The Wooster Blade, Volume XXI, Issue 3

The Wooster

BLADE Volume XXI | Issue 3 | February 26, 2021

Looking Forward: the light that lies ahead...

Inside the Feb 26, 2021 Issue

p. 3- How COVID-19 has p. 6 Mental health services p. 7 - What is there p. 16, 17 - Perspectives affected senior’s plans provided by WCSD to look forward to? on Black History Month

ON CAMPUS

THE WOOSTER BLADE | FEB. 26, 2021 | PAGE 2

Schools provide essential services to enhance education for students SYLVIE SHAYA views editor

“Schools are always going to be asked to do more than education,” WHS principal Tyler Keener said. Specifically, schools manage programs to address food insecurity and mental and physical health among others.

Keener explained that these burdens have landed on schools because they act as a community hub. “There’s three places where people meet… the schools, the hospitals, and the police,” he said.

Richard Leone, Director of Secondary Education, added that the government asks schools to manage a wide variety of programs because schools have direct and regular contact with students. He explained that “we [schools] are given the challenge to meet the needs of students because we have access to them.”

One of the primary burdens that falls to schools is addressing food insecurity in student populations. Don Lewis, WCSD food service

NEWS IN BRIEF

Music Dept.

KRISTI HINER

According to the 2020 District Profile, the Wooster City School District serves 3,429 students and in order to do so, provides a number of services to support those students and their families. supervisor, estimated the school district counts 1,400 students in the free or reduced lunch program. Many of these students participate in other food programs managed by the schools, including breakfasts.

Leone added that almost 50%, 44% according to the 2020 district profile, WCSD students live under the poverty line.

“That’s almost one of every two students,” said Leone, pointing out the size of the programs meant to address hunger in the WCSD student population.

The school district works to address food insecurity both by providing free and reduced cost meals during the school day and through summer and dinner programs. Lewis explained that some after school programs such as the Boys and Girls Club provide meals to students in need, and WCSD facilitates distribution of food during the summer.

The pandemic has posed difficulties for food distribution, but WCSD staff worked to provide for students in need through a delivery system to provide food for online students. “We are able

to go out into the community, using school vans, to feed our online students,” Lewis said. Food is also served at alternative learning sites and WCSD participates in a summer food program to feed students year round.

Government programs implemented to manage the impact of COVID-19 allowed the food programs to serve free meals to more students than in a typical year. “The pandemic has enabled us to serve all students free breakfast and lunch due to USDA waiver,” explained Lewis.

Keener added that food services have grown significantly over the past 30 years. Not only does the school district provide in school meals, “now can we provide other services outside the school day,” Keener said.

Beyond food insecurity, schools facilitate mental health services. Guidance Counselor Tyler Egli explained schools take on this role because, “one of the largest hurdles that mental health agencies in our community struggle with is getting students to show up to

their counseling appointments consistently. In the school environment, it gives mental health agencies direct contact with students and a regular basis.”

Keener added that WCSD partners with community programs such as the Village Network, Anazao, and Boys and Girls Club to connect students with mental health resources.

The Akron Children’s Hospital also partners with the district to provide health resources and vision and hearing screenings.

Egli explained, “over the past three to four years we have added valuable community resources that work directly in our school building. Without these additional community resources we wouldn’t be able to meet all the needs of our students and staff.”

Due to their positions as community hubs and central meeting locations, schools undertake significantly more than education.

Although the district provides many resources already, “there’s always a feeling that we could have more,” Keener said.

The Music Dept. at WHS, working with orchestra and band students, is preparing for its Carryout Concert, premiering on March 20 at 4 p.m. The performances will be recorded by Computer Science Dept. member Nate Greene’s students this week and next.

WCS BOE At the regular Feb. 23 board meeting, it was decided, by a unanimous vote of the WCS Board of Education, that the return to five days of school per week for students in grades PK through 12 will begin Monday, March 15.

Speech & Debate At the Feb. 20 NSDA qualifying tournament, Molly Snyder (11), Lena Wiebe (12), Mya Vandegrift (12), Katelynn Weltlich (9) and Sierra Dewald (12) earned spots at the national speech and debate tournament that will take place early this summer.

THE WOOSTER BLADE | ON CAMPUS | FEB. 26, 2021 | PAGE 3

Pandemic changes WHS class of 2021’s post-graduation plans LENA WIEBE co-editor-in-chief Navigating the college admissions and job applications process that seniors in high school face as they move toward graduation is always a complicated maze, but juniors and seniors making their plans for the future this year and next are facing new challenges.

In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, many colleges have closed their campuses to visitors and prospective students, and are no longer conducting traditional staples of the college admissions process, like admissions or alumnus interviews, and have either significantly scaled down or ended campus tours, while many students have been unable to take standardized tests like the ACT or SAT that were once hallmarks of the

college application.

These changes have forced many adaptations, on both the part of students and admissions officers, Jennifer D. Winge, Dean of Admissions at the College of Wooster says.

“Colleges are facing a very different recruitment season, with no typical travel, far less available student contact information through test services like ACT/SAT, and likely a loss in campus visitors since the pandemic hit in March,” Winge said, adding that many colleges have lost revenue due to these changes.

The College of Wooster, like many other colleges, has also moved to a test-optional policy and converted its programming to virtual content, she said.

Mark Cortez, Director of Outreach and Recruitment at The Ohio State University’s Office of Undergraduate Admissions, said OSU has

made many similar changes, including creating more virtual outreach, making admissions to the Columbus campus testoptional and extending some admissions deadlines.

Both admissions officers emphasize that college admissions offices are working to be flexible and understanding of changes.

“Please know that, overwhelmingly, colleges and universities understand how extremely different your lives have been both in and out of school,” Winge said. Winge also added that the Common Application now includes a section to add explanations of any changed circumstances due to COVID-19 or other natural disasters, and that she encourages students to take advantage of this section if their lives, schools, or activities have been significantly impacted.

At WHS, a survey of 26 juniors

AP and IB exams adapt to program changes due to COVID-19 pandemic SYLVIE SHAYA views editor

AP and IB exams act as opportunities for students to earn college credit and demonstrate a depth of knowledge in a specific subject area.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2020 IB exams were cancelled and the 202 AP exams were significantly edited.

Both programs have made further changes going into the

2021 testing season.

According to the College Board, they will administer the 2021 AP exams both online and on paper. The exams will be full length, without any significant changes to content.

Nationally, AP exams will be administered in three sets, between May 3 and May 17, May 18 and May 28, and June 1 and June 11. Each exam will be available once during each time period.

Unlike the 2020 AP exams, which could be taken on mobile

devices as well as computers, the 2021 online exams will only be available on computers.

New security features in online exams will prevent students from returning to answered questions or toggling between unanswered questions.

WHS will be offering 16 AP exams, fewer than in a typical year, according to Tyler Egli, WHS Guidance Counselor and AP Coordinator.

WHS will provide in-person exams with certain measures to ensure the safety of students.

and seniors planning to attend college, first posted on Oct. 26, reflected that many students are taking advantage of the changing admissions process.

When surveyed, 71% of students said they have participated in a virtual college visit, 50% said they attended a virtual college information session and 14% said they attended a virtual college interview.

Of those students, 42% said they found college admissions to be about as accessible as they were prior to COVID-19, 23% said it was less accessible, and 35% said they believed it was more accessible.

The increase in accessibility to some students could be attributed to increased ease of access to college events through virtual programming: both Winge and Cortez noted they believed expanded outreach was a positive effect of changes made to the admissions process.

While many changes have been made to the traditional college admissions process, the pandemic has also led many seniors to consider different approaches to their plans after college; one such approach is the gap year.

One school, the University of Pennsylvania, reported a 300% increase in students who opted to take a gap year between their senior year of high school and their freshman year of college last year. This trend may continue in colleges across the country this year as students seek normalcy or financial stability.

At WHS, some students have moved towards changing their own plans: Sylvie Shaya, a junior, said that she would be graduating early this year and taking a gap year to work and travel before beginning college in 2022.

“I had hoped to take a gap year between high school and college even before deciding to graduate early, but COVID solidified those plans because of the uncertainty of what college will look like next year,” Shaya added.

Whether these changes in many students’ plans highlight existing weaknesses or are simply a product of their time remains to be seen, but if they survive, they could fundamentally change many students’ and colleges’ approaches to the process.

“I would encourage students to take the AP exam in person here at the high school. Social distancing, mask wearing and safety protocols will be in place,” Egli explained.

WHS has not announced decisions regarding testing dates or the availability of online testing.

Registration for AP exams is due to the guidance office by March 1.

IB has provided schools the choice of not taking the exams, but Wooster IB plans to take the assessments. “Barring any last minute catastrophes, we are planning to move forward with the exams,” said Victoria Birk, International Baccalaureate Diploma Program Coordinator at WHS.

IB will require students complete internal assessments, in class projects that contribute to their scores. In the 2020 school year, these assessments were the primary means of evaluating IB students due to the 2020 exams being cancelled.

In a typical year, students sit for two or three exams in each subject. Precautions will be put in place for the safety of students and administrators and changes have been made to the exams to account for the difficulties of schooling this year. The only exam that has not been adjusted is math, according to Birk.

For more information about IB exams, see ibo.org. For more information about AP exams, see apstudents.collegeboard.org or contact WHS guidance.

THE WOOSTER BLADE | FEB. 26, 2021 | PAGE 4

Wooster hosts Ten Weeks of Tasty PAULINA SALAZAR trends editor Main Street Wooster, Inc. has organized a culinary event, 10 Weeks of Tasty, which began Feb. 4 and will take place every Thursday for 10 weeks.

A featured restaurant in downtown Wooster will be hosting this event by having a limited-time dish for their customers for that day, according to waynecountyevents.com.

The goal of this event is to highlight local restaurants and what they bring to Wooster.

The first restaurant to host this event was Broken Rocks Cafe/ Rox Gastropub, who served

a limited-time dish of braised short rib with potato mash and snow peas, as stated on mainstreetwooster.org.

John Benko-Scruggs, project coordinator of Main Street Wooster, Inc., says 10 Weeks of Tasty was created to encourage people to visit restaurants during the least busy time of the year for businesses: the beginning of the year. “We’re hoping more people will think of dining local,” Benko-Scruggs said.

The goal of 10 Weeks of Tasty is to highlight local restaurants unique to Wooster and bring people in to local businesses, said Benko-Scruggs..

Benko-Scruggs talked about what makes Wooster special and how those local businesses

highlighted the uniqueness of Wooster by noting, “It just has such a great mix, and kind of culture, you can’t find anywhere else,” Benko-Scruggs said, describing Wooster.

This event will highlight the businesses that make Wooster what it is today. “They create the culture that we all love and know as Wooster,” Benko-Scruggs said about the local downtown businesses.

“It’s going to be hard to find something similar in another community.”

The local restaurant that will be hosting this week is Spoon Market & Deli on Feb. 25 with a meal of BBQ pork ribs featuring Cleveland’s “Smokin’ Bettie’s” Texas Style BBQ Sauce served with onion rings and coleslaw.

Wayne County spelling bee occurs LEO RILEY a&e editor The annual Wayne county spelling bee has concluded once again, and while this year has certainly been different, the simple act of repeating tradition has given hope, hope that the world is slowly but surely making a return to normalcy.

This year’s spelling champions, the final 8 students moving on to the regional bee,

PHOTOS COURTESY OF: VICTORIA BIRK

Above, students competed in the annual Wayne County Spelling Bee on Jan. 26, fully masked and socially distanced. Right, students receive awards following the spelling bee.

are 6th grader Jillian Hostetler, 7th grader Michaela Ignatz, 6th grader Nicholas Kakanuru, 8th grader Nathan Mairs, 7th grader Cameron Starkey, 7th grader Andrew Yeager, 7th grader Novalee Zeller, and spelling bee winner, Aaron Miedel, an 8th grader at Central Christian Middle School.

The 65th annual bee was concluded when Miedel correctly spelled ‘Camarilla’ a noun defined as: a small group of people, especially a group of advisers to a ruler or politician, with a shared, typically nefarious, purpose.

Information courtesy of The Daily Record states that new safety measures taken included, mandated masks (when not speaking), socially distanced spellers, and two guests per speller.

Victoria Birk, this year’s pronouncer, has stated that the regional bee, hosted by The Akron Beacon Journal, is currently being planned, but has not yet set a date or time.

The Leaf:

FOCUS Menu provides exciting choices picky eaters.

MOLLY SNYDER staff writer The Leaf is a new restaurant, located in downtown Wooster where The Parlor used to be.

The difference between the two restaurants, however, is not hard to see, as the stark contrasts in the design and cuisine of the two is, in some ways, refreshing.

The Leaf is very modern, with an industrial feel in comparison to the rustic design of The Parlor and their menu is a bit more pricey than your regular Wooster restaurant. The menu is vegetarian, gluten free, and vegan friendly, but it falls short in terms of variety. There are roughly four or five options for dishes in each course category, which can be a nightmare for

Menu aside, the service is phenomenal all around, the staff is very friendly and warm to everyone who comes in. For food, I tried the jumbo pretzel appetizer, the house salad, the veggie burger and cheesecake.

The pretzels were delicious, but I am unsure as to whether they are worth the $8 price. The house salad was amazing; I am not a huge fan of vinaigrettes, but the one I was served was delicious. For the entree, the veggie burger was great and came with crispy pub fries that accented the burger perfectly.

For dessert, the cheesecake was some of the best I have ever had. The cake was creamy and rich, and garnished with assorted berries on top.

Overall, my biggest critique of The Leaf would be the price and small menu, but there is no question about the quality of the food or service being anything less than astounding.

RUMEN ZDRAVCHEV

Pictured above is the food of The Leaf, a new restauraunt in downtown Wooster that fills the space where the Parlor used to be.

THE WOOSTER BLADE | FOCUS | FEB. 26, 2021 | PAGE 5

COVID-19 vaccine roll out begins LANIE MEYER staff writer Approaching one year since the lockdown began in March of 2020, the United States is beginning the process of vaccination against the Coronavirus, which has gained the death toll of 2.33 million people worldwide according to The New York Times.

In Ohio, the Department of Health issued a two-phase plan approach to the distribution of the vaccine. Phase 1A of the vaccine distribution is targeted to healthcare workers, EMS responders, and patients and staff of nursing homes, psychiatric hospitals, and assisted living. Phase 1B of distribution started Jan. 19 and becomes more inclusive to Ohioans 65 years of age and older, as well as employees of K-12 schools. The Wayne County Health Department website has a link to the form to registrar for the vaccine.

Locally, both the Wooster Community Hospital and Aultman Orville Hospital are receiving facilities to register and receive the COVID vaccine.

Yet, according to The New York Times and ODH only 9,785 doses have been distributed in Wayne County, most of which are unsurprisingly only the first dosage.

Ohio Governor Mike DeWine explained that distribution is lagging behind the high demand because many doses are being set aside for the second shot that is needed to give full immunization.

DeWine explains another factor contributing to the slow distribution of the vaccine is that there is only the Pfizer and Moderna vaccine, meaning that these two pharmaceutical companies supply their vaccines globally.

DeWine said that until more pharmaceutical companies are approved to distribute the vaccine, there will be a strain on immunization rollout. Due

to these restrictions, Dewine admits that only about 30% of Ohio’s vaccines have been given.

According to the vaccine tracker built by Democratic & Chronicles, in Wayne County, about 7,500 people have the virus, which has decreased since the beginning of the pandemic, but is much lower than highly populated counties like Franklin County or Cuyahoga County, where there are upward of 90,000 people diagnosed with COVID. This week, per the governor’s order, WCS employees will be receiving their first vaccine.

According to Heidi Haas, head of the WCS COVID Committee, Akron Children’s Hospital is aiding in the vaccination of employees Feb. 25. Staff members who have elected to be vaccinated will receive the Pfizer vaccine. Haas said the second dosage of this vaccine will happen March 18, and school will not be in session on either of these Thursdays.

Teachers address difficult topics LUKE POMFRET focus editor In May, George Floyd’s death sparked outrage and Black Lives Matter protests became common in every major United States city. 2020 was also an election year.

On Jan. 6, there was an insurrection at the Capitol building.

Topics like the ones mentioned will go down in the history books, but how does a public school system handle the conversations of these pressing and controversial issues amongst staff and students?

The Supreme Court case,

Tinker V. Des Moines (1969), set the precedent that students have the right to free speech in public schools as long as the speech does not disrupt the educational process.

The ACLU of Ohio has also set guidelines for speech in school, by stating that “Schools can regulate school-sponsored speech, speech that is vulgar/ offensive, speech that disrupts school, speech that interferes with other students’ rights, speech that incites illegal activity or celebrates drug use, speech that is “obscene,” or speech that makes false personal attacks.”

Sara Crooks, WHS associate principal, gives insight into teachers’ protocols when

controversial topics arise in the classroom.

“The teacher’s primary responsibility is to instruct without bias, while presenting all sides of thinking, and then encouraging the student to come to a conclusion that is found in reasonable research and fact as much as we can verify,” Crooks said.

Crooks says talking about these difficult topics is appropriate in a public school as long as the teacher stays within the curriculum’s scope.

Crooks also stated WCS has a welcoming policy that allows for the protection of students.

“It is important to facilitate these difficult conversations

Ohio’s COVID-19 Vaccination Plan Phase 1A: -Healthcare workers

-First responders -Residents and staff in assisted living facilities Phase 1B: -Seniors, age 65 and older, beginning with individuals over 70 -Those with specific preexisting conditions -Teachers/administrative staff The next phase of vaccinations will begin when availability increases

How do I get Vaccinated?

Check with the Wayne County Health Dept. to know if you are eligible.

If you are eligible, register with a vaccine provider.

Information compiled from Ohio Health Department even in classes when students talk about controversial topics in a laissez-faire manner… we must be able to be welcoming to differing points of view... We can’t, and should not avoid, difficult conversations. We have to attack them intentionally, presenting all sides and seeking facts with as much servitude as we can,” Crooks said.

Bryan Ehrlinspiel, Social Studies Dept. member , said he wants his students to be engaged with history, even if it is not in the textbook.

“I really want to have those tough conversations, and I enjoy my students challenging themselves intellectually with these difficult topics… when

difficult topics are brought up, I try to synthesize it with something from history,” Ehrlinspiel said.

Ehrlinspiel says it is not uncommon for students to disagree with varying perspectives. He encourages the conversation.

“I want my students to be clinically involved, and in a normal school year, you need to allow time for those conversations,” Ehrlinspiel said.

Ehrlinspiel and Crooks both emphasize that school is a safe space for these conversations to be held and allows for the development of a powerful connection between the students and teachers.

THE WOOSTER BLADE | FEB. 26, 2021 | PAGE 6

Students discover new talents and perspectives SOPHIA MERA staff writer During the past year, many people have had the time to start examining the things they would like to do now that they have the time to do so.

One student who challenged herself to something new is Emily James (10), who says with all her free time, she has started baking cookies almost every day.

Others have picked up new skills like Mattie Dunlap (9),

who says, “Hobbies that I have added would be playing the piano and working out.”

Other students have pursued artistic endeavors, like Alexis Miller (10), who said she has picked up both making jewelry and making cake pops.

Along with having more free time came adapting to what is happening and adjusting to a new daily schedule.

Both students and teachers have had to change the way their daily schedule goes. In describing her changed schedule, Layne Nelson (10) said, “I have a lot

more flexibility, so I can actually get the sleep I need… Usually, I start my day a little later than I would normally at school.”

Another student, Riley Ardrey (12), says he has to plan around getting most of his school work done at school because it is much harder to get work done when not in a learning environment.

In spending all this time at home, some students say they have also learned things about themselves.

Many people learned about themselves, socially and mentally, including Wolfgang Huffman (10), “I realized how much my friends really mean to me, and without them I feel like a piece of me is missing” Some students realized how much they depend on social

WCS provides vital services to students LUKE POMFRET focus editor With the increasing cases of COVID-19, modern-day students face new challenges of learning, making and retaining relationships with their peers.

A recent study was published

by JAMA Pediatrics, explaining how schools have become the, “de facto mental health system for many children and adolescents.”

According to the study, 57 percent of adolescents who need care utilize their mental health services.

The researchers from that same study have attributed the rise in mental health issues to, “the unique combination of the public health crisis, social isolation, and economic recession.”

In addition to students’ added stress, the American Psychiatric Association says that about 50 percent of mental health cases begin at age 14, and the tendency to develop depression

doubles between ages 13 to 18.

Dr. Maria Loades, a clinical psychologist from the Department of Psychology at the University of Bath, led a study focusing on the effects of self-isolation on young children in the United Kingdom.

Loades concluded in her study that “there are strong connections between loneliness and depression in young people… we know this effect can sometimes be lagged, meaning it could take up to 10 years to understand the scale of the mental health impact the Covid-19 crisis has created.”

While these statistics of depression in teens in a regularly given year are troubling, now the pandemic is added to the mix.

In the WCSD, multiple partnerships have helped combat mental health cases amongst students and staff.

Anazao Community Partners is a private, nonprofit organization providing treatment, intervention and prevention services to residents and organizations throughout

Wayne and Holmes Counties.

Mark Woods is the executive director of Anazao and explains the importance of Anazao’s partnership with the WCSD. Woods says, “Anazao has been involved with Wooster City Schools for over 40 years.

We have been serving at- and in-risk youth in Wayne County with intervention and treatment services for all that time.”

In describing the newly implemented Family Liaison Service in the district, Woods said, “What we recognized, in collaboration with WCSD leadership, was that there are many students and families with needs that do not necessarily, or exclusively, fall under the ’Behavioral Healthcare’ umbrella. This is particularly true during the ongoing COVID pandemic. The Family Liaisons are connected to families in need and seek to be a bridge between the school, the family, and the vast array of social services and supports, including behavioral healthcare.”

Anazao offers school-based

interaction, while some realized they do not need it as much as they thought.

Ben Stavnezer (10) said, “I realized that I don’t need to spend as much time with people and I am very independent, but also that family is very important.”

Relating to both Huffman and Stavnezer, Ashley Schroer (10) says, “I learned that I am

COVER

independent, but having friends around is nice” Students like Elisha Baah (10) said he realized how much he took school for granted, and James says she has learned that as much as she needs to have good grades and feel accomplished, it is hard to do so successfully without that push from teachers she would have in school.

For this issue, The Wooster Blade staff wanted to reflect on the challenges COVID-19 has brought at the school district level and beyond, while highlighting what we have to look forward to post-pandemic. services that combine case management and counseling/ therapy services inside the school building.

Woods says, “We see increases in symptoms and needs across the spectrum of the school – and not just in Wooster. In every district, we serve across both Wayne and Holmes Counties, and at every age level, Kindergarten through faculty/staff, we are seeing increases in needs. Some of this is directly related to the ongoing COVID pandemic – this sort of stress is exhausting as it continues to’’pile on’ outside of an individual’s control. Some of the increase comes from the district and communities being more aware of both the needs and the supports available.”

Erin Buchholz, Cornerstone and Edgewood Middle School psychologist, confirms the reports of various mental health needs that have increased due to COVID-19.

Buchholz describes how counselors have handled the situation by saying: “Our middle and elementary school counselors offer guidance lessons talking about mental

health (coping skills, warning signs, what to do if you or a friend needs help). Guidance lessons were offered virtually to our online students as well. Our district has recently contracted with Anazao to provide district social workers to help families connect resources between home and school.”

Buchholz says that often, for students, the hardest part for them is to acknowledge that there is a problem, and said that once students are able to do so, services, such as Anazao, play an essential role in helping students.

Michael Tefs, Superintendent of the WCSD, said in the Nov. 24 Board Of Education meeting, “We must think about what specialized services we have for our families, and we have to realize that when we talk about the whole child, it is significantly broad... there is so much more that happens for a student outside of education.”

If you or someone you know is struggling, reach out to an administrator, guidance counselor or teacher and take advantage of these resources that the district provides for its students.

THE WOOSTER BLADE | COVER | FEB. 26, 2021 | PAGE 7

The light at the end of the tunnel: After a tumultuous year, The Wooster Blade staff looks to the future

Strong political division throughout Writer highlights things to the nation leaves many without hope anticipate in a pandemic

LEO RILEY a&e editor Trying to find hope during what can safely be called one of America’s bleakest eras is a daunting task, to say the least.

The Capitol has been stormed and ransacked by U.S. citizens, 475,000 have been lost to COVID-19, and there is still no end in sight.

What is possibly most frightening, however, is the complete and utter disconnect between Democrats and Republicans on even the most basic principles.

Tensions have escalated to the point where bipartisanship is almost a taboo among government officials.

Paige Arnold, WHS History Dept. member, does not see the present as a time when unity can foster.

Arnold states, “...it is accurate to say that after certain crises, like the attacks on Pearl Harbor and the World Trade Center, the U.S. goes into a phase of unity. I am not sure I think this is one of those times. For one,

the ‘common enemy’ is a virus rather than a nation or group.”

Arnold went on to explain that the “events like the attack on the U.S. Capitol seem to demonstrate a divide within the nation rather than a divide between the nation and another enemy, so the unifying principle doesn’t really seem to take effect.”

Now is a time that feels, to many, like the future of the nation is out of control, so what can people do when half of the country is opposed to what feels like all of their ideals?

According to College of Wooster History Professor, Dr. Jeff Roche, firstly, the United States must try to comprehend and understand the sheer scale of the problem it is facing.

Roche, who specializes in the history of right-wing politics in the United States, was able to clarify some of said points of concern, specifically, the question of whether or not the current political divide is unprecedented.

“No,” Roche said in response to this question. “In some ways, our current moment certainly has its share of similarities with moments in the past. The partisan newspapers of the Federalist period make Fox News and MSNBC look like allies who have a mild disagreement.”

Roche explained his view on the divide, supporting it with specific examples of time periods where the divide was

arguably worse: the 1850s and the Long Sixties were periods of major division and even the Kent State shooting was defended by some.

“There are significant differences between then and now, however...Today’s media landscape is drastically different. Thanks to outlets like Facebook, where a large percentage of Americans admit that they get most of their news, the information that they receive has been determined by a set of algorithms that only go to further a condition known as confirmation bias,” Roche said.

Confirmation bias occurs when the information one specifically looks for is all one finds.

The issue goes beyond being divided, as most news today is not only partisan, but actually further divides its readers from the facts.

It’s a system designed to feed on and reinforce one’s existing assumptions and views.

Roche was asked about the possibility of a moment of unity upon the end of COVID, to which he responded, “The country may eventually heal, but right now, it’s bitterly and deeply divided.”

Times are hard, to put it bluntly, and there is no sign they will get better anytime soon.

However, Americans must not lose hope, the world must not lose hope, that things will get better and humanity will prevail.

LEX PARSONS staff writer As the world sees the beginning of the end of the coronavirus pandemic, people are looking forward to the future and all the things that this new future is hopefully bringing us.

Everybody is looking forward to one thing or another once this is all over.

One thing is for sure, people hope to get rid of the masks sooner rather than later.

Unfortunately, they have to stay on for a little while longer, but even so there is much to look forward to Recently, I asked a few different people over social media and in-person what they are most looking forward to with the end of the pandemic approaching.

The most common response was travel.

Plenty of people are also looking to just be able to get out of their houses without worry, going to the movie theater or seeing musicals, plays or bands without the fear of catching COVID. Another common thing people noted was that they wanted to go out to eat or go to coffee shops without having to wear a mask.

Many people have said they just generally miss the way things were before.

In terms of what there is to see

in theaters, there is the common complaint of there being nothing to see.

But with more theaters opening, there are plenty of movies being released or movies that are still out from during the pandemic, including Wonder Woman 1984, Monster Hunter, Raya and the Last Dragon, Marvel’s Black Widow and Venom 2.

We have plenty of things to look forward to, including the 2021 Tokyo Olympics, this summer, which will be the first Olympics to debut skateboarding as an Olympic sport.

Although these Olympics were postponed last year, the plan for them to continue this summer offers hope.

If you are looking for places to go out and pick up a bite to eat you could get going to The Leaf or Miss Amy’s Bakery for a morning meal. Miss Amy’s is located in the North End and offers a wide selection of baked goods.

You could also hit up Salsaroja, the new taco place downtown for lunch or dinner, or you could pick up a coffee or muffin at Boo Bears Brew.

Though the pandemic has been a strain on mental and physical health, we are approaching the time where we can begin to move away from it.

Hopefully, we can start to be less afraid and able to go back to something resembling our lives before the pandemic.

A&E

THE WOOSTER BLADE | FEB. 26, 2021 | PAGE 8

WHS alum self-publishes first novel ASHTON DUNLAP sports editor Former BLADE staff writer and WHS alum Griffin Murphy has always been a writer, and wrote all throughout high school. He now attends The Ohio State University and has managed to balance his school work and the publishing of his first book.

His book, titled To Tell A Tale is available on Amazon and any Kindle device.

Murphy says the writing process was very strange and took a lot of work.

“It was a lot of scrapping stories and working toward figuring out the direction I wanted it to go. I think publishing it was just as strange because I kept restarting. I wanted it to be as close to perfect as I could get it before sending it out to

the world, and I am honestly extremely proud of it,” Murphy said.

He explains that the procedure of publishing a book was also very demanding.

“The process of actually formatting: checking grammar, spelling and punctuation is so tedious. As the writer, I know what I’m trying to say but the reader doesn’t. I need to make sure the words say what I want the reader to hear. The editing process was difficult, but the simplicity of Amazon publishing allowed for me to get my book published simply, easily, and quickly. It was perfect for someone like me who is working on getting their first work out there,” Murphy said.

Murphy says he has always been interested in writing, but it did not turn into a book until he decided that he wanted to

put all of his effort toward a published novel. The book is a collection of short stories that as a collection, come together as one novel.

“While they don’t all necessarily go together they all have their own meaning and fit into the larger picture while each having their own unique essence that isn’t the same to any other,” Murphy said.

To Tell A Tale is meant to be a standalone book, but Murphy says he plans on publishing more books in the future. He is unsure if he is going to independently publish his next books or utilize a more mainstream publisher.

“I think if you have that creativity flowing out of you, there isn’t a plug you can put on it. I have so many ideas I can’t help but put down onto paper,” Murphy said.

Actors find creative ways to perform LAURA RAPPORT staff writer During the pandemic, it is estimated by The Wall Street Journal that nearly 30 million Americans lost their jobs.

According to an article called Survey of U.S. Artists Finds TwoThirds Report Unemployment

by Neda Ulaby published by NPR in April of 2020, two-thirds of all arts workers lost their jobs.

Broadway theaters are not projected to reopen until June and thousands of artists will remain unemployed until then.

So how are artists making money at this time?

There are alternative styles of performing, like productions on Zoom, but for many artists, it is not the same as a live performance on a stage.

Noelle Crites, a Wooster native was living in New York and attending college for

performing arts when the city shut down March 12. Crites said she was forced to complete her final semester of college online and her senior showcase and graduation ceremony were canceled.

Crites was also cast in several productions in Cleveland, but they were postponed until the fall of 2021. Crites, like many artists, has not been able to work in live theater since the shutdown.

However, there are still ways to perform, just not traditionally.

Crites has been involved in several plays over Zoom and was recently cast in a production of Jason Robert Brown’s The Last Five Years. Although theater is not happening traditionally, Crites says: “Theater is still happening, it’s just different.”

When theaters will reopen is still unknown, but artists remain hopeful that live theater performances will come back.

WHS Drama Club will be performing their production of Footloose in March, with precautions put in place to protect the performers and audience.

Drama Club director Brett Hiner says, “We’re following all of the Governor’s theater reopening guidelines, which is a pretty extensive list, we are following all of Wooster City Schools guidelines and adding more.”

While the pandemic has certainly been difficult for arts workers across the country, there is hope for the performing arts in this country. The arts are vital to this nation’s well-being.

“The arts are always important.

People turn to them for comfort, escape, and entertainment. In a time when life is so stressful, the arts help people cope,” Crites said.

Although the arts have been challenged by the pandemic,

ARTS IN BRIEF

DRAMA CLUB The WHS Drama Club will be performing their production of the musical Footloose March 12, 13, 19 and 20 at 7:30 p.m. and March 14 and 21 at 2 p.m. in the Performing Arts Center. Tickets may be purchased at www.ticketpeak.co/whsdrama for $12 for adults and $10 for students and senior citizens. For attendees, please be sure to review the COVID safety protocols at whsdramaclub.weebly.com prior to attendance of the performance.

Student Production WHS senior, Zeke Ntia, has recently produced a pop single that is available on Apple Music, Youtube Music, iHeart Radio and Spotify. The song, entitled “Pretty,”is available for streaming and can be purchased for 99 cents on iTunes. You can also witness Ntia’s talents as Ren live in the Drama Club’s production of Footloose in March.

BRETT HINER

Five year Drama Club member Mya Vandegrift rehearses for the production of Footloose, which has been rehearsing amidst COVID restrictions. they are slowly making their return, with the reopening of theaters across the country, and locally, with Wooster’s production of Footloose taking place March 12-13, March 19-

20 at 7:30 p.m. and matinee performances on March 14 and March 21 at 2 p.m.

Tickets for Footloose are available at TicketPeak.com/ whsdrama.

THE WOOSTER BLADE | A&E | FEB. 26, 2021 | PAGE 9

Reviews and Recommendations: New shows and seasons premiere with unique storylines and action-packed adventures

IMAGE COURTESY OF DISNEY+

JULIA HOOTMAN staff writer The second season of hit Disney+ original show, The Mandalorian inspires excitement and emotion and is fulfilling and satisfying for any Star Wars fan.

In October, the highly anticipated second installment of The Mandalorian hit Disney+. The first season of the show was an integral part of the launch of Disney’s streaming service, Disney+ and was loved by viewers. The Mandalorian is the first ever live-action Star Wars television show. The show is set nine years after the events of Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope and follows a lone Mandalorian, played by Pedro

Pascal, as he makes his way through the galaxy with Baby Yoda in tow.

Beginning in October, The Mandalorian season two episodes were released on Friday every week through mid- December. The second season consists of eight chapters with an average runtime of 42 minutes. Right off the bat, the second season steps up the special effects game with creatures like the giant and terrifying Krayt dragon in the first episode, and the creepy and crawling carnivorous Krykna (giant spiders) in the second episode.

The Mandalorian creates settings like no other show, taking viewers all around the galaxy. The world building only expands in season two. Backed up by Ludwig Göransson’s excitingly haunting music score, we find ourselves not only transported to familiar locations like Tatooine, Luke Skywalker’s home planet, but also to new locations like Nevarro, Arvala-7 and Sorgan.

This diversity in location is made possible by the show’s

innovative technological filming approach. The show is filmed in front of an LED screen on which both still and moving images are displayed.

Disney+ expands on the behind the scenes in their original documentary series, Disney Gallery: The Mandalorian.

In addition to the killer special effects and worldbuilding of season two of The Mandalorian, Game of Thrones and Wonder Woman 1984 actor Pedro Pascal portrays the Mandalorian with convincing originality.

The main character is covered head to toe in armor for the better part of the show, so the portrayal relies heavily on body language and subtle movement.

Pascal nails his performance, resulting in an interesting and new character in the Star Wars galaxy.

The Mandalorian season two is extremely popular. The season finale, known to be a legendary, once-in-a-lifetime viewing experience, has the fifth highest IMDb score for an episode of a TV series. Fans were pleasantly surprised at the addition of three well-known Star Wars characters and found themselves excited and satisfied with the playout of season two of The Mandalorian.

The Mandalorian has been nominated for a Golden Globe for Best Drama TV Series and has received recognition from the Writer’s Guild.

IMAGE COURTESY OF NETFLIX

MYA VANDEGRIFT graphics manager I would like to begin this review of Bridgerton by saying that this series is for those that are 16 years or older because the best way to describe this series is SPICY. The show opens by introducing the Bridgertons, specifically the oldest daughter Daphne. Taking place in the Regency era (1810s), the Bridgertons are a powerful, wealthy family with eight siblings that are all trying to find love. The show is loosely based on The Bridgerton Series, a book collection by Julia Quinn. The first series, which dropped on Christmas Day 2020, focuses on the oldest daughter, Daphne and love interest, Duke of Hastings Simon Bassett.

The plot, gossip, music and fashion in the series is definitely worth the watch. There are overarching themes that I found very interesting: sex education, a woman’s role in the 1800s and the different forms love can take.

But, viewer discretion is advised for this first series. In effort not to give spoilers, I

will just say that one episode is very problematic in terms of Daphne’s decisions. While they are addressed by Simon, I hope that Daphne’s actions are held more accountable in the upcoming seasons.

Also, the producers made the choice to color-blind the cast, a great move. But, they acknowledge that racial inequality exists in the show with exactly one line and never discuss it again.

This minimization felt very performative to me.

The show could have been a historical drama portrayed by actors of all colors, but this flimsy attempt to create historical race context is an irresponsible decision. There must be more elaboration on the state of race in the show’s world, rather than just throwing a line in to appear to be socially responsible. I believe that a colorblind cast in this context would only work if the audience was not compelled to question the state of race in the show.

With that being said, I am very interested to see how the second and remaining seasons develop, and how close to the books they stay. Bridgerton is very entertaining and intriguing, but I hope for better writing of characters as they interact in their worlds.

I also hope to see accountability from behind the scenes play into the plot and universe of Bridgerton. All around, this show was very entertaining and beautiful work was done with color and tone. I recommend this show to those who are old enough to view it.

THE WOOSTER BLADE | A&E | FEB. 26, 2021 | PAGE 10

What to Watch: Reviewer offers suggestions for new shows based on old favorites

Romance

Comedy

If you liked Love, Simon Love, Victor Set in the same world as Love, Simon, Love, Love, Victor follows Victor Salazar on his own at a new school while struggling with his sexual identity. When it becomes overwhelming, he reaches out to Simon, and the resulting plotline is a heartwarming coming of age story. With 10 episodes at around 30 minutes each, the show is the perfect length for a weekend binge.

If you liked End of the F****** world

Filled with humor and teenage angst, Sex Education is about an insecure teenage boy whose mom is a sex therapist.

In the story, he teams up with a classmate to give sex advice at school. The show is packed with tons of humorous moments and also deals with relevant and important questions that every teenager inevitably has, outlining social norms in high school. There are two seasons, with eight episodes each averaging at 50 minutes.

Sex Education LUCIA PERFETTI staff writer

Docuseries If you liked Schitt’s Creek

Pretend it’s a City

Perfect if you want to laugh at a good joke, Pretend it’s a City (directed by Martin Scorsese) focuses on interviews with American author and speaker Fran Lebowitz. You don’t have to know who Lebowitz is (I didn’t) to enjoy it, as it is hilarious and engaging on its own. The show is mostly conversations between Lebowitz and Scorsese, talking about her life living in New York, but it is more of a comedically cynical commentary on humanity. The limited series is seven parts on Netflix, and each episode averages at around 29 minutes long.

BingeWorthy If you liked The Crown

The Queen’s Gambit The Queen’s Gambit follows orphaned Beth Harmon starting when she’s nine years old, as she learns- and masters the game of chess. Set in the 1960s- the show is worth the watch just for the costuming and sets. As Beth is a girl, and a child at that, she becomes a star almost instantly, which is her downfall as she grows up and viewers see what her obsession with winning and fame have done to her. It is a limited series, with seven episodes averaging at 50 minutes each.

Graphics by Sylvie Shaya

TRENDS

THE WOOSTER BLADE | FEB. 26, 2021 | PAGE 11

Local Desserts: Miss Amy’s Bakery

Over the course of the pandemic, shopping local has become more important than ever. In each upcoming issue, BLADE staff members will feature a new locally owned bakery or coffee shop in order to review favorite desserts found in our community.

OLIVIA HINER staff writer

OLIVA HINER

Pictured above are an assortment of desserts from Miss Amy’s Bakery, including the staff favorites reviewed by a BLADE staff member.

How Did This Get Made explores the origins of some of Hollywood’s most infamous movies. Hosted by Paul Scheer, June Diane Raphael, and Jason Mantzoukas, and featuring a guest every week, How Did This Get Made is a humorous take on bad movies.

The Office Ladies podcast, hosted by Jenna Fischer and Angela Kinsey who played Pam Beesly and Angela Martin on NBC’s hit comedy The Office, recap episodes of the show with behind the scenes details and stories. This podcast is perfect for any fan of The Office, and was named iHeartRadio’s show of the year for 2020.

Miss Amy’s Bakery, whose fitting motto is “Spread the Sparkle,” is located toward the north end of Wooster.

On Feb. 6, I went to Miss Amy’s and asked the employees what their favorite desserts were and because of their passion for the products they sell and because of their sheet amount of enthusiasm for everything they serve to customers, I bought almost all of them.

Everything you see pictured

cost around $18. Not only did the employees provide what their favorite desserts were, they also enthusiastically provided the favorites of those who were not working as well. I was not able to try all of their favorites, as some were unavailable, but I did get to try a considerable amount of their fantastic desserts.

Starting with Miss Amy herself, she loves the peanut butter brownies and cheesecake. The cheesecake was unavailable that day, but the peanut butter brownie is simply delicious.

Next, the employees working that day. Grace recommends the strawberry cassata cupcake, which was my personal favorite. Olivia likes the samoa cookie, which was my mom’s favorite. Alicia enjoys the crème brûlée macaron, also delectable, or the gluten free sticky buns. Sairra recommends the peanut butter brownie, which was probably my second

Podcasts warrant review

LAURA RAPPORT staff writer

Hosted by Harry Hill and Austin Blake Mays, Scrolling with Harry & Austin discusses social media, the internet and celebrity gossip. Created in February of 2020, Hill and Mays post episodes weekly.

Scrolling is great for anyone interested in celebrity gossip.

Oh, Hello: The P’dcast, hosted

by Gil Faizon and George St. Geegland, Nick Kroll and John Mulaney’s elderly alteregos, investigates the death of Princess Diana, who they are convinced was murdered. Oh, Hello: The P’dcast is fun and weird.

favorite. Last, but not least, Nina likes the snickerdoodle blondie, also very good, which is saying a lot considering I do not particularly favor snickerdoodles.

For those who were not working that day, Raigan recommends the lobster tail, Lindsay likes the cake slice and Jess enjoys the bread. Katie and Joseph both like the cheesecake.

A popular item on this list is cheesecake, so clearly, I might have to go back sometime this week to try it.

All of the things that I tried were absolutely delicious and very unique to this wonderful store and I highly recommend this friendly and warm business to you.

Because of the delectable selection and quality of their baked goods and also because the employees are very helpful and pleasant, I highly encourage you to try something new from Miss Amy’s; it is well worth the visit.

The Daily is a daily news podcast by The New York Times, hosted by Michael Barbaro. It won the 2020 Webby Voice of the Year award and has a 4.5 star rating on Apple Podcasts. This is a great option to stay abreast of the news.

The Wayward Guide for the Untrained Eye follows twins Artemis and Paul as they investigate corruption in the small town of Connor Creek.

Created by YouTube comedy group Tin Can Brothers, and starring Mary Kate Wiles and Steve Zaragoza, the Wayward Guide is an adventure filled with hair-raising twists.

The Michelle Obama Podcast, hosted by former first lady Michelle Obama, focuses on the relationships in our lives that make us who we are, while detailing the life of the former first lady. Featuring notable guests such as former President Barack Obama, Conan O’Brien and more, this podcast is great for casual listening.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF FAIR USE AT SPOTFY

FEATURE

THE WOOSTER BLADE | FEB. 26, 2021 | PAGE 12

WHS students record audiobook for local author’s new novel JACK VENEY co-editor-in-chief Many people enjoy spending time listening to audiobooks; however, they probably do not know the amount of work that goes into creating one. Two WHS students, teaming up with a local author, are doing just that.

Leo Riley (12) and Katelynn Weltlich (9), advised by WHS Dramatic Arts teacher Kristin Broda, have joined local author Ronald Holtman to create an audiobook for his novel, Jack’s Rules.

Prior to the novel’s publication in April 2020, a group of 17 students and five teachers from Edgewood Middle School were given the opportunity to provide Holtman feedback on the book.

According to a news story

by Wooster City Schools, the story is written from a two-point perspective of a homeless brother, Peter, and sister, Chessie. In the book, they go from living with their mother in a shelter to finding temporary housing with a kind man named Jack. The novel touches on many themes of social justice, but in a way that is appropriate for junior high students. The characters struggle with feelings of selfworth, bullying, abuse and neglect. Jack helps to coach them as their family works to find stability.

Holtman had the idea to create an audiobook for all the books that he has written, but had never followed through on the idea until the publishing of Jack’s Rules, where having high school students reading the book would fit in perfectly with the characters of the book.

“I’ve thought about with all the things I’ve written just because the audiobooks seem to sell very well. Libraries like them, because a lot of folks like to read them when they’re going on a trip or something. I started investigating how you would make an audiobook and learned that basically, you audition readers, you pick out readers, and then they charge you for their services. And I thought, you know, that would be an interesting project for a high school kid, and [of] the main characters in this book, ones a sophomore in high school and one’s fifth or sixth grader, so I figured that voices of high school students would be much closer to the characters in the book,” Holtman said.

According to Broda, post-publishing of the novel, Holtman contacted superintendent Dr. Michael Tefs

about the idea of creating an audiobook to accompany the print version, and he suggested that they should loop Broda, as the dramatic arts teacher, into the conversation.

At this point, Broda had the opportunity to pick who she wanted to do the reading.

Having just finished a voice acting unit in her acting class, she got the opportunity to hear how people’s voices sounded when recorded. “We were doing a voice acting unit specifically and they were recording commercials. They [her students] had to record a commercial in their regular voice, they had to do it in a character voice and then in an accent. And these two individuals, Leo Riley and Katelynn Weltlich, sounded amazing, in a recorded sense,” Broda said.

Practicing via Zoom throughout the fall, Riley and Weltlich now spend free periods in a small room connected to Broda’s room, when she does not have a class, recording their parts, separately, without facial

coverings, to ensure that their recordings are adhering to the quality the online publishers require.

According to Riley, even something so insignificant as a squeak of a chair, turning of a page, or too long of a pause between sentences can make a significant impact. “It’s much harder to get a solid ‘take’ than I thought it would be, even a small sound or a long pause can throw it off,” Riley said.

The most valuable part of this so far, according to Weltlich, has been the experience. “What I find most valuable about this is probably just the experience.

I’m really into acting and theatre so being able to voice a character is an amazing opportunity. Plus, to be able to say that I’ve recorded an audiobook that people from all over can listen to as a freshman is insane,” Weltlich said.

Those wishing to listen to the audiobook will have to wait, with recording having just started a little over a month ago. However, the book can be found on Amazon in a print or Kindle format.

TikTok creators and consumers must better regulate content

ASHTON DUNLAP sports editor TikTok is undoubtedly popular, and the saturation of content and creators on the app is overwhelming.

The extreme virality of the app, coupled with the problematic and repetitive content the app holds, is a serious problem.

When TikTok is opened, the first thing that you see is your “For You” page.

The page is a continuous flood of videos, all placed on the page by the apps algorithm.

According to a post on TikTok’s website, videos are recommended to users based on conditions like followed accounts, liked videos, hashtags, songs, and even device type.

Using this algorithm, millions of videos have gone viral on Tik Tok, and thousands of people have become “TikTok famous.”

The ability to go viral on the app is far too easy, and content that is low quality or simply strange can still become exceptionally popular if enough people engage with the video.

According to a July 18, 2020 article titled “TikTok Finally Explains How the ‘For You’ Algorithm Works” by Louise Matsakis on Wired.com, “When a video is uploaded to TikTok, the For You algorithm shows it first to a small subset of users.

These people may or may not follow the creator already, but TikTok has determined they may be more likely to engage with the video, based on their past behavior.

If they respond favorably— say, by sharing the video or watching it in full—TikTok then shows it to more people who it thinks share similar interests.

That same process then repeats itself, and if this positive feedback loop happens enough times, the video can go

viral.”

This effortless virality is one of the main reasons why so many people like the app, but it is also a problem.

By creating a platform where videos can so painlessly go viral, TikTok is opening up the doors for potentially explicit or harmful content to be proliferated to the masses, especially young teens.

Many of TikTok’s trends, especially recently, have been overtly sexual or showcase dangerous stunts.

According to Statista, more than 30 percent of TikTok’s users are below the age of 20.

This combination of virality and precarious content can introduce young people to sexual concepts at a young age

or lead them to do dangerous things, just to follow a trend or make a TikTok video.

Additionally, the virality and popularity of the app permeates the app with so much content, that genuinely well made and entertaining videos are swept under the rug of an endless stream of repetitive videos of teenagers doing simple and often inappropriate dances.

TikTok needs to better incorporate more moderation into their algorithm to reduce the amount of misguided content that appears on the app.

TikTok users need to regulate that content themselves, and choose not to post a video because they know it will go viral, but because the content is entertaining and high quality.

THE WOOSTER BLADE | FEATURE | FEB. 26, 2021 | PAGE 13

Social media online platforms recently create debate about free speech restrictions and policies SIERRA DEWALD cover editor On Jan. 8, following the Jan. 6 attack on the United States Capitol Building, Twitter banned former U.S. president Donald Trump from the platform.

According to a Jan. 14 Washington Post article by Hannah Denham, entitled, “These are the platforms that have banned Trump and his allies,” other platforms including Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, Youtube and Twitch, among others, subsequently disabled Trump’s account or blocked him from making new posts.

A Jan. 8 explanatory statement issued by Twitter, entitled, “Permanent suspension of @realDonaldTrump,” cited several tweets that were

assessed under Twitter policy to be promoting the glorification of violence and potentially inciting further violence.

According to a Jan. 12 Boston University article by Rich Barlow, Trump’s ban led to social media backlash from his supporters alleging a, “violation of [the] First Amendment, free-speech protection and a demonstration of anti-conservative bias,” followed by widespread online discussion concerning what constitutes free speech.

Andrew Geronimo, director of the First Amendment Clinic at Case Western Reserve law school, explains in a Jan. 21 interview with Vox that the First Amendment only constrains the government’s power to censor citizens. Since social media companies are private, non-governmental actors, the First Amendment

does not apply.

However, as the above Vox article continues, “Still, the implications for free speech have worried conservatives and liberals alike. Many have expressed wariness about the power social media companies have to simply oust whoever they deem dangerous, while critics have pointed out the hypocrisy of social media platforms spending years bending over backward to justify not banning Trump despite his posts violating their content guidelines, only to make an about-face during his final weeks in office.”

As social media increasingly becomes the default forum for public discourse, some argue that free speech and First Amendment protections should be applied to larger websites, as leaving it up to social media companies to arbitrate who is

permitted can be worrying.

The fundamental challenge with free speech, as Ben Wizner, director of the ACLU Speech and Privacy Project, explains in a Jan. 17 interview with The Guardian, “is that almost everyone thinks they know what it means; they’re sure it applies to their own speech; and equally sure that it doesn’t apply to speech they consider offensive or dangerous. But when we talk about free speech as a regulatory matter, someone has to be the great arbiter.”

Suzanne Nossell, CEO of Pen America, explains one of the issues with free speech on social media in a Jan. 17 interview with The Guardian, stating, “If you have a valid claim that you shouldn’t have been kicked off [social media]... often an appeal can go into a black hole, people can’t get answers and don’t even know

“...BUT, WHEN WE TALK ABOUT FREE SPEECH AS A REGULATORY MATTER, SOMEONE HAS TO BE THE GREAT ARBITER,” BEN WIZNER SAID. what rule they are accused of violating.”

Nossell advocates for greater transparency in how decisions are made, the rules for getting banned from platforms and the appeal process.

Regardless, the lines remain blurred concerning both what types of speech are protected by freedom of speech and whether the concept of free speech applies to social media in the first place.

People share their hopes for the current presidential leadership now uncertain as to where this new government will take us in terms of policies implemented.

In order to pinpoint how people feel about our government now, I went to Instagram stories and ran polls with simple yes or no style prompts on a group of around 50 people.

BRITTANY WACHTEL staff writer With the beginning of a new presidency marked by the inauguration of Joe Biden, it is

All of the questions were situated around the idea of where the government should go from the ending of Donald Trump’s presidency to the start of Joe Biden’s.

To start, I asked how satisfied

those polled were with our current elected officials, with the split being 49 percent to 51 percent, with the majority leaning toward not very satisfied.

This reaction should not come as a surprise to those who have seen the hashtag #SettleForBiden, which came about after Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren dropped out of the running for the Democratic party.

This hashtag presented the feelings of younger generations toward Joe Biden, showing that they are not necessarily

satisfied, but prefer Biden over Trump.

The next poll question addressed to the group of 50 was the question: What are the main things you would like to see focused on during Biden’s four-year term?

The options presented were economic success, COVID stability and equal rights, along with another category labeled “other.”

Equal rights and COVID stability quickly tied with 17 votes each, with economic success stringing along, carrying seven votes.

When asked what else may be looked forward to during this presidency, answers ranged from “calmness on TV,” to “just making everything better.”

In Joe Biden’s inauguration speech, he proclaims, “And so today, at this time and place, let us start afresh.”

After Donald Trump’s presidency ending in the storming of the capitol building, the inauguration of Joe Biden marks a glimmer of hope as shown in poll results.

This transition includes the hope of equality, liberty, honor and the truth.

SPORTS

THE WOOSTER BLADE | FEB. 26, 2021 | PAGE 14

WHS winter sports finish up seasons TRENT KUZMA staff writer

SWIM

The swim team has implemented several new protocols due to COVID, according to head coach Chris Matthew. Matthew said this year the team only allows four swimmers per lane, there is limited locker room use with absolutely no gathering or socializing, swimmers are required to wear masks until they are ready to enter the water and the team has installed two big industrial fans on the deck for better ventilation. She also notes that the team has been broken into two separate teams of 18 for when they are in the gym doing their dryland program.

According to Matthew, “These changes have been easy to implement, and the kids have been great about compliance, as we really want to do all we can to stay healthy and have a

season this year.” The Wooster girls took first place and the Wooster boys took runner up in this years OCC meet on January 16th. There are multiple relay teams as well as individuals advancing to the state swim meet Feb. 27.

WRESTLING

The wrestling team has modified their schedule this year, according to Coach Mitch Riker. Typically, the team would attend 20 or 30 team tournaments, but with the current state of COVID levels in the state, Coach Mitch Riker said it was best to only attend duals (two teams), tri (three teams), and quad (four teams) meets.

Riker notes that a major change this year is that handshakes are not allowed pre or post-match. Since the beginning of the sport, a wrestling match always starts and ends with the shaking of your opponent’s hand, as well

as the opposing coach. Riker states, “It will be very strange not seeing that. As for our team.

We are just hoping for a chance to compete. We have a strong senior class, with a good mix of underclassmen talent. We really just want the chance to compete in Columbus at the end of the year.”

Wrestling competes in sectionals on Saturday, Feb. 22.

Saira Tapp won state runner up for female wrestling this year.

GYMNASTICS

According to Gymnastics coach Debbie Knapic, the team is, “starting off really well, and there is a sense of just picking up where we stopped at the end of our season last year.” Knapic said she would also love for the team to show skills, and win the league, with the end goal of moving on in the state tournament. “If we would win the league, it would be for the third year in a row.

Not something that is done too

often in my sport,” Knapic said.

Knapic’s biggest hope is, “that the seniors, who have worked since they were little, [will]be able to show off their skill that they have built through the years.” Knapic said the team has implemented changes in the protocol because of COVID, including six-foot distancing, increased cleaning, and each gymnast has their own chalk bag.

GIRLS BASKETBALL

According to Girls Basketball coach Michael Baus, there have been some changes to the 20202021 basketball season.

Baus stated that “Girls must wear a mask once out of their car until they are on the court.”

Baus notes that if there is a scrimmage or game and they are not actively playing in the game, the players will be socially distant on the bench and will wear a mask. Baus disinfects the balls each day and the girls use the solution on their hands to disinfect coming into the gym and leaving the gym. All coaches wear masks the whole time and the girls

answer a list of questions dealing with COVID symptoms each day.

Baus noted that although the team is young, they are working really hard and everyone has kept a great attitude so far. The team’s playoff run ended Feb. 18 after they fell to Strongsville 61-29.

BOYS BASKETBALL

According to Senior Captain David Nolan, there have been little changes to the 20202021 season. Nolan stated that “Other than the masks when we aren’t actively playing, everything is pretty much the same.

Nolan voiced that the, “lack of fans is unfortunate, but doesn’t really affect me personally that much.” The team is looking forward to another successful year. Nolan noted “OCC champions is one of our goals but coach has wanted us to think bigger. We feel that with the guys that we have we can make a deep run in the playoffs.” The team won their first playoff game and will play on Feb. 28 against Copley.

Apps offer a gym workout at home SHERIDAN SCHAUER staff writer Many people find it difficult to go to a gym during this pandemic, but they still want to work out.

The solution to this problem is finding an online workout app, but which ones are worth the time and money? A website called Very Well Fit states that their favorite fitness app is called My Fitness Pal. They state, “It’s the fitness app for someone who wants it all: it logs exercise stats and records caloric intake, helps you change your habits to meet personal health goals, and offers

unparalleled customization for each of its assets.” The only con the app has is that you have to pay a fee of $10 a month or $49.99 for their annual subscription. The app is rated a 4.7 out of 5 stars.

If you are looking for a free workout app, Very Well Fit suggests Daily Workouts Fitness Trainer; however, this app does not have as many services like nutrition or calorie tracking. It is also rated a 4.7 out of 5 stars and one review from a high schooler stated, “This app is great for helping me stay in shape and work on the spots I want to improve.”

There are many apps on

the Very Well Fit website for different workout programs that can help you stay fit without hitting the gym.

RUMEN ZDRAVCHEV IMAGE COURTESY OF MYFITNESSPAL.COM

The WHS competitive cheer team performs in the gym in front of immediate family members on Thursday, Jan. 28.

THE WOOSTER BLADE | SPORTS | FEB. 26, 2021 | PAGE 15

Students work to introduce competitive ESports club in district JHON FAJARDO staff writer Competitive ESports, which include electronic sports or competitive video games, is a growing activity in modern society. Similar to how there is a World Cup for soccer or the NFL Super Bowl, ESports has majors and tournaments where top players face off with one another for a prize.

This school year, some WHS students are advocating for the creation of an ESports club at the high school.

Logan Brown (11) is a video

game enthusiast who is leading the creation of the ESports club.

When asked about what games he would like to see played, he mentions all types of genres and styles of games.

“I would like to see traditional 2D fighting games, platform fighters, shooters, and some of the harder to classify stuff like LoL [League of Legends] and Rocket League,” Brown said.

Recently, Brown made a survey for students in the Blue and Gold cohorts to gauge interest in the club as the next step toward forming the club.

Jamie Ogle (10) is an occasional gamer who supports

the ESports Club, but is not as interested as others about starting a WHS club.

“I think having an ESports club would be cool, but I don’t think I would attend it,” Ogle said.

Although everyone has differing interests in ESports and general video games, it is undeniable that a new after school club can create opportunities for making friends, creating relationships and building community.

The process of creating an after-school club at the high school implements certain obstacles. Connor Rotolo (11)

New assistant athletic director Alex Mallue excited to be working at WHS DELANEY WILSON staff writer The WHS Athletic Dept recently hired new assistant athletic director, Alex Mallue, after Cass Dixon resigned.

WHS principal Tyler Keener said that Mallue comes with quite a bit of experience, holding CAA certification and a Sports Management degree, and has previously worked as an athletic director near Cincinnati. This experience helped Mallue stand out during the hiring process.

“I think he’ll bring a lot of good things to the athletic department.

I’m looking forward to everything he has to offer us,” Keener said.

Mallue said his previous experiences with Wooster is what made him interested in the position, “Growing up in Stark County, I often traveled to Wooster or through Wooster for many sporting or extracurricular

events of my own. I thought that it was a great town with an excellent school system, awesome facilities and many rich athletic traditions…But, the thing that really stood out to me, even above everything that I just mentioned, were the people. Our school district and community is filled with so many phenomenal staff members, students, and many others who all care deeply for one another and want to see each other succeed,” Mallue said.

Mallue said he is looking forward to helping student athletes get the most out of their high school experience as possible and notes he is looking forward to getting to know our student athletes.

“My favorite part of working in interscholastic athletics is getting to know studentathletes and what drives them, their interests inside and outside of school, what they want to do with their lives once they leave high school and how

I can help get them there, what they love about their sport(s), and so on,” Mallue said.

Mallue also talked about the role that head athletic director Joe Rubio has given him.

is an occasional gamer and a member of Student Council.

Rotolo said he would like to see this type of club offered at WHS. “I would like to see games that are school appropriate, but still enjoyable by everyone.

Games like Rocket League or Super Smash Bros would be seen as school appropriate,” Rotolo said.

As a member of Student Council, Rotolo also mentions the requirements for starting a club at WHS. “There are many steps involved in creating an after-school activity. We need funding, an adviser, and

a location to host meetings.

Obviously, we also have to ensure that there will be interest in the club,” Rotolo said.

This means that for the ESports club to be successful, it will need a teacher or staff member to serve as an adviser for the club; consoles or devices to play games on at each meeting; a classroom to hold these meetings at; and a consistent amount of attendees.

If the club succeeds, the type of games that would most likely be seen are inclusive and actively competitive games, such as Super Smash Bros or Rocket League.

athletics website, and helping run our athletics streaming service - WoosterGenerals.TV, although the great Ben Haven takes pretty much the entire lead on that - he is excellent.

Mr. Rubino, myself, or one of our phenomenal building administrators are also at just about every home and away varsity event,” Mallue said.

Mallue also said he is looking forward to working with students and coaches to tackle different issues within Wooster Athletics, and on growing and developing student athletes.

Mallue encourages student athletes to reach out to him with any questions or concerns, or to come by his office, across from the gym, to say hello.

“OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT IS FILLED WITH SO MANY PHENOMENAL STAFF MEMBERS, STUDENTS, AND MANY OTHERS,” MALLUE SAID. “Mr. Rubino has given me many areas of the athletic department to lead right off the bat, like working with our coaches on game scheduling, running our

ASHTON DUNLAP

Assistant athletic director Alex Mallue smiles for a photo in his new office at WHS.

VIEWS

THE WOOSTER BLADE | FEB. 26, 2021 | PAGE 16

Reflections on Black History Month: New film illuminates the Policy and urgency are needed in the fight for change

LENA WIEBE

co-editor-in-chief Black History Month is always something of a complicated celebration.

While it is a time to celebrate unending resilience in the face of adversity, from slavery to Jim Crow to the era of mass incarceration, Black History Month is also a time for sometimes painful reflection on those adversities.

While Black history is marked by stories of strength, the stories we tell most often are inevitably those of struggles.

Rosa Parks. MLK had a dream about his four little children.

Maybe some black and white photos of police pointing fire hoses and attack dogs at civil rights protesters. These are important stories to tell. But, they become so sanitized, so removed from their context, so simplified, that the lessons we should learn from them are often lost.

This February, when we celebrate Black History Month, and when we celebrate Black history the rest of the year, we must remember that it is a living history. Celebrating Black History Month has to mean acknowledging that many of the obstacles we teach about continue to exist today; it has to mean embracing Black Lives Matter.

In that often-quoted “I Have A Dream” speech given during the 1963 March on Washington, Dr. King said: “We can never be satisfied as long as the Negro is the victim of the unspeakable horrors of police brutality… we cannot be satisfied as long as a Negro in Mississippi cannot vote and a Negro in New York believes he has nothing for which to vote.” He spoke to remind us of, “the fierce urgency of now,” and to not take “the tranquilizing drug of gradualism.”

By 1968, a Harris Poll would place Dr. King’s disapproval rating at 75%. He was, according to the FBI, “the most dangerous man in America.”

Fifty-two years later, King has been elevated to passive martyrdom and much of his dream has yet to be realized.

According to a 2019 study by the Brennan Center for Justice, over 17 million Americans were purged from voting rolls between 2016 and 2018, disproportionately in counties with high rates of voting discrimination. In Ohio, over 235,000 names were set to be purged; over 40,000 were found to have been inaccurately added.

The Voting Rights Act of 1965, one of the crowning legislative achievements of King’s career, has been severely defanged since the 2013 Supreme Court ruling in Shelby County v.

Holder that invalidated its key provisions.

Police brutality has become, perhaps, more public, but is no less prevalent: the shadows of names like George Floyd and Breonna Taylor still hang over our conscience.

In Ohio, Casey Goodson Jr., a 23-year-old Black man with no criminal background was

shot six times by a police officer while opening his front door in December. Andre Hill was shot while turning his car on in the same month.

But, much of the response to these injustices, and to the nearly 60 years where it sometimes seems that very little has changed, has been marked by endless rationalizations and individualization. All lives matter, “blue” lives matter, anything but Black lives matter.

These responses miss the point.

Racism is insidious in all its forms, but the type of racism I learned about in elementary school, where X doesn’t want to be friends with Y because Y is a different color, is at least no longer socially acceptable.

Instead, we have gradually normalized racist structures, institutions and policies as everyday and unavoidable facts of life.

The American obsession with individualism even extends to its perception of racism.

When President Obama was first elected, more than one commentator declared we entered a “post-racial America.”

Meanwhile, in 2008, the Bureau of Justice Statistics found that black males were incarcerated at a rate almost six times higher than their white counterparts.

It has been a long time since then, and while BLM and the Trump presidency have brought some of these issues to the forefront, we have a long way to go in solving them.

As we reflect on Black History Month in the year of Black Lives Matter, let us be driven by “the fierce urgency of now,” and embrace both the philosophy and the policy demands of the Movement for Black Lives. We cannot afford to wait.

life of Wendy Williams

LUKE POMFRET focus editor Wendy Williams has always been known as the woman who never holds back and often has found herself in the hot seat with many celebrities because she follows the motto, “Their business is our business.”

Wendy has achieved a successful career in the radio and television industry because of her outspoken nature and always staying true to herself.

The Wendy Williams Movie premiered on Lifetime on Jan. 30. As a loyal Wendy watcher, the movie taught me many things about Wendy that I did not know.

The movie begins with Wendy’s childhood, where viewers learn that Wendy faced problems with her weight from an early age. As a child, Wendy was continuously weighed by her parents and told that she was, “Too much, too loud, and too fast.” Wendy never let those comments stop her from pursuing her dreams of being on the radio. She worked hard to get herself through school and join their broadcasting network in Philadelphia. In Philadelphia, Wendy pushed the boundaries of what can be said on the radio, explicitly talking about celebrities’ gossip.

Wendy’s dream was to be in radio in New York City, and as driven as she is, she made

it. Wendy brought a new perspective to radio and found her niche in gossip. Everyone in New York was unaccustomed to this type of talk, but New Yorkers loved her.

Wendy faced many issues of her own in her personal life.

In the movie, Wendy opens up about her cocaine addiction in her early career and about her miscarriages and challenges she experienced while being pregnant. During her pregnancy, her husband, Kevin Hunter, began an affair and had a baby with another woman.

Wendy eventually had a son, Kevin Jr., and told herself she must hold together her family.

Wendy successfully completed a season of her pilot show, The Wendy Williams Show, during her ongoing life struggles and, today, is still on the air. Her husband, Kevin Hunter, was the producer of the show.

The movie also follows Wendy’s struggles, ranging from her husband’s insistence that she should go to rehab for her drinking to her eventual divorce from Kevin, her husband.

Wendy’s famous opening line to her show is, “How you doin?,” but the watcher is left wondering that exact question for Wendy.

The Wendy Williams Movie offers a unique insight into Wendy’s life, considering she is a very private person, but the viewer learns more about how Wendy never backed down and became one of the most watched daytime personalities.

Today, Wendy lives her dream as the host of her own talk show and unapologetically being herself.

The Wendy Williams Show runs Monday through Friday at 10 a.m..

THE

WOOSTER

BLADE

Editors-in-Chief Lena Wiebe, Jack Veney Webmasters Rumen Zdravchev, Ashton Dunlap Graphics Manager Mya Vandegrift Business Manager Luke Pomfret, Jack Veney A & E Editor Leo Riley, Julia Hootman Cover Editors Sophie Gamble, Sierra Dewald Feature Editor Ellie Snider Focus Editor Luke Pomfret On Campus Editor Hannah LoGiudice Sports Editor Ashton Dunlap Trends Editor Paulina Salazar, Jensan Bauman Views Editor Sylvie Shaya Staff Writers Jhon Fajardo, Chloe Frichtl, Olivia Hiner, Trent Kuzma, Sophia Mera, Lanie Meyer, Lex Parsons, Lucia Perfetti, Laura Rapport, Sheridan Schauer, Molly Snyder, Brittany Wachtel, Delaney Wilson Artists Sylvie Shaya, Mya Vandegrift Photographers Hannah LoGiudice, Rumen Zdravchev, Ashton Dunlap Graphics Staff Sylvie Shaya Adviser Kristi Hiner The Wooster Blade is a biweekly student publication printed every other Friday by the Newspaper Production classes at Wooster High School. The Wooster Blade is designated as an open forum and follows publishing guidelines as established by district-wide publications policy protecting students’ freedom of expression.

All copy, art and photography are property of The Wooster Blade and cannot be reproduced without permission. Letters to the editor are limited to 300 words and The Wooster Blade reserves the rights to print and edit as per length and content. The Wooster Blade is a member of Quill and Scroll, National Scholastic Press Association and Columbia Scholastic Press Association. 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 | FEB. 26, 2021 | PAGE 17

OUR VIEW

Students urge incorporation of activism in modern celebrations of Black History Month Black History Month was established almost a century ago in 1926, but this year, understanding its purpose and recognizing its worth is especially important for American society.

After the death of George Floyd and the subsequent Black Lives Matter protests, Black History Month should be especially celebrated and recognized this year.

According to a story titled “Origins of Black History Month” on ASALH, Charles Woodson and the Association for the Study of AfricanAmerican Life and History created “Negro History Week” in 1926 to guide the public to study black history. Former President Gerald Ford declared Black History Month a national observance in 1976, 50 years later.

When Woodson originally created the celebration, he wished for it to be a time of both study and ceremony.

This year, those traditional values and goals should be applied to modern times, and Black History Month should not only be a time of study and celebration, but also a time for advocacy and change.

When change is desired, education is a great way to spark change and recognize perspectives. Often not enough emphasis is placed on what can be learned from Black people in all subjects.

Cameron Edminston, a senior at Central Christian High School and the admin of the “Black Lives Matter Wooster” Instagram account, recommends allowing students of all ages to choose in what subject matter they would like to educate themselves.

“I would encourage students to ‘fill in the gaps’ of your history book and

learn more about people of color in a field you are interested in; whether it be writing, music, architecture, sports,” Edminston said.

WHS social studies teacher Brian

“I WOULD ENCOURAGE STUDENTS TO ‘FILL IN THE GAPS’ OF YOUR HISTORY BOOKS AND LEARN MORE ABOUT PEOPLE OF COLOR IN A FIELD YOU ARE INTERESTED IN; WHETHER IT BE WRITING, MUSIC, ARCHITECTURE, SPORTS,” EDMINSTON SAID. Questel points out that there are specific changes to curriculum that can be made to better recognize black history and black voices.

“I certainly need to do better, but the African-American raiders among John Brown’s force at Harpers Ferry should be known and taught, Black authors such as Ta-Nehisi Coates should be staples in school and Garrett Morgan should be a common name to all. History should not be

boiled down and sanitized to a select few,” Questel said.

Cheryl Goff, WHS freshman guidance counselor and second Vice President of the Wooster-Orville NAACP, says the key to becoming more aware of black history is through education and a review of what we are reading and studying.

“Students and staff should read African-American literature on all levels. From math and science to English and social studies,” Goff said.

Goff also notes it would be beneficial to have a student-led group, such as involving a youth chapter of the NAACP in school, as well as having more staff join the chapter.

Martin Luther King Jr. once said, “Nothing in all the world is more dangerous than sincere ignorance and conscientious stupidity.”

As a public school, those learning and teaching should follow MLK’s example and remember that education does not end. As students and teachers, there is an inherent responsibility for honesty and equity, and dealing with problems such as racism should not be avoided.

While as a society, there is much progress that needs to be made, it is important to constantly keep educating ourselves, while also being an ally for those who have been underrepresented.

Being an ally requires constant education, and the ability to become uncomfortable and confront inequalities in various aspects of life.

As students, teachers, and members of society, the importance of Black History month should continue to be recognized, not only in February, but in every aspect of our lives.