THE WOOSTER BLADE
WOOSTER HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT NEWSPAPER • 515 OLDMAN ROAD, WOOSTER, OH • DEC. 20, 2019 • VOLUME XX, ISSUE 7
Reflecting on 2019 and the past decade
On Campus 2-3 • Feature 4-5 • Cover 6-8 • Sports 9-10• A&E 11-13 • Trends 14 • Views 15-16
ON CAMPUS
THE WOOSTER BLADE | DEC. 20, 2019 | PAGE 2 As seen in the photo taken last year, the Adaptive Sports Program of Ohio took place on Feb. 23. This charity event was hosted at Alice Noble, with the Wildcats winning the game 7-0.
PRISM encourages activism and equality for all students PAULINA SALAZAR views editor GRACE BROWNSON
Alice Noble doors stay open to the public LUKE POMFRET staff writer On Dec. 5, ice fans were thrilled to find out their beloved ice arena would remain open for the next three years. Businesses and ice fans alike were able to raise $150,000 by Dec. 1, as part of the agreement between the Noble Foundation and the ice community, according to The Daily Record. Alice Noble now faces major changes to make sure their doors stay open for the foreseeable future. David Noble, president of the Noble Foundation, contemplates the ability for Alice Noble to be self-sustaining after 2022. “Whether the ice arena can become self-sustaining seems doubtful to me, which is the reason we needed the donations that have been pledged. These will support the operations for the next few years. The changes that might improve the financial situation are being studied,” Noble said. Noble also mentions that he fears Alice Noble is not being used to its maximum potential. “I desire that far more people use the ice arena. We have, over the past 18 years, created an ice culture that has surprised
us with the enthusiasm and support it has been able to garner.” Jay Robinson, head coach of the Wooster Youth Hockey program and one of the representatives of the ice community, says his committee has been working very hard to keep the ice arena doors open. Robinson describes the changes being made to make Alice Noble as self-sustaining. “Currently, an Executive Board will be formed, along with a 501(c)3 to act as caretakers of
“ALICE NOBLE ICE ARENA ALREADY SERVES A BROAD RANGE OF CHILDREN IN THE COMMUNITY... THESE PLAYERS COME FROM INCREDIBLY DIVERSE BACKGROUNDS CULTURALLY AS WELL,” ROBINSON SAID.
the funds raised to benefit the facility, to oversee the operations of the ice rink. Subsequently, an Advisory Group, composed of individuals in the local community with experience... will also be formed and offer critical feedback, advice, and strategy. These groups will work to decrease the annual deficit, secure and foster sponsorship relationships, and developing new revenue streams,” Robinson said. Robinson also notes he believes there is a diverse atmosphere of all types of ice fans using the arena. “Alice Noble ice arena already serves a broad range of children in the community. One of the common misconceptions regarding an ice facility is that it’s a facility used only and mostly by those in the uppermiddle class… Most players use fundraising and scholarships to play hockey. These players come from incredibly diverse backgrounds culturally as well. Additionally, ANIA’s ever-growing After School and Summer Enrichment Programs boast a diverse and continually expanding membership,” Robinson says. Future Alice Noble events consist of the annual Wooster figure Skating Club Holiday Ice Show that will take place. Dec. 21 at 3 p.m.
Prism is one of WHS’s clubs promoting acceptance of all students by encouraging everyone to be themselves, no matter their background. Luke Pomfret (10), vice president of Prism, said, “Prism is about activism and more representation at WHS.” Katherine Putka, adviser of Prism and Art Dept. member, added, “Prism is about equality
things easier, kinder and more equitable for all students,” Putka said. Prism’s meetings are held to host discussions on social justice and activism for human rights, including those of the LGBT+ community. These discussions are held with a focus on how to better students’ lives at WHS. “Absolutely everyone [is invited to come], despite what their beliefs might be. We encourage education on these
HANNAH LOGIUDICE
President Riley Brisbine (9) and secretary Olivia VanSickle (12) encourage interested individuals to join the all-inclusive club Prism. and advocating for all people.” Because of Prism’s focus on activism, the club is partnered with the One Club in hopes of bringing the uniting message of acceptance. Putka explained the club’s partnership with One Club, also advised by Putka. “We are working with One Club to try and advocate to make changes in the school that will hopefully make
topics, and if you wish to learn about topics, we encourage you to come and learn,” Prism president Riley Brisbine said. “Prism has been continuing for over 10 years, focused beforehand on providing support for students, while focusing now on political activism,” Putka said. Prism’s meetings are held every other Thursday in Putka’s room, B149.
THE WOOSTER BLADE | ON CAMPUS | DEC. 20, 2019 | PAGE 3
Student groups take the reins on holiday giving LENA WIEBE focus editor
SKYY KHOUNBORIN
Spreading the Christmas joy, the tuba players perform in Tuba Christmas. The concert is compiled of Wooster High School alumni and students who come together to perform one of Wooster’s many memorable traditions. This concert has been hosted by the principal director of Tuba Christmas, Music Dept. member Douglas Bennett.
WHS tuba tradition spreads winter cheer LUKE POMFRET staff writer
Tuba Christmas is an annual tradition at WHS, consisting of musicians of all ages and WHS alumni that return to their alma mater for a musical program like no other. Douglas Bennett, Music Dept. member and principal director of Tuba Christmas, says the stage was packed with 80 to 90 tuba players ranging from ages 12 to 81, and the PAC housed close to 800 people. In looking at the wide array of performers, with the youngest tuba player being 12 and the oldest being 82, Bennett says that he was excited to see some of his previous performers, but was also ecstatic to see many new faces in the crowd of tubas, including a young tuba player from Connecticut.
Nancy Ditmer, Emeritus Music Professor at the College of Wooster, has been a regular guest conductor for many years, and Bennett says he is appreciative of her talents. Bennett also describes the importance of the Tuba Christmas performance. “It’s a chance to get yourself into the spirit of the holidays. It’s also an opportunity to gather with family members,” Bennett said. Ben Haven (11), a participant in Tuba Christmas, describes a refreshing atmosphere at the performance this year. “I like how many people from all backgrounds, ages, and places can have fun playing music,” Haven said. Haven also says it seemed that more youth were involved with the production than previous years. Ditmer, has been conducting Tuba Christmas every year
since it began. “My favorite aspect of this event is the multigenerational aspect... I think its a great event that has appeal to everyone and really brings people and the community together. The event is festive in nature and short in duration.” As the years of Tuba Christmas have gone on, generations of tuba players have gotten the opportunity to perform in front of hundreds. Aiden Call (12), also a participant, describes his favorite moments from Tuba Christmas. “My favorite part of Tuba Christmas is when all the little kids come up on stage with us while we play ‘Jingle Bells’.” Call said he would like to thank Douglas Bennett for putting the event together. As tuba players from all ages perform, they get to be a part of a tradition special to WHS.
This holiday season, many WHS clubs and organizations are looking for ways to give back. Interact, the student-led service club, has organized a Christmas ‘Make a Wish’ program in conjunction with Wayne County Children Services. This program was created to help provide gifts for families who are unable to provide them for their children and allows community members to sponsor children by purchasing gifts that are then given to their families. Grace Buchholz (12), co-president of WHS’ Interact Club, said families who want to be considered for sponsorship, “...need to apply and give a list of what they want. They could want toys, clothes, electronics or even kitchen supplies.” Buchholz continues that Interact and other families and organizations that donate to the program “... just call in and tell the organization that we want to help. They… assign us a family and give us the list of what they want.” Buchholz added that she believes that Make a Wish and similar programs are beneficial for all involved. “The families that admit they need help are courageous for doing that. And, it takes a certain type of person to add another entire family to shop for during the holidays, it is pure kindness,” Buchholz said. Buchholz said she believes that for those who donate time or gifts to gift-giving
programs, “A really fun part is to imagine how they will react on Christmas morning.” Members of the International Baccalaureate program at WHS also coordinated a gift-giving program this year. Deanna Worth, a mathematics teacher for IB, said she has been organizing this program for about 10 years. The IB program organizes the Adopt a Family program through Wayne County Department of Jobs and Family Services, which has contacted Worth since her time serving as a faculty adviser for NHS at WHS This year, Worth says, IB students Asharia Irby (11) and Sairra Tapp (11) took the lead in shopping for the IB program’s chosen family. The Student Council and office staff also continued a similar tradition this year, in which a Giving Tree has been decorated in the main office with tags that provided information about each gift-recipients’ gender, age and preferences. Jennifer Wright, faculty adviser for Student Council, noted that “In the past, the Giving Tree has been set up by our wonderful office staff,” but that this year, Student Council members took charge in the program’s organization. Wright added that the Social and Emotional Wellbeing Subcommittee of the Student Council helped decorate the tree and organize the project as part of a requirement that each subcommittee must implement an initiative each nine weeks. The Giving Tree is organized in conjunction with People to People Ministries, who provide the tags for gifts that decorate the tree.
FEATURE
THE WOOSTER BLADE | DEC. 20, 2019 | PAGE 4
News reporter Linda Hall: Writing the next chapter RHEANNA VELASQUEZ co-editor-in-chief “After my first few months as the news editor of The Daily Record, I said to the former DR news editor, Jeanine Kendle…‘I wish all the reporters were like Linda Hall,’” The Daily Record Editor, Jarred Opatz, said. A 1975 graduate of Wittenberg University, where she double majored in Political Science and History, news reporter Linda Hall initially ventured into politics rather than journalism, working in Capitol Hill for Ted Kennedy. Although noting her time in Capitol Hill as an incredible experience that she would not trade for anything, Hall says when she joined The Daily Record as a correspondent and later as a staff writer, she, “fell back into what she had always enjoyed doing...and loved every minute of it.” For Hall, a deep love for journalism was fostered early on.
“I am going to jokingly say that [my career as a journalist] began at Parkview, because we had a little paper called The Panther, and I liked writing for it, and then I was a reporter and the co-editor for the Wooster High School paper, which back then was called The General, and then at Wittenberg University, I was national news editor by the time I was a senior on The Torch...I basically was doing journalism all my life, took a brief foray into politics and Capitol Hill and D.C. and loved that, too, but ended up right back at my starting point,” Hall said. Throughout her time as a journalist, Hall recalls simulating the life of a Marine at Parris Island, interviewing Mary Regula at the opening of the National First Ladies’ Library in Canton and twice attending the National Spelling Bee. Citing other notable interviews with Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., Angela Davis, Amy Tan and Jane Seymour, Hall adds, “As much as I have enjoyed meeting these
Kacsandi leaves Wooster ELLIE SNIDER staff writer This December, WHS will say goodbye to Joseph Kacsandi, who has been WHS’ Administrative Intern since the beginning of the school year. Kacsandi said the decision to leave Wooster has been a tough one, but he hopes he will now be able to spend more time with his family. “I am married, I have four daughter and I still live in Columbus…it’s been very hard
on them…I’d say the main reason is to help ease the burden on my wife and get back to sharing the responsibilities of taking care of four children,” he said. As of now, Kacsandi’s job primarily entails dealing with what he calls putting out fires, but due to Kacsandi having previously worked as an Administrative Intern since 2006, his work also included evaluating some teachers. “I was able to evaluate some teachers, which is something that is not usually done… I had
people and reporting on them, it has been just as important to me the local people I’ve covered because this is a wonderful community with people doing so many ministries, so many kinds of mission work, so many community involvement things. People in this community contribute so much to the area, and to the culture and social life and solving problems. Some of those local stories have meant the most to me, in terms of covering local people’s achievements and their devotion to the community.” Reporting with The Daily Record for over two decades, Hall has garnered immense respect from both colleagues and community members. According to The Daily Record staff writer Emily Morgan, Hall boasts not only a vast wealth of institutional knowledge, but also a deep commitment to covering education throughout Wayne County. Wooster City School District Superintendent Dr. Michael Tefs says he has always been
impressed by Hall’s authenticity, empathy, work ethic and due diligence. “There was a time in The Daily Record’s history where she was simply the educational beat writer and covered education. As times have gone by, the business of running a newspaper has certainly changed, and with the area she’s had to cover, from social services to higher ed to all of public education all over the county -- she is everywhere,” Tefs said. Tefs describes Hall as, “the consummate professional, one of the finest journalists I’ve ever worked with. We are really, really going to miss her.” While Hall is retiring from The
Daily Record, she says she will continue to write. “This has been an investment for me, in every way, to work at The Daily Record for all this time. I read it growing up, it’s always been an important part of the community to me... the people I’ve worked with and the experiences I’ve had and the things I’ve done, I will treasure it always. Really and truly, I love it here. So, the fact that it was time to make a change is just that; just moving into a new phase,” Hall said. Hall plans to pursue various freelance projects, including writing children’s books and a book about working for a community newspaper.
the opportunity to get to know some teachers on a different level,” Kacsandi said. Assistant Principal Nathaniel Steiner states this previous experience has allowed Kacsandi to contribute uniquely. “He came with a lot of experience and leadership roles… it’s nice to see it and learn from it,” Steiner said. Kacsandi hopes he has made a lasting impact on the lives of the students that he has worked with. “I’ve begun to forge some really positive relationships with the kids here, and hopefully they felt I was an advocate for them,” Kacsandi said.
Sarah Crooks, assistant principal at WHS, states that Kacsandi, “brought experience with middle school aged students, an outside perspective having served in various other school leadership roles in other districts, and was always prepared to share an interesting story or two.”’ Steiner said the position of Administrative Intern is one that is needed at the high school. “It’s a position that works with a lot of students so building relationships is always important… within that discipline you can be a real light for the students,” Steiner said. The position for Administrative
Intern was filled, with Rik Goodright hired to complete the 2019-20 school year at the Dec. 17 Board meeting. Goodright was previously involved at WHS as Crooks’ substitute during her maternity leave last year, Crooks said. Describing his time at Wooster, Kacsandi stated that it was, “Awesome… the school, as a whole, is full of absolutely wonderful students and teachers to go along with them.” Kacsandi hopes his next career will be closer to his family, but says his experience at WHS showed him a culture where students genuinely strive to do the right thing.
Linda Hall poses with Brutus the Buckeye at the OARDC’s Shisler Center. Photo courtesy of Linda Hall
THE WOOSTER BLADE | FEATURE | DEC. 20, 2019 | PAGE 5
Central Christian helps victims of human trafficking through dressember MAEVE FLORENCE-SMITH feature editor
Dressember is an international organization that seeks to help those who have become the victim of human trafficking. The Dressember website states, “We are a community of international advocates utilizing fashion and creativity to help end human trafficking.” This project originated, according to the Dressember website, in 2005. The founder, Blythe Hill, began to learn about the issue of human trafficking, yet she felt like there was nothing she could do because her skills were in fashion, trend analysis and blogging. In 2009, she realized that there was something she could do to help that had to do with fashion. She challenged herself to wear a dress every day of December. Since 2013, Dressember supporters have raised around $7.5 million to finance antitrafficking work internationally, according to the website. The website states, “Every year, thousands of advocates around the world take on the challenge of wearing a dress or tie during the 31 days of
December.” Local school, Central Christian, has been participating in Dressember. Student Audrey Murray (12) states, “This is my second year fundraising, and my third year participating by wearing dresses throughout the month of December...A group of students and faculty/staff at Central have chosen to be intentional about how we are spending December. I chose to help start a fundraising team at Central last year. Throughout the month of December, we take on the challenge of wearing a dress every day in order to have a conversation starter on the topic of human trafficking— someone asking why we chose to wear a dress can turn into raising awareness about the issue.” Another Central student Cameron Edminston (12), states, “A unique challenge is that this fundraiser occurs right after our school’s big community service fundraiser, so it is challenging because most people in the school community do not want to just donate. This year, I am creating an escape room over break for students to do, to help raise funds. I know other students and teachers are making food and providing other services to
meet their goals.” Edminston and Murray each have an individual goal. Edminston’s is $300 and Murray’s is $500; the school’s goal is $6,719. Edminston says, “I think Dressember is important to me. It not only directly helps fight human trafficking through donations to organizations that work with after care and rescue for victims of human trafficking and prevention/education, but spreads advocacy on the serious, but often forgotten, issue of human trafficking and human slavery.” Murray encourages people to join in, either by donating or participating by wearing a dress or dress shirt and tie. She also emphasizes the importance of shopping ethically and not falling prey to fast fashion, because fast fashion is a leading cause of human trafficking. Many workers in fast fashion companies do not get compensated fairly and most likely work in horrific conditions. She advises people to be mindful especially during this holiday season. Murray states, “Nothing is ever going to change if we don’t do anything or start somewhere.”
CLASSIC SPONSORS Classic $250
Corporate $350 Seaman Corporation CORPORATE SPONSORS Corporate $350
Boreman Norton Cook Wealth Partners Buehler’s Fresh Foods
Human trafficking by the numbers 20-40 million people are in human trafficking
1 in 4 are children An estimated 24.9 million victims are trapped in modernday slavery. Of these, 16 million (64%) were exploited for labor, 4.8 million (19%) were sexually exploited, and 4.1 million (17%) were exploited in state-imposed forced labor. 71% of trafficking victims around the world are women and girls and 29% are men and boys. Facts gathered by Maeve Florence-Smith from humanrightsfirst.org/resource/human-trafficking-numbers
Volunteer options for students SOPHIE GAMBLE cover editor During the holiday season, many people choose to give not only to those around them, but also to the larger community. This season should be a reminder of how all of us can give back, and in Wooster, there are many different ways to make a difference in our community. Donations to The Wooster Hope Center can be made year round to help feed families in Wayne County. They also are always looking for volunteers and need 80 volunteers a week, in order to distribute 100,000 pounds of food each
month, according to their website, where volunteering applications can be found. Wayne County Children Services accept donations for children in need in the community. They are accepting volunteers for holiday events and for tutoring and mentoring programs starting this coming February, according to their website. The Salvation Army is open to monetary, food and item donations, according to their northeast Ohio division’s website. Another way to make a difference is to organize a food or money drive through school, church or other organizations.
BLUE & GOLD SPONSORS Blue & Gold $750
Milltown Family Physicians, Inc.
COVER
THE WOOSTER BLADE | DEC. 20, 2019 | PAGE 6
2010
2012
The Legacy 2011’s theme was “punctual,” in terms of impactful events. Individuals editor of the yearbook Kate Redmond wrote that “different aspects of life are like punctuation; it’s all part of our story, our life at WHS.”
The Imperator 2010’s theme was “press play.” In the yearbook, staff member Caitlin Ratliff wrote that “music defines everyday activities,” and the yearbook often ties back to the influence of music on all aspects of life.
The Legacy 2013’s theme was “Time will tell,” though the yearbook also incorporated the idea of high school being like a magazine, stating, “Each student starts their own article in the story of WHS and leaves their mark in a different way.”
The Legacy 2012’s theme was “Login.” This was because of the prevalence of social media. Yearbook coeditor and chief Nicki Barrett wrote “ No matter what...one thing remains the same… this place to ‘login.’”
2011 2013 WHS yearbooks grow through ten years of change and development Blurbs by Sylvie Shaya, covers courtesy of the WHS yearbook staff
2014
The Legacy 2014’s theme was “Confidential,” with the yearbook being a file for the case of 20132014. The yearbook incorporated this theme through sections such as “Suspicious Activity” and layouts made to look like case files.
The Legacy 2015’s theme was “Pause,” stating that the 2015 yearbook, “emphasizes the need to pause, reflect, and remember.” The book achieved its goal of pausing moments in time through allusions to watching something.
2016
The Legacy 2016 yearbook took a different approach to theme than most of its peers, as it was a “survival guide” to high school. This theme was used to outline how to survive, or in this case enjoy, one’s high school years.
BLADE adapts for the future STUART COURSON staff writer
As the decade comes to a close, The Wooster Blade staff is proud to celebrate the many accomplishments they have made within this past decade. When looking at previous issues from BLADE 10 years ago, there are many key components of the newspaper that are still prevalent today, but there are also many differences. From the charismatic headlines, such as Spiderman musical leaves student disappointed by WHS 2010 alumni David O’Donnell to the more serious headlines, such as A modern day slavery threatens the U.S. by WHS 2018 alum Estelle Shaya, the newspaper’s objective of reporting the current news in a timely and respectable manner is apparent. However, there were many changes made throughout the decade. Kristi Hiner, adviser of The Wooster Blade, noted some of these changes, such as the
The Legacy 2017’s theme was “Pathways,” as the yearbook stated, “students are choosing their own paths.” The 2016 - 2017 yearbook worked to capture the pathways students follow through high school.
change from going from a 16-page broadsheet format to a tab size format, which ranges from 16 to 32 pages. This also opened the door of redesigning their layouts and especially their content. She also noted the opening of a magazine issue entitled The Edge. She said she started this production to encourage the involvement of younger students Hiner also noted that even though the BLADE had gone through many changes throughout this decade, they sort of have to. In order for the BLADE staff to adapt to all the changes going on each year, it is important they also evolve with the changes while maintaining their responsibility of reporting credible news to their audience. Looking ahead, Hiner also elaborated on some changes the BLADE is considering for the upcoming decade, describing the possible chance of redesigning of the paper, and also mentioned the idea of additional publications for magazines as they currently publish 2 to 3 issues a year.
2018
The Legacy 2018 yearbook theme was “We’ve Got You Covered,” stating, “From vital statistics to random facts, the ... year was covered in a unique manner.” The yearbook covered as many aspects of WHS possible.
The Legacy 2019 theme was “Unlocking a Legacy.” The book was designed as a locker, to open and see the memories of high school within it and to be able to keep to look back on later in life.
THE WOOSTER BLADE | COVER | DEC. 20, 2019 | PAGE 7
Decade in review:
Hannah Doan ‘14
a look at the evolution of WHS JACK VENEY staff writer
Over the decade, there have been many changes in the WCSD. According to a past issue of The Wooster Blade, in 2012, the school district closed two schools, Lincoln Way and Wayne. Fifth and sixth grade were moved to Edgewood Middle School, and eighth grade was moved to WHS. WHS got two new athletic directors, Andy Kellar and Joe Rubino, in 2010 and 2019 respectively. At the high school, there have also been some changes
Emily Kacsandi ‘11
to things. According to an article in The Daily Record, Follis Field was converted to a turf field in 2014, and the new athletic complex outside Follis was added in 2016. According to BSHM Architects, the new press box new press box in 2015. The pool was renovated in 2018. According to a past issue of The Wooster Blade, improvements to security have been made at WHS, including the addition of a wall in the Commons being added in 2018. According to an article in The Daily Record, the new welcome center was added, being completed for the start of the 2019-2020 school year.
What were the most successful sports teams? “We were horrible at pretty much everything but Swimming.”
What was the best place to study when you went to WHS? “I was on the BLADE staff, so I spent all of my study halls and free time in the BLADE room.”
What were some of the most popular electives? “Public Speaking, Graphic Arts, Cooking Classes”
What were some of the biggest changes that happened at WHS while you were there, or before/ after your time there that you know about through older/younger siblings? “My senior year is when senior privilege became a thing...That was really big. The football field was redone pretty soon after I left. I also heard there’s a coffee shop in the library now, which is a huge change, and I’m very jealous. Also, my brother [Joseph Kacsandi] started working there this year, which is pretty cool.”
Alumni interviews conducted by Sierra Dewald and Rheanna Velasquez
What were some of the biggest social trends you noticed on campus?
What was the best place to study when you went to WHS? What were some of the biggest “Starbucks” social trends you noticed on campus? What were the most successful “Instagram was just coming sports teams? up in the ranks, but people “Speech and debate. No, but mostly spent time on Twitter. actually, probably boys soccer Vera Bradley lunchboxes were and football.” crucial...prom.” What were some of the biggest What are you doing now changes that happened at (career, field of study, etc.)? WHS while you were there, “High school English teacher.”
Rachel Dugan Wood ‘17
“Gaucho pants were unfortunately in style at the beginning of high school. Facebook was really the only form of social media and it was really popular.”
What are you doing now (career, field of study, etc.)? “I graduated from Ohio State in 2015 and I’ve been living in LA for 3 years doing stand up comedy, but I’m in the process of moving back to Columbus.”
How did high school prepare you for what you did/are doing after? “It definitely helped me hone my creative and performative skills and encouraged me to pursue theatre in college and then stand up comedy after that.”
or before/after your time there that you know about through older/younger siblings? “Accessing phones while in class was pretty unheard of, and I think that has changed now. I also saw the transition from leggings being against dress code to being a wardrobe staple. My senior year was also building optimization year, which meant that all of the school buildings were reorganized and WHS absorbed the eighth grade students.”
What was the best place to relax when you went to WHS? “The couch in Scotti’s room.” What were some of the biggest changes that happened at WHS while you were there, or before/after your time there that you know about through older/younger siblings? “While I was a student, the security measures around the entrances to the school improved…In my senior year,
a new program for handling college applications was introduced (Naviance)…There was a bigger emphasis on STEM that started while I was at WHS and has continued since, with a wider variety of classes and clubs in these subjects being offered” What are you doing now (career, field of study, etc.)? “I am currently a junior at The Catholic University of America studying English and Theology. I just finished studying abroad in Rome for a semester.” How did high school prepare you for that? “All the classes I took in the English Dept. — particularly those with Mrs. Hiner and Ms. Coppola during my junior and senior years—prepared me well to begin a degree in English, and gave me the strong writing skills that I needed in all my college classes.”
THE WOOSTER BLADE | COVER | DEC. 20, 2019 | PAGE 8
Growing Activism: #NeverAgain
Almost two years ago, a teenage gunman armed with a semiautomatic rifle attacked Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla., killing 17 people. In the days that followed, student survivors demanded action rather than thoughts and prayers, vowing that no one else should live through what they had experienced. They promoted a hashtag, #NeverAgain; began a political campaign, March For Our Lives; and launched a social movement for common sense gun control. In total, there have been at least 2,320 mass shootings since Sandy Hook in 2012, with at least 2,634 killed and 9,660 wounded, according to a Vox article titled, “We Said Never Again.” Though #NeverAgain and March for Our Lives have definitely changed the country’s perspectives on gun control, as many retailers, such as Dick’s sporting goods and Walmart have changed their gun policies. Changing legislation, however, has proven to be much harder, as they’ve struggled to change the minds of a government with close ties to the NRA.
#Extinction Rebellion As stated by their website, rebellion.earth, the Extinction Rebellion is an international movement that uses non-violent civil disobedience in an attempt to halt mass extinction and minimise the risk of social collapse. Along with climate activist Greta Thunberg, the movement for protecting our climate as evolved in urgency throughout this decade. Those born in the 2000s will remember growing up with the simple phrase, “Reduce, Reuse, Recycle,” but those born and growing up in the 2010s will remember this as the decade of protesting for greener legislation and corporations. Blurbs written by Mya Vandegrift. Timeline compiled by Molly Snyder and Anna Nacci.
Timeline of social movements in 2019:
January
Women’s March in the United States (Jan.19)
March
Presidential protests in Algeria (March 1- present)
May
Protests against Alabama abortion bill (May 15)
July
Protests in Moscow over election (July 27 - Aug. 31)
September
Global climate strikes (Sept. 20 - Sept. 27)
November Impeachment trial begins (Nov. 25)
Examining the progress of social media movements in this decade
February
Denver teachers strike (Feb. 11-14)
April
Eleven people die in protests against Sudan’s president (Apr. 9)
June
Protests in Hong Kong (June 9 present)
August
Democratic protests in Zimbabwe turn violent (Aug. 16)
October
Protests in Chile over public transportation fees (Oct. 19 - present)
December
Nationwide strike in France over pension reform (Dec. 5)
#BlackLives Matter
This hashtag turned six years old in 2019, and marks the fifth anniversary of the Ferguson uprising- the riots that followed the fatal shooting of unarmed black man Michael Brown by police officer Darren Wilson. The Ferguson Uprising drew national attention as the hashtag gained momentum. Through the unnecessary and unjust murders of other people of color by police brutality, and the rise of neo-nazism and white supremacy, BlackLivesMatter has called attention to the harmful ignorance still present in our societies and criminal justice system.
#MeToo When activist Tarana Burke started the Me Too campaign more than 10 years ago, her goal was, “to spread a message for survivors: You’re heard, you’re understood.” From Harvey Weinstein to Brett Kavanaugh, MeToo has not only opened up a conversation about sexual assault, but an online platform for survivors to support one another and be heard. The awareness that has increased over the decade about sexual assault has even opened up room for new legislation. According to ny.gov, New York expanded its sexual harassment law to cover independent contractors in 2018 and improved protections for domestic workers in 2019. California broadened its law in 2018 to offer protections for people harassed in an expanded set of business relationships — including, notably, relationships with producers, as described in the California legislative website (leginfo.legislature.ca.gov). The work that MeToo has accomplished in the past 10 years have given survivors a voice, and have been the first steps in breaking the silence around sexism and violence in the workplace and in our homes.
SPORTS
THE WOOSTER BLADE | DEC. 20, 2019 | PAGE 9
What to watch for: Boys Basketball -12/20 vs. Mansfield Senior away -12/21 vs. Dover High School away -12/23 vs. New Philadelphia High School home -12/27 vs. West Holmes High School home -1/3 vs. Mount Veron away
Wrestling -12/21 McKinley Invitational away -12/27 Knights JV Wrestling Invitational away -12/28 McKinley Invitational away -1/4 Beauty and the Beast home
Bowling
-12/28 Pirate Holiday Classic away
Gymnastics
Sporting events over break Girls Basketball
-12/21 vs. West Holmes away -12/28 vs. Chippewa away -1/2 vs. North Royalton High School home -1/4 vs. Mount Vernon High School away
Swimming -12/27 vs. Copley home -1/3 NEAC Diving Championships away -1/4 NEAC Championships home
Wheelchair Basketball -12/28 vs. Massillon High away
-1/4 Beauty and the Beast home
Photos by Rumen Zdravchev and Maddy McCully with graphics by Madison Helms. Facts compiled by Maddy McCully.
THE WOOSTER BLADE | SPORTS | DEC. 20, 2019 | PAGE 10
Wheelchair basketball team excels TYLER KEATING staff writer
Many students at WHS are unaware of one of the most successful sports teams at the high school. The WHS wheelchair basketball team has a 7-0 record this year, and have outscored their opponents by 164 points. The team also has been undefeated the past two seasons, winning the state championship both years. The wheelchair basketball team is a co-ed team that has 10 players on the roster, according to the team’s page on the Wooster Athletics website. Joe Rubino, WHS athletic director, said he has enjoyed watching the team’s success this season. “They’ve been doing
great. It’s been a lot of fun watching them… some of our upperclassmen are becoming so strong, so to watch that development from the time they were little until now, over the last four or five years, how that’s come together, has been very encouraging,” Rubino said. Evan Heller (12) has played on the WHS team for five years, as well as playing for the Jr. Wheelchair Cavaliers in the National Wheelchair Basketball Association’s varsity junior division, where he was featured in Chris Rathje’s October Athlete Spotlight, the first junior athlete that Rathje showcased. Heller is enthusiastic about the team’s season so far this year, saying, “Wooster is the favorite again this season to win another state title. Our
team has more experience on our roster than most other schools. Tallmadge looks to be our toughest competition again this year. We have faced them in the state championship two years in a row, and I expect that it could happen again this season. Tallmadge came up with a good game strategy when we played them in our season opener a couple weeks ago and they kept the scoring low and were effective for a half before we pulled away in the second half. GlenOak also has a solid team and should be a good competitor this season.” The one recognition that the wheelchair basketball team has not received is a banner in the gym acknowledging their many victories. Heller commented on the fact, saying, “We all have worked very hard and we have
In the game against Tallmadge, Evan Heller shoots a long shot over the opposing team. The Generals, going forward, are looking for another state title. Photo courtesy of Evan Heller. accomplished something pretty phenomenal that no other school has done. We deserve a banner, because it is a symbol of our hard work. Fortunately, my understanding is that a state banner is on order and will be
raised in our gym this season.” Joe Rubino, the WHS athletic director, confirms this, saying, “we will do a [celebration of] wheelchair basketball, as well, during halftime of one of our games in January.”
A&E
THE WOOSTER BLADE | DEC. 20, 2019 | PAGE 11
Little Women
2019 movies receive Critics Choice Awards
“[Gerwig’s] gratifying take on Louisa May Alcott’s Little Women brings freshness, vitality, and emotional nuance to source material, which has been etched for generations into the popular imagination, shaking up the chronology to reinvigorate the plot’s familiar beats.” -The Hollywood Reporter - David Rooney
Marriage Story “At its most excruciating, Marriage Story documents how love becomes distorted and disfigured...Baumbach manages to find a nugget of humor at even the most painful points, whether it’s a lunch break during a tense legal negotiation, or a disastrous appointment between Charlie and an affectless social worker that literally leaves blood on the floor.” -The Washington Post - Ann Hornaday
The Irishman “A magisterial entry in his long and masterful career, Martin Scorsese’s crime epic is no mere nostalgia trip; reflective and melancholy rather than kinetic, it’s touched by both greatness and loss.” -Common Sense Media - Jeffrey M. Anderson
ic Graph
Once Upon a Time in Hollywood “...Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood” excites you, delights you, lulls and seduces you in the spirit of its onceupon-a-time title. .” -The Wall Street Journal - Joe Morgenstern
a&e editor
Over winter break, the CW will begin wrapping up the “Crisis on Infinite Earths” event, a giant crossover of the DC TV shows spanning through Arrow, Supergirl, Flash and Batwoman. The event was started by a supervillain called the AntiMonitor who is attempting to destroy the Multiverse in order
“Knives Out” -Julia Hootman (11)
iles inne W
“Love, Rosie” -Kaity Drown (11)
r by Co
Student and critic choices compiled by Mya Vandegrift
“Parasite” -Sofien Dami(11)
“Abominable” -Laura Rapport (9)
The good, the bad, and the critics: Movie and play fans anticipate and review entertainment from 2019 and 2020
Crisis on Infinite Earths comes to an end
LEO RILEY
Students share film recommendations
to start a new universe with him ruling. Intrepid heroes from across different timelines must come together to prevent the destruction of the Multiverse, which encompasses all of everything. In the comic version of this event, there are explosive repercussions including the death of Flash, however, in a surprising twist it has been confirmed that Green Arrow, also known as Oliver Queen, will be the one who will bite the bullet. With Green Arrow trapped in purgatory the other heroes will have to save him while also countering the Anti-Monitors plans and, with many universes already destroyed, the Justice League is running out of time.
“Crisis on Infinite Earths” is seemingly not at all connected to the DCEU connected universe of movies, but not leaving out the established characters of Superman and Batman, they instead take them from different universes such as an evil version of Batman. While it is exciting to see beloved comic story lines play out on screen, the last time something of this caliber was attempted was the Netflix Defenders series, which was credited to be, in part, responsible for the end of all the shows that took part, including the beloved Daredevil, and was in the end a total disaster. Part 1 and 2 are already out, and part 3 will continue Jan. 14, 2020, this time showing on the season finale of Arrow.
“It’s a Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood” -Ben Haven(11)
Productions come to Playhouse Square
A Christmas Carol
Mean Girls
Location: Great Lakes Location: Connor Palace Theater Dates: Dec. 10 through 23 Dates: Dec. 12 through 22 Lowest Ticket Price: $39 Lowest Ticket Price: $35
A Christmas Story
Clue
Location: Cleveland Play House Dates: Jan. 25 through Feb. Location: Cleveland Play 23 House Lowest Ticket Price: $20 Dates: Dec. 12 through 23 Lowest Ticket Price: $20
Play information compiled by Sierah Pilson
THE WOOSTER BLADE | A&E | DEC. 20, 2019 | PAGE 12 A New Hope (1977)
The Phantom Menace (1999)
Return of the Jedi (1983)
The Clone Wars begins (2008)
Solo (May, 2018)
Revenge of the Sith (2005)
The Empire Strikes Back (1980) Attack of the Clones (2002)
Rebels begins (2014) Disney buys Lucasfilm (2012)
STAR WARS, a look back at the 42 year adventure ZACH BREWSTER
staff writer The galaxy far, far away is coming to a conclusion soon with the ninth and final release in the Skywalker Saga, The Rise of Skywalker, a conclusion 42 years in the making. While the series is now a household name, it initially had a rocky start. According to an article titled “All The Insane Behind-The-Scenes Reasons Star Wars Almost Never Got Made” on ranker.com by John Saavedra, A New Hope exceeded its budget, was boring until hefty re-editing, and due to harsh filming locations, experienced many delays, which caused it to miss the original release date. Through all of this, A New Hope became one of the greatest success stories in cinematic history. According to imdb.com and adjusted for inflation, A New Hope grossed nearly $3 billion, putting it above recent blockbusters such as Avengers: Endgame. Three years later, The Empire Strikes Back released and shocked fans worldwide with the iconic paternal plot twist. Return of the Jedi capped off the original trilogy, and a 16 year wait followed until the prequels. While initially met with heavy criticism, many fans have come to appreciate the worldbuilding and characters of the prequels, while finding humor in some of the cheesy dialogue, according to an article by Kelly Lawler
The Mandalorian begins (Nov. 2019)
The Force Awakens (2015)
on usatoday.com titled “Why I love the ‘Star Wars’ prequels (and you should too).” In 2012, Disney made the $4 billion purchase of Lucasfilm, producer of the series, and according to an article titled “Disney bought Lucasfilm six years ago today and has already recouped its $4 billion investment” on cnbc.com by Sarah Whitten, Disney made their money back by 2018 in the box office alone, not to mention the fortune from merchandising. In 2014, starwars.com announced that the hundreds of books, comics, etc. that had been published as the extended universe of Star Wars would no longer be canon, and said only the original six films and the TV show The Clone Wars would remain, making room for the sequel trilogy and the new extended universe. Since then, numerous shows, books, comics, video games and more have been published alongside the release of the new sequel trilogy. Other films outside of the saga have also been released, such as Solo and Rogue One. More films are still planned, according to an article titled “Rian Johnson Confirms Star Wars Trilogy Talks Are Still Ongoing” on screenrant.com by Christopher Fidducia, Rian Johnson, director and writer of The Last Jedi, is currently planning to produce a trilogy of films. While The Rise of Skywalker will bring an end to the main story, the universe will live on.
Rogue One (2016)
Resistance begins (Oct. 2018)
The Last Jedi (2017)
The Rise of Skywalker (Dec. 2019)
Drawing by Olivia VanSickle
STAR WARS student movie ratings (A rating from 1-10 starting at 5)
5
6
7
8
9
10
The Phantom Menace
Attack of the Clones
Revenge of the Sith
A New Hope
The Empire Strikes Back
Return of the Jedi
In which order do you believe the Star Wars saga should be viewed in? The Force Awakens
The Last Jedi
Should the STAR WARS saga be viewed fully in 67.2% chronological order of the story, or order of release?
32.8% Graphics by Madison Helms In which order do you believe the Star Wars saga should be viewed in?
32.8%
Graphic by Corrine Wilds
32.8%
163 students were polled from grades 9-12 during the week of the Dec. 9.
67.2%
67.2%
Chronological Order Chronological Order
Order of Release Date
Order of Release Date
THE WOOSTER BLADE | DEC. 20, 2018 | PAGE 13
Students recognize the best of entertainment from this decade REECE MITCHELL
REECE MITCHELL
co-editor in cheif The TV industry is going more modern, as we move further from cable and box televisions to flat screens with Hulu, Netflix, Amazon Prime and other big streaming platforms. Over the past decade, companies have engineered bigger, better quality televisions that customers want because the expectation for a bigger and better television has only gotten greater, making smaller televisions, that might have been the best money could buy at the beginning of the decade, way more affordable, but much less desired. Blurb by Reece Mitchell
co-editor in cheif has changed in many The gaming industry ways. The games, updated consoles, drastic improvement of the graphics within the games and the increased opportunity to play with friends and other people online have also helped the increase in gaming across America. As the industry has evolved, especially in terms of graphics and speed, games like Mario Kart and Call of Duty have grown in popularity. As new games and ideas come about the gaming world only has room to grow. Blurb by Reece Mitchell
In the past 10 years, Hollywood has put out some very interesting movies. With all types of movies being produced, it is no surprise that they remain a dominant part of culture. The following films alone made around $1.3 billion over the course of time. Pete Travers, a Rolling Stone film critic, has been reviewing movies since 1989. In articles published by Rolling Stone in each year of the past decade, the following films were rated by Travers as the number one films from 2010-2019. Blurb by Jensan Bauman
Top TV shows, video games and movies from 2019 to 2010
‘19 ‘18 ‘17 ‘16
The Big Bang Theory Call of Duty: Modern Warfare The Irishman The Haunting of the Hill Red Dead Redemption 2 Roma The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel COD: WWII Dunkirk Stranger Things COD: Infinite Warfare La La Land
The Sounds of 2019
Who was the top music artist in 2019?
‘15
Narcos COD: Black Ops III Spotlight
‘14
Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey COD: Advance Warfare Boyhood
‘13
Rick and Morty Grand Theft Auto V 12 Years a Slave
What is the top genre of music you listen to?
18%
Information compiled from Rolling Stones, Businessinsider.com and Thestacker.com
‘12
Gravity Falls COD: Black Ops II The Master
‘11
Game of Thrones COD: Modern Warfore 3 Drive
‘10
Sherlock COD: Black Ops The Social Network
How much time do you spend listening to music annually? 20% 20% 30%
18%
23%
Pop 42%
7%
19%
Rap 23%
Country 15%
With 2019 drawing to a close, The Wooster Blade conducted a poll inspired by Spotify Wrapped to survey the sounds that defined the music scene for WHS students.
R&B 5%
Rock 6%
< 5,000 min 5,000-15,000 min 15,000-30,000 min 30,000-45,000 min 45,000+ min
168 students were polled from Dec. 9 - Dec. 13. Polls conducted by Rheanna Velasquez, Molly Snyder, Sylvie Shaya and Eve Norris. Graphic by Corinne Wiles.
TRENDS
THE WOOSTER BLADE | DEC. 20, 2019 | PAGE 14
Writer analyzes the evolution of popular social media apps
SIERRA DEWALD staff writer The rise and evolution of social media has been one of the defining factors of the past decade. Popular platforms like Instagram and Snapchat launched in just 2010 and 2011, respectively, yet they have undergone countless redesigns and feel like they have been around for much longer, particularly for those in younger generations. Countless social mediarelated trends have emerged throughout the decade. While some apps have remained fairly constant in their standing as a top platform, such as Instagram, Snapchat, YouTube and Twitter, the popular platform for sharing short videos has evolved. Vine, launched in 2013, was an app on which people
could record short videos of approximately six seconds and share them with the public. Vine grew so much as a platform that it became an integral part of pop culture, with many people quoting Vines in their everyday life and making or watching Vine compilations on YouTube. Vine remained one of the top apps until it shut down in 2016. However, musical.ly was there to take its place. Musical.ly was a bit different, as the videos were significantly longer, 15 seconds to a minute, and the average content was more geared toward lipsyncing and dancing to various songs than the short, humorcentered focus of Vine. Musical.ly remained the predominant app of its kind until 2018, when Chinese company ByteDance acquired the app and rebranded it as TikTok in an effort to eliminate what many considered to be a cringey connotation associated with the name musical.ly. The rebranded TikTok allowed for videos ranging from three seconds to one minute in length. TikTok automatically replaced musical.ly on the phones of those who had musical.ly downloaded, and it began to
Innovation in review: Tech develops rapidly ASHTON DUNLAP staff writer The world is moving in the direction of automation and robots, and 2019 was a big step for that and all technology. The past year was defined
by technology that improved health, created better tasting food, improved phone cameras and improved dexterity in robots. Early in 2019, Apple announced their newest Apple Watch feature, the ability to take an electrocardiogram from your wrist.
draw in new audiences as well. TikTok has since surged in popularity and evolved into a combination of Vine and musical.ly, incorporating the trends and video styles of both apps. Another trend in social media over the past decade has been the rise of social media influencers, mostly on YouTube and Instagram. Social media influencers are people with large and predominately young audiences who grow to often staggering wealth and fame through creating social media content. While there are merits to the influencer trend, as it gives otherwise ordinary people a platform to speak out and possibly have a positive impact on their audiences, many have expressed valid concerns about the growing influencer culture. Such concerns include how influencers can develop a cult of personality around them, to the point where some fans believe they can do no wrong, and as such influencers can actually be a bad influence on their fans by modeling behavior and talking about subjects that are inappropriate for a younger audience. So many people living their
lives on the internet under constant scrutiny also promotes a dangerous cancel culture mindset, in which audiences are informed of something problematic an influencer or celebrity has done and immediately “cancel” them, causing entire careers to tank over a single incident. While holding people accountable for their behavior is, on the whole, a positive thing, cancel culture often leads to people jumping to conclusions without hearing all sides of a story, or sending excessive hate to an influencer that goes far beyond the level of what they have done and can negatively impact the mental health of influencers who are often still young and in the process of growing. Social media has seen immense growth in popularity and the emergence of a variety of trends over the past decade, from the harmless evolution of Vine to musical.ly to TikTok to trends with more serious implications, such as the rise of influencers and cancel culture. These negative trends on the various social media apps can be combated if people who use social media remember that its primary purpose is to connect people, not divide them.
This feature was a huge accomplishment for personal health, as millions of people now have an advanced health feature on their wrist. In 2019, the Impossible Burger became a worldwide phenomenon when Burger King showcased how the plant based burger tastes so much like meat. According to an article by The Guardian titled “Animal agriculture is choking the Earth and making us sick. We must act now,” raising livestock accounts for about 14.5 percent of all greenhouse
gas emissions. The increasing popularity of the Impossible Burger is a simple improvement that could reduce carbon emissions worldwide. Throughout 2019, phones were released with two or three cameras instead of the traditional one. In September, Apple released its new iPhones, including the iPhone 11, the iPhone 11 Pro, and the iPhone 11 Pro Max. The two iPhone 11 Pros boast three cameras with 3 ranges; wide, ultra-wide and telephoto.
Graphics by Corinne Wiles
This combination of cameras greatly improved photography accessibility. High level photos can now be taken from a phone in a short amount of time with very little gear. In the area of A.I. and robots, 2019 was also a big year. Dactyl, a robot made by San Francisco based company OpenAI learned to maneuver and flip a building block in its hands. Technology in 2019 improved existing technology and made more advanced technology more accessible for millions of people.
VIEWS
THE WOOSTER BLADE | DEC. 20, 2019 | PAGE 15
Retail companies alter firearm policies
ANNA NACCI cover editor After it was revealed that the shooter at the MSD High School in Parkland Florida purchased a gun from a Dick’s Sporting Goods store, Dick’s banned the sale of assault-style rifles in all of the company’s stores, including Field & Stream, according to an open letter from Dick’s Sporting Goods Inc. CEO and Chairman Ed Stack. In addition, the company will also refuse to sell a firearm to anyone below the age of 21, the letter said. After this change was announced by Stack in his Feb. 28, 2018, open letter, other companies followed his lead. Walmart, Kroger and L.L. Bean have also raised the minimum age to purchase a gun to 21-years-old, according to Kate Taylor’s article published March 2, 2018 by Business Insider entitled, “Here are all of the retailers that have stopped selling assault-style rifles and changed firearm policies following gun-control activists’ protests.” Other companies have done more than just change their policies on selling firearms. On Sept. 12, The Washington Post published a letter to the Senate signed by 145 CEOs asking the senators to take action to end gun violence. The CEOs asked the Senate, “to stand with the American
public and take action on gun safety by passing a bill to require background checks on all gun sales and a strong Red Flag law that would allow courts to issue lifesaving extreme risk protection orders,” the letter stated. The letter was signed by CEOs from a wide range of major companies, from Airbnb, to Twitter, to Uber and Lyft. CEOs of smaller companies like Zola joined as well. It is great that these companies are using their platforms to advocate for positive change. More than advocating, the companies that have made actual change within their companies are a great example of being creative in order to enact change. Sometimes people justify not participating in democracy by saying that there is nothing they can do. While citizens are not in the same position in terms of the gun violence problem, these companies show that the ability to do something about an issue about which you are passionate is within reach, but sometimes people have to get creative. Like the companies who signed the letter, every day, people can create change through advocacy by participating in things like protests, rallies and in signing and distributing petitions. To take it a step further, people can also help by volunteering or donating to help foundations that work toward enacting real solutions. Overall, the CEOs who took action in both ways used their platforms for positive change and provide a great example of how everyone can participate in democracy in their own way.
Statistics on the economic impact from alternating the firearm policy
Tesla’s new pickup elicits positive review
- At Dick’s Sporting Goods, sales rose 3.2 percent after altering their firearm policy -- the biggest upswing since 2016 - Dick’s Sporting Goods removed all hunting products, including firearms, from 135 out of 730 of their stores Statistics courtesy of Rolling Stone
Statistics on the Tesla Cybertruck - Engineered with 100 cubic feet of exterior, lockable storage - Has up to 500 miles of range - Seats six comfortably with additional storage under the second-row seats - An advanced 17 inch touchscreen with an all-new customized user interface
Statistics courtesy of tesla.com
ASHTON DUNLAP staff writer Tesla recently announced its newest production vehicle, the Tesla Cybertruck. After its introduction event on Nov. 21, reactions and opinions on the truck rolled in. Early critics criticized its angular and boxy design and laughed at its bulletproof capabilities. Despite these flaws, the Tesla Cybertruck is actually a miraculous new vehicle with very impressive capabilities. According to an article by CNET titled “Tesla Cybertruck: Everything we know” published on Dec. 2, the Cybertruck has a towing capacity of 14,000 pounds, a minimum 0-60 time of around 2.9 seconds and a payload capacity of 3,500 pounds. Admittedly, I did not like the the Tesla Cybertruck at first. The design strayed away from Tesla previous designs; which were curvy, sleek cars that both looked great and performed very well. Instead, Franz von Holzhausen and the Tesla design team decided to create a bulky, robust pickup truck that looked strange next to Tesla’s previous models. Despite its design and initial reactions, the truck boasts fantastic specs and has received copious amounts of preorders.
On Nov. 24, three days after the truck was unveiled, Elon Musk boasted Tesla received 200,000 preorders. According to CNBC, these preorders are not a commitment to buy the vehicle, but are rather a $100 refundable fee. Regardless, this amount of preorders means Tesla has essentially brought in $20 million, just in preorders, for a car that many initially thought was going to be a bust. The Cybertruck also makes garages obsolete with its rugged build and innovative features. The angular shape of the truck allows for easy snow and ice removal, and Tesla’s “scheduled departure” and “pre-heat” features allow for snow and ice to be removed long before the driver gets in the car. Tesla’s newest vehicle also has loads of other features and add-ons that are just plain fun. Tesla has offered an electric ATV dubbed “Cyberquad” as an add-on, and numerous third party businesses have teased add-ons such as attachable tents, compatible campers and even a house that matches the Cybertruck design. Some valiant Tesla supporters love the aesthetic of the truck and believe its design perfectly highlights a sci-fi appearance. Hopefully, the myriad of Cybertruck features and forward looking aspects will appeal to many people, and the truck will become a success. The whole world is talking about the Tesla Cybertruck, and with that kind of attention and cultural notoriety, Tesla is on the right track towards making the truck a success.
THE WOOSTER BLADE | VIEWS | DEC. 20, 2019 | PAGE 16
THE
OUR VIEW
WOOSTER
BLADE THE VOICE OF WOOSTER HIGH
Editors-in-Chief Reece Mitchell, Rheanna Velasquez, Madison McCully Webmaster and Head Photographer Grace Brownson Graphics Manager Corinne Wiles Business Manager Sophie Gamble, Leo Riley, Bryn Savidge, Rheanna Velasquez Managing Editor Anna Nacci On Campus Editor Alec Pauley Focus Editor Lena Wiebe Sports Editor Skyy Khounborin A & E Editor Leo Riley Trends Editor Bryn Savidge, Theresa Wendell Cover Editors Sophie Gamble, Anna Nacci Views Editors Paulina Salazar, Mya Vandegrift Feature Editor Maeve Florence- Smith Staff Writers Jensan Bauman, Zach Brewster, Stuart Courson, Sierra Dewald, Ashton Dunlap, Tyler Keating, Clara Lee, Eve Norris, Sierah Pilson, Luke Pomfret, Sylvie Shaya, Ellie Snider, Molly Snyder, Jack Veney, Artists Eve Norris, Olivia VanSickle, Emma Yoder Photographers Tyler Keating, Hannah LoGiudice, Maddy McCully, Theresa Wendell, Rumen Zdravchev Graphics Staff Madison Helms 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 paper is designated as an open forum and follows publishing guidelines as established in a 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 right 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. The Wooster Blade is printed in cooperation with Wooster’s The Daily Record. Letters and inquiries should be addressed to The Wooster Blade, 515 Oldman Road Wooster, Ohio 44691. The Wooster Blade can be contacted at 330-345-4000 ext. 3210. The newspaper can also be found at thewoosterblade.com
Open campus would alleviate stress for students In recent years, WHS has implemented an open campus system for the spring final exams. However, during the winter exams, students are still confined to the building during their free periods, a policy that is in the best interest of no one. A closed campus during the winter forces students who have no exams to sit through lengthened periods that have no educational purpose and forces teachers and staff to supervise those students in lieu of more productive tasks, like grading exams or working on second semester plans. In a poll taken of 105 students, in grades 9 through 12 who were randomly surveyed in study halls and Academic Assists from Dec. 16 to Dec. 17, 91 percent of all students polled said they believed that WHS should institute an open campus policy during the winter midterms.** One commonly cited concern of those who were not in favor of an open campus policy during midterm exams was the irresponsibility of those who take advantage of such a policy, and the possibility of a higher rate of absenteeism from exams. Tyler Keener, WHS Principal, noted that “The biggest reason for closed campus, and we’ve gone back and forth for the winter time, is there is a tendency for students to leave and not come back because of the cold weather. Summer time or spring it’s easier to go and come back. We’ve had instances in the winter where it’s more prone for kids to skip out on the rest of their day.” But, The Wooster Blade Editorial Board urges that not only the administration consider allowing students to leave campus during their free periods, but also that the student body shows it will use such freedoms responsibly.
“THE BIGGEST REASON FOR CLOSED CAMPUS, AND WE’VE GONE BACK AND FORTH FOR THE WINTER TIME, IS THERE IS A TENDENCY FOR STUDENTS TO LEAVE AND NOT COME BACK BECAUSE OF THE COLD WEATHER,” KEENER SAID. Privileges like an open campus during midterms would be beneficial for all involved, but only if everyone, including members of the WHS student body, demonstrate they take the responsibilities involved with their independence seriously, and if students hold each other accountable for behavior that jeopardizes these privileges for everyone. Other cited issues in the poll, with an open campus policy, included concerns about the effect of inclement weather on students’ safety. But, in the poll conducted by The Wooster Blade Editorial Board, only 16 percent of those surveyed indicated that they frequently walked home, and 81 percent of those who did said the weather had little effect on their ability to take advantage of an open campus policy or that they believed there
should be such a policy regardless. Student drivers would face the same risks they do in their daily commute, and those without a car or access to transportation, could always choose to simply remain at the school during their free periods. Such a policy would allow for increased flexibility for students during a particularly stressful season, less wasted resources for staff and administration, and would communicate the school’s openness to the concerns of the overwhelming majority of the student body. Many students, who indicated in The Wooster Blade Editorial Board’s poll that they believed WHS should have an open campus policy for midterms, cited the stress they said students face during that time. One respondent, describing why she thought an open campus policy for midterms would be advantageous, said she believed it would, “allow students to take a break from the stressful environment of the school at that time,” while another said they believed, “It allows us to breathe fresh air and relax during exams.” Several others responded that they believed an open campus policy would create freedom for students, especially when considering students who have several periods with either study halls or no final exams. The Wooster Blade Editorial Board strongly believes that instituting a policy of an open campus system for the midterm exams would be almost universally supported by students and would mark a positive change for all. **The number of respondents may be slightly statistically skewed because of differences in response in questions.