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SPECIAL EDITION || Kinnelon High School
Colt Chronicle Election Issue 2020
Illustration by Abeeha Zaidi
Zoom
THE FOUR FOR TWO
THE ROLE OF TECHNOLOGY
Dan Yu
Zenobia Ahsanuddin
Alanna Gallagher
100 YEARS OF WOMEN’S SUFFERAGE
SAVE THE PLANET SPECIAL
HISTORY OF ATHLETES & POLITICS
Camille Balo
Abeeha Zaidi
CELEBRITIES AND THE ELECTION
Ethan Burt
INDEX 3-8
The Four For Two: Board of Education Dan Yu
GOOD
?
BAD
9-10
The Clash of the Climate Plans Abeeha Zaidi
The Good, The Bad & The Un-Answered Questions Julia Hackney
11-12
100 Years of Women’s Suffrage Camille Balo
13-14
19-20 23-24 Colt Chronicle Staff Entertainment Recommendations Colt Chronicle Staff
25-27 21-22
Celebrities & the Election Alanna Gallagher
Meet the Candidates Julia Hackney
29-30
The History of Athletics and Political Demonstration in the U.S. Ethan Burt DISCLAIMER
Enola Holmes Review Abeeha Zaidi
All opinion articles represent the opinion of one student reporter and may contain bias. These opinions are not necessarily shared by the rest of the Colt Chronicle staff, Kinnelon High School, or its students and staff. All opinion pieces have an Adviser’s Note at the top.
MEET THE EDITORS Mrs. Van Der Sluys
Camille Balo
Newspaper Adviser
Editor-in-Chief
Julia Hackney World/Local Editor & Managing Editor
Abeeha Zaidi
Juliana Marston
Emily Mazurkiewicz
Managing Editor & Layout
School News Editor
Opinion Editor
Gabriella Avagyan A&E Editor
Ethan Burt Sports & Features Editor
The Four for Two
Who’s running for the Board of Education (BOE) in Kinnelon? Get to know more about the four contenders. By Daniel Yu, School News Editor With elections coming up for both our nation and our local BOE, political involvement is something that citizens typically partake in. However, true information about each of our candidates is paramount in order to form wise, informed decisions. Below is the transcript of an interview conducted with BOE candidate Jean Donaldson in which she discusses her planned campaign policies and proven qualifications.
Jean Donaldson
Who/what inspired you to run for our local BOE? What are a few campaign goals you hope to accomplish if elected? I was inspired to run for BOE by my children. I have four children enrolled in Kinnelon Schools, and I want to make their educational exerience the best it can be. I am also inspired by the American experiment that holds freedom sacrosanct. It is what enables communities to come together to overcome obstacles and own how they want to live. I feel it is my obligation to do my part to make Kinnelon a great place to live. What experiences/qualifications/beliefs do you have that are integral to your campaign’s validity? How have you attempted to reach out and connect to all members of our community, from the elderly to working adults to teens in high school?
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When I was serving as U.S. Coast Guard Officer, I responded to many emergencies at all levels: local, state and federal. I have a lot of operational experience as a maritime law enforcement officer and as a helicopter pilot. I also served in Public and
COLT CHRONICLE | ELECTION ISSUE | SCHOOL NEWS
SCHOOL NEWS
My experience will be of importance during this period when the Board of Education will be dealing with these decisions. I have coached numerous sports teams and volunteered in multifaceted areas of school involvement in the past so I have met many K-12 families. Specific to this campaign, I participated in three live meet the candidate events (1 on FaceBook Live) and three virtual Zoom meetings. I also walked around various neighborhoods, left flyers on residences and posted lawn signs all around Kinnelon. Using a combination of in-person efforts and social media, I have attempted to meet all aspects of our community. How do you intend to support our faculty/staff should the pandemic continue to keep schools closed? For example, bus drivers, custodial workers, etc. The single most pressing issue in the Kinnelon School district is recovering from the impact of the COVID-19 restrictions. Most of the staff have union representation that looks out for their interest, so I am more concerned with the students’ experience at present. The negative effect on education and child development is not debatable; it will have long-term effects. Immediately, efforts must be attempted to return normalcy to the students within the Governor’s guidelines. A plan/policy needs to be created to assess learning loss and how to recover that considering the various grades. However, my long-term goal is to ensure that Kinnelon School District recovers and retains its tradition of excellence. The Board of Ed has an obligation to create an environment that attracts and retains the best and the brightest educators and administrators so students are motivated to be the best they can be. I want to help create that environment. How do you intend to support/prepare students for life past high school? The ultimate goal of public education is to prepare our youth to be active citizens in this country. To do this, we need to educate the whole child so they have the confidence and education to participate in whatever future they choose. Though Kinnelon’s academic rigor is impressive, it is not always the best fit for all people. My long-term goal would be to re-evaluate our current student curriculum policies to make sure we are providing the best options for all types of students while retaining the high academic standards we currently have.
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COLT CHRONICLE | ELECTION ISSUE | SCHOOL NEWS
Government affairs roles dealing with the media and elected officials during national and regional emergencies. Therefore, I have a lot of experience working with diverse groups within the public policy domain. I offer this experience and the skills I have developed to continue the Kinnelon School District’s tradition of excellence. I think my background will be very helpful, as we are currently in a state of emergency and hard decisions will need to be made to recover safely and return to normal.
Who/what inspired you to run for our local BOE? What are a few campaign goals you hope to accomplish if elected? After my [Black Lives Matter] BLM march got a lot of traction and press coverage, I decided that I wanted to be more of a leader and make even more change. I went to Kinnelon High School; I saw the policies that the BOE implemented first-hand. In addition to this, I have spoken at a multitude of BOE meetings about issues I have seen and/or experienced. Also, my family still lives in Kinnelon and my little sisters are in PRM. I care a lot about their education and all of the children’s education.
I have reached out personally to various alumni and current students to campaign. I also have reached out to the working adults through Facebook groups and social media. For the elderly, I have plans to do phone banking and also have signs around town. I am a firm believer of a diverse and well-rounded education. I don’t believe in swaying children to think a certain way, but giving them every possible (and valid) resource we can. In college, I wish I had more of a well rounded education that I can assist our current children in school in achieving.
How do you intend to support our faculty/staff I firmly believe that children are the future and want to should the pandemic continue to keep schools ensure they are receiving the best schooling possible. I closed? For example, bus drivers, custodial think the most important issue our schools are facing is workers, etc. COVID-19. Our faculty and staff have an important task (one of the most important in the world!) in educating our My goal is to increase safety for as many faculty and students. As someone whose workplace has closed students as possible whilst maintaining budget minddue to COVID-19, I understand it is an extremely fulness. I think in-person schooling can make a big challenging time. impact on early education, but legally we must still follow the state guidelines, and I believe faculty and student safety comes first. My other goals include budget mindfulness, diversity and inclusion (for LGBT students, people of all cultures, disabled students, etc.) and ensuring proper wages for faculty and staff. What experiences/qualifications/beliefs do you have that are integral to your campaign’s validity? How have you attempted to reach out and connect to all members of our community, from the elderly to working adults to teens in high school? I serve on the Rutgers University Senate which is equivalent to the Rutgers School Board. From my hard work, I have become head of the Curriculum Committee and also am the only student selected and nominated for the Commencement Nomination Committee. I have spoken and passed motions for the Senate a multitude of times, so I have lots of experience in school administration. I also work directly with high schools for my internship, Project 555, which is a youth voter initiative. I work with high schools and their administration to encourage and engage students into voting. In addition, I have a ton of leadership experience from doing the following: serving on the Rutgers’ Student Government as secretary, vice president of Art Students’ League, treasurer of Writer’s League, and [public relations] rep of the Political Science Honor Society. I am in two additional honor societies but regardless of my work, BOE would serve as my primary focus.
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Photo Courtesy of of Sydney Johnson
I personally do not think it’s right to charge our teachers with the strenuous task of educating our future and leaving them in the dust once schools close. As mentioned previously, it is one of my campaign goals to ensure faculty and staff wages. I also think it’s important to intake our faculty and staff’s opinions when it comes to COVID-19. How do you intend to support/prepare students for life past high school? Like I mentioned previously, by introducing a more diverse curriculum (and this can also include more sports and clubs with budget mindfulness) in order to create well-rounded students prepared for the real world.
COLT CHRONICLE | ELECTION ISSUE | SCHOOL NEWS
Sydney Johnson
Who/What inspired you to run for our local BOE? What are a few campaign goals you hope to accomplish if elected?
I live in Kinnelon and have been through every school in the district. Therefore, my views regarding the Kinnelon School District are nearly 12 years in the making. As a former student, I have first-hand knowledge of the Kinnelon schools’ internal operations and a unique perspective on how the Board of Education policies affect the students and faculty. I have seen many aspects of the school system that could be reworked to improve students’ quality of education.
There are many issues that I hope to address if elected. First of all, the COVID-19 pandemic is the top priority in school districts all over the country, especially in Kinnelon. Students greatly benefit from an in-person education and the ability to interact with their peers. However, with the uptick in New Jersey cases, we have to proceed very cautiously with a reopening plan. I intend to collaborate closely and efficiently with the students, parents, faculty, administration, and health professionals and follow the executive orders set forth by Governor Murphy to open the schools for students in a way that prevents a second wave and keeps the members of Kinnelon safe. In the long term, some of my goals include: implementing inclusivity initiatives for students with special needs, improving accessible mental health resources, updating the school curriculum resources, and improving transparency and communication between the board of education and students/parents.
What experiences/qualifications/beliefs do you have that are integral to your campaign’s validity? How have you attempted to reach out and connect to all members of our community, from the elderly to working adults to teens in high school? A member of the board of education should understand the operations of a school district and have an open-minded and collaborative attitude. Not only have I lived in the district for nearly my entire life, but I have also been active in the community. Over the years, I have involved myself in many activities with Kinnelon that improved my connection to and understanding of the community.
I was a safety town counselor for three years. In my senior year of high school, I volunteered as a teaching assistant, so I know the current classroom operations within the district and extracurricular activities. However, I also have experience in school operations outside of Kinnelon. For example, I have served as a member of the Scarlet Honor Council at Rutgers University, which adjudicates matters involving the student code of conduct and academic integrity policies. This requires extensive knowledge of how the school operates and close collaboration with the faculty and administration. I have also worked as a member of the i3 restorative justice project, which sought to implement improved educational practices in 18 Brooklyn schools. This position, again, required knowledge of how each school operates and how the students currently interact with the staff. As a candidate, I am open-minded. Therefore, I’m willing to listen to and collaborate with other board members to make the best decisions for the people in this community. I am also detail-oriented, so I will make sure no stone is left unturned when researching and implementing programs in the schools, ways to streamline the budget, inclusivity programs, etc. As someone with a brother
Concetta Vecchione
with special needs, I am a staunch supporter of inclusivity across all grade levels. For kids with special needs and without special needs, we need to push forward to make sure every student feels included socially, emotionally, and academically. This school district and this community need inclusivity, accessibility, transparency, close communication, and teamwork.
How do you intend to support our faculty/staff should the pandemic continue to keep schools closed? For example, bus drivers, custodial workers, etc.
COLT CHRONICLE | ELECTION ISSUE | SCHOOL NEWS
Concetta Vecchione
This pandemic has affected every student, parent, teacher, and every member of our community. There is no definite way to predict how the COVID-19 pandemic will affect the future of Kinnelon Schools, which is why collaborative efforts from every member of the school district and the community are essential to return to a form of normal school instruction and progress through these stages in a way that keeps students, teachers, faculty, and the members of the community safe. How do you intend to support/prepare students for life past high school?
In terms of preparing students for college, many academic programs improve students’ college applications and prepare them for a college-level course load. Implementing more AP classes, IB programs, and offering SAT prep classes are some of the initiatives I support to improve students’ education and college preparedness. As a student, preparing for college is an extremely stressful and difficult process in a broader sense. On top of an already stressful process, high school students deal with the stress of getting good grades, doing enough extracurriculars, and getting a good score on the SAT. While we have to work within a paradigm that values these criteria currently, we also have to be mindful of the students’ mental and physical health. We should increase the mental health resources available so that students can manage their mental health and work to develop healthy habits regarding managing their schoolwork and interpersonal relationships. Yes, preparing for college is important, but helping students develop healthy life skills and behaviors will set them up for a successful college and post-college career.
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Who/what inspired you to run for our local BOE? What are a few campaign goals you hope to accomplish, if elected? One of my goals is to audit the District financial records so we have a transparent view at exactly where money is spent and why our district is short of funds pre-COVID, as well as what financial impact we can expect as a result of COVID. I want to increase transparency and communication to the community. I also want to provide a means, perhaps by an emailed poll, to give the community greater input. I would also like to bring back the public vote on the budget. Lastly, I want to revamp the Department of Special Services and ensure it provides the resources, services, and staff for a top-tier public school like Kinnelon. What experiences/qualifications/beliefs do you have which are integral to the validity of your campaign? How have you attempted to reach out and connect to all members of our community, from the elderly to working adults to teens in high school? As a mother of two school-age children, and a homeowner, I am very vested in maintaining and growing the quality of Kinnelon’s education system, and in being mindful of the budget. I am also an attorney, admitted in New Jersey and New York, as well as a business owner. I have been a student in various institutions and know what it is like to navigate from leaving high school, to graduating law school, to getting to where I am today. Regarding speaking to people: It was important to me to connect with as many people as possible. I walked around to about 2,500 homes giving out a pamphlet about my goals and qualifications. I talked to as many people as I could along the way. I also stood in front of Stop and Shop and a deli meeting with people and asking questions about issues that are important to them. Doing this allowed me to meet a cross-section of our community members in terms of different ages and from different economic backgrounds. I wanted to hear from a broad range of people about issues that they felt were important regarding our school district.Those collective experiences provide me with the ability to help achieve the goals that I have set, and to work on new ones with the rest of the Board. How do you intend to support our faculty/staff should the pandemic continue to keep schools closed? For example: bus drivers; custodial workers, etc. We need to abide by the State mandates that govern what transpires with faculty and staff during COVID.That said, we should try to make sure that they are given information in a timely manner so that they know what is taking place. How do you intend on supporting/preparing students for life past high school? The best way to support our students is to have current and meaningful programs and curriculum that will offer students life skills, the ability to earn a meaningful livelihood, or to be able to pursue their career through further education.
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COLT CHRONICLE | ELECTION ISSUE | SCHOOL NEWS
Karen D’Amico
COLT CHRONICLE | ELECTION ISSUE | SCHOOL NEWS
Karen D’Amico, pictured with her husband.
Look out for our next issue!
Can you guess the theme?
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Save the Planet Special:
The Clash of the Climate Plans
Two candidates’ platforms are on the table and now it’s time to vote on what is right for our planet.
By Abeeha Zaidi, Managing Editor & Layout Adviser’s Note: The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed in this opinion article belong solely to the author and do not reflect the view of The Colt Chronicle Staff, Kinnelon High School, or its students and staff members.
Am I the only one who gets lost in debates? I wait for the conversation regarding environmental issues, but I can never take any mental or physical notes on what the aim of either party is. Such a matter depicts the future of our world: Our planet gets closer and closer to being inhabitable every year, and the next President can be our next hope or our next disaster. The decision is currently in our hands, but that only begs the question: Who will help our environment best: Biden or Trump? Former Vice President Joe Biden believes in climate change and has stated that he believes that our planet is in danger. According to joebiden.com, the Biden Plan states the following: 1. The climate is an issue and needs to be acted upon urgently in order to match the scale of its effects. 2. Our environment and our economy are completely and totally connected.
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Biden believes that his plan will not have a drasticnegative impact on the economy, as there will be more emerging jobs as the nation becomes more sustainable. Under Biden’s plan, being more environmentally conservative will make jobs rather than destroying them. He doesn’t have a plan that can cause no impact on the economy, but one that will build a better future for generations to come.
A clean future is a key component in the Biden Plan, as he states on the Biden.org site: “100% clean energy economy is not only an obligation; it’s an opportunity.” He aims to achieve a net zero emissions rate no later than 2050, the end of what could possibly be his first term of presidency if he is to win the election. Though his plan sounds better than ever and provides a remedy to the disease of carbon emissions the planet has been under, it is considerably more expensive than his original plan. The current President of the United States, Donald Trump, is the opposing option to the Biden Plan . After a long search for the word climate on Trump’s cam-
COLT CHRONICLE | ELECTION ISSUE |OPINION
OPINION
Trump has stated his opinions on the matter, but interestingly enough, some of them go against each other. According to thehill.com, the day Trump announced his rollback to major environmental law, he stated that “nothing’s a hoax” about climate change. He’s also known for his monumental statements about how the earth will cool again and his very misunderstood knowledge of what exactly climate change is. The choice is in the hands of the voters: Do they want to vote for an expensive plan or an expensive plan? One costs the planet and one costs money….
COLT CHRONICLE | ELECTION ISSUE |OPINION
paign page, I was met with three simple words time and time again: “0 searches matched.” That’s an almost exact representation of the position the Trump administration has on the climate issue.
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100 Years of Wom
By Camille Balo, Editor i
On July 4, 1776, Thomas Jefferson wrote that “all Men are created equal.” However, for women, this inaliena vote through the 19th Amendment. In light of this, it’s important to take a look back into history and rememb today can enjoy the sweet taste of equality and representation.
From Susan B. Anthony to Ida B. Wells-Barnett, there have been numerous suffragettes who spearheaded and vention) to 1920 (the year the 19th Amendment was ratified).
Susan B. Anthony
Ida B. Wells-Barnett
One of the most visible leaders during the suffrage movement, Anthony traveled across the nation, tirelessly delivering speeches in support of women’s suffrage. Not to mention, Anthony founded many women’s organizations and initiatives, including co-founder of the National Woman Suffrage Association (NWSA) in 1869, created The Revolution, a publication that advocated for women’s rights under the American Equal Rights Association (AERA), edited three volumes of History of Woman Suffrage, and more.
While critical of the women’s suffrage movement due to their lack of advocacy for anti-lynching legislation, Wells-Barnett reamined a dedicated suportter of women’s suffrage, specifically focusing on the suffrage for women of color. Furthermore, she was a founding member of the National Association of Colored Women’s Club, an organization that addressed both civil rights and women’s suffrage, and travelled around the country delivering speeches and publishing articles pertaining to lynching, civil rights, women’s suffrage, and more.
“I declare to you that woman must not depend upon the protection of man, but must be taught to protect herself, and there I take my stand.”
“What becomes a crime deserving capital punishment when the tables are turned is a matter of small moment when the [Afro-American] woman is the accusing party.”
Elizabeth Cady Stanton
Initiator of the Seneca Fa vention and primary wri the Declaration of Sentim Stanton was one of the o suffragettes. Along with Anthony, Stanton co-fou National Woman Suffrag ciation (NWSA) and edi The Revolution. Not to m Stanton was also part of that wrote The Woman’s book that challenged the that women should be su to men.
“We hold these truths to ident: that all men and w created equal.”
Just a mere 100 years ago, women gained the right to vote, and this election, the Election of 2020, marks this Election of 1984, women have either equalled or outnumbered the male vote, with 63 percent of eligible fem voted. And, according to research conducted by the Pew Research Center, this trend has been consistent throu continue to use their vote and their voice to preserve American democracy and correct their historical underre
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Regardless of political ideologies and leanings, the female voice is an important voice to hear, just as all othe today but also safeguards this sacred right for all the women to come.
COLT CHRONICLE | ELECTION ISSUE |OPINION
men’s Suffrage
in Chief & STEM Editor
able, human right was not fully realized until 1920, when women were finally granted the right to ber the brave and persistent women who stood up for their rights and sacrificed so much so women
d openly supported the women’s suffrage movement from 1848 (the year of the Seneca Falls Con-
alls Coniter of ments, original Susan B. unded the ge Assoited for mention, the group s Bible, a e orthodoxy ubservient
o be self-evwomen are
Carrie Chapman Catt
Lucretia Mott
Upon the resignation of Anthony from the National American Woman Suffrage Association (NAWSA), Catt was elected to succeed her in becoming the president of the organization. A strong believer in women’s suffrage, Catt campaigned across the country for the 19th Amendment, leading an “army of voteless women” in 1919 to pressure Congress to pass the constitutional amendment that would grant and secure women’s right to vote. She took the women’s suffrage movement international when she helped establish the International Woman Suffrage Association along with a group of other suffragettes.
A successful orator, Lucretia Mott spoke out against gender inequality and deeply supported the women’s suffrage movement. Together with Stanton, Mott organized the Seneca Falls Convention, presenting the Declaration of Sentiments to the attendees. Following the Convention, Mott published Discourse of Women, a book detailing the repression of women throughout history, and remained a highly public leader within the women’s suffrage movement.
“The vote is the emblem of your equality, women of America, the guarantee of your liberty.”
“The world has never yet seen a truly great and virtuous nation because in the degradation of woman, the very foundations of life are poisoned at their source.”
s historic moment in the women’s rights movement. However, what’s interesting to note is that since the males stating they voted in the Election of 2016 compared to only 59 percent of eligible males stating they ughout three to four decades worth of presidential elections. That being said, it is still vital that women epresentation; after all, women now make up 51 percent of the U.S. population.
er voices are. Using your vote not only pays homage to the fearless suffragettes that gave us this right
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Questions
Missed out on the recent Presidential debates? Here’s a quick recap and some of our thoughts. By Julia Hackney, Managing Editor, Local and World News Editor Adviser’s Note: The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed in this opinion article belong solely to the author and do not reflect the view of The Colt Chronicle Staff, Kinnelon High School, or its students and staff members.
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September 29
Photo courtesy of Adam Schultz
President Donald Trump and former Vice President Joe Biden at the first presidential debate.
4 October 22
President Donald Trump and former Vice President Joseph R. Biden debated together for the first time on Sep 29. While some strategists predicted a sweeping win for Trump--believing the aggressive style he used in the 2016 debates would steamroll Biden--others believed Biden had the material on his side with an analysis by the New York Times of Trump’s elusive tax returns released just two days before the event. The debate itself was somewhat of a mixture. Trump successfully played to his base with jabs about Biden’s frequent mask usage, but had the greatest fumble of the night when asked to denounce white supremacy. Biden, on the other hand, distanced himself from the Green New Deal to the dismay of his party’s left wing, but kept his composure despite constant interruption.
The most striking part of the final debate on Oct 22 was not Joe Biden’s vow to move away from oil, nor was it Donald Trump’s self-proclamation that he was the “least racist person” in the room; it was Trump’s uncharacteristically calm manner that stood out the most against the initial debate. The beginning of the night seemed to carry over the civil tone set by the Vice Presidential debate, which startled viewers who had grown used to the rowdiness of modern American politics. Considering that Trump’s base thrives off his untraditional political performances of name calling, abrasion, and gimmicks--in other words, his lack of “political correctness”--he seemed to be attempting to appeal to the moderates not sold on Biden’s financial and environmental policies but unwilling to vote for an unsavory caricature of an American businessman. The president was unable to keep up the act, however, and was back to targeting Biden’s children by the end of the night.
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COLT CHRONICLE | ELECTION ISSUE |OPPINION
The Good, The Bad, and The Unanswered
Watching the Vice Presidential Debate on the other hand felt strangely comforting--nostalgic, even. Despite Senator Kamala Harris’s loaded interjection of “Mr. Vice President, I am speaking” and Vice President Mike Pence’s disregard for time limits, neither candidate at the debate grew as visibly agitated as their Photo courtesy of Lawrence Jackson running mates had a week prior, earnSenator Kamala Harris and Vice President Mike Pence at the debate. ing them both political brownie points. Political commentators and Twitter users alike were quick to dub the debate a “return to normalcy.” The electorate has reason to be wary of this rhetoric and fearful of our own complacency, however. What was undoubtedly a more respectful night still left questions unanswered on court packing and healthcare. Hearing Harris bite back at Pence left many viewers ecstatic after watching President Trump trample over reporters--especially female ones--for nearly four years. She carries the same burden of toeing the line between assertive and forceful for fear of being labeled nasty, catty, or any other synonym in the repertoire of adjectives reserved for female politicians. However, “girl power” moments from the debate succeeded in muzzling a lot of the criticism directed at Harris during the Democratic primaries, on everything from her reluctance to involve herself in the investigation of police shootings as California’s attorney general to her track record on marijuana convictions. However, these critiques would have the greatest impact for Democrats if delayed until Biden and Harris potentially take office January 20th of next year. Pushing the current Democratic ticket to the left will have no impact on policy if Biden is not in office to sign off on said policy.
COLT CHRONICLE | ELECTION ISSUE |OPINION
October 7
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3 October 15
The second presidential debate scheduled for Oct 15 was cancelled due to the President’s refusal to participate virtually despite his positive Coronavirus test. Instead, Biden held a town hall through ABC, and Trump held one through NBC.
Takeaway: For any undecided viewers waiting to hear the candidates face off before making a
final decision, these four nights of live discussion did not provide many revelations in terms of policy. All three debates did confirm, however, what was feared before the election season started; transitions of power in America are no longer marked by the civility the country once prided itself on. The upcoming election is about the character of our future leader--and therefore the ideals possessed by the country--as much as it is legislation.
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Let’s be honest: Neither of the Presidential candidates seem ideal. But what if we explored other options? By Andrew Noel, Staff Reporter
Adviser’s Note: The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed in this opinion article belong solely to the author and do not reflect the view of The Colt Chronicle Staff, Kinnelon High School, or its students and staff members. Before the 2016 election, I heard a Canadian say something to the effect of ‘Really, America? You have 350 million people and these are the two best candidates you give us?’ They, in hindsight, could not be more right. It feels like in this election (as it did in 2016), voting for the Democrat is voting for a socialist utopia, and voting for the Republican is voting for a facist paradise. There is no in between: or at least, people don’t think there is. This is where third parties come into play. There are lots of them, but the most well known are the Libertarian party and the Green party. Third parties don’t get recognized enough because the media has this false preconceived notion that nobody would even give them a chance. This is not the case, however, as the news program 60 Minutes did a special on 2016 Libertarian candidate Gary Johnson. He polled at around 3% that year, which was the highest a third party candidate had polled in a few decades. It was only when he showed his lackluster lack of knowledge on foreign policy on live TV that his campaign plummeted. Green Party candidate Jill Stein was another 2016 contender. Her main campaigning idea focused on fixing the environment, converting to 100% renewable energy, and creating a completely electronic public transportation system. While all of these issues are important, however, a lot of people were uninterested in her campaign as there were much more pressing issues (both domestic and foreign) at the time of the election. Third parties can also be voted into power for other federal elected offices, such as the Senate and the House of Representatives. These parties may even do a better job than our current Senate and House. For example, in his second term, President Obama had to work with a Republican majority senate, and, unsurprisingly, he got nothing done. The United Kingdom, in contrast, has about six political parties that share equal power. This is probably the most fair and equal political sysytem in the world, as every type of person from every walk of life is represented in Parliament. This multi party system also makes it difficult for one party to gain too much power, and gain complete control over the government.
Photo courtesy of megapixl.com
Third party candidate Gary Johnson gives a speech in 2015.
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Undecided voters might feel stuck between a rock and a hard place during this election, and probably feel like they have only two extremist candidates to choose from. This, however, could not be further from the truth. There are many third party candidates who would become very popular if they were given a fair shot to plead their case. I’m not asking you to vote for one, but at least give them a shot. At the end of the day, depending on who wins, our country’s future is at stake. Let’s give everyone who thinks they can help us an equal and fair opportunity to win our votes.
COLT CHRONICLE | ELECTION ISSUE |OPINION
Let’s Give Third Party Candidates a Chance
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The Role of Technology in Elections By Zenobia Ahsanuddin, Staff Reporter Throughout the previous years, technology has affected the presidential election by spreading awareness and campaigning. However, this year, when six feet of space is required between people, everything from debates to casting votes at the ballots looks different. The 2020 election has fully utilized technology through virtual meetings and social media platforms to encourage people to vote and who to cast their vote for. Considering that the past election caused many disputes to arise, extra emphasis has continued to be put on the upcoming election to encourage people to vote. Through apps like Tik Tok, Instagram, Snapchat, Twitter, Facebook, ads have popped up repeatedly telling viewers to make sure they are registered to vote. Since caution is taken these days when leaving the house for COVID-19, voters are told that they can cast their vote in person, by mail, or even online, to ensure that they feel safe and comfortable.
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When the lockdown was first put into effect earlier this year, society was still able to carry because meetings could be held virtually. People were talking face-to-face, even if it was not in person. Everything from weddings to plays could be viewed through a screen, and it was no surprise that the presidential debates followed suit. Technology played a big role in the back and forth trading of insults between President Donald Trump and former Vice President Joe Biden. After the first debate, both candidates took it to social media to try and expose one another, possibly as an attempt to better their own chances. While Trump’s team claimed Biden was speaking with an earpiece (“Joe Biden is BEGGING for multiple breaks during the 90-minute debate tonight! CHECK JOE’S EARS!”), Biden’s team put out ads for a shirt saying “Will You Shut Up, Man?”, implying that Trump never stopped talking. This issue also led to the implementation of mute buttons for the final debate, where each candidate would be muted while the other candidate spoke. This gave an equal opportunity for each candidate to voice their views on the given topics in full. Even moving forward, this new addition actually became a positive, because it allowed the people to clearly hear what each candidate had to say, and therefore, correctly understand the situations and resolutions. Almost all campaigning events were forced to go all virtual due to the pandemic this year, and
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Earlier in October, Trump’s campaign played a major role in labeling mail-in votes as faulty through social media. His main concern was that mail-in voting would lean more towards Democrats, and his team took action against this. The ads reached the audiences through “55,000 media stories, 55 million tweets, and 75,000 Facebook posts�, according to an article in MIT Technology Review. The campaigning team was using social media ad tools to their advantage and sent out
false information to both frame other groups while still getting their message across that mail-in voting was not safe. Through the American press, and fast ability to spread rumors and facts, outlets dramatized what the team was claiming, and also tried to scare the public. Therefore, questions continued to arise, regarding whether or not social media platforms could be fully trusted. The use of technology in the 2020 presidential election was supposed to resemble the previous elections as closely as possible, while still complying with the rules. However, it seems that perhaps both candidates used it at their own digressions to both demote the other, and promote themselves.
Photo courtesy of Unsplash (@Ilya Parlov)
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greatly differ from events in the past years. According to a Washington Post, due to the supposed disastrous first debate, audiences were second-guessing even tuning into the second debate and instead turned to social media for the information they needed. Audience viewer data also helps immensely during this campaign, because it gives an idea of who voters are leaning towards. News channels have become a major outlet for delivering supposed facts, and can also collect data based on what the people think.
Celebrities & the Election
Politics used to be a topic private to people, but now even celebrities like Stacy Dash and Taylor Swift are expressing their political opinions. By Alanna Gallagher, Staff Reporter The upcoming election on Nov. 3 has a lot of celebrities speaking out on who has their vote. Some have shown their support for Joe Biden and others have shown their support for Donald Trump. They are hoping to reach new voters and inform others about who they feel is the best candidate and their opinions on different political issues. Stacy Dash, who played Dionne in the movie Clueless, has shown her support for Trump many times. She has said that she voted for Obama in the 2008 presidential election, but claimed she never saw anything get done and decided to vote for the Republican candidate, Trump, in 2016. Since then, she has shown her constant support for the President and his policies. One can clearly see her support just by searching her Twitter account, where it says in her bio, #MAGA and #WomenForTrump. Taylor Swift, an American singer and songwriter, has been very vocal about her support for Democrat candidate, Joe Biden. On Oct. 7, she posted a picture of her holding cookies that said “Biden Harris 2020” and said that she spoke to V Magasine on why she was voting for Biden. In the article, Swift said that she will be voting for Biden and his running mate Kamala Harris because “people of color deserve to feel safe and represented, that women deserve the right to choose what happens to their bodies, and that the LGBTQIA+ community deserves to be acknowledged and included.” She followed up this quote by saying that she will proudly vote for Biden and Harris during this election to “start the healing process [America] desperately needs.”
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Sister of Sherlock Holmes, the titular Enola partakes in her own journey during the time of the women’s suffrage movement
By Abeeha Zaidi, Managing Editor & Layout She grows up with walls around her, protected from the real world, and has never seen her brothers since her father’s passing, leaving her and her mother to live on their own. She and her mother enjoyed her youth together, from playing tennis in the house to doing jiu-jitsu in the garden, but her mother’s privacy was one thing Enola was never allowed to invade, and her mother’s privacy was the answer to why she had left her abandoned. She lives under the shadow of her famously known brother Sherlock Holmes, but she does not abide by the rules of the shadow. She does not abide by the rules of the walls. She does not abide by the rules of society. Her name is Enola Holmes, and she’s going to find her mother. But it’s not that easy... no matter how brave she is and how smart she is, something always gets in the way. Her brother, Mycroft Holmes, tries to get her to bide by society and follow the traditional path of women, he uses his connections and decides she needs a “proper” education to become a “proper” woman. Lord Tweksbury was another bump in the plans of Enola. From a royal family, with people finding him for reward as he runs away from his destiny in the royal household, Tewksbury and Enola meet on the train, as they both run away from their “too typical” destiny. But Enola does not love his company for long, she tries to get rid of him, as along with Tewksbury comes trouble. But is she successful? Throughout Enola Holmes’s journey, the election in England is taking place and the women’s suffrage movement is emerging. Holmes, herself is a very powerful and brave young girl who defies the meaning of what it means to be a “women” and shows how the limits on women should not be kept, and her journey and action, though she is unaware, guide her to help her mother’s purpose, Eudoria, a suffragette herself.
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Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons
Enola Holmes promotion poster. Watch it on Netflix now!
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ENOLA HOLMES: A REVIEW
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Illustration by Abeeha Zaidi
Colt Chron Entertainment Rec N O I IT
Nerve
The Hate You Give
Photo courtesy of : blogspot.com
Photo courtesy of : bleachers.com
Movie / Book
Book about modern day racism and police brutality that is very informative and inspiring. Reccomended by: Riley Macumanus
My Next Guest Needs No Introduction
Photo courtesy of : drcommodore.i
IO
T LEC
E
D NE
TV Show
Movie
A teenage girl gets a game called Nerve, where you can choose to be watchers or players. When she chooses player, everything is on the line and she must complete intense dares to win.
David Letterman is known for his interviews and comedy. His series has new episodes that include life lessons mixed with humor. Reccomended by: Mrs. Van Der Sluys
Reccomended by: Riley Macumanus
The Daily (NYT)
The Society
TV Show
Podcast
This podcast a really good to listen to when you’re in a hurry and need to catch up on the news. Here’s a few specific episodes to look out for during the election time: “A Peculiar Way To Pick A President,” “The Candidates: Joe Biden Plans,” “The Candidates: Donald Trump Promises,” “A Misinformation Test for Social Media,” “Sudden Civility: The Final Presidential Debate,” and “The Shadow of the 2000 Election.” Reccomended by: Abeeha Zaidi
Reccomended by: Riley Macumanus
Music
Really upbeat music, and a classic song that has been trending for quite some time. Grande is known for her amazing vocals! Recomended by: Riley Macumanus
Photo courtesy of : Ariana Grande Instagram
Photo courtesy of: Wiki Commons
Teens come home from their senior field trip only to find out everyone from their town and outside is gone. They must learn to rebuild their society.
P
Position Ariana Grande
K
In People Like Us enduring variety of country who are w quo. Their contrib to follow to bring addresses a diverse of-color Americans role in elected offic gatekeepi
The Worst President In History
Wonder Shawn Mendes
COLT CHRONICLE | ELECTION ISSUE
nicle Staff commendations
Tick Tock Joji
Music
Book
Some people, regardless of political party, may appreciate Obama’s work, even when living in another country People knew what he did but was it all truly good? Or did he have some ‘normal’ presidential disasters? Reccomended by: Abeeha Zaidi
People Like Us: The New Wave of Candidates Knocking at Democracy Door
Music
The song lyrics talk about truth and being real. This is a perfect song to listen to during the election because when voting for the best candidate one really has to self asses and ponder on how they want society to change and which candidate will be the best to execute those ideas.
Just a nice upbeat song to listen to and part of an even better album. During this uncertain time, somethimes people feel like time just slipped out of their hands, and this song just makes that experience feel a little more positive. Reccomended by: Abeeha Zaidi
Reccomended by : Abeeha Zaidi
Woman Ellie Goulding
Be Like That
Kane Brown, Swae Lee, Khalid
Reccomended by: Shreyal Sharma
Photo courtesy of : Rolling Stone
Photo Courtesy of : Amazon
Book s, Sayu Bhojwani addresses a diverse and f local and state politicians from across the willing to challenge the government’s status butions to politics result in a path for others g change in the election of 2020. The book e group of foreign-born, lower-income, and who have demonstrated a strong leadership ce by fighting against xenophobia, political ing, and personal financial affairs.
Music
It talks about hardships and over coming them; this is great for the election time, as it perfectly represents the hardships women and minorities had to go through to vote. Reccomended by: Abeeha Zaidi
Music
A great song to listen to when everything is out of control. Reccomended by: Riley Macumanus
MEET THE CANDIDATES
A breakdown of all of the candidates who have qualified to appear on state ballots for president of the United States of America By Julia Hackney, Managing Editor & Local/World News Editor
Although 1,224 candidates filed with the Federal Election Commission (FEC) to run for president in 2020, just a fraction of those candidates will appear on state ballots come Nov 3. Two parties hold the overwhelming majority of legislative power in the U.S.--the Republican Party and the Democratic Party--but each year, more obscure candidates attempt to run for president, either registered with lesser-known third parties or as independents. While only four candidates are registered on enough state ballots to win a majority of electoral votes this year, a number of other candidates have been put on ballots in select states and have started write-in campaigns in others.
Candidates listed on enough state ballots to win a majority of electoral votes:
Photo courtesy of Library of Congress
Photo courtesy of Library of Congress
Republican Party Donald Trump
Democratic Party Joe Biden
Photo courtesy of Gage Skidmore
Libertarian Party Jo Jorgenen
Photo courtesy of Howie Hawkins
Green Party Howie Hawkins
These candidates--except Hawkins--appear on ballots in all states.
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LOCAL/WORLD
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None of the other candidates are on ballots in enough states to win an electoral majority, yet many have chosen to ontinue their campaigns into October. The candidates below are each currently running in affiliation with a political party, though they range in ideology.
THIRD-PARTY CANDIDATES Party Affiliation
Candidate
States on ballot or with write-in campaign
American Solidarity Party Approval Voting Party Boiling Frog Bread and Roses Bull Moose Constitution Party
Brian T. Carroll
AK, AR, CO, DE, FL, GA, ID, IL, IN, KY, LA, MD, MA, MI, MS, NE, OH, RI, TX, UT, VT, WA, WI CO, VT
Gary Swing Jerry Segal Keith McCormic Don Blankenship
C.U.P.
President Boddie
Blake Huber
Geneology Know Rickie Sue King Your Family History Party Green Party of AlasJesse Ventura ka Grumpy Old Patriots H. Brooke Paige Life and Liberty J.R. Myers Party for Socialism Gloria La Riva and Liberation Progressive Party Dario David Hunter Prohibition Party Phil Collins Socialist Equality Joseph Kishore Party Socialist Workers Alyson Kennedy Party The Alliance Party Roque De La Fuente Unity Party
Bill Hammons
VT MD, VT VT AK, AR, CO, FL, GA, HI, ID, IL, IA, LA, MI, MS, MO, NV, NJ, NC, TN, UT, VT, WA, WV, WI AK, AZ, DE, GA, ID, IL, LA, ME, MD, MT, NE, OH, TX, UT, WA, WV, WI IA AK VT AR AZ, AR, CA, CO, DC, DE, FL, GA, ID, IL, LA, MD, MN, NJ, NM, RI, TN, TX, UT, VT, WA, WV AK, CO, OH, OR, WA AK, CO, IL, MD, MS, VT CO, WV CO, LA, MN, TN, VT, WA AK, AR, CA, CO, FL, ID, IA, ME, MD, MI, MN, NJ, RI, SC, TN, VT, WA, WV CO, LA, NJ
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INDEPENDENTS Candidate
States on ballot or with write-in campaign
Mark Charles Richard Duncan
AK, CO, DE, GA, IL, ME, MT, WA, WV VT
Connie Gammon
AR
Tom Hoefling Princess Khadijah M. Pres Jacob-Fambro Kyle Kenley Kopitke
AK, CO, DE, ID, KY, LA, ME, MD, MI, MT, OH, TX, UT, WA, WV CO, DE, GA, IL, MT, UT, WA, WV CO, VT
Christopher Lafontaine VT Joe McHugh
CO, UT
Brock Pierce
AK, AR, CO, DE, DC, HI, ID, IA, KY, LA, MD, MN, MS, NE, NY, OK, UT, VT, WV, WY VT CO AZ, DE, FL, GA, ID, IL, LA, MD, MA, MI, MT, NE, OH, OK, UT, WV, WI AK, NM AK, AR, CO, DE, ID, IA, KY, LA, MD, MN, MS, NE, OK, TN, UT, VT
Zachary Scalf Jordan Marc Scott Jade Simmons Sheila Tittle Kanye West
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Independent candidates, on the other hand, aren’t running in conjuncture with official political parties, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t affiliated with them. Kanye West, for example, announced that he had founded the “Birthday Party” shortly after he officially announced his candidacy this year. Since the party has yet to be officially recognized by the FEC, West has is officially running as an independent.
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SPORTS
The History of Ath Demonstrati
As the 2020 election cycle nears, many athletes and athletic orga cized, is far from new and is part of a lon
By Ethan Burt, Sports &
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anizations have gotten involved. This phenomena, while widely publing tradition of dissent in American athletics.
& Features Editor Adviser’s Note: The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed in this opinion article belong solely to the author and do not reflect the view of The Colt Chronicle Staff, Kinnelon High School, or its students and staff members. During the past four years, well-known American athletes have partook in multiple highly publicized political demonstrations. Most recently, multiple full NBA teams refused to play until the league made concessions involving racial justice and measures to help disenfranchised people vote. While the current president and many other like-minded political leaders and commentators have attempted to paint this as a recent phenomena and a symptom of a newly overly political society, athletics and dissent have a long, intertwined history in the US. In 2016, Colin Kaepernick famously began to kneel during the playing of the National anthem before his football games in protest of racial injustice and police brutality, which sparked a movement among many athletes of all sports, genders, and levels of competition to follow suit. What made this event so well-known and polarizing was that, instead of urging healing or understanding, as many presidents do when the nation is at a moment of serious societal reckoning and potential change, Donald Trump stoked tensions and attempted to spark a culture war over the issue that could possibly energize his base. At one point, Trump even opined that if a player does not stand for the National Anthem, “maybe you shouldn’t be in the country.” Disregarding the fact that America is built on the belief that people should be able to urge their own government and society to be better, this quotation also shows that Trump, like many Americans, may not know of the long history of dissent and athletics. In 1967, Muhammad Ali, one of the world’s most promising boxers, refused to serve in the Vietnam War despite being drafted fot it. He was a devout follower of Islam, and he believed that he had a moral obligation kill or to aid in the killing of Vietnamese soliders and civillians who had never injured him or his family, unlike the people of the US, the nation for
which he would be fighting, that had enslaved his ancestors and continued to enforce an unjust system upon him and other black Americans. Ali promptly lost his boxing license and risked going to jail. Interestingly, the currently well-liked figure, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., supported Ali in his decision to object from serving.
COLT CHRONICLE | ELECTION ISSUE|SPORTS
hletics and Political ion in the U.S.
In 1968, American olympians Tommie Smith and John Carlos won the gold and bronze medals, respectively, in the 200 meter dash. During the playing of the National Anthem at their medal ceremony, they both raised their fists in the Black power Salute. This protest caused great controversy at home and is still remembered as one of the most memorable protests in American history. On August 26, 2020, the Milwaukee Bucks announced that they would not play in their upcoming playoff game to protest racial injustice and police brutality because a police officer in Kenosha Wisconsin had recently shot Jacob Blake seven times in his back. Before long, the whole league was on strike. After 48 tense hours of negotiations, the league and the players union reached an agreement that made promises to help America achieve social justice and help black and other disenfranchised groups in America, who are common victims of voter suppression efforts, register to vote and vote. It remains to be seen how much of an impact recent protests will have on U.S. politics and society, but prominent athletes such as Lebron James have already reached some impressive milestones and are working hard to get out the vote in this election. While there may always be those who try to paint dissent in sports as new and insidious, for as long as there have been athletes in the U.S., there too has been politics in athletics.
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