BI Word - April

THE BI-WORD

“Lent

The World’s Youngest Teacher HACK BI Bishop Ireton in Paris, France

is a time of grace, a time to convert and live out our baptism fully.” - Pope Francis

LETTER FROM THE STAFF

Dear Readers,

Dear readers of the BI Word,

As we release this edition, it is with great pleasure that we extend our warmest greetings and heartfelt appreciation to each and every one of you. In this issue, we aim to encapsulate the spirit of new beginnings and the growth that the year of 2024 has in store for us.

Within this edition, we have made a collection of articles that touch upon various aspects of student life, academia, and the world that surrounds us. We invite you to immerse yourselves in our captivating stories and reports, all crafted by our talented team of journalists.

We wish you a happy new year and a successful end to the semester!

Thank you for your support, -Journalism Staff

BI WORD STAFF

MIA HOOPER– EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

ERIK GUNDERSON– WRITER/EDITOR

NORA GARLAND– WRITER/EDITOR

KYLE BURNER– WRITER/EDITOR

JAMES LOWE– WRITER/EDITOR

JOE HARDY– WRITER/EDITOR

DESIREE TRIPODO– WRITER/EDITOR

HADLEY REARDON– WRITER/EDITOR

FRANKLIN MCCLARY– WRITER/EDITOR

NAOMI NELSON– WRITER/EDITOR

BEMNET MEKEBEB– WRITER/EDITOR

IZZY SPOONER– WRITER/EDITOR

THE BI COMMUNITY

“Bishop Ireton Goes to Paris” By Nora Garland - pg. 4

“Hack BI Hackathon a Huge Hit” By Erik Gunderson - pg. 5

“Fall Play a Massive Success” By Erik Gunderson - pg. 6

“BI Basketball Back on Top” By Joe Hardy - pg. 7

“Signing Day” By Amelia Hooper - pg. 8

“Better or Worse? Reviewing the New SAT” By James Lowe - pg. 9

“The Meaning of Lent” By Franklin McClary - pg. 10

“Celebrating Our Catholic Education” By Hadley Reardon - pg. 11

THE WORLD

“Election Time” By Kyle Burner - pg. 12

“Trump Wins GOP Iowa Caucus” By Nora Garland - pg. 13

“Biden Behind in Early ‘24 Election Polls” By Erik Gunderson - pg. 14

Has AI Gone Too Far? Meta Introduces New AI Personalities” By Nora Garland - pg. 15

“America’s Youngest Teacher” By Amelia Hooper - pg. 16

“Mafia Takedown” By Amelia Hooper - pg. 17

“Superbowl Madness” By Bemnet Mekebeb - pg. 18

“Met Gala 2024: What We Know” By Naomi Nelson - pg. 19

“Pope Calls for a Ceasefire” By Desiree Tripodo - pg. 20

EDITORIALS

“Barbie at the Oscars” By Izzy Spooner - pg. 21

Bishop Ireton Goes to Paris

By: Nora Garland

Over Thanksgiving break, Bishop Ireton French classes embarked on the annual trip to Paris, France. Bishop Ireton partnered with a French school, Lycée Fénelon Sainte Marie, to send students to Paris each year. Last year was the first time since COVID-19 the trip has taken place. This year, 17 Bishop Ireton French students were able to travel to Paris. In Paris, students lived with host families, explored Paris, and even had the opportunity to attend classes at Lycée Fénelon Sainte-Marie. In the spring, students from Lycée Fénelon Sainte Marie got the opportunity to travel to DC and stay with host families from Bishop Ireton.

In January, I spoke with our French teacher, Mr. Thomas, about his experience on the trip. “I think it definitely helped some students improve their French. They learned things they would not have learned in class by being exposed to the language everyday.” said Mr. Thomas. The trip also allowed students to experience French culture, an aspect that is missing in many French classes, “It gave them the opportunity to see French people as everyday people and see Paris as a real city and see more parts besides just tourist locations.” said Mr. Thomas.

(Thomas, Wesley. Interview. Conducted by Nora Garland, January 2024.)

PHOTO CREDIT: INSTAGRAM.COM/ BISHOPIRETONHS

HackBI Hackathon a Huge Hit

By: Erik Gunderson

On January 27th and 28th, Bishop Ireton hosted the 7th annual HackBI hackathon. The event, which had been delayed from the previous weekend due to inclement weather, was attended by 151 total students from 35 middle and high schools, including Bishop Ireton. The event began at 9 AM Saturday morning with a speech by Bishop Ireton’s Head of School, Mrs. McNutt. Co-directors Emily Crabtree (‘24) and Calvin Hall (‘24) discussed the schedule of the event before opening it up to guest speaker Dr. William Philips, a Nobel-prize winning physicist who lectured on quantum computing. There were two sections to the event, the high school competition and the middle school competition. Maria Mate (‘24) ran the middle school contingent and said that it “was a joy to see the middle schoolers collaborate and bring their ideas to life.” The students focused on developing basic coding skills through a series of collaborative activities. The high school competition, which was run jointly by Crabtree and Hall, required participants to develop some kind of project to solve a real-world issue in a 24-hour time span. Attendees also had the option of attending a variety of workshops discussing everything from Python to “How to Run a Hackathon.”

Participants worked for the bulk of the day, stopping only for lunch (Jimmy John’s sandwiches) and dinner (Domino’s Pizza). Food delivery was coordinated by logistics director Marco Cecchi-Rivas (‘24), who said that attendees “will never have a better meal than a HackBI sandwich.” After dinner, a “Women in STEM” panel was hosted by Crabtree. The event then broke for Mass, which was celebrated by Bishop Ireton chaplain Fr. Noah Morey from 10 to 11pm. Bishop Ireton’s own Mr. Artman hosted “DJ Bob Karaoke Night” from 11pm to 1 am. Hackers were asked to take a break from their projects to sing along with HackBI team members. Several other late-night activities were hosted by the HackBI team, including a SuperSmashBros video game tournament at 2 in the morning. The tournament concluded at around 3:30 AM with Henry Leopold (‘25) emerging victorious.

Participants were required to submit final projects by 8:30 AM Sunday morning, and after an hour of judging, it was announced that a team of students from St. Paul VI Catholic High School in Chantilly had won the “Best Overall Hack” award. Their project, a videogame they called “Circuit Breakers,” wowed the judges with its dynamic mechanics and creative use of the Unity game engine.

HackBI was founded seven years ago by Bishop Ireton students Peter Murphy and Jared Ponmakha, and has proved to be one of Ireton’s most enduring student-run events. Over thirty Bishop Ireton students were involved with planning and executing this year’s event, which was sponsored by businesses including Jimmy John’s, Major League Hacking, and the SAG Corporation. Hall, who last year ran the SuperSmashBros videogame tournament, remarked that the event had “exceeded all expectations,” while Crabtree, who has been involved with HackBI for the past four years, said that she was “so grateful to have the opportunity to continue HackBI for its seventh iteration.” The HackBI team said that they were already looking ahead to next year’s hackathon, where they hope to improve upon this year’s success.

PHOTO CREDIT: BIHS

Fall Play a Massive Success

By: Erik Gunderson

Bishop Ireton’s award-winning theater department again delivered with November’s production of Clue: On Stage. Based on the movie which was in turn based off the classic board game, the production starred sophomore Julien Goulet (‘26) in the role of Wadsworth.

Seniors Ellie Viana (‘24), Lauren Allen (‘24), and TJ Haywald (‘24) starred as Mrs. White, Mrs. Peacock and Professor Plum, respectively. Junior Donovan Furey (‘25) was cast as Mr. Green, and Sophomores Newman Stirewalt (‘26) and Riley Warren (‘26) rounded out the cast as Colonel Mustard and Ms. Scarlett.

Set during the Red Scare Senator Joe McCarthy sparked during the 1950s, the characters fought to discover who among them killed Mr. Boddy and several members of the Boddy mansion’s staff, only to discover that they were all murderers. The plot had several twists and turns, such as when it was revealed that Goulet’s character, Wadsworth, was Mr. Boddy the entire time.

The set was designed by seniors Joseph Murray (‘24), Charlotte Rayder (‘24), and their crew. It consisted of three tiers of rooms, two rooms per tier, with a set of stairs leading up from the bottom of the stage to the mansion’s front door in the middle of the third tier. As the characters shifted rooms, the lighting seamlessly shifted with them, allowing the audience to focus on one room at a time. Senior Bella Miller (‘24) directed the lighting team. “My team and I worked very hard to provide quality lighting and a nice ambiance to the show. We were able to add a sense of mystery and drama as well

The show’s costumes were lauded by attendees for their innovative designs and vibrant colors, and were designed by seniors Claire Gibbons (‘24) and Ella Shmutz (‘24). “It’s a long process but it’s incredibly satisfying to see the finished product after hours of sketching, sewing, and working with your peers to create a piece you’re proud of,” Gibbons said.

Overall, the production of Clue: On Stage was a massive success for the Bishop Ireton theater program. As Senior Lauren Allen remarked, “Bringing Clue to the BI stage was certainly a challenge, but a fun one! This was one of BI’s most ambitious plays from recent years, and I was so impressed how everyone involved in the show was at the top of their game.”

PHOTO CREDIT: BIHS

BI BASKETBALL BACK ON TOP

BY JOSEPH HARDY

Buzzer beater by star freshman Matthew Metta put away top WCAC team, Bishop McNamara. The Bishop Ireton basketball team had gotten off to a historic start to the season, led by senior leaders Jamari Hodnett and Mekhai Johnson. On January 23rd, 2024 the Bishop Ireton Cardinals faced off against the Bishop McNamara Mustangs. McNamara got off to an amazing first quarter start with the Mustangs leading.

The second quarter was a fast paced scoring sequence from both teams and Ireton was fighting back to make it a close game. The entire game was a close and hard fought battle with Bishop McNamara leading going into the half. In the third quarter Bishop McNamara went on a huge run leading the game in a big margine. Hitting layup after layup and three pointer after three pointer. The momentum was down for the Cardinals. The crowd was sitting, and there was no cheering going on. However, a close posterizing dunk by Mekhai Johnson got the crowd off their feet to let them know they were not going down without a fight. The Cardinals went into the fourth quarter with a lop sided momentum advantage over McNamara.

In the fourth quarter the Cardinals took advantage of their momentum and made a huge run to make it a one point game. With 20 seconds left Bishop McNamara silenced the crowd and got one basket to put themselves up two points. With the clock ticking down Jamari Hodnett passed the ball to St. Joseph’s commit, Mekhai Johnson. He looked for a shot and passed it to Matthew Metta at the top of the key and with three seconds left Matthew would take the shot and hit the 3 pointer to give the Cardinals a win over McNamara and ends the game with a score of 60-59. This marked a turning point in Bishop Ireton basketball, solidifying them in the conversation as a top team in the WCAC.

PHOTO CREDIT: INSTAGRAM.COM/ BISHOPIRETONHS

Signing Day

By: Amelia Hooper

On November 9th, eleven Bishop Ireton athletes signed National Letters of Intent to play collegiate sports, with all eleven students committing to Division 1 schools. The National Letter of Intent (NLI) serves as a legally binding agreement between a prospective studentathlete and an institution. In the agreement, the institution commits to providing athletics aid for one academic year to the prospective student, who must be admitted to the institution. In return, the prospective student-athlete agrees to attend the institution for the same academic year.

“Before signing day it was just a verbal commitment so nothing was guaranteed, but signing confirmed it. Since I committed so early last year it was stressful for me because you could be dropped by the coach at any time, “ senior Blaine Cosby said.

Signing day solidifies an athlete’s commitment so their place on the team is confirmed, transforming a verbal commitment into a concrete reality.

“Signing day was a weight off my chest because signing meant I could not be dropped. It meant I could continue my time with lacrosse” senior Blaine Cosby noted.

The assurance that athletes can not be dropped often deliver a profound sense of relief, allowing them to completely embrace their continuation of their athletic journey.

“They reached out to me first and I had a couple initial calls with them, but they invited me out to the school where I had the chance to meet with the team. A little while after I was offered a spot on the team and I accepted” senior Blaine Cosby said.

For some, signing day is a culmination of a journey that begins with a verbal commitment, a promise hanging up in the air, unconfirmed until pen meets paper. The period leading up to signing day is often marked by a blend of anticipation and anxiety for those who committed early in their athletic career. Signing day can symbolize a great number of things, but for some, it becomes a pivotal moment of validation and relief. The act of signing is a concrete manifestation of the commitment made in words. This binding agreement confirms the athlete’s next steps in their career while simultaneously rewarding their tremendous effort.

Congratulations to...

1. Blaine Cosby, Girls Lacrosse at the University of Colorado Boulder

2. Zoe Francone, Girls Lacrosse

7. Cooper Metz, Boys Lacrosse at Iona University

8. Desirae Ashton, Girls Basketball at Bucknell University

9. Tanah Gorman, Girls Basketball at the United States Air Force Academy

10. Saniyah King, Girls Basketball at Howard University

11. MeKai Johnson, Boys Basketball at St. Joseph’s University.

PHOTO CREDITS: BI INSTAGRAM

Better Or Worse ? Reviewing the New FASFA

By James Lowe

Prospective college students hoping to receive financial aid for the 2024-2025 school year will have to go through a process unfamiliar from years past. The Free Application for Federal Student Aid, better known as FAFSA, has undergone significant changes this year to ensure a streamlined and stress-free application process. For example, according to the Federal Student Aid office themselves, the formula used to determine financial aid is changing.

According to the Associated Press, you can now send your application to up to 20 schools, doubling the previous maximum of 10 schools. On top of this, the number of languages the FAFSA is available in has risen all the way to 11, after only being available in English and Spanish during past years. These changes should help the over 17 million students who, according to CNBC, submit the FAFSA each year.

However, not all students have found this process to be simple. There have been multiple reports of glitches, errors and other sort of issues that have caused frustrations with the process. According to NBC, one of these issues was a failure to adjust certain financial tables for inflation. These table issues caused families spending power to be estimated much higher than it actually was, limiting the amount of financial aid that would be considered available. With the tables now being fixed, the Education Department estimates that about 1.8 billion new dollars of financial aid will be available. However, with these new updates come longer wait times. The process to send this information to schools will now have to be pushed back while information is updated, and as CNBC noted, this in turn will delay financial aid offers given to students. This was already a concern for the FAFSA, as according to Houston Public Media, the typical opening date of October was pushed all the way back to January in order to accommodate new changes in the application. On top of this, even when the FAFSA was rolled out, it suffered many glitches and issues that rendered many unable to complete it. While these are tough issues, luckily they are being resolved day by day, as the Department of Education works to continue their goal of helping students receive the financial aid they need. Hopefully now, with the new updates and continued monitoring from the Department of Education, students will be able to fill out and receive the benefits they need. If anybody here at Bishop Ireton has any questions regarding the FAFSA, be sure to reach out to your counselor, or contact the Department of Education Federal Student Aid office.

PHOTO CREDITS: ONTOCOLLEGE

The Meaning Of Lent

By: Franklin McClary

Lent is a period of forty days (not counting Sundays) that begins on Ash Wednesday and ends on Holy Saturday, normally running from February to March or April. The Lent season is a time of fasting, repentance, and reflection observed by Christians. As mentioned in the Bible, Lent commemorates the forty days Jesus spent fasting and praying in the desert before the beginning of his public ministry. The goal of Lent is to identify with Jesus’s forty days of fasting in the desert. Lent leads up to the Easter holiday which is a celebration of the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Many Christians during the Lent season choose to give up certain habits or luxuries. Some of the common practices done by many during the Lent season include: fasting, prayer and not eating meat on Fridays. This is done as a form of self-discipline and spiritual reflection. The color purple which symbolizes penance, preparation and royalty is the liturgical color associated with Lent. Lent is a symbolic representation of repentance and renewal. Christians use Lent as a time for spiritual reflection, self examination and repentance. This time provides an opportunity for believers to draw closer to God through prayer, fasting, engaging in acts of service, charity and other spiritual acts. These acts are seen as a way to identify with Jesus’s sacrifice and to develop a stronger and deeper spiritual life. During this time, Christians reflect on their sins and seek forgiveness. This time is a period of commitment to personal and spiritual growth. The different Christian denominations and faiths have various ways in how they observe Lent.

Catholics observe fasting and abstinence during Lent. It is an Irish tradition for Catholics aged 18 to 59 are required to fast on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. Catholics are also required to abstain from meat on Ash Wednesday and all Fridays during Lent. Abstinence from meat is a form of penance and a reminder of Jesus’s sacrifice. Catholics also engage in additional spiritual practices such as attending daily mass, participating in the Stations of the Cross and spending extra time in personal prayer.

At Bishop Ireton High School, we believe in using the season of Lent to commemorate Jesus’ sacrifice for us. To show our respect, we abstain from eating donuts and meat on Fridays. These small sacrifices allow us to reflect on the immense sacrifice that Jesus made for us. During this period, our school’s Chaplain and Director of Campus Ministry, Father Noah Morey, offers mass and confessions to our school community and is available for spiritual guidance. This provides us with an opportunity to connect with our faith and deepen our understanding of the importance of sacrifice.

Celebrating Our Catholic Education

By: Hadley Reardon

Catholic Schools Week is an annual celebration of the gifts associated with a Catholic education. Bishop Ireton participates through activities, dress down days, games, and more throughout the week. This year’s celebration began on January 28th and ended on February 3rd with the annual Winter Ball. As the week began, there was a focus on our community as a whole with a celebration of our parishes through the gift of Mass. Students took photos with their priests and shared them with Student Life for a chance to win a prize. Starting off the school week was an all-school Mass followed by a “Masked Singer” competition in which Mr. O’Donnell, the Halo Bear, Ms. Tilley, the Cardinal, and Mr. Delaney, the St. Louis Hawk, sang. In addition, the “Penny Wars” began in preparation for the “Pie a Staff Member” assembly at the end of the week. On Tuesday, the fun continued with a BI Spirit Wear free dress-down day and students got to have lunch and play gamesin Godley Gym. Wednesday focused on appreciating our country with a prayer service and spirit rally to celebrate the local law enforcement. As the Penny Wars continued, an ice cream social was available at lunch. A $2 dollar dressdown day on Thursday gave students the opportunity to participate in the donation to the Louverture Cleary School, followed by another spirit rally and Vocations Panel, featuring our own Mrs. Grubb, where student council members conducted a Q&A with guests representing different vocational paths, such as married life and holy orders. Friday finished off the school week with a Fun Sneaker Day, finale of the Penny Wars, where senior vice president, Eric Gunderson, Mrs. Style, and Mr. Waldman were pied in the face, and a devastating 45-31 loss for the seniors in the Senior vs. Faculty basketball game. The Winter Ball concluded the week’s celebrations.

PHOTO CREDITS: BISHOP IRETON FACEBOOK

Election Time

By: Kyle Burner

The 2024 presidential election is set to take place on November 5, 2024. There are 8 candidates that are running for president according to NBC News. The Republican candidates are Donald Trump and Nickki Haley. The Democratic candidates are Joe Biden, and Marianne Williamson. The third party candidates are Robert F. Kennedy Jr, Cornel West, and Jill Stein. According to the Washington Post the top issues are democracy, economic issues, education, foreign policy, and healthcare. Each candidate has a different stance and approach to these topics. Donald Trump campaign positions are the police. Nicki Haley’s campaign positions are border control, and term limits for Congress. Joe Biden’s campaign positions are protection of social security and medicare, the protection of democracy, and making the wealthiest and big corporations pay their fair share in taxes. Marianne Williamson’s campaign positions are controlling gun violence, legalizing cannabis for medical use, and reaching 100 percent renewable energy. Dean Phillips campaign positions are public safety, and immigration. Robert F. Kennedy Jr campaign positions are removing censorship, updating the police system, public health, and reuniting the country. Cornel West’s campaign positions are wealth tax, 6 months of fully paid family leave, ending oil and gas leases. Jill Stein’s campaign positions are a livable wage, reduce carbon emissions, ending discrimination, and stopping endless wars.

Photo Credit: Securing Democracy

Trump Wins GOP Iowa Caucus

By: Nora Garland

On January 15th, 2024, Iowans convened to caucus for a Republican primary candidate. The Iowa caucus is the first primary in the United States. Instead of a traditional primary, Iowans participate in a caucus. In a caucus, groups are formed based on preferred candidates and argue for others to join and support their candidate. The number of members supporting a candidate determines the number of delegates that candidate receives. Presidential candidates focus a lot on Iowa in their campaigning efforts. The three frontrunners in the Republican primary, Former President Donald Trump, Former UN Ambassador and South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley, and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, all went to Iowa to campaign, as reported by the Associated Press. Many winners in the caucus go on to be their party’s nominee, like Hilary Clinton did after achieving a narrow victory in the Democrat caucus in 2016. A lead in Iowa shows voters that a candidate is a legitimate choice as voters are beginning to cast their ballots throughout the nation.

While candidates and the public alike put a lot of weight on the results of the caucus, the winner does not determine the winner of the national primary election. In 2016, Ted Cruz won the Iowa caucus and later lost the primary election with 563 delegates out of 1237 delegates needed to win. In 2020, in the Democratic primary Mayor Pete Buttigieg, who now serves as Secretary of Transportation, won the Iowa caucus before ultimately losing the nomination to President Biden.

As reported by the Associated Press, Trump had a landslide win with 51% of the votes, in spite of his lack of campaigning compared to the other candidates.

Desantis was in a far second place with 21.2% of votes, despite his agressive campaign strategy. His wife, Casey Desantis encouraged voters illegaly vote in Iowa on Fox News as part of her Mamas for Desantis initiative, falsely staing, “you do not have to be a resident of Iowa to participate in the caucas. so moms and grandmas are going to be able to come and be a part and let their voice be heard and support Ron.” Futhermore, DeSantis hosted 99 events in over half of Iowas counties according to Axios.

Nikki Haley was close behind Desantis earning 19.1% of votes.

In a video posted to X, formerly Twitter, DeSantis conceded to and endorsed his former opponent, Trump, which may have been a bid to be his future running mate. He also called out Nikki Haley, “we can’t go back to the old Republican guard of yesteryear, a repackaged form of warmedover corporatism that Nikki Haley represents.”

DeSantis dropping out left the New Hampshire primary, as well as the rest of the Republican primary, a two man race between Haley and Trump. The New Hampshire, second in country primaries, the primary results were much more encouraging for Haley. Although Trump won with 54.3% of the vote according to the Associated Press, Haley followed close behind with 43.2%.

PHOTO CREDIT: REUTERS

PHOTO CREDIT: AXIOS

Biden Behind in Early ‘24 Election Polls

BY: ERIK GUNDERSON

Donald Trump being re-elected President of the United States in 2024 after a four year hiatus is a very real possibility, a new New York Times–Siena College poll revealed. Trump leads incumbent Joe Biden by significant margins in five of the six battleground states considered crucial to swinging the balance in 2024, and is only two points behind in the one battleground Biden leads in, Michigan. Not only that, but the polling indicates that Biden is hemorrhaging support among key constituencies, namely young voters. Biden only leads Trump by one point among voters aged 18 to 29. By comparison, he won that same demographic by twenty-five points when he defeated Trump in 2020. Biden is also struggling to gin up enthusiasm about his campaign among Black voters. A recent CNN poll has put Trump’s support with Black voters nationwide at 23%. No Democratic president since 1965 has ever won less than 80% of the Black vote.

The polls also indicate that Biden himself is behind these troubling poll numbers, not a negative view of his party. Trump leads Biden by four points but trails a generic Democratic candidate by almost eight. In other words, a generic Democrat running on the same policies Biden is currently running on polls 12 points better than Biden does. Even Kamala Harris, Biden’s oft-maligned vice president, performed better against Trump than he did, outpolling Biden in three of the six swing states. The New York Times poll additionally revealed that while Trump may only be a few years younger than Biden, the electorate perceives him as being much more mentally and physically fit. 47% of registered voters indicated that Biden was too old to be an effective president, while only 18% said the same about Trump.

If there is a sliver of hope for President Biden, it is that this poll only represents a moment in time–he still has a year to change the American people’s opinion of him before the election next November. However, a key reason behind his poor numbers is his advanced age, and Biden isn’t getting any younger. This string of poor polling for Biden does not necessarily condemn him to electoral defeat this year, but unless Biden is able to make gains in the six battlegrounds and among key parts of his base, he may find these obstacles impossible to overcome.

PHOTO CREDIT: NEW YORK TIMES

Has AI Gone Too Far? Meta Introduces New AI Personalities

By: Nora Garland

It is no secret that AI has become increasingly popular recently. Although these advancements and technology can be cool and helpful, there can definitely at times be creepy. In late September, Instagram users began to notice some unusual accounts pop up. One particular saw a verified account of someone named Billie. Her posts are all of nondescript idealic buildings with a little AI generated watermark in the corner. In one of her only posts where we can see her, she introduces herself as Billie and invites us to come chat with her. Users immediately identified her as Keeping Up With The Kardashians star, Kendall Jenner. It turned out that Billie, along with many “AI personalities,” is an AI generated chat bot with only the likeness of Jenner, as reported by the New York Post. Despite the model only being a text based chat, as you message with the AI bot, a video of their face is reacting to the messages. Many other public figures, including Tom Brady, Snoop Dog, and Paris Hilton, have got on the bandwagon. These celebrities were reportedly paid upwards of 1 million dollars for a couple hours of studio footage and for their likeness. This feature is available to all users of Instagram, Facebook, and Messenger.

As Mark Zuckerburg said at the Connect conference, as reported by the New York Post, “This isn’t just going to be about answering queries. This is about entertainment and about helping you do things to connect with the people around you.” But, the general consensus is that this is not entertaining, but scary and weird.

There are also dangers with the ability to make famous people say and do anything on an app with over 2 billion users. Recently actress Scarlett Johansson took legal action against an AI app which used an AI generated video of her in an ad, as reported by The Guardian. In theory, anyone could make anybody do something with AI technology.

There is increasing speculation that these huge innovations by Meta are meant to serve to compete with platforms like TikTok, that are becoming more and more popular with young people. But AI chatbots to replace real life connections are a huge misstep. A study at the Poole School of Management at North Carolina State University found young people prefer the creative and connective aspects of social media more than those of other ages. To slap the faces of celebrities on generic chatbots in order to attract their attention is a huge misunderstanding of what young people want when young people are craving more genuine connections

PHOTO CREDIT: THE INDEPENDENT

America’s Youngest Teacher

By: Mia Hooper

In her series of groundbreaking achievements, Shania Muhammad, a 16-year old from Oklahoma City has become America’s youngest full-time salaried teacher. At the age of 14, Shania’s academic excellence became evident as she attained three college degrees from Oklahoma City Community College and Langston University. Additionally, she completed a rigorous two-year National Teachers Professional Development Training program through the Thurgood Marshall Foundation. At 15, she graduated highest in her class from Langston University with a bachelor of arts, accompanied by an outstanding 4.0 GPA, according to The Guardian.

Beyond her own personal success, Shania aims to inspire others in demonstrating the possibilities that determination and hard work can unfold. Shania envisions sharing her accomplishments through a book titled: “Read, Write, Listen: 13 in College.” Her accomplishments are comparable to people that pursue careers in law, medicine, and higher education. Shania’s story is special as it represents not only her dedication to education and learning, but her family’s support of her.

One of her earliest scholastic achievements is completing high school at an age where most people begin middle school. Along with her older brother and sister, she pursued two associate degrees prior to obtaining her bachelor’s degree. Elijah Muhammad, the siblings’ father, was incredibly proud of them as they celebrated their graduation together.

In her own words, Shania considers herself a member of the “invisible Black scholars of this world,” Muhammad told KOCO. She claims that their accomplishments are frequently overlooked by society and eclipsed by the attention paid to athletes, artists, and social media influencers. Through her public speaking engagements, Shania seeks to alter this narrative by highlighting the achievements of people who are similar to her and encouraging others to follow in the Muhammad household’s footsteps.

In conclusion, Shania Muhammad’s journey allows us to recognize the transformational power of dedication, tenacity, and support from her family. Shania is the youngest full-time salaried teacher in America, and she is eager to inspire a new generation of kids. She will show that remarkable feats can be achieved with a dedicated team and an unwavering work ethic.

PHOTO CREDITS: HBCUCONNECT.COM

MAFIA TAKEDOWN

An Italian tribunal convicted over 300 individuals, sentencing them to a combined total of over 2,100 years in prison as a result of their involvement in Italy’s ‘Ndrangheta organized crime mob. This organization is known for its global market in drug trafficking along with its influence over the local economy and institutions through politicians. The trial involved a lengthy verdict, imprisoning key members of the Mancuso crime family. “Despite the large number of defendants, the trial wasn’t Italy’s biggest one involving alleged mobsters” said CBS News. The ‘Ndrangheta monopolizes cocaine importation in Europe, with operations in multiple continents: North America, South America, and Africa. The charges included drug and arms trafficking, extortion, and mafia association. The investigation targeted 12 clans linked to ’Ndrangheta’s leader, Luigi Mancuso. Prosecutors emphasized the mob’s persuasive influence on Vibo Valentia, an area predominantly controlled by the ‘Ndrangheta’s Mancuso clan, while defense attorneys criticized the extensive number of defendants.

By: Amelia Hooper

The trial aimed to expose collusion between mobsters and various societal sectors, illustrating the syndicate’s deep roots in Calabria. ‘Ndrangheta, fueled by cocaine trafficking revenues, has expanded its influence by acquiring businesses across Italy and Europe, engaging in money laundering and establishing legitimate enterprises in tourism and hospitality. The defendants include public servants, professionals, mayors, and even a high ranking police official, reflecting the ‘Ndrangheta’s success in infiltrating the legitimate economy.

Anna Sergi, a criminology professor at the University of Exeter, commented on the trial, stating, “This trial affirms convictions of traditional mafiosi, sentenced for crimes typically associated with criminal activities like extortion and drug trafficking.” She emphasized the importance of acknowledging “the different types of people involved, including white collar workers, provide a more comprehensive view of the entire province and the connections between various mafia clans.”

Over fifty former mafia members, including Luigi Mancuso’s nephew Emanuele, cooperated with the trial, providing insights into the workings of one of Italy’s most powerful criminal organizations. The trial unveiled details such as the clan members allegedly hiding weapons in cemetery chapels, using ambulances for drug transportation, and diverting public water supplies for marijuana cultivation.

Organized crime often exerts control over local economies, leading to economic exploitation and unfair business practices. Stopping crime mobs such as the ‘Ndrangheta is crucial for safeguarding public safety, preserving the integrity of the economy while upholding human rights and the rule of law. The rights and freedoms of individuals within the affected communities deserve to see justice for any harm done to them and their communities.

PHOTO CREDIT: VALERIA FERRARO

PHOTO CREDIT: VALERIA FERRARO

SuperBowl Madness

By: Bemnet Mekebeb

The Super Bowl is the championship game at the end of the NFL, National Football League, season. It started off as a game between two football leagues and now it’s a really well known event that people all over the world watch and enjoy. It came about because two football leagues, the NFL (National Football League) and the AFL (American Football League) joined together. The owner of the Kansas City Chiefs, Lamar Hunt, came up with the idea for a game that would decide the champion of both leagues.

He called it the “Super Bowl’’ after his sons toy named “Super Ball.” The first game happened in 1967 and was called the AFL-NFL World Championship Game. It was a success, so they kept doing it every year. Now, the Super Bowl is a big event where the champions of the NFL’s NFC and the AFC compete for the championship.This shows millions of people like it and it has become one of the most watched events.

The Super Bowl has expanded rapidly over time, becoming an occasion that takes place well beyond the football field. The addition of beautiful halftime shows with performances by some of the top music acts in the world has been a major factor in drawing a wide range of spectators. This year the super bowl halftime show was presented by Usher. Companies are spending millions on the commercials that run during the game to show off their creative work to a large audience. The commercials have become a cultural phenomenon in and of itself. One of the most famous or iconic commercials would be the one about Doritos, which was called “Live the Flavor”.

Super Bowl LVIII was played at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Nevada on Sunday, February 11, 2024. The two teams competing against each other were the San Francisco 49ers and the Kansas City Chiefs. The San Francisco 49ers lost to the Kansas City Chiefs, with the final score of 22-25. Even though the 49ers were leading most of the game, in the end the Kansas City managed to take them into overtime. The 49ers won the coin toss but came short in the end. This made Kansas City go back to back and win two Super Bowls in a row.

Met Gala 2024: What We Know

BY: NAOMI NELSON

The Met Gala also known as ”fashion’s biggest night out“ is a charity event that is considered as a fundraiser for the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute. The event first began as a charity event created by publicist Eleanor Lambert to raise funds for the then-newly founded Costume Institute. The event took a cultural shift when Diana Vreeland was tapped as a consultant for the Costume Institute, changing the venue of the Met Gala to the Metropolitan Museum of Art and adding gala themes. Now, Vogue editor in chief Anna Wintour oversees the benefit, guest list, and theme, working closely with the Met each year for the event. As time progresses the guest list evolves to showcase the “the boundarypushing stars of fashion, entertainment, and politics that graced the pages of Vogue “as reported by Vogue. Not much is known about what takes place at the event due to its no-phone policy but the public has been made aware of some crucial information regarding the event. It will be held on May 6, 2024 the first Monday in May. As reported by Vogue, this year it will celebrate the Costume’s Institute new exhibit: “ Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening fashion” Even though the dress code has not been announced it has been shared that the exhibit will feature approximately 250 rare items drawn from the Costume Institute’s permanent collection. The event’s details are kept top secret, especially the guest list which only becomes revealed the evening before the event. But some of the biggest names in the business including Rihanna, Cardi B, and Zendaya regularly attend the gala. Just like the guest list being kept top secret, little information has been shared regarding who will be hosting the event but it is expected to be a star-studded line up. For those who will not be able to take the trip to New York to see the outfits the celebrities wore, Vogue usually airs a livestream so fashion fans can watch at the comfort of their home.

POPE CALLS FOR A CEASEFIRE

BY: DESIREE TRIPODO

At 6:30 am on October 7th 2023, Israel released around 5,000 rockets into multiple parts of the Gaza strip. It was reported by the Ministry of Health in Gaza that 232 were killed and 1,697 were left injured, by this first attack alone. Israel’s aim was to get back at Hamas for killing approximately 3,700 people and taking in around 240 hostages from the Re’im Supernova music festival in southern Israel as mentioned in The Guardian. In the most recent report by The Jerusalem Post about 1,391 people in Israel have been killed since October 7th.

In over 130 days, 26,000+ Palestinian civilians, including children have been killed. According to BBC news, that’s around 300 people daily. BBC also says, 85% of citizens of the Gaza strip have been displaced with little to no food or water and lack all the basic necessities and hygiene products. Due to the food shortages and unsanitary living conditions, the citizens of Gaza, reported in the World Health Organization, are dying of respiratory infections, meningitis, scabies, and other diseases that develop from poor living conditions. Diseases could potentially grow to be the number one killer in Gaza after bombings; Al Jazeera, a news source owned by the Qatari government, says there have been around 44,000 cases of diarrhoea and 70,000 respiratory infections recorded. As a result of the bombings in Gaza, countless people are unable to bury their loved ones because bodies have been mutilated, some beyond identification. Al Jazeera says when a person goes unclaimed, their body is covered and labeled by the article of clothing they’re wearing or an accessory. The Israeli Defense Force has been targeting the standing hospitals in Gaza, and recently all 36 have been demolished. Before this, Hamas, the militant group in Gaza, offered to release the captives from Israel in exchange for a permanent ceasefire; The prime minister of Israel, Benjamin Netenyahu, denied their offer by saying “their soldiers would have died for nothing”. He also stated that Israel “must defeat these monsters” as recorded by Haaretz.

Pope Francis commented saying the Israel-Palestine conflict “has gone beyond war. This is terrorism” in the Washington Post. UNICEF claims that 1.2 million children will need psychological support, but this can only happen after a ceasefire has been called. This war has been taxing on the citizens of Gaza, both physically and mentally. An example is Motaz Azaza, a photojournalist who has experienced and documented the wreckage of Israel first hand. Motaz says he no longer has any interest in pursuing his passions and dreams because of all the losses he has experienced at just age 25, in a video from Al Jazeera’s website. Prince Willaim has also expressed his feelings on the topic by saying “There is a desperate need for increased humanitarian support to Gaza. It’s critical that aid gets in and hostages are released” in his most recent interview recorded by The Guardian. These are the calls for peace and help from the international community.

Barbie at the Oscars

By: Izzy Spooner

After one of the most defining years in cinema due to the Writer and Actor Strike, this year’s Oscars is one of the most anticipated events of 2024. The strike created halts in releases, production, and advertisement, making this year’s releases irregular but the contenders for the 2024 Oscars are still extremely strong. Oppenheimer and Barbie (coincidentally released on the same day) are easily in the group of most nominated movies, when it comes to Barbie however, there is tension in the air as to what they should’ve been nominated for. Among the many categories, Best Actress and Best Director are two of the biggest awards that draw many to watch the Oscars. After director Greta Gerwig and lead actress Margot Robbie of Barbie were not nominated for either category, many avid fans throughout social media were infuriated. With 8 other nominations, they did not lack chances to win a statue, however, with outstanding performances and an effort put into the movie by Robbie and Gerwig, viewers were left feeling cheated as said on NPR. Many posts on Twitter and other platforms reflect this, including even a letter from Ryan Gosling, who was nominated for Best Supporting Male Actor, stating: “...they made us laugh, they broke our hearts, they pushed the culture and they made history. Their work should be recognized along with the other very deserving nominees.”, acknowledging the situation and stating that he too is disappointed. Although Gerwig and Robbie are not in the running for those main areas, America Fererra is in the running for Best Supporting Actress, making Barbie fans excited that she is getting the recognition she deserves. In my opinion, I feel like Margot played the role extremely well and there could not have been a better fit, however, the character she was playing was not as groundbreaking as Ken or Gloria, who had little to no personality before being put into Barbie. Ryan Gosling and America Ferrera played an integral part in creating their own characters, while Robbie played a set personality for most of the movie and served more of a purpose to spread a message rather than have a groundbreaking performance. I loved her performance and am so glad she was picked, I just think that there were better fits for Best Actress nominees coming from people who have built up/created their character. As for Gerwig, I wholeheartedly agree that she was robbed of the nomination for best director as she imagined a new set and created a new way of thinking for the Barbie movie. On March 10th, Barbie took home one Oscar for Best Original Song for “What Was I Made For?” by Billie Eilish.

PHOTO CREDIT: BBC