Clawprint, October/November 2020

Decisions: Politics, College, and Getting Prepared for a New Year Promises and Perspectives: The Election "Now that the facts have been laid out, one of the promises of this newspaper is to be the voice of the student body. As such, we work to amplify the thoughts and feelings of the students at Creekview on the election"

Creekview Clawprint 1 October/November 2020

Issue II

Decisions ADD SPACE?/ FEATURE Of An Orthodox Teen

CREEKVIEW HIGH SCHOOL

CLAWPRINT ISSUE 02 | October and November 2020

Editor-in-Chief Meghan Samples

Copy Editor Lexie Holder

Staff Writers

PICTURE

Lauren Bobo Alexis Chandler Anna Donaldson Lexie Holder Walker Grant Jackson Kavanagh Meghan Samples

Staff Picture

By Lexie Anne Holder PAGE:19 Ad space or related photography

Add pictures or more add space in the deadspace

Back row: Walker Grant, Lexie Holder, Meghan Samples, Jackson Kavanagh Front row: Anna Donaldson, Alexis Chandler, Lauren Bobo, Adviser Mrs. Kelsey

CONTENTs Student Life 4-5 | The Special Olympics 6| Back of the Bus Psychology 7 |Fall-ing into Fashion

Entertainment 8-9 | Inktober 10| Spotlight on the Arts: Chorus 11 | Interested in Newspaper?

12-13 | Gearing Up for Thanksgiving: Fall Recipes 14 | The Great Console War

Sports Stories 15 | Sports Scholarships and Golf Scholarship 16 | The Foundation of Our Raiders Family

DeClara, Joe. “What The New PS5 And Xbox Controllers Mean For Next-Gen.” CGMagazine, 13 Apr. 2020, www.cgmagonline.com/2020/04/13/what-the-new-ps5-and-xboxcontrollers-mean-for-next-gen/.

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CONTENTS

Issue 02 | 2020

Profiles

Decisions

Community

17 | Getting to

Of An Orthodox Teen

18 | A Seasonal Scandal 20-22 | Promises and Perspectives: The Election 23| How to Get Colleges to Work for You: Essays and Scholarships 24-25 | Ethical Consumerism

Know Zander Risco

18|April...

May...JUNE!

Page 19

@voiceoftheview

Election pic 2

https://www.amazon.com/President-Election-Rally-Voting-Button/dp/B08B63KJ39

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR Dear Readers, We appreciate your continued support of our paper by reading our second edition! This edition focuses on the decisions that teenagers are faced with. Decisions make up who we are, they define chapters of our lives, and during this transition throughout high school, we are faced with many of them We make choices about major life changes with colleges, the election, and preparations for the new year.

After our last publication, we received so much feedback from students and teachers. We worked to tailor this publication to better suit the student body. We want to thank everyone who gave feedback to help us improve. It means so much for us to receive feedback and we really appreciate all of the kindness and praise we received from the last publication. Thank you!

We also want to thank all the amazing students who were willing to step up to have their voices heard by giving interviews to our team. We all really appreciate your help in making this truly the voice of the student body, and we encourage others to step up with confidence and share their voice with the community.

As always, we focus on the students and their voices as the unique individuals they are, not just faces in the crowd. We hope that students of all kinds, from all backgrounds, with all different dreams will find something of interest in our publication. We want to hear your stories and put them out there for others to take from and be inspired by. I hope we leave you feeling inspired.

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Student life The Special Olympics: Photo Collage Composed by: Meghan Samples The current global climate surrounding the virus has led to some defeated feelings with events getting cancelled. However, this year, despite it being scaled back significantly, the Special Olympics were able to take place at Creekview. The Special Olympics was founded in 1968 to allow those “with intellectual disabilities [to] discover new strengths and abilities, skills and success.� The Olympics were created to increase inclusivity and diversity and to build the spirits and confidence of those who struggle with disability. The games prove that power and strength can be found in all of us.

During the second half of the games, students participated in races, encouraged by their peers on the sidelines, while Spencer Herrin took a lead.

Games such as volleyball had everyone jumping for joy. Student David Gober leaped to strike a winning point for his team.

School spirits were high as Peer Helper Cole Hasty and his friend Jack Brewer posed in front of our decorated mascot to celebrate the games.

Students and Peer Helpers alike were involved in the games as they worked together to have fun. Thank you to everyone involved, Peer helpers, Cheerleaders, Band Members, and Softball Players

All students were able to engage and enjoy the activities available at the games. Peer Helper Maddie Uren stepped up to make sure everyone enjoyed the day by helping her friend Brayden Carroll.

Truly, the games would not have been possible without the advisors who orchestrated the event. Thank you for your positivity and kindness.

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Student life The Special Olympics: Photo Collage Composed by: Meghan Samples

Advisor Mrs. Shotz and Peer Helper Katherine Sweatman colored their hair to show their support.

Students and advisors alike celebrated the games by moving and dancing together.

Students and Peer Helpers ran laps together under the Special Student Lawton Olympics sign. Stormes finds shade in an unusual spot.

Student Makayla Cox shows her strength by running with her friend.

Digital Learners Emily Duckette Claire Sallee came out for this Students and Peer Helpers took aand well-deserved rest together after one day to by celebrate all their the games relaxingwitth on the field. Face-to-face friends.

Advisor Mr. Greene shows off this year's Special Olympics tee-shirt and his colored hair.

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Student Life Back of the Bus Psychology Written by: Lexie Holder Graph created by: Lexie Holder and Meghan Samples The central portion is filled with the kids who There is a shared connection though “I go to the back. Not the very back, have many friends on the bus. They are just trying to get students. It’s not the jealous attraction of but closer to the back.” mentioned Junior, through the awkward stage in the middle. They are not wanting what other people have. It’s a Jack Whittey, “I am quiet, unless someone I yet old enough to sit in the back and haven’t yet realized school-based desire that begins and ends the know is around then I’m more outgoing. that all of the friends they have right now, won’t last by day without the thought of academics. The There really isn’t anyone on my bus, so I the time they graduate to the back. The central section is first decision that someone makes every listen to music, and just do something on my filled with all personalities of students who are not old school morning when going to school says a phone.” enough to realize the divides among them. lot about their personality. Is where we sit Whittey is a prime example of the The middle-back are the older yet on the bus a conscious decision? introverted kids that prefer the middleintroverted students. The ones that prefer to watch Some of my best friendships and back: The students that keep to themselves Netflix on their phones instead of socializing and stay memorable school memories have been on and stay on their phones for the duration of away from the driver because the rejection of authority is the familiar paved routs that have connected the ride. The use of their phones is both a beginning. Also sitting in this section are the central-bus my house to school. Since I was younger, boredom-defeating tactic when riding the kids that think they’re cool for sitting so close to the even in elementary school, I have been bus, but it also lessens the possibility for back. drawn to the final seats in the bus. The rows others to engage with them. These are the The back of the bus is the highest of the social order on that are usually filled with the older kids that students who are just trying to get through the bus. These are the older students that have moved want to be out the line of sight of the driver. the day. through all sections and have earned their “right to the Earlier in this quarter following my usual “I sat all the way in the back.” routine of getting of the bus and laughed Mary Panik, thoughtlessly gravitating toward the back Creekview’s astronomy teacher, “I was not a row, I sat down to realize that there were very good role model when I was in high Freshmen Seniors less than ten other students. The questions school.” When asked about students that sit then popped into my head. Why is it that in the front-middle, Panik explained how Back 1 3 every day without thinking I move toward the back-seaters thought they were “cool”, 11 Middle Back 3 the back? Why do we choose to sit in the and the front-seaters were “uncool”. The 7 2 Middle seats we do? social hierarchy demonstrated on the bus 1 Even without being told the usual Front Middlestrikes again.

5 5 structure of the school bus, youngest to the The society of the back of the bus is Front front, middle to the central section, and believed to be reserved for the rebellious.

2 4 older to the back, we do this automatically Panik proves that this personality style 2 1 as if there is something dividing us, like oil hierarchy is a generational aspect, and even and water. The thought comes like an though nobody handed a character test that instinct. A generational instinct since the designated where they sit on the bus, the Sophomores Juniors beginning of public-school transportation. students gravitate towards the seats of the The front of the bus is obviously the people before them with the same energy. closest to the driver. A sense of safety when The social hierarchy as to where in immediate reach from an adult makes people sit is a little discussed topic because back”. The back is the farthest away from the driver, this student feel secure. The connection the unspoken agreement has already been so this is where the extroverted kids, that typically between the kids still engulfed in a safety sealed. To the kids sitting next to the driver, spend their time fantasizing about freedom, sit. The harness at home could possibly be the continue searching for safety. To the driver tends to ignore this section, so these students are case. The front also is made of students who middle-front kids, your time will come. To usually the highest of the teenage social hierarchy. are possibly feel socially uncomfortable. The the kids in the central section, enjoy the Once the last rows are reached, a sense of pride in the sense of an adult they can talk to instead of abundance of friends. To the kids in the seat taken is being issued. This is where the phrase “get the intimidation of their peers or the older middle-back, you will get through the day. out of my seat” occurs the most. kids in the back makes them comfortable.

Finally, to the kids in the back of the bus, The division between all of these groups keeps The middle-front are usually the continue living life to the fullest. the orderly structure maintained, and nobody has to be more extroverted of the younger ones. uncomfortable because there is always a group to fit These are the ones that usually have a first into. Nobody tells them where to sit or how the name basis with the driver and like to stare constant structure is maintained. They just do it. Even at the back of the bus waiting for “their time without people being on the bus they still gravitate to be in the back”. The younger towards these areas. The appearance and body students who are getting to know their language of other students and the distance from the surroundings and trusting their curious closest adult, the bus driver, causes us to sit in the exact 6 instincts. section that correlates with our personalities.

Where Do You Sit On The Bus?

Student life Fall-ing Into Fashion Written by: Anna Donaldson Pictures by: Anna Donaldson, Sydney Sharrock, and Emma Trowbridge Fall is the time of the year when the leaves are falling and pumpkin spice flavoring is everywhere. It is also the perfect time of the year for cozy sweaters, boots, big jackets, and comfy pants. Since we do live in the south, fall can still be pretty warm, maybe a little too warm for you to want to wear things like that. Even though it is still warm, you can still dress for fall by wearing orange and red tops and flannel. We all express our love for fashion in different ways, some more unique than others. As such, we interviewed some students around Creekview to see what fall fashion is to them.

Creekview Student Emma Trowbridge takes an aesthetic picture to capture her unique style.

Madi Lawson is always dressing to impress. Every day, she puts together the cutest outfits to wear. She likes to dress comfortably, to where she could easily take a nap in her clothes, she also dresses to look cute. Usually, she doesn’t correlate it with the weather because the school is cold so whatever makes her comfortable is what she wears. As far as aesthetics, she wears what makes her happy and she doesn’t care about what others think about her. Her outfit choice comes together beautifully and is perfect for fall. “I previously went to private schools where I had to wear a uniform, so when I came to Creekview and I saw the opportunity to express myself, I took it!” Madi stated. After Madi left behind a private school and the clothes that accompanied it, she finally has been able to wear what she loves, and it has definitely paid off.

Sydnee Sharok has an exceptionally unique style and is always looking the best. Her aesthetic is very indie; she likes the more vintage look and likes to wear outfits that make her stand out. Sydnee also loves the color green and tries to incorporate the color in her outfits as much as possible. She has a ton of confidence and it definitely shows in her outfits. Before she picks out her outfits, she makes sure that the weather isn’t too cold, but for the most part she does not correlate it with the weather. The green sweater along with her baggy jeans with Doc Martins go perfectly together, creating a beautiful fall outfit. “My inspiration for my style would definitely be Stella Rose Bennett aka Benee” who sings the song Supalonely, Sydnee shared. Her style has always been very different, but Creekview Student Sydney Sharrock strikes a because of the new influences, it has become stylish pose in her outfit. even more fun and unique.

Staff Writer Anna Donaldson shows off her sense of style with a cute mirror selfie.

Here we have two completely different people with two different style preferences. Both outfits are unique in their own way and have many great aspects to them. The key to having an amazing style though is not about the type of clothing you have or how much your clothes cost, but about having confidence in what you're wearing. My style is Indie/Alt, which is very bright and eccentric, and while I am confident in what I wear now, two years ago I wouldn't have been. It has been a long journey to finally being able to wear what I love and express myself, but it has all been worth it. So, no matter what other people might say, wear what you love to wear, and it will make all the difference.

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Entertainment Inktober Written by: Lauren Bobo

Isabella Marrero, "Teeth"

Keith Doyle, "Blade"

Charlianne Clemens, "Outpost"

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Mrs. Babcock’s art class is regarded as one of the only rooms in the school where creativity is limitless and students are encouraged to transcend all the boundaries they once perceived on their creativity. However, Mrs. Babcock annually poses a challenge to her students: Inktober. Inktober may not have been Mrs. Babcock's original idea, but her choice to implement it at Creekview has led to the creation of some of the most beautiful original art works that showcase the art program’s prowess.

This is the art program’s third year of using the program to encourage creativity in students. What is Inktober? For each day in October, Jake Parker, a famous illustrator, gives his fellow illustrators and aspiring artists a prompt. They are then supposed to create a sketch or artwork within the ink medium and upload their works each day with the #inktober. Mrs. Babcock saw a similar goal within Parker’s challenge to the kind of daily practice she sought to encourage within her students here at Creekview, leading her to implement it as the part of the daily sketchbook prompts that drawing classes already do: “Inktober is meant to encourage the practice of drawing as growth occurs through creating habits. It’s just “simple beginning” pick up a pen and create!” The prompts themselves are not as important as what they are meant to inspire in the artists, as Mrs. Babcock explains, “There are 30 open ended prompts such teeth or float, giving the artist to imagine just about anything they can bring into existence. “

Entertainment Elizabeth Dempsey, "Radio"

What is the importance of doing the illustrations in ink? Ink is permanent and versatile in nature, encouraging creativity, but it also has its limits with its unforgiving nature. Mrs. Babcock discussed how ink as a medium can encourage the development of one of the most important skills an artist can have: adaptability. “ I thought it would be a refreshing way to build skills with ink, which is such a permanent mark making medium. It’s kind of like life you can’t erase your mistakes you have to learn to work with the decisions you make to create better outcomes,” said Babcock.

While the purpose of Inktober is to promote practice and growth, beautiful works of art came as a result. While adding structure and limits to the practice of art may seem like it would hinder creativity, students are ultimately encouraged to go out of their comfort zone and create something they may have otherwise never imagined.

Mackenzie Miles, "Wisp"

Sydney Sharrock, "Fancy"

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Entertainment Spotlight on the Arts: Chorus Written by: Meghan Samples Photo Courtesy of: Mr. Martin

Unity. This is one of the most important aspects of a team, group, or choir. The importance of feeling like a team when you step on the field, the importance of feeling connected and unified with your group, those are the same feelings of family that you get when you step in the chorus room. The sound created must be unified to blend properly and instill a sense of wonder in the audience. The individual sections must be unified to ensure that everyone stays on the right notes to create the right kind of chord.

What the chorus takes pride in the most, however, is the fact that they stay unified outside of the sound they create. The feeling of family within the chorus room and beyond is clear across each and every student involved. The Choral Director, Mr. Martin, was proud of the atmosphere of the chorus room: “I really like how our students treat each other.

I like how for the most part it's a jovial mood in the class and people really do care about what they do and care about each other. It’s not a perfect world, we're all humans, but I really do appreciate the atmosphere that we have in this classroom.”

Despite the struggles and setbacks caused by the current global situation, the students have still worked extremely hard to stay focused and continue to make music. One thing that has impacted the chorus is the mask mandate. While inside the chorus room, masks are required to ensure that the choir can continue to make progress. Without wearing masks, the students would not be allowed to sing openmouthed, something that is integral to making good music. “The most difficult part is the unknown,” said Mr. Martin.” We don't know what the rest of this year looks like and... for chorus it's really easy to be 10 motivated because we know we have concert coming up, we want to do our very best so it's really easy to remove be motivated and work hard in class and work

towards that goal.” While these rules and restrictions might be difficult to work around and get used to, this has not dampened the student’s positivity or their sound.

Choir President Shelby McDonald speaks up about what makes Chorus such an impactful class.

“I think being a part of that experience with all these amazing girls and boys, I mean that's really special to me... I hold that close to my heart. I'm really excited to make music even though it's obviously different.”

Everyone feels the love and compassion that the chorus students have for each other. Mr. Martin commented his favorite part of conducting the choir was that “we just want to support each other so everybody has the opportunity to grow and to learn and to feel accepted and you know we have all kinds of students in our program, from different walks of life, different backgrounds and experiences and just one thing I love about our program is that people come together for the goal of making great music together.” It is clear that the great music that comes out of the chorus room is fueled by the leadership but is even more fueled by the love the students have for each other. The love for music and each other is undeniable.

The academic aspect to chorus is something that is typically overlooked. There is an astounding amount of work and practice that goes into understanding music; it’s so much more than just putting together a song. Choral director Mr. Martin explains the struggle that he goes through as a teacher but also highlights his pride for his hardworking students. He says that: “The hardest part is when we were doing some digital learning. Not being with physically with the students and being able to get the feedback that I need to help them.” Shelby McDonald, choir president, expressed her struggle in

navigating the teaching field saying, “The first time I to you know kind of teach a sight reading in fifth period, I wasn’t really sure because they're new. I don't know their learning habits, how to teach them best.”

With the changes, work, and restrictions, the students faced another unfortunate set-back: the fall concert being cancelled. While it was disappointing, the students quickly regained their positivity and energy with the release of holiday music.

“I'm proud that we've just kept going. To sing for the for the fun of it, to sing for the joy of it, to make music for the joy of it and now we're back together, at least for a few weeks, we're really going to be able to get into that.” Mr. Martin commented when asked about the student’s attitudes. “We're starting the holiday music; for most students that's their favorite concert of the year.” The holiday concert is a favorite across musicians and parents alike. Classics like Carol of the Bells and You’re a Mean One, Mr. Grinch encouraged many students to keep their heads up and look ahead to the bright holiday season. The projected dates are December 8th and 9th. Be on the lookout for more information on the famous Creekview Chorus Holiday Concert!

Without the leadership and understanding of people like the Choral Director and Choir President, the chorus wouldn’t be the amazing, welloiled machine that it is. Great leadership shines through and makes a huge difference in the lives of everyone involved. The familial aspect of chorus wouldn’t be the same without the kindness of the leadership. The chorus is so much more than just the music they make.

Entertainment Interested in Newspaper?

Written by: Meghan Samples Have you ever had a story to tell but no place to tell it? Have you ever been so passionate about something but had no outlet to express it? Writing is all about the freedom of expression, using your words to show the world who you are. Writing in itself is a form of selfexpression. Writing is using your passion and voice to create a moving story. By joining newspaper, you will have that freedom to write what it is that you are truly passionate about.

You can use this platform to put your voice out into the world. You can inform our community on civil rights topics. You can keep everyone up to date on the sport you follow closely. You can write opinion columns and share your thoughts.

In the newsroom, there are no limits on creativity. Any topic that you are passionate about, we will find a way to write it. We cover problems that every teenager faces with topics like body image. We cover groups at this school that rarely get the spotlight, such as the arts and clubs. Are you involved in a club that is never mentioned? Write a half page, telling the story of that club and why it is so influential for you, or why you joined. Are you involved in a sport that never gets covered? Compose a collage of your favorite pictures from your season!

While the concept of writing for newspaper may seem daunting, the reality is, we use all different skills and styles to compose our publications. Not great at writing but amazing at graphic design? Help us put together design elements! More interested in photography? Send in some of your work to be featured. It takes a village. While our team has built an amazing starting place,

help us add to it by using your individual skills and talents. If writing is not your strong suit, but a different medium is what helps you express yourself, show the world how impactful that medium can be. There is plenty of room for all talents on newspaper.

Our team works incredibly hard to put together these publications. With this small group of individuals, we have created a monumental collective product. Imagine what we could do with a news team of twenty or thirty.

This generation of the Clawprint is still just starting out. With some plans in motion to get an online presence, we are looking to the future of newspaper. If your schedule is far too busy this year, consider next year or the years after. This paper has already made an impact with its first two publications. Even if you contribute a few pictures, you are expressing your voice. By writing a half page, you are showing your passions to the community.

An extraordinarily impactful example of this is from Lexie Holder’s article on student journalists. In her article, “Fly on the Wall: Memoir of a Student Journalist” from the first issue of the Clawprint, she details common misconceptions about being a student writer. She writes, “As a student journalist, we can bring issues into stark contrast with societal opinion. We can observe in a new fashion. We are the “Flies on the wall.” When conducting an interview with a student who doesn’t get noticed by the rest of the school and finding out about their ideology, we gain a certain type of access into their lives.” Her article embodies the importance of student journalists, as does her column on the Orthodox Teen. The person you pass in the hallway every day but never talk to has a story. The kid sitting alone at lunch has a story. The loud class clown in your 6th period has a story. As journalists, it is our responsibility and our privilege to learn the people we interact with every day and share those unheard stories with the world.

The goal of this paper is to show the community the thoughts and voices of the student body. It is important to make sure that your voice never goes unheard when you have something important to say. Everyone has a passion, whether you have realized it or not.

Passions come in all different shapes and sizes, and that is what makes us individuals. The beauty of the human race is individuality. Everyone has something interesting about them that should be shared with the world. By joining newspaper, you can not only showcase who you are as a writer, but also as a person.

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Entertainment Gearing up for Thanksgiving: Fall Recipes Written by: Alexis Chandler Thanksgiving Turkey Cookies Thanksgiving Sweet Potatoes

Easy Pumpkin Pie

Ingredients: • • • • • • •

1 (14 ounce) can EAGLE BRAND® Sweetened Condensed Milk 2 large eggs large eggs 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon ½ teaspoon ground ginger ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg ½ teaspoon salt 1 (9 inch) unbaked pie crust

Ingredients: •

• • • • •

1 roll (16.5 oz) Pillsbury refrigerated sugar cookies or 1 package (16oz) ready to bake refrigerated sugar cookies.

2/3 cup chocolate creamy frosting (from 16 oz container) Candy corn Orange decorating icing M&M’s minis chocolate candy` Black decorating gel

Ingredients: • About 5lbs of Sweet Potatoes • 3 Tablespoons of Kosher Salt • 1 Banana (ripe to overly ripe is best) • 8 Tablespoons Unsalted Butter • 2 Cups Heavy Cream • 1 Cinnamon Stick • 1/4 Cup Packed Light Brown Sugar • 1 Tsp Fresh Ground Pepper Directions: • •

Preheat your oven to 350°.

Rinse the potatoes. Poke several holes in each with a fork. Keeping the peel on, rub each down • Preheat oven to 425 degrees F. Whisk with salt then individually wrap in aluminum foil.

• Bake cookies as directed on roll or package. pumpkin, sweetened condensed milk, eggs, • Once your oven is preheated, place potatoes on Cool completely, about 15 minutes. spices and salt in medium bowl until smooth. the bottom rack and cook until very tender (about • Spoon chocolate frosting into 1-quart freezer Pour into crust. Bake 15 minutes.

60-90 minutes). When potatoes are so tender that storage bag; seal bag. Cut off tiny bottom a paring knife immediately slices through them, • Reduce oven temperature to 350 degrees F corner of bag. On each cookie, pipe frosting take them out of the oven. Set aside. and continue baking 35 to 40 minutes or on outer edge on half of the cookie. Arrange • Place about a 1/2″ slit in your banana’s peel. Place until knife inserted 1 inch from crust comes candy corn over frosting for feathers. on the bottom rack of the oven and bake until the out clean. Cool. Garnish as desired. Store peel is black, about 15 minutes. Remove from • Pipe orange icing onto each cookie leftovers covered in refrigerator. oven and scoop fresh into a small bowl. to resemble turkey face and feet. Use orange • Increase oven temperature to 500°. Take a 9×9 icing to attach M&M’s to turkey face for Recipe and Picture from: or 13×9 baking dish. Place inside the oven and eyes. Pipe black gel https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/ 23439/pe allow to heat up for 5-10 minutes. on to M&M’s for the centers of the eyes. rfect-pumpkin-pie/ • Now unwrap your sweet potatoes and slice them in half. Scoop the flesh out into a bowl.

Recipe and Picture from: • Remove baking dish from oven. Add butter and https://www.pillsbury.com/recipes/thanksgivi let melt. Then add the cream, cinnamon stick, ng-turkey-cookies/6002dc1a-ed09-4566-af6ebrown sugar, banana, and sweet potatoes. Use a potato masher, then stir to combine.

08e6e1686281 • Place in oven and bake 5-10 minutes until desired Recipe and Picture from: temperature is reached. Season. https://cookingwithjanica.com/secret12 ingredient-thanksgiving-sweet-potatoesrecipe/

Directions:

Directions

Entertainment Gearing up for Thanksgiving: Fall Recipes Written by: Alexis Chandler Butternut Squash Soup

Thanksgiving Stuffing Bites

Ingredients:

Ingredients:

•2 cups vegetable stock •4 cloves garlic, peeled and minced •1 carrot, peeled and roughly chopped •1 Granny Smith apple, chopped •1 medium (about 3–4 lbs) butternut squash, diced •1 white onion, peeled and roughly chopped •1 sprig fresh sage •pinch of salt and pepper •1/8 teaspoon cayenne •pinch of ground cinnamon and nutmeg •1/2 cup canned (unsweetened) coconut milk

•1 lb breakfast sausage •½ cup onion, diced •¾ cup shredded cheddar cheese •2 eggs •½ cup dried cranberry, chopped •½ teaspoon dried thyme •½ teaspoon dried rosemary •½ teaspoon salt •½ teaspoon black pepper •6 oz stuffing mix, 1 box •1 cup chicken broth

Slow Cooker Directions:

Macaroni and Cheese

Ingredients: •16 oz elbow macaroni, cooked (or other tubular pasta) •1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil •6 tbsp unsalted butter •1/3 cup all-purpose flour •3 cups whole milk •1 cup heavy whipping cream •4 cups sharp cheddar cheese shredded •2 cups Gruyere cheese shredded •salt and pepper to taste •1 1/2 cups panko crumbs •4 tbsp butter melted •1/2 cup Parmesan cheese shredded •1/4 tsp smoked paprika (or regular paprika)

Directions: • Preheat oven to 350F. Lightly grease a large 3 qt or •Add vegetable stock, garlic, carrot, apple, butternut 4 qt baking dish and set aside. Combine shredded squash, sage, onion, salt, pepper, cayenne, cinnamon cheeses in a large bowl and set aside.

•Cook sausage in a skillet over medium heat. and nutmeg to a slow cooker Toss to combine.

• Cook the pasta according to the package •Cook for 6-8 hours on low, or 3-4 hours on high, or Add onion after 1-2 minutes and cook until instructions. Drain and place in a large bowl. sausage is cooked, and onion is tender.

• Melt butter in a deep saucepan,. until the squash is completely tender and mashes • Whisk in flour over medium heat and continue •Remove sausage from heat and transfer to a easily with a fork. Remove the sage. Stir in the whisking for about 1 minute. coconut milk. large mixing bowl and let cool.

Gradually whisk in the milk and heavy cream.

•Use an immersion blender to puree the soup until •Add remaining ingredients to the bowl and mix • Continue whisking until you see bubbles on the smooth. (Or you can transfer the soup in two until thoroughly incorporated. surface. Whisk in salt and pepper. batches into a traditional blender and puree until •Using a large spoon or ice cream scoop, • Add two cups of shredded cheese and whisk until smooth, being extremely careful not to fill the measure out mixture into 8 evenly sized balls smooth. Add another two cups of shredded cheese blender too full with a hot liquid.) Taste, and season and continue whisking until creamy and smooth. and space them out on a parchment paper lined with additional salt, pepper and cayenne as needed.

Sauce should be nice and thick. baking sheet.

•Serve warm, topped with your desired garnishes.

• Stir in the cooled pasta until combined and pasta is •Bake at 350˚F (180˚C) for 20 minutes or until fully coated with the cheese sauce. bites are cooked and slightly browned on top Recipe and Picture from: • Pour half of the mac and cheese into the prepared https://www.gimmesomeoven.com/slow-cookerbaking dish. Top with remaining 2 cups of butternut-squash-soup-recipe/ shredded cheese and then the remaining mac and Recipe and Picture from: cheese. https://tasty.co/recipe/stuffing-bites 13 • In a small bowl, combine panko crumbs, Parmesan cheese, melted butter and paprika. Sprinkle over Recipe and Picture from: the top and bake until bubbly and golden brown, https://www.momontimeout.com/bestabout 30 minutes. Serve immediately homemade-baked-mac-and-cheese-recipe/

Directions:

Entertainment The Great Console War Written by: Walker Grant and Jackson Kavanagh After seven years of competition, Microsoft and PlayStation are putting their current generation consoles to rest, making way for the latest and greatest consoles in gaming: The PlayStation 5 and the Xbox Series X. Fans around the world are highly anticipating the release of these consoles in November, as the current generation consoles have drastically fallen short when compared to modern computing technology. Both upcoming systems feature roughly the same specifications, so the age-old console war is sure to return in full force. To help you choose which side you are going to join when it is time for the big decision, here is everything you are going to want to know as you rush to get your hands on one.

Although Microsoft has not been in the console gaming industry for as long as PlayStation, the company has quickly cemented itself as Sony’s direct competitor with the release of the original Xbox.

It looks as if Microsoft plans to live up to the expectations of this generation of consoles as well.

Their brand-new Xbox Series X blows the likes of the Xbox One and PlayStation 4 out of the water, as its hardware is competitive with the latest generation of PC gaming technology. Despite its power, the Xbox series X is going to be released at the retail price of $500, matching the price of the Xbox One release back in 2013. If that price tag is still too hefty, Microsoft is also releasing a cheaper alternative: The Xbox Series S. This console will come in a smaller form factor than the Series X and will also fall short when comparing the power of the two, but it still offers a next-generation gaming experience for only $300.

Obviously, the newest family of Xbox consoles doesn’t just improve upon the performance of the previous consoles, but they also include a complete design overhaul. The new Series X is very reminiscent of a gaming PC, as it is shaped like a cuboid tower. This new shape allows more efficient cooling than the previous generations, as 14 it can maintain the same temperature as an Xbox One but with much less fan noise; it's as quiet as a whisper, even while gaming!

The console has a matte black finish giving it a very sleek but minimalistic design, assuring that it won’t look out of place in any TV setup. Unlike the Series X, the Series S received little design overhaul, and still looks much like an Xbox One S. One consistently major selling point for the Xbox has been its long line of exclusive video games, but this year we are seeing the focus shift away from this. Microsoft will still be releasing exclusive games for the console, but none of them are releasing on the same day as the launch of the Series X. This list of exclusives includes Halo Infinite, Hellblade 2, Forza Motorsport 8, and State of Decay 3. It’s important to note that that all these games will also be playable on PC, and most of them will also release on the Xbox One. Despite the lack on launch day exclusives, Microsoft will be heavily focusing on the Xbox Games Pass as one of their main selling points.

Games Pass is a subscription-based service that will give the user access to hundreds of videogames, including all Xbox Games Studio games, Bethesda games, EA Play games, and many more.

The PlayStation 5, otherwise known as the PS5, was officially shown off on October 26th.

Shortly after, pre-orders were made available to consumers. In the span of only 12 hours, the consoles were sold out, completely sweeping out the stock of all retailers who offered the pre-orders. Sony did not project three million sales and issued an apology for the inconvenience. Sony’s last console was overall a bigger success than Microsoft’s. The PlayStation 4 sold over 112 million units and The Xbox One sold only a little over 48 million, according to an infographic by Worldwide Sales. The domination of the last console generation by Sony gives the corporation a big lead in terms of sales for the next generation.

The PS5’s overall design looks modern. The console has a sleek white and black color scheme with blue LEDs at the top of the console and looks like the smartest next step for the PlayStation line of consoles.

There will be a digital only option, the PS5 Digital Edition, which will be priced at $399. The pricier choice, at $499, is the PS5 standard edition, which has an Ultra HD Blu-Ray Disc Drive.

Both options have the same exclusives and have the same software. The standard edition can support both downloading and using a disc to play games. Both consoles offer a multitude of apps like Netflix or Hulu to supply the perfect entertainment hub.

The PS5 has a generous line up of exclusive games. The PlayStation exclusives have always been known for quality and this console generation will be no different. For the PS5, some of the recent announcement exclusives are Demon Souls Remake, Spider-Man: Miles Morrales, Rachet and Clank: Rift Apart, Horizons: Forbidden West, and a new God of War. The PS5 will also provide backwards compatibility with all PS4 games and many others from PlayStation 2 and 3.

The PlayStation Now network will also be featured on the PS5, which you can subscribe to, giving you access to over 200 games, or just renting a game you would like to try for an exceptionally low price.

The PS5 overall has the same components as the Xbox Series X, with only slight pros and cons for each console. The PS5 will a little less storage (PS5 having only 175 GB less than the Xbox Series X) and is less powerful in terms of graphics (Series X having a more advanced graphics card than the PS5). Other than those two differences, the systems have the same exact components.

The debate about which console is better is less black and white than prior generations of consoles. At the end of the day, the choice comes down to the consumer. Since PlayStation vs. Xbox has reached a stalemate in terms of superiority, the answer of which is better is a lot more subjective than it used to be. The PS5 was released on November 12th and the Xbox Series X was released on November 10th. Which will you choose?

sports Sports Scholarships Written by: Alexis Chandler The world of sports provides multiple opportunities for scholarships. Football, soccer, and baseball are only a few of the many sports that make up some impressive recruiting statistics. With over 12,000 college packages and 35,000 college coaches, the recruiting method isn't the same as it used to be. Athletes are visiting and getting in touch with colleges before their junior and senior year.

To effectively land an athletic scholarship and get your university schooling paid for, you must get a plan together.

Do you already know how many scholarships are available where you live? Do you understand when the recruiting method starts?

Some students already know what they want to major in, but some are still unsure in their plans after high school. It comes down to understanding what colleges offer athletic scholarships, what the requirements are, and how you can work towards that goal. There are some great opportunities to receive help in getting sports scholarships specifically from The Athletic Scholarships website. Going through the recruiting process alone does not work for everyone, and paid services can provide the extra help for students searching out a university athletic scholarship. Websites such as () offer their services in helping students find what works best for them. The NCAA (National Collegiate Athletic Affiliation), NAIA (National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics), and NJCAA (National Junior College Athletic Association) are institutions that help students in the recruiting process regarding college athletics. The Athletic Scholarships website is detailing each change and can help provide and explanation for how it can impact you as a scholarship recruit. Don’t miss out on an opportunity due to the fact you didn’t recognize the guidelines.

A whole lot of people get scholarships for all kinds of matters, but the area in which scholarships are mainly awarded are in sports.

Golf Scholarships Written by: Alexis Chandler Golf scholarships hold particular interest because many students hope to make a career out of the sport. Its seen more often that students get Scholarships for soccer, softball, baseball, track, however not many people see students getting scholarships for golfing. Golfing calls for willpower, hard work, and success to win a game. Usually, golf is performed by way of an elite group and the development of the game in the early stages is essential. Golfers want to continuously enhance their method of the sport to have a fantastic profession ahead in golfing. College students who're intending to make a destiny in golfing, however, are finding it tough to find those scholarships to help them in their university career. Golfing is a competitive college sport for both women and men. To help the rising hobby and recruit more college students, faculties and universities are presenting athletic scholarships. There are one of a kind of Scholarship agencies like Georgia PGA (Professional Golf Association) Foundation Scholarships and LPGA (Ladies Professional Golf Association) offering scholarships. The NJCAA awards complete and partial awards to athletes interested in golfing.

Golf opportunities are normally provided to minority students and college students who need a boost in funding to get through college. Some golf scholarships people can check out are The Marilynn Smith Scholarship, the New Jersey State Golfing Association (NJSGA), Caddie Scholarship, The Phyllis G. Meekins Scholarship, and the Women’s Western Golf Foundation Grant.

Overall, it would be good to get a Scholarship because colleges can be expensive and not everyone can afford it. A scholarship would help a lot of students and parents towards the goal of college.

“Athletic Scholarships.” Athleticscholarships.net, www.athleticscholarships.net/.

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sports The Foundation of Our Raiders Family Written by: Jackson Kavanagh

With fall in full swing, Creekview’s JROTC program is bustling with life as many members prepare themselves for the one of the most exhilarating aspects of it all: Raiders. This athletic competition consists of hundreds of passionate teams around the country working to prove that they have what it takes to win it all in Nationals. Creekview’s Raiders organization is comprised of three teams, allowing every member to have equal representation with an allboys, all-girls, and mixed team. With daily rigorous morning practices, the Raiders get the time they need to perfect their skills for the Raiders meets, which ultimately conditions our teams for competing in regionals and nationals.

These meets give our teams the opportunity to compete in a wide range of challenges amongst rival schools, such as running a five-mile race to test endurance, completing an obstacle course while successfully carrying heavy rucksacks and a stretcher, constructing a rope bridge and crossing it in a timely manner, tire flipping to test our Raiders strength, and carrying military equipment across a football field in the Raiders Beast Event.

While all these competitions had explosive energy coming from the spectators and noncompeting teams, the two that stuck out the most were the obstacle course and rope bridge.

Throughout the duration of the entire course, spirits were high as the crowd cheered their school’s team on. What truly caught 16 my eye was the determination of our teams’ leaders; throughout the course they cheered on

Raiders, motivating each member to push beyond their limit. Tensions were high at the rope bridge competition, but that only fueled our Raiders to strive for the fastest time possible, as each team managed to successfully cross the rope bridge with little to no error. In fact, our all-male Raiders team managed to secure a time of one minute and thirty-six seconds; once the team completed the course and heard their time, each member was engulfed with joy, cheering themselves on along with the spectators for their well-deserved time.

In a recent interview with the sophomore Raiders member Brody Jones, we got some insight on what it means to be a Raider. Brody has been passionate about joining the military for some time now, and after hearing about the Raiders program while being a member of the JROTC, he could not help but to join because of the rigorous work that it offers, believing it will help condition him for joining the military. Brody helped explain the specifics of the Raiders meets, going into detail on how it effectively simulates real life military situations, the most extreme of which would be the Cross-Country Rescue: “You brought up the real-world situation. The CCR is a simulation in which you run, pick up a wounded soldier, and bring them back to the base. What we use is a stretcher that usually weighs about 150-pounds, as well as making our people wear rucksacks.” Competing in races such as this is what allows our Raiders to get the experience they need if they choose to go into the military.

When asked about the coach, Mr. Anderson, Brody had nothing but positivity to spread. The relationship between Mr. Anderson and his teams aren’t just surface level; he genuinely cares for every member on the team, wanting to see every one of them succeed in

Raiders: “He makes sure everybody’s getting the attention. He’s honestly like the father of the family.” Instead of just focusing on his best Raiders, he makes sure to give every member the attention they need to go above and beyond. Even JROTC members that didn’t quite make the Raiders cut are still getting the attention they deserve because he wants to make sure everyone gets to prove themselves with the chance to compete.

Finally, when asked about what his favorite aspect of Raiders was, Brody didn’t hesitate to inform me about his love for the teams. No matter what, every Raider has each other's backs, they take “no man left behind” very literally, as each member would make sure to complete whatever challenge is ahead of them together. One of Brody’s most memorable moments in Raiders perfectly encapsulates this: on a very muddy day Brody’s team was running a course, and a Raider accidentally fell on top of another raider while attempting to scale a wall, spraining his ankle.

Shortly after this, Brody dislocated his shoulder while crossing the monkey bars. Instead of being discouraged from the injuries they both received, the rest of the team stayed behind with them to uplift them and finish the event together. The Raiders bonds go beyond just their impeccable teamwork, as their work together has brought them close enough to feel like family.

profiles Getting to Know Zander Risco Written by: Anna Donaldson Zander Risco, a senior at Creekview, has a passion for soccer and loves to spend time with his friends. He has been playing soccer for 12 years, starting at age five. “I enjoy soccer because it is a fun sport to play and my team is very successful,” Zander shared. Because his team is successful, it makes playing a lot more fun and enjoyable. He plays right back because that is where he stands out the most. Because he plays right back, he must have exceptionally good speed and agility. His proudest moment was winning a select tournament for soccer, and the select is the highest level of the tournaments. “It felt amazing to win the select and I felt like I had accomplished so much!” Zander gladly shared.

He plans to keep working at Olive Garden as a busser, even though some days of working are kind of difficult because of how busy it can get. He hopes to go to college at KSU (Kennesaw State University) because he has lots of friends who go there, and the university has classes for what he wants to do as a career. He plans to go to college for scouting, which is where the scout recruits new team members for certain sports, and evaluates athletes' physical skills, attitude, and other factors that could determine their success on a team. He is drawn to his career because he would be doing something he is passionate about while being able to make a living from it. He is deeply passionate about this career choice because of his love for sports and the fact that he would love to help growing athletes reach their dreams.

“I would love to have someone to coach me as I am an athlete as well, which is the reason I want to help other kids!” exclaimed Zander.

He loves New York and would love to be able to live there someday in the future. His favorite neighborhood in New York is Manhattan because of the different restaurants, the people, how busy it is, and that you can reach any part of the city from there. “I love New York because it is such a different environment than here in Georgia and because there are so many different cultures that you get to see and experience,” he shared.

He looks up to his parents and friends because they are good people and have been remarkably successful with their lives. He also hopes to be successful and make a great life for himself in the coming years.

“I would like to be remembered in Highschool as being a good friend and someone who can give you advice on things in life.” He shared.

Cole Welch, one of Zander’s close friends who he sits with at lunch, describes him as a “very funny, outgoing and athletic person and someone who will definitely know how to make you laugh. He is also always cracking jokes and is very positive about life.”

Zander has many goals and aspirations and hopefully later down the road he can carry out those goals and live a happy and amazing life. For now, he will focus on the small goals like college and eventually work his way up to his biggest goal. The next time you see him in the hall, stop and say hi, and it 17 will definitely make his day.

Community April... May... JUNE! Written by: Alexis Chandler June Collete, a freshman, is very passionate about animals. A decision she has made that she is very proud of is deciding to help her mom with her job. Her mother works at a veterinarian clinic. June would use her artistic abilities to illustrate art pieces for clients of their pets, showcasing her love for the animals her mom gets to work with. She doesn’t have any plans for college; however, she is interested in being a veterinarian like her mom. She has not yet made a decision on what college she wants to go to or what she wants to major in. However, she does have a back-up plan. June loves anime and Japanese culture. She spends her time watching Anime and before the interview, she was reading a manga as well. Her love for the culture has added to her life and influences what she may want to do in the future. “If I can’t be a veterinarian, I want to own a restaurant or something” June says. Specifically, a noodle restaurant. She appreciates the food and art from that culture. While she doesn’t have everything planned out just yet, she does have a good idea on the big decisions ahead.

A Seasonal Scandal Written by: Lauren Bobo The signs of Autumn’s anticipated arrival are numerous, and they are often met with excitement and delight for those who are ready to break out their cozy sweaters and have some traditional fall-fun. But to many, none of the season’s voices call louder than the dreaded, apocalyptic contagion that rears its ugly head each year. From Starbucks to supermarkets, from menus to Instagram feeds, one seasonal tradition has proven itself to be inexorable. An abominable, dreadful, and merciless fiend, Pumpkin Spice has become a staple of fall the same way that allergies are a staple if spring. With traces of it found in pottery from Indonesia dating back over 3,5000 years ago, the blend of nutmeg, cinnamon, ginger, and cloves is far from a new revelation. More recently, however, a revolution of people comparable to the greatest in history have rallied behind an opinion that is truly redefining our culture: that Pumpkin Spice is, in fact, a useless hype machine with no purpose or merit. After all, there are no more important issues than the fact that people are foolish enough to be swindled by this absurd corporate propaganda that entraps the feeble-minded into gaining excitement over something as trivial as a seasonal Even worse is the type of people who convince themselves that they enjoy something so vile. Obviously, they’re teenagers. With their brainwashing cell phones and their social doodads, they’re most susceptible to aggressive marketing resembling a cultist indoctrination. Even more obviously, they’re girls, as it is common knowledge that every man alive exclusively drinks black coffee. Of course, anything that teenage girls like, normal people are required to hate on the principle of asserting their superiority. Basic girls in their Ugg boots a nd infinity scarves roll up to Starbucks to order a Pumpkin Spice Frappuccino only to plague our social-media feeds with pictures of them.

There is nothing worse, after all, than seeing someone enjoying something. Presumably, this outrages a movement of superior intellect, the people smart enough to know how miserable the world really is and how idiotic it is for someone to feel joy or be excited.

Since no one has given a reason besides “it is good” to like Pumpkin Spice, it is safe to assume that it’s actually bad. Everyone knows that there can be no real reason that something is popular; it is never because the thing is actually good. Rather, it is always because people are not smart enough to realize it is the mark of true intelligence to ignore popular opinion and declare it to be baseless hype for the sole purpose that it is popular. After all, even if there’s a million reasons to like something, all you need is one reason to hate it.

Picture by Meghan Samples

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decisions We formulate decisions based on past personal judgments and the extent of emotional connection we have to the choices we make. Small things such as whether I should pick up this coffee and take a sip while writing this piece, subconscious decisions compose our day. These presumably insignificant choices are the factors that produce the aura in which we compose ourselves. It is the vibe of energy we give off every day.

Should I tilt my head back when I walk? Prop my shoulders?

What do you see when I walk into a room?

We pay no attention to the seemingly miniscule decisions that create our presence, yet these important features design who we are. We have a distinct way of creating an aura that blends with our surroundings yet stands out all the same. It is the air we give. It is deciding to wear platform boots just because we like them and being judged due to the ruling of other peoples’ inner judgement systems. The feeling is daunting. This is the reality of the fact. The beautiful fact that society is conforming through our decisions. It is the reality that our decisions, no matter how much we tell ourselves that they won’t or shouldn’t, will dictate where we will end up in life beyond teenage years. It is an awesome reality that every single verdict we come to deep inside of our minds, so deep we cannot control the choice, controls the future, our future.

Calm, we weigh the consequences, and this is where wonder of what will happen occurs. We as teenagers move towards decisions without the practice of an adult when it comes to weighing the consequences of the action. This is the factor that commonly makes our lives more societally acceptable; it is the moment that divides how society wants us to react and how we want to react. This is the factor lacking in practice. We all lack practice at making calculated decisions. It is utterly unrealistic to make every decision calm.

Charged, we act out of current emotion and disregard calm. We fall into internal control. To joy, to sadness to the better or worse, to be angry, to be

wounded, to be lost, to be bitter, to be determined, to love. This is most delicate of the decision factors. When we are charged our connection with the decision becomes the most important. This is the moment during an argument with parents when you’ve had enough of hiding and blurt out “I’M GAY!” This is when the sweet, timid kid that has had enough bullying decides to stick up for themselves and lays the bully out in the middle of the hallway. This is the moment when we believe lying through our teeth becomes the only option. The largest impacts, whether destructive or powerfully beautiful, are created here.

Controlled, we crave to please our surroundings, or the use of fear compels us to create a verdict without weighing the evidence. When we were younger, adults would try to inflict a sense of fear about being a

Of An Orthodox Teen teenager. An image of tattooed, pierced, malicious-looking teenagers would run over videos in early middle school classrooms telling us to not give into the peer pressures of high school. However, this a deception. This is not due to peer pressure. This is due to a controlled decision. Telling you one way or the other based on the bygone inner judgement systems.

If my humble ideology about society mattered, then these pre-existing, older generation’s judgements would not be the deciding factor in the future of the modern teenager. It wouldn’t matter if we all got facial tattoos or decided to elect a female president wearing high-top converse to her inauguration.

Our vibrant, joyous decisions wouldn’t be tainted by dusty, outdated ideas. We could wear hoop earrings and not be scrutinized. We could have blue hair and not be stereotyped. We could comfortably embrace the decisions that create who we are.

What teenager hasn’t heard of the phrase, “Your brain isn’t fully developed.” While this is true, it is necessary we

don’t let this be the excuse for our decisions. The sole excuse for our choices is just who we are. It is the fact that our actions make us different. Whether those actions are societally accepted or not has little significance in who we are because let’s face it, whether our actions are acceptable is their judgment.

The important factor is we have free thinking. We have been blessed with the gift of independent decision. It is unnecessary for us to have a controlled way of thinking. If it weren’t for independent thinking, if it weren’t for the many societally unacceptable decisions, the human race would not be as enlightened.

“Ya’ know I’m not gonna lie, I do stuff because I want to. Yes, I fall to peer pressure, but if I’m being honest it’s my decision. No one can tap into my brain and make decisions for me. People judge me and that’s okay. I’ve decided to be myself [and like you asked] ‘What’s your aura?’… I do things because I want to. It’s my life.”, pronounced an orthodox teen.

We, as teenagers, are able to use our lack of practice in the deciding factor of calm and empower the charged aspect of thinking. We are free thinkers. Unless there is an invention to intervein with the free thinking of an average teenager, we have a gift.

Our everyday choices dictate who we are. It’s you. It’s me. It’s all of us. We are the deciding factors of the next generation. If we decided to do everything the same as the generation before us, we would be sheep. I am no sheep, and I am sure you’re not either. It is the abstract decisions of our generation that enlighten. It is the energy we give off that electrifies the flowing current into our future. Decisions are a gift.

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feature Promises and Perspectives: Presidential Promises Written by: Lexie Holder and Meghan Samples Throughout American history, dating back to the establishment of the government, the nation has stood politically polarized. What started as Jeffersonians and Federalists has evolved into the current Democratic and Republican face off we seeevery four years. The tensions between these parties has only grown with the dynamic, ever-changing nature of the nation in which we live. One major issue with how information is distributed to the American people, is how the facts get misconstrued or rephrased to change the mass public’s perspective of the candidate in question. The rise of political social media presence has exposed the miniscule faults within candidates and flooded feeds with dirty wrongdoings of these people. The presence of these faults is exponentially multiplied when shared from person to person. The alteration of facts, whether intentional or not, leads to misunderstandings between thousands, causing further contrast between parties. Political gossip extremely alters citizens trust of the candidates. Here are the facts about both candidates, the vice-presidents, and the history made by this election.

President-elect Joe Biden has been in the political arena for 47 years, starting his political career in the Senate in 1973. Some of the most impactful pieces of legislation or actions he worked for in this long period of service include his work regarding the Violence Against Women Act and taking on the National Rifle Association. In 1993 he secured the passage of the Brady background check bill and ushered the bill through conference, and in 1994, he championed the passage of bans on assault weapons and high-capacity magazines. As Vice President under Obama, he continued his leadership in foreign policy, “traveling over 1.2 million miles to more than 50 countries,” according to his website. He vocally supports marriage equality and continues his support for the LGBTQIA+ community by expressing his early support for the Equality Act. Now, as President-elect, his policies reflect his emphasis on important issues such as his plans for the climate and the Covid-19 pandemic. He also continues his support for women and younger Americans by working towards equal pay and advanced healthcare as well as enhancing the education system and making higher education more affordable. His plans and policies reflect the values he spoke on during his time as a senator. This consistency has helped many voters to see clearly the issues he supports and will continue to support as President.

Kam ala Harris could very well end up being the most influential woman in America in the coming years. The precedents placed by Harris began with her being the daughter of immigrants from India and Jamaica. Harris became the first Black woman to become a San Francisco District attorney and the first Black woman to be elected California Attorney General. She began this path by earning her law degree from the University of California. After graduating, Harris started focusing on sexual assault cases against minors. She helped non-violent drug offenders attain high school degrees and find jobs. Stemming from her own experience being the daughter of immigrants her mission is to help refugees in any way she can. In 2016, Harris was elected to the U.S Senate and fought for the middle and lower class. From there, she was asked by 2020 President-elect Joe Biden to run with him as Vice President. Harris’ focus on social justice, second chances for first-time non-violent offenders, and work for students and veterans aligned he views and made her a choice for Joe Biden’s Vice President. The historical election this year has proved to be Kamala Harris’s three biggest precedents as the United States first Black and Asian VP, and first Woman Vice President-elect. As Harris herself says, “I’m not trying to restructure society. I’m just trying to take care of the issues that wake people up in the middle of the night.”

Donald J. Trump was born into his family-named estate, grown after the real estate post-war boom in 1950. Trump began his career, following in his family’s footsteps, and became a real-estate developer and businessman who owned, managed, and licensed his name to properties across the United States and internationally. His real estate empire was started in New York making him one of the most well-known brokers in America. Trump also owns many casinos and hotels internationally. He has built over 500 businesses, placing him in the rank of American billionaires. Being a billionaire businessman, Trump has always had an influential role in American economy, considering how massive his enterprise is. Using this stage, he grew his campaign up from the ground and won the 2016 presidential election making him the 45 th president of the United States. During his presidency, Trump brought many businesses to America from foreign countries. One of Trump’s most daring endeavors was the start of the “Space Force,” the training of military troops to protect U.S interest in space. Trump ran again for a second term in the 2020 election but was closely defeated by the projected Presidentelect and Former Vice President, under the Obama Presidency, Joe Biden.

Vice-President Mike Pence has always been an outspoken individual, beginning with his own talk show, The Mike Pence Show, where he detailed his hometown of Columbus, Indiana’s public affairs. He also led the Indiana Policy Review Foundation. Following these successes, he decided to give back to the community he grew up in by launching a successful bid for a local congressional seat. He began his political career, entering the House of Representatives in 2000 at the age of 40. During his time in congress, his leadership skills prompted his colleges to elect him to serve as Chairman of the House Republican Study Committee and House Republican Conference Chairman. After his service in congress, he was elected as Governor of Indiana in 2012. “As Governor, he enacted the largest income tax cut in Indiana history, lowering individual income tax rates, the business personal property tax, and the corporate income tax in order to strengthen the State’s competitive edge and attract new investment and good-paying jobs” according to the White House website. It was his good reputation and series of successes that prompted Donald Trump to select Pence as his running m ate in 2016. Once the team was elected on November 8th, 2016, they began their work for the American people and continue that work to this day.

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feature Promises and Perspectives: Election of a Lifetime?

Written by: Lexie Holder and Meghan Samples One of the most important aspects of our nation is the ability to vote for our leaders. Some may think it is the most impactful thing that the everyday citizens can do for preserving the pride in our democracy and progressing us into the better version of our country. The voter turnout in the 2020 election is continuously gaining credit as one of the most historic elections in the history of our democracy. The record-breaking voter-turnout is significant to the historical bipartisanship. The intense side-against-side aspect of this election has caused the public to become passionate about each side based on personal preferences. Patriotism the past year has been seen in every corner, walking down the school hallways, on social media feeds, and even common classroom small talk, but what makes this patriotism so significant is that both sides, Democratic and Republican, broke the record for voter turnout. The United States has a population of roughly 328 million, both parties had over 70 million voters, totaling to over 140 million Americans. The voter turnout is not the only record breaking and significant uncommon occurrence. Democratic Vice president elect, Kamala Harris, is projected to be not only the first woman, but Black and Asian Vice President of the United States. Joe Biden is projected to be the oldest president i n history, at age 77, seven years older than the candidate with last presidential age record, Donald Trump. Every presidential election the people of America say, “This will be the one. This is the election of our lifetime.” However, this specific election has the ability to prove those words.

Now that the facts have been laid out, one of the promises of this newspaper is to be the voice of the student body. As such, we work to amplify the thoughts and feelings of the students at Creekview on the election. Through a series of interviews with all grade levels, we found that most people we talked to hoped for Trump to win.

The consensus was that Donald Trump was the lesser of the two evils, with many fearing Joe Biden’s economic policies. Most students didn’t say much about Trump’s social policies; however, one student commented on the issue pertaining to transgender individuals entering the military.

Most students who hoped for Trump to win were interested in the economic policies proposed. One student commented that “he [Trump] has raised the economic growth a lot more than Obama or Bush has.” Another student expressed a fear that “the country could go socialist, like the raising of the minimum wage.” The student continued saying, “I just feel like people that have had to pay to go to college and they are trying to make something for themselves that worked hard to get where they are, are going to be making a similar amount to the people that are just starting out and I just don’t feel like that is really fair.”

Many students were in the middle, leaning neither right nor left. One student explained that “there really is nothing that affects me right now.” This is a common theme among students and young people. There is nothing wrong with being moderate or staying neutral. The issue is not voting due to that neutrality. Voting is a constitutional right, one that we must take advantage of as soon as we are able to. Choosing who leads the country is not a matter of enemies and friends, nor is it righ t or wrong. It is a matter of decision. Deciding who will serve your interests best as well as the interests of those close to you . It is integral that we exercise the constitutional right to vote on who will lead and represent our country. One student commented, “I 23 don't like either of them. America doesn't need to be a two-party system.” Even though this student doesn’t like either, they still intend to vote. One teacher advised, “I don’t care who you vote for, just vote.”

feature Promises and Perspectives: Election Analysis from the Student Perspective Written by: Lexie Holder and Meghan Samples "I'm not a huge fan of either of the candidates I’ve been doing research into both of them."

"I like all of Joe's policies"

"... we can have two brand new people on the ballot in '24.

"I' m afraid that riots are going to break out if Trump does win, especially in big cities like Atlanta."

"...

he's [Trump's] done a lot to help with people like when we got into Covid he gave a lot of families money for their children [on the Cares Act]."

One of the most common feelings from the student body was not about policy, but rather about defeating the other candidate. One student expressed this idea: “I’m just scared of what will happen if the other person wins.” A few of the students interviewed were more scared about what would happen if the other candidate, typically Biden, were to take office. Another student said, “There’s not much that I am for, but it’s more of I would rather have Trump than Joe.” Many students see Donald Trump as the lesser of the two evils.

Some worry about voter fraud, while others worry about riots no matter which candidate wins. Some feel that "they're both terrible people and will most likely not be great for our country" anyway.

"...it's gonna take weeks,

maybe months to figure this out and so at this point anything can still happen."

Other students looked at social policies rather than economic policies and found that Biden would be better for them. Mainly dealing with issues such as climate change. Statements and actions by Donald Trump about climate change have raised alarm with some Americans.

His decision to pull out of the Paris Climate Accord had mixed responses from the nation. One student commented that they, “liked Biden's environmental plan for climate change” and that, “he [Trump] thinks climate change is fake.”

Another student chimed in in agreement, expressing their support for the Green New Deal.

Another hot-button social issue is immigration. While many support Trump’s decision to close borders and “build However, not everyone feels that Trump is the right the wall,” many others feel differently. One student was choice. Some students who are a part of minority groups or quoted as saying, “ he’s [Biden's] going to reinstate DACA and who support groups such as the LGBTQIA+ community are support Dreamers, like the children brought here illegally looking to Biden for safety. Biden has previously passed when they had literally no say in the matter and [he won't] legislation to protect groups like women and the LGBTQIA+ force them out to a country that they have no physical community during his time as a senator and as Vice President. connection to.”

A student from a minority group stated that “Biden would be the better choice because of the support he has given to the No matter who wins, this will truly be an election gay community through passing of the Equality Act.” Another for the history books. With the year we have had as a country student expressed their concern about Trump winning and and the number of issues that have occurred, it will be difficult how that could affect the safety and rights of the for any one person to fix it all. Hopefully, we can move past community, saying, “Trump and some other people in whatever the outcome is as a country. Hopefully, this will be a the Senate are literally trying to repeal same sex marriage unifying event, not one fraught with division. While we remain which was legalized by Obama and Joe Biden during their divided into parties, we should not be divided as a people. term.”

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Community How To Get Colleges To Work For You: Scholarships and Essays Written by: Jackson Kavanagh and Meghan Samples To many students, the most daunting part about the college application process is the essay. This is different from every other part of the application. Inputting numbers and recounting achievements is simple, but writing an essay that is unique and eye-catching is difficult for the seniors looking to impress colleges. Most college admissions offices have read thousands upon thousands of entrance essays. While your numbers are important, what is more impactful than that is what makes you who you are. The college essay is different from the essays you write in your English class at school. In some ways this is difficult, but in others, it’s a blessing. Here are some of the best tips from the Princeton Review:

By writing about who you are and what you love, your amazing qualities will show through. It’s showcasing not only who you are as a student but also as a person. It’s not about what they want to read, it's about what you want to write. Everyone has something interesting or unique about them; find what sets you apart and use that to your advantage.

• “Admissions officers have to read an unbelievable number of college essays, most of which are forgettable. Many students try to sound smart rather than sounding like themselves. Others write about a subject that they don't care about, but that they think will impress admissions officers.”

• The best advice for writing this essay is to think about what makes you uniquely you. What’s an interesting story from your high school career? What sets you apart from your peers? Was there a lifechanging experience that impacted you or changed your view of the world?

• Have your friends brainstorm topics.

Use the people who really know you as a resource.

• Write about what you are truly passionate about. You don’t have to have started your own business or saved the world by the time you graduate to impress admissions offices.

• Write multiple drafts and get other people to read over them. Have a parent or English teacher look over it and give you feedback.

One website, Unigo, offers monthly issues covering currently available scholarships, as well as scholarships that Unigo offers independently. In this month’s issue, Unigo is offering a Zombie Apocalypse Scholarship to

Another predominant step in the road to college is the financial opportunities for all students. One of the best chances to decrease the looming threat of student debt is presented through scholarship opportunities, which come in a variety of different levels, from local up to national. Unfortunately, COVID has seriously affected local businesses and institutions, limiting opportunities to compete in local scholarships. Creekview has provided many different sources to find national scholarships that are just right for you; these sources can be located under the scholarships tab in student services on Creekview’s website.

get in tune with the season. All applicants must do is create a hypothetical situation on how to respond to zombies taking over the school, including hiding places to help survive the undead horde and materials that would keep someone alive.

The most popular of the websites is Scholly, the number one college scholarship app in the world. Anyone interested could download this app on their phone and fill out information about themselves, then Scholly will regularly update the user on exciting scholarship opportunities that are tailored to their personal information, ensuring that they will get the best opportunities possible. Each month, Scholly a dds thousands of scholarships to their program, but the application’s algorithm will make sure to only show the scholarships that would be most meaningful to the student’s specifications.

Finally, students should look at the website that many should be familiar with: CollegeBoard. Along with providing many other tools to help students succeed in their next step in life, such as their college search system, CollegeBoard also offers a scholarship search tool that works similarly to Scholly. On top of this, CollegeBoard is also offering the chance to win small scholarships just for completing steps in the ‘My Action Plan’ tab. This plan includes many things that most collegebound students will already have to complete, such as creating a list of colleges and completing the FAFSA form. CollegeBoa rd could provide thousands for students who have already completed their Action Plan.

Make sure to get these completed while possible because many of these opportunities will be gone by October 31st! https://www.princetonreview.com/collegeadvice/college-essay Franek, Rob. “Crafting an Unforgettable College Essay.” The Princeton Review, 2018, www.princetonreview.com/collegeadvice/college-essay

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Community Ethical Consumerism Written by: Lauren Bobo As there is an increased focus on morality and social awareness, people are told that they are responsible for the companies they support, and that they should be making ethical decisions with each purchase. However, making ethical decisions about the things we buy is a much more convoluted and complicated issue than simply buying one thing over another. Whereas once issues over what to buy were relatively simplistic, an expanding domestic market and expanding scale of global trade means there are more choices and information to consider than ever before.

There are several factors related to ethical consumerism that can influence the ability, willingness, and actual impact of our financial decisions. People are told on one hand that, in an economy like America’s, the nature of competition ensures that consumer choices matter and that the company with the most support ethically will prevail so long as more people choose to buy it. On the other hand, cynics will argue that everyday purchase decisions don’t matter at all under the mantra “there is no ethical consumption under capitalism” due to the continuously expanding companies that own both an unethical product and its ethical competition which renders the illusion of choice valueless. Others question the nature of being an “ethical consumer” as a whole, citing questionable evidence about the positive impacts of “ethical” choices and the financial disparities that may prevent it from being universally possible. Some people just don’t really care. The real answers can be extremely unclear, and they are a lot more nuanced and situational than those who make broad statements about the nature of consumerism would have you believe. If everyday investments are considered through a moral lens, how do we know if we are making the right choice?

Let’s run through a scenario. Let’s say that you’re a consumer who cares deeply about the environment and the sustainability of the products that you buy. You drink coffee every day and want to make sure that you’re buying a sustainable brand that is certified organic and not packaged in environmentally harmful packaging. You do research and find out that the Keurig K-Cups are bad for the environment. You decide to go to the store to find a new coffee.

While you’re browsing the Coffee Aisle, you roll your eyes at the Keurig K-Cups in the hundreds of little plastic containers that continue to help pollution. You finally settle on Newman’s Own Organics Coffee, which is a fair trade certified and certified organic coffee brand that claims to be committed to helping local farmers and sourcing their products sustainably as well as donating 100% of their profits to charity. However, when you get home, you google the brand Newman’s Own Organic and find out that it, both of the brands mentioned above are owned by the same company: Jab Holding Company. That means that you’ve still given money to a company that supports a thing you are fundamentally against, without even mentioning the misleading nature of the 100% of profits donated (just ask the Ceo’s 1.5 million dollar “executive compensation” from 2018).

Unfortunately, this problem is not inherent to coffee companies, although they may be some of the biggest culprits. Often tim es, a company will own both the unethical brand and its "ethical" counterpart while leading you to believe that they are distinct choices.

A lot of the money will still end up in the same place. Only 11 companies own almost every name brand in a grocery store. That means that, without knowing it, your money may be going towards a company that you do not entirely support. While a brand may offer something that is non- GMO, organic, vegan, or fair trade certified, buying from that company still gives them money to continue with things you don't agree with.

Others tend to question the actual impacts of buying fair trade, organic, vegan, or non-GMO items. For instance, GMO products grown with harmful pesticides and chemicals have shown to be damaging to the environment and for biodiversity; however, the higher yield and disease tolerance of GMO products result in less land usage for equal crop yields, meaning less deforestation and agricultural practices that account for 20-30% of greenhouse gas emissions plus an ability to increase food production in impoverished countries and help starvation. Veganism may help spare the lives of animals and therefore reduce methane production from cows, but the greater plowing requirements for veganism can contribute to the loss of soil biota and contribute to the science journal Nature’s 2017 report of a 70% of loss of carbon from soil into the atmosphere from plowing. Fairtrade started as a movement for equal and fair pay for farmers for their products, but a lack of demand for fair trade coffee as a result of the price increase reflecting on consumer prices can ultimately hurt the profits 24for these farmers as they sell less of their crops. Labeling a product and its claimed benefits as good or bad is not quite as simple as it may originally seem, as the issues these products attempt to address are complicated and situational.

community Ethical Consumerism Written by: Lauren Bobo

This leads us to another problem with the ethical consumerism model: the cost of ethical consumption. It’s safe to say that the majority of unethical business practices are motivated by companies attempting to cut costs in production of their product and often allow them to offer more competitive prices to their consumers. Unfortunately, problems like this are not limited to the grocery industry. As stores that adhere to the title of “Fast Fashion” have become increasingly mainstream, the ethics of the fashion industry as a whole has come into question as well. Websites and stores like forever 21, SHEIN, and Fashion Nova have become known for offering massive quantities of trendy clothes mirroring name brands for shockingly cheap prices. However, the reasons that they can offer such low-cost clothing are also the reasons they are highly controversial.

The environmental impact these clothing companies have is unequivocally detrimental. The fashion industry, second in line after the oil industry, is the second largest polluter in the world. Each production step for clothes produced in this method has an environmental impact due to water, material, chemical and energy use.

All of the bad impacts of fast fashion beg the question: why do these companies exist at all? The answer seems obvious: buy from ethical companies or shop at thrift stores. Shopping at thrift stores cannot help cut back on this waste due to the lack of stock, an increase utilization of thrift stores for “fashion” purposes, and the issues surrounding more privileged people buying these items en masse so that there is not enough for those less fortunate wholly on thrift stores. Ultimately, there are better choices. Levis is a company that has committed to environmental sustainability since early times. However, many people cannot afford their brand name prices. Most people ultimately refuse to sacrifice cost in favor of ethics. More so, some people due to their financial situation simply don’t have the privilege of a choice.

Should individuals ultimately accept blame for the heinous actions of the companies they support by buying their products? That depends on how you view it. You could say that those who have the financial means and product availability to make ethical decisions with what they buy then it is their responsibility to do so. You could say that despite the interconnections between ethical and unethical products under the same distribution companies or shareholders, choosing ethical products should still be a priority to show companies that ethical products are in demand. You could say that buying cheaper clothes at the cost of harmful environmental impacts and supporting non-sustainable and fairtrade food products makes you partially responsible for their actions. Ultimately though, it is not the responsibility of consumers to check the evils of corporations motivated by their greed and focus on profits. Companies like these who make egregious amounts of money will continue to be insanely profitable regardless if a significant portion of the population chooses to boycott them. Your choices do have impact, but no one should be made to feel guilty if they have to consider their purchases through financial value rather than moral values.

Haight, Colleen, and Colleen Haight is an assistant professor at San Jose State University. “The Problem With Fair Trade Coffee (SSIR).” Stanford Social Innovation Review: Informing and Inspiring Leaders of Social Change, ssir.org/articles/entry/the_problem_with_fair_trade_coffee.

Giovannetti, Marco. “GMOs Are Better for the Environment than You'd Think.” Massive Science, 1 Aug. 2018, massivesci.com/articles/gmo-excerpt-

environmental-damage/.

MAMcIntosh. “‘The Illusion of Choice’ – These 11 Companies Control Nearly Everything You Buy.” Brewminate, 3 Jan. 2019, brewminate.com/theillusion-of-choice-these-11-companies-control-nearly-everything-you-buy/.

Singer, Maya. “Is There Really Such a Thing as ‘Ethical Consumerism’?” Vogue, www.vogue.com/article/ethical-consumer-rentrayage-batsheva-lidia-may.

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