot of reps in while having some quality team bonding. Trips like these are what the girls will remember, and we love to give the girls opportunities like that. I thought the girls did really well and overall showed growth. We learned that we need to protect the ball a little more and be a little more aggressive,” Varsity Head Coach Mason Robinson said. The team took a week-long trip to Orlando, Florida over spring break. The team played five games, including matchups against Westerville Central and Watertown. “The Florida trip went well, and although our record didn’t really show it, we made a lot of improvement as we went and got better playing good teams. The experience was good because having fun together as a team helped us bond and have better chemistry on the field,” sophomore pitcher Gauri Naik said. The softball season is already in full swing, but that doesn’t mean the team’s strides toward improvement are over. “Each game we are getting better and seeing the team we can be. We intentionally scheduled difficult games to compete in and 6 APRIL / MAY Kensi Steele (Senior), Sophie Treleski (Junior), Jordyn Pelles (Sophomore), & Leah Weaver (Junior). Leah Weaver batting against Olentangy Riverhawks. . our girls have shown a lot of competitiveness. Our goal is to win the conference which starts Wednesday,” Robinson said. Underclassman athletes on the softball team have been striving to make the seniors’ final season memorable. “The underclassmen are helping make their last season worthwhile by contributing to the team’s goal of winning OCCs through helping the team attitude and helping make defensive plays and offensive contributions,” sophomore catcher Emily Rodenberg said. One of the most controversial topics within sports is the debate of turf versus grass playing fields. The high school has opted to play on a turf field. “The turf has been a great addition for our program. It has really helped us get the season started as we got to go outside a lot earlier than normal. We also get to move some rainouts from other fields home to our field. It allows us to play more often!” Robinson said. The new turf also includes the new and large Pioneer P logo in front of the home base plate. “The turf makes us realize how lucky we are to be in the program and it’s nice because we won’t have as many rainouts. Obviously balls travel differently on turf but we have done a great job adjusting to it,” Naik said. The team has a record of 12-10 as of May 4, most recently losing at Liberty with a score of 3-7. Beating Dublin Coffman at home on April 26 then losing 3-2 to Upper Arlington with a walk of grand slam on April 27.
FROM THE SIDELINES C O L U M N getting to know golf WRITER ADAM WELCH | DESIGNER LINCOLN HAKE Long known as the gentleman’s game and a sport filled with class and etiquette branching centuries, golf has always been held to a higher standard amongst its players with little tension, nothing more than rivalries amongst players. But, as of 2021, golf is more divided than ever with two separate rivaling tours, the PGA Tour and the LIV Golf tour. After a year on separate tours, both groups of players met each other at Augusta National for the 2023 Masters as LIV players are allowed to play in the five “major” golf tournaments but are banned from regular PGA tour events. Lots of controversy still swirls around the competitive, little sister tour known as LIV. LIV doesn’t actually stand for anything and instead refers to the Roman numeral of number 54, which consists of the number of holes on the LIV Tour. LIV Tour events consist of three, 18-hole rounds instead of the traditional four, 18-hole rounds for a PGA Tour tournament, according to the FHC Sports Report. Also, LIV Tour events don’t make a “cut” after two rounds like the PGA tour does. In the PGA Tour, tournament organizers cut the tournament field to the top 50 players after Friday’s round, so it’s more cut-throat. The players who don’t make the “cut” aren’t paid for their performance that week. LIV branched on to the scene of golf with immediate threats to the PGA due to the salaries the tour was offering. Dustin Johnson, one of the PGA’s top golfers was one of the first big names to leave, accepting a contract worth around $125 million dollars according to the Daily Telegraph. Three-time Masters champion and one of the best to ever play the sport Phil Mickelson, also accepted an offer to join the LIV tour for $200 million dollars. However the PGA however held onto their most famous athlete Tiger Woods who turned down a nine figure contract, according to NBC Sports Chicago. In my opinion, I don’t see LIV’s tenure lasting long at all. While it’s true they definitely can back their bank, paying absurd amounts in revenue to players like Mickelson, I don’t see the fans also following over. The reason for this is because the PGA is already a premier household name, die hard golf fans are already very familiar with the PGA Championship and therefore because those fans always watch this specific tournament most likely wouldn’t feel the need to carry over to watch LIV. It also doesn’t help the LIV tour that the PGA is broadcasted on the biggest national broadcasters like NBC and CBS drawing in more viewers, whereas LIV is exclusively on The CW. A result of this exclusive partnership was that LIV’s second tournament on the CW network saw a drop in viewership by 24 percent, according to golf.com. It also doesn’t help that without a doubt, plain and simple the PGA just has more iconic courses. LIV simply can’t compete with the likes of Pebble Beach, and TPC Sawgrass. LIV can travel far and wide across the globe picking courses but the tradition of the courses in the PGA can’t be matched. If I had to guess, I don’t see the LIV tour actually being a threat to the PGA for more than five years at most. And honestly, I don’t think the league will be around in 15 years or less. It’s simply a new fad in the sport of golf that will eventually die out. The next generation of great golfers will still continue to play on the PGA and carry on its legacy. APRIL / MAY 7 ABOUT THE COLUMNIST Hi, I’m Adam I am a connoisseur of all things sports, and I watch about every pro sports league. I currently play Volleyball for Orange as well.
the evolution of modern day transportation WRITERS SHREYA ARUNKUMAR, KENDALL CADEGAN, AND MOLLY SULLIVAN | DESIGNER AUDREY SELSOR | SOURCES MONGABAY, CNN & ZIPPIA APRIL/MAY 9 C O V E R Forms of transportation have come a long way from horse drawn carriages, with cars, commercial planes and trains all available to people. Although planes and trains are rare forms of transportation that are typically used in popular cities and to travel outside of the country, cars are used almost every day by families. Whether cars are used to get to school, grocery stores, the local mall, or to travel out of state, they are certainly a staple in the lives of many people in America. So much so, that most families have multiple cars. Although cars are very popular, sales have been fluctuating since the late 1970s. According to the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, total vehicle sales in America hit an all-time high in October 2001, as a total of 22.055 millions of vehicles were sold. In January 2023, 16.379 million vehicles were sold and there was an all-time low of 8.923 million vehicles sold in April of 2020, which is most likely due to the rising COVID pandemic that year; with travel restrictions, there wasn’t much demand for new cars. While it is evident that many people throughout the country own cars, most people don’t know much information about the mechanics of them. “Cars are divided into systems, and there are eight main areas within automotive service technology,” DACC Automotive Technology Instructor Robert Swonger said. “Areas include engine repair, automatic transmission/transaxle, manual transmission/transaxle and drivetrain, brakes, steering and suspension, electrical, heating and air conditioning and engine performance.” Engines are perhaps the most crucial component of the car, as it is the part that actually propels the car forward. “The engine in a car is designed to develop torque, or twisting force, that is then sent through the transmission to be multiplied before applied to the wheels to propel the vehicle,” Swonger said. “Diesel engines work similar to gasoline engines but burn the fuel differently.” Electric cars are becoming increasingly popular now too, and their engines work a little differently to minimize the amount of gasoline burning and therefore reducing the carbon emissions and pollution emitted from those cars. “Electric-powered cars use the torque produced by the electric motor to propel the vehicle,” Swonger said. “Most often this torque is sent through a CVT, or Constantly Variable Transmission, to efficiently utilize the torque produced.” Although electric cars don’t utilize gasoline, the reduction of pollution from them compared to regular cars can be questioned as the electricity used to charge electric cars is also derived from burning fossil fuels. “While it is true that the electrical grid (that is used to charge electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles along with a lot of other things like household items, traffic lights, heating, etc.) is powered by burning coal which gives off emissions, using that electricity rather than fuel to power a car releases fewer emissions,” Graduate Research Associate at the Center for Automotive Research at OSU Karinne Bernanke said. “For example, take an electric car versus a conventional car driving the same route: the conventional car will release more emissions from burning that fuel compared to the emissions from the electricity the electric car needs.” In addition to the already minimized pollution from the use of electric cars, there is also research being done to further decrease and possibly eliminate the carbon footprint of electric vehicles. “There are a lot of scientists working on solar energy, wind energy, hydropower, geothermal energy, and many more renewable energy sources that can contribute to powering the electrical grid,” Bernanke said. “The hope is that as time passes, the grid will use more and more renewable energy and less energy from fossil fuels.” In addition to electric cars, there are many advancements being made that make cars more environmentally friendly, as vehicles are being optimized for fuel economy at both the design stage and real-time operation. To explain,tires are being designed for fuel efficiency with the tread design and materials and navigation systems can better compute the most efficient routes. “This includes designing the vehicle to be more aerodynamic, so the vehicle encounters less aerodynamic resistance,” Bernanke said. “An example for real-time operation would be in a hybrid, where controllers are 8 C O V E R APRIL/MAY transportation for moving humans, but I’ve seen some data showing that the carbon impact for trains is high. It would take a lot to build the infrastructure for rail, and that is why I think the carbon emissions would be so high,” Bates said. Though the future is promising as California is looking to build a high speed rail system, like those that are in place in Japan and China. The project really can only use on land so air travel is inevitable and car travel will continue no matter what because its extremely unrealistic that trains will evolve this much. As transportation in society has progressed over time, new modes of convenient travel have popped up as the United States evolves as a country. The first people to fly a plane were the Wright brothers in 1903, who built the first real plane. of approximately 5.5 million and an annual ridership in 2019 of roughly 1.698 billion,” according to The Metropolitan Transportation Authority. While they are easy and convenient to use in densely populated areas, they become less practical in smaller cities or in areas where cities meet the suburbs. Public transportation is also often looked down upon by many. “Americans outside of cities don’t like mass transit (trains, buses, etc.). It’s associated with ‘poor’ people and seen as counter to the American dream that seems to include driving everywhere, having multiple cars, houses with garage-forward design, big parking lots, etc.” Director of Environmental Studies and Professor of Environment and Sustainability at Ohio Wesleyan University John B. Krygier said. While many see trains as a negative or impractical for use, the environmental impact they create, or don’t create, is quite impressive. Running on diesel fuel, they run more efficiently than one may think. “[Trains] generate about 0.5 percent of United States’ greenhouse gasses and just under two percent of transportation greenhouse gas emissions. It is, in general, much better to use railroads vs. trucks for transport,” Krygier said. Even though they run on fossil fuels, most cars and trucks do as well. For long distance travels, whether being people or goods, trains would be a better option environmentally speaking. “Think about how many rail cars are pulled by an engine. Then, think if all of that content was on the highway using trucks,” Professor and Program Coordinator of Environmental Science, Safety & Health at Columbus State Community College Jeff Bates said. Nevertheless, in order to make trains more practical, massive rail systems would need to be created for easier travel. This would be a difficult task and the process would be harmful. “There is a push by some for increased rail designed to use the most efficient combination of energy from electricity and fuel to operate the vehicle.” In the present though, there are many actions that can be taken by individuals to reduce their carbon footprint from vehicle usage. Most notably, people can carpool, drive less, and take public transportation such as buses. “My immediate answer is to drive an electric vehicle or a hybrid for your next car,” Bernanke said. “Pay attention to the miles per gallon of the vehicle. The more miles it can get on a gallon of fuel, the fewer emissions for a given distance.” Needing methods of transportation in order to get around is inevitable. If one doesn’t live in a compacted city, it instantly becomes much harder to walk to places like work or school. These places in particular are necessary to go to in order to receive money or an education. So what can people do in order to ensure their lives stay intact? Some places utilize trains to get around. Subways are the most prominent in the United States, where people use them in large urban environments like New York City. Boston was the first American city to implement a subway system according to History.com. However, less than 10 years later in 1904 “the New York City subway soon became the largest American system.” To this day the New York City subway system is the largest in the country due to the city’s extensive population size but also because of the sheer size of the system itself. There are nearly 700 miles of subway tracks that connect all five boroughs and each of the surrounding airports, making it beneficial for tourists and locals alike. B e f o r e COVID-19 slowed the use of public transp or tation, “the subway had a daily ridership 22.055 million cars sold in 2001 8.923 million cars sold in 2020 16.379 million cars sold in 2023 ‘PLANES, TRAINS AND AUTOMOBILES’
the evolution of modern day transportation WRITERS SHREYA ARUNKUMAR, KENDALL CADEGAN, AND MOLLY SULLIVAN | DESIGNER AUDREY SELSOR | SOURCES MONGABAY, CNN & ZIPPIA APRIL/MAY 9 C O V E R Forms of transportation have come a long way from horse drawn carriages, with cars, commercial planes and trains all available to people. Although planes and trains are rare forms of transportation that are typically used in popular cities and to travel outside of the country, cars are used almost every day by families. Whether cars are used to get to school, grocery stores, the local mall, or to travel out of state, they are certainly a staple in the lives of many people in America. So much so, that most families have multiple cars. Although cars are very popular, sales have been fluctuating since the late 1970s. According to the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, total vehicle sales in America hit an all-time high in October 2001, as a total of 22.055 millions of vehicles were sold. In January 2023, 16.379 million vehicles were sold and there was an all-time low of 8.923 million vehicles sold in April of 2020, which is most likely due to the rising COVID pandemic that year; with travel restrictions, there wasn’t much demand for new cars. While it is evident that many people throughout the country own cars, most people don’t know much information about the mechanics of them. “Cars are divided into systems, and there are eight main areas within automotive service technology,” DACC Automotive Technology Instructor Robert Swonger said. “Areas include engine repair, automatic transmission/transaxle, manual transmission/transaxle and drivetrain, brakes, steering and suspension, electrical, heating and air conditioning and engine performance.” Engines are perhaps the most crucial component of the car, as it is the part that actually propels the car forward. “The engine in a car is designed to develop torque, or twisting force, that is then sent through the transmission to be multiplied before applied to the wheels to propel the vehicle,” Swonger said. “Diesel engines work similar to gasoline engines but burn the fuel differently.” Electric cars are becoming increasingly popular now too, and their engines work a little differently to minimize the amount of gasoline burning and therefore reducing the carbon emissions and pollution emitted from those cars. “Electric-powered cars use the torque produced by the electric motor to propel the vehicle,” Swonger said. “Most often this torque is sent through a CVT, or Constantly Variable Transmission, to efficiently utilize the torque produced.” Although electric cars don’t utilize gasoline, the reduction of pollution from them compared to regular cars can be questioned as the electricity used to charge electric cars is also derived from burning fossil fuels. “While it is true that the electrical grid (that is used to charge electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles along with a lot of other things like household items, traffic lights, heating, etc.) is powered by burning coal which gives off emissions, using that electricity rather than fuel to power a car releases fewer emissions,” Graduate Research Associate at the Center for Automotive Research at OSU Karinne Bernanke said. “For example, take an electric car versus a conventional car driving the same route: the conventional car will release more emissions from burning that fuel compared to the emissions from the electricity the electric car needs.” In addition to the already minimized pollution from the use of electric cars, there is also research being done to further decrease and possibly eliminate the carbon footprint of electric vehicles. “There are a lot of scientists working on solar energy, wind energy, hydropower, geothermal energy, and many more renewable energy sources that can contribute to powering the electrical grid,” Bernanke said. “The hope is that as time passes, the grid will use more and more renewable energy and less energy from fossil fuels.” In addition to electric cars, there are many advancements being made that make cars more environmentally friendly, as vehicles are being optimized for fuel economy at both the design stage and real-time operation. To explain,tires are being designed for fuel efficiency with the tread design and materials and navigation systems can better compute the most efficient routes. “This includes designing the vehicle to be more aerodynamic, so the vehicle encounters less aerodynamic resistance,” Bernanke said. “An example for real-time operation would be in a hybrid, where controllers are 8 C O V E R APRIL/MAY transportation for moving humans, but I’ve seen some data showing that the carbon impact for trains is high. It would take a lot to build the infrastructure for rail, and that is why I think the carbon emissions would be so high,” Bates said. Though the future is promising as California is looking to build a high speed rail system, like those that are in place in Japan and China. The project really can only use on land so air travel is inevitable and car travel will continue no matter what because its extremely unrealistic that trains will evolve this much. As transportation in society has progressed over time, new modes of convenient travel have popped up as the United States evolves as a country. The first people to fly a plane were the Wright brothers in 1903, who built the first real plane. of approximately 5.5 million and an annual ridership in 2019 of roughly 1.698 billion,” according to The Metropolitan Transportation Authority. While they are easy and convenient to use in densely populated areas, they become less practical in smaller cities or in areas where cities meet the suburbs. Public transportation is also often looked down upon by many. “Americans outside of cities don’t like mass transit (trains, buses, etc.). It’s associated with ‘poor’ people and seen as counter to the American dream that seems to include driving everywhere, having multiple cars, houses with garage-forward design, big parking lots, etc.” Director of Environmental Studies and Professor of Environment and Sustainability at Ohio Wesleyan University John B. Krygier said. While many see trains as a negative or impractical for use, the environmental impact they create, or don’t create, is quite impressive. Running on diesel fuel, they run more efficiently than one may think. “[Trains] generate about 0.5 percent of United States’ greenhouse gasses and just under two percent of transportation greenhouse gas emissions. It is, in general, much better to use railroads vs. trucks for transport,” Krygier said. Even though they run on fossil fuels, most cars and trucks do as well. For long distance travels, whether being people or goods, trains would be a better option environmentally speaking. “Think about how many rail cars are pulled by an engine. Then, think if all of that content was on the highway using trucks,” Professor and Program Coordinator of Environmental Science, Safety & Health at Columbus State Community College Jeff Bates said. Nevertheless, in order to make trains more practical, massive rail systems would need to be created for easier travel. This would be a difficult task and the process would be harmful. “There is a push by some for increased rail designed to use the most efficient combination of energy from electricity and fuel to operate the vehicle.” In the present though, there are many actions that can be taken by individuals to reduce their carbon footprint from vehicle usage. Most notably, people can carpool, drive less, and take public transportation such as buses. “My immediate answer is to drive an electric vehicle or a hybrid for your next car,” Bernanke said. “Pay attention to the miles per gallon of the vehicle. The more miles it can get on a gallon of fuel, the fewer emissions for a given distance.” Needing methods of transportation in order to get around is inevitable. If one doesn’t live in a compacted city, it instantly becomes much harder to walk to places like work or school. These places in particular are necessary to go to in order to receive money or an education. So what can people do in order to ensure their lives stay intact? Some places utilize trains to get around. Subways are the most prominent in the United States, where people use them in large urban environments like New York City. Boston was the first American city to implement a subway system according to History.com. However, less than 10 years later in 1904 “the New York City subway soon became the largest American system.” To this day the New York City subway system is the largest in the country due to the city’s extensive population size but also because of the sheer size of the system itself. There are nearly 700 miles of subway tracks that connect all five boroughs and each of the surrounding airports, making it beneficial for tourists and locals alike. B e f o r e COVID-19 slowed the use of public transp or tation, “the subway had a daily ridership 22.055 million cars sold in 2001 8.923 million cars sold in 2020 16.379 million cars sold in 2023 ‘PLANES, TRAINS AND AUTOMOBILES’
APRIL/MAY 11 C O V E R While flying by plane isn’t necessarily new, commercial flights, or regular scheduled flights full of people traveling didn’t become common until the 1950s. Even though it was expensive, upper-class citizens still used it as a faster way to travel large distances. According to Travelandleisure.com, a flight to Boston in 1941 was about $4,000, and took over double the amount of time it takes now on a plane. The price is down 10 percent now, at only $400. Air travel has become more accessible and common in recent years. Many families take advantage of speedily getting from destination to destination on vacations or to visit family. There has been an extreme spike in the increase of Americans traveling by air. According to Zippia, the United States is No.1 in air travel in 2019, with around 926.7 million passengers reported, in second place is China. However, the cost of air fare has been increasing in recent years because of the cost of fuel and inflation, as well as the COVID-19 pandemic. “The cost per gallon of Jet A fuel has nearly doubled in the past two years. Fuel is the largest expense for the industry. Unless the cost of a barrel of crude goes down, don’t expect the price of a ticket to go down either,” Ohio State Aviation Lecturer Adam Beckman said. During the pandemic years, air travel was limited because of the close quarters. Only essential flights were taking off, and passengers had to wear masks. This rule did not become lifted until months after the mask mandate was lifted in 2020. “We are seeing a good deal of ‘revenge’ travel happening. People saved money over the COVID period because they were forced to cancel travel plans. This is ‘revenge’ in the fact that they can take the vacations they have been wanting to do,” Ohio State Aviation Lecturer Greg Kociba said. Due to the pandemic causing people to be unable to take their routine trips, a demand for travel has increased. This has caused an increase in air fares as of recently. “This boost in travel has created an environment where more people want to fly than there are available tickets. When this happens, demand is greater than supply creating little competition between airline companies,” Kociba said. The uncommon situation of a pandemic has caused many to become aware of how the prices of airfare really work. Competition is a major component, as well as demand according to Kociba. “The prices will go down when the demand cools. This causes more competition among the major carriers. When airline carriers have more of a struggle filling their aircraft, they will be forced to lower prices,” Kociba said. The pandemic also caused airlines to reduce their routes to reserve fuel therefore saving money. This means that while on a flight around the pandemic times, there would be more connections required in passengers’ flight. “Some of these routes have not come back or have come back in a limited capacity. This had an overall positive effect on the airline’s bottom line as they became more efficient in their operation,” Adam Beckman said. As flights have become safer health-wise, many of these rules have changed. Luckily, air travel is mostly back to normal. “Most of the flying is back to the prepandemic level. They are just flying more efficient and profitable routes. In other words, they cut the fat out of their system.” Beckman said. When traveling, it is important to understand the severity of the emissions airplanes produce currently. According to mongabay, airplanes emit about 100 times the carbon dioxide that an average shared bus or train ride would per hour. According to futurist Bernard Marr in his article “What Is the Future Of Air Travel?”, “A recent report suggested that hydrogenpowered planes could enter the market as soon as 2035, and those planes could carry hundreds more passengers per flight than traditional planes, with a cleaner energy source.” Luckily, there are many possibilities of advancements in the environmental factors of air travel, as making larger planes that carry more passengers will naturally result in fewer flights, which results in less emissions, especially if these are hydrogen-powered planes. “There are many advancements that are being implemented now. One of the big ones is in SAF or sustainable aviation fuels. A local company taking part in this would be NetJets involvement with WasteFuel. WasteFuel is converting trash petroleum products like plastics and converting them to a burnable jet fuel,” Kociba said. Wastefuel is a reliable option to recycle waste and make emissions less harmful. 10 C O V E R APRIL/MAY ‘“ The cost per gallon of jet fuel has in the past two years”’, according to CNN. “ The United States is in 2019, with around passengers reported”, according to Zippia.com. “Airplanes emit about the carbon dioxide than an average shared bus or train ride would per hour”, according to news.mongabay.com. 100 TIMES NEARLY DOUBLED No.1 in air travel 926.7 million .
APRIL/MAY 11 C O V E R While flying by plane isn’t necessarily new, commercial flights, or regular scheduled flights full of people traveling didn’t become common until the 1950s. Even though it was expensive, upper-class citizens still used it as a faster way to travel large distances. According to Travelandleisure.com, a flight to Boston in 1941 was about $4,000, and took over double the amount of time it takes now on a plane. The price is down 10 percent now, at only $400. Air travel has become more accessible and common in recent years. Many families take advantage of speedily getting from destination to destination on vacations or to visit family. There has been an extreme spike in the increase of Americans traveling by air. According to Zippia, the United States is No.1 in air travel in 2019, with around 926.7 million passengers reported, in second place is China. However, the cost of air fare has been increasing in recent years because of the cost of fuel and inflation, as well as the COVID-19 pandemic. “The cost per gallon of Jet A fuel has nearly doubled in the past two years. Fuel is the largest expense for the industry. Unless the cost of a barrel of crude goes down, don’t expect the price of a ticket to go down either,” Ohio State Aviation Lecturer Adam Beckman said. During the pandemic years, air travel was limited because of the close quarters. Only essential flights were taking off, and passengers had to wear masks. This rule did not become lifted until months after the mask mandate was lifted in 2020. “We are seeing a good deal of ‘revenge’ travel happening. People saved money over the COVID period because they were forced to cancel travel plans. This is ‘revenge’ in the fact that they can take the vacations they have been wanting to do,” Ohio State Aviation Lecturer Greg Kociba said. Due to the pandemic causing people to be unable to take their routine trips, a demand for travel has increased. This has caused an increase in air fares as of recently. “This boost in travel has created an environment where more people want to fly than there are available tickets. When this happens, demand is greater than supply creating little competition between airline companies,” Kociba said. The uncommon situation of a pandemic has caused many to become aware of how the prices of airfare really work. Competition is a major component, as well as demand according to Kociba. “The prices will go down when the demand cools. This causes more competition among the major carriers. When airline carriers have more of a struggle filling their aircraft, they will be forced to lower prices,” Kociba said. The pandemic also caused airlines to reduce their routes to reserve fuel therefore saving money. This means that while on a flight around the pandemic times, there would be more connections required in passengers’ flight. “Some of these routes have not come back or have come back in a limited capacity. This had an overall positive effect on the airline’s bottom line as they became more efficient in their operation,” Adam Beckman said. As flights have become safer health-wise, many of these rules have changed. Luckily, air travel is mostly back to normal. “Most of the flying is back to the prepandemic level. They are just flying more efficient and profitable routes. In other words, they cut the fat out of their system.” Beckman said. When traveling, it is important to understand the severity of the emissions airplanes produce currently. According to mongabay, airplanes emit about 100 times the carbon dioxide that an average shared bus or train ride would per hour. According to futurist Bernard Marr in his article “What Is the Future Of Air Travel?”, “A recent report suggested that hydrogenpowered planes could enter the market as soon as 2035, and those planes could carry hundreds more passengers per flight than traditional planes, with a cleaner energy source.” Luckily, there are many possibilities of advancements in the environmental factors of air travel, as making larger planes that carry more passengers will naturally result in fewer flights, which results in less emissions, especially if these are hydrogen-powered planes. “There are many advancements that are being implemented now. One of the big ones is in SAF or sustainable aviation fuels. A local company taking part in this would be NetJets involvement with WasteFuel. WasteFuel is converting trash petroleum products like plastics and converting them to a burnable jet fuel,” Kociba said. Wastefuel is a reliable option to recycle waste and make emissions less harmful. 10 C O V E R APRIL/MAY ‘“ The cost per gallon of jet fuel has in the past two years”’, according to CNN. “ The United States is in 2019, with around passengers reported”, according to Zippia.com. “Airplanes emit about the carbon dioxide than an average shared bus or train ride would per hour”, according to news.mongabay.com. 100 TIMES NEARLY DOUBLED No.1 in air travel 926.7 million .
HOT ABOUT HARITHS F E A T U R E getting to know the valedictorian WRITER MOLLY SULLIVAN | DESIGNER HIYA PATEL | PERMISSION TO PRINT NEIL HARITHS 12 APRIL/MAY As the top student of his graduating class, Senior Neil Hariths had always been confident in his academic abilities. However, the idea of delivering the valedictorian speech to a packed auditorium filled him with a mix of excitement and apprehension. With graduation day fast approaching, Hariths spent every spare moment drafting and refining his speech, determined to leave a lasting impression on his peers and the faculty. At least one valedictorian is chosen each year to give a speech at graduation, this student is often seen as a role model and must display dedication, curiosity, and hard work. The class of 2023 valedictorian is Neil Hariths. Hariths worked diligently throughout his high school years to earn a GPA of 4.6. He was involved in a multitude of extracurricular activities and is planning on attending The Ohio State University to study neuroscience. “Throughout high school, I was involved in quite a few extracirriculars, but these few were more impactful than the others. I participated and helped run Model UN all four years, played tennis, did Help for Hope, and played the saxophone in the marching band,” Hariths said. Hariths is a well-rounded student who spent a huge amount of time involving himself in activities outside of school. Participating in these various activities is a great opportunity for students to find their interests. “All of the things I chose to do had a huge impact on my interests and future plans, so I’m really thankful I had the opportunity to involve myself with as much as I did. Do what you’re interested in,” Hariths said. “You’re so much more likely to try harder and put more effort in if it’s into something you find genuinely interesting,” As he suggests, a big part in becoming successful is having an open mind and becoming involved in activities that spark interest. According to Guidance Counselor Stephen Gunther, Hariths puts an incredibly high amount of effort into everything he does as a student and in his daily life. “Neil does everything with purpose and for reasons that are sincere. He is not a student that does something to ‘check a box’ but rather, he does so with purposeful intent. These intentions are grounded with his quality of character, his genuine desire to learn and help others, and with an empathy and compassion that rivals his academic ability,” Gunther said. A student worthy of the title of valedictorian must not only have academic skill but to have excellent traits which allow them to put their all into becoming the best version of themselves. “Neil is an empathetic, compassionate, and pragmatic young man. He exhibits an innate curiosity and embodies the characteristics of a ‘good human,’ He is more than a valedictorian being recognized for earning the highest academic achievements,” Gunther said As he recalls his high school years, Hariths reveals something many other students don’t know about him, as well as one of his favorite memories. “One thing people may be surprised to know about me is that during my junior year I ran the OOHS sleeps page. Wyatt Downey, George Liu, Shukanth Jojodae and I started it in a study hall, and it really took off,” Hariths said. “It was great walking around school and seeing people take pictures knowing it would get sent to us later.” As Hariths stepped down from the podium, he was greeted by his friends and family, all congratulating him on a job well done. He felt a sense of contentment, knowing that he had made the most of his high school experience and had set himself up for success in the years to come.. Senior Neil Hariths throughout the years.
pioneers see the light WRITER HIYA PATEL | DESIGNER HIYA PATEL | PERMISSION TO PRINT GRACE BOZIC APRIL/MAY 13 “I loved when everyone got hype on the dance floor because it really made me feel like I was part of a bigger group and a fun shool community,” junior Taanishi Gulati said. “My favorite memory from prom was getting to go up on stage and be recognized by all my peers”, senior Luke Woolard said. “Just live in the moment because it’s a once in a lifetime experience,” junior Taanishi Gulati said. F E A T U R E As the school year finally comes to a wrap, it’s now a time for juniors and seniors to reflect on their time at the high school. This year, prom was held at Kemba Live on April 15, and the theme was “At Last We See the Light.” Seniors boys dance at prom. The prom court stands on stage awaiting the prom king and queen announcement. PERFECT PROM Prom attendees have a great time dancing under the lights. Prom attendees gather around table. .
TRIP TO THE TROPICS F E A T U R E pioneers pack for costa rica WRITER REBEKAH RICHTER | DESIGNER MACKENNA MILLER I t’s a hot day at the beach in the middle of June. At one beach, there are a bunch of leatherback sea turtles and their eggs. Senior Ryan Sweinhart and her friends decide to go back to the beach later that night to do a night swim and see baby leatherback sea turtles entering the ocean for the first time. 14 seniors and juniors at the high school are going to see the nesting process of leatherback sea turtles on a trip to Costa Rica. This trip will be June 2-10 and is a total of $3,595 per person for food, round trip flights and nine days of learning about leatherback sea turtles and the environment they live in. “We will be doing a handful of activities such as forest hikes, night hikes, collecting data on leatherback sea turtles and their nesting habits, and being educated on the biology and ecology of Costa Rica along with the importance of conservation,” Sweinhart, a senior attending the trip, said. The trip will be split into different sections for different days where students will observe and monitor leatherback sea turtles. They will then explore the rainforest and go either rafting or zip lining. “We will spend half of the trip in the Pacuare Reserve, and the other half will be in another reserve where we can do canopy walks and white-water rafting,” chaperone and AP Environmental Science Teacher Jessica Timmons said. While the students are out of the country exploring Costa Rica and learning about leatherback sea turtles, their safety is very important. There will be many measures in place to ensure that all students are safe while out of the country. “Students will be instructed to always use the buddy system and never go anywhere alone. The other chaperone, Drew Rock, and I will constantly do head counts, and while we are in Pacuare, there will be armed guards patrolling the beach from time to time,” Timmons said. The students will be in a safe environment while they learn in Costa Rica. The trip to Costa Rica has been in the planning process for a while so safety is something that has been deeply thought about and taken into consideration throughout the process of choosing what Ecology Project International (EPI) trip to take. Timmons also went on this trip prior to taking her students on it. “In 2020, I was invited by EPI to study leatherback sea turtles with a group of teachers from all over the globe, but Covid-19 had other plans. I reapplied for 2022 and was actually awarded a scholarship from EPI to study whale sharks in Baja, Mexico. I, unfortunately, couldn’t attend so EPI worked with me and then offered the same scholarship for me to go to Costa Rica in July,” Timmons said. Timmons wants her students to experience what she got to and deepen their learning by doing hands-on activities. Different students who decided to go on the Costa Rica trip each had their own reasons for wanting to go. “I decided to join the Costa Rica trip because I am planning on studying environmental sciences in college and thought this would be a great opportunity not only to get to travel to a different country but also gain experience working with scientists to research sea turtles,” Sweinhart said. The trip to Costa Rica provides an excellent opportunity for students to learn and gain real life experience in the field of environmental science and the skills to be able to collaborate with other researchers. This can help students later in life when researching in their own settings. “The biggest learning aspect in my opinion would be the collaboration of students and experts to help gain knowledge about the importance of conservation and critical thinking, so we as a community can analyze and find solutions to word problems,” Sweinhart said. Communication and collaboration are a major learning focus for the students going on the trip. They will be learning about the environment and leatherback sea turtles while sharing knowledge and research with each other and having fun all at the same time. “I am most excited to see all the native wildlife and rainforests, going on night walks through the forests, and collecting/hatching sea turtle eggs,” Sweinhart said. Students will be learning and researching key skills that will help them in the scientific field while they are in Costa Rica while simultaneously enjoying this once in a lifetime opportunity the summer before their freshman year of college. 14 APRIL/MAY .
FESTIVAL FRENZY C U L T U R E summer festivals in columbus WRITER LUNA PEREZ DELGADO | DESIGNER MACKENNA MILLER Warm spring days with chilly breezes: a perfect time to have some fun in the sun. However, with school still in session and pools still closed, many are left to wonder how to spend some time outside. Festivals, though not always the first option, are a fun and different way to spend a day out since most have food, activities, and friends. Many teenagers such as junior Ankit Maharana and sophomore Riley Sayers are currently planning on attending upcoming festivals in Columbus. Maharana is not only attending but also planning an upcoming Holi festival with other members of Olentangy and Dublin Jerome High Schools. This is their first year coordinating an event like this. “It kind of just happened. A club from Olentangy began a collaboration project with Jerome, and then it just developed into this event,” Maharana said, “If all goes well, we would love to work together more, but it may or may not be another Holi event. The clubs involved are wonderful to work with.” Maharana’s Holi Festival will take place on Saturday, May 13 so warm sunny weather can be expected. It will be from 11a.m. to 2p.m. at the Coffman Park Pavilion and all are welcome to join. “We’re going to have some henna stalls set up as well. We have food trucks so make sure to bring some money for those. You can wear whatever you’d like but typically either dirty clothes that you don’t mind getting stained or dirty or a white shirt so you can stain them on purpose,” Maharana said. This specific event is celebrating the Hindu festival of Holi, the festival of color, and is celebrated with a color war. Though the festival has a background of Hinduism, Maharana invites everyone interested to come and celebrate. “Holi events are usually massive community events or small ones with friends and family, so it’s really rare to have just kids your age celebrating together. It will be right after AP exams so it’ll be a fun way to decompress. Overall, I highly recommend you come no matter if you’re Indian or not. It’s all about bringing the community together not creating barriers,” Maharana said. This festival is a great opportunity to get out with some friends and have some colorful fun. But if color wars don’t sound too appealing, the Columbus Arts Festival June 9-11 at the Scioto Mile is a good way to see some colorful art, especially for Sayers. “I want to go to the festival to look at some of the art and participate in activities that are offered. I heard there’s a lot of cool performances and an outdoor art gallery from local artists so I’m mostly going to see those,” Sayers said. According to columbus arts festival. org, there are more than 200 visual artists attending, three parts of performances and a large number of food vendors at the event, not to mention the hands-on art activities and demonstrations. “I’m most excited to look around and explore all the different art throughout the festival in demonstrations and eat some really good food,” Sayers said. Therefore, whether it’s some colorful art exhibits or an exciting color war, join Sayers and Maharana with some friends at riverfront in the Scioto Mile for the Columbus Arts Festival June 9-11 or the Holi festival May 13. For more information visit columbusartsfestival.org or the collaboration group’s Instagram @JeromexTangy. APRIL/MAY 15 COSI SCIENCE FEST MAY 3-6 cosiscifest.org OHIO BLACK EXPO MAY 25-28 ohioblackexpo.com SONIC TEMPLE ARTS AND MUSIC FEST MAY 25-28 sonictemplefestival.com BUCKEYE COUNTRY SUPERFEST MAY 27 buckeyecountrysuperfest.com COLUMBUS ARTS FEST JUNE 9-11 columbusartsfestival.org .
POSTPARTUM POLICY O P I N I O N olentangy rules on maternity leave WRITER GABBY RANEY | DESIGNER NATALIA FAVILA INACUA 16 APRIL/MAY A teacher going on maternity leave is never something I gave deep thought to until recently when I found out teachers in the Olentangy district were not given direct maternity leave. Instead they must use their paid sick leave to account for the absences. At surface level this may work. However, not all teachers have enough paid sick leave to cover a full six to nine weeks of time off, meaning they will need to take the time unpaid. This problematic situation mainly pertains to teachers who are new to teaching or new to the district. While the majority of teachers do not have issues with the policy as they have enough sick leave saved by the time they have children, for those who do it can have devastating financial repercussions. So I believe some adjustments need to be made to the policy. A teacher has a contract for 185 days, divided across 24 payments, twice a month. When a teacher must take unpaid time off, such as for having a baby, they can only take five days unpaid per paycheck, as they still must pay for things such as health insurance. This adds up to 10 days per month. Moreover, a teacher works 20 days a month, so if they take six weeks of unpaid leave, it will total to 30 days. However, it will take three months for the paychecks to accumulate. In other words, after the unpaid leave had ended a teacher who returned to work would be without a paycheck for a month and a half. This is a substantial amount of time to go without a paycheck, especially with newborn expenses. However, there is an easy immediate solution to this: open the sick leave bank to teachers who need it for maternity leave. The sick leave bank is where teachers can donate their paid days off into a “bank” that other teachers may pull from if they need, but it is currently not allowed to be used for pregnancy purposes. Although I understand the apprehension to open it in fear of this being abused, it is unethical to put teachers, especially those with a newborn, under such financial stress. Again, I’d like to reiterate, not all teachers would need to use it as many have enough paid time off saved for when they do go on leave. I would also like to add on the subject of paternity leave. Although all teachers get the same amount of time off, male teachers are only allowed to take one week for paternity leave, which is unfair. In the short term, male teachers should also have the opportunity to pull from the sick leave bank for such purposes if needed. In the long run plans for paternity leave should be put into place. It’s an argument that teachers have a lot of time off already, but as I spend more time with my teachers it has become evident how much time and effort many put into their classes. From grading for hours after school to have quick turnaround times, to putting hours of work into extracurricular activities such as clubs or sports, teachers do a lot more than many give them credit for. This lack of maternity and paternity leave is something of an epidemic around America as a whole. Although this is a very plausible reason for why the Olentangy policy is the way it is, I don’t think it’s an excuse. Just because it is done does not mean it is right or ethical and while maternity and paternity leave in America should be adjusted as a whole I see no reason for the Olentangy district not to be one of the first. In the short term, I propose opening the sick leave bank to maternity and paternity leave purposes. However overall a plan to give adequate time off that doesn’t require teachers to pull from paid time off or take unpaid time off needs to be put in place.fi
A BIT TOO PERSONAL O P I N I O N why celebrities deserve privacy WRITER TAYLOR GOUDIE | DESIGNER NATALIA FAVILA INACUA APRIL/MAY 17 Cameras flashing. News spreading. For public figures, any small actions can lead to them being the talk of the internet. Even though celebrities are public figures, they still deserve to have their privacy respected. The public has such a huge fascination with knowing every detail about public figures’ personal lives, but they don’t have a right to know everything just because they are wellknown to the public. One of the biggest aspects of life that the public loves to pry into is relationships. Fans and haters alike always want to know the latest about who is dating who and what drama is between celebrities within their love lives. A very recent example of this is the break-up between Taylor Swift and Joe Alwyn. News spread very quickly through media outlets publishing stories about their separation. Soon after, the public couldn’t stop talking about it, with people posting their thoughts on why they would break up or how that could be possible as they seemed so in love. Even with a couple that keeps their relationship very private, the public still loves to pry and look into it. On the other hand, having couples that post a lot publicly about their relationship still doesn’t give people a “right” to know everything about their relationship. Another aspect of people’s lives that is discussed online is people’s bodies and health. When paparazzi photos are published, tabloids love to pick apart celebrities’ bodies and note any weight change or potential surgeries they could have gotten done. For example, recently, Ariana Grande posted a video to her social media pages talking about how people on the internet continuously discuss her changes in her body and why it is so harmful. The public also loves to spread discourse about celebrities’ addictions and their personal struggles. People on the internet love to discuss these very personal subjects as if it’s just a casual topic and push to know more. In addition to this, the general public also loves to discuss potential surgeries that a public figure may have undergone, and sometimes even demand celebrities to make a statement about what they had done to them. This is problematic as the public doesn’t “deserve” to know every intimate detail about a public figure’s health. Regular people aren’t forced to share all their health information, so why don’t celebrities deserve that same privacy? One issue that can arise from public speculation about public figures is that it can lead to rumors that spread like wildfire. Sometimes, rumors can be so intense that celebrities have to come out and make a statement about it to prove it true or false. One very personal aspect that the public loves to theorize about is celebrities’ sexualities. So much so that it sometimes makes celebrities feel forced into having to make a statement about it, like with Andrew Garfield and Kit Connor. A certain type of public figure who perhaps should let the public know a bit more about their life is politicians. If a politician wants to help lead and make decisions in our country, it’s important that the public knows a little more about them to know what kind of person they are. Sure, maybe being disloyal in one’s relationship doesn’t make them a bad politician, but what kind of example does it set for people looking up to them as a leader? This isn’t to say that they don’t deserve any privacy because they do; it’s more that the public should be at least a little more informed about their life to help understand them and their values. Overall, public figures have a right to enjoy their life privately. Just because fans see their face in movie theaters, hear their voice on the radio, or see their posts on social media, doesn’t mean they deserve to know every detail of their life. It’s simply just the unfortunate truth, though, that no matter what, the public is going to try to pick apart public figures’ lives to get to know more. “Overall, public figures have a right to enjoy their life privately. Just because fans see their face in movie theaters, hear their voice on the radio, or see their posts on social media, doesn’t mean they deserve to know every detail of their life.” fi
HOT GIRLS’ GUIDE O P I N I O N dos and don’ts of hot girl summer WRITER ZION CLIFTON| DESIGNER LILLY WOOD As the school year begins to comes to an end, and summer is fast approaching again, the new season comes with new found confidence as girls will take a ride down Hot Girl Summer Lane. Hot Girl Summer is a concept coined by rapper, actress, and artist, Megan Thee Stallion. While it began as a catchy song hook, it later took off and began to blaze a of movement for female empowerment and women all over the world. For many Hot Girl Summer is an exercise of female liberation. The “motto” gives women the confidence to not be held to the status quos of who to be and what to act like because for too long now the “status quo” has been built on conservative misogynistic values. Instead of being influenced by the media and others, Hot Girl Summer promotes being one’s genuine self, unapologetically. While girl is in the name, anyone and everyone can be a hot girl this summer. The movement is open to whoever wants to participate. The guidelines are just being whoever one feels like they were meant to be, and not to judge others as they go on their Hot Girl Summer trek. 18 APRIL/MAY DOS DON’TS Do Instead of sitting at home watching others be the people they want to be, get out there and do something that makes one happy. Refuse to be the consumer. Let others watch in awe as you live your best life. Do wear what you want. If Hot Girl Summer means wearing cowboy boots every day, then step out in one’s favorite boots for as long as one wants. Do try something new. If one wants to try new foods, try it! If one wants to try new hobbies, try them! If one wants to hone in on a new skill, hone in on that new skill! Don’t let anyone get you down. Haters mean something is being done right. So, if you start to get a few envious eyes it only means that there are a few people out there who wish they had the confidence to do what you do Don’t be afraid to drop the toxic people in your life. Toxic people only hold you back and Hot Girl Summer is all about moving forward. If the people in one’s life don’t make one happy, and they seem to be holding one back, why are they still in one’s life. Don’t be afraid to drop them off on your way. Don’t stay stuck in the status quo. Post that TikTok, sing that song, watch that movie, and smile. If one feels like something they’re doing will make people judge, remember they probably haven’t unlocked the Hot Girl version of themselves. Don’t forget that Hot Girl Summer is a mindset, so even after one gets that beautiful summer glow up don’t stop there. Have a Hot Girl Fall and a Hot Girl Winter and even a Hot Girl Spring, because everyone deserves to be the best version of themselves all year long. DOS AND DON TS .
C O L U M N the importance of recycling WRITER VALENTINA URBAEZ | DESIGNER MAKENNA SHRAGER The now long gone recycling program has sent a message through the school that has begun to reflect in the school atmosphere. That is that there’s no care or concern for the environment if people aren’t getting paid or given the volunteer hours to do it. The time it has taken to implement and quickly get rid of the recycling program could have easily saved thousands of sheets of paper. The journalism program specifically knows all too well what it means to use up hundreds of sheets of paper a day. Rough copies, edits, design pages, event information and photos all cycle through the printers of the classroom before they inevitably get tossed by the pound. When the school had a recycling program, the intervention and special ed wing of the school were the ones to go around collecting bins from classrooms and getting them ready to go to the recycling business. As small of a decision it may seem, the choice to recycle might give people more of an incentive to waste less or care just a little bit more about where their trash is going. Oceans, landfills, creeks, rivers, forests, wetlands and deep in the sand are where Americans bury their trash, and not enough people are willing to poke their heads out of it to see the real problem. Not to say that one school’s very small recycling program is what’s going to save the world’s environmental problems, but it could just be the proof needed to show that people still care, even if just a little bit. I see the stacks of paper carried around rooms, and by the end of the year students dump hundreds of then meaningless work into the trash. Oftentimes, I feel like the only one who feels just a little guilty when I dump it in. I will say though that with the lack of a strong recycling infrastructure in the United States, people will continue to rely on the fact that they don’t need to worry about where their waste is going. The company the school was using went out of business and alternative options that school officials looked into were expected to charge a lot more than what the building could handle. Custodians also couldn’t keep up with the weight of paper/plastic goods, and the school decided it’d be best to cut it off. However, these obstacles shouldn’t keep students from trying. With the resources available to help schools start a recycling program, such as grants, partnerships and even student-led initiatives, students could make changes in the upcoming school year. I genuinely believe that by bringing this program back it would be easier to invest more time and attention to things like the Environmental Club and bring awareness to people’s carbon footprint in small ways throughout many of the school’s after school activities. Honestly, if it takes offering up hours or a convincing contribution on a college application to get people interested, there could definitely be ways to work with it in upcoming years. For the idea to work, the school needs to have the support and involvement of not only the student body but also the teachers and staff. Participation is key, and we’d need more than just an appreciative nod to the concept. Students need action. This could be the beginning of new student initiatives in the school. By doing this, it could instill a new sense of responsibility and consciousness to the students, and it has grown increasingly prevalent that schools have a responsibility to educate on ways people can help, even just starting small with something like this. APRIL/MAY 19 ST YING CURRENT with valentina about the columnist . Hi, my name is Valentina Urbaez and I’ve been in the journalism program since freshman year and I am a junior this year. The upcoming school year will be my third year writing for WEB, and my first for Courier. I love to read, write and crochet! :)