Vol. 95, Issue 2

INSIDE:

Pepperbox

Volume 95, Issue 2

Locked bathrooms

Blood drive

New attendance policy

Kanye controversy

Thanksgiving traditions

Native American Heritage Month

Lower field problems

Parking lot dangers

AAI profiles

November The Pepperbox

BOX BRIEFS

December 5th: Day for students to change classes for next semester

December 16th: AAI music performance

December 26th-January 9th: No school for Winter Break

Want to advertise or buy a mail subscription to the Pepperbox? Email Business Managers Astreya and Jasmine McKnight at pepperbox@nohum.k12. ca.us!

EDITORIAL STAFF

Madelyn Conley: Editor-in-Chief

Dylan Berman: Editor-in-Chief

Zoe Macknicki: Managing Editor

Seneca Turechek: Feature Editor

Finn Clark: Feature Editor

Ilana Maclay: News Editor

Julian Wan: Online Editor

Ell Franklin: Opinion Editor

Morgan Ford: Sports Editor

Sagen Sarchett: Sports Editor

Emma Kaber: A&E Editor

Astreya McKnight: Business Manager

Jasmine McKnight: Business Manager

Anthony Vasek: Photo Editor

Ossian Briar-Bonpane: Photo Editor

Ella Newman: Social Media Manager

Alex Phelan: Art Director

Toni Diaz: Copy Editor

REPORTERS

Sadie Cronin

Urijah Horne

Laura Laux

Jaimeanne O’Donnell

Lazarus Onyango

Raymi Sharp

Alauna Thompson

Lucia Hernandez

Mariah Weekly

Questions regarding editorial content of the Pepperbox should be directed toward its editors. Opinions expressed in this paper are not necessarily those of Arcata High School.

The Pepperbox would like to thank Western Web, based in Samoa, for printing atcost. Western Web supports student journalism throughout Humboldt County and has made publications like the Pepperbox possible for decades. We appreciate their dedication to keeping print media alive.

Editors’ Box

Dylan Berman and Madelyn Conley Co-Editors-in-Chief

Our first issue was very much a learning experience. It was rewarding, but also very stressful. There were a lot of surprises and things we weren’t prepared for. We are so proud of our entire staff for their hard work. Now we feel more prepared and confident in our abilities. This issue, we wanted to touch more on this fall season and the holidays that come with it, as well as the issues that have arisen on campus, and how our school community that has developed so far. We hope you enjoy it!

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Interested in writing for The Pepperbox? Contact pepperbox@nohum.k12. ca.us

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Behind the Scenes

Madelyn Conley/PEPPERBOX

Zoe Macknicki/PEPPERBOX

Danielle Witten/PEPPERBOX

Quotable.

“This class is another form of birth

-Matthew Scott talking about how the pelvic rim can tear during birth in Human Anatomy

-Jeff Mielke giving Pinkerton a hard time for letting his students have an outside break during class

- Kay Wozniak discussing the various things students call her

- Adam Pinkerton quoting Roosevelt haters.

- Alex Kantner talking about Byronic heroes in AP Lit.

-Owen Moore trying to get attention from his students.

control.”

“Who needs fresh air anyways?”

“I like it best when people call me mom.”

“Oh my god that damned cowboy is now president.”

“I love dark, twisted women.”

“If I could have your attention from your internet heroin.”

Why admin locks restrooms

Ella Newman Social Media Director

We have a total of five girls restrooms on Arcata High campus; one at the end of wing 100, one upstairs, two at the gym, and one by the quad.

On October 27th, several girls had complained about the wing 100 girls bathroom being locked, This is also only one of three restrooms on campus that provide tampons and pads. The girls quad restroom is frequently locked, as well as the two at the gym.

We only have four boys restrooms on campus. There are two at the gym, one at the front of the school, and one in the quad.

The ones at the gym, like the girls restrooms, are not often open and are far away from classrooms. The one at the front of the school by the center stairwell is locked frequently as well.

Senior Chase Coleman confirmed that, “They’re locked at least three times a week.”

Multiple restrooms being locked at a time without warning has been an ongoing issue since on-campus school resumed in 2021.

The result of multiple restrooms for male and female students being locked at a time leads to a goosechase of trying to find one that’s unlocked. This causes students to miss class time and get in trouble since many teachers give only five minutes to use.

“It seems like whenever I need to use the bathrooms they’re locked. It’s majorly inconvenient,” senior Cedar Birdsall said.

Seniors Lila Wolf and Sienna Rother also expressed their frustration about the restrooms being locked.

Rother explained that, ¨During 6th period, I have art and I find it

very frustrating that I have to walk across the school just to go to the bathroom because the one right by my classroom is locked, especially when a teacher only gives you five minutes.¨

Wolf agreed,¨I believe it’s very dumb and some teacher’s won´t even let us go to the bathroom while we’re in class. Someone will ask to go to the bathroom during class or at class break and they will say, ´no, you can hold it´, so when there are teachers that don’t let you go and when there´s bathrooms that are closed what do they want us to do?¨

Bathroom breaks are preferred by the school to be used during our 10 minute break and our 40 minute lunch period, so I asked the same students if they use the restrooms at those times.

¨No. The lines are always too long so I’ll never be able to go before the bell rings. At lunch I always go off campus and when I have to come back they’re always locked anyways,” Rother said.

¨I always try to go but I have to debate eating a snack and going to the bathroom. Sometimes I choose a snack but when I go back to class I’m not allowed to go to the bathroom,” Wolf added.

Why are the restrooms being locked?

Principal Ron Perry explained that the restrooms on campus are getting locked due to maintenance issues being caused by students. These include purposefully clogging the toilets with garbage or food, vandalism, or excessive groups of students hanging out in the restrooms.

Perry explained that vandalism is the main issue in the girls restrooms. According to Perry, upcoming alternatives to locking restrooms on campus are vape detectors and cameras facing the

door of the restroom (which will be installed either after Fall or Winter break), sign in/out sheets in every classroom, a better counselor support system, and continuing to try and enforce authority and expectations.

Even if a student goes into the restroom and is falsely accused of setting off the vape detector or vandalizing the stalls due to another student, they will miss class time and be questioned in the office.

He also explained that both quad restroom doors are kept wide open so that if he walks by, even as a male in regards to the girl’s restroom, he can immediately see if there are too many girls in there or if there’s a general “bathroom issue.”

Perry wants juniors and seniors to encourage other students to stop ruining our restrooms, and realizes that’s uncomfortable for admin

to lock restrooms.

”It pains me because it’s not really fair to the rest of the kids that do it right,” Perry said.

He added that teachers, including himself, check in on bathrooms frequently throughout the day for damage and mischief.

“It’s silly because what happens is the selfishness and thoughtlessness of those individuals who are abusing the space are not only impacting their classmates, but they’re really impacting the adults on campus who have to care for the campus and clean it. If I caught one of those individuals, I would have them apologize to Mr. Hogan and the custodial crew,” Perry said.

Perry confirms, “I want all the bathrooms open all the time. And I want to have a clearly accessible non-gender specific bathroom in the center of campus, and I want those who are ruining the bathrooms to face consequences.”

Ella Newman/PEPPERBOX

A sign on the wing 100 girls bathroom on October 27th.

City Council candidates visit Arcata High

Morgan Ford Co-Sports Editor

On Friday October 28, the AP US Government and Politics class at AHS hosted the candidates running for Arcata City Council for an informational forum, to which they invited Arcata’s senior class and teachers.

The candidates present included Meredith Matthews, Raelina Krikston, Jeffrey Scott Sterling, and Dana Quilman.

There are two additional candidates, Brett Watson and Kimberley White, who was not be in attendance for varying reasons.

The forum consisted of student written questions and was entirely student run, with the help of teacher Adam Pinkerton and two

members of the League of Women Voters of Humboldt County.

The purpose of this forum was to provide voters with meaningful and necessary information to allow them to make an informed decision when it comes time to vote for this important position.

Byrd Lochtie from the League of Women Voters described the forum as “an opportunity for the community to ask questions in a fair manner.”

Audience members were provided with a variety of information, such as the candidates opinions on Cal Poly Humboldt, the importance of the Gateway Plan, and issues that would specifically benefit our schools.

One question that sparked students interest was how we could go about adding lights to our new

sports facilities, to which many of the candidates responded with beliefs that it would be an “easy fix.”

Meredith Matthews specifically stated that it would be as simple as bringing the issue to committees who could change the zoning permits that are currently in place to protect wildlife and other aspects of our community.

Candidates were also asked about their favorite part of our community, and how they would plan to protect it from current issues (COVID cases, rising sea levels, and environmental issues.)

This is when the forum became what senior Natalie Clemens described as “controversial and disrespectful,” as one candidate immediately led with her beliefs of “against masking, social distancing, and vaccinations,” and went

on to express her disbelief in the seriousness of of COVID and its effects on our community.

Candidates also addressed the issue of the increased number of threats toward local schools, and collectively agreed that we need to staff our police departments in order to make our students and community feel more safe.

On the day of the midterm election, when these candidates were voted on, Pinkerton ran a schoolwide poll that included a vote for city council members.

At Arcata High, Meredith Matthews with 61.3% and Raelina Krikston won with 39.3% the popular vote in a poll.

The actual winners were Meredith Matthews and Kimberley White.

Mazel Tov to the Jewish Student Union!

Emma Kaber

A&E Editor

Passionate students fill holes in our school. It’s in the blood of Arcata High.

Throughout the beginning of the 2022-23 school year at Arcata High, new clubs have popped up as students see the need for them.

Often, these clubs are created as safe spaces for students of shared cultures.

One such club has been founded recently: the Jewish Student Union.

The Jewish Student Union Club was created in order to combat antisemitism, or Jewish discrimination, on campus.

The club also seeks to create a community for Jewish students.

“This club will be a space for Jewish students to feel safe and for non-Jewish students to edu-

cate themselves,” co-founder and junior Elana Griffin said.

“This club is about the cultural side of what it means to be Jewish. I’m not pushing religion down anyone’s throats,” Griffin said.

She has experienced antisemitism on campus, and saw the need for a community where Jewish students could feel safe.

The Jewish Student Union fills a void for Jewish students across campus.

Students of all ethnicities, religions, and backgrounds will have somewhere to talk about acts of antisemitism

“I want to create a community and spread awareness,” co-founder and senior Finn Clark said.

In addition to combating antisemitism, the Jewish Student Union also aims to spread awareness about Jewish holidays.

“Hanukkah is coming up, so I

want to plan an activity for that,” Clark said.

He noted that there’s never anyrecognition for Jewish holidays.

“Jewish American Heritage Month is in May and there’s never any acknowledgement of it,” Clark said.

On the list of ideas is a sticker sale, with proceeds going to orga-

nizations that fight antisemitism.

“This is something that I’ve wanted since Freshman year, so I’m glad it’s finally happening,” Clark said

Is DoorDash really a problem?

Toni Diaz Copy Editor

Quick (ish), efficient, easy, helpful, and time saving. All of these adjectives describe the benefits of DoorDashing. Students doordash in order to save time.

They don’t have to walk to their destination, and they can save gas by not driving. It gives more choices of food for students, as well. So, why ban it?

What is so bad about students DoorDashing?

A couple weeks ago DoorDashing made it to the morning bulletin. The announcement informed students of Arcata High that doordashing to the pool is not allowed.

The problems with doordashing to the pool is it affects the employees, and they are left with food of some random kid.

“We had complaints from the pool on the subject so we had to do

something about it,” Principal Ron Perry said.

“It’s a problem because we can’t be reliable for their food and if they don’t ever come to claim it then we have to just toss it in the trash. We aren’t connected to the school in any way and it’s a huge inconvenience when we have to deal with it,” Arcata Community pool employee Marin said.

Some students feel they have no option but to doordash to the pool, and why’s that?

Doordashing to the front of the school is not allowed.

Now DoorDashing is banned whether it is too the school or the pool.

“If the doordasher arrives here and they can’t find the student in the lunch crowd they disrupt us in the office, and we have things to do so it’s an issue for everyone,” Perry said.

Going forward students are ad-

vised to no longer use Doordash, even though it comes in handD.

“Yeah we are huge supporters of doordash, just not when it comes to school and begins to disrupt and cause these problems,” Perry said.

Therefore, DoorDash is not exactly the problem, but more the inconveniences it begins to cause when the student can’t be located and more people are being disrupted then needed.

Politics, pizza, and propositions

Dylan Berman Co-Editor-in-Chief

Arcata High School’s journalism class hosted a Politics and Pizza community event on Thursday November 11th, supported by Calmatters.

The event consisted of watching one minute videos explaining propositions on the California ballot.

Junior and senior students attended and engaged in discussion on every proposition--starting with Prop 1 that adds the right to contraceptives and abortion to the state constitution.

“I think everyone should have a right to abortion. It’s unfair to take away that choice,” senior Aubrey

Deuel said.

Senior Cameron Leach expressed indifference on issues of abortion, but took issue with the way abortion access was decided in the federal courts.

“I don’t like how the Supreme Court bashed it through when it should’ve been a bill,” Leach said.

This proposition passed with 66.8% of the vote.

Students in attendance were divided on the two gambling propositions, but overall agreed gambling should be legal to a greater extent.

“I want gambling everywhere,” senior Nathan Whitney said, adding that legality makes it easier to regulate. Both gambling propositions did not pass.

There was heated debate around

Proposition 28, which gives more funding to arts and music in schools.

Whitney argued that arts and music already receive disproportionate funding compared to things like science, an area which according to him desperately needs new equipment. Proposition 28 passed with 64.1% of the vote.

All the students who attended felt strongly about voting.

“I think voting is important because you can impact your society,” junior Angelo Lampro said.

”I feel informed, and I think events like this are important to help educate the youth about voting,” Lampro said.

Whitney expressed similar thoughts.

“I think voting is important to

maintain the democracy we have. I haven’t done too much research on the different propositions but with Politics and Pizza I feel more informed to vote,” he said.

Deuel agreed that Pizza and Politics has helped her feel informed.

“Everyone should vote, especially young people should vote because they’re the next generation,” she said.

In California. About 51% of voters ages 18-24 cast a ballot in the 2020 presidential election, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. These turnout rates are even lower for local elections.

Across the country youth voter turnour is extremely low. Encouraging political engagement through events like this can help inspire young people to engage.

Dylan Berman/PEPPERBOX

The pool by AHS is a popular place students doordash to at lunch.

Arcata High students save lives

Jasmine McKnight Business Manager

Arcata High School students and staff members donated blood at the first school blood drive of the year on Friday, November 4, 2022.

Blood drives are essential to provide the healthcare system with lifesaving blood donations needed for surgeries, cancer treatment, chronic illnesses, and traumatic injuries.

“Donating blood is important because each donation will be separated into three different parts: plasma, whole blood, and platelets. You can save three people’s lives in one donation,” Dee Vallee, the Donor Recruiter of the Northern California Community Blood Bank, said.

Although this drive did not collect quite as many donations as last spring’s blood drive, in theory, Ar-

cata High School’s 104 donations could save up to 312 lives.

Tiffany Armstrong, the Director of Donor Services of the Northern California Community Blood Bank, described how she enjoyed seeing the connections made through the blood donation community.

“The most interesting thing to me is the connection that this community has to blood donation. It’s a gift you give that you never even know the recipient. It’s a cool thing to do,” Armstrong said.

Members of our own AHS community have also accumulated some pretty interesting stories regarding blood donations.

Jennifer Coriell, an AHS History and Leadership teacher, described an experience she had after donating blood a few years back. Coriell said that she began to feel dizzy after donating blood during a lunch period and proceeded to pass out while teaching her sixth period AP

European History class.

Josie Powell, a senior at AHS, had a similar experience last year.

Avery Meadows, a fellow senior and friend of Josie’s, described her condition.

“Josie literally puked and then she passed out twice. She was just green. Like I’ve never seen anyone look that rough. So it was really brutal. It was really not her best look,” Meadows said.

However, this hasn’t stopped Josie from continuing to be a reliable blood donor. She successfully donated without complications on Friday. She described how important donating blood is and why she continues to donate.

“A couple months ago, I got a

phone call from the hospital and they told me about the person I saved, and like their story, which was super rewarding to hear,” Powell said.

Despite these uncommon incidents, people are encouraged to sign up to donate at future blood drives and make a difference. You can save three lives with just one donation!

Meadows, who also helped with the organization of the event through the Leadership class, expressed the need for donations. “Tell people to donate in the fall because it’s important and you’re saving people who need blood,” Meadows said.

Photo courtesy of Arcata High School Instagram/PEPPERBOX Senior Keira Tatro and Jennifer Coriell at the Blood Drive.

Photo courtesy of Arcata High School Instagram/PEPPERBOX

The AHS Leadership class and Jennifer Coriell at the Blood Drive.

Madelyn Conley/PEPPERBOX

Senior Rogue Russell donating blood at the Blood Drive.

“No Go” on new attendance policy

Julian Wan Online Editor

This year, Arcata High School Administration implemented a new attendance policy with a “minutes” tracking system as well as detention to ensure students stay in class and arrive on time.

Each tardy will mark 10 minutes on a student’s attendance record while an unexcused absence will mark 30 minutes.

Recently, Arcata High’s Dean of Students, Jessie Burns, updated the attendance policy with a “GO LIST” posted in the FAB and a “NO GO list” posted in front of the attendance office.

Students on the “NO GO list,” in other words students with 240+ minutes, will not be allowed to

participate in extracurricular activities until they reduce their minutes through detention or Saturday school.

While scanning through the “NO GO list”, I found a student with an impressive attendance history. Zero tardies!

If you think that’s impressive, this student also has a total of 138 unexcused absences, totalling up to 4,140 minutes!

Nathan Whitney, a junior at Arcata High explained some flaws in the minutes system.

“I think the minutes system is ineffective and it only punishes students who actually care about school because if you were not in school, you have like infinite minutes, you don’t care about extracurriculars, you’re not gonna actually try to get your minutes down,”

Whitney said, “There’s a bulletin board out there with the list of names on the “GO list” and I’m not on the GO LIST even though I do not have over 120 minutes, it’s a scam!” he exclaimed.

“I should be on the GO LIST, I have like 30 minutes, it’s very mentally taxing to think that I’m not on the GO LIST because then I can’t participate in cross country, I can’t participate in dances, I can’t participate in clubs,” Whitney said.

“I wish there were changes to the system so it doesn’t hurt the mental health of the students at Arcata High,” he continued.

Ron Perry, Arcata High Principal explained the reasoning behind enacting detention as a disciplinary action.

“It’s part of our RISE norms and responsibilities to be on time. De-

tention is a mechanism, if we’re talking about the carrot on a stick model, it’s a stick. If we start having better attendance, that means students are learning more and helps create a better environment for teachers,” Perry explained.

Furthermore, Perry described how the minutes system helps teachers take attendance more efficiently while enforcing students to go to class on time.

“The minutes appear to be getting students’ attention, and it’s not only there for the students, it’s there to help teachers take attendance because they only have to mark students absent or tardy,” Perry said.

Off campus lunch is expensive!

Jaimeanne O’Donnell Reporter

It’s safe to say that bullies don’t intimidate people and take money for school lunch anymore because Arcata High students splurge on off campus lunch.

How much money do freshmen at Arcata High School spend on off campus lunch per month? Well, let’s find out.

Taegan Clancy, a freshman, stated, “I usually go every day.” He said his expenditures fall somewhere between eight and ten dollars each day.

Freshman Nathaniel Almaguer Whitener goes out to lunch once a week, and spends approximately twenty dollars each time. That amounts to almost $80 every month.

“I usually go four days a week, nine times out of ten, and I spend around five dollars each time,” freshman Harper Appy said.

This becomes eighty dollars every single month, and that’s if she doesn’t want something worth a little more money.

Freshman Hazel Hale indicated that she eats off campus three to four times per week, and spends around eleven dollars each time.

Nora Brumbaugh, a freshman, said that on average, she would eat off campus four times a week and would spend approximately ten dollars every time.

That adds up to around a hundred and sixty dollars per month.

Now that you know how much they spend monthly, let’s compare lunch costs from Arcata High school lunches to other similar places.

At Stars you can get a cheeseburger and fries for around eleven dollars, whereas at school it’s free. At school you can get fish and chips for lunch for free, yet students will choose to get thirteen dollar fish and chips at Humboldt Brewery.

At Hey Juan Burritos you can get an eight dollar quesadilla

and again students are choosing to go there instead and spend theirs or their parents money when they could get lunch for free at school.

What does this say about students attitude towards spending? Or does it say something about the quality of food on campus? Either way, it stands out that some students spend up to 100 dollars a month on off campus lunch.

Senioritis has already kicked in

Ossian Briar-Bonpane Co-Photo Editor

This time of year can be high in excitement or in anxiety for highschool seniors, as college applications are due and students are trying to figure out what they want to do after high school is over.

maintain a stable, happy relationship.”

Newman says she plans on staying in the beauty or art industry forever, and could never see herself “having a desk job life with kids.”

“That’s my worst fear,” she said.

Newman believes it is unfair that Arcata High “only really shows basic job opportunities like a four-year college, going into a trade, or something that requires a lot of schooling like being a doctor.”

They show you one life route only and don’t give you as much opportunity or creative ideas as they should,” Newman said.

Newman wishes the school would have a more “open mind” and “do some more research on topics that will actually make students excited about planning their life after highschool.”

Alway shadowed a local orthodontist over the summer, which convinced her to pursue a specialty in orthodontics so she can enjoy her job and “make bank.”

“I always just assumed I’d go to a UC for pre-med, but now half the colleges I’m applying to are on the East Coast and I have a clearer vision of my career. This is the first time I’m legit excited for college,” she said.

Alway is not necessarily nervous about graduation itself, but more about her childhood ending and having to leave “the little bubble of Humboldt.”

Leaving Humboldt is also the main thing she is excited for.

She feels like Arcata High has set her up pretty well for success after high school, but “that’s also because I had a pretty clear idea of

what I wanted,” she said.

The only thing Alway would change is how late the “college talks” happen at AHS.

She wishes there would have been an introduction to what you need to prepare for college much earlier on, including discussing the CommonApp and letters of recommendation.

“I just think preparing kids earlier would prevent them from being super stressed and having no idea what they’re doing, because that was me,” she added.

Newman is not nervous to graduate and is extremely excited to start living her life. Newman plans to move out of Humboldt with her boyfriend to southern California or Nevada to attend cosmetology school.

She has also considered becoming a tattoo apprentice, but regardless of what she specifically pursues, going into the beauty or art industry is something she is “super duper excited” for.

“I don’t see myself going to a four-year college or a community college. I am very artistic and I am good at everything that I want to pursue- so it’s a safe and fun option,” Newman said.

Newman is looking forward to “freedom and getting to choose [her] own life path.”

Newman has had to “work a lot and save a lot of money, do research on schools and areas that [she] would like to live in, and

Kyra Alway

Alway intends to major in Biochemistry or Chemical Engineering at a 4-year college, and later apply for dental school.

“I’ve known for a while I wanted a career in STEM and just assumed I’d be a doctor, but I’ve been looking into a dental career and it seems like the perfect fit,” she said.

Ella Newman

If Adidas dropped (Kan)Ye why won’t Mielke?

Finn Clark Co-Feature Editor

With recent controversial remarks made by rap artist Ye West (formerly known as Kanye), brands such as Adidas and Gap have stopped their partnership with him.

However, many fans still believe they can support his music without supporting his beliefs.

History teacher Jeff Mielke has a red, white, and blue poster in his class. Along the top and bottom are the words “Kanye West for President.”

When questioned about the poster Mielke stated that, “Posters don’t state agreement.”

Mielke stated he believed that you can separate the art from the artist.

“I like him for his music,” Mielke

said.

West has done many controversial things in recent days.

At a fashion show in Paris, West brought out models with shirts that contained the phrase “White Lives Matter”, which has been identified as a hate slogan by the Anti-Defamation League.

Among West’s remarks is one Twitter post in which he said he would go “death con 3 on Jewish people” in one Twitter post.

In a recent interview with CNN, an anonymous former coworker of West’s even stated that he had planned to name his most recent album after Hitler.

Following these events, Mielke decided to keep his “Kanye for President 2024” poster up in his classroom.

“In light of recent events, I definitely think it would make anyone uncomfortable,” substitute teacher Kelsey Hale said.

Mielke said he believed that “you kind of have to deal with the good and the bad’’ when dealing with artists.

Even with separation between creator and creation, some students at Arcata High believe that you can and should stop supporting an artist after controversial ideas.

“I think separating the art from the artist is a valid argument in some cases. I think to the extent that Kanye has gone and the rippling effects that we’re seeing occur from that, that the poster, in a way is like a public support of [West’s actions] being acceptable, and they’re not,” senior Saneya Khattab said.

According to some, even if Mielke simply enjoys Kanye’s music the poster is inherently political.

“You’re not nominating him for a Grammy, you’re endorsing him for politics,” Hale stated.

Even students who have been fans of Kanye West for a long time have said they are dropping him.

“I mean, I’ll be very honest, I’m a really big Kanye West fan, or I was, I have been for like, a long time. So I have a lot of disappointment in him right now,” Khattab stated.

The controversy around Thanksgiving

Ilana Maclay

News Editor

Even though it’s only November, students at Arcata High are ready to deck the halls with Christmas cheer. But, what about Thanksgiving?

Thanksgiving is famously known as a holiday that celebrates friendship, family, and everything we’re grateful for.

The history of Thanksgiving is widely acknowledged as a meeting or feast between two groups of people – the Wanpanoag tribe and English colonizers that settled in Plymouth. However, this holiday has been predominantly told from the settlers point of view.

“Every holiday has its own history and, throughout time, things

get changed and the meanings behind different celebrations alter,” senior Raven Alvarez said.

Alvarez is the co-president ofNative American club. She doesn’t hold any personal distaste for Thanksgiving, despite knowing it’s ugly history.

“I don’t think having a day where you can be thankful for the world around you and spend time with family is a bad thing,” Alvarez said.

Several AHS students think that how you celebrate Thanksgiving is really up to you and your family.

“I think we should celebrate Thanksgiving because it’s a time to be thankful for what you have,” freshman Medora Rostad said.

In some middle schools, Thanksgiving is celebrated because of the

story that Native Americans and Pilgrims had a fall harvest feast together. Students are told that the Native Americans shared food and land, welcoming the colonizers.

“The traditional holiday, as I learned in school, was sugarcoated,” freshman Sofia Flores said.

“The Indigenous people and the colonizers had this big thing, they were friends. That’s how we were taught in middle school,” she explained. “That’s not true. The Indigenous people were killed by these colonizers. I really don’t think it’s okay that we’re celebrating people that came and stole land from the people that were already living here and killed them.”

Opinions vary on if we absolutely should or absolutely shouldn’t celebrate Thanksgiving.

We know there was an apparent conflict and genocide between Native Americans and colonizers, but at Arcata High, most students celebrate Thanksgiving eating at a table with their family and giving thanks.

“If you’re celebrating Thanksgiving as like, celebrating your family and good things that have happened, and being thankful, that’s great,” freshman Meta Nave said.

“I feel like if you’re celebrating Thanksgiving as this union between Native Americans and English colonizers that’s just not realistic. That’s not what happened,” Nave said.

“I think it’s important to be aware of that.”

Finn Clark/PEPPERBOX

A poster of the contraversial artist hanging in Mielke’s class room.

Behind the Blue Jackets

There’s a lot to say about the Agriculture and FFA (Future Farmers of America) program here at Arcata High, which just so happens to be the fifth oldest chapter in California. Fun fact, Arcata’s Ag program went from only 44 members and only two classes in 2015, to now nearly 200 members and eight classes. We have invited a few of our officers and chapter members to share and uncover a little bit more about what really goes on behind the scenes. There’s a lot more than white Wranglers, a button up, and a blue corduroy.

“Having the opportunity to work with students and help them build a career path and have the opportunities in an agriculture class to investigate the many career opportunities available to them is something I love doing.”

- Kelly Miller, Ag Advisor

“It presents so many chances for students to learn about real life opportunities and public speaking,’

- Anthony Zinselmeir

“I feel like it’s very rewarding to raise an animal because I know how the animal is raised and treated properly.”

“There's the science, plants, animals, entrepreneurship that lie within. In addition, the leadership opportunities that students have at their ease to explore through conferences and speaking events.”

- Kelly Miller

- Jocelyn Hague

Happy Native American heritage month!

Alex Phelan Art Director

According to the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI), Native American Heritage Month is “a time to celebrate rich and diverse cultures, traditions, and histories and to acknowledge the important contributions of Native people.”

Native American Heritage Month takes place from November 1st to November 30th.

Arcata High has its very own Native American Club, which has been planning fundraisers, and events, as well as continuously

working to make the club a safe resource for all students.

In an interview with Native American Club co-president Raven Alvarez, we talked about what plans the club has for the future.

“To provide a safe place for any student to come and learn, whether that be socially or about their culture. And to keep being a resource for students is the ultimate goal,” said Alvarez regarding the club.

Alvarez believes Native culture should be recognized all year round.

“I don’t think any culture should be only celebrated for one month. I

think all of it should be accepted in the world around us,” she said.

“Personally, I can say that adding a Native perspective into history and science classes would be pretty awesome.”

A curriculum that supports Native history and doesn’t ignore it is a necessary way to celebrate and acknowledge Native heritage in school.

“Culture is a way of life. And to me, the culture means including aspects of my heritage into my own way of life,” Alvarez speaking on what Native American Heritage means to her.

Alvarez has several ideas on

Sk8r bois at Arcata High

Finn Clark

Co-Feature Editor

It’s fall in Humboldt County. We’re all being rained out of all the activities we know and love, like skateboarding for instance.

Arcata High School has a bustling skater community, but what is it really like to be a skater? You may be asking, ‘How can I become a skater?’ Well, no need to worry, the Pepperbox has just the answer. The first step is to math like a skater.

Out of all the skaters interviewed, several stated they had below-passing grades in math.

“It’s an F,” skater boy and junior Dominic Previde said.

Sometimes that’s all you need to become a skater, but for those who are more seriously interested, you might want to make yourself more like the teachers at our school.

“I could see Mrs. Kell rocking a baker board,” junior Evan Azinger commented.

Azinger said he thought Jennifer Rosebrook or Alyssa Kell

would make the best skaters.

“I don’t know, I just think they’d kill it,” Azinger stated.

Skateboarders at Arcata High had varying opinions about who would be the best skateboarder.

“I don’t know, I’d like to see Kantner skateboard, I don’t know if he would be good, actually I feel like Pinkerton could be good,” senior Aiya Tobin said.

However you may want to distance yourself from other teachers, like Danielle Witten.

“I just don’t think she’d have the right mindset for it,” Azinger said.

Being a skater isn’t all about math and mindsets. For Azinger, sometimes it’s about drinking an entire gallon of chocolate milk.

“Chocolate milk. I just like getting a gallon from Murphy’s and just like drinking that,” Azinger said.

Skaters are also about changing Arcata High School to suit their needs better.

“I wish we could walk around on our ten-minute break. Or, during freshman year we would have

snack baskets on break, we need to bring those back,” Azinger said.

Though changes can’t always be snack baskets and getting to walk around during our block periods.

“The amount of rednecks, did you see them throwing ducks out in the parking lot today during lunch? They were throwing dead ducks,” Previde said.

If you’re looking to get yourself started on skating there are many places to start. Skaters at our school

how you could celebrate Native culture.

“Read a book–you could read Braiding Sweetgrass. You can do some more research into historical events that you might have learned about in third grade, but were sugar-coated,” Alvarez said.

The celebration of Native American Heritage Month is a good place to start educating yourself and others about Native history and culture but we shouldn’t leave cultures within their separate months and should continue to celebrate them all year long.

mostly mentioned they got their boards from AMPT Skate Shop.

Some skaters liked more simplistic designs on their boards, while others liked their boards to be artistic.”

Get your math grades down and your chocolate milk intake up skaters. And lastly in the words of Arcata High’s very own Dominic Previde, “I f**k with skateboarding.”

Finn Clark/PEPPERBOX

Slaying, serving, and surviving Hamlet

Madelyn Conley and Seneca Turechek

Co-Editor in Chief and Co-Feature Editor

When you walk into room 206 you immediately feel comfortable and welcomed.

We are both in sixth period AP English Lit taught by the legendary Alex Kantner.

Most students might think that AP Lit is boring or full of literature by white, depressed, old men.

However, Kantner puts a twist on the curriculum that makes it engaging and interesting even for seniors with high school burnout.

We have just finished reading Hamlet by William Shakespeare, but throughout our reading we have been acting it out with our classmates.

Whether that’s fencing in front of the class, laying on the ground pretending to be dead, or getting down on your knees and reciting

the “To be or not to be” speech, it has been a fantastic experience.

“Watching my friends get brutally fake murdered truly made me understand literary classics,” senior Dylan Wilkerson said.

Other students in our class agree.

“It was really entertaining to watch people do it. I feel like there’s value in acting out plays in class,” senior Liam Hodgson said.

These performances have connected us as a class and have created a supportive environment.

“I thought that it helped us gain a better understanding of what was actually happening in the play because a lot of strange words are used but when we acted it out, we could get a better grasp on it,” senior Paolo Bosques-Paulet said.

Now, as our readings have come to an end, Kantner has assigned our AP Lit class small groups to act out a scene from the play, and perform it in front of the class.

“I’m looking forward to giving it a more modern and fun twist,” senior Gabriela Davidson said.

We are allowed to pick any scene from the play and put any twist that we want on it.

Neither of us expected this class or this unit of Hamlet to be so interesting, but Kantner’s teaching methods have made this very engaging.

“I loved acting out the scenes

and am excited to keep doing it,” senior Sydney Hasselquist said.

For those who haven’t read or watched Hamlet, this play is full of very disturbing and traumatic situations.

Shakespeare tackles suicide, murder, loss, betrayal, mania, and other issues.

We were at first hesitant about how we would react to these heavy topics, but Kantner has done an amazing job at explaining the deeper meaning of these issues, while being careful not to burden the class.

“He’s the only teacher who asks me about my day,” Davidson said. We are very excited to see what the groups’ performances will look like.

With having been inspired by Kantner’s enthusiasm, our class acting sessions are something we feel proud of.

“I love Kantner. I gave him a sword, I’ll give him another,” Wilkerson said.

Kantner and senior Elisha Green reenacting the dueling scene from Hamlet.

Madelyn Conley/PEPPERBOX

Madelyn Conley/PEPPERBOX

Seniors pretending to be dead as they act out their roles in front of the class.

Seneca Turechek/PEPPERBOX

Seniors who acted out a role in the play taking a bow to the class.

What’s the tur‘key’ to a good Thanksgiving meal?

Lucia Hernandez Reporter

As we come back from Fall Break, students are already missing the delicious food they dug into on Thanksgiving. Sitting around tables to celebrate the good food and company, we find that students have varying tastes in what’s going to be on their Thanksgiving plate.

Senior Amaya Urquidez celebrates with, “1/4th of deer meat, 1/4th of chicken, a 1/4th of ground beef and a 1/4th of turkey and then I spice it up with some shredded beef on top,” she said.

“And if I’m feeling extra hungry I’ll add a side of mashed potatoes and corn,” Urquidez said.

There were a few unusual favorites that’s for sure, but that’s what’s great about hearing all of

the different ideas is that you get a look into the different ways people celebrate Thanksgiving.

It was also a little shocking how a lot of students had a few of the same favorites to make the most perfect meal.

“Mashed potatoes are for sure one hundred percent my favorite,” junior Aria Soberanis said.

That seemed to be a common theme throughout the students at Arcata High.

Another perfect Thanksgiving plate is as follows, “Turkey and then some sort of potato, stuffing, and pumpkin pie,” sophomore Cora Killoran explained.

“You have to start with the turkey, obviously,” she continued.

Sophomore Ezra Kidd is also hopping on the turkey train. “I love a hella ton of turkey too,” he said.

The most unusual part to me

was that not many students really had stuffing at the top of their list.

Although sophomore Sionna Khattab seemed to have different opinions than most.

“Oh yeah, stuffing is definitely the first thing on my plate everytime, doesn’t miss,” Khattab said.

What’s next for the hoco king

Lazarus Onyango Reporter

After a few weeks being at Arcata High as an exchange student, I was eager to experience an American Homecoming. As the days kept closing down to homecoming, I found out I was nominated to be homecoming royalty.

Lazarus

I wasn’t optimistic until the day of the rally where my confidence skyrocketed and I saw my friends

from different classes cheer me on.

At that moment, I had this feeling of accomplishing an American high schooler’s dream.

It was so exciting to win! Besides becoming royalty, I played soccer for the varsity team.

We emerged winners of the league after a long time since 2012, according to the history books. I am happy to have joined the team.

The team was not only a group of players but a family that loved the sport. I have had a fantastic time with them that I will never forget.

My exchange time has come with a lot of achievements worth remembering and there is more I am looking forward to.

One is the cultural experience of an American Thanksgiving. Some say, it’s the time of year to

have the best roast turkey. West Coast and Hawaii and the

Lucia Hernandez/PEPPERBOX

Lucia Hernandez/PEPPERBOX Aria Soberanis showing her love for mashed potatoes. Amaya Urquidez exclaiming her love for ham.

Clark/PEPPERBOX Lazarus poses in a suit jacket and bowtie, contemplating his future.

At that moment, I had this feeling of accomplishing an American high schooler’s dream.

-

Onyango

The perfection that is (not) the lower field

Morgan Ford Co-Sports Editor

Upon “completion” in the summer before this year, the lower field complex was supposed to provide our student athletes with a more suitable place to play. Did it though?

The building of the lower field included a new soccer/football field, a track, and a new baseball field. All of this seemed nice, especially to us student athletes. Not only would it give us more places to play, but PE classes would also have a place to have class rather than being cooped up in the gym.

However, many athletes describe the lower field as far from

perfection, and it has caused almost more issues than it has provided solutions.

Let’s start with the baseball field. Don’t get me wrong, it is a very nice field and, as a softball player at Arcata, I would love to get to play on it.

However, the baseball team and coaches aren’t exactly satisfied, and I don’t blame them. First of all, how is a popular team supposed to play games there with no room for fans to watch?

There are no bleachers anywhere near the field, and hardly room on one side for fans to stand or set up their own chairs. The field also lacks dugouts, which are not only a fundamental part of the

sport, but also a playing field requirement.

Onto the football/soccer field, or at least that’s what we’re calling it. It started out good, the teams got equal time on it, good conditions. Now, it is a classified mud pit.

The girl’s soccer team just played their first NCS game on it, and it was visibly difficult to run through it, let alone kick the ball or do anything remotely athletic while your feet are sinking in the mud.

Who would have thought this would happen, right? Wrong. Everyone knew it would happen when they built the new field in the exact same spot that has always turned into a swamp with the slightest bit of rain. Did we for-

get where we live?

You would think that at least the football players would be happy with their new field, but that is not the case here.

Senior football player Francisco Zamora expressed his frustration that “[we] can’t even play on it, and it’s not beautiful anymore.” He explained that football only gets one day a week, if they’re lucky, to practice on the big field. “It is always a muddy disaster,” Zamora explained.

Overall, no one is happy. The field we imagined was turf, and more than two teams would be able to play on it. This is not what we got, and honestly it doesn’t do us much good.

A book to add to your library

Sadie Cronin and Ell Franklin

Reportor and Opinion Editor

Have you ever read a book that’s so good after you finish it, you scour the web for a sequel? If you have, you need to read The House in Paris by Elizabeth Bowen.

Overall, I enjoyed the book. The plot is set in Paris, France, following the effects of World War l. The main characters in the story are an 11-year-old girl named Henrietta Mountjoy, 9-year-old Leopold, their mother, Mae Fisher, and her sister Miss Naomi Fisher.

The book has three different parts. Part 1 is the present, part 2 is the past, and part 3 shifts back to the present.

I have never read a book with an outline like this. Going into the character’s past helps the reader

understand the characters and relate to them more.

It’s a fantastic book; everyone should read it! - Sadie Cronin

The House In Paris by Elizabeth Bowen, published in 1935, is a novel following the lives of two children who happened to be in the same house on the same day.

Henrietta is waiting between trains, and Leopold is waiting for his mother (who he has no memories of).

In the book, the house itself is almost a character, it holds many secrets and stories. Bowen does an excellent job painting a picture with her vivid imagery.

I felt like I was in that house. I think that Bowen also does a good job at characterization and making fundamentally flawed characters. I felt myself relating to the characters Karen and Henrietta.

I think this book was a beautiful story woven intricately together that will leave you both satisified and unsatisfied.

Surviving the parking lot

Astreya McKnight Business Manager

The lack of experience of teenage drivers and the added difficulty of navigating the masses of pedestrians makes the Arcata High parking lot dangerous and accident prone.

Senior Lane Corse said, “The parking lot is a pretty sketchy place. Many students have no driving ability. I don’t mean people driving fast. I mean students who are too dumb to use a turn signal.”

Corse’s position aligns with the general consensus of students on campus. When many inexperienced and careless drivers are grouped together in a small and unregulated space, accidents are bound to occur. Although the school does not keep track of the number of on-campus incidents, students agree that they happen often.

Senior Gabriela Davidson said that she either hits people or gets hit in the parking lot “daily.”

Pedestrians add extra obstacles that can be challenging for new drivers.

“They cross roads without looking and run in front of cars,” junior Natalie Dreyer explained. “I know of a case where a student ran directly into a car. There needs to be a crossing guard like a middle school,” she said.

Aliviana Bacca-Lastra also supports the idea of enforcing cross walks.

Bacca-Lastra said, “It’s kind of hard to leave the parking lot when there are forty kids coming from every direction.”

Gabriela Davidson’s experiences with pedestrians in the parking lot have been quite similar.

“They are terrible and don’t know how to think. You should move when a car comes,” Davidson said.

Additionally, many students have difficulty understanding the exit situation. Many drivers try to funnel through the exit out of turn, cutting off other students who are also trying to leave. This can be a

very frustrating issue for students who also have places to be.

“I am this issue and I just wanna go home,” Davidson said. More often than not, students experience the other side of this action.

“People don’t understand that you have to take turns letting people into the lane,” Bacca-Lastra said. “You and all your friends

stance on this with Khattab.

“When you have one exit and shitty drivers, it tends to happen,’’ Corse stated.

Aliviana Bacca-Lastra explained the overall issue that causes the parking lot to seem like a never-ending problem.

“I think the main thing is people not having proper etiquette when it comes to driving,” Bacca-

What is wrong with the fountains?

Arcata High sits on the more well-funded side of things when it comes to public schools, especially in Humboldt County. We have a vast array of electives offered by passionate staff, a solid student to teacher ratio, our own separate building for performing arts, and a generally clean and respectable campus.

So, with water being a basic necessity, why do our fountains suck so much?

There’s numerous accounts: they’re often covered in spit, the

one next to 106 tastes like bloody rust, most of the external ones are sprouting algae, many have broken buttons, ant infestations are frequent, some in the 300 hallway look like they were installed in the 1920s, half have such low pressure that you practically need to suck out of them like a straw, and so, so much more.

“If you need a drink, you have to walk all the way to those fountains near the office,” Junior Zeke Springer explained. The water fountain outside of the attendance office and the other near the 500 hallway are generally considered the most sanitary ones.

Junior Mikenzie Sousa brought

up the effects on academic performance. “I’m missing class time just ‘cause I’m thirsty and don’t wanna drink from the ones covered in green stuff,” she said. Having to move all the way across campus for water can often result in a teacher giving a cut despite how essential it is.Luckily, there are a few vending machines placed around campus that offer water, Bubly, and sugar-free Gatorade. However, it isn’t an ideal solution.

Besides the fact that many lower-income students cannot afford to bring two dollars everyday, water bottles are known to be detrimental to the environment. According to Green America, just one

plastic water bottle releases 82.8g of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.

Having clean, accessible, fully-functioning water fountains around campus is essential.

However, I don’t believe the fault is in the hands of our custodians. They are already underpaid, understaffed, and overworked with the growing trend of graffiti and defacement in addition to their bare-minimum daily duties to keep our school looking presentable.

Hopefully the admin will soon become more aware of this issue and put more resources into maintaining our water fountains.

Anthony Vasek Photo Editor

Astreya McKnight/PEPPERBOX

Why does everybody go to Toni’s?

Madelyn Conley

Co-Editor in Chief

Toni’s is a 24-hour restaurant that serves basically everything and anything.

Located in Arcata, Toni’s is frequently visited by Arcata High and McKinleyville High School students. My question is: why?

I had lived in Eureka all of my life, until just recently when my family moved to McKinleyville in January of 2022. I didn’t even know that Toni’s existed until then.

When I told my friends that I had never been, they were shocked and criticized me for never going. Due to their reactions I assumed

this place must have really good, cheap food, and be a fun place to hangout.

While I agree that it’s a fun place to hang out, I don’t think the food or wait time is worth it.

Being gluten and dairy free, it’s hard for me to eat out at most places. However, I do have to say that Toni’s has gluten free options which is very nice.

But because it’s such a popular place to be, it took like an hour for my friends and I to get our milkshakes and french fries.

Everytime I have gone, it’s been at least a 45-60 minute wait, even when there’s not a huge line.

This wait can be both a good and bad thing. It allows for customers

to spend more time with each other and hang out. Since a lot of people go there, you can always find someone you know.

“I like going to Toni’s because you never know who you’re going to see when you show up there. It’s always a fun and eventful place to be,” junior Kyndle Eisner said.

It’s very cozy and comfortable inside and there are tables outside as well. Since it’s open 24 hours, going there at unreasonable times like two in the morning is also fun and adds to the experience.

“I really love the workers, they’re really nice. I’ve become a regular so they know me and have always treated me with kindness,” sophomore Sionna Khattab said.

However, I don’t recommend going to Toni’s if you’re starving. If you are, then Toni’s might not be the best place to go.

It’s also more expensive than I thought it would be for a diner that serves mostly fast-food. While there are homemade items on the menu, it mostly consists of burgers, fries, and milkshakes.

“I don’t like when there are creepy people in there because weird people will go there especially late at night,” junior Ella Manthorne said.

Supporting local businesses is always a great thing to do, and Toni’s is a cozy but fun place to go and support. Just maybe don’t go on an empty stomach…

Why teachers need to like their job

Toni Diaz Copy Editor

Is your teacher grumpy and burnt out? Or maybe just plain rude and strict for no reason?

It could be that they just don’t like their job. This is extremely unfortunate, because it’s important for teachers to enjoy, or at least like, their job.

The behavior of teachers who don’t like their jobs heavily impacts students and their work effort.

They sense a lack of enjoyment from the teacher’s attitude. As a result, they don’t feel as much of a need to participate or try in such classes.

Many students find themselves putting forth minimal effort in classes they have with teachers who seem like they don’t want to be there.

This is compared to teachers who do like their jobs and create a positive and engaging environ-

ment. These kinds of teachers are noticed by students.

This brings out the work ethic in kids to learn.

Teachers who don’t like their jobs have tendencies to be more strict and even verbalize their hatred for the job and the students.

They create a negative space in which students don’t care to be in.

I mean do you really want to try in a class a teacher doesn’t even care to teach? No. Why bother to do the work if your teacher won’t even bother to remember your name, let alone teach?

This is why it is important for them to like their job and show that they care

You might ask such a teacher, why be a teacher if you don’t even like the job? I mean we all know it’s not for the pay, so why?

Teachers want their students to be good and productive, so they need to genuinely show they are there to teach and help. Well unless you have the guts to ask that

question yourself, you may never know the answer.

Teachers who don’t like their jobs are here for no good reason. They tend to not care whether their students are doing good or not, and yet they just expect them to listen.

These teachers have no passion in pushing their students to the best of their abilities. Therefore, a teacher needs to like their job to actually be a teacher rather than just an adult giving students information they are expected to retain.

Laura Laux/PEPPERBOX

Artsy fartsy kids at Arcata High

Alauna Thompson Reporter

The Arcata Arts Institute, otherwise known as AAI, is Arcata’s advanced art program. The program has four strands, which are visual arts, media, theater, and music.

AAI has been running for 16 years now.

“It was created when Arcata High applied for a grant to fund an advanced art program,” Johanna Mauro, one of the AAI teachers said.

Every Wednesday AAI students, instead of staying in their usual AAI class after flex, move around and go to a class that they chose. These masterclasses are where most students thrive creatively.

“After school workshops were what sparked the idea of masterclasses,” Mauro said.

ty of everyone involved.”

Frida King is a junior who has been in AAI for two years and is involved in the music strand of AAI.

“The freedom of expression” is one of her favorite things about being in the AAI program.

She also plays the guitar, sings, and plays the drums.

Nova Baur is a sophomore at Arcata High . She is in the media strand of AAI but is also in design of communication which means she can switch between media and visual arts.

Her favorite part of AAI is “The community and the artistic integri-

Natalie Lehman is a junior at Arcata High School and has been a part of the AAI program for two years.

She is in the media strand of AAI which means she does photography, video and graphic design.

She really enjoys “The freedom to do your own art instead of very guided assignments”

Jack Dixon who is a sophomore in the music strand and has been in AAI for 1 year.

Dixon believes one of the great things about the AAI program is “the freedom and how you are able to collaborate with other

Aurora Pitts is a sophomore in the theater strand of AAI and likes that she is able to engage with her interests in such a positive community people.”

Lootah Hall, a sophomore in his first year of AAI’s strand of theater also agreed with Pitts and said, “The community is good.”

Alauna Thompson/ PEPPERBOX Nova Baur working on one of her art pieces for AAI

Alauna Thompson/ PEPPERBOX

Alauna Thompson/ PEPPERBOX

Alauna Thompson/ PEPPERBOX

Alauna Thompson/ PEPPERBOX

Natalie Lehmen water coloring in her AAI class

Alauna Thompson/ PEPPERBOX Frida King playing the guitar in AAI. It is one of the many options someone can try out.

Jack Dixon playing the drums in AAI

Local author returned home

Laura Laux Reporter

Local author Martha Longshore visited our school for the Humboldt County Children’s Author Festival on Thursday, October 20th.

She writes young adult fantasy books under her pen name Rowan Mallory.

Longshore was born in Eureka and went to elementary and middle school in the Arcata School District, later graduating from Arcata High.

When she was young, her mom used to read fairy tales to her and her little sister Katrin Longshore, who is a writer too.

“I loved reading ever since I was really small,” Longshore said. She submitted her first story, a 10-

page long handwritten story about a talking fox, to Cricket Magazine when she was in seventh grade.

Longshore went to college and double-majored in Psychology and American Literature. Her first book was a 300-page romance story.

She had fun writing it but decided after she got rejected by several publishers that she needed help from “people who actually knew what they were doing.”

She published her first book “Hearts of Gold” under her real name in 1994. After that, she published multiple adult romances under her pen name Tess Pendergrass.

Martha Longshores newest book, called “The Blacksmith Princess,” is part of a five book series, called the “The 12 Dancing Prin-

cesses.” Her first fantasy book is based on the fairytale “A Fish Out of Water.” She explained that all of the other books in the series are going to be about another princess and based on another fairytale.

She is currently editing the second book of the series and hopes to publish it in spring next year.

Longshore self-published her book and made the cover herself. She decided to use a pen name when she was starting to create the website and Instagram account and felt uncomfortable putting herself on social media.

She made a list with all the names she didn’t mind being called and somebody who sounded like a good fantasy author until she finally picked one that “just felt right.”

She offered advice to students on writing and life.

“Life is full of disappointment but that’s no reason not to live it,” she said.

Video games to add to your collection

Urijah Horne Reporter

Do you like video games?

Do you wonder what games are good and what games aren’t?

Then I’ve got the solution for you! By reading my article you will get a review on three different games! GUILTY GEAR -STRIVE-, Flying Gorilla, and Hunt: Showdown.

GUILTY GEAR -STRIVE- is a fighting game that combines 2D and 3D graphics into one incredible experience.

It looks nice and it has wonderful gameplay which is hard to master, but once the game clicks you’ll get addicted.

Every character is unique and has fantastic attacks with beautiful animation. Some characters are fast but have low range, some

characters are slow but have long range, and some are a perfect medium of speed and range.

The only issue is there are some characters who slipped through the cracks and have high range and damage but are still fast, so they will hit you from the opposite side of the arena before you can even think about stopping it.

All in all this is a wonderful game and you never know what you are going to get when you play it.

With that being said, it still feels like there could be more character balance. This game is a 9/10.

Flying Gorilla is the best game of all time. It has everything you want and need like a full cast of characters, great graphics, and wonderful gameplay.

After playing this game my life has got nothing but better and I require that if you read this you need

to play this game.

This game’s pinnacle character, the Flying Gorilla, is wonderful and has great character development.

This is the best experience I have ever had Infinity/10.

Hunt: Showdown is a first person shooter where dying means losing everything.

You lose your guns, tools, and characters that you were using when you died.

You spawn in a dark and broken world that is full of evil beasts like zombies, hellhounds, and other creatures.

After killing the boss you need to banish it which takes a couple minutes and everyone else is alerted to your location so they can kill you and steal the things you get for banishing the bosses.

After surviving and getting your tokens you need to make it

to an extraction point and survive for 30 seconds to escape.

Permadeath is a major mechanic which is very interesting but in practice where you can be shot from the literal other side of the map or be one tapped by someone sneaking up on you with an axe. It’s not always very fun.

Despite that the combat is very fun and winning means upgrading your characters and getting new exotic weapons.

This is a brutally difficult but fun game that I rate a solid 7-8/10.

I loved all of these games despite their problems and I will play all three of these games a lot more.

If you were to take anything away from this it should be that you need to go play Flying Gorilla now.

Rowan Mallory with her book “The Blacksmith Princess” in the library.

Laura Laux /PEPPERBOX

Painting the hallways with BSU

Raymi Sharp Reporter

Black Student Union at AHS was founded in 2018.

It was run by President Nishyra Aaron and Vice President Lavender Weburg with Shannon Kresge as the teacher advisor.

The goal of the club is to spread awareness about African American issues.

Today BSU is a club represented by students of varying ethnicities and grades run by President Elisha Green, with Danielle Witten and Shannon Kresge as co-advisors.

Every Wednesday at lunch BSU meets in room 104.

They meet to discuss, “the issues about inclusion and representation in classrooms, and how to combat it,” current BSU President Elisha Green stated.

In the most recent BSU meetings, there has been a heavy discussion on getting murals painted around the school.

As of now, the mural is still in its early stages of development and

there has been lots of brainstorming on what type of message they want to display.

Some ideas that have been suggested are, “Having one big mural and doing some sort of message with it, and then maybe some smaller ones around pillars with African designs,” freshman Aliyah Aaron shared.

Elisha Green adds that no matter what the mural turns out to be, his main goal is to “create more representation of Black culture around campus.”

BSU is hoping that the mural will be put up in front of the school right by the wooden bench and they are hoping that it will be done within the next few months.

However, the process of getting the space and ideas approved might take more time and work than they anticipated.

Their next steps would be to talk to Principal Ron Perry, and eventually people working in administration.

If all goes as planned, painting will start in December so keep your eyes peeled.

If you are interested in helping

Raymi Sharp/PEPPERBOX

Raymi Sharp/PEPPERBOX

Black Student Union president, senior Elisha Green.

Black Student Union member, freshman Aliyah Aaron.

out, know that it is never too late to join.

Bangin’ tunes for bangin’ babes

Alauna Thompson and Seneca Turechek

Reporter Co Feature Editor

After hours, weeks, days, years even, of ambushing students in the hallway, we have put together a playlist of Arcata High’s favorite songs.

We asked, you sometimes answered.

Sometimes taking 10 minutes to an hour, because many of you don’t even know your favorite lyric.

As we walked through the halls, people either came up to us, excited to be interviewed or they avoided us as much as they could.

(Don’t think we didn’t see you b*tches turn around, much love).

We saw a pattern of Taylor Swift and rap songs, but we also got songs we have never heard of.

This playlist shows the diverse community of students and staff on campus.

We have put our blood, sweat, and tears into this playlist, and you can’t even listen to it (because it’s on print). Just know we care.

Thank you for your song recommendations! Much love.