Chronicle 18.3

An aerial view of Shadow Lake Mobile Home Village, the neighborhood Emerik Moser lives in.

2 News November 13, 2020
Masked Up
Students and teachers feel long-term effects of a COVID classroom

Ally Guo | Staff Writer to be obvious and call them out in front of their peers,” The rise of remote learning and
Ann Vettikkal | News Editor Whitling said. “And I’m like, ‘Oh, you can’t tell that I just consequent feeling that teachers
are “talking to nobody” has been
told you to close your Chromebook or sit down.’” worrying. Dr. Kathryn Leugers
has been a licensed psycholo-
Although school is back in session, the past few months On the students’ side, junior Lyra Mamacos is part of gist since 2008 and also owns
a private practice. This past
have been anything but a return to normalcy. Lori Roth’s AP Language and Composition class, which year, along with providing
therapy to clients of all
The pandemic has hit the country in continuous waves, entails a large amount of collaboration modeled after ages, Luegers has also
written an initiative
and an end does not seem to be in sight. On Election Day, the reality TV show The Apprentice. She emphasized the centered around CO-
VID and calling on
November 3, the United States hit its second highest num- importance of mask-wearing and believes that outweighs the state and larger
organizations to
ber of new COVID cases, a sign that the increasingly cold any of its negatives, claiming that if “you realize that help health and
safety respond-
weather could be playing out as fuel for the virus’ potency [masks] are going to protect you, then it won’t bother you ers build
resilience.
and spread. This means that the guidelines that have been as much.”
She ex-
mandated by schools (masks, social distancing, in-person A Changed Classroom plained why
vs. online classes) will not be going away. More than two remote
learning
months into the school year, both students and teachers -- or even
social
are witnessing the effects of an unprecedented learning For Mamacos, it was her teacher Roth that was instru- distance
and less
environment. mental in creating a learning environment able to thrive frequent
interactions
The Mask Effect despite these trying circumstances. Roth has created a -- can serve as
balance of safety while still ensuring the passion and rigor an obstruction to
creating a productive
of the course is kept alive. classroom environment.

When the school year first began, AP Statistics and “She has been one of my best teachers in terms of in- “Humans are social animals - we historically have lived
and died by our ability to live together in a social context,”
Advanced Quantitative Reasoning teacher Stephen school collaboration,” Mamacos said, as she explained how Leugers said. “There is well-established research that most
people -- infants through older adults -- do very poorly
Mays noticed a decrease in engagement within his Roth has altered some of past traditions to fit social dis- psychologically and even physically when isolated from
others.”
classroom. Students were less willing to converse tancing and less interactions. “Most of our collaboration
No Longer Face-to-Face
with each other, whether to socialize or to dis- is flexible -- it’s usually on zoom.” But Mamacos found
Quarantine -- voluntary or not -- is an obstacle hinder-
cuss questions. Though conversation was still that the virtual platform was effective, their meetings ing students and teachers across all ages and disciplines
this year.
happening, it was “a little less natural,” and with her fellow team members at one time going
“I think the biggest challenge students are facing is the
Mays said he believes masks were deterring from 7 pm to 2 am. The continued engagement, in fear of being quarantined,” Mays said. “Students do not
want to be quarantined for any reason. [Even the students]
discourse. her eyes, is because “it is a fun class -- the activi- that choose voluntary quarantine, I get the feeling that
[they] don’t want to choose, but they’re choosing it because
Similarly, French teacher Abigail Gist ties are so engaging that you want to be in it.” they have the fear of missing out on something else.”

has found certain aspects of her regu- The effect of new safety guidelines extends Leugers explained how this fear is actually based in sci-
ence. “Chronic worry is correlated with increased cortisol
lar instruction hindered by masks. beyond Mason City Schools. According to in the body,” Luegers said. “Some research has shown that
ongoing elevated levels of cortisol in human bodies is
Part of learning a new language is Shaobo Li, an assistant professor at the
continued on Page 3
speaking, and masks make it dif- University of Kansas (KU) who teaches

ficult for her students to practice Business Analytics, though his courses

“forming their sounds” and were initially hybrid, with at least one

proper “mouth shape.” in-person session a week, many of

Masks have also inhibited his students stopped showing up for

nonverbal communica- coronavirus-related reasons, such

tion. Mays said it is much as testing positive, being around

more challenging for roommates, friends, or family

him to read his students’ who tested positive, or develop-

faces this year, which ing symptoms.

limits his ability to In response to this, Li

tell whether or not adapted his structure to be

they understand his more like a remote course.

lessons. Though he continues to

Likewise, fifth teach in person, he opens

grade Social Studies up Zoom meetings and

and Writing teacher leaves video recordings for

Amy Whitling said the students who do not

it was not until she attend -- which eventually

had to wear a mask became all of them.

that she realized how “I remember there’s one

much she depended on meeting [where] there [were]

her facial expressions to no students,” Li said. “In the

communicate with her students. entire classroom, there’s only one

“I’ll mouth something to a kid person -- me. And I’m talking to

across the room because I’m trying not Graphics by Rachel Cai nobody.”

November 13, 2020 News 3

Masked Up
Students and teachers feel long-term effects of a COVID classroom

continued from Page 2 she was teaching. of it stays, saying it lessens the homework load of students
“We were super intentional about making connec- when they only have three or four classes each day. He
correlated with decreased immune also believes people in general have become more person-
tions early on,” Whitling said. “I feel like in the back of ally responsible during the pandemic, whether it’s keeping
system as well as increased risk of everybody’s mind it’s been like, ‘How long is this going to better hygiene or making better use of their time.
last that we’re in-person?’ So I hit the ground running with
developing Post-traumatic Stress relationships--and with writing because I was like, ‘I want In some cases, students’ academics are even improving.
to teach writing in person.’ I feel like it really made me Based on test scores, Li said he thinks some aspects of his
Disorder and other mental more laser-focused on what matters.” mostly-remote structure might be more effective than
traditional in-person instruction. Student feedback to the
health disorders.” This type of active support may be vital as Mamacos new format has also been positive, despite Li’s belief that
noticed some students “kind of giving up” as she sensed they are actually doing more work online than they would
Teachers are also affected “apathy” when she entered the school in September, both have done in person.
in regards to caring about their work and classes and en-
when there are students suring the safety of themselves and people around them. Overall, the general consensus is that the best way for
teachers to support students and for students to support
missing from their classes. To combat these sorts of emotions, Leugers gave teachers is to provide understanding and forgiveness.
advice on ways to, as she puts it, “rally resilience.”
According to Li, one of the “There are young kids,” Li said. “They need [to] get
“Stay present,” Leugers said. “Do something each together, but now they cannot. The flexibility is probably
best parts of teaching is day to build your personal resilience - take a walk
in nature, talk to someone you truly care about one way to support students, to make [it] not [as] stress-
the “interaction with and feel connected to, exercise, get good sleep, ful. [And] as a student, you should follow your instruc-
nutrition, and hydration, help someone you tor because they have been working hard to adapt to
stu- dents,” and it was care about.” this new way of teaching, new way of learning.”
In addition, Mays encourages teachers to
difficult for him to Overall, many teachers feel that both understand the different ways students might be
they and their students have adapted stumbling and students to communicate with
adjust when the lack of stu- well to the situation. Mays has noted their teachers, who are more than willing to
improvements in his classroom, with help them.
dents transformed teach- students increasing in engagement “Some students are adjusting to this situ-
and acting the same way they used ation just fine,” Mays said. “Some students
ing into “talking to to. Whitling also said that there are struggling with this in different
has been less of an impact on ways. When teachers recognize that
the laptop.” her classroom than she initially they have some students that are
feared. struggling, I think it’s important
Other teach- that they adjust and empathize
“I feel like I’m still able to with those students, like they
ers have also noted get to know the students,” would in any situation. And so
Whitling said. “I feel like I would encourage students to
the impact [we’re] still trying to do be open and honest with their
group work, we’re still teacher.”
new health having good discussions. As teachers strive to
I feel like all those core create as supportive of an
and safety elements of what good atmosphere as possible, the
in-person instruction circumstances that initiated
measures looks like are still this problem-solving and
there.” hard work will be long-
have had on lasting, meaning these
It takes a bit more conversations may be for the
relationships, thought and effort to long-haul. Although Leugers
ensure safety, Whitling pointed out specific groups
both between said, but ultimately, her that may receive the most
students are still able to psychological distress from this
students and participate in most of the time (such as students transitioning
fun activities her classes have to a new school or college freshman mov-
with teachers. always done, such as creating ing, oftentimes, to a new city) she believes that the
dreamcatchers during the Native
“I had a student American unit. entire public going through this shared experience will be
affected, no matter the individual.
say, ‘Can I see you In addition, there have been some positive changes
made this year as well. Gist, who regularly allows her class “Everyone has their COVID journey,” Leugers said. “We
Graphics by Rachel Cai without your mask?’” to take breaks outdoors, said she loves being able to “take all will be impacted by COVID for journeying through
Whitling said. “It kinda a break” and “get fresh air in the middle of the day.” She this time.”
broke my heart, but we got to [wear hopes this practice continues even after the pandemic.

masks] to keep everybody safe.” Mays also enjoys the new schedule and hopes a version

Mays said masks have impeded his ability to recognize

individuals. While he does still know all his students well,

there have been instances where he struggled to match

names to faces he can only see the top half of. Whitling

has also observed some obstacles for her students in the

cafeteria, such as being spaced out from friends on dots

and being unable to hear each other through dividers.

Additionally, Lee has noticed a massive shift in the overall

atmosphere of the KU campus.

“When you’re on campus, you can feel [the environ-

ment] is totally different from before,” Li said. “The popu-

lation is very low. You can hardly see people around you,

and students are not allowed to top by [a] professor’s office.

Communication and social networking [has] definitely

[been greatly impacted].”

Overcoming the Obstacles

However, because of these challenges to relationships,
Whitling said she was better able to prioritize both the
bonds she was forming with her students and the content

4 News November 13, 2020

Mason Bands performs their show “The Uninvited” at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis for their end of the year showcase. Photo contributed by Mason Bands

Mason Band bursts COVID bubble for performance of the year

Meghan Dincler | Online Editor year that would be a true loss in the Plans could be solid one day and ton continued to push for even more
four-year scope of their band participa- completely change the next, leading drastic measures to ensure that they
It might have been their most tion. And we also just wanted to reward to complication amongst the band had done everything possible to make
satisfying performance of the year, but everybody because they were working leaders. A lack of concrete informa- the Indianapolis showcase possible.
it was only witnessed by a handful of so hard, and they earned something tion greatly contributed to the strange
parents and 67,000 empty seats. really great.” atmosphere of the season. “When recommendations changed,
we really looked at our busing situ-
That was the reality for the Mason Due to the lack of normalcy this “Indiana was actually under travel ation- we did provide busing but we
Marching Band’s final performance at season, it was easy for band members advisory from Ohio two weeks before reduced our density to half, so every
Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis on to get disheartened. Pinsky believed it we left.” Protzman said. “We were student had an empty seat- that meant
October 24. Due to their inability to was deeply important for them to still thinking we were going to have to po- a lot more people drove their own stu-
perform at competitions this season as work towards a performance in India- tentially cancel, and then the Wednes- dents,” Patton said. “We bought KN95
an effect of the COVID-19 pandemic, napolis, especially after so long of not day before we left they came off the masks for everyone to wear on the bus,
the band and guard worked hard and knowing what exactly they were going list and we were able to go.” and we made sure we had good proto-
made their own personal sacrifices to to be able to do. cols with safety.”
be able to have a final performance. Preparing for the showcase required
“I noticed a large change in the at- not only careful financial planning, Even through all of the challenges,
Color Guard captain, Junior Dayna titude of the team,” Pinsky said. “When but also travel accommodations that Pinsky said that she felt a tremendous
Pinsky, had to adjust her leadership we eventually found out about our adhered to safety protocols required by pay-off for the members of the band
style and even chose to self quarantine Lucas Oil showcase, I think the entire Mason City Schools, the state of Ohio, and guard. She was uplifted by the
in order to participate in the season band, not just the guard, realized how and Indiana health officials. Mindy Pat- community’s support and ability to
ending performance. special this opportunity was and that ton, the band’s Travel Director, had the come together and provide help where
we really did need to put in work to daunting task of financing 240 band it was needed in order to be able to
“I did the voluntary quarantine stay up to par with what we had done participants, as well as parent volun- create this special experience even in a
because I felt that this experience was in past years.” teers and staff members while also very strange season.
too unique to miss, and from a leader- adhering to the strict requirements
ship standpoint I did want to be there,” Color guard members weren’t the for interstate travel during the COVID “Without the support of our commu-
Pinsky said. “In addition to the self only ones who felt the unique team pandemic. nity and administration working with
quarantine, I chose to ride in the car up bond that was developed as a result of the directors to make nearly any of
to Indy rather than the bus, because I the crisis created by Covid. Saxophone “We had a lot of safety protocols in this season happen, we wouldn’t have
felt it was just safer in general.” section leader Spencer Cannon felt the place, and as soon as they canceled the gotten the many opportunities we did,
trials of the season brought the team competitions we reached out to Lucas and a season at the very least,” Pinsky
With the cancellation of numerous together and improved their connec- Oil Stadium to see if they’d be willing said. “The hard work that was put into
competitions this fall, Mason High tion as a team. to work directly with us.” Patton said. making sure our band had a season
School Band Director Ed Protzman and “They were very receptive to doing this year increased my respect and ap-
fellow band leaders were dedicated to “With my experience being a senior so… if we were able to keep everybody preciation for this program even more
ensuring that the band had at least one I felt more connected to my fresh- healthy and involved and engaged with than it already was. It was just so easy
event to strive for by the end of the men than I did with the seniors my rehearsal.” to see this year compared to others
season. freshman year even though our time how passionate people are about this
together was shorter,” Cannon said. “I With everything this year being very program, and the measures they are
“We really felt like if we didn’t have believe that through the struggles of up in the air, Patton had to be prepared willing to take to keep it alive.”
a goal, it would be hard to keep going COVID we were able to gain a better for things to change very quickly.
at a certain rate.” Protzman said. “We understanding of each other and got to Despite the current protocols making
also felt that if our freshmen and know more about each other.” their efforts already complicated, Pat-
seniors didn’t get that experience this

November 13, 2020 News 5

Stay at home or return; students faced with difficult decisions

Alana Amaya | Staff Writer you have so many distrac- “They need people to talk going to get that in person experi-
Ann Vettikkal | Managing Editor to and not having those ence, you still have teachers that are
tions like your computer people can prove to be a willing to talk to you and help you,”
Amidst another wave of COVID detriment to [their] mental Thiyag said. “Also, you're signifi-
cases, the option given at the start of and your phone around cantly safer, and you're not exposed
the school year is being offered once health.” to as many people everyday. There’s
again and students weigh in on the you.” For Junior Lu- no point in learning if your health is
pros and cons of online versus in- aren Varga, this was super compromised.”
person learning. Beyond the academ- enough for her to
go in-person for Given Thiyag’s situation, airing on
Junior Saira Shafqat noticed how ic aspect, re- school, which she caution may be life-saving, as one
the ‘online’ teachers take on a very realized during the instance of exposure could lead to
different role compared to the ‘in- garding the school required switch to a grave outcome. Sophomore Ava
person’ teachers, providing lessons online at the start Hertelendy who is learning in person
and assignments for the students to as an environment of the pandemic. voiced a few concerns that support
read through and analyze on their “I need people, I Thiyag’s worries.
own. “It’s not the teacher telling you has been a key need social activity,
exactly step by step,” Shafqat said. I need human con- “I don’t feel safe because I always
“You have to mostly teach yourself.” contrast between nection,” Varga see kids in the hallways with their
masks down,” Hertelendy said. “That
For some, this flexibility can be the two options. said. “I learn so much better from a is kind of worrisome -- especially
seen as a significant benefit. human
Online students can Although Junior when there's a bunch of stu-
make the decision for talking to me. I need a teacher. dents crowding around in the
themselves on what to Aditya Thiyag If I were to go online I feel like I’d hallways. I will also say my
work on each day, and for struggle.” teachers have almost everyday
how long they work on it. chose online
However, online school re- In person, interactive learning had to ask students to put their
quires participating in only learning, he was a big factor in Varga’s decision mask up above their nose.”
a maximum of two Zoom calls to choose the in school option. She
per class period each week. Shafqat acknowl- wanted classes where she could in- Junior Tulasi Rao is uncom-
has felt the effects of this lack of teract with others in group problem fortable with the fact there is “so
face-to-face interaction with teachers. edged that solving and task oriented projects. much uncertainty” because she is
worried about putting her friends
“You're at home, you're not spend- he would “I take teachers academy and that's and my family at risk, something
ing seven hours at school, and you all an in person thing. You can’t re- many MHS students fear on a daily
have all this time on your hands to ally do that online because you're Graphic by Lexi Brown
work,” Shafqat said. “It affects my learning how to teach children. When basis.
communication with my teachers prefer to be in school. As an outgo- you get quarantined and stuff it's su- While in school there are
because grade wise, you just have ing person, Thiyag said being in a per hard to do that online because it’s
to complete your assignments [and] classroom prepares him to learn all group work and hands on activi- safety protocols to follow but
sometimes they don’t even do zoom whereas his house feels like a less ties,” Varga said. when a student is outside of
meetings.” professional setting. “At home in school they can gather with
my study or in my bed -- it gives me However, Thiyag believes he per- friends and groups without
Other students have felt this same too much of a sense of comfort, so I sonally made the right and necessary repercussion. Situations where
detachment and noticed the differ- don’t feel inclined to learn as much,” decision going online. Having at-risk students could be exposed to Covid
ence between their relationships with Thiyag said. family members led Thiyag to ini- away from school has students wor-
their teachers now as compared to tially choose online learning in order ried that their behavior will ulti-
previous years. Junior Aditya Thiyag However, some students find to keep himself and his family safe mately impact others who have been
has felt “a sort of disconnect” with his that the social aspect of school has from the virus. following stringent safety mandates.
cohort. “Because I’m not interacting been the biggest difference. Online “I feel like people listen for the
with them everyday, I don’t have a students may be learning the same “Due to the circumstances, I think most part but the thing is I feel like
personal connection with them like I content as their peers but they are it would be much smarter to pick on- in school everyone is wearing their
did usually,” Thiyag said. learning alone. Staying at home line because even though you’re not mask and following protocols, but
every day, Singh Narang has felt left outside of school people don't hesi-
Completing the lessons and as- behind or isolated from his fellow tate to go to these big parties and big
signments of every class period takes classmates. gatherings and just not care about
preparation, concentration, and orga- COVID outside of MHS,” Rao said.
nization from the student. Choosing “It’s definitely very socially isolat- Students must weigh a variety of
the remote option means the stu- ing because I really loved to hangout factors when choosing what works
dents aren't being forced to do work with my friends and just have a good best for them -- health, learning style,
for specific classes for a set amount time with them,” Singh Narang said. social tendencies -- but ultimately, it
of time daily. In order to maintain “[Socializing] has been very limited is up to them to figure which of these
his grades and avoid the pitfalls of now because usually I would see matter most.
procrastination, Junior Arjun Singh them at school we would hang out “Online is not the best for all stu-
Narang has had to “set a standard” maybe after school.Now I barely get dents,” Singh Narang said in regards
for himself. “I’ve had to work on to see them at all.” to the personality of the student
organization and be able to really set at hand. “But if you're the kind of
a certain amount of time for tasks to Thiyag also understands this person who is really independent,
be done,” Singh Narang said. “It can sentiment. “People are really social, determined, and focused, I believe
be challenging, especially because especially teenagers,” Thiyag said. online is something that is necessary
it’s really hard to stay focused when for them -- and that it could be the
better option.”

6 News November 13, 2020

MHS Drama Club decides show must go on through radio performance

Raghav Raj | Staff Writer

On December 4th, with a bevy of COVID-19 precau-

tions in place, the Mason High School Drama Club

will return to theaters for their upcoming annual fall

production. The show, an adaptation of Frank Capra’s

timeless 1946 Christmas film ‘It’s A Wonderful Life’,

has a decidedly unique twist: it’s being told in the for-

mat of an old-fashioned, live-broadcasted radio play.

For the Drama Club’s theater director, Allen Young,

the idea to put out a radio play came primarily out

of necessity. “With the onset of COVID-19, our plans

for future plays were turned upside down, and we

had to consider the new safety measures and the lack

of revenue from our decreased audience sizes when

thinking about how we were going to put on a show,”

Young said.

After COVID-19 related lockdowns in March ef-

fectively postponed the spring show — a production

of the musical Mamma Mia! — for at least a year,

the Mason Drama Club found itself in unexpected Photo by Raghav Raj
trouble. According to Young, COVID-19 cost the club Sophomores (from left to right) Nathanael Lape and Ben Ginsberg rehearse their lines as junior Megan Biddle provides sound effects.

approximately $15,000 in savings, mostly due to a play concept was something that the cast and crew ing with all sorts of props. One of the crew members

combination of licensing fees and a lack of revenue had to adjust to. “A radio play was something that a operating at the Foley table is junior Megan Biddle,

from ticket sales. During quarantine, the idea of hav- lot of us had an initial reaction to, because it’s a whole who’s taken the challenges of being a sound effects

ing another play remained up in the air. ‘nother medium for us to try and work to master,” artist in stride.

Eventually, after a lot of deliberation, the school said Fish. “Essentially, a radio play removes the mo- “Being a part of sound effects is actually really in-

settled on running the radio version of It’s A Wonder- tion and physicality of being on stage, and instead we teresting, and a lot harder than it looks, but it’s incred-

ful Life. “The play is something that really connects just have this combination of voice acting, effects, and ibly rewarding when it’s executed correctly,” Biddle

with the holiday season, which is why we moved it music that puts together the story in the audience’s said. “These sounds allow us to create an environment

back to the beginning of December,” Young said. head.” for the audience to engage with, even if COVID-19

“Since it’s all done on four separate microphones, it A big part of this mental image comes from how ensured that that couldn’t happen physically.”

allows our cast to socially distance so that we’re never the radio play uses sound effects, similar to how Even though performances of the play still involve

in danger of a quarantine sweeping out everyone on blocking and sets are utilized by theater plays. Primar- a lot of physical motion from actors, this lack of

cast and ruining our rehearsal schedule.” ily, these effects are created at a Foley table, which physicality that COVID-19 safety protocol requires

As Drama Club senior Jason Fish explains, the radio has a microphone hooked up to it and is overflow- has been a particularly jarring change for many. One

of these actors is Eliana Meadows — a Drama Club

senior and four year veteran — who is still adjusting

to the distance that COVID-19 has added to the experi-

ence of theater, especially between the cast on set.

“Drama kids usually like to get up close to each

other, to hug and talk face to face like a big family,

but now we can’t really do that as much,” Meadows

said. “It really is difficult for these performances to

feel as intimate as they did before, especially when we

have to be so particular with COVID-19 by setting up

the room to be distanced, staying six feet apart, and

using lots of hand sanitizer.”

Despite these changes, Meadows is just glad

that Drama Club is back and able to put on a show

amongst the chaos of the pandemic. “Personally, I

am just so grateful that we were able to have a show

in the first place, because lots of people were very con-

(From left to right) Senior Jason Fish, freshman Blane Baker, sophomore Nathanael Lape and sophomore Ben cerned that COVID-19 would ensure that we’d have to
Ginsberg adhere to COVID precautions in order to perform for an audience. Photo by Raghav Raj abstain from having shows for a little longer.”

November 13, 2020 Feature 7

BREAKING DOWN Graphic by Aadrija Biswas
BREAK-OUTS

Acne effects and solutions
go further than skin deep

Riley Johansen | Editor-in-Chief make everyday acne feel anything but treatment and work and outside commitments.
Rilee Malloy | Staff Writer normal. advice. The foun- “Stress does have a huge factor in
dations of her advice
While the concept of skincare “I feel like acne is hard to talk begin from knowing where individual your skin,” Grosvenor said. “Even
may seem complex and confusing to about,” Zeuch said. “People will see problem areas for acne are and what the way your organs function under
many, simply looking in the mirror acne and automatically assume that they mean from the frequent cystic, stress. I think it’s so important that
can tell more than one would think. that person is unattractive because of hormonal acne to other acne hotspots you do self care, even if for just 10
that. A lot of people aren’t very com- experienced by many teens. minutes a day. Just taking a few min-
Many teenagers struggle with their fortable with their acne, showing it or utes for yourself.”
skin as the weather continues to get even talking about it, so they cover “Cystic acne is usually around the
colder and stress begins to build with it. I wish we could talk about it more chin and cheek,” Grosvenor said. For high schoolers, it can be very
the end of the semester nearing. Al- because we could normalize it.” “Breakouts on the forehead that could easy to get caught up in the latest in-
though acne is very common among be from a lot of dairy says something ternet skincare fads. Grosvenor, how-
teenagers, treatments and skincare Talking about it is the exact thing about your liver; diet, dairy, sugar. ever, warns her patients to not overdo
routines that reduce acne can be hard clinical esthetician Lexi Grosvenor Hairline acne usually tells me that often useless products targeted to
to find because types of skin and acne wants to do in her efforts to help men it’s from their hair products, or they teenagers and advises them to stick to
vary by individual. and women of all ages manage their are athletes [who may not] wash their the basics when it comes to self care.
acne. face right away after sweating.”
Junior Holly Zeuch has struggled “Staying hydrated is a huge
with hormonal cystic acne for as long Grosvenor describes herself as hav- While there are plenty of sug- component,” Grosvenor said. “Your
as she can remember. Zeuch said ing “a passion for making people feel gestions and solutions that can be skin reacts three days later to what
that in the high school environment, better about their skin”. She works offered by professionals like Grosve- you have eaten or drank, so if you
judgment from other students can at HerMD Cincinnati, a women’s nor, it takes time and commitment feel like you’re getting stressed out
healthcare center, providing skincare to find skincare solutions that work. it’s super important that you stay
Zeuch said that she tries to stay in an hydrated. Being in high school, it is
empathetic mindset when it comes to difficult to find that extra time, so
acne, as she knows it’s not a quick fix making sure you’re cleansing your
for anyone. skin, your makeup brushes and your
helmets for all my athletes. Just mak-
Zeuch encourages others to think ing sure you’re taking care of yourself
in terms of the “10-second rule”. If it’s plays a huge part in your skin care in
not something that someone can fix general.”
in 10 seconds, it helps no one to point
it out. As students begin to put these hab-
its into practice as an ongoing process
“It’s okay to have acne, it’s okay to to achieve clearer skin, Zeuch pushes
not look like everybody else,” Zeuch for a mental adaptation as students
said. “It’s a part of human nature -- walk through hallways of faces strug-
it’s not something that you can usu- gling with the same realities as them.
ally control. It means you’re doing
what you can and as long as you’re “It’s okay to have acne, Zeuch said.
comfortable with it you just have to “It’s a perfectly normal thing that
learn that whatever you’re doing is most people deal with at one point
all you can do.” or another in [their] lives and just be-
cause you have it doesn’t mean you’re
Changing one’s mindset is no unattractive or ugly just because
easier than changing one’s skin somebody else doesn’t. They are still
overnight, which is why the added as human as you are.”
everyday stress on top of insecurity is
quite a real issue. Grosvenor is aware
of the impact stress can have on acne
and, in a time of year that many find
stressful and overwhelming, recom-
mends not slighting self care out of a
normal daily routine amidst school-

8 Feature November 13, 2020

Military couples cope with stress of long distance relationships

Graphic by Lexi Brown Evelina Gaivoronskaia | Staff Writer ing the weekend every three weeks for general
Long distance relationships are training.
never easy, but for military
couples, the separation can be Because of this Transue and her boyfriend
much more challenging. have limited time together. In order to avoid
Military couples go from falling out of touch, Transue said they “like
talking all the time, to barely to text and call a lot”. Transue feels being in
being able to hear from each this relationship has made her “more active
other. Senior Emily Jordan has and social” by getting her out of her house.
Despite them having different future goals,
been with her boyfriend, Mat- with Transue planning to go to college and
thew Bowman, for nearly a year. Lamping in the military, Transue is happy in
her relationship.
He graduated with the Mason
class of 2020 and is currently in Some couples, on the other hand, do not
Army National Guard training in stay together when one of them leaves for
Georgia. the military. Senior Ashley Black dated her
Although Jordan said she struggled now ex-boyfriend for 10 months before they
with the lack of contact his departure separated. For eight of those months, he was
brought, she knows her boyfriend wanted in Basic Military Training in Georgia, a similar
to be part of the military for a long time and situation to the one Jordan and her boyfriend
she supports his choice. are currently in.
In order to cope with the challenges of
being in a long distance relationship, Jordan Black said that at one point, she went six
joined a Facebook group with girls who also months without seeing her then-boyfriend.
have significant others in the military. Every After a while of not being able to freely com-
branch, battalion, and company has a group, so municate with him, she said they grew apart.
Emily was able to easily connect with others
in similar situations. She had a very positive Part of the reason the communication
experience with the members of the group, between the two became strained was their
saying they “were each other's support system inability to instantly reach each other through
when [they] couldn’t talk to [their] loved ones.” technology. Black said that her ex-boyfriend
Because her boyfriend is just training right was not allowed to use his phone while in
now, any challenges in Jordan’s relationship training, so sending letters back and forth
have been manageable, but she knows the road was their only source of communication.
can get rockier if he gets deployed. Jordan said “Sometimes it would be weeks before I got his
that the thought of Bowman getting deployed letters,” Black said.
is “extremely nerve-racking” for her.
Although Jordan worries about her boy- Another concern she had during the rela-
friend’s safety, she understands that the tionship was the fear of her ex-boyfriend being
military is doing everything they can to keep deployed in a dangerous zone. That fear spiked
him out of danger. No matter what happens in in the beginning of 2020, when the rumors of
the future, Jordan said she is very proud of her World War 3 went viral on social media after
boyfriend and is excited for the future of their a US-lead drone attack on one of the Iranian
relationship. leaders. One of Black’s biggest fears in the
“I can’t really avoid him getting deployed, relationship was her ex-boyfriend getting
I just have to live with it and wait for him to deployed. “I was scared he would get hurt,”
come home.” Jordan said. Black said.
Senior Nicole Transue’s boyfriend, John
Lamping, is also part of the National Guard. The fear, the long distance, and the strained
He went to basic training in Georgia from communications made Black realize that sort
mid-June to early August this year. Now, the of relationship was not for her. Looking back,
military requires him to go to Columbus dur- Black said she would take more time to write
letters
if she could change something. But she is not
sure if she would do it again.

“It just didn't work,” Black said. “I felt like we
didn't know each other anymore.”

Novmeber 13, 2020 9

10 Feature November 13, 2020

Shattering the stereotype of teen pregnancy a challenge for former MHS student

Shravani Page | Staff Writer Amy Cannady, a student who attended MHS until the con- ally overwhelmed, not knowing what to do in the moment.”
clusion of the 2019 school year and now attends Greater Ohio Since that week of April 2nd, Mota has recognized his
There is a stigma attached to any high schooler who Virtual School, is about 30 weeks into her pregnancy. “It's
decides to follow through with the challenge of motherhood. scary, getting pregnant as a teen,“ Cannady said. She remem- personal growth. He has found himself maturing and has
A stigma a former Mason High School student is now living bers “feeling nervous and really overwhelmed” the week of experienced a shift in his priorities -- one of those being the
with. April 2nd when she learned that she had made a decision that safety of his girlfriend and child-to-be amid a pandemic. His
would now change her life forever. hope is to see Amy more after the baby is born.
Photo contributed by Caitskee Photography
Cannady has grown to become more careful regarding her “She [Amy] barely comes over here because of COVID,”
lifestyle choices. Many limitations have been set in her life, Mota said. “Once the baby is born, I think we're going to
including limitations on who can come in with her on trips to be a lot closer. I hope we can celebrate Christmas together,
the doctor’s office. The pandemic overall has presented addi- whether it’s with my family or hers.”
tional stress to an already stressful situation as her boyfriend
hasn’t been able to be a part of some crucial moments during While statistics show that academic performance tends
her pregnancy. to suffer among teen fathers, Mota is dedicated to working
against the numbers. He also found a job working with Amy
“I don't want to get sick.” Cannady said. “There’s so much at a local animal care facility in order to contribute more to-
going on right now. Even my boyfriend can't come into the wards the baby’s care. He has found himself having to become
doctor with me. It can only be me, and they want my mom more organized. Prior to the pregnancy, Mota said he was just
to come in since I'm a minor. It sucks for him because he “living life.”
couldn’t come for the first ultrasound and listen to the heart-
beat. It was just me and my mom.” “[Before the pregnancy] I was doing horrible in school,”
Mota said. “I was doing things I wasn't supposed to do and in
Finding a balance between work, life and school has been school, I was failing a lot of classes. Now that I know that she
a challenge. Along with online school and doctor’s appoint- is pregnant, I have to push myself the hardest I can.”
ments, Cannady has recently taken up a job as a receptionist
to help care for the baby. Organizing her schedule has been a Initially, Mota faced a lot of criticism from his family. He
key for her to help manage her increasingly hectic life. said they were really angry at him. He felt scared of what
would happen. But eventually, his parents began to grow ac-
Despite her initial disappointment, Cannady’s adoptive cepting. Mota and his family concluded that dwelling on the
mother, Tara, focuses on developing a strong support system past would not bring much of an outcome. His family’s sup-
to help her daughter maintain balance in her life. “If she port has made the situation easier for him to mentally process.
wants something, she gets it,” Tara said. The family aspect of
the pregnancy has been vital for her daughter in her journey “When I first told them, I thought they were going to kick
so far. me out of the house,” Mota said. “The family has been really
supportive. We have to move on and go forward with it. Now
“I am her backbone,” Tara said. “I'm here no matter what, they're excited for me.”
for anything she needs.”
Overall, Mota said his greatest challenge throughout this
Although Tara is ecstatic for the baby’s arrival now, she pregnancy has been a switch in mentality. This experience has
does admit to being in mere disbelief at first. She admits allowed him to grow and mature. He has seen many changes
in his mood and in his attitude toward life.
to being “scared, mad, and upset” initially. But she
believes that after “you get over that initial reaction “I used to be a lot more depressed and really sad,” Mota
hearing about it, you realize you can't change it, said. “But now with this baby, I have to push myself. I have to
it's going to happen, it is what it is, and we're go- go out of my comfort zone and push myself the hardest I can.”
ing to make the best of it.”
Amy is the youngest of two adopted daugh- Despite Amy’s support system, there still is controversy
ters and is now carrying what will be her about teenage pregnancy. There remains a stereotype that
mother’s first grandchild. Tara said that many teen moms tend to “drop out of school” and “lose con-
she cannot wait to become a grandmother. trol of their life” after they get pregnant. Cannady is striving
It is easy for Amy’s mother to be to break that stereotype.
excited for the baby, as her daughter and
grandchild-to-be will continue to live “But it [pregnancy] has changed me,” Cannady said. “I
under her roof after the birth. For the wasn’t usually a very good kid. I was always hanging out with
child’s father, Amy’s boyfriend and La- the wrong people doing the wrong things. I don't do any of
kota Readiness Academy junior Diego that anymore. I chose to improve myself for the baby.”
Mota, the situation is different. Only
about 1 of 4 teen fathers live with Tara said that the stereotype and believes that “the stereo-
the mother before the child is born type is the same for every pregnant teenager” and when they
and more than half do not live encounter that situation, their best option has been to “accept
with the mother or child after the and move on.” Cannady believes the key has been generating
child is born. For Amy and Mota, that support for Amy and “being excited for her.”
living together is not realistic
right now. Despite this, they try “You wouldn't ever plan on anything like this happening,”
to maintain good communica- Tara said. “But when it does, you have to accept it and make
tion with each other which they the best out of it. You're sixteen and you want them to be a
hope will evolve when the baby kid, not grow up so fast, but it's happening right now for us.”
is born.
“At first my boyfriend was There was a moment for Amy when she realized the reality
shocked,” Cannady said. “But he’s of the situation. A moment that struck her and inspired her
been trying so hard and now he's got to keep moving forward. That moment was finding out the
the situation under control. I didn’t know gender. Around mid-December, she will be bringing a baby
if I could do this and felt alone. Now I real- girl into the world.
ize I have all these people that will help me.”
As a soon-to-be father, Mota finds himself “My belly wasn’t noticeable till 20 weeks when I found out
facing a new responsibility that he did not the gender.” Cannady said. “I couldn't feel the baby kicking
anticipate. Similar to Amy, at the time he and I didn't look pregnant, until about that benchmark. That’s
received the news he remembers feeling “re- when I realized that this was happening, for real.”

For Cannady’s mom, the moment came more gradually.
Tara saw her daughter becoming more mature and growing
from who she had been in the past. She had stopped doing
“typical rebellious teenager things” and had “cut out all the
drama.”

“I’m still in the process of acceptance,” Tara said. “When
you see her belly growing and realize that that is a real baby
in there; this is really happening.”

November 13, 2020 11

12 Fea

Societal standards push students towards the

Shravani Page | Staff Writer the current age have become known for getting concealed want to gain weight and someo
Della Johnson | Staff Writer by their owner-- a tendency that is becoming increasingly weight. But saying things like’
normal. look like you’ve gained a few p
When students attempt to match body ideals set by soci- Why can’t we just say you look
Warning Signs and Unnoticed Behaviors ful?”
ety, they can be pushed to dangerous limits.
Eating disorder-like behavior, both in and out of the The Power of Media: the G
Eating disorders are known to be secretive and danger- classroom, has evolved into actions and habits we now con-
sider to be normal. Teenagers find themselves resorting to Nair and O’Connor argue tha
ous--especially among the student population. With about unhealthy and extreme behaviors to achieve a set goal, and media, can act as a perpetrator
they often do not realize the effects of their actions. Images malization of eating disorder b
20 million women and 10 million men developing eating in the media and day-to-day life cultivate a stigma around in a day’ TikToks to videos telli
body image and eating -- a stigma that juniors Ava Franke, can be a multitude of triggers f
disorders in their lifetime, according to the National As- Caitlyn O’Connor, and Aradana Nair work towards eliminat-
ing every day. “Society and Hollywood glam
sociation of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders, O’Connor said. “It’s really diffic
“I hear a lot of talk about having to earn food,” O’Connor ence, I’ve always linked food to
eating disorders have become extremely prevalent. Some said. “So you have to ‘earn’ a ‘bad’ food. There’s even the equals what food I deserve. Wh
idea of people labeling foods as good or bad. That is a toxic exact body type as what is bein
examples of common eating disorders include, but aren’t mindset. Everyone deserves food, just for being born and and on social media it can be tr
being alive. That idea can really be enforced in triggering a blaming their perception on fo
limited to, Anorexia Nervosa, Bulimia Nervosa, and Binge- mindset and eating disorder thoughts.”
Nair called the influence from
Eating Disorder. There is no strict, one-size-fits-all definition for an eat- picture of what you need to lik
ing disorder. It can manifest itself in a variety of different times a facade -- or one held up
These disorders are linked to many fatalities and can be ways. Franke described how disordered thoughts and eat- on social media that adhere to
ing vary from person to person. often associated with personal
chronic. It is best to seek help in these situations (see the however, that those on social m
“Disordered eating can look like many different ing they may appear happy or
bottom of this page for resources). things,” Franke said. “It can be skipping meals, it can be when in reality the people behi
buying a certain food, it can be avoiding going out to “struggling deep down inside.”
Eating disor- dinner with your friends because you’re scared of what
you’re going to get or how many calories you’re going to Social media, though someti
ders in eat. Disordered eating is thinking about food very often the pressure of diet culture, ha
as well. Influencers such as Bri
-- what you’re going to eat, when you’re going to eat it, Clara Guillem use their platfor
how it’s gonna make your body feel.” followers accept themselves. Fo
body positivity influencer Victo
These thoughts and actions can be commonly linked has garnered over 500 thousan
to perception of a ‘perfect body’ among teenagers. Even TikTok, who taught her valuab
with these types of standards, Nair said that everyone’s accepting herself for how she l
goals are different for themselves and their bodies, so
“You’re always going to have
any sort of communication stemming from these ties about your body, there’s al
standards can be seriously damaging. ways going to be something
“We all have different body goals,” you want to change,”
Nair said. “Someone might
Franke said.
“Vic-

Design by Aadrija Biswas

ature 13

normalization of dangerous eating behaviors

one [else] might want to lose toria Garrick was talking about body neutrality the other may be under certain circumstances, such as inpatient or
you’re so skinny’, or ‘you day. It’s just having respect for your body, for what your outpatient treatment, has options. Students can work with
pounds’ can be discouraging. body does, for you how it moves for you. It doesn’t mean their counselors and teachers to help create a balance be-
k great, or you look so beauti- you have to love it or love the way you look. It means you tween life and school such as moving to online learning to
respect it enough to keep it healthy and, eventually, you’ll only coming in on certain days.
Good and the Ugly learn to love it. I like Victoria Garrick a lot.”
“We’ll be happy to assist if things fall behind, even if we
at media, particularly social Securing Health and Safety need to look at changing schedules,” Clark said. “Our main
r when it comes to the nor- number one priority is that the student feels safe, and gets
behaviors. From ‘what I eat Although school can present a tough environment for healthy. Whatever we can do in that process is what we
ing you to go workout, there those struggling, Mason High School offers many choices would do.”
for teenagers. for students who are struggling. Mason’s Mental Health
morize a certain body type,” Team from Cincinnati Children’s does not offer services in The high school environment can pose the development
cult; even in my own experi- correlation to eating disorders, but MHS Guidance Counsel- of an inferiority complex among students. Clark says that
o my body. So, how I look or Sally Clark helps provide students with ample resources there is usually an “entity that sets off a trigger.” This trig-
hen people don’t have the to help them begin their recovery. ger can lead to the start of these behaviors. According to
ng portrayed in Hollywood Clark, this trigger can be associated with the idea that there
riggering. People can start To begin the process, Clark said the school would initially is some type of control the student is looking for. Clark
ood.” contact the child’s parents if it is his/her first time reaching encourages students to reach out and seek help if they
m these forces a “painted out to somebody. From there, they discuss health insurance believe they are struggling with an eating disorder or even
ke.” And this picture is some- coverage and help assure the parents. They then provide disordered eating. She believes a vital step in recovery is
p with great strain. Profiles parents with resources and help give references. Clark says speaking up about the issue to a trusted adult.
a team of doctors and medical professionals are of great
beauty or body ideals are importance when it comes to recovering. “The moment you speak it, you own it,” Clark said. “A lot
satisfaction. Nair believes, of eating disorders are secret because there’s a lot of shame
media “put on a face” mean- From an in-school standpoint, Clark emphasized the attached to eating disorders. But once a student can get
put together to fit in school’s strong enough to speak it, and tell someone, that’s the first
ind these profiles may be flexibility. sign of recovering.”
” A stu-
imes a contributor to dent Nair, O’Connor, and Franke, while finding peace with
as a positive influence who their own selves, are pushing for a future where people are
itanni Lancaster and educated at a young age on how to care for and nourish
rms to help their themselves properly. From emphasizing the need to fuel
or Franke, it was your body, to having open conversations about the sub-
oria Garrick, who ject, they feel that there is a lot of change that needs to be
nd followers on worked toward.
ble lessons about
looks. “Moving away from disordered eating means teaching
e insecuri- people how to listen to their hunger and fullness cues,”
l- Franke said. “Teaching people how to eat in moderation.
Getting away from those numerical values like calories and
weight and really trusting your body’s instincts. Because if
you listen to your body, it’ll keep you at an equilibrium.”

Moving forward, Nair, O’Connor, and Franke are working
towards a mindset of encouragement and work to not only
encourage themselves but also the people around them.
They continue the public campaign to eliminate the stigma
of a “perfect” body and the personal effort to accept them-
selves for who they are.

“There’s so much more than the way you look,” O’Connor
said. “It’s important to remember that no one is judging you
more than you judge yourself. You are your worst critic.”

Eating Disorders are extremely serious. If you notice you or a loved one following these
types of patterns or behaviors, please contact the NEDA Hotline: (212)575-6200 or visit

nationaleatingdisorders.org

14 Feature November 13, 2020

Writers attempt National Novel Writing Month challenge

Abby Waechter | Staff Writer because my work schedule makes it so I “It functions as both an accountability
can’t always write 1,667 words a day.” group and a think tank incase someone
Professional writers can take years to runs into a plot or character problem
develop a novel, but some students are As November approached, Mulvin had within your novel,” Mulvin said.
pledging to write one in just 30 days. multiple story ideas that she had con-
sidered using for the NaNoWriMo chal- “It really helps your motivation if
The rules of this challenge are simple. lenge, but decided to go in a different you’ve got people you can talk to about
Starting at midnight on November 1, direction. “I ended up deciding to create novel ideas.”
competitors may begin drafting a new a new story instead of using an old one,”
novel, or they can choose to rewrite an Mulvin said. “The satisfaction would be The key to completing a challenge
old one. By November 30, if they have higher for me if I wrote an entire novel of this nature is to form an idea before
successfully written 50,000 words or in a month, so I aggressively started out- November has even started. According
more, and have uploaded it to the Nation- lining my new story concept.” Mulvin’s to junior Aidian Murray, it is crucial that
al Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) November novel revolves around a fan- writers have an idea of what their novel
website, they have successfully complet- tasy adventure of a trio of friends travel- is going to be about. They need to know
ed the challenge. ing together as they end up uncovering who the characters will be, what the in-
a magical plot to overthrow a princess. ternal or external struggle will be, what
50,000 words may not seem like that Her characters take on the personas of a their message is, and how it will con-
much. However, to put it into perspective, god-in-training, a con-artist, and an ex- clude. “I’ve already written down specific
that many words would be the equivalent bodyguard of the said princess. moments that I want to happen,” Murray
of around 100 typed document pages, said. “Just finishing one of those mo-
or 165 pages of a standard typed manu- Along with the struggles of finding ments or scenes is like a dopamine rush
script. On average, a writer must commit the right time in their schedules to write and a half for me.”
to crafting 1,667 words every day if they for the challenge, writers also have to
plan to finish on time -- three and a half commit to their designated writing time Students participating in this challenge
pages daily. despite days where they lack motivation. undoubtedly have a passion for writing,
In response, Mulvin has compiled the but their initiative also reveals how this
Juggling the schedules of both work information of close friends and other challenge could potentially lead to skills
and school, participants must make time challenge participants in order to form a they may need in future careers. By
in their daily routine to accommodate small community of NaNoWriMo practicing everyday, Murray believes that
the obstacles that their deadline brings this challenge will deepen his work ethic
about. Senior Regan Mulvin said that writers. and test his skills as a writer.
she had to come up with a new system
in order to complete her novel since her “I think that during this challenge I
schedules of both school and work are will grow as a writer in the sense that
different this November. I’ll be more confident in my writing and
that will help me take more risks,” Mur-
“In the past, I’ve done 1,667
words a day, but this year ray said. “Hopefully it will give me
I’m breaking it up,” Mulvin some experience needed to make this
said. “I’m going to write hobby into a feasible career.”
about 12,000 words a week

Graphic by Rachel Cai

November 13, 2020 Feature 15

Over time, MHS sees monumental increase in student diversity

Scott Reckers | Staff Writer and Gamble (P&G) they [were] started branching out and aiming Graphic by Aadrija Biswas
inclined to move to Mason, start high. Mueller saw these groups of
Diversity is a vital part of the com- a family, and send their kids to students starting to excel in Mason, “All different types of students
munity that the students of Mason Mason.” claiming notable positions in activities are included, not just racially and
High School value -- but it hasn’t they were involved in. “Once the stu- ethnically but also religiously and in
always been this way. Before P&G opened their Mason dents became confident they became regards to sexual orientation,” Mueller
location in 1995 the town was no- more involved,” Mueller said. Because added. “They are all well represented
Today, about 3,500 students call ticeably less diverse, according to of this evolution, the students that
the big green their home. There is a the US Census there were only 81 now walk the halls of the high school in leadership roles, clubs, and
variety of race, religion, sexuality, and citizens of Asian descent living in have become and activities. As the school became more
culture throughout the whole school. Mason in 1990. Just 20 years later, diverse, they became more comfort-
As recently as about 45 years ago, in 2010, there were 2757 reported continue to be essential to a thriv- able with being leaders and standing
however, diversity was not even in the citizens of Asian descent in Mason: ing student body. out from the crowd [with] their own
conversation. Gina Arens, a newsletter a 3003% increase. personal achievements and aspira-
editor for the Mason Historical Soci- tions.”
ety, graduated from Mason in 1975. Once these new groups started
showing up, they encountered
“I would say my class was not students already used to Mason
diverse,” Arens said. “I knew the only and its community. Mueller was in
two Asian kids in school. I was good the classroom where these two stu-
friends with one of them-- we just dent groups met for the first time.
looked at them as friends. It never She did not believe the response
crossed my mind that they looked a was negative in any connotation,
little bit different from me.” rather a natural human reaction to
new communities impacting their
According to AP Government and everyday life.
Politics teacher Maria Mueller, the
increase was not gradual but rather “Early on there was what I
sporadic. Mueller has been teach- would call concern,” Mueller said.
ing at Mason for about 30 years. She But she watched the students get
has been through two buildings and used to each other everyday in an
seen the student body change -- but “adjustment period,” until they
the demographic didn’t shift right were just part of the class.
away. “When I started teaching, it was
absolutely, most definitely, a less di- In fact, the new students helped
verse population of students,” Mueller create variety in ideas and view-
said. “I am pretty sure in 1991, when points. Mueller was in a unique
I started teaching here, I might have position being a social studies
had one non-white student at the time. teacher and she said that she was able
Overall I have seen an increase in the to observe the views of new students.
amount of students of color here.”
“I have absolutely seen new
The families of these students perspectives enter the building,”
moved here for a reason. Not that Mueller said. “I am very well aware
long ago -- about 40 years ago -- Ma- of how a history of a group of people
son looked a lot different: Tylers- impacts how one views each other.
ville Road was called Stitt Road, pay The increase in the diversity in the
phones were on the street corners, and student population has definitely led
farmers fields were more numerous to a much broader variety of views
than neighborhoods. Mason was far in the classroom.” More specifically,
more rural compared to the suburban Mueller also realized with these new
environment we live in today. Arens ethnicities, religions, and cultures,
attended MHS during this time. The the new students brought with them
effects of the rural environment led new political views as well.
to a less diverse student body. She at-
tributes the addition of diverse student “I have taught government for
groups to the development of the 28 years here and I think students
town itself. by nature are willing to share their
thoughts to see if their peers agree
“What brought diversity into the with them,” Mueller said. “When
school was the businesses that came everybody was living very similar
into Mason that started employing a lives they were much more likely to
lot of people, minorities included,” have the same ideals. With multiple
Arens said. “The influx of different cultures and religions, there is a much
cultures was a result of the job options bigger difference in life experiences
and Mason as a community. When that could have shaped their views.”
these families [got] a job at Proctor
As soon as the diverse students
became comfortable in Mason they

16 Feature November 13, 2020

MHS students utilize their platforms to speak out

kaya rossey What do you hope to do through spread- Why are these topics so meaningful to
junior ing the word and informing others about you?

Tell us a bit about yourself! What kind these topics? Mental health is meaningful to me
of things do you like to do, hobbies, fun because it controls a lot of my life,
I hope through advocacy other stu- some days I can’t get out of bed, eat, or
facts, etc.? dents feel less alone as they go through go through the basic motions of life be-
life, I want to acknowledge the difficult cause mental illness is so draining. I felt
My name is Kaya, I’m a junior and uncomfortable aspects of mental illness a lot shame for not keeping up with my
some things that I love are writing, that can leave people feeling isolated so peers, going to therapy, and being on
modeling for art students, and public we as young people can work to end the medication until I realized all of these
speaking (if it’s something I’m passion- stigma around mental health. are common for people to feel and
ate about). need and not something to be ashamed
How does your identity and the things you of, so I made it my mission to let others
What are you passionate about speaking out support play a role in the way you view know the same thing.
on in the community? Are there any organiza- the world?
What would you like to see change or
tions or clubs that you're a part of that My outlook on the world has defi- improve within the world we live in?
work to help spread the messages that you're nitely changed as I started sharing That is, what do you want to change by
my journey with mental health, being advocating for the topics you're speaking
advocating for? diagnosed with depression and anxiety
in 6th grade and later being diagnosed out on?
I’m super passionate about advocating with ADHD and OCD it was not always
for the mental health and mental illness easy being hopeful for the future and The change I would like to see in the
community and educating others about honestly sometimes I still struggle world is having mental health and ill-
it. A huge aspect of my life that helps me with that same hopeless feeling but as I ness not be a taboo topic that people are
nurture this passion is the school's Hope started being more vulnerable with the shamed or judged for but something
Squad, I have been a speaker on school people around me and sharing my writ- that is normal and important in every-
panels and videos to share my story with ing on social media I realized that there day life, ultimately ending the stigma
others as well as sharing resources. is such a big community and that I be- around it.
lieve in every single one of the people
who read my work and so I needed to If there's one thing you want people to
put that same belief in myself. Yes, of take away from reading this, what would
course I slip up but I have learned to
give myself grace as I go through life it be?
day by day.
If there’s one thing people take away
from reading this, it would that they
are not alone. It is okay to struggle
with mental health, especially with
everything going on in the world. Give
yourself credit for the little things and
remember that someone always cares.

Interview by Kaelyn Rodrigues
Page Design by Aadrija Biswas

November 13, 2020 Entertainment 17

MOVIE REVIEW: ON THE ROCKS

As 2020 finally nears its end, the Chronicle Staff is taking a look back at all of the truly fantastic music that was
released over the past year. Without further ado, here are a few staff picks for the best songs of the year.

“Key West (Philosopher’s Pirate)” by Bob Dylan

by RAGHAV RAJ The penultimate track from Bob Dylan’s first album of
original songs in eight years sees the 79-year old folk legend
lost in philosophical drift. A 9-minute outlaw ballad helmed By the time Sofia Coppola’s latest film, On The Rocks,
by languishing pedal steel and the gentle hum of accordion, finds any sense of urgency, it’s approximately 10 minutes
“Key West” is a poetic tale of epic proportions. With Dylan’s away from rolling the credits.
graceful touch, an island off the coast of Florida becomes a
transcendental metaphor on the nature of life itself: filled with Up until this point, the endeavor that Laura (Rashida
despair and longing, yet utterly, magnificently transfixing. Jones) and her mischievous bon-vivant father (the ever-
affable Bill Murray) have embarked on — to find out if
“KYOTO” by Phoebe Bridgers Laura’s entrepreneur husband (Marlon Wayans) is cheating
on her — has felt somewhat directionless, even if it’s often
by Della Johnson quite enjoyable to watch.

Phoebe Bridgers has had an amazing year. Her most recent hit, “Kyoto,” That enjoyability, when it’s not coming from some good-
leaps off the album Punisher, standing out from her usual repertoire of soft, to-great performances from the three main characters (not
emotional ballads. As Bridgers croons “I wanted to see the world/through to mention a few truly hilarious cameos from Jenny Slate),
your eyes until it happened,” her voice is enveloped by crescendoing drums comes from watching Coppola at work, gracefully display-
and a rousing brass section, transformed into something truly heartbreaking. ing the distance between Laura and the men in her world.
The cinematography, as usual, is minimal and beautiful,
“Bigger Than Life” by LIL UZI VERT visually isolating and endlessly purposeful in its motions.

by Matthew Smith Often, Coppola films Laura in her domestic anguish with
a sense of intent, and she instills far more purpose in her
Lil Uzi Vert released the highly anticipated Eternal Atake in March, and one cinematography than she does to the story itself. With a
of the most well-rounded cuts here is “Bigger Than Life.” The easy-going beat script that feels far too thin to have ever been fully realized,
from Oogie Mane meshes extremely well with Uzi’s flow, while Uzi fills the beat On The Rocks plods along for nearly all of the runtime try-
with enough ad-libs to keep it interesting. The song is attention-grabbing, but ing to find what it wants to say. And, by the time it does, it’s
it’s also a fantastic track to kick back and relax to. already lost most of us.

“Shameika” by Fiona apple Album Review: POsitions

by Rachel Cai Ariana Grande’s highly anticipated sixth studio album
Positions released Friday, October 30th, following the drop
Fiona Apple released her first album in 8 years, Fetch the Bolt Cutters, this and chart success of her lead single by the same name. In
past April. A standout track, “Shameika,” recalls a minor — yet significant — this album, she experimented more with R&B--something
interaction in Apple’s youth with the titular character. Carried by an energetic, she had been called to do for years by her large fanbase.
bluesy piano line, Apple’s voice is set to rowdy clashes and guitar strums. Pushed She also features heavy string instrumentals, gliding along
forward by a sharply syncopated rhythm, the song is liberating, as relentless as it with jazzy beats, as well as floating vocalizations, with the
is dazzling. most memorable tracks definitely being “pov” and “34+35”.
Though her style in the album as a whole stands out from
“walking in the snow” by Run the Jewels any other she has ever written, the songs themselves-
-which cover similar topics with similar paces--almost blend
by ANN Vettikkal together.

Released days after the murder of George Floyd, RTJ4 was an offering
to a community stricken with suffering.“walking in the snow” is one of the

most direct indictments on the album. In its hard-hitting lyrics and grimy
beat, Killer Mike and El-P display hip hop’s inherent impetus: opposing

the establishment. A few months ago, the line “I promise I’m hon-
est / they coming for you” felt like an unapologetic warning
Now, a week after the election, it is poetic justice.

18 November 13, 2020

Schachleiter shows that no finish is impossible despite injury

Matthew Smith | Sports Editor Prenger from Tippecanoe got me The Chronicle @mhschronicle • Nov 13
For most, finishing a race re- up and helped me to the finish. As Schachleiter’s femur is now held in place by three screws after
quires two healthy legs. soon as I crossed on my good leg, three hours of surgery.*
However, October 31 during my teammates met me at the fin-
the 2020 regional cross country ish line and my coach carried me The Chronicle @mhschronicle • Nov 13
championships, sophomore Issac to the medic tent.” Despite this grueling process, Schachleiter is in good spirits
Schachleiter suffered a devastat- and is looking forward to getting back on his feet.*
ing leg injury in the home stretch In the midst of competing for a
of the race. Coming into the meet, state championship berth, Skid- Editors note: The first tweet above and all three images were taken from the Mason Cross Country account. For creative and
Schachleiter was second on the more and Bellefontaine showed explanation purposes The Chronicle added the copy indicated by the * appearing in the bottom two images.
team with a personal best time of what true sportsmanship re-
15:48.50, and was expected to be key ally looks like. With their help,
for the team’s run at state. Schachleiter said this race meant
Only 100 meters from the finish too much to him to not cross the
line, Schachleiter suddenly went finish line.
down with a sharp pain in his leg
and stayed down. Schachleiter said “I was so motivated to finish the
that he later discovered he broke race, I had trained so hard for this
the femur in his right leg after season and to make it this far,”
running with an unknown stress Schachleiter said. “It honestly felt
fracture. like a bad dream, but I could never
“I fell at the third mile of the imagine giving up on a race, no
race and I wasn’t able to stand up matter what. I needed to cross that
on my leg after that happened,” finish line.”
Schachleiter said. “When I got to
the Emergency Room, the X-rays Moving forward the team knew
revealed I was actually running on how big of a loss it was to lose
a stress fracture, and when I fell, Schachleiter. As a top six runner
it led to most likely breaking my in the Greater Miami Conference,
hip.” it was difficult to replace him in
In practice, Schachleiter had the lineup. Despite this, Rapp said
felt soreness in his hip. However, the team still felt confident and
he didn’t feel fazed by the pain. ran at the state championship for
Head Coach Tom Rapp said that Schachleiter and his passion for the
Schachleiter had shown no indica- sport.
tion of slowing down and felt ready
to race in the regional champion- “It is definitely a tall task to
ship. replace a guy like Issac, who has
“We were aware that he had a been one of our top runners all
sore hip going into the meet,” season,” Rapp said. “But the ath-
Rapp said, “In practice though, he letes on our team had a sense that
felt better and it looked better the we need to run this race not just
faster he ran. When he tried to slow for ourselves but for Issac as well.
down is when the soreness oc- We’ve had a couple of guys on our
curred more. Issac said he felt good team with some tough luck this
to run and there was no indication season. We had a sense of responsi-
he couldn’t, so we decided to put bility to lay it all out there for the
him in the race.” guys who can’t race.”
Although Schachleiter was un-
able to continue running once he After going through a successful
went down, that didn’t stop him three hour surgery at Cincinnati
from crossing the finish line. His Children’s hospital, Schachleiter
determination got the best of him, has started his recovery process.
and despite the injury, Schachleiter Schachleiter knows it won’t be
said he got up onto his left leg and easy, but said there will be many
gutted out the last 100 meters of challenges along the way, but he is
the race. ready for all of them.
“I couldn’t stand back up,”
Schachleiter said. “Connor Skid- “I got three screws drilled into
more from Bellefontaine and Ben my right hip,” Schachleiter said.
“For a while, I will have to com-
pletely stay off my right leg. I
will have to use a wheelchair and
crutches as well. Eventually I also
will have to attend physical therapy
too. It’s a lot, but I plan on coming
back stronger than ever.”

November 13, 2020 Sports 19

Reid leads Girls tennis to another championship as legacy grows

Cody Allgor | Staff Writer the five courts have to be won for a Photo by Rilee Malloy
team to win a match. The Comets Girls Tennis head coach Mike Reid talks with his players during a fall practice.
The Mason girls tennis team is knew they needed a win from Ag-
going to have to find a much larger garwal to get the job done, and that we target our weaknesses. This helps do the same thing and I’m confident
trophy case. put pressure on Aggarwal to come us improve our all-around game.” that someone will.”
through. Aggarwal said that Reid has
The Mason girls tennis team earned taught the Comets to play through Mason is a school flooded with Annie Kruse finishes out her high
their fourth straight Ohio Tennis pressure and perseverence. talented tennis players, helping the school career with four First-team
Coaches Association (OTCA) state Comets fill empty roster spots year GMC awards, four state qualifica-
championship with their win over Up- “We knew it was gonna be close after year. With graduating seniors tions, and two top four finishes at the
per Arlington on Saturday, October regardless, but everybody was say- such as Kruse and Chada, Reid said state tournament in doubles. After a
25th. This championship comes after ing that I had to win, which is a lot that he is confident that the Comets long career, Kruse said that she was
the sixth straight Greater Miami Con- of pressure,” Aggarwal said. “But at can step up and fill their spots. thrilled to end it the right way.
ference (GMC) title for the Comets the same time, coach has taught us to
and has further cemented Mason as a play through the pressure and not let “We’ are going to be returning five “This team has meant so much to
dominant force in Ohio girls tennis. our nerves get through to us and that of the kids that were playing in the me all four years,” Kruse said. “It was
helped me stay focused.” state championship match,” Reid said. a lot of pressure knowing that this
The Comets had one loss on the “We’ve been fortunate in our program was it and this was our final season,
year, which was to Upper Arlington, After a long weekend of playing in that the last couple of years kids have but I was just really happy that we
a loss that the Comets would redeem the OHSAA singles tournament and stepped up and filled spots that we were able to finish with another
in the State Championship match. No- placing second, Aggarwal found the needed. Two kids next year need to championship.
tably missing from the lineup in the strength to win her court and help
loss earlier in the season to Upper Ar- propel the Comets to a fourth straight
lington was GMC athlete of the year title.
Shyla Aggarwal. Head Coach Mike
Reid said that he liked the Comets The Comets had two seniors on the
chances much more with Aggarwal in championship roster, Raina Chada
the lineup. and Annie Kruse, both who have con-
tributed all four years of high school.
“[Upper Arlington] beat us early in Chada said that the relationship that
the season, but we didn’t have Shyla she has built with teammates over
playing with us that day and that the years has allowed them to build
makes a big difference,” Reid said. comradery and competitivness.
“So, you look at the other team with
their lineup in hand and you see how “I’ve known the people on the team
we might match up with them and I since third grade, we’ve all played
thought we’d match up really well.” tennis together and grown up togeth-
er,” Chada said. “We know each other
In high school tennis, three out of so well that when we play together,

Myer leaves lasting impact as she steps away from Volleyball

Evan Postingle | Staff Writer Photo from Mason Athletic Department years. Popplewell-Garter said she has grown into
After 14 years as the girls volleyball head coach, Tiann the player she is today thanks to Myer.
While the girls volleyball team has been bump- Myer has decided to resign from her positon. In here time
ing, setting, and spiking, Head Coach Tiann Myer at Mason, Myer led the Comets to 7 GMC championships. “Coach Myer has helped me become a flexible 6
has been serving up a legacy. rotation player,” Popplewell-Garter said. “She has
American Honors and earn All-Ohio honors as well. helped develop my serve receive and defense, and
Coach Myer is stepping away from 14 years of I’ve been able to coach many great athletes.” given me opportunities in almost every position.
coaching the girls volleyball team, with her hus- This has helped me become a better volleyball
band getting a new job at Emory University in Senior Marilyn Popplewell-Garter has been per- player overall, and improve my all-around game.”
Georgia. During her career at Mason, Myer won sonally impacted by Coach Myer during her four
268 of 358 games. Under her leadership, the girls Myer has utilized her position as coach to grow
volleyball team won the Greater Miami Conference the players as people through their careers. Myer
(GMC) championships seven times. In all seven of said that this has been just as important as what
those seasons, Myer was named the GMC Coach of happens on the court.
the Year. This past week, Myer won the award for
the fifth straight year. “Watching young girls from as young as 4th
grade through seeing them graduate is the reward
Myer took over the program in 2006, and contin- of a coach,” Myer said. “Not only do we work on
ued to build off its previous successes. volleyball skill, but we work yearly on developing
a young woman. My job is not just after school
“The program was strong when Julee Hill handed during the fall, I feel I have a daily job to make
it over to me,” Myer said. “She built a reputable sure these young athletes know my door is open for
program. Recently through the scheduling of whatever and whenever they need it.”
Catholic schools and running our spring injury
prevention program, I feel the volleyball program Despite the new opportunities for her husband
is being set up to succeed and compete with the top at the Emory Sports Performance and Research
teams in the state.” Center, Myer said she will always hold Mason vol-
leyball close to her heart.
14 years of coaching means 14 years of worth of
students, many of whom are into adulthood. Myer’s “I will miss the relationship with the girls,” Myer
coaching has left a lasting impact on many girls, said. “The daily interactions and watching each
and Myer said she has many former players who person bring their own personalities to the team. I
excelled at Mason. will miss my coaching staff; their knowledge and
love for the game is deep and even more important
“Maggie King [2019 graduate] was my first and is their love for the girls. The goal is always to pro-
only athlete to earn District Player of the Year,” duce a well-rounded young lady who will leave our
Myer said. “I have had several athletes earn All- program with the tools for success in adulthood.”

20 Sports November 13, 2020

A players' guide to playing through a pandemic

By Cody Allgor, Divy Bose, and Alana Amaya

In 2020, the simplicity of high school sports changed significantly. Athletes in all sports had to adjust due to the restrictions placed on them because of the Covid pan-
demic. Junior golfer Ally Madden managed to help her team win a Greater Miami Conference title and advance to the state tournament. Mason football offensive lineman
earned all conference honors, and senior cross country runner Brendan Pitcher advanced to the state cross country meet. These outstanding fall sports athletes not only
had to focus on their performance but also had to deal with the complicated protocols just to compete. Their success stories provides a helpful guide to athletes prepar-
ing to suit up this winter.

Ally Madden Paul Rodriguez Brendan Pitcher
Junior Golfer Senior Offensive Lineman Senior Cross Country Runner

Q: What was your experience as an Q: How have you been dealing with quar- Q: What advice would you be able to give

athlete that went online midway through the antine emotionally? to other runners that look up to you and
season? what you’ve accomplished?
A: “It’s been tough trying to stay posi-
A: “When I went online, it went really A: “Your progress won’t always show im-
tive with the whole thing, it was a scare
smoothly. Everything was really easy to do to everybody to not know what the future mediately but you have to believe in your-
and I feel like it really benefited me be- holds. I know a couple of my teammates self when you aren’t getting the results that
cause I also had more time to practice. I got quarantined right before a game and it you want. Know that your work will pay off
was more free and I didn’t have to always was just a really scary thing for everybody and will show in your races to come. You
be online at a certain time.” on the team.” don’t become a state runner-up or school
record holder overnight, it’s day after day,
Q: Is there any advice you would give Q: What would you tell other teams about year after year of hard work and believing
in what your coaches are having you do.”
winter athletes who are going through being how they should approach the season?
playing during a pandemic for the first time? Q: Have there been bigger challenges
A: “You only have a certain amount of
A: “I would say just wear your mask, with COVID or social distancing? What’s
games left, so take everything you got and changed?
wash your hands and make sure you’re leave it all out there and every practice,
keeping distance from other people. It can every game, every play because you don’t A: “In the spring, I missed out on my
be hard if you get quarantined since you know how many more games you’re going
miss a part of your season. I would defi- to have left. Lean on each other and lean junior track season where I believe school
nitely say to just do the safety protocols to on your other teammates. You’re not the records were going to be broken and state
make sure that you can participate in your only one’s going through it, it’s everyone.” runs were going to be made. This fall once
season.” the cross country season started we really
Q: What would you tell another player focused on keeping the groups small even
Q: What were some of the biggest chal- though we have more kids on the team. We
about choosing remote or in person over added a 6th training group for our team to
lenges that you personally faced throughout the other option? help limit the numbers within the groups.
the season? How did you overcome those We start our groups at different locations,
challenges? A: “I would recommend the players to go wear masks when we aren’t training, and
spread out when we are inside.”
A: “Something that I faced this year was online, I was stressed every day coming to
school and I just don’t want anyone to be Q: Would do anything differently or attack
that it was hard to hang out with my team- unable to play the sport they love. Especial-
mates, because we did have to socially ly in the postseason, that would be terrible it differently since it’s your last year here at
distance. We couldn’t do as many fun if players came in person then had to miss the high school?
activities, but we still have fun while we’re the playoff game.”
practicing. We came up with things we A: “Since it’s my last year of competing
could do while social distancing, and I feel Q: What would you tell another player
like we made it work this year despite the for Mason, I’ve taken each race as my last.
challenges that we faced.” about the gratitude you have about even Giving it my all for my team, school, com-
being able to have a season and still play munity, and family. Coming home from the
Q: What advice would you give others during the pandemic? state meet with another strong finish would
perfectly cap off my cross country career.”
while this pandemic is happening? A: “So even though it sucks sometimes

A: “I would say even though COVID is go- not having the black hole or fans, as many
fans as we would like, we’re just lucky that
ing on, you can still do some of the things we get to have the opportunity to play. I
you used to do. The most important part is know I was just happy to run out that tunnel
that you do them in a safer way.” on Friday nights with the team.”

November 13, 2020 Sports 21

A coaches' guide to playing through a pandemic


By Braden Osborn | Staff Writer

The fall season presented many challenges for the coaches who had to lead their teams through competing during a pandemic. Mason girls volleyball head coach
guided her team to a Greater Miami Conference championship in her final season as the Comets' head coach. Andy Schur coached his girls soccer team to a GMC
championship and a post season run that ended in the regional semi-finals. Head football coach Brian Castner navigated his team through a schedule that was up on the
air almost weekly and still managed to lead his team to a third place finish in the league and a play-off victory. These fall sports coaches faced circumstances that forced
them to reflect on their approach to coaching but also layed a blueprint for winter sports coaches and athletes to follow in order to have a successful season.

Tiann Myer, Head girls volleyball coach Andy Schur, Head girls soccer coach Brian Castner, Head football coach

Q: What were your initial thoughts going Q: What were your initial thoughts going Q: What advice would you give to the
into the season?
into the season? winter coaches about maintaining COVID
A: “To be completely honest, I was never guidelines during practice?
A: “Please let us have a season. The really sure we were going to get to finish
our season. I knew our players would fol- A: “I would make sure to have a plan.
girls worked diligently to follow all safety low the guidelines and would do anything
protocols throughout June and July and we to have the opportunity to play, but I was Then describe that plan to my staff, who will
just wanted to make sure it happened. So nervous about how the other things we did echo that plan to the players. I would make
many of the players knew the importance not have control over would play out. How- sure that within that plan we are positive in
of having a season for next level purposes ever after we got into the season and expe- attacking the day. Every day we don’t live in
[recruiting]. I know the majority of every rienced some positive cases and quaran- fear. We commit to the plan and we attack
school and coach was doing their best to tines, I was confident we would get through every day.”
ensure safety of the kids because the end the season. I was confident because our
goal was to have a season and make sure district leadership was incredibly supportive Q: How did you motivate your players dur-
everyone is safe.” of our efforts to continue playing." ing games since they didn’t have the spec-
tators/black hole to back them up?
Q: What advice would you give to the Q: What advice(If any) would you give to
the winter coaches to maintain social dis- A: “We tried to dive into the purity of
winter coaches about maintaining COVID tance guidelines during practice? high school athletics and get the players
guidelines during practice? to understand to play for each other, to
A: “Continue to communicate the stan- play for the ones that came before us. The
A: “Remind the athletes every day at the dards to the players and the staff. Model guys that were to the right and the left. As
the guidelines, and the kids will follow your far as mom and dad go getting them to
beginning, middle and end of practice that lead on wearing masks and being distant play for mom and dad was a byproduct of
they need to continually think of one anoth- from each other. It is important to reinforce our plan. We felt like we wanted to play for
er and the impact it will have on your team the guidelines consistently for everyone in each other because that’s who we trained
if someone gets quarantined. I feel we did the program. Start off being very direct and with and that's who you know can relate
excellent during practice, but I had to re- just like other practice and team routines, with us because we went through so much
mind them to not ride in the car with each the players will figure out what you want together.”
other or friends, to not hang out as much on and will follow the guidelines.”
weekends. This is hard, but you have to be Q: What changes did you make to how
disciplined for one another. We were strict Q: With no spectators or Black Hole was
about locker room protocol as well." there anything extra you did to motivate you ran practice to coincide with COVID
your players? guidelines?
Q: What changes did you make to how
A: “I am not sure it was any one thing that A: “Everything that was issued from the
you ran practice to coincide with COVID we did. The players in our program are so
guidelines? proud to represent Mason and play for their state, and everything that was issued from
community. Now, we absolutely miss the the district we had to follow. I think the big-
A: “I mentioned assigning times for our black hole and the experience of playing in gest things were wearing the mask, keep-
front of our peers. For so many of our play- ing your distance, having a check-in at the
players to come in and out. We also placed ers though, they did not have soccer games front door, and making sure everybody was
tape along the floor 6 feet apart for every- for 6 months.So, the opportunity to play any symptom-free. Everybody had to bring in
one to place water bottles and hand sani- game was a big deal, regardless of who their own water bottle as well. You couldn’t
tizer. Everyone separated for all stretching, was in the crowd." share anything, you couldn’t shower here.
wore masks until we started playing, ath- There were a lot of things we had to do to
letes had to enter separate doors. When tailor back and we felt like we did it all be-
we came together to wrap up practice, we cause we knew every little thing will help."
would make sure we were spread out and
masked up.”

22 Opinion Nobember 13, 2020

Election outcome Staff Editorial
gives nation a
shot for change Wearing out the bellwether: the uncertain
future of Ohio’s swing
Shravani Page | Staff Writer
The votes are in: we’ve broken our streak. for dead.
Let’s be real, what in the After exactly six decades, Ohio has faltered In short, the presidential election makes us feel
world was this election? its long-held status as the ultimate bellwether
On Saturday, Joe Biden passed 270 votes in in America -- and with it, indications of being a important.
the Electoral College- thank you Pennsylvania- which swing state in general. After we went for Presi- A voter in this state used to feel like their
denotes he will most likely become President of The dent Trump by more than 8 points the night of
United States. the election, the other midwestern swing states choice could actually affect the results of an elec-
But this race was nearly equal. In my pessimistic na- failed to follow suit. President-elect Joe Biden tion -- and they were often right. Now, as we saw
ture, that detail still sticks out to me. That race really managed to build the blue wall that Trump built Trump handily win Ohio with hundreds of thou-
could’ve gone either way. four years ago, which entails Michigan, Wisconsin, sands of votes, it’s hard to say if we will receive
Biden’s first 100 days are said to look familiar to and Pennsylvania. Ohio, in this context, appears to the same sort of attention we used to revel in.
FDR’s. A period filled with massive, bold, and dynamic be the exception.
reform. The pandemic may be his first target. So what does this mean for Ohioans? Of course, the candidates down the ballot which
These past 8 months have served as a time of great Well for starters, it seems hard to imagine that include important local and regional races still
suffering for many Americans and now we are relying this very state voted for Obama -- twice. This need our vote. But there’s nothing quite like TV
on Biden to help us get out of it-which conspicuously, would mean that there were a substantial amount news anchors breaking down your state specifi-
he claims to do. Our nation has been at an economic of Obama-Trump voters. In a polarized nation like cally county by county on election night as the
downfall fueled by many factors- a major factor being this, independent and undecided voters that have nation waits with bated breath to see which way it
unemployment. Along with that, the past few months the fluidity to vote for opposing parties feel like will go.
have additionally brought a series of crises regarding myths. But they exist -- or at least they did 4 years
climate change, racial injustice, and immigration. ago. Now what seems to be the case is that Trump Perhaps all this will be nullified in the near
I call Biden a “band-aid” sometimes. was able to solidify his standing with 2016 Ohio- future. After all, there are still signs of a blue
I feel his campaign will bring reform and I remain ans. In fact, he actually received a larger margin Ohio -- take senator Sherrod Brown, for instance.
thankful for that. However, if we want this nation to this year than he did last time. Or maybe this is less of an indication that the vot-
heal and rejuvenate, we need a transformation, not a The future is still unpredictable. We don’t know ers are turning red but rather that the Democratic
reformation. what Ohio will do 4 years from now. It could very Party is unable to reach out to the rural areas of
It can be predicted that Biden’s first 100 days will be well be a swing state once again. But for now, Ohio in ways that the GOP has. Whatever may be
fixated on improving our conditions amid the pan- it seems likely that politicians will move away the case, it still seems like a big deal that Ohio
demic. We can expect his administration to take some from Ohio and focus their attention towards has broken the longest streak of any state to ac-
measures regarding increased precautions, policies historically red states that have recently become curately pick the president.
trying to increase economic growth, along with maybe battleground territory like Arizona, Georgia, and
a few policies tackling racial injustice, climate change, even Texas. For young voters, this could be a call to become
and immigration. For decades we have been a vital talking point more involved in politics and work toward bipar-
But there are a lot of things that stand in his way. during election season. No Republican in history tisanship in a divided nation that refuses to look
For example, Trump’s spending has left this country has won the election without Ohio; Obama and across the aisle.
in a further deficit. Ted Kaufman, the leader of the his campaign team in 2012 believed that if they
Biden transition team, said “when we get in, the pantry lost Ohio, they would lose the election. In fact, President-elect Joe Biden has called for
is going to be bare.” In a sense, we have been spoiled. unity and collaboration to heal the wounds of our
There’s a possibility Biden will face a rather Re- High-ranking candidates make frequent rounds country. Biden knows that his message is a tall
publican Senate as well which may attempt to thwart throughout our state -- especially as election day order in 2020. But Ohioans should take his words
Biden’s agenda and a chance at re-election. He’s walk- nears -- a vital time when deep red and blue states as a sign for self-improvement so that we may
ing on thin ice right now. that don’t have the ability to be persuaded are left remain the battleground we always have been -- a
Going back to the number of votes, Joe Biden didn’t state proudly open to great change.
triumph by a dramatic difference, which means there At the very least, it’s exciting to be a
are still millions of Americans who are in favor of an swing state. But more importantly, our country
America fueled by constant division, inequality, and an needs us to lift ourselves out of this increasingly
ongoing superiority complex. There will be many who partian and dangerous territory -- now, more than
will not be in favor of Biden’s propositions. ever before.
But the fact that the gap wasn’t dramatic makes me
question whether unification will even be possible at
a given point in the future. This race has rooted itself
into the deep foundations of our country. We have
questioned a lot and will continue to do more.
Joe Biden and Kamala Harris face a broken America.
We are a broken, damaged society.
But I’m proud of us this year because we fought
for change. We knew we needed an opportunity for
change. Maybe now it’s time to take that chance.

The Chronicle’s Policy Evelina Gaivoronskaia
Della Johnson
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November 13, 2020 Opinion 23

Dear John Kasich: Editorial Cartoon

Go away The importance of room.
checking But what we often fail to realize is that human
Raghav Raj | Staff Writer heteronormativity
sexuality is a complex spectrum, and there are so
On November 7, right Meghan Dincler | Staff Writer many different ways that people identify.
after the Associated Press
called the 2020 Presidential What do you think of when Something as simple as mentioning that people
Election in favor of Joe Biden, former Ohio Gov- you think of a traditional future? A man, a have different plans for their future can go a long
ernor (and current Biden surrogate) John Kasich woman. Two kids, decent sized house, maybe a cat way.
went on CNN for an extended tirade against the or dog. But for a lot of people, that’s not what they
progressive wing of the Democratic party. want. There are those that don’t want to have kids, These conscious changes make people feel more
Kasich, a Republican, didn’t mince words. Amidst or who don’t want to get married, or (God forbid) included, and can start making that shift towards
the calling for “fiscally conservative” austerity who want to marry someone of the same gender. a world where people aren’t looked down upon
measures, he leveled some particularly absurd because they want to be with someone of the same
criticisms against the “far left.” He insisted that And therein lies the problem in our idea of a tra- gender, or because they don’t want to be with
Democrats should’ve outright rejected calls for ditional future. Because when we grow up hearing someone at all, or because they have ideas of love
defunding police to appeal to voters in the middle, that this is the normal, the default, maybe even the and marriage that are different than what many of
and even made the bold claim that “the far left only option, it perpetuates the idea that this is the us grew up hearing.
almost cost [Biden] this election.” only thing that is right. It brings people up with a
That claim, like everything else Kasich said, is close-minded attitude and only serves to increase By being kind and open-minded towards people,
nonsense. the stigma around the LGBTQ+ community. no matter where on that spectrum they might fall,
Especially in key states like Minnesota, Michigan, we’re setting an example of love for those who
and Pennsylvania, it’s hard to overstate how impor- I feel that Mason has taken major steps to being are still closeted, or who might be trying to figure
tant left-wing organizing was to Biden’s success. more inclusive, but there is still so far to go, both themselves out, and we’re making it known to
The left embarked on dedicated efforts to bring out in our school and in our community. There are so them that we value their identity, and how impor-
voters for Biden in swing-state Democratic strong- many examples of places where a simple change tant it is to normalize it.
holds like Minneapolis, Detroit, and Philadelphia, in our language could serve to make people with
and the results speak for themselves. diverse sexualities more comfortable, and create a Even in my personal experience, I see myself
Both Minneapolis and Detroit saw massive spikes better environment for everyone. falling into the trap of heteronormativity. I re-
in voter turnout, attributed largely to the aggres- ally didn’t even notice myself doing it until I
sive campaigns of area representatives like Ilhan One of my good friends is a lesbian, and she was thinking about the way my friends react to
Omar (MN-5) and Rashida Tlaib (MI-13), both of laughs every time an adult comments on “impress- people assuming they’re straight, and then I really
whom pushed off primary challenges and con- ing the boys.” Another one of my friends is asexu- stopped to think about why we immediately set “cis
tinued calling, text-banking, and canvassing for al, and was laughing after they had to sit through straight” as the default for all people.
Democrats down the ballot. And even while the a lecture on being intimate in the future.
city of Philadelphia itself decreased in turnout, Mason is already such a diverse school that does
progressives scored major wins in Pennsylvania’s Boys are expected to ogle over scantily-clad so much to make everyone feel included, and shift-
House, and groups like Reclaim Philadelphia built Victoria’s Secret models, and girls are expected ing our rhetoric to portray a more open mindset
a massive coalition of unions and campaigns that to have posters of the hottest boy bands in their is the next step towards creating an atmosphere
boosted turnout in suburbs that Biden flipped back where everyone is comfortable to be unapologeti-
from Trump, like Erie and Northampton. cally themselves.
By itself, this refusal by the Democratic party
at large to acknowledge the left’s contributions
to Biden’s victory — while also blaming them for
centrist Democrats like Donna Shalala and Kendra
Horn losing their seats in the House — is infuriat-
ing. But this sort of criticism from someone like
Kasich, another Tea Party worm trying to elbow his
way into the Democratic Party after having set the
stage for demagogues like Trump? Utterly pathetic.
John Kasich, quite frankly, doesn’t deserve a seat
at the table. He doesn’t get to speak ill on the Black
and brown progressive organizers that delivered
this victory to Biden. Not when his state of Ohio,
which voted twice for Obama, remains safely red,
unmoved from where it stood 4 years ago. And he
doesn’t get to pitch a fit whenever people demand
that the police be defunded. Not when he so
eagerly defunded Planned Parenthood in his state,
attacking an institution that actually helps women
as opposed to murdering them while they sleep.
Kasich is a man who, when he hasn’t been
downright useless, has spent his entire career doing
harm to the marginalized, vulnerable communities
that came out in droves for Democrats this elec-
tion. In no world should the Democrats be listen-
ing to him.

24 November 13, 2020