Volume 5, Issue 19

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Jo-Joking

Photoby MichaelTulberg/GettyImages/TNS

The white coats are coming

The BioMed students at MCHS, having recently finished their final year, celebrated with a special White Coat Ceremony

Zachary Benton Staff Writer

A future medical student is in their final year of MCHS’ BioMed program, a big stepping stone to getting into medical school A ceremony is held to celebrate these seniors who completed all four years, and who plan to become part of the medical field With anxious anticipation, they step forward into their future career

The White Coat Ceremony is a celebration of a student’s completion of all four years of MCHS’ Bio Med program BioMed teacher Leah Pelletier explains what the BioMed program and White Coat Ceremony is

“White coat, is obviously something that you typically see doctors and healthcare professionals wearing, but the significance of it is that it's kind of a rite of passage into the next part of their educational career, or their future career,” said Pelletier “So for our purposes, it's students that have completed all four years of our biomedical science pathway and are headed off into the next steps And so it's honoring that accomplishment that they've had of taking an additional science course and on top of the required ones that is focused on

preparing them for their futures ”

While the program has worked well, fourth year classes have changed this year and will be different for the future

“Right now with the fourth year classes as they go out and they shadow different biomedical healthcare related jobs,” said Pelletier “Now we're gonna be adding a biomedical innovations course, which is the fourth course for Project Lead the Way that will be like our science research base class, so they'll be doing their own science research, and then we're also adding into that a CNA certification, a certified nursing assistant program, where they'll at the end of that be able to get certified and start working as a CNA, which then they could continue working and get a job right out of high school, or they can be using that as kind of a stepping stone towards a nursing or a physician degree as well ”

Students were excited leading up to the ceremony

“The white coat ceremony is kind of like the epitome of the biomedical pathway here MCHS,” said senior Reilly Byron, a student on the BioMed pathway “I've been involved in this course for four years It started with principles of biomedical science, then it was human body systems,

AI-right

Olivia Smith Social Media Manager

As children, people often fantasize about what it would be like to possess super powers Flying, lifting heavy objects, or writing a report on a book you’ve never read are a few examples In 2024 however, the latter isn’t so uncommon thanks to open AI tools like Chat-GPT

Artificial intelligence is technology that enables computers and machines to simulate human intelligence Essentially they are machines that “think” like humans Companies like Open-AI made chat based AI programs easily accessible for the public due to the release of Chat-GPT and similar programs Writing essays, resumes, and assisting with math related inquiries are just a few functions of the tool

Students have such easy access to such a powerful tool This causes some to worry about it being misused

“I think [AI] is a good thing,” says Mikaela Mitsch, a Geometry teacher at MCHS “It's just frustrating as a teacher when students are not responsible enough to know when is an appropriate time to use it, and when it is not ”

medical interventions, and this year is medical residency ” Medical residency is something a student has to apply for in order to get into the fourth year of BioMed, and about 30 students from MCHS made it in The fourth class will not give college credit until the revised class next year Students shadow medical

professionals at hospitals and medical centers

“I kind of saw a future and my fellow classmates,” said Byron, “and, [realized], oh my gosh, one day this will be them and like the medical pathway, like they'll become doctors, nurses, and I think it's just like a really kind of cool thing that it really gives you perspective on your future ”

AI has a lot of pros and cons in an academic setting, but MCHS students say its can be beneficial

According to Stanford University, between 75 and 98 percent of college students each year report having cheated in high school This number has remained stagnant, even after such advancements in technology

The statistics show that the release of AI doesn’t increase the amount of students who cheat, it just gives them better tools

“Well, It's a tools,” says College & Career Counselor Curtis Menke “And just like any tool, as long as you don't rely on it to do all the work for you, it's something that can definitely help You know, I occasionally use it to help collect my thoughts on things But again, when you rely on the tool, that's when it becomes a problem ”

Students who use AI to cheat run the risk of getting caught Many schools have already implemented programs such as Grammarly to detect generative AI on assignments Punishments for academic dishonesty can range from failing said assignment or test, a write up, or worse If you don't really know what you're doing," says Irving Lopez Montero, sophomore at MCHS “AI could help students learn how to do subjects that they’re struggling with I know people do use AI to cheat, but I don’t

know anyone here who does ” Every time new technology becomes accessible, people worry about the potential risks that it brings

”I know kids are not cheating on purpose,” says English honors teacher Marla Currie, “And I'm not trying to be naive thinking that kids aren't trying to cheat their way through with AI I know, that happens too I just dealt with it yesterday ”

if used right

Overall, the use of AI in schools has pros and cons Despite the fears many hold, it can be used in a productive and educational way That being said, it all comes down to the user and their reasons for using the technology

Educating students on the proper way to use AI is a step in the right direction Hopefully in the future we can work hand in hand with such resources, rather than fight them

Artificial Intelligence has changed the way people complete their work or conduct research Though many worry about its application in the classroom, many students and teachers have found a way to use it that encourages thinking rather than replacing it | Photo by: Beth Brackmann

Students in MCHS s Biomedical program pose in their white coats during a special celebration on April 15 at the Upper Campus | Photo courtesy of: Leah Pelletier

Opinion | The bored listener’s department

Listeners of Taylor Swift’s new album may not be able to tell when one song starts and the next begins

Michalina Sotka Print Managing Editor

Taylor Swift’s much-awaited album, “The Tortured Poets Department,” came out on April 18, and may leave many listeners with mixedreviews

This new album has a similar sound throughout the whole listening experience, and listeners may not be able to tell when one song ends and the next begins All the tracks have a strikingly similar vibe, which may cause some audiences to grow bored with the album There are only two songs that really stand out to me: “Florida!!!” and, “I Can Do It With a Broken Heart,” are the only tracks that have a more exciting sound, with more of an upbeat vibe, despite the storythatthesongsaretelling

Swift’s songs are often relatable, charming, and catchy, which is what has allowed her to gain so much popularity “The Tortured Poets Department” sounds very similar to the past albums she has released, beginning at “folklore ” Swift’s songs in these albums sound like they should be played in a coffee shop or cafe, whichissomethingthatcanappealtomost Swift’s music has matured with her, and it seems like she has decided that this is the style she is going to stick with for a while But, with that comes the fact that her music has grown to be extremely repetitive, with most of her songs bleeding into each other, soundingthesame

Opinion | JoJo Si-what?!

Leylah Moreno Artistic Director

Internet personality JoJo Siwa, most famously known for her role on Dance Moms, has recently been under fire for allegations regarding XOMG POP!, a dance group Siwa runs with her mom A member of the pop group came out with claims that XOMG POP! created a toxic work environment

Siwa started the girl group in hopes of creating the next pop sensation, but now finds herself in hot water after members of the group have spoken out about the harsh treatment they endured while working for Siwa and her mother, Jessalyn

According to Rolling Stone, unnamed sources from Dance Pop Revolution allege that the Siwas allowed producers to make the kids cry for the camera, which the production company denies Sources also claimed that the members of XOMG POP! worked a rigorous schedule with long, grueling hours, sometimes even skipping their school breaks

JoJo Siwa was not the only one who allegedly facilitated a hostile environment for the kids Members allege that her mother, Jessalyn, also contributed to the cruel treatment and cutthroat environment, supposedly yelling at and insulting the members of XOMG POP! as they rehearsed

Former XOMG POP! member Leigha Sanderson came forward alleging the mistreatment, recounting details from her time on the team

Despite many of the songs featured in “The Tortured Poets Department'' sounding a little bit too similar, Swift manages to do some amazing storytelling, conveying her feelings in a remarkably ‘poetic’ way In her track, “I Can Do It With a Broken Heart,” Swift tells the story of how she has felt so deeply and broken-heartedly even throughoutallofherfameandsuccess This track may be intended simply to convey how Swift feels, but manages to bring the message of “keep moving forward” to audiencesworldwide

Oneoftheothersongsthattendstostick out is “Florida!!!,” which features Florence + the Machine The song is more upbeat, despite its darker lyrics, and both of the artist’s voices match together harmoniously, which allows for the appealingsoundofthesong Thetwoartists sounded amazing together, giving “Florida” awholenewmeaning

Overall, “The Tortured Poets Department” has a very similar and predictable sound throughout all of the tracks, which may be something that bores listeners Despite the almost drawling feeling that listeners may experience trying to get through the whole thing, Swift’s emotions are expressed excellently, not through the sound, but through the lyrics themselves Though, this can only be heard by those who pay close attention to the words, rather than just listening casually So, in general, this album may not be everyone’scupoftea

While the internet focuses on Siwa’s new rebrand, her alleged role in the downfall of XOMG POP! is swept under the rug

Sanderson was born with spina bifida, a disability that affects the formation of the spinal cord Because of this, she has struggled with her health and undergone many surgeries throughout her young life

Sanderson claims that during a rehearsal just days before her surgery, the combination of the physical demand and her medical condition caused her

bellybutton to bleed Sanderson alleges that, instead of offering for her to take a break to recover, Jessalyn told her to put a maxi pad over it so as not to ruin her costume

Although Sanderson is the only member who openly shares about her experience, other members have anonymously made claims

As of now, only three members remain Sanderson’s mother says that her daughter was supposedly the only exmember of XOMG POP! who did not sign a non-disclosure agreement JoJo Siwa still denies the claims and has since committed to changing her public image Many spectators of the situation sense a pattern between

Siwa’s problematic behavior as the leader of XOMG POP! and what she endured during her days on Dance Moms with coach Abby Lee Miller

“There’s a lot of similarities Now, she’s one of Abby’s favorites so now she’s probably just trying to be like her teacher,” said junior Miah Kucinski

Taylor Swift performs onstage in Sydney on Feb 23 2024 |

Photo by: David Gray / Getty Images / TNS

Singer JoJo Siwa performs at Honda Center in Anaheim, California, on Aug 13, 2019 | Photo by: Michael Tullberg / Getty Images / TNS