Hetuck Saturday 2023

Volume 84, Issue 6

Saturday, June 17th, 2023

ONCE IN A LIFETIME EXPERIENCES Delegates reflect on a fulfilling week at ALBBS

perience new things he hadn’t even thought of trying.

Two delegates of American Legion BuckDoll believes that when a student wants eye Boys State (ALBBS) have enjoyed their time to join ALBBS, they should “just go for it behere and have shared their stories: William Randal cause you never know where you'll end up. You of Shuck City and Aiden Doll of Jordan City. show up thinking you don't want to do much and Randal said he feels very lucky to have then you get a good job. You start rolling and you been chosen to athave a lot of fun tend ALBBS. “I'm [and] meet a lot of kind of like the only good people.” one from my county Doll didn’t come that was nominated into ALBBS exfor it.” pecting to enjoy it, Randal however. “I came mentioned, “I was into it not thinking I kind of expecting it would do much and to be more of like a just kind of be like really watered down a fly on the wall, version of everybut I wish I would thing. It hasn't really have stepped up and been like that. It's actually tried to get been more like… more done,” Doll Sen. Aiden Doll (R) and Senate President Pro Tempore [you are] kind of just Beau Gantz (L) come to an agreement during an Agri- said. thrown out there and culture, Conservation, and Energy Committee Meeting In addition to the [are] actually trying to values Doll has on Friday, June 16, 2023. Photo by Corin Chao. build a government by learned and the yourselves.” friends he has made, he also loves the food here, Randal believes other rising seniors saying, “The biscuits and gravy kind of slaps.” should attend. “It's not something that's just like a Although Doll and Randal are just two waste of a week.” out of 600 total delegates, their perspectives can ALBBS has been a memorable experience shed light on what many of the other delegates so far for Doll as well. He believes this experience may have experienced as well. has helped him to meet some new people and ex-

By Jacob Baltes

Pg. 2 The Hetuck countable if you did something wrong… you don't see that in many African countries,” Bayou said.

Bayou also sees large differences in the democratic traditions between the two countries. “[Ghanaian government officials] say,

By Nezar Shakaki okay, there's democracy here, but is it practiced?

For over two centuries, the bedrock of No. They say it’s here, but democracy is not American society has been the country’s ac- practiced in reality,” Bayou said.

Bayou compared this to what is happenceptance of all people, regardless of race, religion, ing in the US, saying, “There is democracy. Is it or gender, so long as they uphold the nation’s key practiced?

Absolutely. I'm in law enforcement, values of freedom, democracy, and equaliand I can tell you 100 ty. Especially in recent percent that it's stricttimes, many believe that ly enforced.” immigrants have transNot long formed the United States after Bayou moved to for the better. the US, he signed up One immigrant in for the National particular, a gentleman by Guard and is still the name of Gideon Bayou, serving to this day to an Ohio Highway Patrol support his country’s Trooper who immigrated to values.

Columbus, Ohio from GhaOn top of this, Bayou na, serves as a member of mentioned his welthe State Highway Patrol. coming treatment as Bayou also serves an African immigrant with the American Legion to America, saying Buckeye Boys State the following: “I've (ALBBS), training delegates who have been ac- Trooper Gideon Bayou places a red rose during never been treated cepted into its prestigious the Ohio State Highway Patrol Memorial Cere- any differently [in America]. People who mony. Photo by Austin Beck State Highway Patrol prohave trained me, mengram. tored me, given me guidance, were people from Despite being from a different different races, different colors, and nobody country, Bayou proudly shared his love for the looks at the color of your skin.

They look beyond United States. Specifically, he sees large differthat.

They look at you as human, just like them. ences between the legal systems of Ghana and the That's how I've been treated my whole time.”

United States.

Though Bayou may not have “The legal system here really works. Peobegun his life in the United States, because of his ple are held accountable for their actions, and there love and dedication towards his new country, he is a system set up to make sure you're held achas served his nation to a great extent.

Trooper Bayou Shares Immigration Experiences

v

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Banking Industry Grapples With Awareness v

By Austin Beck

Another citizen of ALBBS, who also requested anonymity, echoed a similar sentiment As the work week progresses and office when asked about the new paid services. He statafter office opens for business, delegates are exed, “I just found out I have to pay for insurance pressing concerns over a growing number of bills and I don’t know what that means.’’ and unclear government procedures.

Some citizens, however, are fond of the On Thursday, delegates from across the systems instilled by the bank. Peter Zhong of state attended their second official day at their Gabel City advocated for its efficiency, saying, respective jobs. However, their schedules aren’t “[The processes at the bank] went pretty the only things that smooth.” He added have changed. that, “The Citizens paychecks are direct were unexpectedly deposit so the moncharged with uney will be taken out known bills: mortafter you’re paid.’’ gage payments and Zhong beutility bills. While lieves that the syssome of these tems couldn’t be changes were widedone much better ly publicized begiven that they have forehand, some less guidelines than citizens feel many their real-life counof them are out of terparts. The limitathe blue. tions of ALBBS There are have caused the a number of delebank of BBS to simgates that have explify the processes pressed their confuand transactions of sion - and even citizens. resentment - toSome were wards the various Delegates at the bank, located at Symmes Hall, deposit surprised by the imagencies of the Amer- checks and pay their mortgages. Photo by Austin Beck promptu payments ican Legion Buckeye feeling the bills were Boys State (ALBBS) not announced as a result of this. properly. Citizens complaints have been filed One delegate, who requested to remain against the organizations of ALBBS. A frustraanonymous, found the process frustrating when tion among citizens is the payment of the mortattempting to pay his mortgage. He argued that gage due to the location and operating hours durthe “location and time made it difficult, if that ing the work day. However, a perspective has was fixed it wouldn’t be.” also been expressed that the short time frame and The procedure for paying bills seemed to manner in which the bank is run makes this balcause delays at the bank. Many delegates had to ance between realism and convenience a difficult wait in long lines and fill out last-minute checks one to achieve for those running the bank. as they attempted to secure financial security.

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BBS 2023 Memories Photos by Kaiden Deck and Luke Wilson