The Orb- November 2020-21

HAMILTON SOUTHEASTERN HIGH SCHOOL

THE VIRTUAL TOLL

IN THIS ISSUE...

STUDENT PHOTOGRAPHY

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GENTRIFICATION

THE DIGITAL TOLL

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ATHLETE OF THE ISSUE

STAFF MEMBERS EDITORS-IN-CHIEF

STAFF MEMBERS

Vivianna Esqueda Tristan Fluhr Gabriella Haynes Autumn Johnson EDITORS Ellie Johnson Kathryn Collins Bailey Lincoln Emily Crousore Trinity Mackenzie Kennedy Fisher Heidi Schlabach Lainee Kirk Elizabeth Moodispaugh Kendall Unger Lucas Bisesi Peyton McVeigh

CONTENT LEADS

Lauren Riina Isabella Romaine

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THE ORB

ADVISERS

Jordan Klobusnik David Young

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STAFF SHOUTOUT BROADCAST

Noah Ashcraft Eric Bedrosian Alexander Brammer William Cantwell Andrew Carlin Garrett Dodridge Xavier Dokes Mackenzie Dreher David Hosei Nolan Houseman Jonathan Ouellette Jackson Snyder Autumn Johnson is an extremely hard worker who always Keegan Stein makes sure that a job is done correctly, regardless of how long it takes. Autumn is a great communicator, always making sure to ask the right questions in order to ensure quality in whichever project she is working on.

AUTUMN JOHNSON STAFFER

A MOMENT WITH...

JAKE WEBBER

Explain what drew you to band, rather than the other performing arts...

I first joined band in sixth grade and then joined marching band at the high school my freshman year. I was drawn to music because I wasn’t amazing at art in elementary and middle school, plus I loved the idea of playing the saxophone when I was younger.

When did you decide you wanted to be a drum major and what led you to it?

I originally tried out for drum major [during] my junior year and was selected then and again this year as a senior. I decided to try out for the position because I loved the ability to be able to lead the group and be one of the main controlling factors for the music.

There is something special about being able to control the music with just a few hand movements and I think that’s what ultimately drew me to it.

SENIOR DRUM MAJOR DISCUSSES CHOICES, EXPERIENCE WITH PERFORMING ARTS

Describe the process of becoming drum major...

Drum majors are selected from students who have participated in marching band before. We go through an audition process to showcase our skills and abilities, to make sure we can teach those skills to others. We all have to be in good academic and disciplinary standing and have to be great examples that everyone in the band can look up to.

What has been your biggest challenge while being a drum major?

The biggest challenge of my two years as a drum major has been dealing with the adjustments for the pandemic. We were very sensitive to the regulations: requiring masks anytime we weren’t playing, practicing almost solely outside and separating ourselves even when we were outside.

How have you balanced the time requirements of band and drum major with school, classes and other activities?

Even though we stand in one spot the whole show, it’s very mentally taxing to make sure that everyone stays together as an ensemble. I am lucky enough that I learned how to manage my time during my freshman year, and I’ve kept refining those skills each year since.

I found that just making sure that I schedule everything helps, and I’ve been able to stay in other clubs, take AP and Honors classes and even have a job outside of school. Photo and Q & A by Peyton McVeigh

HSENEWS

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BEHIND THE CAMERA

SPOTLIGHTING FOUR STUDENT PHOTOGRAPHERS MALLORY MYERS

Photo contributed from Mallory Myers.

BRYNN BOWMAN

Senior Brynn Bowman’s passion for photography began when she was a freshman, after she taught herself the complexities of photography and visual storytelling.

Although she began her experience by originally focusing on nature and animals, Bowman has expanded her focus and now aims toward capturing creative photographs, as well as portraits.

“I took some classes [in high school] involving photography,” Bowman said. “From those, I figured out how to do most of the settings and editing style on my own.”

Bowman also utilizes online resources such as Pinterest to find inspiration for her photo shoots. Although she creates some ideas on her own, she also enjoys finding a photograph online to match those ideas. Ultimately, though, Bowman uses her unique photography as a way to showcase her creativity.

“One of my favorite shoots was a paint shoot that I did with three friends,” Bowman said. “I painted their arms and faces different colors, and it received a lot of attention on social media.”

Along with conveying creativity through photos, Bowman also conducts shoots with deeper meanings that are part of larger movements.

“I did a photoshoot for Black Lives Matter this past summer which had a ton of meaning behind it,” Bowman said. “A lot of people saw the photos on social media, helping the purpose to spread awareness.”

Similar to other photographers, Bowman’s favorite photos are those of people such as senior pictures or family sessions. Whether it is casual portraits or elaborately planned photo shoots, Bowman’s creativity continues to be captured within her photography. Story by Lainee Kirk.

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Senior Mallory Myers developed an interest in photography during her sophomore year after a mission trip in the Dominican Republic. Myers took her first Nikon camera along with her and has transformed her hobby into a business ever since. However, because of Myers’ passion for photography, she does not view it as a job.

“A challenge with doing the thing I love is not charging people when I should,” Myers said. “I sometimes struggle to remember that this is still a business.”

Through her business, Myers often photographs a variety of occasions whether it be senior pictures, weddings or an occasional family photo shoot. Despite the purpose, though, she has proven successful in her ability to portray someone’s personality through an image. Additionally, Myers’ motivation extends beyond just her passion for photography, as she has also developed a deeper connection to her subjects.

“I love having the chance to let people know how beautiful they are and capture that,” Myers said. “My favorite type of subjects to shoot are people [and] my favorite shoot I have ever done was this summer with my friend Vanessa in a huge stream.”

Throughout her career, Myers has also been influenced by Indy Blue, a traveler, blogger and videographer. Blue records her surroundings as she travels the world, which serves as inspiration to Myers who has similar interests.

“I have absolutely fallen in love with photography ever since my first camera,” Myers said. “I continue to be inspired by people like Indy Blue, who have the coolest work, every day.”

Currently an intern for Studio 116, Myers is developing her skills to prepare for all things photography-related waiting in the future.

Story by Lainee Kirk.

Photo contributed from Brynn Bowman.

DANIELLE WEITZEL

Senior Danielle Weitzel has been engulfed in the photography world for years and has loved every moment of it. She began her journey approximately five years ago when her grandparents gave her a DSLR camera to borrow and hasn’t been able to put a camera down since.

“I started [capturing] photo shoots of my sister with my iPhone,” Weitzel said. “Then I started saving up to buy my own [DSLR] camera.”

In the past five years, Weitzel has come a long way throughout her photography journey and continues to persevere through the challenges. For her, one of the biggest struggles was trying to stand out from other photographers. However, Weitzel tried to put a new spin on her personal photography by finding her own editing style to show a little more personality, without edits.

“I am always making an effort to make the viewer feel the same emotion that I and the subject were at the time the photo was taken,” Weitzel said.

Weitzel also does not draw inspiration from any particular photographer, artist or setting. Instead, the photographer enjoys just being out in the city and seeing something she could envision having a big impact in a photo. Then, Weitzel travels to the location and decides what to capture while shooting. This method often allows for many different unique photographs and photo shoots due to the changes in scenery throughout her captured images.

Ultimately, Weitzel has a goal of making the viewer feel her emotions from behind the camera, as well as through the frame of the photo. She continues to advance in her photography journey and is always sure to meet her personal goals while also progressing her art. Story by Bailey Lincoln.

Photo contributed from Nathan Altman.

Photo contributed from Danielle Weitzel.

NATHAN ALTMAN

Nathan Altman started his photography journey three years ago and has loved he hobby ever since. He began to experiment with his subjects, editing methods, and composition not too long from the beginning and now he is a student with a passion trying to overcome all the obstacles.

“It was challenging to learn how to edit my photos at the start,” Altman said. “Once I practiced it was easy” Altman enjoys dabbling into different subjects, for example, he enjoys taking photos of cars and taking Senior Portraits of his friends.

Some of his favorite shoots not shockingly coincide with his favorite subjects. He particularly enjoyed his shoot at a plane hangar of for the Fishers Car Club. He states he enjoyed the experience all together with the atmosphere, photography, people who share the same passions, etc.

Altman has been on the journey of making his craft reflects himself and her personality, other hobbies, or other things he enjoys. He says it’s one of his favorite parts of the photography process.

While he is mixing his interests with his hobbies, the outcome results in his impeccable photos with every detail accounted for to reflect himself through his art as much as he can. Story

by Bailey Lincoln.

HSENEWS

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OUTSIDE THE BUBBLE GENTRIFICATION BECOMES PRESSING ISSUE IN INDIANAPOLIS AREA Many students living inside the “Fishers Bubble” are not exposed to the gentrification happening primarily in Hamilton County as well as Indianapolis.

Replacing neighborhoods and towns with more expensive, modernized housing has affected not only the state but minorities within HSE. “It’s as though they are purposely pushing minorities and people with lower incomes out of areas,” senior Augustus Isaac said. “They are effectively displacing minorities so that they are leaving their homes and forced to live in places with less economic opportunities.”

Though some people see gentrification as an opportunity for neighborhoods to rid themselves of old buildings, many are against these kinds of renovations. Many believe gentrification rids a town of historical aspects, pushing families and local businesses out due to increasing residential prices.

“Personally, I have not been affected by gentrification in my own neighborhood, but I can see what damage it can do,” senior and Asian Student Union officer Ahn-Thu Pham said. “In neighborhoods like Chinatown in big cities, like Chicago, gentrification of neighborhoods and businesses could ruin these places.”

The gentrification has become exceedingly present through the city with renovations such as The Yard and Downtown Fishers. The largely white population within Fishers becomes prevalent to some of the people of color at HSE as the gentrification continues.

“Going to such a modern school, where most of the students are white, really highlights the gentrification going on,” Augustus said. “Fishers is an expensive town to live in, and it has good opportunities for education, but it is harder for minorities to access these opportunities when they have been pushed out of the towns and given less opportunities to pursue a high-income career.”

But this gentrification does not stop at the Fishers border. The Meridian suburban neighborhood in Carmel will soon be almost entirely torn down to later be replaced with the Franciscan Health Orthopedic Center of Excellence.

Indianapolis is also experiencing gentrification on Mass Avenue and around Monument Circle.

“Indianapolis, that area has more people of color than white people compared to if you look at people in

“According to Governing.com, gentrification rates in Indianapolis neighborhoods have increased by 370 percent since 2000.”

Fishers or Carmel more white people live here than compared to black people or Hispanics Asians or any other people of color,” senior and Black Student Union president Kyndal Poore said. “I think that it is very unfair that this is becoming a growing issue in Indianapolis because it affects more people of color. Also, it economically disadvantages black people because by raising the price of the homes they live in that’s just unfair, especially because it might be happening here, but it is not happening everywhere in Indiana.”

Gentrification does not only remove residents from neighborhoods, but it removes the culture and history of a town.

“I found that a lot of Asian culture in America is changed and adjusted to meet Western standards and when that happens, I

find that it takes away the meaning and history behind the Asian culture,” Pham said. “When people who are not Asian use Asian culture and try to ‘modernize’ a place or thing, I think they need to be respectful to the host culture and get an insider’s POV, or not do it all.”

Many minorities have witnessed their cultures been removed from their neighborhoods and cities. Customs of different ethnic groups are bombarded by construction vehicles.

“There are so many aspects of neighborhoods in the black community that are truly so important,” Poore said.

“For example, cookouts, when you’re black, are so important, they are huge part of neighborhoods and holidays. And gentrification is taking those neighborly things away.”

With the Black Lives Matter movement becoming prominent, gentrification seems to contribute to the current civil rights movement. Though gentrification effects many minorities, the current focus on African American civil rights spotlights the discrimination that comes with gentrification.

“Gentrification connects to the black lives matter movement because they are both somewhat African Americans trying to protect their basic rights and freedoms that are being denied from us,” Poore said. “In the Black Lives Matter movement, we are fighting for our lives, obviously fighting to walk across the street, and not be looked at as a threat.

In gentrification, we are trying to fight for white Americans to stop stealing our homes and authentically black neighborhoods.”

With the gentrification that has occurred in the state, it is difficult to tell how far the state will go with these renovations. People directly affected continue to fight for their homes and spread awareness about the gentrification of the Indianapolis Area.

Information from Indy Star.

Story by Lauren Riina.

#ENDSARS

NIGERIANS PROTEST THE ABOLISHMENT OF CORRUPTED, VIOLENT POLICING As the dust fades following the Black Lives Matter protests that overtook the US, Nigerians followed suit protesting the unjust police brutality the Special Anti-Robbery Squad, or SARS, inflicted upon its citizens.

Nigeria gained its freedom in 1960 after English declared it a British protectorate in 1901, however, following its independence Nigeria continued to be controlled by its military continuing its culture of corruption and intimidation to control its people for over three decades before electing the country’s first democratic president in 1999.

When Nigeria was still under military rule, armed robberies were rampant across its cities in attempts to control the crime level, the Superintendent of Police Simeon Danladi Midenda formed an independent task force with the sole purpose of ambushing robbers in 1992.

“The secret behind the successes of the original SARS was its facelessness and its mode of operation,” Midenda told the Lagos-based newspaper Vanguard in 2017. “We operated in plain clothes and used plain vehicles that could not be associated with security or any government agency.”

Despite Midenda’s positive intent for forming the SARS unit, corruption and conversational ties quickly arose less than one year after its formation. The first report of abuse of power connected to SARS was documented in 1993 when University of Lagos computer science graduate Ayotunde Adesola was accused of being involved in a local gang. Adesola was picked off the streets and in efforts to force a confession out of him officers poured irritant powder on his face while beating him, according to the Lagosbased Civil Liberties Organization.

The rise of technology only further increased police brutality. Following the turning of the decade, cybercrime became a more common occurrence in Nigeria and SARS pushed discovering and arresting the perpetrators to the forefront. Nigerian officers devoted their time and efforts to profiling innocent civilians on the streets and began to harass and extort whoever they deemed suspicious, instead of investigating online.

“There was the belief that everyone who is carrying a laptop may be using it for internet fraud,” program manager at Amnesty International Nigeria Suen Bakare said. “Young people- particularly men with nice clothes, watches or dreadlocks- were accused of being [internet scammers] were shaken down, detained and tortured.”

Any attempts made by both the government and its citizens were unsuccessful. The formation of both the Presidential Committee and National

“[SARS] perpetrate[s] acts of torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment against detainees in their custody on a regular basis.”

Committee Against Torture made no significant impact on fixing the corrupted system plaguing the nation.

In 2010 former Nigerian president Goodluck Jonathon put $186 million into police reform once again with little to no effect.

Protests against the sevre brutality inflicted by the SARS unit arose in 2016 after the World Internal Security and Police Index ranked the Nigerian police as the world’s worst in a global survey consisting of 127 countries, with 81 percent of respondents admitting to paying a bribe to a cop within the year.

The same year, Amnesty International found that SARS “perpetrate[s] acts of torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment against detainees in their custody on a regular basis.” The next year the hashtag ENDSARS began trending on social media with hundreds of videos, photos and stories of abuse being shared, after the initial global response the trend died down and was forgotten by a majority of social media users.

However, in May of this year, a revival of Black Lives Matter protests overtook the world, and Nigerians pushed their message of torture and brutality to the front and recieved overwhelming support including celebrities such as Beyoncé, Rihanna, Cardi B, Drake and former U.S. vice president and 2020 democratic nominee Joe Biden voting their support. The week after global and national protests President Muhammadu Buhari announced he will be disbanding the police unit and implementing extensive police reforms, many celebrated the freedom they have been denied for decades, only to learn of the president declared a new unit, Special Weapons and Tactics team (SWAT) will replace SARS. Protesters claimed the unit was being rebranded and the cycle will begin once again. Story by Kathryn Collins. Information from Time.com.

po·lice bru·tal·i·ty noun

civil rights violation, where law enforcement officers exercise undue or excessive force against a subject.

THE VIRTUAL TOLL With COVID-19 being felt all over the world in record numbers, schools all over the nation have had to adapt to different rules and requirements to keep students and staff safe. Some students have a 50/50 schedule, coming in every other day, whereas others are completely virtual not having stepped foot in the school building this year. In this article, negative physical and mental effects of virtual learning are discussed, such as eye strain, back problems and rise in depression levels.

Original information from Opthamology Times, Mercy.net, Leigh Brain and Spine, Romper.com, EdSource.org and DailyOrange.com

Story continues on Page 9...

HEALTH RISKS OF ONLINE LEARNING With the new implementation of virtual learning this school year, students have had no other option than to sit and stare at a computer screen for more than six hours at a time. This screen time comes on top of the multiple hours already spent each day staring at a phone screen. The world’s use of technology is changing rapidly, but many parents and students are wondering what the cost of this prolonged screen-time has on student health.

One of the biggest concerns of increased screen-time is that it may cause longterm vision damage. Parents and students alike have worries that practices such as this now, at a young age, will have lasting, detrimental effects later in life. It is important to bring awareness to these issues now, so that they may further be prevented before becoming irreversible.

According to Dr. Maria Stunkel from Mercy Clinic Children’s Eye Specialists, long-term vision damage is less of a concern than current issues students are facing.

“While increased screen time in kids has not been shown to cause lasting damage to vision, it can lead to a few problems like digital eye strain and dry eye,” Dr. Stunkel said.

Digital eye strain and dry eye can result in many annoyances including headaches, blurry vision, as well as tired and dry eyes. The root cause of these health concerns is that students are not blinking as often during the day when staring at a computer screen. Focusing on the same distance for a prolonged amount of time, which is done during virtual learning, can lead to these issues as well.

Fortunately, there are multiple preventative measures that can be taken to reduce these effects or eliminate them overall.

One of the best ways to prevent eye strain or dry eye is to take breaks between long amounts of time spent staring at a screen.

“For every 20 minutes of screen time, look at something 20 feet away (optical infinity), for 20 seconds,” Dr. Stunkel recommends.

This break helps to give one’s eyes the

time necessary to relax and move focus to something besides a screen. Another strong recommendation that is a popular option among students already is an investment in blue light glasses. These can be worn during the school day to limit the amount of blue light entering one’s eyes, and in turn, limit the negative effects associated with increased screen time. There are many things we are facing in our current world that are uncontrollable.

EYE STRAIN Fortunately, in the case of health effects resulting from increased screen-time associated with virtual learning, students and staff can educate themselves and act in order to prevent these damages. Our eyes are one of the most useful and functional tools that we have, and it is our job to take measures to protect them.

THE 20/20/20 RULE HSENEWS

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Online and virtual learning has been a physical and mental struggle for a wide range of students.

Back and posture problems can affect children as they grow. The American Chiropractic Association’s survey from earlier this year stated 92% of chiropractors said patients are reporting more neck, back and other musculoskeletal issues since the pandemic began. Having correct posture ultimately shields a child’s growing spine from scoliosis or other development complications. Since many students do their learning from a bed or floor, they are hunched over their screens for hours at a time.

Doctors and chiropractors have begun researching ways to help students protect their backs and necks. Ergonomic tips such as checking eye level, paying attention to posture, and taking breaks very 30 minutes from sitting down stimulate and cooperate with a home school environment. Going on a walk around the house or doing a plank strengthens your back and gives the muscles a break from the sitting position while stretching, meditation, and yoga gives the mind and body a breather.

Inactivity can lead to kids losing their stamina when it comes to physical activities because the demands on the body have been reduced.

Furniture also has a major impact on the spine. A desk that is too low can lead a child to hunch over as a habit. Over time, this can lead to poor posture and serious chronic aches and pain. Some schools and teachers have tried to implement exercise balls into their classrooms. The downside is how they offer no back support, and some children have trouble balancing. An easy procedure to follow is the 90-90-90 rule. The elbows, hips, and knees should be rested at a 90-degree angle. Having the screen at the same height as the eye level, reduces neck strain by not having to constantly look up and down.

Standing desks are a healthy and helpful solution to aide with eye strain and neck pain. Propping up a portable laptop on books and positioning the keyboard and mouse at a comfortable position is highly recommended.

Older kids and teenagers can sit for a longer period. Teenagers are at risk for developing the hallmark of poor posture which includes the rounded shoulders and forward head. Younger children do not sit still which develops poor posture habits. Long term effects on children include issues like obesity at an early age

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due to lack of activity and muscle movement, as well as lactic acid that builds up in joints. Hyperactive behavior is a likewise concern.

Posture can affect the way students learn. If they are not comfortable in their seat, it is less likely they will be paying attention. If they are comfortable, they can focus easier and feel relaxed. Back and neck pain causes distractions that take away from learning effectively. Therefore, designing a comfortable workspace allows relief and satisfaction. Putting effort into securing the safety of the spine and neck compels the body to be stronger and the brain to function and

concentrate as a habit. This is an easy fix that betters the muscles as they continue growing. Doing simple things like the 9090-90 rule, impacts the body for years to come.

POSTURE

The option of online school was put in place to keep students and staff with possible underlying health issues safe during the pandemic. Now, many are realizing the mental and physical injuries that come with staring at a computer no stop for multiple hours. As mentioned earlier, the physical aspects include damage to student’s eyes and their posture. The mental issues being caused are just as important.

Experiments analyzed by sciencedirect.com show that everyday Americans who spend more than 6 hours a day on a TV or computer are more likely to have higher moderate to severe depression levels. Alongside the long hours spent, students are also not getting the social experience they use to get when going into school. Many studies have also clearly shown that a lack of social interactions can also raise levels of depression.

Policy counsel of the ACLU of Southern California, Amir Whitaker sees this as possibly a long-lasting issue.

“We were calling this a mental health crisis before the pandemic. Now it’s a state of emergency,” Whitaker said. “Our youth are really struggling...When schools reopen, we’re going to have to re-tool them significantly to address this.”

Not only has online increased depression levels, it has also increased issues with social anxiety. As noted, before, students are not getting the social experience they use to when attending in person school. Another issue adding to social anxiety is the constant up-close student’s see of their face while on zoom.

These constant zooms calls have upped the need to look presentable only damaging self-esteem of those focusing on themselves. Being totally absorbed in their own looks makes it harder for students to pay attention and pick up on

social cues that are already difficult to see over Zoom. Hilary Weingarden, Ph.D., a body dysmorphia expert at Massachusetts General Hospital gives reassuring news to those with self-esteem issues watching themselves on zoom.

“Over-focusing on your appearance for prolonged periods of time can actually distort your perceptions so that you’re no longer really seeing yourself clearly,” Weingarden said. “This is especially true when you look at your appearance up close and fixate on an area of concern for a prolonged period of time, rather than looking more holistically at your full reflection. That body part of concern can start to appear very blown out of proportion to you.”

Dr Martina Paglia psychologist at The International Psychology Clinic believes the constant lag and awkward silence has also left students feeling drained and full of social anxiety as well.

“It’s exhausting to feel like we have to put in more effort to be mentally present in a meeting where we physically aren’t.

Meetings held online increase cognitive load as it asks for a lot of conscious capacity and effort,” Paglia said. “In real life meetings, silence is an excellent tool as it creates a natural rhythm and calmness. In Zoom meetings, it makes us anxious and angry. We zone out and feel like the other person is less friendly and focused.”

Along with issues of social anxiety and depression, eating habits are also starting to be a clear problem. Eating mindfully can be difficult when all attention is fully immersed on the computer. Students are now eating snacks throughout the day instead of sticking to regular mealtimes which can drastically affect their moods.

They are also more likely to pick more convenient unhealthy food because of the

short breaks in between classes according to dailyorange.com.

All of these problems with complete virtual learning are starting to stack up but mental health counselor, Katie Lear who specializes in trauma and anxiety treatment believes the best step towards a more successful online school life, is shifting the way teachers grade students.

Research from the University of Gothenburg linked heavy cell phone use in young adults and depressive symptoms.

A virtual HSE student can spend up to 340 minutes on Zoom calls per school day.

Experiments analyzed by sciencedirect. com shows that everyday Americans who more than six hours a day on a TV or HSENEWS computer are more likely to have 11 moderate to severe depression levels

MENTAL HEALTH “Just as students are being flexible with teachers who are trying out online methods for the first time, it seems fair that teachers should extend that same flexibility back to students,” Lear said.

“Teachers who modify their expectations for what this semester should look like may find themselves with happier, healthier students.”

The pandemic has caused multiple issues for students and staff, so maybe it is time for administrators and higher ups to reconsider how our education is done.

If you have any questions or concerns about your mental health or those around you, call 1-800-950-NAMI (6264) or email info@nami.org. Story by Gabriella Haynes, Ellie Johnson and Elizabeth Moodispaugh.

MAKING HISTORY HISTORY OF AMERICAN ELECTIONS Throughout the history of the United States, Americans have prided themselves in living in a democracy in which the people have the right to vote for government leaders of the country. Election day is one of the most important days in America every four year, as Americans aged 18 and older can exercise their Constitutional right to choose the next President of the United States of America. Voting is not only a right given to the American people, but also a privilege to be able to exercise.

The election process was inspired by the Athenians of Rome and slowly emerged itself into 17th Century Europe and North America. In Ancient Greece, male landowners were the only people allowed to vote in these elections, which can be compared to the initial voting laws of the United States. Originally, only male landowners who were 21 years or older were permitted to vote.

Additionally, the Athenian democratic system also used ballots to cast their vote, but instead of filling in a bubble next to a candidates’ name, voters would write their vote on broken pieces of pots. The candidate who received 6,000 votes was then elected to be the emperor or pope in Ancient Greece. But if the candidate did not reach the required number of votes, the person in the position at the time of the election would remain.

In the infancy of the American government, the Founding Fathers created the Electoral College which is the foundation of the American voting system. The Electoral College includes representatives from each state who

take the highest number of votes each presidential candidate received in their state and cast the official state vote for the presidency. To become president, a candidate must receive a minimum of 270 votes from the Electoral College.

This system was used to elect the first president of the United States, George Washington, and is still in place today.

The United States has never counted every vote, however, as there were originally laws denying people their right to vote. For about 140 years, only the white men of America had the privilege of casting their vote, but in 1920 women were given the right to vote through the ratification of the 19th Amendment.

The ratification of the Civil Rights Act in 1964 and Voting Rights Act in 1965 later allowed all people the right to vote, regardless of race, religion or education.

Years later, the 26th Amendment also lowered the voting age to 18 years old, making it accessible to more Americans.

Trying to make voting more accessible to others who could not physically vote, the government passed the Voting Accessibility for the Elderly and Handicapped Act which required polling places to be more accessible to people with disabilities. Allowing all citizens the opportunity to exercise their right to vote gives the official representatives of America an idea of what citizens collectively support, rather than the people they see as worthy enough to listen to.

The 2020 election is one of the most historic presidential elections in modern history, as the American people were eager to cast their votes.

1870- Following the American Civil War and the abolishment of slavery, the 15th Amendment ruled that a citizen’s right to vote would not be denied on account of race, granting African American men the ability to vote.

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According to TIME, history was made as an estimated 160 million people voted this year, compared to 138 million in the previous presidential election. The increase in voter turnout gave both the Democratic and Republican candidates record-breaking numbers as Joe Biden received 75 million votes and Donald Trump received 70 million votes; both of which surpassed President Barack Obama’s previous record of 69.5 million.

Regardless of the outcome, elections affect every single American, whether they cast a vote or not. In the end, allowing a voice to be heard can help make history. Story by Vivianna Esqueda.

1965-

Signed into law by President Lyndon B. Johnson during the height of the civil rights movement, this act worked to overcome legal state and local level barriers that prevented African Americans from voting, such as the Grandfather Clause, literacy tests, and poll taxes.

1920- After years of Women’s Suffrage protests, the House and Senate passed the 19th Amendment, stating that a citizens right to vote would not be denied on account of sex. After being ratified by 36 states, the amendment was adopted into the Constitution.

1971-

With the randomized drafting for the Vietnam War, pressure to lower the voting age rapidly increased as those drafted to fight at 18 were too young to vote for their own government representatives. This Amendment was quickly passed and ratified in 1971, lowering the voting age.

FOREIGN GOVERNMENT SYSTEMS A LOOK AT THE GOVERNING POWERS AROUND THE GLOBE

UNITED STATES

The United States of America is a constitutional democracy, meaning there is a constitution that sets rules and regulations for the governing of the country’s citizens. The democratic part of constitutional democracy means that citizens vote for the country’s leaders. There are three parts of the government in the United States: the executive, legislative and judicial branches. The executive branch includes the President, who typically has the power to declare national emergencies and propose bills to go to the Senate. The legislative branch consists of the House of Representatives and the Senate, both of which determine whether or not a bill proposed by the President should become a law. Lastly, the judicial branch includes members of the Supreme Court, whose justices are appointed by the President and later confirmed by the Senate. During an election, the government relies on the Electoral College, a system that is used by fewer than 10 countries globally.

Japan’s government system is a constitutional monarchy, meaning their emperor’s power is limited and relies on others. This restriction of power gives the emperor ceremonial duties, and ceremonial duties alone. Instead of the emperor holding all government power, the emperor is the head of state; Japan has a prime minister who is the head of government. The minister isn’t alone in the government, however.

Similar to the United States, there are three branches of government in Japan: the executive branch, legislature branch and judiciary branch. Each branch also serves similar purposes in Japan, as in the United States. When it comes to elections in Japan, there are three types: elections for the House of Representatives, elections for the House of Councilors, and local elections for local governments. Japan does not have an electoral college, but they vote for all the important politicians below the emperor.

CANADA

JAPAN

The country located most closely to the United States, Canada also shares many similarities with the U.S. government. Canada is a parliamentary democracy, meaning it has a parliament and the people of power are voted by the public.

Canada’s parliament holds the Sovereign (aka their king or queen), the Senate and the House of Commons. Canada can also be considered a constitutional monarchy, meaning it follows a set of rules and the queen or king holds head of state, while their Prime Minister holds head of government. Although both the US and Canada are constitutional and a democracy, Canada is not a constitutional democracy, as they are also a monarchy. Despite the two countries being located so closely, they have many more differences in government than they do similarities. The levels of government in Canada are the federal group, provincial group and municipal group – which are similar to the three branches in the United States.

Colombia is a South American country that became one of the first independent constitutional governments. Similar to the United States, it is a constitutional republic, which is the most similar to the US republic and democracy. As with the United States, Colombia is also heavily dependent on the public people, and both countries are constitutional. Some similarities between the US and Colombia, aside from their government type, are the branches of government and the presidential terms. Colombia follows the same executive, legislative and judicial branches, all of which have at least some of the same roles including a president, vice president and judges. The president in Columbia must also follow the same 4-year term, and can have a maximum of two terms.

COLOMBIA

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PACERS COACHING HISTORY Bobby “Slick” Leonard led the Indiana Pacers from 1968 until 1980 and is also the franchise leader in games coached and won. Leonard coached 1,101 games for the Blue and Gold, winning three ABA Championships in 1970, 1972, and in 1973.

BOBBY LEONARD Larry Bird coached 266 games for Indiana, achieving a 147-67 regular season record and a 32-20 postseason record. In the 1997-1998 season, his first as a head coach, Bird won the NBA’s Coach of the Year.

LARRY BIRD

Rick Carlisle coached the team from 2003 to 2007 and in his 363 games coached, the Pacers had a 181-147 regular season record and a 18-17 playoff record. In 2003, Carlisle led the Pacers to a franchise record 61 wins and lost in the Eastern Conference Finals to the Detroit Pistons.

The former Detroit Piston great and NBA Hall of Famer was hired to replace Larry Bird in 2000 and was fired at the conclusion of the 2003 NBA Season. The Pacers were 131-115 during Thomas’s time with the team, but he had a disappointing Playoff Record of 5-10.

ISIAH THOMAS Frank Vogel was named the temporary coach of the Pacers during the 2010-2011 season and was eventually promoted to head coach in the 2011-2012 season. During his seven years with the Pacers, Vogel went 250-181 in the regular season and 30-29 in the playoffs. Vogel’s Pacers were constant threats in the Eastern Conference against the LeBron James led Miami Heat.

RICK CARSLILE

FRANK VOGEL

Nate McMillan was named the Head Coach of the Indiana Pacers in 2016 after having been a coach of the Seattle SuperSonics (now Oklahoma City Thunder) and Portland Trail Blazers for many years. During his tenure with the Blue and Gold from 2016 to 2020, McMillan coached 338 games with a 183-136 regular season record but a 3-16 Playoff Record.

NATE MCMILLAIN

Nate Bjorkgren is a first-time head coach in the NBA after Pacers General Manager Kevin Pritchard brought him in for many interviews before he was officially hired on Oct. 20, 2020.

Bjorkgren was the Assistant Coach of the Toronto Raptors from 2018 to 2020 and is widely regarded as one of the brightest young minds in the NBA. He was the assistant to Toronto’s Head Coach Nick Nurse, who was the 2019 NBA Coach of the Year.

NATE BJORKGREN

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THE ORB Descriptions by Tristan Fluhr. Images compiled via Google Images. All rights reserved.

STRUGGLES AFTER SPORTS

MASS BANKRUPTCY AFFECTS RETIRED PROFESSIONAL ATHLETES

Front pages of sports magazines and TV segments often show consumers countless views of the 10,000 sq. foot houses and exotic lifestyles of the superstars who have managed to dedicate their lives to sport, meanwhile pulling in multi-million dollar contracts from their respective leagues.

Although their salaries may greatly exceed that of the average consumer, the true earnings of a professional athlete may not be all it seems.

Despite their seemingly massive salaries, a majority of professional athletes will go broke after the conclusion of their playing career. According to CNBC, 60 percent of NBA players and 78 percent of NFL players will go broke within five years of their retirement from sports. Somewhat surprising, this phenomenon may occur for a variety of reasons.

One of the main reasons of bankruptcy for pro athletes is purely the lack of longevity when it comes to their bodies.

Most athletes reach peak performance during their younger years and steadily decline in athletic ability as the seasons continue. Even the athletes with the most longevity can only maintain their careers for a maximum of 10-15 years, which is relatively short compared to the typical career. The problem that often arises amongst these athletes is the lack of a life

savings, or fallback plan after retirement.

Most athletes aren’t particularly skilled in the traditional workforce, having spent their years during and after school concentrating on sports. This often leaves athletes with no occupational direction and an abundance of time to overspend their savings.

Secondly, the financial downfall of some athletes roots from an inexperience when it comes to saving and managing money.

Most professional athletes compete during their early-to-late 20s, which is relatively young for someone to gain such a large increase in earnings. Primarily, the first instinct for many young athletes is to spend their large paychecks on whatever and whomever they choose. For an athlete who doesn’t receive the maximum-level contracts, this type of spending can be detrimental to their future savings. In some cases, reckless spending like this can cause a player to reach bankruptcy before their career is even over.

Even higher-level players can also find themselves in disastrous financial situations, as was the case of former 14year NBA All-Star Antoine Walker. Walker, whose financial situation was one of the most notable, eventually lost more than $110 million, all of which was earned from playing in the NBA. Walker’s jump

into wealth following his being drafted into the league caused him to spend erratically, as he frequently purchased sports cars and expensive jewelry for himself and his many family members.

After years of these poor spending habits, the consequences became apparent, as two years after his retirement from basketball in 2008, Walker found himself in nearly $12 million of debt.

Although financial trouble for a professional athlete at some point is probable, it is not completely unavoidable. One common tactic used by many retired athletes is creating a brand around their personalities. For instance, former Indianapolis Colts quarterback Peyton Manning has been able to utilize his previous status in the NFL to gain sponsorships. Since his retirement, Manning has starred in a variety of commercials, which allows him to maintain financial stability after his playing career. Additionally, retired players sometimes hire financial advisors, who help their clients invest and save money.

Regardless of the longevity and success of an athlete’s playing career, financial planning may be one of the most important, yet overlooked tools. Story by Lucas Bisesi

ATHLETE OF THE ISSUE TRAIT: ADAPTABILITY

Junior Nolan Satterfield is a long-distance runner on the boys track and cross-country teams. Satterfield has represented HSE for three years, but has been running his entire life. Going into his third season, Satterfield felt as though he had proven to be a promising runner, so he was ready for a challenge. “This season going in as a junior I knew I was going to be competitive with the top guys in the state,” said Satterfield. “It was a whole different mindset than before where I was just trying to prove myself as a solid young guy.”

Despite the problems that came up due to COVID, Satterfield was able to keep a positive outlook on the season. “We had to split up into smaller training groups and it was harder to connect with teammates like we would in the previous years,” he said. “We had a great season that didn’t end how we wanted it to, but the biggest thing is that this group of guys were much more than teammates. They were family.”

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