WG Echo February 2024

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF:

Hadley Hoskins

PRINT/PODCAST EDITOR:

Sam Klein

JUNIOR EDITOR:

Ali Schulz

SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGER/ GRAPHICS EDITOR:

Soledad Lee

VIDEO EDITOR:

Margaret Oliphant

NEWS/OPINION EDITOR:

Arianna Peper

ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR:

Margaret Korte

FEATURE EDITOR:

Jasper Winterton

ADVISOR:

Donald Johnson

SPECIAL THANKS TO FRIENDS AND FAMILY OF THE ECHO:

Melanie Bennett

Kim and Dan Emerson

Ariel Johnson

Keillyn Johnson

Anne and John Klein

Jenny Korte

Tracy Willis

SOME MATERIAL FROM TRIBUNE NEWS SERVICE

South

Social studies department plans Europe trip

Micro-trends influence student lives

Students discuss superlative nomination

Students find motivation through ‘Hallway Crushes’ Review: ‘Argylle’ brings nothing new

The Echo is a monthly publication of the newspaper staff of Webster Groves High School, 100 Selma Ave., Webster Groves, MO.

To contact staff members, call 314-963-6400 ex. 11157 or write to wgecho@wgmail.org. Unsigned editorials are the opinion of a majority of staff members; signed articles are the opinion of the writer

Letters to the editor of 300 words or less are welcome; submit letters by the 10th of the month to wgecho@wgmail.org, or room 155. All letters must be signed, although the name may be withheld from publication if requested. The Echo has the right to edit letters for publication as long as intent remains unchanged.

Cover cutline: Freshman Scottie Adkinson faces off against a Marquette player as he drives toward the basket on Douglass Night, Saturday, Feb. 17 in Robert’s Gym. Photo by Arianna Peper

Basketball game honors school history

Arianna Peper News/Opinion Editor

Douglass Night is an annual basketball game in honor of Douglass High School, an all African American high school which existed from 1925 to 1956.

Starting in 2007, the tradition now involves the women’s and men’s basketball players from WGHS wearing purple and gold uniforms, which were the school colors of Douglass High School. A speech is given before the game and the night is dedicated in honor of Douglass High School. This year the double header game took place on Friday, Feb. 16, in Robert’s gym.This year, the Statesmen won 72-69.

lass alumni to find more information about the school itself and those who attended. Following this, they planned a night in honor of Douglass and got the word out into the community.

“It’s a special part of our community. The school is a very significant part of our African American history, and I just think it’s good for us to recognize and celebrate it,” athletics director Jerry Collins said.

Douglass was a school that taught African American students from Kirkwood all the way to Washington, MO, and it was located in North Webster. Once desegregation happened, the students from Douglass went to Webster.

Former head Varsity basketball coach and history teacher Jay Blossom began this tradition of honoring Douglass High School in 2007.

Blossom said starting this tradition involved talking to Doug-

“We wore the traditional purple and gold of Douglass High, and that first year we had a bunch of Douglass alumni back. It was really cool and obviously we’ve kept it going and stuff, so to me it’s a really neat event and just kind of honoring what a great school Douglass was,” Blossom said.

Before it’s closing, in 1932 Douglass became the only Black high school to be accredited by the state and gain membership in the prestigious North Central Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools.

From 1935 to 1955, the Missouri Negro Interscholastic Athletic Association conducted state tournaments for the athletic teams of the state’s all Black schools. In that time, Douglass High won the State tournament for basketball three times including in 1955 which was the last year it was held.

“I think it’s a special night, and it’s one of the great things about Webster– the school’s ability to put on nights like this to recognize the past– some of it good and some obviously not good- but to recognize that and honor those who went to Douglass High School. It keeps the memory alive of what a great school that was and what it meant to the black community at Webster,” Blossom said.

Freshman Scottie Adkinson faces off against a Marquette player as he drives toward the basket on Douglass Night, Saturday, Feb. 17, in Robert’s Gym. Webster won 72-69.

Photo by Arianna Peper

Athletic training class provides hands-on experience

Hadley Hoskins Editor-in-Chief

At almost every home sporting event, the athletic training program can be found on the sidelines, ready to help injured players.

Led by athletic trainer Sean Wright, students assist in basic first aid, taping and stretching, and are trained in CPR and in using automated external defibrillators (AEDs).

The students prepare for these games in the athletic training classes-- Introduction to Athletic Training or Advanced Athletic Training, but students in the athletic training club are also eligible to participate.

The introductory class, Introduction to Athletic Training, is focused on lower-body injuries, according to Wright. Then, in the advanced class, students learn about the upper body.

“It’s all shoulder injuries, elbow injuries, head injuries, neck injuries. We get a little more into detail in athletic training stuff,” Wright said.

Students attend games as a form of extra credit for the class, senior Alissa Crespi explained.

“You get to be right there, hands on, working with the athletes, learning as you go. It really ties in because what you’re learning about is what you get to see on the field,” Crespi said.

Wright explained his role and the role of the students helping out.

“We tape about 40 athletes, we set up water, we make Gatorade, we set up emergency equipment, like splints, crutches and the AED. Everybody has a medkit they bring with them so they can do first aid,” Wright said.

The more contact a sport has, the more likely Wright, or his students, are to have to help. High-contact sports like football are more hands on, and Wright said he gets involved “10 to 20 times” per game.

“I love football games. They take the most to prep for, and I think the prep is really, really fun.”

Other sports don’t see as much intervention. “Sporting events that are less contact aren’t as bad…You don’t have as many injuries at a volleyball game as you would at a soccer game. I don’t work a lot of swim meets because there’s not as much physical contact,” Wright explained.

Although the class is a larger time commitment outside of school, Crespi said it was well worth it.

“It’s something I really love to do, so it wasn’t like ‘Oh, I have to go to this football game’ or ‘Oh, I have to go to this soccer game.’ I was always just really excited that I had this opportunity. It is a big time commitment, but I like that,” said Crespi.

Students who complete both of those classes can also participate in an internship with Wright or another professional, like a physical therapist or a physician. The internship requires 100 hours of service.

Crespi was one of two students to participate in the internship this year.

“I was pretty much able to do whatever I wanted to do, so I did soap notes-- which is just a write up of an injury-- and other little projects like that,” explained Crespi.

Crespi said she became interested in the class her freshman year.

“I’m really accident prone, so I went to Coach Wright freshman year, and I thought it was really cool. So I took the class, joined the club, and realized it was what I wanted to do,” Crespi said.

Wright said he had had at least 40 students go on to pursue careers and degrees related to athletic training.

“It’s really cool to see high school students passionate about something and go on to become what they wanted to. They go on to become an athletic trainer, a physical therapist, and they come back and see me and it’s really cool to see them loving their career,” Wright said.

Athletic training coach Sean Wright watches a football game on Sept. 9.

Photo by Sam Klein

District tables teacher retirement incentive

Margaret Oliphant Video Editor

Talks of a retirement incentive occurred at the Jan. 25, board of education meeting due to a drop in attendance of incoming students.

However the talks were tabled due to a law stating that staff must have a 45-day period to decide to take the offer and one week to rescind their decision if they decide to take it. Administration decided to table the incentive for a later date in order to find teachers closer to the beginning of the school year.

The idea of the retirement incentive was in order to free up money used as income for retirement age teachers for other projects, such as parking lot expansions.

The incentive is meant to keep the district more financially sound. This is due to how much more older teachers make to younger teachers whose salary starts at $45,024, typically because of lack of both experience and education such as bachelors and masters degrees. Older teachers with more education such as a PhD or doctorate in education get paid up to $104,099.

their money well. They’ve managed it very well,” WGNEA building representative Susan Riegel said.

“I don’t think they’re trying to push anyone out to be mean or anything. I think they are just trying to get new teachers to keep

os had heard about it, the offer had been taken off the table; however, news sources such as Fox 2 news and the Saint Louis Post Dispatch had already reported on the story.

“How does it get to the point where the news gets a hold of it before decisions have been made?”

“I don’t think they’re trying to push anyone out to be mean or anything. I think they are just trying to get new teachers to keep us financially sound,”

- Chemistry Teacher Kyle Lockos

“The district was very good about calling it a ‘retirement incentive.’ It was the news channels calling it a buyout.”

- Math Teacher Susie Riegel

Fifty-five teachers were considered eligible across the district. The district had offered a retirement incentive in 2015, and districts such as Kirkwood offer a retirement incentive every year to help keep the district financially sound.

The National Education Association, or NEA, is the largest labor union in the United States, according to NEA.org with three million members across the country. The group represents public school teachers and college students preparing to become teachers; however, the union supports other faculty as well. The WGNEA supports Webster Groves teachers and staff.

“It’s not that Webster hasn’t managed

us financially sound,” chemistry teacher Kyle Lockos said.

Lockos was unaware of the incentive despite being an NEA member and announcing his retirement in November after 28 years of teaching. Lockos has been taking a step back from the NEA and school activities after his announcement in order to disconnect from the school.

By the time Lock-

Lockos said.

Although news sources have called the incentive a “buyout,” both Riegel and principal Matt Irvin have preferred the term “Retirement Incentive” due to negative connotations that is held by the term “buyout” because incentives are used in companies and other organizations such as police departments frequently.

“The district was very good about calling it a ‘retirement incentive.’ It was the news channels calling it a ‘buyout,’ which has a very negative connotation,” said Riegel

“Retirement incentives are used more frequently in other districts,” Irvin said.

Saint Louis Post Dispatch learned of the incentive through a board meeting; however, did not speak to members of the school.

Seniors run ‘Definition of Beauty’ through THRIVE

Margaret Oliphant Video Editor

Definition of Beauty is a student run braiding and eyelashes business through THRIVE. The business is run by seniors Nadia Robinson, Tanashia Bates, Mia Knox and Teuana Logan.

The four started their business at the beginning of the 20232024 year and named it during the first week of school.

Robinson and Bates started by braiding for their family members and decided to start a business to help master their skills.

Knox and Robinson can now do hair for men and women alike and each has found their specialty including travel braids, knotless, twists, cornrows and braided ponytails.

Knox has been braiding hair since eighth grade, teaching herself through YouTube and practicing styles such as corn rows, twists, starter locs, design braids as well as styling natural hair. Knox charges a starting rate of $50, adding $5 for each row of braids.

THRIVE teacher Kara Siebe had helped the girls get in touch with a specialist with whom they meet once a week to learn from.

“The smaller the braid, the bigger the price,” Robinson said.

Bates got her braiding license in the beginning of December and learned after the death of her aunt.

“A few years ago my little cousins’ mom died, and I stepped up and started doing her hair because she didn’t have anyone to help her with her hair,” Bates said

Definition of Beauty charges $200 or less for hair, compared to

Seniors Mia Knox, Tanashia Bates and Teuana Logan present during business on curriculum and preview night on Tuesday, Dec. 5, in the library (not pictured Nadia Robinson).

other braiders who charge $200-300.

Bates and Logan can both braid and do eyelashes by dipping them in a glue bond. A classic set of lashes is $100 and a hybrid set is $120 because it is more detailed. The lashes last two-three weeks.

“You have to wash your lashes like you would wash your face. You’ve got to brush your lashes to get the old out and so you don’t get termites in your lashes,” Bates said.

Logan works exclusively with eyelashes, although her interest beauty got more serious about it this year.

Definition of Beauty works during THRIVE from first to fourth hour as well as the weekends.

us in Celebration of the Lord!

Library commemorates Black History Month

Jasper Winterton Feature Editor

“Recently one of my favorite (books) is ‘Field Guide to the North American Teenager’ by Ben Philippe,” Liz Forderhase, library media specialist, said.

The library has multiple ways to commemorate Black History Month and has a number of popular books about black history. Some things the library does includes displays, advisory activities and bulletin boards, the main activity being a mural with a number of key figures in black history that students can try to identify in their advisories.

“We have tons of titles; Jason Reynolds is great. Publishing companies have really made strides in honoring minority authors,” Forderhase said.

According to Newark Trust for Education, teaching people about Black history and spreading awareness from a young age encourages enhanced consciousness, leadership and ingenuity.

“We do have specific displays, highlighting specific things including African American authors and books we get,” Forderhase said.

According to Good Reads, some of the most popular books about Black history include “The Hate U Give” by Angie Thomas, “The Color Purple” by Alice Walker and “The Van-

This are display in the library made by William Curtis and Eric Crenshaw was developed by the Students for Black Awareness and Action (1970-1971).

ishing Half” by Brit Bennett.

“The Hate U Give” follows 16-year-old Starr, who witnessed her friend get killed by a police officer. It shows the community’s aftermath of the killing, and her continuously speaking up against racism and police brutality. The book has been banned in various schools across the U.S. According to CBC news- a division of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, it was removed due to its depictions of racism, profanity, and anti-police views.

“The Color Purple” is about a teenager being raised in Georgia in the early 1900s, showing her struggles and experiences with racism, poverty, abuse and teenage pregnancy. The

book has been challenged dozens of times and was banned from at least five libraries across the U.S. between 1984 and 2010.

“The Vanishing Half” follows two identical twin girls, both black, who run away from home at the age of 16. One twin, Desiree, marries a dark skinned man while the other, Stella, lives her life being perceived as a white woman. The book shows their different experiences and tracks their lives across generations.

“Field Guide to the North American Teenager” is about a black French Canadian teenager who moves from Canada to Texas in the middle of the school year, while dealing with his parents’ divorce.

South Tech teaches career skills

Jasper Winterton Feature Editor

“I know tons of people that have taken Spanish all four years of high school and can’t speak a lick of it, South Tech’s not like that,” Tony DeArmitt, junior, said DeArmitt has been enrolled in South Technical High School since the start of his junior year, where he has been learning construction.

dents with a number of opportunities including internships, apprenticeships, mentorships, part-time employment, full-time employment offers for after high school and scholarships.

“I know tons of people that have taken Spanish all four years of high school and can’t speak a lick of it. South Tech’s not like that.”

- Junior Tony DeArmitt

“It doesn’t cost a cent either; it’s all funded by the Special School District,” DeArmitt said.

Barb Smith, counseling secretary, said South Tech is a Special School District school, and the tuition is free.

According to the South Tech official website, the school works with different businesses and industry partners that help provide stu-

“A high school diploma shows an employer you have the ability to put your head down, swallow your pride and do meaningless sludge for eight hours a day. It’s proof of being able to do things you don’t want [to do],” DeArmitt said.

The school offers 24 different programs: auto collision repair, automotive technol-

ogy, carpentry, CISCO Networking Academy, construction innovations, construction trades, cosmetology, culinary arts, dental sciences, design and entrepreneurship, early childhood education, electrical trades, electronics and robotics, firefighting and EMT, Floor Layers middle apprenticeship, graphic design, health sciences, heating, ventilation and air conditioning, law enforcement, pharmacy sciences, precision machining, veterinary assistant, web and computer programming, and welding.

To enroll at South Tech, students must be either a junior or senior and fit certain criteria surrounding the high school credits a student has earned. Students can view the criteria, programs, and apply to enroll at https://www. ssdmo.org/Page/623 on South Tech’s website.

Photo by Jasper Winterton

Staff, students recognize, celebrate

Margaret Korte Entertainment Editor

“It’s important to celebrate and highlight the achievements of Blacks not only during February but throughout the year,” director of diversity, equity and inclusion, Shane Williamson, said via email.

Webster spread awareness about Black history through the month of February with activities that both students and teachers could participate in, like the library’s Black History mural challenge.

The mural, painted in 1971 by students and called the “Super Abimus,” features 25 different historical figures, and advisory classes and teachers can try to identify each one.

The library also has two Black History Month book displays, honoring books that celebrate Black stories. The displays feature books like “We Are All So Good at Smiling” by Amber McBride, “Confessions of an Alleged Good Girl” by Joya Goffney, “The Gilded Ones” by Namina Forna and “You Are More than Magic” by Minda Harts. Library media specialist Liz Forderhase said the library aims to “display books with Black voices.”

Bulletin board designs and table dis-

plays will also be in the library throughout February.

Through the library’s recognition, Forderhase said she wants to help promote awareness of the month—so students can walk into the library and have no doubt what month it is.

“[Black history is] part of our history,” Forderhase said, “and you can’t say you’re a student of history without understanding. It was minimized for a long time.”

Financial administrator Teresa Adams is in charge of the daily announcements and the Black History Month features that run through February. Teachers in the social studies department create the slides and send them to her.

This month, the announcements have honored several people and different groups, including Bessie Coleman, the Harlem Hellfighters and Madam C.J. Walker. The slides usually describe their contributions to history and why they’re important to remember.

Adams said it’s important to spotlight people whose stories haven’t always been told. There has been “an uptick in banning books,” and it’s worthwhile to give voice to those who have been quieted before.

The announcements also run profiles of important figures during Hispanic Heritage Month in September through October and Asian-American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month in May.

Social studies teacher Alison Bryar’s door features Black talk show hosts.

Photo by Margaret Korte

Social studies teacher Jon Petter’s door displays “legends and pioneers” of Black History.

Photo by Margaret Korte

celebrate Black History Month

The social studies department also commemorated Black history by decorating doors: social studies teachers and their advisories set up displays to honor different figures.

Social studies teacher Michael Weber won first place in the door-decorating competition with his design honoring the Tuskegee Airmen: a group of African-American military pilots who fought in World War II.

Weber said he wanted to recognize the Tuskegee Airmen because he teaches the military history class beginning next year. He said it’s important to remember Black contributions to the military specifically because of how much they went through: even the army was segregated.

“They still volunteered and went to fight for a nation that didn’t recognize them,” Weber said. “As we look back, they were looking forward. They fought in the war for what they wanted the country to become.”

Of Black history in general, Weber said, “It is who we are as a nation. [It’s] important to recognize because it forms the basis of our culture today. Their contributions have to be recognized as a major part of the story.”

Juniors Charlie Tomiser and Kayte Tetley helped Weber with the door.

Tomiser is in both Weber’s advisory and social studies classes. He said it took an entire advisory period to complete. He

said via text, “Black history is vital to American history; it illustrates the impactful contributions and incredible stories of some of the most influential figures in our country’s history, stories which have often been unfairly underrepresented.”

Social studies teacher Alison Bryar won second place in the competition with her design honoring Black talk show hosts, and social studies teachers Betty Roberts and Michael Mason won third place.

Another way Black history was commemorate this month was through the Douglass Night Basketball Game, which was held on Feb. 16. The game remembered Douglass High School, Webster’s all-Black high school that closed in 1956.

According to the post on Statesmensports.org, Douglass High School’s basketball team participated in state tournaments with other all-Black schools in Missouri and won the tournament three separate times (in 1939, 1941, and 1955).

In general, Williamson said via email, “Educating our school community on the Black community’s culture, achievements, and traditions allows everyone to not only expand their knowledge, but to obtain a deeper appreciation for their contributions and the positive impact they have and continue to make on society.”

Social studies teacher Michael Weber won first place in the door decorating contest with his design of the Tuskegee Airmen.

Photo by Margaret Korte

Social studies teacher Michael Mason’s door celebrates Black musicians.

Photo by Margaret Korte

Social Studies department plans Europe trip

Ali Schulz Junior Editor

Forty-three students will travel to England and France for a weeklong trip from March 15 to March 23. They will visit sites from the Palace of Versailles to the Eiffel Tower.

The trip was open to grades nine-12 to apply for. Students were informed of the trip last year and could attend an informational meeting to show interest and learn about costs. Once they decided they were interested, they could sign up.

It costs a little over $4,000 if one did early enrollment. Social studies teacher Betty Roberts offered a fundraiser each semester leading up to the trip to subsidize the cost if a student decides that they are interested.

“Many students make more money with a part-time job and use their paycheck to fund this trip,” Roberts said.

This trip was not put together overnight. Roberts had to submit an application for this trip and then get approval from the school board. After approval, she was able to start the planning process. This included choosing chaperones through a careful process to ensure safety. Roberts also had to make sure students got in all the proper forms, such as health forms and parent release forms.

The trip is not only an opportunity to explore Europe, but it is also an opportunity to learn. Before the trip, each student will do research on the sites they are visiting. They are rewarded with

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“In addition, students are given lessons on etiquette and travel preparation. They will learn to navigate cities, restaurants, vari ous methods of transportation, and will learn how to order and shop in international countries,” Roberts said.

Roberts is glad that she is providing the opportunity for students to travel and experience the world outside of the St. Louis region.

“It broadens their horizons in so many positive ways,” Roberts said. “It is powerful to see students recognize the endless possibilities that travel offers.”

The students going on this trip are excited to experience these opportunities as well.

“I am most excited to learn about the European culture. I have never been to Europe before, so I am extremely excited to try new food, see new sights, be surrounded by a new language, and overall embrace the countries,” junior Mary Weimer who is going on the trip said.

Junior Addison Simpson agreed. “There are a couple of days in the itinerary where we get to explore the cities on our own. I’m most excited to walk around England and France with my friends, and I am excited to just be able to explore the city with little structure,” she said.

Both students agreed they were very excited to see the Palace of Versailles and the D-Day beach. In addition, both students were inspired by Roberts to sign up for this trip.

“I work extremely hard to ensure that students have a safe, educational, and enjoyable experience,” Roberts said.

Students will visit the Eiffel Tower during their trip

Photo by Ali Schulz

Micro-trends influence student lives

Soledad Lee Social Media/Graphics Editor

alone. It now sits as the most downloaded app in the world at more than 2 billion down loads,” according to an article called, “Tik Tok: The Summation of 2020’s Duality and Chaos,” from harvardpolitics.com.

Micro trends have always occurred espe cially around the presence of social media and influencers, and so has the pressure to partici pate.

“Micro-trends emerged from this rapid fire fashion cycle. They come and go quickly, and are usually cheap to purchase, so they’re meant to be thrown out when their stylish ness has expired,” according to thelist.com.

As Gen Z and millennials scroll through their “for you page,” it is targeted to their interests and after showing interest, similar content will show up; keeping users engaged.

and if you followed the creator who uploaded it afterward,” according to an article called, “TikTok Finally Explains How the

“TikTok relies on a number of signals to identify what kinds of videos users want to see…Strong signals include whether you watched a video to the end, whether you shared it,

Another popular trend on TikTok was for girls to determine whether they were, “cat pretty,” “deer pretty,” “bunny pretty” or “fox

With this kind of trend circulating around, it often has the ability to make people feel bad about themselves, questioning what they look like and if they even fit any of the determined looks.

With the sayings “that girl” and “it girl,” the pressure is even worse. They both provide these lifestyles of waking up early, journaling everyday, and going to the gym. Realistically, not everyone can achieve this. The trends promoting these lifestyles are not always affordable. They include things like a matching workout set or a $50 ice roller.

Overall, a lot of these micro trends or trends in general make young people feel the need to buy a product or put a lot of pressure on themselves to achieve a lifestyle, so they end up feeling bad about their current lifestyle.

Art from Canva

Students discuss superlative nomination

Sam Klein Print/Podcast Editor

“Rizz,” short for “charisma,” is a new way to talk about flirting, according to The Urban Dictionary.

The Echo Yearbook sent out a survey where students could nominate their peers for different superlatives such as “most likely to have their own talk show,” and this year the superlatives included a ‘best rizz’ category.

great feeling [to be nominated],” Randazzo said.

Hansen ended up winning in a vote amongst the school that was sent out by the yearbook.

“It was the people’s decision. I don’t know. It was the people’s decision, but I’m honored,” Hansen said.

The nominees explain how they obtained the honor of being nominated for the superlative.

“You just gotta be friendly. You just have to be nice to people and be friendly,” Hansen explained.

“I think just being nice and confident is the way to go,” Mitchell said. “Additionally I think mewing has a huge impact on one’s rizz.”

“I don’t know, it was the people’s decision, but I’m honored,”

- Senior Holmes Hansen

nominees were all seniors such as Ben Kane, Beckett Mitchell, Holmes Hansen, Simon Greenblatt and Chloe Randazzo.

Nominations can be done by anyone, and in some cases, friends got together to mess with their other friends.

“I got nominated by [seniors] Beckett Mitchell and Jack Matteotti. [They were] the only two people who put me,” Kane said.

People have different opinions on how the vote should’ve gone. Mitchell continued to support his nominee even after the vote through humor.

“Although I do think I’ve cemented my legacy as rizzly bear at WGHS, the true crown belongs to Ben Kane. His ability to obtain women through his unique rizz is something I admire,” Mitchell said.

Randazzo was the only woman to be nominated for the superlative.

“[It] definitely was a good feeling that I’m the only woman nominated… Maybe not deserved but I think it’s a

Mewing is when someone places their tongue on the roof of their mouth to further define their jawline.

Overall students said what was most important was just being friendly and talking to everyone in a kind and respectful way. They also noted being funny is a good way to go about rizz.

Senior Holmes Hansen claps during superlative announcements during the Winter Sports Assembly on Friday, Jan. 27.

Photo by Keianne Ross

Students find motivation through ‘Hallway Crushes’

Soledad Lee Social Media/Graphics Editor

Teenagers look for distractions to cope with the stressful events that they go through. Students find this through sports, hanging out with friends and other ways, but there are also “silly” distractions, like hallway crushes.

According to urbandictionary.com, a hallway crush is defined as, “To have a crush on someone you see daily in the hallway at school, but they don’t have any classes with you or haven’t even had a conversation with you.”

“I would say sometimes I get scared to make eye contact cause I don’t want it to be awkward, and I also don’t want people to think I’m trying to stalk them in school,” junior Grace Merli said.

The best part about a hallway crush is how unserious it can be unless a person wants to act on it.

“It’s fun and harmless, and you don’t have to think much of it,” senior Holmes Hansen said.

“My boyfriend of nine months is actually my hallway crush from last year.”

- anonymous sophomore student

Although they usually have a lesser impact on a student’s life, hallway crushes are a way to find excitement in dreadful things, such as going to that one class that a student despises.

“I just think they’re so fun because it makes me excited to go to my next class. I’ve had a lot… but it’s nothing ever anything serious,” an anonymous junior student said.

While other students may find this concept to be stupid, not everyone has enough confidence to talk to someone they think is attractive.

“It just depends if you want to act on it, but there’s been many that I haven’t wanted to act on,” senior Chloe Randazzo said.

For an anonymous sophomore student and Hansen, their hallway crushes became something that was acted on.

“I mean there was one, that was my hallway crush that turned into my girlfriend like three years ago but recently no,” Hansen said.

“My boyfriend of nine months is actually my hallway crush from last year,” an anonymous sophomore student said.

Overall the majority of these crushes are something light and non-effective to students’ daily lives.

“I don’t know; it didn’t really affect me at all, cause it was just whenever I would see them,” senior Sofie Hepfinger said.

Graphic made on Canva

Review: ‘Argylle’ presents over-complicated plot

Margaret Korte Entertainment Editor

From a robotic script to a cat that looks like it’s computer-generated (but is somehow, supposedly, real), “Argylle” feels completely non-human made, despite how hard it tries to be fresh.

“Argylle” tells the story of the author of a spy novel series who learns her novels have predicted the actions of a villain-spy organization. She’s being hunted because of her books, and another organization needs her to predict what will happen before the villains do.

The main character, author Elly Conway, played by Bryce Dallas Howard (“Jurassic World”), is saved by spy Aiden, played by Sam Rockwell (“Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri”). She is then brought into a world of espionage, despite the fact she prefers to spend her time alone with her cat.

Howard’s character feels one-sided throughout the film, changing motives and characteristics at seemingly the drop of a hat, and somehow staying incredibly stereotypical the whole time. She’s an author who’s afraid of flying, and whose only care in the world is her pet cat, Alfie. Her emotions are more or less nonexistent: aside from initial shocks, Conway seems unaffected by everything happening around her. It takes little to convince her of the truth, no matter how ridiculous it is, which makes it harder for the viewer to relate to her and sympathize even when large plot twists occur.

Rockwell’s character, while serving his comedic purpose of making self-aware jokes and proving to the viewer that the movie is definitely supposed to be this campy, is less one-dimensional than Conway. Still, his lack of a backstory makes his only connection to the plot the main character.

The beginning of the movie is flashy and dramatic, each character acting almost cartoonishly (even in the scenes outside of Conway’s imagination). The first half hour or so of the movie is somewhat enjoyable, if strange, but goes downhill when the actual action begins.

The story, though characters take jabs at it throughout the film, feels half-baked and rushed, until the end, when scenes are stretched out beyond their breaking point.

By the end of the movie, the viewer can only hope it will end soon. Plot twists get old quickly and, while some are more predictable than others, make previous revelations seem unnecessary. Scenes feel like they were just put in to reach the two-hour mark, rather than adding intrigue to the movie.

This movie seems to serve as a star vehicle more than anything else, with notable names like Dua Lipa, Henry Cavill, Samuel L. Jackson and John Cena, just to name a few.

“Argylle” was advertised relentlessly, so much that the only way to go to a movie and avoid seeing its trailers in the past few months may have been to just go to a showing of “Argylle” itself.

The execution was undoubtedly what led to the downfall of “Argylle”—while the idea is somewhat fresh, the way the movie is filmed, down to the unconvincing CGI, makes it feel like a child’s version of any other action movie.

All of this only concludes with a confusing post-credit scene, teasing at the next movie in the series (that’s right—there’s two more). After the tortuous past two hours of the film, this can seem like worse news than anything Elly Conway learns throughout the movie.

“Argylle” has a two-hour-and-nineteen minute run time, is rated PG-13 for violence and language. It’s showing in theaters.

Henry Cavill, Dua Lipa and John Cena in “Argylle,” which premiered in theaters Feb. 2, 2024.

Photo from Apple TV

Review: Film gives new light to romcom genre

Hadley Hoskins Editor-in-Chief

“Anyone But You” (2023), a modern-take on Shakespeare’s “Much Ado About Nothing,” is a fresh take on the Shakespearean remakes of the late 90s and early 2000s.

Filled with grand romantic gestures, hilarious and improbable situations and charismatic leads, the film is everything a romcom should be.

It’s anything but serious, but still saw a huge success in the box office-- making over $100 million in box office revenue, making it the highest-grossing R-Rated romance film since 2016.

As a remake of Shakespeare’s “Much Ado About Nothing,” the film stays entertaining to new audiences while paying homage to the original work. Bea, played by Sydney Sweeny (“Euphoria”) and Ben, played by Glen Powell (“Top Gun: Maverick”) begin the film in a budding romance, complete with a coffee shop “meet-cute.”

Their feelings for each other quickly turn sour after a dramatic miscommunication, giving way to the witty banter “Much Ado About Nothing” is known for. Despite their hatred, the two are thrown back together for a destination wedding in Australia. Several hilariously catastrophic events later, their family and friends scheme to set the two up.

The plot evolves into a fake-dating trope as the two realize what the other wedding-goers are up to, giving way to a series of amusing-- albeit sometimes stressful-- and heartwarming scenes.

It’s impossible to talk about “Anyone But You” without also talking about the subsequent resurgence of “Unwritten” by Natasha Bedingfield. The movie explains the song as Ben’s “serenity song,” and features Powell and Sweeny singing the song as they are lifted into the air by a helicopter.

Rotten Tomatoes gives the movie a 52% rating for critics and a rating of 87% for audiences. Most criticisms of the show centered around it being too predictable and boring.

On the other hand, fans of the show praised it for this exact reason. Romcoms don’t necessarily have to be anything new to be exciting or fun. Remaking Shakespearean plays into romcoms has been a popular trope since the late 90s, with titles such as “10 things I Hate About You” (1999)-- inspired by “The Taming of the Shrew”-and “She’s the Man” (2006)-based on “Twelfth Night”-- being arguably some of the most iconic romcoms.

“Anyone But You” may sim-

ply be a remake of another famous work, but that doesn’t discredit it from being a worthwhile movie. It takes the fun, mindless aspects that other romcoms do best and takes it to another level with a fresh setting, a more diverse cast and funny quirks.

“Anyone But You” is available exclusively in theaters and is rated R for “sexual content, brief graphic nudity and explicit language.”

Photo from the “Anyone But You” Media Kit/Sony

High school relationships are not doomed

Statistically, high school relationships don’t last. However, a closer examination of high school relationships shows there is more to the relationships’ lasting than the surrounding environment.

According to Save our Schools, only about 2% of high school couples make it long term, showing that most of these relationships don’t “make it.”

However, optimism and realism find their balance in the issue.

“I think that they can last. Like, I think they have the potential to. Not all of them [do], but some can. Why? I mean if you really love someone, you’ll make it work, but college is a big factor in that, and you can easily drift apart,”

junior Will Hotze said. Sophomore Ella Markham agreed. “I believe that they can– I feel like it’s rare, but it can happen,” she said.

For these students, “making it” as a couple does not necessarily end with getting married.

“I guess if you make it out of high school, and you guys know that you want to be with each other, and you guys make that effort to try to do that then I guess that qualifies making it,” Markham said.

For junior Carl Ellis, his relationship making it does mean getting married, but he believes there are other ways to make it too.

“I guess what qualifies making it is still having a stable relationship throughout the years. [It] doesn’t have to be marriage. Making it for me is marriage, but making it past high school and staying committed, stable, and in a healthy relationship [is also making it],” Ellis said.

In order for one to have a successful and healthy relationship, steps have to be taken.

According to New York State, “Healthy relationships involve honesty, trust, respect, and open communication between partners and they take effort and compromise from both people. There is no imbalance of power. Partners respect each other’s independence, can make their own decisions without fear of retribution or retaliation, and share decisions.”

One should have frequent conversations with their partner to make sure they are respecting all these in order to have a successful relationship. These are key to having a relationship that satisfies both parties.

Although it might seem as if the relationship is doomed to fail, it is important to recognize that not all high school relationships end with a breakup. Ellis’ parents met in high school and have been together ever since. Therefore, going into a relationship assuming that it’s bound to end might not be the best way to look at it, and all relationships should be viewed with optimism of “making it.”

However, the purpose of high school relationships is not just about “making it”-it is about learning and growing as people together. Even if the relationship doesn’t work, the growth and knowledge developed from that relationship is still valuable for both romantic and platonic relationships throughout one’s life, but by having trust, respect, communication and honesty, anyone can have a successful relationship that continues beyond high school.