THE WOOSTER BLADE
WOOSTER HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT NEWSPAPER • 515 OLDMAN ROAD, WOOSTER, OH • SEPT. 27, 2019 • VOLUME XX, ISSUE 2
Frame of Mind: Exploring new perspectives at Wooster High School
Artwork and photo by Madison Helms
On Campus 2-3 • Trends 4-5 • Focus 6-7 • Cover 8-9 • A & E 10-11• Sports 12-13 • Feature 14 • Views 15-16
ON CAMPUS
THE WOOSTER BLADE | SEPT. 27, 2019 | PAGE 2
Four WHS seniors recognized as national merit semifinalists ANNA NACCI
Velasquez were selected. To Olivia VanSickle, being a National Merit Semifinalist means, “I am lucky to be in a school district that has a multitude of opportunities for academic success, and lucky I can afford to spend the time studying for a test like this,” she said. The National Merit Scholarship Corporation’s mission is, “to stimulate increased support from individuals and organizations that wish to sponsor scholarships for outstanding scholastic talent,” according to
nationalmerit.org. In order to receive the $2,500 scholarship, students must qualify as National Merit finalists. In order to do that, one must complete an application, send an ACT or SAT score and write an essay, according to Sophia VanSickle. In continuing the National Merit competition, Olivia VanSickle hopes to gain, “college clout” along with the financial benefits. Being a National Merit Finalist has proven to be a good source of prestige, as Elizabeth Perkins, who graduated from
District applies new socialemotional learning standards
district found motivational speaker Christopher Milo, and scheduled him to come speak to the WHS students on Sept. 18 and to parents on Sept. 19, however, this event was cancelled on Sept. 17. The WCSD district issued a press release stating: “Christopher Milo’s student assembly originally scheduled for Wednesday, and evening parent meeting scheduled for Thursday has been canceled. As we look to implement Social Emotional Learning opportunities and in keeping with our Principles of Practice, we will continue to deeply
cover editor In the 2020 National Merit Semifinalist competition, 1.5 million high school seniors entered and only 16,000, or less than one percent, of all high school seniors, were selected to be named as National Merit Semifinalists based on their PSAT scores, according to nationalmerit.org. Of the 16,000 semifinalists, WHS seniors Owen HoltFranck, Olivia VanSickle, Sophia VanSickle and Rheanna
MADDY MCCULLY & REECE MITCHELL co-editors-in-chief For the 2019-20 school year, the Ohio Department of Education has adopted a new policy, called the socialemotional learning standards. According to eduction.ohio. gov the new standards, “aim to develop the “whole child”
by helping students build selfawareness, social awareness, self-management, and relationship and responsible decision-making skills.” Through the implementation of these new standards, schools in Ohio are required to bring in individuals to talk to students about positive behavior. In order to fulfil this requirement, the WCSD
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SKYY KHOUNBORIN
Back row, left to right: Owen Holt-Frank and Rheanna Velasquez. Front row, left to right: Olivia VanSickle and Sophia Vansickle. WHS in 2019 as a National Merit Finalist, has seen, “It was a nice addition to my resume,” she said.
National Merit Finalists will be chosen in January or February, according to nationalmerit.org.
explore other programming as we desire to bring the best possible Social Emotional Learning opportunities for all our students.” When looking at future opportunities to pursue for WHS, the state does not provide specific guidelines on how to execute the new policies in order to meet the criteria. Principal Tyler Keener, says the new law, “is almost customary now for legislative to make policy and then kick it to ODE. Then, they put guidelines on it and give it to the schools and try to help implement it.”
Keener states it is, “difficult to put parameters around it because they try to give some local control for the local board of education.” When making guidelines for schools across the state, Keener said it is hard to do a “ one size fits all” parameter because every school is different. With the cancellation of Christopher Milo, Keener says they, “are going back to the list that they originally compiled” for future options to meet the state’s guidelines. Keener then adds they are still looking to pursue options to fulfill the state’s requirements.
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THE WOOSTER BLADE | ON CAMPUS | SEPT. 27, 2019 | PAGE 3
Marching into Homecoming week: Band prepares for school festivities SKYY KHOUNBORIN sports editor Although Homecoming week may be solely associated with football and the dance itself, the marching band plays an imperative role throughout the week, as well. Throughout Homecoming week, the marching band is prevalent in activities, including the Homecoming parade, the bonfire and the halftime performance at the football game. The halftime performance will Artwork by Olivia VanSickle
be different than other football game performances due to the inclusion of Script Woo, which has been a tradition for 31 years. Craig French, marching band director, explains that music enhances Homecoming week. “Marching band is associated with football. In terms of the various activities, marching band is the music that creates the culture of the week. Only the marching band can bring this musical element. It’s what makes Homecoming, Homecoming,” French said. Aiden Call (12), a four-year
member of marching band, says that marching band increases spirit. “I think that it shows a great tradition that both the band and the school can be proud of. We work as hard as we can to put it together for everyone and I think it helps to show general pride,” Call said. Homecoming week would not be the same without the inclusion of marching band. Minnie Pozefsky (9) said that “it’s nice that band gets to be part of an important school event.” Marching band will be having
Return of the General: Student groups coordinate Homecoming spirit week themes
ALEC PAULEY on campus editor
Homecoming for WHS is approaching, Sept. 28 to be exact, as stated on woostercityschools.org, and with it comes the yearly traditions, parades and spirit week. To get the students enthused for Homecoming, members of Student Council, Frontline, Speech and Debate and the cheerleading squad come together to organize
the different themes for Homecoming and spirit week. Reece Mitchell and Maddie McCoy, members of the student section spirit team known as Frontline, help coordinate the themes for spirit week. When thinking of themes for Homecoming and spirit week alike, the goal is, “to get students involved with high school spirit,” Mitchell said. McCoy also gives the importance of spirit week and its themes by saying, “[The theme] is a great excuse to come together and have fun.”
McCoy says the theme is, “maybe not as much about the clothing, but more about the atmosphere.” Bryn Savidge (12), student president of the Speech and Debate team, is helping set up decorations for Homecoming and said, “We are going to have a photo booth and various Star Wars based decorations to fit the evening’s theme.” Homecoming will be held in the Commons Sept. 28, from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m.. Students grades 9 through 12 are eligible to attend for $10 per person.
RUMEN ZDRAVCHEV
Director Craig French conducts the WHS marching band, preparing for the Homecoming football game and their iconic Script Woo. a concert in which all of the songs from the football season will be performed. This concert
will take place Oct. 29 at 7:30 p.m. in the Performing Arts Center at WHS.
Homecoming Court 2019
SKYY KHOUNBORIN
The court consists of six seniors, Tyler Strand-Fox, Henry Gamble, Thomas Matthew, Grace Buchholz, Anna Munro, and Maddie McCoy, and six juniors (not pictured), Jimmy Lyons, Joey Lyons, Zeke Ntia, Mady Vaughn, Dylan Greenberg and Madeline Allen. Juniors and seniors nominated classmates for Homecoming Court during academic assists on Sept. 20 and the vote for king and queen took place Sept. 24.
TRENDS
THE WOOSTER BLADE | SEPT. 27, 2019 | PAGE 4
Alumni share Homecoming fashion
Angela Craft, Specialized Paraprofessional
Bryan Ehrlinspiel, Social Studies Dept.
Tricia Nussbaum, Art Dept.
Julianna Hamad, Guidance Counselor
Holly Pope, Intervention Specialist Graphics by Madison Helms
The Wooster Blade wanted to demonstrate the evolution of Homecoming fashion throughout the past few decades, speciďŹ cally of those who work in our building. Photos for this page were provided by WHS sta members
Rebekah Bell, English Dept.
THE WOOSTER BLADE | TRENDS | SEPT. 27, 2019 | PAGE 5
Homecoming today: Students face proposal pressure from both sides ASHTON DUNLAP staff writer As the Homecoming dance approaches, the practice of Homecoming proposals has concluded as well. Most of the time, for students who are asking someone to the dance, the proposal includes an exchange of texts beforehand, which helps to confirm intentions between a pair of friends or of a couple. Soon after comes a poster and maybe flowers or candy. Photos are then taken of the proposal for social media, and the procession is over. This new, embellished version of a proposal has changed Homecoming proposals for both sides, the student asking and the student being asked. The student who is asking is put under pressure to create a charming poster that touches on something the prospective date
may enjoy. Jhon Fajardo (10) was put under this pressure to make a poster. “I wasn’t going to get her a poster, but then her friend said, ‘If he’s not getting you a poster, then what does your friendship mean?,’” Fajardo said. The person being asked is also put under an equal amount of pressure. The more contemporary Homecoming proposal is often in a public place and much attention is drawn to two people with a large poster, especially near Homecoming week. Zoe Ntia (10) felt that pressure when she was asked during a boys soccer game. “People were looking and asking questions,” Ntia said. The modern Homecoming proposal has changed greatly to become quite a spectacle, with pressure being placed on both sides.
25.2%
74.8%
Going to Homecoming Not going to Homecoming The poll was distributed randomly to 103 students from Sept. 15 through Sept. 17 by Anna Nacci, Madison Helms, Jensan Bauman and Tyler Keating during the school day.
Graphics by Madison Helms and Corinne Wiles
FOCUS
THE WOOSTER BLADE | SEPT. 27, 2019 | PAGE 6
AP Studio Art class discontinued due to low amounts of enrollment MAEVE FLORENCE-SMITH feature editor AP Studio Art is not being offered during the 20192020 school year, raising the question: is there a minimum number of students for an AP course? WHS principal Tyler Keener states, “There is no magic number.” The process of scheduling is complex. Keener explains, “There are a multitude of factors that go into that... Obviously what is the student interest? We offer an exorbitant amount of electives for most schools our size....What programming do we want to do?....There are different variables out there that cause that, but for the most part, student interest drives scheduling...along with the availability of teachers.” AP Art has a small but passionate number of students. Student Libra Pritchard (12), who can independent study the course this year after taking it for the first time last year, states, “We didn’t have enough numbers, but the thing is, ever since the course was created, we haven’t had enough numbers. I knew somebody who took this course about 12 years ago, and his class size was the same as mine last year.” The number of art teachers has not increased since eighth grade was added to the high school, putting more pressure on art teachers to offer introductory courses. Yet, for the last 11 years, AP Art has been offered as a course, with enrolled students varying from a high of 15 to a low of three. Five students signed up for AP
Art for the 2019-2020 school year. Art Dept. head Tricia Nussbaum states, “I had enough students sign up for my courses that I could’ve taught nine classes a day, and I only teach five.” A typical teaching load is five classes with a duty, a planning period and a lunch, according to Nussbaum. For the past 11 years, Nussbaum said she has taught six classes without additional compensation. This year, Nussbaum was unable to teach an overload and assumed a typical load of five classes. As for AP Studio Art, Nussbaum states, “Because the five students would have been all year in one of my class periods and [because of] the copious amount of students that were signed up for everything else, they [the administration] couldn’t justify having five take an entire year when I could’ve had 50 kids fill that space; it’s a numbers game.” Keener and Richard Leone, Director of Secondary Education, emphasize that students have an option to take an independent study and coordinate with a teacher. Yet, Pritchard and Nussbaum both noted the difficulty of taking AP Studio Art as an independent study, given the required studio or art lab component. Leone and Keener supplied a table that demonstrates that WHS offers 23 AP courses in contrast to the state average of 13.3. The WHS Building Profile for 2018-2019 lists 21 AP courses, so offerings have increased by two for the 2019-2020 school year. Several of these courses, including AP Research and AP
Studio Art, are not offered this year. Pritchard states, “I personally think it was a terrible idea to cut the course. In a world where art can be seen literally everywhere, from the pencil design you’re holding, the building you’re in, the phone you’re using, the advertisements you see every day, the posters on the walls around you, to museums and more, art is everywhere. So, to cut advanced and caring art courses, is setting up the future world for failure.” Art has an emotional component linked to caring. A 2014 University of Arkansas study showed that students with arts education were more empathetic and tolerant. A 2015 study, published in the Journal of Cultural Economics, linked arts education to a lower high school dropout rate. Leone emphasized the beloved role of art at WHS, stating, “A couple [school] board members are very pro-art. One of our board members works at the Wayne Center for the Arts...We can’t be all things to all people... We offer as many courses as any other high school in the state of Ohio.” Leone adds that WHS has, “one of the premier arts programs in the state of Ohio...From our perspective, I challenge anybody to find more programming around the fine arts in the country for a public high school than WHS has. It’s phenomenal.” Wooster students will now need to look to other avenues for advanced art. The offering of other AP courses in a given school year will also be a decision based on many factors and not on a minimum number of students.
WHS students comment on College Board changes 3%
I like the change
24% YES 76% NO
Were you made aware of the changes in plan this year for all AP classes before the school year began?
20%
No Opinion
20%
Neutral
57%
I dislike the change
How do you feel about the early sign-up for AP tests?
Polls conducted by Zach Brewster during the week of Sept. 16. Graphic by Corinne Wiles
Test registration moves up STUART COURSON staff writer
For the new school year, the College Board has completely changed the way students register for AP tests, and many students were unaware of this change before the school year began. Before this year, students were required to sign up for AP tests during the second semester of the school year. However, this year, the College Board requires students to register for AP tests by Nov. 15. Students are also required to now sign up for AP Central, a website that makes sure students are keeping up with the course material. Tyler Egli, AP Coordinator for WHS, has his own predictions as to why registration has changed. He said he is not thrilled with this change because students are now forced to make decisions early when they do not know the material. However, Egli is not the only individual at WHS who possesses concerns about the College Board’s early test registration policy.
In a poll done during the week of Sept. 16 by staff writer Zack Brewster, students were asked if they knew of these changes before the school year began, and whether or not they like or dislike this change. The majority of the students polled said they did not know about these changes before the school year began, and about 55 percent of the students polled said they disliked the change. Twenty percent of students polled said they were neutral, 3 percent said they like this change and 20 percent had no opinion. There was also an open response question following the previous question, allowing students to elaborate their perspectives. Many students expressed the same concern Egli possesses, with one student polled stating, “We barely know what the curriculum is and the difficulty level [of the course].” According to Egli, to reassure students who also express this concern, he recommends students who are planning on taking any AP tests to talk to their teachers to find out if they should take the test or not.
THE WOOSTER BLADE | FOCUS | SEPT. 27, 2019 | PAGE 7
Fair food for thought:
Looking at the 2019 Wayne County Fair by the numbers
1,200 1,000+ 7 tons 1 400
Estimated number of elephant ears fried by the American Pride Services food stand, according to a food stand worker
170 12 31 12
Post-it notes written from former and current students to Wayne County educators at the #forwaynecounty fair booth, as counted by The Wooster Blade staff members Rheanna Velasquez and Sylvie Shaya
flour used by Lerch’s donuts, according to a stand worker
4H Blender Bike advocating healthier living through nutritious smoothies, according to wayne.osu.edu
signatures collected by Wayne County Fair for All petitioning to ban the sale of Confederate flags, according to Wayne County Fair for All Booth Committee member Jim Collier
years of celebrating the Wayne Co. fair
number of fiddlers in the Wayne County Fair Fiddling Competition, according to contest coordinator Justin Wallace
Traditional rides provided entertainment.
art submissions from Wooster High School students, according to WHS Art Dept. head Tricia Nussbaum fair-themed voting demonstrations, according to votewayne.org
Emma LoGiudice (12) and Audrey Cochran (11) pose with Hannah LoGiudice’s pig at the fair.
Trent Kuzma works at Old Fashioned Lemonade. Numerous pieces of colorful artwork by students in the Wooster City School District were on display at the fair.
This view of the Wayne County Fair was taken from the top of the ferris wheel.
Photos by: Maddy McCully, Grace Brownson, Hannah LoGiudice and Rumen Zdrarchev. Graphic by Rheanna Velasquez.
COVER
THE WOOSTER BLADE | SEPT. 27, 2019 | PAGE 8
Student teachers assist faculty members JACK VENEY staff writer
Student teaching is a time where future educators observe their mentor’s ways of teaching and engaging a class, then getting to try these ways of teaching for themselves. WHS is currently home to three student teachers. Sean Domonkos is attending The University of Akron, and working with Social Studies Dept. member, Paige Arnold, but will be teaching with Scott Miller in the future. Kendall Lloyd, who is
attending the COW, is working with Math Dept. member, Chris Mascotti-Rasor. Edward Sherwood, who is also attending The University of Akron, is teaching with English Dept. member Rebekah Bell. The University of Akron states that student teaching is a 16-week program, where the student shows up to the school to which they are assigned Monday through Friday. The student also does work outside of class through grading, planning lessons and reflecting. Bell, who has worked with
student teachers five times, enjoys it. “I love having the mentorship opportunity and the opportunity to grow students and a new teacher,” Bell said. Student teaching is when a future educator can get experience teaching and learn how to further their education. “It’s nice to see other teaching styles and I’ll get feedback. We kind of give each other feedback on things, so I feel like that’s beneficial for both of us… She’s [Mascotti-Rasor] very experienced and helpful,” Lloyd said.
FRAME OF MIND: The Wooster Blade cover section would like to feature perspectives that are not usually covered, ranging from athletes on JV, to the Homecoming game through the eyes of a band member. In order to achieve covering a variety of viewpoints, staff members developed “frame of mind” as this issue’s theme.
WCSCC celebrates its 50th anniversary LUKE POMFRET & RHEANNA VELASQUEZ staff writer & co-editor-in-chief At 7:25 a.m. each weekday morning, Macey Dillon (11) heads down Smithville Western Rd. to the Wayne County Schools Career Center. “I go to my trade in the morning, which is practical nursing; then I have my academic classes in the afternoon...Practical nursing is a wonderful trade to get into. The teacher is amazing and so are my classmates,” Dillon said. Dillon said she decided to go to the Career Center to graduate as a nurse and get a head start in her nursing career. The Career Center offers a diverse array of programs for junior and senior high school students, including Dental Assisting, Animal Care and Management and Exercise Science and Sports Medicine. This September, Wayne County Schools Career Center is celebrating 50 years of providing students with opportunities to develop career-
oriented skills. Warren Caskey, criminal justice instructor at the WCSCC, has been teaching at the Career Center for six years. Describing the differences between his class and a more traditional educational experience, Caskey said, “At the Career Center, we focus on getting students ready for the workforce. I feel that it is my job to show them the different jobs, prepare them for the field...We want students out of their seats and learning with their hands. I feel there is nothing better than doing hands-on things instead of just reading about it.” Caskey noted that the students’ desire to learn makes his job enjoyable. “They come into my class wanting to be here because this is something which interests them. They want to learn, they are excited about my trade,” Caskey said. Outside of preparing students for their desired trade they want to go into, Caskey notes that education at the Career Center prepares students for,
“the workforce, military and college. Students leave us with industry certifications, work experience, military preparation, college credits. We get to give students a wellrounded experience that gives them an advantage in the world they are about to enter.” The Career Center is continuously evolving to meet the needs of its students, according to Communications and District Events Specialist Heather Lessiter. Numerous facilities have undergone renovation since the end of last school year, including the Career Center’s restaurant and autotech lab, Lessiter said. Lessiter expressed great excitement to welcome alumni and former staff to the Career Center to visit the new facilities. In celebrating their 50 anniversary, WCSCC is hosting Community Appreciation Day on Sept. 28 from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. Activities include a car show, soldering demo and frozen yogurt food truck to benefit Special Olympics, according to Lessiter.
GRACE BROWNSON
Lila Ketter (8) and Jack Pomfret (8) hold up signs as they march around WHS during the Global Climate Strike on Sept. 20.
Students facilitate Climate Strike and walkout SOPHIE GAMBLE cover editor
In order to raise awareness about environmental concerns, on Sept. 20, WHS students participated in the international Global Climate Strike by marching around the school grounds. The march was organized by student Eleanor StormerBurch (8), who highlighted the importance of participating in, and supporting, the global movement while organizing it. Stormer-Burch announced the event via social media and talked to school officials the same morning.
Stormer-Burch said it is really important to her to spread awareness, especially in small towns. The group of around 50 students marched around the school before chanting and holding up signs to encourage awareness and also to demand action in regard to the climate crisis that the world faces. “I think it’s important because climate change affects us all, and right now, people are dying because of it,” Stormer-Burch said. Stormer-Burch added that she thought the event turned out well and was able to spread awareness in the way she hoped it would.
THE WOOSTER BLADE | COVER | SEPT. 27, 2019 | PAGE 9
Wooster Memorial Park hosts fall events SIERRA DEWALD staff writer As fall begins, many places in Wooster, including Wooster Memorial Park, are hosting events to celebrate the season. The park encompasses a wide
variety of trails and creeks that are available to hike year round, and fall is one of the most popular times, partially due to the events. Events on the calendar for this fall, according to the Friends of Wooster Memorial Park website, include a salamander
hike, a fall foliage hike, a night hike/campfire, forest bathing (a slow, silent nature walk) and a hiking challenge in which participants who hike at least 10 miles of trails between Sept. 1 and Nov. 30 earn a commemorative hiking pin. Those completing the challenge for the first time also receive a walking stick. Shelley Schrier, President of the Friends of Wooster Memorial Park Board which coordinates the events, says
he loves hosting the events because they allow people to learn about the park and various aspects of nature, as well as providing an opportunity for families to hike together. Schrier also says the board intends to make some of these events, such as forest bathing, a monthly occurrence. Schrier added that if he were to choose a personal favorite event, it would be the hiking challenge, because it
WCSD works to create vision for success of graduates SYLVIE SHAYA staff writer The Wooster City School District works to prepare its students for life after graduation, and recently, the administration decided to create a Portrait of a Graduate, an idea of what their ideal graduate would look like, in terms of skills, preparation for life and ability to achieve personal success. The group tasked with creating the project, The Portrait Design Team, is a collaboration of about 40 people from throughout the school district and Wooster community, including students, teachers and representatives from all over the city, according to Richard Leone, Director of Secondary Education. Leone explains that the creation of a portrait of a graduate is a natural fit for Wooster’s project to rebrand itself and to explain what kind of graduate the district wants to help form. The idea to create the portrait was developed by the school board and district administration. Zayanna Ntia (10), sophomore
Student Council Representative and a member of The Portrait Design Team, said students were included in the process, “to get fresh ideas,” and that they were asked what their “hopes, dreams, and aspirations” are as students and as members of the community. She added that everyone on the team has a very good mindset about the portrait and she hopes the portrait will be successful in outlining the district’s goals for students. To create the portrait, the school is using the program Battelle For Kids, a national program dedicated to, “realizing the power and promise of 21st Century learning for every student,” according to their website, www.battelleforkids. org. Leone explained that the district decided to use Battelle For Kids after speaking to others who had used the program and those deciding on a program had felt it is, “the best fit for what we need here in Wooster.” Previously, the WHS Building Leadership Team worked to define the, “characteristics we want instilled in WHS students,”
encourages people to come out and commit to spending time in the park. Matt Carter, who frequently hikes at the park, affirms that “it’s an amazing place to spend time together,” particularly in the fall as “the woods change and the leaves turn color.” Dates and times of the events are listed on the Friends of Wooster Memorial Park website, and all are free and open to the public. Graphic by Emma Yoder and Corinne Wiles
said Eric Heller, Science Dept. member at WHS. Heller said the BLT defined their values to be respect, relationships, and responsibility, with the goal of preparing
every student in the school for one of three “e’s,” enrollment, employment or enlistment. The portrait of a graduate will cover the entire school system, which differs from the BLT’s
profile, which focused solely on WHS. The Portrait Design Team met for the first time Sept. 19 and plan to meet monthly until December.
A&E
THE WOOSTER BLADE | SEPT. 27, 2019 | PAGE 10
Turning a new leaf: WHS English Dept. members recommend fall reads Chelsea Porter’s Recommendations: The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah
Diane Mealey’s Recommendations:
“[The Nightingale is] a story not often told, it’s the woman’s side of WWII.”
Turn of the Key by Ruth Ware
Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng “[Little Fires Everywhere] is a realistic mystery that takes place in Ohio, so it sucks you in because you’re just like ‘I know these places’ and it’s something that could happen.”
Treat yo’ shelf: Tracing the literary genealogy of students in WCSD
Staff members interviewed students throughout the WCSD, investigating the book titles students read at different points of time in their K-12 experience. The comparison captures how students progress as readers and develop their literary lists over time.
Jill Coppola’s Recommendation:
The Chain by Adrian McKinty
Educated by Tara Westover “It was mind-boggling that this could happen to a real person.”
The Wife Between Us by Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen “I like these books because they are all suspenseful and full of twists.”
Three Billy Goats Gruff by Jørgen Moe and Peter Christen Asbjørnsen
The Neptune Project by Polly Holyoak -Trevor Grimes (6)
Three Little Pigs by James Marshall -Cole Wright (K)
The Guardians of Ga’hoole series by Kathryn Lasky -Katie Snider (6)
Bunny Cakes by Rosemary Wells
Save Me a Seat by Sarah Weeks -Ellie Gordon (6)
Corduroy by Don Freeman
The Boxcar Children by Gertrude Chandler Warner -Kennedy Hartzler (6)
Little Red Riding Hood by Charles Perrault -Jase Bell (K)
That’s Not What Happened by Kody Keplinger -Brianna Craft (6)
It by Stephen King Multitudes by Lucy Caldwell -Stuart Courson
The Night Circus Morgenstern
by
Erin
And This Savage Song by Victoria Schwab -Emma Yoder (12) Blurb by Rheanna Velasquez. Graphic by Madison Helms Quotes compiled by Anna Nacci, Skyy Khounborin, Ellie Snider and Sierra Dewald.
THE WOOSTER BLADE | A&E | SEPT. 27, 2019 | PAGE 11
Gaming’s link to adolescent violence questioned
LEO RILEY staff writer
Video games have served as the go to scapegoat for school shootings for years, but with Donald Trump’s latest
comments about this issue, it is more important than ever to get to the truth and definitively answer, do video games cause violence? At a press conference Aug. 5, Trump said this about video games: “We must stop the glorification of violence in our society, this includes the gruesome and grisly video games that are now commonplace. It is too easy today for troubled youth to surround themselves with a culture that celebrates violence.” Politicians blaming problems
IT Review: does it live up to the hype? face off against Pennywise, who is back with a vengeance. Scenes switch between the adult and tweenage “Losers,”a relief for anyone afraid of missing out on the
of violence on video games is nothing new; however, is the claim of games causing violence even true, and to what extent? A professor and research director at Virginia Tech, James Ivory believes that it is not the case that video games cause mass shootings. Ivory states that video games have been linked to, “more abstract forms of aggression.” Ivory said the true cause, or rather causes, of school shootings (as it is not so simple as putting blame on one thing), “I think another reason we like point to video games is because filling their ranks. Despite the near universal praise the film has received, there are some scenes that are controversial. One such scene is the depiction of a violent gay-bashing where a couple is assaulted and beaten within an inch of their lives. While I, and some LGBTQ+ activists, thought the scene was an important message about the discrimination faced by the community, others may feel it was a gratuitous display of violence that
OLIVIA VANSICKLE staff artist
After a two year wait, the chilling story of Derry from IT is finally at a close. IT was revered for its startling scares, lighthearted comedy and talented cast. Fans of the film have waited two years to see if the second chapter of the story lives up to the hype created by the first movie. IT: Chapter Two picks up 27 years after the first movie, with the Loser’s Club returning to
stellar performance the kids gave viewers in the first installment. That is not to take any credit from the adult “Losers,”with award winning actors like Jessica Chastain, Bill Hader and James McAvoy
exploited that same struggle. Controversy aside, the film is definitely a treat for hardcore fans and casual moviegoers alike. IT: Chapter Two had some big shoes to fill, but with an amazing cast behind the helm, it has no trouble reaching that goal.
we don’t want to talk about other things that we know are much more likely to be relevant.” Ivory then went on to list poverty, substance abuse and child abuse as much more likely causes. Understanding the facts surrounding school shootings will help lead to their prevention. Letting go of the distrust of video games and ceasing the accusation of them as a cause for youth violence would be a good first step to a more safe, more rational world.
Top 5 most revenued premium video games in 2018 according to gamesindustry.biz: 1. PlayerUnknown Battlegrounds (1.028 Billion) 2. FIFA 18 (790 million) 3. Grand theft auto V (680 million) 4. Call of Duty: Black Ops IIII (612 million) 5. Red Dead Redemption 2 Graphics done by Madison Helms and Olivia VanSickle
Tall Girl movie review
BRYN SAVIDGE feature editor
Through Netflix’s film Tall Girl, protagonist Jodi (played by Ava Michelle), learns to accept her above average height, while also navigating high school, friendship and romance. As a tall girl myself, the film definitely addresses most of the challenges that a person of an exceptional height presents. The film touches on powerful points, such as insecurity, awkwardness and stereotypes that come with being tall in the dating scene. Jodi expresses her “perfect boyfriend” is taller than her, and does not view her as “the tall girl.”
Ultimately, Jodi’s insecurity with her height, especially when it comes to dating, reveals a deeper struggle with femininity. Unfortunately, Tall Girl falls short when delving into deeper topics as some common tall girl struggles portrayed in film are over dramatized and reduce the more powerful notes in the film. Everyday taunts of “how’s the weather up there?”, paranoid dads who are convinced being over six feet is unhealthy, and boys carrying around milk crates to stand on for a happily ever after kiss are just plain silly, as they are overused and reduce the film’s deeper meaning. Although the film does not allow the topic to reach its potential, Tall Girl succeeds at being an easy and overall enjoyable movie. The attention brought to the struggles of being tall in high school, or just tall in general, is positive by asking others to gain understanding and allowing tall girls to finally feel recognized.
SPORTS
THE WOOSTER BLADE | SEPT. 27, 2019 | PAGE 12
Wooster JV Fall Focus Blurbs written by Tyler Keating, Ashton Dunlap, Rheanna Velasquez, Ellie Snyder, Luke Pomfret, Recce Mitchell, Jensan Bauman, and Paulina Salazar Graphics by Madison Helms Photos by Hannah Loguidice, Maddy McCully, Skyy Khounborin, Leo Riley, and courtesy of Kristin Keating
Often, JV athletes are overshadowed by their varsity counterparts, despite putting in an equal amount of work. These JV athletes were selected by their coaches for their work ethic and impact on the team.
Adam Smith
Lena Wiebe
Mcguire Corbin
Sammy Amier
Ashley Bush
Boys Cross Country Coach Doug Bennett chose to recognize Adam Smith saying, “He’s encouraging to his teammates… he’s quite an asset to our team. His goals are always from within, and he pushes himself to do the best that he can do,” Bennett said.
Girls Cross Country coach Cassandra Gasser chose to recognize Lena Wiebe. “She is a phenomenal leader, and she has a great personality… really supportive and encouraging. She’ll do anything that needs to be done.”
Coach Lee of the Wooster JV golf team chose to recognize McGuire Corbin saying, “McGuire’s relentless pursuit of excellence” is what makes him stand out on the team, according to assistant JV golf coach, Richard Lee.
According to Mark Snowbarger, the girl’s golf coach, Amier is, “Always pleasant...works hard at [the game]. Last night, she hit a very good drive for her...she was so happy.”
Ashley Bush was nominated by Jennifer Wright as an athlete she would like to recognize. Wright says the co-captain, “is always willing to help lead and motivate others and comes to practice with an open mind, focused on the tasks at hand.”
Olivia Frantz
Kaleb Lamb
Sydney Questel
JV volleyball coach Erika Mihoci would like to recognize Olivia Frantz (10). “Frantz has been voted team captain week after week by her teammates, and is someone the rest of the team looks up to, on and off the court,” Mihoci said.
Coach Doug Haas has nominated Kaleb Lamb (10) as the MVP for JV football. Haas says, “ Kaleb is the under the radar type player for a variety of reasons. Him being an offensive and typically unheralded position, and Kaleb embraces this role.”
According to girls tennis JV coach Matthew Knight, “[Sydney] is always cheerful, she’s always smiling. She’s super competitive, she makes the team run harder in our warm-ups. She juggles difficult classes, tennis and home life, all with optimism.”
Johnny Sibilia
Tyler Ardrey, coach for the boys’ soccer team, said, “his effort is contagious… No matter what the scenario is in the game, he’s an aggressor... He’s turning into one of our better players. He’s a commander in our field.”
Jasmin Aguirre
Girls soccer coach Charles Cerniglia chose Jasmin Aguirre as an outstanding JV athlete. “She came out as a senior because she enjoyed being part of a team. She is a good teammate and a nice, young lady who does a good job. I’m impressed with her,” stated Cerniglia.
THE WOOSTER BLADE | SPORTS | SEPT. 27, 2019 | PAGE 13
LEO RILEY
As pictured above, student banners of fall senior athletes hang at Follis Field on the fence. Banners are also displayed on the light posts in the student parking lot and on the gym walls.
Senior banners limit the inclusion of other extracurricular activities SOPHIE GAMBLE cover editor
For many, senior year a time for recognition achievements, whether it because they participate athletics, academic programs
is of is in or
extracurricular activities. At WHS, there is a tradition of hanging senior banners all around the school in order to honor athletes and recognize what they accomplish during the season. Girls soccer player Audrey Van Lieu (12), said banners
are important to those who participate in sports. “[Having banners] gives the people who play sports a chance to be supported and it recognizes all the hard work seniors have put in,” Van Lieu said. Making sure to recognize all
students for their achievements, regardless of the activities in which they are involved, is important, according to Speech and Debate member Kaitlyn Drown (11). To receive some sort of senior recognition, whether it is in the form of banners or in another form, “would make us [members of other extracurricular activities] feel more included,” Drown said. Van Lieu said she believes the senior banner tradition is worthwhile and should stay available only to athletes,
because there is limited space in the stadium/parking lot. In order to be inclusive of those who do not participate in sports, the school can come up with alternative ways to honor all individuals in the senior class. WHS Athletic Director Joe Rubino said hanging senior banners is a way for the athletic department to recognize and honor those athletes. Rubino also states the school has no plans on making any changes as to whom gets a banner.
Robison keeps pace on varsity soccer CORINNE WILES graphics manager Among the 12 varsity-only players on the girls soccer team, Aryah Robison is one of the three freshmen. Head coach Charles Cerniglia, notes there are many good reasons to have freshmen place up on the varsity team. Cerniglia said, “... some freshmen are with us because we need them this year and some are with us to develop so they can play in the years to come.” Robison, who typically plays
outside midfield, said there are advantages to starting her high school soccer career on the varsity team. “I get to work with more advanced players, which helps me improve,” Robison said. She also expressed that there are also overlooked downfalls to an achievement like this. According to Robison, there is added pressure being an underclassmen on the varsity team. Robison said, “...especially being a freshman, you have to live up to the expectation other people put on you for making
it on varsity.” In addition to the pressure from outsiders, joining a brand new team full of unfamiliar people was also a struggle for her toward the beginning of the season. According to Robison, “At first, it was hard to fit in because of my grade, and the older girls already knew each other.” As opposed to easing into the group through a JV team, being an underclassman, primarily surrounded by upperclassmen who have played together for years can be intimidating,
HANNAH LOGIUDICE
Aryah Robinson runs during her soccer game at Madison Comprehensive high school on Sept. 19. The girls soccer team has a record of 6-3. Robison added. Cerniglia said, at first, the team was a fragmented group
but they have acclimated together very well despite the varying ages and grades.
FEATURE
THE WOOSTER BLADE | SEPT. 27, 2019 | PAGE 14
Wooster Transit provides programs for disadvantaged residents LENA WIEBE focus editor
When considering obstacles that disadvantaged Wooster residents may face in their everyday lives, transportation may not be the first issue that comes to mind. But, according to Kim Ragby, the Transportation Assistant at Community Action Wayne/ Medina, it is an important one. Community Action, Ragby said, is a, “social service agency that helps people of lower income become self-sufficient... [by] helping them with utilities and transportation.” The group, one of many agencies across the country created by Lyndon B. Johnson through the Economic
Opportunity Act of 1964, also has programs such as Head Start and Early Head Start, according to cawm.org. Other services provided by Community Action Wayne/ Medina include a Car Seat Safety program and housing assistance programs created to help with energy and power bills and energy efficiency of Ohio homes, the website states. Currently, Ragby says, “If you live within city limits and have photo ID and… proof of residency, for a dollar you get a photo ID [for the program] for a year.” In order to qualify for the program, residents must be seniors, disabled, veterans, active military or low income. With this photo ID, residents can ride on Wooster Transit as
much as they wish. Eric Schwarzentruber, the owner of Wooster Transit, explained the city provides funds to Community Action, which subsidizes this transportation program. Schwarzentruber said some of the advantages of such a program are that it helps people remove transportation barriers for medical issues and employment. According to Schwarzentruber, the stops on the routes for Wooster Transit were determined through, “a collaborative effort with the College of Wooster… we did a study to determine where the greatest concentration of people were living so we could get those areas, and then we combined that with retail and
medical needs.” Schwarzentruber also remarked that Wooster Transit has expanded recently: the company has added a wheelchair bus, created a second route and added vehicles for community employment programs. Ideally, Schwarzentruber said, in the future, Wooster Transit will, “take the model we’ve established in Wooster and expand to Wayne County.” Schwarzentruber also points out that Apple Creek, West Salem and other similar towns all lack public transportation services. Ragby also described a number of other transportation programs subsidized by the city through Community Action Wayne/Medina.
These transportation assistance programs, which are available to qualifying residents, including cab passes for $2 and work and education passes for $1.80. Such programs are crucial, she said, because, “It helps people that don’t have reliable transportation… get jobs, keep up their household, have freedom… if you can’t drive anymore or are unable to drive.” Ragby also stated that other programs are available, including mobility management programs and programs for those who do not live within city limits. According to Ragby, more details can be found on the Community Action Wayne/ Medina website.
Restaurants pursue sustainable, local options ELLIE SNIDER
staff writer Located in the basement of Liberty Marketplace, Underground Cafe and Coffee House serves local food, using as many nonGMO and healthy products as possible. “I try to make my food so that everyone can eat it, so I have vegan options and gluten-free options, and everything is made fresh to order,” says co-owner Suzi Lautzenhiser. Lautzenhiser also states the food Underground Cafe uses is local, with items like cheese coming from Mansfield. Also, all of the cups used in Underground cafe are biodegradable and compostable. The coffee house uses Eco GreenStripe® cups, made with “100% renewable and compostable resources,” according to the Eco Products website. The cafe’s to-go boxes are also recyclable. Like Underground, Local Roots strives to provide healthy, local food. Employee Keith Cornelius explains, “Buying local products helps the environment in a variety of ways... the most important is reducing the amount of fuel used to transport the items... Just as important... is eating food that is ‘in season’ locally. If you want strawberries, plan on eating them in June.” Local Roots also actively works to limit waste. “For all dinein meals, we strive to serve on compostable or reusable plates … we also compost waste from the kitchen and do our best to sort recyclable materials...,” Cornelius said. Local Roots and the Underground Cafe hope to bring change to Wooster with their approach to food.
VIEWS
THE WOOSTER BLADE | SEPT. 27, 2019 | PAGE 15
Social media advocacy: Awareness does not equate to change The Wooster Blade staff members discuss whether social media coverage of currrent events is an effective vehicle for enacting change
ASHTON DUNLAP staff writer
Advocating for world problems on social media brings awareness, but it does not bring change. “Influencers” and regular people alike have started to use their platforms to bring awareness to various issues, and this form of advocacy has become increasingly popular, both around the world and locally in Wooster. All of this awareness sounds
promising, but even with all of this acclamation, no conspicuous changes have been made. An example of awareness without change is the two shootings in El Paso and Dayton. After the two shootings, millions called for stricter gun control through only Instagram stories and posts, not action or leadership. In the weeks after the events, Instagram stories included political cartoons, videos and paragraphs, calling for solutions to the problem of gun violence. People viewed, shared and posted these stories, but as of a month and a half later, nothing constructive has been done to solve the problem of gun violence in America. The most recent issue that was campaigned for on social media was the burning of the
Amazon rainforest. After this news was broken and widely known, I opened Instagram, and almost half of the “stories” I viewed were about the Amazon burning. Hashtags such as #savetherainforest and #actfortheamazon have over 40,000 posts and thousands more viewed these posts. What is the status of the Amazon today? It is still burning. Instead of taking real action toward solving a problem, these people have resorted to merely showing people they care to gain support or social backing. Instead of posting a picture on Instagram, they could donate money to the cause or choose to live a greener life. Yes, Instagram and other social media can be a good tool to raise awareness, but to really make a difference, action and initiative are the best tools.
Social media can lead to change
LEO RILEY a&e editor
Graphic by Corinne Wiles
Advocating for the world’s problems on social media brings awareness, which can lead to change. The world is not black and white. In a perfect world, people would be doing more than changing their profile picture for a month; however, I do not think we should
discourage that. It is correct to say advocacy brings awareness, but denying that it does not do more is simply wrong because that awareness can, and often does, lead to change. When the Notre Dame Cathedral was set ablaze, it was awareness through social media that led to its restoration, and the constant posts about Puerto Rico during Hurricane Maria led to so much positive change that only slowed when the awareness ended. Even beyond the collectives of the internet banding together for change, influencers and celebrities can put their assets toward major issues, and have done so before, when strong awareness was raised. Super stars including Angelina
Jolie, Matt Damon and Leonardo DiCaprio have all created charity foundations that have harnessed the scope and accessibility of social media to help create change. Most recently, DiCaprio worked with Earth Alliance to raise over $1 million for the Amazon rainforest fund in only 48 hours. One can just look at his Instagram to see, he has been doing this for years, and in doing so, reaching the 35 million who follow him. Ultimately, yes, people could, and should, be doing more, but criticizing people for spreading awareness can only hurt everyone. People advocate because of its ease and it can lead to real good. Discouraging advocacy would not be right.
THE
WOOSTER
BLADE
Editors-in-Chief Reece Mitchell, Rheanna Velasquez, Madison McCully Webmaster and Head Photographer Grace Brownson Graphics Manager Corinne Wiles Business Manager Sophie Gamble, Leo Riley, Bryn Savidge, Rheanna Velasquez Managing Editor Anna Nacci On Campus Editor Alec Pauley Focus Editor Lena Wiebe Sports Editor Skyy Khounborin A & E Editor Leo Riley Trends Editor Bryn Savidge, Theresa Wendell Cover Editors Sophie Gamble, Anna Nacci Views Editors Paulina Salazar, Mya Vandegrift Feature Editor Maeve Florence- Smith Staff Writers Jensan Bauman, Zach Brewster, Stuart Courson, Sierra Dewald, Ashton Dunlap, Tyler Keating, Clara Lee, Eve Norris, Sierah Pilson, Luke Pomfret, Sylvie Shaya, Ellie Snider, Molly Snyder, Jack Veney, Artists Eve Norris, Olivia VanSickle, Emma Yoder Photographers Tyler Keating, Hannah LoGiudice, Maddy McCully, Theresa Wendell, Rumen Zdravchev Graphics Staff Madison Helms Adviser Kristi Hiner The Wooster Blade is a biweekly student publication printed every other Friday by the Newspaper Production classes at Wooster High School. The paper is designated as an open forum and follows publishing guidelines as established in a district-wide publications policy protecting students’ freedom of expression. All copy, art and photography are property of The Wooster Blade and cannot be reproduced without permission. Letters to the editor are limited to 300 words and The Wooster Blade reserves the right to print and edit as per length and content. The Wooster Blade is a member of Quill and Scroll, National Scholastic Press Association and Columbia Scholastic Press Association. The Wooster Blade is printed in cooperation with Wooster’s The Daily Record. Letters and inquiries should be addressed to The Wooster Blade, 515 Oldman Road Wooster, Ohio 44691. The Wooster Blade can be contacted at 330-345-4000 ext. 3210. The newspaper can also be found at thewoosterblade.com
THE VOICE OF WOOSTER HIGH SCHOOL
THE WOOSTER BLADE | VIEWS | SEPT. 27, 2019 | PAGE 16
OUR VIEW
Legislation needed in places outside vaping industry During the week of Sept. 10, the Trump administration outlined their plans for a nationwide ban on flavored vaping products, as stated in the Sept. 17 The Washington Post article “The vaping industry has close ties to Trump. His ban still caught them off guard,” this article written by Laurie McGinley, Neena Satija, Josh Dawsey and Yasmeen Abutaleb details the incoming laws pertaining to the sale of vape products. The ban will outlaw the sale of flavors such as mint, methanol and all fruity flavors in stores and online but will continue to allow tobacco flavored juices to be sold. Ohio is one of the states also taking action in the form of a higher age restriction. Michigan and New York have also taken action. A July 18. The Enquirer article entitled “Raising tobacco sales age to 21: Ohio becomes latest state in national trend,” written by Jessie Balmert said the ban, taking effect Oct. 1, will make the new age to be able to purchase vape products change from 18 to 21. These pieces of legislation are in response to the deaths of seven
people due to vaping in the past few months, according to NBC News. While the ban has had mixed reactions in the public and media, The Wooster Blade Editorial Board believes the U.S. government taking action against issues that cause harm to its citizens is a beneficial thing to do. However, we also believe that other issues that harm the public should be given just as much attention. Many issues have been debated in the media and public for extensive amounts of time and have had little or no legislative action put into place to address them. The fact that other issues warrant attention, of course, does not mean that the vape ban is not a step in the right direction, but The Wooster Blade Editorial Board thinks other issues should be given similar attention as quickly and actively as the vaping problem has been addressed. The ban of vaping products is seemingly a result of seven deaths in recent months, but why haven’t any large steps toward legislation taking place after thousands of more deaths have occurred involving the dangers
of firearms and opioids for many years in the past to the present? The Pew Research Center reports there were 39,773 firearm related deaths in 2017 alone, while the Department of Health and Human Sources reports more than 42,000 opioid-related deaths in 2016 alone, whereas vaping has claimed the lives of seven people, in 2019 alone. Regardless of political positions, the members of The Wooster Blade Editorial Board believe that issues such as nationwide gun violence, the opioid epidemic and other nationwide problems must be addressed through some type of governmental action with as much urgency as the vape ban has. If the death of seven causes instantaneous acts of legislation, why does the death of more than 80,000 warrant less urgency? While The Wooster Blade Editorial Board will not propose a direct solution to the nation’s problems, we believe that any kind of legislation to help stop the aforementioned problems would be a step in the right direction, similar to how the vape ban will be, to benefit the American people.
Need for relief remains urgent in wake of hurricanes Sept. 20 marked the second year since Hurricane Maria made landfall in Puerto Rico. Two years later, Puerto Rico is still struggling to recover from the hurricane, standing as a warning as Hurricanes Dorian and Karen loom above the U.S. mainland. According to an article in Mother Jones by Justin Agrelo entitled “30,000 Blue Tarps, 2.4 Million Downed Trees, Billions Short: 5 Ways Puerto Rico Is Still Struggling to Recover From Maria,” the island, which has already faced notorious issues with bureaucracy, corruption, and long-standing infrastructure issues, found itself unprepared and unsupported by the U.S. government
as an estimated 3,000 of its citizens died as a result of Hurricane Maria. Agrelo also stated that at least 1.5 million Puerto Ricans were left without electricity during the storm, and some lived for over a year without power. Furthermore, Agrelo discovered that although there was $139 billion in damages, Congress only allocated 42.6 billion, less than half of the damage cost. Even worse, Puerto Rico has only seen 13.8 billion so far, leaving billions of dollars caught in a sea of red tape, even two years after the actual hurricane. Puerto Rico is a U.S. territory, and this is a shameful waste of resources meant for U.S. citizens in their most
dire time of need. All the frightening statistics of Puerto Rico’s destruction compound into a clear message: the U.S. government must learn from its mistakes as the latest hurricanes, Dorian and Karen’s trajectory heads straight for the Bahamas and the U.S. mainland History tends to repeat itself and in this case if it does more U.S. citizens will be left behind without hope of repair or restoration of their communities. Instead of rolling over and accepting failure, the government should take Puerto Rico as a call to action, a call to never let another U.S. territory fall into disrepair without its assistance and support.