The Wooster Blade Volume XXII Issue #10

Exploring ways to give back to the planet

Inside the May 4, 2022 Issue

p. 3 - What House Bill 616 is and what it means for schools

p. 5 - A look into IB CAS projects

p. 6 - Local Earth Day events

p. 7- Prom 2022 inspiration and fashion

THE WOOSTER BLADE | MAY 4, 2022 | PAGE 2

Seventh graders transition to WHS STELLA POWERS staff writer

With the upcoming school year quickly approaching, many seventh grade students are beginning preparations for the transition to high school.

As moving schools can be a big change, many seventh graders are approaching this transition with different mindsets.

Cameron Stansifer, a seventh grader at Edgewood Middle School, is looking forward to high school and the many new classes offered.

“I’m looking forward to the new classes, and the choices to choose from. I personally chose to do French as one of my main electives, and I’m really excited for that,” shared Stansifer.

He is also expecting more difficult courses and an increase in his homework load.

“I’m going into honors for everything that I can go into honors for, so I think it will be interesting,” Stansifer said.

Another Edgewood seventh grade student, Abby Castellucci, is excited about the new activities she can participate in.

“I am most definitely excited to

attend the high school. I know a lot more people and there are so many more opportunities,” shared Castellucci. “I feel decently prepared, although it is a big step from the middle school.”

She is also looking forward to finally being able to participate in high school extracurricular activities, such as the Drama Club, next year.

Seventh grader Morgan Edwards is a bit nervous about the transition, but is excited for the change.

Edwards said she feels that she will adjust well to the new

is, ”A cool twist on what we normally do. it makes a lot of sense and I think that it will provide the opportunity for more people to come and enjoy the music.”

This will be the first Big Band Dance WHS director of bands, Craig French, has organized for the Jazz Band.

French says he wants to, “create the feeling of a night out in the 1930s and ‘40s at a swing club with a Jazz Band playing, where people can dance, drink and eat.”

According to French, the

Jazz Band will play around 30 pieces of music, mixing classic and contemporary hits spanning across the years from Little Brown Jug, originally performed by the Glenn Miller Orchestra in 1939, to Bruno Mars’ 2015 chart topper, “Uptown Funk.”

He notes that the variety in musical eras should delight fans of all ages.

The Jazz Band is looking to foster a sense of community by performing downtown and are looking forward to returning to this musical tradition.

Big Band Dance makes its return BEN STAVNEZER staff writer On May 7, the Wooster tradition of the Big Band Dance will return after a two year hiatus.

The WHS Jazz Band will perform from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. in the Wooster Downtown square. Admission will be free.

Attendees are free to bring or purchase food and drink from downtown purveyors.

Sam Wilds, a senior in the Jazz Band says that playing outside

ON CAMPUS building.

“I feel like everyone is going to be nervous but I think we will all adjust,” said Edwards. “It is going to be a new experience for everyone and of course I’m excited, but nervous as well.”

Edwards shared that although it will be difficult, she is looking forward to seeing her friends who attend the school.

“I know it’s gonna be tricky and new, but I’ll be fine,” Edwards said.

Karla Bennett, WHS English Dept. member who taught language arts at Edgewood last year, said that students will need to be prepared for the transition from the middle school to the high school next year, as the

pace and expectations put more responsibility on them.

“Students need to be prepared for class and teachers will not hunt them down for missing work,” shared Bennett. “They will also need to be on time for class -- some of their classes may be in different parts of the building unlike seventh grade.”

Bennett also shared her advice to the incoming eighth grade class: “Try your best to be kind and respectful to others. Prepare to work hard - school is your job and you should want to do your best.”

Although the transition to high school can be scary, seventh grade students have much to look forward to at WHS.

BEN STAVNEZER

The WHS Jazz Band practices for the upcoming Big Band Dance, which will take place May 7 at the Downtown Square from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.

FOCUS

THE WOOSTER BLADE | MAY 4, 2022 | PAGE 3

House Bill 616 restricts taught materials within schools MATTIE DUNLAP staff writer

On April 4, House Bill 616 was introduced to the Ohio house by representatives Mike Loychik and Jean Schmidt.

According to the bill analysis from the Ohio Legislative Service Commission, House Bill 616, “prohibits public schools and nonpublic schools that enroll students who are participating in state scholarship programs from teaching or providing training that promotes or endorses divisive or inherently racist concepts.”

House Bill 616 also prohibits schools from providing instruction or materials on gender identity or sexual orientation for grade K-3 (and for students in grades 4-12 that is not designated as ageappropriate).

The same bill analysis states that if the state finds any persons in a school district to have violated House Bill 616, the Ohio Department of Education may withhold funds from the district or issue an official licensure suspension or licensure revocation from the person of offense.

Scott Miller, WHS History

Dept. member and president of WEA, said House Bill 616 should not drastically change the curriculum in schools and notes that House Bill 616 just gives more authority to the WCS Board of Education.

“Historically, the Wooster Board has been supportive of diverse curriculum delivery in the classroom…If House Bill 616 became law in Ohio, I would hope the Board would continue the academic path of diversity…

WCS will hopefully continue its track record of supporting teachers, students, and their families’ histories,” Miller said.

Miller also says House Bill 616

divisive or inherently racist, in accordance with rules adopted under Chapter 119,” according to the copy of the bill available on the Ohio Legislature’s website. The bill has been highly controversial, according to an editorial published in The Akron Beacon Journal.

Jerkins says she was motivated to organize a walkout because,“... so many people are uneducated on what’s happening around them… there are so many people who don’t know what this bill is and what it will do to us.”

Adding to Jerkins’ point, Case added, “I think that no kind of education should be barred from students...we should be able to talk about what faces us in our everyday lives, and that things in the past shouldn’t be barred either because that’s how we learn about the future.”

In addition to students, some teachers also walked out, including Social Studies Dept. member Oliver Warren.

Warren said, “What I told my kids today... is that what we talked about today, and have been talking about... specifically slavery, and the civil war… the

Students organize protest at WHS LAURA RAPPORT

arts editor On April 19, WHS students walked out in protest of House Bill 616.

The walkout was organized by juniors Skylar Jerkins and Jackson Case.

House Bill 616, seeks to ban schools from teaching about critical race theory, intersectional theory, the 1619 project, diversity, equity, inclusion learning outcomes, inherited racial guilt and, “Any other concept that the state board of education defines as

should, ideally, not impact the teachers in the district, as well.

“I would hope that teachers would continue to be able to instruct, discuss or assign topics that are not always easy to face in our history, but understanding and processing difficult learning standards is part of being a lifelong learner.

Further, parents have always had an option to opt out of a particular lesson for their student,” Miller said.

Sue Herman, president of the BOE in the Wooster City School District, says House Bill 616 could limit what is discussed between students and teachers

in the classroom.

“I see this [House Bill 616] as such an attack on academic freedom and freedom of speech, both on the part of the teachers and the students. What it does is stifle any kind of conversation or exchange of ideas. Questions from students, observations and connections that students make, create intelligent conversation in the classroom. This bill would put a lid on so much of that,” Herman said.

According to Anna Staver of The Cincinnati Enquirer, in an article published April 5, HB 616 is Ohio’s version of Florida’s “don’t say gay” bill.

BRITTANY WACHTEL

Megan Piper (11) protests House Bill 616 with peers in front of WHS during the student walkout on April 19. violence, and the history of the United States, we would not be able to talk about if this bill passed… I hope kids realize

that they’re empowered.”

As of the time this story was written, HB 616 has not been passed.

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THE WOOSTER BLADE | FOCUS | MAY 4, 2022 | PAGE 4 “The WCSD Business Advisory Council Master Planning Committee is working with the community to develop, and ultimately recommend, a Master Plan to the Board of Education. The Master Plan would detail and define the community’s desired grade-level configurations of schools, school building size, and school location/address.”

(Information courtesy of woostercityschools.org)

WCSD administration continues discussion over Facilities Master Plan MAYA GALINDO-BENSON staff writer The WCSD has been working on a Facilities Master Plan since the district buildings were assessed in 2018.

This new planning leads much of the Wooster community to wonder, what is the Facilities Master Plan and what is its main goal?

The Facilities Master Plan involves the revisiting and restructuring of building infrastructure for the schools within the district and currently consists of two phases, the first considering the infrastructure of grades six through eight, and the second looking at grades three through five.

The first phase of planning involves infrastructure in which the high school and middle school will be on the same campus, with the middle school consisting of grades six through

eight.

Gabe Tudor, WCSD superintendent, states that by having both middle and high schools close to each other, it will make it easier to take classes across campus.

“It is best if the building [middle school] has benefits of being close to the high school, but not really in the high school in order to allow for an age group that may be more appropriate,” Tudor said.

Phase two of the planning includes a relocation of the elementary grades into a single building. This plan will allow students to be able to know their entire class from a young age and allows for a sense of connection early on.

“I think there is a sense of spirit there, of unity, that hasn’t been present in the district before, and the idea that from pre-k through high school that you’ve gone to school with your whole class takes away a lot of fear,” Sue Herman, WCS Board of Ed-

ucation President, said.

Although there is an ideal phase II of having all elementaries in one building, it will most likely not be carried out for 10 years, as phase one is expected to be carried out within the next five years.

As was stated at the April 18 Work session BOE meeting, the phase II plan is not completely set in stone as there will be a reassessment of what should be done after phase I is complete.

“So really, phase II is at this point even higher level than phase I and we just wanted to look at the land that we have within the school district and what our options are in terms of developing a 3-5 building,” Land Architect and NJS Land Planning and Design, Nate Scott said.

The main goal of the infrastructure rebuilding is to provide the best environment for students to have the ability to get a 21st century education.

The importance of honoring religious holidays LUCIA PERFETTI cover editor

This April, Passover, Easter and Ramadan all occurred at the same time, for the first time since 1991.

As a society emphasizing the importance of intercultural understanding, we must educate ourselves on the intricacies of each other’s cultures.

The overlap of holidays is so rare because of the lunar calendar, which is what dictates the holidays of Ramadan and Passover. By aligning with the moon, the year is 354 days long, according to DW.com.

Every year, Muslims begin the month of Ramadan, a celebration of the day when the Quran, the holy book of Islam, was shown to the Prophet Muhammad.

The holiday is characterized by fasting and abstinence from sunrise to sun down, charity and special prayers during the month, according to LearnReligions.com.

The intentions behind this are from parts of the Quran, where God prescribed fasting as a way to be “mindful of God,” according to WhyIslam.org.

The other lunar holiday, Passover, is a week-long celebration, marking when God, through

Moses, demanded that the Egyptian Pharaoh free the Israelites subjected to forced labor by sending 10 plagues to the Egyptians.

Those who marked their doors with lamb’s blood, the Israelites, as a show of their faith, got “passed over.”Many of the events in this Passover story are symbolically represented in the meals during the week, called Seders.

Easter is a Christian celebration dating back to the second century that marks the resurrection of Jesus, according to Britannica. Easter typically occurs on the second Sunday in April, but in some Orthodox communities following Gregorian calendars, it is celebrated later. In forms of Western Christianity, the time before Easter is important, as that is when Lent, a period of fasting begins, according to History.com.

Although your community may consist of the same religion, different religions, or no religions at all, it is important we recognize all religions during such a time. Educating ourselves is only one way to achieve this. Participating in or observing celebrations of other cultures can also leave a person with a well-rounded perspective on religion in the communities around them.

COVER

THE WOOSTER BLADE | MAY 4, 2022 | PAGE 5

International Baccalaureate Program promotes community service through CAS requirement LUCIA PERFETTI cover editor At a time when students are wrapped up in the hectic weeks of tests and presentations, it can be hard to keep perspective on the important things, like giving back to the community.

Although WHS does not have a service requirement, the IB program incorporates service into the required curriculum, by way of CAS. “The Creativity, Activity, Service (CAS) component of the IB program encourages students to demonstrate the ten attributes of the IB learner profile,” Victoria Birk, the IB Programme Coordinator, explained, continuing, “Students use an electronic portfolio to document their various CAS experiences with photos, summaries, and reflections. A highlight of the CAS component is a longterm project that each student engages in which demonstrates initiative, planning, leadership, collaboration, and commitment.”

Several students who are part of the program agreed to talk about their CAS projects, and what the experience of giving back meant to them. One such student was Mackenzie Wilkes, who, like many others, was inspired by her own experiences to give back by putting together an Adopt a Family project last year to provide Christmas gifts to a family in need.

“I chose this project actually from having gone through financial struggles as a family for a period of time, and it felt good to give back and help others who need it,” Wilkes

“CAS ENABLES STUDENTS TO ENHANCE THEIR PERSONAL AND INTERPERSONAL DEELOPMENT BY LEARNING THROUGH EXPERIENCE. IT PROVIDES OPPORTUNITIES FOR SELF-DETERMINATION AND COLLABORATION WITH OTHERS, FOSTERING A SENSE OF ACCOMPLISHMENT ANDN ENJOYMENT FROM THEIR WORK,” ACCORDING TO IBO.ORG. said, explaining that the process was smoother than she had expected. “I was able to engage the entire senior class in helping me with purchasing gifts and wrapping them as well.” Overall, Wilkes said that the best part was the end result, and she is grateful for the experience, saying, “It was really rewarding when the people came to pick up all the gifts for the little family to see how happy they were with the crazy amount of gifts we were able to get for this family.”

Wilkes was not the only one who was inspired by her own childhood to give back.

Emily Case, a Triway IB student came up with the idea for doing a book drive for children because she, “grew up going to the library because I loved reading books…and when COVID hit, all the libraries shut down.”

Case knew that some did not have access to technology to read books online during COVID, so she began collecting books from friends, family, and even donations from the Boys and Girls Club, all of which together ended up being more than enough. “I was pretty overwhelmed because I didn’t expect that many, but I was very fortunate to even get them,” Case said.

Case was able to donate the books she collected to Shreve and Triway for them to,

hopefully, give away as gifts at the beginning of the school year. Ultimately, Case said, “My hope was that they could just take them home and actually read.”

Interestingly, teaching youth seemed to be a common theme among the IB scholars. Both Ally Gatchal and Emma Arnold used their CAS projects as a way to teach youth about their passions.

Gathcal, who chose to run a Kids Airport Day, says, “Aviation’s a big thing for me, and I wanted to share that with kids.”

To do this, Gatchal found 12 kids with interests in aviation, and showed them around planes in the Galion Airport, playing games and teaching them about aviation. “The main thing for me is that the kids had fun, and hopefully they learned something new,” Gatchal said, declaring the project a success although there were complications with the weather.

Emma Arnold also ran a camp for kids, inspired by her passion for robotics, which she has been involved in since seventh grade. Working alongside her robotics teacher, Arnold created and advertised a weeklong robotics camp over the summer. “The kids were really good at it,” Arnold remarked. “ I don’t know why because when I was in elementary school….(coding)

was one of my weaknesses.”

Arnold went on to say that it was rewarding to be able to help kids with something that once challenged her, although it was a struggle to fill up time once they finished the hardest activities in under an hour. “I learned that STEM in general is becoming more common in younger ages,” Arnold said of the project. “I never had those experiences in elementary school” Wooster senior Kyla Yarger got the idea for her CAS project after multiple other ideas that fell through. She was in the IB office, and noticed old IB yearbooks lying around. “After I was told there hadn’t been one made in several years, I knew I had to make one,” Yarger said, explaining that it clicked after that. Although creating the yearbook did have its ups and downs, including format, editing, and organizational issues; Yarger was glad to have it done, saying, “the result was well worth the wait,” and the experience allowed her a way to “reflect on this time in IB.” Although building service into the curriculum is ingenious, it should not be the only reason for students to give back. As the IB student learn through doing their CAS projects, service is about a lot more than just giving; it is about spreading love, teaching, learning, and growing oneself as well.

Photo courtesy of Victoria Birk

Photo courtesy of Emma Arnold

Photo courtesy of Victoria Birk

IB students have to document parts of their CAS journey through photos. Top is Kyla Yarger with her completed IB yearbook. Middle is an example of robots used by kids at Emma Arnold’s robotics camp, and bottom Mackenzie Wilkes (middle) is pictured with other IB seniors during the Christmastime adopt a family project she ran.

THE WOOSTER BLADE | COVER | MAY 4, 2022 | PAGE 6

Earth day events held in Wooster ASHTON DUNLAP co-editor-in-chief

Pictured is the Drive Electric Earth Day 2022 event hosted

by Local Roots Market & Café.

Around 500 people attended the event.

ASHTON DUNLAP

On April 16, Local Roots Market & Café hosted the Drive Electric Earth Day 2022, an event that allowed community members to view and learn about electric vehicles.

The event hosted about 23 Electric Vehicles and around 500 people.

Wooster community member, and Tesla Model 3 owner, Ryan Leeper said the intention of the Drive Electric Day held at Local Roots was to educate the community on electric vehicles.

“The basics of an EV are pretty simple. Put in electricity, then drive. Most folks who are new to EVs, are often surprised that there isn’t a huge learning curve. After a few drives, most people start to realize the benefits,” Leeper said.

Leeper says that electric vehicles are crucial to aiding the climate crisis and are better than internal combustion vehicles in many ways.

“Electric motors are about three times more efficient at

converting energy to motion…

The complexity of a combustion motor also increases risk of failure. Gas engines have a few thousand individual parts, most electric motors have around 20… Time and cost savings are substantial,” Leeper said.

On April 23, the Wayne County Sustainable Energy Network and the OSU College of Food, Agricultural and Environmental Sciences hosted the Scarlet, Gray and Green Fair.

Wayne County Sustainable Energy Network President Fred Michel says the goal of the Scarlet, Gray, and Green Fair is to, “educate people about the problems we face on Earth Day.” Michel says another goal of the event is to propose solutions to these problems.

“We would like to present solutions like recycling, electric vehicles, solar energy, composting, high efficiency buildings, government policy, music, crafts and local foods to our community,” Michel said.

Graphic by Lucia Perfetti At the College of Wooster, Greenhouse, a student-led environmental organization, held EarthFest, an event that aimed to highlight the sustainability of various College of Wooster clubs and organizations.

Greenhouse treasurer Abbi Tarburton says that the event aimed to, “increase visibility of our club as well as other environmentally-related organizations and have conversations about how to be sustainable.”

All three events highlighted the importance of reducing greenhouse gas emissions and reducing individuals’ carbon footprint through methods such as recycling, reducing car usage, and reducing energy use or converting to renewable energy.

WHS students welcome Green Club LEXXE PARSONS arts editor

During Earth Day, many new activities are taking place at WHS due to the creation of the WHS Green Club.

IB Student Lucia Perfetti began the club for her CAS Project, in the 2021-2022 school year. The club focuses on environmental activism and generally improving the environment.

Green Club took the week of Earth Day to hold a spirit week with environmental elements

including the themes of animal patterns, thrifted clothing, and a day where different grades wore an element from Avatar: The Last Airbender.

In the WHS Green Club, Wendy Bullock, the outreach coordinator for the StarkTuscarawas-Wayne recycling district was also invited to speak to students in the club about recycling in the community of Wooster, general recycling guidelines for what people can and cannot recycle, as well as making future plans to better recycling plans in the Wooster City School District.

While Green Club is still a new club, there are many future plans for bettering WHS. “We are going to be doing an audit of the trash cans and recycling bins, with hopes of consulting with Wendy Bullock of the Stark-Tuscarawas-Wayne recycling district to improve recycling at the high school.

We will also be planting native plants around a Peace Pole in one of the courtyards,” Club adviser and Science Dept. member Erin Petruzzi said.

If interested in joining, contact Erin Petruzzi with any questions you may have.

BRITTANY WACHTEL

Pictured above, on April 19, the WHS Green Club listened to Wendy Bullock discuss recycling in the Wooster community. The Green Club members learned to help raise awareness on things that should and should not be recycled via their Instagram, @whsgreenclub_.

ARTS

Overworking in the video game industry

LEXXE PARSONS a&e editor On Feb. 27, the third Pokemon in a year was announced in a Pokemon Presents Video Showcase. This third game came after two of the previous games launched in glitchy, unfinished states.

This announcement caused excitement from some fans, while others criticized the move from GameFreak, the developers of the Pokemon Franchise, who worry about the studio taking advantage of their employees with a phenomenon in the video game industry referred to as “crunch time.”

Crunch time is when video game companies make their employees work 80 to 100 hour work weeks to meet deadlines, which is often uncompensated by developers.

Famous examples of crunch time include the launch of CD

Projekt Red’s game “Cyberpunk 2077” which was a victim of crunch time with a myriad of bugs and glitches at launch.

Rockstar Games’ Co-Founder Dan Houser willingly admitted, in an article for Kotaku, that his employees worked 100-plus hour weeks to finish their game “Red Dead Redemption 2.”

Professor and Chair of History at the University of Akron and a teacher of the History in Video Games course, Dr. Martin Wainwright said crunch time arises from, “The fact that video-games companies arose during a period of generally lax labor laws. They aren’t unionized… and therefore lack the same workload protections that many companies in more established industries have.”

Though crunch-time has been a problem within the video games industry for a long time, it could feasibly be fixed as Wainwright notes by saying, “I would say that hiring more employees to work on projects, and thereby reducing the amount of labor required of any individual employee, would likely help.” He does note this solution would cause game costs to increase, however.

Crunch-time in the video games industry could be a problem for a long time as the

state of the games industry seems to be more and more focused on making video games quickly and not as focused on quality though there could be hope with more and more employees going on strikes and standing up for their rights to a safe and comfortable work environment.

Within the video games industry, this is a problem that can only be considered unsustainable for long-time use, but phasing it out is less simple than it sounds, as it could affect how the entire games industry runs in the current day. This is due to many popular games being liveservice games, which are games that continuously receive updates which can lead to burnout from developers and can be generally linked to an unsafe work environment.

Overall, the gaming industry needs to work much harder at providing safer work hours to not overwork their employees.

While fans and getting games are important to the industry and is what makes the industry, there needs to be a better divide of a work-life balance to keep the mental health and quality of the games being put out at a high standard. Crunch time needs to be removed from the games industry.

THE WOOSTER BLADE | MAY 4, 2022 | PAGE 7

Writing club celebrates National Poetry Month JHON FAJARDO sports editor April is national poetry month.

English Dept. member, Chelsey Porter, is the Creative Writing Club adviser. Porter explains that poets and publishers agreed on April as the month to celebrate poetry.

“I actually think April was collectively decided on by poets and publishers,” Porter said.

Porter explained that April and May are the months in which poetry is covered in many literature classes.

Vilma Biro (10), who enjoys reading poetry for its descriptive nature, is part of the Creative Writing Club.

“Poetry is really descriptive and it’s a way you can touch your audience or readers. [My favorite poem is] ‘egy gondolat bant engemet’ by Petofi Sandor,” Biro said.

Gabriel Thompson (11), who avidly enjoys reading and studying poetry, explains that poetry focuses on sounds of words and evoking specific emotions.

“Poetry, unlike other literature, focuses on the sounds of words and sentences.

Poetry also can but does not have to have conflict. Poetry is great at making the reader feel a certain emotion, or idea,” Thompson said.

Thompson’s favorite poem is “When I Have Fears” by John Keats.

Porter corroborates the idea that poetry is enjoyed differently by different people through interpretation.

“I think the most important thing to remember about poetry is that it is meant to be interpreted by the reader. The reader will experience a poem in their own way. Sometimes I think we get intimidated by trying to understand what it “all means,” but as long as the reader makes their own meaning from it - I think that merits a good reading! I enjoy poetry most when I allow myself to appreciate what I believe it means rather than focusing on being right,” Porter said.

Porter considers “And I Have You” by Nikki Giovanni as her favorite poem.

What to Watch for: Summer 2022

Dr. Strange in the Multiverse of Madness: “Marvel Studios’ Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness—a thrilling ride through the Multiverse with Doctor Strange, his trusted friend Wong and Wanda Maximoff, aka Scarlet Witch. Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness opens in U.S. theaters on May 6,”according to the official Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness website.

Murder of Mr. Wickham by Claudia Gray: “The happily married Mr. Knightley and Emma are throwing a house party, bringing together distant relatives and new acquaintances—characters beloved by Jane Austen fans. Definitely not invited is Mr. Wickham, whose latest financial scheme has netted him an even broader array of enemies. As tempers flare and secrets are revealed, it’s clear that everyone would be happier if Mr. Wickham got his comeuppance.

Yet they’re all shocked when Wickham turns up murdered—except, of course, for the killer hidden in their midst,” according to the official Murder of Mr. Wickham website.

Graphics from The Wooster Blade Archives

Fair-use photo courtesy of Marvel

Fair-use photo courtesy of ClaudiaGray.com

THE WOOSTER BLADE | ARTS | MAY 4, 2022 | PAGE 8

Nepotism creates unfair advantage

LAURA RAPPORT a&e editor If you ask an actor what it takes to succeed in Hollywood, they will probably tell you something along the lines of hard work, charm,and talent.

What they probably will not mention is that having rich and famous relatives helps too.

Webster’s Dictionary defines nepotism as, “favoritism (as in appointment to a job) based on kinship.” Nepotism is not a new phenomenon in Hollywood. Directors, producers, and actors have been helping their children and

relatives get jobs for decades.

Take for example Francis Ford Coppola’s The Godfather trilogy. Coppola cast his sister Talia Shire as Connie Corleone, and his daughter Sofia Coppola as Mary Corleone, as well as casting his parents, sons, uncles and grandchildren in minor roles throughout all three films.

Although Shire’s performance was widely praised and she received an Oscar nomination for her role, Sofia Coppola’s performance was, to quote The Times, filled with, “gosling gracelessness that comes close to wrecking the movie.”

Although Francis Ford Coppola was criticized for casting his daughter instead of a real actress, he has always stood by his casting choice.

The issue with nepotism is not always an issue with talent, as some nepotism babies, are quite talented, such as Elizabeth Olsen, the younger sister of twin actresses Mary-Kate and

Ashley Olsen; Dan Levy, son of actor and comedian Eugene Levy; and Tracee Ellis Ross, the daughter of singer Diana Ross, have all had successful careers and are pretty well liked.

The problem with nepotism is that all of these nepotism babies have an unfair advantage over everyone else who works in the entertainment industry who does not have famous relatives.

While an actor with no rich and famous relatives often struggles to find auditions and may sometimes may wait years to get their big break, or a decent job, a nepotism baby often does a ginormous project as their first job and gets all the glory that comes with it, without doing much work at all.

Additionally, being a nepotism baby often offers a sense of job security as well. While a person with rich and famous relatives will probably be okay if they do not work for a while, as they

FAIR USE PHOTO COURTESY OF THE COPPOLA FAMILY

Director Francis Ford Coppola and his youngest child, Sofia Coppola.

Sofia appeared in all three of the Godfather films. have their family’s money to fall back on. A regular person simply doesn’t have that option.

Hollywood directors, producers, and actors’ habit of getting family members jobs creates a disadvantage for those who do not have rich and famous family members.

Even if some nepotism babies attempt to distance themselves from their famous family, most people will already know about their famous family members.

Hollywood needs to reevaluate its nepotism issue in order to make the entertainment industry more fair and equitable.

Toxic music fan groups gatekeep and cause harm to artists

MOLLY SNYDER feature editor Superfans in the music industry are not a recent phenomenon, dating back to Elvis Presley and the Beatles.

However, there is a fine line between being a fan and being obsessed with an artist or a music group. Having fan accounts, building an online community, or actively keeping

up with artists is all healthy and normal, but with the rise of social media, clusters of obsessive fans create toxic communities online that feed off hate and gatekeeping of their favorite musicians.

K-pop group BTS has a massive following on social media, having 44 million Twitter followers and over 60 million followers on Instagram.

A following of this size attracts a lot of different fans, and some take things way too far when it comes to defending their favorite groups.

At the 2021 and 2022 Grammy’s, BTS was nominated Best Pop Duo/Group Performance and lost to Ariana Grande and Lady Gaga in 2021, and Doja Cat and SZA in 2022.

After both award shows, BTS

fans took to Twitter to voice their anger. Many fans accused the Grammys of using BTS for clout and attention; some even claiming that it was xenophobic for the Grammys to not award BTS with the win.

This logic is so flawed it is hard to know where to begin.

Discrediting the work put in by other artists because their favorite lost is not justified in the slightest and harms the band itself. When BTS fans, known as the ARMY, are seen as spiteful and hateful, it drives people away from the band itself because of how toxic the community is.

Of course, BTS is not the only toxic fanbase. The level of toxicity goes beyond even attacking other musicians.

Artists like Chris Brown, R

Kelly and Tekashi 6ix9ine have all been convicted of abuse, sexual misconduct/assault, yet still have a following.

Many people claim that you should separate the art from

Musicians are usually not to blame for the actions of their fans.

However, many artists stay quiet when their fans begin to attack others the artist, but it is impossible to support an artist’s music and not financially support the

artist. To stream music, attend concerts or to buy merchandise is to support an artist; they cannot be separated from their art.

An important thing to note about toxic fanbases is that musicians are usually not to blame for the actions of their fans. However, many artists stay quiet when their fans begin to attack others, which should not be the case.

Musicians should advocate for welcoming online communities where everyone can feel accepted.

Even though the impact of such an advocacy may be slim to none, it is much better than to stay quiet when an entire fandom is verbally attacking other people and artists with little reason.

TRENDS

THE WOOSTER BLADE | MAY 4, 2022 | PAGE 9

Environmentally friendly Eco-Friendly Products to Purchase According to the EPA, the average American produces 4.40 pounds of habits available to all waste per day. Making small changes in one’s daily life can reduce the LUCIA PERFETTI cover editor We have all heard the saying “reduce, reuse, recycle,” and sometimes we even follow through.

But, throwing a plastic water bottle in the recycling bin and using scratch paper are not the only ways to help the environment. There are many changes that everyone can make in their day-to-day lives to decrease their carbon footprint and increase not only overall sustainability, but also morale; as nothing is more rewarding than giving back.

For that reason, here are 10 specific suggestions we can implement into our daily lives to make our habits more sustainable.

The first way to be more green comes from laundry. The seemingly mindless, slightly bothersome task actually has a greater environmental impact than many may know.

According to the National Park Service, per their website, the average laundry machine uses 41 gallons of water per load. Ninety percent of the energy from doing the wash comes from heating it, as per EnergyStar. The obvious answer is to wash with cold, or “tap cold,” which is the most energy efficient water.

Furthermore, rather than using heat to dry laundry, it is best to air dry, or- if necessary, use the “tumble dry” or “air dry” setting on the machine to minimize the energy used, as well as bill prices.

Another interesting tip relating to laundry comes from the drying process. Cleaning the lint trap buildup routinely will reduce drying time for

your dryer, thus reducing the amount of energy the machine is expanding- while also preventing a possible fire hazard.

Diet is another essential and easy way to manage our effects on the environment. A 2018 USDA report showed that the agriculture business, mainly animal agriculture, accounted for 10.5% of all greenhouse gas emissions. Eating a diet that reduces animal products will subsequently reduce your environmental footprint. A 2019 study done by the University of Copenhagen found that a plant based diet is the most sustainable, as the more animal protein one consumes, the more water is used. Not only that, but also the fact that animal agriculture accounts for one third of arable land available contributes to the benefits of shifting towards a vegan diet.

A lot of people have heard of the effects of what one’s diet consists of on the environment, yet what is often underemphasized is the importance of where one’s diet comes from. For one, produce that is not local is being transported hundreds, if not thousands of miles to get to the nearest grocery store, and this can mean burning significant amounts of fossil fuels. Often, local farmers are more likely to use organic and environmentally friendly products on their produce, reducing toxins and pollution to their local environment.

Wooster community members can even utilize Local Roots; a downtown business open year-long specializing in local products, when making this change.

While out shopping for fresh, local produce, why

impact of humans on the environment. As recommended by Amina Lake Abdelrahman of goodhousekeeping.com each of these products help reduce waste and create a more sustainable life.

Grove Collaborative Reusable Cleaner Bottle and Concentrate

$16.95

“Made of 92% plant based ingredients” Courtesy of Grove Collaborative

Skoy Eco-Friendly Cleaning Cloth

$7.99

“Absorbent, made of 100% biodegradable cloth” Courtesy of Skoy

Sort and Go Waste Bin

$22.00

“Ideal For Recycling” Courtesy of Brabantia

Stasher Silicone Reusable Food Bag

$12.99

“Takes the place of single-use plastic baggies” Courtesy of Stasher

Shampoo and Conditioner Bar

$4.99

“Made from 100% recycled cartons and are recycleable” Courtesy of Love Beauty and Planet

Blurbs and information by Mattie Dunlap not bring a reusable bag?

Plastic bags in Wooster are not recyclable, and take years to degrade. However, paper bags are actually worse, as the water used to produce

them is four times greater than that for plastic, and the chemicals used along the process contribute heavily to environmental pollution such as acid rain, according to a 2011

Environment Agency (U.K.) analysis. A reusable non woven polypropylene plastic bag, or a preowned bag is the most sustainable, even over a cloth bag.

THE WOOSTER BLADE | TRENDS | MAY 4, 2022 | PAGE 10

The Facets Of Prom Day: Traditions & Fashion

Prom fashion proves to be unique

Silk

Sequins

OLIVIA HINER trends editor

Jeweled

Dresses courtesy of Sherri Hill

Tulle

Compiled by Luke Pomfret

Prom traditions need to focus on the individual

LUKE POMFRET co-editor-in-chief Year after year, Prom season is either dreaded by those in need of dates or praised by fashion lovers.

But, why does one even need a Prom date in the first place, especially in the age of

independence? Even if you do not have a Prom date this year, do not be worried. In my personal experience, even those with dates still have bad moments, so here are a few alternatives to think about going to prom.

First, focus on you. That is right. You get the freedom to create your own look for prom.

My philosophy has always been: dress for two. Mix traditional patterns to create a look of your own and leave those who question your fashion, speechless.

A few of my favorite suit patterns come from International Concepts Clothing (INC). A full suit with alternative print costs

As Prom season comes upon us, many new trends have become apparent. After two years without a Prom, 2022 has introduced styles very different from previous years. Styles in dresses are subjective, and this year’s styles are definitely not for everyone.

In years past, trending styles have been all over the place.

The ‘80s, for example, had crazy styles featuring ruffles and huge bows. Red carpet looks worn by celebrities at events like the Grammys or Oscars often influence these trends. For example, many celebrities at those events this year were seen in sheer or very sequined gowns, which are projected Prom trends this year.

A great way to get inspiration is from movies released recently or looking at your favorite red carpet looks.

Brenda L. Jones, a Prom dress designer in Baltimore, told foxbaltimore.com on April 20, that trends this year include “sequins, feathers, long trains, sheer, mesh…” and then

described these trends by saying “it’s like they’re going to the Grammys.”

Along with those mentioned above, Seventeen.com’s 2022 prom trends article features dresses with feathers, neon colors, and rhinestone straps.

All of these have also been very popular on Tik Tok, which has been notorious in spreading trends in fashion.

This year’s trends are very different from anything before.

When shopping for your Prom dress, it is important to go with whatever makes you happy, whether that is feathers or no feathers. The best advice I can give is to go with something that you are not going to look back on and regret, as trends are not always timeless.

Dress or Suit

Heels or Dress Shoes

Dinner Reservations

Choose Color Scheme

Request favorite song

Bring Camera

Plan to attend after-prom

Make Appointments

less than $100.

For those shopping in the dress section, Rent the Runway has an amazing collection of high quality dresses that one can rent for a very low cost. I doubt you will wear a ballgown to any other occasion, so there is really no need to spend hundreds of

dollars on clothing you will wear once.

Second, no Prom date? No problem. Get a group of friends together. Create a color pattern so everyone recognizes that this was not a coincidence, but a statement.

If you are by yourself, own

it. You probably look the best because you do not have another person trying to steal your thunder.

My last piece of advice is to enjoy the night. Take the good and the bad and embrace the whole experience because you only have one Prom this year.

FEATURE

THE WOOSTER BLADE | MAY 4, 2022 | PAGE 11

Green and Future Healthcare Professionals Clubs started at WHS LUKE POMFRET co-editor-in-chief In the second semester of the 2021-22 academic school year, two new extracurricular clubs have been created at WHS. The Green Club and Future Healthcare Professionals Club, both advised by Erin Petruzzi, Science Dept. member, aim to gather intrigued students focusing on science-related topics.

Erin Petruzzi has taught science for 12 years and is fully devoted to both projects.

Petruzzi says the idea for the Green Club came from IB students.

“The Green Club was formed at the request of three students I had last year in my biology

classes: Lucia Perfetti, Marin Dixon, and Pierce Duong.

They originally wanted to start the club last year, but with COVID, the administration tabled the idea. The Future Healthcare Professionals club actually started in the spring of 2020, and we had one or two meetings before we were sent home due to COVID… I had a student in my biomedical science class, Aiden Burke (9) who had asked if this was something we could bring back.

With his interest, we informally announced the first club meeting and we have roughly 15 kids.”

Petruzzi describes the difference between the two clubs as the Green Club requires more interaction and actions taking place to

advocate for environmental issue awareness, while the Healthcare Professionals club aims to bring in experts from the medical field to give more knowledge to students about possible career paths.

Lucia Perfetti, a junior in the International Baccalaureate Programme, created Green Club as part of her required creativity, activity and service hours for the IB programme.

Perfetti describes the process of the formation of Green Club as a long term idea.

“Green Club officially started in late February [2022] when it was board approved, but we had started working on the idea at the beginning of 2021, but with all of the administration changes, it took more than a year,” Perfetti said.

Perfetti says her goal is to spread the club to middle school and elementary school students and, “teach kids the importance of loving our planet.”

Perfetti would also like to thank Pierce Duong (11) and Marin Dixon (11) for their help and contribution to helping see the club to fruition.

Connor Rotolo (12), is a member of the Future Healthcare Professionals Club and joined because of his interest in science. “We learned how to suture an open wound and have heard from healthcare professionals and learned about their day to day lives,” Rotolo said.

Rotolo says he is most surprised by the commitment of the underclassmen in the

club and their dedication to learning about human anatomy and challenging themselves.

Rotolo recommends students to join, especially if they have an interest in science or the medical field.

“I would encourage anyone with the love of science or an interest in the medical field to join because it allows you to engage with students you had no idea that had similar interests and allows you to get a head start on your career goals,” Rotolo said.

If you are interested in seeing what the clubs are up to, Petruzzi recommends joining the reminder messages for each club: Green Club Remind- green-whs and Future Healthcare Professionals Remind- prof-whs.

SPORTS

THE WOOSTER BLADE | MAY 4, 2022 | PAGE 12

Boston Marathon returns in-person ASHTON DUNLAP co-editor-in-chief On March 2, 2021, the Boston Athletic Association announced that in addition to the in-person 125th annual Boston Marathon, a virtual Boston Marathon would be available to athletes interested in participating away from Boston.

In 2022, around 25,000 runners completed the marathon, marking a return to normal participation numbers after two abnormal races due to the pandemic.

Wooster almost always has local representation at the Boston Marathon, and this year was no different.

Wooster residents Ruth Graham, Ed Babaluski, Mid

Knight White, Patrice Smith and Stacey Baker all took the trip to Boston to participate in one of the largest marathons in the world.

Smith says the return to the usual race date made the event more exciting.

“This year’s race definitely had a lot more energy since it returned to its original date of Patriot’s Day. The last Boston was postponed to October and definitely didn’t have the same vibe. I was pleased to see it all come back in full force. I was pleased to see it all come back in full force. Such a great marathon and an amazing city,” Smith said.

Graham did not run the race this year, but still got to enjoy the energy the race atmosphere

provided.

“I had such an amazing experience in Boston this year.

Traveling with my running friends to such an iconic race made the trip so memorable,” Graham said.

Graham says she is already looking forward to the marathon next year. “I already have a qualifying time for 2023 so I am looking forward to going back next year,” Graham said.

The 127th Boston Marathon will be held April 17, 2023.

According to sportingnews. com, Evans Chebet won the Boston Marathon in the mens’ professional division in a time of 2:06:51 and Peres Jipchirchir won the womens’ professional division in a time of 2:21:02.

PHOTO COURTESY OF RUTH GRAHAM

Mid Knight White, Ed Babaluski, Stacey Baker, and Ruth Graham gather for a picture before running the 2022 Boston Marathon.

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THE WOOSTER BLADE | SPORTS | MAY 5, 2022 | PAGE 13

Student athlete spotlights: spring sports Girls Track THEO OLLIER sports editor Beverly Morgan (12), a three year member of the girls’ track and field team, appreciates fellow distance runner Rachel Cornelius’s work ethic and supportive attitude toward others. “[From Rachel], I have learned that you should always strive

for your best and that working hard for a goal will pay off in the end. Rachel has also helped me learn the importance of being kind and supportive to others,” Morgan said.

Chris Mascotti, girls’ track and field coach and Math Dept. member, considers Cornelius (12) deserving of a studentathlete spotlight because of her character and work ethic, both on and off the track.

“Rachel is an outstanding individual with great character, work ethic, and leadership in the classroom and on the track,” Mascotti said.

First year girls’ track and field team member Margaret McBride (9) notes that Cornelius’s responsibility and sportsmanship are achievements that she aspires to accomplish.

“I hope that I can be as

committed and responsible as Rachel. I don’t think I could think of a time when she insulted anyone, and she inspires me to be better. Her sportsmanship and pride in what she achieves motivate the whole group,” McBride said.

Cornelius plans on continuing her cross country and track career at Seton Hill University next fall.

ASHTON DUNLAP

the sport as well, noting that Ashton helps with the team’s needs beyond just running his own races.

“Ashton deserves a spotlight because of his sheer dedication to his sports, and his influence on the teams he participates in. On the track team, Ashton is always there to help with any task our coach needs; he’s almost like an assistant coach. He also helps motivate and prepare our team for competition, and is a friend to

everyone,” Miller said.

As a team, Dunlap hopes that various relays and individuals can qualify to the OHSAA Division 1 Youngstown Regional Meet at Austintown-Fitch. Personally, he hopes to win OCC’s in three separate events at the OCC Championship Track meet on May 13.

Dunlap plans to continue his cross country and track career at Bowdoin College in Brunswick, Maine next fall.

Boys Track THEO OLLIER sports editor

RUMEN ZDRAVCHEV

Four meets into the WHS outdoor track season, boys’ track and field coach Douglas Bennett was asked who he would nominate for a senior student-athlete spotlight.

Bennett named distance runner Ashton Dunlap (12) as the student-athlete who deserves recognition, emphasizing his determination,

consistency and attention to detail. “[Ashton deserves the spotlight due to his] dedication, focus, determination and empathy for teammates.

[Additional qualities that make Ashton stand out include a] good level of ability, [he] trains hard, with consistency, and care for details,” Bennett said.

Oliver Miller (9) is a first year member of the boys’ track and field team. Miller notes Dunlap’s dedication to

Boys Lacrosse ANIKA ELLIS staff writer This year’s senior spotlight for boys’ lacrosse is Andrew Glasgow (12). Reid Delaney, coach for boys’ lacrosse, nominated Glasgow for being, “an amazing leader on and off the field.”

Andrew, better known as Andy, is a Senior Captain and serves as a starting long stick midfielder and lockdown

defender. “His work ethic and passion for the game is unmatched,” Delaney said.

Tommy Imhof (12) has played lacrosse with Glasgow for five years and says that “Andy is a great leader because he always has a never give up attitude and is the hardest worker on the team.”

Even though he is praised by many for his leadership skills, that is not the only thing that stands out to his teammates.

“Whenever he comes off the

field, no matter how tired he is, he’s always ready to go back on and really motivates me to be the best player I can,” Imhof says.

Upon hearing about his nomination, Glasgow said that “Coach Delaney nominating me for senior spotlight is something that I hold accountable for the entire team.”

“My passion for lacrosse is comparable to an extreme obsession… I think being a

good member and captain of my team is staying calm, collected, and focused. With that constant attention to detail, the team can stride to victories throughout the season,” Glasgow said.

To see Glasgow in action, visit the WHS Athletics page and go under boy’s varsity lacrosse, where you can find a schedule of all upcoming games. The next varsity boys lacrosse home game will be May 6 against John Glenn High School.

NANCY SWARTZENTRUBER

VIEWS

THE WOOSTER BLADE | MAY 4, 2022 | PAGE 14

BLADE Staff looks at individual ways to make a positive impact on the environment Courtesy of Stasher

Graphic by Lucia Perfetti

Single use plastics exponentially and Positive effects of using a plant based diet adversely affect our environment

HANNAH LOGIUDICE on-campus editor According to plasticoceans. org, over 300 million tons of plastic is produced globally every year, half of which is single use plastic.

Single use plastic is a type of plastic product that is used once and then thrown away and includes items like plastic bags, disposable water bottles and straws.

When plastic is released into the environment, it has a devastating impact.

Plastic is not biodegradable, meaning that once a piece of plastic is thrown away, it sits in a landfill for millions of years.

The effect of plastic on wildlife can be incredibly detrimental, as animals can become entangled in loose plastic or consume small pieces of plastic, which can result in the death of the animal.

In order to combat the effects of plastic, states and cities have

begun to implement partial single-use plastic bans.

The states of New York, California and Hawaii have banned the use of plastic bags.

The country of Kenya banned single-use plastic bags and prohibits visitors from taking single-use plastics national parks, forests, beaches, and conservation areas.

A more controversial plastic ban is the ban on plastic

ACCORDING TO PLASTICOCEANS. ORG, OVER 300 MILLION TONS OF PLASTIC IS PRODUCED GLOBALLY EVERY YEAR, HALF OF WHICH IS SINGLE USE PLASTIC. straws, which has become commonplace in cities including New York City, Charleston, and Miami Beach and in places like Disney World and Disneyland.

However, members of the

Graphic by Lucia Perfetti

Quick Facts To - Go:

NORA LEVY staff writer disabled community have expressed concerns with the ban highlighting that many disable people use plastic straws daily. According to an article titled “Grasping at straws: The ableism of straw bans” by Erin Vallely, “In some cases, reusable straws can be substituted for a single use one but that isn’t always the case.

Such straws must be properly sterilized after every use. For those whose disability or living situation makes this impractical, if not downright impossible, reusable straws are simply not an option” The ban on single use plastics such as plastic bags and plastic straws is a good start in the world fight against single use plastics. As more countries and cities begin to implement similar bans, the benefits will only continue to be seen.

Veganism and vegetarianism are lifestyles that many people can adopt to have a positive impact on the environment.

As a lifelong vegetarian, not only do I eat a very healthy diet, but I also feel good about doing my part to help the environment.

The meat and fish industries are very harmful to the environment. According to a BBC article, “Climate change: Do I need to stop eating meat?,” published on Nov. 12, 2021, the production of beef creates the most greenhouse gasses while the production of lamb has the biggest environmental footprint. Even cutting these two specific meats out of a diet can have a positive impact on the environment.

The meat industry also has a negative impact upon water resources. In a Nov. 4, 2021, article titled 14 Reasons

“It takes about 460 gallons of water to make one quarter pound beef pattythat’s the equivalent of taking 23 showers.”

The Humane League, 14 Reasons why Beef creates the most greenhouse gasses while lamb has the biggest environmental footprint.

BBC, Climate Change: Do I need to stop eating meat?

Why…, The Humane League also emphasizes that veganism conserves water and notes that “It takes about 460 gallons of water to make one quarterpound beef patty—that’s the equivalent of taking 23 showers.”

However, to make a positive impact on the environment, it is not necessary for a full conversion to a vegan lifestyle.

By eliminating or limiting the amount of meat consumed, like beef patties, an individual can not only cut down on gas emissions but also cut down on water usage.

Cutting down on meat and animal products can be a good first step towards a vegan or vegetarian lifestyle and is also an easy way to positively impact the environment.

THE WOOSTER BLADE | VIEWS | MAY 4, 2022 | PAGE 15

THE

THE VOICE OF WOOSTER HIGH SCHOOL

WOOSTER

BLADE

Editors-in-Chief Ashton Dunlap, Luke Pomfret Webmaster Ashton Dunlap Graphics Manager Grace Brownson Business Manager Delaney Wilson Head Photographer Grace Brownson A & E Editor Lexxe Parsons, Laura Rapport Cover Editor Lucia Perfetti Feature Editor Molly Snyder, Grace Brownson Focus Editor Sheridan Schauer, On Campus Editor Hannah LoGiudice, Delaney Wilson Sports Editor Theo Ollier, Jhon Fajardo Trends Editor Olivia Hiner Views Editor Brittany Wachtel Staff Writers Mattie Dunlap, Molly Byrne, Ben Stavnezer, Nora Levy, Stella Powers, Grace Kostohryz, Anika Ellis, Maya Galindo Benson, Bailey Messner Photographers Grace Brownson, Hannah LoGiudice, Ashton Dunlap, Ben Stavnezer, Brittany Wachtel, Nora Levy, Delaney Wilson, Sheridan Schauer, Molly Snyder, Maya Galindo-Benson, Molly Byrne 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 Wooster Blade is designated as an open forum and follows publishing guidelines as established by 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 rights 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. Letters and inquiries should be addressed to The Wooster Blade, 515 Oldman Road Wooster, Ohio 44691. The Wooster Blade can be contacted at 330-3454000 ext. 3210.

The newspaper can also be found at thewoosterblade.com

House Bill 616 infringes on free speech As a student newspaper, free speech is a crucial part of how we address and provide commentary on topics and issues, especially controversial ones. House Bill 616 infringes on this principle of free speech and creates an educational environment where certain perspectives are unable to be heard.

Without the presence and education of differing perspectives, certain negative parts of history are able to be repeated. The Wooster Blade Editorial Board condemns House Bill 616 for its obstruction of free speech on issues regarding race, gender identity and sexual orientation.

Discourse on these and other similar topics should be encouraged, not barred. Difficult conversations are necessary to educate and cultivate opinions,

and the passing of House Bill 616 would effectively stop these conversations from happening in educational settings.

A controlled educational environment is the place education and discussion on these topics should occur. Instead, House Bill 616 would force these topics to be discussed elsewhere, where bias and inconsistencies can be naturally or inherently imbued into the conversation.

On March 25 in Florida, the Parental Rights in Education bill, also known as the “Don’t Say Gay Bill,” was passed and states, “Classroom instruction by school personnel or third parties on sexual orientation or gender identity may not occur in kindergarten through grade 3 or in a manner that is not age appropriate for students in accordance with state standards”

(Florida HB 1557 Lines 97-101).

Similar to the Florida Law, Ohio HB 616 also deters conversations about race and sexual orientation and gender identity, according to Anna Satver writer for The Columbus Dispatch. Specifically referencing race, HB 616 states, “The school district board shall not select any textbook, instructional material, or academic curriculum that promotes any divisive or inherently racist concept,”described in section 3313.6029 of the Revised Code.

Sec. 3313.6029.

In order to protect the nature of expanding students’ horizons and protecting freedom of speech and expression, The Wooster Blade Editorial Board advocates that the WCSD Board of Education stand in opposition to the passing of House Bill 616 in order to protect all students.

Coachella presents difficulties for attendees

BRITTANY WACHTEL views editor Each year during the month of April, Indio, Calif. is flooded with hundreds of thousands of people, all waiting to attend the Coachella music festival.

Coachella is a two-weekend festival that features a variety of well and lesser known artists.

Due to the COVID pandemic, Coachella took a two year hiatus, but has made its comeback this year.

With headliners including Harry Styles and Billie Eilish, Coachella has been trending on all social media platforms. With this increased media attention comes an influx of media based personas all competing for content at the festival.

This year, it seems as though there have been more influencers than ever in Coachella valley.

Many wear over-the-top outfits and take photos and videos at every stage, posting to Instagram their every move throughout the weekend.

This increase in posting at Coachella leads to the question: does anyone like to go to Coachella?

With a weekend-long ticket being advertised on the official Coachella website as costing $549, not including parking fees and lodging, the average person would struggle to afford a ticket.

Many influencers who attend the festival are sent by brands such as Revolve or 818 Tequila, eliminating all ticket and lodging costs.

Despite its presentation on social media, Coachella and its related events have been exposed via social media as being “absolute chaos” according to Insider.

Tik Tok influencer Averie Bishop posted a video calling out Revolve, despite her being one of the influencers sent to the festival by the brand. Bishop told Insider that the event was an, “absolute dumpster fire.”

If an influencer who was being paid to attend the festival was disappointed, one can only imagine the experience an average festival attendee would have.

Due to these recent exposes of the Coachella experience, it would be shocking to see the festival not make any changes in future years.