Inside the April 6, 2022 Issue
p. 2 - Students experience once in a lifetime field trips
p. 4 - Local news and corporate ownership
p. 5 - 2021-2022 Fine Arts Festival
p. 7- Diversity at NYFW and tips for building a wardrobe
THE WOOSTER BLADE | APRIL 6, 2022 | PAGE 2
SHERIDAN SCHAUER
Students marvel at the Arlington National Cemetery during the school trip to Washington D.C.
The Dangers of Indifference and Civil Rights classes took a trip to Washington D.C. on March 3 through March 4 in which they visited historic locations, including: the Lincoln Memorial, the Arlington National Cemetery, the Washington Monument, the Iwo Jima memorial, Flight 93 memorial, and many more locations. History teacher, Mark Kister says the trip is offered yearly to 50 students who take the Dangers of Indifference and Civil Rights classes.
Trips offer educational opportunities for students SHERIDAN SCHAUER focus editor
Members of the WHS Drama Club took a five day trip to New York City to attend the Broadway Student Summit While in New York, 16 students watched performances of The Music Man and the Blue Man Group. “Going to New York was a really beneficial experience and I think we learned a lot,” Laura Rapport (11) said. The Drama Club director, Brett Hiner says that the Drama Club plans to go every two years.
ASHTON DUNLAP
Aiden Hiner crosses the street during the WHS Drama Club Broadway Student Summit in New York City.
The WHS Music Dept. will be heading to Walt Disney World in Orlando to perform in a parade during spring break. From April 8 through April 13, WHS marching band, choir and orchestra students will be attending. The marching band will be marching in a parade through Magic Kingdom SHERIDAN SCHAUER playing their famous song Eric Snyder (11) and Gavin Grand Old Flag. The WHS Bucheger (11grab their marching orchestra and the WHS choir will both be participating in band uniforms for Disney trip. workshops in EPCOT.
ON CAMPUS
Interviews yield principal candidate recommendation for WHS ANIKA ELLIS staff writer
Earlier this year, the Wooster City School District announced that there would be a change in administration for the high school. After John Deuber retired at the end of the first semester, Eric Vizzo, principal at Cornerstone Elementary, took over as WHS principal for the remainder of the year. However, Vizzo plans on returning to Cornerstone, so WHS is left with an open position. Superintendent Gabe Tudor says that “WHS is a great school due to three things: community, students, and staff.” The high school prides itself on its excellent array of staff and faculty, and Tudor even discusses that it has lots of potential and is looking forward to his own children attending. Even though Wooster boasts an impressive collection of staff, Tudor says WHS can improve on better adjusting to the interest of students. “I want Wooster
to fit the best needs for all the kids,” he says. As far as hiring new candidates for administrative positions, Tudor explains “I make the final decision.” He requests that two final candidates are presented to him after several rounds of interviews and screening. According to Tudor, Assistant Superintendent Brian Madigan runs the process and is a vital part of the hiring procedure. Even though job experience is an important aspect of the hiring process, Tudor says the most important questions follow along more with character traits. “Do they love and have a passion for kids and education? Do they work well with others?” Tudor notes that these questions make or break a candidate’s chances of being admitted into an administrative position. Joe Rubino, WHS associate principal, says “I have already been approved as an associate principal,” in regards to next year’s administrative staff. He echoes Tudor in saying that the people who are best qualified are, “incredible student minded,
driven individuals who put the needs of kids, staff, and community first. Somebody that is relatable and great at building relationships.” Administrative changes are not the only thing Wooster is looking forward to, Rubino says he is excited to, “engage student culture from a more positive approach of simplifying how we live… What are the top five or top three things that we are really about?” Wooster’s main approach is, according to our mission statement available on the Wooster City School District website, “inspiring world-class academic achievement,” but a part of any school’s atmosphere is the student body and how it interacts with the community. UPDATE: Scott Musser, Career Tech Director for Madison Comprehensive High School has been offered the principal position for WHS, according to Tudor. “Mr. Musser was the clear choice to be the next leader of the high school.” Musser has experience from working at Mansfield Senior, Neomed Stem School, and Triway HS.
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THE WOOSTER BLADE | APRIL 6, 2022 | PAGE 3
Sexual Assault Awareness:
April serves as time to remind and educate BRITTANY WACHTEL views editor Editor’s Note: before reading, please be aware that some topics may be triggering to readers, such as the discussion of sexual assault and rape. April is sexual assault awareness month, a time for all survivors of assault to come forward and educate others on their experiences with assault. According to the Rape, Abuse, and Incest National Network, an American is sexually assaulted every 68 seconds with only 25 of every 1,000 rapists ending up in prison as according to the informational page of the organization’s website. An important clarification for survivors to make is the difference between rape and sexual assault. As stated by The Embry Law Firm, via their website, rape is categorized by non-consensual penetration, while sexual assault is any type of sexual contact or behavior that is non-consensual. According to US Code 920, article 120, consent laws are to remain fairly
consistent throughout all states. These laws pertain to those individuals who are unconscious at the time of being assaulted, intoxicated, under the age of legal consent in their state or possess any degree of mental or physical disability. Since there is not a set of laws that encompass all states regarding assault, individual states enforce different laws. In Ohio, sexual assault and rape are both defined by Barr, Jones & Associates LLP as, “the use of force to perform sexual acts on another person” but there are some exclusions to this law. According to the website of Barr, Jones & Associates LLP, a majority of laws concerning rape and assault do not apply to current marital spouses or ex-marital spouses. Such laws provide legal loopholes for rapists, which in turn, makes it harder for the survivors to get justice. Another important conversation surrounding assault is the idea of justice. For each survivor, justice could mean anything, ranging
from therapy to a criminal sentencing. Friends and family of survivors should know that reporting the case of assault is not the only way to support the survivors, even though reporting is still an important first step. With the horrifying statistics regarding rape in the United States, the chances of knowing someone who has been a victim of assault is high. Being educated about assault and how to discuss assault with survivors is essential. Non-survivors can use online resources such as RAINN to educate themselves on the aftermath of assault and as a method of learning how to speak to survivors about their experience. For any survivors of assault who are unsure as to how they should tell their trusted peers or even law enforcement about their assault, RAINN provides step by step guides to help survivors through their journey. RAINN can be accessed via their website www.rainn.org or through their 24/7 hotline 1-800-656-4673.
OneEighty offers sexual assault resources MOLLY BYRNE staff writer During sexual assault awareness month, it is important to not only discuss sexual assault as a whole but also address the resources available in the community to survivors of assault. In downtown Wooster, community members can find help at the main office of One-
Eighty, a nonprofit that supports men and women recovering from substance abuse and gives opportunities and safety to women that are victims of sexual assault. One of the main goals of OneEighty is to support community members that are potentially in danger or suffering from substance abuse. One of OneEighty’s facilities is called Julia’s Place, which serves as a 44 bed emergency shelter for victims
of domestic violence or sexual assault. One-Eighty also provides counseling resources for the community, as well as servicing a 24 hour rape crisis line. One resource One-Eighty provides for the school system is a program called Safe Date/ Healthy Relationships. This program discusses dating and sexual assault violence, what common abuse looks like, power and control wheel, and
Sexual assault and rape resources: This is a compilation of local sexual assault and rape resources in Wooster, courtesy of One Eighty.
One-Eighty Office: (330) 264-8498 24 Hour Rape Crisis Line: (800) 686-1122 Emergency Crisis Shelter: Julia’s Place, 104 Spink St., Wooster, Ohio
many other topics that apply to teens. According to One-Eighty, the Safe Date/Healthy Relationship program is crucial in the education of sexual assault in schools as well as meeting the requirements for Ohio Bill 19. This program is provided in Wayne and Holmes county schools. As a support system, OneEighty also provides assistance with legal proceedings and court accompaniment. OneEighty also provides hospital advocacy for victims of sexual assault that are seeking help in
emergency departments. In an email interview, Kailey Cary, Community Education and Outreach Coordinator, states, “ Victims of sexual assault should make sure they are safe and if not, consider calling 911 and, victims need to know that the sexual assault it is NOT THEIR FAULT.” One-Eighty works with law enforcement around the county to educate even further on sexual assault and domestic violence. Focusing on the education of these topics is very important for teens in the community in order to bring awareness.
COVER
THE WOOSTER BLADE | APRIL 6, 2022 | PAGE 4
The increasing loss of local news Recognizing the importance of local due to corporate monopolization news coverage
Community journalism serves vital purpose MAYA GALINDO BENSON staff writer The importance of media has been less pronounced in recent years, as many media sources and newspapers have moved to online platforms, causing people to wonder about the true importance of print news and media coverage. Candace Perkins Bowen, director for the Center for Scholastic Journalism and a Professor at Kent State University has taught journalism and is part of the Ohio Scholastic Media Association. She has also taught high school and was an adviser for a high school newspaper. Perkins Bowen stated that to her, the importance of having news coverage is that one could make a difference through print media with the belief that uncensored stories make news coverage more believable because it allows people to better express a situation without having to cover anything up. “Sometimes the stories that can make the most difference are the ones that touch on some things that are not quite right,” Perkins Bowen said. Another reporter, and editor, Tami Mosser, who worked for
The Daily Record, as well as Wooster Weekly News, said the role of the media, specifically local newspapers, is to be able to serve the community. “I’ve always believed that the role of newspapers or the media, in general, is to educate, is to entertain, and inform,” Mosser said. News coverage acts as a public watchdog according to Mike Plant, a professional journalist with a focus on sports, and editor of the Wayne County Bargain Hunter, the Wooster Weekly News and the Holmes County Bargain Hunter. However, news publication has been made more difficult over the past few years as big corporations have bought out nearly all smaller publications, as well as with the emergence of the internet. Plant also stated that journalism and media coverage have been made more difficult due to the financial aspect. “It’s very difficult to get people to pay for things like community journalism, even though it’s very important.” Plant said. Although media coverage has experienced changes such as movement to big corporations, as well as internet publications, it continues to persist as an important source of information for the public eye.
SHERIDAN SCHAUER
A side by side comparison of both the Wooster paper, The Daily Record and the Ashland County Ashland Times-Gazette, neither of which is locally owned, illustrates the local coverage available.
THEO OLLIER sports editor
Today, independent newspapers in the United States are scarce and large corporations have control of hundreds of publications at a time. According to The Center for Information, Technology, and Public Life, only about 50% of counties in the United States have a newspaper. These newspapers usually publish weekly, rather than daily, which creates an information gap for citizens of said counties. Research done by The Center for Information, Technology, and Public Life has also determined that more than one-fourth of the country’s newspapers have disappeared over the course of the COVID19 pandemic. This loss of local newspapers can be attributed to financial struggles and free
online access to information. The Daily Orange, an independent newspaper run by Syracuse University students that was ranked the secondbest college newspaper in the United States by collegechoice. net in 2021, has managed to stay financially stable throughout the pandemic. According to Mandy Kraynak, the managing editor of The Daily Orange, consistent advertisement sales and a nonprofit business model have kept their newspaper running, but can result in limited diversity of students on their staff. “The main revenue streams are advertising, both print and online, and also fundraising . . . the small amount of pay [for staff members] is a barrier for the diversity in who is able to work at The Daily Orange,” Kraynak said. The Daily Sitka Sentinel, one of the few independent daily newspapers in the
United States located in Sitka, Alaska, has managed to stay independent and cover local news over the course of the pandemic because of federal grants. According to Thad Poulson, the editor and publisher of The Daily Sitka Sentinel, no cuts on coverage or staff were made over the COVID-19 pandemic because of grants given to the newspaper through the Payroll Protection Plan enacted in June of 2020. Poulson also notes that other newspapers in Alaska have been bought by larger media companies and have cut back on local news coverage. With local news coverage steadily decreasing as large corporations buy out struggling independent newspapers, broader implications of this phenomenon such as conformity of political opinions and creativity of articles will likely come to light.
ARTS
THE WOOSTER BLADE | APRIL 6, 2022 | PAGE 5
WCS Fine Arts Festival hosts longstanding tradition Every year, the district hosts the festival to celebrate the creativity and art of students within the district. The Fine Arts Festival is a great opportunity for students to showcase their creative work to the community, while also giving people an enjoyable way to spend their Saturday and enjoy some art.
Music students perform at the Fine Arts Festival HANNAH LOGIUDICE staff writer The 2022 WHS Fine Arts Festival is a one day celebration of the artistic talents of students in the Wooster City School District. Students involved in the WCS music department, including band, orchestra and choir were able to sign up for 10 minute time slots where they could demonstrate their musical talents. Students can sing and play instruments alone or with a partner or group in order to showcase their
abilities. Rachel Grayshock (12), who sang, “Where the River meets the Sea” by John Denver, reflects on why performing music is important. “I think performing music is really important because it can give students a way to express themselves. Some people need an outlet, and a lot of times, they can find one in music. Personally, I love performing, so it also gives me practice for later,” Grayshock said. The performances took place in the Commons so attendees could listen to the music as they view the other fine arts entries.
MAYA GALINDO-BENSON
Artwork is shown at The WCS Fine Arts Festival, which was held April 2 in the WHS Commons. The Fine Arts festival is an annual tradition for the WCSD held at the high school in order to show off students art from across the district and to also display musical and dramatic arts to the Wooster community.
Visual Arts at the Fine Arts Festival GRACE KOSTORHYZ staff writer The Wooster City School District hosted the district wide celebration and recognition of the arts at the Fine Arts Festival, which took place April 2. For the past two years, the festival had been canceled because of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, this year, students will finally be able to showcase their art again. Katherine Putka, Art Dept. member, teaches art to students in grades 9 through 12 and says many different types of art was showcased.
“Two dimensional and three dimensional art from all grade levels is on display as well as performances from music students and highlights from our drama department. Visual art will include painting, drawing, collage, sculpture, printing, pottery and a little bit of just about everything,” Putka said. Katelyn Freday, Edgewood Middle School Art Dept. member, describes the importance of the fine arts festival. “The Fine Arts Festival is important because it showcases the hard work and dedication that our students pour into the arts. It is a collection of their efforts, and it
deserves to be shown off,” Freday said. Many of the district’s students were well represented at this year’s Fine Arts Festival due to it being a grade 9 through 12 event. With all grades being represented, many different types of art were on display from hundreds of students. Tricia Nussbaum, Art Dept. member, says. “It’s in the hundreds due to being a district K-12 event. I know that I will have at least 80+ 2D pieces, and Ms Putka has around 30 pieces from the high school.” Nussbaum said. The Fine Arts Festival was free admission and took place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Students display dramatic arts through performance MATTIE DUNLAP staff writer Dramatic arts are displayed in a number of ways in Wooster. WHS offers courses on improv, stage makeup, prop building and other forms of acting. One of the ways that the talents gained in these classes are displayed is at the Fine Arts Festival. Kristen Broda, a dramatic arts teacher at WHS, says her classes have made an appearance at the Fine Arts Festival in years prior in a multitude of ways. “We have done a preview of a musical we wrote…we’ve done full on scenes with costumes and props.
I’ve also done readers theater and I usually have always done improv demos… I’ve also done a big display of stage makeup where we put up around 100 pictures of students and all the designs they’ve done,” Broda said. Izabell Cain (12) is a part of the acting classes at WHS and said many skills can be gained from partaking in dramatic arts. “Dramatic arts can help with memorizing, confidence, public speaking and it can really teach you an appreciation for the effort put into shows, even small ones,” Cain said. Broda says she and her students hope to put on a performance at the 2022 Fine Arts Festival.
THE WOOSTER BLADE | ARTS | APRIL 6, 2022 | PAGE 6
The Batman impresses audiences Bridgerton season two
side is being challenged by the Riddler. He aids the Gotham Police in their case to track down the Riddler and becomes intertwined with it as the Riddler lures him deep into the world of Gotham’s corruption and crime syndicates. Michael Giacchino’s musical genius once again shines and makes The Batman’s simple five note motif instantly recognizable and permeate through the movie’s soundtrack. Paul Dano’s Riddler is a truly terrifying villain and,
like Heath Ledger’s Joker before him, creates terror in Gotham with threats and acts of terrorism seemingly at random, but this time, the Riddler’s motive turns out to be much more complicated. Robert Pattinson’s Bruce Wayne stays down to earth and truly exhibits his character’s inner struggle between the identities of Batman and Bruce Wayne and, at times, it feels that the identity of Bruce Wayne is at risk of disappearing into Batman altogether. Unlike Christopher Nolan’s movies, Batman’s technology is not scifi or unbelievable, and the city of Gotham is explained clearly to a new viewer. I consider The Batman to be an incredible movie that follows in the footsteps of its predecessors, but adds a lot of new context and meaning to an old character.
Driving Home 2 U came out March 25 and provides viewers a peek into the album that launched the singer’s career. The documentary features Rodrigo talking about her thoughts during the album making process, and the emotions that were put into creating the music, as well as the fears Rodrigo carried about people’s reception of the music, and of her. At one point in the doc, Rodrigo remarks that “nobody related to how I felt, so I felt like by writing songs, I was creating a friend for me.” Little did she know, soon millions of others would view Rodrigo, and the music she created, as their friend as well. One of the major themes of the film is the idea that what was first a way of coping with her own very personal heartbreak, for someone as normal as Rodrigo, could turn into a masterpiece
that is relatable to millions of people. The film takes place in Salt Lake City and Los Angeles, as Rodrigo relives her experience writing Sour between the two. Driving Home 2 U is in its essence, unoriginal; inherently similar to the recent Disney+ docs by fellow female pop singers Billie Eilish and Taylor Swift in that it follows a singer intimately performing her album live. However, Driving Home 2 U is also unique in that the performances are preceded by background stories and anecdotes from the singer about each song’s creation and videos from the studio sessions when she wrote them. This new era of women in music who can make money off the music that countless fans relate to, in an authentic yet entrepreneurial way, is revolutionary for the world of music.
Graphic by Grace Brownson
BEN STAVNEZER staff writer The Batman is DC’s newest movie and signifies a return to form for DC films, with several unique twists for old and new viewers alike. This movie is an excellent jumping in point for new fans of Batman and a hit for those who enjoy Batman movies. Batman returns to his comic book origins in this movie, and viewers finally get to see his detective side, while his mental
Rodrigo doc inspires young artists
LUCIA PERFETTI cover editor Olivia Rodrigo became pop’s biggest sensation last year because it seemed like everyone related to how she felt. Whether it was pent up teen angst in “Brutal,’’ or dysmorphia caused by social media in “Jealousy,” or simply the heartbreak of a lifetime in “Driver’s License,” every teenager could find something in Rodrigo’s music that spoke to them personally. Rodrigo’s new Disney+ special
entertains viewers
LAURA RAPPORT a&e editor The highly anticipated second season of Bridgerton, based on Julia Quinn’s romance novels, arrived on Netflix March 25. Bridgerton follows the Bridgerton family, a large, wealthy family in Regency England, and the eight Bridgerton siblings’ path to marriage. Season two follows Anthony, the duty-obsessed eldest Bridgerton son (played by Jonathan Bailey) and his quest to find a wife. However, unlike the rest of his siblings, Anthony does not want to marry for love, but for duty. At first, Anthony sets his sights on Edwina Sharma (played by Charithra Chandran), a charming, young debutante. However, his plans to woo Edwina are set off course by Kate, (played by Simone Ashley) Edwina’s headstrong older sister, who is determined to have Edwina marry anybody but Anthony. Although Kate and Anthony initially dislike each other, the two are drawn to one another, and Anthony begins to question whether he is pursuing the right Sharma sister. The second season of Bridgerton outdoes the first in almost every way. The writing, sets and costumes have improved greatly. It is clear to the viewer that the
creators paid attention to critiques of season one and applied them to season two. Especially when it came to the show’s color-blind casting. The cast has always been diverse, however during the first season there was little acknowledgment of the different cultures that come with diversity or the racism that people of color faced during the regency period. In the second season, however, the Sharma family’s Indian culture is a big part of their identity, with Edwina and Kate speaking Hindi, wearing clothes with Indian patterns, and performing Indian traditions. It is refreshing to see the show acknowledge the different cultures that existed during the regency era. The cast adds greatly to the show, with standout performances from Luke Thompson, who plays Benedict, the artistic second Bridgerton son; Nicola Coughlin, who plays the clever Penelope Featherington; Claudia Jessie, who plays Eloise, the headstrong fifth Bridgerton child; and Simone Ashley, who plays the season’s heroine, Kate. The season’s biggest flaw, however, is the many differences between it and the book it is based on, The Viscount Who Loved Me. Fans of the book will be disappointed to see that some of the best moments in the book have been diminished to short scenes or cut entirely. Although some changes are welcome, it seems like the plot of the original book has become a subplot in the TV adaptation of it. Despite some shortcomings, the second season of Bridgerton is fun and its viewers will be very entertained.
TRENDS
THE WOOSTER BLADE | APRIL. 6, 2021 | PAGE 7
Inclusion increases on fashion runways
LUKE POMFRET co-editor-in-chief The 2022 fall/winter fashion weeks in New York, Milan, London and Paris have concluded. Once again major fashion houses stunned audiences with their designs. While I expected the garments to be the main attraction, I found myself feeling proud of the diversity amongst the models. According to an article written by Christina Heiser on February 24, 2022 for The Fashion Spot, the breakdown
of diverse characteristics were overall positive for the 2022 Fall-Winter shows. “New York Fashion Week Fall 2022 had 51 plus-size model appearances accounting for 5.09 percent of total castings… 24 transgender/ non-binary model appearances accounting for 2.39 percent of total castings… four over-50 model castings at New York Fashion Week Fall 2022 for 0.40 percent.” The same data shows a general upward trajectory of diverse model casting since 2015. Emira D’Spain made history as the first Black trans Victoria’s Secret Model and said in a Pop Buzz interview written by Jazmin Duribe, “I want to empower young trans women and men around the world to show them that the beauty and fashion industries are changing especially if you’re a POC.” Before Victoria Secret began casting more diverse models, brands like Rihanna’s Savage X
Fenty created the path for plus size models and transgender individuals. Rihanna’s massive success is due to her philosophy of not excluding anyone. Representation on the runway is vital to influencing buyers for major retailers like Macy’s. These buyers will implement trends seen on the runway and make them accessible to the general public with household brand names like Express. Major retailers want to appeal to their age demographics and make sure everyone can be represented in their clothes. Phluid Project founder Rob Smith said in the WWD Culture Conference in November that “56 percent of generation Z consumers shop outside their assigned gendered area.” With a large part of younger generations doing away with gender stigma it is important to continue to see representation on the international fashion stage and in our local retailers.
Student offers advice on key wardrobe pieces
OLIVIA HINER trends editor When building your personal wardrobe, the most important thing is to find pieces that make you feel confident as a great way to express yourself is through what you wear. Beginning to build your closet, can seem very overwhelming; however, having a few staple pieces is a great place to start.
Layering is an easy way to include all of your favorite pieces in different outfits. That being said, a blazer is a great staple piece. They can be dressed up and down, making them very versatile and easy to wear with almost anything. They can be found at almost any thrift store if you are looking for something cheap and unique. Finding the perfect pair of jeans is a task that is next to impossible; however, testing options is a good way to figure out what you like. Plus, wearing a belt if the pants are too big is a great way to accessorize. Anna Birk, fashion enthusiast, is currently on an internship in New York City with the Miss Universe pageant doing public
relations and social media related tasks. When asked “what are key pieces that you believe everyone should have in their closet when building their closet?”, she said that it is important to have “three, four or pieces that you love that are out of your comfort zone.” Wearing pieces that you love and that excite you to wear give confidence. Birk recommends Goodwill, H & M, and Zara, as they sell professional pieces, that can be mixed and matched outside of work. To me, fashion is expressing yourself and having something to look forward to almost every morning. Clothes are just clothes, but having key pieces in your closet can really elevate your style.
NYFW: Runway Diversity FAIR USE OF @FALLONFOX ON TWITTER
Fallon Fox, retired MMA Fighter and first openly trans woman walks the runway for “Trans Clothing Company.”
FAIR PHOTO OF DOMINQUE JACKSON FROM GETTY IMAGES
Dominique Jackson, Tobagonian actress known for her work in “Pose,” walks for Marco Marco.
FAIR USE PHOTO OF SHUQI LAN FROM GORUNWAY.COM
Shuqi Lan wearing a Gucci Gender Fluid suit walks for Gucci Fall 2022 Ready-towear fashion show.
OLIVIA HINER
As seen in the photo above, key pieces for a wardrobe can include blazers, a good pair of jeans or pants, and articles more out of your comfort zone.
SPORTS
THE WOOSTER BLADE | APRIL 6, 2022 | PAGE 8
Serafinchon praised for leadership skills Women’s soccer: JHON FAJARDO sports editor Olivia Hiner (11) is a two year lacrosse member who thoroughly enjoys Emily Serafinchon’s presence on the team as a hard worker and leader. “She’s [Serafinchon] really talented and she’s good at what she does. I know she works really hard and she’s just such a joy to have on the team and to be around. She’s super supportive and I love her,” Hiner said. Girls’ lacrosse coach, Holly Pope, considers Serafinchon (12) deserving of a studentathlete spotlight for her leadership and skill. “She [Serafinchon] is a senior captain who continues to not only improve her own game, but all continues to be a strong leader for the team. She helps the defense become strong, as well as the attack players with how they can become a bigger offensive threat. She is a fantastic goalie and an even better teammate,” Pope said. Serafinchon has played lacrosse a total of nine years. Serafinchon has goals of having fun and being inclusive to the other girls on the team for the season.
“My biggest goal for the season is to have fun and help some of the girls who don’t feel included in a lot of other things be part of something fun and make new friends,” Serafinchon said. Sydney Ebin (12) is a two year member of the lacrosse team. Ebin notes Serafinchon’s abilities and skills as the goalie for their team as well as the example she sets as a leader. “Emily is an absolute beast. I have never seen someone
with the reaction time and skill that she possesses. It is crazy to watch her save shots that would go in on anybody else. But not only does she have an insane amount of skill, she is so humble about it and so joyful. She is truly the backbone of our team with her leadership, skill, and attitude. She is an inspiration to us all,” Ebin said. Serafinchon plans on continuing her lacrosse career after high school at Erskine college in South Carolina.
SHERIDAN SCHAUER
For the March 26 game against Strongsville, the girls lacrosse team, parents and coaches helped shovel the field prior to the start of play.
Pay gap still not fixed
BAILEY MESSNER staff writer On Feb. 22, the U.S. women’s soccer league made a statement that they will be equalizing the pay gap. When the league agreed to remove the pay gap, they also gave the women’s soccer league $24 million in compensation for a part of the backpay that they should have received. Female and male soccer teams are currently in a collective bargaining agreement. Drawing up these contracts has, and will, require time. In an article, published by The Philadelphia Inquirer, they stated that “The women’s team is currently operating under a three-month extension of a deal that was to expire at the end of 2021. The new end date is March 31, 2022.” While they have not gotten anywhere so far, the women
have made big steps since the beginning of their fight for equal pay. In March of 2019, a group of U.S. women soccer players sued the United States Soccer Federation under the premise that they were getting paid less than their male counterparts. On CNBC, Abagail Johnson Hess wrote, ”During the 2018 FIFA Men’s World Cup in Russia, 32 teams competed for $400 million in prize money. The champions, France, took home $38 million — more than all 24 women’s teams will compete for in 2019.” The women’s case was denied under the claim that they were paid more in total throughout the soccer season. While this case applies more heavily on a national level, the U.S. women’s soccer teams are setting an example to young girls that they deserve just as much as their male counterparts. Trinity Mark (12), a WHS soccer player, said that “If anything, women have to fight harder in sports because, unlike men, we have to prove the fact that we deserve to be there.” While the team may not have reached equality, they are working to bring themselves closer.
THE WOOSTER BLADE | VIEWS | APRIL 6, 2022 | PAGE 9
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 Grace Brownson 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 Theo Ollier, Jhon Fajardo Trends Editor Olivia Hiner Views Editor Brittany Wachtel Staff Writers Mattie Dunlap, Molly Byrne, Ben Stavnezer, Nora Levy, Stella Powers, Grace Kostohryz, Anika Ellis, Maya Galindo-Benson, Bailey Messner Photographers Grace Brownson, Hannah LoGiudice, Ashton Dunlap, Ben Stavnezer, Brittany Wachtel, Nora Levy, Delaney Wilson, Sheridan Schauer, Molly Snyder, 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
Media corporations cause loss of local coverage As an independent, local, and student-led newspaper, The Wooster Blade strives to provide coverage of the school and community around us. The Wooster Blade Editorial Board is concerned by the large proportion of local newspapers being bought up by large corporations. Gannett Media, the owner of USA Today, now owns over 20 local newspapers in the state of Ohio. This widespread ownership is nearing a monopoly and greatly reduces the amount of local news coverage in Ohio and in the nation. A May 2021 Harvard University study says Gannett owns over 250 daily newspapers and estimates its number of monthly readers at 144 million. Eventually, this situation could also cause a
political problem. A company controlling a large part of the media narrative reduces individualism of opinion. Gannett, and other corporations that own many independent newspapers should be regulated and barred from holding too large of a media presence in one market. The FCC should create legislation that disallows corporations from owning a majority of media sources in a state. Additionally, these corporations should be encouraged to maintain local writers and use local stories to better serve the communities that they publish newspapers in. Independent journalism is a very valuable resource in any country, and corporations are actively removing this valuable
resource by continuously purchasing local newspapers. Often, after purchase, the local newspaper that is purchased is stripped of many of its personnel and resources to save money, reducing its ability to adequately cover the important local stories that should be covered. The Daily Record, for instance, no longer leases its printing facility in Wooster, and only lists nine staff members on their staff directory. Its website now features a larger proportion of national stories that are not as relevant to Wooster and Wayne County community members. Large media corporations should be regulated by the FCC and put under more pressure to cover local news across the U.S. so that communities are adequately informed, updated and entertained.
Companies react to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine
ASHTON DUNLAP co-editor in chief Companies and corporations have begun to respond to Russia’s malicious actions in Ukraine in unique ways, but many of these attempts are completely trivial and ineffective. For example, video game company Electronic Arts has said they will remove Russia from FIFA 22 and other associated games. Instead of actually
helping the Ukrainian people with financial support or other more applicable methods, many companies are choosing to use niche and futile methods that often look good in the public eye. Sometimes, it is better to have a small, genuine action to help the people of Ukraine rather than have an elaborate response that ends up making no real change. Often, these attempts end up being completely out of touch. Additionally, many attempts from companies end up disproportionately affecting Russian people while Putin and other Russian oligarchs remain largely untouched. The general Russian populus is not at fault for Putin’s actions and responses from companies
should avoid devastating Russian citizen’s lives. These futile attempts to help come from individuals as well. Many people that are not directly affected by the conflict have felt obligated to have an opinion on the conflict. Similar to corporations, individual people should aim to take selfless, genuine actions rather than giving their unoriginal opinion or acting only for attention. Both companies and individuals should not compete with each other, trying to have the best opinion and response to Russia’s actions. Instead, they should reflect and put forth an adequate and thoughtful response that in the long run, aims only to help the people who are in need.