The Hilight: Spring Edition 2024

easter egg hunt

by Sophia Lambert

Use the hints to find what page the eggs are hidden on.

The title of the page/article is the word you need to find in the wordsearch.

(Eggs designed by FK Kruger)

There is an eggcellent educator hiding amongst the ____ attendees

There is a funny yolk that teaches band hiding amongst the ______ page

There is an admin who is coming out of his egg shell hiding with the ________ page

There is a teacher who is eggstra hiding amongst the ______ news

There is a huevo hiding amongst the ______ article

There is someone who loves to cook eggs hiding amongst the ____ article

This teacher is always living life sunny side up in the _______ article

31st: Easter Sunday

FEATURES 3

Spring Catwalking

CHS’ spring faves!

Claire Dossey and Mack Rudder, Staff Writers

Questions

1. Who do you know that's going to spend all of Spring Break in their bed?

2. What are your Spring Break plans?

3. What is your favorite spring holiday? (e.g. Easter, Cinco de Mayo, St. Patrick's Day)

4. How tall is the Easter bunny? Is he human-sized or bunny-sized?

5. Favorite Spring Break memory?

6. Top 3 Spring essentials

7. Best April Fools’ prank you have ever pulled / had pulled on you?

8. April showers or May flowers?

William Collicott (Junior)

1. Troy Mann

2. Fishing

3. Easter Sunday

4. At least Shaq height

5. Beach

6. Fishing rod, golf clubs, and pretzels

7. Told my mom that our dog got run over by a car, she got really scared.

8. May flowers

Ava Claire Floyd (Junior)

1. My brother, the mascot

2. Universal and the lake

3. Cinco de Mayo, 100%

4. 4 feet probably

5. Panama City Beach last year with friends

6. No homework, bikini, and sunscreen

7. One time I put a spider on our remote because my dad is super scared of spiders

8. April showers

Adrianne Lynn (Senior)

1. Luke Johnson

2. Going to see Ray Clay Strays

3. Easter

4. 7 feet

5. I got so sunburnt my eyes were swollen last year

6. Diet Coke, green crunchy grapes, and sunscreen

7. I'm the one that gets pranked; brother poured ice on me in the shower

8. May flowers

Pierce Bartle ( Senior)

1. Will McCollum

2. Baseball

3. Easter

4. Human-sized 6 ft

5. Going to Tampa with the baseball team

6. Friends, food, and sunscreen

7. My brother told me our mom died one time and I cried.

8. May flowers

Olivia Parker (Freshman)

1. Cabri Fuller

2. Going to the beach,

3. Cinco de Mayo, because that’s when Mexico got their independence

4. Nightmare version Bonnie is at least 7 feet tall

5. Going on vacation

6. SPF, Dr. Pepper, and bathing suit

7. I played a junior for $50

8. May flowers

FEATURES 4

The World of AI

How artificial intelligence is evolving at a quickening pace

Aubrey Shaddrix, Staff Writer

This past decade, AI has advanced at a remarkable rate, and it’s not stopping anytime soon. In fact, it’s building with a constant momentum. As this technology grows, it has moved from a theoretical idea to a part of our daily lives. In the early 2000’s, artificial intelligence was hardly what it is now. Twenty years later, AI has improved in various aspects, with much more data and accessible computational power. In short, artificial intelligence has even more information and analytical capabilities than ever before.

An example of these continuous advancements would be the most recent text to video feature in OpenAI’s new program Sora. This program makes it capable for users to type in a simple prompt and produce any accurate and compelling video they desire. This is a groundbreaking feature, and examples of this technology at work have been widely discussed among media outlets. Although technological advancements receive much praise, many have shown concern for how this feature will be used. Many consider it dangerous, similarly how deep fakes have been used to impersonate politicians and celebrities. Many consider the fact that a program like Sora could result in manipulation within the media, legal cases, and even

regular people. Especially with this year’s upcoming election, fear of deep fakes are once again rising. Fortunately, OpenAI has already thought of these risks. The program isn’t yet available to a wide audience, and they’re taking measures to ensure that their tool won’t be used in an incriminating way. Despite their efforts, it’s unlikely that they can really prevent this technology from being used with bad intentions as they can’t control the intentions of the people using them. Despite the fear, the industry shows interest in the concerns of the public, “I think it’s good that people are afraid of the downsides of this technology. I think it’s good we’re talking about it. I think it’s good that we and others are being held to a high standard,” says Altman.

How is AI, an ever-advancing field, going to affect the future? Sci-fi movies have conditioned us to see technology as the beginning of a robotic apocalypse. Although it has threats, AI has greatly improved efficiency in society. It provides faster services and increases efficiency in the workplace. Although useful, these computer systems are creating a fast society some believe moving too fast for humans to keep up. With companies adopting artifi-

All Things Spring

How to make the most of the season

Wilson Wood, Staff Writer

With blooming flowers and the sounds of bird song, spring seems to be right around the corner. Spring began on March 19 this year, it is almost time to say goodbye to winter and embrace the new season. Between the freeze of the winter and heat of the summer, spring offers a few months of solace characterized by pleasant weather. In order to make the most out of your spring season, here are five things that you can do!

Go on a Hike - With mild weather and clear skies, spring is the perfect time to hit the trails. Cullman offers several hiking trails for those looking for an adventure. Enjoy the beauty of nature and the natural ecosystem of spring by meandering through trails and getting lost (not literally) in the wonders of our natural world.

Have a Picnic - Balmy temperatures and a clear breeze create the perfect environment for having a picnic. With an ample amount of parks and locations throughout Cullman, it is easy to plan and enjoy a picnic. Simply pack your favorite foods and select the perfect spot to enjoy. However, be sure that you throw away your trash after you are done and that you do not leave anything behind.

Play in the Rain - On those rainy spring

cial intelligence they promise a more productive workplace, but what’s the cost of this new artificial and errorless efficiency? Since the 2000s many manufacturing systems have been phasing out their workers with automation systems. The use of artificial intelligence and information systems in mechanical industries has caused fear of it affecting other industries as well. Many artists have shown concern for their own careers as many AI programs are capable of producing images in a fraction of the time a human could. Many illustrators spend decades defining their specific artistic designs and styles, but AI is capable of harvesting these ideas and using it in generated art. As the demand for quick, low quality art rises, the value of the work decreases, causing concern for the future in artistic careers.

Intelligent computer systems aren’t all bad for our society. In addition to our already daily use of these systems the upcoming years will be crucial in the expansion of this technology. All AI learn differently; some only learn and play out the actions they were coded to perform, and others are designed to learn on their own through the process of machine learning. In the coming future, AI can be expected to

Senioritis Set-in

provide transportation, education and even healthcare. The use of advanced technology can help simplify lives and prevent human error with top notch speed and accuracy.

Despite the constant fear of what technology will become, there has always been optimism within the field. OpenAI’s CEO Sam Altman describes these evolving features as, “good at some things but not good at a life-anddeath situation.” With this, he wants to ensure we look to AI for assistance, and not as a threatening tool. It’s designed to assist our lives in an attempt to resolve unwanted problems or just to perform tasks. Though there is fear of what AI could become, especially with its already remarkable advancements in such a short time, these technologies are only as powerful as we allow them to be. The art created by a computer holds a completely different meaning to what a human can create. Artificial intelligence cannot substitute the ingenuity and creativity of human art and creation; it can only imitate it. Artificial intelligence will only perform the actions we allow, and it will only affect our society as far as we will let it; as this intelligence progresses, so will our society.

What’s happening to our seniors?

Drew Williamson, Co-Editor

days without severe weather, channel your inner child and enjoy the rainfall. Splashing through puddles or simply standing in the rain can be a great way to relax and simply enjoy one of the most wonderful phenomena of our earth. Furthermore, it could even be good for your health. MIT atmospheric chemists have found that air quality during and after rainfall is significantly better than normal air.

Clean Your Environment - Although cleaning is usually not fun for everyone, it can be very beneficial to participate in spring cleaning. Deep cleaning your room, car, or anywhere else that you spend a great deal of time can greatly improve your outlook and introduction into the new year. Put on some music and try to make it as entertaining as possible to enjoy the process of renewal and cleaning for a brighter future.

Start a Garden - If you have the space to start a garden, spring is the best time to plant and begin growing a garden of your own. Gardening has proven therapeutic qualities, as it has been shown to lighten mood and lower levels of anxiety and stress. The gratification obtained from planting and growing your own garden is something that can be a great way to thoroughly enjoy your time outdoors.

As the end of the year approaches fast, many seniors are feeling the pressure. When this paper goes out, seniors will only have forty school days remaining until graduation. As the big day grows nearer, many different seniors are having many different reactions. Senioritis is starting to hit for many of us, while many others are sad to say goodbye.

For those unaware, “senioritis” is the commonly used term to describe the loss of motivation many seniors experience at near the end of high school. After all, they’re basically adults now, so why try anymore? One such senior experiencing these symptoms is Natalie Smith. When asked about her thoughts on graduating, she said “I am very excited to graduate. I cannot wait to never have to be here again. I will miss a few people, but overall I am excited to leave. I will like being able

to take classes that I enjoy and that will pertain to my future, because high school didn’t give me that opportunity.”

For others, however, it’s quite the opposite. Some have realized that the end of their high school experience is coming much sooner than they would like, and are sad to leave. Nicolas Cox is one senior who feels this way. When asked about his feelings on graduating, he said, “I am personally not really all that excited to graduate. Sure it will be nice to not have this mandatory school and all that, but I’m going to miss being able to see my friends every day. It is just really strange how fast the years have gone by and I’m really gonna miss spending time with my friends.”

Graduating high school means different things to different people. To some, it’s the end of the best period of their lives, and to others, it’s just the beginning.

Who Is CullmanDaily?

A talk with Samuel Roberts

Drew Williamson, Co-Editor

Q. First of all, what made you want to go into journalism?

A. In high school I started a social media page that was not affiliated with the school, it was just me, and it was a similar style as what you see on Cullman Daily today at a smaller scale. I really fell in love with the art of telling events as they happen, I loved watching people respond to them and creating conversations. I feel like this new style of media not only tells the story from my point of view, but also is done so in a way that is intended to start real discussions and reactions from others that also brings out their viewpoint. I believe that it’s a wonderful thing and is of a great value, rather than only hearing one side of the story.

Q. How did you go about establishing your platform and following on social media, and how long did it take to get to where you are today?

A. I was very fortunate to have relationships with some really good people in the beginning that led to more friendships, which proved to be a vital role in getting information that people found interesting. My experience in my high school days of doing a very similar style page was also very helpful. Combining these two things and relentless work done so on a consistent basis for years has led to organically growing Cullman Daily to having the largest social media following in the state of any local owned company. There’s nothing you can do to gain this

type of following overnight. It takes years of hard work, and consistently delivering engaging content to people to achieve, especially when you are growing a name. Alongside the victories I’ve also made lots of mistakes over the years in this business, but have also learned from them, and I feel like that has played a big role in what Cullman Daily is today. In our early stages I certainly had a completely different perspective on many things that we do, and I am still constantly learning, but the willingness to change overtime helped to make our outlet what it is today at a rapid pace.

Q. Many people want to know: how are you so quick with reporting events such as local car crashes?

A. To me, the most important thing that we do is reporting things faster than anyone else, and also with accuracy. Even in the early days we worked around the clock to be the first on scene at any major event, or even crashes. At this point, our following has grown large enough to where we are constantly receiving tips from followers which truthfully makes it much easier today than it was when we first started.

Q. What’s your favorite part of being so well-known in our community?

A. I love the relationships I’ve been able to build with people throughout Cullman, and all over Alabama. Oftentimes in public someone will ask me if I am the guy on Cullman Daily, and I always think that is pretty neat but it

Cyberpunk or Defunct? The future of neurotechnology

Wilson Wood, Staff Writer

On January 29, 2024, the neurotechnology company Neuralink announced that they had successfully implanted a device into a human patient’s brain. Neuralink, launched in 2016 and founded by billionaire Elon Musk, holds the mission to “Create a generalized brain interface to restore autonomy to those with unmet medical needs today and unlock human potential tomorrow.”

Essentially, the company is dedicated to advancing the field of neurotechnology in coordination with medical needs that are not currently being met by today’s technological standing. The company was founded in coordination with several high profile neuroscientists and medical experts. Although they had anticipated beginning human trials in 2020, they were only approved for such trials as of May 2023. These trials seek to further their initial goals of treating and managing serious brain diseases, yet their long term goals remain in the realm of human enhancement via technological intervention. With Musk announcing his goal to achieve “symbiosis with artificial intelligence,” ambition behind the project appears to

FEATURES 5

also starts a conversation. Meeting so many new people and learning different backgrounds is something that I’ve been very fortunate to have the opportunity to do.

Q. Similarly, what is your favorite thing about Cullman’s community?

A. I have traveled to 45 states since graduating from West Point in 2018, and there is no community that I have encountered that I would rather call home than Cullman. There is a sense of community here like no other. We also have a unique mix of businesspeople who are passionate about creating new ideas, and the working class that is truly the backbone of America. Another thing that makes Cullman so special is how passionate so many people are about this town, it’s different from anywhere else I have ever been. Even some of those who are among my greatest critics, I truly have respect for them because they are so passionate about their viewpoints just like I am of mine. People here understand that we don’t always have to agree, but we can always have a common sense of respect towards each other.

Q. What sort of work do you do outside of running Cullman Daily?

A. Along with running Cullman Daily, I also own and operate Uncle Sam’s Mattress Center in town. Another business that I am involved in which I have a great passion for is selling commercial playground equipment with Playground Solutions to

schools, daycares and churches all across America. This has provided me the opportunity to visit towns all across our great country and to learn so many things about different cultures and backgrounds. I genuinely believe that travel is the greatest form of education and doing this while working is really a dream of mine, and I also still do Cullman Daily even when out of town.

Q. Anything else you’d like to share with the students of about Cullman High School?

A. I graduated high school 6 years ago in May, and that time has really flown by. I have made a lot of mistakes during that time and I have also learned from them. One lesson I have learned that I would like to tell everyone that is graduating from high school is to always be yourself, and to never worry about what people think or say about you. I’m certain many of you have read attacks against me, and that used to bother me years ago. But I have learned overtime that really the only thing that truly matters is my intentions behind the things I do, and the outcome it produces. Focus on those two things and don’t get caught up in all the noise surrounding it. Be yourself. Be genuine. Take risks, but don’t be stupid. Be willing to change, but don’t change too easily. Always remember where you came from and who your true friends are, and stick with them.

be exceedingly immense.

Although the company’s lofty goals and intentions seem to originate from the realm of science fiction, they have seen early success from their first human trial. Musk recently announced that the first human patient implanted with a Neuralink brain chip “seems to have made a full recovery.” He states that the patient has re covered well since their surgery date of Jan uary 28th, and that there were “no ill effects that [they] were aware of.”

Not only was the surgery successful, but the patient was able to “move a mouse around the screen by just thinking.”

Although this may seem a simple feat, the technicalities of the surgery and risk involved is quite astounding. A robot is used to surgically place the BCI, or Brain-Computer Interface, implant into the region of the brain that controls the intention to move.

The implant is essentially a powerful electrode that is able to detect neural impulses and transmit that data. Through the advancement and further development of this technology, Musk has made the claims that Neuralink could eventu ally treat conditions such as obesity, schizophrenia, and depression. With such an early success,

it may be thought that the company might actually be able to one day achieve its goals. However, Neuralink has faced several controversies in the last few years. To begin, there have been several claims relating to the mistreatment of their animal subjects. This has even lead to an investigation by the United States Department of Agriculture regarding potential animal welfare violations. Additionally, there have been reports of convoluted management and rushed deadlines enforced by Musk. Such a company structure has led to only two of the eight original co-founders to remain at the company as of January 2022. Furthermore, several neuroscientists have criticized Musk, as Neuralink has provided no evidence that the company can actually accomplish the claims that it has made. Whether or not Neuralink establishes itself as a pioneer in the development of neurotechnology is currently unclear. If controversies and a unclear data continue to plague the company, then Musk’s dreams for the technology may stay where it came from: the realm of science fiction.

ENTERTAINMENT 6

Spring Playlist

Songs to scream heading into spring

Anna Beth Burleson, Staff Writer

“End of Beginning”Djo

“Lose Control” - Teddy Swims

“Brazil” - Declan McKenna

“Paul Revere”Noah Kahan (Ft. Gregory Alan Isakov) “The Night We Met” - Lord Huron

“White Horse” - Chris Stapleton

“Forever” - Noah Kahan

Fauna In Film

How are animal actors trained?

John Mark Johnson, Staff Writer

If you’re a fan of movies such as Free Willy, Milo and Otis, or Homeward Bound, you may have wondered how the animal actors are trained for movies like these. The process of an animal being trained for the silver screen is a complex process that is comprised of many different aspects.

As you may have expected, an animal’s acting journey starts with a very selective breeding process, with an animal breeder selecting animals with certain traits such as appearance, intelligence, and obedience.

Then, as would any human actor, the animal will undergo an audition, being tested on the specific request of a casting director such as looks or talent. What follows will sometimes be a “go see,” where the animal will be presented to the casting director. If the animal fits the director’s criteria, it gets the role.

The training process itself is much more broad, with animals typically having some form of proper training

beforehand. When finally on set, trainers will employ a behavioral technique called positive reinforcement. Positive reinforcement is the act of rewarding an animal for a positive behavior in order to encourage it to happen again. Positive reinforcement with food/treats is especially handy in dealing with less handle-able animals such as raccoons. With all of the similarities animal actors have with their two-legged counterparts, you may be wondering how the animals are paid for their talents; I mean, treats can only go so far... right? While the animals themselves are not paid, since many are not eligible to join a union, their trainers are. As of May 2020, the annual median for animal trainers in the US is $30,520; However, trainers working in the film and television industry may make significantly more, with some earning six-figure salaries. As you can clearly see, the animal acting process has many intricacies.

“Wondering Why” - The Red Clay Strays

“Lost” -Frank Ocean

“Silver Lining”Mt. Joy

Reclaiming to Black Music

Beyoncé’s new country album Elley Atchison, Co-Editor

Despite common American perceptions, it is essential to recognize the true origin of country music in the United States. While it has been widely communicated that white Americans created country music, the truth is that black Americans were the people who constructed it first. At first, the genre for white Americans was labeled “hillbilly music,” whereas the genre for black Americans was diminished to “race records.” The media produced this label predominantly to cater to white Americans. It is also important to note that the banjo, one of the most infamous country instruments, originated in Africa but was soon whitewashed once brought to the United States. In Beyonce’s newest album, Act II, she will reclaim country music for black Americans and take back the music that stemmed from her roots.

Beyonce is in the midst of her threepart album collection to reclaim black music. In her first album, Renaissance, she made a reclaim to pop music. Act II will reclaim country music. After these two albums, she will release the final album; many predict she will make a reclaim to rock music. Through all of these albums, Beyone is taking back what is hers and doing it beautifully.

ENTERTAINMENT 7

Spring into Fashion

A look into upcoming spring and summer fashion trends

Mack Rudder, Staff Writer

While it is not quite yet the 2024 spring/summer season, fashion trends for upcoming seasons can be predicted through runway collections, red carpet looks, and what popular influencers are starting to wear. Fashion generally has what can be defined as a top-down effect. We see certain pieces, color palettes, and fabrics become popular in runway shows since 2024 spring/summer collections are released in January which is months before the actual spring/summer season. After looks are featured in runway shows, we start to see celebrities and influencers wear these pieces, which then start trends that then start to influence people’s everyday

wear. Since the runway season for 2024 spring/summer looks just ended in January, we can start to make predictions for upcoming trends based on what celebrities are wearing for different events and award shows and what influencers are starting to “push” to their audiences on social media.

Tagwalk, a self-titled fashion search engine that collects and analyzes data on global runway fashion trends, says some of the top categories for global women’s runway trends for spring/

light blue, red, and neutral tones like brown and beige. This is in contrast to the trend of pink in 2023; in 2024, pink looks decreased by 21%. Key fabrics trending for women this year are leather, transparent fabrics, and fabrics that drape. For men, the top categories for 2024 spring/summer runway trends are “glittery,” “preppy,” “micro,” “knit,” and “floral.” Some of the key colors and fabrics trending for men this year are orange, denim, and khaki.

According to Tagwalk, trends experiencing a decrease in this year’s women’s spring/summer collection compared to 2023’s collection are bodycon, which went down 32%, cut outs, which went down 56%, and nudity, which went down 25%. While

overall leather clothing experienced an increase, leather pants experienced a 19% decrease.

Here are what some of our very own CHS fashionistas are predicting for this summer/spring season!

Questions asked below

1) How would you describe your style right now?

2) What is your favorite current fashion trend?

3) What do you predict for summer fashion trends?

4) What trend are you wanting to revive this summer?

5) What trend do you want to “die”?

1) I borrow a lot from different areas, and it’s kinda hard to categorize. Everybody is unique in their own style. For a simple answer I’m just kinda 90s I guess :)

2) I love the revival of Y2K fashion, and its ability to use such unique silhouettes.

3) I’m hoping for jorts to return again, but I also predict a lot of crocheted shirts. Kinda hard to be fashionable in an Alabama summer, but we all make do. 4) Personally, I’m jumping straight into 70s summer

1) Colorful Vintage

2) Honestly, I don’t really follow fashion trends, but if I had to choose it would probably be bows. 3) Pastels, funky claw clips, puffy sleeves, low rise, and definitely bows and romantic fabrics, really just more of the coquette hyper-feminine aesthetic. Also a transition out of the 90’s era fashion and more into the early 2000’s styles as 2024 progresses (not excited for this) 4) Capris- when styled right

5) Fast fashion in general, just buying clothes for the sake of the trend and not because they actually fit in with your personal style. I would love to see more individuality and expression with how people dress and more thought about the environmental costs of fast fashion and following trends. I love thrifting for this reason because it’s great for the environment and you can find vintage and sometimes even brand new things at a low cost. It’s amazing what people will donate. Additionally, thrift stores are often affiliated with some sort of nonprofit organization that is philanthropic, like the Foundry. So not only are you saving the planet and your wallet, but you’re helping those in need as well.

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CAMPUS NEWS 9

The Impact of “26 Pebbles” Cast and crew interviews

Anna Beth Burleson, Staff Writer

The Cullman High School theatre department has been working diligently on this spring production, “26 Pebbles”. The official synopsis of “26 Pebbles” reads “26 Pebbles is a tribute to the town of Newtown, Connecticut. The town is home to the Sandy Hook Elementary School where a shooting occurred on December 14, 2012. On this day, 28 people tragically lost their lives. 20 school children, 6 teachers, and the shooter’s mother were all murdered by the lone gunman. Tragedy struck this community but they allowed themselves to overcome. This show is told from the perspective of real-life parents and residents of the Newtown community. They came together to tell a story that encapsulates the power of community, resilience, and love.”

Questions for cast:

1. What emotional impact does this role take on you and your acting choices?

2. Did you have to do any mental preparation? If so, what did you do?

What does telling a story like this mean to you?

London Phillippo

1. This role has weighed heavily on me each day since we started. The fact that it’s based on a real event really set the mood for the seriousness and sadness for what happened to everyone in Newtown. As far as acting goes, the heaviness of the show made me really focus on the emotions the parents felt at the time of the event and truly embody the emotions of my character. My character has a monologue where she expresses the anger she has that someone could do something so terrible to children, and I felt compelled by her and truly felt the anger she felt. I think that’s why it became easier to act the emotions necessary, because all of those emotions are true.

I AM angry that that happened, but as the show concludes, we all recognize as a cast that it’s necessary to feel those emotions, move on from them, and look to the future.

2. Mentally preparing for this show is so vital because the emotions I feel for this event truly impact me. It’s separating the past with the present that really helped me protect myself from the tragedy of this event. I would often give myself quiet time before a show to embody Jenn (my character) and the town’s mental state as a whole. This show is about hope and hope always shines the brightest after tragedy. So, I grieved for the humans lost, the people who lost their loved ones, and those that experienced this traumatic event and then I recognized the beauty of finding hope in tragedy and oneness in sharing resilience through pain.

3. Telling this story means the world to me.

I think it is so vital for people to be able to take events like this seriously and know that there is love in tragedy. I want people to see this show and feel moved to appreciate the little moments in life, because— truly—life is temporary. So, as Yolie says in the play, “live life joyfully, because the alternative is… misery.” There will be hardships in life, and it’s important to live in those moments but not let it control your actions and future. That’s what I want people to see with this show. Grieve those lost,

love those that are here, and love life as it is. We are in this life once so we might as well make the most of it. Overall, this story has taught me so much in being authentic to my emotions and to my surroundings. I hope those that watch it can take away something similar!

Questions for actress and student director Ava Fales:

1. What all went into the decision of you being a student director and what was your job/role?

2. What was the impact of this story on you and how did you balance the role of actor and director?

1. The “26 Pebbles” journey has been a really beautiful one. In the beginning of the year, I sat down with Mr. Cook and rigorously went through and cut the script. It was originally an hour and a half show that we had to cut down to 45 minutes. This is always a majorly important step in prepar-

spective of the show. One sad thing about performing in a show is that you never get to watch it, but this created an atmosphere where I could do both. It was an honor for me and I am very thankful that I was able to experience this show in that way.

2. At this point, “26 Pebbles” is so much more than a play. The emotional and mental impact of this show is miraculous. When doing this show, I face emotions that I had rarely experienced before. As a cast, we researched and studied the circumstance and it got to the point where there was so much sadness within us. This is when we had to sit down as a class and talk about why we did this show and what is the purpose of sharing this story. Many topics came up such as mental health, gun control, resilience, religion, and grief; however, one of the biggest things we talked about is the power of community and how influential it is on a daily basis.

ing any show, but it is even more important for this one. You have to cut so much out of the story without disrupting the emotional flow of the show, and also because it is a true story with real people. We wanted to share as much of the real story as possible. In addition to cutting the script, Mr. Cook allowed me to help him block the show, figure out the set, create the sound effects, and give characterization notes. I was completely in love with this story from day one, so I think Mr. Cook recognized that and that is why he gave me the opportunity to grow my talents in the world of directing. Even though I was student directing, I was also acting in the show. At first, it was an odd balance to run up on stage for my line and then jump back into the director mindset, but the end result was such a strong connection to what we were doing and I can’t explain how fortunate I am to have both an on stage and off stage per-

3. What kind of thought goes behind deciding to tell this story at the high school level?

Mr. Cook

1. The author and contributors wanted the story told in an effort to avoid these kinds of problems for the future. In theatre, we tell stories. Some are fun and light and others are not. I often say “Theatre is Life.” We tell stories about life, both good and bad. “26 Pebbles” is a story that was designed to be told. It is a difficult story of a community that dealt with a very hard event. It’s a story of what happened but also how they rose above it and allowed light to come back to their community. It is a reminder of what can happen and hopefully a call to be active in the effort to prevent these kinds of horrific tragedies. The play challenges us to talk about mental health and the efforts we are making to improve treatment of mental illness. It also causes us to evaluate the prevalence of guns in our country. These are issues that need to be discussed. “26 Pebbles” leads to a proper discussion of issues that need addressing.

2. I do believe the events of the past are still relevant. We still have the same problems. We are constantly turning on the television and seeing violence acts committed not only at schools but in public places. What brings this story home to us is that the students who were killed at Sandy Hook would have been a part of this year’s graduating class, the class of 2024. We study the past in an effort to make the future a brighter place. I know my students will forever be impacted from doing this play.

3. I look at all kinds of material. It takes months of reading, studying and speculating to come up with a show that meets the needs of our group. I was especially drawn to this production after having seen it performed at the International Thespian Festival several years ago. It was so moving and challenging. Our students needed a production that was serious. I am always looking for material that will challenge students when it comes to their acting. Our students had to study and absorb the Sandy Hook event. They researched what happened and had numerous talk back sessions where students were encouraged to share what they learned.

The purpose of the show is to share that Newtown doesn’t want to be remembered for the tragedy, they want to be remembered for how they overcame it. They overcame it because of how strong they were together, even though they were all different, they came from different places, had different backgrounds; none of that mattered because the beauty of love shined brighter than anything else. This mindset has completely changed the way I look at life and the way I look at my relationships with the people around me. The show has so many beautiful themes that I wish I could go into more depth about, but the best way to understand is to watch it. It truly is beautiful.

Questions for Mr. Cook

1. Why did you feel it was important to tell this story?

2. Do you feel like this recount of past events hold relevancy in todays world?

Pictured above is Bailee Henderson and the cast of “26 Pebbles”

KARAT MAGIC

Your Photographers

Sophia Lambert Blyss Murphree

CAMPUS NEWS 12

Paradise Lost Trials: How They Began

How the tradition of the trials came to be

Claire Dossey, Staff Writter

The tradition of the Paradise Lost trials started all the way back in 2006. This trial is based on the poem by John Milton, which is 10,500 lines long, and based on the story of Adam and Eve. Mrs. Burroughs started teaching at Cullman High School in the fall of 2005 and started the tradition of these trials just a year later. At the time, there were only six AP Literature students, three on Team Adam and three on Team Eve. The first trial was performed in her classroom, and the tradition has only grown from there. The next couple of years, they continued to do it in her classroom. When it continued to become a larger production, they moved to doing it in the library, then the old auditorium. During the building year, they conducted it in the new gym, then in Tillman Hall. Once they outgrew all of those spaces because of all of the people coming to see the trial, they moved it into the auditorium, where it is still performed today with sound, lighting, and even sets handmade by the AP Lit students.

In 2018, Coach Drake started live streaming this production and posting it on YouTube so that even if you are unable to make it to the actual trial, you can still watch it as it happens. Around five or six years ago, actual judges began to come to the high school and judge the production, which just made the project all the more fun.

This year, the judges were Judge Chad Floyd and DA Champ Crocker. This project is worked on over a period of three months, starting right after Christmas break, and they continue to work on it until just before spring break.

Several factors go into this amazing project. The students are graded on preparation throughout the entire unit and reading process which is worth 100 points, written documentation is also worth 100 points, textual interpretation and presentation is worth 200 points, creativity and passion for the project is worth 100 points, making the entire project worth a whopping 500 points. Students are assigned groups before

they start reading the poem and draw popsicle sticks to determine which team they will be defending. After that the students choose from different positions, which are as follows: Adam/ Eve, Paralegal, Prosecuting Attorney, Defense Attorney, Opening Argument Attorney, Closing Argument Attorney, Social Media/Marketing Director, Set and Costume Design, and Press Secretary/Digital Portfolio Director.

These students have to prepare everything from what they will ask the opposing side and hypothetical questions that the opposing side could ask them.

In this year’s trials, the students participating in 5th period’s Team Eve are: Emma Ritchey, Payton Barnett, Ava Fales, Tobias Warner, Ashton Lambert, Saley Winn, London Phillippo, Annalee Allen, Levi Roberts, Tylar Hanna, Reese Waters, Kate Bradberry, and Katelyn Saint. Representing 5th period’s Adam are: Katie Skinner, Reese Patterson, Anna Shirey, Juliana Brannon, Nate Potter, Clay Bonds, Sophia Corliss, Brandon Rodriguez, Tiffany Calvert, Wyatt Buchanan, Abby Southeard, Anna Southeard, and Lexie Anderson. 6th period’s Team Eve is: Lana Gibson, Ellie Wiggins, Adrianne Lynn, Graham Waldrop, Carter Kent, Avery Orr, Sage Andrews, May Dawsey, Natalie Smith, Campbell Durden, Cas Hudson, and Taylor Au. 6th period’s Team Adam is: Garrett Mobley, Aubrey Martin, Wilson Wood, Nick Holland, Maia Pate, Kate Cost, Juliana Laney, Drew Williamson, Madison Hyde, Elley Atchison, and Sophie Peetz.

In this project they will create Instagram accounts to promote the Trials and to try and get the student body to support their side. The social media manager will post memes, the supporters, and all sorts of other funny and informational pictures about the trials. These students will also hold group meetings when they start reading the book in preparation for the trials. earch others opinions on the poem, but all of the evidence must be found within the

text, not using the text or using other sources will result in a point deduction. The reason for this is because Milton’s poem is primarily a work of fiction and based on his view of the story of Adam and Eve, and therefore external sources not based on his work will most likely not have the same information, resulting in invalid evidence. Overall, this huge class project gives students the opportunity to break out of their shells. Burroughs even said “I’ve seen people that are kind of quiet and shy and they’re not really confident, but yet when they have to get up in front of everybody like this, it’s like, where did that come from!” Students also have used this experience in their graduate school interview. If you are interested in taking AP Lit, but still aren’t sure, maybe this is the sign for you!

Below are some examples of the work of the Social Media/Marketing Directors:

Food is Fuel

Athlete nutrition advice

Elley Atchison, Co-Editor

As a high school athlete, nutrition is vital to your performance in games and competitions. I have compiled some nutrition tips from a registered sports dietitian to enhance your performance as an athlete.

1.) Always eat breakfast. Athletes should work to incorporate a carb, protein, and fruit/veggie in their breakfast. Some athlete-friendly breakfast ideas are oatmeal with nut butter, a bowl of cereal with some eggs, waffles with yogurt, or yogurt and granola with fruit.

2.) Eat a snack during halftime. While halftime is good for going over plays, regrouping mentally, and catching your

breath, it is also a great time to refuel your body. Some athlete-friendly halftime snacks include fruit, Gatorade, GoGo squeeze applesauce, Honey Stinger waffles, or gummies.

3.)Eat a snack before bed. Eating a protein-rich snack before bed can help build, repair, and recover your body while you sleep. If you are still hungry after dinner, it is okay to eat more. Some great late-night snack ideas are peanut butter toast with hemp seeds and chocolate chips, a Core Power smoothie with fruit and peanut butter, and a beef jerky stick with cheese and crackers.

Fair Queen and Southerner

Who took home the crown?

Blyss Murphree, Staff Writer

Fair Queen winner- Karalynn Kallhoff

Miss Southerner winner- Bella Caretti

To get insight on the Miss Southerner and Fair Queen Pageant, we sent in one of our very own Hilight writers to report on the experience. Sophia Lambert said, “I had a very positive experience competing in this pageant. We all had the same goal, and we all supported each other throughout the process. We had a couple of practices and since everyone has extracurriculars, we were often missing people, but everyone always made sure they were caught up and confident for the pageant. I would say we all connected through our walk because it’s intimidating to walk in front of everyone whether it’s your first time or your millionth time doing a pageant.

“I think that this pageant is a good way for people to come out of their

shell. Even though I went into this pageant only knowing two people, I feel like I have a new respect for everyone who participates in pageants. I feel like we all connected in a way that would not have been possible without going through this pageant.

“Overall, I had a great experience and I would love to do it again. I think that this is a great opportunity, and I think everyone should have an experience like this to help them gain confidence and to learn more about their peers.”

-Sophia Lambert

Grand Slam

Checking in on Cullman’s baseball team

Drew Williamson, Co-Editor

The Cullman High School baseball team has had some strong wins recently, with more to come in the season as well. On March 11, they traveled to Homewood and won 6-0. On March 16, Cullman hosted a double header against Mountain Brook, and won the first game 6-5. Be sure to support our baseball team at their upcoming games, listed below!

Schedule

3/16 VS Mountain

3/19 @ Decatur

3/21 VS Decatur

3/22 VS Hazel Green

3/23 VS Hazel Green

3/27 VS Chelsea

3/28 VS Upperman

3/29 VS Houston

4/2 VS Muscle Shoals

4/4 @ Muscle Shoals

4/6 @ Hoover

4/9 @ Hartselle

4/11 VS Hartselle

4/12 VS Alexandria

4/12 @ Helena

4/15 @ Madison Academy

Serving up Success

Tennis season update

Claire Dossey, Staff Writter

The CHS varsity tennis team is on an absolute roll this year! Coaches Nathan Bates, Jason Murphree, Ryan Hunt, and Kristen Barnett have been hard at work in training their team this year, and the team has been working even harder, and that hard work is really showing! In their first match of the year, both varsity girls and boys had a clean sweep (9-0) against Arab High School.

win away from tying for 1st place.

Both varsity teams also defeated Gadsden City High School in their first home game of the year, the boys with a clean sweep (9-0), and the girls (8-1). They also previously competed against Decatur High School on Thursday February 29th for a 6A match. The varsity boys came out with a 6-3 win, and sadly, the varsity girls lost 2-5 to the defending state runner-up. However, the JV girls also competed against Decatur’s JV girls and won the match up 7-2. Both varsity girls and boys compete against Gardendale High School on Tuesday the 5th.

In their recent match against Lauderdale County High School, the Varsity Girls defeated the reigning 3A state champion by 7-2, and the varsity boys defeated Lauderdale County 8-1, winning all three doubles spots and 5 of the 6 singles matches. Before that, the varsity girls defeated Mortimer Jordan 9-0 and also previously traveled to Tuscaloosa to compete in the 3rd annual Hillcrest Doubles tournament. The Cullman varsity girls took home the championship trophy with Olivia Dover and Karina Harris, defeating Hillcrest in the finals to win the #1 doubles bracket and Kassie Privett and Addie Townson beating Deshler in the finals to win the #3 doubles bracket. Allie Krigbaum and Savanna Privett made it to the semifinals, losing in a hard fought match 10-11. The Cullman varsity boys finished 3rd, and were one

The Cullman JV teams competed against Leeds on March 4th and Hartselle March 5th. Following spring break, the CHS JV tennis team will compete in a JV league tournament. In April, varsity will compete against Lauderdale county for a second time this season, and following that, they will compete against Boaz on Thursday, April 11th, then on the following day, they will compete against Deshler. After those matches, they will compete in a section tournament, and then travel to Mobile to participate in the 6A AHSAA State Tournament. Best of luck to CHS Tennis!

Elianna Hollis and Sophia Lambert

Karalynn Kallhoff

Bella Caretti

Jonah Inman

SPORTS 14

The Goal of Success

CHS boys and girls soccer are kicking off their season

Anna Beth Burleson, Staff Writer

As spring kicks into gear, so does the Cullman soccer season. The girls team won the Southern Shootout in the elite bracket and won against Lincoln. The team is currently recovering from losing seniors last season, but there is no doubt they will return to their former glory. They are currently 4-3 on wins and losses at this point in the season. The seniors this year are Elley Atchison, McKenzie Gregory, Bri Flanagan, Juliana Laney, Anna Grace Livengood, and Adrianne Lynn.

Boys soccer started off the season tying Buckhorn 3-3, then went to the Lakeshore Tournament where they won 2 out of 3 games, ending in a 4-0 loss to Gardendale. Then, they tied Boaz 0-0 in a tough game where the team played well, but just couldn’t punch in a goal. Their effort in that game led to a great outcome winning the Cullman County Cup in a clean

Batter Up!

3-0 sweep against Saint Bernard Prep, West Point, and Fairview. They then went on to beat Mortimer Jordan 3-0 on their home turf. Then, they traveled to Chelsea and lost 0-7, but overall showed great strength through adversity. Their next game is March 7 at Athens, then they come back home for their first area game against Hartselle on March 14. The team’s overall morale is really good since they have a very strong defense, goalkeeper, and offense. The hope is that they will win the area and do really well in the playoffs. The seniors this year are Noah Warren, Trey McLain, Clay Bonds, Luke Johnson, Rodrigo Gomez, Jayce Johnston, Cohen Scott, Nathan Potter, Zinedin Perez, Grant Hopper, Ashton Lambert, Ever Contreres, and Wyatt Harris.

Teeing off a Great Season

A look into the CHS Golf teams

John Mark Johnson, Staff Writer

The CHS golf teams are off to a great start with their seasons. As of current, the varsity golf team has won every tournament that they have en-

tered so far, most notably winning the Wynlake’s Blue-Gray golf tournament. The team shot a two day total of 606 with John Lunsford and Will Drake making the all-tournament team with scores in the top 5. In addition, The boy’s golf team composed of Aaron Byrd, Brooks Clark, Brody Hogeland, Walker Gentry and Fisher Lawrence

Interview with varsity softball

senior Brieonna Voss

Sophia Lambert, Staff Writer

We had the pleasure of interviewing Brieonna Voss, a senior pitcher and a first baseman, and this is what she had to say:

Q. How is the season going so far?

A. It’s going ok. We are going to get better throughout the season.

Q. How many seniors are on the varsity team?

A. There 3 seniors on the team Brieonna Voss, Kylie Stracener, and Taylor Au.

Q. Do you practice any before game rituals?

A. We always pray before games and everyone has a handshake with each other.

Q. Where will the team be traveling to?

A. We are going to Tennessee to play in a tournament over spring break.

Q. What is the tournament called?

A. The Southern Warrior Classic in Murfreesboro.

Q. How do you think the competition will go?

A. It’s going to be a hard competition because it is a varsity tournament, and we will be playing teams from different states. I think it will prepare us for regions and state.

Q. How does your senior year compare to your past years playing softball?

A. I’ve only been playing softball for 2 years. It feels surreal that it is almost over. There is a big want to win as a senior.

Q. What is the team’s strongest point?

A. Our strongest ability is definitely hitting. “Once our bats get going there is no stopping us”. We also all get along very well as a team.

won the Hazel Green Invitational Varsity golf tournament on March fourth with a score of 314. Aaron Byrd was the low medalist with a score of

73. Byrd (73) , Brooks Clark (78) and Walker Gentry (80) made the all tournament team.

For the girl’s golf team, Kate Cost was low medalist and won the Spain Park Invitational. Kate shot a 76 on day 1 and and 75 on day 2 and played on each of the courses at Greystone Country Club in Hoover. In addition, Jazmin Conn carded an 82 and placed third overall at the Farview High School Golf Invitational held at Cross Creek. Stella McGraw, Sadie Graham, and Ginny Voss also made up the team in placing third overall. As you can see, both golf teams are off to a great start with both of their seasons.

Sprinting Into Season

A new season of CHS track

Jonah Jarrett, Staff Writer Cullman High School track and field is as competitive as always as the Bearcat team hits the ground running into the new season. Coach Trent Dean has an optimistic outlook on the team’s placements this season, and he says “We have some school records that are in danger of being broken this outdoor season.”

The strength of the team doesn’t come for free though; they’re constantly working hard to “develop the best possible hand we can relative to our competition to help us win a team Section title as well as individual Section and State titles.” The team operates on five core tenets: “commitment, selflessness, discipline, faith, and work.” The team works diligently both to improve the team’s overall performance and each individual athlete. Coach Dean says we are “always working to bring pride to our team and school by developing our

relays (4x100, 4x400, 4x800)” and “doing our best to find the events that best suit the athletes that we have so we can play to our strengths and develop the best possible hand we can relative to our competition to help us win a team Section title, as well as individual Section and State titles. We also work towards developing our athletes from the inside out while they are gradually becoming more capable and rising up through the ranks of competition until they finally ascend to high school elite status. Some even garner college offers, but that is not the goal for all. Just some.” It seems obvious that our team is working very hard to be the very best team that they can. Wish them luck tomorrow night at Arab’s Friday Knight Lights and go Bearcats!

Soccer season, along with all spring sports, are in full swing, so remember to come out and support the Bearcats!

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EDITORIALS 16

How to Looksmax

A guide to maximizing your anxiety

Jonah Jarrett, Staff Writer

In the modern age of social media, fears about your own desirability are greater than ever. Comparing yourself to others on social media is almost impossible to avoid, consciously or unconsciously. In our consumerist society, beauty is a product. Anxiety about appearances, among both men and women, is at an all time high. Are you a rizzler? Or are you just a walking L? This anxiety has led people to try and find an out through a variety of unorthodox and harmful methods, blaming other people for their misfortune or trying strange and potentially dangerous remedies in search of beauty. This kind of behavior is inherent in human nature, but with the power of the internet, dangerous mindsets can proliferate much more quickly than they have in the past.

The most recent example of this behavior is the modern trend of “looksmaxxing,” telling vulnerable young men that in order to attract the attention of the one that they desire, they need to take drastic steps to get prettier. Looksmaxxing has been around since 2015 in “manosphere” and incel spaces where ideas of toxic masculinity and harmful behavior run rampant. Recently, however, the term and the practices surrounding it have taken on a more popular appeal, carried into the public eye by the winds of TikTok irony and popular memes, and although looksmaxxing is a joke to many, some young men who are vulnerable and looking to improve their life take it seriously. As the amount of people who joke about looksmaxxing grows, so too does the number of people who actually take part in the unorthodox and dangerous behaviors associated with it. But what actually are these behaviors?

there are so many other things to be insecure about? A real alpha male should have “predator eyes” that are slanted with a positive “canthal tilt.” Put simply, if your eyes are slanted down toward your nose, you have the eyes of a predator. If your eyes are slanted up

further: hit yourself in the face with a hammer to strengthen your jaw. Supposedly cracking the bones in your face will make them grow back stronger and more attractive. Surely starving yourself and beating yourself in the head with a hammer will make

and away from your nose, it’s over for you: you have the eyes of prey. Your value on the social marketplace is unfortunately quite low, and you’re resigned to the life of a beta male designated to only attract subpar women.

To begin with, there are some standard behaviors that followed looksmaxxing in its rise to popularity. The most common of these behaviors is mewing, placing your tongue against the roof of your mouth to strengthen your jaw muscles and build a better face. Although this method seems promising, there is no evidence to prove that mewing can actually make you more attractive. Mewing is only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to looksmaxxing- why stop now when

That’s a frightening fate to be condemned to; nobody wants to be labeled as an unattractive, “low-value” man. It is this fear of being placed in the lowest social caste that motivated some young men to take looksmaxxing too far. Starvemaxxing is the act of intentionally starving yourself in order to build a slimmer physique. In other words, it’s a fun name for anorexia that avoids bringing to mind that you have an eating disorder. If starvemaxxing doesn’t work, why not just go a step

Sporting Surge

Why are ticket prices for sporting events so high?

John Mark Johnson, Staff Writer

Attending a sporting event is one of America’s most popular pastimes. However, a glaring issue has started to arise. The ticket prices for many sporting events have reached outrageously high prices. With the average NFL game ticket costing $377 and the average NBA ticket in the range of $85 to $95, with playoff games costing even more, many fans have been alienated from supporting their teams; but why is this?

you prettier, right? Wouldn’t you, the reader, just love to date a man who is so obsessed with vanity he would break his own bones to impress women?

Looksmaxxing, and other extremist ideologies that propagate online, are the new wave of cults, using internet spaces to dish out toxic agendas directly to people algorithmically selected for their vulnerability. Just like a cult, it starts with a simple thought: “mewing seems easy, maybe this will help me get a partner.” When mewing doesn’t work, men fall deeper and deeper into the sinkhole of looksmaxxing and the manosphere until their actions are based more in a strange, deluded fiction written by others in the community than actual reality. By slowly surrounding themselves with other people who think the same things as them, the outlandish becomes normal. Through the Internet, the creation of echo chambers like this has only become easier with algorithms designed to show people the content they are most vulnerable to. These unhealthy mindsets ultimately end up only benefiting the people who created them and do nothing but hurt everyone else involved, from the men that hurt themselves to the women that have to put up with them.

Where many are quick to blame the all-around inflation that has impacted the economy over the past few years, much of it is by design. Recently, many consumers have shifted their spending interests to more leisure activities such as concerts, amusement parks, and sporting events, most likely being sparked by the end of the pandemic. This trend of higher demand and increased prices has been dubbed by analysts as “funflation.”

Ticket selling platforms such as

Ticketmaster and StubHub also play a significant role. Platforms such as these use dynamic pricing algorithms that fluctuate based on demand, with many teams seeing an opportunity to make more money by taking a share of the secondary ticket sale. In addition, despite many seats going unfilled in stadiums, teams are reluctant to sell otherwise empty seats for overly cheap prices. Their reasoning is that selling cheap seats as demand for fans increases will result in people waiting for lower ticket prices in the future. The amount of seats also plays a role in ticket pricing. As of recent, many teams have built new stadiums or renovated their existing facilities that have been built with reduced seating capacity allowing for higher prices.

Much to the dismay of consumers, an ever-changing economy is one of the primary reasons for the high ticket prices of sporting events, in addition to more competitive seating and a shift to dynamic pricing.

TikToks depicting “How to Bonesmash” and “My Bonesmashing Journey”

Equal Rights for Embryos

Alabama’s new fetal personhood legislation and its unintended effects

Mack Rudder, staff writer

On February 16th, Alabama’s Supreme Court ruled that frozen embryos created through in vitro fertilization are to be considered “extrauterine children,” which gives embryos the same rights as fully developed children. This decision stemmed from a wrongful death lawsuit where three couples’ frozen embryos were accidentally destroyed at a fertility clinic in Alabama. All three couples received IVF treatment at this fertility clinic and all three had produced extra embryos that were not implanted at the time of their treatment, which is normal in these cases. The clinic froze these extra

has specifically included embryos outside of the uterus.

embryos so they couples could come back and undergo implantation later on if they wished. In 2020, though, a patient at the hospital where the clinic was located entered the freezer where the embryos were stored and destroyed them accidentally.

This resulted in the three couples filing two lawsuits against the hospital where the clinic was located and against the clinic itself: one for negligence and wantonness and one for the wrongful death of a minor. The second case was dismissed in trial court when the judge stated that embryos that exist in vitro are not considered children or even people at all, and therefore they could not sue the clinic and hospital under this act. This led the couples to appeal this decision to the Alabama Supreme Court. The Supreme Court then decided that the Wrongful Death of a Minor Act does apply in this case and that the couples could use the Wrongful Death of a Minor act as basis to sue the hospital and clinic. Not only did they side with the couples, the Supreme Court also ruled that this act applies to, “all unborn children without limitation. And that includes unborn children who are not located in utero at the time they are killed.” While in the past, this act has been ruled to apply to fetuses developing in utero that have died due to accidents, this is the first time in Alabama history that under this act, the definition of a minor

According to John Hopkins, “Within the first week after the ruling, two of the eight fertility clinics in Alabama paused their IVF treatments.” The clinics say they paused these treatments out of, “real concern of the civil—and potential criminal—liability that their physicians and patients might face.” Due to the touchy nature of IVF treatment, it is a very unpredictable process with a lot of risks. When frozen embryos are thawed in preparation to transfer them to the uterus, there is already a possibility that they can be damaged just through that process of preparation. Embryos are very sensitive and even the slightest thing can damage them and make them non-transferrable. This is why the ruling led to the pausing of IVF treatments in Alabama. This halting of IVF treatments does not just affect patients seeking to start IVF treatment, though; it also affects patients who were already scheduled to undergo any part of their treatment, including the last part of it, which is the transfer of embryos into the uterus. This has caused distress for many families that have put time, cost, and their hope into IVF treatment.

According to the Washington Post, “One woman who appeared before a House committee Wednesday testified that she had spent nearly $400,000 on IVF, which would be wasted if programs were not restored soon.”

Multiple bills protecting access to IVF in Alabama are now quickly underway to be passed. According to CNN, one woman is urging house committee members to quickly pass

HB 237, one of the possible bills that would help reassure access to IVF treatment in Alabama, without hesitation. This woman is fighting loudly for access to IVF due to her personal experience with IVF treatment after her battle with cancer. She says,“I’m living proof of why IVF is so necessary.”

While this is the first ruling that gives rights specifically to extrauterine embryos, there have been similar rulings across the nation. These types of laws are referred to as “fetal personhood” laws; the concept behind them is that the Fourteenth Amendment that guarantees “any person of life, liberty, or property” and “the equal protection of the laws” should apply to fetuses just as it applies to adults. The increase in these personhood laws being passed or enacted across the nation is ultimately due to the overturning of Roe V. Wade.

The 1973 Supreme Court case Roe V. Wade ruled that personhood could not be granted to a fetus before viability. Justice Harry Blackmun wrote in his opinion that, “The word ‘person,’ as used in the Fourteenth Amendment, does not include the unborn.” The overturning of Roe V. Wade in June of 2022 gave states the ability to enact their own legislation on abortion: to either ban it or protect it. While fetal personhood laws are mostly passed to restrict access to abortion, they have many unintended consequences such as the disruption of IVF treatments, availability of contraceptives and birth control, and the unjust persecution of mothers.

Quitney Armstead is an example of how fetal personhood laws can be used in an unexpected way. According to The Marshall Project, a nonprofit news organization that focuses solely on criminal justice, Armstead “made a promise – to God and herself – to stay clean” when she learned that she was pregnant. They claim that Armstead had struggled with addiction and PTSD since her time serving in the military during the Iraq War. Armstead claims she stayed clean throughout the duration of her pregnancy, but when she delivered her baby at Decatur Morgan Hospital, the hospital sent off advanced testing without her knowledge and the results showed traces of methamphetamine in her daughter’s system- despite her claims of staying clean. This is not due to Armstead lying, though; this is because substances can show up in these advanced tests from many months prior to the test. The methamphetamine found in the fetus’s system was from before Armstead discovered she was pregnant. Armstead was charged with the chemical endangerment of a child due to Alabama’s fetal personhood

laws, even though she took substances at the very beginning of her pregnancy, which was before she even knew she was pregnant at all.

To be convicted of the chemical endangerment of a child in Alabama, as according to Ala. Code 1975, § 26-15-3.2, “the State must prove beyond a reasonable doubt each of the following elements: (1) The defendant was a responsible person…(AND) (2) The defendant caused or permitted a child…(A) To be exposed to; (B) To ingest or inhale; (OR) (C) To have contact with; A controlled substance, chemical substance, or drug paraphernalia,...(AND) (3) The defendant did so knowingly, recklessly, or intentionally. …(AND) (4) A child suffered serious physical injury by exposure to, ingestion of, inhalation of, or contact with a controlled substance, chemical substance, or drug paraphernalia.

(AND) (5) The exposure, ingestion, inhalation, or contact with a controlled substance, chemical substance, or drug paraphernalia resulted in the death of the child.” In Armstead’s case, she did not knowingly, recklessly, or intentionally expose her child to a chemical substance, nor did her child suffer any harm from coming into contact with this substance. Armstead’s case shows how fetal personhood laws are being stretched to great extents to persecute mothers.

Dr. Tony Scialii, an obstetrician who specializes in reproductive and developmental toxicology says that “exposure does not equal toxicity,” and that it is possible for positive results to come back from these drug screenings without there being harm to the infant. He asserts that prosecutions that stem from drug screenings and tests used to assess the needs of the patients is an abuse of power. Alabama’s new embryo ruling has already had unintended effects and is sure to continue to wreak havoc on Alabama mothers in many different ways.

A rally in support of IVF in Montgomery, Alabama

Quitney Armstead in 2009 during her deployment in Iraq

An image showing developmental stages of embryos. The last one (Blastocyst) is the stage embryos are frozen at.

EDITORIALS

The Internet’s Effect on Music

The good and bad of the internet in regards to music as an art and an industry

Mack Rudder, Staff Writer

Music has been around far longer than the internet, yet the internet has had a very huge and very significant impact on music as an industry and as an art form.

The internet has undeniably changed the artistry behind music as a whole. This is because now, due to the internet, people have access to music like never before. Any song is available to be streamed from your phone with the press of a button. This has led to an extreme diversification of music since access to music is now more widespread. No longer is music defined into simple categories: now there is a subcategory that caters to very small niches. While this is not a bad thing it has had some unintended effects. This ability to stream music more easily now has led to a change in the artistry behind music: before streaming was available widely, albums were listened to on CDs, which meant artists could portray a story through the album. Artists spent time putting songs in a certain order for the listener to be able to emerge themselves in that story through the album. Now, most people do not listen to full albums: instead they curate their own playlists with a special and unique blend of artists and songs that they enjoy. While this ability allows for artistic freedom for the listener, it takes away from the artistry behind albums, specifically ones that are meant to exist as one piece of art rather than individual pieces.

Not only has the artistry behind music been impacted, though: the way music is digested, sold, and profited off of has also been dramatically changed. This change began in 2004 with the creation of Apple’s iTunes Store. Before streaming services like iTunes, Apple Music, or Spotify were created, artists made nearly no money off of their individual songs. Their record labels took the profit from music sales. Most of the actual artists’ profit came from their live performances, which led them to release songs that “advertised” their concerts. Now due to streaming services, artists can and do make money off of individual streams. Spotify, for example, pays per stream at a rate of $0.003 or $0.005. While this might now seem like much, going from getting no profit per individual song released to almost 70% of the profit from the songs. For example, “Blinding Lights” by The Weeknd hit 4,118,353,016. This means 20,591,765.08 was profited off that song alone if Spotify paid The Weeknd at a rate of $0.005 per stream.

The internet has also led to the insurgence in the “independent artist.” An independent artist is a musician who is not under contract to a record label and instead releases their music independently. In 2017 Chance the Rapper, an independent producer and musician with 3 Grammys, told Rolling Stone Magazine that, “It’s a dead industry,” and that he believes

A Legacy of Defiance

The life and death of Alexei Navalny

Wilson Wood, Staff Writer

The death of Alexei Navalny, Russian President Vladamir Putin’s most unabating and fierce critic, was announced on February 16th, 2024, by Russian State Media. According to the Federal Penitentiary Service of the Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous District, Navalny “felt unwell after a walk, almost immediately losing consciousness.” Distinguished lawyer and anti-corruption activist, Navalny spent his life in protest of the Russian government and sought to expose the extreme corruption and fraud thereof. Although his voice began as a small political blog, it soon grew to become Putin’s most vocal and dangerous critic. An impressive career of dedication, Navalny established his own oppositional political party and organized several anti-government protests. He even held ambitions to run for president against Putin in the 2018 presidential election. However, the corrupt Russian government, controlled by sitting president Vladamir Putin, has done everything in its power to silence him. Although Navalny was committed to uprooting the corruption and fraud inherently spread throughout the Russian government, his dedication to truth and advocacy caused him to pay the ultimate price. This article is dedicated to the life of Alexei Navalny, and his commitment to a better Russia.

Alexei Navalny was born on June 4, 1976 in Butyn, Russia. From a young age, he was exposed to the corruption of the Soviet Government. Having grandparents living near Chernobyl, the family experienced the attempted cover-up of the Chernobyl Disaster by their government in 1986. Navalny attended the Peoples Friendship University of Russia and graduated with a law degree in 1998. He would continue his studies and earn an economics degree from the Financial University under the Government of the Russian Federation in 2001. After his studies, Navalny would become involved in several political parties that promoted liberal democracy, such as the Yabloko party. Using his degrees and experiences with early activism, Navalny began a blog in 2008 centered around his experiences with stakeholder activism. Essentially, he would purchase a small amount of stock in publicly traded state

owned corporations in order to gain access to their shareholder meetings. Navalny was then able to actively protest and engage in discourse with the executives of such corporations, who were powerful allies of Putin. His blogs recounting his experiences became so popular with the Russian public, that former president Dmitry Medvedev was forced to acknowledge the scale of corruption, admitting that over one trillion Rubles, (31 Billion Dollars), was being embezzled annually. The blog’s success would solidify Navalny’s reputation as a leading activist. In 2010, Navalny would go on to create the website RosPil, a whistleblowing website that publicized occurrences where state contracts seemed to be awarded corruptly. The website quickly became popular, obtaining over one million views per month while shedding light on shady corporate and governmental operations. Navalny’s aspirations did not stop at blogs and websites, however. On July 17, 2013, he declared his candidacy for the Moscow mayoral race. The very next day, he was arrested for embezzlement and sentenced to five years in prison. The trial was regarded as being highly politically motivated by the Russian public and prompted thousands of protesters to fill the streets of Moscow. The following day, he was freed, pending a hearing on his trial. Although he was refused access to main television channels, he finished second in the race with an unexpectedly high 27.2 percent of the vote. Although he was set free, the suspended sentence as well as other charges were part of a larger political campaign against Navalny. Even though he declared in 2016 that he intended to run against Putin in the 2018 presidential election, election officials ruled that he could not challenge Putin due to his suspended prison sentences. Such instances of strategic political manipulation are a part of Putin’s system of “managed democracy,” a system put in place under Putin’s presidency where the basic principles and procedures of a democracy are maintained. However, the outcomes of such ‘democratic’ elections are largely predetermined. The presidential election of 2018 can be seen as an example of such a system, predictably

“there’s no reason” to sign a record label. The internet has opened a whole new playing field for independent artists. Before the internet, roughly from 1923 to 1998, there were only six major record labels and they were known as the “Big Six.” Now there are more than 500 record labels today in the U.S alone. Before the internet being signed to a label was the only practical way to make money from releasing music. Labels handled music publication, PR, merchandise, and concerts. While the internet has made it more practical to be an independent artist, the real reason pushing artists to ditch their labels is that most record labels take 50 to 90 percent of an artist’s earnings. Other issues arise with being signed to a label besides money too such as copyright and ownership rights to music. The fight between Scooter Braun and Taylor Swift over the rights to her music has been widely broadcasted the past couple of years and is the reason behind Swift’s re-releasing of her older albums that Braun and her old label still have rights too, and therefore still make money off of the streams of.

A specific impact the internet is having on the music industry today has arisen from a newer popular social media site known as TikTok. Artists and songs have now begun to suffer from short periods of virality where their song charts and then subsequently disappear from everyone’s minds. Songs that continue to

trend on TikTok past this short term of success are usually deemed “TikTok songs,” which generally makes them cringy to listen to. While TikTok has dramatically affected the music industry, all the changes, though, have not been all bad for the industry. Studies have shown that people who are on TikTok are more likely to be more deeply involved in music through buying merchandise, attending concerts, or paying for streaming services. Specifically NPR says that, “40% of active TikTok users pay a monthly subscription for music, compared to 25% of the general population. And 17% buy artist merchandise monthly, compared to 9% of the general population.” TikTok can also be used as a gateway to find music. While most songs that experience short term success lose a lot of their streams after their time trending is over, these trends can still lead to people being introduced to new music leading them to become a fan of that artist. According to Billboard 100, “67% of [TikTok] users are more likely to seek out songs on music-streaming services after hearing them on TikTok.”

While the internet and everything it has brought with it can be endlessly debated over being “good” or “evil,” it is undeniably true that it has completely changed what it means to be a musician, music as an art form, and the music industry as a whole.

giving Putin an overwhelming majority of the vote, despite the fact that independent election monitoring agencies expressed widespread irregularities and corruption.

Such instances of political manipulation and control have become commonplace in Putin’s Russia. Criminal investigations conducted by external organizations into state owned corporations and the personal finances of Putin and his inner circle have become prevalent throughout the years. Such investigations have been conducted by the Anti-Corruption Foundation, an organization founded in 2011 by Navalny that continues to investigate alleged corruption in high-ranking Russian political leaders. Such an investigation by the ACF into the personal finances and dealings of Putin saw the release of the documentary Putin’s Palace. Released in 2021, the documentary investigated a palace complex located on the Black Sea with a mysterious and convoluted background. The film alleges that the complex, featuring a 191,000 square foot palace with a price tag of around 956 million dollars, is connected to a corruption scheme headed by Putin. Although the Kremlin denies the allegations included in the documentary, the film has seen over 100 million views. The opening of the documentary is unique, however, as it calls for viewers to participate in protests demanding the release of Navalny. He had previously been arrested after returning from Berlin. Prior to his arrest, Navalny was poisoned with the Soviet era nerve agent Novichok on August 20, 2020. He was hospitalized and placed into an artificial coma and spent over a month in recovery in Germany. Although the Kremlin denied claims of the attempted murder, investigations by the website Bellingcat and the media outlet The Insider, as well as cooperation with CNN, revealed a team of assassins from the Russian FSB security service that had stalked Navalny for years. It further revealed intelligence officers linked to the assassination attempt. After recovering in Germany, Navalny decided to return home. Although a recent court order had been placed ordering his detainment and arrest, he understood the importance of returning. On

January 17, 2021, Alexei Navalny was arrested after returning to Russia. Soon after his arrest, Navalny’s anti-corruption organizations were banned by order of Russian court and his influence was severely diminished. After receiving several additional prison sentences through seemingly fabricated convictions, Navalny was transferred to an arctic penal colony nicknamed the ‘Polar Wolf.’ He experienced grueling conditions and was placed in solitary confinement for the duration of his time there. Reports began to surface that he was being denied basic medical attention and that his living conditions continued to deteriorate. While in prison, despite his circumstances, Navalny continued his protests against corruption and the ongoing Russo-Ukrainian war. He was last seen in public on a video link in a court hearing. He died the next day on February 16, 2024, at the age of 47 years old. He leaves behind his wife Yulia and daughter Dasha. Following the announcement of his death by Russian state media, memorials and rallies have been held to honor Alexei and his legacy. As a show of suppression, Russian police have detained over 400 people in connection to protesting in support of Navalny. His burial, which took place on March 1, saw thousands of civilians in attendance, directly defying threats of arrest by the Kremlin. Navalny’s widow, Yulia, claims that she will continue his fight for a freer Russia. Although his death represents a major blow to the Russian opposition, it highlights the corruption and cowardice of Putin’s regime. Following his death, eight European countries as well as Canada and the U.S. announced new sanctions against all those suspected to be involved in his arrest and death. Alexei Navalny devoted his life to a better Russia. He worked for his fellow citizens and became a voice of opposition when such a voice was most needed. Although his valiant and fearless efforts cost him his life, he will always be remembered as a man dedicated to the principles of a free and just society.

THE BACK PAGE

Book Hot Takes

Hilight staff sharing their book critiques

Drew Williamson- “I get that George Orwell’s 1984 is an important message and was historically significant during its time, but I will die on the hill that it is an absolutely miserable book to read. While it definitely shouldn’t be all sunshine and rainbows due to the bleak tones of the story, maybe a little bit less vivid descriptions of sexual acts and torture and other unsavory things would make it a little more tolerable!”

Mack Rudder- “The simplicity of Ernest Hemingway’s Old Man and the Sea is what makes it worthy of being a classic. Hemingway’s book demonstrates how a book’s quality should not necessarily be determined by the complexity of its sentences, or words, but rather by the meaning the author has embedded within the text. I think Old Man and the Sea teaches writers an important lesson- to slow down and think about why you are writing something and what message you are wanting to send rather than how to fit in as many complex sentences or advanced vocab words as possible.”

Mrs. Calahan- “This novel is a favorite of mine and becomes more relevant to our society with each passing decade. Bradbury admitted that he came up with the idea because of how television began taking over societies’ pastime in the 1950s. He stated his concern was related to the decline of reading. F451 readers see the absurdity of the fictional laws in the novel about all books being burned and the danger to citizens who posses books. However, the relevance is greater now than 70 years ago...book banning has become more popular based on gender, race, and religion; some social media platforms are questioning individual posts and even removing the post or the person from their platforms.”

Jonah Jarrett- “I think this book was a very silly one to include in our required reading and our curriculum because ultimately, to me, the book doesn’t really seem to mean much. Reading it just felt like listening to a true crime podcast and hearing about all of these horrible and crazy things that happened to people. I don’t see what lesson that is teaching us as students. Her story is inspiring, but the book sensationalizes the story and honestly, I don’t really like hearing about people getting hurt anyways.”

Claire Dossey- “Worst book I’ve ever read; it was so confusing and literally took me like 2 months to finish because I had no motivation to read it. It was SO confusing; for like the whole first half of the book I had no idea what I was reading about. Terrible, I don’t care what anyone says.”

DISCLAIMER: Views expressed here belong solely to the writer and do not represent the Hilight staff as a whole.

Blyss Murphree- “Chris McCandless was not kookoo he was a cutie ;)”

Sophia Lambert- “I conquer.”

Anna Beth Burleson- “Hot take...this is one of my absolute favorite things that I have ever read! It’s a relevant story with an extremely dramatic emphasis. It has an abundance of symbolism and meaning. This story can teach you so many things about lies, love, and choices.”

Elley Atchison- “Oh my gosh, I was unprepared for how bad this was. I will never listen to social media recommendations again because this book was the most disgusting thing I have ever read. While there are general plot holes, stale tropes, and poor character development, the thing I hated most about this book was the dialogue. Oh, the dialogue! I have never cringed this hard while reading a book; I literally had to skip pages in this book because they were too unbearable to read. Please heed me when I tell you this: never pick up this book. I am doing you an immense favor right now.”

Wilson Wood- “Brave New World is often subjected to negative critique, largely based on the absurdity of such a world presented. It has trouble connecting with modern audiences due to moral standards and expectations that are incompatible with today’s standards. However, the novel was written as more than just a warning of such a dystopian society. Thematic ideas such as the importance of individuality as well as remaining committed to personal values are explored throughout the novel. It also allows for varied interpretations of the work that encourage discourse of the thematic ideas as a whole. Overall, although Brave New World explores some controversial and somewhat inappropriate themes, it establishes itself as an exploration of the uniqueness of humanity and the importance of individuality in society.”

John Mark Johnson- “I strongly dislike Piggy. I found him really annoying”

Aubrey Shaddrix- “William Golding is crazy if he thinks a bunch of 10 year olds boys are going to run around and murder each other with no moral repercussions. I know William Golding was like in WW2 or whatever but what he witnessed in war will not reflect in a bunch of prepubescent boys. If anything I think its more likely for the boys on the island to just start accidentally dying in stupid ways like choking on a stick or getting malaria.”