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LETTER FROM THE EDITOR
Hello Grizzlies!
Welcome to the first issue of the Bruin for the 2023-24 school year! I’m excited for you to see what we’ve made for you in this issue. We’ve got a fantastic staff this year of old faces and new. We’re bringing the focus of the paper to the students and how world events directly impact them. We want to hear directly from the student body about the issues that affect them, so try sending a letter to the editor (that’s me!). You may get featured in the Bruin. This issue is all about our MHS students. Check out the Hoco spread on the Entertainment page, or our spotlight on the emergency services and health services pathways on the Features page. We’ll also touch on our new principal, Mr. Furman, on the Features page. And if you’re looking to learn something new about your beloved teachers, check out What’s Bruin on the back cover. Thanks for picking up a copy!
-Livy
AT A GLANCE...
“Half tHe world is composed of people wHo Have sometHing to say and can’t, and tHe otHer Half wHo Have notHing to say and keep on saying it.”
THE BRUIN IS A FORUM FOR PUBLIC DEBATE
The Bruin is a registered member of the National Scholastic Press
National Awards of The Bruin
National Pace Maker award-winner for 2001, 2002, 2004
National Pace Maker Finalist for years 2000-2005
National Design of the Year 2001, 2002
The Bruin is a member of The Journalism Education Association, the National Scholastic Press Association and Northwest Scholastic Press.
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR POLICY
Letters should be limited to 200 words and may be subject to editing for libelous and/ or obscene content as well as length. All letters must be signed and names will be published. Submission of material is not a guarantee of publication. Letters may be dropped off in Room B123 or mailed to The Bruin, McMinnville High School, 615 E. 15th St., McMinnville, OR 97128.
EDITORIAL BOARD
Editor LIVY JOHNS
News
ASHLEY NAVARRO
Features ANDIE SHIRLEY
Opinions AL PERRY
Sports MAYA ALTREE
Entertainment ALDO CARDENAS
What’s Bruin SEAN GERBRANDT
Online Bruin ERICA SANDELS-WEST
REPORTERS AND PHOTOGRAPHERS
CARTER ABERNATHY
BROOKE ANDERSON
LANDON CLARK
KARSON HYDE
FLETCHER JOHNSON
ELLISON RICE
HENRY SEEHAWER
KANE SULLIVAN
EMILIO VARGAS
KEALA YATES
Advisor KERRIE SAVAGE
MHS veteran teacher and club advisor
Beth Ann Pope is stepping down as Interact Club advisor effective second semester. Ms. Pope who has been an advisor since 2018 is stepping down for health reasons. Ms. Pope said that a few of the highlights of being club advisor included raising approximately $800 for Homeward Bound Pets. It cost $25 per month to supply food and shelter for one animal and this is a cause close to
her heart. In addition, the club raises funds for our local Habitat for Humanity, Yamhill County Christmas Smiles, and the club recently created care packages for the International Refugee Care Collective out of Portland.
Key Club is also in need of a new advisor as Francesca Morrison stepped down as advisor at the beginning of this year. Ms. Morrison served
VIPER TEAM VISITS MHS
On Thursday September 28 the US Air Force F-16 Viper Demo Team visited MHS to speak with a large group of students interested in Aerospace Engineering and Aviation. They were part of the Oregon International Airshow that came to McMinnville September 29 - October 1. EASA teacher Juanita Clarno said, “This event was a great opportunity for interested students to learn about flight and how teamwork and hard work can pay off. The demonstration pilot and Captain for the team is Captain Aimee “Rebel” Fiedler. Captain Fiedler got a degree in Aerospace Engineering prior to joining the Air Force, and she is working her way up to be leader of the F-16 Viper Demo Team.” The mission of the team is to perform precision aerial maneuvers, to demonstrate the unique capabilities of the Air Force’s F-16 Fighting Falcon, showcase the professionalism and capabilities of our Airmen, and enhance community relations and positively influence U.S. Air Force recruiting and retention.
as Key Club advisor for nine years. During that time she and her club students planned and hosted our Red Cross blood drives and raised funds and awareness for Boxes for the Soldiers, The Wall of Honor, the Orangutans, and the Holiday Marketplace. Ms. Morrison intends to personally keep up The Wall of Honor.
CLUBS SEEK NEW ADVISORS THE
Ms. Pope offers the following advice to prospective advisors, “Be flexible. It is a low key club until it isn’t.” Our admin team is currently seeking staff who might be interested in taking on one of these important clubs.
Nate Bowman from Central Welding Supply also known on YouTube as the Weld Scientist or WeldLabs Lincoln Electric, and a few other team members from Central Welding, spent October 23 and 24 working with students in Mr. Chip Ford’s fabrication classes to teach them additional welding skills and techniques and reinforce what they are learning in the pathway. They also shared a few quick tips and tricks with Bruin photographers about getting that perfect shot.
PHOTOS TAKEN BY KEALA YATES
PHOTOS BY BROOKLYN ANDERSEN, ELLISON RICE AND EMILIO VARGAS
PRELIMINARY PRESIDENTIAL
The process for the 2024 presidential elections is just about to begin. On January 13, 2024 the first presidential caucus will be held in Iowa. Following that the first presidential primary will take place in South Carolina on February 3, 2024. During this time registered voters can vote for whatever party they please. Oregon’s primary will take place on May 21, 2024. If you are eligible to vote, you should. These votes are very important to the election process and take a critical role in deciding the final presidential nominees. Currently there are 17 candidates with an overwhelming majority of them being part of the Republican Party.
DEMOCRATIC INDEPENDENT
CANDIDATES FOR 2024
The Democratic Party candidates consist of President Joe Biden, Marianne Willimason, and Cenk Uygur.
The Independent Party candidates consist of Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. and Cornel West.
The Republican Party candidates consist of Ryan Binkely, Doug Burgum, Chris Christie, Donald Trump, Ron DeSantis, Larry Elder, Nikki Haley, Tim Scott, Perry Johnson, Vivek Ramaswamy, and Asa Hutchinson.
REPUBLICAN
It is important to learn about these candidates and take action in the political conversations going on around us and vote if you turn eighteen before November 5, 2024.
STORY BY BROOKE ANDERSON
PHOTOS FROM WIKIMEDIA
HEALTH SERVICES AT MHS
WRITTEN BY ALDO CARDENAS AND PHOTOS BY NEWS REGISTER
Beginning this year, students with the Health Services pathway are able to take a new course offered by Yamhill County’s Chemeketa campus that offers both college and high school credit. The new Medical Assisting program offers 16 lucky students an in-depth look at the areas of expertise of a medical assistant. Tasks include documenting a patient’s height, weight, and history, as well as helping the doctor in making sure procedures and diagnosing goes well. Students are able to practice these skills on each other and work in an environment similar to that of a real clinical office. The program is beneficial for students who are interested in healthcare related careers as you can get a medical assisting job early on after high school and are able to keep the job for as long as you please. While this year is the first official year that the program is in effect, it’s actually been in the works for quite some time. Brynna Harlow, the head of the health services pathway department at our school, had the backstory on how this came to play. “It’s actually been a thing since about 2018-19, before covid,” she states.
“Mr. Larson contacted the head of the M.A. program at Chemeketa about a partnership and eventually got the ball rolling.” It is safe to say that there is a strong chance that the program will return in the coming years.
One point that might be confusing to some is the fact that the pathway already has a class that’s similar, being Health Occupations 2. Mrs. Harlow has more insight on
differentiating the two though. She states, “Health Occ. 2 Internship is only for 32 hours in 4 distinct locations, and you are strictly observing. With the M.A. Program, you are actively doing more practice and more advanced skills.” She also states that with the internship, you are not getting an actual certification or license, only the idea of the job and its skills. As stated earlier, signing up for the program comes with its benefits.
“The biggest benefit is coming out with the
“THE PROGRAM IS BENEFICIAL FOR STUDENTS WHO ARE INTERESTED IN HEALTHCARE RELATED CAREERS AS YOU CAN GET A MEDICAL ASSISTING JOB EARLY ON AFTER HIGH SCHOOL AND ARE ABLE TO KEEP THE JOB FOR AS LONG AS YOU PLEASE” -ALDO CARDENAS
license to be an assistant after passing your test at the end of the year. Places like the PMC and Virginia Garcia are places that can offer medical assisting jobs for students who took the program earlier on.”
Overall, this new addition to the pathway is a great advancement not only for the school and the pathway but also for the students pursuing these careers, and it is really exciting to see what new opportunities develop with MHS’ future healthcare workers.
FIGHTING THE FIRE, FUELING THE DREAMS
Bob Sutton is a recently retired Lieutenant at Tualatin Valley Fire and Rescue. He has a passion for inspiring students and being involved in the school community. If you have seen the fire engine during a Friday night football game, the driver is Bob tuning into the game and sounding the siren every time we score a touchdown. So if you’re ever at a football game, don’t be afraid to stop by and check out the engine. “I knew this was something I wanted to do when I retired,” said Mr. Robert (Bob) Sutton when asked why he started
his version of the emergency services program. With a wealth of experience as a firefighter, Bob Sutton brings his real-world expertise into the classroom, igniting the flames of curiosity and inspiring students to pursue a career in firefighting.
The firefighting skills and EMS pathway at MHS has grown significantly over the last two school years. The program was reignited after CDL in 2021 when Bob Sutton and Mr. Smith, who also taught the EMS classes before he was reassigned to Tualatin Valley Fire & Rescue, along with Mr. Koudelka, a current firefighter, joined forces to teach students at MHS. Currently, Bob is the only teacher in the pathway. The classes in the pathway are Intro to Firefighting & EMS, Wildland Firefighting, and Firefighting Skills 1, 2 and 3.
“I KNEW THIS WAS SOMETHING I WANTED TO DO WHEN I RETIRED.” -BOB SUTTON
The pathway not only equips students with practical firefighting skills but also focuses on building strong character traits, such as resilience, leadership, and problem solving. Students learn to think on their feet and adapt to challenging situations, preparing them for the demanding nature of the firefighting profession. In addition to practical skills, the classes also provide loads of fun and competitive activities where students learn to work together. Once each semester, there is also a practice car extrication day, where students go hands-
on in learning how to properly use tools and techniques for extracting a person out of a nonfunctional vehicle. “I have a love for cutting up cars,” expressed Mr. Sutton. The students use professional firefighter grade tools and cut open real vehicles. The vehicles are donated by Gales Towing, and the equipment is borrowed from a good friend of Mr. Koudelka and Bob Sutton. Starting his second year strong, Bob acquired a bundle of equipment for the pathway, such as firefighting gear, an entire fire engine, fire hoses, new helmets, t-shirts, a new classroom, and the list goes on. Mr. Sutton does not expect to stop there. He aims to exceed his expectations and bring more to the pathway, not just equipment, but extra programs as well. This school year, the competitive factor of the pathway will ignite, as Bob has started a club for SkillsUSA, where select students from the skills classes will be competing against other clubs.
But it’s not just about the technical aspects of firefighting, Bob’s charismatic personality and relatable teaching style make him a favorite among students. He goes beyond the textbook, sharing personal stories and insights that inspire and motivate aspiring firefighters. Bob’s passion for the craft is infectious, and it’s clear that he genuinely cares about shaping the next generation of firefighters.
STORY AND PHOTOS BY EMILIO VARGAS
MAC HIGH WELCOMES NEW
David Furman, MHS’s new principal, is truly a remarkable addition to our campus. Mr. Furman came to MHS from Beaverton High School where he was assistant principal for five years. He graduated from Beaverton High School as well and attended college at U of O. He earned his admin license from Lewis and Clark. He also served as assistant principal of Meadow Park Middle School and worked as a teacher, TOSA, and activities director at Westview High School. His work at MHS began in July, and he was more than ready to greet students and staff when school started in late August.
INTERVIEW WITH MR. FURMAN
WRITTEN BY ERICA SANDELS-WEST
What do you hope to achieve during your first year as principal?
The biggest thing for me during this first year as principal is getting to know all the people, the place, and the processes. I want to identify the values that make MHS a special place.
What are some changes you are hoping to implement this year?
It depends who you talk to regarding what is and isn’t a big change. One thing I think is a big change is we added one assistant principal, and we have one less dean of students, but the student body wouldn’t necessarily notice that as much of a difference. As the principal my job is more focused on changing things with the adults to allow them to change the environment for the students. One thing I definitely want to do is to make a place for all of MHS to come together as a community, somewhere where all of the variety of clubs and extracurricular groups and any other students and staff can come together to help each other.
What is something you especially liked about MHS coming in?
I’m coming from a large school district with a large high school, but coming here I liked how the town is small but the school is still large and gives a lot of opportunities regarding career technical education and college credits.
What is something different you noticed coming to MHS from your previous school?
One of the big differences is that the focus on career technical education here is significantly larger than it was at the previous school I was at. At my old school there were maybe five different programs, but here there is a much wider variety.
Are there any final thoughts you would like to share to anyone reading this?
I want to be an approachable person for students to come talk to. I know being the principal sounds like I would be intimidating but I’m really not, so if you ever see me in the halls and I wave or say hello, say hi back!
NEW PRINCIPAL DAVE FURMAN
MR. FURMAN DISPELS RUMORS
WRITTEN BY KEALA YATES
In a recent interview for the Bruin, Mr. Furman said that his previous school has a closed campus, and many students have asked him whether he plans to make MHS a closed campus as well. Westveiw and MHS have quite different standards, and Furman discussed the advantages and disadvantages of an open campus for our neighborhood. He believes that our surrounding neighborhood is supportive of an open campus, because adults trust students, and that at Westview, the closed campus contributed to some issues with students’ attitudes about the regulation.
However, at MHS, the main difficulty is getting students back to class on time. Mr. Furman mentioned a recent interaction with a student and explained what happened. “I was just walking down the hallway with Mr. Vernon the other day and somebody stopped Mr. Vernon, and I don’t think the student knows who I am, but they said ‘I heard that the campus is going to be closed next year.’ Mr. Vernon exclaimed, ‘Great! That sounds great! Are you doing that? Who’s doing that?’” Mr. Furman said that he
felt it was strange that students would spread misinformation about such an important issue with no official word from admin.
He also discussed how the open campus is available to all students and mentioned that despite the fact that we have a regulation prohibiting freshmen from leaving campus, they nonetheless do so.
“But it’s really hard to tell who is a freshman and who isn’t and how the community is being impacted.”
Mr. Furman frequently speaks about student safety and genuinely cares about the wellbeing of both kids and employees. He appreciates that students who go off campus and purchase meals from small businesses contribute to the local economy. We discussed the decision that he and the school board took to discourage the use of applications like DoorDash and GrubHub. Again, he took this action because it is a distraction and more importantly poses a safety risk, because receiving a DoorDash or GrubHub is an invitation from a school to a stranger.
Many students have also expressed concern about a newly introduced extra credit regulation.
Furman said that although he didn’t create this rule, he supports it. He wants grades predetermined to reflect assignments that are closely related to the class. He commented, “Sometimes extra credit is something like bringing cans into class to get extra points towards your grade.” He hopes to see additional opportunities for students to learn content information and not rely on extra credit work.
In addition, as a former activities advisor, he would like to see more students involved in school events and assemblies. For example, many individuals have chosen not to attend the school’s assemblies in previous years, and Mr. Furman mentioned that he doesn’t like it when individuals “opt” out of the experience. Many people have been discussing how he closed the cafeteria as an option for those who prefer not to attend the assembly. However, he has created secure areas for students who cannot attend assemblies for personal reasons, so it is still an option for some students.
Ultimately, our new principal wants our school to come together and present a united force where all students feel welcome and are safe throughout the school day.
Photo taken by Dr. Savage
MAC-A-ZINE
WRITTEN BY ASHLEY NAVARRO PHOTOS BY KEALA YATES
This year’s 2023 MHS’ homecoming kicked off with a new Bruin theme; Mac-A-Zine. School spirit shined through the roof during the entire week. As for colors day, it looks like the seniors are really ready to turn the pages.
During the homecoming assembly leadership and all the performances really astonished the crowd with games like human bowling, freshman first kiss, and even an eating contest. As always the seniors won the schools chant for being the rowdiest class this year.
A huge thanks goes out to the students who helped contribute to decorating the school and this year’s seniors last homecoming! Now let’s focus on this year’s extraordinary school spirit; Cheers to Mac-AZine.
BEHIND THE SCREENS
Inside The Lives of Fictional News Reporters
BY KARSON HYDE
The media, as a general term for news reporters and journalists, have had a mixed opinion within their own circle of the media, as portrayed in television and film. Representations range from very positive – focusing on a particular character who happens to work in media or journalism and their own struggles – to definitely negative. These representations are largely based on the genre of show and the story that a writer is trying to tell, of course, but it’s interesting to look at them anyway. For one of the best – and most popular – fictional reporters, there is nobody like Gale Weathers. Throughout the Scream movies she has survived each and every one thanks to her wit and knowledge of the world. Her character is well-rounded, and she has an incredible amount of development between films. Her first appearance is nothing like her most recent one, which shows that the people writing for her care about the character, and they don’t want to make her into just a stereotype. A caricature of a person will typically be seen within comedy shows or sit-coms, such as Futurama. These characters are portrayed more neutrally or just actually negative. Within the scope of the show, news reporters show both the characters and audience that something big and/or unusual is happening. Often this is played for laughs, as comedies typically do. Additionally, within these transitional mini-scenes the reporters wind up being one with the chaos happening. Throughout the 10 seasons and 2 times being dropped by networks, these characters haven’t changed all that much – which is typical for a sit-com. Everything goes back to the status quo between episodes. A shining example of a show that doesn’t go back to the status quo is Inside Job. Through its two-season run, which was definitely affected by the executives at Netflix deciding to cancel it early, the show always felt like it was constantly adapting to what it did in a previous episode. Given that the premise of the show is the question, “What if all the conspiracy theories were true?” it had a lot it could satirize. The character Gigi is in charge of the media, and otherwise helps to cover up problems. News reporters themselves are shown to be bought and owned by Incognito Inc. – a fictional company that is also the shadow government – where their whole deal is fear mongering and advertisements. Given that Inside Job is a satire and a comedy, this portrayal makes a lot of sense. In my experience, the media as a whole is portrayed negatively when viewed as a group. In many television shows that follow the lives and careers of the police, news reporters are a form of antagonist or just an annoyance. In media surrounding modern stories of rich or famous people– as well as anything to do with politics– they’re typically one of the major antagonists. It’s very interesting to see how these people seem to view the media. Through this lens, someone could come up with a new viewpoint about any of these groups as a whole.
STRIKE IMPACT ON UPCOMING FILMS
The Clash Between Creativity and Contracts
Recently there has been much debate on the status of modern cinema and the pay for those who make it. Movies, being the cultural power that they are, remain one of the biggest aspects of our society today. With October coming to a close some people may still need one last spook for the year. A lot of times people use this opportunity to hit the local theater to see the newest horror films. Don’t know what to watch? Worry not! One movie many have been raving about is the Five Nights at Freddy’s movie. This movie is a huge attraction to our generation because of the massive success and relevance to the video games. This movie stars Josh Hutcherson as the main security guard and has special cameos from YouTube legends like Markiplier. The movie was originally announced in 2015 but after many delays, is now confirmed to be released and ready for your viewing enjoyment. Another new movie to watch if you’re not so into the horror aspect but still are in a spooky mood is Renfield. This movie is about a man who is tasked with taking care of Dracula, but after years of torment he’s looking for some new opportunities in life. This break up is not going to be easy, but it should make for a fun experience to see with the family. Although many are excited to see all of the new upcoming films that companies like Warner Brothers are releasing because of the recently ended writer strikes, what delays on new content are to be expected? From May 2 to September 27, 2023, the Writers Guild of America, who represents over 11,000 screenwriters, went on strike over a labor issues with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers. Along with the writers, actors also went on strike. As a result there are a lot of movies that will be affected as the writers’ strike lasted for nearly five months. This left many movies in limbo having to be delayed while unsuccessful negotia-
BY SEAN GERBRANDT & CARTER ABERNATHY
tions took place. An example of a show that has been affected is the fifth season of Netflix’s hit Stranger Things. The fifth season has been on hold during the writers’ strike meaning that the progress on season five had essentially halted. Now that the writers’ strike has ended, some parts of the fifth season can continue. However, the actors are still on strike, meaning development will still be slow. Another example of entertainment being affected by this strike is the movie Blade from Marvel. Similar to the fifth season of Stranger Things, Blade had its production halted because of the recent writers’ strike. This isn’t the first roadblock this movie has faced; the production of the movie stalled when they had to find a new director. These are just a couple examples of many movies and shows that have been affected by the labor disputes and strikes, but now that there is an agreement between the Writers Guild of America and the Alliance of Motion Pictures, perhaps this will be good news for the actors’ strike and the production of these movies and others will hopefully begin soon.
MEET THE VARSITY COACHES
To close the fall season heres what athletes had to say about their coaches
WRITTEN BY MAYA ALTREE
Karly Mingus, Girls Soccer: Coach Karly Mingus has earned respect from her players and fellow coaches as she finds new ways to adapt to and inspire her team. This fall season is her second year coaching our girls soccer team. Mingus graduated from McMinnville High School, class of 2012, and participated in the girls soccer program before continuing her soccer career at Colorado State University. Her knowledge of the game parallels her true dedication and passion to her fellow coaches and players. These players describe her as an “observant and supportive energy” on and off the field, and she is “careful in the way she balances tough love and whole-hearted fun.”
Adam Howard, Boys Soccer: Varsity Boys Soccer coach Adam Howard has found success with his teams, leading them to state playoff appearances despite only being head coach since the 2021 season. After stepping down as assistant coach to the girls basketball team, Howard is now committed to boys soccer full time. Howard is described as a “disciplined presence on the field with a love for winning.” He is clear and consistent in his expectations and coaching leadership and never fails to display his passion and love not only for the game but for his players as well.
Ty Tomlin, Varsity Football: Varsity Football Coach Tomlin has been coaching and teaching at MHS for three years, and his impact on our school football team and also in the weight room has been nothing short of ideal. Being a varsity head coach is difficult within itself; however, Tomlin continues to find new ways to adapt and accommodate to change as the season progresses. His dedication to his athletes and surrounding clubs at MHS is inspiring both on and off the field. Players describe Tomlin as “undoubtedly diligent and ambitious.” He is a powerful force that truly desires the best in his players.
Taylor Petersen, Volleyball: A true testament to her resilience and dedication, Coach Taylor Petersen is described as a “perfect fit for her young team.” Petersen, graduated from MHS class of 2015, and she was captain of her volleyball team at Linfield University. She uses that knowledge to improve her team’s skills here at MHS. Her “positive and supportive attitude reflects off of her players, and inspires them to be the best version of themselves.” Since transitioning from JV coach to head Varsity coach in the 2022 season, Petersen has revealed her true character as one that will never fail to put her players first and hold them accountable in a way that inspires them to thrive.
Josh Hanna, XC: Cross Country Coach Josh Hanna is an experienced and composed energy for his athletes, both in and away from their venues. Hanna ran cross country and track for Western Oregon University in college. MHS athletes describe Hanna as an “involved coach who strives for the excellence of his team and does everything he can to ensure that happens.” His past success with cross country athletes leaves hope for an even more successful time at MHS.
WE ASKED THE VARSITY BASKETBALL
COACHES
HOW THEY THINK THEIR SEASON IS GOING THIS YEAR AND WHAT THEY ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO MOST.
HERE’S WHAT THEY HAD TO SAY:
Willie Graham, Boys Varsity Basketball: “I’m really looking forward to coaching these guys. We have a lot of super dedicated, great guys who are always there and reliant not only through their abilities but their ability to show up. We have a mixture of returning players and quite a few with a ton of experience which is good to go into a season with. Last year we were a young team, so we put a lot of emphasis on being a young team, including excuses. We have to take a step forward maturity wise, and I think our guys can do that. The ultimate expectation is for our guys to come into the season being great leaders, working hard every day and striving to be a great team.” Graham has been coaching for 20 years.
Sean Coste, Girls Varsity Basketball: Coach Coste said, “It’s a privilege to coach a bunch of athletes that have such great character and play so hard. I’m very excited about the prospects of how good this team can be. If they can work together, work hard and play with a lot of confidence we are going to have a great season. We had a really great season last year, but I would expect with the maturity, growth and a year under their belts, everybody is going to be better. Overall, we should be better as a team and I expect success.” Coste has been coaching for 32 years.
PHOTOS BY MAYA ALTREE, KEALA YATES, ELLISON RICE
electric
veHicles vs. combustion engines
A current topic of controversy is whether electric vehicles are better or worse than gasoline powered cars. People are saying that EVs (electric vehicles) are better than ICEVs (internal combustion engine vehicles) because they release less GHG (greenhouse gasses) while traveling and running. Those who are against EVs say that the amount of GHG produced to make the batteries outweigh the benefits after the car is manufactured.
For ICEVs, their thermal efficiency is roughly 40 percent according to Harvard University, meaning the remaining 60 percent is unused and turned into GHG. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency states that for every mile traveled, it releases 500 grams of CO2. Roughly every year one ICEV releases 4.6 metric tons of CO2 and other GHG in
Is one definitively better than the other? What are the downsides of electric vehicles?
the atmosphere, plus an additional 5.6 metric tons of GHG during manufacturing. EVs produce roughly 13 metric tons of GHG just to make the battery for the car. However, after manufacturing, it produces 200 grams of CO2 per mile. That’s a difference of 300 grams of CO2 per mile.
It would take a mere 16,000 miles and manufacturing for the total GHG to be the equivalent to the manufacturing of the EV car. After that, the EV cars are more beneficial because they would save 300 grams of CO2 per mile. Over just a couple years that would cut our emissions in half by transportation helping the atmosphere greatly.
In recent years, recycling the lithium ion batteries for EV cars has become more popular and favored by both sides of the argument.
Controversy with the new Snow White movie live action disney adaptations
Recycling the batteries would significantly decrease the amount of GHG emitted to create EV cars. Vehicle manufacturers still need to mine more minerals and repair the batteries, but after that they can be used for other products that require less power or be restored.
Recently it seems Disney has taken a new route when it comes to producing movies. They’ve taken some of their classic Disney animated films and turned them into live action adaptations. Movies like Cinderella, Beauty and the Beast, Mulan, and Aladdin are just some examples of movies that the company has reimagined. While it is exciting to see some of our favorite animated films turn into these live action adaptations, it is not without a bit of controversy.
Disney seems to have a hit or miss reputation when it comes to these kinds of movies. A great example is one that they recently released: The Little Mermaid. This movie does a great job with keeping elements and aspects from the original story while creating something new and interesting to watch. It stars Black singer-actor Halle Berry. This is a great representation as young girls can watch this movie, see this princess, and see themselves represented. The movie came out this year and got phenomenal reviews.
An example of one Disney rework that misses the mark is a movie that hasn’t come out yet: Snow White. The making of this movie has caused great controversy and has put Disney in some hot water. First of all, some people are very upset with the casting of this movie. The seven dwarfs will be played by one actor with dwarfism, Martin Klebba, and the other six actors do not have dwarfism. This caused a spark among the media, because it was as though Disney was taking away jobs from actors that typically can’t get jobs because of their disability. Another aspect of the film that reviewers turned their heads at was when actor Rachel Zegler, who plays Snow White, revealed the plot of the new film in one of her interviews. This new version of the character Snow White will not be saved by a prince and she won’t be dreaming of true love, instead Zegler hints at Snow White being a strong leader. After Zegler said this, reviews in the media were not all positive. Straying so far from the original plot of the film really irked some people, and some think it does not have good representation of women in general. It is another stereotype in movies like these where women either want to be successful or want to be in love, and they can’t have both. This is not a great idea to set in young girls’ minds when they watch movies like this where they have to choose one or the other. Considering all the negative feedback already circling around this movie, it will be interesting to see how it is received by the general public when the film is released in late March 2024.
Al is a junoir who enjoys writing about topics that are under debate.
Al Perry
A sign pointing people with EVs to the charging station
Brooke is a sophomore who enjoys writing about controversy.
Brooke Anderson
Karson Hyde
Karson Hyde ia a senior who enjoys writing about workers rights and media culture.
HOT LABOR SUMMER
Workers Stand up Against Unfair Conditions
04/18/23: Almost every member of the WGA voted to strike if they couldn’t get a good contract with the AMPTP by May 1. They want to be protected from having their jobs as writers taken over by AI sites such as ChatGPT, as well as to have better wages.
09/12/23: Votes were counted and the VFX workers were unanimous in their choice to unionize with IATSE.
09/20/23: The WGA and AMPTP held meetings each of these days, working to negotiate offers for the new contract.
09/24/23: The WGA announced that they reached a tentative agreement, with an exceptional deal — with details to come once the whole union voted.
08/28/23: Walt Disney Pictures VFX workers moved towards unionization with 80% of in-house crewmembers signing cards signaling as such.
09/26/23: The WGA’s union leadership voted to end the strike.
05/02/23: They didn’t reach the deal before the deadline, so both the west and east regions of the WGA unanimously agreed to strike for the first time in 15 years.
07/12/23: A recording of an anonymous studio executive was leaked, where they said that by October, the striking writers would be so poor that they’d become homeless, thus putting the AMPTP in a position to force the WGA to take a worse deal.
08/21/23:Marvel Studios’ VFX workers voted by mail to unionize with IATSE.
07/13/23: SAGAFTRA actors joined the WGA on the picket line, striking for better pay, job security, and not be replaced with AIcreated versions of their own faces or voices.
08/07/23: Marvel Studios’ VFX workers filed for an election to
09/27/23: The WGA strike officially ended as of 12:01am PST.
As of printing, SAG-AFTRA is still on strike, and many other strikes are also ongoing.
08/04/23: The WGA met with AMPTP to discuss negotiations about the strikes, but they did not reach an agreement.
More resources to keep updated on ongoing strikes, unions in general, and more! workcenter.gov is a one-stop shop for all info-related union needs nlrb.gov is the website of the National Labor Relations Board, which has other resources on it worker.gov has information on unionizing your own workplace sagwgastrikeupdates on tumblr has been giving timely updates on everything sag and wga
TEACHERS GET REAL
BY AL PERRY, ERICA SANDLES-WEST AND KEALA YATES
Willie Graham
Q:If you weren’t a teacher, what would you do?
A:That’s a great question, I would want to have some sort of advertising, or marketing job, or something involving real estate.
Q:What is something, besides work, that takes up a lot of your time?
A: I coach basketball, so that takes up a lot of my time.
Russ Ludwig
Q:If you weren’t a teacher, and if you weren’t in a criminal justice career, what would you want to do?
A:Well, obviously, I wanted to be a second baseman for the Los Angeles Dodgers and that did not pan out for me; there was a severe lack of talent. Other than that I would have loved to be a lead singer for a band like Iron Maiden but I was too shy to sing in front of people.
Q:What was the one job in your past that you enjoyed the most?
A:When I was a detective in 2007.
Erik Knoedler
Ben Heuberger
Q:What’s one thing about you that you wish students would ask you about more?
A:I wish they would ask about my experience in school, and regrets from high school and college. Asking about what I would have done differently.
Q:What is something, besides work, that takes up a lot of your time?
A:Golf, just golf. Eh I guess the gym too but mostly golf.
Kerrie Savage
Q:What is one thing you wish students would ask you about more?
A:I wish students would ask more about my hobbies outside of school. I am a watercolor artist and I love to share ideas about painting. Being an artist taps into the creative side of me that I think every person has.
Q:If you weren’t a teacher what would you want to do?
A:If I wasn’t a teacher I would love to own and operate a bed and breakfast and be the head chef.
Q:If you weren’t a teacher, what would you do?
A:Before I was a teacher, I taught self defense for almost a decade. I would most likely still be doing that.
