PUBLICATIONS POLICIES

PUBLICATION INFO The Rubicon is published eight times a year. We distribute 750 copies of each issue to the Upper School which are available for free.

ADVERTISING The Rubicon does not accept advertisements.

ANONYMOUS SOURCES Although it is always preferable to use names when reporting, there are times when it is necessary to protect those we report active shooter situation to the most authentic degree. After one such drill at Tory Buchanan High School, a sobbing student left on the ground perfectly encapsulated the science-backed consensus on lockdown drills: According to a study published on American Psychological Association PsychNet, they help students feel prepared. But in some cases, they leave them traumatized, increasing feelings of anxiety and worry in children as young as five.

Even as a young child, that first lockdown drill implanted the possibility of a school shooter in my mind. While the news headlines are tragic, I don’t feel nearly as scared on. In the case of a student, the use of grade level as a name designation (i.e. Sophomore Student) will be the preferred method of anonymity.

BY LINES credit the individual who conducted interviews, drafted, revised and fact-checked an assigned story. Shared bylines are given to joint effort assignments, with reporters listed alphabetically by last name. Stories that include supplemental materials include a credit at the bottom that states reading them as I do when I’m unaware if I’m in a drill or real danger.

Lockdown drills are a fine line. Not informing students that they are merely practicing for the worst-case scenario makes for an undoubtedly terrifying experience.

However, at a certain point, the regularity of lockdown drills and

“Additional reporting by” followed by the name of the reporter.

EDITORIALS articulate the collective opinion of The Rubicon staff, while mini-editorials, opinions pieces, arts reviews, and columns belong to the author.

SUBMISSION GUIDELINES Opinions are welcomed as Letters to the Editor or Submitted Opinions and may be published in the print or standard safety protocols distills their importance, as they become somewhat of a muscle memory. Perhaps even more difficult than executing these drills is reminding students why they are necessary in the first place. Though it is a difficult conversation, and one that should be treated with care, especially around younger children, it undeniably needs to take place if students are expected to trust their educators with their safety should the unthinkable happen. In an unsafe situation, students need to be able to trust the adults in charge and know the specific reasoning behind the lockdown protocols in order to execute them without hesitation. edition. Letters to the Editor should not exceed 400 words and Submitted Opinions should not exceed 650 words. Both may be edited for length and style. All pieces must be submitted and will be published with a full name.

Updates And Corrections

During the post-critique process, staff members identify inaccuracies and report feedback from readers. The staff publishes corrections when an error is discovered during critique or reported to a staff member. Corrections should be directed to the Editor in Chief or appropriate section editor.

IN PRINT: Corrections are printed at the bottom of News p. 2. Corrections will be printed in the month following the error and, if the story is also published online, will be corrected following the online corrections policy.