11th Period Journalism Final Project

B BE BRAVE

Twinkling ‘Tangy

Twinkling 'Tangy

Table of Contents

Personality Profile 4
Annabelle Cushman
Twinkling 'Tangy
Interview Article
Mary Whalen 5

News Article 6
BISIW - Bags for the Homeless
7
Sports Column
Kneeling for the Flag 8

Feature Article
Drugs in School

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Table of Contents

Editorial 9
Covid Guidelines at Lunch 10
11-12
Current Event 13-14
Covid Vaccines 15

Photo Essay
Skating with the Hocks

Yearbook Theme
Inside-Out

Final Letter
Self-Reflection

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Personality Profile - Annabelle Cushman

By: Polina Hock
May 2021

Annabelle Cushman, a freshman at Olentangy High School has Karavaev said, “I don’t think she’s ever had a period where
been fascinated by the unique animals and exotic plants that she wasn’t reading a book,”
grow on this earth for as long as she can remember.
“I’ve just always loved plants and animals so when I found Cushman wishes to write her own stories about nature, with
out there was a ‘smart person’ word for it, I just started saying it,” the a combination of nonfiction articles and fictional stories.
9th grader said.
Cushman said, “I love writing because you can tell the story
Her passion for biology devoted her to the life goal of and it’s a way to make people listen,”
getting a degree in the interesting science, as well as writing and
traveling the world to study and write about plants and animals. After getting her degrees, she aims towards setting off and
traveling the world to live out her dream. In fact, traveling has always
Cushman was born in Philadelphia but later moved to been a part of Cushman’s life. She regularly travels to Arkansas to vis-
the suburbs when her younger sister was born. When she was six, it her mom’s side of the family, to the East Coast to visit her dad’s and
Cushman and her family moved to Lewis Center, Ohio, where she also often visits her grandparents. The freshman travels for volleyball
loved going outside to ride her bike, hang out in the woods, and run. as well, the challenging sport she’s been involved with for 6 years.
Her love for biology got her wanting to be a volunteer at the humane Her most favored place to travel is Hawaii, she claims it is different
society, which she is currently training for. She explained how the from the rest of the world. She has also been to places like St. Louis,
training consists mostly of cleaning and checking on the animals and the Grand Canyon, France, Spain, Monaco and every east state of
participating in different activites with certain creatures. She is also the Mississippi. She doesn’t plan to stop traveling anytime soon and
working on getting an internship at the zoo. wants to continue her adventures around the world.

As mentioned previosly, Cushman wants to study biology in Annabelle Cushman, the 14-year-old freshman who loves
college. creating stories and reading fantasies, strives towards studying biolo-
gy while traveling the globe and sharing her passion with the world.
Freshman Zoe Karavaev, a close friend of Cushman’s since
third grade said, “...she’s always told me she wants to study animals as
a career,”

However, biology isn’t the only thing Cushman adores, she
is also a big reader who loves captivating fantasies.

Annabelle Cushman (far left) with her teammates. Cushman at a volleyball game.

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Interview Article- Mary Whalen
By: Polina Hock
hybrid model for the safety of their staff and students.
D May 2021 Whalen said, “I’ve never worked so hard as a teacher...
iscussing circular motion, Mary Whalen, a science
teacher at Olentangy High School was whirling a rubber the really hard part is the sequence, making sure that certain
stopper on a string, which flew off, hitting a sleeping activities come before others...translating things we normally do
student in the head. in class, at home. I have to...constantly adapt...figure out how to
be the most effective in school and virtually.”
Whalen was always good at math and science and was
interested in a career including technical subjects. She didn’t dis- The teacher believes being open to new things and
cover teaching until her senior year of college. As she was looking willing to work hard is the most useful skill in life. Her advice
for jobs, Teach for America, a nonprofit organization, came to to her students is to be open to new ideas, concepts and ways of
visit her college campus, asking students to teach in areas with thinking.
teacher shortages.
Mary Whalen, one of the phycics teacher at Olen-
Whalen said, “When I read about that, I got excited, I tangy Hgh School.
had interviewed for some technical jobs that did not excite me,
like NASA, a big airplane manufacturer and I just wasn’t excited.
But the idea of serving students…excited me.”

Although technical careers didn’t excite her, she still
wanted to include her passion for science in her career. She
wanted a specific type of science, one that she studied throughout
college.

“I studied a specific branch of science called acoustics...I
discovered there was a science of sound, it married my hobby
and talent of science and sound. That’s how I got into physics,”
Whalen said

The teacher has been teaching physics to high school
students for years, a subject taught for most of high school to
people who are closer to adults in age, something she prefers.

“I have a lot of patience but I don’t think I have the
same type of patience that it requires to teach middle school or
elementary school....my subject is geared towards high school age
kids and I like it.” Whalen said.

The science teacher claims she would never teach an-
other subject, the next subject she would be qualified to teach is
math but she still prefers teaching science because of the hands-
on experiences that make the subject interesting for her.
While providing lessons to students, she has learned her own.
“ I...have learned a lot about people. I interact with many
different students every year...I get to know...patterns and behav-
iors...understanding how people act and behave…it has never
been my greatest strength through the years, all the people I...
interact with have taught me...what makes people tick...irritates
them, what works for students and what doesn’t,” Whalen said.

She states learning about different people is what makes
teaching different every year. The science she teaches has not
changed in 100 years, but people she teaches are always different.

Teaching leads to many challenges. For example, in the
year 2020, Covid-19 spread throughout the world, causing many
shut-downs. When everything opened again, schools began a

Whalen working at her desk.

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News Article - BISIW- Bags for the Homeless

By: Polina Hock
BMay 2021
ecause I Said I Would currently collect essential After BISIW collects all items, they assemble
items to distribute to the homeless. Blessings Bags, Erin Centa, a teacher at Olentangy High
Because I Said I Would (BISIW), estab- School, said.
lished in 2012 is a social movement and nonprofit orga- When donations have been made and the bags
nization dedicated to the betterment of humanity through were assembled, BISIW needs to distribute them among
promises made and kept by members. BISIW has sent over charities for the homeless.
4 millions promise cards to 153 countries. Currently, the “We’ve been working with the Service Club, 20
organization has been people dropped things off and I
collecting toiletry items, hope people will come next week to
non perishable food help assemble the bags.” Centa said.
items, shampoo, tooth- The project will take two weeks
brushes, toothpaste and to complete
other essential items to “We’re working with a group
donate to the homeless called Love and we’ll drop the bags
by accepting donations off to them and they distribute them
from students and staff to People in Need.” Centa said.
around the school. People in Need provides clinics
“People could and treatment centers along with
find things in their A group of Becuase I Said I Would students alcohol and drug rehab.

house they don’t need or working in a library. “I love the idea of making
want anymore, like coats promises, writing the promise down
and clothing, and donate it.” Kelsey Elbert, a student at and holding yourself accountable for doing something.”
Olentangy High School, said. Elbert believes this project Centa said. “I like the fact that the organization has done a
will help, even if it is in a small way. lot across the world, it’s really awesome to be

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Sports Column - Kneeling for the Flag

By: Polina Hock
S May 2021
port players who kneel for the flag at Breonna Taylor was killed when she was after Goodell spoke out about kneeling
games do not show signs of disre- sleeping, Stephon Clark was shot 20 times during the National Anthem.
spect because they do not kneel with while he stood in his grandmother’s back-
yard, holding a mobile phone mistaken Some say it is an inefficient way
the aim to be disrespectful. of protest, yet it grabs peoples’ attention
Kneeling for the flag means as a gun. Atianna Jefferson, Aura Rosser, every time. So much in fact, that former
kneeling during the National Anthem. Botham Jean, Philando Castile, Alton Ster- President Donald Trump tweeted about
Players kneel as a form of legal, peaceful ling, Mak’hai Bryant and thousands more a player kneeling in September 2017. He
protest. As some politicians, specta- said, “wouldn’t you love to see one of these
tors and armed forces find kneeling NFL owners, when somebody disrespects
for the flag is disrespectful, the inten- our flag, to say ‘Get that son of a b**** off
tions of the players are not to disre- the field right now. Out! He’s fired! He’s
spect armed forces. In fact, kneeling fired!’”
for the flag has nothing to do with The comment sparked controver-
armed forces at all. sy which lasted for days. The NFL spoke
As an example, the Seattle out, claiming kneeling for the flag is a
Seahawks, a professional football good way to spread the Black Lives Matter
team, said, “As a team, we have movement.
decided we will not participate in the Kneeling for the flag during the
National Anthem. We will not stand National Anthem is not a sign of disre-
for injustice that has plagued people spect because the players who kneel do
of color in this country. Out of love not do so to disrespect the armed forces
for our country and in honor of the protecting the United States. They kneel
sacrifices made on our behalf, we for the thousands of lives the system failed,
unite to oppose those that would deny Colin Kaepernick, and NFL player, kneels they kneel for the still written racism in
our most basic freedom.” during the National Anthem. the National Anthem, they kneel because

The racial injustice the Sea- lost their lives because of a false accusa- it is not liberty and justice for all; it is
hawks mentioned is written in the Na- liberty and justice for the privileged.
tional Anthem. Only the first verse is sung tion, an “accident,” or a flaw in the system.
during the anthem; people fail to under- America says freedom, liberty and justice
stand some lyrics of the rest of the anthem for all, but is it?
contain racist lyrics, like the second verse: The National Football League
“O thus be it ever when freemen shall spoke out about this matter:“We, the Na-
stand,” is talking about white people. At tional Football League, condemn racism
the time, black people were being enslaved and the systematic oppression of black
and the word “freemen” did not apply to people. We, the National Football League,
them. People say it was a racist time back admit we were wrong for not listening to
then, yet they still sing the same anthem. NFL players earlier and encourage all play-
The first verse of the anthem ers to speak out and peacefully protest.”
includes the lyrics: “The land of the free,” Roger Goodell, an NFL Commissioner,
referring to the United States being a free said.
country. Yet, according to Fox News, After the NFL spoke out, the
the Washington Post, Cable News Cable National Association of Stock Car Auto
(CNN) and the New York Times, George Racing (NASCAR), the Women’s National
Floyd was murdered for a false accusation Basketball Association (WNBA), Major
of allegedly trying to use a fake $20 bill, League Baseball (MLB), and the U.S. Soc-
which later was proven to be a real $20 cer Association players began kneeling for
bill. Daunte Wright was shot for speeding, the flag during the National Anthem soon

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Feature Article - Drugs in School

By: Polina Hock
May 2021

Drugs have been floating around in school’s across the world one to two situations which included possession of drugs.
for as long as one can remember. Unfortunately, this also Greg Conkling, a student at Olentangy said he has heard rumors of
includes Olentangy High School. Although they help spread drug use from his fellow classmates, but does not personally know
awareness, the “Say No to Drugs” posters do not prevent some stu- someone who has been under the influence or has or had possession
dents using drugs. of drugs.
High school students struggle on the daily with homework, Olentangy strives towards lowering the number of drug-re-
sports, their social life, their home life and much more. At times, life lated incidents to zero and saving students from ruining their lives
can seem overwhelming or even stressful, leaving students feeling before they even started.
lost, tired and hopeless. Students may use music or art as an escape,
but when that does not work, students may turn to a quicker yet life
threatening option: drugs.
“School work getting to them, sports, tons of different
things that they may not be able to handle out in the outside world or
even inside the school and they just have to take it because of anxi-
ety.” Deputy James Mox, a deputy at Olentangy Highschool, said.
Recently, vape pens have become a trending substance
amongst teens, along with tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), rather than
marijuana.
“I would say through the last several years it has been mar-
ijuana but then now it’s kind of going to vape. Whether it be nico-
tine vape pens or THC. It’s easier to conceal than a bag of weed and
doesn’t have as strong of an odor as a bag of marijuana.” Deputy Mox
said.
Students get possession of drugs through older siblings or
friends who have already graduated. However, almost every year, the
age of which students have possession of drugs decreases. Deputy The Centeral Office of the Olentangy Local School Distr-
Mox knows of several incidents including 6th and 7th graders, stu- cit.
dents who are not even teenagers yet.
Since underage drug use is illegal, the school punishes the
student, “For level one drug and alcohol use, the student will receive
a first offense and 10 days of absolute suspension. If it was a 2nd
offense, 10 days out of school with a recommendation for expulsion,
drug level two is first offense 10 days out of school with a recom-
mendation for expulsion.” Principal Robert Griffiths, the Principal at
Olentangy High School, said.
In the last 5 years, Deputy Mox has been working at Olen-
tangy, this year has had the least amount of drug incidents with only

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Editorial - Covid Guidelines at Lunch
By: Polina Hock
May 2021 far at first, but taking into consideration, when a student
walks past another student while throwing away their trash
The teachers and staff at Olentangy High School fail without a mask, the student could have contracted the
to keep students safe on a daily basis by not enforc- virus.
ing the Covid-19 guidelines at lunch.
Students are expected to take off their masks only When the student comes home to their fami-
when eating lunch in the school cafeteria. In order to en- ly, their family has also contracted the virus. The family
sure the safety of students, plastic shields have been placed members could have pre-existing medical conditions (the
in between each student. Students are not allowed to take student could as well) or could be in the at-risk age catego-
off their masks when standing nor take down the plastic ry, leading to a hospitalized case or death.
shields.
“I can’t breathe,” or “my glasses get foggy,” are
Teachers seem to becoming lazy with enforcing ridiculous excuses.
these rules.
However, a number of students completely ignore the A person could die because a student did not wear
guidelines and continue to put the people around them at their mask properly or wear their mask at all.
risk of contracting the virus. Covid has killed more than 560,000 people in the United
States alone. Almost three million people have died in total
We think teachers and staff should do a better job and the number will continue to grow every day unless
at enforcing these guidelines, especially at lunch. Students people start taking more responsibility. Teachers need to
take down the plastic shields to talk to their friends, they punish the students who do not follow the Covid guide-
walk to the trash cans and bathrooms with their mask lines, especially at lunch where most students have their
under their nose or not wearing their masks at all. masks off while eating. Standing up and walking to the
trashcan and bathroom without a mask is an action that
The teachers and staff on lunch duty do not ad- needs to be punished, along with taking down the plastic
dress the situation. On occasion, students walk right past shields and wearing a mask under the nose.
or even talk to the teachers and staff with their mask under
their nose or without their mask on at all and are given no People should not complain about the pandemic if
criticism, warning or punishment of any kind. they do not follow the guidelines taken against it.
A student buys lunch in the cafeteria
The students who take the pandemic more seri-
ously feel unsafe and uncomfortable with other students
walking by without their masks while they are eating.

Not to mention, students wear their masks under
their nose while buying food from the cafeteria; therefore,
breathing on other people’s food.

No actions have been taken against this either.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention (CDC), masks prevent respiratory droplets
from traveling through the air when one coughs, sneezes
or talks. Masks are a simple barrier to help the respiratory
droplets from reaching the eyes, nose and mouth of other
people.
Teachers, those who educate and guide us, should
be the ones to enforce the rules keeping us safe.
Irresponsible students who completely disregard
the Covid guidelines should not be let off without a warn-
ing but should receive a detention for putting those around
them at risk.
A detention could be considered as a step too

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Current Event - Covid Vaccines
By: Polina Hock
May 2021

This article is about a new vaccine for Covid-19 recently ap- a long way to go, we are continuing to get back to normal. Many
proved by the Food and Drug Administraion (FDA). This schools are returing fully live after most teachers have been vacci-
vaccine is called the Johnson & Johnson and is the third nated, including Olentangy High School. Oxford University has
approved vaccine in the United States, along with the Moderna recently started researching the safety of the vaccines for chil-
vaccine and the Phizer vaccine. dren, unfortunately the study’s will not be complete until fall of
2021. Luckily, most children are at a much lower risk of suffering
This event is timely because it occurred February 26, greatly from the virus, so the need to get children vaccinated is
2021. This event also includes a positive consequence since it not high.
brings the United States one step closer to ending the corona-
virus. Johnson & Johnson is a single-shot vaccine with a 66%
effectiveness rate against moderate cases and 85% effectiveness
rate against severe cases. Although not as effective as the Mod-
erna and Phizer vaccine with 94% effectiveness rates, Johnson
& Johnson may not completely prevent infection, but greatly
reduces the severity of the virus. The vaccine will be distrubuted
to the rural areas since it is a single-shot vaccine and does not
need multiple doses per person. Johnson & Johnson has made a
deal with the U.S. government to supply 100 million doses by the
end of June, which will vaccinate over 30% of the United States.
With 13.4% of the population already vaccinated, President Joe
Biden stated most of the people who wanted to be vaccinated will
be vaccinated by the end of July, 2021.

I chose this article because it shows how the United
States is moving closer towards ending Covid-19. Although still

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Final Letter

By: Polina Hock
May 2021
Dear Mrs. Roads,
In 8th grade, before the pandemic, my English teacher told my class about the journalism program at the highschool.
I’ve heard about journalism before and I didn’t have any interest in it, until this year. My teacher handed out recommendations
to the students who she thought would fit best in the program.
I told myself if she recommends me, I will go.
She ended up recommending me.
At first I was hesitant but I made myself a promise that I wouldn’t judge anything until I tried it out. During the class, I
searched up journalism on Google and read into it a little bit.
I wasn’t too keen on it if I’m being honest.
At the time, I loved creative writing and using my imagination. Journalism is the complete opposite.
Joining the program was probably one of the best decisions of my life.
Every night at dinner, I tell my family what we did in class, our upcoming articles, our style lessons, ect.
This program made me realize journalism is a big career choice I will consider when I’m older.
A big dream I developed was working for The New York Times. I loved giving interviews, I loved our style lessons, and
I loved writing every piece we wrote.
Doing that for the rest of my life honestly sounds like a lot of fun, but I don’t think I would feel the same if it wasn’t for
you!
You helped me fall in love with journalism and the program and I would not have enjoyed this class as much without
you.
Thank you so much, Mrs. Roads!
I can’t wait to continue the program and learn even more.
Sincerely,
Polina Hock

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The End

Growing Up

By : Elise Sipes
27 May 2021

Table of Contents

Personality Profile - 1
Interview Article - 1
Sports Column - 2
Feature Story - 3
Photo Essay - 4 & 5
News Article - 6
Editorial - 7
Yearbook Theme - 8 & 9
Year Reflection - 10

Personality Profile
By : Elise Sipes
“Grade 10
My biggest dream in life is to make the Varsity Softball team “Hitting is what I struggled with most because the speed of the ball
eshman year,” Scales said. Isabella Scales has told her family was faster than anything I have ever hit before,” Scales said. Hitting
this since she could remember. Last year, this dream became off the upperclassmen was hard because they could throw the ball

a reality for her. Isabella has been playing so hard and move in so many directions

softball since she was two years old, and has with different speeds. Izzy didn’t let this

only been getting better since she started stop her though.

playing. Starting at two she played for her After talking with her dad, Paul

first tee ball team. Since the beginning she Scales, I learned , “Isabella would go out

has reached a higher level of softball each to the backyard, pull out the net and begin

year. Up until now, when her dream finally to hit as many balls as she could,” Scales

became true. said. He loved watching her work so hard

“I really worked my butt off trying to towards this dream.

make the varsity team my freshman year,” “Ever since she was little I have coached

Scales said. When it finally came time to Isabella Scales her,” Scales said. So you can imagine the
show the varsity coaches what she could do, excitement they both had when they found

Isabella did everything in her power to make sure she stood out. out she made the team. Paul was so proud of her after all she had

Isabella made sure to make every throw as perfect and as hard she done to get that spot on the team. He said it made his eyes tear up

could. She remembers diving for every ball and trying to make ev- as he’s never seen her work so hard for something in her life. Mr.

ery play clean. Izzy, a name that her softball team started calling her Scales went and told everyone he could because he was so proud of

when she was little has now reached into her daily life. what his daughter had achieved.
Interview Article
By : Elise Sipes
NGrade 10
ikki Webber is a Biology teacher at courses at the moment. She teaches biology Since she started playing soccer at age four, she
Olentangy High School. and anatomy & physiology; she loves both but wanted to change it up, which is why she chose
“I grew up in Cuyahoga Falls, a suburb would say her favorite is anatomy. to play volleyball throughout high school and
of Akron, Ohio,” Weber said. “I also love that I feel like I get to help prepare college.
Weber has always lived in Ohio, but has moved them for their careers in the future,” Weber said.“I am the best, and loudest, superfan,” Weber
around a little. She went to college in Ohio. Weber loves meeting all of her students and said.
Weber attended two different colleges for her helping them learn something they can enjoy She loves to cheer on her kids in their sports
undergraduate studies. She left home to attend and apply to their future. Since she had a great and even her students. Weber also loves to
the College of Wooster for two years. Wooster high school experience, she would love to give travel and workout. Weber loves the feeling
did not offer the major she was interested in so the same to her students. after a good workout and the health and fitness
Weber transferred to Kent State University after Although teaching does take up a big part of benefits she receives.
her sophomore year of college. Weber earned Weber’s life, she also has a family outside of
her master’s degree from Nova Southeastern school.
University shortly after. Weber met her husband in college while he
She went into college thinking she would be a was living in Delaware, Ohio. After graduation,
marine biologist or geneticist, and now she is a Weber and her husband lived in Hilliard for two
high school teacher! years before moving to Delaware.
“I often say I swapped dolphins for teenagers,” Weber has played volleyball and soccer her
Weber said. whole life. When she had to make a decision
Weber loves her job as a teacher. She has been between the two, she chose to play volleyball in
teaching for 17 years at Olentangy High School. high school. Weber played all four years of high
“No one person really influenced my decision, school and also played club volleyball. Addi-
but I loved high school when I was a student,” tionally she played volleyball at Wooster, and
Weber said. indoor soccer for fun throughout high school
Weber tries to get to know each one of her and college.
students to make sure she can give them the “I had played soccer so long that I needed a
best high school experience. Weber teaches two break,” Weber said.

Growing up - May 2021
Page 1

Sports Column

By: Elise Sipes
Grade 10

If you are a citizen of America, you should stand for the national it is not great when he tries to do this in front of thousands of people
anthem. A controversial topic lately has centered on rights of ath- while the song that America sings to thank the men and women who
letes to protest during televised games. Professional athletes have sacrificed their lives for our freedom. Drew Brees, New Orleans Saints
been taking a knee during the National Anthem as a form of protest quarterback, supported Kaepernick’s message but disagreed with the
against the racial injustices that exist in the United States. Some fans delivery: “It’s an oxymoron that you’re sitting down, disrespecting that
agree with this and cheer them on for protesting discrimination. flag that has given you the freedom to speak out” (Triplett, ESPN).
Other fans argue that these players are disrespecting our country by
protesting during a moment that commands national respect. The It is important to stand up for what you believe in, but un-
national anthem symbolizes the men and women who have fought derstand that there are many different ways to solve problems. It is a
for our country and brought us freedom. It is also one of the earliest peaceful protest but is executed in the wrong way. Someone with a big
signs of independence. Wanting to make a change within the justice public platform should not teach others to kneel for the flag. Amer-
system and its issues, protesting during the national anthem is not the icans need to remember their history and how they are freely doing
appropriate way to do that. Trying to help your community and make the things they want today.
a change is completely understandable, but the way it is approached
by these athletes is very disrespectful. There is a place and time for All citizens of America should respect the flag because it
everything and kneeling during the national anthem or for the flag is symbolizes very important troops, men and women, freedom, etc.
not the place or time. and should never be forgotten or overlooked. The national anthem
shows us that we have freedom and we had to fight for it. Professional
Everyone, professional athletes especially, should stand for athletes should understand and respect this. Standing for the national
the national anthem no matter what. Professional athletes have a big anthem is the respectful and right thing to do. It is not appropriate to
platform and can spread information to a large number of people, disrespect the people who fought for our freedom that we each have
which is why it is important they are standing and respecting the flag. today. This song commands national respect and these players should
Spreading something negative, as in disrespecting the men and wom- not be applauded for what they are doing. All athletes and citizens of
en who fought for our country, is not a positive thing. America should stand and show that they are thankful for their inde-
pendence and pay their respects to our country and who fought for it.
Everyone should be honoring the ones who fought for our
freedom and finding justice elsewhere. Colin Kaeperick was one of
the first professional athletes to kneel for the flag and it became big
news for America. There were many agreements as well as many
disagreements with his action. Yes, he was doing something that he
feels strongly about and is trying to make a change, which is great. But

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Growing up - May 2021
Page 2

Mental Health Developing a mental illness can be heartbreaking, but
By: Elise Sipes there is hope. You can overcome these challenges. Never be afraid
to ask for help, you are not alone.
Grade 10
Lewis Center, Ohio “I’m proud that we provide a safe, non judgmental, con-
fidential space where one can openly share and discuss concerns
Mental health includes our emotional, physcological, in their life.” Said Shana Kemp.
and social well-being. One in four people will be There will always be people who care about you, even if you do
affected by a mental illness at some point in their life. not realize it. Battling a mental illness can be tough, but always
Mental illness does not discriminate, know you can reach out for help.
anyone no matter their age, race, or gender can develop a mental
illness. Someone who has good mental or physical health, still
could have a chance of developing a mental illness. Sometimes,
“We see children, teens, and adults.” Said Shana Kemp- a mental health condition may run in the family. Other times, it
Price, Owner of Modern Therapy. can be developed from a chemical imbalance in your brain, stress,
personal problems, etc. There could be many different factors that
Anyone can develop a mental illness. Over the course of may lead up to a mental illness.
your life, if you experience mental health problems, your think-
ing, mood, and behavior could be affected. “It’s important to take care of ourselves as therapists so
“Research generally shows psychotherapy alone is a powerful tool that we can be most available and present for our clients.” Said
for treatment. However, if medication is needed, the combina- Brianna Badenhop, clinician at Modern Therapy.
tion of both is highly effective.” Said Kemp. Everyone needs to make sure their mental health is in check, no
matter who they are.
Treatment may vary with the type of mental illness.
Your doctor may recommend therapy, or sometimes medicine is
prescribed. Counseling, support groups, or medications are some
of the main ways to treat an emotional problem or mental illness.

Permission to print by sociologygroup.com

Growing Up - May 2021
Page 3

contrast, crop, saturation Charlie’s r
By: Elise Sipes

brightness, contrast, saturation

As she stays alert, Charlie watches out the front
door. She saw a family on a walk and wanted to
go outside.

brightness, contrast, crop, hue, saturation

Charlie is ready to eat her lunch, she is very
hungry. After watching her family eat lunch
and playing in the snow, she worked up an
appetite.

Before going to play in the snow, Charlie
stretches. Laying around all day made her
sleepy.

Growing up - May 2021
Page 4

relaxing day

brightness, contrast

On the comfortable rug, Charlie is thankful she
can lay next to her sister. Charlie and Indy relax
together.

brightness, contrast, offset

Charlie did not do much today, but she is excited
for bed. She stretches and covers her eyes from
the flash.

Growing up - May 2021
Page 5

Olentangy Annual Blood Drive
Lewis Center, Ohio
By: Elise Sipes
Grade 10

Olentangy Student Council holds a blood drive each year The blood is given to those in need and
in the aux gym. This event takes place for one day in
January. is extremely helpful. It could save many
Due to COVID,

things look a little different lives.

this year. The Student Council runs this

“Instead of holding it at the blood drive and puts it into action each

school, we are doing it at All year. Rishika Gorrai is a student coun-

Shepherds Lutheran Church, cil officer and enjoys working the blood

on Saturday January 30” Said drive.

Rishika Gorai, Student Coun- Some things to keep in mind

cil officer. if you’re planning on participating,

The Olentangy school “Donors must be over 17 years old

district is taking many precau- Permission to print by gracebible.church unless parents sign for their child who
tions because of the pandemic. is under 16” Said Rishika.

OHS is very thankful they are still able to participate in a blood This is an important event for Olentangy and The Student

drive this year regards to everything going on. Council, they hope you read their suggestions and come join them.

Blood donation is important because it is one way you can give “We ask everyone to eat a big breakfast before coming in

back. This is why Olentangy strives to do it each year. and we give them a small snack right after”

Eating is important so you do not lose too many red blood cells.

Many find it helpful that a snack is provided afterwards.

Growing up - May 2021
Page 6

Texting and Driving Permission to print by thesimpledollar.com

By: Elise Sipes
FGrade 10
atal car crashes are the leading cause of death ing distracted by your phone. This is not a joke and
for teenagers in the United States. Believe it or we need to make a change.
not, texting is the most alarming distraction.
If you text and drive, you are not only

Almost 390,000 injuries occur annually in the U.S putting yourself in danger but also everyone around

due to texting while driving. Although you have you, inside or outside of your car. Someone that

probably heard about texting and driving laws, many might be driving on the same road as you could be

people think they can easily send a text without affected by your decision to text. By making this

danger. Distracted driving is any activity that diverts decision you are fine with risking the lives of many

your attention from driving. Texting is for sure the people. It is not only dangerous but also irresponsi-

most dangerous distraction, especially for young and ble, rude, disrespectful, and deadly.

inexperienced drivers. We are addressing this issue to make sure

In the early 2000s when states started it is not taken lightly. These laws need to be followed

enacting laws to restrict cell phone usage, texting or and we need to stop getting distracted while driving.

other related distractions weren’t a problem be- You cannot drive safely unless the task has your full

cause people mainly used phones for calling. Now attention. Any non-driving activity you engage in

that new technology is created almost all the time, is a potential distraction and increases your risk of

distractions will increase. Drivers and especially crashing. Anything that takes your eyes or mind off

young drivers, have so many resources right in front the road is extremely dangerous. If you truly are ex-

of them. Most of the time these come from their pecting an important text, pull off the road and stop

cell phones. Because of this, many states began to before answering. Texting and driving is illegal, you

enforce laws that were more strict. These started can be fined or even go to jail.

with banning drivers from talking on phones and more

soon moved to prohibiting people from texting and Not only is it illegal but you should consider every-

browsing while they are behind the wheels. one around you and realize you can harm anyone

I’m sure you have driven past a car crash by texting and driving. It is a danger for you and

before, or maybe even been involved in one. Anyone everyone around you. According to research, texting

can agree that this is not something you want to while driving is the same as driving after drinking

see or especially not experience. “Many of the most four beers. Most of us would never consider driving

tragic auto accidents in American history relate to after drinking 4 beers but nothing crosses our minds

distracted driving” (Law Firm). when trying to send one short text. The issue is that

Distracted driving can lead to death in seconds. so many drivers never think twice about the dangers

According to the United States Department of of texting while they are actually doing it themselves,

Transportation, it takes 5 seconds to read a text. until something happens. Does it really take a car

During those seconds that your eyes are off the road, accident to prove that you should not text and drive?

you can drive the length of a football field. This also No text is worth losing your life over.

means you have basically driven the length of a To make a difference, we should all try to

football field with your eyes closed, which is clearly avoid distractions and follow the laws in your state

not safe for anyone. while driving. Hold your friends and family account-

We believe that this issue has become able, make sure they are staying safe. Also make sure

normalized and not taken seriously. Laws have been to hold yourself accountable, put your phone on

put into place for a while now and drivers are still silent until reaching your destination or pull over if

pushing them to the side. Even though people are you have to use your phone.

aware of the dangers of texting and driving, they

continue to do it. Anything is possible, just because

you think that could never happen to you, or you

always multitask, think again. Too many deaths and

injuries are coming from something that almost

every driver knows about. This problem is driving

while distracted, more importantly, driving while be-

Growing up - May 2021
Page 7

Growing up - May 2021
Page 8

Growing up - May 2021
Page 9

Self-reflection letter for the year

Dear 11th period, thank you for a great year. Thanks for the constant laughs and smiles. Thank you Mrs. Roads for your
impactful teaching. Intro to Journalism was such a fun class. Although it was difficult at times, it was fun to learn how to
correctly write about something you are passionate about. In this class, we were able to express our thoughts and opinions
without the fear of being judged. I learned many new things from this class. I learned how to write in a professional way but also add my

own persionality and style to it. I also became moe comfortable at speaking infront of a class. I enjoyed writing about a current event I
was interested in and sharinng it with my classmates. I also learned many new things each week from other students. 11th period Jour-
nalism was a very fun class to be in and also productive. I enjoyed having fun with classmates while getting lots of work done at the same
time. I am excited to use what I learned and take a more advanced Journalism class my next years of high school. My favorite piece to
write was the editorial. I wrote about the dangers of Texting and Driving and I felt like my writing was very powerful. It was different and

exciting to have the freedom of writing a piece you are truly interested in and care about.

Growing up - May 2021
Page 10

Growing up

May 2021

TABLE OF CONTENTS

TABLE OF CONTENTS

P3.....................................LETTER
P4/5.........................CURRENT EVENTS I
P6/7.....................PERSONALITY PROFILES
P8.......................................NEWS
P9....................................FEATURE
P10/11......................CURRENT EVENTS II
P12/13..........................SPORTS COLUMN
P14/15.........................YEARBOOK THEME
P16/17............................PHOTO ESSAY
P18/19..............................EDITORIAL

02 • MAY 2021

LETTER

Hello, 11th Period.

I hope that over the course of the past eight months, (or the
past two months for half of you), I’ve been able to establish myself
as a fun little presence you get to interact with for at least half
an hour each weekday. If I’ve been successful in doing that, I’d also
just like to thank you all for being the students that have comprised
my favorite class out of my Freshman year.

I absolutely loved being a part of this class, and this has
definitely convinced me to consider a career in journalism as a
safety net in case my filmmaking aspirations fall apart. Of course,
most of thanks to Mrs. Roads, so here is the part of the letter in
which I acknowledge that it was her way of running things that made
this so enjoyable.

Writing the normal articles was fun if you ignored the low but
consistent level of stress about meeting the deadlines, but I’m
sure you realized that the place where I really shined were my quick
Current Event pieces. (And my video project as well, but that’s
besides the point). I know that anyone in Group A won’t entirely
get where I’m coming from here, but let me just say that this is the
first class in which I have ever been given the opportunity to make
fun of the then-president for catching a disease and get a standing
ovation from my teacher. It’s amazing.

I’m really happy that I got the opportunity to work on
presenting my writing publicly like I got here, but more importantly,
I’m incredibly proud of myself for being able to captivate a group
of 20ish teenagers who could just as easily decide to scroll through
their phone the entire time that I’m talking. And I am terrible with
names, so it feels almost disingenuous to say that I feel like I’ve
really connected with you all on a level that I wasn’t able to with
any other classes this year when I barely know what to call some of
you, but hey, it’s true! I’m so happy that I was able to meet you
all.

I know I always seem to run things a little long, so I’ll
be wrapping myself up here, but I just want to thank everyone,
especially Mrs. Roads, one last time. You all have been great, and
I really hope that I’ll see some of you in Broadcast next year, or
maybe just around the school again anytime in the next three years.
See you whenever I see you next. That’s all.

Aidan Somerville.

MAY 2021 • 03

CURRENT EVENT

TIME CAPSULE: A Current Event Recap from October 2nd, 2020.

by Aidan Somerville ‘24

Ifigured that, for every time we can in-person rallies knowing how possibly
present our current event to the class, dangerous this virus could get, explaining how
I could use it to give a cute little injecting disinfectant might be a treatment
update about something and then trying to defend
involving COVID. Last himself by saying he was
time, I talked about joking, to only starting
how one university’s to wear a mask in public
plan to stop the spread in July, and lying to the
of the virus crumbled American people about how
at the seams because of dangerous COVID could be
their awful students, in the first place, hot
and this time, I was take, maybe he had it
initially going to talk coming! And you know, he’s
about this article an overweight, 74 year old
which demonstrated that man, and those are some
people are getting more of the demographics where
comfortable with who they Donald Trump leaves The White House to the virus hits hardest.
interact with during the get treated for COVID-19. Trump’s case of I’m not going to go into
pandemic (which is bad) the virus was considered “severe”. much detail, but I’m
but just last night, as Permission to print from Getty Images. sure you can guess what

I’m sure everyone knows by now, the President some people are worried about. But hey,
of the United States, along with the First as he said himself, “it is what it is.”
Lady, tested positive for coronavirus and Recently, in my geometry class, someone
started quarantining, so I decided to waste openly admitted to attending a sleepover with
my study hall rewriting this whole thing. a decently large group of friends. And one
Now clearly everyone of those friends’ sisters
is covering this, but ended up testing positive,
to refer to a specific which made everyone who
article, I’m using the went to that sleepover
New York Times piece have to make sure that
“Trump Tests Positive they didn’t test positive
for the Coronavirus.” either. And when I asked
Now I’d say why he slept over at
this a pretty timely someone else’s house in
and important article the first place, he said
considering, you know, that he “just wanted to
it’s the President of the have fun”. And that day
United States contacting cemented this existential
the same virus which has realization in my head
killed over 207,000 of Donald Trump boards Marine One to return that, besides from doing
his country’s citizens, to The White House after being treated the absolute bare minimum,
and now he’s going to for COVID-19. He was treated at Walter some people just don’t
be subjected to the same Reed National Military Medical Center. care. So I wanted to use
scenario that over seven Permission to print from AP. this historical moment of

million Americans have had to deal with. this already terrifyingly historical year to
Clearly it’ll be a little different with send a message, even if it’s only going to
whatever health care they have down in the be heard by at most 11 different people. And
White House, but the point still stands. And that message is, simply, please care. You
it’s especially ironic too, and maybe even don’t know what anyone else is up to, the only
a bit of cosmic karma, when you look back person that you can make sure is the safest
to even just this Tuesday and the debate they could possibly be is yourself. Make sure
with Trump making fun of Biden because he that you’re careful, and don’t be stupid.
still wears a mask even if he’s far apart Don’t make you, or someone you care about,
from someone. And from pressuring reporters be the person to tick the Ohio COVID
to take off their masks, to still holding Death Count up to 5,000. That’s all.

04 • MAY 2021

CURRENT EVENT

TIME CAPSULE: A Current Event Recap from October 8th, 2020.

by Aidan Somerville ‘24

Oh, President Trump has COVID-19 now? completely failed to contain! I really don’t
Ironic! But oh yeah, he’s already think I need to explain any deeper why an
perfectly fine after spending just a article like this has human interest, is
weekend in a hospital. I mean, I shouldn’t relevant, or whatever else. It’s about the
be surprised considering he’s clearly going president of the United States, who wouldn’t
to get the greatest care! But anyways, now
treatment in all of with Trump contracting
America, but still… the pandemic’s
something seems a bit namesake, what does
off? I know I’ve already that mean for us? We
talked about the whole know how comfortable
“Trump and the Virus” the people higher up
thing, but this time are with twisting the
I’d like to highlight truth - do we even
a fundamentally know who, if anyone,
terrifying question we can trust anymore?
that we shouldn’t even Trump lied about how
have to ask, and yet dangerous COVID-19
today, we somehow need was in the first
to. As the headline of the Donald Trump takes off his mask at The place, who’s to say that
Recode article that I’m White House after getting dishcarged from his staff wouldn’t twist

Walter Reed Medical Center. At the time
writing about says; Who of the photo, he was still contagious. the truth, or even just
will tell us the truth about Permission to print from AP. straight up lie, about

Trump’s health? We all know Donald Trump’s Trump’s condition just to not make him look
quite in love with the concept of lying, but bad? We don’t know! The fact that we don’t
unfortunately, most of Mr. President’s staff know the answer to a question as supposedly
is crushing just as hard, if not harder. simple as that should terrify everyone.
From small things, like Trump’s secretary With each new year, I grow older and
calling the newest supreme court nominee slowly become more and more burdened with the
Amy Coney Barrett a “Rhodes scholar” even necessity of caring about politics. In 2016,
if she just graduated from Rhodes College I already knew that I didn’t necessarily like
(not the same thing!) and Trump lying about Donald Trump, much to the annoyance of my
the size of his presidential inauguration, friends, but things have absolutely come to
to bigger things like, you know, lying a boil this year, along with everything else
about how dangerous the Coronavirus was as this amazing year has had to offer. And these
a whole, putting millions of Americans at articles that I’ve had the “pleasure” of
danger, and trying to justify it by saying presenting are just one of the many cherries
he didn’t want to panic us. The usual. on top of this cake made up of garbage. But
In this day and age, the fact that let’s get realistic here - I’m 14! It’s not
we even need to ask a question like “Can we like I can vote or anything. All I can really
trust the people who have the most ability to do is just yell passionately at other people,
influence the country out of every American whether in a skippable Snapchat story, or
citizen?” is a testament to how - let me find to my journalism class, or even to just
a nice word for this - infuriating living in my teacher for a graded assignment about a
this county can be sometimes. Apologies if current event. There’s nothing any of us can
that makes me seem unpatriotic, but it’s not do, really. Over time, I’ve come to terms
like others won’t agree with me. With all with the fact that none of us can influence
of these lies, Trump and his administration anything by any semblance of the word. So
have put America in a concerningly dangerous instead, I’m content with just letting whatever
position. And y’know, it was already happens happen, and making fun of it along
vulnerable because of a pandemic which he the way. And also maybe crying. That’s all.

UPDATE: Donald Trump was discharged from Walter Reed Military Medical
Center after three days of being hospitalized for a case of COVID-19.

MAY 2021 • 05

PERSONALITY PROFILE

Katie MacDowell: Soccer Star
by Aidan Somerville ‘24 - 9/22/20

For almost the entirety of her life, “I tripped on a soccer goal and fell
sophomore Katie MacDowell’s been playing on it wrong,” MacDowell said.
soccer. And it wasn’t during elementary
But that didn’t stop her from playing
school where she first became interested in soccer, she just needed to wrap some bubble
the sport - it might not have even been pre- wrap around her arm before playing. While
school! that made summer challenging, it wasn’t like
Ever since she was three, she’s she was doing much anyway with quarantine.
been playing some sort of soccer, whether Speaking of quarantine, she spent
in a rec league, her isolated
Varsity, club. days learning to
Currently, she’s a play the guitar,
member of our high running, and of
school’s Olentangy course, playing
Braves Girls soccer.
Varsity Soccer In regards to
team as a defender. the teams that
Currently, the MacDowell plays
team’s doing with, she thinks
pretty good for she gets along
themselves with really well with
six wins, one tie, everyone.
and only two losses “I feel like
- and that’s in no everyone works
small part thanks really hard and
to MacDowell. Katie MacDowell ‘23 defends a Centerville tries their best,”
“Katie is an player mid-game. MacDowell’s team, MacDowell said.
amazing soccer player,” Olentangy Braves Varsity Girls Soccer, The person who
Sophomore Sydney Burrs, won 18 games in their 2020-2021 season.
one of her friends, as motivates MacDowell the
Pemission to print from Olentangy Braves Varsity most when it comes to
Girls Soccer.

well as another team soccer is Julie Ertz of
member, said. the United States Women’s National Team.
But MacDowell doesn’t only play They share the position of center-back, and
varsity, she also plays club soccer. While she’s MacDowell’s biggest inspiration.
varsity is more about the team aspect and When it comes to her future,
playing for her school, club soccer is taken MacDowell’s not entirely sure what she wants
more seriously and has MacDowell traveling to do. Soccer, or even just anything sports-
and playing with teams outside of her state. related, is always an option, but she’s also
While playing soccer can be lots of fun considering possibly getting into physical
for MacDowell, there are some times when it therapy. After spending so much time on
becomes difficult for her to balance all of the receiving end, she thinks it might
the games with her homework and assignments. be interesting to be on the other side of
Sometimes, soccer can get overwhelming. things.
And especially so this summer, when she ended No matter what she decides to focus on after
up breaking her arm in a soccer-related high school, be sure that Katie MacDowell
injury. will always be giving it her all.

BONUS INFO: In the 2020-2021 season, Katie MacDowell played 20 games for
the Olentangy Braves Varsity Girls Soccer team, and scored one goal.

06 • MAY 2021

PERSONALITY PROFILE

Michael Doyle’s Olentangy Legacy
by Aidan Somerville ‘24 - 11/18/20

The draw of the stage is something many in the evenings, it changes my mood. … I
people feel throughout the world, but for think I find a lot of joy in exertion,”
one specific person, it’s one specific Doyle said.
school’s stage that never particularly Being ordered to stay at home for
left his mind. It’s Michael Doyle Jr., the long periods at a time might seem tough for
33-year-old who graduated from Olentangy someone with a desire for physical activity,
High School in ‘06 and came back to teach at but surprise, quarantine was surprisingly
the school nine years later in ‘15. easy for him. Compared to other teachers,
This year, he’s the Drama Director Doyle thinks that he’s “better equipped to
at OHS along with being the teacher for deal with it”, as he’s never struggled with
Honors College Prep English classes, though alone time.
that wasn’t initially the plan. Doyle was Doyle has the unique experience
originally a theatre major before working to of being in both positions - teacher and
get his teaching license. student - at the same
“It was in the back school. And with that comes
of mind. [Teaching] was “Right now, it’s still good, wisdom. Compared to his

something that I knew I would and I’ll stay until it’s not” high school experience,
like to do,” Doyle said. he thinks that there are
In his eyes, high school more resources available
students change a lot year-to- to students these days, which
year, month-to-month. With that is a double-edged sword in
in mind, he likes to keep an open his eyes. It’s good that the
mind and never hold grudges with resources are available, but
anyone. kids end up relying on the
“As a policy, I try to have resources more, which is
the shortest memory in the room,” bad. Doyle believes that the
Doyle said. discipline required to do
Doyle says that the best well has increased.
thing about teaching is the “There’s a passivity that
opportunity to do theatre every comes from having the entire
day and still get paid like an world in the palm of your
adult. The only thing he doesn’t hand. Most of the time you
like is the fact that it takes up end up not looking at it,”
more time than your average Doyle said.
teaching job, with his Doyle always felt
afternoons “disappearing”, Michael Doyle, English teacher and like teaching would
being replaced with Theatre Director at OHS. be a good fit for his
Permission to prtint from Golden Arrow Yearbook.

rehearsals and other things of the sort. personality, and with him teaching for half
When there is free time though, Doyle’s a decade already with no stop in sight, he
a big fan of reading and exercising (as many thinks he definitely made the right choice.
teachers may be expected to be). “Right now, it’s still good. And I’ll
“If I don’t get to do anything physical stay until it’s not,” Doyle said.

UPDATE: Mr. Doyle is leaving OHS next year to
pursure a law degree. We’ll miss you!

MAY 2021 • 07

NEWS

Olentangy Cancels Midterm Exams
T by Aidan Somerville ‘24 - 1/19/21
he Olentangy district has decided to sense, and some teachers have said “Thank you
cancel all midterm exams for this school for making the decision and saying ‘don’t do
year. This decision is just one of many the exams.’”
changes that the district had to enact to Griffiths thinks kids may not even
best fit around the restrictions made by wnotice that it’s the end of the semester,
COVID-19. with them still having normal tests, but
Having the hybrid schedule in place, that isn’t the case.
making half of the “If we did have
student body online on midterms, I feel like I
any given day, meant would have done really
that there needed bad since I feel like
twice as many dedicated I’m not learning as much
exam days, which was a this year,” freshman
problem. Parker Reed said.
“You’d have to Freshman Alexander
have three exam days Lee shares the same
for A [group] and sentiment.
three exam days for B “I feel like I don’t
[group], and we only have the ability to
had four days this week learn as much this year
to begin with,” Robert and I think teachers
Griffiths, principal of understand that and
Olentangy High School, are giving us slightly
said. At OBHS, custodian Ed Strayer cleans reduced curriculums,
lunch tables. Plexiglass dividers were and I feel like the
Besides logistical one of many COVID-related precautions midterms wouldn’t account
reasons, Griffiths also that lasted for the entire school year. for that,” Lee says.
came to this decision
after realizing students Permission to print from Olentangy Schools. In regards to final

were already under enough stress right now exams in May, nobody is sure if they will
and he wanted to alleviate that anxiety, if happen or not, Griffiths says. No matter what,
possible. though, he is making sure to do whatever is
“If we are truly concerned about kids, in the students’ best interests.
depression, anxiety, why are we going to “I care about kids, I care about their
pile something on that creates more anxiety? mental health, I care about them being safe …
That kind of sealed the deal,” Griffiths I think it was best for kids, and we’re always
said. going to make decisions based on what’s best
Griffiths said that it simply makes for kids,” Griffiths said.

UPDATE: Just like with midterms, the Olentangy Local School District
made the decision to not have final tests for the 2020-2021 school

year either, although there still were Ohio State Tests and in-person
AP tests. All Olentangy Schools returned to a full in-person model on

March 15 and maintained that model for the rest of the school year.

08 • MAY 2021

FEATURE

Student Council Works to Spread the Word
by Aidan Somerville ‘24 - 3/14/21
From bullies in school to anonymous
commenters online, plenty of different and candy available for them to take once
insulting words have become commonplace they sign.

As a teacher, Absher says that she hasn’t
in people’s vocabularies. Lately, though, heard the R-word used in her classrooms, but
campaigns have surfaced to spread awareness freshman Devhuti Patel says that she still
and show others how truly harmful these words does “hear it in the hallways sometimes,” and
can be. One campaign, in particular, focuses that “I think that [the R-word] shouldn’t be
on stopping the use of the “R-word” or the used if the community who it’s about says
“R-slur”. that it shouldn’t be.”
The “R-word”, also known as “retard” or “I have never liked that word, it sounds
“retarded,” was originally a part of the medical derogatory - I would never allow my students
term “mental retardation”, used to diagnose to talk like that,” Student Council adviser
those with intellectual disabilities. In Theresa Absher said.
2010, President Barack Obama passed “Rosa’s Absher wishes that there could have been “more
Law”, changing the term to “intellectual of an event”, perhaps with a choir or band
disability.” Over a decade later, though, performance, but because of restrictions put
this outdated phrase is still thrown around in due to Covid-19, they had to scale down.
in a derogatory sense incredibly often. Fortunately, that didn’t impact things too
In 2018, Kantar Media ran a study that terribly.
analyzed two years’ worth of online posts “Given the challenges, I believe it was
about people with intellectual disabilities a success,” Absher said.
and found that over two-thirds of the nearly Patel, a Student Council member, shares
50 million posts were negative, with almost a similar sentiment.
29 million of them including a version of the “I think it was somewhat successful,
R-word. although I do think some people will continue
Spread the Word to End the Word is a saying [the R-word] regardless. But as long
movement that began in 2009, supported by Special as we keep spreading awareness, it’ll die
Olympics and Best Buddies International, out,” Patel said.
attempting to make society aware of the harm The R-word hasn’t died out entirely
the R-word can cause and encouraging youth though, and that’s why campaigns like Spread
to “pledge their The Word To End The
support in helping Word exist. They
to build communities exist to make as many
of inclusion and people as possible
acceptance for all aware of the pain
people,” as the FAQ on that using this
its website explains. form of hate speech
With Spread the inflicts on people
Word to End The Word with intellectual
holding its annual disabilities.
day of awareness on “I think the people
the first Wednesday who still use [the
of every March, the R-word] are ignorant
Olentangy High School The fully-signed banner from the OHS and don’t understand the
Student Council brought Student Council’s Spread the Word to effect of their words,”
the movement over to End the Word event. After the event was Patel said.
their school, holding an held, the banner was hung in the school’s
event during the lunch auditorium for the rest of the year. Even if the event
periods of March 4th and was a success, OHS
Permission to print from Aidan Somerville. spreading the message is

March 5th. only a small part of the effort to fully
During those periods, there was a eradicate the use of the R-word. Hopefully,
display where students were invited to sign with time, this word will slowly become even
a banner pledging to spread awareness and more outdated than it already is, and it will
inclusion, with Spread the Word decal pins be eradicated sooner rather than later.

MAY 2021 • 09

CURRENT EVENT

TIME CAPSULE: A Current Event Recap from January 7th, 2021.
Y by Aidan Somerville ‘24
esterday, I was planning for my article rallying his supporters to ruin one of the
to be about advancements in technology most sacred processes of democracy. After
that The New York Times staff predicted lots of pressure, he did eventually concede
would happen this year, but I guess I’m (finally), but not before starting off of a
talking about terrorism now! Great. Wednesday domino chain which led to even more unrest
was going pretty okay for the U.S. capitol in other states, as more Trump supporters
earlier in the day, as the Electoral College took to their own statehouses and began
calmly (though with some objections, of causing the same issues across the country.
course…) began the process of certifying Joe Even if the actual person who caused all of
Biden as the 46th president. this will finally get evicted
Unfortunately for them, from his office in about two
Trump doesn’t understand the weeks, it seems that his
concept of losing, and soon problematic ideologies are
after once again calling going to leave a stain on
“fraud” at a rally, his angry the brains of Americans for
supporters began making their a much longer time, and I
way to the capitol building, think that’s something that
confederate flags and guns in everyone who isn’t a terrible
tow, ready to shut the whole person should be worried
operation down. And they about.
did! You would think that Trump supporters yell from the top of Yesterday, I saw
the police would actually the Capitol building. The insurrection
be good at their jobs and reportedly cost $30 million in damages. someone tweet out how “We
be able to do anything to are in an event where you
Permission to print from The Philidephia Inquirer. remember where you were

stop the rioters because they seemed so good when it happened”, and I think that’s very,
at doing it back in the summer, but I guess terrifyingly true. It was just about an hour
they consider black people peacefully begging after I got back from school, and after I
people to acknowledge that finished printing something,
their lives matter is more I open TikTok to see a news
threatening than an attack reporter I follow talk about
on democracy - they barely how he’s running to the
did anything this time! They Capitol, and then I check
gave a single cop a baton and other social media, turn on
put him in charge of stopping the news, and from then on
an entire mob of people from it was like I was glued to
entering the building, I don’t my screens for a few hours.
know what they expected. I couldn’t stop scrolling,
As the senate members ran seeing every new piece of the
to their hiding spots, nightmare unfold in Tweets
rabid Trump supporters Pro-Trump rioters clash with police at right before my eyes,
just went crazy, really. the capitol. Over 400 people have been watching people commit
Shattering windows, arrested in the wake of the insurrection. felonies in the eyes of
Permission to print from Getty Images.

looting, everything. After a while, the the entire country, knowing that they’re
storm finally calmed down, but not before going to most likely get away with it because
giving every American a slap in the face, they’re white. It’s funny how this time last
making us realize the nightmarish state that year, we were making jokes about a possible
the country is in right now. Let’s see what World War III, and I guess we really might
happens in 13 days! get a war - it’s just going to be another
This is another one of those times Civil one. A sense of hopelessness permeated
where I don’t even know if it’s necessary to throughout these past 24 hours, I don’t know
explain why this is timely/relevant, how this what’s going to happen and it’s horrifying
has proximity, etc… but I’ll do it for the to know that I have absolutely no influence
sake of actually filling in the requirements on anything. I don’t have any funny quip to
of this assignment. It’s the almost-not- end this article with, I exhausted all of my
President of the United States, the country “just make fun of it” energy in the first
that anyone who is reading this lives in, paragraph… I’m just scared. That’s all.

10 • MAY 2021

CURRENT EVENT

TIME CAPSULE: A Current Event Recap from January 26th, 2021.
by Aidan Somerville ‘24
First off: yes, this is something about
the riots at the capitol. I know that with the pandemic keeping everyone farther
you’ve probably heard almost everything away from each other, some students may have
to deal with hearing their teachers say one
that there is to know about what happened, so thing and having their parents with radically
I won’t bore you with all of those details. different beliefs immediately contradict
Instead, I want to focus on a specific them. With how much we’ve been inside, we’ve
reaction to what happened - the reaction of had to shelter ourselves within our families,
school teachers, with them which can be either a
realizing that they now great or a terrible
need to explain history thing. It can either
right as it’s happening. allow people to have a
In this article by The really nice discussion
New York Times, it gives about the state of our
us a glimpse into how country with the people
some teachers across the that they love or, if
country are dealing with the people you love have
the burden of explaining wildly different opinions
terrorism to people of all than you, it could lead to
ages, from second graders constant screaming fests
to people in college. Jacob Anthony Chansley, also known as the that don’t help anyone and
Ms. Ferlin, an elementary “QAnon Shaman”, yells at a police officer fracture already-divided
school teacher in Florida, during the insurrection. He was taken lines even deeper.
uses “cat people and dog into custody on January 9th. In regards to what
people” as a metaphor so
Permission to print from AP. I think about everything

that her second graders can understand what’s that’s going on, I think I’ve made it pretty
going on - like, “oh, what if half of the clear that I’m not exactly a right-leaning
country loves cats and the other half loves person by any means, and I completely object
dogs. But then, if the dogs won an election, to terrorism, like how any other normal
would it be okay for all of the cat people to person with a functional brain should as
break into the pet shops, inciting a pet-sized well. I do feel bad for teachers though,
insurrection because they’re upset about knowing that a necessity of their job is
their loss?”. When the teachers have older to attempt to be as unbiased as possible,
audiences, though, they stick to things like which I can guess is especially difficult
science fiction, shakespearean tragedies, and these days with how polarized our current
other past historical events in an attempt to political landscape is. And of course, I feel
find parallels. And, of course, many teachers bad for everyone else in this classroom who
have just thrown their syllabus out entirely, has to find a way to cope with this nightmare
leaving the floor for students to cope with that’s eventually going to be the inspiration
and discussed what’s happened with their for an “I Survived” book, along with the
peers, whether it’s through video chats or fact that the constant arguing and venting
socially distanced desks. is probably not that great for our throats
I say that last line because, as you or mental states. Though things have been
all know, that’s what we did in this class. settling down ever since the inauguration,
And honestly, it was really the only period there’s still lots to be upset about. But
that the topic was even brought up, which is still, there’s no need to completely disgrace
especially surprising considering this was the country or something, nor is there a need
all only two days after everything went down. to bully my opposing side, even if watching
And this is why this is relevant/timely/et them break down as they slowly accept that
cetera because this is still happening all their leader has lost is pretty funny. Once
around the country as we’re talking about again, as I seem to do in the end lots of
it right now. Of course there’s going to be my presentations, I beg you to simply be
proximity, what’s talked about in this article nice to other people. Or at the very least,
happened in this classroom three weeks ago. just ignore the people who act awful, because
Right now was an especially bad time to have their opinions are probably set in concrete,
terrorists attack one of the country’s most and arguing won’t help anyone. If anything,
important building too, considering that, it will only make things worse. That’s all.

MAY 2021 • 11

SPORTS

Trans Athletes
by Aidan Somervi
While one can always appreciate how much
more tolerant the general public has become the International Association of Athletics
of those who are different from them, Federations did attempt to classify any woman
with naturally higher testosterone levels as a
even now, there are still plenty of roadblocks “biological male” in 2019 - so why should trans
stopping us from living in a perfectly accepting women be subject to that?
world. One notable recent discourse involves And while, yes, cis men may have around
transgender athletes, and whether they should a 10% to 12% advantage compared to cis women
be allowed to play on the teams of the gender in athletics, it’s not inherently because of
they are, instead of having to play on the team testosterone. In fact, according to renowned
of the gender they were assigned at birth. While testosterone researcher Shalendar Bhasin,
the answer is obviously yes, and I’ll elaborate “The explanations of cause and effect between
on why soon, there is a deeper conversation to athletic performance and testosterone are very
have in the fact that transgender people are weak.”
fundamentally mistreated in sports. Katrina Karkazis, another expert
Allow me to immediately establish on testosterone, agrees, explaining that
something as a myth: Transgender women do not “Studies of testosterone levels in athletes
have any inherent advantage in sports compared do not show any clear, consistent relationship
to cisgender women. Transphobic people choose between testosterone and athletic performance.
to believe that and justify their belief in the Sometimes testosterone is associated with
idea that, because trans women were assigned better performance, but other studies show
male at birth, they would weak links or no links. And
have more testosterone than yet others show testosterone
is associated with worse
“Sports are a live-savingthe average woman, giving
them an advantage. performance.”
For a moment, please thing, in a way” Even if people now
just think about it: The know that there’s not any
entire point of transitioning from one gender reasonable reason to exclude trans athletes
to another is to rid your mind and body of from playing on the team of their actual gender
any remnants of your birth gender. Besides just because of hormones, if one would want to
changing their appearance, one of the main claim that they still have some sort of upper
ways trans people accomplish this is through hand, they would be ignoring that they are
hormone therapy and puberty blockers. at an disadvantage in almost every other way
In the case of a trans woman, puberty possible.
blockers would, surprise, block testosterone According to a study done by the American
from producing and influencing the body, and Journal of Preventive Medicine, transgender
they would also be able to take shots of students are four times more likely to have
estrogen, which would slowly but surely give mental health issues like depression and
them the hormonal levels of a “normal” cis anxiety. And that same study reports that 53%
woman. of trans students have committed acts of self-
But, even then, being “normal” doesn’t harm, compared to 20% of cis students.
matter here - according to the Scientific Here’s the thing: sports can be a coping
American magazine, “An estimated 10 percent of mechanism for trans kids who have problems with
women have polycystic ovarian syndrome, which their mental health, but can simultaneously be
results in elevated testosterone levels.” one of the main reasons that they have those
People who have PCOS aren’t perceived to problems in the first place.
have an “unfair advantage”, and they aren’t Parker Parker, a trans sophomore here
forced to play with boys - which, by the way, at OHS who suffers from depression, dysphoria,

BONUS INFO: Just in 2021, around 35 different bills
have been introduced by state legislators that would
not allow trans women to play on female sports teams.

12 • MAY 2021

SPORTS

are Mistreated

ille ‘24 - 5/7/21

OCD, and suicidal thoughts/tendencies, claims with “getting this belief out of politicians’
that sports is one of the main reasons that minds that [trans people playing sports] is
he’s still alive, and yet it’s also a place a bad thing and that they’re ruining sports
where he can barely be himself. because they’re not.”
Parker plays field hockey and runs track Along with being educated though, it’s
and field - both on the girls’ team. He calls also just the incredibly simple things that will
sports his “sanctuary”, but there’s a vicious make people who aren’t cis feel more accepted:
cycle in the way that the one thing that he respecting people’s pronouns, not using their
uses to cope with feeling deadname... if it feels like
terrible is the same thing the absolute bare minimum
that makes him feel terrible requirements of respecting
in the first place. a person, that’s because it
“There’s no way to is, and yet so many people
cope with it,” Parker said. seem to fail to get right.
Even small things (And while we’re here,
like the outfit can be mood- I should also clarify that
ruining - field hockey’s trans people don’t have
dress code requires Parker “preferred pronouns” or a
to wear a skirt, even if it “preferred name” or a gender
makes him feel incredibly that they “identify as” -
dysphoric. they have pronouns, names,
One of the main ways and genders that they are.
that trans boys begin their It’s a small change of word
transition is wearing choice, yes, but it does
binders that flatten their Parker Parker ‘23 attends the OHS GSA’s make a huge difference.)
chest, but Parker can’t wear Ally Day Event. Parker was the president Circling back to the
a binder because, with his of the GSA for the 2020-2021 school year. beginning though, with
level of constant strenuous more research done and
Permission to print from Aidan Somerville.

activity, he’d barely be able to breath if he more education given to the general public,
did. Parker says that being a trans athlete is hopefully we will be able to squash the idea
a “constant limbo,” and he knows nobody else in that trans kids will forever have to be confined
his position. by their biological sex in sports, and in life
“My coach has told me that I’m the only in general.
trans man they know who plays field hockey,” “[Sports are] a live-saving thing, in
Parker said. a way, and it’s important we get a chance
And, just to get this out of the way as everyone else gets,” Parker said.
well, trans people are absolutely not “threats” Parker hopes to continue playing sports
in bathrooms or locker rooms, and anyone who into college, not for himself, but for other
thinks that is a terrible person. In fact, it’s trans kids like him.
almost always the other way around. Parker “We’re constantly discriminated against,
says that changing his outfit in front of his we’re not talked about … by having a platform
peers has almost caused him to break down in where trans people can play sports, it’s going
tears, and that he feels threatened in a locker to give them a voice,” Parker said.
room because he doesn’t want to make any of his Transgender people deserve to play in
peers uncomfortable. sports as who they are, and they also deserve
Parker says that coaches, along with the to be treated with the same amount of respect
general public, need to be more educated, along as cisgender people. That’s all.

BONUS INFO: Prominent transgender athletes include
Andraya Yearwood, a 19 year old trans woman who has won
first place in the girls 100- and 200-meter dashes, and

Chris Mosier, a 41 year old trans man who competed in
the US Olympic Team Trials’ 50k Racewalk event.

MAY 2021 • 13

YEARBOOK

to

14 • MAY 2021

YEARBOOK

MAY 2021 • 15

PHOTO ESSAY

16 • MAY 2021

PHOTO ESSAY

MAY 2021 • 17

EDITORIAL

Cancel Cuture Bare
by Aidan Somervil
In March, our newspaper ran an article
entitled “Cancel Culture Harms Society”. We still stand by the idea that pieces
Soon after, one weirdly angry teenager sent of media should still be published even if
the general public disagrees with them, but we
us a 390-word long complaint, which admittedly, would like to clarify the situation is somewhat
made us realize we did make a few errors. So different when it comes to books for kids.
today, we would like to correct our mistakes As Rebekah Fitzsimmons, an assistant
and explain why, realistically, cancel culture teaching professor at Carnegie Mellon University
barely harms anything. puts it, “The books we share with our children
Right out of the gate, we call cancel matter. Books shape their worldview and tell them
culture a “modern form of censorship in which how to relate to the people, places, and ideas
someone is pushed out of social or professional around them.” We acknowledge these books are
circles.” One key thing we forgot to mention primarily looked at by impressionable children
is most of the time, people get “canceled” as a who, in this day and age, should definitely not
form of punishment for something bad they did, be seeing negative stereotypes in books meant
or something “perceived as to teach and entertain them.
wrong to the public eye,” as “Cancel Culture is not After finishing with
we say. It’s not censorship, censorship, it’s being held
it’s being held accountable. Dr. Suess, we then waste
A large portion of a paragraph recalling when
our article focuses on white country artist Morgan
accountable.” Wallen said the N-word. We
Dr. Seuss Enterprises, tried to somehow lessen the
a company dedicated to blow, including details like
protecting the legacy of how he was “intoxicated”
Dr. Suess, deciding to (even if no other articles
remove six of his books from can verify that), or how
publication. These books he said it to a white
feature drawings of Asian person, or how much he
and African people depicted apologized after the fact,
incredibly stereotypically. et cetera. Today, we know
(Side note: We did not now these details do not
realize this beforehand, actually change anything,
but the paragraph where we because this incident,
explain these depictions is which we labeled “insane”
actually plagiarized from An excerpt from If I Ran The Zoo, one of for no reason, is simply a
an AP News article published the Dr. Suess books taken off bookstore person saying a slur they
on March 2nd. We apologize shelves. The book was published in 1950. cannot reclaim, and getting

Permission to print from Dr. Suess Enterprises.

for not catching this earlier.) justifiably punished for it.
We then go on to explain how “These books We do end up exaggerating this part too
were published years ago, which does not make though, saying “his music was taken off shelves
it right, but banning the books from being and streaming services” when this objectively
sold is just crazy.” We forgot to think about did not happen. While yes, iHeartMedia and
something: these books not being published Entercom stopped playing his music on their
anymore doesn’t mean they’re banned in any radio stations, and yes, he’s no longer eligible
capacity. They’re simply not creating more of for any American Country Music Awards, he’s
them. still thriving right now - in fact, his Spotify
The libraries and bookstores which streams boomed after the controversy.
have these books can still give them to other We attempted to frame this as some sort
people. Some libraries or bookstores may follow of injustice, calling the general public out on
in the enterprises’ footsteps, but not all of hypocrisy, explaining rapper 6ix9ine’s crimes
them. Nothing is being censored, these books and acting like society has ignored all of
are still out there, and they will most likely his illegal activity and “welcomed [him] back
forever be in someone’s hands unless “Fahrenheit into the world with open arms,” when 6ix9ine
451” suddenly becomes reality. Society was not was never even “canceled” like Wallen was. He
harmed at all by these six books written by a was arrested and sent to jail. We realize now
dead man becoming slightly harder to acquire. these situations are not comparable. Even if

18 • MAY 2021

EDITORIAL

ely Harms Anything

lle ‘24 - 4/12/21

they were, both of these men still have active the problematic content written in them okay.
fanbases who don’t care about anything they’ve We’re not entirely sure why, if we could
done in the past besides their music - Cancel come to terms with “it being a different time”
Culture did not harm either of these men’s not being a valid excuse, we complained about
careers for more than a few the excuse not being valid
weeks at most. later on.
Before we finish, we Finally, we boldly claim
would like to apologize to “Cancel culture is just as
senior Brooke Arline and toxic and maybe worse than
freshman Judah Bault. We thank the people, books, art, and
them for their contributions music being canceled.” This
to our article, but we have is simply incorrect. We regret
come to the realization that how absolutely dismissive we
their words do not necessarily were of the negative impact
support our argument. canceled pieces of media can
Arline talks about how have on the group of people
“People should be embracing Morgan Wallen films advertisements for targeted by those pieces of
others’ cultures instead SNL with Jason Bateman and Heidi Gardner. media.
of tearing them down,” and He was taken off of SNL after his N-Word While one could easily
while that is true, please scandal surfaced. call it simply being
note the only paragraph “offended,” jokes being
Permission to print from NBC.

we wrote before this quote is us incorrectly made at the expense of any minority group could
defining the concept of being canceled. We talk have an absolutely detrimental effect on their
nothing of cultures, and if anything, people mental health or their public perception, and
get “canceled” for putting people’s cultures to everyone else not part of the group, could
down in the first place; it’s rarely ever the perpetuate harmful ideas about the people
other way around. different than them - and we all know that
And also, we seem to have left in a broken bigoted people never bother to fact-check their
sentence on Bault’s behalf - “I’m not saying horrendous beliefs.
someone giving you constructive criticism to Since we’ve run this article, we’ve
censor them as they are most likely trying to learned that if anything, the most harmful
help and not hurt you” seems effect of cancel culture is
like a complete thought, and the backlash that occurs when
someone is canceled, where
“It is surprisingly easy toyet we are still unable to people defend whatever’s
not be a terrible person!”decipher what exactly that being canceled.
means.
In Bault’s second quote, they explain how With posts on social media defending
“[They] feel that many do it for Internet fame people who have committed atrocities and numerous
or ‘clout’ and don’t actually care about the articles like the one we ran before, we are
issues that they are canceling people over,” demonizing the idea that people should be held
which does make sense, but please consider: accountable for their actions, and should be
What do people stand to gain from “canceling” a punished when they say something problematic.
deceased children’s book author? Or some random Cancel Culture does not harm society, people
country singer? One could possibly sleep at ignoring awful people and attempting to “fix”
night knowing they’re an advocate for social or forgive them harms society.
justice, but it definitely wouldn’t give someone If you’re worried about ever being
enough fame or “clout” to be meaningful. canceled sometime in your life, we have a
Bault continues, saying “people often solution to ease your anxiety; Being nice.
bring up things that could be considered It is surprisingly easy to simply not be a
appropriate in the past to cancel someone with terrible person! If you’re not doing anything
today’s standards” which is once again true, cancelable, you will not get canceled. What a
but we seem to have forgotten we completely concept!
contradict this idea earlier in the article. Be nice to one another, and if you see
In the Dr. Suess segment, we explain that, even someone you know not being nice, call them out
if books were sold decades ago, it doesn’t make on their behavior. The end.

MAY 2021 • 19

“That’s all.”
~Aidan Somerville, always.