23-24 The Whirlwind - Issue 3

Whirlwind WEST ALBANY HIGH SCHOOL • FEBRUARY 2024 • ISSUE 3

BookTok Pages 12-13

What Is Love?

An analysis of the complicated emotion

Pages 24-29

Lesser-Known Sports Pages 16-17

CONTENTS FIRST THINGS FIRST

The Big Picture: A debrief on world, nation, state and local news 04-05 How to Date: A five-step guide on how to ask someone out on a date 06 This One Time: Theater kids share their most memorable experiences 07 By the Numbers: The shift toward renewable energy in Oregon 08 From My Perspective: A student share’s her experience with love 09

WEIGHT OF NUMBERS

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An explanation of the new middle school grading system with its benefits and drawbacks 10-11

TALKING ABOUT THE TOK

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A review of books that have exploded with popularity on social media 12-13

SUCKING UP THE TAPIOCA Students share their experience with boba, as well as an exploration of local boba shops in the area 14-15

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OUT OF THE NORM

Student athletes share their experiences being part of less recognized sports 16-17

DEFYING THE IMAGES How female athletes deal with the sterotypes put on them 18-19

RESTRICTED ON PURPOSE

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The history of racial housing discrimination in Albany 20-21

BEHIND THE CURTAIN

The logistical aspects of putting on a school musical 22-23

LOVE IN TODAY’S WORLD

A dive into how love has changed over the years and is currently shown today 24-29

CHAT GPT UNLOCKED Staff Editorial on how artifical intelligence should be used in school given students’ newly gained access 30-31

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Cover Illustration | Gigi Roldan and Helen Whiteside Back Cover Illustration | Mika Winder T H E W H I R LW I N D

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EDITORS’ NOTE

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ate has began to saturate our lives; online and otherwise, it is difficult to escape the animosity that has overtaken so many of our community spaces.

Every video on YouTube, TikTok, or Instagram is flooded with angry comments and negativity regardless of the content, and this mindset has began to seep into our lives as well—as students, family members, and community members.

It’s hard to find a space that is free from polarized and uncompromising arguments. In classrooms, we’ve experienced

LOVE IN ALL FORMS INTERESTED IN SPONSORING? The Whirlwind, West Albany High School’s student news publication, is seeking sponsors for this school year.

Whirlwind provides a unique service to the school community, covering news and issues related to the WAHS student body. Sponsoring The Whirlwind is a way to show your support for the civic engagement, open dialogue, critical thinking and free exercise of expression that good student journalism encourages. Any individual or business can sponsor The Whirlwind. Sponsorship does not indicate endorsement of the views or opinions expressed in The Whirlwind. Contact us at wahswhirlwind@gmail.com

STAFF Editors-In-Chief Mollie Brown Avneet Dhaliwal Gigi Roldan Helen Whiteside Ming Wong

Art Director Mika Winder

News

Mina Clower Kayla Stefan

Opinion

Julia Berg Emi Ludlow

Special this. Oftentimes if difficult conversations are held in an academic setting, the students will become divided and the learning environment is entirely sacrificed to disrespectful debates. The classroom should be a place where learning is prioritized, yet this divisiveness and hostility has contributed to an increase in stress and anxiety among teens and students. It has also made it difficult for people to find and recognize love in their lives, since conversations of respectful disagreement are so rare. Amicability between peers is limited, and it has begun to shift the way that our generation is able to make connections. Our generation has began to accept isolation and individuality over community, and this observation is what led our staff to the decision to create an issue focused on love in all forms.

Besides through romantic love, there are many ways that connection is a crucial aspect of human experience and growth. Connection with friends, family, and acquaintances is what shapes our experiences and perspective, and many valuable lessons can be learned by being kind and willing to hear from those who are different from us. We should celebrate the relationships in our lives, and treat them with respect.

It is easy to disregard the impact that others have in shaping our lives, and to forget the impact we can have on the lives of others. Whether the relationship is temporary or surface level, our interactions with others still matter, and it’s important to be cognizant of that when we are having interactions with the people around us.

In graduating high school and moving to different stages of life, relationships don’t last forever. Our time should be spent valuing the experiences we share now, because in the long run, it’s these connections that will stick with us twenty or thirty years from now.

Navigating spheres filled with hostility and hate can be difficult, and it is our connections with others that can help to overcome that and become more unified and grounded in our lives. In creating this issue, we hope to promote kindness, empathy, and togetherness, and urge our readers to be proactive in their relationships—to treat the individuals they love with respect and value.

Mollie Brown, Avneet Dhaliwal, Gigi Roldan, Helen Whiteside, Ming Wong The Whirlwind Editors in Chief

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Yesenia Rosas Bri White

Sports

Edson S. Conn Taylour Veith

Arts & Entertainment A’Shyia Swensen Mika Winder

Business Manager Cadence McAllaster

Reader Engagement Director Arabella Autry

Staff

Adilynn Atchley Braxton Bullard Khobi Carmichael Skiie Ferro Jesus Cisneros-Obledo Ariana Goettl Tiana Harris Finley Hearn Braylon Heyer Cale McLeod Kaysea Plunkett Ayrianna Vanhoorebeke Addi Winter Chance Young

Adviser

Michelle Balmeo

CONTACT US

Corrections and Letters to the Editors Please send corrections or comments on this issue to: wahswhirlwind@gmail.com THE WHIRLWIND is a dedicated student forum. Content and editorial decisions are made by student staff members exercising their rights as protected by the First Amendment and the Oregon Student Free Expression Law (Ore. Rev. Stat. sec. 336.477 (2007)). Opinions are those of The Whirlwind staff and not West Albany High School or the Greater Albany Public School District.

FEBRUARY 2024

THE BIG PICTURE

Israel -Palestine conflict AN UPDATE OF WHAT IS HAPPENING WITH THE ISRAEL-PALESTINE CONFLICT Story and photo by Mina Clower

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ince the early 20th century, Israel and Palestine have been in constant conflict with each other. After many years of violence and occupation of the West Bank, which is home to almost 3 million Palestinians, on Oct. 7, the Islamic Resistance Movement Hamas committed the third most deadly terrorist attack in the world since 1970 on Israel, killing 1,139 Israeli people.

Palestinian and Israeli tensions hold a long history that are influenced by the lasting impact and scars of colonialism. The Balfour Declaration, a public statement made by the British Government in 1917, endorsed the creation of Israel as a national homeland for Jewish people, thus recognizing Judaism as a religion and a nationality. However, the British made similar promises in ownership of the land to the people of Palestine, who aided the British in defeating the Ottoman Empire during World War I. Contextually, these conflicting promises fostered growing tension and animosity between the two groups.

Many other conflicts leading up to the attack on Oct. 7 contributed to this growing animosity, such as the Nakba, which took place during the Palestinian War of 1948. During this series of massacres targeting Arab people, many were violently displaced and persecuted by Jewish residents. This historical context, along with many other events that preceded the attack by Hamas, provide some insight on the most recent events.

“Understanding the whole story is so much better than understanding what the most recent thing was,” International Issues teacher Andrew Sturgill said.

Following the surprise attack by Hamas on Israel, the Israeli military has been attacking and patrolling the Gaza Strip, a densely populated piece of land where 2.3 million Gazans live. Over half of the population in Gaza are under 18. It is 140 square miles on a coastal stretch of the Mediterranean Sea, near Israel and Egypt, which was supposed to be recognized as a “Safe Zone.”

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ReliefWeb reports that as of Jan. 21, around 1.7 million Palestinians have been displaced from their homes, and many have fled to refugee camps in neighboring countries since Israel attacked Gaza in 2023. As of Jan. 30, the Palestinian death toll is estimated to be more than 26,000, and as of Jan. 22, the Israeli death count has sat at 1,410 total people.

As of Jan. 25, the Committee to Protect Journalists reports that 83 journalists have been killed in Gaza, 16 have been injured, three have been reported missing, and 25 journalists have been arrested in the Israel-Palestine conflict since October, compared to the 67 journalists killed in seven years across the world during World War II. Along with a large number of Palestinians being killed or displaced, many buildings in the Gaza Strip are also being destroyed by Israeli airstrikes.

Before the bombings and militant operations were set into action in Gaza, there were 36 functional hospitals, and as of Jan. 24, seven of the 24 hospitals in North Gaza remain partially functional, and only seven of the 12 hospitals in Southern Gaza are partially functional.

According to ABC News, some of these hospitals are operating at 300% capacity, and other hospitals in Gaza are completely inaccessible. Along with more than half of the hospitals in the Gaza Strip being destroyed, many schools, universities, mosques, and churches have been reduced to rubble and are completely inaccessible.

In exchange for a permanent ceasefire and for the conflict to end, Hamas has offered to release all Israeli hostages, but Israel has rejected the offer.

“I reject outright the terms of surrender [to] of the monsters of Hamas,” Benjamin Netanyahu, the Prime Minister of Israel, said in a public statement.

The Israel-Palestine conflict is still ongoing, and as it unfolds, the world is watching.

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THE BIG PICTURE WORLD Scientists found an asteroid over Berlin. On Jan., 21. scientists discovered the asteroid nearly three hours before it landed. Before the asteroid landed, The National Aeronautics and Space Administration gave a prediction for when and where it would land. On X, NASA posted, “Heads Up: A tiny asteroid will disintegrate as a harmless fireball west of Berlin near Nennhausen shortly at 1:32 AM. Overseers will see it if it’s clear!”

NATION

Many candidates running for US president, such as the returning president Joe Biden, Marianne Williamson, and Dean Phillips, are all Democrats. On the Republican side, President Donald Trump and Nikki Haley are competing to be the nominee. Other candidates who are a part of a third party are Robert F. Kennedy JR. Cornel West and Jill Stein.

The top two candidates going into the election are former presidents Donald Trump and Joe Biden. This does not guarantee their win.

STATE After MLK day, on Tuesday, Jan. 16, an ice and snow storm rolled into Oregon, causing ice to cover the roads, grass, cars, etc. A large amount of ice made it unsafe for people to drive on roads or even walk to school, causing the school district to cancel school for three additional days after the Monday holiday, with multiple 2-hour delays.

Other districts in Oregon remained closed for the full week, with many students across the state getting a 4 to 5 additional days off.

Story by Cale McLeod and Braylon Heyer

Photo by Cale McLeod

MOONLIGHT MASQUERADE The Winter Formal dance happened on Saturday night, Jan 21. The dance had a masquerade theme with loud music and brightly lit trees. Many joined in on the dancing, as well as taking pictures and grabbing a drink from the upstairs lounge.

CRAZY COMEDY From February 15-18 at the NW Black Comedy Festival will be at Curious Comedy Theater In Portland. Niles Abston on Feb 15 at 9:30pm, A Drunken Night Out on Feb 16 at 8:15pm, and Black and Proud on Feb 17 at 9:15pm.

Photo from NW Black Comedy Festival Website

OREGON ORCHESTRA Violinist Gil Shaham will play Tchaikovsky’s violin concerto with the Oregon symphony will be conducted by David Danzymayr in Portland at the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall on Feb. 17-19.

Photo from PublicDomainFeast

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FEBRUARY 2024

HOW TO: DATE

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Story by Khobi Carmichael

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sking someone on a date is one the most intimidating things teenagers experience, but it doesn’t always have to be that way. Planning ahead what to say and what to do can help the experience be easier. This Valentine’s Day is a great opportunity to finally shoot your shot, so here are some steps to follow if you are thinking of asking someone out.

STEP ONE: GET TO KNOW THEM Getting to know your crush before you ask them out is key for planning the date.

Talk to them about their interests and hobbies and find common ground! A good first date is something that is both casual and entertaining. Many students around West Albany had ideas such as getting Dutch Bros, going to the movie theater, having a picnic, or thrifting.

STEP TWO: GIFT/COMPLEMENT Giving your crush a compliment or a gift is a great way to show your interest in them because it shows that you care about them. This would also help ease some of the nervousness or tension. A gift could be flowers, chocolates, a stuffed animal, or a handmade craft.

STEP THREE: PRIVATE CONVERSATION When you ask them out, a one-on-one conversation is best for all parties.

Having other people in the conversation could be scary. They could also feel pressured into saying yes, or no, based on the audience. It is also a good strategy if you are worried that you might be rejected.

STEP FOUR: BE SPECIFIC Once you’re ready to ask them out, you want to avoid making it awkward, so make sure to walk into the conversation with lots of confidence. Make your intentions of wanting to go on a date together clear; it’s best to avoid confusion. Stay calm because you don’t want to come off too strong. And always remember to be yourself!

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THIS ONE TIME. . .

Taylor Joynt, Stage crew (11)

The guy who plays Lucas Beineke in Addams Family (sophomore Drake Morvay) was a crew member for Wizard of Oz last year and he ran me over several times [with sets] on the toe that I had surgery on with the Yellow Brick Road and I cried several times.

Did You Hear The Drama ?

Nora Howard, Cast Member (10)

I remember there at one time in eighth grade, we were doing a show that was not very good, and we had less than a minute quick change; and every single time we all came on, at least one of the people on stage went on without a shoe or a sock, stockings, cardigan or something.

STUDENTS WHO PARTICIPATE IN

THE

WAHS

THEATER

DEPARTMENT

SHARE

MEMORABLE MOMENTS FROM THEIR TIME DOING THEATER. Story and photos by Mina Clower

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very year the WAHS Theater Department puts on musicals and plays for all who are interested in watching students perform. With all the rehearsals, auditions, and performances there are bound to be fun memories, mishaps, and laughable

Bethany Olufson, Cast Member (11)

moments made.

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[After online school], we all went to auditions at school and it was outside, [so] it was freezing cold. It was so hard to sing. But then, eventually, the cast list came out. I was Wendy, and [the show was Peter Pan] we started with rehearsals outside just in the parking lot, and it was crazy.

But, everyone was so fun to be around even though it was always freezing outside because it was early spring/ winter.

FEBRUARY 2024

BY THE NUMBERS

What’s The Source?

RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES IN ALBANY AND THE STATE OF OREGON Story and illustration by Kayla Stefan Wind 9.33%

Waste 0.06%

Other Biogenic 0.07%

Biogas 0.12%

Geothermal 0.10%

Non-Biogenic 0.14% Biomass 0.61%

Petroleum 0.09%

Nuclear 3.06% Solar 1.17% Hydro 38.42% Coal 21.83%

Each energy source contribution in Oregon in 2021 according to Oregon’s Electricity Resource Mix

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s renewable energy sources become more commonly used around the world, many Oregon areas are planning to put in more renewable energy sources, and one can be found right across the street at the Department of Energy: National Energy Testing Lab. Lee Jensen, the project manager for the solar field, said that several groups of people have been contributing to the production of the solar field.

“Different people from our utility, honorable global administration, and the department of energy, as well as local administration and local facility.”

However, this isn’t the only site in the State of Oregon. Several locations have been considered for solar panels, yet this location here in Albany floated to the top of the list. This is currently the only solar field that is being put in here in Albany.

Many factors were considered when finding a location for the solar field. The primary thing they

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near the WAHS tennis courts. This is the location in which the solar field is being Natural Gas put in.

24.46% There are several benefits to this new and upcoming insulation of solar panels.

This project would bring that percentage up to 100% carbon-free energy.

“Renewable energy sources like hydroelectric power, wind power, solar power, and others like that don’t use carbon fuel. What [the project] is meant to do is to try and make up that extra couple percent,” looked at was the space available and which Jensen said. “So that our site then coming part of the country would benefit most from the out of this could be what we call a net installation of solar panels. There were other zero.” factors, such as budget and which site location The installation of solar panels is would be used, but the one here in Albany was currently in the project’s design process. chosen for the project.

Many factors are being considered “The main on how it’ll affect the people living reason we’re nearby.

“We’re taking a lot of doing this is “THE ELECTRICAL care to make sure that it’s going because there POWER THAT WE to be aesthetically pleasing to the are initiatives by USE COMES FROM community as a whole,” Jensen the Department said.

They plan on putting up a of Energy to BONNEVILLE POWER privacy fence around the panels and reduce carbon ADMINISTRATION IS some shrubbery to provide visually footprint,” Jensen ABOUT 97% TO 98% pleasing scenery to the community. said. There are Construction is planned to start eight acres of CARBON-FREE ENERGY,” up around mid to late summer of this land on the south year and conclude construction summer of side of the National Energy Testing Lab, located next year if all goes to plan.

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FROM OUR PERSPECTIVE

High expectati ns L w results

HOW CHILDHOOD AND LIFE HAS AFFECTED MY VIEW OF LOVE

Commentary and illustration by Julia Berg

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hen I was younger, I had tragedies, books where the guy a neighbor that my family falls in love first. These things woven into was really close to. She always had some the stories never taking the limelight but still craft going on and would always be so sweet shining through. These relationships not only being to me. One day I went over to her house and she of two people who are attracted to each other, but of asked me what my favorite word was. My six year old self people who actually help each other grow and support each replied, “love.” She then proceeded to spell love with a strip other. of metal and put it in a picture frame. Since then, she has moved Movies and music only proved to further to ingrain this away as have I, but I still have it in my room. romantic way of looking at the world. Seeing not only a the world Love has been an important part of my life. Love for my family as what it is, but what it could be. Finding comfort in the silence and friends, the uphill battle of self love, love for nature and friendship in the rain. Looking for the good and love for creating just about anything.

My so that it appears the brightest and finding views on love, especially of romantic opportunities in what was lost. relationships, have been shaped by my My older sister once said to me that parents and siblings. These healthy “love is seeing others’ hearts with relationships that I was exposed to as your own heart. It’s a connection a kid, like my parents’ relationship, beyond what we see with our eyes” as well as my own with my siblings, and I couldn’t agree more. Love LOVE IS SEEING OTHER’S have given me a starting block for isn’t about what is on the surface. what I want when I eventually start HEARTS WITH YOUR It is a connection of hearts, it is an dating. understanding that whatever happens OWN HEART. IT’S A I was homeschooled from you will be there for each other. This preschool until eighth grade. So CONNECTION BEYOND stays true for friendships as well. when I started eighth grade, my focus You need to have an understanding of WHAT WE SEE WITH OUR was to keep up with everything that each other, and the trust that happens EYES was thrown at me. Making friends with when communication is present. As the people who have known each other saying goes communication is key, for almost their entire life is hard. and this is an absolute fact. In any Love was the last thing on my mind, so relationship you need communication. It is nothing about my perception of it changed. communication that helps people see the It’s just middle school. I thought that love other perspective. in high school was going to be something Through everything that I have been like in the movies, but in reality it’s never through, my view on love has stayed like the movies. Dancing in the rain, love almost the same with some changes letters, playing in the ocean and snow; happening over the years. However, all of these things are in some the core idea has stayed the same: relationships, just a hope, wish or That love is something that thought. is precious and you give I grew up reading books to the people that are where the girl gets the important to you. guy and they live No matter if they happily ever after, are friends, books about family or a heroes and partner.

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FEBRUARY 2024

State What’s Fair

EQUITABLE GRADING PRACTICES IMPLEMENTED IN SCHOOLS Story By Kayla Stefan

Brittany Ketter, English Language Arts at Memorial Middle School

WHAT BIOLOGY TEACHER SHANA HAINS DOES DIFFERENT WHEN GRADING STUDENT WORK

Photo by Kayla Stefan

Kayla Adair, Math intervention teacher and MTSS coordinator at Memorial Middle School Photo by Kayla Stefan

Ken Gilbert, Principal at Memorial Middle School Permission to use by Ken Gilbert

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urning in assignments late tends to cause a significant drop in a student’s grade, whether it’s one homework assignment or a test. While students wait for an opportunity to do the assignment, teachers put in zeros in the grade book until a student turns in the assignment, but once it’s late, generally the assignment would no longer receive full credit.

The Department of Education has discussed a way of grading to remove zeros from the grade book. “Equitable grading is not a system, per se, but a set of values, principles, and practices that help guide educator decision making,” ODE Director of Assessment and Student Reporting Andrea Lockard states via email. Middle schools have already adjusted to this change, but The Department of Education is looking to expand this change to high schools.

Brittany Ketter, an eighth-grade language arts teacher at Memorial Middle School, explains, “There isn’t a situation in which a kid would receive less than 50% of the points available no matter what they scored.” Memorial Middle School uses equitable grading practices as well as all other middle schools in the district; some staff members have raised concerns since this has been implemented.

“If a student who had been consistently getting 20-30% on an assignment and they’re now up to 45%, they’re [still not] passing, but that’s still huge growth,” Ketter said. “But according to the grade book, it’s all the same.” By giving students 50%, it makes students believe they aren’t making progress.

Often times in classes teachers provide very strict deadlines for when assignments are due. However, Shana Hains and the other science teachers who teach biology got together to discuss a new system that would benefit all students.

“It needs to be equitable.” While the biology teachers were discussing, they wanted a policy that would be equitable, trackable, still holds students accountable, while still benefiting every student in their classes.

The goal was to have a zero percent fail rate, and to make sure every student passes their class whether that pass is a D or an A. Hains mentions that it works well in the science department however, it may not be perfect for every other class.

“We can’t teach a kid who’s not here,” Hains says. By moving the deadline to before a student takes their test, it allows the student the time they need to understand the lesson they missed. If a student misses multiple days at a time, then they have to go to the teacher to address the issue to potentially get an extension.

However, with this grading policy there is still a very strict deadline.

“By having a true cut off date it allows the student to move forward.”

Hains said. Hains applies this policy to all her classes but there are few adjustments made to ensure students aren’t putting assignments off till the last minute.

In Hains AP Biology class, students can’t move on to the next topic without ensuring they understand the content they just learned. So Hains makes sure each student reads by assigning reading quizzes.

But in many ways the policy still applies where all work is due before you take the test.

Now that several students have other factors contributing to their learning pace, such as IEPs, 504 plans and chronic absenteeism, by implementing a deadline that’s a bit farther out, it gives each student the time they need. Each assignment is made to take 20-30 minutes in biology but not every student works at the same pace, and not every student has the same needs. “What takes one kid one day may take another kid three to four days.” Hains said.

Photo by Kayla Stefan

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WHAT IS EQUITABLE GRADING? “EQUITABLE GRADING IS NOT A SYSTEM, PER SE, BUT A SET OF VALUES, PRINCIPLES, AND PRACTICES THAT HELP GUIDE EDUCATOR DECISION MAKING. EDUCATORS ARE THE AGENTS IN THIS PROCESS AND GRADING DECISIONS ARE PROFESSIONALLY SITUATED WITHIN THEIR PURVIEW.” - ODE Director of Assessment and Student Reporting Andrea Lockard said via email

Students then get into the mindset of, ‘What’s the point?’ Which lowers their motivation to keep trying and working to better their grades.

Once students enter high school, there is currently an entirely different grading system, which can catch students off guard. When their grades don’t reflect what they did in class when they were in middle school, they enter high school with a mindset that they can pass by doing less work, but that isn’t the case.

“I’m sure there are students who don’t fully understand mathematically the implications of not doing their work because they see 50% as easy to make up, and before you know it, they have maybe created some bad habits and a spot they find themselves in that they can’t pull out of before the end of a grading period.” Memorial Middle School Principal Ken Gilbert said via email.

“The real answer is that right now, most students aren’t actually benefiting from the 50% in terms of having falsely inflated grades,” Ketter said. She describes that students tend to stick with the grades they work toward. “A lot of students who are passing are pretty much [going to pass], and the kids who aren’t turning in anything are still going to get an F” ODE Director of Assessment and Student Reporting Andrea Lockard states via email, “Students often experience grading practices that are mathematically unsound, inconsistent, and include information such as behaviors and attendance that should not be part of an academic grade and do not actually motivate learning.”

Kayla Adair, a math intervention teacher and MultiTiered System of Support coordinator at Memorial Middle School, says, “When you’re absent, either for a long block of time or consistently a couple of days every other week, it impacts your ability to continue your education because you’re just missing [the instruction].” When students miss class, they tend to think the assignment will be excused before they think to talk to a teacher about the work they missed.

Several students now don’t want to be at school due to unknown factors in their lives, and “If you have 35 kids in the room, and one of them is checked out, and three of them are up and moving around in the room and the rest are trying to learn, you have to prioritize” Adair said, “so sometimes the kid with their head down doesn’t get addressed.”

Behavior doesn’t directly affect a student’s grade but

WHAT ARE OTHER SCHOOLS DOING? Elementary level schools use a 1-4 grading system.

1 = does not meet expectations.

2 = nearly meeting expectations 3 = meet expectations 4 = Exceeds expectations

indirectly affects the student’s academic grade.

When countless students are misbehaving in class, it makes it challenging for the students around them to learn and focus, and it makes it challenging for teachers to get through the entire lesson if no one is paying attention.

Before the COVID-19 pandemic hit, many schools had a late work policy that would deduct points from a student’s grade based on how late they turned an assignment in.

However, during the pandemic, many schools removed the deduction on the grade because teachers didn’t have the ability to know what was happening in student’s lives, and they gave full credit if earned on the assignment.

“At the middle school level, each grade level could determine how they wanted to handle the [late work policy].” Ketter states, “We were told [...] If a kid turns an assignment in within the quarter, just take it and do not penalize them.”

The ODE believes that these grading practices will boost the students’ intrinsic motivation to learn because they won’t fail their classes. However, as stated by Ketter, some students still fail.

Adair states, “It’s a false sense of security.

It just delays the incentive for them to get their work done.” When students don’t see that they are behind because their grade isn’t affected as drastically, they don’t feel the need to get work done. Students don’t understand that this won’t be available in high school.

“The work ethic and apathy of students prior to the pandemic and post-pandemic are

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Middle School level has 50%-100% 50% given for assignments that range from 0-50% in grade including missing assignments

very different. It would be very hard to determine [whether] the grading scale is causal to that apathy or just coincidence.” Gilbert said via email.

“A system that would feel more fair to me would be proficiency grading,” Ketter said. “If the standard is that a student can write a paragraph, and I give them five opportunities to write a paragraph, and they show me one or two times out of five that they do it in proficiency grading, that overall score credit becomes their official score.”

Proficiency grading measures a student’s mastery of the essential skills or how well the student understands the material in the class the student is taking.

At the beginning of every unit, the teacher will break down the proficiency for the unit into smaller objectives and criteria using a detailed rubric. During the unit, students will be assessed to see if they truly know the material using a variety of assessments, such as traditional pencil-and-paper tests, projects, discussions, or reports.

However, these aren’t the only changes teachers want to make.

“Academic assignments are worth 80% of their grade, and effort assignments are worth 20%. The effort should be slid up to the reward of trying,” Adair said. “I would slide [effort assignments] up to at least 30%, if not 40%.”

FEBRUARY 2024

Social Read-ia

THE BEGINNING OF THE END

They Both Die At The End by Adam Silvera creates lots of emotion in the reader. It can be hard to read a story where the main characters are easy to get attached to, but you read with the knowledge that something bad will happen to them.

However, I did find myself rooting for the protagonists to understand each other despite their different situations, and isn’t that what love is all about? Even though the sort of suburban and quick paced story isn’t really my cup of tea and I usually prefer “slow-burns,” it was fun to read anyways. The book is awesome for those seeking a love story that isn’t straight and white. Though it’s sad, the positive message and the connection the two characters find in each other saves it from feeling too doom and gloom.

Reviews and photos by A’Shyia Swensen and Helen Whiteside

ARE THESE VIRAL TITLES REALLY WORTH THE READ?

2/10

7/10

A COURT OF THORNS AND ROSES

A World Of Hurt From a plot perspective, It Ends With Us is a twisted and shocking rollercoaster of emotions that keeps the reader turning pages like there’s no tomorrow. The author, Colleen Hoover, has become a household name in the world of romance novelists, and It Ends With Us is undoubtedly her most viral and popular book. However, the book contains a concerning amount of graphic content, including multiple forms of domestic violence and other possibly triggering types of content for sensitive readers. The story follows Lily, an aspiring business owner, her newly made best friend, and a messy love triangle. The end may leave some feeling unsettled and unsatisfied, even with a small sense of doom (which I personally experienced). All in all, the book may very well be “over-hyped”... I found myself getting bored multiple times and crying for all the wrong reasons. However, if you love gut-wrenching romance with raw pain and reallife emotion, this book may be for you.

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A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas is, in my opinion, very overhyped.

Honestly if i’m being brutal, Shrek 3 was better fantasy than this. It’s a fantasy romance with a fairy guy (if you’re into that). The main character is not very memorable, and the love interest seems too pushy. In terms of plot, the fantasy takes a backseat to the love story, which I didn’t have much investment in anyway. I felt that their feelings developed much too quickly for the reader to be satisfied.

When I was done with the novel, I felt like I was in a cloudy haze and could only remember hazy pieces of plot and romance. All in all, it was kind of…meh. (Also, really really not as spicy as the BookTok people say. I’ve read better fanfiction.)

COllege cuties The Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood is a very cute, (although somewhat predictable) story of a PhD student named Olive, a young professor at her university whom nearly every student despises, and their very messy relationship. The two wind up fake-dating in true romance novel style, meeting one another’s friends and ignoring some non-fake feelings. Partway through the book, an insane and disgusting plot twist occurs, sending Olive spiraling. Thanks to her wonderful support system of well developed friends, she comes out stronger than ever before.

I found the novel sweet, satisfying, heart-warming, and easy to read; everything a good romance novel should be. If you like nerdy romance, science, and strong female leads, you’ll likely appreciate this cute book just like I did.

7/10

SUCCESSFUL ROMANCE

The Hating Game by Sally Thorne has one of those covers that is so cheesy and generic, which I guess actually fits in this instance. I really enjoyed the progression of the story: I hate it when something is marketed as a romance book but the romance is so thinly spread. I like how the plot is incorporated but ultimately the book centralizes on the two characters and their scenes. It does what it advertises, and I couldn’t put it down. A great speed read with a lot of funny parts that I actually found myself laughing at for real.

There are some cringe-worthy parts, and I think the short girl, tall guy trope is a bit overdone, but you take what you can get.

In some scenes in particular, the dialogue is a bit questionable, particularly when a dress was described as “slit wrist red”. Overall, I would recommend The Hating because when it’s bad it’s bad, but when it’s good it’s wonderful. Also, the main character was 28 which I felt was appropriate. The pace was awesome and I was never bored with the storyline.

9/10

4/10

“BookTok”

“BookTok,” a term coined by TikToker/bookworms around the beginning of COVID-19, is a tiny corner of the Internet largely inhabited by young female readers. According to WordsRater, “BookTok” has racked up over 181.7 billion views as of September 2023, having astronomical impacts on book sales and popularity worldwide. “Influencers” in the community create a wide variety of content, ranging from recommendations, reviews, and “Read-With-Mes” to promotions of personal writing, jokes about literary tropes, and snippets of books that leave commenters begging for the title. Due to the growing popularity of the community, books such as those reviewed in this article have gained millions of unlikely readers. Needless to say, “BookTok” is just another of the many ways in which social media has transformed the face of content consumption.

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FEBRUARY 2024

TAPIOCA TALK WHICH RESTAURANT IN ALBANY SERVES THE BEST BOBA TEA? Story and Illustration by Gigi Roldan and Mika Winder

Sippin’ Through time BUBBLE TEA, ALSO KNOWN AS PEARL MILK TEA OR BOBA, ORIGINATED IN TAICHUNG, TAIWAN IN THE 1980S. TYPICALLY, IT CONSISTS OF TEA MIXED WITH MILK OR SYRUPS, AND SMALL, CHEWY TAPIOCA PEARLS ARE ADDED TO THE MIX. PRESENT DAY, IT HAS BECOME A WELLLOVED DRINK WITHIN THE UNITED STATES--ENOUGH TO LEAD FOUR BUSINESSES IN ALBANY TO CATER THIS DELICIOUS DRINK.

BOBA DIARIES Senior Al Robles When drinking boba, I usually like the taste when I add gummies or things like rainbow jelly. Sometimes, I also like to get fruit smoothies, usually with mango. Back when I first tried boba I really liked it, and I got some friends into it, too.

Sophomore Nick Lazott I like the unique flavoring, and the burst of extra flavor makes it better. I usually buy mango boba. I first tried it in fourth grade, I think. At first I thought you were supposed to swallow the tapioca pearls, but my mom told me that you eat them, which made it taste a lot better.

Junior Zhaine Raymundo I’ve always liked flavored drinks. My whole life I’ve had boba, especially growing up Asian. Before, I would always get taro milk tea with the standard tapioca pearls, but recently I’ve really liked trying different fruit teas and popping pearls or aloe vera.

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High on the Hog In the heart of downtown Albany, High on the Hog serves both barbecue and boba. Coupled with a drive thru and inside ordering area, it offers an easy way to grab a meal or treat while in a rush. Unfortunately, the seating inside leaves a lot to be desired, more so acting as a waiting area than a comfortable place to eat. It is much more suited to a quick stop rather than a leisurely outing. Sadly, the boba was mediocre, and the flavoring tasted artificial and bland.

Bobo Boba The farthest store from WAHS, Bobo Boba, is our personal favorite, despite being the most pricey. The store is equipped with a good range of flavors and boba, Japanese snacks like takoyaki and popcorn chicken, and a cozy atmosphere filled with comfy places to sit and cute decorations. The boba was near perfect within the drinks ordered, and the taste was sweet but not overwhelming. It also uses only dairy-free milk, without extra charge.

Fay’s Cafe

Next to WAHS, Fay’s Cafe is an easy way to grab some food during a lunch or open period without having to travel far. Although it has a large boba menu, with the most options for flavors, drinks, and tapioca types, it also serves a variety of fast food like fries, burgers, and more. There is also a sitting area with a booth and tables, with plenty of room to enjoy your meal. The boba was inconsistent with quality, either being too hard or too chewy, but the taste of the drinks was well balanced and tasty.

Boba Tea Crew

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Located within Albany Heritage Mall food court, Boba Tea Crew is easy to grab while shopping. Its seating depends on the general court, which can be a negative or a positive depending on who you are.

Prices vary greatly based on the specific boba you get, with the ability to get two flavors in a special, two compartment cup being an especially unique item at this location. Unfortunately, the flavor was overly sweet and tasteless, the boba wasn’t well made, and the wait time was the longest out of all four shops.

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C O M M E N TA R Y FEBRUARY 2024

Pass the Hype SPORTS CLUBS AROUND WEST ALBANY THAT AREN’T THAT WELL KNOWN AND WHY

By Taylour Veith

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ost high school sports are well known due to being considered an OSAA sport.

One thing these sports all have in common is they aren’t OSAA sports or talked about a lot. West Albany is involved in tons of sports that a lot of people have never heard of or didn’t know we had teams for. Some of these sports are a clay shooting team, an equestrian team, rugby, bowling, and lacrosse. They all have different reasons not to be mentioned around a lot or not considered an OSAA sport. Clay shooting involves firearms which is not the best thing to be connected with schools.

While rugby and lacrosse are in the same situation with not being a big enough team to be considered for OSAA. Lacrosse is only small because it is better known on the East Coast but is spreading rapidly across the country. A lot of the student body doesn’t know about the bowling or equestrian teams due to being off campus and involving any high schoolers that would like to join. Even though all these sports are extremely different they all have been facing a similar struggle.

Photo use with permission of Bri

Rugby’s objective is to score as many points as possible against an opposing team by carrying, passing, kicking, and grounding the ball. It is an effective mix between footbal passing and running the ball into the end-zone. As well as soccer with no pads involved continuous play. American Football evolved from rugby, and when football became mor ular rugby had been left behind. The game of rugby in much of the US has only been ac for the past 25 years in high schools. It has 15 positions that need to be filled by athlete every size and shape. Unlike football where only a handful of players touch the ball in s games; in rugby, every player gets a chance to carry and pass the ball. Losing two yea of High School rugby in Oregon due to Covid restrictions was a setback, but it is bounc back. So come out to one practice. They have had tons of people say they wish they ha rugby sooner, so why not take a chance?

Albany Clay Target Club is based upon growing skills and knowledge individually in a team by participating in activities such as safe gun handling and proper shooting methods through weekly practices. There is a state competition each year

where all of the clay target teams in Oregon get togethe compete. It requires very few of the skills compared to t tional sports some of them being: accuracy and the abil repeatedly aim. Adding on to that, it is a very accepting that is home to a very diverse group of people from man backgrounds. People may be unaware of the sport beca is unique and is not as covered in the news and schools is an activity that involves firearms. If a shooter doesn’t how to shoot or hasn’t shot a shotgu before, then they will get trained on hold a gun, proper gun safety, and h operate all of the equipment they ne use. Clay target shooting uses very b concepts and skills that can be learn with no prior experience. The best w is to start with a gun safety course. A that, going to your local gun club and trying a round or two of shooting is g If you end up liking clay target shoot then you can join a clay target team this local one that can help you grow improve your skills.

Photo used with permission of Jennie Luke

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From left to right: junior Jerrad Kollaer, junior Cameron Butrlakorn, junior Kohen Hanson, and junior Jaxon Walker play for the Albany Lions rugby team. Class of 2023 alumnus Wyatt Lyon (middle) played lacrosse last year. Sophomore Isabelle Johnson (below) practices with the bowling club on Jan. 24. Sophomore Cadence McAllaster (bottom right) performs at an equestrian meet last year.

Photo by Taylour Veith

n of Brittany Ketter

m by otball with olved, and e more popen active hletes of l in some o years bouncing ey had tried

gether and d to tradie ability to pting sport m many because it hools as it esn’t know hotgun d on how to nd how to y need to very basic learned est way rse. After b and g is great. shooting, eam like grow and

Photo by Mia Cavazos-Ang

Lacrosse is a fast-paced sport involving long sticks and a ball where the ultimate achievement is to score goals at the ends of the field. At the end of the game after all the running and shooting whoever has the most goals wins. This sport takes a lot of energy and good hand-eye coordination. Lacrosse has historically been played on the East Coast and hasn’t been very popular on the West Coast. However, it is gradually becoming one of the fastest-growing sports in the United States, thus increasing its accessibility. The coaches spend a lot of time helping each player learn the basics of holding the stick, and different motions while still keeping the ball in the cross. Practices are Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 6-8pm, but when it is February the team will also practice Tuesday and Thursday. They accept all skill levels from no experience to high levels of experience.

The Albany High School Bowling team is composed of high school students from any school in Albany including Albany Options, South, and West. Practices are on Wednesdays at Lakeshore Lanes from 3:455:15 pm. The season starts in October and goes until mid-March, with five practice tournaments in the District area (within 1hr. of travel time) and then a District tournament. The girls’ team qualified for the Oregon State High School Finals this year as well as last year. The next competition is February 24-25, in Salem, OR. There is, also, an All-Star tournament which had two players compete last year, and one this year who qualified. That tournament is held in March at a bowling alley in the state where the best of the best compete in team competition. The bowling team here is less known to students because it is not a school-sponsored sport. Bowling is a private sports organization that accepts high school students without it not being a typical school-sponsored or even club team. As for bowling in general, families go bowling for fun, but not many realize how competitive it can be. It is a sport requiring skill but anyone can join.

There are no tryouts and no one is turned away. At the beginning of the year, they are taught about the sport and assessed on their skill level. In the beginning, the best way to start bowling is to go with family and friends for fun. If you want to get more serious you can join the local team. From there, getting your shoes and ball is critical for peak performance on the lanes.

The Equestrian team is for individuals who want to be riders so they can compete with horses. You can also just be a groomer for the horses and still be very involved with the team and do things like clean the horses and get them ready for competitions. That is where a lot of people who do not own horses or have never ridden one before start. You get to learn about the horses, get them ready for competitions, and be very involved in practices. With individual high schoolers, they can sign up for barrel racing, or gaming events, as it’s up to the athlete what they want to do.

There is also a team competition called drill where they compete together unified and perform choreographed maneuvers. In a season, there are three tournaments/ meets where if they score high enough on individual events they qualify for state.

A lot of people don’t know about the equestrian team because the practices are off-campus and not everyone owns a horse. But there is no difference between this sport and sports here at school.

Photo by Lilly Luke and Shyann Lunski

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FEBRUARY 2024

What’s with the stereotype?

Do atheletes’ grades matter?

DESPITE POPULAR BELIEFS, SCHOLAR ATHLETES STILL’ NEED GOOD GRADES

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By Arianna Goettl

common misconception is that athletes don’t need good grades.

Some think that because they are athletes, they can just get a scholarship and they’ll be fine. But that’s not necessarily true.

Athletes have a hard life. They have school during the day and practice at night.

With all of those things, it’s hard to find time to do homework. But they still need to keep up with their homework and get good grades. According to RealVail, to be considered for a scholarsh Baumgartner ip you need to have at least a 2.0 GPA and a good SAT score. If you have a higher GPA, you’ll have a lower requirement for your SAT’s.

For most sports teams, your grade matters for playing as well. For example, if you are STUDENT ATHLETES HAVE failing too many 40% HIGHER TEST SCORES classAND END UP GETTING es, you can’t play A HIGHER GPA BECAUSE until your THEY’RE ACTIVE AND ARE A grades improve.

PART OF A TEAM SPORT. For wrestling, if your grades are too low, there is constant communication with family and teachers to make sure everyone is aware of what’s going on. Sometimes, poor classroom performance can also lead to sitting out of tournaments, meets, and games.

There are always times to try and do homework, as hard as it might be depending on how many sports you have going on at once. Senior Jarron Hubner finds time to do his homework after practice. Wrestling coach Casey Horn says that to help with student athletes that need help with homework they often hold study halls, do constant grade check ins, and talk to them one-on-one if necessary.

Many athletes, or “jocks,” fight the stereotype that they aren’t good at school because they are athletes. You hear the stereotype get thrown around every often but that isn’t really true. According to atyourownrisk.org, there are a lot of benefits to being a student athlete and working out. It is shown that people who are more physically active are 15% more likely to attend college.

In the end, homework is important for student athletes for many reasons. Instead of thinking “jocks” aren’t smart maybe you should change your point of view.

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MANY GIRLS IN OUR SCHOOLS ATHLETICS ARE AFFECTED BY STEREOTYPES. WHAT DO THEY HAVE TO SAY ABOUT IT?

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Story and photos by Adilynn Atchley

veryone hears about stereotypes; it’s become a normal term in society. Many people encounter stereotypes due to race, ethnicity, and identity, and these add up to negative outcomes. People can feel stressed, or experience setbacks in their sports due to negative connotations caused by stereotypes. Girls at West Albany High School deal with these very problems. Here are some female student athletes who share their stories as women being stereotyped in sports.

SENIOR KYLEE BAUMGARTNER BASKETBALL If you compare it to the NBA (National Basketball Association) and WNBA (Women’s National Basketball Association), I couldn’t tell you a single WNBA team myself, but I could name many NBA teams. I think it’s more entertaining to watch boys play sports because they are more put together, while girls [may] play more scrambled and messy. It would be nice if we had a student section cheering us on [at games]. If you look at the South Albany basketball program, a lot of people go watch the girls just as much as they watch the boys [teams], but [for girls] games, not a lot of people come unless there is a boys game after.[If students came], it would help us with our confidence in playing. We don’t usually have fans watching us, so when we do, we get nervous and kind of scramble so if it was more regular it would be nice.

Senior Kylee Baumgartner defends the ball during the game against Central High School on Jan. 8. Photo by Neona Prado.

32%

OF PARENTS STATED THEY BELIEVED BOYS WERE BETTER AT SPORTS THAN GIRLS, IN A SURVEY OF 3,041 PARENTS CONDUCTED BY THE WOMEN’S SPORTS FOUNDATION

‘And I was the only girl’

ACCORDING TO A SURVEY CONDUCTED

BY THE WOMEN’S SPORTS FOUNDATION, ALMOST ONE THIRD OF FEMALE ATHLETES REPORTED BEING MADE FUN OF WHILE PLAYING SPORTS, ESPECIALLY DURING THEIR ADOLESCENT YEARS, WHICH IS THE PEAK TIME WHEN GIRLS QUIT PLAYING SPORTS

SOCIAL STUDIES TEACHER KRISTEN GROSSERHODE SHARES HER EXPERIENCE AS A FEMALE HIKER

By Kristen Grosserhode, as told to Adilynn Atchley

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SENIOR MORIAH WINN FOOTBALL I [have]dealt with peoples reactions. When I would tell family or friends I was doing football they would ask if I was doing powderpuff football or flag football, so I would tell them I’m actually playing football, but people would [say]“girls can’t play guys football.” At first I’d get upset and rant to my mom or my boyfriend. Why can’t people understand that girls can be in a male dominated sport? It’s not just a male sport, and I think that just pushed me to do it more. I was just tired of hearing people be like “girls can’t do that”.It should be okay for girls to want to try it and I think girls should know that. It’s a lot of hard work and you’re gonna have setbacks because it’s a male dominated sport and very physical, but I think girls should know that it’s okay to try.

FRESHMEN MARLI GILES CHEERLEADING I haven’t been told cheer isn’t [a real sport] but I know other people on the team have, and I’ve heard people say it a lot, just not to me specifically. [People] don’t think its a sport because they haven’t experienced what it’s like to be on a cheer team. They don’t understand all of the mental and physical qualifications you need to really cheer. Because it is a real sport, we condition and practice and all the things [other] sports do. It also has a lot to do with movies [stereotypes] and what people hear about other cheer teams. They take one experience and think all cheerleaders are like that. Of course, being on JV, the JV games aren’t always as fun as the varsity games, but I never feel left out because it’s still fun to cheer.

remember climbing a mountain one time, and [when] I got to the top, there was this guy a little bit ahead of me. We started talking at the summit and he said he was a member of a mountaineering group. It was on Facebook, and I needed an invite, [so] we exchanged numbers so he could contact me.

We hiked up the mountain and I remember telling my friend later, her first reaction was “You mean a guy gave you his number?”

She thought that the only reason we would get numbers is for romantic purposes. That happened to me on three [other] mountains where I got someone’s contact information, interestingly enough four guys, but I tried to tell [my friend] that if there had been other girls hiking I would’ve gotten their numbers. It’s not that I was trying to get guys’ numbers, they were just the other people hiking and I was the only girl.

It’s like there’s a stereotype that it’s mostly guys hiking, and if you get someone’s number it’s [because]you’re interested in them, [when] you’re just trying to build a community.

Just this last Christmas, I was hiking with my husband and baby. We were in Chile, and we met [another] guy who was hiking by himself. He was from the states, so we were asking him questions [such as] what brought him to Chile, and he told us about all these amazing places he’s been, and he said he usually goes by himself.

I also usually hike by myself because my husband doesn’t like it as much as me, so I asked him, ‘Oh does your family ever say like, ‘Oh my gosh, that’s so dangerous’ or ‘I can’t believe you’re going out there by yourself, you’re crazy’? And he immediately said, ‘Well no, because I’m a man.’

He didn’t mean it in a rude way but it felt like a veil being ripped off or my vision being cleared. I always thought people only said that to me because they were worried about me as a person, but when he said, ‘No I’ve never once been told that’ and I talked to him some more, I agreed. I think it is because I’m a girl.

Must be because I’m a girl.

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WHY WOULD THEY NEVER TELL HIM IT’S TOO DANGEROUS, BUT TELL ME IT IS WHEN I HAVE ALL THE KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS TO BE OUT THERE

BY MYSELF?

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FEBRUARY 2024

A WEST ALBANY NEIGHBORHOOD WAS ORIGINALY RESTRICTED TO BE ONLY FOR WHITES. NOW, 75 YEARS LATER, WHAT IMPACT DOES IT STILL HAVE ON THE COMMUNITY? Story and Photo by Ming Wong

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“any person other than a Caucasian.”

Kyle Hall’ Hall’s house built in 1952. The Fir Oaks Neighborhood began being planned in September of 1948. Hall’ Hall’s house was part of the second round of development that took place in December of that same year.

African Americans, according to the 1950 U.S. Census, were < predominately found working on railroads and congregated in Ward 2, Precinct 5. (Between Lyon St. and Railraod St.) The Covenants, Conditions, and Restrictions for the Fir Oaks Addition that restricted non-whites in 1948.“No part < or parcel of said premises shall ever be rented, leased, sold, or in any manner transferred or conveyed, used, or occupied by an person other than a Caucasian.”

tory His Hub

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refuting this claim. “NEGRO NEIGHBORS DO NOT LOWER PROPERTY VALUES, the flyer read, citing a survey done in the city of San Francisco.

In 1959, roughly five years after those flyers were published, Oregon would enact the Fair Housing Act, which would put an end to discrimination by race when it came to private housing.

According to a report done in 1961 by the League of Women Voters of Portland, Oregon, it was found that African Americans were largely more

land that the Fir Oaks neighborhood was being developed on. “No part or parcel of said premises shall ever be rented, leased, sold or in any manner transferred or conveyed, used, or occupied by any person other than a Caucasian,” the CCR read.

Around 1948, the same time that the development of Hall’s neighborhood began, the practice of redlining began across the United States, according to AP U.S. History teacher Marty Johnston. Redlining was the act of redistricting by the Federal

<

rowing up by Linn Benton Community College, psychology teacher Kyle Hall found himself biking along Pacific Boulevard daily in the summer to hang out with friends, all of whom lived in the Fir Oaks neighborhood.

Years later, he would find himself buying a home in that exact same neighborhood that he had biked to years ago.

“When we were looking for homes, I really wanted to live in this neighborhood,” he said, crediting it as being part of his inferiority complex. “None of my friends still lived there. I was in my 30s. But there was something [Alfred] Adler would say psychologically: I was driven to this neighborhood because I couldn’t have it.”

The original development of the neighborhood that Hall currently lives in was not his first home in the neighborhood. Upon moving back to Albany, he originally settled into a house on 33rd Avenue, a few blocks from where he currently resides, and it was there that he learned about the history of the area.

“It was a barbecue at my next door neighbor’s house on 33rd and it was like, ‘Hey, did you know about the neighborhood?” Hall said, in regards to first learning about his neighborhood being restricted in regards to race. “I don’t think it was as blunt, but they said there used to be signs to get into the neighborhood that said something like that [Caucasians only].”

In newspapers published by the Albany Democrat Herald, homes in the neighborhood, beginning in the late 1940s, were advertised with language such as “Albany’s Choice Restricted Residential Area,” and touted the properties as having “sensible restrictions for your protections.”

This language found in the advertisements at the time was referencing the language found in the Covenants, Conditions, and Restrictions for the

A 1950 census map of Albany, Oregon. This map excluded the restricted Fir Oaks Addition as it did not fall within the city limits of Albany at the time.

Housing Authority to lower the property values in certain areas of cities as they connected it with federally insured home loans.

“It’s like unofficially official segregation in a sense,” he said, “and so what it did is it prevented African Americans from purchasing homes in certain districts of cities.”

However, despite the belief that African Americans would lower the property values of neighborhoods, the Urban League of Portland, a civil rights organization, published flyers in 1952

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aware of the state’s housing law compared to whites. And in that same study, it found that whites, who considered themselves to be social, were more favorable to “mixed neighborhood living” compared to whites who considered themselves as non-social.

However, it wouldn’t be until 1968 that the United States would act on the issue, passing the nationwide Fair Housing Act, which banned housing discrimination everywhere.

That meant the part of Hall’s neighborhood that was devel-

oped in the 50s could no longer be exclusive based on race, but the act of discrimination had long lasting effects after these laws went into effect.

In the 1990s, Albany’s mayor Alexander D. Johnson II, who is African American, faced housing discrimination of his own when attempting to rent a home, despite it now being against the law.

“My wife would go initially to sign the paperwork,” Johnson, who is married to someone who identifies as Hispanic, said. “And then I show up after work at HP and the people would say, ‘Oh, the apartment’s been rented or the house has been rented.’

So it was very uncomfortable. And after about a year, maybe a year, I decided to leave Albany. I didn’t feel welcome.”

However, before leaving town, he says he came across someone who noticed his frustration, and they offered to rent him a duplex. Johnson says he credits this man for being the reason he still lives in Albany.

Even today, Johnston says that the ethnic makeup of cities and states can be explained by policies like housing discrimination, which he says were the remnants after the practice of slavery History Hub ended.

“It’s about as white as you can get,” Johnston said of Hall’s neighborhood. “It’s about as white as sheetrock. Is that random? No, it’s not random.”

As a teacher of U.S. history himself, Hall says that he will bring up the story regarding his own neighborhood when talking about the time period post Civil War to help students understand the importance of the information being taught to them.

“You should see [the students’] faces. They’re just shocked. It brings it home where it’s not just a history thing that happened on the East coast,” he said. “No No, No. This is your history, too.”

JANUARY 2024

THINKING UP THEATER

she often decides which musical the school will put on before summer break even starts.

“I’ll take a little bit of time off, and then it’s like, let’s start thinking about shows for next year,” Caffarella said. “I try to have the musical selected before I go away for the summer so that I can also be thinking about that.”

This massive time commitment means it is imperative that Caffarella feels connected to the musical she chooses, which is often one of her first considerations.

“First off, I think about shows that I like and want to produce because in the whole process of things, I’m spending so much time and so much energy and so much commitment that ultimately, it needs to be a show that’s going to be something I’ll enjoy doing,” Caffarella said.

However, it’s not a decision that she makes entirely on her own. In order to appeal to both the students and audience, she tries to ask for input, especially at the beginning of the decision making process.

“I’m looking for things that I think will not only entertain my audience, but also be fun for my students to perform,”

DEALING WITH FINANCES, PRODUCTION RIGHTS, AND PUBLIC RESPONSE—CATE CAFFARELLA SHARES THE LOGISTICAL REALITY OF PRODUCING A MUSICAL Story and photo by Mollie Brown

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hining lights, grandiose props, and skilled actors work diligently every spring to bring a story to life— but long before the spotlights illuminate the actors on stage or audience members fill the theater, there’s another type of performance that takes center stage. Choir

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and drama teacher Cate Caffarella takes on the annual responsibility of organizing and directing the school musical—a process that is unfamiliar to many, and much more complicated than it may seem.

Caffarella explained that producing the musical is nearly a year-long process, and

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she said, “so it usually winds up with me polling a whole bunch of different people for suggestions.”

Asking for student input is an important consideration to make, due to the time commitment the actors and participants make in the process as well. There are many logistical challenges that come with the production of a musical that have to be taken into account as well, which means Caffarella sometimes has to make sacrifices based on practicality, regardless of student preference.

“It’s so subjective, right? And it’s hard to pick a show that everybody’s gonna love,” Caffarella said. “There are shows that I know kids want to do, but that I’m just not going to do in high school.”

These limitations sometimes have an effect on the options available to the theater department every year.

“A lot of times it’s because of budget or it’s because of capability,” Caffarella said. She has to have conversations with her crew in order to gauge what type of productions are realistic.

“I think despite having to kind of scale back a lot and [to] make it work, it’s a high school show, and I think we come up with a pretty good product,” she said.

Since the new auditorium has been put in, she has found that her options are not as restricted by the old facilities, which leaves more room for productions that are more diverse and span many different genres.

“It used to be, I pick a show that people will audition for that we have the technical capability for,” she said.

“Now that we have this space, some of those things don’t restrict us as much.”

This allows Caffarella, event technology teacher Stuart Welsh, assistant director Trish Wagner, and other members of the production team to branch out in their selections, and within other constraints, select a production that will promote growth and hopefully challenge the theater department. They

still have to deal with the financial investment of each show, a difficult challenge because production costs aren’t limited to costumes and set pieces alone—royalties and contracts make up a huge portion of the budget. Acquiring the rights to a show means, first, reaching out to royalty companies, a process that has become significantly more difficult since many companies were absorbed or have changed hands following the COVID-19 pandemic.

For these companies, Caffarella has to fill out contracts, provide specifications on the venue and seating capacity, and order or rent sheet music and scripts—which becomes a very expensive investment.

Caffarella estimates that her contracts cost around $8 to 9,000 per production, all before set, costume, and production costs are even taken into consideration.

“I have to say my house size, which is 719.

And then on top of that, I give them an average,” Caffarella said. “Since we’ve been in the new space, that average has gone up every year—so the first year, I wrote it for 350. Last year, I think I wrote it for 400. And now this year, I’m writing it for 450. Because people keep coming. I mean, it’s a great problem to have.”

Many contracts also come with certain regulations and restrictions Caffarella is legally obligated to adhere to.

“When I did Cinderella a little while back, there was a national tour happening,” she said. “That national tour was going to be in Eugene, so they gave me the rights but I was not allowed to advertise with the title of the show.”

This meant that Caffarella, her production team, parents, and students had to rely on wordof-mouth and workarounds in order to advertise for their show. “So every contract has its little thing,” she said.

Because the Performing Arts Department receives no funding from the district, the cost of every musical has to be supplemented and sourced through ticket sales.

This is one of the reasons it’s so important that the show is family friendly, well advertised, and highly anticipated by the community.

“I have to sell tickets—that is my only source of revenue,” Caffarella said. “And frankly, I’m going to make more money doing shows where you can bring your 5, 6, 7, or 8 year old to.”

Besides just for selling tickets, considering the content of the show is something that Caffarella finds important so that she

can avoid offending audience members.

“With a couple of shows we’ve done, I’ve gotten emails about content,” Caffarella said. “I mean, even in the Addams Family this year, I was worried about it because it is a little more dark, a little more macabre.”

Looking past the surface level of the content, however, Caffarella is more focused on the themes and underlying message of the production, so she feels that her students and audience have something to take away from the performance.

“I try to find shows where the overall theme is very uplifting and positive,” she said. “Ultimately, the theme of this show is about embracing yourself as a whole human being. We have our dark side, but we also have our light side, and you can’t be one without the other.”

Caffarella has been directing the musical here since 2012, when she put on a production of “Fiddler on the Roof.” With 12 years of experience, she has had quite a bit of time to refine the process. She says that her organization has improved significantly, and she has developed a team of people that is crucial to the production each year.

“Over the years I have created a really excellent adult support team—people that I work with every year,” Caffarella said. “I cannot do a show without those people.”

“Ultimately, the theme of this show is about embracing yourself as a whole human being. We have our dark side, but we also have our light side, and you can’t be one without the other,” Caffarella said.

Behind The Scenes with Event Tech Story by Ayrianna Vanhoorebeke

Q: What is Event Tech?

Al Robles: Event Tech is an umbrella term for a bunch of different theater things, and sound design or sound engineering in general.

Bruce Cox: With Event Tech, we do a majority of things. It’s setup for events, using sound systems, and other tools and resources within stage entertainment.

Jason Katin: Oftentimes we’re the editors and we often record. Other people will play instruments while we record it at the best quality and then edit it.

Read the full Q&A by scanning the code to our website:

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What is Your Love Language?

FIND OUT HOW YOU EXPRESS YOUR LOVE WITH THIS QUIZ Story By Yesenia Rosas

Directions

Check the box next to the statement that you agree with.. Add up your picks and the color you checked off the most, is your love language !

KEY:

Physical Touch

Quality Time

What someone does affects me more than what they say

I know someone loves me when they helps me

When I like someone I tend to make contact with them more often .(Hugs, high-five)

I rather make a homemade gift rather then buy one

Words of validation are meaningful to me

I enjoy being physically close to people I like

T H E W H I R LW I N D

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LOVE IS UPON US! LEARN ABOUT NEW AND OLD FLAMES, LOVE IN DIFFERENT FORMS AND GIFT IDEAS

Words of Affirmation

Acts of Service

Gift Giving

Homemade gifts mean more then expensive gifts

I like to spend one on one time with people

I appreciate doing little things to make someone’s day

I value praise and avoid criticism

I like to receive affirming notes and text I feel loved when people take time to understand my feelings

I like doing activities with friends and family I deeply appreciate hugs from people 25

FEBRUARY 2024

Story and Illustration by Gigi Roldan

HOW HAS THE PORTRAYAL OF ROMANTIC LOVE WITHIN MOVIES CHANGED OVER THE DECADES?

R

omance and movies have been intertwined since the dawn of film-making, with some of the earliest films involving acts of romantic affection between couples. The May Irwin Kiss from 1896, a 30 second film about two lovers loving on each other, along with Something Good from 1989 having similar themes, would help build to what is seen today in modern movie making.

As the years progressed and technology became more complex, the once simple clips began to blossom into long films.

But, despite the stark difference in quality and advanced storytelling, stories revolving around romance continued to be created and seen.

“I think I like older romance movies because theres a lot of similar [older movies] with the same formula… like oh, they meet, they fall in love, they end up together. But the plot can vary a lot because of the different settings and situations around the characters,” junior Hailey Dinger said. Older romances like Gone With the Wind or Pride and Prejudice follow a pattern of focusing on the more fantastical, ‘happily-everafter’ type endings, which can count as either a negative or a positive depending on a viewers personal preferences.

“I love Pride and Prejudice because it has that slow burn romance… It feels more real. It really feels like these characters are together, and you can feel it when they are getting together or breaking up,”

senior Amy Burford said.

And even if older romance movies can be boiled down to a basic formula, its still arguable that they hold a deep place for some, like how Burford’s family will bond over their shared love for them. “It’s [watching movies] such a bonding activity for my mom, sister, and I. We just have a Saturday where we don’t have to do anything and we are just going to watch a chick flick.”

The content within these films can be much more digestible than other genres, making it something that they can just turn on in the background or watch to relax. “I like how they’re normally light hearted, its just a fun little story,” said senior Gretchen Morgenstern. “You’re never really wondering whats going to happen, so you can pretty easily watch and follow along.”

But how do these films compare to more ‘modern day’ movies?

La La Land, a movie released in 2018, has been labeled as a well

known, praised romance movie that combined new elements and stories that haven’t been displayed like that before. “I love La La Land, its like my all time favorite… it almost portrays love as something that won’t be perfect, and that it won’t be something that everyone has a great time with,” senior Zoey Sabbatino said.

The story ends with the two main characters seeing each other long after they split up, with a bittersweet moment where they catch each others eyes before leaving once again. It is far from the more fantastical, happy endings that older romances are accustomed too.

Other than the difference in tone and messaging, there are other details that tend to set apart these differently aged films. “Instead of the romances being more slow and developed, it sometimes feels like they quickly start ‘doing the dirty’,” said Burford.

“I feel like sometimes it could represent an important moment within a relationship, but nowadays it feels very

superficial.”

As society progresses further, the media produced will often reflect or sometimes oppose the status quo people are used too. Whether we enjoy the romantic classics from a life before our time, or enjoy films full of love that are expanding on our current worldview and life, this art will always be a way for humans to express the differing ways we can all love.

Love Letters

ENGLISH TEACHERS RECOMMENDED THEIR FAVORITE LOVE STORIES Story by Jesus Cisneros Obledo

MARGIE GRAVES Gone With The Wind

by Margaret Mitchell The Fault In Our Stars

by John Green The Great Gatsby

by F. Scott Fitzgerald The Notebook

by Nicholas Sparks A Farewell To Arms

by Ernest Hemingway

KRISSY RASMUSSEN Me Before You

by Jojo Moyes Honest Illusions

by Nora Roberts Any Book

by Nora Roberts Any Book

by Sarah Dessen Any Book

by Ginger Scott

n o i t a c i n u m Com lations Re

LOVE IS IN THE AIR AT WAHS. THESE STUDENT AND STAFF COUPLES WERE TESTED TO SEE HOW MUCH THEY TRULY KNOW ABOUT EACH OTHER. Story by Addi Winter and Braxton Bullard Photos by Addi Winter, Braxton Bullard, and Stephanie Ockerman

When did you first meet?

Mr: We met in College. Her roommates were in the same apartment complexes as I was and I didn’t see them at all the whole year. Then it was the last month of the school year, my roommate came running into my apartment and said we have hot neighbors! We met like two weeks later.

Mr. & Mrs. Ockerman

When did you first meet Mrs: I had a different boyfriend when we first met and then we met again at the end of the summer. I needed help with calculus and so I asked him for help and he helped me...I dropped the class a week later, but he was a really good helper.

What yourpartner favorite part about isyour

What is your favorite part about your partner?

C: My favorite part about Mari is how sweet and caring she is.

M: He's really good at communicating. He's also a good listener.

When dating?did you begin

When did you begin dating?

C: December 29th at 6:00pm

Sophomores Cameron Lodge & Mari

What is yourever favorite date that youve been on together?

B: Our first date, we went to Lake Shore lanes and hung out there. We bowled a couple games, and then we went to the arcade, and we won a giant inflatable ball and the claw machine. Then, we went back to her house and hung out. It was a fun first date.

T H E W H I R LW I N D

M: A few days after I met him, but it was love at first sight.

W hat is your favorite date that you've ever been on together?

A: I actually would agree. I think that was my favorite.

Juniors Brady Chronicle & Alyson Thompson

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I love you

Love Letters

Free Activities for Couples

THE ULTIMATE GIFT GUIDE FOR THIS VALENTINES DAY Story by Bri White

Gift Guide

According to Juniors Jocelyn Salazar and Savannah Vosburg

1. Flowers (real or lego) 2. Their favorite snacks and drinks 3. Cologne or perfume 4. Jewelry 5. Clothes

1. Picnic 2. Watching a movie 3. Going on a walk together 4. Take turns painting canvases (switch every 5-10 minutes)

DIYs For Your Partner 1. Cut and tie blanket 2. Handwritten letters 3. Make them a personalized playlist 4. 100 things I love about you (love jar) 5. Put date ideas in a jar and have your partner chose on your next date!

Sweet Treats

1. Classic chocolate chip cookies 2. Heart shaped cake pops 3. Hand decorated sugar cookies 4. Cheesecake 5. Cake (can use wine glasses to take pieces) 29

FEBRUARY 2024

As AI grows smarter, We grow stupider AS AI IS INTRODUCED TO HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS, IT SHOULD BE USED AS A TOOL, NOT AS AN EASY WAY OUT Opinion of The Whirlwind Editorial Board Illistration by Emi Ludlow

A

s younger generations continue to embrace digital communication and technology, ChatGPT has emerged as a versatile tool that can be integrated into various aspects of society. Its adoption among the youth is driven by a growing comfort with online interactions and an increasing reliance on digital platforms for information and assistance. ChatGPT serves as a valuable resource for students seeking help with homework, professionals seeking quick information, and individuals engaging in casual conversation. Its ability to understand and generate human-like text makes it an accessible and user-friendly tool for those who have grown up in the era of instant messaging and virtual communication.

ChatGPT wrote that paragraph about itself. Could you tell? The AI was quick and efficient in writing it, with clear communication, very little to no grammatical or spelling mistakes, and is structured. No awkward phrases or blocky sentences but fluid writing that uses diction and is not too complex or too simple. With writing that has that much grammatical fluency, it would it be worth an A. Teachers need to start teaching how to use AI effectively now, so it ingrains how to use it as a tool in an ethical way and see it for the potential it has instead of using it as a way to cheat. Teachers have been using ChatGPT as a way to generate prompts, check for fluency, and get input

“

[AI IS] NOT MEANT TO PRODUCE A PRODUCT.

during writer’s block. There is a point where using AI in essays and other writing works is considered plagiarism, but how will students find that line without the opportunity to practice under the watch of their teachers?

At the start of the second semester, ChatGPT will officially be unrestricted by the district as a test to see how teachers and students use it. AI writing tools such as ChatGPT have been used before on different devices, commonly used to cheat and plagiarize, but as librarian Jean Gritter states, “[AI is] not meant to produce a product.” The goal of opening up AI is to let the students learn to use it as a tool to help with writing blocks and conjure prompts, with the guidance of teachers.

As it is getting more advanced and will continue to get better at replicating human emotions in writing, teachers hope that by starting to teach with AI while it’s in its starting stages. It can enforce the ethical responsibility that comes having a new view of writing open.

Though AI is being abused by some to cheat and write essays, it can be used to help. AI can be used to conjure prompts and go more in depth into a subject when having a writer’s block, and help create mnemonics for studying which have been proven to help. When used correctly for the purpose it was created for, it can expand ideas and inspire students. How students use this new technology for its purpose is up to teachers as they also navigate the world of AI, and it is up to students to not take advantage of what they have available to them.

USING CHATGPT IN THE CLASSROOM Provide suggestions for grammar, vocabulary, and sentence structure

T H E W H I R LW I N D

Create writing samples for revision which is helpful for classes such as AP Composition, Honors English classes, and AP Literature

Create quizzes for reading checks, how ever is not absolutely accurate the entire time.

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“I think it will be used very often, to check to see if anyone [has] copied.”

-Junior Ana Medina

“It’s already advanced, it will be able to do a ton of stuff, it’s already really good at making up essays for [students]”Sophmore Colton Louk

1 IN 5 STUDENTS HAVE USED CHATGPT FOR SCHOOLWORK

Sources: -Pewresearch -ACT -Edweek

46% OF STUDENTS FROM 10-12 GRADE HAVE REPORTED TO USE AI

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FEBRUARY 2024

Purrfect Valentine!

COMPLETE THE COLOR BY NUMBER FOLLOWING THE COLOR KEY. THE COLOR OF THE CATS ARE UP TO YOU!