By Steven Stetson
Many argue that Trump says controversial things constantly, and really, who can blame them? A fair amount of the things he’s said have definitely warranted him his reputation. However, there’s one issue that’s remained fairly constant, and that’s his view on abortion. Over the years, Trump’s made known his stance on abortion, which as of right now, amounts to being pro-life. According to The Washington Post, a survey poll found that 66% of Americans oppose tax funding of abortion laws, opposed to the 34% that identify as pro-choice, and in support of said laws. Given these percentages, it’s clear that America as a whole is primarily pro-life, giving Trump one favorable trait amongst the majority. Introduced in 1984 by Ronald Reagan, came the Global Gag Rule, also known as the “Mexico City Policy”, which banned government services, and funding for those who sought abortion outside the U.S. While a foreign policy it was, many Americans were opposed to it, believing that women’s rights should be valued outside the country as well. However, in 2009 Obama reversed the rule, until this year, when Trump reversed it immediately following the Women’s March on Washington D.C, for the “Power to Choose.” The true definition of abortion (according to Dictionary.com, that is) reads, “The deliberate termination of a human pregnancy, most often performed during the first 28 weeks of pregnancy.” The real issue is determining when it’s officially classified as human. Let’s get technical. Take the word pregnancy. According to Dictionary.com, pregnancy is, “the state of being pregnant.” What’s pregnant mean? Once more, Dictionary.com reads, “having a child or young developing in the uterus.” Most would consider “child or young” to be human. It’s evident that Trump takes to heart this view, in regards to believing an abortion is murder (“termination”). Why else would he oppose it, and suggest means of punishment? On an interview with Chris Matthews on MSNBC, Matthews asked Trump whether or not there should be some sort of punishment for those who choose to abort, and Trump answered, “There has to be some form of punishment.” Trump continued on explaining his choice of pro-life, whilst making his stance clear. Abortion is a problem, and was on Trumps radar for sometime, that’s why he’s made the decision to act, and stand up for what he as President believes. While it’s true that President Trump, as well as a large significant of the population are anti-abortion, it remains a topic of discussion. Sure, Trump is pro-life, but regardless of what you or I may believe, there will always be a variety of opinions differing from our own. Trump’s view on abortion is what’s at hand however, and must be seen as such, for he is our model as President. Make no mistake - opinions are to be shared and debated, as that is our right. But for the purpose of this article, it’s that of Trump’s (opinion) that we must focus on, and analyze. By Abbey Soltis & Molly Swartz
For the past three years, the citizens of Flint, Michigan have been experiencing the side effects of lead-contaminated water. Residents are getting sick, children have high amounts of lead in their bloodstream, and people are being forced to buy excessive amounts of bottled water for everyday necessities such as showering, cooking, and cleaning. In April of 2014, Flint authorities switched their main water source from Lake Huron to the Flint River. As a result of the more corrosive river water, lead pipes have been leaking and contaminating the water used by the town. According to the State of Michigan Department of Natural Resources, the river water has always been of poor quality, especially after the 1970’s, due to the “presence of fecal coliform bacteria, low dissolved oxygen, plant nutrients, oils, and toxic substances” (Flint River Assessment, July 2001). The presence of lead in the water has lead to stunts in child cognitive development; many studies in the past several years have indicated defects in the growth of the young children of Flint in speaking or writing compared to other children their age. Some neurological disorders, such as ADHD, have affected the education systems in Flint, and have ultimately cost the city a great amount of money. The city of Flint is already bankrupt, but it is now necessary to provide funding for the children who have been affected by lead poisoning to receive the proper necessities to earn an education and obtain a job. Reading the facts of this case, one might be shocked at how Flint officials and the EPA were able to get away with the contamination of the city’s water for as long as they did. However, by researching more deeply, one can see the possible enabler of such an ignored catastrophe- Flint’s distinct demographic status. According to the US Census Bureau, 41.2% of Flint residents live below the poverty line. This shocking statistic reflects on the officials in charge of the water quality in towns such as Flint. Dr. Shepard, a science teacher at Glenelg High School, believes that the crisis “highlights the failure of our infrastructure in the United States.” During an interview, she elaborated on the idea that poor people in the United States rarely get counted in public decisions. She also commented on how the contamination would not have gone on for nearly as long if the citizens were wealthy, because wealthy people would have had more political-say, and the EPA would have been forced to discontinue the use of the Flint River as the source for the city’s water. An anonymous teacher at Glenelg High School stated their belief that the crisis occurred because of the demographics of the city. This teacher, in concurrence with Dr. Sheppard, believes that the poorer people of Flint were taken advantage of because of a multitude of factors, including lack of education and ability to stand up in front of a court for their rights. The inexcusable actions committed by the officials in charge of Flint pose questions for all citizens of America. What if other water is contaminated? What if one’s friends and family are being harmed, and will suffer irreversible cognitive deficits due to the government’s unwillingness to spend money? Did the Flint Water Crisis occur for political reasons? Or a financial issue? Due to Flint’s water crisis, there is a debate as to whether or not the rest of the country can trust the EPA with drinking water. It is important that citizens question everything. Residents of Flint were falsely assured about the quality of their water, and ultimately suffered because of the EPA and the Federal Government. Flint, Michigan is the quintessential example of neglect of poor individuals in the US. This should be the last time people in the United States are ignored because of their socioeconomic status. By Garrett Athey
President Trump issued a new immigration policy on January 27th that suspended refugee resettlement and early entry into the United States from several countries in the Middle East. The suspended countries included in the ban are Libya, Sudan, Yemen, Somalia, Iraq, Iran, and Syria. The action was taken by Trump to protect the U.S. from potential terrorists entering the country while his team create stricter background checks. Anyone with a visa or green card holder from those specific countries is prevented from coming into the U.S. Although many people are against this new policy, Trump has the power to take this action as the President. According to the law, the President can issue an immigration ban on foreigners as long as he or she believes there is a threat to national security. However, Trump’s policy will most likely be sent to the Supreme Court to make sure the action was within the authority of the Executive Branch. If the Supreme Court rules that the ban was not within the President’s power it will be repealed immediately. The policy has caused controversy because some people question Trump’s real purpose for instituting this policy. Some feel as though the action was taken on the basis of discrimination towards people from the Middle East. Junior Natalie Proviano feels the policy is a good idea because “The countries included in the ban are dangerous and have been under surveillance for awhile, Trump’s policy will prevent these countries from threatening the national security and protect Americans as well.” People feel safer as a result of the ban because they feel the government is doing more to protect the country from acts of terrorism. However, others disagree with the new policy because of the intentions it holds to ban certain people from entering the United States. Junior Zach Rizk feels the policy is a hurtful act taken by Trump, “It was rushed and it limits refugees that need help from entering the United States. Trump doesn’t realize that it is hurting the countries that the ban is placed on.” Those who oppose the policy do not like how Trump is preventing groups of people from coming into the U.S. because of the region that they come from. The policy will continue to be in effect unless the Supreme Court rules against it or if Trump himself feels that it is no longer needed. This is just the beginning of Trump’s plans as President in order to make Americans safer from foreigners. This order could even mess up relationships with other countries that feel that it is discriminatory towards specific groups of people. Only time will tell how far Trump will go with his policies in order to get what he wants done in the government. By Ryan Hack
There are many businesses in the community that are open to high school teens as employees, but some have qualifications that a worker needs to meet. Here are some job ideas that a sixteen year-old can do. First, many stores are hiring cashier positions. However, there are many qualifications to be accepted for the job. Language, mathematical, and reasoning skills are key to being a cashier. A new worker will have to go through training about how to work the register, how to monitor activities at the front of the store, how to secure assets such a cash and checks, and how to check certificates, licenses, and registration. But most importantly, a cashier needs to have good personal skills. They need to be able to talk to customers to ensure that they had a good experience at the store. Second, a sixteen year old could be a merchandise associate which includes the responsibilities of assisting in the daily operations of the store, greeting and thanking customers, lifting and carrying items up to fifty pounds, and be able to stand for long periods of time. This job requires to look professional and have flexible work hours, however, it is offered as full and part time. One of the most important skills to have is cooperation, as merchandise associates work as a team. On a daily basis, the job has a worker work in the areas of markdowns, cashier, customer service, presentation, processing, fitting room, and layaway. Finally, merchandise associates need to be energetic as they will be moving around during their entire shift. Lastly, with experience in the kitchen, some restaurants will hire line cooks at the age of sixteen. The job is offered full time and part time, but a worker must have a flexible schedule, as they need to be able to work various shifts throughout the week, nights, and weekends. A line cook needs to be able to work quickly and efficiently, as a kitchen can be a noisy and stressful place. Line cooks prepare ingredients and assemble dishes according to the recipe and specifications given to them by the executive chef. The job has proven to be a good way to get into the field of culinary as a future full time job. A variety of jobs are available around the community for high school teens, so find the job that is right for you. A couple of places to look for openings are Michael’s Arts and Crafts, Uno Pizza, and TJ Maxx. By Devin Green
After a long race, Donald Trump has officially become President of the United States. Former presidents, political, and military figures and thousands of Americans attended the inauguration of the new president. Despite the amount of support that got him into office, Trump’s team had a lot of trouble getting that same support from performers. Their requests for musical performances were rejected by KISS, Elton John, Celine Dion and countless more performers. They managed to acquire performances by the Rockettes, 3 Doors Down, and several other groups, but the inauguration was nowhere near as star studded as that of those presidents before him. The main event of this inauguration was Trump’s first official speech as President of the United States. In his speech he reiterated on many of the points he made along his road to the presidency and seemed to stand firm by them all. After the inauguration, he proceeded to follow through with some of these promises. On his first full day in office, Trump left the TPP, and froze federal hiring (outside of military careers). Several days after he cleared the controversial Dakota access pipeline for its continued construction, a proposal which had been previously rejected by Obama. Trump’s entire campaign has been a very controversial one and his inauguration suffered just as much controversy. Protests were widespread both before and after the election. During the election protestors chained themselves to many of the checkpoints entering the event in an attempt to make their statement against Trump. The day after the inauguration, around half a million men and women attended the Women’s March on Washington. Those involved, marched in the pursuit of gender equality and against many of Trump’s policies which had a direct impact on the women of America. This march was extremely successful in conveying the reaction of many women to Trump’s election and the current state of gender equality in the country. By Steven Stetson
Following Election Day, millions awoke to find Trump confirmed as President Elect. Trump made his speech early Wednesday morning, shortly after Hillary called to stand down, in wake of the final results. 2016 will go down in history, no doubt. Books will be written without question. Voter turnout made clear that 46.6% of Americans didn’t vote. Not only is that a record, but the dead gorilla Harmabe received more than 10,000 votes. Both candidates were heavily disliked by the people, and it shows. Corruption sums up Hillary for many, whereas arrogant, inexperienced, naïve, and racist were many of the people’s complaints of Trump. Left wing media prioritized news feed from the beginning; it was always Hillary that would win. It’s what people expected, she was supposed to win. If anything, this proves that the system isn’t as rigged as Trump said continuously. Regardless, more people than not were surprised at the final results. The results were a completely different outcome than what the news predicted it to be. This whole election should be a wakeup call to not only America, but to the world. What started as a joke to many is now a reality. We have here a business man, who knows little to nothing of politics, trumping over even the most experienced. Too often, people were quick to shut Trump down. Many news anchors even said he wouldn’t be president, yet the people spoke, the results are final. After giving thought into this election, I came to realize that the American people don’t like being told who to vote for. It was highly assumed that Hillary would win, and that the people “need” to vote Hillary if they weren’t “racist.” With that type of manipulation, many felt pressured into voting for Hillary, which in a sense, is being told who to vote for. By using emotions to terrorize those who didn’t quite make their mind, it was evident that too many people felt they were told there was only one right choice: Hillary. Media bias was a huge factor. For months, if not longer, the media reported Hillary as winning hands down. Trump on the other hand, was made a laughing stock in the media world. If more people voted, Hillary may have been president. It’s amazing this election, over two years of hearing about this, and now it’s finalized. Trump will be our Commander In Chief this January, best adapt, because that’s the harsh reality. By Logan Barragan
As the commotion of the election slowly begins to simmer down, the controversial construction of the North Dakota Pipeline becomes more prominent in national conversation. Everyone from A list celebrities, to politicians, to military veterans, to environmental rights activists, to normal civilians have an opinion regarding the North Dakota Pipeline. Earlier this year, actress Shailene Woodley was arrested in North Dakota under the charges of criminal trespassing and engaging in a riot. She pleaded not guilty to the charges and stressed that her protests were peaceful. Woodley has brought a lot of attention to this issue, considering her popularity and social media presence The goal of Energy Transfer Partners, a partnership that owns and operates one of the largest energy estates in the United States, is set to build a pipeline that stretches 1,200 miles, traveling from North Dakota to Illinois. In reference to the company’s website, the production will transport 570,000 barrels of oil, create 12,000 jobs, and it will be the safest method of transporting natural resources, according to the data from the U.S. Department of Transportation. With all of these positive statistics, it is a wonder why such a large group of people want the production of the pipeline to be re-directed. The issue is this: the design of the pipeline shows that it would have to go through the Missouri River. This is a primary water source for its surrounding residents, such as The Standing Rock Sioux Tribe, who have called this area home years before this whole plan could even be a fathomable idea. Since spring of 2016, hundreds have gathered in protest of the pipeline and have been persistent in their efforts to encourage a redirection of the pipeline. While Energy Transfer Partners insists that the pipeline will not affect the water, there is no guarantee that the oil will not somehow find its way into the river. Environmental Activist Doug Hayes insists that if the pipeline in the river were to slightly break, nobody would know until the water is contaminated. One small leak could ruin the purity of the water and inflict illness on the many people who use it. Nowthisnews.com asked President Barack Obama in a video interview on his opinion on the topic, and in summary, President Obama thinks that the land should stay sacred to tribes who initially inhabited it hundreds of years ago. But he also believes that there is a way to re-route the pipeline so the goal of transferring the oil can still be met. There was speculation that the Obama Administration had declared that the production of the pipeline would indeed be altered, however, according to CNN, Energy Transfer Partners has no intention of changing the production. Unfortunately, for Energy Transfer Partners, their construction will in fact have to be set back due to an oil spill of about 175,000 gallons that occurred early in the month of December. This is a very controversial issue that has caused consistent uproar throughout the nation. With the jobs it offers and the efficiency it provides, the pipeline has great potential. But the toll it could take on the natives may be the downfall of its development. The final decision of any further construction of the project will be an interesting one. But one thing is for certain, whatever the outcome may be, it is clear neither side will go down without a fight. By Devin Green
To many, even the name Castro elicits a powerful image in the mind. Some may think of a communist tyrant who took Cuba by force. Others picture a hero who freed Cuba and protected it from powerful outsiders. The split over Fidel Castro is so grand that one would think they were hearing of two completely different people. Whether or not they hate him or love him, no one can deny the impact he had on the world, and the impact of his death. For those who don’t know of him, Castro was the leader of the communist world in the west. After his attempt at winning the presidency through election was thwarted by U.S. backed Fulgencio Batista’s overthrow of the government, he created his own revolution. Along with revolutionary Che Guevara, he took power of Cuba. He allied himself with the communist U.S.S.R. and that’s when tensions with the U.S. began The U.S. and Communist nations have always had very tense relations and when Cuba a became communist country there were concerns. Relations hit rock bottom when the U.S.S.R. began storing nukes in Cuba, only 100 miles away from the U.S. This began the Cuban missile crisis, a 13 day standoff which threatened to begin World War III. The U.S government surrounded Cuba and attempted to force them to give up the weapons and for a while they refused. After negotiations, the U.S.S.R. made Cuba remove the weapons and the U.S. secretly promised to remove weapons from Turkey. One event that can rival the tension of the Cuban missile crisis was the Bay of Pigs invasion. The U.S., in an effort to overthrow Fidel Castro, launched a full scale assault on Cuba. The government sent American-trained Cubans, who had fled Castro’s regime, into the nation with the goal of taking Cuba. Within a single day the invading force was crushed by the Cuban military and the invasion was torn apart. This was just one attempt to overthrow the new Cuban government. Today, Cuba is under the control of Fidel’s brother Raul Castro and Fidel has fallen. Fidel passed control to his brother long before his death but, his passing will still have great affects on the nation. Fidel Castro survived numerous assassination attempts by the U.S government but at the age of 95, time caught up to him. His death is even more significant when we consider the U.S.’s attempts to rebuild relations with the Cuban government. With Fidel Castro dead, the leadership of Cuba is in the hands of Raul Castro. It is up to him to reopen trade and travel with America as he pleases. A major political shake up in the U.S. coupled with the fall of Cuba’s former leader could even serve to close these negotiations entirely. The future is uncertain but, Fidel Castro’s legacy will be remembered by both his friends and enemies for years to come. By Garrett Athey
The Howard County Public School System has recently become interested in changing the school start times for the 2017-2018 school year. The topic has developed into more of a pressing idea lately since other counties in Maryland, such as Montgomery and Anne Arundel, have changed their school start times to later in the morning. Parents were given an opportunity to express their opinions on what time school should start next year for each level at the Board of Education meeting. The county has proposed that all middle and high schools will start no earlier 8:15 AM and elementary schools will start anywhere between 7:30 and 8:15 AM. They have also requested that the school day be six hours and forty-five minutes which increases the elementary school day by fifteen minutes. Model One has high school starting at 8:30 AM and ending at 3:15 PM, and Model Two has school starting at 9:15 AM and having the day end at 4:00 PM. Meetings are currently being conducted for parents and community members to meet with the board of education to further develop their ideas and possible schedules. The proposed schedules bring both positives and negatives to students’ lives and there have been mixed feelings to the proposition by Glenelg students. The positives of school starting later are students have more time in the morning freed up or have the opportunity to get more sleep. Junior Anushka Desai feels, “The time change would be great, students get more sleep which will help them in school.” Having more sleep gives students more energy so that they can participate in class and be physically ready to learn. Katie Landry, Junior, agrees that the time change would be beneficial because, “it would allow students to sleep in and be more productive in class because they would have more energy.” However, the time changes does not only benefit students, as there are some negatives that come about from school starting later. The downside to the time change is significant because school will end later in day, causing students and teachers to get home later and extracurriculars like sports to begin late in the afternoon. This poses possible complications for teachers as many of them have families that they need to take care of and will not see them until later into the day. Freshman Zack Devlin, feels that the proposed time change is, “Terrible because we will get home later in the day and will have less time for sports.” Having less time for sports is a big worry for students as they already get home in the evening after practice. Junior Austin Steckler feels the same way about the change in start times saying, “It’s pointless, we will have less time in the afternoons for homework and extracurriculars.” Homework is another big concern for students because teachers already assign a lot of homework and the new time change means less time to do the assignments. Only time will tell how serious Howard County is about changing the start times since the concept is so new and sudden. There is positives and negatives to both sides, but the change, if passed, will surely affect the lives of students in all levels of education in the county. By Logan Barragan and Jessica Lawson
The Dance Despite the chillier temperatures, Glenelg had a night in paradise for their 2016 homecoming. Guests were greeted with leis and tickets to enjoy treats. As students made their way through the hallways, they were transported to a tropical paradise with rain forests, volcanoes, and sea creatures. The main gym was abuzz with a DJ playing current hits and scenes from each class’ theme adorning the bleachers. When taking a break from dancing, students had many options as to what to do. Right outside the gym, there was a Kona Ice truck handing out cups of shaved ice in various flavors. Also outside was a video game trailer; a large truck with seats inside it that enabled many players to get their game on. If students were not into the snow-cones, they could have movie theater style popcorn or unlimited cotton candy at the end of the athletic hallway. Across from the main gym, the auxiliary gym was full of games and activities that could keep anyone happy for hours. From giant Jenga to mini golf to airbrush tattoos, the possibilities were endless. Students could make their way down to the cafeteria, where they were able to have pictures with their friends taken. It was then uploaded onto a giant twenty-five foot screen, allowing students to add doodles by using their fingers on the virtual touch screen. The only question Glenelg students were left with was how can this be topped next year? The Game Glenelg came out full force in the Homecoming game against Reservoir. Dressed in rain ponchos and boots, the fans braved the rain to cheer on their Gladiators and it proved to be a great game! Sophomore Wande Owens scored both of Glenelg’s touchdowns in their 17-14 victory. It was a close match and the Gladiators earned their winning touchdown in the last minutes of the game. In addition to an exhilarating game, the half time show included stellar performances from the Cheerleaders, the Marching Unit, and the Dance Team. The Pep Rally The pep rally was held on Friday, October 7th during fifth and sixth periods. It kicked off with a great exhibit by the Marching Unit, Dance Companies, and Cheerleaders performing the fight song on the field. The presentation of athletes went smoothly and ended with the Allied Soccer team running through a student-made tunnel. The whole pep rally was full of competitions such as obstacle courses, three-legged races, Gladiator relays, and mummying teachers. In addition to the events, there were two surprise collaborations. First was the Varsity Football players dancing with the Cheerleaders. Not long after, Mr. Burton and Dr. Bashore came out to groove with the Dance Team. The festivities concluded with the announcement of the Homecoming Court and the results of which administrator would kiss the piglets. After a week of voting, Mr. Tomas was the lucky administrator who got to smooch the piggies! Homecoming Court: Freshman Nominees: Anna Masterman and Tommy Curtis Sophomore Nominees: Lily Barragan and CJ Davidson Junior Nominees: Maria Salandra and Dalton Marshall Senior Nominees: Alex Fleece and Daniel Kivioja, Emma Sedlack and Shawn Witschen, Grace Olsen and James Kittleman, Logan Barragan and Ethan Forrest Senior King and Queen: Grace Olsen and James Kittleman |
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February 2024
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