The bittersweet time of year has come when most seniors graduate andleavetheplacetheyhavespentmostoftheirteenyears Theyhave tosaygoodbyetoallthoselaughterandfuntimestheycreatedinKHS Now,alltheyhaveleftarejustmemoriesofallthebadandgoodtimes
After making memories during their high school years, the class of 2023willfinallygraduate.Althoughthisisasadmoment,it’sexcitingto seewhattheirfutureholds.Duringtheirtimehere,theyhavemadeKHS specialbyalwayssupportingeachother.Theyshowedenthusiasmand dedication,whichisaninspirationtotheunderclassmentotryharder.
From studying for tests to getting ready for prom, they have always stuck together and helped each other They showed their leadership skills by being a role model for other students and welcoming the freshmen WendyBruffy,thesciencedepartmentteacher,wasamazed at how much they have grown and matured. She saw them transform from being quiet and reserved to mature young adults. Even though there are multiple words to describe the class of 2023, according to Bruffy, the seniors are incredibly connected and protective of one another.
“In one word, I would describe the class of 2023 as connected. They are very connected They are also very protective of one another and watch over each other Like if somebody misses something, someone elsealwayshastheirback.Andyoudon'tseethatineveryschool,"said Bruffy.
High school is an essential part of life where teens make their worst andbestmemories,butseniorsshouldleaveschoolonlywithglorious and funny memories. After spending a great amount of time testing, doing college applications, and doing extracurricular activities, they madememoriesthatwouldlastalifetime SeniorMorganHaubelieves that the best way to make great memories in high school is by just laughingandhavingfun Shealsobelievesthatapersonshouldalways be themself and not care what everyone else does and become an individualisticperson.
“Everyday is unique in itself. To just have constant laughs with my friendsismybestmemory.Thebabyprojectwasveryfunnytoussince we were picking our baby's name between Bing Chilling and Laura Magnum,”saidHau.
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History teacher Heather Pollak had some things to say about the seniors as well. Pollak teaches seniors in her AP European History class, but she also has many seniors in her yearbook elective class this year. Unlikealotofupperclassmenovertheyears,theClassof2023isakind, pleasant, and reassuring class. Pollak states, “They’re very kind to not onlyeachotherbuttheunderclassmen.Ifeellikethey’renotlikeascary seniorclasslikesomeoftheonesinthepast.”BecauseofhowCovid-19 affected them, the seniors have been through a rough patch in their education throughout their high school years. But nonetheless, going through that rough period of time has shaped them to have a stronger workethic.Pollaksays,“Ithinkthatalotoftheunderclassmenbecauseof Covid,andtheagethattheywerewhenithit,itreallyaffectedthem,soI think they definitely have a harder work ethic than some of the underclassmen”
Even though the seniors are ending this big chapter in their lives, they've definitely made their mark, and won't be forgotten Their memories that they have made with each other, their teachers, and this schoolwillforeverbecherishedintheirteachers'hearts
Pollak says, “I just like having conversations with them outside of teaching in the classroom, just kind of getting to know a little bit more aboutthemandtheirpersonallifeoutsideofschool,thoseareprobably oneofmyfondestmemories.”
TheClassof2023hasmademanyhonorableandcherishablememories over their four years here at KHS. Graduating senior Devin Agnello, describes her experience as very fun, especially being involved in many extracurricularactivities.Herbestmemoriesweremadeduringhersenior year.“Ihadfunduringspiritweekthisyear,Ilikedcolordaybecausewe won stuff because we were seniors,” said Agnello. One thing that makes highschoolfunisbeinginvolved.Sheregretsnotbeinginvolvedineven more things during her years here and definitely recommends getting involvedinschoolevents,activities,andsportstoalltheunderclassmen becauseitmakestheexperiencebetter.Agnellowantstheunderclassmen toknowthateventhoughyoumayhavesomeroughtimesinhighschool, itgetsbetterasanupperclassman.“Makethemostofthetimeyouhave here, even though you might not be having fun as an underclassmen, it getsbetter,”Agnellosays.
All in all, high school was a bumpy road for the seniors. Between Covid, the SATs, exams, college applications, andthestress,theymadeitallinonepiece.Whateverour seniors decide to do after high school, KHS will support them in their journey to the next chapter of their lives. Goodbyes are bittersweet, but starting a new chapter in their lives is just as exciting and nerve-wracking as their firstdayofhighschoolwas.
Seniorsduringtheirselectionday,wearingthemerchfromthecollegetheyplan togoto
Inwhatmanywillcallunfortunatetiming,KHShasinitiated construction of the new bleachers The bleachers were a part of the Spiro Donation to Kinnelon High School last year The donationincludedabrandnewturffieldandthebleachers.The donation was monumental, which leads to the eagerness to putupthebleachersfortheClassof2023graduation.Whilethe multi-milliondollardonationisbeingputtouse,thiscomesat acost.
“I don’t mind it, sometimes [the noise] is annoying,” says juniorMarwanAhsanuddin “Forthemostpart,it’sbearable” Somestudents,likeAhsanuddin,areabletotoleratethenoise level produced by the construction However, administrators likeEnglishteacherVirginiaDunphyhaveabittosayaboutit.
“There’salotoftimesIhavetostopbecauseIcannotspeak overit,”Dunphysaid.“Itcanbreakalotofstudents’thoughts andtheycan’tconcentrate.”
Inmanyways,educationismuchmoreimportantthanthe constructionofaschoolbleacher.Notonlydoesthisworkpose a threat to in-class learning, but also to the preparation studentsdidforAPexams
Certain locations in the school were designated for AP exams, and one of these places was the auditorium. How studentswillfunctionwiththerepeateddrillingandscreeching metalsoundsisaquestionthatpuzzledjuniorAidanReilly.
“I’ve been in the auditorium before, and I can hear loud trucks pass in the parking lot. Imagine if it’s a large construction crew with the constant beeping of a truck reversing I don’t really think students will be able to concentrate”
According to the school, the work on the construction of the bleachersoccursatthediscretionoftheworkers “Wedon’tknow thescheduleoftheguysthatworkhere theycomeandgo,”says Athletic Director David Doty. “We don’t know when they are returning…”
Atsuchavitaltimeduringtheschoolyear,stressandmental attentiveness are at an all-time high. The fact that heavy constructionisbeingdoneforaneventthatwilltakeplaceonthe final days of school will leave an impact not only on students' abilitytolearn,butalsotheirtestscores
Perhapsitisuptothestudentstodictateifitistrulyworthbig metalseatsonafield
The construction of the bleachers taking place, from the early hours before schooltoatleasttheendoflunch PhotobyNicholasMaksimovThe most dreaded part of the school year for students is the state testing. It is the one thing that everyone tries to avoid.Butifitissoawful,whydowedoit?
It’sactuallyalittlemoreimportantthanonemightthink. Wedostatetestingbecauseithelpsteachersfigureoutwhat they are teaching well, and what they are teaching not so well. It provides insight into how well certain subjects are beingunderstood.Italsohelpsstudentsfigureoutwhatthey are learning and struggling the most in without it affecting theirgrades Thisisaniceperkbecauseittakesoffanadded layer of anxiety, especially on top of finals and regular schoolwork
IntheUS,statetestingconsistsprimarilyofmath,English, and science, though it ranges in a series of other subjects too. The questions range from multiple choice to longanswer to true or false, and use a myriad of different problemstounderstandwhatastudentknows.
TheeasieststatetestisinNebraska,withasuccessrateof 80%.AccordingtoPatch,theNewJerseysuccessrateisfrom 57.6%to48.9%forEnglish,44%to35.4%inmath,and25.4% to23.2%inscience.Itissaidthatthestateishittingasevenyear low, which was only worsened by COVID. State testing wascanceledforthreeyearsduetoCOVID,anditdidn’thave agoodeffectonthescoresafterward.
Somearguethattestingisnotonlybadforastudent’shealth, but does not judge them fairly That it shows nothing of a student’s intellect or creativity, which leads to flawed evaluation.
These tests also help with ranking schools. Based off of the standardized testing and graduation rates, schools are rated from highest to lowest, letting people see which schools are thebest.
Although plenty of students like to complain about testing, manyotherplacesaroundtheworlddotestingverydifferently from us. According to Insider, standardized testing holds the weight of your whole career in China and South Africa. The better you do on the test, the better the college you can be admitted into, which can be a ridiculous amount of pressure onastudent Nottomention,theChinesetestis12hourslong, andisstretchedoutoverthespanoftwodays Duringthistest, construction also comes to a stop, and ambulances wait outsideincaseofanemergency
InplaceslikeFinland,thereisonetestattheendoftheyear that contains four exams, three of which they get to choose thesubject.
The U.S. started doing standardized tests back in 1901 for collegesanduniversities,butin2002,theoverallstatetesting inregularschoolswasimplementedasawaytogetkidstodo better in school. This was passed under the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB), an act that focused on getting struggling students to get the attention they needed to get a fair education.
StudentsusetheappTestNavtofaketheNJSLA PhotobySofiaVillegas ScantronSheetusedforstandardizedtestingJust a few more days until there is no more setting an early alarm,nomorehomework,nomorestress,andoverallhappiness andfreedom!Summerisatimetorelaxandtransitionfromone school year into the next. However, sometimes when sitting at home the days seem to feel a little long and tedious as there seemstobesomuchtime!Herearesomeactivitiestofillupthat emptyspace
Swimming
Tryingtoescapetheheat?Goforaswim!Youdon’tneedtohave apoolforthisone,youcangotooneofthemanybeautifullakes in Kinnelon, or better yet, plan a family beach trip! We are in Jerseyafterall;it’snecessarytogodowntothebeacheveryonce inawhileandenjoythebeautifulbeachesthatwearesoluckyto havenearus!
Biking
Isitabeautifuldaywithnothingtodo?Haveyouroldbikesitting in the back of the garage? Take it out for a ride around town! Kinnelondoesn’thavedesignatedbikelanesoneverystreet,but make sure to wear your helmet and go with the traffic when takingastrollaroundtowntokeepyourselfsafe!
Hiking
AreyourfeetstartingtofallasleepfrombingewatchTVallday? GooutsideandgoforahikeinthebeautifulwoodsKinnelonhas tooffer!Kinnelonhassomanybeautifultrailsandthingstoseeon those trails One of my favorites is the Butler Reservoir Hiking Trail It’s not too hard, yet it still is enough of a challenge, and there’ssomuchnatureandbeautytosee!
MakeaBonfire
Thenighttimecangetalittlechillyduringthesummer…doyou or one of your friends own a firepit? Get together and start that flame to roast some marshmallows over! You guys can make some s'mores while chit chatting over the flame and overall just havingfun
Camping
Looking for an outdoor adventure? Go on a camping trip with your friends! Camping can be a great way to build up some wilderness skills as well as improve your teamwork skills!Itcanbefun,aswellasbenefityouandyourfriendsin theend!
GotoanOutdoorMovie
Oneofthebestwaystoenjoysummerisjusttobeoutside Not necessarily doing much, but just enjoying the nice weather.Youcandothisbygoingtoanoutdoormovie!It’sa greatwaytorelaxandjustsoakinsummer!
Summer has so much to offer, so make the most out of it! This summer don’t forget to be safe and apply that sunscreen! Good job everyone for making it through this schoolyear!
ByMontanaBrush,StaffWriter
Whenitstartstogetwarmeroutsideandtheairsmellsfresher, it’sclearthatsummerisapproaching Withthelongerdaysand balmy nights, people all over the country are looking up restaurantstoenjoywiththeirfriendsandfamily
Duringthesummerithasacompletelydifferentvibeandit’s such a happening place They have a seasonal menu The summer menu is a lot more local stuff and you have fresh vegetablesandthefreshseafoodthat’scaughtdailyrightoff thedock.”
KendalKoger,freshman:“SandboxCafeinLBI,NJismy favoritesummerrestaurant.Theirfrenchtoastwithbananas on it is very good and it's one of my favorite dishes. The atmosphereisveryhomey,verybeachyandtherestaurantis rightonthebeachtoo”
Picture this: Cute outdoor seating decorated with vibrant umbrellas, a gorgeous sunset, and a lively flow of conversation in the background. When it comes to summer dining everyone wantstositoutsideandenjoythewarm,freshairsothesetting can make all the difference. From outdoor beachside cafes to Insta-worthy rooftops, the restaurants teens enjoy during the summer season have an undeniable attraction that goes perfectlywiththeflavorsofsummer
MadisonGigante,freshman:“Myfavoritesummerrestaurant isLangostaLoungeinOceanGrove,NJ.Ilovetheirspicytuna rolls and their virgin strawberry daiquiris. The atmosphere is good,theyalwayshavelivemusicandit’srightontheoceanso youcanenjoytheoceanandtheboardwalk.It’sgreatforagood summerexperiencebecauseofthefoodandit’sreallypretty.”
Benjamin Eaton, teacher: “My favorite summer restaurant would probably be 22 Bowen's in Newport, Rhode Island because it’s on a dock and it’s open year-round but it just hits different in the summer You could just sit outside and watch sailboats come in and people watch. They have delicious calamariandtheyhaveaniceArnoldPalmerwhichisoneofmy go-tosummerdrinks.
PaigeDrazenovic,freshman:“PlayaBowlsismyfavorite summer restaurant because it’s summery and matches the beachyvibe.IliketobuildmyownbowlandI’drecommend theacaibasebecauseittastesreallygoodandremindsmeof summer.Theatmosphereisalsoverybeachy.Theydecorate with surfboards and use chalk for the menu and stuff like that. They use a lot of fruits and coconut which also makes methinkofsummer.ThisspecificPlayaBowlslocationisby the beach which sets it apart from other restaurants I visit throughoutthesummer”
JackiLally,freshman:“MyfavoriterestaurantisinOcean City,NJandit’scalledHulaGrill.IreallylikeitbecauseIgo thereeveryyearwithmyfamilyandtherestaurantisrighton the boardwalk so when we’re done we get to go on all the rides.Iusuallyjustgetchickenfingersandfriesbutthefries are crispy so they’re really good. They do have Hawaiian dishes and salads if you want more summery food. This restaurant is really family-friendly, affordable, and has a bunchofdifferentfoodoptionsforeveryonesoit’soveralla reallygoodrestaurant”
Summernotonlybringswarmthandsunshinebutalsoan opportunity to visit new restaurants. From picturesque settings to tongue-tingling flavors, there are all kinds of restaurants to visit during the summer season that offer an amazing dining experience that capture the essence of summer dining. Whether you’re visiting local treasures or takingalittlebitofafartherdrivefordinner,thewidevariety of delicious meals is available to everyone that’s trying to savortheflavorsofsummer
SignattheHulaGrillinOceanCity,NewJersey PhotobyTheHulaGrillSteve Lacy and Frank Ocean are some of the most prominent and respected R&B and pop artists of our generation. They have roused massive popularity in Americanyouth,bothhavingsongsrankedamongthemost popular in the country. As two princes in the current R&B and pop world, the question of who is the better artist arises. As two of the most avid music listeners in Kinnelon High School, it's a no-brainer that we put these artists in a no-holds-barredmusicalfighttoseewhocomesoutontop
MorganHau:
SteveLacyisbyfarabetterartistthanFrankOcean.To fully highlight his superiority, here are some quick facts. BornMay23,1998,inCompton,California,Lacyhasbecome a very prominent music artist, amassing over 20 million listenersonplatformssuchasSpotifyandAppleMusic.His musical talent has granted him two Grammy Award nominations for Record of the Year, Song of the Year, and BestProgressiveR&BAlbumin2023alone
Though generally regarded as an R&B artist, Lacy has createdmasterpiecesofallgenresincludingpop,neo-soul, funk,jazz,indie-rock,lo-fi,andpsychedelicrock.Notonlyis he a singer, but also a guitarist, songwriter, and producer. He joined The Internet, a prominent alternative R&B band, in2014,makinghisrecorddebutinEgoDeath(2015),which was nominated for the Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Album During his time with the group, he aided his bandmates Syd, Matt Martians, Jameel Bruner, Patrick Paige, and Christopher Smith in their solo careers. His capabilities in producing and songwriting, as well as prominenceinTheInternet,havemadehimhighlysoughtafter in the music industry. His features in Tyler the Creator’s “911/Mr. Lonely,” Kali Uchis’ “Just A Stranger,” VampireWeekend’s“Sunflower,”andBrentFaiyaz’s“Some Girl”areamongsomehighlightsinhismusicalcareer
Lacy’s musical career first began when he was 10 years old, having taken an interest in the game ‘Guitar Hero’ He grew a passionforplayingtheguitar,whichprogressedinhighschool alongsidehisfuturebandmateinTheInternet,JameelBruner. He and Bruner were a part of the jazz band, which stimulated Lacy’sinterestincreatinghisownmusic.Heproducedhisfirst songsonhisiPhone,hisnextbigstepinfurtheringhismusical career.
Lacy joined The Internet in 2014 at just 17 and largely contributedtowardstheproductionoftheirthirdstudioalbum, Ego Death. During the mid-2010s, Lacy began producing songs forDenzelCurry,IsaiahRashad,Twenty88,andKendrickLamar, notablyhelpingproduce“Pride”fromLamar’sGrammy-winning album, Damn. Lacy additionally helped produce and was featuredinpiecesbyTylertheCreator,J Cole,SolangeKnowles, ChloeXHalle,andFrankOcean
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SteveLacyandFrankOcean'smusicmaybebeofsimilargenres,buttheir soundandaestheticsareintotalcontrast CollagebyMorganHauIn 2017, Lacy produced his first personal demo, featuring six songs. The third song of the demo, “Dark Red” is what truly imprinted his name in the music industry. A passionate piece, “DarkRed”narratesLacypleadingtoapartnertonotgiveupon therelationship.Thenameofthepieceistheshadeoflipstickhis partner wears as a symbol of their will to move on. Since its release,thissonghasreachedover847millionplaysonSpotify Lacyhasadditionallyreleasedsongssuchas“CUGirl,”“Ryd,”“N Side,”and“Infrunami”allhavingover100millionplays Hismostprominentandrecentreleasewas“BadHabit”which was featured in his 2022 album, Gemini Rights. The song has been voted as one of the best songs of 2022 by Time Magazine, BillboardNews,NewYorkTimes,andTheGuardian.“BadHabit” wasalsonominatedforawardsintheGrammys,MTVVideoMusic Awards,iHeartRadioMusicAwards,andSoulTrainMusicAwards.
OwenFernstrom:
FrankOceanisawhollybettermusicalartistthanSteveLacy. Originally stemming from the rap collective Odd Future and quicklygainingcultacclaim, Oceanisoneofthemostinfluential and unique artists of our time. As a founding member of Odd Future,OceanhasworkedalongsidetalentedartistssuchasTyler the Creator, Earl Sweatshirt, Na-Kel Smith, Domo Genesis, and SydThaKid
Born in Long Beach, California, on October 28, 1987, Ocean grewupinNewOrleans,Louisiana Asoneoftheearliestculthit internet rappers, his style comes from a long list of influences going from the jazz of that New Orleans upbringing to 2000’s rappers such as OutKast and Pharrell Williams. These wildly different styles allowed Ocean to move from one genre to another and to easily blend these influences into his own selfcontained music Ocean can craft “Crack Rock” a soulful drum and bass song about the dangers of addiction and the broken system that built the drug issues we face today and then “Pyramids,” an almost 10-minute long synth-filled three part balladaboutCleopatra.Oceanisofcoursenotjustknownforhis versatility but also his hauntingly beautiful voice that pulls his fragmented albums together and creates the throughlines of each. Listening to the painful and fraught “Bad Religion” to the hard-hitting but hopeful “Self-Control” shows how a sparse production matters naught with the instrumental strength of Ocean’svoice
TheartistryputondisplaythroughOcean'sworkshould be a no-brainer when it comes to him vs Steve Lacy, while Lacymayhavesomegreatsongs,hisabilitytocreatedeeper emotions in people and a greater theming behind his work pales in comparison to Frank’s. The stories delivered on his albums are nothing short of masterpieces, depression combined with self-hate and love alongside addiction are onlyafewofthetopicstouchedonandtotallydevelopedin eachofhisalbums.
Frank,ofcourse,isalsowellknownforhisclassicfeatures on many popular songs His evocative take on obsession in TylerTheCreator’s“She”,theclassicchorusof“NoChurchin TheWild”byJay-ZandKanyeWest,andtheplayful“Slide”by CalvinHarrisallsupporthisclaimtofameasoneofthebest hook makers of our generation. As a whole artist Ocean makesbeautifulmusic,nomoreandcertainlyless.It'sabove mostmusicmadenowandinthepastandiscertainlymore interesting and important than the average and in my opinion,overratedLacy
Thesetwoartistsvarywildlyintheirinfluencesinstylebut bothmakemusiconahigherlevelthantheaverageartistof the21stcenturyandcontinuetobreakboundariesinmusic, but also in fashion, philosophy, and artistry. All that can be said about the two is that they hold a great gift that most don’t:theabilitytomakepeoplefeel,feelwhattheywantor whattheyneed,andgainanewviewonlifeandthewaywe liveit.
A poll taken in April 2023 on Kinnelon High Schoolers asking which artistisbetter
AfterweeksofstrikesinFranceoverarecentpensionreform bill set to raise the minimum retirement age, Macron’s Pension ReformBillhasbeensignedintolaw.
ThePensionReformraisestheageofretirementfrom62to64 and requires a retiree to have worked for 43 years This highly controversialreformwasdesignedtokeepthepensionprogram afloat as the population continued aging and growing, but it sparked outrage despite its good intentions. Interestingly enough, France actually has one of the lowest minimum retirement ages in the world of industrialized countries, spendingalmost14%ofitseconomicoutputontheprogram.
Thestrugglecamewithpassingthebillsincepublicopinion and unions were geared against the reform, frustrated by the concept of having to work additional years with very little benefit When Macron took the bill to the French National Assembly, he was poised to lose the vote, but he instead invokedArticle493oftheFrenchConstitution,pushingthebill through.
For years, this has worked fine and kept retirees generously compensatedfortheirlifeofhardworkanddedication,butwith rising life expectancy extending the lengths of retirement periods, the pension system quickly found itself making more paymentsthanitcouldafford.
Now, enter French President Emmanuel Macron, who has been in office since 2017. His proposed solution (the pension reform bill) was set to raise the minimum age of retirement slightly over time to make up for the rising life expectancy and budgeting issues, a long-expected idea he had expressed interest in pursuing as part of his campaign platform years earlier
The widespread strikes that followed this decision were described as a shocking display of unity, roping in workers from transport, energy, public sector workers, teachers, and even waste management personnel Polls quickly shifted againstMacron,andthereformbillbecamewidelyopposedas an affront to French Democracy As of when this article was written,thesestrikesarestillgoingstrong,andit'sdifficultto knowwhatwillcausethemtobackdown.
When AP European History teacher Heather Pollak was asked what constitutes a successful strike, she described it as “apeacefulone,whereyou peacefully achieve the aimsandgoalsyousought outatthebeginning” Neithersidewillbackdownbecausethe government believes it is promoting the people’s best interests In contrast, the people believe there is a better solutiontotheissue,liketaxingwealthiercitizensmore.
"We're not reforming pensions to be popular but to be responsible. We'll go all the way because it's the only way our social model will survive."
"For me, the reform would mean working an extra year and a half, but I can't take it anymore."
- French attorney Isabelle Dumond
"Article 49.3 allows the government to force a passage of a law without a vote."
Veran
Regardless of which side is right, the violence involved with the protests has been somewhat frightening. In the city of Bordeaux, the entrance to city hall was set on fire while clashing with police. Elsewhere, protestors launched smoke bombsanddamagedproperty,burningfiresthroughthenight amid the national strike Police responded using dangerous force, utilizing tear gas and water cannons to forcefully disperse the protestors, with over 12,000 police mobilized preemptivelyandevenmoreoncethefightingstarted.
The effects of the strike were far-reaching and impressive, impacting 30% of flights at the Paris Orly airport, blockading majoroilrefineries,andevendisruptingschools.Over119,000 peoplemarchedinParisonthisday,themostpeacefulofthe events according to CNN Despite the massive, widespread disruption caused by the protests and the people united behindthem,thepensionreformbillstillwaspassedintolaw andwillcomeintoeffectbythestartofSeptember.
Looking back at France’s long history of revolts and changingleadership,thisstrikeisreallyratherinsignificantin thegrandschemeofthings.InHeatherPollak’swords,“The french love a good revolt, I can’t tell you how many times they overthrew their government, put in someone who was worse, and then went back to the monarch changing the pensionbytwoyearsinFrenchhistoryisnottheworstcrime that has been committed against the French people”. Despite the relative insignificance of the matter at hand, it definitelyshowsthatpeoplearefrustratedwithMacron’suse oftheConstitutiontobendthelawtohiswill.Italsoserves as a powerful reminder to the world that democracy is a fragile balance, one that Macron believes has been maintainedbyservingthebestinterestsofthepeople,even ifitmeansgoingagainstpopularity Thecomingmonthswill implementthepolicy,andonlytimewilltellhowFrancewill proceedinthisprecariouspredicament.
Frenchprotestsoverchangeinminimumretirementagegrowviolentandpolicearedeployedinforce PhotofromGettyImages
ByAarushiKumar,Editor-in-Chief&LayoutDesigner
It’sbeenoverayearsincethestartofthewarinUkraine,which beganinFebruary2022 Overthemonths,theconflicthasbecome a steep military escalation with both parties refusing to back down Herearesomeofthekeyeventsthroughouttheconflict:
Warerupts:Feb.24,2022
Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered his troops into Ukraine, callingita“specialmilitaryoperation”todemilitarizeanddenazify the nation. Ukraine’s Western allies had been warning of Russian aggression for months, but Putin’s public decisions came as a shock. Moments later, reports of fire explosions and troops crossing the border were heard. Putin threatened “consequences you have never experienced in your history” for anyone trying to interfere. However, Ukraine fought back with an exchange between Ukrainian and Russian fighters that served as an act of defianceagainstthemuchlargerandmorepowerfulinvader.
Escapingrefugees:Feb.2022
Russia’s invasion forced hundreds of thousands of Ukrainian civilians to flee the country. People had to wait several days to crossintoneighboringPoland,cramintoovercrowdedcarriagesat thetrainstations,orwaitinlonglinesattheborderintheircars. TheUnitedNationsrefugeeagency(UNHCR)reportedthatatleast 100,000hadlefttheirhomewithin24hoursofthefirstattack.
This crisis is still ongoing, with refugees streaming out of the country day by day. There are over 8.2 million refugees from Ukraine across Europe, according to the UNHCR. As the war continues into 2023, the conflict will endanger the lives of even morepeople.
The Northwest suburbs of the capital were caught up in the heaviest street-by-street fighting of the war The main bridge crossing the Irpin River was destroyed, which made evacuations difficult Hundredsofciviliansdiedattemptingtoflee,accordingto Ukrainianauthorities
Despite Russia agreeing to a 12-hour pause in hostilities for refugeestoescape,amaternityhospitalinthesoutheasterncity ofMariupolwashitbyamissile.Awomanandherbabydiedin the bombing, and the incident symbolized Russia’s senseless aggression.
The violence in Mariupol continued as the city had been under siegeforweeks ThebombingofMariupol’sDramaTheaterwas the most violent attack on civilians Officials estimated about 1,300 people sheltering in the theater at the center of the city 600peoplediedthatday,butmanyreportssuggestthenumber couldbehigher
Ukrainians crowd under the destroyed bridge as they try to flee by crossingtheIrpinRiverontheoutskirtsofKyiv,March5,2022
The Mariupol theater that served as a shelter was hit by Russian missiles,killingover600peopleinMariupol,March16,2022
When Russian troops withdrew from Bucha in early April, imagesofcruelexecutionsandbrutalitieswereexposed They showed dozens of bodies scattered across a street in Bucha which prompted calls for Russia to be investigated for war crimes Russia claimed the images were fake and persecuted several Russian journalists and activists for spreading “false information” However, experts from the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe said they found “grave breaches”ofinternationalhumanitarianlawfromRussia
A brutal Ukrainian counteroffensive in eastern Ukraine pushed RussianforcesoutoftheKharkivregionandregainedlargeswaths of territory. While Russia claimed the withdrawal was just “regrouping,” their military was publicly criticized by many highprofile loyalists like the head of the Chechen Republic, Ramzan Kadyrov.
After many embarrassing defeats in Ukraine, Putin announced Russia’s first mobilization since WWII. Men of fighting age were selected for the draft and troop numbers significantly increased, but not without controversy and protest. With poorly equipped fighters that were mostly untrained, the mobilization had many flaws.
AnexplosiondestroyedtheonlybridgeconnectingRussiawiththe CrimeanPeninsula,servingasamajorblowtoMoscow.Thebridge is strategically important and hugely symbolic, as it was constructed by Putin in 2018, four years after Crimea was illegally annexedfromUkraine.
ServingasamajormilitaryembarrassmentforRussiaandthe biggest wartime loss of a naval ship in 40 years, Moskva, the flagshipofRussia’sBlackSeafleetsankonApril14.Thecause remains disputed as Ukraine claims to have the Moskva with anti-ship cruise missiles and sparked a fire, while Russia blamedafireofunknownorigin.
RussialaunchedthefirstwaveofmissilestrikesonUkraine’senergy infrastructure,usheringinanewphaseofthewar.Moscowtargeted Ukraine’spowerfacilitiesusingmissiles,artilleryshells,andIranianmadedronesthatleftmanyareasofthecountrywithoutpowerand water.
ImagesareexposedoftheBuchamassacreleftbytheRussianmilitary,sparkinginternationaloutrage,April2022Continued from previous page
The southern city of Kherson was finally liberated after eight months of Russian occupation, with scenes of celebrating residents Kherson had been the only regional capital Russian forces had occupied, and their hasty withdrawal was another bleakmomentforMoscow
The President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyy traveled to Washington DC to speak to President Biden and the US Congress. It was a historical and important visit, as it was Zelenskyy’sfirstforeigntripsincethestartofRussia’sinvasion. Just before his arrival, Biden announced it was sending nearly $2 billion in additional security assistance to Ukraine which includedanewPatriotairdefensesystem.
GermanyannounceditwouldprovideLeopard2tankstoKyiv, andaroundthesametime,BidensaidtheUSwouldbesending 31M1AbramstankstoUkraineaswell.Germany’saidservedas amajorbreakthroughintheWest’ssupportofUkraine.
BidenmadeahugelysymbolicvisittoKyiv,hisfirstsinceRussia’s full-scaleinvasion.Zelenskyyrecalledaconversationhehadover the phone with him, “One year later, Kyiv stands. And Ukraine stands. Democracy stands,” Biden declared. “The Americans stand with you and the world stands with you.” Zelenskyy said Biden’svisitbroughtUkraine“closertovictory.”
Though the conflict has spanned for over a year now, there doesn’tseemtobeanendinsight.Currently,neithertheUSnor anyothercountrieshavesentmilitarytroopsforfearofincreasing Russianhostilityandstartingathirdworldwar.However,theUS has sent more than $30 billion worth of gear to Ukraine, and many other Europeans have also sent weapons and supplies. UkrainecontinuestopushforwardagainsttheRussianforcesand defendtheirhome.
President Zelenskyy visits Washington DC to speak with Biden and Congress,December21,2022 PhotobyBrendanSmialowski ManystreetsinKyivareleftindarknessasRussiahasdestroyedmuchofthecity'spowerfacilities,October2022
Over the years, social media has surely contributed to many successes However, as with all things, there is a brutal downside The internet and the rise of influencers have bred an obsession with physical looks, directly correlating them to value and worth. This negative association, coupled with the unrealistic promotion of perfect and supposedly “unfiltered” bodies, has destroyed the way women and young girls view the beauty standard andtheirself-worth.
AccordingtoresearchleakedtotheWallStreetJournal, Instagram is responsible for making body image issues worseforoneinthreegirls.When97%ofteensactivelyuse social media, this becomes an issue. Instagram feeds refresh daily to expose impressionable young women to heavily edited photos from their favorite influencers, whetherornottheyrealizejusthowfilteredtheyare
On TikTok especially, it is hard to stumble upon an influencer who does not use some type of beauty enhancing filter Whether this be the airbrushing beauty effect or one of the thousands of filters that alter appearance, it is not real. In fact, the app recently faced backlash for one of its newest beauty filters : Bold Glamour.
This particular filter completely transforms a user's appearance. It led many users to question if technology had gone too far to drastically enhance beauty and support an unrealistic standard. Using these filters on accounts that promote unachievable beauty is very detrimentalfortheyoungerfemalefollowing.
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Infact,accordingtoastudyonfilteredphotos,girlsaged 14-18 felt that retouched photos of themselves looked better than the original, leaving them less satisfied with their bodies afterward TikTok and Instagram’s beauty filters have the same effect, leaving young women questioning their own worth and beauty based on idealisticyetunrealbeautyenhancements.
Society’s fetishization of beauty and its association with being more intelligent and likable is only fueled by platformslikethese.Itbecomesimpossibleforanyoneto attain these standards of unrealistic perfection, which are inaccurately associated with happiness. They foster self-hatredandalackofconfidence.
Although some argue that those who struggle with these “perfect” standards are naive, the obsession with body image cannot be escaped on any social media platform Whatmakesitworseisthefactthatinfluencers consistently use filters and share products that are part ofabranddeal,notproductstheygenuinelyuse
In the culture of wellness influencers, the unrealistic “What I Eat in a Day'' videos promote unhealthy and unrealistic eating habits. These edited, impractical videos and ingenuine promotions are what young girls compare themselves to daily. According to Psychology Today, these videos “can bring about an increase in urges to diet, binge eat, cut out foods or food groups, overexercise, or engage in other unhealthy eating behaviors.”
Platformspromotingunhealthydietculture,unrealistic body images, and filtered photos have truly destroyed how young girls and women view themselves. It holds women up to a pedestal of perfection that is simply unachievable, and yet social media has made this a conceptdifficulttograsp
Cartoon illustration of a diagnosable eating disorder, Body Dysmorphic Disorder, where someone fixates on a perceived or minor flaw or bodypart.
PhotobyDeepstash/GettyImages
"Russian President Vladimir Putin’s forays into Crimea and eastern Ukraine were ostensibly undertaken to protect ethnic Russians The parallels to Adolf Hitler’s seizure of the Czech SudetenlandtoprotectethnicGermansarehardto miss."
PutinalsousestheexcusethatthereareNazisin Ukraine.ThiscomesfromwhenGermanybeganto invade the Soviet Union they first entered the barrier countries like Ukraine before entering Russia.Ukraine–likemanyotherSovietcountries–was under stress from Russia’s interference with harsh regulations, a puppet government, and culturalerasure.Asaresult,whenNaziscameinto Ukraine they were welcomed because the Nazis opposed Ukraine’s Russian oppressors, and the citizens thought it was better to take the chance Sadly, they were wrong and paid dearly for their miscalculation with the lives of soldiers and civilians
Marianna Vishegirskaya standing outside a maternity hospital that was damaged by shelling in Mariupol, Ukraine, on March 9, 2022. One of the many examples of Russia’s attackonUkrainianCivilians.
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.
Evenbeforetheofficialdeclaration ofwar,Russiahasbeenthreatening Ukraineforyears.Ifyoucountwhen Ukraine was part of the Soviet Union,theyhavedealtwithdecades of Russian aggression and interference. But now, when civiliansarebeingkidnapped,killed, and tortured, the West -- including theUS--holdsback
In WWII, the U.S saw the atrocities Nazi Germany were committing against Europe and did not interfere until Pearl Harbor, an attack that we were unprepared for. David Leatherwood,inanopinionarticlefor theWashingtonPost,remindsreaders about the beginning of Hitler’s war in his article, “Can Ukraine win without Westernbootsontheground?”
After WWII, the US made the decision to not ignorewarandlendmorethanjustsuppliestothe people being attacked. America sent troops to Korea, then Vietnam to fight communism, not for the people, but to protect something as insignificantaspolitical/economicstrategy.
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PhotobyMstyslavChernov/AP“
When other countries have attacked America, whether it be direct or indirect, the American public will become more pro-war. ”
- Administrator & teacher Matthew Arroyo
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The US went back to neutrality, ignoring humanity crises that came from armed conflict, including acts of genocide, until the US was directly attacked on 9/11. In response, Americansoldiersspent20yearsfightingincountriesagainst extremists,forthetragedyoftwotowersand2,977lostlives. Inavengingalmost3,000lives,wehavelostonemillionmore.
As of Apr. 24, the number of civilians killed in Ukraine has reached 29 times the number of lives lost on 9/11 In total, 8,574 Ukrainian civilians are dead and an additional 14,441 are left injured from Russia’s civilian targeting strategy Had Putin and his generals stuck with only attacking soldiers, there would be no need for the U.S to intervene, but civilians– people who work in offices, construction, education,orevenasretailers–arebeingtargetedandkilled. Ontopofthat,childrenarealsobeingkilledintheseattacks, andsomeareevenbeingkidnappedandbroughtintoRussia.
Claire Parker, a writer for the New Times wrote an article called “What are crimes against humanity?” and shows verified reports about them in Ukraine. She also quotes our secretary of state about these crimes. “He pointed to ‘execution-style killings of Ukrainian men, women, and children; torture of civilians in detention through beatings, electrocution, and mock executions; rape,’ and the deportationof‘hundredsofthousandsofUkrainiancivilians to Russia, including children who have been forcibly separatedfromtheirfamilies’
Thisisnolongerjustawar WhatishappeninginUkraineis no longer ignorable If we ignore this, and Russia takes Ukraine,whatcountryisnext?
Casualtiesconsistofunablesoldiersandcivilians Meaningpeoplewho havebeenkilled,injured,orhavegonemissing GraphicbyJuliaDriscoll“I think they should send in troops because obviously, they have been doing that [sending supplies and imposing sanctions on Russia], and it's helping but the war is still going on and it doesn’t show any signs of ending.”
- Junior Sema Zor
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