The Wooster
BLADE Volume XX | Issue 11 | March 13, 2020
Navigating the crowd: what makes a good debate?
Inside the March 13, 2020 Issue
p. 5 WHS hosts State Speech and Debate tourney
p. 5 Surveying the community on the levy
p. 9 Update on the political primaries
ON CAMPUS
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Dangers of Indifference class and History Club members:
Students reinforce lessons with field trip LEO RILEY a&e editor The annual trip to Washington D.C. has again come to pass, and students and staff of the Dangers of Indifference class and History Club toured through the historical monuments of the U.S. Capital city. According to Mark Kister, Social Studies Dept. member and teacher of the Dangers of Indifference class, the main purpose of the trip is to allow students to visit the Holocaust Museum and explore many of the historically significant sites. The Washington Monument, the Lincoln Memorial and other major landmarks were on the agenda, but according to one student, the Holocaust Museum was much more powerful. Regarding the trip, student Mason Garcia (12) said, “It was as educational as you wanted it to be. You could choose to follow the guide and listen to everything he said and you
could read all the material at the Holocaust Museum or not, but the museum touched everyone, no matter how much they read.” The staff members w h o chaperoned the D.C. trip include H i s t o r y REECE MITCHELL Club adviser Misty Bisesi, Mason Garcia (12) and Nathan DeRodes (12) light Kister and candles in the Holocaust Memorial Museum. Associate Principal of this terrible time in our Sarah Crooks. Kister provided insight history.” According to Kister, the trip into the purpose of the trip, saying, “It’s good to take the allows students a unique kids there and reinforce the experience and a greater lessons of the Holocaust, see appreciation for history, while the artifacts and hear stories instilling important lessons.
Author Daniel Porter visits the Creative Writing Club MOLLY SNYDER staff writer Author Daniel Porter paid a visit to the WHS Creative Writing Club Feb. 25. Porter is a best-selling author and is also the father of English Dept. member Chelsey Porter, who runs the club. Chelsey Porter says she decided to bring in her father
to speak to the students because of his success, despite the setbacks he has faced. “I think our aspiring writers need to see that sometimes you may not become J.K. Rowling, but you can still sustain a career in writing,” Chelsey Porter said. Porter came in to teach club members about brainstorming ideas for creative writing and shared with the students that he attempted to publish his
original work more than 500 times before getting published. When his first work was published, it was a number one best seller in the country, selling over two million copies. For brainstorming ideas, Porter emphasizes the acronym S.C.A.M.P.E.R., which stands for senses, context, ask, merge, play, expedition and reverse. According to Porter, these seven terms are meant to help writers expand their ideas and execution in their stories. The senses technique, Porter says, is meant for writers to focus on one of the five senses in their stories to put the reader
WHS hosts Honor Band event EVE NORRIS staff writer WHS is esteemed for its excellence in its music program and had the opportunity to host this year’s Honor Band event. Wooster’s band director, Craig French, explains that Honor Band, where a small number of WHS musicians are nominated to participate, is a momumental event. “I’m a member of the ASBDA, an organization of directors in America. Let’s say somebody from a college hears your band and thinks you’re doing a good job – they can nominate you to be in the group. Once a year, we collaborate our best students to make an honor band. It’s about 25 high schools from across the state of Ohio playing in one band together,” French said. Over 300 students from
in the story. Context is to make sure the exposition is clearly set up, making a good foundation for the story. Ask is for writers to write their story in a different perspective, asking a different character in the story to describe the events. Merge is to incorporate two or more ideas into a story and tie them together throughout the story. Play is to play around with the prompt, taking different angles than most would. Expedition is to set things up to build up to the climax for the majority of the story to build tension. Finally, reverse is to tell the
schools including Orange High School and Wapakoneta High School had the opportunity to perform in the WHS Commons on Feb. 22, along with WHS students. Nancy Ditmer, retired professor of music and band director of 35 years at the COW, directed the Honor Band’s high school section alongside the middle school director, Chris Brandonberg. Emphasizing the significance of organizations such as Honor Band, Ditmer said, “It was a great experience. It’s fun to work with students that are totally dedicated. Everybody is there because they want to be.” Landon Rice, first-chair flute in the WHS Symphonic Band, expands on the importance of these opportunities, saying, “Being around people like ourselves allows for collaboration and selfimprovement.”
story starting with the climax and explaining the beginning as the story progresses. Porter had students try quick three-minute exercises for testing out the S.C.A.M.P.E.R. techniques and increasing their comfort with different writing styles. Ella Buzzard (11), an attendee of the Creative Writing Club, says Porter’s point of, “don’t think, write” is her biggest take away from the lecture. ”I was skeptical of this technique, but I found that it actually works. You begin writing, and the rest just falls into place,” Buzzard said.
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WHS hosts the Ohio Speech and Debate Association’s state tournament GRACE BROWNSON & SKYY KHOUNBORIN head photographer & sports editor The WHS Speech and Debate team competed in the state tournament that was held at WHS this past weekend. Overall, the team placed seventh in overall sweepstakes. Bryn Savidge (12), Speech and Debate President, explains the difference between the state tournament and other tournaments. “The competition at the state tournament is the best of the best. It is the final tournament in the regular season, so a lot of competitors have been preparing since November. It is a very large tournament that spans over two days, and teams from all over the state
are attending,” Savidge said. With a team consisting of around 50 students from the WHS Speech and Debate team, 35 qualified to compete at the state tournament. Jacob Hannan (9) competes in United States Extemporaneous Speaking and, prior to competing, expressed his enthusiasm about taking part in it. “I’m excited that I was able to qualify. Going to states will give me more experience, so I will be able to improve in the coming years on the Speech and Debate team. I’m very glad I have the opportunity to compete alongside the team and whether or not I do well, I’m glad to be able to have fun with the team and with the other students in my category,” Hannan said.
Holly Custer, head coach for the Speech and Debate team, discusses the support from people who contributed to the tournament. “We are lucky to have the support of our community, administration, faculty, staff and parents to be able to host such a prestigious tournament. It took a tremendous, concerted effort to help 1500 guests feel at home in Wooster,” Custer said. Highlights include: Stuart Courson (12) placed second in Program of Oral Interpretation, Lena Wiebe (11) and Sophia Dal Pra (12) placed third in Policy Debate, Libra Pritchard (12) placed in the top 12 in Program of Oral Interpretation, Mya Vandegrift (11) placed in the top 12 in Original Oratory and Eve Norris (12) placed in the top 12 in Declamation.
WHS policy teams remark on past season TYLER KEATING photographer The WHS Speech and Debate team competes in four different debate categories; one of those categories is Two Person Policy Debate, better known to competitors simply as Policy. Sophia Dal Pra (12) is one of the co-captains of Policy. “I generally put in a minimum of 10 hours a week,” Dal Pra says of her practice schedule. “It’s a hefty amount of time, but I love it.” Dal Pra splits her practice into three types of preparation. “The first type is strategy, deciding what we should say against different teams and arguments. We also do research, making the arguments and updating what we already have, and
it has to be qualified sources. My third type is miscellaneous skills and research knowledge, practicing speeches, practicing presentation, thinking on the fly, and responding to arguments I’ve never seen before,” Dal Pra says. Sam Wilds (10) also competes in Policy. He says that debate has, “helped me with public speaking and I now have a better angle on current relations.” At the state tournament on Saturday, Dal Pra and her partner, Lena Wiebe (11), advanced to the semifinals, the top four teams in the state. Isabel Smith (12) and Molly Snyder (10) also advanced to octafinals, or the top 16 teams. Wilds and his partner, Chris Vann (10), went 2-4, getting 27 in the state.
“WE ALSO DO RESEARCH, MAKING THE ARGUMENTS, AND UPDATING WHAT WE ALREADY HAVE, AND IT HAS TO BE QUALIFIED SOURCES,” DAL PRA SAID. “I think that Chris and I did well overall. It was our first state tournament, and it was a good learning experience for both of us,” Wilds says.
PF duo heads to nationals ELLIE SNIDER staff writer This past weekend, the state Speech and Debate tournament was held at WHS. For Anna Nacci (12) and Sierra Dewald (11), the second day of the tournament began early that morning, with the first round of the day occurring at 8:30 a.m. For tournaments that are not at WHS, Dewald and Nacci have to be on the bus and headed to the tournament before the sun has fully risen. “On most tournament days, I wake up around 5 a.m. I do my hair, get dressed, then leave for the bus, which usually leaves around 6:15,” Nacci said. Once the pair arrives at the school, the work begins. “We typically have about an hour until rounds start. This time is filled with last minute research, strategizing, talking to friends and continuing to wake up,” Nacci explains. Anna Nacci and Sierra Dewald are members of the Public Forum category of debate. In this category, debaters dispute current events, with a new topic each month, the topic debated at states being whether the United States should increase its use of nuclear energy, according to Dewald. “In every round, we present arguments and refute our opponents’. We also argue with them through questioning. Each person gives two speeches, from two to four minutes in length, and with the first one being prewritten and the others being extemporaneous,” Nacci said. The category has taught the pair how to speak up and do research, as well as form arguments quickly, according to Nacci. “[Debate] has also taught me how to think on the fly, and speak extemporaneously with almost no time to prepare,” Nacci said. Most tournaments have four
rounds, according to Nacci, with the time in between consisting of talking with friends and figuring out how well everyone else is doing. These friends are what make competition so great, according to Nacci. “Through competition, I have become very close friends with a lot of people throughout Ohio. For a lot of these people, having met them freshman year, it feels like we have grown up together…. The friends I made are the real things I’m going to remember and keep hold of after my speech career ends,” Nacci said. Dewald also describes how Public Forum has helped her debating skills. “Speech and debate has taught me how to do research efficiently, how to look at multiple sides of complex issues, and about the power of one’s voice,” Dewald said. Once the duo has finished debating, the rest of the day is spent watching the final rounds of friends and finally relaxing. “I finally have time to eat lunch and see how the ‘Speechies’ from Wooster feel about their days,” Nacci said. Awards finish out the tournament, lasting about a half an hour according to Nacci. “After awards, we pack up our stuff and head home, usually returning to Wooster around 4 or 5 p.m.” Nacci said. Debate coach, Holly Custer, is proud of how much Nacci and Dewald have accomplished. “They have been working really hard and have honed their skills… They’ve done a tremendous job working together… so proud of all they’ve accomplished,” Custer said. Although the state tournament has concluded, the pair will soon be headed to nationals, which is held in Albuquerque, New Mexico. For now, however, the duo gets to relax and enjoy the rest of the school year.
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Navigating high school scheduling pathways
WHS is currently in the midst of scheduling for the 2020-21 school year. Class meetings were held for students March 2, where students were presented all of their options for classes they can take next year. In looking at courses that are offered, Principal Tyler Keener said they have evaluated the role that honors classes play in our current course offerings. Keener states, “Our job is to create the best and most equitable opportunities for all students. We have data that suggests that we can continue to get better at providing better access to all our students in the theme of social justice. We are not making any drastic changes for next year, but we are looking at our model and
how to better meet the needs of all students. We will continue to look at how we can get better in the upcoming years.” According to Keener, there are a few classes that got some edits and revamps, but the only new class next year is JAVA programming. When looking at the statistics on how CCP classes have affected the number of students in AP classes, Keener said, “CCP has grown, but our trend data shows us that electives and AP classes have not been affected in regards to numbers.” At WHS, students have many different pathways that they can choose to take depending on what they want to do with their future. Guidance counselor Tyler Egli said, “We are fortunate here at Wooster High School to have a wide variety of course offerings and pathways for our students. Everything from Project Lead the Way, Career Center,
students to feel prepared to participate in class discussions, to be open to approaching their faculty members for help or clarity, to be motivated to do research on the topics outside of class, and to keep strengthening the strategies that work best for them to engage with the course material,” Stuck said. Many colleges have this mindset when looking at a student’s transcript. It is important to be selfaware in making decisions about classes. A choice should depend on a student’s learning style and time management strategies, according to Stuck. Colleges are aware that students have different programs available to them. According to Stuck, admissions departments look
to see if students took the most demanding courses offered to them, if they made reasonable choices based on their abilities, increased their knowledge and took on challenges. Every school weighs and considers AP, CCP, and IB in different ways. Depending on how a student performs in the class, The College of Wooster accepts up to 32 semester hours, or eight course credits, according to Stuck. Part of scheduling classes is understanding how the credits obtained will transfer over to different schools. Depending on whether the school is a state or private institution, different scores in these classes will be accepted. For example, The Ohio State University accepts credits from
JACK VENEY staff writer
Graphic by Madison Helms
Investigating CCP, AP, IB and Honors class SOPHIE GAMBLE cover editor WHS students have the opportunity to choose from the many academic pathways that are offered: twenty-four AP classes, a full International Baccalaureate program, six College Credit Plus classes and many honors classes are offered in the building, according to the WHS Course Selection Guide. It can be difficult for students to decide which pathway will best suit them and benefit them in their search and applications
for college. Each of these programs has its own merits, according to Stephanie Stuck, Senior Assistant Director of Admissions and Coordinator of Enrollment at The College of Wooster. Although IB and AP programs are more recognized across the globe, each of these programs will help students prepare for college in terms of personal responsibility for learning and learning to work hard to grasp content, Stuck added. “At Wooster, we want
College Credit Plus Course Advanced Placement, Wor Study, Leadership, Consume Sciences and Fine Arts (etc. These programs give student the set of skills that college workforce and military service are looking for. I strongl encourage students to explor the course selection guide fo additional information.” Ohio Law, as stated on th Ohio Department of Educatio Website, requires that a students must earn a minimum of 20 credits in specific subjec areas of English language art health, mathematics, physica education, science, socia studies and electives. Student must also receive instruction i financial literacy and complet at least two semesters of fin arts. Students who wish to d two seasons of a combination o sports and/or marching ban qualify for a PE waiver and therefore, would not have t take Physical education classes
IB Higher Level courses with a score of 4 or higher and will accept AP scores of between 3 and 5 depending on the course, according to their website. The College of Wooster will accept IB Higher Level courses with a score of 5 or higher and AP courses with typically scores of 4 and 5, according to Stuck. “Keeping yourself challenged beyond your high school requirements could open the doors for a new interest you didn’t know you had, and will continue to exercise your mind in preparation for college,” Stuck said. Students should work with admissions counselors and Registrar’s Offices at schools of interest to discuss credit transfer in the context of their overall goals, Stuck said.
FOCUS
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Why are you voting for/ against the levy?
On the ballot: WCSD’s upcoming levy
Corridor responses were collected from March 5 to March 10 from community members, as well as staff and students at WHS. Responses collected by Jensan Bauman, Paulina Salazar and Ashton Dunlap. “The roof is leaking!!!” - anonymous student Graphic by Rheanna Velasquez
JENSAN BAUMAN staff writer The Wooster City School District is currently in the process of attempting to pass the 6.5 mill levy, and with the vote coming March 17, what are things voters still need to know? The need for school levies comes from the 1976 Ohio House Bill 920. According to fiscalofficer.cuyahogacounty. us, “It’s [The House Bill 920] purpose was to keep inflation from increasing voted taxes.” With this note, individual counties can either pass tax levies or get city charters approved. Currently, WCS is running a levy to tax properties in the community, which would cost residents with $100,000 homes $18.95 each month. Dr. Michael Tefs, Superintendent of Wooster City Schools and Chairman of Wooster Alliance, says, “I believe we have been phenomenally good stewards of the public trust,” as WCS has waited 10 years since the last
levy in 2010, which has been the longest in the district’s history. The funds made if the levy is passed will cover inflationary costs, including transportation, technology, supplies, utilities and other general costs the district maintains. However, data provided by Tefs concludes almost 72 percent of the funds will be used for personnel. Tefs says a misconception revolving around the levy is that the district can wait five years for it to be placed on the ballot. “We have lived within our means for as long as we could,” Tefs said. If the levy were postponed until 2024, Tefs explains, it would cause the district to present a higher-costing 19.5 mill levy, or 12 mill of reductions. Scott Hannan, an MD at Wooster Community Hospital, and a member of the Wooster Community, has established that he is avidly against the passing of the levy. Hannan says voters should know that voting no is okay. “It’s a common myth that voting no to a tax increase means you don’t want students to get an excellent education,” Hannan said.
Hannan also notes the 12.5 percent increase, explaining that it would be permanent. “If voters reject the proposal, the board may choose to request a smaller increase in taxes later… to meet voters in the middle, so to speak,” Hannan said, explaining another reason why voters could say no. Hannan says if voters do not agree with the number being asked for, then the Board of Education could return with a different value. Even if the levy should fail, Hannan says, it would in no way mean that is the final decision. Scott Miller, President of the Wooster Education Association, says there would be a huge impact on teachers in the WCSD if the levy were not to pass. Miller says if it fails, there would be reduced funding, which, “Could result in larger class sizes across the district… Programming during and after school could also be reduced.” Miller also notes that WCSD and the 500 employees within it rely on community support to ensure quality education in the school system, and said teachers are thankful for the community.
“To support my students.” - teacher “I am not for the levy. I don’t think the money in the school system is going to good use.” - anonymous community member “We are supportive of the levy. The Wooster CIty School District has over 500 employees and several buildings to maintain. We want to continue to see solid support staff in the schools, opportunities for the arts, and innovative programming in the schools. All of these items require community support.” - Emily & Joel Engman “For. To cover inflationary costs, allowing the system to operate at maximum capacity.” -Sam Carmel (11) “I am against the levy simply because I cannot pay any more to live in this town.” - anonymous community member “Always vote yes for schools.” -teacher “I support a better education for all.” - Evan Miller (12)
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Reassessing the role of class rank and GPA MAEVE FLORENCE-SMITH & LENA WIEBE feature editor & focus editor According to a Student Life Survey Press Release from The Princeton Review, some high school students remarked that they had learned that “good grades are important [and] learning doesn’t really matter.” As mental health issues and the competitiveness of college admissions and the future job market is on the rise for many American students, some schools are taking steps to adjust their approach to grade point averages and recognition of class rank. One such school district is Mason City Schools, an Ohio school district that recently decided to cap its students’ GPAs and to stop recognizing valedictorians and salutatorians. Robert Dodd, William Mason High School Principal, recalled an incident with a student that he believes provides an example of how much stress many high school students experience. While considering changes
to the high school’s grading and recognition system, Dodd said the MSC administration met with the top 30 students that would be eligible to be considered for the position of valedictorian or salutatorian for their feedback. Dodd remarked that “One of the students that was in those top 30 students, I had coffee with her over winter break and this will just give you an idea. She goes to Harvard now, she got a 4.0 first semester, and she said: ‘Mr. Dodd, I have less pressure at Harvard than I did at Mason.’ So that just shows you that the kids… were going through some things, and it needed to change. We needed to change.” Jonathan Cooper, Superintendent of Mason City Schools, added that “They’re starting to label students [in high-performing, suburban districts] at risk because of some of the anxiety and depressions... so we started to look closer at that, and one of the conversations was what are the small changes that we can make in school district, in our system, to maybe begin to address some of those unnecessary stresses
and so Mr. Dodd has allowed students to have a voice in that, and I think that’s Artwork by where the success or Emma Yoder the magic happens. We also changed our start time as well, as part of those big changes, which is really difficult to do when you’re the largest high school in the state… We’ve heard nothing but [gratitude] from our families because they know that we’re trying to… address the real issues that people have concerns around.” One concern some advocates of recognition of individual class rank have raised is that class so students can really focus rank may factor into in on learning what they’re decisions regarding college interested and a passion, not admissions or scholarship just chasing after a GPA.” offers. Shanna Bumiller, Mason City Mollie Conley, associate Schools Learning Advisor, director of admissions at The agreed that helping students College of Wooster, commented find passions in learning was that while college admissions an important motivation for people do use class rank as a the district’s changes, adding tool to help determine whether that “It’s also just part of our or not a student should be culture, our district’s bigger admitted, many other factors value system about our are taken into consideration. learners, and really putting Conley stated that “At The them at the center of decision College of Wooster, we use making...so, one of our big class rank as one part of the areas of focus instructionally application review, but also is personalized learning… heavily consider a student’s putting the person, seeing curriculum choices, GPA, the person as the heart of and standardized test scores instruction and of learning. So along with extracurricular really helping to build systems and leadership activities. of learning that help all of Regardless if a school provides our educators start with the a specific class rank we will students, even thinking about still look to see how a student instruction that’s happening in has taken advantage of classrooms. And it’s a journey course offerings to enhance for us… it’s not like we have their critical thinking and arrived, but it’s certainly a writing skills along with part of our district’s decision expanding their worldview making…” and understanding of different Cooper also explained that viewpoints.” the journey to change the Conley emphasized that school districts GPA and students should focus on ranking system, “...can’t be pursuing their own interests, an adult-driven thing, it’s got adding that “Just like I to be a learner-driven piece, wouldn’t recommend a student
“ONE OF THE STUDENTS THAT WAS IN THOSE TOP 30 STUDENTS, I HAD COFFEE WITH HER OVER WINTER BREAK AND THIS WILL JUST GIVE YOU AN IDEA. SHE GOES TO HARVARD NOW, SHE GOT A 4.0 FIRST SEMESTER, AND SHE SAID: ‘MR. DODD, I HAVE LESS PRESSURE AT HARVARD THAN I DID AT MASON,” DODD SAID. to take part in an activity just to pad their activity list for colleges, I wouldn’t recommend that a student focus only on improving their class rank to make them more admissible. Instead, focus on activities that you enjoy and take classes that reasonably challenge you. Focusing on sound study skills, completing homework, and practicing good time management will naturally help you earn better grades and prepare you for the rigors of college level work.” Both educators and Conley agreed that students should focus taking classes in subject areas they are passionate about to build skills for their future.
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of the Wayne County Karin Wiest: Director Volunteer Guardian Ad Litem Program Making a difference: MADDY MCCULLY co-editor-in-chief
How would you describe your work/mission? The official mission of the Wayne County Volunteer Guardian ad Litem program is to provide trained, independent advocates to represent the best interests of abused, neglected and dependent children in the Wayne County Juvenile Court. The term “guardian ad litem” is an old legal term that means for the purposes of the suit. Traditionally, lawyers would perform this function.
The idea behind the volunteer program is to have trained people to become involved in a case to give the judge the best information possible.
What’s something that you think most people don’t know about the organization you work with? I think what most people don’t know is that you don’t have to be a lawyer to be involved with kids in the court system. And that it is not as depressing as some people expect. Working in the child welfare area can be very challenging. It does give people a whole
new perspective about their community and the issues many families face.
What’s something that you think most people don’t know about the organization? I think what most people don’t know is that you don’t have to be a lawyer to be involved with kids in the court system. And that it is not as depressing as some people expect. Working in the child welfare area can be very challenging. It does give people a whole new perspective about their community and the issues many families face.
Probate and Juvenile Judge Latecia Wiles swears in Guardian ad Litem volunteers, who work to protect the interests of children involved in abuse, neglect and dependency cases.
Through which organization do you volunteer? The Benevolence Group, a group of women from Westminster Presbyterian Church. They go out into the community and do acts of kindness…They are just the most loving, caring, and whenever someone comes to us and says this is what we see as a need, we go in and fill it. How would you describe your work? We work with Meals on Wheels, we do Central American Medical Outreach, taking supplies that have been donated, sorting and
Foster Care Recruiter at Wayne County Children’s Services
co-editor-in-chief How long have you been involved with Wayne County Children Services? I came to work here in 2012 when our family moved to Wooster.
Presbyterian Church Dawn Kridel: Westminster Benevolence Group Volunteer co-editor-in-chief
Susan Greenberg: MADDY MCCULLY
PHOTO COURTESY OF KARIN WIEST
RHEANNA VELASQUEZ
community members work to improve the lives of those around them
packaging them, and then they get distributed in Central America…It’s really rewarding because a lot of those things may end up in a landfill, which would be horrible for the environment, and also, there are people who are desperately in need in Central America, and the hospitals don’t have the things they need.
somebody. It’s so necessary for these people. They’re not taking advantage of anything, they’re getting a nutritious meal Monday through Friday. Some of these people don’t have any family, and they’re old, most of them can’t drive anymore safely, so how else would they get nourishment if we weren’t doing that?
What’s your favorite initiative? Meals On Wheels. It’s not just about delivering hot food, but it’s also connecting with people. As a former nurse, when I go, and I’m delivering that meal… I can do an assessment, a quick check, to see if they look gray, if their coloring is bad, if there’s swelling in their ankles and I know if I need to alert
Is there anything else you would like to add? If people have the time, they should try to carve out something that they can do. When I was little, my mother said often that the gifts we were given were meant to be shared. In Luke, it says to whom much has been given, much is expected.
How did you get involved? I had worked in the field of social work in Cleveland for many years so when I started looking for a job here in Wooster, it was a perfect opportunity. I had previously worked for many years licensing Foster Parents so it was a nice transition to now be recruiting new foster families. How would you describe your work/mission? Wayne County Children Services, in partnership with the community, exists to protect abused and neglected children and to strengthen, preserve, and empower families. What’s your favorite initiative? Every year, the agency hosts an event called Shop with a Hero. You may have noticed this past holiday season one Saturday morning when police
cars, fire trucks, and other First Responder vehicles entered the Walmart parking lot with lights flashing and sirens blazing followed by kids racing into the store. The event provides kids in our care a trip to go Christmas shopping for their families and for themselves. They walk throughout the store with a “hero” and pick out whatever they want. It really is a great event and many of our staff love participating. What’s something that you think most people don’t know about the organization you work with? Our office building has a long history here in Wayne County. The building dates back to 1880, and if you look at old pictures, it still looks the same. Initially this was a Children’s Home and a 82 acre working farm. Children who lived here went to school, helped work the farm, and canned foods which they sometimes sold to the community. There has been an agency dedicated to helping children and families in Wayne County for over 140 years. You can find a complete history of the building on our website if you would like more information at waynecsb.org.
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Jeff Lindberg strikes a chord for young musicians with his COW performance RUMEN ZDRAVCHEV
Tom Tierny, executive director of The Great Decisions speaks at the COW on Feb. 25 about current foreign policy and global issues.
COW hosts Great Decisions series SYLVIE SHAYA THERESA WENDELL
staff writer The Great Decisions lecture
Jeffrey Lindberg, professor of music at the College of Wooster, directs this young orchestra ensemble Feb. 25. series is a long standing, local tradition that works The orchestra, comprised of many woodwind and stringed instruments, performed in McGaw Chapel.
ELLIE SNIDER staff writer In February, fourth grade students were able to go see the Wooster Symphony Orchestra perform their annual children’s concert at the College of Wooster. The annual event involves a lot of preparation, according to Michelle Muro, Fine Arts Consultant of the Tri-County Educational Service Center. “The concert date is set a year in advance by the COW. That date is shared with schools in early spring… In the fall, Jeff Lindberg decides what repertoire will be performed in the concert… I create a study booklet to help fourth graders prepare for the concert… the booklets help students learn about many aspects of an orchestra, such as composers, conducting, musicians, instrument families… Many people work together to make this experience possible for our local students,” Muro said. The concert is attended by 1,200 students, as, “all fourth graders
in Wayne and Holmes counties are invited to attend the concert each year,” according to Muro. The program featured the Star Wars main title by John Williams, and “Overture” to the opera William Tell, by Rossini, as well as several other pieces. “We don’t have a lot of rehearsal time, so we usually have to program material that we perform at other concerts in the season… We also tend to repeat works for children’s concerts, particularly a piece like Star Wars,” said Jeff Lindberg, music director at the College of Wooster. As the music director of the Wooster Symphony Orchestra, it is Lindberg’s job to conduct the children’s concert, a job he says he has performed for 34 years. The fourth graders recognized the importance of the concert.“I liked the orchestra trip because it was a great experience for me… I liked seeing the violin players,”” said Lily Ober, a fourth grader at Parkview Elementary. Jack Kallio, another Parkview student, also enjoyed the concert and the familiar music. “My
favorite part of the WSO concert was that they played Star Wars, and it sounded exactly like the movies,” Kallio said. Lindberg said it is important for fourth graders to be able to hear the WSO. “... traditionally it’s always been fourth graders to give students a chance to hear an orchestra live and think about possibly becoming an orchestra musician,” Lindberg said. Muro said that despite the amount of work that goes into planning the event, the result is worth it. “Many of the students who attend the concert have never seen or heard an orchestra. For many, it may be the first and last time they attend a live orchestra concert…. Seeing how much the students enjoy the concert is very rewarding,” Muro said. Whether students decide to pick up an instrument or not, the Wooster Symphony Orchestra children’s concert allows students to hear each instrument on its own, as well as with the rest of the orchestra, according to Muro, giving students an experience to last a lifetime.
to spread awareness about global issues, according to Tom Tierny, Executive Director of the program. Celebrating its 39 year, the program brings in prominent individuals with the hope that “the Wooster community will be better informed on foreign policy issues and act accordingly in their decision making,” according to Doug Drushal, President of the Great Decisions program. The issues covered by the series focus mostly on foreign policy and global issues. Tierney added that “the goal is to bring in... experts who can help us understand international issues and international relations more deeply than we might otherwise comprehend them.” Katherine Holt, Professor of History and Latin American Studies at the College of Wooster who attended the Feb. 25 lecture, explained that “the lectures are popular because they do an excellent job bringing experts on a wide range of important global issues to Wooster. The material is sophisticated,
but accessible to a popular audience who want to learn more about a global issue.” Due to this accessibility and general interest in the lectures, Wooster community members attend the lectures, including many who have attended for many years, added Tierney. “It’s an opportunity to expand our horizons by bringing in prominent people who are part of these larger conversations,” Tierny explained. Great Decisions has already brought in Arturo Sarukhán, former Mexican ambassador to the U.S., and Alan Bersin, former Assistant Secretary for Policy and International Affairs and Chief Diplomatic Officer in the U.S. Dept. of Homeland Security to speak about the issues of migration and border relations for their 2020 series. Upcoming events include: a screening of the documentary film Lifeboat and a director led discussion by Skye Fitzgerald April 1; a lecture titled “How is China coping with the trade war?” by Ka Zeng, Professor of Political Science and Director of Asian Studies at the University of Arkansas, April 9; and a lecture titled “Trade with your neighbor: a Canadian farmer’s perspective on the USMCA” by Cherilyn Jolly-Nagel, a Canadian farmer and agricultural policy advocate, April 14.
COVER
THE WOOSTER BLADE | MARCH 13, 2020 | PAGE 9
Participating in politics: Examining presidential candidates With Ohio’s primary approaching, our cover staff wants to inform our readers about all of the steps included in voting and also wants to discuss how polarized politics has become in order to reiterate the importance of conducting respectful, civil discourse.
High turnout among young voters expected in 2020 ANNA NACCI cover editor Ohio’s primary election will take place March 17, and the general election is on Nov. 3. According to an article published by CNN titled, “Young voters are going to be key to winning 2020,” on Jan. 2 and written by Dan Glickman and Alan Solomont, young voters could decide both of these elections. The reason for younger voters having this influence is that those who range in ages of 18 to 29, do not have a history of high voter turnout, according to Glickman and Solomon. If this trend changes however, Glickman and Solomont explain these voters could have a big effect on which candidate receives the most votes. There is potential for younger voters to have the higher turnout needed to make a big impact, as Generation Z (those ages 18 to 23) will now account for 10 percent of eligible voters, compared to four percent in 2016, according to an article
entitled “An early look at the 2020 electorate,” published by Pew Research Center Jan. 30, 2019, and written by Anthony Ciluffo and Richard Fry. Despite all of these predictions of high youth participation in the 2020 general election, reports from the primary so far suggest otherwise. In a Newsweek article entitled “Voter Turnout Higher 2016 All Super Tuesday States One Despite Young Voters Sitting Out” published March 4, author Aila Slisco wrote that voter turnout among the younger voters was lower than the 2016 election on Super Tuesday. Slisco quantifies, “Only 13 percent of the voters were in the younger demographic, as compared to 16 percent in 2016.” The only way to change this low number for the primaries, and eventually general election, is to register to vote. While registration for the primary elections closed in February, there is still time to register for the general election. To do so, visit the Ohio Secretary of State’s website.
Note: Candidates were included if they have not dropped out of the race and are competitive in terms of delegates, having been pledged 100 or more as of March 9. Blurbs written by Sierra Dewald.
Donald Trump
, the Republican President incumbent, currently has 1,104 delegates pledged; all but one of those that have been pledged so far. Before his election in 2016, Trump was a businessman, graduating from the Wharton School of Finance before taking charge of his family’s real-estate business in 1971. He ran in 2016 under the slogan, “Make America Great Again,” and was elected over Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton after losing the popular vote but winning the electoral college. Trump’s presidency has been polarizing, including his impeachment on Dec. 18, 2019, on the articles of abuse of power and obstruction of Congress, though the vote failed to pass the Senate and turn to removal. Trump’s key policies, according to his website, have included: a focus on the economy, including passing the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, tightening immigration restrictions and strengthening the military. More about Trump’s policies can be found on donaldjtrump.com.
Joe Biden is the current frontrunner in the race for the Democratic nomination, with 860
delegates pledged, the most of any candidate. Biden was first elected to the Senate in 1972 and went on to serve seven terms before resigning to assume the vice presidency in 2009. After two terms as Obama’s vice president, he joined the faculty at the University of Pennsylvania before announcing his intent to run for president. Roarty of Impact 2020, a 2020 election coverage website powered by mcclatchydc.com, wrote in a Sept. 2019 article titled, “Biden is labeled a moderate. But his agenda is far more liberal than Hillary Clinton’s,” that while Biden is a moderate candidate compared to Sanders, his policies are more ambitious and left-leaning than past party nominees. Some of Biden’s key policies, according to his website, include: allowing Americans to choose to buy into a public health insurance option like Medicare, investing in clean energy and rebuilding the middle class by expanding affordable housing and lowering college costs. More about Biden’s policies can be found on joebiden.com.
Bernie Sanders
currently has 710 pledged delegates, the second most in the Democratic field. Sanders was elected as mayor of Burlington, Vt. in 1981, before going on to serve 16 years in the House of Representatives. In 2006, he was elected to the Senate, where he is currently serving his third term. Milligan of U.S. News wrote in a Sept. 12, 2019 article titled, “Bernie Sanders: Where He Stands,” that Sanders has been, “a long-time reliable progressive,” from his history of civil rights and antiVietnam War activism as a college student to his willingness to go rogue and take stances unpopular within the Democratic Party while in Congress, including voting against the Iraq war in 2002. Sanders is a self-described Democratic Socialist who, according to his website, has made plans like Medicare For All, the Green New Deal, tuition and debt-free education at public colleges and universities and immigration reform cornerstones of his campaign. More about Sanders’ policies can be found on berniesanders.com.
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Democratic race narrows down to battle between Sanders and Biden ASHTON DUNLAP staff writer On March 3, 14 states and one U.S. territory held their Democratic nominations and awarded a total of 1,357 delegates. This day has been dubbed “Super Tuesday” and has become one of the most interesting and significant days in the nominating process. Since the last debate, Tom Steyer, Amy Klobuchar, Pete Buttiggeg and Michael Bloomberg have all dropped out of the race, essentially leaving Bernie Sanders and Joe Biden to battle it out. Both Amy Klobuchar and Pete Buttiggeg endorsed Biden, adding to his
cause and strengthening his campaign. Before Super Tuesday, Sanders had much of the momentum, and as the votes came in, he even declared that he would be the Democratic candidate. “But tonight I tell you with absolute confidence, we are going to win the Democratic nomination, and we are going to defeat the most dangerous president in the history of this country,” Sanders said during a speech on Super Tuesday. Although Sanders had multitudes of confidence, Biden stormed back during Super Tuesday. As of March 11, Biden won 574 of the 1,357 delegates, beating Sanders in most states. Biden won much of the South,
and surprised Sanders, winning 10 of the 14 states. Sanders’ biggest win of the night was in California, where as of March 11, he was awarded 1,466,846 votes and 185 delegates. Biden won the second biggest prize in Texas, where, as of March 11, he was awarded 716,781 votes and 102 delegates. Biden was largely propelled by votes in predominantly black states, forecasted by his win in South Carolina on Feb. 29. According to The New York Times, Biden also appears strongest among older voters, African-Americans and moderates. On the other hand, Sanders has dominated with younger voters and Latinos.
Respect and civility prove key to quality debates SYDNEY EBIN staff writer A recent poll by USA Today in a story titled “Divided we fall? Americans see our angry political debate as ‘a big problem,’” found that 78 percent of Americans found that national leaders promoted a mostly destructive public debate, and nine out of ten Americans said it is important for the United States to reduce divisiveness. These numbers suggest a growing concern for the quality of debates in the United States and favor a change in the way these debates are approached. In her TED talk titled “How
to disagree productively and find common ground,” Julia Dahr addresses many ways that people can approach debates differently to gain more productive results. She stresses the importance of finding common ground instead of immediately trying to prove the opposer wrong or attack them verbally. Barb Friedhoff, a Wooster community member, agrees that finding common ground is important. Elaborating on how to find common ground, Friedhoff states, “The most important thing is to ask questions and listen… it is often easier to find common ground which can be a safe foundation for voicing
Biden seemed to win Super Tuesday with the most votes and delegates, and a Biden win seems likely. According to a POLITICO article by David Siders and Holly Otterbein, a win for Biden in Michigan could signal the end of the race and a Democratic nomination for the former Vice President. Democratic pollster Paul Maslin said the race will be over very soon. “It’s done unless Joe makes some horrible mistake. He will win blacks 75-25 minimum from here on in. He doesn’t have Hillary’s negatives. And people want to beat Trump big time. This race is over,” Maslin said. Sanders and Biden are very different candidates and disagree on numerous issues. According to an article on CNN titled “Biden and Sanders brace for one-on-one battle in new phase of Democratic race,”
opinions.” Wooster History Dept. member Brian Questel, who teaches Civil Rights and Intolerance, said he touches on many topics that can be controversial. Questel says he tries to foster civil conversations by making sure his students are able to see past their own perspective and begin to see issues in the perspective of others by putting themselves into the other person’s shoes. While it can be challenging to discern whether or not these types of conversations are worth the trouble, Jack Pomfret (8) sees the benefit of these conversations. He states, “You allow yourself to reevaluate yourself and your morals and come to a better consensus with yourself.” Seeing the benefit of these conversations, it is important not to lose hope that those who disagree cannot get along.
the two candidates disagree on the issues of Social Security and the Iraq war. Sanders has also continued to attack his competitors about their wealth and status. “Does anyone seriously believe that a president backed by the corporate world is going to bring about the changes in this country that working families and the middle class and lower income people desperately need,” Sanders said. On March 10, a second set of six states’ primaries occured on “Super Tuesday Two”. Biden had many more victories and according to an article on TIME.com, Biden seems to be running away with the nomination. With 10 wins on March 4 and another series of big wins on March 11, Biden looks like the presumptive winner of the Democratic presidential nomination.
“THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IS TO ASK QUESTIONS AND LISTEN... IT IS OFTEN EASIER TO FIND COMMON GROUND WHICH CAN BE A SAFE FOUNDATION FOR VOICING OPINIONS,” FRIEDHOFF SAID. Friedhoff is one of 12 siblings that disagree on a vast number of things, however they are able to get along. She advises, “Respect is a huge factor in getting along.” When engaging in an argument next, keep these words of wisdom in mind to ensure a civil conversation.
THE WOOSTER BLADE | COVER | MARCH 13, 2020 | PAGE 11
Students protest gun activist Kaitlin Bennett’s visit to OU PAULINA SALAZAR views editor Kaitlin Bennett, a gun activist known for her progun graduation photos, visited Ohio University Feb. 17. Bennett said she was there to film a trivia-based video for President’s Day, according to an interview by Alex Salvi on One America News Network. A group of people formed around Bennett during her OU visit, protesting, according to an article of The Athens News by Connor Morris. Katie Armstrong, a student at OU shared her experience with Bennett’s campus visit by stating, “The students were very angry and did not want her there. There were many students there and the majority were protesting her,” Armstrong said.
Many videos and photos of Bennett’s visit were shared through social media, including videos of the mass of students protesting her visit and chanting at her. “I don’t think she should have come because it’s a liberal campus. No one’s opinions changed, and all it did was disturb the peace,” Armstrong said. The protests seemed to escalate; however, despite Bennett’s claims of a riot against her, the police released an official statement noting that the protest did not cause a riot and also stated no injuries or arrests were reported. “... The police told her she need[ed] to leave or they’d arrest her for ensuing a riot,” Armstrong added, matching with the statement the police published on Twitter. Bennett’s response, to the protests against her, was a tweet through her
Twitter account, @KaitMarieox, on Feb. 17, reading, “I will absolutely be returning to @ohiou’s campus again, and next time I’ll bring an army of gun owners for an open carry walk through campus. You can’t keep us away and you can’t keep us silent. Just like Donald Trump, we will always win.” Ohio law allows her to do so, as open carrying of firearms is legal. The police statement also read, “it should be noted that the police department received no prior notice of the activist’s plans… As a result, the officers on duty had to prioritize the response to the events as they unfolded... “ This means that Bennett did not tell authorities of her visit beforehand, which led to chaos on the campus. The OU police reported that the students were exercising their First Amendment rights by protesting. As found on ohio.edu, OU’s policy regarding protests is that students have the right to express their views by protesting under the First Amendment, as long as these demonstrations are not disruptive or in violation of other school policy.
shaped not only American political discourse, but how Americans express their views altogether. According to a YouGov.com poll, 28 percent of respondents have serious political disagreements with a family member, and more than one-third of those aged 18 to 29 experience political friction. This strain can lead to bottled up stress and resentment or it can trigger a cascade of arguments. While keeping closely held beliefs inside to avoid an argument may seem appealing, it is important we do not abandon opportunities to teach and learn from each other. It is important to have tough conversations, but also to be aware of when the discussion escalates and becomes unproductive. In an APA article, titled, “Managing Conversations When You Disagree Politically,” they offer tips for making what could be heated debates into insightful conversations. Firstly, it is important to be open and be kind. When having conversations, avoid polarizing language and
personal attacks. Remember with whom you are having a conversation. It could be a complete stranger, who is still worthy of your full respect, or a close friend. Keep calm when tensions rise. No one learns from an argument of screaming or TYPING ANGRILY IN ALL CAPS ON TWITTER. As hard as it may be to stay calm, keeping a level head shows confidence in your opinion and is part of being the bigger person in a disagreement. Accept that you may not change the person’s mind. Most of the time, you will not. Use the conversation to share views and not to convince anyone that your view is the only way of seeing an issue. American politics are becoming increasingly polarized as the 2020 election comes closer, making productive political conversations even more crucial. Respecting not only who you are debating, but the nature of the topic, are of utmost importance.
Civil political discussions require mutual respect
MYA VANDEGRIFT views editor “Thinking we’re only one signature away from ending the war in Iraq.” With this message in April 2007, then-Senator Barack Obama began the very first Twitter campaign for president, according to The Atlantic’s 2016 archive. In the process, Obama also launched one of the first demonstrations of the power of a social media platform to influence politics and political debate. Whether political discussions occur across the kitchen table or across a stage on national television, the rhetoric used in these debates has
Are WHS students voting? Are you registered to vote in the 2020 elections? If not, do not complete the rest of the poll. YES
66%
NO
34%
Do you plan to vote in the primary elections? YES
87%
NO
13% Do you plan to vote in the general election?
YES
90%
NO
10%
Which party do you plan to support in the 2020 elections? DEMOCRAT
33%
REPUBLICAN
26%
INDEPENDENT/OTHER
10%
UNDECIDED
31%
Fifty-three upperclassmen were polled by Sierra Dewald, Anna Nacci and Maddy McCully on Feb. 26-27.
SPORTS
THE WOOSTER BLADE | MARCH 13, 2020 | PAGE 12
Deep dive:
Brenden Holiday looks to take down his opponent in his tournament run to take him to the state meet.
Season ends swimmingly ASTON DUNLAP staff writer
CORINNE WILES
Wooster wrestlers head to state LUKE POMFRET staff writer Joey Lyons (11) and Brenden Holiday (12) recently qualified for the state tournament, which will be held March 13 through March 15. The WHS Wrestling team placed fourth at the OCC Championship, which was held at WHS on Feb. 22. Mitch Riker, head coach for the team, describes how the tournament went, by saying, “We finished as expected; it was tough finishing so close to third place. One or two matches go differently, and that’s where we would have ended up.” Although the team faced hardships during the
tournament, Riker says his wrestlers gave it their all. “Jimmy Lyons wrestled an excellent tournament… he was losing in three of four matches, but he just kept grinding to come back and win. Truly a testimony to his heart and hard work,” Riker said. When asked who the biggest competitor for the team was this year, Riker says, “West Holmes has an outstanding program, we need to strive to get to that level. They don’t make silly mistakes and compete hard whether they are winning or losing.” Connor Rotolo (10), describes the strengths and weaknesses of his team, by saying, “We are very conditioned, and we can
all wrestle multiple matches without being exhausted… a weakness is confidence, and if you are hesitant and not confident in what you do, then you will struggle,” Rotolo. Rotolo says his favorite part of the season was, “The morning of the Northwestern tournament because we could not get a bus and we messed around... we had moments to truly bond as a team.” Jimmy Lyons (11), says his favorite moment of the season was, “Watching my teammates that started the sport this year work hard and win matches.” Riker says that future goals for the team are to be more competitive and, “win all the matches we should.”
The WHS swim team finished a successful season at the OHSAA Division 1 State Meet Feb. 19 through Feb. 22. For the girls team, Gracie Chelf (10) placed 10 in both the 50 yard freestyle in 23.68 and 100 yard freestyle in 52.09. The 200 yard freestyle relay team of Maddy Murphy (12), Emma LoGuidice (12), Olivia Frantz (10) and Gracie Chelf, placed 23 in a time of 1:40.51. For the boys team, Thomas Matthew (12) placed fourth in the 200 yard freestyle in 1:39.38 and sixth in the 100 yard freestyle in 45.92. The relay team of Thomas Matthew, Kyle Ward (12), Andrew Glasgow (10), and Jaden Boucher (11), placed 13 in the 200 yard freestyle relay in a time of 1:26.96. Head coach Chris Matthew is very proud of how the season and state meet went. “Ohio is an elite state when it comes to swimming, and Wooster competed against the best in the state. Overall the season was a huge success
with the girls and boys both winning OCC titles. That was a huge goal for both teams,” Matthew said. After two top 10 finishes at the state meet, Thomas Matthew will be graduating, but he believes the team is in good hands. “Wooster swimming is in great hands. Gracie will continue to improve, and the boys have great senior leaders next year like Jaden Boucher. I am excited to see how far they get,” Thomas Matthew said. Chelf is also happy with how the season went and looks forward to the next couple of years. “I feel like going on the future seasons of Wooster swimming will be positive because we have some good seniors coming up and we already have some goals made for next year. After an amazingly productive season with numerous accolades and two OCC titles, the swimmers look to next season for more success. Numerous swimmers broke personal and school records, ending the year on a high note.
A&E
THE WOOSTER BLADE | MARCH 13, 2020 | PAGE 13
The therapeutic benefits of Dungeons & Dragons ALEC PAULEY on campus editor The act of role-playing is defined in the Oxford Dictionary as, “[to] act out or perform the part of a person or character.” Role-playing is used in many forms, such as acting in movies and TV shows, but one way studies have found it to be mentally healthy and therapeutic is in role-playing games like Dungeons & Dragons. Those playing D&D create a made-up character and describe their actions to a dungeon master to embark on fantasy adventures from the comfort of a kitchen dining table. “How Dungeons & Dragons Can Help Kids Develop SocialEmotional Learning Skills,” an article written by Paul Davasi on May 13, 2019, explains that role-playing games can have a positive impact in many more ways than just being fun, such as therapeutic benefits and helping those with social and emotional disorders. Davasi begins discussion in the article focusing on LiHigh School in Vermont, as it has adopted Dungeons and Dragons into its curriculum to help the, “serious behavioral challenges that are difficult to address in traditional settings” within the building. Kyle Callahan, a teacher at LiHigh School says, “Without a doubt, D&D has been one of the most successful classes we’ve offered at LiHigh School... Students love it; staff love it; and it genuinely helps the students achieve their socialemotional goals.” Davasi then writes that
Callahan and other educators, who use D&D and similar roleplaying games as a means to address behavioral challenges, acquire and practice a broad range of social and emotional skills. An article on the SYFYWire, written by Lisa Granshaw on May 23, 2018 titled, “How tabletop games like Dungeons & Dragons can be therapeutic for players,” delves into the perspective of Dr. Megan Connell, a clinical psychologist, and her experiences with Dungeons & Dragons as a means of therapy. Granshaw writes that Connell is the leader of a group called “The Self-Rescuing Princess,” which focuses on female empowerment, teamwork and other situations in which girls are likely to find themselves in the real world. Connell describes that at the begining of a new game of D&D, she asks the players to create characters who have a strong suit in an area in which they may feel they are weak in the real world. Connell says that one time, a girl at the table depicted her own personal weakness to be, “always saying yes to her friends,” but when asked to do something during a game, she did what she believed her character would do and said no. “That was the first time she’d ever said no to one of her friends for just a selfish reason of ‘I don’t want to,’ ” Connell told SYFY WIRE. D&D and other tabletop roleplay games are used in schools and in therapy to help overcome social and emotional struggles.
126 students were polled about their opinion on D&D the week of March 2. Dungeons & Dragons, commonly known as D&D, is a game about dice rolling, roleplaying, combat and storytelling, all from around the dining table. Here are the basics for someone who has little or no knowledge about what it means to play D&D:
THE BASICS:
&
The Player’s Handbook is one of the most important parts of playing D&D. It lays out the process for creating characters, as well as rules for the millions of possible situations the game can put players into.
Dice are another essential tool. Rolling dice is how nearly all actions are performed in D&D, relying on character’s individual attributes, but also a hint of luck to accomplish most goals. The last key part of D&D is the roleplaying. Everyone sitting around the game table is acting as a different person in an entirely different world, so unique motives, fun voices and a creative history all go into creating the adventure Graphics by at hand. Madison Helms
Is Dungeons & Dragons nerdy or mainstream?
33% Mainstream 67% Nerdy
Have you ever been interested in playing?
27% Yes
73% No
13% Yes
Have you ever played?
87% No
Poll responses: Why do you play D&D? “It sounded very fun and, it was something I could do with friends.”
“Because it’s raw.” “My older brother would host D&D at the house and allowed me to join, and I absolutely love it.”
“I have only played once, but found it very interesting.” Illustration by Olivia Dal Pra
THE WOOSTER BLADE | A&E | MARCH 13, 2020 | PAGE 14
BLADE staff members review new pop culture releases
Pixar’s New Animated Lauv’s Debut Album: how i’m feeling Film: Onward
SIERAH PILSON staff writer Pixar’s Onward is a wholesome, lively film that is sure to s a t i s f y audience members. Following brother elves, Ian and Barley, in a modern fantasy world, the pair joins forces to embark on a quest to revive their deceased father. The characters m u s t overcome both physical and emotional challenges along their journey, as well as make sacrifices for each other, which forces them to grow within themselves and gain better perspective on their lives.
The film’s juxtaposition of heavier topics, like grief, with frequent comedic moments and inventive silliness, is wellportrayed and allows the film to maintain an overall lighthearted tone. Additionally, a highlight of the film can be found in its characters, which, though not devoid of common Disney tropes, are highly likeable and entertaining. My personal favorite, Barley, is phenomenally voiced by Chris Pratt. The character’s loveable naivete and unrelenting devotion to his brother, v o i c e d by Tom Holland, are incredibly endearing a n d gratifying to watch, especially as Ian comes to recognize a n d appreciate his brother as the audience does. The film’s c o n c l u s i on, t h o u g h frustrating to some due to its lack of a perfect resolution, also came as a refreshing twist that emphasizes themes of sacrifice and making the best out of what is given.
Graphics courtesy of Disney/Pixar, COIN, and Lauv
SYDNEY EBIN staff writer
“Modern loneliness/we’re never alone/ but always depressed”: These words in the final song of Lauv’s debut album how i’m feeling, were a powerful coda to the lengthy 21 song debut featuring melodic songs about depression, love and societal pressures. As a hopeless romantic who is partial to teary-eyed sing-
along songs, Lauv’s album was perfect for those nights lying in bed, eating cookie dough and feeling sorry for myself. Lauv’s suave voice, combined with smooth melodic beats, provides for the perfect background m u s i c soundtrack for a somberly chill night. The melodic beat is perfect for playing as background music, but tears are right around the corner if you listen to the painfully honest lyrics and emotion that Lauv pours into
his songs. His lyrics point to the internal conflicts such as depression, heartache, and selfdeprecation that have become so prevalent in current culture and it is comforting to have an artist so candidly address these issues. The series of emotional ballads certainly goes beyond the surface lyrically, so if this scares you, stay away. But, if you are looking for an album that is lyrically powerful with smooth beats and tones, how i’m feeling is the album for you.
COIN’s new Album: Dreamland
MYA VANDEGRIFT views editor On Feb. 21, alternative pop band COIN released their latest album, Dreamland. This is their third album, after the release of their sophomore album, How Will You Know If You Never Try, in 2017. As stated in an post from the official COIN instagram
account @coin: “ ‘Dreamland’ is about certain uncertainty & loving something so much that you can’t live within it or without it. We spend so much time existing above ourselves, trying to strategize the best way to tell our story, without simply living the ‘story’. We spend so much time climbing a ladder, looking up, without realizing there is a nice view all around you.’ ” This album has notes of nostalgia (“Crash My Car”), heartbreak (“Valentine”),
and spirituality (“Heaven Hearted”). My personal favorite, “Let It Out (10:05),” is about taking the time to let yourself feel emotion openly in the face of not knowing what the next step of your life is. While it is hard to top a masterpiece like How Will You Know If You Never Try,Dreamland is a beautiful project that encompasses how the band has grown in the past three years and keeps relevance to its audience with themes of uncertainty and catharsis.
TRENDS
THE WOOSTER BLADE | MARCH 13, 2020 | PAGE 15
Clean cosmetics:
Products create discussion about beauty standards LUKE POMFRET staff writer Currently, the beauty industry is valued at $532 billion, according to a report from the retail analytics firm Edited courtesy of Business Insider, which gives this estimate based on many factors. Specifically, makeup brands have established trends that continuously keep the buyer ready to purchase the next item, whether an eyeshadow palette or a brush collection. One major trend in the makeup industry right now is using makeup that is considered “clean.” Retailers, like Sephora, have created guidelines as to what products should not have in the ingredients and the
makeup products that meet the requirements are considered and labelled as “clean.” While many follow the trend to switch their makeup to clean products, others may wonder constitutes clean cosmetics mean and worry as to whether this makeup can be considered harmful. On June 1, 2018, Sephora launched its clean collection. The Sephora Client Services describes the parameters for clean products on their website and ingredient list, “we compiled a list of brands and products that are formulated without sulfates SLS and SLES, parabens, formaldehyde, phthalates and mineral oil.” Sephora considers the ingredients on this list to be damaging to the skin. In Sephora stores, the consumer
can tell if a product meets these requirements by a Clean green seal on the products. These products allegedly help pair well with sensitive skin and keep damaging products out of a consumer’s daily routine. Karen Certo, a professional makeup artist at MAC Cosmetics, describes her view on clean cosmetics. “I don’t actively think about clean products as much as I think about products that contain ingredients that are beneficial as well as providing professional quality performance… I am conscious of ingredients, but more based on performance than what the internet considers clean,” Certo said. Certo says that clean makeup has become another fad term, like “mineral” since makeup is made of minerals, and
“hypoallergenic” since having an allergen-free product is not possible because someone could have a sensitivity issue to the product. Certo also said that if there were genuinely harmful ingredients in makeup, then legally, they would not be allowed in the United States. “Having been with MAC for as long as I have, almost 11 years, everything I use is theirs. I did research on which ingredients are considered unclean, and little to none is used within the brand,” Certo said. From different perspectives, clean cosmetics is a common word used in the industry, but the definition is versatile and means different things for everyone. Therefore, the consumer must choose the products they feel comfortable using.
Consumers need to evaluate labelling of cosmetics STUART COURSON staff writer Although many beauty products claim to not test products on animals or have no products from animals, this does not equate to the brand actually being both vegan and cruelty-free. To start off, it is important to understand what these labels mean. According to The New York Times article by Andrea Cheng, published Feb. 26, 2019, If a product is identified as vegan, that means the product contains no ingredients from animals, whereas a product being cruelty-free means their ingredients have not been tested on animals. In the same article, Cheng says these labels get mixed-up and confused for being the same, which causes some companies to have to clarify this.
In 2019, L’Oréal released an animal testing FAQ on their website clarifying their rules on animal testing, saying, “L’Oréal no longer tests any of its products or any of its ingredients on animals, anywhere in the world. Nor does L’Oréal delegate this task to others.” However, in the same article, they also made the following statement: “When a supplier proposes us an ingredient, we ask to examine its safety dossier. If the dossier contains data generated by means of animal testing before March 2013, L’Oréal can retain the ingredient. If the data was generated after March 2013 and was for a cosmetics application,
L’Oréal cannot retain the ingredient.” Basically, L’Oréal claims they do not use any ingredients that have been tested on animals if those ingredients have been tested after March 2013 and for cosmetic reasons only, making their products vegan, but not crueltyfree, since they still use products that were tested on animals. However, this is not the first time a company had to clarify their rules on animal products or testing. Companies that own subsidiary companies in the beauty world, such as Estée Lauder, Johnson & Johnson, Revlon, Unilever and even more have had to
clarify the fact that some of their subsidiary companies may or may not be vegan and/or test on animals. So, how does one know if their beauty products are vegan and cruelty free? There are certain labels on beauty products from companies that have approved the product being vegan and cruelty-free, such as a label from The Leaping Bunny Program, where the picture includes (literally) a bunny leaping. This logo can be found either on the packaging, on their website, or their advertisements If a product does not contain this label, then look within the ingredient list (either on the packaging or on their website), and see if there are ingredients that trace back to animals or have a history of being tested on animals, such as Carmine, Casein, Collagen, Estrogen, Glycerin, Keratin, Lactic Acid, and that is only naming a few.
CLEAN MAKEUP BRANDS Data gathered from HarparsBaazar.com by Madison Helms
RMS Beauty ILIA Burt’s Bees W3LL People Juice Beauty 100% PURE Vapour Organic Beauty Graphic by Madison Helms
THE WOOSTER BLADE | VIEWS | MARCH 13, 2020 | PAGE 16 The Wooster
BLADE editors-in-chief Rheanna Velasquez, Reece Mitchell, Maddy McCully head photographer Grace Brownson graphics managers Corinne Wiles, Madison Helms business managers Sophie Gamble, Leo Riley, Bryn Savidge, Rheanna Velasquez on campus editor Alec Pauley focus editor Lena Wiebe sports editor Skyy Khounborin a&e editor Leo Riley trends editor Bryn Savidge 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, Sydney Ebin, Eve Norris, Sierah Pilson, Luke Pomfret, Sylvie Shaya, Ellie Snider, Molly Snyder, Jack Veney artists Eve Norris, Olivia Dal Pra, Emma Yoder photographers Tyler Keating, Hannah LoGiudice, Maddy McCully, Theresa Wendell, Rumen Zdravchev adviser Kristi Hiner
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OUR VIEW
Urging courtesy in interactions with our peers The coronavirus/COVID-19 outbreak has proven insidious, not only in terms of economic and health-related impacts, but also in its invocation of public fear and uncertainty and its reinforcement of racist stereotypes. These unfortunate trends can be seen on an international, national, and even a local scale. A student, requesting anonymity for privacy, recently approached The Wooster Blade Editorial Board to recount his experience, saying that as a minority, he has continued to hear comments about his appearance and how he could be the root of the coronavirus on a near-weekly basis. While it is far from history’s bestkept secret that suspicion and fear are potent agents for facilitating discrimination and racism, it is appalling to rediscover, in the global picture and in our own backyards, that we lack the courtesy to respect individuals for who they are. Even when not driven by hate or malice, such comments remain inexcusable, as fundamentally, they operate on negative prejudices and stereotypes regarding race. It is disconcerting when we seek to justify through “only joking” disclaimers and adopt humor not to lampoon, but to ultimately subscribe to and perpetuate comments that marginalize and denigrate our peers, colleagues, neighbors and even ourselves. Regardless of the COVID-19 epidemic, identity has always been closely tied with painful experiences in schools, in workplaces and in society at large. Whether it is race, religion or citizenship status, handicap, gender, or socioeconomic status, it is imperative we realize how identity shapes how we perceive,
WHETHER IT IS RACE, RELIGION OR CITIZENSHIP STATUS; HANDICAP, GENDER OR SOCIOECONOMIC STATUS; IT IS IMPERATIVE WE REALIZE HOW IDENTITY SHAPES HOW WE PERCEIVE, TREAT AND PURPORT TO UNDERSTAND OTHERS -- AND OURSELVES. treat and purport to understand others -- and ourselves. We must be simultaneously aware of the challenges other individuals navigate, the challenges we face and the privileges from which we ourselves benefit. As students at WHS, whether we like it or not, this issue of insensitivity toward those who are different from the majority of us exists. We, as students, see it written on our desks, we hear it in the hallways and some of us experience it on a daily basis. The fact that this insensitivity happens is unacceptable. We have heard students and others at the school say that every school has these problems and we have seen this behavior excused as the ignorance
of youth, but regardless of our age and experiences, we must take our words and actions seriously, and expect others to do the same. We must be aware that words have an impact on others, regardless of who says them or who hears them. The fact that intolerance is occurring at all is an issue, regardless of its frequency or noticeability, and we, as a student generation, must say something if we hear it. We may not be of that specific ethnicity, religious belief, gender or race, but we are all responsible for the environment we create. Ignoring it only makes it worse, and we, as students, as teachers, and as administrators must use our voices and words to create a positive impact in our school hallways and classrooms. The Wooster Blade Editorial Board refuses to believe that prejudice is a reality to which we must resign ourselves to accept. This issue is not someone else’s problem, nor is it someone else’s fight. As students, teachers, administrators, community members and global citizens, regardless of race, ethnicity or creed, we must always remain vigilant: not against those who appear or act differently from ourselves, and not against others who incite hate, but against ourselves, so that we do not become complicit in accepting, normalizing and perpetuating stereotypes and biases without questioning how and why we adopt them, or considering who they may affect. Our communities, on all levels, are susceptible to fear mongering, prejudice and hate. Yet, we must always seek, through our own words and actions, to build environments and communities ever-grounded in understanding, compassion and empathy.