The Wooster Blade, Volume XX, Issue 12

KRISTI HINER

Inside the May 1, 2020 Issue

Unprecedented times: life during a pandemic p. 4 Community members support local hospital

p. 6 Covid-19: Stories from around the world

p. 9 Virtual events educate and entertain

ON CAMPUS

THE WOOSTER BLADE | MAY 1, 2020 | PAGE 2

The New Normal

Artists and photographers display their experiences with COVID-19 and exhibit moments showing how the disease has affected their lives.

I took this picture of my sister, Emma LoGuidice, who celebrated her signing day for Ohio Northern University with friends and family members because her original ceremony was cancelled.

I drew this to symbolize how people are connecting with each other while honoring social distancing. I think it is great that people are able to use the internet to connect and celebrate during these difficult times.

MaIDsOn heLMs

hannah LOGUIDICe

This is a photo of the Gorge Overlook at Mohican State Park.

I chose it because it is a beautiful place and has an amazing view. One thing that COVID affects is the activities we are able to do.

Many of the swings, slides and benches were blocked off.

However, I still saw some other people enjoying the sunset while following social distancing.

rUMen ZDraVCheV

The reason that I decided to take this self portrait was to show people a scared teenager who had to put on a face mask to protect himself and others from COVID-19. The mask represents a feeling of safety as we all know that we have to put on face masks to survive and protect others through this pandemic.

Theresa WenDeLL

THE WOOSTER BLADE | ON CAMPUS | MAY 1, 2020 | PAGE 3

COVID-19 Impact on Schools:

Wooster City School District provides food service to students during COVID-19 school closures

JACK VENEY staff writer When Governor Mike DeWine called off schools for an extended three week spring break on March 12, questions were addressed by various community members, many of which centered on how students in need would be able to receive food during this time.

Food Service Manager, Don Lewis, said that on March 13, Wooster City School District Superintendent, Dr. Michael Tefs, had a meeting with Lewis and the Transportation Supervisor and Assistant Supervisor, Vic Cole and Sherri Prindle, where they discussed what options were available for providing breakfast and lunch to students during this originally slated three week period.

Tefs stated that one of the first options that they considered involved opening up the school

buildings for students to get food; however, as Tefs stated, “our concern was there that our buildings were in the process of being cleaned and disinfected.

We were implementing the infection prevention measures as recommended by the CDC. So we knew that we weren’t going to be able to control all the infection prevention measures in each building.”

Tefs said they then looked at solely opening WHS, but this also brought its own set of problems.

“We started to think about just having Wooster High School open. Again, we ran into difficulties with physical distancing, and having the quantity of personal protective equipment. We were also really anxious that some of our poverty based families would not be able to provide transportation to Wooster High School,” Tefs said.

Tefs said it pretty soon became evident to them that it would

be most effective to deliver lunches to central locations based on where the majority of families with free/reduced lunch status lived. “What became evident for us is the most efficient and effective manner to reach our families was to load our meals on a school bus. We were able to take all of our families that we knew would struggle, geocoded their address and started to just look from a G.P.S. perspective. The concentrations on a heat map were where we needed to be and we rolled that out and we were pretty close on day one,” Tefs said.

Throughout the delivery process, they continued to make changes to the routes and added locations to better suit the needs of families. “If you followed the journey, we made some changes on Wednesday [3/18]. We made some changes last Thursday [3/19]. And we made another change on

Tuesday of this week [3/24], “ Tefs said.

According to Lewis, each lunch contains a cold sandwich, bottle of milk, another kind of dairy product- whether it is yogurt, a cheese stick, cheese on the sandwich- and some fruit.

Lewis said that since this is going to continue until at least May 1, he is going to be adding some kind of hot sandwiches to the meals.

Tefs said that Lewis has shown great leadership through the entire food delivery process. “Mr Lewis has been phenomenal, his leadership around this pandemic and food distribution has been absolutely amazing,” Tefs said.

In order to comply with the Center For Disease Control’s recommendations, all food delivery staff wear masks and rubber gloves and maintain at least a 6 foot physical distance, Prindle said.

Prindle also said that when delivering meals, staff are not

allowed off the bus. “Meals are handed out the front door or rear door of the bus, no staff are permitted to exit the bus, no students are permitted to enter the bus,” Prindle said.

Busses are also cleaned on a regular basis to keep them free from any harmful germs, Prindle stated, “Mike Foore (maintenance supervisor) has fogged the transportation fleet with a commercial sanitation fogging system, drivers use Purell multi surface disinfectants, along with Clorox wipe disinfectants to wipe down their busses/vans.”

Tefs stated that as of April 21, they are delivering around 3,100 meals a week. “We are now serving approximately 3,100 meals a week, 620 meals a day. That’s double where we started,” Tefs said.

Tefs also stated that many of the district’s administrators, including himself, have pitched in to help get meals packed and delivered.

Many WHS events cancelled, postponed due to COVID-19 SYLVIE SHAYA staff writer Ohio schools have been canceled for the remainder of the school year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and all WHS athletics and extracurriculars have followed suit.

WHS principal Tyler Keener explained that “Due to Governor DeWine’s directive of school closure, it follows in the best interest of safety to cancel extracurricular activities until further notice.”

Keener added that these

cancellations will be reviewed when it becomes clear when schools will reopen.

The school district is working to reschedule as many events as possible, though many cancellations have become necessary.

For the athletic point of view, cancellations have ended the spring sports season, but athletes are still training, regardless.

“Athletes are working on their own, though coaches may not have practices, and no athletes are permitted on Wooster City School property,” explained Doug Bennett, Music Dept.

member and track and field coach at WHS. Because of the athletic cancellations, spring athletes are unable to participate in their sports.

“Since practice has been cancelled, I have been following the workout schedule on my own to hopefully stay on track for the season,” said Marion Dix (10), a member of the track team.

Prior to the cancellation of the spring sports season, Dix expressed a hope that her sport would start up again and has worked hard to be flexible and prepare for anything.

“Since practice has been cancelled, I have been following the workout schedule on my own to hopefully stay on track for the season,” Marion Dix (10) said.

Bennett added that “we are in a holding pattern until we receive guidance from The OHSAA regarding athletics.

The Ohio Music Education Association has canceled all student events through at least the end of the school year.”

The band trip to Disney has been rescheduled for July, though many other events have been cancelled.

“We hope that we can have the opportunity to get back to normal as soon as possible,” Keener said.

Joe Rubino, head of the WHS Athletic Dept., could not be reached for comment.

FOCUS

THE WOOSTER BLADE | MAY 1, 2020 | PAGE 4

CARE IN THE COMMUNITY

WCSD donations support Wooster Hospital healthcare workers LUKE POMFRET staff writer Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, many hospitals are seeking help from the community to help with medical supplies.

According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, all U.S. hospitals should be prepared for the possible arrival of patients with COVID-19 and should ensure their staff is trained and equipped with the necessary tools to treat patients.

Candy Mori, Director of Advanced Practice Nurses and Education, says the most significant thing needed from community partners during this time is Personal Protective Equipment. “A lot of businesses that are closed are donating their PPE equipment, and their support is amazing… we couldn’t do it without them.”

Mori also says that many

community members have helped fill the need of equipment by sewing masks and donating to the hospital.

Wooster City School District Superintendent Michael Tefs announced at the remote board meeting April 20 that the Wooster City School District has donated over $4,300 to the Wooster Community Hospital.

Tefs commends Michael James, Custodial Manager, for his immediate actions to help out the hospital.

James said the donation process was something about which he was happy to help.

“The hospital approached Dr. Tefs and asked us for our assistance with anything we could spare… We donated our hospital-grade disinfectants and hand sanitizers that we could spare. These products are understandably in high demand and are in short supply,” he said.

The next Board Of Education meeting took place April 28.

On March 13, 152 students were polled randomly by The Wooster Blade staff members. Graphic by Rheanna Velasquez.

GOT INTERNET?

To what extent do you think online classes will affect student learning?

96

percent of students polled have access to the Internet at home

45

percent of students polled say they know someone who does not have access to the Internet at home

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“It helps me a lot because I can get my sleep but do the work at any time.”

-8th grader “It will help keep classes going, but it won’t be as beneficial as in-class learning.”

-10th grader “It will make it much harder, especially the math-oriented classes, and without the learning environment, it may be more stressful for time management purposes and motivation to do work.”

-11th grader

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THE WOOSTER BLADE | FOCUS | MAY 1, 2020 | PAGE 5

Examining the impact of the pandemic on the NEWS

Graphic by Rheanna Velasquez

ALEC PAULEY on campus editor Around the world, people are dealing with a pandemic, but though many businesses and organizations have been closed to slow, and hopefully stop the spread of the virus, not all of

them have to close completely and can move online. However, what are the impacts on the public with these changes and the ways the media is addressing the situation as a whole?

Online media is a source of news that is often used to spread information quickly and effectively, but with the sudden

FINANCIAL SYMPTOMS

Economic pains loom ahead SYDNEY EBIN staff writer “The American economy is facing a plunge into uncharted water,” states an article from The New York Times titled “Coronavirus Recession Looms, Its Course Unrecognizable.”

The reaction to the recent COVID-19 outbreak, by shutting down businesses and channelling panic, uncertainty and fear, is sure to affect the economy, but just what the effects will be, no one knows. However, citizens

and economists alike all have their predictions as to what will happen as a result of these mandated business closures.

The New York Times article outlines the impact the closures could have on businesses and families, stating the unemployment rate could reach 10 percent in April and many businesses will not, financially, be able to make it through the shutdown. In regards to the stimulus bill proposed to help unemployed workers, the article says that the stimulus bill is nice, but not enough.

However, there are different

changes and lack of many other means to gather information, it is quickly becoming the main source of news throughout this time of quarantine and is also the easiest way the public perception of the virus adapts.

Emily Morgan, staff writer for The Daily Record, said the media plays an essential role at disseminating needed information at a time like this.

“I’d say the media has a massive impact on public perception. In many cases, we control the narrative and that’s why it’s important that we speak to as many experts as possible and balance that with the real people that the news affects,” Morgan said.

News gathering and distribution has shifted to almost entirely online access for the time being, which is a large change for newspapers.

“We’re at the mercy of our sources, and in a small community, the people we talk to aren’t always used to talking to the media. We need to get them to trust us as much as we need to trust them to give our readers the best information as possible,” Morgan said.

Several WHS students, who

described consuming media online, said they have mixed reactions to relying solely on this type of coverage.

Mackenzie Wilkes (10) explains that some media sources are making things seem much worse than they might actually be, and are ensuring more panic rather than helping. “[Certain types of news] just scare more people and give more people insane ideas about the situation,” Wilkes said.

Sam Wilds (10) points out a negative impact he also believes comes from certain media sources is misinformation.

“It gives people a platform to [possibly] spread misinformation about the virus, which could frighten a lot of people,” Wilds said.

Though some areas of the media have not had the best impact on the public, both Wilkes and Wilds agree that there are also positive take-aways from the media and it is important to find positivity amongst the negative in these times.

Wilds explains that although misinformation is of concern, factual information can also easily be spread and, “people can know what’s going on in the

world and they can find ways to help or to spread their support.”

Wilkes agrees that media has had a positive impact as well, but from a more social perspective, saying, “given that we aren’t able to be with them during this time...it’s helped me to feel close to my friends even if we are apart.”

Moving forward, Wilkes said she hopes for more positivity from the media and from everyone as a whole.

“I feel that the more optimistic the media is on the situation, there will be many more people with lighter thoughts and more level minds on what’s going on,” Wilkes said.

Wilds said he hopes the media can better provide information about ways in which people can help or provide service.

“I want to find ways to actively help the victims of COVID and I think that it could impact the human race as a whole significantly if the majority of us were actively trying to stop the spread of the virus,” Wilds said.

The media’s impact grows in both a positive and negative way as public reliance becomes greater throughout the time of quarantine.

opinions in regards to the proposed stimulus bill. An article from The American Spectator titled “Back to Work in 30 Days: A Coronavirus Imperative” holds that giving American families large sums will not help the economy because there is no supply for the goods these families need and states the best way to combat this is to have these families gaining income. In addition, the author holds that the $2 million bailout will push the limits of how much debt Congress can get into, leading to a major financial crisis.

In an article from Foreign Affairs titled “The Coming Coronavirus Recession,” author Mohamad A. El Erian says the reaction to the COVID-19 Coronavirus Disease by world

governments will destroy both supply and demand and will send the economy into a recession. He states, “The initial phase of the health response, while critical to saving lives, is only going to make things worse for the economy.”

John P.A. Ioannidis, professor of medicine, epidemiology, and population health at Stanford University, stated that better information regarding the COVID-19 must be collected in order to make rational decisions regarding the next steps to take in controlling the disease.

Ioannidis says many countries lack the ability to test people at large for the disease, so the data collected is unreliable and countries are locking down without knowing the long term consequences of such actions.

The New York Times article “A Plan to Get America Back to Work,” by Thomas Friedman, outlines possible solutions that take into account both the health and economic aspects of this crisis. The proposed solution, highlighted in the article, includes a two-week incubation period, self-isolation for those who have symptoms and limiting exposure to the sick and elderly. Friedman proposes that if an individual does not have symptoms after the two-week incubation, they may return to work, thus stimulating the economy.

While these people all share their differing opinions on the effect of COVID-19 on the economy and how to handle the situation, they all hold that the economy will be affected by COVID-19.

FEATURE

THE WOOSTER BLADE | MAY 1, 2020 | PAGE 6

TESTING TIMES

Mapping the impact of COVID-19 through stories from around the world Illustration by Emma Yoder

RHEANNA VELASQUEZ co-editor-in-chief “It was before the spring festival, in February. I was skiing with my friends when we first heard that we had a new disease in Wuhan,” Zihao Zhang recalls.

The Beijing resident compares the situation to a lottery, with people viewing their chances of being affected as so low that they disregarded them.

“We’re still going outside and playing, meeting each other, life is like normal. It’s a normal spring festival, and we’re celebrating. But later, after one week, we know about this virus. After one week, the news reports about this virus, and everything suddenly gets so serious,” Zhang said.

Since then, SARS-CoV-2 has grown into a global pandemic, with Zhang’s experience paralleled in communities around the world.

Yokkaichi, Japan Kanon Saito, a 2019 Rotary Youth Exchange student to Wooster and incoming freshman at Sophia University, recalls first hearing of COVID-19 at home in late January as she and her family watched the news on TV. “I thought that happened only in China. I didn’t think it was a serious thing. But, the number of infected people in China gradually increased,

and infected people have been seen in Japan,” Saito said.

Following the Diamond Princess cruise ship’s February quarantine in Yokohama, people in Japan began to view the situation as a serious problem, according to Saito.

The weeks-long ordeal ended with more than 700 people testing positive for the virus.

Saito, who lives in Mie prefecture, observes that her area has had few confirmed cases.

As of April 25, 28 of Japan’s 47 prefectures had less than 100 reported cases, according to data released by local governments.

Nagoya, Japan “The capacity for PCR examination is not enough, I’m afraid, so we’re missing some patients. However, I think we responded to the virus in a rather early stage, including the cases of the cruise ship, the Diamond Princess.

Early response and preparedness is at least essential,” Tetsuya Yagi, Director of the Department of Infectious Diseases at Nagoya University Hospital, said in early March.

Yagi described Japan’s efforts as geared toward mitigation, or delaying and lowering the peak of damage. “We cannot avoid some explosion but hopefully, we can manage to minimize the medical and social damage,” Yagi said.

In Nagoya, extensive efforts to sever transmission

chains are underway.

“We’re pursuing all identified cases, trying to find clusters of patients and examine close contacts around index cases as much as possible, and as soon as possible, isolate the positive cases in the hospitals. We have already experienced relatively large clusters, including 4060 patients related to a gym and a day-care center, and successfully contained them.

With our limited experience, the virus appears not to be so contagious if we isolate the positive cases as soon as possible. On the other hand, like SARS, it seems to be caused by some super-spreaders -- specific super-spreading events -- or environmental factors, such as poor ventilation, crowding and close distancing,” Yagi said.

Since late March, however, cases have surged, outpacing Japan’s efforts to contain the outbreak.

On April 18, Japan’s total case count surpassed 10,000.

Science correspondent Dennis Normile suggests in the April 22 article, “Did Japan miss its chance to keep the coronavirus in check?” that while focusing on clusters of infection was an important early strategy, cases surged after limited testing, weak government response and unwillingness to embrace social distancing. Throughout the country, schools and other public facilities were closed, but workplaces, stores and

restaurants

remained

open.

Beijing, China “It was dead outside for weeks,” Samantha Mascotti said, describing the eerie quiet throughout the megacity and major transportation hub as cases peaked in February.

Mascotti, a Sugarcreek, Ohio, native, has been living in Beijing for the past six years, working as a national supervisor for the educational group FirstLeap. Mascotti observes that “People are [voluntarily] staying in. It’s really difficult here because it’s such a big city. If you go outside, you’re bound to see somebody else.”

After 46 days of working from home, Mascotti started packing her bags to head stateside. In August, she is getting married.

“My husband is from Scotland, so we’ve been going through the visa process and had this date planned to come back. With the virus, that’s kind of messed everything up...we’re hopeful the timeline will be the same as how things have been happening in China, but we’ll see,” she said.

Sweeping social controls restricting movement and enforcing social distancing have steadied China, slowing the spread of the coronavirus across the country since February.

“I get this pass,” Zhang explains. “It’s a card that shows that I am from this

neighborhood. I want to go out, I can go outside and go to the supermarket for everything I want so long as I have my mask on, but if I want to come back to my neighborhood, go back inside where I live, they’re going to first take my temperature to see if it’s fine. I also have to show them the pass that shows that I live there, which prevents people from other places from coming to visit.”

While China made international news early on for constructing entirely new hospitals in the span of days, Zhang notes infrastructure has also been in place since the SARS outbreak in 2003.

“If you have your temperature tested and you get higher than 37.5℃, you wait for an ambulance to come and bring you to the fever clinic, which we built in 2003 for the SARS virus. In the fever clinic, people get these tests to know if you caught the virus. If you don’t, you get to go home. If you do, you get treatment.

Everybody in China with basic health insurance gets free treatment from the beginning until now. I think that’s been very effective,” Zhang said.

According to Mascotti, China has also found new ways to disseminate information, using a health app on WhatsApp to communicate by city, province and in total how many people have been infected, how

THE WOOSTER BLADE | FEATURE | MAY 1, 2020 | PAGE 7 many have been cured and how many are being treated.

“When I get on Facebook or anything like that and people are posting loads of stuff, it’s all like ‘nothing good has happened,’ but here, we see another side of it,” Mascotti said.

With new infections dwindling, the country has moved toward reopening. As uncertainties about the virus persist and outbreaks surge elsewhere, however, the road to recovery remains elusive for China and the rest of the world.

New York City, New York Schools in the U.S. continue to be disrupted, with wide-ranging impacts on students. Michael White, a sophomore studying Biomedical Engineering at Columbia University, says transitioning to online classes presents its own challenges.

“I’m supposed to be building things -- building, testing, designing. I can’t do building or testing, only design, and I can’t really do design. The thing is, when you do idealistic circuitry, it doesn’t actually work like that in real life. It doesn’t matter what I put into circuit simulators, it’s not the real behavior,” White said, expressing concern that while he may earn credit for the online classes, he will lack necessary skills when entering the workforce.

For White, both hands-on learning and experiential learning have become casualties of the pandemic.

“I was applying to this internship to do medical devices over the summer. My backup plan was, I was gonna do Columbia summer camp where I was gonna teach high school seniors how to do circuits. That’s prolly gonna get canceled. My backup, backup plan was I was just gonna continue working for housing ‘cause over the summer you can work full time and get discounts on your housing.

That is gone,” White said.

Upon returning to St. Louis, Missouri, for the first

time in two years, White expressed frustration at losing his independence and having nothing to do.

“It’s just not, not ideal,” he said. “End my suffering, please send help. I haven’t seen the sunlight in two days.”

Seoul, South Korea Hyewon Wang, a graduate student studying social psychology at Yonsei University, describes seeing everyday life change through a transition to online classes, wearing masks and social distancing.

“Above all, masks. Wearing masks everyday… became a daily routine, and we follow a ‘5 Day Mask System’ to buy masks. Still, explicitly expressing having met people casually -- especially in SNS -- is generally suppressed and criticized, although I see quite many people meeting around on streets and cafés,” Wang said.

On April 24, South Korea released guidelines on how to embrace “everyday life quarantine” and maintain distance while resuming limited economic and social activity.

“There is controversy, but I, personally, am on the side that we should still be cautious and keep social distancing with large gatherings like church.

But, there are a growing number of people who are against social distancing in these large gatherings, so I am worried about possible contagion from gathering,” Wang said, adding, “It is a global society, and I sincerely hope for the pandemic in other countries, especially the USA, to get better soon, with special cares from every citizen.

Keep calm and cheer up!”

Toronto, Canada “When my mom and I walked into a grocery store the other day, a woman saw us walking down the aisle and immediately turned the other way,” Toronto’s Annie Lin said.

“I have heard multiple people joke about how if an Asian

wants private space in public, all they have to do is cough.

While it appears harmless, it is actually reinforcing the stereotype that the coronavirus is the ‘Chinese virus.’”

Lin notes that racialization of the disease has emerged in subtle and non-subtle ways, with fear and stereotyping visible in rhetoric, media and public spaces.

Such stigma is a persistent, deep-rooted problem, Lin says, describing the current outbreak as, “just an outlet for these stigmas to surface.”

As the disease continues to impact businesses and workers, Asian populations are bound to receive more racial hate, Lin said. “But, it is really sad to see.”

On March 3, the Chinese Canadian National Council for Social Justice and Toronto-based agency The Hive launched a campaign to combat this phenomenon, distributing hand sanitizers labelled “Stop the Spread.” Beyond Canada, social media campaigns such as #JeNeSuisPasUnVirus, #WashTheHate and #LoveUnityCommunity illustrate the backlash communities have felt as the virus has spread, carrying xenophobia with it.

San Jose, California Ivy Du, a senior at Valley Christian High School, observes that xenophobia has divided the Asian American community.

“Many Asians I know jump to defend racist and xenophobic rhetoric and behavior rather than condemning it,” Du said. “We’ve been taught to internalize…because we live in an area that’s considered safe and middle-class, it’s easy to pretend that racism doesn’t impact us at all.”

Such an outlook, however, obscures recognition of harassment and violence toward individuals elsewhere, Du said.

In late March, and more recently in April, the FBI warned of a surge in hate crimes

toward

Asian

Americans.

Lecce, Italy In the summertime, Lecce resident Fulvio de Nicola whisks tourists to see the Baroque architecture, limestone churches, and Roman amphitheatre of his hometown. Now, weeks away from what should be Lecce’s busiest month, de Nicola says he is concerned about the economic fallout for locals as the outbreak drives a downturn in tourism.

“Right now I am very preoccupied because it seems almost all the reservations that I had -- I deal mostly with American tourists -- have been cancelled, and the season will be very poor,” de Nicola said.

For weeks, schools, businesses and industry had closed.

Throughout the country, 2.1 million companies employing 7.1 million people were shuttered, though as new cases of infection have started to plateau, numerous companies are finding their way back to work, according to Giselda Vagnoni and Valentina Za’s April 17 Reuters article, “Italy’s firms shake lockdown using shortcut in coronavirus law.”

Even as Italy seeks a return to normalcy, the country continues to brace for the severe economic crisis precipitated by COVID-19.

Milan, Italy The full scope of the pandemic’s economic impact on Italy remains contingent on the duration of the outbreak and broader European action, Paolo Manasse, Prof. of Macroeconomics and International Economic Policy at the University of Bologna, says.

Manasse notes that similarly to the Federal Reserve in the U.S., the European Central Bank has played an active role in intervening by easing monetary policy. He notes, however, that “While it’s important for economic recovery for individuals and firms to be able to borrow, you don’t want to

borrow just for the sake of it.

You want to borrow because you need it, but also because you want to loan some investment project. There may be some liquidity needs. For firms to borrow, they must have some reason for it. This is to say that monetary policy alone is not a very powerful tool in a very serious recession. What you really need is a fiscal expansion program, which must be done by governments in different states.”

Emphasizing that joint expansion will be key in offsetting the recession, he adds, “The global effect of a joint expansion will be much more important than if done by individual countries by themselves because it will reinforce each other. If Germany does an expansionary policy, it will attract more imports from Italy; if Italy can do the same it will attract more imports from Germany. There will be a spillover effect.”

Yet, Europe as an institution faces challenges in coordinating such a response between states, as well as its own risks in failing to achieve it. Failure from European institutions to respond strongly to the crisis could fuel Euroskepticism, potentially paving the road toward the exit of countries like Italy, the collapse of Europe and an exacerbated recession, Manasse says.

“The European project may fall apart if Europe doesn’t show enough determination in tackling the problem. There is a lot at stake, not just a recession.

A big recession, hundreds and hundreds of thousands of lives, but also the future of the institution, the peace, the trade of the region, the general wellbeing and future generations are at stake,” Manasse said.

Whether it is political institutions, education, healthcare or new economic realities, the full extent to which communities around the world will be reshaped by the pandemic is yet to be seen.

COVER

THE WOOSTER BLADE | MAY 1, 2020 | PAGE 8

The Power of Community:

Sharing stories of groups within the Wooster area that are helping those in need during the COVID-19 pandemic

Graphic by Madison Helms

Distancing prevents spread of germs Helping hands: SOPHIE GAMBLE cover editor The appearance of COVID19 has created new and unexpected social changes in communities all over the world, including Wooster. One of these changes is the implementation of social distancing, which is a new concept to many people.

Although it varies, social distancing in general is, “deliberately increasing the physical space between people to avoid spreading illness,” according to an article on the Johns Hopkins Medicine website.

This concept can change the way many people live, because work, school and many social activities are discouraged or even prohibited.

Allison Kelley is the Senior Program Director at Results For Development, a global organization that works to create strong, self-sustaining health and education systems across the globe, according to their website.

“Take physical distancing literally,” Kelley said. “...the sooner we do this the faster we can flatten the curve.”

Flattening the curve is a concept that stems from the idea of social distancing. There is a maximum capacity for every healthcare system, and social distancing and other protective measures are taken so that the number of cases

stays within this treatable capacity.

There are opportunities for individual efforts and for bigger reform and innovation in these circumstances, according to Kelley.

On an individual level, Kelley says that small acts of kindness and support toward those who are most vulnerable, such as healthcare workers, are important.

“We will not go ‘back to normal,’” Kelley says.

She added that this is an opportunity to evolve and to work on issues like healthcare, labor policies and the environment that are especially visible right now.

“Information is power,” says Kelley. During times when many people have questions or doubts, it is important to be getting evidence-based clear information and guidance.

Sources such as The World Health Organization and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are the best sources for this information, according to Kelley.

Several myths about COVID19 have traveled across media platforms in the past few months. One of these myths is that people should purchase materials such as gloves and masks to keep them safe.

Dr. Edward Kelley, Coordinator and Head of Strategic Programmes and Patient Safety at the World

Health Organization (WHO) contradicts this myth.

“Right now in the U.S., hospitals and doctors offices are struggling to find protective masks, gloves, and alcoholbased hand rub,” Kelley said.

He says that people should leave important safety items for healthcare workers and healthcare settings if they are healthy and have easy access to running water and soap.

Another myth that has travelled across the media is that only elderly people are at risk to contract COVID-19.

Although elderly people and those with underlying health issues, such as asthma, diabetes and heart disease are more likely to become severely ill, people of all ages can contract the virus, according to the WHO’s website.

While it is possible for younger people to become severely ill, the concern is also to keep the virus from spreading to those who are more vulnerable.

“The main way we will keep at risk and elderly patients out of the hospital is if we keep people from passing on the virus. The best way to do this is to stay out of contact with people,” according to Dr. Edward Kelley.

Beyond these practical measures, it’s important to keep mental health and physical activity part of a daily routine, adds Dr. Kelley.

Local charity groups aid Wayne County residents ANNA NACCI cover editor

Roughly 13.5 percent of the labor force in the United States has filed for unemployment as a result of businesses closing due to the Coronavirus pandemic, according to an article entitled “22 million Americans have filed for unemployment benefits in the last four weeks,” written

by Anneken Tappe and Tami Luhby and published by CNN April 16.

In this time of widespread need, many charitable organizations can provide help to those who need it.

One local organization that is making efforts to help is People to People Ministries. People to People Ministries currently will provide emergency clothing to those who need it, as well as a pantry and a grocery delivery service, according to Joe Szeker Director of Operations at People to People Ministries.

Szeker said the organization is also working with other groups to assist those in the community who need help.

“We are partnering with OHuddle who are identifying families and children at

risk for food insecurity, also emailing churches and other organizations also trying to identify individuals/families that need food,” Szeker said.

If someone needs assistance from People to People Ministries, Szeker says the best way to connect is by calling 330-262-1662 or checking the website and other social media outlets. The hours of operation differ based on which day of the week it is, and can be found on the organization’s website.

Another charity organization that is operating during this time is Goodwill Industries.

As of April 4, Goodwill is open to shoppers and is taking donations between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. daily, according to the Goodwill Industries of Wayne & Holmes County Facebook Pages.

The Wooster Hope Center is also working to assist community members by providing a food pantry. The Wooster Hope Center is also holding a donation initiative where every dollar donated will be matched. The money raised will be used to continue feeding those in need in Wayne County, according to the Wooster Hope Center’s website.

THE WOOSTER BLADE | COVER | MAY 1, 2020 | PAGE 9

Zoos host online learning opportunities MADDY MCCULLY co-editor-in-chief

Entertainment moves to the internet amidst COVID-19

In light of the coronavirus, many zoos have started offering educational live streams.

Starting March 16, the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden began offering live streams everyday at 3 p.m. with their first stream featuring their famous hippo, Fiona.

According to the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden’s website, cincinnatizoo.org, the zoo director, Thane Maynard, said he believes these streams will fill an important void that students are missing from staying at home.

“The goal with the daily live sessions is to provide fun and educational content to people

who are stuck at home,” Maynard said.

Charlotte Xanthos, a mother of two children, a two and three year old, has loved watching their live streams with her children.

So far the family has seen sloths, rhinos, serval, hippos, and the red panda, with her favorite part being, “getting to see the animals up close and their behavior which you would sometimes not see in the zoo if they are too far away.”

Another Ohio zoo that is taking advantage of Facebook live streaming is the Cleveland Metroparks and Zoo. According to their website, c l e v e l a n d m e t ro p a r k s . c o m , they started hosting Virtual Classrooms on March 17 at 11 a.m. with their biologists

focusing on endangered species, and at 1 p.m. featuring their naturalists who look for signs of spring.

On their website, the Chief Executive Office of the zoo, Brian Zimmerman expressed the importance of these educational streams.

“Parks and nature have become an outlet for guests to find solace during this challenging time.

Now more than ever, connecting with nature is a way to stay busy, active and find peace,” Zimmerman said.

To learn about other virtual learning opportunities visit www.goodhousekeeping.com to see a list of museums, zoos and aquariums and theme parks that are offering free virtual tours.

Graphic by Madison Helms

Artists hold virtual performances for at-home audiences MYA VANDEGRIFT views editor In an uncertain time, where there is little to do but watch Netflix and scroll through social media, life can get...boring. The United States is only a few weeks into social distancing and self-isolation, a new reality brought upon by the COVID-19 Coronavirus Disease.

Thankfully, people are already coming up with creative ways to cope. And, with the recent cancellations of trips, sports, events and concerts, it has

obviously been disappointing to many who had pre-made plans.

But, musicians are taking steps to compensate for concerts and are connecting with their fans virtually.

Chris Martin from Coldplay appears to have started a bit of a trend as he live-streamed a mini concert from his home March 16, and now many other musicians are scheduling shows of their own.

Cellist Yo- Yo Ma has also been sharing various works on social media platforms. Using the hashtag, #SongsofComfort, the acclaimed musician has

been sharing music daily, hoping to bring joy to those on the frontlines of fighting the coronavirus pandemic and those who are staying at home.

“In these days of anxiety, I wanted to find a way to continue to share some of the music that gives me comfort,” he tweeted.

Singer Lizzo led her fans in a 30-minute meditation on Instagram after one of her shows was cancelled. Playing her flute and talking candidly about life and wellness, her artistic contribution was not that of song, but of mental wellbeing and checking in on her fans. “It’s

a scary time for a lot of people,” said Lizzo on Instagram. “Even though I was experiencing some fear and more so than fear I was experiencing helplessness, which is a feeling that we can oftentimes feel a lot on this planet and a lot lately.”

“I still feel the same way,” said Lizzo on her meditation video, “I wanted to empower everybody and I wanted to let you guys know that we have power. You have power. You have power to eliminate fear.”

Whether it is through music or mental health, artists are working to provide outlets.

THE WOOSTER BLADE | MAY 1, 2020 | PAGE 10

SPORTS

USWNT files a gender descrimination lawsuit SYLVIE SHAYA staff writer The U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team is seeking $67 million in damages as a portion of a gender discrimination a lawsuit against the U.S. Soccer Federation on March 8, 2019, according to ESPN in an article titled “USWNT Players Seeking $67M in Gender Discrimination Lawsuit Against U.S. Soccer” by Christopher Simpson on Feb. 21.

“We believe that fighting for gender equality in sports is a part of that responsibility. As players, we deserved to be paid equally for our work, regardless of our gender,” said Alex Morgan, a player for the USWNT and one of the plaintiffs in the case, in a statement to the Associated Press. Twenty-eight players on the USWNT are challenging their employers in the lawsuit, including many international soccer stars such as Morgan and Megan Rapinoe.

According to Laurel Wamsley for NPR on March 8, 2019, in an article titles “U.S. Women’s Soccer Team Sues U.S. Soccer For Gender Discrimination,” the suit points out the fact that “in winning the 2015 Women’s World Cup, the U.S. women were paid less than a third of what the U.S. men were paid for losing in the Round of 16.”

In July 2019, U.S. Soccer Federation President Carlos Cordiero released an open letter claiming that the USWNT players were, in fact, paid more than players for the men’s team.

Representatives of the USWNT alleged this statement was blatantly false, and members of the USMNT support them, claiming that the USSF is attempting to, “sell a false narrative to the public” in a statement of support released to

“AS PLAYERS, WE DESERVED TO BE PAID EQUALLY FOR OUR WORK, REGARDLESS OF OUR GENDER” MORGAN SAID. ESPN. “Women’s national team players are paid differently because they specifically asked for and negotiated a completely different contract than the men’s national team, despite being offered, and rejecting, a similar payto-play agreement during the past negotiations,” the USSF explained to Mahita Gajana for Time Magazine in an article titled “The USWNT Seeks Nearly $67 Million in Damages In Equal Pay Lawsuit Against U.S. Soccer. Here’s What to Know About the Case,” and published Aug. 16, 2019, and updated Feb. 21, 2020.

USWNT spokesperson Molly Levinson explained in a statement to the AP that from the perspective of the women’s players, “In every instance for a friendly or competitive match, the women players were offered less pay than their male counterparts. This is the very definition of gender discrimination, and of course the players rejected it.”

The gender discrimination suit was prompted by the USWNT’s recent winning record, having won four World Cup titles out of the eight Women’s World Cups that have transpired and having won four Olympic Gold Medals since Women’s Soccer became an Olympic sport in 1996, according to Gajana.

RUmEN ZDRAVcHEV

On April 4, Wooster High School joined many schools across Ohio in turning on the football stadium’s lights for 20 minutes and 20 seconds in an effort to honor the senior class of 2020.

A&E

THE WOOSTER BLADE | MAY 1, 2020 | PAGE 11

The Power of Art:

Art can be expressed and observed in many forms. Whether that expression takes place through music, writing, visual arts or another medium, its incredible impact can be immense.

Music therapy provides benefits to many Q&A with an author: ELLIE SNIDER staff writer The origins of music therapy can be traced back to Greek mythology, Native American culture and philosophy.

In more recent American history, “music therapy was a prominent resource during World War I and World War II… Both patients and nurses noticed a difference in mood and experienced a positive emotional response to the music,” according to the Peterson Family Foundation.

For Alicia Seling, music therapy is something she has wanted to do since she discovered it.

“I was very involved in music from a young age and knew that I wanted to continue to study music in college and pursue a career in music. I became familiar with the idea of a music therapy career in high school and liked the idea of using music as a therapeutic tool to

help others work towards their personal goals,” Seling said.

Music therapy today is more specialized than it was when it was first explored, and is unique for each individual.

“Everyone has their own personal musical tastes, background and experience and the therapeutic use of music takes this into account. Music therapy can be used with lots of different populations and in many different types of facilities including schools, hospitals and other medical settings, nursing homes and assisted living facilities, and correctional facilities just to name a few,” Seling said.

For Seling, her work is primarily with children who are living with diverse abilities such as ADHD, Down syndrome, and autism spectrum disorders.

“In my music therapy sessions, I do a lot of singing, use a variety of drums and percussion instruments, as well as the

Using ART as a creative outlet during quarantine EVE NORRIS & SIERAH PILSON staff writers As a result of the great amount of time on people’s hands nowadays, an increasing number of individuals have been drawn toward art.

Art takes shape in innumerable forms, which is unique to each individual choosing to undertake it and

includes music, dancing, painting, etc. Just as the form of art is abundantly fluid, the perspectives held by the artists who create it are abundant as well, since art is often seen as a means to shape society.

People finally have the time to indulge in their artistic passions or curiosities, including trying new things and picking up old habits. Such actions act as a great productive outlet for individuals’ pent up anxieties

guitar and piano depending on the needs of the client,” Seling said.

Although practicing music therapy requires specific course work and a board certification, Seling states the benefits of music can be used by anyone.

“Music has the ability to motivate and uplift or soothe and calm, depending on what the individual’s emotional needs are. Creating a personalized playlist to use at home to meet those specific emotional needs could be a good use of music right now… Learning an instrument improves cognitive function, improves fine motor skills, and meets emotional and social needs,” Seling said.

For Natasha Murzda (12), music is a great way to pass the time. “Music gives me something to focus on when I can’t hang out with my friends.

It’s good to keep up with skills and continue to develop while being so isolated,” Murzda said. and frustrations.

Art can be used cathartically to express emotion or simply act as a fun outlet for those with a passion for creation.

Whatever the reason, art serves as a means for members of society to interpret and express their unique perspectives about the world around them. Historical eras such as Romanticism and Impressionism, being a time of great change and influence, reflected society’s views and circumstances.

The world today faces a time of great change as well, which resultantly provokes similar changes in artistic expression.

As quarantine is enforced,

Margaret Peterson Haddix shares the impact of literature as art As an author, how would you define the power of art?

Art has the power to uplift, inform, inspire, call to action, and—particularly with literature—arouse empathy. I don’t think society can survive without empathy, so I see that as especially important.

On a lighter note, art also has the power to entertain and provide an escape from a grimmer reality. Especially during challenging times, that’s valuable as well.

Q&A compiled by Rheanna Velasquez the world is rapidly evolving and many Americans are becoming increasingly aware and passionate about how the economy and government are to function and aid billions of people at such a time of crisis.

Art exhibits and museums are inaccessible, so many individuals are relying on themselves to express this historical experience.

Photos of Coronavirus graffiti art are emerging around the world as artists take to the streets to express their perspectives and frustrations. By using art as an outlet, individuals can find therapeutic release in acts of creativity. While tension

Why do you believe people react differently to literature?

Every reader brings different life experiences to any reading or viewing, so we all see through a different filter. If a piece of literature doesn’t speak to you, it may just be that you’re not the right audience. Or, it might be that it’s just not the right time in your life for it to be meaningful. But, it is a joy to see a piece of literature really connect with a reader. The right piece of art at the right moment can truly be lifechanging. and chaos rise globally, it is pivotal to have a method of documenting and extricating the anxieties, grief, and tribulations in the world.

Art translates experiences across time and acts as a means of communicating historical events, culture and worldly development. It critiques, reflects, and serves as a memory of society in that point in time.

The art and newfound artists that emerge from this pandemic will, not unlike past eras, remain historic and act as a time capsule for future generations, and art will continue to be wielded by society as an outlet for passion and a means to influence the world.

THE WOOSTER BLADE | A&E | MAY 1, 2020 | PAGE 12

The Power of

BREAKING BARRIERS

Stories

Philadelphia highlights continued complexities in combating stigma

Graphic by Rheanna Velasquez

Reviewing the films and TV shows bringing lessons and entertainment during self-isolation

Freedom Writers provides inspiration for unity

JENSAN BAUMAN staff writer The film Freedom Writers, follows the early teaching career of Erin Gruwell, portrayed by Hilary Swank.

“Ms. G,” as she is called throughout the film, starts her teaching career at Woodrow Wilson High School in Long Beach California, a school that has recently been integrated and now has severe racial divides among students.

Sitting in the classroom on the first day, Ms. G brings up how the students have already divided themselves by race and asks why divides are so important. The students then say she could not possibly

understand why they did so.

Wanting to understand them better, she gives her students an assignment: each student receives a personal journal in which they are to write about whatever they want every day.

Through her actions and words, Ms. G shows that she is the first teacher to truly care and try to understand the students. She shows the students how similar they all are, and once they start communicating, they all unite as a class.

The 2007 drama, directed by Richard LaGravenese, is an inspirational film that shows how, whether large or small, everyone has overcome some kind of challenge at some point in their lives.

The way teachers, like Mrs. Gruwell, have the ability to positively change the lives of students, represents how anyone can have an impact on people, even if they seem ordinary.

What I find amazing about this film is that it was based on a true story and the journals kept by each student were compiled into a book in 1999.

BRYN SAVIDGE trends editor In 1993, Philadelphia, directed by Johnathan Demme, was released to the public, becoming the first major studio film to face an issue that made many uncomfortable, and even outraged--AIDS. The film was necessary, as according to a 2019 Smithsonian article, “Looking Back at ‘Philadelphia,’ 25 Years Later,” filming began in late 1992, and by the end of that year, more than 194,000 people had died from AIDS in the United States.

Just one year later when the movie opened, the death toll reached 234,225.

Philadelphia follows a gay lawyer, Andrew Beckett, played courageously by Tom Hanks, who is diagnosed with AIDS and sues his law firm for wrongful termination.

Although the plot may seem straightforward, the societal forces that surrounded the AIDS epidemic make Philadelphia one of the most complex and influential films of its time, as Beckett winds up being represented by Joe Miller, a homophobic, self-centered lawyer, played by the equally courageous Denzel Washington.

Philadelphia went on to earn $200 million at the box office, was nominated for the Best Original Screenplay Academy Award and received two Oscars.

But, the film accomplished much more than that.

Through Hank’s sympathetic “everyman” character and Washington’s prejudiced, yet relatable character, the film prioritized the destigmatization of the gay community and changed the national conversation about AIDS. A 2013 Whyy article, “Two decades ago, Tom Hanks and ‘Philadelphia’ prompted changing attitudes toward HIV-AIDS,” explains how the film was a platform for victims of AIDS. Many extras in the film visibly had the disease.

The producers made it a goal to employ people with AIDS, as many were released from their jobs and faced difficulties finding work.

Although Philadelphia courageously raised accurate public awareness about the AIDS epidemic, it is not without its critics, even today.

Some believe, as stated in the 2020 Cinema of Change article, “Films that Changed the World,” by Jodie Howard that Philadelphia fails to accurately portray a homosexual couple.

Beckett and his partner have few interactions, let alone romantic ones, painting a comfortable picture of a gay couple, rather than a raw one.

But, keeping in mind the intended audience, Howard responds to this criticism best by stating: “As much as it discomfits me to say so, I

believe that this strategy is the main reason why Philadelphia was incredibly effective...it may not be the most righteous piece of cinema for this reason, I think its impact was felt so heavily precisely because the same individuals who feared catching the ‘gay plague’ from shaking hands...actually paid money to see a film that, albeit very gently, told them exactly why their prejudices were unfounded.”

The film initiated conversations that the majority of 1993 America was unwilling to have and today remains as proof of the progress America has made--and the progress that still needs to happen.

When I saw the film with little prior understanding of the AIDS crisis, I could not recognize the societal backlash and the dismissal of AIDS in society today.

However, I could draw parallels to the prejudice toward the homosexual community. The stigma surrounding AIDS may no longer be as strong in the United States, but homophobia still remains an issue.

Philadelphia today is a reminder that the hate and belittling endured by Hanks’ character is still a reality for some, and perhaps is why critics today are frustrated with the film’s conservative approach to portraying homosexuality.

The fact that Philadelphia is still able to reflect parts of our society almost three decades later, is precisely why the film is so influential and necessary to watch.

THE WOOSTER BLADE | A&E | MAY 1, 2020 | PAGE 13

LOVE LOST

On My Block stars Brett Gray, Sierra Capri Jason Genao, , and Diego Tinoco.

Photo courtesy of Netflix.

Netflix original Love is Blind attempts to combine experiment with dating show

LUKE POMFRET staff writer Netflix’s original series, Love is Blind, tests the saying, “love at first sight,” considering contestants agree to talk to one another in separate rooms and figure out if they could meet their future soulmate, without seeing what he or she looks like.

Then, they must decide whether to get engaged. Talk about a heavy start for someone you have never seen.

The concept behind the show tests today’s modern era of dating. Many dating apps have users create profiles and select pictures that represent them, and then others can decide to match with them or leave them to fend for themselves.

According to Jon Gitlin, writer for Survey Monkey, “Dating apps are common, useful—and widely disliked,” there are inherent risks when you’re searching for someone online.

The ability to evaluate character online can be hard. You miss out on things like body language, tone of voice, and other qualities that can help guide your instincts and protect yourself.

In creating this show, Netflix has gone against what Gitlin suggests and has taken away the image of the person and left the a bit of the somewhat faceto-face communication.

The first couple of episodes

show different people mingling and getting emotional, which always pulls at my heartstrings, but when the engagement episodes started, I was not pleased.

The engagements look forced because some couples seem genuinely happy, and others seem to want to bolt for the door, but are too far in the process to quit. All couples then go on a honeymoon to a resort in Mexico and met all of the other couples at dinner.

Couples then meet families, live in an apartment together, and ultimately decide if they want to get married. Along the way, finances, lifestyle, jealousy and even cleanliness get involved and cause chaos in most of the relationships.

Ultimately, the show is a lousy spinoff of ABC’s The Bachelor and has encouraged many to stick to the old fashioned way of meeting someone first.

Netflix dating show Love is Blind sets up couples to be engaged without seeing each other, only meeting face to face after the proposal. Photo courtesy of Netflix.

On My Block brims with twists, turns and friendship

PAULINA SALAZAR views editor Season three of On My Block was released on Netflix March 11.

The series focuses on a growing friend group from the inner city of Los Angeles and their involvement with the gangs of their neighborhood, as well as their regular teenage problems.

The season starts where it left off, with the protagonists being kidnapped by someone unknown. It is revealed that the leader of the Santos, Cuchillos, is the kidnapper and asks them to find “Lil Ricky,” who was known in the previous seasons for hiding the Rollerworld money.

As the protagonists struggle to find Lil Ricky, a lot seems to happen in their personal lives. Jamal is being followed

by someone. Monse has a close death in the family. Ruby struggles with a crush, and Cesar encounters his father.

They find it hard to balance their personal problems with their mission to find Lil Ricky and find it especially hard to keep the friend group together through all of this.

Oscar, Cesar’s older brother, helps them, despite working for Cuchillos, and deals with his own problems, including the rise of a new gang.

As the series comes to a close, it seems like the group is just about to fall apart under the pressure of their conflict with Cuchillo, but they manage to stick together until the end.

With a lot of twists and turns, this season of On My Block shows fictional gang life intertwined with the problems of regular teenagers in the inner-city.

While having the story of dealing with gangs in an Los Angeles neighborhood, On My Block also is about growing up and the diverse amount of problems teenagers face in their everyday life.

I recommend On My Block to anyone looking for an interesting coming-of-age series with black and latinx representation.

THE WOOSTER BLADE | A&E | MAY 1, 2020 | PAGE 14

STORYTELLING, THEN AND NOW

Birth of a Nation underscores power of film

LENA WIEBE focus editor When considering the films, works of literature and stories that have marked milestones in our history and shaped the society we live in today, it is easy to see the tremendous effect that storytelling can have on how we think and live.

But, while we praise many stories for their forwardthinking values and their ability to sway people to the right side of history - think Uncle Tom’s Cabin, The Jungle, and 1984 - it is also easy to overlook the atrocities that art can condone and even encourage.

The Birth of a Nation is a

Unique storyline of Locke and Key delights

famously racist movie.

Directed by D.W. Griffith and starring Lillian Gish, a popular silent film star when the movie was released, in 1915, The Birth of a Nation was the longest film ever made at that point, clocking in at over three hours, and was an instant sensation: the film was screened by Woodrow Wilson in the White House, and, according to an article titled “How ‘The Birth of a Nation’ Revived the Ku Klux Klan,” by Alexis Clark, was used as a recruiting tool by the KKK for decades after, and by some estimates, the KKK’s membership increased to the millions after its debut, setting the stage for half a century of violence and acts of racialized terrorism.

The movie, divided into two parts, follows two ideologically opposed families and their ever more complicated relationship through the Civil War and the Reconstruction period.

The Northern Stonemans’ patriarch is a Radical Reconstructionist, portrayed as a powerful politician but a weak-willed man, who is

ELLIE SNIDER staff writer Locke and Key, released to Netflix in early February, is the perfect show to binge during

seduced by his mixed-race housekeeper, and the Southern Camerons are led by Ben Cameron, a Confederate war hero who founds the Klu Klux Klan as a result of his frustration with what he believes to be subjugation of the South by freedmen and ‘carpetbaggers,’ Northern politicians.

The film follows romantic relationships between both families, as well as their losses and triumphs through the Civil War. Interestingly, President Lincoln is portrayed by Griffith as a voice of reason and compassion to the South: a title card reads that “The South under Lincoln’s fostering hand goes to work to rebuild itself.”

But, after Lincoln’s assassination, the politics of the Radical Republicans, who declared freedmen to be equal citizens and enforced suffrage for black men, are portrayed as subjugating the “Aryan birthright.”

Another title card quotes Woodrow Wilson, proclaiming that “...The policy of the congressional leaders wrought… a veritable overthrow of civilization in the South… in their determination to ‘put the white south under the heel of the black South…’

The white men were roused by a mere instinct of selfpreservation… until at last

there had sprung into existence a great Ku Klux Klan, a veritable empire of the South, to protect the Southern country.”

This glorification of the KKK is common throughout the film; freedmen are portrayed in several instances as sexual predators, especially toward white women, playing on a common racist stereotype, and the KKK, invariably, rides to the “rescue,” often lynching or killing others in the process.

While these scenes are portrayed as heroic and just, with many scenes pioneering techniques that are still used today in action sequences, the distance of time makes scenes where, for instance, the KKK “takes back” their land from freedmen by intimidating them away from the polls, or where they dump the body of a black man accused and tried by them of sexual advances toward a white woman on the steps of a mixed-race lieutenant governor, horrific.

Despite the disgusting and frequent racism that pervades the film, it is important to acknowledge why exactly The Birth of a Nation found such a willing audience, and the answer may lie in some of the film’s more universal scenes.

Scenes between families, like when the Camerons learn that two of their sons have died and another is being held prisoner in critical condition, show

real emotion, and when Ben Cameron returns to his family home, disgraced after the war, to greet his youngest sister, the shame both he and his nowimpoverished family feel is palpable.

Griffith’s use of single colored tones overlaying the blackand-white movie, pioneering techniques like close-ups and fade-outs, and compelling action scenes all add up to a story about the underdog getting even - and no matter how demonstrably false and reprehensible that story might be, everybody likes to root for the underdog.

Griffith might even be compared to Leni Riefenstahl, a famed German actress and director, who directed the famous Nazi propaganda films Triumph of the Will, and Olympia, both of which are considered some of the most innovative and technically effective propaganda films that have ever been made, spurring millions of Germans to action, and eventually, genocide.

Art, through its ability to visually tell a story, has a great deal of power, and film has the unique ability to reach an audience face-to-face, in an incredibly personal way. Wellmade films have the ability to touch and sway the world to action - action that can propel us forward or set us back by decades, even centuries.

this time of social isolation.

Based on the comic book

by Joe Hill, the son of famed horror writer Stephen King, and Gabriel Rodriguez, the show follows the Locke family as they move to their old family estate in Massachusetts after the murder of their father.

The show starts with the tragedy of loss and adds a perfect blend of horror and drama as siblings, Tyler (Connor Jessup), Kinsey (Emilia Jones) and Bodie (Jackson Robert Scott), try to fit in with

their new friend groups and figure out the secrets and keys that are hidden in their new home.

The show is captivating and beautiful, set in a coastline Massachusetts town, with the intricate and creepy family estate being the backdrop for many of the scenes. The colors enrich the scenes rather than distract from the action, particularly as the siblings explore the vibrant mind of youngest sibling Bodie.

While the show brings

up more questions than it answers in regards to the plot, the unique storyline and use of tension are engaging throughout, with the episodes getting better as the season progresses.

Overall, the show is a great start to what will hopefully become a great new fantasy series, having already been renewed for its second season, perfect for fans of Stranger Things or for those just wanting something to watch over the next few weeks.

TRENDS

THE WOOSTER BLADE | MAY 1, 2020 | PAGE 15

What are WHS students watching? Removal of contestant sparks

On April 21-April 23, 289 BLADE staff members and English students took an online poll about their watching habits in quarantine.

85.8% of students use Netflix

59.2% of students use Youtube

47.8% of

students binge-watch TV shows

52.2% of

students periodically watch TV shows

55.7%

of students have 64.1% of changed the way they watch students have shows since quarantine watched Tiger King began

Animal Crossing brings players relaxation

ZACH BREWSTER staff writer Animal Crossing: New Horizons, recently released on March 20, is the fifth edition in a strange series of games.

It is available exclusively on the Nintendo Switch for sixty dollars and can be purchased physically in-store or digitally in the console’s e-shop.

From an outside view, there is seemingly no reason to play it: the activities range from fishing, catching bugs, talking to your neighbors (who are all animals), keeping the town clean, paying off your house debt and more. So, why would someone enjoy doing virtual chores as a game?

The joy in Animal Crossing

comes in relaxation. Unlike many video games today, which focus on being intense and seek to thrill players, Animal Crossing has cute graphics and relaxing music, while also being set in real-time: every minute in real-life is a minute in-game.

Through this system, the game includes full seasons and holiday events that line up with the real world.

The game also uses this time system to establish daily activities. Find all four fossils and donate them to the museum. Collect all of the fruit from the trees. Visit all of the villagers. While these may sound mundane, there is a calm enjoyment to be found in completing them.

According to webmd.com in their “Depression Guide,” one common method of treatment for those struggling with depression is to establish a routine. Animal Crossing can help those who may need this type of catharsis in the sense that daily activities give players a sense of what they need to do every day. The game also sets up rewards to work toward by doing them, such as unlocking

discussion on disqualification

new buildings, getting better tools or inviting new villagers.

According to an article titled “Anxiety = Uncertainty X Powerlessness” on bigthink. com by motivational speaker and entrepreneur Chip Conley, anxiety is simply that. Anxiety comes from what we do not know, and what we cannot control. Animal Crossing helps here with its routine again. The player knows exactly what to expect each day and has full control over everything.

Animal Crossing: New Horizons was released at a great time. As the world undergoes mass quarantine, social distancing and isolation, many people struggle with the lack of social interaction.

Through Animal Crossing, however, players can visit each other’s towns, communicate and do activities together.

Animal Crossing is more helpful than ever right now as the world goes through a stressful period of time during the pandemic. I would recommend the game to anyone dealing with anxiety, as well as anyone looking for a fun way to relax online.

STUART COURSON staff writer Rupaul’s Drag Race contestant, Sherry Pie, was recently disqualified from the competition after admitting to catfishing, a slang term for someone who seduces a person with a false identity online, many individuals.

This disqualification leads to some questions for reality shows: are there rules set in place for reality shows when it comes to disqualification? Are fans aware of these rules? How can people know what rules are in place?

In a Twitter post from the show directly, Rupaul’s Drag Race states: “In light of recent developments and Sherry Pie’s statement, Sherry Pie has been disqualified from RuPaul’s Drag Race.” Before this disqualification took place, nine different men came forward with stories about Joey Guglielmelli (Sherry Pie’s real name) using a fake identity to promise acting gigs.

They claimed that Gugliemelli coerced them into sending explicit videos without getting any confirmation of actually getting the job.

However, the season will continue to premiere with shots of Guglielmelli, since this season has already been filmed and edited.

This disqualification is not, however, irregular to all reality TV competitions. There have been many reality shows where

a contestant, or an individual who had a clean background, did not have a history of any sort of misconduct and did not show inappropriate behavior during the filming of the show.

Another show where a contestant has been disqualified is Survivor: Island of the Idols.

For the first time in the history of Survivor, a player was pulled from the game due to unacceptable behavior, according to a Dec. 11, 2019, article by Dalton Ross from Entertainment Weekly.

Dan Spilo, a contestant, was removed at the end of the Dec. 11 episode of Survivor: Island of the Idols, after an offcamera incident that involved touching other contestants inappropriately.

While physical violence is a very clear line to draw, for some reality shows, it does not take that much for producers to step in with a disqualification.

American Idol is one such example. Delano Cagnolatti, from season one of the show, was the first to find out how a minor infraction, like erroneous age disclosure, can lead to the end of one’s singing dreams: he was booted for being 29-yearsold when he claimed to be 23.

According to American Idol’s rules, specifically for this season, contestants had to be under age 25 at the time of competition. Now, the age range has moved to being 28-years-old.

Going based off of these past contestants and their actions, one can be disqualified from not only a reality competition, but from any sort of competition, for many reasons, whether it is due to not following the set rules placed by the show, or even something more traumatic. All in all, one lesson can be learned from their stories: just follow the rules.

THE WOOSTER BLADE | MAY 1, 2020 | PAGE 16

Encouraging unity amid unprecedented crisis

ASHTON DUNLAP staff writer The coronavirus has upended and reshaped parts of every person’s life.

In every family, business, and every other facet of life, COVID-19 has halted activity and caused the world as we know it to come to a standstill.

Around the world, people are suffering the wrath of this disease, yet instead of coming together as an entire global community, the world has decided to shrink into smaller bands of nationalistic fighters,

without the greater good in mind.

Stephen Walt, professor of international relations at Harvard University, described possible outcomes of the virus and its impact in an article in Foreign Policy titled “How the World Will Look After the Coronavirus Pandemic.”

“The pandemic will strengthen the state and reinforce nationalism. Governments of all types will adopt emergency measures to manage the crisis, and many will be loath to relinquish these new powers when the crisis is over,” Walt said.

Although the disease will decidedly influence the workings of the world after the pandemic is finished, it is still influencing the world now. Numerous countries such as China, South Korea and Singapore have already treated the bulk of the COVID-19 cases, yet instead of following their example, joining together and

exterminating the disease, much of the West has decided to fail to rise to the occasion.

According to “The Lost Month: How a Failure to Test Blinded the U.S. to Covid-19,” published in The New York Times on March 28, the U.S. has been failing in their attempt to treat the outbreak.

“Other countries that had mobilized businesses were performing tens of thousands of tests daily, compared with fewer than 100 on average in the United States, frustrating local health officials, lawmakers and desperate Americans,” the article states.

Instead of dubbing the novel coronavirus as the “Chinese virus” and standing alone, the United States and other countries must stand together as one to fight the virus.

According to President Trump’s Twitter, the United States is taking steps to cooperate and coordinate with other countries, especially

China.

“Just finished a very good conversation with President Xi of China. Discussed in great detail the CoronaVirus that is ravaging large parts of our Planet. China has been through much & has developed a strong understanding of the Virus. We are working closely together,” the Tweet read.

The COVID-19 pandemic is affecting the entire world, so the entire world should be combating it together. Instead of a separated band of nations, the globe should be integrated into one force.

Even within the United States, individual states are being forced to compete against one another to supply their doctors and citizens with the needed medical supplies.

If nationalism and individualism is struck down in this time of crisis, the collective effort against the coronavirus will be stronger and the disease will be defeated much sooner.

Notable celebrities provide light in dark times MOLLY SNYDER staff writer When the entire world is shut down due to a pandemic, it can be hard to keep morale among the population high, yet many celebrities with platforms are using their voices and resources to create positive change in the world.

Actor John Krasinski has used his platform in order to lift others up with his new web series Some Good News where he talks about what good has happened in the world over the past few days. Krasinski keeps it lighthearted and gives people hope, providing

a welcome distraction from the dire situation the world is in today and providing some hope and joy to all who watch.

Celebrities using their resources to help those in need has also caused people to become more hopeful for the future. Sophia Dal Pra (12) says she becomes more hopeful when she sees celebrities donating material things, such as donating money to relief funds, to help fight the virus. Dal Pra adds she feels more comforted when those who have a platform are straight to the point about the situation the world is in, so she is aware of what really is going on.

Dal Pras’ biggest concern with the virus is passing it on to immunocompromised people, and seeing celebrities take action against the pandemic has given her comfort.

Chris Vann (10) has specified two celebrities who have given him hope with their actions: actor and comedian Kevin Hart and rapper Diddy.

“Kevin Hart has provided meals to people in need, and Diddy partnered with Direct Relief to raise money for the coronavirus,” Vann says.

Vann has found comfort in music and pop culture during the quarantine, and seeing some of his favorite celebrities helping to flatten the curve has

“KEVIN HART HAS PROVIDED MEALS TO PEOPLE IN NEED, AND DIDDY PARTNERED WITH DIRECT RELIEF TO RAISE MONEY FOR THE CORONAVIRUS,” VANN SAYS.

VIEWS Timeline of the coronavirus pandemic Jan. 11: China recorded its first death connected to the coronavirus.

Jan. 13: The first case of coronavirus outside of China was reported in Thailand.

Jan. 20: The first U.S. case was reported.

Feb. 6: First death of a U.S. citizen caused from the coronavirus March 13: U.S. national emergency declared.

March 26: U.S. becomes the country with the most coronavirus cases April 2: Nationally, there were more than 1 million coronavirus cases April 22: US reported highest single-day death toll rate reaching 2,600.

Information compiled from businessinsider.com

raised his spirits regarding the pandemic.

THE WOOSTER BLADE | VIEWS | MAY 1, 2020 | PAGE 17

OUR VIEW I am disappointed in people missing out on things like our graduation or someone not able to see their parents because they are in quarantine. But, I am grateful for things such as just an understanding, an understanding of how important people are to each other, and how much the saying you don’t know how much you need something until it’s gone has really been the motto quote for everything going on. I’m grateful for people being so kind to everyone and sending their best wishes to those sick and isolated. I’m thankful for the way we are handling this situation as a society because people could have chosen to ignore the rules and, for the most part, we have not, and that is amazing to me.

-Reece Mitchell I feel that our economy and government will never come back fully due to the pandemic. I do however feel that they are doing the right thing by keeping most things locked down to avoid others getting it. Many people are not following the lockdown, which is defeating the purpose of keeping it somewhat contained. I am worried for the children and families that have abusive parents/spouses. For many children, school was a way to get away from that. And, the kids not being able to have food, again the school was their main source of meals. I hope that everyone recovers from the COVID-19 pandemic.

-Grace Brownson

During this time, I have been able to focus more on college and prepare myself a lot more than I think I would have been able to if the school year were to continue and events were to keep taking place, but other than having a little extra time, I don’t think any positive takeaways can really balance out the negative drawbacks of staying indoors for weeks on end. My main feeling of discouragement during these times would have to come in the form of the thought of missing out on so much.

The first half of this senior year was slow but enjoyable with marching band, while the second half, with trips, dances, Prom, music performances, and everything else coming up was going to make for a nice close to the last year in the high school. Sadly now though I will have to say thanks to all my teachers and friends from a distance as I move on to another chapter of life without a proper, happy spirited, in person, goodbye.

-Alec Pauley

In light of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, editorial board members were asked to share their reactions during the outbreak.

I am discouraged by how the U.S. government is handling this; we definitely were unprepared for something like this. I am also discouraged by people that are protesting social distancing despite our rising death toll. However, I think there are many things we can appreciate right now like watching a small SNL skit of what Zoom calls are like for workplaces or the many video conference birthday calls that are happening right now, which I also took part in by singing happy birthday to my aunt in Mexico City in a Zoom call with roughly 40 people.

-Paulina Salazar

I am very discouraged by the lack of progress made by Washington and how our nation’s leaders are still trying to minimize the impact that COVID-19 can have and is having on the world, but I truly appreciate the actions of Mike DeWine, a man I politically do not agree with, and even though they may not be ideal (clubs being cancelled, non-essential sites closing) I think he made the right decisions in the long-term and it’s refreshing having a leader who is willing to take action even when it’s not the most popular decision.

-Leo Riley

Though it is very easy to be overwhelmed by the amount of discouraging things happening right now, I think there is still a lot to appreciate during these trying times. I definitely think a sense of unity can be seen throughout many countries and types of people as the coronavirus is not just affecting the United States. The amount of sympathy that I’ve seen extended by and to people that they may have never even met is truly inspiring.

-Madison Helms

I am worried about my family and friends. I am baffled by the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and how unprepared the country was.

I am also really shocked by the wide variety of responses from government officials and I am anxious to see what happens next. I am also worried about the vulnerable people and how little the United States is testing people.

-Maeve Florence-Smith

THE WOOSTER BLADE | VIEWS | MAY 1, 2020 | PAGE 18

OUR VIEW editors-in-chief Rheanna Velasquez, Reece Mitchell, Maddy McCully head photographer Grace Brownson graphics managers Corinne Wiles, Madison Helms business managers Sophie Gamble, Leo Riley, Bryn Savidge, Rheanna Velasquez on campus editor Alec Pauley focus editor Lena Wiebe sports editor Skyy Khounborin a&e editor Leo Riley trends editor Bryn Savidge cover editors Sophie Gamble, Anna Nacci views editors Paulina Salazar, Mya Vandegrift feature editor Maeve Florence-Smith staff writers Jensan Bauman, Zach Brewster, Stuart Courson, Sierra Dewald, Ashton Dunlap, Sydney Ebin, Eve Norris, Sierah Pilson, Luke Pomfret, Sylvie Shaya, Ellie Snider, Molly Snyder, Jack Veney artists Eve Norris, Olivia Dal Pra, Emma Yoder photographers Tyler Keating, Hannah LoGiudice, Maddy McCully, Theresa Wendell, Rumen Zdravchev adviser Kristi Hiner

The Wooster Blade is a free, biweekly student publication printed in cooperation with The Daily Record. The paper is designated as an open forum and follows publishing guidelines as established in a district-wide publications policy protecting students’ freedom of expression. All copy, art and photography are property of The Wooster Blade and cannot be reproduced without permission. Editorials represent the viewpoints of The Wooster Blade’s Editorial Board and not of the Wooster High School administration, faculty or staff. All personal opinion columns, which are bylined with the writer’s name and photo, represent the views of the writer. Letters and inquiries should be addressed to The Wooster Blade, 515 Oldman Road Wooster, Ohio 44691.

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I’ve recently discovered John Krasinski’s web series titled Some Good News. It’s really inspiring and entertaining to see some positive news going on in the world. Recently he brought on the cast of Hamilton to make a super cool live performance of Alexander Hamilton. I think with all of the scary stats and stories I’ve been hearing on most news networks, it’s really relieving to have some positive and comedic content.

-Bryn Savidge

I am discouraged by all of the things being cancelled and seeing people who are not taking quarantine seriously. However, I know that these thoughtless people are a minority.

On the other hand, I appreciate those who are working hard to keep everyone safe.

What is unique about the coronavirus is that much of the population is not at that much of a risk, yet most of us are banding together to help those that are. At a time of extreme polarization, it is very encouraging to see that a lot of people are willing to change their way of life to protect people they may not even know.

-Anna Nacci

I am discouraged that I have to accept that my senior year is officially over. Although, I am grateful to see that the world is able to unite together and support each other through this tough time.

I know that everyone has a bright future ahead of us; because if we can get through a pandemic like this, then we are able to overcome any obstacles that come our way.

-Skyy Khounborin

Although the coronavirus has been a major disruption in our lives, I’ve loved seeing the community come together and support each other. I’ve spent more time with my family than I have in years, plus, there is the added bonus of finally catching up on sleep.

-Maddy McCully

What happens when the elderly are in an accident, but are unable or unwilling to go to the ER? What happens to the healthcare workers working without adequate PPE? What happens when families are unable to spend last moments with loved ones? The danger and the tragedy of the virus may be shadowed when we stay at home - and even if we (unfortunately) do not. But many are being impacted in ways we cannot always see and probably can’t even begin to imagine.

-Rheanna Velasquez I’ve been worried about my family and friends, and I know that a lot of others are preoccupied with similar worries. And, as much as I’m grateful for the compassion and sense of urgency that this seems to be bringing out in people, I’m worried that some of the most vulnerable people to this crisis are falling between the cracks. I hope that we can all work to ensure that the homeless, those being held in prisons and juvenile detention centers, and the tens of millions of Americans who are uninsured or underinsured are treated humanely, and with empathy and dignity.

-Lena Wiebe

I am disappointed that in the most crucial times of this pandemic, the U.S. was slow to act in response and take this pandemic seriously.

The government was unnecessarily underprepared and had sacrificed valuable time. But, I am proud of the American people. From those who are doing their part by staying home or volunteering, to healthcare workers on the frontlines. We are In This Together.

-Mya Vandegrift