UNCAGED V24 Edition 2

02 UNCAGED VOL. 24

THE INDEPENDENT STUDENT VOICE OF STOCKBRIDGE HIGH SCHOOL

COVID-19 changed our normal lives. To grow and evolve, we need to normalize the way we think about and discuss relationships, politics and diversity.

STOCKBRIDGE, MICHIGAN| UNCAGEDNEWS.COM | MAY 2021

COVID-19 Vaccination will end the pandemic

In this edition, we report cultural change and its inescapable nature.

FRONT PAGE CONTENTS & ART. COVER DESIGN AND PHOTO ILLUSTRATION OLYVIA HOARD COVER MODEL GRACE DANCER

Mass vaccination is the safest way out of the COVID-19 pandemic EDITORIAL. Staff

Normal.

Is there such a thing? Normalcy is not a constant. It is ever-

changing and reshaping our society every day. Major events such as the COVID-19 pandemic and multiple human rights movements have significantly altered what is considered normal. A static society should not be acceptable. Life is unpredictable and unexpected obstacles are guaranteed; the fight to change volatile norms is unending yet always making progress; and the oppression of those who are different can not be accepted as normal. It is necessary that everyone, even the unoppressed, fight for change. To let hate spread without accountability is to accept defeat.

- Uncaged Editors

Uncaged is the student-run newspaper for the students of Stockbridge High School. An open forum for student expression, Uncaged provides independent reporting and opinion. Something to say? Letters to the editor must include the writer’s full name, cell phone number, and be 150 words or less in length. Response to ideas presented through the newspaper and web are encouraged.

Letters are subject to editing and may not be anonymous or to third parties. Leave letters in Elizabeth Cyr’s room #207 in the freshman hallway or email us at uncaged@panthernet.net.

Uncaged receives individual critique through state and national competition through various state and national organizations. Staff awards may be viewed at uncagednews.com in the About section.

Editor-in-Chief Kaitelyn Walker Web Editor Justin Jaszkowski Assistant Editor Abigail Douglas Editor Samantha Stitt Business Manager Grace Dreier Freelance Reporter Isaac Lance Staff Reporter Andrea Borowy Staff Reporter Lucia Bottlíková

Staff Reporter Alexis Griffith Staff Reporter Olyvia Hoard Staff Reporter Peyton Killinger Staff Reporter Amber Knoll Staff Reporter Maggie Maxwell Staff Reporter Ethan Tappan Staff Reporter Grace Tervo Staff Reporter Todd Williams Opinion Columnist Aubrey Williamson

CONTACT US Stockbridge High School 416 N. Clinton Stockbridge, Mich. 49285 Adviser Elizabeth Cyr, Room 207 P: (517) 851-7770 E: uncaged@panthernet.net

FIND US ONLINE AT Web: uncagednews.com Twitter: @uncagedshs Facebook: Uncaged Online Instagram: @uncagedstudentnews Snapchat: uncagednews #UareUncaged

EDITORIAL

COVID-19 has only existed about a year and a half, yet it has affected nearly all aspects of society. Education has been significantly more difficult, due to inconsistent schedules and unexpected shutdowns, causing both teachers and students to be stressed. Schools have to lock down because COVID-19 outbreaks occur when students and staff don’t follow precautionary measures to stop the spread.

Our school building has had a total of 32 cases of COVID-19. About half of these cases happened after returning to school from spring break.Such a significant increase is not coincidental, traveling, large gatherings and not following social distancing guidelines are the reason cases are on the rise.

The only way to stop the disease permanently is to eradicate it, at this point that is not possible as the disease has become endemic, meaning it will circulate in populations much like influenza. When we vaccinate for influenza eradication is not the goal, we are only trying to prevent as many casualties as possible, the goal is the same for COVID-19. COVID-19’s vaccine is the quickest vaccine to ever be developed which has caused many people to be skeptical about its safety, but thorough testing and monitoring has shown that the vaccine is safe and effective.

The vaccine has also been far more accessible than originally planned, according to Michigan’s Department of Health and Human Services graph released in late January, teens age 16 and above would not be able to get the vaccine until late June at least, now the vaccine has been available for teens since April first.

The idea of getting vaccinated should be straightforward yet politics is an increasingly volatile topic when it comes to the vaccine. Ideas that the vaccine is a democratic attempt to control the population are completely false and devoid of any substance. Many conservative citizens also doubt the validity of the science in masks, science that is proven correct, and choose to not wear masks. The choice to not wear masks along with refusing to get vaccinated are only adding fuel to a fire that is already wildly out of control.

To choose to not get vaccinated is to choose to let a deadly virus shake up society for years longer than necessary. The main argument against the vaccine is that it is an under researched medical process; yet mRNA vaccines, like the COVID-19 vaccine, have been researched since 1970. Diseases that have torn through humanity in the past such as smallpox were only able to be eradicated through mass vaccination.

Mass vaccination completely cripples a virus’s ability to spread since it can not find a host. There are of course people that can not get vaccinated due to allergies can be protected by herd immunity, herd immunity is when a majority of a population is immune to a virus meaning the virus is unable to spread through the population and reach those who are unable to be vaccinated.

The goal of all the precautionary measures such as social distancing and vaccination is not to have control over a population, it’s so we can return to a stable way of life. If not enough people are vaccinated, it is certain that the virus will continue to spread and mutate making all the vaccinations distributed useless.

If students want to attend school and have large events such as assemblies or sports they need to be vaccinated unless physically unable for health reasons.

UNCAGEDNEWS.COM | 2 | MAY 2021

Activities to de-activities After school activities see mixed results due to pandemic MAGGIE MAXWELL. Reporter

COVID-19 made a large impact on everyone, no one person left without a loved one, friend or even themselves getting ill from the rampant virus.

Drastically changing lives in many ways, we have had to adapt.

School activities are no different.

Crafternoons, an after school program about art and related activities run by teacher Pam Gower, knows this struggle from firsthand experience.

“Our gatherings are both in person and virtual,” Gower said.

“COVID has forced me to offer a virtual option which is helpful for students who are learning virtually and for times when we are all virtual.”

The differences from before and during may not be what most expect of an activity.

“I am delighted that Crafternooons attendance has not decreased and has actually increased now that I offer a virtual option,” Gower said. “It is so fun to attend Crafternoons from home because you have all of your art and craft supplies from home right at your fingertips.”

An online option can, indeed, lead to more students coming in right from the comfort of their homes, doing crafts with others with similar interests, and bringing us together in a time where we must stay distant.

Similar to Crafternoons, the

National Honor Society has also seen some changes. Secretary Courtney Fletcher, who advises the group, adapted to changes in yearly activities.

“The Festival of Tables was a huge event that the National Honor Society did,” Fletcher said.

“That’s where [student members] got a lot of their hours and seen a lot of people, but this year it was all virtual. So, they didn’t have that chance to earn all those hours.”

After school activities saw decreases in attendance or simply did not have the resources to continue, yet their resourcefulness increased during this difficult time.

JUNIOR Rylee Tolson sendS blank birthday cards to volunteers of america for residents in nursing homes to use for their loved ones AS A national honor society PROJECT.

Michigan cases rise, provoking schools to go back virtual learning ANDREA BOROWY. Reporter She knew from the start that when we came back from spring break, that the district was going to have a major increase of COVID-19 cases.

“My prediction did turn out to be reality when we got shut down after a couple days when we came back from our spring break,” freshman Taylor Lockhart said..” I feel that our school handled the situation of the increase in positive COVID cases well by switching over to online learning to help lower those numbers.”

Over the course of spring break, 8,574 new coronavirus cases were reported on Sunday, April 18.

According to WDIV-TV Detroit, coronavirus testing has been steady around 35,000 tests per day on average.

The hospitalizations of those with coronavirus increased over the past few weeks.

Many point to the increase in coronavirus cases as a result of traveling and spring break.

Many families traveled to places like Florida, Georgia and other warm climates.

Some spring breakers chose to travel on planes.

While planes have carried coronavirus, the main source of contact was the airports.

Detroit Metropolitan Airport

announced, “The Federal law is requiring everyone to wear a face mask and the only exceptions to not wearing a mask are if it is children under the age of 2, people with disabilities who can’t wear a mask, and people who wearing a mask could risk their health.”

The experience over spring break served as an educational process to be looked to in the future.

“I feel that with the increasing COVID cases after spring break, the government should be taking more precautions to ensure that more infections don’t spread further,” freshman Melanie Satkowiak said.

UNCAGEDNEWS.COM | 3 | may 2021

“If anything, I feel that the rising cases are showing that we aren’t quite ready to be opening everything back up, and that we should still be taking precautions when going out in public and traveling so that we can eventually get ourselves back to some sort of normalcy.”

With the increase in coronavirus cases, some schools have gone back virtual, like Stockbridge. Before going on spring break, Stockbridge Junior/Senior High School had 11 coronavirus cases, then after spring break, the count jumped to 32 confirmed cases, a 21 new case count in one week.

News: School life

Teens, tech and changing times Technology has changed what communication means in teenage relationships

“Technology has helped myself and Tyler stay in contact because we aren’t always with each other and there are times that we need each other to talk to,” Junior Alexandria Teachout said. PHOTO ILLUSTRATION KAITELYN WALKER

“50% of teens have let someone know they were interested in them romantically by friending them on Facebook or another social media site.”

PEW RESEARCH CENTER

It is 1985 in Canton, Michigan, and students in the Plymouth-Canton school district are coming and going from the local roller rink, Skatin’ Station. Jennifer Hammerberg being one of those students.

Once inside, Hammerberg is absorbed by the colors and loud chatter of her friends and the music in the background.

“You could get dropped off and picked up there by your parents and they felt like it was safe because you were supposed to be in the building the whole time. Of course some kids didn’t go in,” Hammerberg said.

Teens may still go out on dates and meet each other in person but one major change has occurred: the introduction of social media and technology.

“It seems like when I watched my daughter interact with her friends and boyfriend, it was mostly over social media or text,” Hammerberg said. “Oftentimes, she was socializing with other people, but she was alone in her room. But, in her mind, she wasn’t alone because she was engaging with her friends.”

In a study done by Pew Research Center, 92% of teens text their partners, many list this as “the top method, but phone calling and in-

Feature: Technology and Relationships

person time mix with other digital means for staying in touch.”

Spending time together outside of school was third on the list.

Communication and trust are the two most common responses given by students when asked about the most important part of a relationship.

“It’s easier for people not to talk face to face or on the phone,” Hammerberg said. “It’s much easier and less anxiety provoking to text somebody a message, send a meme or an emoji or something like that.”

Hammerberg thinks teens can kind of hide behind their screens.

“I don’t think that people are putting themselves out there as who they really are; I think it’s causing people to be less than who they are.”

These new means of communication are much preferred by teens and value is put in texting.

“I think technology is honestly dire to our relationship actually because we fall asleep on the phone at night together,” senior Hannah Lockhart said. “We text literally, like, every hour of every day. If she’s not in my class, we’re texting.”

KAITELYN WALKER. Editor-in-Chief

UNCAGEDNEWS.COM | 4 | MAY 2021

It’s been a year now VOTERS MADE TOUGH CHOICES

COVID and politics, division and anger SAMANTHA STITT. Editor

“I had political arguments in my family,” Judy Stitt said. “I voted for Trump because I didn’t like Biden, but I didn’t like either one of them. I didn’t like the fact that Biden approved abortion, but I didn’t like Trump’s mouth.”

PHOTO SAMMANTHA STITT

The struggles Stephanie Lockhart Connolly, local parent, faced through the pandemic transcended COVID. Just as difficult was an angry society not respecting others with differing opinions.

Connolly did not struggle so much with needs, because her family still had the ability to provide for themselves, but she struggled seeing families being torn apart due to different opinions.

Lockhart felt a growing concern over political brawling.

“So, I did my own research instead of relying on journalists to do it for me,” she explained. “To provide, I was fortunate to keep my job. I focused on securing food and water to withstand supplies being limited or depleted.”

Since March 2020, the pandemic has taken a toll on the lives of many.

Add in the political fights between presidents: It has been a hard year.

“Public health experts say combating Covid-19 requires near universal public compliance. But

the United States, riven by partisanship, has been anything but unified,” Marc J. Hetherington wrote for the Washington Post in August 2020.

Compared with Democrats, Republicans have been reacting to the pandemic with less fear, less social distancing, less mask-wearing and less support for policies such as mask mandates and stay-at-home orders. With President Trump and other Republican leaders minimizing the crisis, polarization may threaten the country’s collective ability to respond.”

Through the past couple of months, there have been some changes by the administration of how to handle the pandemic and economy.

People have a right to their own political opinions. The people should have a voice on what needs to be said, but also respect others for what they say about a certain topic.

According to the Pew Charitable Trust, “The American public agrees on one measure, though: Three-quarters say the country is more divided than before the coronavirus outbreak, regardless of whether or not they support the current administration.”

In one way, Americans are united: They see divisions in their country.

EMPATHETIC OUTLOOK “I feel like this pandemic has let us see who cares about other people.”

-TERESA ROONEY, SOPHOMORE PHOTO MAGGIE MAXWELL

TRANQUIL APPROACH “I don’t have very strong political opinions. I’d love to lose the masks. but if we can’t we can’t. We’ve been living with it for over a year.”

-ZACHARY SANFORD, JUNIOR PHOTO TODD WILLIAMS

UNCAGEDNEWS.COM | 5 | may 2021

News: COVID AND POLITICS

COVID-19 has changed us, for the better and the worse “I have gotten a lot more comfortable with myself and I have figured out what my actual interests are. It has been hard seeing people and everything but I still think it changed me in a good way.”

- freshman Macy Cipta Freshman Maggie Jones completes an Algebra B assignment. PHOTO OLYVIA HOARD

F

reshman Maggie Jones gets up and logs onto her first class of the day, which is English, at her desk in the corner by the window. She has a small break between her first two classes so she rushes to get ready to go to her second Google Meet.

She then goes to her third class. Next she has lunch and then she ends the school day with her last hour.

“After that, I workout and do everything that I didn’t have time to do throughout the day because of my Google Meets,” Jones said.

Her life has changed dramatically like that of many others according to Health Essentials, a Cleveland Clinic publication. “The pandemic has changed how we work, learn, and interact as social distancing guidelines have led to a more virtual existence, both personally and professionally,” it reported in September of 2020.

feature: Changing routine

COVID-19 has restricted us from seeing our family and friends and not being able to enjoy ourselves especially as kids who want to enjoy being young.

“I haven’t been able to spend time with friends very much and my classes have become more challenging,” freshman Maggie Jones said.

Lots of people have also lost their jobs and haven’t been able to make money.

According to the Department of Technology, Management and Budget, “Michigan’s preliminary annual average unemployment rate in 2020 was 9.7 percent, a significant jump of 5.6 percentage points above the 2019 annual average rate of 4.1 percent. This rate reflected pandemic-related job losses in Michigan. Total employment in Michigan averaged 4,392,000 in 2020, while total unemployment soared to 470,000. The state’s annual workforce level was 4,863,000 in

UNCAGEDNEWS.COM | 6 |may 2021

2020.” Although COVID-19 has not been the best for everyone it hasn’t been the worst.

“I have gotten a lot more comfortable with myself and I have figured out what my actual interests are. It has been hard seeing people and everything but I still think it changed me in a good way,” freshman Macy Cipta said.

COVID-19 resulted in different effects, both good and bad.

According to Pew Research Center, “The vast majority of Americans (89%) mentioned at least one negative change in their own lives, while a smaller share (though still a 73% majority) mentioned at least one unexpected upside. Most have experienced these negative impacts and silver linings simultaneously: Two-thirds (67%) of Americans mentioned at least one negative and at least one positive change since the pandemic began.”

AMBER KNOLL. Reporter

OH, THE PLACES YOU’LL GO Brian Friddle joins Stockbridge Community Schools as new superintendent ABIGAIL DOUGLAS. Assistant Editor

C

at or dog?

He’s a dog person.

Plain or sweet tea? He loves sugar.

Summer or winter? He prefers the warm days.

The search for a new superintendent is no more.

The board of education installed Brian Friddle as district superintendent in April. As he makes the move from the similarly small community of Webberville, students will quickly learn his preferences are much like their own.

Friddle wants students to know that, “Even though summer is his favorite season, he’s not in school.” Therefore, winter is actually his favorite time of year. “If it’s summer you can’t see the students and staff.”

Friddle is a figure driven by his work and looking forward to the days ahead. Thus frustrated, he wishes he could be in Stockbridge but needs to tie up loose ends at Webberville.

So, what does this mean for the students in the Stockbridge? A new superintendent and one with an idea for the future.

“Dr. Karl Heidrich had announced his retirement at the end of the 2019-2020 school year,” Cindy Lance, board member, said. “We had started the search in January of 2020.”

After a lengthy process to find a good fit for the lead job in the district, Friddle will be transferring this summer to be part of Stockbridge Community Schools.

Friddle hopes to create new opportunities for students, faculty and staff.

“I don’t have a preconceived notion of what I want to do because it’s a learning curve with Stockbridge,” Friddle said. “What I could think would be something you guys could or may be already great at.”

Simply put, he won’t know what to enlist into the community until he sees its strengths, and weaknesses, along with understanding what programs are already in place.

He plans to be a part of the community, not just in school but in town and on the field or whatever sporting event he can make.

“I kept hearing the same thing over and over about how the staff and people just loved the community and students,” Friddle said. “I was actually trying to get them to say something different, but I couldn’t.”

Friddle’s excitement to join the small community is grounded in his desire to “be something bigger than himself.”

Stockbridge offers vast amounts of

opportunities that a lot of other schools do not have in the district, such as “AP classes, robotics, journalism and more,” according to Friddle.

With outstanding programs, he wishes to create more opportunities while understanding the hardship everyone has endured this past year.

The exposure to opportunities and trying to make everything as normal is his goal.

“This year has been hard with communicating with the loss of so many things that everyone endures,” Friddle said. He finds a priority in, “managing all of this and still trying to provide opportunities.”

Not only has he seen it in his home district of Webberville, but also in his family, with his daughter who is nine years old and planning to attend Heritage next year.

“Mr. Friddle comes to us with strong years of experience from Webberville Community Schools,” Lance said. “The community has very similar demographics to Stockbridge, with many of the same challenges.”

Not only is his experience at Webberville an asset but also is his background in counseling. In the decision process this really stuck out.

“Social and emotional well being of students is a passion [of Friddle’s], and not surprising with his extensive background in counseling.”

Lance said.

Of that experience, Friddle said that “I really enjoyed my time as a guidance counselor because I am helping people find their way in the world,” Friddle said.

Whilst catching up with a former student of his from 15 years ago, he found himself amazed at the person she had become and said, “That’s what my job is about.”

Not only did Friddle feel like he would fit into SCS but others did as well.

“SCS is an amazing place of many academic offerings, and celebrated successes. We have an amazing group of administrators and phenomenal staff.” Lance said. “Mr. Friddle

will fit in well and contribute to the future achievements.”

Friddle will officially start July 1. Lance encourages community members to “stop by and welcome him to the community!”

With his eager arrival to the community Friddle has goals, and they are not shy from greatness.

“My goal is to build relationships and to continue to provide opportunities for students and staff. My experiences I have had in my past to bring here. The question was and has never been, ‘What is a good fit for Brian Friddle, but what is a good fit for Stockbridge?’” he said.

The class of 2021 will not be able to experience the next year with superintendent Friddle, but others will.

He comes across as someone who is empathic, sees the hardships everyone has faced and wants to let his staff and students and community know that he “is there for them.”

Top of his list of to-do when he arrives includes, “What are the impacts on this pandemic? How can we proactively progress what Covid-19 has done and what has gone unseen.” Friddle said. “What do kids need next year vs. what they needed in the past. We need to find opportunities as they transition from school to school and school to career.”

“Friddle is a figure driven by his work and looking forward to the days ahead.”

UNCAGEDNEWS.COM | 7 |may 2021

Investigative Feature

LGBTQ+ students in public school, more prone to bullying Roughly 8% That may not seem like a lot, but it is roughly 1.3 million teenagers in the United States alone.

LGBTQ+ students are twice as likely as straight students to be bullied, and almost 30% have attempted suicide because of this bullying, according to Quartz, a global news and insights for a new generation of business leaders.

According to Natalie Kinsella, elementary and middle school counselor, thinks that “With [LGBTQ+] students, there’s a lot more judgment and a lot more name calling, whereas if you’re a straight student, or perceived as straight, you’re not getting called names or being accused as gay or having things yelled at you in the hallways.”

Statistics show that

FEATURE: Cover story

LGBTQ+, that doesn’t mean that it’s not still dangerous for a lot of LGBTQ+ youth.

Even though there’s still so much homophobia in our high schools, we can all work together to make school environments safer and all around better for our LGBTQ+ students.

Deb Foreman, a president for the PFLAG Chapter, an organization to help LGBTQ+

LGBTQ+ students are more prone to bullying and harassment in school.

Homophobia is still present in 2021, but especially

of all high school students public high schools. Older generations are more likely to be homophobic because of the times they were raised in.

Some 71% of Americans aged 13-17 say that their political belief is about the same as their parents, which may explain why homophobia is still so common.

If older parents are homophobic, their child is most likely going to share the same belief of their parents.

While it is true that in the modern world it is easier for someone, especially a teenager, to come out as

in the United States youth and their families, in South Carolina, said that, “A GSA provides a safe space within the school. So, even if a student’s having a hard day or a hard week, they have a place where they can just go and be themselves.”

A Gay-Straight Alliance,

also known as a GSA, is a student led club that helps LGBTQ+ students and straight allies come together to create a safe space for everyone. GSA’s are important to have in high schools because they can show LGBTQ+ students that there are people who support and care about them, and

report being that there are other students going through the exact same situation they are.

Students can be provided with a positive outlet with others like them. Another way to help our LGBTQ+ students is to teach more about LGBTQ+ history, past and present, in classes. If teachers are supportive and can explain LGBTQ+ issues then there might be a chance of students better understanding and becoming

UNCAGEDNEWS.COM | 8 | may 2021

more supportive of students

a part of who aren’t cisgender (a person who identifies with the gender they were born with) and straight.

Bullying and harassment of LGBTQ+ students is a huge problem, but by working

the LGBTQ+ community. together we might be able to eventually come together and all be equal.

“I’ve had to deal with guys making a joke out of me being non-binary, and even friends sometimes. Not everyone has a supportive family and it’s just an extra blow when people at school are rude and then turn around and call it a joke,” sophomore Jem Phillips said.

BuLLY or ALLY? Which ‘LLY’ Are You? OLYVIA HOARD. Reporter

Ways to Help LGBTQ+ Students

30% of LGBTQ+ students have attempted suicide because of bullying.

According to Quartz

Ask pronouns, do not assume someone’s gender just by their looks

Address microaggressions against lgbtq+ students

Never judge someone based on their identity

Get involved with your school’s gsa, or start one if there is none

Let others know you are an ally, and that you are there for them

Listen to lgbtq+ students and what they go through

PHOTOGRAPHY AND GRAPHIC ILLUSTRATIONS OLYVIA HOARD

UNCAGEDNEWS.COM | 9 | may 2021

FEATURE: Cover story

“Michigan is so bipolar!”

The wrong comment about weather: Bipolar Disorder KAITELYN WALKER. Editor-in-Chief “I am so bipolar” and “The weather is so bipolar” are just two of the sentences that casually throw the term bipolar around like it’s a simple adjective.

Bipolar disorder is not a phrase to be tossed around lightly as it affects 2.9 percent of U.S. teens.

That accounts for roughly 696,000 teenagers, and that is only those who have been diagnosed.

Bipolar disorder isn’t simply being moody or sad, it is much more than that.

It is fearing the idea of having children of your own because the idea of being unable to take your medication during pregnancy and the possibility of straining the relationship between you and the child is scary.

It is flying through intense emotional cycles that contain the most extreme emotions and feeling as though you have no control.

It is practicing patience by coloring or forcing yourself to complete tasks that require patience.

It is being afraid of yourself one day and feeling okay and like everything is fine the next.

It is more than just having mood swings or being sad.

Attitudes need to change if we want to believe in “freedom and justice for all.”

By gaslighting those who have bipolar disorder, we are locking them away in a social jail and throwing away the key.

In movies and TV shows, bipolar disorder is misrepresented in many

Column: Raise your Voice

ways ranging from acting as the crazed antagonist or scapegoat character to the lead detective who uses manic episodes to miraculously solve cases.

Those with bipolar disorder aren’t some elusive group; they are your friends, families, classmates, aunts, uncles—really any person. No matter how normal someone may appear, she or he could be suffering.

The degrading or gaslighting comment you say could be the last thing to send someone over the edge to their lowest point or shatter their self-esteem.

The simple act of thinking before you speak is already a step in the right direction.

If we work to educate ourselves and open ourselves to growth, we can change how society treats disorders like bipolar disorder.

Ending negative stigmas and being more thoughtful will create a better and more educated society that is truly free.

Bipolar disorder is not a synonym for “unpredictable,” “crazy,” or “sad.”

It is a disorder that needs to be treated as such.

Your words hurt more than you may ever know, so stop adding to this problem.

No one deserves to feel invalidated and alone.

The weather in Michigan is capricious, changeable, fickle, fluctuating, fluid, inconsistent, inconstant, skittish, temperamental, uncertain, unpredictable, unsettled, unstable, unsteady or variable— but is never bipolar.

UNCAGEDNEWS.COM |10 | may 2021

PHOTO ILLISTRATION BY PEYTON KILLINGER

Main stream media: Manipulative, and most of the time, one sided PEYTON KILLINGER. Reporter When you dive deep into the media, you may notice something. Many mainstream media platforms are one sided.

They are liberal, left leaning, and very biased. What does this do for the other side?

It silences them.

Many mainstream media platforms, mainly news, attack the conservative, right leaning point of view. Any chance they can get to point out something bad, or twist a story into something it is not, they do.

Whether it is the former president of the United States they are being defamatory toward, or it is some sort of celebrity or influencer, liberal media does everything in their power to make a story, any type of story, reflect badly on them.

An example of this trend is a rather recent article from CNN. In the article, it tries to tie the Trump campaign to Russian influence, saying they “interfered” with the 2020 election, even though there is no factual evidence to support that claim. The Trump campaign took CNN to court for libel, but it was dismissed.

Not only is the mainstream news the culprit, it is also social media.

Facebook has gotten so bad at silencing and shadow banning conservatives, those party affiliates have had to move platforms and create their own just so they do not get blocked from posting.

Twitter also went through a long overdue those news streaming outlets. lawsuit because it had been banning conservative In January 2021, USA Today reported that influencers for just posting their feelings.

CNN now holds the title of most watched cable California’s GOP Representative, Devin news, as MSNBC is in second with 1.6 million Nunes, was at the head of the lawsuit. viewers and Fox News drops down to third.

According to an article on Fox News, “Twitter With the majority of American citizens did nothing to investigate or review the watching very left leaning news, they will not defamation that appeared in plain view on be seeing a conservative viewpoint. its platform. Twitter consciously allowed the One of the biggest news streaming platforms, defamation of Nunes to continue despite and one of the most biased, is CNN. reports and purported reviews by Twitter’s CNN has evolved to be so biased the past few content moderators.” years that many right wingers’ have started This action is one of many instances when calling it “fake news.” The same name they give Twitter showed biased and ignored an issue on to another very biased and widely spread news its platform it should have been taking care of. outlet called the New York Times.

And, Instagram goes as far as to fact check Differing opinions in the media are bound every post that their liberal leaders don’t to happen, which is good, but when only one agree with. Don’t agree? Just scroll through voice is being heard, the issues begin. your Instagram feed to see When the media is mostly common posts that read “see one sided, and the other side “90% of why fact checkers think this is gets little to no coverage, it incorrect.” begins to paint the other side Republicans The main issue with the in a bad light. It silences them say it is likely mainstream media is that since and their voices are not heard. that social most of it is biased toward one Avoiding biased news side, the other side gets little sources is the best way to media sites to no coverage. Of course, really get informed. Take into censor political account, there may be more there are biased news sources toward conservatives like Fox than one side, and you may viewpoints.”

News and the Daily Wire, but have to look harder to find it. according to Pew Research Center many Americans do not watch

UNCAGEDNEWS.COM | 11 | MAY 2021

OPINION: BIased Media

COVID-19 DOES NOT MEAN YOU CANNOT HAVE FUN LUCIA BOTTLÍKOVÁ. Reporter

Outside

Lucia Bottlíková and Kaitelyn Walker following a Bob Ross painting tutorial. PHOTO CATHERINE SLEDZ

The fact that it is a pandemic does not have to stop people from having fun. It is that much more important to have something to look forward to every day. Days lean one into another, and without routines, it is hard to keep track of what is happening around. Habits help take the first step of the day in the right direction, get work out of the way, and create time for enjoyment. Life is as exciting as people make it. This bucket list is full of fun activities to evolve to better, happier selves instead of waiting until things get back to normal. Work hard in the morning and have a fun plan for the afternoon.

1

Go for a walk/hike/run with friends or family

31

Clean and organize your space, one drawer at a time

2

Go into a waterpark/swimming/tan outside

32

Rearrange furniture - change your environment

3-4

Ride a bike on a trail Go to a park - Central Park, Wonch Park, or Harris Nature Center in Okemos

33

Declutter your digital space - delete blurry pictures, apps you no longer need

34

Cook new food - try recipes from foreign countries, bake a cake

5-6

Go shopping or thrifting Do something for nature - hang up a bird feeder or pick up trash

35

Create something - follow a Bob Ross painting tutorial, fold origami, upcycle old clothes, tie-dye

36

Play games - Xbox, board games, cards, puzzle

37

Explore your style - try a new makeup look, hairstyle, prepare outfits, paint your nails

38

Get cozy - light up a candle, read a book, watch a movie, listen to a podcast

39

Treat yourself - drink a smoothie, coffee or tea

40

Reach out to a friend - write a handwritten letter and send it

41

Play a musical instrument, listen to music, dance, sing (karaoke)

42

Have a spa day - take a bath, dye your hair or get a haircut, pamper yourself with a face mask, jade roller, scrub, lotion

7-8

Hunting or archery Have a photoshoot at Bright Walls Mural in Jackson

9

Attend or play a sport - basketball, soccer, football, volleyball, softball, baseball

10

Get a massage - Renewed Spirit in Okemos, Massage & Wellness in East Lansing

11

Disc golf, B2B Trail, Fishing, Kayaking

12-13

Get your nails done Plan a trip and take it

14-15

Eat ice cream Escape room - EpIQ Escapes in Jackson, ESC The Room in East Lansing, Decode Ann Arbor, Breakout Escape Rooms Ann Arbor

16

17

FOR THE FUN OF IT

Inside

18

Go to a museum - Ann Arbor Hands-On Museum, Ella sharp in Jackson, Michigan Steam Engine and Threshers Club in Mason, Mason Historical Museum, Eli and Edythe Broad Art Museum in East Lansing

43

Socials - become Tik-Tok famous, go live on Instagram, start a YouTube channel

To improve

Go to galleries - Saper Galleries and Custom Framing in East Lansing Go to a library - Howell Carnegie Library

44

Create your routines - morning, afterschool, night, weekly, cleaning

What is your favorite activity that gets you out of the house?

“I absolutely love riding my 4 wheelers and our ATV machines.”

Sidney Gipe 11 “Finding a comfortable spot outside to read a book.”

Samantha Cowan 8

19-20

Go to a coffee shop Abrams Planetarium in East Lansing

45

Set up specific goals - daily, weekly, monthly, quarterly

21-22

Have a picnic Go camping/have a sleepover

46

Focus on achieving them - set up deadlines

23

Go to a theater - The Michigan Theater in Jackson or Ann Arbor

47

Say yes to every opportunity, but keep in mind your priorities

What is something you often do in your neighborhood?

“We like to host barbecues for our neighbors.” Grace Dreier 11 “I often go for long walks or runs. Sometimes for improvement and fitness, other times to clear my head.” Josie Beutler 10

24-25

Go to a Movie Theater Skydiving - Skydive Tecumseh in Jackson

48

26-27

Axe Play in Jackson Launch in Okemos

Do a challenge - wake up at 5 am, work out, drink a gallon of water a day, meditate

49

Journal - write your feelings, gratitude, daily achievements, try bullet journaling

50

Learn something new - catch up on HW, study ahead, learn a language or a skill

How did you evolve into your better self during the pandemic?

“I’ve become more hand hygienic. I’ve become more observant to nature and curious of managing more and more responsibilities, as well as getting in the habit of taking healthier routes.” Elizabeth Platte 12

Entertainment: bucket List

28 29-30

Visit Universities - Michigan State University in East Lansing, the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor Skating - Ann Arbor Ice Cube Brighton Recreation Area

SOURCE: TRIPADVISOR

UNCAGEDNEWS.COM | 12 | may 2021

51

To be extra Create your own bucket list

A TREND COMING INTO FASHION

Going Natural In November of 2020, teacher Elizabeth Cyr found herself in her stylist’s chair frowning at the overgrowth of her hair after months of avoiding a salon due to the spread of coronavirus. It could have been the joy of seeing another person during the isolating pandemic that made her take a risk. Maybe it was the boredom of quarantine.

“I was just so over the day-in-dayout of COVID,” Cyr said. “I needed to take control of my life in some way, sort of shake things up.”

Cyr cut seven inches off her hair that night and dyed it silver, a color that was true to her natural hair.

Whether it be natural hair, less or no makeup, or even switching to natural everyday hygiene products, the pandemic-led trend to go natural emerged. Famous stars like Hilarie Burton, Kelly Ripa, and Kevin Hart, have been posting pictures on social media of their gray hair showing through. Others like Nikki Bella are posting no filters and no makeup photos.

So many people are going natural that gray hair and curls hide no more. Sometimes, it may be because of the ingredients of the products or maybe simply wanting to be natural.

The trend has so many positive effects on people and the environment. Synthetic chemicals can harm animals and plants.

Creating the product in the first place is harmful to the environment because of the amount of pollution made by mining. A good number of real natural product companies also do not test on animals and are far more gentler on your skin.

The trend lends itself to helping people are able to feel like they can be themselves. They embrace who they are. It is not even just hair color and chosen styles.

The shift to natural can be to choices like face and body products like deodorant.

The health benefits of natural products have been publicized so much so that even in rural areas, following this trend has led to a healthier, happy life.

Teacher Pam Gower said, “I feel proud that I’m allowing myself to age naturally. I also really love my silver and gray streaks and the texture of my hair.”

The fad of straightened hair has lost its luster.

People can go years without ever even knowing they have curls. They just think they have frizzy hair because they straighten and brush it so much and use damaging products.

While hair trends have gained attention, other natural choices have emerged during the pandemic.

Some consumers use antiperspirants, thinking the product is deodorant.

Antiperspirants contain chemicals like aluminum. Unknowing buyers, do not understand that aluminum is a dangerous possibly cancer causing chemical.

As there are no official studies proving it yet, it is a big concern because the aluminum salts can be absorbed by your skin and collected by the breast tissue.

This concern led the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to require antiperspirant manufacturers to include warnings specifically for people with kidney disease according to the University of Pennsylvania medical researchers.

Studies on the relationship between aluminum antiperspirants to kidney disease and dementia are currently taking place. Aluminum is in antiperspirants to plug up your pores so they can not release sweat but sweat is a natural necessary function of your body.

While the shift to natural fad brought mental and physical health benefits, going natural provided other added benefits: time and money.

“I have stopped coloring my hair,” Gower said. “My last color, to cover up my gray hair, was February of 2020. I feel thankful to not have to spend the time and money on coloring my hair. I’ve even stopped using any heat to style it and it looks and feels so much thicker!”

GRACE TERVO. Reporter

Following a trend for men during the pandemic, graduate Gage Loso said, “I decided to grow my hair out because I was bored.”

Juniors Cheyenne Bickley and Marissa Goble work on project in art class. Bickley let her naturally curly hair down saying, “Curly hair is a serious struggle.”

Fear of contacting COVID-19 kept teacher Elizabeth Cyr from visiting her hair stylist for most of 2020. After artificially dyeing her hair for years, she was forced to let her natural gray and silver locks peek through. During her first visit back to her stylist she decided to stick with her natural roots and look.

UNCAGEDNEWS.COM | 13 | may 2021

entertainment: going natural

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UNCAGEDNEWS.COM | 14 | may 2021

The bright side of COVID-19 Changes due to coronavirus have made our society come together and become unified despite the many social restrictions and increasing fringe group rhetoric ISAAC LANCE. Freelance Reporter With the still rising cases of COVID-19 and the racial tensions shaking America to its very core, one would be reluctant to say we have come a long way since the beginning of the pandemic. Although, we have definitely improved and we are beginning to see progress, reform, and most of all, unity.

In President Biden’s inaugural speech, he said, “I ask every American to join me in this cause. Uniting to fight the common foes we face: Anger, resentment, hatred. Extremism, lawlessness, violence. Disease, joblessness, hopelessness. With unity we can do great things. Important things.”

The government speaking on a common cause and a common goal for Americans helps to reinforce that unity.

We can’t get rid of fringe groups who will never join in unity, but having a common cause brings the rest of the country together. With that, and as President Biden said we can do important things as a common people.

The common people, whether Republican or Democrat, must come together to stop coronavirus.

They cannot remain idle while the radical leftists, altright members and Q anon followers slowly take away the unity and progress of the whole.

The U.S. and its citizens must prevent the demonization and polarization of political parties and meet in the middle. As unity cannot be one sided, the country must realize that they must love and respect their neighbor, regardless of political leanings. This would be an easy step towards unity, and if you cared for your community like family, you would want to prevent the spread of coronavirus in that same community.

Although, the American people, long before Biden was inaugurated, seemed to come together in order to prevent and reduce the spread of COVID-19. In a study by the Department of Biomedical Sciences, Marquette University, researchers found that before state mandates, 93% of Americans wore a mask correctly. The majority of Americans understand the threat to our lives and the lives around them, and want a speedy return to normal.

The 7% that refuses to wear a mask are not only endangering themselves, but the people around them too. No argument is good enough to not help stop the spread of this disease. Thankfully, the majority of Americans are thoughtful, and want the pandemic to end in the U.S., and want to see fewer and fewer deaths due to COVID-19.

The statistics cannot show how unified we might be, how different groups reacted to the pandemic, but it shows the progress of the American people as a whole to rid the country of coronavirus. America has always come together to beat insurmountable odds and help the country heal, whether it be World War II, the terrorist attack on 9/11, or a pandemic that has now killed over half a million U.S. citizens as reported by the CDC. In the end, it is not individuals nor the government that single handedly solve the problems we are currently facing. It is the common people, uniting to do their duty as citizens, who can push forward this country into a restriction and pandemic free future. The evidence is clear, the average citizen is doing their part, so I ask you, regardless of political leanings, to do your part in restoring the U.S. and uniting the people under one goal, to defeat coronavirus.

“I ask every American to join me in this cause.

Uniting to fight the common foes we face.”

- PRESIDENT JOSEPH BIDEN

PHOTO ILLUSTRATION ISAAC LANCE

UNCAGEDNEWS.COM | 15 | may 2021

Opinion: Society United

Spring sports start to lose athletes due to COVID-19 testing

Athletes were required to be COVID antigen tested every Monday morning to participate in spring sports for the 2021 season.

PHOTO COURTNEY FLETCHER

ALEXIS GRIFFITH. Reporter

Eleventh

g rade distance runner Brooklyn Rochow had to quarantine because her brother tested positive for COVID-19.

Although it was affecting everyone, student athletes were being affected much worse.

Serious about being a student athlete, they know what their future holds.

Rochow looked forward to running track and seeing her friends when she came out of quarantine. She stayed active while in quarantine—running has been her best friend during this difficult time.

“I am looking forward to seeing my friends again and being able to run track,” Rochow said.

Typically, junior and senior years bring on the college search and a college scout who watches a player and considers making offers to play under scholarship. That process requires watching the player in action, yet there has been little game play for most athletes during the pandemic.

Some seniors this year did not have the opportunity to play their best because of the worldwide pandemic. Some students did not get to commit to their dream college this year.

The look down on life is now different for everyone. “Even the changes of mental health have changed for some students,” according to WellFleetStudent.

The first high school sport to start back up post-pandemic was basketball. As this trial period brought confusion to some, others, like the basketball players themselves, were happy.

It was simple: athletes were to keep their masks up and play normally. Many around the sport thought this was going to be easy, others disagreed.

COVID-19 cases were rising incredibly fast.

“We want to provide testing as we know it helps

MAY 15

prevent the spread of the COVID-19 and provides an opportunity for our student athletes to participate,” principal Jeff Trapp said.

The number one carrier for COVID-19 cases in the state of Michigan were high school student athletes according to Fox 2 News.

One task the Stockbridge covid testers did not enjoy was quarantining their students.

“We are wanting to give our student athletes every opportunity to participate,” Trapp said.

COVID-19 cases were rising by thousands, so Michigan governor Gretchen Whitmer’s team advised that every student athlete gets tested one day each week.

As this may come as shocking for some families, many disagreed with the idea.

They did not see the point in testing healthy teenagers.

“I personally feel if we need to get tested twice a week, we shouldn’t have to wear a mask,” varsity soccer player Shailynn Walker said.

Nearly 340 high school student athletes have already tested positive for COVID-19 according to Fox 2 News.

When an athlete tests positive, that sport gets put on hold, and all students that have come in contact with the positive case must be quarantined for two weeks.

MHSAA GUIDELINE UPDATE FOR STUDENT ATHLETES

Face masks no longer required for any outdoor activity, including the outdoor contact spring sports.

For fully vaccinated individuals, face masks no longer required during indoor activity.

For all individuals not fully vaccinated, all indoor activity continues to require a face mask.

No change to the weekly testing requirement.

No change to outdoor spectator limits from previous orders (1,000 spectators in many cases).

“Nearly 340 high school student athletes have already tested positive for COVID-19,” according to Fox 2 News.

Sports Feature: Covid-19 testing

UNCAGEDNEWS.COM | 16 | may 2021