Chronicle 21.1

Volume 21 Issue 1 | William Mason High School | 6100 Mason Montgomery Rd., Mason, OH | 9.22.23 Photo by Akshay Vadlamani “Going Out in Style” see page 2

Seniors get creative with Homecoming suits Akshay Vadlamani | The Chronicle Donning vibrant suits and stylish sunglasses, senior boys are hoping to steal the spotlight at this year’s homecoming. Mason High School’s 2023 Homecoming (HoCo) dance will take place on Saturday, September 23. Hoco is memorable for all students, however for MHS senior boys, their final fall dance has a welcome twist. For roughly the last five years, many seniors have opted to wear silly and flashy suits that represent their personality instead of more traditional dress suits. Suits in the past have ranged from designs with Pac-Man and pineapples, to emerald-clad and rose-covered tuxedos. Some seniors embrace the silly patterns and wear themeoriented suits, while others prefer to look classy with suit jackets and accessories that they would not usually wear to a dance, creating an extremely broad range of unique looking suits for the senior class. Assistant Principal Brandon Rompies has been chaperoning homecoming for the last decade. He said that he does not remember a definitive start, but has witnessed the trend cement itself as a staple of senior HoCo. “That was never an established tradition,” Rompies said. “It’s interesting how these things take off. And I hear this from students that it’s a tradition, but it didn’t start until about four or five years ago. It was a group of boys that came together and did that. And then it’s kind of grown from that.” Many of such suits are ready made and ordered off of websites like Amazon and Opposuits. However, some students prefer to create their own looks to express themselves. Senior Dominick Kisanga used the video game Grand Theft Auto V to help customize an outfit, mixing and matching pieces on his digital character to create the suit he will wear at homecoming. Kisanga appreciates that senior homecoming gives him an opportunity to showcase his individuality. “It’s all inspiration of trying to be who you want to be [and] how you want to express yourself,” Kisanga said. Another popular senior tradition at MHS is wearing nostalgic or fun kiddy backpacks, allowing for students to make a fashion statement all year long. Kisanga was drawn to the homecoming tradition because he wanted to create a suit that perfectly represents him. Kisanga wanted to have a stylish end to his four years of HoCo, opting for a classy blue jacket, black shirt, and chain to show off his flair. “You get to wear the backpack every single day,” Kisanga said. “The suit is a one time thing so when you show up, you have everybody’s eyes on you.” Rompies supports the unofficial tradition as it gives students a chance to savor the moment and connect with their peers one last time. Appreciating the little things is something Rompies pushes for, as he believes that seniors should cherish their final year of school. “It brings them closer together in senior year,” Rompies said. “I remind seniors often that this year is going to go by very quickly. You want to look for those opportunities to connect with your friends. A goofy suit allows for them to do that.” Seniors at MHS have also perpetuated the tradition by passing down their former suits to underclassmen. Senior Prathamesh Bhave is wearing a white checkered jacket covered in 1980’s style colorful three-dimensional shapes with a pink shirt and blue tie. The suit was given to him by his friend Prathik Iyengar, a 2023 MHS graduate. Bhave said that sharing the tradition allows students to focus on enjoying the high school experience with their friends, and is looking forward to passing down the suit to a friend after he graduates. “It helps relationships because it’s such a competitive environment at the school,” Bhave said. “[It reminds you] high school should be a fun experience, and you can connect with your peers. Bestowing traditions is important because you keep the tradition alive.” Throughout high school, mens homecoming outfits are fairly standard across the board, most commonly wearing traditional dress shirts and ties and few accessories. On the contrary, girls are usually dressed up in unique and colorful dresses. Senior Jacob Evans appreciates that senior homecoming gives the boys a chance to show off their style and be in the spotlight compared to previous years. “Boys through junior, sophomore, freshman year look very similar.” Evans said. “I think it’s awesome for the boys to have their opportunity to be able to express themselves [and] wear what they think is cool.” Evans appreciates that the boys have a special tradition their senior year, and has noticed that it creates unity between the seniors of MHS as both boys and girls have special traditions. For senior homecoming, girls often wear black dresses and colored boas. Evans believes that the seniorspecific traditions give students a chance to try something new with their last homecoming. “I feel like overall with the tradition, the girls have been very appreciative of it,” Evans said. “There’s no sense of jealousy among the two among the groups. [The boys’ tradition] puts the cherry on top. It adds more fun to it. It gives us something different and just lets us be ourselves.” Senior Luke Nicholls was inspired by seniors of the past to make his own memories through his suit, and hopes that future seniors will embrace it as well. Nicholls believes the silliness and fun of the tradition unites students, creating a more memorable night. “There’s not going to be another homecoming,” Nicholls said. “It’s all about having fun. It’s all about enjoying yourself, and caring less about what other people think and more about what you want to do.” Graphic by Alisha Verma A timeline of senior homecoming suits in recent years. 2 September 22, 2023 Photos by Akshay Vadlamani Luke Nicholls Jacob Evans Dominick Kisanga

September 22, 2023 3 Meet the Members of the 2023-24 Chronicle Staff Andrew Little Editor-in-Chief @andrewlittle35 I’m in eight fantasy football leagues! Aimee Liu Managing Editor @aimeeliu13 I was in fi ve different schools in fi ve different years! Alisha Soni Managing Editor @alisha.soniii I eat my cereal with microwaved milk! Nishka Mishra Business Manager @nishka.mishra I have broken three bones! Ali Sami Business Intern @a1isami I’m double-jointed in both thumbs! Becca Hunter Staff Designer @swirly_noodle I used to be scared of the moon as a kid! Aybika Kamil Staff Writer @aybikakamil I’ve moved eight times! Taylor Murray Staff Writer [email protected] I’ve been to 27 national parks! Alisha Verma Staff Designer @eitheror1997 I’ve watched over 100 movies this year! Elina Bishoyi Staff Writer [email protected] I know the Greek alphabet! Kendall Davis Staff Writer @kendall_davis707 My favorite chip fl avor is pickle! Drew Hoffmaster Staff Writer @drewhoffmaster Every year I dress up as a piece of bacon for Halloween! Ruhi Kaneria Staff Writer @ruhi_kaneria My go-to karaoke song is “Country Girl (Shake It for Me)” by Luke Bryan! Allie Keim Staff Writer @allie.keim I went to my fi rst Taylor Swift concert when I was four! Megan Lee Staff Writer @meganlee07 I’ve danced for 11 years! Mitchell McMillen Staff Writer [email protected] I can walk on my hands! Camden Paeltz Staff Writer @camdenpaeltz I can put my foot behind my head! Hudson Pitcock Staff Writer @hudson_pitcock20 I can pogo stick with no hands! Shrija Shandilya Staff Writer @shrijashandilya My favorite Disney movie is Cars! Harper Stull Staff Writer @harperstull I cut and dye my hair for fun! Akshay Vadlamani Staff Writer @akshay_vadlamani My car is named Appa from “Avatar: The Last Airbender”! Srinidhi Valathappan Staff Writer @srinidhi_valathappan I have perfect vision in one eye and am legally blind in the other! Follow the Chronicle on Instagram @mhschronicle

4 September 22, 2023 Student leaders revamp XLP to better serve Kendall Davis | The Chronicle With the growing necessity of realworld experience in the workforce, Mason’s Experiential Learning Program (XLP) gives students the chance to get their hands dirty. The XLP has a new team of student leaders this year. The XLP exists to provide Mason students with career exploration tools and connect them to real-world opportunities. The opportunity board on the XLP’s website gives students access to internships, job shadowing, and discussions about specific job paths. With the new student team, there is a much more tailored experience for career-seeking students. Student leaders personally assist students through the process, from learning how to build a resume to attending an interview. XLP advisor Joe Schroeder has been developing the student leadership concept since March 2023 and is now overseeing the reinvented program. He said that although the XLP has not been operating as long as other school initiatives such as Comet Savings and Loan, it has been running smoothly so far. “[The student leadership team is] creating something new for future students, which is really important to them,” Schroeder said. “Our students created a startup; they’re creating a legacy of being the student team to start this.” Senior Annabella Cortez is the Chief Marketing Officer for the XLP. She said the XLP used to be run solely by teacher Deanna Hogenkamp, but Schroeder took inspiration from other organizations to improve. “Our advisor, Mr. Schroeder, came up with the idea of a student team,” Cortez said. “He based it on the Chronicle, the bank, and the Comet Zone; he thought that students could help make more internship opportunities, job shadows and open up our market.” Senior Jacob Tartabini is the Chief Operations Officer for the XLP. He said the XLP helps students decide whether they are interested in a particular career field or if they want to choose a different path. “We help students really narrow down what they want to go into,” Tartabini said. “We’ve seen incredible results from the students that have been a part of our program and gone through the experiences.” Senior Anuj Kulkarni is currently using the XLP to apply for an engineering internship with GMi Companies. He said his student career advisor helped him prepare for the internship and guided him through the process of applying so that he would have the best chance of getting it. “I came to [the XLP room] when I was free and I talked to one of the career advisors,” Kulkarni said. “They said to send my resume, I came back today, and they’re going to send it to the company now.” Kulkarni said that having a career advisor really helps, especially for high school students who don’t have any professional career experience. “Having a career advisor with me really helped me understand what I was getting into with the internship and refine my resume,” Kulkarni said. “And if I do get to the interview stage, [also] how to interview better.” Senior Hamsa Tadpatri is the Business Industry Manager for the XLP. She is tasked with reaching out to companies to manage students’ applications. She said her job also involves reaching out to students who have an interest in specific internships. “After I reach out to [students], they come back to me with a resume and if I think it looks good, I will send it over to HR for that company specifically,” Tadpatri said. “If it doesn’t, I make sure that I meet with them and then we work on their resume.” Tadpatri’s role also involves helping answer questions and offering guidance on interviewing with certain companies. She said she often advises students to “wear a business casual outfit and project well” when they go in for an interview. She said that making sure students are “in their best shape” is important in allowing both the company and the student to “put their best foot forward.” Mason Superintendent Dr. Jonathan Cooper has been involved with the process of creating the XLP since the very beginning. He said that the district hopes to assist the roughly 90 percent of graduates who go on to college to determine what path they want to pursue. This is exemplified by a new district initiative called True North, which focuses on helping students find what direction they want to go in their future. “Our whole goal with [the XLP] is to help students discover their True North and their direction,” Cooper said. “So when they walk out of Mason City Schools, they have confidence in their direction and can say, ‘Hey, this is really what I want to do, and this is why I’m going to college.’” Cooper said the district wants to foster as many innovative learning opportunities for students as possible and the XLP is one of many ways to do that. “We are on something that we call the Journey to 2030,” Cooper said. “We want to expand our offerings so that every single junior and senior by 2030 has the opportunity to pick and choose what experiences they would like to have in their career of interest.” Cortez said she hopes to increase awareness so that more people can have career experiences to find what they truly want to pursue. “My goal is to get more people on the opportunity board, get more kids to have career experiences, [get] more people to know who we are in general, and help kids find their passion because their future’s so important,” Cortez said. In addition to helping students find their paths, Tartabini said that the XLP has also given its student leaders a chance to serve others and practice communication and leadership skills. “You’re learning who these [applicants] are, learning their stories,” Tartabini said. “It’s very fulfilling when you help someone for a couple of weeks and they get the internship; it’s so rewarding.” Graphics by Alisha Verma

September 22, 2023 5 MHS students travel abroad to explore timeless world of art Srinidhi Valathappan | The Chronicle Embarking on a summer trip of art, history and culture, 14 Mason High School (MHS) art students broadened their creative and cultural horizons. Led by MHS art teachers Karan WithamWalsh, Hannah Zimmerman and Kayla Robbins, a group of students, ranging from sophomores to recent graduates, traveled to Greece and Italy for nine days. Witham-Walsh’s experiences with studyabroad programs led her to collaborate with Robbins and Zimmerman to plan for the trip back in 2021, but due to COVID-19 concerns, the trip was postponed to this summer. The teachers mainly wanted to focus their trip around ancient Rome, ancient Greece, and the Renaissance, as it would be influential for upper-level art students and Advanced Placement (AP) Art History students. The trip allowed the students to observe the masterpieces they had only seen in books or on screens, including the Sistine Chapel in Vatican City, the mosaics of Pompeii and sculptures like Peplos Kore and the Acropolis complex. The students sketched and took notes at each site, capturing their impressions and personal interpretations of these iconic works. Senior Ellen Zhang took AP Studio Art during her junior year, prior to the trip, and is currently taking AP Art History. Zhang said that being able to see the details of the original artworks up close provides a unique experience. “As an artist, I can tell why these works were so heavenly,” Zhang said. “You see them in books, but it’s entirely different when you’re standing before them, feeling the texture and energy they radiate. It’s like art came to life.” Junior Ava Plouffe had already taken AP Art History during her sophomore year. Learning about different artworks in this class provided more background to what she learned and saw in Europe. Equipped with the knowledge of the intricate process behind the work, Plouffe said that seeing her favorite artworks in person was like “seeing a celebrity”. “Learning about the history beforehand gave me so much background information for going on the trip and I could appreciate everything a little bit more because I knew so much about it,” Plouffe said. Throughout their adventure, these high school students had not only witnessed masterpieces like Peplos Kore of the Acropolis, or the world-famous Parthenon, but had also embarked on a personal journey of artistic growth and self-discovery. “It’s absolutely incredible,” Zhang said. “To be there, it’s a feeling you can’t even describe. You turn every single corner and there’s a piece of artwork. Going as a school tour group, we gained so much more freedom and knowledge. I don’t think I’ll ever be able to experience that again.” Zimmerman said that the trip was not merely a summer vacation, but an exploration that deepened their understanding of the world and cultures of different countries. “Art was our main focus, but so was the additional cultural experiences of being in countries that speak different languages, learning about the customs, even just the travel experience navigating the Athens airport,” Zimmerman said. The trip also prompted the teachers to consider how they wanted to tie their experiences back to their own classrooms, with the energy and enthusiasm that this adventure had. “It gave us time to think about how we want to bring certain elements back into our teaching to benefit every student instead of just the ones who were able to come,” Zimmerman said. As the school year begins, these students carry with them not only memories of a summer trip but a renewed passion for art and an appreciation for the history and tradition that surrounds them. Their trip through Greece and Rome has served as a transformative chapter, combining an educational value to their artistic journeys. With the success of this trip, planning for next year’s trip (Spain and France) is already underway. For the next group of students, the teachers have decided that next year’s trip will be open to all students interested in art. “I learned so much about art through different cultures and times, and seeing it all in person is truly a whole new perspective,” Plouffe said. “It changed how I make my own art.” Photo contributed by Hannah Zimmerman Karan Witham-Walsh, Hannah Zimmerman and Kayla Robbins pose with their group of art students in front of the historical famous landmark, the Colosseum in Rome, Italy.

6 September 22, 2023 Administration turns to unusual tool to keep lunchroom clean Ruhi Kaneria | The Chronicle Hoping to keep students in line, administration institute cones to regulate left-behind lunchtime messes. The Mason High School (MHS) administration is taking a more forward approach to improving the cleanliness of the lunchroom through the use of cones. These small orange cones, often showcased at the front table on the lunchroom stage, have been used to mark tables left in a mess by students. Reimplemented from the previous year, the cone policy is in place this 2023-2024 year to keep the lunchroom clean for both students and staff. Having seen the issue firsthand during the lunches he supervises, MHS Assistant Principal Dan Distel said that the cones were implemented to curb common student behavior of leav- ing trash behind in the lunchroom. “We’ve had a little bit of an uptick [in messes at] the beginning of this year, which we would expect,” Distel said. “[The cones] typically help to take care of the problem.” While many students at MHS believe that the cones will help prevent bad behavior, other students worry that the implementation is not enough. Sophomore Chelsea Hsu said a possible never-ending cycle of chasing down students ultimately hurts the lunch environment. “I don’t think it’s super effective encouraging kids to clean up after their messes,” Hsu said. “Even though you put a cone on the table that they may have left a mess on, they could just choose to sit at a different table again next time and you [would] just be following them forever.” To stop this cycle, administrators who formed the idea have worked together to create a system. By using the cones, cameras and the staff, they can quickly find who left the mess. “We have an administrative assistant who looks at the cameras, finds that cone [and] identifies the kids who were at that table using our camera system,” Distel said. “If we don’t know who they are, we’ll send it out to staff and ask if they can identify who the kids are.” After the students have been identified, they are sent a paper slip, asking them to come down to the administrative office to establish the consequences of leaving behind the mess. Distel said that the first consequence is usually a Saturday school, but if the issues continue to repeat, the consequences will increase. Distel said that the most common solution to the issue is simply having students stay back and clean up after themselves. “We have kids stay behind and clean up after if there is messes to clean up,” Distel said. “To be honest, it’s been a lot less of a mess since we’ve been implementing [the policy].” Many students are happy that administrators are working to better the lunchroom experience. Upon hearing about the cone system, Hsu was glad that action was taken against irresponsible teenagers. She said that the easiest step students can take to keep the lunchroom clean is to just focus on their area. “Doing your part by keeping all of your trash in one small space where it is easy to pick up and throw away is one step kids can take to focus on their own area and [keep it] tidy,” Hsu said. “The next batch of kids who have lunch have a clean space and can enjoy lunch and the hard-working janitors have less to do. Keeping your friends accountable or helping out [to pick up their] trash is also a good step.” The issue of leaving trash is not only prevalent at MHS. Freshman Elisa Hefferan said that last year, the Mason Middle School (MMS) lunches also faced similar problems. At MMS, they did not use a cone system and instead relied on daily announcements to promote lunchroom cleanliness. She said that while the MHS policy seemed wild to her initially, she is glad that administrators are taking the initiative to solve the problem. “I was [in] D lunch [at the middle school and] we had a really big issue,” Hefferan said. “It was very messy. I think that [the] consequence of the orange cones makes people want to clean up because they don’t want to face that consequence.” Hefferan said that these actions are long overdue. She said that as students acclimate themselves to MHS, they also need to get used to the rules and regulations put in place to keep the space clean and safe. “Be more responsible,” Hefferan said. “It’s disrespectful to your classmates, to the janitors to the school. You have to mature, grow up and [cleaning up after yourself] is just a small step you can take to becoming a better ver- sion of yourself.” Graphics by Becca Hunter cones were implemented to curb common student behavior of leav- ing trash behind in the lunchroom. “We’ve had a little bit of an uptick [in messes at] the beginning of this year, which we would who left the mess. “We have an administrative assistant who looks at the cameras, finds that cone [and] identifies the kids who were at that table using our camera system,” Distel said. “If we don’t know who they are, we’ll send it out to staff and ask if they can identify who the kids are.” After the students have been identified, they are sent a paper slip, asking them to come down to the to keep the lunchroom clean is to just focus on their area. “Doing your part by keeping all of your trash in one small space where it is easy to pick up and throw away is one step kids can take to focus on their own area and [keep it] tidy,” Hsu said. “The next batch of kids who have lunch have a clean space and can enjoy lunch and the hard-working janitors have less to do. Keeping your friends accountable or helping out [to pick up their] trash is need to get used to the rules and regulations put in place to keep the space clean and safe. “Be more responsible,” Hefferan said. “It’s disrespectful to your classmates, to the janitors to the school. You have to mature, grow up and [cleaning up after yourself] is just a small step you can take to becoming a better ver- sion of yourself.” Graphics by Becca Hunter

September 22, 2023 7 MHS students feel impact of hurricane season Drew Hoffmaster | The Chronicle The impacts of hurricanes blow far beyond the coast. Every year, destructive hurricanes engulf the coast of the United States between the months of June and November. They carry large amounts of rain, wind and storm surge that hammer the coast for a few days, causing many deaths and injuries. According to the National Weather Service, five hurricanes make landfall in the United States in an average three-year period, causing millions to have to shelter in place or evacuate their homes. This hurricane season already had two storms hit the United States – Hurricane Hillary and Hurricane Idalia – which made landfall last month. Hurricane Hillary made landfall in Southern California, and Hurricane Idalia hit the West Coast of Florida. Although hurricanes may only cause some extra rain in Mason, many students and their families feel their impact. Senior Hope Johnson has an aunt, uncle, grandparents and friend living in Florida. When Hurricane Ian – which caused about $112 billion in damage – hit in 2022, Johnson’s grandparents decided to temporarily stay in Mason with her family. When her grandparents returned to Florida, they discovered their home was destroyed and struggled to recover. “It was like they could not do anything to fix it,” Johnson said. “It’s hard for them to access insurance and figure that all out when they’re up here.” Johnson’s aunt and uncle also have experienced a large amount of destruction due to hurricanes. She said her aunt and uncle had to move because their old house used to always flood when a hurricane would hit, which has left her wishing she could do something to help them. “All the [hurricanes] are all out of my control,” Johnson said. “The damage is out of my control. There’s nothing I can do. I feel almost helpless in a sense because there is all this damage and I can’t do anything.” Johnson continues to worry about her family during this season and calls them frequently to check up and make sure they are okay. She said she could not imagine how stressful it would be to go through a storm. “Just seeing them all bunkered down stresses me out a lot because I do not know what is happening all the time,” Johnson said. “It’s really stressful to have the people you love put in a position that causes a lot of risk and danger.” Senior Nestor Reyes’s family lives in Puerto Rico and Florida, both of which often experience hurricanes. He said his family often chooses to stay put when hurricanes come through due to the large number they have experienced. “I feel pretty worried and scared whenever a hurricane is going towards Puerto Rico,” Reyes said. “But I also know at the same time they’ve been through hurricanes before so they should know what they are doing.” Reyes’ family has ridden out many noteworthy hurricanes like Hurricane George and Hurricane Maria. Even though his family stays in place, Reyes said his parents try to help by sending extra essential supplies to relatives after hurricanes to provide a bit of aid. “We always ask how they’re doing and whether or not they want to come here for a bit, but they usually decline,” Reyes said. “But when my parents send supplies, I kinda feel reassured.” According to Reyes, the people of Puerto Rico have adapted to the storms in a multitude of ways. The architecture is designed to weather the storms, and the people are used to being without electricity for days. Reyes said he is amazed by how creative his family can be during storms. “My mom went through Hurricane George, and it was a pretty big one,” Reyes said. “[She] said that they would sometimes go and just shower with the hurricane because they didn’t have water.” Sophomore Koby Carson’s great-grandmother moved into a trailer in Fort Myers, Florida back in 2019. He said his greatgrandmother wanted to escape Ohio’s cold weather but never expected hurricanes to be a problem. “We weren’t thinking that [hurricanes] were going to be that destructive,” Carson said. “[We thought Ian] would just cause rumble, and it’ll be safe. But no, it destroyed everything.” Carson’s great-grandmother, after some convincing, evacuated to Tennessee. Once she returned to Fort Myers, she could not find anything to salvage. Many of the Carson family’s heirlooms and memories were lost. “There were a lot of memories that I haven’t gotten to explore,” Carson said. “I was bummed because it was sad to see a lot of family history just poof gone from a natural disaster. It was kind of sad for the whole family.” After picking up the pieces, Carson’s great-grandmother moved to North Carolina where Carson has some aunts and uncles living. He said he still worries about his great-grandmother and the rest of his family whenever hurricanes threaten the coast, but he is confident in his family’s community and resilience. “[My family] is all looking out for each other, making sure everyone is safe and sound,” Carson said. “We are always open to help family and only want the best for them.” Photo contributed by Nestor Reyes Nestor Reyes’ grandmother’s backyard in Puerto Rico was left destroyed after Hurricane Maria.

8 September 22, 2023 AP Psychology teachers concerned about recent ban Shrija Shandilya | The Chronicle On August 3, 2023, the state of Florida announced that they will be effectively banning the teaching of Advanced Placement (AP) Psychology. The state’s department of education informed school leaders that the discussion of sexual orientation and gender identity is illegal under state law. Both of these topics are part of the AP Psychology curriculum, and the College Board, which runs the AP program, said in June that they could not modify the course in response to Florida’s regulations. While the state later clarified that the course can be taught in its entirety in a manner that is “age and developmentally appropriate,” many Florida school districts had already decided not to offer the course this year. Mason High School (MHS) AP Psychology teacher Paul Reedy recalls feeling shocked by the state’s decision to ban the course, considering its longstanding reputation. “This course has been offered for over 30 years by College Board,” Reedy said. “It hasn’t really changed in terms of the content, so why is this happening now when it’s been around for so long?” Reedy has been teaching AP Psychology for nearly 20 years. He said he initially chose to teach the course because of its value and practicality to students. “I love teaching it because the content is so relevant to students’ lives,” Reedy said. “It’s easy for students to make connections with what they’re experiencing in life and the curriculum includes that.” He said it is important for students to learn about topics that the state of Florida has labeled controversial, like gender identity and sexual orientation, in order to promote inclusivity and create a healthy classroom environment. “It’s certainly going to help with inclusivity if you have discussions about topics that some adults feel are controversial,” Reedy said. He said the idea that certain topics can be essentially made illegal to discuss in the classroom is an idea that scares him. “It frightens me that a course that has been taught throughout the country would be made inaccessible because a small amount of people believe that a small percentage of the curriculum is not suitable,” Reedy said. MHS senior and Hope Squad member Rhea Umrani said she enjoyed taking AP Psychology because of its importance outside of school. She said the ideas taught in the course helped her better understand her interactions with people around her. “I learned a lot of things about the real world,” Umrani said. “It helped me understand myself and my parents because we’re all going through different [psychological] stages. I would not have been able to see that before.” Umrani said that AP Psychology connected with her life as a student and high schooler by giving her insight on the mental health struggles and growth that she and people her age go through. It specifically helped her in her job as a Hope Squad member. “It’s a big part of suicide prevention because it focuses on implementing a good system for kids,” Umrani said. “It taught me the technical part of what me and other kids are going through.” Part of the AP Psychology curriculum is learning about the methods that famous psychologists use to inquire about their surroundings. Umrani said this is an essential skill that AP Psychology teaches and taking it away would rob students of that. “Psychology teaches you to question the world around you,” Umrani said. “It’s so important in this day and age and it’s like they’re taking away a fundamental skill.” Umrani said Florida’s ban on teaching AP Psychology is unfair and students are missing out on the opportunity to make their own choice and learn more about themselves. “They would lose an outlet to learn about cognitive and mental health,” Umrani said. “I don’t think any course should be banned.” AP Psychology teacher Molley Coffey also agrees that the course is an important and useful one to take. She said she recalled feeling sad to hear many students would be unable to take it now. “We need a class like this because we do talk about a diverse set of topics and it’s not something most kids see in their day,” Coffey said. “It’s a disservice to all students in Florida who don’t have this opportunity anymore.” Coffey is in a Facebook group of AP Psychology teachers and also said that they are upset over this sudden decision to ban a course based on content that is in only one of over eighty modules of the course. “There were teachers on there who have been teaching this for decades and all of a sudden, they’re told they are no longer teaching it,” Coffey said. Coffey said she enjoys teaching AP Psychology because of the personal aspect of its content. She said some of this real world application is the content about gender identity and sexual orientation. “It’s really cool that you can take everything we talked about and make it personal to analyze your own behaviors,” Coffey said. “I think it can really be eye opening for people who may be experiencing [those] questions. By teaching it we are showing that we are open to anybody, regardless of their sexual orientation.” Former AP Psychology student, senior Kavya Kudalkar is part of the district’s Inclusive Excellence student leadership team that works to elevate student voices, especially regarding the topics of diversity, equity, and inclusion. Kudalkar said that the course’s content helps clear up misconceptions students may have about gender identity and sexual orientation since it is not something that is commonly taught. “It’s a really good educational tool,” said Kudalkar. “If there were students who were not educated about [these issues], it’s a good way to understand better.” She said that not only does AP Psychology teach important content, it also helps to destigmatize discussions about gender and sexuality. “It’s one of the most popular AP classes and part of it helps destigmatize the LGBTQ community and help students realize that it’s a normal thing,” said Kudalkar. Reedy said that Mason’s ability to continue to teach courses like AP Psychology contribute to the cultural goals of the district as a whole. “One of our core pillars is Inclusive Excellence and that’s one of the reasons I love to teach here,” said Reedy. “At Mason, no matter what your sexual orientation, no matter what gender you identify as, we value you as a person, as a student, and we welcome you to the classroom.” Photo by Shrija Shandilya Advanced Placement (AP) Psychology teacher Molley Coffey lectures her class.

September 22, 2023 9 Teacher’s love for Star Wars sparks diverse hobbies Aybika Kamil | The Chronicle Piece by piece, Mason High School (MHS) Advanced Placement (AP) Statistics teacher, Steve Mays, has built his interest in the franchise ‘Star Wars’ into his life. Mays has had an interest in Star Wars since he was a child and has always received Star Wars toys for birthdays and holidays. His love for the franchise eventually evolved into a passion for collecting toys, something that was inspired by his father’s hobby of collecting baseball cards. Now as an adult, Mays owns thousands of Star Wars toys, as well as other franchise figurines such as Marvel and GI Joe, and is still expanding his collection. Taking this hobby further, Mays started photographing his toys and created an Instagram account for these pictures after finding other toy collection photography accounts on Instagram. Mays carefully hand-crafts sets and creates dioramas from foam and 3D-printed material for the background of these photoshoots. After taking the pictures, he processes them through Photoshop. “It really brings a lot of my hobbies all into one spot,” Mays said. “The picturetaking part was always something that I enjoyed doing, [but] I also love the Photoshop stuff, and I like to make things.” Mays was welcomed into a community of other toy photography accounts on Instagram. He is in two groups of toy collectors, where they work together to take similar pictures to post and encourage each other’s work. “It’s a very friendly and welcoming community,” Mays said. “Even though most of us have never met each other, we encourage each other when somebody new comes into the community and they’re just starting out.” Mays has gained a following of over two thousand on Instagram and over ten thousand on YouTube. On YouTube, Mays uploads videos of his passion projects, including the three different remotecontrolled R2-D2s he has built. Mays was determined to build his own R2-D2 after attending a Star Wars convention in 2008 and hearing a panel of R2-D2 builders talk about the process of constructing one. “I listened to the talk and I was like I can do that,” Mays said. “I didn’t think that I could do it up till then. [But] who wouldn’t want to have a life-size real R2-D2 in your house?” Throughout the building process, Mays would run into different issues, such as fallen parts or short-circuiting circuit boards. However, he has worked through these challenges, acknowledging that it is all part of the process. “When you take on something new, it can be very intimidating,” Mays said. “I had no idea how to build a Droid and the one thing that made me hesitant the most was the electronic side of it. Did I have some trouble along the way? I sure did, but at the same time, you learn a lot as well. Problemsolving is a part of learning.” The first R2-D2 Mays built was made entirely of plastic and took eight months to complete. Another one he built was a pink and purple R2D2 called QT-KT, named after his daughter. The third, made of aluminum, was much more complicated and took five years. After completing his aluminum R2-D2, Mays brought it to display at a convention in Chicago and has since been invited to iSpace, another robotics event. Through his passion for Star Wars, Mays was able to explore an abundance of other hobbies. He said that his hobbies within Star Wars are part of what helps him through hard times. “It helps me because when we have hobbies, it’s an escape from the troubles of this world,” Mays said. Photo by Aybika Kamil Teacher Steve Mays with some of his Star Wars toys in his classroom. Pictures of figurines with handmade backgrounds captured and edited by Steve Mays for his Instagram (@mayster_chief).

10 September 22, 2023 Barbenheimer fever reaches Mason High School students Hudson Pitcock | The Chronicle Barbie and Oppenheimer at first seemed like an odd pairing, but the two movies, released on July 21, 2023, went on to break records at the box office and infiltrated culture. Despite being put out by different studios (Oppenheimer released by Universal and Barbie released by Warner Brothers) and having vastly different subject matters, the movies were associated with each other in online discussions because of their shared release date. This is where the term Barbenheimer first arised. Social media users began to debate which movie they would see in theaters first, and the craze spread throughout the internet. Memes, fan-made combined posters, and other posts pushed the films to the front of pop culture weeks in early to mid July, raising the anticipation for their release date. Senior Elena Hildebrand was one movie goer who recognized the Barbenheimer hype and abundant advertisements online. Hildebrand said the shared release date and competitive marketing increased her excitement for both movies. “They made me want to see both of them,” Hildebrand said. “Rather than just Oppenheimer or Barbie. I thought it was really funny. Great for the movie business” Oppenheimer, a three-hour long R-rated historical drama, was one of the summer’s most anticipated movies, mostly based on the reputation of its director Christopher Nolan (The Dark Knight, Inception, Interstellar). Universal gave it the same release date as Barbie to serve as counterprogramming to the light-hearted, family-friendly blockbuster. Barbie is the first theatrically released movie based on the iconic toy brand. Kids have played with Barbie dolls since the toy’s release in 1959, and 64 years later the character made its big screen debut, portrayed by Margot Robbie. The shared release date led many viewers to choose to see the movies on the same day as a double feature. According to the National Association of Theatre Owners, over 200,000 people in North America purchased tickets for both movies in their opening weekend. Hildebrand said that she noticed an increase in energy and enthusiasm around movies when she saw Barbie and Oppenheimer. “When I went to see Barbie it was pretty long after the movie had come out,” Hildebrand said. “But I still saw a bunch of people wearing pink and the theater was pretty full. And then for Oppenheimer, I went to see it pretty soon after it came out and it was absolutely packed. And I think that’s really good because I feel like theaters have been kind of going downhill since COVID.” The films’ shared release date led to many comparisons and debates over their quality and box office performance, but freshman Katie Samol believes that the two movies don’t need to be pitted against each other and should be celebrated for their individual successes. “I think that they are really hard to compare,” Samol said. “They aren’t even the same genre. Oppenheimer is a biopic about a famous scientist and Barbie is a social commentary/comedy. Oppenheimer you had to really “lock in” to watch it, whereas Barbie was definitely a lighter watch.” Barbie was a massive hit with female audiences, with 65% of tickets sold coming from women. The film was written and directed by Greta Gerwig, and became the first movie directed solely by a woman to cross a billion dollars at the worldwide box office. Samol said she connected with the film’s message of female empowerment. “I liked that Barbie was talking about misogyny and problems with the world,” Samol said. “That really resonated with me.” Barbie was not just a hit with women, it also had broad appeal. Teenage boys like sophomore Mahad Usman enjoyed participating in the cultural event, with many dressing in pink to see the movie. The character Ken, played by Ryan Gosling, was a fan favorite and influenced Usman to watch Barbie in theaters. “I think Ryan Gosling is a pretty cool guy,” Usman said. “He was a big reason why I went to see the movie.” As of September 418, 2023, Barbie has earned over $1.4 billion at the global box office and shattered numerous records. It is now the biggest global earning Warner Bros. movie ever, the highest-grossing movie of the year, and the biggest female directed film of all time. Oppenheimer is tracking to earn $950 million by the end of its worldwide run, making it the second-best performing Rrated movie ever behind 2019’s Joker and the highest grossing biopic ever. Before Barbie and Oppenheimer, the summer movie season had suffered many commercial disappointments. Tentpole films like ‘Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny’ and ‘The Flash’ bombed, and were estimated to lose their studios $100 and $200 million respectively. Despite those failures early in the summer, audiences came out in droves to support Barbenheimer. Riding off of the online hype, July 21-23 became the fourth weekend to ever gross over $300 million in combined box office. Usman said that the weekend became a cultural event and is not something he thinks will be replicated anytime soon. “Barbenheimer advertising has been one of the most influential movie marketing schemes ever,” Usman said. “I don’t think there will be another movie duo that will become as successful as they were together again. They really made history.” Graphic by Becca Hunter Graphic by Becca Hunter

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12 September 22, 2023 Photos contributed by Shloka Narra, Amy Scholes, Mallory Mecum, Shin-yi Wang, and Olivia Zellner. Page design by Alisha Verma and Aimee Liu. TAYLOR SWIFT: THE TOUR ERAS BRACELETS CINCINNATI ERAS OUTFIT r e p u t a t i o n SENIOR AMY SCHOLES AND HER SISTER Taylor Swift shocked her fan base last November when she announced on Good Morning America that she would be performing 27 shows, later expanded to 52, in the span of 6 months. The Eras Tour, described as “a journey through the musical eras of [Swift’s] career,” has hit cities everywhere with a three-hour production walking through 17 years of Swift’s music. Swift came to Cincinnati this past summer and left fans speechless. Swift later announced an international leg of the tour as well as another US leg, totaling over 100 shows by the end of 2024. Junior Mallory Mecum was at the fi rst night of the Eras Tour in Cincinnati this past June. With the major heat wave rolling through the city, Mecum made it a point to hydrate extra before she made her way to the stadium. Mecum said she loved her dress with its mixed pastels that embodied the Lover era. She also said she loved the incorporation of the synced light-up bracelets given to each fan at the door, especially during Swift’s song Bejeweled. In addition to the bracelets making references to various Swift songs, album eras and inside jokes, Taylor Swift fans also decorate their hands with a 13, Swift’s notorious lucky number. Swift began this trend during her Fearless era when she wrote a blue 13 on her guitar-strumming hand for good luck at her concerts. In the song “You’re on Your Own, Kid” off her newest album Midnights (2022), Taylor Swift encourages fans to “make the friendship bracelets, take the moment and taste it,” launching a trend among her fans to make, wear and trade colorful, beaded bracelets. [The tour] isn’t just [Taylor] singing. Every era had its own props and details, she was telling a story through every album. L O V E R “ ”

THE ERAS TOUR September 22, 2023 13 Megan Lee | The Chronicle ERAS OUTFIT ERAS PHOTOS SENIORS ESTELLE APEWOKIN, LANCE ZHANG, SHIN-YI WANG, MIA YOSHIMURA, JILLIAN WU, AND XIN WANG(pictured left to right) CHICAGO CINCINNATI Junior Shloka Narra attended Chicago night one on June 2 for her fi rst Taylor Swift concert. Because she was traveling to Chicago the same day, Narra did some makeup in the car before completing her Lover outfi t at the hotel. Attending the show outside of her own city, Narra said she was surprised by the calm atmosphere surrounding Soldier Field that day. Whether it was helping others fi nd their seats or giving out friendship bracelets to those that didn’t have any, Narra said the entire community was loving. Junior Olivia Zellner attended Cincinnati night two on July 1. Zellner started off her day listening to the set list and spending close to two hours getting ready for the show. Zellner had a total of 60 friendship bracelets walking into Paycor Stadium and traded all but a few of them. While she enjoyed the entire set, Zellner was specifi cally looking forward to the folklore album and the song illicit aff airs. Zellner said she felt such an impact of the show and the people she was surrounded by, especially walking through downtown Cincinnati.

14 September 22, 2023 teacher feature club shoutout why? transportation station timeless trends 28.1% 71.9% this or that? chron catalog Q A scan to ask a “why?” for next month! scan to answer a “this or that?” for next month! Why is the Learning Commons closed this year? “I drive a jeep because with the doors I put on it, it stands out,” Buckingham said. “I like to stand out - that’s also why I wear bright colors all the time. My jeep stands out just like I do.” photo qr code The Learning Commons is closed due to renovations and school administration is anticipating it to be open by the start of the next school year. Their remodel will turn the Learning Commons into a new innovative learning space, with a place for Cosmic Cafe, more collaborative workspaces and an upgrade in technology. The renovations have caused fourth and fi fth bell study halls to be held in the new gym and Chromebook support to be on a computer cart in the small commons. Freshman World History teacher Ben O’Brien “This is my third year teaching, and this is my fi rst year at Mason,” O’Brien said. “It’s nice that [the freshman and I] are both kind of new at the school because we can learn from each other. I love [Mason] because I like the opportunities that people have here. I just got asked this past week to be the advisor for the Med Club and it’ll be exciting to learn from the students and see what interests them.” Fun fact - O’Brien likes to golf in his free time! “Having all of these events leading up to homecoming defi nitely builds the week up,” Gupta said. “It's not just a dance. It's spirit week. Thursday's a parade, Friday's a pep rally. When you come in on Monday the school is decorated; it's building up the hype around homecoming and getting people excited for the dance.” Senior Arushi Gupta, Student Government (StuGo) President, talks about homecoming Results taken from Google Form poll with a sample of 57 responses BARBIE OPPENHEIMER Senior Connor Buckingham and his 2016 Jeep Wrangler photo Claw clips were iconic in the 1990s and early 2000s Fashion trends that have made a combeback in 2023 Cargo pants were popular in the 1990s and 2000s Converse shoes were the most trendy in the 1970s Senior Elisabeth Draginoff Page design by Alisha Verma

September 22, 2023 15 entertainment by Olivia Rodrigo GUTS One Piece The Brothers Hawthorne After almost 3 years without new music, Olivia Rodrigo released her sophomore album GUTS, which came out September 8. With the roaring success of her first album, Sour, fans were skeptical about if Rodrigo was capable of producing another hit record. However, Rodrigo has come back and left fans speechless with her new album. The most appealing thing about GUTS is Rodrigo’s ability to take her style to the next level. She expressed that she wanted to experiment with different aspects of pop music, especially the incorporation of her band into her music. She included multiple songs that are more angsty, involving elaborate, engaging drum fills. The thrashy tone of songs “Bad Idea Right?” and “Get Him Back” takes pieces of her style displayed in her previous album, while also allowing listeners to relate with messages on topics like expectations, overworking, heartache and more. Since she first hit the charts back in 2020 with her single “All I Want”, Rodrigo has been known for her heart-wrenching ballads. However, GUTS includes more mellower songs, my favorite being ¨The Grudge¨. Rodrigo flows her teen angst throughout her album and uses it to show her listeners the struggles of being a teenager, giving them an outlet to connect with their own emotions. Rodrigo’s song ¨Making The Bed¨ touches on fears of self-doubt and the overwhelming sense of validation that teenagers crave. ¨They’re changing my machinery and I just let it happen,¨ Rodrigo sings. ¨I got the things I wanted, It’s just not what I imagined.¨ Because she is only 20, Rodrigo understands the unreasonable expectations put on teenagers. As her discography grows, so does her ability to convey her hardships through her relatable lyrics and engaging sound. With her newfound sense of freedom, Rodrigo has used GUTS as a way to expand her discography, connect with her fans and most importantly show that her age does not define her. album review tv review book review by Megan Lee by Taylor Murray creators: Matt Owens & Steven Maeda by Jennifer Lynn Barnes by Drew Hoffmaster Page design by Alisha Verma 3/5 4/5 5/5 In 1997, the first-ever chapter of the manga One Piece was released. Two years later, it was adapted into an anime. Now, 24 years later, Netflix’s live-action version has come out with a 96% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes. One Piece is an action-packed high-seas adventure following Luffy and his crew, the Straw Hat Pirates. The live-action covers the first 12 volumes of the manga, or the first season of the anime. The live-action did its best to remain faithful to the source material, but took some liberties that both benefit and hinder it. In the live-action version, Koby, Helmeppo and Vice Admiral Garp have their own arcs, which they do not receive until later on in the manga. This gives them a larger roles, enhancing the series’ pacing. The live-action combines the multiple little fights into one big fight, too, which makes the crew feel more like a connected unit. Still, the live-action keeps the characters true to the source material. The writers even did additional research into what race the author of the manga thought the live-action versions of the characters should be, and the cast followed suit. The live-action also amazingly adapted Luffy’s stretchy powers, something past live-action television shows have failed at. The background score did not fail either. The intense, ominous theme helped make the audience fear the villains more. Even though the live-action is not perfect, it is a wild sea adventure I would recommend you do not pass up on. retro recommendation 1975’s Dog Day Afternoon provides a gripping depiction of a bank robbery gone wrong, blending biting humor and searing tension into one timeless classic. By Alisha Verma Dog Day Afternoon (1975) Perplexing puzzles, grandiose games, and devious deceit mark Jennifer Lynn Barnes’ The Brothers Hawthorne as an exciting spinoff of her bestselling series The Inheritance Games. The book dives deeper into the lives of two of the Hawthorne brothers after the events of the series and does not disappoint, uncovering even more mysteries to be solved. Barnes perfectly captures the feeling of thrill and adventure from her previous works while also exploring more of the familial bond between the brothers. Sibling love such as in Barnes’ novel is seldom seen – especially among strong, independent, stoic young men – and the characters’ endearing banter and heartfelt conversation is refreshing. Between secret underground casinos and long-lost siblings, both Jameson and Grayson Hawthorne have quests of themselves to tackle in the aftermath of The Inheritance Games’ thrilling conclusion, The Final Gambit. I eagerly await the coming sequel, The Grandest Game.

16 September 22, 2023 Mitchell McMillen | The Chronicle In previous years the Black Hole, cheerleaders, band, and football players have all worked separately. These groups were seen as unconnected with their own ideas. However, a new coalition is working to unify these groups to improve the atmosphere in Comet Country. The new Mason Student Leaders Connecting Energy Group has its sights set on improving Mason’s athletic atmosphere for all groups. Their first goal is to align the Black Hole student section, cheerleaders, band, and football players to create a more unified Friday Night experience for students. Head football coach Brian Castner brought together leaders from the four student groups to align their visions. Castner said that he hopes the coalition can create the most electrifying gameday experience possible with a united student body. “I think the biggest thing is trying to get all four identities all on the same page, having alignment, and trying to really get energy going,” Castner said. “Just trying to get that all going in the same direction and unifying it, uniting it.” Castner envisions a similar environment to college football gamedays, where the band, cheerleaders, and student sections all collaborate to create a unique atmosphere. Senior Drum Major Maddie Wielinga said that the band shares Castner’s goal to unite Mason’s spirit. “At the first meeting, Coach Castner came to us and he said, ‘I have a dream of what I want Mason’s spirit to look like,” Wielinga said. “He talked about comparing us to college football games where the entire crowd is filled with school colors. He said he wanted us to be very unified as one.” A big change resulting from this unification is a more aligned Black Hole with the band and the cheerleaders. Leaders in the Black Hole will be incorporating chants and songs mirroring what the band and cheerleaders do in their routines. Senior Black Hole leader Alex Koelling hopes for a significantly noticeable change in the energy of the Black Hole this year because of the changes they are making. Through the partnership, the Black Hole is now color-coordinating with the football team for home games to match certain themes with the team’s jerseys. That way, the group is not only aligned with their energy, but they look the part too. The group is in its testing phase right now, focusing on football, soccer, and volleyball with plans to expand into more sports in the wintertime and spring. Although the band and cheerleaders are not present at these events, those groups’ dedication to uplifting school spirit is making an impact on the Black Hole. Senior Black Hole leader Alex Koelling said he has noticed an increase in attendance and participation in the student section across all sports since the meetings began. “The volleyball games and soccer games that we’ve had so far have been successful turnouts,” Koelling said. “Several players have told us it’s changed a lot. It helps to have a student section that brings the energy and is loud and all together.” Another big goal the group has is to get underclassmen to get them more involved in the athletic atmosphere. By doing this, the group believes the whole student body will get involved. They hope that this commitment to underclassmen will help extend to an improved atmosphere across all sports and in years to come. An issue spirit groups like the cheerleaders and black hole have noticed in the past is a lack of engagement from underclassmen at games. The group wants to do a better job of getting all grade levels invested in the game day experience. Current senior leaders are now inviting underclassmen in their program to Connecting Energy meetings to get them involved in the process. Senior cheer captain Maggie Kruse hopes this will encourage underclassmen to fill up the student section at more games. “In the meetings, we were talking about how we are going to bring two underclassmen next time,” Kruse said. “So that will give them more inspiration on how and what they can do. Even if they just tell their friends, ‘yo come to this volleyball game,’ it’ll help.” The coalition also hopes that by coming together, each group will support each other. The band and cheerleaders support the football team by performing at Friday night games. The football team plans to return the favor by supporting the band at their Mason Marching Band Invitational and attending the annual Greater Miami Conference cheer competition. Senior Drum Major Alex Riley believes this collaboration between groups will help foster a stronger bond and culture that will spread throughout the entire school. “The nice thing about this is that this will go both ways. We will all support each other,” Riley said. “We will support the other groups and they will come to support us; and through that, we will have a more unified school and a more unified identity as a student body.” The energy that the group hoped to bring is already being seen. The alignment of chants between the Black Hole, band, and cheerleaders is especially being felt by those on the field. Senior football captain Liam McManes has noticed a significant difference in the atmosphere on Friday Night as compared to previous years. “The last couple of years I remember playing, so locked into the game, I don’t really pay attention to what’s going on around me,” McManes said. “But the first home game this year, I could feel the crowd yelling, I could feel the band behind the endzone screaming at the quarterback. The band playing their drums as loud as they can is the kind of energy we feed on.” McManes believes that the group is making Friday nights a better experience for everyone. He said by showing support for each other, the energy at games has increased; the group provides a way to give back to each other. “It’s just repaying how they do it for us,” McManes said. “They give us that energy. It’s only fair that we give it back to them.” Photo by Lily Haller The sideline cheerleading team energizes the Black Hole student section in the Mason Comets football team’s week three matchup at Hamilton High School. Sports and spirit teams unite to improve gameday experiences

September 22, 2023 17 Sophomore Addy Bianchini is leading the Greater Miami Conference (GMC) with an impressive tally of 131 season kills. Beyond her scoring prowess, Bianchini also exhibits exceptional all-around skills, she has 405 pass points, which secures her the second-highest ranking in the conference in this category. Additionally, her contributions extend to the defensive side of the game as well, as she has accumulated 124 digs, placing her sixth in the GMC in this catagory. Bianchini’s consistent presence has been valuable for the Comets, playing in 44 out of 45 possible sets this season. Photo by Preena Mehta Camden Paeltz | The Chronicle Follow @mhschronicle on Instagram to submit your caption for next month’s funny photo

18 September 22, 2023 Canham sisters provide instant impact on the field Harper Stull | The Chronicle From the backyard to the soccer pitch, twins Allyson and Allyvia Canham’s unique connection is propelling a strong start to their Mason Comet careers. Freshmen fraternal twin sisters Allyson and Allyvia Canham entered the high school sports scene with a built in support system. The sisters grew up playing on the same club team, and are now continuing their careers together as varsity starters. The Mason girls soccer team, off to a 5-1-3 start (as of September 14), is led by a talented young core. Six freshmen, the Canham’s, Bella Anderson, Parker Evans, Peyton Scherz, and Paityn Smith, are on the varsity roster and have each played in at least eight of the team’s nine games so far. The Canham sisters were excited to be playing together and share the accomplishment of being varsity starters as freshmen. Allyson Canham said that she feels their close relationship off the field gives them an advantage on the field. “We’re basically together all day,” Allyson Canham said. “I feel like being together so much helps but then it’s also like playing with each other beforehand you already know the person.” Head Coach Sami Rutowski is in her first year coaching the Comets. She was a four-year varsity player during her Comet playing career, as a 2013 Mason High School graduate. Rutowski knows the pressures of playing at a high level as a freshman, and said that she has been impressed by Allyson and Allyvia’s maturity. “[Allyson and Allyvia] are both really different and each provides something different for our team and our older girls have really taken them under their wing,” Rutowski said. “They are able to fit in and are working really hard, it’s awesome to be around them.” Although the Canham sisters have played soccer together their whole lives, they each have their own separate role and style of play on the team. Allyson is a starting midfielder for the Comets, and thrives on offense. She already has one goal this season. Allyvia is a starting defender and key component in a Comet defense that has allowed just four games through nine games, the fewest in the Greater Miami Conference Rutowski said that she appreciates the sisters’ different playstyles, and has high hopes for their futures with the program. “Allyvia is more of a defender so she doesn’t let anything get by her, she’s stubborn,” Rutowski said. “Allyson is more of an offensive player, she sees the game really well from an attacking point. She slices and dices and she’s very shifty. They see the game better than most people do.” The Canham sisters have been using their relationship to their advantage on and off the field. Allyson Canham said that their communication skills have really helped them hone in on their skills. Being able to know each other’s strengths and weaknesses and predicting the other person’s next move has helped them be better teammates. “Sometimes she plays wing so and I play outside back so sometimes we are on the same side,” Allyvia Canham said. “It is helpful because I can tell her what I want and I can scream at her. I feel like we already know what the other person wants.” Photo by Paige Amazon Allyson Canham (#9) dribbles down the field with her twin sister Allyvia Canham (#13) on defense for the Mason Comets girls’ soccer team. DOUBLE TROUBLE

September 22, 2023 19 1-800-GO-GUARD nationalguard.com About Us The Ohio Army National Guard is made up of more than 11,500 Soldiers from all across the state. Guard members come from every walk of life, ready to put on the uniform at a moment’s notice to protect their families, neighbors, and community. Unlike any other branch of service, the Army National Guard focuses on the Citizen-Soldier, which emphasizes that dedication to service begins at home. Guard members train so that they will be ready if their community or their nation needs them. Ohio National Guard Scholaship Program The Ohio National Guard pays for up to 100% tuition at public Ohio colleges for up to four years. Those attending private insitutions are also eligible for funding at the average cost of state colleges. Guard members are eligible for the ONG scholarship as soon as they enlist, as long as they remain in good standing. For more information on the Ohio National Guard Scholarship Program, including application, deadline, eligibility and more, please visit: www.ong.ohio.gov/scholarship_index.html Contact Us SGT Andrew A. Noland (513)-330-3849 What is ONGSP? The Ohio National Guard Scholarship Program (ONGSP) is a state-funded scholarship program for individuals who enlist, extend, or re-enlist into the Ohio National Guard. This educational program is only offered by the Ohio National Guard. No other branch of service offers this program. This program exists through Ohio Revised Code 5919.34, which means it is statefunded and not subject to changing federal budgets. Let’s Talk Money The ONGSP pays up to 100% of the total instruction and general fee charges of Ohio public colleges and universities in pursuit of an undergraduate degree. The ONGSP will also pay the average cost of Ohio public college tuition and general fees towards approved private or proprietary degree-granting institutions of higher education. Let’s Talk Eligbility Each participant with a six-year enlistment is eligible for four years of scholarship as a full-time student. Participants with a threeyear enlistment are eligible for two years of scholarship as a full-time student. Members are eligible for benefits upon enlistment. Participants must remain enrolled for a minimum of three credit hours per term in a degree-granting program. Talk to a Recruiter to learn how part-time students use ONGSP. *Certain eligibility requirements may be subject to change Eligible universities include but not limited to:

20 September 22, 2023 Mason Cross Country Invite The 49th annual Mason Cross Country Invitational took place on Saturday, September 9, with a new look course. Two creek crossings, steep “mulch hill”, and hay bales were removed from the course. A new hill up the Pine Hill dam replaced mulch hill and the first creek, while a bridge was built over the second creek crossing. The varsity girls team placed second with 65 points, behind reigning Kentucky 3A state champions Dupont Manual. The varsity boys team won the meet with 54 points. Senior Jerry Xu finished fourth overall and first for the Comets with a time of 15:50. Max Liao finished five seconds behind Xu, taking fifth place. Rounding out Mason’s five scorers were Brendan Roe, Will Buckalew and Alex Follmer, each placing in the top-20. Leading the charge for the girls was sophomore Efa Paschka, who finished in third place overall with a time of 18:45. Bella Teply followed with a time of 19:31, finishing in the 10th position overall. Carlie Condit achieved a time of 19:38, placing her in 13th position overall. Sharanya Nair and Atalia Hawkins finished in 18th and 22nd place respectively with times of 20:04 and 20:20. Eligh Amshoff and Noah Kelly starting their race. Atalia Hawkins at the four kilometer mark. Sharanya Nair races towards the finish line. Mallory Clark, Sophia Goldschmidt and Carlie Condit riding the leading gator into the woods. Camden Paeltz | The Chronicle Photos by Camden Paeltz Brenden Roe makes one last effort to pass another runner before the finish line

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22 September 22, 2023 THE CHRONICLE’S POLICY The Chronicle Stafi Editor-in-Chief Andrew Little Managing Editors Aimee Liu Alisha Soni Business Manager Nishka Mishra Business Intern Ali Sami Stafi Designers Becca Hunter Alisha Verma Stafi Writers Elina Bishoyi Kendall Davis Drew Hofi master Aybika Kamil Ruhi Kaneria Allie Keim Megan Lee Mitchell McMillen Taylor Murray Camden Paeltz Hudson Pitcock Shrija Shandilya Harper Stull Akshay Vadlamani Srinidhi Valathappan Advisor Dale Conner The Chronicle is the off cial student newspaper of William Mason High School. The Chronicle promises to report the truth and adhere to the journalistic code of ethics through online and print media, a, informing and engaging with Mason’s student body and the surrounding community. The Chronicle is produced by students enrolled in Journalism I, II and III. Editorials reffl ect the stafi ’s opinion but do not necessarily reffl ect the opinions of the school administration or the Mason City School District. The Chronicle is published monthly. Call 398-5025 ext. 33103 for information regarding advertising in The Chronicle. The Chronicle reserves the right to refuse advertising it deems inappropriate for a high school publication. As an open forum for students, letters to the editor are welcome, but are subject to be edited for length, libel, obscenity, clarity and poor taste. Letters to the editor may be dropped ofi in room C103 and must be signed. The Chronicle is a member of ffi e Columbia Scholastic Press Association, ffi e National Scholastic Press Association, Quill and Scroll International Honorary Society for High School Journalists and the Ohio Scholastic Media Association. Contact Information The Chronicle William Mason High School 6100 S. Mason Montgomery Rd. Mason, Ohio 45040 (513) 398-5025 Connect with the Chronicle: Taylor Swift’s ongoing concert tour, The Eras Tour, is a phenomenon that is rocking the world. With Swift fans packed into every stadium on her journey throughout the US and crowds even gathering outside, devoted Swifties (the nickname that Swift’s fans use) and critics alike were amazed with the impact that Taylor Swift herself had. The tour’s unprecedented demand and new records also saw economic boosts and recognition from several local governments. No matter the opinion on Swift or her music, her presence in the industry has created waves of change. With this popularity also came questioning over why and how Swift was and continues to be able to gather so many different individuals to come together and enjoy her work. While her fame and influence grew, so did skepticism on why she has become so famous in the first place, with many people judging her character and doubting the benefits that her work has. Criticized often are Taylor Swift’s fans, many of which are young girls relating to Swift’s expansive collection of pop tunes filled with teenage emotions, love and angst. They have formed communities, both online and in person, dedicated to celebrating Swift’s work, noticing hidden clues and inside jokes known as Easter eggs, predicting future releases and sharing thoughts on everything from albums to outfits to Swift’s ex-boyfriends. People often bash such fans for being immature, liking music they deem boring and repetitive and caring about superficial matters. However, whether it be through Instagram fan pages or TikTok hashtags, Swift’s fans use these spaces to show and spread their love for her. Of course toxicity also exists, but where in the world does it not? If the majority of the community is creating bonds and being uplifting, there is no need to step in and squash that joy. What’s the harm in people making friendship bracelets or posting their album rankings? Let people share their favorite songs in passionate karaoke. What’s not to like about someone displaying their tour outfit or vast knowledge on their favorite artist? No matter how juvenile or embarrassing you think their behavior may be, why not allow them to celebrate something that makes them happy? School, mentors and self-help programs all often emphasize how important it is to find passions in life. It does not have to be and will not be Taylor Swift for everyone. We all have different interests, strengths and values that guide the things and activities we enjoy. Just as you are allowed to enjoy whatever it is you enjoy, others are allowed to enjoy the things they enjoy. As long as no one is causing harm to others, we should not tease people for the things they take pride in. Even in high school, many people are quick to make fun of others for having specific interests, caring about classes or being passionate about certain topics. We often try to act like we are too cool to care, but why? With already so much division and pessimism in society, these little things should not fuel any more hatred. No matter your personal likings, beliefs or opinions, it is okay to get more used to supporting others who are comfortable sharing theirs. We should not criticize people who have found their joys. As Swift herself once said, “the worst kind of person is someone who makes someone feel bad, dumb or stupid for being excited about something.” There’s already so much negativity in the world, let people enjoy what they want to enjoy. Taylor Swift tour sheds light on embracing others’ joy STAFF EDITORIAL A person stands on the edge of a vibrant dance floor, where the music’s rhythm pulses through their veins, but they remain an invisible observer in the shadows. Picking out a dress or suit, shoes, deciding on a hair and makeup look and most importantly, a group or date to go with. It’s the unspoken invitation that never arrives. I feel there is an unspoken stress around Homecoming among many students. This is not because of administration, rules or the theme. Having to coordinate an outfit and plans may be stressful, but the true problem with Homecoming often lies in the messy and stressful process of finding a friend group to go with. With the definitive grouping that Homecoming forces friends into, many people may find themselves left out. I have both witnessed and also been a part of the exclusion of others for Homecoming and Prom, and I’ve also been the one excluded. While it seems easy to just brush it off and act like nothing happened, the impact such actions have on the people being excluded can be devastating. The feeling of not being wanted and valued enough to get a simple invitation to dinner and pictures, being the odd friend out, the pity addition. The stress of deciding whether or not to still go, or even to go alone. The problem with Homecoming is not exclusive to the dance itself. High school is known for its cliques, bullying and social groups. Not having a group on Homecoming is just a small part of a large problem. It can lead to students feeling socially isolated and alone. With many school and nation-wide initiatives that are meant to help combat social isolation and prevent suicide, Homecoming is a great way to see those missions out in real time. If we come together as a community, we can help create a welcoming and supportive environment for everybody, where a school dance can be the lighthearted and enjoyable event that it is, not a stressful and drama-inducing night. Exclusion on the whole would be difficult to get rid of, but Homecoming does not have to be yet another occasion where friend groups turn their backs on those who do not have people to go with. Especially at the start of the school year, Homecoming creates a golden opportunity to step out of our comfort zones and make an impact on someone else’s Homecoming experience. A simple invitation can go a long way. Welcoming somebody new into your group may also give you another dance partner and the opportunity to meet someone you otherwise would not have known. It does not take much, but even that can make someone feel like they are important, valued and loved. Harper Stull | The Chronicle Homecoming provides an important opportunity @mhschronicle facebook.com/ mhschronicle @mhschronicle mhschronicle.com

September 22, 2023 23 The skies filled with hues of reds, oranges and grays, and the smoke-laced air are nothing short of an apocalypticmovie. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration announced that the costs for climate and weather disasters from January to August alone are at least a minimum of $1 billion - the largest amount ever spent on repairs for these types of events. The US has been battered with relentless tornadoes, hurricanes, floods, wildfires, droughts and sweltering temperatures throughout history, but this year it is becoming too frequent to ignore. Category 3 Hurricane Idalia devastated Florida with high winds and heavy flooding. Tropical Storm Hilary hit the West Coast, and wildfires rampaged the island of Hawaii causing deaths of at least 115 residents. Heat advisories have been issued across multiple states, visibly tolling on workers primarily in the outdoors. With our thoughts occupied with wars and horrific man-on-man destruction, climate change has waged war on all of us. This year the headlines have read about hurricanes “threatening” both the East and West Coast and wildfires “encroaching” from up North as though the events themselves are at fault and not the entire population behind them. I understand; seeing the world seemingly fall apart everyday on the news from the comfort of an airconditioned desk at school has created a rift in our reality. What makes it worth our time to change it? Climate change cannot possibly affect us, can it? We may be fortunate enough to avoid the disastrous hurricanes, rising water levels and blazing wildfires other regions of the the world may need to face, yet, even in our own school, student athletes are already facing the consequences of the world’s irresponsible actions with practices and meets canceled for terrible air-quality and excessive heat warnings. Climate change has been referred to as an enigma looming over our futures, but look at the heat warnings and issues we, as students, are already facing when we simply walk outside. So why do we refuse to acknowledge this issue, let alone fight for it? One person recycling their plastic bottles or a metal straw fad that lasts a few months is not enough. As the generation that has to grow up in the consequences of the past, our efforts to change the course of climate change are a necessity. It’s about an attitude change, not a “save the turtles” joke or an environmental drive meant to satisfy a checkbox for a club. Environment change is no longer a feared word in headlines, it is here to stay if we don’t change our treatment of the environment. Many high school students find themselves concerned with the impression of their resumes and amount of bullet points on their brag sheets as they near college, especially at an academically competitive school like Mason. However, when you focus all of your efforts on acquiring titles and renown within the school and our clubs, you lose the opportunity to truly learn from and appreciate your activities. Commitment is vital to fully engaging in an extracurricular. If you find yourself unable to give the proper amount of mental and physical energy to your sport or club, then you need to make a change. I have never had to struggle with this truth in my own life, opting to stick with one or two activities over a span of multiple years that I enjoy and can commit to rather than dabbling in several clubs and filling my schedule. I went to a Japanese martial arts dojo for five years, putting the effort in to advance through the ranks and earn my black belt. While doing that, I joined clubs like Power of the Pen and the National Junior Honor Society. Since all of those activities only met once or twice a week – and I had the minimal intermediate school homework load – I was able to fully engage in each interest and get the most out of it. Now, I spend my high school years as a part of the Mason Color Guard. I have practice for over 15 hours a week, and I love every minute of it. As a member of the leadership team, I have to be there for all 70 kids in guard and I make it a priority to be there every single day with full energy and positivity. I have had to pass up on club opportunities, peer tutoring and music lessons outside of school so that I could fulfill my role in color guard and keep up with all of my homework. Being able to properly devote my energy to guard and invest in the sport has been the reason for many new friendships, along with me becoming a more responsible, flexible and confident leader. I can not sufficiently emphasize how important it is to find something that you love to do, whether it be a sport, volunteering, painting, or even just spending time with your family. You owe it to yourself and to those around you to not only pursue your passions, but to do so eagerly and wholeheartedly. When you instead pick a club merely for the title or ability to list it on your resume and college applications, you lose the opportunity to learn from and love that activity. I am not saying that you must follow through and stick with every activity that you try; that would be impractical, and nearly impossible. However, when you find something that you truly love, you should devote as much time and energy to that activity as you can. As the school year begins and flyers advertise new clubs throughout the halls, keep in mind what is genuinely important to you before signing up for more than you can handle. Whether something will look good on your resume or not, whether you were captain of the debate team or a member of the rock climbing club, whether you gathered 60 service hours or attended a book club – what really matters is your dedication and the fulfillment you achieve along the way. Stop resume building and focus on pursuing your interests Taylor Murray | The Chronicle Editorial Cartoon Climate change is becoming too costly Elina Bishoyi | The Chronicle

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