The Wooster
BLADE Volume XXI | Issue 4 | March 26, 2021
Graphic by Mya Vandergrift
Women’s History Month: Celebrating how far we have come Inside the March 26, 2021 Issue
p. 2- Women who inspire us in education
p. 4 Music education in our schools month
pgs. 7 & 8 - Women in the arts industry
p. 12 Spring sports preview
ON CAMPUS
THE WOOSTER BLADE | MARCH 26, 2021 | PAGE 2
Women in education: WCSD teachers recognize women who inspire them To go about this piece, I asked teachers from every school level for whom I have great respect. I asked them each of the following questions: Is there a woman in education that has inspired you? How have they influenced the way you teach? How have they influenced you as a person? Diane Mealey, WHS English Dept. member, lists a number of past grade school teachers who have influenced her. The teachers that come to Mealey’s mind include her eighth grade English teacher, her 11th and 12th grade AP English teachers, and her 10th and 11th grade math teachers. Mealey says, “Each woman made the content interesting, gave me confidence in my abilities, and made the time in their classrooms memorable.” Mealey notes these teachers have influenced the way she teaches in little ways on how she breaks down her lessons and keeps herself organized, but also in bigger ways as to how she approaches her teaching and how she wants her classroom to be on a daily basis by incorporating their teaching techniques in her classroom. Mealey also emphasized that these teachers have taught her how to treat her students with respect.
WHS teachers adapt to instruction in a pandemic LUKE POMFRET focus editor It has been exactly one year since many schools across the country closed their doors to in-person learning and quickly transitioned to a complete online learning environment. The break from school seemed refreshing for most until COVID-19 took over the media headlines and no end was in sight. As a result of these changes, teachers have had to pivot their instruction methods in numerous ways in order to help students continue with their education. Jill Coppola, WHS English Dept. member, describes her reaction to the governor’s
decision to closing all Ohio schools on March 12, 2020. “It seemed like I was living in an alternate reality. I received a text from another teacher describing how all teachers were standing in the hallway looking at each other with gaping mouths. The following day, we prepared the student to move to online learning, and I firmly believed we were coming back in three weeks,” Coppola said. Last year, teachers had various comfort levels with the district’s Google Classroom platform as their means of instruction, but eventually, all teachers were asked to conduct classes from Google Classroom. Matthew Giordano has been teaching in the WCSD for 30 years and describes his
Polly Fenton, English Dept. member at Edgewood Middle School, answers that her mother and her fellow teachers inspire and influence her most. Fenton’s mother is the most influential woman in her life, as an educator, journalist, farm wife and also taught her about the love for “books and words,” how to speak her mind and when to keep to herself and how to be accepting of everyone. Fenton also says she has been influenced by, “some pretty amazing women educators” with whom she works. The women she works with remind her what is truly important, and notes that “as a cooperative team” they work off each other’s strengths and are always there for each other. Karen Linch, Title I Reading teacher at Cornerstone Elementary, mentions three people, including the people she works with now, Phyllis Hinerman and Diane Ravitch. The people Linch works with amaze her by how they have made the switch from online back to face-to-face and how they have figured out so many ways to help students during the pandemic. “They make me want to figure out ways to help children too.” Linch explains that Hinerman impacted her when she saw the way she interacted with her own children and told Linch she would make a great teacher. Hinerman also stressed to Linch the importance of literacy and has said, “…over and over that the best way for anyone to improve their station in life is by being a thinker and reader.” Linch says she loves hearing children’s thinking and loves teaching them to read. Diane Ravitch is a Research Professor of Education at New York University and a historian of education. Linch says Ravitch is the reason schools have so many high stakes tests, but years ago, admitted that she was wrong and now advocates for teachers, saying they are the experts. Ravitch has influenced Linch to, “…reach out and stay in contact with legislators; share my story with them” to try and encourage them to get rid of the high-stakes testing. Responses gathered by Sophia Mera Graphics by Sylvie Shaya
account of moving his physical education class online for kindergarten through fourthgrade students at Parkview Elementary. “On Monday, when all teachers went back to school to prepare for teaching remotely, I went to Kean Elementary and received help from a technology specialist for how I should teach online. I made a website and started posting material such as going to the OARDC and jogging a bit, and doing an exercise of the week. It worked out well. Students were able to write emails, and I would respond. Students would create exercises and would stay in touch for the most part,” Giordano said. Students finished the year online, and the administrative announcement came in late July that the 2020-2021 school year would not be run as a typical school year. Taylor Straub, a sixthgrade social studies teacher at Edgewood, describes that
coming into the school year, students and teachers faced the daunting task of learning the learning management system, Edgenuity. “Edgenuity took a little bit to get used to, especially for middle schoolers. They had assignments they would have to do at home, and students struggled in the beginning with pacing. As time went on, we all moved into more of a routine of the combination of online learning and in-person instruction. I have seen my students adapt very quickly throughout the year, which is amazing,” Straub said. Rebekah Bell, WHS English Dept. member, said she had eight different Edgenuity classes during the first semester in addition to teaching CCP courses, compared to a typical year of having only four classes. “I would try to get an overview of where students were, but students moved at various pacing, and it seemed like it didn’t matter how much
you prepared, you were never prepared,” Bell said. Even with the difficulties of navigating the LMS, teachers still had to be there for their students. Bell says, “Any time you plan a lesson, you think about removing a barrier to their learning, whether that be reading, writing, etc. Unfortunately, this year, you just cannot be the barrier of a pandemic. We are trying to be polite and make them feel safe and keep students feeling welcome, but then question if I am helping the student learn because I cannot remove this pandemic barrier. As teachers, we have done the best we could possibly do.” Through all the trials and tribulations of this year, Bell, Coppola and Giordano all expressed that students will truly value the relationship with their teachers in the future and that from difficult situations, we all must grow and be there for each other.
THE WOOSTER BLADE | ON CAMPUS | MARCH 26, 2021 | PAGE 3
Colleges use standardized test scores in different ways
MYA VANDEGRIFT graphics manager KRISTI HINER
For Science Dept. member Troy Worth’s Botany students, the new semester schedule allows time for students to work in the greenhouse in order to grow plants, monitor their progress and then plant them. This student is transplanting seedlings in order to eventually plant them in the WHS community garden.
WCS transitions to five day learning model DELANEY WILSON staff writer
Students across WCSD returned to the classroom to begin the switch to attending in-person school five days a week, for the first time this school year on March 15. District and building leaders have been preparing for this shift in order to make it safe and efficient for students and staff members. In making the decision to return to in-person instruction for five days, Superintendent Michael Tefs said recent COVID-19 numbers were the biggest influence in making this determination. “It’s the data around infection rates, and Wayne County hit the infection rate we were looking for,” Tefs said. Tefs said that infectious disease teams in each building have led the change in terms of implementing and monitoring how things are going.“They’re the check and balance that we are implementing,” Tefs said. At WHS, principal Tyler
Keener says counselors have been busy making sure that there is a safe number of students in classes and adjusting for students switching to fully online or fully in person. “It will take some time to iron out some of the details… it’s been a year of flexibility… and we’re just trying to do what’s best in light of the pandemic,” Keener said. Edgewood principal Brad Warner credits EWMS staff for their job in making sure that the building stays safe. “We met as a Building Leadership Team and with wonderful assistance of the guidance counselors and office staff, we crafted a master schedule that met the needs of our students. Our teachers help monitor our hallways during class exchange encouraging students to not loiter and keep moving. Our custodial staff will continue to sanitize the high touch surfaces and our teachers & students will continue to sanitize their specific areas,” Warner said. Cornerstone principal Eric Vizzo said there is no substitute
for in-person learning. “ We are looking to get them back into a regular school routine and see what we need to focus on to begin to close learning gaps. This will also help us to identify areas that we need to focus on for the upcoming 2021-22 school year as well,” Vizzo said. Vizzo also commented on the logistics shift that Cornerstone had to undertake. “To prepare for the transition, it was necessary to close our Alternate Learning Centers the week of March 8 to get all items/furniture and staff back to the buildings... In addition, we needed to create building schedules for lunch, recess, specials that are adjusted for a five-day model. Teachers also needed to prepare their room setups to enable for threefoot social distancing with additional students and adjust their daily schedules/routines for having more students,” Vizzo said. On the return to school, Keener said, “So far so good. It is great to see the students back.”
When students enter high school, they are given a number of different options when it comes to classes. Honors, CCP and AP. But, how do these classes compare to one another, and how do colleges see these differences and apply them to their own curriculum? The AP program began in 1955, and there are courses in more than two dozen subjects. The tests were initially used to measure placement in college courses, though now, they are used as possible replacements for college courses. The College Board, the group that brings students the SATs, administers the program. Advanced Placement classes market themselves on the premise that students will save money and time in college by taking AP classes and the tests for college credit. However, just a look at the AP Credit Policy Search shows many institutions of higher education will only take nearly perfect scores on these tests for credit. There are also differences in what private and public colleges accept for fulfilling credit requirements. Just 40 minutes from WHS, Akron University, a public institution, accepts scores of 3, 4 and 5 for AP credit according to the AP Credit Policy Search. If an incoming freshman earns a three on the Natural Sciences:
Biology test, that credit will be awarded with four credits at AU, and will be applied to one’s major credits to graduation. Compare this credit exchange to private institution Oberlin College, an hour away from WHS, who requires a four or five on the same AP test and will only count the AP credit as an elective, making an incoming freshman still take an introductory Biology course even if they are majoring in the subject. With these policies in mind, the test and construction of AP classes is also fair to bring into discussion. AP tests average $92 per test. Paying $92 for a class that would cost thousands in college tuition might seem like quite a bargain, and students who take enough AP tests in high school might even be able to shave a year off their undergrad. But, how often does this idealized scenario actually play out? Because the AP curriculum is focused on test performance, students often find themselves just studying for memory and not truly absorbing the material. So, while a junior in high school may get a 4 on the AP Literature exam, by their freshman year of college, they very well may have forgotten all they learned two years before. There is also the factor of COVID-19. Many colleges have not yet released how/if their credit transfers will change due to the pandemic, and the College Board has released minimal information on the 2021 testing process. This lack of information on the 2021 exams makes it the student’s responsibility to learn the material in a way that will benefit them most in the long run.
THE WOOSTER BLADE | ON CAMPUS | MARCH 26, 2021 | PAGE 4
WCS Board rescinds athletic participation fees LENA WIEBE co-editor-in-chief On Feb. 23, the WCSD Board of Education voted unanimously to rescind athletic pay-toparticipate fees effective July 1, 2021 following a market analysis of the fees. Joe Rubino, WHS Director of Athletics, stated this change was made possible by the passage of last year’s operating levy, and said it will only affect athletic fees incurred after this date. However, other co-curricular activities and electives that require pay-to-participate fees will not be affected by this
decision. Tyler Keener, WHS Principal, said these fees were initially instituted in 2004 after an operating levy failed to pass. That failed levy led to about $3.5 million in budget cuts and was partially responsible for staff layoffs and closure of elementary schools in the district. Dr. Michael Tefs, WCSD Superintendent, stated in a WCSD BOE Meeting on March 23 that “The question came up around athletics first… what would it look like, why are we still collecting those fees, when our community has been so supportive of us with passing
levies. So, we did this market analysis and found that in our area we could certainly justify deleting those fees going into next year.” Bonnie West, the district treasurer, also said at the March 23 BOE meeting that future funding for athletics would come from the district’s general fund, stating that “What we came to find was that this [the revenue from fees] was really a very small piece, so we really don’t see the impact to the general fund to be much of anything.” Tefs added that other groups had raised some concerns about other activities’ pay-to-
participate fees, and said that “It is on our to-do list… to do another market analysis of those other fees that are collected,” before the new school year, to inform a recommendation in those areas. The market analysis of athletic fees, which included 7th through 12th graders, found they provided about $29,496 in revenue last year. However, some concerns about how the fees might affect equity in sports, combined with the passage of the new levy, led WCSD BOE members to move to eliminate them. Although students who meet federal free and reduced lunch
guidelines are currently exempt from the fees, “When you look at the public school and the role that it plays, I would hope that if there is a kid that maybe has been on the fence… because maybe they don’t want to come and say ‘I don’t have the money,’ I hope that we get a really positive impact from that… we would never want that to be an issue. I can tell you personally that… if I ever caught wind of a kid struggling, I would find a way myself to make it happen,” Rubino said. Rubino said he hoped that the change would increase participation in athletics, which he believes help build skills like collaboration, teamwork and discipline; how these changes will affect other activities remains to be seen.
Changes to schedule affects Music Dept. programs at WHS SHERIDAN SCHAUER staff writer The WHS music director Craig French is planning many changes toward the end of the school year. Starting March 15, when WHS started going to school five days a week, Band Director Craig French said that because blue and gold cohorts are now together, the different bands can now combine classes, have bigger ensembles and have more practices a week. WHS music program directors plan to have in person concerts May 11 at 7 p.m. for the eighth grade band, orchestra and ninth grade band. High School bands, including concert, symphonic, and jazz, will host their in person concert May 13 at 7 p.m. Middle school band directors are hoping to have a concert in May outside Edgewood’s pavilion. Due to COVID-19 there was no fifth grade band this year,
as the students were not able to safely try-out and experiment with instruments. Doug. Bennett, band director said that for the concert and middle school band, they will make adjustments to the fact that their normal routine had to change this year. “We will start fifth graders next year, and we will start this year’s fifth graders next year as sixth graders. There will be two different grades learning to play at the same time. The fifth grade band will be taught by all of the band directors except for Mr. French,” Bennett said. This school year there was no choir for high School or middle school. French stated, “It was decided by the administration that because of safety concerns and we didn’t have any schedule flexibility it was going to be wiser to wait.” The choir director resigned, and the choir could not safely operate during Covid-19, according to principal Tyler Keener.
In twelfth period Symphonic Band, Julia Hootman (12), playing the alto saxophone and Olivia Hiner (10), playing the oboe, rehearse “Highlights from Les Miserables,”a medley of songs from the aforementioned musical. that they may perform at their concert in May.
KRISTI HINER “We are planning on having choir next year so we will look into getting that put into our curriculum,” Keener said. The school will have social distancing depending on the position of the pandemic. The school has posted the position
internally. Because of the pandemic, the Music Dept. cancelled the planned trip to Walt Disney World, which was originally scheduled for April of last year, but recently announced a trip for spring break of 2022.
According to French the trip consists of going to Disney world, a day at the beach, and a trip to Universal Studios. The Marching Band will begin fundraising soon so that they can go on their trip to Orlando Florida.
FOCUS
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Inspirational Women In Our Community: As March is Women’s History Month, it is important to recognize the strong women who are leaders, advocates and serve as an inspiration to others within the Wooster community. Luke Pomfret, focus editor for The Wooster Blade, interviewed three of the many women in the Wooster community that make a difference.
Sue Herman,
President of the WCSD Board of Education Sue Herman, president of the WCS Board of Education, is the epitome of a person who loves what she does. Herman worked as a WCS teacher for 21 years and discovered her passion for education later in life. “I really wanted to be a fulltime mom, and I actually did that. I was home for 17 years and then started taking college classes at Wayne College when I was 36… Once I got in the classroom, I realized this is where I am supposed to be.” Herman says she is grateful to have had time with her kids, as well as find her passion in life and says she, “can’t imagine doing anything else.” Herman decided to run for the BOE toward the end of her
retirement. “In 2015, when I retired, that year was when the standardized testing was a mess. It was very upsetting to me because I felt that nothing was being done to alleviate the stress I saw in my students… I knew retirement was coming, and I was ready for a change, and I decided that I needed to run for school board,” Herman notes. Herman also mentions that there were no teachers serving on the school board. “It made no sense to have a school board without people who had no educational experience, and, thankfully, Janice Gallagher was on the board and had experience in the
Graphic by Sylvie Shaya education field, and she and other colleagues encouraged me to run for the board,” Herman noted. The community clearly supported Herman as she secured the second highest votes in the November election of 2015. Herman says the primary motivation for her work on the board is still centered around students. “It sounds corny, but I really want to touch young people’s lives... Herman said. Herman’s love for her work has led her to be a leader in the educational field, and she says she is excited to get back into the schools and see students and teachers.
Juanita Greene,
President of the Wooster-Orville NAACP Juanita Greene, President of the Wooster-Orrville NAACP, has dedicated 15 years of her life serving on the NAACP board and leading a life with activism, equity and love. Greene moved to Wooster in 1994 and said she experienced an “underlying sense of racism.” Jean Grande, a friend of Greene, encouraged her to get involved with the NAACP chapter in town, and the rest is history. Greene worked as a secretary, formed a youth council and now is serving her second term as President of the chapter. Green recalls her earliest memories of her involvement
with the NAACP, “We lived in New York at the time, and my dad worked at the Ford Motor Company… He was passed over twice for a promotion, and he knew that he was qualified, so he contacted the NAACP, and they looked over the information and found that it was discriminatory, and he got the promotion,” Greene said. Greene says her father told her from a young age that one person can make a difference. Greene is vocal about her experiences working and how frequently she experienced racism. “It seems like people of color
have to be one step ahead of the game, and it seems we go along with things because it makes it easier to stop it than it is to stand up and fight for yourself, especially on a job.” In Wooster, despite what she describes as an undertone of racism, Greene expresses that there are so many people willing to get on board. “There are people [in Wooster] that have as much love in their heart as the white supremacists have hatred in their hearts.” Juanita Greene leads a life of advocacy and is truly an inspiration and reminder to everyone to remain informed and always fight for what is right.
Sarah Bolton,
President of the College Of Wooster Sarah Bolton is the 12th president of the College of Wooster and is the first permanent female president. Bolton was born in England, moved to the United States and resided in New Jersey in her adolescent years. From an early age, Bolton expressed that she had a passion for the sciences. “In high school, as well as middle school, I was really interested in all different kinds of science… I was often the only girl on the math and science teams as well as in my classes.” Bolton recalls a memory of a middle school science teacher that allowed their students to do independent experiments with the given curriculum, and Bolton asked to go into school on the weekends and mix chemicals. The teacher admired her spirit, but wisely declined the idea. Bolton is a graduate of Brown University and earned a degree in physics and biophysics. “I decided to go to Brown because of the flexible curriculum… the ability to study the things I was most deeply excited about and then having the flexibility to study about things more broadly was very appealing to me,” Prior to being the President
of the COW, Bolton was a professor of physics at Williams College in Williamstown, Mass., as well as serving as the dean for the college and focusing her efforts on student life, building programs for first-generation college students, strengthening academic advising and other aspects of college life, according to the College Of Wooster faculty information page. Since Bolton’s arrival in Wooster, she said she has made diversity and inclusivity at the forefront of the COW’s mission. “There is no excellence without equity and inclusion. If you are going to make a place that is excellent, it is absolutely necessary to make sure that it is excellent for everybody… In order to meet this idea, we have to do a constant evaluation and make sure everyone is given the same opportunity, “ Bolton said. Bolton wants students transitioning to college to keep a broad perspective and expand their view on themselves and the world around them and analyze multiple aspects of every situation. While Bolton may have been one of the few females in her math and science classes, her tenacity and ambition have led her to be a leader for all students.
PHOTO COURTESY OF THE COLLEGE OF WOOSTER
Sarah Bolton, President of the College of Wooster, addresses an audience at the college’s 150th Convocation
THE WOOSTER BLADE | FOCUS | MARCH 26, 2021 | PAGE 6
COW students adapt amidst pandemic Taking a look at Biden’s first 60 days as president JACK VENEY co-editor-in-chief During a normal school year, The College of Wooster would have several field students in and out of classrooms all throughout the school district. This year, however, COVID-19 restrictions placed by the college suggested that these students should not be coming into the classrooms. So, in order to better ensure the safety of students, the COW is using something much like the episode “The Cruciferous Vegetable Amplification” of The Big Bang Theory, in which
Sheldon’s attempts to live healthier lifestyle backfire; thus, he decides to create a robot version of himself, in the hopes he will live to the point where he can transfer his brain into a machine and live forever. This robot allowed Sheldon to live a semi-normal life from the comfort of his own bedroom. To be able to replace the inperson field teaching, the COW is using the Ohmni® Robot from OhmniLabs. According to Sarah Dunlap, Director of Field, Assessment and Candidate Engagement in the COW Education Dept., the robot is, “basically a Roomba with a stick and an iPad for a head.”
JACK VENEY
Pictured above, Ashton Dunlap adjusts a robot that allows College of Wooster students to teach and observe classes in the WCSD.
According to the Ohmnilabs webstore, “Ohmni Robot is a mobile, telepresence solution that enables you to be in two places at once. Now you can connect and be productive from anywhere in the world… Unlike video conferencing, Ohmni Robot gives you complete control of where you need to be, whenever you need to be there, giving you full autonomy as if you were there in person.” According to Dunlap, there are nine robots spread throughout the district - four at WHS, three at EWMS, and two at Cornerstone - and COW students are able to join a Microsoft Teams meeting with their classmates, then connect to the robot to work in the classrooms here in the district. According to Dr. Matthew Broda, Associate Professor in the COW Education Dept., the robots are used, “extensively on Mondays and Wednesdays for the entire day. Spread out over the nine robots we have deployed, they are utilized up to 40 hours a day with almost 50 students.” Throughout the semester students have been able to become more relaxed with the robots around. According to Chelsey Porter, English Dept. member, most of her students have started to become more relaxed around the robots. “The students are generally a combination of intrigued and shy. They get much more shy with the screen or when a college student comes closer to observe their work than they do if the college students are in person. They were distracted at first, but now they have become pretty used to the presence.” Those wishing to learn more about the Ohmni® Robot can visit the OhmniLabs website at ohmnilabs.com.
SYLVIE SHAYA views editor In the two months following President Biden’s inauguration, the new administration has worked to effectively transition power while addressing issues such as COVID-19 and foreign tensions, among other things. The federal government worked to approve the Johnson and Johnson single shot vaccine and has stated a goal of having vaccines available for all adults by the end of May, as well as a goal of a return to normal by midsummer. Specifically, Biden has announced July 4 as a goal for an “Independence Day” from the pandemic, according to the BBC. Biden worked to push a $1.9 trillion pandemic relief plan through Congress and has announced a goal to pay 100 million stimulus checks by March 25. The plan, signed on March 11, includes $1,400 in direct payments to eligible recipients, unemployment aid, rental assistance, assistance for schools, increased food stamp benefits and increased assistance for small businesses, among other things, according to CNN’s Tamy Luhbi and Katie Lobosco. Confirmation of Biden’s cabinet is in progress, but nominations support Biden’s promise to have a cabinet that reflects the diversity of the nation. According to Inclusive America, 45% of Biden’s proposed cabinet are women and 54% are people of color. Historic cabinet picks include Deb Haaland, Secretary of the Interior and the first Native American to serve in a cabinet position, Pete Buttigieg, the first openly gay cabinet secretary,
and Alejandro Majorkas, the first immigrant to lead the Department of Homeland Security. The Biden administration is working to pass major immigration reform, including the legalization of Dreamers, protections for those brought to the United States for humanitarian reasons and farm workers, more direct paths to citizenship, and tighten border security, although the move lacks bipartisan support, according to Alan Fram for The Washington Post. On Feb. 25, Biden approved retaliatory airstrikes in Syria against buildings the Pentagon said belonged to Iran backed militias responsible for the Feb. 15 attack on American personnel in Erbil, as reported on by Helene Cooper and Eric Schmitt of The New York Times. “American officials said the attack killed a ‘handful’ of militia, but the Pentagon did not provide any detailed assessment of the damage,” Cooper and Schmitt said. The Biden administration defended the decision not to target Saudi Arabia’s crown prince Mohammed bin Salman in connection with the 2018 murder of Washington Post journalist and dissident Jamal Khashoggi, as explained by David E. Sanger, White House and national security correspondent for The Times. Steps have also been taken to rejoin the Paris climate accord and rejoin the World Health Organization, according to Franco Ordeñzo for NPR. Goals of the administration include passage of immigration reform, labor reform, and major policy addressing climate change, according to The New York Times.
COVER
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Reflecting on treatment of women in music
BRITTANY WACHTEL staff writer “Yo Taylor, I’m really happy for you, Imma let you finish.” This infamous line, spoken by Kanye West at the 2009 VMA’s to Taylor Swift after his interruption of her award acceptance, marked a beginning to the ongoing media coverage of the mistreatment of women in professional industries. West was not taken off stage by security, nor criticized by the crowd that began to cheer for
him as he was on stage. While many female music industry phenomena have experienced scrutiny and manipulation from male counterparts, Taylor Swift and Britney Spears are two of the most notable women who have recently been involved in maleled manipulation, targeted to put restraints on their careers. Taylor Swift’s long-lasting relationship with Big Machine record label ended abruptly in 2019 after it was sold to an umbrella company, Ithaca Holdings, owned by Scooter Braun, as reported by BBC in the article, “Scooter Braun has sold Taylor Swift’s Master Tapes.” Swift claims that she was unaware of the label being sold to Braun, claiming that it was her “worst-case scenario,” as written by Daniel Kreps’ Nov. 22, 2019, article in Rolling
Jan. 23. 1849- Elizabeth Blackwell is the first woman to graduate from medical school and become a doctor in the United States
July 19, 1848Seneca Falls Convention
This timeline is a non-comprehensive list of major steps toward gender equality since the foundation of the USA.
For this issue, The Wooster Blade staff wanted to highlight influential women and women’s representation in various fields throughout the issue, in honor of March being Women’s History Month. mistreatment of females in music. Britney Spears, famously known for hits such as “Baby One More Time” and “Oops I Did It Again,” has been around since 1998 when she was signed at only 15 years old. In a recent New York Times short documentary released on Hulu, titled Framing Britney Spears, the ins and outs of Spears’s manipulation are revealed. According to the documentary, in 2008, a California court put Spears under a conservatorship, giving her father full control of her assets and business affairs. Spears’s attorney Samuel Ingham called Spears a, “highfunctioning conservatee” and claims that Spears is, “afraid of
April 2, 1917Jeannette Rankin is sworn in as the first Congresswoman in the House of Representatives
May 15, 1869- Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton found the National Woman Suffrage Association
her father,” as reported by Zoe Christen Jones from CBS News on Feb. 13. The lack of control that Spears has over her own career, money and estate, despite her highfunctioning mental capacity presents itself as a question as to whether or not Spears’s father is abusing the power that he holds over her. The control of Spears in a professional and personal setting with a lack of action from the legal system begins to set a lower standard for the treatment of women, seemingly without consequences. Successful women such as Swift and Spears present a call of action to stop the abuse and manipulation of women in any professional field.
May 9, 1960- FDA approves the first birth control pill
Oct. 16, 1916Margret Sanger opens first birth control clinic in the United States
Dec.10, 1869- Wyoming passes legislation to give women the right to vote in state elections
Timeline of Women’s History in the USA
Stone. Scott Borchetta, the CEO of Big Machine, presented Swift with a contract that stated she would be able to “earn” back all of her previously recorded six records, which were contractually tied to Big Machine, but only if she chose to re-sign with the label, according to Kreps’ Rolling Stone article. Swift made the decision to move on from her past music and sign a new contract with Universal Music Group. The re-recording restriction, which was contractually binding with Big Machine, recently expired, meaning that Swift is now able to re-record her old albums and profit from the songs. Swift recently released her re-recorded version of “Love Story,” which sold 1 million more copies than the original record in a quarter of the time. Swift earned all monetary gain from the record. Swift was seemingly manipulated out of the rights to her own music, making her another example of the
Dec. 1, 1855- Rosa Parks refuses to give up her bus seat to a white passenger in Montgomery, Ala., helping spark the Civil Rights movement
Aug. 18, 1920The Nineteenth Amendment is ratified, giving all women the right to vote in state and federal elections
July 2, 1964President Lyndon B. Johnson passes Civil Rights Act and Title VII, giving people of color the right to vote and banning employment discrimination based on race, sex, religion, or national origin
June 19, 1963- President John F. Kennedy signs the Equal Pay Act, prohibiting sexbased wage discrimination
THE WOOSTER BLADE | COVER | MARCH 26, 2021 | PAGE 8
Inspiring Women in Film
LUCIA PERFETTI staff writer The United States vs. Billie Holiday In The United States vs Billie Holiday, Andra Day appears in what is virtually her film debut, to portray Billie Holiday. This performance won Day her first Golden Globe (best actress), making her the second African American to hold that title. The movie, the story of a woman full of influence and confidence, is also one of extreme grief and weariness, as the plot follows Holiday’s battle with the government as they try to imprison her for drug use, ultimately to make
her stop singing her inspiring song, “Strange Fruit”, about the lynchings of Black Americans. The film, although about a figure from nearly 70 years ago, still tells a timely story. It begins and ends with the message that for more than 100 years, an anti-lynching bill has been introduced and re-introduced to the U.S. house of representatives with no success. The film also tells the story of the “war on drugs,” and its racially charged motives. On top of all that, it is also a tragic tale of Holiday’s life, and the real truth of what it was like to be a black, powerful, and troubled woman. Day portrays Holiday beautifully, and fills the character with just the right amounts of grief and joy, making all two hours and ten minutes worthwhile. Nomadland The 78th Annual Golden Globes Awards was held this
June 18, 1983Sally Ride becomes the first American woman in space
June 23, 1972- Title IX signed into law by President Richard Nixon, banning sex discrimination in sports and activities
June 30, 1966Betty Friedan founds National Organization for Women
year on Feb. 28, and for the first time ever, a woman of color won the award for best director. Chloé Zhao both wrote and directed the one hour and 47 minute long drama, Nomadland, about a woman who lives out of her vanlovingly named Vanguard- to travel the west. Nomadland, which also snagged Best Motion Picture (drama) at the Globes, takes place in 2011, after Fern (played by Frances McDormand) loses her town when the U.S. Gypsum plant in Empire, Nevada shuts down, and it becomes a ghost town. Fern’s husband has also died, and so she decides to travel to find work, and also make friends along the way. The film stars only two “real” actors, with the rest of the characters played by real “nomads,” who play fictionalized versions of themselves, adding a charming and honest feel to the film.
July 7, 1981- Sandra Day O’Connor sworn in as the first woman to serve on the Supreme Court
Jan. 22, 1973- Roe v Wade declares bans on abortion unconstitutional, overturing all state bans
March 12, 1993- Janet Reno first female Attorney General under the Clinton administration
McDormand (Fargo) is no newcomer to the industry, but she never fails to bring life to the character, as Fern is lovable, relatable, and everything in between, and throughout the film, viewers are able to admire and understand the lifestyle of modern-day American nomads through the most interesting and inspiring storyline. The Color Purple Legendary actress Whoopi Goldberg had her breakthrough role in The Color Purple (1985), which made her the first ever black woman to win a Golden Globe award for best actress. Shockingly, she is one of two African American women in 36 years to achieve this accolade, the second being Andra Day (The United States vs Billie Holiday). Day was not even one month old when Goldberg won best actress in 1985. If it is not convincing enough to watch this film for its historical
Jan. 23, 1997- Madeleine Albright becomes the first female secretary of state under the Clinton administration
Sept. 13, 1994- President Bill Clinton signs the Violence Against Women Act, which provides funding for programs to aid victims of domestic abuse, sexual assault, and gender based violence
significance, then the plot is also a motivation to watch. Written as a book by Alice Walker, it won a Pulitzer Prize before being turned into a film by Steven Spielberg. Goldberg stars as young Celie Harris, and showcases the painstaking life lived by African American women subject to racism, sexism, violence, and poverty, in the early 20th century. The story follows Celie as she goes through life, starting as a young teen, suffering one abuse after another, and then as she encounters and gets to know other black women and their stories. The film is a beautiful picture of the lives of several women, who all suffered greatly, but in the end found purpose in banding together to help one another. The story is, above all, Celie’s story of discovering her self-worth, and finding her voice in a world where she is, as Malcom X once said (regarding black women), “the most disrespected... unprotected…(and) neglected person in America.”
Jan 20, 2021- Kamala Harris becomes the first female Vice President of the United States
Jan. 4, 2007R e p re s e n t a t i v e Nancy Pelosi becomes first female Speaker of the House Information compiled from HISTORY by Molly Snyder
THE WOOSTER BLADE | COVER | MARCH 26, 2021 | PAGE 9 The Haunting of Hill House is an American gothic horror novel by renowned female author Shirley Jackson. Published in 1959, the novel is considered a classic in horror literature. One of the best ghost stories of the century, The Haunting of Hill House, is a master of the horror of the domestic, where the suspense lies not in gore or thrills, but in the terror of the human mind. Eleanor Crain’s character is both revolutionary in the fact that she is the main character in a horror novel, but also because of her complexity, as the reader watches her descent into madness. As Stephen King states in the preface to the novel, “It is the character of Eleanor and Shirley Jackson’s depiction of it that elevates The Haunting of Hill House into the ranks of the great supernatural novels.”
A psychological thriller written in 1988 by Thomas Harris, The Silence of the Lambs is both engaging and terrifying. The novel focuses on FBI trainee Clarice Starling as she helps to catch serial killer Buffalo Bill through interviews with cannibal Hannibal Lecter. Not only is Starling a complex and strong female protagonist in a genre that typically only stars men, but the entire novel is an examination of the complexities and struggles of trying to make it as a woman in a male-dominated field, especially in the 1980s. The basis for the 1991 best picture winner by the same name, The Silence of the Lambs is not only a great example of a strong woman in literature but of a fast-paced thriller that is both gripping on a surface level and when read as a feminist allegory.
Women in writing:
feminism and gender in the written word
ELLIE SNIDER feature editor
In honor of Women’s History Month this March, I compiled a list of my personal favorite books that focus on themes of feminism and gender, or that portray strong female characters. Four of the five books are written by women, and all five have stood the test of time, each being at least twenty years old. The books also portray an array of different genres and subjects, ranging from nonfiction film essays to psychological thrillers and contemporary fiction, so that, hopefully, there is a book on this list that appeals to everyone.
Men, Women, and Chainsaws is a collection of essays published by professor Carol Clover in 1992. The nonfiction work discusses the role that gender plays in horror films, specifically slashers, from the 1970s through the 1980s. Responsible for the coinage of the term “the final girl,” the book examines how men are able to empathize with women in these movies and how horror, more than any other genre of film, likes to question and play with gender. Specifically, in the chapter “Her Body Himself,” Clover argues that rather than aligning with the male tormentor, male audiences instead identify with the female victim who escapes her oppressor. The book also notes how the “final girl” is specifically characterized as being more masculine than her other friends for the male-dominated audience to be able to identify with her. Although a dense read, Clover’s essays are a fascinating investigation into the mindset of the audiences and an in-depth analysis of the horror genre at that time as a whole.
The Handmaid’s Tale is a dystopian novel by Canadian author and poet Margret Atwood. Published in 1985, it is set in the near future of what was formerly New England, where the United States government has been overthrown by a strongly patriarchal and Christian totalitarian government. The novel is fast-paced and compelling, told from the perspective of the handmaid known to the reader only as Offred. Atwood uses the dystopian setting to explore themes of gender roles, modern sexism, and religion. The novel has since spurred an awardwinning tv show and a sequel titled The Testaments published in 2019.
Written by Barbra Kingsolver, The Poisonwood Bible was published in 1998 and remains the most well recognized of Kingsolver’s many works. Set in the 1950s, the novel switches perspectives between the four daughters and mother of a missionary family who move from the United States to the village of Kilanga in the Belgian Congo. The story itself is compelling, particularly in the second half, as the family begins to see the faults in their familial patriarch and of the mindset they have been raised to believe. While the novel’s larger themes are of guilt and western arrogance, it is a great example of a story where all of the main characters are women, each of who are complex and different, and of a female author famous for her contemporary fiction.
Influential modern portrayals of women in television LEX PARSONS staff writer Dear White People surrounds Samantha Brown, a black student attending an Ivy-league college. After experiencing a multitude of racial injustices, Samantha starts a podcast called “Dear White People” that targets racism and sexism on campus. Dear White People is available to stream on Netflix. Unbelievable follows Marie Adler, a victim of sexual assault. After detectives of her local police department failed to believe her and properly investigate her case, Marie took matters into her own hands and started linking other sexual assault cases in her area to her own case in order to eventually lead the detectives to her abuser. Unbelievable can be watched on Netflix. Little Fires Everywhere, the adaptation based on the 2017 novel by Celeste Ng, casts a spotlight on two mothers from different socioeconomic backgrounds living in Shaker Heights, Ohio. Both mothers seem to reach their breaking point and begin to break the norms put on women in their society. The show explores the weight of one’s identity, the troubles of motherhood, and the strength of women through struggles without the help of anybody else. Little Fires Everywhere is available on Hulu. Good Girls follows three suburban Michigan mothers who are facing financial struggles. Tired of relying on their husbands and significant others, the women decide to pull off a supermarket heist, soon catching the attention of a money-laundering criminal. The women fight for their lives, all while hiding their alter selves from their families. Good Girls is available to watch on NBC or Netflix. The Queen’s Gambit miniseries, based on the 1983 novel of the same name by Walter Tevis, follows the story of orphaned chess prodigy Beth Harmon. Set in the 1950s, Beth rises up against her male counterparts and leads a life as one of the top chess players in the world, all while struggling with drug and alcohol addictions. The Queen’s Gambit can be streamed via Netflix.
A&E
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Women in
Wandavision delights fans of Marvel
The outfits and sets are amazing because every episode really takes you to that decade and immerses you into the
episode. WandaVision is able to achieve suspense, which is what brings a lot of excitement into watching the show. The closing credits are very suspenseful due to the abrupt closing that mimic an ominous TV message, making viewers excited for the next episode. After every episode, viewers are left with hundreds of questions, which are slowly answered in the next episode or two. The only thing that I disliked was when the series was reaching the finale, it turned into a very cheesy hero and villain plot. It seems like the final episodes were aimed at younger audiences due to the early 2000s theme with fairytale villainesque outfits and the cheesy development of a few of the characters, especially one of the antagonists. However, it still remained entertaining for most of the finale. WandaVision is a wonderful show that is suspenseful and captivating to watch with its wonderfully themed episodes and mysterious storyline. I recommend this series to anyone in any age range that is interested in Marvel, Disney or just mystery TV shows in general.
World’s A Little Blurry, on Feb. 26 of this year. Considering Eilish’s following (77 million and counting on Instagram alone), it is no surprise that the film brought an abundance of new viewers to Apple TV+, and was number one in the platform across the world (Deadline). The World’s A Little Blurry tells the story of Eilish’s career, starting three years after the release of her first song “Ocean Eyes,” which went viral when she was only 13-years-old. Throughout the documentary, viewers watch Eilish and her
multi-talented older brother, Finneas O’Connell, as they record all of Eilish’s debut album, When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go?, in her brother’s cramped childhood bedroom, in the house that Eilish and her family still live in today. Emphasizing Eilish’s humble roots and childlike innocence is a common theme throughout the doc and is one aspect that brings so much charm to the singer and her documentary. We see this juxtaposition in Billie’s life often, such as when
with the 1950s. The show is able to capture your attention for every moment of an episode. Starting off slow and peaceful, there are small and eerie moments dropped in until we, as viewers, are able to understand the utopia and what is going on behind it.
PAULINA SALAZAR trends editor WandaVision has received great reviews from both critics and the general audience. It stands on an average audience score of 81% on Rotten Tomatoes. WandaVision is focused on Wanda Maximoff, also known as Scarlet Witch, and her partner Vision. The series is set in a perfect Western suburb, where the happily married couple live. However, as the series progresses, the utopia starts to unravel and problems begin to arise. I loved the way the series starts, with a peppy 1950sbased first episode. I also loved the themes of Western culture throughout the decades behind every episode. Every episode is recorded as a popular TV show from a different decade starting
The show is able to caption your attention for every moment of an episode. Starting off slow and peaceful, there are small and eerie moments... until we, as viewers, are able to understand the utopia.
Graphics by Sylvie Shaya
SYLVIE SHAYA views editor
In honor of Women’s History Month, we recognize an array of female artists who have contributed significantly to the canon of a male dominated field. These women are visual artists who are alive today and have been highly influential to the development of current artistic standards and themes. Many of these women went unrecognized when their work was first displayed, and stylistic copies by their male counterparts often received recognition before the originals, garnering respect and monetary value without acknowledging the original artists. Women’s contributions to the art world have historically been overlooked and minimized, and these artists and many more deserve recognition for their contributions.
Pop icon, Billie Eilish, releases documentary of life on Apple TV+
LUCIA PERFETTI staff writer Nineteen-year-old superstar, Billie Eilish released her documentary, Billie Eilish: The
she is gifted her dream car, a matte black Dodge Challenger, at just 17-years-old, and then is later pictured with her dad, Patrick O’Connell learning how to wash the expensive car with a hose and sponge in their cramped Los Angeles driveway. The documentary, directed by R.J., Cutler follows Billie as she releases and performs When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go? and subsequently skyrockets to fame. It is a deeply personal window into Eilish’s life, as the film is filled with the celebration of her
success, but also showcases the mental strain that comes with being an international star. Viewers watch as Billie grapples with anxiety about her performances and depression about life and her relationship, which she pours into the somber and sometimes morbid lyrics of her songs. The film runs at two hours and 20 minutes, and beautifully captures Eilish’s journey to stardom, all while staying true to her roots, and to herself, through her music, her family and her fans.
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the visual arts Barbara Kruger Kruger is an American conceptual artist whose focus lies in collage and feminist critique. In many pieces, she overlays black and white images with provocative white on red text. The statements in her work provide insight into sexuality, consumerism, and identity, and are powerful works of cultural criticism that mark her prominence in both the conceptual and feminist art movements. Significant works: Untitled (Your Body is a Battleground) (1985), Untitled (You Invest in the Divinity of the Masterpiece) (1982) Yishay Garbasz Much of Garbasz’s work features a perversion of the inherent machismo of the world of fine arts and includes performance art and long term explorations of culture and identity. She also explores gender, including a series documenting her gender affirmation surgery and one exploring the minimum of what is necessary to portray gender. Significant works: The Number Project (2011), Severed Connections: Do what i say or they will kill you
Yayoi Kusama Kusama is generally recognized as one of the most interesting and prolific contemporary artists of the 20th and 21st centuries. Her work, is inspired by hallucinations, obsessions, and repetitions, often with the goal of completely immersing the observer in her experience. Kusama has worked in many different mediums, but her sculptures and installations remain the most influential. Significant works: Dots Obsession (2003), Pumpkin (1990), Narcissus Garden Faith Ringgold Over the course of her career, Ringgold took up many different art styles, notably including a series of paintings portraying the racial tensions of the Civil Rights movement from the female perspective and narrative quilts. Her work for social justice has opened the art world to thousands of young artists and her quilts have shaped a generation of modern fiber artists. Significant works: American People Series, Tar Beach (1988), The Flag is Bleeding (1997) Cindy Sherman Often considered one of the most prominent figures of the Pictures Generation, Sherman experiments with identity, transformation, and the beauty of the grotesque. Her art is shaped by the creation of mass media and the AIDS crisis, seen in her portrayal of stereotypes and caricatures, often drawing attention to the artificiality of the way many people present themselves. Significant series of works: Untitled film stills, The Society Portraits
Cancel Culture: modern public shaming or celebrity accountability
LAURA RAPPORT staff writer The beginning of 2021 has seen a rise in cancel culture, which according to MerriamWebster Dictionary defines as, “... the practice of engaging in mass canceling as a way of expressing disapproval and exerting social pressure.” Recently, many notable celebrities have been cancelled on social media, including Armie Hammer, Dr. Seuss and the British royal family. Cancel culture is often associated with brutal attacks on social media toward celebrities for problematic behavior. It is modern-day public shaming. Public shaming is not new, it has dated back to biblical times, although the phrase “cancel culture” only started to be widely used in the past few years. Social media, especially the app Twitter, has also contributed to the popularity of “canceling” celebrities. The internet allows information about celebrities to be spread to millions of people, which is dangerous for many celebrities whose problematic behavior could end
up everywhere. Because of how accessible the private thoughts of celebrities are available to everyone, many celebrities have denounced cancel culture as ineffective bullying. Actress Jameela Jamil said: “Cancel Culture is real and I think us calling for people to be deplatformed, silenced and thrown away forever is a pointless waste of time.” Although cancel culture is certainly controversial, it has proven to be effective in hurting the careers of public figures with problematic tendencies, especially in terms of racism and sexism. One celebrity who has recently been tied to cancel culture is actor Armie Hammer. Hammer recently came under fire after multiple of his exgirlfriends exposed alleged messages from him where he described his desire to rape and eat them, according to an article called “The Fall of Armie Hammer: A Family Saga of Sex, Money, Drugs, and Betrayal” by Julie Miller published by Vanity Fair March 11. Because of these messages, Hammer was dropped by his agency, his manager and was fired from several movies in which he was set to appear. Dr. Seuss was also “canceled” after his publishing firm announced that several of his books would go out of print because of racist content, according to an article called six Dr. Seuss books will not be published for racist images by Mark Pratt published by the AP March 2. While there have been some instances of celebrities who were effectively canceled, in
several instances, celebrities have survived attempts to cancel them. Ellen Degeneres, known for her popular talk show, The Ellen Show, was recently “canceled” after allegations of misconduct and rude behavior on the set of her show from Nikkie de Jager, a former guest on her show and crew members of her show. However, despite being called out for it, Degeneres’ show still remains on air and is still beloved by many Americans, so one has to wonder why cancel culture does not apply here. The Royal Family recently received harsh criticism on social media for their alleged racist treatment of Prince Harry, Meghan Markle and their baby son Archie as revealed in the couple’s bombshell with Oprah Winfrey. However, despite the monarchy’s decrease in popularity because of their alleged behavior, the royal family seems to have survived this attack and is functioning. Cancel culture is certainly controversial. While it has been effective in some instances of holding problematic celebrities accountable, including the examples of Armie Hammer and Dr. Seuss, there have been many instances where it was unsuccessful in holding people accountable, such as the Royal Family and Ellen Degeneres. Cancel culture may not always be effective, but it is important to hold celebrities accountable, even if it is not always elegant. Despite its flaws, cancel culture has become a necessary step in holding people to be more accountable, in a public way.
SPORTS
THE WOOSTER BLADE | MARCH 26, 2021 | PAGE 12
Running races during the pandemic TRENT KUZMA staff writer In the past year, almost every aspect of life has changed for all. Almost all high school, collegiate and professional athletes have seen some sort of change in the way they go about doing their activities and sports. One change that typically may not come to mind for people is the ability to have large races in which people often compete for money and the ability to be invited to extremely important events such as the Boston Marathon. According to the group
Running USA, a group of elite runners and athletes from across the country who love to competitively run, it was noted that in 2019, there were around 21,000 road races, which collected around $267 million in race fees paid by athletes to run and provided more than 17.6 million registered runners the ability to race. However, in 2020, there were only 1,050 races in the United States, a 95% decrease from 2019. Running has impacted millions of people across the globe. Races can even be just as important to people as other sports. Local runners such as Patrice Smith were able to notice
changes to races almost at the same rate as they happened. Smith has run in the Boston marathon, an iconic race in the running world. “The last race [a half marathon] that I ran was a year ago. I was doing a training run for the marathon, a week following the run, Boston (the marathon) was postponed to September and of course, in the end, decided to go virtual. This year, the marathon is again postponed and likely to have an in-person race in October with a much smaller field,” Smith said. In years pasts, runners must qualify to run at the Boston Marathon, but this year a
Spring Sports Preview Boys Track Returning Seniors: Lucas Niro, Marius Stoll, Leo Yang, Riley Ardrey, Hayden Frank, Kalob Himes, Dominic Lewis, Will Stansifer, Jaden Thompson. Next Competition: Wednesday March 31 at Wooster High School. Coach: Doug Bennett Record from 2019 season: 8th in the Ohio Cardinal Conference.
Girls Lacrosse Returning Seniors: Zoe Chamberlin, Lauren Crum, Leah Sanchez, Giselle Fead, Kendall Ross, Sophie Gamble, Bianca Morse, Allyssa Foster, Faith Hemmann. Next Competition: March 27 at Avon Lake High School. Coach: Holly Pope Record from 2019 season: 12-9
Softball
Returning Seniors: Taryn Welty, Ella Buzzard. Next Competition: Monday, March 29 at WHS. Coach: Jodie Schumacher
Boys Tennis
Returning Seniors: Ben Haven, Francis Sim. Next Competition: March 27 at Highland High School. Coach: Justin Crooks Record from 2019 season: 8th in the Ohio Cardinal Conference.
Boys Lacrosse
Returning Seniors: Matt Savage, Logan Shows. Next Competition: Saturday, March 27 at Medina High School. Coach: Blair Young Record from 2019 season: 14-6.
Baseball Returning Seniors: Chris Franks, Wayne Gerrick, Brady Meade, Ben Miller, Bradley Moses, Tyler Pettorini, Trenton Snoddy, Luke Stokes Next Competition: Saturday, March 27 at Triway High School. Coach: Steve Young Record from 2019 season: 17-10
Girls Track Returning Seniors: Cassidy Brown, Rachel Furlong, Erin Gonzalez, Dylan Greenberg, Julia Hootman, Hannah Johnson, Lucy Weeks. Next Competition: Wednesday, March 31 at Wooster High School. Coach: Chris Mascotti-Rasor Record from 2019 season: 3rd in the Ohio Cardinal Conference.
difference made by Boston was the creation of a virtual race for which runners do not have to qualify. “I really like this because it is inclusive and also because it is a fun way to commemorate the 125th running of the race,” Smith said. Smith also added that she is hoping to qualify for an in-person spot at the 125th Boston Marathon race. The majority of managers and committees for these races find their only source of income from race-day fees and timing equipment. After receiving information regarding safe races from the CDC, many directors decided that something needed to be done to keep races prevalent. One way of racing that had not really been seen before became
established in 2020, which was when virtual racing was introduced. Virtual racing uses a mixture of GPS watches and online timing equipment connected to apps such as Strava to give a real race feel. Apps like Strava are typically free, which makes it easy for people to sign up and stay committed. For in-person events, most races instituted staggered starts, based on speed and predicted times, and rarely spectators have been allowed. One benefit to the sport of running is that most events are held outside, making it much easier to limit the spread of COVID-19. A fun way to hang out with friends, stay healthy and enjoy competition is to sign up for a race.
Inspiring women in sports OLIVIA HINER staff writer I look up to U.S. Women’s National Soccer team player, Megan Rapinoe. So I, first, reached out to her via Instagram, but hearing no response, I began reading different interviews with her in order to ascertain who she admires. Megan Rapinoe said in a sportscasting.com article from March 1 that she admires her fiance, Sue Bird. Sue Bird, professional basketball player for the Seattle Storm of the WNBA, said in a wsjhs.org article from July 31, 2018, that she has been influenced by former head coach of the University of San Francisco, Jennifer Azzi. Jennifer Azzi said in a scroll. in article from Jan. 28, 2019, that she looks up to Sanjana
Ramesh, a player for the Northern Arizona University basketball team. Sanjana Ramesh said in the same scroll.in article that she looks up to Diana Taurasi and Sue Bird. When going about this article, and female athletes who inspire me, almost everyone I thought of was or is a member of the US Women’s National Soccer Team. This is probably because of how outspoken they are. Actively fighting for equal pay, racial equality, LGBTQ+ rights, and equality rights in general is something that is so inspiring to me. We don’t often see athletes that are as outgoing as the U.S. Womens Soccer Team. Megan Rapinoe was one of my first choices for this article. She is an incredible role model and an amazing person, both on and off the field. Graphic by Sylvie Shaya
VIEWS
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Golden Globes maintain inadequate diversity
SIERRA DEWALD cover editor The 78th annual Golden Globes were held Feb. 28, awarding American television and film from 2020 and early 2021. It was the first bicoastal Golden Globes, with hosts Tina Fey and Amy Poehler broadcasting from opposite ends of the country, while most nominees and winners attended via Zoom call. The night turned out to be a mixed bag in terms of diversity, representation and audience reactions. According to the March 2 New
York Times article, “Golden Globes See Diverse Slate of Winners as Streamers Keep Gaining,” there were a number of historic wins. Chloé Zhao became the first Asian woman to win the Globe for directing for her film Nomadland, and she is only the second woman ever to receive the award. Additionally, Andra Day was awarded best actress for The United States vs. Billie Holiday, and Chadwick Boseman posthumously received best actor for Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom. Yet, as important as it is to recognize and celebrate these wins, they can feel performative when we acknowledge the systemic issues that still exist. Shortly before the awards, Feb. 21 Los Angeles Times coverage revealed that The Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA), which selects nominees and winners for the Golden Globes, has no Black members out of 87 people. According to the
aforementioned New York Times article, this revelation was followed by immediate backlash on social media platforms. The Directors Guild, consisting of 18,000 members, released a Facebook statement condemning the HFPA, writing, “A cosmetic fix isn’t enough. When whole cultures are shut out of the conversation, their art and their voices are shut out as well.” Ava DuVernay, who was the first Black woman nominated as best director in 2015, explained the true significance of representation in a social media statement, writing, “The truth that’s not often discussed is that awards play a part in the economic reality of Black filmmakers, artists of color and women creators in this business… unfortunately, these shiny things matter to those who finance, greenlight, produce, distribute and market our projects.” Ultimately, no matter how much you strive to project diversity, if those making
decisions behind the scenes do not represent a variety of backgrounds, experiences and perspectives, the attempt will always fall short.
“The truth that’s not often discussed is that awards play a part in the economic reality of Black filmmakers...” DUVERNAY SAID. The manifestation of this problem becomes clear when looking at what was excluded from nominations altogether. Michaela Coel’s I May Destroy You, a show about the aftermath of sexual assault that Entertainment Weekly recognized as, “one of the most acclaimed shows of the past year, if not decade,” received no nominations, a snub that was
followed by significant social media backlash. This is not to say that I May Destroy You should have been nominated solely for being a black and female-led project. Rather, it illustrates the double standards within the industry, in that a show widely recognized by critics and audiences as one of the best of the past year can be shut out, while white-led shows like Emily in Paris that have been labeled mediocre and mocked by audiences for being tonedeaf more than anything else still receive two nominations. This exclusion is nothing new. Multiple prominent awards shows, including the Golden Globes and many others, have a long, well-documented history of racism and sexism. Fixing the problem will require not just giving the awards to a more diverse group of people, but analyzing who is making these decisions behind the scenes, and why. When reacting as an audience, we must have a nuanced perspective. It is important that we celebrate progress, acknowledging how far we have come, but we must never forget how far there is to go.
WHS students and staff share inspirational women in their lives LEX PARSONS staff writer In asking for this assignment, I, first, began thinking about the people for whom I have a great deal of respect and also considered who had the historical knowledge to address the diversity of coverage and consideration needed in terms of women who should be recognized, politically and historically during Women’s History Month. Mark Kister, Social Studies Dept. member: who told me
the story of Irena Sendler, a Polish social worker who provided services to Jewish people in the Warsaw ghetto. She eventually began to smuggle out children and in by the end of the war, smuggled more than 2,000 children out, and even when she was kidnapped and tortured, she never gave names or locations. Mya Vandegrift (12): wants to highlight Hildegard of Bingen a German-Benedictine abbess, writer, composer, philosopher, Christian mystic, visionary, and polymath from the High Middle Ages, she wrote medicinal texts and liturgical
songs for female choirs to sing. Misty Bisesi, Social Studies Dept. member: who said that she had not thought about just one woman she would recognize before, but notes that she would recommend women who were willing to take chances, including women like Amelia Earheart, Sally Ride, or Christa McAuliffe. Troy Worth, Science Dept. member: gave a list of inspirational women, including Marie Curie, Rosalind Franklin, Michelle Obama, and Rosa Parks. Cheryl Goff, Guidance Counselor: She noted Shirley
Chisholm, the first African American and woman to seek a presidential nomination, and also held seven terms in the House of Representatives. Brett Hiner, English Dept. member: when asked, told me how his choices are connected by reading and culture: Lucille Ball, Eleanor Roosevelt, Anne Frank, and Toni Morrison. Brian Questel, Social Studies Dept. member: who did not give me a specific answer, but gave a quote from Angela Grimke, said “I recognize no rights but human rights - I know nothing of men’s rights and women’s rights.”
Graphic by Sylvie Shaya
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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
OUR VIEW
THE VOICE OF WOOSTER HIGH SCHOOL
THE
Americans must take action against hate
Hate crimes against Asian Americans have risen significantly in the past year, in part due to the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic beginning in east Asia. According to the Center for the Study of Hate and Extremism, anti-Asian American hate crimes have increased 149% in 16 major U.S. cities. Prejudices against Asian Americans have been exacerbated with the normalization of racist rhetoric such as calling COVID-19 the “China virus,” but Asian Americans have faced racist discrimination and stigma for decades. The Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 and Japanese Internment camps during WWII are both examples of historical bigotry. Many of the recent attacks on Asian Americans are based on the notion that Asian Americans are the cause of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Numerous reports from the past year showcase this prejudiced perspective. On Feb. 13, an Asian man was eating outside of a California grocery store when a woman approached and spat on him, calling him an ethnic slur. In January, an 84-year-old Asian man was pushed to the ground and later died. In February, a Filipino American was slashed with a box cutter while on the subway. On March 16, a gunman shot and killed eight women at three spas in Atlanta: six of those women were Asian. These and many more incidents showcase the severity of anti-Asian sentiment in the United States. Even in our own community and school, racism against Asian Americans is prevalent. A few Asian American students have relayed specific examples of being called racist names in school and within
our community. One WHS student relayed that other student’s stretched the outside edges of their eyelids in a blatantly racist gesture. The first step in combating this phenomenon is to realize these crimes are happening and to educate ourselves. Stopaapihate. org is a beneficial resource to report incidents of hate and to educate yourself on other recent incidents of Asian American hate crimes. These flagrantly racist events are occurring constantly and should not be ignored. Ignorance does nothing but make us complacent and in turn condone antiAsian American sentiment. Simply posting an Instagram story that recognizes hate against Asian Americans is not enough. Education and action is the next step that must be taken to eliminate the heinous crimes and scathing issues we have in this country.
Pandemic showcases need for education reform In returning to a five day a week, fully in-person, schedule, many of us have been eager to return to normal; however, it is imperative for us to reevaluate some of the educational processes that the pandemic has forced us to change. As a result of closures due to COVID19 last spring, many standardized tests, ranging from state-mandated tests, to the ACT, SAT, and AP tests, were cancelled, modified, or delayed. In response, many colleges became test-optional in their application process. These tests have long been criticized, both for assessment of early and secondary education, for providing incomplete profiles of students’ achievement, magnifying inequality and forcing a shift in focus to testing in many classrooms. But, the speed and relative ease at which many institutions discarded these tests raises questions about whether other features of our educational system may not be
necessary. A true proactive approach to reforming our education system after the pandemic would take into consideration what structures of our system are truly crucial for student success. Although the emphasis of getting students back in school has been emphasized, hybrid and online schedules have created some unexpected benefits, particularly for older students, who have found jobs or been able to work on their schoolwork on their own time, creating more flexibility and opportunities for other activities. Education simply is not one-size fits all. Is it really necessary for every student, particularly older students with varied schedules, to be in school five days a week, for the same amount of time every day? Other countries and schools have already moved to adopt different models: everything from half days to block schedules with time allotted for students’ independent exploration,
an approach that Mason City Schools, one of the largest school districts in Ohio uses. Online classes could also open up new models of education. While there are elements of in-person education that cannot be replicated in online classrooms, especially for younger students, it is worth evaluating how we could incorporate these classes into our regular scheduling to help students meet credit requirements or access classes that might not otherwise be available. While balancing safety, quality of education and equity this year has been challenging, we cannot ignore the opportunity for us to reevaluate an educational system that has remained largely structurally unchallenged for hundreds of years. This is the time to be less reactive about our education, and more proactive. We have the power to re-shape Western education for the better, it is just a matter of having the courage to do so.