The Wildcat Roar Vol. 3

Underappreciated

African Artistic Wonders (Pg.

12-14)

THE WILDCAT ROAR VOL.

STAFF

ELIJAH SCHMIDT EDITOR-IN-CHIEF, JUNIOR

IVEY WANG

DESIGN EDITOR, JUNIOR

JOEY FENTRESS SPORTS EDITOR, JUNIOR

CARISSA MITCHELL • GIDEON SCHWAMB • BELLA THIES • ELISE SNYDER • SADIE SCHMIDT • RHOADS HALL • MIA SCHUELEN • JAKE KEANE • AUSTIN

MCCARTHY • ISAAC BOSS • JOEY SCHLOSS • ANDREW CAHILL • BEN WOOLDRIDGE • GEN-

EVIEVE SELK • COCO FRANCISCO • ETHAN MARTIN • HUNTER CUNNINGHAM

STAFF EDITORIAL

What Don’t You Know?

Humans oftentimes have a tendency to become static in their knowledge. We go into a bubble intellectually. With the invention of social media we are more isolated and kept in our own little bubble more and more often. Not only that but oftentimes it is not apparent how little a person can know.

Socrates once said that “To know, is to know that you know nothing. That is the meaning of true knowledge.”

To understand how little you understand and have perceived is the first step to learning. The humility that comes with the realization that you know very little, is liberating. Socrates was constantly asking questions and reassesing his own wisdom and knowledge. That is what made him one of the greatest thinkers of all time. If one of the greatest intellects in history can admit he knows nothing, why can you not?

However Socrates was condemned to

death by the government of Athens after he refused to compromise his beliefs. They believed his many questions were not a good thing for their society, but rather detrimental. Challening existing norms in Greek culture would upset the leaders of Socrates’ community.

Proverbs 18:15 says that “An intelligent heart acquires knowledge, and the ear of the wise seeks knowledge.”

The pursuit of knowledge and understanding is a biblically supported endeavor. God has made us to be curious and to want to learn about the world He made. The complexities of his creation have astounded to greatest scientists, philosophers, and researchers.

So open up our issue and acquire knowledge. Whether about the art of Africa, influential songwriters, or Nebraska elections: you will learn something.

Lesser Known Artists Who Are Lighting Up Their Genre

Sadie Schmidt

If there is one thing that many people can relate to, it is music. In a study done by gitnux.org, 90% of participants reported listening to music on a daily basis. People are constantly on the hunt for new music, and in a rapidly growing digital world, sorting through thousands of options often makes it difficult to stumble upon lesser-known artists. It is even more difficult to locate artists who actually state a purpose for their music and are not simply trying to resonate with everyone. With that being said, here are three lesser-known influential songwriters who are working specifically to uplift and improve the lives of their listeners.

Similar to many others, singer-songwriter Brandon Lake found himself dealing with anxiety and stress which prompted him to create his album “Many Colors.” Lake emphasizes this overflow of emotion as something he believes popular artists are trying to artificially create simply for fame.

Lake instead works to create songs that are not only authentic and an outpouring of emotion, but something that listeners from many different genres can enjoy, as his new album is complete with R&B, country, rock and roll, and pop.

However, most importantly, Lake is unique in the sense that all of his songs hinge on the focus of some sort of specific truth or theme found in the Bible. In this album, for example, Lake felt compelled to remind his listeners that, in the face of chaos, God is sovereign.

While Brandon Lake’s songs regularly appear on Joy FM, this next artist actually earned most of his fame on TikTok, where his hit songs “Miserable Man” and “Mr. Forgettable” took Gen Z by storm. This is alternative/indie singer-songwriter David Kushner.

By quickly gaining fame and hiding Christian themes within his songs, many fail to realize that they are even listening to Christian music. For example, in the music video for his hit single “Daylight,” which has an impressive 221 million views, a man covered in darkness shakes the hand of a man covered in fire, and it slowly spreads to cover both of them. While not immediately recognizable to all, Kushner describes this as the spreading of the Holy Spirit and his ultimate goal with his music.

For some listeners, slow or lyrical music might be off-putting, especially for rap listeners. With many different artists in the field of hip-

Image of Brandon Lake’s album, Coat of Many Colors, picturing him standing in a colorful jacket. Via Apple Music.

hop and rap, Caleb Gordon is doing it differently. Originally from Ocoee, Florida, Caleb Gordon is best known for his hit song “West Orlando Flow,” which originally went viral on TikTok, quickly gaining him over 190,000 monthly listeners on Spotify. What distinguishes Gordon from others in his field is his unparalleled talent combined with his determination and work ethic.

Additionally, Gordon uses his platform to change the industry for the better. In the world of rap, it is not hard to admit that song lyrics typically contain vulgar or profane language. These themes, which can be potentially problematic and detrimental for teens attempting to replicate these behaviors in an attempt to seem cool or fit in. Gordon describes this as “exactly the space he wants to fit into.”

By combining modern hip-hop beats and important pop culture events with the truth of the Bible as the response and primary centerpiece, Gordon is effectively able to become one of the few “non-cringey” Christian rappers. Using catchy lyrics and modern beats, Caleb Gordon is able to make biblical truth not only palatable but also catchy and compelling to all types of people.

Each of these artists approaches their music in different ways. Some choose to be more vocal about their faith. While others favor a more subtle and slower approach, however, one thing is the same. Each chooses to light up a specific genre of music by replacing the typical themes with biblical truth, making them truly influential.

Check out the

Spotify playlist below!

Image of David Kushner in a field with the words “dead man” over his head. Via Apple Music.

Image of Caleb Gordon, via Spotify, in an orange jumpsuit on his album cover.

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Do Russians Love Their Dictator?

Americans love to hate Russians. It’s become a part of our identity, with Russians appearing as villains in popular media, modern or otherwise. However, are all the evil attributes we attach to Russians true?

Concerning the war on Ukraine, many Russian civilians disagree with their leader’s actions. According to the Atlantic Council journalist Vladimir Milov, “Data from both Russian Field and Levada shows a clear preference for peace talks over a continuation of the war.”

Levada is a non-government-owned polling organization tasked with providing factual and uncensored information to Russians and foreign powers. Their research reveals that many Russian citizens want their leaders to stop the violence and start agreeing on a treaty. This is likely due to the number of Russians who have family in Ukraine, but also due to the casualties caused by Ukrainian retaliations. Russian citizens do not want to be involved in a war where they can be so easily harmed, or don’t want to war with their brothers and sisters.

Due to the autocratic government of Russia, the majority of their news and television is filtered and censored by the Kremlin. They excise anything that contradicts or vilifies Putin, and they highlight stories that paint Russia as the righteous victim.

However, many Russians realize that their news is propaganda, and therefore their mistrust in the government grows. Milov writes that in “2016, trust in Russian state channels as “objective” sources of information has almost halved, plunging from 46 percent to 26 percent.”

A grand majority of the population refuses to accept Putin’s narrative. Due to this mistrust, Russians turn to other sources such as social media for their news. However, as Americans know, social media is used most by younger generations. This is true in Russia as well. Many older Russians, especially those who were alive during the collapse of the Soviet Union, watch Putin’s television. However, many Russian youths regard it as propaganda. “Only five percent of Russians under the age of 25 regard state TV as an objective source of information, compared to 51 percent of those aged 60 and over.”

It appears that the younger generation of Russians, the ones with access to social media and alternative news sources, do not agree with Putin. Much of Putin’s propaganda is along the lines of telling citizens how other nations hate Russia, how Russians deserve better, and how Russia has no allies. He uses fear and demagoguery to support over-nationalistic ideas.

However, the youths are not the only Russians speaking out against Putin. Vladimir Milov, who wrote the article for the Atlantic Council, is an adult fighting for a democratic Russia. He is an economist, energy expert, and a member of the opposition party in Russia, a Democratic group that disagrees with Putin’s autocratic governmental powers. His innovative ideas on energy were shot down by Putin, which led to him leaving the government and starting his own organization, the Institute of Energy Policy.

Schwamb

Milov was the personal financial advisor for Alexey Navalny, the Russian presidential candidate who Putin ordained the assassination of. Navalny was a lawyer and reformist who ran against Putin. He wanted to end the political corruption that characterizes the Russian government and was supported by millions.. Milov was recently charged with spreading misinformation and was sentenced to eight years in prison, although he is not currently residing in Russia, and dismisses the sentencing as an unjust censoring attempt.

Despite some American’s belief that all Russians are evil, it appears that a large number of Russians long for a different life, where imperialism and violence are not their nation’s goals. Many of them even want a government similar to the United States, a democratic republic with freedom of press.

Putin may be Russia’s leader, but he is not the people’s choice. In totalitarian regimes such as Russia, it is important to recognize that the will of the people may not align with the will of the government, and to separate the political decisions of those in power from the values and morals of the people they govern.

Russian censorship affects many aspects of life, but external social media sources circumvent the oversight. Image by Gideon Schwamb

Rabbits and Muslims

What you do not know about Disney’s live-action adaptation of Mulan

Ivey Wang

One of Disney’s highly acclaimed movies is Mulan, grossing over $304 million worldwide with a production budget of just $90 million. Since its original release in 1998, Disney proceeded to remake the animated film into a live-action in 2020.

Growing up in the 2000s, almost every kid is familiar with the story: a young Chinese woman disguises herself as a man to take her father’s place in the army to defend against invading Huns. Along the way, she faces multiple challenges, and finds friendships, all while fighting traditional gender roles and societal expectations. The movie is a celebration of courage, loyalty, and virtue.

Yet, is the 1998 animated movie truly a reflection of Chinese culture? Many critics would say that this original Disney adaptation is the better version compared to the live-action film in 2020.

However, Disney’s version of this culturally treasured story starkly contrasts with the original Chinese ballad. The Ballad of Mulan was most likely composed around 400 AD during the Northern Wei dynasty. Unlike the hour-long movies, the ballad was short in comparison.

Much of the plot emphasizes Mulan’s homesickness instead of her military campaigns or romantic attachments. After returning home, reuniting with her parents, and resuming her feminine appearance, her fellow soldiers are shocked to discover she is a woman (Mulan had successfully hidden her gender for twelve years).

The last stanza of the beautifully crafted poem concludes with, “When a pair of rabbits run side by side, who can distinguish male from female?”

Interestingly enough, the 1998 and 2020 versions of Mulan do not take inspiration from this ballad, but rather from Chu Renhuo’s sequel, Romance of Sui and Tang. The happy

ending that these two movies include and imply does not at all fit with the dark tale crafted by Chu.

In his version, when Mulan arrives home, she is devastated to learn that her father had passed away while she was at war. Furthermore, when the Khan discovers that Mulan is a woman, he is determined to take her as his concubine. Rather than suffer this fate, she asks to see her father’s grave once more before submitting to his demands. She then slits her own throat at the grave, refusing to be loyal to any man except her father.

So how does the 2020 live-action Mulan differ from its predecessors? For one, with its incredible cast of famous Asian actors and actresses, it is already doing the ballad justice, unlike the 1998 version starring a primarily Western cast. The movie is also shot in the Chinese film genre, wuxia, a martial art movie style set in Ancient China.

Even from the very beginning of the film, viewers witness Mulan chasing two rabbits, calling back to the last stanza of the original ballad. Moreover, while the 1998 Mulan was forced to reveal her gender, in the 2020 version, she revealed her identity to her commander for the sake of truth.

The live-action also gives the protagonist a foil: Xianniang, who is perhaps the most controversial aspect of this remake.

Photo by Ivey Wang. Color sketch of Mulan in the 1998 animated movie.

For one, it was not the story itself that triggered complaints, but rather the filming locations that met criticism from human rights organizations. Mulan was partially filmed in the Xinjiang Province, near detention camps for Uighur Muslims in the Uighur Autonomous Region.

For those who are unfamiliar with Chinese internal affairs, during those months in 2020, Xinjiang was the focus of intense public scrutiny due to the alleged Chinese government persecution of the Uighur Muslim population. Many allegations included torture and abuse, forced labor, re-education camps, and possible genocide. Even today, there are still many concerns about the treatment of the Uighur population.

Coming back to the movies themselves, it is undeniable that the 1998 and 2020 versions are different. Though some may claim the animated film is still superior, Disney’s attempt to fix the white-washing in the original and include cultural appropriation has redeemed some of the stereotypes ingrained into society today.

Most importantly, what this new adaptation provides is an attempt to reconcile the legacy of both the 1998 Disney animated film and the more traditional Chinese ballad.

Reflecting upon the closing scene of the 2020 movie, as Mulan looks up to the sky and gazes at the phoenix, a mystical bird that became her guardian, another question arises: is there a Mulan where the warrior does not have to renounce her sword to fit the role of a dutiful wife and daughter? Where does revolution draw the line from tradition?

Like Mulan, she used to be an idealist who wanted to use her supernatural powers for the greater good. Unfortunately, Xianniang was exiled by her own country because she was a woman, and came to serve the enemies. These two seemingly different yet similar characters raise the question of can a woman wield power for herself.

Regardless, besides the addition of Xianniang and the removal of the beloved dragon Mushu, why was the newly adapted version under such controversy?

Nonetheless, at least this adaptation provides a start to Disney’s track record of amendable adaptations. Who knows what types of future remakes will occur?

From top to bottom: Sketch of Liu Yifei as Mulan in the 2020 live-action movie; Sketch of Li Gong as Xianniang in Mulan (2020). Photos by Ivey Wang.

Learning from COVID - Will AI Be Another Wasted Opportunity?

In March of 2020, the world shut down. It was a time marked by uncertainty, fear, and immense challenges. Everyone reading this article remembers where they were, how they were affected, and what the following 6 months looked like. Whether you were a student, teacher, or parent at Westminster, you were in all likelihood relegated to the comfort, or annoyance, of your own home, forced to sit through Zoom calls in only a t-shirt, and estranged from your friends and family, at least physically.

COVID was what many would call a ‘disruptor.’ It disrupted any sense of normalcy, routine, or monotony of life. It disrupted school and work schedules, sports seasons, career advancement, and many other things. The toll it took on lives and livelihoods cannot be overstated. Robert Heinlein, a famous American writer, once said “A generation which ignores history has no past - and no future.” In all the horror that came along with COVID, I believe there was also a stark learning opportunityan opportunity that Westminster, like many institutions, struggled to fully seize.

Fast forward to August of 2020, when Westminster cautiously reopened its doors under a shortened schedule. Despite the challenges, many members of the Westminster community found themselves surprisingly adaptable, even thriving, within this new framework. In 2 hours less time, many members of the Westminster community would tell you, we were somehow more efficient, more adaptable, better. Then, in August of 2021, after a full school year of this new schedule, despite immense pushback, we returned to our previous schedule. Everything we learned, thrown out the door in the name of ‘returning to normal’ and ‘keeping tradition.’

On a different, but similar note, in November of 2022, San Francisco-based company OpenAI released its first-ever large language model:

Isaac Boss

ChatGPT. Then the education world freaked out. How, they asked, will students ever learn how to write papers if an AI can do it for them? You’ve probably heard one of your English teachers snarkly say “Well I guess we’ll just have to go back to pen and paper then.”

Sure, ChatGPT and other AI models can be used to cheat. They can write essays, edit papers, copy homework, and so many other things. And, no, teachers, as much as you think you know when your students use it, you don’t. Between re-wording, running it through Google Translate in a million languages then back to English, and recruiting the help of any number of ‘was this written by AI?’ sites, there are dozens of different ways to not get caught. Might I suggest that instead of dismissing AI in the name of academic integrity and tradition, we instead use it for good in the world of education?

No, I’m not suggesting that we all of a sudden let our students cheat. That said, AI is another huge ‘disruptor’ in the world of education, just as COVID was. Now, a few years after the pandemic ravaged our country and education system, we see the good that could have come out of it if we had been more open-minded and willing to change. I bet that a majority of the teachers and students reading this article enjoyed, if not preferred, the school schedule we had in 2021-2022. That was an opportunity to change for good - we wasted it. AI, in a sense, is the same. It burst onto the scene, seemingly out of nowhere, bringing ill effects. COVID-19 did the same.

At first glance, the change it’s going to bring in education seems terrible. The pandemic was the same. And just like COVID, I believe that if we let it, AI can, and will, have a positive impact on the educational system and community. The big IF there is “will we let it?” Will we dismiss all the potential positive effects and waste a fantastic opportunity like we did with the pandemic, or will we take advantage? Will we refuse to let students type papers on the off chance that they are copying their work from somewhere, or will we encourage the use of AI to generate ideas and help expand the horizons of knowledge? In reality, it’s our choice. Will we make the right one?

Underappreciated African Artistic Wonders

Elijah Schmidt

The Acropolis and the Notre-Dame de Paris are considered architectural masterpieces that display the excellence of Western artists. Not only that but they are a testament to the innovative societies that built them. However, have you ever heard of the Great Mosque of Djenne? Or even Great Zimbabwe? Both are architectural masterpieces the same as any European complex or cathedral, they were just built in Africa. In the mind of many Westerners the African continent was behind in innovation and progress compared to their European counterparts. To the contrary you will find that Africa was home to many highly organized and prosperous kingdoms and tribes.

The Acropolis of Athens is an excellent example of Greek architecture that is still in existence today. Upon this rocky hill sits the Parthenon, Old Temple of Athena, and many other great structures rest upon this icon of western culture. The World Heritage Convention deems the Acropolis “a unique complex, which heralded the emergence of classical Greek thought and art.” This glorified rock is where Democracy, many freedoms, and the art of theater were born and fostered. For hundreds of years this singular spot was the epicenter of classical Greek values and culture. The philosophies born here influenced the Renaissance and Humanist values of later European scholars. But what is considered the crown jewel of this hill is the iconic Parthenon. Rows of marble columns border a structure in ruins that has withstood a millennia of religious and cultural change. Beginning as a polytheistic monument to the Greek Pantheon of gods, and later becoming a monotheistic Christian church during the Late Antiquity. This structure has lived through numerous changes in its use and beliefs it has hosted. According to SmartHistory, a resource for Art History, the story of this sight is “one of adaptation, transformation, and even destruction.”

However when turning our eyes southward to the African continent we find a centerpiece of Ancient African progress and wealth, the ruins of Great Zimbabwe. The city is divided into three groups: the Hill Ruins (the royal city), Great Enclosure (community area), and Valley Ruins (commercial hub). The World Heritage Convention says that the site “was an important trading center and was renowned from the Middle Ages onwards.” Not only that but the reach the Shona people who inhabited this place had is astounding. These people went from a purely agricultural society and shifted to an emphasis on mining and trade. According to SmartHistory they have found “iron

The Parthenon, on the Acropolis of Athens, Greece. Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.

Aerial view of Great Zimbabwe still standing strong. Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.

tools […] copper, and gold wire jewelry ornaments […] porcelain fragments originating from China.” The inhabitants of Great Zimbabwe had an influence stretching far beyond their borders. They reached as far as China with their trade of precious metals, especially gold from the rich ore deposits just 25 miles from the city. Not only that but the government of this city was similar to that of European kings and queens and was oftentimes more benevolent. Featured above is a picture of a “conical tower” a symbol of a Shona King’s generosity and love for his people. The towers functioned as granaries and the Shona ruler would distribute grain as a symbol of his protection over his people. In no way were these people uncivilized or backwater, they had advanced societal structure and trade routes that created a flourishing economy. It was not until a disease plagued the cattle of their lands that the city was thought to be abandoned.

The Notre-Dame de Paris is one of the most famous Gothic cathedrals from the Middle Ages. It was consecrated in 1189 CE and the church was completed over the next several hundred years. It boasts two massive early Gothic towers, flying buttresses, and large rose windows. Not only that but this place of worship has survived major change and seen France change throughout the ages. Eventually however Notre-Dame fell into disrepair due to neglect. The cathedral was saved from imminent destruction by Napoleon Bonaparte following the French Revolution. Later the cathedral was thrown into pop culture by Victor Hugo’s “The Hunchback of Notre-Dame”. After this Notre-Dame gained its infamous reputation and cemented its place in modern culture. Eventually the movie adaptation of Hugo’s book made by Disney helped bring it into the 21st century. This symbol of Gothic architecture is the crown jewel of Northern European Catholics.

While most have heard of the Notre-Dame de Paris, many have most likely never heard of the Great Mosque of Djenne. Defined by SmartHistory as “one of the wonders of Africa” this mudbrick structure has been recreated several times throughout history. It has withstood the French colonization of the city and times where the Mosque fell into great disrepair. The Great Mosque is an adobe building meaning mudbrick. Mud buildings such as this require consistent upkeep and replastering. If the replastering does not occur the structures can melt during the rainy seasons. After a long time of neglect the Mosque had to be rebuilt in

Conical Tower of Great Zimbabwe. Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.

Front view of the Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris, France. Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.

1834 and again later in 1907 during the colonial occupation. The constant upkeep needed to maintain this mud structure is impressive and dwarfs any upkeep needed for a limestone cathedral like the Notre-Dame. Not only that but the unique shape and placement of the minarets create an image not easily forgotten.

I contrast these pieces to hopefully make clear your own bias towards Western Art. As I have shown, there are masterpieces that rival their European counterparts. The European colonization of the African continent was an erasure of culture. One clear example was the British expedition that seized the Oba’s palace in Benin. They raided and looted the African riches and valuables. This was a violent act of British imperialism that killed many and bulldozed much of these people’s heritage. Items of large significance that were stolen are the “Benin Bronzes”, bronze cast images that were very important to the Benin people. These bronze plaques are currently on display at the British Museum, even though there have been calls to return them back to Nigeria. African Art has been discounted often in the minds of Westerners, in favor of Western marvels.

From top to bottom: The Great Mosque of Djenne, made of mudbrick; Interior of Oba’s compound burnt during the siege of Benin City (present day Nigeria); Cast brass plaque from Benin City, Nigeria, 16th century. British Museum, room 25. Photos courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.

The Rottgen Pieta from the interior of Notre-Dame Cathedral. Photo courtesy of Wikipedia Commons.

Do Goldfish Have Better Attention Spans Than You?

Carissa Mitchell

“The average attention span for the notoriously ill-focused goldfish is nine seconds, but according to a new study from Microsoft Corp., people now generally lose concentration after eight seconds, highlighting the affects of an increasingly digitalized lifestyle on the brain,” said Jamie Ducharme in an article from Time Magazine.

The statement that humans’ ability to lock in, or rather, their attention spans shorter than that of a goldfish is quite a strong declaration. Whether you have heard these shocking statistics before or not, it is natural to be taken aback by the claim. While more recent studies have shown discrepancies in data, the question still remains, How long is the human attention span?

Misinformation, unfortunately in this case by Time Magazine, causes confusion and even concern for many. Scientists disagree about how to pinpoint a “time” to the human attention span because so many outside factors affect how long it is, such as interest, emotion, presentation, and alertness just to name a few.

“The idea of an ‘average attention span’ is very much meaningless. It’s very much task-dependent. How much attention we apply to a task will vary depending on what the task demand is,” said Dr. K. R. Subramanian, in his research journal titled Myth and Mystery of Shrinking Attention Span.

Culture might make it seem easier to blame a shrinking attention span for a lack of focus in our everyday lives, rather than personally taking responsibility. Even so, not all the fault can be placed on the individual either. The modern world is engulfed in digital distractions, such as addictive social media and constant screen time which alters our brain chemistry.

The hyper-digitalized age that we live in produces a norm of

quick and fast paced change to bring continual dopamine to our brains. Most social media platforms such as TikTok, Instagram, Snapchat, and YouTube capitalize on the way the human brain functions to allow their platforms to take their followers captive and keep them locked in a cycle of reduced brain activity while still benefiting from the dopamine release.

Gen Z is “in a sense, the product [of a digital age]. They are just being sucked along on a conveyor belt. […] It’s almost as though the companies are able to drill down into their brain and extract their attention, and they extract vast, vast quantities of attention from every child,” said Jonathan Haidt, a social psychologist at New York University’s Stern School of Business.

These companies, although not inherently evil or damage seeking, do so though feeding on natural human attention. Social media captures an individual’s attention because it normalizes constant change. This can impact the way someone focuses on any other given task, especially if the brain is not rewarded with dopamine. Constant scrolling and use of social media can lead to being prone to boredom if the digital addiction is not fed.

Dr. K.

Sourced from

R. Subramanian’s research journal Myth and Mystery of Shrinking Attention Span. A graphic about attention spans.

In addition to this, almost all electronic devices emit high levels of blue light or LED. Although this does not have a direct effect on a person’s attention span, it does influence factors that determine attention. One of these is sleep, or rather a lack of sleep. Sleepiness or fatigue has direct implications on a falling attention span.

Everyone has a natural tendency and desire for sleep, although it varies from person to person. This natural cycle, or circadian rhythm “are the physical, mental, and behavioral changes an organism experiences over a 24-hour cycle. Light and dark have the biggest influence on circadian rhythms, but food intake, stress, physical activity, social environment, and temperature also affect them” according to the National Institute of General Medical Sciences.

A person’s circadian rhythm is the natural flow and cycle of their body’s alertness throughout the day. Peaks of awakeness and attentiveness are natural as well as times of tiredness and lack of attention, but overwhelming difficulty in focusing could be a sign of an underlying issue. It could simply be a disinterest in a subject, but it could be a result of a lack of proper deep sleep.

By shifting your circadian rhythm, you are less prone to optimum energy use and less likely to adapt well to environmental changes, such as daily stressors. Both sleeping and eating may become more difficult all because a shift in your circadian rhythm took place.

Sleep deprivation, whether for a day, a week, or longer, has an adverse effect on the mind. Studies have shown that losing just a few hours of sleep each night can have the same effect on someone’s ability to drive (an action that requires heightened concentration) in the same way drinking does. Prolonged sleep deprivation reduces the brain’s ability to focus on tasks and potentially leads to harmful situations.

Reducing screen time and exposure of blue-light can help stabilize your circadian rhythm and increase sleep quality and health. This thereby creates an environment in which your brain is more functional and likely to focus for extended periods of time. With increased brain activity, it will be easier to concentrate in all regards, even in situations that are not personally intriguing or engaging.

Although some influences are out of your control, there are practical steps you can take to extend your attention span by reducing social media use and blue light/LED exposure as well as finding and maintaining a consistent circadian

rhythm, because otherwise can you be any more locked in than a goldfish?

Sourced from The National Institute of General Medical Sciences, depicts the average energy cycle for teens.

Sourced from What’s the Big Data, shows that Gen Z has the most screen time usage on average.

Nebraska Does It Different

How the Cornhusker state conducts their elections, and what that means for the rest of the nation

In preparation for the 2024 election, some may find themselves looking back at the electoral map and plotting out a path to 270 for their favorite candidate. However, glancing at the state of Nebraska, a distinctly blue dot appears in an otherwise red state. What does this mean, and how could it impact the distribution of electoral votes and, more importantly, the fate of the election?

Every other state, except for Maine and Nebraska, abides by a “winner takes all” model when it comes to awarding electoral votes. What this means is that the candidate who wins the most congressional districts (each worth an electoral vote) wins the entire state and thus is awarded the full total of electoral votes equal to the number of congressional districts in the state, plus two to account for each senator. For example, Missouri has eight congressional districts, of which Biden won two in the 2020 election, but Trump won the other six, earning him the state of Missouri and its ten electoral votes.

However, Nebraska and Maine split electoral votes. For example, in Nebraska in the 2020 election, while Trump won two congressional districts out of the three, he only received four electoral votes instead of the five that the state is worth, leaving the other electoral vote to go to Biden.

So why does this matter? While it is true that this vote mattered relatively little in the 2020 election since Biden won by a healthy margin with 306 electoral votes to Trump’s 232, this year could be a different story.

For Biden, the road to 270 could be achieved just by winning Nebraska’s 2nd district and battleground states such as Wisconsin, Michigan, and Pennsylvania, in addition to safely blue states.

Sadie Schmidt

However, if Nebraska chose to adopt a winner-takes-all system, Trump would have an easier path to the White House. By winning every state that he carried in 2020 and flipping Nevada, Arizona, and Georgia, this extra electoral vote would place Biden and Trump in a tie at two hundred and sixty-nine electoral votes each.

This would send the election to the House of Representatives, and each state would get one vote. Under these circumstances, the Republican majority in the House would result in a victory for Trump.

Currently, top Republican leaders are pushing for legislation in Nebraska to change the electoral voting system to this winner-take-all model in an attempt to optimize Trump’s path to victory. In an April 10th statement on X, Nebraska Governor Pillen commented on the issue.

“I look forward to partnering with legislative leaders to [move] it forward in a special session, when there is sufficient support in the Legislature to pass it. I will sign [winner-take-all] into law the moment the Legislature gets it to my desk.”

While one electoral vote may not seem to be worth much, in a race this close, one vote could be the difference between presidents.

Nebraska road sign and a yellow hazard containing the text “winner takes all” with a red X over it. Image by Sadie Schmidt

Map of Nebraska with the state flag stuck in the middle. Image by Sadie Schmidt

The Cicadas Are Coming

By mid to late April and throughout May, trillions of buzzing cicadas will emerge from the ground. That’s right, trillions of cicadas. Both Brood XIII which come out every 17 years and Brood XIX which come out every 13 years will emerge simultaneously adding up to trillions of these buzzing bugs by late May.

The bugs we will start seeing soon are referred to as Periodical Cicadas because they only emerge every 13 or 17 years depending on the brood. The specific broods we will see this year have not been above ground simultaneously since 1803 when Thomas Jefferson was president which was also about two decades before Missouri even became a state. Furthermore, these broods will not co-occur again until in 2245.

Although no harm or diseases are spread by cicadas to humans or pets, they can still be irritating because of their loud mating calls. The males group together and “sing” very loudly to attract females, and in these large groups they can reach decibels similar to a lawn mower or a passing jet.

Carissa Mitchell

Even so, they could be damaging to plants as they are their primary food source and where females lay their eggs. Scientists warn against using insecticides, though, as this could impact the population of other necessary insects in the area. If concern arises for the health of your plants or trees, you can cover them with netting or cheese cloth to minimize damage from the cicadas.

Finally, if you are so inclined, cicadas are quite nutritious. They are high in fat and fiber and similar amounts of protein as red-meat. Some people who have eaten cicadas have reported that they taste similar to canned asparagus, according to the National Wildlife Federation.

A Swarm of Cicadas. Image sourced from Adobe Stock

Generated Image of Cicadas. Generated by Adobe Stock

Map Showing Where Cicada Emergence Will Occur, Brown is Brood XIII, Blue is Brood XIX Image soured from USDA

Behind The Great Wall

The startling truth of China’s turbulent internal affairs

Bella Thies

In November of 2022, thousands of Chinese citizens gathered in the streets of their cities in an act of protest against the oppressiveness of the Chinese Communist Party and the censorship the corrupt government enforced on media outlets. The protestors in question gathered in the streets of various cities throughout China and held up pieces of white paper to represent the media censorship imposed by the communist regime.

In addition to the in person protests, the country’s digital space was also bombarded with visual evidence of the protests and the discontentment of the Chinese people with their current government. From videos of the protests themselves, to recordings of Chinese citizens mockingly reciting their national anthem, it’s clear that the Chinese citizens feel like they have no voice in the current governmental structure of their country.

through the suppression of political opposition and military power in the form of the party’s independent military force, the People’s Liberation Army or the PLA.

The People’s Liberation Army first began in 1927 as a group of 5,000 soldiers assembled to remove the Chinese Nationalists from power during the Nanchang Uprising, and has since become China’s largest military power. Since its founding, the army has only continued to expand, growing from 200,000 during the time of the Chinese Civil War to a whopping 2,185,000 active members today, making it the largest active military force in the world. The sheer size of the PLA acts as a major deterrent for any Chinese citizens with viewpoints that oppose those of the Chinese Communist Party to openly express their opinions and allows the CCP to maintain full control over the political climate of the country.

Over the past couple decades, China has slowly shifted from a communist republic to a single-party dictatorship. The Chinese Communist Party, has had a firm hold on all of China’s important political positions ever since its rise to power seventy-four years ago. The party has maintained its power

For the last fifteen years, Xi Jinping, the head of China’s communist party, has held the position of the president of China. His authority as the head of China’s main party has definitely helped fortify his standing in the eyes of the deputies who participate in the direct election process, as he maintains full control over the PLA, China’s main military force. The Chinese citizens themselves can only participate in elections as far as electing the deputies who elect the officials, meaning they have no direct control as to who actually gets elected as president. Moreover, whenever celebrities with political influence or high up members of the CCP begin to become

Photo via Kyodo by Xinhua. Xi Jinping surveying the ranks of the PLA

threats to the goals of the CCP, they have a tendency to disappear from the public gaze. For instance, when Jack Ma, a well-renowned Chinese billionaire and businessman spoke out against China’s strict financial regulators in a speech he gave, he mysteriously disappeared for over three months. Mere days after his speech, Ma was summoned to meet with government authorities and then proceeded to cancel his upcoming IPO before vanishing from all social media outlets. He eventually returned to the public gaze three months later, but has remained silent on the issue of the CCP’s financial regulators ever since.

Celebrities are not the only people who have been silenced for having opinions contrary to those of the CCP, however; the Uyghurs of China’s Xinjiang district have also been severely oppressed by Chinese government authorities for their Islamic beliefs. In 2014, the Chinese government implemented reeducation camps in the Xinjiang District for the purpose of preventing the spread of separatist ideas. The CCP’s ideals are largely based in atheistic religious ideology, so in order to suppress the opposition of such ideals, they throw everything in their arsenal at religious groups who they believe pose a threat to the authority of their regime.

Although Chinese officials claim that the reeducation camps were shut down in 2019, satellite footage of the area tells a different story as many of the camps that were supposed shut down five years ago appear to be up and running, and many more camps appear to have been constructed since.

Over the years several reports about the less than ideal conditions within the camps have come to light. Many of the victims of such camps have reported being subjected to dehumanizing treatment, being forced to denounce their religious ideals, and experiencing sexual abuse from the guards.

Furthermore, over the course of the CCP’s reign in China, they have put restrictions on various media outlets in order to suppress the spread of anti-Communist propaganda within China. Even today, the main three media outlets in China: China Media Group, The People’s Daily, and The Xinhua News Agency are all strictly regulated by CCP officials. This suppression of free media allows the CCP to use the media to promote their party’s political agenda, while also preventing Chinese citizens from being exposed to opposing ideas. However, over time Chinese citizens have begun to realize that the government was using the media restrictions to suppress dissent, hence the recent white paper protests. Although we as a community have little influence over the repressive political landscape in China, we can still lend our support to those struggling under the CCP’s domineering regime. By extending our prayers and sympathies to the victims of the repression and oppression imposed by the Chinese government, we can let them know they are not alone in their struggle. Ultimately, China’s turbulent political affairs are in the hands of God, and the best way we have to make a change is to pray for His will to be done.

Top Right: Ng Han Guan/ASSOCIATED PRESS, Bottom Right: AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon, Bottom Left: AP Photo/Kin Cheung, Top Left: Kyodo News/Zuma Press. Protests of the CCP’s Oppressive Regime Throughout China

Dune: The New, Non-Disney Star Wars

Dune: Part Two released recently, and it collected over $180 million in its first week of showing. The film’s monetary success is well-matched by its reviews, earning a 93% on Rotten Tomatoes, an 8.8/10 on IMDb, and a 79% on Metacritic. It has proven itself to be one of if not the most successful film of 2024, and it even managed to outperform its predecessor film, Dune: Part One.

Now a large part of modern culture, Dune is often compared to another popular science fiction franchise: Star Wars. However, the two are wildly different in both their themes and their storytelling.

Star Wars is a classic example of an adventure story, complete with a clearly evil villain, an overbearing empire, and an inexperienced hero thrust into the fray. Dune, on the other hand, is a much more complex story, dealing with issues of destiny, the immorality of war, and how a good person can become a feared tyrant.

Much of this difference is due to the fact that Star Wars was designed as a film franchise, requiring more obvious visuals and a concise storyline, while Dune was originally a novel, which allowed for more subtle plots and undertones.

The movie version of Dune must find ways to visually convey information usually revealed through internal character monologues. Due to this, there are slight differences between the source material and the screen adaptation.

Although fans of the movie may know that Dune is based on a book of the same name, most do not know the differences and similarities between the source material and the screen

Gideon Schwamb

adaptation.

Slight spoiler warning in this article--Dune: Part One and Dune: Part Two are two films made from one novel: Dune. The book is rather lengthy and in order to faithfully recreate it in film, Denis Villeneuve, the films’ director, decided that a pair of detailed movies would outshine a single rushed one. With this extended amount of time, Villeneuve was able to fit in more important scenes from the novel.

While most of the movie is accurate, Villeneuve added a few ideas to make the plot more engaging. For example, while many of the native tribes on Arrakis believe Paul, the film’s protagonist, is a messianic figure destined to save their planet, there are some tribes that disagree.

I believe that this non-believer group was added to show Paul’s internal struggle with his role as a savior. In the novel, readers are given a window into Paul’s mind. He is apprehensive about becoming the prophesied hero of these people, and he worries that the tribes’ devotion could start an interplanetary religious holocaust.

However, in a movie, showing a character’s thoughts to the audience is difficult. Fortunately, with the addition of this dissenter group, viewers can see Paul’s personal doubts brought to the surface by the tauntings and comments of these characters.

Paul eventually overcomes his doubt and saves the oppressed people of Arrakis, just like in the book. However, the way the audience experiences his character arc changes slightly depending on the format, which is a necessary and acceptable alteration. Having read the book, I believe that Dune: Part Two proves to be a brilliant screen adaptation of the book. It’s also considerably better than what Disney has done to Star Wars, so until Disney figures out how to improve, I’ll keep watching Dune.

From left to right: Dune’s stunning visuals are well-captured by visual media; Many artists, inspired by Dune’s captivating pages, have many different interpretations of the fantastical world Original Artist: Astronimator, Edited by: Gideon Schwamb

“You Can’t Say That!”

The decline of censorship in the music industry

Elise Snyder

I’ll never forget the look on the chaperones’ faces when, at my freshman homecoming, the DJ played Mo Bamba. It didn’t matter that it was the clean version–everyone who knew the original lyrics was yelling them as loud as they could. The chaperones sat there with wide eyes and stunned faces, wondering when music had changed from the songs played by live bands at their homecomings twenty years ago to the explicit content blasted by DJs now.

Explicit music is topping the charts, which leads to the majority of music teenagers are exposed to containing explicit language. A survey done of Westminster students from grades 7 to 12 found that over 1/3 of students’ top songs of 2023 were explicit, with some of the most common songs including “FE!N” by Travis Scott and a multitude of songs by Drake, both artists known for their violent and obscene lyrics.

When did music begin to lean in this direction? At what point did we stop caring about what was permissible? Obviously such songs are still kept off the radio, but they are prevalent in public settings, and songs with explicit lyrics are commonly known by teenagers.

Toward the end of the 1960s, explicit songs became more prevalent, although they were banned from the air. The majority of banned songs consisted of suspected promotion of drug use, such as “Puff the Magic Dragon” and “Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds”. One song in particular that turned heads upon its release in 1969 was “Kick Out the Jams” by MC5, which peaked at #82 on the Billboard Hot 100. The opening line, “Kick out the jams, mother—-ers!”, led to some stores refusing to stock the entire album.

Hudson’s, a department store chain based in Detroit, refused to stock the Kick Out the Jams album because of its obscenity. In response, MC5 took out a full-page advertisement in an underground magazine that said “Stick Alive with the MC5, and [expletive] Hudson’s!”. Hudson’s promptly removed all records from MC5’s label, Elektra Records, from their stores. Elektra then dropped MC5 from their contract.

Although the language in “Kick Out the Jams” is similar to music found in songs today, the public reaction in 1969 was vastly different from the reaction we have when we hear explicit language in music today. No store or streaming platform would dare remove an explicit song from their library in 2024, regardless of the severity of the language.

Photo by Elise Snyder. Student listens to an explicit song.

The beginning of the 70s brought songs from the reggae and ska artist Judge Dread, whose first hit single, “Big Six”, reached #11 on the UK Singles Chart when it was released in 1972. Some lyrics that led to the ban consist of content such as “Black [expletive], white [expletive], pink [expletive], blue / [...] / Smokin’ the weed”.

Despite being banned from playing on the radio, “Big Six” reached #11 on the UK Singles Chart and spent six months on the chart, and over 300,000 copies of the song were sold. Judge Dread was also avoided by the press because of his lewd lyrics, despite having 11 UK chart hits.

Unlike artists such as Judge Dread, the language in contemporary artists’ songs has no impact on the attention they receive from the media because society has become more lenient with the amount of exposure given to artists who release explicit songs.

Many people view the 80s as when explicit language in songs became more common, which seems to come hand in hand with the rise of genres such as rap and hip-hop. Recognized as one of the most influential hip-hop groups, N.W.A. released their hit song “Straight Outta Compton” in 1988.

plaint from the FBI. Milt Ahlerich, the FBI’s assistant director for public affairs, wrote, “A song recorded by the rap group NWA [...] encouraged violence against and disrespect to the law enforcement officer [...] Advocating violence and assault is wrong, and we in the law enforcement community take exception to such action.”

This letter was most likely in response to “[Expletive] Tha Police”, another song from the album Straight Outta Compton. The song, and many others by NWA, promotes violent actions regarding law enforcement. However, songs that do the same today are at little risk of receiving a similar letter.

The truth is, music hasn’t changed–censorship has. The music industry has always had its fair share of explicit songs and lyrics, but those songs were banned and kept off the radio, ending up in the underground music scene and seen as signs of rebellion and controversy. While the rise of music streaming platforms enabled artists to release explicit music and listeners to stream it, music was beginning to break free of its chains of censorship long before explicit songs could be played in public.

It peaked at #37 on the Billboard 200, but consisting of such lyrics as “Straight outta Compton, another crazy [expletive] [expletive] / More punks I smoke, yo, my rep gets bigger / I’m a bad [expletive] and you know this / But the [expletive] [expletive] [expletive] don’t show this”, there was no chance of this song receiving radio airplay.

However, their album of the same name earned a letter of com-

Without the heavy censorship of explicit songs, people have become exposed to content that has always been present in the music industry. Next time your grandpa tries to tell you that “music wasn’t like this when I was your age”, remember that he and many others his age were protected by censorship.

Photos by Elise Snyder. Some of the most popular albums with parental advisory stickers

Italian Island Offers Free Goats: The Catch? You Have To Catch Them

Elise Snyder

Alicudi, a small island off the coast of Italy, has been known for many things, including LSD bread, sailboats, and 17th century cathedrals. However, it is quickly becoming known for another reason: goats.

The human population of Alicudi is around 100 people, and the goats usually fall around the same number. This year, the goats outnumber the humans six to one. Over 600 goats are roaming around the island, destroying vegetation and even entering peoples’ homes.

Gloria, the owner of Golden Cafe Noir at Alicudi’s port, reported problems with goats entering her restaurant. One used to walk in and sit under the table in her bar. “It was a bit of an attraction, but then you worried whether it might bite someone,” she told the Guardian. “They move around in packs and cause damage; there are just too many of them.”

The goats have devoured plants and Alicudi locals’ yards, invaded homes, and climbed over stone walls, causing them to crumble.

“Some goats are nice and robust, so some people are scared, while others fear they will enter their home,” said Ricardo Gullo, Alicudi’s mayor. Faced with the destruction of the goats, Gullo came up with a plan to reduce the goat population: an “adopt-a-goat” program.

Through April 10th, people were able to request a goat (or goats) from Alicudi authorities. “Anyone can make a request for a goat—it doesn’t have to be a farmer—and there are no restrictions on

numbers,” Gullo told the Guardian.

Within 15 days of their request being accepted, the goat-takers would need to sail to the island, catch their desired number of goats, and leave. While this required a boat and a stamp fee of $17, the goats were otherwise free, which drew the attention of many interested parties.

“We have heard from dozens of people since we first announced this,” Gullo told CNN. “Ideally, we would like to see people try to domesticate the animals rather than eat them.”

“[There is] a farmer on Vulcano island who would like to take several goats as, among other things, he produces a ricotta cheese which is much appreciated,” said Gullo.

While some locals are optimistic about the prospect of reducing the goat population, others are skeptical about the logistics of the situation. The town of Alicudi rests at the top of a hill with the only way up being a steep trail, which would make it difficult to transport the goats.

“How will they bring the goats back down?” asked Gloria. “Perhaps they would need a helicopter to transfer two or three at a time. It’s a nice proposal, but there is no logistical solution yet.”

While the majority of goats will be carried, boated, or possibly airlifted away from Alicudi, around 100 of the goats will remain as a feature for tourists.

White goat on a green meadow. Image by Evgenii Goncharov