The Wooster Blade, Volume XXI, Issue 5

The Wooster

BLADE Volume XXI | Issue 5 | April 30, 2021

Earth Day: Preserving and Appreciating the Environment Inside the April 30, 2021 Issue

p. 5 - What action is needed to preserve the environment?

p. 7 - How to plant a garden

p. 9 Observing Autism Acceptance Month

p. 12 - Georgia elections legislation

ON CAMPUS

THE WOOSTER BLADE | APRIL 30, 2021 | PAGE 2

Administrators plan in-person graduation Libraries provide needed MYA VANDEGRIFT services to community graphics manager

Graduation is going to look a little different from last year at WHS. Though the COVID-19 pandemic forced last year’s ceremony online, this year is going to resemble a more pre-COVID set up.

“We are looking to have a traditional graduation ceremony, much like the past. We will follow the guidelines for COVID safety, but we are planning on running the ceremony much like we have pre-COVID,” principal Tyler Keener explained.

“If we are outdoors, we will have no restrictions in the number of attendees, we will just need to social distance appropri-

ately. We will use all the space at Follis Field, if necessary,” Keener continued, explaining how the school plans to move forward with the event.

“If it's inside, we are probably going to utilize the same ticket system as the athletics use, and then also be limited to only two parents or family members per student,” Kelly Williams, main office secretary said.

Commencement is also planned to be livestreamed for others to watch online as well.

Graduation will take place June 6 and larger communication, as well as details, will be given in May. In addition to commencement, there will be a senior picnic, formal dinner and scholarship awards ceremony.

The scholarship awards night will be hosted Thursday, June 3 in the Performing Arts Center.

A change to the awards this year is that it will be focused solely on scholarships.

“This year, parents will be notified that their student is going to receive a scholarship award... and again, they’re still going to have tickets for seating, and seating will depend on how many awards are going to be given, and we’re still compiling that data.” Williams explained.

Department awards, as well as honors awards, will be given at the senior picnic on Tuesday, May 25.

Caps and gowns will also be given at the picnic for use at the commencement ceremony on June 6.

WHS to host senior dinner, dance and activities in place of traditional Prom TRENT KUZMA staff writer By no means has this been a typical year for learning, sports, or extracurricular activities.

Despite the ever-changing nature of the current pandemic, teams and clubs from WHS have, according to Lucas Niro (12), “tried their hardest to adapt and deliver the best possible experience for students and the community.”

WHS Student Council and some faculty members are helping put on a night to remember for upperclassmen amid the pandemic.

The senior dinner and makeshift post-prom, according to senior class president Zeke Ntia, provides a safe and exciting way to bring the WHS upperclassmen student body together.

Student Council is utilizing donations from local businesses and community members to deliver the best “prom feeling” night possible for students.

At the dinner, the WHS jazz band will be performing musical pieces.

Jazz Band member Ben Haven (12) initially proposed the idea of performing at the dance and said, “Performing at the dance is an excellent way to have an extra performance during an interesting year… [he]hopes that upperclassmen will be thankful for their younger peers helping close this strange year off with an excellent musical note”.

Principal Tyler Keener released a schedule that notes that the night will begin with a dinner, for seniors only, from 5 p.m. through 7:30 p.m. at Greystone Banquet Center, which will be followed by a Grand March, held at the WHS PAC, at 7:30

p.m.

Following Grand March, activities at the high school will take place for seniors, which will consist of dancing, ping-pong, corn hole, spike ball, KanJam, swimming, and more.

The theme of the night is still being decided by senior representatives.

The money being raised at the drive-in movie, hosted by Student Council (see page 3 for more information about the movie), will help support costs from this dance.

Senior class president Zeke Ntia would like to send a special thanks to Student Council adviser Brooke Coblentz, the Student Council, Jazz band, community sponsors, and custodians for helping put on this event.

For information and updates, follow the Student Councils Instagram page @woo.sc2021.

ELLIE SNIDER feature editor Libraries function as resources for the community, providing access to information. As assistant director of the Wayne County Public Library, Susan Roberts, states, “All library services are open to all in our community, regardless of who they are, where they live, or how much they make.”

At the WHS Media Center, nonfiction, biographies, fiction books, and magazines for both research and leisure are provided, according to WHS Library Paraprofessional, Kelly Grayshock.

For the WCPL, books are only the beginning of resources provided.

“We offer free access to many on-line resources... that help with job searches and skills training, as well as... hobbies... We have free wi-fi and many computers available for the public, to help bridge the digital divide in our community... The Library is a community center,” said Roberts.

As the COVID virus swept through the country, restrictions were placed in order to ensure the safety of the Wayne County community.

“We closed for some months in 2020. Now that we are open, we have limited hours and access. Our service is “grab and go”, so we ask that people spend no more than an hour in our buildings… While we still have computers for the public, they are available by appointment only and there are time limits on sessions,” Roberts said.

The way the WHS Media Center can operate has changed

as well.

“In order to do library book checkouts, students now use the online catalog found on Clever... For textbook requests, teachers give me the class rosters, I check out the books then teachers pass them out in their classes,” Grayshock said.

These changes may have negative impacts, particularly on the homeless community in Wayne County. According to the article “Libraries Respond: Services to Poor and Homeless People,” by the American Library Association, the resources that public libraries provide have a significant impact.

“People experiencing poverty or homelessness constitute a significant portion of users ... and this population provides libraries with an important opportunity to change lives… Access to library and information resources, services, and technologies is essential,” the article states.

Despite COVID restrictions, libraries are working hard to continue to provide resources in unconventional ways.

“We’ve provided coffee shops and restaurants with book baskets... We’ve also added a ‘Little Free Library’ at the Salvation Army’s ‘Living Room.’ We will print items remotely for patrons… We’ve helped a lot with schooling, getting materials... to students so that they can use the e-resources that are available...

And, we’ve offered many virtual programs,” Roberts said.

While the pandemic has changed the way that libraries are able to operate, the resources that libraries provide are not going anywhere anytime soon.

THE WOOSTER BLADE | ON CAMPUS | APRIL 30, 2021 | PAGE 3

WHS planning end of school year ASHTON DUNLAP sports editor As the end of the second semester at WHS approaches, many students still have questions on grades and end of year testing.

According to WHS principal Tyler Keener, second semester grading will go two different ways. For online students, each class’s “actual grade” on Edgenuity will accurately reflect their second semester grades for their respective classes.

For in-school students, overall third quarter grades will be entered into ProgressBook as a fourth quarter grade but will be weighted as 50 percent of that fourth quarter grade. A student’s overall fourth quarter grade will then be entered as their semester grade and will affect GPA. Keener explains the traditional process for grading and how it

differs from this year.

“In the past, the third quarter grade would come out to a percentage, which would be converted into quality points and then the fourth quarter grade would be converted into a percentage and would also go into quality points. Those quality points are added up at the end of the semester to get a final semester grade… The work in the quarter will still count for the student; it will count as a part of the entire semester, rather than the third quarter itself,” Keener said.

End of the year state and AP testing will not maintain a more normal format. The College Board will not be altering the content of the AP tests and will return to the usual AP test length and format. According to the WHS website, the AP tests will be offered over multiple days Math Dept. member and AP Calculus teacher Chris Mascotti

said she would like students to have the option to take AP tests online.

“I would give students the choice of which testing option; paper/pencil versus remotely on a computer, similar to the format used last Spring due to COVID-19,” Mascotti said.

End of year state tests followed a normal format with normal test length and content. English Dept. member Chad Bever said Edgenuity may have helped some students prepare for the computerized state tests.

“If students have worked diligently on their Edgenuity courses and have taken good notes and developed authentic responses, I do believe the type of computer-based assessment that Edgenuity provides may have actually helped prepare them for the computer-based state tests too,” Bever said.

AP tests will occur beginning April 28 and end of year state testing began April 14.

Student Council

Plans fundraising event SHERIDAN SCHAUER staff writer WHS Student Council plans to host a Drive-in movie night May 7, outside of Follis Field, where the movie screen will be put on the outdoor wall of the weight room.

Tickets for the movie will be $10 per car, and when ticket sales begin, they will be sold electronically.

Parking spots will be spaced out so that each car can see the movie, but will still be safely distanced from each other.

Brooke Coblentz, Student Council adviser, stated, “Parking will be every other ‘spot’ to allow for better viewing. The lawn section will be socially distanced.” When parking spots fill, they will start to fill the lawn in front of the weight room.

Student Council members will have concessions, consisting of popcorn, ice cream and beverages and they will sell them before the movie starts, between 8:30 p.m. and 9 p.m..

Attendees can also bring their own snacks and beverages.

The movie they plan to show, Monsters Inc., was chosen by the seniors on Student Council.

They will also announce if they will need to reschedule due to weather problems on their Instagram account, @woo. sc2021.

When asked how she felt about the drive-in movie night, Student Council member Adria Lemmon (12) stated, “I think that this will be an event for us seniors to get together and see each other before graduation.”

The drive-in movie will be a safe COVID friendly environment for students to enjoy a new event.

Tri-County IB Program provides unique opportunities to students LENA WIEBE co-editor-in-chief On April 19, members of the WCSD Board of Education discussed their concerns about declining enrollment in the International Baccalaureate Programme, which is housed in WHS, at the BOE April Work Session.

At the meeting, Superintendent Michael Tefs, who referred to the program as an, “amazing, global perspective on curriculum,” said, “I’m fearful… if we don’t start to see some increased enrollment... there’s unfortunately going to be a conversation next of when does the sun set?”

Richard Leone, Secondary Education Director, said for the program, which serves the

Ashland, Holmes and Wayne counties, “...the magic number for IB is 25 juniors, 25 seniors,” making operating the IB program cost-efficient.

The IB program, which is operated by the Tri-County Educational Service Center, is a two-year program that includes an internationally approved curriculum.

Victoria Birk, IB Diploma Program Coordinator, said the program has faced some unique challenges in recruiting.

“In promoting the program every year at some schools, I’ll have some student say, ‘I’ve never even heard of this before,’ and so to me that’s frustrating, because we’ve been around for 14 years, and we’ve been in contact with every single one of these schools for 14 years,” Birk said.

She added that some schools did not want to lose their top students, though she said that the IB program emphasizes connections with students’ home schools, while other schools may not be willing or able to fund their students’ participation and that the pandemic prevented her from visiting schools.

In his presentation to the BOE, Leone also said competition from College Credit Plus classes, has affected enrollment.

CCP classes, which allow students to take college coursework in partnership with public Ohio universities and colleges, can help students earn college credit at some Ohio schools.

However, Birk noted that while the classes can help some students save money in their

college education, some schools do not accept CCP credit, or will not apply it to a student’s major requirements.

Birk said the IB program, “really immerses you in these types of skills that you’re going to need in the collegiate world.

You’re going to learn to be an independent thinker… a lot of those soft skills… they’re still important,” beyond comparable academic rigor in CCP or AP classes.

Birk continued that the IB program has some inherent advantages in flexibility and collaboration between students and faculty, who must work closely in their coursework and scheduling.

While BOE members emphasized the history and legacy of the IB program, Leone said more aggressive

recruitment may be necessary to maintain the program at WHS. Birk said increasing awareness of the program was possible and necessary, although this year posed some distinct challenges.

“I’ve thought that middle school age is probably when students, and parents in particular, need to be made aware” of what their college prep options are, she said, as many students begin laying the groundwork for high school classes early on.

The IB program will continue to accept applications for rising juniors this year, and will allow some Wooster students who have participated in online schooling this year to adjust requirements for letters of recommendation from teachers.

FOCUS

THE WOOSTER BLADE | APRIL 30, 2021 | PAGE 4

North End and Downtown:

Visiting favorite spots throughout Wooster

NORTH END

Two of our writers challenged one another to step out of their comfort zones and explore a part of town they did not typically visit. Each writer provided the other with a list of personal favorite places to visit, including a place for coffee, food, dessert and miscellaneous groceries.

SYLVIE SHAYA

DOWNTOWN

LUKE POMFRET focus editor Downtown Wooster has always been seen as a significant area to locals and visitors alike.

While I live in the North End area of Wooster, I rarely succumb to heading downtown to eat or shop for the mere fact that Downtown Wooster is far away from my home. When I was challenged with moving out of my comfort zone in the North End by Sylvie Shaya I had to accept as I love a challenge. Sylvie decided to send me to local restaurants, groceries, bakeries and even antique stores in order to get the full downtown experience.

My first stop was Spoon Market, and Deli and I ordered an Italian sandwich that was unbelievably good, with chips freshly made in-house. It was surprising that I have lived in Wooster all my life and

have never gone to Spoon. I definitely recommend it to anyone who loves sandwiches and salads.

After lunch and shopping, walking downtown was starting to get annoying. I would rarely wait the five minutes it took to cross the street, so as any impatient person does, I began running everywhere.

For the next part of my downtown journey, I went across the street from the antique store, to Local Roots.

Local Roots is a communitybased grocery store that is unique to the area because many vendors run their small businesses through this store, including the Pierogi People and Boo Bear’s Brew, two of Wooster cult favorites.

Undergrounds Cafe has one of the most exciting locations out of all the coffee shops in town. Located at the bottom of the business complex center, Undergrounds is hidden from the street view, but can be found by walking downstairs.

One of the first things I noticed upon entering their store is that I was greeted by the friendliest baristas.

Undergrounds caters to a variety of people regardless of allergies. There are vegan desserts, dairy-free desserts,

views editor

and the list goes on. The coffee is terrific. I always order a hot latte, and Undergrounds has proven to be my favorite in town.

To round up my trip downtown, I visited Tulipan, which is a Hungarian Pastry Shop. As I entered the Hungarian Bakery, I was immediately hit with the strong smell of coffee and fascinated by all the unique desserts I had never seen before. I ordered the Dobos Torte Cake, Baklava and a Prune Kifile. The cake was relatively dry, but the Baklava was my favorite. The Prune Kifile did not work for me. Overall, I would recommend visiting this bakery in Downtown Wooster.

Downtown Wooster has a diverse range of food and drink shops, but accessibility could be an issue. I found parking may be hard to find, and therefore lots of walking is required, but the scenery is lovely.

For a split second, I felt like I was walking in New York City, and I was whisked away from Wayne County for a few hours. After my research had concluded, I realized the importance of trying new things out of your comfort zone and especially the importance of exploring a community as a whole.

I rarely go to the North End, especially during the pandemic.

When I do go there, my expeditions are limited to the movies, Chipotle and Buehlers, so many of the places Luke Pomfret sent me were entirely new.

My first impression of the North End, as I searched for Pulp, was that the layout is extremely confusing. The main road splitting the many stores in two and the strange divisions throughout made it difficult for me to find the correct driveway.

At least there was quite a bit of parking.

Although parking was convenient and the smoothies inexpensive, I was left sitting in my car, staring at Aspen Dental, contemplating the impact of the sugar on my teeth. I found the view detracted from my enjoyment of said smoothie, so my feelings towards Pulp were mostly neutral.

I then made my way to Starbucks, where once again the parking lot left me utterly bewildered. How is one expected to get out when the dumpster and the drivethrough line are all of five feet apart?

Minutes later, I found myself sitting in my car for the second time in less than an hour, staring at blocky, grey buildings, sipping mediocre

coffee that I bought for the same price as delicious coffee from downtown local stores.

I proceeded to wander through Buehlers for a few minutes, finding some delicious chips and a very nice plant.

Buehlers has a wide selection of foods, although I was out for a day on the town, not to go grocery shopping, but it should be appreciated. I highly recommend Buehlers as a grocery store.

The best part of my visit to the North End was Miss Amy’s Bakery. Although, once again, I sat in my car to eat, the food, particularly the strawberry casatta cupcake, was divine, even after a day of eating everywhere I went. I also tried the tiramisu, also divine, and was greeted by friendly waitstaff in the shop.

Although the North End is convenient and inexpensive, I, personally, did not enjoy my time there. Everywhere you look there are major chain stores, that, although their goods are cheaper, cannot compete with the quality of small, local stores.

There were certainly aspects of my trip that were wonderful, namely the food at Miss Amy’s Bakery, but the views were consistently unpleasant and driving was confusing and stressful. Personally, I prefer to walk than to drive, and the North End entirely prevented that.

I appreciate the aspects of the North End that make it so appealing to Luke, but simultaneously, I did not enjoy my trip there as much as I hoped I would. I will likely return to Miss Amy’s and the selection and convenience of Buehlers is a staple to my family, but I doubt I will go out of my way to visit the rest of the North End any time soon.

COVER

THE WOOSTER BLADE | APRIL 30, 2021 | PAGE 5

Climate crisis requires drastic action Sustainable Fashion:

LENA WIEBE co-editor-in-chief In 2016, the city council of Darebin, Australia, became the first government in the world to issue a declaration acknowledging that humanity was in a state of global climate emergency, and that global warming posed a catastrophic and imminent threat to its existence.

Since that time, following the scientific consensus that human activities are responsible for the rapid warming of the earth, the threat of climate change has become more urgent, and while some governments and activist groups have made significant strides in combating the threat, it still poses a clear danger.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres said on April 22 in the Leaders Summit on Climate that “Mother Nature is not waiting… We are on the verge of an abyss,” noting that the last decade was the hottest ever recorded.

U.S. President Joe Biden has made some significant steps in beginning to address warming, notably by moving to rejoin the Paris Climate Accords and committing to reducing emissions by half by 2030.

But, these changes can only be the beginning of an effective, scientific response to the climate crisis.

Secretary-General Guterres continued his remarks by calling for all countries to work toward a net-zero emissions

goal by 2050, and advocated for other measures that align with the scientific consensus, like enacting carbon taxes, ending subsidies for fossil fuels, ending the use of coal by 2030 in wealthy countries like the United States and increasing investment in green energy and infrastructure.

As long as leaders of the United States, which lead in emissions across the globe, refuse to take broad responsibility for their impact and to take the sweeping action the moment calls for, there will never be a global solution to climate change, or even mitigation of its effects, which the United Nations found in 2019, will disproportionately affect developing countries abroad, and already marginalized communities domestically.

The climate crisis requires drastic action, and there is no mistaking that it is largely the result of massive structures of unconstrained neoliberalism that prioritize profit over our lives: an investigative series

by The Guardian on fossil fuel industries titled “The Polluters” found that just 20 fossil fuel companies have produced 35% of the carbon dioxide and methane released by human activities since 1965.

In the United States, deeply ingrained systems of lobbying and campaign finance have increasingly blurred the line between the interests of corporations and the interests of the governments elected to represent their citizens.

It is also true that some facets of modern environmental activism ignore the larger structures driving the climate crisis, often focusing on individuals and their choices.

Sometimes it seems like there is an endless list of requirements to care about the environment: eat local, but not meat or milk, and not almond milk either, recycle, but expect most of it to end up in the landfill anyways, buy a metal straw, stop buying new clothes, but buying from thrift stores is exploitative… the list goes on.

Many environmentalists are rightfully criticized for this overly individualistic approach: it is not accessible to everyone, but it also seems preoccupied with shame, and passing an endless set of purity tests instead of addressing the root of the problem. But, any effective activism to end the climate crisis must be multipronged. Fixating on massive, seemingly unchangeable solutions can depersonalize climate change and make any solution seem hopeless.

As we move to save the future of our planet, we should also remember that understanding that much of the climate crisis is not directly within our control is not mutually exclusive with making the best decisions we personally can, when we can. For one thing, many underestimate the power of the electoral process, and our roles in our government. By demanding representation, we can take the first step toward preserving our futures.

Graphic by Sylvie Shaya

Purchasing ethically and environmentally OLIVIA HINER staff writer

As more and more is learned about the negative impact clothing is having on the environment, such as pollution, huge amounts of water consumption, rainforest destruction, and soil degradation, sustainable fashion has become very important in today’s society.

Purchasing sustainable clothing can be expensive.

There are, however, many ways to shop sustainably. An easy way to shop sustainably is by thrifting.

It is eco-friendly and it is cheap, so there is really no downside.

When thrifting, it is even better for the environment and for your community to shop locally.

Along with shopping sustainably, it is important to get rid of clothes in an environmentally conscious way. A roadrunnerwm.com article from Jan. 8 by Rachel Brown explains that a 2018 study found, “17 million tons of textile waste ended up in landfills, according to data from the Environmental Protection Agency, making up 5.8 percent of the total MSW generation that year.”

And, it does not stop there.

The same article said it can take up to 200-plus years for clothing waste to decompose in landfills.

So, the next question centers on: how can we get rid of clothing sustainably?

One great place to start

is through donating your clothing. Giving clothes a second home is an easy way to dispose of clothes ethically.

Not only is it ethical, according to irs.gov, Topic No. 506 Charitable Contributions, many charitable donations are tax deductible.

There are many places in Wooster where we can donate used clothing.

Goodwill, Mission Thrift, The Salvation Army, Closet of Hope and Habitat for Humanity are all accepting donations right now. Some locally owned businesses to donate to include Friendtique, Jodi’s closet, People to People and Every Woman’s House.

With all of the places in Wooster to donate clothing, I decided to reach out to Dawn Schirm, the executive director of Friendtique and Nest, as I know that both are both nonprofit organizations whose profits go to Hospice of Wayne County.

When asked what happens to items that do not sell, Schirm said that “Items that do not sell are taken off the showroom floor and donated to other organizations. Nothing usable is ever thrown away.” Schirm would like to, “invite you all to stop in their stores and experience it for yourselves.”

As a considerable amount of secondhand clothing still ends up in landfills, it is wise to research the store to which you are donating in order to ascertain how environmentally conscious they are and to where your donation, and the funds they garner, go.

THE WOOSTER BLADE | COVER | APRIL 30, 2021 | PAGE 6

Wooster community members could benefit from more green space

HANNAH LOGUIDICE

As seen in the photo above, Local Roots offers a variety of community based goods, including homemade bakery items and breads.

Local Focus: Local Roots LEO RILEY a&e editor In 2009, a group of volunteers repurposed an empty building, turning it into Local Roots, a marketplace and café specializing in selling locally sourced food and goods.

As a co-op business, Local Roots is owned and operated by a group of elected directors, who meet monthly to discuss the direction of Local Roots and vote on any important issues.

However, the members of Local Roots also have a voice in decisions and collectively are owners of Local Roots.

What’s distinctive about Local Roots as a co-op is that the producers take a more active role in ownership.

According to Kirsten Drew, a Market Manager at Local Roots, “Our cooperative model is unique because the vast majority of our products sold in the market are owned by our producers, whereas other co-ops run on a complete resell program.”

This means that by supporting Local Roots, the over 200 local businesses who sell products

there directly benefit as well.

Local Roots supports local businesses, as well as supporting the community in other ways, namely by standing for environmental sustainability.

Drew went in-depth about some of Local Roots’ environmental initiatives, including, “partnering with New Grounds Compost. All compostable waste, including, but not limited to, takeaway containers, produce bags, and food waste, from our market, café and commercial kitchen is turned into compost and potting soil that is available for purchase in Local Roots.”

Drew continued, “Our market runs on a mix of repurposed appliances and energy efficient equipment. We’re also proud to have all LED lighting and offer our shoppers an electric car charging station. When sourcing new resell products, we search out B Corporations, 1% for the Planet, organic, regenerative agriculture, and environmentally transparent businesses.”

To support Local Roots, a yearly membership can be purchase for $50.

LEX PARSONS staff writer As the arrival of spring becomes much more obvious to everyone, and as Earth Day draws closer, I begin to put much thought into how I can help the environment and all that it has to offer.

First, I bought reusable straws when they were all the rage and started keeping plants.

Then, I thought about Wooster, and what it could do to start being a little bit greener. I thought about the downtown area, which has hanging flower baskets and potted plants, but it just felt like there could be more done. One way we should start a change in Wooster, in terms of doing more for the environment, would be to make a designated, “green area” in the city of Wooster. I feel as though, despite all the parks we have in Wooster, they are not big enough to encourage the use of a large number of people.

There is a large playground at Christmas Run park for children, but not larger green areas with things to do for an older population.

Wooster needs a larger green area for community use and

for people to have a more open area to themselves for things like picnics or playing ball games without having to change the game for a smaller area.

It would be wonderful if we could have an area that could be a community garden that people could take and add to as they please.

Wooster is a city with a great community that could be brought closer together by having more environmentally friendly parks and things to do for everyone in the community.

This Earth Day, all of us, as members of this community, should think a little more about how we can safely impact our environment, and also our own community, by being a little more green.

Going green: ways young people can help PAULINA SALAZAR trends editor We, as teenagers, can feel helpless about helping protect the environment; however, there are many simple and small ways we can do to be green. These are changes anyone of any age can make to reduce our carbon footprint.

Use a reusable water bottle: 38 billion plastic water bottles end up in landfills, oceans, and streets every year, according to defendourfuture.org.

A reusable water bottle reduces your carbon footprint and reduces the everyday waste plastic water bottles produce.

Buy a reusable bag: reusable bags can replace plastic grocery bags, which greatly harm the environment. Reusable bags

help avoid those hard-torecycle plastic bags that are produced from oil and litter the environment, according to reusethisbag.com.

Reusable bags are easy to carry around and look cute while you help protect the environment.

Reduce your water consumption: every person’s water footprint can affect our environment. Reduce your’s by taking shorter showers, making sure to turn your water tap off when you are not using it, and eat less meat.

It takes 1,847 gallons of water to produce a pound of beef, according to Huffpost article “This is How Much Water It Takes To Make Your Favorite Foods,” written by Katherine Boehrer and published on November 13, 2014. Reducing your consumption of foods like beef helps reduce the

water footprint you may not even be aware of. Chicken is a much more environmentally friendly meat option because it is produced with 518 gallons of water per pound, less than half of the water used to produce beef.

Even though these might seem like tiny steps to help the environment, everything helps. The United States Environmental Protection Agency has a guide on greener living, which you can find at their website: epa.gov/ environmental-topics/greenerliving. Education is important, so be sure to read about other ways to help the environment, participate in environmental organizations and volunteer programs, and educate your family members and friends on taking steps to a greener lifestyle.

THE WOOSTER BLADE | COVER | APRIL 30, 2021 | PAGE 7

Mohican Gardens greenhouse continues to thrive SYLVIE SHAYA views editor

Twenty minutes outside of Wooster, on OH-95, lies Mohican Gardens and Conservatory. Large gardens flank a house and a rustic barn, leading down to the long white domes of the greenhouse and a small lake. The property is owned and managed by the Cornelius family, who maintain the greenhouse, wedding venue and bakery located there.

When asked why they bought the greenhouse, Keith Cornelius said, “It was sort of a whim: we liked the property - we thought it was an interesting possibility for us as a family and we all talked about it and everybody seemed really excited about the possibility of working together

to do this as a family.” K. Cornelius is the Wayne County Weights and Measures inspector and Mary Cornelius works at the College of Wooster in the chemistry department.

K. Cornelius explained that plants from Mohican Gardens, “have been here growing in Ohio, supported by Ohio people their whole lives.” Plants bought from large retailers and competitors, such as businesses like Lowes, are often grown in Florida or Georgia and brought north with the sole intention of selling them.

“We are not organic by any means, but...we are kind of minimalist when it comes to chemical treatment,” M. Cornelius said. An example of their avoidance of chemicals is how they trim plants instead of

How to start a garden: SOPHIE GAMBLE cover editor

As warm weather arrives in Wooster, more opportunities to spend time outdoors present themselves; many of which take the form of gardening.

While larger projects are feasible for some, others may not have the ability to change landscape or to spend large quantities of time and energy doing so.

Melanie Schultz, community member who lives in a tiny house, gardens flowers, vegetables, and herbs in a variety of ways. Schultz has 23 acres, but also utilizes small spaces such as Rubbermaid containers and pop bottles for planting.

“With good soil and enough sunlight, it’s amazing how much you can grow in a small space. I would recommend

starting small anyway,” Schultz said.

Before planting, Schultz says, it is important to ask questions such as: “how much time am I willing to spend on my garden/plants a week? What types of plants am I most interested in growing? Where will my garden be located?”

Smaller touches, such as the use of different colored pots and different height of plants can add color and a sense of scale to a small space, according to House and Garden, a website and magazine that provides advice and inspiration for gardens.

While Schultz emphasizes the importance of good tools, such as a sturdy trowel, a shovel and a hoe, she also adds, “I get creative with my tools to save money, and often repurpose garbage into tresilles, covers, cages, [and] twine.”

Melanie Schultz recommends

using chemical retardants.

The greenhouse does face a variety of challenges, including pests and cold winters.

Alongside insects such as whitefly and scale, K. Cornelius said, “we get raccoons in here and they… climb across the energy curtains in the greenhouse and rip it to shreds.”

Mohican Gardens’ largest Wooster business connection is Local Roots. “We do a lot of hanging baskets and potted plants in the spring and then, in the fall, we do mums,” K. Cornelius said. As the greenhouse is located outside Wooster, Local Roots facilitates the sale of plants directly in Wooster.

K. Cornelius said his favorite part of the greenhouse is the customers. “Our customers

are fantastic...they come back year after year,” he said. Rachel Cornelius, a junior at WHS, added, “there’s a really nice community out here.”

The previous owners began hosting weddings about five seasons before the Cornelius’s took over. “We do everything we can to keep the greenhouse full and profitable, but a lot if it is a backdrop for the weddings and other special events we hold here,” K. Cornelius said.

In a typical year, Mohican Gardens hosts up to 30 weddings and a multitude of other special events, including fundraisers, garden clubs and business after hours for the Chamber of Commerce. Last year, due to the pandemic, they hosted about 19 weddings.

The Cornelius’ are on their

Graphic by Sylvie Shaya ninth season owning Mohican Gardens.

More information about the greenhouse can be found at mohicangardens.com.

Community members offer beginning gardening advice for high school students with limited space and resources plants such as raspberries, oregano, sorrel, chives, Jerusalem artichokes, horseradish, strawberries, and asparagus, as they are maintainable perennials, meaning that they live more than two years.

For annual plants, Schultz enjoys tomatoes, peas, swiss chard, garlic, potatoes, onions, arugula, basil, sunflowers, and squash, although they must be replanted every year.

While planting, she recommends finding a spot with full sun and good soil, but to do research about the plant in question before planting anything.

“Remember that you are a steward of the environment, and that everything in nature has a place and a purpose,” Schultz says. She sets a reminder for kind choices, even in a garden, because the Earth is the home we all share.

CHLOE FRICHTL staff writer

As a teen, it can be hard to start a garden with no real equipment or space. Large, elaborate gardens just are not feasible without access to the space required to grow one.

Erwin and Susan Riedner, two knowledgeable Wooster community gardeners, advise teenagers to first figure out where they want to plant their gardens. They recommend choosing an area that is not too small, but not too large, and making sure the area has soil that is aerated, tilled and raked smooth.

According to the couple, they write, “For our area of Ohio, you can now plant radishes, parsley, even lettuce. Onions as well (we use what are called sets of onions, that is, onions already grown into small plants).”

The Riedners also suggest planting tomatoes around the first week of June and possibly the last week of May depending on the weather.

They recommend ordering seeds from seed catalogues, which can be purchased at stores such as Lowe’s, and they also note that Burpee and Ferry-Morris are good brands.

Erwin and Susan have mixed feelings about fertilizer, adding, “If you choose to use fertilizer, don’t over-do it. We sometimes use a bit of tomato fertilizer.”

If you do not have a lot of space, the couple also advises to try pot gardening, stating, “We sometimes plant seeds in large pots (parsley, basil) for the fun of it.”

Gardening may seem daunting, but, according to the Riedners, it is truly not that hard if you adapt to your budget and space.

A&E

THE WOOSTER BLADE | APRIL 30, 2021 | PAGE 8

Justice League: Moxie fails to deliver positive message Snyder cut satisfies fans

JULIA HOOTMAN staff writer With the release of director Zack Snyder’s four hour cut of Justice League, the DC Extended Universe finally has direction. Tragically, it seems it is too little, too late.

In 2017, following the release of Zack Snyder’s Man of Steel and Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice, Justice League hit theaters. The movie, with a runtime of two hours, was nothing special.

Aesthetically, the film was a complete 180 from Snyder’s previous contributions to the DC Extended Universe.

Love them or hate them, Man of Steel and Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice set a foundation for the universe and introduced DC Comics frontrunners, Batman, Superman and Wonder Woman played by reputable actors, Ben Affleck, Henry Cavill and Gal Gadot. Both films were dark and brooding, as DC films should be, and set up Snyder’s vision.

The watered-down version of Justice League fans received shows the importance of post-production within the film industry as Zack Snyder had stepped down from post production on the 2017 film following the untimely death of his daughter.

However, the new “Snyder Cut” version, never drags and

is packed with both action movie excitement and sensitive character development.

Cyborg (Ray Fisher) becomes the heart of the film as he faces an inner battle with himself following a drastic change in his lifestyle. The Flash (Ezra Miller) is no longer portrayed as dorky comic relief, but as a growing rookie superhero, who will do what it takes to save the world. Aquaman (Jason Momoa) is a fierce warrior also facing an internal battle that continues in the solo movie Aquaman. Finally, Batman, Superman and Wonder Woman are as iconic as ever. Batman (Ben Affleck) has never felt more like the Dark Knight.

Superman (Henry Cavill) embodies the light of the world throughout the film, while Wonder Woman (Gal Gadot) brings fierce warriorship and epic girl power to the stage.

The visually stunning film is a celebration of comic book fans everywhere. Zack Snyder knows how to make movies and in a perfect world, Warner Brothers would be wise to let Snyder enact his entire vision.

Now, after the release of Zack Snyder’s Justice League, fans are beyond thrilled. Replacing the cries to, “Release the Snyder Cut!” are cries to, “Restore the SnyderVerse!” It seems, however, Warner Brothers has no interest in allowing Zack Snyder to continue his saga.

Additionally, Ben Affleck seems to have hung up his cowl, stepping down as Batman.

Only time will tell how well Warner Brothers manages to rectify their situation, but with so much pressure within the superhero movie industry to have an always-growing and ever-consistent cinematic universe, the DC Extended Universe may regret the loss of Zack Snyder’s vision.

LAURA RAPPORT staff writer Netflix’s latest teen movie, Moxie, directed by Amy Poehler, was released March 3.

Moxie follows Vivian, a teenage girl, who responds to sexist behavior at her high school by publishing an anonymous, Riot Grrrl feminism inspired “zine” called Moxie. As a side note, Riot Grrrl feminism is a feminist movement that combines feminism, punk rock music, and politics that was popular in

the early 1990s.

The nearly two-hour long movie chronicles Vivian’s journey to end sexism at her school.

However, Vivian’s feminist journey is filled with mistreatment of women of color and willful ignorance of other people’s struggles, as best exemplified by her relationship with her best friend, Claudia.

Claudia is reluctant to join the Moxie movement for fear of punishment from her Asian mother. Claudia’s hesitation to take part in Moxie’s Riot Grrrl feminism causes tension between the two, which erupts in a big fight between the two, where Claudia tells Vivian, “You don’t get what’s going on with me because you’re white.”

After this incident, instead of educating herself on her own privilege, Vivian gets drunk and throws a fit.

She is then comforted by her

mother Lisa, played by Amy Poehler; however, this incident is never mentioned again, and Vivian never learns from it.

Similar incidents of Vivian ignoring the struggles of women of color happen throughout the film.

It seems that every time a woman of color is struggling in the film, they cannot fight for themselves, but instead, must wait for Vivian, the teenage hero, to rescue them.

Instead of the feminist hero that Moxie wants to depict, Vivian comes off as selfish and arrogant.

The film is not all bad, Lauren Tsai gives an incredible performance as Claudia, as well as Alycia Pascual and Josie Totah, who play Lucy and CJ. However, Moxie is an ignorant mess of white feminism that fails to meet the standards of today’s intersectional feminist movement.

DRAMA CLUB: Clue

Casting for summer production begins ASHTON DUNLAP sports editor Last year, when events began shutting down due to COVID-19, one of the many cancellations students experienced at WHS was the WHS Drama Club’s production of Clue, which was shut down just one week prior to its opening.

After more than a year has passed, the show is being put on again, with performances slated to take place July 22, 23, 24 and 25.

Drama Club Director and English Dept. member Brett Hiner recounts the impact the closing of the show had on both him and on the cast.

“We auditioned and cast the

show in early January 2020.

Rehearsals were in full swing and we were about a week and half away from curtain. I gathered the group and told them, appropriately enough, on Friday the 13 of March. That Friday was probably the most difficult day I’ve had as an adviser... lots of tears,” Hiner said.

Sophie Garcia (11) said the shutdown of the show was very difficult to handle, especially as they were ready to perform.

“Not being able to do Clue was just another thing to add to the disappointment of everything being shut down.

It denied me extra practice and stage time, which would’ve hopefully better prepared me for Footloose,” Garcia said.

The show will feature a cast consisting of both members from last year’s cast and newly auditioned cast members.

This casting approach will allow graduated students to return and participate in the production.

Tyler Keating (2020 alum) was an original cast member of Clue when it was shut down.

“I love the fact that I have the opportunity to come back, and that if I can make it work, Mr. Hiner and the rest of the club can give me one last shot at doing something I love with people that I didn’t get to really say goodbye to...,” Keating said.

The ability to have a second chance performing Clue will combine old and new faces to create the new production.

FEATURE

THE WOOSTER BLADE | APRIL 30, 2021 | PAGE 9

Autism Acceptance Month

Recognition brings awareness and reduces stigma MOLLY SNYDER staff writer

In the United States, April is recognized as Autism Acceptance Month, Autism Acceptance Month aims to bring awareness and reduce stigma around autism.

Formally recognized in 1970, Autism Awareness Month has shifted to Acceptance Month in recent years.

According to Autism Society, a nonprofit organization that aims to assist autistic people and families, the shift from awareness to acceptance is to, “foster acceptance to ignite change through improved support and opportunities in education, employment, accessible housing, affordable health care and comprehensive long-term services.”

One of the most well known and prominent organizations for autism awareness is Autism Speaks, but the organization has recently come under fire from the autistic community and other autism support organizations for their goals and missions.

Autism Speaks has advocated for a cure for autism and portrays it as a horrible disease that needs to be eradicated.

As of 2018, Autism Speaks allocated only 1% of their funds toward helping families with autistic members, according to Autistic Self Advocacy Network. Autism Speaks also only has one autistic person on their Board of Directors, which has 28 people in total.

In 2009, Autism Speaks released a commercial called “I am Autism,” The commercial depicts autism as an evil disease that is

worse than cancer and diabetes, portrays it as something that will make sure a marriage fails and will also bankrupt the family as a child with autism ages.

Harmful rhetoric like this demonizes people on the autism spectrum and portrays the disorder as something that ruins people’s lives.

Alternative organizations to donate and support include Autism Society, Autism Self Advocacy Network, Autistic Women and Non-Binary Network, and Self Advocates Becoming Empowered.

These groups actively support people and families affected by autism.

They also advocate for acceptance and the destigmatization of autism spectrum disorder.

Along with nationwide resources, Wooster students have access to help on a local level as well.

The Wooster City School District has many resources for students with autism.

According to Heidi Haas, District Director of Student Services, companies Unified Solution and Daily Behavior Health provide therapy for students and equip staff with resources to help students on a daily basis.

For every level of education, there is at least one autism unit with intervention specialists to support students in and out of the classroom.

With over 20 staff members with their Registered Behavior Technician certification and many more trained paraprofessionals, the Wooster City School district is well positioned to aid and assist students with autism.

Graphic by Sylvie Shaya

Seen above is the rainbow infinity symbol, the symbol representing autism spectrum disorder, which has become more widely used than the former puzzle piece symbol in recent years.

Music lacks autistic representation

DELANEY WILSON staff writer The movie Music, produced and directed by singer and songwriter Sia, focuses on Zu, a recovering addict who becomes the sole guardian to her younger sister, Music, who has nonverbal autism and their neighbor, Ebo, who helps Zu take care of Music. While one could argue the intent of the movie was good, the movie falls short everywhere else.

To start, Music is played by former Dance Moms star Maddie Ziegler, who is neurotypical.

This would have been a great opportunity to cast an actress

who is on the autism spectrum.

Ziegler’s portrayal often seems like a caricature instead of an accurate depiction of someone with autism. Ziegler often uses exaggerated facial and body movements.

Again, this would have been a great opportunity to cast an actress with an autism spectrum disorder, who could have more accurately portrayed this character and what knowing someone with autism looks like.

There is also concern about the use of racial stereotypes, as Ebo, an African immigrant, acts as somewhat of a savior to Zu, who is white. Some have called out the use of this stereotype of the black savior who steps in to save or help the white main characters throughout the movie.

One of the most concerning moments in the movie is when both Ebo and Zu use what are called restraints when Music has “episodes”.

Either Ebo or Zu would lie on top of Music and restrict

her movement in order to help her calm down. The use of restraints has been heavily criticized by autism advocacy groups and different individuals, one reason being that someone with nonverbal autism, such as Music, wouldn’t be able to say anything if they were struggling to breath.

The movie also focuses more on Zu and her battle with drugs and addiction, than it does Music and her experiences.

While addictions and drugs are serious topics, they are not intended to be the focus of the movie, this, and the evolution of the relationship between Ebo and Zu, often completely overshadow Music.

On top of the overused cliches you could find in just about any movie, Sia completely missed the mark.

It seems that step after step, the wrong decision was made. Music does an absolute disservice to people with ASD, setting back an already marginalized group of people.

THE WOOSTER BLADE | FEATURE | APRIL 30, 2021 | PAGE 10

Wooster community responds to increase French legislation in hate crimes against Asian Americans restricts freedoms of SOPHIA MERA staff writer Throughout the past year with the worldwide pandemic cases rising there has also been a rise in hate toward the Asian American and Pacific Islander community. A BBC news report stated that “The advocacy group Stop AAPI Hate said it received more than 2,800 reports of hate incidents directed at Asian Americans nationwide last year.” These reports included, verbal harassment, shunning, physical assault, being coughed or spat on, and workplace discrimination or refusal of service.

In light of recent AAPI hate nationwide, students at the College of Wooster held a march against Asian American hate. The protest began at Kauke Hall at the COW to downtown Wooster. There was a crowd of 250 people, a mix or

COW students and faculty, as well as community members.

One of the students who spoke at the protest was sophomore at the COW, Zoe Seymore.

When asked about discrimination in the Wooster community Seymore responded, “I do not see hate speech as a problem, but I do see discrimination as one.

There are many instances where people will discriminate others for what they look like or what they believe in, even if it’s unconscious discrimination.”

Seymore explains she has not experienced or witnessed any hateful speech or actions, however, she knows that it does not mean it does not happen.

Seymore also shares that when discriminatory acts do happen on campus, they only receive an email of condolences from the college, but she does not think this is enough. “I think if Wooster made a bigger effort to raise awareness and try to actually change things in the College, it would help. I

know it can be hard to change everyone’s opinions and unconscious biases, but I think it will take more than just one email, ” Seymore said.

Community member Barb Friedhoff attended the protest on March 25 and described it as, “peaceful, welcoming and [she] felt safe.” Friedhoff says it was very impactful, “to hear people living in our midst, but with whom I don’t have a lot of contact speak about how current events have affected them,” reminding her that hateful acts and discrimination go far beyond the actual incidences. Friedhoff also notes she did not realize how the acts of hate around the United States affects these students.

Both Seymore and Friedhoff say they would like to see more outreach to make a difference in the community. Although there is not a set date for another protest to be held, Seymore says she definitely would like to see more events in activism for the AAPI community.

Left: Protestor stands holding sign against hatred in downtown Wooster rally.

Right: Students and community m e m b e r s participate in march from College of Wooster campus to stand with AAPI and protest discrimination.

RUMEN ZDRAVCHEV

Muslim women LUCIA PERFETTI staff writer

On March 30, France’s senate voted in favor of an “antiseparatism” bill that among other things, would ban minors from wearing hijabs- traditional religious head coverings worn by some Muslim women.

The law would also prevent women in hijabs from accompanying children on school trips or to swimming pools.

This is not the first piece of anti-Muslim legislation to pass through French legislature, as French secularism, or “laïcité” is very central to France.

Dr. Harry Gamble, professor of French and Francophone Studies at the College of Wooster, explained that “... separation of church and state was worked out with French Catholics, Protestants and Jews... when there wasn’t much of a Muslim community in France.”

Subsequently, Gamble says, when the Muslim community in France began to grow, Muslims were, “just expected to fit in.”

In an Instagram livestream with Muslim athlete Ibtihaj Muhhamad, French journalist Ricaya Rokhaya Diallo explained the ongoing controversy.

“The first time there was a national debate about Muslim girls wearing a hijab was in 1989...at the time, the supreme court said that it was okay for Muslim girls to go to school with a hijab, as long as they are not trying to influence others.”

However, Diallo says, “There has been a change since 9/11.”

In looking at the effects of the proposed bill, Associate Professor of Religious Studies at the College of Wooster, Dr. Sarah Mirza said, “The hijab ban will have a detrimental affect on the already tense race and class issues in France, besides making the lives of Muslim girls personally difficult,” Mirza explained.

Mirza describes French secularism as, “...a type of secularism that demands the erasure of previous cultural identities,” something that does not mesh well with the Islamic religion, as the hijab is meant to, “...reflect a relationship with faith...culture, and heritage.”

Amnesty International, the human rights organization, made an official statement against the French legislation, saying the law, “...risks leading to discrimination in its application against Muslims and other minority groups. This stigmatization must end.”

The bill has yet to pass through the French National Assembly, and according to Diallo, it most likely will fail when up for debate, “...because it goes against the constitution and the declaration of human rights,” Diallo pointed out that “...it is in the first article of the French constitution which says that the French republic respects all beliefs.”

These debates over the role of secularism and religion in government and everyday life continue to encapsulate broader changes throughout Europe and the rest of the world.

SPORTS

THE WOOSTER BLADE | APRIL 29, 2021 | PAGE 11

Ohio debates transgender athlete bills LUKE POMFRET focus editor Ohio is currently debating House Bill 61/Senate Bill 132, which is intended to bar transgender people from playing on the sports team that matches their gender, rather than the one assigned at birth.

According to The New York Post, the push for specifically transgender women to be banned from women’s sports became an issue when two transgender females in Connecticut took 12 women’s state championship titles.

Three fellow runners sued the transgender athletes arguing that due to their biology, there was an advantage. The Biden administration said in

response to the ongoing lawsuit in Connecticut, that they are “withdrawing interest” in the case meaning the federal government will no longer pursue the lawsuit, according to CBS News.

The NCAA Board of Governors released a statement April 12, defending transgender athletes. “The NCAA Board of Governors firmly and unequivocally supports the opportunity for transgender student-athletes to compete in college sports... Our approach — which requires testosterone suppression treatment for transgender women to compete in women’s sports... is anchored in participation policies of both the International Olympic Committee and the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic

Committee.”

Kathryn Poe, Policy worker for Equality Ohio, a company that fights discrimination legislation in Ohio, describes how this national issue has made its way to our school districts.

“The House and Senate Bills apply to both girls and boys sports teams, grades K-12 and collegiate level sports. There are no current legal cases or concerns in Ohio specifically regarding athletes already playing sports here, and the bill is an exact copy of what’s being passed in other states (currently introduced in over 20),” Poe said.

The Ohio High School Athletic Association has implemented a policy in December of 2018 for transgender people to

compete as long as they have met the following regulations.

The procedure for allowing a transgender female to participate, as noted in the OHSAA Transgender Policy, are as follows: first, the Executive Director’s Office must be made aware of the student’s intention to participate; then, before a transgender female can participate in a girls sport, she must have completed a minimum of one year of hormone treatment related to gender transition or demonstrate to the Executive’s Office by way of sound medical evidence that she does not possess physical or physiological advantages over genetic females of the same age group.

Poe says the OHSAA policies have worked in protecting transgender students.

“The current OHSAA

guidelines have worked well in Ohio and are accepted widely in the community. Although guidelines can always be more open (allowing trans girls to play without hormone changes, fewer regulations of people’s bodies in general), the current guidelines have never had an issue, and trans athletes have been successful members of their teams when implemented in 2015. Allowing everyone to play on a team with their peers, regardless of who they are, is always the most ethical approach,” Poe said.

The bills are currently still working through the Ohio Legislature and are in the early process of ratification, according to Planned Parenthood Advocates of Ohio.

The bills need to go through both the house and senate before going to the governor to be enacted into law.

March Madness reveals gender disparities OHD assigns capacity rules

ASHTON DUNLAP sports editor Since March Madness, numerous disparities between the NCAA men’s and women’s tournaments and facilities have been highlighted by various athletes, coaches, and reporters at the tournament.

This disregard of equality is only the latest in a series of mistakes by the NCAA in the last decade.

On March 18, Stanford performance coach Ali Kershner posted a photo on Instagram that compared the

full weight room provided to the male players to a measly rack of dumbbells and set of yoga mats provided to the female players. These photos went viral, gaining universal outrage and indignation.

The NCAA responded with an apology and upgraded the weight room facilities overnight.

“I want to be really clear, this is not something that should have happened and, should we ever conduct a tournament like this again, will ever happen again,” NCAA President Mark Emmert said during a March 19 interview.

After this eye-opening inequality was revealed, multiple other inequalities were also brought to light. On March 19, University of Connecticut head coach Geno Auriemma revealed that the men’s teams were being tested for COVID19 using high quality PCR tests, while the women’s teams were

being tested with lesser quality antigen tests.

According to an April 11 article on Bloomberg Opinion titled “The Big Question: When Will Women Athletes Receive Equal Treatment?”, Stanford head coach Tara VanDerveer said she was disappointed by the differences in COVID-19 testing.

“The women got an antigen test every day, while the men got the more accurate PCR test every day. Our team had a number of false positives during the tournament. That just causes more stress and more anxiety. And that was one less thing that the men had to deal with,” VanDerveer said.

In addition to these differences, numerous athletes and coaches highlighted differences in food selection, larger, amenity bags, branding and marketing, and an almost doubled budget for the men’s tournament.

JHON FAJARDO staff writer With the continuation of spring sports, the question of spectators and the amount of people who can attend these events troubles us yet again.

According to the Ohio Health Dept., as of March 2, indoor venues such as the PAC at WHS can only admit 25 percent of its full capacity, and outdoor venues can accommodate 30 percent of its full capacity.

Track and field teams tend to be the largest team at the high school, with 100 members at WHS, according to the head coach Doug Bennett. With large teams, comes a large number of spectators, and at invitational meets, where multiple teams are represented, people can expect a huge crowd. The limit of 30 percent capacity is not enough to hold all these spectators.

This maximum capacity guideline calls for change as it is becoming outdated. More people are receiving their vaccine for COVID, and the guideline was made over a month ago, with the idea that people have not yet received vaccinations.

If the guidelines for spectators is to keep them safe, full admittance should be allowed, but the spectators must be vaccinated, ensuring that COVID will not spread during the event.

Another idea for increasing the capacity of spectators is to have a mixture of vaccinated and unvaccinated spectators that add up to 60 percent capacity, with a 1:1 ratio between each type of spectator.

It keeps the original 30 percent guideline of people who might spread COVID, while the other 30 percent of people are vaccinated and provide little to no danger.

NEWS

THE WOOSTER BLADE | APRIL 30, 2021 | PAGE 12

Georgia passes new voting legislation JACK VENEY co-editor-in-chief After the November 2020 election, many states are working through legislation to overhaul their elections.

Recently, Georgia has been in the news for Senate Bill 202, as passed and signed into law on March 25. Depending on the news source reporting on the law, many differing versions of the legislation have been reported.

In an article published on March 26 by The Hill, entitled, “Georgia law makes it a crime to give food, water to people waiting to vote,” President Joe Biden stated, “... they passed a law saying you can’t provide water to people standing in line

while they’re waiting to vote?”

Biden states you cannot provide water to anyone while they are standing in line, which, although there are restrictions to passing out items to voters in line, is not entirely true.

The full text of the legislation states, “... Nor shall any person give, offer to give, or participate in the giving of any money or gifts, including, but not limited to, food and drink, to an elector… This Code section shall not be construed to prohibit a poll officer from distributing materials… or from making available self-service water from an unattended receptacle to an elector waiting in line to vote.”

Another measure of this law includes changes to absentee ballot verification. For verification of absentee ballots,

voters must write their Georgia driver’s license number or their state issued ID, or mark that they do not have either of these.

Upon return of the absentee ballot, the registrar, “clerk shall then compare the number of the elector’s Georgia driver’s license number or state identification card… and date of birth entered on the absentee ballot envelope with the same information contained in the elector’s voter registration records,” as stated in the full text of the legislation.

The law reaffirms the use of photo identification when inperson voting to verify the person voting is who they are claiming to be. For those citizens who do not possess photo identification, Georgia offers a free photo voter identification card, as stated in Georgia Code

§21-2-417.1. “Each county board of registrars shall provide at least one place in the county at which it shall accept applications for and issue Georgia voter identification cards to registered Georgia electors… No fee shall be charged or collected for the application for or issuance of a Georgia voter identification card,” as stated in the same section of Georgia Code.

For voters to obtain one of these cards, according to the Georgia Dept. of Driver Services, they must provide documents proving their residency in that county, date of birth, and voter registration.

Numerous articles, published by many differing news sources, have compared measures of Georgia’s new legislation to that of other states. Notably, one of the states compared to Georgia most is Delaware, likely because President Biden is a resident of Delaware.

Among some of the controversial voting measures of absentee voting, Delaware, like 16 other states, requires an excuse to receive an absentee ballot, as cited on ballotpedia. org. In Georgia, however, as stated on their website, “no excuse is required to vote before election day.”

Another controversial measure is access to early voting. In Georgia, as stated in SB202, “There shall be a period of advance voting that shall commence: (A) On the fourth Monday immediately prior to each primary or election; and (B) As soon as possible prior to a runoff from any other general primary or election and shall end on the Friday immediately prior to each primary, election, or runoff.”

However, Delaware, as stated on ballotpedia.org, is yet to implement an early voting system.

How to celebrate safely in a pandemic Elementary students in

JENSAN BAUMAN trends editor Events at home have grown over this pandemic as a way to be able to keep celebrating special times, but still be safe.

With front yard graduation parties and front porch birthday dinners, there are ways to do things safe at home. However, if people are not able to have events at home there are ways to plan events, still safely, but outside of home!

A great spot for a party could

be the Wayne Lanes Bowling Alley. Wayne Lanes has two glow in the dark party rooms, which both offer an hour of bowling, as well as unlimited mini golf when booked. This could be a good birthday party idea or just a fun weekend activity since bowling is not a sport that requires contact, family and friends can stay distanced.

With graduation coming soon, and the weather becoming nicer, outside parties are also a great way to go. Aside from your backyard, a great place to have outdoor parties is one of the parks in Wooster.

Wooster Parks and Recreation is accepting reservations, over the phone and in person at the Community Center, for the city’s park pavilions, rendering people comply with current COVID-19 guidelines. This idea is very versatile and would

work for any type of event like a birthday party or graduation, or just an outdoor picnic with a few people. As for ambiance, the pavilions can be decorated by renters and food can be brought in for events.

For larger events, a hall can be rented over the phone, at The American Legion in Orville for events. They are currently operating at 50% capacity as response to CDC recommended guidelines for their event halls. This space could be a good place for lager events like holiday parties, wedding receptions, or anniversary parties.

There are many ways to continue celebrating special moments whether they are casual, or grandiose gatherings, with a small group like a children’s birthday party, or large, like a wedding reception or anniversary.

WCSD recognize Earth Day SIERRA DEWALD cover editor On April 22, people around the world celebrated Earth Day, including several elementary school classrooms in WCSD. Kristen Smith, a second grade teacher at Cornerstone Elementary, explains that during the week of Earth Day, she taught a lesson to all Cornerstone second graders centered around the book Just a Dream by Chris Van Allsburg.

Smith summarizes it as a book, “about a boy named Walter that does not care too much about the Earth, goes on a journey in his dream and learns what could happen if he continues to not care or understand his role in keeping the planet healthy.”

Other elementary school

classrooms in the district also participated in Earth Day, as Abby Roscoe, kindergarten teacher at Melrose Elementary, explains that her students learned what Earth day is and did a few small activities.

Jodi Haiduc and Riley Buxton, kindergarten teachers at Parkview Elementary, also mention that their classes celebrated Earth Day. When it comes to protecting the environment, Avery Phillips of Environmental Magazine writes in the 2019 article, “Children and The Environment: Why It’s Important To Teach Them Young,” that, “it’s important to get younger generations involved in the effort.”

By encouraging Earth Day activities and education in her classroom, Smith says she hopes to set a positive example.

VIEWS

THE WOOSTER BLADE | APRIL 29 2021 | PAGE 13

Industry needs to address representation Schools must change dress codes for inclusivity

CHLOE FRICHTL staff writer Dress codes are important for students to feel safe in their learning environment and to establish ground rules on what is and what is not appropriate.

According to WHS associate principal Sarah Crooks, it is important for a school to have “community standards,” so students can express themselves while contributing to a safe environment. And clearly, we need dress codes so students do not wear clothes that imply inappropriate things like violence or drugs.

But, can dress codes go too far in terms of equity?

Lately, dress codes have become pretty controversial within school systems, and honestly, some are pretty outdated. Many situations, such as the story noted within the 2019 Insider article “18 times students and parents said school dress codes went too far,” in which a Texas high school student, Sophia Abuabara, missed AP exams because of the length of her skirt, illustrate the fact that dress codes are too harsh and outdated.

So, what makes dress codes outdated? Some dress codes use pronouns to specifically target specific genders and others use language implying that transgender students may

not wear clothes that align with their gender. Dress codes are supposed to be inclusive, not discriminative, so gender neutral diction and policies must be articulated.

Another way a dress code could be seen as outdated is by implying that student’s bodies are distracting and certain clothes may not be worn as they will distract other students from the learning process. This language can be damaging because it is teaching students at a young age that they are at fault for the way others see them, so they must cover up their bodies in order to prevent this.

In our dress code, shoulders, stomachs, bra straps and tank tops are all dress code infractions, which seems a bit harsh. When compared to more progressive dress codes, such as the Hudson High School dress code, the Wooster dress code seems outdated due to the extra rules about shoulders, stomachs, etc.

The Hudson dress code only consists of the basics, telling students that they cannot wear anything contributing to an unsafe learning environment, such as hats that obstruct the face or clothes that imply violence or drugs. This type of dress code is more appropriate and timely because it does not deem shoulders, tank tops, stomachs, or bra straps as an infraction.

While it is important to respect the need for a dress code, it is time to reevaluate the dress code at Wooster High School. We need to make sure our dress code is timely, equitable, and allows students to feel confident in comfortable in both their clothes and in their classrooms.

MYA VANDEGRIFT graphics manager In the age of #MeToo and Time’s Up, representation of women has been brought into mainstream conversations about the arts industry.

While many would like to think our society is becoming a more equal space, there is persistent sexism in the

entertainment industry that has gone unnoticed due to concentrations on other issues.

While there is a time for intentional diversity and inclusion, we can no longer treat people who care deeply about their art as props for Hollywood to claim as a testament of progressiveness.

So yes, we have Wonder Woman. We have Captain Marvel. We have directors like Greta Gerwig (Little Women) and film composers like Hildur Guðnadóttir (Joker). But would these women be in these spaces had Hollywood not decided that being “Woke” was good for business? Would they have received awards or nominations had quotas not underlined the institutions nominating them?

This does not mean women do not deserve their accolades, but it is important to deconstruct the institutions giving credit, and to understand that sexism is not just women being rejected from spaces for being women, it is conveyed in our understanding of women’s role in society, our expectation for women leaders, and our internal biases against women in roles often held by men.

This innate part of our society cannot be overlooked, not even when it seems as if women are winning things left and right. Truly removing ourselves from institutionalized misogyny in western culture means recognizing true art appreciation from women being treated as trophies of diversity.

Incident illustrates accountability issue

LUCIA PERFETTI staff writer Four years ago, Philando Castile was killed at a traffic stop by an officer while checking his ID. Ten weeks ago police killed Jenoah Donald at a traffic stop where he was pulled over for a broken tail light.

Days ago, 20-year- old Daunte Wright was killed after being pulled over for an expired license plate.

All three killers were police, meant to protect. All three victims were, at most, involved in a minor crime punishable by prison time. They were also

Black.

There was a warrant for Wright’s arrest regarding several misdemeanors when he was pulled over.

In bodycam footage, Officer Kimberly Potter is heard yelling “taser.” Instead of tasering Wright, she shot him. She is then heard exclaiming, “Holy (expletive), I just shot him,” implying that she had not meant to use her gun.

We do not know what Potter truly meant to do. What we do know is that a gun has a safety that must be depressed to be used; tasers do not.

We know that the gun Potter used was black, her taser was yellow and weighed almost two pounds less.

Potter would have carried her gun on her dominant side, and her taser on her weak side. As a 26 year veteran of the force, she should have known which side was which.

She should have also known that a taser is aimed away from the chest. Daunte Wright was

shot in the chest.

Whether this was a mistake or not makes no difference to the fact that black citizens in the United States are pulled over at double the rate of white citizens, according to a Stanford study. ABC news reported that in Minneapolis, near where Wright died, black citizens are five times more likely to be pulled over by police. Philando Castile had been pulled over 52 times in his lifetime Wright’s death points to the fact that police training reform is needed. Data from the Institute for Criminal Justice Training and Reform’s website shows that the average police department requires less training than it takes to be a barber. Barbers are not armed with guns, nor are they charged with the duty of protecting citizens.

We must hold officers who commit human rights violations accountable, but it is also important to change the system that has allowed them to do so.

THE WOOSTER BLADE | VIEWS | APRIL 30, 2021 | PAGE 14

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

Vaccine benefits students and community The 2020-2021 school year has faced an immense amount of challenges.

Students in the WCSD were no longer coming to school five days a week and operated on various schedules and participated in sports, all while following the CDC’s recommendations on stopping the spread of COVID-19.

Two vaccines have been deemed safe for use for the general public and help give a glimpse of school going back to normal.

On March 29, Ohio residents ages 16 and up became eligible to receive the Pfizer Vaccine.

To receive the Moderna or Johnson and Johnson Vaccine, participants must be over the age of 18, although testing is currently being done on younger age groups.

The CDC has released information as to the various reasons for receiving

the vaccination, stating, “Everyone who chooses to get vaccinated does it for a reason—to protect their family, to protect their children, to be less anxious, to visit their parents, or to get back to activities like seeing friends, resuming work, or returning to school. After addressing concerns with empathy and facts, you can steer the conversation from ‘why not’ to the important reasons that matter to them—their why.”

Given this information from the CDC, it is crucial to get the vaccine, even if you are not at risk, in order to help the world transition back to normal activities. The benefits of receiving the vaccine outweigh the possible risk of a day of mild illness.

Laura Zollinger, Akron Children’s Director of Nursing for the WCSD, says students have options to get the vaccine at school. Zollinger points

out that vaccines were offered to all students who were 16-years-old and older April 23 and then will return May 14 to administer the second dose.

Zollinger states it is vital for students to talk to their parents about receiving a vaccine and the goal of bringing in the vaccine to the schools is to help students who want to get vaccinated the ability to do so.

The CDC has also added that some activities, such as traveling and full schooling, have been put on pause due to the pandemic could happen once again and be deemed safe by receiving the vaccine.

The Wooster Blade Editorial Board recognizes the concerns of those who are wary about receiving a vaccine.

The board collectively advocates for students and adults to discuss the decision of getting vaccinated in helping end the COVID-19 pandemic.

Promoting empathy for assault survivors

BRITTANY WACHTEL staff writer April is sexual assault awareness month, a month dedicated to those survivors who have been through sexual assault of any kind, giving them a chance to speak up about the details of their situations.

As someone who was sexually assaulted and raped at a young age, I view April as a time to be able to freely share the details of my assault in order to help others understand the reality of what survivors face after the

time of their assault.

I was assaulted from the ages of 8 to 10 and did not report my case until over two years later at the age of 13.

Recently, I have realized that people who have not experienced assault tend to shy away from asking any questions; instead, they go straight to telling you how strong you are and how sorry they are that this experience has happened to you.

Survivors of assault do not want your pity; they want help.

However, help does not always translate directly to police reports.

Oftentimes, a police report causes the survivor to recite details that they may not be emotionally ready to share.

Through my experience, I have learned that the process of reporting assault is invasive, demeaning, and terrifying.

The more that people understand how much reporting abuse can affect the survivor, the more I hope that a

report will no longer be the obvious first step taken.

Almost three years after reporting my assault, and eight years after my assault began, I now understand just how important it is to tell somebody what you are going through.

Reach out to anyone you can trust, whether that is a friend, family member, teacher, mentor, school counselor, coach, anyone. No matter how it seems, I promise they will not judge you or criticize you, everyone in your life just wants to help you.

If you feel as though you have no one you can talk to within your personal circle the National Sexual Assault Hotline can be reached at 1-800-656-4673.

To all survivors of assault, remember that you are not alone. You have people who love you and you have people who want to help you.

You are stronger than you will ever know, so please never doubt your courage.