Talisman vol 56 iss 2 March 18, 2021

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TALISMAN a student-edited newspaper

What happened to the musicians? page 4

COVID-19 Vaccine page 6-7 Sheldon High School 2455 Willakenzie Rd. Eugene, OR 97404

Staying Positive page 2 vol. 56│iss. 2│March 18, 2021

2 March 18, 2021

staying positive

the Talisman

Keeping a positive outlook Zoelle Ranstad editor Hey, did you know we’re in a global pandemic? Of course you did, because it is everywhere we look.

It’s in the deserted schools we drive by, the grocery stores filled with masked faces, and it spends every waking moment on the news somewhere. Covid-19 has influenced everything in it’s reach as we are reminded everyday. While we are used to it now, the first two months of this pandemic were arguably the most frightening as we were not yet accustomed to hearing constant death tolls on the tv and having to scavenge for toilet paper. However, these stressful times have been home to much more than just a pandemic as we are all well aware of. Rising tensions in the realms of politics and injustices have also been lurking in the air. With all these events and intense emotions occurring over the span of one year, 2020 has inevitably been given a very bad reputation. Although, there is a saying floating around stating that 2020 may not have been the year we wanted, but it was the year we needed. This is because many lessons can be learned when reflecting on our responses to the numerous challenges thrown at us recently.

In fact, a lot was learned during these times in general despite our school experience being significantly altered. As this year forced us all to be alone with our thoughts, many individuals have learned more about who they are, what they can do, and where they are going in life. These times have been full of negativity, yet they have also inspired many changed perspectives and lots of self growth.

These positive aspects which shine through such dark times are prominent in senior Ashton Meeker’s pandemic experience. Although Meeker faced the many struggles Covid has entailed, he also got to take part in a very unique experience. Meeker explained, “My greatest achievement during these hard times was working on a fishing vessel in Alaska.” This experience along with the many long hours Meeker spent in solitude during the stay-at-home order resulted in a year full of growth.

Meeker’s hard work throughout high school was awarded during these times as well, which made for an amazing memory that will last a lifetime. When discussing this topic, Meeker said, “My favorite memory from 2020 was getting accepted into Baylor on a scholarship.” While this pandemic and the lack of traditional senior experiences may have weighed down on Meeker a bit, he in turn had the opportunity to learn more about himself through other unique experiences and accomplishments.

Sydney Wilkinson, a senior at Sheldon, has also had a year full of personal growth in the midst of the chaos taking place. Wilkinson explained, “I’ve gotten better at yoga and I’ve actually become a better writer as well, because I’ve been writing a lot.” As people have been forced to find many new outlets and activities to engage in during the long hours of this year, many like Wilkinson, have found that this has had its benefits in the end.

Aside from improving skills, Wilkinson has also developed and refined a new attitude regarding her life. When discussing how she has changed as a person, Wilkinson said, “ I’ve learned to accept that if people don’t like me, it’s not my problem and if there’s something I want to do, I should just go do it because I might as well live the life I’ve got.” Wilkinson, like many others, has become more appreciative of her life during these times which have successfully reminded everyone how uncertain life truly is.

While this last year has had its fair share of ups and downs, Wilkinson explained what she hopes the rest of this year will entail and said, “My biggest hope is to be successful and maintain a fun social life. I want to go on lots of adventures and get my career started.” As many people have been cooped up for so long, this urge to get out, explore, and immerse themselves in social activity is very strong and quite common.

Senior Kenzie Kincaid could agree that she is ready for some socialization, although she has had some good take-aways from her isolated pandemic experience. Kincaid explained, “I appreciated the extra time with my family during quarantine and when this is over I will appreciate spending time with my friends a lot more.” This last year has especially affected the way people appreciate those around them, whether they were stuck bonding together at home or missing those outside of the house. photos by Zoelle Ranstad

covid-era avocations

the Talisman

March 18, 2021

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Modern online activism is a crucial part of social media’s climate Helen Creswell staff writer Since the dawn of the internet, it has been a place where information and opinions are shared to the public. There are many different ways information can be spread online - there are tweets, videos, stories, and many different kinds of “posts.” As more and more issues arise in the world, the more social media talks about said issues, and brings solutions to help fight these problems. This is what is known as online activism (also called digital activism or hashtag activism), and it’s a very common form of activism today. But, is it effective?

Online activism is very diverse - it can be done through awareness posts, petitions, online donation boxes, and so much more. It allows people to decide how they want to make a change, and usually these types of posts are all connected. Sophomore Bricen Stewart stated, “I feel like a really effective source of online activism are just short-straight forward points, it just gets straight to the topic at hand. Also showing examples and storytelling are effective, too.” There are many examples of this kind of post on websites like Instagram and Twitter, mostly about humanitarian issues like Black Lives Matter and police brutality.

Talk about said humanitarian issues have sparked change and allowed many people to learn more about these topics.

An example is sophomore Chaz Mills, who stated, “The

majority of the information I got on the BLM movement was online - also because of online activism I found out about the genocide of muslims in China.”

Knowing about issues like these are the beginning of ending these problems. Because of the awareness spread on the Black Lives Matter movement, acts were made, such as Breonna’s Law (dubbed after Breonna Taylor) which helps protect BIPOC (black, indiginous, and people of color) from being victims of police brutality. Breonna’s Law bans no-knock warrants, like the one issued on the night of Breonna Taylor’s murder. Because people online brought awareness to her murder, and started petitions and protests, that law was passed.

Online activism isn’t just about big ethical issues, though. It also can be about smaller issues, like problems we have as a society. Stewart’s example of this was body positivity: “Yes, I’ve seen a lot of positive change in body positivity - and I feel like it’s causing a cultural change and allowing people to feel more confident with themselves.”

Smaller movements like this help increase positivity in online and real-life communities, and overall help destroy unnecessary taboos in society.

All in all, online activism, despite not being as demanding as in-person protesting, is still very effective when it comes to spreading awareness and resources to combat an issue. It gives people who are either too young to vote, or people who don’t have time to protest make a change in the environment around them. So ask yourself this: What can I post that can make a change?

illustration by Sofia El-Shammaa

Students keep busy during the COVID lockdown Marina Hendricks staff writer Regardless of COVID, there are still ways to have fun, stay active, and learn, while being safe. When the pandemic things first started, I was in my room all day everyday, and I know a few Sheldon students who could say the same. It was nice relaxing at first, but slowly my days became increasingly boring. There was no seeing friends, no restaurants, no sports, no movies, etc.

I started to wonder if there was anything I could do at all? Thankfully, there is no shortage of COVID friendly activities!

Senior Kaden Bourdage said, “Golf has been one of my favorite activities lately because it gets you outside and you don’t have to play with other people.” Getting outside and staying active, while having fun, is very important and still achievable during COVID. Golfing, swimming, riding a bike, dancing, etc. are all safe, fun, and healthy activities.

We may not be able to do everything we want, but having some free time might actually be beneficial!

Personally, I have been spending more time on my music, as well as my painting, and baking. It has not only been the

most fun I’ve had in awhile, but I feel myself getting better at these activities from all the practice!

Senior Kailee Hernandez said, “I’ve been spending a lot more time with my family, and I’ve also learned how to skateboard!” Having the extra time to learn new skills is a great opportunity that some might not have gotten in the past. Instead of wallowing in boredom, use your new found time to grow - it’s always beneficial to improve on things!

Read that book you’ve been putting off for months because you haven’t had time, learn that song on guitar, write that story, draw that picture!

There could be things you’ve never done before that you try and end up loving. Bourdage said, “I didn’t play chess pre-COVID, but during this time I’ve learned how and it’s now one of my favorite things to do, I think I’ve gotten pretty good at it too.”

Trying new things can lead to super fun experiences, and a new love for something you may never have expected!

I’ve never been one for hikes, but since COVID has started, I go on hikes all the time. It’s one of my favorite ways to get some fresh air and escape my bedroom. I never would have pictured doing this before, but I love it and I know I will continue doing it afterwards too! Find some new hobbies, test out your skills and try to advance them, keep yourself active and healthy while staying safe!

Be open to new things; your days don’t have to be a cycle of events. You never know what you might like and this could be the perfect time to try. We may be limited, but we’re still able!

photo by Marina Hendricks

Some of the hobbies people have picked up during lockdown include chess and jigsaw puzzles

4 March 18, 2021

What happened to the musicians?

the Talisman

Victoria Wolf editor

COVID versus band and choir COVID-19 has taken a lot from our daily lives and we’ve had to adapt. Students changed to online classes for school, but whatever happened to our other programs? Sports is back on its feet and clubs are meeting digitally, but behind the scenes are Sheldon’s band and choir, doing everything they can do to adapt and stay afloat. Band and choir have had it rough, having to do everything online like recordings, virtual concerts and students having to learn new songs by themselves without physically being with their peers. Not being able to hear others as you play or sing makes it hard to judge if you are doing well or not and can lead to some second guessing their abilities. Learning new technology to help them out has been hard, but as the third trimester is upon us, we may see some returning to be in-person in our many programs at Sheldon.

Online band has been a struggle for many; as it is so different from traditional in-person playing.

Senior Emma Reposa said, “Even though the band has been different in many ways compared to if we were in person, I enjoy the fact that we were able to have band in some form this year when so many other schools aren’t doing anything. Though it’s different, it’s still fun because I can still be in a class with all of my favorite people in the school and get better at my instruments.” Reposa plans to stay with the band until she graduates and is pursuing a career in music.

Senior Kyle Riordan in band class.

Band stays alive!

The band program at Sheldon started back when the school opened in the Fall of 1963. The band was always at sports games; up in the stands and playing music for all. Even though it has been over 50 years since those days, the band’s focus has remained the same, always bringing the spirit to events!

When COVID hit, the band was unsure of what to do because the biggest part of the band was playing together as one. Spring term was rough and members were unsure if they wanted to continue. Band director Julie Bounds and head of the Sheldon Band said, “A lot of people left, but we have had more [new] people join than ever [50 freshman]. We miss people who leave, but that doesn’t mean we still can’t be friends with them. Some students we lost due to ‘sabattical’ scheduling errors or simply because they transferred to a new school/switched programs.” The band program usually loses 6-10 people each year just due to people’s decisions for their futures. Bounds said, “I have a saying that I like to use in the pandemic, ‘Teach those who are in front of you.’” The band went through a bit of a quiet period through last Spring, but is ready to make a large impact on it’s students through distance learning.

Choir is always adapting

Photos by Julie Bounds and Emily Mitchell

Along with online band struggling, Sheldon’s Choir program has been shaking it up as well. For choir, they have had a smoother transition from in-person to online, already completing their first digital concert! The choir has been doing everything they would normally do, like warm-ups and sight reading. Choir director Megan Perdue said, “One big difference we have been doing now is focusing on smaller pieces of the music in distance learning. We’ll record and then listen to it and give feedback to each other.” Things that normally take about 30 seconds in-person are taking a few days because they cannot do quick and simple adjustments over Zoom.

Building a sense of community is critical in distance learning especially with smaller groups. Perdue said, “Music is a vehicle for community making and unfortunately, community cannot be replicated.” Students in choir have been doing more community building activities, like learning more about their peers.

They aren’t scared to be silly around each other and often talk about life outside of school.

For both band and choir, there isn’t much news about going back in-person, but when they hear something, they’re ready to play loud and proud again. As we are seeing sports spark back up again in the recent months, we may be seeing the return of our band programs and choir production before the 2021-2022 season.

“Teach those who are in front of you.”- Julie Bounds, band director

student well-being

the Talisman

March 18, 2021

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Struggling with body image Meghan McMahan editor-in-chief

All Sheldon students are affected by body image whether it is positive, negative, or somewhere in between. It is natural for us to have self-talk about our bodies, but society and school culture can easily turn that into negative self-talk. There has been a standard from society about body image since the beginning of time. It typically is a body type that is idolized by many, but can only be accomplished by some. Instead of accepting and loving all body types, society puts pressure on people to achieve the desired look. Today, some people talk negatively about their bodies, which can lead to serious circumstances.

Typically, students worried about their outfits at school, the way they looked, what was on their faces, etc. During these times, body consciousness is different because students can hide behind their “black boxes.” Most teachers prefer everyone to have their cameras on, but that can be really difficult for some.

Senior Maylee Bezates said, “Students with their cameras on are just staring at themselves for hours a day, and it’d be crazy to think that it didn’t affect them. I think it definitely worsens body image in teenagers.”

Zoom class can be a problem for teenages who are struggling, because staring at yourself all day cannot be healthy. Mrs. Tierney suggested to her class to keep their cameras on, but use

‘Hide Self-View’ so students can focus on class instead of constantly focusing on their own image.

Body image affects all body types, whether it’s thin, thick, short, tall, or anything.

Negative body image can affect all sizes, not just people who are overweight.

Senior Abby Askew thinks it’s important to spread more awareness about body image, so people can stop comparing themselves. She said, “I think it’s important for people to share their stories on how they have been affected by body image because it can help people see how anyone can be affected by it, realizing both that they aren’t alone but also that you never know what someone is going through so you have to be careful of the things you say to people.”

Teenagers are bombarded by the ideal body image from every angle. There are thin, beautiful girls on the television, as the main character of a movie, on the front page of a magazine, on music albums, and all over social media. There is no way to avoid these unrealistic and edited body shapes that are being displayed everywhere.

Due to this, many people compare themselves which can lead to hurtful actions.

Thus, it is important to be kind to everyone, because you never know what they’re going through.

Junior Tawny Thomas has important advice about body image that everyone should hear: “It’s just a body! Anything that your body is, has, or looks like is perfectly normal… and my best piece of advice is this: anyone who judges you (for anything at all honestly, especially your body), means that they only hate seeing that in themselves. If you’re being judged for something so shallow, it’s typically a personal insecurity or fear from whoever is judging you, which means they lack love for themselves in that department, therefore, their judgement is based in something really sad and unfortunate; self hate. Take pity on those too close minded about such shallow subjects.”

Everybody deals with the body image of themselves. It’s important to reach out to friends or family if you’re struggling. Every body is beautiful and we all get the opportunity to appreciate the body we have.

6

the COVID-19 vaccine

March 18, 2021

Local doctors give advice on the CO Elizabeth Grieve editor

According to the Centers of the Disease Control, what a vaccine does is stimulate, “...your immune system to produce antibodies, exactly like it would if you were exposed to the disease. After getting vaccinated, you develop immunity to that disease, without having to get the disease first.”

The current Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines for COVID-19 serve the same purpose, but questions about the vaccines still remain.

What do you know about the vaccine? Are you sure that what you know is the truth? Rumors about the vaccine are rampant, but fortunately there are healthcare workers in our community willing to give advice and answer questions and concerns about the vaccine.

Dr. Pilar Bradshaw of Eugene Pediatric Associates encouraged making sure your source of information is trustworthy, specifically recommending Johns Hopkins University website as reliable.

“Rumors abound on the internet -- don’t believe everything you read

about the COVID shot!”

Dr. Catherine York, who works at the Springfield location of Women’s Care, said rumors based around the vaccine being a liberal mind tracker, or the converse argument that the vaccine should not be taken because its development took place under the Trump Administration, have no validity to them. Why do these inaccurate rumors exist? Dr. York said she thinks there are intentional and unintentional reasons, citing the rumor mill and political posturing, respectively.

To anyone who was distrustful of the vaccine, Dr. Bradshaw said, “The science behind the vaccines is solid; the shots have been rigorously tested, and ongoing safety studies show the COVID vaccine to be safe. COVID-19 has killed over 500,000 Americans now -- so this virus is far worse for many people than the potential vaccine side effects.”

There are some concerns, however, that Dr. York said she does understand, even if they aren’t true, such as the rumor that the vaccine does not work as well on ethnic minorities.

She said that since there have been examples of minority communities being treated poorly and inhumanely as part of the medical tradition in the past, it makes sense there is a lack of trust, but given that COVID has hit minority communities the worst, it is important for them to know that it is safe for them.

“The vaccine works for everyone tested so far. People of all races ages 16 or 18 years (depending on which vaccine) can safely and effectively respond to the COVID vaccine,” said Dr. Bradshaw.

Similarly, Dr. Bradshaw assures there shouldn’t be any worry about the virus variants for right now: “Virus variants are scary because they are more contagious. So far, the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines have been effective against all known variants tested -- the variants have similar spike proteins so the shots teach your body how to recognize and fight when the body is exposed to that spike protein on a COVID variant.”

To elaborate, the current Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines are mRNA vaccines.

According to the CDC: “mRNA vaccines are a new type of vaccine to protect against infectious diseases. To trigger an immune response, many vaccines put a weakened or inactivated germ into our bodies. Not mRNA vaccines. Instead, they teach our cells how to make a protein—or even just a piece of a protein—that triggers an immune response inside our bodies. That immune response, which produces antibodies, is what protects us from getting infected if the real virus enters our bodies.”

Dr. York and Dr. Bradshaw emphasize the overall complete safety of the vaccine. Dr. Bradshaw said, “The COVID-19 vaccine has been developed with technology scientists have known for 30 years. It was tested widely on many people and found to be safe and highly effective -- preventing 95% of COVID illness and almost every serious illness/death from COVID in clinical trials.

The COVID vaccine being widely given is going to help us

“People shou a vaccine as they can.”

- Dr. Cather

Illustration by 2020 Sheldon grad Mikaela Colwell, @micky.milkway on Instagram

the COVID-19 vaccine

March 18, 2021

7

OVID-19, vaccine and mental health get back to a more normal life.”

Though there are some who are more hesistant or at risk for taking it than others, such as pregnant women, whom the vaccine has not been tested on (for obvious reasons), and children under 16 years old. “Trials are ongoing in younger kids to find the correct dose of vaccine for each age group,” Dr. Bradshaw said.

Dr. York said, “There are very few people who really shouldn’t get the vaccine, but people with history of anaphylactic or severe reactions to vaccine in the past probably shouldn’t take the vaccine. So there is a small population that should avoid it. And the rest of us should all be vaccinated to help protect those people that really cannot take it.”

“The big message is that people should get a vaccine as soon as they can to protect themselves from covid and to protect the community, and with rare exceptions everyone should do it,” Dr. York said.

Indeed, it’s because of the people who can’t take the vaccine that as many people as possible need to get it. This is because of the concept of herd immunity, which is the ultimate goal of the vaccine. Dr. York said, “The idea is removing an adequate host system for the virus, so that it doesn’t continue to propagate so easily.” Essentially, herd immunity is the resistance to the spread of an infectious disease amongst a population based on a large amount of people having immunity due to vaccination. Since some people can’t take the vaccine, anyone for whom it’s not dangerous should be taking it so as to be a part of the large portion of people granting the ‘herd’ immunity.

According to Dr. Bradshaw, “The speed of returning to a more normal life depends on many variables: how quickly shots can be manufactured, distributed and given. How quickly trials can be run on younger children. How many people are willing to get the vaccine when it’s their turn. How the government and federal, state and local levels makes decisions supported by solid science to reopen things. If we are lucky, experts hope we may see a more normal life towards the end of 2021.”

Senior Lily Claypool said, “Getting the full dose of the vaccine does not mean you can immediately go out and pretend everything is back to normal because that is not how it works. We will still have to wear masks for a while and we need to stay safe and social distance until it is confirmed that the vaccine is helping and the cases are going down.” Certainly the sooner people get the vaccine and continue to stay safe, the sooner our world will get back to normal.

In the meantime, Dr. Bradshaw said for us to, “Continue to wear masks in public, keep your circle small, use great hand hygiene, stay home when you feel sick, get tested for COVID if you have symptoms of the virus or are a close contact of someone with COVID. Also, focus on keeping yourself positive -- this is hard for young people and it’s important to talk to trusted adults if the pandemic is making you feel anxious, depressed, or unsafe. My

advice as a pediatrician and mom for teens under stress includes: get enough sleep, eat healthy, spend time outside, exercise, talk to friends and family, make lists of things you’re looking forward to doing in the future, and try to find little good things happening in each day that make you smile. And if you’re not okay, tell a trusted adult that you need help.”

“Try to find little good things happening in each day that make you smile.”

Dr. Bradshaw, Eugene Pediatric Associates

- Dr. Pilar Bradshaw

uld get soon as

rine York

Dr. York, Women’s Care

8 March 18, 2021

COVID questions

the Talisman

Pros and cons of going back in person Jessica Johannesen editor The global pandemic has significantly changed many aspects of life, with school as we know it being a major one. The topic of whether or not students going back to school on campus is the right decision has been much discussed in the recent months. As time goes by, more and more students and teachers are wondering how much longer they will participate in distanced online learning, and if, how, or when we will return to learning on cam-

vs.

photo by Jessica Johannesen

pus. There are both pros and cons of going back to in-person school that need to be evaluated before a decision can be made.

In many ways, going back to school on campus would be positive. One of the most significant positive outcomes would be students and teachers being able to have a better learning experience. This pandemic has proven that learning is much more effective and accessible in person. Things like technical difficulties have hindered students’ from receiving a good education. Junior Cristina Johannesen said, “I prefer learning in-person mainly because it’s much easier to learn in that type of environment. I’ve experienced many technical difficulties that make completing schoolwork and attending class more difficult and make me miss having in-person school.”

One of the main positives of returning to learning on campus is the major improvement it would have on students’ mental health. The school system that we had pre-covid was great for many students because it set a routine and gave them something to do outside of

their home life. For many, it is an outlet that has been taken away by the pandemic, which has had a negative impact on the mental health of many students.

Senior Sophia Calevi said, “Online school definitely has a more significant negative impact on students.

Being away from our peers and staring at a screen all day can be very tiring and leads to higher levels of stress and burn out. For me, if we were able to return to in-person learning safely, I would see a positive impact on my mental health because having the ability to interact and engage in the school atmosphere would significantly improve my well being.”

Although there are many pros of going back to in-person school, there are also cons. Since we are in a pandemic, there is the obvious risk of getting the coronavirus. Due to this, there would be many precautions necessary to take to make for a safe return, which can be seen as a con. Senior Meg Hubbs said, “I think that the cons outweigh the pros of going back to school. No matter how many precautions would be taken such as social distancing, wearing a mask, and washing your hands regularly, they would still not be able to completely prevent the spread.” We could see an increase in cases if we go back to in-person school, which is definitely considered a negative.

Overall, there are many pros and cons of returning to school in-person. Although there would be many benefits to things like students’ mental health, the question or whether or not it is worth it when the risk of getting COVID-19 still remains.

photo by Zoelle Ranstad

COVID affects local businesses Matt Rangel staff writer During the year 2020, many businesses were affected by a stock market crash that was caused by the global coronavirus pandemic. Unfortunately, many, many businesses suffered major losses. The businesses that suffered the most from these events were smaller local businesses, which depend on their community to keep them up and running. Because everyone went into quarantine, these businesses had few customers and thus no steady form of income to pay rent or taxes.

Here, in the city of Eugene, there is a vast amount of local businesses that range from auto repair to luxury cosmetics. These businesses were quite successful before the coronavirus pandemic and the stock market crash, but how have these events affected them since?

Econo Auto Service is an auto maintenance and repair shop on West 7th Avenue. Joel Rangel is the business owner, boss, and lead mechanic. Before the pandemic, Rangel’s business was quite busy most days, with only a few slow ones. He received from about 20 - 30 customers per week, which is an ample amount considering that auto repair is a physically demanding profession. At the beginning of the pandemic, Rangel said he was worried about what would happen to his business and to his loved

ones.

Rangel also took the necessary precautions to adapt his business to keep himself, his workers, and his community safe. He removed the chairs from his waiting room, set up customers by appointment. They no longer take walk-in customers, and people may no longer wait in the waiting room. Even with these safety precautions, Rangel says that he is now receiving fewer clients than before and it is a struggle to keep track of these precautions.

Rangel said, “We will have to recover the way we feel comfortable like before, to go inside of the car with the customer inside of the car.” He says that he will always have that fear of possibly getting sick from his customers, even after the pandemic.

Another business in a very different category is Lashfan Artistry, which is a lash extension establishment.

Elsie Acosta is the business owner and Esthetician who specializes in lash artistry. Acosta said, “My typical day before covid was a full, busy day with clients, back to back.” When the pandemic first began, Acosta thought she would have had to permanently close her business, but fortunately this did not happen.

Acosta said, “As an esthetician, we are trained to prevent disease spreading, so we were already pretty clean and thorough with sanitation protocols. ...I’ve always worn a face mask, so that wasn›t new to me, but I have been wearing face shields. I’m taking my client’s

temperatures before they come in; I also ask them a few questions.”

Acosta also mentioned that her clients have to wear face masks and she has them wear a plastic sheet over their mask to prevent breath from making contact with her. It seems that her prevention methods are working in light of the fact that she has not had any incidents of coronavirus exposure.

Despite her best efforts in keeping her business as safe as possible, some of her clients haven’t gone back to get their lashes redone. Thankfully, Acosta has been able to find a bright side to this, as she mentioned having more time throughout the day to relax and not feel rushed by her work schedule. Nevertheless, Acosta believes that, even after the pandemic, her business will most likely not go back to normal due to the permanent effects of the coronavirus on the way humans interact with one another.

Overall, it seems that unfortunately, no one has been able to escape the effects of this pandemic in any aspect of their lives. Many other businesses have been heavily affected and even closed permanently due to insufficient income. It is important to support local businesses in a safe manner in order to keep them up and running. Even though they have been largely and possibly permanently affected, many have taken the proper precautions to keep delivering their services in a way that keeps their customers safe and secure.

opinion: education

the Talisman

March 18, 2021

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The problem with the SAT? Everything Sofia El-Shammaa page editor The SAT, the product of the College Board, has long been scrutinized by educators, parents, and students alike.

Supporters point to the fact that the SAT is considered to provide an “objective measure” compared to GPAs. For instance, two students in different schools could both take APUSH. The grades each student end up with can be noticeably different, even if they are each enrolled in the same course due to factors like teachers and how grades are weighted. But with the SAT, all the tests taken simultaneously are identical.

In spite of this, the SAT is arguably even less accurate at measuring someone’s college readiness. In reports the College Board has published, like the 2019 SAT Suite of Assessments Annual Report, students of colour are more likely to do poorly on the SAT. Similarly, students with parents with no higher education do worse than students whose parents with higher education. Low-income students who used the SAT fee waiver scored 6.5% lower than other students.

It’s obvious that the SAT is socioeconomically biased. It costs money to take the SAT, and taking it multiple times has been proven to improve one’s score. It costs money to prepare for the SAT. Senior Caitlin Booth has taken both the PSAT and the SAT. Booth stated, “They [the SAT] are

absolutely biased… The SAT costs money. So that alone, if you take it once, you may not be able to afford to retake it. SAT prep takes time; if you’re working a job to try and afford college or something, you’re not necessarily going to have time to study your prep for it.”

Even if the SAT wasn’t biased in any way, the focus on one test over your entire high school career puts intense pressure on students, and everyone knows it. Sophomore Brandon Kauten said, “I honestly don’t know. I guess it could be unfair to put so much weight on one test and for people with test anxiety that could be a problem.”

So how did we get here? The original SAT was modified from a test given to soldiers in WWI created by Robert Yerkes called the Army Alpha. It was supposed to be a test that one could not study for. At first, the test was praised for its ability to analyze the aptitude of its takers, rather than their ability to memorize information. Of course, nearly a century later, that idea has been flipped on its head.

That’s not all. The SAT’s creator, Carl Brigham, was an avid believer of eugenics in the context of white supremacy. Brigham believed his tests would prove his racist ideologies against interracial marriage and immigration. His book, A Study of American Intelligence, published in 1926, was riddled with racist and xenophobic language and ideas. He believed that immigration was the reason behind “the decline of American intelligence.”

However, in 1930, four years after the SAT was first

created, Brigham wrote that the SAT didn’t measure born intelligence and aptitude. He said that scores were, “a composite including schooling, family background, familiarity with English and everything else, relevant and irrelevant.” Brigham called his own theories “one of the most glorious fallacies in the history of science.” Do not mistake his regret for egalitarianism. Brigham was still bigoted, and the damage was already done.

For the next 100 years, colleges and scholarship judges would use the SAT, and the similarly prejudiced ACT, to decide who was intelligent, capable, and deserving.

So what do we do now? College counselor Kendra Brott said “Your GPA is your biggest predictor of your potential college success when it comes down to it. It’s about tenacity and resilience, but they haven’t really figured out how to measure that.” Unfortunately, the SAT is still used by scholarship judges. It’s cruelly ironic that the people who need scholarships the most are the people most likely to do poorly on the SAT. On the bright side, many colleges, including the entire University of California system and all Oregon public universities, are going testoptional. In total, ⅔ of all U.S. colleges and universities (1,350+ accredited 4-year colleges) are test-optional or test-blind, according to FairTest. FairTest.org has a detailed list of colleges that are test-optional, as well as a “Testing Reform Guide” that individuals can use to fight standardized testing.

illustrations by Sofia El-Shammaa

Prospect of hybrid school excites students Trent Bynum staff writer Sheldon is very excited at the prospect of being back for some form of in-person learning with the hybrid plan to come back to school.

Senior Ryan Sender said, “ I am really excited to be able to get the chance to return to school.” He also mentioned how he was nervous about

how the school and staff will adapt to the new environment.

For the most part, students are excited about the idea of going back to school in person. However, with all the new precautions, the school will be very different. Some of these changes might even be around for years to come and the new students of Sheldon are going to have to adjust to it. Hopefully one day, they will get to live the true Irish experience.

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athletics

the Talisman

Letting it fly

10 March 18, 2021

Coen Yancey staff writer The javelin team is a big part of the track and field team.

When this next season starts, the javelin team will be a big attraction at the meets. There are multiple members of the team.

One spectator who takes great interest in the team is sophomore Aiden Chhay. Due to the pandemic, there have been no practices or matches since last year. This does not mean that there will not be a season though, and Chhay is hopeful as well. Chhay said, “Hopefully, the season will start early spring.” Although he may be correct, it is possible that there will not be a season this year. If there is a season, they may not allow spectators at all. This would not be the best-case scenario. Spectators who like watching javelin may be able to watch the Olympics.

Chhay said, “I love watching javelin during the Olympics,

but it is not the same as watching the people you know personally do well at the sport.”

A member of the team, sophomore Joey Rubino, throws the javelin. He joined the team last season as a freshman.

Although he never got to compete in a meet last season due to the pandemic, he is still hoping that the season will start soon. Rubino said, “I think the season will start up very soon, and I am very hopeful.”

Although it has not yet been announced, it is likely that a track and field season will occur. If the season does take place, then the javelin team will be able to have their first official practice since the cancelation of last season. Rubino said, “I think the team will do great this season. We have been practicing really hard because we didn’t get to have a season last year. Not really any conditioning though, because a lot of the time we are working on our form.” Just because they could not meet up, does not mean that the team could not practice on their own time.

Although the javelin is a major event, it is not the only

Junior Jacob Nash practices throwing javelin for the upcoming track season. photo by Greg Cantwell

one. A member of the team who does not throw the javelin, sophomore Andrew Song, also has thoughts on the newly prevalent javelin squad. Song does running events rather than throwing the javelin. The javelin throwers work practice next to the track where the runners practice. Song said, “From what I have seen, I think they stretch and work on their throwing technique a lot.” Throwing technique is a big part of the javelin, and stretching is also very important.

athletics

the Talisman

March 18, 2021

11

Sports finally return during the pandemic Natalie Kaiser editor A thought on many student’s minds this year is the possibility of playing sports. The COVID-19 pandemic has had a big effect on everyone’s lives, creating a world that looks so different from what we were used to. Sports have become another thing that remains uncertain.

Will practices be able to continue? Will games and competitions still be possible? Can it all happen while keeping people safe? Another thing to consider is the ability to follow safety precautions within each sport.

Many sports, such as football, wrestling, and basketball, all involve a lot of contact. While others, like tennis and golf, don’t involve as much contact. This means that tennis and golf easily fit into the safety precautions that must be taken.

That brings a new question for athletes: Can their season still continue even if they play a high contact sport? Sheldon’s athletic director Heather Stein said, “We support the governor’s recommendations, OHA guidance, OSAA and 4J to facilitate the level of safety for full contact sports.”

It’s hard to say what sports will look like in this upcoming season.

It’s not easy to consider that some sports may continue and others may not. For some that might even seem a bit unfair. Stein said, “This year, there will be an impact, for some great and some small. But at the end of the day it’s not about fair; our ability or inability to play is a result of circumstances that are out of our control. One thing that athletics instills is resiliency, and this will be an opportunity for many to channel their frustration, focus on what they can control and lead with resiliency in mind.”

Along with teaching important life lessons, sports, for many, are fun, a way to let out emotions, and a place to build bonds. A season this year could mean so much for athletes. Sophomore football player Josh photo by Greg Cantwell Merriman said, “I think that if games and scrimmages started even if there are a limited amount of games it would benefit a lot of athletes in Sheldon’s late February football practice during the pandemic. our community and get us one more step in the right direction.”

There are so many positives about having a season this year for athletes. That doesn’t mean it will be easy, though. Many new rules and precautions are being put into place, creating a very different season from years prior. Sophomore Elsa Peterson said, “I just hope that pretty soon all sports can start up again because it’s really important for us kids to get exercise and train with our teams again. I’m not sure what every sports team is doing to follow the guidelines but I know that they’ve probably had to make some big changes. It stinks that some sports get to do more than others, but I think that as long as everyone is staying safe it’s worth it” Looking on the positive side and reflecting on everything that the COVID-19 pandemic and this year has taught us is crucial. Whether it is resiliency, gratitude, or something completely different, it’s so important. Many people are looking forward to learning more after getting back to life after the pandemic. Sports can provide athletes with many learning opportunities. Sophomore Tayler McKillop said, “I’m really excited to learn how to play tennis with my teammates since our last season was cut short.”

Although this athletics season remains uncertain, there is still a lot that can continue. Distanced practices with masks is just one example of how athletes can keep working through the pandemic. Whether or not sports continue is out of athletes’ control, so continue staying strong, working hard at practice, and following COVID-19 precautions. It may be challenging, but it will be worth it in the end.

Kicking (during) COVID MasonTaylor staff writer This past year has been drastically different than the rest of students’ lives, and has heavily affected our high school years. Some people who have been especially affected are the athletes who are extremely passionate about their sports and wish to continue their athletic journeys through college, such as the football kicker for Sheldon, senior Jay Kartub, who plans to attend the United States Air Force Academy for football.

At Sheldon High School, sports are taken very seriously.

Practices for football can start as early as the summer in a typical year, giving the players and coaches much time to improve. Ever since we all had to start social distancing, practicing as a team was no longer an option. In terms of how COVID has affected his ability to train, Kartub said,

“Luckily, I am fortunate enough to be able to train from home, although we have recently started team practices which have been great.” It is great to hear that the football team can start practicing together.

Ever since COVID put many of these sports on hold, these athletes with offers and scholarships have been unsure of what is to come for the rest of their high school careers. In terms of how he is staying focused and motivated during these times, Kartub said, “I just remember how it’s setting up my future, and I don’t plan on letting COVID ruin my college career as well.”

During this time, there have been many people who have had their plans after high school drastically changed.

As a senior, Kartub has many things planned out after high school. As far as how COVID has affected his plans for college, he said “The virus has not changed my plans after high school, I still plan to attend USAF primarily for football, as well as continue my education.”

photo by Natalie Kaiser

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