The
HOWLER 2025 FEB 28
THEHOWLER@ALLENDALECOLUMBIA.ORG
SPEAK UP RETURNS ANGELICA DAVIS-BERNARD
A Call to Action for our third annual SPEAK UP FORUM, which will be Wednesday, April 9. For the past two years, the SPEAK UP Forum has been a space where students have voiced their concerns, shared their experiences, and offered thoughtful suggestions for improving our school community. Yet, many of you have told us that despite speaking up, change has been slow—or worse, absent. You felt unheard. You felt ignored. You felt that nothing has changed. Let’s be real—a lack of action erodes trust. It fosters apathy. It makes people wonder, why bother? We hear you. And this year, we are committed to doing better. Building a Community of Accountability Our theme this year, Building a School Community of Accountability, was not chosen at random. It emerged from a deep dive into last year’s forum data—where a recurring frustration was the feeling that voices were not being met with action. Students shared that they needed to see real followthrough, not just conversation. Accountability means owning our words, decisions, and actions, and ensuring that promises lead to meaningful change. Without accountability, equity, belonging, and inclusion become empty commitments instead of guiding principles. That’s why, this year, we’re changing how we do things: • Students are involved early. You’re not just participants—you’re part of the planning process. Your voices are shaping the discussion questions and conversations before the SPEAK UP forum even happens. • Support beyond the forum. It doesn’t end when the event does. There will be concrete
action steps, follow-up meetings, and transparency about what’s happening next. • Shared responsibility. Change isn’t on students alone. Adults and students must work together to make AC a better, more inclusive, and more accountable community. Accountability in Action Accountability isn’t just about calling out big issues—it’s about the small, everyday choices we make. See something, say something. Your courage to step up and advocate for someone being targeted or harassed is powerful and can be life-changing. You may never fully know the impact you are making on a peer’s behalf, but that moment of courage creates real change. That’s accountability in action. It’s about taking responsibility not just for yourself but for the well-being of others, ensuring that our school is a place where everyone feels safe, affirmed, and heard. So, What Are We Going to Do? We’re not saying we can improve everything overnight. But we can commit to continuous improvement. We can hold each other—students, faculty, staff, and leadership—accountable for making this school the place we say we want it to be. So, what are you going to do? Will you show up? Will you challenge the status quo? Will you hold us, and yourself, accountable? The SPEAK UP Forum is your platform. Your voice is your power. Now’s the time to use it. This is a school day and attendance is expected. See you there, SPEAK UP Planning Team
TABLE OF CONTENTS SPEAK UP: PAGE 1
BLACK HISTORY: PAGE 2 ENTERTAINMENT: PAGE 3-7 ADVICE: PAGE 8
2K25 REVIEW
ARI HAGELBERG AND RYAN D’ARDUINI
NBA 2k25 is a game that has its flaws but also its ups. I believe that the format of the open world city is actually good for the game and needed to happen for the development of the 2k franchise. I remember the days before and during quarantine when 2k was just the park. It was good but when a game has the same concept every year you need to change and expand it. Now, this is not me saying I think that 2k25 is better than the 2k20. I still think the game is fun. The community in 2k is a major part of what really keeps the game going and fun for everyone. On the other hand, part of the community can make it less enjoyable for the casual gamer. Some people, who are either students or employed, don’t have the time to play the game like other people. Some people play the game a lot and get very good at it. It’s not fun when you play them, because you know you’re going to lose. When you play someone and the game is close, it’s an instant flow-state moment. When you play one of those games, the open chat can get pretty toxic. People saying things like, “you smell” and, “you’re a loser,” are just scratching the surface of what can be said. At the end of the day I’m a big fan of the game, but it does have its issues.