The mission of the Harbinger is to provide timely, relevant, and interesting content, while handling topics with respect and objectively. Harbinger aims to reflect the diverse nature of the student body of ZCHS by including those of all walks of life in the publication. The Harbinger serves as a public forum and invites letters to the editor and communication from others. The Harbinger is student-run and opinions in the magazine do not necessarily represent those of ZCHS or Zionsville Community Schools.
New child labor law threatens work-life balance
How would you feel if your boss assigned you 40 hours of work this week, in addition to attending school full time? You can’t cut back those hours they have given you or maybe find you don't want to after seeing your higher paycheck. That’s what could be in store for teen workers with the new child labor laws passed in House Bill 1093. These new laws open up the opportunity for teenagers to commit to more hours, which may cause them to spend too much of their time committed to working. We believe students who work more hours will burn out and will lose some of the fun of their teenage years. These years are a time to have fun and enjoy weekends with friends. Working 40 hours or close to 40 hours a week while being a full-time student will put more stress on students.
For some students, if the business they are working for is understaffed, then their boss may schedule them for up to 40 hours a week. Most teens are low-level employees who often do not have much of a say in these hours. We worry that scheduling managers will take advantage of this law and put teen workers in uncomfortable positions in which they might be forced to call off or compromise sleep. We think that students should be standing up for themselves by telling their managers how many hours are manageable. Despite the negative implications, this new law will also enable teens to earn more money with their additional hours. Even though they are losing
freetime to work, they might choose this for themselves. For the students who may be paying for their own college, buying a car, or providing for themselves, this could be a positive experience for them. Instead of the cap being at 30 hours a week, these students may choose to work 40. However, for most students this provides stress and a loss of balance.
Balance is very important when it comes to teenagers. Students are already asked to do a lot. We go to school for seven hours, participate in sports and activities, then return home to do homework for each class. But somehow in our jobs, our managers decide to give us more hours than what we can handle. We think this is exactly what the Indiana legislature and owners of companies do not understand. For example, we have to put all our effort into school to get good grades but somehow still have to find time to work after school and also make the most of our teen years. How are we supposed to have a healthy balance of work, school and a social life as teenagers with only so many hours in a day?
Overall, we believe this law doesn't have students best interests in mind. At our age, balance is crucial to maintaining healthy habits and a law such as this one adds more stress and complications to our lives. It’s important that we have time to be kids still before we are thrown in the deep end. Overall, we encourage students to stand up for themselves by setting work hour limits that still allow time for school and fun.
Cover: Senate Bill 146 aims to raise teacher salaries in Indiana. In it's current form the bill includes a higher minimum salary, a fund for a new teacher recruitment program, and a higher percentage of state tuition support allocated for teacher compensation. Graphic by Marissa Villarrubia
Balancing school work life with new Indiana labor laws
New interstate highway programs intend to cut down on speeding
Government acts propose increased teacher benefits in Indiana schools
Gowns, glitter, grace: inside the world of party princesses
Students embrace DIY projects to save money and be creative
Team leaders guide support their teams in different ways
The role of superstitions rituals in athlete's pre-game preparation
Why I don't understand morning people, probably never will
Upping Our Hours
New Indiana labor laws loosen restrictions on teen work hours
By Brody Brown, Copy Editor, and Ariana Spence, Staff
they’ve allowed 17-year-olds to work up to nine hours per day and up to 48 hours per nonschool week.
Prior to Bill 1093, the Senate Enrolled Act 409, your time management.”
Illinois, California, Colorado and Virginia all tightened the restrictions on child labor. Indiana was the only state that the restrictions loosened.
By Abagail Keck, Staff
the first thirty days the cameras are active, thoroughly tested, INDOT plans to expand sylvania also has a permanent program, and
So what should student drivers do if they “Simply relax. If you’re Everybody is nervous when so you just need to relax,” Musgrave said. “Follow the instructions, don’t be movlot, greet the police officer when he comes up to you.
Above My Pay Grade
State senate proposes increased teacher benefits to address teacher shortage
By Luke Kouns, News Editor
Senate Bill 146, proposed Jan. 13, 2025, aims to raise teacher pay and incentive, following new Indiana Governor Mike Braun’s campaign goals. The proposed bill includes a higher minimum teacher salary, a higher percentage of state tuition support afforded for teacher compensation, and a fund for a new teacher recruitment program.
In offering these incentives, Senate Bill 146 aims to tackle the current teacher shortage by providing potential teachers more reasons to enter the teaching workforce.
“One problem is that there’s just not there’s not a lot of teachers out there, meaning there’s not a lot of young people going into the field to start with,” Zionsville Educators Association co-president Cindy King said. “That poses a problem in trying to attract [teachers] because there’s just not a large pool.”
Senate Bill 146 increases the minimum pay for teachers from $40,000 to $45,000, a 12.5% increase statewide. However, this change will only significantly impact a minority of teachers in Indiana, considering the average salary of an Indiana teacher in 2023 was $58,531 according to the Indiana Education Employment Relations Board.
penses certainly vary from city to city and town to town. So in the Indianapolis metro area, you will see a much more challenging landscape.”
Raising the pay of existing teachers, however, is not the purpose of the increased minimum salary, which is meant to draw in new educators. Yet, even with raising the minimum required salary to $45,000, Indiana educators will make less than the average cost of living in Indiana, which stood at $49,527 in 2023 according to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis.
“For Someone coming out of college this year, at Zionsville they would at least make $52,000, so it is higher than the average cost of living,” Zionsville Community Schools Superintendent Rebecca Coffman said. “Ex-
Raising pay wasn’t the only big change proposed in Senate Bill 146 aimed at incentivizing teachers, nor might it be the most impactful.
“There have been a number of studies looking at all the factors that play into the decline of the number of individuals who are seeking teaching as a profession,” Coffman said. “I agree that salary is a big component of that, but we also have to look at other supports that are important to our teaching professionals.”
One of these supports is adequate health care availability. While Senate Bill 146
wouldn’t guarantee an improvement to teacher health plans, it would require the department of education to analyze the feasibility of increasing education employee health plans.
“We have access to a clinic which is free for our employees that are on our health care. We also have some mental health counselors that work there,” King said. “I think that is a good benefit as well. I think those [benefits] help to attract good teachers.”
Senate Bill 146, along with many others, are constantly adapting as they make their way through the Indiana General Assembly. One benefit offering more parental leave was removed on Jan. 31.
This volatile nature of government actions highlights the importance of other methods of encouraging future teachers.
“We offer the cadet program. We offer the opportunity for high school students to serve as peers in many of our extracurricular offerings. There’s opportunities to help young children in the community by being a mentor or extra support,” Coffman said. “All of those are ways in which young adults can sort of try on [teaching].”
Along with providing opportunities in high school, making it easier for potential educators to make their way through college is a way to encourage more to choose that pathway, according to King.
“I think one of the things they could do is potentially give more grants or scholarships to people who want to be teachers so they don’t come out of college with as much in loans,” King said. “Even with a pay increase, if you’re paying a lot in student loans, that’s not really a pay increase.”
Science teacher and Zionsville Education Association co-president Cindy King prepares for class on Feb. 7. Photo by Josie Brackett
Putting the Tiara On
By Gianna Villarrubia, Staff
For most teens, a weekend job involves stocking shelves, working the register or preparing food. But for freshman Vivian and junior Clara Keiper, it means big dresses, sparkly tiaras and turning into beloved fairy-tale princesses.
The sisters are a part of a small group of high school girls who work for party entertainment companies bringing Disney magic to life for young kids.
“It started when we were princesses in the Lebanon Fourth of July parade for our theater company,” V. Keiper said. “Once we had the costumes, we started getting requests for parties and that’s when we decided to make it a business.”
For V. Keiper it’s about bringing a smile to the kids face and creating an unforgettable experience for them.
“The best part is seeing the kids’ faces when they meet us,” V. Keiper said. “It’s pure joy both from the kids and their parents. There’s just something so special about making that moment happen.”
For the Keiper sisters, one of the best parts of working together is the opportunity to embody a range of different princesses. Each princess comes with her own distinct traits, voice, and mannerisms, making every performance feel exciting. Whether it’s the calm and graceful Belle, the adventurous and spirited Moana, or the daring Rapunzel, each role brings a new set of challenges and rewards.
“The best part of working together has got to be the ability to switch up which princesses we are and getting to experience acting as all the different personalities,” C. Keiper said.
Bringing fairy tales to life isn’t easy; the girls spend hours curling their hair or even wearing wigs, applying stage makeup and choosing the right costume from the many they have such as Rapunzel, Belle, and Elsa. They pick out books and activities to do with the kids to keep them entertained and
Gowns, glitter, and grace: inside the world of party princesses
interact with them in character.
To thrive in a role like this, you’ve got to be social and juggle the excitement of a big group of kids all at once. It’s all about staying calm under pressure and making sure everyone is having fun.
”We try to contain it to group activities that everyone will be interested in,” V. Keiper said. “We always bring a book.”
While the job may seem like all glamour, there’s a lot more that goes into it than just
by
Being a princess has helped C. Keiper grow in ways she never expected, especially when it comes to empathy. Through countless interactions with children and adults alike, she has learned to connect with people from all walks of life.
“I’ve learned to be exceptionally kind to everyone, regardless of who they may be,” C. Keiper said.
Graphics
Marissa Villarrubia
Fabric to
By Srinithya Basireddy, Perspectives Editor, and Addy Cieciek, Staff
Freshman Kendal Jerich was tired of paying over $80 to have her nails done at the salon, so she took matters into her own creative hands.
“I learned how to do my own nails to save money,” Jerich said.
Many teenagers, like Jerich, have turned to do-it-yourself projects, using inspiration from platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and
“I didn’t want to pay anymore, so I learned to do nails myself with the help of TikTok,” Jerich said. TikTok and Pinterest seem to have a huge impact on others learning how to do things themselves.
Another freshman, Gia Villarubia, is proof that nice things don’t have to be pricey. “I learned how to do my own lashes from watching TikTok videos, and that’s actually how I got tracking charts of the inflation rate from 1977 to 2024, there has been an average increase rate of 2.2% in inflation.
Doing DIY projects has the dual benefits of saving time and money. “It takes me about 10 minutes to do my lashes, whereas to do it professionally would cost around $70 and take an hour,” Villarubia said.
Not only can you do or make something for yourself, but you can also do it for someone else. Jerich did her and her friends’ homecoming nails and ended up earning over $30, which was more than the cost of all the materials needed.
This fun is not only limited to teenagers. One of Zionsville’s own teachers, art teacher Grace Fletcher, also loves doing her own nails each Sunday night, especially because she is on a “pretty cheap teacher budget.”
But the DIY trend is more than a budget-friendly solution. It also sparks a sense of creativity and confidence in being able to
“When I do nails, I get to pick whatever designs, art, color, or shape I want— it’s my free will,” Jerich
Similarly, Fletcher said DIY projects help her relax. “I have ADHD, so I constantly like to keep myself busy,” Fletcher said. “Doing DIY stuff helps calm me.”
According to the Wellness Society, creating things yourself brings many mental health benefits. Letting your creative side take over brings mindfulness and relaxation.
“My work makes me happy seeing it every time I walk past it,” Fletcher said.
Yet, DIY projects can be anything from clothes and crafts to nails and home decor.
“Once I create an environment that feels like me, I can go into it and feel better. It’s just finding what works for you to relax,” Fletcher said.
Jerich agrees, saying she enjoys the fact that she can change and do whatever she wants with her nails.
Senior Sofia Baloski loves thrifting and transforming clothes. Starting from designing costumes for APUSH projects, she then decided to start sharing her work on Instagram “because why not.”
“My mom basically cut me off and said they [parents] weren’t going to pay for my clothes anymore,” Baloski said. “So, my freshman year, I started trying to develop my own style, which led to a lot of thrifting.”
DIY crafts are something that comes with practice. “I’ve been doing lashes for three years now,” Villarubia said. “I’ve been doing clothing projects for almost three years,” and “I have done my nails for about a year now,” Jerich said.
“When you go thrifting, 80% of what you find isn’t your style or doesn’t work, and 20% is fast fashion, which I don’t agree with ethically,” Baloski said.
Baloski started taking things with “gorgeous patterns or unique styles” and cutting, editing, tear ing, or sewing them into pieces that fit perfectly. The process of DIY promotes sustainability and individuality.
“DIYs are much more sustainable and personal,” Baloski said. “They let people save money and reduce reli ance on fast fashion. Plus, it’s a great way to express creativity.”
According to Baloski, when you thrift
or create something yourself, you get to personalize it exactly how you want it.
“It becomes a reflection of you.
For me, the best part is making something that matches what I imagine in my mind. It’s so fulfilling to have a style that’s entirely your own.” Baloski said.
Fletcher believes there is also a huge social impact. She uses tools such as drills in her art class to teach new techniques and styles.
“DIY women have created a whole generation of confident women,” she said. “I love teaching other girls how to use tools they’re afraid of or think aren’t meant for them.”
DIY projects also are the perfect way to unwind and let creative energy flow.
“I think people crave stepping away from technology and working with their hands now,” Fletcher said. “It’s just so much more fun to make it yourself.”
Leading the Charge
Team leaders guide, support their teams in different ways
By Lilly Steele, Sports Editor
Team leaders are not born but made, as athletes vote for the peer they want to guide them through the season. The basketball, volleyball, soccer, and rugby teams each have unique ways of selecting a leader that exemplifies character, commitment, responsibility, and teamwork that define true leadership.
Captains don’t just fall into their role but are chosen by those around them.
Drew Snively, senior varsity basketball
captain, has played for 12 years, with three on varsity and two as a captain. He was voted as a captain by the JV and Varsity teams.
“Throughout the whole year, I show leadership and character. Whether it’s on the floor or off the floor, simple [things] like taking people home,” Snively said. “During practice, it’s stuff like leading stretches and getting people in the right spots.”
The volleyball team chooses captains in a similar way. However, the team votes for three captains.
Varsity captain and Louisville volleyball commit, Junior Elli Strecker, said she believes in leading through action.
“I may not always be the most vocal person, but I work very hard and strive to push my teammates to be their best,” Strecker said.
Rugby takes a different spin on captain’s roles, each player votes in person with a coach. The team then chooses a main captain and then other players to be co-captains.
“Certain members of the team had different designations, such as keeping track of the practice attendance, game attendance, or making sure that the Med kit was all stocked and had all the supplies,” said last year’s vice-captain and Junior, Addison Prieshoff.
She kept track of attendance, coach messages, captain decisions and planning. Prieshoff was also a speaking captain and was able to approach referees
during games.
Prieshoff said her organization and amiable personality helped her to plan events, keep track of things, and connect the team. She makes an effort to support everyone on the team.
“I’ve made it a point to become friends with every single person on the team,” Prieshoff said. “I really love my team a lot and so I like every single new person that joins the team.”
Despite captain roles being viewed as a senior job, Snively has proved that it isn’t about age but about character.
Snively said that being captain during his junior and senior seasons showed him the confidence and trust his teammates have in him.
While being vocal isn’t the most important trait in a leader, it can help connect a team.
“You can’t just sit back and let things happen. You’ve got to take pride in everything that you do,” Snively said. “If you’re getting everyone to do something together and working for that common goal, it’s really going to help the whole team.”
Having confidence plays a big part when holding a leadership role.
“With rugby, it’s a very demanding sport and if you have any self doubt that can really show in a game with hesitation and decision making. You have to have a lot of confidence in both yourself and your teammates,” Prieshoff said.
Strecker leads by staying positive and being there for her teammates, even after mistakes.
“It can be really hard to not get in your head but at the end of the day it’s a team sport and we win and lose as a team,” Strecker said.
While leadership doesn’t necessarily rely on skill, captains need to know what they are talking about.
“To be a leader it takes people deciding to follow you. This can be because of [your]
Drew Snively, senior, huddles up with his team during game against Avon High School on Feb. 6. Photo by Josie Brackett
characteristics or your actions,” Strecker said. “I think skills play a huge role in leadership, especially in sports. This is because having the skills needed to compete at this high of a level is able to motivate and influence others to keep working.”
This doesn’t mean only starters or captains can be leaders.
“[A leader is] someone that people always look for, someone to turn to in hard moments and you’ve got to be there for everyone, even if it’s hard for you as well,” Theobald said. “I don’t think that you need any skill. You could be the worst player on the team, or be the best player on the team. It‘s someone who is there for his teammates at all times.”
Snively has learned from past captains to become the leader he is today.
“The upperclassmen the last two years were really good role models, whether it was off the court or on the court. They passed down a lot through Zionsville basketball in general [about] what it really means to be a captain and a leader,” Snively said.
Like Snively, Strecker learned from past
captains as these people help to shape the future of teams.
“My sophomore year I grew really close with the captains. They were all very different and some were more vocal than others but they all were able to lead our team,” Strecker said.
“This taught me that there isn’t just one specific thing about you that will make you a good leader.”
As a senior, Snively hopes to pass on his knowledge to the underclassman.
“I hope underclassmen really see that and carry that on,” Snively said.
Anyone could be a leader, it comes naturally to some but takes work for others.
“Some people don’t think they’ll be [a leader], but I think everyone has what it takes to be a leader. You have to be confident and do whatever you need to do,” Theobald said.
Ellie Strecker, junior, tips the ball over the net during a home volleyball game against Westfield High School on Sept. 5. Photo by Lilly Steele
Drew Snively, senior, takes a warmup shot before the game against Avon on Feb. 6. Photo by Josie Brackett
Jack Turnbull
Lucy Long
Jack Hupe Zade Bankert
Very Superstitious
The role of superstitions and rituals in athlete’s pre-game preparation
By Ant Farrar, Feature Editor, and Jack Parr, Staff
From Serena Williams wearing the same socks throughout a tournament, to Michael Jordan wearing his “lucky” UNC practice shorts under his jersey throughout his 15-year career, superstitions are present throughout all sports at all levels. In sports, a superstition is a certain practice that the athlete believes if done or not done will lead to either a favorable or unfavorable outcome in a game.
Superstitions have been prevalent in sports dating back to the ancient times of the Greco-Roman worlds. According to Christian Scholar’s Review, a common superstition of this time was numbers having symbolic power, for example, the number four represents completeness, like the four seasons.
Senior track athlete Jack Turnbull has a unique superstition that takes place long before he steps onto the track.
“To start, I always have pasta before every meet. We go as w team all the time and eat pasta before a meet,” Turnbull said.
Carb-loading is a common tradition in endurance of running sports, providing energy for long-distance runners. The routine of Turnbull gathering with his teammates and sharing a meal creates a sense of preparation that gets him in the right mindset before a race.
But the superstitions don’t stop there and even go further back than that. Some superstitions are rooted in memories that grow more impactful over time.
“I got these rocks from my coaches in middle school that I still put under my pillow the night before every meet,” Turnbull said.
The rocks, given to him by his coaches in middle school, serve as a remembrance of his dedication to track and a reminder to keep going.
“I feel like it gets me in the right head space before my races, and it also reminds me that I’ve been doing this for a long time,” Turnbull said.
Junior rugby player Lilly Jarrard knows
the importance of pre-game superstitions and sticking to them.
“I always get ready by wearing my lucky socks,” Jarrard said.
But it’s not always about the gear or clothes that are part of her routine, it’s also her diet that contributes to her game.
Diet can also play a large role in pre-game routines that ensure success.
“I also tend to have bananas and protein bars before every single game, no matter how hungry I am,” Jarrard said. “One game, I didn’t eat my pre-game meal and I ended up throwing up.”
For Jarrard, these pre-game rituals are essential for her preparation and give her overall confidence about the upcoming game.
Not only are superstitions a part of pregame routines but also seen in game. Baseball player Jack Hupe, senior, has an ingame superstition of his own.
“I have to do the same routine every time I come back to the mound, taking the same steps,” Hupe said.
Lucy Long, a senior softball player, believes in her shoe superstition before games.
“I always tie my left shoe before my right shoe because I feel like that makes me more focused,” Long said.
Like Jarrard, this ritual makes her feel more concentrated and ready to play, and also similar to Jarrard, things crumble without them.
“Whenever I don’t tie them in that order, normally something goes wrong during my warm ups,” Long said.
For Zade Bankert, a sophomore rugby player, he takes a more in-depth physical and bodily approach to his pre-game ritual.
“Before I have a good game, I’ll always kick the ball out of bounds a few times,” Bankert said. “But more importantly my coach will roll me out and put Biofreeze on my legs and back.”
Bankert has been playing Rugby for nearly six years, and he’s seen how impactful his
traditions are.
Bankert’s routine isn’t just about physical preparation, it’s also about mental reassurance. The feeling of consistency and familiarity helps him go into each game with confidence, knowing that his body is ready and his mind is in the right place.
“One time I didn’t get rolled out by my coach because he wasn’t there, and then I didn’t play very well. The next game, I played great because my coach was there,” Bankert said.
The idea that skipping a routine can lead to a bad performance in a game is a common theme among athletes with superstitions. A 2010 study, “Keep your fingers crossed!”, done by Lysann Damisch found that superstitions can boost performance by increasing belief in one’s ability to succeed. When athletes believe a routine or superstition is helping them, they tend to perform better.
Things like these may seem insignificant to others but are very important to players like Jarrard and Bankert in rugby.
These superstitions all provide athletes with a sense of confidence and mental preparedness. Even though these superstitions may seem quirky or insignificant to outsiders, to athletes they are a crucial part of their play. Superstitions in sports aren’t just about habit, but they’re about psychology. According to Clinical Compass, athletes are constantly playing in high-pressure environments where confidence is crucial, so rituals help them feel in control, reduce anxiety and provide a sense of familiarity in high-pressure situations.
Many superstitions begin with a similar moment—a great game after eating a certain meal, or a clutch performance after performing a certain ritual prior to the game. Over time, athletes link these actions to success, and they become non-negotiable parts of their preparation.
“I think superstitions are a really big part of sports,” Bankert said. “No matter what they are, or who it is.”
Morning Mourning
Why I don’t understand morning people, probably never will
By Lucy Bean, Staff
For some, their first battle of the day begins when the alarm clock blares. Waking up in the morning can feel like a challenge, especially for those who don’t consider themselves morning people. The struggle is real; groggy thoughts, a desire for more sleep and a complete lack of motivation to leave the warmth of their bed. Meanwhile, morning people seem to defy that logic. They wake up bursting with energy, already checking off tasks on their to-do lists, while others are still hitting snooze on their alarm. How can someone be so productive while others are struggling to form coherent thoughts?
“74% of U.S. Teens get less than eight hours of sleep.”
-Purdue University, Indiana School Start Times Brief
Graphics by Srinithya Basireddy
The world seems designed for early risers, from the work schedule to the early start times. High school, for instance, often begins around 8:30 a.m. or even earlier for some students. However, according to a paper from Doctor Amy Janis and A.J. Schwichtenberg of Purdue University, 11 studies in the past ten years have high-
lighted similar associations with delayed start times improving total sleep duration in adolescence. Teenagers have a tendency to go to bed at a later time. After asking a handful of a class, seven hours of sleep was the most common answer. The average amount of hours teenagers are supposed to be getting are eight to 10 hours. Nationally, the CDC reported that 57.8% of middle school and 72% of high school students obtain fewer than eight hours of sleep. Society’s norms often favor those who can thrive in the morning. Night owls, on the other hand, must adjust to a timetable that feels unnatural leaving them at a disadvantage during teenage years, making them more naturally inclined to stay up late and wake up later. During teenage years a lot of biological changes happen. This shift refers to a sleep-phase delay. We often hear our parents refer to us sleeping in on the weekends as, “catching up on sleep.”
In the article, ‘Indiana School Start Times and Adolescent Sleep Health – Policy Brief,’ Janis and Schwichtenberg talk about how it may always feel amazing to sleep in until noon and wake up late in the day. However, it causes our circadian rhythm to fall into jet lag.
According to the National Institute of General Medical Sciences, a circadian rhythm is the body’s natural 24-hour cycle of physical, mental and behavioral changes. It’s like a natural clock that tells you when to feel awake and when to feel tired. Laks, also known as morning people often have a biological clock that falls in line with early energy peaks, unlike night owls whose rhythms are delayed.
Then there’s the ultimate mystery of caffeine versus natural energy. While many rely on coffee or energy drinks to function, some morning people appear to
wake up fully charged without so much as a sip of caffeine.
According to The Washington Post, some people naturally start out with higher levels of certain neuroreceptors than others. If you’re a person who genetically just happens to produce a lot of those receptors, then you are likely to be less sensitive to caffeine than others. These receptors come from a gene called CYP1A2 which influences how quickly caffeine is metabolized, but for those with higher natural energy, caffeine isn’t needed. To non-morning people, this seems like a superpower.
In the end, no matter how much research is done or how often it is explained, I still will never understand morning people. Their chipper attitudes, natural energy, and their ability to tackle the day without caffeine feels like something out of a sci-fi movie to me as someone who struggles just to get out of bed. Maybe the world is set up for them, or maybe they’ve simply learned to thrive in a system that rewards their natural rhythm. Either way it’s hard not to feel like night owls are left playing catch up in a world that doesn’t quite fit. If society ever embraced more flexible schedules or acknowledges the struggles of night owls, perhaps maybe one day I will understand. Until then, I’ll keep hitting snooze and wondering how they do it.
Memorial or Money Grab?
Music lives long after an artist’s death, but at what cost?
By Ellie Vanderbur, Print Editor
On Jan. 19, “Balloonerism” by Mac Miller was released on what would have been his 33rd birthday. Even six years after his death and 11 years after it was produced, fans are still remembering him and consistently listening to the music he created.
While posthumous releases can be done in order to honor the artist’s legacy, there are ethical concerns about the profit driven motivations for launching this work without direct approval of the musician.
Luckily for Miller, he had a will before his passing so he could ensure how his wealth was used when he wasn’t there. This led to high praise from fans for the way his estate, the people in charge of his wealth, handled his releases and marketing.
“[‘Balloonerism’] is a project that was of great importance to Malcolm – to the extent that he commissioned artwork for it and discussions concerning when it should be released were had regularly,” Miller’s estate said on Instagram to announce the release. “We believe the project showcases both the breadth of his musical talents and fearlessness as an artist.
Given that unofficial versions of the album have circulated online for years and that releasing “Balloonerism” was something that Malcolm frequently expressed being important to him, we felt it was most appropriate to present an official version of the project to the world.”
But unfortunately for pop-rock musician Jeff Buckley, his unexpected death left him without a will and this important power. This left him, his family, and friends unable to control his work. It caused his band members and mother, Mary Guilbert, to have to fight against the record label to not release music that wasn’t ready just so that the company could profit off of him.
“[His music] are his true remains – just as they are,” Guilbert said to journalist Eammon Forde. “If this was his body here and we were preparing it for his funeral, we would not put him in a suit. We would put him in a flower shirt and some black jeans and his Doc Martens and leave his hair all mussed up. And maybe a little mustard on his chin. We would not screw this stuff up by putting something out he would not approve of.”
In the end, they settled to release a double album with the first record being made up of the most polished and professionally recorded work and the other, unfinished demos. Even though this is technically a compromise, it’s still aggravating for his unfinished work to be used solely to make the label money.
Luckily “Balloonerism” was already produced prior to Miller’s passing.
“We made a conscious decision to keep things as they were and not go back and ‘fix’ mistakes, tune things or add anything,” audio engineer for the studio where Miller wrote and recorded his music between 20132014, Josh Berg, said to BBC. “The rough edges were part of its charm and highlighted where Mac was creatively at that time. Once you start pulling everything apart and dusting it off, it starts to lose its magic.”
The majority of the marketing done by his estate is admirable, but the accompanying promotional items, such as a $10 key chain with the album cover on it, slightly discredit this praise. These products feel unnecessary and more like money grabs than a genuine tribute.
This idea is further proven by the movie that was released alongside the album in select theaters and on Amazon Prime Video. It is a great piece of media for fans to enjoy and remember him by, but why is it needed? Why does it need to be profited from when he had no input?
If an artist has said that they are proud enough for a work to be released or wished for it to be following their death, obviously it should be. But if the only motivation is for the benefactors to make even more money it is a clear abuse of their creative talent.
Just let them rest. Listen to their music and appreciate who they were, but don’t feed into the unnecessary marketing ploys that profit off of their creative talents that are missed so much.
Unscramble the headlines, follow and DM the @zchsharb Instagram with your answers to win a prize, winner announced on 2/28!
“We all follow the tradition of [bleaching and buzzing] our hair for state. We all met up at someones house and did it. It hurt, a lot, it stung my
Above: Junior Ian Flaberty, shoots the ball during an intramural basketball game in the fieldhouse on Feb. 4.
Photo by Marissa Villarrubia
Right: Playing a police officer, junior Kai Hallam acts in the One Acts performance, “The Interrogation” on Feb. 6.
Photo by Josie Brackett
Left: Rapping a Chinese song, senior Gio Avila, performs at the Lunar New Year Celebration hosted by the Chinese Honor Society on Feb. 8. Photo by Abby Keck
Below: Driving a robot, freshman Bodie Williams competes in a robotics competition by making the robot stack rings on Feb. 8.
