Volume 82, Issue 3
Wednesday, June 16, 2021
Energy Efficient Victor Kallon, Reporter
At this point in time, most, if not all, of us have received our bills and taxes. Y ay. But, hopefully, you also got your paycheck, which is a positive. The Consumer’s Council has curated a list of tips to follow if you would like to keep more money and pay less on bills. 1. Set the thermostat - try to set the temperature 10-15 degrees lower when you’re asleep or away from home. 2. Cut down on shower time. 3. Air dry your clothes when possible. 4. Negotiate unreasonable charges with you utilities department. 5. Direct spending toward more energy efficient appliances. 6. Turn lights off when not in use. 7. When it's warm, open a window instead of using the A/C. The Consumer's Council asked that any questions or concerns be brought to Hepburn 354.
Money on his Mind: Oscar Chen’s Profile Ryder Fried, Reporter
It was almost as if Oscar Chen had been preparing for this role his whole life, and voters recognized this as well. With his 80-68 victory over Luke Brewster in elections on Tuesday morning, Chen was elected to Welsh County Treasurer. Chen’s experience set him apart. He ran for Treasurer due to his experience dealing with money. Back home, Chen enjoys working with money; he has helped his parents around the house in dealing with personal finance. The rising senior at Miamisburg High School also worked in a temporary leadership role at Buckeye Boys State over the first couple of days. Chen is a track, cross country, and basketball athlete. At Boys State, he was elected as Koppin City Federalist Party Caucus Chairman. This role, Chen says, taught him leadership and accountability. It also put his name in the heads of voters, helping him win his election. But compared to Caucus Chairman, County Treasurer is a whole new task; Chen now has to work for all of Welsh County. Chen is prepared for this task and understands the challenges of his role. While Chen enjoys working with money and has experience doing so, he acknowledges that there will be a learning curve. When asked about his goals as treasurer, Chen illustrated his ambitions to “Learn about how taxes are collected at the county level.” But the former Caucus Chairman also has specific policy goals as Treasurer. Aside from learning on the job, Chen plans to, “Make sure everyone pays their taxes.”
2 The Hetuck
The Homeless Delegate Of Boys State Paul Paciorek, Reporter
As residents of Wagonseller County were returning to their dorms, ready to retire for the night, they were greeted by an interesting spectacle. Outside Hepburn Hall, a man was sitting, dressed in a white blanket and holding a cardboard sign that read, “NEED Money To Live, unemployed, Family to FEED”. This man was Gavin Legault, of Favreau city, who became homeless due to a multitude of unfortunate events. Legault started off as a governor candidate for the Federalist Party. During the campaign, he spent a good amount of his personal money on campaign funds, leaving him with little funds for his personal life if he were to lose. Unfortunately, Legault took second in the primary, and he was left without money or a job. After the loss, he started his journey to employment. He detailed his journey in an interview with The Hetuck. He approached the current governor, Cael Saxton, and asked for a position. According to Legault, Saxton promised him a position in the Department of Agriculture, but never followed through with him. Giving up hope for a state government position, he started going down the chain of command. “We got appointed as deputies, Rowan and myself, and we got to the place with the sheriff, turns out they can only have one deputy instead of three, so then we went to the job fair. At the job fair, we walked through the entire line. Rowan ended up finding a job, I was not able to. I was unemployed last night, and I didn’t have money.” Left without a job or without any money to support himself, Legault took to the streets for nearly 3 hours to beg for money. He says that his family was very hurt by this news and became distraught upon learning about this. When asked about his experience being homeless, he said, “It was terrible, hot, I was a little man in a big world.” This story has a happy ending though. Legault went to the second job fair Wednesday morning and was assigned a job with utilities. He is no longer living on the streets and is content with his current situation. When asked for any advice, he replied, “Don’t waste your money, try to save it, spend it on things you really need.” He also says, “Talk to people, try to get people that will help you get a job.” His story serves as a cautionary tale of conserving your money and to not put all your eggs into one basket. Although Legault had hit a low in his life, he was able to rebound, and become a functioning member of Boys State society.
Gavin Legault (right) sits with his sign outside Hepburn Hall
Cartoon drawing by Adam Boogaard
Picture credits: Paul Paciorek
The Hetuck 3
Bipartisanship at Boys State Ethan Best, Reporter
We live in an age of American politics where we are more divided than ever. One might think that in America, bipartisanship is dead. It is very rare that the two parties will work together on even the smallest issues. As a country, how are we supposed to progress when the parties are in such strict opposition to each other? Rather than serving the American people, many politicians are more interested in pursuing a partisan agenda. The delegates at Boys State are taking a different approach. In election rallies that took place this week, a common theme was bipartisanship. Many candidates made clear that they intended to work with the other party and be a leader for ALL Boys State citizens. When voters were asked if they voted within their own party or voted across party lines, their responses were nearly unanimous in that they all voted across party lines if they felt a candidate outside of their party was best for the position. “I focused more on candidates and their beliefs and values,” said one voter. Another said “In my real political opinions I’m not just one side… I voted more for people who impressed me.” It's clear to see that in these elections, the official party platform was much less important than the candidates themselves. Senator Theodore Ollier had this to say about bipartisanship, “I think in this program it's very important because… although we do have a majority of nationalists, we’re not going to get anything done without bipartisanship.” Ollier plans to work with members of the other party by communicating with them and trying to understand their perspective. Grady Yeager from the House of Representatives said, “We were both assigned parties at the beginning but both of them are fundamentally the same and it's very important that we work together.” Boys State seems to suggest that politicians of different beliefs can work together as long as they share the common goal of making our republic better for everyone. There will always be disagreements, but when parties share common values they can work effectively together. In an era where the parties refuse to work together most of the time, and divisions between voters are astronomical, it’s encouraging that the delegates at Boys State are more interested in working towards common goals than their counterparts in real politics. Photo credits: Gavin Kelly
Delegates (above and left) securing jobs for those who lost their elections
4 The Hetuck
State Government Job Fair Nicholas Roth, Reporter
On Tuesday, approximately 120 delegates were given the chance to reinvent themselves at the State Government Job Fair. Buckeye Boys State stands out from other Boys State programs due to its ability to replicate real-world cabinet agencies that are essential for the government to function. These 34 agencies cover every aspect of Ohioan life, ranging from education and human services to the economy and environment. During the job fair, delegates reported that they learned a lot about just how many different agencies there are at the state level and how difficult it is to narrow their search to a single job while keeping their options open. In addition to job information, the citizens learned about specific skills and abilities that are very useful in government positions. The Boys State section-heads commented that they were looking for citizens that were able to focus on the details and were willing to work hard with people that they may not agree with. The citizens reported that they wanted to work for section-heads that lead by example and had a mutual respect for their employees. Over the course of the week, citizens appointed to work at these Boys State government jobs will be able to meet and work with their
Justice Pinc Confirmed to Court of Appeals Ryder Fried, Reporter Johnathan Pinc got the job he wanted all along, even if he took an unconventional path. Pinc, a gymnast at Buckeye High School, has been confirmed to the Buckeye Boys State Court of Appeals. The Medina, Ohio native did not run in a statewide election, unlike the other two Court of Appeals Justices Bradon Timms and Brandon Tabak. Pinc’s ambition is what got him his dream job. Coming into Boys State, his goal was to be one of the three justices on the Court of Appeals. However, due to the long line at the Acting Secretary of State’s office, Pinc was
Using Social Media on the Campaign Trail Blaine Bishop, Editor-in-Chief
During his visit to BBS, Governor DeWine spoke about the importance of campaigning and gathering information. When asked about the most important aspects of a campaign, the governor spoke about social media and how it has become a vital part of campaigning in the last decade. Combining the two, social media can be a fantastic source of information, both for the candidate and the voter. Social media can extend a candidates reach exponentially. TikTok and Instagram appear to be especially popular among the delegates. Social media is an excellent tool for evaluating public opinion and support, as well as spreading and reviewing policy. Like DeWine stated, you must filter what you see and hear to find the truth. Voters should look to social media throughout the election process to decide on their favored candidates, check on candidates’ policies, or show support for parties and individuals. Diversity is Ohio’s strength, so do not be afraid to “pickand-choose” who or what you support. Democracy is what you make of it, so do not hesitate to use your voice and give your input on the issues that matter to you. As Governor DeWine said, “This country is a constant work in progress.”
unable to get the necessary campaign paperwork. However, because Timms and Tabak were the only two candidates running for the Court of Appeals, there was an open spot. Pinc went to Governor Cael Saxton’s office to ask for the position and was able to get appointed and confirmed to the bench. As for what he brings to his new role, Pinc knows the intricacies of the judiciary. In an exclusive interview with the Hetuck, Pinc said, “I believe that my understanding, along with my strict interpretation of the Constitution of the United States and that of Ohio, will act as a first barrier against such tyranny, upholding the rights of the people stated in the US and Ohio Constitutions.”