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Pooch #4 "Hope" Coming Soon
by Nadia Drobnich
Staff Reporter
March 2023
A new therapy dog is coming to the school and Mrs. Boone will be hosting the dog.
Mrs. Boone is new to Oxford High School this year and her main goal was to make students feel comfortable and she thinks getting a therapy dog would help.
Oxford High School already has teachers hosting for dogs, Mrs. Boone applied to be the host for the new therapy dog coming to Oxford High School.
“I love dogs and I love my students. I thought that having a therapy dog in my classroom will help make a better environment at school,” said Mrs. Boone.
Mrs. Boone says she was more than ready to give a home to Hope once she completes training.
“I’ve tried my hardest to make my classroom feel like the most loving environment and I think adding a dog to my classroom will make everyone feel better,” said Mrs. Boone.
Hope will be a unique addition to the Wildcat Pack.
“She is a standard-size Goldendoodle. She is also about a year old, and I think she is the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen,” said Mrs. Boone.
Boone is ready to go all-in with Hope.
“I'm excited for the opportunities to get out more with the kids and the community and school and with Hope, it will help me become more involved,” said Mrs. Boone.
But being a therapy dog handler isn’t new for Boone.
“I’ve had a therapy dog before. My family and I love dogs, we have a dog at home currently, and we are ready to add another furry friend to the family,” said Mrs. Boone.
There’s a bit of a learning curve still.
“I’m definitely committed to Hope and adding her to my daily routine will be something I will have to adjust to,” said Mrs. Boone.
Mrs. Boone is new to Oxford High School this 2022-2023 school year and she wants to make the community feel comfortable. She decided to go to Oxford because she loves the loving community that is made here and she wants to host a therapy dog to help with the love.
by Abrianna Carsley
Staff Reporter
March 2023
Due to Congress's extreme fear of China gathering our personal data or influencing our decision making, America's most viewed app may be no more.
On March 7th, 2023 the Senate attempted to pass a nationwide ban on TikTok but vowed to not give up their fight against the app and it’s Chinese owned developers. In 2020, the US Government banned the app from being installed on government-owned devices.
This Chinese-owned app is a loved favorite amongst Generation Z which mainly consist of High schoolers. The reason for the ban is the illegal collection of American data but citizens have an opinion against this banning action.
“I would be upset because that’s what I do when I have free time,” said Paige Cherry (11).
For some, it's not just something to keep busy, it's even beneficial.
“There is entertainment along with educational things and informational subjects that can also be funny,” said Gracie Chraska (12).
Less time interacting with technology leaves room for more learning.
“If the ban went into place, I would spend less time on my phone, and more time studying,” said Cherry (11).
Many social media platforms require a lot of storage space on phones.
“After deleting Tiktok, My iCloud storage increased by a ton,” said Madhu Hueter (12).
While like everything there are positives and negatives, such as the removal initiating better habits.
“If it were to get banned, I think it would make people not spend so much time on their phones. It would also increase productivity because TikTok can be very distracting and easy to just lose track of time scrolling,” said Chraska (12).
In America, we live by freedoms provided by The Constitution, and some may argue that it disagrees with our motor of freedom. However, others believe the potential ban would be a regard to our safety and overall well-being. In the end, though, there are several American-owned apps that have the same concept as TikTok so the aspect of social interaction via technology will never be lost.
TikTok Under Fire
Tech Tool... or Taboo?
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by Sophia Gregurich
Staff Reporter
March 2023
ChatGPT, the state-of-the-art language model developed by OpenAI, has
revolutionized the world of natural language processing. Using a sophisticated
neural network architecture and massive amounts of data, ChatGPT is able to
understand and generate human-like language in a variety of contexts. From
answering trivia questions to engaging in deep philosophical discussions, C
hatGPT has demonstrated its ability to hold conversations that are both informative
and entertaining.
As more businesses and individuals look to incorporate AI-powered language
models into their operations, ChatGPT's influence is only expected to grow.
Now I know what you’re thinking: ‘Did she just use ChatGPT to write an introduction
to an article about ChatGPT?’ Or maybe you weren’t thinking that at all, maybe
you couldn’t even tell that the former paragraph was generated by an artificial
intelligence.
We are entering new territory when it comes to AI; College and High School
students may see no harm in asking ChatGPT to write that pesky AP Lit essay,
but as these tools become more developed and accessible, what is in store for the future of academic writing?
A Senior who wished to remain anonymous said, “I've used ChatGPT for a vast range of tasks, from obtaining random facts, to getting simple summaries on complex topics, and often even engaging in philosophical debates.”
Many people who utilize these resources limit their use to just that, and many more find the idea of using AI to cheat unethical at the least.
“I think services like OpenAI or ChatGPT have their place, but they shouldn’t be used in an academic setting,” said Teagan Carty (11)
Other students share her views.
“The purpose of written essays and assignments is to show your personal learning and growth, not an auto generated response by someone who isn’t you,” said a Junior who wished to remain anonymous.
Some students have distinctly negative views about AI and its use for completing school work.
“I haven’t heard of these platforms but I think it is incredibly unethical to use AI for school assignments,” states Miranda Morin (9). “Technically it’s plagiarism and should be punished as such.”
Other students share her unfavorable views on AI.
“AI takes the creativity and passion out of writing and causes distrust. AI is not good enough compared to human writing, yes it’s faster but it doesn’t have the love and creativity put into it, it’s sloppy and messy. AI sucks!” says Halie Wheeler (11).
Other students think it’s not such a bad thing to employ AI in an academic setting.
“I don’t think it’s terrible school work is becoming more and more stressful and you’re only hurting yourself,” said an OHS Junior who wished to remain anonymous.
But what about outside of an academic setting. Will AI replace the need for human writing completely?
“Whether AI can replace any form of human writing depends on the type of writing it is, and what value a human mind gives to it.” says a Senior who wished to remain anonymous. “When it comes to creative writing that resonates with people emotionally or presents new ideas, an AI that lacks human imperfections and only has access to works of the past is never going to be able to compete. I have a growing fear that, by the time much of our generation is equipped for our careers of choice, AI will be ahead of us. It seems that people had better focus on developing their emotional and interpersonal skills, as careers that require these seem to be the only ones untouchable by AI.”
AI has the potential to revolutionize the way students complete their school work. While it cannot replace critical thinking and creativity, it can certainly help in more mundane tasks such as research, proofreading, and data analysis. However, it is important to use these tools responsibly and ethically, acknowledging their limitations and ensuring that they do not undermine academic integrity.
impacted their community, regardless of the Environmental Protection Agency saying the odor in the air has no trace of chemical contaminants of concern.
The chemicals released by the derailment, and subsequent burning of those chemicals to limit the chances of an explosion, could cost more to the environment than we know.
“It’s not just inhalation, it could get on your skin, in the water supply, in the soil,” Dr. Anthony Szema, clinical professor of medicine, pulmonary and allergy at the Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra and Northwell doctor, says. “There are so many chemicals in this toxic brew — it’s really unknown.”
A chemical brew indeed, as the Norfolk Southern train cars carried many and those many can create even more disastrous toxins when burned all together.
According to an independent lab who tested the air in East Palestine, their findings indicate that the site has a chemical called acrolein, which wasn’t being carried in the train cars, but instead was a direct product of the chemical burning. Acrolein is a clear liquid at room temperature and is toxic, as the CDC explains, “Exposure causes inflammation and irritation of the skin, respiratory tract, and mucous membranes. Delayed pulmonary edema may occur after inhalation.” Along with Acrolein, vinyl chloride (a carcinogen and the main chemical found in the train cars) is “Not only…a dangerous chemical in its own right, but burning it you can get hydrochloride acid and phosgene, which has been used in warfare as a gas,” claims Dr. Jacqueline Moline, vice president of occupational medicine, epidemiology and prevention at Northwell Health.
And these toxins have already had their way with both the citizens of East Palestine and the wildlife environment.
“When we left, I had a rash on my arm, and my eyes were burning for a few days after that,” says Amanda Greathouse, one of the almost 5,000 residents of East Palestine. And the wildlife isn’t any better: the Ohio Department of Natural Resources has revealed that more than 43,000 aquatic animals have died within a five-mile radius of the site.
Devastating environmental damage via large company mistakes is nothing new, however, as can be recalled by the 2010 BP Oil spill.
“I think [this is] pretty similar [to the BP oil spill]. Humans are trying to do what's best for them and not really thinking about the impacts that some of these disasters could have on the environment,” expresses Ms. Howell, the head of Oxford High School’s Environmental Club.
And though Norfolk Southern has said they will be paying $6.5 million to derailment victims, they still have $7.5 billion available to buy additional shares, according to their latest annual financial report (shortly before the derailment).
“[Norfolk Southern] is trying to take shortcuts at the expense of human lives,” comments senior Brynn Patterson, a member of the Environmental club, in regards to how the costs are being handled.
Despite all the controversy, the clean up effort is underway as the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) has collected more than 700 tons of contaminated soil and nearly two million gallons of liquid, according to Ohio officials. And, when asked what the environmental club would do if they had to solve the problem, their ideas seem to line up with the work being done.
“So you definitely would want to start with getting an accurate report on how the environment is being impacted, like [who is] being impacted. And then hopefully there are some best-practices on clean up methods and trying to utilize some of those,” explains Howell.
For now, the waste being collected has been sent to at least seven different licensed hazardous waste disposal facilities located in Ohio, Indiana, Michigan and Texas. But that in itself has been posing a problem as officials in Texas and Michigan have raised concerns about the waste coming into their states, :the EPA even having to enact a one-day pause on Norfolk Southern's removal operations. As it is, the unease coming from every side as clean up efforts continue may very well persist in the months or even years of clean up to come.
Environmental Club Reacts to Ohio Spill
by Malena Pugliese
Editor in Chief
March 2023
Welcome aboard ladies and gentlemen to today’s newsie
train ride. Next stop, East Palestine, Ohio, for some much
needed clarifications on the environment!
It’s been a few weeks since the train derailment in Ohio that
occurred on February 3, 2023, and since then citizens of
East Palestine have been worried about how this has
Breakfast Done Right
by Madhu Heuter
Staff Reporter
March 2023
Many students at Oxford High School are reliant on the school for breakfast. Our cafeteria
offers many options with different nutritional values. These breakfast options are very popular
in the OHS community and everyone has their personal go to’s. However the school does a
great job giving students a variety to choose from a while implementing new breakfast ideas.
Breakfast period is important for your overall health as well as your mental health. Overall
most students enjoy breakfast because there is something there for everyone. When they
tweak the breakfast menu they always keep students in mind. Most of the kitchen staff have
kids that go to school, and you can tell they make it as if it was for their own child.
We want to shine light on the ones responsible for providing this exemplary feat known as
breakfast. Every day, without fail. When you bite into the breakfast sandwich not only do you
actually taste the salt and pepper, but you also taste the love it was made with.
“I've been wanting to do a poll for a long time so I can truly know what students enjoy most.
Not only for breakfast but for the entire menu. Doing a poll like this would help us a lot and
we always love when students speak out,” said Amy Bellamy, Nutrition Services Supervisor.
For a long time the breakfast menu stayed the same. Students didn't think much of it until one
day the breakfast sandwich bagel was replaced with a croissant. This is where it all started,
the beginning of something new.
“The reason we did it was because we ran out of bagels. so we just needed a substitution
for our sandwiches that week but it ended up turning out great. The kitchen staff loved it and
we knew the students would love it as well,” Bellamy says.
The day after they ran out of croissants they had to switch over to a different bun as a
substitute. The sandwiches are too popular to remove from the menu, even for just a day.
Students might go hungry. The solution: the biscuit breakfast sandwich. Which still stands as a personal favorite among the staff and students.
“I'm glad to know that students like it. It always helps when people notice what we are doing and give feedback like this. With these students in mind we are going to start doing different breakfast sandwich rotations on assigned days,” Bellamy said.
Students have their favorite breakfast options. However there is a good amount of things to choose from. Getting the poll started for our kitchen staff would help them a lot.
“My favorite thing to get for breakfast at the school is the breakfast sandwich because it never lets me down. I used to get the asiago cheese bagel for a really long time but I converted to the sandwich as it got more popular,” said James Hy (12).
Having these types of conversations with people ensures that future OHS students will receive the same great quality breakfast current students enjoy. By simply letting the school know what is a “yea” and what is a “nay,” future generations of students will be just as excited to come to school.
“My favorite breakfast item at OHS is the yogurt parfait. It's almost like a treat, the fruits are always frozen to perfection and the whole thing just works so well. Not to mention the nutritional benefits of the yogurt, granola and fruit,” saic Mr. Millard, Radio Tv and Film teacher.
In conclusion, Breakfast at OHS is one of a kind and we want to let the whole world know. But more importantly we want to give thanks to the staff that prepares a delicious breakfast for hundreds of kids every day. Without them none of this would be possible and we appreciate their creativity and open mindedness. Running out of bagels might have been a blessing in disguise, seeing as all students were exhilarated to find their favorite item had gotten an upgrade in such a short amount of time. From the bottom of our hearts. Thank you Food Service ladies!
Managing Stress
by Piper Boyt
Staff Reporter
A new normal in high school is teenagers being stressed. This is due to the pressure that accompanies busy schedules students have. School, work, sports and social lives are things teenagers have to organize and manage all together.
The academic anxiety of school, the performance of an athlete, and finding time to
hang out with friends and family all while juggling work are problems that occur for
most teenagers. These problems lead to stress in teenagers and a busy schedule they don't know how to organize.
Learning how to organize a hectic schedule is important to helping stress in
teenagers.
¨I handle stress by shopping because I love buying clothes and I listen to music because it makes me happy and lifts me up when I am down,¨ says Dana Lee (10).
Many students have extracurricular activities they accomplish after school like sports so It can be challenging to handle a busy schedule.
¨I like to do yoga to relieve stress because its a very calming environment and it relaxes my mind and body,¨ said Reagan Burns (10).
Everybody at some point deals with stress and handling it is a mechanism people find that helps themselves with a busy schedule.
¨When I get stressed I get really shaky and upset so I listen to music like Ariana Grande to feel better,¨ says Emily Easten (10).
A tiring schedule includes different activities and tasks. Altogether they can be stressful, but some hobbies actually help students manage their stress.
¨I play sports to help manage my stress because it lets me have an outlet to not think about things that make me stressed, ¨ claims sophomore Summer Aldred.
Having an organized schedule is what can really make a difference in preventing future stress on students.
¨I use a planner to split up my time for sports and homework to organize my time and tasks,¨ says Vivian Cruz (10).
Having a planned routine is another important factor in making busy schedules less stressful for students.
¨I use my time well in class so I don't have homework so that when I get home from my extracurricular activities I won't be stressed with school work and go to bed early,¨ states Laney Kollenberg (10).
Learning about managing a busy schedule from students is what can influence you to prepare and organize yours. If you are constantly busy and stressed from many different things, try to organize your schedule and even try a new, fun hobby.
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Suggestions for Senior Serenity
by Abrianna Carsley
Staff Reporter
The second semester has started, and for Oxford seniors, there are
a lot of upcoming deadlines, and excitement to look forward to.
For senior year, there are a lot of tasks that need to be done, which
can be exhilarating, or overwhelming.
While the chapter on High school is coming to an end, there is a mix of
emotions. For some, this could be a relief, or it could be a time of reminiscing.
As Hannah Montana Once said, “The story’s only just begun, a page
is turning for everyone”.
At the chance to grasp freedom, some students tend to go to school
farther away from home.
“Moving to East Lansing for Michigan State University is what I am
looking forward to. Part of me is nervous about picking a major that I am genuinely passionate about,” said Sophia Ziegler (12).
Advancing to a new chapter in life is imperative for personal growth, but don't let that take away the present.
“It's important to stay in school, some seniors skip a lot–don't take that time for granted. You won't see most of your close friends after high school cherish those moments,” said Edward Castro (12).
Attending college gives gratification to those wanting independence, but the financial expenses of attending college for a year can be stressful.
“Certain schools such as Oakland University and Grand valley offer scholarship websites for incoming students. On my own, I have been subscribing to college scholarship websites such as bold.org that email you if you fit the criteria,” said Olivia Clark (12).
As stated, wrapping up childhood education provides independence for some, but it is also a time for grieving.
“All of the teachers and friends I connected with are a big part of who I am, and they will be missed. As well as our sense of community at Oxford,” said senior Kiley Myrand (12).
It is the last semester of high school, so it can be an emotional roller coaster. Your childhood schooling is coming to an end, and it could be the last time seeing some of your close friends. While that may be hard to cope with, it is important to enjoy these last moments as much as possible.
By Sophia Gregurich
Staff Editor
From vaping to kissing, the causes for the recent epidemic of congestion in the restroom stalls at
Oxford High School are limitless.
In response to the congregations, OHS had to explain new rules regarding appropriate bathroom usage
to students and parents via the weekly newsletter. So your next lavatory gatherings, could result in
suspension.
Many students take issue with, or at the very least are bothered by the washroom swarms.
Junior Claire Benson revealed, “Honestly I see people crowding in the same stall a few times a week,
especially during class. It’s super annoying because I always try to get to class on time. I think people
do it to blow off class, I see so many kids just sitting on the floor.”
It isn’t just an issue for those who use the girl’s bathroom either.
“It’s not just a problem in the girl’s bathroom, it’s a problem in the boy’s bathroom as well,” says
Anthony Plalazzolo (11), “There are a lot of boys going to the bathroom, being rowdy, you know: being
boys. I see it happening every time I go to the bathroom around lunch or passing time, whenever it’s
busy. It’s annoying because I have to go to the bathroom and it’s all crowded, plus I don’t want to be in
there with a bunch of people being rowdy, it’s weird. I think there are multiple reasons people do it,
they’re probably just hanging out, and talking about stuff they don’t want teachers to hear.”
Others share similar experiences.
An OHS Senior who wished to remain anonymous shared, “Once in a while I see people crowding
in the same stall in the boy’s bathroom, especially in the morning or during lunch, otherwise it doesn’t r
eally happen that much. I usually use the bathroom during class so that I don’t have to deal with it during passing time.”
Other students describe comparable inconveniences due to the overpopulated bathrooms.
I’ve only seen it a couple times, but when it happens it’s really annoying,” says Freshman Maddie Smith, “Crowded bathrooms have made me late to class a couple times but not that often. I think people do it because it’s fun and they want a place to hang out where they won’t get yelled at because there aren’t adults in the bathroom.”
Some students have theories as to why this trend of toilet assemblies has been so noticeable in recent weeks.
“I encounter people in the same bathroom stall at least once or twice a week. I think people do it because the school made a rule against it and that only fuels more rebellion,” said Miranda Warren (9).
Whether you view the restroom as a place to skip class, hang out with friends, or, in most appropriate terms, answer nature’s call, we can all see how such improper behaviors can be a nuisance to our peers. Correspondingly, we can all make a little more effort to be considerate of our classmates.
Bathrooms: The Place to Be?
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Exams... What are Those?
by Emma Dorman
Staff Reporter
This is the first year for most OHS students that final exams are taking place and many don’t
know what to expect.
Due to certain events in the past couple of years, finals haven’t happened and before that,
they weren’t required for everyone. This leaves a great number of students wondering what
the final exams will look like and how they will impact them. The final exams are assessments
that cover the whole semester's learning and the teachers get to choose what the exams
will look like, so they will come in various forms.
This is the first year that exams will be taking place for a great deal of students, which means
most are going into the exam blind.
“Finals are a way to reinforce the lessons taught over the semester. Students tend to learn
and study material for the unit or chapter test and then they forget it,” says Mrs. Morgan.
“Studying for finals allows for students to practice retrieving that information and therefore
reinforces the learning process.”
These final exams are important in high school not only because they can change grades,
but they can also set students up for the future.
“Finals help students to build skills such as time management, good study habits, and the
ability to deal with stress,” Mrs. Stevens explains. “I also believe that finals in high school
will help prepare students to deal with finals in college. At the collegiate level, a final
exam/presentation/paper may be worth a large percentage of your final grade.”
To relieve some stress, there are various ways to study and prepare for the exam that can
help students feel more confident.
“I suggest that students come up with a study plan,” says Mrs. Stevens. “Start early (maybe
a week or two before the final exam), form a study group, ask questions in class, find a
productive place to study, take breaks when necessary, eat well, get a good night sleep,
and try to relax.”
With the final exams being different formats for each class, students are feeling unsure of what to expect.
“I don’t really know what to expect, but I think having a project instead of a multiple choice test is better because It gives us more creativity and not just memorizing a bunch of facts,” says Rebecca Secord (10). “I also think it is unfair that they expect us to remember the whole semesters learning and have it count for a big part of our grade.”
Since exams have a big impact towards students' grades, this is putting a lot more stress on students' shoulders.
“I don’t like the exam being 10 to 20% of my grade because it covers a lot of material and if I don’t do very well it could have a negative effect on my grade,” says Vivian Cruz (10). “I am feeling stressed about the final exam because it means I have a lot of studying and worrying to do.”
Preparation before the exam can help improve a student's score, which many students are planning on doing.
“I am planning on getting all of my notes together from the semester and studying them,” says Elyse Bishop (10). “I also plan on writing new notes to prepare me for the exam.”
For most students, final exams are very stressful, especially with this one being the first for many students. Since this exam will be 10% or 20% of a student's final grade, this puts more pressure on them. Getting enough sleep, relieving stress, and studying are ways to prepare for the exam. Final exams are planned to take place on January 19th and 20th.
Social Media Under Investigation for Valuing Profits Over User Safety
By Isabella Huey
Staff Reporter
Your Social media apps could be intentionally harming you. Facebook had a massive
shutdown, speculation on why it has been floating around. It was the day before the
Facebook whistleblower was set to testify before the senate. The whistleblower was
sharing that Facebook knows the negative effects it has on teens and wanted to do the
same to kids in the name of profit.
It was reported that Zuckerburg lost almost five billion dollars from the shutdown. He also
earned a ton of bad press and angry customers losing Instagram and Facebook. On top
of that Facebook shares have dropped since the shutdown according to the Bloomberg
Report.
Whistleblower Frances Haugen, who was Facebook's product manager on civic
misinformation, and has been employed by Google, Pinterest, and Yelp, had much to say
at the hearing.
“I’m here today because I believe Facebook’s products harm children, stoke division and
weaken our democracy,” stated Frances Haugen. "Yesterday we saw Facebook taken off
the internet. I don't know why it went down, but I know that for more than five hours, Facebook wasn't used to deepen divides, destabilize democracies and make young girls and women feel bad about their bodies."
Mrs.Haugen and politicians agree that Facebook is harmful.
“In 2019, the CDC data showed that 20%, 20% of our American high school students seriously considered attempting suicide.40% reported experiencing sadness, hopelessness. Now our children who have lived through COVID, school closings, and more upheaval in their lives than ever before, deserve better than this yet are the findings about the social interaction and relationship that they so desperately need, where they are finding this is on social media, on sites like Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat,” Senator Blackburn stated at the beginning of the hearing.
This data could be used to help America’s youth, however it isn’t.
“In 2019 and 2020 Facebook’s in-house analysts performed a series of deep dives into teen use of Instagram and it revealed… And I’m quoting from the report, ‘Aspects of Instagram exacerbate each other to create a perfect storm and that perfect storm manifests itself in the minds of teenagers in the form of intense social pressure, addiction, body image issues, eating disorders, anxiety, depression, and suicidal thoughts.’ But it gets even worse than this because Facebook, despite touting their compliance with CAPA, was scheming to bring even younger users into their field,” Blackburn said.
Facebook really knows how to sell their product and harm people's minds.
“Instagram announced this week that it is temporarily shelving their plans for Instagram Kids. But until this week they were moving forward with this trying to bring younger children onto their platforms. Yet at the same time that we’re learning this, The Wall Street Journal reported how Facebook tried to use play dates… that is right, play dates to attract more children to its Messenger Kids service. In fact, Facebook is fully aware that underage children are using their platforms. Not only that, but they encourage older teen siblings to recruit their younger siblings and are actually devising marketing plans to help kids and teens… Get this, create secondary or anonymous accounts that they can hide from their parents. And they perform market research on kids as young as eight years old, so they can learn how to recruit them to their sites. Facebook is also aware of other types of harmful content on their site,” Senator Blackburn also said.
The social media business is a cold and manipulative place.
"Children of America are hooked on their product. There is cynical knowledge on behalf of these Big Tech companies that this is true," said Senator Wicker from Mississippi.
Several senators agreed that it’s harming the future generations.
"I think we're going to look back 20 years from now and all of us are going to be like 'what the hell were we thinking' when we recognize the damage that it (social media) has done to a generation," said Senator Sullivan from Alaska.
After this hearing, should our generation be on social media? Social media can do great things, but it can also be extremely harmful to our mental health. Next time you use Instagram or any social media, use it carefully and don’t let it waste your life away. If you feel any posts have harmed you emotionally or mentally make sure you talk to someone and remember your life is valuable.
Photo from NEAtoday.org
Try Not to Cringe
by Malena Pugliese
Staff Editor
Scrolling through social media pages these days it’s easy to
come across a certain trend, one that’s been around for longer
than we know.
It’s called cringe culture, everyday people on the internet
posting content and getting called cringe by other everyday
people. The word cringe actually originates from the old English
word “cringan” which means to “fall in battle” or “to bend” but
more recently it’s been used as a derogatory term to demean
just about anything, whether online or not.
But how can this seemingly overused term cause issues in y
ouths, who seem to be the main target of the word?
“Cringe is just the newest label we can throw on things that we
dislike, and on people we don’t support,” explains junior Ryder
Earles.
Cringe can mean a lot of different things to different people,
since it’s such an overused word that is slapped on to whatever
whenever.
While sophomore Ana Boggess believes cringe refers to
something “so stupid, so bad that it’s funny and makes you laugh sometimes,“ junior Olivia Clark says cringe is “a way of viewing certain things as socially unacceptable.”
With the steady increase of use of the word cringe, students have expressed being personally affected.
“I feel like using emojis while texting has kind of been branded as cringe,” explains Clark. “As time has passed it's definitely caused me to use them a lot less.” Boggess has also faced criticism, she says “there have been some things that I’ve done or said that have been called cringe, like watching anime. It makes me feel embarrassed.”
While the behaviors expressed when calling something or someone out for being cringe may start off as harmless, it could possibly become something a lot more harmful.
“There’s a difference [between cringe culture and bullying] because cringe culture can sometimes be a one time thing or can be good natured or teasing, while bullying is repetitive and with purpose,” states Boggess. Clark agrees but adds, “I still feel like it’s not okay to label something as cringe because it can make people feel insecure about what they like.”
But people being insecure about what they like is only one of the issues with cringe culture.
“The biggest issue with cringe culture is that it’s a kind of cycle,” says Earles. “The things most often labeled as cringe are terms, phrases, or interests of the youngest generation. They are often called cringe for enjoying a piece of media or using a term made for that generation, by those who are older than them because they think that it’s cringe.”
In fact, today’s society may be what’s causing such trivial things as the use of emojis to be seen as negative or strange.
“Cringe culture is so prevalent mostly due to social media. I feel like social media can lead a lot of people forming the same ideas of what’s cringe and what’s not. This could lead to a lot of singling out of people if something they like or do is considered ‘cringe’,” explains Clark.
Earles believes today’s society thrives off drama and that is the cause of overwhelming amounts of things people think are cringe, and says, “Whether it’s political, moral, or personal, social media is always plastered with drama. What’s new, what’s good for you, who you should vote for, or what you should support; these are all representative of things that get people talking to one another, whether they’re arguing, informing, or debating, this drama is the lifeblood of today’s society.”
Moving forward, cringe is not something that is ever going away, however, society would benefit from a shift in tone in regards to cringe. Actually, the concept of cringe can be something society can learn from. According to award-winning non-fiction writer and cultural commentator Pamela Haag, sharing stories of when we were victims of our own cringe moments sends a positive message that we’re flawed but still worthy and it’s more humane to think about personal failure this way compared to otherwise trying to protect this image we have of our lives. In the end, cringe is just the awkward stage of learning and growing to become our ideal selves, but we can learn to embrace it and normalize it, and better yet learn the proper meaning of cringe and not incorrectly brand every little thing we find personally distasteful.
The Senior Window
A right-of-passage or a hallway obstruction?
By Sophia Gregurich
Staff Reporter
Every student has, at some point, gathered with their
friends to engage in some workday chit-chat during
passing time. One of these groups, as I’m sure you’ve
noticed, has become so large that they now have a
section of the hallway taped off for their social nook.
Groups like this are generally harmless in nature, however;
having witnessed the congestion, pushing, and shoving
that occurs around this crowd of individuals by the
so-called ‘Senior window,’ I am forced to ask the question:
At what point does a harmless congregation of students
turn into an unfavorable obstruction?
The Senior window was established in around 2008 and
has been a tradition at Oxford High School ever since, though it was not always the positive space it is today.
Various staff members have asserted that the window used to be a place where Seniors would stand and ridicule other people; bully them, harass them, call them names. However for the past 4 years, the Senior window has been rebranded as a safe and congenial place.
Students from several different grades and backgrounds have commented that the Senior window is an obstruction.
“I put the tape down because adults were getting very frustrated, kids were getting frustrated, parents were calling,” says administrator Ms. Gibson-Marshall.
Underclassmen have negative opinions about the Senior window.
“I don’t like how they have the tape blocked off in the middle of the hallway. It’s so crowded and I’ve stepped on a lot of people’s shoes,” said Halie Wheeler (10).
Others agree.
“I think it’s really annoying because it’s in the way of everything,” Sophomore Piper Garcia explains.
The issue of the teeming hallway is not the only one at foot here, there’s also the apparent violation of COVID-19 restrictions inside the space.
Ms. Gibson-Marshall had much to say: “It is not a COVID-free zone, COVID doesn’t play that way. If you want your mask down, you can go outside to the Senior courtyard. Myself, along with the other administrators are going to be enforcing that (the wearing of masks) in the next few weeks.”
Seniors refer to the window in a much more positive light.
“I like the window because we’re not walking around and everyone’s together,” says Jack Keene (12).
Other Seniors have similar thoughts.
“Around 15-20 of us hang out during passing time. It’s a gathering place for all the Seniors this year and it’s a time for us to get to see each other and talk,” Ava Wiscombe (12) says.
Overall, though many students view the window as an obstruction, for the Seniors it is a sanctuary where they are free to socialize and spend time with their friends between classes. It is a privilege that they have earned and we all, in turn, will have that space.
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