Trends don’t dictate style

by Kamarra Williams Staff Writer

agency that their company “denounces any violent, anti-Muslim rhetoric, including that which has been attributed to viewers.”

But they weren’t the only film to portray Muslims in harmful ways. Netflix has had a horrible reputation when it comes to Muslim representation. Since the release of their Netflix original Elite, many Muslims have voiced their opinions when it comes to Nadia (played by Mina El Hammani) and the character’s poor job of representing young Muslim women. In the show, Nadia is a lower-class teenager attending a very prestigious school made for the elite on scholarship. With her low status plus the representation of her hijab she endures acts of islamophobia and is written to be seen as oppressed by her culture.

The school threatened expulsion, claiming a hijab did not meet uniform standards. Everything from the request to the threats was unacceptable and degrading. A woman’s hijab represents more than just her modesty but her commitment to her faith and having not only watched her classmates but her principal contribute to the islamophobic acts created by society was disappointing. Muslim women aren’t oppressed by their Islamic beliefs and depicting them as such is not only harmful but wrong.

Muslims have voiced their concerns when it comes to representation for years, and there needs to be a change. They deserve more than just being seen as terrorists and oppressed by their religion; they deserve to see Jumma prayers and Eid celebrations. Muslims have dealt with the backlash of the tragic events of 9/11 for too long. Times have changed and so should their narrative of Muslims.

TikTok jumpstarts popularity whether people like it or not

by Xavier Thomas Web Editor

As TikTok grows bigger and bigger, it influences a new generation of music artists to blow up from its app and jumpstart their careers. Artists like Yeat and Ice Spice have become a main source of music for some people.

Both of them are great at making and crafting their music, but one of the main reasons why they became mainstream was because of the popularity they gained from TikTok.

Ice Spice became an overnight sensation with her song “Munch.” But as the attraction slowed down people wondered if she would become a one hit wonder. She proved everyone wrong because after her song “Munch” almost any music she put out became a trending sound on TikTok, solidifying her a loyal fanbase.

Yeat, who is a 23 year old rapper from Irvine, California, was an underground artist before his music started to gain a lot of attention on TikTok. But that all changed when almost every month of 2022 a new song of his was trending. With the addiction that often comes with having TikTok downloaded, people were bound to hear Yeat everyday. He began to get more mainstream attention the more popular he started to get on TikTok and even started collaborating with huge artists like Lil Uzi Vert, NBA Youngboy and Young Thug (to name a few). He even got one of his songs in the movie “Minions: Rise of Gru.’’

But as music artists like them grow more and more of a fanbase people start to see them as “TikTok artists.”

You probably wouldn’t hear their music on the radio, and the majority of their fans are from TikTok. Yet they are the ones who are getting the most mainstream plays on music apps, and it’s changing their lives. Artists like D4vd blew up on TikTok because of the songs he released called “Romantic Homicide” and “Here with Me.” D4vd is an 18 year old music artist who, before signing to Interscope Records, had to record songs in his sister’s closet. But the one thing that makes D4vd differ-

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Adviser: Ms. Olivia Steely ent from Yeat and Ice Spice is that he regularly makes TikToks. Because of this he gets less credibility of being a music artist and more of a TikToker who makes music.

It seems unfair that some music artists are seen as less credible because they make TikToks to promote their music, but I see it as a good marketing strategy to get their music out to the public. If the music is good it shouldn’t be an issue if someone makes TikToks while also putting out music. And with the way things are looking for the music industry, people are going to have to choose between these types of artist or AI generated music. Also, people make it seem like new musicians are the only ones promoting their business and music through TikTok, but every other business is doing it now. Some don’t even feel like making TikToks to get their business out to the world but with the app expanding everyday it feels like a crucial option for them. TikTok is the quickest and smartest way for people to get to

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The artist and their team know this which is why they are encouraged to post music on TikTok, which would most likely get them a loyal fanbase. And with a large fansbase from TikTok it can be easier to build a larger fanbase in the mainstream media as well.

Soon people are going to have to realize that the new wave of musicians that get popular off of TikTok are going to pave the way music is listened to for our generation. They found an easy way to get to the top of the music charts and became successful by doing it. And of course there are some musicians who make corny music and put it on TikTok simply for views. Some even use the phrase “Did I just make the song of the summer?” Normally when I hear someone say that it most likely means the song is going to be a generic pop song. That trend should stop, but creative and unique artists expressing their music to the world through whatever popular medium there is should not.

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In today’s age the word “fashion” can mean several different things depending on the person. Fashion usually consists of a popular trend, especially in styles of dress. But is trendy really fashionable? The word trendy in my mind usually refers to expensive and sometimes outrageous looking clothes. The norm in fashion can change almost everyday but the thing that remains the same is the designer or a name brand. It feels as if a new piece of weird clothing breaks out everyday and the only reason people wear that item is because of the price.

Take Yeezy foams for example. They’re an over $200 shoe that has a bunch of holes in them. I don’t think paying for 25 percent of a shoe is a smart investment, but then again some people do. Is it because of the price or because it’s “trendy?”

Or some people may really enjoy the way the shoe looks, which is fine. But what don’t understand is when someone tries to dress outside of the current trend of clothing or norm, it’s a reason to make fun of them or respond negatively to them dressing differently.

The type of “dressing differently” I’m referring to is alternative styles like grunge, gothic, emo, scene, edgy, etc. I’ve noticed, even in my own experience, when you try to dress in these certain styles you get way more judgement than you’d probably would wearing name brand like Nike or Balenciaga. In most of these “alt styles” there isn’t a lot of name brand associated with it- usually thrift or just regular, used clothes- but still has the aesthetic attached. You would think dressing in the way you want to express yourself shouldn’t be anything to make fun of someone about, but it still happens often. Getting laughed at by people walking past is the main issue or people recording without permission to crack jokes (at least just speaking from my experience). think it says a whole lot about people who wear the same things everyday; you aren’t original or special since the person right next to you is wearing practically the same thing.

“I consider my style to be different from usual trends, because I don’t just wear the same thing everyone else wears,” Danae Carey, junior, said. “I dress the way I do because like to be different. get my clothes from thrift stores, because I don’t want to be the same as everyone else.”

When it comes to trendy clothing and its expense others perceive it as neither here nor there. For Carey, you can put on a really nice outfit without it being expensive and vice versa: you can put on a nice fit while it also being expensive, so it really depends on the person.

Some pros to dressing alternative are just looking really cool and different compared to the current trends. But the downside- the cons- is that people are very judgemental.

“Some people say I dress like a boy or say that I’m emo for jokes, but that’s not how I would describe myself or my style,” Carey said. Not all judgement affects us though. It can be annoying, but we don’t always need to take other people’s judgement into consideration. Why should I care about how you feel about the way I like to dress?

“To me there aren’t really any cons because even if people do comment on the way I dress, it’s not like I care,” Mondis Doyle, junior, said. “Most people like the way dress so the judgement get could care less about.” (His inspiration for his style is Luka Sabbat, a African American actor that has a very distinct way of dressing.)

Regardless of the stigmas people might have about the alt dressing community, we have no shame in the way we dress, and we shouldn’t have to change for the amusement of others. I feel everyone should be able to dress in the way they feel is best for them- not just what’s “trendy” at the moment. The unnecessary judgement and comments don’t make you look any cooler than anyone else.

Put earth over profit: the dangers of the Willow Project

by Erin Standish Staff Writer

All around the world, people have been debating what should be done regarding the climate crisis our planet is facing: an increasing rate of natural disasters, rising sea levels and habitats destroyed. This topic is so important that United States President Joe Biden used his stance on it during his campaign. He promised concerned voters there would be “no more drilling on federal lands, period. Period, period, period” (CNN). But now that he is in a situation that tests his dependability, he is coming up short, making it clear his promises were empty.

ConocoPhillips, an American multinational company, proposed the “Willow Project.” If passed, a long, expansive and colossal project drilling for oil on Alaska’s northern slope would launch. The land considered is part of the National Petroleum Reserve, which is federally owned land. This put the decision in the hands of the Biden Administration. A decision to cancel this project would benefit the common good, especially in the long run. Lives would be saved, habitats preserved, and we would be one step closer to repairing our damaged climate.

On Monday, March 13, 2023, the Biden administration approved the Willow Project, giving the green light to a project that will irreversibly harm the earth in regards to the climate crisis. The public’s opinion on this matter is complicated; many having mixed feelings about the endeavor. Lots of citizens that voted for Biden are outraged at the hypocrisy this decision implies. During his presidential campaign, Biden said that he would oppose things like the Willow Project that will negatively impact the already urgent climate crisis. On the other hand, there are some positive things that could come from this project. Taking a deep dive into all the factors and implications of this decision reveals a striking dilemma.

Multiple Alaska native groups are strongly in favor of the implementation of the Willow Project. The three Alaskan state lawmakers unanimously support it, citing that it would create more job opportunities for the local residents. Along with supporting the local community, state lawmakers say the Willow Project “will raise domestic energy production and lessen the country’s reliance on foreign oil” (CNN). In a meeting with Biden and his advisors, the lawmakers endorsed the project, which heavily influenced the Biden Administration’s decision. It’s also important to note that ConocoPhillips, the Biden Administration and the lawmakers are doing what is best for them- not for the common good.

Alaska. Ruskin replied, in addition to Senator Lisa Murkowski, that “pretty much the whole Alaska political and business establishment, the entire legislature, the whole congressional delegation, including Alaska’s new congresswoman, Mary Peltola, (a Democrat), organized labor, Alaska Native leaders- supports it” (PBS). The issue with this is that greed is motivating their decisions. They are putting profit, power and financial gain before anything else.

Though supporters are loud, there are still people in opposition. The opinion of those living closest to the drilling sites differ greatly from those who won’t be around when the project is actually put into motion. Nuiqsut Mayor Rosemary Ahtuangaruak, along with two other Nuiqsut officials, are concerned about the environmental and public health impacts the Willow Project will have on the community closest to the drill site. In a letter they wrote to Interior Secretary Deb Haaland, they pointed out the problem: “villages get some financial benefits from oil and gas activity but experience far fewer impacts than Nuiqsut. We are at ground zero for the industrialization of the Arctic” (CNN). This sheds light on the reason why some Alaska natives are in favor, while others are hesitant. These are real people’s lives and homes that are being debated over, and their voices aren’t being considered enough in the conversation.

One organization called The Native Movement is strongly opposed to the Willow Project. On their website, The City of Nuiqsut and The Native Village of Nuiqsut point out multiple concerns, including “lack of adequate consultation, the significant impact on the health of Nuiqsut residents and the imminent detrimental loss of access to food/subsistence resources” (nativemovement.org). Specifically regarding the environmental impacts, they write, “This is the birthing grounds of the 60,000 caribou — the Teshekpuk Lake caribou herd. Nuiqsut residents have spoken out about sick fish, signs of starvation in caribou and toxic air quality directly caused by oil and gas extraction within their homelands” (nativemovement.org).

These very real concerns are going unaddressed. The least that ConocoPhillips or the Biden Administration could do is answer the questions and concerns posed by many. Their homes are being invaded and tampered with no warning. Not to mention the future problems subsequent generations will be forced to fix.

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In an interview by PBS NewsHour with Liz Ruskin, Washington correspondent for Alaska Public Media, was asked about those supporting the project in

The short term financial benefits are not worth the irreparable damage. There is no compromise in a situation like this; we either protect our planet or further damage it to an inhumane extent. But The Willow Project is just one example. It’s our responsibility to fight for the disregraded voices and fight for the earth.