Issue 3 2021 by Wingspan

Wingspan WEST HENDERSON HIGH SCHOOL

3600 HAYWOOD RD HENDERSONVILLE, NC 28791

MAY 2021 n VOLUME 41 n ISSUE 3

THE COST OF CYBER-SAFETY n BACK TO NORMAL n NEW BEGINNINGS

2 Wingspan

ADS

TABLE OF CONTENTS ABOUT THE COVER:

04 – COLUMN SECTION 11 – OPINION SECTION 14 – NEWS SECTION 16 – FEATURE SECTION 20 – COLLEGE SECTION

(Photo illustration by Zoya Zalevskiy) Image on computer screen from Clipart Library

n SENIOR COLUMNS Staff looks back on their time at West

THE COST OF CYBER-SAFETY By Emily Chambliss Photo by Zoya Zalevskiy

New program allows teachers and administrators to view and control student devices

n BACK TO NORMAL Schools return to Plan-A schedules

n NEW BEGINNINGS Seniors’ plans after high school

Wingspan News Magazine MAY 2021 The student forum of West Henderson High School is published three times each year by the newspaper journalism class. The purpose of Wingspan is to convey school and community news to the students, faculty, administration and surrounding communities. Wingspan content is determined by an editorial board of student editors. Wingspan is a Southern Interscholastic Press Association All-Southern, National Scholastic Press Association All-American, Columbia Scholastic Press Association Gold Medalist and North

VOLUME 41, ISSUE 3 Carolina Scholastic Media Association All-North Carolina and Tar Heel Award publication. Staff editorials express the opinion of the editorial board. Columns reflect the opinions of the individual writers. Circulation is 1,200. Printed by Mullen Publications at 9629 Old Nations Ford Road, Charlotte, NC 28273. The Wingspan staff also publishes online at www.wingspanonline.net and can be found on Twitter and Instagram at @westwingspan. Readers may contact the staff at wingspan@ hcpsnc.org.

PRINT EDITORS-INCHIEF Sarah Monoson Zoya Zalevskiy ONLINE EDITOR-INCHIEF Emily Chambliss MANAGING EDITORS Johnathan Austin Max Decker Zach Henby

OPINION EDITOR Jackson Futch

SPORTS EDITOR Carson Godwin

NEWS EDITOR Johnathan Austin

FEATURE WRITERS Becca Chamberlain Marissa Detwiler Madison Hall Trinity Luce Kera Putnam Aidan Shelton

FEATURE EDITOR Allison Caskey A&E EDITOR Max Portugal

PHOTOGRAPHERS Zach Henby Zoya Zalevskiy ADVISER Jason Livingston

TABLE OF CONTENTS n MAY 2021

UNC CHAPEL HILL

UNC CHARLOTTE

ZOYA ZALEVSKIY SARAH MONOSON

Senior learns to appreciate the Senior overcomes fears and leaves present instead of fearing the future West confidently

’ve always had trouble envisioning the future, especially my own. Making my way through life, there were some variables I knew would always be part of the equation: my friends, my love for taking pictures of everything and my poor sleep schedule. But a lot of the time, I felt caught in the current of life, being pulled from my comfort zone of a shore and drifting somewhere unknown, leaving me with no power to redirect my flow. As the years of high school flew by, I felt less and less sure of my future; I didn’t know what I wanted and I certainly didn’t know how to get there. And when the world fell apart amidst a pandemic, I lost what little foundation I had left to stand on and was completely lost. I couldn’t see my friends for weeks at a time, I had lost the spark that made me want to capture every moment on camera and my sleep schedule became more of a lack-of-sleep-schedule. I know I’m not alone in my experiences, but I have come to know that sometimes, you have to get lost to find where you need to be. As a freshman, I never imagined I would be spending my senior year doing school from home. I never imagined I would be missing some of the “essential” high school experiences or that I would be hunched over my desk at home and staring at my computer for eight hours straight. However, I also never saw myself being an editor and getting to work with my best friend, never saw that I would learn to love spending time by myself or that I would learn to prioritize my mental health and change bad habits into beneficial ones. This past year wasn’t at all what I expected, but if there is something that journalism has taught me, it’s that nothing ever goes as planned. Life is crazy and turbulent, as I’m sure anyone can tell you after this past year, but it is also filled with the opportunity to make memories with the people you love and the opportunity to grow into yourself and learn to appreciate what makes you unique. So take the time to enjoy it, savor every moment, do something you’ve always been too scared to try (it’ll be fine, I promise) and trust that you will end up exactly where you’re supposed to. Envisioning your future does no good if you aren’t living in the present and enjoying the only time in life that is ensured.

4 Wingspan

SENIOR

or someone who loves to write, I never really know what to say. Especially when I’m talking about myself — even though I classify that as one of my top pastimes. What’s to say in less than half a page about high school? What can I say that no one else has before, something that will blow you away? I’ll settle for this: I like to think that my younger self would be proud of who I’ve become. Sure, I’m still pretty shy and awkward and five feet tall, but I’ve been able to have some incredible experiences that I never thought I’d be up for. Years ago, and even now, sometimes, I’d wonder how I’d ever accomplish anything because I was always so scared. So scared to talk to people, so scared I’d embarrass myself by just existing, so scared to do anything but sit quietly and blend into the scenery. Throughout high school, some of that all-encompassing fear has left me. I answer questions in class without my heart bellowing in my throat as a result. Twice a month, I actively choose to talk in front of people as I lead Key Club meetings, and I only say “um” every fourth word instead of every other. I’m more talkative around my peers — which is still very much a work in progress, but quite impressive in comparison to my middle school self. I’m a student journalist who interviews people and bosses the staff around and publishes my work for potential criticism. Younger-Sarah would be amazed to know that I do these things, and all without fainting afterward. But she has yet to learn that once you go through a dozen class discussions in World History, and two presentations in Seminar, and countless playing tests in band, and three semesters of French, that it all almost becomes less of a big deal. Almost. Maybe my teachers weren’t trying to make me grow personally via trial-by-fire, they were just trying to get a grade in the gradebook, but I can’t understate the effect their actions have had on me. That process really epitomizes high school: sure, your head is being crammed with algebra and Frankenstein and chemical equations, but if you let it happen, and embrace it, you’ll learn a lot more — like how to be less afraid of the mortifying ordeal of being known. Lessons are being whispered in your ear in every hallway, at every lunch table, in every classroom. Listen to them.

UNC CHAPEL HILL

ALLISON CASKEY

Senior reflects on personal growth throughout high school

t seems like yesterday that I was in eighth grade, signing up for ninth grade classes in the computer lab, but today, I’m getting sentimental over high school. Maybe it’s the pandemic that’s taken so much away from seniors and is making me reminisce over my last four years, but I can’t begin to explain how much I owe to this school and, particularly, the journalism program. I was a thirteen-year-old freshman when I first walked into West; today, I’m sitting here finishing up some of my last assignments before graduation. Through my experiences, I’ve learned who I am, what I love, and who I want to be. To think I thought I wasn’t going to like high school? If I could go back in time and do it all over again, I would do it in a heartbeat. The walls of West Henderson High have seen me sob in pre-calc, but if they could talk, I would hope they also saw me grow into a confident student who is ready for the world. They’ve seen me make lasting friendships, they’ve seen me cry over professional athletes getting traded, they’ve seen me laugh until my lungs hurt and they’ve seen me find my voice. In each room at 3600 Haywood Road, I’ve fallen in love with something, whether it be a band, Spanish, journalism, history, or something else. The setting of some of my fondest memories have been on the grounds of this school. Maybe high school wasn’t exactly what I expected, but I wouldn’t trade it for anything. I am so excited to continue my education and career in journalism at UNC-Chapel Hill this autumn, but West Henderson will always hold a special place in my heart. I truly will miss this school, even down to the rolly chairs in our beloved Z-2. To the journalism program, thank you for allowing me to find my passion and showing me that persistence and hard work truly pay off. To my friends, thank you for sticking with me. To my teachers, thank you for becoming some of my most trusted friends. Mr. Livingston, thank you for teaching me to dedicate myself to something and never give up. Mrs. Dellinger, thank you for teaching me to love Spanish and pushing me to always do my best. Mrs. Abraham, thank you for teaching me how to find joy in the little things. West Henderson… even with your quirks (and missing locks on the bathroom doors), thank you for these past four years. They were the best.

APPALACHIAN STATE

JACKSON FUTCH

Senior writes letter to West Henderson

est Henderson, you have been one of the most important aspects of my life for four years now. We have spent hundreds of hours together over that time. We seem to not be able to get away from each other. But I think it’s time for me to leave. Time for me to turn my back to the old faces of the forgotten past glories that only live on in your halls. The faces that used to wander down through you, those that we walk in the footsteps of. You have had too long a history to separate yourself from the past. You stand as an institution, something bigger than the parts of its whole. But I don’t want to be transformed into your synecdoche. I need to leave you. There are spectators of the past that have come back to guard your hallways. Those that have made it through but had an echoing calling to return to you. They helped guide the young and childish me through a path of mental and intellectual semi-maturity. But even as I am still the foolish child that walked into our relationship a few years ago, blind to the future, I have grown. We have grown apart. We cannot try to pretend that this thing will work out anymore. I need to move on. To make my own path. I will never be able to thank you enough for the lessons you taught me. For all the hardships that led to the metamorphosis of an insect into a butterfly. Okay, maybe not quite a butterfly. Maybe a moth. But something different at the very least. I have taken everything you can offer me, and I’m ready for more. The only way I can get more is to leave you. To leave you with wishes of all the love and good times you can have. I want you to keep going. To become the best version of you you can truly be. To become the golden house on the hill you strive to be. But, before I go, I would like to send a message to those that may come next. Don’t become a picture, permanently nailed to some crumbling wall. Don’t become a ghost, howling for your past glory that’s vanished into the night’s sky. Become something bigger than where you come from. Become you.

SENIOR n May 2021

APPALACHIAN STATE

TRINITY LUCE

Senior learns to enjoy life without worrying about perfection

hroughout all my years as a student, I really looked forward to being top dog. My senior year I was going to be the queen bee. I wanted to be popular. The ‘it’ girl. All of those things I had seen on TV growing up. Cher from Clueless and Elle from Legally Blonde were my role models. Boy, was I in for a surprise. Starting at West as a freshman, I was terrified. I was finally here, high school. The most important part of my youth was right in front of me, with bared teeth. I had to be perfect. I had to get all A’s. I had to join all of the clubs I had to have cute outfits. I had to. I had to. I had to. I worked my butt off at the beginning. I completed all of my assignments on time, I made it on varsity cheerleading my freshman year, I participated in multiple school clubs, I started theatre in hopes of going to NCTC and never gave up my love of dance. I was always moving. I loved to be on the go, never stopping to breathe or even think. Everything changed on March 13, 2020. Of course, the pandemic affected everyone very intensely and differently. But for me, I finally stopped moving. For the first time in a long time I had time to think. I looked back at my life, and I realized the anxiety storm I had created for myself. I never stopped to think about how unnaturally high my expectations were for myself due to everyone else’s eyes. Once everyone else was cut from the equation, the fog cleared and I realized that no one cared. No one cared about which outfit I was wearing, which club I was in or how high my kick was at that one football game. Walking into my unusual senior year of high school, I promised myself that I wouldn’t worry about other people. I started to make friends with my teachers. I answered questions in class without the fear of being wrong. I tested out new outfits and found my favorite new pair of shoes in the process. I laughed as loud as I wanted to, and took everything that came my way with a new sense of gratitude. I found out that I was just happy to be here. I didn’t need to be Cher or Elle to be successful in high school. There were thousands of ways to be successful in high school, but the most important accomplishment were the hundreds of memories I made when I wasn’t worried about my outfit or the test next Friday. It was when I had forgotten all of those things, it was when I started dancing, smiling, and laughing my head off with my friends. Thank you West High, for the important lesson I learned and the millions of memories I made within your halls.

6 Wingspan

SENIOR

UNC CHAPEL HILL

JOHNATHAN AUSTIN

Senior encourages others to embrace their time in high school

t’s not often in life that one is presented with so much time, opportunity and freedom than in high school. While many underclassmen may disagree with the freedom part of the equation, as you grow older, it will become clearer. As I progressed through school I watched as my older cousins graduated, family friends went off to college and how those in the community left for new horizons. And although I bore witness to all of that turnover, I remained foolish enough to believe that my time would never come. Even through my freshman and sophomore years as I played “Pomp and Circumstance” — better known as the graduation song — I still remained naive to the fact that I would be in those hot and sweaty caps and gowns someday. But that time is here, and with that comes understanding. Understanding of the things that I overlooked, good times that I missed, and events that I passed over. While I’m perfectly happy with my high school experience, I do have questions about how it all shook out. Should I have persevered with a sport? Worked harder in my campaigns within SGA? Put in more practice time on my instrument? Socialized more rather than stay at home? All of these are questions, rather than regrets, that I have, but I know that if I could go back to freshman year, I’d be a fool not to live it up. In my limited high school experience, the lessons I have learned can benefit your personal life too. It’s to leave no stone unturned. Don’t miss a home football game, because, as we have found out, they can disappear before your eyes. Hang out with friends. Go join that club. Practice your heart out at that activity. Pursue that interest to completion. And most of all, don’t get caught up in the chaos that high school can be. I’ve had some gratifying accomplishments with my time in high school, but the praise and the accolade can be had later in life. For now, some of you can’t vote, much less drive, so don’t shoot for the moon. Rather, be content in who you are now, and don’t be afraid to let people know exactly what you are about. In a time where social media can create an image of perfection, embrace the imperfection that we all have, because there is no better place to do it than in high school. Those who throw stones do so from within the glass houses in which they live, and are doing their best to get by just like you. So take a minute, breathe, let the stress roll away and know that you are at a great high school, in a great area, in a great time in your life.

UNC CHAPEL HILL

WESTERN CAROLINA

AIDAN SHELTON

Senior is proud of what he has become hen I got the email about senior columns, I was excited. Since

freshman year, I have waited to write this, and yet now I am at a loss for words. I think I will miss West Henderson. It is a really great school full of curious and excited teachers who take on the challenge of teaching kids in the most evolutionary period of their lives. I am embarrassed to say it took me until senior year to fully understand, but I truly appreciate those who sacrificed their time and energy to teach me. There are a number of teachers here who I will remember for a long time, and I wish I had given them the effort that they gave me in my four years here. Somedays I wonder what the end of junior year would have been like. On Friday, March 13, 2020, the game changed and an entire year of unexpected things happened. Navigating this was not easy. During quarantine, I fell into places I am not proud of and fought battles I didn’t intend to fight. I can’t say I won all of them or made it out without a figurative scrape or two, but I can say, for the first time in my life, I am proud of who I am and what I’ve been through. All that being said, I am incredibly antsy to get out of Hendersonville for a bit. I am stoked for the opportunities Western Carolina has to offer. I am excited to make new friends and to try new things, but I am also afraid of the mistakes I am bound to make. Before I started writing this, I read the senior columns of a few people I truly love and value, and I am astonished by how wise they sound. I am in their shoes now, and to have their thoughts on the experience of life and adulthood is very valuable to me. I hope in a few years someone will read my column and think “I like how this guy thinks about things.” I would like to end this column and my high school experience with a quote that has meant a lot to me the last few months as I have dealt with my issues and decided who I want to be. It is from a book I just finished, called “Oathbringer,” and reads: “Sometimes a hypocrite is merely a man in the process of change.” I like this quote because it implies that change is a continual process that often doubles back on itself. It is hopeful, and I think the world could use some hope nowadays.

MADISON HALL

Senior reflects on time at West Henderson

ime is a truly remarkable concept. Some days seem to drag on for an eternity, then you pause for a second and realize that four years of your life are over and you’re about to enter into the much anticipated “real world.” College applications, scholarship essays, and final exams are all coming at you a mile a minute and you’re just trying to keep your head above water, wondering how all this happened so fast. Because even though you no longer want to be treated like a child, you still don’t feel prepared to become an adult. Even though you’re ready to leave, it’s still hard to imagine not being here next year. Not coming back to the building that you have memorized, to the teachers who know you by name, to the teammates and coaches who have watched you grow both as a player and a person, and to the friends who have laughed with you, and cried with you, and gotten you through the past four years. Knowing that my life is on the precipice of change has made me think a lot about the things by which I define myself, and who I’m going to be when they’re gone. My whole life I’ve been an athlete, and for the first time since I was five years old I’m not going to have a team. I’ve always been considered one of the “smart kids”, so who am I supposed to be when I get to college and everyone there is just as smart, most likely smarter, than me? My friends are still going to be my friends, but I can’t take them with me. So who am I supposed to talk to? Throughout this year I’ve learned that you can be both excessively excited and tremendously scared at the same time, and that’s okay. In journalism we have a tradition of doing Top 10 lists. I only have space for five, so here are my Top 5 most important things I’ve learned during high school. 1. Don’t take criticism from someone you wouldn’t go to for advice. 2. Everyone is too worried about their own outfit to care about yours, so wear whatever you want. 3. Go to as many games as you can, even if you don’t like the sport. The student section is a lot of fun. 4. One bad grade isn’t going to kill you. If you’re, trying you should be proud of yourself. 5. You will not be the same person when you leave as you were when you started, and that’s a good thing. Goodbye West Henderson. Thanks for everything.

SENIOR n May 2021

UNC CHARLOTTE

BLUE RIDGE CC

BECCA CHAMBERLAIN

Senior learns important skills at West and on newspaper staff

igh school has definitely been an interesting experience for me and the rest of the class of 2021. So many curve balls were thrown at us. My time at West has been full of ups and downs. The curveballs that have been thrown have taught me to be grateful of what I have and to be careful not to take anything for granted. My high school experience has taught me the lessons I will need for the rest of my life. Throughout my junior year and half of my senior year, we went into quarantine. I missed out on high school experiences I have looked forward to as a child. Throughout quarantine I became more comfortable with myself and found genuine happiness. Quarantine gave me a lot of time to think and figure things out. Although my high school experience has been anything but normal, I do not wish it was any different. When I was in eighth grade, I had the dream of becoming a writer. I was in English class and a few people from West Henderson came to talk about journalism. After I heard about the newspaper, Wingspan, I immediately became interested. Then I started taking the class my freshman year. All four years I have been on the newspaper staff have truly been an honor. I have been so lucky to work with the most hard working and caring people at this school. Being on the staff has taught me how to work with deadlines which will be a big help in my future. While being on the journalism staff has shown me what I am capable of as a writer. I have also been shown what I can work on and better myself as a writer. I am extremely grateful I had the chance to be on the newspaper staff. I enjoyed every second I spent interviewing and writing. After I graduate, I will miss the other members on the staff. I will forever be grateful for everything I learned through high school and every experience I have had. Journalism and every other class I have taken at West will be useful in the future. Many valuable lessons have been taught to me throughout high school. Many tears have been shared throughout the years I have spent at West. Many laughs have been shared throughout high school. I am so glad I got to spend four years at West Henderson High School, I wouldn’t trade them for the world.

8 Wingspan

SENIOR

MAX PORTUGAL

Senior reminisces on what’s been lost of their high school experience

f all the ways I imagined my senior year, a global pandemic wasn’t one of them. This year was one disappointment after another. The end of last summer should have been marching band camp where I was supposed to be assistant drum major. I worked for three years to earn that spot and Covid took that experience away. There was no trip to Chicago last spring, no trip this year. We didn’t have any competitions, there was nothing to prepare for, nothing to look forward to, and nothing to get excited about. There were no after-the-game ChickFil-A or Wendy’s runs with the car packed with friends. There were no Halloween parties, no pranks, no homecoming, no fall football games, no senior night, and if it weren’t for some parents, there would have been no prom. I never thought I would miss school, but coming half days twice a week and spending the rest of the time at home in my sweats, staring at my computer screen, was not my idea of fun. Listening to my teachers drone on and on, assuming they remembered to have their mics on, and trying to see the notes they were writing on the board was a frustrating waste of time. Senior year is supposed to be about having fun, planning for college, pulling pranks, and celebrating the end of 12 long years of school. Instead, it was staring at people’s computer icons and trying not to fall asleep from boredom. We’re never going to get this time back. There is no do-over. All of the things we were supposed to experience, the rights of passage, the traditions, we won’t have those experiences. We didn’t get to make those memories. As I look back at all of the fun I had the first three years, all of the irritations, the sucky classes, the band concerts, playing for the musical, sweating in the stands at the beginning of the football season and freezing my butt off at the end, I realize how much we lost this year. We won’t have stories of parties, hanging out with friends, school events, and all of the amazing things I hear my older siblings talking about. We’ll get to tell stories of what we didn’t get to do; what we didn’t get to experience, and how much Covid stole from us. Of all the ways I imagined my senior year, a global pandemic wasn’t one of them.

AIR FORCE

ZACH HENBY

Senior finds passion for photography in journalism

ince the day I started kindergarten, I thought I knew what I wanted to be. But as we all know, the dreams of becoming an astronaut or a ballerina weren’t in the books for most of us. As the years of schooling went on and I passed through elementary and middle school, I began to develop myself and explore things I never thought I would. I was becoming the “big kid” my parents always told me I was. But the first day I stepped into room Z-2 was the day my dreams were changed. Instead of wanting to become an architect or a sound technician, I wanted to be a photojournalist. I may not have known how bad I wanted to become one until my senior year, but I now know that is the day my dream began. Then, in my junior year, COVID-19 swept across the Earth extremely fast and the whole world shut down. But as Mr. Livingston said back in my first days, “Journalism never stops,” so we kept working on the necessary assignments until they were finished. When senior year started, we weren’t back in the classrooms, but we were still working on our next assignments for this year’s publications. From selling ads to capturing photos that will last a lifetime, I have learned so much. I’ve learned how to talk to people, how to take great pictures, how to design a yearbook and, most importantly, how to be a leader. The advancements I have made because of my time in room Z-2 have been some of the most beneficial to my life so far. It may have been because of the experiences I have had, or maybe it is because of the fact that I worked in the backroom for three periods a day, every single day, for my whole senior year. Now the time has come to where we go back to the elementary schools we grew up in and walk in front of the kids at the place where we once were at. We will be thinking about the years that we sat in those exact same places, thinking the exact same thoughts. I don’t know what I meant fully to this program but I know what it meant to me. Good luck to the future staff of Wingspan. Thank you to the classroom of Z-2, and West Henderson High, for all of the memories and experiences of a lifetime.

NC STATE

MAX DECKER

Senior reflects upon what high school is really about

he thing I’ve taken away most from high school is that looking back, I remember the fun I had with my friends and the time I had in class way more fondly than anything I learned or any award I’ve won. If I could go back and tell freshman-Max anything, it’s that the course work isn’t what’s fulfilling for me; it’s the experiences I’ve had and relationships I have made along the way. The rigorous classes I put myself through have created an incredible bond with the teachers and peers in these classes. However, I feel that the AP Capstone program has not been all it has been talked up to be and has limited my opportunity to bond with those outside of the program. As well, I think I could have focused more on what I’m interested in and still obtained the difficulty of classes I was looking for if I wasn’t trying to fulfil the Capstone requirements. It has also limited the time I have to explore things outside of academics during my high school career. This has recently become a point of realization for me, as I’m going to college at NC State for industrial design and will likely do nothing with what I have learned in the AP classes I have taken. If I had known earlier what I wanted to do or felt less pressure to see the Capstone program all the way through, I could have taken classes that better fit my interests and had more opportunity to make new friends and more time to explore interests. The pressure, especially senior year, to continue with the Capstone program and take on the requirements to get the diploma was so immense because I know how few get the opportunity but the stress and lost opportunities that are required to be a part of the program are not worth it. So, in conclusion, the most important thing as a high school student isn’t to take on the most stress and challenge yourself as much as possible, but to make lasting relationships, explore new things and make time to have fun. The single most important lesson I have learned at West Henderson High School is that you have to take things as they come and make the best out of things with the decisions you have made instead of beating yourself up over past mistakes.

SENIOR n May 2021

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What’s the

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Staff discusses prom cancelation By n Trinity Luce n Feature Writer o prom. West Henderson High School was alerted on April 2 that Henderson County Public Schools (HCPS) would not be allowing schools to host proms for the students in public high schools. This was no surprise to the student body because of past events where the Henderson County school system continually dismissed the social and emotional well-being of the students within the county over the course of the past year. This has been displayed over and over again. No school. No structure. No way of knowing what will happen within the next few weeks. This lack of structure and support has intensely affected students within our county and across the country. The way that the school system has not shown the support needed for students is disappointing. You can see very clearly that all they care about is liability. While I completely understand the concern behind the cancelation, with the ongoing pandemic and the fear that many experience surrounding public health and safety issues, I believe that there are ways that we could safely gather and rally together for the support of the students within the Henderson County system. The people in charge of the school system are too indolent and too afraid to upset the public to make it possible for kids to thrive within this uncertain environment. According to the Henderson County Health Department website, only 3% of students and staff tested positive for COVID-19 this school year. Since school started in August, there have been zero reports of clusters (five cases that can

be connected at one school indicates a cluster). The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) also released statistics based on school-age deaths related to COVID-19 and they found the number to be less than 0.1%. Because of these recent statistics, we should be able to provide more opportunities for our students to gather together and continue to grow as a student body. As outdoor sports are now allowed to practice without masks and students are allowed to go to school full time on Plan-A and eat lunch together, prom should not be an issue. The feeling of belonging is crucial to thrive both in and out of school and is important in becoming an active

member of society. On top of all of this mental distress within our community is spiking. According to USA Today, the Disaster Distress helpline, which is a subdivision of the National Suicide Prevention Hotline, has seen an 890% increase in call volume since April 2021 in comparison to April 2019. The pandemic has wreaked havoc on all of us emotionally. We need to stand together and be there for each other right now. This year has been hard, especially for seniors; much harder than I had ever imagined. I have been continually disappointed throughout this past year and the hope that I once had for my future has been absolutely demolished. I have trained myself not to look forward to anything anymore because I am afraid it will be taken from me. That is why I was not surprised when the Henderson County Public School system announced that we will not be allowed hosting prom this year. However, the wonderful parents of students at West Henderson High School have gathered together to make it possible for upperclassmen this year. I personally think that it is ridiculous that this is what had to happen in order for us to have a prom, but I will forever be thankful to those parents who are willing to make it happen. I hope to see a change within the Henderson County school system very soon. I have witnessed a lack of understanding with their own students time after time this year. I hope that next year HCPS will make decisions that are in the best interest of the students instead of decisions that cover their own tails.

OPINION n May 2021

The Absolute Clause Biden administration’s proposed gun reform creates backlash By n Johnathan Austin n News Editor

ut no amendment — no amendment to the Constitution is absolute.” This quote is taken from President Joe Biden’s remarks on gun reform in the United States, and as mundane as this comment may seem, upon closer look it becomes truly frightening. This quote gives every American a glimpse into just how eager and willing our politicians are to tear at the very fabric that makes up this union we call home. And for what? Because it is now politically expedient to exploit tragic deaths at the hands of mentally ill killers? That the policies that our representatives wish to codify are so imperative that we must lay down our freedoms to achieve such momentous change? While many arguments have been made over the Second Amendment, it’s crucial that we as Americans remain grounded in our founding principles, and not become lost in the political spin and hype. While many believe that gun control measures are crucial in quelling shooting deaths in the United States, the truth of the matter remains that these measures must not infringe the rights of Americans to possess a firearm, and that many efforts to prevent gun violence fail, with lawabiding gun owners facing the repercussions. It is crucial that we as Americans remain grounded in our beliefs in the laws that unite us. Standing firm, though, requires an understanding of the topic that is being debated amongst our politicians, as well as in the public forum. The second amendment states: “A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.” Gun reform advocates argue that some of the words in this amendment prove that gun ownership must be “well regulated,” and that possession hinges on membership in a militia. This logic runs into problems once you begin to look at the definition of a militia at the signing of the Constitution. During the debate and ratification process of the Constitution, it was not uncommon for members of the Constitutional delegation to publish anonymous articles in the local newspapers of the time, in order to drum up support for a new government. It is in one of these articles in the Pennsylvania Gazette that we find

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the definition of a militia as it was understood in early America: “Who are the militia? Are they not ourselves? ... Congress has no power to disarm the militia. Their swords … are the birthright of an American. … (T)he unlimited power of the sword is not in the hands of either the federal or state governments, but, where I trust in God it will ever remain, in the hands of the people.” And if this anonymous writer had not been persuasive enough, founders such as Thomas Jefferson and Alexander Hamilton offered their opinion as well. Jefferson wrote about the right to bear arms in his Commonplace Book: “Laws that forbid the carrying of arms … serve rather to encourage than to prevent homicides, for an unarmed man may be attacked with greater confidence than an armed man.” Likewise, Alexander Hamilton wrote in “The Federalist Papers,” that no federal army could threaten our liberties as long as, “a large body of citizens,” proficient in, “the use of arms,” stands ready to defend them. While Hamilton and Jefferson certainly didn’t agree on much, the utility of an armed citizenry seemed to be a common ground. The right to keep and bear arms existed in the American colonies while still under British rule, and through the Second Amendment, that right is guaranteed to us to this day. The debate does not exist over whether firearms should or should not be owned, but to what extent gun ownership can be exercised, and who can exercise that right. On the heels of mass shootings in Atlanta and Boulder, Colo., the Biden administration decided that gun reform was ripe for the taking and quickly rolled out their view of gun control in America. Joe Biden’s message called on Congress to ban assault-weapons and high-capacity magazines, to mandate background checks on all gun sales, and to “eliminate immunity for gun manufacturers who knowingly put weapons of war on our streets.” Biden went on to say that his administration “will take action to end our epidemic of gun violence and make our schools and communities safer.” I can wholeheartedly agree with the sentiment that an end to gun violence and safe

schools are goals that all Americans should fight for. But by using words like “weapons of war,” I can’t help but feel that more common sense reforms are being replaced by radical changes that are hidden behind the delicate veil of public safety. Banning the sale or possession of assaultrifles is rife with Constitutional problems. If the words of our Constitution, or the arguments from our founding fathers, is not a compelling case, there are a multitude of Supreme Court decisions that solidify the right to bear arms. District of Columbia v. Heller, McDonald v. City of Chicago, and Caetano v. Massachusetts are all examples of when the Supreme Court ruled in favor of a citizen’s right to keep and bear arms. Biden seems to view the Second Amendment as changeable, not a foundational part of our society. Outside of the other implications that statement brings, not the least of which is that all other amendments to the Constitution can now be called into question, it speaks to how emboldened the Biden administration is to effect change. While the most recent push for gun control does differ from past efforts, I am choosing to use Biden’s statements as a reference for where the latest arguments stand. The term “weapon of war” immediately draws a negative connotation, and Biden knows that. But there is nothing unusually dangerous about guns like the AR-15, seeing as its defining features are not the rate of fire or caliber, but its cosmetic features that allow the gun to be safer and more comfortable to handle. To provide context, rifles, in general, accounted for 364 out of the 13,927 murders committed in 2019 according to the FBI. That is in direct competition with weapons such as blunt objects such as clubs and hammers which claimed 397 victims, or even personal weapons like hands, fist and feet which claimed 600 lives. The best example we have of the effectiveness of a weapons ban comes from the 1994 Crime Bill. Alongside causing a wave of incarcerations after its signing, the bill banned the manufacturing and sale of semi-automatic rifles that were defined as assault weapons as well as high capacity magazines. Following this bill, numer-

ous studies were conducted as to how effective these bans were on preventing gun crime. One of the study’s authors, Christopher Koper, summarized his findings in a speech on reducing gun violence: “In general we found, really, very, very little evidence, almost none, that gun violence was becoming any less lethal or any less injurious during this time frame. So on balance, we concluded that the ban had not had a discernible impact on gun crime during the years it was in effect.” Just as we have found that semi-automatic rifles aren’t the fearful machines that we have been led to believe, we also know that high capacity magazines are benign as well. There is nothing unusual about standard magazines that are able to hold more than 10 rounds, not to mention that there are likely millions of these magazines in circulation today, making them common for lawful uses. The push for a ban on high capacity magazines stems from a fear that a mass shooter could use a large magazine to inflict damage. The history doesn’t support this conclusion as most mass shooters come armed with multiple guns to eliminate any reload time that may be necessary. The most terrifying aspect of the ban on high capacity magazines is that it would put law abiding citizens at a disadvantage to a criminal when it came to defending themselves. Criminals will always find access to a weapon or magazine irregardless of what current law states. Law abiding citizens will then be left to defend themselves against a criminal who could simply out gun them. Finally, we get to background checks, where the partisan lines drawn around gun control

become blurred. Let’s be clear about what the existing law says. Any person or entity who is, “engaged in the business of dealing firearms,” must obtain a federal firearms license and conduct background checks before completing a gun sale or transfer, regardless of whether that sale or transfer takes place at a gun show, in a brickand-mortar store, or over the internet. The only time federal law does not require a background check is when the sale or transfer is conducted by a person who is not “in the business” of selling guns. Pursuing background checks on all sales, of all guns, in all circumstances, puts a burden on trivial gun trades between two law abiding citizens, and leads to a slippery slope of gun regulation. Those who are thwarted in buying a gun because of a failed background check will resort to stealing a legally owned gun, purchasing one from a private party willing to sell or simply buying a gun off the street. None of these trades are preventable by background checks, and show that federal prevention measures in the form of licensing proves to be of little help. In short, it is my belief that based on our Constitutional precedence, inevitable ineffectiveness of proposed changes and strain on lawful gun owners, that the Biden administration’s push for gun control will do little to combat the real problem surrounding gun violence in America. Just because many of the reforms that I mentioned above are excessive and ineffective, does not mean that Americans are left hopeless. Gun violence is a complex issue, and there is no one-size-fits-all solution, but there are some ap-

Murders Commited in 2019 (by weapon) Rifles — 2.6% Blunt Objects —2.9% Personal Weapons — 4.3%

proaches we can take, the first of which is putting a spotlight on mental health. As COVID-19 has shown, we are all vulnerable to poor mental health. When we don’t place a focus on that part of our lives, it becomes so easy to fall into an unhealthy state of being. Most mentally ill individuals are not, and will never, become violent, especially when they are being properly treated. They are not categorical threats to public safety, and are in fact more likely to be victimized than to commit violent crimes, but that is not to say that there is no connection between mental health and gun violence. Two thirds of all gun deaths are suicides. Suicides are inherently linked to mental health, more specifically undiagnosed mental health, which can go unnoticed until the individual decides to take their life. Conversely, mass shootings play an incredibly small role in gun violence, yet have a profound effect on the nation. Roughly one in four mass public shooters has a diagnosed mental illness, while roughly six in ten has a significant psychiatric history indicating mental illness. A mental health-specific approach to gun violence can take many forms, including the increased and more effective utilization of existing mental health frameworks, such as civil commitment procedures. Along with efforts to intervene with treatment and resources for those struggling with mental illness, or other mental health problems, effective measures can be taken to identify and disarm individuals who are a danger to themselves or others. This can include increased training in threat assessment for law enforcement officers, school officials and doctors as well as a healthy relationship between those who report suspicious behavior and those who are equipped to handle it. Alongside mental health efforts, gun violence can be thwarted through the implementation of red flag laws. These laws allow individuals, including friends and family members who would have a good understanding of a loved one, to play a role in alerting law enforcement to any possible dangers. Where a teacher, law enforcement officer or doctor may miss a warning sign, red flag laws help to fill in the gaps which many violent perpetrators have been able to slip through. In a country as divided as the United States is right now, every American, conservative, liberal, republican, democrat and everyone in between can agree that an America with less gun violence is a better America. We as a nation deserve to be free to live without fear of violence, and the common sense reforms I listed above, while imperfect, work to eradicate the fear that violence has placed over we the people.

Data based on FBI statistics.

OPINION n May 2021

Back to Normal

Henderson County Public Schools return to Plan-A By n Allison Caskey n Feature Editor

ue to the coronavirus pandemic, the 2020-2021 school year has been anything but typical. Throughout the course of the year, life at school has been a topic of debate between students, teachers, parents and health professionals. The year began under completely remote learning, known as Plan-C, and then transitioned into Plan-B, with some students remaining virtual and others moving to a hybrid model. Currently, Henderson County middle and high schools have been allowing students to come back full-time, five days a week, since March 23. “Several factors played into my decision to vote for grades 6-12 to return to Plan-A,” Kathy Revis, school board member, said. “First of all, when looking at the NC DHHS (North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services) Alert System data, our county has seen a consistent decline in the positivity rate from 7.2% on Feb. 4 to 3.9% on Mar 4. Secondly, many parents, students and teachers have reached out to us to describe the negative impact that virtual learning is having on the social-emotional development of our middle and high school students. In addition, our community healthcare partners have collaborated with district leaders to provide vaccines for all the school staff who wanted the vaccine. Lastly, we are able to continue to provide a virtual option for all students whose parents may not feel comfortable allowing their children to return to school. With all this information, I felt it was time to move in the direction of Plan-A.” With students returning to school, many students and staff members were glad to have their pre-pandemic schedules back. For the class of 2021, the shift to Plan-A has meant a final chance for a normal senior year before graduation. “I’ve been really happy with the return to Plan-A,” senior Claire Parker

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said. “It’s been nice having a sense of normalcy for the first time in over a year. I think that the schools do a good job trying to keep everyone safe, and I’ve felt comfortable returning. I’ve also gotten both vaccinations, which definitely makes me feel a lot more comfortable at school.” While classes at West Henderson had been 50 minutes each, with the school day ending at noon for most, Plan-A brought the pre-pandemic schedule back to the table. Classes became 90 minutes long, with everyone who wants to come attending in-person from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. each day. A significant change to the

and faculty as safe as possible,” Jodie Baker, math teacher, said. “As long as students and faculty maintain social distancing and students wear their masks correctly covering their mouth and nose at all times, that’s the best we can do to protect each other at this point. The one positive to returning to school is that students are able to get the socialization between classes and before and after school that they had been craving for a year. The negative is that there is no longer the extra afternoon help sessions that a lot of students were benefiting from.” The concerns of parents that have

Orchestra class practices in gym to maintain social distancing. (Photo by Zoya Zalevskiy) scheduling, from Plan-B and from previous years, is that only about half of the class time is taken up by instruction, with the rest of class allowing students to do individual work or catch up on missing assignments. The leniency of the schedule this year has been a benefit to many students and teachers alike, giving students more time to catch up on subjects and get time from their teacher if help is needed. With the return of Plan-A, in-person students have more time to get help and ask questions in class, as well as the option to log in to their Google Meets from home on days they feel sick or don’t want to come to school. “I know the school is doing everything they can to keep students

been pushing for in-person learning all year have mostly been regarding their children struggling with virtual learning. Baker says she recognizes that some students may have been struggling with remote learning, but she knows that she is teaching all the material that students need to learn, and at the end of the day, it is on them to be an actual student and do what is expected of them. “Of course I have reservations and it was extremely difficult to make this decision, but I think at some point, we had to try to come back to school,” Revis said. “I trust our school and district leaders to keep a close eye on the data and make quick decisions when issues arise to protect our students and staff. Students may

have struggled with virtual instruction for a variety of reasons, but with face-to-face instruction, teachers are able to quickly assess when students are struggling or disengaged and can offer immediate support, encouragement, and assistance. I strongly believe that for most students, face-toface instruction is the best learning modality.” On the return to school on Mar 23, many students were bright-eyed and excited to have their first normal school day in a year. The hallways and classrooms were packed with students rushing to their next class, conversing with friends, and reuniting with their teachers. For many teachers, the first day back was filled with learning the names of students whom they had never met or seen on camera before. All in all, teachers have attempted to space students out as much as possible, whether it be by skipping every other desk or spreading desks throughout the room. However, as expected, there were some bumps along the road for some students and faculty. “It has been hard to get used to the old schedule. Class for an hour and a half is exhausting,” senior Margaret-Ann Littauer said. Some students saw the abrupt move to full-time school as overwhelming simply because of the number of other students and longer classes. “I wish we still got out at 12 p.m., that way I had time in my day to do other things,” senior Laurel Welch said. For other students, the return was a refreshing glimpse at normalcy, with health precautions, lunches, and the loss of smart period being the only real differences from pre-pandemic West Henderson High. “I was a little worried at first about how everything would flow, but I feel better now that we did it,” sophomore Katelyn Barron said.

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The Cost of Cyber-Safety Henderson County schools institute new cybersecurity program By n Emily Chambliss n Online Editor-in-Chief

he student sits in the quiet classroom, ready to begin researching for his project. He types the topic into the search bar, and clicks on the first search result. An error message flashes across his screen: “Your connection is not private. Attackers might be trying to steal your information.” The student sighs, frustrated. Blocked. Again. Henderson County Public Schools (HCPS) recently implemented a new internet security system, called Securly 360 Cloud. The system is a web filter that gathers information from online student activity. It scans keywords on Google, YouTube and other search engines to ensure that safe search results are displayed to students on their devices. Websites like Netflix and Disney+ are not available when a device is connected to the school wifi. School administrators can access online activity reports and receive notifications for flagged content. “This system works with our HCPS Google Workspace accounts and provides federally-mandated internet filtering,” Henderson County Public Schools Chief Technology Officer Rick Fender said. “Internet filtering is a requirement for school systems and we decided to change to Securly in order to have a more robust student safety system that included embedded instructional tools.” K-12 school systems across the country have already implemented similar systems. Henderson County Public Schools originally used the cloudbased proxy and firewall Zscaler. Internet traffic on school wifi was routed through Zscaler before being able to access the public internet, making sure all online activity adhered to county safety policies. Securly offers a secure, scalable filtering and authentication system without software crashes and bulky hardware. “The purchase and implementation of Securly was a collaborative effort between the Technology Department and the Instructional Services Team,” Fender said. “Resources can be sent out to students in a more efficient manner. Teachers gain an insight into students’ activity in order to better

support individual learning needs.” Securly also offers teachers the ability to manage individual devices in classrooms. Teachers can guide lessons and monitor student progress on laptops connected to the school wifi. They can push out URLS and announcements to individual students or the entire class, share their screens, or lock or freeze student screens. Educators can block certain websites, control the amount of tabs open on a student’s browser, monitor student screens in

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I try to use it as a positive thing to tell them they’re doing a good job, help with what they’re working on and give them clues. I know students think we’re trying to micromanage them, but that’s not what it’s about. It’s about helping them and keeping them safe. n Karen

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Dellinger

Spanish Teacher

real-time, and view class browsing history. “I use Securly to block Google Translate. I don’t want the kids relying on it,” Spanish teacher Karen Dellinger said. “I also use it to send out announcements if the students are spread out through the school. It also allows me to see if they’re stuck on something, and then I can help them out.” West Henderson students understand the need

for secure internet filtering, but some have an issue with just how strict the Securly system is. For junior Nick Andrews, it impacts his ability to fully grasp topics in a history class setting. “It makes learning and doing research much more difficult, as a lot of topics we have to research are labeled as inappropriate,” Andrews said. “It blocks way more than it should because of the flags it puts on keywords. But it is also easily bypassed by doing something as simple as misspelling the word. It’s incredibly inconvenient.” When students found out about the new system, what stood out to them the most was that teachers could monitor their screens as they worked. Some saw it as an invasion of privacy, and others felt that the school had the right to see what students were doing with their time at school. According to Dellinger, teachers do not have the time to constantly monitor their students’ online activity, and only want to use the system to enhance their learning experience. “I don’t really use it to monitor the students at all,” Dellinger said. “I try to use it as a positive thing to tell them they’re doing a good job, help with what they’re working on and give them clues. I know students think we’re trying to micromanage them, but that’s not what it’s about. It’s about helping them and keeping them safe.” Many students agree with this notion, but maintain the mindset that the features that Securly offers are going too far. “The school has a right to the information the system collects, as they are just trying to make the campus safe. It’s not really invading our privacy,” Andrews said. “No one is forcing anyone to look up inappropriate things, and teachers don’t really have time to be monitoring screens all the time. It just hinders the experience of both students and teachers in class and I think it is pointless for it to be that stringent.” One of Securly’s biggest points of advertisement is its notification of the presence of nudity, cyberbullying, violence and other worrying content

A student is blocked from a page while using a school computer. (Photo by Zoya Zalevskiy)

on browsers to designated school administrators. It allows for the school to protect students from inappropriate or malicious activity, and alerts them to the potential that a student may be struggling. The school system has the opportunity to prevent severe problems or situations from getting worse earlier than ever before. “One of the greatest concerns that has come to the forefront in education during the past year with virtual instruction, is the social/emotional welfare of our students. We believe one of the most important things we can do is to keep our students safe while supporting their learning,” Fender said. “This tool allows us to focus on instructional content as well as target students who may need non-instructional support. Since we have had this system, we have already ensured students received the help and safety they needed that may have otherwise

gone unnoticed.” Schools use systems like Securly to ensure a stable security environment. School data and files must be protected, and an efficient network security system that moniters students is the best way to reduce the risk of falling victim to data theft and ransomware. “I think a policy or system like this one is needed at the school, like the original Zscaler, but this one hurts more than it helps,” Andrews said. Securly has partnered with education systems since 2013, and is always open to receiving feedback to further improve their services. On their website, Securly states: “By empowering those who serve students, we can foster safe and focused learning environments, while keeping students healthy and engaged.” HCPS recognizes Securly’s benefits and draw-

backs, and will continue to work closely with the Securly team to be sure that the system best suits the needs of the district. “Anytime a new district-wide system is implemented, there can be some growing pains. It takes time to ensure that the settings work optimally for instruction,” Fender said. “This means that some educational sites may be inadvertently blocked, requiring tweaking as we work through the changes. In order to support these instructional needs, we have implemented a request form for teachers for blocking or unblocking sites. This request is then forwarded to their local administrator for evaluation. If approved, this request goes to the HCPS Network Team for final evaluation. We are working as a team with teachers and school administrators to ensure this system suits the mission and expectations of HCPS.”

FEATURE n May 2021

Athlete settles the ball to prepare for a shot. (Photo by Zach Henby)

Bridge The GAP Wage gaps and other discrepancies between men’s and women’s sports become topic of controversy By n Kera Putnam n Feature Writer

ender inequality has been a long-standing issue in the United States. It took years of advocacy before women were given the same right to education as men, or the right to vote. Throughout history, women have faced discrimination in various forms. Now, the discussion of gender inequality in collegiate and professional athletics has risen to prominence. In this year’s 2021 National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Women’s Basketball Tournament, players and coaches decided to bring attention to the disparities between men’s and women’s sports, specifically in the work-out equipment provided. When the women’s basketball teams arrived in San Antonio, Texas, they were greeted with weight rooms that were mostly empty, with a small rack of light weights. “When I saw the pictures of the differences between the male and the female weight rooms, it brought up some anger in me. I was frustrated. It’s just kind of been this way forever,” former college basketball player and head West Henderson Women’s Basketball Coach, Kaycee Beyer said. The weight rooms were not the only thing lacking compared to the Men’s NCAA tournament. Smaller portions and of a less variety of meals were offered to the women. They also received the short end of the stick with merchandise and apparel compared to their male counterparts.

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These sorts of issues are prevalent in many other sports besides basketball. The United States Women’s Soccer team is now a well-known example of this. The U.S. Women’s Soccer Team is paid significantly less than the U.S. Men’s Soccer Team, although they have won four World Cup Tournaments and the men’s team has never won a World Cup. Throughout the duration of 2016 and 2017, the U.S. Women’s Soccer team generated a net revenue of about $9 million, while the men’s team only brought in a net revenue of just above $2.7 million. In 2017, the Washington Post conducted a study and found that if the U.S. Men’s and Women’s Soccer Teams played 20 games, and both teams lost all 20 games, the Women’s team would earn $28,333 less per player than the men’s team. Additionally, the total prize money for the Women’s World Cup in 2019 was $30 million, leaving each winning player with about $4 million, while the prize money for the Men’s World Cup in 2018 was $38 million per player, allowing the championship team to walk away with $400 million in total. “It’s not fair because (the women) do the same job. They work just as hard. And it’s just discouraging to young female athletes because it shows how we don’t get the same privileges,” West Henderson junior and soccer player, Emily Chambliss, said. In March 2019, the U.S. Women’s Soccer Team filed a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the

Central District of California, shortly after the Men’s team failed to qualify for the World Cup in 2018. The lawsuit claimed the U.S. Women’s team was paid a total of $1.725 million in bonuses after winning the World Cup in 2015, while the U.S. Men’s team was paid $5.375 million in 2014 by the same federation. They also argued that the female players have been consistently paid less money than the male players, though their performance has been superior to that of the male players. Federal Judge R. Gary Klauser rejected the Women’s teams’ argument. He said the women opted for pay that weighed fixed income more than performance bonuses, which made their salary incomparable to the Mens’. Klauser decided the lawsuit could only continue if the women only focused on unequal travel, accommodations, and personnel support. The idea of women playing sports is still fairly new in the grand scheme of history. Men’s sports do get more attention, can arguably be more exciting, and generally generate more money than women’s sports. However, female athletes still deserve to be compensated proportionally for the work they’re putting in and the revenue they’re creating, as is the standard for all professions. “I don’t know what the answer is. I think it is something that needs to keep being talked about. All we can do is keep bringing attention to it,” Beyer said.

THANK YOU

Century 21st Mountain Lifestyle Fitness by George Asheville’s Home Team The Price Family

FOR THE HELPFUL CONTRIBUTIONS. Please support those who have supported our publication! ADS n May 2021

New Beginnings Where is the Class of 2021 headed after high school? In-State AB TECH Thomas Lynn Justin Scruggs

CAROLINA COLLEGE OF HAIR DESIGN Brynlynn Kiser

APPALACHIAN STATE Maci Anthony Emma Bartram Connor Chandler Anna Dorn Kennedy Fletcher Jackson Futch Jorge Herrera Sarah Holbert Margaret-Ann Littauer Trinity Luce Mia McCall Jacob Parent Katie Schneider

BLUE RIDGE CC Luke Bradley Jason Cairens Victor Calderas Marshall Case Becca Chamberlain Lori Elias Yasveli Galvan Jesse Gerard Braydon Harris Abby Henby Cameron Holbert Selah Humiston Branson Lindgren Thomas Lynn Kaiya Mann Jason Pittman Emma Robinson Citlalli Sanchez Leah Spray Angela Tinoco-Hernandez Sydney Young

CALDWELL CC Nash Allen

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COLLEGE

JOHNSON C. SMITH Tia Howard

LEES MCRAE

UNC ASHEVILLE Noah Trexler

UNC CHARLOTTE Lauren Angelo Kevin Burton Ashleigh Kirkwood Max Portugal Zoya Zalevskiy

Rachel Stephenson

UNC GREENSBORO

LENOIR RHYNE

America Anderson Eulalio Grande-Hernandez Julia Parent Daija Jackson

Elizabeth Petrusha Madison May

MONTREAT COLLEGE

UNC WILMINGTON

Lily Mintz

Carson Godwin Hollis Green Bella Mangone

NC STATE

WESTERN CAROLINA

Csenge Balazs Miles Bryant Ethan Clonch Max Decker Helene Johnston Sarah Voso

UNC CHAPEL HILL Johnathan Austin Jacob Bandy Allison Caskey Haley Dunnigan Madison Hall Hannah King Caroline Maxon Sarah Monoson Claudia Quiroz Kylie Warren

Alyse Blaylock Sophie Brown McKenna Daley Daizy Forester Pat Henley Lacie Larsen Evangeline Memolo Alex Moore Kiara O'Malley Jackson Parent Hunter Price Aidan Shelton Anna Sherman Kara Wike

WINGATE Chloe Coss Kirsten McCarthy

Out of State ANDERSON

Seth Hall

ARIZONA STATE Ian Domansky

EAST TENNESSEE STATE

UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA

Marissa Ambrose Garrett Jennings Paige Shipley

Parker Bivins

UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE Claire Parker Will Parker

KENNESAW STATE Maelin Gray

BERRY COLLEGE

WESTERN WELDING

Lucas Kinsey

LOUISIANA STATE

BAYLOR

Jakob Abercrombie

Alisha Jones

ARMED FORCES

Ella Shamburger

Zach Henby Steffanie Ledgerwood Lucas London Gabriel Sanders

NEBRASKA

CLEMSON

Laurel Welch

Bradley Kendrick Davis Little

NORTH GREENVILLE

GAP YEAR

Tia Bartlett Mark Hall

COASTAL CAROLINA Gavin Swanner

COLLEGE OF CHARLESTON Anna Locke

Damiana Hylemon Genesis Jimenez-Guzman Ashton Lively Ashley Witte

PURDUE Brooks Boline

WORKFORCE Trey Gilliland Carson Laughter Raine Wong Chong

UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA

EMORY

Malia Moore

Ada Weaver

12% STEM

34%

Humanities

53%

Undecided

Top Three Majors

What is the Class of 2021 majoring in? Engineering - 12% Nursing - 12% Education - 10%

Data based on 73 responses gathered via survey.

COLLEGE n May 2021