THE TRIANGLE issue seven
The Butterfly Effect April 16, 2021 / Vol. 100
Columbus North High School / 1400 25th Street Columbus, IN 47201
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Alyssa Ayers Zoe Preston CONTENT EDITORS Michaela Brown Tanya Iyer DESIGN EDITORS Anushka Nair Sanjana Penmathsa INDEPTH TEAM Megan Allman Katharine Brunette Alyssa Green Elaine Sanders STAFF Ananya Adur Kaitlyn Ayers Ryan Clulow Samantha Dearing Lawrence Delano Annagail Fields Abinaya Ganesan Diana Garcia Shenyi Gong Molly Hotek Hannah Larson Elise Maschino Metallica Miller Margaret Mowrer Myleigh Munn Ananya Ramanujapuram Addyson Rogers ADVISERS Roth Lovins Rachel McCarver
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editorial policy The Triangle is the designated forum for student expression at Columbus North High School. The student staff chooses all content. Signed columns published in The Triangle express the writer’s personal opinion and not the views of The Triangle, student body, BCSC, administration, board of trustees or faculty of Columbus North. The Triangle practices ethical journalism by providing balanced and fair coverage as determined by community standards. The Triangle strives to achieve 100 percent accuracy by checking sources, spelling, and quotes and attaining multiple sources. The Triangle encourages letters to the editor, but reserves the right to reject them for reasons including but not limited to lack of space, multiple letters of the same topic and personal attacks contained in the letter. The Triangle will not edit for content, but reserves the right to edit for grammar and length. Letters should be submitted to room 1507 or sent via e-mail to administrator@ cnhsmedia.com. All Letters much be signed by all persons involved in writing the letter, which the staff will check for validation. A letter sent via e-mail must be validated with a signature from the writer before The Triangle will publish it. If responding to a publication, letters must be turned in within one week of that publication’s distribution.
19 In the event of death, The Triangle will run a standard obituary. Pertaining to work submitted via social media sites (Facebook, Twitter, etc.), The Triangle will only accept written submissions from the original poster and owner and will only publish entries with the permission of the original poster and owner. The Triangle will not edit submissions for content and reserves the right not to publish them for reasons including but not limited to lack of space, multiple submissions of the same topic, vulgar or incendiary content. The Triangle will not publish photographs from Facebook. Posts on The Triangle’s social media pages by readers are owned by the readers and do not necessarily express the views or opinions of the staff. The Triangle is not responsible for their content and reserves the right to delete and report any inappropriate and unnecessary posts. By posting on The Triangle’s social media pages, the poster grants The Triangle permission to publish the contents of that post. In cases when a source’s information may bring ridicule or incrimination upon himself or herself, the editorial board reserves the right to cite the source as anonymous. The Triangle will never use composite sources and pass them off as anonymous sources.
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news
opinion
With recent attacks against Asian Americans, students express how discrimination has affected them.
With the release of Lana Del Rey’s new album, Chemtrails over the Country Club, senior Elise Maschino shares her opinion on the new music.
04 STANDING TOGETHER
05 VACCINE BREAKDOWN
9 REY REVIEW
A look into the different types of COVID vaccines that are now available to those 16 and older.
student life
sports
The North theater department put on the production of “Almost Main” after months of setbacks.
Information on boy’s lacrosse.
08 THE SHOW MUST GO ON
09 STUDENT FAILING RATE
Due to remote learning from the pandemic, the failing rate for students has increased for CNHS students
14 ENTERTAINMENT DELAY
Students discuss the pandemic’s effect on the movie and theater industry.
17 STICKIN TO IT
18 JUMPING HURDLES
Students discuss their experiences on the Unified Track team.
19 BASEBALL
Students discuss their experiences on the Unified Track team.
BNN POSTS WEEKLY VIDEOS News show every week Mag show every two weeks
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Standing Together
As Asian hate rises, Columbus community members gathered in support By Margaret Mowrer Design By Michaela Brown
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arvard admissions officers charged for consistently lowering the rating of Asian American student’s personal ratings, making their scores low enough to reject . Taiwanese NBA player, Jeremy Lin is called “coronavirus” on the basketball court. In March, nine women of Asian descent were shot at massage parlors and salons. These are just some of many harmful and discriminatory events that have affected the Asian American community, specifically South East Asians. Chinese teacher, Jana Thompson is one of many who have heard about the events taking place against Asian American individuals. “In the case of the massage workers shooting, I was so sad when I heard about it,” Thompson said. “I think it’s important to value others as ourselves, to make restitution and honor those who’ve been mistreated, even in the past. And then to move on, to think of ourselves and act toward others as equal, with respect and humbleness. Too often the road toward blame alone is taken, and this does not lead to a better future, but only a ‘shouting’ match.” Even with individuals recognizing the concern, senior Jaline Tay reflects on her life and shares her perspective of the situation. “As first-generation immigrants, my parents don’t want me to believe that the country they brought me to and birthed me in is an unsafe place for me to live. While I understand that it is more important that we are able to talk
about these issues and find a way to solve them, especially since we are the ones being attacked,” Tay said. “In terms of not talking about Asian discrimination much in the classroom, I believe the reason for that is because unfortunately, there hasn’t been enough shocking stories in the media for this topic to gain enough traction to build conversation.” Japanese teacher, Elizabeth Bays, further explains the concerns as a whole and discusses two realizations people need to have that could benefit many individuals. “It’s frustrating, it’s maddening, but it is the symptom of a larger problem. A problem that Americans still haven’t really confronted, admitted, or acknowledged,” Bays said. “There are more people on that ship than there were. They realize, ‘We do have a problem.’ It’s not just time, it is action. People need to make themselves aware of the concerns and challenges faced by our [people of color].” During an NBA game, professional basketball player Jeremy Lin was verbally called “coronavirus” on the basketball floor by another player. Thompson shares a time she experienced when others treated her with openness into their culture, rather than verbal abuse. “[An] experience I had my first year in a city of 400,000 with only six non-Chinese people living there, was upon wanting to visit the maternity ward in a hospital to see how hospitals were the same and different from my own country. People raised the question of whether or not I might have AIDS because I was an American, and the AIDS
epidemic had not yet spread in China, but had been a problem here in the U.S,” Thompson said. “Again, my personal experience in these misunderstandings was to think of why this was raised, to be positive in my response, and move on.” Despite the potential for openness and peace for all, the divide of race equality still presents concern in the world every day. “The racial divide in the United States is not a problem of the past. It will continue to be our generation’s problem until we are all equal. In order to educate our students about racial topics, we must first be able to teach it in this perspective. Only then will students be able to realize that these events are not just history, but a piece of the world we are still living in,” Tay said. “In terms of discussion, the majority must be the first to ask questions and start the conversation. Minorities can express their problems all they want (and we do), but in the end, they are the minority. The racial divide will never unite itself unless the majority learns to educate themselves.” Though these occurrences have taken place, Thompson encourages others that there still is time to educate each other and help one another in addressing the issues. “What can I do? What can we do when there is injustice? Stand up and stand with, nonviolently, those who’ve been hurt. Listen, don’t give answers or excuses. Express our sorrow, and express our valuing of them as individuals,” Thompson said. “I believe that’s what every human being wants and needs after all.”
March 26 community members attended a rally in support of Asian Americans at the City Hall Plaza.
photo by Jordan Brady
Vaccine Breakdown Vaccines became available for Indiana residents 16 and older March 31 By Addy Rogers Design by Annagail Fields
Pfizer
95% effectiveness
Number of doses: 2 shots, 21 days apart Type: mRNA Age: 16+
Moderna
94.1%
effectiveness
Number of doses: 2 shots, 28 days apart Type: mRNA Age: 18+
J&J
66.3% effectiveness
Number of doses: 1 shot Type: Viral Vector Age: 18+
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any people have spent the past year waiting for it, and now it’s available at a store nearby. It’s the COVID-19 vaccine, and it comes in three varieties. Over 194 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines were administered in the United States from Dec. 14, 2020, through April 14, 2021 according to the CDC website. Currently, there are three approved vaccines: Pfizer, Moderna, and Johnson and Johnson. Though the CDC does not recognize one as better than the others, each vaccine differs in its ingredients, effectiveness, method and availability. Junior Brayden Spalding shared his vaccine experience. “I got my first round because I work in a nursing home, and my arm is swollen,” Spalding said. Others, like senior Reed Duncan, had a different experience. “I got the Moderna vaccine. It’s been great, no side effects,” Duncan said. Pfizer and Moderna are both mRNA vaccines. This type of vaccine tells the body how to produce antibodies that can fight off viruses like COVID-19. They’re different from vaccines like the flu shot, which have parts of the flu virus. “mRNA vaccines do not contain a live virus and do not carry a risk of causing disease in the vaccinated person,” according to the CDC. The Johnson and Johnson vaccine is a viral vector vaccine. The virus that causes COVID-19 has spikes on the surface called spike proteins. With this vaccine, a harmless virus teaches the body to make copies of these spike proteins. If exposed to the
real coronavirus, the body will already know how to destroy it. “The cell displays the spike protein on its surface, and our immune system recognizes it doesn’t belong there,” the CDC said. “This triggers our immune system to begin producing antibodies and activating other immune cells to fight off what it thinks is an infection.” With each vaccine, side effects are possible. On the injected arm, there might be pain, swelling, or redness. Other common symptoms are headache, fever, chills, tiredness, and nausea. However, they aren’t cause for alarm. “These side effects are normal signs that your body is building protection and should go away within a few days,” the CDC said. Many hope that the vaccines will be the world’s ticket back to normal. People who’ve been fully vaccinated can gather together without masks, but not if they’re around people who aren’t fully vaccinated. There’s plenty of room for optimism, but for now, the CDC is firm on the basic guidelines. “After you’ve been fully vaccinated against COVID-19, you should keep taking precautions in public places like wearing a mask, staying 6 feet apart from others, and avoiding crowds and poorly ventilated spaces until we know more,” the organization said.
A CRH mobile vaccination clinic offering the Pfizer vaccine was available to all North students aged sixteen or older on April 16.
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Coming together
The Triangle staff discusses community climate
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n the morning of Saturday April 3, local law enforcement discovered several accounts of graffiti, promoting a group that supports white supremacy ideals. Targeting downtown buildings that encourage inclusion and diversity such as First Presbyterian Church and the Cummins Corporate Office Building, the suspect’s act of vandalism contributes to the spread of hate currently plaguing the United States, reminding Columbus citizens that the issues of racism and discrimination hit closer to home than one may have thought. Columbus Mayor Jim Lienhoop recognizes the severity of the suspect’s actions, as he is taking measures to eliminate hate and intolerance in the community. “‘The statements and symbols in no way represent our community. In Columbus we welcome people of all colors, nationalities and ethnicities, who bring with them a rich culture and diversity that benefits us all’ ” (fox59.com). As Lienhoop puts it, Columbus is a melting pot of various races, ethnicities, cultures and identities, each individually contributing to the beauty of the town. In order to truly promote inclusion and tolerance as the mayor encourages, however, the public needs to reciprocate his appreciation for diversity, and according to the Center for
Student Health and Wellbeing at Michigan Tech University, doing so starts with expanding one’s empathy. “A good place to start is to cultivate and expand upon our empathy. Truly listen to each other, talk to each other and care for one another. Continue to talk about racism and do our best to try and see things from another person’s perspective.” Nevertheless, society must have a firm grasp on what empathy is in order to effectively practice it, which begins with understanding the difference between empathy and sympathy. Writer Juneau Robbins of the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation describes empathy as being more active, while sympathy is more passive. In other words, sympathy involves understanding someone else’s feelings, while empathy involves putting oneself in someone else’s shoes, making empathy potentially more difficult to practice. “Sympathy is an act of feeling sorry for another individual or group without the ability to truly understand what they’re feeling. Conversely, empathy is a shared feeling – the ability to mentally and emotionally place oneself in another person’s shoes, to have an accurate sense of what they are experiencing and feeling” (Robbins). Empathy requires conversation, which can be uncomfortable, especially when
discussing topics like inequality and racial disparity. The health and well being specialists at Michigan Tech University acknowledge how difficult it can be to practice empathy, but they do not view this as an excuse to avoid the discussion entirely. “We must have uncomfortable conversations to facilitate change. It’s hard to put yourself in someone else’s shoes, [so] many of us... avoid talking about race to avoid stepping on anyone’s toes. [We] shy away just to stay on the safe side.” The event of April 3 is not an isolated occurrence; the principles that drove the crime are the same ideals that may continue to cause division in America. As Mayor Lienhoop stated, diversity benefits everyone, and if the community works together to eliminate intolerance and hate, Columbus can remain a place where inclusion thrives. But doing so, starts with pushing ourselves out of our comfort zones in order to successfully empathize with one another. “As a nation, the United States needs to embrace the ideals of empathy, not sympathy, [as] empathy is active, while sympathy is passive. By its very nature, the word “active” implies movement; the word “passive” implies stillness. Movement is necessary for change, and change is necessary for progression.” (Robbins)
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Entertainment delay Movies, plays, and other productions delayed by COVID-19 By Kaitlyn Ayres Design by Molly Hotek
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itting in a movie theater with your friends and a large bucket of popcorn is something that was a very regular event in our lives. Since COVID, it has been hard to go watch movies as well as make and produce them. Sophomore, Ilana Thomas, a member of the theater program at North gives her thoughts on some of those challenges. “I definitely think productions were affected. Because of all the mandates masks, social distancing, less people in the same place at the same time - there would be fewer people who could attend these events,” Thomas said. “For filming, they couldn’t have as many people in the staff and crew either, so a lot of that was canceled.” People still question the safety of movie theaters and whether or not they should be open or not. “I think, with people taking all the precautions, such as wearing their masks all the time and staying at least 6 feet away from others, it would be safer to go to the theaters, but that would also involve no refreshments during the movie, and a lower number of tickets sold,” Thomas said. This has also affected the theater department. Sophomore Dakota Vreeland shares how it has affected us here.
“For starters we have to limit our capacity, and we even have two separate casts performing so if someone gets sick we can fill the spots. We also had to postpone our show many times,” Vreeland said. Along with North theater, big productions, even Broadway plays had to delay shows. “After a few months of COVID, Broadway completely closed down. The attendance rate to these events would be difficult to control considering how popular the musicals are to people everywhere,” Thomas said. “Also, many of the Broadway actors may have had to be quarantined and they couldn’t afford to have anyone missing from their performances.” Thomas hopes that things will return to normal and movie and play productions can resume as they once did. “Since the mask mandate will be lifted within the next month or two, I think filming will start picking up very soon. More people can be on set, whether they’re acting, filming, or directing,” Thomas said. “I really do think COVID is coming close to ending and actors and performers will get their chance to put themselves out there once again.”
FILMING DELAYS
“Black Widow” Moved from May 11, 2020 to July 9, 2021 “Jungle Cruise” Moved from July 24, 2020 to July 30, 2021 “Jurassic World Dominion” Moved from July 11, 2021 to June 10, 2022 “Spider-Man: No Way Home” Moved from July 16, 2021 to Dec. 17, 2021
COVID-19 changes
POPCORN ADMI
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Warner Brothers announced that all of its movies next year will stream on HBO Max the same day they get to theaters... The future for the company is digital. -NPR
Annual box office earnings in 2020 were the lowest they have been since 1997 -The Washington Post
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Rey Review
By Elise Maschino Design By Abinaya Ganesan
Writer Elise Maschino dives into artist Lana Del Rey’s newly released album, ‘Chemtrails over the Country Club’
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omance, beauty, sin, and struggle. Lana Del Rey portrays these themes in her music throughout her career. With popular songs such as ‘Summertime Sadness’ and ‘Young and Beautiful,’ most know Lana to have very enchanting songs. In Lana’s newly released album ‘Chemtrails over the Country Club’ - she sticks to what she does best. Although Lana Del Rey’s music has been deemed by many to be problematic due to her glorification of drug abuse and sadness, ‘Chemtrails over the Country Club’ strays from her problematic past and stays consistent to a theme of love. This album has 11 songs - being explicit - and is 45 minutes in length. The album’s two explicit
songs say one curse word and is not a staple in her vocabulary and used to move the song along. Most songs throughout the album are light and airy, and have an enchanting aura about them. That can be seen as a flaw however, as the album seems to be the same song with different lyrics. The tone and key is eerily similar and repetitive. Although it is repetitive, her voice is beautiful and the songs are enjoyable nonetheless. The last song on the album, ‘For Free,’ does a good job portraying a story and all of the collaborators’ voices blend well together. Some of my favorite songs in the album include ‘White Dress,’ ‘Tulsa Jesus Freak,’ and ‘Dark but Just a Game.’ My favorite song on the album is ‘Breaking Up Slowly. That song
sounds totally different from any song in the album. It’s not just like light and airy like the rest of the album. It stands out and you can feel some grit behind the lyrics and the instruments. The whole album in my opinion is just the same song over and over again, and there’s no true message. If you’d want to listen to the album because it sounds beautiful, I recommend it. In 2019, Lana had announced she was going to be single and dedicate her love to God. Although throughout the album, Lana alludes to her lover as “John.” As we see Lana’s career expand are we to wonder who is this John she alludes to, and what will she do next?
College at a price
Rich parents pay their children’s way into college
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By Kaitlyn Ayers
eople will take all the help they can get to get their children into a good college. In these cases, a significant amount of money is needed for this process to work. Although, when it comes to the Ivy League schools, the stakes are much higher. In the Netflix documentary ‘Operation Varsity Blues: the College Admission Scandal,’ a man named Rick Singer gets high school students into well known and difficult schools - guaranteed. Although, this comes at a very high price. I see it as rich and famous parents want their children to get into Ivy League schools and other schools that are pretty hard to get into, their kids don’t meet the requirements on their own so they pay this man a lot of money and
he gets them ‘guaranteed admission.’ I feel this is very wrong and taking away spots from students who are well qualified for the place at the school. In the documentary, Lori Loughlin, a well known actress got her kids into UCA for half a million dollars. The way they do this is fooling athletic offices and saying they play unique sports when they don’t. They are able to trick people by bribes, Photoshop, and hiring people to claim they witnessed them. They showed girls way more deserving than her daughter not getting into these well-respected schools and then these girls who in no way fit any of the criteria get in. This led to suspicion and ultimately they ended up getting caught.
That is why I think this is very unfair to kids who work as hard as they can in school who were beaten out by some rich kids who weren’t qualified. Even though they caught Rick Singer, there are surely more people out there like him who are getting unqualified, rich students into these Ivy League schools. I think they need to have better background checks when applying for schools like that. This way only kids who deserve to be accepted into these schools are accepted.
Student Failing Rate Students discuss the high failing rate caused by COVID-19.
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By Hannah Larson Design By Michaela Brown
ith countless traditional celebrations throughout the school year being canceled, seniors took comfort in knowing that a graduation was still promised. Due to high failing rates caused by the setbacks of COVID-19, however, many seniors aren’t on track to graduate, and many more underclassmen aren’t passing on to the next grade. Senior Luke Akalaya discusses his thoughts on the high student failing rate. “I think that the school and county administration honestly should have expected this, considering how much COVID just sucks for everyone involved,” Akalaya said. Freshman Jonah Larson elaborates on how the global pandemic has caused problems to the learning environment. “I do think the high failing rate has to do with COVID-19,” Larson said. “I think switching between online school and in person has been hard for students.” Senior Jocelyn Carroll continues the discussion on how COVID-19 has affected students’ performance.
“The high failing rate has to do with COVID-19 because more students are choosing to do online which gives them more flexible time to get assignments done which can also make them forget to hand them in,” Carroll said. Akalaya continues to explain how difficult this year has been for the students. “When kids are split from their friends and their teachers, their grades undoubtedly suffer, especially those who have to learn in a specific manner or don’t cope well with sudden and traumatic changes,” Akalaya said. Akalaya explains how the administration could be handling this situation. “The administration has been given multiple chances to give us leniency in our classes or to at least give us a little bit of structure,” Akalaya said. “For example, [they could have] given us hybrid for an extended period of time. Without structure, students will fall apart.” Along with the administration’s role, Larson explains what students can be doing to improve their grades. “Students can try talking to their teachers more and asking for help,” Larson said. “They
can also just try to make sure they are turning in assignments on time.” Despite all these challenges, senior Jocelyn Carroll explains how she stays on top of her work. “I keep motivated by remembering that we are almost done and once we are done then we are able to let go and do things we enjoy,” Carroll said. Although some students are on track to pass their classes, this fact doesn’t relieve the stress from the situation. “I have been [worried about the high failing rate] for a while,” Akalaya said. “It’s terrifying to see kids who used to be stellar students worry about walking the stage now because of things out of their control.” Despite all the hardship, Akalaya explains how this situation will benefit future schools. [From this year, we can learn to] communicate better between the students, school faculty, the administration, and those at the county level,” Akalaya said. “There is no clear communication between students and staff, so our concerns and questions feel like they’re going into the void.”
“It’s terrifying to see kids who used to be stellar students worry about walking the stage now because of things out of their control.” senior Luke Akalaya “I think switching between online school and in person has been hard for students.” senior Jocelyn Carroll
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The Butterfly Effect
CNHS students experience new life and culture when moving to America from different countries around the world
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ach year, up to 500,000 monarch butterflies migrate from their homes in Canada and the United States to move on to warmer temperatures in central Mexico. Taking to the skies, the butterflies spend the months of September and October making their journey across countries to begin a new life. Representing the resilience all people have to move freely, the monarch butterfly stands as a symbol for immigrants, including some CNHS students. Like butterflies, the students have made a similar journey, coming to the United States with their families at a young age. Senior Kanon Matusno moved from Japan when she was 15 years old and was excited to begin her life in the United States. “When I was about to graduate from middle school, my parents told me that my dad will go to America for his work,” Matusno said. “They said I could either stay and go to high school as I was planning to, or move to America and go high school there. At that time, I didn’t hesitate at all to decide.” Matusno’s lack of hesitation to move countries was influenced by the importance of high school in her life, feeling that the location of her high school has an effect on the memories she will make. “I think that high school is one of the most important times in people’s life because there are a lot of changes and special moments before actually becoming an adult, so where you spend your time during those periods affect you a lot,” Matusno said. Senior Gabriel De Luca also moved to the United States when his dad got a new job at Cummins, however he did hot have the choice to stay in his home country, Brazil. “It wasn’t my decision, it was really because of my dad,” De Luca said. “He got a job here for Cummins and he said he also wanted to come here because he wanted me and my sister to have a better education.” The move drastically changed his life, causing him to have to adapt to changes in schooling, language, and more.
“My life completely changed when I came to America,” De Luca said. “There are a lot of things that are different such as the school is completely different and the way we learn.” With life being as different in America as it is in Brazil, De Luca felt a complex mix of emotions when first arriving, not feeling welcome or unwelcome. “I never felt unwelcome, but I never felt welcome either. I don’t know how to explain it, but I think it has been the language and cultural differences,” De Luca said. “It was a very big shock when I first came here, just because of the cultural differences, not because anyone was rude to me or anything.” Matusno felt similarly when coming to the United States, but has found a good group of friends that have helped her a lot. This friend group is one of Matusno’s many favorite things about her move to America. “I was able to meet all the people who are my friends now, learned another language and a culture, got to have unusual experiences, and had an opportunity to play basketball in this country,” Matusno said. Junior Matei Cloteaux moved to America from the Czech Republic when he was 8 years old. Similar to Matusno and De Luca, Cloteaux moved as a result of his dad’s job. Like Matusno, he has enjoyed experiencing new culture. “I got to experience new life and culture. I met new people but I also missed my old friends.” Unlike De Luca, Cloteaux’s life has not changed much since coming to the United States, partially due to the fact that he went to an international school prior to moving, English being spoken quite often. “Life hasn’t changed much for me from my old country to the United States,” Cloteaux said. “I went to an international school, so I was used to people speaking English. There was a time when my parents didn’t think we would be able to get our green card, and we might have to move back.” Cloteaux plans to become a United States
citizen if he decides to live in America for long, but is not sure yet what he will be doing. He has negative opinions about the immigration system, feeling the welcomeness to immigrants is different depending on the situation. “Immigration system in the US is utter garbage. I immigrated fine because my parents are white and rich, but that is not the case for a majority of immigrants,” Cloteaux said. “The ones who are unlucky come to America in the hope of giving a better life for themselves and their children, but instead, they are spat on and deported by people who are scared of different people.” Unlike Cloteaux, Matusno does not have much of an opinion on the immigration system in the United States, feeling it has not affected her a lot. “I came here for my dad’s job and spending time as a high school student, so I’m not sure if it has affected me so far,” Matusno said. She is not sure what she will do after college, but is looking forward to the future and knows that Japan will always be her home and the place she feels most comfortable. Cloteaux is also unsure of what he will be doing, not sure if he will be living in America or not. “I don’t think so, but I might [live in America.] There are just better countries with better governments and people,” Cloteaux said. De Luca plans to attend Indiana University and hope to move to a coastal state after he graduates. He wishes more people understood the cultural shock a person experiences when coming to the United States. “I think that people that live in the US don’t understand the culture shock it is for living in another country. It was especially sudden for me,” De Luca said. “It was very sudden and very fast and it was just hard to be away from people. It’s not a bad experience and I love it here but it is complicated because I have two lives that are completely separate.”
3000
Every year, monarch butterflies migrate up to 3000 miles. They are the only butterflies to make this two way migration every miles year. They fly in masses to the same winter roosts, often to the same trees. As monarch butterflies only live for two to six weeks, individuals only make the round trip once, leaving their great-grandchildren to make the return trip back.
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senior Diing Diing As senior Diing Diing has gone through significant changes in his life from moving from Africa, he finds his passion for basketball and helping others through living in the United States. “I was born in a small country in Africa called South Sudan and I moved to the U.S. in October of 2018. I lived in Massachusetts before moving to Indiana and the reason why I came to the U.S. is to follow my dreams of playing professionally basketball in the future and have better education. [My] first [experience] in U.S. was kind of difficult learning new stuff and learning new things was really a good experience but hard to understand at first. [It] has also affected my life in how far I have come from and [how] far I am about to go because these past three years have been really amazing and I have learned a lot from it. I am truly blessed with an opportunity to be here and I’m very happy that I am here today still learning more every single day and hopefully one day I will accomplish my goals and dreams so I can go back to my homeland and help people out.”
“My life completely changed when I came to America. It was especially sudden for me. My dad told us we were going to live here for five to six months before we came here so it was very sudden and very fast and it was just hard to be away from people. I never felt unwelcome, but I never felt welcome either. I don’t know how to explain it, but I think it has been the language and cultural differences. It was a very big shock when I first came here. There are a lot of things that are different such as the school is completely different and the way we learn. Because North is a bigger school, it was a change from Brazil. Our school was K-12 and only had around 250 students and here is 2,000 just for high school. Also something different from here than Brazil is we have more opportunities to do things here. If it’s for presentations for school or presentations for projects or robotics, there are a lot more opportunities here than Brazil. I got my green card recently and my sister is an American citizen. I am planning to get citizenship since I have my green card. Before we got our green cards, it was very stressful especially for my parents and with COVID because the only thing that was keeping us in the US was my dad’s job and he wanted us to go to college in America. If he did lose his job we would have to move back and get a new visa. So that was very stressful for them, but since we have our green cards we have felt fine. I am planning on going to college at IU and after that I am planning on moving to one of the coastal states.”
senior Gabriel De Luca
junior Matei Cloteaux “I was born in the Czech Republic, but my family is French. I was 8 years old when I came to the U.S. My dad’s job made him come to the United States. My parents moved our whole family to the U.S. I wanted to stay with my family so I moved too. I got to experience new life and culture. I met new people but I also missed my old friends. America is fine I guess. Some people make it bad, but overall I am pretty happy here. Life hasn’t changed much for me from my old country to the United States. I went to an international school, so I was used to people speaking English. There was a time when my parents didn’t think we would be able to get our green cards, and we might have to move back. I might get my citizenship if I decide to live here during my adulthood. It’s important because if I decide to live somewhere, I want to be a citizen of that country, not just another immigrant. The immigration system in the United States is utter garbage. I immigrated fine because my parents are white and rich, but that is not the case for a majority of immigrants. The ones who are unlucky come to America in the hope of giving a better life for themselves and their children, but instead, they are spat on and deported by people who are scared of different people. Americans don’t hate French people that much, maybe because they’re white. I might [live in America.] There are just better countries with better governments and people.”
“I was born in Japan and was 15 years old when I came to the United States. When I was about to graduate from middle school, my parents told me that my dad will go to America for his work. They said I could either stay and go to high school as I was planning to, or move to America and go high school there. At that time, I didn’t hesitate at all to decide. However, my brother was studying for college in Japan, so he stayed by himself. I think that high school is one of the most important times in people’s life because there are a lot of changes and special moments before actually becoming an adult, so where you spend your time during those periods affects you a lot. There are a lot of good things and a few bad things. Good things, I was able to meet all the people who are my friends now, learned another language and a culture, got to have unusual experiences, and had an opportunity to play basketball in this country. I would say that some bad things are that I had to go through tough times struggling with language and not seeing my friends in Japan for a long time. I’m grateful for having my friends here and people who have supported me. When my friends told me not to go back to Japan, I thought that I was welcomed by them. I’m going to go back to Japan for college. I’m not sure where I would live after college, but I think it depends on what I want to do as my job. I would say that it [Japan] is my home no matter where I live because I realized that Japan is the place that I feel the most comfortable.”
senior Kanon Matusno
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stickin’ to it Lacrosse adjusts to COVID-19 regulations during start of season By Lawrence Delano Design By Tanya Iyer
“My favorite part of lacrosse is that it is a fast paced game where anything can happen and you have to account for it quickly.”
senior Bennett Carson
20 “The CNHS Lacrosse team has 20 players this year, but took a huge loss in numbers because we weren’t allowed to play last year due to COVID-19”
COVID-19 changes
Lacrosse is the oldest sport in North America
Lacrosse is the fastest sport on two feet
source: athleteintelligence.com
Players need to socially distance themselves before practice and when they come together to talk.
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Jumping Hurdles
How Unified Track promotes equality. By Addy Rogers Design By Anushka Nair
T
he runners take their positions at the starting line, the sun beating down on their backs. They run in pairs, each teammate working with the other. A signal goes off, and they go along with it, smiles on their faces. To senior Alana Cook, this is a moment full of meaning. “It’s an opportunity for everyone at all levels to have enjoyment in sports and be with friends,” Cook said. “It’s a good time to build relationships with everyone and have fun.” Unified Sports programs are organized by the Special Olympics with the mission of giving students with intellectual disabilities the opportunity to participate. Athletes with and without intellectual disabilities play on the same time, forming deep bonds and breaking walls down. “In Unified Sports, teams are made up of people of similar age and ability. That makes practices more fun and games more challenging and exciting for all,” the Special Olympics website said. “Having sports in common is just one more way that preconceptions and false ideas are swept away.” In meets and practices, athletes with and without disabilities are paired together. Emphasis is placed on cooperation and having fun, but there’s still an element of competition as different Unified Track teams try to overtake
each other. Senior Sydney Hollars describes these meets. “In an average track meet, there are several field events, some typical races, and relays,” Hollars said. “Personally, I think the relays are really fun because everyone gets so excited for them.” Unified Sports teams have been established all over the U.S., offering everything from basketball to football to tennis. There are more than 4,500 teams in schools across the country. Hollars believes she knows why the program has been such a success. “I decided to join because of the positive environment. Unified Track is a special place where everyone can be celebrated for being themselves,” Hollars said. According to Cook, the Unified Track program helps make North a more inclusive school, and benefits everyone involved. “Unified Track makes it where everyone is equal and has the same opportunity for all to enjoy and compete in a sport,” Cook said. The biggest thing is just to have fun and make sure everyone is included and smiling.”
senior Alana Cook
History of Unified Track It was inspired by the principle of developing friendships and an understanding between athletes with and without intellectual disabilities.
Beau Doherty, Special Olympics Connecticut President, created the sport based on his own, real-world experiences.
Over 1.6 million Unified teammates compete in over 30 sports around the world.
jointherevolution.org
Back to
By Hannah Larson Design by Annagail Fields Photos For Triangle
BASEBALL
Columbus North baseball players get excited about this season after missing last year’s.
A
fter having their season taken away a year prior due to COVID-19, the Columbus North baseball team is finally ready to get back on the field. However, the pandemic may still change the way the season will run. “This season will be different because there’s not as many people as we want in the stands with restrictions and everything, but it’s just something everyone has to deal with,” senior Austin Bode said. “But mentally this season will be different because we didn’t have a season last year. Nothing will get taken for granted this year, and we’re ready to rock.” Senior Kyler McIntosh also feels a setback after not having a season last year, and anxious about the changes this year may bring. “[One thing that has been hard is] not having the normal amount of people at the games,” McIntosh said. “This means my friends don’t really get to come watch me.” Although many changes have been put in place, the team is still finding ways to be excited about the season. “I am looking forward to finally being back on the field with my friends and can’t wait to see what we can accomplish,” McIntosh said. Despite the negative challenges COVID-19 has imposed on the season, Bode is proud of his team’s perseverance. “We have a pretty tough schedule this year, but I think we’re up for the challenge,” Bode said. “It’ll only help us when it comes tournament time.” One key obstacle is younger athletes having to start their high school baseball
careers in unprecedented circumstances. In this uncertain time, Bode acknowledges the importance of leadership. “[I have been] using my experience to help lead the younger guys,” Bode said. “Being a senior, I’ve taken a leadership role, so right now I’m trying to be a better leader and communicator. With this being a very seniorheavy team, this season will set an example for the younger guys moving forward. With a tough schedule like what we have, you can get down pretty easily, so for me, I’m trying to get everyone in good spirits.” This season has not stopped players from working on their goals. “I’m expecting to win the state championship, as I do every year but also [have] a great time with my teammates,” McIntosh said. “I hope we grow closer with having to go through all of this as a team.” Players are still grateful for the season and aren’t letting these changes keep their excitement at bay. “I am very excited for the season, as we didn’t have one last year, so the excitement has built up. [We are also] ranked fourth in the state, which I believe is the highest we’ve been ranked since I’ve been at North, and [I] can’t wait to see what we can do,” McIntosh said. Bode shares the same excitement for the season as McIntosh. “I’m very excited for this season,” Bode said. “It’s been way too long since I’ve put a Columbus North jersey on, so I’m ready to go.”
MEET THE PLAYERS Kyler McIntosh is a senior on the baseball team. He is excited for this season and hoping to win the state championship this year.
Sophomore Luke Harmon winds up to throw during the game against Hamilton Southeast.
Austin Bode is a senior on the Columbus North baseball team and has been playing all four years. He is looking forward to being a leader and example for the younger players on the team.
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Prom-demic Prom was announced with modified plans Design by: Ananya Adur and Anushka Nair
DJ: DJ will be Darin Arbuckle, social distancing is enccouraged. There will be no slow dancing allowed at Prom this year.
THEME: Enchanted Garden DATE: Saturday, May 1st TIME: 8-11 p.m.
Location: Northside Middle School
PHOTOGRAPHY: Prom will have a photo area available this year, but large group photos are discouraged. COAT CHECK: Due to the location and setting of the Prom this year, they are not offering a coat check.
Tickets $20 each
MASKS will be REQUIRED at all times
Seniors were given priority for tickets. After seniors have purchased, a lottery per school, based on enrollment, will be open for juniors.
The Show Must Go On
Columbus North Theater Department performed an abnormal spring production Freshman Chloe LaVelle and Evan Weber perform as Ginette and Pete in Almost Maine.
I
t’s been a change in seasons, but the Columbus North theater program was able to perform the production “Almost Maine.” Due to COVID-19 the production had been shut down in December 2020. However, the show must go on and the play was finally performed in early April. Senior Hannah Franklin is one member of the production that remained optimistic in the midst of the uncertainty of rescheduling. “I was able to remain hopeful during [the] long rehearsal period thanks to our director. He wanted the play to happen as much as we did and always promised to look for ways for that to happen,” Franklin said. Another participant in the production is sophomore Llana Thomas. She has remained hopeful through this period of waiting, but has also learned through this experience. “There’s been a lot of uncertainty lately, and
not just for North theater. This experience has actually helped me be more patient and taught me to be flexible whenever the need arises,” Thomas said. “I’ve been waiting so long to act on stage again, but having to wait has gotten me antsy. However, the wait may have gotten me even more excited for opening night.” Throughout the waiting period of deciding when the play would be rescheduled, the performers still had practice allowing them to further develop their performance. “With the extra time I have been able to go deeper than just learning my lines,” Franklin said. “This long waiting period to perform has allowed me to better connect and understand my character. When I started I understood what she was saying but not the emotions she felt behind it. The end of my skit is very sad and the longer I’ve worked with the play the better I’ve been able to understand how she reacts to the situation.”
ALMOST, MAINE CAST LIST
Blue Cast Ruth Anne Mayer Dell Dudley Brianna Guthrie Amelia Maddox Xavier Smith Alexander Holloway Zacaria Scruggs Austine Weber Colton Pennington Dakota Vreeland Emma Harden Ben Richards Zoe Dougherty Sofia Martinez Colby Lovins Ava Chastain Ilana Thomas Elliott Sutherland Kevin Graham Evy Polyak
White Cast Charlize Rawlins Evan Weber Chloe LaVelle Molly Hotek Colvin Iorio Jacob Strietelmeier Cate Roeder Alaina Scholl Blake Cooper Caroline Andrus Ana Amirpour Jack Tregoning Claire Davis Katherine Schmelz Samuel Gross Paige Sherlock Hannah Franklin Eshaan Mehta Jaime Garcia Jasmine Yang
DATES OF PERFORMANCES: April 1-3 April 8-10 Amidst the uncertainty of when the COVID19 pandemic will end, Thomas remains hopeful for her future theater career in high school. “I’m hoping it will pick up again next year. I doubt something life changing, such as a world pandemic, will occur for another few years. This will give lots of high school actors a chance to practice their talents and, in some cases, follow their dreams.”
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Use these tips get your house organized and cleaned this spring Design By Anushka Nair
Breathe more freely after removing dust mites and other allergens
Reward yourself after cleaning each room to keep you energized and motivated
A great way to get rid of water stains
Repurpose old items
