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By: Sam Wilmeth  Selby Chipman was one of the first female Eagle Scouts following a policy change allowing girls to join in 2019. On February 26, the United States Secretary of War, Pete Hegseth, began a new campaign: a battle against Scouting America’s DEI efforts.
His policy restricts the youth leadership organization’s attempts to promote inclusivity, with his post to social media including demands that they discontinue a merit badge focused on ethical decision-making and interpersonal thinking and restrict membership with biological sex requirements on applications. All of these changes come under the threat of the organization being cut off by the Department of War, which provides a large amount of facilities and resources for Scouting America’s events. Hegseth’s coercive video announcement’s goal was made explicitly clear by the secretary himself: “The Boy Scouts should go back to being the Boy Scouts as originally founded: a group that develops boys into men.” In reality, though, his plan changes Scouting into a misrepresented version of the organization’s original values.
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By: Valerie Menendez  Gothic cinema is a subgenre of film that consists of fictitious scenery consisting of such things like dark dreary Victorian castles from far away lands long forgotten, mania, ancient curses, and often derives authenticities through horror and psychological dramas. The term’s roots can be traced to the mid-18th century where fellow ladies and gentlemen found that through their writing they can emerge themselves out of the dark treacherous times many faced. The Age of Enlightenment produced many new writers in spite of the world around them crumbling. They found foreseeable light through their very ironic, dark, gloomy, stories between their dusted,grimy pages. One such writer that emerged was a young woman who just turned 18 when she first began writing her short story, Frankenstein. Now, to create a condemning story such as Frankenstein, you're bound to create varying controversies, but isn't that what a great piece of fiction is supposed to create? Even if you do not like the genre itself and the depictions Mary Shelley decided to implement in her classic Gothic novel, you always have an outlet to talk about it by sharing how much disgust, hatred, or any sort of feelings you manifested while reviewing Gothic pieces such as hers.
Northeast Public Health Collaborative: a reliable resource to combat public health uncertainty2/3/2026 By: Lex Bowen  It’s that time of the year, folks. Cold and flu season is well underway, with brand new viruses knocking at the doors to our school community since early November. In the last few months, a sudden bout of flu wiped out a significant percentage of the student and staff population just before winter break.
By: Foyinkemi Olalere  John Green’s book The Anthroposcene Reviewed consists of a series of essays where Green reviews items or concepts in the anthroposcene, a world in which humans dominate. He connects the human inventions to their cultural impact and net-benefit (or lack thereof), concluding each of his essays with a rating of each topic/item from 1 to 5 stars. My article exploring YouTube's "Cocomelon" follows that format. By: Valerie Menendez  Pride and Prejudice has always held a special place in my heart, and I’m certain the same can be said for other Jane Austen enthusiasts. Published in 1813, the story has proudly withstood the test of time, inviting new generations of eager readers and viewers, especially following the 1995 British television series and the 2005 film adaptation.
I remember the feeling I had the first time I watched the 2005 version on my TV, somewhere around my sophomore year. For 2 hours and 8 minutes I sat transfixed, my curiosity piqued, never realizing how much the film would later impact me. I fell in love with the melodramatic scenes, the scripted cheesy plot dynamics – I even got emotional watching the ending as a die hard romance genre lover. I was devastated when the movie ended because it was only then I had realized how much of a trance I was in. (You know you don’t want a movie to end when you make it all the way through the end credits). You can imagine my surprise, then, when I realized this was one of many versions of the story: in fact, there have been 17 film adaptations since 1938. There is no denying there has to be something about Pride and Prejudice that resonates with audiences; the same something that made me binge-watch the 1995 series; the same something that led to another popular version in 2016 and an upcoming release in early 2026; and the same something for which I now write, hoping to invite you, the reader, into a world you may never want to leave. By: Valerie Menendez  The Hollywood cult classic When Harry Met Sally, directed by Rob Reiner, has undoubtedly stolen fans’ hearts for many autumns since its release in July, 1989. It is the kind of movie you watch when the leaves start falling and soon cover the streets in hues of orange, yellow, and brown. You watch this kind of movie with a side of hot cocoa in one hand that you hope will help shelter you from the colder weather that is awaiting outside during the impending harsh winter. In these seasons, you keep finding Harry and Sally and the magic of the setting keeps their story alive.
The first time I watched the movie, I remember huddling under layers of layers of blankets before finally pressing play to watch one of the most cinematic rom-coms of all time. While a bit hesitant, I began my watch out of morbid curiosity to see what all this fuss was truly about, and it would go on to be an ingrained decision that I recall wishing I made much sooner. By: GHS Shield Staff  Need ideas of what to do with your friends and family over winter break? Take a peek at the Glenelg Shield's favorite winter activities!
By: Lex Bowen  An unnaturally repetitive sentence. An uncomfortably smooth image. A subtle fallacy in logic.
Posts made by Artificial Intelligence have begun to clog up timelines and for-you pages. Every piece of art or story posted online seems to be met with increasing skepticism and suspicion. Artists, authors, musicians, and photographers are left floundering as they search desperately for ways to deter AI from stealing their work for the purpose of soulless reproduction. As generative AI grows in availability and popularity, artists can’t help but wonder: Is AI poisoning creative spaces? In response to the increased popularity of Generative AI and its creative abilities, anti-AI advocates have argued vehemently against its use for artistic purposes. No one can deny that there is something ever so slightly sinister about the impressive new abilities of AI. But many people don’t see the harm in generative AI. After all, it's not like it's hurting anyone… By: Vanessa Buechler  Many think of classic books as dated and difficult to read, but their timeless, lasting impacts on how we connect with the past makes them continuously vital to our understanding of the present. I’ve recently been getting into reading classics, or books classified as remarkable, and I understand why it’s a challenge for people to pick them up. But if you push past the feeling of how difficult it may be to read them at the start, you’ll find fascinating storytelling that should be celebrated for years to come. Here are the most recent classic novels I’ve read, and why you should read them, too.
By: Shaun Inake  2024 was undoubtedly a record-breaking year in terms of climate change and its impacts, and 2025 shows no signs of slowing the strengthening of unprecedented weather patterns.
According to the NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration), yearly global ocean temperatures in 2024 were exceedingly warmer than average; in fact, it was the highest global temperature dating back to 1850 when NOAA began collecting data Earth’s average land and ocean surface temperatures were 2.32 (F) degrees higher than the 20th century average. The higher water temperatures leads to higher rates of evaporation, leading to higher concentrations of vapor in the atmosphere, 5 percent more than the 1991-2020 average. By: Spencer Gonce  Dodge has a storied history of making fast, cheap, powerful cars with massive engines. The 5.7, 6.2, and 6.4-liter engines were their most popular to buy for big horsepower numbers and the sound that they made.
However, Dodge stopped production of their V8 engines in late 2023 in wake of the new electric vehicle mandate. On top of that, a new electric charger was released in fall of 2024. By: Jacob Miles  In November 2024 non-NCAA college athlete Diego Pavia sued the NCAA over eligibility restrictions. Pavia transferred from New Mexico State University to Vanderbilt to pursue his career as a quarterback. After finding out that he would not be granted his years of eligibility from his two years in Junior College (JUCO), he decided to sue the NCAA in hopes of competing in all four years at Vanderbilt. He claimed that the NCAA offers more opportunities, including TV exposure, and chances to earn money from NIL deals.
By: Valerie Menendez  I’ll admit it.
I’m probably one of the very few who just saw Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas. I'm not really sure why I've waited so long to do so, but I'm so glad I did. As most of you are aware, the story begins with Jack Skellington arriving back from celebrating Halloween, and from all the responsibilities he usually partakes in on that night. Jack strolls throughout the forest all night long, even until the morning, pondering if this is all life has to offer him. Accompanied by his pet, who is a fan favorite, Zero is a friendly ghost dog with a bright orange nose that can't help but give off Rudolph vibes. By: Manuela Dabiri  Holiday shopping is here and we all know what that means: finding the perfect gifts without breaking the bank. The season of giving is even sweeter when you can get amazing deals and enjoy festive shopping experiences. Whether you're looking for gifts for loved ones or just treating yourself, these top stores are loaded with holiday cheer, special sales, and great finds to check off everyone on your list.
By: Thomas Seaman  Just two weeks into the NFL season, the league was marred by yet another brutal and potentially debilitating head injury. During the 3rd quarter of the Dolphins vs. Bills game, Miami quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, hunting for a few additional yards, dove head first into safety Damar Hamlin and collapsed, going into a fencing response.
In lieu of other injuries during the 2024-25 season, the issue is as prevalent as ever. Year after year, the NFL comes up with new rule changes in an effort to better protect players. But short of the NFL switching to two hand touch, injuries will be an inherent risk of the game. By: Raina Shah  As seniors begin their transition into the next phase of their lives post high school, it may be just as vitally important to remember that, in some ways, rising freshmen also must learn to navigate a new environment to be successful.
It certainly was the case for me. On the first day of school, I remember feeling a mix between anxiety and excitement. I thought I would be in the clear after settling in after the first few opening weeks, but the stress only increased after classes picked up. I struggled for a long time to find a balance, but I couldn’t escape the feeling of being overwhelmed. Eventually, I got the help I needed from my counselor, which had a noticeable benefit to my growth. By: Wyatt Ridgely  Odell Beckham, Jr. tore his ACL in Super Bowl LVI.
Sterling Shepard tore his ACL while running a route. James Robinson tore his Achilles Tendon taking one step, and it practically ended his career. Jerry Jeudy and Aaron Rodgers have also suffered serious injuries on relatively normal plays. Did I mention these injuries all came on artificial surfaces? By: Tamilore Tokunboh-Salako  The Baltimore Ravens season ended on a disappointing note, one that feels all too familiar with Ravens fans as of late.
They lost the AFC Championship game to the Kansas City Chiefs, the final score ultimately being 17-10. Ask many Ravens fans before the game, and most of them would have been confident to say that they would be going back to the superbowl after 11 years. In the time since their Super Bowl XLVII victory, there have been a lot of false dawns and grief (Imagine what the Cowboys fans feel like). However, even though this year ended in a familiar way, this time is different. |
