The Wooster
BLADE Volume XXII | Issue 2 | Oct. 8 , 2021
Social media issues prompt discussion
ARTWORK BY CHARLOTTE KILLE
Grace Brownson
Inside the Oct 29 2021 Issue
p. 3/4 - Election Preview
p. 3 - Social Media Regulation
p. 9 - Mamma Mia
p. 15 - New WHS coaches
ON CAMPUS
THE WOOSTER BLADE | OCT. 29, 2021 | PAGE 2
Athletic Dept. addresses equity in sports LUKE POMFRET AND DELANEY WILSON co editor-in-chief and on campus editor On Oct. 8, The Wooster Blade editorial board published the results of a poll distributed to student athletes on the subject of equity, and in doing so, brought their concerns to the attention of Athletic Director Joe Rubino and Assistant Athletic Director Alex Mallue who wanted to address the concerns shared. First, Rubino urged that if student athletes feel they have been treated unfairly, they should come forward and talk to someone about their concerns. “I want them to treat it like any other thing in school… what trusted adult can they partner with to advocate for them,” Rubino said. When asked if Rubino felt that there were any equity
issues within the department in regards to JV and varsity teams Rubino said, “No because the nature of the two levels are different.” In regards to spending for each sport, Rubino describes the process for deciding how much money goes to each sport: “We do two things to determine what those numbers should look like each year. We look at the previous five year spending, as well as expected expenses that normally don’t happen… We also meet with the coach to find out what they will need for this year.`` Rubino emphasizes that the process is not easy and his decisions are thought out. Many student athletes also wonder at what time is the decision to get new uniforms decided. “It’s the school district’s job to provide those uniforms; therefore, we made a rotation for those uniforms based on what can be expected for each year... Swimming, for example,
will be expensive, but they will wear it for a couple of years, and a lot of the kids like to buy their own uniform. We help figure out ways for the athletic department to help,” Rubino said. Rubino mentions that coaches are the prime communicator in terms of needing equipment, as well as gym and field time. “We rely heavily on the coaches to communicate our needs with us,” Rubino said. When it comes to game attendance, Rubino says he has no control over whether 500 people come to the JV games versus 1,000 people at the varsity game. “My hope for all students and all athletes is that they have someone to get this information to, I don’t want them to worry about their words hiding in anonymity, I want their words to be brought into the light with someone they trust. The reason I want these words to come to light is so that resolution can be found,” Rubino said.
Key Club hosts Yellow Tulip Project MATTIE DUNLAP staff writer This year, the WHS Key Club instituted a new service project called the Yellow Tulip Project, which aims to stop the stigma surrounding mental health. Linda Brinkerhoff, adviser of Key Club, says the idea of the Yellow Tulip Project was introduced back in 2019 after club members attended a rally on The Ohio State University campus. “There was a young girl there who talked about this project that she’s created, called the yellow tulip project, because
she had several of her close friends actually suffer from mental illness.... You know it was the unfortunate moment in her life that she realized something had to be done to bring an awareness that, you know, even teens can suffer from stress, anxiety, so much so that it could be fatal,” Brinkerhoff said. Gabi Signornino (9) says she has heard about the service project on the announcements and at a past football game and decided to donate. “...If I can help (the project) by just donating to spread awareness, I will… Mental health is extremely important
and I don’t think everyone acknowledges that,” Signorino said. Sophia Mathur (12), president of Key Club says she hopes the Yellow Tulip project will show students that there are resources in WHS to go to if you need help and that needing help is okay. “It’s okay to ask for help and it’s okay to struggle sometimes...I’m hoping that it’ll (the project) help the kids know that there are people at the school that they can talk to,” Mathur said. Donations for the Yellow Tulip Project can be sent via Venmo to KIWOO1923.
WHS
General Grounds offers coffee and community MAYA GALINDO-BENSON staff writer General Grounds, the WHS coffeehouse, is located in the library of WHS, and is run by a group of students. Supervisor Erica Lepley says the goal of the coffeehouse is to provide a sense of community to both the students who work there and the customers. “The sense of community… is to give them [the student workers] that interaction, for everyone in the school to be able to come together and have a different place outside of, you know, just a regular classroom,” Lepley said. The coffeehouse manager and Specialized Paraprofessional at WHS, Susan Battig, says
the students who work at the coffeehouse are what makes their business unique. “I think the student workers and their commitment to our customers, which are staff and students, is what makes it [General Grounds] so special,” Battig said. Not only does the coffeehouse provide a sense of community and commitment to the students working there, but it also promotes lifeskills. “My favorite thing about it is seeing my students really excel… they really gain independence skills… which is awesome,” Lepley said. General Grounds’ is open to staff and students before school, during lunch hours and during seventh period.
THE WOOSTER BLADE | ON CAMPUS | OCT. 29, 2021 | PAGE 3
Frontline student group promotes school spirit at WHS athletic events BRITTANY WACHTEL views editor During football season, the halls of WHS buzz with the anticipation of Friday night football games. Many students make their way into the student section to cheer on their peers on the field. Leading the student section are the senior school spirit leaders, Connor Rotolo, Lauren Anderson, and Lyla Gaines, who run Frontline. Gaines says that frontline is, “... a group of seniors who lead the student section…,” with the main goal of spreading school spirit and promoting the WHS athletic programs. Currently, Frontline plays a role primarily in events that
take place outside of the classroom, although Rotolo and Gaines both are aiming to push their school spirit into the school building through spirit competitions. Despite the fact as presented by Gaines that Frontline consists of seniors only, all students are able to be a part of the student section and encouraged to do so. Gaines advocates for more student involvement, saying, “I would tell everyone no matter the grade to get involved in your school's student section and school spirit.” Frontline is centered around the concept of being run by students, leading to conversations of when administrators should step in to help or supervise.
Rotolo acknowledges the need for rules, saying, “Obviously we will follow the rules set by administrators in the school handbook but the things we do in Frontline represent the pride we have in our school…” Sara Crooks, WHS assistant principal, advocates for those involved to take personal responsibility, saying, “The role of admin is to uphold and enforce school policy. All spectators are expected to adhere to guidelines of the event, and students are expected to adhere to the guidelines of the student code of conduct.” Frontline sets a standard for the school spirit possessed within WHS and encourages others to get involved.
Top singers from Wayne, Ashland and Holmes county perform in Honors Choir BEN STAVNEZER staff writer The Tri-County Honors Choir is a group comprised of 11 schools from Wayne County, Ashland County and Holmes County. Choir teachers choose the top singers in the choir and they then rehearse with the chosen students from the other schools for a combined performance. The Honors Choir is directed by Eric L. Richardson, a Choral music clinician and OMEA adjudicator and Michelle Makhlouf, accompanist. Elyse Mason, WHS choral instructor, said: “The students
did an excellent job. They only had three rehearsals before the performance..It was great to see how the students progressed and how Mr. Richardson pushed them to be better and better and better.” Honors Choir members did not meet or perform last year because of COVID- 19. Their performance is usually held at the College of Wooster, but they held it at Hiland High School this year because of COVID concerns and the College’s continuing COVID policy According to Mason, the Choir sang “Gloria in Excelsis,” “If Ye Love Me,” “If Music Be the Food of Love,” “True Light,” “Nelly
Bly” and “Let the River Run.” This year, eight students were selected from Wooster to perform in the choir. Those students include: Amelia Hughes (10), Hayley Sleek (11), Caleb Singer-Holden (11), Stella Powers (11), Mj Marcum (10), Kathrine Sayre (11), Casey Cloar (10), and Trinity Mark (12). In review of the performance, Caleb Singer-Holden said “We all did amazing, and the director really drilled the music into our brains after nit-picking every single note.” Singer-Holden said he plans to continue with the Honors Choir next year. The choir performed on Oct. 20.
GRACE BROWNSON
WHS marching band members perform their halftime show during the Oct. 15 game against Massillon Washington.
Marching band makes an impact on students STELLA POWERS staff writer At WHS, the marching band is one of the largest and more popular student organizations in the building. Kathrine Sayre (11) said her favorite part of marching band is the community aspect of it. “You meet people and become friends with people you never thought you would. Marching band has made me more appreciative of music and the work that the directors put in,” Sayre shared. Sayre said she is looking forward to being a senior next year and being able to reflect on previous years. Looking back at her time in the band, Rachel Grayshock (12) said she always has a good time being a part of this program. “My favorite part about being
in the marching band is the environment created by the directors, and the people in band,” Grayshock said. She also shared that this is something she intends to continue when she goes off to college. “Marching band has definitely impacted my life,” shared Grayshock. “So much so that when looking for colleges, I purposefully find ones with marching bands.” Band director Craig French shared that he really enjoys being a part of the Friday night football games. “We love being an integral element of that Friday night experience. It’s our biggest audience of the year,” French said. He also said he really enjoys watching student leadership within the program. The WHS marching band will have their indoor concert on October 26 at 7 PM.
FOCUS
THE WOOSTER BLADE | OCT. 29, 2021 | PAGE 4
Wooster City Schools board member candidates Why are you running for the WCS School Board?
In the upcoming Wooster City School Board election, there are six candidates running. Dan Stavnezer, Kristina Boone, and Dannielle Schantz are running for re-election, while Ryan Kuzma, Jody Starcher and Erik White are running for the first time. Each candidate was interviewed by BLADE staff writers and answered the following question: why are you running for the Wooster City School Board? The election will take place Nov. 2.
Dannielle Schantz “Despite the challenges of COVID, the district is in the midst of a very exciting transition. The addition of Mr. Tudor and the many changes in leadership throughout the district caught my attention. I know some folks don’t like change, but I find that it can be exciting and a time for growth. I value and respect the current members of the board and feel
we work very well together although we come from very different backgrounds. I want the district to be great for all Wooster kids, regardless of their background. The board has the ability to positively impact the experience of over 4,000 students and 500 staff members each day. It is a great opportunity to improve the lives of our neighbors.”
Dan Stavnezer “When we had the opportunity to have a new treasurer, a new superintendent and we were a part of that process, and also with a lot of administrative changes, I’m pretty excited to see this continue and see where it can go from here. I mean you obviously know there’s a lot of changes around the district,
even the high school principal, but I’m excited to see the new folks come in and have a new perspective...was also really interested in being a part of the process with our master planning, by which we are starting to look, and what we’re going to do with the schools around the district, as we need to figure
Kristina Boone “I just want to support students and the staff and if there’s a way I can contribute to help the school improve, I want to do
that. I’ve been active in schools for a long time, I moved here about four and a half years ago and I was always really active
with our school system back in Kansas.”
Jody Starcher youth just brings a lot of satisfaction. You know, I take a lot of pride in my full time job. And, I love what I do, serving, whether it’s in a nonprofit or on the school board, I just want to use the skill sets that I’ve acquired through my corporate
job, and apply those (skills) in another way to help move things forward. So, it’s really about service. And, just being able to use some of the skills that I have to help improve processes or add value in some way.”
published Oct. 27 in The Daily Record. In looking at why he wants to run for the school board, “Dr. Erik White said he became interested in running for the
board after a series of events made him feel like voices of parents were not being heard and made him question the levels of transparency,” according to The Daily Record.
“One of the main reasons I’m running for school board is I don’t feel that the majority of the taxpayers and citizens of Wooster are being represented by the current school board.
So, the reason behind this is I’ve had so many people come to me and ask me to do it and then I personally ask them, like why do you think I should run for school board? And, they pretty
much all said they don’t feel like we’re being represented or we’re being hurt and there’s no transparency. That was one of the main reasons, just to be a voice for the people.”
out what is next for a lot of those schools; I say that because we have the OFCC, a building commission that comes in and sets the needs of the buildings in our district and we must either upgrade or build new because a lot of our schools, except the high school, were deemed that they needed to be fixed or replaced
and I’m curious and want to be a part of that process, of our portrait of a general, which was originally called the portrait of a graduate, because I really think that it could be a Kindergarten through 12 grade implementation of that idea that we came up with about a year and a half ago.”
Quotes from Stavnezer, Boone, and Kuzma collected by staff writer Theo Ollier, the quote from Schantz collected by staff writer Nora Levy, and the quote from Starcher collected by Jhon Fajardo.
“I have been working toward this point for the last few years. And, I started getting more interested in the school board a few years ago as I got a little more involved in a nonprofit. I’m really finding that serving the community and serving
Erik White Unfortunately, Dr. Erik White was unavailable for comment, so the following response for Dr. Erik White are noted from the Wooster City School Board article written by Rachel Karas that was
Ryan Kuzma
THE WOOSTER BLADE | FOCUS | OCT. 29, 2021 | PAGE 5
Wooster City Council Member Candidates
In what way do you plan to contribute to City Council and what skills do you believe you possess in fulfilling these contributions? Wooster City Council Purpose and Procedure
On Nov. 2, 2021 six candidates will appear on the ballot to fill multiple positions on city council. Molly Byrne, Sophia Mera and Mattie Dunlap asked each candidate running the same question developed by the Focus section editors.
The members of City Council are representatives for the citizens of the city of Wooster. They have been elected to oversee the city budget, establish goals, and set policies. Every citizen is welcome to join the council meetings that take place on the first and third Monday of each month. The meetings begin at 7:30 p.m. with citizen input to follow. The City of Wooster is currently divided into four wards. City Council consists of one Council Member from each of these wards, all Council Members are elected to a four-year term. Information compiled from Wooster City Council website
Bill Bostancic Having a passion for problem solving and having a background in planning has led Bostancic to love his position of council and being able to help improve our city. Bostancic is also the chair of infrastructure for the city of Wooster. His responsibilities include fixing
Gregory Schmitz water systems, road systems and sewers. Bostancic said the largest responsibilities he holds as a city councilman are the advocate and represent the citizens, as he acts like a middleman for them. Doing homework on topics that will be voted on is very important as well.
provided on both sides of decisions that have to be made, and using my background and, again, experience on City Council, as well as my business background to help make good decisions on behalf of the city.”
Bob Reynolds
“I will be diligent in preparing for and participating in City Council meetings and committee meetings. I will work corroboratively with fellow council members and the administration to find
working with contractors and public properties, going up to bid knowing how Contractors bid jobs, the budgeting for this project. Budgeting at all. Budgeting, financing, projecting, planning. A large part of my job right now is that I’m in commercial construction
as a project manager. I am planning and scheduling and within that planning and scheduling is looking ahead trying to prevent as many problems as possible, seeing what things are going to happen whatever the length the project may be.
published Oct. 27 in The Daily Record. “ ..One of the most important issues facing the city of Wooster is affordable housing…We have great businesses that have
set their roots in Wooster... Assembling permanent housing is important to keep and grow those businesses.”
Barbara Knapic
Scott Myers
“Well, I think that being independent and being open minded to all ideas that people bring to the table is important. So, trying to be a good listener and evaluating the information that was
I have a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering and technology form the University of Toledo and I have my state of Ohio HVC, plumbing, hydronic and refrigeration licenses. What I think I can help out with is when we are doing roadways and things like that,
solutions. I think the skills I have include a broad base of experience dealing with community issues, a history of community leadership, and problem-solving abilities.”
Unfortunately, Barbara Knapic was unavailable for comment, so the following response for Barbara Knapic are noted from the Wooster City School Board article written by Rachel Karas that was
Jennifer Warden “I believe that I contribute to the City Council because I have a very thoughtful approach to any decision that I make. I like to hear all sides of an issue and I like to really nail it over and weigh the pros and cons and, hopefully, come up with a solution that is going to be,
you know, the best situation for all parties involved. But, I’ve got to tell you, it’s difficult because very seldom do you make everyone happy at the same time and there’s often somebody who’s disappointed or angry and there’s other people who feel like they’ve
come out on top. So, in any situation, even the ones that feel pretty innocuous and of course, there’s people who have stakes in the game. So, that’s something that I tried to do, and I feel like, overall, I’ve been relatively successful with that.”
COVER
THE WOOSTER BLADE | OCT. 29, 2021 | PAGE 6
Social Media Statistics in the U.S. Facebook whistleblower
Data Compiled by Lucia Perfetti
In 2020, 47% of U.S. adults surveyed said that major technology companies should be regulated by the government (Pew Research). Of the U.S. adults polled, 54% believed that social media platforms should restrict or delete accounts posting false information or hate speech (Statista). As of 2021, 72% of U.S. adults use at least one social media site. (Pew Research)
WHS cell phone policy needs reviewed
ALEXANDRA PARSONS arts editor The Wooster City School District has a cell phone policy that is outdated, considering that it mentions obsolete technology such as Blackberry phones. District Policy #5136, last revised Dec. 18, 2012, is severely outdated in terms of technology and in the way it tries at reaching both student and staff needs for how cell phones and other devices, referred to as Personal Communication Devices or PCDs in the policy should and need to be used. Policy #5136 states: “Students may use personal
communication devices before and after school, during their lunch break, in between classes as long as they do not create a distraction, disruption or otherwise interfere with the educational environment, during after school activities (e.g., extra-curricular activities) and at school-related functions. Use of PCDs, except those approved by a teacher or administrator, at any other time is prohibited and they must be powered completely off (i.e., not just placed into vibrate or silent mode) and stored out of sight.” This policy is understandable as not to create a harmful school environment in terms of overusing phones and not paying attention to lessons. The legality of the policy is not in question, as it regularly reviewed by NEOLA, but considering how long it has been in effect and also considering the fact that I have not even heard of it, there is something in it that needs to be either more enforced or changed about it fundamentally.
The policy then goes into detail about how other PCDs may not be used, in terms of student and school privacy, “Using a PCD to capture, record and/or transmit audio and/or pictures/video of an individual without proper consent is considered an invasion of privacy and is not permitted.” Though this is an understandable rule, it holds a bit of confusion: do students know that recording students during the school day is a violation of school policy? No one should be taking videos of people without their knowledge and consent, but it still begs the question of how useful this phone policy is, as it is hardly ever mentioned and is not often enforced. There have been casual instances of students taking videos of people without permission for non-academic reasons, but no one seems to do so thinking that it violates school policy. The school should clearly review the policy with students or reconsider and change the policy.
exposes various problems with social media ASHTON DUNLAP co-editor-in-chief In early October, whistleblower Frances Haugen revealed a series of claims about Facebook and Instagram, exposing various reasons the social media platforms are generally problematic and harmful to the millions of people the problem holds. Due to these flaws, Haugen said she believes Facebook, Instagram and other social media platforms need to be regulated to protect the safety of its users and the general population. Haugen testified to Congress over several days and revealed structural problems with Facebook’s algorithm, the audience it targets, and misinformation on the platform. Haugen revealed the large amount of information and wrongful strategies that Facebook and Instagram have used over the years. Haugen claimed that Instagram has targeted young children, even while knowing the harmful effects the app can have on children of that age. According to a 2019 Instagram slide presentation called “Teen Mental Health Deep Dive,” released by The Wall Street Journal, Instagram and Facebook are aware of the negative effects the program has on teenagers, especially girls. According to the presentation, 82% of teens report feeling a wide range of emotional issues. The study also revealed concerns from teens such as, “the pressure to put up a facade, hide emotions, and present a ‘happy face’,” and, “feeling like you have to look a certain way or
comparing yourself to others”. These widespread mental health concerns are concerning and are obviously exacerbated by social media, especially Instagram. Haugen’s testimony and this leaked study reveal Facebook’s concerted ignorance toward these issues. Facebook, Instagram and other social media platforms should, therefore, be regulated to reduce the harm the platforms can make. Haugen also revealed Facebook’s ability to spread misinformation and Facebook’s lack of action in preventing this spread. “We have evidence from a variety of sources that hate speech, divisive political speech, and misinformation on Facebook and the family of apps are affecting societies around the world,” a document released by Haugen read. Haugen also claims that the Facebook algorithm proliferates this information because it drives engagement and increases use of the platform. She says Facebook is aware of these problems and has refused to take action to solve them. “When we realized tobacco companies were hiding the harms it caused, the government took action. When we figured out cars were safer with seat belts, the government took action. I implore you to do the same here,” Haugen’s Congressional testimony read. Several Congress members have rallied together to aim for action towards social media regulation. Senator Amy Klobuchar is one of those senators who believe in action. “I think the time has come for action, and I think you are the catalyst for that action,” Klobuchar said.
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THE WOOSTER BLADE | COVER | OCT. 29, 2021 | PAGE 7
Head To Head: Is Social Media Good For Teens?
“Going beyond the image of a perfect life, social media allows freedom for one to truly flourish and thrive as the person they want to be.” BRITTANY WACHTEL views editor
Since the start of quarantine, social media has become a constant source of entertainment and information for everyone who chooses to succumb to its seemingly magnetic pull on all generations. More recently, conversations about the negative effects that social media has played on the minds of those who use it have come to light. While these conversations are relevant and necessary, it is important to acknowledge the opportunities created by social media that can be used to encourage people to live life to the fullest. Now more than ever, social media influencers are speaking out about the role of social media in their everyday lives. Influencer Indy Blue uses her blog as a platform to advocate for transparency on social media. In her blog post “Welcome back, I hate the internet,” Blue states, “The truth is, I love the internet… But I desperately need something new. I need more connection, I need more life.” This sparks the realization that social media was created as a way for people to connect with one another on a larger scale than ever before. The internet presents a breeding ground for new
opportunities. From the start of businesses to the blooming of young love, you can find it all on the internet. These influxes of opportunities lead to hope among those who may have never had it; hope that one day they will create the life for themselves that they see others have within the walls of social media. Going beyond the image of a perfect life, social media allows freedom for one to truly flourish and thrive as the person they want to be. This variety in interests gives a wide scope of possibilities for those who may not have otherwise branched out. While social media is viewed by some as an antagonist, the internet can be used as a place to find hope and to truly discover oneself.
“...Getting Snapchat...only decreased my self esteem and self worth far from what it was before ever getting Snapchat.” BEN STAVNEZER staff writer Social media can have its positives, but its negatives far outweigh them. Social media is linked to increased depression, anxiety, sleep problems, eating concerns and even suicide risk. During the pandemic, social media use increased to 65 minutes daily as compared to 54 minutes the year before. According to Statista, Tik Tok’s user count increased 85.3 percent and Facebook’s rose 8.7 percent. Studies show that the frequency of a teen’s use of social media has a clear correlation to their mental health. In a 2018 study, 14- to 17-year-olds who used social media seven hours per day were more than twice as likely to have been diagnosed with depression. Constant overstimulation of social networking shifts the nervous Graphics by Grace Brownson system into
fight-or-flight mode. As a result, this makes disorders such as ADHD, depression, oppositional defiant disorder, and anxiety worse. Personally, I was heavily peer pressured into getting Snapchat last year and it has only decreased my self esteem and self worth far from what it was before ever getting Snapchat. People often present an idealized version of themselves on social media, uploading only the most attractive images of themselves for their friends to see and research suggests that appearance comparisons to peers may be particularly influential for body image, according to Fardouly and Vartanian in their 2015 research. Academically, when students divide their attention between their phone and the lesson, they learn less. Several classroom studies, like the one done by Glass and Kang that was published in 2018, have found a negative correlation between the amount of time spent using an electronic device for nonacademic purposes during class and exam performance. Social media might be a helpful tool to communicate with friends but its negative effects of peer pressure, an increase chances of depression, and the development of disorders far outweigh the benefits.
THE WOOSTER BLADE | OCT. 29, 2021 | PAGE 8
Horror movie sequels entertain viewers
STELLA POWERS staff writer
Historically, the horror genre has developed a reputation for having bad sequels. However, there have been quite a few films and TV shows that have defied this stereotype. The horror classic, Halloween, has had many sequels; however, two really stand out. Halloween II, the direct sequel released in 1981, is an incredible follow up to the first film. It takes place the same night as the original
and follows more encounters between Laurie Strode and Michael Myers. More recently, Halloween Kills, a sequel to the 2018 reboot of Halloween, was released. This film, once again, takes place on Halloween night, but this time 40 years later. Both of these movies are equally as entertaining and terrifying as the original hit film, making them excellent horror sequels. Another memorable continuation within a horror franchise is Scream 2, the sequel to the popular 1996 slasher movie, Scream. This horrifying sequel follows the protagonist, Sidney Prescott, as she goes off to college and continues to face the horrors from her hometown, Woodsboro. The film does an excellent job of matching both the terror and humor from the first, proving that it is one of the more notable exceptions to the bad horror sequel stereotype. A Quiet Place Part II, starring
Emily Blunt and John Krasinski, is a terrifying sequel to the 2018 thriller, A Quiet Place. This film takes place not too long after the original, following the family as they keep trying to silently survive the same monsters from the first. The sequel moves much more quickly than the original and has plenty of frightening jump-scares. Based on the classic Stephen King novel, the 2017 horror film It became massively popular, and the 2019 sequel, It Chapter Two, did not disappoint. It Chapter Two takes place 27 years after the first, following the lives of the iconic characters as adults. They once again face Pennywise the clown in even more terrifying encounters, and the sequel is equally as horrifying as the original. While horror movies have developed a stereotype for bad sequels, there are certainly some notable exceptions within the genre.
Horror films evolve and reform over time LAURA RAPPORT a&e editor
Horror movies are an essential part of Halloween. They appeal to the holiday’s theme of being scared. Fear is a core human emotion, and it makes sense that Hollywood created an industry to profit from fear. Since the release of the first horror movie The House of the Devil in 1896, the horror film industry has evolved greatly. According to Professor Ahmet Atay, chair of the department of Global Media and Digital at the College of Wooster, the horror industry had very humble beginnings; “The origins of the horror film industry are gothic novels and urban legends.” Inspiration for horror movies
included real-life figures like Vlad the Impaler, known for impaling hundreds of enemies at dinner parties, and Queen Mary I of England, known as“Bloody Mary” for burning nearly 300 religious dissenters at the stake. The popular gothic novels Bram Stoker’s Dracula and Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein inspired early horror films such as the 1922 German film Nosferatu and 1910s Frankenstein. These became the blueprint for iconic horror films like Dracula, starring Bela Lugosi, and Frankenstein, starring Boris Karloff. While some horror films draw their influence from gothic literature, others are influenced by what is happening in the world at the time. According to Atay, some horror films draw
their influence from what the population is scared of at the time. “Horror films are about human fears. They are also a form of cultural criticism… For example, during the 1950s and 1960s… horror films aim to capture the fears of the atomic bomb and war. While horror films from the 1970s critique the mindless consumption culture (Zombie films), 1980s films reflected the anxieties about the feminist movement and the AIDS crisis,”Atay said. Naturally, today’s horror films also reflect what is happening in the world today. Many scary movies released in the last 10 years are about mental illness. Movies like Black Swan and The Babadook both focus on the fear of our mental illnesses consuming us. Present-day films also contain
Halloween costumes
ARTS
How to shop on a budget ALEXANDRA PARSONS a&e editor As Halloween approaches, it can be a struggle to find costumes that are financially viable for the short amount of time that you will be wearing them. Thankfully, it has become easier to search your closet or local thrift store to find that perfect costume. $0 - A costume you already own or something built from clothes you own. Possibly, you may have a costume from a previous Halloween season or depending on your fashion style, you could put something together to resemble a movie character, like Regina George from Mean Girls or Cher from Clueless. a lot more violence and gore than their past counterparts. Films like Eli Roth’s Hostel and the Saw franchise use violence and shock value to scare their viewers. Some films use both gore and mental illness to scare their viewers, for example, director Ari Astar often uses both to frighten his viewers. This can be seen in his films Hereditary and Midsommar. The horror movie industry has come a long way from the release of The House of the Devil in 1896. Atay attributes scary movies’ continuing popularity to their ability to scare us. “They aim to represent our fears which for some that are entertaining. They also critique social and cultural practices so they remain relevant,” Atay said. There are thousands of horror flims, and while they have differences, they all share one common theme: they exist to scare us.
$10 - Medical Drama Characters If you are a fan of shows like Grey’s Anatomy, Scrubs, E.R., or any of the other multitude of medical shows on television, it is easy to see that you could find a cheap and easy costume at Goodwill. Characters in these shows tend to wear scrubs, which can be found at The Salvation Army or Goodwill for around $4 to $5.
$30 to $50 - A Classic Costume Witches, Clowns and Vampires. These are all easy classic costumes with components you can just throw together however you want. Putting one of these costumes together could be as easy as a day of shopping at Walmart where full costume sets can be as cheap as $30 and as expensive as $50 and some make-up that you may already own.
FAIR USE COURTESY OF IMDB & A24
THE WOOSTER BLADE | A&E | OCT. 29, 2021 | PAGE 9
Tech days teach Drama Club cast Mamma Mia cast and and crew members valuable skills crew prepare for opening THEO OLLIER staff writer
In preparation for the WHS Drama Club musical Mamma Mia this fall, performers and all other students involved in the production help build and paint sets, work on costumes, sound and lights every Saturday. These days are deemed tech days and occur for at least two months leading up to the musical. According to Drama Club Director and English Dept. member Brett Hiner, the function of tech day changes from building and painting sets early on to focusing on music, lights and sound during the later stages of preparation for the production. “Early, it’s a day where we’re building and painting and constructing and sawing and hammering, pretty much getting the set put together . . . and as we get closer and closer to the show, tech day becomes more about sounds, music and lights but it evolves over the rehearsal schedule . . .” Hiner said.
Chuck Armbruster, who volunteers to assist with the building of set pieces and has done so for many WHS plays and musicals, states that tech days not only help on the day of the performance, but help teach Drama Club students life skills. “In my perspective, there are a lot of gains for tech days, certainly performance benefits, but also the actors in the cast also learn skills too, like we’re using hand tools and power tools and construction techniques, shop, math, things you don’t typically do on a Saturday morning, so it’s a learning process in addition to the larger whole,” Armbruster said. Hayden Michel (12), a third year member of Drama Club playing the role of Sam in Mamma Mia, notes that he enjoys the fact that members of Drama Club learn how to use tools and help build sets rather than having advisors or directors do it for them. “We have to build our set, I think it’s cool that we get to do it and not just have all the grown-ups do it . . . to learn how to use all the tools and stuff,” Michel said.
Hiner also states that having members of productions build sets makes them feel more connected to their productions. “I think that when the kids are involved in building the set, they own the show more. It would be the equivalent of the football team laying their own turf,” Hiner said. Tech day for WHS productions is more than just preparing sets
“I THINK THAT WHEN THE KIDS ARE INVOLVED IN BUILDING THE SET, THEY OWN THE SHOW MORE,” HINER SAID. for shows, it teaches Drama Club members life skills that may not be taught in classes and connects them to their productions.
MAYA GALINDO-BENSON staff writer
Mamma Mia!—Here We Go Again—the WHS Drama Club kicks off their first production of the 2021-2022 school year. Despite being the third production put on by the Drama Club in the past two years, Drama Club Director Brett Hiner says it will be just as wonderful as any show that they have done in the past. “Every show is different. I think the sets will be as amazing as our other ones. I think the kids will be as talented as all the other ones,” Hiner said. Not only will the show be just as good as previous productions, but it will also be more extensive. “It’s bigger, I can tell you that; like the scale of it is bigger than other shows we’ve done,” Hiner said. Ashley Ragusa (12), who plays the role of Rosie, said Mamma Mia is unlike any previous musicals that the WHS Drama Club has done.
“It’s going to be a lot different because there are so many more components to Mamma Mia than other [school productions],” Ragusa said. Lindley Smith (9), vocal ensemble member, says Drama Club has a great social environment and also notes that she is ready for all the different parts of the musical to come together into one production. “One thing I just love about it is that I’ve made lots of new friends, but like, I am just always excited [about the] way everything comes together,” Smith said. The show dates are Nov. 13 and Nov. 14 and Nov. 19 through Nov. 21. Tickets can be purchased early and are on sale now: $12 for adults and $10 for students and for seniors. “I would encourage people to get tickets ahead of time to avoid lines on days of the show,” Hiner said. Tickets for the production can be purchased on the WHS Drama Club website: www.ticketpeak.co/whsdrama.
Dance captains play role in production ANIKA ELLIS staff writer
With less than three weeks to go until opening night, the WHS Drama Club cast and crew members and directors are working hard to piece together their fall musical performance of Mamma Mia, especially the dance captains and production crew. For this show, Persis Yoder (12) and Ashley Schroer (12) are serving as Dance Captains, assisting the head choreographer, Brian Murphy, who also serves as Artistic Director
for Wayne Center for the Arts. Both of these seniors are responsible for teaching and perfecting choreography for the musical. Yoder said she and Schroer, “...run rehearsals when the choreographer is there and get to more of the fine points of the dances, polishing them and making them more uniform.” The many tasks of the dance crew does not just end at teaching choreography. Yoder and Schroer are also a part of the ensemble. Occasionally, they will change parts of the dances if absolutely necessary, but Murphy choreographs the original dance
numbers and teaches the main dances to the ensemble. Rehearsals for Mamma Mia began in early September, giving the crew about two months to learn and build the show. Yoder says that despite the short time frame, “It’s going pretty well...it’s definitely a whole group effort.” Yoder said the most difficult dance to learn has been the choreography to the song “Voulez-Vous.” “It’s the closing number for Act I, so the whole cast is on stage, and it’s really grand music and it’s really fun, but our production likes to push our abilities so it’s a lot to
SHERIDAN SCHAUER
Students lift up a set piece at a tech day on Nov. 23. The piece will be used in the production of Mamma Mia, which begins performances in November. work on,” Yoder says. “I think the greatest challenge is learning how to teach people and learning how to keep people’s attention and how to
effectively communicate.” Tickets for Mamma Mia are on sale now and opening night is Nov. 13.
THE WOOSTER BLADE | ARTS | OCT. 29, 2021 | PAGE 10
Dune impresses fans
LAURA RAPPORT a&e editor Dune, based on the novel of the same name by Frank Herbert, was released in theaters Oct. 22. Dune follows Paul Atreides (played by Timothee Chalamet), a young man living in the year 10191. Paul is the heir to the House Atreides, a powerful family. House Atreides must travel to Arrakis, a desert planet inhabited by the Freman people, rich with humanity’s most valuable resource, spice. However, when Paul and his family arrive, they are thrust into the danger of the desert, and the hands of their enemies, House
Harkonnen. Paul must fight to ensure the safety of his people and the future of the galaxy. Dune features a star-studded ensemble cast including Chalamet, Rebecca Ferguson as Lady Jessica, Paul’s mother, Oscar Isaac as Duke Leto, Paul’s father and leader of House Atreides, Jason Momoa as Duncan Idaho, a House Atreides warrior and Zendaya as Chani, a young Freman woman, among others. Chalamet’s performance as Paul is incredible, and Chalamet portrays Paul’s journey from a young lad to a hero very well, making Paul’s character someone the audience can root for and relate to. Jason Momoa’s performance as Duncan Idaho also impresses. Momoa’s acting makes Idaho a threedimensional character, instead of a basic action hero, a character that Momoa often plays. However, the movie’s strongest performances are Oscar Isaac and Rebecca Ferguson. The pair’s acting as the heads of House Atreides is easily one of the best parts of the movie. Isaac’s
Squid Game excites viewers
MOLLY SNYDER feature editor Squid Game, a Netflix original series, premiered on the platform on Sept. 17 and quickly rose in popularity. Originally in the Korean language, the drama-horror hybrid follows Gi-Hun, a poor Korean man who enters a competition to
play children's games and win millions of dollars. The only catch is that if he loses the game, he dies. Over nine episodes, six games are played, each with dozens, sometimes hundreds of contestants being killed. Whoever is left after completing all six games successfully wins a large sum of money, roughly around $33 million United States dollars. The show is beautifully written and shot, invoking every emotion imaginable from the audience. The characters all have depth and make the viewer feel sympathy for the least likeable of characters. The main character of the show covers an array of different people, including, but not limited to, an immigrant from Pakistan, a defector from North Korea, and once
performance makes the duke not only a heroic figure but a loving husband and father as well and Ferguson as Lady Jessica was a perfect casting choice. Ferguson portrays Jessica as a complex character, torn between her duties as a mother and wife and her duties as a member of the Bene Gesserit, a group of women with superhuman abilities. The piece de resistance of the movie is the incredible cinematography by Greig Fraser. The movie is wonderfully shot and will take your breath away with its sheer beauty. Many shots in the movie look like renaissance paintings. Beautiful shots of the desert and the characters will keep your eyes glued to the screen. Hans Zimmer’s score also adds to the beauty of the film. Zimmer uses classical music combined with futuristic sounds to create a symphony for your ears. Zimmer’s incredible score combined with Fraiser’s cinematography makes the film seem like a masterpiece to the audience, especially when seen on the big screen. Overall, Dune is an incredible film that fans of the novel and the general public will enjoy. successful businessmen now knee deep in debt. Squid Game also makes a compelling commentary on the illusion of equality and fairness for the lower class, as all contestants are desperate for money and have become the entertainment for the rich elites. The show's popularity signifies a shift in popular media that would once stray away from international media that was not originally in English, something that has closed off a large portion of incredible shows, movies, and music. Squid Game is a phenomenal and exhilarating show that I would recommend for everyone over the age of 17 to see, as it would not be appropriate for people below 17 to watch due to its mature themes and scenes. I give this high praise not only because it is a good show, but also because of the social commentary many people overlook.
Pumpkin Spice Latte Reviews #2 Sure House Sweetness- 1 Pumpkin Taste-4 Smell-5 Price for a medium: $5.25 Bonus: pumpkin puree is used in the sauce. While the Sure House latte uses actual pumpkin puree in the flavoring, the sweetness is missing. The latte lacked sweetness and had no toppings, which left me disappointed.
LUKE POMFRET co-editor in chief Each September, pumpkin pice lovers flock to the nearest coffee shops in hope of finding the seasonal flavor; however, not all pumpkin spice lattes are made the same. In order to determine which company has the best pumpkin spice latte, I tested each of four companies on five benchmarks: sweetness, true pumpkin taste, smell, price and a bonus category for unique attributes.
#1 Starbucks Sweetness- 3 Pumpkin Taste-4 Smell-3 Price for a medium: $5.25 Bonus: whipped cream, pumpkin spice topping The classic Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Latte is the ultimate pumpkin spice winner because the latte is perfectly sweetened while still holding a true pumpkin taste. Also, whipped cream and the pumpkin spice topping are just the perfect toppings for the beverage.
#3 Dunkin Sweetness- 3 Pumpkin Taste-2 Smell-3 Price for a medium: $3.69 Bonus: whipped cream, pumpkin spice topping The Dunkin Donuts Pumpkin Latte is drinkable. The pumpkin flavor was lacking, which ultimately, led to its position on the list. The latte is not great and is not bad.
#4 Undergrounds Sweetness- 2 Pumpkin Taste-2 Smell-2 Price for a medium: $4.35 Bonus: Lots of pumpkin spice used. I was shocked by this latte. I love Undergrounds. My usual caramel oat milk latte never fails, but uniformly, the same cannot be said for the pumpkin latte. The latte was bitter, and the pumpkin taste was too similar to that of a spice. The flavoring actually tasted more like pumpkin spice topping than anything else.
Graphics by Grace Brownson
TRENDS
THE WOOSTER BLADE | OCT. 29, 2021 | PAGE 11
Tik Tok subsection influences reading selections for students LUCIA PERFETTI cover editor When thinking of Tik Tok, people often think of the nine hour daily average that teens spend on their phones, as referenced in a 2020 article from The American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry. Maybe they worry about what this means for grades, or mental health. But, chances are, for most people, books are not the first thing to come to mind when the platform of Tik Tok is addressed. . Despite warnings from the AACAP that screen time can lead to decreased reading, TikTok has actually been fount
to encourage reading. English Dept. member Kristi Hiner said she realized that Tik Tok was the reason for the demand for certain books in her classroom library. “Students have told me that they saw something on TikTok...that motivated them to search for particular books,” Hiner said, “I have been quite happy to see that platform being used for something positive.” BookTok is a subsection of TikTok where users recommend books to one another, communicating their thoughts or recommendations for reading options. TikTok user @sydneyybean has gained over 130,000 followers and 1.6 million likes on her page devoted to books.
“[When] I started watching TikTok...BookTok wasn’t as big as it is now, so I didn’t even really realize it was a thing,” Sydney remarked. “...I made a few book-related videos that went viral, and soon realized there were a ton of other readers and creators on the app with similar interests as me.” TikTok has been a positive community for book lovers to thrive, Sydney elaborates, saying, “TikTok allows for a lot of freedom with getting creative, and it’s relatively easy to make videos on the app. I ultimately just wanted a place where I could chat about my favorite books and five recommendations to people who were looking for them.” Although it may seem
counterintuitive for teens to find inspiration to read on the platform that also distracts them, Sydney adds that Tik Tok brings something she would not have otherwise, saying, “I don’t have many people in my real life who are readers, so finding the online community was super exciting.” Of course, there are negative effects of teens getting recommendations from social media. WHS Library Paraprofessional Kelly Grayshock warns, “There are so many genres and subjects out there, if TikTok is the only place students are getting their inspo, then they may be missing out on more.” Hiner adds to this warning, saying BookTok could be harmful “...if (viewers) are
not given the context of a text in terms of the maturity of issues.” The primary genres recommended by TikTok users are Young Adult and Romantic fiction, namely the books Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universeavailable at the WHS library- A Court of Thorns and Rosesavailable in. Hiner’s classroom library, The Book Thiefavailable at the WHS library, and The Song of Achilles- also available from Hiner. Some of Sydney’s favorites include House of Hollow, Strange the Dreamer, and The Hate U Give. Hiner recommends Pride and Prejudice, Wuthering Heights, Six of Crows, A Prayer for Owen Meany and Hamnet as her overall favorites this month.
English Dept. members discuss social media and reading habits GRACE KOSTOHYRZ staff writer
What is the book that you receive the most amount of requests for? Diane Mealey- It depends. School related: The Glass Castle. Independent reading: Whatever books peers read and liked- Butter, One of us is Lying, They Both Die at the End, are popular this year. Brett Hiner- It comes in cycles… for quite a bit it was anything by John Green. These days, I’d say Jason Reynolds has been the go-to author Bill Franck- #MurderTrending by Gretchen McNeil Chelsey Porter- 13 Reasons Why
What is one book you think students should read? Wright- This answer changes depending upon the purpose of the text. For pure enjoyment, read a series which is going to transport you to another world or time period. For social and political messages, read Fahrenheit 451 or 1984. For a challenge, read the classics. Reading choice is personal, and it should be. Connect with a text that is going to engage you or provoke thought. Mealey- I think they should read books that interest them. Depending on their mood would determine my recommendation. Two that I recommend often: The Winner and Reconstructing Amelia.
In what way has social media influenced the reading habits of teenagers?
GRACE BROWNSON
Wright- Social media has conditioned humans, especially teenagers, to be instantaneously gratified, meaning patience and perseverance are almost lost skills. Reading...requires both of these skills. Social media and its method of short, engaging visual pieces have made reading, and really reading, more difficult. Franck- ...In the past few years, I’m seeing more and more students struggle with focusing on one page. With non-linear formats of social media and limited words counts, students are finding it increasingly difficult to read a traditional text.
In looking at book recommendations, WHS English teachers were asked questions about the effects of social media on the reading habits of teens. The photo above exhibits some of the book selections that WHS English teachers recommend.
FEATURE
THE WOOSTER BLADE | OCT. 29, 2021 | PAGE 12
Wooster area runners participate in 2021 Boston Marathon TRENT KUZMA sports editor
The Boston Marathon began in 1897 following the Olympic marathon of 1896, with only 15 runners. On Oct. 11, the race boasted nearly 30,000 athletes, with 20,000 runners participating in the in-person event, according to NBC Boston. Athletes from all 50 states and 114 countries participated in the race this year. The race is different from many
others in the sense of admission because to participate at Boston; an athlete must qualify with given time standards and an application. All information on how to qualify can be found on the race’s website, the Boston Athletic Association. Many local runners have participated in the race. Jeremy Pope, an ultramarathon runner from Wooster, participated in the Boston Marathon in 2018 and
Businesses host Shop Hop OLIVIA HINER trends editor
The second annual Wooster Fall Shop Hop happened Oct. 23, with many local businesses downtown participating , providing discounts and providing fall themed specials. As the event was hosted by Main Street Wooster, Jonathan Benko-Scruggs, the project coordinator for Main Street Wooster, who also organized the event, said he thinks the Fall Shop Hop helped benefit local businesses. Benko-Scruggs stated that “Our Fall Shop Hop is geared to showcase and encourage our community to discover and shop local through the passport program, awarding participants to shop local for a chance to win Downtown Dollars. Partnering with NAMI, National Alliance of Mental Illness of Wayne & Holmes Counties, allows for our community to walk the streets of downtown, admiring local art, while also presenting the opportunity to learn about businesses they may not have otherwise visited.” NAMI of Wayne and Holmes Counties offers free education and support programs to
people affected by mental health conditions, according to the mainstreetwooster.org website. Many local businesses were looking forward to the event. Rhonda Greer, a part-time employee at JK Gift Shop, said they really enjoy interacting with the community. Greer also mentioned that for an upcoming event, on Oct. 30 from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. they are doing a Parkview fundraiser in which they are donating 20% of the profits to the Parkview PTO. A Time to Craft, owned by Rachel King, is another local business that participated in the event. For the Fall Shop Hop, A Time to Craft offered many fall and Halloween craft projects for people to stop in and make. With the holiday season coming up, King mentioned that she will have a lot of classes coming up, themed with projects and things that can be gifted. The Fall Shop Hop was a great way for people in the community to enjoy downtown. Coming up in Wooster, Window Wonderland is the next big event and will be occurring on Nov. 19.
completed the race with a time of 2:52:26. Pope noted he ran the race with a group of 5 from Wooster in awful weather conditions. “The start was 35 degrees, there was a little snow on the ground and 30 MPH head wind. Because the race runs west to east, the wind hit us in the face the entire 26.2 [miles]. From mile five, I covered my watch and just ran the race, truly trying to embrace the journey in the terrible weather,” Pope said. Pope said he took a lot away from this race. He notes that he learned how to roll with the flow better and better accept the uncontrolled aspects of life. “From this particular race, I
learned to embrace whatever the day throws at you. Each and every person that lined up on that day had the exact same conditions,” Pope said. Lindsay Beachy, a runner from Wooster, ran the Boston Marathon in 2018, which she said some runners deem as, “the worst weather on record.” Beachy noted the awful weather when asked about her race. Runners can requalify for the Boston the following year by performing well at the race. Despite the weather, Beachy still ran a good race. “I ran my second fastest marathon and requalified for Boston. I would like to go back again and, hopefully,
experience the true Boston marathon feel with a full crowd on a nicer weather day,” Beachy said. To qualify for her first marathon, Beachy set her goal to break the infamous 3:30 mark. When asked about getting more people into the sport, Beachy offered advice to aspiring runners: “Don’t compare yourself to anyone else, just run for you. If you can have that mindset, running will be more enjoyable and meaningful for you.” The 126th annual Boston Marathon is set for April 18, 2022, and thousands of runners are already trying to qualify to participate in this race.
SPORTS
THE WOOSTER BLADE | 0CT 29, 2021 | PAGE 13
Wooster sports teams take on postseason after OCC success Girls Volleyball
With back to back to back OCC volleyball championships, Wooster has been a force to be reckoned with. The team had a 18-2 record on the season, with the Generals’ only regular season loss coming to a high-powered Amherst offense. Senior captain Emmaleigh Allen said, “...the game was fun to play in because it challenged all of our skills and brought out a more competitive environment…” With an undefeated record in the OCC, Emmaleigh Allen commented on how the team has reached their success. “The group of girls we have right now has been so supportive of each other and it creates an environment that facilitates the drive to get better each day,” Allen said. The team finished their postseason run in the district semi-finals with a loss to Brecksville. Blurb written by Nora Levy
NORA LEVY
Boys Golf
GRACE BROWNSON
Football
With playoffs rapidly approaching, the WHS football team has finished the season with a 5-5 record with a highlight win against rival Orrville. WHS football also achieved success with wins against Mt. Vernon, Louisville, Lexington, and Ashland. Grahm Dixon (12), a captain on the team, said he is, “looking for our team to be the dark horse team that could upset teams that think they are just going to run right through us...we got off to a slow start, but as the season went on, I think we finally started to hit our stride and we finally started to get the ball rolling on all aspects of defense and offense.” Their most recent game against Ashland ended in a 17-7 win for the Generals and a trip to Olentangy Berlin on Oct. 29. Blurb written by Anika Ellis
Girls Tennis
Blurb written by Nora Levy
PHOTO COURTESY OF DAN STARCHER
Girls Golf
The girls golf team, coached by Mark Snowbarger, finished in third place as a team in the North Central Ohio Girls Golf League Championship and OCC tournament. The results of these competitions came from one match at Brookside Golf Course in Ashland on Sept. 25. Ashley Ragusa (12), four year member, said the golf season was fun and amiable. “The golf team was definitely one of my favorite things about high school and I am going to miss the team so much because we are really so much like a family, as cliche as it sounds,” Ragusa said. Ragusa, along with Sammy Amier, Mackenzi Ahrens, and Alex Greene finished their last season on Oct. 6. Their team finished seventh out of 17 competing teams at the sectional tournament.
The girls’ varsity tennis team began their season this year with a winning streak that started in August and continued through October, losing twice and winning 14 games over the course of the season. This year marks the second year in a row that the team earned the title of OCC champions. In looking at their season, Emma Boreman (12) was proud of the team’s season and progress. She has been playing tennis since she was 4-years-old and played first doubles all through high school. Boreman’s doubles partner is Alexia Kakanrou. “This year we did really well. We have a lot of good girls on the team who fought their hardest. Overall, this was one of the best years we’ve had,” Boreman said. Blurb written by Anika Ellis
The boys’ golf team capped off a good season with a ninth place finish at sectionals. The boys finished fifth in the OCC and had two all league selections. Devon Starcher (12) earned First Team AllConference, and Ian Snode (10) earned Second Team All Ohio Cardinal Conference for their performances in the league match. Senior captain Devon Starcher had good things to say about the team and their achievements this season. “As a team we did well. We all improved as the year went on,” Starcher said. Starcher also notes how much he has appreciated the team’s collective work ethic. “I’m proud of how all the guys worked hard to get better,” Starcher said.
NORA LEVY
Blurb written by Jhon Fajardo
THE WOOSTER BLADE | SPORTS | OCT. 29, 2021 | PAGE 14
Boys’ Soccer
Girls’ Cross Country
The regular season for girls’ cross country has come to an end, but postseason is still to come, with the seven varsity runners competing in districts in GlenOak Oct. 23. The season was particularly successful for Rachel Cornelius (12) and Audrey Miller (11), who both made first team OCCs; Marion Dix (12) who made second team OCCs; and Beverly Morgan (12) and Margaret McBride (9), who were both Honorable Mentions. As a team, they had many notable tournaments, including the Wooster High School Invitational where the team finished fifth out of 11 Division One teams. Looking at this season and the future, Maya Galindo-Benson (12) said, “I feel like the season went pretty well, we have a lot of personal records, we have a lot of really great new runners. We have seven runners going to districts this weekend which is at GlenOak.” Blurb written by Hannah LoGiudice
MOLLY BYRNE
Boys’ Cross Country
Though the regular season has ended, the boys’ cross country season is not over yet as they have the district meet in GlenOak on Oct. 23. With the ending of the regular season, the boys’ cross country team has continued to be successful. The team won the OCC team title for the first time since 2006, and have had several big wins throughout the season such as a first place win at the Wayne/ Holmes County meet. Several runners had accomplishments including Ashton Dunlap who was the OCC boys’ cross country runner of the year and Ethan Keating (11) and Gabe Thompson (11) who made OCC first team. Reflecting on the season and what is to come in the future, senior runner Sam Wilds said, “I think the season went well, we all got major personal bests and everyone made new friendships and memories. We really hope to make it to regionals in the postseason.” Ethan Keating (11) will compete in the regional meet on Oct. 30 at Boardman High School. Blurb written by Hannah LoGiudice
DELANEY WILSON
Sideline Cheer
The girls’ sideline cheer team, coached by Erica Lepley and Hannah Dehart, supports the football team every Friday night. Whenever the football season is over, the cheer team switches focus into basketball season for the winter. McKenzie Wilkes (12), four year member of the cheer team, comments on the postseason and switching from football to basketball and the excitement of the sport. “Technically, we don’t have much of a postseason, due to having to prepare for basketball, but prepping for basketball is actually one of my favorite things. I love basketball season, and doing all the different chants that involve using the floor and making noise to help engage in the game itself,” Wilkes said. With the football season coming to an end soon, the cheerleaders will have to translate into the basketball season. The sideline cheer team does not have an OCC tournament this year. Blurb written by Jhon Fajardo
RUMEN ZDRAVCHEV
The boys’ soccer team finished the season with a 13-4-1 record. In the conference, the Generals finished 4-1, with a highlight win against Ashland, shutting them out and scoring four goals. The team defeated John Marshall in the first round of the playoffs, Oct. 20, with a final score of 12-0. In the second round, the team defeated Brecksville on Oct. 23, with a final score of 6-2. The team ended their season with a loss against Avon Lake 1-2, on Oct. 27 in district semi-finals. Andy Glasgow (12) who has played on the team for three years, had many positive comments about the team’s success so far this year. “The soccer season [regular] went great, we played hard against teams we were upset by last year, and showed out strong against teams that were seeded,” Glasgow said. Blurb written by Trent Kuzma
GRACE BROWNSON
Girls’ Soccer
The varsity girls’ soccer team finished their regular season with a 10-7-1 record. They finished their season Oct. 18, with a postseason game loss to Shaker Heights with a score of 0-2. When asked how the season went for the girls Varsity soccer team, girls’ soccer coach Charles Cerniglia stated, “It was an excellent season. Double digit wins and a share of our first conference championship in seven years was special.” They had a record of 5-1 in the OCC league. Senior Heather Wolfe, a varsity player in her final season as a Wooster Generals soccer player stated, “ I feel like my senior season was one of my best at the high school. Not only did I improve in my own ability and skill, but we really grew as a team and became a family.” The soccer team shared OCC championship with Madison and Ashland. Blurb written by Sheridan Schauer
THE WOOSTER BLADE | SPORTS | OCT. 29, 2021 | PAGE 15
Reid Delaney appointed as new lacrosse coach ASHTON DUNLAP co-editor-in-chief The boys’ lacrosse team has welcomed new coach, Reid Delaney, to their program for the upcoming 2022 spring season. WHS Athletic Director Joe Rubino said he heard about Delaney through his involvement with Wooster seventh and eighth grade lacrosse programs and notes Delaney holds many qualities that he feels will make a good coach at the high school level. “He is confident,
knowledgeable and leads with humility, but knows exactly what he’s doing, he’s intentional. He’s big on accountability, team discipline, and huge on fundamentals,” Rubino said. Delaney said he was drawn to WHS because he attended WHS as a student. He also says the WHS lacrosse athlete’s have impressed him thus far. “The guys involved in the lacrosse teams, in my short time with them for the last four months, have a great work ethic and listen very well and are buying into a new culture, team chemistry and work ethic. So, it’s been really nice to see those
small changes, and those guys throughout,” Delaney said. Delaney says he is looking forward to the upcoming season and returning to a history of winning and deep playoff runs. He says he would like to build on the reputation of the state champion WHS lacrosse teams from 1998 and 2002. Four year WHS Lacrosse team member Mason Hamsher (12) said he is excited about having Delaney as a coach and specifically likes the professional nature of Delaney’s coaching. “He is an all business coach. It motivates our team because
he not only takes part in the drills and shows us how to do it but demands our attention and our skills to be at peak performance at all times. We are a very young team and this approach really has allowed our younger players to progress exponentially. I’m looking forward to winning a lot. H expects us to win our sectional and go far in the tournament,” Hamsher said. Both Hamsher and Delaney have a mutual goal of winning and are looking forward to the upcoming season. The lacrosse team will hold their first game March 12, 2022 at WHS against Highland High School.
PHOTO COURTESY OF PAWL DAWSON
New boys’ lacrosse coach, Reid Delaney, observes his players during a drill.
WHS appoints new girls’ basketball coach SHERIDAN SCHAUER focus editor WHS has hired 2010 alum Alex Kacere as the new girls’ basketball coach. Kacere said he came to coach at Wooster because of his familiarity with the area an with the school. “WHS is my alma mater. I played basketball for the Generals from 20062010. My love for basketball started at a young age and it correlated with my love for the Wooster Generals. Watching the early 2000’s Generals set me on a trajectory of wanting to be involved with Wooster Basketball for a long time,” Kacere said. Alex Mallue, assistant athletic director, said the district hired Kacere because he was a great assistant coach in the past and stated that he has already made a positive impact. “In his short time as girls head
coach, we have already seen positive effects from him and his staff on the program and have seen his great teaching ability at work,” Mallue said. Kacere said he has been coaching for a while. “I started coaching basketball when I was a senior in high school. I coached an eighth grade girls AAU team and fell in love with coaching the game as much as I loved playing it,” Kacere said. Kacere calls himself a “basketball nerd” and states that he often stays up late watching basketball highlights. His favorite basketball coaches to watch are Gregg Popovich, Brad Stevens, Thad Matta,Tony Bennett and Jay Wright. Kacere said he found his passion for basketball while playing in high school for the Generals . In regards to his goals for the first season, Kacere said, “I expect the first season to be a building year from a culture
standpoint. With all new coaches and new systems and expectations, this year will be about establishing a foundation of who we are going to be.” His words of wisdom for the girls who will begin basketball this season are: “Get ready for a program that promotes fun and hard work as the pillars of good basketball.” Mackenzie Ahrens (12) said: “I think that getting a new coach my senior year is fine because Coach Kacere has been making it really easy to adjust. Something I could say to the younger girls is to just enjoy it and have fun because it goes really fast.” Mallue said she is excited for the future of the program. “We are very excited for the Wooster High School girls’ basketball program and can’t wait to get the season underway,” Mallue said. The girls’ basketball team had tryouts last week and their first scrimmage is Nov. 6 at WHS against Padua Franciscan.
MAYA GALINDO-BENSON
New girls’ basketball coach, Alex Kacere, leads practice at the start of the season. Kacere played basketball for WHS from 2006 through 2010.
VIEWS
THE WOOSTER BLADE | OCT. 29, 2021 | PAGE 16
THE
THE VOICE OF WOOSTER HIGH SCHOOL
WOOSTER
BLADE
Editors-in-Chief Ashton Dunlap, Luke Pomfret Webmaster Ashton Dunlap Graphics Manager Grace Brownson Business Manager Delaney Wilson Head Photographer Rumen Zdravchev A & E Editor Lexxe Parsons, Laura Rapport Cover Editor Lucia Perfetti Feature Editor Molly Snyder, Grace Brownson Focus Editor Sheridan Schauer, On Campus Editor Hannah LoGiudice, Delaney Wilson Sports Editor Trent Kuzma, Jhon Fajardo Trends Editor Olivia Hiner Views Editor Brittany Wachtel Staff Writers Mattie Dunlap, Molly Byrne, Chloe Frichtl, Ben Stavnezer, Nora Levy, Sophia Mera, Stella Powers, Theo Ollier, Grace Kostohryz, Anika Ellis, Maya Galindo-Benson, Lanie Meyer Artists Grace Brownson Cover Artist Charlotte Kille Photographers Grace Brownson, Hannah LoGiudice, Rumen Zdravchev, Ashton Dunlap, Ben Stavnezer, Brittany Wachtel, Nora Levy, Delaney Wilson, Sheridan Schauer, Molly Synder, Maya Galindo-Benson, Molly Byrne Adviser Kristi Hiner The Wooster Blade is a biweekly student publication printed every other Friday by the Newspaper Production classes at Wooster High School. The Wooster Blade is designated as an open forum and follows publishing guidelines as established by district-wide publications policy protecting students’ freedom of expression. All copy, art and photography are property of The Wooster Blade and cannot be reproduced without permission. Letters to the editor are limited to 300 words and The Wooster Blade reserves the rights to print and edit as per length and content. The Wooster Blade is a member of Quill and Scroll, National Scholastic Press Association and Columbia Scholastic Press Association. Letters and inquiries should be addressed to The Wooster Blade, 515 Oldman Road Wooster, Ohio 44691. The Wooster Blade can be contacted at 330-3454000 ext. 3210. The newspaper can also be found at thewoosterblade.com
OUR VIEW
Social media regulation and education The Wooster Blade Editorial Board decided to provide different perspectives on the use of social media and its effects on teens. The issue of social media regulation and education can be looked at from both a student’s and a school’s perspective. What is the context of social media regulation in terms of students and schools.
What can students do to regulate social media behaviors?
What can schools do to regulate student social media usage?
After the Congressional hearings and testimony of Facebook whistleblower Francis Haugen last week, social media platforms, especially Facebook and Instagram have come under serious scrutiny. Several whistleblowers, most recently Haugen, have called for regulation of the platforms due to their improper treatment of misinformation and the dangers of the programs on the mental health of teenagers. According to an Instagram presentation released by The Wall Street Journal, “One in five teens say Instagram makes them feel worse about themselves.” According to the same presentation, teens feel Instagram harms their mental health by creating pressure to conform to social stereotypes and pressure to match the money and body shapes of influencers, among other grievances. Various Congressional members are calling on Facebook to release internal research on the effects of their platforms on the mental health of teens so they can be better monitored and regulated. Students at WHS directly fall into the demographic that has been proven to be affected the most by social media. Although the federal government may eventually regulate social media, both individual students and schools, as a whole, can take action to limit the harmful effects of the platforms.
When it comes to off campus speech on social media, the scope of school jurisdiction is limited. Students should educate themselves about possible impacts of social media and be aware of how their posts and comments can affect others and the impact it can have on them. It is easy to post a hateful comment on a person’s post and forget about it, but the person on the receiving end could very well be heavily impacted by the comment. Social media creates a platform where people compare themselves to others and, in turn, doubt their own self worth or hurt their body image. We, as students, must hold each other accountable for our actions and responsibly call people out when they are misusing social media. When there is little restriction on social media from any third party, we must hold each other accountable. Social media can be used in a positive way, through raising awareness and through praising the good actions we see or hear. We need to think about how we present ourselves to potential employers or admission offices as many look at social media accounts to see the personality and reputation of potential employees or students. Social media plays a major role in our lives, and we, as students, have to take responsibility for how we use it.
In any one classroom, chances are at least a quarter of the students are on their phones simply because there are no enforced repercussions for doing so. In fact, many students are not even aware of the cell phone policy at the school. As cell phone usage is so prominent throughout the school day, one thing about which students need to be reminded is that we have a school policy that actually states cell phones should be put away during the school day. During our school day, we, as students, do not see consistency, in terms of enforcement of this policy. While some classrooms utilize phones for instructional activities, overall, cell phones are not usually being used by students for educational purposes. Therefore, the administration should better enforce the district cell phone policy and limit student access to social media sites through the school Wi-Fi. Furthermore, it is important that the administration not only disciplines, but also educates students about the harmful effects that social media and phone usage can have on their emotional and mental wellbeing. Phones and social media can be a great distractor, especially in schools. By educating students about negative effects,WHS can encourage better engagement in the classroom and facilitate a more positive learning environment, free from the harmful effects of social media.