December 2019 vol. 5 | issue 1
literary & news magazine
To Infinity and Beyond...
Illustration by Bryn Savidge
Letter from the Editors
THERESA WENDELL
Co-Editors-inChief
Inspired by Buzz Lightyear’s famous quote from Toy Story, “To Infinity and Beyond,” our first issue explores the depths of outer space and society’s role in a technology-based future. With such a rich topic, it was no challenge to come up with exciting content to include in the issue. The real challenge, however, came with narrowing down months of brainstorming into a mere 32 pages. As this issue marks the start of the fifth volume of The Edge, we recognize we have extremely large shoes to fill. The previous editors set one heck of a standard, but we could not be more excited to continue their legacy. We would like to thank our staff for being flexible and dealing with our constant badgering; their new ideas and creativity is invaluable to us. We would also like to thank our adviser, Kristi Hiner, for helping us along every step of the way and for making us laugh every once in a while. Finally, we would like to thank previous co-editors in chief, Alexis Florence and Rachael Schmidt, for setting an outstanding, strong foundation on which we can build. We enjoyed breaking down each issue of Volume 4 and found inspiration in every page. We hope to make the aforementioned individuals proud. We are still learning how to effectively collaborate with a staff, as well as learning to work with each other. This first issue has taught us many lessons, and we are eager to continue learning. These pages are not perfect, but we hope they educate and inspire our readers through stories that extend far beyond the bounds of Earth. We have a long way to go, but at the risk of sounding cheesy, we encourage our readers to prepare for takeoff; the sky is not the limit--it is just the beginning. Enjoy reading,
Faculty Adviser Kristi Hiner
Skyy Khounborin Bryn Savidge
Editorial Staff Jensan Bauman Grace Brownson Stuart Courson Sierra Dewald Ashton Dunlap Maeve Florence-Smith Sophie Gamble Madison Helms Tyler Keating Reece Mitchell
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Anna Nacci Luke Pomfret Leo Riley Sylvie Shaya Ellie Snider Mya Vandegrift Olivia VanSickle Theresa Wendell Lena Wiebe Corinne Wiles
About Us The Edge is a literary and newsmagazine hybrid that showcases the creative work of our students. Our staff consists of many of The Wooster Blade staff members. We meet every day during Newspaper Productions classes throughout the entire year. Editors were chosen based on their demonstrated interest in the magazine and in their production of featured work.
Editorial Policy The Edge is produced for the Wooster City School District and for the greater Wooster community. The editors and adviser make the final decision on all material that appears in the publication. Letters and submissions should be addressed to the editor, with a limit of 400 words or less. Submit letters by email to thewoosteredge@gmail.com. If published, the meaning of the work will not be altered, however, we reserve the right to correct grammatical errors, punctuation and spelling. The opinions expressed in the publication are those of the individual writers, and do not represent the opinions of the staff as a whole. We reserve the right to amend this policy at any time.
4 & 5 Winter Fashion 6 Window Wonderland 7 Small Business Saturday 8 Red Cross Festival of Trees 9 Holiday Recipes 10 Holiday Humanity 11 The Power of Makuep 12 & 13 Stir the Pot December 2019 | feature | 3
winterfashion Staff members share their favorite winter outfits and ways to stay warm and stylish as the weather gets colder.
Stuart Courson sta writer
For this winter, I have recently been obsessed with wearing turtlenecks, so I decided to wear this simple black turtleneck sweatshirt. I rolled the sleeves of the sweatshirt up since the sleeves were a little too long for my liking. I then paired it with these grey patterned dress pants and topped the outfit with a faux-leather combat boots. For me, this is a perfect outfit for everyday use, whether going to the grocery store or going out for a fun time.
Our favorite winter brands: Patagonia Champion Express Adidas
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Luke Pomfret sta writer
Winter calls for jeans and coats, but outfits do not need to be this basic. A heavier long sleeve shirt, paired with a sleeveless North Face jacket provides the perfect amount of warmth to conquer the cooler temperatures. Also, you could make the look more professional by adding a dark tan shoe that matches well with the jeans. The possibilities are endless and easily accessible.
Graphics by Bryn Savidge and Madison Helms
Mya Vandegrift staff writer
For my outfit, I had one of my favorite summer sundresses layered under a really think sweater with boots. If there is a dress you really of which you love the pattern, but cannot wear every season, I highly recommend utilizing layers. It is comfortable and easily doable with most wardrobes, and the dress can double as a skirt, as seen above.
Madison Helms staff writer
During the winter months, the most important aspect of an outfit, to me, is how warm and comfortable it is. That is why I practically live in mom jeans and a sweater once the temperature drops below 30 degrees. I like to pull a page from Tan France’s book and French tuck my sweater into my jeans to make the outfit a little more dynamic. I throw on some fun patterned socks and sneakers, grab my friendship bracelets and a scrunchie that matches my outfit, and I am ready to face the winter day, feeling comfy and looking cute.
Corinne Wiles staff writer
My winter outfit starts with a staple red, plaid dress which can be worn in any season. To accommodate the colder weather, I added a pair of chunky, black, combat boots and a thick, grey, zip-up jacket. Accessories make any outfit a little more interesting, so I wore two silver chains with matching silver earrings.
Photos by Grace Brownson
December 2019 | feature | 5
Examining the tradition behind Window Wonderland Jensan Bauman staff writer
GRACE BROWNSON
Tulipan is lit up for Window Wonderland.
GRACE BROWNSON
People crowd the streets to enjoy winter festivities.
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Window Wonderland is a Wooster tradition that has been happening for more than 30 years. A jumpstart into the holiday season, it is an evening of celebration held downtown, for small businesses, the lighting of the city’s Christmas tree, the arrival of Santa and other holiday festivities. . The premise of Window Wonderland is for businesses in downtown Wooster to decorate their storefront windows for public enjoyment and to show the holiday spirit. While many storefronts are decorated with brightly colored lights and still life window paintings, a few businesses downtown stage ballerinas from Wayne Center for the Arts ballet program in shop windows as still life pictures, and for some years, to advertise the dance company’s production of The Nutcracker. The Children’s Christmas tree is lit at 7 p.m., simultaneously, a larger Christmas tree is lit at Wooster Cemetery. Shortly after the tree lighting ceremony, there is the arrival of Santa. With help from the Wooster Fire Department, Santa arrives off of the Briggs Financial Building’s roof and is available for pictures with children shortly after. There are also reindeer, places for photos with the Grinch, hot chocolate, cookies and other light snacks available at many of the businesses downtown, and much more to see of holiday spirit. While it may sound like a mere small town activity, Window Wonderland is a Wooster tradition attended and enjoyed by many people. According to The Daily Record, last year alone, it was estimated that nearly 3,000 to 5,000 people visited festivities of Window Wonderland. Whether attending to catch a glimpse at the decorations inside various local businesses, visit with Santa or to simply enjoy a chilly night out with family or friends, Window Wonderland is an event that truly brings the town together every year.
Exploring the Importance of Shopping Small Mya Vandegrift & Madison Helms staff writers
In the midst of the recession in 2010, American Express created Small Business Saturday. According to their website, the concept was for a day to celebrate and support small businesses around the Thanksgiving and holiday shopping season. As Black Friday traditionally takes place the day after Thanksgiving, it seemed fitting for a small business day to be the day following. Thus, Small Business Saturday was born. According to surveys conducted by American Express on consumer small shopping habits, “Small Business Saturday spending has reached a reported estimate of $103 billion since the day it began-that’s $103 billion over 9 days, alone from 2010-2018.” These numbers are great because in an Amexcommissioned 2018 Small Business Economic Impact Study, it was estimated that for every dollar spent at a small business in the U.S., approximately 67 cents stays in the local community. Shopping small supports local economy, but also local employees and business owners as well. For Dianne Stair, owner of Stair Steps to Wellness, a massage therapy center in downtown Wooster’s Liberty Studios, growing up shopping in the small businesses of downtown Wooster inspired her to create her own. Stair’s grandparents both worked in local shops, and the hospitality and customer service that she grew up with shapes how she runs her business. “So to work in that is a huge blessing. That’s really how I try to model the business,” Stair said, reflecting on her memories with family members who worked in the shops downtown. Far past the economic impact, small businesses create a sense of community within their neighborhoods that otherwise would not be present. The American Independent Business Alliance sees this as another great reason to shop locally: “The disappearance of local businesses leaves a social and economic void that is palpable and real — even when it goes unmeasured,” AIBA says. “A community’s quality of life changes in ways that macroeconomics is slow to measure, or ignores completely.” Small Business Saturday exists to highlight the uniqueness of smaller companies, what they can do for their communities, and the stories that come with their work. These stories, and the support that comes from shopping small, are what will inspire future generations to value local artisans and services, and to maybe even start a small business themselves.
99%
of businesses in the U.S. are small businesses
48%
of workers are employed by small businesses
50%
of small businesses do not stay open for five years
statistics from bigcommerce.com
TYLER KEATING
Above, a sign outside Blue Spruce Boutique offers 15% off purchases on Small Business Saturday. Below, Friendtique also advertises for the holiday season.
TYLER KEATING
December 2019 | Feature | 7
The Festival of Trees:
The American Red Cross provides the community with a way to give back and to celebrate the holidays
Ellie Snider staff writer
The Festival of Trees is an annual event that the American Red Cross Heartland/Lake Erie Chapter hosts to raise money for families in need, according to the American Red Cross website at redcross.org. The donation event took place Dec. 3, with a preview night open to the public Dec. 2, and showcased numerous trees, wreaths and centerpieces. According to Lara Keifer,executive director of the Heartland/Lake Erie Chapter, “Trees, wreaths and centerpieces are donated, designed and decorated by local individuals.” The decorations were then auctioned off to raise money for the organization, which is then used to help support local families that experience a home fire, flood or tornado, according to Keifer. Over time, the festival has become the chapter’s largest fundraiser of the year, helping the organization provide support for local families. “It is vitally important to have the funds necessary to deliver our mission. Our disaster services rely 100 percent on donations… we do not have any billable services in our disaster program,” Keifer said. Keifer said the organization of this
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event differed from past years. “This past year, we had access to the Shisler Conference Center for the week leading to the event, so designers were able to decorate their trees on site,” Keifer said. Aside from decorations, the event also showcased members from the community. “We hosted a cookie workshop for the kids, a visit from Santa, ballet dancers from Wayne Center for the Arts and the choir from Wooster High School. We served hot chocolate from our emergency response vehicle,” Keifer said. Lydia Cooper (12) participated in the event by singing with the WHS choir, and said the choir brought something unique to the festival. “I think it’s important to have music present at these events to give them some light,” Cooper states. “Singing there felt like it gave the event more life than it had before.” The event began 28 years ago in Wooster, and Keifer notes that originally, “the reason was solely to raise funds for local disaster relief.” The Festival of Trees allows community members to experience holiday festivities while also giving back to the community.
Graphic by Bryn Savidge
Gazpacho
Traditional holiday recipes Staff members Sophie Gamble and Lena Wiebe share their favorite unique cultural or traditional holiday recipes
Ingredients 3 large ripe tomatoes 1 English cucumber peeled and chopped 1 red bell pepper 2 cloves of diced garlic ¼ cup water 1 tablespoon of red wine vinegar 1 tablespoon of sherry vinegar 3 tablespoons of olive oil ¼ cup chopped red onion Optional- croutons, fresh basil. Blend everything except for the croutons and basil until mixture is a thick liquid. Serve chilled and salt to taste. Add croutons and basil to the top.
Cranberry Sauce
Ingredients 12 oz fresh or frozen cranberries ½ cup of water ½ cup of orange juice ¾ cup of sugar
Vegan Eggnog
Holiday Sugar Cookies Ingredients If making cashew milk: ½ cup raw cashews soaked for an hour to overnight If using store-bought nut milk: ½ cup cashew or other nondairy milk 1 (15 oz) can of coconut milk 3 tbsp maple syrup 1 tsp vanilla extract 1 tsp freshly ground nutmeg ¼ tsp ground cinnamon Blend all ingredients until texture is smooth. If you want to experiment with other flavors, try adding some sea salt, ground cloves, or dates to the processor, and adjust the proportions to your own preferences. If you prefer your eggnog colder, chill it for 1-2 hours, and then serve, sprinkling extra nutmeg or cinnamon on top to taste.
Bring the orange juice and water to a boil, then add the orange, chopped up. Boil this for a few minutes then reduce the heat and stir for about 10 minutes. Transfer the sauce into a bowl and let it thicken.
Graphics by Bryn Savidge
Ingredients 2 ½ cup of flour ¾ cup of sugar ¼ teaspoon of salt 2 sticks of unsalted butter at room temperature 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract 2 tablespoons of cream cheese at room temperature Blend butter and sugar with a mixer until smooth. Mix in cream cheese and vanilla. In a bowl, mix the salt and flour, then add mixture to the rest. Mix all together then pat the dough into two disks. Chill covered dough in the refrigerator for at least an hour. Next, roll the dough so that it is 1/8 of an inch thick. Cut shapes then bake on parchment paper at 365° for 8-10 minutes, or until cookies are a golden color. Cool, then frost.
December 2019 | feature | 9
Holiday Humanity:
Volunteer organizations provide local opportunities to give back
Wayne County Humane Society The Wayne County Humane Society’s mission statement is, “to provide compassion to the animals entrusted to our care, to measurably reduce companion animal overpopulation, and to take a leadership role in educating and promoting humane values,” said Akash Loess, Volunteer Coordinator at WCHS In order to achieve their mission statement, the WCHS helps to house animals who have not yet found their forever homes. Loess explains that community members can help the shelter by donating their money, their time or items to help the animals. Loess says the items that WCHS needs the most are, in order: clumping cat litter, dry kitten food, pate form canned cat food, laundry detergent, ammonia, bleach, cat toys, dog toys and dog food. Community members can also donate their time by volunteering during business hours in order to, “visit with dogs and cats, clean bowls and cages, help with laundry, [and do] yard work,” Loess said. The WCHS is also holding holiday events, including their “Sweets and Selfies” fundraiser, which was held at the Lowry Center at COW Dec. 5, and “Photos with Santa” Dec. 21, according to Loess.
West View Healthy Living One place in which Wooster community members can give back this holiday season is West View Healthy Living. West View Healthy Living is located at 1715 Mechanicsburg Rd., and its mission, according to their website, is, “To foster, maintain and operate a Christian Continuing Care Senior Living Community that provides older persons with caring and quality services toward the enhancement of their physical, mental and spiritual wellbeing consistent with the Christian gospel.” The best way to help West View Healthy Living, according to Tammy J. Cruise, Director of Development & Public Relations at West View Healthy Living, is to, “Give of your time and talent. If you play a musical instrument or have a hobby that you would like to share, we are always looking for people that want [to] bring that into our residents’ lives.” West View Healthy Living has many events planned for the holiday season, with a diversity of events including everything from carol singing to a Christmas party. For more information on how to help West View Healthy Living, visit vhl.healthcare.
Blurbs written by Anna Nacci Graphic by Madison Helms & Corinne Wiles
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Organizatons featured were those that responded to a request to be interviewed.
OneEighty OneEighty is an organization where community members may donate or volunteer this holiday season. The organization’s mission is, “Helping People Change Direction”, and OneEighty achieves this by “assist[ing] individuals with services focused on Domestic Violence and Rape Crisis, Substance Abuse and Addiction, Mental Health Counseling, Housing and Community Relations and Prevention,” according to Christy VanSickle, Community Relations & Marketing Manager at OneEighty. VanSickle adds that donations of liquid body wash, shampoo, conditioner, shaving cream and razors, laundry detergent, pillows, twin sheet sets, bath towel sets and laundry baskets are always needed. In addition, community members may help by donating gifts for the residents, and gently used children’s books for OneEighty’s Emergency Shelter and new Women’s Treatment Facility. VanSickle said that those who are above 16 may volunteer at OneEighty, and must fill out the application on OneEighty’s website,oneeighty.org. More than volunteering or donating, the best way to help OneEighty is, “Learn about addiction, domestic violence, sexual assault and homelessness. Be an advocate to reduce stigma and educate the community. Donate,” VanSickle said. OneEighty’s main office is located at, 104 Spink Street in downtown Wooster and can be reached at 330-264-8498.
The Power of Makeup Makeup’s ability to create confidence
Luke Pomfret staff writer
Makeup is for everyone, there are no restrictions. From the masters of makeup such as Scott Barnes to Kevyn Aucoin, these celebrity makeup artists have had lasting impressions on society, establishing makeup trends, such as contouring and highlighting. Rupaul Andre Charles, is a professional drag queen who hosts the popular reality competition, “Rupaul’s Drag Race” and tells his audience to love yourself. Tati Westbrook, a Youtube makeup influencer, says, “beautiful is your story to tell,” and James Charles, an influencerwithroughly16millionfollowersonYoutube, encourages society to, “unleash your inner artist.” Wearing makeup allows people to express their emotions and passion. Makeup can make you feel good, and that reason alone is completely valid. The way to rule the world is to be fully confident. Now, more than ever, students live in a conforming society that is losing individuality. Makeup helps spark creativity and brings out a whole different characterinatypicalperson.Thereisnosetguide on how to do makeup and that is what makes it special. Makeup creates individuality. Maddy Martin (11), a makeup enthusiast, says she is able to express herself through makeup and thinks of makeup as more of an artform and as a tool for expression.
Maddy Martin (11) using the 39S Such Gem Artisty Palette from Morphe.
Martin celebrating Dia De Los Muertos with a sugar skull.
Martin using the 35B Palette from Morphe and Modern Renaissance from Anastasia Beverly Hills.
Photos courtesy of Maddy Martin Graphic by Madison Helms
December 2019 | feature | 11
Stir The Pot Ashton Dunlap staff writer
Is unequal pay for female athletes unfair?
On July 7 of this year, the U.S. women’s soccer team beat Netherlands 2-0, winning the World Cup for the second time in a row. This win was a monumental feat for the team, as they became the second team to ever win back-to-back titles. During the tournament, FIFA announced they would be giving the winning team a prize of $4 million. This prize is a mere fraction of the $38 million the Men’s World Cup champion was paid in 2018. The women’s national team dominated their competition in the World Cup, while the men’s team failed to even make the World Cup in 2018. The teams even bring in the same amount of money, with The Wall Street Journal reporting that from 2016 to 2018, the women’s team brought in $50.8 million during games, and the men’s team only brought in $49.9 million. All of these comparisons lead to one obvious change that needs to be made: pay the women’s team as much as the men’s team. The pay gap is blatantly unfair and should be changed. After the World Cup, the women’s team took action toward that change, filing a class action lawsuit against U.S. Soccer. In the WNBA, a similar problem exists. Many critics of equal pay believe the wage gap is due to a discrepancy in overall league revenue, but this is only partly true. WNBA players only get paid 20 to 25 percent of the leagues revenue, while NBA players get paid 50 percent. If women cannot be paid exactly the same as their male counterparts, they should at least get paid at an equal ratio. For example, if a men’s basketball team brings in $100 a year and each player gets paid $1, then the women’s basketball team that brings in $80 dollars a year should pay its athletes 80 cents. In most cases in the U.S. this equal pay ratio is not applied and is often ignored in the name of talent, revenue, or popularity gaps. Pay should also be relative to talent, and the U.S. women’s soccer team is an outstanding example of how an amazing team with incredible athletes is not paid as much as they should. Many women’s teams are not paid relative to their revenue, talent, and popularity, and this should change.
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Reece Mitchell staff writer
A large movement of equal pay for women’s sports has taken storm in the past few years after several members of the U.S. Women’s National Team vocalized their concern about equal pay on the international playing field. But, where does that pay come from? Let us start this discussion by looking at that question. Micheal Margulis, in his article Money in Sports,” says it comes from how much money the sport generates because people have to make money before they can give it out. According a Forbes article by David Berri, last year the WNBA made a total of $52.4 million, while the NBA brought in $7.4 billion. The WNBA also only plays 34 regular season games, and the NBA plays more than double with 82 regular season games. The more money the team brings in, the more money the team will make. Sports are just like any other business; the goal is to make money and make a profit. The WNBA can not afford to give players any more money if they want to stay afloat. One woman on the national soccer team is making headlines about equal pay, stating female players are not getting paid as fairly as the male teams. According to the Kevin Baxter from the LA Times in his article “On the matter of the USWNT and equal pay, its complicated,” the women’s World Cup brought in $131 million, while the men’s World Cup brought in $6 billion, so the men’s world cup generated 4,580 percent more revenue than the women’s World Cup in 2019. He also adds that the women’s team made 13 percent of their World Cup revenue when compared to the men’s team of 9 percent. So, the women’s team actually makes more of a share then the men’s team. Google was recently sued by three former female workers over gender pay discrimination, claiming that Google was, “paying female employees less than male employees with similar duties.” Google conducted an investigation and found that men were actually getting paid less than women doing similar work according to a 2019 New York Times article, “Google Finds It’s Underpaying Many Men as It Addresses Wage Equity” by Daisuke Wakabayashi. Equal pay is a tricky issue because pay is relative and based on business. To increase pay for its players, a team has to make that money. Unless the WNBA makes more profit, it is not an effective move to pay female athletes more.
Stir The Pot Can you measure greatness by championships?
S
am Jones was a basketball player who played all 12 of his seasons with the Boston Celtics, winning the NBA championships 11 of those years. This feat puts him second in most championships behind only the great Bill Russell. If greatness were measured by championships, then theoretically, Sam Jones would be the second greatest basketball player in the history of the league. Placing Jones second would not be just or accurate Obviously, there is something fundamentally wrong in measuring greatness heavily by championships. Greatness should be measured by a combination of championships, stats, effort, legacy and athleticism. All of these things are weighted differently, but in no way are championships weighed higher than the other factors. Championships are a plus and can be a deciding factor for greatness, but should not be the first or only consideration. Championships require many things that have nothing to do with the greatness of a single player. That player would need to have a good team, coach and fan base in order to win a championship, all things that players cannot directly control. Players should not be degraded for the lack of backing around them and should be considered great by their ability, not the abilities of the people around them.
H
ow do we determine who the best team in a sport season by who wins the championship? If it is the Stanley Cup or the Lombardi trophy, the goal of any competition is to win the championship. So, to say we can not base greatness off of championships is crazy. To be in any conversation of being the greatest in any sport, you have to have accomplished a lot of things throughout the sport. But, what it comes down to when the comparison of two athletes comes close, is how much have they actually achieved? Leading a team to a championship is no easy task, but something the world’s best athletes know how to do. Michael Jordan’s six championships and Tom Brady’s six championships plays a huge part in what makes them successful, and the ability to lead a team to win is something stats cannot measure. To only measure greatness by the amount of championships someone had is ineffective, as some players may sit and not play on winning teams. But, when talking and debating about if someone is one of the best of all time, championships just add to their resume. To say you cannot measure greatness off the end goal of any sport is crazy, because winning is the end goal. Making wins one of the most important things to judge greatness by.
Is replay review ruining sports?
I
nstant replay is beginning to ruin sports. The constant stoppage of play, just to overturn an outcome that has already been decided, is becoming increasingly dreadful. Instant replay is now present in every major sport in the United States, and in most of those sports, its presence is simply unnecessary. Referees are placed in the game for a reason. They make calls and almost always get them right. These refs must undergo many tests to do what they do and are fully prepared to make calls that decide a game. With instant replay, the game is stopped just to watch a play that has already transpired and been decided. A monotonous period begins where the refs and fans watch the play over and over, just to have one team’s supporters be irate over the call. Throughout the history of sports, many games have come down to a single, controversial call. These calls should be decided by a ref on the spot, not by review over several minutes. Without instant replay, the game would go much more smoothly and the call of the ref would be accepted with much less backlash than an anticipated instant replay call. Fans and players alike would accept this new, more efficient rule.
I
n professional sports across the world, critical calls are made wrong due to human error. If it is a strike that was called a ball by the umpire or a missed penalty in the NFL, sometimes the refs are not looking in the right direction. Humans make mistakes. When a ball is coming into the batter’s box at 90 plus mph, it is hard for an umpire to precisely determine if the ball is in the batter’s box at home plate. For everyone at home, it is easy because there is a box on the screen that tells you if it is a ball or a strike. It is hard for a referee to determine if a basketball is in a player’s hand when the game is in the final moments. Everyone wants the right call, and humans make mistakes. which is why instant replay is in its position. It helps correct game defying calls so a team is not left losing to a mistake made by a ref. Last year in the NFC championship game, the New Orleans Saints made headlines as they lost the game due to a blatant missed pass interference call due to human error. The NFL has added a rule, letting coaches challenge penalties to have refs go to the instant replay and make up a call they may have missed to make sure a team’s season is not ruined by a ref. Sports fans understand refs make mistakes, but instant replay allows them to make up for their mistakes and make the correct call.
December 2019 | feature | 13
15 Ethics of AI 16 & 17 STEM vs. Humanities 18 Women in Technology 19 Science Fiction 20 NASA Programs 21 Horoscope Head to Head 22 Horoscopes Explanation 23 Elementary Aliens 24 Women Space Walk 14 | cover | December 2019
Artificial Intelligence: The evolution of technology’s impact on society Tyler Keating staff writer
Our world is constantly evolving, and in the past few decades, the rate of technological growth has increased exponentially. One of the more controversial advancements in technology is artificial intelligence, or AI. Many opinions are split on Artificial Intelligence, with beliefs ranging from the hope that it will improve human life to the fear that it will wipe out mankind. In a February 2019 article written for Harvard Magazine, Jonathan Shaw defines AI as, “systems that can be designed to take cues from their environment and, based on those inputs, proceed to solve problems, assess risks, make predictions, and take actions.” One of the issues with AI is that while a computer can process much more data than a human, it cannot understand the nuances of reasoning the way that humans do. This issue is exemplified by Max Tegmark, President of the Future of Life Institute, in an article entitled “Benefits & Risks of Artificial Intelligence,” on the Institute’s website: “If you ask an obedient intelligent car to take you to the airport as fast as possible, it might get you there chased by helicopters and covered in vomit, doing not what you wanted, but what you literally asked for… the concern about advanced AI isn’t malevolence, but competence. A super-intelligent AI will be extremely good at accomplishing its goals, and if those goals aren’t aligned with ours, we have a problem.” On the other side of the debate are those who believe that artificial intelligence is ultimately beneficial, with its ability to solve problems that humans simply cannot process. In a May 2017 article for weforum.org, Sandhya Venkatachalam claims that AI is better because AI can, “scale the human mind.” She explains that “the human brain only contains about 300 million pattern processors that are responsible for human thought.” Once we are able to mimic the human brain in computer systems, it could have many more processors, making it able to solve problems better than humans, such as precision medicine, farming, and cybersecurity. Another author wrote about intelligent computer systems long before they were feasible. In the 1940s, Isaac Asimov created the “Laws of Robotics,” a set of commands that were designed to keep any robots from causing irreparable harm to humanity: 1. A robot may not injure a human being, or, through inaction, allow a human being to come to harm. 2. A robot must obey the orders given it by human beings except where such orders would conflict with the First Law 3. A robot must protect its own existence so long as such protection does not conflict with the First or Second Laws. As humanity approaches the point where machine intelligence outpaces human intellect, it is far past the time to question whether or not trusting AI will b e beneficial or catastrophic.
Graphic by Madison Helms
December 2019 | cover| 15
STEM vs. THE Sylvie Shaya staff writer
“Science saves you from nonsense,” said Mark A. Wilson, Professor of Geology at the College of Wooster. He continued that a scientific mindset has only become more necessary over the past few years for the analysis of ideas such as the flat Earth movement. Lauren Segura (10), a second year member of the WHS robotics club, said she thinks, “By studying science and the STEM programs, you’re trying to understand what you can fix,” and the entire point of STEM is to find issues with what currently exists and improve on that. “We’re going to continue to see that STEM is very important because STEM allows us to produce some things that... save lives,” explained Margaret Ng, Associate Professor of History at The College of Wooster, whose main focus is the history of science and medicine “We need science,” she continued, “But at the same time...I think it’s very important to question.” In a world moving into the future through STEM, humanities, from art to philosophy, still have their value. “They’re essential to navigate the world and the global community that we have right now, to understand social forces and cultural forces, what makes a population move, ...what makes an economy change,” said Jennifer Bowen, Associate Professor of Mathematics at COW. Bowen explains that humanities are a necessary portion of our world and our perspectives on many large issues, though the importance of the humanities does not make less of STEM subjects. Segura explained that in the humanities, “You’re trying to also improve things for people, just in a different manner,” something she sees as a critical part of both STEM and STEM’s connections with the humanities. “The humanities place life in context...Science is details, the humanities are the spirit of life” According to an article by Joshua Wright for Ensi, recently, there has been a rise in STEAM or STREAM programs, or STEM with the addition of art or reading. WHS has not implemented these programs, instead remaining with the current STEM program. Wilson said, “STEM students especially need humanities because often they’ll just be siloed into STEM and they need the diversity that humanities bring.” At WHS, Jacob Melrose, Science Dept. member and director of the STEM program, said he agrees that it is critical that the
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HUMANITIES STEM program work extensively with art in terms of sketching models of their creations, though his classes have not directly collaborated with the art department. He said that “Part of the communication process is communicating what their design is. They can’t just do it in words.” Walter Zurko, Professor of Art and Art History at COW, said he believes, “There tend to be more parallels between studio art and science than...a lot of people might think of.” There are enough parallels to allow for students from one denomination to understand the idea behind what drives the other, but too few for their horizons not to be opened by studying the other. “You have to be really creative [in science] in terms of figuring out new questions...or identifying something that you might not have seen,” said Zurko about the connections between art and STEM. Zurko added that science students have a deeper understanding of process than art students, which can be beneficial in studio art courses, but the relative rigidity of the sciences means students are, “not open to being able to see when a mistake leads you somewhere else.” In addition to Zurko, Ng believes that science leads students to think of different questions and possess different mindsets than the humanities. Ng explained that “In the humanities, you are expected to ask a lot of questions and be very skeptical. Now in science, you have to accept that there are certain methods or you have to accept that this method is going to allow you to get certain results and that you would faithfully reproduce that method again and again and again, such that you embody that method. Now, once you start embodying that method, you might not question why and how that method came to be, so you are less likely to actually ask certain types of questions that you would ask in the humanities.” Ng expanded on her idea of certain methods having the possibility of negative effects on worldviews.Within science, especially historically, Ng said that “The methods are not as objective as we think they are, but we don’t question it, we just assume, ‘this is science, this is rigorous.’” Bowen said, in terms of math, having a more varied and broad argument it essential, something that can be developed through the humanities and a combination of data and logic. “Being able to work easily with numbers and understand arguments that involve data or involve logic… those things make your argument more creative,” Bowen said. Creative arguments, based off of the combination of the humanities and STEM can be crucial to effective communication of ideas. “Anytime you limit yourself...you’re just limiting the way you interact with the world” said Zurko, explaining that studying both the humanities and STEM subjects can help give students a richer way of looking at the world.
Illustration by Olivia VanSickle
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Women in Technology: Sierra Dewald
Staff member advocates for more women in the STEM field
staff writer
When I walked into my first engineering class, I was surprised to find only one other girl in a class of over 20 people. I probably should not have been surprised, as I knew engineering was a male-dominated field, but I remembered going to conferences and camps in middle school that were designed to encourage girls to be interested in STEM fields. I remembered seeing hundreds of girls who, like me, wanted to understand and shape the world around them through designing things that people will use every day. Many of them expressed aspirations to go into engineering at the time, so where did they all go? Research published online by Microsoft and the Girl Scout Research Institute shows that many girls are interested in STEM jobs at a young age, but lose interest as they get older. The primary factors that cause girls to lose interest can include a lack of female mentors, a lack of handson experience with STEM subjects,agrowingawareness of the gender inequality that exists in STEM jobs, and a tendency to expect perfection fromthemselvesbasedonhow they are raised, rather than learning how to take risks and how to fail. Even for women who are still interested in STEM by college, many do not stay that way. The Society of Women Engineers published findings on their website that over 32 percent of women who pursue STEM degrees switch out of the program in college, and of those who do earn a bachelor’s degree, only 30 percent are still working in engineering 20 years later. The overall industry turnover rate of women who leave tech jobs mid-career is, according to a 2016 ncwit.org report, 56 percent, while the national average across all industries is 17.8 percent. While some turnover is unavoidable, such a high rate indicates that a variety of factors lead to women feeling marginalized within tech jobs. Narrowthegap.co reports that women in computer and mathematical occupations earn 80 cents to the dollar men earn doing the same job full time, and 61 percent of women engineers report having to prove themselves repeatedly to
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get the same level of respect and recognition in the workplace. Additionally, a 2017 Pew research study, published on the Pew website, finds that women in a male-dominated workplace are more likely to experience sexual harassment than women in gender-balanced or female-dominated workplaces. Such barriers are ever-present for women in the technology field, and workplace culture is a central factor behind so many women leaving their jobs. These barriers only increase for women who are a part of other minority groups and experience discrimination on multiple fronts. Overall, virtual event company Evia finds that as of 2018, while women make up more than half of the United States workforce, they hold just 20 percent of jobs in the technology field as a whole. In the wake of movements for greater diversity and gender equality, it seems that there should be a shift in these statistics. In fact, women currently hold a lower share of computer science jobs than they did in the 1980s, despite a thriving tech industry and a low unemployment rate industry-wide. Numerous studies have GRACE BROWNSON found that there are benefits for companies to have a diverse pool of employees, particularly in an industry that relies on innovation and diversity of thought. A world run by men, and only for men, fails to tap into entirely new market areas, experiences and ideas that women bring to the table. Going forward, equality of opportunity in the tech industry should be the goal. Some of the onus to achieve this goal falls on companies to work toward hiring a more diverse group of people and changing workplace culture. Ensuring women have equal opportunities to advance within their jobs and changing the perception that women have to work twice as hard just to be on equal footing would be a step in the right direction. Granted, it is next to impossible to change the internal bias of an entire industry, but nothing will happen if nobody tries. Beyond changing things in the workforce, encouraging young girls to go into STEM fields can be done through fostering their natural curiosity and ensuring that they are equipped with the resources and experience to dream big and know that they can do anything.
Examining science fiction’s complicated role in literature Sylvie Shaya staff writer Graphic by Bryn Savidge Out of the immense depths of modern writing, ranging from scientific journal articles to online fan fiction, the defined literary canon often remains within the bounds of older pieces of fiction. Science fiction has had a long road in its inclusion in this group of works by the merit of its more speculative elements. “As the canon was forming in say the first half of the twentieth century... there were certain texts that we would now think of as science fiction that were part of it...but for some other reason they were admitted to the canon,” explained Katharine Beutner, Assistant Professor in the Dept. of English at the College of Wooster. Science fiction, or speculative fiction, is defined by Britannica as, “fiction that deals principally with the impact of actual or imagined science upon society or individuals.” The genre was Kenneth Rogers, WHS English Dept member’s, “first real exposure to big philosophical ideas.” Daniel Bourne, Professor of English at the College of Wooster states that sci-fi,“is an interrogation of our own society by displacing the...story to another place,” as so much of science fiction is based off a dramatic change in setting to the future or an entirely different place. But, from a more down to earth perspective, Bourne continued that many novels also show that “you don’t need to go to Venus, it might just be one street over where all these strange things are happening.” Sci-fi is a genre of writing that has developed over an immense amount of time, and includes works ranging from the dystopia of Margaret Atwood’s The Handmaid’s Tale to Aristophanes’ play The Birds from the fourth century BC, according to Bourne. Yet, the genre as a whole has only been recognized as worthwhile over the past century. Beutner said, “appreciation for science fiction has really increased over the last say 25 or 30 years in comparison to literary fiction,” a major change in the general view of science fiction. In the mid to late 20th century, Beutner continued, “It becomes more common to see [science fiction] writers...be thought of as canonical while they’re still writing.”
Originally, in the early 20th century, according to Bourne, “Novels were thought of as being a waste of time and fit...only for women who had nothing else to do with their time,” something that has changed enormously throughout literature as a whole, as novels are currently a major part of what people read. Yet, even today, science fiction can be seen as a lesser genre, according to Beautner, as “when mainstream literary critics or reviewers are talking about science fictional texts, they will tend to describe those texts as exceptional… the phrase ‘transcends the genre’ is often used.” Science fiction is not taught often in high school English courses. As an educator, Roger said, “it doesn’t really matter what book [is taught]… as long as it fits the standards of teaching and the kids are engaged,” but he notes he does not teach much sci-fi literature. Bourne explains that this could be because English teachers, especially in high school, need to show their students literature that they otherwise would not read, and introduce them to issues they otherwise would not look at, so, as Rogers said, “[scifi]’s not going to get the same representation as Pride and Prejudice.” Beyond the classroom, Beutner said science fiction has developed immensely since its recognition as a genre. “Initially, a lot of science fiction stories, especially ones that were in the popular ‘pulp’ press, were adventure stories that often had...a single male hero doing stuff in space” Over the course of the 20th century, Beutner explained, “Science fiction has changed in its attention to voices and communities that really were not represented when it was a younger genre but...has not changed in that it’s still a lot about doing thought experiments and thinking about what would happen in this situation.” From Roger’s point-of-view, science fiction has allowed people, especially those outside society’s idea of normal to find a place for themselves. “Sci-fi was their gateway in order to feel like they’re accepted, they’re included, and their ideas were not so weird or outside of the norm.”
“You don’t need to go to Venus, it might just be one street over where all these strange things are happening.” Bourne
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NASA’s journey through space: From Artemis to Mars Olivia VanSickle staff writer
NASA is gearing up for its biggest endeavor since the end of the Space Shuttle Program in 2011. The project, fittingly named Artemis, is a massive undertaking by NASA, with the end goal of using information learned from the moon to enable sustainable space exploration and preparing humanity for travel to Mars. According to information released on NASA’s website, there are a number of objectives set by the NASA Artemis team to make this dream a reality. First, Artemis intends to land the first woman on the moon by 2024, a giant leap for gender equality in the sciences. Next, the team plans to put a spacecraft into the moon’s orbit in order to study its qualities. Lastly, the team plans to set up a permanent base into the moon’s orbit. Called the Gateway, its purpose is to serve as an outpost for human exploration of the moon. It can also be modified to support long missions and ones deeper in space. These objectives require a number of innovations in NASA’s space technology, as much of the technology used during the Space Shuttle Program is either outdated or does not fulfill the needs of this new endeavor. NASA has already developed a number of groundbreaking inventions to fit their purpose, such as Artemis Generation Spacesuits, Modern Lunar Landers and the Orion Command Module. The Artemis program has huge implications for the future of space travel. If successful, the program could open the doors to interplanetary travel, and put the dream of reaching Mars a little closer to being a reality. But, most excitingly, a new generation gets to experience the excitement of space travel for themselves.
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Mya Vandegrift staff writer
Since our first close-up picture of Mars in 1965 from Mariner 4, spacecraft voyages to the Red Planet have revealed a world strangely like our own, but different enough to change our minds on what makes a planet and it’s life forms tick. Every time we feel close to understanding Mars, new discoveries send us straight back to the drawing board to revise existing theories. Mars has created many unanswered questions for astronomers and astrobiologists alike. Did Mars ever have life? Will Mars be our next home planet? It is no secret that the Red Planet is the next frontier. NASA has created a Mars Exploration Program to help solve these mysteries. The official mission statement, according to NASA’s Mars Exploration Program, is, “To explore Mars and to provide a continuous flow of scientific information and discovery through a carefully selected series of robotic orbiters, landers and mobile laboratories interconnected by a highbandwidth Mars/Earth communications network.” NASA’s current satellite and rover presence on Mars consists of projects like the rover Curiosity, the largest and most capable rover ever sent to Mars. Curiosity set out to answer the question: did Mars ever have the right environmental conditions to support small life forms called microbes? It continues to explore the rock record from a time when Mars could have been home to microbial life. A current satellite, MAVEN, is providing information on how and how fast atmospheric gases are being lost to space today, and infer from those detailed studies what happened in the past.
Graphic by Bryn Savidge
Horoscopes: Fact or Fiction? Two staff members determine whether horoscopes hold any truth about the personalities of society or if horoscopes are simply fun
Horoscopes are inclusive and fun
Jensan Bauman staff writer
Astrology is the study of astrological signs, saying there is meaning behind your sign or that your sign can sometimes give insight into your life, behavior and traits. Signs are based off your birth day and time, and the positions of the sun and moon at this time. There are 12 signs and according to astrology-insight.com, “The signs are a symbolic representation of what is known as phases of uninterrupted, ever flowing unending cycles of growth and evolution.” Astrology can provide a sense of not being alone in the world, because it is not as if there is a different sign for everyday of every year, there are only 12. Everyone fits into one of the signs, and because of this, people tend to relate to others who they are more compatible with or those within the same sign. Your sign can provide insight to what kind of person you are. Astrology, to me, shows that everyone is more than just a person, that we are all connected to something bigger than ourselves and that there is an explanation as to why we are the way we are. Along with the 12 astrology signs, there are four elements-earth, water, air, and fire- that further breakdown zodiac signs personality wise. Each of the elements rule three zodiac signs. According to astrostyle.com because the elements are apart of the natural world, the signs depend on each other in some way.
Graphics by Bryn Savidge
Horoscopes lack any scientific fact
Leo Riley staff writer
Astrology is pseudoscience that claims that everything about you is predetermined by the stars that align with the date of your birth. There is no evidence backing any aspect of this so called “field of study” and it has more in common with a Buzzfeed quiz than an actual field of science. Beyond the lack of proof that astrology is anything more than a theory, I disagree with what it stands for. Astrology attempts to break everyone on Earth into 12 kinds of people, 12 zodiac signs, and states that you are the way you are because of the stars you were born under. This idea is ridiculous and wrong because it both strips people of their independence and identity by boiling everything they are into one stereotype, and it offers an excuse for bad behavior by allowing people to blame their zodiac sign for the faults in their personalities. People dedicating their life to the study of something that does not exist is an incredible waste of potential and treating astrology like a real thing only validates their bad decision. Astrology can be traced back to the times of Romans and Greeks, a time when people thought the Earth was flat and men with the head of bulls walked the Earth. All in all, the idea of zodiacs are more than stupid, they are harmful and ridiculous.
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Horoscope enthusiasts express their beliefs Questions: 1. What is your sign? 2. Do the characteristics of your sign describe you? 3. Why do you believe in it?
Victoria Machado (12) 1. “Aquarius” 2. “Partially I believe I am very independent and introverted until you get to know me.” 3. “The predictions pertain to my life.”
Photos by Theresa Wendell
Corridor collected by Corinne Wiles
AQUARIUS
PISCES
ARIES
Jan. 20- Feb. 18
Feb. 19- March 20
March 21- April 19
Deep Imaginative Original
Affectionate Empathetic Artistic
Eager Dynamic Competitive
GEMINI
CANCER
LEO
May 21- June 20
June 21- July 22
July 21- Aug. 22
Versatile Expressive Curious
Intuitive Sentimental Compassionate
Dramatic Outgoing Self-Assured
SCORPIO
SAGGITARIUS
LIBRA
Sept. 23- Oct. 22 Social Diplomatic Gracious
Macy Schultz (12) 1. “Leo' 2. “Yes because I am an extrovert and very open-minded.” 3. “Whenever I read a horoscope it is very accurate.”
Oct. 23- Nov. 21 Passionate Stubborn Brave
Nov. 22- Dec. 21 Extroverted Optimistic Funny
TAURUS
April 20- May 20 Strong Dependable Creative
VIRGO
Aug. 23-Sept .22 Practical Loyal Gentle
CAPRICORN
Dec. 22- Jan. 19 Serious Independent Disciplined
Graphics by Corinne Wiles
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Information from horoscope.com/zodiac-signs
Elementary Aliens Elementary students were asked to create their idea of what an alien looks like in relation to the outer space theme of the cover section.
“I made it green and purple because I thought those were alien colors.”
Asher Dewald (K) “I think aliens have one eye. They are wearing clothes. They’re dark green because they have to be scary, and dark green is a scary color. When they talk they sound like ‘ehahehah.’” Eden Yoder (2) “I think an alien would look like this because I think aliens would have lots of legs to move around in space. It would have one eye because I think aliens would be like cyclopses, and it would have strong arms so that it could get its food and protect itself.” David Snider (4) Aliens and quotes collected by Maeve Florence-Smith
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All-Female Spacewalk: A giant leap in women’s history Mya Vandegrift staff writer
On Oct. 18, NASA astronauts Christina Koch and Jessica Meir became the first to take part in an all-female spacewalk. Making history, it was celebrated by space exploration organizations and the public alike. The walk, lasting 7 hours and 17 minutes, was not purposely planned by NASA, but, as the organization explained, was bound to happen because of the increasing number of female astronauts. The space walk’s significance is important because of the history behind it. An all female walk was supposed to take place in March with astronauts Annie McClain and Christina Koch, but it was postponed because NASA did not have two appropriately sized spacesuits available, sparking conversation about the legacy of sexism in the space program. The incident also highlighted challenges faced by women in fields where equipment has historically been designed with men in mind. Women were not admitted into NASA’s astronaut program until 1978, and it was not until 1983 with Sally Ride’s space flight that an American woman went to space, although two Soviet women preceded her. The first spacewalk took place in 1965, and in 1984, Kathryn D. Sullivan became
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the first American woman to perform one alongside a male astronaut. Up until October, space walks, which normally consisted of teams of two, were either all men or one woman partnered with one man. In a Forbes article titled: “Women in Aerospace: Challenges And Opportunities” Susan Chodakewitz, President of Tetra Tech, explains the concept of a “leaky pipeline”, referring to the idea that while women will seek out jobs in STEM fields, they will have to want to stay in STEM fields. “I also think women are somewhat uncertain or a bit trepidation about moving into a field where, there aren’t role models – and where, there is a history at least, of stereotypes and gender bias – that have not supported women’s advancement.” Chodakewitz explained. “So, I think A: its increasing awareness. And B: making sure that people and women feel comfortable through role models and early exposure. And then, also, it’s that self-fulfilling prophecy: The more women break in, stay in, and continue to get promoted, the more women will follow suit.” The first all female spacewalk not only represents the need for more opportunities in STEM fields for women, but more role models as well. As a girl who grew up with a telescope and a dream of being an astrophysicist until I realized I did not like math, finally seeing this type of representation in this field is truly fulfilling. I am excited that young girls with the same dreams I had, who are most likely better at math, will have astronauts like Christina Koch and Jessica Meir to look up to. And, I hope that changes in representation, stereotypes, and equal pay for equal work occur in STEM fields, so that those dreams become careers in research because of their workplace environment, not in spite of.
Graphics by Bryn Savidge
26 Rumen 27 Lauren 28 Olivia 29 Madison 30 Eve 31 Bryn
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Rumen Zdravchev Photographer Profile
One day, I saw my aunt’s photo of a young boy hanging on our wall, so I started to ask her questions about the photo and how she became a photographer. After we talked a while about photography, I decided to take some photos on my phone. After my first photo, I fell in love with photography and have taken pictures since. One of my favorite photographers is Peter McKinnon, who is a Youtuber who teaches photography and cinematography. I really love his work and he inspires me to keep doing photography and keep loving it every day. My dream is to work for National Geographic and become a famous photographer. The reason I decided to become a photographer is to explore a whole new way of taking photos, and it just makes me happy and relaxed when I grab my camera. My favorite type of photography is street photography, which is photography that is conducted for art or inquiry and features unmediated chance encounters and random incidents within public places. Two years ago, I started photography and I plan on doing it for a very long time. I hope to go to college to study photography and graphic design at Ohio University. Bruno Barney summarizes my love for photography when he says, “Photography is the only language that can be understood anywhere in the world.”
A portrait of Ashton Dunlap with the sunset.
A photo of a orange leaf with the sunset behind.
At the College of Wooster with snow falling.
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At Stowe Vermont by a beautiful lake.
Lauren Crum Growing up, photography was the coolest skill a person could have in my mind. I would steal my moms camera to get pictures around the house of our couch for no reason, occasionally a close-up shot of a flower because I thought I was artsy. My first purchase with my own money was a tiny pink camera from Walmart, and I used that thing to death. Then, I upgraded in seventh grade at Christmas. At that time, photography was just a super fun hobby with many perks. Sophomore year, I joined yearbook and put my talents to a different aspect of photography, whether it was/is capturing a winning shot or just some friends smiling at the pep rally. I enjoy being behind the screen, knowing all the emotions and feelings that went on that day or what got that person to laugh for their photo. I like being able to understand why their celebration after a goal was so much more ecstatic than any other game because I know their thoughts on that day and how they feel. And, that leads me to my overall answer on why I love photography: I help someone keep a lasting memory, even if it is just their weekly game day post or their average senior Sunday pic. Those pictures are my memories too even if I am behind the lens.
Senior portrait of Jasmin with a yellow background.
Photographer Profile
Corinne pictured at a well to match her outfit.
The student section poses in neon attire at a Friday night football game. Close up shot of Ian used in the yearbook.
December 2019 | submissions | 27
Olivia VanSickle
Artist Profile
Ever since I was little, I have always loved the arts. I love music and theatre and literature and everything in between. The visual arts were the first I was able to do on my own. I spent a good portion of my time when I was a kid drawing, painting, and sculpting. When I reached middle school, I was still taking every opportunity to draw pictures, even though I had less time. They usually ended up in the margins of my notes and assignments, much to the chagrin of my teachers. When high school rolled around, the tough classes I took gave me even less time to develop my art skills. Still, I take every opportunity I can to draw and paint pictures. I do not have the time to make huge pictures, studies or projects, so my art consists of small drawings and paintings that reflect my interests at the time. People and characters are my favorite thing to draw, either existing or original (lately they have been related to my Dungeons and Dragons campaign). It is still hard to find the time between all of my classes and extracurriculars, but I still feel it is worth it.
A watercolor of Kirby color swatches. A sketch VanSickle made in seventh grade
A colored pencil drawing of Pikachu.
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Quick sketches of some of VanSickle’s best friends.
Madison Helms As a kid, I always loved art. My school papers would be covered with doodles and I would paint whenever I had the free time. This is a trend that has followed me through childhood and is still with me today. I still make art for fun, and my notes are still riddled with doodles of eyes and friends. While I honor traditional and realist art and enjoy doing it, I have always been drawn to cartoons and recently have gotten into digital art. Art is something that has always brought me joy, from photo realistic drawings, to abstract paintings, and even digital cartoon people, I am passionate about my art and will continue to make it in my free time.
Artist ProďŹ le
Grid enlarged drawing for class focusing on realism.
A self portrait made for class inspired by Jean Michel Basquiat.
A cartoon Helms made to celebrate fall.
A self portrait playing with style.
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Eve Norris
Artist Profile
Picasso said, “Everyone wants to understand art. Why not try to understand the song of a bird?” It blows my mind that my mother was alive when he was, and ever since I could speak I longed to understand why art moved me. But, like Picasso said, how am I supposed to know why the bird sings? My brother left home for The Art Institute of Pittsburgh when I was four and learning to cope with the distance was extremely hard. I did not understand how to deal with the pain of separation, but my mother and sisters were artists, as well, and I longed to mimic their eyes and hands as they created such beautiful drawings or paintings. I grew up chasing beautiful things that I could not even comprehend: going to museums, exploring artists and becoming a musician. I listened to these artists pierce the air with sound that made me cry. Honestly, I will never stop chasing such a life of aesthetic and unexplained beauty. I am an artist because it is one of the most extraordinary things you can become. Like a bird sings, if the emotional power can entice even the hardest person, that will always be enough for me.
Experiment with style, shading and hashing.
Sentimental portrait of a close friend.
Hidden, inspired by a loved one’s struggle with mental health.
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Norris’ favorite movie character, Beetlejuice.
Bryn Savidge Ever since I can remember, I have always loved arts and crafts. I have always enjoyed getting messy and creating something I could share with others. I started exploring my artistic abilities when I made my first mandala, a large circle made of many rings of intricate and symmetrical design. I was impressed with myself and started to delve into creating numerous mandalas. Mandalas are the most challenging and timeconsuming projects, so I rarely have time to spend on them. Today, I mainly create things based off of patterns and typography I see online. Marker, watercolor, and acrylic pieces are what I have taught myself to make. I like to create pieces with bright colors and positive messages as my goal with my art is always to brighten people’s day. For me, making art is a workout for my brain. Art can be exhausting and tedious, but whenever I set aside time to draw or paint, I am always satisfied.
Artist Profile
Savidge’s favorite positive mantra piece.
Floral heart drawing from freshman year.
Marker illustration of fungi.
A colorful mandala Savidge created her sophomore year.
December 2019 | submissions | 31
[ in this issue ]
Science saves you from nonsense.
You don’t need to go to Venus, it might just be one street over where all these strange things are happening.
Mark A. Wilson on STEM vs the Humanities (16)
Daniel Bourne on Science Fiction (19)
The U.S. Women’s soccer team is an outstanding example of how an amazing team with incredible athletes is not being paid as much as they should. Ashton Dunlap, Stir the Pot (12)
A world run by men, and only for men, fails to tap into entirely new market areas, experiences and ideas that women bring to the table.
I am an artist because it is one of the most extraordinary things you can become.
Sierra Dewald on Women in Technology (18)
Eve Norris, submissions (30) December 2019 | front | 32