THE COMMUNICATOR MAGAZINE
VOL. 52, EDITION 2, DECEMBER 2024
There is immense beauty
in our homes, our struggles, our school, our emotions and ourselves.
About the Cover
Overflowing with stories surrounding beauty of all sorts, our second edition of the year is an exhibit of the many ways our world is beautfiul. Upon reading it, you'll find that there are few things that are entirely devoid of beauty and that our defi-
nition of beauty is in constant flux. On our front, back and inside covers, we feature Mia Fletcher whose journey to confidence in her thick, coily hair has not been linear. In our cover story, she and her sister discuss values that have been instilled in them, microaggressions they've faced and societal evolution that they've observed. No matter how other people regard it, Fletcher's hair will always be her "crown."
Dear Readers,
Creating the magazine in your hands (or on your screen) is the biggest group project the vast majority of Communicator journalists will ever take on in our K-12 careers — that’s a truth that’s mentioned all the time now in room 300. Of course, we can’t know exactly what you as our audience perceive it to be from the outside, but we’re here to let you know that The Communicator is an ecosystem that relies on a plurality of its members to take a step (or a leap) outside of their comfort zones.
That can mean taking on more than we’d hoped or planned to, necessitating us to push through a busy time, or it can mean pulling back a bit from our journalistic responsibilities to pour a little more of ourselves into the other segments of our bustling lives. For others, it might mean picking up a camera and calling yourself a photographer for the first time, it could be interviewing someone who’s a leading expert in their field, or perhaps it’s asking for help when whatever you’re seeing on the computer in front of you appears to be cataclysmic.
No matter which issue of our product you look at, there are an edition’s worth of stories behind it and each of them are beautiful. Five times a year, they weave themselves into a final, tangible outcome.
We believe that so much of the wonder in the world comes from the little bright spots that often pale in comparison to flashier moments that don’t come along quite as often. That wonder we speak of is a result of the uneventful, yet interconnected pieces of our lives and what happens within them, yet we allow everyday beauty to bypass us more often than we take the time to slow down and savor it.
In the pages that follow this one, you’ll find that there is immense beauty in our homes, our struggles, our school, our emotions and ourselves. We’re all made up of networks of moving stories in the exact same way that this magazine is. As you read, we ask that you consider where the unsung allure is in your lives. Chances are, it’s camouflaged in the consistency of your regular routines; it just takes a bit of intentionality to reveal it.
PRINT EICS
CLARA
LUCIA
JONATHAN
COPY EDITORS
MANAGING EDITOR
ART & DESIGN
ADVISER
SECTION
AWARDS
National Scholastic Press Association
Pacemaker Finalist in 2024, 2023, 2022. 2021, 2020, 2019, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011, 2010, 2009
Pacemaker Winner in 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2014
NSPA Best in Show 2024
Columbia Scholastic Press Association
Crown Finalist in 2023-2024, 2022-2023, 2021-2022, 2020-2021
Silver Crown Winner in 2023-2024, 2022-2023
Gold Crown Winner in 2021-2022, 2020-2021
Michigan Interscholastic Press Association
Spartan Award in 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2006
POLICY
The Communicator is a open forum for student expression created by Community High School students. The Communicator does not represent the views of Ann Arbor Public Schools. The Communicator staff seeks to recognize the individuals, events and ideas relevant to readers. The Communicator is committed to fair reporting, providing a platform for student voices and equitable coverage. For our complete Guidelines & Policy, please go to www.chscommunicator.com
Janaki Nallamothu
Piper Cooke
Lucia Page Sander
Gabe Deedler
Clara Freeth
Table of Contents
VOLUME 52, EDITION 2 | DECEMBER 2024
Competition With a Cause
More Than Just Coils
Mia and Kaya Fletcher share their emotional connection to their hair and how it impacts their identities.
BY PIPER COOKE AND JANAKI NALLAMOTHU
A yearly tradition during the month of November brings the school closer together to help Washtenaw County fight hunger.
BY MIA RUBENSTEIN
The Communicator Takes on Philadelphia
A recap of The Communicator's annual trip to NSPA's fall conference.
BY CLARA FREETH
Photography by Daniel Jacob
28
All Is Not Lost
Students and staff find beauty in democracy and hope following the presidential election and a time uncertainty.
BY NINA TINNEY AND LEO CASTILHO
32
Beautiful Worlds
Maneesha Mankad explores her heritage and how being Indian American impacts her experiences and her family's life.
BY JANAKI NALLAMOTHU
42
Fatphobia Arts & Entertainment Opinion
46 BY
Dissecting the presence of fatphobia and the impacts it has on our community.
PIPER COOKE
Mod Glob Op Eds
Students enrolled in Ryan Silvester's Modern Global Relations class dissect global conflict.
48 BY STUDENTS
BY AMELIA SANDSTROM AND JANE GROCOFF The Perfect Combo
Exploring Community's favorite skincare brands and products and following students through their morning skincare routine.
Fashion
Kyra Kahana showcases what natural beauty means to her.
76 BY
KAYLEE GADEPALLI
82
Movie Review
Exploring a dystopian body horror film featuring themes of the toxic beauty industry.
BY FINA KUTCHER
52 BY STAFF Love Letters
91
Letters to people, places, things and memories that our journalists find beautiful.
A classic pasta dish, upgraded with handmade care.
BY JANAKI
NALLAMOTHU
AND PIPER COOKE Crave
Counselor’s Corner
From Spanish teacher to student support, Missy Herskowitz adjusts to a new role and school.
BY JANAKI NALLAMOTHU AND WILLOW ROSENFELD
► In the third week of September, CHS filled their open counselor position with Missy Herskowitz. Although she’s new to CHS, Herskowitz is not new to the Ann Arbor Public Schools system; she taught Spanish at Huron High School for 10 years before applying to CHS this summer.
Spanish has always been one of Herskowitz’s passions. At Huron, she noticed a large population of native Spanish speakers learning English and saw that sometimes, those students weren’t getting access to the same level of academic and mental health support as others.
“Spanish was an area that left an impact on me,” Herskowitz said. “To be able to support kids who speak Spanish as their native language and maybe have limited English was something that really got me into teaching. It was just so clear to me that the access to support for multilingual speakers was lacking.”
This realization pushed Herskowitz into counseling. She was prepared to put in late nights and years of work to make this new career a reality. In April, she completed her master’s in school counseling at Eastern Michigan University (EMU).
It was a grueling four-year process that included night classes, weekends and summers.
By the time she finished her master’s program, Herskowitz had completed 40 internship hours at EMU where she worked in a clinical setting and almost 600 hours at Huron High School shadowing a counselor.
Completing those internship hours was the last step in becoming a counselor. Although she has developed a newfound love of helping high schoolers in a different way, transitioning from teacher to counselor in such a short period of time has had its difficulties.
Having been an established member of the Huron community, leaving relationships with students and staff a challenge.
At CHS, Herskowitz now faces new duties, routines and responsibilities, but she’s finally feeling like she’s got her feet under her.
Herskowitz is learning new names and matching faces, figuring out who to go and feels like she’s starting to do good for the school community. While Herskowitz loved teaching at Huron, she doesn’t miss being confined to a classroom.
“I like that I’m not just teaching things, I’m listening,” Her-
away at her computer in CHS’s counseling office. She was previously a Spanish teacher at Huron High School, but saw a need for polyiglots in the counseling sector. “To be able to support kids who speak Spanish as their native language and maybe have limited English was something that really got me into teaching. It was just so clear to me that the access to support for multilingual speakers was lacking.”
skowitz said. “Instead of being in front and talking and grading, my job is to support and help kids find their way.”
The more time Herskowitz spends at CHS, the more she is immersed in its culture, especially surrounding what the school means to people. She understands that CHS is a tight-knit environment where student involvement is a high priority.
“As someone from the outside, my intention is not to come in and try to change things up,” Herskowitz said. “I need to learn what the strengths are before making much change.”
Being a counselor, Herskowitz’s job includes everything from writing letters of recommendation to helping students with college applications to communicating with families to providing mental health support and resources, but the wide variety of work is a welcome challenge.
“I like balancing all the different directions that we get pulled in a day,” Herskowitz said. Between it all, she hopes to still interact with students on a daily basis. Herskowitz loves helping kids and making sure they have everything they need to be successful.
Every Thursday afternoon, room 220 comes alive with the collective purpose of over 40 driven students. Table-hopping, I catch bits of impassioned discussion about the ever-long lunch line or the best method to capture the attention of prospective middle schoolers. This is my job as FoCo Secretary: to bridge the gap between representatives and leadership and document every idea along the way.
This year, I’ve felt a part of the FoCo tradition more than ever — not because of my new title and the non-Thursday hours that come along with it, but because of my connections to each member.
Through initiatives like the Halloween Dance, the cycle of leadership continues. Wisdom spreads through our community like a mycorrhizal network, as each veteran’s experience nurtures fresh growth in first-time representatives. Watching new friends dedicate dozens of manhours into thankless, faceless projects, I’ve realized something: we all sustain the enduring spirit of the CHS student body.
I’m not at all worried about the future of FoCo because I know it will always exist in some form since at its mycelial core, Community and its representative body is a collective of inspired students, each carrying a change-making spark inside themselves.
Jasper Forgey
Photography by Daniel Jacob Missy Herskowitz types
Competition With a Cause
CHS staff and students share their experiences with the annual Food Gatherers fundraiser and why it’s important to them.
BY MIA RUBENSTEIN
► Our 500 students work together throughout one month every year to reclaim their position as Food Gatherers’ third largest donor annually. The school serves 60,000 people every year, which is over 100 times the student population.
Since 2009, CHS has fundraised for Food Gatherers, an organization founded by Zingerman’s Delicatessen to help fight hunger in Washtenaw County.
While supporting the community is the main priority of the fundraiser, it provides an exciting opportunity for a friendly competition between forums. To raise the most money, students organize fundraisers like bake sales and can drives. Some forums sell pizza or host a mac and cheese party during lunch. Junior Maggie Williams helped set up the Whiteside forum carnival by providing tables and baked goods.
Many forums propose challenges to complete at different milestones of their fundraising goals as incentives to promote donations. For example, sophomore Caitlin Dick-Ruíz will have to speak in only haiku for a whole day if her forum reaches $750. Senior Kaylie Peters creates her own art, available to purchase in support of her forum. Peters enjoys getting to know her forum better through fundraising.
“It’s so much fun seeing people, not only having fun in these activities, but also having a sense of togetherness,” Peters said. “It really brings us all together.”
For many students, this fundraiser holds significance on a personal level. Dick-Ruíz values that CHS has this fundraiser to help those in the Ann Arbor area. Her mom grew up close to the poverty line, causing her family to grow their own food as a more affordable option, and she hates to see food go to waste.
“The thing is, not everyone has this chance to fundraise for a food bank,” DickRuíz said. “The fact that we as a school are trying to do something about it, instead of just worrying about our next history tests or whatever, is something I really like about Community. We learn more about the world around us and how to deal with difficult situations like hunger.”
Many teachers are also grateful CHS teaches the importance of contributing to the community.
“I think it’s really important because our mission as a school is connected to being part of the community,” said Chloe Root, social studies teacher and forum leader. “I feel like it’s a really cool way give back to the community, and also be involved and be aware of the issues that actually face our communities too. Plus, it brings forums together, which is always fun.”
CHS raised over 71 000 last year. $
Williams is proud to be a part of this annual fundraiser that impacts her community tremendously.
“The sheer amount of money that we raise shows the fact that we as a school get together to give back to the community so much is really important,” Williams said. “I think that making sure everyone in the Ann Arbor community has enough to eat is one step closer to making this a more healthy, thriving community.”
15 of fundraising at CHS.
46,000 people face hunger. years
In 2023 CHS helped serve people. 60000
ART BY GABE DEEDLER AND MIA RUBENSTEIN
Hope, Grief and Loss: The 2024 Presidential Election
By looking at one CHS student, we can see how the 2024 presidential election impacted students just after the Harris/Walz rally in Ann Arbor.
BY IVY MILLER AND AMELIA SANDSTROM
► It was early into the evening of Nov. 5 when junior Ellena Biermann, sitting with her sisters and mother, started to lose hope in Kamala Harris.
Just a week before, Biermann stood amongst her community as she waved yellow and blue “VOTE” signs in the air to Maggie Rogers singing “Light On.”
“You can take action against darkness,” Rogers said. “You can choose the light.”
The “When We Vote” event in Ann Arbor on Oct. 28, featuring Vice President Harris, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and musician Maggie Rogers, inspired Biermann and many others, feeding the anticipating energy that the entire country buzzed with, in the days before the election. Harris spoke to over 20,000 people crowded in the marked-off area of Burns Park, near the University of Michigan Campus.
“I think she gave everyone a sense of hope and positivity,” Biermann said.
Harris emphasized her support of women’s reproductive freedom and access to fertility treatments.
“We know it’s time to turn the page,” Harris said. “Ours is a fight for the future, a fight for freedom, like the freedom of a woman to make decisions about her own body.”
She spoke on her economic policies, various political issues and the importance of youth in making change in today’s world.
“I want to speak specifically to all the young voters, all the students here,” Harris said. “I love your generation. One of the things I love about your generation is that you are impatient for change. I see you, and I see your power.”
As a young person, Biermann believes that it is important to be involved and ed-
ucated in politics. Her mother has exposed her daughters to politics and local candidates since they were young girls.
Harris was the last speaker of many that night including Congresswoman Debbie Dingell and Lieutenant Giver Galvin Gilchrist. She closed the evening out as it started, by encouraging people to vote, the result of which she would see on the night of the election.
When that night came, Trump took an early lead. As expected, the first states called were mostly in the South.
As "Sun Belt" swing states Georgia and North Carolina turned redder and redder, it became clear that unless Harris could keep the "blue wall" up, Trump would take the presidency. The “blue wall” refers to typically democratic states and includes the swing states of Wisconsin, Michigan
Photography by Daniel Jacob An eager crowd waives their signs at the “When We Vote” rally. With just eight days until Election Day, the Harris/Walz campaign came to Ann Arbor, Michigan, with guest artist Maggie Rogers.
and Pennsylvania. The "Sun Belt" consists of the southern states of the U.S., many of which lean right. Nevada and Arizona fall in this area along with other swing states that stayed in tight margins until the end.
Biermann watched anxiously with her family as ballots were counted and states were called.
“I think I sort of knew it was going to end up not how I wanted it after watching part of it, and I prepared myself for that,” Biermann said. “But obviously, it’s pretty disappointing to watch that happen.”
Biermann went to bed before the official call, but she knew what the result would be. She saw the fear in her sisters, in her mother and felt it in herself.
At 5:34 a.m., the Associated Press called Wisconsin for Trump, giving him the 10 electoral college votes he needed to surpass 270 and claim the presidency. Just after, the AP called the 2024 presidential election.
As the sun grazed the horizon on the morning of Tuesday, Nov. 6, Biermann awoke to find the news of a president-elect on her phone. Michiganders had made their voices heard and they had chosen Trump. Biermann was scared: she felt like her country didn’t believe in her reproductive rights.
“I think I’m pretty safe in comparison to a lot of women, especially ones in the Deep South,” Biermann said. “But I don’t necessarily feel safe even in Michigan, in a liberal city.”
Biermann sees this feeling of not being safe among her loved ones as well as herself.
“My sisters are both pretty scared and rightfully so,” Biermann said. “That gives me a bit of a reality check, that makes me more scared. I don’t think they’re shaken easily, but I think especially at this level, if you’re getting your rights put at stake, then yeah, that’s definitely going to affect you.”
Though Biermann’s immediate family is aligned politically, she is aware that their extended family has different perspectives.
“My mom has six siblings, and the majority of them are men, so I think it’s just sad for her to see that they would vote for someone that would take people’s rights away,” Biermann said.
When Biermann was grappling with the implications of the election for her future, she was also navigating the dynamics that come with an emotionally powerful disagreement. Biermann is grieving the hope she had for Harris but trying to rekindle the inspiration she felt during the rally.
“We are here together because we love our country,” Harris said. “When you love something, you have to fight for it and ours is not a fight against something, but a fight for it.”
Biermann is moving forward with hope from Harris. She watched Harris’ speech at Howard University after the election and was reminded of the hope the rally instilled in her. She feels that the hope the rally inspired is still present, despite Harris’ loss.
“Her speech after the election was pretty powerful,” Biermann said. “We’re all going
to be okay. And it’s going to be hard, but it’s going to be okay.”
For Biermann, hope and joy are what she can take into the next four years, even if they aren’t under the candidate she wanted to see win. She loves her family and her community and will continue to fight for their rights.
“I think a lot of people are scared, but I think being scared, we just have to keep going, because we need to get through this,” Biermann said. “We need to move on. We can’t just give up.”
Photography by Esh Schaden Elliot Mason poses outside of a polling place. He had just voted for the very first time.
Photography by Daniel Jacob Zola Saigal and Emily Walker waited for hours for the rally to begin at Burns Park.
Making Waves: CHS Students Talk Winter Sports
Two CHS students share their feelings about the upcoming winter sports season.
BY KYRIE GARWOOD
►
Winter sports season is underway, and while many CHS students are gearing up for their respective teams, two athletes are approaching the season with unique perspectives. Senior Brook Fagan, a captain of Pioneer High School’s synchronized swimming team, and freshman Conrad Marra, a swimmer for the Huron River Rats, are diving into the winter season with ambition and excitement.
For Fagan, synchronized swimming isn’t just a sport — it’s a passion she’s carried with her since middle school. As one of the three team captains of the team, Fagan is poised to lead them to a potential 21st state championship.
“We’re getting first,” Fagan said. “First in the state again, and we’re gonna win every single section, duos, every single one.”
Fagan’s entry into the sport came in middle school after seeing it represented in the Olympics. Inspired by the artistry of the athletes, she joined her school’s team and watched as her love for the sport grew.
Now, as a senior, Fagan is hoping to continue the team’s culture of excellence.
Unlike other sports, the synchronized swimming season is split into two segments: figures and routines. The first half of the season is dedicated to figures, in which the athletes perform singular motions solo, tandem or in groups and are scored by skill and precision.
The season then shifts to the routines portion — Fagan’s preferred half of the season — where swimmers perform choreographed routines consisting of a series of figures and lifts set to music. While still graded on precision and skill, artistry plays a large role in the success of a routine.
be attributed to the work coaches and players do to engage with middle schoolers, a source of recruitment that has become shrouded in uncertainty after AAPS budget cuts.
It’s so relaxing to just swim and swim and swim.
CONRAD MARRA
With the closure of many of the district’s middle school pools, the schools’ synchronized swimming teams are in jeopardy, and due to the sport’s relative obscurity in the Midwest, the lack of accessible club teams further jeopardizes the future of Pioneer’s team.
As captain, Fagan plans to continue right where the team left off at the end of last season after finishing second in the states. However, much of the team’s success can
“I was devastated with the pool closures,” Fagan said. “I’d actually been helping out with the middle school synchro team at that time and volunteering and seeing all these girls so excited to learn about a sport, and it was where we were getting most of our athletes.”
This season, the Pioneers will face their fiercest competition against Troy High
Photo courtesy of Conrad Marra Conrad Marra Is excited for his first season of high school swimming. As a lifelong swimmer and he has set two important goal for this year. “I want to be a better swimmer and a better teammate,” Marra said.
School, their bitter rivals. These top two schools will face off against each other on Feb. 5 at Troy, and Fagan is confident Pioneer will come out on top.
“We’re gonna kick Troy’s butt because Troy’s our main competitor,” Fagan said. “They’re going down.”
For Marra, swim season couldn’t come soon enough. Marra, who is representing Huron High School for the first time this season, has always been drawn to water, beginning his competitive swimming career at the age of eight for the Ypsi Otters. From there, he joined the Lincoln Riptides and has been training year-round with them for the past three years.
This fall, Marra was also a member of Huron’s cross-country team and has become accustomed to the increase in effort required in high school. While Marra has always had his heart set on swimming in high school, transitioning from middle school sports to high school has brought new challenges and opportunities.
“It’s definitely more rigorous and there’s more practicing,” Marra said. “But you have a lot more fun because you can go in someone’s car and go someplace instead of just staying at school.”
Marra has a strong preference for dis tance events, particularly the challenging 400 Individual Medley, which combines all four strokes, each for a distance of 100 me ters. This season, his goals extend beyond personal records; he aims to become a bet ter swimmer and teammate, drawing on the endurance training he honed during his fall cross-country season.
“I love distance swimming,” Marra said. “It’s so relaxing to just swim and swim and swim and swim for the 500 meter or the mile [events].”
Marra and the River Rats will begin their season against Tecumseh on Dec. 12.
While both athletes have differing goals for their seasons, Marra and Fagan agree in their hope to contribute to a successful season and ultimately, to win it all.
Photo courtesy of Brook Fagan Brook Fagan prepares for a routine during the 2023 season. Fagan has set ambitious goals for their season. “We’re getting first,” Fagan said. “First in the state again, and we’re gonna win every single section, duos, every single one.”
Brook Fagan Synchronized Swimming
Conrad Marra Swim and Dive
The Communicator Takes on Philadelphia
Community High student journalists attended the 2024 JEA/NSPA fall conference and came home with awards.
BY CLARA FREETH
► In the darkness of the morning on Wednesday, Nov. 6, 2024, a crowd of 20 Communicator journalists gathered just inside door three of the McNamara terminal at the Detroit airport. The day before had been spent flipping between news channels, pacing back and forth as presidential election results rolled in.
Tired eyes and heavy hearts clashed with excited smiles and anticipatory fidgeting. Ahead was a day of digging into democracy: visits to both the Constitution Center and the Liberty Bell, while digesting breaking news in real time.
And yet, the show must go on. After a 100-minute flight, the wheels touched down in Philadelphia right on time. Student journalists quickly awoke from naps, took their earbuds out and stowed away their math homework as excited whispers wiggled their way down the air-
plane’s aisle.
Ahead were four days of team bonding, fruit-flavored water from the machine in the gym, “hitting the woah” and, of course, conference sessions.
Ranging from ethical uses of AI to broadcast basics to indepth editing seminars, they returned home with a plethora of new journalistic knowledge.
Thanks to motivation from advisor Tracy Anderson, the group made haste and was quickly off the plane and headed for the train. After a slightly longer-than-expected wait at the station, students boarded the train and made their way to downtown Philadelphia. They dropped their bags off at the hotel and were released into Reading Terminal Market for lunch. The sprawling food court — comparable to a minimall — would be the source of most of their meals over the course of the next four days.
Once fed, Anderson led the group to the Constitution Center. They learned about the signing of the constitution in Signers’ Hall and viewed a timely one-man show on the value of democracy. Wednesday, Nov. 6, was no ordinary day in American history, and in this group of journalists, First Amendment rights — especially freedom of the press — were at the forefront of everyone’s minds.
“It was crazy being at the birthplace of democracy at that moment when I felt like democracy was at risk,” said senior editor Claire Lewis. “But it was a good reminder of the places we’ve been before and the challenges that we’ve overcome.”
After exploring an additional exhibit, the group was treated to a walking tour guided by an array of new experts (students adopting new personas reading from a Google doc.) From Liberty Bell expert “Ring-a-ding-
ding” to resident President’s House specialist “Indie Pendance,” it’s safe to say that the group was adequately informed about the city’s famous landmarks. They ended the night with the city’s iconic sandwich, the Philly Cheesesteak.
Following dinner, they skipped, speed walked and raced their way back to the hotel for a pool night. Spirited games of Marco Polo, rounds of chicken fights and underwater handstands filled the natatorium with sounds of laughter and the pool deck with water. The next morning, journalists flooded downstairs to the lobby for bagels and a wide variety of cream cheeses before heading to either an online or print-specific all-day session. As those sessions came to a close, some editors spent the remainder of the afternoon applying that knowledge in order to improve their respective publica-
Photography by Daniel Jacob Communicator journalists gather for one of many all-group pictures throughout the trip. They had just eaten their first meal together in Philadelphia.
tions. After a trip to the market for dinner, the group split up for an evening of homework, time in the gym, exploring the hotel or all three.
“I know these moments we spend together are special, and I didn’t necessarily recognize that in the moment,” said sophomore photographer Daniel Jacob. “But now, looking back on the trip, I’m really glad we got to make those memories and I can really appreciate it now. I think the beauty of life is found in small moments.”
The next day was a busy one: critiques for all publications, individual competitions, all followed by the classic Communicator “fancy night.” After a long day of learning, the crew donned their classiest outfits and made their way to Alice, an Italian restaurant. The meal provided lively conversation, pasta, pizza, plenty of digital camera photos and desserts ranging from gelato to crème brŭlée to key lime tarts.
Their final night was spent making friends from across the country, telling stories and enjoying each other’s company.
On Saturday, Nov. 9, (their final day in Philadelphia) the young journalists scrambled to meet the 11 a.m. check-out time. That day, journalists attended their final few sessions, explored downtown Philadelphia and some even stopped for freshly baked cookies.
Once through airport security and at the gate, Anderson gathered the group for an exciting announcement: NSPA
competition results. Last year’s social media and literary magazine placed fifth and seventh, respectively; this year’s website placed seventh. Last to be announced were results regarding the first edition of the year’s newsmagazine, which won best in show — the top prize available at this national conference.
Our Communicator journalists returned home proud of their achievements but not yet satisfied; there’s still work to be done.
Photography by Daniel Jacob
The iconic LOVE statue in Philadelphia stands out under the street lights. This timeless landmark, a symbol of art and beauty, has been a mainstay of downtown Philadelphia for nearly fifty years.
Shaking Up Shakespeare
CET’s fall play, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, was a carefully crafted ode to accepting people as they are.
BY CLARA FREETH
► When CET director Emily Wilson-Tobin was listening to Chappell Roan’s “Pink Pony Club” over the summer, she was struck with inspiration. Wilson-Tobin wanted to show how important is for everyone to find a place where they can belong.
After three months of memorization, rehearsals and hard work, members of CET debuted the first of five shows of A Midsummer Night’s Dream on Nov. 21 in the Craft Theater. Just as is described in the song that inspired Wilson-Tobin, fun, mischief and acceptance shone both literally and figuratively. The glitter-adorned cast was lit by a disco-ball and colorful lighting, illuminating the detailed set and props made by multiple crews.
The joy and comradery of the cast and crew was especially clear when they all came onstage at the end of the show for curtain call, bowing to “Pink Pony Club.”
“Learning how to really think about the language and put meaning to it was
JACOB
Photography by Daniel Jacob Claire Lewis plays Helena, one of the lovers in the show. “Shakespeare was super hard but super rewarding,” Lewis said.
epic.”
Photography by Daniel Jacob Mallory Towers and castmates have a discussion during a scene. She played Bottom in the show, an overconfident character. “I had so much fun playing Bottom,” Towers said. “The character is really silly and energetic, so I got to let loose a little.”
PHOTOGRAPHY BY DANIEL JACOB
“I really loved participating in the play,"
said. "I loved spending time with my friends and making new friends. I'm also so grateful for the opportunity of playing Hermia — she is such a fun character.”
Photography by Daniel Jacob Toula Greenawalt, playing Hermia, stares Helena (Claire Lewis) down.
Greenawalt
Mental Health Issues in Sports
An inner look into high school athletes’ mental health, examining challenges that high school athletes face due to high academic and performance pressures.
BY ANTHONY WANG AND BUTURO BARTOLOMEI
► “Walk it off” is a saying that is echoed by coaches and parents around the world. These three simple words perfectly encapsulate the suppression of mental health awareness in sports settings. While sports can be an outlet for some kids, a 2019 study found that about 35% of elite athletes have mental health concerns.
The same principle applies to high school athletes. The pressure of balancing academic performance with athletic commitment could be challenging. The pressure could put athletes in a stressful situation, affecting their well-being.
Owen Swaney, a varsity baseball player at Pioneer High School, shared his story of balancing coursework and athletics. Swaney feels that he often struggles to find stability and sometimes falls into unproductive habits. He felt either overly focused or unfocused, making it difficult for him to stay motivated throughout the semester. Balancing a competitive sport only adds to the challenge.
struggle for high school student-athletes.
“I definitely have that moment of feeling lost,” Swaney said. “Because when your life is that busy, it gets stressful just to make sure you get everything done on time. And it can be challenging.”
Swaney noted that finding the right balance can make managing academics and sports much easier. However, with high-stakes events like regional and state competitions, Swaney found himself putting a disproportionate amount of energy into his athletics, making it difficult for him to maintain good grades. Managing these competing demands can be a
Swaney finds that building a strong supporting system is helpful in handling the stress level of being a high school athlete. He believes that having a good support system, especially in his team, ensures that everyone holds each other up and supports each other during challenging times.
“It’s something that you have to experience to figure out a way that works for you to handle stress,” Swaney said. “It’s just something that kind of happens. There are different ways to do that, but I found that working through challenges and finding comfort and support in my teammates and coaches helped me.”
The study “Prevalence of Stress Amongst High School Athletes” by Tavish Ward, Thor Stead, Rohan Mangal and Latha Ganti, published in Health Psychology Research, examines stress levels in high
school athletes. The study included 200 high school athletes, ranging from age 16-17, from diverse sports and regions. Findings strongly indicate a need for better mental health awareness for high school athletes
According to the study, approximately 91% of respondents reported experiencing some level of stress in sports, with 58% experiencing moderate to extreme stress. When participants were asked why they thought sports caused stress, the most common responses were fear of failure, (64%) and self-pressure, (66.5%) with additional factors such as fear of judgment, unrealistic self-expectations and coach and parental pressure. In this particular study, the results also indicate that female athletes are more likely to experience stress in comparison to their male counterparts.
The study found that 78% of respondents who were experiencing moderate to extreme stress did not receive help.
ART BY KAYLEE GADEPALLI
27% of those same respondents wanted but did not receive help. When asked why not receiving help, the most common responses were being unsure of where to go, fearing judgment from others, lacking access, having financial difficulties and being embarrassed.
The mental health struggles of high school athletes are often overlooked. Phrases like “walking it off” ignore the real stressors high school athletes face. Balancing academics and sports, high-stakes competitive events and high expectations for coaches and parents are challenging for most high school athletes. We need a better-supporting system for those athletes than simply saying, “Walking it off.”
With more than 90% of the respondents in the research reported experiencing some level of stress in sports, it is evident that we need to raise more awareness for high school athletes’ mental health.
How a Garden Created a CR
Students and staff collaborate to cultivate the CHS
Garden.
BY LUCA HINESMAN
► Danelle Mosher has been at CHS since 1994. During this time, she has seen CHS grow and change in numerous ways, including the launch of the Gardening Community Resource (CR) last year.
The idea for a garden at CHS started when CHS alumni Julia Sonen approached AAPS parent Carolyn Herrmann about creating a garden. Herrmann had prior experience in the world of creating school gardens through her time starting one at Slauson Middle School and another at Dicken Middle School. Herrmann and Sonen
first started with only a couple beds, but eventually the garden grew when Herrmann, Mosher and former CHS staff member Katia Angelova teamed up to grow and maintain the garden.
“My forum would help with putting out the wood chips,” Mosher said. “As the garden was further established though, we really needed more concentrated people who would plan what plants we put in and do the weeding, watering, harvesting and everything else.”
It wasn’t until last year that Mosher officially made the gardening CR pre-approved, meaning it already had a planned out syllabus, making for an easier registration process. The garden includes nine beds of various fruits, vegetables and herbs: raspberries, tomatoes, arugula,
sage, ground cherries, rhubarb and leeks abound. As of semester one of the 2024-25 school year, Jasper Forgey, Lucia Page Sander, Maggie Williams, Josie Simpson and Kirra Molek make up the CR. All five students meet with Mosher once or twice a week to discuss their plans. In the class, they work on their goals and collective vision for the garden, which include planting, expanding, weeding, grant writing and more.
“The goal of the gardening CR really is to have students involved in making decisions for how we use that space and what they want to see happen,” Mosher said. “But what it evolved into was that we meet seventh block, and the students check in with me here in the CR office, and sometimes I say,
you know, just go tend to the garden, whatever needs to be done, but more often, we have conversations about planning for what’s going to happen next.”
After Mosher and others helped start the garden, students were left to imagine what was next.
“What I envision for the school garden is more student involvement,” said Jasper Forgey, a senior. “I want it to be an opportunity for kids who aren’t even doing the gardening CR to have room to experiment and develop a connection to the food that they’re eating. Also, I want people to understand the natural sciences and the earth around them.”
Page Sander believes that the gardening CR has not only been a great way for students to get involved with nature, but has also developed partially into a sort of cooking CR.
“We have so much produce, and I think it’s important to use it and not waste it,” Page Sander said. “I’ve been giving it to people at school, or me or Jasper or Danelle have been taking it home and we’ve all been cooking with it.”
Both Page Sander and Forgey are interested in pursuing a career under the environmental studies umbrella: Page Sander in agroecology and Forgey in natural sciences. The gardening CR has given them an opportunity to earn a unique elective credit and helped spike interest in student involvement in nature. For the rest of the school year, Page Sander and Forgey plan to continue the gardening CR and keep growing produce such as garlic, borage, peppers and more.
The CR’s members hope to shift to planting in sturdier garden beds, continue progress on their pollinator garden and keep enriching the space.
“The CR is full of good vibes, fun energy and has been a great experience so far,” Forgey said.
ART BY BEE WHALEN
Additives: The List Grows
New findings in skincare reveal the harm that everyday beauty products might be causing.
BY ELLIE FOX AND ELIJAH MAKMAN-LEVINSON
► There are contaminants in your everyday products: skincare, makeup and lotions.
Although regulations and approvals from the Food and Drug Administration are necessary for launch, behind flashy labels and enticing smells, long ingredient list full of unintelligible words often mean that the product is full of harmful chemicals, some of which can even damage vital systems in your body like the endocrine or reproductive systems. Behind the label, there are often many more toxins brewing that corporations don’t want the public to know or care about.
PhD student Jennifer Smith studies toxicology at the University of Michigan. She has seen that there are chemicals in all beauty products. Most chemicals that can be found in products are intentionally placed. For example, a chemical called titanium dioxide is placed in many products to make them appear much brighter.
This certain chemical makes bright pigments pop in products. But there are lots of chemicals and metals, such as lead, that are unintentionally mixed into beauty products during formulation. However, there are often few regulations for these unintended ingredients.
“There’s a really common misconception that because we’re in a first world nation we have a lot of apparent regulatory bodies that are regulating products and that the things we buy on our store shelves have been vetted, and that’s just absolutely not true,” Smith said. “No one knows what’s in your products. No one is really checking. So you should never trust that something you’re purchasing is not unregulated.”
Lots of chemicals commonly found in everyday products are extremely harmful to humans. Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), a group of chemicals that are classified as the “forever chemicals,” are extremely toxic and carcinogenic. Regardless, companies purposefully put them into many lipsticks to keep them from wearing or rubbing off.
PFAS has been found to cause kidney disease, preeclampsia
ART BY KAYLEE GADEPALLI
and prostate cancer and they additionally suppress the effectiveness of vaccines.
According to Smith, the most harmful chemicals in beauty products are endocrine-disrupting chemicals, or EDCs. They can have multiple effects on the body: from blocking hormones to changing the levels of hormones in blood to tricking the body into thinking that it itself is a hormone. These effects can cause alterations in fertility, cancers, diabetes and cardiovascular disorders, among many other life-threatening problems. The best and simplest way to avoid these chemicals is to reduce your use of products as often as you can.
“What I generally do is try to minimize all my use of products in general,” Smith said
“It’s like eating ice cream, you know it’s never good for you, but on occasion, you can get ice cream that isn’t jazzed
up with a bunch of artificial flavors and a ton of sugar. That’s probably what I would say with beauty products. You should probably be avoiding them as much as you can.”
Unfortunately, less contaminated beauty products tend to be more expensive than more contaminated ones; producing beauty products in smaller batches ensures that quality-controlled testing can be performed, but this extra testing costs money.
The ingredient list is a good place to start to estimate the amount of added chemicals: products with a longer list tend to have more added chemicals, which increases the chance that those chemicals are contaminated with PFAS, EDCs or other dangerous additives.
There are many apps that help detect how harmful a product is. One that Smith recommends is the "Skin Deep" app from the Environmental Working Group, which scores how toxic a particular product and the chemicals in it are.
Beautycounter, Drunk Elephant, Tata Harper, Ilia Beauty and Herbivore Botanicals are safer beauty brands that Smith recommends.
Even though these brands are much better to use than ones
that have added chemicals, they still aren’t entirely toxin-free. The best way to avoid contaminating yourself is to distance yourself from beauty products as much as you can.
“Anyone who tells you that there is a clean beauty brand that’s completely safe is lying,” Smith said.
“That’s not possible. People will mark up beauty brands as being extremely clean and there are probably some unique benefits, but it’s not probably making enough of an impact to be worth a 200% upcharge. You need to moderate your use.”
actually need? Or is this just a want? Is this just something that’s being pushed on you by society’s norms?”
New trends and norms on social media, along with a continuous stream of exposure to content, have pushed kids, as young as 10 years old to want to use skincare and makeup products meant for adults. Serums containing hyaluronic and glycolic acid, anti-aging moisturizers and brightening creams are being marketed toward these children.
Anyone who tells you that there is a clean beauty brand that’s completely safe is lying.
However, there are other ways to choose safe products. Before deciding to buy any products, health teacher Becky Brent takes a step back and asks herself if they’re necessary.
“It’s asking yourself, why do you think you need these things?” Brent said.
“What about your esteem or your concept of yourself is lacking to the point where you think a product is going to fulfill that? Is it something you
Using psychological factors like emotional resonance, the idea that they may need a certain product to feel good about themselves or that having an extensive skincare routine is an important constant comfort in their life. By being projected into social media, roughly 40% of 8-12-yearolds, around nine million children, are being affected.
New data taken from purchases worldwide, and composed by Statista is also indicating that the children’s skincare industry is on the rise, and is
expected to increase by a rough 7% each year.
“The fact that we’re even forcing this ideology of beauty onto little kids is offensive in my mind,” Brent said. “We see beauty standards and expectations shift throughout culture. They’re always changing, and this is the industry’s way of making sure we’re continuing to buy goods that we don’t necessarily need. If anything, I am advocating against the beauty industry because I don’t think beauty is our most important characteristic as human beings. I think beauty comes in so many different characteristics other than just your physical characteristics.”
For Brent, there are so many ways to feel confident and find peace within oneself that don’t require potentially harmful beauty and skincare products. One can feel beautiful in so many more ways than applying brands to their body
“Feeling confident is more about finding beauty in everyday things, finding beauty in basics, finding other elements of beauty outside of just looks and fighting back against industries that are really just trying to take advantage of us and our insecurities by not supporting them,” Brent said.
Revenue from the Children’s Skincare Industry (in Billions)
KEEPING UP WITH THE
TRR EEN DSS
Students share their opinions on fashion trends and circulating internet fads.
BY NINA BEALS AND KENNEDY MCDONALD
► Trends are constant, always coming and 90s looking shoes, and I was at the DSW,
the form of her clothing, but through her choice of water bottle. Shirato is seen carrying an Owala, a water bottle that is said to be the newest and trendiest. Shirato doesn’t see her purchase as unnecessary, she says it makes sense for her.
“It’s the only water bottle I really use, I really prefer straws,” Shirato said. “I don’t like to chug my water, and this has both
Similar to the others, Shirato thinks of trends as unavoidable.
“I definitely participate in some of it, but I try not to participate in fast fashion,” Shi-
She views her Owala water bottle as more than a trend, something she sees staying around for a while.
“I think it’ll last long term. I don’t think it’ll always be super trendy, but I don’t think anybody will ever stop liking it,” Shi-
From water bottles to unique prints to brands of sneakers, trends are constantly changing. Students agree on the fact we are all subjected to trends, whether we consciously choose to or not. Many students also see the damage and negative effects
Fast fashion trends often result in poor-quality clothing that ends up in a landfill or thrift store five years later. As trends continue to move forward it will benefit the environment to change our thinking and how we choose to participate
MORE COILS
The texture of Mia Fletcher’s hair is a direct reflection of her identity. She and her sister have persevered against the comments of society.
BY PIPER COOKE AND JANAKI NALLAMOTHU
PHOTOGRAPHY BY DANIEL JACOB
MIA
Mia Fletcher describes her thick, coily hair as her crown. Her curls wrap around her social identity, encapsulating her experiences as a Black woman. Mia and her sister, Kaya, have begun to learn that their hair is a defining characteristic of their identity and how they are perceived in society.
The sisters’ hair has been categorized as different from those who surround them, but they’ve grown to love their hair.
Mia and Kaya’s mom was determined to care of her children’s hair in a way that reflected her values of hair health and having pride in natural textures. Their mom has worked through traumatic experiences regarding her own hair, so she wanted to make sure that her children grew up to love their coily hair.
“My mom was never allowed to wear her natural hair,” Kaya said. “My grandma dropped her off to be watched by my aunt, and they picked her up with relaxed hair. That’s traumatic.”
Mia and Kaya’s mom was learning how to take care of her children’s hair as she was still figuring out what her own hair meant to her. Growing up at the beginning of the natural hair movement, the girls often didn’t chemically straighten their hair or braid it. Instead, they wore it naturally. This came with attention from others, many being intrigued by their Afros.
“No one ever said my hair was weird, everyone just thought it was interesting,” Mia said. “Kids would touch my hair and be like, ‘How did you get it to do that?’”
Hearing disrespectful comments and being put in uncomfortable situations is not a rare occurrence. Not long ago, Kaya faced a microaggression at her place of work when a man came up to her and said, “Did you stick your finger in an electrical socket?”
Confused and unsure about what the man was referencing, Kaya turned to face him in an attempt to get a better understanding of the situation. The man only repeated his racist remark, and Kaya was forced to defuse the dangerous situation by doing her job and asking the man if he needed help finding anything. The man ignored Kaya’s discomfort and started making more and more racist comments about her hair. It was then when Kaya realized that his comments were referring to the volume and color of her curly, brightly dyed hair. Her unease was acknowledged by a coworker who had overheard the interaction, justifying her already valid thoughts and actions.
Kaya decided to remove herself from the situation to protect herself both mentally and physically. She kept telling herself to be the bigger person in a situation where she was set up to fail. The most pressing question throughout her mind was “Why?”
PHOTOGRAPHY BY DANIEL JACOB
“I was so taken aback because it happened so fast,” Kaya said. “I sat in silence afterwards, playing it back in my head. ‘Why did this man feel the need to make such a hateful comment? Why did I handle it the way I did? Should have talked back?’”
Kaya has had comments like these directed towards her multiple times in the past. And every time, it’s still as shocking as the first. She frequently finds herself questioning her responses to these comments, usually hoping she said something to defend herself during these dehumanizing moments as a means of stopping the moment and getting the other person to recognize her.
Far from unique, these comments aren’t only hurtful, they’re dangerous and are deeply rooted in racism and prejudice.
“People are so comfortable making a spectacle of us just because we look the way we do,” Kaya said. “It’s like, I’m not a circus animal. I am a person, not a spectacle to be enjoyed.”
She has seen people point at her hair and heard them whisper comments when they thought she couldn’t hear them, some saying “Isn’t that so crazy?”
The sisters have shared experiences regarding people stepping over their physical boundaries by invading their personal space and wanting to touch their hair that was “different.”
“Have I ever gotten the question, “Can I touch your hair?” without a hand already approaching my face? No,” Kaya said. “Teachers, adults and strangers are reaching for my hair, hand already on my scalp. ‘Can I touch your hair? Oh, your hair is so nice!’ I’ve gotten that my entire life.”
The same girls that used to scrutinize Kaya’s natural hair are now leaning away from their familiar protective styles and wearing their hair naturally. It created a unique, shared experience of wearing her curls out with her peers, but simultaneously invalidated years of their harmful actions directed towards both her hair and racial identity.
Language and actions like these may at first seem harmless, but the thought process behind this mainstream narrative is rooted in deep racism that oppresses young Black girls like Mia and Kaya.
There is a large misconception that racism is less prevalent today than it used to be. However, racism still permeates much of society today and has appeared in a variety of ways. One, including experiences that are difficult to recognize and understand if you do not live them.
“We’re still actively being oppressed,” Mia said. “They’re very discreetly changing the ways that we’re oppressed, even under the products we get sold.”
Black hair care is locked behind glass cases in local
KAYA
department stores. Beauty products marketed towards Black people were either non-existent or hidden in the back of stores, further perpetuating the idea that Black people didn’t deserve to feel confident in their hair.
“We could never find our hair products anywhere but our local beauty supply shop run by a second generation Chinese immigrant,” Mia said. “But now, you find it in Target and Walmart because society decided that we were profitable and we are worth it.”
Beyond that, Black beauty products did not often exist in retail stores until the uproar of the Black Lives Matter movement, especially after the murder of Breonna Taylor in 2020.
Mia recalls that when TikTok became popular, many influencers and trends narrowed in on Black culture and exploited practices important to the identities of Black people. This mechanism is referred to as mainstreaming, which describes the process of making a previous something perceived as “other” by our societal norms considered “normal” and often even celebrated.
“It’s the idea that the things Black people do aren’t worthy until white people start doing it,” Mia said. “It’s mainstreaming. It’s whitewashing.”
Mia has seen bonnets and satin pillowcases be used as trends to protect hair when sleeping. But, bonnets and satin pillowcases have been an important part in Black hair care routines for keeping the hair healthy. Black beauty isn’t considered beautiful until it’s profitable first.
Hair products and ideals from the Black community are often the most vulnerable to mainstreaming. Mia and Kaya both agree that newer “trends” such as non-Black people wearing braids or other protective hairstyles and using products that were not formulated for their hair texture is offensive.
Mia believes that all hair types are different and deserve to be celebrated, however, people without Black hair textures should not comment on Black hair or try to relate to the complex experiences that come
along with having Black hair.
Mia has experienced people trying to connect to her and her Black hair in a way that was offensive and uneducated. These instances happen during school, sports and daily life.
“They don’t really know how Black hair works,” Mia said. “Have you seen Black hair wet? Have you seen Black hair dry?”
Both Mia and Kaya push back against these norms, wanting to see Black hair for what it is: beautiful. They don’t want it to be something
that’s “exotic” or “unmanageable,” they want it to be seen as hair. While they love their natural hair, they hate the way society has made it out to be. They know that black hair is deeply misunderstood. In all of its beauty, the experience of having Afro-textured hair is deeply nuanced. The trauma held in every microaggression never leaves, no matter how strong someone can be.
Have I ever gotten the question, 'Can
I touch your hair' without a hand already approaching my face?
No.
All is Not Lost.
In a time of political uncertainty, CHS students and staff find the beauty of democracy.
BY NINA TINNEY AND LEO CASTILHO
The first thing Violet Knyal did on the morning of Nov. 6, 2024, was check her phone. Anxiously opening the news app, she was met with the headline she had dreaded to see: “Donald Trump Wins the 2024 Presidential Election.” Less than 24 hours earlier, she had been at Forsythe Middle School, casting her first ever vote. Kynal voted for Kamala Harris.
“I had so much hope,” Knyal said. “And in that moment everything just came crashing down.”
Having turned 18 just days before the election, Knyal had her voting plan ready to go. She knew everything, from the local proposals on the ballot to which “I voted” sticker she would choose once she was done. As she filled in her votes, it was as if a wave washed over her. She was no longer a bystander in the election, she was a participant.
“Looking back it’s kind of sad,” Knyal said. “But when I voted I felt powerful. I felt like I was doing my part for the women and trans people in my life, really everyone.”
For Knyal, the election results came as a surprise. With such polarized arguments on topics such as reproductive rights and trans rights, she had believed that people would feel an urgency to get to the polls, especially younger voters. However,
this was not the case.
The election had significantly low voter turnout with millions less showing up to the polls than in 2020. But more than a lack of participation, the election saw an undeniable shift towards the Republican Party. A map that had once been speckled with red and blue became overwhelmingly red as countless states leaned towards Trump and his conservative policies.
“It was so much to process,” Knyal said. “I think I went through every stage of grief. At first I was in shock, then I was upset and then I was angry that things happened the way they did.”
U.S. History and Government teacher Chloe Root made a point to debrief the election with her students. Coming into school after election day, she knew students would have a variety of thoughts and feelings and made sure they were given the chance to process them.
“It can be hard to keep the fear at bay,” Root said. “But now we have to try and find hope.”
While in class, Root emphasized the importance of looking at the numbers as opposed to the flashy headlines. For instance, although it was widely known that Trump had
ART BY GABE DEEDLER
won several states, the differences in popular vote at a county level was actually very small. A red advantage of around a 1,000 votes was what determined the outcome.
However, there were dozens of other complexities that played into the final results.
One big complexity was advertising and the presence of social media. With ads constantly flashing across "For You" pages and TV screens, people could easily take in information, factual or not.
Another complexity was the ongoing debate about the Israel-Palestine War. With information circulating
online it moved many people to vote for one candidate over the other, or to abstain from voting altogether.
Finally the ballot itself presented a new precedent. With one candidate being a woman of color and the other convicted felon, it was a historical race. And all of these things banded together, creating results that many people didn’t see coming.
Teenagers like Knyal are coming of age in a time of political uncertainty., bWut this isn’t the first time they’ve experienced it.
In 2016, after Trump had been elected president, Knyal’s mother took her to the women’s march in
Washington D.C. At just nine years old, Knyal stood in a sea of pink hats and of women fighting for their rights.
“Being in that crowd is probably a core memory of mine.” Knyal said. “In 2016 when things were uncertain, that crowd of women got together and fought back. We’ll just have to do it again. We will come together, we will continue to show up and we will continue to vote.”
What the next four years will look like is completely unknown. But what Knyal does know is that as long as her voice and her vote still stand, all is not lost.
The hot gossip on what beauty products are in at CHS.
Aja Bullard
Aja Bullard has been doing makeup for a long time and has perfected the art of making seamless and glamorous looks. Bullard’s favorite product to use is her NYX Buttermelt Blush. This pink blush comes in a palmsized clamshell container that holds a bold powder inside.
“It’s the most pigmented blush I’ve ever used,” Bullard said. “It’s radiant, so it looks like you’re glowing from within, not just from glitter.”
This blush comes in 12 different shades of matte and glowing finishes. Bullard uses shade “04” nearly every day and always includes it in her full-face makeup routine. This product is highly pigmented, so a little goes a long way. In Bullard’s ex-
perience, her makeup looks fresh for the entire day. The product is $10 at Ulta Beauty. Bullard thinks this is an excellent price considering how long it lasts.
Although this blush is inexpen sive, cute and aesthetic, it has room for improvement when it comes to functionality. Bullard gives a word of advice not to try opening this blush if you’re someone with long nails. “I think it looks really cute.” Bullard said “I like the concept, but it’s hard to open.”
Overall, this blush earns a five out of five stars for its vibrant color and smooth formula which makes for a very enjoyable application and wear experience.
Payton Sly finds comfort in the routine of applying makeup each morning. The structure it provides helps her start the day feeling organized and confident. Her favorite part of this routine is reaching for the Easy Bake and Snatch Pressed Powder by Huda Beauty, adding the perfect fin-
“The powder is warm-toned and matches my skin really well,” Sly said. “It keeps my makeup from looking oily, especially in school, where the air can make my face
Sly also keeps this product in her
Rose Hood Payton Sly
Makeup is an important part of Rose Hood’s self-expression. Hood always carries a variety of products in her backpack to ensure that she has the correct selection of shades and consistencies to match any of her given moods or vibes.
“Sometimes I want a darker lip, sometimes a lighter one, so I always have a couple choices,” Hood said.
Within this wide selection of products, they all have one thing in common: light and airy formulas that are easily blendable.
“I don’t like heavy products,” Hood said. “I prefer something light that I can reapply easily, even without a mirror.”
This is why her favorite lip tint,
backpack, making it easy to reapply throughout her busy school day. One of her favorite features is its portability, allowing her to refresh her makeup and reconnect with her love for routine, even after she has completed her makeup for the day.
“It’s just practical,” Sly said. “It sets my makeup and makes everything look more put-together.”
The Easy Bake Powder by Huda Beauty, gifted to Sly by her mom, holds a special place in her routine.
“It’s like the final touch to my look," Sly said. "It really brings everything together.”
Benetint by Benefit, has become one of her most reached-for products on a daily basis.
“It blends so naturally, and I never have to worry about looking cakey,” Hood said.
Hood views makeup as a tool to enhance her natural features: a way to express herself.
“I feel like makeup lets me change my look daily without doing anything permanent,” Hood said. “It’s empowering and it makes me feel really pretty.”
Benetint by Benefit perfectly encapsulates everything Hood is looking for in a product. It gives her the flexibility to switch up her daily look and allows her to feel her best.
Beautiful Worlds
Maneesha Mankad considers the challenges and experiences she and her daughters have faced being Indian American.
BY JANAKI NALLAMOTHU
PHOTOGRAPHY BY DANIEL JACOB AND PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY GABE DEEDLER
Maneesha Mankad wears bold colors because they make her feel like herself: bubbly, confident, Indian.
Mankad loves to wear hints of her Indian heritage every day, whether it’s a patterned shirt, her mother’s earrings or kajal, a dark, natural eyeliner. Even when she’s not wearing traditional outfits, she usually puts on understated jewelry and accessories that still show off her cultural traditions. However, whenever Mankad gets the opportunity to wear the delicate jewelry and colorful garments, she goes all out.
Indian jewelry can include heavy earrings, necklaces and bangles (bracelets). She loves to wear her mother’s earrings and multiple rings across her hands.
Jewelry is a way wealth is symbol ized in India. Not only is it a part of everyday life, but expensive, bold and flashy jewelry is common on religious holidays and celebrations.
Gold jewelry is often passed down through generations, and Mankad hopes that when her daughters in herit her jewelry, they learn to wel come it just like Mankad learned.
“They’ll be even worried about wearing a nose ring, earrings, neck lace and bangles all together,” Mankad said. “That’s our culture, but they won’t do that because they’re worried that it’s too much. But according to whom, right?”
her parents were well educated. She also was fair-skinned. In India, fairer-skinned Indians are often considered more beautiful. This skin tone divide in the same racial population still exists today; it’s called colorism. In India, fairer skin is associated with a higher caste, i.e., someone of more importance. While all castes were meant to be valuable and carry out certain tasks to benefit society, over hundreds of years the system evolved into a hierarchy: priests stood at the top; warriors were just below them; farmers, craftsmen and merchants followed; and servants were at the bottom of the pyramid. This caste system provided social structure and stability and played a large part in Indian lives.
“I did nothing to get this color of my skin, and that’s just giving me some advantage and privilege as a re-
Mankad is hoping to push back on these beauty standards. She wants her daughters to feel comfortable and confident in who they grow up to be and wants their Indian heritage to be something that they are proud of, hoping that they develop independent ideas about fashion and beauty, something Mankad has taken years to do.
Mankad grew up privileged in India: she came from a middle-class family of upper caste Hindus and
sult,” Mankad said.
Mankad hears comments saying that she looks like the upper class because of her fair skin. But, she didn’t just hear these phrases in India; she’s even heard them in the United States and from non-Indians. Mankad faced these comments from her neighbors and has even had people tell her that she looks like “a different kind of Indian.”
“I didn’t take that as a compliment,” Mankad said. “I could clearly tell they were trying to create a divide amongst people, regardless of what they were saying to me.”
She knows that in most situations, like being the Department Chair for Mathematics at CHS, she’s one of few representing Indians and people of color. One way Mankad has become self-assured over years of these conversations has been by showing
off her culture through jewelry and clothing.
Mankad’s children also have faced numerous instances of colorism. Out of Mankad’s two daughters, her oldest has darker skin than her sister and Mankad herself. Mankad felt her heart drop when people made comments and comparisons about her daughter’s skin tone. It was hurtful to Mankad as an Indian and as a mother.
Mankad feels that this beauty standard has affected her daughters’ whole lives, starting when they were little girls first learning they looked different than their classmates. Mankad remembers one of the first encounters her daughter faced with ideas of beauty and being fairskinned. Her daughter, at the time, was in first grade.
You do not see yourself as beautiful, valuable, seen or heard when you are left out like that.
“One of the girls in my daughter’s class said to her, ‘My mom told me I can’t play with you because you’re brown,’” Mankad said.
Mankad believes this opened a door for her daughters to other similar comments. This perception of themselves as “different” started from a young age.
“As you hear people say these things, you think, ‘Is there something about me being brown that makes me not good to hang around with?’” Mankad said.
Being from a foreign group can also make others group you together indiscriminately. Mankad’s daughters faced challenges in school when teachers couldn’t tell them and their other Indian friends apart. It made her and her daughter upset because each Indian student had unique talents, traits and interests.
She believes that these kinds of events shape people’s perception of themselves. In the case of her daughters, she thinks this impacts their perception of whether they are beautiful or not, especially if some can’t tell them apart from an Indian peer who looks dissimilar.
“Sometimes, people wouldn’t be bothered to find out enough about
them that they would be able to distinguish one Indian from another Indian,” Mankad said. “How do you confuse those people and not bother to know them as individuals?”
Mankad knows that her daughters have grown into independent and confident women, despite the situations they were put in when they were younger.
Mankad relates to her own children through these experiences, but also to young children of color.
“They clearly stand apart because they try so hard in every other way to make up for the lack of what they perceive to be missing in them,” Mankad said. “It makes me cry, and I feel for young people having to go through that experience.”
Witnessing what her daughters went through, Mankad believes that feeling confident and beautiful starts from within. It starts by recognizing someone for who they are and not just what they look like. It starts with making sure kids feel acknowledged.
“You don’t see yourself as beautiful, valuable, seen or heard when you are left out like that,” Mankad said.
When teaching, Mankad strives to get to know each and every one of her students. She loves working at CHS because of the relationship-based nature of the school and knows that every teacher cares about their students.
When she first started at CHS, Mankad was the only Indian teacher. She felt a pressure to represent her community “properly.” She began to hesitate when choosing her clothes, making sure to wear bright colors and present in a certain way.
As years passed, Mankad grew to accept the changing culture. She’s more outgoing, wearing whatever makes her feel happy. She’s hoping to pass down her traditions including cultural clothings, jewelries and mindsets to her daughters, encouraging them to embrace their Indian heritage.
Seeing her daughters grow up and be surrounded by other brown people is something Mankad didn’t experience when she first came to America. Knowing that her daughters won’t have to explain their heritage to others makes Mankad see the
PHOTOGRAPHY BY DANIEL JACOB
importance of embracing different cultures and identities.
Mankad still struggles with expressing her views to a larger community, uncertain of how they will be perceived. Sometimes, she goes home doubting herself, questioning if she had said the right thing or if she went too far.
“I worry about every single thing, even now having grown in confidence,” Mankad said. “I go home thinking, ‘Did I express all of myself or did I hold myself back?’”
But, she’s not exhausted from having to express herself.
“Being in the education world has really helped me open up my mind and grow as an individual, in my ability to think about beauty, talent and characteristics of a person and what shapes them in ways that I would not have been able to realize, like how privilege or how where they are born and what kind of body and physical traits they have impacted them,” Mankad said.
Mankad will always love to share her culture with her community. She loves the feeling when a friend asks her about the food she’s eating or the jewelry on her body.
Mankad works to uplift the younger generations and help them build confidence. She tries daily to not compliment someone solely on their looks, instead complimenting so it impacts students internally. She tries not to be a person who makes young girls rely on constant validation and compliments in order for them to feel good about themselves. She knows that she, as well as her colleagues, are role models and impact their students daily.
“I think we have to be courageous so that we can be our whole selves,” Mankad said.
Corners of Cosmetology
For these students, beauty and confidence have gone hand in hand. Once they’ve found their confidence, they found their futures.
BY EDDIE
Confidence sprouts from something unexpected and beauty means something different to everyone. It allows one to open new opportunities when the time arises. The Career and Technical Education programs, CTE, introduced at Community High School provided students with an opportunity for growth and new ideas. These programs are designed for students at CHS who can’t take specific classes here such as culinary, cosmetology and home building courses, and send them to other high schools in the area that hold these classes.
Specifically, the cosmetology program gave confidence to students that they didn’t know they had.
Mariah Zeigler was one of the students who found confidence and the path for her future. Zeigler found out about CTE programs a couple of days before the deadline. Questioning whether or not to pick up her phone and fill out the application form, the decision was finally made and Zeigler couldn’t have been happier with what she chose to do. Her thumb hovered over her phone as the submit button was tapped.
Every day, Zeigler leaves CHS around lunchtime to head over to Saline, Michigan to begin her day for her cosmetology class. Arriving at the building, Zeigler is met by her shiny, metal case filled with all of her tools. Every material is perfectly aligned with the empty space enveloping them waiting to be taken out.
Zeigler has a set of tools that she prefers to use and makes her work, work. These are her essentials.
“I need a rat tail comb,” Zeigler
said. “It’s basically this red comb that we all get and it has a metal pick at the end of it, so it’s super useful and precise for parting.”
Another tool she often reaches for is a detangling brush.
“We need it because the mannequin hair really gets messed up sometimes, and you’ve just got to do what you’ve got to do,” Zeigler said
She especially wants a brush that works well on wet hair, something that won’t break the strands but will detangle it. Zeigler’s last, but definitely useful essential, is gel.
“I like strong-hold, really thick gel,” Zeigler said. “It’s good for parting and separating the parts so they can be super precise.”
These tools have helped Zeigler find her true passion for cosmetology and make way for inspiration for her future. The class has created new paths in her mind for what she could do later in her life.
“I want to be able to get a job at a salon,” Zeigler said. “I’ll probably start in Ann Arbor or around the area for a little bit, and then I want to be able to move around and work in a nail salon, hopefully. I just want to be able to travel around and go places and see things and make enough money to do that.”
These thoughts only began when Zeigler started her journey in her cosmetology class, proving that the submit button did change her life.
Even though applying to the cosmetology program was a semi-sudden choice from Zeigler, it came naturally to others from previous devotion and determination.
Another student, Aja Bullard had
MOBILIO BRECK AND SARIE ANDES
ART BY EDDIE MOBILIO BRECK
known that she wanted to be part of the cosmetology program for a while before finally being able to join, filling out the form as soon as it was announced.
Parts of Bullard’s family have previous experience with cos metology, mainly her brother and cousin. These people have greatly influenced her passion for the art of cosmetology. Her family dreams of one day opening their own salon where they can all pursue their pas sions together.
Fueled by her family’s dream, and her own, Bullard looks for inspi ration wherever she can. One eve ning, the bright light of a screen illuminates Bullard’s face as she clicked on the red YouTube icon. She slipped into her familiar routine and searched for “Beauty Hack Vid eos.” As she watched the top recommended video, a wave of inspiration struck her. Bullard instantly closed the app and researched nail supplies, the next week a package full of nail supplies arrived at her door.
Zeigler’s Necessities
While cosmetology school isn’t entirely nail-focused, it allows Bullard to broaden her skills, including braiding, hair styling and other techniques that will prepare her for a future beyond high school.
“Cosmetology is like the master’s degree of beauty,” Bullard states.
The cosmetology program opens a door to possibilities Bullard otherwise wouldn’t have had access to. Graduating high school with a debtfree cosmetology license gets her closer to her goal of opening a salon.
The cosmetology program has empowered students like Zeigler and Bullard to discover their passion for beauty and build confidence. Through hands-on experience and the opportunity to earn a cosmetology license debt-free, these students gained valuable skills that opened doors to career opportunities, paving the way for a successful future.
I like strong-hold, really thick gel. It’s good for parting and separating the parts so they can be super precise.
I need a rat tail comb. It’s basically this red comb that we all get, and it has a metal pick at the end of it. It’s super useful and precise for parting.
We also need a detangling brush because the mannequin hair really gets messed up sometimes, and you’ve just got to do what you’ve got to do. Anything that works well on wet hair.
CHS students share their unique memories of smells they find beautiful.
BY AVA GRIFFITH AND IVY MILLER
Iseul Park spent warm childhood afternoons outside enjoying the sweet aroma of flowers. Sitting in a field during her brother’s soccer practice, Park discovered the beauty of blossoms. She distinctly remembers picking the flowers and lifting them to her nose. Floral scents bring Park back to the innocence and peacefulness of childhood.
For Park, the natural simplicity of childhood is rivaled only by flowers. Her favorite flower is the lily of the valley: a small, white, bellshaped petal dripping down from broad green leaves and thin, fleshy stems. Park is drawn to the diversity of flowers. Variations in flowers remind her of nature’s originality and beauty.
“I think that everyone can appreciate flowers, which also makes them beautiful because it’s something that everyone can enjoy, that brings people together,” Park said.
While Park finds beauty in individuality, Meredith Bell, senior, finds beauty in the individuals with whom she spends her time. Bell’s favorite fragrances are influenced by her family and friends. Lavender and vanilla are comforting and remind her of people close to her heart.
“A lot of my friends wear a vanilla scent,” Bell said. “It reminds me of them and they’re all beautiful.”
Bell’s older sister, Megan, always smells like lavender. This flowering plant — a member of the mint family — has ancient ties with beauty. Derived from Latin, the word lavender means “to wash.” The blue color of the petals invokes bathwater and the evolution of cleanliness as a symbol of beauty.
As opposed to the scents that cling to her loved ones, Samantha Magee finds beauty in the lingering smells of meals that her family makes at home. Her favorite is chicken divan: This warm, cheesy dish is created using Magee’s great, great grandmother’s recipe.
“The smell of that food is so nostalgic to me,” Magee said. “It reminds me of happiness and beauty.”
Entering her home with swirling
broccoli-cheddar aromas in the air always puts Magee at peace.
As sensory as the scent of chicken divan is for Magee, it is equally as psychological: it transports her back in time to happy memories of cooking with her family.
“I think food can bring a lot of comfort, and I think there’s beauty in that,” Magee said.
Similarly to Magee, Ellie Robbins finds beauty in the smells that fill her home.
For Robbins, this smell comes from pumpkin candles. Her mother lights these candles throughout the house during the fall season. Robbins walks in the door after a long day at school and is greeted with the seasonal delight of pumpkin spice, the sense that she is home.
“It’s the smell of home and safety,” Robbins said. “Being home where you feel like you belong and are comfortable to be yourself is a beautiful thing.”
As autumn passes, Robbins also enjoys the smell of her grandfather’s chicken. Adorned with lettuce and shredded cheese, the balsamic-glazed chicken is used for tacos. Her grandfather lives in Connecticut and Robbins cherishes every moment they spend together.
“Every time I smell it, I think of somebody that loves me,” Robbins said. “He makes it every time he comes to Ann Arbor, just for me, which makes me feel really special.”
While Robbins and Magee find beauty in the smells of their homes, math teacher Jesse Richmond has another place in mind, one that’s less concrete of a place.
“I think the smell of when you enter a flower shop is beautiful,” Richmond said. “It’s not one flower in particular, but it’s kind of all of the things combined. They just smell really refreshing, light and nice.”
The first time he entered a flower shop was in high school, right before a school dance. As the door swung open, Richmond was pleasantly surprised by the smell that met his nose. While he discovered the flowers that contribute their own, unique scents
to the air, Richmond discovered his favorite: a red tulip.
Each time Richmond walks into a flower shop, he is transported back to his hometown and the floral scents that first tickled his nose.
“It is something that I notice every time I walk into a different flower shop,” Richmond said. “It’s always a nice thing.”
From places to homes to specific items, individual experiences have shaped how Park, Bell, Magee, Robbins and Richmond define the scent of beauty.
Every time I smell it, I think of somebody that loves me.
ELLIE ROBBINS
The olfactory bulb is the part of the brain that processes scent. Directly connected to the amygdala and hippocampus — regions heavily involved in emotion and memory — scents can trigger certain feelings and memories in people.
Research by neuroscientist Dr. Rachel Herz and psychologist Dr. Jonathan Schooler even suggests that odor may be the strongest memory recall cue in the brain.
Whether it's flowers, vanilla, chicken, broccoli, pumpkin or something uniquely personal, the smells that define beauty are something each individual chooses for themselves.
ART BY GABE DEEDLER AND KAYLEE GADEPALLI
PHOTOGRAPHY BY DANIEL JACOB
FROM HARAJUKU TO COMMUNITY HIGH
How students Levi Holkeboer and Caitlin Smith have come to appreciate J-fashion.
BY NINA TINNEY
“Look mommy! It’s a princess!” The young girl shouted, pointing in Levi Holkeboer’s direction. Holkeboer was wearing a Harajuku inspired out fit, complete with a frilly blouse, a bell shaped skirt and chunky boots. As Holkeboer continued to walk past, they couldn’t help but smile, because not only did they look like a princess, they felt like one.
Holkeboer first discovered Harajuku fashion in middle school. After stumbling upon a video on YouTube, they quickly fell in love with the eccentric way of dressing. Their free time became consumed with searching for the latest fashions and piecing together their outfits.
“The moment that I saw people dressing that way, I knew I wanted to be like them,” Holkeboer said. “I thought that it looked so cool and unlike anything I’d seen before.”
Originating in the Harajuku District of Tokyo, the fashion is known for its over-the-top extravagance. In the early 1980s, it was created as a counter culture, a way to break from the traditional Japanese way of dressing and has continued to grow in popularity since.
Under the umbrella of Harajuku fashion there are several categories, two of which are Lolita and Decora. Lolita is categorized by its 17th
variety. For instance, there are Sweet Lolitas who sport pastel colors and bows, and there are Gothic Lolitas who sport lots of black and motifs such as skulls or crosses. For someone just getting into Harajuku fashion, the amount of categories and niches can seem endless.
“I think that the variety of Harajuku fashion is great,” Holkeboer said. “I love being able to experiment with the cutesy, hyperfeminine clothing, as well as the more masculine clothing.”
Along with their friend, Caitlin Smith, Holkeboer runs the J-Fashion club at CHS. The two wanted to create a space for students interested in Harajuku fashion to get together, mimicking the many Harajuku communities that are located across the country. During their meetings, they talk about the newest fashions, watch movies, make crafts and just enjoy one another’s company.
But even though they have a safe space within the school, their enthusiasm for Harajuku fashion hasn’t always been shared by the outside world. Both Holkeboer and Smith have experienced their fair share
of dirty looks and judgment in response to their fashion choices.
“When people see the way that I dress, they automatically assume I’m seeking attention or mocking the style” Smith said. “But in actuality, I’m just wearing something that makes me happy.”
Being two white Americans, Holkeboer and Smith see how people might misunderstand their intentions. Because Harajuku fashion is highly associated with Japanese culture, many believe it is exclusive to Japan and that when Americans wear the clothing, it is somehow offensive or weird.
But in the creation of the J-Fashion club, Holkeboer and Smith made a point to emphasize the difference between cultural appropriation and appreciation. The pair simply appreciates the unique way of dressing and wants to create a space to share it with their peers.
“Just like food or music, I think that fashion is a universal language,” Holkeboer said. “No matter where you go, I think people can appreciate a good outfit.”
So whenever Holkeboer or Smith put on a large Lolita dress or colorful Decora accessories, for a second, they get to be a part of the extravagant world of Harajuku.
THE PERFECT
COMBO
COMMUNITY'S FAVORITE TYPES OF SKINCARE
IRIS DURRIE, SOPHOMORE
La Roche-Posay Purifying Foaming Cleanser
� Glow Recipe Cloudberry Bright Essence Toner � The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5 4 Neutrogena Hydro Boost Moisturizer
“Sometimes I like to experiment a little and try new things, but I make sure that I have products that I know I can trust,” Durrie said.
At CHS, skincare routines differ both in products and evolution to their current forms.
BY AMELIA SANDSTROM AND JANE GROCOFF
SUNSCREEN CLEANSER TONER EXFOLIATOR SERUM LIP BALM MOISTURIZER FACE MASK
KAYLIE PETERS, SENIOR
Cera Ve Benzoyl Peroxide Wash
Tazarotene Cream 0.1%
Cera Ve Moisturizing Lotion
“My mom got me started. She gave me the lotions that she used and stuff, and gave me the referral to the dermatologist,” Peters said. “Afterward, I kind of got into it on my own.”
LA ROCHE-POSAY
NEUTROGENA
GLOW RECIPE
THE ORDINARY
Cera Ve was the most popular brand amongst CHS students, with approximately 48 % of students choosing it.
CLINIQUE
CETAPHIL
ALICE VANDERVLIET, FRESHMAN
� Cera Ve Hydrating Facial Cleanser
CERA VE
KIRRA MOLEK, SOPHOMORE
� Skin Smart Antimicrobial Facial Cleanser Spray � La Roche-Posay Hydrating Gentle Cleanser
Tretinoin Cream 0.5% � Cetaphil Daily Moisturizer
4 Cetaphil Hydrating Eye Cream with Hyaluronic Acid � Glow Recipe Watermelon Glow PHA + BHA Pore-Tight Toner
“I was on accutane in seventh grade, which helps with acne," Vandervliet said. "After that, my skin was really dry, so I wanted to start doing more to take care of my skin. I do see a difference because now my skin has less scarring and it's less dry.”
4 First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Cream
5 Inky List Caffeine Eye Cream
6 Cera Ve A.M. Sunscreen Moisturizer
“I would just try sample products and use those for a week and see how they did with my skin,” Molek said.
Where there is hope, Where there is hope, Where there is hope,
Where there is hope, Where there is hope, Where there
there is beauty.
On more counts than we can conceive of counting, we struggle to put names to the innumerable ongoings of our lives — including how we perceive and define beauty. It’s not limited to a face, a landscape, a sculpture or an emotion. Beauty’s roots run a whole lot deeper than what is tangible: it’s the way we describe our best times with the ones we love, it’s the nostalgia of rain hitting the roof of the places we’re most familiar with, it’s how we feel when we’re at our most confident.
Surrounding those roots, though, is the dirt that makes them possible; our challenges nourish the things we love most, allowing them to take center stage. Without them, life falls flat.
What’s the meaning behind a trophy if you win one every time? What’s special about a warm bed if you’ve been cozy all day? What’s so good about free time if you’ve got more of it than you know what to do with?
Intrinsically, we’re programmed to seek comfort, but simultaneously, we cannot live exclusively within it — a tree can’t grow without soil, and we can’t flourish without regular, healthy doses of challenge. Sure, it might not feel natural, but to launch yourself into something scary — something unknown — is an act of service for yourself.
Yet, we’re now staring down the barrel of a gun in a fight that none of us asked for.
The trigger was pulled on Nov. 5, and an era with apocalyptic-feeling potential is looming. It’s a test whose existence many of us directly fought against. Still, there’s no option now but to face it.
It’s hard to find anything beautiful in the impending (though not permanent) erosion of democracy’s power when civil rights, foreign policy, women’s health, the earth’s climate and so much more hang in the balance. This isn’t a New Year’s resolution where you’ve nobly dared yourself to stick to a workout regimen, nor is it a chock-full course load that results in the most demanding semester of your life — this is a society-level defense of our rights and those of our neighbors alike.
The past several months have made the truths of this world — that has more often than not been run by men with dog-eat-dog mentalities — more plainly clear than
ever before in the minds of us high schoolers. The bulk of us aren’t yet familiar with being in the front seat (let alone at the wheel) of a full-scale social movement. Nevertheless, our roles and responsibilities are now more real than ever.
We’ve been raised in an increasingly technology-saturated world, and according to the Pew Research Center, we’re on track to have higher rates of high school graduation and college enrollment than any of our predecessors. Further, we’re the most racially diverse generation of Americans ever. These are advantages; computer-savvy, informed and varied in our identities, Generation Z is prepared to do more than weather a storm — we’re here to bring about its end.
The creation of lasting, systemic change can feel Sisyphean when our first and second tries have failed, until we remember that civilization has endured a never-ending cycle of crawling evolution and instantaneous upheaval. In the face of persecution, famine, inequality and general plight, humankind has repeatedly proven its resilience. Times have changed, but we have not lost our spirit or the strength that is and will be required of us to progress. In the coming years, it will behoove Americans to remember the fortitude and eventual success of those who came before us.
The United States was born out of the pursuit of fundamental rights and freedoms, and in the years following its establishment, its citizens (despite setbacks) have made social headway. Abolitionists, suffragists, civil rights activists and so many more triumphed in several respects: so can we.
Systematic oppression is an objective of our country’s president-elect, but the results of an election cycle do not render us powerless. Defeat is not final in this case. Rather, we’ve got another defined battle in the perpetual war for justice to dedicate ourselves to; as teammates, we can do this.
Beauty hides in unexpected places and most of all, it’s in our ability to surmount. Despite gloom and trouble, there is humanity and hope, and where there is hope, there is beauty.
STAFF EDITORIAL
FATPHOBIA
Fat is not a bad word. It is a neutral descriptive word that has garnered a negative connotation due to fatphobia.
BY PIPER COOKE
AContent Warning: This article mentions triggering topics such as eating disorders, bullying and body image.
Fatphobia remains one of the last socially recognized prejudices. Living in a larger body means navigating a vast and unpredictable array of discrimination, from blatant, hateful attacks to the quieter, more casual biases that infiltrate everyday life.
To be fat is to endure this discrimination while having experiences frequently invalidated, because the nature of fatphobia is so deeply ingrained in our society that it is often invisible to those who do not live it.
My most memorable experience with fatphobia occurred before I even knew there was a definition for my experience. A group of older boys from my middle school had been secretly taking candid photos of me and using the images to make fun of my body because I was fat. This was more than a careless moment of just “having fun” — it was a calculated act of dehumanization and fatphobia.
Even before this incident, I was already acutely aware that I was deemed “worthless” through the societal lens of fatphobia. At just five years old, I fantasized about cutting chunks of my body off. By eight, I was already on my first diet. Every day, I wished and willed my body smaller, desperate to escape the labels society placed on me: disgusting, undisciplined, ugly, a waste of space. These labels have power over me and were accepted and practiced by the people around me.
When I found out that those boys had been mocking my body in such a serious and vulgar manner, all of my darkest fears were not only confirmed, they were intensified. The shame I already carried became encouraged by their actions. To this day, I remain entangled in my longterm relationship with fatphobia. It continues to manifest itself in poor mental health, deeply rooted insecurities and an ongoing struggle with
disordered eating.
My story is far from unique. Fatphobia is not just common, but accepted. People like me --- kids like me --- are struggling everywhere under the weight of this prejudice. The reality is, fatphobia is everywhere, and its oppressive weight is suffocating.
Fatphobia is fueled by control, power and a societal obsession with thinness. It has seeped into every corner of society. The scrutiny of the human body is inescapable between the media, everyday conversation and even internal dialogue. Prejudice does not make exceptions. Any body that deviates from society’s narrow and harmful beauty standards can be subject to discrimination and associated internalized shame. However, fatphobia largely impacts those living in larger bodies and disproportionately impacts women, people with disabilities and people of color.
Overcoming fatphobia begins with rejecting the idea that anyone’s worth is tied to the appearance or size of their body. We must dismantle the belief that fat bodies are inherently bad bodies and challenge the pathologized judgments about people’s character simply because their bodies are storing excess lipids.
I encourage you to challenge how you are showing up in the world, challenge mainstream dialogue and narratives, ask yourself if you are being compassionate with your own body and advocate for those who experience fatphobia.
There is no size limit to respect.
For getting help with suicidal thoughts, please call 988 or text TALK to 741741. For additional resources, visit https://afsp.org.suicideprevention-resources/
For getting help with disordered, eating please call (800) 931-2237 For additional resources, search: https://www. nationaleatingdisorders.org
Op-Eds
Seniors from Ryan Silvester’s pilot Modern Global Relations class share Op-Eds on global conflict written in early October.
M D GL B
Democratic Peace Theory: Savior or Devastator?
BY ELIAM ROSENBERG
World peace is within our grasp. It seems so simple. The claim that democratic states do not fight each other is widely regarded as true by scholars and practitioners of international relations. I’m not here to dispute the scholars, Democratic Peace Theory is generally sound. However, trouble arises when democracy is seen as a quick ’n easy fix to a nation’s turmoil, and the transition between a state being a non-democracy to a democracy sets the stage for Strongmen to take control.
But what does that mean? If Democratic Peace Theory is sound and it is in a state’s best interest to be at peace, then why doesn’t every state just make the switch? It is not merely a matter of ethics but of common sense to affirm that the true national interest can be served only “with others.” But is peace in everyone’s
best interest? No.
One thing you lose in a democracy is control, and that is not in a Strongman’s best interest. So, during a nation’s politically fragile transition period, Strongmen are able to capitalize on the fragility and assume power.
Post-Cold War Russia demonstrates this perfectly. When Russia adopted democracy, it had to adapt and change many of its long standing systems. For instance: the market. Going from a command-and-control to a market economy is not an overnight project … unless you are Boris Yeltsin, Yegor Gaidar or Anatoly Chubais. President Yeltsin, along with his aide, hammered out the details for a quick ’n easy fix known as “Shock Therapy.”
Shock Therapy in practice essentially meant unleashing a full scale
market economy on a population that was in no way prepared, and hoping for the best. What was the outcome? The worst. By 1994, consumer prices in Russia would skyrocket to almost 2000 times what they had been in 1990. The gap in wealth between the working class and the few rich oligarchs grew and Russians lost faith in their new government. Enter: Putin. Putin had lied and weaseled his way to the political top, and had earned the trust of Boris Yeltsin and the oligarchs. They decided to name him Prime Minister, the man who would take over when Yeltsin would step down. But, rather than be the obedient KGB officer they had hoped he would be when he assumed power, he got straight to work capitalizing off of the failures of the old government and eliminating democracy.
Under Putin, there have been strategic “bombings” of Russian inftructure, a rise in domestic violence, political assassinations, and most recently, a full-fledged war in Ukraine. The rush for a quick-fix democracy led to the rise of a model strongman.
Democracy-related tragedy is occurring in Sudan as well. In late 2018-19 Sudanese citizens gathered to protest the cruel rule of Omar AlBashir resulting in a military coup and the arrest of Bashir. However, what seemed like a major victory for Sudanese citizens and for democracy quickly turned tragic. Sudan had something that the military Strongmen couldn’t give up control on. It’s gold. So, the military leader al-Burhan came to an agreement that left him as acting President for 21 months until the first election was to be held.
In this time he maintained control over the military known as the SAF, but Hemedti had control over a second branch of the military known as the RSF. Hemedti and Burhan both wanted control and both believed it was rightfully theirs.
Clashes between Burhan’s military forces and Hemedti’s RSF erupted on April 15, 2023. Using Sudan’s poverty, Hemedti was able to recruit large numbers of people to fight for him as joining the RSF was one of the only reliable sources of income one could have. The conflict has displaced more than 12 million people, making it the largest displacement crisis in the world.
This, alongside nation-wide poverty and food insecurity, has taken the priority of the Sudanese people away from having government control and onto simply surviving.
And due to a combination of greedy world leaders profiting from the war and complex webs of alliances, there is no easy end in sight.
So, while it may be true that already democratic nations engage in less direct conflict, the fundamental flaw in Democratic Peace Theory is that in striving for democracy as a quick fix, nations leave themselves vulnerable to strongmen. The political transition must go off seemingly without a hitch which is highly unlikely especially given non-democratic state’s non-democratic pasts. Those already in power find themselves holding interim power, and can use the uncertainty about the future to cling to their power.
So whether democracy is a savior or a devastator to nations in turmoil, one thing is for sure: Democracy can never be a quick ’n easy fix.
Do You Want to Vote for a Strongman?
BY ELI BRAUNSCHNEIDER
As Russia and Ukraine are stuck in a stand-still with no clear end in sight, the United States is preparing for a major election, one that could determine the end of the war. How you vote this November will make a difference in Ukraine’s continuation as a country.
As of Sept. 11, the U.S. has contributed over $107 billion in military and economic aid to Ukraine since Russia’s invasion in 2022. In an interview with The New York Times this year, William J. Burns, the director of the C.I.A., argued that without the U.S. continuing to supply aid, “Ukraine will lose significant ground.” He believes that with continued assistance, Ukraine will be able to stand its ground at least through the end of 2024 and into 2025. While a Kamala Harris administration would continue to support Ukraine, Donald Trump and J.D. Vance have made very clear that, if elected this November, they will do what they can to cut off U.S. funding to Ukraine.
Trump’s motivation is clearly due to his admiration of Vladimir Putin and aspiration to emulate him as a strongman leader. Trump has long been a supporter of Putin. This was first made obvious to the world in his 2018 Helsinki address when Trump — responding to Russia’s alleged interference in the 2016 election — sided with Putin instead of the FBI. Since then, he has continued to suggest admiration for the many ways Putin wields power: his immense control of the government and media, fear mongering, painting himself as the savior of Russia and his social conservatism, for instance.
Additionally, based on the views Trump has shared on Ukraine, it seems that he admires Putin’s goal of building an empire, even encouraging Russia to do “Whatever the hell they want.” If the President of The United States gives Russia permission to continue its violence, it will mean continued assault on Ukraine as well as a potential expansion of the violence into Poland, the Baltic states and even western Europe. Vance, Trump’s running mate, also seems to side against Ukraine in this conflict but for different reasons. At the Republican National Convention this past July, Vance said, “Together, we will make sure our allies share in the burden of securing world peace. No more free rides for nations that betray the generosity of the American taxpayers.” While this may be directed at the U.S.’s NATO allies, this highlighted his disgust at the U.S.’s aid of Ukraine.
With more focus on Ukraine, he said, “I don’t really care what happens to Ukraine one way or another,” making clear Vance’s apathy towards suffering people. Ideally, leaders of countries would care about human welfare both within their country and outside of it, Vance makes clear he doesn’t.
In contrast, Vice President Harris has said, “As president, I will stand strong with Ukraine and our NATO allies,” making clear her opposite view on the conflict.
In an interview with The New York Times, John R. Bolton, former national security advisor to Trump stated that Trump’s non-responses to the repeated debate question, “Do you want Ukraine to win this war?”
should tell people all they need to know — which is that if Trump gets elected and gets involved, Ukraine’s going to be the loser and Russia’s going to be the winner.”
Trump also boasted that as president, he would talk to Volodymyr Zelensky and Putin and broker a deal between the two within 24 hours. Given the current situation in Ukraine, it seems that the only way of achieving a swift end to the conflict is by Ukraine surrendering by ceding land to Russia, something Ukraine is very unlikely to agree to unless strongarmed into it by the combined powers of Russia and a U.S. that has abandoned helping them.
While Ukraine is one clear example of the danger of Trump’s admiration for strongmen, Trump also works to emulate them by viewing the press as opposition, loving military strength in his name and vowing to punish political enemies.
An aspiring strongman is dangerous anywhere, but especially as the leader of a major global power. His aspiration means a focus on maintaining his own power and the power of fellow strongmen above caring for his citizens. It means supporting conflicts that are harming thousands simply because he doesn’t want one person to be humiliated.
So, when you vote this November, and I hope you do, keep in mind the global consequences of which candidate you choose. Remember what’s at stake is more than the U.S. and even Ukraine’s freedom, it’s also the question of whether global powers will be led by strongmen who are free to do as they please.
ART BY KAYLEE GADEPALLI AND CLARA FREETH
Western Influence of Ukraine and Our Influence on the World
BY SAM AUSTIN
There have been a million casualties in Ukraine since Feb. 22, 2022, and there’s no end in sight. The war often seems to be a game of inches, fought over tooth and nail and paid for in the blood of civilians and soldiers alike. The initial shock of mass invasion has given way to a sort of resigned, purposeful, oblivion by the general public. The widely held sentiment on the street is, “Out of sight, out of mind.” The true danger of Putin’s brutal war in Ukraine is not the unholy death wrought upon the Ukrainian people, but the message that the West’s waning support sends to autocratic superpowers across the world.
In March of 2022, only 7 percent of Americans thought that the United States was giving too much support to Ukraine, but by April of 2024, that number had grown to 31 percent. Even more stark is the partisan political divide: that 31 percent is more than ¾ republican. What was once a non-partisan issue has become deeply politicized. Make no mistake about it, Russia is watching that 31 percent grow with glee. Putin can and will exploit political fractures and divides in the U.S. to create a country ununited in its support of Ukraine.
Without western support, Ukraine does not stand a chance against the rising tide of Russian aggression and the Kremlin knows it. But the danger of Putin’s war extends beyond just Ukrainian borders. If the West is willing to give up so easily on Ukraine, who’s to say they won’t give up on Poland and Finland or
Taiwan next?
This war is beyond terrible, but a halfhearted response will lead to far worse. In fact, we’ve seen it before — it’s how we got here in the first place. The seeds of Ukrainian destruction were planted long, long ago in the aftermath of Russia’s annexation of Crimea.
“The international community did little when [Putin] annexed Crimea in 2014. Washington’s muted reaction to Russian provocations signaled an unwillingness to incur any costs to prevent Russia from doing what it wanted.”
That “unwillingness to incur costs” is how Putin knew he wouldn’t face any real consequences from the west. Without a weak response to the annexation of Crimea in 2014, there would have been no war in 2022. We are faced with the same decision today that we were in 2014, and this time we must stand firm in our resolve. There is no room to show Russia and the world that the West has a short attention span and a hesitancy to help democracies in need.
The message that the United States is sending, however, is not just being heard by Russia. There are other Autocratic superpowers in the world studying the situation in Ukraine and wondering just how far they can take their own aggression. Take China and Taiwan for example, the parallels between their relationship and Russia’s with Ukraine are undeniable. Both China and Russia are large, illiberal states claiming sovereign control over democratically ruled territory that is not actually
their own. If states like China come to the conclusion that no one is big enough or brave enough to stop them, they will happily gobble up more and more land.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken remarked in March of 2023, “I think if China’s looking at this — and they are looking at it very carefully — they will draw lessons for how the world comes together, or doesn’t, to stand up to this aggression.”
Those conclusions have major implications that stretch far beyond Russia and Ukraine. A policy of Western appeasement and weakening support promotes international instability and destruction.
Those that want to keep the world safe and free must be willing to fully support U.S. involvement in Ukraine. Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin explains, “Going forward, the U.S. must continue to stand with Ukraine, not just for the sake of Ukraine’s own freedom and security, but for that of the world.”
The message that a Western retreat would send to the world is far too dangerous to consider. If we do not fight as hard as we can to protect democracy and respect for sovereign nations, we will create the conditions for more destruction and death.
Putin winning in Ukraine would be far worse than anyone can imagine; protecting Ukraine is protecting America.
In a world where the strongest states take what they want when they want it, no one is safe. If you care about a peaceful and safe world, you must care about a free Ukraine.
To: the people, places and things we find beautiful.
PHOTOGRAPHY AND ART BY CLARA FREETH AND GABE DEEDLER
To the carpets I never anticipated unearthing,
Where the crops are, the land is terraced and fenced-in and fertile. That’s to be expected — for drainage, to keep pesky deer out, so our veggies grow best. What everyone else may not predict though, is that there is a world beneath. Our vegetable garden rests upon three (or four or five or maybe six) layers of you burrowed between the sort of organic matter that belongs there.
You peek out from under the edges of beds and poke through the mulch. The land I walk on is layer cake: Woodchips, then dirt, then rug, then dirt, then carpet and then the true, solid earth.
I was first immersed in the world of cultivation at Rider Farm, where a previous owner evidently wasn’t partial to mainstream forms of weed suppression. She called on you to cover what she didn’t want growing and when it grew through you, she set another layer right on top. Regardless, the farm was where I was reintroduced to the joys of dirt and grubs and too much sun. There, I studied nature’s harmony and learned how we as humans and me as Lucia fit into it all.
Over the course of three and a half years I sifted through soil to peel back forgotten fabric and fiber, but I ultimately uncovered far more than you. It took me just days to reclaim mud-caked nails and the bittersweet acidity of a tomato fresh off the plant. You reminded me of exactly how the outdoors strikes each of our senses — a rekindling of my unity with the natural word was the first variety of rug I yanked up. Vividly mustard-yellow and plush like the one next to my bed, I unveiled you with ease.
My jobs on the farm centered around
Yours, Lucia Hope
hauling and digging; I was Holly Rider’s hired muscle, and she made the most of my formal weightlifting experience. I departed from that driveway in Dexter more exhausted than when I leave most lifting or soccer practices.
As I befriended the wheelbarrow and optimized my boulder-carrying technique, the value of my physical capability became tangible. You presented me with a sturdily-woven, woolen mat. I wrenched and rearranged until I thought I couldn’t anymore, until I wanted you to cover yourself back up so I could leave, right up until my strength became a second sister. I wrestled with you, and in time, I won; you gave me pride in my power.
Inch by inch, I came to know the ins and outs of the farm. I knew the shortest routes to the compost pile like I know the roads in my neighborhood; I knew to gather and dispose of as many black walnuts as I could — they don’t cooperate with tomatoes or peppers; I knew the trail a young watermelon’s vines would take to climb the trellis; and I know that the ground is the beginning and end of it all.
I know that now, but I didn’t always. There was a gap between me and the land that came after the days we planted wax beans at Paddock Elementary and before the day I decided to be semi-regularly employed. During that intermission, we were just passing acquaintances. I didn’t mind the dirt, but when we met back then it tended to stay in my periphery or under my feet — my appreciation was strictly surface-level.
The next layer of you that I encountered was far from the heaviest of the bunch, but this time you’d tried your very best to remain underground. You unraveled when I grasped at you and never withdrew all at once. As I pulled and pondered at and about them, the decimeter-long strands of fraying cotton in my hands were a theatrically symbolic representation of the truth that will drive my career as an agroecologist: they were an overt exhibit of the extent to which all things are intertwined; the bits of the world rely on each other. They pull each other down, hold each other up, push each other to grow, and nurture just as much as they compete with each other.
We, as humans — just like plants — are of the Earth. Just like in any relationship, there is give and take, slack and responsibility. I know this in my mind and I think I always have, but heart-deep knowledge demands shreds of experiences large enough to hang on to. In the garden, you gave me the last of the threads I needed to complete the tapestry of this idea.
So thank you. For reintroducing me to an old best friend, for putting me at peace with the capability I’ve worked so hard to create and for being the most practical teacher I’ve ever had. Thank you for demonstrating all that I needed when I needed it and for holding everything up before I knew you were even there.
To the American Girl Franchise,
Everything is the same and everything is changed. I sit with my Christmas catalog, now a web of screens rather than tethered paper, and out of comfort, not longing, I see your face that I fell in love with in preschool. The one I begged my parents for, the one I stayed up thinking about. The one I unknowingly named after a cocktail because she sounded fancier that way. The only thing I wanted that year.
My very own BeForever doll, Margarita.
She wore all purple, her tan skin cloaked with blonde bangs over green eyes. She looked just like me, and she was perfect, just the way I saw myself.
Margarita was with me through it all. She moved across the country with us, my sister and I adopting her as our third roommate. She helped me make new friends in this new place, Michigan, when I was invited to my very first doll-centric tea party.
of my real-life modern peers. Every month, a new packet would slide in my mailbox, illustrating fiction pieces by nine-year-olds in West Virginia, quizzes and comics with finales in bright splashes or a highlight on an alternate universe classmate in Texas.
I played mom, bringing her a friend, a pet and a bed, helping with wardrobe and stylistic changes. On rainy days it was the squeaky rubber boots, on Tuesdays the school uniform. Margarita was mine.
On a fifth grade December night CVS run, I caught a fragment of Margarita after thinking I outgrew her. Her logo, printed on stapled paper, like the catalog I found her in. But instead, it was girls like me. Girls outgrowing the ideal of perfection, girls with janky teeth and awkward heights; girls with stories to tell.
My shelf of books detailing the lives of the historical line began to be joined by those
Forever and always, Lydia DeBord
These girls; the real ones, the fictional ones and everything in between; gave me belonging. They challenged me: I strived for my work and strength to be on par with them. Because if these girls could be pop stars, activists, supermodels and doctors, why couldn’t I?
I will never forget the loss January 2019 brought. After almost thirty years of production, the edition I got that month would be the last one made.
It was a sign as clear as any; it was time to grow up.
I sold the dolls that weren’t Margarita. My Christmas list transitioned into fashion and necessities, with no remnant of dolls, magazine subscriptions or tiny boots.
I grew up.
I didn’t like it and I didn’t want to, but that was and is the step for me. I miss being a little girl, I miss you. But I also think who I’m en route to is equally important and just as special. I want to protect her, too, and I know she and I will never stop loving you.
I am never going to discard you, and you are still with me. Margarita sits in my basement, wearing the same purple she was delivered in.
And next to her is a box, a box of every American Girl magazine I received. A box of you, a box I hope to make proud.
Dear COVID-19,
I was always a follower. My thoughts, opinions and decisions meant nothing to me if not repeated by someone else before me. I was always so scared to step out of this follower mentality. I became dependent on others because failing among a crowd was always better in my eyes than succeeding alone. Whether it was replicating my older sister’s every move or doing exactly what everyone else would do, as a young girl, I always thought that whatever everyone else did was what I should do too.
As I reached middle school, I had begun to grapple with the fact that I barely knew myself. It was a bizarre feel ing because I had been living as my own person for years, yet I hadn’t really discovered who I was or what made me, me. While my 12-year-old brain was not able to completely wrap my head around this realization, things quickly shifted into perspective when the COVID-19 pandemic hit.
In 2020, when my life, along with many others, turned up side down overnight, I quick ly shut down. While I had al ways been dependent on others and thought I could get through this event in the way I always had, I was forced to distance myself from relationships I had made over the years because of the quarantine measures that had been set in place.
to grow and become my own authentic self.
I’m not exactly sure when this shift in my mentality took place, but I think it was more of a forced change than a chosen one. Nonetheless, it was a change that was long overdue in my life.
I started with changing small habits. I chose my outfits based on what I wanted to wear and not what others were going to wear, and I explored hobbies by myself to see what would interest me. These little changes gave me the boost of confidence that was much needed to start my journey in finding myself as an individual.
Suddenly, I was left alone. Going through this unimaginable time seemed like an unwinnable battle. My anxiety skyrocketed and the feeling of isolation took over every facet of my life. But for the first time, I couldn’t automatically lean on someone else. I felt helpless.
As days went on, it came to my attention that for at least the foreseeable future, I was the only person I could depend on. While this was a scary realization, it was also an eye-opening one. This is because it led me
With every bit of me,
Vedha Kakarla
I started developing my own passions without anybody else’s thoughts. I started running, baking, watching rom-coms, working out, playing sports and writing. While it seemed hard at first, I would intentionally do these activities alone. They became my escape from the harsh realities of life at that time.
I saw my anxiety start to lessen, and I saw myself growing into someone I was finally proud of. I became someone who could be their own person without influ-
When I would look at my reflection in the mirror, I started seeing a version of myself that I had created. Not someone who was built up from others’ input but rather someone who had grown into their own person and made their own mold.
So COVID-19, as much as you caused pain in a lot of ways for me, you also helped me tremendously. You gave me the chance to step back and develop passions and interests and realize that I am my own person with authenticity and uniqueness. You helped me grow and change and finally become someone I’m proud of, and for that, I am forever grateful to you.
To the team that changed my perspective,
You probably know this by now, but you are my found family. As the whistle blows repeatedly and salt slowly accumulates on our bodies, I think about how I have grown up by your side. As the sting of the cold echoes through our hands while we hit the ball back and forth, as we jump around in the falling rain, I think about how you have raised me. When we first met, I had no idea you were about to change my life. I was different than I am now: I didn’t speak unless spoken to; I disappeared into crowds; I watched as the world went on without me. That was, until you pulled me out.
In moments both quiet and loud, you taught me a compassion I had never known before.
You held my hand as I entered a new world of test scores and driver’s licenses. You showed me how to adjust my grip and that I might need more than one hair tie on game days. But more than that, you built my character. You taught me how to be a good teammate, and along with that, a citizen of the world. In doing so, you gave me a new name, or really, you repurposed an old one.
that weaved their way through the holes on my orange (and then pink, and then green) turf shoes. Suddenly, our roles had reversed. Now I was more like you, and you were more like me. Now, I was in charge of leading warm-ups, of the skills and drills and planning team dinners while you dragged the ball bucket onto the turf and adjusted the goal to fit the line just right.
And even though our relationship was different, I loved you just the same as before. I gave you nicknames just like you gave me mine; I taught you dance moves and we sang horribly; when you hit the ball across the line and into the goal, my arms found their way around your shoulders. You came to me for advice and we sat together and talked it out. I held your hand through first dates and heartbreaks, all within the confines of a ball, a stick and our turf field.
A few decades ago, the front of my dad’s jersey read the same as the front of mine did just a few weeks ago. My teammates (and his) referred to us using the name that belongs on the back of both our jerseys.
When the rest of my world was an ocean, tossing me left and right and up and down, you tossed me a buoy; you kept me afloat and gave me an affection I had never known before. I was in charge of the ball bag and putting the goal cages on; you were in charge of leading warm-up, of the skills and the drills, of team dinners. We worked well that way. Together, we were unstoppable. At least, until we started getting older.
In the blink of an eye, the laces that my role models — my captains — used to tie into bows before games were the very ones
From the outside, our little field isn’t much to look at: a fenced-in rough rectangle of rubber pellets and fake grass smooshed between two cement roads. On one side stands a small concrete shed. Inside, we discuss the good, the bad and the ugly. Inside, we don our shinguards, our mouthguards, our gloves. We laugh together as we prepare for practice, and subsequently for the game, the season and the rest of our lives ahead.
I don’t know if I will ever be able to vocalize the gratitude I have for you. Thank you for being my lifeline. I can only hope that I have given you a fraction of what you’ve given me and I know that I can confidently say that there is no other jersey I would have rather have worn.
Thank you for all I’ve just said, and for every moment in between — the chaos, the excitement, the disappointment, the mundane. Thank you for every last moment. You were my everything.
Freeth
All my love, Clara
Dear Sharon in the Main Office,
I don’t think you know how much you make me laugh. It’s truly wonderful, walking the halls and spotting you. You’re either doing something hilariously silly or extraordinarily kind, and I always leave with a smile. That kindness supports me when I’m feeling down, and I know it does the same for others; whether it be leaving candy on the desk for a passing teacher, partaking in antics with students in the hallway or asking if someone is okay. It’s inspiring, that empathy and willingness to reach out. I wish it were more common.
I have some ideas as to where it may have come from. Maybe your family is like mine, where being supportive and charismatic is a survival strategy — a way to navigate life with fewer conflicts and more connection — built on trust and care. Or maybe you’ve become the middleman, helping deescalate tense situations. And boy, have you been in some of those. Speaking of, going 85 in a suped-up race car, some super intense ice hockey and not to mention, that one time you stepped in when the seniors’ graduation was about to go amuck. The office head had left unexpectedly and Dean Rebecca was overwhelmed, trying to hold everything together. The entire event was at risk of falling apart completely, leaving those seniors without the celebration they deserved.
And there you were. You stepped in — not because it was part of your job, not because anyone expected it of you, but because you saw a need and decided to help.
Even though you were a substitute teacher at the time, you didn’t hesitate for a moment. You jumped into action, organizing the event and handling all the small but crucial details that often get overlooked but mean everything. Because of your decisiveness and care, those seniors had a day they’ll never forget. A graduation that was not only salvaged but turned into a meaningful and joyful celebration of their accomplishments and milestones.
It’s moments like those that reveal your
true character: someone who is ready to roll up their sleeves, step into disarray and transform moments into time that are remarkable and unforgettable.
There’s a sense of calm, light-hearted fun in the main office that only someone who has been in those situations can generate with such consistency and ease. I know that feeling will be sorely missed when you leave, and I don’t think a single person is ready to lose it just yet. You’re there, warm and welcoming, ready to lift someone’s spirits or bring a little love and positivity to an otherwise ordinary day. To the hundreds who’ve stopped by the office looking for a bit of help, you have been an anchor and your presence a relief in their moments of need.
Because of the hours and hours of much-needed clerical work that is essential for this school’s continued function, because of the many smiles you bring to both the students and teachers of this institution, because of the way you crack jokes and because of all the kindness you have given to others when they were not looking or even asking for help, Community High is a better, warmer and more joyful place to be.
As the days count down to the end of the school year and your countdown clock slowly ticks, I hope you look back on this school with fondness and a grin on your face and know that your time here was greatly appreciated by every person who has had the privilege of knowing you.
Fondly, Walker Ledbetter
Dear Black Walnut Tree,
You are inconsistent, unpredictable, and simply destructive … yet I love you. You sit perfectly positioned in the front of my driveway. In between my house and all the others. Our neighborhood is one of close proximity. Nothing separates the lives of the residents except for wooden fences that have stood for a century. Vines creep up garden gates, flowers are planted and windows opened wide.
You hold us all accountable for our dent-inclined surfaces. You’ve cracked window shields, bruised heads and made people slip on evening walks. I’ve circled the blocks that surround you an infinite amount of times. Using you as my corner escape, just at the end of my driveway, you act as if you are the beginning of the rest of the world.
Your toxicity is endless. The Black Walnut tree produces chemicals that do much more harm than good. You only act for yourself, and yet I love you. You move as if your distress dictates the world, the stable part of the garden. Through the seasons, flowers come and go, vines and berry bushes falter, but you stay standing. I can’t put into words just how much responsibility I feel for you. Cars park down the street in the fall to dodge you, but I’d rather stay near. Something about your messiness makes me feel close to you. Nothing is clear-cut; your branches bend in every direction and your bark is made of deep ridges. You stain every surface you surround.
For years of my life, I lived inside a bubble. The map of my world could have been
Thanks again, Claire
drawn on the back of a napkin, the borders were four blocks that surrounded you. You begin and end my constant circling. I walk around my block and try to find something else that holds as much as you do, but I can’t. You are a reminder of where I come from and where I’m going. Although you stay right in front of my home, your leaves and fruits roll down the street, carrying with them pieces of familiarity.
I’ve spent hours running around your roots. Me and all the other kids in the neighborhood would dodge your falling fruits. We would use the walnut-stained sidewalks as stomping ground and move with your leaves as if we too were dictated by the wind. We would catch and throw the walnuts as if they’d been made for us. As we all grew, the endless hours spent tagging each other under your shade came to an end. You stayed standing. Although we broke out of our roots, yours stayed steady. You leave pieces of yourself everywhere, making it impossible to forget you. But your evil, your poison and stains have led to your end. Everyone in the neighborhood has had enough. Done with your destruction and inconvenience, they cut you down.
I love you because you made a place for yourself in this world. I love you because you consist of things beyond just your origin. I love you because even when chopped down, your roots stay so deep within the earth. Now I pass the spot you used to grow and am reminded of the inconsistent love I feel for you.
READERS WRITE
Short personal narratives centered around what our staff finds beautiful.
MIA RUBENSTEIN
Though I’ve often taken them for granted, the most beautiful things to me are the memories I’ve made with people I love.
Every summer for the past 11 years, my family has gone with our close family friends to a family sleep-away camp: Camp Michigania. The camp runs for 11 weeks, and each session lasts one week.
Our annual tradition is to meet at the BP on Plymouth Road to caravan the four-hour drive to camp. As we get closer, we drive up the hilly roads lined with trees and turn onto Camp Daggett Road. We smile, clap and cheer as we drive past the Michigania Rock to the Ed Center, where we put our names on maize lanyards. We drive to our cabin where the parents unload the overstuffed cars and yell for the kids to form an assembly line to bring the luggage to the rooms. We unpack, make beds, set up fans and highlight activities of interest on the printed schedules.
We run to the dining hall because the food at camp is nothing like home — Michigan M waffle maker, omelet bar, fountain juice drinks, crepe bar, warm chocolate chip cookies with fro-yo, Lucky Charms, Cinnamon Toast Crunch and chocolate muffins. And always, it’s an all-you-can-eat buffet style.
Throughout the week there are numerous activities — archery, riflery, horseback riding, rock polishing, field sports. Most of my mornings are spent swimming or boating; Camp is situated on Walloon Lake, so campers take out sailboats and stand-up paddle boards, and play on the beach making sand castles. My friend Ash-
er and I often talk with the lifeguards in the freezing cold water. In my afternoons, I spend time with my mom at Ceramics/Arts & Crafts (CAC). CAC is candy store of art supplies. Tables of people sitting together fill the perimeter and glazes organized in columns by color sit on the back wall. There is a room full of ceramic pieces to purchase and glaze and tie-dye is open all week outside a side door. Screen printing examples hang on the walls for inspiration. The room is full of chatter until 30 minutes before meals when staff play, “Closing Time” and “Bye Bye Bye.” I still cherish a ceramic ice cream bowl and matching cone spoon that I painted and fired. Every year, my mom and Asher’s mom make matching picture frames that hold our annual Michigania picture. Each frame has to do with that week at Michigania. For example, one year it rained the whole week, so the picture frame had raindrops all over it. In 2020, we didn’t make a picture frame, so the following year, my mom made a frame to hold a picture of just the Michigania rock with no one around it. The frame itself had “6 feet” written on two sides with arrows in opposite directions pointing to family names in each corner. At the top, “2020” was written with the first zero as an image of the corona virus and the second zero an emoji-like face with a mask on it.
Spending a week laughing, singing, and bonding up north at Camp Michigania with the people I love, has been one of my most beautiful memories.
IVY MILLER
I was nearly six when “Frozen” came out. In early elementary school, I went from wearing exclusively pink to adding shades of “Elsa blue.” Never before had I identified with a character so much — Elsa was a strong, independent older sister with a long braid.
My wardrobe soon saw an avalanche of icy blue drive out the pinks of the past. I received a pair of hand-me-down navy blue track pants from Wes Lovelace, an older boy who had grown too tall for them. I paired the pants with my metallic Messi indoor soccer shoes: they were gorgeous. My signature hairstyle was a pair of tight Dutch braids that were ready for anything and everything soccer. From the playground to Wide World games on a boys’ team, these clothes traveled everywhere with me. I felt beautiful because I felt strong.
While every inch of Elsa may “tremble, but not from the cold,” Raynaud’s Syndrome was soon to claim my extremities. My blood vessels overreact to temperature changes, constricting to turn my fingers white, red and blue. These episodes are called vasospasms. The tri-color changes are tantalizing, but dangerous nonetheless.
The ice-cold irony rekindled my love for “Frozen.” I began to understand Elsa’s struggle to regulate her magic — “Conceal, don’t feel” — especially since many brain chemicals also act as vasoconstrictors. In upper elementary and middle school, I felt too old for the movie, however, as my relationship with colder temperatures evolved, the girl who worshiped Elsa returned. I like to think that my white fingertips have been struck by a beautiful, icy magic. Elsa’s powers are a gift from loving sacrifice. The initial shock of my vasospasms has worn off and they connect me to my younger, ice-loving self. “When all is lost, then all is found.”
WILSON ZHENG
Every single morning, it’s been the same thing, the same routine: wake up, dress, sometimes eat breakfast. After that, it’s always nine minutes down the same street to the same bus stop, always waiting for five minutes before taking the same bus to school.
Nine mornings out of ten, I’m tired. I wake up at six in the morning after sleeping for only five hours because of late nights; I don’t want to do anything. I pull out my phone, fully charged from the night before and start scrolling mindlessly: while eating breakfast, while walking, while on the bus, everywhere, at any time. Scrolling is easy. It sucks you in with its inescapable bursts of dopamine. It’s addicting; that’s why I do it, that’s why everyone does it.
Online, I see videos of nostalgia: walking through the knee-height snow back home, drawing hand turkeys in class, seeing the bright bus headlights through rain
MALLORY TOWERS
In sixth grade I knew who I was; I was the orchestra kid who never practiced her music, the sixth grader taking seventh grade math, the girl who always talked about starting a band with her friends.
I was happy. Then I wasn’t.
When the pandemic started, I lost all sense of who I was. I could no longer define myself by the things I did or the people who surrounded me. I went from being around friends who shaped my beliefs every day to being stuck at home with nothing but my thoughts. I felt empty. No matter how many times I looked in the mirror, I only saw a stranger staring back at me.
I tried everything to find myself again. I cut my hair and changed the way I dressed — but it wasn’t me. Since I couldn’t spend my time connecting with people at school, I turned my attention to the internet. It wasn’t long before something on my YouTube homepage caught my eye: makeup tutorials. These makeup looks were so much more than just the simple lipstick and mascara combo my mother wore to work, they were pieces of art. Eyes painted in shades of vibrant greens and blues, eyebrows sculpted masterfully with concealer and lips sporting deep reds adding the perfect contrast to every final look.
I begged my mother to take me to Ulta Beauty to buy some supplies. I had no clue what I was doing, but that didn’t stop me from filling up our cart with a foundation way too light for me and the brightest eyeshadow palette in the store.
When we got home, I raced to my bedroom and plopped down in front of my mirror. I began to beat my face with a beauty blender as I layered on powder after powder. Every brushstroke was purposeful: they defined the creases and lines on my face. My eyeliner was chunky, and I had put on way too much highlighter, but I didn’t care.
I looked in the mirror and for the first time in months I knew who I was. I was beautiful.
smeared windows. Sometimes, I see videos of cute cats doing random things. Other times, I see stunning sceneries of places I will likely never visit and I wonder why my life can’t be that beautiful.
One day, on my walk down to the bus stop, soullessly staring at my phone like always, I decide to stop. I put my phone down, down, deep into my pocket and I stare up into the sky, met with the winking stars and smiling moon staring right back down; I stare towards to ground, seeing the colorful bright orange and red maple leaves being pushed down the concrete sidewalk by the crisp autumn wind; and I look around me, seeing the dim street lights faintly illuminating the beautiful, dark twisting neighborhood roads I’ve become oh so familiar with.
Maybe, I think. Maybe the answer’s always been right there, waiting for me to find it.
Thank you to all of our sponsors! We couldn't do what we do without you.
Rainbow Zebra & Platinum
The Kakarla Family
Gabe Sandler & Tara Santiago
The Nallamothu Family
The Page Sander Family
The Sly Family
Adam & Emily Deedler
Kate Albertini
Bill and Linda Anderson
Anonymous
Gold
Adelaide Lancaster
Beth Nazario
Judith & Ken DeWoskin
Carrie and Andrew Bank
Diane and Terry Davidson
Jen and Grace Vandervliet
John Scudder & Regan Knapp
Joseph and Jamie Griffith
Maggie Lamb
Michael Schwartz
Susan & David McCreadie
Robert and Brian Jacob
The DeBord Family
The Freeth Family
The Gadepalli Family
The Haviland Family
The London Family
The Swerdlow Family
Suzanne Admiraal & Patrick O'Brien
The Walter Family
The Shikanov Family
Thomas Radesky
Todd R. Plotner
Wendy Freiwald
Nelson Algren
Silver
Adam Lauring & Susan Keller
Alisse Portnoy
Amy Mayer
Ana Baylin
Anonymous
David Rosenfeld & Helen Levy
Dick Ruiz Family
Jay and Molly Zawacki
Brad Carroll & Linda Young
Marisa Smith
Mark Rothstein
Megan Eagle
Peter Gergics & Agnes Pinter
The Selcher Family
Carol and Mike Deahl
The Holkeboer Family
Karen Wasco
Vijay K. Banta
Shelley Portnoy
Marge Sander
Student
Amy Janowicz & Paul Straka
Andrea Cocciolone
Anonymous
Avery Nelson
Michael Garfield &
Catherine Marguardt
Elizabeth and Carl Koschmann
Elizabeth Clark
Jamie Woodring
Jennifer Saville
Jessica Hadley
Lars & Megan Jensen
Joel Rubenstein & Lauren Katz
Lincoln Fox
Michelle Sherman
Paul Straka
Roshayne Jaimon
Sarah McAllister
Stephen & Amy McKenna
Steven & Kelli Lauziere
Taylor Goodwin
The Hinesman Family
Benjamin & Kimberly Balk
The Andoni-Savas Family
Summer Double Rainbow
Suibhne Foighil
Adelaide Lancaster
Amy L Anderson
Anne L. Thomas
Anonymous
Anonymous
Ivy Prochaska
Atticus Dewey
Beth Nazario
Cammi Tirico
Ebba Gurney
Eliza Upton
Emily Gordon & Vara James
Eva Rosenfeld
Gordon Garwood
Grace Jenq
Grace Jensen
Isabel Ratner
Isabella Jacob & Family
Jen Hinesman
Jeremy Whiting
John Kelley
Julie Halpert
Kristie Mitchell
Lauren Katz & Joel Rubenstein
Lucy Tobier
Madeline Halpert
Merritt Pulliam
Michelle Yager
The Tirico Famly
Molly Hamalainen
Morgan McClease
Nadeem Persico-Shammas
Nico Raddatz
Robbie Stapleton
Ruth Facer
Ruth Wasserman
Sara-Beth Badalamente
Sarah Cain
Spencer MacDonald
Stephanie Freeth
The Price of Beauty
Diving into how the world has capitalized on women’s insecurities as well as their interests.
BY ISABELLA MALDONADO
Capitalism fuels the beauty standard in America. From advertisements claiming that the new $50 lip gloss drastically changes your appearance all as a means to profit off of women's insecurities.
In America, we push the idea that aging is bad and that women should do anything to attain the newest beauty standard. Kyra Kahana, senior, believes a lot of women are swayed by celebrities’ seemingly flawless looks.
“So many celebrities get plastic surgery,” Kahana said. “I think it has definitely influenced women to get things like Botox, especially younger women in their 20s and 30s who do not need Botox. I feel like because they see these celebrities doing it, they feel the need to look like them.”
Multi-millionaire celebrities and your average American woman who makes roughly $30,000 a year are not able to afford the same products and services. Yet so many women, especially young girls, see celebrities and believe they have to use their products to be as valuable as them.
“A lot of women will see what their favorite celebrity, influencer or actress is using, and they get influ-
enced to buy the products,” Kahana said. “A lot of the stuff they’re using is really expensive, but they buy it because they want to appear to be the beauty standard.”
Outside of just beauty products, women tend to have to pay more for women-marketed items compared to men. According to Capital One, the average American male spends 98.6% of his income after taxes on consumer products after taxes, while the average female spends 114.7% of her income.
In 2015, The New York City Department of Consumer Affairs found that womens products cost 7% more on average than similar products for men. This is called the Pink Tax.
According to the National Organization for Women, Pink Tax is the idea that companies mark up the price of products geared toward women and keep the male-synonymous products generally at a lower cost. Pink Tax is an example of gender and income inequality.
“I believe that’s why a lot of women switch to using men’s razors because a lot of the ones marketed for men also work better,” Kahana
said. “The marketing for women’s razors is very different from men’s. Maybe I do want my razor to be purple and glittery, but just because it’s a different color doesn’t mean I should pay more.”
Currently, members of the U.S. Government are trying to move towards a solution to effectively end Pink Tax. The Pink Tax Repeal Act was first introduced into the House of Representatives in 2016, but has yet to get passed despite being reintroduced consistently with new revisions. The Pink Tax Repeal Act aims to end gender discrimination in the pricing of goods. The passing of this bill is just the first step to stop gender-led price gouging in America.
“Women are always fighting to be equals, be paid the same amount and to be all these things just to be successful and fit the beauty standards,” Kahana said. “It’s an impossible limit of what we’re willing to do to get the things that we as women deserve.”
The Pink Tax Repeal Act must be passed to eliminate unfair gender discrimination when it comes to purchasing items. While women already, on average, make $15,000 less than men a year, is it fair to make them pay more to live?
A woman’s beauty is not held in the products she uses or the amount she spends to attain a beauty standard. Women are so much more than beautiful. We are smart, kind and innovative. It is time for the consumer market to catch up.
ART BY ISABELLA MALDONADO
Looksmaxxing: a Necessary Evil
Gen Z has fallen prey to a new ideology of attractiveness. Should we be worried?
BY ZANE SWERDLOW
“Looks are everything.” Written boldly across the banner of Looksmax.org, this motto is the central tenet of a burgeoning movement: Looksmaxxing. Volatile in its potential for influence and propagation, many of this culture’s ideas have taken hold of the zeitgeist in the form of memes and lighthearted humor. But there is something real happening below the surface, and I don’t believe it should be taken lightly. Often hateful, sometimes insightful, growing constantly: looksmaxxing is here to stay. Why?
First, let’s take a look at the current state of affairs. If you’ve been online as of late, you’ve probably come across many terms borrowed from this obscure subculture.
A finger tracing the edge of one’s jawline, in reference to the tongue posture technique known as mewing, has recently become a trending gesture. Search for mogging, a looksmaxxing term for brutally outclassing another person in attractiveness, and you will find countless viral TikToks and anxious posts from out-oftouch parents.
To most, this is all just silly internet stuff, but to many others, these strange words and signifiers are part of what becomes a lens through which to view the whole world. They have coined a term for this obsessive commitment to human aesthetics: the blackpill
The blackpill, in reference to the red and blue ones of The Matrix fame, denotes a shift in perspective. A blackpilled person is one who believes they have discovered a massive hidden truth: looks are indeed all that matters, and if they do not adequately conform to an objective standard of beauty, they will be disadvantaged in life. This objective standard, its requirements, and the many strategies used to approach it form the larger landscape of looksmaxxing. Blackpillers promote a neurotic, absolutist approach to beauty which has dominated the world of looksmaxxing.
Gonial angle, ramus length, eyelid exposure, zygomatic projection. These are just a few of the countless cold, medical measures that the looksmaxxing community uses to quantify beauty. When the idea of being “good enough” gets thrown out the window, it can only be replaced with insecurity and dissatisfaction. In an echo chamber full of these blackpilled voices, it becomes easy to lose touch with reality. No regular person considers the gonial angle of the person they are talking to. However, I do not believe that looksmaxxing, nor the blackpill, are simple delusions.
Taken at a more basic level, this worldview is often hard to refute: Beautiful people have many advantages in life. It’s only sensible to
maximize your own potential for beauty, and simple measures can have a positive effect. Being conscious of grooming, clothing choice and hygiene results in a more presentable appearance and leads to a better first impression.
But human beings are not mathematical equations, and if we all embodied the same clinical ideals of beauty those very ideals would no longer be beautiful.
I have endless empathy for the plight of the conventionally ugly, and I think we should all reckon with the myriad societal and personal consequences that come from being born without the features that are currently deemed desirable and aesthetic. Yet the solution cannot be to change ourselves. In the objectification of beauty, looksmaxxers lose sight of what it really means to be beautiful: Our beauty comes from uniqueness, from all the little things that set each one of us apart. Pursuing perfection will only crush this uniqueness, and self-love is essential.
I have been enticed by looksmaxxing, thinking to myself about all the ointments, serums and surgeries that could “fix my face.” But all those things make me who I am, and who I am is beautiful. We are all beautiful, and the structure of our skulls makes no difference at all. Looksmaxxing has its place, but as always, everything in moderation.
ART BY GABE DEEDLER
The usage of pimple patches among youth has become increasingly common in recent years.
BY PAYTON SLY
When Sophie Alcumbrack McDaniel stands in front of her bathroom mirror, examining a new pimple, she immediately reaches for her favorite way to protect it: a blue star pimple patch. Not only does this help get rid of the blemish, it acts as a form of self-expression.
Pimple patches have become increasingly popular, especially with teenagers. They carry a different meaning for many people. Influencers promoted them and throughout a few short years, they have become a staple in American teenage life.
“Even if it’s something minor, I still like using pimple patches,” Alcumbrack McDaniel said. “They really prevent me from touching and spreading [acne] and just getting them all gross with my hands.”
After having bad acne when she was younger, Alcumbrack McDaniel finds it very important to protect her face from unnecessary bacteria in order to keep her skin at its best. Adding a pop of color to something not necessarily seen as something to celebrate is also something she values.
Rose Hood has a preference for Dr. Jart patches overnight and the Starface ones during the day. Simi-
lar to Alcumbrack McDaniel, Hood uses pimple patches to prevent herself from picking at her acne.
“I started using them around eighth grade because I was always insecure about my acne,” Hood said. “I tried to cover them up with makeup, but it would just look worse, so then I found those Starface [pimple patches] to cover it up, and they still made me feel good.”
Jane Grocoff uses the Hero Cosmetics Mighty Patch™ pimple patches. Although they don’t have color or shape variety, Grocoff says they work the best for fast removal as opposed to topicals and spot treatments that she says don’t work as fast or effectively. The other advantage of these specific pimple patches is that they’re almost undetectable.
During the day, specifically at school, Grocoff uses “invisible” patches that blend into her skin, decreasing the noticeability.
“They have so many options for kinds you can get,” Grocoff said. “If you find a pimple in the morning, you can get the invisible ones. They work so well because while it’s getting rid of the pimple, you can’t see the pimple patch or the pimple at all
because it covers it up so well.”
Tia Cocciolone also likes the subtleness of basic clear pimple patches, especially so she can see how they’re working. Although not fitting her personal style, she loves seeing people using patches with different shapes and colors, adding a fun touch to their daily looks. Cocciolone prefers to use clear patches, given that they work better for her skin and do a better job of muting the pimple.
“The stars and hearts and stuff are super cute,” Cocciolone said. “They’re kind of like makeup in the sense that you could do the same thing with a rhinestone, but this is functional too.”
A variety of differences in preference are shown through pimple patches on the faces of high schoolers every day. For some, this means expressing yourself with color or shape, and for others, it means getting rid of a blemish efficiently, drawing less attention to it. Skin type is also a factor in people’s choice in pimple patches. With so many options available, there is room for everyone’s preference to shine in whichever way they choose.
AGREE TO
Natural products have many benefits: an exploration into morality and self care.
BY PIPER COOKE
► How we treat ourselves matters.
The products we choose to use on our skin, hair and bodies matters. While beauty products can enhance how we look and feel, many contain harmful ingredients that can negatively impact our health if we’re not mindful of what goes into them. This is why many people are turning to natural beauty products, finding a sense of security and reassurance that they’re making a choice that reflects their values and responsibly prioritizes self-care.
There is a certain peace of mind that comes with knowing the products you use are free from harmful chemicals. When you choose natural beauty products, you’re doing more than just enhancing your appearance, you’re investing in your long-term health. Many convention-
al beauty products contain harsh ingredients that can disrupt hormones, irritate the skin and even pose longterm health risks.
But beyond the health benefits, there’s something inherently beautiful about making the conscious choice to care for yourself in a way that honors both your body and the environment. Natural beauty isn’t just about what’s left out of the product, it’s about what’s added in, clean, nourishing ingredients that truly benefit your skin. Ingredients like plant-based oils, antioxidants and vitamins work to make small improvements over a long period of time as opposed to concealing whatever the issue may be.
Choosing natural beauty products also reflects a deeper commitment to self-respect and well-being. It shows
ART BY KAYLEE GADEPALLI
that you value yourself enough to be thoughtful about what you’re putting on your skin and that you understand the connection between external products and your internal health. This type of self-care goes beyond superficial beauty, it’s about cultivating a routine that supports your body.
In the end, the choice to use non-toxic beauty products is about more than just avoiding harmful ingredients. It’s about aligning your routines with your values, treating yourself with kindness and knowing that the products you’re using are designed and made with integrity. After all, taking care of yourself in a way that supports both your present and future health is the ultimate form of beauty.
DISAGREE
Products with natural ingredients aren’t really worth it: the story behind greenwashing and why these products aren’t worth it.
BY FINA KUTCHER
► Taking care of yourself is a perfect way to look out for your well-being. Using natural products is obviously not inherently a bad thing, so why would it not make up its worth? There are a lot of considerations to look at other than just the product itself and its physical health benefits.
In recent years, a large shift towards natural products in the media is certainly a noticeable trend. For instance, Eminence Organic Skincare and its partner farm blew up on the internet for its claims of natural health benefits for every skin type, benefiting from the “farm-grown” marketing standpoint. With the natural ebb and flow of influencer trends and the market, it makes perfect sense that companies would find some benefit in shifting towards this kind of marketing. With that obvious benefit, it also makes sense that companies would be willing to cut
some corners for that added plus.
As consumers, we heavily rely on the brief labels adorning the products we choose. This becomes an issue when companies fail to display the entire truth behind their products. The term “natural,” when used as a product label, often doesn’t mean exactly what consumers think; the term actually refers to the inclusion of ingredients derived from plants or minerals as opposed to produced synthetically.
The assumption that a natural product is always safe is a harmful, yet common perspective held.
The term “greenwashing” refers to unsustainable claims made by companies to mislead consumers into believing in an exaggerated environmental impact; while not the exact same thing, the concept can also be applied to the advertisement behind naturally advertised products.
Since this concept of natural beau-
ty has become trendy, companies can use its hype to drive up their own prices, and therefore profits. This is especially troublesome when you consider that the “natural” advertising is often misleading, meaning that consumers are often paying more for a product that they hardly know the ingredients of.
To that point, if natural products tend to be more expensive than their simpler synthetic counterparts, what does that mean for people who can’t afford to spend the extra buck?
Natural products are not inherently bad or unhealthy for our community. In fact, the idea of using natural or organic products can be very healthy for many consumers and families. However, the ideas around it have created a harmful environment of misleading advertisement and toxic trends.
At the end of the day, is the hype really worth the harm?
Blending in
Will women always have to blend in to appear competent, or can we change social norms to make femininity be perceived as equally powerful as masculinity?
BY JESSICA ROTHSTEIN AND LUCY LOWENSCHUSSS
Candis Ungerleider rushes through the halls of the University of Michigan Hospital, dashes into her office, grabs her white doctor’s coat and name tag, throwing them on as she races to her patient, hoping to get even just a few minutes to bond with the person waiting for her on a gurney. When a patient is about to get emergency heart surgery, they typically like to know who is going to be making their life-or-death decisions. Ungerleider acknowledges there is something about that traditional white coat that signals competency to a patient.
Ungerleider, like many women in male-dominated workspaces, finds that she often has to choose between presenting feminine beauty and being treated as competent and successful in a primarily male career. She is no stranger to male-dominated spaces. Throughout her nineyear career, she has worked in one of the most male-dominated fields of medicine: emergent aortic heart surgery. Ungerleider has found that fitting in with the male majority instead of standing out is more valuable in gaining respect from colleagues and patients. For example, in an operating room, Ungerleider tends to wear muted scrubs which represent a more professional and traditionally surgical look, similar to the white coat.
“I’ve made those decisions consciously and subconsciously because I think that it confers confidence,” Ungerlieder said.
Around Year Four of her nine years of training at the University of Michigan hospital, Ungerleider started to notice that her male colleagues tended to have more confidence in grabbing the opportunities offered, especially in surgery rooms.
“I’m noticing how I behave in the operating room versus my male colleagues, and realizing I’m missing out on opportunities,” Ungerlieder reflects on the beginning of her earlier career. “When the teacher asked if they had done a certain surgery before, their answer was always ‘yes’ even if they hadn’t. The women were more likely to tell the truth, and therefore got less of a chance of getting instruction and operating
room time.”
She realized that she was going to have to make the conscious decision to appear more like her male counterparts, both in how she acted and how she looked. In addition to the white coat, Ungerleider signals competence by not wearing much makeup, as it is a very feminine mode.
“I make an active choice to not appear too girly,” Ungerleider said. “People don’t trust the cute girl, they want somebody who they see as being competent. I think in surgery, people understand competency from a male aesthetic, a male voice, a male presentation, and that has to do with all the history behind surgery being very male-dominated.”
Although she does wear makeup occasional - ly, not wear-
options like blouses or skirts.
“It’s like femininity is seen as not serious and not capable,” Barcalow said. “Being a man in that professional setting is the default, so it’s almost like the goal is to not stand out as to be taken seriously as a professional.”
A study by the Geena Davis Institute for Gender in Media backs up what Barcalow remembers. The study shows that men perceive that there are more women in a room than there actually are. In the study, men thought that there were about 50% women and 50% men in a room that actually only had 17% women. By the time women filled about 33% of a room, the men were sure it was a clear majority of women. Many men are used to only having men around because that is what is normal in many workplaces. When a woman shows up, it feels really unusual to a man and they perceive the ratio of women to be higher. The study backs up why women feel they need to blend in in workspaces to gain the respect they deserve because, no matter what, they tend to stand out when surrounded by men. It is no wonder that Ungerleider and Barcalow both feel that women are affected disproportionately by beauty standards in comparison to men.
Traditionally, a woman’s job often was domestic work; being a presentable housewife was a big part of the image as well. Now that women are playing big roles in the workforce, they are starting to distance themselves from that image. Often in jobs traditionally held by men, women generally dress as if they were taking on the role of the male figure who was historically in that position.
ing make- up isn’t just about conforming to masculine expectations. There are also practical reasons why Ungerleider rarely wears makeup at work. For one, she has a limited amount of time in her day before work, and prefers to spend it with her husband. And also, some makeup, like mascara, actually gets in the way when she works, brushing against the surgical loupe glasses that the surgeons use to magnify what they are working on.
Ungerleider isn’t the only one who feels pressure to fit into male-dominated fields. Adelaide Barcalow, a new CHS math teacher, talks about her time in engineering school. Her few female engineering co-workers most commonly wore pantsuits to work compared to more feminine
Most people, although perhaps unconsciously, are more willing to trust an older, white, male surgeon because that’s traditional and that’s what the media portrays a stereotypical surgeon to be. So people like Ungerleider have to match the old-fashioned stereotype to have many of their patients see them for the successful surgeon that they are.
But, while biases and social norms are deeply ingrained in people’s minds in our culture and society, they’re not permanent. In just the past half a century, women have found their way into high places of power that they’ve never been in before, even reaching the vice presidency of the United States. So it begs the question: how long will it take for people to see through their bias and tradition? How long will it take before women are considered as competent and successful as men while being free to express their identity however they choose?
Never Good Enough.
Managing our body image concerns while navigating our day-to-day lives as high school students.
BY PAIGE PLAVNICK AND CLARA FREETH
We are our own worst critics.
As I open the door and walk out of the bathroom stall, I’m greeted by a mirror staring back at me. In it, other girls are washing their hands, fixing their makeup, gathering for a picture while I’m picking myself apart. My hair is greasy, my shirt isn’t sitting right, I ate too much for dinner last night. The list never ends. As the warm water rushes over my hands and the soap machine plays its familiar squeaky song, I avoid my own gaze in the reflection
Small waist, big chest, slender arms and glowing skin. As the list of ideal features grows longer with age, it feels harder and harder to get to a point of desired “perfection.” As I finally meet my own eyes in the mirror, I wonder if I will ever be happy with the person looking back at me, the reflection I have grown to resent. My mind races with images of Instagram photos, of other people’s “perfect” features, of the body I’ve convinced myself I’m supposed
Making my way back to class, I suck in my stomach and plaster a smile on my face as I pass friends in the hallway. When I sit down, my legs lift off the chair and my hands find their way around my stom-
ART BY GABE DEEDLER
ach. Subconsciously, I shrink myself down. I find any and every way to protect myself from perceived judgment — I judge myself before they have the chance to.
Rationally, I know that my classmates probably aren’t thinking about my body. They’re caught in the daily hubbub of the math problems or music notes or econ worksheets sitting in front of them. And yet my stomach doesn’t relax; I wait until I get home to eat lunch.
My experience is not unique; our experiences are not unique.
Ann Arbor-area sophomore Ella Martin* knows what it feels like to belittle herself. It first started during the COVID-19 pandemic when her body was rapidly changing and she was isolated to learning within the confines of her bedroom; it ramped up when she returned to the classroom and her male classmates felt the need to comment on her newfound features. By freshman year, she developed an eating disorder. It consumed her every moment: she couldn’t walk down stairs without a pounding headache, she couldn’t make it through the day without a dizzy spell or three and she definitely couldn’t ask for help.
“My eating disorder started overtaking my life,” Martin said. “It felt
so lonely. It was something that felt so secretive. It was something that I didn’t want to tell anybody about.”
For most of her life, she had been the person who others came to for support: the listener. But now, Martin was the one who needed help and she didn’t know how to reach out, even though she knew she needed to. Her obsession with watching the number on the scale go down was “almost addicting.”
If these habits continued much longer, she likely would have been hospitalized. Fortunately, she had someone in her corner. Through the help of an older student, Martin was able to work her way to recovery. She realized that in order to recover, she needed to shift her focus away from constant thoughts of what she was — and wasn’t — feeding her body, and move into a place of appreciation. Through this change in mindset, she was slowly able to rebuild healthy habits.
Martin wasn’t the only person who noticed a change after COVID-19. Samantha Winnie, lead clinical social worker for the U-M Comprehensive Eating Disorders Program, has
noticed a spike of patients medically admitted due to eating disorders in the years following the pandemic.
“We see people that have needed to be medically admitted for 30, 40, 50 days due to how severely impacted their bodies have been from not getting enough food,” Winnie said. “The medical severity [since the pandemic] has increased a lot, and that feels scary.”
We wonder when the mirror went from a place for silly faces and clean-
My eating disorder started overtaking my life. It felt so lonely. It was something that I didn’t want to tell anybody about.
ELLA MARTIN
ing up to a battleground for confidence and a place of constant judgment. My body was never something I thought about when I was little, but now, it is a thought that consumes me.
But just because there’s a problem doesn’t mean it’s unsolvable. As a society, we can come together to combat the issue. Although it can be scary to speak to others about, it is so much better to share our struggles and bring them to light instead of struggling silently.
“For anybody out there who is struggling, I want you to know that you’re not alone and that everything is going to be okay,” Martin said. “You don’t have to figure it out by yourself. We can figure it out together, all of us, as a society. We can all figure it out together. Nobody has to figure it out alone.”
If
*The student source for this article has been attributed to a pseudonym to protect their identity.
you need help, see Missy, Brian or your forum leader to connect you to resources.
From practice room to concert hall, Clara Bailey shares her love for the violin.
BY JANE GROCOFF
“Music within itself is a language,” junior Clara Bailey said. “It’s incredible how we’re able to communicate these things without using words.”
Bailey has been playing the violin since she was four years old. She now plays with the Huron High School Orchestra.
“I think that playing with an orchestra is a really great way to connect with people,” Bailey said. “Sometimes, I can get intimidated by the orchestra, though, just because there’s so many people.”
Bailey found her love for music
in the connection of the orchestra as well as having people come and watch her perform in a large group.
When preparing for a performance, Huron Orchestra director Timothy Krohn hands out the new music to the orchestra. The orchestra will spend a couple of days sight-reading the piece before digging into it in order to absorb all of the music’s details.
The orchestra has different sections, so they will spend time with each section playing by themselves to hear their own parts without the
sounds of the rest of the orchestra. Usually, they are able to practice on the stage before a performance. “It sounds a lot different on the stage than it does in the room,” Bailey said. “There’s a lot of fine tuning that happens [on the stage].”
Throughout all of that work, the orchestra will eventually stitch it all together to make an amazing piece.
Bailey’s passion for the violin began with her grandmother encouragement, insisting Baily learned an instrument.
I didn’t want to play violin when I was little at all,” Bailey said. “My parents asked me what I wanted to play, but the only instrument I knew by name was violin.”
Going from not wanting to play an instrument at all to where she is today, Bailey says “I think that especially at first, it’s really tiring, like, I’m never gonna get this,” Bailey said. “Getting into the more complicated pieces with the orchestra and getting to connect with people has made me realize the power that music and playing music can hold.”
The Huron Orchestras took a trip to Spain last summer and performed four different concerts, one being in one of the best concert halls in Spain, The National Music Auditorium in Madrid. In fact, it was recognized by the United Nations to be one of the best concert halls in the world. While in Spain, Bailey further discovered the impact music has on other people.
Bailey speaks a bit of Spanish, so she was able to understand what people were saying after the concert. Some of the concerts they performed at were sold out concert halls.
“I guess I didn’t really have an idea of how impactful music can be,” Bailey said. “It wasn’t just the parents showing up for their kids’ concert. It was really amazing that people would come up to me and say, ‘you were so amazing,’ or ‘I love this piece.’ It’s really incredible how we’re able to communicate things to others without using words.”
Clara Bailey
Meghan Pillote
How a CHS senior found her path through art.
BY BUTURO BARTOLOMEI
Meghan Pillote, senior, has been an artist for as long as she can remember. Her journey started from a young age: her parents encouraged her creativity, hoping she would continue expressing herself through this skill later in life. Pillote and her parents both believe that art is a way to express oneself and one’s emotions.
“Art was never something that was seen as a job,” Pillote said.
While Pillote has always had a passion for art, but she never saw it as a career path until the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, when art became a way to leave the outside world of chaos and lean into something that was just hers. The pandemic is when she first began to aspire to be an artist, and even started to think about pursuing art through college.
“I began to like art more and used it as an escape,” Pillote said.
Pillote sometimes uses pens to create her art. Using the stippling technique, a method of using dots to create a larger image, after learning about pointillism in art class.
Pillote uses a three-step process to transform her ideas into art. First,
She visualizes her idea in her mind and sketches it out on a page. Second, she keeps reworking in her sketchbook until she is comfortable with how it looks. Third, Pillote creates separate sketches of the same idea conveyed in completely different ways so she can get a broader pallet of ideas to use when she creates the final product.
Pillote will then fine tune and compile all of her sketches and ideas into one to create the final product. She sometimes limits the number of her sketches since she is worried about overworking one idea.
“For the most part, I like to jump right into it,” Pillote said. “If I spend too much time trying to get the sketch right, I’m not going to go anywhere. I like using a pen to make those permanent decisions.”
Pillote focuses on conveying her own emotions in most of her personal pieces, whether it’s something persisting on her mind or a feeling she wants put on paper.
“I think a lot of my pieces are centered around how I feel,” Pillote said. “It helps me understand my emotions better.”
She also is motivated by showcasing her variety and depth of artistic ability as higher education officers, like college admissions, come into the picture.
Pillote plans on furthering her education at an art school and is excited to explore more artistic mediums, since she isn’t comfortable with certain ones. However, she has taken many art classes at CHS. Specifically, she loves ceramics and painting ones.
After completing a higher education, Pillote hopes to be in the advertising field. But even if that doesn’t become a reality, Pillote knows that she will always want to create art. She never wants to let go of the fact that art is an escape for her. Pillote believes art will always bring her a sense of calmness and relief, transporting her into her own world whenever she sits down with a pen in her hand.
Pillote is very excited about exploring new art forms in college and exploring what it is she really wants to do. She looks forward to the ups and downs of the artistic lifestyle and is optimistic about her future.
BY FINA KUTCHER AND KAYLEE GADEPALLI
Fashion is a natural extension of self-expression. The way we style ourselves speaks volumes to how we exist and move through the world, and nature is foundational to that. Taking inspiration from flora and the natural environments of Ann Arbor allows for an exploration of beauty central to our community.
PHOTOGRAPHY BY FINA KUTCHER AND KAYLEE GADEPALLI
“To me, natural beauty is about raw authenticity," Kahana said. "In a world where people often hold back out of fear of judgment, it’s inspiring to see those who are confident in their own skin, and I aspire to embody that same K y r a K a h a n a
“Fashion and nature go hand in hand," Churchville said. "They each reflect each other through the natural beauty that they convey.” C h a r l e y
u r c h v i l l e
l a i r e T h e i s s
“Natural beauty teaches us harmony, weaving the colors and textures of the earth into fashion, where every piece reflects the world around us,” Theiss said.
WWhat is your idea of perfect happiness? Contentment with the things you have in your life. Not wanting any more or less. What is your greatest fear? The unknown. I like to be able to know exactly what I’m doing and not knowing scares me. What is the trait you most deplore in yourself? I don’t advocate for myself a lot of times. What is the trait you most deplore in others? Being rude or unreasonable or unaccepting of people for what seems like no reason. People who are rude without any reason behind it are the worst. Which living person do you most admire? I feel like it’s silly, but my mom. In my mind, admiration is such a big word and I think most people would think of celebrity or someone, but I admire the people closest to me and that’s my family. What is your current state of mind? I’m a little tired, but I’m feeling centered. What do you consider the most overrated virtue? Being book-smart. I feel like it’s so focused on, which is great, but there’re so many other things that you’re not prepared for if that’s the only thing you’re focused on. On what occasion do you lie? If it benefits someone else. Which living person do you most despise? I don’t have anyone in mind. What is the quality you most like in a man? Kindness. What is the quality you most like in a woman? The same thing. Which words or phrases do you most overuse? I use the word like a lot and I notice it. What or who is the greatest love of your life?
Marcel Proust’s questionnaire, created in 1886, featuring Nora O’Neill
BY LUCIA PAGE SANDER
Music, and just like art in general because it’s just like a big part of my life, and it’s really like a way to just, like, get out of the moment and like, be in my world for a minute. When and where were you happiest? Before 2019 when I was a child. Because after that it kind of went downhill. Which talent would you most like to have? It would be fun to be a good liar. It would benefit me. If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be? I wish I could figure things out and make decisions faster. Those are the things that I have a hard time with and I just generally want to think quicker. What do you consider your greatest achievement? I’m a black belt. If you were to die and come back as a person or a thing, what or who would it be? Honestly, just a human because for example, I love my cats, but what do they do all day? I guess they just sit there. Where would you most like to live? Anywhere in Europe, but probably England because the weather is similar, and I’ve been there, and it’s really pretty. What’s your most treasured possession? It’s not exactly a thing, but music. What do you regard as the lowest depth of misery? Feeling like what you have isn’t enough. Always wanting more all the time is just a cycle, because you can get more, but you’re still gonna want more. What’s your favorite occupation? I think architecture is really cool and I like graphic design as well.
Anything to do with art. What is your most marked characteristic? I feel like everyone says that I’m kind. What do you most value in your friends?
Understanding and humor. Who is your hero of fiction?
I like Beatrice Prior from the Divergent series because even though she dies, she dies for cause. Which historical figure do you most identify with? I don’t know. That’s too far back. Who are your heroes in real life? My parents, because they take care of me all the time and whenever I need anything, which is just amazing. And some people don’t have that. What are your favorite names?
I have a list actually, but my favorites off that list are Etta and Samuel. What’s the thing that you most dislike? Anything that doesn’t work the way I want it to. Like my computer, most often. I just don’t like being frustrated. What is your greatest regret? If I would have pressed my choir teacher more to put me in first hour last year, that would have helped, because it’s an advanced choir in first hour, and it would have helped me and my relationships grow. It would have been so much better for me. How would you like to die? When I’m older and I’m feeling like I’m in a good place and it’s not something super painful. I don’t know exactly what that would be, but as long as I’m satisfied with what I’ve done in my life, I’ll be ok. What’s your motto? I don’t have one, but I like the saying, “in the world where you can be anything, be kind.”
Photography by Daniel Jacob
Nora O’Neill, a sophomore at CHS and SHS, poses at a popular lunch spot in Kerrrytown. Her days are hectic and packed with choir, volleyball and classes at two schools.
Nora O’NEILL
"The Substance"
BY FINA KUTCHER
► The crowd roared with laughter; audience members remarked, baffled by the events befalling their eyes. This crowd couldn’t help but laugh at the absurd downfall of the woman on screen — a woman who had in reality destroyed herself for the hope of being loved by society. This was what I witnessed seeing “The Substance” in theaters.
“The Substance,” written and directed by French filmmaker Coralie Fargeat, is a heartbreakingly accurate depiction of the constant battles of womanhood. Exploring themes such as misogyny, self-loathing and the constant fear of aging, Fargeat beautifully captures how the effects of unsustainable societal beauty standards can have devastating consequences for those who succumb to them.
Accompanied with bold, dramatic imagery and extravagantly illuminative visuals, “The Substance” paints a heavily dramatized picture of societal expectations upon women, demonstrating the constant internal battle between self and what others expect. In the most literal interpretation, Fargeat very explicitly explains how devastating this battle can be to women in general.
“The Substance” follows academy award-winning actress and TV dance fitness host Elizabeth Sparkle — stunningly played by Demi Moore. The story begins after her abrupt termination from her fitness show, when her misogynistic producer fires her in search of a “younger” and “sexier” new talent. Reeling from the loss, Sparkle is introduced to a secret black-market program, aptly referred to as The Substance. By using a single injection, Sparkle is able to unlock the “best version” of herself — a younger version to perfectly fit within the beauty stan-
dard. In the most literal sense, Sparkle creates a “perfect” clone of herself to carry out her acting aspirations.
This “clone” of Sparkle, played by Margaret Qualley, represents the ideal of the beauty standard: beautiful, young and charismatic. She creates a new identity for herself, Sue, to be everything she wishes she could be.
In doing so, Sparkle unknowingly unleashed the most self-destructive version of herself, hell bent on conquering her aging. Throughout the film, Sue continues to take and take from her own host’s flesh, essentially destroying herself in the name of continuing to appeal to the standard. This very clearly parallels the constant pressures on women in society to always be perceived as perfect and effortless ---W a task that usually proves to be impossible without the use of unhealthy methods to reach it. In the film, Sue is required to extract a sort of life essence from her original host body and re-inject it into herself to continue surviving; the more she takes, the more her original body ages.
Throughout the film, the sharp contrast between the portrayals of men and women is quite hard to miss. This is especially apparent with Sparkle’s opinionated former producer, Harvey, played by Dennis Quaid. While being a powerful and confident man in control of Sparkle’s career, the worst parts of him are what are actually put on screen: sloppy, rude and unlikeable. Using filmography, characterization and wardrobe, men are consistently portrayed as awkward, exaggerated or egocentric. By contrast, nearly every female character is consistently portrayed as put together, gracious and selfless — with the exception of Sparkle’s descent into madness as she
Photo credit Mubi
faces the consequences of The Substance. A critique of our current society, Fargeat sheds light on the idea that women are expected to behave this way in public while men typically face a much lower standard.
Another device in expressing these messages is the unique cinematography and aesthetic choices used throughout the film. In a captivating yet efficient display layered with stunning and emotional shots, Fargeat heavily utilizes visuals to express and evoke emotions from the viewer. As the perspective flips between the lives of Sue and Sparkle, the wardrobe and aesthetics reflect the swap to further separate the two, with Sparkle representing an older, more refined aesthetic and Sue representing a trendy, youthful and more glittery personality.
Additionally, Fargeat uses another fascinating technique to get her messages across: in shots focusing on male characters, the shots are closer, angles are lower and a resemblance of a fisheye lens serves to additionally relay the contrast between the societal expectations of men and women respectively.
In a dramatic final conclusion, Sue rejects the rules of The Substance, going to another level by cloning herself once more. In doing so, she creates a monster: a vaguely humanoid amalgamation of what used to be a beloved actress, now a personification of her biggest fear. Determined to finish what she started, she graces the stage for one last performance to the public, only to be met with disturbed shock from her audience. The audience turns against her, no longer seeing the bright young upcoming actress they once adored, but instead a monster that needs to be slayed. Being met with attack from the
people, “Mostro Eliza-Sue” literally erupts into a horrifyingly-graphic explosion of blood, exposing the audience to the blunt and messy truth as a dramatic finale to her career. She had successfully destroyed herself in trying to please the crowd. In a jarringly dramatic depiction of the effects of societal pressure, what used to be Elizabeth Sparkle succumbed to her desire to be perfect for her audience, ultimately being destroyed by the very people who created her self-loathing in the first place.
This ending perfectly depicts the ultimate female rage: a woman driven by her insecurities, created by the standards of society, gets her final dramatic and intense release by exposing society to just what they created.
As a woman myself, I find that Fargeat’s depiction of the effects of beauty standards on one’s mental health is extremely accurate. While obviously not to quite the same extent as displayed in the film, I often found myself heavily relating to many of Sparkle’s thoughts, especially regarding our society’s consistent obsession with preventing aging. It’s incredibly validating to see things like that publicized, which is why this film stands out to me so much.
It’s so crucial to have such raw content about real human emotions that isn’t watered down.
Fargeat near perfectly details the effects beauty standards have on women in an encapsulating, emotional and beautifully dramatic commentary. Through the use of engaging storytelling, captivating visuals and outstanding directing, Fargeat truly brings light to the rawness and reality of a feminine breaking point and just how powerful it can really be.
Photo credit Metropolitan Filmexport
Out Loud. Out Loud. Out Loud.
BY JAKE WILLIAMS
“The New Sound” by Geordie Greep
Black Midi was one of the most exciting and forward-thinking rock bands in recent years, which made the news of their “indefinite hiatus” absolutely heart-breaking. However, fans weren’t given long to mourn the band as soon after the break-up, lead singer Geordie Greep announced his debut solo album: “The New Sound.
“Terra,” the second track, takes a lot of influence from samba music with its plucky guitar, constant maraca and colorful horns. This song is Greep trying something new and crushing it with ease.
The lead single, “Holy, Holy,” is one of the best songs to ever come out of the Black Midi sphere with its unrelenting percussion and fast-paced electric guitars and synthesizers. At first, Greep describes a charismatic man flirting with a woman at a bar. The man is quickly revealed to be a pathetic incel in the second half of the song as he details exactly how he wants this woman to flirt with him, all while constantly asking her, “How much will that cost?” The subject of this song could’ve easily taken a dark or sad turn, but Greep’s enthusiasm and bizarre delivery makes this song undoubtedly hilarious.
The eleventh and final track, “If you are but a dream,” a cover of a song from 1942 by the same name, is incredibly grandiose in its presentation. The song is most closely associated with Frank Sinatra, as he recorded his version in 1944, and it’s incredibly hard to listen to Greep’s version and not hear the influence. The swelling horns and thick bass pair well with Greep’s dramatic vocals. It’s a phenomenal closer to the album and a perfect contrast with the rest of the material that’s usually loud, fast and off-kilter.
“The New Sound” is a step forward for Greep and will definitely put any Black Midi fan’s anxiety about the band members’ futures at ease.
Three albums to hear now.
“Imaginal Disk” by Magdalena Bay
Matthew Lewin and Mica Tenenbaum have been writing and producing songs under the name Magdalena Bay for a few years now. They’ve been praised for their inventive production and eye-grabbing DIY-esque visuals within their green screen-filled music videos. They’ve been consistently dropping projects every year since 2019, but “Imaginal Disk” is only their second full-length album. “Imaginal Disk” is as synth-pop as synth-pop gets, almost sounding like it’s from the future at points.
The third song, “Image,” is an absolute blast. Constant, punchy percussion, colorful shimmering noises and Tenenbaum’s flawless voice make this one of the more memorable tracks, especially in the second half when heavy bass and prickly synths are layered in.
“Vampire in the Corner” combines Tenenbaum’s flexible vocals with crisp drums, fuzzy synths and subdued piano chords, allowing the song to go from somewhat somber to absurdly catchy in seconds. Out of all the songs on the album, this is the one that I haven’t been able to get out of my head the most.
The final track, “The Ballad of Matt & Mica,” might be the best song on the album. You’re eased into a false sense of security with Tenenbaum’s smooth vocals, calm chimes and restrained synths. It sounds like it’ll be another smooth, pop jam until the second verse begins and Tenenbaum is cut off at the end of each line with aggressive, almost evil-sounding synths. It’s a wonderful surprise, but it doesn’t stop there. Soon after the song transforms into an absurdly lush and catchy banger that feels like a perfect summertime song.
“Imaginal Disk” is easily one of the most lively albums to come out of 2024, not just within the pop genre. If you like pop music (and even if you don’t), you should check this out, though you probably won’t be able to get most songs out of your head for a while afterward.
“CHROMOKOPIA” by Tyler, The Creator
“CHROMOKOPIA,” like any Tyler, The Creator album, has a healthy mix of bangers and slower, more melodic songs, but this is definitely the most introspective Tyler’s lyrics have ever been. Whether he’s simply bragging about his wealth or rapping about a pregnancy scare, he does it with a level of maturity that hasn’t really been seen from him yet.
After an incredible three-track run to open the album, we’re hit with the song “Darling, I.” In this song, Tyler raps about his issues with commitment and how, though he might like to settle down at some point, he knows he wouldn’t be able to. The production of this song features some light synthesizers, tongue clicks reminiscent of Snoop Dogg’s “Drop It Like It’s Hot” and backing vocals from Teezo Touchdown that help texture the song.
The eighth song, “Sticky,” is one of the hardest-hitting songs on this album. Tyler, Glorilla, Sexxy Red and Lil Wayne all float on a beat composed of whistles, quiet twinkling sounds and deafening bass. Every verse, despite how short they are, is fire. However, this song’s most impressive feat is that it features a pronoun-bar that not only doesn’t give me secondhand embarrassment by just listening to it, but is actually well-written and honestly really funny.
“Like Him” features Tyler singing in a falsetto for the majority of the song about his father. Tyler can’t stop comparing himself to his father despite never knowing him. The end of the song features two crucial points in Tyler’s struggle with his absent father. The first is the line “I don’t look like him.” Throughout the song, Tyler asks if he looks like his father, but this line signifies that it doesn’t matter to him anymore. The second point is a voicemail of sorts from Tyler’s mother, who shares that she’s the reason Tyler never had his father in his life, as she wouldn’t let him.
Despite being 15 years deep in his professional career, Tyler still finds ways to blow his fans away and with “CHROMOKOPIA,” it doesn’t look like he’ll stop anytime soon.
“What is your most beautiful memory?”
BY ELLORA KIRBAT, JESSICA ROTHSTIEN, LUCY LOWENSCHUSSS AND WILLOW ROSENFELD
Kaylie Peters Senior
My favorite memory is probably when I was three years old, when I got to hold my baby sister for the first time. I remember sitting in the corner of this hospital, and my mom was eating a salad. I ate all the tomatoes in her salad because I was hungry, and then after the nurses had this final check, they handed me my sister. I remember my small arms were trying to hold this baby, but she just kind of stared at me with her little squinty eyes, and I stared back. I was like, ‘Whoa! This is real like she’s an actual living, breathing thing in my arms.’ She now is, like, the most important person in my life. She’s basically my bestest friend, and I can confidently say she’s the number one person in my life. I always like to say that she is the supervillain, and I’m her second in command.”
Amalia Bucher
Sophomore
My most beautiful memory was when I was hiking in Utah, and I kind of just went off on my own on the way back to the trailhead. I was listening to music and looking at my surroundings, and it felt really peaceful. It was such a beautiful view, and it made me realize that I really love hiking and I love nature. It kind of felt like I was on a different planet. There were a bunch of huge rocks and boulders around, and there were some clay ones, too, but it felt like you were on Saturn.”
Avery Mayer
Sophomore
It was at the Kylie forum campout in Waterloo, MI. We were in a big cabin, and someone came in and was like, ‘The Northern lights are out,’ so we all ran outside with no shoes on. Everybody’s feet and socks got soaked, but it was totally worth it. It was so cool and it was funny because earlier in the night, I said that one of my bucket list items was to see the northern lights, and then I saw
Jules Gates
Sophomore
What comes to mind was eighth-grade graduation. I went to a K-8 school, and I went there all nine years. I wasn’t really having fun there at the end, but it was still a moment of extreme nostalgia, and looking back, it felt like such a big change because I hadn’t ever experienced anything but Ann Arbor Open. We were partnered up, and we had to go through this arch, and then get our little fake diplomas, because we were little eighth graders. Then, we just sat and people gave speeches. But suddenly, it was over, and I was just looking at all the people I’d spent nine years of my real life with, and I knew that I wasn’t going to see them every day anymore. I knew that I wasn’t gonna be in that building every day anymore, and it was just this moment of pure melancholy. And then I went home, and I was like, ‘Wow.’ I only think it was good while I was there, I would never want to go back, but I guess I miss being in third grade. I think I missed that the most. I miss feeling like, socially, physically, spiritually invincible in the way that I did and just that I could do whatever I wanted to.”
Enjoy all things positivity and self-love in one little puzzle — with a CHS twist.
BY KAYLEE GADEPALLI AND FINA KUTCHER
1 Sweet treat destination near CHS
3 May or june babies 5 Ones biggest aspirations
7 Take time to treat yourself
9 Popular chapped lip fighter
12 Rainbow zebras
14 To lash out – but not in anger
16 Stay hydrated with this essential skincare product
17 What you may see in a mirror
18 What to see in the night sky
19 _ like a star
21 A late spring musical celebration
24 A sound that lingers
25 Heavenly – almost too perfect for this world
26 Some may say, the most powerful emotion
27 A little shine, a little shimmer
28 One of our most beloved faces in the hallway
29 Reflective floating spheres
2 Give off good energy from within
Connect with your “roots” 6 In the eye of the beholder
8 When day or night reaches its peak in the year
10 Inner strength that’s hard to fake
11 A harsh look, or too much light
13 A scent, faint but noticeable
15 A senior jab
18 Lads sport
20 Dark times don’t need to be dark days
22 Garden necessities or a hit 2023 song by Miley Cyrus
23 Smooth and shiny, like the cover of a magazine
Comic Story: The Most Beautiful Thing
Read about the adventures of Zeeb and Elby in the first ever Communicator comic!
BY KAYLEE GADEPALLI
Pesto Pasta and Roasted Tomatoes
BY PIPER COOKE AND JANAKI NALLAMOTHU
PESTO SAUCE is a staple in our lives. We’ve eaten it during cold winter nights, cuddled on the couch, or at the pool during a hot day. Whenever we spend time together, it has become a tradition to eat something with pesto. This dish is yet another thing we can relate to each other with. We’re each captivated by the deep and woody, yet fresh taste, of this classic garlic basil sauce. Naturally, we have discovered that making pesto sauce homemade can make an entire dish so much better. It tastes stronger, cheesier and creamier and you can tweak ingredients to your liking, adding more cheese, salt or lemon juice to make your personal perfect sauce. Adding roasted tomatoes on top adds a sweet flavor, so when eaten with the pasta, they burst in your mouth and leave a smoky flavor that compliments the pesto pasta perfectly.
INGREDIENTS
Pesto:
2 cups fresh basil leaves
⅓ cup pine nuts
⅓ cup freshly grated or shredded parmesan cheese
3 cloves garlic (roasted or fresh)
⅓ cup olive oil
1 tsp fresh lemon juice
¼ tsp salt and black pepper
Tomatoes:
2 cups of cherry tomatoes
1 tsp salt, pepper, oregano and Italian seasoning to taste
¼ cup olive oil
DIRECTIONS
Pesto:
1. Pulse the basil, pine nuts, cheese, and garlic together in a food processor or blender.
2. Add the oil, lemon juice, and salt. Pulse until everything is blended together and relatively smooth.
3. Drizzle more olive oil to thin out, if desired.
4. Taste and add pepper (and more salt) if desired.
Tomatoes:
1. Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F.
2. Cut cherry tomatoes lengthwise.
3. Place in a large mixing bowl with the salt, pepper, oregano, Italian seasoning and olive oil. Toss until well combined.
4. Place tomatoes evenly across a baking sheet and roast in the preheated oven for 30 to 35 minutes, or until tomatoes and bubbling.
Toss the pasta and pesto together in a saucepan on low heat. If needed, add pasta water to the sauce to make it thicker and creamier. Transfer the meal to your desired dish and top with roasted tomatoes and shredded parmesan cheese.
PHOTOGRAPHY BY PIPER COOKE
PLATINUM SPONSORS
Literati Bookstore
124 E. Washington Street
Ann Arbor, MI 48105
734-585-5567
literatibookstore.com
Zingerman’s Delicatessen
422 Detroit Street
Ann Arbor, MI 48104
734-663-3354 zingermans.com
Zingerman’s Roadhouse
2501 Jackson Avenue
Ann Arbor, MI 48103
734-663-3663 zingermansroadhouse.com
CNLD Neuropsychology
5864 Interface Dr., Ste. D
Ann Arbor, MI 48103
734-994-9466 www.cnld.org
CNLD Testing & Therapy
5864 Interface Dr., Ste. D
Ann Arbor, MI 48103
734-994-9466 www.cnld.org
Please give your support to these businesses who support us and believe in our student journalists.
Adult and Pediatric Dermatology, Huron Dermatology
4972 W. Clark Rd. Suite 201 Ypsilanti, MI 48197
734-385-7211
and 7575 Grand River Ave., Suite 205 Brighton, MI 48114
734-385-7211
https://www.apdermatology.com
Wolverine Tax and Financial LLC
213 W. Liberty Street Suite 110
Ann Arbor, MI 48104-1398
734-999-1040
https://www.wolverinetax.com
GOLD SPONSOR
Sweetwaters
407 N. 5th Ave.
Ann Arbor, MI 48104
734-622-0084
sweetwaterscafe.com
SILVER SPONSORS
Sparrow Market
407 N. 5th Avenue
Ann Arbor, MI 48104
734-761-8175
https://sparrowmeats.com
Tiny Buddha Yoga
1717 Pauline Blvd
Ann Arbor, MI 48103
and
338 S. State Street
Ann Arbor, MI 48104
734-926-5040
https://www.tinybuddhayoga.com
Meadowlark Design+Build
3250 W. Liberty Rd.
Ann Arbor, MI 48103
734-332-1500
www.meadowlarkbuilders.com
York
1928 Packard Street
Ann Arbor, MI 48104
734-662-0798
www.yorka2.com
Detroit Street Filling Station
300 Detroit Street
Ann Arbor, MI 48104
734-224-8262
https://thelunchrooma2.com
826
115 E. Liberty Street
Ann Arbor, MI 48104
734-761-3463
https://www.826michigan.org
Neutral Zone
310 E. Washington St. Ann Arbor, MI 48104
734-214-9995
https://www.neutral-zone.org
Monahan's Seafood
407 N 5th Ave.
Ann Arbor, MI 48104
734-662-5118
https:/monahansseafood.com
People’s Food Co-Op
216 N. 4th Avenue
Ann Arbor, MI 48104
734-769-0095
https://peoplesfood.coop
Our Turn
Jane Grocoff
Staff members discuss beauty.
BY EMMA GOBLIRSCH
“I think that as long as someone is truly kind on the inside, you will be absolutely gorgeous on the outside. But I think most importantly, having a smile on your face at all times and spreading that kindness towards other people can make someone really beautiful on the outside. When people just smile and spread that to other people, it makes them ten times more beautiful. The first thing I look for in people is that expression. Some of the people I know were really intimidating at first, but as soon as I got to talk to them and really got to know who they were on the inside, it made me realize their true personality. Seeing their beauty on the inside is so much more important to me than the outside.”
Alexander Schwartz
“In the most simple terms, I think that kindness is the base for beauty in all ways. If they express themselves in a way that shows who they are, if they show different sides of them, emotions, that’s what makes them human. I think it’s so important to not pretend to be someone you aren’t or change yourself to fit somebody’s expectations. It’s also about the kindness and respect they show to others. It’s pretty simple, I think. When a person shows their kindness towards others it means they truly care about the other, which is real beauty. People who have true beauty show it all the time though their actions and personality. I try to surround myself with people who act like that and who I can have real conversations with.”
“I think an internal quality that makes one beautiful is having the determination to make a good thing happen. I feel like a good person, or a beautiful person for a better term, has to be beautiful emotionally in order for them to be physically beautiful. So they have to be able to make good choices and make good choices for others, which sometimes means putting themselves before someone else. I have friends who are really awesome at demonstating this and it makes spending time with them really nice. So I would say that you have to be very emotionally intelligent to be physically beautiful, because it’s never just the outside that matters.”
Milo Varnum
WHERE DO YOU FIND BEAUTY? WHERE DO YOU FIND BEAUTY? WHERE DO YOU FIND BEAUTY?