Raptor Report Print Fall 23

Issue One Volume Ninety-Six December 8, 2023

Anderson High School 7560 Forest Road Cincinnati, OH 45255

Inside Now >>News

Winter beverages are out! Discover which one will fit your taste. 4A

>>Opinion

>>Sports

Editor-In-Chief Jane Overbey reflects on her high school experience. 3A Editor-In-Chief: Jane Overbey

Associate Editor: Ty Regan

Caffeine: Friend or Foe? Student Caffeine Consumption on the Rise

By Leah Day Senior Staff Writer Caffeine dependence amongst youth is a rising controversial topic. Even though many teens enjoy caffeinated drinks, scientists and doctors are finding out caffeine is causing a heap of problems.

Medical News Today, founded in 2003 as a medical web outlet, has addressed their concerns for teens becoming caffeine dependent.

photo by Ashley Huebner “Adolescents are consuming up to 800 mg of caffeine a day,” Medical News Today said.

“Heavy caffeine use causes nervousness, anxiety, jitteriness, sleep problems, increased heart rate, tremors, and stomach issues,” Medical News Today said.

Because adolescents are still growing, these side effects are harsher on them than they would be for an adult who is done growing. Teenagers should be aware of what drinking caffeine can do to their system. One can of Celsius has 200 mgs of caffeine, meaning after drinking one Celsius in the morning, a person is subjecting themself to these symptoms. Charlie Amstrong, junior at AHS and 3rd year wrestling team member, spoke about his concerns with caffeine.

The symptoms listed above can occur when an adolescent drinks 100-400 mgs of caffeine.

“I used to drink a lot of caffeine, but I would get killer headaches and was extremely exhausted when the caffeine wore

Israel-Hamas Conflict Continues By ty regan Associate Editor

Caffeine's short term advantages do not outweigh the problems that are brought upon later. Alex Bove, 5th year teacher at Anderson, has noticed the harmful caffeine dependence amongst his science students.

Hamas’s deadly, unexpected strike against Israel on October 7th, 2023, served as an escalation to the already deadly Arab-Israeli conflict; the question as to how much greater of a dispute this will spark remains to be seen, but the magnitude of what has already occurred is certainly worth considering.

Caffeine may be beneficial early on in the day, but typically by 10:00 am, students can become drowsy due to the energy boost wearing off. If students aren't paying attention in their classes later in the day, then their caffeine intake really wasn't beneficial in the first place.

In the end, it is up to the individual whether or not they choose to drink caffeine. Michael Newton has been teaching at Anderson for 5 years and sees the amount of caffeine being drunk by students on a daily basis.

“As long as [students] are being safe, I believe whatever works for them is the right choice. It really depends on the individual,” Newton said.

Caffeine has few advantages and brings along some real dangers. It is important for everyone to look at how much caffeine they are consuming regularly and to take a step back and see if caffeine has been negatively affecting them. Caffeine has become a recent adversary for numerous teens; so, everyone should consider how big of a priority caffeine is to them.

The 2023 fall sports season is in the books. Check out each team’s respective achievements. 6A

Advisor: Lauren Olson

off. I started to cut back,” Armstrong (11) said.

“Caffeine gives you small boosts of energy, but it can cause students to be more tired later on in the day,” Bove said.

>>A & E

As winter months approach, learn how to make waking up easier. 2A

Early in the morning on October 7th, Hamas, an Islamist organization believed to be operating undercover in the density of the Gaza Strip, launched a coordinated, unexpected, and premeditated strike against Israel that has been described by US officials and human rights groups as a terrorist attack.

Prior to Hamas’s interference, the Arab-Israeli rivalry was already active and intense. So, this attack was undoubtedly a catalyst for increased tension between Arab nations and Israel.

The state of Palestine and Israel is unique. Both countries hold religious ties to the same land and specific cities (notably Jerusalem and Bethlehem).

Their shared state is divided into several sections that have grown to become densely populated. And, as mentioned in President Joe Biden’s speech in response to the attack, that population provides terrorist organizations, like Hamas, with the ability to blend in and orchestrate plans, also giving a reason as to why this encounter was of such unanticipated magnitude.

Hamas, the organization behind the October 7th attack, is an Islamist political faction of the state of Palestine. In Palestine there are two main political parties: Hamas and the Fatah. Founded in 1987 during the first Palestinian uprising, they now preside over two million people in the Gaza Strip alone, but don’t hold full control over their nation. They are a self-declared militant organization headquartered in the Gaza Strip with the primary goal of using armed aggression against the Jewish state of Israel. Hamas has revealed in online posts that tunnels under the Gaza Strip allow them to move below the surface of the Gaza Strip.

The Gaza Strip, which is a part of Palestine’s territory, is one of the most heavily populated slivers of land in the world, and as mentioned, this gave Hamas the ability to camouflage and develop this attack. Israel and Egypt have had a blockade on the city since

2005 and have held it together, despite some uprisings. This blockade has been considered by Hamas themselves to have been, in part, what fueled such an attack. One of the few released hostages confirms Israeli reports that Hamas has developed an intricate network of tunnels beneath the Gaza Strip, further affirming Hamas’s operations and commissions to be under buildings such as schools and hospitals.

This attack also questions the true abilities of the military, internal, and central intelligence agencies of Israel, noting that these organizations are supposedly some of the most capable on the face of the earth. It is clear that Hamas’s attack on October 7th was premeditated over a long period of time, so the inability for Israel’s Mossad to even detect or anticipate it definitely provokes the question of not only their own effectiveness, but also the agencies of Israeli allies.

Israel’s response to Hamas’s infamous assault, however, was and—according to Israel authorities—will be relentless and harsh. So far, Israel has gone after Hamas with aggression, raining intense air assaults and leading merciless ground offensives. But what has truly hit the Gaza Strip the hardest is Israel’s deliberate suspension of basic human necessities: food, water, electricity, and medical supplies. Hospitals are on their final straw in Gaza, and their loss will add to the already towering casualties of innocent Arab and Israeli civilians.

As of now, it is unclear what will happen going forward. On October 7th, over 200 Israelis, ranging from infants to seniors, were captured by Hamas and have been held hostage in dangerous environments ever since. Talks of ceasefire in order to ensure their safety have been discussed, but are not guaranteed. The situation is constantly updating; but, it seems as if the hostages are the motivating factor, so any other negotiation will likely correspond to their conditions.

The ultimate goal going forward for all, except Hamas and its allies, beyond the state of the hostages or hospitals, is that this struggle does not drag the rest of the world in with it, for it would stir a dispute of further, unfathomable chaos beyond what has already been exhibited.

The AHS football team finished their historic season with a 13-2 record, tying the school record for most wins in a season.

After finishing the regular season with a 9-1 record, the Raptors beat Turpin, Kings, Harrison, and Withrow in the postseason, earning a Region 8 championship title, and a spot as one of the final four teams in the state—the first time the team has made such a run since winning the state championship team in 2008. photo by Ashley Huebner / caption by connor bergman

The AHS Flock of Four

All Four Members of the Stanyard Family Work, Learn, and Live Together going into his senior year next school year, the Stanyards want to leave their mark.

“I want us to be known for how much we put into the school like the time. My mom goes to all the games and my dad, even when he is not coaching, he’ll go to help out and watch all the games,” Bobby said.

By Alanna Wilson & Olivia Havens News Editor & Senior Staff Writer Picture this: you’re in a family of four who all wake up each day, and then proceed to go to the same building for school/work. Well, for the Stanyard family, this has been a reality at Anderson High School for the past three years. Mrs. Stanyard is the Assistant Principal at AHS, Mr. Stanyard is a photography teacher and the football offensive line coach, Bobby Stanyard is a senior at Anderson, and Alex Stanyard is a junior.

“It’s amazing because most parents can not say they can spend most of their day with their kids,” Mrs. Stanyard said.

It is unique and highly unlikely to experience such a scenario. Most people

photo by Ashley Huebner

would dislike it, as they want their time away from family, but the Stanyards embrace every second they get to walk the same halls together.

“My favorite part is having them understand what is happening at school,” Bobby said.

Mr. and Mrs. Stanyard get first-hand experience of what teenagers encounter in high school, let alone their own children. They appreciate this aspect because as parents, they are better able to recognize when the kids may be struggling and needing help.

As Bobby approaches his final semester at AHS, and Alex soon to follow,

Not only are the Stanyards known for being great people, but they also give the underclassmen a moral compass to follow during their four years at Anderson High School. The Stanyards put so much hard work and dedication into this school. Both Bobby and Alex participate in AHS football, Mr. Stanyard is an O-line coach, and Mrs. Stanyard not only supports her boys each Friday, but also makes sure the student section and each student at AHS games is safe and respectful. Inside school hours, Mr. and Mrs. Stanyard are all over the school: in photography, Mr. Stanyard is making sure each of his students is learning how to get the perfect angle and perfect shot. Mrs. Stanyard not only makes sure her student body is safe at the games after school, but she also makes sure students are being safe in school, on top of getting each student ready for graduation and to be successful.

“I want us to be known for being decent humans, having a good moral compass but not giving in, and just generally being a kind human to others,” Mrs. Stanyard said.

On October 12th, 2023, a new flag was presented to fans at the volleyball game versus West Clermont. During the national anthem, the flag came down in the varsity gym. Tom Turchianno, former booster president and current announcer, did the honors of unveiling the flag for all to see, while Luke Patterson (10) sang the national anthem. The flag is 12’ x 18’. Athletic director Chris Newton hopes everyone gets to enjoy this new prize in the gym. PHOTO BY Natalie Feldkamp

design by roey powers

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News and Features STUDENT SAVINGS

Sleep Research Shows Difficulties in Winter Waking

By Isabella Martin & Bella Lopez Senior Staff Writers Winter can be a beautiful time with snow, Christmas lights, and holiday activities. However, waking up in a cold, dark room can sometimes be nearly impossible on a winter morning.

A cold, dark morning does play a factor in the struggle to wake up in the mornings: but what is the real reason waking up is so difficult in the winter season? The true reason is the melatonin in a person’s body. In an 2019 article by Fitbit, “Here’s Why It’s So Hard to Get Out of Bed on Winter Mornings,” the article states that “melatonin is your body's hormone that regulates sleep/wake cycles.” Melatonin plays an important role in bodily functions, because without a good night’s sleep, the next day will be more difficult to get through.

The reason melatonin in a human’s body is different in the winter than waking up in the other three seasons is because “melatonin production helps your body to become sleepy, and it is influenced by light. Light stops melatonin production, which makes you feel more awake,” according to Fitbit’s 2019 research. Due to time change, the sun sets earlier compared to the other seasons—meaning the sunlight people get in the winter is too little, and people get too much melatonin production, making humans grow tired more easily.

Although getting out of bed on these cold days seems nearly impossible on

some mornings, there are many tips and tricks to make these mornings easier.

Fitbit’s research shows that having something to look forward to is a way to start every day on a positive note— which can motivate people to get out of bed. Being warm when people wake up is also very important; if people are already warm, they won’t feel the need to stay under blankets. Having a routine sleep schedule is also very important. Going to bed at a decent time, and getting eight hours of sleep, will help people feel more well-rested in the morning.

Drinking water in the morning has also been proven to be beneficial. In 2021, Medical News Today covered a study on the effect hydration has on cognitive performance. The research results showed that there was a trend of improved mental performance after drinking water and negative effects on short-term memory and attention when dehydrated. On top of improved mental performance, benefits also included boosting one’s mood and improvement to the skin and other bodily functions.

Waking up early can be a struggle regardless of the season, but winter weather has been proven to make it much harder to start the day. Adding one of these tips to one’s morning routine can help jumpstart every day on a positive note.

A New Look to the Cook Book

Various companies offer discounts, avaliable to all students

By Natalie Feldkamp & Gabby Richards Senior Staff Writers 86% of students gravitate toward American Eagle stores and websites which offer student discounts. Here are ten stores you can receive a student discount from with your student ID.

College Credit Plus students: if you try to get a discount that is only available for college students, your CCP email through the college will work.

Students may access many of these student discount codes through Student Beans. An account only needs to be created once, and finds discounts for high school and college students. Student Beans will give students a one-time use code, which will update again after a certain amount of time, depending on the discount site. After using a discount code once, you must get a new code to use for the same discount.

Amazon

There are three available student discounts on Amazon through Student Beans. Free Prime account for 6 months and then 50% discount every month after the first six . For students looking for dorm or closet-organizing supplies, you can get free delivery on hanging closet organizers. Through the Amazon Prime discount, students can also access discounts on other sites.

Students get 10% off a purchase of any cost. Students may receive a new code through Student Beans an hour after using the first. Students may also get a 20% discount through UNiDAYS.

Apple Music / Apple TV

Enjoy access to the student Apple music program as well as unlimited apple TV for a rate of $5.99 a month with your student ID at checkout.

DoorDash

January marks eleven years of Door Dash delivering food to millions of doorsteps each year. Door Dash offers a “Dash Pass” to students for only $4.99 per month rather than their usual price of $9.99 per month. If you are a busy student who wants a convenient way to get fast food, make sure you checkout this deal.

Foot Locker

Foot Locker gives students a 20% discount when you spend $99+. Use the Foot Locker student discount code at the checkout. You must wait one week after using the discount to use it again.

Get the discount code through Student Beans.

Glow Recipe Now that the weather is changing, you may need some new skincare products.

Check out Glow Recipe if you are a student to receive a 15% off discount.

Hulu / Spotify Bundle

Receive a world of music, television, movies and more. Students can receive Hulu and Spotify free for one month.

After that, the two together are $5.99 a month.

Nike

Nike offers 10% off for high school and college students through SheerID. Each promo code expires after 2 weeks, but you can get a new one every week. The discount cannot be used in stores - only on the Nike website or app.

Paramount Plus

Paramount Plus gives 25% off to students bringing membership to $4.50/ month. Discounts are for college students only.

Stanley

Stanley offers a 20% off discount to students on all of their products when you can provide proof that you are a student at checkout. If you have been waiting to buy yourself a Stanely tumbler, now is your chance, using your student ID at checkout online.

AHS WELCOMES SOURCES OF STRENGTH

New home economics teacher Mrs. Kincaid makes changes to family and consumer sciences courses

By Olivia Havens Senior Staff Writer Mrs. Kincaid has made her way over to Anderson this school year after years of coaching basketball at AHS while teaching at Nagel Middle School. She is very familiar with AHS - having 3 of her own children already graduate, and one who is a current senior. Going from teaching 7th grade math to teaching a cooking class for 9th-12th graders has been a big change for her.

“I think the biggest change is that I have all ages in one classroom, which is really weird,” Kincaid said.

As she began taking over a completely new course, she wanted was to include the best interest of her students. She loved the freedom of starting from scratch. She spent most of her summer in her new classroom, along with her daughter, cleaning and getting the room ready for day one.

“Mrs Kincaid [gives] excitement and energy [to] the class,” Montez Buchanon (12), current student in Kincaid’s cooking classes, said.

The class has become truly enjoyable to students, as they cook at least once a week now. Mrs. Kincaid’s goal is to allow students to move freely, giving them the recipe and instructions to tackle on their own, along with choosing who they want to work with.

photo by Ashley Huebner “I have used the skills we’ve learned many times at home. I have cooked breakfast, lunch, and dinner for my family,” Kalah Stuart (12), who is enrolled in one of Kincaid’s cooking classes, said.

Kincaid has included important life skills, like using a knife or working a stove, that kids will use in their future.

Skills like these will help the students years beyond high school as they begin adulthood.

“It’s like doing a science lab, like I’m exhausted, but it’s so fun because it’s an elective and the kids are there because they want to be,” Kincaid said.

Mrs. Kincaid is always one to put others before herself. She puts maximum energy into this class every day, in hopes to get the kids excited to learn new things. She strives to not only be a teacher, but a friend to every student. She has embodied the power of positivity into her new position in the Forest Hills School District. She is also creatively spreading the word about her cooking courses to students and staff members.

“I am trying to hype it up, like if we have leftovers, I’ll give it to the kids in the halls,” Kincaid said.

S.O.S. leaders participate in training for their new program in the Learning Commons on October 11. Students were joined

by Mrs. Maxwell, Mrs. O’Toole, and Mr. Granger.

By Natalie Feldkamp Senior Staff Writer

Sources of Strength is the new Hope Squad here at Anderson High School.

Because of House Bill 123, the Ohio Saves Act, Hope Squad no longer meets the mental health requirements of the state of Ohio. House Bill 123 requires schools to have a program that educates students about mental health and gives them ways to deal with their own mental health and help their peers.

Amy Maxwell, one of Anderson High School's counselors, and Kelsey O’Toole, a math teacher at Anderson, are two of the Sources of Strength mentors who are excited for a change in the Forest Hills high schools and middle school. “[Sources of Strength] will continue to break the stigma of mental health and

we will use the ground Anderson students created with the Hope Squad and keep building up,” Maxwell said.

is going to bring positivity and add more self-reflection into the Anderson students' lives.

“Sources of Strength focuses on an upstream approach to help students tap into their strengths before [bringing down] their weaknesses,” O’Toole said.

“[Anderson] students need to spread the word and accept the changes [in order for this program to be successful and add benefits to students' lives],” Frye said.

Maxwell believes Sources of Strength is a great program for Anderson High School. She is excited to see the benefits the program is going to add and how it will improve students' abilities to change the stigma of mental health.

O’Toole is excited about a new upstream approach and hopes to help students find their strengths before they are brought down by their weaknesses. She thinks Sources of Strength

Tommy Frye, a junior at Anderson in the Sources of Strength program, thinks Sources of Strength will be better for our school, but believes it will take time to get everyone on board.

Frye, Maxwell, and O’Toole believe this program is going to break the stigma of mental health and add a preventative focus on mental health for Anderson students.

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Opinion

By Brendan Lands Senior Staff Writer Life of a Browns Fan Being a Cleveland Browns fan is difficult. Being a Browns fan in Cincinnati is like playing life on all-Madden difficulty; especially if, like me, you care way too much about the Browns, and let their performance determine the rest of your week. It’s no secret that the Browns have been terrible in the 21st century, so going to school and facing constant remarks from fellow students and teachers alike has become a norm for me. When I put on my Browns gear, I’m mentally prepared to defend this awful franchise to everyone. When fac-

PHOTO BY ASHLEY HUEbNER ing this ridicule from Bengals fans, I’ve developed go-to responses to keep in my back pocket. My personal favorites include: “Joe Burrow is only 1-5 against the Browns,” and “At least I don’t like Pittsburgh.” There are some things that keep us sane. Browns fans have a way to find each other and stick together.

It’s so much easier to handle cheering for a terrible team if you are sideby-side with people going through the same thing. It’s a brotherhood of misery, and I wouldn’t leave it for anything.

History of Failure

Nothing seems to ever go the Browns way. In 1996, owner Art Model moved the Cleveland Browns to Baltimore and

Sometimes the Best Experiences Come From the Most Unexpected Places

renamed them the Ravens. Mr. Granger, chemistry teacher and loyal Browns fan, remembers that when they left: “It was like when Lebron left, they wanted to burn the city down.” In 1999, Al Lerner made a new franchise in Cleveland, and bought the IP for the Browns, giving his franchise the rights to the name, the logo, and the history of the Browns. Since 1999, the Browns have a 129-260-1 record and they started P.J. Walker on Sunday, who is their 36th starting quarterback since 1999. Also, the Browns are one of four NFL teams to have never gone to the Super Bowl.

Advice to Fellow Browns Fans

There is this evil thing in the world

By Jane Overbey Editor-In-Chief I don't believe anyone is ready for high school when they start. After stepping foot in the building, people start treating you as an adult, which is a very shocking change coming from middle school. Covid caused my Nagel experience to be cut short, and made the jump into high school seem even more exaggerated. What I didn’t realize when I walked into Anderson for the first time, was how fast it would go. As a senior, it feels like yesterday, I was a scared freshman. I’ve learned so much within these walls, and learned a lot about myself in the process.

I think what you don’t realize as a freshman is that everyone is as scared and nervous as you are. Nobody knows who they are or what they want to be, and I’m starting to learn that that is completely okay, and honestly, normal. I think as a society we have put a cliche on the phrases “try new things”

As I sit here as Editor-in-Chief of the newspaper, it seems shocking to say that when I signed up for journalism freshman year, I was more excited about being a part of the yearbook.

But as the year continued, I started to have a stronger interest in the newspaper-side of the class. This class is one of the many experiences that has had a surprising amount of influence on me. And while not all of these opportunities have stuck, every experience brought me to where I am today. So as you try new things, go in with an open mind, because you’ll never know what you’ll really love.

like, their serotonin can be boosted. So when people that love winter holidays see the cups, they will get a serotonin boost.

“Visual stimuli induce serotonin release in the occipital cortex,” the National Institute of Health said in their 2020 research on brain mapping.

By Leah Day Senior Staff Writer With the holiday season ramping up, many coffee companies are breaking out their holiday-themed drink cups.

Starbucks, Biggby, and Dunkin’ have all revealed their themed cups as the holiday season to begins.

Each holiday cup has a different design, and in my opinion, makes drinking your beverage even more enjoyable.

When someone sees an image that they

By Owen Jones Staff Writer Among many of the recent trends in the technology industry, none has fascinated the public more than Artificial Intelligence. Artificial Intelligence, also referred to as “AI,” is a type of software programmed to learn and adapt to information that is presented to it. This concept is nothing new, as the first successful example of AI emerged in 1951 in the form of a checkers game developed by a professor at Oxford

As previously stated, Artificial Intelligence is trained and formed off of information that is fed to the software.

What sets OpenAI’s software apart from previous examples of AI is the fact that the model has access to “information that is publicly available on the internet” according to OpenAI’s help center webpage. Nothing created by AI is original, as everything that a program puts together is bits and pieces of information that are found on the internet arranged in such a way that makes it look original.

This plagiarism is even more blatant with the emergence of OpenAI’s Dall-E Image generation software, as the system is able to take any prompt and create an image within a certain criteria. It is able to mimic or reconstruct any per-

We all know the Bengals are good. We don’t need people to tell us this constantly. Likewise, nobody knows how terrible the Browns franchise is more than Browns fans, so we don’t need you to keep reminding us. We wish we had Joe Burrow. We wish our franchise wasn’t awful. But we stay loyal to the Browns through the ups, and mostly downs. So next time you see somebody wearing their Nick Chubb jersey, you don’t need to point at your knee or start fake limping or tell us how bad we are. Just remember we didn’t choose this life, this life chose us.

This means that when we see delightful images or objects, we then make ourselves happy. So, when you’re in class and you see a Starbucks cup, that might remind you of the holidays, and your serotonin will be boosted, and you will feel happier.

Some people criticize coffee companies for bringing out the holiday cups already. Mannat Patel, three year tennis player at Anderson, is not fond of the early release of holiday cups.

“Thanksgiving hasn't even happened yet, it is too early to be celebrating Christmas,” Patel (11) said.

However, our timeline of when to celebrate a holiday should not depend on another. I should not have to wait

until Thanksgiving is over to celebrate Christmas. Luckily, coffee companies understand that many people want to celebrate the winter holidays earlier and earlier each year.

Also, while Thanksgiving is a single day, Christmas is a season. Starbucks released their holiday drinks on November 2nd. Starbucks knows that those who celebrate Christmas want to celebrate the season with a nice beverage while out shopping, spending time with family, or studying for exams.

While completing these tasks, it's nice to have a fun holiday cup in your hand.

For most, the holiday season is a joyous time filled with the ones they love. Starbucks, Dunkin’, and Biggby understand that the holiday season is a cheerful time. These companies know that your drink being in a cup that reminds you of the holidays is bound to make you happier. And who is against making people happy? So why shouldn't the coffee companies release their cups earlier, if they know it's going to give their customers a serotonin boost of holiday happiness?

design by bailey funk

Artificial Intelligence Is Discouraging Creativity University. However, due to major advancements made by nonprofit AI development company OpenAI that have taken shape over the past few years, the common person is able to accurately realize textual and visual art with the press of a few buttons. While these developments seem huge at first glance, they are not as they seem under the surface in terms of innovation and creativity.

A Word to Bengals Fans

Team Holiday Cups, or Team Wrong?

and “get involved” to a point where people just brush them off, but those are the things that have made my high school experience. I am still figuring out who I am, but I can tell you this for sure: freshman Jane would be shocked at who is sitting here now.

I’m not saying that in high school you have this amazing, eye-opening experience that will change your life forever because for most, that doesn’t happen.

But that doesn’t mean you won’t grow.

I know for sure that I will never look back at my high school years and say, “I wish I would have tried more.” In the athletic world, I was on the dance team for two years, and decided to try throwing shot and disc, and tennis, each for a season. Every one of those experiences taught me about myself, helped me form relationships, and gave me many opportunities to grow. Being able to be a part of clubs such as Key Club, LINK, and SALT have shown me the importance of giving back to my community, and allow me to do just that.

that is often portrayed by the media as a good thing; this wretched little monster’s name is Hope. Rule number one as a Browns fan is: don’t let hope enter your life. Don’t let hope in when the Browns are making a comeback against the Chiefs in the divisional round, when all the defense has to do is stop Chad Henne. Don’t let hope in when the Browns throw away their franchise for a washed and morally questionable quarterback. Don’t let hope in when the Browns are up by 13 versus the Jets, with less than two minutes to go. Don’t let hope in when the Browns have one of the best defenses in the league, and all they have to do is keep Nick Chubb healthy. Hope is a cruel thing.

son, place, object, character, etc., and it is able to mimic any art style. According to Brandon Moore, editor of the Graphic Language section at medium. com, “It does not create as artists do. It does not interpret or express originality, as it is not sentient-it’s a calculator.”

It is unable to create images with true artistic value of its own, it merely calculates images based on established prompts and similar images found throughout the internet.

Because all of the information taken by OpenAI’s programs is taken from the vast world of the internet, everything that the company’s artificial intelligence models produce is completely unoriginal in nature. Every aspect of its content is stolen from somewhere else, from something made by actual humans with a drive to create. Nothing about what these AI models create is original, and it is essentially plagiarism under a fancy new coat of paint.

Nothing that AI produces can replace art from driven, focused humans who have a desire to express themselves through art forms that they’re the most passionate about, something that an AI cannot express.

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Arts and Entertainment TAYLOR SWIFT: CREATING HER OWN ERA

Anderson and Turpin Theater Combine for Fall Shows

By Katie Redman Arts & Entertainment Editor On top of the anticipation that came with the theater department's production of The Great Gatsby this fall—both Anderson and Turpin's theater departments collaborated on the show. Additionally, the fall film and musical were a combined effort between the two buildings. While Anderson and Turping are usually rivals, they will be coming together in the world of theater.

“Younger audiences might be a bit confused because of the ‘Anderson versus Turpin’ bit, but in the end, hopefully they will see it’s a good idea,” Olivia Weddle (12), member of Anderson’s theater program, said.

Liv Stover (11), Mr. Bissinger, and Sophie Straley (11) pose before one of Taylor Swift’s two concerts in Cincinnati over the summer.

By Bailey Funk Senior Staff Writer

When Taylor Swift announced she was going on tour, she broke the internet... literally. Ticketmaster was down for hours while people tried to purchase their tickets to her shows online. Since then, Swift has been a national sensation and a huge topic in 2023. Taylor Swift has just been named a billionaire, making her one of the most successful female artists ever. Each concert created around 15 million dollars for Swift. But Swift also felt that everyone should be able to watch her concert, so she made a movie out of it, which was released in theaters after her U.S. tour came to an end.

fan, said.

Swift took Cincinnati by storm when she came for not one, but two nights: June 30th and July 1st. Many people didn’t have tickets, but still went downtown to "Taygate." Others hoped to hear the concert from outside Paycor Stadium.

AHS Swifties were asked if they have tickets to the upcoming concert in Indianapolis:

“The concert was chaotic, the whole day in general was a lot,” Sophie Straley (11), lifelong Taylor Swift fan, said.

In late August, after her last concert in Los Angeles, she announced that The Eras Tour would be moving to the big screen on October 13th, which happens to be her favorite number. This film was a total of 2 hours and 48 minutes long, 30 minutes shorter than the concert.

“It felt that it completed something inside me, which was amazing,” Mr. Bissinger, English teacher and Swift

Even though Swifties said that the concert was better than the movie, many felt that you could see her up close while watching in theaters.

In the performing arts, there are multiple performances that go on. In the past, a play, musical, and film were not offered at both Anderson and Turpin.

In collaboration with each other, it

Anderson senior Ashley Gildenblatt (12) performs as Daisy in Turpin’s theater, for the production The Great Gatsby. gives the students the option to participate in the type of performance they want to in the fall. With the schools together, more opportunities have been given to the students.

“Turpin normally only does a play, they have no opportunity to do a film at all.

So if there is a kid at Turpin who is more of a film and musical person, they now have the opportunity to do that.

Whereas at Anderson, if there’s a kid who is more into straight acting, they have the opportunity to do that now,” Nate Bissinger, head of theater club at Anderson High School, said.

Most students who get involved in clubs, sports, or theater partly do it to meet other students. The combination

photo by Ashley Huebner lets the students be able to work with a more diverse group of people than they have before. The program lets them be involved in a project they are more interested in, that another student they haven’t met before is also into.

“The amount of creativity that will go into every aspect of the shows will result in performances that are both incredible for the audience and the cast and crew,” Chad Bowling (12), actor in the theater department, said.

By talking to some people involved in the theater program, they have had a lot of planning and logistics going into this collaboration for faculty members, parents transporting students, and participants alike.

SEASONAL COFFEE REVIEW

“My favorite part has to be seeing everyone dressed up, knowing they all love her, too,” Lainey Crowley (11), Taylor concert attenddee, said.

Part of the experience of The Eras Tour was the bracelet trading and the outfit planning. Fans spent hours and hours on end making bracelets for both the concert and the movie to trade with fellow Swifties. Others created their outfits by finding all kinds of bejeweled pieces.

“Nope, I wish!” Straley (11) said.

“No, why, do you have tickets?” Bissinger said.

“As of right now, no, but I will pay for them if they are cheaper,” Crowley (11) said.

Taylor has brought everyone together through The Eras Tour - whether you are 5 or 75, and whether you attended the concert or the movie. She has set a high standard now. Hopefully, Taylor can keep up her “big reputation" as we head into 2024.

9 Gifts Under $20

Non-costly gifts to give loved ones this holiday season

By Gabby Richards Senior Staff Writers When buying presents for many people during the holidays, the cost of everything can quickly add up. Here’s a list of nine items that anybody would appreciate, all for $20 or less.

Throw Blanket Throw blankets are a great gift for any age because they keep you warm, especially during the chilly holiday season.

You can find these for about $10 at places like Target.

12-oz French Press A French press is a great way to make

coffee because it will make a strong flavor for your holiday drinks. Amazon currently has a 12-oz French press for only $13.

Essential Burt's Bees Kit As it gets colder, your lips will be more chapped and skin will get dry, and Burt's Bees will help you in the cold.

This “essential set” includes hand and foot creams, along with chapstick and body lotion. The Burt’s Bees website has these sets for $9.99.

Initial Necklaces An initial necklace is rather personal, and can make the recipient feel special. Many websites, including Amazon, have them for $10-20.

Body Sprays and Mists Bath and Body Works has a variety of different fragrances, most of which can be found in both mini and full sizes.

Prices start at $8.95 for mini sizes, and can be up to $18.95 for full size body mists. Bath and Body Works also features rather popular one and three wick candles in holiday scents.

CD of Favorite Artist Personalized to the person you are buying for, Target has CDs for many artists anywhere averaging around $16-19.

Water Bottle For people with an active lifestyle,

By Will Santorelli Senior Staff Writer With the fall season headed out, it might be your last chance to buy some fall necessities. Most importantly, the pumpkin spice latte. Nothing beats a warm fall drink on a cool day.

Every single pumpkin spice latte is different. So which should you buy?

On Beechmont Avenue, there are 3 main staples: Starbucks, Dunkin' Donuts, and Bigby. Each has its pros and cons.

First, the price aspect: an important piece of information for people. All come in the range of $5-6 dollars for a small. Bigby is the cheapest, and Starbucks is the most expensive. But does the price portray the flavor?

Hydro Cell has reusable steel water bottles ranging from 14 to 24 oz, at costs ranging $14.99 to $18.99.

Portable Bluetooth Speaker Some people like to share the music they’re listening to with those around them, and Best Buy has portable bluetooth speakers starting at $9.99 this holiday season.

Candles Target has a wide variety of candle scents that cater to many candle fans, with prices ranging anywhere from $520, based on size and brand.

yearbook ad is going here!!

design by Luci Mohr

In terms of fall drinks, each had different pumpkin flavoring. The more mild pumpkin flavor comes from Dunkin' PSL, and the most intense flavor is found in the Starbucks PSL. Starbucks seems to have perfected the amount of flavoring overall. Both Dunkin' and Bigby are not far behind.

The flavor and price are not everything though. Other little things have an impact on finding your favorite.

First off, Starbucks "tall" name can be confusing for a new customer, because it is the smallest size offered.

Dunkin' has a more difficult location to get to on Beechmont. Being in a spot that is harder to get in and out of might

impact an individual's ability to swing in for a quick coffee.

Alex Dorko (11), Connor Bergman (11), Brendan Lands (10), and I - who completed this taste test - thought that the Bigby could be a little sweeter.

After taste testing a variety of pumpkin-flavored fall drinks, the four of us recommend the Starbucks latte if looking for a warm drink. If looking for an iced drink, we suggest Dunkin. And if you're craving a frozen latte, we suggest Bigby.

Each has its strengths, but none will disappoint. Get your seasonal fall coffee before they're gone!

Scan to access the Raptor Report webpage with additional photos, content, and updates:

Page 5A

Sports

Non-AHS Students Compete for AHS Home, public, and private schooled athletes compete in AHS sports

By Leah Day & Gabby Richards Senior Staff Writers If students attend a public or private school, or are homeschooled, and are not offered the opportunity to play their sport, but live on the Anderson High School side of Anderson Township, they are permitted to compete for AHS. These are a handful of studentathletes that play for AHS this school year, but do not attend AHS during the school day. This rule applies to all public schools and the students that live in their school districts.

“I think it’s great to have kids from all over the community as a whole come in and play Anderson sports,” assistant athletic director Devin Bradley said.

The same rules apply to non-Anderson students as the students that go to Anderson: students must be passing five classes, and if they attend another school, their school cannot have the

sport they want to participate in. In addition, they must live on the Andersonside of the Forest Hills School District.

And, just like Anderson student-athletes, they receive the opportunity to play, but are not guaranteed a spot on the team.

“Grading is kind of hard, because it’s subjective and it [may] not [be] on the same scale that we use, and being able to check those grades is something that is a challenge, but it’s not impossible,” Bradley said.

There are four athletes on the gymnastics team that compete with Anderson, who go to other schools. While some sports allow outside students to contribute to the team’s score, these gymnasts are only allowed to compete individually. Their scores do not go toward the combined AHS team score at meets.

“I wish [their scores] would [count toward the team total] but I don’t think they should be able to count, that would give us an advantage over other teams,” gymnastics head coach and social studies teacher Ms. Bailey said.

gram also has a non-AHS student tparticipating; the junior goes to Miami Valley Christian Academy, and competed for Anderson soccer for the first time this year. MVCA does not offer women’s soccer.

“[Cross country] has helped me learn how to cooperate with a team and encourage people,” the XC athlete said.

Bailey is able to see the impact gymnastics has on all of her athletes, regardless of home school.

Sports instill responsibility, healthy habits, and build friendships in highschool aged students. One homeschooled student that runs cross country for AHS was interviewed.

Cooperation and encouragement are both life skills that the cross country program has taught both Anderson and non-Anderson students alike.

This season, the women’s soccer pro-

“They’ve really embraced me very well.

Honestly, I kind of feel that I am part of Anderson just because they’ve really been so welcoming and embraced me,” she said.

“Athleticss can give the kids opportunities to make new friends or compete competitively even if their scores do not count. Plus, all the girls are so welcoming and kind towards each other,” Bailey said.

photo by natalie Feldkamp Athletics build a sense of responsibility and health in athletes, but they also let students be a part of a community and let them feel welcomed by other similar-aged peers.

A Day with Newt,

from page 6

As the day carries into the late afternoon, together Coach Newt and Bradley prepare the athletic fields for that night's games by setting up the ticket gates, mowing grass, sweeping the field or painting lines. Then, at 5 pm and 7 pm, Coach Newt begins “hooting and hollering” for the athletes, making sure to check in with Sallie Bell and Athletic Trainers April and Annie at halftime of every game.

As games wind down and athletes and spectators leave, Newt begins cleaning up the field or court, counting money, and doing game paperwork. Finally, before heading home, he makes the day's bank deposit and heads home to get sleep so he can “CRANK it up for the athletes again tomorrow!” design by roey powers

OLYMPIC ADDITIONS

Five new Olympic events will make their debut in LA 2028 player, said.

By Brendan Lands Senior Staff Writer The Olympic committee has officially approved five new sports the the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games. These five new sports are baseball/softball, cricket, flag football, lacrosse, and squash. Each of these sports has its own unique following across many different countries and continents.

Baseball and softball are the most popular sports of this group. According to the World Baseball Softball Confederation, more than 65 million people across 140+ countries play. The favorites for the gold medal in this sport are the U.S., Japan, and the Dominican Republic.

“I think it’s a great addition; baseball has a large fan base outside of the U.S. and I think it will draw a lot of attention," Nathan Brugger (10), AHS varsity baseball

Cricket is another very popular sport across the world, but not nearly as popular in the U.S. According to DNA of Sports, Cricket has 30 million participants worldwide. Americans are able to draw similarities between baseball and cricket, and hosting it at the Olympics could spark popularity in America.

In contrast, flag football is an inherently American sport, having 5.16 million players mostly in the U.S. according to Samford University. This addition in particular has stirred up a lot of interest in the U.S. Some are surprised it got added due to its relative obscurity in other countries. Needless to say, the United States is the frontrunner for the gold medal, especially after the National Football League announced it would encourage its players to participate in the games.

Lacrosse is one of the fastest growing sports in the world. It has doubled in players in the past ten years, totalling to 2.9 million worldwide players today, according to DNA of Sports. Lacrosse has its own world cup of sorts called the World Lacrosse Championship. Countries such

as Japan, England and Uganda had their teams participate. The United States defeated Canada in the final to win the World Lacrosse Championship. Due to the fact that Lacrosse was created by the Native American Iroquois Nation, there is a powerhouse team called the Haudenosaunee National Team in the World Lacrosse Championship. In this event, Native Americans are able to represent their nation. It has not been confirmed if the team will be participating in the 2028 Olympic Games. Despite that, Lacrosse being added to the Olympics will only grow the game on an international scale.

“I think [lacrosse] being added to the Olympics is a big step for the lacrosse community,” varsity lacrosse player Tyler Rottinghaus (10) said.

Squash has more than 20 million players across 185 countries according to Squash Revolution. It is similar to racquetball in the sense that it is a 1-on-1 competition where the objective is for your opponent to not be able to return the ball.

1 History, from page 6

After the first half, Turpin was winning 17-10. Anderson tied the game 23-23 with only a minute left, and won 24-23 with a field goal to send them to the final four in 2007.

Since that game, the tension has been high for the annual game. This year was the first time ever that Anderson played Turpin twice in one season. The Raptors dominated the regular season game 31-7, then again in the playoffs, 43-7.

“The energy [of a Turpin game] is different, there are usually a lot more people at the game…the elementary kids talk about it all day, so you play for them, play for the team, and play for the community,” Leo Muehlekamp (12) said.

The energy has not changed for many years. The players are treated like professional athletes by the whole community, and all the younger kids look up to them on and off the field. The Raptors even got a police escort to Turpin High School this season.

“It’s definitely pretty cool, it’s not something you get every day, especially in high school. That helped us get locked in and made the trip fast, so we had to get mentally prepared before we got on the bus,” Muehlekamp said.

Even though the community has gone through numerous changes since 1976, the energy that parents, students, players, and coaches bring to the rivalry games continues to be a highlight of the fall season.

These five new additions are exciting for the respective sports communities and are sure to draw more attention to the 2028 Olympics.

Maggie O’Toole (12) signs during the November 8th signing day in the Anderson Varsity Gym. She has commited to swim at Xaiver University next fall.

design by bailey funk

Page 6A

Sports

Fall Sports "Rap" Up 8 Runner-Up title. With a 12-4-3 record, they placed second in the ECC. Gianna Mlynek (11), Lauren Flax (11), and Jordan Williams (12) all received first team all-ECC.

Anderson Football fell short to Massillon Washington High School on November 24th at the Historic Crew Stadium. This team made history by being one of the few teams in school history to make it to the final four of the OHSAA tournament. They worked their way up to the number one seed in the ECC during the regular season and captivated the community’s attention with their postseason run. Brodey Berg was ECC Offensive Player of the Year as well as a first team all conference player.

Other first team all conferene players were Justice Burnam (11), TJ Nelson (12), Caden Piening (11), Jack Sammarco (12), and Bobby Stanyard (12).

Although Boy's Golf didn’t get the results they wanted at the sectional tournament, Marshall Morency (10) advanced as an individual from the sectional tournament to the district tournament, where he took 6th as an individual.

Girls Golf advanced as a team from their sectional tournament and took 8th place at the district tournament led by junior Ayla Brugger, who shot an 82.

Brugger and Sydney Dodds (11) both earned first team all-ECC.

Anderson's Men's Soccer had a 12-7-1 record and was crowned District Champions. They were defeated by St. Xavier at Princeton High School on November 1st in the Sweet 16. This was the team's fifth district championship in eight years. Jack Barnhill (12), Alex Dorko (11), and Jason Teismann (12) were all awarded first team allECC.

Volleyball lost to Little Miami in the second round of the OHSAA tournament.

Grace Crider (11) led the team in kills. The team finished 3rd in the league with a 16-7 record. First team all-ECC was awarded to Caroline Wilson (12) and Crider.

Both Girls and Boys cross country teams advanced to the district race, but missed the regional race by seconds.

The AHS Girls Soccer was defeated by Centerville in golden-goal double overtime to take the District Written by connor bergman, josie Griesser, Luci Mohr

design by roey powers

Day In the Life: Chris Newton, AD and planning the athletic events for the student-athletes of Anderson High School.

By Alexis Huebner Sports Editor

photo by Ashley Huebner

by Alexis Huebner Sports Editor The Anderson versus Turpin football game is the one night every year the whole Anderson Township community comes together. In 1976, the schools split from just one high school to two separate schools, and as a result this changed the dynamics of athletics in the district.

1976 was a year of change in the township. The community was booming and the enrollment was increasing every year; the graduating class was over 700 students. Anderson High School used to be 7-12 grade, yet it was overcrowded and impacted learning, therefore another school was built on Forest Road.

Right before that, they did something never done before: in the ‘76-’77 school year, half of the students went to school in the morning, and the other half went in the afternoon. They only had half days due to overcrowding in one giant school building. This was the start of the decades-long rivalry.

Not only do the players spend all week thinking about the big game, but the teachers, elementary schoolers, Nagel students, and parents look forward to the Friday night lights against the rival high school in the district.

The Raptors have played the Spartans in all team sports since 1976, with the exception of football. Anderson was in Division 1 until 2008, therefore they didn’t play Turpin for a few sporadic years, until they got to the playoffs in 2007. The 2007 team was built of many future NFL players that had a tight bond and led them to win state.

The 2007 playoff game attracted the attention of alumni that moved out of state, news stations, and community members. Alumni traveled back to Anderson Township for the game and packed the stands at Princeton High School, the neutral sight. Both schools had pep rallies, spirit weeks, with the boosters and community partners even getting in on the excitement.

“It was really intense. The whole school day before, it was the only thing people could talk about all day long. I remember not really eating a whole lot at lunch because I was a little nervous for the game,” Brian Thatcher, class of 2008, said in Patrick Kollmeier’s 2017 documentary, A Town Divided.

Kollmeier put together several documentaries to highlight the rivalry and the history between the two teams.

His film recapped the intense back and forth game on November 16th 2007: a game to live down in history. All of Kollmeier’s research and work to document the rivalry can now be found on Youtube.

Flags were flying with penalties all over the place, while the crowd was roaring. Anderson had a huge team with big men, but Turpin was a small quick group, resulting in a close game.

1 HISTORY, SEE PAGE 5A

photo by Ashley Huebner

By Connor Bergman Senior Staff Writer Being a successful student-athlete requires hard work, dedication, and drive, but most importantly, it requires the dedication of an athletic department that is willing to support their athletes and the three words they wear on the front of their jerseys: Anderson High School.

AHS is home to three individuals who willingly call AHS “home” and spend their days orchestrating athletic events, planning, and most importantly, cheering on the athletes who bleed the orange and black. At the helm of AHS athletics, Chris Newton, Athletic Director, alongside Assistant AD, Devin Bradley, and Admin Assistant, Debbie Welker, spend each day orchestrating

What many don’t believe is the time and dedication that goes into providing for the athletes of AHS. “People say that AD means “all day,’' which is true and I love it!”Newton said. In AHS athletics, no day looks the same, but Coach Newton, also known as “Newt,” enjoys his job as his “days are always filled with an incredible amount of variety, which can sometimes include new and unexpected challenges, which keep [him] on [his] toes, and there is always a lot of variety on [his] plate which [he] LOVES because it is always different.”

However, according to Newt, the best part of his day is when he gets to “have conversations with the student athletes and HOOT and HOLLER for them at their games.”

Although each day looks different, Newt does his best to establish a routine. He starts every morning with a workout, and then makes sure to enjoy his coffee and conversations with his wife, that way he can arrive at AHS around 8:30 “fired up and ready to start the day.”

After arriving at AHS, Coach Newt reviews his to-do list from the previous day, checks his email, and works to confirm buses and officials for that night's athletic events. During the middle of the day, Newt constantly finds himself peeking into classrooms, having phone and in-person conversations with coaches, admins, and booster reps.

DAY WITH NEWT, SEE PAGE 5A

Make sure to come out and support the Raptors during winter break!

Dec. 8 - Boys Basketball vs West Clermont - 7:30pm Dec. 11 - Girls Gymnastics @ Gymnastics Central Dec. 12 - Girls and Boys Bowling @ Lebanon Eastern Lanes 3:30pm - Boys Basketball @ Walnut

Hills - 7:30pm Dec. 13 - AQT @ Lebanon 4:00pm - Boys and Girls Swimming @ Milford - 6:00pm Dec. 14 - Girls Basketball @ Loveland - 6:00pm Dec. 15 - Boys Basketball @

Loveland - 7:30pm Dec. 16 - Girls Basketball @ Western Brown - 1:30pm - Boys Wrestling @Harrison 9:00am Dec. 18 - Girls Basketball @ Milford - 7:30pm Dec. 21 - Girls Basketball @

Little Miami - 7:00pm - Boys and Girls Swimming @ Milford - 10:00am Dec. 22 - Boys Basketball @ Milford - 7:30pm - Boys Wrestling @ Middletown - 10:00am Dec. 23 - Boys Wrestling @

Middletown - 5:00pm Dec. 28 - Boys Basketball @ Elder - Cinta Center - 7:30pm Jan. 2 - Boys Basketball @ Little Miami - 7:30pm design by bailey funk