December Issue 2023

THE

TRINITY VOICE

December 2O23 Volume 25 Issue 3 Trinity Preparatory School 57OO Trinity Prep Lane Winter Park, FL 32792

SAINTS IN THE ARTS Senior Natalie Gillan performs as Regina George in the Upper School musical, “Mean Girls,” which ran from Nov. 2-5.

NEWS

College Board rolls out the digital PSAT this fall with plans to digitalize the SAT in spring 2O24.

Page 5

OPINIONS

It’s time to stop voting for elderly politicians and make way for younger generations.

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FOCUS

Musicians have powerful political influence over their fans, for better or worse.

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LIFESTYLES

What is the ultimate Christmas movie? Ranking movies on their “Christmasness.”

Page 22-23

SPORTS

Professional athletes tackle mental health, changing the game for student athletes.

Page 26-27

Table of Contents

November 2O23

TABLE OF CONTENTS News

News Bites O4 SAT Digitalized O5 House Speaker Chaos O6 Classic Learning Test O7 Witmer’s Water Leak O8 Cancer Week O9

Opinions

Islamophobia 1O-11 Antisemitism 12-13 Aging Politicians 14 Lead Ed 15

Lifestyles

Christmas vs. Thanksgiving 2O

Ramen on the Rise 21 Christmas Movies 22-23 Future of Fake Meat 24

Sports

Women’s Wage 25 Athlete Mental Health 26-27 NIL Deals in College 28-29 The NFL and Taylor Swift 3O

Puzzle 31

Focus

Cover Page 16 Classroom Culture 17 Cultural Months 18 Pop Culture and Politics 19

Maxi de la Fuente

The Trinity Voice is a member of the Florida Scholastic Press Association and the National Scholastic Press Association.

The Trinity Voice is produced by the newspaper/journalism class at Trinity Preparatory School of Florida. Editorials represent the opinion of The Trinity Voice writer and are not necessarily the views of the administration, faculty, or Board of Trustees of Trinity. The Voice welcomes letters to the editor and freelance articles or photography. All submissions become the property of The Voice. Please send all correspondence to 5700 Trinity Prep Lane, FL 32792. The Voice may also be contacted via phone at 407-671-4140 and via e-mail at voice@trinityprep.org. For information regarding the purchase of advertising within The Voice, contact us by one of the methods mentioned above. The Voice is a monthly publication during the school year (with the exceptions of November and January).

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VOICE@TRINITYPREP.ORG THETRINITYVOICE.COM @TRINITY_VOICE @THETRINITYVOICE

Olivia Kortman Cover Page

Scan the QR code to learn more about “Mean Girls” on The Trinity Voice website.

“THE TRINITY VOICE”

Staff/Podcast

November 2O23

STAFF

Editor-in-Chief: Taylor Riley Managing Editors: David Steinberg, Karthik Stead, Carol Marques, Peyton Alch Layout Editors: Peyton Alch, Lucy Chong

3

Saint Talk This Month’s Podcast:

Blurb by Mohil Kapadia Graphic by Sam Miller

Ep. 3 - Tuning in to College Transition

News Department: Zach Kleiman (Editor), Aarav Gupta, Sebastian Cabeza, Sofia Haddadin, Emily Lopez-Couto Opinions Department: Amanda Rose DeStefano (Editor), Sammy Lou, Nikhil Daniel Focus Department: Fay Zhao (Editor), Taylor Griffith, Mia Prince, Mila Taylor Lifestyles Department: Laziza Talipova (Editor), Iris Lei, Jack Aaron, Tavish Ward Sports Department: David Hull (Editor), Rahul Sivakumaran, Angel Berreondo Podcast Department: Mohil Kapadia (Editor), Gustavo Membreno, Nikhil Daniel, Social Media Online Department: David Bryskin (Editor), Julian Sealy, Ana Herrera, Olivia Agnew Graphics Department: Caden Liu (Editor), Lia Garibay, Maxi de la Fuente, Sam Miller Photo Department: Olivia Prince, Olivia Kortman (Editors), Ella Eichenholz, Jack Napier Fact Checking Editor: Jack Aaron Copy Editor: Sammy Lou Business Manager: Iris Lei Adviser: Erin Miller

On this episode of Saint Talk, Mohil Kapadia sits down with Trinity Prep Alum, Austin Yuan, to dive into what students can expect in the transition process from high school to college. Austin is currently studying Economics & International Studies at the University of Pennsylvania, and has plenty of insight into this process. From how Trinity’s academic rigor holds up in the university setting to what social life is like, tune in as they discuss the good, bad and ugly of letting go and embracing the unknown.

December 2O23

News

Spread by Aarav Gupta and Sofia Haddadin Graphics by Caden Liu, Sam Miller, Lia Garibay

NEWS BITES THIS MONTH: BY THE NUMBERS

2,487

7%

$24O MILLION

The number of acres that are burning in Southern California’s Highland Fire

The percentage of US adults who have received the new versions of the COVID-19 vaccine

The total grossing of the new Taylor Swift Eras Tourmovie

Above statistics provided by CNN, Statista, and Governing.com

THE HEADLINES Matthew Perry recently passed away on Oct. 28 at the age of 54.

After 3 weeks without a Speaker of the House, Mike Johnson was voted in.

Israeli military clashing with Hezbollah in Lebanon along the tense Israel-Lebanon border.

CHRISTMAS FUN FACTS The Friday and Saturday before Christmas are the busiest shopping days of the year.

In the mid 17th century, Christmas was banned in favor of a day of fasting.

An estimated 85% of American children believe in Santa Claus.

Above statistics provided by thepioneerwoman.com and twinkl.com

December 2O23

News

COLLEGE BOARD DIGITALIZES THE PSAT, SAT Article by Aarav Gupta Graphic by Caden Liu Since 1959, students from around the country have taken the PSAT/NMSQT (Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test) on paper. However, for the first time, these tests are going digital. The PSAT was digital this fall, and the SAT will be in spring 2024.

With the test now being strictly digital going forward, College Board’s BlueBook software offers many unique online tools including a countdown clock, a way to mark questions for review, a built-in graphing calculator and a reference sheet that consists of common formulas for the math sections. While every student receives the same test and questions on the physical PSAT, each student’s digital test is adapted dynamically based on their performance within the test.

The digital PSAT came with many resources and even allowed students to prepare by taking practice tests using their online resources.

“The digital PSAT came with a free calculator … it also [came] with all of the formulas … there’s a little banner that goes to the top and you could see all those tools that you would need, so instead of having to flip through the pages, it’s just right there for you,” junior Benjamin Pyle said. “The interface was definitely helpful.”

Despite the plethora of resources that were offered

by College Board, during the test, a handful of students faced technological problems: software issues, a lack of charged computers and internet issues.

In order to avoid experiencing numerous technological issues during the test, Chief Technology Officer Alex Podchaski and his team began preparing last spring.

“We made sure that we had the network bandwidth available on campus, making sure that we knew what software needed to be run, testing things on our computers and then getting ready with instructions and processes,” Podchaski said.

Special arrangements or accommodations are an important part of the PSAT for students since they give aids to students who face specific educational challenges. The digital PSAT made it especially challenging for students with accommodations such as extended time,

breaks, screen reader, dictation for essays, etc.

“They need [accommodations] in order to level the playing field so they can function and show what they know in the same way as kids without accommodations do,” Guidance Counselor Christine Hempsted said.

The most common accommodations include extended time, reading and math accommodations, and extended breaks. Students who apply for accommodations generally need to contact their school and College Board to apply for accommodations on the PSAT. However, virtual testing puts disabled students at a disadvantage. According to a report by the Center for Democracy and Technology, graduate student, Ehlers Danlos Syndrome and low vision, had accommodations which included being able to take breaks between sections to use the restroom, eat and take medications during her test. However, her proctor required her to remain in camera while taking medications.

“By the time I got to the last section of the LSAT, I had to pee so badly that I was just clicking through answers trying to complete the test,” Courtney Bergan said, according to the Center for Democracy and Technology.

While the new PSAT might have been stressful for students and teachers who prefer paper and pencil, it may have positive aspects.

“I went into it obviously thinking that I would prefer the paper PSAT … I think now that I say that honestly both versions are just fine,” Pyle said.

“You shouldn’t really have a problem with either version, as long as you’ve obviocome prepared.”

6

News

December 2O23

HOUSE OF CARDS

House of Representatives Speaker election reveals broader political dysfunction Article by Zach Kleiman Graphic by Lia Garibay Amid the hundreds of bills and legislations passed in Congress each year, the United States House of Representatives bears only one constitutionally mandated duty: to elect a Speaker of the House.

However, dysfunctionality and division in the House prevented representatives from doing so for 21 days, marking the longest standoff in over half a century. While this political turmoil may seem distant, its ramifications extend far beyond the walls of Capitol Hill.

This escalating disunity within the House intertwines with a prevailing sentiment among younger generations–a sentiment that perceives politics through a lens of skepticism and disillusionment, consequently amplifying polarization between opposing sides.

This disunity and rampant dysfunction are not merely recent occurrences. In January, former Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy was elected to his aforementioned position after 15 ballots. This long-standing division worsened when, months later, on Oct. 3, McCarthy was ousted from his position by Rep. Matt Gaetz due to his work with Democrats in order to avert a looming government shutdown. With the Republican Party (GOP) controlling the majority of the House, selecting McCarthy’s successor should have been a straightforward task. However, the opposite was the case.

Scrambling for a speaker, GOP representatives selected three candidates, Steve Scalise, Jim Jordan and Tom Emmer, in a span of 14 days. Scalise withdrew his candidacy due to perceived difficulties to secure the necessary votes; Jordan fell short of the required 217 votes to ascend to the speakership; and Emmer withdrew his candidacy just hours after being nominated, following former President Donald Trump’s post denouncing Emmer and his candidacy on the conservative media platform Truth Social.

“There’s pretty significant

divisions between the different factions in the Republican Party,” senior Republican Benjamin Pringle said.

This lack of GOP consolidation left the House in a chaotic limbo period, as without a Speaker, representatives were unable to advance any legislation. While interim Speaker Patrick Henry was able to fill the position temporarily, his presence was solely decorative due to his limited power.

With the House unable to pass essential legislation for weeks, critical issues including the 2024 fiscal budget were left unsolved. As a result, the nation’s government was put on the brink of a shutdown, threatening severe economic repercussions.

“All [Congress] did was waste time which could have been spent brokering a deal,” social science teacher Brandon Burmeister said.

Under this time crunch, the GOP rallied around and successfully voted for far-right candidate Rep. Mike Johnson, ending their intraparty stalemate. As the GOP’s internal discord diminished, policymakers’ focus shifted to bipartisan cooperation in order to pass pressing legislation.

“The Speaker of the House needs to be able to mediate between both sides,” Pringle

said. “The main thrust of [Johnson’s] job is to get [bills] passed.”

While Johnson’s mediation between Republican and Democrat House representatives’ contesting agendas is key to a functioning government, future compromise is unlikely to come easily. According to Pew Research Center, the ideological gap between Republican and Democrat representatives is currently wider than at any point in the past 50 years. This political polarization is further exacerbated by Johnson’s far-right agenda.

Burmeister explained that as both parties progressively view each other as stark opposites with opposing ideas, the prospects of bipartisan cooperation and compromise become increasingly challenging. This divisive mindset leads people to label the other side as “bad” or “evil,” furthering the ideological gap between the two parties.

“When you’re supporting this behavior, you’re supporting pure chaos,” Burmeister said. “And if your goal is pure chaos, then your goal is not democratic.”

According to The Brookings Institution, this divergence in political ideologies is partially caused by unreputable information sources, such as social media and politically charged 24-hour news. The implications of this harsh polarization run far and wide, with the most impactful being the impressions set on younger generations.

“If the people that you’re looking at are the exemplars of political behavior [and act] like children, that sends a signal to students that … it’s okay [for politicians] to act like little babies, have these hissy fits, shut the whole thing down and burn down the system,” Burmeister said. “I think that’s the wrong message you want to be sending to kids.”

As America’s political polarization grows stronger each and every day, a permanent solution to this long-standing problem remains elusive.

“Eventually, the fever of this polarized partisanship has to break and people have to come together,” Burmeister said. “But I don’t know if we as a polity have hit rock bottom yet.”

December 2O23

FLORIDA

News

7

CLASSIC LEARNING TEST

Controversial standardized testing alternative offers incentive to in-state applicants Article by Zach Kleiman Graphics by Sam Miller Every high school student dreads the difficulties that come with standardized testing.

However, a new alternative is making its way into the mainstream: the Classic Learning Test. (CLT) Created by Classic Learning Initiatives, a for-profit company, the CLT has a strong focus on traditional education that has been met with widespread disapproval and backlash from politicians, educators and College Board due to its conservative backing and lack of supporting evidence of its efficacy.

In September, Florida became the first state higher education system to approve use of the exam in the college admissions process. The decision was made by the governing body for Florida’s public university system (Florida Board of Governors), composed mostly of members appointed by Governor Ron DeSantis. In May, DeSantis also passed a bill that approved the CLT’s use as an accepted test for the Bright Futures Scholarship Program. While these policies serve to disrupt the duopoly held by the SAT and ACT in the standardized testing space regarding admissions, English teacher and standardized testing tutor Dr. Robert Boerth believes that they are unlikely to make a significant difference.

“Given the track record and the number of students that are currently taking the SAT and the ACT, I think it’d be very challenging for a test to come along and significantly challenge the foothold that [these tests] have already established,” Boerth said.

Prior to the CLT’s approval under DeSantis’ bill, the test had been widely struck down by the majority of major public and private institutions and was only adopted by a select niche consisting of small, private Christian colleges and liberal arts universities.

“There was definitely political pressure for Florida public schools to accept [the CLT],” college counselor Christine Grover said. “Currently in Florida, they are trying to talk the private institutions into taking it, and they are meeting resistance.”

Twelve public universities including the University of Florida, the University of Cen-

tral Florida, Florida State University and the University of South Florida are obligated to accept the CLT when considering applications, widening its potential application pool by hundreds of thousands of Florida students.

This sudden addition of Florida public universities to a system that was previously made up of only 15 private institutions proves beneficial for in-state applicants–specifically those in search of Bright Futures scholarships.

The state-funded Bright Futures Scholarship Program offers in-state applicants the benefit of free tuition at any public Florida university while also providing financial incentives for private institutions by meeting certain standardized testing thresholds, along with a 3.5 GPA and 100 hours of community service.

12 Florida public universities obligated to accept CLT for admissions and Bright Futures Scholarships

Following Governor DeSantis’ May legislation, the CLT has become a viable option to qualify for this highly regarded scholarship.

“For students who haven’t been able to hit 1340 [on the SAT] or 29 on the ACT, I would recommend they try [the CLT],” Grover said.

While the CLT’s state-wide approval is a forward step for its legitimacy, the test has come under much scrutiny in recent months.

Amanda Phalin, Florida Board of Governors member and sole objector of the 13:1 vote regarding the CLT’s approval for college admissions, opposes its use because “[Classic Learning Initiatives] does not have the empirical

evidence to show that this assessment is in the same quality as the ACT and the SAT.” The CLT’s reach has been notably limited when compared to the SAT and ACT. According to College Board, from 2016 to 2023, a mere 21,000 high schoolers across the nation took the CLT. On the other hand, in 2022 alone, 1.7 million and 1.3 million took the SAT and ACT, respectively.

This significant variation in sample sizes raises questions about the CLT’s compatibility with other standardized tests. In a brief published by College Board, the CLT’s concordance study was criticized for its small sample size and lack of test rigor; the brief concluded that 25% of questions administered by the CLT were below a high school proficiency level. These factors render it challenging to standardize scores when compared to widely recognized tests such as the SAT and ACT. Unlike the SAT and ACT, the CLT’s lack of standardization threatens the solidity of the scoring threshold students have to reach in order to qualify for the Bright Futures Scholarship Program. As a result, according to Grover, Trinity is hesitant to use the CLT for admission this year with its current applying seniors.

“Any nationally standardized test needs to be able to establish that it is legitimate in terms of the way that it’s assessing students,” Boerth said. “And that’s what the CLT lacks.”

The CLT’s controversy is not only limited to its legitimacy, however. The test is closely tied to Florida’s right-wing politicians and is being propelled into the limelight as yet another chapter in Governor DeSantis’ conservative education reform.

While this political association may limit the CLT’s national expansion as it attempts to compete with the SAT and ACT, some predict it could persist in Florida by capitalizing on the state’s educational policy changes.

“I think [the end goal of the CLT] depends on the political climate of Florida,” Grover said. “It’s been around for years in very conservative and religious institutions, and although it is possible that other conservative states might adopt this for their state institutions as well. I don’t think it will spread beyond that.”

8

News

December 2O23

WITMER’S WATER LEAK

Pipe burst displaces students and teachers for one week Article by Sofia Haddadin Photo by Olivia Kortman

relocate her AP Biology students, especially “I think there were some students that were As Honors and AP Biology teacher Emily when carrying out labs in various classrooms. happy to be in different rooms because they Massey-Burmeister was recording a lesson vid“For the AP class, we had labs that were on appreciated the variety of being in different eo in her classroom for her AP Biology class, the agenda,” Massey-Burmeister said. “With spaces,” Massey-Burmeister said. she heard commotion in the hallway, but de- AP, there has to be a very set schedule to keep Physics teacher Dr. Elmarie Mortimer was cided to ignore it at first. It was not until water on track to finish throughout the course of the also affected by the pipe burst. In her classstarted to flow in from underneath her door year. So it was hard to work some of those ac- room, at its highest point, the water reached that she realized there was a much bigger situ- tivities out of the rooms that we had been in.” up to three inches. Despite the situation she ation at play.

Teachers were not the only ones feeling the was in, she was extremely grateful for the On Oct. 20 in Witmer Science Hall, main- effects of being in a different setting; students school’s aid, specifically the maintenance detenance was being conducted on an AC unit felt the same. Sophomore and AP Biology stu- partment, throughout the incident. above the ceiling when a water pipe was ac“The amazing thing cidentally hit, causing the about Trinity Prep is that pipe to burst and several this is an amazing school inches of water to flood to work with,” Mortimer onto the floor. The leak said. “Our maintenance caused water damage crew was fantastic. They to the ceiling and walls, said your classroom is imdisplacing students and pacted … By that Monteachers for a week. day morning, we had a “Classes had to be list of where we will teach taught out of other … and the maintenance people’s classrooms,” crew did everything.”

Massey-Burmeister said.

On Oct. 30, the dis“We were thankful for the placed science teachers space to be able to teach were all given the green out of classrooms. Howlight to move back into ever, not being in your their classrooms with evown space tends to throw erything fixed, thankful you off of your rhythm.” that they were back in Despite the hectheir own spaces. tic classroom changes, Massey-Burmeister is Massey-Burmeister conhappy to be back in her tinued to carry out her own classroom after havscheduled daily lesson ing to move around from plans with her Honors classroom to classroom; Biology students. however, she is excited Dr. Elmarie Mortimer, one of the teachers affected from Oct. 20 to Oct. 30 by the pipe “With the freshmen, about what the future burst, pushes a cart of class supplies into Ms. Faris’ classroom. we were working on their will hold for the science projects, so I would say the dent Sophia Scheinberg noted how the change department in the new science center that is most challenging part of that would be that impacted her learning. planned to be completed in the fall of 2026. they were bringing in items,” Massey-Burmeis“It was hard to focus because we were in “Given the projections for the new science ter said. “Since we couldn’t house them in my a different environment,” Scheinberg said. building, I think that there are wonderful classroom, they had to be housed in other peo- “We had to change seating, and people could things that are on the horizon once that buildple’s classrooms, and in some cases had to be choose where they sat, which was distracting.” ing is built,” Massey-Burmeister said. “I am carried from room to room.”

Despite this, Massey-Burmeister noticed optimistic and looking forward to being in a She also found challenges when needing to that other students did not mind the change. new space when that space is ready.”

News

December 2O23

9

NOT JUST PINK

Fundraisers expand Breast Cancer Awareness Week to all cancers Article by Sami Haddadin Graphics by Caden Liu Every Oct. 24 to 28 since 2000, Trinity Prep has recognized and fundraised for Breast Cancer Awareness Week. However, this year was different: sophomore student council officers shifted from Breast Cancer Awareness Week to All Cancer Awareness Week.

The sponsor and adviser of the sophomore student council, Stephen Strickler, played a key role in turning this idea into reality. He was supportive when student council pitched the idea because they argued that expanding the fundraiser would bring more support from the student body.

“Breast cancer is a really big deal, but there are plenty of people here on campus who have family members or people that have been affected by other types of cancer,” Strickler said.

According to the CDC and American Cancer Society, 605,213 people die from cancer but only 43,700 die from breast cancer. This means that breast cancer only accounts for 7.2% of all cancer deaths.

plish our ultimate goal which is to educate people on how cancer could affect people, instead of just focusing on one [type of cancer],” Strickler said.

Donated to the American Cancer Society, the money fundraised from Cancer Awareness Week totaled $1,106. Although last year during Breast Cancer Awareness Week, they raised $2,653, this year helped educate more people on the types of cancer, not just breast cancer.

Sophomore student council representative Ben Demetriades was one of the students pushing for the change, originally suggested by sophomore student council president Gustavo Membreno.

“As a 10th-grade student council, we thought that, by only focusing on breast cancer awareness, we were ignoring a bunch of people who were affected by other cancers, like,

“Raising awareness for those other types and the treatments that could go towards those types helped engage a whole lot more people,” Strickler said.

Strickler also said that changing Breast Cancer Awareness to All Cancer Awareness helped further the student council’s goal of raising money to help with treatments.

“I think the fact that we did Cancer Awareness Week really presents an opportunity for us to not just raise more money, but to accom-

for example, my family,” Demetriades said.

“We’ve been affected by a lot of cancers, like breast cancer, lung cancer, pancreatic cancer, and bowel cancer. We felt that it was a better idea to expand it to all these cancers because although people are affected by breast cancer, more people are affected by other cancers.”

According to Demetriades, the administration was open to the suggested change.

“When we talked to the admin about it, they were all on board,” Demetriades said.

“Their only hesitation was about the fact that one teacher died of breast cancer, but all of them are really on board and they just want to make sure that everyone else is OK with it.”

Eighth grader Philip Bove had someone very close to him affected by cancer. His mom was diagnosed with breast cancer when he was in just 5th grade.

“I remember it was every other day and [my mom’s friends] would make meals for us,” Bove said. “My dad was gone most of the day and my mom was in bed 90% of the time, just getting up to go to the bathroom. I feel like one thing that kept me going was my dog. He would cuddle with my mom and me.”

Bove was supportive of the change to fundraise for all cancers, despite his family being personally affected by breast cancer.

“If you really just focus on breast cancer … it doesn’t include everyone,” Bove said. “And if you include all cancers, it includes everyone instead of leaving them out.”

Bove emphasizes the fact that you need to have a positive attitude and not listen to bad thoughts.

“It’s going to be tough for most of the journey,” Bove said. “Keep your hopes up and don’t give up. Keep persevering and think about the situation a year or two from now. Think about how everything could potentially be a lot better, and focus on the positive aspects because your negative thoughts will absolutely ruin how you see the situation.”

1O

Opinion

December 2O23

SHARP RISE IN ISLAMOPHOBIA

Article by Sebastian Cabeza Graphic by Sam Miller

Since Oct. 7, the United States has seen an alarming spike in hate crimes against its Arab and Muslim communities. The Council of American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) has reported at least 1,283 incidents of discrimination perpetrated against Muslims since Oct. 7. For context, CAIR only received 63 complaints in the entire month of August this year. The organization also stated that the actual number of incidents is likely much higher, as hate crimes against Muslims are chronically underreported.

After 9/11 and the War on Terror, Arabs and Muslims have been the subject of harassment, brutalization, detainment and

mass surveillance by the police and the FBI, so they are understandably reluctant to report to law enforcement.

One particularly heinous instance of antiPalestinian bigotry that garnered national attention was the tragic murder of Wadea Al Fayoume, a 6-year-old Palestinian-American boy living in Chicago. According to CAIR, on Oct. 14, one week after war broke out, Wadea’s landlord entered their home and stabbed the innocent Palestinian boy 26 times, killing him.

The landlord also attacked Wadea’s 32-yearold mother, Haanan Shahin, stabbing her over a dozen times while yelling, “You Muslims must die.” Local authorities and relatives of the attacker say he targeted the family because of their religion and the ongoing war in Gaza.

Spikes in Islamophobia after major events like the war in Gaza are nothing new. After 9/11, a ferocious wave of hate crimes against people or institutions perceived as Arab or Muslim swept the country. According to Human Rights Watch, anti-Muslim hate crimes increased seventeenfold from 2000 to 2001. Across the nation, hundreds of people of Middle Eastern or South Asian descent were assaulted and at least 7 were murdered. Mobs attacked people worshiping in mosques and on multiple occasions set mosques on fire. In 2017, the Trump administration’s 90-day travel

December 2O23

ban for seven majority-Muslim countries, dubbed the “Muslim Ban,” sparked another surge in Islamophobic vigilante violence.

The murder of Wadea and similar acts of terror are the result of decades of passive

MEDIA REPORTING Islamophobia in media reporting. After the 9/11 terrorist attacks, wall-to-wall coverage of groups like Al-Qaeda and the Taliban, justifying U.S. military aggression in the Middle East, has served to permanently associate all Arabs or Muslims with terrorism in the public’s collective consciousness. The media also gives a disproportionate amount of coverage to incidents of violent Islamic extremism compared to other kinds of extremism, further adding fuel to the fire. According to a 2019 study conducted by Georgia State University, jihadist terror attacks receive 357 percent more coverage than any other terror attacks carried out by other groups on average, even though jihadist attacks only make up 12.5 percent of all attacks.

Media reporting on the war in Gaza has been no different. Every major publication and television channel has been hyper focused on the actions of Hamas. If all people see when they turn on the TV are the words “Palestine,” “Hamas” and “terrorism,” it serves to only conflate all Palestinians with terrorism, which is harmful.

Opinion

Another common tactic used by the media that has reared its ugly head in the last couple of weeks is the use of atrocity propaganda: the dissemination of information about crimes committed by the enemy, which may be true but often contain deliberate fabrications and exaggerations. Incendiary reports of babies being beheaded by Hamas militants received massive attention from all major publications in the first few days after the attack, even being mentioned by President Biden. This claim has since been retracted after it was not confirmed by the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) and no evidence gathered suggested that such events took place. But damage had already been done.

The media’s reckless reporting on these unsubstantiated claims paints Palestinians as bloodthirsty animals who simply cannot contain themselves, a centuries-old colonialist trope. This kind of inflammatory imagery only gives more ammo for hatred against Arabs, Palestinians, and Muslims and is bound to inspire some acts of violence towards them.

It is exceedingly irresponsible for mainstream media outlets to be reporting in such a way to such a large audience.

11

CONCLUSION The current situation bears a frightening resemblance to the disgraceful treatment of Arabs and Muslims after the 9/11 attacks and should unsettle everyone regardless of stance on the war. Left unchecked, the United States could very easily backslide into a country where anybody even remotely Middle Eastern is afraid to leave their home; a country where Muslim communities are torn apart by informants and mass surveillance; a country where Muslims are reluctant to go to Mosque for fear that it might be lit on fire. We cannot let history repeat itself, and turning a blind eye to hatred is what allows it to thrive. The ignorance and prejudice preached to us by media institutions and our politicians has given new life to hatred.

It is our duty as human beings to push back against it by verifying information and seeking multiple sources before spreading it. Innocent people should never be made to suffer for simply existing.

All statistics provided are as of Nov. 14

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Opinions

December 2O23

NEVER AGAIN IS NOW Article by David Bryskin Graphic by Sam Miller

Swastikas in Times Square, signs equating all Jews to Nazis in Washington D.C. and the brutal beating of Jewish students at Tulane–all of these events occurred at pro-Palestine rallies held since Oct. 7. While the rallies should be calling for the right to Palestinian self-determination, some protestors have instead used these rallies as opportunities to spread antisemitic rhetoric. Using anti-Zionism as a veil to mask deep-rooted antisemitism only subjects Jews to centuries-old prejudice and violence.

The debate of anti-Zionism vs. antisemitism has recently been a prevalent one, but, in the last few years, and especially since the Oct. 7 attack, the two have become increasingly hard to distinguish. Since the Hamas attack, incidents of antisemitism in the United States have risen 400 percent, according to the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), with more than half of these incidents being linked directly back to the war in Israel.

“ADL believes that one can advocate for the Palestinian people and their right to self-determination while also respecting the Jewish right to self-determination,” the ADL website states.

The ADL is one of the largest and oldest anti-hate organizations in the United States and has been dedicated to fighting antisemitism in all forms since 1913.

Some of the most alarming incidents of recent antisemitism have happened on college campuses across the country. At some pro-Palestine pro-

tests, violence unfolded against Jews in a manner eerily similar to white nationalist violence.

At Cooper Union, Jewish students were locked in the library for their own safety as pro-Palestinian protestors beat on the windows. At Cornell University, a student posted messages calling Jewish students “the excrement of the earth” and threatened them with vulgar and violent language. At a pro-Palestine protest near New York University, a protester held a sign that called for the world to be “kept clean’’ of Jews, and at George Washington University a message was projected on the library stating “glory to our martyrs” in response to the Hamas attack.

One college that has been a particular hotbed of violent antisemitic sentiment is the University of Pennsylvania (UPenn). Despite having a 16% Jewish undergraduate population, the university didn’t condemn the Hamas attacks until it received pushback from donors.

According to current UPenn student and Trinity alum Gabe Steinberg, many pro-Palestine protesters at the university have either justified or even glorified the Hamas attacks, chanting for “resistance by any means necessary.” They also chanted for “Intifada,” which, according to the ADL, refers back to two violent Palestinian revolutions that targeted civilians through the use of grenades, Molotov cocktails and suicide bombings. This comes alongside multiple acts of vandalism depicting Nazi symbology on centers of Jewish life.

The Western Wall is the most religious site in the world for the Jewish people. Thousands of people from all religions visit each year, either speaking their prayers or placing them in the cracks of the wall.

“There was very disturbing rhetoric about being excited about the Hamas [Oct. 7] attacks and how this is the big liberation, whereas at the beginning, the Jewish community, students supporting Israel, we’re having vigils, we’re mourning,” Steinberg said.

The conflict between Israel and Palestine is deeply complex, perspective-dependent, and surrounded by misinformation. The roots of the disagreement go back even before the founding of the State of Israel in 1948. Both Israelis and Palestinians have at different moments in time felt displaced and that they had a claim to the land. “[How you view the conflict] all depends on where you start the beginning of the clock,” Steinberg said.

Despite this, many protesters across college campuses don’t solely advocate for the right of Palestinians to self-determination, but advocate for stripping that right from Israeli Jews.

Some protesters may not intend any antisemitism when they use the phrase “From the River to the Sea, Palestine will be free” to advocate for peaceful coexistence. However, according to the ADL, this chant is in many cases used as a call for the destruction of the State of Israel.

As a result, these chants are often antisemitic as they call for stripping the right of self-determination of the 7 million Jews currently living in Israel.

“It’s become masterfully crafted so [protesters] can defend their arguments as free speech and not hate speech,” Steinberg said.

It’s not just the students on campus, but

December 2O23

Opinions

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How anti-Zionism has fueled a surge in antisemitism also their faculty. At Stanford, in a mandatory undergraduate class, a professor separated the Jewish students from the non-Jews, labeling the Jewish students as colonizers vs the non-colonizers, and then said the colonizers (the Jews) were responsible for more deaths than the Holocaust. Additionally, a professor at Cornell University claimed the Hamas attacks were “exhilarating” and “energizing,” while one at Columbia claimed the attacks were “awesome” and a “stunning victory.”

The first has been suspended for “the identity-based targeting of students,” but the second and third have received no penalty.

The way colleges have treated the rise of antisemitism following the Oct. 7 attack reflects growing antisemitism in universities. According to the ADL, between 2014 and 2021, incidents of antisemitism went up threefold on college campuses.

“People are worried about having a Jewish name,” Steinberg said. “People are putting away their Jewish necklaces when they’re walking in public in certain areas.”

American universities pride themselves on their values of diversity and open conversation. However, allowing protests to use the pretense of anti-Zionism to justify violent intimidation of Jewish students is the antithesis of open conversation.

The rising antisemitism on college campuses is reflective of longstanding trends. In the United States, antisemitism has

been incrementally rising for the last 10 years.

In 2013, the ADL reported 715 antisemitic incidents in the United States; in 2022, that number was at a shocking 3697. In the single month after the October 7th attacks, there have already been nearly 800 incidents.

“A very noticeable pattern about antisemitism is that it tends to become most violent and scary in moments of social anxiety and distrust. So, when you see a war breakout… it’s really common to see antisemitism emerge or reemerge,” said Kira Simon, Director of Curriculum at the ADL. These acts of antisemitism on campus are only a microcosm of the greater U.S. The home of a Holocaust survivor in Beverly Hills was vandalized with the words “f*ck the Jews.”

A Jewish store owner in NYC was attacked by a mob of Hamas supporters, only stopped after intervention by the NYPD. In Salt Lake City, multiple synagogues were forced to evacuate in response to a series of bomb threats.

And, in Grand Central Terminal, NYC, a man punched a woman in the face, and when asked why, answered “Because you’re Jewish.”

While 90% of Jews recognize that this rising antisemitism is a problem in the U.S., only about 60% of the general population feels the same way according to a survey conducted by the ADL. This is the major reason that antisemitism has been able to spread, and this willful ignorance comes from the myth

of Jewish Power. This is a millennia-old stereotype in which antisemites blamed social ills on the claim that Jews are disloyal, greedy, manipulative and power-hungry. As a result, Jews are seen by many as outside the umbrella of racism and discrimination that people should stand against.

Especially in regards to anti-Zionism, we’ve seen this collective understanding take hold.

In fact, many of these anti-Zionist protests aren’t even directed toward Israel’s supporters, but rather at Jews as a whole.

“There’s this consistent pattern of assigning blame to Jewish people,” Simon said. “Sometimes it’s using Zionist or Israel instead of the word Jew, but it feels the same and it has the same impact.”

The targeting of Jewish students at institutions meant to be beacons of enlightenment from either side of the political spectrum reflects a descent into historic antisemitism for our nation as a whole.

Echoes of the 1940s have emerged in our society–from mobs beating orthodox students, the grafittiing of the homes of Holocaust survivors, synagogues, and Jewish centers, and calls to murder Jewish students on Ivy League campuses. If we vow “never again” at Holocaust memorial events, we must continue to stand up to antisemitic hatred in all of its forms.

Statistics above provided by the American Jewish Committee and ADL.

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Opinions

December 2O23

FROM DC TO THE OLD FOLKS HOME Elderly politicans need to make space for the next generation

Article by Emily Lopez-Couto Graphic by Caden Liu The leading candidates for the 2024 presidential election, President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump, have differing opinions on almost everything. However, they do have one thing in common: they are both over the age of 75.

In the past year, Biden has tripped or fallen seven times in public. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell froze up several times in a public address, intensifying questions about his ability to serve and his future in the Senate.

Due to Senator Dianne Feinstein’s unfortunate passing at the age of 90, the Senate Democrats were down one vote while Congress was facing tightly contested votes in order to keep the government funded and operational.

Elderly politicians must realize when it’s time to give up their jobs and make room for representatives from younger generations to step in. Overstaying often tarnishes their legacies and impedes the flow of ideas from people who are actively involved in the fundamentals of modern society.

The last seven senatorial elections that Senator McConnell has won for his seat show a trend of support for gerontocracy, or an elderly ruled society. Furthermore, the current and previous presidents were the oldest and second oldest at the time of their first election. The lack of concerned voters is resulting in a decline in function of the U.S. Government, particularly noticeable in the Senate, where experience is becoming seemingly outweighed by composure.

Age plays a huge role when it comes to one’s health and overall well-being. As people age, they become more likely to develop certain health conditions that may affect their ability to perform their jobs. This is something that

voters should consider when casting their ballots. Social science teacher Brandon Burmeister expresses his concern about Senator McConnell’s public incidents.

“It looked very much like McConnell had two strokes,” Burmeister said. “It’s scary to think about.”

Although some people don’t seem to be bothered by the obvious correlation between politicians’ health and advanced age, younger generations are voicing concerns about these politicians becoming less familiar with recent advancements in our society. Former United States Representative Stephanie Murphy said she is worried about what their lack of connectivity will mean for the U.S. “I have concerns about octogenarians running our country when we have so many new technological advancements that are a key component of our economy and our society,” Murphy said. “I worry that some of our leaders are disconnected from the types of things that matter to the American people.”

In March the Biden administration introduced a bill that would allow them to ban for-

eign companies it considers a national security risk. The administration then announced its plan to ban TikTok, which quickly became a very controversial topic among its users.

“There are people in their 80s and 90s in Congress that are supposed to be writing laws that are going to help us manage more contemporary things like TikTok, but I think it really just doesn’t make sense for people to be in charge of things that they’re not familiar with,” Burmeister said.

The government is on a path to deterioration as elderly politicians remain in their positions of power, with nothing keeping them there except for greed and an irrational fear of what our country would be like if they are replaced. Faith needs to be instilled in the competence of future generations, because nothing will improve without an influx of new ideas.

Murphy provides insight on how we can access these perspectives and get the younger population more involved in politics.

“I think there are a lot of ways that we can make it easier for newcomers to get into elected office and that comes with campaign finance reform, the ending of gerrymandering, basically undermining of some of the advantages that come with incumbency that will enable fresh ideas and fresh perspectives,” Murphy said.

If nothing changes and octogenarians spend their days waning in their elected seats, the US government will continue to fail to reach the level of effectiveness that it needs to. Something needs to be done because as of right now, the U.S. Senate is, as 2024 presidential candidate Nikki Haley said in an interview with FOX News, “the most privileged nursing home in the country.”

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Opinion

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CULTURE WAR HITS HOME Private schools are suspended from voucher programs for “Communist” ties

The Princeton Review. There is still no evidence of a relationship between the school and the CCP. The politicization of education in Florida “We have a long-standing, 55-year history has become an issue of importance after the in Winter Park of providing outstanding edtemporary AP Psychology ban and continuous ucational outcomes to our community, and book bannings. Though previously thought appreciate the community’s enduring partnerto be confined to public schools, politics has ship,” Park Maitland Head of School Michael invaded private education as well. On Sept. Anna wrote in a statement. “We are proud of 22, Governor DeSantis and his administra- the work that our teachers and staff do every tion suspended school-choice scholarships to day to educate our students.” two local private schools, Parke House AcadWhile DeSantis’ rhetoric is alarming, inemy, and Park Maitland vestment groups School due to supposed have been buying ties to the Chinese Com- “Accusing one of our best private private schools for munist Party (CCP). schools of having ties to CCP is years. Park MaitEnacted earlier this irresponsible. It is politically mo- land is widely reyear, the suspended garded as one of voucher programs pro- tivated and it’s damaging to all of the best primary vided grants ranging the kids who call this school their schools in the Orfrom $8,000-$10,000 to lando area with Florida students wanting home.” an A+ rating from to attend certain private the school rank- Anna Eskamani, Florida State ing site Niche. schools. Almost 320 Park House Representative “We are regularMaitland students, per the scholarship program Step Up, ly acknowledged as had their scholarships abruptly revoked, re- one of the best private schools in our area and sulting in families losing thousands of dollars. have a track record of delivering outstanding This decision is part of DeSantis’ larger agen- educational outcomes, which is why parents da of reshaping education in Florida for both choose us,” Mellesia Nelson, a spokesperson public and private schools. for Park Maitland and the Sagemont Prep “The Chinese Communist Party is not wel- schools said in a statement. “Our schools are come in the state of Florida,” said Governor locally run, abide by local, state and federal Ron DeSantis in a statement. “We will not put laws, and do not have ties to any government up with any attempt to influence students with or political party, either foreign or domestic.” a communist ideology or allow Floridians’ tax Park Maitland also acts as a feeder school dollars to go to schools that are connected to to Trinity among other local middle and high our foreign adversaries.” schools. With a significant number of Saints Governor DeSantis’ accusation of CCP ties being Park Maitland alumni, DeSantis’ unsubis because all of the targeted schools are owned stantiated claim is an issue near and dear to the by the Spring Education Group, a for-profit hearts of many Trinity families. private school company. The organization is “The teachers care about ensuring that we majority controlled by Primavera Holdings get a good education,” Trinity student and Park Limited, an investment firm based in Hong Maitland alum Ashwin Anand said. “They care Kong that operates in China, the United States that we’re able to see all different perspectives and Singapore. It has a network of 220 private of any sort of issue without forcing us to view schools across 19 U.S. states and Asia. They it from a particular perspective.” also own the prestigious educational resource The politicization of education has turned

into a conservative witch hunt to weed out Communist ties that do not exist. The vouchers were ripped from the fingertips of hopeful families, and thrown into a sea of uncertainty that flows back to a single source, the state’s current administration.

“Accusing one of our best private schools of having ties to CCP is irresponsible,” Florida State House Representative Anna Eskamani said. “It is politically motivated and it’s damaging to all kids who call this school their home.”

Governor DeSantis’ statements have real implications for families who have been given three options by the Florida Department of Education: transfer to a different private school, transfer to a public school or pay tuition out of pocket without scholarship funds.

Students have lost their scholarships and are unsure of their educational future. This uncertainty has serious ramifications for the schools, families and most importantly, the students.

“We’ve had a lot of folks communicate with us, expressing dismay, expressing stress, expressing fear, and just not knowing what to do,” Eskamani said.

None of the schools that were suspended from the program received notice or contact from the DeSantis administration regarding the decision. Even now, the state’s office is not supplying public officials with the contents of their investigation. If there is one thing that is clear and evident, these schools are not Communist but just a prop for a politician’s agenda. “[Governor DeSantis] is not interested in governing, [he’s] just interested in politics,” Eskamani said.

The suspension of scholarships serves as a wake-up call to all parents, families and faculty who thought they were safe in private schools.

This is an unrelenting war on education. A war we must win.

The lead editorial expresses the opinion of the Trinity Voice editorial staff. Please send comments to voice@trinityprep.org.

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Focus

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CREATIVE CLASSROOM CULTURE Article by Taylor Griffith Photo by Olivia Kortman

As freshman Sophia Caputo walks into ce- personal growth. participate in the lesson. ramics class to craft a bowl, she instantly feels “I want them to be asking questions and ac“[During class] a student will say somerelaxed. After a long day of assessments in oth- tively participating and not wait[ing] until the thing that will add on to what everyone else er classes, her stress melts away as she hears up- problem is finished but instead speak[ing] up is saying and when that works and we get beat music playing. and getting clarification,” Worcester said. going, I learn a lot better,” senior Benjamin “The classroom environment is very fun,” Math teacher Eric Schneider has a slightly Pringle said.

Caputo said. “It’s just a good place to be.” different teaching style, but still maintains an In the times that they are doing notes, both A study from the University of Salford interactive class where all students are able to teachers explain each concept thoroughly. found that a classroom’s en“They always did a very good vironment can affect student job of explaining the material learning by 25 percent. in a way that was easy to under“I want my class to be a stand,” Pringle said. fun and relaxing time for stuSchneider sometimes switches dents,” fine arts teacher Vadthings up and has his students im Malkin said. “It’s a time teach. He found that more of his for them to relax.” students understood and rememMalkin encourages students bered content when it came from to work at their own pace and different perspectives. take creative liberties when it Schneider also uses innovative comes to their art projects. classroom strategies to help his “A good attitude about students refocus. The lap system trying to create art leads [sturequires students who are either dents] to a more effective being disrespectful or simply not class period with a better outlistening to walk a lap around come,” Malkin said. the building. He originally used While lecture-based classes the lap system for coaching basare informational, a balance ketball, but adopted it for his of different class styles is imstudents, finding that it acts as a portant for productivity. reset for students.

According to an article “They’re supposed to walk a published by the University lap and collect their thoughts,” of Wisconsin-Madison many Schneider said. “It gives them a students only retain informachance to refocus.” tion for 15 to 25 minutes in Students who take a break bea lecture. come more engaged later in the Mathematics department class period. A good classroom chair Donald Worcester finds enviroment engages and creates that students tend to be more an elective work space throughproductive when the class is out the school day. By cultivating fun and upbeat. a positive learning environment, “Productivity is that they all students are able to underare there to learn, to have fun stand and grow. while doing math and laugh “The style and feeling inside Senior Ainsley Tischler is given helpful hints on wheel technique by Mr. while they’re making the misthe class helps by making sure Malkin in her AP Studio Art 3-D class. She is practicing her technique takes,” Worcester said. everyone’s [voice is] heard and which she will incorporate into her AP portfolio in May. A comfortable classroom envican obtain the information,” roment, where students can talk Pringle said. freely, leads to productivity, confidence and

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December 2O23

Focus

REPRESENTATION OF A NATION

Cultural months are the backbone of representation Article by Mia Prince Graphic by Sam Miller Cultural months like Black History Month(Feb.), Hispanic Heritage Month (Sept. 15-Oct.15), Asian American and Pacific Islander Month (May), and Indigenous People’s Day have not always been recognized worldwide. In recent years there has been a push for more representation and understanding of different cultures.

“There’s a lot of stories that haven’t been told,” AP World teacher Isiah Cabal said. “We owe it to the world to make sure that these stories get told.”

The US Census recognizes six major ethnic groups. Five of these ethnicities have a month while Indigenous people only have day to represent their culture. These cultural months were instituted in order to appreciate often overlooked minority groups and the impact of their culture.

“People want to be seen,” Cabal said. “They want to feel represented and celebrated. It’s important that we understand that our history has multiple contributors.”

The first and designated cultural month is Black History Month, which was created on Feb. 28, 1970. Carter G. Woodson, “the father of Black history,” pushed for a month because he believed that Black people should be proud of their heritage and all Americans should understand the largely overlooked achievements of Black Americans.

“Those who have no record of what their forebears have accomplished lose the inspiration which comes from the teaching of biography and history,” Woodson said when calling for Black History Month.

Hispanic Heritage Month first started out as a week in 1988 to honor the independence and culture of many Latin American countries. It now is celebrated during the whole month of September as the month coincides with many Latin American countries’ independence days. It is also a way for immigrants of Hispanic countries to stay connected to their origins and celebrate their culture. During this month many festivals, art shows, conferences and community gatherings take place.

“The reason why it’s important for representation is because of all the immigrants that come here and come from zero, and then build up their lives and work for [representation],”sophomore Valeria Neira said.

Although cultural months have been in practice for decades, some cultural holidays are more recent additions. In 2021, President Biden was the first president to formally commemorate Indigenous People’s Day. He put it on the second Monday in October, coinciding with the controversial Columbus Day. The days coincide because Columbus explored “new land” but the Indigenous people were already living there.

There are many misconceptions that come along with Indigenous People’s Day. “[Students] use words like conquistadors, and pioneers and explorers,” Cabal said. “As we start to learn more about it there were people already living here, they were already really rich and vibrant and had successful empires.”

Many activist movements caused the push

for Indigenous People’s Day. Activists and Indigenous groups protested to encourage more celebration of Indigenous People’s Day instead of Columbus Day because of his problematic history of colonization and enslaving native peoples. President Biden wanted it on the same day to honor America’s first inhabitants and the tribal nations that continue to thrive today.

African kingdoms, Mesoamerican and North American societies were agents of change because many aspects of American culture were influenced by various cultures.

These cultural months encourage students to learn about history. Teachers make a point to encourage students to dive deeper into these topics and fully understand the different cultures. Learning about how culture impacts our society today is an important message that many try to get across. Teachers make a huge impact on each topic that they teach.

“We as a discipline have been pretty cognizant and conscious of of showing all parts of the world, not just Western influence on world history, but bringing agency and showing the influence of African kingdoms and Mesoamerican cultures on North American societies,” Cabal said.

Each year the world is evolving with the knowledge of different cultures and the appreciation. The world is becoming more diverse and adding new cultural months for celebration each year.

“If we’re still looking at Columbus the same way that we were 100 years ago, I don’t think we’ve done our jobs as historians, as teachers,” Cabal said. “We’re agents of change.”

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SINGERS SHAPE SOCIETY

Musicians’ political and social lives impact their fans Article by Mila Taylor Graphic by Caden Liu During the 2020 election, Taylor Swift posted a picture of herself holding a plate of cookies endorsing the democratic candidate Joe Biden. This was one of the very few times that Swift expressed her political opinions, previously fearing that she would isolate her audience. However, when it came to issues she was passionate about, like LGBTQ+ and women’s rights, Swift was not afraid to speak out to her millions of fans. Conversely, famous rapper Ye, formerly Kanye West, has always been outspoken about his political and social stances. From endorsing Hillary Clinton in 2015 to backing Donald Trump in 2020 while also running for president himself, Ye uses his platform to preach constant racist, antisemitic and misogynist ideas.

Celebrities as famous as Swift and Ye are constantly under the microscope, especially with the amount of social media interactions they have with fans daily. Some fans may opt to refrain from supporting a certain artist because of their political or controversial views shared on social media.

“I generally can accept a piece of art as what it is without being concerned about someone’s private life or their choices that I might or might not agree with,” English teacher Steven Garnett said. “Unless the music that they’re doing is actually conveying that thing I’m fundamentally opposed [to].”

Similarly, sophomore Reha Nagda expressed that fans should not feel inclined to stop listening to an artist’s music because of the controversies or scandals that the singer has gotten into in the past. Popular artist Morgan Wallen has a history of racist remarks that have now been forsaken after an apology in 2022.

Instances like scandals and political endorse-

ments can lead celebrities to change for the better or for the worse.

“I know when Taylor Swift came out with her support for the Democratic Party, she lost a lot of support from fans in the other parties,” Nagda said, “If they’re a bigger named artist, who’s been in the spotlight for a long time, even like Morgan Wallen, a scandal or endorsing their views that could hurt their career.”

Wallen was almost canceled online due to his

past use of a racial slur, however, many defended him, saying the media is too hard on singers.

There is debate whether singers need to take accountability for wrong they have done when they weren’t famous.

“I also leave space for people to make mistakes,” Assistant Head of Upper School, Sebastiaan Blickman said. “And I would hope that if that’s a mistake, [Morgan Wallen] learned from it.”

Despite the controversies of artists sharing their political opinions, there are positives, largely through community outreach. Specifically rap artist Jay-Z who started the Shawn

Carter Foundation that is dedicated to community outreach for at-risk youth. Also, rapper Eminem frequently donates to his hometown of Detroit, and supported healthcare workers various ways during COVID-19. Community outreach does come with media controversy, like Taylor Swift raising funds and starting a petition to pass the Equality Act in 2019.

Blickman expressed his concerns on singers’ political involvement.

“I find that for musicians or artists, all it does is it creates more division when their purest intentions are to unite people around what they see as a problem, not recognizing the complexity of this situation,” Blickman said.

Uniting people is a concept that singers always struggle to get right. It is important for fans to be aware of who they are listening to and recognize that celebrities may not have all the facts.

“I think one needs to be in the center and taking a good look around before making any decision,” Garnett said, “So if a 16-year-old simply is doing something because so and so said do it, that just seems very short sighted, not very intelligent.”

On National Voter Registration Day, Sept.

17, 2023 Taylor Swift called upon her millions of fans to register to vote for this years elections. Her post drove a record number of fans to Vote.org, averaging “13,000 users every 30 minutes” according to Nick Morrow, Vote. org’s communications director. California Governor Gavin Newsom reported to TMZ the political impact of celebrities on their audiences, and singled out Swift for having a profound influence on her millions of fans.

“What she was able to accomplish in getting young people activated to consider that they have a voice, I think it’s profoundly powerful,” Newsom said.

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Lifestyles

December 2O23

CHRISTMAS TREES OVER AUTUMN LEAVES Article by Laziza Talipova Graphic by Maxi de la Fuente As the leaves begin to fall and the air turns crisp, a subtle transformation sweeps through our lives. The world shifts its focus towards the approaching holiday season, but rather than hanging up fall decorations for Thanksgiving, Christmas decorations are hung instead. This yearly phenomenon has many wondering if society focuses on material things, particularly during Christmastime, and may sometimes overlook Thanksgiving.

Sophomore Ajay Maniar looks forward to Christmas all year, and he believes the holiday cheer is much preferred over Thanksgiving.

“I like Christmas because of the whole season, the festivities, the cheer, it’s cold outside and all the decorations,” Maniar said.

Walk into any department store, and it is very likely to see Christmas trees, ornaments and Santa Clauses as early as August. The commercialization of Christmas has transformed the holiday into a season of gifts, sales and shopping sprees. Maniar puts up his Christmas decorations the week of Thanksgiving in November. The average American puts up their Christmas tree 4.5 weeks before Christmas, which comes in right after Thanksgiving.

The cultural and entertainment industries also play a significant role in propelling Christmas into the light. The remembrance of Christmas-themed movies, music and advertisements during the weeks leading up to Thanksgiving creates an environment of Christmas cheer.

The duration of celebration is another factor. Christmas celebrations seem to extend for a longer period, from early November to the end of December, creating an extended atmosphere of festivity, while Thanksgiving revolves around a single day of eating and appreciation.

“Thanksgiving is not as much fun as Christmas and we only have two weeks off school, Maniar said. “They’re also just so close together. I think people would just prefer Christmas.”

Thanksgiving is a holiday meant to celebrate gratitude, family and the simple joy of being together. Yet, in today’s fast-paced world, the value of Thanksgiving seems to diminish even

though many people are home for Thanksgiving rather than Christmas. As society becomes more focused on accumulating gifts, we risk neglecting the essential practice of expressing gratitude and cherishing moments together.

“It’s just consumerism gifts,” psychology teacher Michael Brown said. “ I don’t know of any Thanksgiving songs. But people lose their mind over Christmas songs. Maybe there’s something like imperialism subconsciously that people are scared of.”

Flashy Christmas ads and early shopping sprees change the atmosphere during the holiday season. In a post-COVID world, holiday shopping has shifted to online shopping, also placing a statement in our society.

Our consumer-driven society places a significant emphasis on material wealth and the act of giving and receiving material gifts. The flurry of Black Friday sales, Cyber Monday deals and holiday discounts reinforces the idea that our worth is tied to our ability to buy and exchange material possessions.

The convenience and accessibility of online shopping have revolutionized the holiday shopping experience. The freedom of browsing and purchasing gifts from the comfort of home has transformed the way people approach the holiday season.

The trend towards online shopping has not only changed consumer behavior but has also reshaped the retail industry. Many stores have extended their shops to the digital realm, recognizing the shift in consumer preferences.

Consumers can shop on the go, anytime and anywhere, with just a few taps on their phones. This seamless accessibility and the ability to compare prices and products swiftly have contributed to the surge in online shopping for Christmas.

The rise of online shopping has been further accelerated by the impact of the global pandemic. The uncertainty and restrictions imposed by the COVID-19 crisis pushed more consumers towards online shopping as a safer alternative to in-person store visits, solidifying

its place as the preferred method for seasonal gift shopping.

Although online Christmas shopping gains momentum, there are some concerns. The shift from physical stores to digital marketplaces raises questions about the future of stores and their role during the holiday season. Moreover, the human connection and the festive aspects of in-store shopping may be missed in the rush for convenience.

It is crucial to have a balance between the two holidays. Christmas, with its gift giving and festivities, is a time for celebrating the joy of sharing. However, it’s also important to remember that the true spirit of the season is about giving, not just receiving. Thanksgiving, on the other hand, is a time to reflect on the meaningful aspects of life: family, friends, and the blessings we often take for granted.

“I think that at Christmas, there’s a lot more opportunities to give and receive stuff,” Maniar said.

“There’s so many more events like going to Christmas parties…

Thanksgiving doesn’t really have those kinds of parties.”

December 2O23

Lifestyles

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THE RISE OF RAMEN Article by Sammy Lou Graphic by Caden Liu

Sitting in an Orlando ramen restaurant, sophomore Owen Raffa savors his steaming bowl of ramen noodles. The concept is simple, but the noodles, toppings and broth somehow combine to create a perfect harmony of umami (the Japanese word for “savoriness”).

Twenty years ago, these bowls of ramen were only common in Japan, but today, ramen restaurants are popping up all around the United States. Ramen is on the rise in America as a new comfort food, especially among the younger generation.

Rooted in simple goodness, ramen has always been a popular comfort food in Japan, with ramen restaurants found on every corner in big cities like Tokyo. Freshman Ryo Kimura has been to many ramen restaurants in both America and Japan, and he noted how common the restaurants were in the latter.

“There are a lot [of ramen restaurants],” Kimura said. “There’s got to be at least five in every department mall. You’ll find them everywhere from department malls to train stations.”

Ramen was originally seen as a cheap fast-food option in America because of the earlier introduction of instant ramen.

However, traditional ramen rose in popularity in America when David Chang’s Momofuku Noodle Bar in New York City introduced authentic ramen and gave ramen a new image.

As word of ramen spread, more restaurants opened and more people were able to experience the ramen trend. According to market research company Ibis World, the number of ramen restaurants in the U.S. has grown by an average of 3.9% each year from 2017 to 2022. Sophomore Victor Fang first discovered ramen through instant noodles and then experienced the joys of authentic ramen.

“My first experience of it

was instant ramen when I was younger, like Shin Ramyun,” Fang said. “But my first real bowl of ramen I had was at Ichi-Ran in New York, where I had the pork (tonkotsu) broth.”

Part of ramen’s universal appeal is its ability to be customized. One component that can be customized is the broth, which goes beyond the standard shoyu (soy sauce) broth. The other popular varieties are shio (salt), miso and tonkotsu (pork bone) broths. Kimura prefers the miso broth but enjoys the wide assortment of options.

“For me, it’s definitely the broth that is my favorite part,” Kimura said. “You can choose from anything from the chicken broth, soy sauce taste and there’s some that have a miso taste. It’s important because some people like to enjoy it differently, and each person has their own opinion on foods. Sometimes they don’t want it to be

spicy and want something sweeter, so they would order the soy sauce one.”

Toppings are another customizable feature of ramen, which helps draw in many ramen lovers. The toppings that go with ramen also come in many varieties, such as bamboo shoots, pork belly, bok choy, seaweed and bean sprouts, and add extra flavor and visual appeal. “ [ To p p i n g s ] make it more than just brown and yellow for the noodles and the broth,” Kimura said. “It definitely adds a lot more color and flavor to

the noodles, and as a result, you enjoy it more.”

Ramen’s influence has already extended to Orlando, and the number of ramen restaurants only continues to grow. A second Jinya Ramen Bar in Oviedo and Wa Ramen in Lake Nona are two new ramen restaurants that recently opened in October and November, respectively. The first Jinya location in Orlando was so successful that they decided to open a second one.

“Jinya’s original Florida location, in the heart of Thornton Park near downtown Orlando, is still humming along,” Mathew Moyer from the Orlando Weekly said. “In fact, it placed in our Best of Orlando’s readers poll last year for “Best Ramen” right behind local fave Domu, no shame.”

Some Orlando ramen places incorporate trends like anime into their restaurant theme, drawing in the younger generation.

Soupa Saiyan and Dragon Bowl Ramen in Winter Park both feature wallpaper, figurines and posters that include characters like Goku from the Dragon Ball anime series. One of sophomore Owen Raffa’s first ramen experiences was when his brothers took him to Naroodle, which derives half of its name and includes art from the Naruto series.

“I think [ramen is popular] partially because of how popular animes have become,” Raffa said. “Especially in Naruto, the main character eats ramen in almost every episode and talks about how good it is, and a bunch of kids have been watching shows like that.”

Ramen is on the rise in America, and it will only continue to grow upward as more and more people find the joys of slurping up the umami goodness in every bowl of ramen. To put its newfound popularity into perspective, according to online media company Insider, an average of 4 billion servings of ramen are eaten in the U.S. annually.

“I like how ramen is made from a mixture of different things,” Raffa said. “The way the meat, vegetables, egg and noodles are all placed in the broth make it look just as good as it tastes.”

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December 2O23

(CHRISTMAS CLASSICS CONTEST) Article by Karthik Stead Graphics by Caden Liu “Elf,” “A Christmas Story,” “Home Alone” and “The Polar Express”, these movies are largely considered essential for the holiday season. Debates have often formed on which movie is the true quintessential Christmas movie. In order to try and answer this question, we must define what makes a good Christmas movie. In order to measure the “Christmasness” of these films, I have devised a three-point scale: 1. Does the movie value generosity? Christmas is the season of giving (and receiving), so a work aiming to be representative of the holiday should emphasize generosity.

2. Does the movie spark joy? The emotional state of being jolly is fundamental to any Christmas media.

3. How does the movie incorporate the “Christmas spirit” into its plot? The Christmas spirit is an ever-present plot device that has become infused into the lifeblood of Christmas movies, therefore the quintessential Christmas movie would make good use of it. These three categories will be measured on a 1-10 scale, with an aggregate score out of 30 being calculated at the end.

ELF

“Elf,” released in 2003 tells the story of Buddy, a human who has been raised by Santa’s elves who has to adjust to the ways of human life. Buddy navigates through teaching his human family the meaning of Christmas, finding love and adjusting to the real world. It is your classic, well-meaning fish-out-of-water story, with a Christmas twist. Starting with generosity, Buddy is always trying to help out his human family even if it usually does not turn out to be all that beneficial. Buddy still performs all these acts with generous intentions, earning it a score of 7 on the generosity scale. Moving on to joy, this movie is a nonstop rollercoaster of jokes. From Buddy’s reaction to the Mall Santa to the rapidfire snowball fight, this movie never stops trying to make you laugh. Will Ferrell’s performance in this is nothing short of legendary, becoming one of his most iconic roles. This movie’s unabashed sense of joy earns it a 10 on that scale. Finally, the incorporation of the Christmas spirit. The Christmas spirit takes a backseat in this movie, acting as more of a trait of Buddy’s character rather than a motivating factor in this story. Buddy still often discusses the magic of Christmas, earning the film a 3 on this scale. This brings the aggregate “Christmasness” score of “Elf ” to 20/30.

A CHRISTMAS STORY

“A Christmas Story” is the 1983 classic detailing the various Christmas memories of Ralphie Parker, the most famous of which being his quest for a Red Ryder BB gun. Ralphie debates back and forth with his parents about why he should be able to have this toy. Starting with generosity, Ralphie, like many 9-year-olds, is not very generous. The other characters in the film also do not express too much generosity, save for Ralphie’s old man, who in the end does get Ralphie his precious gun. This general lack of generosity earns the movie a 2 on that scale. However, this movie excels in the joy category. The stuck to a pole scene alone is so ingrained in the history of cinema that movies still pay homage to it today. On the joy scale, this movie earns a 10. As for the final category, the Christmas spirit is never mentioned nor acts as a motivator for any of the characters in the film. On the Christmas spirit scale, it earns a 0. This brings the “Christmasness” score to a 12/30.

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MEASURING CHRISTMAS MOVIES ON A YULETIDE SCALE HOME ALONE

1990’s “Home Alone” details the rambunctious hijinks of Kevin McCallister as he tries to defend his home from burglars all while he is home alone. Kevin employs increasingly elaborate traps in order to bamboozle the burglars. This film doesn’t particularly exhibit or promote any values of generosity, except for the generosity of the people helping Kevin’s family get home.

However, because this part is not the main focus it earns only a 3 on this scale. On the joy scale, this is another 10, the slapstick humor is really what makes this movie as iconic as it is. As for the Christmas spirit, once again it is not mentioned by name, but the magic of the holiday is what’s used as the main reason as to why people are generous enough to help Kevin’s family get home.

However, it still is not featured as a main element of the story, earning it a 3 on this scale as well.

In total, “Home Alone” scores a 16/30 on the “Christmasness” scale.

ThE POLAR EXPRESS

2004 saw the release of the film adaptation of the beloved children’s book “Polar Express”.

The film of the same name was directed by Robert Zemeckis and featured experimental motion capture animation that made the film look like the space between animation and live action, creating a magical look that had been seen seldom elsewhere. The film follows the plot of the book, following a group of kids as they board the magical Polar Express and make their way to the North Pole in order to meet Santa Claus. In terms of generosity, the film’s hot chocolate scene where a girl saves a cup of cocoa for another boy is really the only major example of this value being demonstrated. For that it earns a 3 on this scale. On the joy scale, this film is filled with a sense of childlike wonder, which makes it hard not to smile when watching it. As has been the case for every film on this list, it earns a 10 on the joy scale. For the incorporation of the Christmas spirit, this film is imbued with Christmas magic from the very beginning. The magical appearance of the train itself, to the grandiose nature of the North Pole, every little detail is enriched by the magic of Christmas. The Christmas spirit is incorporated into the plot as well, with the bell the boy gets at the end only making a ringing sound to those who still believe in Christmas. On the Christmas spirit Scale, “The Polar Express” earns a 10. “The Polar Express” has earned a total “Christmasness” score of 23/30.

CONCLUSION

Based on the aggregate scores of all four films, “The Polar Express” has emerged as the winner and earned the title of the quintessential Christmas movie. This film holds such a dear place in the hearts of many, and is definitely worth a watch this holiday season. It exhibits the values of the holiday all the while putting a smile on your face during the season of joy, generosity and the Christmas spirit.

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SQUASHING THE BEEF WITH FAKE MEAT Article by Tavish Ward Graphic by Maxi de la Fuente

A couple miles from the White House sits a restaurant called China Chilcano. While it serves most of what one would expect from a Peruvian restaurant, there is something that differentiates it from all other places. If a reservation is made, likely months in advance, there is an option to have “Anticuchos de Pollo,” or chicken skewers. This may sound relatively basic, but the meat on the skewer is not harvested from the bird, it is harvested in a lab.

Throughout history, meat has been a fundamental part of the human diet. But whether it be nomadic peoples following the migrations of cattle thousands of years ago or Gordon Ramsay preparing his famous beef Wellington, the source of meat has almost always come from one thing: living, breathing animals. Meat cultivation changes that.

To create lab-grown meat, animal stem cells are carefully gathered through non-harmful methods and placed in a bioreactor, where they are provided with the necessary nutrients to multiply and grow into muscle tissue. Using natural materials such as gelatin and cellulose to make edible scaffoldings, the cells are then formed into the intended shape: burger patties, chicken nuggets, center-cut steaks and much more.

The result, by multiple accounts, tastes very similar to the meat that is bought from a grocery store and cooked at home. In addition, not only is there no animal slaughtered, but there is also the potential for an immensely positive environmental impact.

Currently, animal agriculture generates at least 15% of global greenhouse gasses, more than all of the transportation industry combined, and is the cause of up to 91% of the destruction in the Amazon rainforest. In addition, livestock is responsible for 65% of nitrous oxide emissions, which is 296 times more destructive than carbon dioxide. Cattle produce 150 billion gallons of methane per day, which has a global warming potential 86 times that of carbon dioxide. This is just the tip of the iceberg, and it is clear that animal agriculture is one of the most detrimental aspects

of climate change.

“If you just make plants, you would just have land that’s used for the cultivation of those plants, but if you have meat production, a lot of the time you have land that is used for the cultivation of food for those animals, and then you have to provide them with water, and then those animals also need land in order to live,” biology and environmental science teacher, Emily Massey-Burmeister said. “So you use more land to eat meat - based products in the conventional agriculture system than you would to just eat plants.”

Cultivated meat companies are heavily advertising their sustainability. One such company, GoodMeat, which supplies the aforementioned restaurant China Chilcano with the lab-grown chicken, claims that their process will release 92% less carbon emissions and use 95% less land than livestock farming. The International Panel on Climate Change agrees, saying cultivated and plant-based meat could play a critical role in halving global emissions by 2030.

According to a 2019 study in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, if we took half of the crops that are used as food for animals, we would be able to solve world hunger. Another 2022 study in the journal Nature found that if we replaced 20% of global beef consumption with a meat alternative, deforestation would be cut in half. Lab-grown meats can help with these issues, but its success will likely be determined by the public’s response.

Massey-Burmeister believes that there will be varying reactions.

“You’re always going to have that subset of the population that never eat lab-grownmeats, [however] if lab-grown meats are going to help with sustainability, I think you are going to have a market that will want to purchase those products,” Massey-Burmeister said.

Senior Taylor Pitone is one of the people who would be open to trying lab-grown meat as long as safety regulations are met, but she’s unsure if her sentiments are widely shared.

“I definitely think once [cultivated meat] is first introduced to the public there’s going to be a lot of backlash,” Pitone said. “There’s already people who don’t want to get the [COVID-19] vaccine, and so to consume meat that was grown in a lab, I know people are going to find that problematic.”

There is always going to be opposition to change, but a better planet is possible, and it can become a reality by starting at the beginning, by starting with the most basic unit of life, by starting with a cell.

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December 2O23

FIGHT FOR FAIR PLAY

Sports industry struggles with gender pay gap Article by Olivia Agnew Graphic by Sam Miller In 1950, Kathryn Johnston cut her hair and went by the pseudonym “Tubby” in order to try out for an all-male Little League team. She ended up making the team, but when they found out she was a girl, the Little League made a rule banning all girls from playing.

They called it “The Tubby Rule.”

There are many organizations that have been fighting for gender equality in the work place and in sports. Although there have been large strides, the sports industry is falling behind the trend with female athletes still having to fight for equal pay among other rights.

Those who point to viewership/fan base as the reason male athletes are paid more often point to the disparity in viewership of the National Basketball Association (NBA) versus the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA). On the other hand, according to a 2023 Sports Media Watch sutdy, 5.47 million people watch the NBA, while

only 627,000 watch the WNBA. Junior Sarah Currie believes that people are naturally attracted to watching men’s sports as opposed to women’s.

“You can look at the statistics, obviously men are paid more in sports, but I feel like it has a lot to do with the fact that people watch men’s sports way more than female sports,” Currie said.

However, women’s tennis has shown a positive shift in its marketing industry, leading to a 17% greater viewership than men’s tennis. The disparity in viewership between the two sports shows the effect that marketing can have on the popularity of female sports.

The 2023 U.S. Open tournament was watched around the world, and many traveled to Queens, New York to watch it.

During this year’s tournament, the women’s finalist match had 3.4 million viewers from everywhere, compared to the men’s match which had only 2.3 million viewers.

This year the U.S. Open celebrated 50 years of equal pay. In 1973, Billy Jean King, a tennis player, fought for female players to earn equal pay. According to a 2021 History Channel study, she threatened to boycott the U.S. Open unless the women’s prizes were equal to the men’s.

Ethics teacher Benjamin Gaddis argues

that not only marketing but also sponsorship makes a difference when it comes to pay. The average income for an NBA player is $8.5 million without sponsorships while the average income for a WNBA player is only $102,000.

“Nobody wants to sponsor something that’s not watched,” Gaddis said.

Sponsorships help to increase viewership because having a product or a brand represent an athlete will bring in viewers interested in the brand. According to an OpenSponsership study, LA Laker player Lebron James was sponsored by Nike in 2021.

According to a 2021 Sports Illustrated study, only 5.7% of all ESPN’s broadcasting is women’s sports, and 5.1% of that is shown between the hours of 6 p.m. -11 p.m. Yet most of these games take place during the day, which means it is not the actual live broadcast of the game.

The reason behind this could be because of the lack of viewership female sports have.

The U.S. Women’s National Team (USWNT) is another team that is underpaid despite attaining more viewers than their male counterparts. The USWNT sold more tickets than the men’s team and made it further in the World Cup; they are still underfunded.

“When women get knocked out early, we call them complainers,” Gaddis said. “We say that we shouldn’t pay them. Yet when male athletes do the same, you’re not seeing people say, ‘let’s cut their pay.’”

The average income for a player on the USWNT is $54,000, when the men’s team makes around $263,000-$294,000. According to a 2023 Capital One study, the average salary for someone in their late 20s and early 30s is $54,184.

The fight for equal pay is still being fought, and female athletes will continue to push for this right.

“At the end of the day, men and women are both putting in the work to be the best athlete they possibly can,” Currie said.

Sports

December 2O23

A MENTAL MARATHON Article by David Steinberg Graphic by Caden Liu

World record holder, 8-time World Swimmer of the Year, Sports Illustrated Sportsman of the Year, most decorated Olympian of all time with 28 medals and one of the greatest athletes in history: Michael Phelps had conquered it all, or so it seemed. Phelps dominated the global swimming stage from 2003 until his retirement in 2016. During that time, he appeared to be invincible. In reality, under every victory, smile and celebration was a man who struggled with depression and anxiety to the point where he didn’t recognize himself as a human being anymore, but rather a swimming machine. After seeking help for substance abuse and suicidal thoughts, Phelps joined the wave of athletes, both professional and amateur, to publicly speak out about their struggles and the stigma surrounding mental health in athletics.

According to the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM), approximately 35% of professional or elite athletes suffer from disordered eating, burnout, depression and/or anxiety. Professionals are not the only athletes susceptible to these issues, though. ACSM also reports that 30% of female and 25% of male student-athletes at all levels report having stress-induced anxiety.

Mental health is a growing topic in the sports world today and has quickly become a key focus in high school, collegiate and professional programs. Trinity Prep Athletic Director (AD) Collin Sullivan, who was formerly Brown University’s AD from 2015 to January 2023, noted that mental health awareness has been one of the top priorities within the NCAA for a number of years. In 2014, only 25 Division I schools had a full-time licensed mental health practitioner on staff, according to ESPN. Today, the NCAA has ensured that every school across the nation provides athletes with access to a therapist, practitioner or mental health resource.

During his time at Brown, Sullivan had multiple encounters with athletes who were visibly overwhelmed due to their struggles on the field or in the classroom. He believes the main reason student-athletes experience men-

tal health issues is due to their lofty and unrealistic expectations.

“Many athletes expect perfection,” Sullivan said. “When that bar is set so high, that can be a barrier to some people. I think sometimes done is better than perfect as long as the effort’s there. Now that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t strive to be perfect, but I think some people will always evaluate themselves against that standard.”

Another major cause of mental health issues amongst athletes are injuries. Whenever an athlete goes down with an injury, there are certain steps they need to take to return to the playing field. Oftentimes, this will include surgery, rehabilitation or rest.

For athletes whose futures rely on performance, time away from the game proves to be highly detrimental to their mental health. In middle school, high school and college, Kenny McKinley was the best player on his team.

After fulfilling his lifelong dream of being drafted to the NFL by the Denver Broncos, McKinley suffered back-to-back knee injuries requiring surgery in his first few seasons. Falling into a deep depression, McKinley tragically chose to take his life at the age of 23 instead of seeking the help he needed. Cases like McKinley’s aren’t uncommon, though. Studies by the Mental Health Foundation and National Institutes of Health (NIH) suggest that athletes are 17% less likely to seek medical help for mental health issues than the average adult.

Prominent Sport Psychologist Dr. Gio Valiente, known for working with some of the top golfers in the world including Justin Rose and Jordan Spieth, believes the best way to solve this issue is by providing young people, both athletes and non-athletes, with

a strong support system. Whether it be a family member, psychologist or guidance counselor, having someone trustworthy to talk to is more important than it may seem.

“A base level of anxiety is built into the human condition, and the problem is, anxiety at its highest level can be

debilitating,” Valiente said. “I think there’s real value in teaching the next generation how to manage anxiety so it doesn’t get to that point. Having resources like sports psychologists and a caring family is

the healthiest way to help people.”

At Trinity, student-athletes face many of the same challenges as professional and collegiate athletes: anxiety, poor time management, unhealthy sleep habits, etc. While

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Athletes shift the narrative surrounding mental health they aren’t playing sports to provide for their families like many professionals are, high schoolers yield their own stresses — most notably, college applications. Especially during junior and senior year, rigorous course loads, essays, applications and sports prove to be very stressful. Senior varsity tennis

“When games or practice run over time, the first thing on my mind is getting home fast enough to eat, finish my homework and study for tests or quizzes the next day,” Qu said. “It’s pretty overwhelming for me and I know that other people would agree too, but there isn’t much you can do about it.”

While balancing work and athletics is an obvious stressor, studies point to another unexpected factor that plays a role in the performance of athletes: social media. After Simone Biles unexpectedly dropped out of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics due to mental health issues, fellow American Suni Lee captured the gold medal in the gymnastics all-around. Just a day after gaining 250,000 followers on Instagram, 18-year-old Lee performed an imperfect routine and attributed it

player Lucas Qu mentioned that during the season, he completes his homework whenever he can, even at the tennis court in between games.

Because of the unpredictability of high school tennis schedules, Qu often finds himself staying up late at night to get all his work done.

to “getting distracted.” While this may seem like an excuse to some, studies on athletes have actually shown that social media increases anxiety and impacts performance.

A 2017 NIH study of 298 varying-leveled athletes found that 68.1% had accessed Facebook within two hours of competing. The athletes’ time spent on Facebook was positively correlated with concentration disruption and great sports anxiety. Valiente connects social media’s effect on performance to the mental exhaustion athletes experience when utilizing it, especially before competition or practice.

“The emergence of social media plays a big role in [the performance of athletes],” Valiente said. “People are getting bombarded, it’s called cognitive overload … When people are

exposed to images and videos all the time, that screws up the wiring of the brain.”

Additionally, late-night binging on social media impacts another valuable aspect of performance: sleep. A 2019 study published in “Sleep Health” found that NBA players who tweeted from 11 p.m. to 7 a.m. the night before a game experienced a decrease in statistics across the board: namely, poorer shooting accuracy, less playing time, fewer points scored and fewer rebounds.

In the NBA, a single point could mean the difference between a win or loss, which is why teams are increasingly focused on the mental aspect of the game. In a league where every player is physically talented, mentality could set one team apart from the rest. Orlando Magic Assistant Coach Jesse Mermuys, who has served 15 years in the NBA, mentioned that training on the court is just as important as training off of it.

“Mental health is extremely important in any high stress, high pressure industry ... [like] the NBA,” Mermuys said. “The game is constantly evolving, and the skill level of this new generation is incredible. One area where players can really separate themselves is the mental part of their performance. At the Magic, we are constantly doing breathwork, meditation and visualization to give our team a competitive advantage.”

However, the benefits that come with prioritizing mental health may not be enough. In many cases, those who look indestructible are even more susceptible to mental health issues: Michael Phelps, Simone Biles, Naomi Osaka, LeBron James and the list goes on. No matter the activity, whether it be athletics or not, being passionate about something comes with a baseline of stress. Recognizing that everyone is human is essential for any athlete to be the best version of themselves.

“There’s a lot of anxiety built into sports,” Valiente said. “It’s just a part of the process of anything you care about or you’re trying to achieve, whether that be sports or something else. If you care about something, it’s always going to come with a little bit of anxiety, but making sure you get help if you need it is more important than anything else.”

Sports

December 2O23

GET YOUR NAME IN THE GAME Article by David Hull Graphic by Caden Liu and photos by Jackson Napier For decades, college athletes have been significant contributors to a $15 billion industry, benefiting college athletic programs, broadcasting networks and the NCAA. Until recently, college athletes were prohibited from profiting from any athletic endeavors despite generating revenue for others.

On July 1, 2021, following years of controversy surrounding athletic compensation, the NCAA altered its regulations, enabling student-athletes to profit from their name, image and likeness (NIL).

One year after this change, athletes have received an estimated $917 million through NIL deals, and the NIL market is now valued at over $1 billion annually.

“I think when name, image and likeness first came around it completely opened a door for athletes and it was a great opportunity,” Athletic Director Collin Sullivan said.

To attract NIL deals, college athletes often partner with local businesses, restaurants or donor-driven organizations called collectives.

Collectives use donor funds to create opportunities for athletes to make money. Despite only being a part of about 20 percent of NIL activities, collectives account for nearly 80 percent of athletes’ compensation.

According to Opendorse, the leading athletic marketplace for NIL, the average NIL deal for Division I athletes is worth $1,300 while the median compensation is only $65.

The majority of athletes, especially those at non-power five schools, receive less than the average compensation of an NIL deal, so there is great inequi-

ty between higher-profile athletes and lesser-known ones.

Trinity alum and current USF offensive lineman Cole Best has received five NIL deals from local businesses and collectives.

Over his career, Best has profited more than $10,000 from deals with businesses including Hooters, Portillo’s and the Fowler Ave Collective. Best has played against some of the top ranked schools in the nation and recognizes that high-performing athletes deserve a higher compensation because of their appeal to both businesses and fans.

“I think everyone should have an opportunity to make something but better performance is going to pay more because it’s a performance-based industry,” Best said.

While performance is directly correlated to NIL earnings, social media plays a role as well.

Livvy Dunne, the highest paid female college athlete in the nation, earns almost $3.5 million annually. Although Dunne is an excellent gymnast at one of the top programs in the nation, her fame and popularity is mostly attributed to her social media presence. In a similar sense, Bronny James utilizes the James’ family name to strengthen his presence on social media. Despite barely cracking the top 20 players in his class, James earns $6.2 million annually, making him the highest paid college athlete in the nation.

Over the past two years, trouble regulating collectives’ power and extensive deals have caused doubts about the future of NILs in collegiate sports. Despite profiting from NIL, Best thinks that new guidelines are necessary to limit its effect on sports.

“It’s getting a little out of hand,” Best said. “I think there needs to be statues and limitations to it.”

The main critique of the current system argues that wealthy donors have a significant impact on college athletics by offering substantial benefits and perks to athletes, attracting high-level recruits to schools they wouldn’t otherwise choose. For The Win 360, a collective partnered with the University of Utah, recently leased 85 Ram trucks to all scholarship athletes on the Utes’ football team. Donors in charge of the collective agreed to cover the trucks’ leases as long as athletes remain on scholarship and are eligible to play. Junior baseball player and University of Virginia commit Aiden Stillman witnessed the

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Name, image and likeness continues to change the landscape of college athletics effect of NIL deals while being recruited and doesn’t agree with certain methods used to attract players.

“I think [NIL] can be really beneficial for some players who aren’t given enough scholarship money,” Stillman said. “On the other hand, I think it can be used in a really negative way when schools and collectives bribe players to go to certain schools.”

Like Stillman, Sullivan worries about some of the unintended consequences of the new NIL culture. Specifically, he’s concerned with how NIL deals can affect team chemistry for athletes who feel they are deserving of greater compensation than their teammates.

Team chemistry has not only been harmed

by NIL but also by new transfer portal rules implemented in 2021. These rules allow a onetime transfer without requiring the athlete to sit out for one year, which used to be the case.

With the addition of NIL, the transfer portal has become more active as well-performing athletes are choosing to transfer to schools where they can make more money without

a transfer penalty. Sullivan recognizes that both the trading portal and recruiting athletes through NIL have made it so that it is more difficult for coaches to develop a team over multiple years.

“It used to be if you were really a high quality coach, you were going to build a program where you recruit younger kids to develop them,” Sullivan said. “Now [coaches] have to build a team in one year, and are going to essentially reload every year with transfers.”

Mid-major schools, which participate at the Division I level but aren’t part of the power-five, have also faced consequences since the addition of NIL and new transfer portal regulations. Less popular programs often lack the financial support from boosters and collectives to compete with high-end athletic schools like the University of Alabama, which attract both recruits and transfers. Sullivan mentioned that teams reloading every year with transfers commonly take players that performed well at these less successful programs, making it very difficult for mid-majors to find success.

“As players perform well at the mid-major level, often they’re going to have the opportunity to transfer to a high-level school where there could be more NIL money that isn’t available at the mid-major level,” Sullivan said.

“There’s limited resources with respect to collectives and outside funding at the mid-majors, and most of their resources are going to program development as opposed to in the pocket of players.”

With the recent rule changes affecting the culture of college sports, many fans are worried about the heavy impact financial incentives will have on college athletes. Best said that he has been a life-long football fan and prefers college athletics over professional sports, which he believes are too centered around politics and money.

“I like [NIL] but only to an extent,” Best said. “It’s really affected recruiting. I live and breathe football and I love the culture so I just hate to see money come in the way of that.”

WORD ON CAMPUS

Do you think the addition of NIL has had more positive or negative effects on college athletics? “[NIL] is good because college athletes can now make money even though they can’t have jobs because of the time they spend playing sports.”

“From the recruiting perspective, it’s a negative effect because bigger schools have more money, which makes the playing field uneven.”

“Most college athletes don’t have time to work another job so I feel like they should be able to get paid for performing well in their craft.”

- Mason Lukens, 7th grade

- Britt Steketee, Freshman

- Carrie Lopez, Teacher

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THE SWIFT EFFECT Article by Rahul Sivakumaran and Laziza Talipova Graphic by Sam Miller In the realm of sports, the National Football League (NFL) has always been a dominant force, attracting high viewership and fan engagement. However, in recent weeks, the NFL has witnessed an unexpected but significant influence on its viewership coming from the world of music, and more specifically, from the global pop sensation, Taylor Swift. Swift’s arrival has led to an incredible impact on the NFL, bringing two divergent worlds together.

Kansas City Chiefs center, 2x Super Bowl champion, and Ed Block Courage Award recipient Austin Reiter said her impact is profound in the football world.

“The buzz around her is definitely bigger than any other celebrity that’s come to a game,” Reiter said.

After recently going public about her relationship with Kansas City Chiefs superstar tight end Travis Kelce, Swift has spread her impact from the charts to the field. This relationship garnered mass attention from both NFL and Swift fans, having profound effects on football viewership and culture.

In Swift’s first appearance at an NFL game against the New York Jets on Sunday Night Football, history was made. Around 9:30 p.m. in the second quarter of the game, the audience peaked at 29.2 million viewers, the most since the Super Bowl. According to NBC Sports, the game witnessed an increase in female viewership, with teen girls viewership increasing by 53%, along with historic increases in viewership with women from the ages of 18-24 and 35+. In contrast, the most watched baseball game in 2022, Game 6 of the World Series, peaked at 14.73 million viewers, less than half as many as Swift’s debut.

Following Swift’s first appearance at Arrowhead Stadium, Chiefs’ ticket sales surged as supporters clamored for tickets, anticipating Swift might show up for the following game. The Vivid Seats website had a 173% boost in traffic for the Chiefs-Jets game page, per ESPN Stats.

Additionally, on Sept. 24, Kelce’s jersey ranked in the top five in NFL jersey sales thanks to an incredible 400% increase in sales across the Fanatics network of websites, which

includes NFLShop.com.

Swift’s appearance has taken a new demographic and fanbase and introduced them to the realm of football.

“People that may not be big football fans are now watching football because the person they’re a fan of watches football,” Reiter said.

“It’s super cool when you get a collection of people to have an interest in something new.”

Swift is undoubtedly one of the most wellknown individuals in the world and a formidable force in the music business. Just from ticket sales in the new leg of her Eras Tour in North America, Swift brought in $2.2 billion.

As a result of her current relationship with Kelce, her die-hard “Swifties” have taken an interest in football following her appearances. Swift’s presence at the Chiefs’ games has encouraged many of her fans — particularly women — to show a new interest in a traditionally male-dominated game. Senior Claire Pankros, an avid Chiefs fan and Swiftie sees nothing but positives in Swift’s appearances.

“As both a Swift and Chiefs fan, I’m ecstatic,” Pankros said. “ It makes things more interesting. I think there’s a lot of people that think, ‘oh Taylor Swift watches football, so now I’m watching football.’”

Rumors about their relationship began in July when Kelce hinted at his feelings for Swift to his brother on their podcast “New Heights.”

In July, he had fashioned a friendship bracelet

with his phone number on it to give to Taylor Swift during her concert, but was unable to meet her before or after the show.

A few days before the Chicago Bears’ game against the Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium, Kelce made an appearance on “The Pat McAfee Show” to address the reports that the two were dating.

“I told her that I’ve seen her rock a stage in Arrowhead, and she might have to come see me rock the stage at Arrowhead,” Kelce said.

“We’ll see what happens in the near future.”

Swift was seen at Arrowhead a few days later, seated in a suite close to Kelce’s mother. Following the game, Swift and the tight end were spotted driving away together in a convertible. According to People.com, more rumors spread, saying that they rented out the rooftop of a nearby Kansas City restaurant and spent time socializing with other Chiefs players and their girlfriends.

The Taylor Swift impact is real and has given football a fresh, energetic following. According to Bleacher Report, Kelce’s personal following on social media surged to 1.1 million as of Oct. 8, while the Chiefs’ social media following saw an astounding spike of over 200,000 followers.

The NFL social media team went with it and highlighted Swift as much as they could, and even changed their biography on Instagram to “Taylor’s Version.”

“I think the higher powers there in the networks and the NFL are kind of like, yes, let’s push this, this is the kind of agenda we wanted,” Reiter said. “We want more women viewers. We want more people interested, and I think they’re just running with it right now. And I can’t blame them for it.”

It progressed to the point that many football fans started to complain about the NFL showing too much of Swift, as they claimed it was taking away the real element of football.

“Now people turn their TV to NFL games to see if they catch a sighting of or glimpse of Taylor Swift,” science teacher and longtime NFL fan Anthony Palumbo said. “I’m not sure if there’s many people even watching football at this point.”

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Puzzle

Puzzles by Karthik Stead

December 2O23 Connections!

How to Play: Find a group of four items that have something in common, circle them to make a category. There are four categories total.

Prancer

Gingerbread

Front

Ariana

Dancer

Blitzen

Attitude

Bing

Michael

Clothing

Frosted

Weather

Sugar

Donner

Chocolate Chip

Mariah

ACROSS

DOWN

1. Gateway to another di-

2. _____ Tot

mension 3. The sum of one’s parts 3. The Eras ____ 5. To join or connect two 4. An irritating way of expressing an opinion

or more things together.

6. An actor’s part

7. General term for birds

8. The eighth planet from the sun

9. University of Oklahoma football team

Cryptography!

Use a 4-letter Caesar Cipher to decode this message!

DOV KV FVB AOPUR FVB HYL, ZOLYSVJR? ___ __ ___ _____ ___ ___, ________?

Answers:

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Photos

December 2O23

PHOTOGRAPHY EXPOSITION Fundraising on Campus

Jackson Napier Freshmen Isaac Robinson, Luke Kang and Jack Nave dress in purple to support Cancer Awareness Week which ran from Oct. 24 to Oct. 28.

Olivia Prince On Oct. 18, members of the student body and their families sell baked goods to raise money for United Hatzalah in Israel to aid rescue and first aid efforts.

Ella Eichenholz Seniors Abigail Thomas and Emily Hernan sell baked goods to raise money for SADD club. The money they raised from the bake sale will go towards the Red Ribbon Association and the Mock DUI that the club with host later this year.

Olivia Kortman Middle school girls form a circle of hearts on the pink casual day in honor of the theater performance “Mean Girls,” which ran from Nov. 2 to Nov. 5.