DO NOT DISTURB
EDITORS-IN-CHIEF
Nicolas Bowers
Lois Guest
Maia Jamieson
ASSISTANT DESIGN EDITOR
Aidan Brown
IN-DEPTH TEAM
Sarynel Barbosa Kuilan
Stella Gaylord
Annie Green
Cecilia Gutierrez
SOCIAL MEDIA TEAM
Maggie Russell
Greta Schuetz
STAFF
Colin Amini
Mia Bowers
Gabe Carrilo
Chloe Feliciano
Jaedyn Greenlee
Owen Grimes
Bella Herbert
Brooklyn Hurt
Leo Iorio
Alexa Lanam
Gabe Manning
Gabe Marsh
Audrey Nordman
Cassie Osburn
Addisyn Pulley
ADVISERS
Roth Lovins
Rachel McCarver
IN-DEPTH 14
DO NOT DISTURB
Students and Faculty discuss the new Wireless Communication Device Policy that has affected classrooms around Indiana
TIN MEMORIAM
homas Miguel De La Cruz, 17, of Columbus, passed away Sunday, July 28th, 2024 due to a motor vehicle accident. He was born September 10th, 2006 in Columbus, Indiana the son of Allison Marie Eudy and Efrain Benjamin De La Cruz.
Thomas was a beloved son, brother, uncle, and friend. He loved being with his family and friends. Thomas enjoyed spending his time on the soccer field, working out, and surrounding himself with the ones he loved. His dedication to soccer helped him strive to achieve his goals and accomplishments. Thomas spent lots of quality time with many friends. He lit up every room he
walked into and never failed to make someone smile. Thomas’ kind heart touched all who knew him. He will be deeply missed by his family and friends.
Thomas is survived by his mother, Allison Marie Eudy; father and stepmother, Efrain Benjamin (Wendy Lopez) De La Cruz; sisters, Talara Eudy, Tanessa Eudy, Talea Eudy, and Tayviana Eudy; brother, Austin Streeval; stepbrother, Cezar Lopez; grandparents, Alanna Dawn Neville, Tim Eudy, Margarita De La Cruz and his girlfriend, Marilyn Silva. He was preceded in death by his sister Tapanga Eudy and his grandfather, Miguel De La Cruz.
photo illustration on cover
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The city of Columbus has banded together to rebuild
Senior Reggie Holguin discusses the process of installing the new scoreboard
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INNOVATE AND IMPROVE
The new superintendent introduces himself and explains how he plans to improve the district
By Cassie Osburn Design by Gabe Carrillo
Q: Why did you want to become the superintendent?
A: I’ve always been passionate about improving the educational system. I was not a terrific student in high school. I was a pretty good student in elementary school and middle
school, but then I got bored and disengaged in high school. I feel like I could have been on a better path if I could’ve stayed engaged, so I’ve always been passionate about improving things and making things better for every kid.
Q: Do you plan to spend time interacting with North students and staff?
A: Yeah, absolutely. I rode a bus last week. That was fun. We transferred here, but it was mostly Parkside, Northside and NewTech kids. But I’m going to ride another bus next week, so it might be a North bus and you never know, you might just be sitting next to me on the bus.
Q: Are you planning any major changes for the district?
A: I’m reading a book right now called Subtract and it’s about the power of taking things away. That’s where my focus is right now, making sure that we, as a district, are focusing on the right things and not adding too much extra stuff.
Q: What would you like students to know about you?
A: I love to be in the school and see kids and meet kids and talk to kids. I am passionate about keeping kids in high school and engaged in meaningful opportunities to learn. So, if they see me walking around the building, I would love to hear from them and what they think we can do to make high school the best experience possible for every kid.
Q: What inspired you to implement the Legacy Pass program?
A: The impetus might have been all the people that were donating money for kids to be able to go for free. Both North and East got some anonymous donors to give so that students could attend all of our athletic events for free. We probably saw that and said it was time to include our senior citizens in there.
Q: Is there anything else you’d like to say?
A: If you’re a student or staff member at Columbus North High School and you see me walking through the hallways or you see me out at a choir concert or football game, please walk up to me. Introduce yourself and share how things are going for you.
Q: Which of your plans do you think will have the greatest impact students?
A: I am going to say continuing to look at the Cohort model and team model. When we met this summer with all the administrators, I encouraged them to keep innovating. We just put this model together last year and I told them not to get in a rut or get used to the way we did things last year, continue to innovate and think about how you can use your team to best serve the kids in your group and make sure as many of them graduate as possible.
Superintendent Dr. Chad Phillips stands outside the Adminstration building on Central Avenue.
photo by Lois Guest
BOUNCING BACK
The City of Columbus has banded together to rebuild the local economy
by Leo Iorio design by Jaedyn Greenlee
When BCSC students were released for spring break in 2019, many students were under the impression that they would be returning to school in two weeks. This turned out to be an extended Spring Break that would last through the end of the year.
For the better part of two years, the entire world was thrown into a complete lockdown that had devastating effects on both global and local economies. Columbus was no exception. The strain the pandemic put on the economy made Columbus Chamber of Commerce President Cindy Frey’s job more important than ever.
“Like many communities, we experienced disruptions across various sectors, particularly in hospitality, retail, and small businesses. Manufacturing, a key component of our local economy, faced supply chain challenges and operational adjustments. Some businesses did not survive,” Frey said.
For business teacher Laura Daily, the pandemic made her evolve her teaching to fit the online world.
“My work was shifted to home where I did not have a designated workspace. I had to learn many new technologies to teach (google meets/zoom, recording and posting those sessions, recording and posting my lectures for asynchronous access and completion) which took a lot of time and caused frustration,” Daily said.
As students had to adapt to new learning environments, businesses around Columbus were having to approach sales differently.
“The very first week of the shutdown, we launched a series of virtual workshops and webinars to provide businesses with critical information on navigating federal aid programs. We created a ‘Shop Local’ campaign to encourage residents to support local businesses so that they could survive and serve the community after the pandemic,” Frey said.
The city’s efforts were crucial to helping local businesses survive.
“The campaign’s success highlighted the deep connection between our businesses and residents, fostering a stronger sense of mutual support that continues today” Frey said.
For some local businesses, even with the city’s help some businesses had to shut their doors.
“The city offered small loans to businesses to help cover the loss of income which helped stabilize some but for others, the aid extended the inevitable demise of the business,” Daily said.
Similarly to businesses, for many individuals the pandemic caused shifts in pricing for everyday items.
“When supplies were available at the store, consumers would panic and hoard items exacerbating the shortages. Some individuals who stockpiled items were then re-selling those items at a much higher price, gouging consumers,” Daily said.
Although certain necessities increased in cost, other everyday expenses negated the increase.
“While the prices of some items increased, I had other expenses decrease. I was not spending as much money on gas or eating out,” Daily said.
The pandemic was a time when things were changing, but Frey had hindsight about her experience.
“Looking back, one thing I would have done differently is to place even greater emphasis on digital transformation for our local businesses,” Frey said. Before COVID, online shopping had constituted only 11 percent of all retail sales, but with the stay-at-home orders that percentage rose to 27 percent.
“One of the biggest economic changes comes out of the supply chain issues and how consumers shifted their buying to online rather than in store shopping. This has caused brick and mortar stores to offer less selection,” Daily said.
With inventory becoming sparse, it has affected business’ hours.
“The shift to hybrid and remote work has altered the way businesses operate, particularly in downtown
PRICES
Columbus, where the decline in daily office workers has affected restaurants and retailers. Additionally, we’ve seen changes in consumer behavior, with more emphasis on online shopping and contactless services,” Frey said.
During a time of change, the people of Columbus focused on coming together to try to keep the local economy thriving.
“It was pretty inspiring to see people getting to work to help across the entire community. We live in a very special place,” Frey said.
SENIOR SHIFT
by Claire Rawlings design by Aidan Brown
Graduation and senior project requirements have changed, causing a shift in plans for the future
New year, new rules? A new year has begun, and seniors are already scurrying to manage upcoming deadlines. The graduation and senior project requirements have changed, and students must adjust their plans to fit the new demands. Senior counselor Whitney Bonnell shares her views on how the new policy will assist students.
“I do like that there are opportunities for students to take avenues in order to demonstrate post-secondary readiness competencies versus a make or break in terms of passing a test,” Bonnell said. “I do think it is positive to move that way, so kids aren’t having to retake tests or set the remediation courses, or things like that, and they are getting to explore things that may be applicable to them after high school.”
Bonnell understands that test taking can boost a students’ GPA, but it can also hinder a students’ success if they are not an avid testtaker. Senior Anabell Hunter agrees that the new requirements will be a benefit.
“You, as a senior, have a lot that you need to worry about, and so I think not having to do as much as you did before is very helpful,” Hunter said.
The board hopes that the new requirements will lead to a more flexible journey towards graduation. School Board member, Todd Grimes identifies the changes in adaptability.
“There’s more student choice involved and more flexibility in terms of the courses that students in the future will be able to take to earn their diploma,” Grimes said.
Grimes realizes that the new policy is going to be more lenient and gives students an
opportunity to enjoy a bit more control over their graduation path. Even though the new policy will be a bit more on the required credits standards, Grimes has no worries for the graduation rates.
“This new proposal will require a minimum of 42 credits as opposed to 40 to get your diploma,” He said. “And of course not many kids get only 40; most of them are in the ballpark of 50 or more.”
The new policy has increased its standards; the required credits amount has climbed the scale. Additionally, the new policy sees a change in standardized testing, inducing the idea that success shouldn’t be based upon an exam.
“I think that we’re moving from just having testing being the indicator of whether a kid should graduate or not,” Bonnell said. “You’ve probably seen that there have been a lot of colleges that test optional, so they’re trying to look at students holistically, rather than just test my scores, which, in my opinion, is fantastic.”
Grimes reflects that the state enjoys fixing things that don’t need to be fixed.
“Oftentimes, with the state, it feels like their philosophy is ‘If it ain’t broke, let’s find a way to break it’,” Grimes said.
This current proposal is bringing a new wave of frustration for students.
“I do think it causes a little bit of stress for those who may want to go one direction, and then find out from their experience that they don’t like a certain program and they need to switch gears,” Bonnell said.
She understands that the new policy can be beneficial, but it depends on how it is
approached. Advancing towards the senior project will cause stress for some, as they adjust their plan to fit the guidelines. Senior Neal White is beginning to work on his senior project, getting every piece ready for the big picture.
“I guess part of it is just making sure that you have everything ready because it’s kind of the most long term project you do in high school,” says White, “A lot of the other projects in high school are only two weeks long, but the senior project is pretty much the entire year, or at least half the year.”
White knows that the senior project will be a big undertaking, but he is ready for the challenge that the new changes bring. As Grimes reflects his past years of teaching and looks into the future, he hopes that the changes will end up benefiting the student population.
“The world’s a little different now then it was 34 years ago, and so I think they’re on the right track with the notion with this new diploma,” Grimes said.
He appreciates that the policy is being changed, as he recognizes the evolutions the rest of the world has gone through. Bonnell agrees that North is in expert care.
“I think that North and BCSC are very fortunate to have the programming that they have,” Bonnell said.
CHANGE OF PLANS
Senior Project changes for the Class of 2025
BEFORE: Research Essay NOW: 4 shorter reflections
BEFORE: 10 hours of service learning AND job shadowing NOW: 5 hours of service learning OR job shadowing
photo for the Triangle Class of 2024 celebrates their graduation.
KEEP DISTANCE
With
flu season coming soon, students should know about the spread of diseases.
by Chloe Feliciano design by Alexa Lanam
With fall closing in, and winter soon on its way, the cold isn’t just affecting the trees. October is nearing and the flu season will begin. School just began, and School Nurse Kristy Hall has confirmed the rates of kids becoming sick throughout the school year.
“There’s an increase,” Hall said. “Especially during the first couple of weeks of the school year as kids are mingling together, not used to each other’s germs. Their immune systems become more ramped up. They’re exposed to more bacteria, more germs, they’re getting used to the new environment.”
The conditions for getting sick worsen as the year goes on, especially in schools.
“... the winter time is notorious for [spread of diseases], “ Hall said. ”You’re in enclosed places, enclosed spaces, in a building where there is coughing and sneezing and surfaces and that kind of thing.”
The increase of sickness can affect attendance in schools. The amount of students that go home increases. Hall states there’s around 20 to 30 kids sent home a day. Similarly, Dr. Tami Iorio from Pediatrics notes the same trend.
“In pediatrics we have sick visits and well visits, and sick visits definitely increase from October through March,” Iorio said. These illnesses can vary, though some are seen more than others. The spread of these illnesses typically involve similar methods of spread. Iorio said that respiratory diseases like the common cold, influenza, covid are transmitted by respiratory droplets
“If somebody has it and they cough or sneeze in the air and you are close by and breathe it in, you are at risk of getting sick,’ Iorio said.
Another disease spread by respiratory droplets is the flu, though there are common
misconceptions.
“When doctors say flu, they mean something called influenza,” Iorio said. “That is a particular virus. There is influenza A and influenza B viruses.” The flu is very contagious because of the way it’s spread. “[The flu is] spread by droplets in the air, cough, sneeze. That’s the main thing, it’s spread respiratory wise.”
“ [Mpox is] less likely,” Iorio said. “It won’t become a worldwide epidemic because it’s transmitted in a different way.”
These respiratory droplets can land on surfaces.
“Surfaces, if someone coughs or sneezes on a surface you can pick it up,” Hall said. “It’s spread by a virus.”
The flu can be dangerous to some people.
“Anybody with chronic respiratory problems should definitely be aware of the flu,” Hall said. “ I would recommend the vaccine for everyone if they wish to get it. It can be really dangerous,”
Vaccines can be used to prevent diseases that can cause harm. A lot of diseases that can cause harm can be prevented.
“Make sure your immunizations are up to date, because there are a lot of these diseases that are highly preventable, and if you get some of these they can cause serious, lifelong, long term damage.” Hall said
A disease known for this is Covid, and people worry that a new disease, Mpox (formerly known as Monkeypox) will become widespread. Iorio reassures this is not the case.
While Mpox does spread through respiratory droplets, it is less likely to do so compared to Covid. Different illnesses lead to different symptoms and need different ways to manage them.
“If you’re sneezing and coughing a lot you need to stay home,” Hall said. “ If it’s something that you can manage with a decongestant you’re going to take a decongestant. If it’s something like an itchy throat, drinking plenty of fluids will usually help that. A good diet, plenty of rest, making sure you get enough sleep [help fight off illnesses]. Something like a common cold; lots of handwashing. Something like strep you need to go to the doctor, you need to get an antibiotic for that. If you’ve just got a little sore throat it might be caused by drainage or allergies, you just need to make sure you get plenty of fluids, plenty of rest, take a little decongestant, anything like that; you can manage those symptoms on your own.”
TIPS FOR STAYING SAFE DURING FLU SEASON
Wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds
Use an alcoholbased hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol to clean hands.
If you don’t have a tissue, cough or sneeze into your elbow, not your hands.
photo by Lois Guest
A NEW TRADITION
Students and a staff member discuss the decision to move the formal dance to Homecoming
by Cassie Osburn design by Isabella Herbert
After a vote by student assembly, the Winter Formal will be replaced by a formal Homecoming Dance. According to student assembly sponsor Dan Marsh, the decision to end Homecoming Week with a formal dance is unprecedented.
“Neither school, that I’m aware of, has ever had a true formal-style dance,” Marsh said. “It was typically a postFriday-night-football-game gathering.”
The formal homecoming dance will replace the typical Winter Formal in late January or early February. According to Marsh, it was a bit unusual that North didn’t have their formal in September.
“A lot of schools actually do a formal dance on the Saturday of homecoming,” Marsh said. “There tends to be a fall dance.”
But this was only one of the considerations made by student assembly when deciding to move the dance. Marsh explains another major factor in making the decision.
“January is a very busy time for us,” Marsh said. “We’ve just finished up Can Drive, which is a massive event. We then go into formal planning, and then eighth grade open house night.”
Several other issues, like the probability of bad weather and the closeness to Prom, also made January an inconvenient time to have a dance.
“The dance was going to move, it was just a matter of where,” Marsh said. “Through conversation amongst the administration and through student assembly last year, we did a survey and it was close. It was probably about a 5545 percent vote split that wanted to do homecoming.”
As the poll showed, not everyone was on board with the idea at first. Initially, Student Body President Benjamin Stevens was in favor of moving the formal dance to February around Valentine’s Day.
“Then, [Marsh] started talking about all the reasons why we should move it to homecoming, and I think it was a pretty easy decision to make based on the reasons he gave us,” Stevens said. “I think it was for the better.”
Similarly, junior Elizabeth Alderfer didn’t love the idea at first. But she also agrees that the decision to move the formal dance was justified.
“Since I’m a choir person and the dance was a choir fundraiser last year, I’m a little salty that we don’t get to do that again this year,” Alderfer said. “But it makes sense.”
While the reasoning behind the change seems valid to Alderfer, Stevens has a few concerns.
“One concern I have is that people may think that the dance is after the football game, but it’s really the following day,” Stevens said.
Like Stevens, Marsh also has some worries about the change.
“We have a lot of soccer players and a lot of cross country runners,” Marsh said.
“Saturdays are big days for events.”
Despite the concerns that Marsh and Stevens have, Alderfer believes that the dance will be enjoyable in the end.
“I’m just looking forward to being able to dress up and have fun at a dance,” Alderfer said.
BEHIND THE SCENES
A backstage look into the production of “All My Sons”
by Brooklyn Hurt design by Alexa Lanam
Lights! Curtain! Action! The moment junior Bella Zigler (Ann Deever) anticipates as the cast prepares for “All My Sons” opening night—the moment when she hopes all the hard work pays off.
“The most rewarding part is definitely being able to put every single aspect together and all the hard work of the crew and the cast and just seeing it unfold,” Zigler said.
Zigler is excited about how close the cast and crew are.
“I love everybody in the cast,” Zigler said. “I love what they can bring to the table. They all have their own little thing that they do. I love each and every one of them.”
Senior Caroline Brucken (Kare Keller) elaborates how these relationships have provided the necessary trust needed to become stage-ready.
“It is definitely a very important part of theater just in general,” Brucken said. “But for this production, I feel like it’s honestly more important due to needing to have that trust in relationship with each other so you don’t feel awkward or uncomfortable.”
However, sophomore Lou Grafelman (Chris Keller) explains it can still be a struggle to become stage-ready in other ways.
“It’s a lot to memorize. It’s a lot of lines. Yeah. So me personally, it’s a little bit of a struggle.” Grafelman said.
However, Grafelman has faith they can pull the play off.
“I think we can all pull through it,” Grafelman said. “The set and, costumes visually, it looks amazing.”
At the end of the day,for the cast it’s all about coming together to focus on what they love.
“It honestly made me a part of something,” Zigler said.” It’s shown me people who are just as enthusiastic and excited to become a character and put it on a stage or bring it in front of an audience. Everybody’s so happy and excited to do it as much as I am.”
1 2 3
5.
4 5 6 7 8 9
1. (from left to right) Sophomore Lou Grafelman and junior Bella Zigler as Chris Keller and Ann Deevers
2. Sophomore Lou Grafelman and junior Bella Zigler as Chris Keller and Ann Deevers
3. (from left to right) Junior June Bailey and sophomore Alyssa Maddox as Bert and Sue Bayliss
4. Sophomore Noah Zigler as Frank Lubey
(from left to right) Senior Caroline Brucken and sophomore Gabe Manning as Kate Keller and Joe Keller
6. Junior Bella Zigler as Ann Deevers
7. (from left to right) Sophomore Lou Grafelman, junior Cage Elliot and junior Bella Zigler as Chris Keller, George Deevers and Ann Deevers
8. Junior June Bailey as Bert
9. Juniors Bella Zigler and June Bailey as Ann Deevers and Bert
photo by Lois Guest
photo by Aldo Ramos-Soto
photo by Lois Guest
photo by Lois Guest
photo by Lois Guest
photo by Lois Guest
photo by Lois Guest
photo by Lois Guest
photo by Lois Guest
OPINION
HOMECOMING AT HOGWARTS
As a dedicated Harry Potter fan, this year’s homecoming theme will make the night more magical than ever.
by Claire Rawlings
Iam officially a Potterhead. And, like many others, I am ecstatic about the upcoming Homecoming theme: Harry Potter. For many, this is a chance to let their inner wizard make an appearance! Ever since J.K Rowling released the first book in 1997, over 50 million copies have been sold, and Harry Potter has touched so many people. Despite the wizards and magic, it’s a true story of companionship, which is perfectly fitting for a night of dancing with your friends. I think having a movie, especially a classic like this, as a theme for homecoming, is going to create more excitement and participation. There is so much more that can be done through a cinematic theme. The dance floor will be elaborately decorated to match, our theme week will feature Harry Potter challenges, our Homecoming floats will don the house colors, and more evening pictures will be taken by a red telephone booth.
The Harry Potter world is universal; it never has seemed to
grow old. Producing a successful cinematic Homecoming theme can be a struggle; what if no one knows the movie? But Harry Potter is one that doesn’t seem to fit only one standard. We see him go through the same struggles we go through, as he struggles through his ‘high school’ years.
Even the dance, the Yule Ball, connects to our highschool experiences. In other words, Harry is relatable too. We’re able to connect to a fictional story about a boy wizard.
Instead of the Homecoming theme just applying to the dance floor, it applies to the whole week. As each grade is sorted into houses (freshmen are Hufflepuff, sophomores are Gryffindor, juniors are Ravenclaw, and seniors are Slytherin), we will be able to spend a week competing to win the most house points, and eventually hold the house cup. Dress up days and competition are going to fill the week with excitement and anticipation.
TAYLOR ECLIPSE
Taylor Swift is fighting to remain at the top of the charts when going against new pop artists
by Gabe Manning
Taylor Swift. This household name has dominated the charts since the very start of her career. She has surpassed many artists on the charts for nearly two decades. But as a new wave of incredible singers emerge and overtake Swift in the present-day music charts, does the veteran pop star stand a chance against the up-and-coming artists? Is she being overshadowed or eclipsed by the possibility of the new generation of pop singers?
Minus the “long list of ex-lovers,” Swift has been continuously re-recording and re-releasing her old music. Her “Taylor’s Version” albums have received high praise from critics. But even those aren’t enough to surpass unstoppable artists like Charli XCX or Sabrina Carpenter. With the release of Charli XCX’s “Brat” turning summer 2024 into “Brat Summer,” Swift’s releases don’t stand a chance against the hyper-pop princess.
Charli XCX had hit number
one with her incredibly successful album. She dominated the UK charts, reaching Number Two on the “Billboard Hot 100 UK.” What kept her from reaching that number one position? Swift’s “The Tortured Poets Department.” Swift had been releasing multiple variants of the album months after its release in April. Before Charli XCX could overtake the number one spot, Swift released a live version of some of her songs. This variant was only offered in the UK, maintaining her position at number one.
But with the charts being controlled by artists like Sabrina Carpenter and Chappell Roan, it’s harder to overtake others. So, is Taylor Swift in quite a predicament? Is she being eclipsed by the newer generation of singers? Does she stand the test of time? Will this veteran still overpower everyone else? We’ll have to see when she offers more music for release.
OLYMPIC OVERLOAD KAMALA IS BRAT?
Kamala Harris is bringing social media into the presidential campaigns to attract younger voters
by Gabby Revell
President Joe Biden dropping out of the presidential election and endorsing Vice President Kamala Harris shocked America. Even more shocking, is the approach Harris has taken to campaigning.
While former President Donald Trump prefers speaking at rallies, Harris has been using social media to promote her campaign as well, something that is relatively new to the world of politics. After announcing that she is running for president, Harris has rebranded, catering towards the younger generation, starting by changing her TikTok account name to KamalaHQ.
Soon after her running was announced, singer-songwriter, Charli XCX tweeted, “Kamala IS brat,” referencing Charli’s new album, Brat. The album features a lime green cover and has taken the internet by storm. Harris saw the opportunity and took it, soon sporting a profile picture in the style of the Brat album cover.
This brings us to the pivotal question, is Harris really brat?
First, one must understand what brat is. Charli XCX described what it means to be Brat in a video on social media. “You’re just like that girl who is a little messy and likes to party and maybe says some dumb things sometimes. Who feels herself but maybe also has a breakdown. But kind of like, parties through it, is very honest,
very blunt. A little bit volatile. Like, does dumb things. But it’s brat. You’re brat. That’s brat.”
Harris, like Brat, has taken the world by storm. Since Biden dropped out, she has raised over half a billion dollars and is currently ahead in the polls. Everything about her campaign has been undeniably Brat.
Harris’s ties to Brat aren’t the only thing that involves her in the social media world. This year at the Democratic National Convention, passes were given to social media influencers for the first time ever. Around 200 content creators were invited to come to the convention. Three of these content creators were even able to interview Harris, who has not been interviewed for mainstream media since Biden dropped out.
Social media is undeniably playing a bigger role in politics this election. Harris’s account, KamalaHQ has been participating in TikTok trends as a way of enticing specifically a younger audience to vote for her. Harris herself has not been seen filming a TikTok, all of them have likely been made by a social media manager.
It has been fascinating to watch as Harris includes social media trends and brain rot to embody the Brat experience in her campaign and to draw in a younger demographic.
Adding too many events to the Olympics distracts from the meaning of the events
by Leo Iorio
The 2024 Summer Olympic Games created many iconic moments, viral clips, and world records. However, one video in particular has blown up on social media.
Australia’s Rachel “Raygun” Gunn’s performance was the source of much internet interest and controversy. This Olympics was the first in which breakdancing was recognized as an event, and it came along with much discussion. This discussion amplified following “Raygun’s” performance, with many people criticizing the wacky dancing and odd movements as being not to Olympic caliber.
The past six Olympic games have all included at least one new event. The first edition of the modern Olympic games only included 10 sports and 43 total events. Today that number has ballooned to be over 50 sports and 340 total events for the 2028 games. I believe that the games now include too many different sports, and instead of increasing for the 2028 games, they should look to cut a few. Events such as breaking, 3v3 basketball and coastal rowing should be victims of the cuts.
The oversaturation of sports has led to events feeling less meaningful and made the games more difficult to keep up with. Removing breaking, along with a couple of other events, would
help bring back some value to the events that would remain.
Furthermore, the inclusion of breakdancing raises questions about the criteria for what makes a sport Olympic-worthy. Traditional Olympic events are often rooted in clear, objective measurements—fastest time, highest score, longest distance. Breakdancing, while relies heavily on subjective judging of style and creativity. This subjectivity can lead to controversies over scoring and fairness, detracting from the spirit of competition that the Olympics aim to uphold.
Another issue is the potential dilution of the Olympic brand. With so many events crammed into a few weeks, it becomes challenging for spectators to follow and appreciate each sport fully.
While innovation and inclusivity are valuable, the Olympics should prioritize maintaining a balanced and meaningful program. By scaling back on the number of events and carefully considering which sports align with the Olympic spirit, we can preserve the integrity and excitement that make the Games special. Removing breaking and similar events would be a step towards refocusing the Olympics on what truly matters: showcasing the pinnacle of athletic achievement on a global stage.
EDUCATION DISCONNECT
The Triangle staff discusses how phones impact their productivity and social life at school
With notifications drawing students away from lessons, free time consisting of them being buried in their devices instead of conversing with each other, and the overall stress and anxiety that teenagers face from cyberbullying and trying to keep up with trends affecting the quality of their assignments, educators have started to view technology as a major concern. When students walked into class on the first day of school this year they were met with the new phone policy. In all of their classes they now had to either put their phones in a phone caddy or in their backpacks.
Seventy percent of the Triangle staff believes that without their phones, they are more productive in school. As mentioned in an article by Boston University, UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) did a study across 14 different countries finding that countries that enforce restrictions see improved academic performance and less bullying. Phones being allowed in classrooms leads to
students endlessly scrolling through social media during free time instead of working on homework that they need to get done. Phones also make it difficult for students to do their work because they’ll get one notification on their phone which will lead to them being distracted from working and instead putting their full attention onto their device.
With cell phone addictions being an alltime high, phones have become an escape for some students during school. When not understanding an assignment, instead of asking a peer or teacher for help, many students turn to their phones as an escape from the discomfort they feel. This may be a solution during class, but this will lead to more anxiety at home when they have to figure out an assignment by themself. Anxiety is also common due to phones in another way. According to Butler Hospital, the overuse of smartphones creates a psychological dependency, and separation from the device will create anxiety. This is why students have become outraged with the new policy separating them from their
phones. Like a drug, phones have become extremely addicting, especially for young impressionable minds.
Although phones can be distracting at school, fifty-eight percent of the Triangle staff believes that they feel more connected to their peers with their phones. According to an article by Liberty Title & Escrow, one of the biggest benefits of mobile phones is that they allow the user to stay connected with loved ones and friends no matter where they are. Many teens feel that phones allow them to be with their friends all day even when they are not actually together in person. Especially when in classes without friends, many students feel that phones provide them with a way to communicate with people and stay socially connected.
Research provides both positives and negatives. Schools have found that keeping phones away during educational time is the best way to keep students focused and engaged on what they’re there for: their education.
COMICS BY CLAIRE
Sophomore Claire Rawlings illustrates some teenagers’ feelings about the new Wireless Communication Devices policy
TACO THURSDAY
Students visit Asbury Church for affordable tacos every Thursday
by Mia Bowers design by Caeden Sych
TACO TIME
As students turn onto 27th street they can already see a line outside the door to the basement of Asbury Church, also known as “Taco Church”. The lengthy line is filled with students including Junior Cole Finney, a frequent “Taco Church” visitor.
“A lot of my older friends during my freshman year told me about it and I went and I loved it,” Finney said.
Senior Olive Mantooth had a similar experience by also getting recommendations from upperclassmen.
“I found out about “Taco Church” my freshman year from some of my friends who would also go there,” Mantooth said.
With many students going to “Taco Church” weekly, many have noticed the price increase that took the price from four to five dollars.
“I would obviously prefer four dollars to five dollars and it does make it a little tighter for students, but I don’t feel bad about paying it because the money is going to a church,” Finney said.
“Taco Church’’s event organizer, Dot Kirkling, planned for students to be caught off guard by the price increase so a plan was put in place to support students who didn’t come prepared.
“The first day we had changed from four dollars to five dollars, we had someone sitting outside asking ‘do you have the
amount that you need?’ and passed out dollar bills to the kids that only had four dollars,” Kirkling said. “At the end of the day, we had passed out eight dollars,”
Even though the price had a slight rise, Mantooth still thinks it is a good deal.
“At another restaurant I would usually spend at least 10 dollars but at “Taco Church” it’s half the price,” Manthooth said.
“Taco Church”’s location also contributes in making it a popular place for lunch on Thursdays.
“It is close to the school so you can walk there if you aren’t able to drive,” Mantooth said.
Since so many students visit “Taco Church”, it is a big responsitbiltity to keep the event going every week.
“It is my gift and it is my passion to organize and start things,” Kirkling said, “Since this is the 18th year, I kind of know what needs to happen to make it successful.”
The impacts of “Taco Church” go further than just an affordable lunch, consisting of up to four tacos, a bag of chips, a cookie, and a drink. The event forms a sense of community. The positive atmosphere that surrounds “Taco Church” is something that Kirkling hopes impacts students.
“I hope that they [students] see and sense that people care about them even though they may not know your name,” Kirkling said.
Source: 66 students surveyed during resource
photo by Mia Bowers
Senior Sarah Gross, juniors Nora Tame and Rebecca Simon go to “Taco Church” at Asbury Church.
DO NOT DISTURB
Students and Faculty discuss the new Wireless Communication Device Policy that has affected classrooms around Indiana by Annie Green, Cecilia Gutierrez design by Sarynel Barbosa, Stella Gaylord
photo by Annie Green
Student uses his phone during Resource.
SCREEN TIME CHANGES
How has student’s screen time changed since school started?
How many students had their screen time go UP?
3.1%
How many students said their screen time went DOWN?
How many students reported their screen time stayed the SAME?
The 2024-25 school year brought a big change in the classroom due to an Indiana state law that went into effect July. The law required every school district to come up a policy concerning Wireless Communication Devices (WCD).
Spanish teacher Meagan Hearne has been teaching for 26 years, nine of them here. However, she began enforcing the new WCD Policy last year during a pilot program.
“I started this back in January, and I explained to them back in November and December and even sent something to the parents. It’s my responsibility as a teacher or an educator to provide an environment conducive to learning,” Hearne said, reflecting on last year.
Hearne has had this policy in place longer than the law has been enacted. She, along with several other staff members, were at the forefront of the movement to make this rule an easier transition for the school. Maria Sanchez Cisneros, another Spanish teacher, was also part of the program.
“We experimented with it, and after we had these great results, we shared with the other teachers our phone caddy, how it works and the effect that it had on our classrooms,” Sanchez Cisneros said. “I originally enforced the policy because I received a lot of issues with my students prioritizing their cellphones over their schoolwork,” said Sanchez Cisneros, adding to why she enacted the WCD policy in the first place
The new policy is an old way to some teachers, but to others, the policy has just offered a backbone to a classroom plan. Math teacher Barrett Hartley, while new to the policy, is not opposed to it, and shared his opinion about the WCD policy.
“I would say that this year is the first. I would say I just didn’t
have a plan in place, so having the parking garage I think helps me and helps students and it’s clear and it’s just like hey this is where they should go,” Hartley said. Due to the new legislation, he has officially enacted the plan in his own classroom.
“I wish I had a better plan last year, and just for the sake of the individuals sitting in the seat, but also for the sake of the environment as a whole… but I think also having a push from administration from my colleagues, knowing that a lot of my colleagues were on board as well,” Hartley said.
The new policy brings new changes, such as not only having a caddy for phones, but also the attitude towards learning and the environment as a whole. Overall, teachers have agreed that the new policy has affected their classrooms positively.
“It’s been really effective, it’s been a really positive experience,” Sanchez Cisneros said. “I knew that if I was able to eliminate that temptation from them, I knew that my kids would be able to perform at their best.”
Along with benefiting the students’ attention spans, it has also made the teaching environment better according Hearne.
“It makes me, as a teacher, so much more pleasant, because I no longer have to be the cellphone police,” Hearne said. With fewer distractions on both the students and teachers’ parts, the hope is that classrooms are becoming a place of learning, not cell phones.
Locally, schools were affected at the start of the school year when Senate Bill 185 was passed on March 8, 2024.
The law itself states: “Requires each school corporation and charter school to: (1) adopt and implement a wireless communication device policy that governs student use of
a wireless communication device; and (2) publish the policy on the school corporation’s or charter school’s website.”
With the law having 83 yeas, and 7 nays, it was to be effective on July 1 2024 for the upcoming school year in all 92 counties in Indiana. The law itself was authored by two Senators of Indiana: Sen. Jeff Raatz and Sen. Stacey Donato. In a recently published article by Kellyn Harrison, Raatz spoke on the new law being passed.
“Cellular devices can be distracting for anyone, especially students learning fundamental skills in the classroom,” Raatz said. “Senate Bill 185 would ensure our students are paying attention to lessons being taught in the classroom instead of their phones.”
Raatz also spoke about how Senate Bill 185 could be beneficial to student interaction.
“This bill serves to get students who moved on from third grade and are in need of support back on track with their peers.”
After looking back at the statistics of the previous years, it’s not surprising that educators, parents, bystanders, and even students see a problem with cell phones being a distraction. According to a Pew Research Article, “72 percent of U.S. high school teachers say cell phone distraction is a major problem in the classroom.”
While cell phones are considered a distraction, they can also be seen as a downfall on students’ attention span, mental health, and willingness to work.
“About three in ten teachers say they help students with mental health challenges daily,” said a Pew News article.
The article also stated how “67 percent of teachers in schools with high levels of poverty say they have to address behavior issues on a daily basis.”
Along with the law’s introduction, it also mentions the exact definitions of technological devices. The law mentions cellular telephones, tablet computers, laptop computers, and gaming devices are all considered as wireless communication devices. The law also mentions how each individual school corporation and charter school shall adopt and implement a wireless communication device policy that prohibits a student using a wireless communication device during instructional time. It was also mentioned that the teacher can allow a student to use a wireless communication device for educational purposes during instructional time and to use a wireless communication device in the event of an emergency or to manage the student’s healthcare. The
policy lastly mentioned that the school’s individual adopted policy should be published on its website.
According to Indiana Youth Institute, they believe that the law is to enhance education, not take away from it. “These legislative changes reflect a comprehensive effort to enhance educational standards, ensure student safety, and support diverse learning needs. As these laws come into effect, Indiana schools, parents, and students will need to adapt to the new requirements, with the ultimate goal of fostering a more conducive and inclusive learning environment.”
Because of the new law, new statistics and changes are being released. It’s hard to know if the law has been beneficial or not this soon. But, students, staff, and faculty have opinions about the law already.
Locally, students have had mixed opinions about the WCD policy, some like it, others don’t. Freshman Jack Netser has some opinions on it.
“I think teachers are taking it a bit too far with cubbies or whatever,” Netser said. “I think we should be able to keep it on us.”
As students are opposed to the new policy, many students have learned to embrace it, even welcoming the change.
HOW THE WIRELESS COMMUNICATION DEVICE POLICY HAS AFFECTED STUDENTS
Senior Nicole Edwards is open to the change. “I think there are more pros and cons. I mean, I’ve heard a lot of students say that it’s bad and they’ll argue about it,” Edwards said.
Senior Noah Marsh also reflects on the change.
“I don’t see an issue with it just because I’m not on my phone,” Marsh said.
He also comments on other students who have an issue with the new change.
“I think a lot of the kids are a little upset with it, but it will definitely be better for their grades and just focusing in class and not being distracted,” Marsh said.
The WCD policy is also a motivator to some.
“Now that it’s not there and now that I’m not on it, I’m doing a lot more of the in class work… so it’s kind of a motivator to get all your stuff done to get it,” senior Nicole Edwards said.
Source: 32 students surveyed during resource
Freshmen, who may be new to the school, are usually not new to the ‘stricter’ rules. Freshman Lucas Burger reflects on his time in middle school, and his time here at North. “This is my first year at North so, I think I used my phone less in middle school because we weren’t allowed to use our phone at all. But I haven’t used my phone as much in class and I’ve been participating enough I’d say,” Burge said. Students have also observed changes in classes, other than just the phones being put away.
Nicole Edwards has noted the change. “I feel like everyone is more active. I would hear students talking to each other more,” Edwards said. Along with Edwards,
QUICK REPLIES
How do people around the school feel about the WCD policy that started this school year
“We have a vibrant community here, a diverse community, and everybody has value here. But if we are too busy getting lost in our phones that take us out of here, we can’t create a meaningful culture here inside the building.”
math teacher Barrett Hartley
“I think it doesn’t really do anything. If a kid wants to pass a class, do well, and get good grades, then they will focus.
“I don’t mind it, it keeps me more focused because I don’t have a phone to distract me.”
sophomore Heidy Ortman
“I think it will teach students how to prioritize their school work.”
freshman Stacie Simmins
other students have noticed changes.
Burge has noticed his own attention in class has increased.
“I’m a lot less distracted and I’m paying attention in class more,” Burge said.
But others haven’t noticed the change as much. As some students say that their attention has increased, others don’t see a difference.
“I could probably get the same grades with or without the policy,” freshman Jack Nester said.
Marsh says he hasn’t noticed a change with himself.
“It’s kind of just stayed the same because I’ve never really
been on my phone during classes anyway,” Marsh said.
Either way, students have come up with many reasons to agree or disagree with the WCD policy. As some like it and welcome the change, others believe that it is overprotective and has no use.
“I can imagine it’s really hard for kids to give up something that is like very personal to them, but I just want them to know that this cell phone policy is to help them, not to hurt them,” Sanchez Cisneros said.
“Just have faith in us, have trust in us, know that we’re doing this because we really do want what’s best for the students.”
“I think it (the cell phone policy) could help with focus. I think it’s a bit harsh, taking phones. I believe students should have the ability communicate to family if needed, but I agree that phones can be a distraction.”
“In the end I think it is more negative. People now worry about their phones. As a student it hasn’t benefited me at all, it has just made me more stressed.”
junior Valerie Scott
sophomore Sabrina Portaluppi
freshman Rue Payne
photo by Maia Jamieson Phones are held in a phone caddy during class.
GOALS FOR GOALS
The soccer team discusses the upcoming season after last year’s State Semi-Final loss by
Owen Grimes design by Bella Ruiz
Prrrrrrrrt! The whistle ends the match, with Cathedral finishing the soccer team’s season with another State - Semifinal run, losing the match 2 - 1 at the BCSC Soccer Complex on Oct. 21, 2023. With defeat, there is always hope for the next year to come that the new opportunities that present themselves. Varsity soccer coach, Andy Glover shares some words on what the upcoming season holds.
“We simply take our matches one at a time,” Glover said. “The team this season has been through so much, we are embracing our process even more. We are constantly chasing our best, most mature performance.”
Glover gives more on the details behind how next season will be embraced the best way possible.
“ This is not an easy process, and the team embraces the challenge daily,” Glover said. ”Optimally, regardless of the outcome of one match, we can construct a mature performance close to 95% of our very best. We seek to do this in everything we do, preventing complacency. We’re quite used to playing a strong schedule, and the strength of schedule pleases me greatly. The team loves a challenge, and the schedule proves that.”
Junior Jony Garcia shares what he is looking forward to the most this upcoming season.
“State, we made it my freshman year, lost to Noblesville but made it to the final four,” Garcia said. “ It’s my first year starting thats definitely exciting. We have kind of a younger team, some freshman starting and a couple sophomores. “
Senior Konnor Gribbins’ states why he is looking forward to this upcoming season with excitement.
“ My brother actually just joined the team. He is a freshman and he will be playing with so that’ll be really fun for me,” Gribbins’ said.
Learning takes your knowledge or skills and releases that new knowledge into the open.
Freshman Luccas Peda shares where he sees himself at the end of this upcoming season.
“ I see myself as a varsity player as well as a player who can go onto the field and make an impact, “ Peda said.
Sports bring people together of all ages and create communities, Garica explains how soccer impacts students at North.
“ I think it brings our community closer together for sure,” Garcia said. “At the North
vs. East game everyone comes out, and everyones having fun,” Garica said.
Peda explains his view on how soccer can impact everyday students at North.
“ Bonding with the teammates, hanging out with the members of the team, and just being all together and winning games,” Peda said.
Trying to translate success from one year to the next is a tough challenge for anyone to face. But Gribbins’ has hope that his team can make a final four run yet again and explains on why they’ll create havoc once again.
“ I think right now we are in a really good spot if we keep working, grinding, putting in the work, do the running in practice, and focus on what we do best,” Gribbins’ said. “ We have lost a lot of seniors who have put in the work and have done the running for the past few years, but this year we are building upon that and we have a good backline who are all really experienced.”
SOCCER SCHEDULE
Sept. 28 1:00 Boys Varsity soccer vs Terre Haute South @Columbus North
Sept. 30 7:30 Boys Varsity soccer vs Southport @ Southport
Oct. 19 4:00 Boys varsity soccer regionals @TBD
Senior Madux Tovey takes a shot against North Central on Sept. 7. The match ended in a 0-0 tie.
photo by Gabe Marsh
CLEAN SWEEP
this years rivalry
Photo recap of
week by Gabby Revell design by Gabe Marsh
photo by Lois Guest
photo by Gabe Marsh
photo by Lois Guest
1. Girl’s soccer players celebrate after a goal.
2. Senior Adian Espejel runs across the soccer field
3. Sophomore boy’s tennis player Shashau Sabapathy prepares for a serve.
4. Junior Mykel Jones leads the football team onto the field.
5. Junior cheerleader Lily Miller waves a flag after a Bull Dog touchdown.
6. The football team embraces their trophy after their victory
7. Senior Juan Salcedo, Junior Jonah Sipes, and Senior Sam Brown lead the boy’s soccer starters onto the field.
photo by Lois Guest
photo by Lois Guest
photo by Lois Guest
photo by Caeden Sych
TOUCHDOWN FOR TECHNOLOGY
by Colin Amini design by Addisyn Pulley
Senior Reggie Holguin discusses the process of installing the new scoreboard
As the students section roars and the band’s horns blare, a new scoreboard’s bright lights illuminate the hundreds of fans. Every touchdown, first down, and win will be under North’s new scoreboard, which for most students seemingly came out of nowhere, and was simply a pleasant surprise for their return. However, for Senior Reggie Holguin, the mastermind behind the project, the scoreboard is the fruit of a months-long process that started last year.
“Before the end of the school year, last year, Mrs. McCarver had reached out to me with an amazing new opportunity,” Holguin said. “Columbus North would be getting a new scoreboard along with a new LED screen, and there was a position open for someone to step up and run the screen during games. She thought this would be perfect for me because
this is what I want to do in the future, and because I had done similar projects such as media coverage and livestreaming.”
Holguin emphasizes the amount of effort and commitment the project took, even when other students were able to relax.
“During the summer, I as well as a group of people who work for BCSC joined a meeting run by the company that installed the scoreboard,” Holguin said.
“In that meeting, we learned the basics of operation and how to manage the online website.
During July, Coach Haston and I set up a media day for the football players, and so on that day, we took videos/pictures of the seniors.”
One of the most trying challenges for Holguin occurred at the very genesis of the project.
“The hardest part of organizing everyone together was that the company had to be reached out to by phone,” Holguin said. “In the beginning, we had a bit of
trouble with the audio, so we had to call a separate company to manually come and fix it because the audio system had been set up by a separate business.”
Despite the challenges, Holguin always aims to do the best job she can and do the project as perfectly as she can.
“I do my job to the best of my abilities, but at times it takes a second opinion for everything to be perfect,” Holguin said. “I either come in early or test everything during football practice.”
Holguin feels that the scoreboard will have a very noticeable impact on the school, its students and school spirit.
“The new scoreboard will impact school spirit for the better,” Holguin said. “Every time there is a touchdown, field goal, or bull dog first-down, there is a video shown to display our plays. These videos help get the crowd going and help them stay attentive to the game. There is even a graphic that says ‘Get loud,’ and when that is displayed the crowd goes wild.
Athletic Director Brian Lewis also shares this sentiment about school spirit.
“I think it impacts the experience for our kids because we’re able to create highlight films for our kids, like each kid can have their own personal
video,” Lewis said. “I think it also gives our fans a different experience as far as keeping them involved in the game, as far as first down, touchdown, get loud, whatever it may be on the board. I definitely think it brings a different setting to our experience here at North.”
Holguin enjoys the time she spends on the project and also feels that the endeavor is very rewarding.
“I love being able to see my work being displayed for the community,” Holguin said. “I’ve had a few parents get excited to see their son on the LED board. I am also excited about the video aspect of the screen, and being able to see footage of players playing football at a football game is amazing. As of now, I have a game day playlist, previous game highlight reels made, and cheering fans who applaud my work.”
Overall, Lewis feels that the project was a resounding success.
“I think it’s a success because obviously we will continue to build on certain things we can do with the LED board and I think we can only get better as time goes on,” Lewis said.
For future senior projects, Holguin warns that you must be able to sink lots of time into the project while still having to maintain passion. Holguin feels that she has never lost her day one passion.
“It is important to know that you will end up sacrificing a lot of your time, but it is okay as long as you are very passionate about what you do, such as I am,” Holguin said. “I give back a lot of hours to make sure the screen is working and that the audio sounds good so that football fans can enjoy the game.”
photos by Lois Guest
Senior Reggie Holguin in the press box monitoring the scoreboard and graphics for her Senior Project in coordination with the Athletics Department.
THE LEADERS OF THE PACK
by Audrey Nordman designed by Maddie Williams
Fall sport captains elaborate on their leadership
It is more than just the armband, the walk out onto the field, and the choosing of uniforms. It is more than just the label, ‘captain’. This fall season, captains have been selected to represent their sports teams by their coaches and fellow teammates, based on much more than what is seen on the outside.
Senior McKenna Johannesen was chosen as a team captain for the Varsity cheer team. Being a cheerleader means performing in high pressure situations, such as the annual North vs. East football game. As a captain, this involves leading the teaam through a game with as many spectators, as much noise, and as much pressure as this one.
“Definitely making sure that everybody is in a good head space if there’s outside pressures coming, it can affect everybody’s mental state, so during games we try and keep it light, talking here and there with teammates” Johannesen said.
Navigating the team through highpressure moments is part of a captain’s responsibilities, another part is connecting with the team on a personal level as a leader.
“I want to be a leader that people can go to, when things are hard they can talk to me, they can count on me for knowing things, knowing when things are happening, knowing what we wear, stuff like that” Johannesen said.
Leadership can take many forms, from
connecting with the team to becoming the source of energy for a team on the court.
Junior Karen Dutro was chosen as a captain for the Girls Varsity volleyball team, who brings a different perspective to leading her team.
“I usually try to just yell as much as possible and try and cheer for even the small plays that we get,” Dutro said.
Providing energy for the team has been a key part of Dutro’s leadership, but when it comes to aspiring future captains, the advice goes beyond just enthusiasm.
“I’d say work as hard as you can in every practice, and always be the person, no matter what time it is or what day it is, that is bringing positivity and energy to the gym” Dutro said.
Senior Lily Priest was chosen as a captain for the Girls Varsity soccer team. Priest shares some of the same qualities as Dutro in terms of leading her team with positivity, but focuses on relationships off of the field as well.
“My primary role as team captain is to bring positivity off the field. I am the person that the girls can come to about issues or if they need help. I do the little things that most people don’t notice off the field,” Priest said. Being a positive leader off of the field is Priest’s primary focus as well as something she genuinely enjoys in her role as captain.
“My favorite part of being a captain is being
WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE A CAPTAIN?
“I think, really just a lot of what makes a good teammate, in general, just being able to have a positive attitude, being able to communicate well with people, and being able to stay focused even when it gets tough.”
junior Karen Dutro
“Showing that, yes, you are a captain but also it’s the whole team. You are leading the whole team, they chose you for that spot, it’s not just you leading.”
senior Mckenna Johannesen
a positive leader for my best friends and leading them in the right direction,” Priest said.
Senior Bryce Harriman was selected as a captain for the Varsity football team, and elaborates on how he plans to motivate his team when they face challenges.
“I will lead the team in hard times by encouraging them. You don’t want to beat someone down when they are already down. You gotta bring them up and pull them to the finish line,” Harriman said.
Through encouragement and beneficial leadership for his team, Harriman plans to accomplish his goals for the season as a whole. While goals for teams are often to win, Harriman’s goals for his team surpass the simple idea of ‘winning’.
“I hope that our team, by the end of the season, will be player-led. The coaches won’t have to do as much. The team can have enough leadership to lead ourselves in the right direction and make sure everybody is making good choices,” Harriman said.
Team Captains play essential roles in creating dynamics and success for their teams.
“I plan on handling challenges in a positive manner, when the drive ends poorly I will be there and support everybody. I will lift them up when times get hard because that’s what leaders do,” Harriman said.
“A good captain should be able to find ways to persevere through challenges and always be respectful on and off the field. Holding, not only the team, but yourself accountable is the key to success.”
senior Lily Priest
“Some good characteristics a captain should have would be ownership, communication, determination, nobility, and effort.”
senior Bryce Harriman
SUMMER PLAYLIST
As summer faded away, students reflected on the best albums and singles of the season design by
Maia Jamieson
“Short n’ Sweet”
23
“I thought that [‘Short n’ Sweet’] was a good album, and I kind of feel like a lot of teenagers resonate with it.”
junior Marina Braga
“I like ‘Apple’ because the dance is funny.” sophomore Stefanie Diaz
“The Great American Bar Scene”
“‘The Great American Bar Scene’ is one of Zach Bryan’s best albums in my opinion. It combines traditionality with a new type of modern country that I really enjoy.”
junior Leyton Hottell
“I like [Charms]. I like her voice, and I like how it’s kind of slow, and I just like the vibes. I like [the songs] Echo, and Glory of the Snow.” sophmore Molly Richards
“The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess”
“It’s the best album I’ve ever heard and it’s so party-core. It’s so good and it made me love Chappell Roan.”
freshman Idhika Shetty
Aug. 16
“I like Post Malone because I like how he tries new styles of music.” sophomore Braleigh Gohn
“Not Like Us”
RELEASE DATE: May 4
“He is an overall a good rapper. He expressed his feelings through some sick lyrics.” sophomore Sebastian Jackson
RELEASE DATE: Aug. 16 “Radical Optimism”
“I’ve loved Dua Lipa for a while and the new album is just amazing. My favorite song is probably Houdini because it starts with a funky beat then forms into a pop song.”
senior Draven Martinez
1. A Bar Song (Tipsy) Shaboozey
2. I Had Some Help Post Malone Featuring Morgan Wallen
3. Not Like Us Kendrick Lamar
4. Espresso Sabrina Carpenter
5. Million Dollar Baby Tommy Richman
6. Lose Control Teddy Sims
7. Too Sweet Hozier
8. Good Luck, Babe! Chappell Roan
9. Please Please Please Sabrina Carpenter
10. Birds of a Feather Billie Eilish
“Brat”
“F-1 Trillion”