The Orb: October/November 2024-25

orb

HANGING IN THE BALANCE Page 5 | America on Strike | Emma Hayes Page 12 | Elections 101 | Emma Hayes, Hannah VanLandingham Page 21 | When the Miles Break You | Lili Perez

Staff Editorial

Table of Contents News Page 4 | Red to Black Page 5 | America on Strike

Features Page 6 | Capturing the Moment + Flying Colors Page 7 | Making Magic Happen Page 8 | Community Countdown, Theatrical Melody Page 9 | From Blank Wall to Bold Art + Local Genies Alert

Cover: Election Coverage Page 10 | Candidate Breakdown Page 12 | Elections 101 Page 14 | Topics of Tension Page 15 | Teens in Politics Page 16 | Electing Change Page 17 | From Desks to Decisions

Voices Page 18 | Search For Scholarships + Games Page 19 | Long Live Indy + Small Business Spotlight Page 20 | Embracing Adventures + Photo of the Issue

Sports Page 21 | When the Miles Break You Page 22 | Alabama Prodigy + Omar’s Opinion Page 23 | Winning Weekend

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Table of Contents | 2

A

Knowledge is Power

vote is one of the most powerful things that an American citizen has. It is how they represent themselves in democracy and their voice in the government. Without the votes of the people, democracy crumbles.

The importance of that vote is not to be taking lightly, as it is a person’s voice, it is imperative that it accurately represent the opinions of that person.

That is where being informed comes in. An uninformed vote can be more destructive than one not cast. Without the proper knowledge of political issues and politicians stance on these issues, it is difficult to know who truly represents certain values. There are many

ways to be an informed voter and an informed citizen. Doing research on the people running for office is the best way to be informed as a voter, but to be informed overall, media literacy is the most important skill to achieve that. In an era that has been defined by misinformation, the truth is something that has to be verified, and people cannot believe everything they see. This means knowing how to spot false information or biased sources, and checking the truthfulness of information before considering it fact. To be informed in this way is powerful. It makes it easier to think freely and critically, which is one of the most significant ways to make one’s voice important and impactful.

Behind the Cover The cover is an AI generated image of an American flag and a ballot box. The goal was to make a clear reference to the upcoming Presidential election while also making some commentary with the creation of the image. The prompt was selected based on the focus on election information in this issue. Choosing to AI generate the cover image is intended to showcase the importance that technology has played in the campaigns of both candidates. The prompt was selected based on the focus on election information in this issue. Graphic generated by Adobe Illustrator’s AI feature.

Staffer of the Issue This issue, the staffer that the Orb staff voted as “Staffer of the Issue” is Emma Hayes. Emma is a junior and this issue she was selected to assist staffers with election coverage. With her passion for learning about social issues and her knowledge about politics, Emma remains highly informed about the upcoming elections and strives to help others learn as much as possible to make informed decisions this election season. With the addition of a full cover section to address election news in this issue, Emma helped to decide what stories and angles would be covered and assisted staffers in their research.

Emma Hayes

Meet the Staff

Hannah VanLandingham

Sydney Pinchouck

Charlotte Miksha

Lili Perez

Editor-in-Chief/Co-Creative Editor

Managing Editor

Copy Editor

Co-Creative Editor/Feature Editor

Kennedy Ulmer

Addison Ginther

Maddy Page

Omar Elsayed

News Editor

Voices Co-Editor

Voices Co-Editor

Sports Editor

Dupree Henry

Claire Robertson

Mandy Abeyta

Ash Balog

Off-the-Ground Editor

Editor of Fun

Staffer

Staffer

Emma Hayes

Meena Izadine

Max Johnson

Mya Pyle

Staffer

Staffer

Staffer

Staffer

FROM RED TO BLACK Teachers Show Solidarity For Public Education Story by Mandy Abeyta | abeytman000@hsestudents.org, Emma Hayes | hayesemm000@hsestudents.org

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ne Wednesday in October, many teachers shed their usual red for black. While many students going in and out their classes might not have noticed, the reasoning for this switch had wider implications underscored by both the, at the time, ongoing salary negotiations, and a larger fight for teacher representation in the Hamilton Southeastern District.

For the past few years, every single Wednesday, many teachers show up to school in red. This is meant to show solidarity for the Red for Ed movement, which is centered around providing support for public school teachers. This can come in the form of salaries, employee benefits, as well as other such items.

Many different signs of solidarities have been used in the movement, with red shirts being one of them.

The organization Red4Ed has been around since 2012, but the first Indiana Red for Ed action day was held on Nov. 19, 2019. This was a rally that had such a high turnout among teachers that school was closed in over a hundred districts across Indiana, amounting to 45% of public-school students who had the day off according to ABC News.

In the past few years as

More than 180 Hamilton Southeastern teachers attend the school board work session focused on budget and bargaining on Sep. 25, 2024. Photo from Facebook.

another way of support, HSEA has also started encouraging teachers to show up to school board meetings each Wednesday.

“It’s important for all parties to know that there is a united voice behind our leaders of the association,” Janet Chandler, teacher and former President of HSEA, said.

Teachers wore black on Oct. 23 to show solidarity amidst the salary negotiations within the district. Later that evening, the school board met to approve the 2025 school budget.

Due to recent legislative changes in

Hamilton Southeastern teachers dressed in red in support of the Red for Ed movement at an unknown school board meeting. Photo from Facebook.

the past few years, which restricted the time frame where bargaining can occur between teachers and administration, negotiations had not been finished and salaries for teachers were still up in the air.

This caused a lot of concern for the union, as the budget would be decided with no way to know how much would be allocated for the teachers.

“I thought it was kind of backwards,” teacher Barb Onufrock said. “Once the teacher contract is approved, they will have to go back and adjust the money.”

The past few years have seen the fight for teachers’ rights and representation in things like the school board grow more fraught. With a board meeting as important as one dealing with the money the district will have in the next year it was absolutely weighing on people’s minds.

With all of this, teachers continued into school, now adorned in black.

“We wore black last week as a way to support our bargaining team,” Onufrock said. “[Wearing the colors is] my way of showing that I have a voice.

A voice to support other teachers.”

AMERICA ON STRIKE Labor Unions Throughout History Story Emma Hayes | hayesemm000@hsestudents.org

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etween a brief port strike and tens of thousands of Boeing workers halting work for a month, the past few months have seen labor unions across the headlines. 10% of America belongs to a union, and support for labor unions have been steadily rising over the years, but many still do not know the full impact unions have on their day to day lives, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Labor unions are a form of organized labor, where workers group together to bargain for better wages, hours and working conditions. Sometimes when negotiations get tense they go on strike, where they stop working until their demands are met or a deal is reached. These can end quickly, or stretch on for months, like the 2023 Writers Guild Association and Screen Actors Guild, unions for Hollywood writers and actors strike which lasted 148 and 118 days respectively.

Depending on their length and industry strikes can have major

impacts on the economy. Sometimes the government decides to get involved, invoking the 1947 TaftHartley Act. This act allows the government to limit the powers of unions, and gives them the power to halt a strike, restarting work.

The last time the Taft-Hartley Act was invoked was in 2002, over 20 years ago. During the 2024 port workers strike, some called for President Biden to invoke the act, but the strike resolved quickly with the port workers reaching a deal with management after just three days.

Labor unions also impact Americans lives in more subtle ways though.

“Unions invented the weekend,” Tyler Zerbe, teacher and Secondary Vice President of the Hamilton Southeastern Educators Association, said. “Also all these national holidays that we get off, the rights of workers exist because of the unions.”

Things like a nine to five job and a five day work week might seem like

they have been the norm for forever, they only came around less than 100 years ago, in the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938, which federalized the 40 day work week. That act, though, would not exist without advocacy by labor unions which was instrumental to its passing.

Unions also played a key role in creating child labor restrictions, getting children out of dangerous working conditions in factories. The Fair Labor Standards Act created the first federal restrictions on child labor in the United States.

Labor unions have had reaching impacts on our lives and we will continue to see as recent strikes get negotiated.

“Unions are important because unions help to protect the rights of workers and preserve good conditions for workers,” Zerbe said.

“Without them it would be a lot harder to work, in any capacity.”

Basics of Labor Unions Strikes

Weekends

Child Labor

Unions go on strikes when regular negotiations are not doing enough to meet their demands. When a union goes on strike, all workers in the union stop working for the duration of the strike, halting business.

Strike lengths, methods, and successes all vary from strike to strike, and involve a wide range of industries.

The 1938 Fair Labor Standards Act was in part created by promenient union members at the time. It madethe federal 40 hour work week and a required minimum wage. This act was a part of President Franklin Roosevelt’s ‘New Deal’ which was a response to the affects of the Great Depression.

There was a period of time in America where children had no protections in the workforce and oftentimes worked in dangerous conditions for long hours and minimal pay. After years of pushback, the Fair Labor Standards Act created the first federal restrictions on child labor in the United States.

News | 5

CAPTURING MOMENTS Public Relations Brings Student Life to Walls Story by Mandy Abeyta | abeytman000@hsestudents.org

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s students walk through the hallways, they are greeted by something new: vibrant photos of student life captured by their peers, framed and showcased on the walls.

These snapshots are the result of a creative project born in the Public Relations (PR) media class. Senior Erin Lock led the project, which started at the beginning of Jan. 2024.

“It was a project that [HSE] came to us first with,” Lock said. “They were like, we have a bunch of posters around that are from five years ago.

They don’t represent our school anymore. We were hoping to, one, show off our school in a more timely manner, and two, highlight the people behind the camera.”

Each photo is easily identifiable by its blue frame, along with the Southeastern Media Network logo in the bottom left corner. The photographer is credited, along with

their graduation class.

“We put their class, so that it dates the photos, so that we [could be] like, ‘Okay, this is from the class of 2025.

[We probably] shouldn’t have that [up] when it’s 2030,’” Lock said.

Additionally, Lock explains, the project aimed to highlight all aspects of school life. Lock emphasized that the project was not just about showcasing moments, but also about representing a diverse range of student experiences.

“A lot of photos that we end up taking are typically at sports games,” Lock said. “A lot of the publicity is sports related. [The] goal was to show off more than just sports. We have the senior signing day in the CCA hallway, which are the people on the slide. We have the painting one. Just a lot of different [photos] kind of all over the place.”

Lock mentioned the photo of

Heather Stutz painting, which was taken by junior Abby Kepler. Kepler was ecstatic to see the photo she took publicly displayed.

“I was shocked when I first saw it since I didn’t know where or when it would be hung up,” Kepler said. “It makes me feel proud when I see it, as I was really excited about that photo when I took it.”

This project is expected to live on for years to come. The photos are going to be updated every couple of years by PR to ensure the school hallways do not become dated and students are continuously recognized. Students behind the camera are not the only ones being highlighted either.

“Seeing it [on the wall] makes me feel very accomplished from the work I put into that story and shoot,” Kepler said. “I’m so thrilled and honored to have it be recognized. I’m also so happy that Heather Stutz in the photo is getting her talent recognized in the school.”

FLYING COLORS Color Guard Competes at Indianapolis Regional Story by Max Johnson | johnsmax002@hsestudents.org tudents have various bands feelings are elevated even more,” to select from, with marching senior Aubrey Matasovsky said. band coming in as one of the “You know that you are competing most popular picks, boasting over against some of the best bands in the 150 performers. Besides the music, country, not to mention the arena.” the Royal Command and Guard (RCG) Reflecting on the competition, has one other unique aspect--the Matasovsky believes that they had a color guard. great performance.

“Color guard is a mix of dance “The hours that we put towards and equipment work,” color guard that over the break and the overall Director Kevin Salinas said. “It is a season were really reflected in our little bit of theatre too. It is a big mix performance,” Matasovsky said. “Our of performing arts activities.” performance at BOA was a very large On Oct. 18, RCG went to Lucas Oil step in the right direction for the guard Stadium to compete in the Bands of and band as a whole.”

America (BOA) Indianapolis Regional.

While the band did not win the With so many bands performing, it is competition, it gave them a great a signifcant event for the team. experience.

“A competition is always exciting, “You never really forget your runs at but with Bands of America those Lucas Oil,” Matasovsky said. “I think I was grinning all the way out of the arena.”

Feature | 6

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Photo of two color guard performers during the community night performance. Photo by Max Johnson

MAKING MAGIC HAPPEN

Face Behind The Curtain

Story by Max Johnson | johnsmax002@hsestudents.org, Kennedy Ulmer | ulmerken000@hsestudents.org

T

he Leonard Auditorium and Mary Armstrong Little Theatre (MALT) are nothing new to a lot of students. Class meetings, concerts, plays and musicals are just a few of the events that take place in these locations. With so many different events happening in the Leonard and MALT, there needs to be someone that makes sure it all gets done. Kat Baiocchi, the new Auditorium Director, is the person that holds all these events together.

Baiocchi’s interest in theater started back when she was in high school, when she joined her school’s drama club. Baiocchi instantly fell in love with the feeling of community her drama club brought.

“Immediately, it was just one big happy family,” Baiocchi said. “That kind of atmosphere is what drew me in and what kept me there. I realized that I loved it and that is what kept me here.”

During college, Baiocchi continued her passion for performing arts, graduating with a degree in theater and music. As soon as she graduated, she got a job working for a professional community theater in Michigan.

Baiocchi stayed at this job until the pandemic hit in 2020, which caused her career in theater to slow down.

“I was able to get my foot in the door at my church as a janitor and I helped with the Christmas season,” Baiocchi said. “They created a Fine Arts Coordinator position for me and I essentially created a fine arts academy for the community.”

Moving to Indiana, she started her career in HSE as an Administrative Assistant until this year when she became the Auditorium Director. Her main responsibility is to oversee the Leonard and MALT, requiring lots of hands-on work.

“If you were to think of it as a factory, you have the supervisor who does all the scheduling and the manpower doing all of the work,” Baiocchi said. “I am essentially both of those

Portrait of Kat Baiocchi in the MALT. Photo by Kennedy Ulmer.

[positions] combined.”

Theatre Teacher Ethan Mathias instructs all of the acting classes at school. This position requires Mathias to work closely with Baiocchi.

“Kat and I work together to formulate a plan that works for the show and find ways to best manage the cast and crew to achieve that vision,” Mathias said.

Baiocchi’s new position has allowed her to have a positive influence on the drama program, with Mathias describing her as an expertise in her field, supportive and good with students.

With such a passion for what she does, Baiocchi loves being able to work with students and bring out a passion of their own.

“I really love getting to work with students and getting to plant the seed that is theater, music, and performing and seeing them grow and find their own love in it,” Baiocchi said.

It is not just Drama Club that Baiocchi works with either; she also works with all performing arts, We the People and even athletic events.

“Pretty much anyone who ever wants to use the [MALT] and [Leonard Auditorium], I work with,” Baiocchi said.

Baiocchi’s job has a lot of moving parts she has to balance. Building a set for one event and then immediately

setting up for another is nothing new to her. Even with a hectic schedule and the effort her job takes, Baiocchi is happy with where she is.

“I do enjoy my job,” Baiocchi said.

“There are parts of the job that could be better, but everyone says that about every job they have ever had.”

Coming to work in a school with such a large student body is a lot to take in for anyone, including Baiocchi.

“I didn’t go upstairs until the end of the school year last year, and by that point I had been working here over a year,” Baiocchi said. “It was overwhelming, but you get used to it and you learn to just go with the flow.”

With so many changes to school life since she was a student, Baiocchi found the school community to be very unique in a positive way.

“It is definitely more welcoming and open than I expected,” Baiocchi said.

“I do not see a whole lot of othering or outcasting people. It seems like everyone has their niche, but every niche is very open and welcoming.”

The audience only sees so much

Photo of set construction run by Baiocchi on Oct. 7. Photo By Kennedy Ulmer.

of the work that goes into making an event possible, which Baiocchi wants students to keep in mind.

“Do not underestimate the amount of work it takes for something to happen,” Baiocchi said. “For you it might just be a microphone but for me it is a million other things I have to connect.”

Feature | 7

Community THEATRICAL MELODY Road Production Introduces Countdown Olio Orchestral Score for Their Next Film Story by Claire Robertson | robercla001@hsestudents.org

Swifties in Indy Carmel Shake It Off Fest is a onetime event in honor of the Eras Tour coming to Indy this November.

Shake It Off Fest will take place on November 2nd from 12-4 pm located at the Midtown Plaza. This event will include a bracelet making station, Ash and Elm Karaoke and live performances from local artists.

Fishers Event Center officially opens with Lindsay Stirling The new Fishers Event Center will be hosting Violin player Lindsay Stirling for her Snow Waltz Tour on Nov. 29. The concert will start at 8 pm with an opening act of the Canadian Indie Pop band, walk off the Earth. Ticket starting prices are anywhere from $43-$220.

A Merry Prairie Holiday November 29, Merry Prairie at Connor Prairie begins. Families can immerse themselves in Prairie town and can partake in many activities such as Frosty’s Skating Rink, LED Reynolds lights, and the 150-foot “Polar Bear Plunge” tubing hill. Food and drink are also available for purchase at the event. This event runs Fridays through Sundays.

Ticket prices for members are $13 and for nonmembers are $26. The hours for this event are 5:30-9:30 pm.

Story by Dupree Henry | henrydup000@hsestudents.org, Mya Pyle | pylemya000@hsestudents.org

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lio Road Productions is a club that makes a student-made film every year, and this year The production crew are making a student-made soundtrack, or score, for the film.

Sophomore Noah Millis is the person behind the magic; he is composing the music for this year and building a team of talented student musicians to make the score.

“Bringing in talented musicians within our school seemed appropriate, as the film will be entirely studentmade,” Millis said.

Having music made for a movie is important because it can set the tone for the movie and helps the audience receive a message without the actors saying anything.

“Music changes a movie by providing extra support,” Millis said.

“It is a language of emotions that can be portrayed through noise, or in some cases, silence. As a film composer, the goal is to write notes that make a sound, and that sound tells the audience what to feel subconsciously.”

The implementation of orchestra music in the Olio Road Production movie enhances its level of professionalism and puts the production in line with movies you would see in theaters.

“I believe the use of an orchestra will impact the overall emotion and cinematic aspect of the film,” senior and for producer Olio Road Production Katherine Follis said. “Most movies have an orchestral score, so it is really exciting for us to have one this year too.”

The students in Olio Road Production pour much of their effort into creating the best product they can every year. Creating student made music for a student made movie will really take the production up a level.

“This year’s film is very exciting

as it has a unique and interesting storyline that differs from some of our past films,” Follis said. “The tone and emotion conveyed through the writing, cinematography, and music is something that I am super excited about and it also has an amazing cast and crew that are so passionate about what we are doing.”

When

is

this

film

premiering?

May 13 and 16 Where is it premiering? the Leonard Auditorium Will I need to buy tickets?

Yes, tickets will be available closer to the date of the premiere.

Where can I find more information?

The QR code below will take you to their Instagram @OlioRoadProd.

FROM BLANK WALL TO BOLD ART Mural Brings Life to Science Wing Story by Mandy Abeyta | abeytman000@hsestudents.org

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ome to many of the teachers in the Science Department, upstairs F hall is not the most colorful place in the school. National Art Honor Society (NAHS) students are giving this hall a splash of color in the form of a vivid mural. Art teacher Angela Fritz.

“At the end of the previous year, most of the department chairs were asked about major projects that they wanted in their area. The Science Department asked for a mural,” Fritz said. “The Maintenance Department pre-painted the walls the solid color, then they asked if the Art Department would be interested in helping out.”

The collaboration between departments led Fritz to involve NAHS, an honor society where students with artistic talent are able to collaborate and use their skills for community projects and volunteer work. Junior Maya Patel, the Director of Event Outreach in NAHS, stepped

up to lead the project.

“Painting a mural has always been a bucket list item for me,” Patel said.

“I did a really small kiddie one at Fall Creek Junior High. So, I have had a little bit of experience doing it before.

I felt kind of confident taking charge.”

While Patel leads the project, the entire NAHS group contributes, creating a true team effort.

“I’m really lucky to have so many kids who are super excited to work on it. I’m going to try to channel that motivation,” Patel said. “Originally, my goal was to be able to get it done by the school year. I honestly might think we could get it done in this semester.”

The design itself was a collaborative effort.

The NAHS students brainstormed together and figured out how to effectively represent the range of science classes from physics to chemistry.

The enthusiasm among the science teachers has been palpable as well.

Patel mentions the positive reception from teachers who are eager for the transformation of their hallway. “[The science teachers have] been so awesome, [especially] Ms. Glick and Mrs. Chattin,” Patel said. “Every single time we’re up there, they are always so excited about it. They come check on us. They let us leave all of our stuff in their lab. They’re so great about it.”

For Patel, this project is about more than just art, it is about revitalizing the empty space and turning it into something beautiful.

“My goal [is to] to breathe some life into that hallway,” Patel said.

LOCAL GENIES ALERT Students Grant Wishes To Children In Need Story by Meena Izadine | izadimar000@hsestudents.org, Maddy Page | pagemad000@hsestudents.org

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ake-A-Wish is a charity dedicated to raising money for children in critical condition throughout the world.

Students can participate in the MakeA-Wish club, run by co-presidents junior Liam Powers and senior Anna Tittle. The club at school was founded many years ago with alumni Luke Andritsch, who was a Make-A-Wish child himself. With the help of fellow students Claire and Natalie Wilkinson, —children of regional Make-A-Wish board members—the three were able to start the club, which has been thriving and raising funds ever since.

The club meets often every month and works throughout the year to raise thousands of dollars for one Make-A-Wish child. Members help

with Dine-to-Donate, car washes, the annual haunted house, and bucket weeks.

This year, the Make-A-Wish club collabed with best buddies to create a haunted house exprience in the cafeteria. Volunteers dressed up in spooky costumes, and offered a walkthrough experience.

“HSE’s Make-A-Wish is unbelievably rewarding club,” Powers said. “I am grateful to be involvled and able to contribute my time and energy to such an amazing organization.”

Powers wants students to know the club is low commitment and easy to join. If students wish to participate in the club at school, they can talk to Mrs. Purcell and check out their instagram @hsemawclub.

Feature | 9

Graphics by Charlotte Miksha | mikshcha000@hsestudents.org, Illustrations by Ash Balog | balogaud000@hsestudents.org

Election | 10

Election | 11

Understanding American Democracy

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Story by Emma Hayes | hayesemm000@hsestudents.org Graphics, Story by Hannah VanLandingham | vanlahan000@hsestudents.org

very four years the United States comes together to decide who will fill the highest office, the President. Millions go to the polls to cast their ballot and give their say in the electoral process. After that though, who becomes President is now out of the people’s hands, and decided by the electoral college, a 250-year-old system for electing the President of the United States.

Over the centuries since the United States was founded, the Presidential process has shifted and developed to form what we have today. On top of the electoral system, the United States’ election process also involves much more. There are political parties, swing states, televised debates, party platforms, and now 538 total electoral votes, a sharp rise from the 69 electoral votes for the Election of 1789. A lot has changed from the United States’ first election, and the United States is a much different country.

The road to the Presidency is a complicated, but vital process for deciding the next four years of the United States. Many students pose these questions: How does it work now though? What goes into deciding

Election | 12

the highest office of the land?

Congress is the branch of government that makes the laws of the nation, and Congress is split into two parts, the House of Representatives and the Senate. The House of Representatives has 435 members, divided proportionally between states by population, for example California has 52 and Wyoming has only one.

The Senate is divided equally between states, totaling 100 members, two from each state. the United States has what is known as a ‘two party

system’. This means that there are two major political parties versus multiple major parties like other countries might. Political parties are groups of people generally aligned by agreements on common issues who put forward a specific candidate in an election. Political parties have platforms, a collection of issues and their stances on them. In America candidates under the major political parties make up the vast majority of elected officials in government. In 2024 the major political parties are

TWO SENATORS FROM EACH STATE

+

TOTAL NUMBER OF CONGRESSPEOPLE

+3 DELEGATES FROM WASHINGTON D.C.

TOTAL ELECTORAL COLLEGE VOTE

the Democrats and the Republicans.

In the Unites States, the President is elected through a system known as the electoral college.

Each state takes the raw total of votes cast by individuals and

whichever candidate wins the majority of those votes, which is called the popular vote, wins the state’s electors.

The amount of votes each state gets is decided by the population of the state, which is the same as the number

of Representatives they get combined with the number of Senators. When all the states have counted their votes, the winner is whoever receives over half the possible votes of the 538 total electoral votes.

When campaigning, Presidential candidates keep the electoral college in mind, as that is what will win them the White House. Some states traditionally lean one way or another, and campaign strategists refer to

them as ‘red states’ or ‘blue states’.

By examining current polling and historical voting patterns, some states are predicted to vote Republican (red) or Democrat (blue). Other states are less predictable in their voting patterns

and could conceivably be predicted to vote in either direction, those are known as ‘swing states’ and are where candidates traditionally spend the most of their time campaigning.

Red States

Blue States

Swing States

California New Mexico Colorado New York Oregon Connecticut Delaware Rhode Island Hawaii Virginia Illinois Vermont Washington Maine Maryland Massachusetts Minnesota New Hampshire New Jersey

Arizona Georgia Michigan Nevada North Carolina Pennsylvania Wisconsin

Alabama Alaska Arkansas Florida Idaho Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Mississippi Missouri

Nebraska North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah West Virginia Wyoming

These categorizations are based on current polling numbers as of Oct. 25 and past voting trends. Election | 13

TOPICS OF TENSION

Popular Debate Issues in Presidential Election Story by Ash Balog | Balogaud000@hsestudents.org, Emma Hayes | hayesemm000@hsestudents.org

Harris

Abortion

“As President, she will never allow a national abortion ban to become law. And when Congress passes a bill to restore reproductive freedom nationwide, she will sign it.” said Kamala Harris via kamalaharris.com

Trump

“It’s my job to protect as president … I want to protect women.” said Donald Trump on the Laura Ingraham show. Aired Monday, Oct 7.

“...I would not support a federal abortion ban, under any circumstances, and would, in fact, veto it, because it is up to the states to decide The 2021 Supreme Court decision on Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s based on the will of the their voters.”

Health Organization was opposed by 67% of Americans in Marquette said Donald Trump in all-caps posted via Law School Poll on Aug 9.

Truth Social on Oct. 1 “ I was able to kill Roe v. Wade, much to the ‘shock’ “President Biden and I stand with the majority of Americans – of everyone,” said Donald Trump via Truth Social on Republicans and Democrats alike – who support access May 17 2023 to contraception” Kamala Harris in a Oct 21 statement on whitehouse.gov

Economics

Her campaign website states that she will, “expand the Child Tax Credit to provide a $6,000 tax cut to families with newborn children.”

The 2024 GOP Campaign Platform promises to, “slash Regulations that stifle Jobs, Freedom, Innovation and make everything more expensive.”

On her campaign website she promised to The 2024 GOP Campaign Platform states they will, “continue give $25,000 in down-payment to help [to forge] an America First Trade Policy...prioritizing American Trade eligible first-time home buyers on Policy over Foreign Outsourcers.” their down-payment.

The 2024 GOP Campaign Platform promises that they, “will make On her campaign website she promised to, “...take on Big Pharma to lower drug prices and cap insulin costs...”

permeant the provisions of the Trump Tax Cuts and Jobs Act...[they] will eliminate Taxes on Tips for millions of Restuarant and Hospitality Workers, and pursue additional Tax Cuts.”

Immigration

“We’re going to have the largest deportation in At an Arizona stop on Sept 27 she proposed the history of our country. And we’re going to start with adding to President Biden’s executive action Springfield and Aurora, [Colorado].” said Donald Trump said that allowed the administration to suspend at a news conference at Trump National Golf Club asylum claims. Harris’s proposal included adding according to Axios. Officials in both cities more barriers to lift the suspensions until asylum claim have denied any immigration issue in Aurora or numbers get lower.

Springfield according to AP News.

Has blamed Trump for stopping the Border Act of 2024 Attempted to end Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (Senate Bill 4361), a bipartisan bill on the border, from while President but failed when Supreme Court blocked getting passed. She has publicly supported the bill. attempt in Dept of Homeland Security v. Regents of the University of California, a 5-4 decision on June 18 2020.

Cover Election | 14| 14

“I will invoke the Alien Enemies Act of 1798...” Donald Trump said on Oct 13 according to NPR. The Alien Enemies Act of 1798 allows the President to deport any citizens of a country the US is at war with.

The United States has not formally been at war with any country since WWII.

HSE Democrats Prepares for the Upcoming Election Story by Claire Robertson | robercla001@hsestudents.org

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SE Democrats is a student led organization that was founded in 2015. The club meets once a month.

The last meeting focused on the Presidential Debate. The club starts their with a collaborative PowerPoint overviewing key events happening in the U.S., with members of the club gathering in a circle to share thoughts about relevant events. Afterwards, Senior Betty Obungu, the club’s president, said that politics have always been important to her.

“I have been interested in politics since intermediate and junior high school,” Obungu said. “I am passionate about the governmental process, so when I found an opportunity, I thought it would be really nice to join.”

Senior and co-president of HSE Democrats Jaiden Britt said that it was more of a political event that made her want to join the club. “With the whole George Floyd incident that’s kind of when I started getting into [politics],” Britt said.

“When I got into high school, I wanted to get into [politics] so I joined [the club] my freshman year.”

With all the debates happening and Election coming witin days, HSE Democrats is busy with preparations.

Britt shared that she recently went to a session held by passionate teachers.

“They were teaching us how to hold phone calls,” Britt said. “We would call people who were kind of in the middle and try to get them to come out for the election and possibly vote for Harris.”

Britt stated that it is her hope to host a similar event before the election.

Obungu has already signed up as a poll worker and she encourages others to as well.

While not everyone is able to vote in the election this year, both Obungu and Britt recommend that students of all ages to get involved with the election.

“These policies, they still affect you whether you vote or not,” Obungu said. “It is important to exercise your voice and make sure that you are being heard.”

“Even if it doesn’t directly affect you, it affects others around you,” Britt said.

“It is important to see other people’s perspectives and help them out in that way.”

Not only are national elections coming up, but local elections are as well. HSE Democrats are working to gain knowledge on this topic by speaking to professionals.

“We have a guest speaker coming in,” Britt said. “She is going to talk about her role in the election.”

The co-presidents find it very important to have a diverse club such as HSE Democrats available to students.

“I think living in a majority red state, there are a lot of similar views and ideologies around us,” Britt said.

“Finding a community that has similar views or morals is important.”

Obungu added on to Britt’s thoughts by saying, “Having a safe space for people that share the same views as you,” Obungu said. “Really, being able to say what you feel.”

*In an attempt to contact HSE Republicans, it was discovered that the club was disbanded as of 2024.

ELECTING CHANGE Role of Local Politics in Student Education Story by Kennedy Ulmer | ulmerken000@hsestudents.org

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SCHOOL BOARD ELECTIONS

SE is home to many programs that help students grow in their personal and academic lives, but none of them would be possible without the HSE school board.

School board members have three core responsibilities: adopting district policies, managing the annual budget and hiring the superintendent.

School board members are elected every two years, and candidates are nonpartisan, meaning they are not allowed to be officially affiliated with any political party, even though some candidates have chosen to publicly display their support for certain parties.

This election cycle, there are six candidates vying for three township seats. The three that are elected will begin their terms in Jan. 2025.

WFYI reports that “effective school boards can be credited for helping

Hamilton County maintain high quality schools, good student experiences, desirable communities and robust property values.”

While some high school students might think that the decisions made by the HSE School Board are not significant to their everyday lives, Betty Obungu, a senior in the Law and Government Academy, reminds students that decisions made by school board members can significantly affect students by impacting the curriculum, funding for various programs, and school resources.

Fellow Law and Government Academy member Gabrielle Johnson encourages students to communicate with school board members to advocate for the hanges they want to see in the district.

“School board members have a huge influence on the local community,

and it is important to research who is running and what issues they plan on addressing," Johnson said.

Above: Gabrielle Johnson, Law and Government Academy member. Photo by Kennedy Ulmer.

Teenagers can get involved with the school board by attending school board meetings, which are held at the Hamilton Southeastern Schools Central Office.

GENERAL ASSEMBLY ELECTIONS Another local election happening soon is the election for Indiana General Assembly, which consists of the state Congress and House of Representatives. General Assembly members are responsible for enacting laws, and they are commonly referred to as 'the voice of the people.'

According to the Congressional Research Service, elections are held every two years for the House, and every six years for the Senate.

When voting for General Assembly, the state is split up into certain districts, and each district is represented by officials from the state Senate and the state House of Representatives.

HSE is located in the state Senate District 20, which has a race on the ballot this election.

The incumbent-the person who currently holds the position-is

Election | 16

Republican Scott Baldwin, who running against Republican Joel Levi.

For the Indiana House of Representatives, HSE is located in House District 37, and Republican Todd Hudson is currently running unopposed.

One way the decisions made by the Indiana General Assembly directly impacted students is that they passed Senate Bill 185, which forced schools to create restrictions on cell phone usage for students.

“Congressional decisions can impact students through legislation involving education funding, student loans, and broader social issues that affect our lives and futures,” Obungu said.

Many local teens are of voting age, but students who are not yet 18 can still engage in local politics.

CollegeVine recommends canvassing for politicians, volunteering at polling booths on Election Day, and reading

the news to stay up to date on current political issues. Learn more about local elections by visiting www.ballotpedia.org and searching for Indiana.

Above: Betty Obungu, Law and Government Academy member. Photo by Kennedy Ulmer.

FROM DESKS TO DECISIONS How Elections Impact Students

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Story by Lili Perez | perezlil000@hsestudents.org

tudents all over the world go through their entire high school experience without even thinking about elections or government, let alone getting involved. The outcomes of elections, no matter how big or small, affect what occurs in schools and the restrictions as well as freedoms students have.

“Elections at every level, from national, to state, to municipal, affect our students,” Vice President of the Hamilton Southeastern Schools Board of School Trustees Ben Orr said. “The most direct of these being our local school board. While not being directly involved in day-to-day activities like a principal or superintendent, board members certainly carry heavy influence operationally and culturally." "[The board oversees] the districtlevel budget, district-level policy, and the superintendentk," Orr said. "These broad categories can affect students in all kinds of ways from facilities and maintenance to academic offerings to staffing, to building-level policy such as handbooks. Students should absolutely be aware of their most direct form of government and involve themselves as much in the process as possible, regardless of age.”

As more of Generation Z become of voting age, the youth are increasingly given the opportunity to become more involved in politics. Starting locally could be the solution to small or large issues. When it comes to larger elections, sophomore Jake Shafer agrees with the fact that being educated is step one.

“I think it’s better that I can’t vote in the election,” Shafer said. “... if I voted I wouldn’t understand enough about politics to be able to vote for what I really would want for this country, and I may end up voting for something I

may not fully support. I don’t mind [not being able to vote] ... because I understand and support why these limitations are in place. I believe

voting is a privilege and a right and it needs to be taken care of with a mix of preparation and personal belief.”

In today’s elections, youth are increasingly voicing their opinions.

“One voice can change a room," former President Barack Obama said.

"And if one voice can change a room, then it can change a city. And if it can change a city, it can change a state.

And if it can change a state, it can change a nation, and if it can change a nation, it can change the world. Your voice can change the world.”

Besides the U.S Election, there are several ways students can get involved and voice their opinions.

Many students wait years wishing they could vote, especially when they are affected by large topics of interest.

Students can read and comment on these issues on various social media platforms such as Instagram, Facebook and X. Resources and information can also be found online on national news networks such as Fox, CNN and Associated Press.

“Because of the implications of this election, I do wish I was able to vote,” junior Vine Saopa said. “Now that topics like the educational system are coming into focus and younger people are becoming more involved in politics, I think the opinions of these younger people would be important for their lives and futures. Social media and the internet make it really easy to find political information and become educated on it, so I believe sharing facts and beliefs can allow for changes to take place even if you can’t vote.”

Senior Kenzee Boezman advocates for voting as a student, a long standing American right that many exercise every year.

“I feel great," Boezman said. "I feel like wanting to make a change.

Change is a good thing. It is inspiring.

Being able to help those around a community at HSE is life changing.

Speaking to the underclassmen, voting is an important part of building our community around us better.

It helps us to want to change the future and make it great as possible at HSE. An essential part of voting makes us want to feel more heard and acknowledging that we ... as [students] can feel valued and welcomed.”

Election | 17

SEARCH FOR SCHOLARSHIPS Director of College and Careers Offers Advice Story by Sydney Pinchouck | pinchsyd000@hsestudents.org, Hannah VanLandingham | vanlahan000@hsestudents.org

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s colleges begin to update their acceptances for students, their focus shifts to scholarships. Director of College and Careers, Karen Bush, has plenty of advice for students who are in the process of searching for scholarships.

“One of the hardest things for kids to understand is you have to do research. I always tell parents and students that looking for scholarships is like a part time job.

You have to think local because that’s less people [to compete] with.

If I’m looking at school scholarships, I’m only competing against the kids in my class that apply. Then, what’s in the state that I can apply for. You start looking local, state, then you go national, but always think about the pool. The second thing that kids have to look at is, you see a scholarship you’re like, oh, $20,000 that will pay for everything. Everybody’s applying for those. Why not concentrate on the medium to low ones and just try to get more of those?

You have to make a plan. One or

two days a week, just maybe an hour or two. Sometimes you have sports or work, but if you don’t have homework that day or you get done with your homework, spend some time dedicated to scholarships. Make it non-negotiable. Then you have to think about your family. How much money do we have for college? A lot of kids think, just get a loan. You have to be careful if you’re looking for a private loan because the interest rates could be 20% on a $10,000 loan and that’s expensive and some of them you could have to pay back while you’re actually in school.

Government loans, you don’t pay back while you’re in school. Most of the money scholarship money that you’re going to receive generally will come from your college of choice.

All the scholarships that we receive, we put them [under Scholarship Search on Naviance]. We make sure that we have a link so that you can link and go to the site and apply. If you are not checking your e-mail every day, you’re doing yourself a disservice.

We’ve given you a scholarship application, if you’re not checking your e-mail, you will not know.

For underclassmen, obviously they’re not applying to college this year, but how would you recommend they like start, especially like juniors?

I think it’s good that they start looking what’s out there. You can go into the same system and start looking because next year you’re going to apply for those same scholarship.

Go ahead and start looking. If you’re going to college, take this year to be really serious about your grades because in August, we start applying and you have no senior grades, so whatever you do this year is where we start. It is what it is and that’s what we have to go with. So take this semester next semester, do your homework, try to get the best grades that you can.”

For more information from Mrs. Bush, subscribe or listen to her podcast, Find Your Future with Mrs. Bush, on Spotify or check the College and Careers page on Canvas.

SMALL BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT Rise’n Roll Bakery

Taylor Swift Coming To Indianapolis Story by Addison Ginther | ginthadd000@hsestudents.org, Charlotte Miksha | mikshcha000@hsestudents.org

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n Nov. 1, 2 and 3, Taylor Swift will bring the highest-grossing tour of all time to Lucas Oil Stadium, home of the Indianapolis Colts. Indianapolis will be the final stop of Swift’s two-part United States tour before she ends her world tour on December 8 in Vancouver, British Columbia. Gracie Abrams will be opening for her Indianapolis shows.

Abrams’ new album “The Secret of Us” debuted at number one on Billboard’s Top Album Sales chart and even included a track featuring Taylor Swift.

It is no surprise that many students will be attending the concerts.

If you are looking for something to do to get in the mood for Swift’s arrival you will find many opportunities coming up. Lots of businesses in the area are taking these opportunities to host Taylor Swift themed parties and activities.The Indianapolis Children’s Museum has dressed up the outdoor dinosaurs with Taylor themed bracelets and signs. They will also be hosting a “Swiftie Par-TAY” on Nov. 1, 2 and 3.The Indiana State Museum is also hosting a “TAY/gate” on Nov. 1, 2 and 3 as well acting as a Swiftie tailgate before the concerts.

Carmel is hosting a “Shake It Off Fest” at the Midtown Plaza on Nov. 2 with different activities such as friendship bracelet making, karaoke and erasthemed cider boxes.Victory Field is hosting a pre-concert party on Nov 1, 2 and 3 titled the “Baseb(All) Too Well” party, featuring themed photo booths, friendship bracelet trading and group sing-alongs.According to event officials, there will also be a “We Are Never Getting Back Together” nacho bar, a “Fearless” fried chicken

tender station and more available for all attendees. These events are ensured to get Swifties ready for the arrival of The Eras Tour.

Fans are also preparing in other ways, like freshman Hadley Ginther, who is attending night three of The Eras Tour in Indianapolis.

“I have been making a ton of different bracelets to wear and trade on concert night,” Ginther said. “I also have already bought my outfit and thought through my hair and other accessories for the night.”

Photo of Taylor Swift performing “All Too Well” in London on August 17. Photo contributed by senior Reagan Doll.

Swifties are known for their elaborate outfits inspired by Swift’s songs, albums, music videos or iconic moments. They have also created a movement in the creation and trading of friendship bracelets at and outside of the concerts.

“I am most excited to sing along with Taylor and trade bracelets with everyone.” Ginther said. “My favorite Taylor Swift era right now is Folklore!”

Swift’s concerts are known for drawing huge crowds of adoring, passionate fans that are sure to rock Indianapolis over the next few weeks.

Story by Sydney Pinchouck | pinchsyd000@hsestudents.org

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ise’n Roll Bakery is an Amish style bakery, with many locations in the state of Indiana, one being at The Yard in Fishers. Their first priority is quality, so their treats are all homemade and preservative-free.

The baked goods they sell contain donuts, cookies, pies, cakes and their Toffee Crunch candy. They also sell Amish staples like cheese and noodles. Their most known baked good is a Cinnamon Caramel Donut.

Rise’n Roll started in 2001 by an Amish couple creating recipes and selling baked goods on their front porch. The first bakery opened in 2004 in Middlebury, Indiana with no electricity and everything done by hand. After five years, the Amish family sold the company and the new bakers opened a new faciliity, still doing as much as they could ‘the old fashioned way.’

The Fishers location has many fall treats currently available, including apple cider donuts and new drink flavors. The company also offers products that can be sold wholesale, takes requests for donations, and offers help with fundraising needs to make profits for organizations.

Rise’n Roll offers high quality, preservative-free products at a reasonable price. Pay their Fishers location a visit for homemade treats, drinks, deli, and Amish staples.

Located at 9705 Fishers District Drive at TheYard in Fishers.

Voices || 19 19 Voices

EMBRACING ADVENTURES Students Making the Most of Break Story by Maddy Page | pagemad000@hsestudents.org

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all Break offered an opportunity for students to relax and take a break from the rigor of academics schools in Hamilton County present.

While some students travel across the country, others stay in Fishers and can recharge within the comfort of their own homes. Whether they choose to travel or stick around, both options offer the chance for students to rest their minds and get ready to finish the semester off strong.

While many students travel over break, athletes often must stay behind because of training or games that happen to occur during break.

Additionally, winter sports are beginning to start up, and training is in full swing. This past break, senior varsity swimmer Gabrielle Johnson traveled with teammates to colleges all over the country to train with coaches and other athletes. The team traveled to West Virginia and Xavier University. “I’m

most excited to take this trip with my team and have a chance to see some colleges that I would otherwise not have a chance to visit,” Johnson said.

“It’s also an amazing opportunity to be able to use some fast pools to continue my training during break.”

The weeklong break also gave an opportunity for students to catch a flight and escape from Indiana.

Freshman Kaavya Patel traveled out of the United States to the Dominican Republic with family. She visited Punta Cana and spent a couple days out on the beach soaking up the sun.

Even if students didn’t travel over break, relaxing at home still offered a moment for students to relax and prepare for the upcoming busy months.

The Boys and Girls Swim team floats in the water at the University of West Virginia Division 1 training pool on the trip Johnson participated in during Fall Break. Photo contributed by Gabrielle Johnson.

PHOTO OF THE ISSUE This gives a student photographer a chance to show off their best work, and display their skills in a public product. This issue’s photo comes to us from Lila Oliver, a hardworking and fantasic photographer who always strives to raise the bar of excellence in the Southeastern Media Network.

Varsity Boys Tennis player Brady Stump moves quickly around the court with his racket to hit a backhand serve across the net to his opponent.

Photo by Lila Oliver.

Voices | 20

WHEN THE MILES BREAK YOU Emotional Impact of Injuries, Bonds that Build Team Story by Lili Perez | perezlil000@hsestudents.org

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harp pain streams down his leg to his calf, as junior Riley Schamp attempts to overcome the physical agony with mental endurance. Crossing the finish line starts to feel impossible as he slows down immensely, going from leading the race to the back of the herd. Mile two hits and Schamp is forced to drop out of the race due to the severe agony. Unfortunately, in this race, the pain won.

Schamp did not take this loss as a defeat but as motivation. On Sept.

21, he pushed through the pain and finished with a time of 16:55. Although his personal best is 15:42 with a goal of running sub 15:30, Schamp’s priority was simply finishing, not outrunning others.

“Time off [from running] and time right after [I run] a bad race doesn’t make me happy, learning to stay in the moment and enjoy what I do,” Schamp said. “With a couple of our teammates struggling with injuries, we’ve all been able to bounce back and focus on the future. Developing in the team’s atmosphere has been vital, we can consider each other brothers.”

Schamp’s teammate, sophomore Isaac Smith, also experienced an injury this season, forcing him to sit out races completely. Smith strained

Sophomore Isaac Smith finishes race at Hamilton County Meet on Aug 31. Photo by Lili Perez.

Senior Luke Walters prays over Junior Riley Schamp after Schamp strained his calf further on Aug 31. Photo by Liam Powers.

the extensor hallucis longus (EHL) didn’t want me to come back as fast as tendon in his left foot, causing pain possible, but they wanted me to come back healthy...” Smith said. “Watching when pressure was put on the foot.

“This injury made me frustrated at other guys on my team being injured the beginning because no one really always stings a little. Those guys are told me the recovery time,” Smith said. pretty much my family ... when I lose “But later, I learned that opportunity to that patience and do what I love with “At the end of the day serenity were the people I care I’m more than a runner,” important. I had Schamp said. “Being a part about, it hurts.” to look at it as Family is one of of a team [where] even the core values of an opportunity to grow as a person when I’m not a great runner this team. Not only and teammate.”

I have a place to be myself do these runners together, Knowing there [is what matters the most].” race but they spend is a finish line but - Riley Schamp, 11 time bonding and not being able to making memories see where it is can be beyond tormenting to injured outside of practice.

“At the end of the day I’m more than athletes. A support system always helps athletes get through tough a runner,” Schamp said. “Being a part times, and the cross-country team of a team [where] even when I’m not a great runner I have a place to be one hundred percent has one.

“My team has always been myself [is what matters the most].” supportive and understanding, they Sports | 21

OMAR’S OPINION Passion vs. Profit Story by Omar Elsayed | elsayoma000@hsestudents.org A longer version of both stories on this page can be found on southeasternsportsnetwork. com or by scanning the QR codes below.

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he debate over funding college football athletes has generated two distinct perspectives. Some believe that passionate supporters should not bear the financial burden of compensating standout athletes.

On the other hand, players argue their on-the-field contributions warrant fair compensation.

The University of Tennessee implemented a 10% “talent fee” on all ticket invoices to fund Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) payments to players. Fans criticized the decision, which raised student prices by roughly five-dollars per game and ten-dollars for other attendees.

From a player’s perspective, the situation looks different.

Quarterback Matt Sluka transferred to the University of Nevada, Las Vegas with the promise of a $100,000 NIL deal. When the payment never came through, Sluka refused to play. The decision may seem petty, but if you sacrificed countless hours and put your education on the line for a promise that was never fulfilled, you might feel somewhat cheated, too.

A “talent fee” is justified, within reason. Athletes often depend on NIL deals to support themselves as they balance the full-time demands of college football and their education. However, if this NIL power is abused and ends up creating situations where no one is satisfied, we risk losing talented players, diminishing both the quality of the game and the overall viewer experience.

Continued...

Sports | 20 22

ALABAMA PRODIGY College Football Freshman Making

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Story by Omar Elsayed | elsayoma000@hsestudents.org

et’s say you had an incredible high school career and are now playing Division One football.

You are pouring your heart and soul into transitioning into a drastically new environment. You have played three years injury-free and are ready to do whatever it takes to have a great senior year in the 2024-2025 season.

After a challenging offseason, Alabama is the first game on the schedule. There are several thousand people in the stands, and you watch from the sidelines as touchdown after touchdown breaks through your team’s defense. After a rough game, you take off your gear, check your phone, and learn Alabama’s wide receiver Ryan Williams—who just led them to a dominant win over your school—is 17. Seventeen. While you were adapting to the college landscape and battling through twoa-days, this kid was in high school taking algebra one, learning to drive, and playing two other sports for fun.

Williams is a 6’1”, 180-pound wide receiver and one of the most electrifying freshmen in college football. A talent who was simply too good for high school sports.

As a five-star recruit out of Saraland High School in Alabama, Williams was the first person to earn Alabama’s Mr. Football honors in back-to-back years.

In his three years of high school, he put up a record breaking 187 catches, 3,254 receiving yards, and 47 touchdowns.

These stats caught the eye of Alabama’s recruiters and Williams reclassified from the class

of 2025 to 2024.

It was the standout freshman’s game against rival Georgia that truly put him on the map. After building a commanding 23-point lead, Georgia clawed their way back, narrowing the gap to just 15 points. With the game on the line and momentum shifting, Williams caught a ridiculous bobbling ball. With two minutes left and Georgia somehow leading 34-33, Williams secured a 75-yard game winning touchdown over Julian Humphrey, finishing the game with six catches for 177 yards and a touchdown, extending his streak to scoring in every game so far this season.

As Williams’ popularity skyrocketed, so did his name, image, and likeness (NIL) valuation. After his Georgia performance, his NIL funds jumped from $786,000 to a staggering $1.5 million. This rise in valuation shows the growing trend in college sports, where talented players are capitalizing on their skills and marketability.

At the time of this writing, Williams has played six games and recorded 31 receptions, 649 yards, and seven touchdowns.

Though Alabama has faced challenges, including falling from the topranked team to 15th, Williams’ youth and skill have been a joy to watch. So how good is Ryan Williams really? For this freshman, the sky is the limit.

In No rec ori Bu sh ea in pla

Th an ch Br Sh an Sh Fin

WINNING WEEKEND

Closer Look Into Recent Memorable Sports Moments Story by Omar Elsayed | elsayoma000@hsestudents.org, Dupree Henry | henrydup000000@hsestudents.org, Lili Perez | perezlil000@hsestudents.org

Oct

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In a game that was predetermined by majority of state rankings, the varsity football team, ranked eighth in the state, defeated Brownsburg, ranked first in the state before the game, in an upset with a final score of 30-23 on Oct. 18. After an energizing game, the Royals hope to carry that energy into their sectionals game against Homestead and the rest of their season. After this victory over the number one team in the state, the Royals put others on notice that they should not be counted out of contention.

Photo by Marley Hayes.

In the recent IHSAA Sectional contest on Oct. 19 at Noblesville, senior Elizabeth Butler set a new school record in the 5k race finishing 17:50.4, beating the original record of 17:52.2 held by alumni Halle Hill.

Butler beat her old personal record of 18:07.6, which she set in the Nike Cross Country Town Twilight race earlier in October Butler was the third-place finisher in the sectional race and led the team to a second place standing as a team. Photo by Lili Perez.

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19 The doubles team of junior Landon Osswald and senior Tyler Rich advanced to the state championship after securing a 7-5, 6-2 win over Brownstown Central on Oct. 19. They defeated Shenandoah earlier in the Individual Sectionals, and won their first Regional match 6-4, 7-5 against Shelbyville. They achieved placing third in State Finals on Oct. 25 at Park Tudor. Photo by Lila Oliver.

The number one ranked girls volleyball team defeated Westfield in the sectional championship on Oct. 19, continuing their quest for a third consecutive state title. With set scores of 25-13, 25-12, 25-19, they showcased their dominance and are determined to keep their legacy alive. Next, they head to Regionals on Oct. 26 at Homestead and will compete against Harrison, which is set to be a competitive matchup.

Photo by Kiera Brehm.

Oct

19 Sports | 23

Illustration by Ash Balog | balogaud000@hsestudents.org

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Orb, Volume 35, Issue 2