Volume 19, Issue 5

Pride flags removed Parent complaints lead to campus flag removals Pill paradox Medication has pervaded American culture

Max Bray, 12

Haylee Citty, 12

Aslan Shwartzoff, 12

Ares Smith, 12

Edward Scissorhands Shadow Operator Futaba Sakura

Vash the Stampede Yor Briar

Removal of pride flags raises questions

On the morning of Feb. 6, band students gathered in their classroom as usual. And it was a pretty typical morning—except for one unsettling change.

“Some people came with a ladder,” sophomore band student Juliana Noorlander said. “And [Brian] Kuperman [one of the band directors] had the kids set up the ladder and hold it down while he climbed to grab the pride flag, which was above his office at the time. We all just stood in silence for a few seconds realizing what was happening.”

Noorlander and her fellow band members had arrived before school started, just in time to see the removal of the large rainbow flag. None of them had anticipated watching this symbol being taken away, even among the increasing amount of laws and policies targeting LGBTQ+ students and teachers.

“We were in shock,” Noorlander said. “We immediately went to our phones to text our parents and friends what happened.”

Band was not the only classroom impacted. That day, drama teacher Jamaal Solomon also had to remove the pride flag that had previously hung in the theater room. Students began to speculate where this had come from, and whether it meant the removal of all classroom pride decorations.

For students who did not witness the removal in person, the realization came more gradually and less dramatically.

“For a few [students] it took a couple of days to figure out that it was gone, because it’s nothing that I normally would address,” Solomon said. “It was just there to show support.”

decoration hanging in their classroom related to the standards and curriculum that they were teaching, and gave them an opportunity to give me their reasoning for that.”

“

I really liked how they had a pride flag in the first place. I started wondering why they would even take it down.

Freshman band student Alex Rocha Bidá was not there the morning that the flag was taken away, but they noticed its absence and were disappointed.

- Alex Rocha Bida, 9

“I really liked how they had a pride flag in the first place,” Rocha Bidá said. “I started wondering why they would even take it down.”

So…why did they even take it down?

In January, a parent sent a complaint to Principal Robert Frasca, asking about the policy for “controversial issues.”

“A lot of people would want to know, how is that controversial?” Frasca said. “It’s controversial because look at the disagreement we’re already having. Whether I agree with the fact that it should be [controversial] is irrelevant.”

This instance fell under school board policy 22-40, which states that any classroom decorations or instructional materials dealing with controversial topics must relate directly to the curriculum or be removed from the teaching environment.

“I went to both teachers,” Frasca said. “I gave them the opportunity to provide me with an explanation of how they believed that that

Q&A

“Acceptance. And just that feeling: seeing that people can feel accepted.”

- Olivia Ahlqvist, 10

While Solomon decided to move the flag elsewhere rather than risk potential consequences, Kuperman sent in justification of the flag for Frasca to review.

“I did consult with our legal department,” Frasca said. “And their advice was that it didn’t meet the standard of the course. As a principal, I have to keep my personal beliefs out of my decision-making, and I have to make sure that I objectively look at policy and law and make sure that we are in compliance as a school.”

Based on the legal department’s counsel, Frasca determined that the flag would need to be taken out of the band classroom as well as theater.

Progress Pride Flag. It was this version that the band classroom once displayed.

Band and theater benefit from a strong sense of community, so the teachers and members encourage students to be more open, and consequently, these classes have become safe environments for LGBTQ+ students.

“In the theater department, we are creating a culture of kindness,” Solomon said. “Everyone is free to be their true, authentic selves. We create a safe space for everyone to be included and invited, and everyone is welcome.”

“

The real question would be why the attention [goes] to

The flags’ removal has been met with frustration and anger from LGBTQ+ students and allies of the community. Students and parents alike have expressed concern for the growing lack of tolerance, and Frasca has received complaints from both against the school’s actions in relation to the flags.

the singular person trying to take it down, and not the people attempting to put the flag back up.

The band and theater programs have long been known to have a broad mix of cultures, identities, and sexualities. And until that day in February, they were able to express as much relatively openly, without much disruption or interference.

- Juliana Noorlander, 10

“The real question would be why the attention [goes] to the singular person trying to take it down, and not the people attempting to put the flag back up,” Noorlander said. “People cannot be ignorant forever.”

Pride flags have been around since the ‘70s, and symbolize the pride of the LGBTQ+ community through rainbow hues. Since the first iteration was designed, they have continued to evolve; one of the most common in modern times is known as the

LGBTQ+ students have continued to wear pride clothing, display pins, and show support to each other in the absence of acceptance. Even as policies such as this continue to grow in number, students maintain hope for the future.

“I would hope that in the future things like being queer are more common and not looked down upon,” Rocha Bidá said.

What did the pride flags mean to you?

“It meant a safe space and a community, like an area where I could be myself.”

- Isabel Breitsprecher, 10

“When we see something that represents a lot of us up there, we feel welcome and loved..”

- Samantha Orne, 10

“To me, it was symbolic of having it be a safe space for everybody to be who they are.”

- Ilyssa Reichhardt, 10

AT THE END OF THE RAINBOW Early this year, principal Frasca received a parent complaint about the pride flags hanging in the Band and Theater classrooms. Both flags were taken down, but many LGBTQ+ students and allies find the removal concerning.

New bus ID program off to a bumpy start

In his 16 years as a bus driver, Charles McCain has seen a lot. From crying elementary school kids to obstinate high schoolers, his job requires adaptability. This year, students are not the only ones testing his patience: the school’s latest technology updates are.

On April 2, Hagerty began implementing a transportation pilot program, where students scan IDs as they board on and off the bus, while bus drivers are expected to supervise the process on tablets.

disorganized quickly as students board the bus without waiting for a green light.

“Speed is crucial. [Sometimes] the kids get off the bus, they’re already out the door and gone, and the tablet is still trying to figure out who that person was,” McCain said.

It [can get] annoying, especially when I’ve seen kids for years and [the system] doesn’t even recognize them.

- Charles McCain, bus driver “

Even before the pilot started, it ran into problems as ID distribution got messy just a few days before the program’s expected start date, with cards distributed to teachers at random instead of by period.

Despite stemming from a desire for student safety, the system can get tedious in practice.

“It’s hit or miss for me,” McCain said. “I hope it’s worth it…but it [can get] annoying, especially when I’ve seen kids for years and [the system] doesn’t even recognize them.”

Whenever the program fails to recognize a student, a buzzer sounds and the bus driver is forced to manually load the student into the system. This small task can become

“It was a little stressful for us,” principal Robert Frasca said. “We had one teacher with 150 IDs and we had others that had none…[but] we did the best we could to get them out.”

Junior Alton Ashford did not receive his bus card until after the program started. Although he was able to get on the bus without much issue, he questions the efficiency of such a program.

“My bus driver already knows my face and everyone else’s face…it seems pointless,” Ashford said.

NEWS BRIEFS

Knoblauch national finalist

Although many students raise similar concerns, Frasca believes the small bumps in the program will eventually smooth themselves out.

“I think it’s a good thing. It’ll give parents more information about where their kid is, and once it gets rolling, it will be minimal work for everybody,” Frasca said.

On McCain’s part, he also recognizes the potential benefits of

Rep. Eskamani visits Girl Up

the program, even as he has to deal with the day-to-day challenges.

“There are times I can hear [people] on the radio, saying ‘We’re looking for a student,’ and the drivers say, ‘Well, they got off at this stop,’ and then it’s, ‘Are you sure they got off at this stop?’ and it’s just a back and forth,” McCain said. “The program has the potential to be worth it, [but] there’s still work to do.”

Language society inductions

Senior Nadia Knoblauch did a lot of traveling this spring. On April 4, Knoblauch was named one of the top state journalists in the nation, along with the student journalists of the year from Pennsylvania, Texas, Virginia and International. Knoblauch spent a month working on her portfolio for the Todd C. Smith Journalist of the Year award, her hard work paid off on March 1 as the Florida Scholastic Press Association announced her as the winner, making her the first recipient in school history.

“When I finally submitted it, it was like a weight had been lifted off my shoulders and I tried not to think about it until a couple of days before it was announced,” Knoblauch said. “When I finally found out that I had won, I was relieved and happy that a goal I had been working towards for three years paid off.”

Knoblauch worked every day for a month formatting her online website, to make it visually appealing and easy to navigate, and showcase her journalistic work in 11 categories, including writing, design, broadcast journalism, marketing, law and ethics.

March is known for many things. For basketball fans, it is the beginning of March Madness. For the Romans, it was the first month on the calendar. For women everywhere, it means a chance to celebrate their history and think towards the future.

Girl Up chose to honor Women’s History Month by welcoming a guest speaker: Florida House representative Anna V. Eskamani, who discussed important issues regarding women and encouraged students to pursue the causes most important to them.

“It’s very empowering because it’s not every day you get to see representatives willing to talk one on-one-with the people that they are representing,” Girl Up vice president Jazzy Compton said. “I think that’s really nice that she took the time to appeal to young voters and showed them what it’s like to be a woman in power.”

Currently, Eskamani is the state representative for District 42 and is the first Iranian-American to be elected in any public office in the state of Florida. Growing up in Orlando, she always felt support from her friends and community and wanted to give back.

“I’ve always just been grateful for the love and support my community has shown me,” Eskamani said.

All eyes are on the mother candle, the symbol of upper class students passing the torch or “flame” to underclassmen and continuing their studies on the culture and language of their respective societies.

All four language honor societies inducted a total of 120 students for the 18th annual language induction held on April 11 at the auditorium. Inductees arrived at 5:30 p.m. to organize seating arrangements and go over the general ceremony. The language induction began at 6:30 p.m., with the Color Guard starting the ceremony by reciting the Pledge of Allegiance. The first society to be inducted was National Spanish Honor Society. National French Honor Society went next. National Chinese Honor Society went next receiving purple cords to mark their entry into the society.

National American Sign Language Honor Society was last, so while they could not receive a candle, they signed and recreated the action of blowing out their candles with their hands.

The ceremony ended with Rhode congratulating all inductees and thanking assistant principal Reggie Miller for his support of the programs. The students and their families celebrated in the lobby of the auditorium with cake and refreshments after the ceremony’s end.

SAVED BY THE BELL Students board the bus at the end of the school day. In the first week of April, Hagerty started requiring students to scan themselves on and off the bus using IDs distributed the week before. Photo | Josephine Lim

Eskamani speaks at Girl Up’s March meeting.

Photo | Holly Smyers

Knoblauch poses with her National Student Journalist of the Year finalist plaque

Photo | Kailey Calvo

French Honor Society secretary Lauren Bliss names inductees.

Photo | Chloe Sanna

Drama debuts ‘The Drowsy Chaperone’

After showing both “Mean Girls” and “Clue” this year, Purebred Productions debuted “The Drowsy Chaperone” on Thursday, April 4. “The Drowsy Chaperone” features a middle-aged theater fan, “Man in Chair,” as he narrates a long playing vinyl of his favorite musical, the fictional 1920s musical “The Drowsy Chaperone.” The audience is taken through the silly dramatic parody of a musical, in which Broadway star Janet quickly falls in love with Robert and enlists a chaperone to keep her away from him until their wedding, through the Man in Chair’s eyes.

Padilla used his humor to emphasize the over-the-top nature of the show.

from the show and will definitely keep the audience invested,” Register said.

| Print Editor Productions show for several seniors in the cast, making the excitement of opening week bittersweet.

“This show is a take on how things can be perceived through an old eye and old ear. Nothing on stage is actually what happens within the fictional musical, it’s all told through the Man in Chair’s perspective, which makes it really interesting. I don’t think there’s another musical out there like this one, which makes it all the more special,” senior Madelynn Roberts, who plays The Chaperone, said.

Despite being a rookie on the theater stage, with only one other Purebred Production show under his belt, senior Bryce Padilla led the cast as the Man in Chair. Although his lack of experience presents some barriers,

“I wish I would have joined theater sooner because I thought about it multiple times, and I feel like I would have gotten a lot more used to being on stage. In “Mean Girls,” I was a part of the ensemble and only sang the entire time on stage, while for this show, I narrate every scene,” Padilla said. I was already comfortable with singing on stage, but acting in front of people, especially for my first time in a major role, has been an adjustment.”

The cast began rehearsing in the beginning of March, giving them time to become well-versed with their characters’ mannerisms, while also adjusting to the auditorium’s recently installed sound system.

- Julia Register, 12 “

It’s kind of a shame that not a lot of people know [“The Drowsy Chaperone”], but that makes it even more special because we can expose our audiences to this show and its message.

The Man in Chair uses his witty comedic timing to comment on the plot and the main conflict within the musical, which is the love story between Janet and Robert, played by senior Julia Register and sophomore Shaun Epperson respectively, as their wedding gets called off several times.

“Everything Janet does is so ridiculous and exaggerated but also so serious to her. You can really tell that she cares about Robert and their relationship so much throughout the story. Their relationship is a highlight

“Our experience with doing “Mean Girls” showed us that our department does have a lot of natural talent and the ability to have a great production quality, and I’m glad our sound can finally reflect that,”Roberts said.

Working with the new sound system did present its challenges during rehearsal.

“When we started rehearsing in the auditorium and with microphones, it was definitely different. It helped us learn where to stand on stage to minimize loud feedbacks from the mics, and did make rehearsal more rocky, but I know it will ultimately increase our show with some practice,” Padilla said.

This was the last Purebred

“I’ve done every musical the department has produced for all four years. I didn’t plan on doing theater in high school or ever, but finding this program has made me fall in love with being on stage and being in front of an audience. No other space has really been able to give me this same sense of comfort or give me as strong a passion for something as this,” Roberts said.

While this production may not be as well known as the previous musical, “Mean Girls,” Register was confident that audience members and fans of theater would enjoy their performance of “The Drowsy Chaperone.”

“It’s kind of a shame that not a lot of people know [“The Drowsy Chaperone”], but that makes it even more special because we can expose our audiences to this show and its message,” Register said. “The Man in Chair’s character is all about how much love he has for show tunes and theater, and I just think it’s important to show people that everyone has their own passions and individual places that they may ‘escape’ to, but theater can also help bring everyone together and create community.”

CURTAIN CALL

(1) Reporters flock to Janet, played by Julia Register, as she makes an announcement about her engagement to Robert, played by Shaun Epperson. (2) The chaperone, acted by senior Madelynn Roberts, dramatically tells Janet a story about love. (3) Janet and Robert, a famous showgirl and her new fiancé, have a stressful conversation in the garden about the future of their relationship. (4) Roberts and Register act out the dramatic and wise lesson about love. (5) Reporters and photographers crowd around Register as she describes the status of her relationship to Robert. (6) Janet debuts a new outfit and dance number after getting married to Robert in a joyful finale.

Kailey Calvo

Photos | Savannah Towne

TFAILURE

Lia Miller | Opinions Editor

he upcoming election will feature a rematch of two of the most disliked men in America.

Neither of these men is qualified to run the book club at a senior living community, much less the entire country, so the fact that they have gotten this far raises an interesting question: what exactly went wrong?

It is no secret that Joe Biden and Donald Trump were never the most loved presidents. With Trump’s problematic social ideology, and the conflict over his role in the Jan. 6 riot, a lot of people— Republicans included—are undoubtedly having second thoughts about reelecting him (as they should; how do we justify re-nominating a president who was impeached twice?).

“ SYSTEMATIC

And Biden is not the ideal person to dictate internal affairs and foreign policy either; the rising inflation and overall lack of control during his term speaks for itself. In fact, according to a poll done by Reuters, 44% of Democrats did not want Biden to run again, 34% of Republicans did not want Trump to run again, and about two-thirds of all respondents would rather that neither of them ran.

and while Trump has tried to brand himself as an outsider, he has been the major political force in the U.S. for a decade, and the current political climate encourages extremism and polarization.

Maybe the citizens of the United States need someone a little bit younger and newer to the game.

Biden is currently 81 years old, and Trump is 77 (though he will be 78 by Election Day); either way, the next president will be the U.S.’s oldest.

The issue of age occurs with all elected positions, resulting in an average Congressman age of 58 years—19.5 years older than the average American. The age gap between these representatives and the people that they supposedly represent is old enough to vote, rent an apartment, serve jury duty and donate its sweet, injustice-flavored blood.

But alas, according to the 56% of Democrats and 66% of Republicans who do favor Biden and Trump, one of these men will make a fantastic leader.

Biden is currently 81 years old, and Trump is 77 (though he will be 78 by Election Day); either way, the next president will be the oldest to ever serve.

The problem is with the system that allows each candidate to win over their individual parties despite the fact that most voters dislike them. In the primaries, only registered Republicans or Democrats vote, so while the majority seems to favor the two candidates, they are actually chosen by the majority of one group. This also leaves out Independents, who consequently find themselves caught between two bad options.

But even with our current system, we should still get more qualified candidates than this.

Neither Biden nor Trump have shown much open-mindedness, and both seem to have little knowledge of the needs of the diverse population of the United States. Not to mention, they are wildly out of touch with how their laws and policies actually affect others.

This makes sense, given that both have pursued a career in politics for many, many years. Biden won his first election for Congress in 1972,

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

Just imagine it: the 47th president staggers into a cabinet meeting to speak in a wheezing voice that no one else understands about a subject that he does not understand. At 4 p.m., it is already past his bedtime. Deep down inside, he just wants to play golf. His cabinet nods and smiles as he rambles on, then carries on however they please.

For four entire years

We have a minimum age to run for president, so why not a maximum? Or what about an independently administered test to assess mental capability? We take SATs to get into college, and a driving test to ensure everyone’s safety on the road, so why not one in order to lead the country? The United States just needs to rework the entire election process; the system is clearly broken, so why not fix it?

In the meantime, we can look forward to an onslaught of negative propaganda and more useless signs than a crossroads in Wonderland.

Regardless of who wins in November, the majority of voters will start counting down the days until 2028, hoping that somehow, this situation will not repeat itself again.

FIRED UP

Nadia Knoblauch | Editor-in-Chief

Fired Up: Alabama’s recent ruling threatens IVF

The average newborn baby weighs seven pounds and measures 19.5 inches.

Now in Alabama, in vitro fertilization eggs, (commonly referred to as IVF), of only 15 to 22 millimeters in size, will be legally seen as living children.

On Feb. 16, the Alabama Supreme Court issued a ruling that embryos created through IVF are to be considered children under the law. After a lawsuit from three couples against the Center for Reproductive Medicine and the Mobile Infirmary Association after their IVF eggs were destroyed by a patient in an Alabama hospital, this ruling not only poses a risk to medical professionals, who must dispose of unviable eggs as part of the IVF process, but other couples going through the IVF process.

This ruling is another extension of antiabortion legislation, using legislation to hold parents responsible for the moral beliefs of others. With it being unclear what would distinguish a disposal of IVF eggs as “improper,” Alabama’s decision does not protect families, but threatens their existence.

According to Justice Jay Mitchell, the ruling was protected under Alabama’s Wrongful Death of a Minor Act, now including “extrauterine children,” or IVF eggs. This has rewritten the definition not only of a child but of life in Alabama.

Alabama’s ruling has already seen effects, with the University of Alabama Birmingham hospital pausing IVF treatments after the ruling. If the whole point of the trial was to preserve life in Alabama, why have the lives of hopeful parents been negatively impacted?

Just like any other hopeful parent, those going through IVF should not need to worry over being charged for the “murder” of their eggs if they are not viable. The entire concept of IVF is based on the viability of eggs for life. Not that they are already living.

If all eggs are to be considered the children of a couple, would some simply not being viable for life, as the majority of eggs are, cause the couple to go through an unneeded and ridiculous legal process? How are those unable to naturally conceive children supposed to go through the IVF process, meant to assist and improve lives, if they could face prosecution?

Imagine this: a couple going through IVF has poured care, time and thousands of dollars into their treatment plan. But, when they have to dispose of eggs that were not even viable for life, they end up in court?

This decision not only threatened those in Alabama, but similar minded states, especially Florida. The last thing we need is more regulation on the reproductive rights of women and families (who are fully developed human beings.)

The argument of when “life” truly begins is one that is sensitive and varies across cultures, religions and traditions, which should all be respected in their own right. But no belief of others should limit couples’ access to IVF treatment or creating a family.

BLUEPRINT the

OUR TAKE: Proceed with caution

AThe BluePrint is a studentproduced newspaper in which the student editors make all content decisions. The newspaper belongs to the Columbia Scholastic Press Association, the National Scholastic Press Association and the Florida Scholastic Press Association.

Opinions expressed within the newspaper do not represent the staff’s views as a whole, the views of Seminole County Public Schools’ or Hagerty High School’s administration and staff.

BluePrint staff

scanning system for bus IDs, standardized tests online and an improved wifi network: Technology is deeply integrated into everything we do at Hagerty. Every day, we use high-tech systems to do everything from submitting assignments to taking standardized tests.

Most of these advances are not only helpful but necessary to prepare us for college and the workforce. At school, students have access to computers, whether that be in labs or computer carts, to use to complete in-class assignments, as digital assignments like discussion posts can ensure that students are engaged throughout a lesson. Most often, the wifi speed is relatively fast, allowing for all 2,580 students to use the same network during the school day. This is a massive upgrade from what was the norm just a few years ago and it’s clear that Hagerty provides students a huge advantage.

Technology allows students to be exposed to a greater amount of information, as using a phone or computer as a part of an educational lesson can allow students to explore topics beyond what is covered in traditional textbooks, increasing curiosity about certain subjects, and fostering a love of learning.

While the benefits of technology are hard to overlook, it is not the solution to every problem.

Too many digital aspects of the classroom can increase the room for error and become more difficult to manage. Think about it: if someone buys an electric car with all kinds of gadgets, it increases the amount of potential issues. The same is true in

the classroom, as network issues or computer malfunctions continue to plague students daily.

Technology integration may reduce face-to-face interactions between students and teachers. While online collaboration through discussion boards can create an opportunity for students to learn, learning can be the most beneficial face-to-face, and building strong relationships and effective communication skills are essential for a well-rounded education. The overuse of technology can hinder the development of such skills.

Reliance to technology could also hinder a student’s ability to think critically and problem-solve. Many students don’t complete handwritten assignments or notes because of overreliance on technology. While more time-consuming, writing

pen to paper, rather than typing, can increase the likelihood of remembering details of a lesson, and can enhance learning.

Cell phones and devices can be helpful for lessons or assignments in class; however, they often distract students more than help them. Between social media and games, students can easily be sidetracked by the important topics they are learning about. This overall could lead to decreased attention spans, reduced productivity, and a lack of focus on the lesson.

Ultimately, technology is a useful and helpful tool that our school needs to prepare students for life beyond high school. However, technology is just a tool, and if overused, other necessary skills needed to function in the classroom and society will quickly wither away.

Under the spotlight: horror stories from child actors

Jolin Alcindor | Staff Reporter

When you watch a television show on Nickelodeon, it was an escape for most of us growing up. A fun, safe world where problems never got too bad and everything turned out happy at the end of 30 minutes. But behind the scenes, the actors who were our age had to endure painful experiences that would stick with them for life.

On March 17, 2024, the bombshell documentary series “Quiet on Set: The Dark Side of Kids TV” released its first episode on Investigation Discovery. The limited series followed years of allegations against Nickelodeon staff, mainly focusing on producer Dan Schneider, the creator of popular Nickelodeon shows such as “iCarly,” “Drake & Josh” and “Henry Danger.” In the four-part docuseries, former child actors, such as Drake Bell from

“Drake & Josh,” talk about their part in the show, detailing a toxic working culture, and, for some, even abuse.

How, as a society, are we able to let this happen? And how, how could the children — who seemed to have it all — have any grievances with the task?

In the docuseries, Drake Bell, actor of the hit show “Drake & Josh” that ran from 2004 to 2007, alleges sexual abuse from his dialogue coach, Brian Peck. According to Bell, Peck would have Bell stay at his house for LA auditions as Peck lived closer, and the two spent so much time

together, Bell’s father felt something was off. Joe Bell, Drake Bell’s father, recalls having a bad feeling about Peck being around his son so often.

And sadly, his feeling turned out to be true. A 15-year-old Bell was asleep on a couch when the sexual assault occurred, starting a pattern of abuse that ended with Peck going to jail. He was charged with 11 counts of lewd misconduct and served 16 months in jail.

Jennette McCurdy, a former child star of shows “iCarly” and its spinoff “Sam & Cat”, released a memoir titled “I’m Glad My Mom Died” in

2022, accounting for her experiences with her abusive mother and uncomfortable experiences on the set of both shows. McCurdy talks about her struggles with developing an eating disorder in order to “maintain her size to stay employed.”

The number of horror stories that have been told doesn’t end there, but one question remains on my mind: Where are the protections for child actors?

Currently, there are no federal protections for child actors in the industry. State protections exist, the majority of which are in California, however, no major legislation has been passed ensuring the total protection of child actors. This needs to change.

It is truly awful what has happened to actors like Drake Bell. The government needs to do its part to make sure it will never happen again.

Illustration | Ava Strzalko

Illustration | Josephine Lim

When I was 6 years old, my parents took me and my sister to see Disney’s “Frozen” in theaters. As soon as I heard “Let it Go” for the first time—watching as Elsa unpinned her platinum blonde hair and built a palace from her powers—I was hooked. It was all I could think about. My previous love for “Cinderella” and “Tangled” was completely forgotten as I begged my mom to braid my hair exactly like Elsa’s, mimicking the pose she had on the movie poster in every photo I took.

In February, Disney announced that a “Frozen 3” as well as a “Frozen 4” were in the works. All the children who first saw “Frozen” in theaters have grown older, but hardly any time has passed in the world of the movie. The characters are left encased in a tomb of ice, forced to be re-awakened every six years in hopes of attracting the attention of new generations of kids everywhere, with their parents’ money in tow.

MOVIE

SEQUELS

In the past several years, the tactic of “nostalgia-baiting” has been used more and more to market to fans. The idea is that if a remake or sequel of a beloved movie gets announced, people will buy tickets because of their fondness for the story and characters, no matter how long ago the original source material came out. It is a strategy that leaves fans with the short end of the stick, because most of the time, the sequels and remakes that are advertised do not live up to expectations.

Tim Burton’s “Beetlejuice,” had a teaser for a sequel 36 years after the original movie came out. Because of its cult-classic status, producers have decided that if they could get some of the original cast members like Winona Ryder—which they did— tickets will sell.

“The Cruel Prince”

“The Cruel Prince” is the first book in “The Folk of the Air” series by Holly Black. It revolves around a mortal girl named Jude who lives in the Faerie world. She was 7 when her parents were murdered in front of her and stolen away to live in the High Court. Ten years later, Jude is trying to win a place at the Court, learning skills of trickery, deception and bloodshed along the way.

The book has a little bit of everything. Politics? Check. Interesting family dynamics? Check. Morally gray characters? A gripping plot? A hate-to-love slowburn romance? Check, check, check.

The additions to the Frozen franchise are not the only sequel movies Disney has recently announced, with “Zootopia 2,” “Moana 2,” “Inside Out 2” and “Toy Story 5” in the works.

Sequels to hit movies like “Frozen” will always make money from sheer popularity, but it’s clear that Disney and Pixar are thinking about money first when they resurrect completed storylines. “Toy Story 4” is another example since “Toy Story 3” gave the characters a good ending where the toys from the first few films got a new owner, effectively wrapping up the storyline. All fans, old and new, were satisfied with this ending, so why did these movies get greenlit in the first place?

These “nostalgia-bait” movies are only hurting fans with the lack of care put into them by the quality of the writing. “

The movie is set to release in September, and it will definitely make money off of the original’s fans, but this cycle of dusting off older movies for unnecessary sequels needs to stop. There are so many interesting stories and ideas that can be explored in film, and at the end of the day, these nostalgia-bait movies are only hurting fans with the lack of care put into them by the quality of the writing. The scariest example might be the fifth installment of the Scream franchise, where the new leads are underdeveloped and make little sense considering the previous film plots.

Movie studios may keep trying to entice viewers by reviving their old childhood movies, but I have to wonder: what would my 6-year-old self think of this constant cycle of mutilating her favorite characters in favor of making extra money? While it might be enough to feed my younger self and millions of other hungry fans, now I see it for what it really is.

Lillie Overton Staff Reporter

Lillie asks students about their online classes and how they are handling the end of the year.

I am always a little nervous when starting a new fantasy series because I don’t want to compare it too much to other series I’ve read and be disappointed. However, this book goes beyond comparisons, breaking literary norms with its unique storyline and intoxicating line up of characters. Holly Black is not afraid of bringing out the dark lore of the fae, breaking their daisies and rainbows stereotypes. When the introduction gave me a rhyming fairytale poem by Robert Graves, I knew that the author loves the fantasy world she built.

And I love how Jude is morally gray. She’s power hungry and willing to do whatever it takes to prove herself to the world that hates her kind. She’s driven by her need to fit in and break everyone’s weak expectations of her. It makes her likable that she has to work her way up the totem pole. I also like how she’s incredibly smart but still has her foolish moments, showing her imperfections.

There were no moments in this book that I felt were out of place. Also, the descriptions of the weird world were marvelous. You can quickly grasp what every creature looks like, which helps the story flow so much better.

Jude and Cardan’s budding relationship is the pinnacle of the hate-to-love trope, and I am here for it. There is so much tension between them, and I like that their relationship never pretends to be healthy. Cardan is an egotistical prince that treats Jude in a way that is far from okay. But Jude also manipulates Cardan for her own gain. I can’t wait to see how their relationship develops in the next two books.

Lastly, the power shifts, amount of scheming, lying and betrayal are all amazingly balanced. Holly Black knows how to create multiple plot twists without them getting repetitive or predictable. Jude’s different plots in her rise to power were my favorite parts in the book. Not only were they nail-biting but they also showed the progression in her skills. I also loved being able to read her thoughts and how she planned everything out.

I’m glad I finally read “The Cruel Prince”— even though it was recommended to me a thousand times. Everyone knew what they were talking about based on how it quickly made its way up to one of my favorite fantasy books.

If you’re like me and love fantasy books with touches of spies and enemies-to-lovers, then this should be the next book you pick up.

HOME IMPROVEMENT School undergoing several big-ticket upgrades

Media Center

The refurnishing of the media center started the summer before 2023-24 school year. So far, the school has spent $30,000 on this project with more furniture coming.

Track Installation

The total, the installation of a new track cost $233,000. With district support, the school saved $100,000 finishing the installation in time for December.

Cafeteria Renovation

The construction of mini restaurant Filtered as well as the refurnishing was funded by a grant from Red Apple Dining. The project was finished during winter break.

New Audio System

After planning for system upgrades for the auditorium, Frasca approved $80,000 to be spent on installation of a new sound system, light board and projector.

Computers

The school will hold its first digital AP testing this year. Because of this, the school approved $120,000 on more technology to meet the demand of digital testing. 2023-24

Paneled wood, high rise chairs, padded seats. When students came back from winter break, the first thing they noticed was the cafeteria’s new look, complete with new furniture and a mini-restaurant boasting various food and drink selections. While this upgrade was the most prominent change around campus, there have been several other projects still in progress or already completed since the beginning of the school year.

“

time a student passes an AP test, the school receives a set amount of money to spend on classrooms. Hagerty makes between $600,000 to $800,000 per year from AP scores, which is then budgeted for technology, renovations and other necessities.

I have an open door policy...to try and make sure everybody has what they need to take care of our facilities for our kids and for our campus.

- Robert Frasca, principal

So far, the school has spent over $450,000 in facility renovations, including installation of a new track, a new audio system in the auditorium, media center refurnishing, new computers, cafeteria renovations and electronics for classrooms. This amount, however, does not include the rebuilding of the stadium’s bleachers or the new vending machines around campus.

Project Funding

The amount is a lot, but the school has three main ways to get money for these upgrades: facility rentals, government funding, and academic funding.

The school has been renting out facilities for over 10 years. Many community organizations have held recitals in the auditorium or used other facilities over the weekend or during the summer. Action Church, a local ministry, meets on campus every Sunday for their weekly services. This year, $150,000 of the facility upgrade budget came from community rentals.

The second way the school gets funding is through state grants, which give between $25,000 and $30,000 for renovation projects.

The school can spend up to $25,000 without needing district approval. However, when expenses rise above $25,000, planned upgrades will need approval from assistant superintendent Mike Rice; when the quantity is above $50,000, it will have to be approved by superintendent Serita Beamon. Before sending in plans for approval, Frasca has to give the final okay, but not without administration and staff collaboration.

Project Managers

Of course, the responsibility of renovating and maintaining facilities does not only fall on Frasca’s shoulders. School administration manager Jason Maitland and athletic director Jay Getty are two main facilitators of this process.

As the main overseer of facilities, Maitland decides how to distribute the budget received from Frasca, dividing the cost between landscaping, plumbing, and other maintenance needs.

“I have an open door policy. So, a lot of times, staff members, teachers, coaches, sponsors will come and ask for things, and sometimes I can share some of the cost and, sometimes I can’t,” Frasca said. “So it’s splitting up to try and make sure everybody has what they need to take care of our facilities for our kids and for our campus.”

“The hardest thing is when you’re starting a new project because that’s going to have the most steps and involve the most people,” Maitland said. “Day to day things are not very difficult. We have really good staff that knows exactly what they’re doing and how to fix things. They’re very fast and

On a daily basis, Maitland works with custodial staff to make sure bathrooms, lights, and classrooms work smoothly. During long-term construction projects, he works directly with architects, engineers and subcontractors.

The school receives

$600-$800k from AP exams each year, with a signficant portion funding upgrades & renovations

However, the biggest source of school funding is AP exams. Every

For the most part, school programs like dance, cheer and band finance themselves through ticket sales, competitions, and fundraisers. However, on some occasions, Frasca is able to aid those programs.

Recently, the school helped purchase a new tractor to keep the baseball and softball field properly maintained. The tractor cost $9,000, but with the help of $3,000 from the Athletic Booster Club and $2,000 financed by the teams, Frasca approved the remaining $1,000.

For Maitland, plumbing is a recurring problem throughout the year,. “A lot of the problems with the plumbing and anything getting backed up is students flushing things down the toilet that they should not be flushing down like paper towels and contraband,” Maitland said.

$80,000 Replacement systems

Apart from the bathroom, Maitland helped oversee the installation of Filtered, the new vending machines, and the track installation.

“Anything to make the experience a little bit better for [students] is always our goal,” Maitland said.

The big projects

Getty oversees the renovations and projects throughout the athletic program. This year the stadium bleachers were repaired for $200,000, the track was installed for $233,000, and the stadium branding cost $10,000.

The school has planned and

Greta Carrasco | Online Editor

IMPROVEMENT

$443,000

$80,000

$30,000

worked on a full stadium improvement project for five years. Every 10 years tracks around the district are milled, the asphalt is grinded and then restriped. In order to align the cost with district funding, the school had to wait until the process was approved and completed for them to install the rubberized surface. While the total cost was $233,000, the district contributed to a large portion of funding the project, allowing the school to save $100,000. The track was successfully installed at the end of December before track season started.

“Creating a time schedule with the least impact on the sports

currently in action is the hardest part of these projects,” Getty said. “But with any renovation, the goal is to always propel the particular program to a greater success level.”

The track was not the only

installation in March, was the last part of this project. The cost of the audio system was $50,000 and the total cost for the project which includes the sound system, lightboard and projector was $80,000.

$600,000

replacement.

teacher Jaamal put in charge of

Anything to make the experience a little bit better for [students] is always our goal.

-

Jason Maitland,

administration manager “

full technical system replacement in the auditorium, a project that was planned four years ago. The sound system, which finished

Before the project was started, engineers came to the school to determine the problem of the sound system. After the problem was gauged, Solomon and Frasca had to decide to repair or replace the system. In the end, they decided on a complete system

During the entirety of the project, many obstacles were tackled including a problem with lack of spacing for the new speakers and mixed up wiring from the old system. After the system was shipped, the full installation lasted two weeks.

“In the end it was manageable since we had the full support of administrators and everyone involved was flexible,” Solomon said. “It is important to keep our facilities updated. The students, their families and our patrons deserve the best.”

Illustrations | Josephine Lim

Bleacher fixes, light upgrades, track restriped and stadium rebranded

Replacement of lightboard, audio systems and wiring

Refurnishing the media center and upgraded computers

ConstructionofFilteredandnew furniture

WHY BLACK HAIR MATTERS

Macri | Staff Reporter

“W

ho does your hair?”

“How does it stay like that?”

“How do you wash it?”

Black hair has always been a subject of compliments, controversy and confusion with people of other cultures often having misconceptions about the unique textures and styles of their melanated peers. While people of other backgrounds may not be able to personally relate to the experience of having black hair, it is good for everyone to be educated on the history, the importance, and the stigmas around it.

Why is black hair important?

Black hair is important because it helps define the person who wears it. It is a form of self and cultural expression, showing where a person is from, what they’re interested in, and/or what group they identify with.

“As African Americans, our hair is our signature of who we identify as,” Yvonne Taylor, who has been a licensed cosmetologist since 1995, said.

hair which has to be maintained often, if not it will lock up,” Taylor said.

The hair follicles on the heads of black people are curved, this results in each strand of hair growing in a spring-shaped or zig-zag pattern. This unique curved hair follicle acts like velcro, and curls wrap around each other allowing hair to stay in these unique styles without the need for hair ties or rubber bands. For the most part, black hair falls in between 3A and 4C curl patterns, a scale of measuring the curliness of hair. 3A hair consists of looser curls and usually grows downward as opposed to outward, and it’s not uncommon for those of other races to have this hair type as well. On the other end of the spectrum, 4C hair is made of extremely tight curls and is much thicker than other hair types. 3B, 3C, 4A and 4B all fall somewhere in this spectrum and are common in blacks of all different nationalities.

Stigma

While black hairstyles have become much more accepted, there are still instances of discrimination on the basis of hair. As recently as August 2023, Texas high school student Darryl George was suspended for his barrel rolls, a style in which dreadlocks are coiled back in rows along the head. Up until 2017, the U.S. Army had a ban in place on dreadlocks.

Throughout American history black hair has been seen as unhygienic or unprofessional, however, a lot of progress is being made with many states passing various versions of the Creating a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair Act. A 2023 CROWN research study showed that 20% of black women ages 25-34 have been sent home from work because of their hair.

Greta Carrasco | Online Editor Camila Bello - dance

Junior Camila Bello follows the highintensity rhythm of the song, distinct with its 12-beat cycle and the bustling of a guitar. With every step, the dance becomes more intense and improvised. This type of dance is known as bulerias, one of many styles of flamenco.

Bello started dancing when she was 4. Her mom always loved flamenco and took Bello to try it out for herself—after that day, she never looked back.

“It was love at first sight,” Bello said. “I never stopped going to class.”

Black hair is beautiful, black hair is unique, black hair is different, and it’s important for others to understand and appreciate that.

-Yvonne Taylor, hairstylist “

Taylor owns a hair shop in Orlando on South Primrose Drive and has been doing hair since she was young, well before receiving her cosmetology license.

It’s not just a haircut, it’s more than a style; it helps establish a sense of personal confidence that stems from tradition and culture.

“My hair means everything. Whenever I go to a barber the one thing I will never get is a buzz cut because my hair defines me, it’s who I am,” junior Eddie Sanchez (3C) said.

Another important aspect of black hair is the relationship between client and stylist. Many African Americans have their hair done by a close relative or family friend or have had the same barber for years. Some go to the same stylist that their grandparents and parents went to. When a client is in the same room with a hair dresser for hours and that hair dresser is in control of how they are going to look for the next month a connection is formed between them.

“What I enjoy about doing hair is transforming people into someone they love looking at in the mirror. I have been doing hair since I was in middle school. I used to meet girls at school just to style their hair before school,” Taylor said.

What makes black hair different?

Black hair is different not only in appearance, but in the way it’s groomed, and the way it grows.

“Black hair is probably the most complicated hair to maintain. We have different textures of curly

An African American student’s mother was told by her manager at Disney’s Hollywood Studios that she may need to change her hair for work.

“They told me and a man that I worked with who also had curly hair that it didn’t fit the Disney look and asked if I could make it less big,” the parent said.

While local Florida governments like Broward County have implemented policies prohibiting hair discrimination in employment practices, statewide bills have struggled to pass.

Regardless of prejudice black hair is beautiful, unique and a staple of African American identity that can be worn at many different lengths and in a vast number of styles.

“Black hair is beautiful, black hair is unique, black hair is different, and it’s important for others to understand and appreciate that,” Taylor said.

TWISTED Bantu knots originated in Southern Africa. Hair is sectioned and then wrapped in a way that stacks the hair on itself and forms a spiral knot.

Bello was introduced to many types of flamenco at an early age. She has danced stylized flamenco, which is a soft, flowy type of flamenco that incorporates elements of ballet. She has danced farruca, a type of flamenco that was initially danced by men but now is danced by women, and her favorite type, bulerias, a high-intensity style of flamenco.

“I really get to show off my knowledge of the dance [when dancing bulerias],” Bello said.

Bello participates in many competitions and showcases with her dance school Flamenco del Sol. Typically, Bello participates in group competitions with her dance academy, but her most recent competition, PTA Reflections, led her to explore a new challenge: a solo she choreographed by herself.

“It was very stressful. I found out late into submissions about the competition and I could only practice for one hour each day. At that time I also had to practice for other recitals so I ended up filming the entry the day before it was due,” Bello said.

Bello went on to become the school winner, moving on to districts and even qualifying for

Apart from going to practices and competitions, Bello has another way that she involves herself with flamenco: teaching. Currently, Bello teaches beginning flamenco to the age group of 5 to 11 and sets up choreography, music, and costumes for the kids.

However, she doesn’t believe she will pursue flamenco professionally.

“Flamenco is really the only obsession I have ever had. Whenever I’m stressed I turn to flamenco, whenever I’m sad I turn to flamenco. Even though I won’t pursue dancing as a career, it will always be part of me,” Bello said.

Isaiah

Illustration | Christin Smith

Illustration | Areli Smith

PCHOOSE YOUR CHARACTER CHARACTER

Cosplay encourages creativity and provides inclusive community

Nadia Knoblauch | Editor-in-Chief

utting an outfit together is pretty common. Sometimes, it takes one minute. Other times an hour.

For senior Haylee Citty, crafting the perfect look can take over a month.

“It takes a couple [of] months to create a cosplay, from finding a character and or inspiration to go off of, getting pieces shipped online, going to craft stores to gather materials, hand making parts or a whole outfit and accessories, then finding a time to create content,” Citty said.

For Citty, cosplaying characters from her favorite shows, such as Bungo Stray Dogs and Helluva Boss, has given her a creative outlet, even if it takes weeks to prepare. Cosplay is the practice of dressing up as characters from books, shows, movies, video games or other forms of media. While it may seem similar to dressing up for Halloween, cosplay focuses more on detailed planning for outfits, character selection and content creation, as many cosplayers will film videos or set up photo shoots based on the characters they cosplay.

“Each cosplay is different. Sometimes it takes a day or two, sometimes months. It depends on what work I do on it and how busy I am. Wigs and props take hours to a few days, buying clothes and fabric and sewing are all dependent on the costume,” senior Aslan Schwartzhoff, who enjoys cosplaying characters in groups, said.

it was amazing,” Bray said. “Positivity is something that is a struggle everywhere today, and I think for the most part, at conventions, there is a lot of that. It is a chance to feel special and appreciated, [you can] have fun exploring your hobbies in new ways and bringing characters you love to life.”

Collaborating with other cosplayers plays a large part in the open and accepting nature of the community. These collabs may involve large groups dressing up as different characters from a series and recreating scenes between the characters, or dressing up as the same character to represent different variations of them. Content creation also allows cosplayers to bond over shared interests and collaborate within fandoms.

“I tend to enjoy cosplaying characters that have more non-human elements to see how I can recreate those. I like experimenting in different makeup and SFX to see what I can do to improve the quality of the cosplay,” Carruthers said.

Creativity and community are the building blocks of cosplay. According to senior Ares Smith, cosplay is a judgment-free zone where fans can express their creativity and interests.

“It is a way for me to express myself with the things I love and has helped me meet a lot of my friends and connect with them,” Smith said. “This hobby has definitely helped me find a community of people who enjoy the same things I do and express love for different forms of media.”

This hobby has definitely helped me find a community of people who enjoy the same things I do and express love for different forms of media.

- Ares Smith, 12 “

And to bring these characters to life takes not only a lot of time, but lots of money. From the students interviewed, cosplaying a character can range from $50 to upwards of $250. Costs for cosplay can include wigs, materials to sew clothing or create props, accessories or even pre-made cosplays.

Citty has been involved with the cosplay community since 2022, while Schwartzhoff started in 2021. Both were introduced to cosplay through fandom groups on social media, specifically the apps TikTok and Instagram, where users can create and post video content. Despite being introduced to cosplay online, the community has a very present— and large—following. Attending conventions such as Megacon, Metrocon, Central Florida Comic Con, Brick City or Orlando Anime Day allows cosplayers to show off their hard-planned outfits, mingle with fans of different shows or games and collaborate with other creators.

Conventions can also be a welcoming space for new members of the community, according to senior Max Bray.

“I was introduced [to cosplay] by a few friends who wanted to take me to a cosplay convention…

When it comes to detail, senior Paige Carruthers’ cosplays excel to another level. Carruthers has made four full cosplays on her own, crafting everything from wigs to scissor hands, which took almost two months to craft for her Edward Scissorhands cosplay. The costumes must be as accurate as possible, but after five years of being involved in cosplay, Carruthers has seen how her creations have improved.

“My first cosplay was Bennett from Genshin Impact since I liked his character design. Looking back, I like to see the progress I’ve made because it was a handmade cosplay,” Carruthers said. “I have definitely improved on wig styling and camera presence since then.”

With progress comes change, and changing up a character’s look—or her own— is no foreign idea for Carruthers.

COS-BOSS Senior Haylee Citty cosplays Fizzarolli from the animated series Helluva Boss. Content creation is an important part of cosplay. Photo | Aslan Schwartzhoff

SHOW OFF Senior Paige Carruthers cosplays a Halloween version of the character Sukuna from the show Jujutsu Kaisen. Characters from Japanese illustrated series, anime, and graphic novels, manga, are commonly cosplayed by fans. Photo | Johnathan Ellis

THE UNSPOKEN TRUTHS OF

RELATIONSHIP ABUSE

Ava West | Sports Editor

Warning: This story contains discussion of abuse, sexual assault and other sensitive topics.

First, she told her best friend.

Then, she told more friends.

Next, she told her parents.

Everyone was sympathetic, but Zoey* felt nobody fully believed her.

People often wave away teenagers’ feelings, believing everything is over-exaggerated or even fake. If a teenager claims their high school relationship is abusive, it is usually overlooked as hyperbole. As a result, many high schoolers do not know how to speak out or handle abusive situations.

Defining abuse

There are multiple types of abuse including emotional, physical, digital and sexual. These terms are blanket statements for how many different types of abuse are seen in day-today life.

Zoey* is a senior and had experienced most types of abuse throughout her six-month relationship.

emotional manipulation in her former relationship as well.

“He told everyone I was a terrible girlfriend because I could not go to his sports game,” Chloe said. “He got so mad at me even though I had schoolwork to do.”

Emotional abuse

Emotional abuse is defined as non-physical behaviors that are meant to control or threaten someone according to the hotline.

Zoey was also affected by emotional abuse during her past relationship.

“After she did something to make me upset she would manipulate me by telling me I’m beautiful and trying to make me feel special—it just made me confused,” Zoey said.

Often, an abuser will compliment their victim after doing something wrong to manipulate the victim into believing that the abuser did nothing wrong and still loves them.

Digital abuse is when the internet or social media is used to stalk, threaten or scare a victim.

normal. Although this is no excuse, it is important to understand where abuse may stem from.

I said no and he did it anyway. He knew I was uncomfortable with it but he did not stop.

-Chloe* “

“We were broken up when she told me she was coming over, even though I said no. The excuse to come over was to give me my things back,” Zoey said. “She would not leave unless I kissed her. She locked the car doors and screamed at me until I kissed her, just so she would leave.”

Sexual abuse

According to the National Abuse Hotline, this would fall under sexual abuse, which is defined as when one partner controls the sexual or physical aspect of a relationship.

Besides this behavior, Zoey also experienced coercion, as she was forced into actions without her consent. Her partner would ask her repeatedly to perform sexual acts until Zoey finally gave in.

Chloe* is a senior who has also experienced sexual abuse. She was young and believed she was helpless at the time.

“I said no and he did it anyway,” Chloe said. “He knew I was uncomfortable with it but he did not stop.”

Victims can be manipulated into believing force with sexual activity is normal and okay, but it never is. Chloe experienced other forms of

It is important to keep in mind that although abuse does happen, there is a difference between regular relationship issues and abuse. Mistakes can happen, but when it becomes repetitive, it becomes a problem.

Olivia* is a junior who went through emotional abuse as she was constantly misled, lied to and cheated on. Their relationship was rocky for two years, yet she found it hard to let go.

“I would blame a lot on myself and think everything was my fault,” Olivia said. “I was always so upset and it affected my school and personal life. I started to isolate myself.”

When trying to help a victim of abuse, an important aspect to understand is why victims cannot leave—they might be scared, blame themselves, are in love with no reciprocation or have nowhere to go for help.

Emma* is a sophomore who was in a past relationship that made her fear for her safety. However, she stayed with her partner for multiple months because she felt she had nowhere else to go.

“They threatened to come to my house and sexually assault me unless I sent them revealing pictures—I was scared to do anything,” Emma said.

Digital abuse

In addition to emotional abuse, Emma also experienced digital abuse.

“He called me to the point where he completely disabled my phone…I had to completely shut it down. When I turned it back on I had hundreds of texts saying how terrible I was and calling me a b****,” Emma said.

Physical abuse

Another form of abuse is physical, the use or threat of physical violence to maintain control over a partner, which Emma also underwent.

“My hair was pulled, I was slapped, I was punched, I was kicked and left with bruises all over me,” Emma said. “People would just stare and talk behind my back about why I had bruises, [but] no one ever reached out.”

While Emma’s abuse was easier to detect, sometimes it is more subtle. Those who suspect someone they know is getting abused can reach out and offer help or just an ear to talk to. If talking to the victim is too difficult or is not helping the situation, talk to a trusted adult.

According to the National Domestic Abuse Hotline, “Abusive people believe they have the right to control and restrict their partners’ lives...[that] their own feelings and needs should be prioritized in the relationship or because they enjoy exerting the power that such abuse gives them.”

How to get help

Even though many victims have a difficult time getting out of abusive relationships, the survivors in this story were able to get out and now strive to help others do the same.

People would just stare and talk behind my back about why I had bruises, [but] no one ever reached out. -Emma* “

“You can leave—I promise you are not stuck,” Chloe said. Chloe was able to leave after telling her parents the extent of the abuse, and they supported her throughout her emotional recovery. Emma was also able to find refuge in a concerned friend.

Why abusers abuse

While talking about abuse and bringing awareness to it is very important, it is also important to understand why people become abusers in the first place. One of the main reasons people abuse others is because they grew up with abuse around them and were taught it was

“I started to be known as ‘the girl who won’t leave’ around school, but then a friend came up to me and offered to help,” Emma said. “Since that day I never went back. Reach out to someone—it can save them.”

*Victims asked to remain anonymous.

If you or someone you know needs help, call 1-800-799-7233 or text “START” to 88788.

Illustration | Josephine Lim

pill paradox

How medication has pervaded American culture

STOCKED UP America is one of the leading consumers of pharmaceutical medication, raking in half of the global industry’s revenue at $603 billion. However, this mass consumption poses the complex question of how much is too much; how young is too young; and what is necessary vs. what is wanted. Illustration

Josephine Lim | News Editor

Tylenol. Robitussin. Venlafaxine. Hydroxychloroquine. From the local pharmacy down the street to the staple pill cabinet, medicine is a fact of American life. Every hour, 80 pharmaceutical ads air on American television.

In 2022, the pharmaceutical industry generated $603 billion in US sales alone. Currently, there are 20,000 FDA approved prescription drugs on the market.

Mainstream medications, like Advil and Zrytec, fall under the generic category, with many Americans consuming them on a weekly basis. These brands enjoy reserved spots in family pill cabinets and a relatively positive public reception.

I feel like [mainstream medication] is so common because people know that it helps and benefits them.

- Aleena Jacobs, 11

But when sophomore Shayla France was diagnosed with mixed connective tissue disease at 6 years old, she was not worried about the resulting cold and numb fingers or almost constant muscle pain–she was worried about taking a pill.

“I feel like [mainstream medication] is so common because people know that it helps and benefits them,” junior Aleena Jacobs said. “People understand it's meant to help and improve one's current, usually short [term] situation and problem.”

of their diet,” Baker said. “I [myself] suffer from chronic migraines, and I had to limit myself to taking Tylenol only once or twice a week…if you just take it every day, then it's not going to work [as well].”

In addition to justifying people’s apathy towards their health, medication can also become dangerous with overuse. Since 2000, the rate of drug-related deaths has skyrocketed by 137% nationwide. For years, the CDC has classified prescription drug abuse as an epidemic.

because I have to have a filled pill box to be normal,” Baker said. “I definitely think there is a stigma around it because [people think] it means there is something wrong with you and no one wants to be viewed negatively.”

Despite the physical nature of her condition, France has also faced prejudice for her medication use. Having been exposed to the biases against medicine at a young age, it took years before France was able to comfortably admit she needed medication to battle her MCTD.

12 “ “

“I was definitely not happy [about the medication],” France said. “When I was younger, I couldn't even swallow a pill without wanting to gag, and [I did not like how] it made me feel different from everybody else.”

France’s fears reflect America’s delicate dance around medication: it is normal to take medication, but not talk about; it is okay to take a Tylenol every day, but not a personalized prescription.

To genuinely examine this paradox, one must first make a distinction between medicine’s two fields: generic and specialized.

Certainly, generic medicine has its positives. Some stop the spread of germs, while others replace chemicals a person’s body may not be producing enough of. Later on in life, medications can help with long term conditions like high blood pressure, or deliver pain relief when needed.

However, as with all things, medication has its pitfalls. The ibuprofen that takes away pain does not take away the problem—it only changes the way the brain reads the pain signal. The Lipitor that regulates high cholesterol does not lower the cholesterol permanently—it only reduces the long term effects.

As senior Teddy Baker notes, medication can only achieve so much—the rest is up to the person’s lifestyle.

“People [often] look to quick fixes instead of focusing more on the intake

“Medication can be harmful [as] it can cause major addiction in many people,” Jacobs said. “It's very easy to get something like a basic medication, [but that also means] it could be used in ways that medication shouldn't be used.”

However, the negatives of medicine do not always translate perfectly when looking at specialized medication. Although Baker and Jacobs both agree medication has its downsides, they also acknowledge they themselves are daily medication users and are not impervious to its flaws.

“I've come to feel better about it because [I realized] more people have to take medication than people realize, it's just not talked about very often,” France said.

I still battle with feeling broken because I have to have a filled pill box to be normal.

- Teddy Baker,

The taboo surrounding personalized medication can be especially harmful as students are forced to navigate the murky waters of medication on their own. Although adults like teachers and parents are often eager to help, mental health counselor James Bartlett noted medication is a complex issue regardless of age.

In 2020, Baker was diagnosed with depression, and their therapist recommended antidepressants. Like many users of personalized medication, Baker has encountered multiple instances of their own and societal aversion to the treatment.

“I still battle with feeling broken

“From my experience, using a combination of medication and counseling can lead to better results,” Bartlett said. “Sometimes [medications are] hugely helpful. Sometimes they help us a little bit. [Regardless,] normalization is important so that people don't feel so alone.”

| Josephine Lim

not for

SOFTIES SOFTIES SOFTIES

After a win against Lake Brantley, varsity softball looks forward to the postseason

Lia Miller | Opinions Editor

Following a 16-4 season, the softball team added one more win to their record on Tuesday, April 9, beating Lake Brantley 2-1 in a seeding game for the district championships.

Catcher Alexis Felker had eight putouts and two RBIs including a home run that she made, Roman had one home run, and Stella Christie and Addison Bell had four putouts each. Pitcher Rachel Matthiesen also allowed only one home run over the course of seven innings— all of which she pitched.

“We had played Lake Brantley earlier in the season, and we beat them, so we knew that they were coming in for revenge,” center fielder Ana Roman said. “But we knew their team and we knew what they were going to come at us with. So all of us were prepared.”

rematch, with no scoring from either side for the first five innings of the game.

In the sixth inning, with Hagerty on defense, Lake Brantley made a home run—their only home run of the game. By the second half of the inning, Felker was up to bat. Roman had walked to first base, and then stolen second and third. Felker hit a home run, allowing both her and Roman to score, and putting them in the lead.

“When I was walking up, Ana was on third, and they had called a time-out,” Felker said. “And I told Ana, ‘I’m gonna get it over right here, watch.’ And then I did, so I was super excited.”

We’ve been putting in a lot more work than normal recently, so we’re really preparing for postseason, when we play the harder teams.

- Alexis Felker, catcher “

In their previous game against Lake Brantley on March 8 (their seventh game of the season), the team also won narrowly, with a final score of 5-4. On Tuesday, the two teams came prepared for a tense

The girls took advantage of their trust and knowledge of each other that they had built up over the season, and celebrated each others’ scores.

“Alexis was up to bat and I knew that she was going to score me in, no matter what,” Roman said. “So I had complete confidence in her from the beginning.”

After that, the team only had to hold off Lake Brantley for one more inning on defense. A player made it to first base, then second as another got to first. They only had one out. Bell caught two balls in a row, and the game was called as a win for Hagerty.

“I’m super proud of the girls, and I’m super proud of myself,” Felker said. “We’ve been putting in a lot more work than normal recently, so we’re really preparing for postseason, when we play the harder teams.”

The team has two more games to go before district championships, playing against Windermere on April 23 and against St. Cloud on April 25.

Last year, they qualified for states—despite losing to Oviedo in the district semi finals—then made a long trip to Pace High School, only to eventually lose to them. This year, with some returning members, and some new players, the team hopes to redeem themselves.

“We’re a pretty solid team,” Roman said. “I think that we have a chance at states if we just continue to play our game and not let the moment get too big or too small.”

Currently ranked 18 in the state and seventh in Class 6A (last year, they ended the season ranked 19 in Florida and fourth in 6A), the team is hoping that they have a smooth run through the championships, and that how they played against Lake Brantley will give them an edge.

“We wanted to place high for our district seeding,” Felker said. “So when we go into postseason, we’ll have to play easier teams, versus having to play the harder teams in the bracket.”

With the win added to their current record, things are looking good in that direction.

THROW THEM OFF Pitcher Rachel Matthiesen warms up against Lake Brantley. Mattiesen pitched seven innings, only allowing one run. Photo | Lia Miller

Boys lacrosse resurrects season

The score was 5-5 and the boys lacrosse team was heading into overtime versus Oviedo. In the first two minutes, the two teams each took shots, but nobody could connect. Then, with one minute left in the first period of overtime attacker Noah Townsend ripped a shot from the twelve meter line and won the game.

“My first thought was, ‘Wait, don’t we have to play the last minute of overtime?’” midfielder Carter Bruno said.

strong and shut them out, but Oviedo did the same to us, so the second half went scoreless,” Smith said.

The defenses shut down both offenses through the next 24 minutes, as well as the high pressure defense, both teams were aggressive in the midfield causing multiple turnovers.

“It was a rivalry game and a district playoff game,” Bruno said. “Everyone was playing their hearts out and hitting their hardest too.”

I saw gloves and helmets flying in the air and I felt my teammates jumping on me, and I realized we just beat Oviedo.

- Carter Bruno, midfielder “

“Then I saw gloves and helmets flying in the air and I felt my teammates jumping on me, and I realized we just beat Oviedo.”

During the first quarter of the game on April 11, Oviedo pulled ahead with a 5-2 lead. But the team gained momentum and tied up the game after shots from Townsend and midfielder Hayden Lewsnewski, making the score 5-5 at halftime.

Goalie Grant Smith had 17 saves during the game which helped contribute to the shutout by the defense in the second half.

“Our defense was able to hold

The overtime win marked the first time the team had beaten Oviedo in two years Since this was the district quarterfinal game, Oviedo’s season ended after their loss, the first time ever losing to Hagerty in the playoffs.

The overtime playoff win represented a big difference from how the season started. A couple of days before the season started, the coach that athletic director Jay Getty had hired announced he would not be coming to take the job, and the team was left without a coach.

Getty stepped up for two weeks during the search for a coach and helped condition and get the team back on their feet. Eventually head coach David Stone, who retired as the softball coach last year, took over and

SPORTS SHORTS

Tennis finishes regular season

Varsity

boys tennis finished the regular season with a record of 8-5-1 and are looking forward to their upcoming post-season.

“We did really well this year,” sophomore Aarya Balasubramaniyan said. “It was not only really competitive, it was also fun. No one was left out.”

Some of the team’s key wins this season included beating rival Oviedo 7-0, Lyman 6-1 and Winter Springs 7-0.

“As well as winning most of our matches, we were able to beat Lake Mary the second time around and win a couple of lines off of Winter Park,” senior Owen Webster said.

Line one Noah Santiago-Walsh was a big impact on the team during this season, having multiple wins against opponets.

For line one singles, Santiago-Walsh has a record of 3-9 and line three Webster has a record of 3-0. In doubles, while Santiago-Walsh and Webster have a record of 3-3.

RUN IT

led the team to multiple victories.

“At first a lot of players did not want to be there because there was no coach—no one on the team saw the point in playing,” Smith said. “The seniors grouped together and started to mentor the new players and teach them, and we went from there.”

While the season ended with

Blake places second at states

Only losing in his final match, sophomore Nikolas Blake secured second place in the FHSAA state championships on March 1, marking a significant milestone in his wrestling career. He showcased himself on the mat throughout the tournament, ending with 10 wins.

“Being ranked in second is an incredible honor and achievement,” Blake said. “It’s like a reminder of all the hard work I’ve put into this.”

Freshman Hunter Jessee (4th, 106) and senior Connor Gilliam (6th, 175) also helped lead the team to eigth place at the championships.

“They worked hard and they had a lot of grit,” coach Scotti Diaz said. “I was proud of how relentless they were and that they wouldn’t quit.”

One of the standout moments was Blake breaking the single-season pin record, a feat Diaz held as proof of Blake’s skill and dedication.

The record was originally 45 pins, which Blake tied in the quarterfinals and broke during the semifinals.

Despite facing many challenges, the team preserved and finished their season on a high note.

“I wanted to do my best and told myself I wouldn’t quit until I had to,” Blake said. “I’m very proud of where I ended.”

Monday’s district semifinal game to Lake Mary, the team feels content with how the season went overall.

“We had a lot of ups and downs but it was all very fun,” Smith said.

“This team is special because a lot of [teams] play strictly to win and nothing else. This team plays to have fun and be a family.”

Volleyball beats Lake Mary

In their third matchup of the season, the boys volleyball team defeated Lake Mary 3-0. The match was held on April 9 where the team won the first and second sets 25-22 and the third set 2519. The boys had previously lost to them March 8. Going into the game the team had a record of 10-8, 0-1 in the district.

The team was led by setter Caden Houston who had 27 assists and outside hitter Marcel Clemens who had 14 kills.

Houston is averaging 4.8 assists per set, and has 270 for the season. He is ranked 25th in the state for assists.

Houston’s serve percentage for the game was 100 percent. Defensive specialist Seth Davis also contributed to the win with three assists and nine serve receives.

The win ends a two game losing streak after a 2-1 loss against Spruce Creek and a 2-0 loss against Lake Howell, ranked fourth in the state. Following the losses the team played in a tournament in which they beat Lake Mary.

“We had some good wins in the tournament, it helped us get back on pace,” Davis said.

Setter Caden Houston serves the ball over the net.

Photo | Brooke Bohan

Boys wrestling makes it FHSAA state championships.

Photo | Brooke Bohan

Senior Owen Webster hits the ball during practice.

Photo | Savannah Towne

Ava West | Sports Editor

BACK Defender Linkon Marcantel stops a shot on goal. The boys varsity lacrosse team beat Oviedo 6-5 on Thursday, April 11. Photo | Kayla Rappi

GOING

Baseball wins sixth at North Carolina National High School Invitational

Holly Smyers | Staff Reporter

The boys baseball team walked on the field to play the Chaparral Firebirds in the National High School Invitational in North Carolina, for their third game in the tournament. The team was 0-2, and with the stands crawling with scouts, they were hungry for a win.

For the final two games they did just that, coming in sixth overall. They were one of 16 teams in the nation who attended, spending a week in North Carolina from April 10-13.

After losing their first two games

NATIONAL

to St. John’s College and Farragut, they were naturally upset, especially since they thought they had a chance to win.

“[When you keep losing], you become more jaded, more mad,” second baseman Jones Carbon said. “It’ll just be a snowball effect.”

However, over the next two games they scored 17 runs, including a 10-0 win in the Chaparral game.

“You have to find a way to overcome adversity,” Carbon said. “If you play scared, you’ve already lost. We just go get the job done, and sometimes it doesn’t go our

Athletes of the issue

MINA

way. Humans make mistakes, but we always find a way.”

Not only was the tournament a unique way for the players to challenge themselves, it was also an opportunity for the students to play on multi-million dollar fields in perfect weather. The trip gave students the chance to travel with their friends out of state and face the best teams in the country.

“It’s a really good sneak peek into what college and baseball was going to look like,” catcher Bailey Gutierrez said. “It’s really cool that once your games are done you get to relax, just hanging around each other’s rooms, having team meals: things we normally wouldn’t be able to do to a certain degree back home.”

The team was invited because of its success in the past, with several former players now playing in the major leagues. The tournament serves as a way for up-and-coming players to prove themselves to potential recruiters.

“We’re a smaller school, with less guys on our roster,” Gutierrez said. “We don’t have all the bells and whistles that the private schools have. We want to show them we mean business. Just because we’re [a] public school doesn’t mean we can’t still compete with [private schools] on the field.”

We don’t have all the bells and whistles that the private schools have. We want to show them we mean business.

- Bailey Gutierrez, catcher

The game is an important opportunity for scouts, who attend every game, often using radar guns to measure how fast players throw a pitch. It is also the most reported event these players may ever attend if they do not continue playing in college. USA baseball and many popular social media accounts cover the game. Plus, the entire event was streamed online.

“What really stuck out to me was the overall attention you get there, because this is such a highlevel tournament. It’s definitely nerve racking,” Gutierrez said. “It also makes it so exciting since you really don’t get that experience anywhere else. And then the presence of the scouts just adds another layer.” “

The female athlete of the issue is senior Mina Stephens of the varsity girls flag football team. As quarterback, she has a total of 848 passing yards for this season, double the national average.

“My biggest accomplishments from the season was scoring the first [girls] flag football touchdown,” Stephens said. “I also had 504 rushing yards, which was the most in the conference.”

Stephens has also contributed 21 points across eight games.

The three wins for this season earned Stephens three”’player of the game’” awards, and another for the last game before district championships.

Baseball is a very strategic, mindset-oriented game, and if a player is not mentally there, it shows. A big part of what makes the team successful is the support that the players give each other.

“There’s no other school around that has [the] brotherhood that we have,” Carbon said. “When I look back on the team, I’m very proud of the boys—I can shed a tear talking about how proud of them I am.”

In the regular season, the team has five games left until the district championships. The team hopes to take the momentum from the tournament in order to contend for district and state titles in the future.

“It’s everything coaches ever asked for for the past four years to win a state title. We checked every box to go win a state title this year and that’s all we’re betting for,” Carbon said. “We got goals and we’re going to make those goals happen.”

NOAH SANTIAGO-WALSH TENNIS

The male athlete of the issue is Noah Santiago-Walsh. SantiagoWalsh plays on the boys varsity tennis team and is line one for singles and doubles. He is a senior this year and has been playing tennis since the beginning of highschool.

“Two of my best matches were versus Seminole and Lake Howell. They were both very close matches and I was able to play some high quality tennis,” Santiago-Walsh said.

Santiago-Walsh has three wins and nine losses in singles.

The boys varsity tennis team has a record of 8-5-1 and will be heading into post season.

FIRST CLASS Pitcher Braden Toro pitches against Winter Springs earlier in the season. In North Carolina, Toro was named first team for the National High School Invitational. Photo | Kayla Rrapi

Tennis player Noah Santiago-Walsh Photo | Savannah Towne Quarterback Mina Stephens Photo | Levi Cal-Rivera

STEPHENS FLAG FOOTBALL