4 Opinion •
The Sentinel Konah
March 9, 2017
Sticks and from the Ediotr's desk
STONES
M
Recent Twitter war prompts Editor’s response: Take time to think before you Tweet
any of the senior athletes who stepped onto the court to play basketball for one of their last times as a Sentinel Spartan did not know of the events that would follow. Claims of lack of student turnout and lack of support for the boys’ final night was the concern of the original group voicing their Aston Kinsella opinions. This then sparked Editor-in-Chief three days worth of fighting between Sentinel students–– some from opposing activities, and some who just joined to support one side or the other. While the initial social media post came from a place of frustration--lack of student support at “senior night,” a reply from a student from another activity, though not a sport, claimed most of those who attend sporting events rarely, if ever, attend other activities. Thus, they felt it was hypocritical for this individual to be upset about student turnout. In the beginning, points made by both
Word on the
STREET
Students and faculty share their opinions on issues in the news and around campus
sides were reasonable, as the student section more important, or worth more is to belittle at the game was smaller than normal, and the the relations we have established between arts over the past years often see a lack of each other as members of the student body as support at their events. a whole. All of us attending SentiHowever, from here, all nel--getting through this period of semblance of a mature dis- To say that one time together--should be enough cussion fell to the wayside, activity is more to unite us. and what could have been a difficult, more Truly understanding the statehealthy argument lost all focus important, or ments we and our peers make is and turned into personal, hurta problem we face today, and a ful, harmful attacks aimed at worth more is problem we will have to face evappearances, race, and socio- to belittle the ery day, even after graduation. Ofrelations we economic status. ten, once a claim has been made So far off the mark, the have established on social media, our generation exchanges became ludicrous. between each immediately agrees, or attacks. Any Sentinel student should other as members Often, we don’t even attack the be able to fully recognize of the student point, we instead attack the claimhow much work athletes, artant, and anyone who may agree ists, speech and debate mem- body as a whole. with him or her. Even when we bers, robotics team members, agree, we tend to blindly agree, and even journalists put into their activities. and may not clearly understand the argument. We are creating the problem when we get in People need to take a step back and see fights on social media about this. both sides of an argument, see why people To say that one activity is more difficult, said what they did.
@KaytlinnLanme Sophomore
“Just leave it alone after a while.”
PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY MADISON ULBERG
In the last year, this same scenario has played out on a national level in our politically charged world. We can easily argue in our classes about why the adults around us are acting like children. Yet, we see and say without attempting to understand, dividing us even more. As a generation we generally say we want to unite our country and our people. But if we can’t do it within our own school, let alone our community, then how can we expect to affect change after we leave Sentinel? To do and say these kinds of things to one another is not something to accept as a normality. This fight between arts and sports may have been a long time coming. The question now is how do we go forward? Instead of hurting each other, we could have influenced the next generation of Spartans by offering a solution. Attending as many events and supporting as many different programs as possible only makes the school a more positive environment. It takes the first step, to voice the problem, and the second step, to make the change.
@LexiMcCauley Senior
@VanessaAustin Freshman
“Stop replying or say something nice that will end it.”
“Stop answering.”
Spartan Speak: What is a good and appropriate way to end a Twitter Fight? @TannerOertli Teacher
“Offer to meet the person in person and talk about your differences to work it out.”
@DukagjianSadiku Junior
“Let it go and block them.”