Paw Print Issue 9

PAW PRINT

6 MORNING ANNOUNCEMENT SQUAD

8-9

WOMEN’S HISTORY MONTH: FEMALE LEADERS AT GHS

12 ENCOURAGEMENT IN THE DOVE CAMPAIGN

Staff List

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF:

WEBSITE

CHIEF

COPY

MEDIA

Mr. Moran fears for his life when Jack Logsdon ‘25 looks in his direction.

Parker Green

GRADES GROWTH? or

We from the Paw Print editorial staff believe that overworking yourself via extra classes for a highgrade point average can create a toxic academic environment that fosters competition and undermines personal growth. Many students choose classes they have no interest in, simply because they are perceived as easy A’s or GPA boosters, leading to a lack of engagement and an overall negative attitude towards learning. Rather than prioritizing grades, we should start focusing on exploring our interests and passions, which have the potential to lead to a more fulfilling experience after high school. The Paw Print editorial board believes that by taking a broader approach to their schedule, we can all gain a deeper understanding of ourselves, our passions, and potential career paths, ultimately leading to greater long-term success and happiness.

Studies have shown that students who prioritize their interests and passions over their GPAs often perform better academically in the long run. According to a 2022 study by the National Bureau of Economic Research, students who took classes they were genuinely interested in and passionate about earned higher GPAs and were more likely to graduate on time than those who prioritized grades over their interests. Additionally, students who pursued their interests reported higher levels of satisfaction with their college experience and were more likely to find fulfilling careers after graduation. By taking classes solely to boost our GPAs, we may be missing

out on the opportunity to learn and grow in areas that truly interest us, ultimately hindering our long-term academic and professional success.

The toxic academic environment created by the pressure to maintain high grades can have a profound impact on overall student mental health and well-being. When students feel like they are in constant competition with their peers, it can create a sense of anxiety and stress that can be overwhelming. This can lead to a negative attitude towards learning and a lack of engagement in coursework, ultimately hindering students’ growth and development. It’s crucial for us as students (and people) to prioritize our well-being and create a supportive academic environment where we learn, grow, and thrive; and start taking classes to further our education in the subject matter they’re interested in pursuing.

It is important for us to prioritize our interests and passions as students over our GPAs. By doing so, we may be more engaged in our coursework, which can lead to greater academic success in the long run. Additionally, pursuing areas of interest can help us identify potential career paths and lead to a more fulfilling post-college life.

Understandably, most of us want to succeed academically, it is important to remember that college isn’t just about grades. If we prioritize our interests and passions, we could create a more fulfilling and enriching high school experience.

The newspaper staff will make every reasonable effort to verify quotations in final approved copy with the individual(s) quoted, in interest of accuracy. Copy in the newspaper will bear bylines when, in the opinion of the adviser with the editor’s approval, the writer has earned recognition and running the byline is acceptable journalistically. If a newspaper editorial does not bear a byline, it reflects the opinion of the entire staff. A bylined editorial reflects only the opinion of the writer.

Viewpoints expressed in newspaper editorials are not necessarily shared by any members of the faculty (including the adviser), the administration, or the board of education.

All letters to the editor of the newspaper must be signed for verification purposes, but the staff may withhold names upon request. Because of space limitations letters of 300 words or less will receive preference, and longer letters may be subject to condensation with the cooperation of the writer. The final decision of whether to print a letter rests solely with the staff.

uniqueness CELEBRATING

March 21, 2024 will hold the 13th annual World Down Syndrome Day Conference, hosted at the United Nations headquarters. World Down Syndrome Day has been observed across the nation since 2012, with many people showing their support through wearing brightly colored socks. Around the world, different buildings light up in yellow and blue colors symbolizing down syndrome awareness including, The Empire State Building, Norwich Castle, and Tower 42.

The United Nations website published, “In order to raise public awareness of Down syndrome, the General Assembly invites all Member States, relevant organizations of the United Nations system and other international organizations, as well as civil society, including non-governmental organizations and the private sector, to observe World Down Syndrome Day in an appropriate manner.”

Down syndrome occurs when an individual is born with extra chromosome 21, and occurs between 1 in every 1,000 live births worldwide. March 21 was the chosen date because it is the 21st day in the third month, which was chosen

HISTORY:

In 2006, Singapore launched a World Down Syndrome Day Website (WDSD) so that all global activities could be recorded.

Dec. 9, 2011 the UN officially declared March 21 as World Down Syndrome Day. Each year on WDSD a theme is chosen to spread awareness to the different types of discrimination they face.

embracing diversity on World Down Syndrome Day

to symbolize the uniqueness of trisomy. Down syndrome is a human condition that occurs in every part of the world that can result in different effects in learning styles, physical characteristics, and health. The point of World Down Syndrome Awareness is to end the stereotypes and false information surrounding the condition.

Lots of Socks campaign is designed to get people talking about Down Syndrome Awareness year round. The campaign calls for people to wear mitchmatch colorful socks on March 21, and the campaign sells their own socks on their website. Lots of Socks has a competition each year to design a sock that will be sold in their sock shop. This year, the design was won by David, who drew gears.

“Many times people may believe that because we have an extra chromosome, because we are different gears, we cannot fit together and make a big change, but this is not true.” David said.

The Lots of Socks shop sells children eco-friendly socks and adult eco-friendly socks with David’s gear design to raise money. Other ways to raise awareness about Down syndrome is creating posters

The Brazilian Federation of Associations of Down Syndrome worked to create an extensive campaign to generate support.

and celebrating March 21.

For the past few years, the main concern of Down Syndrome Awareness Day is ending the stereotypes that make everyone with Down syndrome feel more comfortable. Many of the stereotypes make it so that people with Down syndrome feel like they are treated like babies and less than human. A lot of victims of this discrimination have openly shared their story on the World Down Syndrome Day website. One person who shared his story from Mexico was Carlos.

“People think that Down syndrome is a sickness. It is not! Down syndrome is a condition. We are like any other person. I want the world to see us for who we really are.” Carlos said.

World Down Syndrome Day is a time to come together and end the discrimination that makes everyone feel equal. People with Down syndrome are denied a quality education, good health care, a chance to earn money at a job, and their opinions are not considered. It is important to fight for their inclusion and individual rights.

lots of socks shop

Around the world Down syndrome associations campaigned for governments to co-sponsor them, which eventually led to 78 United Nations members’ support.

Once the international petition to create World Down Syndrome Day was made it received more than 12,000 signatures within two weeks.

2 24 STAFF vs.STUDENTS DODGEBALL MATCH

PHOTO BY: Catherine Smith Team Willy Nillys takes the victory at Summer Sports on the Sunday before the tournament. They beat five other teams and secured the spot in the final match against the teachers.

PHOTO BY: Sophia Saley Griff Carmichael ‘25 and Anthony Manderine ‘24 fight over a ball in the round of mixed student and stafff teams. It appears that one may have crossed the line!

PHOTO BY: Sophia Saley Math teacher Mr. Petrecca hypes up fellow teamate and science teacher Mr. Moran. Teamwork was the staff’s top prioprity at the dodgeball match

PHOTO BY: Sophia Saley Teammates Samino Manson ‘24 and Kaden Gregory ‘25 share pleasantries after their first round win.

PHOTO BY: Sophia Saley Just Josh Just.

PHOTO BY: Sophia Saley Former principal, Mr. Elliot, makes the long journey over to GHS to make a guest ref appearance

PHOTO BY: Sophia Saley Mr. Allan in his game ready stance

GOOD MORNING

behind the scenes of the morning announcements

It is not possible for The Paw Print to produce daily issues- we (the organization, that is) simply do not have the resources, time, or editing power to accomplish it. Still, the students at Green High School need to get their information somehow. That’s where the daily announcements come in, combining on-air talent, videography teams, and a healthy dash of chaos in order to produce one of Green’s most beloved morning rituals.

The morning announcements originate from a class called Video Editing I led by Mark Wirbel, who also teaches History of Fiction and Film and Video Editing II. Production actually takes up two rooms: one that’s lined with computers for editing videos and another that houses a full production studio complete with greenscreens, teleprompters, and a sound booth. The set up is professional and meticulously organized- there’s no sign that the entire cast and crew is made up of high school students.

That’s actually the cool thing about it: the morning announcements are run by and for our fellow peers. It’s this class over all others that has the most up to date information on practically anything: club news, important reminders, dance times,

really anything.

“I think they’re super helpful for certain students. It really just sucks for the upperclassmen who have flex or for the kids who have teachers that don’t show them.” Lily Howdyshell ‘24 said.

One of the reasons the Morning Announcements are so helpful is because of the brave student’s who take on the “on-air talent” role. These are the people who you see, the ones reading the live teleprompter and balancing, at least in this class, the fine line between complete professionalism and having fun. Some years, kids are fighting for the spot on screen, and other years on-air talent is harder to find.

“I always wanted to be [on-air talent],” Hailey Horak ‘24 said, “The worst job is the sound-board, but everyone has different roles.”

The news anchors like Horak are responsible for showcasing their personalities on screen and bringing fun twists to regular announcements. Some have signature moves, like David: he’s known for his iconic (and sometimes insulting oneliners). Horak, on the other hand, prefers to work with animals.

“I brought my cat, and introduced the segment with the animals.” Horak said, “Anything [we pitch] can take a total of an

hour to ten minutes, so it’s pretty flexible.”

But the morning announcements isn’t all camera time and big personalities. In fact, most of those who take the class work behind the scenes, like senior Gunner Garfield-Jackson. Gunner has taken multiple classes with Wirbel, and represents a growing cohort of students more interested in the production side of things.

“It [production] can be overwhelming at first,” Garfield-Jackson said, “I honestly thought that I would hate it, but once you get into the groove of things, it’s honestly pretty fun.”

Another plus for production kids is the ability to try new things and test out interesting techniques.

“You get a lot of creative control,” Garfield-Jackson said, “Basically we pitch an idea, form a team, and then make the segment which gets added in later to the video.”

So whether you’re looking for a fun class to join or just trying to stay updated on school events, the morning announcements have your back. Ask a first period teacher to play them during homeroom or check them out on the emailed student announcements.

GHS NEWS: GREEN HIGH SCHOOL

design

HYDRATION Station

warmer weather? increased energy? translates to drinking more water

signs of dehydration:

Your skin is your body’s largest organ, so of course it needs to stay hydrated. In fact, dry skin is one of the earliest signs of full-on dehydration. If you want to stave off breakouts, your first recourse should be to drink more water.

YOUR SKIN IS DRY YOU FEEL FATIGUED AND

When a body is dehydrated it “borrows” water from your blood. A lack of properly hydrated blood leads to a lack of oxygen being brought throughout the body. Of course, a lack of oxygen leads to sleepiness and outright fatigue.

When you’re dehydrated, your body might start to think it need food. This hapens throughout the day, and overnight when you wake up craving that midnight snack. However, eating food creates more work for your body, whereas drinking water supplies it with the fuel it needs to go through the other processes a body goes through.

Fact: Americans hate the taste of water. For many, this is true. The taste of water is either unappealing or is simply non-existent, which leads more people to gravitate towards carbonated beverages due to their different flavors. Now, it may sound as if everyone needs to drink a whole gallon of water a day in order to combat dehydration and stay alive; this is not true.

According to the Mayo Clinic, “You don’t need to rely only on water to meet your fluid needs. What you eat also provides a significant portion. For example, many fruits and vegetables, such as watermelon and spinach, are almost 100% water by weight.”

For some people, it is essential to their lifestyle to have an increased daily water intake. This can depend on many different factors: activity level, the weather, body weight and the overall health of the person, whether someone is sick or not. Runners in particular need to drink more water in order to sustain their workouts and have better performance.

Jacob Saylor is the physics teacher at GHS who is also the Boys and Girls Head Cross Country coach and the Head Girls Track and Field coach. He always makes sure his runners are hydrated.

“It really depends on someone’s body weight with how much they should be drinking, but they need to stay hydrated so their cells can perform to the best of their ability during meets,” Saylor said.

Not only is drinking water essential for keeping someone alive, it also improves your mental sharpness and productivity. From OfficeH2O.com, “ Research has shown that even mild dehydration (a body water loss of between 1%- 2%) impairs cognitive performance.” This means that if someone isn’t drinking enough water their brain will not function in the ways it should. Many students, especially, can experience fatigue, headaches or dizziness when trying to either get homework done or practice for their sport.

But how much water should a person drink? This question, after research, is a bit of a gray area in the health community. There is, of course, the saying drink eight glasses of water a day. Additionally, there exist people who say to drink half of your body weight in ounces or who try to drink an entire gallon in one day. While these are all healthy to some extent, this type of measuring can potentially get obsessive and time consuming. However, there are some ways to tell when you are hydrated enough.

The Mayo Clinic states that, “Your fluid intake is probably adequate if you rarely feel thirsty…It’s a good idea to drink a glass of water: With each meal and between meals; Before, during and after exercise; or if you feel thirsty.”

It is much easier than people think to start drinking more water throughout the day. One of the most broadcasted methods is finding the right water bottle.

women in LEADERSHIP at GHS

At Green High School, there are a variety of clubs and activities offered for all students to participate in. Through these activities, students have the opportunity to learn leadership skills especially through holding officer positions. The Paw Print Staff notices a majority of the clubs here at GHS are predominantly female based in leadership and participation. Why the men aren’t stepping up, no one knows as it’s clear there a numerous capable boys up for the tasks of leadership. Not to mention, many of these women are seniors which opens an opportunity for lower classmen to take charge and gain leadership skills. As it is Women’s History Month, it’s time we give a shout out to the females working the leadership magic around the school.

Parker Green ‘24 demonstrates true leadership and involvement through everything she does for the school and community. Green is the 2024 Class President, President of Student Council, President of National Honors Society, Vice President of Environmental Club, and Treasurer of Key Club. She also participates in multiple other clubs as a member still dedicated to the school.

“I wanted to hold leadership positions because I kept thinking of ideas for the clubs that I was a part of, and I knew that the quickest way to implement these ideas in the manner that I wanted was to become a part of leadership,” Green said.

As the 2024 Class President, Green works with her fellow officers in creating events for the class as well as her duties as Student Council President in which she also brainstorms ways for everyone to participate in school spirited activities. Green keeps her priorities in line which truly makes her a remarkable leader when making tough decisions or solving problems. She’s always interested in hearing everyone’s ideas which is why she understands the female involvement around the school because she sees how much effort the girls put in.

Ella Mattes ‘25 joins the ranks as Vice President of Student Council, President of Science Club, and Social Media Manager for the Bulldog Ambassadors. Mattes is able to juggle her tasks by dealing with the responsibility at hand. Because of the newness of the Bulldog Ambassadors, Mattes jumped at the opportunity to help get them out there as she is the first ever social media manager for the club.

“The most challenging part of holding these positions is getting certain activities approved. There are so many amazing ideas that club members and officers come up with that never happen because of many different obstacles. A lot of the time, availability of space within the school and money in club accounts can halt ideas from becoming a reality,” Mattes said.

As for Vice President of Student Council, Mattes sought out her planning skills when she saw this position as a perfect fit for her. She organizes and leads meetings as well as activities for the school and community. Through her experience in Science Club, Mattes ventures into what she truly loves: science. Her involvement allows her to test the waters in what she hopes to build her future on. Mattes sees female involvement as an inspiration to lower classmen to also become involved when they are juniors and seniors which is something Mattes experienced when she was a freshman and sophomore.

Morgan Doan ‘24 participates in her school community as a member of Environmental Club, Key Club, Student Council, National Honors Society, The Paw Print, and the Green Student Municipal program for the city. From her involvement, Doan finds leadership as she is the President of Environmental Club. Before she was president, Doan was historian for two years prior which involved running the Instagram and taking photos during meetings. Now, she plans and runs meetings for the club members.

“I feel like between my officers and myself we all have one main job such as taking attendance or taking photos, but we all work together to do most of the things like meeting ideas or talking during presentations no officer is doing more or less work than another,” Doan said. With her experience in Environmental Club, Doan also learns as she teaches the members more about the environment which is something she enjoys discovering. Doan gains leadership experience from leaning on other female leaders across the community but also as she works with her fellow officers and teachers. She respects all the women running clubs at GHS, but she is disappointed in the lack of male involvement when it comes to non-sport activities.

ELLA MATTES

Catherine Smith ‘24 finds involvement in multiple clubs at Green High School. She is a member of Key Club, Girls of Green, The Paw Print, Environmental Club, National Honors Society, and Spanish Club. Among these extracurriculars, Smith expresses leadership roles as the President of Key Club, Historian of Girls of Green, and the Visual Design Editor of The Paw Print.

“I really wanted to run an instagram account because of my interest in visual design. In my senior year, I wanted to step it up and become president so I participated in Key Club,” Smith said.

For Key Club, Smith is in charge of planning meetings and finding volunteer opportunities for the club. She finds her hardest challenge to be looking for activities for club members especially when it’s that time of year when there seems to be nothing going on. Through Girls of Green, Smith is able to express her visual design skills on instagram and also takes pictures during the meetings. As Visual Design Editor, Smith designs the layout for every issue of the paper. Smith appreciates the female leadership at Green as she communicates with other clubs either for ideas or some support from club to club.

Meredith Walker ‘25 expands her involvement through Student Council, Girls of Green, Key Club, Spanish Club, Bulldog Ambassadors, National Honors Society, a Student Municipal Representative, and a Student Liaison. Among her student activities, Walker is Treasurer of Girls of Green, Historian of Key Club, Treasurer of Spanish Club, and Vice President of Bulldog Ambassadors.

“I knew that I wanted to create a positive change in my school and the community. The best way to do that is by getting involved. Also I love the process of creating new ideas and presenting them to a group of people, it’s very fulfilling,” Walker said.

From all of her involvement, Walker takes on crucial roles in each activity she dedicates her time to. For Girls of Green, she spends her time focusing on attendance and pay to participate. On the other hand, as Vice President of Bulldog Ambassadors, Walker settles into a deeper leadership role where she constructs ideas fitting for the club and the school all while working with her fellow officers. Even as a junior, Walker jumps in wherever she can. Walker discovered her passion for leadership from previous female leaders at Green. The leadership around the school and community inspire others to do the same just as Walker was.

Mckenzie Collinsworth ‘24 keeps busy as she is a member of Girls of Green, National Honors Society, Environmental Club, Student Council, and The Paw Print. Through her involvement Collinsworth is the President of Girls of Green, Vice President of NHS, and the Editor-in-Chief of The Paw Print.

“I’ve always enjoyed participating in club activities, so I thought why not gain some leadership experience. One of my sisters was an officer of Girls of Green and same with The Paw Print which ultimately incentivized me to join, but I always knew I wanted to be in charge. Also, colleges love a well rounded individual,” Collinsworth said.

Amongst her Girls of Green duties, Collinsworth plans and organizes meetings as well as reaching out to the community for the club to give back. As Vice President of NHS, Collinsworth’s main role is to bring ideas and help wherever needed for a meeting or opportunity present for all members. Her busiest task of all though is The Paw Print. She designs, writes, and edits for every issue and ensures the best quality possible is printed for everyone to enjoy. Collinsworth looks for guidance and advice from other female club leaders where she also feels she can lean on them for support.

Adrianna Barnes ‘24 actively participates in her school community through Girls of Green, Environmental Club, National Honors Society, Key Club,and Spanish Club. Barnes gains her leadership skills as Vice President of Key Club and Secretary of Spanish Club. Barnes has assumed a large leadership role in Spanish Club as she exceeds her job obligations to ensure the club is prospering and the members enjoy their activities.

“Being a language club makes it more niche and definitely puts a heavy limit on what the activities can be and who it attracts. The goal is always to inform our members more about Hispanic culture in a fun and interactive way. Easier said than done,” Barnes said.

Her Key Club duties consist of organizing volunteer opportunities for club members. Her search for involvement for members demonstrates her efforts as a leader. Barnes takes note of her fellow officers who aid her and provide more ideas for meetings. From the female leadership at Green, Barnes notices prosperity and the vitality of young female involvement. The range gives her encouragement to lead and hopefully for others as well.

Tess Peel ‘24 embraces her leadership skills as Vice President of Girls of Green for two years. Peel is also a member of Student Council, National Honors Society, Key Club, and Environmental Club.

“The most challenging thing about my position is finding time to plan things, and meet with my other officers. We are all very busy, but we all do our best to designate at least one day a week to plan and share ideas,” Peel said.

As vice president of Girls of Green, Peel strategizes meeting activities with fellow officers by brainstorming ideas and calling businesses/organizations in need of support. The work never stops as she is constantly on the lookout for opportunities and support for the community. Peel appreciates the large presence of female leadership at Green because she feels as though she can relate to other leaders and help wherever needed. Peel also notices the lack of male engagement where there are certain boys who have leadership qualities but fail to act upon them.

toxic BODY CULTURE

discover the dangers

Diet culture and fitness trends have recently taken social media platforms by storm. Fitness influencers are popping up all over TikTok, promoting different kinds of workout and diet plans. Recently, everyone has been hooked on getting fit. From people claiming to be nutritionists and diet coaches to videos claiming workout routines that get the most results, there have been multiple videos from hundreds of different users circulating on TikTok.

Although it’s good people are interested in getting fit, the way these “influencers” are going about helping users can potentially promote unhealthy habits. Already, social media is a major breeding ground for young girls to develop unhealthy ideas about body image and adding this to how people view themselves, who knows how much harm it can do.

“Social media creates a toxic and negative culture of body image and societal expectations of what we ‘should’ look like. The constant comparison of ourselves to what social media puts out of meeting certain beauty standards creates poor self image, self-esteem, and various other mental health issues starting as young as eight years old If we don’t think we meet that standard,” Lisa Pafford, a GHS health teacher, said.

These “fitness influencers” don’t post

QA&

with Ms. Pafford

social media projects on unhealthy body conformity

realistic videos. Most videos are captioned, “The best workouts to get an hourglass figure,” or “Here’s how to get a smaller waist under 3 months.”

What most people don’t know is that one could do all those workouts and follow every word that a specific influencer is saying, but it doesn’t guarantee someone will get the results they are promising. It is 100% possible for someone to workout, lose weight, and get toned, but it is physically impossible (without plastic surgery) to change the build of one’s body. No matter how hard you try or how much you diet, you won’t achieve the same body as the TikToker you so highly praise.

“Dieting must be accompanied with exercise. Some people have the metabolism where working out just works and some people have the metabolism where they have to incorporate both. If you’re going to change your diet for weight loss purposes I think you need to incorporate a good fitness plan included,” Tiron Jester, a Physical Education teacher at GHS, stated. Everyone’s body is built uniquely.

“There is no one size fits all workout or diet for everyone. You need to figure out what you want to achieve from your workout/food intake then research what you can do to achieve those goals,” Pafford stated.

The possible effects from these videos

Q. With the circulation of different diets and fitness routines, do you think students could be susceptible to false information that could potentially do more harm than good?

A. Absolutely. Teens tend to do fad diets or starve themselves for a quick fix for losing weight. Fitness influencers on social media tend to play a factor on some unhealthy ways of keeping fit with false information. Everyone’s body is different. Teens need to recognize that and find a fitness program that works towards what their goals are, as well as a nutrition program.

could be detrimental to young users who don’t understand that. It potentially can lead to body dysmorphia and eating disorders. It’s possible these influencers don’t intentionally want to cause harm, but it’s promoting unrealistic ideals.

TikTok specifically, has a trend of showing off “legging legs.” Girls all over social media are discussing the way certain legs look in leggings as well as putting a specific image on how legs should look in leggings. According to TikTok, girls with legging legs have a thigh gap and non-muscular legs. Videos are being posted of girls with the “legging legs” and girls without them; with people commenting things such as, “she has legging legs,” and “I wish my legs looked like that.”

These trends support the idea that girls must look a certain way to be pretty or praised. It feeds body dysmorphia and yet again, gives girls an unrealistic image of how they should look. Videos like these completely contradict the “body positivity” movement and undermine the whole principle of it. There shouldn’t be a trend going around about the way a girl’s legs look in pants. No matter the size or shape of your legs, you are beautiful. No matter what your body looks like, you are beautiful.

Q. What’s your opinion on dieting? Does it work?

A. I think the word dieting is deceiving. Most people associate it with losing weight, but it is so much more than that. Diets for culture, medical reasons, ect. Diets work if you look at it as a lifestyle change and not a punishment where you feel the need to restrict your food intake.

Q. What would you tell someone who is just starting out in the gym?

A. It’s a marathon not a sprint to get to your goals. Be patient with the process, and don’t push past your limits.

written by Nina Summers

TAN NOW TROUBLE LATER

Once the sun goes away and the weather starts to hit rock bottom, 30 million people across the nation start hitting up their local tanning salons; with 2.3 million being teenagers. The appeal of tanning beds is extremely high for teenage girls who desire to be tan again, despite the detrimental health risks it causes to the skin. Many factors are involved in the safety of using tanning beds, and a lot of rumors surround what effects it causes on the skin. Not only can tanning beds cause different types of cancer, they can also cause serious burns, not allow the body to get enough Vitamin D, and create a real addiction.

Tanning beds utilize ultraviolet (UV) rays to mimic the effects of tanning naturally. Two different types of UV rays surface when tanning in a salon or the backyardUVA and UVB rays. UVB rays play a large role in causing skin cancer and sunburn. Similarly, UVA rays tend to not only be a leading agent in causing cancer, but they also penetrate the skin and cause aging. Both rays are dangerous to the skin, ultimately causing aging, wrinkling, cancer, and sunburn.

“There are approximately 500 times more UVA rays in sunlight than UVB rays. Therefore, in addition to protecting your skin from the effects of UVB rays, it is also essential to protect from the damaging effects of the more numerous UVA rays. Traditional chemical sunscreen products have been more successful at blocking UVB rays than UVA rays.” University of Iowa Health Care said.

The attraction of tanning beds is high for young women, especially during the prom season. Even though the amount of people utilizing tanning beds rises during the dance season, many people have created a tanning addiction. It has been

seen around the internet that people will start fake tanning to get a “base layer” tan a week before their vacation. The rise of women attending tanning beds for unnecessary events is what can create a tanning addiction.

“Tanning addictions are definitely real. Although I think that it’s more within the older generation rather than people our age. Right now it just feels like a trend, less than a true addiction.” Vienna Horvath ‘25 said.

Many myths surround the rising use of tanning beds. Despite what many people believe, many tanning salons provide customers with false information about health risks and make claims that tanning beds are healthy for you. Tanning both indoors and outdoors is bad for your skin, causing it to age much quicker than normal. While there is a false appeal that tanning beds will give the skin a healthy glow, it is shown that UV rays generally cause the skin to become dehydrated.

While it may seem important to have a tan all year round, it truly is not worth the effects it can have on the body. There are many ways to get a quick tan, and tanning beds are among the most harmful options. Instead of going to a local tanning salon, consider other ways to get a glowy tan.

Other Forms of Tanning:

Spray tans, bronzing lotions, tanning beds, and natural sunbathing are all ways to achieve a glowy tan. Along with tanning beds, repetitive exposure to spray tanning is also extremely unhealthy for the skin. While it is the most effective way to tan without getting awkward lines or dark spots, the spray is very abrasive to the skin. Bronzing lotions are very popular for many people, but mainly appear blotchy and only stay on temporarily. These lotions

ARE TANNING BEDS SAFE?

4 tough truths

are unharmful to your skin, and virtually the best option for needing a fake tan; however, it is important to remember that applying a bronzing lotion correctly is difficult to achieve. Natural sunbathing is the classic way of achieving a suntan while giving your body a boost of vitamin D. Laying in the sun without sunscreen or other forms of protection can cause sun burns, aging, wrinkling, and skin cancer. It is important to choose what tanning system works best, while also being aware of all the health risks.

UV radiation from tannings beds are 100% more intense than regular sunlight

Dirty tanning beds can cause rashes and infections

Tanning beds can increase the risks of skin cancer by 75%

Tanning beds can cause sagging skin, brown spots, and wrinkles

#keepherconfident DOVEcampaign

It has been brought to the attention of many that girls around the world are rapidly quitting their sports. The large portion of those who have/ want to quit is attributed to low body-confidence. Dove and Nike recently partnered up launching the #KeepHerConfident campaign, with the goal to spread awareness and share resources for female athletes around the world.

According to the campaign, 45 percent of girls quit their sport before the age of 14 due to lack of body confidence. Other sources attribute girls quitting to a lack of confidence all around. With the overuse of social media, it is easy to compare ourselves to others. One might say to themselves, “Those girls look better in that uniform,” or “Those girls are getting recruited and I’m not,” and even, “Those girls are having fun and I’m not.” Social media often shows only the best parts of people’s lives, which are carefully selected to look a certain way.

Dove has partnered with very influential athletes and coaches such as Kylie Kelce, Venus Williams, and Steve Young. They have also shared the stories of young athletes in hopes of inspiring others and showing girls that they are not alone. The campaign has resources for coaches, parents and girls who may be struggling on how to build up confidence and handle related situations.

Other factors leading to these girls to fall out of love with their sports is school work pressure, being sidelined and/or a fear of being judged by others. It’s important for

all the members of these teams to help make a positive environment for everyone else. There needs to be a circulation of respect including coach to player, player to coach and player to player. With that being said, everyone needs to take a step back and remember that sports are meant to be fun. Many get caught up in the competition and put too much pressure on themselves and forget why they started in the first place.

Another huge factor is loss of interest is the types of coaches these girls are exposed to. A coach is supposed to be a role model and a person to lean on. A good coach has qualities such as communication, personability and proof that they care beyond just winning. It is important for coaches to earn the trust of their athletes as well as their respect. It’s hard to believe in yourself without knowing someone has your back. Athletes have a hard time enjoying their sport when they can sense favoritism. There is a shift in the culture and it becomes unmotivating and a lot of the time causes athletes to lose their spark. Before any given season, there should be no predetermined amounts of playing time as well as assignment to positions. All of that should be decided solely based on skill and performance.

Moving forward the goal is to resolve lack of confidence and loss of interest. The campaign will remain to speak out against these issues and promote positivity to help keep girls active in sports.

Let her know unwanted body attention is never her fault. Make her coach aware of any issues. Remind her that capability isn’t defined by appearance.

Reassure her that any body can be an athlete. Show her diverse female athletes. Enjoying sports is for all body types. Create “body talk” free zones. Remind her to avoid social comparisons and focus on her abilities. Reassure her that her sporting enjoyment is completely unrelated to her appearance.

What you can do: Learn how to support herStay connected -

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Ella’s Story

I have had a wide variety of experience in my ten years of playing softball. Every time I had to step away from a team it had to do with the coaches. In a sport where you fail more than you succeed it is hard to maintain your confidence. Furthermore, when you are in a bad atmosphere it makes it that much harder. I have had coaches that were blatantly mean, and they would speak to my teammates and I with language that is not appropriate for the school paper. I’ve also had coaches who were bad at communicating and playing favorites. The coaches that promised things at the beginning of the season are usually the ones who can’t live up to them.

SPORTS BETTING RISE ON THE

the takeover of mobile sports betting

Americans today live to spend their money away on useless things, or invest it in a miniscule opportunity of receiving a greater reward. Gambling has always been around in the United States, but as society moves into a digital era, more obtainable gambling opportunities to waste away money are arising, especially in sports. In the 2024 Super Bowl alone, an estimated $23.1 billion was invested among sports bettors, which is a huge jump from the $16 billion invested the year prior.

Betting in the sports industry hasn’t always been legalized in the United States. In 1992, the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act, better known as PASPA, was passed under the Constitution’s Commerce Clause, granting Congress the right to regulate commerce amongst the states. This act was proposed by a New Jersey Senator and former professional basketball player, Bill Bradley, who believed that gambling on athletes took away from the value of sports, and according to a 2018 interview, “turned every basketball player, football player and baseball player into a roulette chip.” Because of overwhelming support for the act at the time, it prevailed through the early 2000’s until 2009 New Jersey Senator, Raymond Lesniak, challenged the law claiming that it was unfair to uphold the law to only 46 states, as the act prohibited changing state sport gambling laws that had been passed prior to the PASPA. The challenge to the PASPA took eight years to make it to the Supreme Court where New Jersey Governor, Phil Murphy was tried by the National Collegiate Athletic Association, or the NCAA, for violating the PASPA by attempting to pass a law that allowed sports gambling at licensed locations. The Supreme Court ruled in a seven to two decision that the PASPA violated the tenth amendment to the Constitution.

“It [the 10th amendment] basically says

that all powers that are not given to the federal government by the Constitution are thus reserved for the states. Since the power to make laws regarding gambling is not clearly given to the federal government by the Constitution, the federal law (PASPA) would be constitutionally questionable,” AP Government teacher Mr. Tomecko said.

The court then furthered this decision in a six to three ruling that the PASPA itself was unconstitutional. This reversal granted all U.S. states the opportunity to run rampant with the legalization of sports betting.

With the eventual allowance of sports wagering in the U.S., several states have taken initiatives to make laws protecting the gambling rights. 38 out of the 50 U.S. states have legalized the gambling of sports, and 33 of these states furthered the right by legalizing mobile sports betting, the most popular technique in modern times. In Ohio specifically, both are legal. The state even has two stadiums, Rocket Mortgage and Great American Ballpark, in which sports betting is enhanced with the integration of sportsbook betting sources on site. Within the six years since the PASPA was removed from legislation, four sportsbook mobile betting sources have acquired 90% of the industry. The two companies leading the industry are FanDuel and DraftKings, both of which function as a real life casino but take on a digital format. With both of these apps increasing in popularity, the $19.65 billion generated by DraftKings, and similar profits by FanDuel are only expected to increase throughout the rest of 2024, especially with the NBA’s March Madness games that started this week.

Even though sports betting is legalized in the majority of US states, this doesn’t mean gambling is accessible to everyone, as the minimum age requirement is 21. While this is a requirement to partake in any type of gambling,

it is hard to physically prevent those underage from participating when sportsbook apps are widely available on any cellular device. In an NCAA released survey, it was recorded that out of the several individuals aging 18-22, 58% had engaged in at least one illegal sports betting activity. This percentage is only expected to rise as the sportsbook apps generate more revenue and continue advertising on any smart device accessible. Even though gambling on sports may not seem like the worst crime, it can directly affect youths’ mentality, as their brains have yet to fully develop. Several treatment facilities across the nation have seen an increase in individuals under the age of 30 seeking out help, especially in response to those who had compulsive problems dealing with gambling.

Overall, sports betting has grown to be one of the biggest industries this century because of the Supreme Court’s decision in 2018. While this gave the legalization process back to the states, the question of if it was the right choice has been the hot button issue since the reversal.

“ If Congress were to pass another law like PASPA, the Court could uphold it. However, that seems unlikely. As gambling becomes increasingly legal in the states, it is unlikely that Congress would pass a law to take it away,” Tomecko said.

Sportsbook apps are thriving on their large audiences across the nation, but several participants are losing out on their money and falling into deep rabbit holes of inescapable debt. While the entertainment aspect of sports wagering has returned, it may not have been worth the negative effects that have been enhanced by allowing not only sports betting, but mobile gambling in general to continue.

THREE GALS THREE FILMS CLUELESS

SHE’S ALL THAT

Sophia Wells: I’m not sure if it was the burden of being the last movie of a seven-hour marathon, or the actual movie itself, but I could not get behind Clueless. I have a question for the writers, where is the plot? It’s essentially a random story of Cher, a 16-year-old, and the events of her sophomore year of high school. Not only does she act like an actual BABY, but she participates in a weird incest plot with her stepbrother. There are no actual developments in her life, except for her getting a boyfriend in the end, which, might I remind you, IS HER STEPBROTHER. With regret, I give Clueless a 3/10.

Olivia Muzi: The disappointment I experienced from Clueless was off the charts. However, I should preface this by saying that it was the last movie we watched and there is the possibility that I was ignorant to enjoying any more movies due to my attention span being completely shot. With this being said, I found the movie to be quite horrifying. I just can’t get behind the incestual premise of the sister being in love with her step-BROTHER!! Let’s also not skip over the fact that the main character, Cher, acted like a literal toddler (mind you she is at the ripe age of 16). Normally, I wouldn’t mind the fact that there wasn’t a set plot, but since I couldn’t relate to the characters, I felt like I was waiting the whole movie for something that never came. Despite all this, the movie had some funny lines and scenes that ultimately carry the rating of this movie to become a 2/10.

Sophia Saley: While the clothing in the movie was amazing, I failed to see what the plot was. At the start, Cher, the main character, gets her grades changed by each teacher and then it goes to her making a new friend and giving her a makeover with her other friend, Dionne. The movie seemed all over the place and didn’t have a distinct plot. What made the movie a one for me was the fact that Cher ended up with her stepbrother, Josh. While some may say that it is okay because the parents got divorced and they were not actually related to begin with, I disagree. Cher, during the movie, repeatedly calls Josh her stepbrother. Overall, since there was no plot and Cher and Josh are stepsiblings and in a relationship, I give this movie a 1/10.

THE NOTEBOOK

Sophia Wells: With all due respect, I hope I never have to watch this movie again. Not only was I severely questioning the mental health of Noah and Allie (the two main characters) for the majority of the movie, but I was also left in tears when everything clicked at the end. The movie starts with a teenage summer romance that is actually alarmingly abusive, but the narrator seems to simply skip past that. Regardless, Noah and Allie go their separate ways, only to find each other years in the future and cheat on their current significant others. Needless to say, the characters have essentially no moral code, and the storyline is honestly shallow except for the ending. Speaking of the ending, it actually made me sob. That I was NOT expecting. Unfortunately, due to the first hour and a half of the movie, I have to give The Notebook a 6/10.

Olivia Muzi: Two words: emotional rollercoaster. I wanted to love this movie so much (and part of me did), but the overlooked twistedness of the characters ultimately prohibited me from fully loving it. They were

Sophia Wells: Without a doubt, I can positively say that She’s All That was my favorite movie in this review. I knew this movie was off to a great start when I began to recognize extremely familiar faces, such as Rachel Leigh Cook, Paul Walker, Mathew Lillard, and Usher. Aside from a stellar cast, the plot was perfect. It resembled the classic “bet” storyline, filled with friendship betrayals and iconic flirty interactions. Despite the miscommunication, the two main characters eventually experience a happy ending. There was the perfect amount of drama and romance, without ever getting too sad, which leads me to award this movie an 11/10.

Olivia Muzi: She’s All That is unjustifiably not popular enough. Due to never hearing about this movie before I watched it, I didn’t expect much of it. However, I could not have been proved more wrong. My favorite thing about this movie was by far the characters. Something about the way they were portrayed to be someone on the surface but ended up being so much more interesting and important than they were shown to be is overall a great message for people today. The “popular” boy, Zack, ended up being a genius and gentleman, and the “grunge” girl, Laney, had a past to show for the reason she ended up the way she was. From the amazing plot, characters, and sense of reality, this movie gets a chef’s kiss and 12/10 from me.

Sophia Saley: Between all of the movies we watched, She’s All That was by far the best. Dulé Hill, an actor from one of my favorite TV shows Psych, played a best friend to the main male character, Zack. Additionally, two actors later played Scooby Doo live-action characters: Freddie Prinze Jr. and Matthew Lillard. I loved how the female main character, Laney, did not care about Zack just because he was popular. Even though their relationship started as a bet between Zack and his friend about being able to get anyone to become the prom queen, I loved Zack and Laney’s relationship and dynamic. They joked with each other and he opened the car door for her (I am in LOVE)!! Furthermore, this movie started my obsession with the song Kiss Me by Sixpence None The Richer from the scene where Laney walks down the stairs back from her makeover. Due to all of these reasons, I give the movie a 10/10.

honestly just abusive and difficult for the “average” person to relate to. However, if you can look past that, the movie was heart-wrenching and traumatic in all the best ways. I particularly love how the movie was told from the older perspectives of the characters because it made me feel so gutted after I became attached to both versions (young and old) just for them to destroy me in the end. Mentally, during the movie, I was a literal mess, but as soon as it ended I was fine which is why I give The Notebook a 5/10.

Sophia Saley: From the character’s slow dancing in the dark to the final scene, the movie had me crying my eyes out. The movie begins with an older man reading a notebook to an older woman. This notebook starts with two teenagers, Allie and Noah, falling in love during a summer in 1940 and progressing into their lives after. I did not like how Allie would constantly hit Noah. This occurred whenever they argued and then most of the time they would make up in two seconds because they started kissing. #TOXIC If they were able to communicate better, their story would have been a little less messy and ended with fewer heartbreaks. Overall, I rate this move a 6/10.

design by Catherine Smith written by Sophia Wells, Sophia Saley, & Olivia Muzi

design by Mckenzie Collinsworth written by Victoria Schlue

and the oscar goes to...

SCHLUE WEIGHS N

Bold take: I agree that Leonardo DiCaprio did not deserve a nomination as “Best Actor in a Leading Role” for his performance in Killers of the Flower Moon. Killers of the Flower Moon gave an incredible profile of characters and acting, but I stand by my claim that DiCaprio did not move me in the same way I was moved by Cillian Murphy (Oppenheimer). While I’m at peace with the academy’s decision to award Murphy with this award, I have yet to understand how Zac Efron did not receive at least a nomination for this year’s “Best Actor in a Leading Role.” Iron Claw, for reasons I’m unsure of, did not receive any nomination for this year’s awards ceremony. Routinely, most people in the film industry looking for Oscar nominations will wait until the end of the year to release their films in order to be more relevant in the academy’s mind: Poor Things, Iron Claw, Killers of the Flower Moon etc. And while sometimes effective, I think in this case going up against other cinematic monsters such as: Poor Things and Killers of the Flower Moon, it had the opposite effect and was outshone.

Along with Efron, Lily Gladstone (Killers of the Flower Moon) didn’t receive an award for her nomination: “Actress in a Leading Role.” In competition with Emma Stone (Poor Things),

Victoria expresses her opinions on the 2024 Oscars

Gladstone went home empty handed. With both phenomenal performances, I’ll argue that Gladstone deserved this award more. Gladstone, gave a performance that grounded its storytelling script, and made it seem effortless. Whereas Stone, immersed herself in the character profile(s) that executes an outline of an extremely rigid controversial line of film. Again, both were deserving but, I dont think it’s every other movie where you’re able to find a performance that has more depth and personality than Gladstone. Watching, it’s easy to see that when Gladstone acts she performs with a vendetta, something to prove. Stone, on the other hand, acts with grace, watching her is seamless. Again, both deserving an award, I wholeheartedly believe that Glastone was done an injustice in this year’s ceremony.

(Do I talk about him in every article I write? Yes, deservingly so). Wes Anderson deserved a nomination for “Best Screenplay.” Now, I am beyond thrilled he won his first Oscar this year for best short film, The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar, but I would have loved to see Asteroid City make an appearance this year. Not only do I think screenplay would have been a deserving category, but I would have also loved to see Jeffery Wright get nominated twice: “Best Actor in a Leading

Role, (American Fiction)” and “Best Actor in a Supporting Role.” Though both performances are drastically different, I find it hard to distinguish American Fiction as “Best Adapted Screenplay.” Jeffery Wright in American Fiction was one of my top movies, and performances of the year, at least in the top ten. But going up against Oppenheimer, I felt this as a no-brainer. Oppenheimer had a greater impact on film, rather than “American Fiction,” both have valuable stories. I just feel Oppenheimer is told in a way that will live longer than American Fiction.

Emily Blunt (Oppenheimer), in nomination for “Best Supporting Actress,” initially took my vote. But in competition with Da’vine Joy Randolph (The Holdovers), I was sad to admit that Blunt would go home empty-handed. Now, I believe Blunt in comparison to any other nominee deserved this award, solely because of her cinematic advancements in The Devil Wears Prada, and well, the fact that Blunt delivered. I can’t imagine another actress in this role, nor any changes to the script to enhance her performance. I think her performance as a whole would, and should be compared to Randolph’s performance. Though the two served great on screen performances, both roles were solely polar opposites to each other, yet the same. Both playing motherly figures in the

role, Randolph’s character was more adjusted and comforting to the screen and audiences, where I feel Blunt’s portrayal of motherhood is off-setting to the audience. Both portrayals were showstopping, but when it comes down to the line, I believe the academy sides with the safe choice rather than what I feel to be an earth-shattering actress. Blunt will outperform any monologue, mainly because she acts with purpose, she takes a script and performs. America Ferrera (Barbie), also included in this category, moved mountains for little girls everywhere. As a whole, Barbie did possibly the most this year for film and box offices, but in the theater I wasn’t completely indulged in Ferrera’s performance. Though full of purpose, it’s important to note that scripts are not actors, if anything Ferrera shouldn’t have been nominated, the script should have.

That being said, I feel this was an incredible year for movies. Going to the theater, I more than anyone will attest that theater experiences have been more enjoyable this past year than any other. Having feuds between casts, soul changing movies, and plot lines are what makes the film industry so versatile and inclusive for everyone.

THE SECOND ANNUAL PAW PRINT BAKE-OFF

the paw print staff takes on mental health week with a baking contest

ELLIE COLE ‘26: 4TH PERIOD WINNER

Preheat oven to 400°F. Whisk together All-purpose flour, cake flour, baking soda, baking powder, cornstarch and salt together in a large bowl. Set aside. Place cubed butter into the bowl of a stand mixer and secure the paddle attachment. Turn the mixer on a medium-low setting. Let the mixer cream the butter for 30 seconds, and then add in the brown sugar and mix 30 seconds, followed by the white sugar for 30 seconds. Cream until light and fluffy, then add in the egg and the egg yolk (and vanilla if using) and blend until mixed. If any of the butter gets stuck on the paddle attachment use a rubber spatula to knock it off. With the mixer on low speed, gradually add in the flour mixture. Add it in a little at a time until ingredients are incorporated. Then add in the chocolate chips and mix just until the chocolate chips are incorporated. Turn off the machine. Bake cookies for 10-12 minutes or until the tops are golden brown.

Ingredients

¼ cup all purpose flour

¾ cup cake flour

1 tsp corn starch

½ tsp baking powder

½ tsp baking soda

½ tsp salt

½ cup cold, unsalted butter, cubed (8 tbsp)

½ cup light brown sugar, packed

¼ cup white granulated sugar

1 large egg

1 egg yolk

2 cups milk chocolate chips

1 tbsp vanilla extract

MALLORY GEARHART ‘24: 9TH PERIOD WINNER

Preheat oven to 350ºF. Put the softened butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar into the bowl of your stand mixer. Beat them together for 3-4 minutes until the mixture is light. Add the vanilla extract and egg, then beat slowly until everything is creamy and even lighter in color. (Around 3 minutes). Add in the flour, salt, and baking soda, then mix until the flour is almost combined. Tip the chocolate chips into the mixture. Then mix until everything is combined. Don’t overmix. Roll golf ball-sized balls of dough and place them onto a baking sheet lined with cooking paper. Ensure they are 2”/5cm apart. Bake for 8-10 minutes until lightly golden. (They will be soft when you take them from the oven!). Carefully transfer the cookies to a cooling rack and leave to cool.

Ingredients

1 stick softened salted butter

½ cup light brown sugar

½ cup granulated sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 egg

1

½ cups plain all-purpose flour

¼ teaspoon salt

½ teaspoon baking soda

1 ½ cup semi-sweet choc chips