October Issue

THE TRINITY VOICE

SENIOR SUNRISE

To signify the beginning of their senior year, the class of ‘24 watches the sunrise in their senior crowns.

NEWS OPINIONS FOCUS

The new science building planned for 2O24 construction will provide more STEM opportunities.

Page 1O

Florida’s AP bans and content restrictions are an attack on education.

Page 13

LIFESTYLES

Why do we enjoy being afraid? Explore the psychology behind fear being fun.

Page 15

Humanity’s view of UFOs and aliens has evolved throughout time.

Page 21

October 2O23

Volume 26 Issue 1

Trinity Preparatory School

57OO Trinity Prep Lane

Winter Park, FL 32792

SPORTS

As temperatures rise, young athletes are at risk for heatrelated illnesses.

Page 23

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

e Trinity Voice is produced by the newspaper/journalism class at Trinity Preparatory School of Florida. Editorials represent the opinion of e Trinity Voice writer and are not necessarily the views of the administration, faculty, or Board of Trustees of Trinity. e Voice welcomes letters to the editor and freelance articles or photography. All submissions become the property of e Voice. Please send all correspondence to 5700 Trinity Prep Lane, FL 32792. e 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 e 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).

STAFF

Editor-in-Chief: Taylor Riley

Managing Editors: David Steinberg, Karthik Stead, Carol Marques, Peyton Alch

Layout Editors: Peyton Alch, Lucy Chong

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 Gri th, 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

This Month’s Focus

Topic:

HALLOWEEN

Saint Talk

This Month’s Podcast: Ep.1 - Blickman Bonds with Trinity

Blurb by Gustavo Membreno Photo courtsey by Sebastiaan Blickman

On this episode of Saint Talk, Gustavo Membreno and Nikhil Daniel sit down with Sebastiaan Blickman, Trinity Prep’s new Assistant Head of Upper School and Dean of Students. Blickman shares his unique journey from playing professional soccer in Denmark to pursuing his passion for education. Tune in to hear more about Blickman’s path to education!

171,5OO Hollywood writers and actors on strike due to unfair wages and lack of job security

NEWS BITES

This Month: By The Numbers

2

New highly contagious COVID-19 variants: FL.1.5.1, and BA.2.86

The Headlines

Category 4 storm Hurricane Idalia had winds reaching up to 125 mph, causing serious damage in Florida’s Gulf Coast

6O,37O,OOO

First-day global Spotify streams for Olivia Rodrigo’s new album “GUTS”

Halloween falls on a full moon every 19 years, occuring next in 2O39

Taylor Swift’s ‘The Eras Tour’ generates over 2.2 billion dollars in revenue

Former President Donald Trump indicted and charged with racketeering, his fourth charge since March 2O23

Halloween Fun Facts

American consumers spent nearly $3.4 billion on Halloween decorations in 2O22

Reese’s Cups are the most popular Halloween candy in America

BROWN PSYCHED FOR PSYCH

New teacher Michael Brown comes to Trinity for his next chapter

Article by Tavish Ward Photo courtesy of Michael Brown

A new school and a newborn, Michael Brown ended his summer with beginnings.

On Aug. 8, while most students and faculty were prepping for the new school year, Michael Brown welcomed his second child into the world. Just one week later, he stepped foot onto an unfamiliar campus, walked into a different classroom and got ready to teach a room lled with eager students who were ready to learn what he could teach them about psychology. While others might be overwhelmed by such considerable changes, Brown said he feels pretty good.

“I’ve done new schools before and this being our second kid, it’s not as stressful as the rst,” Brown said.

An educator for 11 years, Brown has taught at a wide variety of schools, most immediately Lyman High School. At Trinity, he hopes that the smaller classes will allow for deeper and more thought-provoking discussions about topics in the curriculum.

“I’m used to the public school system, where I’ve got 30 plus students in my room, and if we derail too much, the lesson’s gone,” Brown said. “I’m excited to get o topic and explore

new ideas a bit more.”

After graduating high school, Brown attended the University of Central Florida, where he quickly found two loves: teaching and psy-

chology. Now, as students listen while he discusses the ideas of Sigmund Freud, he is able to pursue both at the same time.

“I love the changes that occur in us as humans, and it’s all about from the minute you’re born and conceived to the minute you die,” Brown said about developmental psychology, his favorite part of the curriculum. “How do your morals and ethics change as you age? It’s fascinating to study year after year, how people become di erent.”

When he’s not delving into various elements of the human mind, Brown often tries to get lost in his own. A sci- and fantasy enthusiast, he loves immersing himself in the universes of ctional worlds such as Star Wars and Lord of the Rings. And although he isn’t traveling to Tatooine or the Cracks of Doom, he is adventurous, and enjoys outdoor rock climbing and sur ng. He hopes to use his experiences to not just help his students appreciate the intricacies of psychology, but also help them appreciate the simplicities of life.

“I like that I get to model to youth what life can look like,” Brown said. “I like to think I’m fairly joyful…and that’s an option for people if they want it.”

Michael Brown pictured with his wife and daughter on Halloween.

TROUBLE IN PARADISE

Article by Sebastian Cabeza Graphic by Sam Miller

TRAGEDY STRIKES

From Aug. 8 to 10, Maui su ered one of the most devastating wild res in modern U.S. history. On the morning of Aug. 8, the ames started as a small brush re in Maui’s upcountry region, closer inland. By the afternoon, other wild res broke out on the west side of the island, engul ng the historic town of Lahaina. e re quickly grew out of control, trapping local residents and forcing some to jump into the ocean for safety.

Over 100 lives were lost, and close to 400 more are unaccounted for (as of Sep. 5). ousands of residents lost their homes, and thousands more were left without power.

e wild res raged for two days before nally being contained on Aug. 10, but not without destroying over 2,200 buildings and leaving many of the island’s historical sites in ruins.

GOVERNMENT RESPONDS

Maui’s top Hawaiian Emergency Management Agency o cial, Herman Andaya, has since resigned after his decision to not sound the island’s emergency warning sirens during the wild res. Many residents of the island have criticized the lack of proper emergency warnings, which left many scrambling for safety. Residents only received an emergency alert on their phone, similar to alerts sent out for other weather events like thunderstorms, leading many to underestimate the severity of the crisis.

As the debate over the cause of the wild res continues, Maui County has led a lawsuit against Hawaii Electric, a private energy company that supplies most of Hawaii’s power.

County o cials have claimed that the utility company did not properly maintain its powerlines or clear drying vegetation near power poles that could start a re. e fatal o ense was on the day of the re when they kept their lines electri ed even after repeated red- ag re warnings. Although many residents on

Trinity. Two juniors, Rianna Patel and Kylie Southard, were particularly moved by the res and decided to start a fundraiser alongside Trinity’s Habitat for Humanity Club.

“People have not only lost their homes,” Patel said. “ ey’ve also lost their history.”

Patel and Southard were able to raise the money by selling various items like Hawaiian bracelets and hairpins, as well as working with administration to create a $2 casual day. All the proceeds went to Habitat for Humanity

Maui’s disaster relief fund and will be used to help rebuild homes destroyed by the res. In total, Trinity managed to raise $2,176.

A CLIMATE CATASTROPHE

Sources: e New York Times, CNN

the island have claimed negligence in the past, this is the rst time the local government has also led suit.

TRINITY TAKES ACTION

e magnitude of this catastrophe has inspired some students to take action here at

As climate change worsens, so have massive wild res like the one on Maui. Since 1990, Maui has seen a decline in average rainfall and an increase in average temperature, making the island much drier than it normally would be, signi cantly degrading the island’s forests. In addition, Maui’s vegetation is plagued by highly ammable, invasive species of grass that were brought to the island by American settlers and sugar barons after its illegal annexation in 1898. According to environmental science teacher Emily Massey-Burmeister, these factors combined made the threat of a massive wild re inevitable.

“It’s like a powder keg,” Massey- Burmeister said. “All that dry organic matter [waiting] on the forest oor, and the trees themselves can be almost like a match that’s waiting for a light.”

e match that lit the proverbial powder keg was Hurricane Dora, a Category 4 storm

How climate change and neocolonialism destroyed Maui

that passed south of Hawaii. Although Hawaii wasn’t directly hit by the storm, hurricane winds reached the islands, causing the re to spread much faster.

COLONIALISM’S LEGACY

In the wake of such a disaster, many Hawaiians are raising concerns about wealthy real estate interests taking advantage of the crisis to seize land. For over 100 years, Hawaii has been dominated by America’s corporate class at the expense of Native Hawaiians.

Beginning in the 1800s, white investors began arriving on the islands and buying up most of the land to build plantations, transforming much of the Hawaiian Kingdom’s biodiverse jungles into elds of monocrop sugarcane and pineapple cultivation. It didn’t take very long for these rich landowners to overthrow the Hawaiian government in an armed coup d’etat, paving the way for the United States to illegally annex the islands in 1898. Sugar and pineapple capitalists held vast in uence over the new government, allowing for their continued expansion and exploitation of Hawaii’s people and resources.

Today, those plantations have been replaced by real estate companies that have undercut the interests of Native Hawaiians and the environment to build luxury resorts, golf courses and large vacation homes for rich tourists. ese same real estate corporations are now looking to buy up the land destroyed by the wild res and turn it into more expensive properties for investors to speculate on. Since the res, real estate agents have been coldcalling residents who have had their homes and livelihoods destroyed, urging them to sell their property rather than wait for relief aid. Pro teering from natural disasters is not unique to Maui and has seen a substantial rise, especially in the last 20 years. For instance,

after Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans in 2005, private interests moved quickly to tear down public housing projects and replace them with luxury condominiums. As climate change increases the frequency and severity of natural disasters, this trend is sure to continue.

CONCLUSION

To prevent another disaster of this scale or worse from ravaging Hawaii, several things must happen. Firstly, an end to American neocolonial exploitation of Hawaii’s resources and people, which created the conditions for the wild re to begin with, and are now compounding the e ects of the catastrophe with economic hardship. Secondly, global action combating climate change is needed, or else natural disasters like the wild re on Maui are guaranteed to continue happening. According to Burmeister, the Maui wild res are a warning of what’s to come if no action is taken.

“Death by a thousand cuts,” Burmeister said. “ at’s what we’re going through now.”

“Death by a thousand cuts. That’s what we’re going through now.”

- Emily Massey-Burmeister, Environmental Science Teacher

BECKER FOLLOWS FAMILY LEGACY

German exchange student follows her families travel legacy

Article by Olivia Agnew

Coming all the way from Essen, Germany, exchange student Hanna Becker, makes her way to Trinity Prep for her sophomore year. Following in her parents footsteps Becker comes ready to soak up one year of the American high school experience.

“Both my parents [did] exchange years and they both told me that those years were incredible and that they found so many friends, experienced new things learned about other cultures,” Becker said. “It was always a plan, I wanted to go to the U.S. to improve my English skills. And also there’s so many cultures and so many people [in the U.S.].”

Becker was welcomed to America with open arms from her peers.

Garibay

“People would go to you and ask who are you? How are you?,” Becker said.

Not only has Becker’s friends made her feel very welcomed, Becker’s teachers did as well.

“ ey’re super nice, what I realized is that teachers at Trinity, really care about their students,” Becker said. “If you have a question, you can go to them and ask, and they will really try to help you, German teachers try to do so as well, but it’s just a lot more students that they have to take care of. e people here have take their time to help.”

Much of Becker’s life is similar to Trinity’s students, Becker has a 7-year-old younger sister plays volleyball, runs for fun and will be doing cross country at Trinity. One thing about Germany that sets its apart is the use of public transportation, it is used daily for most people. e legal driving age is 18 which makes public transportation so much more useful.

“I [go] nearly everywhere with public transportations,” Becker said. “I don’t need my parents to drive me anywhere.” Becker is adjusting to the American

life, and not only that but also adjusting to the huge packaging here in America.

“Target, Costco. Everything is so big,” Becker said “What are you planning on doing with such huge packaging? What are you trying to feed with that?”

Becker is excited for what is to come throughout this year, to meet new people and to experience America through a real American point of view.

“Americans are just very open and very kind and they really want to show you their way of living,” Becker said.

Photo courtesy of Hanna Becker, Graphic by Lia

Becker stands in front of England’s famous monument Big Ben.

SWEDISH STUDENT SWIMS HIS WAY TO FLORIDA

ASSIST student continues to pursue athletics from home country

Article by Iris Lei

Since his arrival at Trinity on the week of August 21st, junior Frej Andersson-Oberg has traveled to North Carolina twice with his exchange family to see landmarks and participate in bonding activities. His rst time in North Carolina was spent at Camp Ridgecrest for Boys and exploring the state’s landmarks.

“I went to Buc-ee’s, the huge gas station,” Andersson-Oberg said. “[My exchange family] bought land in North Carolina so I was up there last week…preparing and renovating.”

Andersson-Oberg is originally from Gothenburg, Sweden, and traveled to Stockholm for an interview with the Swedish ambassador and ASSIST. He rst learned of the exchange program from his aunt’s husband, who is an ASSIST alumni and spent a year abroad in the United States.

Andersson-Oberg has noticed multiple differences in the culture and environment of the United States since his arrival.

“Of course, the weather is di erent from Sweden,” Andersson-Oberg. “ ere’s a lot more cars…but the good thing is there’s more diversity in food.”

According to Andersson-Oberg, the diversity in America’s cuisine mainly includes an increase in cheese as a food topping.

His rst impression of the United States was positive, and teachers and students have offered their assistance on multiple occasions.

“Swedish people are very introverted,” Andersson-Oberg said. “Even if you knew a person, you wouldn’t say hi [and instead] just nod. Here, I barely know anyone because I’ve only been here a week, but I’m saying “hi” to people from [my] classes and sports.”

According to Andersson-Oberg, his economics teacher’s interactive teaching methonds have made a positive impact on his learning.

“When we have long lessons, instead of sitting there [for] one hour, almost two, and just writing notes, we actually do some exercise,” Andersson-Oberg said. “[ is] improves learning for me.”

Andersson-Oberg is a member of Trinity’s swim team, having competitively swam previously in Sweden. He swam with the swim club Kungälvs Simsällskap (KSS), rather than with his school.

“For me, I like swimming,” Andersson-Oberg said. “Most of my Swedish friends are in the swim club as well.”

He has participated in a variety of sports, wanting to nd the sport that he was most passionate about.

“Two years back before I started to focus on swimming, I did golf and tennis,” Andersson-Oberg said. “ ose were the three that I focused on most.”

Although he is enjoying America so far, there are some things he misses about his home country.

“Of course, I miss my family and friends,” Andersson-Oberg said. “But also I would say some traditional foods like Swedish meatballs.”

He has many ambitions for the school year going forward, in regards to both academics and sports.

“I’m looking forward to improving many aspects of my life,” Andersson-Oberg said. “One of the big ones is swimming for me, but also my English. I already feel [very] self-dependent and I feel like it could get even better.”

Photo courtesy of Frej Andersson-Oberg

Frej Andersson-Oberg (left) poses with another ASSIST student next to a Swedish maypole they constructed for their last day of orientation in Boston.

“I’m looking forward to improving many aspects of my life...I already feel self-dependent and I feel like it could get even better.”

- Frej Andersson-Oberg, Junior

SANKAR SCIENCE CENTER STEPS INTO STEM

New science building forecasted to be completed in 2O26

Article by Sofia Haddadin

Photo courtesy of Byron Lawson

After much anticipation, Trinity Prep administration has nally announced the construction of the Nochur Sankar Science Center. is multi-million dollar, 35,000 square foot project is planned to be completed by the fall of 2026 and aims to bring a higher level of STEM learning to students.

Shyam Sankar (‘00) is the primary donor of the building, contributing $3.5 million to the nal donation goal. At Trinity, Sankar’s love for the sciences drove him to pursue his childhood passion, motivating his donation.

Sankar found great success after graduating, attending Cornell University and Stanford University, and then went on to found a billion-dollar company that provides computerized solutions for businesses. He said he largely owes this success to Trinity.

When Sankar rst toured Trinity as a 5th grader, he knew this was the place for him to follow his passion into the sciences.

“When I saw the science lab… wow,” Sankar said. “I want to be here, and I want to be able to do stu in that lab. It captivated my imagination and really was a catalyst for get-

ting me excited.”

e building is named after Sankar’s father, Nochur Sankar, who was a signi cant in uence in his life.

“ is is a man who really had his teeth kicked in at every single moment in life but demonstrated immense resilience to create a better life for his family,” Sankar said. “ is is a way of honoring everything that he helped create together.”

According to Sankar, his father’s motivating nature helped him pursue his passion in science Sankar wants to give all students the same opportunities and exposure that he had access to, ensuring that they can have promising futures.

“My dad would be so proud to know that part of this legacy was to inspire as many generations as possible at Trinity to pursue their own dreams,” Sankar said. “Part of that is realizing it through science.”

Trinity will be able to bring together science, technology, engineering and math into one building. Such interconnected departments will no longer be geographically disconnected, leading to a more holistic approach to the STEM curriculum.

e Nochur Sankar Science Center will allow Trinity’s science curriculum to expand, and Science Department Chair Dr. Romina Jannotti is ecstatic about the fact.

“ e sky is the limit… I do want to create a biotech curriculum,” Jannotti said. “I want to have more science electives [and] would like to create more semester classes that give kids a taste of [a variety of STEM classes].”

However, the road has been rocky while planning and executing the science center build. According to Head of School Byron Lawson, in ation, lack of materials and competition for builders and architects, have made the critical parts of the construction puzzle hard to piece together. However, these challenges have been addressed, and ground is planned to be broken in the summer of 2024 in the current administration parking and carline space.

With Sankar’s goal of enhancing STEM at Trinity Prep, his donation, along with that of the Holloway family, has been vital in bringing Trinity closer to reaching its goal, as 75% has been ful lled so far. Lawson hopes to see 100% participation in these e orts by the whole Trinity family.

“I want to inspire kids to have a positive and de nite view of the future and to discover that for themselves,” Sankar said. “I want [students] to be excited about STEM and the speci cs about what we can accomplish through advanced technologies.”

“My dad would be so proud to know that part of this legacy was to inspire as many generations as possible at Trinity to pursue their own dreams.”

- Shyam Sankar (‘OO), Primary Donor

CLASS CREDIT CALAMITY

Article by Sammy Lou Graphic by Lia Garibay

e pressure on high schoolers to nd their passions is immense. From playing T-ball and an instrument as a kindergartner to joining clubs in high school, the hope is that something will spark an interest. Another way students explore their numerous interests is by enrolling in di erent elective courses, like photography or computer science.

Unfortunately for students, it is not always so easy to take a variety of electives in their areas of interest. Trinity, along with other high schools across the state, set a high number of graduation requirements for a range of non-core classes. On top of core classes, Trinity requires two credits of language, one credit of ne arts, and a half credit for computer science, physical education, life management and ethics.

at means that ve of the 12 year-long, non-core class slots that are available through high school will be lled by required classes. ere is some reasoning for class requirements to be high though.

“Part of it is that we are rooted in a liberal arts education, which means that you want to have that well-rounded component, which would include the ne arts and exposure to computer science,” Director of Learning and Instruction Stephanie Dryden said. “To be a fully developed human being, it’s important to try those di erent areas. And so we’re committed to that as a school.”

While these course requirements have merit, one could argue that they also restrict students’ ability to pursue a variety of electives that kindle their curiosity. Students are not always able to take multiple years of their favorite electives if several precious class slots are lled with classes taken for the purpose of credit ful llment. Following interests is important for students because according to the National Library of Medicine, interest is “a powerful motivational process that energizes learning, guides academic and career trajectories and is essential to academic success.”

“By pursuing your interest, you’re going to get more prepared for college,” sophomore

Matthew Gu said. “If you’re already set on a particular job or a major, doubling up on classes or focusing on certain classes can help you do that.”

e admissions o ce at the University of South Florida estimated that up to 50% of students enter college undecided on their major. is can make it harder to create a sense of focus on your college application, and students may end up spending their rst years of

elective for all four years of high school. However, students often do not have the exibility to pursue four years of multiple electives after factoring in all of the core and non-core class requirements. For example, if a language-loving student wanted to take four years of two di erent languages as well as four years of Journalism at Trinity, it would not be possible to satisfy all of their graduation requirements. In the long term, exploring interests early in high school is the rst step toward choosing a ful lling career that the student is passionate about. People who enjoy their jobs are more “optimistic, motivated, learn faster, make fewer mistakes and make better business decisions,” according to an article from the University of Southern California. Students are recognizing the importance of capitalizing on electives.

“[Taking] AP Biology [as an elective] was a decision I made because when I was in Mr. Moretz’s class last year for my freshman year, I enjoyed learning about biology, and I wouldn’t mind doing another year of it,” sophomore Nathan James said. “If I do decide to pursue something in the medical career, I think AP Biology is a good start.”

college without a clear idea of what they want to study.

Often, just one or two semesters in an elective can only give students the basics and hook them on a subject. It usually will not provide in-depth or advanced knowledge about a subject, which is why it is crucial that students have the opportunity to continue studying that

Trinity’s graduation requirements most certainly will help to provide a well-rounded education to its students, and they should not necessarily be discarded. However, students should have more exibility to take extra classes in subjects of interest and to pursue several semesters of electives. One way to implement this exibility is to allow students to ful ll required credits by taking courses outside of school. For example, students could take a class in digital art or life management through an organization like Florida Virtual School, and then continue taking their desired elective at Trinity. is kind of option would open the door for students to dive deeper into their non-core subjects of interest and be ready to enter college with a clearer focus. While the Malone Schools Online Network does o er a few extra courses, they can only ful ll ethics and electives credits, not ne arts, computer science or any other credits. In addition to this, the selection of courses is limited, which restricts students’ ability to use MSON.

BARBIE:CINEMATIC MASTERPIECE

A movie about dolls delivers important messages about humanity

Article by Taylor Riley

Graphic by Maxi de la Fuenta

is past summer was a revolutionary season of movies, including the highly anticipated releases of “ e Little Mermaid,” “Spider-Man Across the Spiderverse” and “Oppenheimer.” But none were quite as anticipated or well-received as the “Barbie” movie. In the month following its release, “Barbie” became the highest-grossing domestic movie of 2023 and the rst lm in history directed solely by a woman –Greta Gerwig–to earn $1 billion dollars at the box o ce.

ere are many reasons why this movie has been such a success, from its star-studded cast including Margot Robbie, Kate McKinnon, Issa Rae and Will Ferrell, to vivid set design using so much pink it was rumored to have caused a world shortage. But perhaps the most compelling part of the movie is its central focus on womanhood and humanity.

e announcement of the movie was met with much excitement from women who had spent their childhoods playing with Barbie, but also criticism over the toy’s problematic history. Barbie has long been labeled as anti-feminist for pushing unrealistic beauty standards and triggering body image issues in young girls. e Mattel brand is de nitely guilty of this. In 1965, they released “Slumber Party Barbie,” which came with a book accessory that read: “How To Lose Weight: Don’t Eat.” Given this, it makes sense that many initially believed the movie would be a coverup from Mattel’s many misdeeds.

However, the movie acknowledges Barbie’s shortcomings and focuses much of the movie on shattering beauty standards and rede ning what the word “beautiful” means.

e lm centers on Margot Robbie’s portrayal of stereotypical Barbie, whose life in

Barbieland is completely perfect until she starts getting cellulite and having irrepressible thoughts of death. In other words, she starts becoming humanlike. To remedy this, she travels to the real world, which is much more awed when compared to Barbieland, but it’s also much more beautiful.

e real world is messy, ugly and tragic–especially in comparison to Barbie’s immortal world of plastic. In spite of this, Barbie chooses to give up her “perfect” life to become human at the end of the movie, a choice that sends an incredibly important message in today’s aesthetic-obsessed culture. Women are constantly pressured to prioritize beauty over happiness, told not to laugh so they don’t get laugh lines and to stay out of the sun to avoid freckles. America Ferrera’s character, Gloria, left the audience in tears with a monologue about all the unattainable double standards that women have to endure.

“You think you’re going to watch a movie about dolls, but you’re watching a movie about what it means to be human.”

- Simu Liu, in an Instagram post

Gloria said. “You have to be thin, but not too thin…You have to have money, but you can’t ask for money because that’s crass… You’re supposed to stay pretty for men, but not so pretty that you tempt them too much or that you threaten other women because you’re supposed to be a part of the sisterhood.”

Women are told that they need to simul-

taneously achieve all of these qualities to be happy, but Barbie’s choice to become human shows us that the opposite is true. Beauty is not found in perfection, which Barbie had at the beginning of the movie, but in humanity, with all the heartbreak and tragedy that comes with that. One scene between Barbie and her creator, Ruth Handler, played by Rhea Pearlman, perfectly captures this message.

“Real world isn’t what I thought it was,” Barbie says.

“It never is. And isn’t that marvelous?” Handler replies.

e ingenuity and depth in this scene, as well as in the lm as a whole, surprised many fans, who didn’t anticipate that the movie would be this substantial. Simu Liu, who plays one of the Kens, describes the movie perfectly in an Instagram post caption.

“You think you’re going to watch a movie about dolls, but you’re watching a movie about what it means to be human,” Liu said.

is aspect of humanity is what makes the movie appealing to all audiences, not just to young girls who play with dolls. e lm also appeals to men, due to its commentary on toxic masculinity through Ken, which demonstrates how the patriarchy is detrimental to men as well as women.

From its rst trailer, “Barbie” was labeled an instant camp classic. Gosling’s glorious performance of “I’m Just Ken” and Mirren’s hilarious fourth wall breaking comments felt grandiose. But in the midst of all its unrealistic quirkiness, “Barbie” nds time for heartfelt moments and surprisingly insightful commentary on beauty, sexism, identity and humanity, perfectly balancing lighthearted comedy and existential tragedy in less than two hours runtime.

On Aug. 3, Florida high schoolers woke up to the news that the state of Florida had banned the teaching of AP Psychology due to the course’s lessons on gender identity and expression. is news was shocking to Florida residents, but given the state’s recent history with banning and altering curricula, perhaps it should not have been.

Since 2020, Florida has banned critical race theory in K-12 classrooms, banned AP African American Studies and introduced Bill 999 that would ban speci c majors at public universities. Florida has also approved PragerU, a conservative media company, to show its absurdly biased materials to elementary school children. All of this censorship is done under the guise of “protecting our children” from the “Woke Agenda.”

e “Woke Agenda” does not have a formal de nition, however it seems to be any material that discusses the historical and current oppression of people of color or the existence of transgender people. Although these issues don’t currently a ect independent schools like Trinity, they could a ect TPS students who go on to attend public universities. To combat these issues, it’s important to understand the extent of the censorship.

Critical Race Theory

In 2021, Florida Governor Ron Desantis and the Florida Board of Education banned the teaching of critical race theory in Florida public school classrooms. Critical race theory is a topic that could be covered by itself in an article, but to summarize for those unfamiliar, it began as a college course taught to examine U.S. history with a focus on the racial disparities between white people and people of color.

e class also places an emphasis on the continued e ects that systems of oppression such as slavery have on society today.

“Some of this stu is, I think, really toxic,” DeSantis told the state legislature. “I think it’ll cause people to think of themselves more as

FLORIDA’S ATTACK ON EDUCATION

a member of a particular race based on skin color, rather than based on the content of their character and based on their hard work and what they’re trying to accomplish in life.” is sentiment is, to say the least, reductive. Teaching students about systemic racism is not nearly the same thing as teaching students to hate themselves for their race.

AP Course Issues

e ban on AP Psychology made earlier this year was very quickly reversed after widespread backlash from both students and current AP Psychology teachers. Despite the reversal, Seminole County Public Schools at rst moved to replace AP Psychology with an AP Seminar course with “a focus on psychology.” However, just 12 days after that decision, Seminole County reversed its decision and allowed for AP Psychology to be taught this academic year. In a similar vein, in January, Florida banned the teaching of AP African American Studies when it was in the prototype stage. e course was banned on the grounds that it “lacked educational value.” It is important to note that the CollegeBoard already o ers language classes that incorporate culture, including Chinese, French, German, Italian, Japanese and Spanish, and these classes were not deemed to “lack in educational value.”

Florida House Bill 999

On Feb. 24, Rep. Alex Andrade (R) proposed Florida House Bill 999 to ban all majors involving gender studies or critical race theory at Florida’s 12 public universities. is bill, if passed, would be catastrophic. It would set the precedent that the Florida state government can intervene in the departments and studies o ered on a college campus. While this bill has not been passed and still has many stages to go through before it would go into e ect, the fact that it is considered reasonable enough to be in discussion at all is abhorrent.

PragerU Kids

PragerU is a conservative media organization that produces videos explaining economic, social and political concepts all with an overt right-leaning bias. PragerU kids, an ongoing series of videos made for children, includes a depiction of Christopher Colombus defending his enslavement of native peoples.

“Slavery is as old as time and has taken place in every corner of the world, even amongst the people I just left,” Columbus said in the video.

Having these deliberately misleading videos available for parents to show their children is one thing, but placing these videos at the same level as well-vetted resources like PBS is ludicrous. e cherry on top of it all, however, is the fact that PragerU founder Dennis Prager admitted to the fact that the purpose of these videos is indoctrination.

“Well, because you indoctrinate kids.’ Which is true. We bring doctrines to children. at is a very fair statement. I said, ‘But what is the bad of our indoctrination?’” Prager said.

So to recap, lessons teaching about U.S. history with a focus on race is a part of the “Woke Agenda,” and are gross attempts at indoctrinating children. But videos designed by conservatives with the express purpose of indoctrinating children are not only perfectly okay, but should be granted authorization to be shown in public schools.

What should we do?

In order to combat these restrictions, it is important to get informed, to vote in local elections and to contact your local policymakers. If you can’t vote, take the time to inform and talk to someone who can. e sooner we act, the sooner things can change.

e lead editorial expresses the opinion of the Trinity Voice editorial sta . Please send commentstovoice@trinityprep.org.

Fear=Fun?

Article by Fay Zhao

Graphic by Caden Liu

Junior Sallee Rosen walks through an ominous dark hall dense with fog. She cautiously creeps forward with her friends huddled behind her as she tries to listen for any movement, however, all she could hear was the pounding of her heart. She turns the corner and suddenly, screams ll the room as she comes face-to-face with a clown, eyes bulging and mouth widening into a sickening smile.

More than 600,000 people each year attend Halloween Horror Nights hoping to be scared by bloody doctors, gruesome monsters and all kinds of scary beings. Ever wonder why we are scared of these things and why some of us enjoy being scared?

Fear is a part of human nature, it is a protective barrier from threats that the brain senses.

e brain learns from a young age that certain things are threats and triggers fear as a defense.

“We fear things as a biological imperative,” psychology teacher Michael Brown said. “It’s instinctual. It keeps us alive. A lot of our fears are learned. ey’re modeled by mentors, parents, whoever it may be and we pick up on that like ‘this person is terri ed of it, I should be terri ed of it to keep me alive.’”

Everybody has di erent fears and how they developed. Rosen’s fear of dolls stems from a childhood memory with her friend.

“She told me about her closet that was full of dolls,” Rosen said. “I was already scared of them because I had heard of the Annabelle doll. She showed me her closet, pushed me and locked me in. It felt like hours, realistically, it was probably like 30 minutes or something, but it scarred me and I hated dolls afterwards.”

When people are scared, they go through

many physical changes. Heart rate goes up, eyes dilate, breath quickens and digestion and the immune system slow down as the body prepares for a state of ght or ight. e physical changes create the sensation of being scared, which so many people experience through horror houses and movies.

“I feel like my stomach is tying into knots, and I become more aware of my breathing,” Rosen said. “I can feel a slight tingling sensation in my throat. Especially with the music it’s supposed to a ect you, and it does because I can feel it in my bones.”

Part of the enjoyment is because of chemicals the brain releases. e hypothalamus part of the brain pumps chemicals like adrenaline and endorphins throughout the body which creates a heightened sense of excitement comparable to a runner’s high. e dopamine released in the brain also creates a higher level of pleasure in these intense situations.

It is because of the chemical processes that occur when people are scared that makes horror so enticing. According to Comscore, an analytical website, the horror genre accounted for around $700 million in domestic ticket sales in 2022.

“I’m really nervous because I don’t know what to expect,” sophomore Elliet McDermed said. “I don’t know what’s going to happen, but after that rst house, you get that adrenaline rush where you’re like, ‘I survived that, we did so good. Let’s go do another one.’”

After the initial scare, the brain releases calming chemicals of epinephrine, norepinephrine, adrenaline and noradrenaline, all of which create the desired e ect of a ful llment.

Oftentimes the addictive part of a scary experience is coming back down from the high.

“ ere is a natural chemical release after you experience a lot of fear and adrenaline,” Brown said. “In the process of coming back down from that, there is a natural and calming release of chemicals.”

Scary experiences can be a good bonding experience as well. e body releases a chemical called oxytocin which intensi es memories and increases social bonding. People often have a better time when they are scared together.

“Anytime you’re experiencing intense emotions around others, [it’s the] active choice of ‘let’s go do something contrary to our biology together, let’s go make ourselves terri ed together,’” Brown said.

McDermed experienced personally that scary things create new friendships and can potentially be a common interest shared amongst di erent people.

“ is one year where I brought friends from di erent places, and I was scared that they weren’t going to be able to interact, but there’s this thing where being scared unites people,” McDermed said. “After we went through one house, they were laughing and conversing.”

e need to be scared keeps people from coming back for more horror entertainment every year whether it is because of chemical reactions, the emotional journey of being scared,or simply bonding with friends over unforgettable memories.

“You are connected on a deeper level, because you get scared together, friends who get scared together, stay together,” Rosen said.

CULTURAL APPROPRIATION OR APPRECIATION?

Article by Mila Taylor Graphic by Maxi de la Fuente

In 2018, an 18-year-old white woman named Keziah Daum received a tremendous amount of backlash after posting pictures of her wearing a qipao, a traditional Chinese dress, on social media to her high school prom.

e images circulated on the internet and she faced a lot of criticism, mostly from Americans, and many accused her of cultural appropriation. When the pictures reached Hong Kong, mainland China, and Taiwan, many people

es get this narrative and story that’s told… us growing up as kids we think this is just a really fun story but there’s so much more historically, there’s so much more context there’s so much more to learn,” Chan said, “And I think what is great about Disney Princesses is it opens the door for curiosity. Which hopefully leads to taking it one step further and educating.”

expressed their support for the young woman. However, this issue never ceases to exist, especially around Halloween, with modern media raising awareness about stereotypical and problematic costumes.

Even though Halloween is a time of the year when cultural appropriation is referenced frequently, the de nition seems to get lost in all of the outcry. Social media users use the term cultural appropriation to express their concern for children and adults dressing up as characters of other races or cultures. Sifu Mimi Chan, the life model and the martial arts reference for Disney’s animated Mulan, explained her denition of cultural appropriation.

“To me, cultural appropriation is when someone inappropriately misrepresents and tries to put on a show from someone else’s culture without having any deep understanding respect or regard for that culture,” Chan said.

Chan believes that if children are exposed to diverse characters like Disney princesses, it becomes an educational opportunity that can lead to a better understanding of di erent cultures or races.

“I feel like a lot of these Disney Princess-

Arguments are made that nobody should be dressing up in a culture that isn’t theirs. ere has been a distinct line drawn between a child dressing up as a Disney Princess like Mulan, or Pocahontas, and adults or teenagers blatantly dressing up as a certain culture, like a Geisha or Native American. A costume that represents a character like a Disney princess can teach children that people are a diverse species and everyone should be celebrated. However, an adult dressing up as a culture remains problematic because of the lack of respect it poses to that speci c culture.

“I think where the ethics really kind of comes down to [is] at what age does a child know that what they [are] doing is right or wrong?” Ethics teacher Benjamin Gaddis said, “I think that at certain ages dressing like Mulan, or Moana is going to be a great aspirational thing…Why wouldn’t you want to be an awesome female character?”

right

“I think where the ethics really kind of comes down to at what age does a child know that what they’re doing is right or wrong? I think that at certain ages dressing like Mulan, or Moana is going to be a great aspirational thing… Why wouldn’t you want to be an awesome female character?”

- Benjamin Gaddis, Ethics Teacher

Halloween costumes spark discussion about cultural appropriation.

ation can] Perpetuate harmful and factually inaccurate stereotypes of the marginalized group, which creates misunderstanding and division… Research has shown that forms of cultural violence like cultural appropriation can sometimes lead to and inspire more physical forms of violence and genocide.”

Dressing up as other cultures without awareness of the impact the costume has, is a way to undermine the culture or religion. Sophomore Misha Choudry, a student at Trinity Prep expresses her concern for cultures as Halloween costumes.

“I’m Pakistani so if I saw someone wearing the salwar kameez… there’s so much culture behind that, so much you probably don’t understand,” Choudry said. Contrary to modern media, the coordinator of the Department of Africana Studies at UCF, Professor Kibibi Mack-Shelton, argues that the term cultural appropriation may be mistaken for appreciation.

“[For instance,] I don’t consider a white girl or having braids as cultural appropriation,” Mack-Shelton said, “I don’t consider a white guy wearing dreadlocks as being a perpetrator of cultural appropriation. I see them as appreciating that culture, and it’s just an art style that they like.”

Mack-Shelton also emphasized the importance of education at home, especially if a child wants to dress up as a character of another culture. However, in today’s time, cultures everywhere are borrowing from each other and that is something to celebrate.

“You have blacks taking from white culture, whites taking from Latino culture, Latinos taking from Asian culture, and it’s okay to appreciate everyone’s culture,” Mack-Shelton said.

“But when it’s appropriated, and not credited to its origins, then that becomes problematic.”

When it comes to Halloween however, it is an agreement that it’s best to steer clear of costumes that mock or highlight harmful stereotypes, like a sombrero with a poncho, or a Native American costume with a religious headdress. In today’s political world, people are

a little confused as to where the line is drawn between appropriation and appreciation.

“I think that line has grown more and more di cult over the last decade,” said Gaddis, “I would largely say that cultural appreciation does not require a costume. Appropriation happens if we are wearing a costume and dressing like a culture other than ours. I think if we’re doing it in a way where we’re kind of making fun of those cultures, we’re de nitely in appropriation land.”

In order to avoid appropriation, it is important to do research before any sort of costume is chosen, especially if a character is of a di erent race or culture. Chan explained that in order to fully appreciate a character, education is vital.

“So I think just taking those extra steps to be mindful, respectful, and to delve a little deeper, it’s always a good way to honor that character that you portray,” Chan said.

“So I think just taking those extra steps to be mindful, respectful, and to delve a little deeper, it’s always a good way to honor that character that you portray.”

- Mimi Chan, Model of Disney’s Animated Mulan

NOT-SO-SCARY HALLOWEEN

The alternatives to Halloween Horror Nights

Article by Taylor Gri th Graphic by Caden Liu

As ninth grader Caitlin von Weller enters Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween, she sees the parade, with characters dressed up singing happily, and people trick or treating around the park. is attraction is something that von Weller looks forward to each year. While many students prefer attractions such as Halloween Horror Nights, the scare can be unappealing to certain demographics. But there are plenty of alternatives for students to explore.

According to Universal, this attraction is for mature audiences and can get expensive.

e recommended age is at least 13 years old and can be a costly experience. ere are many di erent opportunities for people to enjoy the holiday if Halloween Horror Nights is not appealing.

Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween runs from Aug. 11 to Nov 1. It attracts all audiences, where people can trick-or-treat, dress up and visit characters. “Whenever I go to Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween, I love seeing everyone dress up as di erent characters and really go all out,” von Weller said. “I have been going since I was a kid, it is a great Halloween experience for people of all ages.”

Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween is not the only Halloween activity to enjoy. Von Weller also enjoys going to the fall festival at

Interlachen in Winter Park. is fall activity occurs once a year, and she enjoys it because of the variety of activities the festival o ers.

“ e festival has everything from pumpkin pie to hay bale rides,” von Weller said. e festival is for all ages, and there are plenty of things to do for everyone. Von Weller’s favorite activity is the corn maze. Despite the di culties she has endured while trying to complete it, the corn maze is a popular activity and is a staple of the festival.

“I vividly remember going into the corn maze with my brother, who got lost, and I had already escaped,” von Weller said. “It took 45 minutes to nd him again.”

Gatorland also has a thrilling Halloween activity: Gators, Ghosts, and Goblins Experience. is is a family friendly event where you can see gator exhibits and learn about the origins of this haunted holiday.

ere are haunt zones and meet-and-greets with di erent characters throughout the park. People can also dress up in costumes. When

you’re going through a real forest instead of houses,” Earl said.

e outside atmosphere of the forest makes everything seem more realistic. e scare actors are placed throughout the forest where they can jump out, scare you or simply just stare as you walk through. is is a night activity that will be opening soon. e tickets range from $30-40.

ere are many opportunities for people to participate in Halloween activities from the comfort of their own home. Carving pumpkins is a perfect activity to get into the spirit of Halloween, and sophomore Elizabeth Carlin has been carving pumpkins with her family for as long as she can remember.

“We usually carve pumpkins to keep the tradition, it’s something that I have been doing for my whole life,” Carlin said.

compared to Halloween Horror Nights, Gatorland’s Halloween experience is mild, as there are no major jumpscares or scare zones.

If you are a scare-seeker, another option is the Petri ed Forest in Altamonte Springs. e Petri ed Forest is a very popular activity and o ers an immersive experence.

“I like how realistic it is, compared to Halloween Horror Nights, it feels very real since

Halloween Horror Nights is a staple of Halloween, but it is not the only fun fall activities that are available in Florida. Disney’s Not So-Scary Halloween, Gatorland, Petri ed Forest, and pumpkin carving are all popular experiences that can add even more fun to your Halloween season.

“Doing these fall activities makes me love Halloween even more,” von Weller said.

SPOOKY SCARY SUPERSTITIONS

Article by Mia Prince Graphic by Sam Miller

As the Halloween season approaches it brings about many spooky and scary superstitions, some more known than others. Black cats, Friday the 13th and spooky decorations are just some of many Halloween-based superstitions. Superstitions are beliefs based on the fear of the unknown. People often have superstitions because of personal experiences in the past, and the memory of those experiences leads people to be wary about similar events. Superstitions are present in everyday life, and they become even more apparent during Halloween.

Black Cats

e superstition of black cats rst began in the Salem Witch Trials when many people thought black cats accompanied “witches” on their “evil deeds.” ey are also often associated with the image of darkness, mystery and evil because of their fur and eye color at night. In the past black cats were blamed for the death of an ill person because of their dark powers. e negative associations were passed through generations and even now, black cats are still a ected by this negative perception. Standing at 10 percent, the black cat adoption rate is well below that of other cats. Although they are seen as unlucky and aggressive, there is no evidence to support these stereotypes of black cats.

Friday the 13th

Friday the 13th is a date that many people avoid. is day is associated with bad luck and where many odd events occur. e date’s negative association became more intense after the horror movie “Friday the 13th” came out in 1980. In the past 20 years, Friday the 13th has occurred on Halloween only three times, in 1995, 2000 and 2006. Because of the superstition associated with this date, many people avoid doing certain things like knocking over salt, walking under ladders, wearing black or driving because it is seen as unlucky. Art teacher Kymberly Moreland- Garnett is especially cautious of driving on Friday the 13th. “I avoid driving because I’ve been in three car accidents on Friday the 13th, and all of my accidents were in the state of Ohio,” Moreland- Garnett said.

Halloween Decorations

As Halloween approaches, people begin decorating their homes with traditional features of the holiday. Many nd it superstitious to not decorate their houses on Halloween in fear of something bad happening to them. ese decorations originated because Halloween symbolizes death and mortality. Most Halloween decorations, like skeletons, ghosts, skulls and graveyards, connect back to Halloween’s relation to the Day of the Dead. Scarecrows were put up in order to keep crows o lawns and scare away children. By not honoring these traditions people fear something bad will happen. However, people are starting to avoid decorating with more gruesome Halloween decorations as they are starting to be regarded negatively. Statistics have shown that with these decorations there can be an increase in defacement of property and cruel pranks, which can trigger trauma for some.

Superstitions have been around since the beginning of time, but Halloween is always a time when old and new superstitions take form.

Article by Laziza Talipova Graphic by Lia Garibay

In a “Cruel Summer” of lights, melodies and “Enchanted” performances, Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour has proven to be much more than just an ordinary show. As she travels from city to city across the United States, she leaves behind a huge trail of money and satis ed fans. From crowded tourism to new job opportunities, the tour’s impact reaches far beyond the stage, spotlighting pro t-making “Change” in the economy.

As a Swiftie herself, junior Jackie Stenzel experienced the Eras Tour in Tampa as well as New York, and has her own input on the economic impacts.

“Taylor Swift has boosted the economy of many states, as people have been buying hotels [rooms] and plane tickets to places that usually don’t get that much tourism,” Stenzel said.

According to economics teacher Carralyn Saldriagga, Swift boosted a lot more than just the economy, even reaching the resale market.

“She boosted the local economy but has also encouraged activity in the resale market,” Saldriagga said.

e impact of the pop sensation’s tour has made a mark on the cities she visits. Extending her show to three and a half hours, it Di erent” compared to shorter shows.

“Due to her presence, local shops, restaurants, hotels and other businesses in general gained business during the nights of her performance,” Saldriagga said.

When Swift brought her Eras Tour to Glendale, Arizona, the city became a Ground.” For the weekend of her performance, Glendale wasn’t just Glendale, it became “Swift City.” e change was a testament to the deep connection between Swift and her “Delicate” fans in the area even if it was just for a few days.

In Tampa, FL, a di erent kind of tribute unfolded. While not changing its name, the city declared Swift its honorary mayor during her stay for the Eras Tour.

But in order to even go to any show, fans had to overcome an

ECONOMIC BOOST

obstacle. As tickets for Taylor Swift’s concerts went on sale, fans were “Ready For It” as they quickly rushed to the Ticketmaster website to secure their tickets. With the “Glitch” in Ticketmaster sales, it was very di cult to buy tickets. Reports ooded social media platforms, with fans sharing their experiences of error messages, slow loading times, and crashes.

With the expensive tickets, fans had to book hotels, meaning that extra money was spent. Luckily for Stenzel, that was not the case.

“My family has an apartment in New York, so we paid nothing for hotels,” Stenzel said.

In the end, the obstacles that fans had to “Jump then Fall” through paid o . Swift’s fans know her “All Too Well,” and know that her shows are always full of surprises. Swift likes to add an air of suspense to her show by singing two songs that are not on the set list at each show. It adds an element “happiness” ment to her live performances, providing a unique experience that keeps fans on the edge of their seats.

Although Swift enjoys her time in each state, “It’s Time To Go” er sold-out arenas to perform once again. Each tour stop requiring planning, organization, execution and employment opportunities arise.

“Everything Has Statistics reveal that local businesses like restaurants, retail stores, and entertainment venues, have witnessed an increase in revenue when Swift is

in town. According to CNBC, $2 million of the revenue was from extra hotel stays with down-

town Cincinnati hotels going over 98% of their booking capacity, barely squeezing in a craze of guests.

“ e temporary business she brings in is o set by the local inconvenience of not being prepared to host so many fans due to limited infrastructure,” Saldriagga said.

Taylor Swift bracelets have become highly popular as fans make beaded bracelets to trade with other fans. ey proudly wear these bracelets to remember “ e Very First Night” they got to see the Eras Tour.

One of the remarkable aspects of these “Timeless” bracelets is that some fans don’t make them, and buy them instead from small businesses. From handmade designs to limited-edition pieces, these businesses have found a pro table niche, tapping into the enthusiasm of Taylor Swift’s fan base. e impact of this tour doesn’t vanish once Taylor Swift packs up and moves on to the next city. It leaves a lasting mark on the places it vis-

its. Fans plead

“Stay Stay Stay” for an extra night, and the businesses that got a taste of the tour’s economic boost might

nd new ways to grow.

“Her concerts have now become a status symbol in society, fueling the re of societal and income in-

equality,” Saldriagga said.

“Hits

“Holy

of mystery, and exciteto othSince then, Changed.”

UFO OVERFLOW

Article by Tavish Ward Graphics by Sam Miller

A little green gure with antennas, big eyes, an odd nose, and a spaceship to accompany it. With content spanning hundreds of years, aliens aren’t hard to imagine. ere may be variations, but whether it be a friendly long-necked foreigner trying to nd his way home or Martians invading Earth, there’s one thing they all have in common: they’re ction. So when the end credits of E.T are rolling or the nal page of e War of the Worlds is read, reality sets back in. After all, the next trip outside won’t be coupled with a ying saucer sighting. If there’s a desire to see something extraterrestrial up close, it’ll have to be done in front of a 70 mm IMAX screen.

At least, that seems to be the popular consensus.

But according to former US Intelligence O cer David Grusch, some people aren’t just seeing this in their local Regal theater. Over the summer, Congress held its rst UFO hearing in 50 years and heard some intriguing testimonies, including that from Grusch, who said that the US had been concealing a multi-decade long program that captures UFOs. UFOs, o cially known as UAPs, or Unidenti ed Aerial Phenomena, have become practically synonymous with extraterrestrial life, so naturally these hearings drew some attention. Biology teacher Brian Moretz found the witness’ statements interesting, but remains skeptical of the idea of alien spacecraft inhabiting the skies.

“A lot of times we see things in the sky, and they’re just some sort of meteorological phenomenon,” Moretz said, “I don’t think they’re necessarily always some unidenti ed ying object. But that being said, I guess it’s a possibility.”

Possibility or not, UFO sightings are no rst widespread report came on June 24, 1947, when pilot Kenneth Arnold claimed to have seen ashes that emanated from nine airborne objects, and supposedly clocked them moving at least 1,200 miles per hour, double the speed of any airplane at that time. But the news of

A look at the history of UFOs after recent Congressional hearings

this sighting might’ve traveled even faster, and as di erent media outlets published the story, America began to buzz with di erent speculations about what it could’ve been. Within two weeks, over 800 new UFO sightings were reported, and the famous Roswell incident in New Mexico came soon after. As more heads turned to the sky, looking for the unknown, one thing could be seen: a new American craze had begun.

Incredibly quickly, mere sightings of ying spaceships turned into full- edged interactions with aliens. One of the rst notable ones occurred in 1952, when astronomy bu George Adamski claimed to have engaged in friendly telepathic conversation about the dangers of nuclear warfare with a being from Venus. Before long, however, pleasant discussions about nukes devolved into frightening abductions. In 1961, Betty and Barney Hill, a couple who were traveling through the White Mountains after a vacation, claimed that non-human inhabitants had taken them hostage on a UFO, on which they were subjected to a variety of medical examinations and questioning. While the credibility of these and other similar reports were challenged, interest within the country rose, especially with the emergence of a substantial amount of popular culture pertaining to extraterrestrial life.

“Every decade has its own interesting version of what a UFO or alien looks like,” Moretz said. “Media…like Star Trek and Star Wars…have really impacted our beliefs.”

And now, almost eight decades after becoming mainstream, beliefs about UFOs and aliens aren’t just a dinner table discussion, but a topic of conversation occurring within the walls of the Capitol. Senior Christian Wordell, while he believes that the accounts of former intelligence o cials under oath should hold more weight than the conjectures of the past, is still waiting for undeniable evidence.

“[Brusch] didn’t have any proof,” Wordell said. “He just said they existed. But if there

was physical proof that extraterrestrial life and extraterrestrial objects were coming into the United States and into the world…then, yeah, I would be pretty excited.”

Until then, journey outside, look towards the clouds, for perhaps there’ll be something else out there, ying through the sky.

STREAMING PRICES RISE AMIDST HOLLYWOOD STRIKES

Article by Iris Lei

Graphic by Maxi de la Fuente

From March to August of 2020, subscription streaming services were a main source of entertainment for the majority of the world under lockdown. Net ix, Hulu, Disney+, Apple TV and Amazon Prime faced o in a streaming war, and their increased success has resulted in countless streaming services existing now in 2023. Customers often subscribe to multiple streaming platforms to watch inaccessible media elsewhere. However, these services have recently increased their prices in a phenomenon

e Wall Street Journal christened “stream ation.” Combined with the recent Writers Guild of America (WGA), and Screen Actors Guild and American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) strikes, the future of new media is uncertain.

Not all price increases were dramatic. According to an August article by Forbes, Netix had the biggest increase of $19.99 for the ad-free premium plan, $15.49 for the standard ad-free plan and $6.99 for the ad-supported plan. Close behind is Hulu’s ad-free tier from $14.99 to $17.99, ad-free Discovery’s Max from $14.99 to $15.99, Disney+ premium plan from $10.99 to $13.99, Paramount+ from $9.99 to $11.99, and ad-free Peacock from $9,99 to $11.99 and the premium tier from $4.99 to $5.99. Junior Zayden Buford is considering canceling his Net ix subscription again due to rising prices.

“If [an increase in subscription prices] is only by a couple of dollars, it’s ne,” Buford said. “But if it’s…Net ix increasing by crazy amounts, then I don’t like it.”

He is subscribed to a variety of streaming services such as HBO Max, Hulu, and Disney+ with the ESPN bundle, which has re-

ceived much attention over a con ict with the telecommunications company Charter Communications. is dispute reached a critical point on the night of Aug. 31 and impacted approximately 15 million customers, a large percentage of whom were unable to watch the rst college football weekend. According to Forbes, Charter Communications removed Disney’s access to its Charter Spectrum cable

quently as a result.

“Since [Net ix] recently switched over to [limiting] password sharing, I’ve had to essentially kick my family members o [my account],” Moretz said. “I have thought about what services are the most important to me, and through that, I consider canceling the ones I don’t use.”

A contributing factor to this increase in prices is the ongoing Hollywood actors and writers’ strikes that have put multiple shows and lms on hiatus. e WGA began striking in May, and SAG-AFTRA joined them in July. Actors and writers are seeking an increase in their pay, a larger cut of long-term payments given to actors for lms or television shows with multiple airings, also known as residuals, and overall job security.

package with Disney-owned channels such as ESPN, ABC and more. ese inconsistencies can a ect customers’ opinions on whether the subscription is worth keeping.

Science teacher Bryan Moretz had cable in the past and noted one of the reasons why cable lost popularity.

“We switched over from cable because the streaming services were cheaper,” Moretz said. “When [streaming services] rst started, there was only Net ix and Hulu…now, what I pay in streaming services is probably equal to what my cable bill used to be.”

Similarly to Buford, Moretz also experienced issues with Net ix and visits it less fre-

It is the rst time in 63 years that the unions are simultaneously on strike, and while it does not a ect people outside of the entertainment industry, its e ect on Hollywood is major. According to Forbes, it is estimated that Hollywood could lose 3 billion dollars as a result of the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes.

Moretz believes that a hindrance to new content being released both in theaters and on streaming platforms is a necessary inconvenience in the face of the strikes.

“A lot of the time, it’s greed from the companies that is preventing them from paying the actors and writers what they deserve,” Moretz said. “If [the strikes] cause new media to be delayed, that’s unfortunate for the viewers but in the long term, better for the actors and writers.”

Statistics according to a survey by reviews.org on March 28, 2023

THE HEAT S ON

Athletes face greater heat risks in a warming world

Article by David Hull

Graphic by Caden Liu

Climate change has signi cantly impacted almost every aspect of human life, and sports are increasingly feeling its e ects: constantly having to make sacri ces to avoid the heat. In fact, 2023 is projected to be the hottest year ever recorded in human history, raising the risk of su ering from a heat-related illness during physical activity.

According to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there were 494 reported deaths as a result of heat illness in the year 2000. Just 22 years later, that number escalated to 1,708. External heat illness is one of the leading causes of death for young athletes and participating in any physical activity increases the chance of heat-related illnesses, especially when outdoors.

is increase caused by the rising climate doesn’t appear to be slowing down. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the global average surface temperature has more than doubled since 2000 and the 10 hottest years ever recorded have all occurred after 2010. Advent Health emergency room doctor David Sarkarati suspects that if the current trend of climate change persists, all outdoor sports will have to continue making sacri ces to avoid the heat and these could become permanent changes.

“Athletics, like so many other aspects of our society, will have an e ect [from climate change] for sure,” Sarkarati said. “I think there will have to be a greater awareness and modi cations of equipment and [practice] time[s], along with other protocols.”

Severe restrictions to limit the chance of heat-related illnesses

have been taken in states at high risk. Athletic trainer Sheena Wilson has dealt with athletes su ering from heat exhaustion in the past and is in support of all restrictions placed on outdoor sports by the Florida High School Athletic Association.

“A lot of people are not adapted to this kind of heat, so if you loosen the restrictions, you’re putting even more kids at risk,” Wilson said. “ ese are factors that were not looked at before but have to be considered now.”

e most common heat-related illnesses among athletes are heat cramps and exhaustion, but occasionally an athlete will su er from a severe – and potentially fatal – injury like a heat stroke. Common symptoms for heat exhaustion include heavy sweating, muscle cramps, fatigue, nausea and dizziness.

According to Sarkarati, many of these symptoms aren’t necessary for a person to su er from a heat-related illness. Although heat-related illnesses are becoming more common, coaches and trainers still struggle to identify when an athlete may be in danger.

“It can be missed, actually pretty easily,” Sarkarati said. “It’s sometimes not obvious if a person is su ering from heat exhaustion or even a heat stroke. ere’s some myths out there that say things like the person has to start excessively sweating in order to have heat exhaustion and heatstroke, but that’s not true and so it does get missed.”

Not only are the symptoms di cult to identify, but coaches are often in charge of large groups of athletes at once. It isn’t possible for coaches to monitor the health and hydration of all their athletes, which is another reason for the added restrictions on when teams are allowed to practice.

“ e coach can’t keep track of like 15 students that are out there, like who stayed hydrated, who’s not feeling well or who may be tired that day and has taken stimulants and ca eine,“ Sarkarati said.

July was the hottest month ever recorded and with the heat index constantly over 105 degrees Fahrenheit, outdoor practices in many states throughout the country had to be altered or canceled. When training in the current heat or in humid states like Florida, the chance of experiencing a heat-related illness is increased and every athlete must be aware of their own health. Coaches’ inability to be aware of all their athletes at once emphasizes the importance of knowing one’s physical limits.

“You have to listen to your body because sometimes certain sports and coaches tell you to just suck it up and build on that,” Sarkarati said. “ ere is a ne line when pushing people while also being aware of heat-related illnesses.”

Heatwave disrupts sports practices and games

Article by Angel Berreondo

Photo by Olivia Kortman

After July set records as the hottest month ever recorded, the heatwave has continued into the fall, disrupting many sports on campus. As a result of the extreme heat, practices have been canceled or delayed, which has a ected teams’ morale and their ability to practice to their full capabilities.

Trinity strictly follows FHSAA policies, which has even led to swim practice being canceled. Measuring the safety of practicing outside with state-of-the-art technology like the Wet Bulb Globe Temperature device (Wet Bulb), new Athletic Trainer Sheena Wilson is able to con dently abide by the FHSAA’s heat stress policies. e policies, which call for each school to have a device that can record “ambient temperature, humidity, wind speed, sun angle, and cloud cover at the site of the athletic activity,” has formed guidelines based on readings that determine what activites can be conducted in a safe manner. e results are then categorialized as green, yellow, red or black, with green allowing normal activities to take place and black forcing cancellation.

Based on the results of the Wet Bulb at Trinity, Wilson determines with fellow sports sta whether to cancel or delay practice. She then can inform teams about the severity of the heat, so coaches will know how many breaks are required, how intense or short practice must be and what type of equipment the team can use during practice.

“For me to tell someone that you can’t be outside and practice is one of the tough decisions I have to make,” Wilson said.

Due to the reduced ability to practice and

extreme physical toll on athletes caused by the heatwave, Cross Country Head Coach Sara Dowdy has taken hypersensitive precautions, moving JV and Varsity cross country practices to 6 a.m before school everyday. Last year, the team only had two morning practices a week.

“We’ve actually been able to do more in the morning than we could after school” Dowdy said. “I’m so glad we’re in the morning, be-

ing around the heat isn’t ideal for teams, but certain precautions must be followed to ensure safety amongst all athletes.

“I send out a communication to all coaches and let them know, look, this is what’s going on on the eld, this is your range, this is what you need to do for practice if you’re going to be outside,” Wilson said.

cause since the season started, [varsity & JV] wouldn’t have had a full practice. Middle school hasn’t had a full practice either due to storms or code black.”

Not only have practice times been moved, they have also needed to be shortened due to safety regulations. ese regulations can limit a normal two-hour practice to one hour with no conditioning and light equipment. e heatwave hasn’t just a ected practice times, but coaches’ ability to maximize their team’s full potential. Wilson understands that work-

e guidelines have forced the football team to change the way they practice, most notably, depriving their ability to practice a fundamental part of the sport, tackling. Adjusting to the restrictions placed on the physical parts of practices, Varsity Football Head Coach Brian Kells has attempted to get the most of short practice times by reviewing game lm or practicing drills in the gym. e increased risk of heat illness has forced coaches and sta to make prevention a complex but highly achievable goal through collective action and communication. Every coach is required to take multiple heatstroke prevention courses and know how to perform heat acclimatization strategies, such as Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) and Automated External De brillator (AED) usage and rst aid protocols.

“I think it’s one of these things that’s been a heightened awareness around campus,” new Athletic Director Colin Sulvian said, “If we can take the necessary precautions, why not?”

By strictly following FHSAA policies, communicating with fellow coaches and having pro cient expertise on heat illness prevention, athletes can continue to safely enjoy the sport they love even under scorching temperatures.

Sophomore Landon Hill drenches himself in water during one of the football team water breaks mandated by the FHSAA.

VICTORY ON AND OFF THE FIELD

New Athletic Director Colin Sullivan values both academic and athletic success

Article by David Hull

Seventy percent of students on campus participate in athletics, and their experiences are dependent on the decisions made by the Athletic Department. Filling the role of Director of Athletics and Physical Education, Colin Sullivan plans to strengthen all athletic programs and foster an environment where athletes can succeed on and o the eld.

“I’ve always looked at athletics as a cocurricular expense,” Sullivan said. “It’s an extension of the classroom where we think people should learn, and we’re going to work to develop the whole student-athlete.”

Athletics have been an important part of Sullivan’s life since he was young; his father was a coach and inspired him to participate in as many sports as possible. Sullivan competed in cross-country and track and eld at Mary Washington College, receiving all-conference honors all four years. Following his collegiate career in track and eld, Sullivan was a coach at Iona College while also gaining an M.B.A. in Human Resource Management.

Once Sullivan completed his education, he ended his coaching career and worked for multiple collegiate athletic programs including Marist College, Salve Regina University and Brown University.

“I was lucky that I got to work at two Division I institutions that put a real high value on student-athletes and their overall academic experience,” Sullivan said.

After spending over 30 years working in collegiate athletics, Sullivan decided that he wanted to put his skills to work at the high school level. When considering leaving Brown University, Sullivan took into account the in uence he could have on the development of high school athletes.

“I was looking for a new opportunity and I wanted to go to a place where

I could have an impact,” Sullivan said. “I feel I have a wealth of experience having been on a college campus for so long and I know that [Trinity students’] aspirations are to get to college and if athletics are a part of that maybe I can play a role in helping [them] get there.”

Finding success in both athletics and academics is rare for the majority of high schools. While searching for a new place to work, Sul-

livan was impressed with Trinity’s athletic accomplishments and academic rigor.

“I think the thing that attracts me to a place like Trinity Prep is that it’s a place that obviously values academics, but also values athletics and believes that the two can be a wonderful compliment to one another,” Sullivan said.

Sullivan has many plans to grow Trinity athletics, including strengthening middle school programs. Under his guidance, middle school physical education classes and athletics will help develop athletes that are able to nd success at the varsity level.

“I think we need to develop some operational e ciencies and how we manage our athletics program from middle school through varsity and how middle school athletics and physical education end up supporting varsity athletics,” Sullivan said.

Another way Sullivan wants to grow Trinity athletics is to create a culture that inspires student-athletes to put forth their best e ort and strive to win.

“I want us to compete, to win,” Sullivan said. “You don’t lace up your shoes and put on your jersey if you don’t expect to win.”

Although Sullivan emphasized the importance of a competitive spirit and strengthening athletic programs, his main priority is to ensure the happiness and well-being of student-athletes. Athletics have been a major in uence in his life, driving him to work to inspire high school students the same way he once was.

“Athletics have been wonderful to me because they’ve helped me build some wonderful relationships and friendships,” Sullivan said. “I’ve been fortunate that I’ve been able to do the work that I love and love the work that I do. Athletics have been a big part of that.”

Photo by Olivia Prince

New Director of Athletics Colin Sullivan cheers on the football team as they play against Taylor High School (THS) on August 25. e nal score was 6-44 in favor of THS.

FUTURE OF FOOTBALL

Article by Nikhil Daniel Photo by Olivia Prince

In the past three years, Trinity Prep football has only won three games, but hope is on the horizon. After 13 years of leading the University High football team, Brian Kells steps into the role as head football coach and activities director at Trinity Prep.

Kells built University High’s football team from the ground up, transforming it from a completely new program to eight winning seasons accompanied by several playo runs. After stepping away from football for ve months, Kells is coming back to the game he loves, wanting a new challenge.

“I think if you’re not challenging yourself to do something di erent or give yourself those challenges, you’re not really living life or pushing yourself,” Kells said.

Kells realized that Trinity Prep was the chance he had been waiting for, allowing him to step into a new environment and rebuild another program.

“I know [Trinity] football has struggled as of late but has had some success in the past,” Kells said. “I decided to take the unique opportunity to come and try something really di erent and to be a part of a smaller, more close-knit family.”

Kells is excited about the future of the team, pushing past obstacles and reaching for victory. rough a larger coaching sta , an easier schedule of opponents and a new o ensive strategy, Kells is optimistic about the team’s competitive chances.

“We’re focusing on the immediate stu that we can control right now,” Kells said. “We’re working hard every day.”

Kells understands that bringing the program to victory requires a continuous series of small

steps that will create a stairway to greatness.

ough the team might not win immediately, the goal is to create a foundation that will generate winning teams in the near future.

“It’s a little challenging because when [the team] goes against teams that have experienced players, we are going to struggle at moments,” Kells said. “I think the big thing for us is to work on gett[ting] consistently better as the season progresses.”

Kells also believes that the administration’s support of a full coaching sta through ve

ture here,” Kells said.

As a head coach, he hopes to change the way students view the team by getting more involved in the school community and by simply winning more football games.

“I am trying to be as involved in the school as possible, not just as a football coach, but as activities director and trying to start a video production program here,” Kells said. “I think hopefully in time that will start to help change the culture and wins always take care of that as well.”

Outside of football, Kells’ new role as activities director also provides him a way to positively impact the student body. In his new position, he is in charge of student council and student events. He aims to use what he learned as activities director at University to better Trinity Prep.

“I hope to try and bring some of that [experience] to add new ideas to the different events here and add a few new events to try and help build that school spirit and try and help grow the culture in general,” Kells said.

other coaching hires will be helpful in producing and fostering football talent as players will receive more attention and guidance.

“Previously, there really were only one to two coaches,” Kells said. “Here I have a full sta . When you come out to [play] football, you’re going to have a position-speci c coach to work on those positions speci cally.”

Outside of football logistics and strategy, Kells recognizes that in order to make the team a success in the eyes of the student body he must also change the current football culture.

“You can see that there isn’t a [football] cul-

Kells will play a key role in the planning for major events such as homecoming, prom and Headmaster’s Day. His goal is to increase student engagement through enjoyable events throughout this year.

rough his positions as both the head football coach and activities director, he encourages students to get more involved and take action in changing their Trinity community for the better.

“It’s sometimes easy to sit back and criticize,” Kells said. “I always say to come out and be a part of it. Be that change.”

Football head coach Brian Kells directs his players on the Aug. 25 game versus Taylor High.

Puzzles by Karthik Stead

AUDITORIUM HALLOWEEN OCTOBER BARBENHEIMER HIP-HOP STAFF EDUCATION ISSUE ACROSS

RHINBXTJPFVFZMHRCP

EIVUARADTCNWNHYZEM

UPKKRLUQJZTSUAFVDR

OHWJBHDBZHRTTLWZUZ

HOMMEHIVDHOALLQZCM

BPLMNFTIYYCFFOPHAL

SIBHHXOLAWTFVWFLTD

ISUFEFRZSTOUQEWFIZ

DSFMIAIHESBZZELNOI

NUODMKUPWEERFNLXNN

TEWGESMARPRLYAQOHV

KCZERVNLJKQXZFTFGP

1 2

2. The school’s namesake

9 5

4 7 8

3. A long highway going across state borders.

1. You can’t see me, but I am all around you everyday. What am I?

2. If my sister was 3 when I was 6, how old is my sister when I’m 70?

WORD BANK

1. Existing in fact.

4. World’s most famous Kaiju

5. Music genre that started in the 1800’s.

6. The beat maker of the Beatles.

7. Common Tibetan animal.

9. An extra lock on many doors.

4. The name of America’s

8. Barbie’s loyal friend

PHOTOGRAPHY EXPOSITION Fall Sports

Olivia Prince Will Stewart ‘24 hypes up the crowd at the TPS vs. Taylor football game on Friday, Aug 25. The tense game ended in a 44-6 loss.

On Aug. 14, Virginia Ruby ‘29, Jordan Fink ‘29, and Colette Voll ‘29 run laps during cross-country practice in blazing heat. While varsity practices have been moved to mornings, JV remains in the afternoon.

On Friday, Aug. 25, the Trinity Prep cheerleaders get the Saint section pumped for the rst home game of the season. Despite the game’s tension, the cheerleaders kept the school spirit going.

Jackson Napier Trevor Hopkins ‘25 lines up a birdie putt. e golf team continues their undefeated streak with a win against Oviedo High School on Aug. 24.

Olivia Kortman

Olivia Kortman