Category: Opinion

Snapchat is detrimental to relationships. Here’s why.

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by Liv Selman
West Laurens High School

There’s no doubt that in 2024, we as a society live in two worlds – the one that’s physical, and the one that exists solely in our phones and computers, the world of social media. 

Among all the different social media apps available, there is none quite like Snapchat. According to a 2024 study, there are currently 107.61 million Snapchat users in the United States.  Snapchat makes it possible to communicate with many people at once with disappearing messages and snaps. Its casual and secretive nature has made it very attractive to teenagers and young adults. However, it is important to consider the effects that Snapchat can have on one’s personal relationships, especially romantic ones.

“Snapchat is a way for people to hide what they are doing with someone else from their friend or a partner,” said Averi Staus, an aspiring journalist.

Snapchat’s “snapscore” feature can create insecurity and awkwardness in relationships.  By checking someone’s snapscore, one can see if they had snapped anyone by paying attention to whether or not the number had increased. This becomes problematic when one partner is waiting for a snap back from the other, and notices that their partner’s snapscore has gone up. This leads the person to wonder, “Who were they snapping if not me?”

“It can make you very obsessive over someone,” Staus said of the snapscore feature.

Snapchat also provides another unique feature known as the “snapmap.” The snapmap allows users to have access to the location of their friends on Snapchat if they have it allowed in their settings.  

17-year-old Kathryn Bryan said this has caused problems. “For relationships, it makes people want to obsessively check locations to make sure cheating or lying is not going on.”

Snapchat ranks the eight people you interact with most as your “best friends list.”  Someone may be concerned by this if they notice that someone else is higher up on their partner’s best friend list than them. Although this does not necessarily mean anything, it could lead someone to believe their partner is cheating or cause mistrust in the relationship.

Snapchat, along with all social media platforms, can be problematic for a person’s mental health. Studies report that 59% of people say that social media has negatively affected their mental health. If someone is struggling with their own mental state, how can they be expected to maintain a healthy relationship? Snapchat hurts relationships, even indirectly, through causing anxiety and depression.

Finally, Snapchat opens the door for cheating. The app gives people the ability to hide messages and who they are talking to easily and without a trace. Although most users of Snapchat are not cheaters, the app enables the people who are to get away with it with ease. It can also cause unwarranted suspicion and tension.

“Snapchat can be really unhealthy for a relationship.” Staus said.     

Cell phones should be banned in school.

~ luciarcuevas ~ Leave a comment

by Lucia Rodriguez
Druid Hills High School

I was sitting in my fourth period history class when, for the third time, my history teacher stopped and stared at our class. As I looked around to figure out why he stopped talking, I noticed multiple students looking down at their phones. This situation is happening across the country and not enough is being done to stop phone usage during school.

According to Education Weekly, 97% of students use their phones at some point during the school day. Although this is an alarmingly high percentage of students, it shouldn’t come as a surprise. Our entire society now revolves around a metal talking device.

I have come to realize the tremendous effect that cell phone usage is having on my peers and me. Many of us stay up late talking to friends, watching shows or just aimlessly scrolling through social media which ends up ruining our sleep schedule. The worst part about this endless cycle of cell phone usage is the fact that we’re all aware of how horrible it is for us and our mental health, but we also can’t seem to get off the internet because it’s everywhere. 

“I think especially when you’re just in your bed at night, scrolling on your phone, you’re like ‘one more show’ or ‘one more video’ but you keep constantly scrolling and it’s an endless cycle,” sophomore Emory Miller said.

Lack of sleep has a direct correlation with performance in school and Idaho State University wrote an article titled “How Sleep Impacts Your Studies” that proves this statement. The article goes on to talk about how lack of sleep can lead to a decrease in focus and memory, an increase in irritability and anxiety, and physical exhaustion. All of those factors are critical in the outcome of someone’s day and I can attest that a lack of sleep hinders my learning experience.  

Aside from the physical effects that cell phone usage can have on school performance out of school, there are many factors that affect school performances in school. One of the most concerning is the increase in cheating and how easy it has become to cheat. A study found on Verywell Family says that 35% of teens admit to using their phones to cheat on homework or tests and 65% of the same students stated that they’ve seen their peers using phones to cheat. As a student myself, I can attest to how easy cheating has become in school (not that I would ever cheat). Platforms like Quizlet and Socratic allow you to look up a question and receive the answer almost instantly, but they also help when it comes to studying so it just depends on how you use the resource. Now with the introduction of AI into classrooms, there has been a tremendous increase in fabricated work, and we can only expect this issue to grow with time. 

Along with the cheating, students spend their time in class scrolling on their phones, listening to music, watching TV, or shopping online. This limits student’s ability to focus and retain information during lectures. An article written by the Berkeley High Jacket called “Teenage Attention Spans: Where Did They Go?” talks about how teens’ attention span is task-dependent and how we could spend hours scrolling on the internet but can only focus on homework for less than twenty minutes. I have noticed my attention span shorten as the years pass and I can confidently say it’s because of TikTok. I used to love watching movies but now I’m lucky if I manage to watch an episode of a show without going on my phone because my brain gets bored so fast. Obviously, in a room full of teenagers, people are going to get bored and go on their devices, but if a phone ban was placed the kids would have no choice but to listen. 

At the root of my reason in favor of a phone ban in school is the teachers. Our teachers spend countless hours preparing lesson plans and making sure that our curriculum is adequate and it breaks my heart to see students disregard their hard work by going on their phones.

Are devices stunting childhood development?

~ emorymiller8 ~ Leave a comment
Photo by Robert Collins on Unsplash

by Emory Miller
The Burlington School

Summer is the perfect time for playing outside, riding bikes with friends, or even heading to the neighborhood pool. 

Unfortunately, many children are likely to be found indoors in front of some form of electronics.

Today, technology use has increased significantly as it has moved from adults to teens, and from teens to elementary students. Not only are elementary students being put in front of screens at school to learn, but many are also immediately put in front of a screen when they get home as a form of entertainment. 

Children may initially be given electronics for purposeful reasons like learning new information, increasing vocabulary, and developing math skills. However, electronic usage can often become a strategy for parents excessively, resulting in negatively impacting the overall development of children.   

There are many technological advancements that children are increasingly given access to from a young age. 

Researchers stated in a study, that “96% of Americans have a TV and 94% of children ages 3 to 18 have internet access through a computer or smartphone.”

This has led to a negative impact on school performance, social skills, and overall physical fitness of youth across the United States. 

“If young children spend most of their time engaging with an iPad, smartphone, or television, all of which are highly entertaining,” Dr. Jennifer F. Cross, a child behavioral specialist, said in the Journal of the American Medical Association of Pediatrics. “It can be hard to get them engaged in non-electronic activities, such as playing with toys to foster imagination and creativity, exploring outdoors, and playing with other children to develop appropriate social skills.” 

Kristi Tanner, Dean of Students at The Burlington School in Burlington, North Carolina recognizes both the personal and professional impact she has seen as a result of increased screen time. Tanner’s children, like many others, turn into zombies when watching an electronic because they are consistently staring at a screen. 

Tanner has seen that screen time is being shown to affect her children’s creativity. Tanner said, “My own kids love to play pretend and make up new situations, school, restaurant, coffee shop, etcetera, but when they watch a show all of their imagination freezes.”

Many children who are addicted to screens are limiting their social skills and are then limited from having impactful conversations. This hinders children’s abilities to connect with others, unlike children in the past.  

Heather Gibson, a teacher at Providence Christian Montessori, a school in Burlington, North Carolina, said, “I find that the children that have less time on a screen have a higher conversation level. They are able to sit and talk with their families, reason through, and have real conversations.”

When children participate in different kinds of play, for example, sports, walking the dog, or running around the playground, they learn so much more than watching something on an iPad, computer, TV, and other electronics. Harvard graduate Leah Shafner stated in Summertime, Playtime, “In play, children learn to navigate their physical and social environment, while also imagining and constructing new realities. They practice solving problems, testing out how to love, what is wise, and what is safe.” 

The impact of overuse of electronics additionally impacts children’s performance in school. Tanner suggests that as an educator she has observed how resourcefulness and resilience across the board has decreased, and that she believes this is correlated with increased screen time for children. 

“Students want immediate feedback and need lots of reassurance, significantly more than 15 years ago,” Tanner said. 

The need for immediate reassurance leads to children finding it difficult to fend for themselves, Tanner said. Children rely on other people to create their own ideas without having to use their own imagination.

Additionally, Gibson, discusses how when families of children took away leisurely electronics for one month parents and teachers saw a vast difference. 

“Those children were more in tune in class, more thoughtful, and better at problem-solving.”

According to Charles Nechtem Associates, teachers now are starting to plan shorter lessons for their classes. This is because by watching screens or being on electronics, they are prone to become easily distracted, which then results in not being able to stay focused for a long period of time.

Excessive screen time almost immediately affects the child’s ability to watch and understand the everyday involvement which they need to understand the world better even from a young age. But sometimes being addicted to an electronic can change a child’s sense of reality, decreasing their understanding of the world even from a young age. 

Richard Frampton, an elementary school physical education teacher in North Carolina, believes being on an electronic computer can change a child’s sense of reality. 

“Unless a parent sits down and talks to the kid about the games or videos they watch we have a false sense of reality,” Frampton said. “If they are playing a game where they kill people if it is not explained in the world that there is no reset button, there is no new game.” 

Frampton has seen that being on an electronic for extended lengths of time greatly decreases children’s physical activity.

“That’s one of the really negative things about electronics is that kids get addicted so quickly. One more show turns into another, then another, then another one. You finally reach the point of being addicted,” Frampton said. “Because they get so addicted they never step outside or never move their bodies which is honestly harmful to their overall health.” 

In order to counteract the negative effects of the overuse of technology, Providence Christian Montessori decided to make their students spend over 1,000 hours outside during the school year.

“There is so much to gain from being outside. Our bodies need the vitamin D to help process the calcium and magnesium which helps kids grow,” Gibson said. “Being outside helps children with a better sleep schedule, lets the children get their energy out, and just overall have a fun time enjoying nature.”

By having extra time outside children learn from mistakes but also have guidance as needed. Not only does playing outside help problem-solving skills, but it also helps with development and communication with other children since “playing means noticing social cues, listening, and taking another’s perspective,” Shafner stated in a study. 

While some will say there is a need for screens and others will argue that screens will never be good for child development, there must be a balance between screen time and playtime. Children deserve to physically experience the world and need to be encouraged to ditch the iPad and play outside. 

The Chipotle Revolution

~ jkcrawley1 ~ Leave a comment

by Joshua Crawley
Johns Creek High School

When the CEO of Chipotle, Brian Nicoll, came out and made a video contradicting Chipotle naysayers, most people didn’t know what to think.

“We always want to give people big portions that get them excited about the food,” he said.

There were trends of people holding up their phone and recording their order, and walking out mid- order if they felt they didn’t get enough food., TikToks also showed people testing the portion difference when ordering food in person versus online pickup. Nicoll said in his video that if you wanted more food, all you had to do was give the employee a little head nod. Many were skeptical and continued to do what they had been doing.

The saga started when Keith Lee, a popular food critic called out Chipotle for serving sizes in a Tiktok video. He complained about his portion of chicken and the quality of food in the rest of the bowl. That prompted many others to come out and call out Chipotle as well and started a revolution. 

A few weeks after Lee’s video, a rumor was swirling that if you recorded Chipotle while they made your order, they would give you more food. People flocked to the restaurant to try it and some went to extreme measures to be funny. One man brought in a whole camera crew to stand behind him while he ordered. Some Chipotles eventually started telling people they could not record. They said it was disrespectful to the employees.

Next, people started the walk-out trend. People would leave the restaurant and force Chipotle to throw out the food if they felt they weren’t receiving enough food. This became a viral trend on TikTok, setting the Chipotle revolution in full force. People were unwilling to fork over their money if Chipotle was unwilling to fork over better portions.

Many teenagers had opinions on the portion sizes that contradicted those of adults. Devin Wang, a rising senior from Huntington Beach, California said depending on who he’s with will dictate whether or not he pays. He goes to Chipotle about once a week and likes the restaurant. 

“I’m a little disappointed with the protein portions,” he said., “But they’re just trying not to get fired.”

Rising high school freshman Amari Hines of Lawrenceville, Georgia calls himself a “Chipotlean.” He said he goes 3-4 times a week.

“I think they’re pretty consistent with the meat,” he said.

Chipotle will continue to be under heavy scrutiny until they find a solution customers don’t complain about. Some have suggested they get measuring cups so the portions are the same every single time. Regardless, Chipotle continues to make a large profit and continues to run a very successful business. Nicoll feels they are doing a great job.

“Our goal is to get people really excited about what I believe is really delicious food.”

Count 34: How right-wing politics is running off Gen Z

~ madisonconnor17 ~ Leave a comment

by Madison Connor
Hebron Christian Academy

The politics ruined it for me.

I grew up in a conservative Christian environment, being taught that women should be submissive and obedient, being taught that gay people were wrong, and guns are OK but abortion is not. This is exactly what caused me to run away from Christianity. The hatred spread from a loving religion seemed hypocritical, especially considering that God is supposed to see every sin as equal, meaning that if one thinks being gay is a sin, then the gay person is just as bad as one single lie told. However, I eventually realized that right-wing politics is what is causing so many to run away from the church. 

Another  factor for me, and many others in my generation, is the obsession with Donald Trump. The former reality star lost many of us when it was uncovered that he said, “Grab ‘em by the pussy,” when referring to women.

Many people have taken issue with this, and rightfully so. The former President clearly made a sexist statement, even if some argue it was taken “out of context,”although I’m not sure how this could be taken in context. Regardless, many young people have disdain towards Donald Trump over his racist tendencies, many sexual assault accusations, 34 felony counts, sexism, xenophobia and many of his other qualities that seemingly contradict everything Jesus Christ stood for. However, many right-wing voters — including conservative “Christians” — adore him.

Georgia Representative Marjorie Taylor Green even went so far as to compare Trump to Jesus. “President Trump is a convicted felon. Well, you want to know something? The man that I worship is also a convicted felon. And he was murdered on a Roman cross.”

It is crucial to remember that being arrested does not make you a hero. Several Nazis have been previously arrested, and everyone knows they were far from heroes. Aside from this logical inaccuracy, many believe that the Bible is pro-life in the same context of pro-life right wing voters. The Bible is used too often to justify the wrong issue, and to oppress groups who have been oppressed for far too long. This leads young people to  back away from religion due to the conservative aura that clouds it. Many young people see the MAGA Republicans purchasing Trump’s Bible(which was totally blasphemous), and decide they want absolutely no part in it, and who can blame them? The idea that Trump is some sort of Jesus in the flesh, being waved in front of Gen Z’s faces, makes many opt out of religion, when in reality, many of Trump’s positions are in stark contrast to what Jesus stood for.  However, just as in the past, today’s extreme conservatives use the Bible as a weapon.

“I think that they’ll use religion to justify the bad things they’ve done, like with slavery like they would tell the people they were capturing that it’s because of the Bible, and they make it an evil thing but it’s not supposed to be,” a classmate told me. 

Just as slavery was a core issue for conservative voters two centuries ago, right-wing candidates are honing in on issues of race, gender and sexuality. My generation has been known to be extremely open minded to those topics, causing them to veer away from the close-mindedness that characterizes many Conservative beliefs. Dr. Joe Dennis, a college professor at Piedmont University and Methodist Sunday School teacher, said he notices that young Christians are not aligned politically with older Christians.

“In my experience young people really don’t care about issues like race, gender, sexuality, they’re more concerned with the content of people’s character,” he said. 

Gen Z is the most LGBTQIA+ generation that we have seen so far. Historically, Christianity and Catholicism have not been welcoming to those who identify within that margin, and as a result, Gen Z has not welcomed those religions in return. 

Another contentious issue is abortion. While being “pro-life” stands as a core issue among conservative Christians, Gen Z largely disagrees. Interestingly, Judaism sides with Gen Z. 

“Jewish law does not share the belief common among abortion opponents that life begins at conception, nor does it legally consider the fetus to be a full person deserving of protections equal to those accorded to human beings.”

A fetus is not  a living being, and does not have the same rights as the mother. Abortion is especially encouraged if the mothers life is in danger.

The stark contrast of Judaism and its beliefs about abortion, compared to Christianity in the modern American context (which stemmed from Judaism) is far too important as well as ironic to ignore, almost begging the question of how on earth did conservatives take that stance? Honestly, who knows.

But, the conservative and heavy right wing political beliefs that seem to strangle American Christianity are far too potent for Gen Z to ignore, which is exactly what drives them away from religion. The teachings of Jesus almost completely contradict the statements and beliefs of conservative Christian’s, making modern Christianity and the Bibles’ current interpretation almost seem completely distorted or lost. Because it is.

Right-wing Christianity isn’t real Christianity. 

Are Parents Slowly Tearing Down Youth Soccer?

~ jkcrawley1 ~ 1 Comment

by Joshua Crawley
Johns Creek High School

“Ref make the damn call!” Two minutes into the game and the parents were already going. “Referee how is that not a f****** foul?!” Maybe because the kid tripped over his own feet. “This ref is shit!” Not even halftime yet and I’ve heard everything and more. “Ref go to h***!” These are 9 year old kids out here playing recreational soccer, it can’t be that deep to you.

These were the kind of things I heard the first game I worked as an assistant referee. My first game ever. From the minute the first whistle was blown, it seemed like the parents were more worried about me than their own kids out on the field. They yelled and verbally abused me the whole game.

It ranged from screaming, to profanity, to things 8 year old kids just shouldn’t be hearing. Every time I made or didn’t make a call, it seemed like a fire went off behind me. I remember one dad slamming his hat on the ground and stomping and screaming at me and my other referees. Sometimes, they would even come up behind me and yell. 

Now that I have much more experience as a referee, I am more composed under circumstances like those. At the time though, the whole thing had me a little shaken. Not too long ago, I was refereeing a final of a tournament all by myself. The parents were worse than the first time, at one point a dad stepped onto the field arguing a call I made. At that point, I stopped the game for a minute and told the whole sideline to let the kids play. I tried to say it as confidently as I could, but under these circumstances, it became hard. 

This is just a small example of a bigger problem though. Across the United States, parents abusing referees is turning into a major problem. Just a few years ago in 2021 in California, a man angry about a call in a recreational game of 11 year olds ran across the field and decked a referee that was half of his size. The parent received a red card, but the issue was clear to see. Parents have gotten out of control in youth soccer.

 Another problem with this is that they teach their kids that this is ok. That it’s ok to act like that when you don’t get your way, that it’s ok to mistreat officials, that it’s ok to be aggressive with people whenever you want. At the end of the day, parents have to do better.

Sometimes, parents wonder why they don’t have enough referees. This is why. Earlier this year in February, in Pennsylvania, the state referee administrator announced that they were in need of many referees to let games go on as scheduled. CBS News reported that the main reason for the lack of referees stems from people unwilling to deal with unruly spectators. It’s not only Pennsylvania though, as across the country, referees are needed in many places. Many of these referees are teenagers, and when crowds of 50 year old men are yelling at us forever, it becomes a lot to deal with. 

Regardless of what’s happening on the field, parents’ behavior is not condoned. Even if referees do make mistakes, parents need to be patient. We don’t have all the technology and perfection required to get every single call spot on at the youth level. With that being said, referees are human and just like other people. Parents need to focus on cheering and supporting their kids and focusing on the game itself. The referees are there to make the game run, but lately parents seem to want to make the game about the refs. 

Since I was a kid, my parents have always respected referees, so I have followed suit. Other than the occasional “c’mon ref,” they don’t do too much. A “c’mon ref” is ok. What’s not ok is the screaming profanities, the inappropriate comments, and disrupting the flow of the game. My parents come to the game and cheer on my team. A bad call here and there goes unnoticed because the game is so fast and they make the game about us players. When parents stop worrying about the refs, the game flows and is a lot more enjoyable to watch. 

“Ref make the damn call!” Sometimes refs want to react, but they are told that is not their place. Solutions to this are hard to come by right now. For me one time out of all my times refereeing, an assignor came over and told the parent he needed to calm down or leave. That calmed the man down until the assignor was out of earshot, and then he was at it again. Parents are going to be parents, but they need to be better. 

Libraries necessary for free-flow of information

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by Marin Torres
Oconee High School

Every weekend my mom would make an effort to take my brothers and I to the library. I can only imagine what this looked like to other people. My mom would often bring a laundry basket filled to the brim with books, followed by three kids, all carrying books. The library played an integral role in my childhood and the childhood of many others.

In the current political climate, there have been efforts to defund government funding for libraries through budget cuts. According to PBS, the Missouri House voted to cut all funding for libraries in its version of the state’s annual budget. If this budget were to be passed, it would eliminate an estimated $4.5 million in funding for public libraries in Missouri. The state senate, however, rejected this budget and restored the library funds in the Missouri budget.

Although the budget for defunding the Missouri Library did not pass, the effort to defund public libraries still runs rampant. Lawmakers in Texas, Michigan, Iowa, and Indiana have all made the effort to try and defund their local libraries, whether that be through legislation, budget cuts, or lack of resources. 

Public libraries serve the public with unlimited books for both reading and research. Providing books free of charge can not only continually help underserved people, but can even foster a children’s love of reading. Libraries provide education and information to everyone, regardless of socio-economic status.

I had grown up at the library and I am a firm believer that the local library is what caused me to love reading. 

Ella Murrow, a resident of Watkinsville, Ga, recalls the library being one of the highlights of their childhood. “I remember loving the library and all the different kinds of activities they would hold,” they said, “when choosing books, it was like a choose your own adventure type of situation. There were endless opportunities of what books I could choose and what I wanted to read”

Accessible internet connection further continues to be a vital reason why libraries play an important role within communities. High speed internet access free of charge at libraries benefits students without access to the internet, families who do not have fast internet, and often, in rural areas, this can be the only source of internet for some people. This day in age, it is vital to have some sort of connection to the internet, and public libraries fill in this gap. 

According to a survey conducted by the Gates Foundation, nearly one-third of Americans age 14 or older–roughly 77 million people–used a public library computer or wireless network to access the Internet in the past year. Moreover, overall, 44 percent of people living below the federal poverty line used computers and the Internet at their public libraries.

Ensuring that people have access to the internet within the community is crucial in making sure that people have the equal opportunity to succeed. Public libraries across the country provide the essential need for the internet especially within rural and underserved areas.

In addition to access to internet connection, libraries often hold community events which supply educational resources on the use of the internet. Technology-related services, projects, and programs are also available at libraries. 

At libraries, there is often a sense of community that cannot be replicated. Many local libraries serve as a community center, with free, or low, cost in-person clubs and events the community can attend. This could include children storytime, to family game nights. Students can study at libraries which provide quiet, safe study environments. 

According to UNESCO, 250 million children are failing to acquire basic literacy skills. Not having basic literacy skills as a kid, will only continue to harm them as they grow older. Not acquiring basic literacy skills can be due to many factors, but one of the underlying factors is poverty. 

For less fortunate families who do not have the resources for their children, libraries hold a tremendous role in ensuring that kids are experiencing the important use of how to read and write. Through having storytimes open for the public, as well crafts related to books, helps foster a love of literature for kids. 

Many memories of mine are at the library looking through the endless shelves of books. I am forever grateful that my parents made an effort to take my brothers and I to the local library. The library is one of the most important institutions in our country. Not only does the library provide people with accessible internet and tools to help them succeed with their career and livelihood, the library provides endless opportunities to children within the community.

The Sound of Scandal: Cultural Impact of Celebrity Controversy  

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by Eliza Fox
Bethseda Chevy Chase High School

Can we still appreciate a masterpiece if its creator has committed disgraceful actions? I think that you can separate the art from the artist, appreciating their work doesn’t mean endorsing their behaviors. By drawing the line of separation we show our love for the art itself, not the creators personal beliefs.  

Kanye West, a well known rapper and producer is well known for his groundbreaking music and his controversial statements. In 2013 he made an appearance on the Breakfast Club, a New York radio show. When being interviewed he made an inappropriate antisemitic remark. 

Artists are still receiving the money, so stopping listening to an artist’s music is stopping yourself from listening to music you like. I do not support buying merch or going to concerts but I don’t believe that listening to the music for your own pleasure is wrong.

“Black people don’t have the same level of connections as Jewish people. Black people don’t have the same connections as oil people,” West said. “You know we don’t know nobody that got a nice house. You know we don’t know nobody with paper like that, that we can go to when we’re down.” 

I am Jewish, and my culture is very important to me. There have always been terrible stereotypes of Jewish people. They portray them as greedy or controlling. The stereotypes are not only hurtful but are also extremely discriminatory and affect how comfortable people are expressing their culture without getting hate. 

Celebrities often have a strong influence on their fans, particularly uneducated individuals who admire them. Some West fans adopted his views. 

On October 29, 2022 after the Florida-Georgia game, an individual projected a statement on the screen expressing their agreement with Kanye West’s anti-Semitic remarks, sparking a troubling wave of hateful comments. 

The Rolling Stone explains the numerous comments that West has made. From 2016 to 2024 Kanye West has made many comments that are not okay. These instances show a pattern of hate speech. West has quite a record of absurd comments. Although he suffers from Bipolar disorder it does not excuse his actions. 

West is not the only artist who has said controversial things, famous country artist Morgan Wallen has been arrested twice for reckless endangerment and arrested on public intoxication/disorderly conduct. According to People magazine, Wallen used racial slurs and had to publicly acknowledge and take full responsibility for his words. 

Wallen’s removal from Saturday Night Live serves as a key example of the consequences regarding his actions. His use of a racial slur led to quick repercussions, as society stood up against him. This is a great example of the importance of holding famous figures accountable.

West and Wallen are just two out of many artists that have done something wrong. I picked them as I enjoy both of their music. Although I do not believe what so ever with their words or actions. While still enjoying their music, it is crucial to acknowledge and remember their wrongdoing. As fans, it is important to still hold them accountable for their actions, it ensures that our appreciation for their talent doesn’t overthrow our core principles.

Is the movie industry slowly killing actors?

~ ashleybrrghs ~ Leave a comment

by Ashley Burroughs
Arabia Mountain High School

On March 17, 2024 the documentary series “Quiet On Set:The Dark Side of Kids TV” came out and unveiled many  shocking truths of the entertainment industry. Children who grew up in the 1990s and early 2000s were hooked on  Nickelodeon, watching lighthearted shows that were filmed for kids and starred  kids. The documentary uncovered stories of workplace harassment that were both shocking and  heartbreaking to hear. 

Familiar stars like Drake Bell spoke out about the harassment that he faced when working with Nickelodeon show “Drake & Josh ” from 2004-2007. In particular, Bell discusses how his dialogue coach Brian Peck abused his power as an adult, leading to the actor having to go to court and speak out against him.

According to an article in EW, Bell’s father and manager, Joe Bell, immediately felt that something was off with Peck. “I started to see Brian just start to hang around Drake too much, and it didn’t sit well with me.Drake would be in the dressing room or something, and in would pop Brian, and just touch Drake, you know, do things that, wait a second. What are you doing? Drake can put that on himself.”

“The thing is, this is in front of people,” Bell said. “Then he’d maybe walk over to Drake and be feeding him some lines or whatever, and put his arm around his waist. Put his hand up on his shoulder, and kinda run it down his arm, and things like that. And this would happen routinely. It was just always uncomfortable.”

Another workplace stress impacting young actors is the intense demand placed on them to be in character. Heath Ledger, who played the Joker in the 2008 The Dark Knight movie, ultimately died of an overdose.dRumors immediately circulated that his drug addiction was fueled by his attempts to try to get into the character of the Joker. 

Although these rumors have been refuted by his family, Ledger was open about the difficulties he had getting into character — a “psychopathic, mass murdering, schizophrenic clown with zero empathy.” According to the UK Treatment Centre, “Ledger isolated himself for weeks to prepare for the role, delving into the character’s twisted mind. He famously kept a diary where he noted the Joker’s thoughts and feelings, helping him to embody the character’s anarchic spirit fully. This method-acting approach allowed Ledger to bring a level of detail and nuance to the unprecedented role. His Joker was not just a villain; he was a portrayal of chaos and unpredictability, a character with depth, intelligence and a disturbing sense of humor.

The movie industry pressures actors and makes actors believe that “it’s all or nothing” so the actors will do anything, even enduring abuse or adopting dangerous habits to play a role perfectly. If the industry doesn’t make changes to protect young actors at the start of their career, they will cause irreparable damage to not only the children they are supposed to support, but also the industry as a whole.

Behind the Scenes of the Dance World

~ averyyclairee ~ Leave a comment

by Avery Staus
The Walker School

Growing up as a competitive dancer, I have struggled with my confidence and self image. I am always striving to be a better dancer, comparing myself to others, constantly feeling judged and never truly satisfied with my progress. I used to fear forgetting choreography or costumes as I didn’t want to disappoint my teachers, friends or parents. 

However, after spending hours of each day at my second home, Rhythm Dance Center, I have found supportive friends and teachers who desire nothing more than to see me succeed and I have broken outside of my comfort zone. There is no better feeling than cheering your team on, crying during a heartbreaking moment or laughing uncontrollably over

each other’s jokes. Unfortunately, this is not the case for most dancers.

A 2023 study by the National Library of Medicine states, “One in five (20.8%) dancers had at least moderate symptoms of either depression, generalized anxiety disorder or eating disorders.”

Dancers struggle with poor body image and mental health due to many factors. A typical dance studio layout includes floor to ceiling length mirrors and ballet barres. A 2023 study at Santa Clara University states that mirrors can be beneficial for fixing technique, but they also lead to constant self-criticism and obsession over small details. 

While taking a typical ballet class, teachers survey the room, adjusting placement and giving dancers helpful critiques or positive reinforcement. However, comments such as, “I can see your lunch” or “tuck in your stomach” can cause students to develop unhealthy relationships with food. Dancers may even be punished if their bodies do not comply with the “ideal” dancer body. 

Specifically in the competition world, it is common to see young dancers wear revealing costumes consisting of booty shorts, bra tops and large cutouts. There is a wide range of sexualization at dance competitions, and few studios have policies requiring “age appropriate” costumes, themes and music. 

The dance world is competitive, elitist and intense. However, social media has helped change unrealistic beauty standards for dancers, and the industry has started taking action towards more inclusivity. Although many studios and teachers are trying to correct their traditional ways, there is still an immense amount of progress to be made. 

Dance is a beautiful art form and way of expression, and it should be an opportunity for escaping stress, not creating stress.