The sexualization of women, no matter what age, is apparent in our society. From video games and music videos to sports media and advertisements... (Page 17)
Troops to Washington
Trumps deployment plan sparks national debate
Will Davis, Staff Writer
For the first time in decades, active-duty troops were seen in Washington, D.C.—a decision now stirring debate about democracy and security. (Page 3)
Focus Act
Is the FOCUS Act helping students or causing issues?
Will Davis and Claire McPhillips, Staff Writer
In May of 2025, the governor of Alabama Kay Ivey signed the FOCUS Act into law. For those unaware, the FOCUS Act... (page 18)
BookTok
The impact of online platforms to the publishing industry
Aubrey Shaddrix , Staff Writer
Undoubtedly, we all have seen the significance of the young adult genre, introducing infamous stories like The Hunger Games, Harry Potter, andTwilight (page 3)
First Love, Last Summer
The summer I turned pretty final season
Cyrene Agustin, Staff Writer
As one of the highlights of summer 2025, Prime Video’s The Summer I Turned Pretty is teasing bits of its third season, slowly approaching its end. The show is based on the popular trilogy written by Jenny Han, who is also well known for... (page 12)
By no means will I ever call myself a perfectionist. I tend to be messy, oftentimes careless, maybe even lazy on a bad day. It feels strange to walk around this school and address myself as a senior, and it feels even stranger to start spending the time in my day stressing over college applications and a hundred scholarships I may not even win. And when my life finds itself backed into this odd corner of responsibility, I have to try my hardest to not slip between the cracks of what I should and should not be doing. In short, It’s difficult to not procrastinate every little thing I do. But when I walk into the Hilight room and work on the millions of things needed to get this paper to print, I’m not concerned with whether I’ll actually do it or not. I just do. And it’s not the same kind of doing as any other assignment in school, where I’m doing it simply for an A. This paper is derived purely from interest, something I believe
every young person should look for and gain in High School; something to feel excited about and passionate for. As it’s my senior year and I’m leaning on the edge of adulthood, I hold even more value and care for this paper than I did when I was fifteen and freshly started. In your hands is our very first edition of the year, twenty pages of hard work from a student-led staff, and the management of a very kind, levelheaded Mrs. Lunsford. This paper is just one example of student determination, stress, and time, yet every second making it was enjoyable. It’s my last year working with these amazing staff members, and my last year publishing and editing Cullman High School’s back to school edition. I hope you enjoy, and if you don’t (unless it’s within reason) I don’t care to hear about it.
Thanks for reading!
Aubrey Shaddrix
Junior Editor
Elizabeth Smith
Staff Writers
Cyrene Agustin
Macey Apel
Madison Carroll
Kyle Ferrell
Maggie Hope Hetrick
Avery Hice
Jacob Larker
Claire McPhillips
Blyss Murphree
Alex Rodriguez
Will Davis Simmons
Elizabeth Smith
Tessa Trucks
Lunsford
FEATURES 3
Troops in the Capital
Trump’s Deployment Plan Sparks National Debate
Will Davis Simmons, Staff Writer
For the first time in decades, active-duty troops were seen in Washington, D.C.—a decision now stirring debate about democracy and security. For many, it was a scene that raised eyebrows across the globe: combat uniforms not in foreign lands but rather in the heart of the nation. On August 11, 2025, President Trump authorized the deployment of approximately 800 national guard troops to the nation’s capital. Within days that number grew to nearly 2,000 national guardsmen and women.
When asked about his deployment of the national guard to the nation’s capital, the President expressed that he authorized the deployment due to the high crime rate in Washington. Con trary to what one might expect, according to the Department of Justice, refer encing data from the
Metropolitan Police Department, the data reported that violent crime in D.C. for 2024 dropped by 35% when compared with years prior. Additionally, violent crime is down in many major U.S. cities. However, despite these revelations, President Trump has said in recent weeks that he plans to send the national guard to other major U.S. cities like Chicago, New York, Baltimore, and New Orleans.
For many this is a statement all too familiar. This summer the president deployed 5,000 national guard troops and marines to Los Angeles following ICE protests. In addition to this, at the end of the President’s first term back in 2020, he deployed National Guard troops to Washington D.C. following Black Lives Matter protests after the death of George Floyd.
In response to President Trump’s actions and statements with historical context, many Democratic Governors and Mayors have responded.
For example, the Mayor of Chicago recently responded to the President’s comments saying, “The city of
Chicago is not calling for American troops to occupy American cities,” Johnson said. “It’s not democratic. It’s unconstitutional,” and further ly added, “If Trump were serious about making cities like Chicago safer, he would not have taken over $800 million away from violence prevention efforts.” The mayor went on to highlight Chicago’s dropping violent crime rate and to add that President Trump is “look ing to test how far his power can go with the attempt to undermine our democracy,” and “to create anx iety and fear and division within our communities.”
The President’s actions and comments in regards to deploying National Guard troops to major U.S. Cities has shaken up politics–reigniting discussion nationwide.
*Information stated is valid as of September 8th, 2025– Note, this is an evolving story.*
Book Tok: Saving or Destroying the Industry?
How the popularity of online platforms have changed the publishing industry?
Aubrey Shaddrix, Staff Writer
Undoubtedly, we all have seen the significance of the young adult genre, introducing infamous stories like The Hunger Games, Harry Potter, and Twilight, their popularity reaching incredible heights, all having spin offs and film deals. The genre is iconic, something that has allowed the publishing industry to flourish since its beginning, because not only are these novels new wave cult-classics, but hold literary merit, sharing larger messages on youth and societal structures. And as the publishing industry adapts to the world of internet presence, the popularity of this genre has led to major profits and opinions.
Inside any Barnes and Noble, or even Cullman’s own Books-a-Million, customers find rows and rows dedicated to the young adult section. With a closer look, readers have noted a kind of verbatim among these novels, as many share similar cover styles, genres, and story lines. These similarities typically fall within the “Romantasy” genre, a mix of fantasy and romance, often found in your local Young Adult of “BookTok” section. With so many books sharing dramatic fonts, floral designs, or very simplistic cover art, it’s no secret that book after book is taking inspiration from another. But for good reason, in such a digital age the founda-
tion of the publishing world stood on shaky grounds. Not as many people are reading books casually in public anymore, at least not the way they would before phones and short-video-content entered the picture, and not as many people have the time or motivation for recreational reading. In order to keep their footing in this economy, the world of book business took quick note of what sold and what made it sell. And in the sweet mix of both worlds, BookTok aided in upholding the industry. Across social media platforms, most popularly TikTok, book influencers have been playing huge roles in the marketing of new publications. Many of these content creators range from just a few hundred followers to a few hundred thousand, each video pushing the purchase of one or multiple books. Many of these books fit into the growing Young Fantasy Romance genre, and with more exposure to every-day readers these books are racking up sales. The Guardian stated that fantasy and science fiction books have increased sales by 41.3% between 2023 and 2024. And even specific books have gained incredible traction from BookTok like A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas, which now has sold over 13 million copies worldwide, showing the force of influence tied between
the internet and book sales.
What many call a success for the industry, some call repetition. Although the help of internet influence has greatly supported this disadvantaged market, it has also produced a redundancy that some book reviewers are growing restless with. Some people have expressed concern, saying that not only are these books sharing similar covers and genres but also similar plots and characters as well. Growing complaints have caused a feud in the internet on whether these new popular novels should be held at the same value as classics and older popular works. It does raise concern, as we see various other industries like fashion producing an extreme amount of poor quality clothing to keep up with consumer demand. Could we soon see this mirrored in the publishing industry as well?
No matter the belief or disbelief, the Young Adult section is thickening each year, sales are being made, business is flourishing, but alternatively, are these books losing their value with their mass production? Do we lose some of the merit first inherited with the books that forged the path for inspirational Fantasy and Young Adult stories? Like many trends, consumers can only wait and see the final end after this peak. Either way, reading is still a crucial part
of today’s economy and society, it is just changing form to better suit the technical and fast paced market of today.
* Above are two fantasy book covers. They are not the same author, series, or publisher, yet they have incredible similarities.
* Again, look at the striking resemblance of these two covers.
FEATURES 4
Weights of Education
Learn of the dangers students face when using overweight bags
Elizabeth Smith, Staff Writer
Students across the nation take part in 6-8 classes per year. Each one of these classes has books, binders, and materials that are required for the class. Additionally, the students must carry personal items like computers, supplies, or extracurricular materials for use in sports or clubs. With all of these materials combined, students carry an average of 15 to 30 pounds, not including additional bags a student might carry, like purses or lunches. The daily use of the average backpack poses serious risks to the students and their physical health, impacting their necks, shoulders, spines, and other developing parts of the human body.
At Cullman High School, a study was conducted on 10 randomly selected students to find correlations between backpack usage and injuries to students. The following data was gathered:
One way students can reduce the weight of their bags is to make as many resources as possible digital. This will allow students to remove excess materials out of bags and lighten the load. If a student has already removed any excess materials, new forms of mobile storage are being used to help students. Modern backpacks offer a rolling feature where wheels and a handle have been added to allow students to roll their bags around instead of lugging it on their shoulders. Other alternatives include leaving materials in classrooms when not in use with the permission of a teacher or faculty member, or using both straps when walking to distribute weight evenly across the student’s body.
If a student’s pain becomes extreme, it is advisable to reach out to a specialist or make an appointment with your primary care physician. It is not only important to take care of your physical
According to the Spine Health Association, school children should not carry more than 10% of their body weight, which can prevent injury or developmental issues in the spines and other parts of the body. From the study above of Cullman High School students, the average bag weight to body weight percentage was 16.92%, which is over the recommended health guidelines. All students who were individually over the weight limit expressed pain and injury that correlate to the use of heavy bags.
Schools across the country have worked to resolve this issue by installing lockers in their educational facilities to minimize the negative effects of course materials on students physically. While some schools, like Cullman High School, do not offer lockers for students to use during the school year, students find ways to make the physical load of schoolwork and resources manageable.
wellbeing, but also to prevent any further and more dangerous issues by seeking treatment at the early stages. Failure to take practice in proper backpack usage or failure to seek additional assistance can result in one or more of the following:
Functional Scoliosis: The spine appears to be curved, but the apparent curvature is actually the result of an irregularity elsewhere in the body, like poor posture from backpack usage (Scoliosis SOS Clinic).
Disc Compression: “Research in normal children shows that backpack loads compress the lumbar IVDs, increase lumbar coronal deformity, and increase pain…” (NIH).
Growth Delays: Due to the compression in the spine discs, the height of a child might be temporarily shortened during the daytime (Spine Health Association).
In summary, overweight backpacks cause physical harm and potentially-permantent pain. By
minimizing the load of students’ work or using alternative forms of transportation of supplies, students can help their posture and reduce pain in the back or other affected areas. If a person is interested in learning more about ways they can treat their injuries or find other resources on the topic, they can refer to online sources like Spine Health Association or National Institute of Health.
NOTE: All evidence was research acquired from willing participants; correlations from the research above are not definite causation, but show evidence of negative impacts of bag weight on students’ health.
Elizabeth Smith, a junior at Cullman High School, takes the materials out of her bag and displays the materials across a counter in her classroom.
Diagram by Estes Park Health shows details of how the child’s or teen’s bag is doing to different parts of their body.
Graphic by the Spine Health Association designed to inform students and their parents of recommneded guidelines for backpack weight for spine safety.
X-rays of teenage specimens with scoliosis (Left: Adolesent Male; Right: Adolesent Female).
FEATURES 5
Pull Up a Chair
How Anthony Bourdain changed perspective
Avery Hice, Staff Writer
Anthony Bourdain’s story didn’t begin with airplanes, cameras, or bowls of noodles in faraway cities. It began in the back kitchens of restaurants, where he worked long hours as a line cook, enduring the heat, the chaos, and the grind of an industry known as much for its brutality as its artistry. Born in New York City in 1956 and raised in New Jersey, he wasn’t destined for celebrity status. In fact, for much of his early life, he was just another cook trying to make a living, working his way through dingy restaurants, struggling with addiction, and trying to find his voice in a world that rarely offered space for self-reflection. His break came unexpectedly in 1999, when he published an essay in The New Yorker called “Don’t Eat Before Reading This.” It was a raw look at the hidden reality of restaurant life. The sweat, the drugs, the egos, and the grit present in every kitchen. Readers were stunned, Bourdain’s perspective wasn’t glamorous, it was honest. That essay became the seed for his memoir, Kitchen Confidential, which transformed him overnight from an anonymous chef into a reluctant literary star. However, Bourdain wasn’t content to stay behind a desk and work a 9-5. He took his voice, his honesty, and his insatiable curiosity and carried them into the world. Soon, he was traveling to places that food television had never dared to go. While most food shows focused on fine dining or celebrity chefs, Bourdain chose street stalls, family kitchens, and communities still scarred by war, the settings that most everyday people turn a blind eye to. He cared less about posh cuisine than about what ordinary people were eating every day. What made him different was how he approached those meals. He didn’t come as a critic or an authority. He came as a guest. He sat on plastic stools in Vietnam, eating bún cha and sipping beer with President Obama–an image that captured the essence of his philosophy–the best conversations often happen over the simplest food. He ate sisig, a Filipino dish made from pork jowl and ears, pork belly, and chicken liver in the Philippines, praising the ingenuity of a dish made from scraps, calling it one of the best things he had ever tasted. He drank yak butter tea in Tibet, shared goat with Bedouins in the desert, and even ate warthog in Namibia, and never as a stunt, but as an act of acceptance.
These choices weren’t ran-
dom, they were intentional. Every time he ate something unfamiliar, something that might make others recoil, he was sending a message: Your culture is worth respecting. Your traditions are worth honoring. I trust you enough to eat as you eat. In doing so, he turned food into a tool of diplomacy, a way of breaking down walls between people who might otherwise see each other as strangers. Bourdain pulled up a chair to the most unexpected of tables, and was welcome with open arms.
While Bourdain spent his public life celebrating the world, his private life told a different story. He often described himself as restless, haunted, and uneasy. He was open about his past struggles with heroin and cocaine during his years in kitchens, but he rarely spoke publicly about the battles he carried later in life. To viewers, he appeared fearless, witty, endlessly curious. Off camera, he was a man weighed down by loneliness, depression, and demons he rarely allowed into the spotlight. That tension, between the generous way he saw others and the harsh way he sometimes saw himself, makes his story bittersweet. He showed us a world that was vibrant and worth embracing, yet within his own life, he could not always find the peace he encouraged in others. His death by suicide in 2018 was shocking not only because he seemed larger than life, but because it revealed how quietly a person can carry pain, even while giving joy to millions.
Yet, his legacy is not one of tragedy alone. It is one of radical empathy. From his humble beginnings as a cook, he never forgot the dignity of working people. He never forgot what it meant to feel invisible. That is why he sought out the overlooked voices: the grandmother in Sicily making pasta by hand, the vendor selling pho at dawn in Hanoi, the fisherman bringing in his catch on a small boat in the Caribbean. He gave them a platform, not out of charity, but out of genuine respect.
Anthony Bourdain’s life is proof that food is never just food: it’s culture, history, survival, and love. He showed us that sitting at a table with strangers is one of the most powerful things a person can do, and that acceptance often begins with a simple act: tasting what is offered. He was, at heart, a good man. Imperfect, complex (often in pain) but good. He left behind a vision of the world not as some-
thing to fear, but as something to embrace, bowl by bowl, story by story. His beginnings may have been humble, but his impact was extraordinary. And though his life ended far too soon, his message lingers at every table: be curious, be kind, and never stop reaching for connection.
“If I’m an advocate for anything, it’s to move. As far as you can, as much as you can. Across the ocean, or simply across the river. Walk in someone else’s shoes or at least eat their food. It’s a plus for everybody. Open your mind, get up off the couch, move”
Anthony Bourdain
FEATURES 6
What You May Have Missed This Summer
headline events of the summer
Aubrey Shaddrix, Staff Writer
of Vogue magazine. Could this spark a new generation or the end of one of the greatest eras in fashion? It’s not looking too hot, especially since Vogue was caught red-handed using an AI model in a Guess advertisement for their August edition. Maybe we should get used to seeing terribly airbrushed AI models in magazines from now on, or maybe we should get Mrs. Wintour back in her office.
Dane’s Music
Les Rallizes Denudes Only years into the band’s adolescence, their lead singer, Takashi Mizutani, would be involved in the hijacking of Flight 351, a coup part of a larger plan by the Red Army Faction or the Communist League to revolt against the United States by means of control of Japan. This is one of the various circumstances that would contribute to the band’s enigmatic presence in the underground scene of Japan.
Blockbuster Eye Candy: James Gunn Superman
The James Gunn Super man film made over $579 million across the globe, inspiring a surge of activity for movie theaters near and far. The film stars upcoming heartthrob David Corenswet as Clark Kent and Rachel Brosnahan as the Journalist icon Lois Lane, the two helping bring heroic chemistry back to the big screen. The film received both praise and backlash from film buffs, being called a “comic book come to life” and conversely, “ a generic, dull, overwritten disaster.” Are these critics pretentious, or do they have real merit to their arguments? Either way, the film made bank.
Matcha, Labubus, Clairo, and performative men flooded the internet this summer, giving the summer of 2025 one of the most unusual online atmospheres. Male influencers took to the streets in their raw japanese denim jeans, self titling their performative tendencies. Additionally, around the world Labubus somehow gained popularity, being the hottest new accessory to purses and backpacks (and soon landfills.)
Goodnight Stephen
This one hits close to home, but as of this summer, Stephen Colbert announced the cancellation of The Late Night Show with Stephen Colbert after Paramount Global (the parent company of CBS) made the executive decision to cut the show. Fans and colleagues of Ste phen Colbert expressed extreme backlash, which the network followed with, “This is purely a financial decision against a challenging back drop in late-night.” Stephen Colbert hosted the show for nearly a decade after inher iting it from Emmy-winning David Lettermen, and as Stephen Colbert’s time ends with the show, so does the long-standing legacy of one of the most notorious programs in late night TV.
Les Rallizes Dénudés was a Japanese Noise Rock band formed in 1967 by a few students in Kyoto. As they emerged as a music light club, they would become one of Japan’s most influential and elusive noise rock bands. Led by their singer, Takashi Mizutani, the band would maintain an obscure and mysterious nature for decades: only ever performing live and rarely releasing actual material. These would be the reasons for gathering such a cult-like following, as their fans would almost entirely rely on bootleg recordings to listen outside of live performances.
In the late 60s, Les Rallizes Dénudés would echo the sounds of the American noise rock band The Velvet Underground, but shortly garnered their own unique sound using lots of feedback that was long, drawn out, loud, extremely distorted, and had a dreamlike landscape. Their live album ´77 Live captures this perfectly as each song is over 10 minutes long, bringing a raw and blaring sound, yet somehow it comes off as soft and beautiful. Though sonically it is quite harsh, it is quite the opposite lyrically.
The name “Les Rallizes Dénudés” came from Takashi’s appreciation of French literature, and it generally translates to “The Naked Rallizes”. A lot of their lyrics are inspired by French poets such as Charles Baudelaire, Jean Maurice Eugène Clément Cocteau, and Comte de Lautréamont. Les Rallizes Dénudes, having been inspired by the poète maudit (the cursed poet), embraced both alienation and beauty.
SECTION TITLE 8
CHS Band Presents
Metallica: Seek and Destory
Alexander Rodriguez,Staff Writer
Throughout the years, the CHS band has performed many exciting halftime shows, such as last year’s “Sir Paul” and the previous year’s “Shades of Red.” These shows were quite diverse from each other. However, this year the band is presenting one of its most diverse shows ever. For the first time the CHS band will perform a heavy metal show featuring none other than Metallica—one of the most influential heavy metal bands. This is especially exciting for both the band and their director, the one and only Christopher Smith. The CHS band has been working on the show from July 13 to 24. During these days the band worked on the show in the sweltering heat of the Alabama summer which has gotten hotter and hotter every year, This made getting the opener “For Whom The Bell Tolls” and “Where Ever I May Roam” stressful, but these challenges are common and with Mr. Smith’s motivation the band was able to put the full opener on the field just in time for the band ice cream social which is a very great achievement. Since bandcamp, the band has
put part 2, “Seek and Destroy” on the field and is currently working on putting together part 3, which contains the songs “Nothing Else Matter” and “Enter Sandman”. The band is close to putting the entire show on the field, and for the students this is very exciting because when interviewed, students said “This show is the holy grail of my marching career” (Deytan Ristine Band Vice President), “One of the best shows we’ve played” (Grayson Smith Mellophone section leader), “I think it’s an excellent show” (Kyle Ferrell band manager), and ”This is the best show we will ever play” (Josh Koch),With the comments from the band students, it’s clear that they are looking forward to the show and are excited to be playing it, but who made this show happen? Well, clearly Mr.Smith was the one who made this show happen, but why? Well, when interviewed, this is what he had to say. “The students inspired me to do the show because they’ve mentioned it to me, and I was open to the idea and during the spring when I was thinking about what show to dol the idea of Metallica
Good Reports All Around!
New Faculty Share Insights On CHS
Tessa Trucks, Staff Writer
Q: Did you teach anywhere before this, if so, do you notice anything different about Cullman?
Mr. Pierce- Chemistry: Mr. Pierce worked at Limestone and Huntsville before his position now and, in comparison to discipline, he says that Cullman exceeds expectations. All of his students are exceptionally well behaved- “[I’ve] never heard so many well-mannered kids in my life”- and even dotes on admin for taking care of any minor issues he experienced.
Ms. McCrickard- English: Ms. McCrickard graduated from Auburn with her focus being English and theatre. She has taught in Atlanta and Nashville before her spot now, but thoroughly believes the kids at Cullman are hard working and dedicated to their work, in contrast with the environment at other schools.
Mr. Heinze- Math: Mr. Heinze moved from Washington a few years ago, where he was a high school teacher until 2005.
Last year, he was a professor at Wallace, but has no bad bias towrds transitioning back to teaching high school students. Mr Heinze says the administration is very structured, offering a lot of support, and that the kids at Cullman are very polite. Not only does the behavior of CHS students stand out, but the close-knit community that comes with it.
Mr. Calvert- Computer Science: Mr. Calvert taught at Hanceville before his spot at Cullman and, as his first time teaching Computer Science, he reports that the class is going smoothly. He enjoys teaching the subject and commends the students on their behavior and ability to pick up the material quickly.
Ms. Atwood- English: Ms. Atwood taught at two other schools before Cullman, one being Holly Pond, and admits one thing that stands out to her is the support she receives from her colleagues in the English department. Not only does she
kept coming back.” When asked about his own opinions on the show, Mr. Smith replied: “I really like it because it’s very different from past shows and I’ve fallen in love with it because of how different it is because we’ve never done a heavy metal show and for it to be a band like Metallica is very exciting.” When questioned if he was excited about getting the entire show on the field,this is what he had to say: “I can’t wait for us to get the whole show on the field because it’s very unique which is a main reason why I’m very excited for this show, and I believe the crowd is gonna love it no matter what.” With all said and done, the CHS band is excited to present a very diverse and entertaining show to the students of CHS and the general public.
feel free to ask questions from them, but feels the building is very well maintained and dotes on the amount of school pride, as well as the amount of alumni Cullman has as a whole.
Q: Is there anything in particular you’re excited about this school year?
Ms. Justice- Spanish: Ms. Justice reports she is excited for the upcoming year and what it holds, as well as hoping for another trip to Spain with her close friend and Cullman Highschool’s recent Spanish teacher, Ms. Olmstead.
Ms. McCrickard- English: Ms. McCrickard is excited for the community theatre program this year. She was director of their most recent production, Fiddler on the Roof, and is looking forward to their future pursuits.
Mr. Heinze- Math: With high school being a place associated with self-discovery and experience, Mr. Heinze says he is excited to watch the students
grow as individuals. As this is such a crucial time period, getting to watch all of the development happen over the school year is exciting in itself.
Mr. Calvert- Computer Science: Mr. Calvert says that one thing he is looking forward to is basketball season. Helping coach the middle school team only raises his hopes for the high schoolers and gets him excited for all the upcoming games this year.
Advice from the vets:
Mr. Smith- Band: Mr. Smith advises the newer teachers to be careful in keeping a good worklife balance, and to look after yourself. Budgeting personal time is just as important as professional responsibilities.
Ms. Nix- History: Ms. Nix thinks that every teacher should take care of themselves and to remember that “you can’t pour from an empty cup.”
Bearcat
Confessional
Summer Admissions
Aubrey Shaddrix, Staff Writer
“Eat Hot Chip and Charge Phone”
“Binged Gossip Girl”
“Hoped Everyone Forgot About That Thing I did”
“Signed up for too Many AP’s”
“Got My Wisdom
Teeth Removed and accidentally Applied to Applebees”
If you have any interesting stories or events you want to share in the paper... let a Hilight staff member know!
CAMPUS NEWS 9
CULLMAN BEARCAT PRIDE
Learn how you can be a great student section from Bearcat fans
Elizabeth Smith, Staff Writer
Cally the Bearcat:
1. “The enviroment”
2. “M&Ms and a Diet Coke”
3. “Tequila”
4. “Black”
5. “Don’t care what anyone thinks- BE LOUD!”
Alex Cornelius (9th Grade):
1. “I just like to watch”
2. “Popcorn and Diet Dr. Pepper”
3. “Ghostbusters” 4. “Black” 5. “Cheer and dress out!”
Aubrey Shaddrix 1. “Stand Tunes for the band
2. “Hot dog and Diet Coke”
3. “Come Out and Play” 4. “Black” 5. “It isn’t that serious, be goofy”
Cully the Bearcat: 1. “Getting to see the smile on kids’ faces”
2. “Airhead Xtremes and Mr. Pibb”
3. “Loki”
4. “Gold” 5. “You get loud and don’t sit down”
James Crabb (11th Grade): 1. “Watching my friends play football”
2. “Nachos and Sprite”
3. “John Cena Theme” 4. “Black”
5. “Dress up for the themm and feel the game, BE LOUD”
ENTERTAINMENT 10
International Spotlight
seeing the school from a different lens
Jacob Larker, Staff
Writer
Question Key:
1. Where did you transfer from?
2. How are you enjoying Cullman so far? And what have you enjoyed the most about it, or disliked?
3. Do you feel that it is a welcoming environment?
4. What did you expect upon coming here?
Answers:
The Three Physicists
the three musketeers of chs
Blyss Murphree, Staff Writer
This physics class consists of two students, Mrs.Greenlee. With this being such a small class, I decided to ask Mrs.Greenlee the following questions:
1. How does having a two-student class compare to your larger classes?
2. What is the lab group dynamic like?
3. Is grading easier?
4. Is having only two students likely to push the course scheduling ahead?
5. Do these students speak much?
6. Does having only two students become boring as a teacher?
7. Would you rather teach a class of 37 or 2?
Here are Mrs.Greenlee’s answers:
1. - The most difficult part is that two students have fewer people to interact with, so the class tends to seem to have less communication. Also, if one person is absent, it can feel a little strange. AP Physics 2 students; however, are not the same as a typical class of 2 most likely. Despite the number, they purposely signed up out of an interest
1. Vietnam, Ho Chi Minh
2. I’ve had a good experience at school, I like school in general. Vietnam’s school system was a lot harder, and we had to take a pre-requisite exam before high school.
3. Yes, but I’ve struggled with a language barrier between students and teachers, which makes it hard to make friends. I’ve often used a translator with my teachers and friends. I started learning english as soon as I moved here,
4. I wasn’t scared, I was expecting to make friends.
in the subject area so we are still very productive. For reference, I’ve taught a small class of chemistry before and that was difficult, but two students in Physics 2 is not equivalent to a small chemistry class.
2. -Sometimes they are able to perform the lab themselves but can communicate when it comes to analyzing the data. For Physics 2, this is actually helpful. It is a more fruitful experience building and testing a circuit yourself as opposed to watching someone else build it.
3. -It definitely takes less time!
4. -It sometimes does but the students that take this course usually grasp the material quickly so it isn’t any different than having a larger class. It actually allows me to be more creative and try new things. It also allows for time for the students to test ideas that otherwise would not be possible.
5. -Both students can be quiet by nature but they do discuss with each other as necessary and cor-
respond with me. They worked together a lot last year so they communicate well.
6. -Never! If it was all day, it most likely would. However, all three of us enjoy the subject matter so boring is not an adjective I would ever use in reference to Physics 2.
7. -Yikes! I’ve had as many as 32 students in a class before and 2 is way easier to manage.
I went in to observe the class on one of their lab days, and here are the things I noticed.
1. All three of them work very well together. With this being in such a small class, I noticed that their dynamic was more like a co-worker relationship you would have with someone at your workplace.
It was very different compared to the teacher/student dynamic most students are used to.
2. I noticed many more minor differences in this class and how they interact with each other compared to a larger one. However, what really takes the cake is that both students were asking so many legitimate questions, and they were all working together so well that I was learning-and I had no idea what their lab was about.
ENTERTAINMENT 12
First Love, Last Summer
The summer i turned pretty final season
Cyrene Agustin, Staff Writer
As one of the highlights of summer 2025, Prime Video’s TheSummerI TurnedPretty is teasing bits of its third season, slowly approaching its end. The show is based on the popular trilogy written by Jenny Han, who is also well known for the ToAlltheBoys I’veLovedBefore series, which was also adapted into a film available on Netflix. TheSummerITurnedPrettyis quickly gaining even more attention through its film adaptation, especially on TikTok, where viewers have been actively discussing plot twists, sharing theories, freaking out about the soundtracks used, but mainly taking about its sides. The show has been the cause of the wave of mixed emotions as viewers split into two teams, debating which Fisher brother Belly Conklin will choose in the end. The film adaptation stars Lola Tung as Isabel Belly Conklin, Christopher Briney as Conrad Fisher, and Gavin
Casalegno as Jeremiah Fisher. The story mainly focuses on Belly as she finds herself all caught up in an unwanted love triangle, going back and forth between the Fisher brothers. Fans spiral over this love trope, most especially the ones who haven’t read the trilogy, as it’s exciting to watch how the events unfold. With all eyes on Belly, the love triangle is the reason why the fandom is split in half, with multiple viewers finding themselves
and rooting for their cho sen Fisher brother as the one who truly is a better match for Belly.
People on Team Conrad often emphasize his emotional complexity and how real and relatable his character can be. Others may be against this, since they find
him too complicated and hard to deal with, but that’s what Team Conrad appreciates, because it feels real. Many also lean on Conrad as they know that Belly has Conrad as her first love, and as people say, you’ll always have a spot in your heart for your first love. Of course, others find that statement or quote a bit controversial.
Jeremiah, on the other hand, shines when it comes to his childish and warm energy. Fans back up by saying “Jeremiah is the one who actually shows up for Belly” and highlight that he’s fun, supportive, and easy going with Belly. Jeremiah represents more of that golden retriever energy, while Conrad is all about emotional complexity and a deep level of connection.
The main debate among fans is
how Jeremiah can feel too easy going compared to Conrad, who challenges Belly but still understands her in certain ways. That being the dynamic of Conrad and Belly’s relationship, they have space to actually grow, and not just as a couple, but as young adults and individuals too. At the end of the day, you do pick between the two brothers based on what kind of love story you believe in. As fans watch this show, some will continue debating with others and defending their team as if it’s their full-time job to do so. That’s why you should avoid getting caught up in a love triangle because now Belly has to decide not only who she loves more, but also who she wants to spend the rest of her life with and what kind of future she truly wants. Now that it has been said, the real and actual question is: who do you guys think Belly should end up with? Personally, I’d rather pick the one who challenges and shapes me to be a better person. #TeamConrad
Lollapalooza
Chicago’s Music Fest.
Maggie Hope, Staff Writer
Lollapalooza 2025 took place from July 31st to August 3rd, at Grant Park, tucked away in downtown Chicago right next to the infamous Lake Michigan. Lollapalooza has been an annual tradition for not only just citizens of Chicago, but music listeners all over the world starting in 1991. The festival is known for frequently featuring a large mix of Rock, Pop, Hip-Hop, EDM, and even Country. Lollapalooza has served as a festival for unreleased and underground artists for decades now, and offers both an insane variety of music - while also giving concert goers a chance to enjoy their favorite artists in a fun and vibrant atmosphere. This year’s headliners consisted of artists such as Tyler the Creator, Luke Combs, Olivia Rodrigo, Korn, Sabrina Carpenter, and even A$AP Rocky. This collective mix comes together and truly gives each type of music listener a place to be, and allows a truly diverse listening experience all at one time. With Indie-pop sensationalists such as Clairo & Dominic Fike, underground alternative groups like the Wallows, and even new bands like Ocean Alley - who’re quickly climbing in popularity among charts everywhere - Lollapalooza has a spot for everyone who comes.
Artists take artistic, and even personal pride in coming and showing out at Lolla. Clairo, who was previously mentioned, faced many challenges regarding her flight, but still showed up, and was able to pull off a surprise for her audience by bringing out the remainder of her musical project “Shelly”, & performing Steeam. A$AP Rocky, whose performance ended up getting cut short, still proved to be one of the most memorable sets of night two. He debuted songs he’d never played for an audience before, while also incorporating fan favorites. Last but definitely not least in the honorable mentions; Gracie Abrams both surprised and truly wowed fans by bringing out Robyn for a mash up of “Dancing on my Own” & “Close to You”. The festival hosted over one-hundred and seventy artists across eight different stages, and attracted nearly four-hundred thousand attendees this year. Beyond the performances themselves, Lollapalooza 2025 offered an accumulation of vibrant art installations, a variety of interactive sculptures, and complex light shows at night. From surprise collaborations to extremely powerful solos, the festival offered moments for almost every specific musical taste.
ENTERTAINMENT
Summer Reading Survey
Did CHS students read their required books?
Avery
Hice, Staff Writer
Freshmen:
1.) Who is the murderer? Justice Wargrave
2.) Who was the first character to die? Marston
3.) Who was not poisoned? Mr. Rogers
Student A
1.) The Judge 2.) Phillip Mombler
3.) Claythorne 1/3 correct
Student B
1.) Emily Brent 2.)Mrs Rogers
3.) Mr Rogers 1/3 correct
Sophomores:
1.) True or False? Melba volunteered to be one of the first black students to intergrare Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas. True
2.) Which character is considered to be a “yankee” by the citizens of Cold Sassy? Love Simpson
3.) What is the name of Will Tweedy’s dog? Theodore Roosevelt (TR)
Student C
1.) True
2.) Miss Love 3.) TR (Theodore Roosevelt) 3/3 correct
Student D
1.) True 2.) Miss Love 3.) Louise 2/3 correct Juniors:
1.) True or False? Deborah dies at
the end. True
2.) Who said the following quote: “If you can learn a simple trick, Scout, you’ll get along a lot better with all kinds of folks. You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view.” Atticus Finch
3.) What does “Alas, Babylon” mean? “The Russians are about to attack.”
Student E
1.) False
2.) Atticus Finch
3.) The Russians are coming 2/3 correct
Student F 1.) True 2.) Atticus Finch
3.) “Something bad is about to happen” 2/3 correct
Seniors:
1.) In The Poisonwood Bible, Anatole calls Leah beene-beene. What does this mean? As true as truth can be.
2.) In Brave NewWorld, which of the following current behaviors LEAST resembles something from Brave NewWorld?
A quiet day fishing on the river
3.) In How to Read Literature like a Professor, what does the author say is always “the real reason for a quest”? To achieve self-knowledge
Student G 1.) As true as true can be. 2.) A quiet day fishing on the river. 3.) To achieve self knowledge. 3/3 correct
Student H
1.) Bird who will not be caged. 2.) A quiet day fishing on the river. 3.) To achieve self knowledge. 2/3 correct
** FLIP PAPER UPSIDE DOWN TO SEE WHO DID AND DID NOT READ! **
- Student H did not read and made a 69
- Student F did read and made a 90 Seniors: - Student G did read and made a 36
- Student E did not read and made a 66
Juniors:
- Student D did read and made a 76
- Student C did not read and made an 80
- Student B did not read and made an 85 Sophomores:
- Student A did read and made a 90
Freshmen:
Answer Key:
ENTERTAINMENT 14
The Real Punk Rock: Summer Movies of 2025
Learn About the Summer’s Greatest Movie Hits
Claire McPhillips, Staff Writer
Blah Blah Blah
This past spring, there were many movies announced: some original, and others being remakes. Here are four of the most popular movies this summer.
Superman: In the movie, Superman, who has been fighting evil for around three years, is challenged by Lex Luthor and the rest of the world when a hidden message comes to light—one he didn’t know about. With this, the country Boravia making plans to invade Jarhanpur, and his shaky relationship with Lois Lane, he finds himself struggling to come up with effective solutions for them all. This movie focuses a lot on having and holding onto hope and realizing that weaknesses don’t always need to be perceived as such. It was well-received by its viewers and has started a new era for the DC Cinematic Universe.
The Fantastic Four: First
Sublime Returns!
Steps: In this readaptation of Fantastic Four, intergalactic forces threaten Earth, and the superheroes must learn their values: saving the world, or keeping their family together? It had low expectations, but surprised several viewers after watching. Readaptations are always held to a lower standard because many viewers hang on to the original casting. But the actors made these characters their own, and therefore made the movie its own unique version.
two
twin brothers Smoke and Stack go back to their hometown planning to open a bar and restart their lives. However, when demon vampires start to cause issues, they begin to discover that perhaps coming back to their hometown was not a smart decision. This movie was highly anticipated and had many great reviews, most saying that the wait was worth it. Sinners connects horror, thriller, and musical, as well as historical, aspects to provide a unique, enjoyable movie.
Materialists: Match-maker Lucy Mason meets Henry Castillo, a financier who shows interest in her. All the while, Lucy’s ex-boyfriend John Finch, a man struggling to make ends meet, attempts to rekindle their relationship. Lucy must realize that what she’s looking for may not always be what she needs. Though critics seem to have little to no complaints about the movie, its viewers say otherwise. They believe it lacked acting skill, specifically through Lucy, and that it didn’t fit into the “rom-com” genre it advertised. Some, however, enjoyed the small details and cinematography the movie held.
Some more notable summer movies include Happy Gilmore 2, How to Train Your Dragon, Jurassic World: Rebirth, and F1 The Movie. This summer was stacked with phenomenal movies, and these are only a few of the blockbusters that were talked about. What was your favorite movie from the summer?
Sublime has made a comeback
Alexander Rodriguez, Staff Writer
Sublime is a very well known band that had gained fame through their self-titled album during 1996 but sadly, due to the loss of their band leader, the band decided to disband. The premature death of Sublime’s frontman Bradley Nowell sadly extinguished the band’s flame before the flame could truly ever reach its full potential. Over a century later.Nowell’s legacy would be continued and Sublime’s flame would burn again. After Nowell’s death many fans believed when his son Jakob was old enough he would take on his father’s role,but sadly Jakob wouldn’t continue his father’s legacy due to him publicly stating that life without his father was rough. He went through addictions but he also believed that the idea of getting the band back together with him taking his fathers spot was a cheap route to fame. He later surprised fans with a performance with original members Eric Wilson and Bud Gaugh at a benefit concert for Bad Brains frontman,H.R., which hinted to the
possible return of Sublime. In the spring Sublime made a great return during the first weekend of Coachella with Nowell’s son Jakob Nowell as
and lead to many interviews questioning Jakob with the same question:why and when did Jakob decide to continue his father’s legacy and revive the band?,
their lead singer. They made the decision to make a full return and revive the band with Jakob as their new frontman,bringing back the name Sublime into the music industry. This news excited many fans, old and new,and led to many news outlets covering the story
During a podcast interview, he ex plains that while on tour with his solo project, he made a spiritual pilgrimage to the Phoenix Theater, the site of his fathers final performance. During his visit, Jakob encountered a wall covered in stickers. One sticker in particular–
the Sublime logo–caught his eye and made him think about his father, his legacy, and the band. Jakob stated that he felt a spiritual connection to the sticker and saw it as a call to action to continue his father’s legacy. From that moment on,Jakob decided he would take up this call and follow in his father’s footsteps which led to Sublime going on tour as well as a hint to a new album in the works. This brought much excitement to fans as they claim that the return of Sublime is a moment to be remem-
Sinners: In 1930s Mississippi,
APEL STEEL
SPORTS 16
Formula 1 In America
Why wont america accept formula 1
Macey Apel, Staff Writer
Why is Formula 1 not popular in America? Despite efforts from teams and companies involved in the sport, F1 is not accepted by American audiences easily. A possibility of this could be the fact that Americans don’t enjoy European motorsports, as they involve cars that “Do all the work” for them. However, this is definitely not the case, as most motorsports do involve a ton of training, and the margin of error while racing is so small when including all the factors of the car. Drivers face up to 5Gs in each corner while having to adjust the car’s settings and push the brake, and the brake alone requires up to 379 pounds of force to press. Not to mention that the driver has to follow the perfect line to save the most time on laps. This is all done with no driving safety features and for hours at a time, resulting in each driver losing around 5-7 pounds per race.
The push for Formula 1 to be in America started in 2017 when it was seen as a dying sport, as people saw F1 as the stereotype it is associated with: Boring cars going in circles and sometimes passing one
another. Viewership was down, and they needed to fix it to save the history of the sport. A company called Liberty Media, an entertainment company, invested in F1 and agreed to buy the sport for eight billion dollars. Liberty Media implemented new additions to increase viewership. They added sparks behind the cars when banking so edits and videos would look faster. They also made drivers do more PR and focus on being celebrities instead of just drivers. With more accessible content and improved formatting, viewership increased as newer fans were attracted to the drama and the drivers in the sport. Brad Pitt also starred in The F1 Movie, a film produced by Liberty focused on showing the training and action of Formula 1 to American audiences with the real drivers alongside the actors, to gain American fans. Before Liberty Media revamped F1, there was only one race in the USA held in Austin, Texas. However, after the 2017 season, there were three races including Miami, Austin, and Las Vegas. These races were placed to increase the American viewership and were success-
The Catlin Clark Effect
The impact of 1 player on the wnba
Macey Apel, Staff Writer
Why is Caitlin Clark so important to the WNBA? Caitlin Clark is a female basketball player who currently plays for the Indiana Fever in the WNBA. Clark, a shooting guard, has become the face of the WNBA after competing for only 2 seasons. But what sparked this sudden fame? For starters, Clark has proven herself to be one of the best shooters, proving this in March 2024 when she broke the all-time scoring record for the NCAA Mens and Womens bracket with 3,951 points. There are also other factors in her fame, such as Caitln’s rivalry with Angel Reese, which led to the National Title game becoming the most watched women’s basketball game in NCAA history. However, the fights did not stop there. Angel Reese’s teammates were accused of trying to hurt Clark in recent games due to cheap, targeted hits. But Caitlin’s teammates fought in another game, Sophie Cunningham, an Indiana Fever guard, got thrown out of the game for fighting a player that had attempted to hurt Caitlin Clark. But drama aside, Clark still seems to be very relevant in the WNBA and online. A clip of her shoot-
ing from half court went viral on Tiktok, along with another video of her scoring five 3-pointers in a row at the Iowa men’s practice. These videos highlighted how good she is and helped bring attention to her and the sport. The term “Catlin Clark Effect” has been used to describe the popularity of her games, with a 3x rise in viewership, and her popularity contributing to over 25% of all the league’s revenue in her first season. In April, she signed a new historic Nike deal--no female basketball player has ever scored a deal this big, and it will put Catlin Clark along the greatest athletes of all time. After asking Molly Wilson, a junior basketball player, what she thought of Clark, she said, “I think she’s a great basketball player, she is definitely the reason why women’s basketball is so popular.” Molly also said that Clark is not the best to play, saying Sabrina Lonescu is an “older and more experienced version of Catlin Clark”. Most WNBA fans that have been watching the sport for a long time don’t think that Catlin Clark is the greatest player, but they are happy with the attention the WNBA is getting due to her talent.
ful, mainly due to the Netflix series Drive To Survive, also produced by Liberty Media. This controversial series focuses on driver interviews and capturing the fights and friendships of F1 on screen. Drive To Survive was incredibly successful with American fans, even though some of the drivers have stopped appearing, such as Max Verstappen, the Dutch four-time world champion who stated, “I understand that it needs to be done to boost the popularity in America. But from my side as a driver, I don’t like being part of it. They faked a few rivalries which don’t really exist.” The show portrayed Verstappen as angry and upset when he came in second to Lando Norris’s first win in Miami, when in reality Verstappen was actually very happy for Lando Norris. The drivers aren’t the only ones who dislike the Netflix series; older fans claim it brings fake fans into the sport. Even though the controversy of Drive to Survive, it brought newer American fans into the sport.
Even with Drive to Survive, American fans are still very rare. But the
question is why? If F1 has rivalries, pushing people to their limits, friendships, team drama, and American races, why do people in the USA not push it to a top sport? The answer is simple: Formula 1 will always be seen as a European sport in America. When Americans think about motorsports, they think of NASCAR. Nascar may not be as exciting but they have one thing that Formula one will never be able to have: being based in the USA. Reese Allen, sophomore, says when he thinks of Nascar, he thinks about, “The movie Talladega Nights, hot dogs, checkered flags, and overalls.” Formula 1, the “Pinnacle of Motorsports” is more interesting than Nascar, but when American fans have to choose, they will always run to the more boring, but more patriotic option than a European sport trying to convince people they enjoy Americans.
Upcoming Football Schedule Fall games
Kyle Ferrell, Staff Writer
SEPTEMBER:
19th- Cullman vs Muscle Shoals
22nd- Cullman @ Mucsle Shoals (JV)
26th- Cullman @ A.P. Brewer
29th- Cullman vs Sparkman (JV)
OCTOBER
2nd- Cullman @ Hartselle
6th- Cullman vs Hartselle
6th- Cullman vs Hartselle
10th- Cullman @ Columbia
17th Cullman vs Decatur
20th- Cullman @ Decatur (JV)
24th- Cullman @
The UK Online Safety Act
The dangers of online censorship
Madison Carroll, Staff Writer
When one thinks of the online web, many things come to mind: privacy, safety, and connection. But at what point do those things bleed into censorship? The word “censorship” may have a positive or negative connotation based on where one lives and how they were introduced to the concept. Censorship is defined as “the suppression of speech, public communication, or other information,” according to Wikipedia. There have been many instances of mass censorship, such as the Nazi’s book-burning in the 30s, the USSR’s censorship of dissenters, and the Hays Code, a rating system/censorship code that was used in Hollywood from 1934 to the 1960s in the US. These examples may appear to be extreme compared to the UK’s Online Safety Act. While it hasn’t reached the level of authoritarianism, it’s still infringing on personal freedoms.
The UK Online Safety Act was first introduced in 2023, after many tragedies, namely two consecutive mass shootings in Christchurch, New Zealand, that were livestreamed on Facebook. It was then
spread to other platforms. Worried that others would follow the footsteps of the perpetrator and that children would be exposed to such violence, the UK government was being pushed more and more to find a way to minimize potentially damaging media online. While this was not the sole reason the act came about, it was a powerful catalyst, pushing for online safety for children and even adults. It was four years after the shootings that the English Parliament finally instated the Online Safety Act (OSA from here on out).
So why should people in other countries, including the US, be concerned? There are two big reasons: the OSA’s laws are vague enough to be manipulated, and it may be used as a blueprint for other countries. When the law was implemented in 2023, not many took notice, especially outside of the UK. Recently, though, they’ve been enforcing it to a greater degree: using Ofcom, the UK government’s media regulator. At first, Ofcom did what most expected: took down games, sites, and videos that pro-
My Jeans are Objectified
A deeper look at Sydney Sweeney’s jean ad
Avery Hice, Staff Writer
The sexualization of women, no matter what age, is apparent in our society. From video games and music videos to sports media and advertisements, it seems as if no matter the circumstance, girls cannot be freed from the shackles of exploitation that they were chained to so long ago. The desecration of the female entity starts the same way almost every time: women flattened into images to be consumed, judged, and discarded. Laura Mulvey famously called this the “male gaze,” but you don’t need a degree in film theory to see it. It’s in the way a camera lingers too long on a woman’s body. It’s in the way an actress’s talent is sidelined by a headline about her dress. And it’s in the way girls learn, before they’re even grown, that their value comes from
only fifteen when Calvin Klein ran the infamous jeans ad with the line: “You want to know what comes between me and my Calvins? Nothing.” The ad is remembered as a cheeky marketing effort. But really, it was the sexualization of a child packaged as glamour. Shields wasn’t being celebrated as a working actress; she was being sold, her body framed to spark desire and sell denim. Mulvey’s argument that women are reduced to the “to-be-looked-at” sex feels almost too obvious here. What else could it be?
This isn’t a relic of the 1980s. Sydney Sweeney, decades later, finds herself in a similar trap, but this time she steps into it with her eyes wide open. Her American Eagle ad caused a stir not because of the jeans but because of how the camera turned her into a spectacle. Shots lingered on her body. The “eyes up here” gag was supposed to be ironic, but it only reinforced the very objectification it mocked. Sweeney herself has acknowledged the reality of her sexualization, and she doesn’t always resist it. Dr.
moted and depicted abuse of children and adults (mainly women), and other debased content. It was when the UK government began expanding their reach to games beyond their initial promises that people began taking issue. Any game with a character--usually a woman or child--facing any sort of adversity or abuse, is under scrutiny of Ofcom and the OSA. This includes content trying to spread awareness or if it’s autobiographical. They’ve gone so far as to delete the iconic 20-or-so-year-old gaming site known as “Urban Dead,” which was taken down because the site owners refused to comply with the age verification laws.
This age verification includes signing up, logging in, or even using AI estimation. AI age-estimation requires your camera to scan your face and determine if you’re old enough to enter the site or not. This means adults with baby-faces, and children/teens with more mature faces, may slip through the cracks of this system. While this is a technical problem, a more general and social problem is the con-
cern for security (ironic, I know). Most people don’t want a website to have their biometrics (parts of one’s body that can be used for identification such as a fingerprint). As many others on the internet point out, it’s the job of the children’s guardians to set the limitations and protect their child from the internet—not the government. The internet is both a horrible and amazing place—it shouldn’t be restrictive to adults because a child may be on the same sites adults are allowed on. Of course, it’s great that much of the immoral and gross media out there is being censored and even taken down, but if the OSA is here to stay, the laws need to be more specific and less restrictive to adults, and teenagers as well.
Another big concern among internet users is how other countries are observing this. Many, if the OSA remains ongoing, may use this as a blueprint of sorts in order to control their citizens and censor topics they don’t like—much like how the UK is currently.
“Will women ever outgrow the scars inflicted upon them by a world ruled by men?”
Jeff Buckley
Squatch even sells a novelty “bathwater soap,” containing Sweeney’s used bathwater, a wink at how obsessively her body is consumed by fans. And here lies the paradox: is she reclaiming power by profiting off her objectification, or is she simply trapped in the same system, forced to play along to maintain her career? It’s both at once: a performance of empowerment that still takes place within the tight boundaries of the male gaze.
Hollywood at large runs on this system. Actresses hit an expiration date by forty, while their male co-stars keep racking up leading roles well into their sixties. Sandra Bartky’s work on objectification helps explain why this grind feels so punishing: women don’t just get looked at, they learn to look at themselves constantly, to self-police, to stay within the narrow beauty standards expected of them. You can see the pressure in every red-carpet photo, every cruel “then-and-now” comparison online, every time a young actress is introduced by her looks before her craft.
Of course, not every woman plays along. Bell Hooks, in her
essay, “The Oppositional Gaze,” insists on the power of looking back, refusing to passively accept the image handed down by Hollywood or Madison Avenue. Her call feels urgent now, because while the industries recycle the same images, women (and audiences) are not powerless to push back.
The thread connecting Shields and Sweeney isn’t a coincidence. It’s a system. A system in which men profit by turning women into objects, keeping them trapped in a frame built for someone else’s pleasure. Unless the media changes, and audiences stop buying into it, the cycle continues. The first step is to name it for what it is: exploitation, not entertainment.
EDITORIALS 18
The FOCUS Act: Impact on Campus
Is the FOCUS Act Helping Students, or Causing Issues?
Claire McPhillips
and Will Davis Simmons, Staff Writers
In May of 2025, the governor of Alabama Kay Ivey signed the FOCUS Act into law. For those new to this legislation, the FOCUS Act restricts the use of phones, personal computers, and any other forms of wireless communication not permitted by the schools. We interviewed a few students and teachers to see their opinions; here’s what they have to say:
Teacher Questions:
1: What are notable pros and cons that you have in regards to the FOCUS Act?
2: Have you noticed any notable changes in the learning environment?
3: What have you heard from students or parents about the law?
4: Do you or do you not feel physically and emotionally safe with this new law implemented and why?
Mrs. Burroughs, English Teacher
1: “I really don’t see any major cons. As for pros, students seem more focused, and I’ve noticed there are fewer distractions overall...”
2: “It feels calmer now...Students also appear to be meeting deadlines more consistently.”
3: “I haven’t heard anything from parents, but what I’ve heard from students has been mostly positive. Overall, though, there hasn’t been a lot of discussion.”
4: “I didn’t feel unsafe before, and I don’t feel much of a change now. Physically, it’s the same. Emotionally, it feels about the same for me, but I do sense a positive emotional shift for students...”
Governor Ivey states, “The FOCUS (Freeing Our Classrooms of Unnecessary Screens for Student Safety) Act will enable students to ‘focus’ on learning in school rather than on their phones.” This act was also made to protect students from dangerous or inappropriate content by “adopt[ing] internet safe policies,” says Senator Donnie Chesteen. Representative Leigh Hulsey states that, “As a parent, equipping my child to excel in all aspects of life is priority number one.” The school and classroom environments have an extreme role in this. And because of this bill, schools have seen “more engagement” and “deeper connections,” which are seen quite often in the workforce.
However, critics argue that the recently passed legislation does quite the opposite of what it promises. For instance, distraction does not vanish just because a cellphone is removed. Rather, in fact, many
Mrs. Cook, English Teacher
1: “...Educators seem to think that students are more engaged... Engaging students is important to their education…However, it doesn’t address teaching students to be responsible digital citizens.”
2: “No, not really. Students seem more engaged but in reality students who are going to excel will do so because they are motivated...students who lack motivation won’t...”
3: “I have not heard much from parents but the students are opposed. They believe it is invasive and they believe it is...ineffective.”
4: “This law does not change my standpoint on safety at school... administration does all that they can to keep us safe.”
psychologists warn that creating an environment where students feel overly controlled can lead to resentment, anxiety, and even more covert ways of breaking the rules. Additionally, students may actually focus less on class content and more on how to bypass restrictions. Not only this, but chromebooks can also contribute to distractions when students find unblocked games and sneak through the boundaries set by the FOCUS Act. In emergencies, we often use phones as a way of communication during crises. When the FOCUS Act strips students of immediate access to emergency help, concerns rise. Though having several students calling the police during an emergency can jam the signals, it can be seen as helpful when a lot of information about the intruder’s whereabouts is revealed. The threat can be neutralized if there are active updates on his or her location. This raises a
Student Questions:
1: What are notable pros and cons that you have in regards to the FOCUS Act?
2: How has the law changed the normal routine in school for you as a student?
3: Do you or do you not feel physically and emotionally safe with this new law implemented and why?
4: What are your peers saying about this law and do you agree or disagree with their consensus?
Scott Buchanan, Grade 12
1: “I think there are both pros and cons. I believe there are some pros because it helps students focus and reduces screentime…. However the cons would be that some students listen to music in order to focus on their assignments… I myself even asked to use wired earbuds for music and they said no.”
2: “Not much because I usually do not get on my phone in between classes or anything.”
3: “As far as emotionally and physically–the teachers have their phones and thus I feel safe.”
4: “They say the law sucks–they generally don’t like it. As far as myself I lean more inbetween–I see things on both sides.”
significant and critical question: are we allowing for the creation of dangerous blind spots in the name of focus in our schools?
The FOCUS Act may have been passed with good intentions, but good intentions do not always equal a good impact. Instead of promoting focus, this law may be stimulating frustration, limiting access to resources, and ignoring the real issue: building a sense of trust, engagement, and responsibility. Let’s be real; we all want students and youth across the country to thrive and succeed so let’s focus on solutions that empower—not ones that restrict.
“The most important impact on society and the world is the cellphone.”
–Fabrice Grinda.
1: “I see the point that phones can be distracting, but I do think that taking away phones can be dangerous. I think being taught to use them responsibly is an important aspect of having a phone.”
2: “I used my Apple Watch to track my heart rate, but now I’ve had to buy a different watch and spend more money on something that worked just fine before.”
3: “In some parts, yes. I understand the cons of using phones during school. But if something dangerous happens during school, our phones are turned off...so we can’t access them quickly.”
4: “I know some people say it’s irrational...”
Evey Greenlee, Grade 12
The Quiet Issue
Why is silence a problem?
Blyss Murphree, Staff Writer
Have you ever been told ¨you don’t talk¨ or maybe ¨you are too quiet,¨ or maybe even ¨you are so awkward¨? Why is silence immediately assumed to be awkward? Why is there such an issue with just simply not having anything to say?
Being quiet in a conversation is usually not an issue; it only becomes an issue when the speaker looks at the individual who is not speaking and says something along the lines of the quotes previously listed. Being a quiet person does not mean you are awkward or unable to carry on a conversation; it really depends on the person you are speaking with. Yes, social anxiety is a real problem in our society today, and yes, many people possess this hindering quality. The real issue is why teenagers, specifically, feel the need to constantly be speaking. That may sound a little harsh, but it is the simplest way of saying it. Has society and social media forced us into the habit of feeling like we need constant auditory engagement to not lose sanity, or is it silence that is the actual problem?
Sitting in silence for 10 minutes will not harm you. Even mid hangout with
a friend, and it goes quiet for maybe 10 minutes, that is not awkward…that is human. No one needs to constantly be running their trap unless it is what they do for a living. With that being said, why is there a constant expectation for
I am getting at. I am trying to explain how having periods of silence within a hang out time with one of your close friends is not awkward, and both of you probably just needed 5-10 minutes of silence to remember what you even
everyone on earth to enjoy speaking to one another?
Having the ability to keep a conversation is important, but this is not what
came to Walmart for.
The point being is that quiet people are not scary or weird or constantly judging you, they are just aware of
AI AND ITS GLOOMING EFFECTS
How AI will impact jobs, futures, & life was we know it
Maggie Hope & Claire McPhillips, Staff Writer
By now, we are not strangers to the use of artificial intelligence all around the world. And while there are countless benefits from using AI, is it truly helping us in the end?
AI learns off of items that are on the internet. So, when you prompt ChatGPT or another AI generator to “create” a piece of art, it is stealing the work of other artists to form the drawing. This takes away the credit from the artists who spend hours working on their artwork. This also applies to songs and writing. A few months ago, there was a song trending on TikTok that was made using AI. There are also several “writers” who are publishing books where they use AI prompts to write the book. According to Oxford’s Ethics in AI, “its capacity for creative output might eclipse its human counterparts.” It can be very demotivating for those who put in the hard work, and it takes away the fun in doing hobbies they love.
Every time AI is used, the equivalent of one bottle of our drinking water is depleted. It also uses rare and hard to find minerals, and on top of that it drains our electricity. When AI uses electricity, it emits dangerous greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, and therefore warms the Earth in copious
amounts. This wouldn’t be as large of an issue if there weren’t countless people using AI. I need to insert/ embed this quote: “As AI becomes increasingly advanced, its capacity for creative output might eclipse its human counterparts, and in doing so render their creativity irrelevant.”
[Oxford’s Ethics in AI].
With the constant use of AI, and its overwhelming development within these past few years… You’re also beginning to see an increasingly large range of jobs being ripped away from human reach. Entry level jobs are being erased from the occupational field, which have provided necessary train-
ing and a starting place for millions of people. Decades of tradition, a place that offers a strong start, and a form of self-identity that are essential components of finding a job suitable for you is something that is quickly becoming more and more difficult to find all across the globe. Finance, business, marketing, you name it - AI is challenging human success in an abundance of ways, while also stripping the Earth of extremely valuable minerals. Degrees are wasted, people aren’t needed in many spheres of work, and according to the World Economic Forum, “AI stands as one of the most significant challenges - and opportunities - facing the labor market today.” While AI can be extremely helpful, and truly
¨stranger danger¨ and would rather listen and observe more than speak about pointless subjects like how you look in the background of that picture taken in middle school. Silence is not awkward or boring; silence is part of being a human living on earth. There is no need to try and ¨fix¨ yourself if you are a quiet person, just make sure you have the capability to carry on an interview…that is really the only time being able to speak on and on matters.
can be used in a “right way”, its almost abuse of usage is dulling the overall experience and standard of life everywhere.
While AI serves as a very convenient means of assistance, and can be used in an innovative way (keyword; can), it also reaps a lot of harmful consequences on our environment, our jobs, our skills, & our ability to have real human experiences that offer necessary learning for us to grow. Its usage is understandable, and it does free people from having to do repetitive and mundane tasks… But it also uses about ten times the amount of energy as search engines such as Google, Safari, & even Firefox. AI’s requirement of extremely powerful servers and large databases leads to a higher demand of energy versus your typical search engine. That extra energy use adds up, and it’s not great for the planet.
So next time you think about using AI - especially for something you could probably figure out on your own - take a second to ask: is the convenience really worth the cost?
