The Wooster
BLADE Volume XXII | Issue 6 | Jan. 25, 2022
Opening the doors to 2022, and leaving 2021 behind us
Inside the Jan. 25th, 2022 Issue
p. 2 - How burnout is affecting our seniors
p. 4 - COVID-19 impact on local healthcare
p. 7 - Retro movie reviews
p. 12 - Sports team traditions within our school
ON CAMPUS
THE WOOSTER BLADE | JAN. 25, 2022 | PAGE 2
Senioritis and burnout settling in for students at WHS BAILEY MESSNER staff writer Senioritis is usually known by students as a lack of motivation that spreads most in a senior’s final semester of high school. The origins of senioritis can also be a product of long term burnout, which is typically caused by overworking and high levels of stress. BLADE staff collected a poll on burnout during the week of Jan. 10 and Jan. 17. Out of 118 radonmly selected students who were polled, roughly 88% of student respondents said they felt burnt out before winter break. Guidance counselor Tyler Egli reflected on how WHS inclusion of eighth grade in the building might affect its students. “Wooster has the highest amount of burn out that I’ve observed. I think part of that equation has to do with how early some of our students start high school classes, so when they get to senior year they’ve been doing this for five, six, or even seven years,” Egli said. On the poll, 22 seniors said they have experienced some level of senioritis or burnout at this point in the year.
However, Lydia Otto (12) says she has not experienced symptoms of senioritis, but explains that “I feel burnout when I work multiple times throughout the week because I have homework I have to worry about.” English Dept. member Diane Mealey has seen the flow of burnout for high schoolers for many years. Mealey states, “When I taught eleventh and twelfth grades, after spring break was the hardest, most burned out time (and I imagine I’ll see that same pattern this spring).” While burnout is a problem for every school year, it is especially
How are students feeling?
WHS students answer questions about burnout
“WOOSTER HAS THE HIGHEST AMOUNT OF BURNOUT THAT I’VE OBSERVED,” EGLI SAID. high with the current state of the pandemic. Of the WHS students polled, 84.6% of them reported that COVID-19 has caused them to get burnt out more easily.
Polls were randomly distributed by Bailey Messner, Ashton Dunlap and Lexxe Parsons to 118 students on Jan. 10 and Jan. 17.
Band prepares to perform at Severence Hall in Cleveland STELLA POWERS staff writer On Jan. 30, the WHS Symphonic Band will perform at Severance Hall in Cleveland for the Northeast Ohio Band Invitational. This event is hosted by the Cleveland Institute of Music. “There’s four high school bands, local bands from the area, and the Kent State University
Wind Ensemble, in addition to the Cleveland Youth Wind Symphony which is a select group of students made up from all over Cleveland,” shared band director, Craig French. According to French, this is an incredible opportunity for students to get to play music in a world class concert hall and for other groups to get to hear them play. “The experience gained from putting yourself into that situ-
ation with only one shot to do it right is really valuable,” said French. “And just getting to say that they did that. That they’ve walked on the same stage and been on the same stage as some of the world’s best musicians. That’s also really unique, I think,” French said. Rebekah Lay (11) shared that she is also very excited for this opportunity and the big change it will be from other perfor-
mances the band has done in the past. “I am really happy to be playing at Severance Hall because I have been going there to see Cleveland Orchestra performances since I was a child, and it will be a cool experience to be up on the stage, as opposed to being in the seats watching the performance,” said Lay. “It is different because we only have played concert music either in the Gym or PAC at WHS, so it
will be a big change to be playing at a Hall that has gold on the ceiling.” Kerry Stevenson (12) echoes Lay in regards to the performance and change of setting. “I am very excited to play at Severance Hall in Cleveland. It’s different from other venues because this is more of a professional setting,” Stevenson said. People interested in attending can purchase tickets at woomusic.revtrak.net.
THE WOOSTER BLADE | ON CAMPUS | JAN. 25 2022 | PAGE 3
WHS welcomes new interim principal Online school: does for second semester of the school year Wooster have a plan? LUKE POMFRET
MAYA GALINDO BENSON
co-editor-in-chief The Wooster City School District has appointed new leaders into new distinct positions as of December of 2021. Former interim WHS principal Dr. John Deuber announced his retirement for the end of the 2021 year in December,. and Superintendent Gabe Tudor appointed Eric Vizzo, Cornerstone principal, as the new interim principal for the remainder of the 2021-2022 academic year. In the press release from the Wooster City School District announcing the staffing changes, Tudor says, “I recognize that we have had more change this school year than is typical…I am thankful that we have people in our district that are capable and willing to help us meet the needs of our students so we can finish the school year strong.” Vizzo was first a teacher at Melrose for seven years, an associate principal at WHS for one year, and then a principal at Cornerstone for 10 years. Vizzo describes the transition from Cornerstone to WHS, stating, “It's been a big change over a short period of time, but everyone's been welcoming, whether it be students, staff or families. In the short period of time I've been here so far, it's going well.” Vizzo says for the remainder of the school year he wants to focus on scheduling next year, working with staff members on behavioral expectations and being as transparent as possible. “I think we want to continue as a staff to work on behavioral expectations for students… Some of the time in remote learning has changed how we
staff writer
MOLLY BYRNE
Eric Vizzo takes over as WHS interim principal for remainder of the year. do things, things within the building, interactions amongst each other, and my other goal is trying to be transparent. Being a principal that students and staff can come to share ideas, and therefore I can help wherever I can,” Vizzo said. Vizzo said he decided to become a principal because he loves seeing students change over time. “I like seeing students grow educationally, and I think as a teacher you often see that in your small class but as a principal or as an administrator you have a greater impact on a larger scope of students… showing students how important an education is for a good education really pushed me in that direction,” Vizzo said. Vizzo says he loves how different his job is from the dayto-day operations and seeing his former students as young adults. According to Vizzo, one of his biggest goals for the student population for the remainder of the school year is to continue enhancing school pride and having students be involved in a variety of extracurricular.
Nate Steiner, WHS associate principal, says he is excited to work with Vizzo. “Mr. Vizzo has been in the district for many years, so I have had the opportunity of knowing him prior to him taking this role at WHS. He likes to do what is best for students and keeps an open mind,” Steiner said. Steiner says the transition from Deuber to Vizzo has gone smoothly, and both principals have a strong student-centered approach to education Next fall, Vizzo will return to his position as principal of Cornerstone. Tudor said the position as the WHS principal will be posted on Feb. 1 and will be interviewing throughout the month.
Schools around the nation have switched to online learning due to the COVID-19 virus. There has been an increase in COVID-19 cases school-wide in the past weeks, with 1.44 percent of the WHS population testing positive as of Jan. 19. Students and staff are required to wear face coverings while in the school building. According to Superintendent Gabe Tudor, there will not be a districtwide school shut down within the foreseeable future, but this could be re-evaluated based on the safety of each school and amount of staff with positive COVID-19 tests. Tudor said he believes students should be in school for as long as possible. “I think we know how important it is for kids to be in school, and I think our board is committed to that as long as we can do that safely,” Tudor said.
Eric Vizzo, Interim Principal at WHS, says if schools were to shut down, they would close for the shortest amount of time possible. The administration has asked teachers to have a plan ready in the case that schooling would go remote, which was on the agenda and discussed at their Jan. 14 in-service day: “There is not one specific program that we’ve talked about. We are at least telling the teachers to have a plan,” Vizzo said. In regards to accessible technology in the case of a long term shutdown, computers would be provided to students upon request, says Rebecca Furlong, Director of Technology for WCS. The process of checking out a device would be as follows: “A parent would request a device, and we would check out a device to them during that shut down period,” Furlong said. Chromebooks would be the devices checked out to students.
Blue & Gold SPONSORS Blue $500
Dan Stavnezer Therapy
CORPORATE SPONSORS Corporate $350
WQKT- 104.5 Seaman Corporation
FOCUS
THE WOOSTER BLADE | JAN. 25, 2022 | PAGE4
COVID-19 impacts health care workers and school officials OLIVIA HINER
trends editor Almost everyone is aware of the impact that COVID-19 has had on health care. With over 100,000 COVID19 hospitalizations in Ohio, according to the Ohio Department of Health website last updated Jan. 19, so many hospitals are at, or near, full capacity. The Cleveland Clinic, MetroHealth, and University Hospitals have had to reschedule all non-urgent inpatient surgeries for the time being, according to cleveland19. com article titled “Northeast Ohio’s major hospitals near ‘full capacity’ with latest surge of COVID-19 patients,” as they need to free up the little space they have for COVID patients. Obviously, the impact of the
virus on hospitals is very large as numbers are increasing every day. Because of this increase, the well-being of nurses is a major concern as the virus has been getting worse with the highly contagious omicron variant. Andrea Wilson, an LPN at a family medicine practice, says the coronavirus has taken over her job. Wilson stated that “Like many places, we are often short staffed, and at a time when the number of patients calling or coming to the office has greatly increased. Mentally, this has been very stressful for me. I often have to work at a faster pace than I am comfortable with, and worry constantly about making a mistake or missing something.” Along with these concerns, Wilson said that “...one of the hardest emotional aspects has
been losing patients who were otherwise healthy to COVID.” Wilson said the biggest problem facing healthcare workers is, without a doubt, burnout. Burnout is a huge obstacle in so many healthcare workers’ lives. Looking forward, Wilson hopes people will continue to get educated, get vaccinations and take precautions in order to get the pandemic under control. Healthcare workers are not the only people whose jobs have changed because of the pandemic. Heidi Haas, WCS Director of Student Services, said that before the pandemic, her job consisted of, “...working with staff to help address current student needs for those that are identified with a disability, homeless, English language learners, and also with related service providers.”
DELANEY WILSON
A local nurse recently demonstrates the process for administering a COVID-19 test to a WHS student. During the pandemic, Haas notes, most of her job, and time, shifted to, “...working on our protocols, procedures, and new information coming out regularly on how to best keep our students and staff safe.” Haas said obstacles that the district still faces includes addressing, “...all of our safety measures in each building as COVID numbers keep rolling
in. We want to make sure we are able to instruct our students and maintain our quality levels of instructional impact, while also being creative to meet each student’s needs, while being mindful of spacing, grouping and transitional time periods in our buildings.” COVID-19 has impacted not only healthcare workers but those who work in the district.
NOW HIRING flexible scheduling
holiday pay
on demand pay •and more buehlers.com/apply
An Employee Owned Company
THE WOOSTER BLADE | FOCUS | JAN. 25, 2022 | PAGE 5
Reflecting on the anniversary of the Jan. 6 Capitol riot MATTIE DUNLAP staff writer On Jan. 6, 2021, a mob of rioters breached the United States Capitol building in an attempt to disrupt the 2020 presidential election results, according to The New York Times. This display of violence rattled the integrity and history of the United States. Dr. Angela Bos, a professor of political science at the College of Wooster, says the Jan. 6th Capitol insurrection took a big hit on the U.S. democracy and has negatively altered the voting system.
“The sitting president’s questioning of a legitimate election result, that spurred the rioters to action, is a highly problematic situation for democracy. Free and fair elections are a central
“FREE AND FAIR ELECTIONS ARE A CENTRAL COMPONENT TO DEMOCRACY,” BOS SAID.
component to democracy…And now, we see efforts in state legislatures (like Wisconsin, Georgia and elsewhere) [where] there are foundations being laid to make voting more difficult for Democratic constituencies and changing laws so that elections might be decided by state legislatures in 2024,” Bos said. The harming of the democratic voting system seems to be the most prevalent result of the Jan. 6 capitol riot. This point is further continued in a source shared by Bos from Nicholas Riccardi of AP News. “Republicans are taking hold of the once-overlooked machinery of elections. While
the effort is incomplete and uneven, outside experts on democracy and Democrats are sounding alarms, warning that the United States is witnessing a ‘slow-motion insurrection’,” AP News said. Oliver Warren, WHS History Dept. member, says the Capitol riot has further split the world by promoting anti-democracy ideals. “If you look at the trends of governments around the world, we are seeing a rise of anti-democracy movements around the world… I think Jan. 6th was a key event of that struggle in the U.S., and it has already done lasting damage to our collective faith in elections
and our faith in one another,” Warren said. While voting restrictions seem to be one of the biggest things to change as a result of the Capitol riot, another WHS History Dept. member, Brian Questel, says the events that occurred Jan. 6 also demonstrated that people inciting violence and crime, as seen by the mob at the riot, can get little to no punishment from the justice system. When reflecting on a year since the Jan. 6 Capitol riot took place, democracy has been threatened and fair and free elections have been put into question according to The Washington Post.
COVID-19 affects student discipline and behavior at WHS BRITTANY WACHTEL views editor It has been almost two years since schools have been affected by COVID-19, and education still is not the same. In response to changing education standards. WHS has seen new administrative figures, staff shortages, and an influx in students opting for virtual learning. Upon returning to seminormal education at the start of the 2021 school year, changes to general school rules began, starting with the continuation of a mask mandate. Most recently, staff members at WHS began taking a different approach in terms of discipline and the enforcement of rules through the formation of the student discipline group. The formation of this group came about due to a, “... need to help keep everyone on the same page as we have had a significant rise in all discipline issues as well as COVID requirements,” according to
vice principal Nate Steiner. In agreement to Steiner’s mention of disciplinary issues, in the article, “The pandemic is affecting student behavior…” released by NBC News on Jan. 3, the effect of the pandemic on student behavior is discussed. NBC mentions Crystal Thorpe, a principal of a junior high school in Indianapolis, and her belief that COVID is causing a majority of issues found in her student body. “... students are not only reeling from trauma and loss related to the pandemic - they also missed out on social interaction at a crucial time in their development,” Thorpe said in the article. In noting students behavior in reaction to COVID, Charles Cerniglia, Science Dept. member and student discipline group member, says, “I think that the situations and experiences people have affect the way they behave and conduct themselves, and Covid-19 has definitely led to different situations and
“...COVID-19 HAS DEFINITELY LED TO DIFFERENT SITUATIONS AND EXPERIENCES,” CERNIGLIA SAID. experiences.” While no national data is yet available regarding any increase in suspensions, many schools are now advocating for a decrease in traditional methods of discipline. According to the previously mentioned article by NBC News, the Dallas Independent School District has opted to send students to “reset centers” instead of harsh disciplinary policies that highlighted racial
inequities within the district. While WHS does not seem to have any intent of lessening the severity of punishments, there is a great focus on social and emotional education, according to Cerniglia. Overall, this new group does not aim to present a one-sizefits-all solution to social and educational reform within the school. “The goal of this team is to discuss logistical issues that we are facing as a building and modify or create systems
to help overcome these issues. Many of these issues would be behind the scenes issues such as the After School detention process or masking exemptions/requirements…,” says Steiner of the group’s overall intent within the school. Despite the hardships placed upon the shoulders of administrators due to the pandemic, the creation of the student discipline group is a step in the right direction. toward behavior reformation within WHS.
COVER
THE WOOSTER BLADE | JAN. 25, 2022 | PAGE 6
Commentary legend John Madden impacted the NFL BEN STAVNEZER staff writer John Madden was one of the many great losses of 2021. John Madden was born in Austin, Minn. on April 10, 1936. An American football legend, coach, and commentator, Madden revolutionized the commentary side of football. Madden’s lively and flamboyant delivery won him critical acclaim and 14 Sports Emmy Awards for Outstanding Sports Event Analyst. When he announced a game, he used interjections like “Boom!,”“Bang!” and “Whack!” to spice up his comments and inject fun into the game. “You got one guy going boom, one guy going whack, and one guy not getting in the endzone!” Madden, who coached the Oakland Raiders to a Super Bowl victory in 1976, was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame on Aug. 5, 2006. His 0.759 regular-season percentage ranks as the highest ever with coaches in the National Football League. Madden died at his home in Pleasanton, Calif., on Dec. 28, 2021, at the age of 85. NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said that Madden was football itself, adding, “there will never be another John Madden, and we will forever be indebted to him for all he did to make football and the NFL what it is today.”
Larry King revolutionized the world of talk shows
Honoring Those Who Left Us In 2 0 2 1
Talk Show Host Larry King Fair use photo courtesy of Larry King on Instagram
MOLLY SNYDER staff writer Sports commentator John Madden Fair use photo courtesy of SNF on NBC on Instagram
Actress Betty White Fair use photo courtesy of Betty White on Instagram
2021: Remembering the renegades who passed LUCIA PERFETTI cover editor In 2021, society said goodbye to countless revolutionaries. Two influential Black renegades: Desmond Tutu, an activist for equal civil rights in South Africa during the Apartheid; and Secretary of State Colin Powell, the first Black man to hold that titleboth of whom fought battles that are still being fought to this day- died last year. The world of literature lost bell hooks, known for her profound writings on Black feminism, and Joan Didion, who wrote with an intimate, yet detached style that made her journalism, scripts, and books legendary. Many of those who made
differences over decades died last year, including actress Cicely Tyson, who broke barriers for Black women in cinema, and Lina Wertmüller, the first female director to be nominated for an Oscar. Not all those who passed were veterans in their field, though. The year 2021 also said goodbye to 34-year-old trans musician SOPHIE, who made a difference in a short time period by revolutionizing the pop genre with her contributions to the modern hyperpop genre. Although 2021 is a year that many want to leave behind, it is important to hold these revolutionaries and the many others that passed last year close to our hearts in 2022, where we can honor their memory by learning and growing from their inspiring legacies.
On Jan 24, 2021, Larry King passed away due to sepsis, which was caused by complications with COVID19. Best known for his popular talk show Larry King Live, King has been a household name since the 1980s. A Brooklyn native, King interviewed hundreds of celebrities and politicians over the years on his show as well as his radio show The Larry King Show. King was known for his lack of unique interviews
that seemed more like a conversation than an interview. King had people ranging from Frank Sinatra to Lebron James on his show. He was one of the most well known talk show and radio hosts and was known even to people who did not watch his interviews or show. King also lent his voice to a number of movies, namely the ugly stepsister in the Shrek movie franchise and playing himself in Bee Movie. Larry King was inducted into the Radio Hall of Fame in 1989, according to their website. King’s cultural impact was long lasting and his name will not be forgotten any time soon.
Betty White influenced comedy for eight decades ANIKA ELLIS staff writer Just before the end of 2021, Betty White passed away peacefully in her sleep, leaving the world in shock. White was an actress and comedian known for her starring roles across several TV shows and movies. Born on Jan. 17, 1922, she was only weeks away from celebrating her 100th birthday. Beginning her career in radio work, White’s career progressed all the way to having a TV show of her own. She is best known for her work on The Mary Tyler Moore Show (1970s) and The Golden Girls (1980s). Her roles are best remembered for their comedy, which is something
about which White had a passion . Despite her age, White retained her confidence and comedic influence in her final few years. She was bold until the end, even saying, “I may be a senior, but so what? I’m still hot,” in a music video released in 2011. Over the course of her life, she had three husbands, all of whom White outlived. Along with her acting prowess, she is also known for being one of the first women to have serious roles in front and behind the camera (Iowa Public Television). Over eight decades of television and radio work, Betty White accumulated a $75 million net worth (Outsider). She had no biological children and remained unmarried after the death of her third husband, Allen Ludden.
ARTS
THE WOOSTER BLADE | JAN. 25, 2022 | PAGE 7
Movies revivals change and evolve over time GRACE KOSTOHRYZ staff writer The media is constantly filled with news about upcoming movies starring some of Hollywood’s biggest actors and actresses, and society is centered around entertainment, with the majority of that coming from TV shows and movies. Recently, however, there have been many new movie revivals, including films like West Side Story which came out Dec. 10. Retro movie revivals have lately become increasingly popular in society. Movie franchises have also begun to release sequels and add to their original series. Previously in 2021, Ghostbusters: Afterlife came out on Nov. 19.
Ghostbusters: Afterlife, is centered around a mother and her two children moving to a new town and discovering their connection to the original Ghostbusters. Top Gun: Maverick is another sequel set to air in 2022 on May 27, with only Tom Cruise and Val Kilmer reprising their roles. According to imdb there will be another Batman movie added to the series, Fantastic Beasts, Doctor Strange, and Jurassic World. These are only a few movie revivals that will come out this year. Society's recent interest in retro movies has increased as a result of the media’s attention to them. If this current trend keeps increasing, there is the potential for many more to be released in the near future.
Scream terrifies a new generation
STELLA POWERS staff writer Released in 1996, the original Scream movie quickly became a classic within the horror genre.
At the turn of the millennium, a movie would come out that would change how we saw action movies, special effects, and the internet completely.
This movie was The Matrix, released in 1999 by Lilly and Lana Wachowski, and this film set the precedent of what science-fiction movies could be in the millennium. The opening is one of the many memorable scenes from the movie, featuring Carrie Anne Moss’ character, Trinity, within the matrix running from agents , fighting police officers and running to a phone booth to escape to the real world. This scene feeds out of a computer and shows Keanu Reeves’ character, Neo, who we would recognize later as The
One. Neo goes through a lot of fighting to discover what the matrix is and how he is supposed to become, “The One.” He learns how to take advantage of The Matrix and how to fight agents, leading to one of the most famous scenes of the movie and the creation of bullet time in cinematography. The Matrix is one of the most well-known films to come out of the ‘90s and is still a treat to revisit today, especially with the fourth movie, The Matrix Resurrections, which was released Dec. 22.
bly Iron Man, Captain America: The First Avenger, and The Avengers. Avengers The second phase (2013-2015) included notable films such as Guardians of the Galaxy and Avengers: Age of Ultron, Ultron as well as the TV shows Agents of Shield and Agent Carter. The third phase (20162019) includes films such as Black Panther, Panther Avengers: Infinity War, and Avengers: Endgame, as well as multiple TV shows, most notably Daredevil and Jessica Jones. The most recent Phase 4 film
to be released is the third installment in the Spider-Man: Homecoming trilogy, Spider-Man: No Way Home, which was released Dec. 17, 2021, starring Tom Holland. The film has been one of Marvel Studio’s most successful films to date. According to an article published by Rebecca Rubin for Variety on Jan. 9, Spider-Man: No Way Home made $1.53 billion at the box office internationally, making it Marvel’s third highest grossing film and the eighth highest grossing film of all time.
Spider-Man: No Way Home is not Marvel’s only recent success. Hawkeye, which was released Nov. 24, 2021, on Disney+. Hawkeye was received very well by critics, with an average approval rating of 92% on Rotten Tomatoes. The fourth phase of the MCU has so far been a success, not only critically, but financially as well. Upcoming Marvel projects, such as Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, Ms. Marvel, and Thor: Love and Thunder.
a&e editor
MCU’s phase 4 excites fans and viewers LAURA RAPPORT a&e editor The fourth phase of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, or the MCU, was announced at the 2019 San Diego Comic-Con by Kevin Fiege, the president of Marvel Studios.
Phase 4 projects include the movies Black Widow, ShangChi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, and Eternals, as well as the T.V. shows WandaVision, The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, Loki. The first phase of the MCU, lasted from 2008 until 2012, included many films, most nota-
known within the horror fandom today, including the most popular line said by the killer himself, “What’s your favorite scary movie?” This is definitely not a movie to watch alone, especially if you are scared easily. However, Scream is a monumental film for the horror genre that is sure to have viewers on the edge of their seats, attempting to figure out who the killer is. On Jan. 14, a fifth installment to the franchise was released, bringing fans back to the town of Woodsboro to once again try to solve a Ghostface killing-
The Matrix set new action standards
ALEXANDRA PARSONS
Graphics by Grace Brownson
Wes Craven’s Scream follows Sidney Prescott, a teenager in the town Woodsboro, and her encounters with an anonymous masked killer, known as Ghostface. This film does an excellent job of mixing the terrifying elements with equally humorous moments, making it enjoyable in many ways. It also has a whodunit element to it, something that is very unique and not the case for many other popular horror films. Scream also contains numerous iconic moments and lines that still remain very well
THE WOOSTER BLADE | A&E | JAN. 25, 2022 | PAGE 8
Drama club prepares for The Curious Savage THEO OLLIER sports editor The WHS Drama Club will perform A Curious Savage this spring as their first play of 2022, a comedy with 12 cast members. A Curious Savage is the Drama Club’s first play during the school year since the spring of 2019, as their previous play performance was Clue, which was delayed because of COVID-19, to the summer of
2021. According to Drama Club Director and English Dept. member Brett Hiner, A Curious Savage entails the story of a woman who inherits $10 million from her husband’s death. Her children have her admitted into a mental institution in an attempt to take possession of the money. Zachary Keating (12), a fifth year member of Drama Club who will play the role of Dr. Emmett, states that the small
cast size will bring the actors closer together. “I think that this will be a close knit cast, because there are so few roles. This means that everyone is there through the whole production, so lots of fun memories will be made,” Keating said. Persis Yoder (12), a first year club member who will play the role of Mrs. Savage, notes that the small cast size gives the drama club a muchneeded break from performing
elaborate shows. “I think it’s important to take a break from doing really big, elaborate shows, so while it’ll be disappointing for more people who won’t be able to be on stage, I think this will be the break much of drama club needed,” Yoder said. Show dates are tentatively scheduled for March 25 through March 27. Tickets for A Curious Savage will be available for purchase on the WHS Drama Club website.
Graphic courtesy of Brett Hiner
Can you separate art from the artist? LAURA RAPPORT a&e editor In the past few years, with the rise of cancel culture, many celebrities and public figures have been canceled. After someone is canceled, it can be hard to watch the movies and TV shows that person appears in without thinking about the bad things they did. This situation forces many viewers to ask the question: can you separate art from the artists? Although some viewers find it difficult to separate actors from their problematic actions, it is important to separate the art from the artists in order to truly enjoy art and entertainment to its fullest. Take for example The Social Network, a movie released in 2010 about the creation of Facebook. It is a great movie, however, one of its stars is accused cannibal Armie Hammer. But, despite these
The Blade’s A&E editors offer opposing views on whether art should be separated from the artist.
accusations, I still watch The Social Network because it is a good movie, and Hammer’s actions do not change that. As a viewer, it is not my responsibility to worry about Hammer’s misdoings, it is my responsibility to simply enjoy the movie. If we stopped watching any movie or TV show because someone involved is Photos by Brittany Wachtel problematic, there would be no media left to consume. No one is truly unproblematic, and we need to forgive people for their mistakes. Just because someone has messed up in the past, does not mean that we should boycott everything they have done forever. It is important to separate art from the artist in order to fully enjoy movies and TV shows. No one is unproblematic, and we need to forgive people to enjoy digital media.
Art in the modern world is a spectrum that is created by many different people, and the opinion of the artist always comes into their work, whether subconsciously or not. When we choose to support an artist through film, television, video games, literature etc. we are willingly seeing their opinions on things in the world. The definition of the word “art” from Google is: “The expression or application o human creative skill and imagination.” Based on this definition, there is not very much wiggle room for argument as it is the expression of the artists’ perspective in the world and can show how the artist thinks. Their perspective, and they way they show it, can vary depending on the form of art. But, in the example of H.P. Lovecraft, who, in my opinion,
LEXXE PARSONS a&e editor was a racist who dehumanized people who were different races and nationalities, he wrote a short story titled “The Horror of Red Hook,” which is considered, by Peter Cannon, a Lovecraftian scholar, one of his most racist stories about the immigration influx from New York at the time and describes its non-white characters’ actions’ outright in the story as, “primitive half-ape savagery.” At its core, art is an opinion from the author and viewer, which can change it depending on who is reading it. The author’s core values will always be in that story, regardless of how viewers may decide to change it for themselves. Whenever you choose to support someone who is controversial, you actively support them, and thus, you cannot separate art from the artist.
TRENDS
Beauty and ethics: where do they meet? industry has moved away from celebrity endorsements and relies heavily on influencers. co-editor-in-chief According to Dina Gerdeman, Think of some of the most writer and editor at Harvard prominent beauty gurus on Business School and the author social media. of “How Influencers Are Making Some of those that come to Over Beauty Marketing” for mind may include Jeffree Star, Forbes, breakdowns average James Charles, Laura Lee, beauty companies’ marketing Kathleenlights, Huda Kattan budgets. and Tati Westbrook. “Global spending on influencer But, what happens when one marketing has skyrocketed in of these beauty content creators recent years, rising from an has a problematic past? Should estimated $2 billion in 2017 to people continue to support about $8 billion in 2019. One them and their companies? forecast shows that spending is Supporting beauty creators and expected to jump to $15 billion companies requires a deeper by 2022. analysis of one’s morals. In fact, beauty giant Estée With the increase of beauty Lauder revealed last week that influencers online, the beauty the company is now spending 75 percent of its marketing budget on influencers,” erdeman % average G said. According in cosmetics to a Mintel 0% P r e s s ce poll 0 % Offi published 0 % on Nov. 18, 2015, 56 percent of 0% American consumers 0% have stopped buying from companies they believe to be unethical. 0.2 % Lauren Bonetto, 25 % L i f e s t y l e s and Leisure 0.1 % A n a l y s t Mintel 100 % at Press Office, escribes 15 % dhow ethics and beauty 95 % have become intertwined. *Clean beauty standards according to Sephora: “Brands Clean + Planet Positive h a v e Graphic by Luke Pomfret
LUKE POMFRET
Common Dangerous Materials In Cosmetics
Banned by the FDA -Bithionol -Chloroform -Methylene Chloride -Sunscreen in Cosmetics -Mercury Compounds Not Banned by FDA but does not meet, “clean beauty” standards* -Formaldehyde -Parabens -Phthalates -Talc -Sulfates -Petrolatum
attempted to boost their ethical reputations by using icons, but these are only effective for reaching the most engaged consumers. Brands must consider alternative methods to showcase their ethical efforts, such as content marketing showing the full scope of a brand’s actions and participating in related grassroots efforts,” Bonetto said. Heather Wolfe (12) is a Tiktok influencer with over one million likes on her page. Wolfe describes her rationale for buying cosmetics that influencers recommend. “Typically, if an influencer supports a product, I would be more inclined to buy it. I wouldn’t go out of my way to find that product and test it out, but if I’m already at the store looking and I see it, I am more likely to buy it,” Wolfe said. Wolfe says that if an influencer did something against her morals, she would most likely not support them. “Before I do not support them, I would try to get the full story and understand what they did. If I can’t rationalize what they did, then I would no longer support them,” Wolfe said. Wolfe said she does not separate the influencer from the brand. Instead, she says influencers are their brand and should keep that in mind when endorsing a product. “As influencers grow their audience, they are going to have brand deals and be sponsored by different companies. This could make them the faces of brands like Morphe or MAC… Everything they represent and stand for is their brand,” Wolfe said. Influencer support for brands is not going anywhere any time soon. Still, there is a greater trust in purchasing that beloved eyeliner by researching the influencers and the companies.
THE WOOSTER BLADE | JAN. 25, 2022 | PAGE 9
LUKE POMFRET
Pictured are some common eyeshadow palettes and lipsticks from brands, such as MAC, E.L.F, Pat McGrath Labs and Colourpop Cosmetics.
U.S. versus foreign makeup BRITTANY WACHTEL views editor As time progresses, the makeup industry continues to be a leading business market. As reported by Global News Wire, the makeup industry, as a whole, is said to be worth $277.67 billion . More recently, countries including France and China have become the leading importers of makeup into the United States, as stated by Global News Wire. Very few well known makeup brands are based in the United States. Common Thread Company reported (via their website) on Dec. 26, 2021, that the Asian Pacific Region has the most global makeup market shares at 46 percent as compared to North America’s 24 percent. Makeup brands made outside of the United States include high profile brands such as Urban Decay, Morphe and NYX Cosmetics. As cited by NYX eCommerce reports in their 2020 overall commerce report, an estimated $79.8 million in gross sales
were made by NYX alone. While brands such as these draw in customers with their low prices and high accessibility, many are blind to underlying issues rooted into these products. Kenzee Brothers, a local certified beauty advisor, advocates for the use of United States based products, even if that means spending more money on products. “I’ve had the best luck with brands made and manufactured in the US, you know exactly where it’s coming from and lots of makeup brands actually have underlying benefits…,” Brothers said. Discussing her personal experiences with foreign products, Brothers says, “... foreign makeup has always made myself and my clients break out… Some labels are hard to read and you don’t know exactly what’s going into your skin, some contain toxic chemicals.” Going into 2022, advocacy for larger brands to step into a United States based production is essential to ensure the mass use of cosmetics is safe.
FEATURE
THE WOOSTER BLADE | JAN. 25, 2022 | PAGE 10
Apple updates privacy policy BEN STAVNEZER staff writer On Oct. 27, 2021, Apple updated their App Store’s policy to limit apps’ ability to track user behavior without getting the user’s permission first, which has made targeted advertising more difficult. Apple released a video that day explaining how the new features work, and how users’ data is collected and sold. In the video, they said, “Some apps have trackers embedded in them that have more data than they need – sharing it with third parties like advertisers and data brokers. They collect thousands of pieces of information about you to create a digital profile that they sell to others.” The video also says that third parties use these profiles to target ads – and also, “to predict and influence your
These phone applications were selected by Co-EditorIn-Chief Ashton Dunlap. All five focus on both physical and mental improvement.
behaviors and decisions. This has been happening without your knowledge or permission.” Apple estimates that the average app has six trackers harvesting your data and selling it to other advertisers, which then tailor your ads to you. However, this new policy appears to have a hidden upside to Apple and a downside to other advertisers. Apple sells advertising space in the App Store. If you search for a specific app, you will see sponsored results for other apps at the top of the results In the last six months, Apple went from capturing 17 percent of all sponsored app store downloads, to now having 58 percent. Its revenue from this business is expected to double, and advertisers said they were spending more advertising with Apple, as opposed to Google.
Tick Tick
App recommendations for self improvement
According to Strava’s website, “Strava lets you track your running and riding with GPS, join Challenges, share photos from your activities, and follow friends.”
Strava 1 Second Everyday provides an electronic log of short videos over periods of time with the goal of recording one second of video every day.
Headspace is an app that focuses on meditation, providing meditation to promote happiness, relaxation, sleep, and more.
Graphic by Ben Stavnezer Tick Tick is a productivity app that provides daily checklists to streamline necessary tasks. According to Tick Tick’s website, Tick Tick provides the opportunity for its users to, “Join millions of people to capture ideas, organize life, and do something creative everyday.”
1 Second Everyday
Headspace According to Fitbod’s website, “By studying your strength & training ability, past workouts and gym setup, Fitbod creates workouts tailored to you.”
Fitbod
THE WOOSTER BLADE | FEATURE | JAN. 25, 2022 | PAGE 11
Students argue climate change attitudes:
Optimistic
Pessimistic
ASHTON DUNLAP
JHON FAJARDO
co-editor-in-chief
sports editor
Throughout history, humanity has been faced with thousands of different problems, and have been tasked with figuring them out to avoid the consequences of those problems. Humans have a natural possession of a risk vs. reward mindset, and usually understand the severity of a given problem and its consequences. Currently, one of the most pressing and dangerous of those problems is climate change. Humanity has been aware of this problem for decades now, and has been working on ways to better manage climate change at an admittedly lethargic pace. Recently, though, the consensus on climate change has changed. According to a 2019 poll by The Washington Post, about 8 in 10 Americans say that human activity is fueling climate change. With this adjustment in attitude has come a considerable adjustment in efforts toward the goal
of slowing or reversing climate change. According to the independent advisory organization Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit’s Net Zero Tracker, 136 countries have pledged to have net zero emissions by the middle of the century. The U.S. government is also setting specific goals for the country. “President Biden will announce a new target for the United States to achieve a 50-52 percent reduction from 2005 levels in economy-wide net greenhouse gas pollution in 2030,” the White House website read. When looking at climate change, people often rely on pessimism as a way to show they care without having to take action. People should instead look for ways in their daily lives to reduce their carbon footprint and rely on the dependable nature of humans rather than simply having a pessimistic attitude about climate change.
Photos by Nora Levy
When considering the view of optimists when it comes to the topic of climate change, being realistic can seem very pessimistic. When someone believes that climate change is reversible, telling them that certain trends have steadily been on the rise since the 20th century will likely bring a negative response. Mentioning trends such as the increase of the average global temperature, the ice sheets diminishing, and the rising sea levels, according to NASA’s article Vital Signs of the Planet, can seem pessimistic, but it is just a statement of scientific data. The same article said that there is a global consensus on the cause of climate change: humans. Humans are the only reason for the increase in emissions. With everyone on board to reduce the impact of climate change, the globe will inevitably cool down. Except people will not reduce their own emissions. Humans prefer
the easy way. It is easier to drive than bike, easier to turn on the AC in the summer. In short, people are too selfish to take the hard route of reducing emissions when they know others who are not doing the same for them. Here is the best example: you are reading this article. However this story reached you, it used some type of fossil fuel, by fueling the computer it was typed on, the electric device you are using to read this article, and the computers that made this page in the BLADE. One simple solution to reduce emissions would be to use the same phone to read this story with everyone in the world. Do some self-inflection, are you reading this story with someone else right now? Optimism can help relieve the stress of the world, but be a realist and understand that humans are unable to diligently uphold self-discipline to reduce their own emissions for the sake of everyone else.
Environmental changes impact typical weather: fires and tornadoes NORA LEVY staff writer In December of 2021, wildfires raged across Colorado. According to an ABC News article published on Jan. 5, over 35,000 people were displaced from their homes. As of January 6, only two people have been reported missing. NBC News reported that climate change has provided perfect conditions for the rampant fires
throughout Colorado. Despite the winter season, Colorado is experiencing a severe drought and has low levels of precipitation. The unseasonably warm temperatures are another signal that climate change had an impact in people’s lives. Experts interviewed by NBC News on Jan. 5 indicate that communities must attack climate change, while also recognizing that many areas may be more fire-prone than expected.
SHERIDAN SCHAUER focus editor With the end of the year; the week of December 5011, gave one last conflicting series of events that swept through America and caused fear and complications. The United States was hit with a series of tornadoes causing damages to houses, buildings, and most importantly people’s
lives. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration website said on Dec. 20, 2021, that when relating to the amount of deaths that occurred, that in, “Eight states — Kentucky, Arkansas, Tennessee, Missouri, Illinois, Georgia, Ohio and Indiana — reported tornadoes that killed more than 80 people and brought devastating damage to communities.” With the damage to homes
and communities, 2021 took one final hit with the devastation of many lives. The Center for Disaster Philanthropy website said on Dec. 10, 2021, that in terms of the homes destroyed “At least 500 homes and 100 businesses were destroyed and another 500 homes across the state were also flattened.” On Dec. 10 and Dec. 11, 2021 it is estimated that 80 people passed away and hundreds of homes destroyed.
THE WOOSTER BLADE | JAN. 25, 2022 | PAGE 12
WHS athletes explain team traditions HANNAH LOGIUDICE staff writer The WHS athletic program includes 27 sports teams. Many of these teams have traditions that the team does every year. These traditions differ based on the teams, but overall, these traditions help to establish a sense of community within the team. At WHS, the girls lacrosse team has a tradition of wearing ribbons in their hair and writing a word on their arms during games. According to Ella Smucker (12) each player is responsible for supplying a ribbon for at least one game, so by the end of the year, each girl has a ribbon for each game. Many of the players choose to keep those ribbons on their lacrosse bags meaning that as a senior they have ribbons that span their entire WHS career. This tradition gives seniors a
thing to look at and remember the time spent on the team. When looking at this tradition and what it means to her, Smucker (12) says, “Our ribbons aren’t just a fun tradition, they bring us all together, they give us something to look back on from every game.” In addition to wearing ribbons, the team is given a word to help motivate the team before the game by the head coach Holly Pope. This word can be anything and is meant to represent a specific element which the players should be focusing on during the game. The boys swim team has the tradition of bleaching their hair and then eventually shaving their heads and everything else before big meets. According to Caleb Kostohryz (10), the boys swim team gets together before NEACs and bleaches their hair. Although it is not required, it is tradition that many of the boys
participate in. When looking at how bleaching their hair builds team camaraderie, Kostohryz (10) says, “I feel like it promotes good team bonding and brings us together.” Swimmers then wait until sectionals when they traditionally shave their heads, legs and sometimes arms. Kostohryz says this tradition was created in an attempt to improve times at important meets, as shaving all the hair off their bodies is supposed to reduce drag in the water and improve times. Whether shaving has an actual effect on times is pretty much unknown, but the tradition of doing so can have an effect on the team mentality. The tradition of these sports teams do not occur within the time of a single class or coach. The traditions are passed on by upperclassman to incoming freshman in an attempt to foster a community within each team.
New Year’s resolutions:
SPORTS
Individuals set fitness goals MOLLY BYRNE staff writer Setting New Year’s resolutions is a common practice for many people and some of the most popular goals to set are related to fitness. Of those people who make resolutions, 95% of them, according to Alexandra Parren’s of sundried.com, claim they are related to fitness. Mike Sullivan, History Dept. member and AP Psychology teacher, said he has set a fitness goal for 2022. “I want to lose at least 10 pounds a month and start working out twice a day, in the mornings at 5 a.m. and at night, go running,” Sullivan said. Even students at WHS have created fitness goals for themselves for the new year. Andrew Glasgow (12), a
member of the WHS swim, soccer and lacrosse teams, is one of these students. “I want to cut my calorie intake down from 4,200 to 3,200 per day, as well as cutting out sugary drinks. I would also like to work out for two to three hours per day,” Glasgow said. While many people set fitness goals for the new year, athletes can set goals to help them with their particular sport, like Alivia Thorley (12), a member of the WHS gymnastics team. “I would like to strengthen my cardio through running to help with my floor routine,” Thorley said. While staying active all year in order to stay healthy is very important, setting specific goals in areas that you personally want to work can be more motivating and can help to keep individuals accountable.
WHS staff reminisce on Ashland University coach Jud Logan’s life NORA LEVY staff writer Earlier this month, historic track coach Jud Logan died. As a former Olympian and an Ashland University Track and Field coach, Jud Logan had a great impact on his athletes and everyone who crossed his path. Doug Bennett, WHS boys track coach and Music Dept. member, said he remembers Logan’s enthusiasm while coaching at track meets. Bennett’s memories center around Jud’s joy when coaching, Bennett explained, “...if he [Jud] could have been in the thrower circle with his athletes, he would have been.” Bennett also noted the joy that coach Logan had for his
athletes and his passion for the sport. Chris Mascotti-Rasor, WHS girls track coach and Math Dept. member, had a great experience with coach Logan at a track camp in which he coached her in long jump. Mascotti-Rasor emphasized that Logan cared about the athletes beyond their sport. She also remembered his personality, saying, “What made him special is how friendly and personable he was. He also had a great sense of humor,” Mascotti said. Mascotti specifically recalls when Logan decided to teach her and another camper how to hitch kick at the Malone Track and Field camp. “After about an hour of jumping off of their old side
stage in the gym onto the pole vault mats, we both had it down,” Mascotti said. Mascotti credits Logan for helping her improve her long jumps. She also referenced her seventh place finish at the state track meet that year and explained that “I am certain he played a key role in that success.” Ashland Athletic Director Al King stressed Logan’s positivity and energy. “He would light up a room when he walked into it. . . He [Logan] didn’t have “down,” days very often. The bigger the challenge, the more inspired Jud became,” King said. Not only did Logan inspire others, but he was also an active force in the Ashland community. King shared that
his team would help at the Hospice Corn Roast every year. The Logan County Foundation also donated to help fund a playground for special needs children. Logan’s impact can be felt by those who interacted with him. Ryan Smith, a General’s Academy Social Studies teacher, was a sprinter when he was recruited to compete at Ashland University. After an injury, Smith asked to compete in throwing and said that Logan welcomed him with open arms. Smith remembers Logan’s ability to make everyone feel like they were the most important person in the room. “His disarming kindness brought everyone together more than anything,” Smith
said. After Smith was hired as the throwing coach at Edgewood, Logan allowed Smith to come back to Ashland to watch practice and brush up on his throwing techniques so Smith could do his best as a coach. “He would never tell anybody no if they needed help,” Smith said. Smith expressed why Jud Logan was so impactful in his athlete’s lives. “With Jud it was just the way he treated everyone…I always felt valued and I know that’s how it was with everybody,” said Smith. Jud Logan was the type of coach every athlete wanted to learn from and the type of person everyone wanted to know.
THE WOOSTER BLADE | SPORTS | JAN. 25, 2022 | PAGE 13
Photos snapshot WHS sports in action
SHERIDAN SCHAUER
SHERIDAN SCHAUER
ASHTON DUNLAP
Micah McKee (12) puts up a layup against Lexington on Jan. 4.
Grace Grey (11) passes ball to teammate during a home win against West Holmes.
Tommy Hansen (10) competes in a quad meet against Perry, Firestone, and Glenoak.
ASHTON DUNLAP
BRITTANY WACHTEL
Ashton Mohn (12) lines up for a free throw against Massilon on Jan. 12.
WHS students, cheerleaders, and basketball players sing the Alma Mater after a boys basketball game against Lexington on Jan. 4.
VIEWS
THE WOOSTER BLADE | JAN. 25, 2022 | PAGE 14
Reflecting on societal and familial pressures to have children
DELANEY WILSON feature editor Many of my classmates and I can recall being told that as we get older, our desire to have children will change, or once we get married, we will want to have children. The pressure to have children may be true for some, but it is time to accept that the desire to have children will never
change for some, despite family members telling younger women otherwise. A lot of this pressure comes from family, who may be concerned about the family line continuing, or they just do not know better. Regardless of their intent, relatives and older people in our lives should be more conscious of the fact that some people simply do not want to have children, and that the pressure from family members can often make women and girls feel disrespected. Child free by choice is exactly what it sounds like: not having children because people do not want to, not for health or financial reasons for example, and it seems to be more and more popular around Millenials and Gen Z. These are the
generations who grew up with a high divorce rate among their parents’ generations and these generations will be the ones contending with issues such as climate change, continued political polarization and the continuation of the pandemic. While all of these reasons are legitimate, simply not wanting children should be reason enough. No one should have to take on the massive responsibility of raising a child if it is not something that they truly want and can provide for, as that could cause problems for both parent and child, regardless of societal and familial pressure. Generational problems are also a contributing factor for many people deciding they do not want to have children.
CHILD FREE BY CHOICE IS EXACTLY WHAT IS SOUNDS LIKE: NOT HAVING CHILDREN BECAUSE PEOPLE DO NOT WANT TO, NOT FOR HEALTH OR FINANCIAL REASONS... Many physical and mental health issues have a genetic
component, and many feel that potentially passing on these challenges would not be fair to do. Regardless of the reason, older generations will need to accept the fact that many people do not want children for any number of reasons. Talking with family members who struggle to understand the decision to be childfree could be beneficial in helping them understand why one would make this decision and why the decision to remain childfree is becoming more popular among younger generations. While people may never understand why one would want to be childfree, it could be a springboard for conversations and limit comments about being childfree.
How social media contributes to the sexualization of children
MOLLY SNYDER feature editor In the past couple of years, millions of people have gotten access to social media platforms such as Instagram, Snapchat, and Tiktok, many of whom are under the age of 18. There are a litany of issues that can stem from having unrestricted access to the internet at a young age, but one of the most prominent and, frankly, overlooked problems would be the sexualization of
minors hidden behind a thin veil of sex positivity. Do not mistake this article for being against sex positivity, but everything has a specific context in which it is acceptable. Pushing the idea that everyone should want to be sexy or sexually appealing onto minors who are as young as 12 or 13 years old is incredibly damaging. This push blurs the line between being self confident and being a victim of grooming and pedophilia. Especially on platforms like Tiktok, many trends are provocative in nature and should not be done by minors. If a minor does participate in a promiscuous trend, it is not their fault if they are sexualized. However, if they purposefully sexualize themselves, they are opening themselves to predators online, which there is
no shortage of. In any context of oversexualization, minors are not at fault. Adults who are pushing these children to wear revealing clothing, to do sexual dances, or to describe themsleves as sexy are to blame. Many minors do not realize how damaging their actions are online, and it can, and will, bleed into their actual lives. If they are told that they should embrace their sexuality at 12 or 13, they may believe that they are mature enough to be in relationships with significantly older people, only further normalizing pedophilia in soceity. One thing that has made this phenomenon worse has been the glamorization of the sex work industry that has been advertised to minors on social
MANY MINORS DO NOT REALIZE HOW DAMAGING THEIR ACTIONS ARE ONLINE, AND IT CAN, AND WILL, BLEED INTO THEIR ACTUAL LIVES. media. Showing the sex work industry as easy money or empowering to minors hides the exploitative and abusive
side to the industry, something many young people do not see until they get into the industry. Many people who are 16 or 17 plan to go into sex work as soon as they turn 18, sometimes when they are still in high school. This glamorization effectively creates an incredibly dangerous space for these people as predators still perceive them as underage or barely of age, meaning exploitation and abuse can run rampant. Social media has failed minors, and children who simply want to have fun online, adults and even fellow minors have forced sexuality on young people. This issue needs to be addressed and combatted now. We need to let kids be kids and educate people about the dangers of growing up too fast.
THE WOOSTER BLADE | VIEWS | JAN. 25, 2021 | PAGE 15
THE
THE VOICE OF WOOSTER HIGH SCHOOL
WOOSTER
BLADE
Editors-in-Chief Ashton Dunlap, Luke Pomfret Webmaster Ashton Dunlap Graphics Manager Grace Brownson Business Manager Delaney Wilson Head Photographer Rumen Zdravchev A & E Editor Lexxe Parsons, Laura Rapport Cover Editor Lucia Perfetti Feature Editor Molly Snyder, Grace Brownson Focus Editor Sheridan Schauer, On Campus Editor Hannah LoGiudice, Delaney Wilson Sports Editor Theo Ollier, Jhon Fajardo Trends Editor Olivia Hiner Views Editor Brittany Wachtel Staff Writers Mattie Dunlap, Molly Byrne, Chloe Frichtl, Ben Stavnezer, Nora Levy, Sophia Mera, Stella Powers, Trent Kuzma, Grace Kostohryz, Anika Ellis, Maya Galindo-Benson, Bailey Messner Artists Grace Brownson Cover Artist Charlotte Kille Photographers Grace Brownson, Hannah LoGiudice, Rumen Zdravchev, Ashton Dunlap, Ben Stavnezer, Brittany Wachtel, Nora Levy, Delaney Wilson, Sheridan Schauer, Molly Snyder, Maya Galindo-Benson, Molly Byrne Adviser Kristi Hiner The Wooster Blade is a biweekly student publication printed every other Friday by the Newspaper Production classes at Wooster High School. The Wooster Blade is designated as an open forum and follows publishing guidelines as established by district-wide publications policy protecting students’ freedom of expression. All copy, art and photography are property of The Wooster Blade and cannot be reproduced without permission. Letters to the editor are limited to 300 words and The Wooster Blade reserves the rights to print and edit as per length and content. The Wooster Blade is a member of Quill and Scroll, National Scholastic Press Association and Columbia Scholastic Press Association. Letters and inquiries should be addressed to The Wooster Blade, 515 Oldman Road Wooster, Ohio 44691. The Wooster Blade can be contacted at 330-3454000 ext. 3210. The newspaper can also be found at thewoosterblade.com
OUR VIEW
Phone usage in WHS bathrooms spark discussion The bathrooms at WHS have become a hot topic amongst the student body. In the fall of 2021, a TikTok trend called “Devious Licks” encouraged students to steal and vandalize their school’s bathrooms and other facilities. At WHS, the instances of vandalism were becoming so common that the doors to all bathrooms were to remain open during the school day as an attempt to catch those vandalizing the bathrooms. Since then, a new issue has arisen in the bathrooms. A social media account was created that shows pictures of students using the restroom by only showing their legs. Now students worry that going to the bathroom during the school day could result in a photo of them being posted on social media. A poll was conducted on Jan 11, 2022, that focused on students’ issues with the bathrooms. For the poll, 155 total students were surveyed. The survey found that 26.8 percent of students polled do not use the restroom at school. The most common answer as to why students do not use the restroom at school is because students say they are scared of ending up on social media. Of the students polled, 67.3 percent said they do not like having the bathroom doors open. One freshman says, “I’m uncomfortable [in the bathroom] with open doors and gendered
restrooms.” A senior says that having the bathroom doors open, “feels weird because you can see in.” Eric Vizzo, WHS school principal, says, “The opening of the door, from what I have heard, has slowed a lot of issues in the bathroom, especially the vandalism because it becomes more obvious when the door is open. The door is not open just for people to walk by and look in…I think each bathroom has a good layout that you’re not really able to see people actually using the restroom.” Students that like having the bathroom doors open helps alleviate some of the issues. A sophomore says, “It [having the doors open] limits running into being enclosed with someone violating the rules or other people.” Out of those polled, only 11.8 percent of students claim that they reported any situations in the bathroom that violated school policies, while 43.8 percent mentioned having seen said violations. Under Section 2917.21 of the Ohio Revised Code (1), the policy states, “No person shall… make the telecommunication with purpose to harass, intimidate, or abuse any person at the premised to which the telecommunication is made, whether or not actual communication take places between the caller and recipient.”
Wooster City School District Policy also states, “cyberbullying and other unlawful or inappropriate activities by students online, and unauthorized disclosure, use, and dissemination of personally identifiable information regarding minors’ ‘is subject to punishment by the superintendent and principal.” School Resource Officer April Teichmer suggests that if students find someone who has posted a picture of them without permission, contact the source and ask them to take it down. If the source does not take down the photo, the student should alert WHS administration and potentially file a civil suit against the account owner. Vizzo encourages students if they see something, say something. “These reports are kept anonymous when we speak to the student causing the issue. A student can make a report to any WCSD staff or substitute teacher. By reporting something it allows us to investigate and get the whole story. Working together to keep WHS clean & safe is a responsibility of each of us,” Vizzo said. The Wooster Blade Editorial Board encourages students that if they see something taking place in the restroom that violates school policy, say something and report it. The first step to solve the problems in the bathrooms begins with student action and enforcing what should not happen in the bathroom.
WHS Students responses from a poll conducted on Jan. 11 “It is weird to look into the bathrooms “[Having the bathroom doors open] is an when walking down the halls.” invasion of privacy.” -Junior -Freshman “It limits running into being enclosed “I feel no privacy or safety in the with someone violating the rule or other bathrooms.” people.” -Senior -Sophomore
