TIGER TIMES
A NATURAL RESET Fishers High School Volume XVI, Issue II October 2021 www.fisherstigertimes.com
Table of Contents 05 06 08 10 12
Features Business Classes Project 37 Fall Harvest Haunted Houses Camping and Hiking
13 14 16 18 20
Arts & Culture Podcasts Fall Coffee Halloween Movies Concerts Boba Tea
21 22 23 24
Sports Girls Volleyball Girls Cross Country Boys Cross Country NFL v College
25 26 28 29 30
Opinion Tampon Tax Advertising Devious Licks Pledge of Allegiance Editorial
On the cover: At Fort Benjamin Harrison State Park, a hiker takes advantage of one of the many hiking trails on Oct. 9. Photo by Emma Tomlinson. Page 2
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@fhstigertimes October 2021
Tiger Times Staff Editorial Board
Nate Albin Editor-in-Chief
Andrew Haughey Online Editor
Lily Thomas Features Editor
Emma Tomlinson Arts & Culture Editor
Fletcher Haltom Malak Samara Opinion/Copy Editor Social Media Director
Nicholas Rasmusson Sports Editor
Kristen Rummel Design Editor
Reporters
Emerson Elledge
Ben Grantonic
Laura Masoni
Abby Miller
Katrell Readus
Ben Rosen
Sydney Territo
Veda Thangudu
Freelancers Emilia Citoler Staff Profile
Ava Hunt Tiger Times
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Business on the brain
Students, teachers share insight about future careers
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Katrell Readus
readukat000@hsestudents.org
or some, the only reason to enroll in a business class is the required credit. For others, it is a career plan. Senior Katie Bott is interested in a business career in hospitality and tourism or marketing. “I have taken a few business classes and plan to take more,” Bott said. “Classes are starting blocks to help us in the business world. They teach us lessons that we can apply and build on. The classes I have taken have helped to shape my opinion on what I would like to do in the future.” According to business teacher Braden Tribolet, understanding and being successful in business is dependent on knowing the little things. “It’s understanding things that go into business life, understanding and interacting with coworkers, how to write an email, how to act in a meeting, how to speak to a manager and how to take feedback,” Tribolet said.“It’s the small things, not necessarily the nitty-gritty, of what we actually do in a business.” Tribolet advises students to look for or create a company where they can stand firm in their values. “Find a company where you can stick to your values, every company you go to is going to have different values, they're going to have morals,” Tribolet said. “I’m all about respect, honesty and trust. At my previous job, that was never really there, that’s one thing I struggled with in keeping the job.” There are many careers thrown under the blanket term business,Tribolet and business
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owner and teacher Jeremy Guler, explain the difference between fields they are familiar with, through years of prior job experience and, or in-depth knowledge. Internal Finance vs Accounting Tribolet explains his prior job in finance and its divergence from another field, accounting. “In finance, we manage the money whereas accounting does stuff with it,” he said. “They balance the accounts, deal with the credits and debits, journal entries, paying people and getting paid.” The work expected of Tribolet in finance differed in a few places. In finance, they looked at and determined where the money goes, how much money is being spent, and what each branch is doing. Another part of finance is budgeting. “The budget was 50 thousand rows by like 40 columns deep in Excel, it’s populating forms and making sure all the information is correct, working with managers, department heads and supervisors to make sure you have everything in the budget they need for the coming year,” Tribolet said.” Tribolet offers some direction to students looking to chase a business career who are unsure of which subset to follow. “If you like math, go into accounting. If you like the people aspect more, go into finance,” Tribolet said. “There were days in finance where all I did was work in Excel, working with numbers. There were days where I didn’t touch my computer once and was in meetings and interacting with people. In finance, each day could look different. You get
to do a lot, we had our hands in every department, we got spread out a lot, but also learned a lot and talked to a lot of people.” Guler believes there is more to business skills and techniques than numbers. To him, the things learned in a business setting or class will allow individuals to thrive in business and life. “For instance, marketing, we think of marketing as trying to sell products or services, but marketing is also marketing yourself,” Guler said.“When you’re in a meeting for any job, the PTA, or a sport, if you have an idea you want to pursue, you have to know how to convince people of your idea and how good it is. We are constantly marketing regardless of what field or career we’re in.” Marketing vs Sales According to Guler, the line between marketing and sales is blurred. “Marketing can be a huge part of sales, but you can be in marketing and never sell a product,” Guler said. “Someone in sales is marketing a product, trying to sell against another product, company, or sales rep., you’re marketing your company, skills and product while selling.” According to Guler, the multiple categories of marketing play a role in where the line falls in between marketing and sales. He is adamant that the lack of selling in maketing creates the divide. “You must work hard to be in the businIess field and put in many hours and effort,” Bott said. “Business is an everchanging field and there is always something new,” Bott said. “Classes, school are the foundation for college, your job, and anywhere you go.”
School-based information provided by Linda Brown, College & Career Counselor. Infographic by Katrell Readus.
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37 Thrives brings big change Local road remodelling affects residens aff in ects several ways in several ways Local road remodelling residents Veda Thangudu
Veda Thangudu thangved000@hsestudents.org
thangved000@hsestudents.org
Construction continues at 146th Street-SR37 in Fishers on Sept. 27. The result would be an overpass that goes over SR 37. Photo by Veda Thangudu.
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n recent months, construction work is going on all around Fishers, mainly focused on State Road 37 (SR 37) and Interstate 69 (I-69). Initiated by Drive Fishers, it aims to make Fishers a better place in terms of traffic. “Before the construction, there were a lot of traffic problems,” City of Fishers assistant director of engineering Hatem Mekky said. “The decision of the construction came up when all of our traffic studies on how we can improve the traffic going from I-69 to the city of
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Noblesville. Based on traffic studies, designers, engineers and the mayor’s office involved, this project was initiated with partnership with the locals.” Roundabouts at SR 37 - 126th St. are the first phase of the project. It broke ground in September 2019. “There used to be a lot of backup on I-69 before, but now since 126th St. was open, you don’t see a lot of backup; you see a lot of constant flow,” Mekky said. “As the project progresses and finishes, a lot of SR 37 traffic will go smoothly from 126th St.
all the way up to 146th St. The first traffic light that they will encounter is up on Greenfield Avenue, Noblesville.” The construction at 126th St. is completed. Ongoing work at 131st, 135th and 146th Streets are scheduled to be completed by summer 2022, when the work on 146th St. would begin. “Project 37 Thrives is set up to open all of the interchanges in 2023,” Mekky said. “We are on schedule for the final project, on 141st St.; we haven’t started construction there yet. We are scheduled to advertise that in
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February 2022.” According to statistica. com, the United States has 73 roundabouts per one million inhabitants. One of this project’s purposes is to increase the safety and efficiency of SR 37 by improving bicycle and pedestrian mobility. “There has been a lot of public acceptance of the project,” Mekky said. “There was a lot of skepticism before on how it is going to be built and impact SR 37. We’ve been out there in front of the businesses before the construction, during the construction and after the construction to address their concerns.” As of Sept. 30, the west side of 131st St. is currently closed as work continues on the SR 37 interchange. Junior Griffin Chesebrough believes that the construction will allow better access to roads, but also sees the current problems it brings. “To get to other areas after school is mainly affected,” Chesebrough said. “In the long term, it will be good, because if we have that road where people could go at once and it’s not that stoplight, that would be efficient use of the roads and people can get to their destination quicker. But in the short term, it’s
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obviously hurting people. With most construction, people have to wait.” This project commenced after collaboration with the cities of Fishers and Noblesville, Hamilton County and the Indiana Department of Transportation. “I’d like to mention how
well the city of Fishers and Hamilton County have been in communicating with us and helping us through the process,” said Thomas Duncan, Transportation and Routing director at HSE School District.“ It’s greatly appreciated. For the most part, it’ll help our buses get somewhere a little bit faster.”
Construction continues at 131st Street-SR37 in Fishers on Sept. 24, 2021. To make the intersection have better traffic flow. Photo by Veda Thangudu.
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Happy harvest Farmers reap what they sow during the season Lily Thomas
1 1. An illustration graphic represents the 2021 Farmers’ Almanac cover, which is a book that includes planting times and weather predictions. Graphic by Lily Thomas. 2. A basket given to visitors at Fishers AgriPark is full of fresh produce like tomatoes, lettuce, green beans and peppers on Sept. 24. Photo by Lily Thomas. 3. Corn stalks bask in the sun at Fishers AgriPark on Sept. 24. The corn is now a corn maze that visitors can navigate through. Photo by Lily Thomas.
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thomalil000@hsestudents.org
n Indiana, 55,550 farms were operated during 2020, as reported by the Information from National Agricultural Statistics Service. With a large agricultural industry, harvest season can be an important time for farmers in Indiana. According to the Western Illinois University School of Agriculture, harvest season runs from late September to early December and refers to the time in which farmers reap the crops they have grown during the year. Fishers is home to a 33-acre urban farm called AgriPark, which provides an array of crops for Fishers’ residents. Currently, the farm has pumpkins, tomatoes, green beans, peppers, assorted herbs, cabbage, fall squash and brussel sprouts. “We have had an amazing year this season as far as harvest goes,” AgriPark Operations Manager Trevor Wildey said. “Our vegetable harvest begins as early as June and runs until the end of October. We have
given well over 12,000 pounds of produce back to the community.” Wildey said the farm has planted 30,000 vegetable plants this season. The majority of their produce is planted on four-foot wide black plastic, which creates a raised bed for the plants that allows an irrigation line to run underneath. In addition, the plastic keeps the soil warmer so that crops may be planted earlier. Farmers use many different techniques when planting and harvesting crops. The Farmers’ Almanac can be a tool for planting. According to the Farmers’ Almanac website, the book includes helpful knowledge like long-range weather predictions and a planning calendar that notes the opportune planting times for different crops. “I know some of the Farmers’ Almanac and refer to it many times
2 throughout a season,” Wildey said. “The Farmers’ Almanac is a great resource and has plenty of tips and pointers on gardening and weather.” Aside from using the Farmers’ Almanac, having agricultural knowledge can also be helpful when tending to crops. Agriculture, as described by agriculture teacher Samuel Lawrence, encompasses animal, plant, natural resource and food science. Junior and Future Farmers of America (FFA) participant Ruby Kivett is currently taking an agriculture class. “My favorite thing about agriculture is the culture of it and how far back it goes,” Kivett said. “It’s been in America forever, and I just think it’d be a good thing to be a part of. I’ve just always had an interest in it, and being in FFA just helped that passion grow.” According to Lawrence, one agricultural technique involves rotating crops to different fields each season. “Different insects will eat different crops,” Lawrence said. “Also, just like we can get sick, so can plants. When you change it from one plant to another plant, it
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October 2021
1. Pumpkins grow in a patch at Fishers AgriPark on Sept. 24. The pumpkins will be done growing in mid-October. 2. Among a large plot of soil, green beans hang off their plant, waiting to be picked at Fishers AgriPark on Sept. 24. 3. On Sept. 24, rows of green beans, assorted peppers and tomatoes are ready for harvest at Fishers AgriPark. Photos by Lily Thomas.
1 eliminates that disease.” Another technique is turning soil, which adds oxygen and moisture into the soil, thus making it easier to plant. “Throughout the growing season, we try to plant different vegetables at different times to have a continuous harvest throughout the summer,” Wildey said. “The community has really seemed to enjoy the park and word travels fast and so do the vegetables.” Wildey said that in future years, AgriPark hopes to try out new techniques. “Aquaponics and hydroponics are just two examples of different ways of raising produce,” Wildey said. “This would allow people
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to see other ways of how their food is grown rather than just planting directly into soil.” Lawrence explained that there are several factors that impact the viability and overall production of crops. Factors include the amount of water and sunlight, the temperature and nutrients. While keeping such factors in mind, farmers also look at what crops to plant at what time. Lawrence says that temperature plays a large role in when to plant and so do frost dates. He says that a good rule of thumb for planting a garden in Indiana is to plant on Mother’s Day. “The harvest time is gratifying because you’re seeing the fruits
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of your labor and then you get to enjoy them,” Lawrence said. “It always tastes better if you’ve grown it than if someone else did.” For those interested in getting involved or learning, there are volunteer opportunities at the AgriPark that involve helping with animals, planting and harvesting. “The AgriPark has made a major impact on the community,” Wildey said. “It’s providing lots of good, fresh vegetables for the public, education on where your food comes from, how your food is grown, and it is also offering a different experience than your normal park.”
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Ghouls night out Haunted houses provide chills, thrills for fall season Ava Hunt
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alloween time, otherwise known as spooky season, instills a sense of fright in the air. At some venues, the entirety of the atmosphere is dedicated to attempting to scare the participants. Actors put on their best spine-shrilling costumes and lurk in unexpected places, waiting for visitors to walk around the corner. Haunted houses are a significant and popular attraction during this time of the year. The houses can range in levels of scare factor, allowing people to choose the best suited attraction dependent on their terror threshold. For individuals who are interested in seeking out a feeling of fear this season, there are plenty of options near Fishers to choose from. Indy Screampark Located in Anderson, Indiana, Indy Screampark draws attention from people all over. With its six separate attractions within the park, participants can select which ones they want to go through depending on what they are interested in. Freshman Rosie Stephan was able to experience four out of the six attractions.
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huntava000@hsestudents.org
“My favorite one was the Zombieland Unchained one,” Stephan said. “It was the scariest and most creative. They even had our group walk through an old school bus during it.” In terms of scariness factor, Indy Screampark has many accolades to prove their frightfulness. According to their website, they were voted in 2020 as being top three of the USA’s best haunted houses by USA’s best haunted houses. However, Stephan believes that not all of the attractions were heart pumping. “In general, it wasn’t super scary because it is supposed to be inclusive of younger ages,” Stephan said. “A couple were pretty scary though, like the backwoods one.” Indy Screampark is open on Sundays and weeknights from 7 p.m. to 10:30 p.m., Fridays from 7 p.m. to 1 a.m., and Saturdays from 7 p.m. to 1:30 a.m. Prices for a single ticket vary depending on what night of the week attended, but they range anywhere from $24.95 to $41.95. They also offer fast passes, whose price varies. The park will remain open until Nov. 7. “I would rate it a three out of
five because it was a fun time with my friends, but the lines were long and the price was a lot,” Stephan said. “They also don’t change the attractions enough, so it’s not super fun to go multiple times.” Hanna Haunted Acres Located in Indianapolis, Indiana, Hanna Haunted Acres is considered a staple in the Indy haunted house community. It provides visitors with five separate houses and offers a haunted hayride. Senior Brooke Hilbert had the pleasure of going and recalls her time spent at the venue. “At the beginning, they had a doctor and walked you through the experience as if you were in a haunted hospital,” Hilbert said. “Those are my favorite types of haunted houses because they are super realistic and immerse yourself in the house.” Since Hilbert has attended, the themes of the attractions have shifted a bit. They currently offer Hanna’s haunted hayride, Acres Manor, Cannibal Chaos, Freakshow, the Horror Fields and Descension. The attractions vary between being inside and outside and one of them, the Descension, takes participants
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through a pitch-black haunt. “My favorite attraction was the corn maze when I went,” Hilbert said. “Since it was outside, there were a lot more hidden places people could hide and scare you. It was a lot more unexpected.” Hanna’s Haunted Acres is open Sundays and weekdays from 7 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. and Fridays and Saturdays from 7 p.m. to 12 a.m. Prices for a single ticket vary depending on what night of the week attended, but they range anywhere from $26.95 to $41.95, with the ability to add on fast passes. The last day they are open for this year is Oct. 31. “I would rate it a three and a half out of five because it is not as scary as Indy scream park in my opinion,” Hilbert said. “The haunted houses were a bit more limited, but it was still super fun.” Necropolis Located in Indianapolis, Necropolis Underground Haunted attraction is a full underground 50,000 square foot civilization used to haunt tourists. It offers four different attractions that newly includes a midway-style game area where there is axe throwing, escape rooms and a tarot booth. Senior JP Preston describes a moment where his adrenaline kicked in during his visit to Necropolis. “I was deathly afraid of clowns at the time, and we entered through the clown attraction,”
Preston said. “It had my heart racing but ended up being my favorite one we went through.” Necropolis’ attractions include Nightmare House, Cemetery of the Damned, Dead and Breakfast and the Bunker, all of which are indoor attractions. Since the location of the venue is underground, Preston thought that its obscureness contributed to its difficulty to find. “It was in this thing that looked like a warehouse behind some buildings but there wasn’t much signage saying where it was,” Preston said. “It wasn’t easy to find at all and we spent forever looking for it.” Necropolis is closed on the weekdays, but open on Friday and Saturday from 8 p.m. to 1 a.m. and on the last two Sundays in October from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m.. A single general admission ticket costs $35, while a fast pass ticket costs $50. The last day to attend Necropolis is Oct. 31. “I would give it a four out of five on the scariness factor, but a two out of five on the overall factor,” Preston said. “It was very short and I don’t think it was worth the money. I will say that the scary stuff did leave my heart pounding though.”
Share your haunted house stories with us by messaging our Instagram @ fhstigertimes.
Graphics by Ava Hunt.
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Gone for a hike
Highlighting local locations for outdoor exploration
R NEARBY HIKING LOCATIONS - Mounds State Park - Starve Hollow State Park - Charlestown State Park - Indiana Dunes State Park - Fort Benjamin Harrison State Park
ight before the sun comes up, hikers embark on a journey through the woods on the way to a lookout point. The forest is serene and peaceful in the early hours of the morning, making the difficult hike easier. As the sun rises over a fog-shrouded ravine in Brown County State Park, the hikers arrive, feeling fulfilled and inspired at the sight. “I enjoy how the forest sounds with how it’s just so quiet, and everything that goes along with it, like the sound and the smell.” Sophomore Madelyn Lerew said. “I feel good about myself because I’m exercising, but it doesn’t feel like exercise because I enjoy doing it.” According to the National Park Service (NPS), hiking is a way to build relationships and benefits both physical and mental health. The physical benefits consist of improving overall strength and wellness, while the mental
Emerson Elledge
elledeme000@hsestudets.org
benefits include a lowered risk of depression along with reducing anxiety and stress. Lerew and Sophomore Tyler Schmuck both recommend Turkey Run, a nearby state park in Marshall, Indiana. There are over 14 miles of trails at Turkey Run that range in difficulty. Turkey Run also contains gorges, which are deep and narrow valleys, usually with steep sides. “Turkey Run is probably the best place you could go, hikingwise, because it has really cool gorges,” Lerew said. “I wouldn’t suggest it if ladders and stuff are hard for you, or immediately after it’s rained because it can get kind of muddy, but the gorges are really pretty.” Zeisig regularly camps and hikes with his family. He recommends local locations such as Mounds State Park, Starve Hollow State Park, Charlestown State Park and Indiana Dunes State Park. “I feel very connected to nature after camping; it is something that really serenades
me,” sophomore Justin Ziesig said. “I enjoy camping because it is a really good bonding time with my family, as well as taking my thoughts off of any pressuring or stress-inducing activities either happening or coming up. It is just a good way to take a ‘brain break.’” Schmuck advised people to explore trails in Brown County, especially with the leaves changing as the seasons transition into fall. “In the fall, [camping is] kind of perfect,” Schmuck said. “It’s not too hot, like in the summer, and it’s also not too cold, like in the winter.” Zeisig agreed, but thought that the scenery is the highlight of the season. “Yearly, I would say during early to mid-fall, due to the comfortable weather, [would be the best time to hike],” Zeisig said. “The best part about camping in the fall would be the scenery. It is just when the leaves are changing color and it is just so pretty.”
NEARBY CAMPING LOCATIONS - McCormick’s Creek State Park - Clifty Falls State Park Graphic by Emerson Elledge
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October 2021
On the air
Students express a mixed opinion on podcasts Laura Masoni
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masonlau000@hsestudents.org
rom true crime to politics, the topics and episodes of podcasts on streaming platforms are continuing to evolve. With Spotify alone offering over 2.2 million episodes at the end of 2020, they are a multimedia standout. For senior Nick Greenwood, the format of podcasts offered him some variety from typical mediums. “I first discovered podcasts when I got bored of listening to music and wanted to try something new,” Greenwood said. The Infinite Dial, America’s longest-running survey of digital media, reported a 5% increase in monthly American podcast listeners ages five and up in 2020. However, not everyone is so keen to jump on the podcast bandwagon. Semrush Blog reported 75% of people who do not listen to podcasts often say it is just not for them. “I’ve never really enjoyed listening to a podcast,” senior Jenna Medalen said. “I tend to have a short attention span, so I’ve never really found one that has kept me interested.” According to Hurrdat Media, the average length of an episode is 43 minutes. Keeping a listener engaged and active is one of the main challenges facing aspiring podcasters, and one genre has seemed to grab the attention of many students. “I really only listen to one genre, true crime,” senior Ying Huang said.
True crime, one of Spotify’s most listened-to categories, is also a hit among students. One of the most popular, Crime Junkie, has achieved over 500 million downloads since its December 2017 premiere. “The knowledge that the hosts have is just incredible,” said Greenwood. “The factor that keeps me from skipping the podcasts is the character that the hosts bring.” Many are also drawn to the simplicity of them. Podcasts offer many versatility, and the opportunity to multitask. “I can put it on in the background. I don’t have to actually look at it,” said Huang. While most podcasts do not offer a visual component like a video recording, the ones that do have found great success on Youtube. Many of these, including VIEWS by David Dobrick and IMPAULSIVE by Logan Paul racking up over a million views each post. In addition, the channels dedicated to these videos have a combined total of 5.1 million subscribers. It is impossible to pinpoint the origin of the podcast craze, but it has proven to be one that will not be going away anytime soon. Even in some students’ opposition to podcasts, the possibility still stands for future interest. “I could definitely see myself enjoying podcasts in the future, maybe when I find one that I find intriguing,” said Madelen.
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2 1. Graphic by Emma Tomlinson displaying popular podcasts amoung students. 2. Graphic by Laura Masoni. Information collected via Instagram poll taken Sep 24 of 56 students. 3. Photo courtesy of flickr.com.
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A taste of autumn Starbucks shares fall drink recipes online
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or coffee lovers, the beginning of the fall season is marked by the release of Starbucks’ seasonal fall drink lineup. The first fall seasonal espresso drink was created in 2003 in the Starbucks “Liquid Lab.” The team of food scientists that work in the lab developed what is now Starbucks’ most popular fall drink: the pumpkin spice latte. The drink is available in nearly 50 countries, according to Peter Dukes, the director of International Progress and Ideas for Starbucks. “I think the pumpkin spice latte is a classic seasonal drink for fall and is perfect for cooler days; however, I think that it’s a bit overrated,” sophomore Constanza Méndez Vega said. The fall seasonal lineup has since expanded to include six drinks and three baked goods. Junior Seth Mullins, a Starbucks barista, prefers the pumpkin cream cold brew because it is less bitter than other coffees and is topped with cold foam. The pumpkin cream cold brew is popular among Starbucks baristas. “[My favorite drink] is the pumpkin cream cold brew, it’s not as popular but we still get it ordered a lot,” senior Nora Gauss, Starbucks barista, said. In 2018, Starbucks signed a global licensing deal granting Nestle the rights to market Starbucks packaged products. With this partnership, Starbucks became one of Nestle Professional’s most popular brands, along with Fontana, Teavana and Seattle’s Best Coffee. Fontana produces a variety of syrups used in coffee, from hazelnut to peppermint. “The syrups are what create most of the flavor in the drinks and add sweetness,” Mullins said. “Without
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Emma Tomlinson
tomliemm000@hsestudents.org
them, you would just get the basic coffee taste.” Besides use in Starbucks coffees, Fontana syrups can be found in local grocery stores such as Walmart, Target and Staples. Fontana syrups and packaged coffee bags are even available for purchase at Starbucks. “We sell bags of espresso, but they’re much smaller than the ones we use throughout the work day,” Gauss said. “Recently, too, most of
Scan this QR code for unique Starbucks recipes that you can make at home.
the syrups they ask for aren’t the ones we have in stock anyway.” Starbucks’ website called “Coffee At Home” shares tips and recipes for making popular drinks and unique recipes at home. The recipes range from golden turmeric lattes to coffee peanut butter smoothies. These recipes can be made with either Starbucksbranded ingredients or ingredients that can be found at home. Many of the coffee recipes on the website also include recipes to make the specialty syrups at home. “Without knowing the recipes or having the same ingredients, it’s always bound to taste different,”
Gauss said. In a poll conducted on Sept. 28, of 124 Fishers students, 54% said they would rather make their own coffee at home. “I absolutely love coffee, so I do make my own cup at home quite often,” Méndez Vega said. “I usually experiment with recipes inspired from the internet and Starbucks itself, but with an added kick.” Méndez Vega has experimented with making her own fall drink recipes. Recently, she made an espresso with spiced chai oat milk foam topped with a dash of pumpkin spice. “I think people making their own drinks at home is great because it saves them money and helps us not have to make as many,” Mullins said. According to a poll conducted on Sept. 30 of Fishers students, those polled spend on average $13.50 on Starbucks every week. For students who like to budget, making coffee at home is a great way to save money and be creative with recipes. “Making coffee at home would definitely reduce the cost and would be a better way to save money because it is cheaper to buy a bag of coffee beans that produces more cups of coffee rather than buying a single cup of coffee for the same price as the bag,” Méndez Vega said. Starbucks seasonal drinks can be a large expense if purchased weekly, but the drinks are extremely profitable for Starbucks. According to a recent Forbes interview with Starbucks CFO Rachel Ruggeri, the Pumpkin Spice Latte has brought in $1.4 billion since 2003. “Seasonal drinks make the fall more fun,” Gauss said. “It’s kind of upsetting that we don’t get to make them year-round.”
October 2021
Iced Apple Crisp Macchiato Ingredients ½ c. apple juice from concentrate ½ c. dark brown sugar 2 Tbsp. sugar 1/8 tsp. vanilla ½ tsp. cinnamon ¼ tsp. nutmeg 1/8 tsp. lemon juice 2-3 Tbsp. apple syrup 1 c. milk 2 espresso shots In a small saucepot, dissolve your brown and white sugar into the apple juice over medium heat. Mix in your cinnamon, lemon, nutmeg and simmer for about 5-10 minutes over medium-low heat, stirring frequently. Once it is thickened, set syrup aside and let it cool for about 10 minutes. In a cup filled with ice, pour in your apple crisp syrup. Add milk. Add in espresso. Stir and enjoy!
Pumpkin Spice Latte Ingredients 1½ c. sugar 1½ c. water 6 cinnamon sticks 1 tsp. ground cloves 1 tsp. ground ginger 1 c. milk 2 tsp. ground nutmeg 4 Tbsp. pumpkin purée 1 oz brewed espresso roast 3 Tbsp. Pumpkin Spice Syrup Combine sugar and water in saucepan, bring to a simmer. Once sugar is dissolved, add cinnamon sticks, ground cloves, ginger, nutmeg and pumpkin purée, and let simmer for 20 minutes. Remove from heat and strain through cheesecloth. Heat and froth milk. Place the syrup into a mug, followed by hot espresso. Stir together. Fill mug with frothed milk until ¾ full, then top with whipped cream.
Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew Ingredients 1 ½ c. cold brew coffee ¼ c. milk ½ tsp. vanilla extract pinch of fine sea salt
2 ½ tsp. maple syrup ½ tsp. pumpkin puree ¼ tsp. pumpkin pie spice
Make your iced coffee. Then stir in maple syrup and vanilla until combined. Make the pumpkin foam. In a measuring cup combine cold milk, maple syrup, pumpkin puree, vanilla, pumpkin spice and salt. Froth the milk until it reaches a tight whipped-cream-like foam consistency. Fill a serving glass with ice, pour in the iced coffee spoon the pumpkin foam on top. Sprinkle with a pinch of pumpkin pie spice, if desired. Graphics and photos by Emma Tomlinson.
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Screams on the screen Classic Halloween films reemerge for October season
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he beginning of fall, for some, does not just signify the change of seasons, but the beginning of decorations and activities of October’s most popular holiday: Halloween. During this spooky season, a common activity among many is watching Halloween movies. The first horror movies were made in the early 20th century. These horror movies featured traditional monsters such as skeletons, ghosts and the devil; this era of movies mostly focused on religious and supernatural themes. As time progressed, more horror movies started to take inspiration from Halloween, creating an entire genre full of movies based around the holiday. However, not every movie watched in the spirit of Halloween actually pertains to the holiday. Some movies are simply scary or have some relation to the time of October. “My all-time favorite Halloween movie is probably ‘The Nightmare Before
Emilia Citoler
citolemi000@hsestudents.org
Christmas,’” senior Izzy Davis said. “While it is technically a Christmas movie, I associate it with watching it on Halloween with my cousins and the old ‘Kingdom Hearts’ game for Playstation 2.” Some Halloween movies are not only popular, they also gain the prestigious title of a “cult classic.” A cult classic is a movie that amasses a following which resembles that of a cult, according to a Rolling Stone article on the best cult classics. These movies are oftentimes unpopular within mainstream media, but usually find a niche audience. For example, “Hocus Pocus,” a Halloween movie that is considered a cult classic, only has a 33% approval rate on Rotten Tomatoes, but is a favorite among generations of movie-watchers. The movie is centered around the resurrection of three witches. “Hocus Pocus is the perfect mix of some halloween fright and plenty of giggles,” freshman Sophia Hunt said. “Scream,” a slasher film, from the late 90s, is also considered
a cult classic. Slasher films usually are centered around a serial killer; they are known for creating a large amounts of deaths in a short time period and being particularly gorey. The movie follows a high school student as she is continuously attacked by a killer with the name of “Ghostface.” “Scream” has plenty of jump-scares and gore for those who are looking for a bit of fright. “Watching a scary movie on Halloween has been one of my favorite October activities for years,” senior Kassi Whalen said. “Nothing beats getting the life scared out of you with your friends.” Newer movies like Stephen King’s “It” may not have achieved the title of cult classic, but are extremely popular during the time of October. While “It” is not a Halloween movie, many enjoy the horror film during the month. “It” follows the trials and tribulations of a small friend group in Maine after their confrontations with a demonic entity that takes the form of a clown. While “It” is
Infographic provided by Emilia Citoler
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October 2021
definitely not family friendly, as it is rated R, the flim mixes horror with plenty of adolescent humor. According to a poll taken of Fishers students on Oct. 9th via Instagram, 73% reported that they preferred a Halloween movie that is scary or contains violent imagery, while 27% said that they enjoyed when a “scary” movie is family-friendly. While some Halloween movies include some violent imagery, plenty keep it PG. For example, Disney’s “Halloweentown” is rated PG and is a favorite among all ages for October. The movie follows a young witch, Marnie, as she struggles between her two lives: the life she lives in her normal town and her life with her grandmother, who lives in an enchanted town where it is Halloween all year long. “I enjoy watching Halloween movies because I think it’s fun,” Davis said. “I also like scary things and find it fun to get a good scare out of something.” Streaming giants, like Disney+ and Hulu, create a collecton of Halloween movies for the month of October. Disney+ has “Monstober” where one can find plenty of options of PG movies to watch. Similarly, Hulu has “Huluween” where they gather several picks for watchers to binge.
Arts & Culture
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Boba backup Shortage of tapioca flour causes hardship for small boba shops to remain stocked Kristen Rummel
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rummekri000@hsestudents.org
apioca pearls, also referred to as boba, have grown in popularity over the last couple of years. The pearls are produced from tapioca starch then boiled to create a spherical shape. The result is a glossy pearl with a chewy texture. The pearls are typically served with infused tea or flavored milk tea and a special straw so the pearls can fit through. Tapioca starch has become especially difficult to purchase due to COVID-19 and the difficulties of shipping goods across seas. Boba originated in Taiwan, growing in popularity in the U.S. in the 1980s. Since then, thousands of shops have opened up specializing in boba products like Kung Fu Tea 8395 116th Street, Suite 121, Fishers is opening soon. Many stores have been having trouble getting the pearls, while others have been out for months like Pho VN Cuisine on 116th street. “Because of the tapioca shortage, many bubble tea places have made boba more expensive,” junior Nalanie Cortez said. “Some places even run out due to the shortage, so it can be difficult to find tapioca pearls when getting boba.” Some specialty stores like Bento Cafe and Tsaocca still carry boba and are still available for purchase. “My favorite boba place would be Tsaocca,” Cortez said. “They have so many favors to choose from that the combinations are endless. You can customize your Iced blueberry yogurt with Konjac boba and Caramel bubble black drinks in your own way makes it tea with brown sugar from Tsaocca. Photo by Kristen Rummel.
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perfect.” Tsaocaa boba tea retails for around $5, and has a variety of flavors. The most common being black tea with milk and brown sugar . Popping boba is also another variety of sweet treats, it is a syrup-filled sphere, encapsulated in a gelatin wrapping. They come in many favors; as whatever can be turned into syrup, can be turned into popping boba. Retailers like Dunkin offered popping boba in the summer in flavors like mango and cherry. Popping boba can be used for many desserts like frozen yogurt and parfaits. “Without a doubt, tapioca pearls are my favorite type over popping boba,” senior Kaelyn Tai said. “The whole purpose of boba is the chew factor, so popping boba feels weird in my mouth and doesn’t even taste that good.” Retailers like Tsaocca offer both types of boba, with flavors like orange, mango, kiwi and grape. They serve more common teas like black, green and ruby tea. All can be customized with different milks, sweetener and a choice of different boba. Kung Fu tea was scheduled to open back in late July, early August but since the lack of employees, product and constructions around the area, opening has been delayed until further notice. “Having a shop open closer to home is so exciting,” senior Meghan Chen said. “Because of their delayed opening, I have been patiently waiting for the opening.”
October 2021
Varsity girls volleyball players celebrate after winning a point during a home match against Noblesville on Sept. 2. Fishers won 3-0. Photo By Kailey Santiago.
Serving the competition Girls volleyball team takes victorys and heads towards big success Benjamin Grantonic
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grantben000@hsestudents.org
espite disruptions from the COVID-19 pandemic, the girls volleyball team has seen notable improvements as a team compared to previous seasons. Head coach Steven Peek shared how his team had a strong season despite COVID. “Certainly what I’d hope is the hallmark of how good we can be is that something even like a global pandemic doesn’t affect us,” Peek said. “You know, that’s not always the case, and certainly last year, even though we didn’t have anyone miss any time thankfully due to COVID-19 or whatnot, we were still affected. Our first three conference matches all had to be rescheduled because of COVID issues with the opponent, so you just have to be able to adapt and play the schedule, and I thought we did a good job of that last year.” The varsity team has seen notable success, with them taking wins in matches against top-rated teams, according to Maxpreps, like Mount Vernon and Brownsburg. “I think the most important thing I can do as a coach, or any of our coaches can do, is bring consistency,” Peek said. “The girls
Sports
could probably tell you how we will react to certain situations, and I think that’s a good thing. They know how consistent our leadership will be, and the things we have some flexibility on and the things we draw a line in the sand about.” Leadership on the team does not just come from the coaches, with student leadership also being a stated contributor to the team’s current string of victories as of early october. “We have a great group of captains, certainly many talented people in our program,” Peek said. “If we are training to be competitive, and training our brains to improve and play better than we were in August, then usually I’m a pretty happy camper, and I think we are on the right path.” Though it is not just training and leadership that brings victory. Senior Samantha Perdue also attributed the team’s success to how the team worked together well. “I think our team chemistry this year has been unmatched [compared] to all the other years I’ve been here before.” Perdue said. “I think as a team we get along super well, we gel and our team just clicks on the court and
off the court,” “We have all been ready to go, excited, so I think at practice we all go hard and we do our best and give everything that we can.” Junior Ava Vickers agreed with the idea that the team’s collaborative nature was a major contributor to success. “I think part of [our success] is how much we are trusting each other and trusting our passers and hitters and setters, and it just helps with coming out with a win.” Vickers said. Coach Peek shared how thankful he was that the team even got to play seasons during the COVID-19 pandemic, and agreed that it was the players who made these season’s successful. “I’m really happy. Last year, I was happy we got to have a season and kind of had to raise the bar and realize, ‘Okay, the season is here. We need to still do what we normally do and be competitive and be great.’ I’m really glad, once again, though. I’m thankful for this season because of the great seniors and generally group of girls we have,” Peek said. The girls volleyball team has an upcoming home game on Nov. 2, as well as having a conference game on Oct. 26.
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Getting back on course Girls cross country team reestablishes bonds with each other
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hen the world shut down amid the COVID-19 pandemic in early 2020, the implications were not yet clear. Students were told they would be back in school in two to three weeks and not to worry. But that goal came and passed as students remained out of school. Spring sports were canceled by IHSAA and 1 students on all teams were forced to adapt to maintain their training regiments. For the girls cross country team, being forced to run outside of a team setting proved difficult for many due to the lack of team motivation. Now that the team is back together at school and practices, runners believe the atmosphere is getting closer to where it used to be. “COVID changed cross country a lot,” senior Vera Schafer said. Spectators weren’t allowed at meets, it wasn’t as fun and the sport wasn’t as enjoyable because we didn’t get the full experience. This year, everything is starting to open back up, and all we have to do is wear our masks, which isn’t a big deal. It’s a lot more fun, and I’m loving it.” Although the team is back to competing, the initial blow of COVID canceled the spring track season many girls participated in, damaging many runners’ incentive to keep training consistently.
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Andrew Haughey
haughand000@hsestudents.org
“At the time, our 4x800 was bond the team has worked to ranked first in the state,” Schafer build this year. said. “It was a major blow to “Being back together at our mental health and our selfschool and practices has been esteem in the motivating for the girls and has sense that we helped them have a better sense were losing our of community within the team,” seniors that year Belloli said. “Even though it is and wouldn’t not exactly the same as prebe able to finish COVID, things are a lot closer to out the season normal this year than they were the way we last year.” usually do.” Junior Ana Foutty accredits In spite of the the little things, such as pasta events being dinners, that the team missed canceled early out on last year as being the in 2020, the main reason the team is so close team is still now. facing COVID “I definitely gained guidelines a motivation,” Foutty said. year and a half “Having a closer team later, such as a mask mandate. relationship allows us to push Head coach Andrew Belloli said each other a lot more. We all this was one work to get better of the biggest for the team.” unforeseen This newfound issues still motivation has plaguing the allowed runners team. to achieve the “The goals they set for rules and themselves before restrictions the pandemic have changed started. a lot over “I started the past running - for the year,” Belloli first time - track 2 said. “It is my freshman year, always an so my goal was to 1. Juniors Brooke Butts and adjustment be able to finish a Nithya Murthy run together at when there run,” Foutty said. the sectional meet at Pendleton “Being able to be is a change Heights High School on Oct. 9. in the a varsity athlete Butts and Murthy would finish guidelines.” my first season of 20th and 16th, respectfully. 2. While the running and being Freshman Corinne McClanahan able to continue pandemic rounds a post at the sectional lingers it out my second meeet at Pendleton Heights on, Belloli year of running is High School on Oct. 9. remains more than I ever McClanahan would finish 24th. thankful for thought I would Photos by Andrew Haughey. the close do.”
October 2021
Graphic by Ben Rosen
Arive, Logan: 7th Kim, Matthew: 9th Greiwe, Ben: 10th Niemeier, Elza: 13th Kane, Cooper: 16th Nix, Ethan: 17th Slagle, Bryson: 21st Information from DirectAthletics
A tale of two leagues
College and NFL football’s return revives everlasting debate Nicholas Rasmusson
College football is an American tradition, especially at Clemson University. The Tigers have won two national championships in the past five seasons. Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.
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rasmunic000@hsestudents.org
Many college football teams have traditions specific to their school. Penn State has their annual “White Out” game, Wisconsin plays “Jump Around” by House of Pain after the third quarter, Florida State does the Tomahawk Chop and Notre Dame has their “Play Like a Champion Today” sign. s fall rolls around, college Additionally, Iowa has a tradition football and the NFL called the Kinnick Wave. After return to televisions the first quarter at every home nationwide. Occurring on game, fans and players of both weekdays, and more notably teams turn toward the Stead Saturdays and Sundays, both Family Children’s Hospital and leagues are operating at full force. wave at the children inside With this, the debate over which the hospital, a heartwarming is better is revived. Arguments tradition. can be made for both sides, but Both leagues have many there are a few characteristics that traditions, and while the NFL set apart the leagues from one has one of the most recognizable another: tradition, competition ones, college football has and the impact of games. numerous amounts on both a Tradition national and team level. College The NFL has had many football takes the tradition point. traditions throughout its history, Competition but none more notable than their Competition in college football Thanksgiving Day game slate. is unique. Teams will typically On Thanksgiving Day, the NFL play a short non-conference schedules three games: an early schedule early in the season afternoon game, a late afternoon followed by a much longer game and a night game. There conference schedule, with maybe is nothing better than sitting one or two non-conference games around the dinner table with your sprinkled in throughout. This family on Thanksgiving while puts marquee games that can set watching football. teams apart at the beginning of Throughout college football’s the season. Depending on the rich history, many traditions strength of a team’s conference, run deep. One tradition that is the remainder of their schedule recognized by many sports fans could be a cakewalk, which is the Army-Navy Game. The depletes their resume. While it two service academies square is not typically a problem for up for millions of fans in the members of Power 5 conferences stadium and around the nation. and independents, it can be very While most of the players on tough for members of the Group the field will never suit up on a of Five conferences. professional level, it is the fact In the NFL, the existence that while these academies may of conferences are mainly for be enemies on the field, they the playoffs, so competition is are allies on the battlefield that sprinkled in throughout the entices viewers. entirety of the season. Contrary
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to college football, it is very possible for any team to beat another team on any given day, as they are all professional athletes. It is rare that a team gets beat by 50 points in the NFL, but in college football, it is normal that some team gets thumped by 50 points each week. While competition in college football is great during the postseason, the NFL earns the competition point. Impact of Games In the NFL, a strictly recordbased league, it is expected if a team loses a few games. Only one team has completed a perfect season: the Miami Dolphins in 1972. Since NFL teams can afford to lose games, it allows them to sit their starters if they have clinched a playoff spot. College football is completely different because it is based upon momentum and rankings. The rankings are determined by a committee, and that determines who makes the College Football Playoff. Two losses is devastating for a team’s chances to make the College Football Playoff, as no team has ever made the playoff with more than one loss. This ensures that teams play their best players in every game. It shows that every game matters, and playoff chances can come and go for any given team on any given day. Because of this, college football scores this point. While both college football and the NFL are entertaining and have their benefits, college football takes the cake in the battle between the two. The NFL spreads marquee games throughout their schedule slightly better than college football, but college football’s tradition and impact blow the NFL out of the water. Given the choice, I am taking college football every day of the week - especially on Saturdays.
October 2021
No taxation for menstruation Tampon taxes impact availability of menstrual products Sydney Territo
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terrisyd000@hsestudents.org
ver half of America’s population bleeds for one week out of every month in the year, yet the products required to remedy the bleeding are not covered under food stamps or Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits. This makes it much harder for disadvantaged Americans to access them. Additionally, they are labeled as nonessential and taxed as such, making them more unattainable to those that need them. Period poverty is a real issue that has multiple negative impacts on those affected. According to the University of Michigan School of Public Health, those that resort to potentially dangerous alternatives due to inaccessibility of period products are at a higher risk for developing urogenital infections that could affect their day-today functionality. Others may sacrifice buying other necessities because they have to purchase period products instead. However, lifting the tax may not solve as many issues as it appears to. When the Illinois tax was lifted, the price of tampons and pads each rose 1 percent in Illinois, while sales dropped 1.5% and almost 2% respectively, according to University of Texas PhD student Ziyue Xu. She attributed the rise in prices to manufacturing companies maximizing profit, and she reasoned that many would go for the pricier brands of menstrual products due to perception of their quality. Ultimately, if the repeal of the tax was to increase accessibility of menstrual products, it was ineffective in Illinois, which may translate into a low probability of success for
Opinion
the rest of the country. Repealing the tax may not increase purchase of menstrual products, but it may help to reduce menstrual inequity in multiple facets if implemented in tandem with supplementary solutions. In Jorene Ooi’s report on tampon taxes and menstrual inequity, she mentioned multiple potential supplements, such as New York City’s legislative package and Abigail Durkin’s call to include period products in existing benefit programs such as SNAP, Women Infants and Children (WIC) benefits and the Affordable Care Act (ACA) that could help to increase their obtainability. New York City’s legislative package included not only the removal of the tax, but also distribution to the largest majority of disadvantaged women, which were students, inmates and the homeless. This addresses the problem of low-income families not properly benefitting from the tax reform, but does not do enough to address those who make minimum wage in the workforce that also cannot afford such products. Additionally, the logistics of distribution would be very complicated, especially for the homeless or those that get evicted often. The widespread distribution of various period products to jails, homeless shelters and schools would likely be beneficial and avoid this problem altogether. Durkin’s proposal to include period products in welfare benefits is a promising one, since it would be easy to implement and would not require creating completely new distribution systems to get the products
where they need to be. Yet again, it will exclude those that don’t qualify for these welfare benefits, making them disadvantaged as well. Additionally, Scotland implemented their new Period Products Act in January 2021, which aimed to increase availability of menstrual products nationally. Their act Average was split into three parts, each number of focusing on a different aspect of tampons and the issue. Part one focused on ensuring the basic right to period pads used in a products, while part two placed lifetime an emphasis on making them readily available in bathrooms of schools and universities. Part three required the advertisement of the free products and the regulations surrounding them. This ensures that those that need menstrual products will have access to them, and will cover the demographics that would have gotten excluded through both New York City and Durkin’s solutions. However, this solution is more broad, focusing on Projected sales nationwide change, whereas the United States would likely need value of the different distribution plans for feminine hygeine individual states. Scotland may not be the perfect market in billions solution for the U.S., but its goal of increasing the availability of free menstrual products to most of the general public that needs them is focused and well thought-out. Regardless, the widespread distribution of menstrual products along with the repeal of the tampon tax will start to help a large States do not majority of the underprivileged charge sales tax menstruating public in on menstrual America and hopefully aid in products destigmatizing the use of period products and in addition to Information from Statista increasing their accessibility. and Healthline.
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October 2021
Ads annoy, require reform Modern advertisements have become excessive, need subduing Fletcher Haltom
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haltofle000@hsestudents.org
ainstream media has, as of recently, become increasingly plagued by advertisements. It feels as though every show, movie or stroll down the street is brought to a sudden halt by an unexpected voice telling you to buy this, wear that, watch this and stop that. In an era that is already marked by unprecedented connectivity through media (93% of American adults regularly use the internet, according to Pew Research Center), all those commercials can feel overwhelming. Oftentimes, potential buyers disregard a product before the first catchy jingle is over, damaging both the producers and the consumers. If companies want to market to their audiences more effectively, advertising as we know it must adapt. First and foremost, advertisers absolutely must change their mediums. Different modes of advertising cater to different audiences and therefore elicit different degrees of engagement from their potential consumers. Generally, as reported by Dr. Ramzan Sama, a professor of marketing in Mumbai, the internet tends to be vastly more engaging than other mediums of advertising. Of course, radio and television, the traditional marketing venues, have by no means fallen by the wayside. They are, however, reaching a smaller audience. In 2021, a paltry 56% of American adults are being reached by conventional cable television at all, per Pew Research Center. When this is contrasted with the 72% of the entire American population that utilizes social
Opinion
media, it becomes evident that far more emphasis should be placed on social media advertising. Specifically, Instagram advertisements have demonstrated promising success, especially among younger audiences. As shown in a 2019 study published in “Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication,” there is a growing trend of “userfriendly” ads, advertisements that are meant to look and feel like typical social posts from friends. These ads employ careful product placement and aesthetically appealing photos to create a post that could be mistaken for a run-of-the-mill Instagram post. The subtlety of these ads is crucial for their effectiveness, as users are far more likely to be swayed by
As reported in a University of Rochester study concerning the effectiveness of these advertisements, the retention rate for skippable YouTube ads is extremely low, although the effectiveness of the ad grows almost exponentially for each additional second spent in the ad. As a consequence, YouTube advertisers, as well as advertisers in general, should aim to make their ads as engaging and interesting as possible, a task that is far easier said than done but is attainable nonetheless. A report published in “Psychology and Education” invented a program known as the L.E.A.N. Program to increase the engagement levels of advertisements. Its proponents suggest that ads can be vastly improved if they are made to be more light, encrypted, ad-choice supportive and non-invasive. Essentially, companies should aim for integrated, fluid, subdued advertisements in order to maximize their effects. Almost none of these traits can be seen in the flashy commercials and obtrusive pop-up ads that consumers endure each time more understated ads than those they access the internet or turn that are outlandishly obnoxious. on their television. These forms of advertisements The advertisements that can have demonstrated proven be seen today are ineffective at success, and more companies best and oftentimes downright should consider abandoning obnoxious. Commercials, radio their flashy colors and large ads and social media posts must text in favor of these more undergo change. If advertisers pleasurable alternatives. want to see more positive YouTube, another popular returns on investment and spare form of social media that is the sanity of their prospective infamous for its aggravating buyers, they will do us all a favor 15-second ads at the beginning and trade their irritating, overof nearly every video, offers the-top advertisements for more additional insight into the issue mellow, softened social media of how to reform commercials. posts and commercials.
All advertisements courtesy of CNN, Business Insider, USA Today and Forbes. Graphic by Fletcher Haltom.
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Behind open doors Recent trend shows students’ lack of maturity
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Since its removal on Sept. 18, 2019, the CCA boys’ bathroom has remained doorless. With the rise in property damage due to social media trends, it seems to make sense why. Photo by Nate Albin.
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Nate Albin
albinnat000@hsestudents.org
wo years ago, the CCA boys’ restroom door was removed. Two years later, we continue to prove why. Since the school year started, the school has been hit with a spree of vandalism across the building’s restrooms. From urinals and toilets being clogged or towel and soap dispensers being ripped down, FHS is experiencing an epidemic of stupid recklessness. Sadly, this has been a nationwide issue. TikTok’s “devious licks” trend has caused property damage to schools everywhere. A lick, according to the top definition on Urban Dictionary from Jan. 2021, is a successful theft with an acceptable reward for the “protagonist.” In this case, the “acceptable” reward is fame on the social media platform and the “protagonist” is the person getting away with the crime. So far, the only “rewards” have been students breaking laws and destroying school property. This is not the first dangerous social media challenge. Many have put participants in personal danger, such as the Tide Pod challenge or the crate challenge more recently, but this is the first one to cause major property damage. TikTok has taken steps to stop it. A spokesperson for the social media giant told the Insider that the hashtag has been banned from the platform and content related to the challenge is being removed. Eventually, this challenge will fade into obscurity like all other social media trends, but that does not take away from how alarming this is. Part of these challenges occurring can be explained by science. Western University psychologist Claire Crooks says that events like this are attractive to teens because they are communal, create a dopamine rush and take advantage of the developing prefrontal cortex, the part of the brain controlling impulses and inhibition. While there is some developmental science at play, there is another side of this issue. Western University sociologist Kaitlynn Mendes said this trend fits our “always-on” culture. This is a culture of always hunting for likes and follows. She also noted that kids have always imitated that era’s influencers, and the current influencers are people with followers on social media partaking in challenges. Our generation’s willingness to put aside any morals and deface property opens the door to punishments that may seem extreme. The punishments, including suspensions, having the police involved to create a report and making the vandal’s family pay for the damage, almost do not seem like enough. Why should any adults, especially those trying to help us learn how to become successful in the future, trust us when we fall for any trend, even one that encourages illegal activity? Often, kids complain about not being treated as equals. And while most students are not ripping out sanitation stations, with the current actions of some, it is easy to see why there are trust issues. Until stunts like these stop, we have not earned doors.
October 2021
Taking a stand by sitting down Sitting down during the pledge shows protest against discrimination Malak Samara
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samarmal000@hsestudents.org
very day at 8:30 a.m., the intercom blares overhead, signaling the start of the school day with the reciting of the Pledge of Allegiance. Students begin to stand up and face the recognizable red, white and blue flag in each classroom. They place their right hand over their hearts. Some listen closely to the pledge of allegiance and some say it quietly to themselves. As the school year starts up again, I find myself in a reoccurring predicament: to stand or not to stand for the Pledge of Allegiance. On one hand, I want to stay seated to silently make it known that I am completely against what America is doing to minorities. I want to show that I will not stand for the pledge until America stands for everything the pledge states. On the other hand, however, I do not want to be reprimanded for my expression since it may come off as disloyalty, especially as a minority in America. The most notable recent controversy involving standing for the flag happened in 2016. Colin Kaepernick, the starting quarterback for the 49ers, decided to kneel during the national anthem before a game. This, undoubtedly, raised harsh criticisms from people all over America. They believed that a football game was not the right time or place to show “political opinions.” “I am not going to stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses black people and people of color,” Kaepernick said in an interview for NFL media. “To me, this is bigger than football, and it would be selfish on my part to
Opinion
look the other way.” According to The New York Times, the protest’s main purpose was to call America out for its immense racial suppression and police brutality. Those who do not stand for the Pledge Allegiance for this purpose make it known that they are not supportive of these acts of prejudice. When citizens stay seated for the pledge, it forces a conversation about racial inequality to take place. Thus, the peaceful protest can correlate to change concerning racism. As a person of color, this was exactly the wakeup call I needed to start visibly showing my disapproval of America’s racial oppression without causing too much of a scene by exercising my first amendment rights. Ever since then, I started staying seated for the pledge. However, according to The Washington Post, nationalists believe the act of kneeling or staying seated during the pledge is showing disrespect to the military and those who served the country. They believe that using freedom of expression to sit down during the pledge is ironic since the flag and country is what gave people that freedom. These nationalist beliefs bleed into cases such as Gobitis v. Minersville School District in 1940, where two students were expelled for not showing allegiance to the flag and the court decided 8-1 in favor of Minersville School District. This decision, however, was undermined by West Virginia State Board of Education v. Barnette in 1943 and set the precedent that students should not have to strip their freedom of expression at school. That being
said, in 2016 an incident occurred where a 17-yearold girl was expelled from her high school when she did not stand during the pledge of allegiance, demonstrating the inconsistency of Students stand up or sit down during the Pledge these guidelines. of Allegiance at 8:30 a.m. on Oct. 7 in Andrew Jones’ law education class. Photo by Malak What Samara. nationalists do not understand is that the protest is not intended to dishonor the protection we receive from those who serve in the military. Instead, it is a protest against a racial issue that needs to be talked about and dealt with, especially taking into account the promises America has put forth such as equal rights for everyone. Moreover, the nationalists’ extremist ways of preventing citizens from protesting against the flag is a violation of the very pledge they are defending because of the precedent West Virginia State Board of Education v. Barnette set. While I am apprehensive of the feedback I will get for refusing to show full support of the nation by not standing up for the pledge, It is exceptionally important to call out America when it is not following its foundational regulations. When the pledge of allegiance mentions “liberty and justice for all,” I would expect America to showcase such a phrase by excluding discrimination. When the nation does not achieve this, it is our duty, as citizens, to force America to fix its lack of liberation by refusing to stand for the pledge until America stands for what the pledge indicates.
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Crossword Puzzle
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