The Triangle, Issue 6, Vol. 103

EDITORS-IN-CHIEF

Alex Osburn

Ajay Singireddy

Jasmine Yang

IN-DEPTH TEAM

Izzy Munn

Sylvia Sasse

Deshna Venkatachalam

Lydia Weed

PHOTO EDITORS

Novah Ulm

Grace Wheatley

ART DIRECTOR

Sylvia Sasse

SOCIAL MEDIA TEAM

Chloe LaVelle

Brynn Stewart

Deshna Venkatachalam

STAFF

Jocelyn Aguilar

Sarynel Barbosa

Nicolas Bowers

Aidan Brown

Liz Carrigan

Gabe Carrillo

Claire Davis

Stella Gaylord

Annie Green

Jaedyn Greenlee

Lois Guest

Cecilia Gutierrez

Maia Jamieson

Emma Warnock

ADVISERS

Roth Lovins

Rachel McCarver

IN-DEPTH 16 PREVIEW ONLINE

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A deep dive into the world of nicotine products in our community

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Editorial Policy

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SECONDS TO MIDNIGHT

What the doomsday clock means and how advances in technology and artificial intelligence has affected it

by Jasmine Yang design by Emma Warnock

Ten. Nine. Eight. Seven.

Six. Five. Four. Three. Two. One. Cheers erupt in the crowd as the countdown comes to an end. In some instances, like New Years Eve, reaching the end of a countdown signifies a moment of victory and celebration. When one hears the phrase “Doomsday Clock,” however, reaching zero, or midnight, signifies there has been a “nuclear exchange or catastrophic climate change,” according to Window to the World.

The Doomsday Clock originated after World War II had come to an end and the world was slowly transitioning toward the Cold War. World War II signified the beginning of countries using extreme weapons, as the United States had dropped atomic bombs on Japan in order to find a way to bring the war to an end. The process of creating the atomic bomb was known as the Manhattan Project, and scientists involved with said project created the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists. Their primary goal was “to equip the public, policymakers and scientists with information needed to reduce man-made threats to our existence,” as UChicago states.

One member of the Bulletin, Martyl Langsdorf, designed a minimalist clock that quickly became known as the Doomsday Clock. Every year, the clock is reset toward the end of January and is set either seconds, minutes or hours away from midnight. According to those who set the clock, the closer the clock is set to midnight, the closer humanity is to self-destruction. The farthest away from midnight the clock has been set to was in 1991, when the clock was set

to 17 minutes after the Soviet Union collapsed and the signing of the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty.

In January of 2023, the Doomsday Clock was set to 90 seconds from midnight, which is the closest the clock has ever been to selfdestruction. The clock remained the same when it was set in 2024. The clock was set so close to midnight in 2023 because of the Russia-Ukraine war, as well as impending climate crises and advancing technologies. While the time remained the same in 2024, the Bulletin made the decision based on different reasons.

Their reasoning for keeping the clock at 90 seconds to midnight was largely due to increasing conflict in the Middle East and potential consequences from these conflicts. The Bulletin also took into account the concerning state the world’s climate is in, and how artificial intelligence is developing along with biological technologies, leading to potential harmful misuse of biology.

Overall, the Bulletin of Atomic Scientists created the clock in order to have a way to properly warn humanity how close it is to selfdestruction. As the current time illustrates, the world is closer to selfdestruction than ever before.

As the Bulletin states, “These three countries [the United States, China and Russia] need to take responsibility for the existential danger the world now faces. They have the capacity to pull the world back from the brink of catastrophe. They should do so, with clarity and courage, and without delay. It’s 90 seconds to midnight.”

ORIGIN OF THE CLOCK

A timeline of the Doomsday Clock’s history

Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists is Founded

1945

First Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists newsletter published

1945

Concept of Doomsday Clock originated

1947

First time the clock was reset

1960

The clock was set to 17 minutes, the farthest away from midnight ever

1949

First time the clock was pushed back, rather than foward

2023

1991

The clock was set to 90 seconds, the closest to midnight ever

Source brittanica.com

THE ROAD TO SAFETY

Students and faculty discuss how to make roads here safer for everyone

by Nicolas Bowers design by Jaedyn Greenlee

Blinding headlights. The bright, rising sun. Cars turning everywhere. People crossing, without even looking. This happens every single morning, from around 7:15 a.m. to 7:50 a.m. in the parking lots here. For Junior Kate Franklin, who walks to school, it’s also one of the most dangerous times of the day, because of the traffic.

“It’s really scary because all the cars are coming, and they don’t pay attention to you,” Franklin said.

Franklin noted that efforts by the school to make it safer for students to walk are certainly helping.

“I think the crossing guards that are at the intersections in the morning are really helpful,” Franklin said.

Meanwhile, senior Aidan Whitley drives to school, and hasn’t had safety issues while doing so.

“[I have] not [had concerns] while driving to school,” Whitley said. “It’s a pretty safe drive to school.”]

Student Resource Officer Eric Stevens has expressed concerns about the safety of students driving to school, and especially driving in parking lots.

“Unfortunately, we always seem to have kids that drive too fast through the parking lot,” Stevens said. “We have a lot of luckily minor accidents, but we have quite a few minor accidents out in the parking lot, and that’s usually just people not paying much attention.”

Stevens has simple advice for drivers on how to be safe in parking lots.

“Slow down is the number one thing,” Stevens said. “Pay attention not to your phone, not to your radio, not to your whatever, not to your

friends sitting next to you, but pay attention to what’s going on.”

Stevens also had advice to give to students who walk to school.

“Pedestrians have the right away in a crosswalk certainly, but it’s not worth taking that chance,” Stevens said. “You can’t think “If I’ve got the right away, I’m just going to walk.” Unfortunately, a car is going to win every time, so they need to use extra caution and take their time.”

Despite some of the safety issues, Whitley enjoys the flexibility of the parking lots on campus.

“I do like how there’s different layouts and different parking lots,” Whitley said. “If you have a class on one side of the school, you can park on that side.”

Assistant Principal for the Senior Cohort, Levi Simpson, agrees that flexibility for parking is important.

“We’re giving more options now for parking because we can park over in the west lot, we can park in the north lot, we can park in the lot that’s by the cafeteria, and we also have the Maple Street lot by the main gym,” Simpson said.

Simpson and other administrators have recently made some changes to who can park where, though.

“One change that did happen is the west lot between Subway and the tennis courts is no longer just a bus lot,” Simpson said. “That is a first come, first serve parking lot for staff and students.”

Lastly, Stevens reminds students of the risk and responsibility of driving.

“I don’t think anybody’s out there trying to hurt anybody, but that’s a very real possibility when we’re driving like we’re not supposed to be driving,” Stevens said.

Data

A total of 3058 teenager aged 13-19 died in motor vehicle crashes in 2021

about how, when and why teenagers get into crashes

Teenage motor vehicle crash deaths in 2021 occurred most frequently from 9 p.m. to midnight

... followed closely by the time between 6 p.m. and 9 p.m.

Source

photo by Grace Wheatley Parking lots here can be dangerous for pedestrians.

HER IMPACT

A glimpse into the impact women have in the community

by Lois Guest design by Sarynel Barbosa

Across the world, women are celebrated for their past, present and future throughout the month of March. In the community, women are making a major positive impact. For example, Mayor Mary Ferdon is one of the 12 female mayors in the state of Indiana.

“In Columbus and Bartholomew County, we are fortunate to have a lot of capable women in leadership positions in government, education, social services and business,” Ferdon said. “It’s important for women to speak out on issues that they believe are important and I believe that now women do get more recognition for their contributions.”

City Clerk Luann Welmer believes that Women’s History Month is a way to reflect on important women in history, while also inspiring and empowering young girls.

“Personally, I think Women’s History Month celebrations are not just a way to recognize historic, courageous women, but the highlights also serve as a great way to empower and encourage young girls and women to reach their goals and be successful,” Welmer said.

The Indianapolis Metro Police had the first female officers to patrol in vehicles in the 1960s. Making history like this has inspired female officer Danielle Stigers throughout her career.

“Women in law enforcement has evolved greatly since we were first allowed to become sworn personnel. For a very long time women were only allowed to do secretarial type jobs or were given jobs that were not true police work,” Stigers said. “However, that has changed and now we are in the exact same positions as men and have proven that we are capable of handling the job as well as men. “

Welmer has also been inspired by

important women achieving important things in history.

“I have always admired Laura Bush. As first lady during her husband’s presidency, I felt she led with grace and confidence, which was very becoming of a woman in this prestigious position,” Welmer said. “She was a true advocate for education reform and was a champion in encouraging women to pursue a higher education.”

Being a woman in a position of law enforcement can come with some challenges and struggles, as Stigers describes.

“I have experienced some gender bias and discrimination while working as a police officer. A lot of it comes when dealing with the public. Many citizens make comments about my gender that they do not make about my male cohorts,” Stigers said. “People will try to use my gender to question whether I am able to remain objective during a case.”

Not only do female officers face discrimination while actively solving a case, but Stigers recounts how they can also face troubles while just being in the community.

“Female officers, myself included, frequently have to deal with citizens sexually harassing us and saying incredibly inappropriate things to us,” Stigers said. “I believe most female officers would agree that the best way to handle these situations while on an active call is to either ignore the person’s behavior or tell them to stop.”

Ferdon explains how having a family while maintaining a career can be a hard task for women in any career.

“I believe one of the biggest challenges for women is trying to balance a career with a family. It was a challenge for me when I had my first son and I continue to see mothers struggle with that today,” Ferdon said. “My advice to women has always been to make the best decision, based on your circumstance at that time and to not feel

guilty. There is no one-size-fits-all so you should do what works for you and your family.”

Stigers elaborates on what it’s like to have a child while working in law enforcement.

“Physically the demands of having a family are greater on women because of pregnancy and breastfeeding. This can be really difficult while trying to work a shift,” Stigers said. “At some point it becomes unsafe for a pregnant woman to work in a full police officer capacity and they are put on light duty. Light duty usually entails administrative tasks and those tasks generally do not help women stay up to date on laws, policies, combative techniques, or day to day police work.”

Women’s history month gives communities the opportunity to reflect on important women in history while inspiring future generations to be confident in their gender.

“It’s important for our communities to develop strong leaders in all areas. My advice is to educate yourself in whatever areas you are interested in,” Ferdon said. “Develop a strong work ethic, ask questions, don’t be afraid to challenge others in a respectful way, find a good mentor and follow your passion.”

photo for the

Mayor Mary Ferdon

STAYING S.A.F.E.

What the S.A.F.E. program is and how students here can benefit from it

by Jasmine Yang design by Alex Osburn

On March 1, senior girls had the opportunity to participate in the Situational Awareness For Everyday program, also known as the S.A.F.E. program. Throughout the day, students were able to learn how to recognize when they might be in a dangerous situation, how to avoid these dangerous situations, how to practice safer partying and basic self-defense tactics. Student resource officer Eric Stevens emphasized the importance of students participating in the S.A.F.E. program.

“The seniors at least aren’t going to be here next year and I’m afraid they don’t think about safety as much as they should. They’ve got their parents or with whomever they live kind of looking out for them and other folks here at the school looking out for them, so maybe they aren’t thinking about it as much as they should,” Stevens said. “Now in a lot of cases, they’re going out on their own, even if it’s a college or someplace they really need to think about that stuff. So we try to help point out some things to look for and ways to avoid situations mainly and so on.”

English teacher Peyton Prentice participated in the S.A.F.E. program when she was a senior here and reflects upon how she benefited from it.

“I think I was more confident going

off into college with at least a little bit of knowledge,” Prentice said. “Especially [with] safer partying because you don’t want to be socially isolated when you go to college, you don’t want to be separated and unable to participate in things or afraid to participate in things. I think I was more aware of risks. I remember the first weekend at college there was a party, I was like ‘Should I go,’ ‘Should I not go.’ Well, we could go and not drink and just hang out and that’s fine, that’s okay.”

Prentice further elaborates on specific skills she was able to gain from participating in the program.

“Something I took from it personally, was that oftentimes I might have friends that wanted to choose to make different decisions than I did, but what I could do was that I could just go hang out,” Prentice said. “I might attend something and just hang out and be the responsible one that makes sure that everyone makes it home. They [also] talk about how you put yourself at risk by being in a situation at all, but also they talk about managing that risk. Like you can be at a place, but being at a place and participating are different things.”

What Prentice was able to gain from the program aligns with the explanation Stevens gave as to why the S.A.F.E. program started.

“That first year that we were school

resource officers, it was myself and Sargeant Julie Q., a parent of an East senior said ‘Hey, my daughter is going to college next year and she’s super smart, good grades, in all the activities and everything but she has no clue how to take care of herself,’” Stevens said. “So that one parent saying ‘I’m really worried about it, is there something you can do for my daughter to help her be safer in the coming years’ got us thinking, well, yeah, if he wants it, then I’m sure all kinds of parents would want it, so that got the ball rolling and we got it going from the ground up.”

Although there is not a specific program provided for underclassmen here, Stevens provides a program that underclassmen girls can participate in order to feel better prepared for their future.

“The Columbus Police Department offers a physical self-defense class, specifically for women,” Stevens said. “Even if you’re under 18, you can still do that with parents’ permission, so that’s something that doesn’t teach all the things we teach, but at least teaches some of the physical tactics in case something happens.”

Ultimately, Prentice explains how the S.A.F.E. program is worth it and provides information pertinent to the future.

“I know it takes you out of your classes and it can be stressful to be taken out of your class and miss things, but there’s valuable information in it,” Prentice said. “I’m sure if the inaugural one was good, they’ve made it better ever since.”

THE GUIDE TO

The

what the

believes to be a crime Source indianalifeline.org

photo illustration by Alex Osburn

HISTORY ABROAD

The National Honor Society looks forward to their Spring Break trip to Italy

by Liz Carrigan design by Sarynel Barbosa

The plane streaks down the runway. Nearing the end of the path, the plane’s nose lifts skyward and the wheels retreat into the body of the plane. 57 students and parents have officially departed for Italy. The National Honors Society, or NHS, trip to Italy over Spring Break is approaching quickly.

Senior Bri Guthrie details what the trip looks like to her and why she is excited for it.

“This trip will be a visit to Venice, Florence and Rome to see various monuments and famous sights in Italy,” Guthrie said. “Because I am planning on majoring in Art History in college, I am most looking forward to seeing so many iconic sculptures and paintings. I’m also excited to share this experience with my mom and dad, who are chaperoning.”

Guthrie clarifies how travelers qualify to go on the trip.

“I am a member of the National Honors Society and I also took AP United States History last year with Mr. Russell, making me eligible for the trip,” Guthrie said.

A major trip, such as the NHS trip to Italy, has an extensive planning process. Trip coordinator and social studies teacher Chad Russell details the necessary preparations.

“ [The trip planning] takes two years. We do two years of recruiting, so as soon as this one’s over I’ll begin to choose the next destination, the next trip we’re going to go on, then when we get back in August we will start to recruit,” Russell said. “I let all of our students that are juniors, that will be seniors

the following year, I let them all know about it.”

The recruitment process involved a series of meetings for participants and parents to gain information about the trips.

“So with each incoming class we do recruitment meetings. I’ll hold informational meetings for parents and students so they understand the cost, the timing and what all it includes. I make sure that they know that it’s safe,” Russell said. “Once we get everybody that’s going to go we start to have traveler meetings. We talk about how to pack, what to expect and what our expectations are. We talk about the kinds of things we’re going to see, how we handle free time, what travel days look like and all the logistics of it.”

As the location for this year’s trip, Italy is full of landmarks from various periods in history. Guthrie shares what monument she is most excited to see.

“I am most excited to see the Sistine Chapel in Rome,” Guthrie said. “Specifically, Michelangelo’s Creation of Adam, as well as the rest of the fresco on the ceiling.”

Additionally, Russell explains what he is most interested in seeing in Rome.

“Every one of the cities we’re going to are so different,” Russell said. “With Rome, you have the heart of the Roman empire, so the Colosseum and the Pantheon. It’s just a beautiful city filled with

landmarks and things that I can’t wait to show them.”

The other two cities on the itinerary offer their own unique attractions to Russell.

“Florence is the heart of the Renaissance, so you’re walking in the footsteps of giants like Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, Botticelli and Bruneliski,” Russell said. “Venice, there’s no other place like it in the world. Venice is unique and it’s just absolutely beautiful. To see the canals, and again they have the art and the architecture, but it’s just such a place of wonder. There’s no other place like it anywhere in the world. It’s so iconic.”

TRIP

photo by Jasmine Yang

Students and parents attend an informational meeting on Feb. 13 for the National Honor Society trip to Italy.

GRINDING THE GEARS

Students here participate in robotics

by Annie Green design by Claire Davis

As students advance their studies and education throughout high school, opportunities to join extracurricular activities arise. One potential club students can join is robotics. Senior Keegan Harris shared his reason why he chose to learn about robotics.

“I was able to learn about what my interests were and I shifted from wanting to go into engineering to wanting to go into computer science,” Harris said. “I have learned more about coding, motors, wiring, data analysis and more abstract skills such as communication, teamwork and decision making. Harris also shared his thoughts on who should join the robotics team.

“I think that anyone who thinks they might want to do something technical or has the potential to like doing something technical should,” Harris said. “This will allow them to get great experience in engineering and programming while also seeing if it interests them.”

Alongside Harris, senior Jianing Wang shared his thoughts on robotics.

“My favorite part of robotics has to be the feeling of when we finally get the robot to do what we want it to,” Wang said. “When we program it, there are so many logical problems and issues we don’t account for, so it can take days to debug even a single part of the robot, making the end result infinitely more rewarding.”

Wang also stated how participating in robotics has

helped him in his classes.

“The stuff we do in robotics is honestly more advanced than what is taught at school, so it hasn’t helped me much in my classes, it’s more the other way around,” Wang said. “Since I’m on the programming sub-team, taking computer science classes helped me get a grasp of basic concepts that were needed to understand the structure of the code for the robot.” Sophomore Harshil Gandhi shared what he learns in robotics.

“Everyday in robotics, we learn collaboration and teamwork skills which allow us to communicate and work towards a common goal,” Ghandi said. “These skills which I developed through the program are used in my daily life in any environment in which I would have to work with a team or group to achieve a goal.”

Gandhi also shared how he applies what he learns into his C4 classes.

“The key takeaways I have gained from being a part of robotics are teamwork, communication and leadership skills which inherently help me in my classes,” Ghandi said. “I also got a more hands-on take on engineering and computer science which has benefited me in my C4 Engineering and Computer Science classes.”

Junior Grace Huang has been able to not only benefit academically, but socially.

“I’ve met a ton of great people and friends in robotics,” Huang said. “One of my favorite aspects is the community there.”

photo for the Triangle

KNIFE AND LIFE SKILLS

English, math, science and social studies often come to mind when high school classes are mentioned. These subjects are required to graduate. They are commonly regarded as knowledge that every student should know for life after high school. However, culinary arts classes provide students with real-life lessons and experiences not found in any other classroom.

They teach students how to prepare ingredients, how to follow a recipe, how to serve food and ultimately, how to feed themselves.

Sophomore CJ Kirkland discusses one of the skills that has been valuable to learn as a year one culinary student.

“Knife skills, one hundred percent,” Kirkland said. “I’ve learned how to hold a knife and how to slice things, what the terms like dice and mince and all that stuff really means.”

As a year two student, junior Eli Pike has been able to develop on these foundational knife skills throughout his time in the culinary program.

“[Knife skills] was the first thing we learned in the kitchen first year, and it’s only gotten better,” Pike said. “I used to not really be able to handle a knife at all, but now I can confidently cut, dice in varying sizes and mince.”

Along with how to use a knife, culinary students better learn how to work with heat in a kitchen setting.

“Also, [we’ve learned] heat control, how to not burn things or making sure that something is properly

done without risking getting yourself sick or burning it or losing the flavor,” Pike said.

For Kirkland, the best part of the culinary program is learning how to cook different recipes and experiencing the results of that learning firsthand.

“[My favorite part is] the food that we make,” Kirkland said. “I will eat my food and be surprised at how good it is.”

Similarly, Pike enjoys the hands-on experience of practicing and perfecting different culinary skills, which he plans to use to pursue a career as a pastry chef in the future.

“Obviously I like the labs and being in the kitchen,” Pike said. “The repetition and doing it physically really ingrains the muscle memory in order for me to remember how to do these things easily and quickly.”

Along with technical skills for working with food, culinary students have the opportunity to experience what it is like to work in a restaurant setting.

“We’ve learned a lot about how to organize a business and especially a lot of menu preparation, how to formulate those and how to run a restaurant, really,” Pike said.

Chef Carrie Douglas teaches culinary classes here and oversees the restaurant, and she offers insight into the benefits students gain from cooking food for a reallife food service scenario.

“What the kids are getting is what we call work-based learning because not all of them can have jobs, so this is a way that they can see and do and get that work-

Members of the culinary program share how culinary arts classes have impacted their present and future

by Alex Osburn design by Aidan Brown

based learning experience,” Douglas said.

Furthermore, Douglas adds that even if students end up pursuing a career that does not involve the culinary arts, the skills and experience they gain through these classes can be beneficial in a wide variety of applications.

“Whether they’re going to go into the culinary industry full-time, at some point, almost everybody works in a restaurant, so it’s a job skill that they can have,” Douglas said. “Especially at the college level, no matter what you’re doing, most restaurants, that’s the job you get, because it’s what works with your schedule.”

TASTES OF THE PAST

Roasted

Salad: Pear and Gorgonzola Salad with Honey Balsamic Vinaigrette

Entree: Grilled Pork Tenderloin with a Balsamic Mushroom Glaze

SOUP:

Clam Chowder

Dessert: Grapefruit Cupcake with a Citrus Cream Cheese Frosting

One of the culinary restaurant’s old winter menus

photo by Novah Ulm

Junior Eli Pike cooks in the kitchen.

IN HIS NATURAL HABITAT

Science teacher John Murphy has an advantage in every game of two truths and a lie he has ever played. Truth: he got kicked by a kangaroo. Truth: he set up a turtle soup stand instead of a lemonade stand at his house when he was a kid. Truth: he used to run over 3,000 miles every year. However, in addition to all of these unusual accomplishments, Murphy is a full-time teacher.

“[I] started in 2004,” Murphy said. “I’m halfway through my 20th year.”

Even though Murphy has been teaching here for 20 years, he didn’t start out in education.

“I kinda got bit by the teaching bug when I hit my 40s,” Murphy said. “I got bit because there’s a lot of teachers in my family.”

Since starting his career, Murphy’s popularity among his students has grown, and his openness to talking is what helps attracts students. AP Environmental Science student junior Sara Hobbeheydar elaborates on this trait.

“He’s fun to talk to,” Hobbeheydar said. “He’s always looking for conversation, and he’s really open to talking.”

Additionally, junior Neil White reflects on Murphy’s easy conversation in a classroom setting.

“He’s very open to talking to students in a way that’s not just about the classroom and other things in life,” White said.

A major “tourist attraction” that Murphy offers is the animals in his classroom. The number of animals fluctuates all the time, but he currently has around 20.

“Most of them I adopted, either for free or for a minimal

price because people went away to college,” Murphy said.

However, Murphy is not the only one who appreciates the animals in his classroom.

“My favorite part of Mr. Murphy is all the animals he has in his classroom,” Hobbeheydar said.

With this small zoo in his classroom, Murphy describes his personal favorite animal he cares for.

“My favorite is one of my leopard geckos,” Murphy said. “He’s now the oldest one, and I had him since he hatched.”

Knowing how to engage with students is important for an educator, but being passionate about the subject can have a completely different appeal.

“Biology and math have always been my major interests in high school and college,” Murphy said.

Murphy is not just an educator; he is also a world traveler with notable accomplishments and varied interests.

“I’ve been to a lot of places,” Murphy said. “[My favorite place I’ve been was] the rainforest in Australia, which is like the top little peek of Australia.”

To add to his list of currently traveled locations, Murphy has some others on his bucket list.

“One on my bucket list of places to go is, I’m a quarter Indian, so I want to go visit my relatives in Cashmere,” Murphy said. “And I want to travel around Antarctica, the continent there, because there’s a huge amount of lakes and lots of interesting geological features.”

Room 2301 is home to over 20 animals and science teacher John Murphy

by Stella Gaylord design by Maia Jamieson

Not all of Murphy’s 25 animals are named, but here are 14 of his critters

Raphael Donatello

Pumpkin Seed

Tootsie Roll Bat

Issac

Rosalin Franklin

The Twins

photo by Novah Ulm Murphy feeds one of his animals.

OPINION IS IT COUNTRY?

As Beyonce moves into the country music space, it’s time to reconsider what is and isn’t country music

by Nicolas Bowers

During the Grammys on Feb. 4, Beyoncé rocked the world and not only announced new music, but also an entire genre shift to country music. With the release of her two first singles, “16 Carriages” and more prominently, “Texas Hold ‘Em”, people have been asking a lot of questions. Is Beyoncé country? What is country music? How do we even define music genres? The problem is, there’s no one right answer to these questions.

Critics of Beyoncé’s new music have said that her new music is not country. In their opinions, using banjos and guitars, and making references to Texas doesn’t constitute country music. But if that doesn’t make it country, what does? Some country music stations have even gone as far as refusing to play “Texas Hold ‘Em” because it’s “not country”. Yes, her music sounds very different from Luke Combs, Morgan Wallen or Chris Stapleton’s music, but that’s the point. Genres of music are exactly that: genres. There’s no one rubric or key feature that makes a song country, or rock, or rap, or pop or folk. It’s a combination of instruments, vocals and lyrics, and possibly most importantly, how the music sounds when all of those elements are combined.

Country has a long and diverse history of making music that can sound different, while all staying in the same genre. Take Morgan Wallen, Tracy Chapman and Taylor Swift. All record-breaking, critically-acclaimed country artists (at least in one point in their careers), while also all sounding very different. Over the years, country music has evolved, and changed with the times. That’s normal, and all music does that. If music never changed, the world would be much more boring and stale.

Beyoncé’s new singles certainly qualify for some elements of country, and it’s also doing incredibly well on the Billboard Charts too. And while “Texas Hold ‘Em” might not be “traditional” country, it has certainly influenced by the genre. New takes on genres can even help those same genres, and bring in new, younger, and more diverse fans. So all of this is to say, Beyoncé can be country, because there’s no strict definition for country music. That’s the thing about music, and art in general. It’s all up to your interpretation.

STANLEY CUPS

by Claire Davis

I’m sure that you’ve seen classmates carrying around the trendy Stanley cups, or that you yourself even own one. They are the new craze. In 2023 the company made $750 million, according to Statistica.com. I myself have seen an increase in their use every day. I think that having a reusable water bottle is great. For one, it reminds us to drink water, which is super important, especially as school ramps up and we all get busy. It’s good to have a reminder so that we can stay both focused and healthy. Also, the water bottles hold a large amount of water, from 14 to 40 ounces while keeping your drink cold. This means that you don’t have to fill up on water as often. Lastly, the reusable factor means that you’re spending less money on plastic bottles while helping save the planet by not using them at all. I also think the fact that they are customizable and come with different charms and colors is a big plus and makes it very fun.

While these water bottles do have positives, they cause some problems as well. Since they have become a trend, a lot of people can be seen on social media buying more than one. Types of videos I’ve seen on Instagram involve different people showcasing the fact that they have a different Stanley for each outfit, or videos of a display in a store that gets raided so that cups are gone in a matter of seconds. This completely undermines the fact that they are reusable. Only one is necessary. Also, from what I’ve seen they aren’t very practical. Their shape makes them hard to fit into a backpack, so you have to carry them around, and at school you need to put them on or next to your desk, which makes them prone to falling over. While some people don’t mind this, It would definitely annoy me.

I don’t personally have a Stanley and I fail to understand why there is so much hype over them. They are just water bottles, and fairly expensive compared to brands like Owala and Hydroflask, according to the New York Times. I don’t think they should be heavily criticized either, they’re genuinely good quality. It’s interesting to look into the reasoning behind these trends, but at the end of the day they’re just water bottles and shouldn’t be so controversial.

Claire Davis investigates the hype surrounding Stanley cups

ONE LAST TRY SUPPORTING THE SCOUTS

by Jasmine Yang

On Feb. 22, Netflix’s live-action adaptation “Avatar: The Last Airbender” was released 19 years after the original series premiered on Nickelodeon.

When news first broke about this adaptation being produced, fans of the original series were very hesitant to celebrate. The “Avatar” series has had a rough history of adaptations being made, and we had no idea if this adaptation would be any different.

I found myself enjoying it despite initially being skeptical about the adaptation. The key point to remember is that Netflix’s version is meant to be an adaptation, not a perfect frame-for-frame recreation of the original series. While main ideas and plot points remain the same between the two versions, both studios execute the story in unique ways.

For example, the first season of the animated series has a much lighter, overall happy tone and color while the live-action has much more mature and darker undertones throughout its episodes. The live-action also gives much more useful background information to the story compared to the original.

However, I think the live-action failed to properly understand that Aang is a child. In the live-action he is mature and goal oriented, while the original series acknowledges the fact that he is a child and wants to have fun from time to time. Another plot point Netflix’s adaptation fails to address is the connection that grows between Katara, Sokka and Aang. We tend to focus more on their moments separately rather than them learning to fight and travel the world as a group who just met each other.

One of the reasons I became skeptical about the quality of the liveaction adaptation was when news was released that the actor for Sokka, an Indigenous character, allegedly gave false information of his ethnicity. Having proper representation is important to Indigenous, East Asian and Southeast Asian viewers, causing this news to be very disheartening, as we have yet to receive proof one way or the other.

My favorite change the adaptation decided to include was much more information about Zuko and Iroh’s relationship. It was developed beautifully throughout the adaptation. I also loved the scenery and all the animal-hybrids they had to find a way to create. Changing an animated series to a live-action adaptation is not an easy task, especially not with “Avatar: The Last Airbender.” Despite being faced with these hardships, the producers and showrunners did a great job of executing beautiful scenery and ensured that the animal-hybrids remained faithful to the original show.

While I think I’ll always have a soft spot for the original animated series, I genuinely found myself enjoying Netflix’s live-action adaptation. I hope Netflix listens to everyone’s reviews in order to be able to produce another two seasons, but also adapts the show to people’s criticisms.

Supporting the youth of America, one cookie at a time

by Cecilia Gutierrez

Paint me blue and call me Cookie Monster the way I’ll annihilate a box of girl scout cookies. Any kind of them. I love Girl Scout cookies so much. They’re the best. Here are my personal opinions about five of my absolute favorite Girl Scout cookies, as provided by the official Girl Scout website, girlscouts.org.

“Adventurefuls” are described by the official Girl Scout website as being an “indulgent brownie-inspired cookie topped with caramel flavored crème with a hint of sea salt”. And let me tell you, I will be indulging in those once they hit the stands. I am a sucker for anything with brownie and caramel, and you will catch me outside the local shops going feral over these delicacies.

“Do-Si-Dos” are a cookie described by the Girl Scouts website as a “crunchy oatmeal sandwich cookie with peanut butter filling”. And they are certainly just that. They are still very good though. They’re the perfect balance of peanut butter and oatmeal. It’s like if you took the second best part of a peanut butter and jelly sandwich and the best (and only) part of oatmeal. It’s beautiful.

“Thin Mints” are a classic cookie described by the girl scout website as being a “crisp, chocolate cookie dipped in a delicious mint chocolaty coating”. They are like a York Peppermint Pattie created with the love and dedication of these young girls who sell them outside the local stores.

“Peanut Butter Patties/Tagalongs” are described by the Girl scout website as being a “crispy cookie layered with peanut butter and covered with a chocolaty coating”. They taste a spoonful of peanut butter on a graham cracker in the best way possible. These gorgeous blessings on Earth taste like a circle, complete and whole. They are beautiful and make me feel like I’m transported to a land of deliciousness that would make any cookie appreciator cry tears of joy. These are by far my favorite Girl Scout cookies.

The last cookie on my list are the “Trefoils.” These classics are described on the Girl Scout website as “ionic shortbread cookies inspired by the original Girl Scout cookie recipe”. They are simply magnificent, and their simplicity only adds to the complexly plain flavor profile of these basic but beautiful masterpieces.

In conclusion, Girl Scout cookies are the backbone of America. These cookies have been around for awhile, and they don’t seem to be stopping production anytime soon, thankfully. Anyways, buy Girl Scout cookies to support these young and hard working girls while also getting yourself a sweet treat in the process. It’s a win-win situation: supporting the youth of America and getting a box of some of the best cookies a youth organization can produce.

A review of Netflix’s “Avatar the Last Airbender” live action remake of Nickelodeon’s original series

BON VOYAGE

Students discuss their plans for Spring Break

by Ajay Singireddy

“My family is going to Cancun, Mexico for Spring Break. I’m most excited to see the sun and watch college basketball. I always love making brackets with my family for March Madness on the beach.”

senior

Alex Clark

“I am going with my family Crater of Diamonds and Hot Springs in Arkansas. Then we are staying in a cabin in Oklahoma to check it off our list. As a family we are trying to go to all 50 states, and we are about halfway there.”

freshman

Brooklyn Donner

“I am going to the Smokey Mountains and staying at my friend’s cabin. I’m most excited to go camping with my friends.”

senior Vignesh Premkumar

FLORIDA is the most common spring break destination

11 respondents

36% of students have exciting plans for Spring Break

210 students were surveyed from resource classrooms and the library

HIDDEN IN THE HAZE

Even though there were only a couple times when the nicotine actually entered the student’s system, suddenly the cravings started appearing out of nowhere. Sitting in the middle of class. Walking to get ice cream after school. Driving to a basketball game. Talking to friends on the phone. It wasn’t like this in the movies.

According to Cleveland Clinic, nicotine dependence can begin after just one or two uses. Whether it comes in the form of cigarettes or vapes, gum or pouches, the addictive chemical faces no lack of notoriety in today’s world. With the rise and fall of popularity among different nicotine products, the media has become a sort of battleground where influencers, health campaigns and television all compete to push their messages about the balance between recreation and addiction. This can lead to conflicting ideas and perceptions about nicotine and tobacco products alike and, in turn, influence lifestyles among media consumers.

In a climate where the media pushes varying perceptions of nicotine and tobacco, the attitudes advertisements young people see have been found to influence use of these products. For example, a 2023 study of teens across four countries found that 79% of respondents who had never used an e-cigarette had seen at least one ad for

The Triangle staff examines the effects media can have on nicotine and tobacco use among high schoolers

vapes, compared to 95% of respondents who currently use e-cigarettes. Additionally, participants who reported never using vapes were significantly less likely to have seen positive advertising of these products compared to participants who reported currently using vapes. Advertising is just one form of media that can contribute to nicotine perceptions and habits. This study demonstrates how powerful of a tool media can be in forming perceptions of nicotine and tobacco and even contributing to new habits, especially among young people who spend a large amount of time interacting with screens.

However, there are just as many instances where media is utilized to combat nicotine and tobacco use and warn of the associated health risks. Seventy percent of the Triangle staff believes advertisements are targeted against nicotine use, rather than supporting it. One prominent campaign against these substances is “The Real Cost,” created by the Food and Drug Administration. This initiative has a specific focus on reaching youth and informing them about the negative impacts of tobacco and nicotine on their bodies. The FDA’s advertisements against these substances can be found on social media, television and even on posters in some schools. Numerous other organizations have contributed to this movement against

nicotine and tobacco use in teens, including the National Cancer Institute, the CDC, the Truth Initiative and the American Lung Association.

Certain types of nicotine products can also be perceived as more or less harmful than others. Fifty-seven percent of the Triangle staff believes vapes and e-cigarettes are more harmful than actual cigarettes. According to the CDC, the aerosol from e-cigarettes contains nicotine along with some carcinogens, heavy metals and volatile organic compounds, all of which are associated with negative health impacts. Some of the currently observed effects of vapes include harm to developing fetuses, harming brain development in youth and lung conditions. Additionally, because vapes are relatively newer compared to other forms of tobacco, scientists are still discovering the effects of different substances contained in them.

Although the reality of nicotine and tobacco use may be vastly different from some depictions in the media, health organizations have recognized this and created their own efforts to combat misinformation. Given enough time and collaboration, it might be possible to shift the media’s depiction of these substances so that teens are simply discouraged from using nicotine or tobacco.

CLOUDED

A deep dive into the world of nicotine products in our community

by Izzy Munn, Sylvia Sasse, Deshna Venkatachalam and Lydia Weed

The bright blue device flashes in the student’s eyes before watching the exchange of a vape in the school bathroom.

“Possessing, using, distributing, purchasing, or selling tobacco or nicotinecontaining products of any kind or in any form. These products include e-cigarettes, vaping devices, any type of look-alike products, or other related products or devices associated with tobacco or nicotine use or electronic nicotine delivery systems.”

According to Number 14, Section A of the student handbook, any form of tobacco or nicotine is prohibited on school grounds. However, these products are still consistently circulating in the school. Based on an in-school survey conducted by the Triangle, 82 percent of students who admitted to using nicotine products claim to have gotten them from friends. This alternative stems from the raised protocol in stores. An anonymous female gas station worker explains the process of buying a nicotine product.

“For anyone, they must be over 21 and they must be carded by team members,” the female worker said. “We have to check for a picture ID and verify the expiration date and the birth date.”

This process is heavily enforced and is necessary for anyone purchasing nicotine products.

“If we have two people together who look old enough to have an ID, but only [one person] is buying, I’m going to card [both],” the female worker said. “It’s the law.”

As a gas station worker, she sells a variety of nicotine products, including vape and Zyn. However, she sees vapes being bought more frequently.

As stated, the CDC discovered a monthly unit sale

increase of 46.6 percent for e-cigarettes, commonly known as vapes. Similarly, Philip Morris International announced that it shipped about 350 million cans of Zyn in 2023, a 62 percent growth compared to the previous year. With an increase in sales comes an increase in popularity and advertisements become more frequent.

One advertisement for Zyn in particular states, “A simpler form of nicotine,” which attempts to draw consumers in with a “modern” and “clean” approach to nicotine. Additionally, more advertisements can be seen from unofficially endorsed posts on social media. For example, combined, #vape and #zyn have over 1.6 million videos on TikTok. The use of advertising in media reaches young demographics, and according to the Pew Research Center, 60 percent of teens say they use TikTok.

Despite Zyn’s rise in the media and its claim to being “cleaner” than other products, only 5.76 percent of students said they have used Zyn. On the other hand, 21.8 percent of students have admitted to vaping. Since both of these products contain significant amounts of nicotine, there are several side effects. One male student explains his first experience with nicotine and the side effects that came with it.

“When you start using nicotine you get what’s called ‘nic-sick,’ which is just feeling super nauseous,” the male student said.

The male student, a previous vape user, now consumes Zyn regularly.

“I had a couple of buddies that did Zyn, so I picked it up,” the male student said. “[I use it about] six times a day.”

Zyn is a nicotine pouch that a user will insert in between their gum and top lip. The nicotine is then absorbed into the bloodstream.

A CHEMICAL BREAKDOWN

How nicotine travels through the body

Source addictionblog.org

1 Nicotine is consumed and absorbed through the mucosal linings in the nose and mouth

The chemical passes through the lungs and enters the bloodstream

2

3

Nicotine stimulates the release of adrenaline and dopamine, thus creating an addictive reward system

Through the bloodstream, the chemical reaches your heart and is transferred to your arteries and then to your brain

4

51 total vape incidents at Columbus North since the start of the school year

PRODUCT # OF INCIDENTS

TOBACCO 25 STUDENTS

5 FEMALE, 20 MALE

5 FRESHMAN, 10 SOPHOMORES, 4 JUNIORS, 3 SENIORS

THC 26 STUDENTS

2 FEMALE,

24 MALE

5 FRESHMAN, 13 SOPHOMORES, 7 JUNIORS, 4 SENIORS

“You put one in your mouth and [get a] buzz for about 15 minutes,” the male student said.

Both products contain nicotine, and small amounts of nicotine can negatively alter brain chemistry while growing up. Part-time school nurse Kristy Hall explains this phenomenon.

“Nicotine can cause problems with impulse control, and it interferes with the brain. When your brain is developing, it deals with decision making and [nicotine] can cause problems with mood and learning,” Hall said. “So, when your brain is young, it’s trying to learn and any substance that can interfere with that development can cause irritability, instability, and anger control.

Given that the effects of nicotine are only temporary, nicotine dependence arises when one keeps on using to constantly gain these feelings

“It is highly addictive to the young brain,” Hall said. “When you’re addicted to something, you’re going to [crave] that substance so you’re going to be irritable, have anxiety, and difficulties in

controlling your mood.”

As previously mentioned, the use of nicotine is prohibited but still seen. Random drug tests are commonly administered to students participating in any extracurricular to identify students using these products. These tests can detect nicotine in the bloodstream. However, the process is conducted by a third party.

“We have a third party come in and collect urine tests. That is done here but we do not do the testing,” Hall said. “The nurse’s office and the school itself don’t have any role in the actual testing part of it.”

Janae Norman, Student Assistance Coordinator, describes the exact reason for drug testing in a school setting.

“Students caught under the influence, or in illicit possession of, unauthorized drugs, narcotics, or other mood-altering chemical substances are required to complete a drug screen at the West Group,” Norman said. “Parents and guardians of students who are involved in athletics and/or co/extracurricular activities are required to sign a consent

“[Nicotine] devices have not been around long enough for us to know what’s coming.”

Class of 2027 Academic

Victoria Shireman

Coach

form to be in the pool for a random drug screen.

Based on Norman’s data, on average, there are a total of 150 random screens per semester. Of those, about two will come back positive for drug use. Norman concludes by comparing this data to before COVID-19.

“The number of violations, especially for THC, has risen since Covid,” Norman said.

Class of 2027 academic coach

Victoria Shireman explains the harmful technology of the vape industry.

“It’s largely an unregulated industry, especially THC vapes. If [a substance] dissolves in glycerin it can go in a vape. Many things can be put in a vape that you should not be inhaling,” Shireman said.

THC, or tetrahydrocannabinol, is the mind-altering compound in cannabis. This chemical can be stored in a vape device and inhaled by the user, as stated by the National Institute on Drug Abuse. THC does not contain nicotine, but it is rising among the student body.

“A joint back in your parent’s day

21.8%OF STUDENTS SURVEYED ADMITTED TO USING NICOTINE PRODUCTS

HOW MUCH NICOTINE ARE YOU CONSUMING? CIGARETTE

12 MG

7 MG ELF BAR VAPE

might have 6-10 percent THC. One hit on a THC vape could be 98 percent THC,” Shireman said. “It does a lot of important things in your brain and creates really strong addiction pathways. So while it seems like a cool thing to do, avoid it.”

However, avoiding it can be a challenge due to its societal presence.

“A pretty regular part of growing up and being a teenager is pushing boundaries and exploring and testing limits,” Shireman said. “I think students are kind of drawn to that. It’s just like your parents or grandparents who tried to sneak a cigarette.”

Date to time and evolution, sneaking a cigarette turned into sneaking vapes, simple devices that hold more power.

“Because of how the vaporizer devices are created, the amount of nicotine from a single inhale is so much bigger than one cigarette,” Shireman said, “It doesn’t take more than one or two puffs on a vape to feel bad when you don’t have it. It starts as just a natural exploration of freedom and pushing boundaries, and very quickly students find themselves addicted.”

Shireman sees this cycle firsthand as the school tries to prevent the use of nicotine and THC on school grounds.

“It is an issue that more students are vaping in the school building during the school day than is ideal. Ideally, there is none, but it is an issue that pops up pretty consistently,” Shireman said.

Shireman explains the different educational repercussions of being

40 MG

caught with one of the many nicotine or THC products.

“There are lots of educational pieces that happen if you get caught with a vape. If you get caught vaping with a THC vape, that’s one [program]” Shireman said. “If it’s a nicotine vape that’s a separate path. Overall, there are certain boxes that have to be checked before you’re allowed to come back to school.”

Awareness is the first step in preventing these disciplinary issues. Shireman briefly discusses one way to spread awareness that the school is taking.

“There are some advisory lessons surrounding vaping and what it is and why we shouldn’t do it,” Shireman said. “Specifically how it’s mainstream but don’t understand what it is and what you’re inhaling.

D.A.R.E. is a drug abuse resistance education program, with the program’s goal being to educate students around the community about drugs. D.A.R.E. officer Zachary Romero explains this goal further.

“I believe that we focus on all areas and operate on the premise that drugs aren’t bad, they’re just dangerous,” Romero said. “We focus on drug education but we also focus a lot on helping people decide when they’re in a compromised position and things like that, and helping them find the tools to effectively communicate and get themselves out of those situations.”

Due to Romero’s experience with

20 MG

students, he acknowledges the importance of communication when it comes to hard subjects. Specifically, how communication is important in prevention.

“I would just be to have more conversations about it and make it more talked about, and that’s what we try to do with the DARE program,” Romero said. “[For example], Bartholomew County D.A.R.E. program talks with sixth and fifth graders mainly and educates them on the negative health effects drugs have on them. Specifically, nicotine and alcohol are two bigger ones that we speak about and educate kids about.”

However, education only goes as far as teaching what is known. The recent boost in popularity with products like ZYN opens a whole new discussion.

“I don’t know a whole lot but I would assume it would be the same as about any other smokeless tobacco,” Romero said. “It seems to be a lot more popular. I would just treat it as any other smokeless tobacco.”

With different nicotine products appearing on social media and in general, Shireman believes it’s becoming harder to understand what exactly these products contain.

“The main thing for me, coming from a biology background is that you don’t know what’s in it so why are you inhaling it,” Shireman said. “[Nicotine] devices have not been around long enough for us to know what’s coming.”

SWIMMING FROM SECTIONALS TO STATE

North state qualifiers recount swimming for sectionals and state

by Cecilia Gutierrez design by Maia Jamieson

The smell of chlorine, the chatter of spectators, the adrenaline of the participants. This was the moment the swimmers had been preparing for all season. All the hours spent practicing, perfecting their technique and getting down on their times came down to this: swimming Sectionals. This event would determine whether or not they qualified for State, as Coach Mike Cunningham describes.

“It’s the ultimate meet for the athletes,” Cunningham said.

Three individuals are entered for each event on Feb. 22. They are then seated by time, and then based on the results of the event, the top 32 come back for state on Feb. 23. From those 32, the top 16 come back for finals on Feb. 24. Top eight are considered A final and bottom eight are considered B final or consoles.

Girls Sectionals were held Feb. 1 at East Central High School in St. Leon, Indiana. Girls Sectionals went objectively well, as Cunningham recounts.

“100 percent of girls qualified for finals,” Cunningham said. “We had 100 percent best times.”

Overall, the girls finished in second. Girls State was held two days later on Feb. 3 at the IU Natatorium in Indianapolis. Sophomore Ainsley Sherlock was sent for the 100-yard breaststroke. The boys sectionals took place on Feb. 7 at East Central High School. Cunningham describes how the boys were

similarly successful to the girls.

“The boys also had 100 percent best times,” Cunningham said.

Two boys swimmers were sent to State: Senior Jude Abdallah for the 50-yard freestyle and junior Diego Cotero Tapia for the 100-yard butterfly. A relay was also sent, which consisted of Abdallah, Cotero Tapia, sophomore Aarush Mahato and senior Isaac Proffit, with senior David Zang as an alternate.

Cunningham emphasizes how state is the ultimate goal, but it is hard to achieve.

“It is pretty hard, pretty difficult, times are very fast,” Cunningham said. “There are two ways [to advance], you either win your event at your sectional or make the qualifying. Most have won their event. You can also get pulled in if they need to fill 32 spots.”

32 participants come on Friday for prelims, with only 16 making it to state finals on Saturday. Girls State took place on Feb. 10, with prelims on Feb. 9 at the IU Natatorium in Indianapolis. Sherlock was seated 26th, but was moved up to 24th during state.

“It was very thrilling and exciting with some nerves, but I think it’s just a whole different vibe then there was at sectionals because it was a bigger pool,” Sherlock said. Sherlock describes how it felt to make it to State.

“It felt very accomplishing because I’ve always done the 100-yard breaststroke, and I’ve always been pretty good at it, but I never

thought that I would make it all the way there,” Sherlock said. “Knowing that I could take it all the way there felt very good.”

Boys State took place with prelims on Feb. 23 at the IU Natatorium in Indianapolis. Abdallah placed 30th for the 50-yard freestyle and explains the feelings associated with the competition.

“It was my first time and I wasn’t really nervous. I thought I’d be nervous, but I wasn’t. It was my last meet ever, so I was a little sad,” Abdallah said. “But the nerves from Sectionals weren’t really there, so I felt good.”

Cotero Tapia placed 26th in the 100 butterfly and recounts what the experience was like.

“I was with all my partners and friends, it was a fun experience,” Cotero Tapia said. “I’m proud of myself and of my team because we all made it to state.”

Swimming Sectionals are hard to get through and State is hard to get into because it takes a lot of skill, technique and training, but it all pays off in the end, as Cunningham describes.

“State is one of the most explosive high school events there is as far as cheering and loudness and fun,” Cunningham said. “It’s at one of the biggest swimming pools around. It’s a pretty cool experience to swim in.”

photo by Grace Wheatley Swimmers prepare to swim at sectionals on Feb. 15.

NOTHING BUT NOSTALGIA

Girls varsity basketball members reflect on this years’ season

by Gabe Carrillo design by Emma Warnock

The buzzer blares and the ball is thrown into the bounds of the court. The events of the game have been set into motion, and the outcome of the game yet to be known. Whether they win or lose, the athletes have the opportunity to look back on their games afterwards and use the lessons they learned to improve their skills and limits. Coach of the girls varsity basketball team, Brett White, explains how the team planned to work around the obstacles present during this season.

“We were a little undersized this year, so we felt like a team, but we’d have to be a team that would kind of run a little bit more,” White said. “Maybe shoot a few more perimeter shots than we normally have.”

Senior Olivia Johnson, a member of the girls varsity basketball team, does her own reflection on her goals from the beginning of the season.

“I kind of knew that I was going to have to take on more of a leadership position on the team because we were a smaller team this year, with not many upperclassmen,” Olivia

said. “I feel like I personally, for the most part, kind of filled that.”

The obstacles of this basketball season not only had to do with the size of the team, as Olivia Johnson recalls.

“I’d say this wasn’t the best season. We definitely had some ups and downs with injury,” Olivia said. “We were a young team and we didn’t really have very many upperclassmen, so that definitely had something to do with it. That played a really big role in how things went, I think.”

However, a student athlete’s battle can reside not only on the court, but also in the classroom. White explains how he hopes student athletes use their skills to perform well in the classroom.

“We hope our basketball players use the sport to kind of learn how to deal with adversity. Basketball really is a sport where you’re not going to have sustained success all the time. So how do you deal with that adversity when you face that?” White said. “Hopefully that will carry over to when you have situations in life where you have stress and adversity, and help decide how you are going to deal with those, and hopefully

in a positive manner.”

Olivia Johnson shares her perspective on how being an athlete, as well as a student, affects her daily life.

“It definitely keeps me busy and motivated. I feel like it gives me more of an incentive to keep my grades up because if you have bad grades, you can’t play,” Olivia said. “You’re always busy, always having practice after school. It definitely makes it more difficult to manage things.”

Freshman Avery Johnson, another member of the girls varsity basketball team, shares a separate point of view into how balancing sports and the first year of high school can affect a students daily schedule.

“I think that it definitely makes it a little harder because you don’t have time after school to get your homework done and stuff. You have to do it later and stay up later at night,” Avery said. “You have to work with homework and schoolwork on top of trying to do your sport and your activity. It makes managing your time more difficult, but makes it twice as important to use your time wisely.”

photo by -wwAlex Osburn

Freshman Avery Johnson dribbles during the varsity game against Columbus East on

A ROUTINE WIN

Gymnasts and coach explain plans and preparation for Sectionals

by Liz Carrigan design by Stella Gaylord

The gymnast flies through the air with grace. She sprints down the vaulting runways and springs over the platform, catapults from bar to bar, flips and sticks her landing on the beam and mesmerizes the audience with her floor routine. She tumbles her way into a victory and on to Sectionals. Every meet comes with its own unique challenges and successes, and Sectionals is no different.

Freshman Hannah Growe, who is the gymnastics team manager, clarifies how Sectionals differ from other competitions.

“There are a lot more teams there,” Growe said. “At most meets we only go against one other team but at sectionals we will go against [around] 10.”

Junior Arwyn Tian elaborates further on the differences between the meets.

“There are a lot more teams, and there’s a lot more pressure on everyone to go on to regionals,” Tian said. “Usually we have six Varsity competing, but for Sectionals we can only have four.”

In gymnastics, there are four unique events that gymnasts compete in. Assistant coach Sandy Freshour describes the various events, starting with the vault.

“We have the vault where gymnasts sprint down a vaulting runway that is 85 feet long and they bounce on a vaulting board, place hands on a vaulting table and then do some kind of twist or flip into the air and land,” Freshour said.

Along with the vault, gymnasts must learn to use the parallel bars.

“We have uneven parallel bars; we do one high and one low bar,” Freshour said. “In order to get good scores on that event, we have to do work on the low bar and on the high bar: shifting directions, shifting shapes and being

as creative as possible.”

Another aspect of the meets where gymnasts get to express their creativity is through balance beam and floor routines.

“Balance beam is like a floor routine except on the beam. It’s a 40-by-40 floor that’s on springs, which allows girls to do super cool tumbling and dance skills that have a lot of amplitude and are high in the air,” Freshour said. “It’s a choreography to music that’s a minute to a minute and a half long. The music is their choice. It’s all what we call ‘optional skills,’ which means that there are event requirements but pretty much how everything’s put together is unique to you as a gymnast.”

Numerous people are involved in making sure everything involved with gymnastics runs smoothly. Growe describes her role in the team’s success.

“My favorite part of being the manager is getting to help sort and keep everything organized as well as helping the competitors,” Growe said. “At practices I will help with whatever event the girls are doing, but I mainly help video routines, write down scores and play floor music at meets.”

With each event being unique, athletes can naturally favor certain ones over others. Tian shares her partiality.

“I think my favorite event is beam just because it comes most easily to me,” Tian said.

Freshour adds her perspective on the various events.

“I like all of the events. I spend a lot of time on beam and floor, maybe because the other coach doesn’t prefer beam and floor, but I love them all,” Freshour said. “I think they’re all super interesting and I think they’re all super fun to be creative with.”

GYMNAST BREAKDOWN

A description of the different gymnastics events

FLOOR VAULT UNEVEN PARALLEL BARS BEAM

Gymnasts perform stunts and tricks on a beam 17 feet long by four inches wide.

Gymnasts swing from a low bar to a high bar while shifting directions and shapes.

Gymnasts sprint down a runway, then bounce on a vaulting table so they can do a flip or twirl in the air.

Gymnasts tumble and perform choreography to music of their choice.

photo for the Triangle Freshman Emerson Chambers performs a gymnastics stunt on the beam.

SETTING UP THE SEASON

Chemistry within the boys volleyball teams is propelling them towards victory on and off of the court. Their season is set to start in spring, with players and coaches starting to prepare already. Sophomore Leo Iorio explains the importance of teamwork within a volleyball team.

“Teamwork is important to volleyball because you literally can’t do anything alone,” Iorio said. “I think the most important aspect of a good team dynamic is just making it fun for everyone, even if they are new.”

Senior Aidan Whitley also discusses how close the team is, and why it’s one of his favorite parts of the sport.

“I would probably say that my favorite part is the comradery. There’s six of us on the court but there are also a bunch of us on the bench and everyone loves getting hype after every play even if we lose it,” Whitley said. “It’s just those celebrations with the team that make the sport fun.”

For first time players, mentors are important for helping you learn the game of volleyball. Whitley reflects on how coaches have helped him develop as a player throughout the years.

“[The coaches] play a pretty hefty role as I had never played before and I feel like I developed as a player certainly since freshman year,” Whitley said. “Whenever I go back and watch film I see that we’ve come a long way and there’s no one to point that to but the coaches.”

Helping players develop is one of the main rewards of coaching for coach Sarah Bouldrey.

“The look on the players face when something clicks and

they do something they have never done before is priceless,” Bouldrey said. “It is an amazing feeling seeing kids grow throughout their career as both players and individuals.”

Bouldrey’s experiences with volleyball growing up is what inspired her to coach this team.

“My mom and aunt played and got me into it from a young age,” Bouldrey said. “I started coaching to help kids enjoy the sport I love as much as I do and to help expand the sport in Columbus.”

With hard practices and games, senior Emanuel Rubio emphasizes how having good team chemistry can help players stay motivated.

“I stay motivated because of my friends. Them being by my side just makes me know that I need to be better for them,” Rubio said. “We have a thing over at Havoc [club volleyball] where we say pick me up if we make a mistake. If you mess up it’s on you, but your teammates are there to pick you up in a way.”

With individual player development, the volleyball team also hopes that boys volleyball can be recognized as a sport rather than a club.

“I really hope that the Athletic Director will follow the example of some of the other high schools in Indiana and let us become a varsity sport soon,” Iorio said. “It would be nice to be able to practice and have home games here, as well as being able to get buses to games. At both the high school and collegiate level, boys volleyball has seen a rapid rise in popularity and I’m really excited to be part of this growth.”

The boys volleyball team anticipates their upcoming season

by Lois Guest design by Jocelyn Aguilar

UPCOMING MATCHES

March 18 vs. Southport

April 2 vs. Cathedral High School

April 3 vs. New Albany

April 3 vs. Silver Creek

April 8 vs. Shawe Memorial High School

April 10 vs. Center Grove

April 15 vs. Franklin Central

May 2 vs. Indy Genesis

May 8 vs. Madison High School

May 9 vs. Columbus East

photo for the Triangle

Senior Emanuel Rubio spikes the ball during a match last season.

MOVIE OF THE YEAR

Exploring the relevancy of the Oscars

by Ajay Singireddy

23% of students watch or follow the Oscars

“

The Oscars are a way to be exposed to other movies that are produced to be ‘the best’ that you would not have seen before. It is a celebration of cinema itself and a way to recognize current achievements in film.” senior Kingen Burbrink

DIVERSE DATA

In the awards’ 95-year history...

6% of all nominees were people of color

VOTING MEMBERS IN THE ACADEMY

23% FEMALE

6% NON-WHITE

<2% of all nominees were women of color

BEST DIRECTOR

3% of best director winners were female

9% of best director winners were people of color

77% MALE

94% WHITE

34% of students think that award shows like the Oscars are mostly correct in their decisions

HOW TO WIN

Common aspects of films that win Best Picture

76% of all winners since 1960 have been more than two hours long 2 HR

93% of best picture winners are dramas, while only 2% are action and fantasy

BEST PICTURE NOMINEES

THE HOLDOVERS

AMERICAN FICTION

89% are adapted from a famous source material, are based on a true story, are period dramas or historical biographies or have characters with a disability

ANATOMY OF A FALL KILLER OF THE FLOWER MOON BARBIE

Sources inclusionlist. org; forbes.com; businessinsider.com

THE ZONE OF INTEREST

OPPENHEIMER PAST LIVES POOR THINGS MAESTRO

210 students were surveyed from resource classrooms and the library