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Brendan Minett, Staff Writer Star Wars, a franchise that had secured its place as a worldwide phenomenon that would go on to define generations of fans both young and old, is about to change in a way some people would never have thought was possible. During Disney’s annual Investor Day presentation back in December, Lucasfilm President Kathleen Kennedy announced that multiple projects are in the works regarding both Star Wars television and movies: "We have a vast and expansive timeline in the 'Star Wars' mythology spanning over 25,000 years of history in the galaxy—with each era being a rich resource for storytelling," Kathleen Kennedy said. This reveal is largely thanks to the success of The Mandalorian, Star Wars’ first live-action TV series that debuted on Disney+ back in 2019. "Now with Disney Plus, we can explore limitless story possibilities like never before and fulfill the promise that there is truly a 'Star Wars' story for everyone," Kennedy continued. To begin naming some of the new Star Wars content coming to Disney Plus, it would be appropriate to start out with The Mandalorian, a show praised heavily by both

fans and critics alike. The series will be renewed for its third season, which is expected to come out sometime in the year 2022. Along with The Mandalorian’s renewal, there will be three spin-off shows set within the same timeline: The Book of Boba Fett (2021), Rangers of the New Republic, and Ahsoka. Other live-action spin-off shows worth mentioning include the long-awaited ObiWan Kenobi show (starring Ewan McGregor and Hayden Christensen), Andor, Lando, and The Acolyte. In terms of movies, Patty Jenkins will be making her Star Wars debut in Rogue Squadron, which is slated to be released on December 22, 2023. Filmmaker Taika Waititi and Produced Kevin Faige will also be making their debuts into the Star Wars universe with their currently untitled films scheduled for a 2025 and 2027 release. Lastly, the animation department will be given its time to shine with the release of shows like The Bad Batch (2021), Star Wars: Visions, and A Droid Story. About a few weeks after Disney’s Investor Day, another major announcement would be made, but this time regarding Star Wars video games. On January 11th, 2021, Star Wars.

com announced that Lucasfilm Games will act as the official identity for all future game titles. “Lucasfilm’s legacy in gaming stretches back decades. And with Lucasfilm and the galaxy far, far away entering a new and unprecedented phase of creativity, so will the world of Lucasfilm Games — developed in collaboration with the finest studios across the industry.” This would come off as a major shock for many, mainly because this would mean that Electronic Art’s exclusivity deal with Lucasfilm would come to an end. With this new rebranding, other video game companies will be allowed to put their creative talent into Star Wars. The newest game to demonstrate this will be an open-world Star Wars game by Ubisoft, the same company that made The Division 2. The end of Electronic Art’s exclusivity deal will not be the end of them making Star Wars games, however. “We will continue working with them and our relationship has never been stronger. While we may not have a lot of details to share at the moment, we’ve got a number of projects underway with the talented teams at EA,” Lucasfilm Games VP Douglas Reilly stated.

Emma Smith, Editor The thought of rewatching something over and over again might sound boring, but there is actually a deeper meaning behind doing this. You may just really enjoy a show or movie, or you could find comfort in it without even knowing. Something about bringing yourself back to a film brings people a sense of nostalgia and happiness. Humans do not like change and even though you know what will happen in the end, it creates a way to escape. According to psychologist Pamela Rutledge, “It can become really therapeutic, especially if you are feeling anxious. Watching the same piece multiple times reaffirms that there’s order in the world and that it can create a sense of safety and comfort on a primal level.” Especially during a time like now, predictability is just the thing

everybody craves. Humans are proven to want control and certainty because life can change in the blink of an eye. Even though the world around you might change, you always have your favorite movie or show to rely on staying the same. “Uncertainty and anxiety often go hand in hand,” says Mr. Mike Ward, a psychotherapist who runs The London Anxiety Clinic and The Hampshire Anxiety Clinic. The first time you watch a show or movie, you may feel both anxious and nervous about what the outcome will be, but once you finish you experience a sense of relief. Knowing that something is going to end well helps when going through a hard time. Watching the same thing repeatedly can be used as a coping mechanism to alleviate anxiety. Doing this can improve your

health and mental clarity. Psychologist Neel Burton explains, “As long as you are not completely living in the past or in a disillusioned state, reruns may be the best way to cheer you up.” Knowing that a show is going to make you laugh, is another reason why you shouldn’t hesitate to rewatch your favorite shows. Watching a comical film or show can instantaneously boost your mood. Watching a show or movie over and over again has many benefits. You will feel nostalgic, instantly happier, and overall calmer. Knowing what is going to happen next creates a control in your mind which results in positive effects for your mind and body. The less stress and more happiness you have in your life, the more positive and healthy you will be all around.

Written by Riley Tully, Staff Writer Edited by Maya Bieling, Editor-in-Chief

There are many studies in which people use music to see if it affects the body in a positive or negative way. In my experiences, music affects me in both ways depending on my mood. When I am happy, all the music is happy to me regardless if it’s a sad song or happy song. However, there have been times where I was in a bad mood and every song seemed sad to me. Therefore, I believe that music can affect you in both negative and positive ways depending on how you feel. According to Mike Floorwalker in “10 Surprising Ways Music Can Be Bad for You,” music can affect you negatively because a sad song can increase anxiety. If you have the volume too loud, it can cause hearing damage and disrupt your work and studying. I can agree with these too because there have been times where I have been doing schoolwork and I turned music on and within the first forty-five seconds of playing the song I was distracted. I think that certain types of music might even be dangerous to listen to while sad because they can make you even more sad, and the goal of music should be to escape and lose yourself listening to the music. While I do believe that music can affect you negatively, studies do show listening to music has its benefits too. According to “How Does Music Affect Your Mood and Level of Happiness?” on Happierhuman.com, there had been a study that proved

that people who started their days off with cheerful songs spent the rest of their day feeling refreshed and energized. They also say that music has interesting effects on your mind: “But music is not only helpful in uplifting your mood. It also has unique healing powers. It can even play a vital role in restoring the cognitive and sensory functions of the brain after a traumatic injury.” This is interesting to me because it shows how powerful and effective music really can be. According to Crystal Raypole in “Is ‘Music Addiction’ Really a Thing?” people have said that it helps reduce stress and calms them down: Music is often deeply emotional. It can convey an almost endless range of feelings. It’s often used as a coping strategy for anxi ety or stress. Many people report improve ments in mood and motivation after listening to energizing music. It may even help you express emotions and find deeper in sight. They said music can inspire an endless range of feelings, and I believe that one hundred percent. I also believe that music can raise our spirits and make us become more positive. I think everyone should start off their day listening to happy music. All in all, music is a very powerful thing that sways our mood in just one song. 4

Written by Sierra Roberts, Staff Writer Edited by Maya Bieling, Editor-in-Chief

Of all the literary genres, romance and fantasy are among the most popular in both modern history and old history. Romance, the older genre, is believed to have come into being in mid-12th century France, while the younger genre, fantasy, was created in the 18th century.

tasy genre to have an escape from reality and all of their problems even for only a short time. When people hear the word romance, they think of many different things. Some loves are wild and passionate, while others are soft and sweet, and some prefer something in the middle. Romance, to some people, is the perfect genre. It is the start and end of one story and the beginning of another. But, you understand my point, this is the reason why the genre of romance is so popular in literature because it’s a genre that draws you into a world where a person finds another who complements him or her in the most wonderful way and you think, “Sigh, I want what they have.” Romance by its definition is a feeling of excitement and mystery associated with love. So, when one reads a romance novel, it’s to be drawn into this world of intrigue and excitement, and one finally watches the characters meet and fall in love. So, do you now see why these two genres are highly coveted by people of all ages? It is because these two genres offer an escapism from the realities and tiredness of life and into a perfect dream, so that after your little escape, you can come back feeling refreshed and relaxed and ready to tackle anything in your way, just like

Modern fantasy, though inspired by stories like Beowulf, gained popularity due to fictional travelers’ tales. People often wonder why the fantasy genre is so popular among all generations. Many will come with all sorts of different answers but I believe that fantasy novels are so different from reality and they allow one to have a detachment from the outside world, and thus, one’s problems, for as long as one is reading. And it appears I am not the only one who thinks that. In “Why Are Fantasy Films and Books So Popular?” Lee Sibbald states, “The reason that fantasy is so popular for both adults and children alike is that they offer escapism from work or school into a different realm. If you’re reading about elves or magic then the worries of business, homework or housework are forgotten and everyone can let their [sic] imagination run wild.” So to summarize, others read the modern fan5

Written by: Maya Bieling, Editor In-Chief

Edited by:Andrew Mindes, Editor In-Chief

Some of us are born into that have developed over a thou- moving to California. Ironically, family businesses, some of us in- sand years. These duties include Prince Harry still receives money herit family heirlooms, and some public and charitable services and as any royal family member would. of us are obligated to family tradi- acts of strengthening national Many traditionalists who followed tions. Now imagine if you had all unity. Every member of the Royal this news despised Meghan Marof this, plus a title that kle; they implied that makes you famous. these unforeseen You are so famous events were due to her that the general pubunwanted presence. lic is obsessed with She was blamed and every detail of your viciously attacked by life. You have little to the media, and the no privacy, obscure couple is expected to responsibilities, and never return. millions of dollars to Although it may your name. You are sound like reality royalty. TV to us, the Royal The RoyFamily is still a crual Family has been cial part of English around for thirty-sevlife. In simple terms, Meghan Markle and Prince Harry, photo via Instagram/@SussexRoyal/PA Images en generations. Tothey are national role day’s ninety-four models. They exist to year old symbolic head-of-state, Family respects his or her role in represent stability, generosity, and Queen Elizabeth, is the thirty sec- society and willingly participates. poise. You could think of them ond great-granddaughter of King However, in recent years as a family of “influencers” withAlfred the Great. He was the first this status quo has been chal- out the teenage drama. So, to aneffective King of England nearly lenged, specifically by Prince Har- swer my previous question, they twelve hundred years ago. There ry and Meghan Markle. The cou- are symbols holding the country is a long history of royalty in En- ple has been married since May together more than they are anygland, but what role does it play in 2019, but last March, they stepped thing else. For now, the family the modern world? back as senior royals. Basically, continues to live lavishly and reap The current Royal Family is they resigned from their positions the benefits of a family bloodline, known as a constitutional monar- until further notice. The couple and it doesn’t seem like the idea chy. They have no real power po- announced that they wanted to of western world royalty is going litically or executively; rather they become financially independent anywhere anytime soon. carry out representational duties from the Queen, and ended up

Edited by Andrew Mindes, Editor-in-Chief People get pets for different reasons such as to have a loyal friend or to assist with work. Whatever the reason may be, many people have interesting and unique stories regarding their companions. To help brighten your day a little I’ll share some cute and funny pet stories people have shared with me.

I probably wouldn’t stop laughing; it’s like something from a cartoon. Cats usually like to explore high places but this one person’s cat liked to fall from them also. “I had a farm cat that loved to climb up and sit on the roof. Problem was, he had a habit of rolling over for a tummy rub whenever he saw a person. So it was common to walk by the house and see him roll right off the roof.” Just imagine going to your friend’s house and seeing a cat fall off the roof whenever you walked by.

“I had a dog that liked to lick the built-up ice in the freezer every time we opened the door and he would get his tongue stuck regularly.” How would you feel seeing your dog stuck to your freezer more than once? I’d be a little concerned for my dog at first, but I find it hilarious.

Pets can be a great source of humor sometimes. If you have a pet, can you think of one time they’ve made you laugh? I hope these stories helped to brighten your day a little. And if you have a pet go hang out with it whenever you’re not feeling good. They will put you in a better mood.

“When I was younger, we had a chihuahua that weighed four pounds. One day our family was sitting in the living room watching a movie. My sister flung open the recliner as the dog walked past it, and the dog went flying across the room like a cannonball!” If I saw this happen in real life

In America, it is very common that a household contains a pet, and mine is no exception. The year 2020 wasn’t an easy one. We were quarantined for so long and it took a mental toll on all of us. But for me, I couldn’t handle the extreme anxiety quarantine had triggered. I ended up deciding to adopt a kitten and I benefited in so many positive ways mentally and emotionally.

Ava Schell, Staff Writer

their soft fur and sweet eyes, they can just be so sweet and cute. For pet owners, scientists suggest there is a decrease in heart attacks, loneliness, fewer doctor visits, boosted self-esteem, and so on. Medically speaking, it has been proven animals have a great, positive effect on the human mind, which leads to positive physical changes as well. You, along with many others, should look into the idea of adopting or rescuing an animal who might just be your family’s new addition. Animals are great loving beings who can greatly benefit those who are animal lovers and need some help coping with daily struggles. You don’t have to do it alone. You may just find a forever home for a furry friend.

After meeting the little being that would help improve my life long term, I was thrilled. Animals have benefitted people between therapy cats and dogs and even service dogs who help those with medical problems and mental illnesses and disorders. Because I struggle with anxiety and its crippling effects, it has been so comforting to have a kitten. It’s easier to confide in an animal who holds so much purity and innocence, as well as having

Shannon Babcock, Staff Writer 7

ENTERTAINMENT DURING 2020 This past year was definitely a different experience for all of us. With being accustomed to spending most of our time either in a classroom or on a sports field it took some adjusting. Since the media and entertainment industry has a huge impact on our society, I was interested in knowing what students have entertained themselves with or watched during this time.

QUESTION ASKED TO ALL STUDENTS : WHAT SHOWS/FILMS ENTERTAINED YOU IN 2020? Caitlin Emanuel, Grade 10: The Office got her through quarantine since it made her laugh and cheered her up while being at home. It was a very funny and entertaining show and is definitely one of her favorites. Ella Sussner, Grade 10: She said she was peer pressured into watching Grey’s Anatomy, which she is still working on, but loves it so far! She also adores both seasons of The Umbrella Academy, which she has watched over and over to find more Easter eggs.

Julia Singh, Grade 10: She liked the Outer Banks because it reminded her of when we weren’t quarantined and could relax and hang out with friends during the summer. Lily Bailey, Grade 10: She watched Grey’s Anatomy because it was a long commitment with 16 seasons, and she had all the free time during quarantine. Eamon Comiskey, Grade 10: He watched The Crown, Downton Abbey, Auntie Mame, Charade, which was very dramatic, suspenseful, and thrilling, Outer Banks, Gossip Girl, and more.

Overall, students have been highly entertained during the past year. I, myself, also binge watched Grey’s Anatomy and a few movies such as Mamma Mia and Can’t Buy Me Love. Films and TV shows proved to be a good source of entertainment and distraction during these unprecedented times.

Written by Kaitlyn Peconie Edited by Emma Smith

Written by Sam Tyzbir, Staff Writer Edited by Maya Bieling, Editor-in-Chief

In this modern world, living a life revolved around technology is inevitable. Especially with the current circumstances, technology and social media play a heavy role in our everyday lives. With this increase in technology and social media usage, people who have gained heavy influence have obtained an effect on the ideas and thoughts of people all around the world. This mass influence heavily affects what others perceive to be true and what they believe about the world or people around them. Even though some of the messages spread by influencers are aimed to bring positivity, some affect others in quite the opposite way. Famous influencers tend to have millions of followers, which makes it easy for them to spread fake news or any kind of drama in their lives. This then turns people in the wrong direction, causing them to submit themselves to hate and violence on others, animals and/ or things that they have been fed information about. Now the question is, is it acceptable for the people in control of the social media platforms to silence and/or ban these influencers who spread false information and insight violence? Many argue that silencing these neg

ative posts is in direct violation of the first amendment. Well, the first amendment states, “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.” After reading and understanding exactly what is mentioned, it seems like a violation to silence any version of freedom of speech. On the other hand, some view these posts as nothing but unnecessary negativity that provides no benefits for anyone. These posts cause both kids and adults to become invested in an influencer’s word and stand by everything that person decided to put out there for the world to see. In the big picture, does that make it okay to post negative and pessimistic information that could potentially incite violence? Hence, it makes logical sense to remove this negative influence by silencing or banning the user. Unfortunately, this divide doesn’t seem like it is going anywhere anytime soon. All in all, the question still remains, who is correct? I’ll leave that for you to decide.

Pros and Cons of Analog and Digital Recording The art of sound recording is a practice that has been constantly evolving for over a century. Throughout that century, technological advances have transformed the practice from an archaic medium to a state of the art-like performance. Before we can discuss the pros and cons of analog and digital recording, we must first answer the question, what is analog versus digital recording? Analog recording is when the sound waves are transmitted and replicated, usually on a physical medium such as tape. Digital recording is when the signal is transmitted and replicated via a computer or hard disk technology by taking samples of the incoming signal.The former dominated from the inception of audio recording all the way to the early eighties, when digital recording was first being heavily introduced.

ied digital recording process. Part of this argument is generational; most who experienced a time when analog was the only option found it hard to adapt to a completely new way of recording. On the flip side, those who were born into the advent of digital recording might not have bothered with the older technology, viewing it as a thing of the past. With all of that aside, what evidence is there to support either’s superiority?

Digital audio recording was first toyed around with in the early seventies. Originally the audio was recorded on reelto-reel machines, using digital tape which was then deciphered using PCM technology or pulse-code modulation. This technology took quite some time to catch on and went through plenty of trial and error before it started to resemble what we know today. Now digital recording is captured directly on a computer and cataloged in a DAW or digital audio workstation.

The first argument to be made would be the cost and efficiency. Though analog recording is beloved by many, it is also very inaccessible to those on a budget. Reel-to-reel tape machines are not found in many home studios. Most are staples of professional studios, in which you need to book time to record. In addition to the cost of the studio time, one must purchase the tape on which they are recording. A reel of 2-inch tape could run over $200 for 30 minutes of 24-track audio. Additionally, to improve sound quality the tape could be run at a higher speed, leaving you with only 15 minutes of audio. If you had the intention of recording a full LP, that cost starts to add up. On the contrary, you could record as many tracks as you want for any length of time on a computer with free or relatively inexpensive software, through an audio interface or mixer.

Over the years there has been a great deal of debate over which form of recording is superior. Certain people swear by the analog technology, claiming it has a much warmer and truer to life sound with more texture. The same goes for the other side; others prefer the newest and more var-

The digital format also opens up a new world of editing. Prior to the DAW, engineers would have to cut and splice tape together in order to edit. As you could imagine, this process was very labor intensive and time consuming. In a DAW editing is as easy as clicking and dragging or copying and

pasting whatever you want. Another problem that can arise with analog recordings is the preservation of said recordings. Tape can easily get damaged and will wear out; if sufficient copies haven't been made, those recordings could be lost to time. Digital recordings have the potential to last forever if transferred or stored on some sort of backup device. This failsafe nature of digital recordings may be seen as a setback, as it can bring out half hearted performances in some who aren't worried of making mistakes. This in turn leads to more robotic performances, with less human emotion, which is what made some of the classic analog recordings magical. Personally I believe it comes down to the workflow. Some people thrive in a technologically advanced, more visual environment while others are more physical workers who need a studio environment to produce the best music. Interestingly enough, most modern day professional recordings are a combination of both analog and digital. When something is recorded to tape these days, it will usually be transferred into a DAW for editing or it will be converted to mp3 for cds and streaming services. Advances in sound recording are being made every day, so it's important to try new things to see what best suits you. It's very easy to get too comfortable with your work environment, so open up to the possibility of changing it up and something might just inspire you to make something new.

Harrison Rogers

Too Much of a Good Thing Can Be Bad

With the help of technology, we have the world at our fingertips. We can all agree on this. Too much of anything, even technology, can be an unacceptable thing. People of this generation have dedicated their whole lives to technology. Although the internet is beneficent and amusing, too much can be injurious, especially to children. According to "Impact of Technology on Kids Today and Tomorrow” on wgu.edu, “Research shows that the average 8 to 10 year old spends almost 8 hours a day with a variety of media, and older children spend around 11 hours per day with media. That time adds up, and young people are spending more time with technology than they do in school.” This website also states that some negative effects are low attention span, increased risk and lack of privacy, risk of depression, obesity, failing grades and bullying. Technology causes us to shift away from the outdoors. We are becoming weaker and lazier by the second. According to “Children growing weaker as computers replace outdoor activity” by The Guardian, “While one in 20 children in 1998 could not hold their own weight while hanging from wall bars, one in 10 could not do

so in 2008. The fact that 10% could not do the wall bar test and another 10% refused to try was really shocking.” That was 13 years ago. Imagine now. Fast forward to 2020. According to an American Heart Association study, “Nearly 60% of American children do not have healthy cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF), a key measure of physical fitness and overall health.” I learned that a healthy CRF is good for the brain, and the strength of the heart, lungs, and blood circulation. In addition, kids with a healthy CRF generally have better mental health and longer lifespans. Unhealthy CFR usually stem from not enough physical activity and exercise in children In conclusion, technology has its pros and cons. It is pleasant, to an extent. The world is thankful for it because the answers to all of our questions are just a click away. However, too much affects us in some negative ways such as dreadful mental health, poor strength, lowered academics, and much more. Try to cut off on your screen time. Go outside for a little. You will not regret it.

Written by Isabella Young Edited by TJ Sikorski

Wall St. and the Internet Clash BY: GABRIEL CHERMAK

EDITED BY TYLER ELLIS

In July of 2019, Youtube user “Roaring Kitty” posted a

The CEO of Robinhood defended the freezing of stock

video explaining why the Gamestop (GME) stock will

saying his institution was “complying with financial

increase over the following year. His thesis was well-

regulations.”

founded and quickly gained traction within online stock trading communities such as Reddit’s forum

This

move

angered

many

investors,

Congress

board, r/wallstreetbets. The idea was that hedge

members, senators, and other individuals and not without reason. Politicians from all sides of the

fund, investment groups that bet on stocks to go

political spectrum spoke out against it. Alexandria

down, which makes them money, were borrowing

Ocasio Cortez, Ted Cruz, and Elon Musk notably spoke

more stock than there was available. If hedge fund

out against the unethical move. AOC even tweeted

managers lose the bet and the stock in question goes

that she would, “support a hearing if necessary,” and

up in price instead of down, then the hedge fund will

tech entrepreneur, Elon Musk tweeted that the

need to return the borrowed stock and pay back the

freezing of stock is a “scam.”

loss to the lender. This creates a short squeeze or “shorting.” After a short squeeze, the stock will

Millions of middle-class investors would lose money

skyrocket.

due to the blatant market manipulation shown by Robinhood, Citadel, and other Wall Street institutions.

Many retail middle-class investors bought thousands of stocks of GameStop to force a short squeeze. It

Although

worked. In less than a month, GameStop’s price

many

politicians

advocate

for

accountability, whether or not anyone will be held

skyrocketed from around $17 a share to a peak of

responsible is still in question. The 2008 Great

$483. That means if you had invested $1,000 in

Recession forced millions of Americans to sell their

GameStop about a month ago, you would have been

homes and had drastic economic effects. The

able to sell your shares for approximately $28,400 on

wealthiest Wall Street institutions were directly to

January 29th.

blame and yet no one was charged. This very well

However, Wall Street elitists did not take well to

may be the fault of corruption within the economy

losing billions of dollars to middle-class investors.

and

the

lobbyists

Many middle-class investors use an app called

government. spent

3.3

2008,

billion

around

dollars

14,000

donating

politicians with the expectations that the politicians,

“Robinhood” to trade stocks due to its commission

in turn, would create and vote on legislation that

free trading. One hedge fund that lost the Gamestop

benefits them. Throughout 2020, just 11,500 lobbyists

gamble was Citadel. Because of Citadel’s close ties to

contributed

Robinhood, it was able to have Robinhood freeze the

than

3.49

billion

dollars

politicians. Lobbyists in 2008 likely prevented action

buying of GameStop stock to prevent the short

against Wall Street Elitists and it would be optimistic

squeeze. Preventing the short squeeze would in turn

to think this will change in 2021.

prevent hedge funds from losing even more money.

Written by: Jacob Gibel, Staff Writer So many new faces are becoming head coaches in the NFL. Seven teams had head coaching vacancies after the season ended: The Jaguars, the Jets, the Falcons, the Chargers, the Lions, the Texans, and the Eagles. And all those jobs would come with their own pros and cons. So some of the teams have more intriguing opportunities than others. Urban Meyer was the first coach hired to become the head coach of the Jacksonville Jaguars. This job comes with many pros like that they have lots of draft capital including the first overall pick in the draft. The Jaguars also have the most cap space in the NFL. The cons of the job are that the base roster of the Jaguars has very minimal talent on both sides of the ball. Urban Meyer has never coached in the NFL before and he was last the head coach of the Ohio State Buckeyes from 2012-2018. He has shown a lot of success at the collegiate level as a head coach winning 3 National Championships and many other accolades. Marshall Faulk, an NFL Hall of Famer, isn’t sure that Urban Meyer and the relationship between whichever quarterback he chooses to draft will be good for the quarterback’s career. “Outside of Alex Smith, this man hasn’t developed a quarterback that’s playing in the NFL right now,” Marshall Faulk told TMZ sports on the hiring of Urban Meyer. The New York Jets hired Robert Saleh as their new head coach. The Jets have similar pros to the Jaguars as they also have lots of draft capital and a lot of cap space. The cons of the Jets job is that the Jets have minimal talent currently on the roster. The Jets are hoping that bringing in a player friendly coach like Saleh can help build a good winning culture for the team. With the 49ers he helped them have one of the top defenses in the NFL as the defensive coordinator and helped them go to a super bowl and last season the 49ers had a top 10 defense even while suffering many injuries to star players on their defense. Fred Warner, an All-Pro Middle Linebacker for the 49ers, has said some promising things about Robert Saleh. On the podcast 4th and Forever he said, “He’s such a smart individual and he’s such a great teacher so I know he’ll be able to translate perfectly into a head coach.” The Falcons chose to hire Arthur Smith as their new head coach. The pros of theFalcons are that they still have a lot of talent on the offensive side of the ball in Matt Ryan, Julio Jones, and Calvin Ridley. But going into the offseason the Falcons are going to have a lack of salary cap to address the defensive needs. Ryan Tannehill, the starting quarterback for the Titans, understands a lot of what Arthur Smith is bringing to the Falcons. While Tannehill played for the Dolphins, he was considered a mediocre starting quarterback and eventually got traded to the Titans to be the backup quarterback. When Tannehill got his chance to start in Smith’s offense, he became a top 10 quarterback and in this past season he threw for a career-high 33 touchdowns. During an interview with the NFL Network Tannehill said,”He’s a great coach all the way around. Everything that you look for in

Urban Meyer

Tim Heithman, USA Today Sports

Edited by: Andrew Mindes, Editor-in-Chief a coach and a leader and a great offensive mind he does a good job with.” The new head coach of the Chargers is Brandon Staley. He was previously the defensive coordinator for the Rams last season where their defense was #1 in points and yards allowed in the NFL. The Chargers have an intriguing offense to coach with Justin Herbert, who is coming off the best rookie season for a quarterback, and an elite group of playmakers in Austin Ekeler, Keenan Allen, and Mike Williams. And the defense has some standout players as well like Joey Bosa, Derwin James,and Uchenna Nwosu. But the Chargers have big names hitting free agency like Hunter Henry, Melvin Ingram, and key offensive lineman. And the offensive lineman that aren’t becoming free agents are coming off injury plagued seasons. So Staley will have some important roster decisions to try and make the playoffs. Dan Campbell was hired as the new head coach of the Lions. He was the assistant head coach and the tight ends coach for the Saints from 2016-2020. The Lions have a few young pieces on their team to help with the rebuild. Campbell will be entering the organization with a new quarterback as they traded their longtime franchise QB Matthew Stafford to the Los Angeles Rams for QB Jared Goff and two first-round picks and a third-round pick. Dan Campbell isn’t going to run a system with the Lions either; he remarked that he is just going to try and play to his players’ strengths and be successful. Campbell said, “We’re going to run a system that puts our best against your worst...I’m not a system guy.” He had a very violent tone to his opening press conference. One thing he said was, “And when you knock us down, we’re going to get back up, and on the way up, we’re going to bite a kneecap off.” The Eagles hired Nick Sirianni as their new head coach. They currently have the 6th pick in the NFL draft to address one of their needs and can move some big contracts to acquire some more to fill the rest. The Eagles are going to need to address their needs through the draft because they don’t have that much cap space.Also a big thing with the Eagles is quarterback because they have Jalen Hurts who is still unproven after four starts. Will the Eagles choose to draft a quarterback with the 6th overall pick in the upcoming draft to compete with Hurts or will they sign an older quarterback to mentor Jalen Hurts? Finally, David Culley has been hired to be the next head coach of the Texans. Culley previously worked for the Ravens as their assistant head coach, wide receivers coach, and passing game coordinator. The hire looked questionable around the league because the Ravens had the last ranked passing offense and a struggling wide receiver core. The Texans are probably the worst situation for an incoming coach as they have no positives to the organization at this moment. Deshaun Watson, the superstar quarterback for the Texans, is disgruntled and has requested a trade. The Texans also lack draft capitol and have a poor salary cap situation. The Texans will have a lot of question marks about their future.

Robert Saleh

Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group

NHL Outdoors at Lake Tahoe James Bailey, Staff Writer

Getty Images After swirling rumors, the NHL finally hosted two regular season games out on the shores of California’s famous Lake Tahoe in late February. The Colorado Avalanche rivaled the Vegas Golden Knights on February 20, and the Philadelphia Flyers took on the Boston Bruins on February 21.

front games nearly impossible, but due to the lingering pandemic, it was finally an option. "The Vegas Golden Knights are extremely grateful for the opportunity to play our first ever outdoor game in beautiful Lake Tahoe, a truly majestic location for our sport to return to its roots," Golden Knights Chairman Bill Foley said in a statement.

While players didn’t actually play on the lake itself, the athletes were no strangers to playing in the elements. In 2003, the NHL held their first outdoor game, where the Edmonton Oilers hosted the Montreal Canadiens in the Heritage Classic. Later in 2008, they revived the “Winter Classic” and now hold at least one every single year. The event was held with no fans in attendance. NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman commented on the challenges of hosting the event, saying, “This season, unable to host our usual huge crowds at such events, we will continue our tradition of taking the game and our players back to their outdoor roots." Typically, Winter Classics are among the most attended events in the league, and the one in 2008 was the most attended NHL hockey game in history. This made hosting lake-

Hosting an event like this is not easy, considering the uncontrollable natural elements and necessity to keep the ice in pristine playing conditions. In a rink, the ice is controlled at a certain temperature, but outdoor playing requires the groundskeeping crew to adjust their normal game routine. Still, playing on outdoor rinks is something most players have been doing since they were kids. Boston Bruins player Brad Marchand said, “I remember missing our playoffs because the rink melted one year. That's all I did was play outdoors until I was around 11 or 12. Even when I was in Saskatoon, my school had a rink and we played outdoors every day at recess.” NHL Outdoors at Lake Tahoe was a huge hit this season.

Brooklyn’s New Superteam Angel Maysonet All of the NBA teams this season, well, maybe besides the Detroit Pistons, I think, have a legit chance at making the playoffs. They all have great talent on each of their rosters, and I think all of the teams have a real chance at competing with the reigning champs, the Los Angeles Lakers. Of course, going through the two best forwards in the league, Lebron James and Anthony Davis, may be a challenge; however, Brooklyn’s newly formed super team may have the best chance out of everyone. Kyrie Irving, the Brooklyn Nets’ star point guard, is super crafty and arguably has the best handles of all time. The way he can create space with his unbelievable dribbling and create shots not only for himself but for his other teammates is truly remarkable. He is also unbelievably clutch when it comes to crunch time in crucial games. A prime example of that was during the 2016 Finals when he was playing on the Cavaliers against the best Warriors team that went 73-9 during the regular season. There was less than a minute on the clock in Game 7 and he managed to hit the game-winning three using his handles to again create space. Also on this team, who we are just seeing get back to action coming off of a torn ACL, former-MVP, Kevin Durant. Since being back, he has performed at a superstar level, averaging 30 points per game, 8 rebounds, and 6 assists. He’s 7 feet tall with a 7’6 wingspan but plays like he is a guard. He is a sharpshooter from any-

Lebron James and Anthony Davis Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images

where on the floor and is quick off the dribble to the basket. He will gladly welcome you to his poster if you try and meet him at the summit. Finally the most newly acquired, James Harden, is also a former MVP. This season he is averaging 23 points per contest, 7 rebounds, and 11 assists. A bit like Irving, Harden is unbelievable at finding his open teammates and creating space so he can hit his shots. On a great day, Harden can snap and go for a 40 point triple double. He’s also super capable of dropping 60 points when he’s hot. The Lakers may not be able to contain all this firepower especially when the team chemistry builds even more throughout the season. Whether it's Kyrie’s elite playmaking ability, Durant's elite shooting and scoring ability, or Harden’s shot-creating, this team is surely an elite contender for the Lakers. Although the Nets look intimidating, Lebron and the Lakers have a tendency to just overpower opposing teams. Their defense can be suffocating at times, especially with Anthony Davis’s elite shot blocking. Also, the Lakers’ role players have always been slept on. They are known for knocking down shots if the two main options are being locked up on defense. Other teams like the 76ers, the Jazz, or even the Celtics are just some of the teams in the league that have a chance of knocking the Nets or the Lakers out of the playoffs. This NBA postseason, either way it unravels, is bound to be thrilling and one to remember forever.

Kevin Durant, James Harden, and Kyrie rving Photo by Fadeaway World

Witten by Andrew Mindes Edited by TJ Sikorski

People often form opinions on professional athletes’ performances and skills. One may say X player played a great game while another may insist it was a subpar performance. Though observers can always support their claims with box scores and stats, can the eye test be just as reliable? There may be some plays or moments during a game that will influence viewers into feeling a certain way about a player's performance. For example, some people may look at New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees’ stats from the 2020 season and conclude that he was a top 10 quarterback that season due to his 106.4 passer rating along with a 70.5% completion percentage. Many may argue that his passes, though complete, were less challenging to make compared to other QBs’ throws. It is much easier and much less time-consuming to just look at stats rather than analyzing game film of a player or watching highlights of them, but the statistics will not always tell the full story. I asked WVHS student Will Danaher whether he values statistics or the eye test: “I would say both are strong indications of how good an athlete is, but in the end, numbers don’t lie so I’ll say statistics. The eye test could be wrong because a QB for example could have a stronger arm than another but that doesn’t make him a better QB.” There are also many instances where looking at the statistics may be more valuable than what viewers watch during games. One example could be Phillies superstar outfielder Bryce Harper. Lots of people have tried to construct a narrative that Harper is overpaid or overrated due to his production not living up to lofty expectations. Even people who watch him play may think he does not have as big of an impact as he should, but Harper’s stats will show that he has been an elite player in recent years. Despite averaging a .257 batting average over the past three seasons, Bryce has been one of the league’s best at getting on base with a .388 onbase percentage since the start of the 2018 season. Harper is also averaging 36 home runs per 162 games since 2018. Some people like myself may value the eye test over numbers; however, you should not always use the same method for evaluating every player. People who are on opposing sides will argue which player is better than another player, but convincing others to agree with you despite their method of evaluation may never happen. Hopefully this article helped you figure out which side you land on or made you more considerate on the opinions of the other side.

Steelers Run to the 2021 Season without Fichtner WRITTEN BY ALEXANDER EBERLEIN EDITED BY JACK SCOTTO In the 2020 season, the Pittsburgh Steelers averaged the league's lowest rushing yards per game at 84.4 and ranked last in total rushing yards of 1,351, which was more than 100 yards less than the second-lowest team, the Houston Texans. The year prior, the Steelers ranked fourth to last in both rushing yards per game and total yards. In 2018, they were second to last in both categories again. So, who deserves the blame for the Steelers run struggles? That would be Randy Fichtner. Fichtner has been moved around in the Steelers organization, eventually becoming their offensive coordinator. The Pittsburgh Steelers running game has been atrocious ever since. Fichtner had 3 years to prove himself as a worthy coach with successful play calling. In those 3 years, the run game was consistently weak as he relied on his aging quarterback to occasionally throw 50 passes in a game. Mark Kaboly, writer of “Steelers part ways with OC Randy Fichtner, 2 other coaches,” writes: The Steelers' offense fell apart over the final two months of the season and a lot of the blame has to go to personnel. But Fichtner's scheme was also suspect...the inability of the Steelers to get off to fast offensive starts could be traced back to him. The offensive line was in shambles all year. They were last in the league in rushing and were the reason why Ben Roethlisberger was forced to get rid of the ball in under 2.3 seconds. This game plan is not what Steelers fans are used to as the organization has always been a run-heavy football team. Even though the team's passing game has been great, Fichtner still has to find a way to get the run game going. Every 2020 playoff team had a more reliable run game than the Steelers which is one reason why the organization did so badly in the playoffs. With no run game and a quick passing game, the team's starting quarterback, Ben Roethlisberger, was forced to throw the ball 68 times to go along with 4 interceptions due to Fichtner’s bad play calling. In order to have a good run game in football, you need to rely on getting a rhythm, and throughout the season, the Steelers had absolute zero rhythm when it came to their run game. Fichtner definitely acknowledges this, but he still tries to get the ball into the hands of his best players. Author Brentley Weissman, writer of “WHAT'S, WRONG WITH STEELERS' RUNNING GAME?” states: For the Steelers, that’s their receivers and not their running backs. The Steelers offense has essentially turned their quick passing game into their running game as they have dynamic playmakers at the receiver position, while their running backs are just average. The issue here is that defenses have figured this out and are now squatting on all of the underneath routes, and the Steelers have nothing to counter with. If only they had a real running game to fall back on. This is the offensive coordinator's fault as he has one job - to make sure his offense is efficient and moving down the field well. But by regressing and being last in the run game, they lost 5 out of their last 6 games and were a first exit in the playoffs. Even though the Steelers running back, James Conner, wasn’t himself this year, Fichtner still gets the blame for not working with what he can and not trying to change the game plan. If you are one of the top teams that makes the playoffs but you aren't capable of running the football, you will not go very far - especially if you’re last in running yards in the ENTIRE league! Kaboly writes: When a team loses five of their last six games after an 11-0 start, marking two consecutive non-playoff years where the Steelers collapsed down the stretch, changes have to be made. The easiest and maybe most effective place to make changes is with the coaching staff. By doing it now, they will have ample time to find replacements. Now it’s up to the Steelers to have a good 2021 draft where they can fix this offense and improve on the upcoming season. This was a good time for the Steelers to move away from Fichtner because they need to make some offensive changes and get the ball moving in the right direction.

Written by: Paige Girardi, Staff Writer Edited by: Andrew Mindes, Editor-in-Chief Your favorite athlete is wearing a new pair of Nike sneakers a huge problem for those who do not have the financial and you are inspired to buy them. The athlete will make no resources to cover their education itself as well as the exmoney from promoting the product yet Nike will as a result penses associated with attending schools such as books, of your purchase. Should this change? food, rent, and travel. The sport these students play reThe NCAA (National Collegiate Athletic Asso- quires the time, energy and dedication to be considered ciation) is “the nonprofit organization that regulates stu- a “full-time job,” but one that comes with no pay and an dent-athletes from up to 1,268 North American institu- incredible amount of stress and responsibility. tions and conferences” (NCAA.com). The NCAA enforces While there are many reasons why college athletes the rules that student-athletes and colleges must follow to should be paid for their athletic talent and contributions ensure everyone is playing under fair circumstances. One to their school, there are still reasons why some may hesrule that has been under fire prevents college athletes from itate to agree to this. Those opposing paying student-athbeing paid for their efforts on behalf of their college or uni- letes point to how some collegiate athletes do get paid in versity, whether it be through endorsements, gifts, or a for- the form of free tuition and a stipend that is to be put tomal salary. ward a student’s food, boarding, and books. However, the College athletes should Institute for College Access get paid because if they are & Success found that “62% bringing in money for their of the Class of 2019 graduschools, then they should ated with an average student also benefit. The NCAA loan debt of $28,950.” This makes millions of dollars a financial burden has a sigyear from people who pay to nificant impact on the future watch these athletes play and of the vast majority of colbuy related merchandise. “In legiate athletes who do not 2017, the NCAA surpassed move on to play a sport at a $1.1 billion in annual revprofessional level. enue.” This massive profit Along with the covering of would not have been possituition and other expenses, AP Photo/Gerald Herbert ble without student-athletes. another reason people argue With all the money made against giving college athletes from unpaid athletes, “the NCAA and organizations like a paycheck is that they are not professionals. Education is media companies, colleges, and universities are exploit- still the most important aspect of their college experience ing a bunch of talented young people for their own finan- and it should not be overlooked, which many people becial gain” (blog.prepscholar.com). The money these stu- lieve will happen if these athletes are making money from dent-athletes generate is not directed back to the athletic their talents while still in school. scholarships. According to Business Insider, “In 2014, the The ongoing debate is still relevant today. Even ten schools that made the most money in college sports though student-athletes are not making money currently, averaged $144.8 million in athletics revenue, $132.5 mil- they could in the future. We just have to wait and see! lion more than the average those schools spent on scholarships, $12.4 million.” Another argument in support of student-athletes being paid is that so much of their time is dedicated to the intense training, practices, and games in addition to their schoolwork, that they do not have enough time to get a separate paying job. Even though some athletes have their education paid off in the form of scholarships, many athletes do not receive this one in return for their athletic contributions to their college or university. This could be

NBA Championship Contenders

Kieran Currao

We are slightly over a month into the NBA season, and we are starting to get a glimpse of which teams could really have a chance to win a NBA title. There are only five to seven teams every year that will even have a real shot at winning the title. Then there will be some who are good enough to make the playoffs, but not good enough to win a title, or even come very close. With this being said, let’s get into the current state of the NBA teams. Last year, the Los Angeles Lakers were crowned the NBA Champions after defeating the Miami Heat in six games. They are the favorite to win the championship again and go for the repeat. However, there are a couple of other teams that will look to knock off the Lakers. In the Western Conference, there are really two other teams I would consider serious contenders. Those two teams would be the Los Angeles Clippers and the Denver Nuggets. There are other teams with great records in the West such as the Utah Jazz and the Phoenix suns. Nevertheless, I don’t consider either of those teams serious contenders at this time. Now going back to the first two teams I mentioned, the Los Angeles Clippers and the Denver Nuggets, I think most people would agree with me that the Los Angeles Clippers are contenders, as they are near the top of their conference and have two top 15 players in the league. However, I believe that some people may disagree due to their rough start this season. With all that being true, I believe that they can turn things around. They were in the Western Conference finals last year and beat my other contender in the Western Conference semifinals. Their

best player, Nikola Jokic, is also playing like a MVP candidate, so the wins will come. My favorite to go to the championship in the Western Conference would be the Lakers, but the Nuggets or Clippers could very possibly win the Western Conference as well. Now onto the championship contenders from the Eastern Conference. The team that represented the Eastern Conference in the finals last year was the Miami Heat. They have been onto a slow start this year, but they have virtually the same roster this year as they did in last year's championship run, so I strongly believe in time they will get back on track. With that being said, I do not believe that they are the favorite to come out of the Eastern Conference. I believe that the favorite to win the Eastern Conference is the Brooklyn Nets. The Nets have two top-ten players in the NBA with James Harden and Kevin Durant, and another top 15 player in Kyrie Irving. They do have their flaws, however, with their lack of bench depth, and while their offense will be almost unstoppable, their defense is suspect. The Nets are my favorite, but there are two other teams I really believe have a good chance to contend this year. These teams are the Milwaukee Bucks and Philadelphia 76ers. Starting off with the Bucks, they have the back-to-back MVP on their team in Giannis Antetokounmpo, along with great players around him. Starting forward Khris Middleton has blossomed into a borderline all NBA player, and newly acquired starting point guard Jrue Holiday is one of the best perimeter defenders in the league. They have a great offense and

defense, but they have one major flaw. In the past couple of years, they have had tremendous success in the regular season, but once the post season came around, they looked like a different team. They will have to show me that they can perform in the playoffs before they can be my favorite to go to the finals. My next team, the Philadelphia 76ers, is a pick that I am not supremely confident in; still, I do believe a finals appearance could be a possibility. My concern with the 76ers is similar to the concern I have with the Bucks, and that is the lack of post season success in recent years. To be fair, the 76ers had some injury problems last year, but they got swept by the Boston Celtics, a team that I don’t even consider a contender this year (though they would be an honorable mention). With this being said, I believe that the 76ers have addressed most of their problems that have held them back in the past, such as their lack of spacing. To go along with their new and improved roster, Joel Embid has started the year off hot playing at a MVP level. These are my current picks for contenders in the NBA. My favorite is just barely going to be the Brooklyn Nets, but I believe all of the other three teams have a good shot at the title. However, it is still early and many things could shake up from now until the playoffs. Then, even when we get to the playoffs, anybody has a chance once they’re in. Things could shake up this year especially with the addition of the play in tournament. Things are just getting started.

Kelly Downes, Staff Writer During 2020 there was a pause in production of a lot of technology, causing low stock and higher prices. Snowboarding is one of the most popular activity this year due to most mountains being open and people being tired of sitting home. With that being said, there is a lot of new and exciting snowboard technology. With high demand comes higher prices, so this year you want to make sure you buy the most efficient and safe equipment. Your first thought should be, “What am I doing on the mountain this year? Am I going to be spending most of my time at the terrain park, am I freestyling it, or am I doing both?’’ This is honestly the most important question to ask yourself because you want to be comfortable with the way you ride. If you live in a state where your local mountains have to make snow, then you may want to buy a snowboard that carves

well and has a tight grip; a camber board would be a perfect example. Riding a camber board allows you to stay well balanced and precise at high speeds while having a tight grip on any type of snow. If not, and you are riding in fresh powder, it may be wise to consider a reverse camber or rocker board. One such board is the new Salomon Dancehaul snowboard (‘2021). Designed for both men and women, it is a beautiful board that is useful for free ride and park. It is a sturdy, thick structured board that provides flexibility and comfort when riding. A new feature in most new snowboards like the Fish Burton and Burton 3D Kilroy Camber is the 3D shaping. This accesses a whole new feel when you are going down the mountain. The shapes of these boards help boarders avoid catching an edge when carving or riding down a catwalk. The core of these boards is very flexible,

letting you pop up easier and land softly off jumps. The 3D shaping in these boards can have multiple different physiques to them allowing you to pick what is most comfortable. In addition to snowboard shape or size,bindings provide a huge impact on comfort and ride technique. It is key to make sure your body feels aligned with your board. One type of available binding is the step on binding, meaning there is no strap to lock your feet in, but they really do the trick. These step ons provide the same durability and comfortable stiffness that regular bindings give you but they require a little less effort to put them on. The ultimate benefit of these bindings is there is no sitting down to strap in; they're easy, durable and reliable. Also, though Burton was the first to invent this tech, you don’t need a Burton board in order for your bindings to be compatible with your snowboard.

Editorial There are many important factors that go into what makes a top athlete. Some may say it’s versatility, speed, or strength, but for me it’s integrity. If you aren’t familiar with the word, it means to live in accordance with your values and moral code. Unfortunately, this is something we don’t see in every professional athlete anymore. For example, JuJu Smith-Schuster, the Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver, danced on the logos of other teams as a sign of disrespect. James Harden, formerly a Houston Rocket, was traded to the Brooklyn Nets after a series of missed practices, fights with teammates, and public bashing of his team in an effort to move cities.

JuJu Smith-Schuster dances on Bengals’ logo on 12/20/20 while teammate Chase Claypool records; Photo by Peter Diana for the Post-Gazette

While trash talking and fights have always occurred in pro sports, it seems today it is so common for athletes to disregard sportsmanship. That doesn’t mean there hasn’t been occurrences of unsportsmanlike conduct prior to the 2000s. For instance, the 1991 Detroit Pistons, who carried themselves on the bad boy persona they had gained, refused to shake Michael Jordan’s Chicago Bulls players' hands after they had knocked them out of the playoffs Now one may wonder, “Why does

Dejounte Murray, Referee Michael Smith, and James Harden on 12/16/19

Photo by Eric Christian Smith for the Associated Press

Patrick Gardiner, Staff Writer this matter?” Isiah Thomas, the leader and point guard of the 1980s-1990s Detroit Pistons is the perfect example of why it matters. Thomas was one of the greatest point guards in basketball history, gaining the moniker “The Baby Faced Killer” for how he could destroy teams while looking so little and innocent. As I said before, however, the Pistons had developed a bad boy reputation and this was primarily for how physical of a team they were. Any chance they got, the Pistons team would try and take out other players without any regard for their health or if it might end their careers. These actions were carried out primarily by Bill Lambeer and Dennis Rodman; however, Isiah Thomas enabled them, going as far as developing strategies for certain players, such as the “Jordan Rules.” You see, Isiah and the Pistons had angered so many people and incited so many incidents that when it was time to decide who would be on the 1992 Olympic team, he was not selected because the other players did not respect him and knew his values should not reflect that of the country. This is why integrity is so important. It determines how other people define you. In any occupation, respect among your colleagues is important, but in professional sports it should be everything. Nowadays, there are so many instances of celebrations going too far or players not committing to their teams, which once again has always been around; still, there is so much of it today and it is totally brushed over by the public. So if you gain anything from reading this, know that if you want to get far in life, know how important it is to respect your opponents, teammates, and colleagues because in return it will determine how they view you. And in 20 years, if you see James Harden, JuJu Smith-Schuster, or any other professional athlete in a documentary talking about how none of it was their fault, remember their actions, not their words.

Carmelo Anthony, Isaiah Thomas, and Referee Marat Kogut on 1/3/20 Photo by Nick Wass for the Associated Press

Environmental Help

Tesla Model 3

Cars are a major factor in most people's day-to-day lives and are used all around the world. Unfortunately, due to the amount of them, they are one of the biggest polluters. One solution to try to limit all this pollution would be electric cars. We have already seen many big car companies such as Ford, Chrysler, General Motors and many foreign companies start to come out with partially electric cars and even some that are all electric. Some cars that they have made include passenger cars, mini-vans, pick up trucks and sports utility vehicles. The Tesla company, created by Elon Musk, has become popular with its all electric cars. Electric cars are going to slowly develop and become more prevalent than gas cars because as time goes on, oil supply will slowly run out and we will have to eventually switch to another way of fueling our vehicles. The worst effect on climate change is due to transportation, so switching to electric cars will flatten the curve. Electric vehicles use battery powered electricity as the fuel instead of gasoline. The power for the vehicles is typically stored in batteries located on the bottom part of the car. The electric powered engines have benefits over gas, not just environmentally, but also comfort wise compared to a standard gas car. They are much quieter than gasoline-powered cars and provide a much smoother driving experience. Despite the positives, there are some negatives. Electric cars cannot travel the same distances as gas powered cars without a recharge. It also takes longer to charge them rather than just quickly stopping at a gas station. Since they aren’t that popular right now it is a little more difficult to try and find charging stations and some can be more expensive than gas powered cars. Still, the world is slowly transitioning to adopting electric cars as the preferred means of transportation. This change in turn will prove extremely beneficial for the environment in the long run.

Chelasea Murdock 22

Animals all over the globe are being affected by global warming. Polar bears are one of the many species that are being affected due to issues in the environment that are worldwide. Since 1979, almost 700,000 square miles of ice have melted in the Arctic. This is due to global warming, which caused temperatures to rise globally. To put it into perspective, 700,000 square miles is basically the length covered by the states Nevada, California, Oregon, Washington, Utah, Arizona, and Idaho. Biologists have predicted for many years that as the ice melts, the polar bear population will plummet because they rely so heavily on the ice as a platform for hunting. Another issue is that only 2% of polar bear hunts are successful, so if the lands continue to melt, the odds of a polar bear being well nourished will likely decrease and hurt the species an even greater amount. Scientists have calculated that by the year 2050, nearly two-thirds of the world’s polar bear population could be gone, with a high chance of extinction coming towards the end of the century. With help though, the polar bear population could bounce back and grow as a species, and this would stop them from being put on the list for endangered animals. People all over the world are working to provide help to the species. There are many petitions that are being signed and charities that are accepting anything given.

Morgan Mask

Editorial Switching to a plant-based diet will help you and the environment in numerous ways. These diets are beneficial to both your overall health and the health of the planet. So why not make the switch? Afraid you will not be able to consume all of the nutrients you would typically consume while eating meat? Don’t be, because there are countless, delicious, plantbased food options that will work to provide you with the same, if not better and healthier, nutrients and outcomes that many animal products do. To start off, you may be wondering what a plant-based diet even is. A plant-based diet consists of ingredients that come from the ground, not animals. Common examples of these foods are oils, seeds, nuts, whole grains, beans, fruits and vegetables. Also, a plant-based diet does not even mean you have to be completely vegan or vegetarian, ruling out all meat. It just means that you are making an effort to choose more of your foods from plant sources, which can also be referred to as being plant-forward. Now you may be wondering, how may a plant-based diet directly affect my health? Well, just switching to a plant-based diet does not mean you are automatically becoming healthier or that your meals are nutritionally complete. To follow this diet, you must strive to fill your plate with a balance of fruits, vegetables, healthy fats, fiber-rich carbohydrates, and proteins.

LISOVSKAYA GETTY IMAGES

Megan Desrats, Staff Writer But now, these won’t be coming from animals, they will be coming from our beautiful earth. You might be thinking this diet seems like it will be too much work and that you just do not have the time to make these meals, but let’s be honest. Do you not have the time or are you just lazy? By transforming your diet to plant based, you put yourself at a lower risk of cardiovascular disease and stroke, you will likely have an improved mood, it helps prevent and manage type 2 diabetes and it works to improve body weight and mass. Now, who wouldn’t want that? Plant-based diets also are a step forward in making the environment a cleaner and healthier place. Meat is a very inefficient food source which means that it requires more energy, water, and land to produce it than any other food source. It also is a large contributor of greenhouse gas emissions which are a direct factor of climate change. The meat industry is also affecting global biodiversity and contributes to the extinction of numerous species. The World Wildlife Fund stated in a report that “60% of global biodiversity loss is down to meat consumption.” Without rich biodiversity, our planet will tumble downwards, and maybe even sooner and faster than you think. If you need some help or are having trouble starting your plant-based diet, there are perfect options available for you. The plant-based meat or “mock

meat” industry is on the rise and has grown into a 20 billion dollar business. There are hundreds of different options when it comes to plant-based meat. Nowadays, it can come in the form of burger patties, sausages, nuggets and more. And guess what? They are designed and created to look like, taste like, and cook like meat, and they are made completely from plants! I, myself have been plantbased for over a year now and can tell you that I love and even prefer veggie burgers over hamburgers. And yes, the meat industry may be worth $2 trillion dollars and, in your opinion, taste better, but that comes with the cost of innocent animals' lives and disastrous harms to our environment. To take another angle on the topic, think about the animals. Already in 2021, an estimated 7 billion chickens have been slaughtered for food. May I ask, what did they ever do to you? The same goes for 35 million cows, 124 million pigs, and 6 million sheep (animalclock.org). And by the time you are reading this those numbers have probably tripled. Do not get me wrong, meat can be delicious and nutrient dense and is loved by millions, if not billions of people. And I am not asking you to give that up! All I am asking you is to make an effort to attempt to become plant-forward and to be more conscious of the foods you are consuming and choosing to purchase. If not for you, for the animals and the environment!

The content of this paper reflects students’ writing efforts and views which do not necessarily represent WVCSD or the Survey staff.