OPINION: SEPARATE ART FROM ARTIST? Messenger staff discuss whether to continue to

issue II

OPINIONS Quizlet Plus curtails studying

prashu SIDELLA

Picture this: you are cramming for a test the night before. You are stuck on a question, so you look to Google for answers, which then redirects you to a Quizlet, which has all the help you need.

“Yay! Quizlet always has what I need,” you think to yourself, which would be true in previous years, but not anymore.

To your horror, you see a big lock covering the contents of the Quizlet, saying users need to upgrade to Quizlet Plus in order to view the answers.

In December of 2018, Quizlet came out with its premium content, which featured expert-curated study guides and materials. But, all of the important study features, such as Learn mode and other games remained free for users.

Earlier this year, Quizlet revamped its features for the paid version, which now limits a lot of the features that were once free to users. Reviewing flashcards and playing the Match game are the only tools users can use without cost.

If you want to view other users’ Quizlets, most of them are locked. You also cannot use the advanced features that were once available. These were crucial for students, as the technology would help them study what they needed to based on the data that the website collected.

As of 2018, there were 50 million monthly users of Quizlet across the world, according to Forbes. So as a result of a rise in popularity, many features were improved while others were limited to paid members only.

Quizlet is a business and this is a great marketing strategy on their part. However, it is now difficult for many students to find good resources to help them out with school.

Quizlet helped students learn the material they needed to know in many different ways, whether that was by the flashcards and revising features or viewing other people’s Quizlets to get different perspectives.

On the website, Quizlet has released a statement stating that Quizlet is a small team of people and that the number of students and teachers using it has been exponentially growing. Therefore, they’ve made these changes to better reinvest in building great products that can help millions of students around the world.

While this change may have its benefits, Quizlet will most likely also lose a lot of users due to the new terms, and more students will face difficulties in finding new study methods.

Alternatives to Quizlet

This is a program that is based on flashcard learning. It is said to be more efficient than traditional study methods because it goes about memory-based learning in a different way. The only downside is Anki is a computer program that you have to download. If you are looking for a program that is solely focused on flashcards, this would be effective.

There is a feature in Canvas called StudyMate. If you go to the “Resource” tab in Canvas, you can make a study group that allows you to add facts and questions of your choosing. This would be a great feature to use if you need to organize your information and study it easily.

Midterm is also a program that you would have to download. Its primary function is interactive note taking. If you are someone who is big on note taking I would recommend this program. I like the fact that it lets you enter questions so you can use the active recall feature which is shown to be very effective when studying.

StudyStack provides you with flashcards and other study games. The website is free and you can make your own study sets or use the ones the website provided. Though, this does not seem like the best option: the site setup does seem to be a little outdated and not as advanced as Quizlet.

Is it possible to separate art from the artist?

Earlier this month, singer Rex Orange County, whose real name is Alexander O’Connor, was accused of assaulting a woman on six separate occasions. Fans are questioning whether to continue to listen to O’Connor’s music.

Through listening to his songs, are fans supporting O’Connor and consequently enabling his actions?

YES

liza COOPER

Separating art from the artist may not be an easy feat, but it is possible. Usually, when I listen to a song or view a piece of art, it’s for my own enjoyment. I want to hear a certain rhythm to pump me up or help me focus. I want to see pretty colors on a canvas. One thing I’m not doing, however, is thinking about every life detail of the artist who put the media out into the world. Rex Orange County’s actions were despicable and there is no excuse to harass another human being. But, I believe fans of the singer can still enjoy and consume Rex’s art because his music is a separate entity from himself. I’m not listening to his songs because I want to support him. I’m listening to his songs because they sound good to me. Personally, I think separating art from the artist is the easiest way not to be let down. Humans err, and some make decisions that are morally wrong. Focusing solely on the art, which is something that will never change or disappoint, is the best mind-set a consumer can have.

The allegations came to light just eight months after Rex Orange County released his latest album, Who Cares?

NO

tiona MERRITTE

It is not possible to separate art from an artist. Sure, artists are people and everyone makes mistakes, but the real issue lies with if the person you’re listening to is a good person or not. Like in the case of R. Kelly, if a musician’s songs are about being in love with an under aged girl, is it really possible to feel okay listening to their music? For many artists, they are their art. Their experiences and emotions influence what they make. I personally don’t feel comfortable listening to music from artists who have done things like Rex Orange County has.

Minor league retiree coaches softball

anvi TALYAN

As the phone crackled to life and a voice informed Sam Basta, Class of 2004, of his position on the Boston Orioles in the Minor League, he realized his childhood dreams had finally come true.

“It was a moment I could never forget,” Basta said.

Having a grandfather who played in the Minor League for the Yankees and a father with a passion for baseball as well, Basta grew up surrounded by the sport.

Like many other kids with a childhood love for a sport, Basta had dreamed about playing professionally when he grew up. He ended up playing with the Boston Orioles for five years before retiring and settling back in Missouri.

“It was something that definitely gave me a lot of lessons in life and was an experience I wouldn’t trade for anything,” Basta said.

Basta had been on the MHS varsity team his freshman through senior years, and also attended some MHS games after retiring from the Minors.

Seeing his old team play made Basta realize he wanted to get back into the baseball world, in the form of coaching.

Since he had played for MHS, Basta reached out to Coach John Meyer about the possibility of serving as a volunteer coach for the varsity baseball team.

“I couldn’t say yes soon enough,” Meyer said.

“If I can help in any way with my knowledge and coaching, I love to give back and help by doing that.”

Sam Basta, Volunteer coach

Sam Basta, volunteer coach, oversees the batting drills at the batting cages Monday, Oct. 18, during softball practice. Basta played for the Boston Orioles in the Minor Leagues and is an MHS alumni who now volunteers as a coach for the varsity softball team. Photograph by Pranav Sriraman

Though it had been Meyer’s first year coaching Basta, he said he had quickly noticed the drive and passion that Basta carried for the sport.

Meyer said he had been extremely proud when he received news that Basta had been chosen for the Minors.

Now having Basta work alongside him, Meyer said he appreciates the amount of effort he puts into the program, especially being a volunteer.

“He invests so much time into the kids and pours himself into them,” Meyer said.

After learning that Meyer was becoming the head varsity coach of softball this year, Basta decided to take on a new challenge and become a volunteer coach for the varsity softball team.

“It was kind of a natural transition,” Basta said. “The games are similar in a lot of ways, but there’s definitely some differences.”

Basta said many of the girls on the team have a high level of knowledge and expertise of the sport, and that the most important thing he is able to contribute is creating good chemistry in the team.

He plans to continue his new coaching role for as long as Meyer allows and has enjoyed the experience.

“I love seeing the success of all MHS programs, but especially the ones I’m involved in,” Basta said. “If I can help in any way with my knowledge and coaching, I love to give back and help by doing that.”

Lauren Bickel, senior, Bickel plays as an outfielder and pitcher, two positions Basta had specialized in during his time in high school. Having had that experience, Basta implemented outfield drills that Bickel said has helped their team improve, while also working in other ways to help the team overall.

“It’s good to have a different perspective,” Bickel said. “We have different perspectives from all three coaches so it’s good to have a combo of all three and what they have to say.

Cards’ green team keeps stadium clean

willem HUMMEL

Roni Rozenblit, senior, sat in the stands at Game 2 of the National League Wild Card series between the Cardinals and the Phillies on Saturday, Oct. 8.

“Every inning and half inning we go down the rows and collect cans and sometimes we will take plastic,” Rozenblit said.

Rozenblit is one of a few students involved in the “4 a Greener Game” (the Green Team) program that ended for the year when the Cardinals lost 2-0 to the Phillies.

The members involved in the 4 a Greener Game program sit in the lower section of the stadium and collect recycling between innings and at the end of the game, Rozenblit said.

“There is a lot of bad waste that causes pollution and different problems for species and our environment,” Rozenblit said. “If everyone does their part, then we can make a difference, and I’m just doing my part.”

The program lasts for about five hours as the volunteers get there an hour before the game starts and stay half an hour after the game ends.

Rozenblit said one of his fondest memories about the program is when he was able to watch the final game of Albert Pujols and Yadier Molina.

“Sometimes you can hear the players talking when you are leaning up near the dugout,” Rozenblit said.

Brett Silverman, senior, has been volunteering for The Green Team for more than 10 years. He said volunteers have a choice of any home games they would like to volunteer at and can use hours gained at the games for both NHS and Key Club service hours.

“Honestly, I just love watching baseball, and it makes me feel good about myself, just volunteering and being good to the environment and helping the Earth,” Silverman said. “It feels like I am doing a good deed for others while I am getting to watch the game.”

Silverman said volunteers get access to the employee usher area where they can get half off concessions, and volunteers can take breaks whenever they need, especially if it’s a hot day or they need some water.

Gary Silverman, parent of Brett Silverman, said he learned about the program from a Cub Scouting program Brett was involved in.

“It combined doing good for the environment along with a love for the game of baseball,” Gary said.

Silverman said it promotes recycling by example.

“We’re collecting what we can going up and down the isles in post-game, and we are also hopefully teaching the fans not to throw their plastic and aluminum in the trash cans but rather in the recycling bins,” Gary said.

Danielle Amann-Stewart, manager of Guest Services at Busch Stadium, said the program has diverted more than 7,847 tons of weight from the stadium trash disposal and local landfills.

“We’re really promoting sustainability,” Amann-Stewart said.

Amann-Stewart said the program has additional benefits as well.

“Just seeing different businesses and schools bring people down to the stadium allows the community to come together and help with sustainability,” she said.

Brett Silverman, senior, collects recycling at Busch Stadium through the “4 a Greener Game” program. Brett and Pranav Sriraman, senior, have participated in the program since elementary school. Silverman’s dad, Gary Silverman, said the program has two advantages. “Not only are you helping the environment by preventing these cans and bottles from going to the landfill, but you are not collecting when the game is being played,” Gary said. Photographs by Karen Silverman