THE WOOSTER BLADE
WOOSTER HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT NEWSPAPER • 515 OLDMAN ROAD, WOOSTER, OH • OCT. 11, 2019 • VOLUME XX, ISSUE 3
THE GREAT DIVIDE:
examining the current state of polarizing issues
Artwork by Olivia VanSickle
On Campus 2-3 • Focus 4-5 • Feature 6 • Cover 7-9 • A & E 10-11 • Sports 12-13 • Trends 14 • Views 15-16
ON CAMPUS
THE WOOSTER BLADE | OCT. 11, 2019 | PAGE 2 SYLVIE SHAYA
COW professor visits WHS SKYY KHOUNBORIN
College of Wooster Professor of Music, Thomas Wood, discusses the principles behind bow driving and tone production with orchestra students.
The WHS Orchestra, under the direction of Craig French, Chair of the WHS Music Department, has recently been able to work with the College of Wooster’s Dr. Thomas Wood, Professor of Music. “The number one thing that students on an instrument can do to improve is to talk to and listen to someone who is a master of their instrument,” French said. French hopes that through Wood’s mastery of his craft, he can impart his knowledge to orchestra students and help them grow as musicians. Wood said he likes that WHS
Orchestra students are eager to learn. He added, “there are many different levels of students and they all want to play better. Anybody who wants to play better, I’m happy to try to help.” Wood added he advises musicians to “first enjoy, enjoy the music, and take lessons, and try to understand how the instrument works because then it’s easier to try to make your sonic wishes actually happen.” Violinist Sammy Amir (10) says she enjoys working with Wood and thinks, “different teachers have different experiences and different perspectives and you get exposed to different a lot of different techniques.”
She added she especially enjoys working with Wood because he brings up ideas she does not usually think of to work on. So far, Wood has worked mainly on techniques, such as the principles of bowing and tone production. French said he wants the students, “to know it [technique] well enough that they could teach somebody else how to do it.” In the coming weeks, Wood and French want to try to work with vibrato. Wood has worked with other high school orchestras for short periods of time. He is planning on working with the Orchestra weekly, if is possible.
shared the same thoughts. “I think it provides great access without ever really leaving the community… it also helps with the narrowing process,” Katie Lease, Capital representative, stated. College fairs are provided for the benefit of the students. “High school students are so busy. Instead of taking the time to go on 80 different college campus for a tour, take advantage of a two-hour window where 80 colleges come to you,” Hamad explained. Students who went to the college fair were opened to new possibilities.
“There are a lot of colleges here that most people usually think about,” Rebekah Barnett (12) said. By bringing the colleges to WHS, students can get a better idea of the options that are available for them. Natasha Murzda (12) said she believes the college fair to be helpful, saying, “It’s really useful, especially for seniors, in finding a school to go to. It also might provide schools they’ve never heard of, but it might be exactly what they’re looking for.” In looking at what questions students should be asking when they go up to booths, Lease
stated that questions about the campus’ size, distance programs are all important. Hamad also recommended asking about the financial aid package and potential scholarships. Ritter concludes that the next step is going on visits to the colleges of interest, stating, “Coming to visit is one of the best things you can do.” Many of the colleges that were present at the fair have specific dates when interested juniors and seniors can get a personalized feel of the college. These events and more can be found on each specific college’s website.
staff writer
Wayne county college fair offers students exploratory opportunities ELLIE SNIDER staff writer The annual Wayne County Counselor’s college fair was held Sept. 30 in the WHS cafeteria and hallways and was open to all students and parents in Wayne County. Many colleges from Ohio and other nearby states were in attendance, along with representatives from the military and the IB program. Julianna Hamad, WHS counselor, was involved in the process of setting up the college fair, which she states took about five months bring to life.
The college fair is unique in the fact that students volunteer in order to make it run as smoothly as possible. “College representatives really appreciated the student interaction and being greeted by a student leader,” Hamad said. According to Wittenberg representative Rachel Ritter, college fairs like this event allow students to get a feel of many different colleges and decide what they want to look for. “It’s a way that [the students] can meet many different representatives from many different schools,” Ritter stated. Other college representatives
This issue of The Wooster Blade is sponsored by Boreman Norton Cook Wealth Partners
THE WOOSTER BLADE | ON CAMPUS | OCT. 11, 2019 | PAGE 3 SKYY KHOUNBORIN
Right to Read Week: building a culture of literacy in Parkview Illustration by Emma Yoder
sports editor Annually, Parkview Elementary hosts an event called Right to Read Week. The purpose of the week is to have all of the staff and students participate in literacy activities in order to promote Parkview’s culture of literacy. Each year, this event has a theme and this year, the theme is “How SWEET is it to be a READER!” Julie Beckett, reading teacher at Parkview, emphasizes the impact of the individual events that take place during Right to Read Week. “It is so awesome when our students get to meet published authors. Kevin Frank was the
visiting author this week. They truly inspire our youngest readers and writers...the students really enjoyed getting a “sweet treat” every day thanks to many Parkview families and Lerch’s Donuts,” Beckett said. Emily Rutt, kindergarten teacher at Parkview, explains the importance of the week. “It builds a school-wide excitement for reading... students get to celebrate and be celebrated as readers,” Rutt said. Caraline and Owen, first graders, ages 6 and 7, are both excited about the transformation of the school. “Our lobby is decorated with Candy Land. It looks great,” Caraline and Owen said. For the students and teachers,
PHOTO COURTESY OF JULIE BECKETT
Kevin Frank, featured author for Right to Read Week, signs copies of his graphic novel Scurvy Dogs during an assembly Oct. 1. Right to Read Week shows to be imperative to the overall culture of the school and
helps further promote and increase the love for learning throughout the student body.
The Leader in Me program shines light on student development RHEANNA VELASQUEZ co-editor-in-chief Two years since The Leader in Me was first introduced to WCSD, implementation of the whole-school improvement model continues to expand throughout Wooster’s elementary schools. Based on Steven Covey’s book, 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, The Leader in Me aims to create a culture of student empowerment and establish, “common language for what we [educators] do and how we do it,” Karen Arbogast, Director of Elementary Education, said. “The goal is to change the culture, change the environment and teach kids that they can be leaders no matter what age,” Cornerstone Intervention Specialist and Lighthouse coordinator Erin Rammel said. The Leader in Me promotes
social-emotional learning and goal achievement in students attending Kean, Cornerstone, Melrose, Parkview and Edgewood. Cornerstone Behavior Support Specialist and Lighthouse coordinator Brittany Grimshaw describes that “Kids are just more focused on setting goals for themselves. They get really excited about leadership roles and take a little more ownership in what the building looks like or feels like and sounds like...The excitement is really contagious.” The Leader In Me also emphasizes the development of student leadership through opportunities, including public speaking. Describing how one first-grader continued to practice even after delivering his speech for a school assembly, Grimshaw said, “We never know what it can mean to a student to be in that [leadership] role if we never give them that
opportunity.” Within Cornerstone, plans to adopt student clubs under Leader in Me are currently underway. Over the next two weeks, teachers will share ideas for clubs ranging from coding to community service. After receiving feedback on student interests, clubs will launch in January, according to Rammel. Rammel said the value of such clubs lies in the experiential learning they provide, and adds that she has been excited about Leader in Me both as a teacher and a parent. “It’s about the whole child,” Rammel said. Superintendent Dr. Michael Tefs said the implementation of The Leader in Me has been incredibly rewarding. The framework has encouraged not only student leadership, but has also developed greater empathy within schools, Tefs observed.
FOCUS
THE WOOSTER BLADE | OCT. 11, 2019 | PAGE 4
Annual state report cards released evaluating achievement LENA WIEBE & MYA VANDEGRIFT
focus editor & views editor This past September, the Ohio Department of Education released its annual report card of Ohio schools. The scores, according to Dr. Chris Wollard, senior executive director for ODE’s Accountability and Continuous Improvement, were based on six main criteria: student achievement based on state tests, progress, gap closing, graduation, at-risk literacy and readiness for success. The WCSD received a “C” in its overall score, with a “D” in achievement, a “B” in progress, a “C” in gap closing, an “A” in graduation rate, a “C” in improving at-risk K-3 readers and a “D” in preparation for success. Wollard commented that overall, “One of the main reasons this whole system exists is to make sure that all students are achieving, and that’s why there’s a focus on equity, in subgroups of students, in minority students and in students with disabilities, and we’re seeing some really good trends there.” However, Wollard also acknowledged that “at the same time, we still recognize
there’s always a lot of room to grow… There’s a relationship between socioeconomic status and achievement… but being disadvantaged doesn’t guarantee that you aren’t going to be able to achieve, and that’s an important point. At the same time, you recognize that’s an important trend there. So, one thing the report card does is that it actually measures growth, so it’s not just looking at achievement, it’s measuring growth so when students are behind we capture how they
“WE WANT TO REVIEW AND CELEBRATE STUDENT GROWTH,” WOLLARD SAID.
improve no matter where they start.” Regarding Wooster’s performance in particular, Wollard further noted that “You [Wooster] should know that you’re not alone in this.
You could pick up a report card anywhere around the state and see similar things, and there aren’t easy solutions to this. But one is having high expectations for students and another is equitable opportunities… When you look at data at schools across the board, sometimes you see gaps in those kinds of things [advanced classes] and there are some kids who aren’t even participating in that kind of coursework.” When asked what steps schools should take based on this data, Wollard further elaborated that “[Of] Other things that are key… early literacy is a big one - there are kids who start school on their way to reading and great with math, and there are kids that aren’t… Those gaps start early. There are students who aren’t reading in third grade and that’s a key marker in their later success… Having a system in place and having high expectations… making sure you’re understanding there are gaps and that you’re putting plans into place to address that as much as possible is going to go a long way. It doesn’t mean it’s going to fix it overnight, but it’s going to go a long way.” This report comes after Ohio was recently ranked 21 in the nation in its education system and 48 in poverty gaps
in education by Education Weekly’s annual nationwide report card. According to the 2020 WCSD profile, 44 percent of WCS students live under the poverty line. While 21 AP classes are offered at the high school, the fees for testing range around $94 per test, making low income students immediately at a disadvantage to participate. However, this year, the fee was waived for students on the free and reduced lunch program. With a very diverse set of rankings, Directors of Elementary and Secondary Education Karen Arbogast and Richard Leone say there is a lot to learn from these report cards. “The local report card data is going to drive our gap closing efforts,” explained Arbogast and Leone in an email. While there is much to learn, Arbogast and Leone also wager that the reports show improvement from past years in some categories. “We want to review and celebrate student growth. For example, when we review our Performance Index Calculation over the past three years, we see a trend of positive growth from 73.4 in 2016 to 89 in 2019,“ they stated. One discrepancy noted by school administration officials,
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including Leone, is Wooster’s status as a Silver Medalist according to The U.S. News and World Report. However, Wollard further noted that “The U.S. News and World Report… the things they’re looking at don’t always match up with what the state looks at. When you look at that gap, that’s something the state is going to be emphasizing more than The U.S. News and World Report is.” Wollard particularly emphasized that the report card was meant to be used as a metric of progress. “This report card… is meant to be an improvement tool; we know Wooster’s doing some great things… we look at some data and we know there’s areas that could improve. We celebrate what they’re doing well and those areas where they could be better - let’s work on doing those, all in the name of better outcomes for all kids,” Wollard said. The report cards are issued every year in accordance with both the state and federal education guidelines. Schools all over the state receive report cards based on these standards, and respond with improvements. The next report cards will be released to the public early in the 2020-21 school year.
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THE WOOSTER BLADE | FOCUS | OCT. 11, 2019 | PAGE 5
Alice Noble skates on thin ice Illustration by Emma Yoder
LUKE POMFRET staff writer The Alice Noble Ice Arena has been a hub for hockey players, figure skaters and ice fans
alike for 17 years, according to nobleice.com. At the Board of Education meeting Sept. 24, one of the topics on the agenda was the transfer of the deed for The Alice Noble Ice Arena to WCS.
Ice fans lined the walls at the Board of Education meeting, and young children and community members alike waited to hear the future of the Alice Noble Ice Arena, according to The Daily Record. After constructing the arena at a cost of $5 million in 2001, the Noble Foundation incurred losses of nearly another $5 million over the course of the next 17 years, The Daily Record reports. In a letter published on Oct. 1, The Noble Foundation gave three main goals for the community to meet before Jan. 15, 2020. In order to keep the arena, the community must first raise $150,000, then obtain pledges of an additional $150,000 to be collected by Jan. 15, 2021, and collect those funds by that date. The community must also continually raise $150,000 each year, and the
Micropolitan Journal: The Wooster Blade talked to current and former members of Alice Noble’s after school program to find out what Alice Noble means to them. “I love Alice Noble Ice Arena because I met a bunch of my friends from the camps there. Another reason I love Alice Noble is that I enjoy ice skating. I also love Alice Noble because I spend lots of time here.” - Lucy Dodd (4), Cornerstone Elementary “When I ice skate, I feel free and alive. When the wind rushes by, I feel like I’m flying off the ground. Alice Noble is my sanctuary. It’s very important to me. If people take ice skating away from me, I won’t be me anymore.” - Violet Stormer-Burch (5), Edgewood Middle School “I miss [Alice Noble] a lot. That’s where I made all my friends that I have now and where I first learned how to skate.” - Lila Wright (6), Edgewood Middle School “Alice Noble Ice Arena has been a part of my family’s life for around eight years. I have made so many friends and memories. It’s hard to count. I will really miss it.” -Brooke Ritchie (6), Edgewood Middle School Blurbs collected by Maeve Florence-Smith from Oct. 2 to Oct. 9.
Noble Foundation will continue helping maintain the arena until April 2022, according to the Ice Arena Proposal written by David D. Noble. According to Seth Greenberg, general manager at Alice Noble, there is a counter proposal being made that was presented to the Noble Foundation Oct. 8. Don Noble II, whose grandparents are Don and Alice Noble, was present at the meeting and told the board members and those in attendance that his father sends his regrets, as he was unable to attend the meeting. Noble noted his grandparents would have shut down the Ice Arena years ago, saying, “[It] is my personal belief that my grandparents would have shut down the Ice Arena several years ago if they were still alive due to substantial losses.” Throughout the night,
community members expressed their concerns and anger with the lack of transparency on the notice that the Ice Arena would be closing. Superintendent Dr. Michael Tefs concluded the Ice Arena discussion by stating, “We’re not making a decision tonight… this is a very personal and business decision for them [Noble Foundation]. It becomes a decision to the WCSD if that capital asset transitions to our district. Until it does, we’re not in a decision-making mode here.” Greenberg recommends that the most significant way community members can help save the arena is to utilize it. Examples of helping the arena include attending the public skate, which runs seven days a week for $6, and being involved in the various hockey leagues, said Greenberg.
FEATURE
THE WOOSTER BLADE | OCT. 11, 2019 | PAGE 6
Local use of renewable resources prove beneficial in community ASHTON DUNLAP staff writer In a world where concerns about greenhouse gases and pollution are addressed daily, millions of people and businesses are turning to renewable energy to play their part in helping the environment. According to the World Wildlife Fund’s website, in 2011, “The whole world could get all the power it needs from renewable resources by 2050, ending our reliance on fossil fuels and other depleting resources.”
Even in Wooster, many are making steps toward this goal by installing solar panels on the roof of their home or business. Dr. Ferenc Relle, a dentist at Wooster Dental, was the leader of the push for solar panels. He says Wooster Dental, located on Beall Ave., was the first business in Wooster to go green, installing their solar panels in 2017. Relle says the process took a while, and many grants were applied to before the office was accepted in 2017. Although the process for Wooster Dental took a long time; YellowLite, the company
that installed Wooster Dental’s solar panels, say the process can fluctuate. “In some jurisdictions it goes quick. In some, the wait can be agonizing,” YellowLite’s website read. After Relle got accepted for a grant, the solar panels were installed by Cleveland based company YellowLite, and the solar panels impact began. Through an app, Relle can see energy stats in real time. “It tells me real time, up to 15 minutes, exactly what energy is being produced for the day, the week, the month, the year,” Relle said.
Since the panels were installed, Relle said Wooster Dental has saved the equivalent of 4,245 trees and 168,564 pounds of carbon dioxide. The solar panels power the entire office, or 59,761 kilowatt hours. According to Relle, the solar panels are not only an environmental positive, but are also economically positive. “On the projections, it was to be paid back in seven and a half years,” Relle said. Several homes in Wooster also use solar panels to power their various utilities. One of those homes is the home of Rodney and Robin Miller. According to Rodney Miller, their solar panels also make an impact, producing 1.1 megawatts of electricity per month while also saving the equivalent of 12,600 pounds of carbon dioxide since they were installed. Another home is the home of Linda and Frederick Michel. The Michels power about 80
percent of their home with solar power and hope that other homes in Wooster will do the same. “The cost of a PV {Photovoltaic} system taken over its 25 year life, results in electricity costs half of those a homeowner would pay if they did not install a system. More and more homeowners are concerned about climate change and the fact that emissions of greenhouse gases for electricity generation are causing this. They are disappointed that many in our state legislature support coal and other fossil energy sources, and do not support policies like energy efficiency and renewable energy standards that seek to improve energy efficiency and address climate change statewide,” Frederick Michel said. Michel believes that more homes in Wooster will begin to install solar panels, along with other renewable energy sources.
COVER
THE WOOSTER BLADE | OCT. 11, 2019 | PAGE 7
Speaker of the House announces inquiry JACK VENEY staff writer On Sept. 24, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi announced the start of a formal impeachment inquiry to investigate if President Donald Trump has violated the oath of office where he swore to “preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States.” Dr. Jeffrey Lantis, Professor
of Political Science, Global and International Studies at the College of Wooster, expounds on the process for impeachment. According to Lantis, impeachment is one of the powers provided to Congress in the U.S. Constitution through Article I. Article I outlines the process in which the House of Representatives votes to impeach the president on one or more charges. The case then goes before the Senate, where
a trial is held in that chamber, Lantis said. The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court presides over the trial, and the case is made that the president should be impeached or found guilty of, as cited in Article I, “high crimes or misdemeanors” that warrant punishment. According to Lantis, two-thirds of the Senate must agree to sanction the president, and punishments may range from censure to removal from office.
Chairs of Wayne County Students give opinions on recent impeachment events political parties give views on impeachment proceedings
Q: What is your opinion on the current impeachment process? Bill Bailey, Chair of the Wayne County Democratic Party: Well, it’s important people understand what impeachment is. It’s deciding whether there’s sufficient evidence for a trial to be conducted. A lot of people think that when you’re talking about impeachment, you’re talking about removal, and removal is just one of the possible consequences of being impeached. I believe impeachment is warranted. There’s certainly been more than enough evidence to indicate the President has committed crimes while in office, and to question his fitness for office, and his abuse of power.
Graphics by Madison Helms Polls conducted by Sierah Pilson, Lena Wiebe and Stuart Courson on Oct. 4, Oct. 7 and Oct. 8. For poll results, there is a standard deviation of two because of lack of response to questions..
For the cover section, The Wooster Blade wanted to educate our readers on the facts and multiple perspectives behind commonly debated topics, with the goal of encouraging readers and staff to engage in responsible discourse about those topics. Don’t hate, educate!
Doug Deeken, Chair of the Wayne County Republican Party: First of all, it isn’t a true impeachment. An impeachment requires a vote of the House. I think a lot of people in both parties dislike Donald Trump, and many of them are entrenched politicians. They don’t like that he’s been upsetting the apple cart, following through on campaign promises. For a while now, politicians have been promising things in their campaigns and not following through, in a kind of ‘polite lie.’ I think that in the case of Ukraine, if the government didn’t investigate, that would be ignoring their duties. The thing about politicians is that their family and close friends are hired in consulting positions, and are paid $50,000 a month, just to buy access, and it’s basically bribery. Also, when the DNC servers were hacked, CrowdStrike was hired to investigate. Where is CrowdStrike based? Ukraine. If Ukraine had any information on the 2016 election, it was our government’s responsibility to investigate.
Q&A conducted by Tyler Keating. Blurb by Sierra Dewald.
THE WOOSTER BLADE | COVER | OCT. 11, 2019 | PAGE 8
Opinions differ on climate change COMMUNICATING CLIMATE CHANGE
100
Graphics by Madison Helms
Professor advises how to conduct civil discourse STUART COURSON staff writer Having a formal debate about topics of today is not only a good thing, but it is also important to have these discussions. However, today’s political climate makes this task even more difficult than it has to be. Holly Custer, professor of communication at the College of Wooster and the Wooster High School Speech and Debate team’s head coach, describes how people can have a proper civil discourse without leaving a sour impression. Custer’s first tip on having a proper civil discourse is to educate yourself on the topic and have a clear understanding of what your side of the topic is. Custer said that interjecting yourself into a conversation that you have no knowledge about only, “makes you less reliable.” She recommends staying up-to-date with the media outlets, saying that the
news will benefit your case. Custer also recommends to remind yourself that it is okay if someone agrees or disagrees with your case. Having different perspectives on certain situations makes our world the world we live in today. However, Custer also says it is also important to not only have the other side understand what you are saying, but also understand what the other side is saying. According to Custer, this understanding does not mean that you have to agree with them, but having that understanding of why they think or believe in their side of the debate will allow a more open and calm conversation between the two sides. Lastly, Custer encourages everyone to not feeling secure about opening a discourse with others, acknowledging that in today’s political climate, it is difficult for someone to talk about their perspective of an argument when everyone else has another side.
ZACH BREWSTER staff writer According to NASA, in regard to climate change, the current trend that has involved global warming since the 1950s is due to an increase of the greenhouse effect: atmospheric heating that occurs when heat attempting to leave Earth is trapped in the atmosphere. Greenhouse gases include water vapor, carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxides and chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs). AP Environmental Science teacher Shelly Silvaggi expressed her concerns regarding the increasing release of these gases. “When we drill for oil, there’s almost always an escape of natural gas with it … there’s a mass release of methane every time,” Silvaggi said. Controversy exists surrounding climate change. A 2013 study published by a team of scientists on iopscience. iop.org found that among nearly 12,000 scientific abstracts concerning climate change, 97.1 percent of scientists worldwide agreed that humans are the
main cause of climate change. However, an article titled “There is no climate emergency, say 500 experts in letter to the United Nations,“ by Mark Perry on aei.org, says that a letter signed by 500 scientists and professionals was sent in September to the United Nations, which claims that
there is no immediate climate emergency. Some, but not all, arguments made by these scientists include: global warming is slower than predicted, increased carbon dioxide is good for plants and climate change has not caused any natural disasters.
Poll conducted by Eve Norris Oct. 3 and Oct. 4. For this poll, there is a standard deviation of one because of lack of response to questions.
Causes driving global warming vary SIERRA DEWALD staff writer Greg Wiles, Shoolroy Chair of Natural Resources and Professor of Earth Sciences at the College of Wooster, says studying climate change involves, “understanding how climate changes and what causes the changes, and disentangling the anthropogenic [human] causes from the natural causes.” Wiles adds that main natural causes of climate change
include changes in the sun’s energy over time and volcanoes cooling the climate over a timescale of centuries, while he and Shelly Silvaggi, WHS Science Dept. member, both say the scientifically supported anthropogenic causes include changes in land use, such as deforestation, and the human contribution to greenhouse gas buildup, such as carbon dioxide. Wiles further cites the Keeling Curve, a graph of the accumulation of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, as
evidence of the anthropogenic contribution to climate change. Nasa.gov finds that the mean global temperature has risen 1.9℉ since 1880, the annual rate of melting of ice sheets is 413 gigatonnes and the annual rate of the rising sea level is 3.3 millimeters. According to Wiles and Silvaggi, there is a scientific consensus that the climate is changing, but perspectives as to why these changes are occurring and what, if anything, should be done about them vary.
THE WOOSTER BLADE | COVER | OCT. 11, 2019 | PAGE 9
GUN VIOLENCE AND SUGGESTED SOLUTIONS
Students share perspectives on gun laws
200 Poll conducted by Jensan Bauman, Tyler Keating, Bryn Savidge, Mya Vandegrift and Lena Wiebe from Oct. 3 to Oct. 8.
Graphics by Madison Helms
Direction of gun legislation divides national opinion JENSAN BAUMAN staff writer As stated in the Second Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, American citizens are granted the right to bear arms. However, as this was written in 1789, how does it relate to gun policies today in 2019? Gun control reforms have been a huge talking point in this country and are very controversial, especially as many people have strong, opposing opinions. Gun owners have a variety of reasons to own guns, including personal protection, sport or hunting. Many people agree that owning guns is their constitutional right. On the other hand, many people feel that guns are hurting the country and stricter policies should be enforced. According to Pew Research Center, “solid majorities of both gun owners and non-owners favor limiting access to guns for people with mental illnesses and individuals who are on the federal no-fly or watch lists.”
Pew Research Center also states that Republicans are more resistant to new gun laws and the ban of assault weapons than Democrats. Some restrictions are currently in place on ‘the right to bear arms.’ Individuals must be 18 or older to obtain a shotgun/rifle and ammunition, while all other firearms, such as handguns, are sold to those 21 and older. Fugitives, those in mental institutions and those who are deemed a threat to society are unable to purchase guns. Ohio governor Mike Dewine recently suggested a new plan for gun laws in the state known as the STRONG Ohio Bill. This bill is meant to protect citizens from violence, while still protecting constitutional rights. STRONG stands for safety protection orders, thorough background checks, rigorous due process, ongoing help to those in crisis, new state background checks and greater penalties for gun crimes. Guns in America remain a hot button topic, with many differing opinions on how and to whom they should be sold.
”Yes. Taking away guns will not solve any problems.” - 8th grade
“Yes. I hunt and the ratio from gun deaths to other deaths is not even close.” -11th grade
Are you satisfied with current gun laws in the U.S.? Why or why not? “No, it’s easy to bypass a background check and people have no use for AR or AK Pattern rifles.” -10th grade
“No. You need to get certain training and present a hunting license to get certain types of guns. You should also have to get insurance for damage that happens with your guns.” -11th grade
“No opinion. In some cases, I think it’s necessary for people to have guns.” -11th grade “No. The current gun laws don’t keep us safe.” -11th grade “No, because more mass shootings are happening throughout the nation, and the “Yes. They could be better, but guns only way to solve this problem are not the problem, people are.” is to increase effectiveness of -11th grade gun control.” -10th grade “No. People are dying.” -11th grade
“Yes, I do believe that the requirement to get a firearm should be more restrictive; however, people who want one will find a way to get it anyways.” -12th grade Responses collected by Sophie Gamble, Jensan Bauman, Tyler Keating, Bryn Savidge, Mya Vandegrift and Lena Wiebe on Oct. 3-4, Oct. 7-8.
A&E
THE WOOSTER BLADE | OCT. 11 2019 | PAGE 10
Joker: Hollywood’s blockbuster film motivates broader discussions Gritty story thrills despite unfair criticism LEO RILEY a&e editor Joker has received overlyharsh criticism since its release Oct. 4, but it is my belief that it is because it was so much more than what most reviewers were expecting, something beyond a superhero movie, a real story.
The story of Joker follows Arthur Fleck, who is an aspiring comedian and clown who lives with, and takes care of, his mother. The key piece that sets this story apart from others is the focus on Arthur’s mental illnesses and how they make Arthur an unreliable narrator, with what you are seeing on screen not always being reality. The message of the movie is
daring and uncompromising, tackling themes of classism, mob mentality and mental illness just to name a few. This new, grittier take on the D.C. universe balances the established story of the characters and new bold ideas very well, with just enough moments of fan service to make D.C. fans smile without just remaking the same movie once again.
Controversy over violence in Hollywood and gun laws overshadows Joker debut ALEC PAULEY on campus editor
On July 20, 2012, a mass shooting occurred inside a Century 16 movie theater in Aurora, Colorado, during a screening of the film The Dark Knight Rises. The victims, survivors and family of those who passed, have reached out to Warner Bros. yet again with concern of their newest film Joker, which was released in theaters Oct. 4. According to an article written in The New York Times titled
“Families of Aurora Shooting Victims Express Concern About ‘Joker,’” relatives and friends of those killed in the shooting sent a letter to Warner Bros. studio saying, “When we learned that Warner Bros. was releasing a movie called ‘Joker’ that presents the character as a protagonist with a sympathetic origin story, it gave us pause.” The letter continued: “We want to be clear that we support your right to free speech and free expression. But as anyone who has ever seen a comic book movie can tell you: With great power comes
great responsibility. That’s why we’re calling on you to use your massive platform and influence to join us in our fight to build safer communities with fewer guns.” According to The New York Times, Warner Bros. responded to the letter with a public statement. The statement explained that Warner Bros. has donated to victims of violence in the past, specifically those of the Aurora shootings. A 2012 article titled “The studio behind ‘The Dark Knight Rises’ has been in contact
Graphic by Corinne Wiles The technical side of the movie is also impressive. The score and the cinematography stand out especially, both being used to their fullest by representing parallel moments, as well as representing Arthur’s innerthoughts. The best part of the movie is, without question, Joaquin Phoenix and his portrayal of the titular character, one that
rivals even Heath Ledger’s infamous performance in The Dark Knight. Phoenix is not the only standout among the cast either as both Robert De Niro and Zazie Beetz impress. With a stellar cast and a brilliant take on an existing character, Joker is a brilliant movie, not given the chance to flourish because of negative reviews from critics.
with the state governor’s office and will make a lump sum contribution” from The Hollywood Reporter discusses Warner Bros. response to the Aurora shooting, by saying the studio never released exactly how much was donated, but said, “the fund distributed money across several charities that supported victims of the July 20 killing spree.” Igor Volsky, executive director of the anti-violence advocacy group “Guns Down America,” helped write the letter that was sent to Warner Bros. He had said in a telephone interview with The New York Times that he had not yet seen Joker, but the trailers and online reactions to festival screenings have prompted the letter being written. Igor added that he agrees
with the studies that show that there is no direct link between violence in movies and in the real world. Igor concludes saying, “Everyone else in our peer countries see the same movies and play the same video games, yet we are the ones with the high rates of violence. The reason for this is that guns in America are way too easy to get. That is the source of the problem, and that’s what we are asking companies to do: Help build safer communities with fewer guns.” According to an NBC News article discussing Joker’s post release statistics, despite any of the mounting controversy, the R-rated movie scored $93.5 million over the weekend and stands as the biggest October movie release of all time.
THE WOOSTER BLADE | A&E | OCT. 11, 2019 | PAGE 11
Ninja opens new possibilities for gaming influencers REECE MITCHELL co-editor-in-chief Gamer Tyler Blevins, also known as “Ninja” took the gaming industry by storm bringing streaming and professional gaming to new heights. In an interview in 2018, Ninja announced he makes over $500,000 a month from sponsorships with Redbull, Adidas and his new switch over
to the streaming platform mixer. The 28-year-old streamer has done things non-gamers have only dreamed of, including: getting an endorsement deal with Red Bull, being the first gamer to be on the cover of ESPN Magazine as the latest cover athlete and signing a multi-year apparel deal with Adidas, which has not only set himself up for success, but has also opened the doors to success for a lot of other gamers around
the world. Ninja, who is probably most famous for playing the game Fortnite, has worked hard to get to where he is today. According to CNBC’s interview with Ninja, he started streaming Aug. 18, 2012, where he began, with no followers, the same way as every other streamer. Working day and night, Ninja attended college, had a job at Noodles and Company and was part-time streaming at
night. Just as his career was getting more promising and his popularity was growing, he had a retinal detachment in his right eye that could have caused blindness. With his injury, he could not provide entertainment for his viewers, which unfortunately, led to a major loss of audience. However, with his competitive nature and comedic personality, Ninja soon gained back his audience and way more, so he could drop out of college and go full time in streaming. Playing with popular celebrities and athletes, including Drake, Travis Scott and JuJu Smith-Schuster, Ninja has earned his way to the next level of entertainment. Making a reported $500,000 a month, according to CNBC, through donations, sponsorships and his partnership with the streaming platform Mixer, Ninja is one of the highest paid, if not the highest paid, gamer in the world. Ninja has also used his
talent to support charities, as he has helped raise over $2.7 million to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital during GuardianCon’s pre-event charity games according to trendingallday.com.
Ninja Info to Go: 1.Won content creator of the year award in 2018. 2. Won Twitch streamer of the year award in 2019 Information compiled from esportsawards.com
app climbs to the top Graphics by Madison Helms
MOLLY SNYDER staff writer On Sept. 25, Nintendo released one of its most popular games to the app store, Mario Kart Tour.
Not shockingly, Mario Kart Tour passed Pokémon Go, the former holder of most downloads in the first 24 hours, in first-day downloads on the app store. The app allows players to collect drivers, cars and gliders as they progress through cups consisting of three races and one mini game. The more people play, the better they rank in races, and the more points, or stars, they get which can be used to unlock new cups and prizes. Although the app generally
meets the standard set by fans across the globe, there are some grievances. An example of a common complaint is that there is no multiplayer option yet, so the most interaction players have with friends is comparing their ranking. Another problem is that the game is more or less pay to win. In order to get more points per race, some drivers have more advantages and can unlock frenzy mode, which gives the most points in a race. The easiest way to get these
drivers is to buy them with money. A gold pass can also be purchased, which unlocks even more opportunities to collect points. Also with the gold pass, there is no limit of coins and experience earned per day, which without paying is 300 coins per day. Overall, the app is enjoyable and addictive, and with new updates promised in the near future, Mario Kart Tour is bound to surpass its expectations.
Mario Kart Info to Go: 1. Ranked as third in the app store for most popular free game in less than a month. 2. Currently rated 4.8/5 3. Had 90 million downloads in first week. Information compiled from gamespot.com
SPORTS
THE WOOSTER BLADE | OCT. 11, 2019 | PAGE 12
Girls XC team consists of young talent ASHTON DUNLAP staff writer The WHS girls cross country team, coached by Cassandra Gasser, is nearing the end of their season and looks to perform well at the conference meet and in the postseason. According to captain Melina Mera (12), the team needs to focus on the end of the season. “Yes, our team has been working hard to improve all
season, but we really need to start kicking it in for our upcoming meets,” Mera said. Mera says the current team is very young, which can put them at a disadvantage. “I’m the only senior on the team, and the rest of the team mostly consists of freshmen,
so our team is very young this year. We do have some very promising and talented underclassmen, but our young team puts us at a disadvantage,” Mera said. Marion Dix (10) said she believes that the team has had a good season so far, regardless of age. “I think that the team has been performing really well so far this season and that everyone is trying
their hardest to benefit the team and achieve their personal goals,” Dix said. The team will compete in the Ohio Cardinal Conference meet Oct. 12 and the district meet Oct. 19. “We are hoping to be competitive in OCCs; Lexington is a powerhouse, so we’re just hoping to compete with them and do our best,” Gasser said. Members of the girls cross country team hope for a positive end to the season and hope to perform well at OCCs and in the postseason.
goal of making it to regionals,” Miller said. Miller was very hopeful in the team’s chances and fully expects to meet their goal. “If all of us run a good race, I know we definitely can make it,” Miller said about his expectations for the coming final weeks of the season. JV’s final meet at Lexington, on Oct. 12, marks the end of the season for most of the boys, but the varsity team has at least two more meets, according to Rumen Zdravchev (10), a varsity runner. Depending on their
performance at the districts meet, they could advance to regionals, and maybe even states. Before their district meet, the boys also are competing in the OCC meet and are hoping to improve upon their performance last year and, hopefully, win once again, according to Zdravchev. The boys cross country team hopes for a positive end to their season and hopes to perform well at the districts meet and further into the postseason.
TYLER KEATING
Julia Hootman (11), Ellie Snider (10), Audrey Miller (9) and Beverly Miller (10) run in a pack at the Wooster Invite.
Boys XC eyes districts and OCCs LEO RILEY a&e editor
TYLER KEATING
The WHS boys cross country team is seen leading the pack at the beginning of the race at the Wooster XC invitational.
The boys cross country team, led by coach Douglas Bennett, is in the last lap of their season and closing in on the finish fast. According to the boys team captain Evan Miller (12), the team needs to focus on making it out of districts. “Recently, our team has been doing well. If we continue to all run great, we can get to our
Girls tennis closes on strong season BRYN SAVIDGE a&e editor On Sept. 28, the girls varsity tennis team at WHS competed in the annual OCC tournament. The team entered the tournament with an undefeated record in regular season. According to varsity coach Stan Burris, the team was set up to win the tournament, something the girls team had yet to accomplish. However, the team finished the day with second place. Yet their placement is nevertheless an accomplishment.
All players received medals in their events, with Sophia Mathur (10) taking third, Audrey Cochran (11) receiving second and Minnie Pozefsky (9) earning second, in first, second and third singles, respectively. Skyy Khounborin (12) and Macey Dillon (11) placed third in second doubles, and Rheanna Velasquez (12) and Emma Boreman (10) were crowned champions in first doubles. “It is unusual for everyone to earn a medal...this is the strongest team we’ve had in the last 10 years,” Burris commented. Reflecting back on the
tournament, co-captain Rheanna Velasquez said, “I’m really going to miss the team because this season has been one of the best.” The varsity team finished their season competing at sectionals Oct. 1. Velasquez and Boreman advanced to the second round in doubles and Pozefsky advanced to the second round in singles. In response to the team’s performance at sectionals, co-captain Skyy Khounborin states, “Everyone performed very well and even though we didn’t get the outcome we wanted, we should still be very proud about how we did in the
PHOTO COURTESY OF JOE RUBINO
The WHS girls tennis team poses for a picture after receiving second at the OCC tournament on Saturday, Oct. 27 at the College of Wooster. accomplishes next season due normal season.” Khounborin said she is to the remaining and growing excited to see what the team talent within team members.
THE WOOSTER BLADE | SPORTS | OCT. 11, 2019 | PAGE 13
Boys golf concludes season with 6-3 record
In a match against Madison High School on Sept. 29, varsity player Christie Fransen (9) scored two of Wooster’s three goals during the game.
REECE MITCHELL co-editor-in-chief
HANNAH LOGIUDICE
Girls soccer reflects on team growth over season SIERRA DEWALD staff writer The 2019 girls soccer season is drawing to a close, with one playoff game left. Their record for regular season games is 8-5. Coach Charles Cerniglia reflected on the season, stating, “The team is very new this year,” and overall, “we are very happy with how well we’ve done.” Cerniglia furthers that he has
seen the group really grow into a team over the course of the season with, “a wonderful group of seniors that have shared the leadership roles.” One of those seniors is Tanisha Steele, who reflects on four years of soccer by saying, “It’s weird being one of the oldest on the team . . . I’ve always looked up to all the older girls since freshman year, but now I’m one of the older girls that people depend on. It’s a good feeling, but also
scary.” Steele adds, “I’ll always remember the laughs and tears I’ve shared with my teammates the last four years.” Sophia Baxstrom (9), joining the team for the first time this year, said, “At first, I was pretty nervous about playing with upperclassmen, but I had some friends in the same situation, so I didn’t fear it as much. It also helped that I had played before with the coach when I was in seventh and eighth grade.”
Baxstrom adds that her favorite thing about soccer is the spontaneity of play within the game and the energy that comes from having the rest of the team cheering on the sidelines. When asked what the team did well this season, Cerniglia highlighted playing defense, while Steele and Baxstrom both pointed to excellent teamwork and effort from everyone. The final playoff game is taking place at Green Oct. 15.
Boys soccer team completes season with eight wins MADDY MCCULLY co-editor-in-chief The boys soccer team has a current overall record of 8-6-2 and a conference record of 3-21. J.P. Lytle, boys head coach, says they have had an intentionally difficult schedule this year, wanting to challenge themselves since the team has talent and ability. Lytle also said he is impressed with the senior leadership of the team and notes that leadership has been one of
their biggest improvements this season. “The senior class, as a whole, has stepped up and led this team from the start. Their intensity, teamwork and camaraderie has pushed this team to new heights,” Lytle said. Tyler Strand-Fox (12), one of the team captains, says one of his goals is to secure second place in the OCCs. Strand-Fox also acknowledged their strengths as a team, including being better conditioned at the beginning
of the season and allowing more technical training to start earlier. Although he commented on many strengths, Strand-Fox also recognized they have room for improvement. “We still need to work on our team defending, communication and staying mentally strong all throughout the game regardless of the score,” Strand-Fox said. Co-captain Xavier Lubell (12) says one of his favorite parts of the season is the relationship all of the players have built. “The teams worked really
hard this season and have overcome many obstacles. Really proud of the bond all the boys have together,” Lubell said. Lytle is excited about the upcoming playoff tournament, stating, “We have played majority of the teams in our district this year and they have all been tough contests. We are excited to see where we fall and have put ourselves in a great position to beat anyone.” The team played their last regular season game Oct. 5 and will start playoffs Oct. 16.
The 2019 boys golf team finished their season off 6-3 overall and went 4-2 in the OCC. The Generals took second in the OCC regular season, being led by veteran senior Mason Frazier, whose individual season is just concluded after falling short in districts on Wednesday. As for the team’s season, head coach John Karamas says the team had a, “roller coaster season. Starting off well with multiple runner-up finishes and a tournament win, then enduring a low stretch and battling back to finish strong.” Karamas says the team had a couple of really important wins, with one being the Colt Classic at Deer Ridge Golf Course, in which the team took first out of 14 teams. Some other great finishes for the team, according to Karamas, included two runnerup finishes at the Park Mazda Invitational and the Galion Invitational. In looking at what the team could have improved on throughout the season, Frazier says the team could have, “had more of a positive attitude throughout the season.” Frazier also added that team chemistry was something that gradually got better as the year progressed, with Henry Nebesky joining the team for his senior year. Frazier says the highlight of the year for the team was winning the tournament and how his team came together at the end of the year to finish strong.
TRENDS
THE WOOSTER BLADE | OCT. 11, 2019 | PAGE 14
College officials share the importance of
Graphic by Corinne Wiles
ANNA NACCI & BRYN SAVIDGE cover editor & trends editor
With many students beginning the college application process, most are providing schools with transcripts, test scores and essays. However, another component, social media, might be considered. A 2018 study by Kaplan Test Prep entitled “Social Media Checks by College Admissions Officers Decline Due to Savvier Applicants and Shifting Attitudes,” found that 25 percent of admissions officers review applicants’ social media accounts. While not overwhelming, the statistic opens up a conversation about how a student’s online persona can affect college admissions. Luke Armour, Assistant Professor of Journalism and Mass Communications and Coordinator of Flash Communications at Kent State University, prefaces the conversation of personal branding by explaining a “personal brand.” “A brand is the sum total of
all the experiences you’ve had with it,” Armour says. Similarly, a personal brand is formed by one’s interactions with another person. The Digital Marketing Institute writes in an article entitled “10 Steps to Building Your Personal Brand on Social Media”, “...the content you create, share or react to feeds into this public narrative. How you conduct yourself online is now just as important as your behavior offline.” Many students may present their best selves on applications, but they could be unaware of whom may come across their social media accounts. These people can be fellow high school students and admission counselors. In fact, Cathy Finks, Senior Associate Director of Admissions and Director of Campus Relations at the College of Wooster, says that an applicant’s social media could impact their chances of being admitted when they apply to the College of Wooster. In order to protect one’s personal brand, Finks says one’s personal brand should, “match your core attributes /
values. Just like how you can express yourself in a college essay, your social media should promote your uniqueness and help to amplify your story.” In a few cases, acceptance offers have even been rescinded due to a student’s misconduct online, explains Jennifer Winge, the Dean of Admissions at The College of Wooster. However, Winge points out that “with thousands of applications to review, most admission professionals simply don’t have time to take that step [of reviewing an applicant’s social media] unless something else in the application points to a concern. [Regardless,] students should think twice before posting or commenting anything controversial or inappropriate.” However, the most important thing, Winge says, is that students are authentic through various parts of the application process. While creating a positive personal brand online is beneficial, Winge states, “we hope to learn about your ‘personal brand’ through faceto-face or other interpersonal interactions.”
Establishing Positive Relationships:
Business owners give insight on building a reputable brand ELLIE SNIDER staff writer Luke Armour, associate professor at Kent State University, School of Journalism and Mass Communication, came to WHS on Aug. 22 to discuss branding with the BLADE staff. According to Armour, the development of a positive business model starts with building trust between the business and its consumers. People remember the positive
or negative experiences they have with a business or company. “A brand is more than just a logo. A brand is the sum total of all the experiences you have,” Armour says. When experiences are consistently good, trust between the customer and the company grows. This idea of making sure that customers have positive experiences is something that business owners make a priority. Ryan Kuzma, owner of Linn
enterprises, is a perfect example. “When my wife, Kelly and I bought Linn enterprises from my wife’s parents, we thought about changing the name. However, we realized that it would be in our best interest to keep the name and the good reputation that came with it,” Kuzma said. By keeping the name, they were able to keep the brand that the business had built, as well as the trust with past customers. Natasha Wood, the owner of Jump N’ Shout and Acres of Fun,
also recognizes the importance of her business’ brand. “I want [my customers] to think ‘Jump N Shout, that place is so fun, and so clean, and my kids have a great time there,” Wood said. Wood and other business owners work hard to build trust between their company and the consumers. Another way Woods builds her brand is by having wonderful staff members who, as she says, “greet [customers] when they first come in and are there for
them when they need them.” This facet is something that Kuzma prioritizes as well. “I sit down with my workers and make sure they understand the importance of bringing their best to each interaction. If they are helpful and positive, it builds that trust between our business and the public,” he says. Wood and Kuzma both build trust between their companies and consumers by creating unique brands and positive experiences.
VIEWS
THE WOOSTER BLADE | OCT. 11, 2019 | PAGE 15
COW Hosts “A Conversation with Pharrel Williams” PHOTO COURTESY OF LAUREN CRUM
The WHS girls tennis team competes in a tug-of-war game with the cheer team during the Homecoming pep rally. In the championship, the teachers won. So far this fall season, each sport has been included in activities. This has been accomplished by fun games in which sports teams can compete against each other.
The Importance of Pep Rallies:
editor discusses benefits of school spirit “IT IS IMPORTANT TO BRING THE STUDENT BODY AND THE FACULTY TOGETHER TO ENCOURAGE SCHOOL SPIRIT.” PAULINA SALAZAR views editor Pep rallies are school assemblies hosted to bring school spirit before a sporting event. WHS hosts pep rallies to recognize the student athletes of the season and to celebrate Homecoming and other major school events. The Frontline, a student group that assists with school spirit and events, helps coordinate pep rallies with Student Council. Reece Mitchell (12), who serves as one of Frontline’s co-leaders, spoke on why pep rallies are important to WHS. “I think they bring the school together, and it’s a time to celebrate all of our hard work and achievements that our
sports and clubs have done and gotten,” Mitchell said. Pep rallies celebrate the student athletes and the clubs of the current season, which is important to acknowledge the effort put into their work. Mitchell also said we should continue to host pep rallies because, “[they help] bring the school together and recognize our faculty members along with our students for their achievements.” It is important to bring the student body and the faculty together to encourage school spirit. A 2014 study conducted by Harris Poll and Varsity Brands stated that high school students who show school spirit are more likely to perform better academically. The study also reported that those students with more school spirit felt more
connected to their high school and their peers. Ben Watson (10), a member of the WHS marching band, talked about the marching band’s role in pep rallies. “I feel that we, the marching band, get people excited for the pep rally as they enter into the gym,” Watson said. He also explained why he believes pep rallies are essential. “I feel they are important for keeping school spirit going throughout the school year and they’re a good way of making school more than just learning.” Unity is important among students and faculty, and pep rallies help achieve that by encouraging school spirit. Pep rallies are important to unite our school, recognize our students and faculty and to overall help improve academics.
ANNA NACCI cover editor Pharrell Williams visited the College of Wooster for “A Conversation with Pharrell Williams” held in McGaw Chapel on Aug. 28. COW President Sarah Bolton asked Williams about everything from his music education to his new clothing partnership with Adidas. One topic that was brought up was Williams’s music festival, “Something in the Water,” which was hosted in Virginia Beach on April 26, 27 and 28. Within talking about his festival, Williams mentioned how he refused to host his festival in Virginia Beach unless he could be sure they were treating minorities properly. To ensure that minorities were treated fairly, Williams charged “a comparable dollar in activation, whether its panels, or resources, for the [minority members of the] community,” he said. Williams took a large career risk when charging big corporations with such a task. It is great that he was able to bring not only music to the city of Virginia Beach, but also a larger chance of political and social change. For the most part, whenever celebrities try to get involved in another area that is not what
gained them fame, they are told to stick to whatever their source of fame is, or stay in their lane. However, it is important for those who have gained notoriety and fame to use their platform for change. Through advocating for change, celebrities become more than just musicians, or actors, they become those who can affect real change. Celebrities have a unique opportunity to affect change, as they can represent what not only their fan base, but many Americans, believe from a distinct position of cultural influence, giving them the ability to educate and make politicians aware of issues. Aside from politics, Williams also believes everyone, not just celebrities, should not confine themselves to one area of interest or skill. “I believe that we are all pluralists,” he said, “We can all do many things...I never really saw myself as one thing...So I would encourage you guys to do everything, and don’t let anyone stop you” he said. I completely agree with Williams in the sense that we are all more than one thing. It is important for celebrities and those without fame alike to embrace everything that interests them or brings them joy. However, most importantly, regardless of who we are and what our social influence is, we should all just be ourselves and also be willing to recognize our differences as not necessarily dividing factors, but as, in reality, uniting qualities. When we, as students and community members, celebrate every part of ourselves, we will truly be happy and able to affect change in our lives and in our broader community.
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 | OCT. 11, 2019 | PAGE 16
OUR VIEW
Education needed before participating in discussions Greta Thunberg, a 16-year-old Swedish climate activist who spoke before the United Nations last week, is the target of a flood of online abuse, scores of misinformation and conspiracy theories. She has made a name for herself through her Fridays for Future campaign, where she skips school on each Friday to strike around the world to raise awareness about climate change. Since the beginning of her strikes in 2018, she has been faced with critics who would rather comment on her appearance rather than her argument; her Asperger syndrome rather than her speeches; and gossip about her family rather than engage in productive conversation about her message. Thunberg is clearly not mentally ill, a supporter of the Islamic State terrorist group or financier George Soros’ granddaughter, as some have suggested. What she is, is a teenager who cares about the future of the world in which we live, and the effects that humans have on it.
But, attacking people’s surface appearance rather than their actual arguments or point-of-view is a common mistake in civil discussion. The common pattern in today’s political rhetoric is hating rather than educating. We hate the things we cannot understand, so we do not educate ourselves, and we hate on the people who do not understand our point-of-view, instead of teaching them. Online harassment in place of discussion, unfortunately, is not new or unique to Thunberg. From judging a book by its cover to completely generalizing a group of people, today’s political discussions are filled with ad hominem attacks. These attacks are especially prevalent on online platforms through social media. It is so much easier to hide behind a screen when making defamatory statements because, somehow, non-face-toface discussion has been equated to impersonal discussion. In 2017, the Pew Research Center report found that 18 percent of
Americans said they were targeted with severe online harassment. For young people, the numbers are even worse, with about half of 18- to 29-year-olds saying they experienced some kind of severe harassment online in 2018. Often, we attack what we can see, rather than a complex argument we may not be able to understand. So, how can we have a productive discussion about civic engagement without feeling the need to use ad hominem attacks? The Wooster Blade Editorial Board believes we, as individuals, must first seek to understand, then to be understood. Second, we should educate ourselves before making assumptions. And third, we must realize that hating rather than educating is no way to make the world a better place. Social media should be a place for people to learn and teach about what they care and not exist as a place for arguments, ad hominem attacks and hatred to be proliferated.
Taking out the trash: fans need to learn respect
TYLER KEATING staff writer Football games are one of the most highly attended events at WHS. One of the big features at these games is the Wooster student section, the Frontline. While the Frontline does an
excellent job, year round, showing school spirit and encouraging our teams, having a large group of students in one place has other, unintended consequences. Unfortunately, it has become a common sight to see a few seniors staying after everyone else has left, cleaning up all the trash that other students have left behind. If not for these students, that trash would be left for our custodians, who already have to clean up after the other fans who come to watch the game. One potential issue that could be at the root of the problem is a lack of easily accessible trash cans. If students do not have a trash can near them, they are far more likely to just drop their trash at their feet than actually go looking for a trash
can to throw things away. Leaving trash is not just an issue with the student section, either. Students in the band are also culpable, and littering is not just an issue at sporting events, but at all activities and extracurriculars. As a student body, it seems like we just do not have enough respect for our school to keep our grounds clean. There are things that could be done to help keep things clean. More trash cans could help, but the main issue at hand is a mental attitude. The few students who are helping are doing a great job, but it should not be on them to pick up everyone else’s trash. So this Friday, show some respect for the school and its grounds, and make sure to clean up after yourself.