THE WOOSTER BLADE WOOSTER HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT NEWSPAPER • 515 OLDMAN ROAD, WOOSTER, OH • DEC. 6, 2019 • VOLUME XX, ISSUE 6
Examining the roots of traditional values within communities
Artwork by Olivia VanSickle
On Campus 2-3 • Feature 4 • Focus 5-6 • Cover 7-8 • Sports 9• Trends 10-12 • A&E 13-14 • Views 15-16
ON CAMPUS
THE WOOSTER BLADE | DEC. 6, 2019 | PAGE 2
Student teachers and field students enrich WHS classrooms, their education and high school students ASHTON DUNLAP staff writer Every year, students from various colleges and universities around Ohio travel to work in WHS classrooms. These students are either student teachers or field students. Sarah Dunlap, Director of Field, Assessment and Candidate Engagement at the College of Wooster, distinguishes the difference between the two titles. “Student teachers are in their final teaching placement for a minimum of 12 weeks before getting their license, while field students are placed in the classroom to observe and teach before they become a student teacher,” Dunlap said. Kendall Lloyd, a student teacher in Math Dept. member Christine Mascotti-Rasor’s room during first semester says student teaching is very important because it develops college students who will, most likely, become teachers.
“Student teachers are important because they hope to become teachers one day or work with younger people. It is important for them to work with a mentor teacher and gain real life experience for their future,” Lloyd said. Lloyd is now one step away from earning a major in education and emphasizes how enjoyable her time at WHS was. “I loved being a student teacher. I am sad it went by so quickly and my time at WHS is over. I loved the experience because of the students. They made it such a rewarding and fun experience. I tried to make an impact on each one of them like they had on me. It is exciting to know that I am close to having a classroom and students of my own, though,” Lloyd said. Teachers also recognize the importance of student teachers and field students in their classrooms. Social Studies Dept. member Joel Schmidt had two student teachers in his room during the first semester.
Diane Mealey receives teaching recognition LUKE POMFRET staff writer English Dept. member Diane Mealey, who has worked for the WCS district for 20 years, recently won the 2019
Outstanding Educator award on behalf of The University of Chicago. In hand with what the biggest factor is that has helped her to be successful in life, Mealey says, “I value my work ethic, and I try to consider other people’s
“I LOVED BEING A STUDENT TEACHER. I AM SAD IT WENT BY SO QUICKLY AND MY TIME AT WHS IS OVER. I LOVED THE EXPERIENCE BECAUSE OF THE STUDENTS. THEY MADE IT SUCH A REWARDING AND FUN EXPERIENCE,” LLOYD SAID.
RUMEN ZDRAVCHEV
Sean Domonkos of the University of Akron was a student teacher at WHS during the first semester for History Dept. member Scott Miller. “Student teaching and field experience are very important because it provides them with an opportunity to work in the classroom, and get important experience in front of students and to start learning all of the various tasks that high school teachers accomplish everyday. These types of tasks are not possible to replicate in a college setting, so student teaching
and field experience are vitally important,” Schmidt said. According to Schmidt and Lloyd, student teachers and field students are very important to general education, both in the present and in the future. It not only helps the college students work for their degree, but it gives high school students a chance to see what it takes to become a teacher.
points of view.” “work hard, try and Mealey highlights that don’t be afraid of empathy is key. failure; you learn from Along with working your mistakes.” with students, Brett Hiner, Mealey says that English Dept. being organized member, says and having effective he admires time management M e a l e y ’ s skills has devotion to helped her to be the craft of successful. teaching, “When Mealey says that a teacher does Graphic by Madison Helms her philosophy their job toward work is, well, they
develop a style. Her style is unique to who she is as a teacher and as a person.” Hiner also mentions that he and Mealey collaborate often and he cannot imagine, “muddling through the years without her.” Mealey says many great educators have helped her form a teaching style and she would like to thank her parents for teaching her how to work hard and not use excuses. Mealey would also like to thank her family.
Schmidt says the opportunity for student teachers to teach allows for them to learn from their own experiences.
THE WOOSTER BLADE | ON CAMPUS | DEC. 6, 2019 | PAGE 3
WHS hosts the third annual Tower Takeover tournament SOPHIE GAMBLE business manager WHS served as host for the Tower Takeover VEX HS/MS Qualifier robotics tournament on Nov. 23. In this event, 28 Ohio teams participated, five of which were teams from the Wooster City School District. The tournament included two competition fields and one skill and practice field, according to the Robotics Education and Competition Foundation’s website. Benjamin Flinner (11), member of Wooster Robotics’ Prestige Worldwide, said he was pleased with how well his team did on Saturday. “We did well overall. Our autonomous [program] worked well. We just have to work on maintaining control of the match,” Flinner said. Hayden Frank (11), who is also a member of Wooster Robotics’ Prestige Worldwide, said he
“WE JUST HAVE TO WORK ON MANTAINING CONTROL OF THE MATCH,” FLINNER SAID. expects to advance to states this year and has the goal of advancing to the 2019 VEX Robotics World Championship, as there is no national competition. Wooster’s coach for the past three years has been Jacob Melrose, Science Dept. member and STEM program teacher. Melrose notes it is important for the Robotics program to host an event like this competition, as it helps raise funds for the team so that they can attend different competitions. The tournament has been hosted by WHS for the past two years, Melrose said.
LEO RILEY
WHS hosted the Tower Takeover VEX HS / MS Qualifier robotics tournament for the third year in a row on Nov. 23. The tournament involved 28 participating teams from Ohio, with five teams from the Wooster City School District. This year, the event was opened up to middle school teams, some of which included Wooster’s General Domination and Yuhmum’s Spaghetts. Wooster’s System Overload team lost in the final round of the competition, but managed
to qualify for the state tournament, which takes place in early March 2020. General Disappointment won a design award and qualified for the state tournament as well, according to Melrose. Christina Sayre (12),
member of Wooster’s General Disappointment team, says that the team’s rankings were bad, but as a team, they performed well. Sayre said she hopes the team is able to have a good robot for states.
FEATURE
THE WOOSTER BLADE | DEC. 6, 2019 | PAGE 4
Students explore alternatives to college and pursue career readiness According to The Economic Policy Institute, almost two-thirds of people in the labor force do not hold a college degree. The Wooster Blade sought to investigate local programs helping students transition into the workforce without a traditional college degree. TYLER KEATING staff writer Recently, many large businesses have made it known that it is not necessary to have a college degree in order to get a job. A 2018 survey of 750 hiring leaders by insidehighered. com found that 23 percent of respondents are de-emphasizing degrees and, instead, looking for specific skills that pertain to the job, while another 39 percent of poll respondents are considering a similar move. According to a Dec. 2 Forbes article by Bernhard Schroeder entitled “Gen Z Evaluates Going To College Or Getting Important Job-Based Certifications. Why Certain Careers Might Be Better Suited To Certifications,” many businesses are recruiting based on skill instead of degrees. “Google, Apple, Hilton, Lowes, Nordstrom and IBM go out of their way to let candidates know they are looking for talent, not necessarily degrees… If your career is related to online marketing, data analytics, security, e-commerce or cloud, certifications from brands like
Microsoft, Hubspot, Adobe, Salesforce, Google, and a few others will get you more than noticed. It just might get you the job or the promotion,” the article said. The only issue with companies looking for skill, rather than education, is that a typical high school setting does not give students the knowledge necessary to immediately join the workforce after graduation. Providing knowledge, skill development and experiences necessary for a lifetime of personal and professional growth is the mission of the Wayne County Schools Career Center. Their website states that WCSCC currently offers 25 career-tech programs for high school students, as well as two RAMTEC (Robotics & Advanced Manufacturing Technology Education Collaborative) programs that focus on robotics and manufacturing. One of the big draws for students to attend the career center is money. Alisha Musser, the Student Services Administrative Assistant at WCSCC, says that by attending WCSCC, students are able to get a job without any college
debts and are able to make money while in high school by working for part of the school day in order to earn elective credits while getting paid. Musser recommends that underclassmen seriously consider the Career Center as an option, saying, “students put in way less money, and they can find out if they like the career they are thinking of. If they do not like it, they have not put in all the money that they would if they got a degree through a college. Also, they can still take the exams and have that certification to fall back on.” Holly Pope serves as the Transition Coordinator at WHS, but also oversees the Work Study program. In the program, students are given the opportunity to work during the school day and earn elective credits, while also earning money and gaining job experience. Pope also says students are able to job shadow with local businesses, stating, “Our goal is to find out what they[students] want to do, and figure out how we get them there.” Blake Yates (12) is a student in the Work Study program. He is at WHS for the first three
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Students give opinions on attending college versus following career paths During the week of Dec. 2, a poll was distributed to 130 WHS students by Jensen Bauman and Grace Brownson to explore their opinions on following a career path as opposed to attending college.
79% 21% 79%
of poll respondents plan on attending college after graduating from high school of poll respondents plan on going directly into the career field after graduation
of poll respondents believe it is better to attend college than follow a career path
periods of the day, and then goes to work for the rest of the day. Yates enjoys the program because it helps him, “focus on working in my field to prepare for having after high school instead of getting a degree that
I do not use.” As businesses are increasingly looking not at college degrees, but at job-specific skills, it is important to consider alternatives to a classic high school education.
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FOCUS
THE WOOSTER BLADE | DEC. 6, 2019 | PAGE 5
House Bill 164 would allow students to include religion in schoolwork LENA WIEBE focus editor Last November, the Ohio House of Representatives passed House Bill 164, otherwise entitled the Ohio Student Religious Liberties Act of 2019. According to the current text of the bill, found at legislature. ohio.gov, the bill would allow students in public schools religious expression outside of non-instructional time periods, give religious student groups the same access to resources as secular groups, and would prevent students from being punished for including expression of their religion in their schoolwork. Mandy Minick, Deputy
Director of Communications and Press Secretary for the Ohio Department of Education, wrote that in the status quo, “... for most of these situations, the decisions rest with local school administrators and local school boards. In most instances, the state department of education doesn’t prescribe specific procedures unless required to do so by legislation.” According to an article in The Columbus Dispatch written by Cathy Candisky, titled “Ohio House passes bill it says will protect students’ religious liberties at school,” sponsor of the bill Rep. Tim Ginter, R-Salem, described the bill as, “...not an expansion but a clarification (of) what students can and cannot do in religious
expression.” The bill, however, has attracted some controversy over what its detractors claim will prevent current local control over guidelines regarding religious expression in schools. In The Columbus Dispatch article, Rep. Phillip Robinson, D-Solon, stated, “I appreciate the sentiment… But we already protect religious expression.” Opponents of the bill have also claimed it would allow students to give academically false answers or would allow religious groups to be unfairly elevated in public schools. Gary Daniels, Chief Lobbyist for the Ohio ACLU, a civil liberties group that has continuously advocated against some language and provisions
of the current bill, particularly takes issue with the provision of the bill that requires public schools to provide religious groups with the same use of school resources and time. Daniels said that “Any time that somebody engages in nonreligious speech, the school also is required under House Bill 164 to provide that same exact platform… in the same manner and to the same extent that religious speech gets, and that can tip over into public schools being less-than-neutral. We’ve had this pop up before in a case that went up to the U.S. Supreme court years back, for instance, about students using the public address system to deliver a religious message.” Jacob Dodson, pastor at the
Wooster Mennonite Church, believes in discussion and learning, saying that “A student should understand the academic content, regardless of personal dimensions. But, if this bill allows students to communicate their background and faith to teachers… I could be supportive of it.” However, Dodson continued that such a law, “Shouldn’t be able to substitute learning content,” believing that open dialogue and discussion should be emphasized in classrooms, tackling issues of religious expression. Currently, the bill is being considered by the Ohio Senate, which will vote on the issue to determine whether it is passed into law.
THE WOOSTER BLADE | FOCUS | DEC. 6, 2019 | PAGE 6
Wayne County’s dairy industry: Past, present and future co-editor-in-chief & feature editor
tradition within Wayne County and across the United States, the industry at large is not without its challenges.
WHS defensive back football coach Brett Besancon has been working in the dairy industry for 30 years. Humorously describing his job as a glorified veterinarian, Besancon explains that he primarily works to ensure the cows’ health and comfort. “If a cow is struggling with a labor, then I have to assist her in the middle of the night. Things like that -- the overall health and wellbeing of the animals -- is my number one goal every day,” Besancon said. Farming has spanned multiple generations in the family. Besancon’s father farmed with his own father prior to acquiring the Smithville property in 1967, which later became Besancon Farm, Inc. in 1993. Yet, while the passing down of family farms is a long-honored
Economic Challenges in the Dairy Industry “Like with most farming operations, you’re selling into a commodity market. Whether it’s milk or corn or soybeans, you don’t control your price… most of the businesses would say, ‘Well, my costs have gone up, so I need to charge more for my product to cover my cost.’ That doesn’t happen [in the farming industry],” Rory Lewandowski, OSU Extension educator, said. In the past year, the state of Ohio lost 161 dairy herds due to economic difficulty. The amount of dairy herds lost per year has been steadily increasing since 2014, according to Lewandowski. “Because of 2014 being a depressed market, all these things just kept compounding, compounding, compounding.
RHEANNA VELASQUEZ & MAEVE FLORENCE-SMITH
When you go on producing at a loss for so long, you eat through your farm’s equity and net worth, and so we have a lot of farms losing herds, a lot of farms going out of business. The economics are very tough for dairy farms. We are seeing that reflected in Wayne County, and it’s a trend we see across the state, across the entire United States,” Lewandowski said. Technology and Labor in the Dairy Industry While costly, technology is poised to shape the dairy industry in the future, according to Lewandowski. Identifying labor as a concern, Lewandowski explains that although vegetable and fruit production can rely on seasonal workers, but the same cannot be said of dairy farms, which operate year-round. “Where do you find labor? How do you get dependable labor? For some folks, robots are a way to address that need,”
PHOTO COURTESY OF AUDREY COCHRAN
Between 2007 and 2017, the state of Ohio averaged an annual loss of 60 dairy herds. From 2017 to 2018, 113 herds were lost, Lewandowski said. Lewandowski said. Dr. Luciana da Costa, Assistant Prof. and Extension Veterinarian of the OSU Dept. of Veterinary Preventive Medicine, observes that technology has other implications for the industry as well. In addition to alleviating some of the burden of labor, Da Costa
says that technologies are being used as preventative tools to help monitor herd health, providing data to farmers that can guide in improving cow comfort and in increasing milk production. “We’re still learning how to manage to make it better -- for the cows, and for us, and for the farmers,” da Costa said.
Local dog shelter adopts new holiday sleepover program MADDY MCCULLY co-editor-in-chief The Wayne County Dog Shelter has adopted a new program called the Holiday Sleepover Program, which allows dogs to be placed in a home to enjoy the holidays. The process, as described by their website, involves volunteers agreeing to be hosts. “Volunteers participating in our Holiday Sleepover Program for Thanksgiving and/or Christmas will arrive
at the shelter the day before the holiday to find a dog to host. They will then be responsible for that dog until the dog is returned to the shelter on the return date listed below.” Katelyn Lehman, director of the dog shelter, says the program was inspired from other shelters who have implemented holiday programs in the past. Lehman says the goal of the program is to, “...get out as many adoptable dogs out for the holidays and get them into a home.”
“IT’S SO ENJOYABLE TO GET A DOG OUT AND DISCOVER WHAT THEY ENJOY, AND THEN BE ABLE TO GIVE THEM THAT JOY, EVEN IF IT’S ONLY FOR A SHORT TIME,” FIKE SAID.
One of the benefits Lehman describes of getting dogs into a home is the feedback they receive from the volunteers, which is information they then can give to future people who want to adopt the dogs. Sheila Fike, a frequent volunteer at the shelter, says her favorite part about volunteering at the shelter is being able to give back to the dogs and interact with them.
“It’s so enjoyable to get a dog out and discover what they enjoy, and then be able to give them that joy, even if it’s only for a short time,” Fike said. Fike also states that she hopes to participate in the Holiday Sleepover Program since she believes the program is great for both the dogs and the people. To get involved in the Holiday Sleepover Program or to become a volunteer at the shelter, the shelter hosts volunteer orientations once a month on Saturdays.
COVER
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As this issue is in between the fall and winter holidays, The Wooster Blade cover staff wanted to feature traditions from both seasons. More than holidays, traditions in WHS, the College of Wooster and the broader Wooster community are also covered. In addition, the staff was eager to discuss how traditions start and evolve over time.
Use of rhetoric surrounding traditional American values undermines inclusivity
ANNA NACCI & MYA VANDEGRIFT cover editor & views editor
Upon hearing the word “tradition,” what first comes to mind is something you do periodically, whether an annual family gathering, or a holiday activity. However, in the modern American political and social landscape, tradition has taken on new meanings. From traditional family values to holiday celebrations, the idea of status quo and custom has been used to continue past practices into the future. In order to appropriately understand the current state of these traditions, it is important to distinguish negative from positive practices that are being continued. Unfortunately, some practices justified as “traditional” are those of hate and intolerance. Graeme Reid of Human Rights Watch, writes in an article
entitled “The Trouble With Tradition: When “Values” Trample Over Rights” in 2013, “In the United States in the early 1990s, ‘traditional values’ was...code for opposition to LGBT and women’s rights that [some] claimed undermined so-called family values. Today, it is familiar rhetoric of the U.S. religious right, which has used the same language to oppose gay marriage and to accuse political opponents of undermining tradition and ‘Western civilization.’” The entire webpage, when “traditional values” is entered into the search bar on the internet, are definitions and blogs about how progressive ideals and acceptance of different sexualities, religions and worldly viewpoints are a threat to our nation. In their current definitions, traditional
values are used to undermine human rights. Traditions can be a great thing that encourages togetherness, whether that includes spending time with families during the holidays or wearing school colors on the day of a big game. However, when traditions are made into political standards for living, they become something of a confined outline for what is worthy of respect in society. The problem with the new definition of tradition is that there are always those outside of the norms who are made to feel like outsiders who have done something wrong. “Traditional values” should be made on a case-by-case basis, where each family, or even person decides what they value. Going forward, if a country chooses to have their own values, they should be ones that represent and support all of their citizens. “Traditional values” should encourage acceptance, not hate. In terms of the United States, the “tradition” that should be followed is that of acceptance and freedom, as that is what the foundation of our country is, not hate. The past can certainly be a jumping-off point in the pursuit of defining someone’s values, but it should never be a justification for hate.
Community members and public officials alike use the internet to disseminate their views, especially concerning how values should be defined. *Number of mentions change every few seconds, as of Dec. 3.
The phrase “traditional values” has been posted online
1,479 times in the past year.
The phrase “family values” has been posted online
2,672 times in the past year.
The phrase “American values” has been posted online
429 times in the past year. Statistics gathered by Anna Nacci using Brand24
THE WOOSTER BLADE | COVER | DEC. 6, 2019 | PAGE 8
Traditions enhance school culture College of Wooster: at the high school and college level Customs connect students ELLIE SNIDER
TYLER KEATING
The picture above captures one of the walls of The Wooster Blade’s classroom, with bricks colorfully painted by past graduating classes. Senior staff members of the student newspaper choose a design and often include their name when painting bricks, a coveted tradition that staff members of each graduating class look forward to.
Annual celebrations create memories STUART COURSON staff writer
In order for students to r eminisce about their years at high school after graduating with good and fond memories, staff members at WHS emphasize the importance of keeping traditions alive. Many areas in WHS have developed traditions, whether these tradition began this year or have been around since the beginning. From the singing of the Alma Mater when driving down Oldman Rd. to throwing a huge bonfire to celebrate Homecoming, WHS students practice these traditions to spread their school spirit. In fact, there are also a number of activities in WHS that celebrate their own traditions
One of the programs that celebrates traditions is the Drama Club. According to adviser Brett Hiner, students can partake in many traditions that have been going on for a while, like the seniors signing beneath the dressing room sinks. Drama Club members also have a feeling circle after the performance of the final show in which students reflect on the process of producing the musical/play. The Wooster Blade staff has some traditions for their seniors. According to adviser Kristi Hiner, to have the seniors leave their mark in the newspaper production room, senior staff members paint a block on the walls, with their names placed somewhere on the block.
BLADE also publishes, in their final issue of the year, senior columns that are accompanied by a baby picture of the author. According to Hiner, These traditions have also been going on for a while now, with the block tradition starting more than 10 years ago with the class of 2006, and the columns and baby pictures starting before Hiner came to WHS. Hiner said that these traditions establish and affirm the legacy that each staff member leaves behind. In looking at the role of traditions, Jennifer Wright, English Dept. member and Student Council adviser, said students should admire the beauty behind them and remember that these traditions promote student equity and enhance their experiences at WHS.
staff writer As people return from Thanksgiving break, they may be reminiscing on the holiday traditions that make their family unique. For students at the College of Wooster, however, many of the best traditions happen while they are at school. For Maya Rodemer, a junior at the college, the best tradition at the COW is the filling of the Calc Arch. “Every year, the students (mostly) try to fill the Arch of Kauke Hall with snow… in order to get class canceled. At one point, that building had all the classrooms in it and the Arch doors were the only two doors to get into the building,” Rodemer said. The filling of the arch is something that past alumni can look back on fondly, even if they did not personally participate. “I think that filling the arch with snow is… something special that students should at least go and watch… especially for students who have never experienced snow,” Landre McCloud, COW alumna, said. Rodemer said she believes that the importance of COW traditions is the connections they provide to the college community. “ I don’t think you can beat filling the Arch just because of the feeling of all students working together, “ Rodemer said. However, the filling of the arch is far from the only tradition at the college. Independent Study Monday helps to unite the student body at the COW. “The college, of course, has that giant senior research project and a bunch of traditions associated with it.
The seniors received a Tootsie roll… [and] there is a parade on that day,” Rodemer said. The Tootsie roll is something that many students at Wooster keep for years to come. “Every student develops a special relationship with a Tootsie Roll,” the COW website states. Even after graduation, alumni remember that Monday fondly. “It’s the one thing that every Wooster student does, so it’s the one thing that is our common bond… turning in your I.S.… is just so monumental and such a special day… alumni do I.S. Monday happy hour all across the world on I.S. Monday,” McCloud said. I.S. Monday celebrations bring the college community together, something that is seen in almost all of their traditions. For McCloud, one of the traditions she remembers most fondly is the bagpipers leading the football team onto the field. “The football team lines up on this hill… and the bagpipers march up the hill and then lead the team down the hill. It’s awesome, it gives you goosebumps every time.” McCloud states. College traditions allow the student body to make connections, despite having few things in common. “You can’t fill the Arch with five people or have a parade with five people. It’s a feeling of everyone working together toward a goal that makes these traditions special and why traditions in general bring communities together,” Rodemer said. Traditions like the ones at the COW happen throughout the year, and for college students they can be the difference between a group and a community.
SPORTS
THE WOOSTER BLADE | DEC. 6, 2019 | PAGE 9
Browns disappoint fanbase once again
WHS senior athletes continue sports in college ANNA NACCI cover editor Violette Bonvallet and Ashley Siegel, seniors at WHS, both signed to continue their athletic careers in college. Bonvallet signed to Lehigh University to play women’s soccer, and Siegel signed to Ashland University for cheerleading and stunt, a competitive cheerleading squad. Bonvallet has been playing soccer for 13 years and chose Lehigh because the school, “allowed me to get the challenging academics and competitive Division 1 soccer that I wanted. Plus, the team felt like a family away from home.” Siegel has been cheering since second grade and said she chose Ashland because of its teaching program and the peers she will have within it. When looking at playing a sport in college, Bonvallet says keeping grades up is an important part of an athlete being recruited by a college, but the most important part is to continue loving the sport a
student would like to pursue. Both Bonvallet and Siegel began by contacting the college coaches, whether through email communication or by attending clinics, to introduce themselves. They both then invited the coaches to see them participate in their sports. After talking to the coaches, visiting the schools, and deciding if it was the right place for them, the athletes signed a National Letter of Intent. A National Letter of Intent is, “a binding contract between the student-athlete and the institution in which they are agreeing to attend and compete for an athletic program,” according to an article published by USAToday on Nov. 8 entitled “NLI Signing Dates 2019-20: What you need to know about the NLI” and written by Joe Leccesi. Siegel also advises those looking to play a sport in college to begin the process early, in order to avoid stress. The next national signing day is Dec. 18, according to USAToday.
SKYY KHOUNBORIN
Ashley Siegel signing to Ashland University, where she will continue to compete in cheer.
SKYY KHOUNBORIN
Violette Bonvallet signing to Lehigh University, where she committed to play women’s soccer.
REECE MITCHELL co-editor-in-chief The Cleveland Browns organization has been one of the biggest disappointments in recent history. The team has gone from being early Super Bowl champion contenders, to a few games away from playoff elimination, with a current 5-7 record. Recently, Miles Garrett, defensive end for the Browns, made headlines for taking off Steelers quarterback, Mason Rudolph’s, helmet and hitting him on the head with it, forcing the NFL to suspend him for the remainder of the season at minimum. The chaos also extends to the coaching. Freddie Kitchens, head coach for the Browns, wore a shirt stating “Pittsburgh stared it,” emphasizing the focus being on petty antics and not the actual sport. As much as it pains the players, the real pain is inflicted among their fanbase as their very high hopes were shattered once again.
TRENDS
THE WOOSTER BLADE | DEC. 6, 2019 | PAGE 10
In looking at entertainment options, have they aged well? TV shows demonstrate flaws of eras
LEO RILEY staff writer Friends seemed to have all the right ingredients to become an instant classic: iconic writing, an interesting plot and the perfect cast. However, Friends is still a
product of its time, and because of it, there are more than a few jokes that have aged poorly. Friends is not the only show of its kind, though, as many other massively popular shows such as The Office and Parks and Recreation have jokes that did not hold up, years later. From women to gay and transgender people, Friends made minorities of all kinds the butt of their jokes. This blatant discrimination is something that would, under no circumstances, be allowed today, and it could get a show cancelled if said either on in an episode or behind the scenes.
So, how did shows like this become so popular despite their damning flaws? And, is it okay for people to still love these shows despite not agreeing with everything in them? It is a bit more complicated than the show being either ruined or flawless however, Friends’ issues are something that cannot be overlooked. Friends influenced, and continues to influence, generations of viewers and treating it as a masterpiece simply would not be telling the whole story, it simply would not be true. Misogyny and toxic
How perspective has changed music’s impact ALEC PAULEY on campus editor Music has had an impact on history in a number of positive and negative ways. As stated in an article, “How music moved the movement: civil rights and the blues,” on hecmedia.org, blues and jazz music were used as a means to bring people together during the Civil Rights movement and to help those listening relate to the ones struggling at the time if nothing else. On the other side of the spectrum, music has also had a history of more negative uses, Eminem and his controversial homophobic lyric filled songs being one. “Eminem Responds to ‘Rap God’ Homophobia Accusations,” on Rollingstone. com, outlines an interview with Eminem over the songs he has made and the impact of the
blatantly homophobic lyrics he uses. Eminem diffuses the idea he may be homophobic in the same article saying, “I poke fun at other people, myself. But the real me sitting here right now talking to you has no issues with gay, straight, transgender, at all.” Music has had infinite impacts on history over the years, and as newer generations look deeper into the music industry, much can be seen in the form of controversies and political discussion. WHS Director of bands, Craig French, talks about how the opened ears of newer generations have caused music to seem much more controversial. As music has changed over the years, French said it is not the music itself that has caused it to seem any more controversial, but how people listen to music, specifically saying, “I don’t
think it [music] is any louder today than it was, we just think it changed, but it is just as ‘bad’ as it used to be.” French furthers this point saying, “music has always been politically motivated; the reason why just changed.” French says that people are fighting for vastly different things today than they used to, but using the world wars and Vietnam as examples, the music industry has always been politically motivated. WHS student Lydia Cooper (12), explains why she believes people still listen to politically motivated music even if they do not agree with it. “I think that sometimes we see musicians as someone who is popular, so we put their actions and beliefs aside and just enjoy the music,” Cooper said As people continue to analyze the purpose behind music lyrics, more is revealed about the impacts it has on society.
masculinity are staples of the surrogate, Rachel being a single show and these are ideas that mother and Monica having to should live in the past and adopt. should no Friends longer be has had a celebrated. massive Illustration by Olivia VanSickle Most impact shows on our are more society complicated and it is than good not clear or bad, and whether Friends is or not it no different. has been It has its more problems, positive obviously, or but it also negative has done in the great things, long especially portraying women run, and if we are to continue with less common methods of to praise it, we need to pregnancy, with Phoebe being a acknowledge its flaws as well.
The political battleground businesses must navigate ASHTON DUNLAP staff writer On Nov. 18, Chick-Fil-A announced they would stop their donations to the Salvation Army and the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. Both organizations, along with Chick-Fil-A, have been criticized for their discrimination and public opposition to LGBTQ rights by various LGBTQ groups. This event brings up the discussion over whether consumers should make decisions based on a political view. If people believe in LGBTQ rights, should they feel obligated to boycott ChickFil-A or should they indulge in the chicken without guilt? According to an Oct. 19 article by The Washington
Post, many people around the world believe in the former. On Oct. 10 in England, ChickFil-A attempted to open its first British restaurant. Their attempt failed due to a call for a boycott of the chain from LGBTQ rights group Reading Pride. This chain of events is just one example of a wave of protests and boycotts of ChickFil-A around the world. On the other hand, many business supports believe that they should set their political views aside in lieu of a good chicken sandwich. Many believers in LGBTQ rights decide to eat from Chick-Fil-A merely because they believe that food and consumerism is separated from politics. One must decide whether they will let their values intersect with their purchase of goods.
THE WOOSTER BLADE | TRENDS | DEC. 6, 2019 | PAGE 11
Streaming shenanigans: Media piracy continues JACK VENEY staff writer
According to the Recording Industry Association of America, unauthorized copying of music and entertainment alike, is against the law. When people copy a type of media, they are taking something of importance from the creator without their permission. This act is illegal and is called pirating media. The blue screen before DVDs is a very noticeable screen, as the FBI has made this part of the DVD unskippable. This warning is from the FBI about the
consequences of pirating that media. Although these warnings are not present when listening to music, the same laws from the DVD warning apply to music. Federal law provides severe civil and criminal penalties for the unauthorized reproduction, distribution, rental or digital transmission of copyrighted sound recordings. According to the FBI website, making unauthorized copies of media is against the law and may subject a person to civil and criminal liability. Criminal charges may leave a person with a felony record, accompanied by up to five years of jail time and fines up to $250,000. Although there are provisions in place to try to stop pirating, it is still extremely easy to pirate from a CD, as after people have purchased a CD, they can copy and redistribute it as many times as they please. After this music is uploaded online somewhere,
it becomes extremely easy for someone else to download this music. However, music sound recordings may not be copied or distributed without the permission of the owner, as this steals the creator’s intellectual property. The Recording Industry Association of America states some tips for what is and what is not okay when it comes to downloading/streaming music. “It’s okay to download and stream music from sites authorized by the owners of the copyrighted music, whether or not such sites charge a fee. It’s never okay to make unauthorized copies of music available to others.” According to the Recording Industry Association of America, when it comes to the copying of CDs, it is okay to copy music onto other devices because royalties have been paid on the music, however, it is not okay to copy and use this music for commercial purposes.
Students share thoughts on prevalence of music piracy How do you think that streaming services such as YouTube and Disney Plus have impacted the amount of pirating of music, TV shows and/or movies? Do you believe pirating music, TV shows and/or movies is legally wrong?
25% NO EFFECT
32% DECREASED
47% NO
43% INCREASED 53% YES
Graphics by Corinne Wiles
This poll was conducted by Molly Snyder and Eve Norris over the week of Dec. 2 to 40 students at WHS.
New streaming services compete with industry leaders SIERRA DEWALD staff writer The rise of streaming services began with Netflix, according to Anna Bechtel of theodysseyonline.com’s article entitled, “How Netflix Became So Popular,” but Netflix initially started in 1997 as a way to send rental DVDs to consumers. It was not until 2007 that Netflix began offering streaming movies and TV shows, and in 2013, the company started producing
original content. Bechtel states that these factors, along with the company’s expansion into international markets, led to Netflix dominating the streaming market through 2017, when the article was published. In recent years, Sam Cook of flixed.io says that while Netflix is still the undisputed champion of on-demand streaming, streaming services are now, “a dime a dozen,” with over 100 options for consumers as of June 2019. Cook furthers that one
reason for the high number of streaming options available is the diversity of programming each service offers. Some, like Youtube TV and Sling, are intended to be an alternative to cable by live-streaming a variety of channels. Some fill a specific niche, like ESPN+ for streaming sports or CBS All Access for streaming CBS content. Others are for on-demand and original content, such as Netflix and Disney Plus. The recent arrival of Disney
Plus has been said to be particularly significant. As theverge.com states, “[the] launch of Disney+ in November 2019 is ushering in a whole new era of streaming,” where established industry leaders like Netflix are facing growing competition from new players. In what is often referred to as the streaming wars, Disney Plus has a shot at eventually overtaking Netflix, according to techradar.com. While having to keep track of so many different services can be frustrating for consumers,
Toni Fitzgerald of forbes. com finds that the trend of entertainment is shifting toward streaming, with 70 percent of U.S. households having at least one subscription. Furthermore, Forbes states that while the average American subscribes to 3.4 different services, the average total monthly bill for these services is $29, less than a third of the average monthly cable bill of $107. For more information on streaming services see page 12.
THE WOOSTER BLADE | TRENDS | DEC. 6, 2019 | PAGE 12
Streaming services provide viewing options: Students evaluate some of the available platforms
Disney Plus
SKYY KHOUNBORIN sports editor
Disney Plus allows viewers to relive the suite life and live the best of both worlds from the
Netflix
SIERAH PILSON staff writer
With unlimited access to an extensive array of ad-free titles, and for $8.99 a month, it is no wonder Netflix holds one of the top spots for streaming sites in the U.S. The Office, Friends, and Grey’s Anatomy are just a few of the popular titles the platform has to offer. However, with the upcoming removal of many beloved shows, especially the first two
past to the present day. Disney Plus has two packages. The first package is solely Disney Plus, which costs $6.99 and the second package includes: Disney Plus, Hulu, and ESPN+ which costs $14.99. My family purchased the second package, in exchange for the cancellation of our Netflix plan. Compared to other streaming options, Disney Plus leans on the side of low cost. Originally, my family had the Premium package from Netflix, which costs $14.99 a month. Due to the high price for one streaming service, my parents thought it would be more cost aforementioned, as well as the relinquishing of Marvel and Pixar films to Disney Plus, many subscribers are questioning whether the service is still worth their investment. Nevertheless, the site is constantly introducing new content as well, including Grease, Victorious, and The Grinch (2018), in addition to its abundant original content, such as the ever-popular Stranger Things. The latter may not be enough to keep the platform afloat, however; according to analytics company 7Park Data, only 37 percent of viewing hours come from Netflix’s original content, with 40 percent of users exclusively watching licensed titles. These statistics explain why many individuals, including David Trainer from an Aug. 20 article from Forbes.com titled “All The Reasons Why Netflix Is Doomed,” believe Netflix is ill-fated without its beloved shows, especially in the current uber-competitive streaming climate.
efficient to buy Disney Plus’s second package deal because we would be getting more for less. Caitlin Scott (11) also enjoys the second package. “I think it’s my favorite out of Netflix, Hulu and Disney Plus, and I have really enjoyed getting to watch a lot of movies and TV shows from my childhood that I forgot about,” Scott said. However, there are some drawbacks to Disney Plus. Disney Plus revolves around quantity over quality, meaning the streaming service contains many different shows and options, but the quality of some
Top five shows on...
shows are not up to par with Top five shows on... others. Many shows were aired in the 2000s, causing the quality to not be in the high definition that 1.The Mandalorian viewers are used to today. Mariah McConnell (11) 2. High School also believes there are some Musical: The Musical drawbacks to Disney Plus. the Series “I really like it...I just wish there were a couple other 3. Star Wars: The shows on there,” McConnell Clone Wars said. 4. The World Overall, I think Disney Plus is worth it. According to Jeff I am able to relive my Goldblum childhood days and the shows 5. Encore! that aired in the 2000s are, Facts compiled from Bgr.com hands down, some of the best shows to be produced. Graphics by Madison Helms and Corinne Wiles.
YouTube TV
1. Stranger Things 2. The Umbrella Academy 3. Money Heist 4. You 5. Sex Education Facts compiled from irishtimes.com
Top five shows on...
1. Good Mythical Morning 2. Lego Lunatic 3. Epic 4. Red vs. Blue 5. Don’t Hug Me I’m Scared Facts compiled from ranker.com
LUKE POMFRET staff writer
With the increasing cost of cable, more families are switching to alternative methods for streaming. My personal experience with Youtube TV has been an overall positive. The app is easily accessible on my television at home and on my phone, meaning I can watch TV virtually anywhere, with decent Wifi. The only negative attribute to Youtube TV is the streaming quality. Without top-notch internet, Youtube TV will buffer
and take longer to load your program, than cable. Jeff Bowen, English Department teacher, has also found Youtube TV to be a great experience. Bowen describes why he made the switch: “We switched because the price for cable and Directv was getting too high.” Bowen also mentions that a positive to switching is that a vast library of shows and movies are available. The negatives to the platform, according to Bowen, include, pausing when the internet provider cable lags. Bowen says, “Bottom line is, we are saving between $30 to $50 a month, and we don’t need as many channels.” Marshall Honorof, a writer for tomsguide.com, says the platform, “didn’t elicit any strong feelings from me.” Honorof believes there needs to be a greater variety of shows, but notes nothing can beat the allowed unlimited recording. Youtube TV, Honorof, says, is as good as any other platform.
A&E
THE WOOSTER BLADE | DEC. 6, 2019 | PAGE 13
Disney+ offers new remakes, reboots and prequels to other Disney movies and shows
Graphics fair use courtesy of Disney Media Center. Compiled by Madison Helms
Lady and the Tramp invokes nostalgia The Mandolorian exceeds expectations
PAULINA SALAZAR views editor Disney released a new version of the classic movie Lady and the Tramp in its new streaming
service, Disney Plus. This version is a CGI liveaction remake of Lady and the Tramp and goes by the same name, allowing the viewer to see the story differently through another animation process. The film continues the same story, following the adventures of two dogs by the name of Lady and Tramp. Lady and the Tramp appeals to younger audiences and also adults and teenagers nostalgic for the original film. The concept of the film is
interesting and cute live-action dogs can definitely attract many people. However, one thing that is slightly disappointing about the film is the odd animation of the animals. It is understandable that it is difficult to create a realistic CGI of talking animals, but the unnatural expressions of the animals can sometimes stand out throughout the film. Overall, however, Lady and the Tramp is a great film for kids and those nostalgic for Disney movies.
High School Musical series disappoints
HANNAH LOGIUDICE staff photographer High School Musical: The Musical The Series is a Disney Plus original series that focuses on a group of students who attend the school in which the original High School Musical
was filmed. The series begins with East High’s new drama teacher announcing their musical, which will be the iconic High School Musical. The show centers around the love triangle between Nini (who plays Gabriella in the school’s musical), her boyfriend EJ (who is Chad), and her ex-boyfriend Ricky (who is playing Troy) who is trying his best to win Nini back. The series has the singing, dancing and drama of the original High School Musical movies, but is a far cry from the magical love story off which it is based. The show is filmed in a
documentary manner, with each character having side bars and commentary where they talk directly to the audience about what is happening in each episode. The characters are stereotypical, one-sided and seem as though they are taken from any other Disney TV show. High School Musical: The Musical The Series releases new episodes every Friday and currently has four episodes. With all the TV shows available on Disney Plus and other streaming services as well as on cable TV High School Musical: The Musical The Series is not worth watching.
ZACH BREWSTER staff writer The Mandolorian launched on Nov. 12 as a flagship exclusive series for the new streaming platform Disney+ and has been a refreshing addition to the franchise, delivering a grittier space-western take. Set five years after Return of the Jedi, the series stars Pedro Pascal as the Mandolorian: a bounty hunter, hailing from the warrior culture of Mandalore, making his way in the Outer Rim, now a lawless region since the fall of the Empire. The series breaks away from the typical streamingexclusive standard of releasing full seasons at once by releasing one episode every week. Five episodes have been released so far, all hovering in the 30 to 40-minute range. Pascal succeeds as the Mandalorian by managing to convey emotions without a face, as he remains helmeted the entire time. Inspired by the original trilogy, many scenes hearken back to the universe’s roots in ways such as bringing back fan-favorite alien races. The series practices the technique “show, don’t tell” phenomenally, dropping unnecessary dialogue and focusing on visual storytelling. The only complaint I have is the episodes could be longer, but there is a fine line to walk between quality and quantity. While everyone wants more, it is better than long, drawn-out and boring episodes. For Star Wars fans, The Mandolorian is a must-watch.
THE WOOSTER BLADE | A&E | DEC. 6, 2019 | PAGE 14
Film Reviews: movies provide winter entertainment options LYDIA DUNLAP
Edgewood guest columnist Frozen 2 was a great movie that followed Elsa’s journey to a land far from their home of Arendelle. Overall, the movie was a fun adventure that included both themes of happiness and sadness. Elsa and Anna begin their journey to find out the truth about their family’s past. Along the way, the group of Elsa, Anna, Sven, Kristoff, and Olaf meet a tribe of people that were trapped in the enchanted forest. In the forest, and throughout the movie, the group tries to save Arendelle by finding the “fifth spirit.” Elsa must also figure out how to control her powers. This journey is very entertaining and very funny. Olaf’s witty remarks through both the happy and the sad moments make his character even more hilarious. Anna and Elsa’s relationship is much closer in Frozen 2 and allows the viewer to appreciate their love more. Frozen 2 is better than the original Frozen because it is much more adventurous, and the viewer gets to see the world outside of Arendelle. The viewer gets to see many locations and gets to experience much more complex adventures. In conclusion, Frozen 2 is a very good movie because of its adventurous spirit and its funny moments sprinkled throughout. Graphics by Madison Helms Photo fair use courtesy of Disney.com
LEO RILEY a&e editor Parasite is an award-winning movie with the potential to become the first foreign film to win the Academy Award for Best Picture. Focusing on a lower class family, director Bong Joon-Ho is able to delve into South Korea’s major issues of classism and discrimination.
REECE MITCHELL co-editor-in-chief The movie Ford vs. Ferrari is an exceptional movie based off a true story. Henry Ford II was the owner of Ford, a large car company,
The plot follows the Kim family who, destitute and struggling, devise a plan to infiltrate and replace the staff of the much richer Park family and improve their lives by becoming a parasite to them. Things, of course, eventually go horribly wrong, leaving both families devastated. Despite being initially very friendly, hostilities start to escalate due to the cold separation of the two classes and the poor’s inability to escape their social status. Parasite had me enthralled the entire movie, and not a single moment was without laughs, fear or some deeper feeling of appreciation. Despite being spoken almost entirely in Korean, the plot is easy to follow and the subtitles are not confusing.
with cars all the same, made on an assembly line, while a small company, Ferrari, owned by Enzo Ferrari, was handcrafting each of their vehicles. The cars that were being produced by Ferrari were beautifully made, and the vehicles placed at the top of the racing boards. However, the company was losing a lot of money as they could not sell their cars for more than they produced them. So, Ford tried to buy the company, but Enzo Ferrari did not want to give up his power. And luckily, thanks to Fiat, Ferrari did not have to sell. So, he sent Ford packing,
Photo fair use courtesy of www.parasite-movie.com
Mr. Kim (shown to the right) gets Mr. Park’s (shown laying down) driver fired and attempts to replace him, becoming a parasite on Park’s life. Parasite is ultimately a masterpiece of cinema and an instant classic, thanks in part to the numerous examples of symbolism. Parasite transforms part way through the movie and is not at all what you think it will be by
the end Although it is not very accessible, if you appreciate movies or are looking for a memorable experience, Parasite’s narrative twists and turns are something you cannot miss.
which is where the rivalry starts. Ford is furious that he does not acquire the Ferrari company, so he becomes determined to beat Ferrari in the 24-hour Le Mans race, which is a race Ferrari won for the past five years. As Ford is not having any money problems, he is ready to pour a considerable amount of revenue into this race, so he calls in Carroll Shelby, a former racer and the only American to ever win the Le Mans race and the owner of a branch of Ford, the Shelby Mustang. And for the driver, Shelby calls the only man he thinks is
qualified, Ken Miles. Miles is a troublemaker, but he is also the best driver in America. Ken and Carroll face a lot of challenges with Ford and have to overcome those challenges for the greater good. Their goal is to beat Ferrari, which is one of the toughest challenges in the world. And, they only have 90 days. I love how well the actors play their parts, as their acting makes the story great by bringing out all emotions, especially the excitement, anger and sadness in building up this actual race. The movie is extraordinary and very well done.
VIEWS
THE WOOSTER BLADE | VIEWS | DEC. 6, 2019 | PAGE 15
Head To Head: When should Christmas decorating start?
Early Christmas decorations overshadow others
IT COVERS UP VERY IMPORTANT DATES SUCH AS NATIONAL FRIED CHICKEN SANDWICH (NOV. 9), WORLD KINDNESS DAY (NOV. 13), AND OF COURSE, NATIONAL SPLIT PEA SOUP WEEK (NOV. 10 THROUGH NOV.16). TYLER KEATING staff writer There is currently an epidemic sweeping the nation, poisoning some of our greatest traditions. I am referring, of course, to those people who pass over celebrating Thanksgiving in favor of Christmas. This issue is of significance to those who have Christmas spirit forced upon them. I, personally, remember hearing Christmas music playing as early in the year as Nov. 1. This invasion of holiday spirit is unacceptable for two reasons. First, with the holiday season extending a couple weeks past New Year’s, Christmas takes up one fifth of the calendar, pushing aside a myriad of lesser holidays. When the Christmas season starts the day after Halloween, it covers up very important dates such as National Fried Chicken Sandwich Day (Nov. 9), World Kindness Day (Nov. 13), and of course, National Split Pea Soup Week (Nov. 10 through Nov. 16). These holidays have for too long been crushed by the corporate monstrosity that is Christmas. The most important holiday, that is overlooked in favor of Christmas, is Thanksgiving itself. One of the most prevalent arguments that I have heard for listening to Christmas music before December is that there
is no Thanksgiving music, and people are justified in skipping the celebrations. However, until we start focusing on the right holiday in November, there will not be anything that we can celebrate. Second, Christmas is not celebrated early in many other countries, which do not celebrate Thanksgiving and,therefore, do not have a holiday
to pass over. Even with the holiday void, they do not hold a two month celebration for a holiday that does not deserve that much time. In France, Christmas celebrations do not start until Dec. 6, St. Nicholas Day. In Germany, many families do not set up their trees until Christmas Eve. When other countries, who do not have Thanksgiving, do not celebrate Christmas until December, it should be clear we should not do so either.
Christmas decorations are appropriate for Thanksgiving
THANKSGIVING, AS CLEARLY STATED IN THE NAME OF THE HOLIDAY ITSELF, IS CENTERED AROUND GIVING THANKS AND BEING GRATEFUL... CHRISTMAS IS ALSO A TIME TO BE KIND TO OTHERS AND GRATEFUL FOR ALL THAT WE HAVE. MADISON HELMS co-graphics manager The weather is turning colder, and spirits are getting higher as the holiday season rolls around once again. However, your favorite seasonal candles are not the only thing being ignited, as the age old debate of when one can begin to decorate for Christmas resurfaces. Thanksgiving puritans will argue that a spot of red and green can not be seen until after the last Thursday of November, while Christmas fanatics will break out the lights and tinsel the day after Halloween. I am here to declare my stance on this pressing issue and say, it is Graphics by perfectly Madison Helms. acceptable Photos by to begin Grace decorating for Brownson Christmas before
Thanksgiving. Now before you question my sanity, let me explain why. Looking back at the first sentence of this story, you will see that I referred to this magical time of the year as the “holiday season.” A simple Google search will reveal that the holiday season spans from Thanksgiving through the New Year. Being that Thanksgiving and Christmas are both part of the overlapping holiday season, it makes sense to begin decorating for one, while also celebrating the other. We can also look at the morals of these holidays. Thanksgiving, as clearly stated in the name of the holiday itself, is centered around giving thanks and being grateful. The meaning of Christmas is a little more difficult to determine, as it has been diluted by companies turning it into a capitalist holiday, but boiling the holiday down to its simplest form, Christmas is also a time to be kind to others and grateful for all that we have. Christmas and Thanksgiving share the same moral ideas. They also both fall under the holiday season together. Thus, it makes sense to begin decoration for Christmas before Thanksgiving. The only true difference between Christmas and Thanksgiving is their color palette.
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 | DEC. 6, 2019 | PAGE 16
OUR VIEW
When does free speech cross the line? Lack of criteria for defining hate speech allows for ambiguity in identifying when the First Amendment is violated by citizens. However, when what is said defames various communities, it goes further than free speech and crosses the line into hate speech. On Nov. 20, the Provost at Indiana University Bloomington published a letter condemning the actions of one of the school’s professors for posting racist, homophobic and sexist comments on his personal Twitter account. The university, however, did not fire him, as his comments were posted as a private citizen and protected under freedom of speech. The right to freedom of speech, as guaranteed in the First Amendment, allows for citizens to speak their minds without facing retribution for doing so. Yet, the protections afforded to hate speech and its legal ambiguity create space for blunt hatred to be excused by the right to express opinions. When speech aims to harm and defame various communities, determining whether the protection of such speech can be justified is difficult to determine individually, locally and nationally. Traditionally, speech is protected under law unless it crosses such bounds as obscenity, fighting words, and incitement to imminent lawless action. In the educational setting as well, speech, as established in Tinker v. Des Moines (1969), must disrupt the educational process in order to be considered punishable. The WHS Student Handbook delves into hate speech by discussing harassment, stating,
THE WOOSTER BLADE EDITORIAL BOARD BELIEVES THAT WHILE FREE SPEECH MUST BE PROTECTED, THERE IS ALSO A LINE THAT MUST BE DRAWN BETWEEN FREE SPEECH AND SPEECH THAT AIMS TO DENIGRATE THE VALUE AND DIGNITY OF OTHER PEOPLE. IF NOT, IT SETS A PRECEDENT THAT HATE IS ACCEPTABLE, AND WILL BE CONTINUED.
“Offensive speech and conduct are entirely inappropriate in the [WCSD] It is a violation of board policy for any pupil, teacher, administrator, or other school personnel to harass a pupil, teacher, administrator, or other school personnel [through]... verbal or oral innuendoes, comments, jokes, insults, threats, or disparaging remarks concerning a person’s gender, race, national origin, religious beliefs, that are offensive to a fellow staff member, student, or other person associated with the Wooster City Schools.” The Wooster Blade Editorial Board believes that while free speech must be protected, there is also a line that must be drawn between free speech and speech that aims to denigrate the value and dignity of other people. If not, it sets a precedent that hate is acceptable, and will be continued. Using rhetoric like “it is a free country” normalizes harmful speech, which is detrimental not only to the defamed group itself, but also to everyone involved in the situation. Differences of opinion may make us stronger, but it is important to distinguish that opinions of hatred diminish tolerance, enable discrimination, and only serve to divide us. Though freedom of speech may be protected by law, legality does not justify the perpetuation of bigotry and hatred throughout our society.