THE WOOSTER BLADE
WOOSTER HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT NEWSPAPER • 515 OLDMAN ROAD, WOOSTER, OH • JAN. 12, 2018 • VOLUME XVIII, ISSUE 7
Community celebrates the legacy of Martin Luther King, Jr.
Photo, fair use, courtesy of the Library of Congress
Index: On Campus 2-4
Trends 5
A&E 6-7
Sports 8-9
Cover 10-12
Feature 13-14
Views 15-16
ON CAMPUS
THE WOOSTER BLADE | JAN. 12, 2018 | PAGE 2
English Dept. member Chelsey Porter wins award for exceptional teaching abilities
staff members
Students thank
English Dept. member Chelsey Porter, who has taught at WHS for five years, recently received the Staff Impact Award, an award given by the Faculty Advisory Committee to recognize teachers who have had a significant impact on their students’ lives. According to Porter, her classes are usually comprised of between 110 and 115 eighth graders each year. One of these students is Alexis Derr (8), who nominated Porter for the award because she said
Porter has an exceptional way of understanding her students and communicating with them. “She cares about her students more than just any teacher would, I think... She cares about how you feel,” Derr said. Porter attributes much of her love of teaching to positive interactions with her students, especially when she finds that she has successfully engaged them in class content. “The kids give a lot more than I think that they realize they do. Their day-to-day interactions with me recharge me to come back the next day and to keep trying for them,” Porter said. English Dept. colleague Diane
Mealey first worked with Porter when she came to WHS as a COW junior to observe teachers and later worked with her as a student teacher. Mealey says Porter has a natural ability to teach and give lessons that stay with students long after they are given. “She is a natural teacher. She loves every aspect of it... Students can see her enthusiasm, not only for the content, but for them,” Mealey said. Porter says there are many outstanding teachers at WHS, which makes receiving the staff impact award especially touching.
CLARA LEE
from students in academic assists on what makes a teacher impactful. The nominations are centered
students in their academic and personal lives. Nathanael Steiner, intervention specialist and member of the Faculty Advisory Committee, said the award was developed by the FAC in the fall of 2016, after collecting information
valuable, which includes displaying excitement for their respective subjects, their classroom and the success of their students. According to Steiner, the student-driven. Students make all nominations.
“Students can complete a nomination form containing a few questions about their to the committee,” Dara Wood, Science Dept. member and facilitator of the FAC, said. After the FAC tallies the nomination forms for each the option to vote on a Google survey between the top three The award also presents an opportunity for students to
members, as the nomination members, Steiner explained. “Even though it’s anonymous, you can kind of see the impact that you make, because I think sometimes we get rushed and kind of forget a lot about that… it’s really neat to see those things,” Steiner said. According to Wood, the award is presented by herself at the takes place.
Correction Box pictured Skyy Khounborin as the author. A photo of returning staff members also excluded second
THE WOOSTER BLADE | ON CAMPUS | JAN. 12, 2018 | PAGE 3
“Shelly Silvaggi because...she tells it to you how it is and I love that about her. It’s so motivating and actually encourages me to do something school related. She makes class so incredibly enjoyable.” -Anna Birk (11) “Matt Balsinger impacted me the most because he has taught me how to be myself and he is very straightforward about topics. He doesn’t sugarcoat anything and he tells you “Eric Heller because he is a how it is and he tells the truth. The truth sometimes hurts, but he gives us a look into good teacher and hilarious.” -Macyn Siegenthaler (10) reality in our tiny little chemistry class.”-Anna Zerrer (11) “Misty Bisesi because she actually knows how to teach.” -Alaina Hescht (10)
“Tricia Taggart because she gives me guidance and always cares enough to sit down and talk to me. I know she’s always going to protect me.” -Sarah Hackett (11)
“Miriam Stokes because she is funny and lightens up my whole day.” -Bryn Savidge (10) “Jill Forrest because she has been my French teacher for the past four years. She’s so kind and a great teacher.” -Fiona Davis (11) “Melissa Rooney because she is a very big motivational help to me with school work and being a better person overall.” -Maddie McCoy (10)
Graphics by Matthew Lorentz.
“Debra Pittard because she showed me math could be easy and fun.” -Izzy Signorino (10) “Timothy Gallagher because he made me love math again.”-Bekah Barnett (10) “Troy Worth because he’s always helping me understand the bio information and he genuinely cares about his students and their success.” -Hannah Watson (10)
“Ryan Conrad because he is a legend.” -Zach Brewster (10) Illustration by Cate Strong
Students were asked which teacher impacted them the “Richard Lee because he was always so helpful, incredibly nice and easy most this year and why they chose that teacher. to talk to.” -Alyssa Coots (11) Quotes compiled by Skyy Khounborin. “Nate Steiner because he’s hilarious. He’s always really happy and positive.” -Natasha Murzda (10)
“Brett Hiner because he is always there to make jokes and help us with our layouts if we need him.” -Zach Dreher (12) “Chelsey Porter because she can relate to us, which I like. She knows how to impact us in the best way.” - Nate Monastra (8) “Jennifer Wright because she’s always there to help with your problems and guide you in the right way like a mother does.” -Ellia Miller (12) “Kristi Hiner because she’s a great teacher and she helped me through my anxiety of speaking in front of others.” -Hannah O’Konek (11)
“Diane Mealey because she helped me discover my love for English.” -Emilie Oswald (10) “Rebekah Bell because she makes English fun.” -Jasmin Aguirre (10)
THE WOOSTER BLADE | ON CAMPUS | JAN. 12, 2018 | PAGE 4
SPENCER DILYARD on campus editor
The sophomore class at WHS is in charge of raising money for Winter Formal. The dance will be held on Jan. 27, according to sophomore representative Anna Nacci (10). Chelsey Porter has been the temporary sophomore class adviser, in charge of coordinating events and fundraisers, however, this year Jennifer Wright will be assuming this position. Grace Buchholz (10), Rheanna Velasquez (10), Anna Nacci (10), Madison Helms (10), Bryn Savidge (10), Skyy Khounborin (10) and Bekah Barnett (10) head Fundraisers include dine to
donates, and more recently, a student volleyball tournament. Buchholz is in charge of getting the fundraising started. of the sophomore class, and we discuss until there is a plan. Then, I will try to get the ball from there,” Buchholz said. According to Buchholz, there have been three main fundraisers: a butter braid sale two years ago, a dine to donate at Chipotle last year and a volleyball tournament this year. Most of the money raised will go to hiring a DJ for the dance, according to Porter. The rest of the money is for snacks and decorations. Porter explained that for the volleyball fundraiser, the tournament had an entry fee for
COURTESY OF MEGAN MITCHELL
teams, and a $1 charge to watch. The four teams “Cut From JV,” “Kiss My Ace,” “Cassablockya” and “2 Legit 2 Hit” played one another, and the top two teams played to determine who would play the varsity girls team. The winner of this last
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game, Cassablockya, ended up winning the best of three matches against the varsity girls. Porter said she would, “highly encourage another volleyball tournament, but I think the only problem this year was that we didn’t advertise enough.”
MOLLY SCHNEIDER The sophomore student government president, Grace Buchholz (10), and secretary, Bryn Savidge (10), address concerns made by students for upcoming dances. According to Buchholz, student concerns from last year’s Winter Formal were the power outage, bad music and the fact that the dance took place in the gym. Buchholz added student government will improve on these issues for this year’s dance by updating students on video and morning announcements to convince people to come to Winter Formal. Other improvements to the dance include decorations, lighting, and an improved selection of music, Buchholz said. Students Landon Rice (10) and Haley Balas (11) have different opinions about school dances.
In regard to another volleyball tournament, Buchholz said, “The boys volleyball tournament the future, but right now it is not in the play for this year.” There may be another dine to donate this school year.
According to Balas, she dislikes the dances because of how people make big scenes at Homecoming. Rice dislikes the slow music and the dancing. “The dances never have good music, in my opinion, and also gross couples that slow dance to every single song,” Rice said. Balas said she fears student government will not do much to improve on their dance from previous years. “[Student] government should make more just fun and casual dances like the Big Band Dance for people that actually just want to hang out and have fun,” Balas said. According to Buchholz and Savidge, people should come to Winter Formal because the dance will not disappoint, and it is part of a fundraiser for Prom. The Winter Formal dance will take place Jan. 27 from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m. in the Wooster High School Commons. The theme of the dance this year is Snow Ball.
TRENDS
THE WOOSTER BLADE | JAN. 12, 2018 | PAGE 5
companies race to build and From mechanical sidekicks C-3PO and R2-D2 in Star Wars, to the sentient, malevolent HAL 9000 of 2001: A Space Odyssey, intelligent machines are a recurring theme for countless
breakthroughs with deep neural
2016, Fortune however, has long moved past Researchers began exploring
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intelligence for quite some time
machine learning,� published on The Register, continues to build on itself to become more advanced could created a new code allowing this machine to speed up its learning According to an interview with the BBC, world renowned
own, and re-design itself at an As scientists continue their developed,
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coming to fruition, it is worth taking a look at what this could
THE WOOSTER BLADE | JAN. 12, 2018 | PAGE 6
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
Examining the cultural impact of
CHRISTOPHER ROCHE focus editor
Not so long ago in a galaxy not so far away, one man had an idea for a sci-fi epic that would change the pop culture world forever. The adventure and storytelling that comes with Star Wars would not be possible without the great mind behind it all, George Lucas. George Lucas originally had the idea to create a sci-fi epic that would later evolve into the Star Wars pop culture phenomenon. According to an article on B i o g r a p h y. com titled “George Lucas and
the Origin Story behind ‘Star Wars,’” by B. Myint published on Dec. 15, 2015, George Lucas had trouble with reining in his sci-fi story. The article says the first drafts of the story were, “too dense, tonally imbalanced and its elaborate scenes would be prohibitively expensive to shoot.” But, after a long road of writing and rewriting, the first Star Wars was born. Star Wars would become one of the largest, most well known franchises in the movie industry. According to an article in WIRED Magazine, titled “How exactly has Star Wars made $37 billion?” published on Nov. 22, 2014, over the past 40 years, the Star Wars
movies and merchandise have made $37 billion. The universe of Star Wars has expanded greatly since the first movie’s release, as there have been eight movies in the main trilogies, one stand-alone movie with Solo: A Star Wars Story in the works, a brand new stand-alone Star Wars trilogy on the way directed by Rian Johnson, the director of Star Wars: The Last Jedi and an animated television series.
The Last Jedi breathes new life into Star Wars franchise
EVAN DOAN a&e editor
When I walked out of the theater after watching The Last Jedi, I honestly did not know how I felt about it. Certain scenes shocked me,
some disappointed me, while others completely blew me away in a spectacular fashion. To begin a discussion of the film, it is necessary to recognize that the visuals are, unsurprisingly, the best in Star Wars to date, and for this reason alone, it deserves to be watched. Taking full advantage of CGI, especially in looking at Snoke and the porgs, and beautiful scenery development on the planet of Crait, The Last Jedi truly transports you to a Galaxy Far Far Away. Beyond this, things start to get dicey.
While some characters grow and change throughout the movie, others seem to be just along for the ride, without serving any real purpose. Contrary to The Force Awakens, Rian Johnson’s installment does not lean on its original counterpart as a crutch, but as a general outline. By following familiar story arcs, it lures the audience into a sense of familiarity before shattering their expectations with something new and groundbreaking. For the viewer who wants to be swaddled in their nostalgia of the original trilogy, this film
may be upsetting. As a matter of fact, an online petition has already been created calling for its removal from Star Wars canon, due to the way it treats certain characters from the original trilogy. And, while this may be sacrilegious to some, it is really just common sense. This is, in fact, a new trilogy, with new main characters, and a new generation of kids who are growing up watching these films. Rather than leaning on the nostalgic star power of original cast members, The Last Jedi did something The Force Awakens
never could do for me; it made me genuinely care about these new characters. The film is by no means perfect; it drags in the middle and features some characters who seem out of place or serve no purpose whatsoever. Certain plot points that seemed crucial to The Force Awakens played no meaningful role in The Last Jedi’s storyline. However, all of these flaws pale in comparison to the compelling character development, bold, if not flawed storytelling and absolutely stunning visual effects.
Modern media across music and movies provides moving experience to consumers
THE WOOSTER BLADE | A&E | JAN. 12, 2018 | PAGE 7
Lady Bird
ERIN O’DONNELL Lady Bird is the poignant, relatable story of Sacramento high school senior Christine
MELINA MERA On Dec. 15, Oakland rapper G-Eazy dropped his album The Beautiful & Damned,
HENRY GAMBLE Recently, Eminem released his ninth studio album, Revival, including multiple projects
“Ladybird” McPherson, an artsy and outgoing teenager who yearns to, pun intended, fly the coop, and move to the East Coast. The film works to explore the relationships that shape the individual’s identity, as well as the changing concept of home as one matures. Throughout the movie, Lady Bird often clashes with her mother, which is the most important relationship presented. Their outbreaks and quick makeups are universally
relatable, as well as the slower, more profound moments, such as when Lady Bird genuinely asks her mother, “Do you like me?” and her mother is unsure of how to respond. The depth and complexity of the story are conveyed beautifully, thanks especially to the talent of Saoirse Ronan (Lady Bird McPherson) and Laurie Metcalf (Marion McPherson). In addition, the cinematography is outstanding: every shot is artful, the colors
muted and reflective of the regularity of the film’s plot. The film has an understated nature, never too flashy or overt; rather, the humor is subtle, allowing for the story and skilled actors to stand out. I applaud Saoirse Ronan for her ability to create a character so complex, but so regular; she was able to capture the personality of a quirky and artsy girl without being cliche. Overall, Lady Bird scores a 10 out of 10 on the official “ErinLikes-This-Movie-O-Meter.”
giving the world a look into his internal struggles. The album begins with song “The Beautiful & Damned,” featuring Zoe Nash, that uses the opposing themes of devils and angels, which recurs throughout the album. G-Eazy gives his fans insight into his thoughts in several of his songs. In his song “Sober,” featuring Charlie Puth, G-Eazy contemplates his alcohol addiction. Additionally, G-Eazy gives advice to his younger self in the
song “Eazy,” featuring Son Lux. One of my favorite songs in the album is “Love is Gone” featuring Drew Love because it sheds light on different topics than the rest of his songs. G-Eazy addresses the evils of the world with all the hate that has been spread through politics lately. In the songs “Legend” and “That’s A Lot,” he describes living the famous lifestyle. Another good song from the album is “But A Dream,” where G-Eazy points out the downfalls of his rising fame
and how he will not allow it to change him. “Him and I” featuring Halsey, G-Eazy’s girlfriend, is an outstanding song where G-Eazy describes them as a “2017 Bonnie and Clyde.” G-Eazy’s successful hit single “No Limit,” featuring A$AP Rocky and Cardi B, reached top 10 in Billboard’s top 100. Unlike his other songs, “No Limit” is upbeat which helps to celebrate all of his success this year. I highly recommend this album to all fans of pop and rap.
with other rappers and artists. The name of the album references his absence from music since 2013 when he dropped his last album, titled The Marshall Mathers LP 2. The first song in Revival, titled “Walk on Water,” features Beyonce. The Detroit rapper raps about his struggle with expectations of his old lifestyle. Currently sitting at number 11 on the hot 100, is Eminem’s hit song with Ed Sheeran, “River.” In this hit, Eminem discusses a current relationship
and compares it to his failed marriage, where at he admits to problems of infidelity and abuse of alcohol. Eminem raps about his fiery rhymes and lyrics and current political issues in “Nowhere Fast, featuring Kehlani. In a song about his old self, titled “Castle,” Eminem is rapping as if he was writing a letter to his daughter Hailey. He addresses his near death experience with opioids and can be heard collapsing at the end of the song.
Overall, Revival is a quality album where Eminem uses his old style as he also creates a new one. As he rhymes and raps through his memories and mistakes, Eminem is vulnerable and regretful while talking about his former self and his flaws, which is definitely something not seen in his past projects. I highly recommend this album to any fans of Eminem’s early work and to anyone who enjoys pop or rap.
SPORTS
THE WOOSTER BLADE | JAN. 12, 2018 | PAGE 8
BEAUTY and the BEAST
annual tournament challenges athletes THOMAS MATTHEW Beauty and the Beast, a joint wrestling and gymnastics tournament held at WHS, took place Jan. 6.
competitors who competed in the gymnastics tournament and there were three teams who competed in the wrestling part of the tournament. Deb Knapic, head gymnastics coach, and Don Rammel, head wrestling coach and Social Studies Dept. member, Knapic said her expectations are high for the team this year. “My expectations for this meet are to perform the best routines of the year and to get the highest team score or win,” Knapic said. second to Buckeye, Wooster
scoring 128.95 and Buckeye scored 132. The WHS wrestlers beat Cuyahoga Falls 27-15, and lost to Glen Oak 42-15. Beauty and the Beast is unlike other tournaments with the wrestlers and gymnasts competing at the same time. for the gymnasts, and wrestlers. It forces a bit more focus because happening at the same time,” Knapic said. This was the sixth year for Beauty and the Beast and it has become something to which the athletes can look forward in the season. Gymnast Cassidy Brown (9) was excited to compete at this tournament because of its change of location. “I am excited about competing in the high school gym, rather
than the gymnastics center,“ Brown said. This competition takes work to “It is a chore, but between gymnastics, wrestling and year,” Knapic said. The athlete’s expectations were met with a fairly large crowd showing up to watch. “I was happy to see many people there, with a large crowd,” Brown said. Knapic appreciates the collaboration between the teams at the tournament. both wrestling and gymnastics. To be able to showcase both of these sports at the same time is great,” Knapic said. Knapic said that the Beauty and the Beast competition is one of the most highly anticipated athletes.
THE WOOSTER BLADE | SPORTS | JAN. 12, 2018 | PAGE 9
Head to Head: Should there be sport practices over winter break? Practice helps athletes stay focused over break ALEXA MITCHELL Practicing over break may be a hassle for some studentathletes, but continuing to practice through school breaks helps student-athletes stay focused during their season. School breaks are meant to help students get the mental break they need during the school year and also to give them time to spend with their families around the holidays. Some people may argue that student-athletes should get a break from practicing, but taking breaks from a sport can also have negative effects. Once athletes take a break, it can be very hard to go back to practices. Swimmer Min Kim (11), said that practicing over break makes her and her teammates stronger and more competitive. Zach Marinello (11), lacrosse player at WHS, said practicing over breaks brings the team closer. “Practicing over break makes the team work harder, builds up bonds and helps with the chemistry of the team,” Marinello said. When you are the only team practicing over break it is hard, but in the long run, it can make the team stronger. Athletes would not want to
lose everything they have worked for. Continuing to practice over break holds athletes accountable and gives structure to their breaks. Practicing over break can be necessary if you have games throughout those weeks. If the season is only two to three months long, taking two weeks off in the middle will only hurt the team in the long run. The athletes would be unfocused and out of shape for competition. Chris Matthew, WHS swim coach, said that over break, the swimmers have to prepare for meets. “Practices over break give us the chance to do more yardage and prepare for the major meets in January through February,” Matthew said. All teams have OCCs and districts during their season to get ready for, and if the team were to take a break the month before those major meets, the results would not turn out as well as they could be.
Breaks need to extend to athletic activities JACOB GOOCH High school athletics have steadily evolved over time and have become a greater time commitment for both athletes and their families. These time commitments should not intrude on winter break, nor should they intrude on any break because they should allow a reprieve, not a continuation. Breaks are fundamental to the education of a studentathlete as they allow for mental recuperation, and the strategic thinking many sports require is quite the opposite of sleeping in, hanging out with friends and visiting family. Hallie Smith, a clinical therapist working with students to combat stress and anxiety, wrote in a Dec. 13, 2013 of Downtime: Why Learners’ Brains Need a Break,” that students need idle time to sleep and simply process life events, teachings from school and other social exchanges. With the perpetuation of athletics over a break, students lack the necessary time to be idle and continue to have more information thrown onto the heap of knowledge from the previous
learning time. Further, school athletics over break are disruptive to family dynamics, as they already swallow vast amounts of time during the academic year and should not extend themselves to take up break time in which family could be visiting or families might want to visit other family. Marek Fuchs of Times brought up in a Sept. 2004 article entitled, “FOR THE RECORD; When School’s Out, But Practice Is On,” the story of a mother who planned a trip after, “looking at the school’s start date and counting backward two weeks.” Later, she discovered that the coach was going to start practices even a week understanding, but ended up issuing an ultimatum that lack playing time during the season. Situations such as these disrupt the family balance to ensure student-athlete success Practice during breaks is, at least, detrimental to education and family dynamics, which makes it imperative that as students, teachers, coaches, parents and community members, we unify around the idea of balance between athletes, education and family.
COVER
THE WOOSTER BLADE | JAN. 12, 2018 | PAGE 10
2017 NAACP Martin Luther King, Jr. writing contest winners decided
The Wooster/Orrville NAACP selected three winners from each grade category. Wooster High School, in collaboration with the College of Wooster, pays tribute to the life and work of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. with an annual essay contest. Sponsored by the Wooster/Orrville NAACP Unit 3208, this annual contest features divisions for elementary, middle and high school students writing about The Children’s March, The Montgomery Bus Boycott and Martin Luther King Jr.’s Vietnam Speech, respectively. The winners include: Caelea Cochran of Orrville, Jayne Wallace of Orrville and The Wooster Blade’s own Estelle Shaya. Introductory blurb by John Gorman.
Jayne Wallace 8th grade Orrville Middle School
At the time of the Montgomery Bus Boycott, segregation was a way of life in the South. Everything from schools to drinking fountains was divided. Segregation was a common part of society, and although it was wrong, it was carried on as a though nothing was wrong at all. AfricanAmericans were treated with unthinkable discrimination because somehow, someway, the color of their skin made them different.
Grades 9-12:
First place: Estelle Shaya, Wooster. Second place: Max Zaremba, Rittman. Third place: Amber Swigart, Wooster.
Grades 5-8:
First place: Jayne Wallace, Orrville. Second place: Serenity Smale, Orrville. Third place: Kaleb Wayt, Orrville.
Grades 1-4:
First place: Caelea Cochran, Orrville. Second place: Zoe Zehnder, Orrville. Third place: Irene Lee, Wooster.
“The Montgomery Bus Boycott”
The Montgomery Bus Boycott was a pivotal point in the Civil Rights Movement. It arose when the black population of Montgomery refused to use the bus system in protest of racial segregation policies of the company. It was one of the first major steps taken in the civil rights era, and inspired many other activist groups to take action. The yearlong boycott affected the lives of almost every Montgomerian, but this influential movement wouldn’t have taken place or been a success without
the contributions of several important figures… On December 1, 1955, after a typical day at work, Parks boarded a bus in Montgomery. She sat down, but was told by the driver that she needed to move to the back to make room for white passengers. However, she refused to leave her seat because she was tired of giving in and being treated like a second-class citizen. Her steadfastness, though, led to her arrest, trial, and conviction for disorderly conduct and violating local ordinances. As a result of her arrest, the Montgomery Bus Boycott was created. This event eventually ended bus segregation, and although Rosa Parks didn’t realize the importance of her courageous deed, it was this act that began the one of the most
significant movements of the civil rights era and made her a civil rights legend. It is safe to say that the Montgomery Bus Boycott would not have been a success without the leadership of Martin Luther King, Jr. A primary spokesman of the boycott, King’s powerful speeches and non-violent practices played a great part in the triumph of the event that brought about integration of buses… Joseph Lacey was just 13 years old when the Montgomery Bus Boycott began… He explains how everybody in Montgomery came together to participate in the protest, and how everybody had a role in one of the most significant events in civil rights history. Everyone made sacrifices to ensure the
success of the boycott, but each person’s duty was important… The Montgomery Bus Boycott was an important victory for the Civil Rights Movement. It ended the racial segregation laws for bus transportation, and set the stage for other civil rights campaigns. Yet, the protest would not have succeeded without the cooperation of every black Montgomerian, and the bravery and guidance of many influential civil rights leaders. From young Joseph Lacey and his friends to powerful figures like Rosa Parks and Martin Luther King Jr., every role played in the protest was an important one. These people left behind a legacy that reminds us that peace and unity will always reign victorious in the face of adversity.
THE WOOSTER BLADE | COVER | JAN. 12, 2018 | PAGE 11
“Audrey Faye Hendricks and the Freedom Fighters” MLK writing contest excerpts
Estelle Shaya 12th grade Wooster High School
On April 4, 1967, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. spoke of a choice for Americans: a choice to continue the violence of Vietnam or end it. At the time of his speech, “Beyond Vietnam,” King found he could no longer stay silent. Although his words were sure to spark a backlash, King spoke out to the American public. His message demonstrated his opinion that the war embodied moral hypocrisy. King spoke to defend the moral vision of the Civil
many who supported him in his other endeavors. The primary point of opposition to King’s speech came from the connection he drew between the Civil Rights movement and the Vietnam War. In “Beyond Vietnam,” King describes his belief that the
arrested just because of the color of my skin. I would have been nervous because I don’t know how people would have reacted or treated me as I was marching. However, I would have been strong because I believed in what I was doing and knew that my efforts would help to reach our main goal, which was equal rights and freedom. I would have proudly marched because I wanted to stand up for not only myself, but also all those that were affected by segregation. I would have tried to be just as brave as Audrey Faye Hendricks. In conclusion, many people like Audrey and most importantly Martin Luther King Jr. made a huge impact on segregation in America. Today, we must all remember the sacrifices made and tough times gone through that allowed us to all live equally.
leadership for the movement. King’s speech was perceived as broadening the movement to include too many distinct causes, and undermining all through doing so... Although he is celebrated as
his words, even amongst his longtime supporters. However, King spoke out: for the Civil Rights movement, for his movement against poverty, for the ideals of the United States, and for his faith in humans as children of God. His words still resonate today, as an example for global cooperation, love, and faith in humanity.
Caelea Cochran 4th grade Orrville Elementary
Martin Luther King Jr. was a very important activist who led the Civil Rights Movement from the 1950‘s until his death by assassination in 1968. MLK’s dream was for all people to live together in equality. In order to accomplish his dream he had to work hard and bring people
“Beyond Vietnam” Rights movement. He spoke to uphold the ideals of the United States. And he spoke to insist on the imperative of his Christian faith. His speech drew criticism for its call that Civil Rights shouldn’t end at the American border. However, “Beyond Vietnam” was an illustration of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s moral vision and his need to speak for what he believed, no matter the reaction that would follow... King’s opposition to the
together in peaceful protests. He led non-violent marches in cities where laws kept black people from stores, parks, and buses because only whites were allowed. One of these peaceful protests was the Children’s March in 1963 where black students marched for equal rights. Among the many students that marched that day was Audrey Faye Hendricks. Audrey Faye Hendricks was a third grade student at the time of the march. She was only nine years old when she was arrested… Audrey was the same age as I am now. If I was there during the march I would have felt scared, nervous, but most importantly I would have felt strong. I would have been scared because I knew that I would end up being
Civil Rights movement could not accomplish its purpose if Civil Rights continued to be denied on another front, across the ocean. However, many others believed the Civil Rights movement should not be coupled to the anti-war movement. In an April 7, 1967, editorial, The New York Times argued that movements for racial equality were becoming increasingly complex and, “The Negroes on these fronts need all the leadership, dedication, and moral inspiration that they can summon; and under these circumstances to divert the energies of the Civil Rights movement to the Vietnam issue is both wasteful and selfdefeating.” The Civil Rights movement had its own set of complex challenges and formidable opposition to overcome. For it to be successful, in the eyes of those who opposed King’s framing of the Vietnam
of controversy throughout his lifetime... The Vietnam War and “Beyond Vietnam” was one manifestation of the controversy that surrounded King and
Photo, fair use, courtesy of the Library of Congress
THE WOOSTER BLADE | COVER | JAN. 12, 2018 | PAGE 12
COW events honor Martin Luther King, Jr.
January S
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Monday January 15, 2018 Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
all-day 7 AM
8 AM
Prayer Breakfast
9 AM
Opening Ceremony
10 AM
11 AM
Morning Justice Dialogues
Service Projects
Noon
1 PM
2 PM
Afternoon Justice Dialogues
feature editor
On Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Jan. 15, the College of Wooster will hold events to honor King, serve the community and talk about important topics related to social justice. David Butts, Director of Multicultural Student Affairs and the Center for Diversity and Inclusion at the College of Wooster, chairs the committee that sets up the Martin Luther King, Jr. Day activities. “I have been participating in the creation and facilitation of Martin Luther King celebrations since 1991 as a college student… For me, it is personal, it is meaningful and it goes back a long way. To me, it’s telling my mother, who was arrested nine times during the Civil Rights Movement, that we continue to recognize the importance of what you all did for us and what we still need to do as a larger community,” Butts said. Freelander Theatre will
be showing The Mask You Live In, a documentary that explores how society portrays masculinity and how it affects others, on Jan. 14, according to wooster.edu. On Jan. 15, Westminster Presbyterian Church will hold a prayer breakfast and then there will be an opening ceremony at McGaw Chapel, featuring speaker Natalie Warne. Natalie Warne has been an activist from a young age and will talk about what it means to be a young person who has passion for social justice issues and how to act on that passion, according to Butts. Then, there are two sessions of Justice Dialogues, led by students, staff and faculty, from 10:30 a.m. to noon and 1:45 p.m. to 3:15 p.m. at the College of Wooster, according to wooster. edu. “We have about 12 different conversations that will be in different places on campus about a whole myriad of social justice topics and issues… For example, there will be sessions on Dr. King and what he has done for the Civil Rights
movement, as well as other things like environmentalism, mental health and immigration,” Butts said. The list of dialogues can be found on the COW website. At the same time, there will be about 15 different service projects around the community in conjunction with the United Way. Jahqwahn Watson, the Center for Diversity and Inclusion Intern, says community members can get involved by contacting Nate Addington at naddington@wooster.edu or Ashley Reid at areid@wooster. edu. Watson says these events are important to reflect on what the previous fighters for social justice said and how their words are still relevant in today’s society. The service projects foster a community that will create new visions to improve the future. All events are open to the public.
NAACP celebrates MLK Day
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ANNA NACCI
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Community Dinner NAACP
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Community Celebration NAACP
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The Wooster Orrville NAACP will hold events honoring Martin Luther King, Jr. Jan. 15. There will be a dinner hosted at 5 p.m., with a Martin Luther King Celebration Service to follow at 7 p.m. at First Presbyterian Church. At this service, winners of the MLK Essay contest will be presented, said Mady Noble, Treasurer of the Wooster Orrville NAACP and committee member of the MLK Essay Contest. In addition, the MLK choir and instrumental musicians will perform, both directed by Darrion Stanford.
Jeanine Donaldson, co-partner with the local Wayne County Fair For All and Executive Director of the Elyria Ohio YWCA, is this year’s keynote speaker, said Noble. Noble explained the importance of holding these events. “We continue to honor Dr. King’s legacy of standing up for racial justice and equal rights, meeting violence with nonviolent protest... The [racial] struggle continues and Dr. King’s legacy is more important than ever,” Noble said. Advance dinner tickets are available at First Presbyterian Church (330-264-9420) or Trinity UCC (330-264-9250), said Noble.
Fair use photo courtesy of the Library of Congress
FEATURE
Work Study gives students alternate path
THE WOOSTER BLADE | JAN. 12, 2018 | PAGE 13 Wooster High School offers students, specifically those not going to college, a transition program from school to work, according to Work Study Coordinator Lisa Lang. Lang has been the coordinator for the last 12 years, but the program has been a part of Wooster’s curriculum for at least eight years before that. In the program, students complete, “... tasks having to do with ‘ing’ words; cooking, cleaning,” according to Lang. Students are assigned jobs, but may also have the ability to choose the tasks they want to complete. Each student’s schedule differs depending on grade level, according to Lang. Underclassmen may take the Work Study Program as an elective during a study hall, while upperclassmen can use early release time as a chance to work in the program. The Work Study Program allows for students, who may not otherwise be able to get job references, to build a resume while practicing real world work in a safe environment.
Students nominated for outstanding work in program Brittany Taylor
Jasaiah Messner RACHAEL SCHMIDT
The Work Study program at WHS allows students to contribute to the community and to have a successful transition from school to work, according to Work Study Coordinator, Lisa Lang. Lang said that Work Study supervisors evaluate students based on attendance, cooperation, dependability and more criteria. By reaching such criteria, Jasaiah Messner is a student in the Work Study program who has stands out to Lang as a student and a worker. Messner works at WHS in the dishroom and the coffee shop in the library where he takes orders on an iPad and collects money. Messner said he thinks other students should try the work study program because he enjoys his time working in the dishroom. According to Holly Pope, Intervention Specialist, Messner is a good worker. “He continues to improve his vocational skills through experience and the support of the staff he works with,” Pope said. Pope also provided that Work Study is beneficial to Messner and other students because it allows them to build skills needed for community employment in the future. Along with their everyday jobs, Work Study students do work in the community, such as ringing bells for the Salvation Army last month.
HOLLY MILLER
feature editor “Brittany has done work in and out of school and is doing really well.” Lisa Lang, Work Study Coordinator said. Brittany Taylor (11) is involved in the Work Study Program at WHS and has been nominated for her continuous hard work. She has worked in the cafeteria and Gault at WHS. Taylor now works outside of school at 5-Below. Lang defines the Work Study Program’s ultimate purpose as to, “be a responsible, self-supporting students and have a successful transition from school to work.” Students have the opportunity to have jobs inside and outside of school. They receive credit for the work that is evaluated by a supervisor. The work the students complete counts as an elective credit. One credit translates into 120 hours of work. Taylor said she joined the Work Study program for, “the experience and the benefits that come with it.” She also enjoys working with other people. Taylor said she would recommend this program to other students. The Work Study Program builds a great work ethic that students can take with them out of high school. “Work ethic is huge right now and I love seeing the progress these students make,” Lang said. Taylor’s supervisors have given her raving reviews about the work she has completed in and outside of WHS.
Photos by Molly Schneider and Jacob Gooch. Introductory Blurb by Hannah Knapic.
FEATURE
shop and washes dishes in the cafeteria. She works in each place for one class period. The program has been helpful to Smith, making her a better worker. “It prepares you for the real world,” Smith said. One of Smith’s most memorable experiences is getting an award. “I got cafeteria worker of the month last year in October,” Smith said. Robert Williams,
performs, such as working in
KYLE WARD
Haley Smith
Haley Smith (11) is in the Work Study program at WHS. Lisa Lang, Work Study Coordinator, chose to feature Smith because of her increasing independence.
Intervention Specialist, sets up the students’ school schedule so it coincides with the students’ work schedule. Williams said he evens out the work so everyone gets about the same amount and he pairs students up who work well together. Williams also reinforces the importance of job and life skills. “It gives students opportunities in school for real world jobs,” Williams said. Williams’ favorite part of the program is seeing the students use their skills. Williams said the program gives students more responsibility by, “Allowing the students to use the money they earn while working, able to cash it in and buy lunches.” Smith said one of her favorite parts of the program has been working with the WHS teachers.
Mackanzie Airhart
GINA VAN LIEU
WHS student Mackenzie Airhart (9) was nominated to be featured as a Work Study student by her adviser, Lisa Lang. “She has done an excellent shop,” Lisa Lang, Work Study Coordinator, said. Lang said Airhart was nominated due to her very conscientious and dependable personality. Additionally, Lang noted that Airhart has outstanding attendance and is very punctual. The Work Study program was proposed to Airhart by her teachers. Airhart said she feels the jobs she
and the high school cafeteria, have greatly helped prepare her for her future. “The jobs have helped me learn how to count out money, and taught me how to wash and clean dishes, for when I get out of high school,” Airheart said. WHS Work Study jobs include working in General Grounds, washing dishes in the WHS cafeteria or working in fast food service. “My favorite job is working in the cafeteria,” Airhart said. Drew Gerber, an Intervention Specialist, who works closely with WHS Work Study students and works with Airhart, said, “She’s a hard worker, and works very hard.” This year is the program.
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THE WOOSTER BLADE | JAN. 12, 2018 | PAGE 15
NET NEUTRALITY
JOHN GORMAN On, Dec. 13, the FCC voted 3-2 to repeal the Obama era “net neutrality” policy, which prohibited internet service providers (ISPs) from blocking websites or charging more for certain content, according to a New York Times article by Cecilia Kang titled “F.C.C. Repeals Net Neutrality Rules.” Prior to net neutrality, there was little to no federal regulation of the internet. However, under the policy,
telecom companies were reclassified as “Common Carriers,” and as such, are prohibitied from altering the speed of their networks, according to a BBC article titled “Regulator repeals US net neutrality rules,” written by Jane Wakefield. Prior to the vote on net neutrality, FCC Chairman Ajit Pai explains that “For almost 20 years, the internet thrived under the lighttouch regulatory approach established by President Clinton and a Republican congress. This bipartisan
Net Neutrality decision expected to have negative effects on consumers
AVERY ROSS
Net neutrality died on Dec. 14, 2017, and without it, Internet Service Providers, or ISPs, are going to start changing up their deals. Slowly. A world without net neutrality is a world in peril. The internet
framework led the private sector to invest $1.5 trillion building communications networks throughout the United States. And it gave us an internet economy that became the envy of the world,” according to a Business Insider article titled “F.C.C. will vote on whether to repeal net neutrality rules on December 14,” by Steve Kovach. This sentiment is echoed by many telecom giants such as Comcast, AT&T and Verizon. US Telecom argues in the aforementioned BBC article that “the removal of antiquated, is no longer a utility, and we are no longer being guaranteed a stable and unbiased internet. Now, ISPs are free to throttle, block or sell access to any website they want, for whatever reason they want, anytime they wish. Fake news is already an issue, and the abolition of net neutrality is only going to make things worse. However, the fact that none of these terrible things have happened yet has been perplexing to those unfamiliar with the issue. There are two reasons why ISP’s have not made changes to their business models yet. First, there are many ISPs, and they only hold a monopoly over
restrictive regulations will pave the way for broadband network investment, expansion and upgrades.” In essence, the new hands off stance allows companies to innovate in their own ways to better serve their customers. Additionally, FCC Commissioner Mike O‘Rielly noted that self-driving cars and remotely monitored medical procedures may require internet service and could have their internet service prioritized “over cat videos,” according to an article by David Shepardson of Reuters titled “U.S. regulators ditch net neutrality rules as legal battles loom.” However, some argue the repeal of net neutrality would harm consumers and small start-ups. According to Samantha Masunaga and Jim Puzzanghera of The LA Times in an article titled “Here’s who’ll benefit — and who might not — if net neutrality is repealed as expected,” companies such as AirBnB and Etsy warn, “Without these rules, internet service providers will be able to favor certain websites and e-businesses, or the platforms they use to garner new customers, over others by putting the ones that can pay in fast lanes and slowing down or even blocking others.” certain, ever shifting regions. As long as there is competition, ISPs will avoid making too many anticonsumer moves, fearing their competitors will use their actions as a way to buy up all their customers. The second reason for ISPs’ reluctance to make changes is the legal grey area surrounding ownership of websites and the website owners catch wind of wide scale lawsuits will ensue as a result. These lawsuits will determine whether new regulations will be placed on internet services, deciding what ISP’s will be allowed to do in a world
The aforementioned Reuters article explains the public relations fiasco that would accompany slowing or manipulating internet services has likely deterred ISPs from changing how they treat their consumers directly for now, but warns that the new policy may hurt start-ups. ISPs now have the power to block specific websites or slow others, potentially giving a significant advantage to their subsidiaries. For an example of manipulating internet services, Comcast would be able to increase internet speed for Hulu, while slowing or blocking other streaming services, as Comcast owns 30 percent of Hulu, according to a Fortune article titled, “What the Disney-Fox Deal Could Mean for Hulu,” by Chris Morris. Furthermore, several states’ Attorneys General have opposed the ruling and may file lawsuits to reverse the ruling, according to the aforementioned Reuters article. Moreover, according to a The Hill article titled “Senate bill to reverse net neutrality repeal gains 30th co-sponsor, ensuring floor vote,” by Harper Neidig, a bill to reverse the repeal of net neutrality gained its thirtieth senator backer, guaranteeing a floor vote in the future. without strict guidelines. It is the result of a lawsuit against Comcast led to net In the past week, the amount of times I have heard someone say they, “forgot about net neutrality” is astounding. Stay vigilant. Forgetting is the worst thing there is to do right now. It is when we forget about what is going on that ISPs will be able to do the most damage. Monitor the actions of your ISP and vote with your wallet. Continued support of ISP’s employing anti-consumer tactics will only bolster their that is the last thing we need right now.
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Editors-in-Chief Estelle Shaya, Amber Swigart Webmaster Jacob Gooch Graphics Manager Matthew Lorentz Business Managers Matthew Lorentz, Jacob Gooch On Campus Editor Spencer Dilyard Focus Editor Chris Roche Sports Editor Hannah Knapic A & E Editors Nick Cosmo, Evan Doan Trends Editor Chelsea Patterson Cover Editors Alexis Florence, Erin O’Donnell Views Editor John Gorman Feature Editors Holly Miller, Maddy Nacci Staff Writers David Cheng, Ambrea Dellafave, Henry Gamble, Emily Jewell, Skyy Khounborin, Clara Lee, Emma LoGiudice, Thomas Matthew, Maddy McCully, Melina Mera, Alexa Mitchell, Alec Pauley, Avery Ross, Rachael Schmidt, Molly Schneider, Cate Strong, Gina Van Lieu, Aleesha Vaughn, Rheanna Velasquez, Devika Walia, Kyle Ward, Corinne Wiles Head Photographer Hannah Knapic Photographers Ambrea Dellafave, Spencer Dilyard, Jacob Gooch, Emma LoGuidice, Maddy McCully, Reece Mitchell, Chelsea Patterson, Molly Schneider, Cate Strong, Aleesha Vaughn Artist Cate Strong Adviser Kristi Hiner The Wooster Blade is a biweekly student publication printed every other Friday by the Newspaper Production classes at Wooster High School. The paper is designated as an open forum and follows publishing guidelines as established in a district-wide publications policy protecting students’ freedom of expression. All copy, art and photography are property of The Wooster Blade and cannot be reproduced without permission. Letters to the editor are limited to 300 words and The Wooster Blade reserves the right to print and edit as per length and content. The Wooster Blade is a member of Quill and Scroll, National Scholastic Press Association and Columbia Scholastic Press Association. The Wooster Blade is printed in cooperation with Wooster’s The Daily Record. Letters and inquiries should be addressed to The Wooster Blade, 515 Oldman Road Wooster, Ohio 44691. The Wooster Blade can be contacted at 330-345-4000 ext. 3210. The newspaper can also be found at the woosterblade.com
THE VOICE OF WOOSTER HIGH SCHOOL
THE WOOSTER BLADE | VIEWS | JAN. 12, 2018 | PAGE 16
OUR VIEW
Board advocates greater communication with revision of BOE Technology policy On Nov. 28, 2017, the Wooster City Schools Board of Education first reviewed changes to technology policies for the WCSD. Upon examining these changes, The Wooster Blade Editorial Board has several concerns. Recommended from the education policy consultant company Neola, the greatest proposed changes are in the Student Education Technology Acceptable Use and Safety policy (policy 7540.03). The draft, located on the WCSD BoardDocs website, would, among other changes, remove the phrase, “The due process rights of all users will be respected in the event there is a suspicion of inappropriate use of the Education Technology.” Neola associate Ed Swartz, who works with the WCSD, explained that “due process rights” refers to the legal definition of due process, including the right of a student to challenge an accusation of breach in technology policy. Swartz added, “I think in any situation there would be a due process formality used, I think this additional language is to protect the student to a certain degree... It reminds them that they should use technology in accordance with applicable state and federal laws and the educational mission in terms of the student code of conduct.” However, The Wooster Blade Editorial Board finds the removal of this phrase disheartening. Although we understand that the intent of this change is not to deprive students of the opportunity to explain and defend their actions, we feel the inclusion of due process better serves students in the event an incident occurs. Rebecca Furlong, Wooster City Schools Director of Technology, said the removal of due process serves to simplify the language of the policy as other board policies already cover
due process. The Wooster City School District has two main policies that deal with due process. The first of these is policy 5600, which states, “The Superintendent, principals and other administrators shall have the authority to assign discipline to students, subject to the Student Code of Conduct/Student Discipline Code and, where required by law, to the student’s due process right to notice,
“THE DUE PROCESS RIGHTS OF ALL USERS WILL BE RESPECTED IN THE EVENT THERE IS A SUSPICION OF INAPPROPRIATE USE OF THE EDUCATION TECHNOLOGY.” - Language in jeopardy of being removed from WCSD technology policy hearing and appeal.” The second policy is policy 5611, which lays out due process procedures for such instances as suspension and expulsion. In looking at these two policies, The Wooster Blade Editorial Board believes neither can entirely replace the inclusion of due process in the technology policy. Policy 5600 only includes use of due process where required by law, and policy 5611 has no mention of due process with breaches of the technology agreement, unless such a breach results in suspension or greater consequences. The Wooster Blade Editorial Board
believes nothing would be lost in keeping the due process provision in the district’s technology policy, and that doing so would serve as a reassurance and guarantee to students that they will be heard in the event their technology use is called into question. We urge the Board of Education to rethink the removal of this provision. In addition to keeping the due process clause, The Wooster Blade Editorial Board advocates for better student education on both the existing technology policy and on the revised one. Students are expected to sign a technology agreement at the beginning of the school year, saying they understand and agree to the district’s technology policies. However, the policies are not included within this agreement, nor are they covered in classes. It is our belief that every student should understand the policies to which they agree. In order to promote this understanding, the administration needs to ask teachers to spend one day in academic assists reviewing the technology policy with students, or the administration should do an overview of this policy at the beginning of the school year during class meetings, prior to students signing off on the technology agreement form. Furlong agreed that a policy review would serve students well. “I think that’s a really good idea... we probably, especially more at the high school than anywhere, need to cover that better so students understand what they’re signing,” Furlong said. The Wooster Blade Editorial Board hopes the administration and Board of Education will take these concerns into consideration both while shaping the new technology policy and presenting it to students.