December 2020
What makes a song timeless? 12
How has athletic trainer Sue Abel adapted her program to meet students’ needs? 4
Art teacher Ms. Spano and student Sam Mollinelli give a behind-the-scenes look at how they prepared for their recent contest win. 8
SPORTS
How local dance teachers have kept their businesses open during the pandemic. 3
WV SCHOOL NEWS
ARTS
The Broadway shutdown affected the economy more than you might have guessed. 2
THE PERFOMRING
s .
Reporting Wildcat News Since 1922
How has Covid affected professional sports organizations, their players, and fans? 6-7
Written by Jenna Mosier, Staff Writer Edited by Maya Bieling, Editor-In-Chief
Have you been wondering what has happened to many of New York City’s famous attractions? Well, the current health of America has deprived the Big Apple of its magical theatres in Manhattan for over six months now! There are pros and cons to the closings of Broadway shows, and unfortunately many fear the city will never quite get back on its feet. Broadway League President Charlotte St. Martin says that “97,000 people rely on Broadway for their livelihood.” Theatres were first shut down on March 12, 2020, and according to Broadway League, will not reopen until May 30, 2021. However, no one is holding them accountable to that date because originally the people were supposed to get their Broadway entertainment back on January 3, 2021. This leaves thousands of people out of work for over a year. According to journalist Karen Carter, “For a Broadway
show to reopen, it needs to be able to limit the possible spread of infection inside its theatre or wait until all its staff and patrons are either vaccinated or cured of the Coronavirus.” As stated by Uchealth.org, a vaccine will not be ready for months under good circumstances. This does not make the reopening of Broadway to the public look very good. Also, St. Martin says, “Broadway is one of New York’s top tourist attractions, bringing in $15 billion to the city’s economy.” So, the shutdown of the shows directly affects the health of the city, and the conclusion that New York City will not be completely recovered until Broadway is recovered is no exaggeration. Despite all of this negative, there has been positive to come out of this situation. Broadway’s actors and representatives have had the time to come together and try to make a difference in this
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time of need. According to Playbill, “The Actors Fund, Broadway Cares, and many other charities hosted dozens of fundraisers to support those suffering from the debilitating virus.” Also, the Broadway actors and representatives were able to attend to the current calls for equality because they had more time with their shows on a pause. This led to a Rally for Freedom, a three-day industry-wide forum hosted by the Broadway Advocacy Coalition. The support of equality has led to great things such as the making of new shades for dance shoes, to make more room for BIPOC performers. Broadway actors have also been making videos online to keep performing and giving entertainment to Broadway fans. The virtual performances can give viewers a sense of normalcy in this crazy day and age. This is the little bit of good to come out of a dark time in New York City.
Maya Bieling, Editor-in-Chief The dance world is nothing less than a hidden gem in society. Although it tends to be underappreciated, choreographers, studio and company owners, and dancers themselves continually create masterpieces. There's a great deal of hard work, dedication, and creativity that goes into each performance; and with all things considered, recent times have been difficult for this industry. Melissa Padham Maass, owner of Warwick Center for the Performing Arts, was kind enough to speak with me about how her business has been affected. She said, “The biggest challenge has been balancing the risk of having classes in person, you know, wanting to make sure everyone is safe and also trying to make sure we can still survive financially.” With this said, Melissa has most definitely found the silver lining. Over Spring Break she arranged a full week of zoom classes open to her students. These classes were taught by professional dancers from all over the country that would otherwise not have had time to teach. In June, Maass filmed a socially distanced version of Sleeping Beauty. She was planning on having her dancers perform a full blown production in the beginning of that month. The best part was in August, when she was able to show her movie at the Warwick Drive-In. Then in October, she collaborated with the Fei Tian College at Middletown and created a live/virtual performance at SugarLoaf Performing Arts Center. So, it’s fair to say she has managed to overcome obstacles and accomplish a lot. I also spoke with Pamela Intveld Sorensen, owner of The Centre for Dance Artistry, who has seemingly perfected virtual teaching. She held zoom classes all throughout quarantine, and has left them as a viable option for students who are not yet prepared to take classes in person. For some families, it is too much of a risk. However, Pamela has been doing a great job at keeping her online students engaged. She has even drawn in
brand new students with her virtual/in person teaching. She mentioned, “Actually, we have a family who is from the city, but they have a lake house in our town. They left [the city] when the pandemic happened back in March to stay at their lake house, and they haven’t left [Warwick] since. They are completely remote and they don’t even live in the town.” This goes to show that despite the turn of events this past year, studio owners
Melissa Padham Maass Photo courtesy of Warwickperformingarts.com
have made the best of the situation. Pamela also said that she managed to maintain 75% of her students taking in-person classes and participating in all her studio has to offer. Her business is definitely an example of success.
Pamela Intveld Sorensen Photo courtesy of Warwickperformingarts.com
Besides how the performing arts have been affected by the pandemic, it’s Nutcracker season, arguably the best time of year. When I say Nutcracker I am not talking about a wooden doll. Rather, I am talking about the one-of-a-kind ballet that tells a story about a girl who receives a nutcracker that comes to life. It was choreographed in 1892, and for many dance studios it is a tradition to perform it every year around Christmas. War-
wick Center for the Performing Arts and The Centre for Dance Artistry happen to be great examples. Usually, these two studios put on completely magical and consuming productions of Clara’s larger-than-life dream. Unfortunately, this year it can’t be on the same large scale, but remember how I said these people are creative? Well, they most definitely are. Both Melissa and Pamela are planning on still having a Nutcracker. How? That’s exactly what I asked when I spoke to them. Their plans are different but both exceeded my expectations. Melissa shared, “We are going to have small performances in our studio that are abbreviated versions of the Nutcracker. We are going to transform all three studios into different scenes from the Nutcracker, and it will be an immersive, yet socially distanced, experience for the families and the community to enjoy.” In addition to this idea, Melissa will be live broadcasting all twelve performances for family members [who] don’t feel comfortable taking the risk. She is planning to have the parking lot decorated like a beautiful and festive wonderland. They will be serving snacks and hot drinks as people spend their intermission outside. As for Pamela, she said, “We’re having it at an outdoor amphitheatre in the neighboring town. So, we’ve rented a lodge as a dressing room for the younger kids, and we will set up a tent for our older girls so everyone is spread out from one another.” She plans on doing the full version to the best of her ability. They are going to decorate and make it as magical as it can be. Both studios hold local performances like this all the time. These studio owners have been going above and beyond to keep their dancers performing and their businesses up and running for nearly eight months now. Truly, I don’t think they could have done more of a fantastic job. To say the least, the dance world is very lucky to have amazingly creative people like Pamela and Melissa.
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By: Megan Desrats, Staff Writer Edited by: Andrew Mindes,Editor In-Chief The Coronavirus has greatly impacted peoples’ jobs. Whether people are working from home or still going into an office, they’ve had to make many new changes to follow safety guidelines. People are constantly having to find new ways to continue to fulfill the responsibilities of their jobs. Sue Abel is Warwick Valley High School’s athletic trainer and is one of the many people whose job has been heavily affected by the global pandemic. She provides athletic training services; she applyies tape, bandages, and braces to players; she evaluates injuries and provides first aid; and does countless other duties. Now that sports are currently on hold, she is working her hardest to continue to do her job the best that she can. She said that the main thing that has changed is the fact that there are no sports and the things she would normally do are no-longer doable. When asked about some things she does differently now because of COVID she said, “Currently I assist the school district with contact tracing during school hours and also contact tracing and temperature checks for after school sports conditioning.” She also stated that she is “working with the Athletic Director and Section 9 to develop policy and procedures that we will need to have in place when sports do begin.” Sue’s main focus right now is addressing all safety measures and is working to keep the spread of the virus to a minimum or to no spread at all. There are positives and negatives when it comes to all of the changes having to be made due to COVID. Sue said that one positive outcome is that she likes “be-
ing a part of developing policy and meeting with the administrative aspect of OCIAA and my colleagues in the county. It has been a positive collaborative experience.” When asked about the negative sides, Sue said, “I really dislike not having the many interactions with all of my student-athletes and colleagues on a normal day at school. It is very different now, but [I’m] trying to stay positive and grateful for being in school and working with the students I see every day.” She continued, “I really miss being with all of my student athletes, whether it is taping an ankle in my office, helping someone on the field, evaluating an injury, or just watching a game and cheering all of my Warwick athletes towards a win!” She also said, “My job is a bit more difficult now since I am not used to being in my office working on the computer as much as I have been, and staying socially distant from people is always hard for me as it is for everyone. I thrive on socialization and interactions with staff and students!” Socialization and interactions are an important aspect of everyday life and the coronavirus has most definitely made that harder for everyone. Sue is optimistic when it comes to sports starting back up and is hopeful that the athletes will get a chance to play and compete. She is crossing her fingers and staying positive! Sue has done a phenomenal job adapting to and overcoming the obstacles thrown her way by the pandemic and is continuing to work hard and do all that she can to be the best athletic trainer she can be.
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By: Carolyn Morrison, Staff Writer Edited by: Andrew Mindes, Editor In-Chief 2020 has been a rough year for everyone, but many of us look forward to the holiday season. Most families have traditions around this time, and I was interested to see how the pandemic has impacted our local families’ traditions.
Mina Horn, Grade 12: Q: What is your favorite family holiday tradition? A: “My family does a present scavenger hunt on the last day of Hanukkah with all of my dad’s side of the family.” Q: Has this tradition been affected by this year’s events? A: “My grandparents are scared of getting the virus so we won’t be gathering as a big family for the holidays this year.” Q: Are you doing anything in place of this? A: “ We are doing a big Zoom call with the whole family where we show each other our presents and just enjoy each other’s company as much as we can.”
Nathalia Evelyn, Grade 10: Q: What is your favorite family holiday tradition? A: “My favorite holiday tradition is cooking Thanksgiving dinner with my entire family; even though I hate cooking, it's much more enjoyable when my whole family is around me.” Q: Has this tradition been affected by this year’s events? A: “It probably will be because we can’t have everyone come over, so it will only be my close family that I live with and have been seeing throughout the pandemic.” Q: Are you doing anything in place of this? A: “We are having a Zoom meeting at 5 pm where we all eat dinner together as a family.”
Evan Parsons, Grade 11: Q: What is your favorite family holiday tradition? A: “My family puts the Christmas tree up the day after Thanksgiving.” Q: Has this tradition been affected by this year’s events? A: “No, this one hasn’t, but we aren’t going to go and see my cousins or extended family this year.” Q: Are you doing anything in place of this? A: “We are still doing the tree on Black Friday, but we’re going to wait until the vaccine is distributed to see the rest of my family, and we might do something small with them or do a Zoom meeting.”
Jakob Cullen, Grade 12: Q: What is your favorite family holiday tradition? A: “Usually we just stay home and bake cookies and make hot cocoa and stuff. On Christmas we sometimes go to the tree lighting in town together.” Q: Has this tradition been affected by this year’s events? A: “Obviously we can’t go to the tree lighting because of Corona, but most of our traditions are done at home as a family so we’re still able to have the same holiday experiences for the most part.” Q: Are you doing anything in place of this? A: “As per usual, we are just going to decorate the Christmas tree and stay home and watch movies and stuff, so it's not that big of a loss for me personally. So as long as we get our break and we get to relax with each other as a family, it's not that big of a deal. The only major difference is we aren’t going to be able to see my uncle from North Carolina, but we are going to FaceTime him on Christmas.”
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Covid and the NFL By: Alexander Eberline, Staff Writer Edited By: Tyler Ellis
Coronavirus has dramatically affected the NFL in numerous ways. The virus caused NFL training camps and the preseason to be shut down, which has led to many injuries around the league. The San Francisco 49ers alone have had 23 different injuries this year. Thought they lost the Super Bowl to the Kansas City Chiefs, they won every game in the playoffs and were the the 2020 NFC Champions. Now, a few months later they have a losing record of 4-5 this season. This is mostly due to the effects of COVID-19 because without preseason practices and workouts, they have suffered from many injuries. Another dramatic effect of COVID-19 is that it has affected salaries in many ways. According to Barry Wilner of the Baltimore Sun, “Twenty offensive linemen and 11 defensive linemen opted out before Thursday’s [August 6th] deadline. Players with a medical opt-out will receive a $350,000 stipend, while those voluntarily opting out receive $150,000 as an advance against future salaries.” A total of 69 NFL players have freely opted out to play this season if they have health problems or have a family member that has health problems. Although they are getting paid, it’s against next season’s salaries so they are losing a lot of money. Even though it's a small cut in the whole scheme of the multi-million NFL franchise, they are also facing losses due to the limited amount of fans at games. Out of 14 games being played one weekend, seven teams had no fans attending and the other seven had a very small amount due to COVID 19 restrictions. Fan attendance dropped from about 48,000 to approximately 7,000 fans per stadium ("The NFL Will Lose Billions Due to Reduced Attendance: Study,” and “A new study revealed that NFL teams will lose more than $2 billion due to the COVID-19 pandemic limiting the number of fans allowed in stadiums.”). Additionally, it is costing the NFL $75 million in COVID testing plus more money toward extra cleaning supplies and locker and weight room renovations for social distancing. Still, Season ticket holders and super fans have not been able to attend games - some due to COVD restrictions and some for fear of catching COVID. The NFL is demonstrating leadership for preventing the worldwide virus COVID-19. They have reduced stadium
attendance at a huge cost to themselves. Although the NFL is losing billions, they are picking up a little extra revenue. According to Bill Chappell of NPR, “The NFL has fined several head coaches $100,000 for not wearing face masks on the sidelines — a safety precaution that is required at games during the COVID-19 pandemic. The coaches' teams were also punished, with $250,000 fines.” They are doing their best to monitor the virus and they fine the players and coaches who go against their policies. Finally, fans are also affected by COVID in the NFL. And it appears that COVID will still affect the fans in the future as well. According to the previously mentioned article from The Athletic, “fan costs are rising across the league. The Fan Cost Index formula is based on the average cost of four adult non-premium tickets, singlecar parking, two draft beers, four soft drinks, four hot dogs and two adult-sized adjustable hats. Twenty-six teams had some level of overall fan cost increase in 2020 while six had declines. These 2020-specific numbers provide a glimpse into what fan costs could look like for 2021.” Due to COVID 19, everyone is losing out - the players, the NFL, and the fans.
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The NBA and Players’ Union agree on principles for 20202021 season
The NBA may have made an agreement with the players’ union to start the season, but that doesn’t mean the players are happy about it. LeBron James, who is the superstar forward for
BY JACOB GIBEL EDITED BY JACK SCOTTO
the
Los
Angeles
Lakers
and
just
won
a
championship with MVP honors, is unhappy with the season is start date. He was hoping to
The NBA will have a 2020-2021 season now
be able to relax more. He used the facepalm
that the organization and the players’ union
emoji on Instagram when he talked about this
reached an agreement. The deal called for a
being the shortest offseason in the history of
November 18
the NBA, NFL, NHL, and MLB at only 71 days.
NBA draft with the free agency
period to begin two days later on November 20.
Oklahoma City Thunder player Danny Green
The regular season will begin on December 22
said, “I think most guys, if you say they’re
and the schedule will include 72 games. The
starting in December, I think they’re like, ‘I’m
salary cap is being set at $109.1 million and the
not going to be there.’” He said this on The
luxury tax will be $132.6 million. These are the
Ringer NBA show podcast. These players are
same numbers from last season.
saying that they need more time to really relax and get prepared for the season and would
Many NBA teams had taken a drastic financial hit as a result of the pandemic. The teams and
rather not rush into the upcoming season.
players were hoping the numbers would stay the
continued, , “...we have a lot of vets on our team.
same, but they had expected a drop due to the
It’s not like we have young guys and rookies. We
unplanned
NBA
have three or four young guys and rookies if
agreed to reduce the luxury tax bills for teams at
we're fortunate to bring the same team back.”
the end of the season by the percentage amount
In the end, people have mixed opinions on how
that the league’s Basketball Related Income
the NBA should have handled the offseason
declines from initial projections.
and the new start.
decrease
in
revenue.
The
7
He
By: Riley Tully, Staff Writer Back in October, Ms. Spano and her class began to create their Star Wars-themed pumpkin display for the Great Jack-O-Lantern Contest. The contest was held at The Crystal Springs Resort in Hamburg, NJ, and the class won the grand prize of $1000 for the high school’s Art Department. To prepare for the contest, Ms. Spano and her class made interactive props that showcased all of the carved pumpkins. Samantha Molinelli, the student director alongside co-director Tess Cobane, selected the characters and ships from the Star Wars movie to put in the contest display. Molinelli also put together a soundtrack of Star Wars songs to play during the contest. Samantha plans on majoring in photography in college and Tess plans on majoring in Art History. I had the opportunity to interview Ms. Spano and Samantha about this project. Q. Who came up with the Star Wars theme? A.Molinelli: [Some of Ms. Spano’s students] attended the same event last year with a Pet Cemetery theme, but unfortunately they came in second
place. They knew that they would be able to win first because of the amount of talent, and they made the whole showcase really big and extravagant.
Q. How did you carve the pumpkins? A.Spano: First we gutted the pumpkins and then we searched up a stencil or freehanded the outline by poking it with a pencil. We also used a [lino-
leum] cutter to get all the fine details noticeable.
Q. How did you build the ships? A.Spano: We used cardboard and hot glue and acrylic paint for the details, and for the lights we used LED lights and glowsticks. Q. How long did the process take to make everything start to finish? A.Molinelli: It took three weeks start to finish including the prep. The cardboard ships took the entire three weeks to build, and we did the pumpkin
carving three days prior to the contest.
Q. What was your favorite part of the whole project? A.Molinelli: The best part of the whole project was seeing everything put together and seeing the final project. I really liked seeing the ships and
pumpkins lit up with the music. It was really nice to see everyone in the class together since we now go to school separate days. It was also really nice to see the turnout of teachers and administrators.
Q. Did you have any doubts throughout the process? A. Molinelli: No, because we all worked really hard on the project, and the other students in the class [as well as] Ms. Spano are all really talented. I
had a good feeling that we would win.
L to R: Katie Levins (Crystal Springs Event Planner) Deanna Ibbetson, Ms. Spano's son Cole, Emma Ibbetson, Miranda Ibbetson, Samantha Molinelli, Ms. Spano, & Ms. Spano's son, Kyle
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L to R: Molinelli's BB8 & Kate Bucek's General Grievous pumpkins, Molinelli's carved pumpkin on display, Tess Cobane in studio, & Arianna Foutch-Mann's Rey pumpkin
Written by Paige Girardi, Staff Writer Edited by Maya Bieling, Editor-In-Chief
building a snowman, can be enjoyed with minimal risk of spreading the disease. Ice skating is also a staple in many people’s holiday plans, which can be easily and safely enjoyed. One of my favorite traditions is going to a tree farm and picking out the perfect tree with my family. With proper social distancing and mask wearing, it can still be possible to grab some hot chocolate and search for the perfect addition to your living room. Another activity that can still put you in the holiday spirit is something my family loves to do: driving by beautifully decorated neighborhood houses. Finally, you can still watch countless holiday movies. Watching a seasonal classic can make for a perfect night. Likewise, baking sweet treats makes the holidays spectacular. Many of us love to turn on music and set out the ingredients to make delicious deserts. The coronavirus cannot keep you from spending the day in your kitchen crafting something for everyone to enjoy. With proper precautions and creative efforts, this time of the year can still be a joyous and amazing experience for all families.
The most wonderful time of the year is upon us, but we are still in the middle of a global pandemic. It will be a challenge to make the joy of late December still feel the same, so we must get creative. For many, the best part of the holiday season is being surrounded by the people you love, but they may be quarantining due to being at a higher risk of contracting the virus. Fortunately, there are precautions we can take to keep everyone as safe as possible. Wearing masks in public and washing our hands frequently have now been incorporated in everyday life, but they may not be enough to ensure we can enjoy the holidays. Purchasing gifts for friends and family is a huge aspect of the holidays. Many of us love waking up early on Black Friday and heading to the mall so we can shop the big deals. However, online shopping can help keep you safe inside your home. So naturally, a majority of shoppers were more active on Cyber Monday. Though many holiday traditions will change, we can all still take part in fun activities. Some traditions, such as sledding and
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By: Angel Maysonett, Staff Writer
King Von Photo by Esdras Telusma
Pop Smoke Photo by Ryan Lowry
By: Sierra Roberts, Staff Writer
Photo by Carol Kaelson
In 2020 alone, many young, talented, and great rappers have unfortunately passed away due to gang violence. These young artists were just starting to perform and influence the younger generation and their lives were cut short at such young ages. For example, most recently rapper, “King Von” got into an altercation with another group at a hookah lounge and he was fatally shot dead in front of his friends. Is this what being gangster is? The list of young rappers who have died violently keeps getting longer. When we hear about the deaths of young rappers like King Von or Pop Smoke, everyone says, “This has to stop,” or “This is becoming normal,” but no one
ever really does anything about it. Some of my favorite rappers have died when they were just getting started and it’s so tough to see. They leave behind children, family, loved ones, and fans. They also leave behind their great talents on the microphone and the music we could have heard from them in the future. These altercations between rappers and their groups always end up leaving someone hurt. But why do they even start? Are they encouraged by fans who post online while acting tough behind a screen? Or is it the rappers that want to prove that they are about that life, not only behind the screen but face-to-face as well? I’m sure you can make an argument for both,
but why does it seem like rappers have a need to be feared? Why do many of these artists that have so much going for them put their lives in jeopardy? Being gangster shouldn’t be about walking up to someone and shooting them in broad daylight. I think that being hard and tough is just about taking care of the ones that are there for you most and not giving a damn about what anyone has to say. It should just be about doing you. I’m not saying that thinking this way could have prevented the deaths of King Von or Pop Smoke, but I think if more people thought this way, maybe we would still have some of these young talented artists in the music industry who could have changed the game for years to come.
for Outstanding Game Show Host, a TCA Lifetime Achievement Award, and the Academy Icon Award. Trebek had a profound impact, especially on Jeopardy! contestants. When he was first diagnosed with stage 4 pancreatic cancer in March of 2019 he received an overwhelming amount of support. Contestant Dhruv Gaur wagered $1,995 in Final Jeopardy during the Tournament of Champions. His written response? "What is, We love you, Alex!" And the TV host choked back tears. That will forever be one of the most
memorable moments of Jeopardy! history. On November 8, Trebek died at the age of 80. According to interviews that he gave before his death, the pain was so much that he wanted to die. It was heart wrenching to hear the icon that I grew up with say that he was ready for death. Trebek was a man of many talents but he will forever be remembered as father, grandfather, husband, son, and educator. His death left the world a little darker than normal. We love you Alex.
Alex Trebek is a household name known all across the country. He was the longest reigning host of the Jeopardy! game show for 36 years. But sadly he passed away causing many to mourn and cry for the man they grew up watching since 1984. Trebek had many impressive achievements and awards. Many adults either grew up watching him or watched him after work. He was a quiet man who helped land most of Jeopardy’s! Emmy nominations which are on 36 different occasions. He himself won a Daytime Emmy Award
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Written by Andrew Mindez, Editor-In-Chief Edited by Maya Bieling, Editor-In-Chief
This past year, people faced unexpected challenges and disappointments all around the globe. 2020 has brought us everything from a global pandemic to shocking celebrity deaths. In no particular order, here are some of the most shocking moments of 2020. First off I will start with the obvious biggest surprise of 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic that shut down the world back in March. Everyone is now used to living through a pandemic in the US as it has been going on for nearly a year and has created a temporary new normal. If you told people in 2019 about the events that would occur due to a virus spreading around the world, they would be shocked to hear what would happen. In a span of a few days from March 11-13, millions of schools in the US closed down, millions of stores were forced to close for an indefinite time, all of the professional sports leagues suspended or postponed their seasons, the NCAA basketball tournament was canceled for the first time ever, and governments told Americans to stay home. The United States has not experienced anything this stunning since the Spanish flu in 1918. Also notably, we have lost many celebrities this year including Jeopardy! host Alex Trebek, popular rap-
per Pop Smoke, TV star Regis Philbin, and many others. But among the most shocking ones to happen were the deaths of Kobe Bryant and his daughter in January and the death of Chadwick Boseman in August. Basketball legend Kobe Bryant passed away in a helicopter crash at the age of 41 along with his daughter Gianna and six other passengers. Kobe had become an inspiration and a role model to so many people over his legendary 20-year career and many people were shocked and devastated to hear that he had died. The news of January 26th, 2020 will be something people will remember for the rest of their lives. Likewise, another noteworthy passing was announced the night of August 28th; famous actor and star of Marvel’s Black Panther in 2018, Chadwick Boseman had died from colon cancer at the age of 43. This came as such a surprise to everyone because Boseman had never come out publicly about his cancer and acted in multiple films while fighting it. A third event that gripped many happened in the spring. On May 26, police officer Derek Chauvin was recorded kneeling on George Floyd’s neck for over eight minutes. The video quickly went viral and became the number one news story. Not only did Floyd die after the encounter, but
none of the police officers present was initially charged with the crime. This sparked outrage and people went to the streets to protest. In the weeks after the incident, there were Black Lives Matter protests in over 60 countries and over 2,000 cities in the US with an estimated 20 million people participating in them. We have seen protests in the past in the US, but this may have been the largest movement in US history. Finally, on May 2, The New York Times released an article discussing a new insect species that recently arrived in the US, the “murder hornet.” The first nest of Asian giant hornets was previously discovered by beekeeper Ted McFall in Custer, Washington in November 2019. These hornets can grow up to two inches in length and kill up to 50 people a year in Japan. The release of this story created fear and curiosity in American since this non-native species could create a problem in the US if the hornet population is not contained. Thankfully the first “murder hornet” nest found in the US was removed in October. These were just four crazy and shocking moments that this year has brought making 2020 one of the most unexpected years in recent history. Hopefully 2021 has more pleasant surprises in store for us.
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By: Harrison Rogers, Staff Writer Edited by: Andrew Mindes, Co Editor-In-Chief
Disco, new wave, glam metal, grunge. These are examples of trends or fads in the music cycle. We’ve seen such trends come and go, so how do you make the music stand the test of time? It's a very hard topic to pinpoint, as there isn’t an entirely failsafe formula. However, some components could give you some insight into what makes a song timeless. The first element of a timeless song is its subject matter. A relevant topic can resonate for generations to come. Life, death, and human emotions are ideal themes to write about because they are experienced by everyone at some point. They capture the essence of the feelings that surround them. Politics can often become a sign of the times, as global problems frequently change. However, there are exceptions to the rule, as topics such as war, corruption, power, and poverty have plagued the world for ages. Acclaimed singer-songwriter Paul Simon once said, “It's very helpful to start with something true. If you start with something false, you're always covering your tracks. Something simple and true, that has
a lot of possibilities, is a nice way to begin.” The second element of a lasting song is the sound. Sonically the song has to be pleasant to the ears. The arrangement and performance are the heart and soul of a piece of music. A good song can stand up with a very minimal arrangement. A simple vocal and a guitar or piano melody is all that's necessary to create a good song. An over-processed song with layers of effects may pique your interest momentarily without leaving a lasting impression. Finally, a performance that shows genuine emotion can trigger the same sense of emotion in the listener, which is the desired effect or intent of the song. Considering that music is such a diverse art form, people may have different outlooks on whether songs are timeless or not. Songs that may sound dated to some can be appreciated by others. Continue to experience what you enjoy and take what you want from it. Next time you find yourself listening to one of your favorite songs or albums, remind yourself why you like it and ask yourself what it means to you.
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Benefits of Homework BY EMMA SMITH,EDITOR EDITED BY TYLER ELLIS Homework
may
seem
like
a
burden,
but
it
may
actually help you even if you don’t realize it. “A good way to think about homework is the way you think about medications or dietary supplements. If you take too little, they’ll have no effect. If you take too much, they can kill you. If you take the right amount, you’ll get better,” says Harris Cooper, a Duke University psychology professor. Too much homework can make you feel burned out or lose interest in the subject. It has also been proven that it affects young people’s mental health and stability, due to the overwhelming amount of work teachers assign. There has to be a balance of how much should be given to be effective. However, school is a big part of life and putting in effort makes it that much easier. With almost every class comes homework, and it is not given to make you feel overwhelmed, it is given to help you succeed. Homework helps you retain information allowing you to achieve a deeper understanding of the subject. There are several studies proving this point; for instance, “The research team identified 35 studies that found a positive correlation across
between
five
studies,
homework the
and
average
achievement, student
who
and did
homework had a higher unit test score than the students not
doing
homework,”
says
Diane
Ravitch,
a
NYU
Professor and historian. Even if you haven’t noticed, it has taught you a great deal
about
responsibility
and
work
ethic.
Homework
helps improve students’ time management, which is one of
the
most
Johnson
important
says,
“Regular
life
skills.
Glenda
accomplishments
Faye like
Pryor-
finishing
homework build self-esteem, which aids students’ mental and
physical
health.
Responsibility
and
time
management are highly desirable qualities that benefit students long after they graduate.” Besides, it can also help boost grades. If a student has a hard time taking tests or quizzes, he or she can turn in timely homework as another way to help with the overall class average. Homework may not sound ideal but it is given for your own good. Although you might not feel as if it is helping you,
it
teaches
you
important
skills
and
helps
you
understand the subject you are studying. It is important to
do
your
homework
with
a
positive
perspective,
thinking about how it will help you with your grades and help you in the long run.
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Ava Wyant, Staff Writer
Nowadays, there are so many social media platforms that have shaped the way we view and communicate with the world. Social media has allowed people of all generations to make their voices heard and stand up for what they believe in. Seems harmless, right? In some cases, it is. In other cases, not so much. This new era of technology and way to communicate with people everywhere has completely changed the way we look at not only people, but the world around us. But sometimes, it isn’t for the better. This influx of new platforms has caused a whirlwind of problems that may be irreversible. If you don’t know what social media platforms are being used right now, I guarantee you live under a rock. Almost everyone, and I mean everyone, uses social media in one way or another. Whether it’s speaking your mind on Twitter, posting pictures to Instagram, or talking with your friends on Snapchat, social media is everywhere. Again, it all seems harmless when put in such simple terms. But there is a side to social media that is causing nothing but harm. For starters, social media nowadays has the ability to swing your opinion on every single public figure out there. Generation Z got crafty and
called this “cancel culture”. To sum it up, cancel culture is when a large group of people on the internet decide that they no longer support a celebrity or influencer. It could be because of a leaked video, an offensive tweet or comment, and lately it has been the lack of influencers wearing masks when at large gatherings. Now I’m all for making someone take responsibility for their wrongdoings, but cancel culture has become way more toxic than it ever should have been. People are now finding ways to cancel these creators for reasons they can’t even explain. It is no longer a way to make celebrities and influencers own up to their mistakes; it has become hating on someone just to hate. Younger people are so easily persuaded by others' opinions on a public figure that they let it control their own opinion. Eventually, it’s got to be enough. Cancel culture is one of the most toxic things on the internet right now, and it’s only getting worse. Switching gears, there are so many upsides to social media. Not only is it a place with a huge sense of community, but it gives a voice to those who maybe feel like they don’t have one in their day-today lives. Social media has brought new ways to spread the word about
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important topics that need to be talked about. Take the Black Lives Matter movement as an example. It became an enormous movement because of social media and the need for change. Another example would be the election that this country just had. People on all different social media platforms encouraged others to vote, including some of the most well known celebrities. Generation Z even started a “Gen Z for Biden” campaign, which spread all over the internet. It’s crazy to me that with just the click of a button, real change can be and will be made in this world. Like there being two sides to every story, the same could be said about social media. There are upsides and downsides. I think that social media has the tendency to be extremely toxic especially to the younger generation, making them feel certain ways about themselves based on what they see online. On the other hand, I think social media has been able to elicit real lasting change in the world. Everything in this world is about perspective, your personal outlook. I can’t sit here and say social media is good or bad; it’s not that simple, although I wish it was. All I can say is that social media has affected the way people view the world.
TIGRAY : ETHIOPIA AND AFRICA'S LOOMING CRISIS By Brendan Minnett Edited By Emma Smith
Ethiopian Prime Minister, Abiy Ahmed
Ethiopia, an East African nation that has captivated the world with its recent strides toward a more democratic government and award-winning peacekeeping efforts, is now the center of what could be an unknown future for the Horn of Africa and possibly the whole continent. Abiy Ahmed, Prime Minister of Ethiopia and 2019 Nobel Peace Prize winner, launched an offensive on November 4, 2020, targeting the TPLF (Tigray People’s Liberation Front) after a surprise attack of a government military base. Tigray is a region in the northernmost part of the nation that is inhabited primarily by ethnic Tigrayans who have their own culture and language. Due to the reforms pushed by Abiy Ahmed and the delay of the national election due to COVID-19, the regional government of Tigray felt marginalized after months of rising ethnic tensions. Ever since the military offensive was announced, multiple targets in Tigray have reportedly been hit with airstrikes, according to CNN. On November 12, Reuters and Ahmed confirmed Ethiopia made a big advance and the region’s western portion was “liberated.” Prime Minister Abiy pleaded with the international community “to understand the context and the consistent transgressions” instigated by the Tigrayan regional government which justified the “law enforcement operation.” Some are beginning to speculate whether or not the Nobel Peace Prize was awarded to the prime minister prematurely. Currently, it is unknown how many civilians are included in total casualties. Amnesty International, a non-profit human rights organization centered in the United Kingdom, released a gruesome report that claimed hundreds of civilians were murdered, allegedly by TPLF forces in Tigray’s South West Zone. “We have confirmed the massacre of a very large
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number of civilians, who appear to have been day labourers in no way involved in the ongoing military offensive. This is a horrific tragedy whose true extent only time will tell as communication in Tigray remains shut down,” Deprose Muchena, the organization’s director for East and Southern Africa, stated. Long lines are starting to appear at bread shops across the region, and trucks containing vital humanitarian supplies are unable to reach their destination. Two million people, including more than 1,000 people of different nationalities, are now in need of these supplies. In the neighboring country of Sudan, 10,000 refugees from Tigray have crossed the border, including those who were wounded, according to The Associated Press. Many of those who have crossed the border are reportedly women and children. “They are arriving very tired and exhausted. They are hungry and thirsty since they have walked long distances on rugged terrain,” AlSir Khalid, head of Sudan’s refugee agency, said. The number of refugees could reach up to 200,000 as the conflict worsens, officials speculate. Major organizations such as the European Union and the African Union have urged Abiy’s government to de-escalate the situation, fearing that the conflict could further destabilize the Horn of Africa and lead to the deaths of thousands. The Tigray president accused Eritrea, a nation bordering to the north who also had issues with the Tigray government in the past, of supporting Ethiopia’s struggle. This has been denied by Ethiopia's defense minister and the Eritrean government. One major concern is that the conflict could spread beyond the borders of Ethiopia and cause an even greater international crisis. This is a rapidly developing situation and it is unclear what the outcome will be for both opposing governments and the fate of their people.
The content of this paper reflects students’ writing efforts and views which do not necessarily represent WVCSD or the Survey staff.