21 2 20 SPECIFICS: software used - pixlr.com/e image size - 2650 x 4096 title font - jarots (440p-ish) everything else font - amaranth issue # - 80ish p school info - 70ish p PhotosPhoto courtesy courtesy of Lily of Margeson, LIly Margeson @MrScroggs, Mac Banks and @fmhsnews 2 In the News 2 Dr. Seuss callback By: Caroline Wollenhaupt In 1936, Theodor Geisel was sailing from Europe to New York, and, out of boredom, decided to scribble silly rhymes onto stationary paper. This was the birth of his first book, And to Think That I Saw It on Mulberry Street, under the pen name everyone knows today, Dr. Seuss. Prior to his death in 1991, Seuss wrote over 60 books, using three separate pen names. His wacky world of children's books became a household name after the release of The Cat in the Hat. With a children's author as famous as Dr. Seuss, it is hard to imagine such a known figure to be targeted for his work, right? On March 4, Dr. Seuss’s books came under fire by “cancel culture,” because some of them depict stereotypical and offensive views against people of color. Dr. Seuss Enterprises has said the portrayals in the books are hurtful and wrong, but the statement is not enough to persuade the Dr. Seuss is known for his wacky world of masses. The Seuss estate also announced that six out of 45 books under the name Dr. Seuss will be creative children's pulled. Some of these titles include If I Ran the Zoo, Scrambled Eggs Super! and The Cat’s Quizzer. books. Lately, his Earlier in the month, another decision was made by the National Education Association (NEA), work has been receiving a call back to switch using March 2 - Dr. Seuss’s birthday - from Dr. Seuss week to a simple educational week for the content that is which focuses on celebrating diverse books instead. Normally, many elementary and middle schools inside of them. celebrate this as a whole week of activities. Dr. Seuss is the latest of many to receive the backlash from “cancel culture.” The reception of Photo courtesy of this major change is also very mixed, since “cancel culture” tends to be a hit or miss topic among Evelyn Ealey people. “Yes, I love Dr. Seuss!” Fort Mill student Kayla Dickson said. “My favorite was the Green Eggs and Ham.” In late February Mars 2020 perseverance rover 2021, NASA's By: Gracie Johnson Perseverance rover made a successful In July of 2020, NASA launched a newly-constructed rover on a mission to the face of Mars. The landing on Mars's Perseverance rover was an upgraded model of the previous design, Curiosity, containing seven primary surface. Scientists payload instruments, 19 cameras and two powerful microphones. On February 18, 2021, Perseverance landed are hoping to safely on the martian surface inside of Jezeros Crater, landing over 11 million individuals who submitted discover more information on the their names on NASA’s, “Save your name” campaign. The rover is presently moving at about one kilometer per physical second at an altitude of 16 kilometers from the surface of Mars. Considering the mobility of Perseverance, environment of NASA has big plans for the rover in the forthcoming years. Mars, as well as launch a The imposing success of NASA’s previously launched rover has led to high expectations for the strategically function of Perseverance. Curiosity successfully collected and analyzed powdered samples drilled from developed rocks on the martian surface, assisting scientists in discovering the climate and geology of Mars. Now, helicopter from the Perseverance is tasked with searching for signs of ancient microbial life, advancing studies on the past belly of the rover. habitability of Mars. According to NASA’s mission overview, the rover will drill and collect core samples of martian rock and store them in sealed tubes. In a future expedition, the tubes will be picked up and Photo courtesy delivered back to Earth for further, detailed investigation. Secured to the rover's belly is a monumental of Gracie Johnson technological demonstration: the Mars helicopter. The launch of this machine would be the first ever powered flight on the Red Planet. Scientists also hope to test a method for producing oxygen from mars’ air, and more prominently characterizing weather, dust and other environmental conditions on the surface of Mars. For those interested in the expedition of Perseverance, NASA consistently releases raw images taken by the Perseverance rover. They have also provided an interactive map on their website, pinpointing the location of the rover as it travels across the face of Mars. One may even listen to the sound of Mars through the inclusive microphones located on previous rovers. “I think it is so abnormal,” Sophomore Natalia Barrera claimed. “It honestly sounds just like Earth, it is so hard to believe it is actually a different planet.” As Perseverance continues its expedition across the Red Planet, new information and analysis is provided to the public each day. End of SC mask mandate Women’s March Madness By: Lily Margeson The latest word from the desk of Governor Henry McMaster has been Executive Order 2021-12, which, in essence, removes the prior regulations By: Madelyn Prickett regarding mask mandate. The Order, signed on March 5, came a few hours For every sports after McMaster stated, “We don’t need those anymore. We’ve worked through lover, the month of March all that,” adding that the previous ordinances were on their way out. kicks off March Madness In essence, 2021-12 is a recycling of a previous order (2020-73), season. On the other hand, with a few key tweaks to move mask mandates from an executive order to an this month is also executive request. Previously, the Governor “urge[d] counties and notably known as Women’s municipalities of this state to enact … measures requiring individuals to History Month. So, in wear a face covering” in addition to requiring masks be worn inside honor of both, here is a government buildings and restaurants. Now, however, the Order has removed breakdown of the National Collegiate A fun March Madness tradition is to fill out a bracket mask requirements in said buildings and merely “encourage[s] all with one's friends! One can easily find a bracket online. individuals within the state of South Carolina to wear a face covering.” Athletic Association Put shortly, businesses and local counties are being told they (NCAA) women’s basketball Photo courtesy of NCAA should require masks, but will not be forced to by the State. Indeed, the tournament. town of Fort Mill disbanded its regulations, which required individuals to Although March Madness for men started in 1939, the women’s wear a mask in public, in August, and the Mayor of Tega Cay merely “strongly division did not start a March Madness tournament until the 1981-1982 encouraged” the wearing of masks inside public buildings. Many buildings, season. Prior to the NCAA, collegiate women’s basketball and 12 other however, have instituted requirements of their own to offset this, only women’s sports were held under the Association for Intercollegiate permitting masked individuals entrance. Athletics for Women (AIAW). The two associations fought over the exclusive A recent surge in COVID vaccinations has allowed for this order’s authority of women’s sports until the AIAW was disbanded. The 32-team existence, given that now 700,000 South Carolinians have had at least one event eventually expanded to 64 teams in 1994, which is four fewer than the vaccination dose, and 300,000—about six percent—are fully vaccinated. men’s division. Phase 2 of vaccine distribution, which includes everyone not already The team selection process for women is similar to the men’s, with vaccinated 16 and up, is expected to begin by May 3, according to SCDHEC. minor differences. Unlike the men’s division, there is no play-in round. A Additionally, statewide case numbers are on a steady decline, though some play-in round occurs at the beginning of a tournament, forcing the lowest fear a surge following this loosening in regulation. “I’m kinda qualifying teams to play one another. Also, the women’s teams play in four disappointed that he’s put people’s individual rights above public safety,” 10-minute quarters instead of two 20-minute halves. Both tournaments Junior Elana Wong said. have a certain amount of qualifying teams, with a committee selecting the As for how Executive Order 2021-12 will affect infection rates remaining teams. For women’s collegiate basketball, 32 teams qualify by across the state, only time will tell. In the meantime, though, cannot does winning their conference tournament, and the rest are selected at-large by not mean should not, so if one chooses not to wear a mask, he/she should be a committee. Like men’s basketball, the 64 teams are broken up into four advised to check for postings before entering buildings to avoid divisions (East, West, North and South). Each team is ranked from one to 16 consequences. in each division. Typically, the women’s teams are announced the Monday after Selection Sunday for the men’s division. Locally, the University of South Carolina (USC) women’s basketball On March 11, Governor McMaster signed a bill team won the national title in 2017. Hopefully, a South Carolina team can revoking the existing face covering take home another win this year. The women’s March Madness tournament requirements, though encouraged individual begins on March 21, with the final four playing on April 2 and April 4.