I think that work that is assigned at school should be done in school. Assuming you play sports or take the bus home, then you might get home at 4:45pm. When you get home I hope you take a shower–some of you need it–for around 30 mins, so then it’s 5:15. Then it’s dinner time, 45 minutes maximum. So now it’s 6:00, you still have to practice an instrument, work, read a book or do a hobby for an hour. So now it’s 7:00.
Student voice is of utmost importance. Just prior to spring break, The Howler asked students to reflect and respond to questions relating to the topic: “Do Opinions Belong in School?” The following passage is an opinion piece based on the feedback received from the survey.
Today, there is a deep divide between those of opposing views. Disagreements exist about guns, abortion, immigration, etc., and the respective presidential candidates or religions that reflect those values. These issues are tremendously controversial, causing tension, arguments, and extensive forms of protest. The news surrounds us with
Now you have an hour to do whatever you want before bed. According to an earlier article done by Aryana Saedi, we have determined that students need more sleep. Take into consideration that you need 8-10 hours of sleep a night. So you get to bed by 8-10 at night if you need to catch the bus in the morning at 6:00. The hour you get before bed is all the time you have to do homework. Taking the minimum of five classes, this means that you will have work to do for all classes. Doing 20 minutes of work for each class is one hour and 40 minutes of time. Looking at this schedule you see you have no time for your Netflix or hanging out with your friends. Teachers should then give us time in class to let us do our work. Then we would sleep more and perform better in class. •
twisted opinions, attempting to sway us one way or the other without any nuance. Social platforms act as a place to spew hate, creating immense cancellation on a large scale. We can’t help but wonder, would America be more united if we could discuss or debate in a respectful manner? How are we supposed to have civil discourse if we are never taught how? So the questions remain: do discussions about controversial topics belong in school settings, and when do those opinions go too far?
The results of the survey are quite interesting. Surprisingly, almost 70% of our student body feels unsafe sharing their personal opinions in school despite over 85% of students believing that opinions belong in school. When asked why they felt unsafe sharing their opinions, multiple students accounted for times they were berated or turned away by students, and sometimes even teachers, because of their personal views. Students reflected on the fear of being shut down and rejected, pushing them into
Around one decade ago sales of 35mm and medium format cameras fell dramatically. Well-known camera companies around the world halted production of film cameras and made the switch to digital. Fast forward to 2023, film cameras are making a comeback. Due to the increased demand
silence. However, most of the students who expressed a distaste for this kind of environment also agreed that there should be some limits on what can and can’t be said in school.
58% of our student body believes that anyone should be able to state their opinion no matter what the opinion is. Many students shared that everyone should feel safe to express any opinion they have. One student said that while some views are hateful and harmful, the students with these views will never be able to learn and grow out of those views if they never share them. Of those who responded that not all opinions should have a presence, many argued that not all opinions are productive and respectful, and should therefore not be stated. One student remarked that spouting opinions such as “the Holocaust is not real,” is not only inaccurate but also morally wrong.
Fifty eight percent of students believe that teachers are in the right to share their opinions and beliefs in school. Some argue that because teachers are in a position of authority, their opinions greatly influence adolescents and silence the minority opinion. Others argued that like all people, teachers have opinions, and there is a way to share those opinions in a way that broadens students’ minds instead of narrowing them.
for film cameras, Leica decided to restart production of their new line of 35mm cameras. Even Kodak is joining in and launching new cameras as well, reviving the once-bankrupt company.
Personally I like film photography, I feel like it brings me closer to the photos I take. It also forces me to make sure I get the perfect photo. Because as some of you know, you can not exactly edit negatives with Photoshop or Lightroom. I encourage everyone to purchase a cheap film camera and take some photos with it.
If you have any film photography you would like submitted to the May edition of The Howler, Send your submissions to thehowler@ allendalecolumbia.org. •
Fostering an environment in which we can have open discussions is dependent on our ability as students to have these conversations ourselves. The Howler asked the student body the following question: “Do you think AC has prepared you to be respectful and productive during discussions of these topics?” 38% of students answered yes, 38% answered no, and the other 24% said it depended on the class. From these results, it seems that most of our student body does not feel fully prepared to have these tough conversations inside or outside AC. One student reflects they had to take their own initiative to teach themselves how to have controversial conversations because school never gave them that opportunity. It was noted that Mr. Hunt’s Democracy and Discourse class was a great way to practice communication skills. However, this is only one class and it is usually taken by seniors. That being said, it is important that these skills are fostered in every grade.
Do discussions about controversial topics belong in school settings, and how do we know if opinions have gone too far? The more we looked into these questions the more questions arose. Is it possible that we have created a culture within our school and society in which we quickly cancel and shut down those who disagree with us? Can we all share our opinions in ways that are not hateful or harmful? Who gets to decide what crosses the line? When should we begin learning the skills to listen to people with different opinions, and whose job is it to teach that to us? Students want to answer these questions but it feels like this topic is constantly being pushed into the dark. Now more than ever we need leaders who are willing to listen and speak actively and respectfully. AC’s slogan is “First Here, Then Anywhere,” but if we’re not learning to have civil discourse, then what are we meant to do anywhere else? •
Q. I REALLY NEED A THERAPIST BUT MY FAMILY WON’T LET ME. HOW CAN I GET MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT WITHOUT MY PARENT’S CONSENT?
Hey midlife crisis,
In New York, minors under the age of 18 and over 12, can receive certain kinds of medical treatment without their parents’ consent, and simply need their own consent. In New York, minors can consent to certain reproductive health care, post-sexual assault care, testing for STIs, and various emergency healthcare needs. However, in order for a minor to receive outpatient mental health treatment without parental consent, one of the following conditions needs to be met: there is no parent or guardian, including the parent would be detrimental to the therapy (ex: situations involving abuse), or if a physician deems the therapy medically necessary. Unfortunately there is no way to get a therapist without parental consent. However, there are many online support groups that you can attend if you need to talk.
Allendale Columbia is in the process of hiring a school counselor and will have one in the coming months. The school counselor is the best way to receive mental health treatment without the consent of a parent or guardian.
Additionally 988 is the National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline for those in immediate need of some to talk to.
Dear perplexed about prom, Think about what the person you’re asking to prom would like. Are they introverted or extroverted? If they’re an introvert you might
Q. MY FAMILY PUTS A LOT OF PRESSURE ON ME TO GET GOOD GRADES. MY GRADES THIS SEMESTER ARE NOT WHAT THEY WERE IN THE FALL. HOW DO I TALK TO MY PARENTS ABOUT THEM?
Hey goody grades, Sit your parents down at a time when they both have time to talk for a little while (ex: after dinner when you’re settling down for the evening). Talk with them honestly about your grades and don’t lie. Help them understand why your grades might have dropped - you committed to a sport this semester, or you joined a new club that demands more time. Try not to make excuses. Rather, simply explain what’s been going on in your life that has been influencing your grades. Overall, just speak honestly to your parents, you’re their child and at the end of the day they love you no matter what your GPA is.
want to go with a more emotional, private, and personal proposal. If they’re an extrovert they might prefer a more public and showy proposal. No matter what kind of proposal you’re doing it is best to ask the question in a straightforward manner and not beat around the bush. Be confident but be ready to be rejected as it is a real possibility.
Yours, Slay
Love, Slay
Last year, my brother thought I would be interested in testing his subscription-bought AI generation program. As an artist, I couldn’t help but think how ironic it is to toy with an AI art program. How could a simple technological program pose such a threat to my future?
Artificial intelligence (AI) uses machine learning and algorithms to process information accumulated from the Internet and simulate human intelligence. Tech bros praise AI innovations for decreasing the time and cost of producing art. However, artists denounce AI for “learning” from human artwork, thus plagiarizing artists’ styles and replacing human art commissions. Despite all attempts at discouraging its use, AI programs still generate work. ChatGPT, an AI writing program, generates ways to cheat in the academic sphere. Dall-E and Stable Diffusion, AI Art programs, generate products to sell in the free market economy. Humans are forced to compete against AI-generated artwork in the same arena: the art industry, fighting AI on a scale of appraisal.
Before we can comparingly appraise them, we must consider if machine-generated products are art. The word art comes from its Latin origin “ars” meaning “craft” or “skill.” Yet, finger paintings and stick figures are considered art despite the “lower” skills they require. Arguably, there
Length: 180mm Weight: 42.3g
Mr. Godkin and the students of s2
23 rd february, 2023
is a lack of skill behind generating AI images, but that doesn’t disqualify it from being a unique art form. I use digital drawing programs as tools for creating art; others use AI programs as tools for generating images. The key difference is that AI-generation is a non-human action executed by artificial skills. Nevertheless, people proclaim AI art as their own by monetizing them as such.
In 2022, John Allen submitted a piece of AI artwork to the Colorado State Fair fine arts competition and won $300. Three months later, Ammaar Reshi AI-generated a marketable children’s book, Alice and Sparkle. In my opinion as an artist, the skill of executing a practiced artistry differs from the skill of typing prompts into a program, and they should therefore be awarded and appraised differently.
The rise in AI almost discouraged me from pursuing an art career. However, my passion remains unscathed with the reassurance that AI isn’t fully trained to recognize and refine visual details. Look at the royal clothing in 17th-century paintings or the humans in 19th-century realism and you’ll find intricate details perfected by artists who can render out visual errors. AI programs have difficulty generating the correct proportions, details, and coloration, especially with humanoid features. It takes real human perception to recognize imperfections and real human skills to perfect them. AI cannot fully accomplish what human intuition can. It’s when AI mimics human skills to the microscopic details that another conversation on technology arises. •
Roose, Kevin. “An A.I.-Generated Picture Won an Art Prize. Artists Aren’t Happy.” International New York Times, 6 September, 2022.
Popli, Nik. “He Used AI to Publish a Children’s Book in a Weekend. Artists Are Not Happy About It” Time, 14 December, 2022.
“Digital Creativity: a Practical Guide” University of York. Accessed 2 February, 2023. Dr. Robert Glass. “What is art history and where is it going?” Smarthistory, 28 October, 2017.
Length: 115mm Weight: 32.7g
Mr. Godkin and the students of s2
23 rd february, 2023
Personally, I am against having a prom queen and king. In fact, I would be against having any sort of prom royalty as they enforce beauty standards that are already emphasized in our society.
Think about the last time you saw an advertisement for a product. Maybe it was for clothing or makeup. Think about the model you saw in that advertisement, what did she look like? Odds are that she was skinny. In fact, most models today weigh 23% less than the average woman.
Today, 50% of girls between the ages of 11 and 13 see themselves as overweight. Of those girls, more than 80% have attempted to lose weight. Additionally, the National Institute of Mental Health reported that eating disorders were more than twice as prevalent among adolescent females (3.8%) than adolescent males (1.5%). The prevalence of eating disorders among females shows that these advertisements have an effect, and girls are internalizing the idea that being beautiful means being skinny.
And it’s not just girls who are receiving messages about their bodies. Men too chase an ideal body type, a muscular v-body with narrow hips. But according to Aaron Flores, a registered dietician nutritionist (RDN) from Calabasas, CA specializing in the male body image, “these bodies are attainable for a small number of people—maybe half a percent of the male community.” And male teens are responding to the unrealistic beauty standard, as a recent study found that nearly a third of teen boys in the United States report they want to gain weight. Additionally nearly a quarter of young men report taking supplements, or steroids
Is it worth promoting that idea further in a school, a place where a student is being judged on their academics, not their body? Because that’s what prom queen and king is–a beauty contest. If you look at the girls who win prom queen, it’s not the girl who’s working her hardest to get into college or the one who volunteers on the weekends. It’s the girl who is skinny. It’s the girl who has a flat stomach and tiny thighs. And the boys who win prom king aren’t the short boys, or the boys who are smart, it’s the boys who are tall, and have big muscles. Prom queen and king is a beauty contest, and if AC has a prom king and queen we will, willfully, be enforcing a beauty standard that so many girls and boys are destroying their bodies to achieve. •
https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/statistics/eating-disorders
https://www.healthline.com/health/mental-health/male-body-image-problems#Its-morethan-the-shape-of-our-bodies
https://www.texashealth.org/areyouawellbeing/Mens-Health/Eating-Disorders-in-MenAre-on-the-RiseWhat-You-Need-to-Know
Prom certainly is not the most boring part of the year but if it’s not interactive enough, students will become bored and leave to do something more interesting. We don’t want the last dance of the senior’s high school lives to be boring and remembered as a failure. And let’s be honest, there’s only so much a DJ can do to keep the dancers entertained. A prom court adds complexity to the event.
The focus of a prom court is uplifting. We’re celebrating certain individuals for their actions and the right decisions they’ve made. If individuals feel too much like the focus of prom court is the losers, maybe we set some requirements for those who are chosen. For example, if they win, maybe they have to complete an action, give a short speech, donate something, start a dedicated dance, or something else of that nature to keep focus on the selected individuals and not the individuals who weren’t chosen.
It’s been said multiple times before but it’s a friendly competition. To keep the competition friendly and positive, we don’t want to force individuals into participating in an activity they don’t want to. That includes being in the running for prom court or even voting on prom court. The lack of freedom surrounding an activity like this ruins the positive nature. Let’s also say that you’ve been nominated and don’t want to participate. THAT’S OK. You can always back out because nobody should be subjected to the voting of their peers if they don’t wish to be.
AC loves their traditions and they do their best to continue them wherever possible. That being said, how did those traditions start? They started because someone along the way said, “You know what? How about we try this.” That open-mindedness and willingness to try new things has led to some amazing AC traditions. It’s also safe to assume that not everything AC has done has turned into a tradition. AC hasn’t tried a prom court ever since the teachers can remember. So why don’t we keep an open mind and give it a try? Who knows, it could flunk and we won’t try again. Or, it could go very well and create another AC bonding experience that can be valued by senior grades in the years to come. •
Have you seen too many Mattress Firm stores in close proximity to each other? Maybe you’ve seen one running for a while and then it gets closed down. One user on reddit said “I remember seeing four Mattress Firms all on each corner of an intersection once, and there is no way there is such a demand for mattresses.” I thought the same thing. In Henrietta there are three or four mattress stores in less than half a mile of each other. In Victor there are three mattress stores that are also within walking distance of the next. I have never seen any of those stores packed with people so I agree with the Reddit user and I ask the question: where is the demand for mattresses? •
Q. WHERE DID YOU GROW UP?
A. I grew up in Kinshasa, in the Democratic Republic of Congo, and then traveled to Queretaro, Mexico.
Q. WHY DID YOU CHOOSE TO BECOME A TEACHER?
A. Teaching is a passion of mine, I receive so much in myself, sharing my experience and guiding our young is a way to give back to the future citizens. I am proud of that, seeing each student grow.
Q. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE CHILDHOOD MEMORY?
A. I remember the first time I saw my father cooking for us. We had no idea my father could cook so well.
Q. WHAT DO YOU LIKE ABOUT ALLENDALE COLUMBIA?
A. I like the spirit and the welcoming community, and the students that reach out to make connections.
Q. WHAT ARE YOU STILL HOPING TO ACCOMPLISH?
A. I’ll get back to you on that
Q. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE SPORT?
A. Soccer
Q. WHAT IS ONE PHRASE TO DESCRIBE YOUR OWN HIGH SCHOOL EXPERIENCE?
A. Essential part of my life
Q. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE RESTAURANT AROUND HERE?
A. Guacamole
Q. HOW MANY LANGUAGES ARE YOU FLUENT IN-- WHAT ARE THEY?
A. Spanish, French, English, Lingala, Tshiluba
Q. IF THERE WAS A MOVIE ABOUT YOU, WHAT WOULD THE TITLE BE?
A. The Beautiful Life of Kasongo •
Writers note: I went to the second showing of Willy Wonka and will be commenting on only that performance
The Middle School presentation of Willy Wonka was very good. The set design was very clever, making use of the past set pieces of Beauty and the Beast. A special shoutout to Ethan Hildreth, who was incredible in the role of Willy Wonka. Ethan leaned into the eccentricity of Willy Wonka, being anti-social and often rude to the children. In particular, Ethan nailed the laugh at the end of the boat scene. Gracie DiPalma nailed the role of Violet Beauregarde, and I especially loved the ballet moves she did during the gum scene. The rest of the cast also had stand-out moments, and everyone did a great job with their characters. Overall, it was a show that made me laugh and I think AC has some good years of musicals coming up. •
On March 31, a group of Allendale Columbia students went to ROC2CHANGE. The theme of Spring 2023’s ROC2Change was Deconstructing Tolerance, Rebuilding Understanding. The keynote speaker for this event was Isaiah Santiago, a graduate from the School of the Arts, and a candidate for the Rochester City School District Board of Education. He delivered an excellent speech, in which he did not talk down to conference attendees but rather talked to us as equals.
Outside of speakers, the activities that we did at the conference were engaging and allowed conference attendees to really connect with the ideas and have meaningful conversations. I particularly enjoyed the privilege walk, an activity where participants were asked to step forward or backward depending on whether they had that privilege or didn’t have it. At the end participants are asked to look at where they stood relative to their peers and assess their own privilege. After the privilege walk we discussed the various privileges we all did and didn’t have. The privilege walk showed me how much I have compared to some people and thus was a helpful way to understand
my privilege in the Rochester community.
The theme of deconstructing tolerance was rather clever. Throughout the conference as I talked with peers I saw how tolerance can be both negative and positive. In some instances tolerance had allowed people to peacefully coexist however in other instances it bred frustration between people. My peers also pointed out that there are things you might never understand. For example, a person with straight hair can’t personally understand the culture of natural hair in the Black community. My peers said that rather than try to completely understand someone’s experience you should simply accept their experience.
In summary, I found ROC2Change to be a wonderful experience and a great way to connect with peers. I would recommend that anyone interested in attending the fall ROC2Change can contact Mx. Oliveri or Indy Maring.
More information about ROC2Change can be found on their website •
https://www.roc2change.org/
1. Reduce reuse _______
3. A long and distinct period of history with a particular feature or characteristic
5. The Sgt. Pepper Lonely Hearts Club Band was the eighth studio album of the _____
7. The chemical formula for water (will include a number)
9. Caution signs mean there is _____ ahead
11. An indefinite and very long period of time, many years
13. Downward dog is a pose in what?
15. Clothing
17. Studio that produced Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse
19. _____ Ontario
21. All words in a language
23. Be ____!
25. Spelled two ways, this time with an e
27. Book by John Green, the title refers to settlements that appear on maps but do not exist
29. One of the five factions in Divergent, values truth and honesty
31. Expensive fuel for cars
2. The planet we live on
4. Last name of the famous basketball player who plays for the Los Angees Lakers in the NBA
6. Come into view
8. A dance move involving the placement of one’s head into the crook of one’s arm
10. The actor in The Good Place that plays Michael, a demon
12. Woman in the DC universe who is an obsession of jokers
13. Woman who is fake married to Loid in Spy x Family
14. Synonym for enemy
16. Last name of the man who wrote 1984
18. Ogres are like ______ (hint: Shrek)
19. “Speak for the trees”
20. Chris Evans is an ____
22. A socially acceptable place to get a piercing
24. ______s like a dog’s tail
27. Original called Puck man in Japan, the game is called ___-man in America
The whole Imperial system has its issues, but I think that the inch is the best example.
First, there are 12 inches in a foot. Why? Well, there are two reasons that seem equally ridiculous, so let’s start with those.
The first reason I found was that King Henry I’s foot was 12 thumb widths long. And as we all know, King Henry I’s body proportions are
a fundamental physical constant. Whenever you need to measure something, you go to the lifesize replica of Henry I that you keep in your living room. It’s a common human experience.
The second reason I found was that an inch is the size of 3 barleycorns. Which begs the question, “Why not make a foot 36 barleycorns?” Well, that would be too easy.
So, as far as I can tell, they split the difference in this insanity. They decided that a foot would be divided up into 12 inches. Now, believe it or not, I could actually get behind that! 12 is a number that is super divisible! It can be divided evenly by 1, 2, 3, 4, and 6. This actually makes math easier, giving us a logically derived unit of
measurement.
So, we have a foot that is divided up into units of 12, giving us inches. Now, how should we divide up inches? Probably into 12ths again, right?
Wrong!
So we stick with the classic base 10? That’s weird, but ok.
No. We are going to divide inches by 8ths. Why? Because. We. Can.
In summary, inches are measured in 1/8ths and feet are measured in 1/12ths. Don’t believe me? Check a ruler.
And don’t get me started on miles… •
NAOMI KLEIN
GENRE:
RATING: 10/10
Using simple terms and easy- to-read prose, How to Change Everything is a great introduction to the ways humans have contributed to the climate crisis. Naomi Klein explores how fossil fuels, capitalism, and discriminatory ecological practices have contributed to the warming planet. Klein speaks about the argument that many global warming deniers believe, that our planet has encountered warming and cooling trends in the past, and this current warming trend is inevitable and natural. However, as Klein states, scientific research supports the fact that our current climate crisis is almost all caused by humans. Cutting down forests, burning fossil fuels, and raising livestock all contribute to the increase in greenhouse gasses. The most
MUSIC LYRICS AND BOOK BY ANAÏS MITCHELL
DEVELOPED WITH AND DIRECTED BY CHAVKIN GENRE: MUSICAL THEATRE RATING: 10/10
While Hadestown may be a retelling of the love story of Orpheus and Eurydice, it is more about climate change than anything else. In Greek mythology, Hades kidnaps Persephone from the overworld and brings her to the underworld. Eventually, the two get married and Persephone stays in the underworld for six months a year and spends the other six in the overworld, thus explaining the seasons. After that is when the story of Orpheus and Eurydice picks up. Eurydice dies and Orpheus goes down
ANDREW STANTON GENRE: ANIMATION
RATING: 8/10
WALL-E is a movie about a small robot named WALL-E who spends his days turning trash into cubes until one day a mysterious robot named Eve arrives. With Eve, WALL-E travels to the Buy-
impacted by these practices are indigenous and poor communities around the world. With an increase in hurricanes, forest fires, and other climate disasters, rich individuals have the ability to rebuild or move. Without help from governments, poor and marginalized people often “suffer first and worst” (Klein, 66). While reading this book, I was shocked and appalled by the actions or lack of actions by governments before, during, and after disasters strike.
I know I am making this book sound like it’s all doom and gloom but it’s not. Klein speaks about many youth activists who are making positive changes in their communities. I feel inspired to become a more active participant in the fight for climate change. I know there are small things that we can each do to reduce our consumption.
to the underworld to save her.
In this retelling of Orpheus and Eurydice’s love story, Hades is an industrialist who has turned the underworld into a giant factory town with a wall surrounding it. Persephone is always too cold or too hot and is meant to represent the earth itself, at odds with the goals of industrialists like Hades.
Some of the standout tracks from this recording are Chant, Why Build the Wall, How Long, and We Raise Our Cups. Why We Build the Wall is a particularly interesting song as it casts Hades in the role of a dictator, and was written prior to Former President Trump’s presidential campaign.
The most interesting song though is definitely
In-Large spaceship that has all the humans on it. There is minimal talking in the movie, with most of the robots communicating with various robot noises or body language. Personally, I love WALL-E as an entire concept, it’s very different and I love the animation, it is so good for 2008 animation. Overall the WALL-E movie is a heartwarming movie about hope and friendship,
As Klein states, “now is the time to rethink how we live, eat, travel, do business and earn our livelihoods” (286). We know that change can happen and will happen. The ending of the book reminds us of the rapid changes and adjustments that had to be made during the COVID-19 pandemic. Klein is hopeful that the creativity used during the COVID-19 pandemic will be used to fuel the fight against the warming climate and ecological injustice. I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and I am usually not a lover of nonfiction books. I read this voraciously and believe it is a must read for all. It is essential that we all understand the dangers of climate change and the ways we can band together as a global community to prevent additional negative consequences. •
REVIEW BY: JESS SHUFF
We Raise our Cups. We Raise our Cups is the last song of the musical, and Persephone talks about the play we’ve just watched, singing: “Some birds sing when the sun shines bright. Our praise is not for them. But the ones who sing in the dead of night. We raise our cups to them.”
I saw this show at Rochester Broadway Theatre League and the actors for it were amazing. Hades played by Matthew Patrick Quinn was tall and imposing, exactly what I imagine Hades to be, his delivery was amazing and his voice was perfect for the role. I actually liked his voice more than the man who voices Hades on the original broadway cast recording, Patrick Page.
Overall the Album is amazing, and I love the story, it was even better live. •
REVIEW BY: JAMES THORNBURGand how sometimes good things don’t require a lot of words. •
REVIEW BY: JAMES THORNBURG5th year on the team Position: Catcher, pitcher, short stop, 3rd base Class: Junior
Q. HOW IS THE BASEBALL TEAM LOOKING THIS YEAR?
A. We’re pretty good. Last year we were definitely better, but this year we should still be good. Unfortunately I will be missing out on sectionals because of the France trip.
Q. WHO DO YOU THINK WILL BE YOUR TOUGHEST COMPETITION THIS YEAR?
A. Red Jacket. They are a bigger school with a lot of talent. They were also our biggest competition last year.
Q. WHAT ARE YOU MOST LOOKING FORWARD TO THIS SEASON?
A. Improving and just having fun with everyone.
2nd year on the team Position: Outfield Class: Sophomore
Q. HOW IS THE SOFTBALL TEAM LOOKING THIS YEAR?
A. We’re alright because we have more people now. Coach says it is our renewal year.
Q. WHO DO YOU THINK WILL BE YOUR TOUGHEST COMPETITION THIS YEAR?
A. Bloomfield. Same as every year.
Q. WHAT ARE YOU MOST LOOKING FORWARD TO THIS SEASON?
A. The bus rides are fun. We usually get ice cream after games.
3rd year on the team Position: second doubles Class: Juniors
Q. HOW IS THE TEAM LOOKING THIS YEAR?
A. We have a lot of new talent. I think we look alright. Half of the team is completely useless and the other half is very good.
Q. WHO DO YOU THINK WILL BE YOUR TOUGHEST COMPETITION THIS YEAR?
A. Brighton. They are juiced up.
Q. WHAT ARE YOU MOST LOOKING FORWARD TO THIS SEASON?
2nd year on the team Event: 800 meter and 1600 meter Class: Senior
Q. HOW IS THE TRACK & FIELD TEAM LOOKING THIS YEAR?
A. The team is looking a lot better than last year. It is a lot bigger but also has many familiar faces. I would say there are about twice as many people as last year.
Q. WHO DO YOU THINK WILL BE YOUR TOUGHEST COMPETITION THIS YEAR?
A. I am most worried about sectionals. Everything else is about equal in terms of difficulty. The meets should be easier than last year because we have been moved down a division.
Q. WHAT ARE YOU MOST LOOKING FORWARD TO THIS SEASON?
A. Spending time with teammates. It is really fun to just hang around them and talk. I am also looking forward to the races a lot because my running has improved.
A. I am looking forward to playing in the nice weather.
2nd year on the team Class: Sophomore
Q. WHY DO YOU PLAY UNIFIED BASKETBALL?
A. There is just this great environment. Everyone is so supportive; when someone scores everyone cheers.
Q. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE MEMORY FROM LAST SEASON?
A. RJ’s buzzer-beating game-winning half court shot and the eruption from the crowd.
Q. WHAT ARE YOU MOST LOOKING FORWARD TO THIS SEASON?
A. Seeing everyone again.
Earth has its special day every year on April 22, although it should be celebrated every day as it is where we live. Earth Day was founded in 1970 when a Wisconsin senator organized an event to show and spread awareness about the environmental importance and impact on the planet. The first Earth Day had 20 million people participate around the U.S. These events helped pave the way for the passing of the Clean Air Act,
the Endangered Species Act, and the creation of the Environmental Protection Agency.
Within another twenty years, Earth Day became widespread across many countries and was celebrated by many people. Earth Day is a day to mark significant accomplishments already made, but most notably, to bring awareness of current issues in the environment in which we live. A significant goal of having Earth Day once
a year is to bring attention to the Earth. Imagine if every person picked up one piece of trash one day a year. Although a seemingly small and insignificant task, multiplied by many, it is highly impactful. April 22, 2023, will be the 53rd anniversary of Earth Day, and the theme this year is: Invest in Our Planet. For more information on events around the world, check out www. earthday.org. •
Most people have heard of the Willow Project on social media, but what is it really all about? The Willow Project is a proposed oil and gas drilling site on U.S. federal land in Alaska. ConocoPhillips, a Houston, Texas-based oil company, owns it. Despite President Biden’s promise to end oil drilling on public land, on March 13, 2023, permission was granted to the Willow Project to begin drilling on a scaledback version.
There has been much controversy surrounding the Willow Project. Opposition from environmental groups who are concerned about carbon pollution filed lawsuits to prevent the company from proceeding. Local Alaskans who live close by are concerned about the impact on their health and the environment. Other Alaskans favor the project for the increase in jobs and the economy. Those in favor of the Willow Project feel that the oil can be drilled cleaner than offshore sites and will increase U.S. energy security by not relying on energy sources from other countries.
1. REPLACE PLASTIC DISPOSABLE SHOPPING bags with something fashionably reusable. When you are out and about running errands, try to remember to bring your reusable bag. This could be any type of bag, such as totes, which will also give you a more fashionable look while out shopping. You may have noticed that most stores in our area have changed from plastic to paper and offer reusable bags for a small price.
2. REUSE AND REDUCE SINGLE-USE PRODUCTS such as paper towels, makeup cloths, cotton pads, and paper or plastic dishware. It’s hard to stay completely away from using these items, but think about longevity and purpose. Some single items can be replaced with alternatives such as washable fabric cloths instead of paper.
3. GET ON THE WATER BOTTLE TREND. Use a reusable water bottle instead of plastic and fill it at home or a water fountain. This is an effortless way to avoid unnecessary plastic waste from bottles. As you have probably seen, water bottle trends range from Hydro Flasks to Stanelys but honestly anything reusable will do!
4. BE SUSTAINABLE AT STARBUCKS. Most of us are guilty of getting our favorite beverage at Starbucks. Starbucks is working towards being more environmentally friendly too! If you give them your reusable cup, they will put your drink in it for you as long as it is clean and big enough for your drink. You can purchase fun mugs at every store; you can even use stars for them too!
sustainable brands since basics will most likely always stay the same and will last you much longer.
6. CHECK YOUR PRODUCTS FOR A CLIMATEFRIENDLY PLEDGE and if they are cruelty-free. You may have noticed that many products, such as food and hygiene, have small print labels that state the makers’ policy concerning if they are climate pledge friendly or cruelty-free. Climate pledge friendly means that the product meets the criteria to be environmentally friendly in some way, such as being recyclable and made with environmentally friendly materials. Cruelty-free means that there is no testing on animals in the making of the product.
7. PLANT A TREE. Are you looking for a fun activity? Look no further than planting a tree, and guess what!? Early spring is one of the best times to plant a tree. Sadly, a high number of trees are chopped down every year.
8. TAKE A WALK. With the warmer weather coming, try walking or riding your bike to nearby areas instead of driving. This is also great exercise. Think about alternatives to driving a car such as carpooling with friends. Take a bus or train rather than flying or driving on trips.
On April 3, 2023, a federal judge ruled against the environmental lawsuits and said that the company might begin building the necessary buildings immediately but could not drill for oil or gas while further legal action is expected to take place in the courts. Time will tell whether the Willow Project will succeed in oil production. •
5. STAY AWAY FROM FAST FASHION and try ethical fashion that you can feel good about for a long time! Fashion is a massive part of our lives, and many people are not aware of its effects on the environment and how it can be sourced unethically. Avoid fast fashion brands such as Shien and Zara, and many others that are not ethical. If you are not sure about your favorite brand, a quick Google search can make you feel at ease. Tip; buy your basics from
9. DISPOSE OF LITTER AND RECYCLE when possible. Unfortunately, littering is a common problem today. It can harm the environment, especially for animals who might nibble on a piece of sharp metal from your soda can. Make sure your trash gets to the trash can or recycling bin. If you see trash, pick it up. Just to be safe when touching others’ trash, wear gloves.
10. BE MINDFUL OF WATER USE. This is simpler than it may sound. Turn off the water when you are not using it, such as while brushing your teeth. Hop into the shower as soon as you start the water. You may be surprised and unaware of how often water is left running when unnecessary. •
10 things you can do to make your life more environmentally friendly
A MESSAGE FROM THE AC SAVE THE MANATEE CLUB
As Western New Yorkers, many of us are anticipating summer retreats to the Finger Lakes, a perfect location for swimming, boating, fishing, and simply soaking in the beauty of nature. While this paradise seems untouchable, the Finger Lakes, and many other aquatic ecosystems across the nation, are at risk of significant deterioration due to harmful algal blooms (HABs).
kidney, reproductive, and nervous systems), are harming over one million New Yorkers’ primary source of drinking water. So how exactly did our lakes turn into such a major public health and environmental concern?
The main culprit behind these HABs can be traced back to the overuse of synthetic fertilizers. Essentially, people use fertilizers in landscaping and agriculture, then heavy rain causes runoff and erosion of those nutrients into nearby waterways, and the excess of phosphorus and nitrogen in the water - paired with warm calm water - creates the ideal conditions for cyanobacteria to grow. As a result, the cyanobacteria deplete the water of its dissolved oxygen and produce toxins resulting in an unsafe, or even an uninhabitable, lake.
economy so reliant on agriculture. However, there is another solution available that could help Finger Lakes farms while reducing environmental degradation.
According to the Finger Lakes Land Trust, every one of the 11 Finger Lakes have faced cyanobacteria (commonly known as bluegreen-algae) outbreaks since 2017. These blooms in the Finger Lakes, which result in fish death, foul-smelling water, and the release of cyanotoxins (known to affect the human liver,
Now that spring has arrived with Earth Month, and widespread landscaping, gardening, and farming return across the state, fertilizer use will increase as well. Life in the Finger Lakes, a popular magazine in the region, explains that the Finger Lakes area is home to over 7,600 farms. Furthermore, local writer and educator Jim Ochterski† asserts that “drive for 10 minutes in any direction in the Finger Lakes region and you will pass by at least one farm.” It is hard to imagine fertilizers going anywhere with an
Organic fertilizers aim to create a natural balance between soil organisms, plants, animals and humans, all while increasing crop yield and yield quality by using living materials to supply soil with its required nutrients. While they do have downsides such as lower nutrient content and a lack of readily available nutrients, organic fertilizers have also shown to enhance water retention, soil texture, air flow, erosion resistance, and disease prevention. As a rapidly advancing division of world agriculture with research and advancements around every corner, organic farming could be just the solution that those residing near bodies of water have been looking for. •
https://www.lifeinthefingerlakes.com/what-do-you-knowabout-farming/#:~:text=Drive%20for%2010%20minutes%20 in,of%20the%20total%20land%20area.
https://www.fllt.org/toxic-algae-actions
https://www.fllt.org/toxic-algae-facts
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1wQw95fj1jyiABlPoO1B hLnTyUwY1duCWMqJxfQSJ3qM/edit
Photo Credit: https://www.nationalpondservice.com/ny-fingerlakes-toxic-algae-bloom-report-2020/
