April 2019 by The Rogue News

Rogue Volume XII, Issue VII

News May 1, 2019

Robotics Goes to Worlds In This Edition: T by Zeleyah Mata

his year’s spring season of robotics competitions 8 STEM classes to AHS’s course selections and are has proved to be a turning point for the Ashland currently in the process of getting a Science Bowl-foHigh School robotics team. The team won the pres- cused class added to the Ashland Middle School curtigious Chairman’s Award at the District Champion- riculum for next year. ship which took place in Tacoma, Washington April In addition to the robotics team’s influence in the 3-6, bringing home the biggest award the team of 10 community, their robot, Artemis, was evaluated by years has ever won. In adits ability to perform in dition, this award secured a variety of challenges. their spot in the FIRST Since these challenges Robotics Championship are not disclosed beforecompetition where uphand, in the “build seawards of ten thousand son” of 6 weeks leading K-12 STEM (Science, up to the competition, Technology, Engineerthe team works to anticiing and Mathematics) pate what the judges are students from all over looking for in the robot’s the world came to comperformance. This also pete with their robots in allows each team to focus Houston, Texas. Drive on a couple of strengths team technician/scoutto make their robot stand Robotics Team at Worlds Photo Credit Ronald Constable out. ing captain/mechanical lead Reuben Fellman says it’s “an honor to have the On April 17, after successful fundraising efforts, opportunity to work with teams from other countries the AHS robotics team flew out to compete in the and to qualify at such a prestigious level.” FIRST Robotics Championship competition which The team was awarded the Chairman’s Award at spanned 5 days. “We’re always really excited to get the District Championship based on their influence more people involved in STEM,” says Fellman. “If in the community in regards to spreading and build- you are interested [in joining robotics] you can talk ing STEM in the Ashland School District curricu- to us after the Worlds competition about getting inlums. The team met on multiple occasions with the volved.” school board to discuss adding STEM classes to the curriculum. Notably, the team succeeded in adding

Grizzlies Do Good by Skyye D.

he Grizz Pageant is arguably one of the most anticipated events of the year. The pageant is a satirical competition which pokes fun at the traditional beauty pageant. The competitors dance, show off their talents, play a “Day in the Life” video and goof around on stage, all for a good cause. The money raised goes to the NICU (Natal Intensive Care Unit) center at Asante Rogue Regional Medical Center in Medford. In addition to the pageant, contestants allowed themselves to be pied in the face, held a car wash at Northwest Pizza and sold flowers on the quad. Scott Gustafson, a coordinator for the pageant, said, “The NICU center is the only one between Portland and Sacramento, so it’s a really important holding facility for premature babies. It’s really a good cause to raise money for!” Annalise Renee, one of the two freshman contestants and the only girl who competed this year, was very passionate about raising money for the NICU center. She said that one of the hardest aspects so far had been worrying that she wouldn’t make enough, or that she would be the person who made the least. “Really, it’s like, how can I give the most that I can?“ she said. In Renee’s “Day in the Life” video, she wanted to play on the fact that she’s the only girl in the pageant. “I don’t want to say that it’s over-feminized, but it’s like ‘when I grow up, I wanted to be a princess’, and [it’s] doing a bunch of things that people have thought of as tra-

ditionally feminine, but in a way where it’s not oversexualized,” said Renee. Richie Sommers, one of the senior candidates, put his all into the pageant, especially his dancing. “At first I didn’t stretch, and I couldn’t walk for a couple days!” Sommers took the prompt for the video literally, and made a true “Day in the life.” “I made sure that it wasn’t too serious... It’s just sort of an exaggerated day in the life.” While Sommers enjoyed the rehearsals, he elaborated that one of the trickiest parts of the pageant was learning the dance and making it seem like he knew what he was doing. Both Renee and Sommers spoke about how the pageant was a serious bonding experience for everybody involved. Sommers said, “On the weekends we [had] dance practice it’s a couple hours and we [got] to focus on the material more and goof off. It’s just really fun.” The Grizz Pageant took place on Friday, April 12th. While every Grizz contestant worked their hardest to win, Sequoia Jacobson, one of the junior contestants, was ultimately declared the winner. Jacobson noted, “The most difficult thing about the Grizz Pageant was taking the ACT the next morning.” Renee also fundraised over $1,100 dollars for the NICU center, which gave her a brick on the entrance of the hospital.

“The most difficult thing about the Grizz Pageant was taking the ACT the next morning.”

P2. Bosses in Business & Bills P3. Vaccinating in the Valley P4. Rogue Rowing & Girls Track P5. AP Exams & Admission Scandal P6. Why Walk Out ? P7. Farmers Market Cookbook P8. Model UN & Sister Cities P9. Gun Control P10. Mt. A’s Snowy Season & AHS Art P11. A Tribute to The Mars Rover P12. An Exploration of Cyberspace

The Price You Pay The average cost of living continues to rise as housing for the rapidly increasing population fails to keep up.

How To Best The AP Test Have you been hoping and wishing for a 5 on your AP Exams? Ignore The Princeton Review ™ and read our residential expert’s advice and study tips.

Violence Prompts Policy After the Christchurch massacre, New Zealand passes new gun control legistaltion at a rapid pace.

Goodbye Dear Friend

The Mars Rover, Opportunity, is dead but we will never forget what it did for humankind. In memorium, we send off our childhood friend with a tribute poem.

Entrepreneurs of Ashland Expanding Beyond the Dome

Here in Ashland, small businesses thrive. Creativity fills the hearts of local Ashlanders and the smell of entrepreneurship fills the air, wafting into the noses of its citizens like the scent of organic kombucha. Between the downtown plaza and the various growers’ markets, vendors have found a way to profit from their unique products in the local community. However, some local vendors have taken it one step further, making their unique products available all over the globe. Here are a couple of our favorite Ashland-based companies and entrepreneurs.

Venus Fly-traps

Essential Wellness

by Ava Hearn

by Lara Rivera

n downtown Ashland, next to the intersection of East Main Street and 2nd street is Essential Wellness. Writer of “AromaDome; Changing Lives one Breath at a Time,” and creator of the AromaDome®, Julie Chertow, opened Essential Wellness to give the community of Ashland a place to relax with a clean eating café and an AromaDome Wellness center. Chertow describes Essential Wellness as a space with an “energy vortex” that serves as a safe area for those who come to the space. The AromaDomes, Chertow’s own invention, are a tentlike item that one places on top of the body, from torso to the head. There is an essential oil diffuser with a tube attached to an atomizer sealing an essential oil bottle which goes inside the tent. The AromaDome has helped soldiers and veterans deal with mental health struggles by using essential oil scents to decrease and remove triggers by clearing the amygdala of negative associations. Chertow explains that she has seen results in the soldiers who have come to her for help. “The way you can tell is that the thing that you used to react to lessens, or is gone.” Chertow is the first person to create a dome to keep the essential oil vapor enclosed in one space in order to obtain the most benefits from the oils. The AromaDomes are being sold online in countries like Myanmar, Romania and Spain; however there is only one AromaDome Wellness Center, which is right here in Ashland. One of Chertow’s visions is to expand AromaDome Wellness Centers throughout the nation and have Ashland’s center be a model. Chertow’s vision for the AromaDomes Wellness Center is to expand throughout the country, from the west coast to the east coast. For Essential Wellness, her goal is to make the space available for lessons and classes, and educate clients about using essential oils in their food or drinks. It is challenging to maintain a thriving business when the Oregon Shakespeare Festival shuts down in the winter. Chertow has found herself having to close two days a week, Sundays and Mondays. Last summer she offered Essential Wellness as a place for clean air and food when the air quality outside was poor. Chertow would like to encourage Ashland residents to take advantage of the nutrition and mental health benefits that Essential Wellness and the AromaDome offers.

Chertow cradles her AromaDome

lytrapstore.com is an online company based out of Ashland which supplies Venus flytraps, a popular carnivorous plant breed, to buyers all over the United States. Husband and wife co-owners, Matt and Leah Miller, moved to Ashland ten years ago shortly after starting flytrapstore.com. As a child, Matt was obsessed with Venus flytraps. In 2009, while living in Boulder, Colorado, he came across a Venus flytrap and bought it. Eager to indulge his childhood obsession, Matt looked into different online stores for a variety of Venus flytraps to start his collection. Matt was disappointed to find that there was no online store that sold high end Venus flytraps or reliable information on flytrap care. “When I saw that there was a niche in the market for Venus flytraps in the United States, I decided to take it upon myself to meet the demand for carnivorous plants,” says Matt. Flytrapstore.com is now the largest Venus flytrap supplier in the world with over 100 types of Venus flytraps! The online store is very successful and is the source for almost 100% of the Miller’s income. With Matt engineering plants from tissue cultures and designing the website, and Leah potting plants and dealing with customers, they make a power team. In their personal lives, Matt and Leah are very active in the community. Leah loves to run and Matt is a competitive swimmer and former swim coach at Ashland High School, as a well a member of Ashland Parks and Recreation department. Both Leah and Matt have extensive education backgrounds. What do you do with a masters in mathematics and a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology you might ask? The answer is simple start a Venus flytrap company! Although most of the plants are sold outside of Southern Oregon, Matt says that Ashland provides a great community (and perfect climate) for growing Venus flytraps. Matt and Leah find lots of reward in supplying people across the nation with what renowned scientist Charles Darwin called “the most wonderful plant in the world.”

Miller displays one of his plants while standing in the Flytrapstore.com greenhouse photo courtesy of Leah Miller

photo by Lara Rivera

Advocate to Legislate

by Eliza Strong

t the beginning of this school year, Bella Mannray joined Oregon House Representative, Pam Marsh, in a project titled “It Ought To Be a Law” in which community members could draft bills they’d like to see their state legislators vote into law. AP Government and Politics and Literature teacher, Peter Bolling, saw Mannray’s project as a way to get students involved in state politics and turned it into an assignment for his Politics and Literature class. The project prompted students to, as participant Molly Bloom put it, “brainstorm things they were passionate about.” Representative Marsh would later transform some students’ ideas into bill format, giving Ashland High School students the chance to get involved in local politics. For Bloom, Chloe Boucher, Danae Haldane and Katie Cropper, the project has bloomed beyond a graded assignment. The group decided to draft a plan to restrict the selling of Juul products online, a controversial topic among their peers and older generations alike, and it was picked by Representative Marsh 2

and her team to begin the process of becoming legislation. On April 4, Bloom was invited to Salem to testify in front of a public committee in Salem, Oregon. She read a statement she had prepared with Representative Marsh, and a representative from Juul spoke after to counter her proposal. While she described testifying as “fun,” she also felt out of place. “I felt like a kid,” she expressed, describing how pictures were taken of her and probing questions were asked. Bloom was frustrated at the shock people had that a high schooler was involved in politics. “High school kids should be [participating] because anyone’s free to do it,” she expressed. It doesn’t take connections like Bloom had with Representative Marsh to become involved. Attending School Board and City Council Meetings and campaigning for local politicians are also ways to ensure that the student voice is heard, even if much of the student body cannot yet vote.

COMMUNITY & WORLD

Rent Revamp

Oregon’s legislature attempts to battle a rising problem by Lexi Taylor

any Ashland citizens know the struggle of trying to find an apartment or house for an affordable price in Ashland Oregon. It’s like shopping for clothes at the mall. After finding a nice shirt and glancing at the price tag, you might internally scream “Nooo!” and hastily refold the shirt with a face of panic. Recent studies have shown that the average cost of living in Ashland is considerably greater than that of both the state of Oregon and the United States. On a scale where 100 is average for the overall cost of living in the U.S., which includes housing, health, utilities, etc. Oregon stands at 124.4 and Ashland at 139.7. Housing is the main reason why the cost of living in Ashland is above the U.S. average. The median cost of a house in the U.S. is $216,200 and in Ashland the cost of a house is double that amount at $456,600. According to the 2017 annual average cost of living index by the Council for Community and Economic Research, Oregon was ranked the 6th most expensive state to live in. So why is it so expensive to live in Ashland compared to other cities? The main reason is because there isn’t enough housing for the rapidly increasing population. People are moving to Ashland to retire or raise a family, and there aren’t enough homes to go around. With low vacancy rates, housing prices go up, which also contributes to the high rates of homelessness in the Valley. The average cost of living for a family of four in Oregon has increased by 23% between 2008 and 2017, while the median wage has only increased by 10%. Only a quarter of jobs provide an income which allows for self-sufficiency and, with rising housing costs and stagnant wages, many Oregonians are struggling to keep their homes. There are options for low income households in Ashland, like the Snowberry Brook apartments located on Villard Street. Snowberry is a part of the Jackson County Subsidized Housing Programs, where tenants pay up to 30% of their household income towards housing and utilities, and the rest

of the balance is covered by the Housing Authority of Jackson County. The wait list is between one to three years if you qualify. Some affordable housing is funded by Ashland’s Affordable Housing Trust Fund (AHTF), which is a dedicated source of revenue to provide ongoing funding for housing projects. Ashland leaders continue to search for long term ways of funding, but currently are using a portion of state Marijuana tax as a long term revenue source to fund AHTF. In the past, Oregon property owners have had complete control over how much and how fast rent can be raised. The freedom that came with being allowed to change rent so rapidly created problems for tenants who couldn’t pay the increase at such short notice. On February 27, State Legislature passed a rent control bill which limits rent increases to 7% per year to buildings that are 15 years or older, and restricts no-fault evictions for tenants who have lived there for at least one year. Oregon is now the only state in the nation with statewide rent control. While this bill applies to the majority of renters and property holders, there are situations that may not follow these rules which should be discussed with a lawyer. The population in Ashland will continue to grow and the construction of houses and apartments cannot keep up with the newcomers. Even though the new rent control bill helps tenants manage rent increases with fair warning, it does not change the fact that because housing is in such high demand, rent remains high.

Mandate to Vaccinate

art by Alex Brehmer

Newly introduced vaccination legislation could change Oregon’s exemption rules by Kali de St. Phalle

shland is known for being an open community for ideas, beliefs and policies, but recently people have become concerned about Oregon’s flexible approach to vaccination. Over the years, there have been many debates in schools and in local politics regarding the vaccination of students. Debate on this issue has become recently reignited due to a new bill in Oregon’s legislature. Oregon House Bill 949 would bar all children from attending any private or public school in the state of Oregon who are non-medically exempt from vaccination. Oregon is one of only seventeen states that allows for two types of non-medical exemption: philosophical and religious. Philosophical and religious exemption allow parents to opt out of vaccination for any personal or religious belief challenging vaccination. This bill would nullify both of these exemptions, making medical exemption the only option. Medical exemption only allows for a child to be exempted if the vaccine would hurt their health more than it would help it. Since July of 2018, all 50 states require vaccination for diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, polio, measles, rubella, and 49 states require a vaccination for mumps. In Oregon, children non-medically exempted would be barred from public schools until they have met the state’s vaccination requirements. In mid-March, the bill surpassed one of its first political challenges - the Oregon House Healthcare Committee. It was originally introduced as a response to the ongoing measles outbreak near Portland and Clark County Washington, with 78 confirmed cases since January 1. The bill passed in committee with a 7 to 4 majority and is currently in the Joint

Committee of Ways and Means to analyze the fiscal impacts of requiring vaccination. If passed through this committee, it will be voted on by the Oregon House of Representatives and then the Oregon Senate, if passed, it would amend parts of current Oregon Bill ORS 433. The bill is reportedly supported by many Oregon Representatives and by Governor Kate Brown. Although the bill has many supporters, many people in the community strongly oppose the principles of this bill. Some believe that it is an overreach of Oregon government or that they are depriving Oregon’s citizens of the right to informed choice. According to the Center for Disease Control, the median vaccination coverage nationwide in 2017 was 94.3 percent, leaving a national exemption rate of 5.7 percent. Comparatively, Oregon has a statewide exemption rate of 7.5 percent. Many community members feel that this bill would not only deny them of their rights, but also put their children’s health at risk. On the other hand, many Oregon citizens believe this bill has been necessary for a long time and is paramount to the safety of our communities. Parents, physicians and community members strongly believe that the necessity of herd immunity and protection against outbreaks outweighs personal choice. Since the Portland outbreak, people have become more informed on Oregon’s high exemption rates and risk of outbreak, leaving many in the community fearing for their children’s heath, well-being and education. House Bill 949 has many opponents and supporters in every corner of the community. Although it has made many headlines and substantial headway its future in the Oregon legislature is still undetermined.

“HOUSE BILL 949 HAS MANY OPPONENTS AND SUPPORTERS IN EVERY CORNER OF THE COMMUNITY.”

Rogue Rowing and the People Who Keep It Afloat by Charlotte Julian

owing is not for the faint of heart. High in intensity, rowing works out multiple muscles at once, building core, leg, and arm strength. The local rowing team practices at Emigrant Lake weekdays from 3:45 to 6:15 pm, and on Saturdays 8:00 to 10:30 am. The 9th through 12th grade members are an incredibly supportive, positive, and inclusive group. In fact, the rowing team is not strictly limited to Ashland High School (AHS) students. There are many members from various schools around the valley. To be good at rowing you, need your teammates to succeed, and the Rogue Rowing team knows this by heart. As a rower, planning around the packed schedule is an acquired skill. Having time to complete everyday tasks such as homework and having a social life is difficult. “Getting home at 7:30 every night [keeps] me from doing my homework until about 8:00, when I finish dinner,” said Asa Picton, a sophomore crew member. “Crew is my socializing, but I’m happy about it. Crew is such a unique family. Even when we’re not practicing, we’re always spending time together. On Saturdays and Sundays when we’re not practicing we always hang out.” Of course, one of the main reasons for joining crew would be the physical workout. Rowing everyday slowly increases your muscle strength and gets you in “the best shape possible,” explained Mitchell McCleary,

a junior at AHS. Everyone needs each other on the team, not only for physical support to move the boats, but mental support as well. Avrie Dreyer, a sophomore, explained how in situations where she feels like she can’t go on and when she’s “hit the wall,” her teammates were able to pull her through and encourage her to keep going. “Often time crew can become difficult and I fear failure. My teammates tell me you gotta keep going” said Dreyer. Cormac Webb, a senior, at South Medford High School, was voted for the position of team co-captain in crew. As captain, it is his responsibility to be a communicator between coaches and fellow teammates, and is seen as a leader by his peers. He said that working with AHS students is a “blessing” and that they are a “very positive group to be around.” Ashland team members enjoy working with students from various schools and are happy that they get to meet new people from around the valley. ”They are actually really cool. I’m friends with quite a few Medford kids myself,” said McCleary, the other boys co-captain. Physical workout aside, it’s all about the teamsmanship. Many are friends outside of crew and spend free time together. With a strong bond between members, there seems to be nothing that can stop the Rogue Rowing team.

“WORKING WITH ASHLAND KIDS IS A BLESSING.”

photo courtesy of Kris Prusko

Eager to Get Running by Amber Eaton

ast month, two girls from Ashland High School (AHS) competed in a statewide women’s heptathlon. Juniors Carly Knecht and Bella Sallee had been training since the beginning of the year to go to the meet. They were accompanied to the event by the track coach Rosie Converse-Soriano, who said they were both very enthusiastic about competing. The heptathlon is a track contest made up of seven different events. Generally a Heptathlon takes place over 2 days. The first day involves 100 meter hurdles, high jump, shot put and a 200 meter sprint. On the second day, the contest is finished with long jump, javelin and an 800 meter run. The meet is scored by a set of standards; if an athlete reaches a specific mark (time, distance, or height) then a certain number of points are awarded. For example, a 1.82 meter high jump earns a thousand points. Each event also has a minimum recordable level, below which zero points are earned. Any score in between is decided by a complex formula. This formula is slightly different for each of the three categories of event: running, jumping and, throwing. Out of 25 total competitors at the meet,

Knecht placed 13th and Sallee placed 7th. The two girls had separate experiences with the event; however, they both said that the long jump was particularly difficult. Knecht had difficulty because she scratched her first 2 attempts and almost lost all points for long jump, as competitors are only given three tries to perform an event. Sallee had a hard time with the long jump because she had never done it before. Knecht enjoyed the high jump, while Sallee preferred the 200 meter sprint. This was the first time in AHS history that female track athletes competed in an event of this caliber. “This was an incredible experience for me because I was able to push myself and try new events which I wouldn’t typically get a chance to participate in,” Sallee expressed. Events like this heptathlon help high school athletes discover their full potential. Coach Converse-Soriano added, “When I was in high school I didn’t get a chance to compete in heptathlon meets. I had to wait until my sophomore year of college. I think it’s awesome that our athletes get this opportunity.”

“I WAS ABLE TO PUSH MYSELF AND TRY NEW EVENTS.”

Junior, Bella Sallee (above) and junior, Carly Knecht (below). photo by Amber Eaton

EDITORIAL

IS IT THE MONEY YOU INVEST, OR YOUR SKILLS PUT TO THE TEST? Cheat your way into college in no time editorial by Alex Brehmer The great college admissions scandal of 2019 left many people, myself included, confused. Up until this point, I thought bribery was the only way to get into Ivy League schools. Why was my news feed blowing up with pictures of Aunt Becky from Full House in handcuffs? What difference does it make to me if rich kids go to rich schools? Stepping outside my cynicism, though, the social implications of this event became clear. This scandal affects underachievers (like me) and overachievers (anyone who actually reads this article) alike. Higher education is no longer a symbol of merit, but one of class. It’s time we start treating it as such.

For those of you just crawling out from under the rock you’ve been living under: Welcome back! Here’s a brief run down: On March 12th of this year, federal prosecutors indicted over 50 people for their involvement in the bribing of college admissions officers to ensure the placement of their children in elite schools. The scheme was run by William Rick Singer, and his companies, The Edge College & Career Network and the Key Worldwide Foundation. His companies helped tutor over 750 families in the art of cheating on the SAT and posing for fake athletic photos. Students everywhere are angry, and justifiably so. For every student enrolled through bribery, an honest student is rejected. Over 8 years of business, Singer was paid $25 million to help wealthy families get their kids into top schools. Stealing from the poor and giving to the rich like a modern-day reverse Robin Hood is a lucrative business! A handful of Stanford students filed a class action lawsuit against the guilty colleges, arguing that they had been denied a fair chance of enrollment. That’s such a baller move- because they’re totally right! They DIDN’T get a fair chance! If kids enrolled in STANFORD are mad, the rest of us should be LIVID! Public education was pioneered by Horace Mann, who dreamt that college could be a “great equalizer.” In a country founded on the idea that people of all walks of life can work hard and achieve great things, college was designed to level the playing field. Regardless of class, gen-

“If colleges truly celebrated academic ability over finances, don’t you think we’d see more? The truth is, colleges are big businesses that target vulnerable people into lifelong debt through fear tactics.”

der, or race, higher education is supposed to be the key to achieving the American dream. That’s never been the case, though. Colleges were only desegregated in 1954 and Columbia College only became co-ed in 1983. When will the class divide end? The National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrations (NASFAA) found that low-income students are unable to afford 95% of colleges. “Money isn’t an issue for people who work hard,” some argue. “Many elite colleges offer full ride scholarships to those who can’t afford it!” Ah, yes. The full ride fantasy. All of us know of a friend’s lover’s cousin who got a full ride to Harvard because of their big beautiful brain, but these awards are few and far between. If colleges truly celebrated academic ability over finances, don’t you think we’d see more? The truth is, colleges are big businesses that target vulnerable people into lifelong debt through fear tactics. Their marketing campaigns have engrained our society with the idea that “No college = no future.” This explains why those families paid so much to cheat. For the rest of us non-multibillionaires, I’d like to offer some final words. 1) Education IS important, as it effects your ability to interact within the global community, however... 2) College is NOT important. There is more to education than traditional schooling. Look at Elon Musk and Steve Jobs: two of the richest business bros in the world, neither of whom went to college. Most importantly, though, 3) eat the rich.

art by Alex Brehmer

A COMPLETE STUDY GUIDE FOR ANY AP TEST How to get that perfect five every time editorial by Rivers Holtzman This test is the most important moment of your life. Everything rides on this. If you mess up, there really is no reason to continue your education or living on this earth as a human being. You can kiss your bright future goodbye. The only way to avoid this fate is to abide by these simple tips: One of the most important pillars of AP test success is studying. There is no “wax on wax off ” method to approach this. You cannot sleep with a

textbook under your pillow. No amount of shortcuts will save you. Only the cold hard facts will save you. If you’re studying anything other than Official College Board AP Test Material, you are wasting your time. This practice must begin as soon as possible. One is never too young to open a textbook and start studying. We recommend parents start their kids at 6 months. About 2 hours of studying every night for one’s entire childhood should be enough to prepare even the dullest child for an AP test. However, as the test date moves closer, it is important to remember: DO NOT OVERSTUDY!! OH MY GOD ARE YOU CRAZY?!? Finding the equilibrium between too little and too much studying is critical, so tread lightly. This brings us to the topic of the lost chapters. There will always be some parts of the textbook your teacher will not get to. This is entirely your fault for being a disgusting little student. These chapters are where all the questions on the test will come from, so be wary. The night before the test, it is important to relax. Treat yourself! You silly, silly goose. Make sure to set

out everything for the next day. The supplies you use on the day of the test are almost as important as all the preparation. This one piece of information is vital: absolutely, under no circumstances, are you ever to even TOUCH a mechanical pencil. This constitutes a failure. It should also be noted that you will not need an eraser. At this point in your training, you should not be making mistakes. Period. Due to the extremely harrowing conditions of the AP test, we recommend you bring provisions of water. You need to keep hydrated, but not too much. Bathroom breaks are a frivolous waste of time you should not be distracted by. Under no circumstances should you bring anything resembling food into the testing room. Snacks are strictly forbidden, and you will fail the test if you are found with more than a crumb of food on your person. Anyway, we hope these simple tips can help you on your AP journey. Chin up, head down. And remember: you are only as good as your AP test score.

Our Climate: In-Depth What about the Walkouts?

Walkout Locations

by Isabella Ash

(Only Major events)

housands of students across the world participated in a global movement on Friday, March 15. Students skipped class to protest the lack of government action in order to lower global emissions to slow down climate change. According to the Ashland Daily Tidings, about 350 Ashland High School (AHS) students walked out of school at 10:30 AM. A handfull of middle schoolers and students from Medford and St. Mary’s school also came to Ashland to participate. Students marched in about a 100-yard-long line, holding hand-made signs and chanting phrases such as “Climate Change is not a lie, please don’t let my planet die.” The march finished at the Ashland Plaza where students could share speeches and stories. Many students were inspired by Swedish sixteenyear-old Greta Thunberg who began skipping school on Fridays to protest in front of the Swedish Parliament. Thunberg has been protesting for over thirtyfour weeks. Ashland’s march was one of about 2,000 actions staged for climate justice in 123 different countries according to news reports. This movement brought together countless young people over a single issue. The students who chose to walk out felt it was an important decision for them to participate. Freshman Nick Hemmerling, a student who participated and spoke at the rally said, “I wanted to be a part of this global movement because climate change and global warming are very real issues affecting everywhere

and everyone…. I’m proud I walked out; in fact, if I had stayed, I would have been ashamed.” As Hemmerling reflected upon his decision to participate, he added “It made me feel powerful.” Although many students chose to participate in the walkout, students were encouraged to stay in school by AHS administration, and many parents did not want their children to risk the unexcused absence and miss important work. “I had a simulation in government so I wouldn’t have been able to walk out anyway,” said David Ruvalcaba, a senior who chose not to participate in the walkout. Another senior who chose not to walk out, Christian Alba, said, “First of all I didn’t want the unexcused absence on my report card, and my dad didn’t want me to skip because he didn’t want me to miss school because it’s important.” As a teacher who saw the affects in his classroom from the walkout, science teacher Jim Hartman said, “Why do we have schools? So our kids can have a good future. Why do we have climate strikes? For the same reason. So I think by missing school you’re really waking up the community in a big way…. Nothing we learn in school will matter if we see the worst of climate change.” In regards to the message being sent to our community, Hartman says, “It shows our kids care about everyone’s future.” For students like Nick Hemmerling who chose to

participate in the walkout, social media proved invaluable in the ability to organize. Hemmerling said, “I think it’s representative of the fact that, yes, things like social media can be a drain or present an issue, but it also helps us make change in the ways we want to see change.” He adds that while climate change is not a good thing, “It’s been a uniting force because there is no one nowhere that isn’t effected by climate change.”

Market To Meal by Grace Schroder

he Farmer’s Market is a place where you can gather fresh and local ingredients, sit under the sunshine and talk with local vendors. Eating locally reduces your carbon footprint because the food needs less transportation. Knowing this, I moseyed around the farmer’s market looking at what is currently in season and what would be easy to make using the ingredients. I came back with two breakfast ideas, breakfast tacos and savory carrot and zucchini pancakes. There is a star next to the ingredients you can find easily at the farmer’s market.

16 carrot zucchini pancakes: • • • • • •

1 large zucchini 8 peeled carrots 1 bunch green onions 3 cloves garlic 1/2 bunch parsley 1 batch pancake batter

Start by grating the zucchini and carrots, thinly slicing the onions, mincing the garlic, and chopping the parsley. Then prepare one batch of pancake mix, but use 1/4 cup less liquid than called for. Add the vegetables into the pancake batter and brush a pan with olive oil. Scoop about ⅓ cup of batter onto the pan over medium heat and cook 3 to 4 minutes, then flip. Top pancakes with salt and allow to cool before serving. Serve with butter or sour cream! 6

2 breakfast tacos: • 3 tablespoons olive oil • 1 lb diced potatoes • ½ teaspoon salt • ½ teaspoon paprika • 6 eggs • 2 tablespoons milk • ¼ teaspoon salt • ¼ teaspoon black pepper • 6 flour tortillas • Shredded cheddar cheese • Salsa In a large pan, cook diced potatoes in oil for 8-10 minutes with the ½ teaspoon salt and paprika. Once crispy, set them aside. In a bowl beat the eggs with milk and mix in the ¼ teaspoon salt and pepper. In the same pan pour in the eggs. Stir them until they are nice and scrambled. Add the potatoes and eggs on the tortillas, topping with whatever you please, but salsa and cheese are recommended.

Coos Bay Medford

Klamath Falls

LNG Pipeline Route

Plugged Up: LNG Update by Bailey Mustard

s commercial advertisements advocate for and against the construction of the Jordan Cove LNG pipeline, many west coast dwellers are questioning what it is. The Jordan Cove LNG (liquefied natural gas) pipeline is an export project that will ship fracked natural gas through Oregon, traveling from Malin to Coos Bay, and connecting to an already existing pipeline that will bring the natural gas from Canada to Oregon. Protesters believe the pipeline will have harmful effects on the environment, which is why Environmental Justice Non-Profit, Rogue Climate, is working hard to keep it at bay. Hannah Sohl, the director of the organization, states that, “the impacts of this project are not only here in Southern Oregon. There’s also incredible impacts to our climate

and to the health and safety of communities where the gas is being fracked.” The pipeline would be built through tribal territories as well as through many farmers’ lands, impacting these peoples’ work and their homes. It will go through mountainous regions with high vulnerability to wildfires, putting these areas at risk for explosions and prolonged fire seasons. The pipeline will also impact more than 485 rivers, streams, and wetlands including the Rogue, Klamath, and Umpqua rivers. Sohl states that “this is not clean energy. This is fracked gas that will be moving through this line and overseas.” Like Sohl, there are many Oregonians who are in opposition to the LNG pipeline. Because of these protestors, the pipeline was delayed for the second time this March.

COMMUNITY & WORLD

Butterflies In the Sky by Jude Williams

Butterfly Summer Path Butterfly Winter Path

The pipeline will be on hold for the next 6 months, but The Jordan Cove foundation will be asking the public for its approval again in September. While there is strong opposition against the pipeline, there are also many supporters. Some arguments made by Jordan Cove and its supporters are that it will provide more jobs and improve the economy. According to the Jordan Cove LNG website, the project will bring 10 billion dollars in private capital and provide over 6,000 construction jobs at its peak. Critics suggest that the majority of the jobs will only last for the duration of construc-

tion. As for now, protests against the pipeline rage on through Oregon, and the battle for the pipeline stays strong among supporters.

illions of painted lady butterflies are migrating from Western Mexico through California to their breeding grounds in the Pacific Northwest. Some report seeing hundreds or thousands of butterflies within view at any given moment as the swarm passes through the area, turning the sky into a kaleidoscope of flashing orange wings. While it’s not entirely known what has caused the uncharacteristically large boom in population of the painted lady, some scientists point to increased rainfall in typically arid areas causing an increase in plant mass that help to feed these large groups of insects. Here in Southern Oregon, however, we

haven’t seen the same representation from our areas most prevalent butterfly, the monarch butterfly. Monarch butterflies follow a migratory path similar to that of the painted lady. First they move south, away from the inhospitable winters, towards sunny Southern California and Mexico. Then they return as spring and summer kick into full swing. Yet despite an increase in seasonal rainfall in Southern California and even across Southern Oregon, it’s hard to say confidently we’ll see the same explosion in population that the painted lady saw due to several key factors. With deforestation reducing habitable areas and even climate change affecting migratory periods, butterflies need all the help they can get. There are several easy and inexpensive things that you can do to help migrating butterfly populations that fit right in your backyard. The first is simply planting butterfly friendly plants, with the primary one being milkweed. Milkweed is a native plant, and the only plant that monarchs lay their eggs on. Growing milkweed in your yard can provide a helpful habitat for monarch caterpillars, as well as a useful source of food for pollinators. You can find more info about growing milkweed at rockbirdgardens. com, the website of a local gardening service. Another useful addition to your garden is a “Puddler,” simply a shallow dish filled with sand, soil and rocks, then moistened with water. Butterflies only get water from sipping at wet mud and sand, rather than open water. Both of these projects will help local butterfly and pollinator populations flourish in your backyard, and across the region.

Elation at the Model United Nations by Grace Johnson

his month, the Model United Nations club attended their annual convention at the University of Oregon. Students from all over Oregon sported suit jackets and pantsuits that were too big for them while trying to fix the world’s most pressing problems. Participants of MUN, called delegates, represent countries all over the world and practice their writing, speaking, and debating skills and learn to critically think in stressful situations. MUN is chock-full of simulated scenarios that pertain to real-world problems. Committees range from Global Security to Human Rights to the Status of Women. The purpose of each committee is to create a resolution with steps to combat world issues -such as access to clean water, education for women, and fighting terrorism- with hopes of getting their resolution passed by the General Assebly. For the 2019 convention, Ashland High School represented Bangladesh and Guatemala. Months before the convention, delegates chose which committee they would like to participate in and researched the different topics for said committees. The most important part of researching is understanding a country’s beliefs and how to uphold them. When delegates arrive at MUN, they use their already written notes and create resolutions along with other committee members. Once a resolution is tirelessly debated and amended, it gets passed onto the General Assembly. At the GA, delegates read out their resolutions and a vote decides whether or not the United Nations will execute the proposed plan.

Committee debates can get heated. Taylor Hanks, a senior and 3rd time participant, was a delegate in the Human Rights Committee and talked about his experience as a representative for Bangladesh in a committee where delegates had very black and white opinions. Hanks described the experience as “fast-paced and lively,” and pointed out that “people love to dramatically debate, but everything ends up getting solved in the end, even if there are disagreements.” The teamwork described by Hanks was also acknowledged by sophomore Dylan Krause. During

his second year attending, Krause said it was “very unique working with other people from other countries and making solutions for problems.” The Model United Nations convention is a wonderful experience if you are looking to stretch your mind and learn about diplomacy. The club is filled with wonderful people and there is always a great conversation to have. New members are always welcomed, listen for club announcements next fall!

Guanajuato Exchange T

his year, the city of Ashland and Guanajuato, Mexico celebrate 50 years as sister cities. To begin the planning and festivities of the 50th anniversary, representatives from Guanajuato came to Ashland from April 7-11. They were welcomed with open arms at events hosted by local clubs, organizations and churches. The delegations got a taste of our theatre-town culture including a performance of “Hairspray” by our world-class actors in the Oregon Shakespeare Festival. Sara Leycegui Melesio, the princess of her Elks club in Guanajuato, and her sister, the Queen of Guanajuato, visited Ashland last July. As part of the returning delegation, Melesio came to further relationships, experience more of Ashland, learn how we provide solutions for the poor and homeless and how our police and firemen operate so that Guanajuato can do the same. She expressed a genuine appreciation for the Ashland community. The celebrations will extend into July as representatives from Guanajuato will participate in a myriad of events including being featured in our 4th of July parade. Ashland delegations will take part in festivities in Guanajuato as well, participating in the 50th anniversary celebrations hosted from May 27-31. Ashland High School is sending its own representatives: Taiga Sherman and Aubrey Reynolds. These girls are AHS ambassadors, chosen from a group of Spanish students that applied and went through a lengthy and selective application process for the opportunity. Sherman and Reynolds

by Bridget Burr

are set to represent Ashland at events with song and dance, speeches and interviews. The tradition of sister cities was established after WWII so that genuine people-to-people relations would help strengthen partnerships between communities and promote an international cultural understanding. Half a century ago in 1969, SOU professor Señora Chela Tapp-Kocks helped to establish the sister city relationship between Ashland and Guanajuato and was responsible for keeping those relations alive and thriving for all this time. Guanajuato and Ashland share many similarities despite being over 2,000 miles apart. As an example, both cities house a University as well as a Theatre dedicated to a famous playwrite. In

2016, Ashland unveiled a mural to honor our sister city called “Las Calles” or “The streets” in the downtown plaza, inspired by the beautiful streets of Guanajuato. Returning the honor, a 70 foot long mural of Ashland was painted by Ashland artist, Denise Baxter, in Guanajuato in the spring of 2018. The murals are not dissimilar to the sister city relationship. Our lives and cities are parallel and the proof of those bonds are displayed around our cities. This 50-year anniversary is a celebration of the Ashland-Guanajuato relationship and the benefits and connections it has brought to our communities. It’s also a glance into a future filled with many more years of prosperous relations between our cities.

FACING GUN CONTROL Bloody Nation Student’s perspective on gun control editorial by Logan Knouse

iterally and figuratively, our nation is under fire. For decades, the American people have dealt with thousands of deaths inside our own borders due to gun violence. It’s a problem that our government can no longer avoid or gloss over. As a citizen—and especially as a student—my country’s lack of response to the copious gun violence is distressing. It should be noted this violence directly impacts my life. I know of students younger than I am who have been terrified for their lives while sitting in the dark of a classroom as a gunman drifts past doors. We have had drills at school to barricade ourselves into a room to avoid being shot—is this the ‘gun control’ our government is settling for? I could be killed because someone is having a bad day, or thinks I no longer deserve to live. It is sick. Children die, and it is sick. New Zealand’s Prime Minister, Jacinda Ardern, responded to the mosque shooting in her country within one week. She did not make an aggrandizing speech or a slightly saddened tweet. She did not offer her thoughts and prayers as a solution to people being massacred; she changed the law. She strengthened legislature which will restrict the way New Zealand people can access the kind of weaponry a man used to kill innocent people. I am not against guns. I am not attacking those who use guns. In the US for example, trained officials such as law enforcement are allowed to carry during service and then after they retire. I understand this—it makes sense. I do not understand why untrained and unchecked civilians are able to attain weaponry which can be used to hurt and kill innocents. I am not against guns, I am against the blatant killing of children, worshippers or teenagers because our government refuses to piss off the NRA by restricting gun usage. To those of you who are supposed to protect me, your ‘warmest sympathies’ are not enough to stop bullets—they never have been. Your apologies are sickening. Your greed is unmatched. Why do I sit in a classroom every day to become a member of society where I am obviously a second thought to my own government? I am collateral, I am disposable and I am replaceable. In the eyes of all the ‘elites,’ I am livestock to be slaughtered when it is no longer convenient to care. This is an attack—I won’t shy away from the term. It’s an attack on the people I’m told to rely on as they ignore the problem of gun violence and the fact that people are being killed for existing. This is an attack on a political system which ignores the needs and lives of its people. I’m tired of it. I’m sick of hearing the news lines of more dead for no reason; I’m done. Thank you, fellow students and citizens, the ones affected, for hearing me when my representatives don’t feel the need to do the same.

6 Days

How New Zealand’s legislative process allowed It To happen by Lily Valenta

ess than a month after the deadliest mass shooting in New Zealand’s history, the New Zealand parliament voted 119-1 to ban semi-automatic and military-style weapons. This legislation included weapons like those used in the Christchurch shootings on March 15. After two mosques were attacked by a gunman leaving 50 dead and 50 more injured, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern proposed a bill that would impose stricter gun control the Monday succeeding the Friday Christchurch massacre – a 3-day period. Stricter rules were immediately imposed on March 21st – 6 days after. Compared to the United States, New Zealand’s gun laws were stricter even before these recent changes. The New Zealand government’s swift reaction to change accessibility to various assault rifles could seem anomalous, especially to American citizens who have not seen comprehensive gun legislation in recent years. The immediate response to the Christchurch shooting is possible partly due to New Zealand’s parliamentary system which does not experience the same presence of lobbying interest groups like the National Rifle Association (NRA. Even if the U.S. Congress were to enact stricter gun control, despite NRA pressure, the multiple checks and vetoes system presents roadblocks for any legislation. In previous years, the push for stronger gun laws by Barack Obama and Democrats in the House of Representatives did not pass through the Republican-controlled Senate. New Zealand does not face these barriers of a multicameral system, instead following the decisions of a single ruling coalition. Within a day, Prime Minister Ardern promised to implement reforms and less than a month later, the changes were enacted. Neither the monarch (currently Queen Elizabeth II) nor her representative in New Zealand parliament participates in the legislative process, save for the Queen’s approval of a bill passed by the House, which is necessary for a bill to be enacted as law. This seal of approval is necessary for the recent gun control law that has been passed as of Wednesday, April 10th, though the Queen’s approval is considered more of a formality in this situation. A key difference between the two countries’ response to gun violence is a constitution, or lack thereof, which many American citizens reference as justification for carrying and using firearms. The bill passed in New Zealand will amend the Arms Act of 1983 and introduces only a ban on military-style semiautomatic firearms and assault rifles. The citizens of New Zealand rallied together on social media after the Christchurch shooting, revealing how willing they are to give up their weapons without art by Liam Pettee any legislative requirement to do so. 9

Best of the Best Art Show Ashland High School senior Hana Leigh Ferris dazzles judges and takes first place at local art competition by Zeleyah Mata

he Best of the Best Art Show competition, held on April 5 in SOU’s Marion Ady gallery, brought home a win for Ashland High School. For the competition’s 40th year, our very own Hana Leigh Ferris, a senior in AHS art teacher Max Malcomb’s ceramics class, was awarded the first place prize for her piece. Ferris’ eye-catching, multimedia piece features a cutout photo of a woman she found in a National Geographic Magazine. Magazines and media serve as common source of inspiration for Ferris. “[Art is] an outlet for stress,” Ferris says. “I lose myself when I am doing art.” Competing alongside Ferris were 9 other AHS students and 126 students from 16 different high schools in the valley. The art show was directed by Malcomb, a previous contestant himself. “The first step in my life as an artist was this [competition],” says Malcomb. In the future, Malcomb hopes to get more AHS students involved in artistic, community-based events like the Best of the Best Art Show. In this competition, the art is evaluated based on presentation, quality of work shown through the

A Blizzard of Success A recap of Mt. Ashland’s incredible 2018-19 ski season by Sophia Wiencek

ulling up to the overflowing parking lot, the snow covered slopes were dotted with many skiers. This winter, Mt. Ashland was a popular place to spend weekends and Thursday nights riding the slopes and catching snowy views of the valley below. Filled with skiers and snowboarders, both learners and advanced, the mountain had more than 96,000 skier visits. This season, with over 244 inches of snowfall, the mountain did well financially. Mt. Ashland Ski Area had a total gross income from operations of $2.4 million dollars.

skill of the artist and the overall concept of the art. First, second, third and occasionally honorable mentions are chosen and awarded a gift basket with art supplies donated by Central Art Supply store. All art is hung in the Marion Ady gallery for the duration of the showing which was held this year April 5-26. Participating students get the opportunity to engage in all day workshops taught by SOU alumni artists on the day of the competition. Among these alumni is a keynote artist who is invited to tell stories of success in their respective artistic careers. This year’s keynote artist was Kelly Brand, an SOU graduate student pursuing a career in oil painting. The workshops cover a wide variety of art genres including video games, storyboarding, oil painting and finger painting. First time competitor Ferris recommends the Best of the Best Art Show to any young artists wanting to get exposure in the Rogue Valley community and says the competition is a “great way for all the artist kids to come together and experience what art is [like] at a college level.”

However, because the mountain is a non-profit organization that is run by the Mt. Ashland Association, all the money they make goes right back into maintaining the land, lifts, paying their workers and making up for lost money in past years. General Manager Hiram Towle and Development Director Michael Stringer are part of a large team working towards maximizing the success of the mountain in all areas. Apart from traditional snow park activities, Towle is encouraging offseason activities like the Mt. Ashland Hillclimb Run, weddings, mountain biking, and more. Since southern Oregon suffers from drought, the mountain has to adapt to these dry conditions and prepare for the winter season. Mt. Ashland staff finds ways to operate on less snow by grooming the slopes and building decks to raise the ground under the loading dock for the chairlifts, so less snow is required to load and unload skiers. The success of this 2018-2019 season allows the mountain to make improvements, thus ensuring the financial and environmental stability. The mountain has recently won the Sustainable Tourism & Outdoors Kit for Evaluation (STOKE) Snow Certification award for their outstanding sustainability management practices. It is the first mountain to

Hana Leigh Ferris recieves her first place award (above). Ferris’ winning art work (below). photos by Zeleyah Mata

earn this recognition for sustainability practices. Mt. Ashland has not always been run as a non-profit. In the 1960s the community came together to raise a bond to construct the Ariel chairlift. Later, they placed rope tows where Sonet and Windsor lifts are now. The mountain was owned by Southern Oregon College and then by Harbor Properties which sold the operation to the Mt. Ashland Association, which has run Mt Ashland for 27 years now. When the lodge was built in 1963, it was actually constructed rotated from the original design. Since the architect, Bob Bosworth, had limited space he designed a four-story ski lodge and envisioned window views to face the mountain. When the foundation was built wrong, the architect walked off the job. Interestingly, he was invited back with a special award in 2017 for the additions to the lodge. Mt. Ashland plans to further its improvement. This seasons’ success allows them to create a fund for new and upcoming projects. Currently, they are planning to add a t-bar lift on the slope that connects the Sonnet and Comer runs behind the Ski Lodge. With a 100 day season, only 6 days of weather closures and thousands of visitors, this ski season was both profitable for the mountain and enjoyable for the visitors.

“This seasons’ success allows them to create a fund for new and upcoming projects.”

art by Lily Valenta

Red Rover, Red Rover The Mars Rover, Opportunity, stopped transmitting signals to NASA on February 13, 2019. This is a tribute to the memory of this resilient explorer. by Allie Poole

Dearest friend with brazen strength exploring a planet at such great lengths. We watched you in your foreign home singing happy birthday all alone. Know that we sent you love and prayers in your grand endeavors that you shared. Your presence will be sorely missed and we’re thankful that your death was swift. As the Martian storm choked out the sun we heard your words for your time was done. A rover so adored said Hark! “My battery is low and it’s getting dark” Godspeed, Earth

art by Caden Young

YBER(SPACE) EXPEDITION MY C by Nicole Mullen

For those of you who follow the Rogue News, my good friend Uma and I did a story 3 years ago where I experienced using social media for the first time. Since that story, I’ve continued my exploration of the internet, social media and the way this new internet age works. I even know what ASMR is! But apparently, I still haven’t learned enough. Many of us are slightly frightened by the things we don’t understand. This is true of my relationship with technology. Here are some irrational fears I have: that a virus will just come onto my computer or phone and I won’t be able to access my photos. That porn will accidentally just pop up and I will not know how to exit out. That I will accidentally stumble upon the dark web (the dark web!! Even the name is scary.) That my computer will overheat and stop working. There are so many black holes and dangerous areas on the internet, but due to my duty as a teenager in the 21st century, I persist. One day, I stumbled upon the Snapchat explorer page. Though I had Snapchat for a while, I didn’t know that this page existed. Never before had I swiped to the right. This was an unexplored area of cyberspace! I gingerly dragged my finger across the screen and what I found was chaos:

People were throwing cheese at their pets. People were just tossing shoes up into the air. People were running into walls and pretending they are lizards? They were eating bananas without peeling them. What. Is. Going. On? At first, I thought it was just a random video, but when I saw 2,3,4,5 different cheese-on-petthrowing videos, I felt like I didn’t know the world. I did begin to learn some things, though. With the shoes, I learned it was the “Vans Challenge,” and with the former, it is the apparently viral “Cheese Challenge.” This begs the question: why is everything a challenge? In my experience, throwing cheese isn’t too difficult. Understanding the internet, that is the real challenge. It feels like every time I understand one corner of the internet, another trend or social media will pop up more alien than the last! How am I supposed to know that Music.ly is now Tik Tok or understand why Billy Ray Cyrus is a… what do you call it? A meme? The internet is an ever-expanding universe that I have yet to grasp and until then, I’ll remain very very confused.

A Passion for Podcasts by Sequoia Snogren-McGinnis

2010 WAS THE FATEFUL YEAR

that the “New York Times’” John R. Quain declared that traditional AM radio had been thrown out the window of a speeding convertible and had landed in the dust on the shoulder of the Interstate. “Radio is dead,” he said. But 2019 declares that the audio medium is still alive, guised under a pen name: podcasts. Just as brand-new vinyl records and Polaroid cameras are trending, podcasts are the modern equivalent to radio shows. 2014 brought the podcast “Serial,” available even on the long-forgotten Pandora Radio, which birthed a new generation of obsessionists. Ranging from true-crime comedy to spiritual enlightenment guides, podcasts are beginning to populate headphones across the globe. Journalist Sirena Bergman wrote for “The Cut” that she listens to 35 hours of podcasts every week. A study by Edison Research conducted in 2016 revealed that the average weekly time spent listening to podcasts for Americans age 12+ is 4 hours and 10 12

minutes, and that 36% of regular podcast listeners listen between 3 and 10 hours a week. While they are irrefutably informative and entertaining, are podcasts distracting listeners from what is rumored by wise older adults to be “real life”? Or is the potential glimpse of vulnerability and worldliness in podcasts about as “real” as it can get? Bergman also points out that podcast listening does not usually replace time spent scrolling through social media or watching Netflix. On the contrary, podcasting is another way to fill up those moments on the way to the grocery store, waiting for an appointment or while doing homework. Sometimes, Instagram and “Serial” even overlap. French philosopher Blaise Pascal stated that “all the unhappiness of men arises from one simple fact: that they cannot sit quietly in their chamber.” Silence tends to be a dreaded part of the day. Many people have to watch television or listen to music or podcasts to fall asleep. Avoiding alone-time with one’s thoughts often seems to be a top priority.

Imke Kirste validated this cause of unhappiness with the observation from a Duke University study that 2 hours of silence per day can increase cell development in the brain’s hippocampus, the area associated with memory involving the senses and emotional regulation. The irony here is notable. “Real life,” hearing the birds and the wind, is important to brain development. Listening to podcasts and music 24/7 to avoid thinking too much just decreases the brain’s capacity to handle emotions, significantly contributing to the unhappiness noted by Pascal. Despite the negative effects of constant stimulation, podcasting does bring listeners to be more involved in news, politics and society in places they’ve never been, begging the rather philosophical question, do I live here, or do I live there? Should the walk to school be spent learning about what is happening in the White House or listening to the chatter on the street?